The Connected Mom Life

When our friends experience something hard we want to show up for them. But figuring out how to do that can sometimes feel confusing and even a little overwhelming. In this episode, I'm sharing 5 ways to show up for friends when they're hurting so they can truly feel your love, care, and support as they grieve. SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/109 Episode Mentions: Kate Bowler's Book...

Part of why friendship in adulthood can feel so tricky is because we don't have any shared language to discuss what might be happening in (and to) our relationships as we navigate different seasons of life. In this episode, I'm joined by Alex Alexander, who is sharing with us a framework she has designed to give us exactly what we've been missing in our adult friendships: a clear way to think abou...

I recently carved out time for a personal retreat. And it was AMAZING. In this episode, I'm going to share the 5 questions I used to help guide me in planning it, how it actually played out, and what I will do differently next time (because, YES there will definitely be a next time!) SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/107 EPISODE MENTIONS: Episode 103: Vision Boards for Skeptics Episod...

Ever feel awkward trying to break into a conversation – especially when it feels like everyone around you already knows each other? It's definitely an intimidating feeling to try and join (or start!) a conversation from scratch. So, in this episode, I'm going to share a simple strategy I use in almost every scenario that gets me quickly plugged with minimal awkwardness. SHOWNOTES: https://www.thec...

My goal setting process seems to evolve every year and this year is no exception. In this episode I'm sharing how I approached goal setting this year, the prompts I used to surface what to focus on in 2024, and how I came to my word of the year. If you enjoy a good behind-the-scenes look at what someone else is leaning into (and out of!) in any given season, this one is for you. SHOWNOTES: https:/...

Ever feel like your efforts to make new friends are going nowhere, despite showing up in all the right places? In this episode we'll unpack this oh-so-common frustration and explore why your efforts might not be getting you the connections you're craving – and what small shifts you can make to start seeing some traction in your friendships. SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/104 Other...

It's me. I'm the skeptic. After trying vision boards in the past, I had pretty much written them off as not for me. But recently, I'd seen some goal setting research that led me to think I should give them one more shot. But before I did, I wanted to talk to vision imagery expert, Maria Maldanado Smith about how I might approach it differently this time. If you've been on the fence about incorpora...

New episodes of the podcast will be back TOMORROW! You might notice a few changes though, so I wanted to pop in quickly and give you a quick run-down on what to expect! SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/102 EPISODE MENTIONS: Leave a Podcast Rating + Review (...and enjoy coffee on me!) CONNECTION CONUNDRUMS: Pursuing IRL friendship can sometimes be confusing, challenging, and uncertain...

It's that weird week between Christmas and New Year's where time has no meaning and I'm not really even sure what day it is. This is also one of my favorite weeks to sneak away for an hour and enjoy some hot coffee, quiet, and do some good old reflection. So in this episode, I'm sharing the 5 reflection questions I ask myself at the end of the year to gain perspective on how I showed up in really...

With the holidays around the corner, I wanted to share my favorite gifts to give to all the people in my life – from neighbors, to coworkers, to teachers, to party hosts, to close family and friends. Listen in to gain inspiration for gift-giving ideas that are consumable, functional, personal, and can fit any budget! SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/81 LET'S CONNECT! Instagram @theco...

The holidays are a lot of things. They're fun, stressful, full-of-wonder, intense, and everything in-between. But a few years ago, I found myself feeling more of the stressful and anxiety-inducing parts than the full-of-wonder parts and knew that something had to change. Since then, I've experimented with some simple reflection and planning activities to better prepare me for the season. In this e...

Popping in with a short and sweet update on the pod! SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/101 EPISODE MENTIONS: New Year, Slightly Adjusted Goals (+ My Word of the Year Dilemma) LET'S CONNECT! Instagram @theconnectedmomlife Join our Circle of Mom Friends  FRIENDSHIP + CONNECTION SUPPORT ⤵️ Take the Quiz: What's Standing Between You and the Circle You Crave?  FREE Guide: Create Your Villa...

The start of a new season is often an opportunity to reset, shake old patterns, and invest in some new things. But being prone to an all-or-nothing approach, I knew I wanted this transition to look a bit different this year. So, in an effort to not do a complete 180 from summer to fall, I adopted a mantra. It's been serving me so well in all ALL areas of my life – from kids, to home, to my communi...

All moms are superheroes. But how do some seem to make it look easy? While motherhood is nothing but easy, there are some keys to making it feel and look manageable (most days!). In this episode, I'm joined by author of Secrets of Supermom, Lori Oberbroeckling to discuss small practical strategies to implement that have a BIG impact on daily mom life. SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com...

Habits. We're constantly trying to ditch bad ones and stick to healthy ones. But it's easier said than done. In this episode, I'm joined by habit and behavior change strategist, Emily Nichols to dig into how to create (and more importantly maintain) healthy habits. Listen as we discuss the number one question to consider before jumping into any new habit, the process for creating and sustaining ha...

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we left Texas! When we made the decision to move "back home" we had some hopes and dreams as to how life would look. So, in this episode, I'm sharing what of those expectations have become a reality (and which ones haven't!), plus an update on how our circle of community and friends is taking root. SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/97 EPISOD...

It's one thing to tell yourself you have all the time you need, and it's another to feel like you actually do. In this episode, I'm joined by expert Laura Vanderkam to discuss all things time management for moms. Join us as we discuss the 24-hour trap so many moms fall into (and how to avoid it), how-to build resilient schedules that don't crumble when kids get sick, simple strategies for making m...

I turned 41 last week! So, in honor of that milestone, I thought it'd be fun to reflect on and share 41 lessons, mantras, and philosophies that have gotten me to this point – and perhaps will carry me through the next 41 years too! SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/95 EPISODE MENTIONS: Episode 6: My #1 Parenting Strategy Episode 86: We Need to Reframe How We Think About Consistency Ep...

As an avid reader of mommy blogs 10 years BEFORE I became a mom myself, the conversation around (and about) motherhood has done a lot of shifting in the last two decades. In this episode, I'm joined by journalist Zara Hanawalt to discuss these shifts. From new language that has emerged to help us paint a more realistic picture of mom life, to how best to consume all of the motherhood media availab...

Big days come with big expectations. And the key to actually enjoying those big days, starts with understanding our own expectations. In this episode, I'm sharing 5 questions to help you get in touch with your own expectations for the day so you can then share them or adjust them (or both!) so you can truly enjoy the day you deserve. SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/93 LET'S CONNECT!...

A few years ago, I was visiting my best friend from college and she took me to Grace Place – a mom's group she had recently started. But it wasn't your typical mom's group – it met on the weekends, it included moms of all ages, and it was truly one of the most welcoming and authentic environments I had experienced. In this episode, Christa joins me to share how she got started (despite not conside...

With the doors to Mom Friends opening next week, I wanted to bring you this special conversation with one of our members. When Rachel joined us she was craving more authentic and supportive friends in her community. After creating a plan that honored her preferences and capacity for connection, we had a front row seat to cheer her on as she put it into action! Fast forward a year, and A LOT has ch...

What does it really take to feel better in friendship? Often, we imagine it will require a ginormous effort on our part. But the truth is that it's often simpler than we think. In this episode, I'll be sharing the 3 things that can quickly take you from feeling meh about your friendship life, to feeling really good. SHOWNOTES: https://www.theconnectedmomlife.com/90 MENTIONS: Our Mom Friends Commun...

Do we really need a boatload of besties? Laura Tremaine doesn't think so. And this week, she's joining me on the podcast to share her philosophy on why creating a Life Council is a better focus for us to pursue when it comes to friendship. In this episode, we discuss the concept of a Life Council, who should be on yours, and the value of having both old and new friends in our circles. Plus, we div...

Success can be such a loaded word. We tie so much to it. Yet, what's often perceived as a success by our culture, may or may not actually be aligned with our own desires and values. In this episode, I'm joined by my IRL friend, Rebecca Field to talk about some different ways we might think about success. She'll share how she advocated for the work life balance she wanted, navigated choosing a path...