Are you ready to take back your health during the holidays? Yes, it's possible.

Today, I’m talking with MK Stahl. She’s a mom, entrepreneur of a gym franchise  and host of Beyond the Scale podcast, building businesses while raising kids. She loves to help others move outside their comfort zones and at the gym, creating sustainable health for a happier you.   If you’re looking for a down to earth girl with real life answers to eating better and taking your health back, this is the episode for you. 

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.”

– Tia Walker

Are you the caretaker to a parent or grandparent, an aunt or uncle? There are a ton of emotions involved in being the sole caregiver. We'll offer 4 Tips and Strategies to Navigating through the good and the Hard. 
                                                                                                Marked Times
They Had a Full LIfe Before YOU                       10:00  
I'm Ready to Move                                                       11:28
When Arguments Shut Down the Process.   14:14
Self Care When You're the Only One
Funny Stories                                                                  18:09
Hoarding slash "Antique Collectors"                 20:19
Dealing with Dr's and Medical Issues              30:00
Power of Attorney                                                       31:00
Documenting Legacy                                                 38:45

Other Topics:
Attitudes, Yours & There's
Moving, Cleaning, Give, Save, Sell
Finding Mediators when lines are drawn in the sand
Advocacy, Finding Outside Help
Burnout: Finding Myself Again
Control Issues Come from a Place of Fear

Interview with Kimberly Shettleworth of Proverbs 31.  I met her online as a part of my book launch, Living Your Best Life. We float in many of the same circles and when I discovered that she was a caretaker of a family member similar to myself, I wanted to compare notes, to vent, to laugh, to learn tips and tricks in navigating the good and hard places. Like two girls chatting over coffee, check out this uplifting interview here. 

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

Do you have a strong-willed child who feels strongly about all the FEELS?

3 Ways to defuse the heightened emotion, to not walk on egg shells to create a happier family dynamic with Danielle Bettmann

Do you  have a child who fiercely believes in something?
~ who feels the injustice in the world?
~ who needs validation to be heard and seen before life can go on?

We talk about:
1. Positives and Negatives, pros and cons of this personality
2. How to diffuse the heightened emotion.
3. How to make them feel seen and heard.
4. How to validate, rather than defend, when their emotions feel like an attack.

Maggie Perspecticles talks about the type of kid you should be most concerned about.
Leanne Morgan, Comedian
Danielle Bettman, Host of Failing Motherhood

Bio: Danielle Bettmann has her bachelor's in Child Development + Education from Birth-Grade 3 with teaching certification. She taught Head Start, Early Head Start and was a home visitor for Save the Children for a program called Early Steps to School Success.

She was also an in-home childcare provider alongside a colleague for a little while before leading a large mom's group. 

She's certified as a Positive Discipline parent educator and has been working directly with parents locally and virtually now for 4 years with her own company.

Check out her website at: https://www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

On today's episode I interviewed Brad Baldbridge, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™, College Funding Consultant, and chief podcaster at Taming the High Cost of College.

We discuss:
How to choose a college: Community, State, Ivy League, Location, Major, GPA.
How to pay for college: Tax Loop Holes, Scholarships, Co's who pay.
How to determine what colleges are free depending on your salary.

We discuss Tours, Scholarships,, how to save, when to save and more juicy details. Check it out.

If you're starting the college process and didn't realize your Sophhmore year was the best time to start looking and calculating , listen now.

Harvard
Stanford
529 Path to College Savings Plan

Bradbaldridge.com

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

Several listeners had reached out to request an episode on divorce. We all hope to  live a happily ever after, but sometimes life takes a different turn, and our happily ever after needs editing.

Today, I interviewed Meagan Norris, a lawyer and certified life coach who helps Empaths strategize the best divorce possible.

We've all heard the horror stories of getting divorced. The fighting, the power plays, narsaccist behaviors and so on. It can take a major toll on your physical, financial and emotional well being.

Meagan says that Somewhere between concious uncoupling (Gwenyth Paltrow) and Brad Pitt and Angelina's 7 year divorce, there's a happier medium that one can fall into.

She offers 3 strategies to a happier divorce process.
The key is to keep your eye on the  Objective, to look for potholes that slow the process; to dodge the power plays. Here's to a Happier, Freer YOU.

Our audience asked questions:
What if my spouse is delaying the process?
How can I deflect power plays when my spouse is hard to deal with?
Should I stay married for the children?
When do you know when it's time to file paperwork and proceed with divorce?
How can moms of teens show up for their children, during this difficult process?

We talk boundaries, strategies and more. If you are going thru divorce or know someone who needs to hear this, check it out and send to your friends. It's a game changer.

Is your marriage salvageable? Check out Episode 60. It’s a story of a fractured marriage on the brink of divorce and how a last minute trip to Italy brought redemption and hope to the entire family.

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

Today I interviwed Gabe Cox, host of the Goal-Driven Mom's podcast and a 2x Boston Marathon Runner. Who doesn't like a great running metaphor to solve the world's problems? Sign me up, not for the marathon, but the transformation.

Questions Answered:
1. Gabe offers 3 EASY steps to walking towards a new life in 60 days.
2. What causes me to quit too soon and sabatoge myself?
3. What do I need to CHANGE  to re-route for better success?

We mention Jon Acuff's Podcast: All it Takes is a Goal. "Give Yourself the
Gift of Done." Why is it so easy to start, but so hard to finish?

Divide into tiny baby steps.
Mini wins are key.

Interview with Gabe Cox on Motherhood Mindset with Stephanie Pletka

For similar episodes, check out Motherhood Mindset with Stephanie Pletka
Episode 58: Quick Health Habits to Set You Up for Success
Episode 48: Want ot Live a Life of Significance? Do this One Thing

HGTV mentioned: Life is full of progress. Don't quit in the middle or before the breakthrough. The fruit of our labor is around the corner. Your dream is bigger than you. The hard, the middle, the messy is where the transformation takes place. That's where the goodness is found.

Define:
Wish
Want
Goal

Mentioned:
Heather Pettey
HGTV
Jon Acuff
Gabe Cox
Living Your Best Life Book, Stephanie Pletka

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

Life happens.

What if you get a divorce or your spouse dies; would you know all the passwords to insurance policies, wills or deeds?

Do you know the exact amount of money coming and going, minus taxes?

Life stops for no one: bills, mortgage payments, stock investments &  retirement plans.

This thought-provocative episode empowers women to think, to take stock, to be financially strategic in knowing the ins and out of your finances, to  empower yourself  in case life takes a turn you didn't forsee.

Interviewing Meagan Dwyer is a financial planner and  host of the Money Isn't Scary podcast.
 IG @ Moneyisn'tScary

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

3 Tips to Taking December Off to Access Pros & Cons of the Past Year: What worked, what didn't to Create a Happier, Freer YOU

December can be a chaotic season of hustle and hurry. But what if, we found ways to enjoy the moments, to take a break:

* to reflect, to access pros & cons
* to determine what relationships worked
* which relationships / partnerships need to take a back seat
* where you spent all your money
* what triggers (good and bad) moved the needle on your life
* what ways you down, brought the least ROI
* what brought most joy & fullfillment

Let's access, reflect, figure out what worked and what didn't work, to create
a more productive, efficient new year. To remove distractions that take our
eye off the prize, to create a life that sparks joy, to create a better Yes,
to surround yourself with people that bring you life.

Dolly Pardon on the Today Show reminds us to keep our lives private. We may seem like an open book, but people only know the stories she tells them, nothing more. Keep some details and stories for yourself.

Check Out Living Your Best Life: To Let Go of the Lies We Tell Ourselves and Embrace a Happier YOU

Check out my interviews with Nikki Oden of Love Your Mom Life Podcast - How to Become a Goal Crusher

Pre-order Nikki's new book: But Definitely Wear Mascara: Hacks to Help You Love Your Mom Life

Gabe Cox of Goal Driven Moms: episode 171 What Happens When God's Plan for Us Seems Bigger than Our Qualifications 

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

Do you remember what it was like being 20? Life was full of unknowns. You were a risk taker; the world was your oyster. We discuss pros and cons.

In your 30's you began to build a dream, start a family. Pros and cons.

In your 40's life felt more settled. Kids were more independent. Pros and Cons.

In your 50's you may be sandwiched in between guiding your young adult  kids and caring for a parent. You have more freedom to travel, to read a book and enjoy a coffee, minus the hectic life of raising littles. Pros and Cons. 

Every stage, good or bad, doesn't last forever. 

Stop wishing you were in a different season of life and embrace the one you’re in. .You can’t always change the circumstances, but you can definitely change your perspective. Perception is reality. 

Life is full of unknowns. There are curve balls at every corner. But we get to write our own story and our happiness is our own responsibility. What will you do with the season you're in now. Because someone is wishing they had your experience, maturity and audacious attitude.  After all, us women, we're Better Together!

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG

This week, Heather Pettey of Life Coach BFF and Stephanie Pletka of Motherhood Mindset talk about how to prepare for family drama, bathroom mirror gratitude talk, and how to navigate holiday traditions while keeping expectations low and flexibility high. 

We discuss holiday hot topics, funny trends and conversation starters around the thanksgiving table. If you want to learn as you laugh, this show is for you. 

Stephanie's Bio:

Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, best selling author of Living Your Best Life and host of the Motherhood Mindset, a podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood.

She specializes in helping moms create deep-rooted relationships with their kids, customing the family life you've always dreamed; through firepit moments, travel and exploration. From littles to teens, we've got you covered, mama.

Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to chase your dreams and write your story.

Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go. Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.

@stephaniepletka IG