The MomForce Podcast Hosted by Chatbooks

Do you make New Years Resolutions only for find yourself half way through January and you've already failed! You are NOT alone! In today's MomForce Mini, Vanessa is joined by her sister Shelly, who gives her opinion on goals and what she does to keep things manageable! Hint: she focuses on the day-to-day.

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

Is your never-ending to-do list sucking the joy out of your life? Pop culture has taught us that we can and should be doing it all. These unrealistic expectations make most of us feel stressed, exhausted, and falling short.

Vanessa and her sister, Leah, chat with lawyer, PR executive, and award-winning author, Romi Neustadt, to discuss ways to live a less frazzled and more fulfilling life.

Priorities and goals are two different things. If your goals aren't serving your priorities you're not helping yourself. Throughout the episode, Romi teaches ways to "relentlessly edit". Learning to say no, identify our priorities, and set goals that will help us create the life we strive for.

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

Being present and showing up is important in every relationship, especially when it comes to raising our children. The best predictor of how a child turns out is their attachment to at least one parent. It's not simply about being there when they come home from school or showing up for each baseball game, it's about making our children feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure.

Vanessa is chatting with Dr. Tina Bryson, author of "The Power of Showing Up." Tina, a therapist and mother of three, discusses the power of the 4 S's and how they relate to "attachment science". Whether you're a working mom, a foster mom, a first-time mom, a single parent, or otherwise, you will want to hear what she has to share.

When children feel safe, seen, and soothed they become secure in themselves and develop grit and resilience to face life's challenges. And isn't that what we all want for our kids?

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

Vanessa has always been a huge fan of Rifle Paper Co., and so when Chatbooks teamed up with the brand, it was truly a dream come true!

In this episode, Vanessa chats with Rifle Paper Co. co-founder, Anna Bond, all about growing a hugely successful business while growing a family. Spoiler alert--it's all about managing time, turning work off when you're not at work, and learning how to cope when you're feeling overwhelmed or things don't go as planned.

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

Do your kids believe in Santa Claus? If so, at what age should you tell them the truth? Should we feel guilty about "lying" to our children? Vanessa shares her opinions about all things Santa, on this MomForce mini.

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

Vanessa sits down with Shawni Pothier to discuss choosing one word to focus on for the year. Mindful. Guided. Discipline. Focus. Enjoy. Choose. Be Still. A resolution doesn't have to be something that's daunting. Make it simple. Pick one word to represent the coming year. It should be something that inspires you or helps you progress toward who you want to be.

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

Sometimes you are a better mom after some time away to reset whether that is a weekend alone or a quick trip with girlfriends. Vanessa is joined by her sister, Shelly, on this episode of The MomForce Podcast to chat about tips and tricks for prepping for a getaway, so you can relax and not stress about everything at home. What do you do about meals, homework, or after-school activities?

They share tips on how to set yourself up for success so you can actually relax while you are away!

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

There is one word that all parents want to avoid when it comes to their kids, and that is entitled. We all want to create opportunities for our families to experience the joy of service, but how do we get started?

Vanessa chats with Kristin Andrus about how to create a culture of service in your family. Kristin is the self-proclaimed "Chief Culture Officer" of her family and married to Jeremy Andrus, CEO of Traeger Grills. With 6 young kids, Kristin has found simple ways to make service fit into their busy schedules. She recommends picking what you are passionate about and giving or doing what you can. You don't have to travel the globe to make a difference!

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

There are two sides of the aisle - decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving or NOT! On this MomForce Mini, Erika talks about why she decks the halls soon after Halloween, and she has science to back her up reasons. Where do you stand?

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!

While our moms may have been great about buying Christmas gifts year round and filling stockings months in advance, we aren't all cut out for that sort of holiday preparation. But the season is upon us and whatever you celebrate, it's finally time to start thinking about gifts!

It's not hard to get our kids to share what they want. They presented us with a seven page (front and back) letter to Santa, after all. But Santa is on a budget, and we don't want to fill their Christmas with more "stuff." On today's episode of The MomForce Podcast, Vanessa is joined by her sisters Kara and Shelly to talk about those "home run gifts." The ones sure to get played with year round. Scoring the gift that stops them in their tracks doesn't have to mean breaking the bank, either! The sisters share their tricks and tricks to finding the best toys at the best prices (while sharing what was a big miss, as well).

Gift giving isn't always easy. Husbands, extended family, neighbors, and in-laws are sure to leave you stumped. Some of our favorite gifts haven't been extravagant. Finish a project your spouse was never going to wrap up on their own. Personalize something they can treasure for years to come. Give them the gift of an experience they won't forget. Help beautify the neighborhood, or make charitable donations on behalf of others.

Simplifying your shopping list will prevent you from making that panicked last-minute dash to Target to load up your cart with stuff you don't need. Being prepared will also allow you to put thought into gifts and make the most of your holiday season. After all, it can't be the most wonderful time of year if you don't enjoy it!

We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20. Happy Chatbooking!