Mom on the Fringe

Throughout this conversation, Christiane Michaelis and I speak openly about unleashing creativity in yourself and your home.

My good friend, Kelly Lamont, is NO stranger to homeschooling. She's been homeschooling her 4 children over the past 7 years and has some amazing nuggets of wisdom shes' picked up along the way to share with YOU! If you are feeling fear and trepidation about the prospect of homeschooling your children during this global pandemic, Kelly's soft-spoken words of encouragement to ALL Mamas out there will put your mind at ease. So sit back, get a cup of coffee or tea, and take notes. Kelly is here for all of us!! Here are some online resources she listed to help us get started with the best mindset possible: WWW.CONFESSIONSOFAHOMESCHOOLER.COM Here is a link for ideas specifically regarding homeschooling during covid 19: https://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2020/03/covid-19-homeschooling.html Getting Started homeschooling: https://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2013/08/homeschooling-101-getting-started.html www.plainandnotsoplain.com She is a homeschool mom of 10 kids that has great free resources. Free homeschool--every subject www.allinonehomeschool.com Material we love and that we use/used: Pre K/Kinder: Confession of a homeschooler "Letter of the week" Preschool: Learning your letters/numbers, learning to serve www.heavenlyhomemaker.com Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

My good friend, Lauren Humphries, knows a thing or two about quarantining kids. She and her husband Kenneth have been fostering children with severe medical needs for 14 years, and have had to go on complete lockdown with their family to protect the children in their care for months at a time. Lauren's time and experience-tested wisdom comes to us at a time when we all need it most. She knows how difficult it is to keep kids occupied, educated and most of all, how to teach them about the things we do for LOVE. Every time I talk to Lauren, I am immediately calmed and made to feel at ease. She has a heart of gold, she is full of love and she gives us practical tips we can all use as we talk candidly to our children about our current situation with quarantining and keeping each other safe in order to not overwhelm the hospitals. Loved this talk with Lauren and I hope you will too! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this podcast episode, Amy talks candidly about her struggle with Mommy Guilt and how, when it creeps in, it can rob her and her family of her ability to be present. This is a raw, unedited version of the podcast so that she can just get something out to you and start a conversation about this gnawing, mindnumbing, everpresent subject. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy chats with Lisa Spangenberg of Garden Getaway Designs. An avid gardener for many years, Lisa Spangenberg has turned a hobby into a thriving garden design and consulting business. In addition to her design business, she worked for several years at a local nursery and has taught garden and design classes to several community organizations. Lisa loves the design process and views her clients yards as an extension of her own backyard. Lisa enjoys building and developing customer/client relationships and views this as critical to understanding the vision each client brings to their landscape. Lisa and her husband John love being parents to their three children. With two in college next year and one a few years away, they will soon be empty-nesters and are looking forward to pursuing new hobbies (including gardening!) together. While they mostly talk about the journey that led Lisa to start her company and all the challenges of juggling a small business and three children, Lisa also talks about her enjoyment of gardening and helps us not be so intimidated by the process. If you want to reach Lisa or find out more about her business, take a look at her website at https://www.gardengetawaydesigns.com or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GardenGetawayDesigns. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy talks about how she had to take a step back from recording the podcast in order to contemplate some criticism she had received as a result of doing the podcast. Sometimes, when we receive criticism, and it's hard not to take it to heart and let it slow us down or stop us altogether from doing what we know we were called to do. But we can also use that criticism for our benefit and take a step back and think and pray over what we're supposed to be doing so that we can be stronger and clearer for having done so. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Today, I sat down with Laura Woolsey of Memory Forward and talked about the process by which her business came to be. As the name of her business suggests, Laura and her team help people organize and digitize photos and videos so that they can be used, viewed often and easily accessible. In this interview, we discuss how Laura founded her company and the juggle of starting a company while raising two young girls. Here's a bio from Laura's website: My name is Laura Woolsey, and I’ve been a professional photo organizer for over ten years. All my life, I’ve had a knack for transforming chaos into order and keeping track of tiny details and loads of data. These traits allowed me to: Catalog my family’s entire VHS video collection when I was eight years old (including creating a a guide that listed the start and stop times for each movie). Keep my own family’s photos organized and labeled for my entire life. Graduate with a computer science degree from TCU, and work for over 15 years as a web developer and data analyst. Launch a business as a professional photo organizer in 2007 – long before most other photo organizers came on the scene, when people had just begun taking digital photos, and when the concept of digitizing printed photos was in its infancy. Getting things right for my clients is so important to me, and I love sharing my talents and skills for such an amazing purpose as creating a photographic family archive. As a leader and veteran of this industry and a master of all things technological, my team and I can confidently offer you the absolute best solution for your family’s needs. If you or someone you know would be interested in her services, you can reach her here on her website. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

