#84: Interview with my Mama, Part 2 -- Reflecting on Becoming a Special Needs Grandma & More

PS: don't listen with little ears around, oops ; ) I'm so excited to have my AUTHOR bestie and neighbor back on the podcast! We had so much fun chatting about all things writing -- diving in full-time as an author, her creative process, behind-the-scenes of the book world, some deets on her upcoming THIRD novel plus a sneak peek at what's next for her. I hope you enjoy this conversation! Stay tuned for part 2 next week where we just YAPPP about all the random things. : ) XOXOAFFILIATE LINKS AND CODES: Use WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save 10% on Clean Simple Eats protein and other products -- shop hereUse WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save 15% on SEALD Wellness face tape and other products -- @sealdwellnessPlease share the podcast with anyone who might also enjoy the show! Thank you for listening!  Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

I spontaneously decided to interview Rhett and ask him some questions about being a 5-year-old. What he enjoys doing, his favorite foods, what he loves about our family, and more randomness. It's so cute :) I hope you enjoy his sweet little voice and unpredictable answers, lol. AFFILIATE LINKS: ALOHA BARS -- these are the protein bars he mentioned he loves! I get the minis for him and he is obsessed. The chocolate chip cookie dough flavor is our favorite! Here's my affiliate link for 15% off: click here to save Clean Simple Eats -- AFFILIATE CODE WELLNESSFORTHEWIN for 10% off. Our fav protein powder to use in smoothies, energy bites, overnight oats and more. So good! Shop here Affiliate link for the huge bean bag he mentioned that we have in the basement! We have the 6' and it has been a well-loved item in our house for 6+ years now! LINKED HERE Thank you all for listening and being here!  Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

This is part 2 of my conversation with my mama! Last week we talked all about her life pre-marriage & kids, becoming a mom, young motherhood, becoming a grandma and some other fun questions.Today we are focusing on some fun questions about me -- her daughter -- as well as a lot of questions we received about Levi and what it has been like for her to adjust to being a special needs grandma + the journey we've been on these past few years.Thank you so much for listening -- share with a friend if you enjoyed this episode!AFFILIATE LINKS: Use affiliate code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to get 15% off @sealdwellness forehead tape and other productsUse WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save on Clean Simple Eats proteins + OffBeat Butters -- cleansimpleeats.com Talk to you soon!XO  Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

I had the honor of sitting down with MY sweet mama (Rhett & Levi's "nana") for such a fun conversation. I will love being able to listen back to this someday! I collected lots of questions that my community wanted to know, such as: Her story -- where she's from, her singing background, life in a BAND, how she met my dad, and moreBecoming a mom to 2 kids -- what matters and what doesn't, in hindsightHer perspective on social media as someone who grew up without phones & did the majority of parenting with it How did we foster such a good mother/daughter bond? Navigating relationships with adult children as they grow up, get married & have families -- setting boundaries Becoming a mom vs. becoming a grandma Important life lessons, and more!!!!I hope you love listening to this one! We had so much fun recording it. Please share it from someone who might enjoy it! AFFILIATE LINKS: Shop cleansimpleeats.com and use WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save on my favorite protein powders & OffBeat Butters! Use affiliate code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save on Primally Pure nontoxic products -- my favorites are the natural deodorant and dry shampoo! primallypure.comUse WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save on your annual app subscription for the Expecting & Empowered app -- workouts that are safe for pregnancy, postpartum and beyond! LEARN MORE & SIGN UP  Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

HI, WELCOME BACK : ) I missed you! coming back to the show with a solo episode today! What you'll hear in today's episode; Rounding up all of my favorites from the past year:Favorite books & audiobooksFavorite showsFavorite coffee orderFavorite wellness finds Favorite new followsFavorite artists And more randomness : ) Thank you so much for listening! Are you a fan of the show? Share it with someone else who might love it, too! Appreciate you being here! AFFILIATE LINKS:-Use my affiliate code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save on the Expecting and Empowered workout app -Who we used to finish our basement (if you're local to KC): Empire Remodeling -- let them know I sent you! #partner-Seald Wellness (forehead tape) affiliate code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN for 15% off-Affiliate link for my Amazon standing desk -Affiliate link for my walking pad  -- I have the Z1 model -You can find all my favorite audiobooks I've listened to here! Shop all my links on LTK -- follow me here  Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

