Exactly Enough Time

The Genius of Play

I love to learn and share about human flourishing and today on the podcast, I’m talking toys, creativity and the genius of play with my guest Anna Yudina, the Senior Director of Marketing Initiatives for The Toy Association. Anna is amazingly energetic, smart and generous and I know you’ll enjoy our conversation. Listen to learn more about … The Toy Association, its history and role in researching and providing for the needs of manufacturers, retailers and consumers of toys and entertainm...

Uplift Kids with Jon Ogden

I sat down recently with Jon Ogden, one of the founders at Uplift Kids to talk about the impressive and very helpful resource they’ve created to help parents teach their children values. Our children are growing up with access to global influences—for good and evil—and they are witnessing much division and contentious behavior. FREE Two Week Trial HERE A recent Uplift Kids Instagram post read, We’re too often walled off — from nature, from each other, from our inner compass. At Uplift Ki...

The Best Ideas with Shaun Brown

This week I have the privilege of visiting with my good friend, Shaun Brown who has just authored a children’s book, titled, The Best Ideas Come From God. Shaun writes about real people who have acted on heavenly inspiration to do important and historic things, and her much-needed message to the next generation is God loves you and wants to send his best ideas to help you! I know you’ll enjoy hearing about Shaun’s creative process and that you’ll take encouragement to do the things you feel...

Uniting Families with Lovre Soric

A few months back I received an interesting email that resulted in an opportunity to interview Lovre Soric, who is creating an awesome solution set to help us in uniting families across time and miles. Lovre hails from Croatia and works in California. On a trip home he sensed a disconcerting disconnection developing between him and his distant family members. He knew there had to be something better than social media or email to stay connected and to share information and stories with hi...

Game Changer

My friend, Jessica Vincent is on the podcast with me today and I’m super excited for YOU because what she has created is quite literally a game changer. Jessica is the founder of Positive Sports Communities and is right now hosting a super cool event, called Travel with Your Team Summit that features trainings from a panel of experts on everything from mental toughness and anger management to better sleep and saving on travel. ⚽️ 🏀 🎾 ⚾️ 🏐 Jessica Vincent from Positive Sports Communities...

Today is Comeback Day!

It’s been just over six months—28 weeks to be exact and I’ve missed YOU—but, I’m back! Today, June 8th, 2023 is Comeback Day. 🎙️ Let’s Do This! Episode 137 is short and sweet and chance to think about how we treat babies and how we feel about baby stories. In May, on International Scrapbook Day (and my birthday) I gathered with friends via Zoom to tell stories. I started with two photos of me taken during the summer of 1966 and pictured below … As I spent time with these photos I though...

Time, Life & Self with Marla Beech

My friend Marla is a memory keeper, podcaster, self-connection coach and overall champion of living with intention and I’m tickled she is on my show today. Marla does many things, but the thing she feels most called to do right now is to teach tools of self care and improvement and she does this in an experience called Camp Connection. Marla helps women put together a first aid kit for life—and I love how each item in this visual kit represents powerful concepts and practices. Listen for ho...

Janine Adams: Share with Confidence

Why do you think genealogy and family history are so popular? My guest today is Janine Adams and her answer is that it’s so much FUN, plus it connects us to past history in general and it invites you to play detective! Yes to all of that. Janine is a professional organizer, family historian and podcaster and we’re talking today about how to get started and stay organized when it comes to discovering and documenting family stories! Here are my BIG take aways from our conversation. I can’t w...

Colette Can Help!

I can’t wait for YOU to hear how I met Colette Hokanson, because it was a truly memorable moment. Colette is an absolute JOY to know AND, she can help you find and connect to your roots—because she is an expert when it comes to research, records and roots! If the word genealogy just feels overwhelming to you then the next 30 minutes could change your life. Truly. You and me and everyone on this planet wants to know how they belong and it’s people like Colette than can help get you started...

Kobi Yamada & Ideas

Today on the podcast I get to tell the story of how I discovered Compendium, the makers of amazing, inspirational books, cards, and products. Far more important than that, I get to share with you the story of how Kobi Yamada—the President and CEO of Compendium—discovered and helped build into Compendium the inspiration that we all need and love. YES. For reals. Kobi Yamada is on my show today! As I listened to Kobi, I was reminded that idea people are super curious. They aren’t afraid of...

