The Better Part - Intentional Living for Christian Moms with a Bible-Loving Catholic Mama

Stephanie Niemis from Healthy Holme is joining me on the podcast today! It’s the Stephanie’s! I’m so excited for you to hear her ideas for creating new family traditions with your own family. Advent and Christmas are the perfect time to start new family traditions! This lovely mama of two will inspire you to add to your current family traditions and really love on your family during this holiday season. I’ve been personally inspired by Stephanie and we have started a December “gratitude tree” in our home. Check out the “tree” at Instagram.com/500secondstojoypodcast. Enjoy our conversation and don’t forget to follow her over on Instagram at Instagram.com/healthyholme. You can also find yummy recipes and other inspiration on her blog at healthyholme.com. May you and your family be blessed!

This one is for the mamas! In today’s episode I am chatting with you all about some tips I’ve learned to work on my own personal development as a mom of littles. It’s so important in this season of nurturing our little ones, that we don’t forget to nurture ourselves. I will share some practical tips with you all and you can find all of these tips written down for you in a handy dandy PDF guide here: https://mailchi.mp/e62e62e359ec/selfdevelopment. I hope you start putting these ideas into practice this week, because you are worth it, lovely lady! If you enjoy the content I share, please consider joining the 500 Seconds To Joy Community by clicking here: https://mailchi.mp/a7a4f8935f67/500secondstojoy. To connect on Instagram go to Instagram.com/500secondstojoypodcast. You can also feel free to email me at [email protected]. Also, if you have a chance to rate and review the podcast on iTunes, I will give you a listener shoutout in the next episode! I love to hear from you. Thanks again for being here, friends. It means so much to me that you spend your time hanging out with me. Talk soon! Xoxo

Happy Sunday, friends! I felt inspired to chat with you all today on the first Sunday of Advent and share what our family will be doing during this season of waiting for Christmas. I hope this episode inspires you to do something during the season of Advent to get yourself ready for the joy of Christmas! Here’s what we are doing for Advent this year: 1. We are each choosing a saint for the liturgical year (Check out Kendra Tierney’s book on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-All-Year-Compendium-Liturgical/dp/1621641597/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=catholic+all+year+compendium&qid=1575092534&sprefix=catholic+all&sr=8-2 & read her blog: CatholicAllYear.com. 2. Each day in Advent we will be using our magnetic Advent calendar & will also be writing down something we are grateful for each day to add to our Gratitude Tree 3. We are celebrating the various saint feast days, starting with St. Nicholas on Dec. 6 (I will put candy in my 3-year-old’s shoes) - check out stnicholascenter.org to read about St. Nicholas 4. We will have an Advent wreath on our dining table with fake candles to light and will say prayers from an Advent book 5. We will be taking time to sit in darkness with a candle lit, reflecting and praying 6. We will slowly decorate for Christmas, taking time to soak in the season of Advent *7. I forgot to mention that we will also do the Jesse Tree and are planning to use the Messy Family Project Advent book (messyfamilyproject.org). Reach out to me on Instagram at Instagram.com/500secondstojoypodcast and let me know what you are planning to do for Advent! You can also email me at [email protected]. Have a blessed beginning of Advent and I will catch you soon!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I am so beyond thankful that you are here. Your support of the podcast means the world to me. It’s truly God’s work and it’s an honor getting to be here with you all. Today is Part 2 of my conversation with Amy Eilers! I seriously loved chatting with her. We are finishing up our talk about screen time and then Amy is going into detail about minimalism and how to go simple in your home. If you haven’t joined yet, head over to Facebook and join Amy’s group called Going Simple with House of Eilers and you can join our no screen challenge and get inspiration for going simple in your home by joining the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/753225418475792/?ref=share. This Facebook group has more than 600 members and has lots of inspiration to help you on your journey to go simple in your own home. You can also connect with Amy on Instagram at Instagram.com/houseofeilers where she shares lots of helpful tips for moms and gives practical encouragement for women trying to minimize and go simple. Amy’s blog has free resources for families as well as tips for mom life. Connect with her on the blog here: https://houseofeilers.wordpress.com. If you’d like to join our 5-Day No Screen November challenge, you can still sign up for the daily emails for these last two days. The emails are filled with screen time alternatives, encouragement and reflection questions. Click here to get those emails: https://mailchi.mp/f36ef2f543dd/noscreennov2019. You can also connect with me (your host, Stephanie) by visiting me at Instagram.com/500secondstojoypodcast. I love to hear from you and want to support you in your journey (whatever that looks like). You can also feel free to reach out to me via email at [email protected]. Enjoy the rest of my conversation with Amy Eilers and don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and subscribe to the newsletter so you stay updated on the latest episodes and so you know when part 2 of this conversation is published. Join the newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/a7a4f8935f67/500secondstojoy. Thanks for being here, lovely friends. I’m so grateful for each of you and I’m so grateful that I got to chat with Amy Eilers.

You guys are in for a treat! I’m talking with blogger Amy Eilers from House of Eilers today. Get ready for some inspiration and real talk in Part 1 of our 2 part conversation. Today is Day 1 of the 5-Day No Screen November challenge and Amy is my co-host for this challenge. Amy Eilers is one of my favorite gals on Instagram and I absolutely love her blog! She’s talking about minimalism and her journey with reducing screen time. You will love the way Amy talks about going simple & making minimalism work for you and your family. Amy has a Facebook group called Going Simple with House of Eilers and you can join our no screen challenge and get inspiration for going simple in your home by joining the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/753225418475792/?ref=share. This Facebook group has more than 600 members and has lots of inspiration to help you on your journey to go simple in your own home. You can also connect with Amy on Instagram at Instagram.com/houseofeilers where she shares lots of helpful tips for moms and gives practical encouragement for women trying to minimize and go simple. She’s also really funny and entertaining. Amy’s blog has free resources for families as well as tips for mom life. Connect with her on the blog here: https://houseofeilers.wordpress.com. If you’d like to join our 5-Day No Screen November challenge, you can sign up for the daily emails filled with screen time alternatives, encouragement and reflection questions by clicking here: https://mailchi.mp/f36ef2f543dd/noscreennov2019. You can also connect with me (your host, Stephanie) by visiting me at Instagram.com/500secondstojoypodcast. I love to hear from you and want to support you in your journey (whatever that looks like). You can also feel free to reach out to me via email at [email protected]. Enjoy this lovely conversation with Amy Eilers and don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and subscribe to the newsletter so you stay updated on the latest episodes and so you know when part 2 of this conversation is published. Join the newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/a7a4f8935f67/500secondstojoy. Thanks for being here, lovely friends. I’m so grateful for each of you and I’m so grateful that I got to chat with Amy Eilers.

Laura Mendenhall is back on the podcast today! This is Part 2 of our 2 part conversation about how to “Love Fast Live Slow”. Laura chats about what’s coming next (hint: a book) & she also gives us an action item. This lovely Beachbody coach will also inspire you to exercise & get healthy without any of the guilt or perfectionism. To connect with Laura, find her on Instagram at Instagram.com/lauramendenhall. You can also find her at lovefastliveslow.com where you can become a Love Fast Live Slow Insider and receive her weekly newsletter (I’m an Insider), as well as download lots of free resources to improve your life. Head on over to Amazon and get her e-book devotional: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ8XVMZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_xV5ZDbAKWFG78. Enjoy the rest of this inspiring interview with Laura! Subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on the most recent episodes and get a dose of joy for your day: https://mailchi.mp/a7a4f8935f67/500secondstojoy. Lastly, to join the 5-Day No Screen November challenge, visit this page and sign up: https://mailchi.mp/f36ef2f543dd/noscreennov2019. Also, go to Facebook and join the Going Simple with House of Eilers group where we will be hosting this challenge by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/753225418475792/?ref=share. Find me on Instagram at Instagram.com/500secondstojoy & follow Amy from House of Eilers who is co-hosting the 5-Day No Screen November challenge with me - she’s at Instagram.com/houseofeilers. Can’t wait to see you in the No Screen November challenge!

