The Merry Messy Moms Show

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today is the LAST DAY of our 21-day challenge! If you stayed with me these last 3 weeks, give yourself a proper champagne toast! If you've implemented even some of these steps and habits, you've been able to make positive changes in this new year to improve your life and make life less stressful. So, what's next after this? How do we make sure we KEEP these habits we've learned and started so we don't slip backwards? Tune in to today's episode to hear how we go forward! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog See my entire meal planning routine here Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today we are going to take 15 minutes during our busy days to give back to ourselves, to fill our cups as moms! We are also going to add in another step towards this goal so that taking care of yourself becomes a habit just as much as doing the laundry does. In fact, this step is so important that maybe it should be first! Tune in to hear more about why taking time for yourself is so important! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog See my entire meal planning routine here Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today we are going to start one baby step towards meal planning. A few days ago, we started an afternoon routine where we start cooking dinner. So today, earlier in the afternoon, perhaps after eating lunch, we are going to start to make a plan for dinner. I also added one step that helps you get towards meal planning - tune in to today's episode to hear it! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog See my entire meal planning routine here Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today you're going to start the habit of swishing out the main toilets in your home - the ones that get used the most! I give you tips for how to make doing this habit easy as well. The result of this habit is my FAV because I'm picky about using only clean toilets! I can't stand to have dirty toilets in my house, so this habit keeps mine much cleaner now. Tune in to hear more! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Get my natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipe here Get my DIY natural Cleaning Wipes recipe here Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today we are going to be starting an afternoon routine. Having an afternoon routine for me has helped me to be able to get dinner ready in time and without stress, and be able to help my kids be ready for school the next day. My kids have their own after school routine, too! Learn more about how much an afternoon routine can help you in today's episode. Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog See my entire meal planning routine here in this blog post Read more about Carol Tuttle's Live Your Truth personality program here Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today we are going to get more supplies to get your home management binders (or Flylady Home Control Journals) in working order! You only need a few more things, and really most of them are optional! I have all of the supplies I recommend in the blog post that's linked to this podcast.  Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog See my entire home management binder and all of the sections in this blog post Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today we are going to start the very helpful habit of doing one load of laundry a day. That includes drying and folding - one load of laundry from start to finish! Now for me, as a mom of four, I have to do 2-3 loads a day, but all I make myself do each day is one load. I have found it to really help keep the laundry from piling up. Learn how it's helped AND how I've even made it something fun that I look forward to! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  My Nontoxic Laundry Routine as a Mom of Four Laundry Hacks for Busy Moms My Nontoxic Laundry Detergent Recipe My Nontoxic Laundry Softener and Booster Recipe The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today I'm sharing with you the Flylady's (Marla Cilley) 11 best tips for a tidy and clean home. You'll hear the ones I agree with and the ones I'd tweak, but in general, they are solid tips! Tune in to listen to all of them and be reminded of the habits and routines we've already started and are working on. Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today we are going to go to bed at a good time! No more staying up till 1 a.m. watching Netflix. Haha, I've done that SO many times and I always regret it the next day. It's not worth it! Our mental, emotional and physical health depend on getting good rest. In this episode, I share some tips to help you go to sleep earlier. Tune in to hear more! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. ToLINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today, if you haven't already, go and make your bed! Sorry to sound like your mama, but she was right! Making your bed helps you to have a smooth start to your day. It helps you to feel like you accomplished at least one thing. In addition to making your bed, you'll also do all of the habits we've learned about so far. Tune in to hear more! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today's mission is to start using a calendar! Whether that's on your phone, a big wall calendar for your kitchen or office, or a cute planner, it doesn't matter. Get something you will actually use and enjoy using! For me, using the calendar app on my phone works really well. To hear why it works best for me, make sure to tune in to today's episode! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today we will set our timers for 15 minutes and declutter a digital item. That could be your emails, photos, voice messages, apps on your phone - anything! Tune in to see which digital thing I'm decluttering and why! In this episode I also give you some motivation and inspirational quotes to help you keep going, since we are almost halfway through. Don't give up now! The magic happens when you stick to this for 21 days.  Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! So we've already started using a timer to clean a hot spot in 2 mins. and a room in 5 mins. Isn't it amazing how much you can get done in such a short time? Today you're going to set your time for 15 minutes and clean one area in your home. To decide which area to clean and why it's only for 15 minutes, make sure you tune in to today's episode! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today set your timer for just five minutes and clean up as much as you can in one room. You'll probably be amazed at how much you can clean up in that short amount of time! This helps us to realize that keeping our houses clean really doesn't take much time at all. I also talk about how you can use this system with your kids to help them make cleaning up their toys more fun! Tune in to hear more! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  Why You Should Plan Your Outfit the Night Before (on my blog) The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today you're going to start a home management binder! This part was fun for me, I felt like I was getting ready for the first day of school. Also, this helps us to treat home management like a job - because it is a job. Act like the Home CEO that you are! Tune in to learn more! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  In-depth post on How to Create Your Own Home (Flylady Control Journal) Management Binder here The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today is one of my favorite steps – plan your outfit for tomorrow at bedtime! This one habit has helped me so much that I wrote an entire blog post about it. It makes waking up in the morning and getting ready much faster and more pleasant. It's less I have think about, make decisions about or worry about in the mornings! I just grab my cute outfit and go. Tune in to learn more! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  Why You Should Plan Your Outfit the Night Before (on my blog) The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today's task is set a timer for two minutes to clean up one hot spot in your home. A hot spot is a place where things tend to collect - like a kitchen countertop, a coffee table, the top of a dresser, the dining room table, etc. In addition to this task, you'll continue with the habits we've already created - check your reminders to get dressed and shine your kitchen sink, and become aware of more of your negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Tune in to hear more! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home here on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today's task is to learn how to be kind to yourself by becoming aware of our negative and sabotaging thoughts. We do this at the beginning of the program because you won't be able to success with this system or baby steps if you're sabotaging yourself with negative thoughts. This is a powerful step that will help you improve every area of your life! Tune in to learn more! Each day from Jan. 1-21, 2021, I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home on my podcast. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today's task is write down the previous day's habits on post-its and stick them up on your mirror, fridge, etc. so that you'll be reminded to do them. This is how the Flylady, Marla Cilley, created her program and built daily habits and routines. Tune in to hear more!  From January 1-21, 2021, we are walking through the Flylady's baby steps program together so we can have homes and lives we LOVE in 2021! Each day I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog (and download free home management binder printables there, too) Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

