On today’s episode of Cultivating the Lovely, MacKenzie sits down, live and in person, with her best friend Rebekah Sacran. They chatted about how their friendship began, how they grew their relationship online, and what has been going on in each other’s lives since the last time Rebekah was on the podcast. Sit back, relax and enjoy this encouraging episode all about friendship.

• How MacKenzie and Rebekah met through Periscope
• The difference it makes to meet an online friend in person
• Why MacKenzie and Rebekah decided to get together, even in the middle of the pandemic
• The extra challenges Rebekah’s family faced during the height of lockdowns
• Dealing with her husband’s bipolar and side effects of treatment

Sometimes you need to have an intervention for your friends.

MacKenzie Koppa

• MacKenzie and Rebekah’s bad haircut stories
• The story of how MacKenzie’s family is adopting a dog
• Go watch Leeann and Michelle’s Enneagram Types “Back to School” video

Find Rebekah-

You can find Rebekah Sacran on Instagram @jaybeksacran.

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 episode of Cultivating the Lovely is brought to you by BetterHelp private online counseling. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOVELY for 10% OFF your first month of counseling.

This week on the Cultivating the Lovely podcast, MacKenzie chats with her friend Sara Henkosky. Sara is a wife and mom to 3 children 4 and under. She and her husband love to serve people through hospitality and are now looking forward to a new adventure as missionaries to Vanuatu.

• MacKenzie asks Sarah how this journey to becoming missionaries began
• How Sarah and her husband are preparing to go to Vanuatu
• Sarah describes the island situation and where they will be living
• Language learning and travel preparations
• Considering homeschooling and what supplies she needs to take

It’s so exciting to know that we can just trust God and watching Him work and do what He does best.

Sarah Henkoski

• Waiting and watching God work out the details
• How Sarah feels about being a mom and missionary at the same time
• Bridging the disconnect that can happen between overseas families and friends
• Visit IGOVanuatu.org to learn more about the mission
• A typical day for Sarah and her family

Current Lovelies-

Sarah: listening to podcasts, drinking more tea and getting outside

MacKenzie: enjoying the new puppy coming into the family

Resources Mentioned-

(Affiliate links are used in this content.)

Music:

Mr. by Leslie Odum, Jr.

Movies:

I Still Believe

Thanks to Our Sponsors- 

This week’s episode is brought to you by Freshly. Get $40 OFF your first 2 orders when you go to Freshly.com/LOVELY.

Find Sarah-

You can find Sarah Henkoski on Instagram @sarahkhope.

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.

Today on Cultivating the Lovely the Podcast, MacKenzie Koppa sits down with her dear friend Katie Duckett to talk about some of the things they are loving this summer. In order to take their minds off the craziness going on in the world, they are both finding some small lovelies to hold onto and stay joyful in the midst of challenging times.

• Of course, this conversation wouldn't be complete without MacKenzie talking about her love for Hamilton 
• Katie talks about her family's newfound love of the show Lost
• MacKenzie talks about her reaction to watching The Morning Show 
• What MacKenzie has been reading and enjoying
•  Katie shares what she has been reading lately
• Giving ourselves grace to consume and produce different content in different seasons
• Making sure we have balance in what media we are consuming and paying attention to how it affects us
• Katie and MacKenzie talk about some of the things they miss about their pre-pandemic schedules
• Katie talks about her gratitude for Alexa 
• Katie's current favorite drink addition: lavender simple syrup
• MacKenzie's story about caring for her neighbor's flowers

Resources Mentioned-

Affiliate links are used in this content.

Books:

All Things Reconsidered by Knox McCoy

The Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid

The Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole

Beach Read by Emily Henry

The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jennifer Morgan

The American Royals by Katharine McGee

Barbara O'neal

The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi

Music:

Hamilton

Jazz Morning Playlist Cafe 

Podcasts:

The Popcast

Thanks to Our Sponsor-

This episode of Cultivating the Lovely is brought to you by Postmates. For a limited time, CTL listeners get a $100 free delivery credit for the first 7 days when you use code LOVELY100 in the Postmates app. 

Find Katie-

You can find Katie Duckett on Instagram @may_these_arrows_fly.

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.

On today’s episode of Cultivating the Lovely, MacKenzie talks with her good friend Chelle Bruzas about making a house a home and creating spaces that minister to your family and friends. Chelle and her family have moved houses several times, and she has some great ideas to share with us about how to invest in your house and make it truly your own. (Affiliate links are used in this content.)

• Asking questions on how to make your house a place of ministry to others
• Chelle talks about accepting the gift that is their new home
• MacKenzie asks Chelle to explain her process of embracing a space
  • Thinking about what styles she likes
  • Learning how different details change a space’s appearance
  • Pinning room photos that strike her as appealing and curating those boards
  • Chelle mentions the paint color “Agreeable Gray” by Sherwin Williams
  • Thinking about how to best use the space functionally for doing what they love

How do I make those people who come through the doors of our home feel welcome and love, seen and known?

Chelle Bruzas

• What MacKenzie has discovered by creating a special space on her back patio
• Choosing to live your life now and not always being in a state of waiting
• Balancing trends and classic styles in decor
• Chelle explains the 80/20 rule for white and color
• Knorpp and South’s RV renovation videos on Youtube
• Chelle’s story about hearing the bells and having her special roses at their new house
• Chelle’s Pinterest Board for “Birdsong”

Resources Mentioned-

Books:

Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith

Find Chelle-

You can find Chelle Bruzas on Instagram @chelle_bruzas.

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 episode of Cultivating the Lovely 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.