The Happiness Mama Podcast with Heather Ash

PMS can be rough. Listen as Heather shares two key steps to feel better when PMS has you down, and learn 20 self-care strategies so you can take good care of yourself in times of stress or anxiety. Heather also shares how these challenging times can also be a gift to us, yielding unexpected benefits. You may have PMS, but there are things you can do to feel better. Highlights:   Two key steps to managing PMS How to accept your feelings rather than pushing them down 20 strategies for ramping up your self-care Surprising benefits of PMS Happy birthday, Happiness Mama Podcast #2PodsaDay campaign: listen more, listen indie.   Links and Resources Mentioned In This Episode: 2 Pods A Day Campaign Oracle cards I love Kindle Unlimited Shade of Vampire Outlander Essential oils Progessence Plus Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher  

Summer is coming to an end, and it's time for the kids to go back to school. Back-to-school time is a great time for intentional change and ritual in our own personal lives as women. Highlights: 8 Ways to Celebrate Back-to-School for Moms! Happiness Mama is an official nominee for the 2017 Podcast Awards! Listen all the way to the end to hear a message from a very special guest! Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Shownotes: happinessmama.com/22 Ningxia Red TUL Pens Mom Retreat Ebates Back to School Clothes for Mom Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Thank you so much for listening!  And remember, You Are Loved! 

Welcome to Season 3 of the Happiness Mama Podcast with Heather Ash! Season 3 is all about Self-Love... Loving ourselves, body, mind, and spirit. This episode is about loving our body. I talk about how I lost 17 pounds in less than 7 months and got stronger and fitter in an easy, very doable, fun way! Listen and learn tips and strategies for creating your own new healthy habits. Enjoy! Highlights: My weight journey Pregnancy weight gain Postpartum priorities How I'd rather not be motivated to lose weight and get in shape The foundational mindset for losing weight and getting in shape (or making any other changes in your life) The biggest factor in my weight loss success The second biggest factor in my weight loss success Dealing with imperfection Imperfect dieting and exercise The slow carb diet by Tim Ferriss The key to losing weight Real weight training results Surprising results after climbing a mountain How to make your habits stick Surprising nerd results: What the charts revealed... Creating a self-love mindset: Body Love Affirmations Show your love by becoming a Happiness Mama Patron! And get mentioned on the show… Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode: The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss Body Love Affirmations: Free access at happinessmama.com/affirmations Shownotes: www.happinessmama.com/21 Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you love yourself more, body, mind, and spirit. Love to you!  

Heather shares how a stressful time in her life prompted her to start silent meditation. She shares what it was like meditating in her earlier days and how the experience of meditation has changed and stayed the same.  She shares some of the benefits of meditation, as well as simple instructions for how to get started with meditation.  Highlights: How a panic attack prompted me to start meditating What it was like then, and what it is like now Gratitude as a benefit of meditation Benefits of meditation, including managing stress and anxiety How to start a meditation practice Shamatha and Vipassana meditation: What are they? A simple guide to how to meditate Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Shownotes: www.happinessmama.com/20 Blog Post: What I'm Doing For More Peace and Energy 10% Happier by Dan Harris Quiet Mind, edited by Susan Piver   Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Highlights:   How I got into bullet journaling #bujo Thank you, Elsie! Before bullet journal #bebujo What makes a bullet journal different Why the index is such a game changer How The Happiness Project inspired my habit tracker chart Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues chart My search for a doable charting system My advice for how to use your bullet journal How I use my bullet journal The Five Minute Journal questions Keeping it free… How I do my Habit Tracker Chart My new habit My new month routine What's so great about the actual journals Heather says Leuchtturm about 6 times…http://amzn.to/2m010rZ Jar of Awesome It's your thing. Do what you wanna do. Daddy! The bullet journal is like the pocket journal. What you track, grows. Benefits of bullet journaling How to get started bullet journaling How I draw my habit chart Podfest My listener Laura and I met on a plane! Shout outs to fellow podcasters: Steph and Val at Wine to Five, Sarah at Simple Change, Honor Knight of the Soiled Restroom Cinema Podcast, Copper Yuenger of Life Under the Laundry Pile, Amanda Doughty of The Great Beer Adventure, Brian Musial of Health Geeks Radio, Ryan Gray of the PreMed Years, Jeff Sanders of the 5 AM Miracle, Jessica Kupferman and Elsie Escobar of She Podcasts, Deb Williams of Financial Karma, Katie Krimitsos of Biz Women Rock, Jessica Rhodes of Interview Connections, and Tina Dietz of The Start Something Show   Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:   Shownotes: www.happinessmama.com/19 The journal I use is here www.bulletjournal.com The Productive Woman Podcast The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Ovusoft Oracle cards Tim Ferriss's podcast: http://tim.blog/podcast/ The Five Minute Journal   Quotes   “Daily journaling helps me stay sane and happy.”   “You do deserve happiness, and you can live the life you desire, in total alignment with your values, dreams, and goals.”   Spread the Word:   If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you!   How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast:   Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher   Stay in Touch:   Never miss an episode! Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Highlights:   Struggling with waiting, wanting, and not knowing We can help ourselves feel better by using various strategies, such as... Journaling Meditation Oracle cards Friends Affirmations Acceptance Inspiration Clearing Clutter Faith Gratitude Music And More!   Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:   Shownotes: happinessmama.com/18 Tim Ferriss's podcast: http://tim.blog/podcast/ Tim's new book, Tools of Titans Daring Greatly by Brene Brown The Activated SHEro Oracle Cards Earth Magic oracle cards Gateway Oracle Cards by Denise Linn Native Spirit Oracle Cards by Denise Linn The Tim Ferriss Show, Episode with Naval Ramikant Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ramikant Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron Quote Mentioned In This Episode: “The moment that you feel, just possibly, you are walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind, and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself...That is the moment, you might be starting to get it right.” ~Neil Gaiman Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, tell a friend about it. Thank you! Listen Make sure you get all the episodes by subscribing via I-Tunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcatcher. (Mine is Podcast Addict!) Subscribe Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Click here to listen on Google Play Music Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! Or, simply tell a friend! xo Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Sign up for the Happiness Mama Newsletter here: www.happinessmama.com/selfcare and get the simple and effective Self-Care Workbook. It's free!

