SYW264 – Self-Care is Not Selfish

[00:01:53] Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I’m your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of The New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 264. In this episode I’m chatting with Simple Scrapper member Kendall Slutzky about the beneficial connections between scrapbooking and her personal fitness journey.

[00:02:21] Jennifer Wilson: Hey, Kendall, welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

[00:02:23] Kendall Slutsky: Hi, thank you so much for having me. This is such an honor to be able to talk to you today.

[00:02:28] Jennifer Wilson: I am really looking forward to our conversation. We will share in a little bit something we recently discovered that we have in common. Um, but before we get there, can you share a little bit about yourself?

[00:02:40] Kendall Slutsky: Yes. Um, so my name's Kendall Slutsky and I have been living in Colorado probably since I was about four or five. I was originally from Ohio and, but I've been here since then. Um, I have been married, it will be 20 years in June. I can't believe that. Time.

[00:02:59] Jennifer Wilson: Wow. Congrats.

[00:03:01] Kendall Slutsky: Flying. Um, but it'll be 20 years. And, um, my husband and I met in college and we lived in, um, he's from Chicago, so lived there for a little bit. And I know you're from Illinois, which is, um, another connection we have, but lived there for a little bit, but ended up back in Colorado. Um, I have two daughters, one that's a freshman and one that is a senior. So she'll be headed to college in August. Um, But yeah, it's, it's been lovely living in Colorado. We, we definitely love it here.

[00:03:37] Jennifer Wilson: Uh, yes, it's such a, it's such a beautiful place. Every time we've visited, we've, we've, uh, had seen some amazing scenery and great food and beers and just like the culture there. Just, yeah, it's, uh, it's a wonderful place.

[00:03:50] Kendall Slutsky: It is.

[00:03:51] Jennifer Wilson: So Kendall, what's exciting you right now, both inside of scrapbooking and crafting and outside of it?

[00:03:58] Kendall Slutsky: Outside of scrapbooking, um, I would say the biggest thing right now is honestly just kind of the next six months of my life. Having a my, my baby just kind of go on this next adventure of life. And graduating high school and headed to college. And doing what she loves in college. Um, for, you know, playing D3 field hockey.

[00:04:22] Kendall Slutsky: She has come so far and just kind of watching her grow and find who she really is. It's, it's just really exciting to kind of just sit back and watch her evolve and kind of go along this adventure with her. Um, so I'm really very excited about that, even though it's going to definitely break my heart when she leaves. But you know, having kids, that's just part of life and we, it's inevitable.

[00:04:48] Kendall Slutsky: And I know that day is going to come. Yeah. Um, but she's just so happy. And I think at the end of the day, that's all we really want for our kids is to find their place, find their joy. And I think she's found it. So definitely excited about that. Um, as far as scrapbooking goes, I just, scrapbooking is something that just brings me so much joy.

[00:05:12] Kendall Slutsky: Um, there's not many people that I know that do this. And, you know, sometimes when I go on a retreat, people are like, wait, you go away for four days and do what? And it's, it's definitely something that, um, not many people do. But I've, I've just loved it ever, I mean, I would say easily since high school. And what's exciting me right now is that this year I really tried to find more intention and your membership with Simple Scrapper has really taught me how to apply this intention to my hobby. And not just kind of wing it and just make time for it when I can. So I'm excited about the three projects that I committed to this year. Um, again, I'm not that type of scrapbooker that is, start like having a specific start day or having a, a complete finish day.

[00:06:07] Kendall Slutsky: Um, I did just listen to your recent podcast, um, about how she finished 14 albums in a year, and that is just.

[00:06:16] Jennifer Wilson: It's amazing.

[00:06:18] Kendall Slutsky: It absolutely is so amazing. I was so inspired by that, but, that is one thing that I've learned in this membership is how different everybody can scrapbook. And she likes to have that start and finish. And I just kind of keep going. But I needed to dial in my intention a little bit more. And so I, I narrowed it down to three projects, whether it's my 12 by 12 layouts for the kids. Or my, I love all things Heidi Swapp.

[00:06:48] Kendall Slutsky: The memory planner, I just, that whole system, the products, the style, um, it allowed me to start documenting me. And I would say that is one thing, once I embraced the scrapbook community, I was like, I document my kids and my family, but I don't document me. And I think that Heidi Swapp's way of documenting and honestly Ali Edwards as well. Both of them, the way that they have taught us to document our story. Our own personal story matters. And so the Heidi Swapp memory planner system, I just have so much fun with. It does take me forever. I'm not going to lie.

[00:07:30] Jennifer Wilson: It's, it's so beautifully like detailed and fun, but yes, it is more labor intensive than say other forms of scrapbooking sometimes.

[00:07:39] Kendall Slutsky: Didn't you give it a try one.

[00:07:41] Jennifer Wilson: I did, I did three months of it at the beginning of 2023. And I was, that was enough for me. Like I was so glad that I did it. It's lovely, but it was not something I knew I could continue.

[00:07:53] Kendall Slutsky: Yeah. And that's the, you know, that's the good thing about scrapbooking is that there isn't one right way to do it. And, um, I just, I, I do love it, but I do need to find a way to do it quicker. That that's what I have to say on that one. Um, and then the other thing is my daily journal. I fell in love with Heba. Heba Alsibai is just so incredible in her consistency and her creativity of her daily journal. And I bought a Hemlock And Oak journal this year. And for one thing, I mean, just holding that journal, once you kind of embrace being a crafter or a planner, like there's something so special about getting a new journal or a new album. It's, it's definitely something that. I just found so much happiness with, and Hemlock and Oak is amazing.

