October 28, 2025 • 26 mins
Are you tired of guessing what’s “clean,” and ready for simple swaps that actually help your family feel better?
I sat down with my friend Shelly Jefferis, wellness educator and host of Words of Wellness, to talk about self-care without guilt, reading labels with confidence, and building a faith-first, family-first lifestyle that lasts. Shelly shares why she founded Moms Who Flourish, how her parents’ health journeys shaped her mission, and the non-toxic basics every busy mom can start today. If you’ve wanted more energy, clarity, and peace in your home, this episode gives you the mindset and the first steps to get there.
✔️ The one practice that makes self-care feel essential, not selfish, and how it fuels patience, presence, and energy for your family.
✔️ Label-reading 101: the common additives Shelly skips instantly and the easy way to build your own “no” list.
✔️ Non-toxic starter moves for food, cleaning, and skincare, plus how to keep it sustainable with faith-aligned motivation.
I believe moms deserve to feel vibrant, live on purpose, and model a high-frequency life for their families. If you’re ready to shift the thought, shift the life, this conversation is your on-ramp. Subscribe, press play, and let’s Rise2Shine together.
Episode Highlights
00:00 - Introduction
01:15 - Who Is Shelly at Her Core
04:45 - Why Moms Who Flourish Exists
08:10 - Self-Care Without Guilt
14:50 - Non-Toxic Basics: Read the Label
18:10 - Words of Wellness Podcast
21:20 - Spark & Spill Rapid Fire
More About Shelly
Shelly Jefferis, M.A., is an educator, speaker, and mentor with 40+ years in health and wellness. A retired college professor and partner with a global wellness company, she’s passionate about educating on toxins and practical ways to reduce exposure for healthier living. Shelly hosts the Words of Wellness podcast and founded Moms Who Flourish, a faith and family-first community that empowers moms to prioritize health and self-care through 1:1 and group mentorship and live wellness events. Married with three children and a few beloved fur babies, Shelly is a lifelong learner committed to impacting moms, families, and future generations.
Connect with Shelly on IG
https://instagram.com/wellnesswithshellyj
https://instagram.com/momswhoflourish
https://instagram.com/shellyjefferis
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to the Rise to Shine podcast with Noel Custis where
we ignite the spark to discover your favorite self.
It is. Time to.
Get real ladies. Hello, hello and welcome to the
Rise to Shine podcast. I'm your host, Noel Pestis, and
(00:21):
today I am beyond excited to welcome not only a guest, but a
dear friend of mine, the incredible Shelley Jeffries.
Shelly has been in the health and Wellness profession for over
40 years as an educator, a speaker, and mentor.
She's a retired college professor.
(00:42):
She is the host of Words of Wellness podcast and the founder
of Moms Who Flourish, which is acommunity that empowers moms to
prioritize their health, embraceself-care, and truly flourish.
Her passion lies all in educating about toxins, reducing
(01:05):
our exposure, and helping families live healthier lives.
And then, you know, on top of all that, she's married.
She's a proud mom to three beautiful kids and deeply values
her faith, family and her fur babies.
Shelly, I am so thrilled to haveyou here with me today, not just
as a guest, but as a friend. We have been talking it up
(01:26):
before this. We even hit record.
We're like, Oh my gosh, we better hit record.
But welcome to the Rise to Shinepodcast.
I'm so happy you're here. Thanks my friend, I'm so happy
to be here as well. And yes, we have no problem
finding things to talk about andso we could have probably pushed
record and it made like a 2-3 hour podcast, but hopefully.
(01:49):
This is how we roll in our worldwhen we get together.
Well, I want to just jump right in because I want you to be able
to have the time to share and just really, you know, I really
want to be able to dig in with what it is that you do because
you are like me. We wear a lot of hats and we
have such a passion for helping others.
(02:11):
So I really want people to be able to hear that about you.
And although I gave a little glimpse into your incredible
journey, it's so fun because like I said, we have a lot in
common and there is no doubt in my mind that God was making sure
we crossed paths a few years ago.
So I would just love for you to start out by sharing who is
(02:32):
Shelly at her core. Oh, that's a.
Great question. At my core, I love serving and
helping others in their area of Wellness, health, nutrition.
I have always as you are the same feel like I've just always
(02:54):
had this servant heart and I started teaching fitness
classes, personal training. That was how I started in the
Wellness and fitness industry when I was very young and, and
it and it stuck with me. So when I got into teaching,
same thing, teaching and wantingto really empower my students
(03:15):
and give them the education and the clarity around nutrition
around their health. And it's just been an ongoing
journey. So in addition to teaching, I've
always had an entrepreneur spirit and done something in
addition to my teaching. And it's always come back to
just mentorship and, and educating and sharing with
(03:39):
others the knowledge that I, I have gained through the years,
but also the experience, like for, for both of us, the
experience. I know that wisdom comes with
age, which we're experiencing that now, right?
And I just feel like that's such, it's you, you just really
can't put a price on that. And so that's where I'm coming
(04:01):
from. And at my core, I, I really, I
love people. I, I love God.