Slow, Quiet & Present

This month in Live Your Story we are asking, “How can I be more present with time?” Time to truly ponder such a question seems as rare as the quest it proposes and yet if we don’t at least try to better understand where and how we spend time, we fail to fully experience life. I’ll tell you one thing I know for sure: The world with its cacophony of noise isn’t going to help us slow down and be quiet without our choosing those things and I want the ability to do both, frequently. In today’...

Writing with Julia Ditto

Read Julia’s past columns at The Full Suburban I’ve been reading a column in our local newspaper, The Spokesman Review for over a year now and I LOVE it. The column, The Full Suburban is created weekly by Julia Ditto. Every time I read I think, “I want to learn to write more like Julia!” Her tone is conversational and her words are packed with accessible wisdom and so much wit. Finally I did the thing that might actually help me achieve this goal. I invited her on my podcast. I know. Br...

Live Your Story

In episode 130 I am telling you ALL about my new membership, Live Your Story. My word for 2022 is IMAGINE and what I have been imagining has now come to life. My idea now belongs to so many others too—and I’m beside myself with anticipation for what we will build together. I’m inviting you to come build with us. Come help. Be a part of a new community of people who want to intentionally infuse life with more JOY and color. People who need support for the telling of personal stories—people ...

A NEW Idea

It’s your lucky day—not only because it’s March 17th, but because TODAY I’m sharing with you my brand NEW idea. But first, St. Patrick’s Day … 🍀 On our menu tonight … 1. Corn Beef & carrots 2. Roasted cabbage 3. Hasselback potatoes 4. LOTS of other green food! Everything I currently do and have done for years to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day—ALL the fun traditions—were are one point in time an idea. And idea that I read about or heard or found on Pinterest. I LOVE what ideas become. Ideas...

For the LOVE …

Disneyland!

I’m in Disneyland this week. I’m here with my favorite Star Wars nerd (my son, Chase). We’ve officially experienced the planet Batuu and helped the Resistance in their rise against The First Order. In other words, we have had an amazingly immersive time—just as I imagined we would. I thought last week—since this was my planned destination—I would talk about this one-of-a-kind place and share a few things I have learned. I am NOT a Disney expert or even really an aficionado. I don’t own a...

My New Year Nine

Today I’m sharing my New Year Nine! In a pandemic-stricken world that has wrecked our sense of control, it’s nice to know that we are very much in charge of LOTS of life-extending and life-enhancing factors. Today I’m exploring a list of “control centers” A few years ago I listened frequently to podcasts from Peter Attia—a medical doctor who specializes in longevity. In one particular episode (that I haven’t been able to locate) he shared a list of 8 things humans have control of that di...

Light and the Load

I decided I have exactly enough time for a podcast episode this week. AND, it’s great to be back because I had a recent experience that is shaping how I will approach this 2021 holiday season and I can’t wait to share it with you. I’m certain you’ve seen and probably followed a large vehicle bearing an Oversize Load banner before. Imagine if as we moved through our days and interacted with people we could see an indication of what kind of load they were carrying? I was invited this yea...

Priorities

Today I’m sharing a few changes in my life—new opportunities—that have and will require a shift in priorities. I have actually loved —for a LONG time—the idea of understanding values, creating priorities and using both to improve personal productivity. I often say that this podcast isn’t about productivity, but it is about being present in your life, because you create the time you need to do and share what you LOVE most of all. In a way, Exactly Enough Time is all about prioritizing wha...

Audio Stories for Kids

One of the main reasons I started a podcast is to share ideas. Sometimes these ideas just happen to also be products and today I have an amazing idea and story-based product to share with you. I am chatting with Drew Vernon, marketing director for Tonies, USA, but this is not a sponsored episode. Drew and I have similar passions for creative play and screen-free storytelling that develops a young person’s imagination. We both love inspiring creativity in kids and adults and of course for m...

Pioneer Day

I descend from pioneer stock. This means almost ALL of my ancestors on both sides of my family emigrated to this country as it was expanding west from colonies into territories and eventually states. Many of these ancestors were early converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and came to America in an effort to gather with other saints (or members). They came by ship and by train and then they worked their way across the west by covered wagon and handcart—they from Denmark,...

