Hi, Fam!

At the time of this recording, I'm pregnant with my fifth child. So far I've given birth in hospitals and birthing centers, and for a long list of reasons this time around, I decided to have a home birth. In this episode I'll be sharing how I've been preparing in order to set myself up for maximum success in my home birth.    This is a list of what has been working for me, and that I'm excited to...

By the time you're reading this, I hope to have had my fifth baby. But at the time of this recording, I'm pregnant with number five, and I want to share some self-care tips for when you're pregnant. To some, self-care is a luxury. But I believe it's a necessity.     It's been a hectic, crazy time in my life being home with my kids and running my business. Even so, I prioritize self-care and it has...

If you would like your home to look more beautiful and sophisticated, even on an inexpensive budget while you have little kids at home, then this episode is for you.   My background is in graphics, branding, and identity design. I love talking and thinking about all things design. Primarily from the functional perspective, but also from the aesthetics.    I believe deeply that the things we see ar...

Have you heard of the law of attraction? It's something that I read about and hear about often. And in fact, it's something that I intuitively really connect to and practice in my life. Today I'm going to talk with you about how I use the law of attraction to create a life that I love, and invite you to do the same!   [05:30] #1 - Get clear on what you want [08:55] #2 - Focus on what you want [10:...

Are you finding yourself in survival mode , feeling like you are running on empty and worried that you might be leading yourself to burnout? If you're not sure where you fall on the burnout spectrum, go check out last week's episode on the 10 signals that you might be in survival mode.    Now that we know the signs, it's time to get practical and do something about it.    What we really want to do...

One of the biggest risks we face as parents is burning out and falling into survival mode. In difficult seasons it becomes especially challenging to stay charged and energized. Many of us (myself included) run the risk of burning out when we don't take care of ourselves and "refuel our tank." You can only run on empty for so long.   I have seen so many parents on the brink of burnout (or fully in...

Most of us know that feeling of preparing a lovely meal for our children, sitting down to eat it with them only to have our toddler promptly THROW IT ON THE FLOOR 😡 😭 🤦🏽‍♀️   It can be so aggravating. If you're not sure how to handle the situation and it's repeating in your home, you are so not alone . Let's talk about what we can do about it.   [00:58] #1 - Normalize it [01:41] Trajectory sch...

Do you struggle to get your kids out the door in the morning? Are you ever late for things because you're arguing with your kids or having trouble getting them ready for the day? You're not alone. Kristen from our Present Play community asked for advice about how to deal with this.    In this episode I'll discuss my thoughts and help you get back your sanity!   [00:38] Kristen's question: How can...

Do you have a little toddler at home and you're tearing your hair out, trying to find ways to keep this person busy without always resorting to screens?    If so, I've got you. I totally feel it. And I am here with five ways that toddlers generally love playing independently and that you can use today to keep your little person occupied and busy without screens.   [00:53] #1 - Sensory Play [04:30]...

Can babies play independently? Is that even possible? Or is it something that only develops later (if at all)? The answer is...they can! And in this episode I'm going to talk about 10 ways they can play and how to encourage them to do so.    [01:05] #1 - Don't entertain your baby [02:39] #2 - Le Pause [04:13] #3 - Don't overstimulate - keep it simple [06:23] #4 - Don't interfere [07:52] #5 - Keep...

When you're pregnant, it can be so hard to get enough sleep. Between the hormones and feeling so uncomfortable, it can be very hard to sleep. And if you have other children or issues in the mix, it can be even more challenging to get the rest we need.     While there certainly are some things outside of our control, there are quite a few things that are within our control. In that light, I'd like...

Do you ever hate this whole parenting thing? There's absolutely no shame here...I think most parents feel this way at some point in their parenting journey.    In this episode I'm going to cover 10 reasons you might hate parenting, and most importantly what you can do about it.    [00:53] 1 - haven't come to terms with your own childhood [03:02] 2 - You're still waiting to be parented yourself [05...

