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This week, we're sitting down with Sofi Madison, a former shop owner turned independent consultant who's redefining what work-life balance looks like in the North Shore. Sofi shares her journey from running Olives and Grace—a beloved retail destination—to consulting for independent retailers and hospitality teams, all while raising two boys (ages 3 and 5) in Manchester by the Sea.

In this honest conversation, Sofi opens up about the intentional decision to become a "working plus stay-at-home mom," her 9am-2:30pm work window, and why she chose to close a successful business she loved to create space for motherhood. We dig into the messy realities of balancing creative work with the demands of young children, why she's slow to sign her kids up for sports, and how she's finding creative expression through social media and Substack in this season of life.

What We Cover:

• Seasonal routines: Why Sofi's a 5am coffee-on-the-porch person in summer but hits snooze until 6:45 in winter
• The luxury of a single school drop-off and what slow, wholesome mornings look like at Waldorf school
• Working compressed hours (9am-2:30pm) while running an independent consulting practice
• Why she closed a thriving retail business when her "lens of love completely shifted" after kids
• Navigating witching hour, car snacks, and the All Star soundtrack on repeat
• Dinner struggles with picky eaters and the dream of everyone eating the same meal
• The invisible labor of household management and how she and her husband divide responsibilities
• Shrinking friend circles for quality over quantity in the mom phase
• Using AI for dinner prep advice and vitamin guidance (but never for personal communication)
• Being honest about romantic relationships taking a backseat when kids are young
• Why she doesn't miss her kids when she travels for work (and the freedom in saying that out loud)

Connect with Sofi:

• Instagram: @sofimadison_
• Substack: sofimadison.substack.com
• Website: sofimadison.com

Key Timestamps:

• 01:26 Meet Our Guest: Sofi Madison
• 02:13 Rapid Fire Questions with Sofi
• 03:50 Sofi's Morning Routine
• 07:43 Navigating Work and Family Balance
• 19:03 Dinner Time and Evening Routines
• 25:54 Choosing Activities for the Kids
• 28:33 Choosing the Right Sports for Kids
• 32:14 Balancing Self-Care and Parenting
• 35:45 Household Management Strategies
• 44:19 Navigating Friendships and Relationships
• 47:57 Embracing Creativity and Social Media
• 50:52 The Role of AI in Daily Life
• 56:08 Current Obsessions and Joys
• 59:03 Conclusion and Farewell

Resources Mentioned:

• Range by Kara Duval (movement/Pilates)
• Meet Boston (NESN, Saturdays) with Jenny Johnson & Billy Costa

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A Day In Her Life with Layla Shaikley – Efficient, Full, Emotionally Regulated Days as a Founder and Mom of Three

What does it look like to build a venture-backed tech company, raise three young kids, recover from a major injury, and stay emotionally steady through it all?

In this episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Layla Shaikley, co-founder of Wise Systems, writer, and mom of three (ages 3, 5, and 7). Layla shares how predictability, emotional regulation, and ruthless prioritization are what make her high-capacity life sustainable, not hustle or perfection.

This is a powerful, grounding conversation about ambition, motherhood, and learning how to regulate yourself so you don’t burn everything down when things get hard.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why emotional regulation is the real foundation of high performance, and how Layla thinks about passing that skill to her kids
• The predictable morning routine that allows her to work East Coast hours while parenting on the West Coast
• How she structures work around goals, not tasks, and why feeling “behind” is often a sign you’ve lost sight of outcomes
• Why proximity determines extracurriculars (and why that’s not “failing your kids”)
• What evenings actually look like with three young kids, and how she lets chaos happen without reacting to it
• The systems she uses to buy back time, from outsourcing household work to using AI as a thinking assistant
• Why this season is about choosing three priorities only, and being okay with everything else waiting

If you’re a working mom trying to hold ambition, caregiving, health, and sanity at the same time, this episode will help you breathe a little deeper and think more clearly about what actually matters.