Travel

I recently stayed at my brother’s house and picked up an issue of National Geographic and read an article titled, Why Travel Should be Considered an Essential Human Activity by author and speaker, Eric Weiner. I loved reading his thoughts on travel and decided I wanted to share some of my own go-see-do AND learn experiences in today’s episode. I started by opening my Notes app and adding to list I started last year of ALL the places I’ve been. Next to each I want to briefly describe an ex...

Chanelle Nielson

I have a new friend to share with you today. She is Chanelle Neilson and she is a life coach who helps women and particularly moms with a side hustle who want to organize their day and find balance between family and personal goals. As a mom of 5 kids, Chanelle knows that motherhood has its challenges—that’s why she is passionate about helping moms simplify so they can prioritize what matters and define success for themselves. She is the former host and creator of the popular Moms Who Know P...

Tech Stories

I have this cute air freshener that hangs in my car that says, “Do more of what makes you forget to look at your phone!” The other day I was thinking how absolutely absurd that would have sounded to someone living before the year 2000. I mean why on earth would they be looking at their phone or perhaps not wanting to look at it too much? As we daily navigate this constantly evolving and advancing digital and media-rich world, we are witnesses to unprecedented technological changes AND chang...

Summer Reading with Hillary Hall

In truth this episode is about so much MORE than summer reading. What memories do you have of your local library? Who taught you to hold a book and how to read? Think about the way you use reading, writing, listening and learning to engage with the world? Would you like to more easily find books for your child/teen and help them fall in love with reading? Have you ever wanted to just pick the librarian’s brain? 📚 This is your lucky day. All this and summer reading today with my amazi...

Paige LOVES Paper!

My friend Paige happens to LOVE paper—a LOT—and that will make more sense after you listen to my intro, but truly, you are in for a huge treat today because I am sitting down with Paige Taylor Evans to talk about her journey to here and her amazing and distinctive memory keeping style. Image from Paige’s Pages #18 at Big Picture Classes Paige Evans has been scrapbooking since she was 16 years old when she got her very first job at a local scrapbook store in Redmond, Washington. It’s now b...

Photo FUN for Summer

Who wants to have ✨MORE FUN✨ with photos this summer? Awesome. This listen is for YOU! I have FIVE ideas to share. Let’s go! Create a Re-Take This is my number ONE idea because it is EASY and can be entirely hilarious. Your kids or friends and family members are almost always “game” because it feels like a game. Start by looking back through older summer photos—your favorites—and find one or two or ten that you could “re-take” this year. Then when the time or location presents itself see ...

The Time Consuming, Frivolous & Mundane

Today’s show invites exploration of the awareness and authentic happiness found in things that don’t make sense. The next time you think, this will take too long or I really shouldn’t spend my money on that, or this isn’t the best use of my time—stop and ask yourself WHY you think those things? “I fear we sometimes forgo immediate, positive results in exchange for sensibilities based on eventualities that may not even occur. ” — Me (I said that!) I’m not saying we shouldn’t be though...

Scrapbook-y Things

I’ve always felt like memory keeping is more of a lifestyle than a hobby. Today’s micro show is about easy things you can do to support your desire to document life even as you are living it. “Life is nothing more than a stream of experiences, the more widely and deeply you swim in it, the richer your life will be. ” — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi I’ll share FIVE things I’ve done recently that are “scrapbook-y” … Engage intentionally with children, family members and friends in small poc...

Moving Forward with Kolette

I’ve known of and loved my guest today for years. She is Kolette Hall and she made a BIG splash in the memory keeping world several years ago and then during my years with Big Picture Classes, she was a sought after instructor. You’ll be glad to know she is still here and she continues to move forward regardless of life’s twists and turns. Kolette oozes inspiration. She is warm and interested and brave—AND—she is a widow. We are going to talk about that and we’re going to talk about her l...

Be Amazed.

Today’s micro show is an invitation to be amazed. Turns out it’s actually good for you—to experience a sense of wonder and awe. How interesting right? So, I decided a few weeks back to make the effort to feel awe a personal emphasis for the coming year. I have started a list on my phone where I will document experiences and moments—the new and novel, the unbelievable or the simply beautiful things—in short, anything and everything that I choose to see or recognize or just remember as tr...

