Embrace Simplified

Let's get an update from Kirsti on how the new sleep habits are going (Episode 4 in February is when she first shared the Sleep Makeover plan if you want to listen to that one first!) and what she has been up to lately. Anyone else feel like they blinked in February and its suddenly June!?


In this episode she also share the news that her first book - Life Love Lemonade - hit Bestseller on Amazon in the Motherhood category!! Here is a link to purchase the book if you haven't already - https://www.amazon.ca/Life-Love-Lemonade-Stories-Overcoming/dp/1989716148/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1623211901&refinements=p_27%3ATania+Jane+Moraes-Vaz&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Tania+Jane+Moraes-Vaz


There is a few signed copies left to buy too if you want that DM Kirsti on Instagram!
In this special episode Kirsti shares what the experience of writing and publishing a book as been like and some hiccups came up unexpectedly for her. She introduces her next book Whisper, what the concept of the book is and invites those curious to reach out and talk about becoming an author or introducing her to those who may want to write. Here is the link to learn more and book a call with Kirsti or Shayne about the book. ygtmama.com/whisper
We finish with a short reading from Kirsti's chapter in Life Love Lemonade!


Inspired Action - leave a review for the podcast or send an episode you love to a friend with a note that says - you are doing an amazing job!

1. Lauren McPhillips is your internet bestie, a Storyteller, Brand Manager @northmedical and living in beautiful Prince Edward County! Her blog is filled with stories of amazing people and places to see. Today we sit down to chat and invite you to join us!

Access free therapy in Ontario at this link - https://myicbt.com/home?gclid=CjwKCAjw-e2EBhAhEiwAJI5jgzbcYDFSF0u3_8gNYHM886b3kHcoYqzZZHN23YJjMBea7p7y2PmKixoCbyYQAvD_BwE

Other affordable convenient resources for Mental Health can be found on BetterHelp.com or at doyoumined.com

Book Recommendations from Lauren
Hood Feminism - https://www.amazon.ca/Hood-Feminism-Notes-Movement-Forgot/dp/0525560548
Think Again - https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/think-again-the-power-of/9780593395783-item.html?s_campaign=goo-DSA_Books&gclid=CjwKCAjw-e2EBhAhEiwAJI5jg9c-qBPer1zh-9m07N2-L5gBJnZLhElgJKxoX0_hhHaGm9-vS-2mmBoCOpMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Inspired Action Takeaway - Read one of the books Lauren recommends online or in the show and start to get curious about the subtle ways you can be more intentional in your life.

Julia Silvestri Wong describes herself as a 40 something Marketing Maven, Bestie, Sister, Wife, and Mama of 3. She is focused on learning to love herself and raising an eco-conscious family and THAT is a badass mission which makes her an amazing guest on this podcast. In 2020 Julia was recognized by Mom Halo as the Stay at Home Mom of the Year and I celebrated online live with her.

In the show we talk over coffee about buying their first home during a pandemic, moving 5 days after Christmas and how she has changed up their lives to prioritize her mental health and simplify. We also talked about social media and Julia's perspective on what 2021 could bring. It left me so badly wanting a IRL coffee with this cool mama!

Link to the boxes Julia mentioned - https://www.frogbox.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1uiEBhBzEiwAO9B_HczK9HnWrDsQK-TlrCG2DXKk7zMhboUjt3CfBtvoZQtK3cVvCH_TeBoCW8AQAvD_BwE

Her fave accounts online @momhalo @thebirdspapaya @megababe
Follow Julia online @pinksheepTO

Inspired Action Takeaway - Try tech free Fridays. For one day of the week no social media or even no phone... don't forget to journal about how you feel during these times, before and after these times and what you want to feel over time too!

Emily is not what you expect when you hear Mortgage Broker and that is what makes her so badass. Families feel secure and comfortable with her in one of the most stressful things they will do in their life - borrow a giant amount of money to become homeowners or do that big renovation! She is one of the hardest working women I know and I see her deliver results for people all day everyday. She is also an active member of her community and has built her brand through partnerships, giving back and bringing communities together. Let's sit down with Em and get to know her, the business, her thoughts on what we need to know about mortgages right now and how she is simplifying with a major leap her and her husband just made for the family and business!

Follow her on IG for her fun reels + motherhood truths! @portcreditmortgages
Website - themortgagecoach.ca/emilymiszk
Email - emily@portcreditmortgages.com

Inspired Action Takeaway - Try time blocking your calendar for one week! Start with everything important including your self care and then other things around that. If you want to take it a step further try having that morning coffee outside with your partner and talking through your schedules together.

Melanie is a truth teller and this episode delivers - I love how we jumped into talking about the reality of her initial reaction to the pandemic, identity loss, juggling family, productivity and her learning moments through the past year. I am a huge fan of Melanie's clinic and of the bodywork that her practitioners do from a mental and physical health perspective.

