Eat Your Seasons

This week kicks off my brand-new series all about being a "fun mom".  In today's episode, I'm diving deep into a challenge many of us face: finding our own sense of enjoyment after becoming parents. I'll be sharing personal stories and insights into how we tend to lose touch with our interests while prioritizing our little ones' happiness. Drawing from my experiences, I'll explore the delicate balance between caring for our children and rediscovering ourselves. Plus, I have a secret antidote up my sleeve for reigniting joy, even in those moments when you feel like you've lost who you used to be. We'll tackle the concept of redefining fun, considering life's shifts and your own preferences. You'll also hear about four distinct categories of family activities, each designed to cater to different needs, from your kids' enjoyment to precious moments just for you. I'll provide practical tips that underscore the importance of embracing low-effort activities for self-care. Stay tuned for the next episode, where I'll be delving into the world of mom hobbies. Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with fellow moms navigating the path to fun after kids. Wishing you a season filled with both enjoyment and growth!

Mom guilt is the absolute WORST, we can all agree on that. But what about self-guilt? Like the feeling that you're not reaching the potential or the goals you set for yourself, or you keep falling off the wagon every time you get on a healthy path and self-sabotaging? How can we get rid of these feelings of guilt and come up with a better conversation to have with ourselves? In this episode, I dive into exactly WHY we tend to hyper-fixate on the negative (as well as why negative memories, thoughts, and emotions are so much louder in our minds than positive ones) and how to flip the script in our brains. I'm sharing my exact process for refusing to let mom guilt or shame take over the narrative in my brain lately and how you can do the same with examples to boot! So whether you're struggling with sticking to goals regarding a healthier lifestyle, your marriage and relationships, your parenting methods, or your self-care routine- this episode is the virtual hug and pep talk you've been waiting for. New York Times article "Why People Remember Negative Events More Than Positive Ones” >> https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/24/your-money/why-people-remember-negative-events-more-than-positive-ones.htmlEAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST >> https://ashtincope.com/waitlist/

I know exactly how it feels to get trapped in the time suck that is running a household and trying to do all the things only to get to the end of the day and feel like you didn't accomplish a single thing but somehow your brain is fried and your body is exhausted. Then the mom guilt starts, you know there were parts of your day you could have spent more efficiently so you start beating yourself up over what you “should” have done and how you “could have spent your time” and now you'll never be able to fall asleep because you're in the vicious cycle of self-loathing and regret. In this episode, we are going to be breaking down the  3 steps needed to simplify our time for good. We are tackling how to create a plan that you're sure to follow through on, how to cut distractions and avoid hiccups to your productivity, and the science of neurotransmitters, sensorimotor functions, and the topic of "leisurephobia". GRAB YOUR FREE WORKBOOK TO SIMPLIFY YOUR TIME:  https://www.ashtincope.com/simplifythoughtsEAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: https://www.ashtincope.com/waitlist

As I'm sure you've experienced- our thoughts are incredibly powerful. When we're good they can allow us to dream, to set goals, and to be thoughtful, sincere, and brilliant. When we're not doing so great our thoughts can be destructive, tearing us down and making us feel small and hopeless, they can spiral out of control and burn bridges. The energy spent in negative thought spirals can zap us of our energy and motivation and make us irritable and angry.In this episode we are going through the exact process to spring clean our thoughts so we can be kinder to ourselves and remove overwhelm for good; and as we head into warmer weather and nicer days, this is excellent timing so that we can truly enjoy our spring and summer with our families without all of the mental clutter. EAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: ashtincope.com/waitlist

In this episode we are going to deep dive into exactly how I plan our meals, so you can ditch dinner time dread and put my simple process into practice. I am dishing my ENTIRE step-by-step process for planning our weeknight meals in the simplest way possible so we can eat seasonal, healthy meals every night without burning me out. Feeding a family is tricky. It feels like you need to be a mathematician in order to juggle everyone's preferences and tastes. Not to mention ensuring that everything is healthy, easy to make, and affordable.  If you are struggling with feeling overwhelmed and burnt out over "what to make for dinner", or you have a hard time following through on the meals that you plan- this episode is for you! INVITATION TO MY FREE TRAINING: "How I ditched overwhelm for good" --> www.ashtincope.com/sswebinar