We're continuing with the Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today's task is to get dressed, all the way down to your shoes. I talk about several reasons why this helps us to feel better about ourselves AND helps us to get more done. Tune in to hear more!  From January 1-21, 2021, we are walking through the Flylady's baby steps program together so we can have homes and lives we LOVE in 2021! Each day I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  Click here for my Natural Liquid Dish Soap Recipe  Click here for my Baking Soda Scouring Scrub Recipe  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

Welcome to day 1 of our 21 day Flylady baby steps program where step by step, we will create homes and lives we LOVE! Today we talk about something super simple - shining your kitchen sink. It sounds silly, but tune into to today's episode to see how the act of keeping your kitchen sink clean really helps you to feel better about yourself and your home. From January 1-21, 2021, we are walking through the Flylady's baby steps program together so we can have homes and lives we LOVE in 2021! Each day I will help you start a new habit that will help you consistently clean, declutter & organize your home. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: See all of the baby steps here on my blog Click here to join my Facebook group for moms, here!  Click here for my Natural Liquid Dish Soap Recipe  Click here for my Baking Soda Scouring Scrub Recipe  The Flylady's book, Sink Reflections (by Marla Cilley) Let's connect! Instagram  Facebook Pinterest  YouTube 

Here is a quick introduction to the Flylady System, which I came across and started using this fall. It has been a LIFESAVER for me! Even my husband has noticed how much better I feel. To put it very simply, the Flylady system it's a framework to help you manage your home and life to reduce stress and chaos. It is a way of life! It helps you to be able to: Clean your home systematically, consistently and easily. Reduce mental clutter and stress by giving you a plan and a focus. Declutter your home by creating a habit of decluttering and organizing. Anchor your life with routines and healthy habits so you can be the homemaker and mother you truly want to be. Learn more in this episode and join me as I take you through her baby steps program from January 1-21! Each day I will help you start a new routine and habit that will whip your home and life into shape. It'll be fun and you'll be amazed at how much your life changes by the end! LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: https://mymerrymessylife.com/flylady-31-baby-steps/ Join my Facebook group for moms, here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/themerrymessymomsgroup/ Let's connect! Instagram - http://instagram.com/mymerrymessylife Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mymerrymessylife Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/MerryMessyLife/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/mymerrymessylife

As moms, it can feel difficult and even sometimes impossible to be both fulfilled in a job or career and be fulfilled as a mom. We feel like one or both will suffer, but what if there is another way? My guest, Lynne Golodner, a business coach and owner of a public relations and marketing firm, has been able to find joy in her career while putting her family first and she shares with us steps she's taken to enjoy both. ::LINKS IN THIS EPISODE:: Lynnes's website – https://makemeaning.org Lynne's marketing firm, Your People Lynne's podcast, Make Meaning Find Lynne on Facebook here, and Instagram here Check out my album for moms, Mindful Mamas – Affirmations and Meditations for Moms and Kids See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

Never before have we had a global pandemic of this scale. Stress, fear and uncertainty are naturally high right now, and that's okay! In this episode, I encourage you to remember that the real enemy is COVID-19, and to focus on what you can control in your own life to have some measure of peace and calm. The real enemy is COVID-19, not each other. That icky feeling you're feeling? It's grief. We're all grieving. Resist the urge to assign blame or have all of the answers. Tips to choose faith and trust over fear. Political posts on social media drive us further apart. Focus on what you CAN control. Remember that we are all in this together. ::LINKS IN THIS EPISODE:: Blog post with episode transcript Get a FREE eBook on Affirmations for Moms and Kids here Join The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group here    

Today on the podcast we are hearing from my dear friend, Brandy Barrett, who is an experienced homeschooling mom of four, as she shares her top homeschooling tips that have helped her to be able to thrive for the past eight years. She will help you navigate this tough and stressful time during quarantine to both keep your sanity and your relationship in tact with your children. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE: Blog post and episode transcript Subscribe to get updates on the latest episodes, and to get a free affirmations eBook for moms and kids Join the The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook Group

Did you know it only takes a few inexpensive ingredients to make robust natural cleaning products for your home? Things like baking soda, Castile Soap, vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide and more! Because there are so many toxins in household cleaners, I've been buying and using these natural cleaning ingredients since 2011 and haven't looked back! I include natural recipes using these ingredients as well to make it super easy for you to get started. ::LINKS IN THIS EPISODE:: Blog post - 7 Natural Ingredients that Can Clean (Almost)Anything In Your House The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group Find my cleaning video tutorials here on YouTube Get my book, Detox Your Home, on Amazon Find me on Instagram - @mymerrymessylife

Going natural and getting rid of the toxins in your home can feel like an overwhelming process. Where do I start? What do I get rid of? How do I know if something is toxic? I've been there so I wrote up a guide to help you with 5 easy steps to go natural in your home. This episode will make it much easier and take you step by step! ::LINKS IN THIS EPISODE:: My book, Detox Your Home Download the free eBook, 5 Easy Steps to Go Natural In Your Home here EWG.org/skindeep Click here for my Amazon storefront to find natural products

