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EP 73: How to have a happy & healthy 2025 with Olivia Ivey-Davis
1.8k Plays1 year ago
This week on Mom Group Chat, we’re joined by our good friend Olivia Ivey-Davis, the creative force behind the popular Instagram account @SkinnyHangover. Olivia is a master at shifting mindset and reframing the stress of everyday life—making her the perfect guest to help us tackle the chaos and pressure of the holiday season.
In this episode, Olivia shares her top mindset shifts to help moms stay sane and present during the holidays. From setting boundaries to releasing perfectionism, her tips are all about making this season less about stress and more about joy.
We also dive into prepping for the new year! Olivia gives us her advice on starting 2025 feeling organized, healthy, and happy. Plus, she shares all the details about her new 2025 Happy & Healthy Planner—a must-have for moms who want to start the year with intention and clarity.
In this episode, we cover:
- Olivia’s top tips for reframing holiday stress
- How to let go of guilt and embrace a more joyful holiday mindset
- Setting yourself up for success in the new year
- The story behind the 2025 Happy & Healthy Planner and how it can help you stay on track
Links Mentioned:
- Follow Olivia on Instagram: @SkinnyHangover
- Follow Olivia's baby + toddler finds account: @minimusts
- Grab your 2025 Happy & Healthy Planner here: https://happyandhealthyplanner.myshopify.com/products/2024-happy-healthy-planner
Join the official Mom Group Chat Facebook group: Mom Group Chat | Facebook
Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:
Instagram: @momgroupchat
TikTok: @momgroupchat
Questions/comments/need to vent? Email us at momgroupchat@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts and Guest
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're gonna get into it. What up moms? I'm Whitney Williams and I'm here with my best friend Candice and a repeat guest today and our friend Olivia Ivy Davis. What's up? Technically a three-peat because this is your third episode. That is true. That is
Olivia's Return and Holiday Excitement
00:00:31
Speaker
so true. We did record to back-to-back while Candice was on a maternity leave and we brought her back today because it's the holiday season and our girl is given all the things. I'm excited. Well, and I have FOMO. That's the other reason you're back. I'm like, I cannot live another day without being on an episode. Like I remember holding Evie, like listening to your episode and being like, I feel so left out.
00:00:58
Speaker
It was probably the like newborn hormones or whatever, or postpartum hormones, but my FOMO was so real. So I'm so happy to be involved in this one and to chat with you. And yeah, I can't wait.
00:01:12
Speaker
I'm happy to be here. No, that episode when we recorded Whitney the whole time was just like, I wish Candice was here to help figure this out. I my god i know Candice is my technical queen. So I was like tech support. Yeah. She's my I.T. So I was literally like, I hope I'm doing this right. But it worked out. It worked out. It worked out.
Life in Austin and Motherhood
00:01:35
Speaker
But for anyone that hadn't listened to that episode, I was going to have Olivia maybe like reintroduce herself, talk about what she does and like maybe talk about your kids a little bit. Yeah, absolutely. So um my name is Olivia. I live in the Austin area with my husband and my two, I guess toddlers now, which is crazy to say. I used to say baby and a toddler, but she is full toddler mode. So yeah, two.
00:01:59
Speaker
toddlers I'm a 202 survivor. They are seven months apart. um They kind of run our lives and rock our world daily right now. um But I'm a Wellness content creator. I have been sharing my life online for, gosh, over six years now, which is crazy to think about. I started my account just specifically as diet and wellness, and it's kind of snowballed into just my life. and as i've had kids kind of what that looks like you know wanting to be a healthy person but also being a mom and having zero hours in the day to take care of yourself and how i kind of managed to do that um i also love amazon and i have a separate amazon baby page and i'm
00:02:41
Speaker
you know, kind of trying to figure out how to stay organized and happy and healthy every day. Dude, it is goals. I know. Well, who doesn't love Amazon, first of all? But yeah, the the toddler thing, we were just talking today, like it has switched so quick from having a baby and a toddler to like full on. I think it's just when they start walking, it's just balls to the wall. It's crazy.
00:03:05
Speaker
I, it's really scary for me. I see it like on the horizon because Evie's now standing unassisted at nine months. I'm like, what the fuck? Like, what are you doing?
Challenges of Toddlers Walking
00:03:15
Speaker
Sit back down. Um, and I'm like, my mom literally said to me the other day, she was like, what do we do when like they start running in opposite directions? And I'm like, I don't know. I couldn't tell you truly. Like one of them, I hope they're fine. I don't know.