Highlights:   We all need recovery periods. What is the Pareto Principle? How to use the 80/20 principle to analyze your year Heather shares the actions that led to most of her good feelings in 2016. Apply what you learn to make this year even better.   Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode:   Shownotes: www.happinessmama.com/17 Tim Ferriss's podcast: http://tim.blog/podcast/ Tim's new book, Tools of Titans   Spread the Word:   If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you!   How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast:   Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher   Stay in Touch:   Never miss an episode! Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Highlights: The holidays can be hard. 3 common mindset myths 5 simple ways to change our minds to focus on truth, for less stress and more joy. Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Sign up for the Happiness Mama Newsletter here: www.happinessmama.com/selfcare and get the simple and effective Self-Care Workbook. It's free! Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Self-Care habits are vitally important, but they can often fall by the wayside for busy mompreneurs. In episode 15, Heather Ash explains 6 simple ways to create healthy habits of self-care, with practical strategies to help you get the self-care you need. Also download the free self-care workbook at happinessmama.com/selfcare to help you review the strategies and plan your changes so you can feel and do your very best and live into your purpose every day, in every area of your life. Highlights The six simple strategies to help you create new habits of self-care Why self-care habits can be easier to create than other habits Which self-care habit is most important Why self-care is necessary for busy mompreneurs How to get the support you need Links Download the free self-care workbook, which includes more information about these six strategies and more, at www.happinessmama.com/selfcare You can also read the shownotes on the blog at happinessmama.com/15. Support Are you ready to take action and get the support you need? Hire me as your coach to reach your goals more quickly and with greater joy and ease. Schedule your discovery call now by clicking this link. You can also reach me by email at heather at happinessmama dot com. If my coaching calendar is full, I'll be happy to add you to my waiting list.  Free Audio Book This episode is sponsored by Audible! Get your free audiobook by visiting this link: www.audibletrial.com/HappinessMama

