Mom Wants More

Today’s conversation is very special to us because it’s our final episode here at The Mom Wants More Podcast. One of our favorite lines from the MWM Manifesto is “We reserve the right to pivot”, and simultaneously this year we’ve both felt an internal pull towards some of our individual creative pursuits. Though this episode may feel like it’s coming out of left field to you, our listeners, it has not been a quick decision or one we’ve taken lightly. We absolutely adore working together here the on the podcast and this message of encouraging women to uncover and pursue their passion in the middle of their right now lives will always be the heartbeat of the work we both do. It simply happens to be that this work is taking us in new directions! We are deeply grateful for each one of you who’ve tuned in to listen and follow along, and we are honored to have served you in this space. While it’s bittersweet to close the chapter, we are both in full support of each other and excited for the new ways we can keep spreading this message of empowerment to the women in our lives!

Alright ladies, let's talk about it: body image struggles. We've all had them, and depending on the season of life/motherhood you're in, you may find yourself facing new or different challenges than you ever have in the past. Our bodies are constantly changing, and they're also constant companion as we walk through life- so we may as well invest in making that relationship a positive one! We understand that this can be a deeply personal and emotionally charged subject so we are entering into this conversation with gentleness and care. We're not here to tell you to change your figure, to make yourself smaller, or more fit, because we don't believe you owe the world any specific version of your body. But you DO owe it to yourself to feel at home in it, to find peace, and to practice loving it so that you can show up confidently in the world as your whole self. This episode will help you: Unpack & let go of body shame Take ownership of your health & wellness Trade hopelessness and overwhelm for hope & vision Utilize simple tools for listening to your body, fueling your body, and moving your body from a place of love, not pressure

We've never met a woman who doesn't care about her body, and we've also never met a woman who hasn't struggled in her relationship with it in SOME way or another. You might be wondering what Body Image has to do with a podcast that helps women pursue their passions, but truly, we believe it has everything to do with it. The way we feel in our bodies directly affects how we show up in the world. It affects our energy, our mood, our confidence, and certainly our creativity too. Ladies, you don't owe the world any specific version of your body, but your do owe it to yourself to feel at home in it. Today on the podcast we're getting vulnerable and opening up about our own struggles in this arena because we trust that it's a helpful conversation for anyone wanting to come home to the body they live in and practice loving it, however that may look for you. Come join the conversation!

We can't think of a better way to kick off our theme of Body Love this month than with the incredibly talented, stunning, sparkly light of a human that is Arielle Estoria. She's a Poet, Author, Speaker, Emcee, and Model and we think Chandler Bing put it best when he said, "Could I BE any more excited?" If you've ever struggled to find peace in your physical body, if you've wondered HOW you can actually practice body love, or if you're struggling to come home to yourself after having babies or any other kind of life change, DO NOT MISS THIS EPISODE! It's one of our all time faves and we just know you'll love it too! This is not a conversation about fitting in, shrinking down, or changing your appearance. This is a conversation about fully inhabiting the body God gave you with confidence, peace, and unflagging joy. Enjoy listening, friends!

This month's behind the scenes episode is a little different from our usual tone, but that's because life as we know it suddenly has a different tone. Alana & I are sharing what life is like over here as we all are experiencing this worldwide event through our own personal lenses. We're sharing what's working for us during this time, what's not working, and what we're loving. We really got vulnerable as well as practical in this episode and we hope that it will help you navigate your own thoughts and feelings today. We're all in this together. Wishing you health and peace, friends!

We'll be the first to admit it: Making new friends as an adult is hard. Heck, simply maintaining old friendships is hard, depending on your season of life. Today we sat down with friendship researcher (Yep! It's a thing!) Noelle Rhodes for an honest, refreshing, and PRACTICAL conversation about the importance of female friendships. If you're struggling to find true connection or you find yourself settling for "virtual friendships" over real-life friendships, you don't want to miss this episode! We talk about why they matter, where to find them, how to create healthy boundaries within friendships, and simple, actionable ways to cultivate them in our right-now life.

Can we be honest? Finding, building, and maintaining healthy and thriving friendships seems a lot harder in adulthood. Can we get an amen? It's not quite as simple as asking someone on the playground if they "wanna be friends?" anymore. But one thing's for sure- whether you're an introvert or extrovert, a mom of littles or an empty nester, we ALL need friendship in our lives. It's a form of human connection, self care, and fun! That said, it's often easier said than done. We get it. If you're feeling frustrated or discouraged by this area of your life, then come close and listen in, sister, because we're getting real about what it takes to create,nurture, and maintain lasting healthy friendships. We're getting down to the nitty-gritty of boundaries, expectations, valuing real life connections instead of settling for "virtual" friendships, and HOW to actually make and keep friends.

Last month on the podcast we explored the theme of Comparison and as we shift gears into this month's theme of Friendship, we can't think of a better transition than THIS week's conversation! Pursuing your passion can feel like lonely work at times but one of the best ways to combat comparison & competition is by finding your people, connecting with them, supporting them, and even collaborating with them. One way to do that is through a mastermind group. We've been blown away by the positive impact this has has in our own lives this year. Curious about what a mastermind is or how it works? Well today we're peeling back the curtain and introducing y'all to the members of our real life mastermind group. We're sharing some basic info on WHAT a mastermind is, how you can run it, and hearing from each of the ladies in our personal mastermind group on how it's impacted their businesses and personal lives.  