[00:08:45] Jennifer Wilson: It is. And I think that the difference between being an adult versus a younger person and holding the new journal is I think now we're actually willing to write in them. Cause I know when I was young, I would buy that. And I like, I was so fearful of messing it up. I would never write anything in it. And now I'm like, oh, yeah, I want to dive in.

[00:09:06] Kendall Slutsky: Yes, yes, and there's always that fear of just starting. And we definitely all feel it. But yes, they, it does, we just gotta, we just gotta document and start, and there is no right or wrong way. Um, and especially in a daily journal. Because, one day. It's just one day. You can say, okay, well, I didn't really love that spread. Move on. Um, but I, those, those three things in scrapbooking, I would say are really what I try and focus on. And when I make time to craft, I just kind of pick whatever I'm feeling drawn to. And so it at least dialed in my focus of what excites me about scrapbooking. Um, instead of. I don't know. Just give me the focus that I didn't have before.

[00:09:57] Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, no, I love that you have both a variety in like subject matter. You can say, okay, how am I feeling, um, personally in terms of what I'm interested in expressing or capturing. And then also you have a variety in formats to say, okay, what do, what is it that I really want to play with? So you can do that kind of mix and match to, uh, to pick what's the best thing right now.

[00:10:19] Kendall Slutsky: Absolutely. Yes.

[00:10:20] Jennifer Wilson: So Kendall, I also have to ask you about your memory keeping bucket list. So is there an important story that you really want to capture, but you haven't yet?

[00:10:28] Kendall Slutsky: This definitely, this question definitely gave me something to think about. Because I would say the majority of my time scrapbooking, it was really about document, documenting my kids. And I didn't really think about, you know, like the story happened, they had their birthday party or we took a vacation and I documented it. But really taking the intention to figure out what story have I not told? And what came to me was my time at Trinity. And, you know, you and I, we found out that we went to the same school together.

[00:11:05] Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes.

[00:11:07] Kendall Slutsky: I mean, talk about a small world.

[00:11:11] Jennifer Wilson: Uh, yes. The world is definitely so tiny. And, and I was like, oh my gosh, I remembered your maiden name was Kendall Dennis. And I'm like, yeah, that name sounds really familiar. And you were just a year ahead of me. And, yeah, it's just so, it's so fascinating.

[00:11:29] Kendall Slutsky: It's, yeah, I am beyond happy that our paths crossed again. Um, I remember when you sent me that article that you had even posted because you were part of the Um.

[00:11:42] Jennifer Wilson: The Trinitonian, yeah. I work for the newspaper.

[00:11:44] Kendall Slutsky: Trinitonian. Yes.

[00:11:46] Kendall Slutsky: And, but my time like at Trinity was a story that I have not told. And I have so much memorabilia from that time that I have to get documented in some form.

[00:12:01] Kendall Slutsky: I've had it in a box. Oh my gosh. I mean, we graduated how many years ago? Um, It's many, many. We're not going to say our age. Just kidding. Um, I always

[00:12:14] Jennifer Wilson: You were class of 2021, sorry, not 2021, 2001, right?

[00:12:19] Kendall Slutsky: Yeah, yeah. Um, yeah, 2001. So graduated and then 9/11 hit and the world came upside down for sure. Um, but 2001, yep, we graduated and my, there's just so many memories of Trinity that made me who I am today. And kind of the growth that I have in all that I participated in. Um, and so I really feel that all my college stuff, I have nothing organized.

[00:12:53] Kendall Slutsky: So definitely have to find a way to do that. I'm really not sure how I'm going to do it. Um, you know, there's just so, I've learned over the years, there's so many formats of documenting your story. Um, but I have learned that I, I'm probably going to do it in a 12 by 12 album because everything is more with me.

[00:13:16] Kendall Slutsky: I have too, I have too many photos. I have too many embellishments. I have, I have more, you know, I love looking at a scrapbook page and asking myself, okay, what flair do I have on here? Do I have ribbon? Do I want to use pattern paper? Do I want to use sequins? Do I want to stamp? All the kind of techniques go through my head when I'm looking at a scrapbook layout. And that's probably part of my downfall, because it takes me a long time to document a story on a 12x12 layout. But at the same time, when I finish the creation, I'm just so happy about it.

[00:13:51] Kendall Slutsky: But yes, I, I definitely, um, I think I'm going to do a 12 by 12 in some form so that I can have the space to put the, the memorabilia into

[00:14:03] Jennifer Wilson: Oh, yeah.

[00:14:03] Kendall Slutsky: That page. I thought about a shadow box as well. Um, because there's so many like, you know, 3d type.

[00:14:12] Jennifer Wilson: Little things, yeah.

[00:14:13] Kendall Slutsky: Yeah. Have you kept a lot of things from college?

[00:14:16] Jennifer Wilson: You know, I'm trying to think of things that I have and maybe it's just because I haven't got gone through those boxes recently. Um, I actually don't know what I have. I've did a, a little mini book, like a three by three or four by four when I first started scrapbooking. So it was just kind of a highlight of, you know, these are the things from kind of like main points of roommates and my major and, you know, getting dunked in the fountain on your birthday. Like just some of the highlights.

[00:14:46] Kendall Slutsky: Oh, I forgot about that.

[00:14:48] Jennifer Wilson: But I don't, Yeah.