Today is a solo episode about the decision to grow your family -- or not. I was recently cleaning out the boys' closets and posted a question box on my stories asking people if they felt sad putting away old clothes, knowing you are done having kids, OR if you're conflicted about what to do. The response was overwhelming. I heard from SO many of you that you also struggled with the decision to be done (and I know for many it is NOT a choice -- loss, infertility, divorce, illness, etc.) Truly, this is a complicated topic for everyone. I shared some of my vulnerable thoughts and feelings around this topic as someone with a medically complex child as their second and last, and how that has impacted me emotionally in a way I didn't expect. I hope this resonates with some of you and helps you feel less alone if you're struggling with these feelings, too! XOXOThanks for listening, mamas. Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

Solo pod today all about healthy snacking! This is something I often got questions about from clients when working as a dietitian. Questions I addressed: How many snacks a day should I be eating? What should snacks consist of?What are some examples of healthy snacks? What can I snack on all day long without gaining weight? Does snacking lead to weight gain? AND SO MUCH MORE!I hope you will find this short-ish episode helpful!!! LMK if you have any questions.Resources // relevant affiliate links & codes: Blog post I'm referencing: https://wellnessforthewin.com/dietitian-approved-healthy-snacks/While you're there, check out my blog for lots of healthy recipe ideas that actually taste good and are family-friendly! Clean Simple Eats affiliate code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save on delicious protein powders -- shop hereALOHA plant-based protein bars -- code WELLNESSFORTHEWINPlease share my podcast with a friend who might enjoy it! Thanks for listening, chat soon! XO  Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

Today is a quick-ish solo episode! I'm looking back on my 2024 ins & outs -- what to keep & what to ditch, plus my 2025 word of the year, what I'm looking forward to, and other reflections!Plus 4 years of motherhood, and other randomness! ENJOY!AFFILIATE LINKS: Clean Simple Eats code: WELLNESSFORTHEWIN - shop hereExpecting & Empowered workout app: code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

Today is a solo episode! Per usual -- all over the place. Just answering a bunch of random Q&A I've gotten recently! What I covered: Big boy bed transition with Rhett -- how it started & how it's going Holiday appetizer ideas -- (easy cinnamon rolls, apps, pumpkin crescent rolls) -- head to wellnessforthewin.com for recipes!  toddler discipline -- how we approach it places that have larger adaptive outfits - target, gerber, H&M, onesie extenders for tall babies freezer staples I always keep on hand + some easy meal ideas red light mask -- @ameskiefer rec random Costco favorites Levi tooth update lol What are my biggest insecurities? How do I turn a sad day around? When to buy BF/pumping bras -- do your boobs change sizes a lot?Favorite non-nursing bras Corporate world vs. being a stay at home mom AFFILIATES/SPONSORS: @expectingandempowered workout program - code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN to save on annual app subscription@primallypure -- code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN for 10% off@cleansimpleeats -- code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN for 10% off Please share the podcast on your IG stories or with a friend if you enjoy it! Thank you for listening and Merry Christmas! XO  Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

This episode with the licensed therapists from The Counseling Co. is all about the "happiness trap" -- AKA, how our beliefs around happiness can get in the way of our expectations and also… the difference between fulfillment and happiness. Are YOU truly happy in your life? Does being content mean you've "settled"?  This is a loaded topic that applies to all of us! I hope you find value in this conversation!  What we discussed: Happiness vs. fulfillment vs. contentment Does being content mean you’re “settling” for less in life How to stop striving for perfection / shifting expectations of what happiness “should” look like Acceptance is a practice - not a destination Tips if you’re struggling with comparison, especially on social media Comparative suffering – “well, this isn’t a big deal, but…” “someone else is going through something harder…” When reality doesn’t meet expectations in marriage   What about when you’re happy with your life BUT it feels overly full / busy / overwhelming The power of saying NO and checking in with your values Tips for moms struggling with their identity in motherhoodHow to find happiness when you’re navigating a new normal // major life change (i.e. having a medically complex child, becoming a caregiver for an aging parent, etc.) How to connect with The Counseling Co: Find them on Instagram @thecounselingcoVisit their website for services & resources: https://www.thecounselingco.com/Affiliate Links/Sponsors: Shop Clean Simple Eats Black Friday sale using my affiliate code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN -- shop here Shop Harper Wilde Black Friday sale using my affiliate link here Get 20% off the Expecting and Empowered mobile app (annual subscription) through the end of November 2024 with my affiliate code WELLNESSFORTHEWIN - sign up here Thank you for listening and happy Thanksgiving!  Follow me on IG at @wellnessforthewin and @wellnessforthewinpod Check out my blog for healthy recipes & wellness tips! JOIN MY EMAIL LIST HERE! Please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!