More and more our health is suffering because of exposure to toxins in everyday cleaners, bath, body and beauty products and food. As mothers, consumers and families, we have to take action at home to make our homes safer for our children and pets if we want them to grow to be healthy adults. Here are the top 5 reasons to go natural in your home, or at least, why I chose to as a mom of four! ::LINKS IN THIS EPISODE:: My book, Detox Your Home Episode transcription & sources - 5 Reasons to Go Natural In Your Home Grab a free eBook, 5 Ways to Easily Go Natural In Your Home here Find me on Instagram @mymerrymessylife

In today's episode, you'll learn some easy tips for keeping your home decluttered and organized from professional organizer and decluttering coach, Wendy Zanders! She also shares about her struggles with ADD, depression and anxiety and how she overcame them. We really enjoyed talking about grateful we are that women have so many more options today for earning money because of the internet and how we can be both home with our kids more and have a fulfilling career. Links In This Episode Website: http://www.WendyZanders.com Grab Wendy's book - From Brokenness to Strength Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FunctionalOrganizingwithWendy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyzanders Check out my podcast episode on the Marie Kondo decluttering method - Why I Jumped on the Marie Kondo Decluttering Bandwagon See my blog post - How I Kon-Mari'ed My Master Closet Check out my new album Mindful Mamas – Affirmations and Meditations for Moms and Kids! See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

This is a tough subject because it's a lot easier for us wives to sit around with our girlfriends and complain about the things we don't like about our husbands. But let's be honest, we can be known for our nagging. And it really dampens the romance, the friendship and the fun when we nag. So why do we do it and how can we stop? Links In This Episode: Carol Tuttle's FREE personality program - Dressing Your Truth It's Just My Nature by Carol Tuttle The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman Carol Tuttle's Healing Center Check out my new album Mindful Mamas – Affirmations and Meditations for Moms and Kids! See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

In this episode you will learn how to lose weight in a healthy way. You'll learn about intermittent fasting and its health and weight loss benefits; how stress and stressful, negative thoughts raise our cortisol and contribute to weight gain and how important sleep is for our health and weight. You'll also learn what it means to have a healthy relationship with food and to be able to enjoy eating and social gatherings and still maintain a healthy weight. Links In This Episode Allison's website - http://arhealthcoaching.com Grab a free resource to help you get started eating healthy at arhealthcoaching.com/cravings Check out my new album Mindful Mamas - Affirmations and Meditations for Moms and Kids! See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

Affirmations and guided meditations have been a huge part of my healing journey the past few years so I was inspired to make my own specifically designed for moms and kids! In this episode, I share how affirmations have helped to transform my mind and heart to be a much more confident, positive, and happy mom and woman. You can listen to my album daily as you're getting ready in the morning, driving, washing dishes, cooking dinner and even going to sleep to help you relax, connect to your spirit and raise your confidence. And it's only $4.99 from now through April 19! Links In This Episode Learn more about the album here! Go directly to purchase the album here! Click Here to download a FREE ebook with affirmations for moms and kids & learn why they are powerful for upgrading your life See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

Self-criticism is a form of bullying ourselves and it actually doesn't serve to motivate us to do and be better. It instead erodes our self confidence and peace. Add in some mom guilt and we've got a good serving of toxic thoughts that sabotage our success as moms, wives, and in other ares of our lives. So how do we stop it? With a simple mantra and mindset shift that I share in this episode, I believe you can start to replace those negative thoughts today to believe the truth of who you are! Links In This Episode See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

Patience is one of the biggest things we can struggle with as parents. We want to be the parents we are in our hearts - loving, patient, and supportive. But when our children are on an emotional roller coaster, we can begin to parent out of fear instead of from our intuition and with love and then feel guilty and like a failure later on. In this episode, a parenting coach gives us practical tips to help keep us calm during meltdowns, tantrums and emotionally stressful times with our kids. Links in This Episode: Transforming Toddlerhood Hire Devon as your Parenting Coach! See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