Well it's been minute since we've recorded a proper behind the scenes episode, but don't worry, we're covering it all in this ep! Alana & Amber each share one thing that's working, one thing that's not working, and one thing they're loving so far in 2020! We're including all the fun links below so you don't have to worry about FOMO, but mostly we just hope these episodes create a bit of space for you to consider what your answers to these questions would be! Plus, we just love to dish. These eps are personal, casual, and a lot of fun. Grab your favorite bevvie and enjoy!

One of the reasons we created this podcast is because we believe that leaning into our God given gifts and strengths truly helps us become better mothers. Today on the podcast we sat down with Becky Keife, author of No Better Mom for the Job to discuss how we can parent with confidence, avoid the pitfalls of comparison, celebrate our individual strengths as as a mom, and both find support and offer support to our fellow moms. Ladies, if you find yourself stuck in negativity, insecurity, or overwhelm, do not miss this one! You are the best mom for this job! Becky Keife is the Community Manager for DaySpring's (in)courage, a widely followed online community where authentic, brave women connect deeply with God and others. She is also a popular speaker for MOPS groups and other women's events, and is the author of the new book, No Better Mom for the Job: Parenting with Confidence (Even When You Don't Feel Cut Out for It.) Becky is a huge fan of Voxer, Sunday naps, and moms in the thick of it. She and her husband live near Los Angeles where they enjoy hiking sunny trails with their three spirited sons.

We've all heard the famous quote, "Comparison is the thief of joy", and today on the podcast we're diving into this uncomfortable topic because as moms and creatives we're deeply aware of how true this statement is. If you're trying to improve your career, your mothering, your wellness, your marriage, your creative work, or just about any other area of your life, there's a good chance that you'll encounter a perceived disparity between your reality and the woman next to you. It's all too tempting to believe that she has it easier, or better, or that her "success" is a threat to your own. The bummer is that when we fall into patterns of comparison or envy, we are the undoing of our own goals and desires. When we're busy obsessing over everyone else, there's not enough time and energy left to actually run in our own lane. In today's episode we're diving into what triggers comparison, what it looks like, simple ways we can actively combat it, and a surprising twist on how we can use it for good. Grab your favorite bevvie and come join us!

We all know that Comparison can be a harmful trap, but unfortunately knowledge alone isn't enough to keep us from encountering it in our everyday lives. Sometimes it may be just far enough under the surface of our conscious mind that we never even notice we're operating from a place of comparison or insecurity. Today we sat down with Richella Parham, author of Mythical Me: Finding Freedom from Constant Comparison to break down different types of comparison (maybe they're not ALL bad?) as well as how we can remove the comparison traps hidden in plain sight among our daily habits.  

Today's episode is our fourth and final installment of our Start Your Year off Right mini-series and we are so excited to dive in because this is where the rubber meets the road, y'all! All the reflecting, dreaming, and planning we've done this month has all been leading up to this: actually getting started. We know that starting is often the hardest part so this episode is the perfect mix of gentle encouragement, tough love, and practical help. We're sharing all of our best tips and tools in this episode, so be sure and tune in and then come join us over in the Mom Wants More Podcast Community on Facebook where we can personally cheer you on as you get moving towards your dreams and goals in 2020!  

Welcome to Week 3 of our Start Your Year off Right Mini-series! Here on the podcast we're spending the whole month of January focused on stepping into a brand new year (and a new decade!) with intention and joy. We know that expectations and pressure can feel high around this time of year so we've put together a plan to help you ditch overwhelm, get clarity, create a plan, and GET MOVING towards your dreams and goals this year. This week we're building on the last two weeks of reflection and dreaming and we're getting super practical about how to make a plan of action to launch you forward. In today's episode we cover: Reverse Engineering your dreams into plans Creating a realistic roadmap Breaking down your big goals into small, measurable steps Counting the cost Carving out actual time and space in your life for your biggest goals We've got some great (FREE) resources to help walk you through this process with us so be sure to grab those at HERE. 

Welcome back to Week 2 of our Start Your Year off Right Miniseries! We'd like to emphasize that "right" only applies to you and how YOU want to intentionally launch into the new year. Your dreams and goals are going to be just as unique and nuanced as you are so while we know there's no cookie cutter approach to this, we do believe that having a clear understanding of WHAT your dreams and goals are is a crucial and life giving step before moving forward. So this week, for our second installment, we're diving into the importance of dreaming, unpacking any unnecessary guilt around it, and offering you some fun and playful ways you can start dreaming about what you truly want out of 2020. Grab some earbuds and let's do this! Don't forget! We've got some great (FREE) resources to help walk you through this process with us so be sure to grab those here.

Happy New Year! This month we're kicking off a super fun mini-series all about how to Start Your Year off Right. Not only is it the beginning of a fresh new calendar year, but it's also the beginning of a whole new decade! Talk about a clean slate, amirite? Just because January 1st came and went doesn't mean you need to need to have your whole year mapped out. And if you're finding this episode later in the year, just because January came and went doesn't mean you can't start now! You are the boss of your own goals and this doesn't have to look "right" to anyone but you, sister. That said, Alana and I have combined all of our best practices and tips for starting the year off intentionally and we've streamlined them into this super helpful 4 week series for you. We've got some great (FREE) resources to help walk you through this process with us so be sure to grab those at HERE. Week 1 is all about REFLECTING and today we're going to help you take a look at: what worked in 2019 VS what didn't work what was life giving VS life draining put your finger on the pulse of what you're believing/ wanting fun ways to document your life during the year to help you reflect at the end of 2020 You ready? Let's dive in!