00:03:32
Speaker
Yeah, my my youngest Sadie, she's 15 months now, obviously same age as maggot. so
00:03:41
Speaker
let's what Our our group, child lovingly calls maggot. It was a typo. typo but stuck What a loving name. I love her. No, but they they're at that age now where they're walking, but also falling over and getting hurt all day every day. Like I look at her every day and she has a black eye, or a bruiser, a scrape, and I'm like, I don't know what to do. Do I wrap you in a bubble? I don't know. I know, sweet Sadie. She was baptized this past weekend and she when she had like a scrape on her nose. and Yeah, she was baptized two days before her baptism, so all the photos were great.
00:04:21
Speaker
it happened Well, I saw that you put tarte shape tape on her nose and I was like, oh my God, this is so me coded. So literally when Alice was ah six months, so we had traveled to Shannon's wedding in Raleigh and I, big mom fail. I slept in self tanner, but then we were sleeping in a hotel for the first time. And so I pulled Alice. out She couldn't, she wouldn't sleep in the pack and play. So I pulled Alice into bed with me.
00:04:48
Speaker
and slept with her like literally next to me and the girl woke up with half a face of self tanner at six months and I panicked because like she was meeting Shannon and like all of these people for the first time and I was like freaking out And so I did another mom fail thing and wiped her self tanner with like a makeup wipe thinking like, okay, that'll get it off. She broke into a huge red rash. So I replaced the self tanner with like red rash. So all the photos of her, I literally ended up having to edit so that she didn't have like a full red rash face on the side. I was like, Oh my God. I mean, I'm really.
00:05:32
Speaker
just failing miserably right now. but But anyways, I thought it was so real that you pointed out that you covered it with concealer because I was like, honestly, we're just doing what we have to do to like get through
Childhood Illnesses During Holidays
00:05:45
Speaker
these. Yeah. Absolutely. Oh my gosh. I didn't know you did that. That is so funny. Well, and of course, you know, it's also tis the season for runny noses. So I don't even think it stayed on more than five minutes because I'm wiping her nose every two seconds. So.
00:06:00
Speaker
Yeah. Other land over here, but I do love it. They're, they're crazy with their fun. Yeah. There's been an outbreak of sicknesses, like everyone's sick. It sucks. Mine are sick too. Oh, are they? Yep. He's got like a green runny nose again. I'm like, how did this happen? We just got over this and here we are. So, you know, just is what it is this time of year for sure.
00:06:25
Speaker
But yeah, that's the season. And I was telling like since Candace just started Alice in school, like the back to back of where it would hit one kid and then it travels to the next like three or four days later. And it's just like forever. It's like cycle. It's crazy. I just wish it could be simultaneous because you know it's going to happen to both of them. So it's like, why not? And yeah, we're I feel you. We are starting Sadie in school part time in January. So we have like five weeks left before I just know we're gonna be sick for months and months.
00:06:58
Speaker
Yeah. Margo hasn't been that bad. I swear it's because she has been sick because of Graydon. Yeah. like I was going to say, i think I bet Vaughn has built up her immune system more than you think, you know? Just traumatized from when he started school. That's what I said. I was like, OK, Margo is getting an ear infection like every other month, but it was not to the same level of Graydon having ear infections. Like he was just constantly sick. Hers are like.
00:07:27
Speaker
month gaps. And I'm like, this is great. This is The bar is low. I'm like, she'll still need tubes, but I'm and not nearly as
Creating Holiday Memories at Home
00:07:39
Speaker
bad. yeah Tell us a little bit about your holiday plans. Are you a holiday girly? Do you like the holidays?
00:07:46
Speaker
Give us some color about that. sure answer Yes, I love the holidays. my tree I feel like every year my tree goes up like earlier and earlier. I used to be somebody who didn't put it up till after Thanksgiving. Now it's like the day after Halloween and no shame.
00:08:00
Speaker
I feel like I with kids have realized it takes a few weeks to kind of decorate and get everything the way I want. So I'd rather just slow roll it. And then it's, you know, every day is a little magical. And yes, I love the holidays. I think it's so much more fun as a mom too, and obviously harder and more stressful, of course, but I think It's like reliving your childhood all over again and getting to do the best parts of it for them. So I love it. And I'm so excited. um but So for Thanksgiving, we're just about 30 minutes down the road with Ian's family. Super simple. Going to bring a pack and play and hope that one of them naps at some point, but for the master we'll see what happens. I'm you know trying to be.