I loved this conversation with Miranda Bradley! Miranda Bradley is a mom, author, nonprofit communications and fundraising professional and all-around life juggler. She is the owner and creative director for BCreative, a full-service marketing & fundraising firm geared toward helping nonprofits and small businesses realize their full potential. Married to her husband Dan for 17 years, she lives in Georgetown, Texas, where she spends 92 percent of her time taxiing her two boys from one end of town to the other, or at least it feels that way! Throughout this conversation, Miranda and I talk about being creative, being Christians, being Mamas and struggling with the tug of guilt that comes from trying to do it all. We also talk about the power of female friendships and letting God lead in our many seasons of life. This conversation is a gem! I hope you can glean some encouragement from it as much as I did. If you want to know more about Miranda, you can find her at https://www.bcreativetx.com as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/bcreativetx. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

I'm on the struggle bus this week. School started two weeks ago for ALL 3 KIDS! Guys!!!! Then, I went out of town for a wonderful Sing! Conference with Keith and Kristyn Getty in Nashville, TN. Then, my husband got really sick with kidney stones. Then, our minivan's a/c went out in the dead of summer. And thennnnnn, our family dog died unexpectedly. And now, I think I might have a torn meniscus in my knee. What the WHAT?! All that, on top of lots of travel and a chaotic space, has left me a bit paralyzed and unable to get going again and really get the things done that I so desperately want to do -- like work on this podcast, go to the gym, work on my blog, or my furniture restoration projects or prepare for those house concerts I am trying to put together. The truth is, we only have so many hours in a day, and sometimes, life just HAPPENS, and there's nothing we can do but roll with it. In other words, I'm not stressed, you're stressed. Just kidding. I'm not stressed. I just wanted you to hear from me and know what's been going on -- not that you feel sorry for me, but so that you don't feel abandoned and most importantly, can maybe somehow relate to all the things that continually prevent us from achieving our goals. Anywhoooo, I am really feebly attempting to be back on here with you on the regular. I love it. This podcast is my baby! So bear with me and let me know you listened. I love hearing from y'all!! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Well, I'm back after a long hiatus in Europe, and I cannot WAIT to jump back into the routine of podcasting!In this episode, I chat about a couple (of many) observations I made while I was in Europe: I don't spend enough quality time with my kids. I need to be more intentional about that! I need to slow down more often and resist the urge to make my life so busy and hectic! Also, in this episode, I talk about my vision for this podcast and my blog over at www.momonthefringe.com. I really want it to be a solid community for people, like you, who are thinking of ideas for a new business or are already in the midst of your business and needing a community of support and possibly help to get things moving in the right direction!I'm so happy to be back with you and can't wait to share some of the episodes I've got up my sleeve!Stay tuned! xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy chats with her friend, Christiane Michaelis, who she met several years ago in a German speaking meetup group. Christiane is the owner of The Dirty Easel and she helps companies and their employees to tap into their creative minds and think outside the box with their problem solving skills. Christiane can also be heard giving A TedTalk on the subject of creativity and found on her website at www.thedirtyeasel.com.

In this episode, we talk about how sometimes, it takes us stepping out of our comfort zone, out of our microcosm or corner of the world, to fully realize the limitless possibilities! And although I'm currently traveling abroad, I want to encourage listeners to see their potential tribe right in front of them on social media or online forums of people doing exactly what it is they want to do or are already doing. We don't need to travel 7000 miles to realize that our possibilities are endless. In fact, it's easier now more than ever! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy talks candidly and raw about the struggle of committing to something and putting things out there that may not be your best—just because you said you would show up.