We are rereleasing this episode as we prepare for our January Mini-Series.  We love a clean slate and is there any cleaner of a slate than January 1? The whole year is stretched out before us, full of possibility and good intentions. So naturally everyone and their Aunt Millie is currently setting goals and thinking about how they want to show up in the world this year. Here at Mom Wants More we have some suggestions on how you can practice this gently with yourself. We are all about naming those things we hope for, for calling our shot, and then getting after it. But it can quickly turn into pressure, an "on or off" mentality, or even feeling like a failure by January 11. In today's episode we're highlighting the difference between setting a hard Goal and setting an Intention. We think that when it comes to intentions and mindfulness, the more the merrier, but when it comes to hard goals, less is actually more. We're sharing how this looks in our personal lives and we're offering up some practical and helpful ideas of how you can approach this exercise in your own life. Listen in! And we'd love to hear some of YOUR New Year's goals or intentions! Leave a comment, email us, or send us a private message! We'll show you ours if you show us yours! Thanks for being such a rad community- for tuning in, following along, sharing the podcast with your people, and for basically being the best listeners ever!

We are rereleasing this episode from last year about Choosing a Word of the Year as we lead up to our Mini-Series in January.  Some might say it's cliche or even cheesy, but we have all the heart eyes for choosing a Word of the Year. We've both been doing it for years now and we've been surprised at how much this simple practice has impacted our lives. We don't use it as another way to put pressure and expectations on a year that still remains full of mystery and unknown- we use it more as a filter, a gauge, a springboard, and a point of reference throughout the year. A place to come back to and ask ourselves and God how this word is shaping up in our story. Today on the podcast we're sharing a behind the scenes peek into how this process looks for each of us, how it's played out in our lives over the last few years, and some simple tools for how you can implement this practice yourself. Listen in to hear the words we each chose this year! In the meantime, we raise our mug of 3x reheated coffee to you- Cheers here's to a brand new year, full of possibility! P.S. If you already have a word of the year, would you share it with us? Comment here! We'd love to hear! (a tiny poem, by Mom Wants More)

Today's episode is special for 2 reasons: We're celebrating our 100th episode!!! We're shaking things up a bit with our format and doing something totally different: Ask Amber & Alana Anything (we were on an alliteration roll, okay?) We invited our friend, Megan Ericson to join us today so we could take a turn being on the OTHER side of the mic. Some of our guests wrote in questions for us and Megan hosted so Alana & I could have fun as guests today. Some of the questions were serious, some were fun, and all of them will help you get to know us much better. Enjoy! Here's to 100 more!

The train has left the station y'all! The holiday season is upon us and while it has the potential to be the most warm, fuzzy, magical season of the year, it also has the potential to make us go a little bit crazy. Today we're getting down to the nitty gritty by sharing our own struggles with this season and dishing the simple ways we're learning to prioritize, communicate, and really get intentional about how we want the holiday season to look. We cover all of it, from letting go of the Hallmark Holiday Fantasy, to creating boundaries, speaking up & being clear AHEAD of time, giving grace to ourselves and our people, and focusing in on just 2-3 goals to prioritize for the season. For us those priorities look like: Slowing down enough to connect with our kiddos Creating (and sometimes breaking) traditions Being present in the moment as it's actually unfolding instead of fussing over our expectations of that moment.

As mamas, we all want to be intentional in how we parent, in the way we show up to our work, as well as in all our relationships, right? We have every desire to bring our best self to all these areas of our lives, but one of the biggest hurdles we face is the threat of distraction. It's more real for our generation than any generation that came before us. Don't worry, this isn't one of those conversations that gets all down on social media. In our conversation with Amanda Bacon & Anne Renee we really zoomed out and looked at distraction as a whole in our lives. They had so many refreshing insights on how we can stay focused on the LASTING things more than the lesser, shiny things that pull at our attention all day. This conversation is so positive and helpful for any of you mamas out there feeling pulled in a million directions!

It's that time of the month again, y'all! Time to peel back the curtain and get REAL about what's working, what's not working, what's life giving VS life draining, and always... what we're loving this month. These episodes are a little more casual, a lot more personal, and just one more way to cultivate true community here at the podcast. In today's episode we dish on traveling to conferences, pushing through resistance on a particular project, what it means to go deep instead of wide, and a few ways we can receive our right-now lives without rushing ahead or dwelling in the past. Grab your favorite bevvie and tune in!  

We say this all the time around here: YOU ARE MORE THAN ONE THING. Whether you find yourself stepping into a new season like motherhood, opening a business, or moving towards a dream in your heart, it can become tricky to navigate holding this new thing that takes up so much of your heart along WITH all the other hats you wear in a day. Today we sat down with Tayler Paterson, a mama in that tender, transitional season of raising a little one while going after her big dreams. Tayler is an American who fell in love with a Kiwi and moved to New Zealand to build a life with him. (Y'all. They met on Instagram and you have to listen in to hear Tayler share their story because it is THE ACTUAL BEST!) In 5 years they've walked through a lot of big transitions- they've gotten married, had a baby, opened a coffee business, and they each have other jobs they do on the side. We loved Tayler's honest and helpful insight on how we as mamas can stay sane as muli-passionate women, mother wholeheartedly, and hold multiple dreams at once.

