Leah Remillet | Balancing Busy Podcast
I’m Leah Remillet. This is the Balancing Busy Podcast, and this is our second Between Besties episode.
I started this in January, and I’m so proud of myself because I’m on month two and we’re doing it. I’m so excited to jump in.
Here are some of the things I want to talk about:
I read a book called How to Age Disgracefully. It’s a novel. It’s hilarious. I’ll tell you about that in a bit, but it really got the conversation going again for me about the way I want to age — and I don’t necessarily mean how I look. I mean what I want to be capable of.
I also want to talk about my Park City trip, getting my very first pair of cowgirl boots, my favorite way I “punish” my teenagers, and a whole bunch of things in between.
I’ve got my notes. I’ll be looking at them so I remember everything I want to tell you. Let’s jump in.
Park City
To start off the month, we did our annual trip to Park City. This is a highlight of the year — certainly of February every year.
We go with several of our friends. There are seven or eight couples, and we all go together. We stay in a ski-in, ski-out house, which is the best way to ski ever. You literally walk out the door and ski down. It’s incredible.
Except this year… there was no snow.
The western side of the country hasn’t been getting snow, so we didn’t even bring our gear. A couple of people tried skiing, but most of us didn’t, and it was still the best time.
We had a private chef come in and teach us how to make sushi. We went shopping. It was just so fun.
But before the big couples weekend, I came in a few days early so I could spend time with my daughter. She’s at college there, and I wanted to make sure I had that one-on-one time.
We had so much fun. I surprised her and got her hair done. We went out to eat and just enjoyed being together.
The Hair Realization
On my way to Utah, I realized something: I wanted to get my hair done too.
And I need to share this with you because I have a feeling some of you will relate.
About eighteen months ago — October 2024, literally on Halloween — I decided to go back to my natural hair color, which is brown.
I was tired of the upkeep of being so blonde. It’s expensive. It takes so much time. I was worried my hair was going to fall out. I already have very thin hair, and I was nervous about the damage.
So I said, “I’m going back to my natural color.”
But what I didn’t realize is that I had slowly stopped showing up.
I didn’t even notice it happening.
I was looking back at photos recently, trying to find specific pictures, and I realized I wasn’t in them. I wasn’t showing up for my business because all the branding on my website is blonde. Then I show up brunette and feel like it creates confusion.
I wasn’t even in as many family pictures.
And seeing that, I realized — oh.
I’m hiding.
And I don’t want to hide.
So I decided it was time to go back to blonde — but smarter. I came up with a strategy to do more of an ombré so the grow-out would be natural and intentional.
I tried to get an appointment in Utah. I think I called twelve different places.
Nothing.
Totally my fault — too last minute.
I reached out to a girlfriend in Utah and asked if she could make an intro. She forwarded me contact info. The stylist was sweet and tried, but it didn’t work.
So I kind of accepted it.
The Brunch Miracle
The next morning, while my daughter was in class, I met my business bestie, Kelly France, for brunch.
We talked about everything — business, kids, family.
At the end of brunch, I casually mentioned how I hadn’t been showing up and how I’d been trying to make a hair appointment but it wasn’t going to work.
In real time, she pulled out her phone and started texting.
Out loud.
“Hair emergency 911. Is there any way you can do me a huge favor? Can you get my amazing friend in?”
And just like that — I had an appointment for the next day.
Shout out to Shep Studio in Provo. Oh my gosh. They are amazing.
But the bigger lesson?
The enthusiasm Kelly had for something I cared about.
She didn’t hesitate.
She didn’t downplay it.
She just jumped in and said, “We’re solving this.”
I felt so loved. So supported.
I hope every single one of us has someone like that — and that we are that person for someone else.
The Cowgirl Boots
The last thing from Park City…
I got my first pair of cowgirl boots.
I have never owned cowgirl boots.
I’ve thought about it, but they’re expensive and not necessary.
One of our friends wanted new boots for his birthday, so we all went shopping. I saw one pair in my size. I tried them on.
My husband said, “You should get them.”
Normally, I would have said no. I don’t need them.
But this time I said yes.
They make me ridiculously happy.
I already wore them to church. I am secretly planning a girls trip to Nashville because I need more excuses to wear them.
They weren’t practical.
They weren’t strategic.
They were just for fun.
And I love that.
The Books
This month I read five books.
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley — hilarious, delightful, highly recommend.
One quote made me so happy:
“Fashion isn’t frivolous, my dear. It’s armor. Dressed in Dior, you can take on the world.”
I loved that.
It reminded me of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico. If you haven’t read it (or watched the movie), it’s so charming.
I also read:
Compassion by Ulysses S. Soares
Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive
Let Us March On — about Elizabeth Duffy, a maid to FDR who became a powerful voice for Black Americans
And finally… Pride and Prejudice.
Yes. I had never read Jane Austen.
Now I feel like I’ve entered some secret literary club.
It was so good. I was wildly unproductive yesterday because I just had to finish it.
My Favorite “Punishment”
My favorite consequence for my teenagers?
They have to read a personal development book of my choice.
Privileges don’t come back until the book is finished.
This time it’s Finish by Jon Acuff.
Previously, it was The Third Door.
And every year, starting at fourteen, they are expected to read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
Not the digital version — the original.
Hawaii — The Big Decision
Today, as I record this, I was supposed to be flying to Hawaii.
We postponed the trip.
And I am so happy we did.
I planned it because February where we live is cold and dirty-snow miserable. I wanted sunshine.
But while we were in Park City, I just wanted to get home to our son.
He’s our last one at home.
We are T-minus six months until he leaves.
And I didn’t want to leave him again.
So we rescheduled.
Now we’re going to Hawaii for spring break — with him.
And I couldn’t be more excited.
The Question
Here’s what I’ve been thinking about:
Are you disappearing into adulthood?
Are you waiting for later?
At some point, are you going to say yes?
I don’t want us to default into “this is just how it is.”
If you love how it is — amazing.
But if you need more vibrance, more vitality, more joy…
How can you bring that in?
Not extravagantly.
Not expensively.
Just intentionally.
I’ve been thinking about aging — not appearance, but capability.
Driving at night.
Traveling solo.
Renting a car confidently in a new city.
Wearing heels.
Keeping up with grandkids.
If we don’t use it, we lose it.
I don’t want to prematurely close doors on myself.
I tell teenagers not to reject themselves before someone else can.
I need to take my own advice.
Closing
What I want for you — and for me — is that we refuse to disappear.
That we refuse to lose our identity.
Our spark.
If you feel like you’ve been disappearing a little…
What can you do starting today?
Let’s refuse to disappear.
Between besties — tell me what connected. Leave me a note right in the app.
Are you reading one of the books?
Buying cowgirl boots?
Holding on to something you don’t want to lose?
We are refusing to disappear together.
We are balancing the busy with more bliss.
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