How To Tell A Story

Save $20 on Story52 with code: 35WEEKS I’m going to tell you TWO stories today—I’m publishing this episode right in the middle of National Tell a Story Day and National Scrapbook Day—so though I had another topic planned, I decided to tell stories and talk about stories—which you hopefully recognize as a recurring theme! I am often asked, “How do I tell—this usually means write—personal stories? and ”Where do the ideas come from?” or “How do I begin?” or “How do I make my stories inter...

Life in Contrast

Today’s micro episode is about spring and cold sores and the opportunity we have to be more present and more appreciative as things change. Life is full of contrasts and even when we don’t always anticipate or welcome them, they teach us and can help us focus on what’s most essential and important. “Put light against light — you have nothing. Put dark against dark — you have nothing. It’s the contrast of light and dark that each give the other one meaning.” — Bob Ross Honestly, two m...

PhotoTherapy (part 2)

My guest today is Judy Weiser who is the founder and director of the PhotoTherapy Centre in Vancouver, Canada—she is a licensed Psychologist and registered Art Therapist who has pioneered PhotoTheraphy, the use of photo-based techniques as tools for herself and other professionals. I sat down with Judy for the first time back in Episode 93 and today I’m finally publishing part 2 of that conversation. Judy is going to introduce us (and more particularly me) to Therapeutic Photography—which ...

Perfectly Imperfect

Today’s micro show is a reminder to aim lower. Sounds crazy and counterintuitive for sure, but it is the secret (in my opinion) to showing up as a creative in a noisy and competitive world. The minute you begin to intentionally practice imperfection is the minute you can start doing the work you were meant to do with expectations that produce results! Oxford defines imperfection as the state of being faulty or incomplete. I don't like that definition, so I’d like to submit one of my own … ...

Just Ask!

Today’s micro show is about ASKING which I believe is one of the greatest ideas ever conceived. Do you want or need help? Ask! I promise, it’s easier than you might think and rather than “feeling stupid” there’s a good chance you’ll be richly rewarded. Asking improves our lives—it nurtures curiosity and invites exploration. Asking is how we elevate our intellect beyond genetic instincts to a more advanced and fulfilling pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Asking a simple question can spark a ...

Courage & FREE Kindness Cards

Courage and Kindness. 🧡 Is what our world needs more of and what my guest today has practiced her whole life—these virtues in tandem have steered her to where she is today in her career (and in life) as one who seeks to influence the world for good. I discovered Vicky’s bold vibrant designs on Instagram when I saw a post promoting FREE Kindness Cards. I had to have them and I have been a fan and follower of Vicky’s ever since! “If you’re following the trends then you’re not setting...

The Power of Same

Today’s micro-show is an opportunity to recognize rituals in your life. Everybody who has watched the long-running children’s show, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood—at least twice—knows what Mr. Rogers does when he walks into his house. This is because what Mr. Rogers does is the SAME every single show. Have you ever wondered WHY? What Mr. Rogers does is a powerful example of a ritual … A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed in a sequeste...

I am ...

Today’s micro show is a challenge for you to listen to the “I am …” statements you make this week. There’s a good chance you say “I am …” (followed by something—a LOT.) And, you think “I am …” (followed by something) even more frequently. But, have you ever really paid attention or examined up close these thoughts and words? Some of these “I am” statements you can’t do a darn thing about, but most—the ones that really matter to your future—you have absolute control over. Photo by Joshua ...

She's Persnickety

Click HERE to read more about Chari in her own words! My guest today is Chari Pack. She’s persnickety—a term that can be used to describe a particularly precise or careful approach—in this case with printing digital images and servicing customers. Chari is the owner of Persnickety Prints, based in Orem, Utah and she has developed a process for printing photos that produces beautiful and archival results. Chari has been a memory keeper and journal enthusiast for as long as she can remembe...

Exactly Enough Time (the story)

Well hello. It’s been a minute, but I’m back with something new: My version of a micro-show and today’s episode is the very first one. ⏰🎉 I’m going to tell you the story of the words that I have loved for so many years and that have now become the name of this podcast. That seems like an appropriate come-back topic, yes? “Everything changed the day she figured out there is exactly enough time for the most important things in her life. ” — Brian Andreas (Kai Skye) Brian Andreas, now...

