Keeping a house can be OVERWHELMING. Especially when you have small children. Today we're talking about what to do when you get that sinking feeling that you just don't know HOW it's going to all get done!

Today's guest is Carly Campbell from Mommy on Purpose. AND, if you're a blogger you can find her in the group Blogging Like We Mean It. She's also the mom to two little people who like to get all. the. things out!

This post is inspired by my How to Clean your Kitchen post -- which I wrote after that overwhelming feeling. It helps me just get started...

Big thanks to our sponsor The Organized Home -- if you're looking to simplify organizing around your house! Be sure to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode!

Find the shownotes here: https://www.pullingcurls.com/podcast-029-mess/

Motherhood is long. A long, long time and it can be overwhelming to think of the whole spectrum, but I also think it's really important that we do just that — to remember that there are many ups and downs but it's a long-term game that we have to keep our eye on the horizon.

Today's guest is Joan Kimmel, and yes -- she had that famous last name first. She's the mom of Jimmy Kimmel from the late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live. But, to me she was just a volunteer with our carnival for a couple of years before I figured it out. :)

Big thanks to our sponsor Family Routines -- it's a great option if you're wanting to prioritize your life, get your family involved in keeping your house and otherwise stay sane. Be sure to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode.

Talked about in the episode:

• Running your school's carnival
• Jimmy Kimmel Spelling Bee
• The Serious Goose {all proceeds go to children's hospitals}
• Your Mom Cares Group
• Joan makes PB&J for the Oscars

Other things you might find helpful:

• Learning to Let Go
• Why did your child come to you?
• Positive Affirmations for Kids

Producer: Drew Erickson

HOW do you say no as a patient, when can you say no and how does it all work. We want to be sure that you UNDERSTAND that you can say no at any time and the hospital staff are just there to support you!

Today's guest is Mandy Irby (second time Mandy is on, she was also on this episode on how to go into labor). She's The Birth Nurse on Youtube and on Instagram and does trauma-sensitive nursing and childbirth education in the Roanoake, VA area (and also does Spinning Babies classes — which are super cool).

This episode is actually also a Youtube video on her channel, Mandy asks a few questions I don't ask (but stay tuned for my lightning round question for her). 🙂 Stay tuned til' the VERY end for mine. 🙂

Big thanks to this week's sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples — get informed so YOU can drive your own bus {figuratively, I do not teach how to drive busses}. Remember to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode. Have you seen the reviews?

This post was inspired by my 5 Labor Tips Webinar that talks a lot about informed consent.

Please remember that informed consent involves discussing:

• Risks
• Benefits
• Alternatives

You are entitled to that during ANY intervention, and it is 100% fine to ask for it.

Things mentioned in this podcast:

• Painful Vaginal Exams (yes, you can say no to those as well)
• What does your labor nurse know you don't know
• Choosing your Doctor
• Talking to your doctor at your first appointment

Other things you might find interesting:

• Pain Management in Labor
• 5 Things that happen to your Baby After Delivery
• Nervous About Labor
• Who should be in the room at delivery?
• Basic Delivery Vocabulary
• Delivery Room Rules
• A Peek Inside the Nurse Brain
• Pregnancy Emergencies

Podcast Producer: Drew Erickson

Getting organized for a family trip is often so overwhelming that parents can't get over it and relax on that trip (btw, a get away with kids is a trip — not a vacation, am I right?). I love the tips and tricks in this post to help you get ready quickly and easily for your next trip

Our guest is Kim Fidler from Get Away Today, where she is the Internet Marketing Director. She's also the writer behind my Pregnant at Disneyland post. She's also one of my VERY favorite people to hang out with. Someday we'll go to Disneyland together. Until then this podcast will have to do. 🙂

This post is inspired by all of my family travel posts. I give lots of tips and tricks for picking a spot, picking activities and saving money!

Big thanks to this week's sponsor, Family Routines — if you're looking to pack and make trips less stressful, I have a whole chapter on that. Instead of being stressed out with forgetting something, I will help you streamline it and have your family help you get ready! BTW, don't miss the coupon code mentioned in the episode!

In this episode we're going to talk about

• Choosing where to go
• How to organize packing
• Deciding on where to stay (you might be interested in ALL of my Disney hotel travel reviews that helps you know what I look for in a room).
• How to stay organized while "on the road".

Other things you might be interested in:

• My 2nd episode of my podcast where I share my #1 tip for family travel.
• My love story with Get Away Today that runs back to 1998.
• Other things to do in Southern California (includes Legoland)

Some of my favorite trip info:

• Yellowstone for Families
• 20 essentials for Car Trips
• My Trip Calculator (it's set for Disneyland, but you can use it for any trip!)
• Great things about camping (I know, you're surprised, I was too)
• Family-Friendly Fun in Hollywood
• Flagstaff, AZ
• Tucson, AZ
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports for Kids
• Audible Alternatives on Road Trips
• Kanab, UT
• Grand Canyon in a Day

Producer: Drew Erickson

The #1 question I get from participants in my 5 Word Challenge is WHERE TO START? In today's episode, I am sharing a few ideas on where to start and get going on making a change in your home!

This episode was inspired by a recently-written post — Where to Start Organizing? It's a great post that gives more details on this big question.

** Don't forget to leave me a review just like Turtle03 did! Just some stars, or a few words — it is SO helpful for me!

Big thanks to our sponsor The Organized Home. A GREAT way to get started on making a change.

Not sure you want to invest in the whole big course — I have a free 5-Word Challenge that is awesome-sauce. Sign up here! That course is hosted in my online classroom, so you do have to make a user name/password etc.

In this episode:

• Kitchen Organizing Zones
• A card table is something like this.
• I have a whole post on the sunk cost
• I love me some timers

Today's episode is on setting goals with kids. How can you motivate them, while also helping them find their own self-motivation? Plus, how do goals with kids change as they age?

I have a special guest on — one of my favorite people. Camille Walker from My Mommy Style. We met at a blog conference, she is so happy and positive. She also has kids of different ages than mine, so I think we are a good combo for this episode.

Camille has a few products that might help you set goals with your kids

• She has a cool goal setting worksheet she just came out with!
• And, if you're following the Come Follow Me Program — she has a Come Follow Me Printable.
• As we mention in the podcast, she has a Screen Freeze Handbook
• And, she has a parent/child interactive journal called A Time for Us

Big thanks to our sponsor Family Routines: How to Automate your Housewife Life. If you're looking to get your family into routines that support your priorities it is the course for you. Remember to use the coupon code mentioned in the episode!

Other things that might interest you:

• Journaling for Kids
• Why did my children come to me?
• My Practical Parenting Series

Producer: Drew Erickson

Why ARE kick counts so important, and what can they do for you? Today I'm talking about how to do kick counts, when to do them, and the benefits you'll find from them (not the least of those benefits being getting out of cleaning up dinner dishes). Let's untangle this one. 🙂

This episode is inspired by my decreased fetal movement post.

Big thanks to our sponsor, The Online Prenatal Class for Couples — if you like things simplified, just like I did kick counts today, this is the course for you. Don't forget the coupon code mentioned in the episode.

Other information:

• Great app for kick counts.
• Weeks of Pregnancy

Producer: Drew Erickson

Let's talk about using your spouse to help you make resolutions. How your "goal buddy" can help you take action with the things you need to change.

BIG thanks to everyone who has reviewed my podcast, I really appreciate it!

Today's guest is my husband, Drew Erickson — he was also my episode on splitting chores (009).

Big thanks to our sponsor Family Routines. If you are looking to make goals, one of the BEST things you can do is to create more margins in your regular life — and getting in snappy routines helps that a ton! Be sure to use the coupon code mentioned in the show!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Splitting Chores in Marriage (inspired by this post)
• How to plan your workouts
• My Family Finances Page
• Abundance Mentality Budgeting
• My cousin who helped us with financial planning
• I Love Money
• 30-day Money Cure (the course we took to help our mental state around money)

Other posts you might find interesting:

• Our actual family budget
• Ways for moms to make money from home
• The Magic of Having Enough
• How to NOT kill your husband!

Producer: Drew Erickson

Today I want to share about what Christmas means to me, along with a few of the lessons I learned from my favorite Christmas movie.

Mentioned in this episode:

• #LighttheWorld
• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

Producer: Drew Erickson

I think sometimes working towards the BEST thing takes more time than two or thing good things would do. The glory of good enough is that it is DONE. Let's untangle it.

This episode was inspired by one of my favorite posts — The Glory of Good Enough.

Big thanks to this week's sponsor, The Organized Home. If you're looking to just GET STARTED, it is the episode for you! Can't wait to see you inside the course (because I'm there to help)!

Mentioned in this post:

• Good, Better, Best Talk
• Less-Stress Birthdays
• Motivation for home organization
• Blogging for Income — shares how I got started

Other things that might interest you:

• Organized during pregnancy
• Six things I like about cleaning
• How to organize your home on a budget

Producer: Drew Erickson