In this episode, we kick off our miniseries which breaks down the daunting task of starting your own business and working on your business.  This series is for women who KNOW they need to do SOMETHING to earn extra income, but also KNOW that it has to work around their priorities. In "All the Things", I take you through a 10-step process in determining what you could do as a business and I offer listeners a fairly exhaustive LIST of the top businesses you can do from home in 2019.  Get it here! In this episode, I mentioned learning online with YouTube and specifically Skillshare.  There are so many online resources out there, but I've found these to be extremely helpful as well as learning to podcasts LIKE THIS ONE! :) Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

This week, I’m slowing my pace wayyyyyy down on the podcast and coming up for a bit of air to really get organized and offer you the best content possible. I have SO much to share with you, that I literally want to share it all at once...but I just can’t do that AND keep up with all the other things I need to tend to, so I want to pace myself a bit more and only offer you 1 podcast per week of our normal podcast and 1 per week of our Amy+Friends segment. Even that sounds like a lot, right? It is. And I really feel like it’s so necessary to slow things down in order to keep up the pace with all the other things, attempt at creating community and continually bring you the quality of content that is going to help you and not clutter your mind. As much as I want to grow and keep moving because of my excitement and momentum, I also know that I really need to sustain this energy so I don’t burn out prematurely. So, here I am pacing myself and practicing SELF CARE! WOOT! Also, I don’t want to bombard you with so much information that you can’t process it all. I want this to be a journey that we go on together. A little bit at a time... So, every week, here’s what I want you to be able to expect from ME: 1 podcast episode airing every Wednesday at 12pm (CST) 1 bonus episode airing 2 Thursdays a month at 12pm (CST) 1 Amy+Friends episode airing 2 Fridays a month at 12pm (CST) 1 blog post per week that talks about the week’s theme 1 Facebook and Instagram Live per week Wow! That’s already quite a bit. But I think it’s doable and I really want to see this little podcast gain some momentum. I may have to slow my roll again before it’s all over, but at least I can get off to a fun start with you all! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Welcome to another episode of Mom on the Fringe! In this episode, I talk very openly with my friend, Olivia Gibbs. Olivia is an Illustrator and Surface Patter Designer who was born and raised in Spain. She met her husband in Vienna while studying business abroad and later moved to the USA to be with him. Together they have two little girls aged 5 and 3. She is a freelance designer who creates illustrations for greeting cards, fabric, stationery, for home decor and the children's market. She works mainly with digital designing, but has started working lately with traditional media as well. In this segment of Amy+Friends, Olivia shares how she taught herself how to do illustrating by taking online courses and watching YouTube videos. She also talks about her work habits and how mindset plays a big factor in her creative inspiration. One of the other things we discuss at length was how she juggles working on her art AND feeling like she is giving enough attention to her two daughters -- especially since one of them is still at home with her. During this conversation, Olivia and I have such a great time talking about the challenges and the joy of discovering your own passions and following your dreams wherever they may take you! She is truly an inspiration to me. If you'd like to find Olivia, you can see her work online here on her website. You can also find her on Instagram @oliviagibbsillustration. Her work can also be found in the greeting card section of Trader Joe's and American Greeting cards at Target as well as fabrics at JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby. Go Olivia!! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

There are so many ways we can practice self care, and what might be a good fit for one person may not be a good fit for YOU. In this episode, Amy offers some self care tips and suggestions for self care that you can take or leave.  But the point is, do something to fill your cup! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

