Audience Q&A: Personal Style, Deepening Friendships, & Conscious Shopping

Welcome to The In Between Podcast. I'm Astrid.

And I'm Alexis. And we're 2 best friends on a journey to living a fun, intentional life.

We know it's easier to share on a season of life once it's behind you, but what about when you're in the middle of the growth, confusion, and decision-making?

This lifestyle podcast is for the everyday gal who loves to travel, talk about business, relationships, fashion, and everything in between.

Hello friends, and welcome back to another episode of The In Between Podcast. This is one of your co-hosts, Astrid, and I'm the other co-host, Alexis. And today we're switching things up. We're doing a Q&A. I'm so excited for this. I love when we get submissions from everyone and just kind of switching up, um, yeah, the structure of everything. Me too.

I am really looking forward to giving you advice And answering your questions. I was actually listening to The Skinny Confidential on the What We Said podcast. And they did, like, at the end of the interview, they did a Q&A, like, where they took their audience submissions. And I felt like both Lauren and Michael from The Skinny Confidential were just so, like, direct. And I was like, okay, like, they're giving me permission.

I'm inspired.

Yeah, they're giving me permission to, like, be really direct with my feedback. So I'm excited. I love it.

I love hearing their—

About clients.

I love hearing their stuff and even What We Said Podcast. They're very direct with their feedback too and their advice.

I agree. I think sometimes I can like, my nice girl syndrome will come in where I don't want, I never know everyone's context, like the nuances of someone's situation. And so I'm always like coming from this like very empathetic, like soft place. Not today. Today, I'm kidding.

Buckle up, friends. Buckle up. We're going to be direct with you. I'm kidding.

I'm kidding.

Okay.

I loved just like wrap up the love month. I loved our topics this month, like solo dating, being intentional with your romantic partner, overcoming heartbreak. I really love these topics and enjoyed seeing how they resonated with our listeners. Like so much fun. And I think these themes actually tell us, are you liking the themes? Like jump in our DMs and be like thumbs up for themes or thumbs down. But I think it kind of helps us have direction and go deeper.

For sure. I think that before, the topics were really fantastic, but we just kind of went from friendships all the way to like shopping to career. And then now we really get to deep dive, which speaking of, are we good to share next?

Yeah, we already did.

Yeah. We kind of— did we allude to it last episode?

No, we already, we already like Said everything.

Oh, okay.

It's not a secret.

Okay, never mind. But I am excited. We did say it. It's coming back to me. Um, I am excited for next month's theme and being able to like deep dive into career. I feel like both of us are very passionate about, um, being able to grow in your career, being able to ask for what you deserve as a salary, or charge for what you want as an entrepreneur. And specifically for women, we tend to have the nice girl syndrome and we don't ask for what we want and we can downplay a lot of that job interview process as well. So I am stoked for that theme. But yeah, before we dive into our Q&A, you ready to share what you're currently in between, Miss Alexis?

Yes. My current in between is really struggling with my morning routine. I feel like I shared on the last episode of just traveling a lot more and being a lot more on the go, where January, I just feel like it's easier to stick with a routine. It can be easier to stick with a routine when you're not necessarily traveling and you have this stream of consistency. Whereas when you're gone every weekend and you're prepping for the next trip and your body's tired and I'm starting my period next week, my energy level is just all over the place. I have really been struggling the last 2 weeks. I would say pretty much the whole month of February with my 5:30 AM wakeups. So I will still do it 2 or 3 times a week, but there'll be also 2 or 3 times a week where all I want to do is just hit snooze and sleep in. So I'm still prioritizing movement that day by going for a run after work with Matthew or doing something that still requires movement. But, I have noticed that when I don't get up at 5:30 and go to the gym, it does change my energy throughout my workday.

Mm-hmm.

And so, I don't also love that where I'm just kind of starting the day with a lower battery and I just woke up. Whereas, I feel like the gym fills me up and then I can come into my workday with so much energy. So, I am in between honoring my desire for rest and taking care of my body. In a busy season and also sticking with my routine because I know how much that really does give me good energy and it feels sustainable. I just feel like I'm really fluctuating and there's not a lot of consistency there right now.