In this special solo episode, host Heather Ash talks about essential self-care, why we need self-care, and how to get the self-care we need, so that we can thrive. She also talks about what it's like to be an introvert and a mom, and balancing needs for connection and quiet while being a busy mama. Finally she shares two great books for getting started with silent meditation. Highlights The benefits of getting the self-care we need What is self-care The challenges moms face in getting the self-care we need Self-care check in… How is your self-care? Priorities Benefits of meditation and mindfulness Being an introverted mom Getting the connection I need, even as a stay-at-home mom How to strengthen your self-care practice Good books about meditation How to get a free audiobook Books and Links Quiet Mind: A Beginner's Guide to Meditation, edited by Susan Piver Real Happiness, by Sharon Salzberg Shownotes can be found at happinessmama.com/14 Read the blog post this episode is based on here. Get Your Free Audio Book! www.audibletrial.com/HappinessMama Essential Oils! Happiness Mama is now offering essential oils to support you in your wellness and happiness journey. You can learn more and get started with essential oils here: abreathofhappiness.com Subscribe and Spread the Word! Make sure you get all the episodes by subscribing via I-Tunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcatcher. (Mine is Podcast Addict!) And you can help me and our mindful mama sisters out by leaving a review on iTunes or Stitcher. More reviews will help me get the podcast to more ears. How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Click here to listen on Google Play Music Stay in Touch: Make sure you're getting the Newsletter! Sign up below for the Happiness Mama Newsletter and get a free guided meditation to relax and release tension and stress. Also if you want to join a wonderful community of like-minded women, come on over to the Happiness Mama Community. It's a free, kind, and supportive community of women consciously creating our happiest lives and encouraging each other along the way. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you live into your truest values. You deserve happiness!

Highlights Blogging after breakup A supportive husband Writing a book in a year with a new baby What nobody talks about Her dream for all women The Confidence Revolution Awesome videos Introvert or extrovert? Myers-Briggs personality assessment Awkward conversations with blog readers Who we were in school Learning to make herself proud first Self-help books Rescripting our thoughts Her experience with meditation Wrangling snakes PSA for men: What NOT to tell a woman The lie of Jerry Maguire Catia's three favorite forms of self-care Books Daring Greatly The Gifts of Imperfection Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes “That's my dream for everybody, that they have their heart full.” “Once you've walked through the fire, nobody can take that away from you.” “It's okay to feel all the feelings.” “We complete ourselves, and if we're not the one for ourselves , then we can never be the one for anybody else.” “What kind of love do you believe you deserve?” (All of the previous quotes are those of Catia Holm.) "When women move forward, the world moves with them." ~African proverb Links www.catiaholm.com www.audibletrial.com/happinessmama www.happinessmama.com/survey2 www.happinessmama.com/13

My guest for episode 12 of the Happiness Mama Podcast is Casey O'Roarty of JoyfulCourage.com. Casey is a mama, blogger, podcaster, parent educator, and coach. I love the tagline of Joyful Courage, which is “raising our children while growing ourselves.” Before our conversation, I knew we had a lot in common, but wow! We are both former school teachers, both have done positive discipline training, both started blogging and then podcasting, both do coaching, both love mindfulness and personal growth, and we also both love the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon! Wow! Talk about “sisters from another mister!” (Ha ha! I learned that one from Casey.) I loved hearing about her journey from being a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in the mountains (really!) to becoming a positive discipline parent educator, and then starting and growing her online business while also growing her family. We talked about so many topics related to being a mindful mama while also filling our own cups and growing ourselves as people, and how the two are so closely related. How can we be the parents we really want to be? Why do we need to nurture ourselves? How can we deal effectively (without jumping on the “crazy train”) when our children manage to push all our buttons? And how can we stay tuned in to our values and make time for things like self-care and meditation? Listen, and find out! You'll also learn how getting a tattoo can make you a better parent, and learn about the man who encourages her every time she takes a drive. I had so much fun talking with Casey O'Roarty, and I think you'll love this one, too! Highlights: Teaching in a one-room schoolhouse What it was like teaching while wearing and caring for her newborn How she created a custom position for herself that allowed her to nurse her baby through circle time How and why she started her online business Positive Discipline live training How positive discipline and her work have affected her life at home Casey's philosophy on why her children are hers The mindset that helps us be the best parents and the best people we can be How child behavior is like icebergs and weeds #JoyfulCourage10, Casey's free program to support parents in being the parents they want to be, and the unconventional way she's delivering it How body awareness and small physical changes can shift things in big ways Making sure we have our toolbox in hand when we need it Creating reminders of our truest values What self-care is (and isn't) A simple way to do your own women's circle Quotes: “The hardest parts of being a parent are the richest opportunities for personal growth” ~Casey O'Roarty “We design our lives. And yes, there are instincts. Yes there are things that show up, but they don't have to. If it's not serving us, it doesn't need to define us, and we can choose something different.” ~Casey O'Roarty Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode: Joyful Courage, which is Casey's website, and the link to her #JoyfulCourage10 free program, which is www.joyfulcourage.com/jc10 Positive Discipline Positive Discipline Parent Educator Training Soul Navigation Cards Tattoos from Danielle LaPorte Essential oils from Happiness Mama Essential Oils! Happiness Mama is now offering essential oils to support you in your wellness and happiness journey. You can learn more and get started with essential oils here: abreathofhappiness.com Subscribe and Spread the Word! Make sure you get all the episodes by subscribing via I-Tunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcatcher. (Mine is Podcast Addict!) And you can help me and our mindful mama sisters out by leaving a review on iTunes or Stitcher. More reviews will help me get the podcast to more ears. How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Click here to listen on Google Play Music Stay in Touch: Make sure you're getting the Newsletter! Sign up below for the Happiness Mama Newsletter and get a free guided meditation to relax and release tension and stress. Also if you want to join a wonderful community of like-minded women, come on over to the Happiness Mama Community. It's a free, kind, and supportive community of women consciously creating our happiest lives and encouraging each other along the way. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you live into your truest values. You deserve happiness!