In this episode, I am interviewing one of my dearest friends from South Devon, UK! Katie Mills is an incredible wife, daughter, sister, auntie (to more sweet babies than I can even count), dog mom to Ernie and Doris, friend, nurse, and home gardening enthusiast (I'd like to say pro or expert, but she's also incredibly humble so I'll say she's “very skilled”)In this episode, Katie and I are talking about how she and her husband Tom (also an amazing human) got started with their garden even though they don't have much yard space. Their solution was to rent an allotment- or a plot of land that's divided up into sections that are rented to individuals or families for gardening purposes- according to iheartbritain.comIf you're tuning in from the states, these are more commonly known as “community gardens”, so if it's something you're interested in looking into- contact your local township or city hall and ask if they have any suggestions or offers! JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR "EAT YOUR SEASONS" THE CHILDREN'S BOOK! https://www.ashtincope.com/kidsbook 

We know that gardening would be good for our mental and physical health and that it's a great hobby pretty much year-round. To be totally honest, I don't think any of us like the idea of solely depending on other people to provide us with food, either.  If you were nodding along with me as you read those first two sentences, this is the episode for you.In this episode, I am interviewing a dear friend of mine from New Mexico named Jordan Vuong. She and her husband Kevin are Michigan-Oregon-New Mexico transplants and along their journey, they have welcomed two super cool kids named Lakota and Winona. What started as a small family garden/homestead has been carefully cultivated (pun intended) into a full-blown mini farm complete with goats, donkeys, chickens, mushroom cultivation, and a shipping container tiny home-turned-Airbnb! When I say they are one of the coolest families I know, I mean it. Jordan and I are going to dive into their story and share her tips on how you can get started where you live in simple ways.Give Jordan a follow! https://www.instagram.com/moonriseminifarm

While we may have overcome or skated past the dreaded "SAD" (Seasonal Affective Disorder, or seasonal depression) we may not be feeling great mentally or emotionally. Is it pretty gray and gloomy, maybe rainy or snowy where you live pretty much all fall and winter long, with very few sunshine breaks in between? It can be so hard to stay upbeat and not feel bummed out and totally over the gloom, even if you're happy with your life, routines, and environment. I like to call this: bad weather burnout. It's that funk you get in where you're not depressed, your mood is stable and you are functioning but that's it- you're just functioning. You are perfectly capable of caring for yourself and those who depend on you. You may even have no problem taking the kids out of the house for various outings and activities.With bad weather burnout your issue is not your life, your mental health, or your routines and activities- the sole issue in this type of feeling is the weather.In this episode I am going to dive into some great coping skills we can practice and develop that will assist us in my secret to beating bad weather burnout. I promise you're going to get so much value from this!JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR MY DEBUT CHILDREN'S BOOK "Eat Your Seasons": https://www.ashtincope.com/kidsbook

For years I have been asking myself: Why do Europeans seem to live so much better than us? Why does the weather not seem to faze them quite so much as it deters us in America? And I have made it my mission to find the answers. A huge difference between Europeans- specifically those who live in Great Britain and Ireland- and those of us in the states, is our mentalities regarding the weather. Here in the states, we are more likely to use inclement weather as an excuse for not going outside- hunkering down inside to wait it out. From what I've learned in my research and observed, the English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, and Irish are not so quick to cower to the weather. They get a LOT of rain, and I mean a LOT, so they would get very little fresh air if they allowed the rain to slow them down. In this episode, I am sharing 5 different steps to take on your pursuit of becoming an "outside mom" aka the mom who defaults to taking the kids to play outside come rain or shine, who embraces messy play and encourages her littles to use their imaginations and find the fun in nature. The five steps I'm diving into are: getting the right attitude, preparing the kids, getting the right gear, bringing the good snacks, and ease into it and build stamina. Tune in to find out more! 

In this episode, I am touching on two of the different meanings "embracing your seasons" could have so you can decide for yourself what it means for you. First, we will dive into how embracing Earth's seasons can make your life more peaceful, simple, and full of ease by being grateful for the season we're in while simultaneously being excited for the next one. Second, we will discuss the various "seasons" we go through in life- be it seasons of difficulty or seasons of ease- and how we can navigate them in a way that keeps our relationships and sanity in tact. 

