Happy Sacred Sunday!
It’s that time of the month again.
The day we Notice and Name our monthly intention so we can Nurture a life of meaning, aligned action, and progress.
Last night, I was at a friend’s 50th birthday celebration, and a group of us were sitting in a circle, chatting.
At some point in the evening, one friend turned to me and said,
“Oooohhhh I can’t wait to see what November’s intention is going to be tomorrow.”
(She was referring to my podcast.)
Then, in the midst of another conversation, someone else perked up and said,
“That’s it! That’s what I’m naming my theme for November!”
My heart almost burst seeing how this practice has become such a cherished part of people’s lives.
When you train your mind to think with intention, you build a life of intention.
And that, my friend, changes how you move through the world.
It makes your months more memorable and slows your fast-paced life just enough for you to truly feel the moments instead of rushing past them.
So, without further ado, tune into today’s podcast to discover what we’re naming November for the collective.
And if yours is different from mine, that’s beautiful too. There are no rules, only rhythms, and this is your unique life.
Sending you so much love,
Bliss’n Up Podcast
Intentional living
Happy Sacred Sunday!
Can you believe today is the last Sunday in October? Today is a beautiful day to carve out a little time for reflection so you can move into the new month with clarity and purpose.
Here are a few simple ways to pause and notice what this month was all about:
Go through your calendar for the month. How did you spend your time?
Scroll your camera roll. What moments did you capture?
Skim your texts and emails. Who did you connect with?
These three actions help you NOTICE.
Notice your successes. What are you proud of? What worked? What do you want to do more of?
Notice your challenges. What was overwhelming? What didn’t work well? What do you want to let go of?
And since this Sunday lands just before November begins, it’s the perfect opportunity to tie up any loose ends from October.
Is there anything you want to make sure you complete to end the month strong?
For example, our theme for October was Orderly October. One thing I noticed had fallen out of order was my garage—it had been accumulating boxes to toss, clothes to donate, and random items that needed to be put away. I finally got around to it last night and, in just a couple of hours, got it back to order. It was a small spark of success to add to Orderly October.
Remember from last week’s podcast: it’s not about perfection every day, but those moments of progress that matter.
This is the art of living with intention: Noticing, Naming, and Nurturing a purposeful, meaningful, and aligned life.
Once you’ve moved through this reflection, you get to the fun part: you get to name your intention for November.
This week’s Bliss’n Up podcast episode is all about the power and science of naming; why the words you choose shape your identity, your energy, and even your outcomes.
It’s a short and powerful listen that will give you a full week to reflect on how you’ll name your November.
I came up with the Bliss’n Up theme for November this weekend, and I’m a little obsessed with it.🤭
It captures exactly the energy I want to embody for the month ahead. I’ll share it with you next week, so you can decide if you want to join our collective theme or choose your own.
This is also the work my Bliss’n Up Hub community will be doing live in our coaching circle tomorrow. We get to dive deep into reflection and then emerge in alignment.
This is the most important work you can do in your life. It will forever change you.
Thank you for walking this journey with me. It’s an absolute privilege to support you in living with intention. I’m feeling a spark of bliss just writing this email to you!✨✨✨
Okay, now it’s time to get to work.
What will you name your November? I’d love to hear your intention so reply and share if you feel called.
Oh, and by the way… if you’re ready to dive deeper into living with more intention and alignment, I’m opening a few private coaching spots in November.
👉 Book a consult here. to explore whether one of them is meant for you.
With love,
Happy Sacred Sunday!
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing a story about a bottle I let linger on my countertop even though it didn’t belong there. That little bottle became a symbol of how clutter and chaos weigh us down when we procrastinate making small decisions. This is the second week I’ve explored what I call “thinking energy,” one of the biggest threats to creating a life of order.
This morning, I chuckled at the irony of releasing that story on the very day I was hosting our annual family Halloween pumpkin carving party.
Why ironic? Because this is the messiest day of our year.
On this day, countertops are buried under food and drinks, toys are sprawled across the playroom, and sticky little hands from pumpkin carving threaten every wall and door. (scroll down to see some pics of our day!)
You’d think by listening to my episode that my house is always pristine, but that wasn’t the point. (And it isn’t!).
Today, despite the chaos and clutter, I felt a deep sense of order.
Order in my priorities.
Order in the rhythm of our traditions.
Order in the purpose behind hosting my family.
You see, the episode wasn’t about pristine countertops. It was about misplaced procrastination — the mental clutter that piles up when we assign too much weight to decisions that don’t deserve it.
