The Mom Hour

Sometimes, it’s the small things that have the greatest impact–like a wall hook precisely where your kid needs it or the exact right size and number of laundry baskets for your family. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah are sharing easy home hacks and perfect products that are making their lives just a little bit less aggravating. As busy moms, too often, we just deal with the minor annoyances that seem trivial . . . until we’re grinding our teeth because the charger we need is missing (yet again!) We hope that listening to this episode will help you identify the persistent frustrations in your own home and inspire you to brainstorm some solutions. Yes, it might mean spending a few extra bucks or recruiting a helping hand, but we promise: The long-term satisfaction is so worth it. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Listen to our recent episode: Cleaning Products We Can’t Live Without

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
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Now that we’re officially IN the new year, we’re thinking about our hopes and goals for 2022. From physical health to mental health, habits to focus areas, heavy stuff to totally frivolous, Meagan and Sarah share the ways we want to challenge ourselves this year, ways we want to go easier on ourselves, and the ways we plan to invest both in our own growth and in others around us. We’ll be revisiting this topic to see how we’re doing in about six weeks, so be sure to check back in! Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Sarah talked all things planning in this recent Voices episode
• Meagan is reading Atomic Habits (affiliate link) by James Clear, a book that Sarah read two years ago, and that we talked more about in this episode: Small Habits That Make A Big Difference
• Meagan mentioned her recent interview with Amy Clark of MomAdvice.com, including mention of the Mom Advice Book Club
• We both follow @ZeenaDhalla, posture expert, on Instagram (Meagan also interviewed Zeena on Mother Of Reinvention)
• Meagan mentioned her local spa treatments during her divorce period, something she talked more about in this episode: Self Care As Self Preservation
• Sarah has been giving to teachers and classrooms via DonorsChoose.org

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Digital task mastery, pen and paper planning, and keeping the family organized: no two moms do this exactly alike – even those of us who love to plan and organize! In our first interview episode of 2022, Sarah Powers sits down with fellow planner people Christine Koh and Sarah Hart-Unger to discuss our favorite digital resources, pen-and-paper tools, and methods of staying organized at work, home, and school. We get into the nitty gritty of color coded everything, what works and what doesn’t for our personalities, and how we use planning tools to avoid over-scheduling and leave white space for joy and (gasp!) even spontaneity. Join us!

Note: Sarah Powers chatted Kelsey Wharton from The Girl Next Door podcast for a companion conversation to this episode on Instagram Monday January 10. Watch the recorded video here.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Watch Sarah Powers and Kelsey Wharton in an Instagram companion to this episode here.
• Links mentioned by Sarah Hart-Unger
• Full Focus Planner (affiliate link – shopping here will support SHU!)
• SHU’s full planner stack for 2022
• Pentel EnerGel Clena Gel Pens
• Erin Condren Wall Organization Center
• Links mentioned by Christine Koh
• Todoist (this is in affiliate link that’ll get you 2 months of PRO free!)
• Links mentioned by Kelsey Wharton (on Instagram)
• Google Keep
• Apple Photo Stream
• Weekly Intentions Printable from @thehandwritingclub
• Daily Habit Tracker from @elisejoy (get it when you subscribe to her newsletter)
• Zebra F-301 pens
• Mini highlighters
• Other things we mentioned and where to find our guests!
• The Essential Calendar
• Sarah P uses simple laptop stand like this one
• Christine’s website
• Christine’s socials: Insta Twitter Facebook
• Sarah Hart-Unger’s website
• Sarah Powers talked at length about Todoist on Best Laid Plans
• Sarah Hart-Unger was on The Mom Hour in 2020 and 2021
• Christine Koh was on The Mom Hour in 2018, and on Meagan’s other show, Mother Of Reinvention more recently
• Sarah Powers was on Edit Your Life talking about working from home in 2019
• Sarah Powers on Best Of Both Worlds talking about evening routines and logistics in 2019
• Kelsey Wharton on The Mom Hour talking about working motherhood way back in 2016
• Kelsey’s podcast The Girl Next Door
• Kelsey’s blog Rising*Shining, and her accompanying podcast, the Rising*Shining Audio Blog

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re not experts…we’re two moms with lots of kids and dirty floors. Join Meagan and Sarah as we share our go-to products for keeping a clean-enough house, and feel better about your own dusty corners as we confess the aspects of housekeeping we’re just not great at. We share our favorite way to get dog pee out of the carpet, some tricks for keeping multi-use products like white vinegar and baking soda at the ready, and our shared habit of acquiring a LOT of devices for cleaning floors (and yet? the floors are still dirty). Welcome to 2022, friends. Come on in to our not-very-clean houses for Episode 346!

LINKS MENTIONED:

Meagan’s can’t-live-without cleaning products

• Inexpensive microfiber dust mop, similar to this one (affiliate link)
• Method Squirt + Mop Wood Floor Cleaner (affiliate link)
• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Surface Scrub and Scrubbing Cream
• Granite polish (affiliate link)
• Libman Freedom Spray Mop (affiliate link)
• Public Goods Glass Cleaner & Refill Kit (Public Goods is a show sponsor, but we pay for our own goods because we love them so much!) 