It's being said that February is the worst month in the whole year for seasonal depression, lack of motivation, and self-confidence. Makes sense, considering most people abandon their resolutions by February 1st and usually get pretty self-loathing afterward. And for those who don't subscribe to resolutions, we still can't escape the winter funk either because somehow winter has lasted 87 months with at least 2 more months of cold, gray weather in our future, even with it being the shortest month of the year. But many of us struggle throughout the year, and this episode offers loads of value, no matter the season!Did you know that through simple strategies found in the seasonal living lifestyle, you can 10x your productivity no matter the time of year? In this episode, I am sharing how to leverage your seasonal personality type (find out yours at ashtincope.com/seasonquiz) to increase your productivity and thrive all year long, as well as easy-to-follow tips to feel more productive and positive through the darker winter months. SEASONAL PERSONALITY QUIZ: https://ashtincope.com/seasonquiz

Whether you're dealing with the winter blues, spring sads, summer bummers, or fall frustrations- this episode is here to help! There are a plethora of foods and snacks we can intentionally mix into our existing diets that can help boost our moods and fuel positive activities and feelings to keep us a little perkier as we trudge through the thick of winter. Because while the days may technically be getting longer by the hour, it sure doesn't feel like it still.  This episode is broken into two parts: seasonal foods and mood foods- both offer huge benefits to our overall well-being and mood, but they are great for different reasons and can be snacked on or added into meals in different ways and with varying benefits. 

In this episode, we are digging into the root causes of our overwhelm and how to diagnose your reasons for feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, and loaded down.  Research shows that a good chunk- and in some cases the majority of our stress and overwhelm is self-inflicted. Whether it be the product of perspective, poor boundaries, or perfectionism- a lot of it can be avoided with the proper plan in place. Tune in to find out the 3 easy steps you can take today to keep your overwhelm at bay and enjoy the simple things in life again. Be sure to take my free quiz "What season are you?" at ashtincope.com/seasonquiz to find out which seasons fit your personality type and how you can lean into your strengths and preferences to thrive all year long with my Yearlong Thrive Guide you can download after you get your results!

It's so easy to set intentions for the year and feel like this will be “your year!” and you're going to make all of these lifestyle changes and be a totally different person at the end of this year. While I don't subscribe to huge lifestyle overhauls and trying to completely change who you are as a human, I absolutely love small actions to improve the person you are, and the life you have. In this episode, we are diving into how and why setting smaller goals creates a map for yourself that leads you to a much bigger priority and goal. We're also discussing SMART goals and how to determine the right goals to set based on where you are at in life right now so you can stick to them with little to no resistance. Want to thrive ALL YEAR LONG based on the things you already love and appreciate? Take my free quiz "Which season are you?" to find out your seasonal personality type and download my free Yearlong Thrive Guide! Take the quiz here: https://www.ashtincope.com/seasonquiz

Have you ever felt like your life is happening TO you and not with you? Like even when you're feeling good and happy, they are muted down, duller versions of what you want to be feeling? Like those around you are enjoying your life more than you are? In this episode I share my own struggles with feeling like I wasn't in control of anything in my life and how I was able to overcome those feelings and take control back. I share the 10 intentional choices you can make every day that remind you that you are in control of your life and every decision you make moves you in the direction you want to go. FREEBIES: “WHAT SEAON ARE YOU?” QUIZ W/ YEARLONG THRIVE GUIDE: https://www.ashtincope.com/seasonquizCOLD WEATHER SELF CARE CHECKLIST: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/635023e4b5d044a13e5e312e

 It can be tough to drown out the noise and get quiet with ourselves long enough to recover from the socializing, spending, and sacrificing that we tend to do this time of year, let alone finding the time to make the most of winter and enjoy this season. In this episode, I am sharing some of my own personal strategies for keeping seasonal depression, as well as cabin fever at bay in hopes that you can try these out for yourself and start feeling the luxury of winter all the way to spring.LINKS YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL:Shownotes/coordinating blog post- https://ashtincopeblog.com/make-the-most-of-winter/Snag Your "Make The Most of Winter" Exercise Worksheet- https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63a4a42e329680c1aa644418Which Season Are You? Quiz- https://ashtincope.com/seasonquiz/