Follow Layla

• Substack
• Instagram
• TikTok

References

• Case Study
• 7 Types of Rest

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A Day In Her Life with Dahlia Stroud – Crazy, Stressed, Well-Dressed Days as a Founder and Mom of Two

What does it really look like when you’re building something new, parenting school-aged kids, and trying to keep yourself intact in the process?

In this episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie chats with Dahlia Stroud, a UK-based consultant and host of Stressed But Well-Dressed, about the beautifully messy reality of her days. From “Jekyll and Hyde” mornings to late-night second winds, Dahlia shares the routines that ground her, the pressure she’s actively letting go of, and the moments that feel surprisingly sacred right now.

This is an honest, relatable conversation about ambition, energy, and redefining what balance actually means in midlife motherhood.

Listen to find out:

• Why Dahlia says she has two completely different morning routines and how both somehow get her kids out the door on time
• The one non-negotiable habit she uses to reset her mental health before opening her laptop
• Her refreshingly honest take on after-school activities and why kids already “work a full day”
• What evenings really look like with older kids, when bedtime turns into the moment they finally want to talk
• The nightly ritual she’s doing with her 10-year-old that’s become the highlight of her day
• How launching a new consultancy forced her to rethink boundaries, energy, and perfection
• Why she’s letting go of having it all together and feeling better because of it

If you’re a working mom navigating career growth, school-aged kids, and the constant pull between ambition and exhaustion, this episode will feel deeply familiar.

Where to find Dahlia

• Instagram: Stressed But Well-Dressed (podcast updates, wardrobe takes, confidence convos)
• Podcast: Stressed But Well-Dressed
• LinkedIn: Dahlia Stroud

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On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Mary James, who leads an analytics group at Real Chemistry (a pharmaceutical marketing and communications company) and is raising two little ones, a 9-month-old and a 2.5-year-old. Mary is the primary earner in her household, while her husband is a stay-at-home parent, and she gives an honest look at what it actually takes to keep work, kids, and sanity moving forward in a season that feels nonstop.

Mary describes her days in three words: dynamic, relentless, and funny, because if you don’t laugh… you might cry.

In this episode, we cover:

• The 5 a.m. OrangeTheory era (and the real reason she’s doing it) - Mary is in her “rebuild my strength postpartum” season, and early workouts are the only time that’s truly hers.
• Her tiny morning ritual that keeps her from disappearing - A simple “for me today” list - a few selfish, non-negotiable things that serve her before she starts serving everyone else.
• The workday strategy that protects her brain from constant context switching - She time-blocks calls, aims for “three key things,” and shares a few meeting hacks that might save your sanity.
• The 5 p.m. hard stop (and why it matters when you’re the breadwinner) - Their household runs on a daily handoff. She signs off at 5:00, not because it’s easy, but because it’s how they keep resentment from building.
• Dinner realism: kids at 6, adults later, and no shame about it - Family dinner happens when it happens. Otherwise, it’s “survival food,” frozen options, and DoorDash in a season where time is the luxury.
• Outsourcing that feels like getting your life back: laundry pickup - This is the one she’s not giving up. Pickup, drop-off, done. (Now they’re just figuring out the “put it away” part.)
• Friendship in the trenches: Marco Polo, audio notes, and staying in it without texting back instantly - A genuinely workable approach to keeping friendships alive when your hands are full and your phone is always being stolen.

Follow Mary

Mary Faith James

References

Kindle Scribe

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A Day In Her Life with Kelsey Smith – Adaptable, Intentional, Caffeinated Days as a Working Mom of Two and Email Accessibility Consultant

On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Kelsey Smith, a working mom of two toddlers living just outside Denver. Kelsey works in marketing, technology, and digital communications for a large public university and also runs her freelance consulting business, The Email Edit, where she helps nonprofits, small businesses, and entrepreneurs improve email marketing with a focus on digital accessibility.