Highlights: Heather and Kathy get sentimental about Daisy and Noni, the special cows in our lives Changing seasons and homes of Bliss Beyond Naptime Realities of working from home Kathy discusses the four pillars of mama bliss and how she developed her coaching philosophy The most important element of self-care Kathy's surprising and effective first assignment from her acupuncturist How all the four pillars of mama bliss are connected What makes us happiest The illegal activity she's getting excited about A simple definition of simplicity Why and how Kathy got into essential oils Mama bliss life and business coaching How to be your family's good witch Using essential oils wisely Practical tips for using essential oils for the family Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode: Kathy's website, Bliss Beyond Naptime: www.blissbeyondnaptime.com Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley  http://amzn.to/29hUdls Quick Reference Guide for Using Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley http://amzn.to/29lCvhj Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne http://amzn.to/29hUFQq Free Coaching From Happiness Mama: Special Offer through July 15! Email me! Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Click here to listen on Google Play Music Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Sign up for the Happiness Mama Newsletter and get a free guided meditation to relax and release tension and stress. Also if you want to join a wonderful community of like-minded women, come on over to the Community. It's a free, kind, and supportive community of women consciously creating our happiest lives and encouraging each other along the journey. Thank you so much for listening!

Carina Lyall empowers women through creating a compassionate space for them to be heard and gather in community through her storywork sessions and women's circles. Carina is such an honest, wise, fun, and down-to-earth woman, and I was so encouraged by our conversation. As women, we have the power to uplift one another and ourselves through providing that compassionate space, and that is my wish for all of us. Highlights: When becoming a mother isn't how we imagined it would be... Postpartum depression and difficult feelings The healing power of story in her own life Becoming a mother of three girls Why she chose to do storywork rather than coaching Social media and the challenge of finding time for friends Honoring the everyday Women's circles Honoring our body's need for rest, even when others may not understand or approve Knowing ourselves intimately and holding space for ourselves when we feel emotional Getting to know our own cycles and passing our knowledge on to our daughters Quiet moments of self-care Quotes: “It's quite special I think to just allow someone to have a voice without going in there to fix them or going in to strategize how they're going to come out the other end, just giving a woman a breathing space to say this is how I felt, and this is what happened to me, and not making them feel wrong for having that experience.” ~Carina Lyall “It ain't no sin, to take off your skin and dance around in your bones.” ~Tom Waits Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode: Carina's beautiful website, Carinalyall.com Siblings Without Rivalry How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk I did some searching, and I found a couple of articles about friendship and oxytocin, here and here. A Breath of Happiness, essential oils from Happiness Mama Win a Free Bottle of Essential Oil: Feeling lucky, mama? Visit happinessmama.com/oils and fill out my short survey for a chance to win a bottle of Young Living essential oil. Curious about how you can use essential oils for self-care and wellness? Get in touch at heather@happinessmama.com. Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Click here to listen on Google Play Music Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Sign up for the Happiness Mama Newsletter and get a free guided meditation to relax and release tension and stress. Also if you want to join a wonderful community of like-minded women, come on over to the Community. It's a free, kind, and supportive community of women consciously creating our happiest lives and encouraging each other along the journey. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Highlights: Five tips for creating a morning routine Two things to avoid first thing in the morning How I overcame my resistance to starting to meditate in the morning The two journals I use, and the type of journaling I like to do in the morning these days The importance of letting go of perfection What to do if you have a baby or young children and aren't sleeping well Letting go of perfection Ways to get support How you can work with me in May Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode: Rebecca Kane's Website, Your SHEro's Journey The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron 2016 Diary from Leonie Dawson Interested in The Clarity Sessions? http://www.happinessmama.com/clarity Work with Me! Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Click here to get the Happiness Mama Newsletter and your FREE gift, The Self Care Workbook, with a self-care assessment and over 50 specific ways to add more self care to your life, so you can feel AMAZING. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Rebecca Kane is the owner of Your Shero's Journey, and I'm thrilled to have her on the podcast. Rebecca is a travel guide for women on their own shero's journey. She's a stay-at-home mum of an almost-two-year-old, and is extremely knowledgeable about harnessing our superpowers as women, as well as kinesiology and raw food and letting go of any limiting beliefs that are holding us back. We talked about so much good stuff: honoring our energy cycles, letting go of limiting beliefs, how she gets things done, and even the healthy juices and smoothies she's loving these days. Highlights of Our Conversation: How motherhood has changed her life Her background in kinesiology and raw food, and her journey to where she is today Tapping into our wisdom and intuition Releasing our limiting beliefs The elastic band Energy healing, and how it's like magic! What emotions really are… Honoring our energy cycles Using our superpowers! Practical applications of knowing our own cycles and the moon cycles Do you know this? (Most women don't.) The benefits of taking good care of ourselves How she finds time to create and run her business as a stay-at-home mum Her own self-care essentials The energy-clearing meditations she uses herself and offers for FREE on her website Her favorite juices and smoothies Quotes from This Episode by Rebecca Kane: “It's not so much about changing, it's about releasing the limiting beliefs that we have, so that we can really connect with ourselves and that real sense of who we are, and when we have that, we have a huge sense of clarity, and it makes everything else in life and all the choices in life so much easier.” “Each month we get the chance to start again.” “Emotions are just energy in motion.” Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode: Rebecca's website: Your Shero's Journey The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron The Life Planner Giveaway on Happiness Mama: http://www.happinessmama.com/giveaway Rebecca's Sweet Lunacy free meditations and energy charts Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews can lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Click here to get the Happiness Mama Newsletter and your FREE gift, The Self-Care Workbook, with a self-care assessment and over 50 specific ways to add more self-care to your life, so you can feel AMAZING. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Highlights of Our Conversation: Why and how Camaron wrote and published her book with two very young children The “inherent loneliness” of motherhood Enjoy the phase you're in… The need to be in the moment as a mother Motherhood is a huge learning experience Our legacy of love The importance of reflection and connection Tuning in to “natural sound”: anchors that help us get back to the present Moving towards love Striving: Good vs Bad Accepting our past The importance of little victories for our children How we judge ourselves Why self-care matters High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), walking, and having fun The importance of play The power of small steps in creating change Some advice for new mamas Quotes from This Episode by Camaron Brooks: “My identity as a person really kind of exploded when I became a mom, and I didn't know who I was and I think that's because I had a false sense of identity based on career and a lot of other things. But motherhood kind of cracked that all open. We all go through that.” “Connection is why we're here.” “Everything in life is a practice, there's no finish line…” “How am I treating my body? How am I taking care of myself?” “I see aging as a beautiful process…” Other Quotes from This Episode:   “What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” - Mother Teresa "A miracle is a shift in perception from fear to love—from a belief in what is not real, to faith in that which is. That shift in perception changes everything." -Marianne Williamson Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode: Reporting Live From Studio B, Camaron's book about becoming a stay-at-home mom after a career as a reporter Camaron's Blog: reportinglivefromstudiob.com The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 10 MIndful Minutes by Goldie Hawn, Wendy Holden The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin The Book of Awakening, by Mark Nepo The HMP episode with Kris Dersch: www.happinessmama.com/05 Return to Love by Marianne Williamson 10% Happier by Dan Harris Small Change by Susan and Larry Terkel The Happiness Mama Community on Facebook www.happinessmamacommunity.com Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews can lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Click here to get the Happiness Mama Newsletter and your FREE gift, The Self-Care Workbook, so you can feel AMAZING, every single day. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Happiness Mama Podcast!  This season, we're focusing on Self-Care. Enjoy! Highlights of Our Conversation: Journalling How she got into mixed media art Advice for moms who are new to mixed media art How she and her husband got fit, lost weight, and gained energy, in just 12 weeks How Jenn prepares healthy meals AND saves time Her secret to getting family members to voluntary help out in the kitchen Her Word of the Year and what it means to her Her special free offer of an Andy Warhol-inspired custom portrait (!) Quotes from This Episode by Jenn Sher: “I want to show people that if you take steps, you can do it.” “Take yourself out of the whole chaos or just the regular routine, and do something that [makes] you feel like a child.” Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode: Jenn's Mixed Media Art - The Blog www.thesherhouse.com Jenn's free offer:  www.thesherhouse.com/freebies www.sixpackshortcuts.com Jubilee Rice If I'm So Smart, Why Can't I Lose Weight? by Brooke Castillo Jenn's Facebook Page, Jenn's Mixed Media Art Journey Connect with Jenn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenn_sher/ The Happiness Mama Community on Facebook The (free) Self-Care Workbook www.happinessmama.com/selfcare Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews can lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Need help with i-Tunes? Go here. Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Click here to get the Happiness Mama Newsletter and your free gift, The Self-Care Workbook, with a self-care assessment and over 50 specific ways to add more self-care to your life, so you can feel AMAZING, every day. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it's essential.