A couple of years ago I was stuck in a vicious cycle of overwhelm, constant guilt, and discontentment with myself. I needed to make a change that would allow me more simplicity, peace, and joy in the life I already had. I started allowing my productivity, recreation, and expectations for myself to ebb and flow with the seasons and gave myself the permission and grace to slow down. Today we are going to be diving into what seasonal living actually is, and how it is my number one secret to keeping our life more simple, finding more contentment, and experiencing more joy in the little things than I ever have before.  Seasonal living to me is the ability and desire to lean in and embrace each season as it comes, making the absolute most of it while it's here, being grateful for the season we're in and excited for the ones to come. It's basically a way to take all the best parts of minimalism, slow living, and hygge (or the lifestyle of chasing coziness) and implement small, simple aspects in the life you already have so you can find more peace, contentment and joy in it. These tiny little changes have been so effortless and gradual that I never felt like I was taking on some new concept that I couldn't handle because it was so in alignment with how I wanted to feel. Some of the positive changes I've noticed are:-I'm less stressed out-I have way more mental clarity and headspace-I am able to regularly re-evaluate the clutter in my life and clear it away- both physically and mentally-And I am able to more clearly distinguish and allocate “quality time” with my husband and the kids; which keeps mom and wife guilt at bayI can't wait to hear what you think!LINKS AND FREEBIES FROM TODAY'S EPISODE:www.ashtincope.com/seasonschoolwww.ashtincope.com/seasonalproduceguide

This one is for my science-loving, earth-conscious girlies. In this episode I am diving into how we can all be more intentional and conscious about our carbon footprints by carefully selecting and utilizing the food that we're eating. I share so many different ways that seasonal eating can help simplify your life, as well as ways it can make you feel happier, more fulfilled, and productive- but there is another benefit to seasonal living that I haven't shared quite as much about, and that is the positive effect it can have on our environment. Listen in as I break down all of the science facts and figures that show just how damaging “fast” farming is, how many gallons of water are used to make a SINGLE TURKEY SANDWICH, and 3 ways you can realistically and easily get started today being more careful, intentional, and conscious with your food habits. This may look like meal planning, eating locally, strategizing how to waste less food, or maybe even all three. GET YOUR PRINTABLE (OR PDF!) SEASONAL PRODUCE GUIDE: https://www.ashtincope.com/seasonalproduceguideSNAG MY COLD WEATHER SELF-CARE CHECKLIST: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/635023e4b5d044a13e5e312e EAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: www.ashtincope.com/kidsbook

If you're looking to take a deeper dive into sustainable lifestyle shifts that could really help you cut the chaos and prioritize simple, slow, and stress-free; this episode is for you. In today's episode I will be covering 6 ways that seasonal living has helped me live a simpler, less stressed life as a busy working mom.  You don't have to subscribe to minimalism or homesteading to implement these shifts and get rid of overwhelm and mom guilt for good. WALMART PLUS REFERRAL CODE: ashtincope.com/wplusDOWNLOAD MY SEASONAL PRODUCE GUIDE: ashtincope.com/seasonalproduceguideEAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: www.ashtincope.com/kidsbookSEASON SCHOOL COURSE WAITLIST: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/632bcf8ec95e6330f7b4d854

In this episode I am taking you through SIMPLE ways you can make the regular shmegular fruits and veggies you are already eating every single day super cool and exciting! While I totally appreciate the health benefits and nutritional value of produce, (again- especially from a seasonal approach) I don't actually love them because they're good for me. I love them because they're so diverse- just like we are. They come in different shapes, colors, and flavors. Tune in to find out exactly how to create your own routines to find the joy and fun in eating these divinely designed morsels of goodness!  MISFITS MARKET ULTIMATE FRESH PRODUCE STORAGE GUIDE: https://blog.misfitsmarket.com/the-ultimate-fresh-produce-storage-guide/WALMART PLUS REFERRAL CODE: ashtincope.com/wplusDOWNLOAD MY SEASONAL PRODUCE GUIDE: EAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: www.ashtincope.com/kidsbook

sunshine or curled up by a fire with your favorite? Maybe seasonal living is for you! Our bodies are as brilliantly and divinely designed as the Earth is, and in honoring the Earth's seasons, we can also honor our own. In this episode we are exploring the concept of seasonal living and how our experiences as cyclical beings can help us to create a lifestyle that makes us happier with less, and helps us to live a simpler, more fulfilling life. EAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: www.ashtincope.com/kidsbookLET'S BE FRIENDS ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/ashtincopeMY HONEY REFERRAL CODE: https://www.joinhoney.com/ref/t8vbx53ULTIMATE LIST OF MEAL SEARCH TERMS FREEBIE: www.ashtincope.com/searchtermshttps://ashtincopeblog.com/seasonal-living-and-your-cycle/

When it comes to your inner dialogue and the way you are thinking and speaking: how kind are you being to your food and too yourself? The thing about toxic speech around food is that it's never about the food itself. It's not even about us EATING the food. It's about how we have been conditioned to see “good” food and “bad” food, and “healthy” behaviors as well as unhealthy ones.In this episode we are diving into toxic things we say about ourselves and the food that nourishes our bodies, and how we can reframe those to positive and loving words of affirmation. EAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: www.ashtincope.com/kidsbookLET'S BE FRIENDS ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/ashtincopeULTIMATE LIST OF MEAL SEARCH TERMS FREEBIE: www.ashtincope.com/searchtermsashtincope.com/podcast for show notes!

This episode is for my parent friends. You know how they say it takes a village to raise a family? Sometimes that village is a little bit more quiet and distant than we wish it would be, and with life looking SO dang different now than it did when we were growing up, our parenting methods have had to change significantly from what our parents practiced when we were young. In this episode, I am sharing 5 of my favorite ways to expose your kids to produce and encouraging a more open-minded eater (because we're not “creating” good eaters or breaking picky ones, we are encouraging an open mind).Books we are loving: I Eat A RainbowVegetables In UnderwearBilal Cooks DaalSoup DayMonsters Don't Eat BroccoliGoodnight VeggiesThe Silly Food BookTV Episodes to check out for healthy habits: Doc McStuffins season 1episode 14, 2nd half, “Bubble Monkey” Bluey season 1 episode 7 “BBQ” episode 49 “Asparagus”episode 69 “fancy restaurant” season 2 episode 7 “favourite thing”Mickey Mouse Clubhouse season 2 episode 19 “Mickey's Thanks a bunch day” Peppa pig, season 1 episode 34 “lunch” season 4 episode 45 “Fruit”Fruit Salad Game Rules: https://www.thegamegal.com/2011/04/30/fruit-basket-game/Potato Electricity Science Project: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/how-to-make-potato-powered-light-bulb.htmULTIMATE LIST OF MEAL SEARCH TERMS FREEBIE: www.ashtincope.com/searchtermsEAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: www.ashtincope.com/kidsbookLET'S BE FRIENDS ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/ashtincopeJOIN MY FREE SUMMER SEASONAL EATING CHALLENGE www.ashtincope.com/challenge

Did you know that including just a few seasonal ingredients a week will make a huge difference in how you feel? You'll be shocked to see how much you eat seasonally already without even trying! With the changing of the seasons our habits and tastes change, and nature often influences our choices so much more than we realize. In this episode we are diving head first into exactly WHAT seasonal eating is, and how it improves your health, specifically your physical, mental and emotional health so that you can feel good both inside and out and find joy in your meals.EAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: www.ashtincope.com/kidsbookLET'S BE FRIENDS ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/ashtincopeMY HONEY REFERRAL CODE: https://www.joinhoney.com/ref/t8vbx53SHOW NOTES: https://ashtincopeblog.com/seasonal-eating-improves-health/

There is so much shame around food and eating. Food is a gift and it's meant to not only nourish our bodies- which are also gifts- but give us energy to do the things that we need and want to do. There are all of these food-related buzz words that create so much grief and turmoil inside of us like “clean” “whole” “processed” “organic” “real” “junk” “healthy” “good” “bad”. If these terms are creating so much turmoil inside of us, how do you think our little minds are feeling while they watch us so closely make choices and speak on them?In this episode we're going to dig deep into how my own relationship with food needed some work to and the 5 obstacles that I needed to heal or improve on to help my extremely picky eater to become more open-minded with her food.ULTIMATE LIST OF MEAL SEARCH TERMS FREEBIE: www.ashtincope.com/searchtermsEAT YOUR SEASONS CHILDREN'S BOOK WAITLIST: www.ashtincope.com/kidsbookLET'S BE FRIENDS ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/ashtincopeMY HONEY REFERRAL CODE: https://www.joinhoney.com/ref/t8vbx53