Kelsey shares what life looks like right now with two kids just 11 months apart, a household that runs on teamwork (and coffee), and a workday shaped by a two-hour time difference. From chaotic pre-dawn wakeups and daycare drop-offs to hot sauna workouts, low-effort dinners, and bedtime that suddenly takes an hour, this episode is full of the real stuff working moms are navigating.

If you are balancing remote work, little kids, a relationship, and the constant feeling that your to-do list is never done, you will feel very seen in this conversation.

In this episode, we cover:

Two toddlers 11 months apart and mornings that start before you are ready - Kelsey’s reality right now: kids up between 5 and 6 a.m., a toddler climbing into her bed overnight, and mornings that feel like chaos before coffee even happens.

Remote work across time zones - What it is like being on Mountain Time while the rest of your team is on East Coast time, and how that creates built-in protected focus time in the late afternoon.

Time blocking for technical vs creative work - Kelsey’s approach to structuring her day: technical tasks and meetings in the morning, creative strategy work later, and a consistent end-of-day plan for tomorrow.

Bedtime phases and sleep curveballs - How bedtime used to be easy and suddenly is not, what it looks like getting two toddlers down, and the looming toddler bed transition.

How to find a therapist through insurance platforms - Kelsey’s experience starting with SonderMind and moving to Alma, plus the reminder to check your 2026 benefits.

Work travel with young kids and “partner guilt” - Why she does not feel mom guilt leaving but does feel the weight on her partner, and how family flying in makes travel possible.

Friendship in a busy season - Staying connected through small touchpoints, hosting, and aiming for at least one friend meetup a month.

Date nights without babysitters - Their every-other-Friday at-home date night rotation, alternating who plans, and creative ways to connect during the day while the kids are in daycare.

The ball she is letting drop - Releasing pressure around cooking and remembering: if you only have 40% that day and you give it, you gave 100% of what you had.

Connect with Kelsey

Find her on Instagram: @the.email.edit (email marketing, digital accessibility, and life as a working mom)

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A Day In Her Life with Lucie Corkery – Chaotic, Messy, Joyful Days as a Mom of Three

On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie chats with Lucie Corkery, a mom of three under five, writer, and creator behind What Lucie Says and the Substack series Between Friends. Lucie lives in Massachusetts with her husband Kevin, their three kids, and their corgi Beverly, and shares a refreshingly honest look at full-time motherhood in a deeply busy season.

If you are in the thick of young kids, constantly forgetting lunch, negotiating bedtime chaos, and trying to stay connected to yourself, your partner, and your friends, this episode will feel deeply relatable.

In this episode, we cover:

Mornings with three kids under five - Why Lucie wakes up an hour before her kids, the bare minimum routine that helps her feel human, and how TV at breakfast is sometimes the only way mornings work.

Finding time for yourself as a stay-at-home mom - How tennis became Lucie’s outlet for movement, focus, and adult connection, and why having time without her phone has been surprisingly transformative.

The midday juggle no one talks about - Laundry running constantly, walking the dog alone, vacuuming with a toddler and a toy leaf blower, squeezing in workouts, and always forgetting to eat lunch.

Quiet time, shared rooms, and realistic rest - How Lucie structures naps and quiet time for three kids at different stages, and why rest time is non-negotiable for everyone’s sanity.

Afternoons, activities, and getting the wiggles out - Why leaving the house almost always leads to a better evening, even if it’s just a library trip, playground stop, or long car ride.

Early dinners and separate adult meals - Why her kids eat at 5:30, she and her husband eat later, and how letting go of family dinner expectations has made evenings calmer.

Bedtime chaos and small parenting hacks - From bath time that ramps kids up to the light-flicking trick she stole from teachers to regain attention during total mayhem.

Marriage, date nights, and staying connected - Why Lucie and her husband prioritize weekly date nights, how they find babysitters for three kids, and why investing in their relationship matters in this season.

