Let's talk about emergency preparedness. This episode was recorded on a totally normal day, before COVID-19 but we're talking about ALL the other emergencies that you need to prepare for -- fires, earthquakes and more (also great advice for the situation we are in now too!)

Be sure to grab my Emergency Preparedness Checklist

Today's guest is one of my best friends who wanted to remain "Becky" in this episode. She's one of my favorites, and I think this episode is a good time. :)

Big thanks to today's sponsor Family Routines -- if you're looking to get your family prioritized and ready -- this is the course for you!

Items talked about in this episode:

• Food & water storage
• Creating an emergency binder
• What to take in an emergency

Items Mentioned

• Wheat Grinders
• My Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
• Hand Wheat Grinder
• Water storage barrels
• 72 hour kits pre-done at Amazon
• Preparedness Website from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Producer: Drew Erickson

So much anxiety and worry right now. What should you be doing about Covid if you're pregnant. Let's untangle it.

Today's episode is inspired by my VERY popular Corona in pregnancy post. People are looking for answers, and what to do -- today, I hope to provide that!

Big thanks to today's sponsor, The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. You NEED to be educated right now, don't go in concerned about all the worries about what to expect ALONG with having no clue about delivery. Jump into a class today! Remember to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode.

Please note, this episode was recorded on April 17th and is just a snapshot of how things are right now, keep that mind (although many of the things mentioned are important no matter where you are in your pregnancy).

In this episode we're talking about:

• What birth in hospitals looks like right now
• When to start to be concerned about new policies at the hospital
• Should you call the hospital?
• Masks in the hospital
• 7 things to do right now if you're pregnant and concerned
• • Keep your prenatal appointments
  • Take a prenatal class
  • Get sunshine daily
  • Deep breathing & positive affirmations
  • Hydration & kick counts
  • Physical distancing, but remain social
  • Great handwashing is a great habit for new moms!

Things mentioned:

• A great tutorial (she has a few of them) on how to make a mask, I love these no-sew options too!
• My Pregnancy Facebook Group

Other things you might find helpful:

• Positive Self Care during Corona
• Preventing a Poor Birth Experience
• What to do if your prenatal class got cancelled
• Printable Birth Plan
• Online Breastfeeding Classes

Producer: Drew Erickson

Let's untangling talking to kids about sex. When do you start, what do you say? How do you answer the questions that kids ask?

Jump into my practical parenting series to help prioritize parenting:

This post was inspired by my post on Talking to Kids About Sex

Big thanks to our sponsor Family Routines. I actually have a routine on talking to my kids about things like this (because I admit I need a little push)... Be sure to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode!

Items Mentioned

• Usborne Flip Flap Body Book
• Care and Keeping of You American Girl Book
• My cousin's podcast on porn addiction
• Your child was given to you for a reason

Other things you might be interested in:

• The Care and Keeping of Seven Year Olds
• Great video on what to do when kids see porn.

Producer: Drew Erickson

Today we're talking about what to expect with contractions, and what they will likely feel like. Wondering what a contraction will be like is VERY normal -- so let's talk about it.

This episode was inspired by my VERY popular post What Do Contractions Feel Like??

Don't forget to grab my hospital packing list:

This episode is sponsored by the Online Prenatal Class for Couples. It's really going to help simplify the process for you.

Today we're talking about:

• What a contraction is
• How contractions change from early labor
• Other symptoms you might have besides abdominal pain
• How to know when to go to the hospital

Items Mentioned:

• Online Prenatal Class For Couples Labor Chapter
• The Bloom Contraction Monitor (save $20 on your purchase through that link)
• How do I know I'm in Labor Episode
• Signs of Labor Post

Other things that might interest you:

• What does labor feel like with an epidural?
• How to go into labor
• Overdue for the Win

Producer: Drew Erickson

Today we're talking about handling finances as a couple, and how to traverse some of those tough situations together. Including, debt, retirement, college savings and more!

Today's guest is my husband, Drew Erickson. We've been married since 1997 and we've certainly had our fair share of fights about money (especially not having enough).

This episode was inspired by my family finance posts.

Big thanks to this week's sponsor, Family Routines. By getting into a routine with your money and organizing things in your house, things just run smoother! :)

Mentioned in this post:

• Buying a car with cash
• Our financial planner
• Getting through Graduate School Debt-Free
• Utah 529

Other things you might find interesting:

• Buying a car on Carvana
• Our Podcast on creating a Will & Trust
• Our actual budget for our family
• Splurges worth buying
• Family Travel Ideas

Producer: Drew Erickson

Today we're talking about taking care of yourself during the Corona Virus (Covid-19) and how to make good choices for yourself and keep the faith.

Grab my schedule to help your family stay in a routine right now:

In this episode:

• Acknowledging that it's hard
• The time to "do" is over
• Our facade of control is crumbling
• Using faith
• Focusing on the positive
• Finding ways to "do you" (and my weird way to do it)
• Connecting with others

Items Mentioned:

• The book Deep & Simple
• My Positive Self-Care Post
• My Corona Virus Schedule
• Gratitude Episode
• How I use my planner episode

Other things that might interest you:

• Corona Virus in Pregnancy
• Looking for faith at this time -- I really love this video that reminds us all we CAN do.

Producer: Drew Erickson

Today we're talking about getting your kids to pitch-in and clean!

Today's guest is Katelyn Fagan from What's up Fagans (she has two Instagram accounts -- @GoalOrientedMoms and @What'sUpFagans. She is also the author of Speed Clean the Deep Clean (which is my bible for cleaning up stuff).

Psst: The fun thing about this interview is that I had JUST found out that Katelyn was pregnant, and then a few weeks later we found out she's having TWINS (her second set). SO, getting kids involved in the cleaning process is going to be ALL the more important for Katelyn!

This post was inspired by the MANY posts I have about getting kids to do chores. I love this post on the things you DON'T have to do for your kids.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Organized Home -- all about simplifying organizing your house. The more organized you are, the easier it is to clean-up!

Mentioned in the episode:

• Cleaning Printables for each room
• Children's Daily Task Checklist

Other things you might find interesting:

• Cleaning the bathroom
• Toy Organization

Today we're talking about making family dinner a bit healthier, plus getting kids to still eat it. We know it's a lot harder than it sounds, so let's untangle it.

Today's guest is my friend Becca from My Crazy Good Life -- do NOT miss her on Youtube where she really takes family favorites and makes them healthier, you can also find her on Instagram.

Big thanks to our sponsor Family Routines, if you're looking to get your family into a routine that makes life easier -- do not miss it!

Remember to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode!

In this episode we're talking about:

• Making menu planning work for you
• The two-bite rule
• Making veggies in different ways to get kids interested
• Getting kids involved in cooking

Other things that might interest you:

• Check-out all of my meal plans

Shaving during pregnancy is a HOT topic that no one wants to talk about (funny how that happens). Today we're talking shaving, waxing and creams to get rid of leg hair, belly hair and even pubic hair. It's a *tangled* situation... :)

This episode is inspired by my VERY popular shaving during pregnancy post. Because the #1 question is what the medical staff "want" at delivery. Today I'll share the answer!

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. If you're looking for direct, honest and simple childbirth education, it's for you! Be SURE to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode! Worried you won't like it -- check out the reviews!

Mentioned in the episode:

• Shaving Mirror
• C-section Tips

Other things you might find helpful:

• What your labor nurse knows
• Birth Plan Worksheet

Producer: Drew Erickson

Today we're talking about parenting through the hard things. Stillbirth is a heavy weight to carry but it can be even harder when you have another person to take care of. Today I want to talk about how moms fight through that to still be present with their kids and slowly emerge from their grief.

My guest today is Winter Redd whom I have known since high school. We have reconnected as podcasters. She has two, Hungry Squared and the more relevant one is called Still a Part of Us: A podcast about stillbirth and infant loss. Today we're talking about how it was to still be a parent while having heavy grief as well.

Big thanks to our sponsor Family Routines -- routines can often be the steady hold for us when things get rough. Family Routines helps you organize families. Be sure to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode…

Mentioned in this podcast:

• I love how people helped Winter and her family out after her stillbirth.
• Routines were her saving grace -- check out my practical parenting series that will help you be a bit more intentional

Producer: Drew Erickson