My faith is important. And I feel like many times I
just want people to experience, especially moms, the same kind
of joy and passion that I feel towards my family and just
(04:26):
everyday life. And obviously we're not perfect.
It's not always like that, but there's definitely this joy.
And in motherhood, it's always been like that for me.
And I know that's how it is for for moms.
And with that being said, there are these transitionary times
that can be challenging for moms.
And that's part of the reason I,I created Moms Who Flourish.
(04:49):
And the biggest, biggest passionfor me and, and you are the same
is my family. So everything that I do, I think
of my family and family first isalways where I come from.
And when I started thinking about I wanted to serve moms
more in, in, in this space of, of motherhood and Wellness, it
(05:13):
was that I said, you know what? I want to create this community
and a movement where it's empowering moms, supporting moms
in their Wellness, their self-care, their health along
the motherhood journey and have it be faith-based, family based.
(05:36):
And I just, I really truly feel,and I know you, you feel the
same that the community is so critical.
Being in the room is so critical.
And I just was having conversation with one of my
friends this morning and she says, I just, I feel like I'm
not having these connections with other women and moms and
I'm needing it so desperately. I said, well, you need to be in
(05:59):
the room on Saturday at our event.
So that's kind of in a nutshell.I mean, I just, I also have a,
for the most part, a very positive outlook, a try to be
positive. I try to be that light for
others. And I really like to use the
(06:19):
word try, but that's always my intention and also being very
authentic. So maybe there is a day where
I'm not feeling my best. I'm not going to jump on and be
like, hey, how's every doing? You know, I want it to be from a
very authentic place and I know that word is used a lot, but
(06:42):
that's truly how I feel, yeah. No, it definitely comes across.
I mean, I feel like I've known you long enough to know that
everything that you have just said, you embody and it is who
you are at the core. Like I, I feel like that was
such a beautiful description. And then I loved that you've
(07:02):
been able to touch on why you have done the things that you
have. Like, you and I have that same
cast of both being educators andthen feeling like this next
chapter in our lives, we were being called for something else.
And I know momahood is a big deal to both of us and what we
experienced as educators. And, you know, like, yes, we
(07:25):
had, you know, a different life than some women that have the
9:00 to 5:00 and only have a week off during the year, you
know, when they're trying to raise babies.
I mean, we did have some more flexibility in our careers.
However, you and I have talked about this, that there's this
longing of being able to have more flexibility and to live a
(07:48):
life of joy, to be able to live in a healthy lifestyle.
And you, you covered so much. But one of the things that I
feel like really I was thinking about as you were talking,
because I go, man, what a beautiful like life that you
have created for yourself and then you get to now pour out to
(08:09):
other women. But I know that so many women in
our audience struggle with putting themselves first.
So how do you and all of your platforms that you do 'cause
you're like you said, you've gotcommunity and your mom's who
flourish. You've also got your podcast.
You are coaching and mentoring women in the in the health
(08:30):
industry. So how do you encourage women to
make self-care a true priority without a ton of guilt?
Well, I think it's so cliche andyou hear it all the time, but I
still use it that we need to fill our cups first so that we
can fill the cups of others. And it's just so true.
(08:51):
And I also stress with moms the importance of when you take that
time, you then have that energy to pour into your children, your
family. Have more patience.
You have just all of the things that come with taking care of
(09:12):
us. And again, it's not from a
selfish standpoint at all. Yeah, another side of it, it's
it's part also of taking care ofour health so that we are here
for a long time for our families.
And that's one of the really big, big, how do I say, it's
been so important for me for so many years because both my
(09:33):
parents are no longer living to see my mom struggle with cancer.
And then ten years my dad was struggling with his own
illnesses. And each time I went, you know,
I want to do what I can to be healthy so that I don't have my
children go through this. And again, obviously there's no
(09:54):
guarantees in life when it comesto that.
But if we can take care of ourselves and do the best that
we can to be our healthiest so that we can live an energetic
life here and, you know, longevity, not just live for a
long time, but live and feel good.
That makes a difference, right? I mean, there's there's people
that are living and they are miserable and they are barely
(10:18):
moving or, you know, just not able to be active.
And that's one thing that I lovethat you can tell is very much a
passion of yours is not just to live, but to live vibrantly, to
be able to, you know, hopefully when you have grandkids one day
and that you are able to be active and you're able to be
(10:41):
around longer for them, right? In a, in a way that is more than
just like hanging out on your rocker, you know, I mean, I feel
like you are definitely, I know for me, someone that I look up
to and I go, Oh my gosh, look ather like she's out for a walk
again, She's doing this, she's doing that, you know, and I feel
(11:03):
like that there is a difference between all of that.
And I feel like that's it's sucha beautiful example of watching
you stay grounded and be balanced.
And have you always been that way?
I mean, is this something that has always been a lifestyle for
you? Or was there was it a pivotal
(11:26):
moment? Like even with your parents or
whatever, you know, what was that?
If there was one, a moment whereyou went, This is what I want to
be out in the world talking about.
This is my passion to help otherwomen or you know, just people
in general to understand. Well, and that's a great
question. I think that it started at a
(11:47):
very young age, but what did happen?