Thirty-WONderful with Geoff

Today I sit down with my husband, Geoff to share memories and talk marriage. We celebrated 31 years on December 28th. Episode 101 is our anniversary celebration this year and we’re sharing it with YOU. We prepared for this episode by coming up with three questions—each—and then choosing three questions (of the six) to answer. Here are the questions we had to choose from … ➡️ When did you know this was something different? ➡️ What did you get (with me) that you didn’t anticipate? ➡️ What...

The Gift of Words & Music

When I realized that my 100th episode would fall on Christmas Eve, I wondered what topic I could share that might both celebrate my favorite holiday and this podcasting milestone. I decided to give you the gift of words and music—to create a short mash-up if you will that combines some of my favorite words in quotes and scripture mingled with (in my opinion) some of the BEST Christmas music available. I hope as you wrap up details for the big day tomorrow, this will be cause for smiling, sin...

Photo Freedom

Today’s the day I tell you more about my shiny, new Photo Freedom 2021 course—the one that starts on Friday, January 15th. The one that I want YOU to be a part of … If after listening you’d like more information … Click HERE to visit the Photo Freedom 2021 course description and registration page. Click HERE if you’re taken a version of this class (or have my Photo Freedom book) to help you decide if you should take this new course. 🎙 And DON’T FORGET: Podcast listeners save $30 with p...

Heavy Lifting with Wendy Smedley

My guest today wants words for Christmas. How cool is that? She is Wendy Smedley and I’m so eager for you to get to know her better, because she is one of my most favorite people on the planet and a fabulous conversationalist. Wendy is the Marketing Manager at FamilySearch International. She is also mother to five (yes, 5) adult sons and just happens to also be the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Scrapbooking . We talk about all those things and a whole LOT more … Photo by henry ...

Simple Scrapper, Jennifer Wilson

My guest today leans into the left side of her brain, so that she can more fully enjoy the right-brained aspects of her craft. She is Jennifer Wilson and she is the creator of the Simple Scrapper membership—which launched in 2008 to better explore in a community setting how modern memory keeping can fill you up and fit your busy life. Through Simple Scrapper, Jennifer helps thousands not get stuck doing what they love AND in 2019, Jennifer launched the Scrapbook Your Way podcast to extend t...

20 Things.

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend—to my friends in the U.S anyway! I’m popping this week’s episode up a little early so that I can make my pies, brine the bird, set the table and oversee the potato peelers. 🦃 For reals, I’m hoping that you’ll be able to listen while you prep whatever it is you’re prepping—a turkey feast or otherwise! Back in episode 83, I challenged myself and anyone else to begin making a list of 20 things you have learned or had confirmed—things you want to keep when 2020 is ...

Monica Wihongi, Leading with Heart ❤️

Monica Wihongi is president of the Utah-based, papercrafting company, Close To My Heart AND a mother of seven—need I say more? For reals though, you’re in for a treat today—I adore Monica. We’ve known each other for nearly 30 years and she is the real deal—she is family and future focused and dedicated to doing what’s right in business and life. I love my history with CTMH, so I’m tickled that you have this opportunity to get to know Monica and her work a bit better. You’ll get to hear fir...

Collecting Everything with Stanley Kinsey

My guest today understands media. He has been working with it his whole career, so when he retired to spend time organizing and archiving his private collection of photos and home movies AND couldn’t find what he was looking for, he created it. I’m excited for you to listen and learn about Collectionaire a virtual hub or gathering of links to ALL of your digitized stuff. All of it. You know the idiom, a place for everything and everything in its place—that’s what Stanley (Stan) Kinsey has b...

PhotoTherapy with Judy Weiser

My guest today is an esteemed pioneer in the world of PhotoTherapy. Judy Weiser is a psychologist, an art therapist, consultant, educator, trainer, university adjunct faculty, international lecturer, and author — she is the founder and director of the PhotoTherapy Centre in Vancouver, Canada, she is considered the world authority on the emotional significance of personal photographs. WOW. Right? If you are a memory keeper and/or lover of photography and personal pictures I think you’ll fi...