In This Episode, We Talk About:

Our spring break adventures.

Why you should never bring your daughter to your waxing appointment.

The price (and pain) of beauty.

Resources + Links:

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

The Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna Everhart

Smartless Podcast

Absolutely Not Podcast

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our website

https://www.modernmilk.com/

Show Notes:

Get ready for a peek into the lives of the real real housewives! Today, we are joined by Nikki Kirkpatrick, an OG former Modern Milk employee and current stay at home mom of two girls! She’ll tell us the true story of the time she got her butthole ripped off. As we go, we’ll also talk about our spring break stories, what we’re loving this week, and the price of staying beautiful. Then, we’ll learn why you should never bring your five year old daughter to your Brazilian waxing appointment. Tune in for all the hilarious and embarrassing moments of motherhood we love to hear!

01:05 Meet an OG former Modern Milk employee, Nikki Kirkpatrick, now a stay at home mom of two girls!

03:15 What’s the dynamic between your two girls?

04:50 What did you do for spring break?

08:20 How was Stephanie’s Mexico vacation?

13:15 What is your family eating this week?

17:35 What is a quick Costco rice dish?

19:15 How has your family been sleeping recently?

23:35 How can you help regulate unpredictable sleep?

25:10 What are you loving right now?

27:45 Hunting for the perfect bar stool.

30:40 What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

33:45 What has Stephanie been listening to in her downtime?

37:45 How was your first Brazilian wax experience?

40:25 Why should you never bring your daughter to your waxing?

44:35 Who is all this upkeep for?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

How the passing of her mom helped to shape Erica’s own motherhood experience.

Erica and Stephanie’s wild college days.
The messiness, the overwhelm, and the joy of being a mom.

Resources + Links:

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

The Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna Everhart

https://minimalistbaker.com/

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

Show Notes:

What makes being a mom special? This week’s featured guest is Erica Peterson, Stephanie’s close friend since high school, a physical therapist, and mother of two little boys! Erica will share her motherhood experience and how it was impacted early on by her mom’s passing. Together, we’ll chat about the joys of being a mom and what it makes it all worth it in the end. As we go, we’ll dive into our crazy college stories, the overwhelm of being the mom magnet, our favorite things this week, and more. Tune in for a fresh perspective of motherhood that’ll help get you through the difficult moments that come with being a mom in real life!

01:10 Meet Erica Peterson, Stephanie’s close friend since high school, a physical therapist, and mother of two little boys!

04:30 Why do we miss the mall?

07:05 What is your family eating this week?

10:20 What are our breakfast go-tos? 

13:30 How do you get your picky littles to eat?

16:30 How is your family sleeping lately?

18:55 What surprised Stephanie about her dogs’ DNA?

22:25 The overwhelm of being the mom magnet.

27:35 What is something you’re loving right now?

30:45 What is your favorite athleisure brand?

34:30 How is Stephanie’s new waffle maker?

36:55 What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

39:55 What does Stephanie always have on in the background?

42:05 Erica & Stephanie’s crazy college days.

44:40 What message did you hear from your mom in your dream?

47:25 How did your mom’s passing impact your own motherhood?

50:45 What do our dreams tell us?

53:20 Remembering Erica’s mom.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• What’s coming up next in Season 2.

• Exciting updates and news in our lives.

• Our favorite things and mom stories.

Resources + Links:

Feeding Littles and Beyond by Ali Maffucci

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Live Wire by Kelly Ripa

Undistracted by Bob Gaff

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

Show Notes:

It’s been a rollercoaster of a season, so strap in and get ready for what’s coming next, mom friends! Today, Stephanie and Katie have some big news to share about the future of Moms in Real Life! What can you expect from Season 2 moving on? Before that, we’ll go over recent updates in our lives, our favorite things this week, and our very own mom stories we’ve never shared before. You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, and you might even say goodbye. Join us for the exciting final episode of Season 1!

01:10 What are we talking about this week?

02:10 What has your family been eating recently?

04:30 Do your kids eat veggies or salad?

07:20 What do you feed your littles?

10:25 How have our families been sleeping lately?

12:15 What do you give your kids when they’re throwing up?

14:20 What is an IPL facial?

19:50 Katie’s favorite facial toner for smooth skin.

21:30 What is a gentle, clean soap?

25:20 What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

28:30 What is Katie’s movie room being used for?

31:15 What did Stephanie find with a blacklight after a sleepover?

36:00 Is it better to know or not know?