Parents, you are going to LOVE this interview with parenting coach, Devon Kuntzman! She gives us helpful insight into the brain development of toddlers and young children to know they aren't trying to push our buttons, and how much they need our love and support for their rapidly developing brains and bodies. We explore obedience and how we can unwisely wrap our self worth and success as parents up in whether or not our kids obey. It was such an amazing interview that we talked for more than an hour, so it's split into two parts. Links In This Episode Transforming Toddlerhood Hire Devon as your Parenting Coach See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

I've always felt like goal setting for moms is much different than for everyone else. We have to account for our kids and often have to alter our plans to accommodate them. So here's how I set and keep my goals as a real mom and even stop myself from self sabotage.  Links In This Episode See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

Valerie is one of the most intentional, thoughtful mothers I know! I am so inspired by how she and her husband run their household and parent their children. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: How to simplify things in your home by giving your children more chores and hiring out help for the chores you dislike The power of gratitude and how to create your own practice How to learn the art of saying "no" so you can allow space for what you do love to come into your life How to more clearly communicate with your husband so as to have your expectations met (This is part two of a two part interview! See part 1 here.)

Valerie is both an accomplished entrepreneur and an intentional and inspiring mother. Before having children, she was a computer programmer but always a kid at heart! She and her husband would play games and even create claymation videos after work for fun! They carried that fun over into their family life and into her blog, Inner Child Fun. I learned so many good tips from her in this interview - like how to foster job skills in children from a young age and teach responsibility in a fun way. How to organize your home as a working mom, and how she started her blog. Inner Child Fun Inner Child Fun on Facebook Inner Child Fun on Pinterest Inner Child Fun on Twitter  Inner Child Fun on Instagram Inner Child Fun on YouTube  See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

I declutter regularly and don't feel sentimental to objects in my house, for the most part, so when Marie Kondo's book came out in 2014, I wasn't all that interested. But once her TV show came out on Netflix this January, I decided to watch it and see what the excitement was all about. I was hooked on her methods from the first show and after watching three of them, got inspired to declutter all of my clothes and my kitchen. It truly was more than just getting rid of stuff - it was a personals, spiritual experience to learn a new, balanced way of living. Links In This Episode The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo Spark Joy - an Illustrated master class on the art of organizing and tidying upby Marie Kondo Carol Tuttle's Dressing Your Truth FREE Course See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

What You'll Learn In This Episode How to decide the priorities and values for yourself and your family and why they're so important How to parent based on connection and relationship first, and correction last The importance of a morning ritual and how it can set your day up for less stress and success All about Meditation - what is it, how to do it and how it helps to lower stress, anxiety, and connect you to your intuition so you can make decisions for your life that are in your highest good Links in This Episode Jen's website – jenriday.com Jen's podcast – Vibrant Happy Women Tony Robbin's Priming Method Deepak Chopra's 21 Day Free Guided Meditations See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

Sometimes one of the most courageous acts of self-love is to throw out our social ideas of what it means to be a mom and do what we feel called to do instead. Follow our hearts. For Jen Riday, a podcaster, Life Coach, blogger and mom of six, that has meant choosing to prioritize her own happiness and to become an entrepreneur. She talks about her journey of going to rock bottom in her marriage and her own mental health, to turn it around to create a successful business and fulfilling life for her and her family. Links in This Episode Jen's website – jenriday.com Jen's podcast - Vibrant Happy Women Books by Brené Brown - Daring Greatly, The Gifts of Imperfection, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting Big Magicby Elizabeth Gilbert The Four Tendenciesby Gretchen Rubin Better than Beforeby Gretchen Rubin See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group

Comparison is a topic we talk a lot more about these days because social media has really made it rear it's ugly head! And as moms, on top of the guilt we heap upon ourselves, comparing ourselves to each other can really make us miserable. In this episode, I share how I get myself that comparison trap with just a few simple tips. Links In This Episode How to Break Free from Comparison and Find Peace Why We Are More than Our Labels Book - Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