Yeah, I feel like it's really hard to bounce back from travel because you get so much done, you're in a new place, you're navigating new things, you're exploring new things, and that's all very exciting and it drains your energy. And so coming into the following week, you're like, okay, how do I recenter? How do I sleep in and get all my energy back so I can work? Or do I stick to the process too? But it's just part of it. And I'm glad that you're noticing how your body feels too, and maybe even incorporating a different movement in those mornings of just like a walk around the block or something to kind of freshen things up. But it's all trial and error, baby.

Yeah, trial and error. I also think like with the lower energy, I find myself wanting to snack more. And so like yesterday I had lunch and then an hour later I had like a half of— I finished off like a Jenny's ice cream pint. And then I also was like, hmm, I want more. So I like warmed up some leftover buffalo chicken dip from the Super Bowl.

Yes.

And I was like, okay, what is going on? One, I think it's like period prep. I'm just craving salt and chocolate.

Give it all to me.

But I also feel like that's not— I'm breaking out because of it. Just eating habits and then the routine. I just feel like I need a reset on that.

Also, how beautiful is it that now that is not the norm? That is the odd scenario to your daily habits and how you normally eat. It's like you have come so far. We have all come so And, it's just wonderful to hear. It's like now that's what throws you off is having those specific days.

Right. And, I think that what I'm learning, especially when I get back from Mexico and then California, is prioritizing snacks in the house that are nutritious and still give me that crunch or still fulfill that craving but are filling also a nutritional need as well instead of just post-Super Bowl, you've got the stuff in the house and you're just like, I'm going to eat all of this.

Snickers, literally. What are you in between? So kind of along the lines of health and wellness, but honestly, I'm just in between a lot of body stuff. So in January, I hurt my back pretty bad. So I kickstarted the year, I was working out very diligently, felt fine, came back from a ton of travel, and I was like, okay, we're good, we're adjusting. And then I hurt my back really bad and I could not work out at all. So I was inflamed throughout my whole body and I couldn't work out. And I had travel as well. And so this past 2 weeks, I've just had to really work through loving myself and being graceful. And it's been a hard but great lesson on, am I only going to love myself whenever I look a certain way? Am I going to wait for that? What's going to happen down the road if something were to happen with my health or whenever I get pregnant? Am I going to look at myself differently? And so it was a really good exercise for me to walk through and choose to be kind while still taking action and being like, okay, I can control what I eat. So let's focus on that. And so now my back is doing great. I am about 2 weeks back into slowly working out. I did my first leg day 2 days ago and I I can barely walk today. But it feels like my body, just within a week and a half or so, is going back really easily. But I think it was just a really important lesson for me to go through this past month or two to just work on that body dysmorphia.

Yeah, seriously, the body dysmorphia is— it's like Have you seen those TikToks that's like you start working out blah blah blah blah blah or like you change your your health and wellness routine and then like the guy like points up and then like all the ocean water like a wave hits?

No.

Yes. There was a girl that's like I started lifting you know five to six times a week and like changed my nutrition habits and then the up was like body dysmorphia and I was like that is so me. I feel like I haven't struggled with body dysmorphia until after I had experienced weight loss and like just. My body composition changing due to changing my eating and my movement habits. And, I mean, it's like, I'll put something on and I'm like, there's no way this is going to fit me. And then, it fits me just like it did 6 months ago. And, I'm like, that's confusing. Or, I see a picture and I'm like, okay, I really like the way that I look there. And then, I'll see another picture and I'm like, that's not representative of how I think that I look. And so, I think it's just Why do we put so much value in how we look? And, the goal of moving and healing your back and eating and nutrition habits, it's not— I don't know, we don't do that. We're so much more valuable than just the bodies that we walk through life in. And, I think the body dysmorphia can almost warp your brain into thinking this is the most important thing about you is your body and how you look.

Yeah.

And that can be really difficult to unravel.

Yeah, for sure. And it was hard to work through that this past month, but I really feel like I made huge progress in it. I was able to just love myself in that. The first few days, not at all. Very emotional about it. And then afterwards I was like, Astrid, you just went through— you basically sprained your back. You went through all these things. You moved across the country. You are traveling. Let's have a little grace here. It's okay, right? It's okay. And we're moving forward and we're eating healthy things, and that is all. And so in a way, I feel like I healed a little bit of a layer in that. But of course, there's always more to go. So, yeah, if you're going through that, I'm sending you a big hug. Don't cancel on your social interactions because of it. Like you said, your friends want you for you. And not for the way that you look. And there's so much more to us than the way that we look. But it's definitely a thing.

