Above & Beyond Style

Styling a third piece could be the perfect next step to elevate or customize your personal style. This week, I give you 5 examples of third pieces that I love to complete an outfit or make it feel more cohesive. As an added bonus, I curated some of my favorite options for you to shop directly! You can find them all here. To learn more about Maria and her work (which includes hiring her to help you pack!), follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

In this week's episode, I share some recent small steps I've taken and seeing how they might unlock the "next right thing". As we continue to explore the number 5's change energy, I wondered about how it might feel to take an intentional purchasing pause to look at my wardrobe with a new set of eyes. Could a shopping pause provide a useful respite to reevaluate my own style? Could this be the right next step? You might also like to listen to S1: E12 Curating a Closet You Love. I reference Emily P. Freeman's books The Next Right Thing and How to Walk Into a Room. To learn more about Maria and her work (which includes hiring her to help you pack!), follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

This week, we explore another next step in our style journey...what if we used travel as a mini-exercise to experiment with our style? In this episode, Missy and I provide you with 5 travel hacks to help you pack light and select clothing with more purpose. We guarantee you'll find some key takeaways to try for yourself! We also reference suitcase stackers (or packing cubes) in the episode; you might like to try these! To learn more about Maria and her work (which includes hiring her to help you pack!), follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too! To connect with Missy, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ her (drcarrick@gmail.com).

This week, Dr. Melissa Carrick (welcome back, Missy!) and I talk about signs and how we make meaning of them. After a recent style challenge, Missy came to a realization about her style (and life) through our work together! Then we chat all about Allison Bornstein’s Wrong Shoe Theory, which opens up a new way of thinking about “right vs. wrong” and playing with an unexpected shoe choice as the right next step. You might like to read Allison's book, Wear It Well. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too! To connect with Missy, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ her (drcarrick@gmail.com).

The number 5 has to do with rapid change, and I take a deep dive into its meaning and what it has to do with this season's topic: how can the right next (small) step open the door to bigger style transformation? I give you 5 (of course 5!) examples of style rules we could let go of to take a small next step toward more authentic style. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

So good to be back with you all for Season 5, where we get to dig even deeper into conversations around style, change, and life decisions. In this episode, I share my story about why the number 5 has come to mean (for me!) taking the Right Next Step. Influenced and informed by the two books (linked below), I am excited to share how taking the right next step could not only change your style, but might also change your life. *Please note that I misname the title of Emily P. Freeman's book in this episode. It is correctly named and linked below! To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too! Check out these two books that are referenced in the episode: Laura Lynne Jackson: Signs Emily P. Freeman: The Next Right Thing

To make way for big change, sometimes we have to clear a path for it to arrive. Dr. Melissa Carrick and I talk about "the purge" so we can clear the channel for those Yes + No messages to come in. Missy offers a great practice for us to try, and in turn, we discuss what to bring along going forward. This includes great packing tips! To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too! To connect with Missy, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ her (drcarrick@gmail.com).

After a brief break, Dr. Melissa Carrick and I are back with this week's episode about learning the language of Yes and No. We all receive various invitations from the Universe, and we owe ourselves an RSVP! This action step requires that we get clear about those responses that tell us yes & no information, especially when it comes to style! Listen in. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too! To connect with Missy, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ her (drcarrick@gmail.com).

We take a pause from our conversations with Dr. Melissa Carrick to bring you a real-time chat as I embark on a very big wave next week: traveling abroad to Europe! Listen in as I talk through this decision and the importance of trying things on (and I don't just mean clothing!) in the midst of change. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

This week, Dr. Melissa Carrick and I are joined by her husband, Zeke Phillips, to dig deep into entrepreneurship. Through their storytelling, we learn more about Missy's recent sabbatical, how to redefine success, and the power of trusting our inner knowing. You won't want to miss this episode! To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too! To connect with Missy, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ her (drcarrick@gmail.com). Zeke Phillips is a 3rd generation entrepreneur who has an extensive background in healing and culinary arts, working in many top restaurants in the Baltimore area.  In addition, he is certified as a health coach from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  He is passionate about supporting others to live a life of health and vitality.  He is the proud co-founder of Carrick Health, an integrative chiropractic clinic in Baltimore since 2009.  When not working, Zeke can be found surfing in his home state of Maryland or in his favorite village in Costa Rica.