This is the very inspiring story of Samantha Lee Wright, a mom of two, a doula, owner of an essential oils business, and the owner of the world's largest essential oils podcast, and her family's journey from extreme poverty and barely surviving, to now thriving and successful and the lessons she's learned about herself and life along the way. How she went from feeling like she deserved poverty and a life of struggle, to realizing she could overcome it with some dedication and belief. She really grew in strength as a mom, wife and woman. We got emotional while talking - it is quite a powerful story and I just know you're going to enjoy it! Links in this episode Her podcast - www.revolutionoilspodcast.com Her website - www.samanthaleewright.com Revolution Oils Business Bootcamp Podcast See all of the episodes from The Merry Messy Moms Show here Join in the fun & conversation in The Merry Messy Moms Show Facebook group Interested in a Young Living business? Feel free to email me at sara@mymerrymessylife.com, or check out my story here.

With Thanksgiving upon us, this is a great week to talk about gratitude! These days, it can almost seem little cliché to talk about it. It's a word that's thrown around a LOT, which I think is a good thing. But gratitude really is powerful & it has helped me to improve my attitude & happiness, reduce anxiety & worry, be much more present with my kids and happier with my husband, & succeed in business. In this episode, I share some gratitude research and how I've easily incorporated it into my life. Links In This Episode $5 Gratitude Journal (it's really cute!) Creating a Natural Home and the Importance of Gratitude with Sarah UmmYusuf of NaturesNurture.com How I Broke Free of Complaining and Found Joy How I Found Emotional Freedom Scientific Study on Gratitude from the University of Berkley, and the Universities of Miami & California Visit my podcast hub at My Merry Messy Life to become an insider (it's free!)  

After giving birth, many of us mothers are left with bodies we barely recognize. Bulging bellies, leaking pee when we run or jump, and back pain. This is all the cause of what's called Diastasis Recti, which refers to a separation in the abdominal muscles that doesn't always go back after giving birth. In this episode, I interview Wendy Powell, the founder of MUTUsystem.com, which is an exercise and body confidence program that helps women heal their bodies and minds after giving birth. Links from This Episode Go straight to the MuTu program My story with the MuTu program My Almost Natural, Quite Traumatic Birth Story My 15 min arm workout Last week's episode - How to Fit in Exercise as a Mom and Actually Stick to It

As mamas we are super busy attending to everyone's needs in our household and it can be super tough to fit in a regular exercise routine. I went from never being able to stick to a fitness schedule or eating healthy to regularly exercising doing things I love, losing some weight and feeling very proud of myself by just changing three things! And they're probably not what you think. Listen to hear my top three tips to fit in exercise as a mom and stick to it! Links in This Episode MuTu System for restoring your pelvic floor after having babies 6 Exercises for Strong and Sexy Arms and Back (my own personal arm workout routine) Louise Hay's book, Mirror Work Ask and It is Given, book by Esther and Jerry Hicks

In this inspiring episode, Tamara shares a story to which so many of us mothers can relate. How we start off our adult lives with dreams of a career and find that motherhood changes our dreams quite dramatically. In Tamara's case, she went from dreaming of being a psychologist and having her own practice, to being a stay at home mom at the age of 25. Even though she loved her role and was very happy to be a mom, she did feel lonely with postpartum sadness. She turned to crochet for connection and fulfillment, which eventually led her to start her blog. What started as a small website where she shared crochet patterns with friends and family, has turned into a huge success - crochet books, conferences, speaking engagements, online crochet classes and more! Her business success also gave Tamara the courage and confidence to lose more than 100 pounds, and has given her family the gift of having two parents who work from home and can spend more time with them than ever. Links in this Episode Mooglyblog.com Tamara's book, Quick Crochet for the Home Tamara on Facebook Tamara on Pinterest Tamara on Instagram Tamara's Crochet-A-Long (CAL) The Merry Messy Moms Show Podcast Hub mymerrymessylife.com