Friendship in a misaligned season of life - The inspiration behind Between Friends, how friendships shift after kids, and why putting plans on the calendar is the only way they happen.

The ball she’s letting drop - Letting go of a spotless house, embracing the mess, and choosing peace over perfection in a home full of young kids.

Connect with Lucie

• Instagram: @whatluciesays
• Substack: What Lucie Says, including the Between Friends series

References

• Skylight Calendar

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A Day In Her Life with Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan – Chaotic, Peopley, High Energy Days as a COO and Single Mom of Two

On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at Feast & Fettle, and single mom of two girls, ages 5 and 13. Kyla splits her life between Rhode Island and Washington DC and gets real about what it takes to lead a fast growing company while solo parenting in a high energy season.

She opens up about slow, coffee fueled mornings, packed meeting days, and why outsourcing laundry and dinner is the only way she stays present with her girls. She talks about embracing being not a morning person, protecting dinner and bedtime, and navigating late-thirties dating across two cities.

In this episode, we cover:

Two city, single mom logistics - How Kyla balances life between Rhode Island and DC, structures her week around meeting-heavy and deep-work days, and uses flights as protected, no-Wi-Fi reading time.

Work life balance in a 24/7 business - The two time blocks she guards at all costs, the very real 9 to 11 p.m. “mom catch up hour,” and how she manages boundaries when her operation never actually turns off.

Weeknight dinners without the chaos - What it’s like being both a leader and customer at Feast & Fettle, how her girls remix meals to their liking, and why cooking in DC has become her creative outlet.

Evenings, puzzles, and an overstimulated mom brain - Her realistic night routine, the end-of-day reset she swears by, and how puzzles, reading, and dry humor TV help her wind down.

From toxic restaurant culture to people first hospitality - How her early years in restaurants shaped her mission to build Feast & Fettle’s W2, benefits rich, people centered model.

Chores, acrylic nails, and outsourcing the things you hate - The brilliant deal she struck with her 13 year old, how she divides chores by age, and why laundry and bill-pay live permanently on autopilot.

Friendship and dating in your late thirties - Maintaining long-term friendships in a kid heavy season, giving herself permission for a “hobbit night,” and treating online dating in DC like a low pressure social experiment.

If you’re a working mom juggling leadership, caregiving, airports, group texts, and a never ending to do list, this episode will make you feel seen in the best way.

Follow Kyla:

Feast & Fettle (instagram)

LinkedIn

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In today’s episode, Ellie sits down with Cameron Oaks Rogers — full-time content creator, podcast host, mental health advocate, and creator of Quiet Your Mind and Busier Hands. Cameron opens up about raising two young boys, building a multi-layered career, and navigating the beautiful mess of this season with honesty, structure, and humor.

If you love real routines, candid talks about mental load, and hearing how other women make the day work, this episode delivers.

In this episode, we cover:

• Cameron’s deeply routined (yet realistic) 5:30 a.m. morning - How she uses her Hatch, silence, meditation, half-caf, matcha, pajama workouts, and strong boundaries around phone time.
• The truth about food fatigue and outsourcing dinner - Why cooking became her biggest stressor, how she finally gave herself permission to let it go, and the huge mental relief of having help.
• How she structures her workdays as a full-time creator - City days, computer days, content days, hiring a full-time producer, and bringing her podcast in-house for more control and creativity.
• Friendship, marriage, and staying connected in the chaos - The group chats, weekly touchpoints, and why she prioritizes female friendships.
• What self-care looks like right now - Tennis, acupuncture, Kindle reading, coloring, morning walks, and redefining what rest actually feels like.
• How she found her therapist eight years ago - Her “first-date” approach to therapy and the vetted therapist list she shares with her community.
• Creative energy and building Quiet Your Mind - How coloring became a calming outlet, the creation of the adult and kids editions, and why this project brings her so much joy.
• Holidays, traditions, and making Christmas magical - Balancing both sides of the family, keeping Christmas morning at home, and creating that nostalgic, joyful feeling for her kids.

