Hey, ladies! MacKenzie is popping into your earbuds with a short bonus episode featuring a sneak peek at a new Audioboom original podcast, FAM: For All Moms. This podcast is literally for all moms living through the madness that is parenthood. Join hosts Susan Yara and Sharzad Kiadeh every Wednesday as they share their sometimes embarrassing experiences, while also providing advice from experts and friends. FAM: For All Moms premieres 1/29. Subscribe to FAM: For All Moms on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fam-for-all-moms/id1494037915

Today on Cultivating the Lovely podcast, host MacKenzie Koppa talks with Seth Haines. Seth is a lawyer, a photographer and the author of The Book of Waking Up: Experiencing the Divine Love That Reorders a Life. He and his wife, along with their four boys live in the Ozarks. MacKenzie and Seth chat about addiction, recovery, pain, and waking up to the life God wants you to have.

• Why this book is for everyone, not just someone struggling with addiction
• Misusing God’s good gifts to numb ourselves to pain
• The power of meditating on God and finding His divine love

Every created thing is a gift from God given to us to use and to enjoy Him.

Seth Haines

• Learning to recognize God’s quiet voice amidst painful circumstances
• Allowing ourselves to sit in the pain and wait on God to show up
• Seeing emotional pain as a signal that we need to tend to something
• Making the most of community and the tools God has provided for us to address our pain
• Seeing relationships differently once you wake up
• Being willing to see a different identity for yourself to move forward
• Waking up and recovering is a day-by-day process, not a one-time thing
• Why Seth internalized a message of scarcity and lack and how he is dealing with that today
• Seth’s routines for building in habits that will refresh and renew him
• A typical day in Seth’s life

Current Lovelies-

Seth: practicing his photography skills and working on a new book idea

MacKenzie: journalling on a daily basis and getting back in the habit of writing

Resources Mentioned-

Affiliate links used in this content.

Books:

The Book of Waking Up

Coming Clean

Movies:

O Brother, Where Art Thou

Almost Famous

Find Seth-

You can find Seth on his website sethhaines.com. You can also follow him on YouTube,Instagram, and Twitter.

Find MacKenzie-

You can find MacKenzie Koppa on Instagram, Facebook, and the CTL Facebook Group, of course! Join us on Patreon at Patreon.com/CultivatingtheLovely.

Thanks to Our Sponsors-

This week’s episode of CTL is brought to you by Wickbox. Get $10 off your first box, go to Wickbox.co and use coupon code LOVELY at checkout.

CTL is also brought to you by ClassPass. Get your first month FREE at ClassPass.com/NEWYEARS.

On the Cultivating the Lovely podcast this week, MacKenzie Koppa interviews Rebecca Bender, author of In Pursuit of Love: One Woman’s Journey from Trafficked to Triumphant. Rebecca is a survivor of human trafficking and is now a wife and mother with a busy speaking and advocacy schedule. She is passionate about teaching and about helping others realize that their stories matter. MacKenzie and Rebecca cover a variety of topics surrounding trauma, abuse and recovery, including:

• How much MacKenzie identified with Rebecca’s story and why
• Realizing that this kind of thing can happen to anyone and having grace for other people’s stories
• How our brains are built to adapt to and cope with trauma
• The gift of using different modalities in recovery from trauma
• What it was like for Rebecca going back to Las Vegas and being in places she had been when she was trafficked
• How trauma causes us to forget and block out memories

While we might not be able to 100% relate with each other’s stories, all of us have this root of desiring to love and be loved.

Rebecca Bender

• Rebecca’s new life and passion for helping people know that their stories matter
• Teaching our children to see the warning signs and take their time in relationships
• Why Rebecca decided to start a podcast
• The importance of training up our boys to be men of honor
• A typical day in Rebecca’s life right now
• Donate to Rebecca Bender’s Initiative campaign

Current Lovelies-

Rebecca: making time to be at with her daughters during a busy season

MacKenzie: taking time out to be extra present with her kids heading into a challenging season

Resources Mentioned-

(Affiliate links are used in this content.)

Books:

In Pursuit of Love

Podcasts:

T. D. Jakes

Bethel Sermon of the Week

Expression 58

Movies:

Gladiator

Find Rebecca-

You can find Rebecca on her website rebeccabender.org and listen to her new Hood to Holy podcast. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Find MacKenzie-

You can find MacKenzie Koppa on Instagram, Facebook, and the CTL Facebook Group, of course! Join us on Patreon at Patreon.com/CultivatingtheLovely.

Thanks to Our Sponsors-

This week’s episode of CTL is brought to you by BetterHelp private online counseling. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOVELY for 10% OFF your first month of counseling.

CTL is also brought to you by the Future 1-on-1 training app. Go to TryFuture.com/LOVELY for 50% OFF your first month!

Today’s episode of CTL is brought to you by Imperfect Foods. Go to ImperfectFoods.com/LOVELY through February 16, 2020 and enter code LOVELY to get $10 OFF your next 4 orders!

On today’s episode of CTL, we continue the conversation with MacKenzie and Chelle all about their reading lives. They recap more of their favorites from 2019, and they also look ahead to 2020 and talk about what kinds of books they are excited about in the coming year. (Affiliate links are used in this content.)

• MacKenzie’s fastest reads from 2019:
  • Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
  • A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
• Chelle’s favorite audio book of the year:
  • The Magnificent Story by James Bryan Smith
• Chelle’s most thought-provoking books of the year:
  • When to Walk Away by Gary Thomas
  • Boundaries for Your Soul by Allison Cook and Kimberly Miller
• MacKenzie also recommends All My Friends Have Issues by Amanda Anderson
• A book MacKenzie read with Roman:
  • No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman
• MacKenzie’s most researched book of 2019:
  • The Gown by Jennifer Robson
• Chelle’s most researched book:
  • Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller
• The kinds of books Chelle is looking forward to reading in 2020
  • Adorning the Dark by Andrew Petersen
  • Adore by Sara Hagerty
  • There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Åkeson McGurk
  • The Almost Nearly Perfect People by Michael Booth
  • The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
  • Where the Light Gets In by Kimberly Williams-Paisley
  • A Chance to Die by Elizabeth Elliot
  • Stay by Anjuli Paschall
• The books that MacKenzie is look forward to reading in 2020
  • Don’t Overthink It by Anne Bogel
  • On the Bright Side by Melanie Shankle
  • Stand all the Way Up by Sophie Hudson
  • The Book of Waking Up by Seth Haines
  • Jane Austen’s Emma or Persuasion
  • American Royals by Katharine McGee
  • Victoria by Daisy Goodwin
  • Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Look out for our seasonal book giveaways coming up throughout 2020!

Resources Mentioned-

CTLP Episode 141- Dealing with Toxic People with Gary Thomas

Find Chelle-

You can find Chelle Bruzas on Instagram and Goodreads.

Find MacKenzie-

You can find MacKenzie Koppa on Goodreads, Instagram, Facebook, and the CTL Facebook Group, of course! Join us on Patreon at Patreon.com/CultivatingtheLovely.

Thanks to Our Sponsors-

This week’s episode of CTL is brought to you by  BioClarity. Right now you can save 15% off everything at BioClarity.com when you use coupon code LOVELY at checkout.

CTL is brought to you by Grove. As a CTL listener, you can get a FREE 5-piece Sustainable Home starter set at Grove.co/LOVELY, plus free shipping with your first order.

This week on Cultivating the Lovely, MacKenzie Koppa and Chelle Bruzas sit down and talk about the books they read in 2019 and what their favorites were, as well as why they love Goodreads so much. This is only the first part of the conversation, so be sure to check back next week for part two in which MacKenzie and Chelle look ahead to their reading goals for 2020! Now, get your Amazon cart and TBR list ready, and sit back and listen in to this fun conversation! 

(Affiliate links are used in this content.)