[00:14:50] Jennifer Wilson: I don't really think, I don't know how much other stuff I have. I have every copy of every Trinitonian from the four years I was there. But I have to like, I have to go back. I know there's a box of t shirts somewhere. That I had intended to make a t shirt quilt out of, but I'm, turns out I'm not that much of a quilter. Uh, So, yeah, but I think this is such a great example of a very specific, uh, let's just call it like a story challenge. Like, we want to document, say, college, or I think a lot of times high school can fit in the same bucket of, you know, you have pride in the school you went to, and, you know, you have stories of ups and downs, and how do we document this in a, like, a cohesive and fun way. That won't take also a million years to finish.

[00:15:33] Kendall Slutsky: Exactly. Maybe you and I should hold each other to it. Because we went to the same school and just kind of, cause I bet you, there are so many things that you would bring up. That, Hey, do you remember, you know, going to Coats at, you know, one o'clock in the morning. Or, I don't know, there's just all these random stories that you and I probably could share that would be like, Oh yeah, I remember that. It'd be really fun to go through.

[00:16:00] Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. Well, and you know, you mentioned 9/11 because I was the year behind you. So I remember sitting in the basement of Coates watching the news, um, that morning and just being stunned of, of what I was seeing. So, um.

[00:16:18] Kendall Slutsky: Another thing is like remembering where you were on that day. But yeah, that was definitely part of your, college experience.

[00:16:26] Jennifer Wilson: Oh, for sure. And yeah, I mean, it's so interesting to think about how for our kids, the pandemic will definitely be a huge before and after. Um, and the things that also maybe were, were that for us as well.

[00:16:41] Kendall Slutsky: Totally, totally, because I think when I, given that I'm so far behind in my scrapbooking, it's going to be, it's just going to be so different when you are looking through those stories of how life was and then how life is today. Because it's never been the same. It'll never be the same again.

[00:16:59] Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

[00:16:59] Kendall Slutsky: Um, but that's the importance of why we do what we do, right?

[00:17:05] Jennifer Wilson: Oh, a hundred percent. A hundred percent. Well, and I bet if we have a conversation just about our own college experience, we could develop some like takeaways of here's some things that you might want to think about if you're trying to brainstorm stories from your college experience. So.

[00:17:19] Kendall Slutsky: Absolutely, it could be like a whole new journey you can create in the membership.

[00:17:23] Jennifer Wilson: I can't wait for that. Yeah.

[00:17:26] Kendall Slutsky: Because it's so many people, you know, they do either like a wedding or you know how your parents met or how you and your spouse met or whatever. But I think, you know, adding something about a college experience, um, could definitely bring a lot of joy to a lot of people because they don't, they haven't really sat down and thought about it.

[00:17:48] Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes. There, I think there are very few of us that were actually scrapbookers in college. Like I think there, there are definitely some, and I'm sure that there's a number of listeners to this podcast that have been scrapbooking since then in one way or another. Um, but I think most of us started at some time after. And for me, it wasn't, it was shortly after I think the first page I made was in 2005. So it's not like it was that much later, but I had to feel like I was actually an adult before I got in.

[00:18:16] Kendall Slutsky: Yeah.

[00:18:16] Kendall Slutsky: So 2005, and then you started Simple Scrapper in 2008.

[00:18:22] Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

[00:18:23] Kendall Slutsky: Okay? So, not too long after for you too.

[00:18:28] Jennifer Wilson: Wow.

[00:18:28] Kendall Slutsky: I don't know, change all of our worlds.

[00:18:33] Jennifer Wilson: So in our conversation, I wanted to focus on the connection between personal wellness and having, having the energy and motivation for your hobbies. So can you start by sharing a little bit about your own personal journey and, and what was the trigger for you to, to start doing things differently?

[00:18:50] Kendall Slutsky: Um, I would have to say that I've always been an active person. Um, my parents always tell me that when I became a freshman in high school, I just kind of jumped out of my shell. And I just wanted to do all the things. And I just kind of found, I was really, that was really when I started to find who I was.

[00:19:11] Kendall Slutsky: And so being in athletics and competing was just, I just took it to a new level and realized like, yes, this really is a part of me. And I really embraced that. Um, I almost didn't go to Trinity. Um, I was recruited to play D1 lacrosse back East. And that. Like, lacrosse was a huge part of my life. Um, but I think, I remember the college being a two part application. And I submitted the first part and I did not submit the second. And I just, I think I got burned out, and I just wanted to play for fun. But lacrosse was a huge part of my life, um, in high school. But I've always been active, and then, you know, you graduate college, you get a job, you have kids. My life just started to, um, happen to me. And it was just go, go all the time.

[00:20:08] Kendall Slutsky: And I guess looking back, you know, it's kind of like I needed to stop the blur. And so I found. This one moment, it was December of 2016, where I decided to just say yes to my health. And I was burning the candle at both ends. I was running a research center in Denver. I was in charge of the research in five of the Southwest Denver hospitals.

[00:20:35] Kendall Slutsky: My kids were five and eight at the time. Like, I mean, I had my dream job. I absolutely loved my job, but it got to the point where I did leave that job. You know, it's something that I love, but I left it for something that I love more. And I had to find that balance once I left that job for me. And it was very, very hard to be honest. Because a part of my identity was just kind of taken away. And.