And it has been a part of my life.
So the, the, the exercise, the the nutrition, that education
and that being a part of my day-to-day life has been a part
of it for for decades and you know, it it it changes and
evolves through time. But what did happen,
(12:08):
interestingly enough, when my mom got sick and I had already
been researching and learning a little bit about like toxins and
chemicals and becoming aware of that.
Like, you know, we do that when we first become pregnant.
Like, OK, let's look at the labels, read the labels, right?
And that's when I really start looking at labels and going, Oh
my goodness, right. So that that started kind of the
(12:33):
train rolling in that direction,so to speak.
And then when my mom got sick, then it just lit a fire under
my, my butt to do more, to learnand to share more because I, I,
you know, I just, I know and, and I've seen statistics saying
that a lot of what we experienceas illness and disease in our
country, you can trace it back to nutrition deficiencies and
(12:56):
these toxins. And so I wanted to get more of
the word out and to share more with others about this topic.
And then the same thing happenedwhen my dad, my dad was ill.
Is I really want to get this information out.
And so that that would be, I would say the biggest pivot, you
know, the, the nutrition and theexercise and the Wellness
(13:18):
components have been a part as long as I can remember.
But there was a shift in becoming more passionate, but
also on a mission to to share this information.
And I will always say when I'm speaking about this very topic,
I will always say I and no way know all the information.
(13:40):
I mean, there's so much out around this topic.
Yeah. But my goal is to increase
awareness. Let's just increase the
awareness, especially with moms and their families, so you can
start making some healthier choices for your families.
And that's not to say we can't enjoy ourselves because that is,
I'm always a proponent we have to have fun along the way.
(14:01):
But it's just having the awareness to make some better
choices along the way so we can lead healthier, cleaner
lifestyles and then also enjoy ourselves along the way.
I mean, we can definitely do both, but it's really more my
goal just to start, get the conversation going.
For those that might not know, increase that awareness, share
(14:23):
what I've discovered with my research and my time, and then
encourage others to do some of their own research as well to
help understand. Yeah, and I love that because
again, I have watched you not just talk the talk, but walk the
the walk. And you know, and I think that
that is what's so beautiful about being in your world is
(14:44):
that you are increasing awareness and you work around
educating families on toxins andhealthier lifestyles.
And it is so powerful. I would just love if you could
even just give our audience justwhat's one small step that moms
or US women can take today to reduce toxins in our homes.
(15:07):
Well, and I'm glad that you mentioned that because that was
the other thing going back to integrating our self-care and
especially as moms, what can we do?
And it it doesn't have to take alot of time and it can just be
small things we do on a day-to-day basis that add up
over time. And when it comes to the toxins,
(15:28):
I will always first and foremostsay start to look at your
labels, read the labels for the ingredients, start to become
familiar of things that maybe you want to be avoiding, like
for example, artificial sweeteners, sucralose,
preservatives, the, the, the colored, the dyes, like little
(15:51):
things like that. Start to be able to look at a
label and know what you want to avoid so that it becomes
routine. Like now I just glance at
something and if I boom, see sucralose, I'm like, OOP, Nope,
sorry, you know, So it's just a part of the, the routine when it
comes to shopping and getting groceries.
And so that that is 1, I think really easy thing to implement.
(16:14):
And I would encourage anyone listening, especially moms, to
do that if you're not yet doing that.
And it's just a, a simple, a simple thing that we can start
doing right away. And then I think start to take
steps to make healthier swaps, whether it be with your food
items, your snacks, your cleaning products, your skin
(16:35):
care. And you know, I mean, we've,
we've talked about this a littlebit, but there are two or three
products that I love for skin care that I've discovered over
the years that are non-toxic. And I think that it's, it takes
this like experimentation kind of time and trying something and
(16:55):
see if you like it. And if you do great, you know,
you stick with that. And then maybe you want to find
something that that complements with that and you stick, you
integrate that into your routine.
I mean, there's a lot more products out now.
And that's another thing that I do is I will always be trying
new things. And then I'm happy to share with
people what I've discovered. And, you know, I just had
(17:18):
someone in a group yesterday looking for cleaner products for
their home and air fresheners. And I said, boop, boop here, try
this. You know, and, and so it's just,
it's an ongoing journey. It really truly is.
And, you know, and it's never, it's just going to be ongoing.
It's never going to end. And we'll always share and I'm
always happy to answer questions.
(17:40):
And, and you know, that's a topic as you know, that I'll be
speaking on at our event this this Saturday.
Which I definitely, you know, a couple of things as I'm thinking
of this, as I, you know, we knowthat it's not a
one-size-fits-all. And one of the things that you
do is you have moms who flourish.
(18:02):
So I know you have a huge event.This recording will be coming
out after this event, But it is she puts on events, you put on
events that, you know, I would definitely would love for you to
be in Shelly's world because shedoes have these events and she
has live events. She's also doing things
virtually, one of which is her podcast.
