This is the place for moms In The Making, who smile with the messes, embrace the unexpected, and know that every day is a blessing.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Living Your Life with Purpose with Sarah and Julia

Living Your life with Purpose

Do you ever feel like you’re running in circles? I certainly do!

So today’s theme is living with purpose. I am excited to have Sarah and Julia from All Things with Purpose

We talk about great things in today’s episode, like balancing confidence with knowing that you have a lot to learn as a mom, making the switch from working mom to staying at home, and playing to your strengths. Finally, we talk about the pressure to involve your kids in all the right activities.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Friday, October 10, 2014

How to Create More Flexibility in Your Schedule with Sarah and Julia from All Things with Purpose

Is your schedule too crazy? I know my is :) Especially, this week… It can’t possibly be Friday because I still haven’t accomplished Monday’s projects.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

How to Road Trip without Movies

How to Road Trip without Movies

To watch or not to watch…

Do you believe in road trip movies?

With new cars, we are surrounded by constant temptation. There are multiple screens in every car… and even if you don’t have a “cool” car like me, you probably have a tablet that can play movies.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, October 6, 2014

Shark Tank & Making Money as a Mom

Shark Tank and Making Money as a Mom

I’m short on two things right now, time and money. I got barely 5 hours of sleep last night, and have a hefty pile of debt that is really beginning to annoy me.

As mom’s, I think we can get trapped sometimes with our time going in a million directions and a simple lack of money. Or our money isn’t really going where it should be.

In light of my exhaustion, we decided to break family tradition, and eat dinner while watching a show, Shark Tank

It was so refreshing! I feel in love with one of the entrepreneurs, who was a mom!

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

EntreLeadership

EntreLeadership

Just one week ago I had the phenomenal opportunity to attend EntreLeadership! It is basically a day packed with entrepreneurial and leadership lessons led by Dave Ramsey and his team.

I’ve been a fan of Dave Ramsey for a long time… When I got my first job I took his Financial Peace University Class which gave me the knowledge and tools to kick butt at paying off my school loans, house and car!!

I feel like I know what I’m doing with money now… yes we’re in the final stretch for paying off debt and it feels like it will never end, but what’s next?

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, September 29, 2014

What Moms Need to Know About Tech with Manoush Zomorodi

What Moms Need to Know About Tech
Ahhhh! Technology can be scary. “Should I let my kids use it??? Or not?”

Like it or not, technology is a huge part of our of lives today. Way more than when our parents were raising us.

So lets focus on What mom’s need to know about Tech! This isn’t just going to be a boring tech talk show… or a confused mom sharing her thoughts.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Friday, September 26, 2014

Three Ways Moms Can Use Tech with Manoush Zomorodi [Video]

Technology is everywhere!! But are we using it to our advantage?

Manoush Zomorodi is a mom who is also the host of New Tech City. Her show has reached the #1 spot of iTunes for Tech podcast… but the thing that I love about her is that she talks about how technology affects our sleep, our brains, our families, and our lives.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Papa's Job: Teaching Your Boys to Be Brave

Papa's Job Teaching Your Boys to Be Brave

There are some areas where papa truly is best! We have recently been trying to conquer sleeping in the big boy bed all night. I am the worst at encouraging this. Every time my poor little guy whimpers, I want to fly in and rescue him. I’m truly not giving him an opportunity to see that everything will be ok because at the slightest tear, I pick him up.

This is where papa comes up. He does a great job of talking with Charlie and keeping him in bed.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, September 22, 2014

Balancing Confidence and Imperfection with Carrie from Carrie This Home

Balancing Confidence and Imperfection

Do you ever feel overwhelmed as a mom? It is way too easy to look around and see the “perfect moms”… That is why I was thrilled to have Carrie from Carrie this Home on for today’s podcast episode.

From the first moment you go to Carrie’s site, you get to see the real Carrie! ”Jesus follower, wife, mommy of 2, Doesn’t have it all together. The last part was what truly stood out to me.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Friday, September 19, 2014

Overcome Pressure to be the Perfect Mom with Carrie from Carrie This Home [Video]

Motherhood is a huge task! But sometimes as moms, we feel pressured to be the perfect mom.