39:00 What is Katie’s big news?

43:50 How have you been feeling?

46:35 What is coming up next in Season 2?

In this episode, we’re looking back at some of our favorite mom stories early in our journey here on the podcast! We’re so grateful for all the moms that have joined us as guests and as listeners this past year, and we can’t wait to dive in to SEASON TWO!

Listen to the full episodes of each of these highlighted guests:

Episode 8: The Time When Jill Ran Over Her Son on Her Bike in Front of the School Drop-Off Line

Episode 14: The Time When Michelle Called the Cops on her 3-year Old

Episode 25: The Time Marisa Made a Mom Friend When she Needed it Most

Resources + Links:

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

In This Episode, We Talk About:

How perfectionism affects us as moms.

Ways Madison has navigated the different birth and newborn experiences with each of her kids.

Resources + Links:

Connect with Madison @mother.figure

Check out this episode mentioned in the episode:

Natasha’s Kitchen - One Pan Chicken and Vegetables

House of Noa Kitchen Mats

Hello Bello Diapers

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

Show Notes:

Do you struggle with perfectionism? In this episode, we’re joined by soon-to-be mom of 3, and founder of Mother Figure, Madison Pinebird! Not only is she in the exciting stage of welcoming their third baby, but Madison is also diving more into cooking! Feel free to shoot us a group DM with your favorite crock pot recipe! We chat about night training, how religion and faith changes impact how you see your roles, and the impact of perfectionism on motherhood regardless of whether your babies are easy or hard. Listen in for our favorites, and the reminder that you don’t have to do it all! 

03:00 Meet soon-to-be mom of 3 and founder of Mother Figure, Madison Pinebird!

04:40 What is your family eating right now?

10:30 A family favorite one pan chicken recipe!

14:15 How is your family sleeping right now?

19:00 Night training and things to help kids stay dry through the night.

22:00 What are you loving right now?

27:15 The Kitchen mat Stephanie is loving right now!

32:00 Switching to a more affordable clean diaper brand.

33:15 What are you reading, watching, and listening to right now?

39:00 Watching Jinger Duggar Vuolo disentangling her faith.

42:20 The time Madison thought she had motherhood figured out.

48:00 How does social media pressure moms to be perfect?

55:15 Working through the shame of asking for help as a mom.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• The pros and cons of “gentle parenting”.
• Parenting then versus now.
• Setting smart boundaries as a parent.

Resources + Links:

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

Carrie by Stephen King

The Shining by Stephen King

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Spare by Prince Harry

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

Show Notes:

For our 1 year anniversary episode, we’ve got a special guest with a story a lot of moms will be able to relate to! Joining us is optometrist and full-time mom of two daughters, Alison Kitzerow! Together, we’ll chat about how to keep it healthy without losing the fun, the struggles of buying new furniture online, hacks for wetting the bed, among even more. Then, Alison tells us about the time she threw “gentle parenting” out the window during a trip to Whole Foods gone wrong. What are the limits of gentle parenting, and when will it just not cut it? No one ever said being a mom in real life would be easy… or perfect! So let’s take a moment to visit all the little moments that make us laugh, cry, and drive us completely up the wall!

0:01:20 Are we loving or hating Valentine’s Day this year?

0:04:10 Say hello to today’s special guest, Alison Kitzerow, an optometrist and full-time mom of two littles!

0:06:20 What is it like working with the elderly?

0:09:30 What’s in a name?

0:11:40 When did you name your kids?

0:13:15 Who splits the mental load in your house?

0:15:50 What is your family eating this week?

0:20:25 How can you use Blue Apron to introduce more foods to your kids?

0:22:10 Quick, easy, and healthy breakfast options.

0:25:55 How has your family been sleeping recently?

0:29:30 What is the right amount of sleep?

0:31:15 Hacks for wetting the bed.

0:32:55 Why is Stephanie’s family not getting any sleep this week?

0:35:00 What are you loving right now?

0:39:00 What new bar stools does Katie love?

0:40:05 The struggle of buying furniture online.

0:44:30 How is Stephanie’s new sofa?

0:47:20 What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

0:51:00 How does blue light affect us and how can we combat it?

0:54:20 Why was Stephanie cracking up in her car?

0:56:15 When did you realize “gentle parenting” wasn’t going to cut it?

1:00:35 What are the limits of gentle parenting?

1:03:40 Parenting then versus now.

1:07:45 How do your parents react to your parenting?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• How to organize and get more done in your day.