(18:23):
And I know on your podcast, thisis part of your passion again,
being able to not only give us tips and tricks and just talk
about health and Wellness, but you also bring on experts in the
health and Wellness industry. And you know, for moms, you're,
you know, I feel like it's such a beautiful way of being able to
(18:45):
step into Shelly's world. And I just would love for you to
just tell us a little bit more about your podcast because I
would love for people to tune infor more of this type of
information and these conversations.
Well, thank you, Noel. I, I appreciate all your words
so much. And you know, it's kind of like
what we've talked about, the podcast was put on my heart
(19:06):
probably 7 years ago and I knew I could, I know exactly the day
that I went, I'm going to start a podcast, this is what it's
going to be called. And then, you know, with timing,
timing is everything. And when the time is right, it
happens. And so it's been a little over a
year and a half ago that I started.
And again, I knew I just wanted to share these Wellness tips,
(19:28):
health tips, nutrition, everything related to Wellness.
And we're not talking just the physical aspect, right?
We're talking financial, not to.Mention that, yeah.
Right. And so I, I bring on guests, I
do do a solo episode each week and then I bring on guests,
either one who share their personal journey or they are an
expert in some area of Wellness and, and they share that.
(19:51):
And again, it's, it's in the effort and in the intention to
get the messages out to people so that they can be healthier
and they can apply this to theirown personal lives.
And. You know, it's been a really fun
journey. I love, love doing the podcast.
And, and I know you, you were a guest a while ago.
We're gonna have to have a talk on again.
(20:13):
And it's called Words of Wellness.
And the episodes come out on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Love it. And we'll have all of this in
our show notes 'cause I wanna make sure that you guys have
access to this. And TuneIn, because truly, you
know, as my audience, those of you that are tuning in and
(20:34):
listening, I have to tell you, you know, we're drawn to people
for a reason. And there's a certain energy,
there's a heart around it. And you know, I always say, I
know I'm not for everybody, you know, but for those that TuneIn,
I can honestly tell you that Shelly has the same type of
energy that I do and really doeshave a passion behind it.
(20:57):
And I love that she mentioned she's on a mission because that
really is what it feels like, feels like a mission.
And it is going to be ongoing. And as we learn things, we put
them out there, you know, and wetalk about those things.
That's the beauty of having a podcast.
And so I'm so excited. I'm excited for your event.
(21:18):
I know how impactful it's going to be.
I have the honor of being a speaker at your event and also,
you know, being in the audience.And I'm like, Oh my gosh, so
much value, so many women that she is around and connected to
that, you know, step into this world and we all get to share
our messages. So really quick, Shelly, before
(21:41):
we wrap up, we do a little, you know, it's kind of one of my
favorite little things we do now.
It's a little segment called Spark and Spill, and I just fire
away a few questions and you just are telling me the first
thing that comes to mind. And I just was wondering, would
you be willing to play with me for a minute?
Of course. OK.
(22:01):
I didn't tell you about this part so this comes as a
surprise, but I always love it cuz there's always some good
Nuggets in here that our audience gets directly from our
guests. So #1 what's 1 Wellness ritual
you can't live without? I feel like I know this, but I'm
(22:22):
going to see if you say it. Well, probably walking, running.
That's what I was going to say. I'll.
I'll put that out there. I was going to go to my my my
shake that I have each. Day, but that'll be my next
question, don't you worry. You got it all covered.
Yeah, Shelly is a Walker. We were roommates when we went
(22:44):
to a conference and I'll never forget we were speakers at a
conference and we had never roomed together or anything.
And I was like, OK, I'm trying to like get my hair done, get my
makeup done and she's like, I'm going for a walk.
And I was so stinking impressed.I loved it.
OK #2 Coffee, tea or smoothie. What's your daily go to?
(23:04):
Well, first coffee always, and then my smoothie.
There you go, there you go. I love it.
OK #3 What's a favorite book or podcast that has made an impact
on you or has had an impact on you?
Oh gosh, there's. So many books I activate your
(23:30):
impact right now. I I've read it and I'm reading
it again and it's so, so incredible.
And I have to look. I I don't know why I'm drawing a
blank, but Brooke, I'll find it right now.
So good. It's almost like a it's almost
like a second. It's almost Brooke Thomas.
It's like a second Bible, almost.
(23:51):
I love it and it was and the title is what?
Activate your impact. Activate your impact.
I love that. OK, and then what is 1 phrase
quote or mantra you live by? I think it would probably be I I
(24:15):
really like live your best life and I also really like like one
day at a time, you know, make making this day count is really
what I what I think about. Love it, love it.
Last question, if you had one free day to do anything you
wanted, no responsibilities, howwould you spend it?
I would probably spend it my favorite place, which is the
(24:37):
beach, with my favorite people, which would be my family.
I love it, I love it. I had a feeling it would be
something like that too. See, this is when you know, this
is when you know you're good friends when you already are.
Like, I know that what her answers are probably going to
be, but we'll just see how that goes.
But Shelly, thank you so much for sharing your heart, your
wisdom, your passion with us today.
(24:59):
I know that every mom listening has walked away with
encouragement because you just have that energy around you.