It is. It definitely is a thing. Let's get into this advice. Let's get into the A's to the Q's.

I felt like you were going to start singing. Oh my gosh.

Okay.

Do you want to go ahead and You want me to read mine first? Yeah, yeah.

Go ahead. The one that I got personally?

Okay.

Someone asked, can you share about conscious shopping/investing in key pieces and what stores to shop in? I would love to do this. My former work wife at ConvertKit, her name is Haley Janicek, she was the very first female influence into buying quality. She would buy very nice quality. She had a capsule wardrobe. And she was the first woman I'd ever met that had a capsule wardrobe. And she always looked very fresh, very clean, very put together. But she wore a lot of solids, great denims, unique hats, and just very slick, I guess I should say. Really inspired me. And so she got me into Madewell. And I will say like their denim is more expensive. But I had been, you know, shopping for denim on the TJ Maxx rack. And hey, you do what you got to do. Like, you know, wherever you are resource-wise with money, like, you know, sometimes budget shopping is all that you can do. But if you are looking to build that capsule wardrobe where, you know, you have your 4 to 5 pairs of pants, and you have your like, core tops and like you are kind of paring down and wanting to invest in higher quality things. I, a lot of my denim is from Madewell. I also started shopping at Everlane, which is a really like, it's also quite affordable, I think, because they are a capsule wardrobe company. And they have really high quality pieces, but they also do price transparency. And they share like who made the item, where it was sourced. And so that's a very ethically backed company as well. So I'd say those are like my 2 favorites would be Everlane and Madewell for like higher quality, not as like fast fashion. And then there's always designer things, but I haven't— I don't— I just can't speak to that because I haven't really gotten into designer stuff.

Yeah, for sure. I think whenever it comes to capsule wardrobes and shopping consciously too, it's like finding a good variety in your clothes that are still staple pieces. So for example, in your denim, having a light wash, a medium wash, and a dark wash. In your bodysuits, having a black one, a white one, and then having a turtleneck and then a tank top one. And so all of these that you can mix and match throughout the seasons, even having like a leather jacket, like a black one, and then 2 coats, like all of these you can mix and match through the seasons. so much. But a lot of times we'll find ourselves like buying so— or at least it has happened to me of like buying 3 different denim of the same colored wash instead of just buying one that like is solid and I absolutely love it.

Yeah.

So I feel like that can feel overwhelming. And hopefully to whoever asked that question, like starting there, like evaluate your, your pants too, like your slacks that you can wear casually. Or dressed up, then your denim, then like dresses too, like classic, like neutrals colors too, I feel like mix well together. And then like your tops, and then slowly start building from there. And then like you said, just those pieces are going to be capsules, invest money in them. So you're not constantly like restocking basically your black bodysuit, for example, that one season in is already looking gray.

Right. And I think it's also like looking at how much of your like I would say right now, about 60 to 70— I would say 60 to 70% of my wardrobe is foundational capsule. Like, I've had the pieces for a long time, I'm going to continue to wear them. And then I would say that other 30, 40%, it's more trendy.

Mm-hmm.

Like, what percentage of your wardrobe do you want to be trends? And, and like things that are in style right now? And what percentage Do you want to be like foundational to your style? They're really reflective of, you know, where your style is headed and you don't feel like you have to constantly replenish. Yeah.

And the last thing I'll share on that too, I feel like starting with your style and with capsule pieces, for me, it helps to visualize it before I invest in it. So literally jumping on Pinterest, creating a board, researching some stuff like the tan pants and the denim and pin, like create your own board. And be like, okay, yes, that represents my style. Or no, that's not for me. Then go and choose these pieces, try them on and purchase them. But a lot of times the most overwhelming part is just starting. You're like, okay, great. I want to do that. But how?

How? Yeah, 100%. Next question, please.

Okay. The next question that we got, it says, it amazes me how true and supportive you two are with each other. One episode, Astrid, you specifically said to Alexis, I'm so proud of you for saying that. I know that may not seem like much of a big deal, but for some reason it hit me like I don't think I have ever, nor do I currently have a friend that would say that in a moment where it could be said. So my question is, one, how did you two get to that point, or did it come naturally? And two, any advice on how to get friendships to that point and/or allow yourself to become that friend?