This week's episode revisits our question around the big/little waves of change and poses the question: how did we know it was time to make a change? Dr. Melissa Carrick and I talk about about reading and interpreting signs and how pain can be a motivator for change. We further discuss the benefit of sharing these kind of stories together and with you. To connect with Dr. Melissa Carrick, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠ her (drcarrick@gmail.com). To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

In this week's episode, Dr. Melissa Carrick and I explore our unique interpretations of how we feel with the "oncoming wave"- ironically, something we didn't see coming! We further discuss bracing vs. embracing a wave as we ask ourselves, is this wave for me? Listen in as we reconnect with a new definition of home as the waves come- both big and small. Ask yourself: what would it feel like to come home to myself through my style choices? To connect with Dr. Melissa Carrick, you can ⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠ her (drcarrick@gmail.com). To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

"Would you learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers, comprehend its mysteries." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow In this week's episode, Missy and I revisit this quote from episode 3, and we uncover the mystery, the whisper, the pause, the reimagining and the curiosity of change. This process, as we come to learn, is at the heart of what we are doing with our lives and certainly with our style evolution! Listen in as Missy tells the story of announcing her sabbatical to her patients and what it was like to enter into the wardrobe process with me. What would I love? What is charming? To connect with Dr. Melissa Carrick, you can ⁠⁠email⁠⁠ her (drcarrick@gmail.com). To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

In this week's episode, Dr. Melissa Carrick and I explore the idea "change is my natural state," which leads us into unpacking the world of surfing. By further exploring the metaphor around riding the waves of change, Missy helps us understand core surfing concepts and how those perfectly apply to transitions and change. We also hear the story of Missy's early love of the sea, and how powerlessness actually enables us to access our own power within. To connect with Dr. Melissa Carrick, you can ⁠email⁠ her. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

I am joined by Dr. Melissa Carrick to unpack this season's greatest metaphor and lesson: riding the waves of change. Change is at the heart of every style consultation I've ever conducted, and we talk ALL things change: our lives, our stories, and saying YES to the invitation (or soul imperative as Missy describes it) to do something unconventional. And the cherry on top? Our style and wardrobe choices have joined us alongside these major transitions. Listen in as we begin this new style journey together! To connect with Dr. Melissa Carrick, you can email her. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

Welcome back to Season 4! In this episode, I unpack why Riding the Waves of Change truly captures the conversation I wanted to have. Joined by a stellar conversation partner, Dr. Melissa Carrick (also known as Missy), you learn about her background as a chiropractor, educator, fellow change-maker, former style client of mine, and life-long surfer. Together, Missy and I will discuss our transitions with an eye and ear for style, spirituality, and surfing! To connect with Dr. Carrick, you can email her. We invite you to learn about The ONE Foundation (where Dr. Carrick serves as the president of the Board of Directors) and watch STRESSED: A Documentary Film, featuring Dr. Carrick. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

Last week, I posed the question: What are your style pitfalls? What gets you off track from authentic style? And you came back with some seriously good intel. In this week's episode, I recap your feedback and offer a few solutions along the way. This season gave us an opportunity to look at a variety of obstacles or challenges that can get in the way of our authentic style, and hopefully, you've found the encouragement, validation, and inner strength to take a step toward a style that is authentically yours! And when you need help, I'm just a message away. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (www.mfdstyle.com). ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

Back again with another update on my style resolution with vibrancy as I visited coastal Connecticut! Then, I take another look at these style pitfalls with a bit more focus on the psychology of authentic style. Maybe you've never really been on track with your style? Maybe there's not even been an opportunity to focus on authentic style? I also have a listener request: would you email me what your style pitfalls are, or what gets you off track, or maybe even why you've never even been "on track"? You can email me here. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (www.mfdstyle.com). ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too! You might also enjoy listening to this episode from season 1: The Secret to Authentic Style

Sometimes when we look at the extremes of style behavior, we can find clarity in the middle, which I argue is where authentic style lives. This week's episode looks at the Minimalist, the Maximilist, and the Moderate, and offers tips for how to orient ourselves toward a more moderate, authentic style. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (www.mfdstyle.com). ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!

Let's take a brief break from style pitfalls, as it's been 5 months since I first discussed Choosing Entrepreneurism, and it's time for an update! I recently made a big life transition (sold my home + seeking where-to next!), and it felt appropriate to share more about my spiritual journey as I continue to choose entrepreneurism. I've had several great coaches, mentors, and friends to support me along the way, and this week's episode builds on the importance of a growth mindset and personal healing as business owners. To learn more about Maria and her work, follow her on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mfd_style⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (www.mfdstyle.com). ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to her emails, too!