Highlights of Our Conversation: Favorite children's books and authors How she got into writing when her son was a year old What exactly is flash fiction? Her inspiration to start her podcast Her experiences with NaNoWriMo The great thing about being the editor of your own podcast Her Christmas serial in December, a fanciful trip to the North Pole at Christmas How and why she podcasts while having a toddler Keeps her energy up for the things she has to do “Writing time” for our kids Starting out part time… “You kind of wake up one morning and realize you're running out of somedays, and if you're gonna do this, you might as well start now.” Ira Glass on creativity… Doing the work to get better Permission to suck, practicing for the time we won't suck What a Native American basket weaver told her that she's never forgotten The value of “productive struggle” and why it's good to make mistakes How are culture is hard on moms Starting a blog or podcast when others don't totally get it “You can't get discouraged by the numbers… If it's not worth it to you to do for you, then it's not gonna be worth it because you're not going to get a huge audience and you're not gonna get all that right away.” What drew her to podcasts and why she became even more into them when her baby was little How we listen to podcasts The surprising criteria she uses to judge other podcasts Too many podcasts, too little time… Her main goal in podcasting New show idea! Women Belong in Baseball Three great pieces of advice for other moms: find your village, trust your instincts, & find moments of joy and creativity in the mundane The hardest part of the SAHM gig Embracing the “verb” of homemaking Quotes from This Episode by Kris Baker Dersch: “You will fit in what you make a priority.” “Stop listening to the negative.” “There's something to be said for just doing it.” “It's nice to not know everything; it's nice to learn by doing.” “Just do a paragraph. Just do a page.” “Some days, some months, it just doesn't happen.” Links and Books Mentioned In This Episode: No Extra Words, Kris's Website: www.noextrawords.wordpress.com Connect with Kris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/noextrawords Women Belong in Baseball Facebook Group Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Fat Fitness Girl with Katrina M. Thom She Podcasts with Elsie Escobar and Jessica Kupferman Brain Burps about Books with Katie Davis The Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell Marketing for Hippies with Tad Hargrave Ira Glass on Creativity www.happinessmama.com/mindful-holiday Free Guide to a Mindful Holiday Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews can lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Stay in Touch: Never miss an episode! Click here to get the Happiness Mama Newsletter and your free gift. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and helps you go from striving to thriving!

Highlights of Our Conversation How Oana got into photography Her background in science (She has a PhD in physics!) and web development in the corporate world Creativity in software development and working with an international team Creativity is problem solving, letting go, releasing inhibitions, and expressing your inner self Crafting your own life, through the choices you make every day. Tons of tips for how to take good photographs How to have a good photo shoot when working with a professional photographer, and what not to do Advice for you when you're taking pictures of your own kids, especially for getting good shots when you're trying to do “special pictures” such as a family photograph… What NOT to do in your family photo shoots Murphy's Law when it comes to group photos Oana's hierarchy of what's important for how to get the best photograph: expression, light, and background. Why you can find Oana in back alleys taking photos instead of out by the pretty fountain… Her charities What creativity means to her Letting go and relaxing and really listening to our children and being responsive to them. Why she got into homeschooling and what that looks like for her. The benefits of having her own photography business and how she has kept it as something that brings her joy How homeschooling allows her to be creative as well How she encourages her children to be creative  Links and Books Mentioned: www.shutterview.com www.facebook.com/oanahogrefe www.facebook.com/OanaHogrefePhotography www.happinessmama.com/mindful-holiday (Free Guide to a Mindful Holiday!) www.happinessmama.com/my-mindful-holiday (Coaching Program) Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews can lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Stay in Touch Never miss an episode! Click here to get the Happiness Mama Newsletter and your free gift. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and helps you go from striving to thriving!  