00:08:41
Speaker
chill mom and not care. and it ah And then we get to sleep in our beds at night, which is great. So I'm very excited. And then Christmas, yeah, we're here. I think my parents may come down. I pretty much put my foot down a few years ago when we first had Vaughn and I said,
00:08:57
Speaker
Santa comes down our chimney we will be at our house for the foreseeable future for Christmas and It feels a little harsh and my mom's like you're not gonna come ever and I'm like, I don't know maybe in the future but I traveled so much on the Christmas Day Christmas Eve growing up and I just did not love it and you know I the option now to change that for myself and my family so I'm in charge and that's what we're doing Hell yeah, girl. I need some of that energy. Honestly, I feel that way about Christmas too. It's like my all of my memories as a child were like spent with my immediate family, like at my parents house, you know, opening presents. We didn't travel much at all or ever on Christmas. And I loved that. And that's something like I kind of wanted and for my kids too, is to like,
00:09:45
Speaker
You know, those Christmas mornings are so special and they're some of my favorite memories.
Elf on the Shelf: Effort vs Magic
00:09:51
Speaker
So I don't know, it's important to kind of set those traditions from the beginning, I think.
00:09:56
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And I feel like I've realized no one else is going to do it for me. I kind of have to start those things now and and you know make those traditions. And so last year was the first like toddler Christmas we really had with Von where he kind of understood what was going on. And so we started a few things. And now this year, I think it's just going to be 10 times more fun. So I'm excited.
00:10:16
Speaker
I also committed to being every single day in December. And now I'm like, oh, it's around the corner. And I'm really just stressed about that, but it'll be fun too. Lots of good vlogmas, right?
00:10:28
Speaker
Vlogmas, yes, as the YouTube... Maybe I'll do it with you. You did. I always say that. I'm always like, I'm going to do it. Because you did you did did in August. Yeah, talking go to get my feet wet. And I have vlogged in the past, but I just did it on TikTok to kind of grow my TikTok, but I've given up on that for the time being. So I put it on Instagram where everybody can see it and it's fun.
00:10:53
Speaker
Okay, now a hot question here. Do you endorse Elf on the Shelf? This will be my first year to do it, and I am nervous, but we have purchased the elf. I've purchased the kit with some ideas for things to do. I'm sure it will be hard halfway through. We're going to be like, I give up, but it seems fun, and I don't know. They only have a few years where you're actually going to do it. I forgot about elf on the shelf until just now, but I feel like now that Graydon can understand right from wrong, it might be.
00:11:26
Speaker
Quite the tool, because, oh, Santa's been playing a big part in my discipline lately. but um Santa and I like this, honestly. Or according to Alice, she thinks that he's a ah phone phone call away. Oh, yeah, we have a little faux camera that says Santa Cam, and I put it up in the corner in our living room, and I'm like, oh, hell yeah. Well, that's brilliant. Honestly, I will be stealing that. I'm not kidding.
00:11:56
Speaker
um I have notoriously shit all over Elf on the Shelf in the past. If you go look at my TikTok, I did a whole video about like things i would never I will never do as a mom and that was one of them. And it's so funny watching that video now because I made that video when I was pregnant. I did not have kids yet.
00:12:15
Speaker
And now that I have little ones, I think completely differently about it. And don't get me wrong, I still am not sure if I want to invite Elf on the Shelf into my home quite yet, but I do understand the like magic in seeing their reaction to all of these special things and like putting effort into something and like watching them like bring it to life almost. right And I think that's what's so special about the holidays with little ones is like, yes, is it annoying? And is it putting extra pressure on myself?
00:12:45
Speaker
Probably, and you know it is, but it's like bigger than that, and it's creating these like holiday memories for them that is so special. um And I love, one of my favorite things about following you, Olivia, is like I feel like you do so many amazing like little things that aren't too much. like You are the perfect amount of like we're going to do something special, but we're also going to make it approachable, which I love. Yeah, I definitely, I mean, I'm just tired. So
Finding Motherhood Inspiration Online
00:13:20
Speaker
it's not, I can only do so much, but you know, I do love making those little moments happen. And I think Elf on the Shelf, you can make it as big or as you know simple as you want. And there's so many easy ideas. Like I just saved one where it's like, you literally just have the elf holding like googly eyes, and then you put some googly eyes like on framed photos in your house. And it's like,
00:13:41
Speaker
look how crazy this elf is, you know, little things like that, where it's like, okay, that would take me three minutes to do, I just have to actually do it. So yeah, I definitely plan to share kind of our journey with the elf, among other things. But yeah, I feel like there's so much pressure on moms on social media of like,
00:13:59
Speaker
the biggest and the most and here's my holiday bucket list and it's 25 items and it's like, when are we doing all of this? I don't understand. i'm not So i I try to share more realistic stuff. you And you're so creative. I feel like even you do that with all the meals that you make, like there's some kind of twist, like all the Halloween stuff and you're just really good at all of it. It's really cute. Thanks guys.