Melanie runs a few online education + empowerment workshops + communities that we mentioned in the show. You can find the details at bodycotoronto.com to find details for Teen Girls Program and Wild Collective along with all the services offered at her clinic.

Embrace Simplified listeners have an opportunity to save $50 off WILD with code KIRSTI50 when you choose the full payment option. Next session starts May 26 2021 now.bodycotoronto.com/the-wild-collective

The growing up for girls Book I recommended can be found here - https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/9781609580834-item.html?s_campaign=goo-Shopping_Smart_Books&gclid=CjwKCAjw1uiEBhBzEiwAO9B_HXn1cgBnhX_acKtRLhzMOe4uxiioF9oQMCkE7aD8cOjpGZvUzCsqARoCuCAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Community Cure book study we referenced - https://www.amazon.ca/Community-Cure-Transforming-Outcomes-Together-ebook/dp/B08157P7D9

In the last minute of the show she shares a few book recommendations about health and some fun to read ones!

Inspired Action Takeaway - Go check out WILD Collective and see if it is something you would find value in. Other than that DRINK YOUR WATER!

I love this conversation with Allison Villa because we touch on so many juicy topics like relationships, self care, burnout and nurturing yourself - because afterall it really does start with you. We also talk about the thing that makes self care truly restoring and you need to hear this! Allison's programs are amazing and all linked here.

Get a copy of the Self Care Toolkit Allison referenced in this episode www.houseandhook.com/
Couple's Sandbox doors open in May 2021: https://www.allisonvilla.com/couples-sandbox
Take the free quiz: What's Your Relationship Season: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/5f984bffa2c7af0014e9a0b7

Allison Villa is a psychotherapist, relationship expert, creator of The 4 Relationship Seasons™, and host of the Couplehood podcast. She specializes in keeping couples’ thriving throughout parenthood. As a wife and mother, she understands how raising a family affects the romantic relationship and the challenges that modern parents face. With Allison’s virtual therapy practice, and online offerings, this keepin-it-real-mama combines her personal and professional experience to teach busy couples to live with intention & to use simple time-efficient strategies to connect with each other. Allison has been featured on numerous podcast, blogs, and media outlets, including Breakfast Television & CBC. "How you love each other today, will live on through your kids, and in generations to come." - Allison Villa

Tina is such a fun person to follow online and she as a badass with making delicious recipes that are beautiful and healthy! We discuss what its like to work with Tina - a holistic nutritionist who also happens to be a food lover – and what it means to meet someone where they are at. She shared vulnerably her struggles with binge eating and fad diets and that opened the conversation for me to speak about my own journey with emotional eating.

SIMPLIFY YOUR HEALTH WITH A NO FUSS APPROACH TO WELLNESS
Find out about all programs and offerings at www.simplytina.ca
Follow her on IG - @simplytinag

I am so excited for Leisse Wilcox to join us on the Podcast - in this episode she shares with us all her goodness on relationships {not just romantic ones!}, radical self love, healing, surrender and so much more. She talks insightfully about what is missing in a lot of other self help stuff online and what we need to watch out for. I loved the discussion about asking ourselves what we want in a partnership [single or not this is a really great question to ask] and how to start cultivating those feelings and joy from within ourselves in order to feel whole and not seek or rely on getting those feelings from outside ourselves. So. Much. Juicy. Stuff. Please tag me when you listen and let me know what you take away from this episode!

Since recording with Leisse I decided to read her book for a second time and go back through the Tacotivities {aka homework} and I am taking so much away from this because I am in such a different place than the first time I read it. I really recommend the book, you can find it here. leissewilcox.ca/buy-my-book/

She is not just another fucking coach - leissewilcox.ca

Leisse Wilcox is a Conscious Relationship Success Coach with an expertise on finding truth and beauty in the relationships we have with ourself and others.

As a Master Success Coach and bestselling author changing the global conversation on emotional health and self-love, she has been interviewed in media including Entrepreneur, Refinery29, CNN, NPR, CBC, Elephant Journal, the Toronto Star, and Thrive Global.

A passionate (and TEDx) speaker, dynamic thought leader, author, NLP practitioner, top podcast host, cancer survivor, solo parent of three, and taco enthusiast, she knows intimately that every relationship we have - in business, life, and love - is built on the foundation of the relationship we have with ourselves.

Bestselling author of "To Call Myself Beloved: a Story of Hope, Healing, and Coming Home," and the upcoming 2021 release of “Alone: Finding Truth and Beauty in Belonging,” head to LeisseWilcox.ca to connect with her for online courses and private coaching and mentorship.