[00:21:02] Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

[00:21:03] Kendall Slutsky: It's, It's I'm sure that there's plenty of people who listen to this who have, you know, you had great, I mean, for one thing, I am beyond grateful that I was able to have the choice to leave my job. Um, I'm not saying it was easy because giving up a double income was not always fun, but it was the choice that we decided to make as a family.

[00:21:24] Kendall Slutsky: And it allowed me, it kind of opened the door to realize that I was not taking care of me. I am definitely a people pleaser, um, to a fault. And. I had to really readjust that. Because I, you know, I didn't have this job that I had to go to every day. I was here to take care of my kids and be a better mom, a better wife.

[00:21:49] Kendall Slutsky: And so there was just, it was just that moment where like, okay, I have to start making time for my health. Because at the end of the day, when you don't have your health, I mean, you're not going to be a good mom. You're not going to be a good wife. Um, or I should say partner. Um, yeah.

[00:22:07] Kendall Slutsky: You're not going to be that.

[00:22:10] Kendall Slutsky: I couldn't be the daughter I wanted to be. And so that's when I really started to learn that self care is not selfish. And the people around you, they need and they want you to be the best version of you. And so I just kind of made a choice and nothing honestly in my closet fit. That's really what that really was a moment of awakening of saying, I am not buying a new wardrobe. That is crazy. So I just knew that I started, I needed to start making time for me to be a little bit healthier. And that is when I found these at home workouts. Um, and I found a challenge on Facebook. And it was, I really have no idea how I came across it. Cause I think Facebook was, you know, I don't know.

[00:22:58] Kendall Slutsky: I didn't use it a ton. But I found this challenge. It was about 90 days and Autumn Calabrese is the trainer that that ran it. And she's like, it's about 90 days. I'm going to take you through four of my programs. I'm going to tell you to follow this type of nutrition and see what you think. And I was just like, you know what?

[00:23:17] Kendall Slutsky: I've got nothing to lose. It was something that was affordable. I was paying for a gym membership that I never went to. You know, cause I didn't want to leave my job with my kids in daycare and then put them in another daycare. Like I just didn't want to do that. So I found my passion with at home workouts.

[00:23:33] Kendall Slutsky: And once I completed that 90 day challenge. My life has never been the same since. And it gave me the sense of, wow, I can do hard things. Like if I can do this, I like, where can I go from there? And it just really allowed me to embark on a lifelong health journey. Um, because the at home workouts, they, and I'm not saying that they're for everybody, but it works for me because I did not have time to go to the gym.

[00:24:07] Kendall Slutsky: I just needed to get up and get it done. 30 minutes is around the time that I committed. And that's 2 percent of your day. I told myself if I can't make time for 30 minutes out of my day for myself, something is wrong and out of balance. So that's just kind of how I started. And it was just go, go, go for so long.

[00:24:26] Kendall Slutsky: And then I just hit a moment of, okay, I have to start putting myself first a little bit. And um, health and fitness just kind of took off from there. Because it, it just became this empowering feeling of when you start your day and you make that time for you every day, your whole life will change. Because you started, you did something good for you that day. And that can be very powerful.

[00:24:54] Jennifer Wilson: What were some of the more immediate changes that you noticed?

[00:24:58] Kendall Slutsky: Um, I would say obviously when you commit to something and, it's been tested, you know, it does work. So the immediate changes, obviously when I completed the 90 day challenge and I did take before and after photos, they tell you to do that. I never thought in a million years I would ever share them. Looking back at it, I'm so glad that I did. Because it does really show you how Your hard work paid off. And the immediate change was, wow, I have so much more energy.

[00:25:32] Kendall Slutsky: I lost the weight that I wanted to lose. Um, I just felt good in my own skin and there, there's something that we all have where, yes, we, we do want to feel good on the outside and that's going to look different for everybody. But it's really about what you feel on the inside and it's about having that

[00:25:53] Kendall Slutsky: trust in yourself to know that you are worth every single piece of effort that you put into you. Um, because without your health I mean, what kind of life do you really have? And I don't want to be in a hospital. I don't want someone to have to take care of me when I'm older. I want to be that 90 year old grandma that hopefully I can be a grandma one day, um, to where I can keep up with my grandkids.

[00:26:20] Jennifer Wilson: Uh huh, uh

[00:26:22] Kendall Slutsky: I don't want to ne told no. So the immediate results were just, when you do the work, you just feel good inside. And we all deserve to feel good. Like, we really do. Every single one of us deserves to feel good. But, we have to find it deep within ourselves to put in the work. Cause obviously, if it was easy, everyone would do it.

[00:26:43] Kendall Slutsky: You know, we do have an obesity epidemic in this world. And, it's hard. It is hard to find that time to do something you might not want to do that day. But, that's what I really try and work on with my team is knowing your why. Because my why of, I did not, you know, all those things that I just said about not wanting someone to take care of me and wanting to be able to keep up with my grandkids. That's why I show up every day for my health. Because I can be that 1 percent better. But it's that phrase that I just repeat to myself and I tell my team all the time, like, what you do today, determines your future self tomorrow.

[00:27:25] Kendall Slutsky: And it doesn't mean that you have to go and do a huge hour and a half crazy high intensity workout. It could mean that you took a 10 minute walk today. And I mean, the amount of research coming out on walking and lifting weights. It could be as simple as that and it is changing people's health like crazy. Um, but it, it really is about digging deep and finding your why, because that's going to be what pushes through the hard times.

[00:27:52] Kendall Slutsky: Because we all have our hard times. It's not like I want to get up and, you know, commit to my, my health and fitness every single day. There's plenty of times where I just want to lay in bed and find a show on Netflix. Or just going to my scrapbook room and close the door and sit all day.