00:14:23
Speaker
You're so welcome. Okay. So like we said, the holidays can kind of be a crazy time. We can feel like stretched thin. There's so many things on our to-do list. And we're also kind of as moms expected to have this like levity in how we show up to these holiday things, even to like pictures and, you know, even doing like Elf on the Shelf and all that stuff. It's supposed to be like fun and we're the ones kind of like leading the energy of it. But a lot of the times it can be like,
00:14:52
Speaker
kind of draining and if things aren't going your way like I know myself if I've put pressure on us on a situation and things aren't going the way I want them to go like I have a tendency to like show up not in the best, like not the way I would like to show up to the situation.
Time Management and Juggling Tasks
00:15:10
Speaker
So I wanna know if you ever feel that way, like especially creating content, like do you feel pressure to like show up a certain way, especially online or even just with your kids and how do you like negate that pressure um and you know, take, I don't know, take, bring back some levity to that to your life.
00:15:35
Speaker
Definitely feel that way almost daily I think all of us do as moms because it's like this pressure of I need to get all the things done but I also have to be really happy about it and I can't let my kids see that I'm tired or that I don't want to be doing something and I think that pressure can kind of boil over and it just ruins any moment ah really easily so I I have noticed that I do the best with you know, whether it's an outing or a little project with the kids or whatever, if I just focus on that one thing and I don't try to do all the other things at the same time or the on the same day. So like, if we're going to go take Santa photos, I'm not also going to put the pressure on myself to fold four baskets of laundry that day because it's just not going to get done or I'm going to be running late or, you know, whatever it may be. And I think
00:16:26
Speaker
it It goes back to the analogy I talk about all the time with the glass balls and the rubber balls, you have to be cognizant of the balls that you're juggling, which ones are important to you at that time. And that may shift day to day as far as what's important to you that day, because obviously, at some point, I will have to fold the laundry and that does mean to get done, but it doesn't have to happen in the same, you know, two hour span that I'm getting the family ready for photos.
00:16:48
Speaker
And I think realizing that and picking and choosing what is important to me in the moment has put me in a better mood because it's less on my plate. I'm just focusing on them and what needs to get done. And I'm not feeling quite so overwhelmed because I've given myself the permission to take things off of the to-do list. I love it. Where do you learn like all of these, I don't know, quotes or like ways of life? I mean, everything you have said. Totally. like I mean, that has been something I repeat to myself daily like since I've known you. I love that. And like something else about just if you feel like the walls are clo closing in, go outside. like Where did you learn all this?
Mindset and Personal Growth Journey
00:17:28
Speaker
I'm obsessed. A lot of it is just social media. I feel like I follow. I've really curated my
00:17:34
Speaker
you know, for you page or whatever, we're calling it on Instagram, my real staff, where it's like the content that's served to me is content that I want to be looking at and things that are actually going to serve me. So I'll see something and I save it. And then I do go through my saved folder on Instagram pretty regularly and kind of see what I saved, what stuck out to me and like what lines of thought I want to be keeping at the forefront. I also in my planner every week, this current planner has like little little quotes that I've put in there. But for next year, we don't have that. But I plan to just kind of like write out, you know, a mantra for the weekend. It feels a little cheesy because it kind of is. But at the same time, those phrases and those words are sticking in our brains for a reason. And I like to cling to them. You know, I also love a good self-help podcast or book, you know, when I have the time. And I think whatever resonates with me, I really just try to fall back on in those moments because I get overwhelmed so quickly.
00:18:30
Speaker
And at the end of the day, I'm like, what the hell did I even accomplish today? And then I kind of am able to take a step back and remember, you know, what's important and what's not. I feel like I would have never known because I don't know, you come across as like, you're never mad. I don't know why. and Like even just like knowing, not mad. Like, I mean, I like will be like, yeah, that like nip it or something to my kids. But for you, like, I feel like you're always in a good mood and find like the light in everything.
00:19:00
Speaker
Well, that's totally not true. First of all, I feel like social media is you know the best of the best as far as what I post and put out there. But even in our personal friendship, like I feel like there are most of the time the things that put me in a bad mood.
00:19:16
Speaker
I kind of let brush off my shoulder because it's like at the end of the day life is so short and I've really realized that over the last year or so just with some things you know in life and family it's like you never know what is gonna happen the next day and I'd rather not be in a bad mood and I have to actively fight against you know that postpartum rage feeling or like wanting to yell at my kids like I think last year when I was freshly postpartum I was a lot more snippy and exhausted and frustrated but I mean right now my kids are both knock on wood sleeping through the night for the most part I'm not pregnant I'm able to, you know, move my body and eat and drink whatever I want. And I think that all really plays into it. So when we're consuming mom content, and we're not realizing like, Oh, she's getting eight hours of sleep at night and I'm getting four and a half. Like, why are we so different? It's like those little things really add up. yeah
00:20:10
Speaker
So true. I love you because you are a Capricorn queen like me. that You and I have some so many similarities. I love self-help things and I'm very like, I just love mindset. Like I, I don't know. I love mindset. I love like growth ah oriented, like material. I don't know. I'm drawn to guys you Meanwhile, I'm like, I don't know.
00:20:39
Speaker
but
00:20:41
Speaker
perfect city You just navigated a move with absolutely zero stress. So I don't want to hear. Yeah, ah you're killing it. Y'all are so nice. Whatever. It's all good. But I, I feel like one of the things that has helped me the most in motherhood. And it's funny, like seeing some of your content reminds me of this. It's like when I forget it, because like even You know, what I'm about to say is like been an anchor for me and my motherhood journey, but I still forget it from time to time. And then I see something you post and I'm like, Oh my God. And that is just that I hold the power in every situation. I hold the power of like how I show up.
00:21:20
Speaker
how I react to something. like I hold all the cards. It's like my choice. And don't get me wrong, like there are so many times I make the wrong choice. you I don't have the power. you know But i there are so many things that you've posted that that remind me that, like oh, wait, I can change how I see this and how I show up to it.
00:21:44
Speaker
um does that come naturally for you, Olivia? Or do you feel like it's something that you have to constantly work towards? I think it's felt a lot more natural to me in the last few years, specifically after I quit my corporate job. And I realized that my life wasn't going to crumble and that huge decision and like me taking the reins and deciding what my next big life step was going to be. It made me realize like, oh, I actually am in charge of everything. And you know, that boils down to little things like when we don't get a good night's sleep and I wake up, like I could be in a really shitty mood because it
00:22:27
Speaker
it It sucks, you know, you're exhausted and you feel bad and you could just let that kind of run your whole day and be like, well, I'm just going to eat fast food and lay on the couch during nap time and whatever. But like that's not actually going to make me feel any better. So I have to, yes, actively work toward switching my mindset to that. But it has felt a lot easier in the last few years. Like once I made one big change, it kind of snowballed. And now I feel like I, you know, I work for myself.
00:22:56
Speaker
I am able to kind of make my own schedule, kids pending. you know i I'm an adult and I'm able to to be in charge of myself and my life and I think that also includes my mindset day to day and I'm not perfect at it by any means. I mean sometimes it definitely gets the best of me but I think always trying to You know, take a step back if you're feeling overwhelmed by your emotions and the moment and realizing like, okay, I can change this. Like I can go on a walk and in 30 minutes I'll feel better. That does usually help. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. Like
Potty Training and Crib Transition
00:23:28
Speaker
she's so good at this. Like we'll text and this woman like barely complains ever. And like, I know it was, gosh, I think it was Sadie that went through a regression or was it Vaughn? I can't remember now. read ah They were like back to back because he, We did it and then we did the Passy stuff right after she was done. Well, how's that going? He's off the pacifier. All three of his pacifiers are gone, so and we are thrilled. like that um May God never strike anyone down like they did in my grading, but wow.
00:24:06
Speaker
I feel so bad for you. I feel like your journey was so hard. Not great. But, but you were before three. If I have any advice to before three, it was like, okay, he's turning three. I have to do it. And we just ripped the band-aid. I'm proud of you because my goodness, not fun, but I'm glad it went smooth. I'm so happy for you for real. It's the worst. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. First, first of many big boy transitions we have on the. I know. Are you like on the verge of the bed yet?
00:24:38
Speaker
No, because he can fully leap out of his bed whenever he wants. But like, he doesn't do it very often. And his rooms upstairs are rooms downstairs. So it's like a ah scary thing to think about him like, yeah, walking downstairs on the night. For the most part, I think he's okay in his crib for now. I think we'll probably do potty training first, and then do big boy bed right after so maybe closer to his birthday. I don't know if anyone has any opinions. Let me know.
00:25:06
Speaker
Yeah, we, I was going to ask you this week because we are now like, we're back in the potty training. We, it like with the flood, we were like doing well and then the flood happened and we, we, we regressed. And so, but we're back and actually her daycare or her like school teachers, they had a talking to with me. They were like, she's ready. so Stop sending her in diapers. Like she's only wearing undies at school. And they were like, she is ready. You're holding her back. And I was like, Oh shit. That's exactly what they did to me. And they were like, just send them an underwear. And I was like, are you sure? like That sounds like a disaster. And they're like, just send three or four pair a day. And I was like, OK. And now we, ah yeah, so since last Wednesday, she's been in undies all day every day except for nap and sleep, which is the next hurdle. But my question to you wit is, Graydon's still in a crib, right?