Does the term "self care" make you scratch your head and leave you confused and almost feeling frustrated? When you hear the term, it might make you think of the most selfish, self-centered woman you know...or it may cause you to laugh outloud, because, WHO IN THE WORLD ACTUALLY HAS TIME FOR SELF CARE?! Well, in this episode of Mom on the Fringe, I talk through my own journey in discovering what self care looks like and does not look like for me personally. I share how appealing the secular viewpoint was for me, but also how much the literal interpretation of it threw me into a tailspin and caused me to become an insatiable, unbearable monster who seemed to never get enough ME TIME. Throughout the episode, I share contents of the book "A Mother's Guide to Self Renewal" by Renee Peterson Trudeau, and I compare its contents with that of the book, "Loving the Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic. Spoiler Alert: My head loves the first book, but my heart knows the second one is actually the way I want to live out my years as a mother to 3. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy talks about how the actual doing of the thing you want to do will teach you to be better at that thing. There's no magic in it, Folks! Contrary to popular belief, there aren't many *special* people out there that possess some amazing gift that isn't already present in YOU! I don't say that to be motivational. It is a fact. True talent is never something you're just born with. It is something you usually develop over a long period of time. Day after day after day. So start. Whatever it is you want to do. Just begin. And over time, you'll figure it out and be amazing at it! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Welcome to another episode of Mom on the Fringe! In this segment of Amy+Friends, I chat with my soul sister, Karen Michaels in Las Vegas, NV, and I could NOT be more excited to share our talk with you! Karen’s zest for life is unmatched by most! She lives her life as a multi-tasking maven. And, she wouldn’t have it any other way! And, as many of you Moms and parents of humans and creatures know, it is in the figuring out of that very multi-tasking lifestyle, genius can occur. Karen combines the textures of wife and motherhood with the dreams of her music and entrepreneurial passion. She has so much to offer you and she can’t wait to help you reach your ultimate life goals! Highlights: Biz Owner of Karen Michaels Music, Director of Vocal Power Las Vegas, The Social Butterfly Guru Marketing Agency, SCORE Mentorship Speaker and Board Member Nevada Arts Council I love how this conversation started and where it led us: talking about the trap of COMPARISON!!! I've been chatting about this on the podcast in episodes 11-13, and I'm tellin' ya, this chat with Karen took the conversation over the top!!! She's the real deal, Baby!! And I loved getting the chance to laugh and get transparent with her about the struggle for balance, being a creative and keeping a level head when it comes to comparing ourselves to others. I just KNOW you're going to love this talk too! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Easter, Football, Field Trip Permission slips, yearbook orders, Teacher Appreciation Day, Oh My! I think I've officially hit the proverbial wall. I'm dunzo. If I have to sign one more reading log or actually read AND respond to another IMPORTANT EMAIL, I'm going to pack my bags and run away to Greece. Stick a fork in me. The end of the school year is closing in, and it couldn't come a day too soon. I’d love to hear from you! When you listen to this episode, I’d love to hear comments on our Facebook page under the post or you can email me at amy@momonthefringe.com. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In many circles, the idea of self love sounds self-indulgent and selfish. But yesterday, as I was recovering from my holiday hangover, I took some time to take care of myself and get myself back in working order. I practiced “Self Love”, and it was nothing short of necessary and good for my soul. What did I do? I pressed pause on all the Monday morning chores I would have normally done. I opted out of my normal breakfast and even working out. I ate food I shouldn’t eat and I even took a nap. Why? Because it was all I was capable of doing. And I needed it. When you think of self love, do you immediately think of something that is contradictory to the Bible? Or do you understand that self love is amoral when it’s accurately understood. It’s nothing more than curling up with a cozy blanket and reading a book, or taking a nap when you’re tired or taking a day to pause and let go of all the responsibilities. It’s wearing a coat when it’s cold outside and turning the air down when it’s too hot. It’s taking medicine for a cold or sipping tea to soothe a sore throat. But instead of it feeling like it’s something we have to do, it’s something we actively choose to do in order to live out our lives in a way that is more present for our family. I believe self love is vital and necessary in the life of every woman (and man). But if we shew it off like it’s a bad word and don’t fully understand it, we miss out on its benefits. I’d love to hear from you! When you listen to this episode, I’d love to hear comments on our Facebook page under the post or you can email me at amy@momonthefringe.com. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Do you ever get "Holiday Hangover"?  I'm not referring to the type of hangover you get from drinking too much, but the kind of hangover you get from trying to make the holidays a wonderful experience for your family and waking up the next day feeling depleted and run down. After several Christmases and Easters where I felt like my health was suffering from trying so hard, and our bank account was suffering from spending too much, I decided to pull back on my holiday expectations and keep things as simple as possible. This year, for Easter, I didn’t buy all the home decor or go shopping for Easter outfits for the kids.  We didn’t go to umpteen different Easter egg hunts in our community or even buy much candy.  We tried to keep it as simple as possible.  And guess what?  I’m still exhausted (ha!), but I feel like this past week of reading about the meaning of Easter and spending time together was so much more memorable than any other holiday before. Our kids complained a little bit about the fact that they didn’t get an endless supply of candy in their Easter baskets, but it wasn’t as bad as I would have expected.  We spent more time talking about the meaning of Easter than what was in it for them.  They are still kids and still wished for more, but we just kept repeating what it was about and they eventually caught on. But, I come to you today tired.  Depleted.  Not really able to form a complete sentence anyway.  Why?  Because even when it’s simple, it’s still a lot to pull off.  And every year, no matter how much or how little I do, I need to decompress from it all.  How do you deal with holidays?  Do you experience holiday hangover?  What are some ways you cope so that it doesn’t feel like it’s lost its meaning or that you need to take a long vacation afterwards? I’d love to hear from you! When you listen to this episode, I’d love to hear comments on our Facebook page under the post or you can email me at amy@momonthefringe.com.  Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

In this episode of Amy+Friends, we chat with Jennifer Kaderli, owner and one of the many wonderful coaches at Iron Cross Fitness in Cedar Park, Texas. During this short, value-packed interview, we unpack: Challenges of owning your own business as a busy Mom, but why it's important to do it anyway! Her fitness journey and how it saved her. How much of fitness is mindset. Developing consistency when it comes to working out. I loved this interview with Jenn, and I think you will too! For more information about Iron Cross Fitness, go to her website or find them on Facebook! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

How do we begin something new? We not only begin by developing consistency, but we begin by doing ONE THING AT A TIME!! In this episode, Amy talks candidly about how, even though we have a tendency to do a lot of things at once, it's important to only do ONE THING AT A TIME in order to develop a habit and make it stick. Stop overwhelming yourself...and others! Do one thing at a time. If you are interested in some guidance with this, hope on over to grab your FREE GUIDE that will help you prioritize your life and your new endeavors without feeling overwhelmed. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

The idea that you can make quantum leaps in a short amount of time because you are going to be the exception and not the rule is a lie that you tell yourself. “Stop giving your future self so much credit.” as Michael Matthews says in his book, Thinner, Leaner, Stronger. You are NOT going to want to do it tomorrow anymore than you want to do it today. But you need to do it anyway. And you need to start with a penny, as Jeff Olsen puts it. You need to start small and focus, not on the results you’re noticeably getting, but on the process you need to employ to get the results down the road. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Hydrogen Peroxide is safe and effective at not only helping heal cuts and boo-boos, but it's also safe to use on your carpet, your furniture and clothing after a dog or cat pees or poops, for blood, for dirt, for grease, vomit or any other stain your home might endure. And contrary to its stigma, it won't bleach it out. Nope. It just cleans and gets the smell out. Hydrogen is an anti-microbial, so it does a lot of things that other cleaners can't do. Do don't be afraid, dump that hydrogen peroxide, Baby!!

In this episode, Amy talks about developing the habit of doing something you've set out to do. When she teaches her voice students, Amy lays out a clear instruction: Practice every day for 5-10 minutes. What she realized, over time, was that many people don't do this. And typically, these same people end up quitting. Most of us stop doing things we really want to do just as easily as we start them. And it's because we miss this very simple step of developing the discipline we need to develop in order for a habit to form and for us to really start seeing results. I hope this episode is an encouragement for you today! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Do any of you out there have a child (or children) who always want the shirt or dress or pants or shorts that are in some obscure place somewhere in the house? Or maybe what they want doesn't even exist. Do any of you out there have a child (or children) who always wants the shirt or dress or pants or shorts that are in some obscure place somewhere in the house, yard or car before they'll actually get dressed? Or maybe what they need to have to get dressed or be happy doesn't even exist. If it's not the clothing item, it's the long lost toy they need to find before they can leave the house so you can be at your gym class on time. And what happens? Well, even in my most planned out, organized days that I've wanted to accomplish something FOR ME...in order FOR ME to get in shape...or FOR ME to have my quiet time or FOR ME to put my oxygen mask on and do something that actually FILLS MY CUP, there always seems to be a kid that gets up a little earlier than normal when I've set my alarm clock for 5am...or a kid who needs their toy that we haven't even THOUGHT of in the last 7 months...or a child who wants to wear the white shirt with the red flowers even though that shirt doesn't exist in our home...and if it did, it's not currently in her room and clean. It's so apropos that I would be talking on the very subject of beginning to do something NEW for YOU this week and helping you figure out a way to start small and be consistent in your efforts. Because, let's face it, when you have children, it's hard to do anything, right? Can I get an amen!? But I want you to bear with me and allow me to walk beside you and guide you into a routine that works for you so you can achieve those goals and can fill your cup. It's so important to realize that, if you feel like you're fighting an uphill battle, you're not alone. We all struggle to accomplish things as mothers of young children. But that never means we shouldn't try. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

I'm so excited to introduce my long time friend, Sarah Tannehill Anderson, to my listeners. She is one special lady! SARAH TANNEHILL ANDERSON is a versatile musician, excelling as a singer of opera, oratorio, choral music, contemporary works, and art song. Sarah is married to Rockhurst High School choral director, Sam Anderson, and is also a teacher and clinician in Kansas City. For more information about her studio, workshops, and performance calendar, please visit www.raiseyourvoicekc.com. To find out more about her happy hour concert series, please visit www.thesocietyofsong.com. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

This episode concludes this week's series entitled "Getting Clear". It's so important, Friend, to get clear on what it is you should be doing in life, regardless if you are a busy Mom or not. I mentioned a few people in this episode I want you credit for some of the things we discussed: Viktor Frankl is the name of the Holocaust survivor I mentioned who contended with Sigmund Freud about Meaning vs. Pleasure. Chip Gaines is another person I quoted from his book, "Capital Gaines". Tom Bilyeu, author of Impact Theory, talked about passion being just a preference that you invest in. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website https://momonthefringe.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this episode, Part 2 of our “Getting Clear” series, we talk about admiration and how it differs from comparison. Instead of being envious of someone else, we can look for traits we admire and really want to emulate. It’s important to make the distinction, because we need to be aware of how we’re feeling at all times and use those feelings to our advantage rather than feeling down about ourselves or ungrateful for where we are in comparison to someone else.

As we begin the journey of getting clear about what we really want to do, I believe it's necessary to stop dead in our tracks and talk about that nasty word, "Comparison". They say "Comparison is the thief of joy." and that's not only true for our lives, but also true for how we impact the world around us and live out our higher calling. In today's episode, I talk about microcosms and how we tend to find ourselves within one and almost instinctively begin the comparison game. It's part of human nature and it's actually a survival technique. But if we allow it to, comparison can breed self-loathing and actually keep us from doing the things God calls us to do. Today's episode comes with a free downloadable worksheet that you can print out and fill out on the go. I want to challenge you to take me up on this and grab your worksheet, because I believe it could really unlock some deep-seated areas for growth as you see how much you are engaging in your own comparison game. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review! It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Today, I come to you in an effort to be fully transparent, because, as a busy Mom of 3, things just didn't go my way when I prepared for this episode. I share about how we should ban goody bags from birthday parties and how siblings should be able to come to parties if we pay their way. Controversial? Yes. But that's how I feel, darn it!! I also shared how I had to get really clear on the goals I wanted to accomplish, the amount of time I wanted to spend with my family and the time and energy I had at my disposal -- which led to me having to quit my church job that I loved. This episode kicks off a 4-day series about "Getting Clear" about our goals and dreams! I hope you continue to stick around and listen to episodes 2-4 of this series. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Amy & Friends is a special segment of my podcast where I chat with my friends and talk about how much they inspire me and others around them. Amy Stoker is a long-time friend of mine. We were pregnant with our 10 year old boys at the same time and commiserated over those pregnancies. But when Amy had her son, Clay, she immediately knew something was different about him. Two years after he was born, Clay was diagnosed with Autism, and Amy and her husband Trent felt relieved rather than sad about his diagnosis, because it helped them understand why things were different and allowed them to immediately seek help for their son. Throughout our conversation, Amy shares the ups and downs of being a mother of a child with Autism, talks about her moves from one place to another and shares about the joys and challenges of motherhood. Amy is a talented singer, a realtor and an all-around girls' girl! She loves spending time with her friends and family and is always open to new avenues that help her fill her cup and keep her sanity! I hope you'll enjoy this chat as much as I did! xo, Amy

In this episode, I talk about how hard it is to be vulnerable and share our stories. I shared some pretty personal information with you all, and we barely even know each other ;)! Can anyone say "TMI"?? lol But, I think it's necessary to share our stories and here's why: It helps us know that we're not alone and allows people to help us in our time of need. It opens up a gateway and gives the person we're talking to the freedom to share their stories with us. 1. + 2. = RELATIONSHIPS!!! (I'm not that good at math!) In this episode, I share how my vulnerability with my good friend helped her share that she was going through an equally rough patch in her marriage. We spent hours sitting and crying together, and ultimately, our conversation brought about healing and prayer for each other that led us to know we're not alone. Do you have a story or a current situation that you have thought about as I've told my story? I'd love to hear about it. Send me a message over this podcast and let me know or leave me a review! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

Today, we wrap up the story about how we found ourselves in the midst of complete financial and marital devastation in 2016. I talk about how my husband met with a man whom he didn't even know named Tommy. Tommy declared himself as my husband's "person" and walked with him through some of the hardest months of our lives. Tommy also called me and prayed with me over the phone, and that conversation led me to the point of being able to make the active choice to forgive and move forward in our marriage. Throughout this story, where I try very hard to only share pertinent information to protect the innocent, there is an overarching message: God can take our mess and use it for our good. And not only can He do that, He will if we allow Him to. Our mistakes and past failures don't define us, Friend. They are part of our story. And God wants to use our stories for His good. Join us for Part #4 of this series when we wrap up how we can use our stories to help and encourage others! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, www.momonthefringe.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, I continue the story about how I was trying to work as a private voice teacher and my husband's response to me throwing up my hands in desperation. I get a little vulnerable with you as I talk about how we struggled with our finances and had some major bumps in the road that threatened to take us down. I also talk about my husband's online trading and how it took a turn for the worse and once again knocked us on our knees, struggling to get back up. Throughout this episode, I talk candidly about going back to work as a temp for a major tech company, and how that mundane entry level job that I HATED actually turned out to be the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, www.momonthefringe.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

This is Part #1 of a 4-part series where I talk about my story of trying to keep my unreliable business going in the throws of motherhood. The business model had not been working successfully for a number of years, but when my 3rd child, my daughter Georgia Jane, was born, I knew I needed a change BIG TIME. What kept me stuck trying to do the same thing over and over again -- the definition of insanity -- was that I had worked really hard and invested a lot of time and money into learning how to do what I had been doing. The idea of pivoting and doing something else was not only difficult to wrap my head around, but I was lacking brain cells and sleep to even BEGIN to have the capacity to come up with a Plan B. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, www.momonthefringe.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

This episode was recorded at a time when everything that could go wrong ultimately did: My daughter is sick, our dishwasher died and my husband is struggling to get our new one installed properly even as I record. Our car is acting up and was dead when I went to start it this morning on my way to my 5am workout. And those are just a few things that have been going on this past week. But, despite all of that...we still have an obligation to show up and do what we set out to do. And those small habits we intentionally build into our lives, day after day after day after day, are the ones that are going to carry us through when we feel like giving up. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, www.momonthefringe.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

Have you ever wondered which direction you should take and prayed that God would show you a clear path? Have you found yourself stalling and not moving forward in any one direction, because you weren't crystal clear on what steps to take or whether that direction was going to be a good fit for you or your family? In this episode, Amy talks about how we can literally miss out on so many blessings and cool opportunities we could create for ourselves by not moving and how just taking a step in A direction and saying, "Let's see" is better than no movement at all. Obviously, there are some decisions in life that we need to be pretty darn sure of and can't really have that approach. But a lot of decisions are just a matter of preference or geography. This or that? It matters not. Let's see! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, www.momonthefringe.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

You DO have time, but you’re just not using it! Today we talk about the hidden pockets of time you already have in your crazy busy day. If you’re struggling to find time to do the things you want to do, you don’t want to miss this episode! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, www.momonthefringe.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

You know how you see a welcome sign on the front of an old country store that says, "Come on in! We're open!" Well, this episode is my welcome sign. I'm so glad you're here and can't wait to get to know you! In this very first episode, Amy talks about her why for this podcast, tells a little about her weekend leading up to this podcast launch and shares what she wishes for you, her audience! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe! So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, www.momonthefringe.com, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for listening!