What if not ALL mom-guilt is bad? We were so inspired after our interview with Amber Kanallakan last week where she broke down the difference between mom-guilt (which can sometimes point us to a better way) and mom-shame (which accomplishes nothing good) so we decided it's important to dive a bit deeper and continue exploring this idea together. In today's episode we're unpacking different kinds of mom-guilt, what triggers it for us, how it plays out in our mothering (we get real vulnerable here!), how we can determine when to listen to it or overcome it, and the practical ways we snap ourselves out of shame spirals.

Grab your favorite beverage and settle in because today's episode is going to infuse so much LIFE and freedom into your creative pursuits. We've never met a mom who doesn't struggle with mom guilt on some level, so we sat down with Amber Kanallakan to talk all about it. We unpack the difference between guilt & shame (one is useful, one is NOT), what triggers it, the science behind it (there are brain chemicals involved, and it's FASCINATING), and some really simple ways we can resist being pulled out to sea by that familiar tide of unnecessary mom-guilt. As a grad student working in the mental health & wellness arena, Amber had so much wisdom to share with us and we cannot wait to pass it on to you!

Y'all know we put our heart and soul into ALL the episodes that we share here on the podcast, but these Behind The Scenes peeks into our personal lives at the end of each month are some of our favorite. They're near and dear to our hearts because we pull back the curtain and get real about what we're learning, where we're struggling with, what's working well, and what we're loving lately. We seriously miss those Friday Fave episodes we used to do, so this is a fun way to add that back in- because that's what friends do, right? They dish on all their Favorite Things! This month we opened up about how we've been hit hard with Resistance on creative projects, how we're realizing we can't do ALL THE THINGS at once (at least not well), and a few ways we're learning to ask for help, be kind to ourselves, and push through even when it's hard. Enjoy the ep!

What's the #1 factor that dictates how you show up in the world? It might not be what you think... Guys, if there's one thing we're learning lately, it's the power of our mindset. The story we tell ourselves ABOUT ourselves is a mighty thing. We can't always control our circumstances & we can't always control our feelings, but we CAN learn self control when it comes to our mindset and thought patterns. This relates to just about everything we do. Our work, our day-to-day habits, our goal-setting, and for SURE our mothering. It can be real easy to slip into negative thought patterns around our kids' behaviors, our lack of time or energy, our failures, you name it. Today we sat down with Kara Kae James, author of Mom Up, and founder of Thrive Moms, and she shared so many insightful tips for finding a more positive narrative around our motherhood journey! We also touched on mom-guilt, the importance of rest, knowing ourselves and what fills our cup, and wouldn't you guess- the enneagram. (Ya thought we weren't going to mention it for one whole episode, didn't ya? Sorrynotsorry!)

The story we tell ourselves ABOUT ourselves is a powerful thing. Whether it applies to our health & fitness, our parenting, our creative pursuits, or any other area of our lives, the inner narrative playing out in our heads affects our actions so much more than we think. Why? Because our thoughts dictate our actions, our actions dictate our habits, and our habits dictate our daily life. Sometimes we operate from damaging mindsets without even realizing it. The good news? If you're stuck in a negative cycle of thinking, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY THERE! You can get off the ride and go in a new direction. The mind is like a muscle and the more we exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand. This episode is full of simple, logical ways we can let go of harmful narratives and practice moving towards a healthier, more positive mindset SO that we can show up in the world in a way that feels right and rings true to our values.

Have you ever met someone who instantly made you grin from ear to ear? That pretty much sums up our conversation with Maghon Taylor! Her infectious joy and genuine excitement over her work is absolutely infectious. Maghon is an author, calligrapher, teacher, mama, wife, and solo-preneur, meaning, she runs her business entirely on her own in the middle of motherhood and her right-now life.  We chatted with Maghon about juggling that work/life balance, embracing our amateurism, and not only learning from our mistakes, but actually celebrating them. If you've ever felt defeated in your mothering, your creative pursuits, your day job, or holding them all together, today's episode is for you! Maghon Taylor is on a mission to spread happiness through her handwriting. She is a joyful wife, fun mama, and owner of All She Wrote Notes. Since 2013, Maghon's cheerful collection of colorful gifts has spread smiles all across America with their encouraging words and uplifting messages. Maghon believes wholeheartedly that our talents are meant to be shared and she has taught nearly 7,000 students to reignite their creativity with her traveling hand-lettering workshops and her online classes. She is also the author of Happy Hand Lettering released August 2019 and has a second book in the works. An award winning artist and calligrapher, Maghon's work has been featured on many publications such as Southern Weddings, Inpired By This, The Wedding Chicks and Southern Bride and Groom.

