Emma You're listening to the beautiful mess podcast, your cozy comfort listen.

And this week, we're recapping our favorite things from the past year, including movies, books, purchases, favorite memories and new things that we tried.

Elsie Oh, right, I love a favorite things recap, because it just like gets me appreciating the year.

And our next two episodes after this are going to be like, How did our goals go?

Goal recap and then New Year's goals for next year.

So I just love goal season.

It's tis the season.

Like, if you're not, if you haven't already been working on your goals since November, that's okay.

We can't relate on this one thing.

But like, I am, like, every day I'm in my journal making those New Year's goals, and it's the same thing every day.

And I just like writing.

Emma I was like, the first thing I did when we got to Italy, my first night alone in the hotel room, I opened up a new word doc.

And I was like, ideas for my 40th year, because I'm gonna turn 40.

And I just like writing little, and they're very random and mostly small, but like, yeah, we're just, it's fun to come up with, like goals, man.

So anyway, that's the next few episodes.

This one, no, this one.

We're talking about favorite things.

So we're kind of looking at the past, looking at this past year, which was awesome.

So let's get into it.

Yes.

Okay, so what was your favorite movie, or movies that you watched in 2025 it does not have to be a movie that came out this year, but it can be okay.

Elsie So my favorite movie of 2025 was weapons.

I think it was considered a horror movie, but it was like a fun horror movie.

More on the fun side.

Did you watch it?

Emma No, I saw the trailer because I read the premise.

I gotta know how this happened.

I read the premise, and I was like, strong premise.

I would definitely want to read this book.

And then I watched the trailer, and I was like, way too scary for me.

Can't watch this.

Elsie It was a great movie.

And I will say, as a horror movie enthusiast, there is not a great new one every year, not every year, like at all.

I mean, there's a new there are new ones every year, but there's not like one that you would like recommend and like, re watch, or like, you know, think about later.

Like, that is like, pretty top tier for a horror movie when you're like, thinking about it weeks and months later, which I am with this one at this point.

So, yeah, weapons, so it has Julia Garner, I think she's one of my favorite actors.

Like, she was amazing in this movie.

Yeah, I loved there's a lot of kid actors, because it's a movie about a classroom of kids disappearing, and that's sort of the the hook.

Most of the movie, you're finding out what happened, and a lot of a mystery thriller too.

Yes, it definitely has a mystery element.

A lot of movies like that do not have a satisfying ending.

It's very risky.

This one had an ultra, ultra, ultra satisfying ending.

So that's another reason why I loved it so much.

So yeah, if you're up for a horror movie, if you're up for a horror movie on this week of Christmas, this week of almost Christmas, I recommend it.

It's great.

It's five out of five for me, and definitely my favorite movie of the year.

And then the second movie I want to recommend, just for, like, a counterbalance, because I like, an oldie and a newie.

Yeah, is I watched this was like, I don't know if Jeremy was I think he was just in the basement.

I I don't know why he didn't watch this with me, but I was really mad about later, but I watched the 1969 version of The Italian Job.

So I know that there's an Italian Job from like, around the year 2000 or something.

It does not look like something I'd be into.

This one is is old and cute.

So the thing about it, it made me feel like I was seeing like, when people say, like the golden age of Hollywood, I think there's more than one golden age of Hollywood, honestly, and it's maybe, like 100 years long, no, maybe like 40 years long, I don't know.

Emma Yeah, it probably comes in waves.

Elsie Starting at the Wizard of Oz, ending in the 70s.

Maybe that's maybe my golden age, okay, but anyway, this movie, it starts off like, kind of like whatever.

It's a heist movie.

It's fine, it's cute, it's old.

And I personally just, like, just the fact that it was made in 1969.

I would probably like it, because I just enjoy watching movies from that time, not even in my genre, typically, but it had at the towards the end of the movie, like a, I would say, like, probably, like a 40 minute car chase sequence, and it was like pre CGI, and there was like mini coopers jumping from building to building.

Like, it was just so incredible.

Like, I just have to tell everyone about it.

Wow.

It was just so incredible.

Like, if you need a movie to watch with your dad, if you need a movie to watch with your husband, if you need a movie to watch was kind of like anyone who is a nerd or likes old stuff or likes high stuff, or, you know, I feel like this can, like, go in a lot of different directions, but like, the fact that I was so engaged with a car chase means it was like artistic.

It was a very it was kind of, like, almost like a Broadway version of a car, you know what I'm saying, yeah, like, it was, like, very beautiful, and they just went so unhinged with it.

So I thought it was one of the best old movies I've ever watched that I haven't really heard people talk about as much, because you hear, you know, like everyone talks about Rosemary's Baby, everyone talks about the Audrey Hepburn movies, like, there's, you know, but this one, I haven't really heard a lot, and it was just so delightful.

Emma I kind of want to watch that.

Elsie Yeah, it's fine.

I think Trey would love it.

Emma Yeah, we'd probably really like it.

Okay, mine was the new wicked.

Oh, so we talked about this a couple episodes back that we took the girls to the movie theater, and it was like a movie party.

We were talking about it.

So this was my favorite new movie that came out this year that I've watched.

And so I should say I love wicked the musical, I've never read the books, but the musical, like the Broadway musical, I've seen it two or three times.

I just really, really love it.

I love all the songs from it.

But here's a weird fact, I didn't get around to watching the first wicked so when it came out, like, a year ago, year and a half ago, I guess year half ago, I was breastfeeding, and I looked at the runtime, and I was like, I can't make this fit.

I can't do it.