And I love that you gave us somepractical steps in our lives
being healthier. So friends, if you would like to
connect more with Shelly, be sure to check out her podcast,
Words of Wellness. And she has that community.
(25:21):
We'll have all the show notes inthere, where to follow her so
you can learn more about moms who flourish.
I'll have everything, LinkedIn, the show notes.
And Shelly, it's such a gift to have you not only as a guest
today, but as a friend. So thank you for being here and
shining your light with us. Thank you friend and I love you
and we were definitely God had aplan in bringing us together and
(25:42):
you're just amazing and I love you.
Thank you so much. Feel the same.
And for the rest of you, have a great day.
Keep rising, keep shining, and know the best day is right here
waiting for you. We'll see you next time.
Bye. Thanks for joining me here
today. Your presence means the world to
me. If you enjoyed what you heard,
(26:02):
please consider leaving a ratingand review and don't forget to
follow or subscribe so you nevermiss an episode.
Head to the show notes and let'sconnect.
Rise to Shine Co is ready to support you in coaching,
collaboration, light tips, or even a coffee chat.
Until next time, keep shining myfriends.
Welcome to the Rise to Shine podcast with Noel Custis where
we ignite the spark to discover your favorite self.
It is. Time to.
Get real ladies. Hello, hello and welcome to the
Rise to Shine podcast. I'm your host, Noel Pestis, and
(00:21):
today I am beyond excited to welcome not only a guest, but a
dear friend of mine, the incredible Shelley Jeffries.
Shelly has been in the health and Wellness profession for over
40 years as an educator, a speaker, and mentor.
She's a retired college professor.
(00:42):
She is the host of Words of Wellness podcast and the founder
of Moms Who Flourish, which is acommunity that empowers moms to
prioritize their health, embraceself-care, and truly flourish.
Her passion lies all in educating about toxins, reducing
(01:05):
our exposure, and helping families live healthier lives.
And then, you know, on top of all that, she's married.
She's a proud mom to three beautiful kids and deeply values
her faith, family and her fur babies.
Shelly, I am so thrilled to haveyou here with me today, not just
as a guest, but as a friend. We have been talking it up
(01:26):
before this. We even hit record.
We're like, Oh my gosh, we better hit record.
But welcome to the Rise to Shinepodcast.
I'm so happy you're here. Thanks my friend, I'm so happy
to be here as well. And yes, we have no problem
finding things to talk about andso we could have probably pushed
record and it made like a 2-3 hour podcast, but hopefully.
(01:49):
This is how we roll in our worldwhen we get together.
Well, I want to just jump right in because I want you to be able
to have the time to share and just really, you know, I really
want to be able to dig in with what it is that you do because
you are like me. We wear a lot of hats and we
have such a passion for helping others.
(02:11):
So I really want people to be able to hear that about you.
And although I gave a little glimpse into your incredible
journey, it's so fun because like I said, we have a lot in
common and there is no doubt in my mind that God was making sure
we crossed paths a few years ago.
So I would just love for you to start out by sharing who is
(02:32):
Shelly at her core. Oh, that's a.
Great question. At my core, I love serving and
helping others in their area of Wellness, health, nutrition.
I have always as you are the same feel like I've just always
(02:54):
had this servant heart and I started teaching fitness
classes, personal training. That was how I started in the
Wellness and fitness industry when I was very young and, and
it and it stuck with me. So when I got into teaching,
same thing, teaching and wantingto really empower my students
(03:15):
and give them the education and the clarity around nutrition
around their health. And it's just been an ongoing
journey. So in addition to teaching, I've
always had an entrepreneur spirit and done something in
addition to my teaching. And it's always come back to
just mentorship and, and educating and sharing with
(03:39):
others the knowledge that I, I have gained through the years,
but also the experience, like for, for both of us, the
experience. I know that wisdom comes with
age, which we're experiencing that now, right?
And I just feel like that's such, it's you, you just really
can't put a price on that. And so that's where I'm coming
(04:01):
from. And at my core, I, I really, I
love people. I, I love God.
My faith is important. And I feel like many times I
just want people to experience, especially moms, the same kind
of joy and passion that I feel towards my family and just
(04:26):
everyday life. And obviously we're not perfect.
It's not always like that, but there's definitely this joy.
And in motherhood, it's always been like that for me.
And I know that's how it is for for moms.
And with that being said, there are these transitionary times
that can be challenging for moms.
And that's part of the reason I,I created Moms Who Flourish.
(04:49):
And the biggest, biggest passionfor me and, and you are the same
is my family. So everything that I do, I think
of my family and family first isalways where I come from.
And when I started thinking about I wanted to serve moms
more in, in, in this space of, of motherhood and Wellness, it
(05:13):
was that I said, you know what? I want to create this community
and a movement where it's empowering moms, supporting moms
in their Wellness, their self-care, their health along
the motherhood journey and have it be faith-based, family based.
(05:36):
And I just, I really truly feel,and I know you, you feel the
same that the community is so critical.
Being in the room is so critical.
And I just was having conversation with one of my
friends this morning and she says, I just, I feel like I'm
not having these connections with other women and moms and
I'm needing it so desperately. I said, well, you need to be in
(05:59):
the room on Saturday at our event.