Sarah’s can’t-live-without cleaning products

• The entire Resolve line of carpet and upholstery cleaners (affiliate link)
• Public Goods Surface Cleaner & Refill Kit (Public Goods is a show sponsor, but we pay for our own goods because we love them so much!) 
• An inexpensive broom/dustpan combo kit, similar to this one (affiliate link), and also open to your favorites!
• Warehouse-sized containers of bleach, baking soda, and white vinegar – stored somewhere handy!
• Glisten Dishwasher Magic
• This is the exact shop vac we have – purchased at our local home improvement store (can’t vouch for this online retailer but wanted to share our make/model)

Other things we mentioned in the episode:

• New listeners can email Sarah at [email protected]
• Mom’s Must-Have Cleaning Products (our team put together this great list on the blog)
• Meagan seconds contributor Emily’s love for Bar Keeper’s Friend (affiliate link)
• @gocleanco on Instagram
• We’re celebrating 10 Million all-time downloads! Read more here, or watch this.
• Like episodes about home-life and cleaning? Try these:
• Kitchen Storage & Organization: Episode 312
• More Than Mom: Home & Personal Organization Help
• Where To Put All The STUFF (Part One): Episode 294
• Where To Put All The STUFF (Part Two): Episode 295
• 10 Habits Of Happy Home Managers
• Home & Life Products We’re Loving: Episode 246
• Home Management Systems That Work (For Now): Episode 220
• Chores, Life Skills, & Household Contributions: Episode 191
• More Than Mom: Clutter
• Dirty Dishes In The Sink (No, It’s Not A Metaphor): Episode 172
• Loads And Loads (And Loads) Of Laundry: Episode 167
• Spring Cleaning & Entertaining Tips: Episode 98
• The Nitty-Gritty of Keeping a Clean-Enough House: Episode 64
• Stuff, Junk & Things: Episode 35
• Chores & Delegation: Episode 15

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A day at home with nothing on the calendar or the agenda: It’s the best of times . . . and it can be the worst of times. In this final episode of 2021, Meagan and Sarah are reminiscing about how they spent cuddled-up days at home pre-kids and with little ones, as well as what it looks like now that everyone is kinda doing their own thing. We remember games, baking, movie-watching, and puttering (plus lots of making and cleaning up messes). We talk about at-home activities that are fun with kids, the things that make it challenging, little ways to feel productive, and how to cultivate the “day off” vibe you crave. There’s a fine line between snuggly and stifling, and you might be feeling it this week between Christmas and New Year’s. Whatever the age of your kids or your family situation, this episode will give you ideas on how to take pleasure in the slowness. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Meagan describes the movie “Dan in Real Life”
• Read our Contributor Emily’s blog post on Six Ways to Entertain Your Family Indoors This Winter
• Listen to these related episodes: More Than Mom: Getting Cozy, Stocking Your House For Stuck-Inside Days, How To Survive (And Even Enjoy) Playing Board Games With Kids

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
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• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From feeling like time (or money) is running out to second-guessing gift choices and blaming ourselves for our kids’ behavior, there’s no shortage of ways for moms to feel crummy during the holidays. Even when everything miraculously gets done, you might wonder where the heck’s the magic or feel guilty wondering if you slowed down enough to actually enjoy it (and honestly, would it even be the holidays without a good, old-fashioned mom tantrum?). In this last episode before Christmas, Meagan and Sarah talk through the various ways moms tend to be hard on themselves this time of year, and some ways we’ve learned to reframe our messy feelings. We also chat about how we’re feeling this particular Christmas and how it compares to holidays of the past. Depending on when you listen to this episode, consider it your pre- or post-holiday pep talk–complete with a tasty detour into charcuterie board land. We promise it’s NOT too late to give yourself a little grace. We’re here for you, friends! Enjoy.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Here’s our recent episode on What Our Kids See In Us (For Better & For Worse)
• Read Meagan’s holiday help blogpost: No, You’re Not Behind
• We loved this Girl Next Door podcast episode on Christmas Gone Wrong from our friends Kelsey and Erica
• Our Contributor Chaunie’s blogpost: Last Year I Skipped Christmas; Here’s What I Learned
• Listen to our episode on Letting Go of Perfect-Holiday-Mom Pressure
• Check out all our episodes and blogposts about the holidays
• There have been some very poignant conversations about the holidays and family in our Facebook Group
• When you have time, it would mean so much if you left us a review
• We have so many great ideas and lots of encouragement waiting for you in our Holiday Headquarters