[00:28:11] Jennifer Wilson: Well, and I appreciate that there is, uh, research continuing into the benefits of a variety of intensity levels. Um, I feel like when we were growing up, there was always this perspective that if you're not running five miles, it really doesn't count. Um, if you're not going at it hard, it's not doing anything for you. So, um, that encouragement, I think, makes it more, um, inviting and open to people of a variety of, of backgrounds and body types and, and things like that.

[00:28:41] Kendall Slutsky: Absolutely. And there's so many different, you know, I, I, I really encouraged my team to, you don't play the comparison game. And everyone has their day one. And you don't want to compare it to anybody else's day one. You need to meet you where you are at, because that is where you're at and it is okay where you're at. And the good thing is, is that if you have your day one, that means that you chose to start a commitment to you. And just that intention right there, is a huge win because so many people don't do that. Um, and it can be scary, but there are so many different ways to take care of your health. And yes, I might love the more high intensity stuff.

[00:29:30] Kendall Slutsky: And I mean, I've been doing this now for seven years. I have come a very long way. I did not do what I do today, seven years ago, not even close. So it's again, not playing that comparison game and just starting. And finding something that works for you and committing to it. But that's where the community part, you know, comes in is that you have to have the support around you to be able to do this. Um, and be successful.

[00:29:59] Kendall Slutsky: You don't have to do it alone. And that's what I love about combining my love of health and fitness and scrapbooking, is that, okay, so scrapbooking is my hobby. Whatever your hobby is, that is your play. Your play plays into your health journey and you have to make time for it, and it's gonna look different for everybody. So it's like you just have to find that intention for both and find what works for you.

[00:30:24] Kendall Slutsky: Because the way I scrapbook is gonna be completely different than someone else. Um, but we all share the same value, of we want to document our story. It's kind of the same thing with fitness and health. We all want to be healthy. We all want to feel good. But it's going to look different for everybody and their journey on how you're going to get there.

[00:30:43] Jennifer Wilson: So diving into this a little bit more, um, and for, for sake of transparency with our audience, you are a BODi coach formerly known as Beachbody. Um, Autumn Calabrese is one of their trainers. Um, and that is an MLM company. So just, we're just putting the facts out there. Um, but why specifically are their programs and tools a good fit for you personally? How have those elements of, of community and fitness and nutrition kind of all fit together for you?

[00:31:10] Kendall Slutsky: BODi is something that, yes, it is an at, at home fitness program. Yes, I am a partner for them. But I wasn't, you know, when I said yes to my health seven years ago, I was not. I did not take the business side. I probably did the workouts for about three years. And then I chose to take the business side of things to, you know, pay for some of the products. Get some of the discounts.

[00:31:34] Kendall Slutsky: I was like, okay, well, I might as well do that. And then I found this love of helping people. And I truly feel that I found this passion, with, you know, applying kind of the love of health and fitness and being able to help others feel the same. So, BODi is just something that, encompasses everything that I value.

[00:31:58] Kendall Slutsky: And I love it that they did change their name because Beachbody is not, um, it can give a certain image of a company that I, that I don't feel that we stand for. It really is about health esteem and feeling good in our own bodies. And it's not always about how we look on the outside and it's about being the best version of you.

[00:32:21] Kendall Slutsky: And so BODi, you know, it's a community that I do believe in. And so that is why I chose to continue partnering with them. Um, the at home workouts, it's not going to be for everybody. You do have to have some sort of ability to, have motivation to push play. Um, but it is, it was rated the number one fitness app in 2023. And it just has something for everybody and that's why it worked.

[00:32:51] Kendall Slutsky: It, it's always worked for me because there's so much variety. The amount of content that this app will, give me, you know, it, it gives me all the tools that I need. And that's what I, you know, with the Simple Scrapper membership, you provide me so much information and tools and inspiration, accountability. It's just wonderful to be able to grow and improve on my hobby. And BODi does that for me, for my health. You know, you're always adding content. You're always giving new challenges and it's constantly evolving. So BODi is something that with the mindset work, with the mobility work, with the nutrition. With the live classes you can join, and then you have the full community of it.

[00:33:36] Kendall Slutsky: Um, I have met so many incredible people through this business. Um, but at home workouts, it just, why it works for me is that I did, it's, was a lot more affordable than my gym membership. And it just works for me by being able to get up in the morning. Get it done first thing. And not have any, you know, I'm not taking that time to drive to the gym.

[00:34:02] Kendall Slutsky: I mean, if you ask me to get up and drive to the gym at 5:30 in the morning, that's not happening. I, I just, I don't, I will not get in that car. Um, especially in the winter, you know, when it's one degrees outside. So being able to just get up, push play. I mean, sometimes I'm not going to lie. I have done a workout in my pajamas.

[00:34:25] Kendall Slutsky: It's just like, okay, I have no motivation. I'm just going to get it done. So it gives you the no excuse philosophy, I guess. Um, and the app can go anywhere. It's an app. I mean, I just took a family cruise to celebrate my parents 70th birthdays. And I downloaded the workouts. So that, cause I knew the internet was going to be a little iffy.

[00:34:47] Kendall Slutsky: And I could download the workouts before I even left. And so, it truly gives you the no excuse policy. Um, but obviously I've been doing it for seven years. I'm not stopping. I think I've completed, I want to say 55 of their programs. Um, I just, I just keep going. You know, you finish one, you start another one.