• Why MacKenzie and Chelle love Goodreads
• Find and friend MacKenzie on Goodreads
• Find and friend Chelle on Goodreads
• Chelle’s favorite fiction books from 2019:
  • The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
  • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
  • Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan
• MacKenzie’s favorite fiction books from 2019:
  • London Celebrity Series by Lucy Parker
  • The Winston Brothers Series by Penny Reid
  • The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
• Chelle’s favorite non-fiction of the past year:
  • Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot
  • A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken
  • A Light So Lovely by Sarah Arthur
  • The Crosswick Journals by Madeleine L’Engle
• MacKenzie’s favorite non-fiction of the past year:
  • A Love Letter Life by Audrey and Jeremy Roloff
  • In Pursuit of Love by Rebecca Bender
• MacKenzie’s favorite humorous books from 2019:
  • Home is Where My People Are by Sophie Hudson
  • The Bassoon King by Rainn Wilson
• Chelle’s favorite humorous books were family read-alouds like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
• MacKenzie’s favorite memoire of the year:
  • The Actor’s Life by Jenna Fischer
• Chelle’s longest read from 2019:
  • Victoria The Queen by Julia Baird

Resources Mentioned-

CTLP Episode 141- Dealing with Toxic People with Gary Thomas

Find Chelle-

You can find Chelle Bruzas on Instagram.

Find MacKenzie-

You can find MacKenzie Koppa on Instagram, Facebook, and the CTL Facebook Group, of course! Join us on Patreon at Patreon.com/CultivatingtheLovely.

Thanks to our Sponsors-

This week’s episode of CTL is brought to you by BetterHelp private online counseling. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOVELY for 10% OFF your first month of counseling.

CTL is brought to you by Away Travel. Visit AwayTravel.com/LOVELY20 to buy your own new favorite Away Suitcase.

Also, be sure to check out boldturquoise.com/thelovelymarket for our new Cultivating the Lovely merch! New products and designs will be added throughout the year, so come on over and do a little shopping!

Welcome to 2020 and a brand new decade! Today on Cultivating the Lovely, MacKenzie Koppa sits down with her good friend Chelle Bruzas to talk all things goal setting and New Year’s! They approach things from a different perspective, so this is a great conversation to listen in on as you start off your year! 

• How Chelle and MacKenzie approach goal setting and planning differently
  • Chelle tends toward spontaneity and focussing on people over plans
  • How Chelle thinks of Jesus carrying her through her days amidst chronic illness and exhaustion
  • MacKenzie has to approach her days with more structure and planning to provide for her family
  • She feels more fulfilled and energetic when she is working toward her goals with purpose
• Assessing where you are before you start setting new goals
• Why Chelle uses notebooks instead of a specially designed planner
• Looking at smaller time periods for planning instead of really long-range goals
• Changing habits to aim more at the type of personal you want to become
• MacKenzie gives some examples of her specific health goals and action steps to reach them
• Removing the obstacles to starting and keeping up with habits
• Keeping your habits and plans in front of you so that you don’t forget them
• Having someone to keep you accountable and cheer you on
• Replacing a habit you want to quit with a better alternative
• Chelle’s outdoor walking habit and the difference it has made for her
• Embracing our differences and helping each other through our strengths
• Chelle and MacKenzie share their Word of the Year for 2020

Cultivating Groups are now open to register for this quarter! Become a Lovely Tribe Level supporter or higher on Patreon to sign up!

Affiliate links are used in this content.

Resources Mentioned-

Books:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Podcasts:

Amy Porterfield podcast episode #295 with James Clear

Find Chelle-

You can find Chelle Bruzas on Instagram.

Find MacKenzie-

You can find MacKenzie Koppa on Instagram, Facebook, and the CTL Facebook Group, of course! Join us on Patreon at Patreon.com/CultivatingtheLovely.

Thanks to Our Sponsors-

Cultivating the Lovely is sponsored by Blume Hug Me deodorant. Get 25% off your first stick, plus free shipping, when you visit Blume.com/Cultivate.

CTL is brought to you by Plan to Eat meal planning service. Visit PlanToEat.com/LOVELY to start your free 60-day trial instead of the normal 30-day trial.

Also, be sure to check out boldturquoise.com/thelovelymarket for our new Cultivating the Lovely merch! New products and designs will be added throughout the year, so come on over and do a little shopping!