Career Mom

Today’s episode is going to set you up for shopping success! Do you feel like you are bad at shopping and therefore bad at being a woman?! Me too! In this episode I interviewed Dacy Gillespie from Mindful Closet. She is a personal stylist that helps guide her clients to discover what they feel best in not just what is flattering for their body types. We unpack a lot of the external messages women receive about how to dress our body types and skin tones and then Dacy gives permission to completely throw those out and focus on clothes make us feel good and confident. She shares some tips for shopping both in stores and online as well as a quick guide on how to start a capsule wardrobe!    Connect with Dacy at: www.mindfulcloset.com Get the Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: mindfulcloset.com/capsulechallenge Follow her on Instagram: @mindfulcloset Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

This week’s Career Mom Conversation is a roundup of reflections and thoughts on 2020 from some of the amazing women I have gotten to know throughout the year. Getting to know them has been a major blessing of 2020 and seeing how they have pivoted, thrived, and also struggled throughout the year has helped me so much! Take your time listening, reflect on your own year and let's end 2020 on a high note and then kick some Career Mom ass in 2021! Below is the listing of fellow Career Moms, in order that you hear them:    Pamela Hawkins from @theunapologeticallymeblog Marisa Lonic from @letmamaworkit Laura Demuth from @thekindamom Emily Siegel from @theconnectedmomlife Sabrina Moss from @maverickliving Carmen Benton from @theconfidentworkingmom Krista Thompson from @recoveringsuperwoman Nikki Cumberbatch from @mamasknow_best Danielle Vardaro from @bubblesandbabes Maria Smith from @confessions_of_a_corporate_mom

This week’s episode was originally recorded in April, when we were about 6 weeks into lockdown. Now, 9 months later the topic is still relevant and it’s shocking how much still rings true for working moms trying to navigate COVID. Ashley draws parallels between maternity leave and the COVID experience. We also talk about how COVID needs to be more of a working parent issue not just a working mom issue. Check out her article about working dads here: Check out her article about working dads here.  She shares how unprepared she was for the the mental and physical stamina of returning to work - the daily grind was non-stop and she was not prepared for how taxing the day to day of working motherhood was going to be.  She tells new moms you need to prepare by: building endurance, seeing other mothers, and talking to other mothers. She created Working Mom Notes as a way to share empathy while validating the experience of working moms.  Connect with Ashley at: WorkingMomNotes.com Follow her on Instagram: @workingmomnotes Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

Today’s Career Mom Conversation is about the second identity crisis I had when COVID hit. This time I realized I was in the midst of an identity crisis but it was still challenging to navigate. Looking back on how I have adapted over the past 9 months I’ve learned that our daily habits as well as our beliefs about ourselves are truly what shape our identities. The book, Atomic Habits by James Clear also talks about how our habits form and shape our identity. I read (well, listed to) that book while in the midst of my COVID identity crisis and it really connected a lot of dots about the changes we experience when dealing with new identities.    Get a free copy of the audio book, Atomic Habits:  audibletrial.com/CareerMom Listen to my first episode of the podcast for more on my initial identity crisis: Ep. 01 - Identity Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

Krista Thompson is a recovering perfectionist and co-dependent. She started a journey of healing while getting divorced and having 3 kids under the age of 3. Krista talks about what co-dependency is, how that showed up in her life and how she has managed to start the path to healing. What I love most about Krista’s message is that she is motivated to heal herself and her past traumas so that she can show up as the best version of herself for her kids. She named her blog Recovering Superwoman because like a lot of Career Moms Krista was so focused on “doing it all” that she never really understood what HER version of “it all” was. She encourages every mom to know that they can have it all, but only when they define that for themselves.  Connect with Krista on instagram at @recoveringsuperwoman Follow her blog at Recovering Superwoman.com Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

  Today’s Career Mom Conversation breaks down the 5 mindset changes that I made in order to complete a 21 day workout challenge. I had been struggling to make time to exercise for over an year and COVID wasn’t helping. I had started and stopped the same challenge twice already, but the third time I really changed my outlook on why I was starting the challenge again. And guess what? I stuck with it and I’m now moving my body for 30 minutes a day almost every day! Here are the 5 things the 21 day challenge did for me: 1. It changed my “Why” - I was using it to kickstart a larger habit vs. losing weight. 2. It provided a clear time, 21 days, to commit to making that habit change. 3. t eliminated decision fatigue. I followed 21 Day Fix workouts so all I had to do was push play. 4. It helped me find what truly motivates me (and it’s not the number on the scale). 5. It helped me see the magic in the 10-minute rule. I also think my success was due to my improved mental capacity of recent months, check out this Career Mom Conversation on the topic. Listen to the episode and learn why I think you need to have mental capacity available FIRST before committing to a challenge like this.      Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