Laura Mendenhall is on the podcast today and WOW, she is on fire! I can’t wait for you to hear her chat about her message to “Love Fast Live Slow”. God truly is working through her and it is beautiful to see. You will be inspired and challenged by her words today. Today is Part 1 of a 2 part interview, and today she discusses her family’s mantra, “Love Fast Live Slow”. Laura has some practical advice for moms about patience & shares some words of wisdom that you are sure to love. To connect with Laura, find her on Instagram at Instagram.com/lauramendenhall. You can also find her at lovefastliveslow.com where you can become a Love Fast Live Slow Insider and receive her weekly newsletter (I’m an Insider), as well as download lots of free resources to improve your life. Lastly, head on over to Amazon and get her e-book devotional: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ8XVMZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_xV5ZDbAKWFG78. Enjoy this inspiring interview and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes so you know when Part 2 is published. You can also subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on the most recent episodes and get a dose of joy for your day (click here: https://mailchi.mp/a7a4f8935f67/500secondstojoy). Enjoy the episode, friends! PS: To join the No Screen November challenge that I talked about at the beginning of this episode, visit this page and sign up: https://mailchi.mp/f36ef2f543dd/noscreennov2019. Also, go to Facebook and join the Going Simple with House of Eilers group where we will be hosting this challenge by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/753225418475792/?ref=share. Connect with me on Instagram at Instagram.com/500secondstojoy & follow Amy from House of Eilers who is co-hosting the No Screen November challenge with me - she’s at Instagram.com/houseofeilers. Can’t wait to see you in the No Screen November challenge!

Ever find yourself comparing your life to someone else’s? Then today’s first ever interview episode is for you, friend. We have young entrepreneur, Amy from Amy B Photography, talking about comparison in a picture perfect world. You won’t want to miss Amy’s insights and call to action (hint: it’s about changing your mindset). I promise it’s worth your time. To connect with Amy on Instagram, visit Instagram.com/amybjphoto. To visit Amy’s website, go to https://bjornfam.wixsite.com/amybphoto. To join her newsletter, go to https://mailchi.mp/98bbeae0cd37/amybjphoto. Connect with me on Instagram at Instagram.com/500secondstojoypodcast or email me at [email protected]. To join my 500 Seconds To Joy Community, visit https://mailchi.mp/a7a4f8935f67/500secondstojoy. Lastly, the visit my website, go to www.500secondstojoy.wixsite.com/community. So glad you’re here, friends.

Need a few minutes of encouragement to boost your mood, lovely friend? Well you’ve come to the right place! Listen to today’s episode for 5 minutes of encouragement that is sure to add a smile to your face! As an added bonus, click this link to download a free PDF that goes along with this episode and will help you continue the good vibes all week long: https://mailchi.mp/423f27adb2ec/quickmoodboosters. To join our Community & learn more about the 500 Seconds To Joy Community, click here: https://mailchi.mp/a7a4f8935f67/500secondstojoy. For shownotes, visit my website at 500secondstojoy.wixsite.com/community/blog. To connect on Instagram go to Instagram.com/500secondstojoypodcast. You can also feel free to email me at [email protected]. Thanks for being here, friends. I’m grateful for every one of you and I hope you have a blessed, joy-filled day!

Today’s episode is a heavy topic, but it’s filled with a message of hope. When I recorded this episode I didn’t yet know that my mom’s cancer came back but the message I share totally still applies. God is good amidst it all. Please send my mom, Jennifer, lots of prayers and good thoughts as she prepares to undergo more treatment. Thanks friends! No shownotes for this episode but please find me on Instagram at Instagram.com/500secondstojoypodcast or reach out to me via email at [email protected]. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to my mailing list at https://mailchi.mp/a7a4f8935f67/500secondstojoy - you will get a weekly dose of joy on Mondays to start your week off right. And subscribe to the podcast on the Apple Podcasts app so you stay up to date on new episodes. Thanks for listening and I pray you find some joy today! Xoxo