I am so excited to know Carrie from Carrie this Home Carrie is a wonderful example of a happy mom who is ok admitting that she doesn’t have it all together.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

How to Publish Your Own Book on Amazon

How to Publish

Last year my hubby and I wrote, illustrated, and published our own book on Amazon! It was an absolutely incredible experience.

Since then I’ve had several friends ask me to help them publish their own books. So I decided to record

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Monday, September 15, 2014

Healthy and Delicious Cooking for Moms - with Chelsea from Chelsea's Messy Apron

Healthy and Delicious Cooking for Moms

Do you ever feel like you have to choose between healthy and delicious cooking? Your healthy option… plain oatmeal… Or the yummy category… cheesecake!

Our interview today with Chelsea from Chelsea’s messy apron shows us how we can have incredible meals that are amazing to eat and healthy.

What is her secret?

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Friday, September 12, 2014

Creative Cooking Tips by Chelsea from Chelsea's Messy Apron [Video]

Do you ever find yourself wishing to have those delicious yummy Pinterest looking meals? I am thrilled to have an interview with Chelsea from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

Chelsea is a mom too, so she understands the challenges of trying to create magical creations with a little guy underfoot. She shares…

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Finding Balance with Eating and Working Out

Finding Balance with Eating and Working Out

As moms, we can way too easily bounce between two extremes in life. “I’m fat! I don’t look beautiful!” and ”I am incredible!” “I don’t have time to work out… but I look great!”

As moms, we want to be beautiful, happy, healthy, and in shape. But how do we find the balance between the two extremes?

You are beautiful! Right now. Today as a mom! But we should always be striving to be better. Sometimes, I get stuck, but I know I should always be pressing forward. So I talked with some other moms.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, September 8, 2014

Fashion 101 Followup

Last week I shared my thoughts on How to Be Hip and Modest but it was severely lacking in pics. I finally got to take some pics of all the outfits I was talking about.
1

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Can Your Kids Listen to Too Much Music?

Can Your Kids Listen to Too Much Music?

I love silence! Ok, not awkward silences… but just quiet, maybe a few crickets in the background or corn growing in a field. Oh yeah, that's “just silence”.

But, babies are supposed to learn about and love music. This definitely wasn’t my strength when my son was little. If he was quiet, I wanted quiet. Why would I add background noise to my already cluttered mind?

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, September 1, 2014

Teaching Your Kids to Love Cleaning

Teaching Your Kids to Love Cleaning

I hate cleaning! But I’m told that kids learn order in their first few years of life. So, if you teach them to clean when they are young they will love it. Let’s be honest, this sounds totally fake, but I don’t want to do all the cleaning myself so I’m willing to take the risk.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

How to Be Hip and Modest

How to Be Hip and Modest

As moms, we all want to be beautiful. But sometimes I feel like there is a war between cute/stylish and modest.

It can be depressing to walk into the store and feel like you have to choose one extreme or the other. I was so excited about the podcast episode with Molly from Still Being Molly on Fashion 101

Molly had some incredible advice for dressing stylishly. But they were all things you could do while still being modest. We also recorded a great video too if you missed it!

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, August 25, 2014

What Stay at Home Moms Can Learn from Working Moms (and Vice Versa)

What Stay at Home Moms Can Learn from Working Moms (and Vice Versa)

I feel like I’m stuck in pickle… I am a working mom, but a lot of my besties are stay at home moms. What does that make me?

I’ve never really felt like I fit under that “working mom” label, but that is in reality what I am.

I always try to guess if you are stay at home or working moms. ps It would be super fun if you’d leave a simple comment SAHM or working. When I did my podcast How to Be Joyful as a Working Mom It was one of my popular podcasts! So, I wanted to look at that topic with a new twist.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Friday, August 22, 2014

Underwater

So, it's been a busy week here! I finally caught the cold that my son and husband have had, so my head feels like a beach ball trapped underwater while my throat feel like sandpaper on fire. To quote Olaf… “All good things… all good things.”