So today, as I looked around my house at the kids jumping, grandparents smiling, and moms picking up after everyone, I felt a spark of bliss.
This is the kind of mess I welcome. The kind that reminds me I’m living in alignment with what matters most.
If you’ve been craving more order in your life, maybe the first place to start is in your thoughts.
🎧 Tune in to this week’s episode of Bliss’n Up to explore how to clear the “bottles” cluttering your mind.
Happy Sacred Sunday!
Doesn’t it feel like as soon as Labor Day ends, it’s time to get back into rhythm? I can feel the community craving organization, structure, and systems that help us flow better and feel more grounded.
This month we named it: Strengthen September. This is the time to strengthen our bodies, our minds, our spirits, and our systems so we can ground into the fall season well. My goal, as always, is to inspire you to create a life that sparks bliss.
But this week I realized there’s a fundamental distinction I’ve never explained quite like this before:
👉 Bliss is something you find, not something you chase.
If you spend your life chasing bliss, you’ll always come up short. But when you pursue growth, service, and alignment, you often stumble upon bliss in the process.
That’s what I’m discussing on today’s podcast episode, along with how Stoicism has helped me strengthen virtues like wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.
Those practices will lead you to a bliss-full life without the need to search for it.
I promise, when you embrace this distinction, your life changes forever and for the better.
🎧 [Tune into this week’s episode of Bliss’n Up here]
With love and clarity,
Bliss’n Up Podcast
P.S. Do you know someone who is always chasing for joy, happiness, and bliss and can’t seem to find it? Forward them this email and let them know how much you care about their well-being. 💛
Happy Sacred Sunday!
Tonight was supposed to be the night I celebrated School Year’s Eve with my three boys. That’s because I thought my oldest son was leaving on his weeklong trip with his school on Monday. I realized yesterday morning that he was actually leaving on Sunday night, which meant we had to rearrange our plans and celebrate last night (Saturday).
The experience was a little different from what we are used to. One change was that for the first time we went out to dinner instead of having dinner at home.
But the other change was the decision to skip the grapes, sparkling cider cheer, and countdown. (Scroll to the top to see our picture.)
Why? Because it felt anticlimactic to do this part of the tradition on a Saturday when one kid wasn’t starting school until Wednesday, the other Thursday, and the last one next Monday.
Orlando suggested, and the boys agreed, to set intentions together at dinner as we’ve always done but do the school year’s eve countdown separately with each kid the night before their first day of school.
This reminded me of what I spoke about in Episode 65 about the way an anchor works.
When you drop an anchor into the water, you prevent your boat from drifting away, but it still has room to move with the current.
A part of me felt sad yesterday that School Year’s Eve wasn’t exactly the way we’ve always done it.
It was a preview of the reality that as these boys become men, life will look different. Our close-knit 5 finger family will evolve, and our traditions will have to adapt.
But it was also an opportunity to witness the power of the anchor.
As we sat at dinner and read through the boys’ intentions from previous years… as they discussed what worked and didn’t work, celebrated successes, and shared what they learned in the process… as I watched them write this year’s intentions with conviction, clarity, and desire… I noticed how ingrained this practice has become and how seriously they take it.
It occurred to me that THIS is the anchor.
That’s what all the bells and whistles were for … to encourage them to enjoy creating a life of intention.
Circumstances will always change, but principles are what we want to remain anchored to.
And that leads me to the principle I shared in today’s podcast episode.
The difference between wanting and wishing.
Last night a little thought crept into my mind: I wish my kids were still little.
But even though sometimes I wish they could be little again, that’s not actually what I want.
Because what I want is for my kids to grow into the highest and best versions of themselves. I want to witness every step of their journey. i want to grow with them and enjoy many adventures with them. I want to remember the good old days with nostalgia, knowing that the present is a temporary gift, and the best is yet to come.
Wishes are often the way our minds play tricks on us.
I walked into Orly’s room and saw the big blue suitcase on the floor, nicely organized and packed. I held his handwritten intentions in a ziplock bag. And I took a moment to breathe in deep gratitude for this moment, knowing that in just a couple of years we’ll be toasting his leaving for college.
I released my wishes and focused on the truth that what I really want is exactly what I have.
This moment.
Right here.
Right now.
That is what I’m anchored to right now.
What about you?
P.S. If this message made you think of someone, would you forward it to them? A simple “this made me think of you” could be exactly the encouragement they need today.
Happy Sacred Sunday!
In 2019 I created a celebratory ritual, which became an annual tradition, which forever changed the way my family begins a new year.
I called it School Year’s Eve.
I didn’t quite realize it at the time, but that was the beginning of my Live with Intention framework.
And let me tell you… it was a gamechanger.
I remember one year, one of my younger boys said he wanted to set the intention of “having a best friend like my older brother does.”
His brother had a best friend who had become like family, and his little heart longed for that kind of connection.
We didn’t know that my son had this desire. But when he put the pen to paper, it came pouring out.
We didn’t try to make the school year about getting better grades or achievements. We let his heart choose what mattered most.
Fast forward to the next School Year’s Eve … he didn’t make a best friend … he found a whole group of them!
His relationships flourished that year. He found his people.
And what’s fascinating is that it was the same group as the year prior!
Nothing changed but for him noticing what he desired, naming it, and nurturing it intentionally.
✨This week on the podcast, I’m sharing all the details about School Year’s Eve so you can adopt this powerful tradition in your own family — or pass it along to families with school-aged children.
And tomorrow, we kick off the Bliss’n Up Hub, a 6 month container designed to help YOU live with intention in your own life.
I’ve learned that the best way to influence others is to become the role model first.
Be the one who leads the way — not because of what you say, but rather because of what you do, and who you are.
Let’s create rituals.
Let’s live with rhythm.
Let’s set intentions and transform our mindset, wellness, and relationships, together.
This is the work.
And it’s such important work.
I can’t wait to anchor into August with you.
Sending you so much love,
P.S. I’m jumping LIVE on zoom today at 12pm and 5pm to answer questions about the hub. if you want to join in, reply to this email and I’ll send you the zoom link.
Cheers from Arizona,
I hope you’re off to a beautiful Sacred Sunday.
I’m sneaking in this email before I head off to spend the day at one of my happiest places: The National Speaker’s Association Influence Convention.
My father started bringing me with him to this convention when I was 13-years-old. It became our annual tradition, and a week I looked forward to al year.
10 years ago when my dad passed, I wasn’t sure I could come back without him. Would it be too painful or too lonely?
A few of my NSA friends convinced me to attend.
As soon as the sliding doors swished open and I got hit with the cold A/C air, and a hotel lobby full of familiar faces with badges around their necks … I felt my father everywhere.
It didn’t feel like I was coming without him—it felt like coming home to him, just for a few days, all over again.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of bringing each of my boys once they were old enough to attend the youth program. Here, they get to experience a piece of their grandfather’s legacy—and now, their mom’s too.
NSA is one of our anchors — and you’ll know why that’s important when you tune into the podcast today!
Join me on the podcast this morning as we go through our monthly Live with Intention framework. As we get ready to step into a new month, it’s time to notice, name, and nurture the life we’re living and designing.
As for me, I can’t wait to soak up all the information and inspiration I can this week so I can come back to share it with you.
Remind me to tell you the back story of how I got this sharpie tattoo written on my arms and what it means. It was an incredible experience!
Sending you so much love, today and always,
P.S. Did you know that on August 4th we are kicking off the Bliss’n Up Hub? This hub is a 6 month container where you get to work side by side with me in noticing, naming and nurturing your dream life. This is the space for you to put all this inspiration into practice and create a life that sparks bliss. Sign up today or reply back to me if you have any questions.
Happy Sacred Sunday!
I just returned from dropping off two of my boys at sleep away camp for the first time. I woke up extra early this morning to write them little notes and sneak them into little spots in between their clothes in their suitcases.
I imagined them arriving at camp, pulling out a shirt or a pair of socks and finding the little note.
I imagined their little smiles when they find the second one, and the third one.
I wondered if I placed them strategically enough so they find them at different times throughout the week, or if they’ll find them all at once.
These are little things I do to romanticize life.
Because life is going to happen regardless.
The bags will get packed. The boys will get on the bus. They’ll have their experience. I’ll have mine. And the days will pass.
But romanticizing life sparks a little extra connection. A little extra magic. A little extra joy.
I learned this little ritual from my mom. She always left me little notes in my bags when I traveled. Back then I didn’t know she was romanticizing my life, but I see it clearly now. And I am so grateful for those momenticos that I can now pass down to my children.
This week on the podcast I’m talking about 3 ways you can romanticize your life too and why it’s such a powerful practice.
It’s easy to do, and it can completely shift the energy in your life.
This might be my favorite episode of all time, because it’s one of my favorite practices.
Oh, and I have something super exciting to share with you today also.
Today is the first time I air the podcast with video!!!!! So now you can listen, or watch and listen 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Tune in and keep bliss’ning, because the bliss you’re seeking is already within you.