[00:35:10] Kendall Slutsky: And every one of them, I'm not saying I loved. It's about the fact that you learn something from every single one that you do. Um, but the variety is absolutely huge and that's what keeps me from plateauing. That challenges me. Um, I love the hybrid calendars that they put out there. You know, the trainers really, I've gotten to meet quite a few of them over the years. And they are just the sweetest people. And they truly, truly care about helping us be a better version of ourselves.

[00:35:43] Kendall Slutsky: So overall, the platform is just, I, I think that they truly give you the tools to tap into what works for you. And so like if one program, you're like, no way I'm not doing that. Okay, well let's try another one. Um, and the fact that they film every single week and have their live classes. It's, it's really fun to jump on into those. They're all recorded. Again, it's, it just gives you that no excuse policy for making that time for you.

[00:36:11] Jennifer Wilson: So I kind of, I don't know if this is playing devil's advocate or not. But you talked about how you grew up playing sports, being active, you were able to meet kind of your initial goal in the first 90 days. So what advice would you give to someone who may be listening that has never felt athletic or consistently been active. They are really more of a true beginner. Um, where, where would you recommend they start?

[00:36:34] Kendall Slutsky: I would recommend, and this is probably one of my favorite parts of my job, and, because I don't even look at this as a job, I look at this as just a passion that, um, that I have found that I want to help people with. And the one thing that I always advise is that you have to start with your mindset. And so many people can be so intimidated and have so many self limiting beliefs inside of themselves. And that will just create this barrier that you don't need to have.

[00:37:07] Kendall Slutsky: And I think the key thing is, is to, for one thing, find someone that can help you through this and to get you started. Whether it's a personal trainer or, you know, group fitness classes that you, I don't know, maybe you'd like to go to core yoga or whatever community you like to do. Um, obviously I have my team that I work with and they can text me, call me, like I'm always there for them.

[00:37:34] Kendall Slutsky: But it starts with their mindset of saying, okay, stop saying I'm not an athlete. You are an athlete. It's just your vision of an athlete might look different than someone else's. And you can do more than you think you can. And it's really about setting that mindset of, I can do this. You have to be able to remove that barrier and trust yourself and just say, okay, I'm going to start with five minutes of a walk today, if it can be as simple as that.

[00:38:05] Kendall Slutsky: Um. But that is probably my main advice, is to start with your mindset and then don't play the comparison game. You have to know that you have so much to give back to this world. And the world does need you. We all, I mean this world is what it is, I mean the good and the bad, is because of what we all contribute to it.

[00:38:31] Kendall Slutsky: And know that you can do more than you think you can. And by thinking that you're a beginner, don't look at that as a bad thing. Look at that as, okay, this is where I'm at. And we have so, I mean, there, I love all the beginner programs that we have in the platform. Because it's, it's something that anyone can, you know, there's always something you can modify.

[00:39:00] Kendall Slutsky: You and I could do the same exact workout and I lift a certain weight and you lift a certain weight. It doesn't matter. The point is that we're both doing it. And yes, there, I would say there are some programs that I would not recommend for a beginner. Um, but it's very few, very few. I would say 95 percent of what I have done anybody can do.

[00:39:23] Kendall Slutsky: It's just a matter of what weight you lift or maybe you need to take the jumping out. Um, you know, even if you have like a, an injury. Let's say you broke your foot or you broke your hand. Well, that's just one part of your body. You can still work your core. I mean, your core is something that supports your entire body.

[00:39:43] Kendall Slutsky: And that changed everything for me when I really started to focus. Cause I have a herniated disc in my back. And everyone's like, wow, you do what you do, with a herniated disc. And I'm like, yes, because I've learned how to create that strength in my body, um, to support it. Um, but you are, everyone is, I consider everyone an athlete.

[00:40:07] Kendall Slutsky: It's just a matter of what you feel describes an athlete. But you can do more than you, when you think you can. So start with your mindset. Don't play the comparison game. Find the support in the community. Um, I mean, I am the biggest cheerleader for my team. It's, it's, I want nothing more than for them to succeed.

[00:40:30] Kendall Slutsky: And we're all going to have our good days. We're all going to have our bad days. But the point is, is that we show up every single day, whether we want to or not. And it's amazing, you know, when you push start, it's kind of like when you sit down at your craft table, and you're just looking at a blank piece of paper and you're just so overwhelmed. But the moment that you just start, the flow just happens and it can apply to health and fitness as well. Just start, you know, just say, I can do, do one sit up or I'm going to, I don't know, do four jumping jacks. And just try and start. And it's amazing when you can say, all right, I'm just going to do five minutes and you end up doing the full 30.

[00:41:12] Kendall Slutsky: And all of a sudden, you feel so good. So good.

[00:41:15] Jennifer Wilson: Well, it really, it really stands out that as you were, like, kind of summarizing your three points, you didn't say the words like fitness or exercise. And every single one of those could apply to advice I would give a scrapbooker who is a beginner or returning or just feeling overwhelmed.

[00:41:33] Kendall Slutsky: Absolutely. There's so many, oh, there's so much overlap over scrapbooking and your health. And so for this community, really try and see that the importance of both of them is, it really can change things for you when you put the effort in and remove those self limiting beliefs and just start.

[00:41:53] Jennifer Wilson: Well, I really want to dive into how they are connected in terms of how, making fitness a priority, making your health and wellness a priority impacts the energy and motivation that you have to scrapbook. Um, because it doesn't really necessarily work the other way. Scrapbooking more isn't necessarily going to make you, give you more energy and motivation to work out, but the other one, um, does happen.