The main heartbeat of this podcast is to encourage women (moms especially) to stop waiting for a convenient time that may never arrive and start actively uncovering & pursuing their creative passions in their right-now lives. We understand that in order to do that we must learn to be the boss of our own calendars. But that's easier said than done, right? Well don't worry sister, we've got you covered because today's episode is entirely devoted to simple & practical ways we can carve out time for our creative work and/or play. In this ep we break down 3 easy ways we can take ownership of the time that we DO have. You'll have to tune into the episode to hear the 3 main points, but spoiler alert, YOU get to decide how this looks in your own life! It's not a one-size-fits-all theory, but we do share lots of helpful tips and tricks for how this can break down logistically for you.

If you've listened to the this podcast for any length of time, then you've probably heard us mention the lovely Emily P. Freeman many times. We should probably just go ahead and give her a permanent line in our show notes right next to the topic of the enneagram. What can we say, we love what we love! And we truly love the work that Emily puts out into the world. She speaks, writes, and gently leads from the unique intersection of creativity & faith in a way speaks to us on a soul level. Having her on the podcast was a dream come true and we are so thrilled to share this episode with you! We spoke with Emily about: Carving out time for Rest (and giving ourselves grace if it doesn't go according to plan) Creating helpful boundaries between our work and home life Why pursuing our passions in the middle of motherhood matters so much (spoiler alert- it can actually LOWER our stress levels!) And OF COURSE, the enneagram! Okay, we'll stop here so you can go listen! And if you enjoy this episode, will you share it with a friend?

Today on the podcast we're welcoming y'all back to the podcast with a fresh new look, a slightly new sound (did ya like our new intro?), and an honest behind the scenes peak into what our summer break was like. As always we're including the good, the bad, the ugly, and the funny. We love the work we do here. We are so passionate about it that we often say it feels more like play than actual work. But after producing 86 consecutive podcast episodes, we decided to hit that pause button and carve out some intentional down time this summer for real R-E-S-T. To just be with our families, get inspired, and recharge our batteries. Sounds lovely, right? True, it was, but can we be totally honest? We both struggled with it in unexpected ways. If there's one thing we're learning, it's that true rest might take a little practice, and that's okay. It's going to look and feel different for each of us, and that's okay too. Listen in and enjoy the kickoff to Season 2! Here we go!

We did it! We held our first ever LIVE podcast event and it was so much fun we are still on a high weeks later. Meeting some of you gals from our Mom Wants More community in real life, hugging your necks, and connecting in the moment, it filled our cup in ways we didn't even expect. It was a chance for all of us mamas to hit pause in the middle of that hectic back-to-school season, throw on some lip gloss, and meet up for a ladies night out. We recorded this live interview with Hanna McGee of 2cwomenconnect, all about how we can cultivate true connection and collaboration, not just in our work, but in our lives as well. We had signature Mom Wants More cocktails, delicious food & desserts, gorgeous flower arrangements- the whole night felt like a dream, but we can't let it pass without shouting out some of the talented and generous women who sponsored the night! @raisingourbarmade delicious drinks & bar-tended @flowerfarmboisecreated stunning arrangments for the tables @rachelphotostudiogenerously captured the whole evening for us @savorynsweetincmade the most gorgeous charcuterie table we've ever seen (not a board, a TABLE!) @heidissweetlifeprovided us with delicious and healthy desserts @coffeepaintrepeatprovided the most stunning venue (we're still swooning over this space. We want to live there now.) @syndicake208baked adorable cookies with our Mom Wants More design on them It was honestly one of our favorite moments to date on this podcasting journey and we can't wait to do it again! Hanna's 3 passions in life right now are creating a platform and the tools for women to connect, collaborate, encourage band empower one another.  She does this by hosting a monthly mixer called 2C Women Connect in the Boise area.  She believes by teaching women to be a little vulnerable in a safe place a whole new world opens up. Through promoting her 2C Women Connect community she found small businesses also needed to learn how to be on social media.  She now empowers business owners by giving them the the tools to grow their business on social media  through her coaching program. Hanna is a mom to 2 kids and has an active life involved in their activities and the local community, currently helping her husband on his camping for City Council. Enjoy the ep!

If you're a human person, odds are at some point life is going to throw you a curveball. Whether it's a loss, diagnosis, trauma, or even simply disappointment, today's conversation with Niki Hardy will give you practical tools to live well even when you feel like life's fallen apart. With witty candor and heaps of wisdom, Niki talks with us about the difference between surviving and thriving and HOW we can choose to be brave even when we don't feel afraid. Niki Hardy is a Brit in the USA, a rectal (yes, rectal) cancer survivor, pastor’s wife, tea drinker and teller of bad jokes. As a speaker and the author of Breathe Again: How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart (Revell, Aug, 2019) she’s all about meeting us when life’s not fair and embracing the reality that with God, life doesn’t have to be pain-free to be full. You can find more of Niki on social media at @niki.hardy and on her website NikiHardy.com when she’s not running trails with her Doodles or trying to figure out which remote actually works the TV. Download the first couple of chapters of Breathe Again FREE  

Ever wonder what the term "self-care" actually even means? It seems like such a buzzword lately, which is exactly why we want to unpack this concept together. If you're a mom, a creative entrepreneur, heck, if you're a HUMAN PERSON, learning how to care for your *whole* self in healthy ways isn't just beneficial, it's crucial. One of our favorite filters for self care is the question our dear friend, Melissa Blair once asked us, "How's your head? How's your heart? How's your butt?" I mean... if that doesn't cover it, we don't know what does! Of all the episodes we share, please do not miss this one, sister. It's so, so important and you may be pleasantly surprised by our refreshing definition of self care, because we strongly believe that it shouldn't feel like one more oppressive thing to "get right" or add to your to-do list. In this conversation we share simple and practical ways to: know yourself & explore your needs (what is life giving VS life draining for you) speak up & communicate your needs push back on guilt set boundaries check in with yourself (how do you FEEL? is your body telling you something?) differentiate between self-comfort VS self-care put yourself back ON the list (because let's all be real here- we can't always put ourselves at the top!) This episode was originally #80 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy!

ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO SETTLE INTO A NEW ROUTINE? If you're feeling flustered as you say goodbye to summer and dive back into that busy Fall schedule, don't worry, we've got you, boo. Grab a cup of coffee, slip on your coziest slippers, and settle in because today we're talking all about how to create a morning routine that works for YOU. We're diving into whya morning routine is so important, sharing some practical tips of how to structure a routine that actually works for you, and suggesting that it doesn't have to look a certain way or even remain the same as it used to. Life happens fast, y'all! Different seasons of motherhood, creative work, and even just the natural rhythms of the weather changing can all affect how we start our day, but having a morning routine to fall back on can help anchor our days and even our mood. And guess what? We've created a resource to help you create a morning routine that you love! Click here to Get Our Guide Design Your Morning Routine Links we mention in this episode: 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma This episode was originally #71 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy!

Y'all are in for a treat because Rebecca Bender is on the podcast today and she is bringing the heat. And the laughter. Rebecca is a passionate speaker with a powerful story but what we love so much about this episode is the pared down, super honest, practical encouragement that came out of this conversation. She's a mom to 4 kiddos (littles AND bigs), she's a leader, a dreamer, a preacher, an activist, a teacher, and that's not even all the hats she wears.   Rebecca is someone who doesn't just dream big, she DOES big things. She feels the Lord's nudge and she takes action. In this episode we talk about swinging for the fences and going all in when we know God has called us to do something, but we also talk about balancing that with the everyday rhythms of motherhood and life. Because one is not more valuable, honorable, or more sacred than the other.   As we like to say, our work is not a distraction from our life and our life is not a distraction from our work. Our life IS our work.   Today's episode is a perfect example of this. Don't miss it!   This episode was originally #60 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our summer series- we hope you enjoy!   COME JOIN US FOR OUR LIVE EVENT!

Ever feel like you don' t have a "thing"? We talk a lot here about pursuing your passions, acknowledging/ naming/getting after your dreams, and leaning in to your unique creative bent. Those are all lovely and powerful ideas- but what if you DON'T KNOW what those things are yet? Or maybe you have a sense of it but it still feels foggy and unclear and you aren't sure how it's supposed to fit into your actual right-now life. The last thing we ever want to do is make you feel like you need to be "more" than you already are- or that you now need to add "pursuing my dreams" to your already long to-do list. Your creative self isn't something "out there" that you need to go find, it's more of an "in here" piece of the puzzle that's already in place. It's been there since you were born. Uncovering your creative talents and dreams is really just about settling into who you ALREADY are. But we understand that it can be tricky business, especially in the middle of motherhood, busy schedules, and demanding seasons. So today on the podcast we're pulling back the curtain on words like "art", and "creativity" and offering up some super practical tools of how you can uncover your inner artist right now, today: Pay Attention Ask Try New Things (Play) Take a Risk/Wait This episode was originally #40 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy! COME JOIN US AT OUR LIVE EVENT!  LINKS WE MENTION: Jennie Allen's BookRestless MWM 008: Christie Johnson Purpose Boutique  

Are you a mama in that tender, transitional time with a brand new baby? Those early months and years can be a beautiful, life-giving (literally), deeply fulfilling... and often engulfing season. A season that can fill you up but also empty you clear out faster than anything ever has before. Can we get an amen out there? Today we're chatting with Maeve Gerboth, a writer, new mama, community manager, and can generally be found pouring a hot cup of tea. Maeve dives deep with us into how creative work can look and feel during this time, and offers up SO much hope and encouragement for all the mamas out there trying to find the balance. Maeve lives in Virginia with her husband and baby boy. She is a writer, avid tea drinker, and people gatherer. She works for Hope*writers as their Community Manager -- dishing out love & encouragement to all writers as best she can. You can find more of her heart over on instagramthese days, where she shares about motherhood, restlessness, friendship, and seeking God in all that is ordinary and lovely. Please say hi, she'd love to meet you!  This episode was originally #76 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy!

Of allll the things that hold us back from uncovering what lights us up and cultivating more of it in our right-now life, TIME is most often at the top of that list. When we asked you guys what you wanted us to address here on the podcast, that was the resounding answer. Number 1 with a bullet. How do we fit it into our already busy schedules and mile-long to-do lists? We don't claim to have all the answers, but we do have a lot of super practical ways you can recognize, carve out, and utilize the time that you DO have. This one is chock-full of tips on how you can immediately approach time with more excitement and less overwhelm. We're sharing big, small, and unexpected ways to maximize your time and cultivate your creative self so you can enjoy the season you're in! This episode was originally #75 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy!