Today we are talking with Laurel Legate a real estate agent {emphasis on the REAL!} in Toronto... she talks about how hot the market is and what she loves about her job. She shares how its been in the pandemic working with young kids at home and the one thing in her self care routine that NO ONE messes with ;) We chat about renovations and decorating and what it looks like to bring heart to her business. Hands down the best part is when we look back to this time last year and get real about our 2020.

Laurel's tips

• Burnout Book Recommendation – https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/9781984818324-item.html?s_campaign=goo-Shopping_Smart_Books&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpdqDBhCSARIsAEUJ0hOEjcTkTWPCQ8c2_fJuU8ImxXfLub3XbiNbcmKyf8wMhbd2rq_HELwaAtQoEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
• Peloton App for workouts

Follow Laurel on Instagram @laurellegaterealestate

In this episode Jen shared with us a brand new program called Soul-full Sales she is running late April 2021 so when this episode drops there is still time to join! Visit jenszpigiel.com/soulfull-sales to find out more or shoot her a DM on instagram @jenszpigiel

Jen Szpigiel is the Founder and CEO of Becoming Iconic Inc, where she uses her expertise as a Life Coach, Health Coach, and Business Coach and Mentor to help online entrepreneurs grow profitable and aligned businesses.

Jen creates transformational experiences for her clients using her unique approach that creates harmony in leadership, marketing, sales, and lifestyle. This approach has generated massive revenue growth for her clients in addition to results that have created more joy, confidence, and fulfillment in her clients lives. Through this work, Jen has generated millions of dollars in sales and revenue over the past 15 years and has led thousands of entrepreneurs to success globally.

She’s spoken on stages as a thought leader for women who want to stand in their power and has been featured in Canadian Business Opportunity Magazine.

Jen continues to mentor through elite coaching programs such as The Entrepreneur Makeover and The Iconic Entrepreneur.The secret ingredient to everything Jen does is her honesty and transparency, which can easily be found on her top business and lifestyle podcast, Becoming Iconic. She shares the hurdles, challenges, successes, and in-the-moment revelations weekly with the intention that it inspires women and mothers everywhere to take inspired action and create a life on their terms.

Here is a link to Jen's Podcast - jenszpigiel.com/podcast

Ashley started working with health partitioners to heal herself after traditional doctors missed some serious food allergies and this changed her entire career path. You will love Ashley’s storytelling and fun honest take on growing a business.

Ashley shares what she thinks is the first step is if you have a whisper of a business idea but are working full time and tells us all about her Brand Build Blog course and new things she has coming up. We dig into the unsexy stuff like setting up systems for your business and planning for retirement. I am so honored that she opened up to me about her struggles with extreme anxiety and what she is doing to feel a LOT better over the past year. This is a engaging episode and one of hope.

Inspired Action Takeaway – Go follow Ashley or share her account with any friends who run their own business! If you are curious about what type of business you could grow then go take Ashley’s quiz here - ashleysrokosz.com/quiz
Follow her on IG @ashleysrokosz

Carolyn and I met at our co-working place in the city in 2019 and she was immediately so welcoming and friendly. She has a simple, no nonsense approach to supporting companies with social media and digital marketing efforts to grow their service based or b2b businesses. This episode is packed with value for those thinking of starting a business, established entrepreneurs AND also anyone in a sales and marketing role. Plus we just shoot the mom shit for a bit too which is always entertaining and inspiring - one mom with health goals to another!

We talk about leaving corporate to start her own business in 2015, how much she loves working from home, what she believes is the biggest leap new entrepreneurs should make, charging what you are worth and so much more!

Check out the amazing programs and services Carolyn offers by visiting windwatermarketing.ca or follow @windwatermarketing on Instagram

This one is filled with strategies for making sustainable change in your health and wellness. We talk leaving corporate careers, TONS of health stuff, listening to your body, mom guilt that comes with change and now to navigate around it.... so much is packed into this episode!

Allison is the nutritionist that will let you keep the odd wine and pizza night ... even your daily coffee! But she gets what life is like for busy moms.

If you have felt the nudge to change things up in your career and lean into something totally different you will be inspired by this episode and hearing Allison’s story. She shares her top tip for women who want to make change in their health, super simple things we can do daily to prioritize ourselves and systems to put in place to help accomplish our bigger wellness goals.

Inspired Action Takeaway – Set yourself up to prioritize YOU by putting one new system in place to help you make that change. Listen to your body by making a daily log for a few weeks. In it keep track of your mood, events, food and water intake, sleep, etc. and start to look for your unique triggers and trends.

Check our Allison's programs, book a session or follow her online for daily inspo - allisonmadigannutritionist.com + @allison_madigan on Instagram

Lori is all about the woo woo without the cuckoo and she does corporate events, personal readings and zoom parties! Recently she was seen on The Social on CTV. We discussed what Tarot is, how it helps me tune into my intuition, what to expect or ask in a reading PLUS she did a live card pulling too…. Someone needs to hear this amazing MONEY card she pulled!
Tarot Lori’s website – www.tarotlori.com

Inspired Action Takeaway – consider pulling a card [from a deck or an app] or think about something creative that can ground you for even 30 minutes this week.

Melissa from Neatly Organized is here to teach us all how to simplify our homes - everything from cupboards and pantries to garages and playrooms - with her B.L.I.S.S. method.

She is also sharing how she gets the kids involved and helps them let go of items they no longer use or need.

Your inspired action for this episode is to choose one small project [even a single drawer] and use the BLISS method to declutter and organize.

Remember to check out neatlyorganized.ca where you can book a complimentary 30 min session with Melissa and use coupon code: EmbraceSimplified at checkout to get 10% off any purchase of her new Chore Cards for kids!

This is a really vulnerable episode for me to bring you but I know I am not alone in feeling like I have lost myself in the past couple years. This is a powerful episode if you lean into the journaling activities and let yourself feel the emotions coming up.

Five Things to help you FIND YOU again!

• Make a Joy List
• Visualize Your Future Self
• Plan time to Reconnect to Self
• Release Emotions in the body
• Celebrate your growth

If this episode resonated then here are some things I want you to check out!

• Free Therapy Resources - https://www.morneaushepell.com/ca-en/abiliticbt-government-sponsored-mental-health-program
• Future Self Visualization - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMD2BYgcxdg
• Book Recommendation - https://www.taramohr.com/the-playing-big-book/
• Danielle LaPorte TruthBomb App is the one I use for quotes that make me think and feel.

Calea is a mentor, coach and friend - her and I each have a doTERRA Essential Oil business and we get to work alongside each other while we have grown our businesses, our families and ourselves!

In this episode we talk about what it's like to juggle life with her spouse right now, how values and scheduling have helped them simplify life and how they have created a lifestyle that is now their business.

The link to check out her new Vegan ebook for the whole family! https://www.elevatinglife.co.uk/product-page/elevating-life-7-days-of-vegucation

Calea also referenced Plan to Eat which is a great site to check out if you need help organizing recipes, meal plans and making grocery shopping easier.

Follow Calea and Kevin on Instagram @elevating_life_uk

Kirsti's getting vulnerable about her poor sleep habits right now and sharing the steps she taking to get them back on track, make her plan and how she sets herself up to make changes that stick. 

You will learn how to tell if you have some sleep issues + the 5 critical steps to take before you make a plan to fix them. This approach and step by step process can be applied to any new health related thing you are trying to bring into your life.

People talking about sleep rituals + health online who I love @laura.bourne.wellness @sashaexeter @hol_fit @allison_madigan @thatgreenglow

Links to other helpful resources I mentioned:

• Tellent 
• Wise Mind Co.
• Laura Bourne Wellness Consult

 In my Sleep Makeover I share the new Bedtime Routine that I am following to help set me up for success. I reference various supplements and herbal remedies that I will be using and have decided to not share those details here but rather direct you to visiting you Naturopathic Doctor or Holistic Nutritionist to get tailored support and recommendations.

It is important that you understand your body and what it needs but my sharing what I am taking may not be the right fit for you. If you have any questions about this or about essential oils I am happy to help if I can - DM me or book a free call at the link in my IG bio.

The lotion I am using for pain and soreness that helps soothe my joints and inflammation before bed is called Deep Blue and it is amazing. I sell it so you can DM me or email embracesimplified@outlook.com for orders or questions.

Lynne Newman on Instagram @Lynnenewman @greymothering
www.lynnenewman.com

Book Recommendation - Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids

Inspired action from this episode is to apply Lynne's 4 steps of Simplicity process to one thing in your life... think small - one kids room or the toy area or a breakfast prep area in the kitchen.

There really is nothing simple about self care BUT sometimes there can be small ways to simplify our approach or mindset around it. Today I am sharing my 3 big HARD learnings around self care, why I hate the term self care and a few ways to learn and explore more about this topic so you can start taking bold consistent action.

If you have ever been frustrated by traditional preachy self care messages then this one is for you - I hope that by keeping it real around this topic we can all make more realistic changes to our "self care" practices.

*Also note - if you were the girl looking for helium I wasn't calling you out - it was just a simple way to tell my story and articulate my point. I am keeping track of how many helium moms I have seen in lockdown on social media - my count is 27 so far so don't worry you aren't alone and you are an amazing mom!

Inspired action from this episode could be reading my Book Recommendation - Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle or committing to completing a self check in and ranking areas of your self care and wellness so you can focus your efforts where it is needed most.

Remember to go follow Sarah @thisdoctorskitchen

If you want to start learning more about Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies here is a simple summary. https://api.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/The-Four-Tendencies-Nutshell-Guide.pdf