Sending you so much love today and always,
Bliss’n Up Podcast
P.S. If this message has been a gift in your life, would you be kind enough to pay it forward by liking, following, or leaving a review wherever you listen? Your support helps us reach more people who could benefit. Feel free to share it on your socials as well — that would be a lovely surprise. Thank you! 💛
There’s one thing we know for sure:
Regardless of what kind of relationship you have with your mother…
If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t be in this world.
So today, on this Sacred Sunday, let’s pause to honor the mothers — those who birthed us, raised us, loved us, or simply gave us life. Let’s thank them for being the vessel through which we entered this world.
Happy Sacred Sunday!
Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to lead a mission statement workshop for a family. The mother had previously attended one of my workshops and wanted her husband and children to experience it too.
Picture this: Mom and Dad, their five kids (ages 19 to 30), three spouses, and a few babies — all gathered on a Thursday night, after a long day of work, at Mom and Dad’s house to discover their personal missions.
The place was a mad house and I couldn’t believe Mom had pulled this off. 😂
This is how she did it:
- She told them she wanted them to participate in an activity (no details).
- She said it was her Mother’s Day gift.
And they showed up.
Every single one of them.
At first, I wondered how they’d respond.
Would they be annoyed? Disengaged? Scrolling on their phones?
But they were such troopers and engaged the entire time.
Each of them walked away with something powerful — a personal mission statement to help them live with intention and solid principles.
And guess what? They even enjoyed it. 😮
It touched my heart that this mother dared to create such a meaningful experience, even though it seemed inconvenient or risky at first. All she wanted was to give her family a tool for their success.
Someone once said, “The person who learns the most in any classroom is the teacher.”
And let me tell you — I learned so much from her that night.
Mom inspired me to dare to create a similar experience for my own family.
So yesterday, I gathered my “five fingers” (my three teenage boys and my husband) plus my mom, stepdad, and sister to do a Bliss on the Bottle Vision Casting activity together.
Now, you can probably imagine the enthusiasm level when I told three teenage boys what we’d be doing. 😅
But just like Mom’s family…
They showed up. They engaged. And I hope they’ll carry something meaningful from that moment forward.
I was especially grateful to watch my 75-year-old mom cast her visions with joy and enthusiasm.
It reminded me that it’s never too late to keep dreaming and never too early to model what daring looks like.
Whether you’re a mom yourself, celebrating your mother, or learning from a mother’s legacy, this episode will inspire you to reflect on what brave decisions, quiet sacrifices, or bold moments shaped you.
And how you can use those lessons to pave a brighter, bolder way forward.
Let this episode be a gentle invitation to honor the many forms of daring, especially the ones passed down through the women who molded us.
To all the mothers, the mother-figures, and the lessons they continue to give us…
Happy Mother’s Day.
Bliss’n Up Podcast
Happy Sacred Sunday!
“May the 4th be with you” has become a famous, albeit unofficial holiday, stemming from a clever play on the Star Wars movie phrase.
As a true lover of words, I love May 4th 
.
But today I love it a little extra … because today is also the day we celebrate the one year anniversary of Bliss’n Up on the podcast. (Cinco de Mayo is the official birthday, but we’re celebrating on this Sacred Sunday).
When I told my husband, Orlando, that I was it had been one year since I launched Bliss’n Up, he didn’t believe me. He’d shake his head and repeat, “no Caro. It can’t be! Time is passing too fast!”
It occurred to me that without any milestones, the passing of one May 4th to the other would be insignificant. It reminded me of the story I read years ago about a Native American man who told his grandfather he dreamed of becoming a lawyer.
The grandfather asked, “if that is your dream, then why don’t you go to law school?’
“I’m 47 years old, grandpa. I’m too old to go to lawschool.”
The grandfather put his hand on the man’s shoulder and looked him straight in the eye. “Son, in 3 years you will be 50. The only difference is you’ll be a 50 year lawyer, or you won’t.”
Time will pass regardless, but it is our responsibility to make that time intentional.
From now on, May 5th (and 4th this year) will forever mark a dream I dared to bring to life — even if it unbelievable how quickly it sprung up on us.
This week on Bliss’n Up, I’m reflecting on our anniversary and closing the loop on the 1st episode: Getting out of the trying loop and diving in.
There is a lot to learn about going from trying to doing and I’m so happy to be on the other side of this story to share those golden nuggets with you.
May the 4th be with you to DARE to chase your dreams, live your best life, and create your own reality,
And thank you for joining along in my journey; thank you for reading this weekly newsletter, listening to the podcast, and being part of our Bliss’n Up community. This work wouldn’t matter if I didn’t have you to share it with.
Happy anniversary to us!
Bliss’n Up Podcast