Follow Cameron

@CameronOaksRogers on Instagram

@CameronOaksRogers on TikTok

Conversations with Cam Podcast

Fill Your Cup on Substack

Quiet Your Mind and Busy Your Hands

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A Day In Her Life with Emily Doyle — Founder, Mom, and Creative Building a Colorful Life in Vermont

Join Ellie for this week’s episode of A Day In Her Life with Emily Doyle—co-founder of Ursa Major Skincare, mom to eight-year-old, and longtime Vermonter balancing entrepreneurship, parenting, partnership, and creativity. Emily’s days are exactly how she describes them: lively, colorful, and crazy.

In this episode, we cover:

Morning Rhythms: Cozy family wake-ups, coffee, lunch prep, and why morning walks with friends or her dog set the tone for her day.

Co-Founder Life: The realities of running a 15-year-old remote-first company with your partner, back-to-back meetings, and the Ursa Major products she recommends for beginners.

Motherhood in Motion: School pickups, overscheduled seasons, Millie’s growing independence, and the after-school rush that always leads into 7 pm dinners.

Home & Routines: Favorite NYT weeknight recipes, Sunday waffle mornings, what she lets drop, and her simple approach to self-care.

Relationships & Community: Staying connected to friends through micro-moments and building a partnership with Oliver through walks, drives, and time outdoors.

Creativity & Joy: How she finds inspiration today, the magic of Vermont’s seasons, and her current cozy obsessions.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to build a mission-driven brand while raising a family, this episode is full of honesty, humor, and the relatable chaos working moms know all too well.

Follow Emily

@ursamajoremily

@ursamajorvt

References

Golden Hour Recovery Cream

Golden Hour Dry Oil

Essential Face Wipes

Use Code DayInHerLife15 for 15% off

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A Day In Her Life with Tory Stroker — Chaotic, Fulfilling, and Busy Days as a Dietitian & Mom of Two

Join Ellie for this week’s episode of A Day In Her Life with Tory Stroker, a registered dietitian, content creator, and mom of two living in New Jersey. Tory runs a thriving weight-inclusive nutrition counseling practice supporting women in eating disorder recovery, all while parenting a four-year-old and a baby, running her Substack, and navigating the beautiful chaos of this season.

Tory opens up about what her days really look like—messy, meaningful, funny, and full. From boundary-setting with her phone to snack-plate hacks for her preschooler, she shares a refreshingly honest look at work-life balance, recovery, motherhood, and building a life aligned with her values.

In this episode, we cover:

• Mornings in the Trenches: The reality of wake-ups with two little kids, carving out coffee rituals, and the strict phone boundaries that have changed everything for her anxiety.
• Mom Days vs. Work Days: How she divides her week into client facing days, pure “mom days,” and what those schedules actually look like.
• Running a Weight-Inclusive Practice: Tory’s path from dancer to dietitian, her eating-disorder recovery, and how she helps moms break generational cycles around food and body image.
• Afternoons & Snack Plates: The exact system she uses to avoid constant “can I have a snack?” requests and keep everyone fed until dinner.
• Self-Care That’s Realistic: Walks, Sculpt Society workouts, simple meals, rest when she can take it, and the cookbook club she created to stay connected socially.
• Community, Friendship & Support: How she stays connected through Marco Polo, voice memos, and humor with her sister and close circle.
• Outsourcing & Systems: Grocery pickup, childcare help, shared calendars — and why she’s embraced “good enough” over perfect.

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, overly stimulated, starved for rest, or stuck in the nonstop loop of drop-offs, snacks, naps, and dinner chaos — this conversation will make you feel seen, understood, and absolutely not alone.

Follow Tory

@torystrokernutrition

The Hoka Moka

References

Tory’s Post about Cook Book Club

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Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five! 

Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock