A Beautiful Mess Podcast

Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman
  • 4.8 (2.1K)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Elsie + Emma are sisters and co-founders of the top DIY blog — A Beautiful Mess. They have written over seven thousand blog posts, so it seemed like a good time to start a podcast! The sisters have a lot to say on everything from home and DIY to family life and business. Visit abeautifulmess.com/podcast for show notes.

  1. 12H AGO

    #284: Tips for New Writers

    We get a lot of questions from people starting on their very first novel. So in this week's episode, we're giving you all the advice that we wish we could time travel back and give ourselves on the day we started our first novels. There's so much writing advice out there, and no matter who you are, it's not all going to work for you. So in this episode, we'll share things to think about and consider as you plot and plan to begin a draft of your very first novel. And the bottom line is, you can do it, and we are here to cheer you on.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: You can try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home   Tips for new writers: Give yourself a writing assignment Just write your first novel Immerse don't tell Read Get really comfort drafting unpolished Be a joyful student Invest a lot of time in ideation Learn about the business of publishing Your writing routine matters   Resources: Show Don't Tell by Sandra Greth Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass Write your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell The Author's Publishing Playbook by Carly Watters https://www.laurenkaywrites.com/   You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

    55 min

  2. JAN 19

    #283: Learning Something New

    This week we're discussing big and small things we want to learn. This episode is a great space for brainstorming. If you've been thinking that you'd like to pick up a new hobby. We're each discussing five big and small things that we'd like to learn in the near future. And we're also doing a hot take debate on the topic of plastic treat bags at children's birthday parties. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Start saving money with Dupe.com today Go to brooklynbedding.com and use my promo code MESS at checkout to get 30% off sitewide 5 Things we want to learn Emma: Learn Spanish Play piano Learn to write microfiction Cooking and recipes Painting Elsie: Water Marbling Writing poetry Classical painting lessons Make 3 Ina Garten recipes Book binding Book Report: Emma - The Cottage Around the Corner by D. L. Soria Elsie - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

    43 min

  3. JAN 12

    #282: The Lost Arts

    This week we're talking about Elsie's new newsletter, why newsletters are sometimes even better than blogs, and our advice for how to make your newsletter stand out if you're starting your own. We are also going to be debating a listener hot take that's about homeschooling. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Head to Talkiatry.com/mess and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm   Check out Elsie's newsletter: https://www.elsielarson.com/   Check out Elise's newsletter: https://www.elisejoy.com/   What will the newsletter be: Cozy Curious Photos of crafts and things she's making Stories and essays Life updates Entertaining   What the newsletter won't be: Writing DIYs Not written by AI   You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

    54 min

  4. JAN 5

    #281: Winter Bucket List

    This week we're sharing our winter bucket lists (aka how to survive the cold season if you live in a region like we do). We'll also be debating a hot take that personally makes Elsie's blood boil. Let's jump in! Check out https://ramonamuselambert.com Emma Always have a candle burning and always make tea with dinner Organize library room Go room by room and clean and organize all the closets and cabinets in her home Work through reading all of her craft book stash Bake herself a birthday cake Elsie Declutter year - eliminate ALL the clutter in her home Paints are always out this time of year Old movie bucket list Start a new photography era Thrifting and flea markets (going more frequently this year) You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

    47 min

  5. 12/31/2025 · BONUS

    Bonus: Nova's Meditations

    We just wanted to wish you a wonderful Christmas or holiday, and we decided to put together a supercut of all of Nova's meditations, just for fun, because they bring us so much joy. Thank you for being here all year, and we're so excited to keep going into the new year. You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

    18 min

  6. 12/29/2025

    #280: Goals and Vision Boards for 2026

    This week we're sharing our goals for the new year and our process for creating tactile vision boards. We'll get a little woo-woo and share our experiences with manifesting and debating a literary hot take. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at masterclass.com/abeautifulmess Emma's goals for 2026: Query The Wedding Photographer Write first draft of Sundaes are for Lovers Write first draft of "Icon" Do a quarterly visual art project Cook her way through a cookbook Elsie's goals for 2026: Query The Surrealist (hoping to get a fiction agent and then sell the book) Complete "Project Lighthouse" Launch my weekly newsletter: The Lost Arts - sign up at elsielarson.com Be active on social media (have a professional relationship with it) A lot of small goals like create mini routines, take photos every day, get nails done, read 52 books and go on walks You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

    35 min

  7. 12/22/2025

    #279: New Year Goals Recap

    This week we're recapping the goals we set for ourselves for 2025, what we accomplished, what we didn't and anything that we're keeping on the list for 2026. We're talking about what makes a good goal and our personal goal setting criteria. We're also sharing our weekly book report and beginning a new segment where we debate listeners hot takes at the end of every episode!   The goals we set in our 2025 NY Goal episode: Emma: Get a minivan - No Ambitious food blogging list - Had to pivot in April Pitch cookbook idea - Did pitch but not working on right now Emma's romance (outline and write half) - Yes Elsie: Write every day - No Query my novel - Yes Write second novel - Started it Launch art website and sell art - Did sell art but didn't make a website One renovation to rule them all - Yes   Most proud to have accomplished in 2025: Elsie - Got passports and taking first trip Emma - Finishing her novel   Unforeseen project you spent a lot of time on in 2025: Elsie - Rewriting her novel Emma -Hugo   Accomplishment that wasn't on the list: Elsie - Retraining for a new career Emma - Celebrated 40th Birthday   Book Report: Emma - Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Elsie- The Uncool by Cameron Crowe   You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

    47 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    #278: Favorite Things of 2025

    This week we're recapping our favorite things from the past year, including movies, books, purchases, favorite memories and new things that we tried. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Get 25% off your first month at Ritual.com/ABM Favorite movie: Elsie - Weapons and The Italian Job (1969) Emma - Wicked: For Good Favorite book: Elsie - The Wedding People and 100 Years of Solitude Emma - Lessons in Chemistry, Funny Story, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Favorite purchases: Elsie - Louise Carmen Journal and her kitchen Emma - Lavender Birkenstock Clogs, pastel lime green sweater, blue sweater, scarfs, and new tattoo Favorite memory: Elsie - Going to italy Emma - Hugo walking and going to Italy Favorite new thing you tried: Elsie - Water color painting Emma - eyeglasses and eating raw fish/sushi Favorite candle: Elsie - Walmart Fresh Cut Frazier Emma - Bath and Body Works Leaves, Burlap Bag, and Thistle Farms You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

    52 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
2,122 Ratings

About

Elsie + Emma are sisters and co-founders of the top DIY blog — A Beautiful Mess. They have written over seven thousand blog posts, so it seemed like a good time to start a podcast! The sisters have a lot to say on everything from home and DIY to family life and business. Visit abeautifulmess.com/podcast for show notes.

Information

  • Creator
    Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    286
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019 Red Velvet Art LLC
  • Show Website
    A Beautiful Mess Podcast

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