The start of September always feels like a shift, and this year it’s marked by big changes as I notice my kids step into new stages of independence. It’s a mix of emotions, and today I’m reflecting on the start of this new season, from back-to-school routines, the surprising ways community has been showing up in my life, and the little rituals that remind me to keep filling my own cup, too.

I share stories of our first real bus rides, the little but impactful ways neighbours have become friends, and how something as simple as baking with another mom turned into a joyful new ritual. I also dive into the gentle balance of routines, why they matter, how they’ve reshaped my days, and how they’ve given me space to rediscover the things I love doing and want to do more of.

Think of this episode as your seasonal check-in, a reminder to slow down and notice the small, precious moments that often get lost in the chaos. Like me, you might find yourself needing the permission to step back and ask: what truly brings me joy and how can I choose more of it?

Thank you so much for tuning in today. If this episode encouraged you, it would mean so much if you rated, reviewed, and subscribed to Your Cup of Joy. Share it with someone who’s also in the back-to-school season, and come connect with me on Instagram. I would love to hear how you’re filling your cup right now. Until next time!

Ariana's Links:
Website
Instagram: @‌ArianaJoyChristie
@YourCupofJoyPodcast
TikTok: @‌ArianaChristie

Motherhood, career, and life often come with a thousand ‘shoulds.’ But beneath all those layers of expectation is the quiet truth of what really drives us, and when we honour it, everything begins to change. On today’s episode of Your Cup of Joy, I’m sitting down with the incredible Ali Dunn: leadership coach, writer, and Enneagram expert. Ali’s journey from a high-powered career in sales to becoming a coach is full of truth, vulnerability, and wisdom, and the insights she shares about motivation, values, and self-awareness will leave you questioning how you show up in your own life.

We explore the world of the Enneagram, not just as a personality test, but as a lens to understand what drives us beneath the surface. Ali unpacks how discovering our type can transform the way we lead, parent, and even love. We also talk openly about the realities of motherhood, the tension between expectations and personal truth, and how easy it is to lose ourselves in the “shoulds” of life.

Through the lens of the Enneagram and her own lived experience, Ali shows us what it looks like to question the roles we’ve been handed, honour the values that really matter, and build a life that feels true.

If this conversation touched your heart the way it touched mine, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. And if you haven’t already, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to Your Cup of Joy, it means the world and helps this podcast reach more people who need these stories. Until next time, keep filling your own cup with joy so you can pour into those you love.

Connect with Ali:
Ali Dunn - https://www.instagram.com/enneagrambyali/
Website: https://www.alidunn.com/
Substack: https://alidunn.substack.com/

Ariana's Links:
Website
Instagram: @‌ArianaJoyChristie
@YourCupofJoyPodcast
TikTok: @‌ArianaChristie

Clutter isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. In today’s episode of Your Cup of Joy, I’m joined by Britt Gaudio, professional organizer, decluttering coach, and the heart behind Well Nested Living, to explore what it really means to create a home that supports your nervous system, not just your to-do list. Get ready for a chat that goes far beyond tidying up. If your home has been feeling more overwhelming than grounding, this conversation will ease the pressure and remind you that the goal isn’t perfection, it’s creating a space that feels safe and supportive.

Britt shares how burnout led her from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, and why supporting busy parents through clutter is about so much more than organization: it’s about reclaiming peace, energy, and presence in your life. We talked about what clutter actually costs us, how overstimulation shows up in motherhood, and why a “perfectly tidy” home might not be the goal we truly need.

Together, we explore how to let go of the emotional baggage tied to our belongings, the magic of 15-minute resets, and why it’s okay, and even beautiful, to ask for help. Britt reminds me (and I hope she reminds you, too) that our homes are meant to be lived in, that we don’t have to chase someone else’s aesthetic to feel good in our space, and that letting go of the physical often helps us begin a new emotional chapter, too.

This episode is your gentle permission slip to slow down, declutter with love, and consider that calling in support is one of the most powerful acts of self-care we can offer ourselves.

As always, if this conversation resonated with you, please share it with someone who you think needs it. I’d also love to connect and hear your thoughts over on Instagram @yourcupofjoypodcast. Let’s keep rewriting the story of what motherhood, home, and support can look like!

Connect with Britt:
Book a FREE consultation with Britt (click here!) and if you work with her, be sure to use my code ARIANA to save $$!
Instagram: @well.nested.living
Website: https://www.wellnestedliving.ca

Ariana's Links:
Website
Instagram: @‌ArianaJoyChristie
@YourCupofJoyPodcast
TikTok: @‌ArianaChristie