[00:42:18] Jennifer Wilson: So could you talk more about your journey in that and your experience?

[00:42:21] Kendall Slutsky: Sure. I definitely feel that there, as I said before, there is a ton of overlap with a hobby and your health. And because part of your health is play. And by taking care of yourself and starting and I know a lot of people, you know, they, they just like, I can't get up that early in the morning. Maybe you are more of a afternoon exerciser.

[00:42:49] Kendall Slutsky: Um, It's the energy is such an interesting piece. Because you have to find whether it's scrapbooking or your fitness, you have to find where your energy is. For me, I cannot scrapbook at night. It just, I mean, if I'm on like a retreat and I'm there all day and we're, we're just up till like midnight. Yes, I'm totally in it.

[00:43:12] Kendall Slutsky: I'm good with it. But if I have my entire day and I'm going to say, I'm going to go into my craft room at eight o'clock at night. Even though I have the time to do it, I don't have the energy. So it's identifying the energy for your scrapbooking, which is super important. But it's the same thing that will apply to your health and fitness is you have to find where you have that energy.

[00:43:34] Kendall Slutsky: And I am not going to go, I mean, it's not that I can't do it, but I do not enjoy working out late at night. I'm exhausted. And I just live a very, very busy life right now. And that is why my morning routine is my sacred time. It is my non negotiable. And the moment I made that a non negotiable, I was able to put, I was able to identify that is where my energy is.

[00:43:59] Kendall Slutsky: So, I never used to, I mean, all through college, I fully, fully was a night owl. And it's amazing how my body just kind of flipped, and I think it flipped when I did the 75 Hard Challenge. I don't know if you've ever heard about that.

[00:44:13] Jennifer Wilson: I have. Yes, I am very scared of it.

[00:44:16] Kendall Slutsky: It's, and that's the thing, it's, it can be scary, but that's where you can flip it and just say, I can try it.

[00:44:27] Kendall Slutsky: But it's, it, so many people think it's a weight loss challenge. It's a mental strength challenge. And by doing 75 hard, I did it 100%. I honestly can say that. I had my support around me big time. I think there were four times in the 75 days that I was kicking and screaming that I wanted to quit. And my husband and my kids are like, Nope, you're not doing it.

[00:44:52] Kendall Slutsky: And you are going to finish this. But it taught me that so many things that you can do hard things. So when I, want to try something new in my scrapbooking and it's intimidating, I mean, trust me, like I just, I, I do feel like a beginner in so many ways, with my scrapbooking. And then I embraced the community and I'm like, okay, I can do this.

[00:45:15] Kendall Slutsky: I can do this. Um, but getting back to the energy part of things, it's knowing your energy and the peaks and the lows is only going to allow you to have that success in, in both your health and fitness and your scrapbooking. Um, in my morning time, that is where I, I know that it is where I feel my best.

[00:45:37] Kendall Slutsky: Obviously, if I go to bed late, like I did last night, no, I did not have the energy this morning. But I still did it. But my energy to preserve in the morning, get that done. Allows me to then just feel good throughout the day. And when you start your day off with you. It will change everything. Because even if you've had the worst day possible, I mean, life throws us, throws us curve balls all the time. Even if it's the worst day and you started your day off with 30 minutes for you, or you read five minutes of a personal development book.

[00:46:14] Kendall Slutsky: I mean, my morning routine, I really try and help people implement something that works for them. But having something that is consistent that you can go back on and just know that that time is for you. It will. It will allow you to have a win of a day every day.

[00:46:32] Jennifer Wilson: Well, and I will link a podcast episode, um, in the show notes for this one where I was chatting with my friend, uh, Jill Bryan about creating morning routines. And so if you want to dive further into that topic, um, our listeners can do that there. Now, kendall, you've created a Facebook group called Move and Create. So what inspired you to do that and who is it for?

[00:46:52] Kendall Slutsky: Move and Create was something I created a little while ago. Um, I honestly have not put in a ton of time into it. Because it just didn't get the traction that I was hoping for. Um, but I also know that I can put more into it. I feel like Facebook was something that I can connect with other scrapbookers and crafters, quilters, whatever it may be. To bring us together without having them have to have access. Because I do run accountability groups all the time.

[00:47:25] Kendall Slutsky: There's always a challenge that I'm running. I give a place of focus for people to dive into. Like right now I have a 21 day challenge going for people to really just kind of reset, get some healthy habits going to head into summer feeling good. And so by, doing these accountability groups, it's something that, allows us to have that focus to feel good. And I wanted, given that I can do that in my accountability groups through the app. Not everyone, I didn't want everyone to have to have the app to participate.

[00:48:00] Kendall Slutsky: I wanted to communicate and reach others and connect with others that share the love of scrapbooking, but also want to make some changes in their health. And that is what I love to do. So, I created the Facebook group, and after this conversation, I fully am going to dive back into it, but it's kind of like having that win each day of what did we do for our health today, and what did we do to craft today.

[00:48:26] Kendall Slutsky: Even if it was for five minutes, just kind of having that consistency. I mean consistency is a word that we use in our membership and Simple Scrapper a lot.

[00:48:37] Jennifer Wilson: That's for sure.

[00:48:39] Kendall Slutsky: We are all a work in progress on improving our consistency with our craft. And I am I mean all of us are always a work in progress for our health.