So, I’m sad to say I don’t have a new video.

You can check out My Instagram to see what I’ve been up to this week.

Some fun post to check out are:

The Chaos Behind the Pinterest Look

Life Lessons From Cooking

Does Church Still Count if I am Outside

How has your week been?

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Weaning Advice That Saved My Life

Weaning Advice That Saved My Life

Weaning was a bear, for our whole family! I know I’ve blogged a lot about it before when I was in the heat of things, but I never went back after the dust settled to reflect.

In those tear filled moments trying to wean, it seemed like my life would remain trapped in that moment forever! As if we would never move on… but we did, and quite happily I might say.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, August 18, 2014

Dreaming of Renovations

Dreaming of Renovation

Do you love your house right now? Or are you itching to renovate?

I love to dream about renovating! I was inspired while reading Marie’s blog, Family House and a Cat, and checking out the transformation that was going on in her house.

Our house right now actually has a really nice floor plan… So I feel like it could be magical! However when we bought our house, it was purposefully an inexpensive house to be placeholder while we paid off a lot of debt.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Friday, August 15, 2014

Three Questions Before You Renovate Your Home [Video]

Do you ever find yourself wishing for a new house…or at least a new room? It is easy to look at blogs and pinterest and think ohhh I should redo my livingroom…

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

How I made $1,000 in One Day

How I Made $1,000 in One Day

As moms, it seems like we always trying to do two things, save money and make money.

While listening to The Eventural Millionaire I heard a millionaire sadly I cannot remember who talking about how he didn’t want to be stuck constantly pinching pennies… instead he would just make more money!

I wanted to share how

I made $1000 in One Day!



Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, August 11, 2014

Fashion 101 with Still Being Molly

Fashion 101

When it comes to fashion I often feel lost. I have the best of intentions… but some how I will just miss. I remember when people would come up and say, “That is just the best outfit!”… and I’d say, “Yeah that one was a gift…”

Then, I met Molly from Still Being Molly at Brand Market earlier this year. Not only was she incredibly nice, she was super stylist.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Friday, August 8, 2014

Molly's Quick and Easy Fashion Tips [Video]

A few months ago I was thrilled to attend Brand Market in Raleigh North Carolina. It was an incredible one day blog event that was packed with information! It really gave me the focus and strategy to transform my blog.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Surviving with Sick Kids

Surviving with Sick Kids

Have your kids gotten sick yet?

It seems that everywhere we go we’re surrounded by germs and sickness. Ahhhh!

Currently, my family is among the lucky masses who have hand foot and mouth… I can’t even believe I’m writing this, I just want to image it isn’t so.

Talking with other moms, I know we’re not the only ones at war with sickness so I wanted to share.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Monday, August 4, 2014

How's Your Bucket List? with Becky from Tales of Beauty for Ashes

Becky and Theresa image

Are you reaching your goals? As moms we can have 100s of great ideas but are we actually achieving them?

Yes, the most important thing we need to do is keep our kiddos alive and well. But what about after that? I was really inspired when I met Becky from Tales of Beauty for Ashes She was busy mom just like all of us, but she has her bucket list on her blog, and is actively accomplishing her dream!

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Friday, August 1, 2014

Three Words Your Bucket List Needs with Becky from Tales of Beauty for Ashes

Do you ever get stuck just dreaming about your dreams?
I was really excited when I started reading Tales of Beauty for Ashes. She had her bucket list right there on her blog!


We’ve got an awesome video where Becky shares the three things you need in order to accomplish your bucket list.

Top Three Things to Accomplish Your Bucket List

Just Do It

What is one thing on your bucket list?




FREE ebook

My Quick Guide to Spending Quality Time with Your Kids will give you inspiration and ideas so you can start spending more quality time with your kids today! ~ Theresa

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Why Moms Need to Swim

Is your child beautiful? Do you love them right now just the way they are? Do you do the same for yourself?

Why Moms Need to Swim

Listen To This Podcast Episode

As moms we can do a great job of telling everyone else that God created them beautiful just the way they are… Then we look in the mirror. Ahh.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Tips for Starting Your Blog with Alli from Taking Care of Monkey Business

Alli and Theresa image

Have you reached your goals? Do you ever need that little nudge to jump in and start? I am thrilled to have Alli with us today from Taking Care of Monkey Business.

I met Alli after Abby from Just a Girl and her Blog featured bloggers who were inspired by her new book Building a Framework. You can check out the interview with Abby with highlights from her book here.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Alli is brand new to the blogging world, but she already has an adorable site and some really inspiring content.

3 Tips for Starting Your Goals

  1. Find a Mentor - To reach your goals you will need other people to encourage you and show you the way. Alli got a crash course to blogging from her sister-in-law, Chelsea, from Chelsea’s Messy Apron… and it shows. I was impressed when I went to Alli’s site. I know my blog didn’t look that good on day one.

  2. Make an Investment - This investment can be time or money. Alli talks about how after buying a domain, hosting service and blog template she was invested. Every moment that she wasn’t blogging was money that was going to waste.

  3. Involve Your Kids - As a mom’s your kids are the center of your world. It can be a challenge as a mom to figure out how to be successful with entrepreneurial ideas. So many of the marketing and goals books that are written are written by men and for men. They don’t take into account things like staying up all night with a newborn or changing poop explosions throughout the day. Alli knew that in order to succeed she would have to involve her kids. Alli talks about how her daughter loves to help her with blog projects.

Bonus:

Alli shares a hilarious story about being a real mom, so make sure you listen to today’s episode! You’ll get a behind the scenes look at mixing babies with blogging. If you’ve never listened to our podcast before it’s like a mini radio show. It is wonderful because you can listen while doing the dishes, cooking dinner… or relaxing with your feet up because isn’t that what moms really do all day?




FREE ebook

My Quick Guide to Spending Quality Time with Your Kids will give you inspiration and ideas so you can start spending more quality time with your kids today! ~ Theresa

Friday, July 25, 2014

Get Inspired to Start Your Blog with Alli from Taking Care of Monkey Business

Do you ever get stuck in the idea phase? You’re dreaming about all the wonderful things that you’d love to do, but can’t seem to make it happen.

Get Inspired to Start Your Blog with Alli


As moms, our lives are busy. There absolutely is 1000 things pulling us in different directions. But that doesn’t mean we should stay stuck in fudgsicle mud from Candy Land.

Alli from Taking Care of Monkey Business is an incredible example of a mom who’s reaching her goals.

Alli jumped in! Started her blog. Today she is sharing with us the top three things that inspired start her blog.

If you’re dreaming of starting a blog, growing your current one, losing weight or getting your house clean… you won’t want to miss what Alli has to say.

Three Things you need to start your blog: Or follow any of your dreams.

  1. Passionation for Your Content

  2. Encouragement from Family

  3. Goals with a Date

This is only the beginning. Come back Monday for our full podcast episode! Alli and I will talk in even greater detail about overcoming challenges, jumping in creating a blog, great content and cute pictures. And truly the best part… we get to hear about her adorable love story of meeting her husband.




FREE ebook

My Quick Guide to Spending Quality Time with Your Kids will give you inspiration and ideas so you can start spending more quality time with your kids today! ~ Theresa

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

A Quick Guide to Spending Quality Time with Your Kids

Quick Guide Book Image

Do you spend enough quality time with your kids? This is a big questions for a lot of moms. I feel like I had somewhat deflected its intimidating worries until now. But then my little man got big. We weaned, he got his first haircut, I went away on a work trip.

Suddenly, I joined the group of moms left wondering…

Do I Spend Enough Quality Time with My Kid???

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Like all problems in life this question can be answered by an ebook… My free one in fact :) I joke, but I did spend a lot of time thinking about this question.

Three Tips for Spending More Quality Time with Your Kids

  1. Accept that times have changed. My dream life is a perfect blend of Little House on the Prairie mixed with central air and Panera Frozen coffee. Everything is simple. My days are spent surrounded by my children, little chicks, and a garden in nature. Life moves slower, I don’t have to worry about quality time because every moment is magical.

    What is your dream scenario? Do you set unrealistic expectations for quality time? Sadly, we don’t live in Little House on the Prairie, so quality time is going to look different. If your goal is something that no longer exists, the only option is disappointment.

  2. Appreciate the time that you have with your kids. Don’t belittle the time you’re spending.

    I was really surprised while reading a study in the Washington Post. Modern mothers spend significantly more time focused on their children than mothers in the 50’s or 60’s. Yet, the modern mothers feel more guilty. Like they aren’t spending enough time with their kids.

    You are doing wonderful. Be happy and appreciate the time you are spending with you kids.

  3. Take the Imperfect Moments and Make them Special. When your baby is up all night, being frustrated won’t get either of you back to sleep. Instead look at it as a moment that won’t last forever. Remember, you’re always wanting to spend more time with your kids… now here it is!

Finally, know that you are incredible. Just for being a mom! You can read all 10 tips in my Guide to Spending Quality Time with Your Kids.



FREE ebook

My Quick Guide to Spending Quality Time with Your Kids will give you inspiration and ideas so you can start spending more quality time with your kids today! ~ Theresa

Monday, July 21, 2014

How to Grow Your Blog with Abby from Just a Girl and Her Blog

Abby & Theresa Image

We all want to be a success! In life, blogging or any other venture we undertake. I am thrilled to have Abby from Just A Girl and Her Blog sharing her tips with us today. I met Abby two years ago. At the time, she was just 6 months into her blog.

By the end of her first year she had almost a million pageviews and had worked with brands like IKEA and Martha Stewart Crafts. She was even making more money with her blog than in previous part time job!

This is when you shout... Tell me more!

Abby discusses her blogging success and teaches you how to be successful blogging too in her new book Building A Framework. We talk about her book and more in today’s episode of A Mom in the Making Podcast. You can listen to it here:

Listen To This Podcast Episode

Read Building a Framework

It is truly an amazing book! I flew threw it in less than 24 hours… and it 179 pages! I loved seeing how she was able to achieve success with her blog so quickly. Everyone talks about the longggg road to success, but it was great seeing things you can do right now to jump start your progress.

3 Blogging Tips from Abby


  1. Hone in on your Content
    This send me into a frenzy… does my blog have a theme? Or is it merely a playground after a paintball fight? Take a look at your blog, have you honed in on your content?
    Tip Num. 1

  2. Build Relationships
    When you’re budgeting time for blogging does this include time for building relationships?
    Tip Num. 2

  3. Tell Stories
    Abby emphasises to tell your story. People will love you for your story.
    Tip Num. 3

Are you weeping because the post ended? Don’t worry Abby has all this and more in her book, Building a Framework, so you can make your blog a booming success.

All Three Tips



FREE ebook

My Quick Guide to Spending Quality Time with Your Kids will give you inspiration and ideas so you can start spending more quality time with your kids today! ~ Theresa

Friday, July 18, 2014

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

How to Stay Connected with Your Kid

Do use video chatting to bring you closer together? I recently had to leave my baby for three whole days! Ahhh!

How to Stay Connected with Your Kid

Listen To This Podcast Episode

I kept playing over in my head the doomsday scenario. But there was a saving grace. Video chatting. It was wonderful! Even though I couldn’t give my babe a hug we could still talk, laugh, and sing wheels on the bus.

I was worried about video chatting… What if seeing me just made him feel sad? What if he was just crying?

It couldn’t have been better! He was excited to see me. At first you could tell that he was slightly confused. He is used to chatting with grams. so he was puzzled trying to figure out why mom was on the other side of the screen.

But it let us stay connected. During the times that we couldn’t video chat we talked on the phone. It was like a dream come true, he was getting technology and mommy at the same time.

Next time you have to be apart from your babe, think about these tips for greater peace and joy. Even if you’re not leaving your kiddo, these are great ideas for out of town relatives.

How to Stay Connected with Your Kid

  1. Find internet and video chat. Even if you have to go to a hotel lobby or coffee shop the time you spend getting to see each other is totally worth it.

  2. Make video chatting and talking on the phone a regular part of life. First, this helps your child keep up with and remember out of town relatives, but the additional bonus is that they are used to talking with others like this so they will be excited to hear and see you this way.

  3. Talk on the phone. While video chatting is obviously best, if you can’t do that, try a phone call. Sing songs on the phone or play some of the games that you usually would at home.

  4. Don’t rush off the phone or video chatting. Your little one will be happy to see you or hear your voice, even if it’s just a babble. We spend 30 minutes talking about if he went outside, or played with papa. He had the bonus of hearing my voice and I got to laugh as he responded saying “oh wow” and “no” to my questions.

Obviously, if we could all just be on vacation, together and home with family all the time that would be great. But for the times when you are apart, these are a few ways to keep the family connection alive.

Do you have any tips for staying connected while traveling? Or keeping up with out of town relatives?

Monday, July 14, 2014

Is Your Baby Growing Up Too Fast?

Do you ever tear up at the thought of your little baby suddenly growing up.? We have recently passed three major milestones in one week…it has only been a good dose of strong coffee and prayers that has kept me alive.

Listen To This Podcast Episode

First, we finally weaned. This has been a long and painful process that we both have approached with kickin’ and screaming. But it had to happen, because I was going away on a work trip for three days, I knew it would be rough on the little guys, but I couldn’t bear the idea of him losing me and his milk on the same day….I could just imagine him crying mulk “puweese”

I was finally able to find some peace with weaning. But just as I smiled from that experience it was time for our first haircut.

This again wasn’t something I was looking forward to, it just showed that my tiny little baby was growing up all too quickly. But it needed to happen, his hair hung down into his eyes. And his hair was turning into tiny baby dreads in the back.

So he got his first big boy haircut… It was killer… Watching his precious curls drop to the ground. I really debated just leaving his curls in the back but I didn’t want him to have a mullet…so away they went. It was really funny to watch him that night because he kept running his fingers in his hair…trying to figure out what was different

View from my hotel
Finally, the trip away from mommy. I’m not sure who this was harder on me or him? I am overwhelmingly grateful for modern technology that I was able to video chat and see my little guy and he could talk to me and blow me a kiss.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

How to Be a Joyful Working Mom

In today’s episode of A Mom in the Making, I talk with my sister-in-law Gretchen about being a working mom.

How to Be a Joyful Working Mom

Listen To This Podcast Episode

If you are a working mom, you probably have had moments when you’ve felt guilty about leaving your kids to go to work. Here are some tips from our conversation that will help you stay joyful as a working mom.

  1. Love The Work That You’re Doing - Every working mom is doing work that is helping others in some way. You should embrace that and love your work because of it! Gretchen is a pediatrician, and she says that it helps when she can tell her daughter that she can’t stay home with her today because she needs to go help the sick babies get better. That thought makes both Gretchen and her daughter feel better.

  2. Know That the Mom That Cares is the Perfect Mom - Although it’s sad to think about, not every mother out there cares for their child. Some are neglectful and hurtful. By being a mother who cares and is trying, you are giving your child something special. A mom who cares is just what your child needs. She’s the perfect mom.
    Picture of Gretchen, Theresa and Charlie

  3. Think in Terms of Priorities - The Cultivate Simple Podcast inspired Gretchen to think in terms of priorities. Instead of complaining about how little time or money she may have to do something, she thinks about what is a priority for her to spend her time or money on. Maybe your house is messy because you’d prefer to spend time playing with your kids rather than cleaning. If you know what your priorities are, it’s easier to be ok with a house that’s a little less organized.

So here’s a question for you. What would you say to help encourage the working moms out there?