So that's kind of in a nutshell.I mean, I just, I also have a,
for the most part, a very positive outlook, a try to be
positive. I try to be that light for
others. And I really like to use the
(06:19):
word try, but that's always my intention and also being very
authentic. So maybe there is a day where
I'm not feeling my best. I'm not going to jump on and be
like, hey, how's every doing? You know, I want it to be from a
very authentic place and I know that word is used a lot, but
(06:42):
that's truly how I feel, yeah. No, it definitely comes across.
I mean, I feel like I've known you long enough to know that
everything that you have just said, you embody and it is who
you are at the core. Like I, I feel like that was
such a beautiful description. And then I loved that you've
(07:02):
been able to touch on why you have done the things that you
have. Like, you and I have that same
cast of both being educators andthen feeling like this next
chapter in our lives, we were being called for something else.
And I know momahood is a big deal to both of us and what we
experienced as educators. And, you know, like, yes, we
(07:25):
had, you know, a different life than some women that have the
9:00 to 5:00 and only have a week off during the year, you
know, when they're trying to raise babies.
I mean, we did have some more flexibility in our careers.
However, you and I have talked about this, that there's this
longing of being able to have more flexibility and to live a
(07:48):
life of joy, to be able to live in a healthy lifestyle.
And you, you covered so much. But one of the things that I
feel like really I was thinking about as you were talking,
because I go, man, what a beautiful like life that you
have created for yourself and then you get to now pour out to
(08:09):
other women. But I know that so many women in
our audience struggle with putting themselves first.
So how do you and all of your platforms that you do 'cause
you're like you said, you've gotcommunity and your mom's who
flourish. You've also got your podcast.
You are coaching and mentoring women in the in the health
(08:30):
industry. So how do you encourage women to
make self-care a true priority without a ton of guilt?
Well, I think it's so cliche andyou hear it all the time, but I
still use it that we need to fill our cups first so that we
can fill the cups of others. And it's just so true.
(08:51):
And I also stress with moms the importance of when you take that
time, you then have that energy to pour into your children, your
family. Have more patience.
You have just all of the things that come with taking care of
(09:12):
us. And again, it's not from a
selfish standpoint at all. Yeah, another side of it, it's
it's part also of taking care ofour health so that we are here
for a long time for our families.
And that's one of the really big, big, how do I say, it's
been so important for me for so many years because both my
(09:33):
parents are no longer living to see my mom struggle with cancer.
And then ten years my dad was struggling with his own
illnesses. And each time I went, you know,
I want to do what I can to be healthy so that I don't have my
children go through this. And again, obviously there's no
(09:54):
guarantees in life when it comesto that.
But if we can take care of ourselves and do the best that
we can to be our healthiest so that we can live an energetic
life here and, you know, longevity, not just live for a
long time, but live and feel good.
That makes a difference, right? I mean, there's there's people
that are living and they are miserable and they are barely
(10:18):
moving or, you know, just not able to be active.
And that's one thing that I lovethat you can tell is very much a
passion of yours is not just to live, but to live vibrantly, to
be able to, you know, hopefully when you have grandkids one day
and that you are able to be active and you're able to be
(10:41):
around longer for them, right? In a, in a way that is more than
just like hanging out on your rocker, you know, I mean, I feel
like you are definitely, I know for me, someone that I look up
to and I go, Oh my gosh, look ather like she's out for a walk
again, She's doing this, she's doing that, you know, and I feel
(11:03):
like that there is a difference between all of that.
And I feel like that's it's sucha beautiful example of watching
you stay grounded and be balanced.
And have you always been that way?
I mean, is this something that has always been a lifestyle for
you? Or was there was it a pivotal
(11:26):
moment? Like even with your parents or
whatever, you know, what was that?
If there was one, a moment whereyou went, This is what I want to
be out in the world talking about.
This is my passion to help otherwomen or you know, just people
in general to understand. Well, and that's a great
question. I think that it started at a
(11:47):
very young age, but what did happen?
And it has been a part of my life.
So the, the, the exercise, the the nutrition, that education
and that being a part of my day-to-day life has been a part
of it for for decades and you know, it it it changes and
evolves through time. But what did happen,
(12:08):
interestingly enough, when my mom got sick and I had already
been researching and learning a little bit about like toxins and
chemicals and becoming aware of that.
Like, you know, we do that when we first become pregnant.
Like, OK, let's look at the labels, read the labels, right?
And that's when I really start looking at labels and going, Oh
my goodness, right. So that that started kind of the
(12:33):
train rolling in that direction,so to speak.
And then when my mom got sick, then it just lit a fire under
my, my butt to do more, to learnand to share more because I, I,
you know, I just, I know and, and I've seen statistics saying
that a lot of what we experienceas illness and disease in our
country, you can trace it back to nutrition deficiencies and
(12:56):
these toxins. And so I wanted to get more of
the word out and to share more with others about this topic.
And then the same thing happenedwhen my dad, my dad was ill.
Is I really want to get this information out.