00:26:04
Speaker
So if he has to pee in the middle of the night, what does he do? Or is he in the nighttime? He's in the diaper still. We have not. They ask me to take that away once they wake up, and there's no pee in the diaper at all, a few nights in a row or something. And he's still peeing in the diaper. He wakes up, and it's like, oh, fun diapers. They're like 10 times. It's huge. I'm like, OK. He would not wake up.
00:26:27
Speaker
or maybe I'm holding him back. Okay, good to know. I didn't i don't know. If anyone has any advice, please write in. ah No, I wasn't sure about that because that's like, okay, when does that happen? Because she's doing so well during the day and we've started to go out of the house. She went to the park today.
00:26:43
Speaker
no accidents. we gone ah We've gone on walks. like We'll do a 30 minute to an hour walk and she won't pee in the stroller. So I feel like we're in a good place, but I'm just like, what do I do about sleep time? I don't know. That was a gradual thing for us. like He would do really well and then he'd have accidents and then he'd do really well. It's yeah it's been a journey. Yeah.
00:27:09
Speaker
Yeah, I think the bed, though, whenever we do find, I don't know, whatever the hell is happening with our house, if we get a rental or whatever or move, I think we're just going to switch to a big girl bed. and Yeah, yeah. Just because I don't think it makes sense for us to get a whole new crib. Like we're using a crib right now because my mom already had it here, but I don't think it makes sense for us to get a whole new crib but if we're only going to be in it for like a month or two. You know, yeah agreed. So we have the bed here.
00:27:37
Speaker
I'm just scared of him, for real. I'm like, ah that like six week little regression I went through, I'm terrified to like- Yeah, you have PTSD. I'm terrified to like start something new. I think he'd be okay, but now his thing is being scared. And I'm like, we cover up his crib with a blanket. it look make like We make it a tent. So I'm thinking I might have to buy like a canopy to make him feel like,
00:28:07
Speaker
I'm like, I don't know what to do. I mean, I always used to say I'm leaving him in a sleep sack in the crib until college. Like I have no rush over here. Honestly, if we had it flooded and I'm not kidding, like i would she would be I would say the same thing. I would be like, we're leaving her in a crib forever. Like she'll be there. She's only flipped out of it once and she's never done it since. And I think it scared the crap out of her. So I'm like, if she's not hopping out, I honestly i felt the same way. I don't know if you know this, but Von was like,
00:28:40
Speaker
an anomaly and started walking really early and doing like parkour. I did know that. I remember. He's been pretty able-bodied since day one. In and out, whatever, wherever he wants. but and And I kind of trust that if he does jump out, he's not going to hurt himself because he's done it so many times. I don't know. how How old was he when he started walking?
00:29:05
Speaker
It's like nine and a half months he was fully walking around. Yeah. He was like standing up unassisted at like five and a half, six months. Holy shit, Olivia. Yeah. It was wild, but it was, he was my first kid. So I had no idea.
00:29:21
Speaker
that that was normal really, other than like my mom chats and they were like, Oh, that's crazy. And I was like, yeah, this sucks. Right. And everyone else still had their kid like sitting in a, they're not even sitting up. yeah And I'm like, baby gate up at like seven months.
00:29:36
Speaker
And then with Sadie, she walked it, you know, 14 months and I was like, okay, this is how it's supposed to be. ya Yeah. And they're still beautifully average. There's still a lot of babies.
00:29:51
Speaker
because if not Yeah, yeah gosh I feel like, yeah, there's still some babies in our group that are still not walking and it's totally normal and they'll get there, you know? yeah Yeah, totally. I know. It becomes all hell break breaking loose once they start walking. Yeah. How have you found the transition from one to two?
00:30:17
Speaker
I felt like it was a lot easier than I expected. A lot of people you know warned me that it was going to be crazy. and it's we were in a bit of a unique situation, I guess, because of the age gap being so close, like, Von was still very much a baby when I got pregnant. And by the time Sadie was born, you know, he was he had just turned 17 months. And so he was still, you know, baby, baby in my mind. And so I felt like that helped with the jealousy and the typical things that people say when you bring home a second because he didn't know what was going on. And so then they've kind of been, you know, raised
00:30:54
Speaker
together you know quote-unquote and so it's been easier than I thought in a lot of ways obviously having two means having two and I think the harder things are you know we're more divided I'm with Sadie a lot and Ian's with Von a lot or especially the first year where it was really like me in a room breastfeeding while but ian and that was definitely hard and different dynamic wise and just obviously not getting any sort of break really until we got to the point where their naps now overlap even though and tune know that a
00:31:28
Speaker
Yeah, we're we're there now. But it feels like it's coming to an end because he's trying to fight his naps, which I can't even talk about. But we're we're in a good spot overall. And I felt like zero to one rocked our world so much as far as, you know, we were just lazy, selfish people
Adjusting to Two Children
00:31:47
Speaker
before. And then we were like, Oh, we are no longer able to do that. And by the time we had Sadie, we were already doing all these things already, you know, not going out to dinner at seven o'clock at night or whatever, because We're in that mode with thoughts. So it was just like, let's add another one. So that's kind of how I'm thinking for number three, number four. Yeah. I feel the same though. Amazing. Same sentiment.
