Real House Blend

In this brief episode of Real House Blend, Mary shares a podcast update.With a busy life juggling a big blended family of six kids, running a business, and managing all the chaos, she's decided to take a short break from the podcast. The focus for now is on getting the kids back to school, navigating fall sports, and being more present in day-to-day life. She reflects on how much she enjoys the podcast and hints at a potential return with a new structure, possibly transitioning to seasonal episodes. It's not goodbye—just a pause to re-center and plan for the future. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more updates!INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary discusses the struggle of finding the right content for this podcast and blending the time commitment in her busy daily life. But through it all Mary emphasizes the importance of sharing stories and building a community. From a family perspective Mary shares the excitement of countdown to the start of school again as well as the recent occurrence of supporting her young twins post surgical procedure. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

This episode of Real House Blend discusses the process of moving in together as a blended family. Mary shares her personal experience and the decisions they made to ensure a smooth transition.  She also discuss the factors they considered when choosing a house to live in and the challenges they faced along the way. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of making thoughtful decisions and prioritizing the well-being of the childrenINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

Its the 4th of July! Mary reflects on the 4th of July as a holiday and shares personal thoughts on birthdays, goal-setting, and enjoying life. She discusses the value of independence and the importance of asking for help. It also happens to be Mary's favorite holiday of the year with the low-stress nature of the holiday and the joy of bringing family and friends together. The episode is focuses on celebrating, reflecting, and looking forward to the second half of the year.INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

Its summertime and that brings some life changes in this blended family. In this episode, Mary talks about the first couple of weeks of summer as the mom & step mom to her six kids.  She discusses going camping with the kids, their experience at an awesome new summer camp, managing SO many appointments, even for this big family. And there is always the element of blended family challenges that forced us to celebrate Father's Day early and the challenges of the week when the kids are with their other parents. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

 The episode discusses travel tips for parents with kids, sharing personal experiences and practical advice for making travel with kids more manageable and enjoyable. Mary shares anecdotes and insights from a recent family vacation, highlighting the challenges and joys of traveling with a large family.The Top Travel Tips: Dollar store giftsPacked lunchesShifting the rulesINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

This episode of Real House Blend explores the daily life and scheduling challenges of a blended family. Mary walks through a typical week, discussing how the children's schedules are managed and how extracurricular activities are coordinated. The episode also touches on the unique dynamics of co-parenting and the balance between work and family responsibilities. This week's personal anecdote about the heavy burden of managing a blended family and the joy of a few kind words from one of the children. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary continues to discusses the chaos and stress of her busy life. The focus of the episode is sharing  household hacks for running a big blended family, including managing a small suburban house, implementing morning lists, utilizing piles for organization, and navigating the evening routine. The bigger hack is in  focusing on partnership and teamwork between Mary & Doug in managing the household. The episode concludes with a personal anecdote about a trip to the emergency room with one of their children. Takeaways: Routine is important in managing chaos and stressHousehold hacks can help in running a big blended familyPartnership and teamwork are crucial in managing a householdUnexpected events can test the strength of a family INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode of Real House Blend, Mary discusses her experience as both a biological mom to four children and a stepmom to two. She explores the unique challenges and struggles of playing both roles and the complexities of navigating a blended family. Mary discusses the importance of treating all the children equally and managing co-parenting relationships. She also acknowledges the different experiences the children have as they transfer between homes. The episodes ends with a new feature:  a lighthearted anecdote about the host's daily life as a mom of six.INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary reflects on reaching a milestone of 12 weeks of podcasting and the ups and downs she has experienced. She discusses the importance of taking action and remaining consistent in pursuing her dreams. Mary also shares a raw update on dealing with a bully in business and the emotional impact it had on her. She emphasizes the need to be raw and vulnerable, and the importance of reacting positively to difficult situations. The episode ends with gratitude for the support received and anticipation for what the future holds.INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary has to ad-lib the episode due to a rushed schedule! She shares her experiences of dealing with chaos and balancing multiple projects. She emphasizes the importance of being genuine and having a voice for those who are busy and trying to manage through life.  Mary also discusses the challenges of being a working mom and highlights the need for a community for blended families. Despite the chaos, she remains grateful and looks forward to a reset and recharge.INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary shares her experience of spring break with her blended family. She discusses the options for spring break activities and the challenges of coordinating schedules. Through all the chaos so much fun was had celebrating birthdays and getting to see somewhere outside of our home state. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary discusses her experiences with travel as a form of self-care. She specifically focuses on 'two's travel,' which refers to traveling with her partner on days when they don't have their children. Mary explains the frequency of kid-free days in their blended family and how they make the most of these opportunities to create lasting memories. She shares their preference for visiting friends and family in different locations, as well as their experiences exploring unknown places. The host also highlights the importance of TSA Pre-Check and discusses recent trips to New England and Phoenix.INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary discusses the challenges and strategies of managing finances in a blended family of eight. She focuses on the importance of open communication and being intentional about discussing money. Mary & Doug  have different approaches to personal finance but work together to navigate their financial situation. They use multiple accounts to divide and allocate funds, and prioritize their expenses based on their family's needs.Through it all the focus is highlighting the importance of balancing time and money in raising their children.INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary shares her experience as a twin mom and the unique challenges and joys that come with raising twins. She discusses her journey from pregnancy to birth and the fears and risks involved. She explores the differences between raising twins and singletons and the constant juggling of developmental milestones. The episode concludes with her love and gratitude for her twin boys and their place in her blended family.INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend/EMAIL: RealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Mary explores the use of AI assistants to manage the chaos of her blended family. She tries three different AI assistants - Ohai, Motion, and Yohanna - and shares her experiences with each. Unfortunately, none of the assistants meet her expectations, and she goes back to using her usual methods of managing tasks. The host invites listeners to share their recommendations for AI tools or other tools that can help manage household chaos.Send us your recommendations atRealHouseBlend.Podcast@gmail.com  https://www.instagram.com/real.house.blend

In this episode, Mary explores the concept of self-care and challenges the idea of forcing it to be in it's own category of life. She shares her perspective as a mother of six and how she integrates self-care into her daily life. Mary discusses her dislike for the gym and her preference for finding movement through activities. She also reflects on her experience with gym workouts for specific goals and the importance of tracking progress. Mary shares her journey with the Apple Watch fitness streak and the shift in her perspective on self-care. She emphasizes the joy of being at the gym and setting an example for her children. Mary encourages listeners to try new activities for self-care and find community in the challenges of motherhood.

In this episode of Real House Blend, it is time to dive into the chaos of summer camp! Regardless of how many kids you have or what your parenting situation is there are challenges and frustrations of signing up for summer camps. There is pressure on parents to ensure kids have a fully enriching summer but putting all the pieces together isn't easy, in fact it is full of chaos! 

In this episode, Mary discusses her career path and how she manages to blend her work and life together. She shares her background in corporate retail and her decision to start her own consulting firm. Mary explains the role of merchandise planning and how it helps brands ensure they have the right amount of product at the right time. She also talks about the challenges of juggling work and six kids, emphasizing the importance of blending rather than balancing. Mary expresses her gratitude for the support she receives and invites listeners to follow her journey and book a meeting with her. Follow Mary's Founder journey with Boon LLC at the below links: Boon WebsiteInstagramLinkedInPinterestYouTubeTikTok

Meet Doug! Get first hand details on my partner Doug and his journey to our big blended family!In this episode, Doug shares his journey of getting back into the dating pool after the end of his previous marriage. He talks about the challenges of app dating and the experiences he had as a man in his 30s. Doug then recounts the day he connected with Mary on a dating app and their initial Facetime conversations. He shares his initial reaction to learning that Mary had four kids and how they eventually went on their first date. The episode concludes with Doug expressing his happiness and excitement for their blended family life.

Mary shares her unexpected journey of becoming a single mom of four and finding love again, resulting in a blended family of eight. She emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space for sharing stories and finding connection. Mary's story highlights the strength and resilience of single moms and the challenges they face. Despite the difficulties, Mary finds joy and humor in her chaotic life. The episode covers various aspects of her journey, from leaving her marriage to navigating single parenthood and venturing into the dating world. 

Do you wish you had someone who understands what it's like to be in a big blended family? Or what if you could feel at ease knowing that the chaos within your house, regardless of who is in your family, is normal? Listen, you're not alone. Join Mary Wiegand on the Real House Blend podcast as she manages the chaos of her blended family of 8 while building a sustainable business. With a humorous lens, listen in as Mary tackles topics from survival strategies for big families to navigating co-parenting relationships and everything in-between.Each episode you'll get space for reflection on your own parenting journey, tips on how to manage a blended family, and a chance to build community and connection through sharing stories. Hit that follow button for new episodes of Real House Blend to appear in your listening queue!