• Shocking gender reveals and the aftermath.

• Taking an honest look at dealing with disappointment.

Resources + Links:

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Cook Once, Eat All Week by Cassy Joy Garcia

Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

Show Notes:

Mom life is always full of the unexpected, from beginning to end! Joining us this week is Candace Gorgen, an Arizona native climbing the corporate ladder at Lululemon while she runs her passion project, I Organize You! Candace is now a mother to three beautiful boys, but today she’s sharing her story of the gender reveal she was not anticipating at all. As we go, we’ll discuss organization tips that’ll help you get more done in your day, as well as moms hacks for getting more stains out of clothes and more green in your kids’ diets. We chat about Apple Watches, curly hair struggles, finding more downtime for yourself, and much more! Then, we’ll learn about Candace’s shocking gender reveal to take an honest look at how broken expectations can leave their mark. Let this heartfelt episode serve as your reminder that, no matter the struggle, you’re never alone in motherhood!

0:01:15 How is February going so far?

0:04:25 Meet the mom friend balancing three little ones, Candace Gorgen, the organization and space founder of I Organize You!

0:06:15 How is life balancing three?

0:09:35 What is one good universal organization tip?

0:11:55 How do you organize and donate kids’ clothes?

0:14:35 How can you get more tasks done?

0:18:10 What is your family eating right now?

0:23:05 Our favorite Trader Joe’s yellow curry recipes.

0:24:45 Where do you get your chicken (without breaking the bank)?

0:27:00 What is a quick and easy lunch?

0:29:10 How is your family sleeping this week?

0:31:05 What is stopping Stephanie from getting 7 hours of sleep?

0:32:40 Why do we wear Apple Watches?

0:36:05 What funny thing happened to Katie during the middle of the night?

0:37:55 What are you loving right now?

0:38:30 What new home lock did Stephanie install?

0:39:45 How can you retrain your hair to be curly?

0:43:20 What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

0:46:10 How to meal prep for the whole week.

0:50:40 How do you find more downtime?

0:53:50 What is a good mom hack?

0:56:05 How can you get more greens in your kids’ diet?

0:58:20 How did your last gender reveal go?

1:01:50 What was so shocking about the reveal?

1:04:00 How did you find community and support afterwards?

1:06:55 How does a surprising gender reveal affect us as moms?

1:10:00 How did your husband react?

1:11:40 What happened after you shared the video?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Giving control over and advocating for your kids.
• Turning negative experiences into positive ones.
• Finding hope through the doom and gloom.

Resources + Links:

Connect with Alison | [email protected]

Peter and the Starcatchers Series by Dave Barry

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas

Spare by Prince Harry

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

Show Notes:

As parents, what difficult decisions do we have to make for our kids? Today, our guest is Alison Breier, a speech therapist who specializes in sound disorder and the ultimate advocate for her two sons! She’ll speak on the hardships, tough decisions, and scary moments after her youngest was born with a congenital heart defect. But it’s not all doom and gloom! Together, we’ll talk about how to turn negative experiences into positive ones, why we need to advocate for our kids, and mom hacks that’ll help keep you on top of things. Then, Alison shares the story of her son’s recent major open heart surgery and what the future holds. Join us for all the moments of motherhood, the good and the bad, and find a spark of hope in the darkness!

0:01:20 What has the weather been like recently?

0:04:30 Meet today’s mom friend Alison Breier, a speech pathologist specializing in sound disorder!

0:06:15 What does a day in the life of a speech therapist look like?

0:10:10 Rachel’s speech therapy journey.

0:13:00 Why do you give some control to the kids you work with?

0:15:35 What is your family eating this week?

0:17:55 Why is it nice to have the whole family working and learning from home?

0:19:30 Blue Apron and mac ‘n cheese hacks.

0:22:40 How can you brown meat for easy tacos?

0:24:15 How has everyone been sleeping lately?

0:28:25 What was Katie’s 5AM panic?

0:31:35 How can you help your kids fall asleep?

0:32:50 What are you loving right now?

0:35:35 How can you make acai bowls from home?

0:38:00 What are the best hair products?

0:38:40 What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

0:41:05 How has Katie’s fantasy book series been going?

0:42:15 What has Stephanie been reading and watching?

0:45:30 What is your best mom hack?

0:47:00 How can you put a buffer into negative experiences?

0:52:35 Where should you put your kids’ snacks?

0:53:40 What is a simple laundry hack?

0:54:30 How was your son’s biventricular repair surgery?

0:59:50 What happened after the surgery?

1:02:45 Getting through the doom and gloom. 

1:05:35 What did you do after you brought Evan home?

1:08:10 What is your funny camping story?

1:10:05 How is Evan doing now?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Music lessons, word puzzles, Disneyland trips, and more!
• Accidentally taking your baby to a frat party.
• How motherhood changes your life.

Resources + Links:

Oh Crap! Potty Training by Jamie Glowacki

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

Spare by Prince Harry

The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook by Ashley Craft

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

Show Notes:

You’ve heard of baby’s first steps, now get ready for baby’s first frat party! In this episode, we have Mackenzie Aweida, a stay at home mom of two little boys and a Phoenician transplant! She’ll tell us about the time when she found out she should have left her baby at home! We’ll chat about the beautiful chaos of motherhood, from engaging music lessons for your kids to magical Disneyland trips and everything in between. Then, Mackenzie shares her story of how she learned the #1 rule of parenting: when in doubt, call a babysitter! Find out how this mom in real life accidentally gave her infant a taste of college life early!

01:15 Meet Mackenzie Aweida, stay at home mom of two little boys and Phoenician transplant with a background in design!

05:50 How did your son, Booker, get his name?

08:00 What is your family eating this week?

12:15 How do you feed your picky eaters?

14:55 What new taco recipe did Stephanie try?

18:45 How is your family sleeping right now?

21:20 How is Katie’s new sleep chart and mattress cover so far?

23:55 Getting to sleep early.

24:50 What are you loving right now?

27:45 How do you engage kids in music lessons?

31:30 How can you curl your kids’ hair without heat?

33:25 What are you reading, watching, or listening to this week?

35:30 How is Katie’s fantasy series going?

37:00 What did Stephanie get from her gift exchange?

39:20 How was your Christmas Disneyland trip?

42:00 How did you end up bringing your baby to a house party?

46:55 What happened after you stayed?

51:05 How does motherhood change your perspective?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• The unexpected detours in the journey of motherhood.
• Handling the chaos of having two under two.
• Finding the balance between business and being a mom.

Resources + Links:

Connect with Meg on Instagram | @meg_marie_photo

More Myself by Alicia Keys

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

Spare by Prince Harry

https://www.litcandlesupply.com/

Connect with Moms in Real Life on Instagram | @momsinreallifepodcast

Follow Stephanie and Katie on Instagram!

Stephanie Nguyen | @modernmilk

Katie Kunz | @kunzandcrew and @newbornlifecoach

WANT TO HAVE YOUR MOM STORY FEATURED ON THE PODCAST?

Sent us an email at [email protected]

Find out more on our websites

https://www.modernmilk.com/

www.katiekunz.com

Show Notes:

No one ever said the road to motherhood was easy! Today, we are diving into all the unexpected detours that come with being a mom in real life alongside our special guest, Meg McMillan! Meg is a brand photographer, business coach, and mother of two under two. She’ll show us how she handles the chaos to strike the balance between owning a business and being a mom. Along the way, we’ll talk about movie theater misadventures, effective systems for grocery budgeting and meal planning, our favorite new things, and more. Before we get off track, Meg shares her story about the time she accidentally missed her exit on the way to swimming lessons and had to improvise. Join in as we explore motherhood and all the bumps in the road that come with it!

01:15 Getting back into the swing of things.

03:20 Introducing Meg McMillan, brand photographer, business coach, and mother of two boys under two from San Diego!

05:05 How did you get into business coaching?

09:50 What is your family currently eating this week?

11:35 What is a quick and easy way to meal plan?

14:10 Is Instacart membership worth it?

15:55 What are easy pasta recipes for the whole family?

18:30 How can you get your groceries on budget?

20:50 How is your family sleeping right now?

23:00 How did a dog keep Stephanie up during the night?

23:45 How have stickers been helping Katie’s kids sleep in their own beds?

26:25 What are you loving right now?

29:50 How is Stephanie’s new washer and dryer?

32:10 The best scented candles.

34:10 What new rug did Katie get?

37:25 What are you reading, watching, or listening to right now?

40:00 Stephanie’s hilarious horror movie story.

43:05 How was Katie’s kiddos first movie theater experience?

46:45 What made you miss your exit on the freeway?

49:05 What happened once you realized something was wrong?

54:25 What would have happened if you had kept going?