GUYS! We don't mean to shout but this episode is going to knock your socks off!  Today we have the pleasure to talk to Valerie Woerner, of Val Marie Paper, and the author of her newly released book, Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday.  Valerie Woerner is passionate about inspiring women to live a life of peace and joy. She is the author of The Finishing School and owner of Val Marie Paper where she designs prayer journals and other products inspired by her own desire to connect with God in a real way every day. Valerie was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana and resides in a sweet simple bungalow with her husband Tyler and their two daughters.    We chatted with Val all about how to find a positive narrative in the midst of motherhood, as well as how to pursue our God-given passions with purpose and joy without waiting for a convenient time!   Y'all DON'T want to miss this one!   This episode was originally #77 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy!   CONNECT WITH VAL: Instagram: @valworner Website: www.valmariepaper.com Facebook: Val Marie Paper   Book: Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday  

We talk a lot here about going after our dreams, pursuing our passions, and showing up wholeheartedly to our right-now season of life. For most of us here at the MWM community, that means doing all of this in the middle of motherhood. Can we just make a little room here for the fact that it's not always easy? Is that okay? We'll be the first to admit that it's a complicated, fluid, and fine line to walk between fully honoring the gift of motherhood while actively uncovering and cultivating our other gifts at the same time. We also want to stop and acknowledge that our role as Mom IS one of our biggest passions and dreams. You'll never hear us say that you need to be more than "just a mom". In fact, that phrase makes us want to flip some tables. Motherhood is the most meaningful privilege we've ever known. But it's also not our sole identifier, the only important work we'll ever do, or the final chapter in the story God is writing for us. We want to acknowledge that tension, the push and pull between all the different hats we wear in a day, because it's REAL. Today on the podcast we're talking about loss and heartache on the road towards motherhood, as well as how we balance our role as Mom with all of our other roles. We believe that these are not mutually exclusive, but rather different (and complimentary!) parts of our whole self. It's okay to love motherhood AND love doing other things too. It's okay to be passionate about your talents and dreams AND also not have a big plan for where they'll lead. It's okay to take time to adjust to your role as mom AND your role as a creative human being. It's okay to want to show up in the best way possible for BOTH your family and your other work. Today we're making room for BOTH/AND because Lord knows it does not have to be one or the other. This episode was originally #67 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy!

WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE? If you've ever had trouble identifying your "thing" then you don't want to miss this episode! Amber& Alanasat down with Lindsay McPhail and the conversation that followed was straight fire. Which is fitting because Lindsay is a self described fire starter. A risk taker. An adventure maker. What we loved to much about this episode (and why we chose it to be a part of our Summer Series) is how real this conversation was. It got emotional at points and funny at other points, but the whole episode is just so, so encouraging for any mama who's trying to uncover and pursue her passions! Linday is passionate about disrupting culture and inviting people to experience God in a real way. She’s been married for 18 years and has 4 boys. Along with her husband, she’s helped bring a children’s charity called Sparrow Clubs to the Rogue Valley in Oregon in 2003, and received a home from ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home edition in 2011. Since then she’s written a few books, run retreats, and started the Barnstormer’s Vintage Fair. She’s currently the editor in chief of the Wild Woman Magazine and runs an outreach called Women's Fight Night. She fully believes that when we know who we are and walk powerfully in what God has given us, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. We couldn't agree more! This episode was originally #34 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy!

WE'RE TAKIN' IT OLD SCHOOL! For the first release of our Summer Series we couldn't think of a better choice than the interview that sparked this whole collaboration between your now-cohosts, Amber& Alana. Alana had Amber on as a guest and I guess you could say it was love at first chat? We had so much fun talking that they didn't want to stop. Like, ever. So we didn't. This episode is near and dear to our hearts because at the time we had no idea how much our hearts and messages aligned, but this conversation opened our eyes to the possibility of what could come of a collaboration between us. We're sharing it again because we touched on almost every major aspect of our mission here at the Mom Wants Morecommunity. In this episode we talk about: Amber’s family farm How your art can be anything, anywhere How you can recognize and value the important work (art) you’re already doing in your right now life Why it’s so important to make room for play in our daily lives The unexpected spiritual reward found in pursuing your passion Struggling with self-doubt and finding the balance between creative life and daily life How to believe that you are doing important work now but that there is more important work within you This episode was originally #16 but we are re-releasing it as a part of our Summer Series- we hope you enjoy!

It's time to dish, ladies. Once a month here on the podcast, we like to get super real with you listeners and give y'all a behind-the-scenes look into our actual lives as we navigate the pursuit of our creative passions in the middle of motherhood and our right-now lives. We'll be the first to tell you it's not always easy or simple. But we will also be the first to tell you that it's possible. So pop in some earbuds, refill your favorite bevvie, and tune in for this month's Behind the Scenes peek! We're keeping this one short and sweet (about 15 min) and we also share some pretty big & exciting news!

Pull up a chair and lean in real close because today's convo with Heather Boersma is going to light you up inside and set you free some of the perceived limitations you may be holding on to. If you: Feel like there's something tugging on your heart, a dream, an idea, a project, or a goal that's taking longer than you hoped Struggle to stay present instead of sprinting ahead to the next thing Worry about why you've yet to hit your stride Have ever struggled with how to align your schedule with your heart's core values, then this episode is for you, sister. Heather is a wife, mom, life coach, speaker, writer, and she might just blow your mind with this simple and minimalist approach to pursuing those passions in the middle of motherhood and her daily life. Enjoy episode #85 and if it speaks to you, will you pass it on to a friend?

Rest is one of those things that's real easy to talk about and a lot harder to actually DO, amirite? As moms we're always fussing over our kids, reminding them they need rest, and making sure they get it, so often forgetting how badly we need it ourselves. Part of being a grownup is learning how to listen to the heartbeat of our own life and remembering to slow down when the pulse quickens to that all-too-familiar frenetic pace. Today we're sharing practical ways of HOW you can implement rest we're and WHY we believe that Rest: Needs a full stop Must be planned for ahead of time (otherwise it's often just damage control or too little/too late) Is not a reward for "finishing" Is 100% necessary to a healthy inner life Behind the scenes we've been talking about and ruminating over this idea of Rest ALL year- what it truly means, how we can plan for it, and many of the surprising benefits of it that we're discovering in our personal lives. We are SO excited to start this conversation with you because we've got some big ideas about it as well as some big news to share (hint hint: we're gonna put our money where our mouth is).

Y'ALL! WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOU! Today on the podcast we got to sit down with Karen Stott, and the conversation was so rich and full of sage advice from a work at home mom who's learned quite a few things along her entrepreneurial career. We chatted with Karen all about: Balancing being a mom and a business owner Filtering your Yeses through the question of: "Can I do this with both excellence and joy?" How to be the boss of your own schedule Including your kids in what you're doing How to discern what you actually want in regards to family/work life balance The importance of regularly carving out seasons of REST You don't want to miss this one! LINKS WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: An Intentional Life Book Abound Conference focused on Rest: aboundinall.com CONNECT WITH KAREN: Instagram: @karenstott Website: www.karenstott.com

Dude, MAY IS CRAZY, but guys! We made it! Maycember is over, which means it's our favorite time of the month! (Not our lady-time because that is obviously NOT our favorite time...) In these end of month episodes we are letting our hair down, pulling back the curtain, and getting super honest about how it's going as we pursue our creative passions in the middle of motherhood and our right-now lives. While we fully believe it's possible to hold the two together, we don't pretend for a second that it's always easy or simple. We're keepin' it real for y'all. Today we're dishing all about what's working and what's NOT working in our personal lives and in this episode we just about covered it all! From dog hair in the carpet to hard conversations with our spouse to screen time and beyond. We're sharing practical ways to: Overcome self doubt Uncover your "thing" Make a To-Don't List (you need this in your life!) Take the pressure off in seasons of overwhelm

YOU GUYS. We are not even exaggerating when we say that this was one of our favorite episodes EVER! We sat down to chat with one of our favorite Brits (and one of the most charming people on the planet) Elli Johnson of @thehippochronicles. Elli's candor, wit, humor, and insight led to a really helpful and important conversation around living with depression and/or anxiety. Note we said, "living WITH", not solving, fixing, or healing. We talked with her all about tools to live well, how to both name and change the narrative around mental health, and how to coexist with anxiety and depression- as a mom, a creative, and a wholehearted human person. THIS. ONE. WAS. FIRE. But imagine if Fire was like, funny and also calming in a way. That's what this convo was. Freeing. Insightful. Helpful. Funny. Honest. If you're a woman who's dealt with anxiety or depression, or if you are close to someone who does, you don't want to miss this one! Elli Johnson is passionate about her family, her garden and brewing the perfect cup of tea. She lives in Liverpool (the centre of the creative universe) with her husband and three kids. You will find her wearing the dungarees she thought she left behind in the 90s, talking to her plants or dancing in her kitchen.  Elli was diagnosed with post natal depression and generalized anxiety disorder at 30, and has spent the last decade re-learning how to live. She writes about what she has been learning on her blog www.thehipppochronicles.com. She has just published her first book, How Not To Be Good, The A to Z of Anxiety: a memoir in just over 26 parts which is also available through her blog. Enjoy episode #81 and will you do us a favor? If you find it helpful, will you pass it on to someone? Love you, mean it. Xo, Amber & Alana

Ever wonder what the term “self-care” actually even means? It seems like such a buzzword lately, which is exactly why we want to unpack this concept together. If you’re a mom, a creative entrepreneur, heck, if you’re a HUMAN PERSON, learning how to care for your *whole* self in healthy ways isn’t just beneficial, it’s crucial. One of our favorite filters for self care is the question our dear friend, Melissa Blair once asked us, “How’s your head? How’s your heart? How’s your butt?” I mean… if that doesn’t cover it, we don’t know what does! Of all the episodes we share, please do not miss this one, sister. It’s so, so important and you may be pleasantly surprised by our refreshing definition of self care, because we strongly believe that it shouldn’t feel like one more oppressive thing to “get right” or add to your to-do list. In this conversation we share simple and practical ways to: know yourself & explore your needs (what is life giving VS life draining for you) speak up & communicate your needs push back on guilt set boundaries check in with yourself (how do you FEEL? is your body telling you something?) differentiate between self-comfort VS self-care put yourself back ON the list (because let’s all be real here- we can’t always put ourselves at the top!) CONNECT WITH AMBER & ALANA: THE MOM WANTS MORE SHOW NOTES THE MOM WANTS MORE INSTAGRAM THE MOM WANTS MORE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY