Bottle Service

If motherhood has left you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, short-tempered, or disconnected from the person you used to be, you're not alone! In fact, you may be experiencing matrescence, the profound transformation that comes with becoming a mother.

This week, Sarah sits down with Vanessa Leveille, founder of @MatrescenceinColor, to unpack survival mode, mom rage, burnout, identity shifts, and why so many moms feel like they're falling short. Then, most importantly, we'll dive into what to do about it! Because we're all in this transition together.

Want more from our guest this week?

• Follow @MatrescenceinColor!
• Check out her website! (the blog is SO good)

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop my SHOPMY Links
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 
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As always, email your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the show!

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

HIYA - Receive 50% off (50% off!!!) your first order on any of their products. Not available on their website, go to hiyahealth.com/bottleservice to claim this deal!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fresh off a big family summer "vacation", Sarah is back with plenty of stories—and a few battle scars. After coming home bruised & slightly concussed, she's sharing some learnings from the road!

In this episode, we're talking road trip hacks, hotel stay survival, realistic expectations for family vacations, bedtime strategies when everyone is sharing one room, and the little things that can make traveling with toddlers feel a whole lot easier. Plus, we get honest about marital tensions when the "vacation" doesn't exactly feel relaxing.

If you've got a family trip on the calendar this summer, this episode is packed with practical tips, plenty of laughs, and a reminder that not everything is what it seems on Instagram

As always, email your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the show!

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum/ Kid Friendly Favorites and More! CLICK HERE
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

HIYA - Receive 50% off (50% off!!!) your first order on any of their products. Not available on their website, go to hiyahealth.com/bottleservice to claim this deal!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sarah returns from vacation and faces a personal tragedy. She also chats Summer Survival strategies for when the days feel impossibly long, shares secrets to simplify those dinner decisions,makes you feel better about screentime and MORE! Oh yea, and we celebrate the dads out there. Happy Father's Day!

As always, email your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the show!

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

Kindred Bravely - 20% off your first order when you go to KindredBravely.com/BOTTLESERVICE

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sarah is hitting the beach for her 5 year wedding anniversary and reflects on the early foundational years of marriage and the challenges of the new baby phase. She also questions whether we ever truly feel "done done" having babies, discusses the coolest baby shower of all time, and makes a strong case for a SOFT TUMMY SUMMER

As always, email your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the show!

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

Kindred Bravely - 20% off your first order when you go to KindredBravely.com/BOTTLESERVICE

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the cultural phenomenon that is the Summer House Finale airs this week, Sarah is joined by one of her best friends (and former Summer House cast member) Ashley McAtee for a candid catch-up on motherhood, reality TV, and everything in between!

Ashley takes us back to the early days of Summer House, what it was like stepping away from reality TV to start a family, and the unique experience of navigating postpartum while your friend group is still in their party era. The two also dive into Ashley's recent cross-country move, why she and her family decided to slow things down, travel hacks for surviving family trips, and so much more!

And yes, we get into the current Summer House drama 👀 So grab your Loverboy and LETS SEND IT

Want more from our guest this week?

Follow Ashley on Instagram! @AshleyMcAtee

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

As always, email your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the show!

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

Kindred Bravely - 20% off your first order when you go to KindredBravely.com/BOTTLESERVICE

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If your mornings feel frantic, bedtime feels like psychological warfare, and brushing your kid's teeth somehow turns into a full-scale hostage negotiation… this episode is for you! Sarah is joined by bestselling author, recording artist, and kids mindfulness teacher Kira Willey for a conversation that every parent in the trenches of chaos, transitions, and tiny emotional breakdowns needs to hear 😅

Kira’s new book, The Joyful Child: Calm the Chaos, Connect with Your Kids, and Create More Happiness in Your Daily Routines, offers practical, playful ways to help kids regulate emotions, navigate transitions, and create more calm and connection in everyday family life, without expecting parents to become perfect zen masters overnight.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Making daily routines feel more playful and connected
• How to reduce transition meltdowns
• Simple ways to introduce mindfulness to kids
• Helping children regulate emotions before they spiral
• Why “presence over perfection” matters in parenting
• and much more!

Want more from our guest?

• Kira Willey Instagram
• Get her book The Joyful Child HERE
• Listen to her on Spotify!

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Email your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the show!

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

Kindred Bravely - 20% off your first order when you go to KindredBravely.com/BOTTLESERVICE

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the first time in four years, Sarah officially doesn’t have a baby at home anymore… and instead of feeling liberated, she’s..well.. lost 😅 In this episode, Sarah opens up about the unexpected identity crisis that can come with re-entering “full-time work” after years in the baby bubble. Navigating freedom, guilt, ambition, pressure, and the weird realization that you no longer have motherhood as the built-in reason your career has been on the back burner.

Sarah talks honestly about feeling behind professionally, struggling to find direction again, and what it’s actually like trying to rebuild momentum after years of surviving in reactive mode. PLUS, we tackle truly important cultural conversations like The Valley and why we all need to normalize asking our friends for their hand-me-down baby gear.

Resources from this Episode: Get on SHOPMY

Email your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the show!

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

Kindred Bravely - 20% off your first order when you go to KindredBravely.com/BOTTLESERVICE

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY BABES! In this week's episode, Sarah is reflecting on the beautiful, challenging, AMAZING, HARD, rewarding job that is being a Mom. Enjoy!

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

Kindred Bravely - 20% off your first order when you go to KindredBravely.com/BOTTLESERVICE

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month! It is one of the most serious (and often misunderstood) complications of pregnancy. It’s a leading cause of maternal illness and death, can escalate quickly, and its symptoms are often brushed off as “normal pregnancy stuff.”

In honor of Preeclampsia Awareness Month, Sarah sits down with Lia Butler—preeclampsia survivor and Chief Operating Officer of NeoPredics—to break down what this condition actually is, why it’s so commonly missed, and what every mom (and mom-to-be) needs to know!

CORRECTION: In the audio version of this podcast episode, Lia Butler was incorrectly introduced as the founder of NeoPredics. Lia is not a founder. She is the organization’s Chief Operating Officer.

As always, write in YOUR questions, comments, motherhood stories & we'll discuss! [email protected]

Want more from our guest:

Lia Butler

Check out NeoPredics HERE

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

Pique Life - Get 20% off your order at Piquelife.com/bottleservice

Nowadays - Get 20% off this zero-proof THC beverage that delivers a clean, reliable buzz with no hangover

SKIMS - Shop the Fits Everybody collection and let them know "Bottle Service" sent you!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The OG Bottle Service Baby turns FOUR this week and Sarah is all in her feels! In this episode, she reflects on how fast it all goes, discusses why BIRTHdays can bring complex emotions, and then chats about ways we can foster relationships with our kids that last into adulthood. Because yes, meeting their needs, keeping them safe, and raising good humans is one thing... but building a connection strong enough that they want to call you, confide in you, and hang out with you later in life? That’s a whole different ball game.

In this episode we'll dive into the small, everyday things that help foster trust, connection, and closeness from the start, because we're not just raising kids, we’re building lifelong buds!

As always, write in YOUR questions, comments, motherhood stories & we'll discuss! [email protected]

Want more from Sarah?

• Personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahMerrill_Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Share some Laughs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bigkidproblems⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out our new Show IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bottleserviceBKP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop Sarah's Pregnancy/ Postpartum Must Haves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bottle Service MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Big thank you to our episode sponsors!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - From quick dinners to slow simmers, Quince has the cookware to make it all better!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RULA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts

Little Spoon - Make mealtime easy with 30% off with code BOTTLESERVICE30

Pique Life - Get 20% off your order at Piquelife.com/bottleservice

Nowadays - Get 20% off this zero-proof THC beverage that delivers a clean, reliable buzz with no hangover

SKIMS - Shop the Fits Everybody collection and let them know "Bottle Service" sent you!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.