Highlights of Our Conversation What is creativity? So many ways we can be creative Why, where, and when she dances and how she got started in dance A favorite song to get everyone moving in the morning before school A key to happiness is accepting that we're not happy all the time. The importance of accepting all feelings and working through emotions through movement StoryDance for children Sad dances and sad music to channel emotions Dancing is like journaling through movement. Benefits of dance How to get started with dance as a personal practice Chakradance: what it is, and what a typical class is like “Meditation through movement” How she started writing Dream journals Writing practice.. a little or a lot? How to nurture and encourage the innate creativity of children The one word that can encourage creativity and help make us all happier Advice for those who want to get published Ways to be happier Links and Books Mentioned www.SoulWakening.com Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up by Patricia Ryan Madson  Sledgehammer Writing Contest The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron  www.750Words.com www.happinessmama.com/03 Join the Community Do you want support and connection as you create a beautiful, happy life for you and your family? Join us in the Happiness Mama Community!  Spread the Word If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, please share the blog post on Facebook, Twitter, email, or your favorite platform. To help make the podcast more visible, visit iTunes and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! Ways to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Stay in Touch Get more inspiration and encouragement in your inbox! Click here to get the Happiness Mama Newsletter, so you never miss a podcast episode or blog post. Over to You Do you dance or listen to music as a way to move through difficult emotions? How are writing and dance a part of your life? How do you encourage and support your children in their creativity? Do you have a system for keeping track of all of your ideas? Join the discussion in the community, or leave a comment on the blog. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and helps you go from striving, to thriving!

Elizabeth Helen Spencer is a mama, freelance writer, and English professor. We had a wonderful conversation about writing, teaching, and finding time for creativity as a busy mom. Listen as we talk about how Elizabeth got into creative writing, what she was doing in a skeevy dive in Philadelphia and who she met there, her experience living abroad in Prague, and the family fantasies we both have in common. Elizabeth shares some great ideas about how to make creativity a part of your life when you have a job (or two!) and a young child to take care of, and even if you're not an early bird. We also talked about how to deal with fear when it arises, and what NOT to do to be happier. Highlights of Our Conversation How to find time for writing Dealing with transitions, such as going back to work or your child starting preschool Being creative in the small things How Elizabeth got into writing fiction The surprising way she found her writing group and whom she met there Life as an American woman in Prague Writing by hand versus writing on the computer Our family fantasies How to overcome fears and challenging situations, such as a new school year What writing and sports have in common What's so great about coaching Links and Books Mentioned www.Elizabeth-Helen-Spencer.com How Toddlers Thrive: What Parents Can Do Today for Children Ages 2-5 to Plant the Seeds of Lifelong Success by Tovah P. Klein www.happinessmama.com Spread the Word If you enjoyed the podcast, visit iTunes and kindly leave me a rating, review, and/or subscribe. Thank you! Ways to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Stay in Touch Get more inspiration and encouragement in your inbox! Click here to get the Happiness Mama Newsletter and your free gift. Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and helps you go from striving, to thriving!

If you're a mom who has thought about doing mixed media art or art journaling, today's episode is sure to inspire and encourage you. I spoke with Iris Fritschi-Cussens, mixed media artist and mom of two who lives in London with her family. We had a wonderful conversation about how she got started with mixed media, what it means to her, and how she finds time for art while also being the mother of two young boys and working with her husband in their event filming business. Highlights of Our Conversation How Iris finds joy in her art What art has taught her about life How we art can help us deal with the tough stuff The meaning of creativity Finding time for creativity How we can help our children to be creative What Iris does when she makes a “mistake” Why she prefers to paint rather than crochet How to get started with art journaling Why America is a great place to do art How we can all be a little bit happier Iris's courses, including her awesome free Inspiration Guide Links and Books Mentioned www.iris-impressions.com NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson (Amazon affiliate link) www.happinessmama.com Spread the Word If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! If you need any help with that, visit www.happinessmama.com/itunes-review. Thank you for listening!