EP 139: Out Of The Baby Phase

This week’s episode is a warm, cozy one. We’re soaking in this stage of motherhood and talking about how much we’re genuinely loving these ages. There’s something really special about being out of the baby phase and into a season where things feel a little more fun, a little more interactive, and honestly… a little more us again.Before we get into all of that, Candace shares a very real behind-the-scenes look at prepping for Alice and Evie’s birthday party. From the mental load to the never-ending to-do list, it’s a full vent session on what actually goes into making the magic happen. And of course, major shoutout to Vinny for absolutely showing up and putting in the work to bring it all together.On this episode: The reality of party prep as a mom (the invisible load is real) Appreciating a partner who steps up in big ways Why this stage of motherhood feels so good The little moments that are making us slow down and soak it all in Finding more ease, connection, and fun in everyday mom lifeIf you’re in this season too or looking forward to it, this one will make you want to hug your kids a little tighter and remind you that some of the sweetest days are happening right now 💛Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

This week on Mom Group Chat, we’re diving deeper into the Values Bridge Test by Suzy Welch and actually putting it to the test ourselves. After talking about it in last week’s episode, we each took the assessment and…wow. Let’s just say it gave us a lot to think about.We’re breaking down our results, where we overlap, where we’re totally different, and how it reflects in our lives as moms, partners, and business owners. It sparked some really honest conversations and helped us understand ourselves (and each other) on a whole new level.If you’ve been feeling a little off, unsure, or just craving more alignment in your life, this episode will hit.On this episode: What the Values Bridge Test actually is and why it’s so eye-opening Whitney’s results vs. Candace’s results The biggest surprises we had about ourselves How our values show up in motherhood and everyday decisions Why understanding your values can make life feel a whole lot clearerWe highly recommend taking the test for yourself. It’s one of those things that just clicks.Follow Suzy Welch HERETake The Values Bridge Test: Use code MomGroupChat20 for 20% offKeep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

This week we’re joined by Suzy Welch—3x New York Times bestselling author and expert on clarity and decision-making—and we take everything she teaches and run it through the lens of motherhood. Because let’s be honest… becoming a mom can completely shake your sense of identity.We dive into values—what they actually are, how to define them, and why so many moms feel off when they’re not living in alignment with them. This conversation is for anyone who feels like they’ve lost a piece of themselves and wants a way to reconnect, make more aligned decisions, and create a life that actually feels good.💬 In this episode: What values are and why they matter Why motherhood can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself How to define your own values Using your values to guide decisions and daily life Creating alignment in a full, busy seasonFollow Suzy WelchBuy her bestselling book, "Becoming You", here: https://amzn.to/4bfiWG2Take the Values Bridge test: https://thevaluesbridge.com/USE CODE: MomGroupChat20 for 20% off your results!Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

This week on Mom Group Chat, Candace and Whitney are back with a classic catch-up episode. With spring in the air, the energy is shifting and the girls are feeling it. From birthday party planning chaos to a serious case of the “shopies,” they’re talking about what life looks like right now in their households and why they both feel that familiar itch to get out and experience life again.Candace shares an update on planning a joint birthday party for Alice and Evelyn (because planning a kids party is practically a full-time job), while Whitney fills us in on Greydon’s latest T-ball adventures. Candace also gives a sports mom update with Alice starting hockey.They also get into a fun conversation about the differences they’re noticing between raising girls and boys, and how those dynamics are playing out in everyday life.Plus, the spring energy is real. The girls talk about their sudden urge to shop, refresh their lives, and maybe even book a vacation.In this episode, they chat about: Candace’s birthday party planning for Alice and Evelyn The current case of the “shopies” (why do we suddenly want to buy everything?) That spring feeling of wanting to get out, travel, and experience life Whitney’s update on Greydon’s T-ball season Candace’s update on Alice starting hockey The funny and surprising differences between raising girls and boysIt’s a relaxed, honest catch-up filled with mom life updates, laughs, and a little springtime restlessness.Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

This week on Mom Group Chat, we’re sitting down with the incredibly talented and refreshingly honest Kathleen Ashmore — the creator behind Kat Can Cook. From working for Martha Stewart to building her own food platform and navigating motherhood in real time, Kathleen shares the evolution of her career, her identity, and her relationship with cooking.This episode is for the moms who have ever wondered:Who am I now?What does ambition look like in this season?And how do I get dinner on the table without losing my mind?We talk about all of it.In this episode, we cover: Kathleen’s transition into motherhood and how it reshaped her identity Her experience as a stay-at-home mom and what that season taught her How her relationship with cooking has evolved over the years Behind-the-scenes stories from her time working for Martha Stewart Feeding kids without making 47 separate meals Easy, realistic recipes for busy families Letting go of perfection in the kitchen What it looks like to build something of your own while raising kidsKathleen brings such a grounded, calming perspective to the conversation. She reminds us that cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful — and that feeding our families can feel nourishing for us, too.Follow Kat on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/katcancook/ Buy her best-selling cookbook: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769436/big-bites-time-to-eat-by-kat-ashmore/Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

If you’ve been listening for a while, you know Whitney.But do you really know Whitney?In this episode, we’re flipping the mic and diving deeper into the woman behind the one-liners, the calm presence, and the steady wisdom on Mom Group Chat.We talk about: How motherhood has changed her 10+ year marriage (the good, the hard, and the unexpected) What’s shifted in her identity since becoming a mom The real dynamic of balancing partnership while raising kids Her favorite place to shop for home decor and the vibe she’s always going for at home The parts of her personality that don’t always show up on the podcast How she wants to be remembered here at Mom Group ChatIt’s reflective. It’s honest. It’s a little nostalgic. And it might surprise you.If you’re new here, this is the perfect episode to get to know Whitney on a deeper level. And if you’ve been around for a while, we think you’ll love seeing another layer of her heart.We hope this one feels like you’re right here in the room with us. 💛Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

If you’re new here, welcome 👋 This episode is part of our Get to Know Us series, and today the spotlight is on Candace.From the outside, you might see the energy, the business, the mom life, the doing-all-the-things vibe. But in this episode, we’re going deeper. This conversation is all about who Candace really is — how she operates, what’s changed in recent years, and the parts of her story that don’t always make it onto social media.If you’re a newer listener, this is a great one to help you get to know Candace better and feel more connected to the heart behind the mic.On this episode, we talk about:• How Candace has so much energy to do all the things she does• The sides of Candace that no one really knows (or doesn’t share often)• Candace’s 50-pound weight loss and what that experience was actually like• Candace’s favorite Mom Group Chat episodes and why those ones stand out• && so much more! Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’re just finding the show, we’re so glad you’re here. You’re officially in the group chat now 💛Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

It’s our February catch-up episode, which means we’re covering a little bit of everything — real life updates, mom chaos, and the random obsessions that are getting us through winter.Whitney kicks things off with a recap of the wild Nashville ice storm that left them without power for days. Freezing temps, no electricity, kids stuck inside, and parents doing the absolute most to keep everyone fed, warm, and entertained. The cabin fever was real, routines were gone, and survival mode was fully activated.Candace recaps Gasparilla season — the chaos, the fun, the exhaustion, and the classic post-event realization that “this was amazing” and “I need three business days to recover” can both be true.Then we get into our latest fixation: Heated Rivalry. We’re recapping it, talking about why we’re so obsessed, and yes… the obsession spiraled far enough that Candace signed Alice up for hockey. (Influenced by TV? Maybe. Regrets? TBD.)Candace also shares what’s been weighing on her with applying to private schools — the process, the pressure, and the deeper layer underneath it all: re-evaluating why they want to go that route in the first place, and what actually feels aligned for their family versus what just sounds like the “right” move.If you’re feeling maxed out, stuck in winter chaos, and using a TV obsession as a personality trait right now… welcome. You’re in good company.Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

This week’s Mom Group Chat is a little chaotic… which feels fitting, because so is parenting toddlers right now.Candace and Whitney get real about this season of motherhood where the toddlers are testing everything, patience is thin, tempers are short, and it feels like you’re one spilled snack away from losing it. Candace shares a real-time realization she’s having about how she wants to show up differently, even when it’s hard, loud, and overstimulating.In true Mom Group Chat fashion, the conversation takes a HARD detour into Bravo land (because sometimes Housewives drama feels easier than our own). But we bring it back to what’s actually underneath it all: we love our kids, we want to be better, and we’re trying to lean more into positive reinforcement instead of constant correction and snapping.If you’ve felt like parenting your toddler lately is really freaking hard, and you’re not always proud of how you’re handling it, this episode is your reminder that you are not alone. We’re in it with you.We talk about: Why this stage with toddlers can feel so overstimulating and relentless That moment you realize you don’t actually like how you’re reacting The guilt spiral after losing your cool A very necessary Bravo tangent Shifting from constant “no” to more positive reinforcement Wanting to be better moms without expecting ourselves to be perfectKeep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]

This week on Mom Group Chat, we’re diving into the celebrity mom-group drama that has been everywhere — and unpacking why it hit such a nerve.We break down what actually happened with Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and the now-viral conversation around “toxic” mom groups, exclusion, and evolving friendships in adulthood. From subtle social media moves to public reactions (including when partners get involved 👀), we talk through what’s fact, what’s speculation, and why this story feels so familiar to so many moms.Because let’s be honest — you don’t have to be famous to know what it’s like to outgrow a friend group, feel left out, or realize a dynamic just isn’t serving you anymore.We also shift gears and recap some of our favorite moments from the Golden Globe Awards — from standout looks to pop-culture moments that had everyone talking, plus our totally unqualified but very passionate opinions.✨ In this episode, we chat about: What makes a mom group feel supportive vs. draining Whether “toxic” is the right word — or just a reflection of misalignment How adult friendships change after kids The role of social media in amplifying private experiences Why this drama resonated with so many women Our Golden Globes highlights, fashion moments, and pop culture takesAs always, this is a judgment-free, sides-not-taken conversation — just real talk about motherhood, friendships, and navigating relationships in this season of life.Grab your coffee (or wine), and let’s chat. 💬Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:📸 Instagram: @‌momgroupchat🎵 TikTok: @‌momgroupchatQuestions/comments/need to vent? Email us at [email protected]