So good. So good.

Such a, such a great question.

Yeah, thank you for taking the time to share that and to write in. Um, okay, I— do you want me to go first or do you want to go first?

Go for it, go for it.

Okay, I would say that what I'm hearing you ask is you're looking for depth. You're looking for acknowledgement and depth in your friendship. So With Astrid saying that, she acknowledged like my growth in verbalizing something that was maybe hard for me before. She's acknowledging like my growth. And so by that, she's witnessing it and she's adding a layer of depth of like, I see you and I'm so proud of you for saying that. So I think it's, it's maybe you're on your own quest to search for friendships that acknowledge you and your growth. And you're acknowledging them and their growth. And I think that's a piece of healthy friendship is like, how are you growing individually and together as friends? And then how can you call that out? Like, oh, I've noticed you've been doing XYZ. Like, I'm so proud of you and the consistency and the discipline that that takes. Or, you know, I noticed that you, you know, applied for a new job. Like, I'm so proud of you for putting yourself out there and recognizing that you want something different in your career. It's like just speaking life and acknowledgement into people. And I think it makes them feel really seen. And I think that's a way you could be that friend. And also, by you doing that, it invites that into the friendship. And it kind of becomes like the new norm in the friendship is acknowledging each other and breathing that kind of support into— each other's lives.

Absolutely. Yes. Everything that you said is exactly what I was thinking. It's a matter of who starts that, right? If you're in a really great friendship and you want that to be a part of it, just be the one to start it and to say, hey, I'm so proud of you for, I don't know, meal prepping the past week, or I've really seen how you have set boundaries with your parents lately, and I'm really proud of you for that. There's so many situations, but I think a lot of times we see our friends grow and we don't stop to cheer them on and to acknowledge that. And as friends and as people, we're just so hard on ourselves. So when we can have the people around us cheering us and they see those things, like, I see you putting in the work over there. Wow, you are so different than you even were 3 months ago. I am honored to be your friend. It just starts creating this beautiful cycle in the friendship where they're They're going to be like, oh, well, I haven't said this to you, but I'm also proud of you for this. Or like, you did this one thing that really spoke life to me. And I've even noticed within our friendship, you'll mention things about me and then I'll mention things about you. And I'm always shocked at the things that you mentioned that inspired you or anything like that. And it brings life back to me and it brings this softness where I'm like, oh, I'm actually doing okay. I don't know. I have such high expectations of myself and my friends help me to draw back into that softness of we're doing great.

Yes. You're doing great, sweetie. You're doing great.

Yes.

I think if you're looking for a framework on how to start this with friends, something that I have tried and done in the past to cultivate more of those conversations is like, what are some of the wins? That you want to celebrate? Like, if we're out to coffee and be like, like, hey, reflecting on the last couple months, like, what are some big wins that you have accomplished that feel really good? And then by them verbalizing it, now I know what they've been working on. And then I can say, I'm so proud of you for working on that. It can spark into a deeper conversation. Same for me. Like, here are some things I'm really proud of that have gone really well, or things that have shifted. And then it kind of just invites that into the space, um, as kind of like a kickstart. And then you can also talk about, okay, what are your wins? Also, what were some roadblocks for you? And like, how can I support you through them? And just kind of those like initial questions that really, like, I, I don't think at a surface level they're that deep.

Mm-hmm.

And if you have a friend that's like really struggling to answer, you know, what they wanna celebrate or what their roadblocks were, I think it can really say a lot about where they are in like their own self-awareness journey. And so, you know, it, it can be disappointing when you're trying to build that friendship and someone's not really reciprocating. And that really can just kind of come from where they are, like in their own growth journey. Maybe even maturity levels are different. Um, but I do think like if you're seeking that out and you're not getting it back, I think it can be kind of an indicator of like where that person is versus where you might be on your journeys.

100%. Not forcing it, but definitely creating an invitation to see where it goes.

Yeah. You must answer what you're celebrating.

We are not leaving till you celebrate yourself. Oh my gosh, I love it. Okay, so next question is how to start self-discipline. That's such a, such a big question.

How long you have?

I know, right?

Okay, you go first, babe. I went first last time.

Okay. There's so many aspects to this. I think foundationally you have to know why you want to start the self-discipline, why the certain habit matters in your big purpose, because otherwise it's going to fall through at some point. When the motivation goes down, you don't have some kind of purpose to push through, it's going to happen. So Take health and wellness, for example. If you're like, I want to be the kind of mom down the road that can run around with her kids, that is active, that I take them places, then every day putting in that work to be like, I am creating that best version of myself and working towards being that person. Mm-hmm.

And then I think a matter of—

I actually just read this last night on the Atomic Habits book by James Clear, and he talks about the importance of consistency. So whether you just get in the gym for literally 2 minutes and then leave, that reaffirms the identity. There's a big identity piece when it comes to self-discipline, but that reaffirms the identity that you are someone that cares about their health and wellness. You are someone that works out. And even just showing up and having quote unquote a mediocre workout would still be way more beneficial than completely Skipping it. And so I think just having that consistency factor and letting go of perfectionism was a big one for my journey of— last night I went to the gym, I was so exhausted, and it was probably the worst workout I've had in 2 or 3 months. But I showed up and I kept my streak going, and I'm able to say I was that person who has stayed consistent with it. And so, yeah, so I think just letting go of the perfectionism, letting go of it has to be a 10 out of 10 or it's a no. And then accountability.

Right.

That would be my last one is finding people around you that can hold you accountable to the habits that you want to build, being able to support you through that journey. And then, yeah, and just pretty much keeping you, creating that community sense of identity.

Yeah, I love all that. Um, look at consistency over intensity every single time. Like, how can you look at the consistency in which you're doing something versus like the 0 to 100 mentality that we can sometimes have towards our goals? I also think like what Astrid said around identity is really important here because there's a reason why you struggle with self-discipline. Why? Like, what stories are being told in your head of like why you don't make the bed? Or why you don't want to move your body, or why you know your work ethic is struggling. Like like why and what stories and narratives come up? And I think getting to like that root is also really important. It's like a level of awareness mixed with action, because if you don't have awareness on why you struggle with self-discipline, then I also think that you can. Be disciplined and then you'll fall back into those old patterns if you don't kind of get to the root of that. So whenever— I'll give you a very real example. When I started my own movement and health journey in 2021, my narrative around self-discipline was that it was rigid, it was mean, because those were some of the examples that I had had of discipline. And so I didn't realize that discipline could be building trust with myself and building confidence and loving myself and showing myself respect. And, I had a very harsh view of what discipline looked like. And so, of course, I'm going to avoid that because I don't like that version of discipline. So, I had to get to the root of that and recognize like, okay, discipline for me can look this way. It can feel like this. I can access and unlock these different parts of myself. That doesn't have to be rooted in being mean to myself or shame. So I think when you can kind of unpack that and then you kick off the action, it's like going to the gym and meal prepping or being financially aware with how you're spending your money, budgeting, whatever it is, getting to the root of why you struggle with it, I think will also help with the sustainability of the habit.

100%. That actually reminds me of— I really struggled with being organized because I was all or nothing whenever it came to my house. Everything as far as work, I was like type A, 100%. But I was like, why am I like this? Why am I so organized when it comes to work? But then my daily, making the bed, putting the laundry away, all this stuff. I just can't. And getting down to the root, I realized, was I went through a really tough breakup. Well, heartbreak. And some of the story that I adapted from there and the identity that I got from that was I'm not worthy to be fought for. I'm not worthy of having this healthy environment. So in a sense, I wasn't fighting for myself. And I would just sabotage with my environment. So back then, a big way that depression showed up was I just let the house go, I let myself go, and I just literally numbed into the couch and watched TV, and that's it. So it shows up in being disorganized. And then last year, I started doing priming, which basically every morning I All these stories that I've told myself, now I tell myself the truth about them, one of them being that. And so one of the things I say every day is, I deserve a clean environment. I deserve to have a healthy environment. I deserve all these different things. And it has really helped because whenever I don't make my bed, I go back to, ooh, it's a self-love moment where it hits me. I'm like, ooh, I deserve this. I deserve to walk back into a room that feels peaceful. I deserve to have a peaceful environment. And so I think a lot of times the underlying layer is so important to explore because I would still be trying to push through and being so organized. And now it's second nature and keeping everything nice and clean. And whenever I want to slip back into those old things, I'm like, no, I deserve to walk back into this peaceful environment. And we just push through it. And so, yeah, it's just fascinating how that can be the biggest building block to really any self-discipline habit.

I think when you start to build self-discipline in one area of your life, it will trickle into others. So start in a place that you feel like feels attainable. And then once you feel like you have built confidence and self-esteem, in showing up for yourself and being disciplined in that area, then apply it to others. I started solely in the kitchen and then I was in the gym and now I'm in my finances and now I'm in my closet. And, getting organized one step at a time, being disciplined one step at a time. And, don't apply the 0 to 100 to being disciplined in all areas of life because you're going to end up feeling really discouraged.

Yeah, for sure, for sure. Okay. Another question that we got is tips for finding remote online jobs or the nontraditional job.

Okay. Okay. There are a lot of remote, like remote.io, and there's a lot of like SaaS, like SaaS stands for software as a service. There are a lot of like SaaS job boards. There's also a job board called Career Contessa. There's a lot of different job boards that feature like creative work or remote work that is more nontraditional. I think finding those job boards and then going to LinkedIn is helpful, whereas like just going on LinkedIn and trying to find jobs, like I don't find that as helpful. Like it's just like an influx of a lot of information. So try to go to job boards that are posting those kinds of jobs that you want. And then, you know, if you want to apply for it or connect with the HR recruiter for that role via LinkedIn, I think that's great. But, um, that's a big one is just like going to specific niche job boards and then starting from there. Um, I think that can be a really good help.

Yeah, that's fantastic. Do you think we can link those in the show notes for them? Yeah, totally. For like the spelling of some of those. Um, the only other thing I would add to the non-traditional job is Like, for example, if you're wanting to work in social media with a content creator or something like that, don't be afraid to slide into the DMs. Like, if you see that you want to work, for example, be a virtual assistant or be a stylist for a specific person, just reach out and say, hey, I'm so-and-so. I'm interested in this. Are you by chance hiring? Because a lot of these entrepreneurs and content creators have teams around them. or probably are starting to grow the team as well. And you never know if that could turn into an opportunity that you are interested in, that they're waiting for also someone to reach out. And yeah, and definitely just like if you see something, just reach out to them. You never know what doors can open for you.

Yeah, you never know what it can turn into. And I think just like being open to asking around, like using your network and asking, hey, I'm looking for you know, any job openings in video production? Do you know of anyone? Like, just kind of putting feelers out can also really help that too.

But we'll—

I think we'll go much deeper into this in next month's theme around career. So definitely, like, tune into next month for sure.

Okay. Our last question is back on clothes. So shopping, it says shopping. I need to shake it up. I'm a big Anthro fan, but I need more unique places to shop. So for me, I would say like, honestly, Nasty Gal has been a favorite for me for like trendy items that is not sustainable at all. Like we mentioned earlier, don't come for me. Don't come for us, okay? It is not sustainable. But I do like it for— it is very affordable for more of those trendy pieces. And even some of like my leather items have turned out pretty, pretty good from there. So I like Nasty Gal online. I like the Red Thread Boutique in Effingham. Shout out to Alexis there too. She carries some incredible brands that a lot of the boutiques that I visit when I'm traveling carry those same brands too. Bohm as well online is fantastic. I'm trying to think what else. Oh, Showpo. I think that's how you say it. It's like an Australian—

Love that.

Yeah, so great. I've gotten a lot of my pieces from there. They're a little more unique, and the quality is 10 out of 10. And then of course, Abercrombie. I like half of my closet. If you're looking for like staples, but still trendy, I feel like Abercrombie is it. The denim, the bodysuits. If you're a tall person, like the bodysuits are really great for our long torsos. Tank tops, everything. I feel like I keep wearing a lot of my Abercrombie stuff even the following years to come. Yeah.

I also like, speaking of bodysuits, I really like the Klassy Network spelled with a K because they have built-in bras to their dresses, their tops, their bodysuits. I have shopped them and I really— it's an affordable way to where you're not having to wear a bra and you're not having to wear the nip stickies as well. I love my nip stickies, but sometimes I just don't want to have to wear them all the time. Especially with bodysuits.

So big fan of Classy Network.