Let's talk depression. First I want to say that I have gone through seasons where I needed professional help, and there's absolutely no shame in that. If you feel you need some help, please don't hesitate. It can make a world of difference.  But even if you're not feeling clinically depressed, it's common to go through seasons of feeling "the blues" or feeling down. Thankfully, there are some thin...

Do you feel overwhelmed by your life at home with young children? I'm a mother of 5, I run my own business, I homeschool part-time...I have a lot on my plate (and I'm sure you do too). It can be so easy to feel overwhelmed! But we're not helpless. There are things within our control that can make a big difference and reduce the overwhelm in our lives.  In this episode I'll give you 10 tips to help...

In our culture it's quite acceptable to wear yoga pants all day, have cheerios in your hair, have spit up on your shirt, and always look a little bit like a hot mess once you become a mom. And you know what? It's OK if you do! Being a mom is exhausting and demanding . Compared to the childless life, it's a lot harder to look and feel phenomenal as you're running around after toddlers all day, taki...

In this episode I'll be addressing a question from a member of our Present Play community.  Tracy from Georgia asked what to do when your children use rude or inappropriate language, and also how to address their negative self-talk.  Thank you for your question Tracy! You are certainly not alone in this struggle. All parents are presented with these challenges (including myself). There are a few w...

When you're home with young children it can feel really overwhelming and stressful. Between all the messes, the tantrums, the whining, the noise, and the smells, it can make your home a place you want to escape from instead of a place to escape to .    In this episode I'll give you 10 practical tips to bring more pleasure, peace, joy, fun, and energy into your home.    [02:07] #1 - Add some plants...

Do you ever feel like you don't want to do this anymore? This parenting thing, I mean. The nagging, the fighting, the wining, the dishes, the laundry, feeling tired and drained and sometimes, hopeless. Angry. Vengeful. Exhausted.  We all go through seasons like this. But the good news is we don't have to stay there. One thing that can make a huge difference and give you the extra push to get throu...

Many people find they lose aspects of their identity when they have kids. Can you relate? This year has certainly made it more challenging to hold onto our identities. Many things in our lives have been "lost" (or put on hold) during the pandemic, and it has been hard.  If you're feeling like you've lost yourself, this episode is for you.  [00:36] Join me in my free challenge, Finish Strong!  [05:...

Everyone makes mistakes and experiences failures. We all have shortcomings, weaknesses, and areas of lack. And many people are stuck in a fixed mindset, thinking that it's just how they are.  But not everyone. Some people have adopted a growth mindset, and see mistakes and failures in a different (and positive) light. Do you want to be one of them? Join me in this episode as we discuss how to do j...

Kids (and adults, if we're being honest) often have a rigid way of thinking. It's often black or white, all or nothing. We see our truth, and find it hard to understand that someone else may have a different truth.  But life (and people) are much more complex and nuanced than that, and we often live with a duality that can be hard to cope with. Today we're going to talk about a hallmark of maturit...

Are you going through something tough in your life? A big transition, problems at home or in your relationships, financial struggles. Maybe you haven't had the support you're used to and you feel like you're drowning. It could even be a series of trivial things that normally wouldn't amount to much, but with the year we've been having...let's just say it's been hard on many of us.  When we experie...

Have you (or your child) experienced rough times? Are you having a hard time dealing with them? If so, this episode is for you.  [01:29] Has 2020 been a rough year for you? Are you longing for some change (in the right direction)? Join me in my free challenge, Finish Strong ! [05:58] Mindset is so important when it comes to challenges we've faced. [07:18] Integrate any trauma we have experienced....

For some reason we sometimes downplay our roles as parents. We often say things like "I'm just a mom/dad", and at times don't approach it with the same zest and zeal we would in our career or other leadership role. Why is that? Today I want to discuss parenting and how I think our role as a parent is like being a CEO.  [00:31] Parenting is a high stakes "job" (I know it's a relationship and not a...

We all want our kids to be resilient. We want them to be critical thinkers. We want them to be respectful, to value diversity, and be tolerant of various lifestyles and backgrounds. Right?  Just like our immune system needs to be challenged by foreign substances, our values, beliefs, and opinions are bolstered and improved by being challenged.  In this episode I'm going to discuss why our kids nee...