Self Care may seem cliche by now, but it truly is so important for moms and caregivers! We cannot pour from empty cups. We become better mothers when our own needs are met first and we feel like we have something to give. In this episode, I share how I went from spent and empty, to filled up and empowered by just changing a few things! As a mom, it is not easy to fit in extra time for self care. It's something we'd all like to have, but pretty much laugh at the thought of actually getting it! What if I was to tell you that you can get your cup filled up and reduce stress and anxiety, without having to change much of anything in your daily schedule? Well, I've been able to do just that and share with you how in this episode! Links in this episode: Podcast hub page My Merry Messy Life on Instagram My Merry Messy Life on Facebook Recommended book - Love Yourself, Love Your Life by Louise Hay Join my podcast email list to get updates when new shows air! Podcast Facebook Group - The Merry Messy Moms Show

Sarah from NaturesNurtureBlog.com shares with us her passion for having a natural and green home, the small, baby steps she took to get there and how it also led to her starting her blog in 2011. We talk about that work/life balance as a work at home mom and how she was able to launch her blog during nap time and bedtime and how she and her husband work together to make her blog successful. She also shares her top tips and advice for overwhelmed moms who are looking for friendship and connection and how she created a practice of gratitude with her children.  Links in this Episode: http://naturesnutureblog.com Nature's Nurture app Nature's Nurture on Instagram Motivational speaker, Lisa Nichols Beeswax wraps Natural Parchment Paper (to replace aluminum foil) Silicone mats for baking Microfiber cloths for cleaning "The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting" by Brene Brown About Sarah Sarah UmmYusuf is a non-toxic living mentor and teacher who loves helping people take charge of their family's health. She created Nature's Nurture in 2011 to document her journey to a non-toxic home, and to give others the confidence and peace of mind they need to protect their families from harmful chemicals. When she's not busy reading product labels or making her own cleaning products, you can find her chasing after her three kiddos and drinking lots and lots of coffee.

I'm a big believer that knowing yourself helps in every area of life. I also love to know and understand the nature and personality of other people, especially our children! It helps to ease stress in the home and makes raising them easier when we know what makes them tick, what motivates them, what they need and how to help them thrive. They feel validated and loved for who they truly are and learn that they don't need to change themselves in order to please others or to be loved. It has helped to reduce tantrums, arguments & I get more cooperation from my kids now that I understand them better. Learn which programs I used to understand more about myself and them in this episode! Links Mentioned in This Episode DISC personality test Carol Tuttle's Live Your Truth program Dani Johnson's First Steps to Success conference Dani Johnson's GEMS Personality Profiling system Myer's Brigg's Personality Test Full Spectrum of Success book by Jacob Adamo Podcast hub page mymerrymessylife.com My Merry Messy Life on Instagram My Merry Messy Life on Facebook Join my podcast email list to get updates when new shows air!

Genevieve Howland from mamanatural.com is an inspiring mama of three who is also a blogger, a YouTuber, author and a boss babe! In this episode, she shares with us why and how she started taking a more natural approach to living her life. From being addicted to sugar in her twenties, to switching to natural cleaning supplies later on, to having natural, unmedicated births, she became passionate about living holistically. It was the foundation for starting her YouTube channel and blog, and eventually led to writing a best-selling book. She takes us on the journey from working in corporate America, to coming home to raise her children, and starting a business from her home that turned into the main income for her family. She also chats about how her and her husband, Michael, are quite the dynamic business duo. She also talks about her faith journey as she wrestled with God after having three miscarriages and how she found peace. You're going to really enjoy this inspiring episode mamas! Links from This Episode Mama Natural http://mamanatural.com Genevieve's Book - “The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth” Natural Birth Playbook Natural Childbirth Affirmation Recordings Natural Pregnancy Affirmation Cards Mama Natural on Facebook Mama Natural on Instagram My Merry Messy Life on Facebook My Merry Messy Life on Instagram My Merry Messy Life on the web