Like, there's no way to unless I was pumping in the theater or, like, somehow, like, there was just no way to make it work.

So I was like, All right, I can't see this in theater.

I'll watch it later.

And then, you know, because I was breastfeeding, as you might guess, I had a baby, yeah?

And so I was just very busy this past year, and watching, you know, I think it's three hours or two and a half two or three hour movie is very difficult for me.

Yeah, if your movie is beyond an hour and a half, I probably won't watch it at my home.

I just don't have that much time in the evenings.

After my kids go to bed, it's like, you know, perhaps he'll go alive.

And you wrote a novel, like you don't do anything else.

Well, there was one week my husband was out of town.

I was solo parenting, and I was like, my goal for the evenings is I'm gonna watch wicked, probably in two to three parts, but I'll do it.

And then I was like, Oh no, it's on Amazon, and I don't know how to log into our Amazon on the TV.

I know how to do it.

Oh no.

And I was like, Oh no.

I think I might also be a grandma in addition to so.

So then I was like, Oh well, I already, I've seen the musical.

It's fine.

And I'll tell you it is fine watching wicked the second one, you're fine.

If you know about the musical, you don't really need to watch the first one.

It's totally fine.

You'll you'll catch up with the story, no problem.

Yeah, but I did love it, and I thought it was super inspiring, like how you have your horror thing.

I think I'm a little bit of a musicals person.

I love musicals.

They really hit me with the feels, and I can't sing, and I've never really, like wanted to be in a musical, like, I'm not a theater kid in that sense.

But I love watching a musical, and I just love musical.

So I loved the new wicked five stars.

Yeah, I loved it too.

I thought it was really nice for me.

I cried.

I thought it was I thought the first one was beautiful, but for me, it was a little boring, like, you know, yeah, they're like, establishing all the relationships, yeah?

Like, I was pretty much just for the songs, you know.

And then on the newer one, it was a little more engaging for me.

So I like, but I'm, I'm a total outsider, so yeah, and in this one, they kind of reveal the origins of the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow.

And I was watching, I was sitting next to Nova.

Nova loved that.

And she was just like, Oh, he's a scarecrow.

Like, she was just, I could, you know, I was like, Oh, she didn't know.

She didn't know this is where this was going.

And it was just fun to like, I love experiencing something.

Like, I wish I could find someone who was like, never read Harry Potter and watch all the movies with them.

Like, I guess it will be my son when he gets older, because that's what you do with your kids.

Fun to, like, experience, you know, when someone doesn't know it's coming in to, like, watch them take it in.

It's like, really fun, yeah.

So yeah, I was just like, listening, Nova, but just, he's the tin man, you know?

And it's just, yeah, girl.

Elsie Waiting for the big moments is like one of the best parts of reading Harry Potter with your kids.

It's so amazing.

Emma Oh yeah, I'm excited for that era.

Elsie You're gonna love it.

Okay, did you have a favorite book of the year?

Emma Yes, I picked three.

Elsie Three.

That's fine.

Yes.

Emma Okay, these were my, I think top three.

But I did read a lot of good books this year, and I like that we do a lot of book reports because I feel like fun.

I don't really like having just one because I love reading so but anyway, here's top three that I really enjoyed this year that stood out as I was scrolling through the pictures of all the books I've read, because I keep it on my phone.

I loved lessons in chemistry, funny story and the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I thought those were all so much fun to read.

I was lost in the story as I was reading them.

They were each so fun.

And I think I did a book report on each of those.

So that's great.

Elsie Yeah, no, I love those books too.

Actually, I don't think I've read funny story yet, so I love it.

I'll have to keep that one on me.

Yeah, you do like one.

Emily Henry, yeah, one Emily Henry book a year.

That's the perfect amount for me.

I love it.

I like, I'm not gonna run out too soon, which is also nice.

Okay, so my favorite, I put like a kind of a new, like a best seller, and then I put like an old classic book.

So my new bestseller that I read this year that loved was the wedding people.

I just thought that it checked every box, and I have, I am a person who's obsessed with reading reviews because one of my writing editor coach people told me you should like read reviews for every book you read.

And it like, really, it's really fun.

So now I do it all the time, and this is one book where I feel like the reviews, the people who don't like it, I actually disagree with them.

Usually I agree with both sides.

Yeah, you know, yeah, not on this one as much.

It's like, I think this is just like a great book, like, I think in most or all books, you have to accept certain things about it as sort of like, the price of entry.

And I think that, like, the people who review this book really, really low, they just, like, won't accept, you know, like, what it is.

They don't like how it starts.

I had a hard time with the suicide actually, the actually, I agree with you, like, the way it starts is probably, like, on the lower part of how good.

Yeah, the book gets so much she's doing the divorce it.

I was a little bored through that part, and then I got really engaged when she started meeting all the wedding people, right?

Yeah, I don't know.

And honestly, I can't even say, like, I think one of the reasons why I love it so much is because I didn't feel like I was gonna love it that much.

And there's a lot of books I read this year that I felt like were gonna be this, like, big, like, five star book for me, and they were, like a four, and I was like, Oh, it was pretty good.

And then this book, I was like, This is gonna be a four, and it was like a six, like, it was just, like, so much better than I expected it to be.

And they and, yeah, there's a lot of fun characters, and I don't know, I honestly can't say why I don't know it just, it's just satisfied me.

And maybe it was also like the time, because I know I finished it on an airplane, and for whatever reason, if I finish a book on an airplane, I always just like it, like, brings it up a notch.

You know, is that real?

Emma I don't know.

No, I don't feel that.

Okay.

Means nothing, means I'm out of reading materials.

So, oh no, actually, the airplane always like, I like 20 people a lot too.

But it is interesting because I feel like of everything you read, because it's not that I know every book you read, but you usually talk to me about reading, no, you know every book I read more on the commercial side than the literary.

But it is like one of those that if you think it's going to be a very commercial book, you're going to be disappointed, because I think it is more literary and sad than you might be expecting.

For that category is also one of those that kind of straddles the category, because a lot of people are like, this is my favorite romance.

And I'm like, Hmm, I wouldn't call it me.

This one doesn't this isn't quite a romance, but I could see why you'd put it in that category.

I don't actually know how it's shelved or anything.

Elsie I even have like problems with it.

But yeah, I just loved it so much.

And like some I actually think that's like a thing.

Maybe I should become like a book club fiction person, because I think I kind of like it when I have conflicting feelings.

Yeah, you know what I mean?

Yeah.

Because even the things I didn't like about it are still, like interesting to me, so I don't know.

But anyway, that was my favorite commercial book of the year, and then my favorite classic with you was 100 Years of Solitude.

I think this is like the fifth time I've talked about it on here, which is fine.

Ever heard of either read it a million billion years ago, like the first year I started reading.

She was like, you have to read 100 years of solitary.

I was intimidated by the title.

I think I was, yeah, I was intimidated.

And also, like, when you go to read a classic book, I have, okay, you just don't know what you're gonna get.

You just never know what you're in for, and you always have, like, a perception of what it's gonna be.

And it never is that, you know.

Emma I also feel like you kind of need someone, or at least, to me, tell you, like a friend who like actually reads, and they like to read somewhat on your level, like the kinds of things that you like.

That's what I mean.

Because there are some classics that, if someone tells you to read it, and you you're like, wait a second, are you just snobby?

This is not an enjoyable read at all.

It's just a classic, you know.

And then there's some classics, like, I would say, 100 Years of Solitude, where it's like, yeah, this is a classic for a reason, and it is literary, but, like, it's also a really fun read.

It's out there, man, if you want to understand magical realism, especially, I feel like this is sort of the one this has got to be in your learnings.

Elsie When it is beautiful and unhinged, it is very beautiful and very unhinged.

But this is a book that I would say I also do fully agree with the one star reviews.

The one star reviews are roasting it pretty hard, and it's like, yeah, it's all true.

All the characters are named the same name, and it's confusing.

And there's like, a lot of like, there's like, a literal ascension into heaven there.

And like, the magic is, I mean, unbelievable is like an understatement.

Magic is like, it's not like what you're if you, if you enjoy, like fantasy books, it's not going to be anything like what you're here.

Emma It's more like an allegory type thing.

Then, yeah, Harry Potter.

Elsie It's more like reading the new Bible, yes.

And it kind of has also like the pacing of the Bible, where it's like, in parts of it, it's like hard to get through and challenge.

Emma I've read the Bible.

This pacing is better, but then the things about it that.

Elsie Oh, it's okay.

So it's like the original, the original two characters.

I really, really, really like their I shouldn't say it, but there's, like, some weird stuff in there.

Yeah, I'm not giving this a good review at all, okay, but what inspired me about it, um, I think it's the most beautiful book I've ever read.

The thing that I crave in books more than anything else is this, like, utterly, like, this kind of inspiration that just makes you feel, like, sick to your stomach.

It's so gorgeous.

Like, this book has that kind of, like, gorgeous writing.

And I feel like any book that is inspired by this, so I feel like the Shadow of the Wind, they had some like, definitely parallels within, like, the magical side of it.

And I don't know, I just kind of feel like, after reading this, this inspires a genre of fantasy, and it's the genre of fantasy that I want to be connected to, and I want to read all the books that have this, and there's other, you know, there's all kinds of different types of fantasy for different types of people.

But, yeah, I want this, like, poetic, sad, weird, you know, kind of like the Odyssey, you know what I mean, like, it has like, elements like that.

Emma We're just, like, telling you you got to read, like, Water for Chocolate, okay, you're gonna like it.

It's weird, okay?

Elsie And then the other thing I loved about it was one of the reviews I read said that from a Venezuela, Venezuelan person, and they said that they felt like it represented their history of their culture.

And since Emma and I's mother's from Venezuela and we have little to no connection with the culture, that was also, like, fun and illuminating for me to experience and like So yeah, if anyone has more suggestions for things that would expose us to Venezuelan culture, I would also be very into that.

Yes.

And then the 100 Years of Solitude TV show, no, I haven't seen that is, it's on, I think it's on Netflix.

I might get it wrong.

It's really beautiful.

And they let it.

They let it be weird.

They did not take out the stuff where he's kind of marrying a child, like this, this, yeah, they did not take out the offensive stuff, which I think is interesting.

I don't know if I would say good, it's it's interesting.

It's more interesting.

Strong choice.

But yeah, so anyway, loved it.

And yeah, I will read more of his books if anyone has suggestions for that.

But those are my two books of the year, very different.

I did have a weird reading year, and most of the other books that were on my top list of the year, which you can see it on Instagram if you want to see it, but we're mostly all old books.

Emma So Well, next, let's talk about favorite purchases of 2025.

All right, so for me, this was just like a lot of clothing and accessories, basically nice tell us about, I must admit.

So as I've mentioned, I don't have social media on my phone, so there are moments where I'm parenting, and I've been, you know, playing with our one year old for a while, and then he's kind of doing his own thing, and I'm letting it do his thing.

So what do I do?

I find myself shopping on my phone, and I don't log in to anything on my phone, like I'm not logged into Amazon or any anywhere, so that I don't buy anything while I'm on my phone.

I have to think about it and buy things later.

That's my rule of myself.

But I do find myself like shopping a little bit here and there.

And I'm not saying this is a good habit.

I'm just telling you, as my friends, that this is something that I've been doing.

Hey, listen, normal.

Elsie Listen, we're not judging you at all.

I don't give like.

Emma I'm not saying it's good or bad.

I just want to make it clear this is not advice.

This is just something I'm doing.

Yes, this is your favorite thing.

So anyway, tell us what you bought.

So I bought a lot of fun clothes that I love.

My closet is like starting to fill up with things that are a little bit weird and colorful.

So okay, so I'll just list a couple of specifics, just so you know some things I'm talking about.

So I bought these lavender Birkenstock clogs that have, like, the fur on the inside, and they're really cute, and they're my color, and I've been wearing them a lot, and I love them.

I have a I already had a green pair, and I liked them, but I just wanted something that they're like, dark foresty green, yeah.

And I just wanted something that felt a little bit softer, yeah.

So I bought these lavender ones.

I really like them.

I also bought this like kind of pastel lime green sweater.

It's a weird color.

Actually worked wicked, and I just feel like it really looks good on me.

And I like the sweater.

I like the cut of it, everything, but just the colors kind of weird.

Like it was the weirdest color that they were offering, but it just based on getting my colors red, I knew it would look good on me, so I bought it, and I've gotten lots of compliments every time I wear it.

I also bought this, like, blue sweater that's just kind of a basic but it looks really good on me, and it fits me really well.

And I bought a whole bunch of scarves this year.

I have, like, a pink one, a lavender one, a kind of periwinkle one, a blue one, and one of them I bought while we were in Italy.

And I like wearing neck scarves.

It's my era.

And I will say, as you can probably tell from all the things I'm listing, I'm really leaning into shopping with my colors in mind, from getting my colors red.

And we also have the book that we've talked about in a previous episode.

And I feel like that.

I'm in an era where I don't feel like I really have a lot of time to get ready.

I don't feel my prettiest right now, and I'm blaming my kids, that's the short version, yeah.

But I do feel like I'm getting lots of compliments on all these things that I'm buying because they're they look good on me because they're my color, and if they don't fit me just the way I want that I send them back.

And I feel like, in my old age, I'm just getting I'm not old, I'm only 40, but I am getting pickier good.

I'm finding like, what really works on my body and what colors really work for me, and what I enjoy wearing, and it's a lot of colorful, weird, and I'm loving it.

And I'm shopping, and I love walking into my closet.

I feel like there's so many things I want to wear.

I love it.

Elsie I love that too.

Emma An honorable mention is my new tattoo.

It is an open book so, hell yeah, no, getting a new tattoo is like, I think it's one of the best things you can spend money on.

I mean, yeah, if you like how it turns out.

Elsie I actually don't like hate most of my tattoos.

So I don't.

I'm very the one.

I either love them or I don't care.

Yeah, I don't.

That's the way to maybe I don't allow myself to hate them, I'm not sure, but something like that.

Okay, my favorite purchase of 2025 is, I got this journal from Etsy.

Okay, so if you have Tiktok.

I think it's on Instagram too, but it's really, really on Tiktok.

For some reason, there's this, like, these Louise Carmen journals, and you can just get like, sucked down.

It's like, its own algorithm.

And so Louise Carmen is this, like, Parisian store that makes these journals.

They're leather.

They kind of fold over, and then they have this elastic strap around the outside, and then people put like, charms on them and stuff.

Oh, and you have seniors, yeah, so you can stand in line in Paris, and you can get one made.

And I think they're around, like, $300 they're very fancy.

They're custom, you know, they put your initials, they put gold foil.

They have all this stuff.

Build a Bear for adults.

I get it.

It's build a pair for adults.

Oh my gosh, that.

Thank you for that.

And I was looking at them.

I was thinking about it for a little while, and then I decided, so they have their own sizing.

And so if you do get the Louise Carmen one, you will need to, like, get refills from from them.

There might be another place.

But I was like, you know, I really like, so I just had bought, we did the The Artist's Way, our book club, and I did, I actually did pretty bad on my artist way journey.

I need to do a new one this year.

But I did do the morning pages.

And I really liked the morning pages.

That was the main part of it, where I like, the thing I did bad at is I didn't read the whole book.

I just like, I don't know why the morning pages is a big part of it, yeah.

So I've been doing the morning pages this whole time, since we started, probably in the end of summer.

That has been really great.

So anyway, I had just bought this huge pack of a five Moleskine journals, yeah, from wherever, and I had them all in my office.

And I, like, had this, I have this, like, burgundy one.

So anyway, and then I just, like, a five.

So I was like, I'm gonna find a journal that looks like this, but fits a five so that I can have, you know, because it's like, if you like moleskin journals, they're easy to find.

They, you know, you can buy them locally.

You can buy them online.

You can buy them in a 50 pack.

You can like, it's easy.

And then they also have the plain pages with nothing on them.

And they have the grid pages, which I like for certain things, and then they have the lined pages, which I like for journaling.

So I like to have, like, a variety of different pages.

So anyway, I found on Etsy a place called forest nine, where they make journals that look basically the same and they fit the a five size.

So that's what I got.

And I got, I think, my initials on there.

And then, as far as the charms I like, have a million charms.

I'm into that kind of stuff.

I love making jewelry, and I have this thing where I'm like, putting them on my frames.

And so anyway, I already had a million charms, so I was like, I'll just put my own charms on.

I did that.

I want to hear from anyone who has had one of these and carried it.

My charms are just like, always getting caught on things they snagged.

My bed spread like a night murderous when I saw yours in my purse.

So I think you just have to put it in a cloth cover every time you carry it.

But even then, it's hard for me to like when I'm just sitting on my bed, it's like snagging on my comforter constantly.

I'm not sure how to make the charms not annoying, so I'd like if anyone has a solution for that, if you've been through this exact same pain point, which is very niche, I would love to hear it.

I would completely redo them if there's a way to make it better.

Because I just have, like, little gold hoops right now, like what you would use to make a necklace, and that is not good.

I don't think, I think that's what's nagging so anyway, that was my favorite purchase of the year.

I love it.

Besides the charms falling off everywhere.

It's the best.

And I have already replaced one of my journals inside of it.

And I love that too, that it's just gonna like be a place where I can keep so in mind, I have one that is morning pages, and then one for each of my novels, and then one that's like a sketchbook, and it feels perfect and great and like, good for now.

Emma She's a journal girl.

Elsie Yeah, I love it.

And then my other favorite purchase of the year, I just put my kitchen.

It's not really one purchase.

It is like 100 but I do think it's gonna be like, maybe the best purchase of my lifetime, because it's like, gorgeous, the gift that keeps on giving.

I'm so happy.

It's over, like there's no words for how happy I am that it's over.

I'm so so so happy it's over, and I am just thrilled, and I love it, and I'm gonna appreciate it and value it and bond with it and all the things.

Yeah, so grateful for that.

Emma All right, next is favorite memory from the year.

Elsie Yes, I think we might have the same favorite memory.

Emma Yes, I put two.

Okay, so I put first one.

I'll say my one that's different from yours.

Okay, so this year, my son, Hugo, started walking.

Oh, and I know, you know, every baby starts walking, but it's just special.

Yeah, it's always a special thing.

It's such a milestone.

And he's starting to talk to he has a few words he says, but he's really good at walking now, and it's only been, like, you know, three months.

Wait, what words did he say?

He said Dada, Mama saw him say a few, like, up, just every down again.

And it's partly he's just imitating us.

So anything that we say often, he has a version of it.

And it's hard to really say.

If you're like, he got it, or like, Oh, he's kind of giving the sound, yeah, where you're like, that's a part of talking, yeah, it is, yeah.

So I feel like first words are actually a lot more nebulous.

As far as, like, what was it?

It's like, well, you know, and walking is similar, like there, it's a little bit nebulous, but I will say he definitely took his first steps at home.

But there is this moment.

So there's this little play area at our mall.

We have one mall in Springfield, Missouri, and there's this play area there that is, like, right by the food court.

And it's perfect for kids his age and older kids too.

But it's just like, soft and there's things you can climb on, but not very high, because a lot of outdoor places playgrounds are a little bit too advanced for him at his age.

So anyway, so we go to this mall play place fairly often, and one day we were there, and I was trying to help him practice his walking, his steps, because he hadn't, you know, he's working on it.

And I have this video of him where he's like, really doing it, and he even walks, like, a little bit away from me, and then he turns around, and his little face is just like, so proud.

And he kind of like, walks back.

And if you ever seen a little kid do their first steps, they would kind of walk like a Frankenstein, like, just very, you know, jilted forward, yes and yeah.

They're like, balancing themselves by, you know, sometimes holding things for like, sticking their hands out.

But they just look like a little tiny Frankenstein.

Tiny Frankenstein, and it's so cute.

And I just have that video on my phone, and it was just this, like, you know, special moment of the year.

And then the other thing I wrote down is going to Florence going to Italy with my friends, but I think that was yours too, so he can elaborate more on it.

Elsie Yeah.

I mean, we planned this trip, and it was a big one.

It was a big one.

There was lots of special moments, but I feel like the art museums, when we got to see the birth of Venus, and then when we got to tour Peggy Guggenheim's house, her collection there, was just like, I don't know it's like, I can still, like, feel it in my body.

Like, yeah, you know what I mean, like, the feeling of, like, just like, full body inspiration.

And I think that like to travel the world, to, like, see a painting for, I think to some people probably sound.

It's kind of like, like, why can't you just look at it in a book or something?

You can't, you can't, you can't.

It's not the same, like you you can't really see what you see in person until you're there in person.

And every painting like that I've seen, every famous painting that I've ever seen, is a little bit different than I thought it was going to be once I see it in person and, like, there's just this, like, I don't know, special character of seeing things in person that is not replaceable.

So I'm really, really happy we got to do it.

And then I think just the Uffizi Gallery in general was such an amazing I've never been to a gallery like that before.

I do kind of like, split my interest between Renaissance art and modern art, and that also made the trip so perfect, because we split our trip into two different museums that were perfectly catered to those two niches.

Yeah, so anyway, it was magical.

And then, yeah, just having that friend time.

We talk a lot on this podcast about, like, making friends and maintaining friendships in your 30s and 40s, when you're in a time of life, of, you know, having like, Emma, you know, has a toddler learning to walk, and I have like, you know, kids who are, you know, asking me if the elf on the shelf is real, and they're literally at Chuck E Cheese right now because they're off school.

Like, yeah, it's better than on.

It's very easy in this 10 year period of life to lose your own interest and to, like, lose your connection with your friends, and it's very challenging to maintain those things.

And I remember life before kids, like, I remember it perfectly.

And, you know, someday we'll be there again, you know, in a different way we will, but I think that anyway, I'm just, I'm very thankful at this time in life.

It's like the, probably the most meaningful possible thing to me is just like having adult friendships and sometimes even adult conversations, you know, and I think the podcast kind of counts as that.

So, yeah, circle of like, our favorite message that we get almost every week that makes me cry is when people say that like they feel like we're there's their older sisters or something to that effect, like we've grown up together in some way, or, you know, we're sharing something and keeping them company while they do their yeah tours, or painting their house, or, yeah, yep, I love it.

Okay.

Favorite New thing you tried?

Emma Okay, I wrote down too, so somewhat related to the Florence trip.

So we had this tour guide twice for two different tours, and she did great.

She was a great guy, and she was really sweet, but she also had these glasses, oh yeah, say the brand, Moy, Moy, mew, mew, mew, mew, so she had these glasses, mew, mew, glasses.

So they had the little brand on the side, and they were just really cute.

And I remember thinking, I should get some designer eyeglasses.

I've never done that, so I have a number of pairs of frames, but my absolute favorite that I wear every single day is still the bond look glasses that we designed that's called Jack and Norma from years and years and years ago.

I don't think you can get them anymore there.

It's why.

Someone could get them on like, eBay or posh could probably get them, yeah, somewhere used or whatever.

Elsie I'm gonna put mine in a frame this, oh yeah ones, because they're so special.

Emma I still love my like, I said, I literally wear them every day.

So, yeah, so anyway, but I've never bought, like, designer eyeglasses, and I don't know, she just looked so cute, and they looked so cute on her.

And I thought, I'm just gonna do that.

I don't know why.

I've never, it's never even occurred to me.

So I bought a couple pairs off Ebay.

I need to get my eyes examined again, because I do think they've gotten a little bit worse.

And so I was like, this is the perfect time to do that, this little chore that you've been putting off, and you can get your new prescription put into these.

So I got a pair of that brand.

And then I also got, you told me to look at Chloe.

Yeah, I looked at Chloe, and I got a pair of those too.

Are they really 70s looking, or are they different decade looking the Chloe ones?

No, I think they're more modern than that.

They're very dainty though.

And then the other ones are more, like thicker, more unisex looking, I guess.

Yeah, no, I love the style you're pursuing.

I feel like it's like a fancy version of Miss frazzle.

Yeah, it's really, that's what I'm going for, for sure, fun.

Yeah.

So that's something new that I'm trying designer glasses.

And then the other thing I wanted to mention, this is so random, so at the somewhat beginning of the year, I guess I've always had kind of issues with food poisoning and gut health, and so I've been trying some things this past year to improve my gut health, which is basically for me, and you should just talk to your doctor if you have issues like this.

But for me, it's like taking a probiotic, vitamin every day and taking fiber.

And I have things in my diet that I've always been doing, but then I added eating fermented foods more often, and I do think I've improved my gut health a lot.

So one thing this year that I've been opening myself up to is eating raw fish sushi I never used to eat raw fish sushi, or any meat that was, like, under cooked or raw, in part because I just get food poisoning so often that it just felt like, and there's nothing wrong with eating raw fish sushi normally.

And also, like, if you like a rare steak, that's something you can order.

It's not insane or anything.

It's just something that, for me, I was always scared of that kind of stuff, because I would just get sick from very random things all the time.

And so I just felt like, Oh, I'm I'm opening myself up to more chance if I eat any of those things.

So I just never really ate raw fish sushi, in part because I was scared that I would get my food poisoning, sickness stuff.

So anyway, since I've been improving my gut health, I decided to give it a try.

And now I really like it.

I've been eating a lot more sashimi.

What's the other one?

Where it has rice underneath it?

Nigiri.

Yeah?

Nigiri.

I think people call it Nikiti.

Oh, that's what I've always heard anyway, yeah.

And I really like it.

I feel like I'm getting to eat things that I never really tried before, and I'm really liking it.

And there's lots of fun flavors, and my favorite is usually yellow tail.

That's usually one I really like, and it's just fun.

My husband really likes sushi, so I feel like I'm getting to like and he didn't care.

He was like, yowler or whatever you want.

But it's just nice to get to kind of share something with someone that you didn't before.

And so that's been really great.

And yeah, I'm very happy that I didn't give up.

I've gone through a lot of phases with it over life where I'm like, oh my, my guts are never going to get better.

This just is what it is, and I should just not eat anything weird ever and just accept it.

And I think it's good to just keep trying things and, like, talk to your doctor, talk to someone else, go.

I went and got like, a food sensitivity test.

And, you know, just keep trying and learning.

And you never know.

Yeah, so, and I still don't think I have, like, guts, like, you know, whoever has the best ones, I don't know, but it's better than it used to be.

I'm sick a lot less than I used to be good, and I'm happy about that.

No, that's great.

That sounds like a good step forward.

I didn't get sick the whole time we were in Italy, and I almost always get sick when I travel, because you have to eat out a lot and, you know, and get sick the whole time.

Elsie Well, maybe a pasta doesn't make you sick.

Emma I did eat a lot of pasta, premium pasta and gelato doesn't make you sick.

Elsie Oh my gosh, oh my god, I love it.

Okay, so the thing I'm trying is watercolor painting.

So since our trip, we brought water.

We all brought watercolor paints because we knew Elise was going to so we were inspired by her.

And I was like, hey, watercolors, and I've always kind of been like that.

They're just very they're very watery.

Yeah, I are.

I'm always, I've always been more of and I think I maybe would like, I would think I'm gonna try gouache next link, and I think maybe that might be a good fit for me, but I don't know that is wash.

I'll show you.

It's more pigmented looking.

But anyway, I'm bonding.

I got a set of watercolors after the trip, and I was like, I'm gonna bond with and I have been, and I've been like, messing around with it and playing with it often.

And I feel like it is, like, it's a very relaxing type of painting.

And I think it's also good for me to have, like, a type of painting that it really is just for fun.

Yeah, like, I don't think I would ever try to, like, sell a watercolor painting.

I know that I wouldn't, probably probably never, but it's just, like, kind of an experiment, you know, to play with it, yeah, like, maybe I can make collages from this stuff, or maybe there's, like, you know, something in here for me, like, you have to find your, like, end of certain types of creativity.

So, yeah, I just, I've never been a fan of watercolor paintings.

Like, just the beautiful ones are not as beautiful to me as they are to other people.

But, like, so I'm just trying to find, yeah, like, the part of it that interests me, and I think that's, it's so good to do that with things that you haven't given a chance to and I am finding something there.

So yeah, that's my little pep talk.

I guess.

Emma I love it.

I do love a hobby that stays a hobby, yes, fun, and it's cool, if your hobbies turn into jobs.

We have obviously done that a lot, and that's great.

But I do love a hobby that stays a hobby.

It's fun.

Yeah, yeah, you can feel it when it's like I love doing this, but I don't want to sell it or really even show it to anyone.

This is just for me to have fun.

Yes, yeah.

It's just for you, creative person, Yeah, feels really good practice my religion, which is making.

Elsie It is I feel that, Wow, I've never thought of it that way, but that that is a good label that I think is accurate, maybe.

Emma Yeah, whenever I have a really good writing session, which I do actually want to sell my books, but It's okay, feels to me kind of like prayer.

Elsie Wow.

Emma Like it just feels like connecting with the universe is what a better way to say it.

I guess that's what it feels like to me when it's like, you can tell you're really in the zone.

I don't know why it feels that way to me, but I assume it's because creativity is my religion.

Elsie That's beautiful.

Okay, our last category is favorite candle.

Yeah.

Do you have a favorite candle of 2025 but I just like, I love candles.

Emma I know we never shut up about candles, but lately, so I don't know if I have favorite but lately I've been loving leaves, which is like a scent that you could buy for so long now, it's from Bed Bath and Beyond.

Elsie Bath and Body Works.

Emma Bath and Body Works, yeah?

And it's kind of a basic candle, and I love it, yeah.

Elsie So it's the Ugg boots of candles.

Emma It really is, and it's great.

It's so good.

Also wanted to mention, I love burlap bag candles.

If you're looking for a gift, check them out.

They have such cool scents.

And they have one that's kind of like it's in the description, because I can't remember the name right now, but it smells kind of like an anthropology store.

It's really good one, but they have a ton of good ones.

And then I also love, we've talked about thistle farms before.

It's a company that's based in Nashville, and they're just really cool.

Get on their website and read about them all.

Their candles are great.

But I really love their I think it's called fur needle, yeah?

Or it just, it smells like a Christmas tree farm.

It's incredible.

It's pretty intense, and it's really good.

Elsie Yeah, no, it's really good.

And if you're like a person who's looking for a more like naturally scented option, they also have that element to it.

Okay, going on the different end of the spectrum, I got a candle from Walmart that I usually buy, I swear to God, is like, it looks like an anthropology candle, like the vessel they put it in, you know, the it looks like, you know, the that's a real Walmart move volcano, yeah, the shape of the volcano candle vessel.

And then they have, like, a smaller one too.

So they, I just looked it up before this, and they are $10 and I think $13 so they're, like, just very inexpensive.

And the scent that I like is called fresh cut Frasier.

Okay, so this year I had a turning point with candles that was kind of sad.

I like, could not find a fall candle that I liked, and I was like, next year I'm gonna try just going straight for, like, the cider or, like, there, there's gotta be something in there.

But, like, I have, I can't do it with pumpkin candles anymore.

Like, there's just something about it that, like, I can't, you know, really, pumpkin candle girl, it hated it.

Like I was, like, losing my mind when I had these.

And, you know, it's like, pumpkin candles are, are a thing like, so I really wanted it to be a thing, but then I just started burning my Christmas tree candles instead in like September, and that worked for me.

So, whatever.

And then, besides that, okay, so I have my inexpensive Walmart candle, nice.

And then I have this super over priced, fancy candle, but it, but it's also a really good one.

So if you like a, like, a low amount of scent, and you want it to be, like, very subtle, but like, you can smell it, but it's subtle, and it's subtle, she's not because some candles can be very overpowering, and it's like, just and in certain rooms, it depends on what room you're in, like, it's, you don't always want that.

So anyway, I started getting this one, and we can find it at a local boutique, but it's the brand is called LAFCO, and it's the photoboy candle, and Elise actually recommended it.

And it is just like a really good, really neutral, smelling everyday candle.

I use it in my entryway, and I just think it makes the house smell nice.

Emma thought it was too weak, like she was thinking it was strong enough.

Yeah, so and I like, I, but I don't want a strong candle all year round.

Emma I will say too, especially if you're living in a new house, or if you're new to candles, why?

Hello, I do think that it kind of matters your house.

Because, yeah, so in my house, I usually put my candle on the kitchen level.

I have a split level house, and it's kind of like in the corner, sort of near the kitchen sink, and that's where, and it's just a good spot for us, because you can kind of see the light, and then also it's somewhere our kids cannot get at all.

So because I can't put them on coffee tables, we're not in that era.

It's not if my little kid can get it, we're screwed.

So there are no candles low down in my house.

So anyway, so I've noticed that no matter if it's a stronger scented candle or not, when I walk up to the bedroom level, right as you get to the next level, it's like really strong scent right there, and then it kind of isn't as much in the bedrooms.

Yeah, it's so weird.

And then if you go down in our basement, you can't smell it at all.

Like there's no chance you'll be able to smell a candle up in the kitchen, which makes sense.

I wouldn't really expect you to, but it's just sort of interesting.

It's almost like you have to figure out the right places in your house to put candles, in addition to how strong of a scent you want from a candle, because some are stronger than others, but it's also kind of the placement.

Elsie Yeah, no, ours also has that, like our entryway goes up to a stairway.

It's on the second story, and when you're at the top of the stairway, you can smell the candle more than any other place.

Emma Yeah, top of the stairs is like the spot.

Elsie Interesting.

Yeah.

So, yeah, I put one only in the kitchen, like a small, tiny one by the stove, and then one in the entryway.

And then I do have a candle warmer on one of our bookshelves, and I use it once in a while.

And I personally, like I've heard people roasting candle warmers.

Emma I've never tried one.

Elsie Okay, let me give you my sell then.

Emma I do, like the fire of candles, like the flicker.

Elsie Yeah, and I get it.

Like one of our friends was, like, someone gave me a candle warmer.

What's the point of this?

Why wouldn't you just light the candle?

Okay, so here's the good thing about a candle warmer, is that if you buy a candle that's expensive, or a candle that's hard to get, like, I have this one that I buy, like, five of them, five of them at a time, because you can't buy it locally and I and it's from a candle shop, and the only thing I like is one candle.

So I just buy five of them, right?

Like, once a year.

So if you have candles like that where you want it to last longer, you can make it last way longer, like five times as long.

And you, I mean, you can warm it a million times, but I will say it's best if you do it when the wick is all the way up and new still, like, if you start doing it with, like, older candles, sometimes the wick can go down and get lost in it, and then you're all up, you know what I mean, then you have to, like, can you still warm it?

Or No, yeah, you can still warm it, but then you wouldn't be able to light it again right after that.

Okay?

And, like, you could, you could, like, spread your fingers down in there and try to get it back out.

But, like, so I usually just use it with brand new candles.

And I do it for a while, and then I feel like I'm getting this, like, extra life out of them, and then later on, I'll burn them for real and be like, fine with it.

So that's my thoughts on it.

I think, I do think that they're good if you if you have a special candle, or a really expensive candle or something like that.

But if you don't care how long your candle lasts, like, if you're getting these Walmart candles, maybe you don't need a candle.

Emma Every time I buy groceries, I pick up another candle, yeah.

Elsie And it's also nice for if you have a habit of, like, forgetting to blow out your candles, they have done that.

I don't think burn your house down.

I and most candles aren't gonna burn your house down either.

Emma No, but you should blow them out.

Elsie Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So I know a firefighter is gonna write into me now and be like, why did you say most candles can't burn your house down?

All candles can burn your house down.

Emma That's true.

Elsie Yeah, I'm sorry.

Anyway, candle warmer, take it or leave it.

Emma But I mean, I'm interested.

I just didn't totally know what's the point?

What's the point?

Not that I'm against them.

Just, I was like, I always kind of wondered if it was like, if it was, like, if you've ever had a candle where it kind of tunnels, or like, you just feel like you're not getting everything out of it.

Elsie If I ever have a candle that starts having only one side the waxes, yeah, like, it gets kind of melted down with your warmer, which is nice, yeah?

Emma Like, if you don't do a good memory burn, like, if you light your candle, then you realize you realize you have to leave the house, and you're like, you know?

Like, for sure, yeah, I always thought it was kind of for that.

I didn't really know, though.

Anyway, did we make the candle section too long?

Once again, I think the answer is yes.

Elsie I think it was fine.

Okay, let's pass it to Nova for a joke and a fact with Nova.

Hey, Nova, what do you have for us this week?

Nova A meditation, a meditation.

Elsie Okay, I'm closing my eyes.

Nova It's for Christmas Eve.

Elsie Okay, I'm ready.

Nova First deep breaths.

One more.

Now that we're all calm, imagine that you are inviting your family over.

It's Christmas Eve.

The tree is twinkling.

Stars are above.

The stockings are hung.

A warm fire's on.

Your family's laughing, having a party, you look around even outside the brightest star that is always part of Christmas, stars is shining especially bright.

You drink some hot cocoa.

Then people start exchanging a few gifts.

You got something you had always wanted.

Then when you go up to bed, you think about your night, and what a lovely night it was, and you think you can't wait for tomorrow.

Open your eyes.

A few more deep breaths.

Okay, now that you're all calm, it's time to end.

Elsie All right, thank you for that.

That was very calming, and I feel very in the Christmas.

Nova And everyone I want you on Christmas Eve to thank two people for what they have done to you.

And just think about it.

Elsie That's beautiful.

Thanks, Nova.

Nova And I hope you're feeling in the holiday spirit.

Bye and have a good week.

Emma Okay, and don't forget to send us your unhinged hot takes, nothing serious, only silly stuff, and we're going to debate it.

And you can email us anytime at podcast, at a beautiful mess.com or you can leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011, we'll be back next week.