And so that that would be, I would say the biggest pivot, you
know, the, the nutrition and theexercise and the Wellness
(13:18):
components have been a part as long as I can remember.
But there was a shift in becoming more passionate, but
also on a mission to to share this information.
And I will always say when I'm speaking about this very topic,
I will always say I and no way know all the information.
(13:40):
I mean, there's so much out around this topic.
Yeah. But my goal is to increase
awareness. Let's just increase the
awareness, especially with moms and their families, so you can
start making some healthier choices for your families.
And that's not to say we can't enjoy ourselves because that is,
I'm always a proponent we have to have fun along the way.
(14:01):
But it's just having the awareness to make some better
choices along the way so we can lead healthier, cleaner
lifestyles and then also enjoy ourselves along the way.
I mean, we can definitely do both, but it's really more my
goal just to start, get the conversation going.
For those that might not know, increase that awareness, share
(14:23):
what I've discovered with my research and my time, and then
encourage others to do some of their own research as well to
help understand. Yeah, and I love that because
again, I have watched you not just talk the talk, but walk the
the walk. And you know, and I think that
that is what's so beautiful about being in your world is
(14:44):
that you are increasing awareness and you work around
educating families on toxins andhealthier lifestyles.
And it is so powerful. I would just love if you could
even just give our audience justwhat's one small step that moms
or US women can take today to reduce toxins in our homes.
(15:07):
Well, and I'm glad that you mentioned that because that was
the other thing going back to integrating our self-care and
especially as moms, what can we do?
And it it doesn't have to take alot of time and it can just be
small things we do on a day-to-day basis that add up
over time. And when it comes to the toxins,
(15:28):
I will always first and foremostsay start to look at your
labels, read the labels for the ingredients, start to become
familiar of things that maybe you want to be avoiding, like
for example, artificial sweeteners, sucralose,
preservatives, the, the, the colored, the dyes, like little
(15:51):
things like that. Start to be able to look at a
label and know what you want to avoid so that it becomes
routine. Like now I just glance at
something and if I boom, see sucralose, I'm like, OOP, Nope,
sorry, you know, So it's just a part of the, the routine when it
comes to shopping and getting groceries.
And so that that is 1, I think really easy thing to implement.
(16:14):
And I would encourage anyone listening, especially moms, to
do that if you're not yet doing that.
And it's just a, a simple, a simple thing that we can start
doing right away. And then I think start to take
steps to make healthier swaps, whether it be with your food
items, your snacks, your cleaning products, your skin
(16:35):
care. And you know, I mean, we've,
we've talked about this a littlebit, but there are two or three
products that I love for skin care that I've discovered over
the years that are non-toxic. And I think that it's, it takes
this like experimentation kind of time and trying something and
(16:55):
see if you like it. And if you do great, you know,
you stick with that. And then maybe you want to find
something that that complements with that and you stick, you
integrate that into your routine.
I mean, there's a lot more products out now.
And that's another thing that I do is I will always be trying
new things. And then I'm happy to share with
people what I've discovered. And, you know, I just had
(17:18):
someone in a group yesterday looking for cleaner products for
their home and air fresheners. And I said, boop, boop here, try
this. You know, and, and so it's just,
it's an ongoing journey. It really truly is.
And, you know, and it's never, it's just going to be ongoing.
It's never going to end. And we'll always share and I'm
always happy to answer questions.
(17:40):
And, and you know, that's a topic as you know, that I'll be
speaking on at our event this this Saturday.
Which I definitely, you know, a couple of things as I'm thinking
of this, as I, you know, we knowthat it's not a
one-size-fits-all. And one of the things that you
do is you have moms who flourish.
(18:02):
So I know you have a huge event.This recording will be coming
out after this event, But it is she puts on events, you put on
events that, you know, I would definitely would love for you to
be in Shelly's world because shedoes have these events and she
has live events. She's also doing things
virtually, one of which is her podcast.
(18:23):
And I know on your podcast, thisis part of your passion again,
being able to not only give us tips and tricks and just talk
about health and Wellness, but you also bring on experts in the
health and Wellness industry. And you know, for moms, you're,
you know, I feel like it's such a beautiful way of being able to
(18:45):
step into Shelly's world. And I just would love for you to
just tell us a little bit more about your podcast because I
would love for people to tune infor more of this type of
information and these conversations.
Well, thank you, Noel. I, I appreciate all your words
so much. And you know, it's kind of like
what we've talked about, the podcast was put on my heart
(19:06):
probably 7 years ago and I knew I could, I know exactly the day
that I went, I'm going to start a podcast, this is what it's
going to be called. And then, you know, with timing,
timing is everything. And when the time is right, it
happens. And so it's been a little over a
year and a half ago that I started.
And again, I knew I just wanted to share these Wellness tips,
(19:28):
health tips, nutrition, everything related to Wellness.
And we're not talking just the physical aspect, right?
We're talking financial, not to.Mention that, yeah.
Right. And so I, I bring on guests, I
do do a solo episode each week and then I bring on guests,
either one who share their personal journey or they are an
expert in some area of Wellness and, and they share that.