00:32:09
Speaker
minus the three and four. yeah when he's like Oh my gosh. A lot of my friends are starting to like either try for their third or they're about to have three. And I was like telling Candace, I'm so excited that I can actually like give my attention to like my friends' kids. Cause sometimes I feel like I'm so like, if um If I'm alone and I'm over there, I'm like, hi, little babies. like I'm finally alone. I'm not going to do too much, but if I get to hold a baby for the first time in forever and then I get to hand it back, I'm kind of excited.
00:32:46
Speaker
That's how you know you're done. so but I'm so excited. right if You're not feeling any jealousy and you're just excited for them. I feel like that's such a good Sorry that you know you did the right thing. I mean, God, I hope so. If I feel jealous, somebody bonk me on the head. But so far, so good. All right. Well, I want to talk a little bit about getting into the new year. And honestly, I just love to pick your brain about some of the things that you have weaved into your everyday life that make you feel more sane as a mom of two.
00:33:22
Speaker
I feel kind of like all we've talked all the stuff we've talked about. You're doing so much and like you're still fitting in a workout and still like trying new recipes and cooking new things. like Give us some tips on like how you stay sane or set boundaries. I don't know. Give us some like hot tips. Yeah, definitely. so I'm not
Day Management and Childcare Importance
00:33:45
Speaker
perfect at it. And there's definitely days where I'm not able to fit in a workout or you know the things I want to do. And I do have childcare. And I feel like that's such a important thing to stay when we have these conversations. like It's not just me home alone with both toddlers all day long, trying to get all of this done. I do have help
00:34:04
Speaker
on certain days, which is a big help, but it's still, you know, a chunk of time that I have to decide what I want to do with. And I think something that as much as we don't want to hear it, waking up 30 minutes before your kids, an hour before your kids is the way to feel like you're conquering the day as far as things for you, whether that be you're going to read, you're going to journal, you're going to work out, you're going to do whatever. And I know we've all heard that before, but I think when you're in a spot similar to where I am now, where we are, where their kids are sleeping through the night, you know, you can get your seven, eight hours, that self-discipline piece of it of just getting out of bed, put your feet on the ground. It helps so much. And I don't do it a lot of times, but when I do, I'm like, why don't I do this every day? So that's yeah same working on because it just makes it feel like you have more hours in the day, which is kind of what we're all looking for. but
00:34:58
Speaker
Other than that, I've really tried to move my body with my kids awake. I try to work out while we're in the playroom or Sadie has a toy in the garage while we're working out. I love an at home workout because I don't always have time to leave the house.
00:35:16
Speaker
drive to a workout, do the workout, drive home, shower, it like that takes so much more time than just doing it while they're awake. And most of the time they're like, Oh, what are you doing? You know, they're kind of interested. And I like showing them that I am a healthy person taking care of my own body while they're awake, and they're able to kind of soak that in consciously. I also love a stroller walk. I feel like I post this every single day, you know, going on a stroller walk, putting in a podcast, multitasking,
00:35:43
Speaker
My kids are great in the stroller. I will say I got lucky, but I think I just started them young. um I bring snacks. I play music for them. I'll bring a toy that they haven't played with in a while and I strap it all onto the stroller with the like toy strap things so that when they throw it out, I don't have to turn around. I need a link to those. I need a link to those for real.
00:36:03
Speaker
three on each stroller and I just like rotate the snack cups and the water and and whatever. So that way I can get my steps in again while they're awake and I'm not using nap time just for that. um But otherwise, I mean, I ah really focus on my water intake. I really focus on meal planning every Sunday or Monday for the whole week so that I know what we're going to be eating.
00:36:25
Speaker
It's not a thing I have to stress about every single night when it's like, what's for dinner? And we do have those moments, but overall, I like to have planned ahead as far as what I'm going to eat, what we're going to cook.