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When it comes to parenting–and how we generally live our lives–actions speak louder than words. Our behaviors, priorities, emotions, and reactions are all things we’re modeling for our kids. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah try to see themselves through their kids’ eyes, reflecting on the qualities we feel good about and the ones we’re trying to be more conscious of. We talk about how we can’t control how our kids will think about us when they’re grown, but we CAN be thoughtful about the moms we want to be; and even though we’re opposites in lots of ways, we discover a superpower we have in common. This deep-thinky episode is a great one for wherever you are on your motherhood journey. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• This episode was inspired in part by Sarah’s interview with Meghan Leahy
• We recently talked about habits in this episode: Where We Nailed It (And Where We Didn’t) In 2021
• We’d love to hear from you. Email us, or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram
• Here’s how to leave us a review (pretty please!) 
• Discover tons of holiday content and our Small Business Boutique over in our Holiday Headquarters
• Listen to our other episodes on our personalities: Getting (And Giving) Help During Hard Times, How We’re The Same (And Also Different), and Knowing Yourself As A Mom

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As 2021 winds down, we’re looking at the habits we picked up – intentionally or accidentally – in the past year. Some habits we stuck with and feel great about; some didn’t serve us as much as we thought they might. We celebrate some areas where we totally nailed it this year and get real about the not-so-healthy habits that crept in, too. From self-care and big improvements, to tech use and baby steps, we look at the different ways our habits showed up in 2021, acknowledging that you don’t have to stick with something for 365 days for it to make an impact. We also laugh about the things Meagan does in bed . . . and the new things she wants to try (wink, wink). We end on a hopeful note, with some early thoughts on 2022 intentions (and lots more to come). Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Sarah talked about her planner / goal setting / Todoist (affiliate link) habits when she was a guest on this episode of Best Laid Plans with Sarah Hart-Unger
• Big fans of this Q&A a Day Journal for Kids and the 5-Year version for grownups
• We still love popping into our listener group on Facebook!
• We’re throwing it WAY back with this episode: Your Media Diet: Is It Healthy?
• This is how Sarah’s family does family meetings
• We’ve said it before: Decide Once is a Lazy Genius principle we can get behind
• Meagan dipped her toe into TV-watching with: The Queen’s Gambit, Ted Lasso, and The Shrink Next Door
• The episode where Meagan’s Voices interview on Running Marathons & Raising Boys
• Meagan’s Mother of Reinvention episode with Amy Clark about her book club
• Discover gift ideas and holiday inspiration over in our Holiday Headquarters
• Listen to our other episodes on habits: Podcast Listening and Book Reading Habits, 10 Habits of Happy Home Managers, and Small Habits That Make a Big Difference

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the years, we’ve developed a bit of a reputation for hating fun, but really we just want to give all moms permission to have actual opinions about what’s fun, what isn’t, and how they like to make memories with their kids. If you’re like us, cooking, crafting, outdoor activities, and Mommy-and-Me classes might strike you as are occasionally fun, never-ever fun, or not fun YET. In the spirit of keeping it real, Meagan and Sarah chat about how kids have special ways of tainting activities we normally love, plus we break down how to separate the fun YOU crave from feeling like you have to include your children. We also give real tips for how to make some of these ideas a better fit for your family (spoiler: It might not include you!). And to wrap it all up, we share some encouragement and suggestions for planning future “fun.” Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Our OG episode on hating fun and when we revisited the topic several years ago
• Meagan’s Instagram post about taking her kids to indoor waterparks 
• Our Contributor Jayme’s blogpost: Baking With Kids This Holiday Season: A Strategy For The Hesitant Mom
• Dear Evan Hansen is a soundtrack Meagan normally (but doesn’t always!) love on family road trips 
• Craving fun that’s just for you? Listen to our More Than Mom episode on Creative Hobbies (Now … Soonish … Maybe Someday) for inspiration.

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matchy Christmas china, snuggly slippers, nice leather bags, and incredible concerts . . . these are a few of our favorite things! What makes a great gift AND how do you increase your odds of actually getting it? Today’s More Than Mom is all about the most memorable gifts of our Christmases Past–plus what’s on our wish lists (and shopping lists!) this year. We talk about gifts from childhood, experience gifts, weird gifts, and gifts that turn into traditions. We also discuss what really makes a gift feel thoughtful and personal, and some of our favorite gifts to give the women in our lives. As a bonus, Sarah also shares a decade-long Christmas gift mystery! This episode is full of inspiration. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Shop small, mom-owned businesses in our Small Business Boutique
• All our Contributor gift guides are in our Holiday Headquarters
• Sarah’s fave slippers she heard about from Ashlee Gadd
• We love shopping Etsy and Minted
• Sarah’s travel mug
• Meagan’s show and tell embroidery video on Instagram
• Mom’s 2021 Holiday Wishlist
• It’s true! We’ve talked about bags before: What’s In Our Purses and all about Purses
• More episodes about gifting: Giving and Receiving Gifts, A Judgement-Free Conversation About Shopping More Mindfully
• Check out all our episodes and blogposts about gifts
• Meagan’s essay It’s OK To Feel Disappointed In Your Gifts

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.