I also really like Showpo. I would say I do a lot of shopping when I'm traveling. And so I like shopping in small independently owned boutiques. A lot of my clothes are from those kinds of places where someone's like, can you send me the link to that? And I'm like, I literally got this 4 years ago in Breckenridge. Like at a little boutique. So, um, I think if you are traveling, prioritizing like, where are some fun shops where I can like try things on? And like, I think I'm a— I have realized over the last couple of years that I really like shopping in person so I can try things on versus online. Um, another place online that I've like is just kind of tried and true, and I know that it's fast fashion, is ASOS.

Oh, yeah.

But I only shop ASOS for their more like event dresses. I have gotten some really unique event dresses for weddings and events. And I love it. Like, I feel like they're at or around $100 to $150. And I have reworn the dress multiple times. The quality is pretty good, I would say, over the years. And then, yeah, I mean, like thrifting and independently owned shops are like I would say 2 of my go-tos. And if I'm in a pinch, I'll online shop. But we know that Alexis is doing a no-spend, and so she has not been doing any online shopping at all.

Yes, yes. Um, a few other ones I forgot to mention— Aritzia has some really great quality items. Uh, Reformation, like, that one's definitely a little bit pricier but great for those capsule wardrobe items.

I got one of my favorite coats They have my favorite top that you and I both have that we got in New York, that cream one with the open back. I'm done. I just love that top so much. I feel like I'm going to have it forever.

Yes. And it's unique. It's open back, but it's not really that trendy in the sense that it's going to go out of fashion any 6 months from now. So I felt great spending quality money on it because I'm like, this is a staple winter piece for years to come.

Yeah, 100%. Big fan of Reformation and Aritzia.

So, okay, let's do a little speed fire question here. Um, if you could only shop in one place for the rest of your life, where would it be?

Aritzia.

Okay.

Because they have athletic wear, and I have gotten some of their athletic wear, and it's really solid. And they also have like denim and, you know, Like more classy workwear, slacks. I feel like they have it all. So I would say Aritzia. What about you?

Abercrombie, 100%.

Yeah. Okay.

Low key, the Abercrombie Athletics. I got their sweatpants. I got some leggings. They were 10 out of 10. Ooh.

Okay.

Love, love. Talk to me. Next month, baby. Thanks. Oh, this has been so fun. We will definitely be doing another Q&A next month. We're still playing with the idea of whether just keeping the Q&A open to any questions or if we should keep it more specific to the themes that we do. So if you have any thoughts on that, please DM us and let us know what you think. Um, but I can't wait to do this again. This was so like fun and casual.

I love it. I love the casual vibe. I love it's like high like depth and then very lighthearted. I'm all about it. Yes.

I was like shopping and then our friendship. Love it.

I'll talk about that all day long. Thank you all so much for submitting your questions and taking the time. Really appreciate you being a part of this community and like where we're headed together. We did cross 8,000 downloads. Did you see that?

Yeah, I did.

I logged in this morning, I saw it and I was like, okay.

It made me feel very good. I love it, dude. I check every morning. It's like part of my morning routine. I have to. Yeah, I'm a big like numbers girl though, so it's I check my HoneyBook and then that dashboard, and then I jump into Gmail.

I love it. I check the pod analytics once a week, so that's where I'm at. I'm a weekly data gal. But if you have a friend that you think would love the pod, send it to them. Like, we would love to be a part of your friendship. We actually know some people that listen to the pod and then like talk about it together, and I just love that. It just like brings a huge like warmth to the to the show and to know that you're listening and that it's resonating. I mean, that's the only reason that we do this. So if you have any feedback or resonate with this episode, drop into our DMs. And you can do that at inbetween.pod on IG, or you can always connect with me personally @AlexisTeichmiller.

Or me @astrojohannaphoto.

Yay. And if you're feeling If you're feeling drawn to it like a magnet, leave us a review on Spotify or on iTunes. iTunes.

iTunes. How did I say that? iTunes.

iTunes.

Apple Podcasts. Oh my gosh. Leave us a review on LimeWire.

Please go to— oh my gosh. What was the other one? Napster. Can you please leave us a review on Napster? This is showing our age. I saw this thing. It's like, Gen Z energy with millennial money. And I'm like, I love that.

Retweet.

That is me. Put that on a t-shirt, I would wear it. All right. Love you. We'll see you next week.