[00:48:51] Kendall Slutsky: And I will continue to work on my mindset and work on, you know, my health until my stuff, until my heart stops beating. Because that's kind of a mindset that I choose to have. And I hope everyone can embrace that as well. And just realize that we, we can do something for our health. We can do something for our craft and love and play.

[00:49:16] Kendall Slutsky: And I really wanted that Move and Create Group to come to, to bring it all together. In a non cost environment, so to speak. So, I have some ideas on how I want it to grow, um, it, I'm not going to close it by any means. I am actually going to put more effort into it, because I realize that there are so many more people out there that I want to help. And I want to connect with just on a fun personal level. And kind of going through the health and fitness world.

[00:49:49] Kendall Slutsky: I mean, we all know we have to do things we don't want to do. I mean, we've got to take care of our health. We have to. So why not do it in a fun way with community? And so I definitely am going to have that. It's always a resource for, for anybody. Um, I want it to have the inspiration, you know, I want to throw in recipes to help people.

[00:50:14] Kendall Slutsky: I want to help, um, it be a place of, okay, that person did their workout today. I'm going to go do mine.

[00:50:21] Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

[00:50:22] Kendall Slutsky: It's, it's the accountability and the fun part of it. So I just love fitness and scrapbooking. And I know it's a really weird combo to have it be such a passionate part of my life. But you know, scrapbooking can be very sedentary. And I really, really want to help our community, just have this passion to take care of themselves like they do for documenting their story. Because they're both amazing things.

[00:50:47] Jennifer Wilson: I think these intersecting communities can be some of the most, um, I don't know, connective. I'm thinking immediately of my stepson who created a merch line around this idea of diesels and dumbbells. For guys who love their diesel trucks and also work out. And like, I think it's, you know, that there's, when you can identify people that share that much similarity with you, I think it just makes those connections even deeper. So. Can't wait to see what happens.

[00:51:18] Kendall Slutsky: It's really about taking, that's what I love about hearing that story is that he's being authentic to who he is.

[00:51:25] Kendall Slutsky: And there's nothing like, I show up on my Instagram every single day. My authentic self. I am typically that person in with no makeup in a hat with sunglasses on my head in my workout clothes all day.

[00:51:37] Kendall Slutsky: Like that's, that's just me. And being your authentic self is, it's definitely important. But one day I really hope to somehow connect these two in a bigger, I do have some bigger ideas and dreams. Um, I used to also run a snack business before COVID. And I've always, I've always dreamed of having kind of like a

[00:52:01] Kendall Slutsky: scrapbook, like a, a business to where people would come, I'd have a little cafe with my healthy snacks. I'd have a craft room where we can, I don't know, have classes and do crops and that type of thing. But then also a, a movement room to where people can get a little bit of movement in and then go back to their craft. And I know it's a little odd, but I'm just like, man, if that existed, I really would love it. Because I would go.

[00:52:29] Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Count me in there for your opening. So.

[00:52:32] Kendall Slutsky: Okay, okay, good, good.

[00:52:35] Jennifer Wilson: Kendall, can you share where we can find you online and anything else you might, um, have newer coming up later this year?

[00:52:41] Kendall Slutsky: Um, I would say that I am most active on my Instagram. It's called Power Through Positivity. And I show up my stories most of the time. Um, I try every day to just share my journey and how I make it work. Um, I want to, you know, there isn't one right way to do this. And so my stories and my posts, that's pretty much where I'm most active.

[00:53:09] Kendall Slutsky: Please find me on the Move and Create. I would love to have more of a community in there and connect with all of you to kind of, you know, I don't know, have your day one. And say, Hey, this is going to be the start of me making time for me. And self care is not selfish. And then that way we can also share all the love of crafting and ideas and inspiration. Um, so the Instagram and the Facebook group are the two ways to find me.

[00:53:34] Jennifer Wilson: Wonderful.

[00:53:35] Kendall Slutsky: Some things that I have coming up is just please, if you are looking for any future inspiration or challenges, I'm always running something. There's always something that I, that I'm trying to create to make it fun.

[00:53:49] Kendall Slutsky: I'm working on a walking challenge. That is something that I feel would be really fun to do to keep us all engaged in trying to get a daily walk in. Because again, the research out there is really, really strong. So always coming up with challenges, but if there's any type of inspiration or need that you guys have, just know I'm always here to chat about it.

[00:54:15] Kendall Slutsky: I will be your biggest cheerleader, I promise. Um, and we can just kind of go on this health journey. Together because it's more fun with friends.

[00:54:23] Jennifer Wilson: Of course. Wonderful. Thank you so much for chatting with me

[00:54:26] Kendall Slutsky: Thank you, Jennifer. This was such a delight.

[00:54:29] Kendall Slutsky: Thank you, Jennifer, for all that you do in the membership community. You created Simple Scrapper, um, so long ago and it has grown so much. I'm, I haven't been a member, I think it's been a couple years now. But you have provided us the tools, the knowledge, the challenges. It, there's just so much in your membership that has given me Um, the ability to grow. And I'm, there's so much I have learned about me as a scrapbooker and I just want to thank you for all that you do.

[00:55:06] Jennifer Wilson: Thank you. You are, you are so sweet and I'm so glad that we've been able to connect on a personal level over our college experience as well as in the membership. And I really appreciate your time to be on the show.

[00:55:18] Kendall Slutsky: Thank you.

[00:55:18] Jennifer Wilson: And to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to scrapbook your way.