Today’s guest, Brooklyn Stabile, has lost 50 pounds after the birth of her second child. She has such a refreshing outlook on how she accomplished her weight loss goal, a realistic expectation of what keeping the weight off entails and looks like (spoiler: she gained some weight back during COVID). There are a few keys things that Brooklyn talks about that contributed her to success: 1. Defining her “why” and it wasn’t to be skinny or fit into pre-baby clothes!  2. The second time around she had the mental capacity availble to focus on a healthy lifestyle because she had already worked through her new identity as a mom. 3. Being healthy is about so much more than a number on the scale! Working out is her form of self care and allows for precious alone time while also realizing that working out not only burns calories but makes her feel stronger.   Those are all such important mindset shifts that I have also experienced that make starting and keeping a workout routine so much easier.  Connect with Brooklyn on instagram at @workitmamab  Follow her blog at workitmama.net Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

Today’s Career Mom Conversation is about year-end performance reviews. It is that time of year again and COVID is making performance reviews for Career Moms complicated while companies are treating the process like “normal”. I share some things to keep in mind while completing your  review to remind yourself how NOT normal this year has been. I want you to remember we’re fighting a losing battle so it’s important for us to advocate for yourselves because no one else will and don’t forget that even though it may not always feel like it - you have the power - you make the decision about how your career affects your life and your family.  While you’re reflecting on your corporate performance review don’t forget to take a look at all the things you managed on the home front. You navigated your family through a global pandemic. You trailblazer for your family in unpredicted times -  You did this! I’m so proud of you Career Mom!   Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

The home should be a place that feels good and allows us to recharge - that is what today’s guest, Ashley Buffa, believes. Oftentimes though the home overwhelms moms because we are the only ones keeping it tidy and running. Ashley encourages moms to move away from the “do it myself” mindset to the “this family is a team” mindset where everyone is responsible for the home.  Ashley believes that by getting the kids involved in chores and implementing solid home systems all moms, working moms, stay at home moms, ADHA moms, can find peace in their homes. If you don’t know where to start, a 5 minute family clean up is all you need. Ashley also shares all the age appropriate chores she has her ten kids doing in her own home.    For more from Ashley, go to thefreedommoms.com For her chore system, go to https://smartkidschoresystem.com Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz  

Today’s Career Mom Conversation is about Doing WHAT you can WHEN you can. This motto, phrase, idea or mindset, whatever you want to call it has totally changed my life by keeping me on top of my household cleaning, laundry, meal prep, and cooking.  This phrase originally started as “Prep what you can, when you can” which came from Episode 25 with Kristen Noriega as one of her meal prep tricks. Turns out, the phrase works for just about anything! This mindset has allowed me to find little pockets of time throughout my day to get things done.  Instead of having an all or nothing mentality around cleaning now I just do what I can when I can. This has helped me reclaim my time, feel less overwhelmed at home, and be more productive at work!   Check out Episode 25 with Kristen Noriega for more about prepping what you can, when you can  Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

Kids and life come with a lot of stuff which more often than not leads to clutter. Laurie Palau talks about not only the physical clutter that affects moms, but the emotional clutter and calendar clutter. All of these things lead to overwhelm and burn out if not managed properly. According to Laurie, the first step in managing clutter is to stop beating yourself up about having things out of place! Organizing, decluttering, and keeping our homes tidying is hard and something all of us struggle with so identify if you’re holding yourself to unrealistic organizational expectations. The key to starting to tackle your overwhelm is to identify the type of clutter you have is situational (new baby) or chronic (always buried in mail and paper) and what clutter pitfall you are experiencing. Then start small when beginning your organizational journey - pantries and bathrooms are great places to start because you don’t have to make a lot of decisions. Many of us don’t organize because we experience decision fatigue.  Laurie shares so many great tips about clutter and organization and you can learn more about her and her methods on her podcast This Organized Life.   Connect with Laurie on  IG @simplyborganized or online at SimplyOrganized.com  Listen to Laurie’s podcast: This Organized Life Podcast  Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

The mental load is heavier now more than ever for Career Moms, signup for Robyn Miller’s course October 19 - November 29. Use the code CAREERMOM to access an additional session with Robyn and I to focus on the Career Mom Mental Load. mentalloadproject.com/course-october Get a Guru A guru is a teacher, a guide, or master of certain areas of knowledge within a field. As Career Moms, we have so many areas of life we need to manage and master so who are you turning to to guide you in all of the decisions you need to make?  The goal of this podcast episode is to help you identify your go-to source of information for major areas of life, motherhood, or career. I have a guru for parenting, nutrition, meal prep, working out, marriage, and home organization and my career. If I have an issue or even if I just want to improve something in either of those areas I know exactly what podcast or blog I go to first and this cuts down on decision fatigue. Here are some of my gurus:  Parenting: janetlansbury.com - Podcast, Blog, and Book on respectful parenting Marriage: My mom  Nutrition: kellyleveque.com - Podcast, Blog, and Book on Fab 4 method of nutrition. Amazing smoothie recipes  Meal Prep: Holy Healthy Mama Podcast - Love her motto of “Prep what you can when you can” Exercise: FitnessBlender YouTube Channel - Thousands of free and effective workouts as well as paid plans. News: The Newsworthy Podcast - 10 minutes daily news update  Politics: Pantsuit Politics Podcast - Two women from different sides of the aisle discuss current political events in a graceful way  Organization: simplyborganized.com - Laurie is a clutter expert. I’ve also joined the The Home Edit bandwagon 

Making friends, finding your village, having your people - Does that sound impossible, hard, scary or like the most awkward thing ever? I know! I used to think that too. I still do about the awkward part, but Emily Siegel has totally changed my mindset about how to make friends. She helps moms and women break-free from the lies we’re told about making friends and it starts with CONNECTION.  I know I need more connection in my life but instead of viewing making friends as scary and awkward, I now know (because Emily shares some stats) that almost everyone else ALSO wants more connection. I’m not kidding when I say this conversation has completely changed my mindset around small talk, taking walks in my neighborhood, and putting myself out there when I meet someone that seems like they could be a friend. Emily provides creative, easy ways to be bold and put yourself out there, tips on when and how to ask for contact information, and ways to make a standing girls night that will allow your relationships to grow from acquaintances to fierce friends. Check out her resource for the get connected here  And if you also need some validation about how hard life without a FAMILY village is - then check out Episode 21  with Nicole. Nicole lives in Argentina and her family is the US - we lay it all out there about how much it sucks sometimes to not have your mom down the street.  Learn more about Emily: www.theconnectedmomlife.com Get Emily’s Freebie: Lifelines Follow Emily on IG: @theconnectedmomlife Listen to Emily’s podcast: The Connected Mom Life Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group: Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

October is a month that has taken on a new meaning for me over the last several years, actually since 2016. It was October 2016 when I became pregnant for the first time and that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. October is also National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month with October 15th being National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on October 15. October is still my favorite month, my birthday is in October which means I’m required to love fall so we are in my favorite season and while each year I get excited for those things I also tend to think more about the baby I never had.  1 in 4 women experience miscarriage, but I think it means nothing unless you actually KNOW another 1 in 4. I hope my story can help you feel less alone or feel validated in sharing some of my feelings about my experience. Miscarriage is isolating and you shouldn't have to do it alone. Please reach out to me on IG if you need support @careermompodcast   Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group: Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz

Were you the first person in your friend group to have a baby? Or the oldest child having the first grand baby? Were all your other friends stay at home moms and no one could relate to your working mom struggles? Same here! And same for Clayr, founder of an online community: High heels and spit up. She went online to find like-minded career moms to support her through her transition back to work. While growing this podcast I have learned how powerful a community of women are, wherever you find them, so if you’re alone in your transition into motherhood and working motherhood don’t hesitate to find that community online! If you’re looking for a good one, check out High Heels & Spit Up. Clayr also realizes that while online communities are amazing there is a need to help women find a level of work-life balance that comes from in-person communities. She started a non-profit Work, Mom, Repeat whose mission is to encourage, educate, and equip women to realize their potential as mothers as well as leaders.    Connect with Clayr on IG @work_mom_repeat or online at www.workmomrepeat.org Join High Heels and Spit Up High Heels & Spit Up Facebook Group Join the Career Mom conversation on Instagram @careermompodcast Join the Career Mom Facebook group Career Mom Facebook Group If you have a story or topic you want to share contact Jenny by email  careermompodcast@gmail.com Sign up for a free 30 day trial of Audible. audibletrial.com/CareerMom Music Credit: Campfire by Scandinavianz:  soundcloud.com/scandinavianz