(19:51):
And again, it's, it's in the effort and in the intention to
get the messages out to people so that they can be healthier
and they can apply this to theirown personal lives.
And. You know, it's been a really fun
journey. I love, love doing the podcast.
And, and I know you, you were a guest a while ago.
We're gonna have to have a talk on again.
(20:13):
And it's called Words of Wellness.
And the episodes come out on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Love it. And we'll have all of this in
our show notes 'cause I wanna make sure that you guys have
access to this. And TuneIn, because truly, you
know, as my audience, those of you that are tuning in and
(20:34):
listening, I have to tell you, you know, we're drawn to people
for a reason. And there's a certain energy,
there's a heart around it. And you know, I always say, I
know I'm not for everybody, you know, but for those that TuneIn,
I can honestly tell you that Shelly has the same type of
energy that I do and really doeshave a passion behind it.
(20:57):
And I love that she mentioned she's on a mission because that
really is what it feels like, feels like a mission.
And it is going to be ongoing. And as we learn things, we put
them out there, you know, and wetalk about those things.
That's the beauty of having a podcast.
And so I'm so excited. I'm excited for your event.
(21:18):
I know how impactful it's going to be.
I have the honor of being a speaker at your event and also,
you know, being in the audience.And I'm like, Oh my gosh, so
much value, so many women that she is around and connected to
that, you know, step into this world and we all get to share
our messages. So really quick, Shelly, before
(21:41):
we wrap up, we do a little, you know, it's kind of one of my
favorite little things we do now.
It's a little segment called Spark and Spill, and I just fire
away a few questions and you just are telling me the first
thing that comes to mind. And I just was wondering, would
you be willing to play with me for a minute?
Of course. OK.
(22:01):
I didn't tell you about this part so this comes as a
surprise, but I always love it cuz there's always some good
Nuggets in here that our audience gets directly from our
guests. So #1 what's 1 Wellness ritual
you can't live without? I feel like I know this, but I'm
(22:22):
going to see if you say it. Well, probably walking, running.
That's what I was going to say. I'll.
I'll put that out there. I was going to go to my my my
shake that I have each. Day, but that'll be my next
question, don't you worry. You got it all covered.
Yeah, Shelly is a Walker. We were roommates when we went
(22:44):
to a conference and I'll never forget we were speakers at a
conference and we had never roomed together or anything.
And I was like, OK, I'm trying to like get my hair done, get my
makeup done and she's like, I'm going for a walk.
And I was so stinking impressed.I loved it.
OK #2 Coffee, tea or smoothie. What's your daily go to?
(23:04):
Well, first coffee always, and then my smoothie.
There you go, there you go. I love it.
OK #3 What's a favorite book or podcast that has made an impact
on you or has had an impact on you?
Oh gosh, there's. So many books I activate your
(23:30):
impact right now. I I've read it and I'm reading
it again and it's so, so incredible.
And I have to look. I I don't know why I'm drawing a
blank, but Brooke, I'll find it right now.
So good. It's almost like a it's almost
like a second. It's almost Brooke Thomas.
It's like a second Bible, almost.
(23:51):
I love it and it was and the title is what?
Activate your impact. Activate your impact.
I love that. OK, and then what is 1 phrase
quote or mantra you live by? I think it would probably be I I
(24:15):
really like live your best life and I also really like like one
day at a time, you know, make making this day count is really
what I what I think about. Love it, love it.
Last question, if you had one free day to do anything you
wanted, no responsibilities, howwould you spend it?
I would probably spend it my favorite place, which is the
(24:37):
beach, with my favorite people, which would be my family.
I love it, I love it. I had a feeling it would be
something like that too. See, this is when you know, this
is when you know you're good friends when you already are.
Like, I know that what her answers are probably going to
be, but we'll just see how that goes.
But Shelly, thank you so much for sharing your heart, your
wisdom, your passion with us today.
(24:59):
I know that every mom listening has walked away with
encouragement because you just have that energy around you.
And I love that you gave us somepractical steps in our lives
being healthier. So friends, if you would like to
connect more with Shelly, be sure to check out her podcast,
Words of Wellness. And she has that community.
(25:21):
We'll have all the show notes inthere, where to follow her so
you can learn more about moms who flourish.
I'll have everything, LinkedIn, the show notes.
And Shelly, it's such a gift to have you not only as a guest
today, but as a friend. So thank you for being here and
shining your light with us. Thank you friend and I love you
and we were definitely God had aplan in bringing us together and
(25:42):
you're just amazing and I love you.
Thank you so much. Feel the same.
And for the rest of you, have a great day.
Keep rising, keep shining, and know the best day is right here
waiting for you. We'll see you next time.
Bye. Thanks for joining me here
today. Your presence means the world to
me. If you enjoyed what you heard,
(26:02):
please consider leaving a ratingand review and don't forget to
follow or subscribe so you nevermiss an episode.
Head to the show notes and let'sconnect.
Rise to Shine Co is ready to support you in coaching,
collaboration, light tips, or even a coffee chat.
Until next time, keep shining myfriends.
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