Meal Planning and Cooking Chaos
00:36:36
Speaker
Honestly, Ian cooks 99% of the time right now, which is fine, but I'm like, here's the recipe. Here's the ingredients. I planned it all out for you.
00:36:43
Speaker
I think that really helps our family kind of run smoothly and just, you know, getting my greens and getting my electrolytes and all those little things that take two minutes to do. And when you do them, you're like, okay, I'm taking care of myself.
00:36:56
Speaker
yeah That's my struggle. ah Planning out meals, that is like the biggest chaos of my night, I think. It's like, what are we gonna do for dinner? I'm last minute cooking and then the kids are like, what are you doing? You know, they're like under my feet. Oh my gosh, I need to literally meal prep. God.
00:37:17
Speaker
Well, I saw a folder that saved folder on Instagram. Like anytime you see somebody posts some food that looks good, hit save. And then every Sunday I go back through that folder and I see what I saved and I like at least add one or two new recipes that I want to try.
00:37:32
Speaker
I also saw the girl, one of the girls from Chicks in the Office, do either of y'all listen? I don't, I listen sometimes here and there, um but one of them was talking about how she has what she calls her menu. And anytime she makes a recipe, she adds it to her notes and she'll link like if it's to an Instagram video or a TikTok video or to a recipe. And then every time she makes something new, she adds it to her menu. So then when she's planning, she's like, she's like, let me look in my menu. And I was like, damn, that's actually really smart. Cause I feel like,
00:38:02
Speaker
What's that thing I made that one time? Or like, I saw that thing on Instagram. So, but honestly, your save folder is such a good place too. I find, I would say these days I find like 90% of the recipes I make on Instagram or TikTok now. Right. And then I just try to think about what is something that I can make that's going to be good for the kids. Like I could pull apart, you know, give them some ground turkey or chicken or whatever from some spicier thing that we're having and we have to cook four separate meals every single day. Is Vaughn a good eater or? He's not right now, but he kind of goes through waves. Like we'll, we'll say he's a good eater and then he'll kind of live off snacks for like a few weeks and then we'll get back to it. So we're just, we're offering and we're, you know, familiarizing him with a few new foods a week and and hoping for the best. Like we,
00:39:00
Speaker
have realized if we call something, something else, he prefers it. Like, right now I'm making a lot of quesadillas, which you know, it's just like, two siete tortillas with cheese and some spinach and turkey, but then I'll like cut out a shape on the top of it and I'll be like, do you want a Christmas quesadilla? And he's like so much more excited if there's like a little Christmas tree like cut out of it. And it that sounds fancier than it is, but little things like that where I'll like cut his sandwich into like a star shape and I'm like, do you want a star sandwich? And he's more excited about it. Okay. That is a hot tip. I'm going to do that.
00:39:37
Speaker
Yeah, just like renaming it. Like, do you want to? Yeah. Someone told me to do like food on a stick and it like gets them excited. It could be like a toothpick, but it's like them getting to eat with that is so fun for them. And she was like, it works every time. I'm like, I need to do that because it's still so picky. My gosh.
00:39:58
Speaker
Yeah, it's hard. I say these definitely are better eater, but Vaughn was this way at this age too. And then it kind of got worse and worse. So I have low hopes and apparently he eats amazing at school. They provide all of his meals there. And every day it says like he eats, you know, seconds of everything. So I'm like, okay, he's eating something. I'm wondering, I'm like, does he eat at school? Or I don't know. It says he does, but and I mean, it says he does. But I'm like, does he really? I don't not in my house. I don't know.
00:40:29
Speaker
Well, yeah yeah. I've seen so much stuff though about how like the two to three, I think they actually say two to four age like is the pickiest time and that really like it's so normal for them to be like limited eating wise and that things really do change like after four. And I was like, okay, I'm not gonna, that's one thing for me like I get really discouraged about Alice's eating. She's really picky and just her whole life, even when she was a baby, she just has been a low eater. Like she doesn't eat a lot. Like she, even when she was a baby, she wasn't necessarily picky. She just didn't eat that much always. And I don't know. And I i felt like it really, I always felt
00:41:16
Speaker
crazy mom guilt about it or like discouraged about the things that would make and she wouldn't touch. And I've just kind of let that go at this point. I'm just like, she'll start eating when she's ready. I'm going to keep offering, but like, I'm not going to attach my worth as a mom to like what I'm putting on her plate anymore because I'm just losing every time. So like that's how it should be with. Yeah. And with us, it's like, you know, you go through different phases where you crave different things or you don't want different things. and I think tying that morality to food in any capacity is not, not the way to do it with them or, you know, with us as moms, because we're just doing our best. Totally. You know, like the, um, I guess it's kind of a trend or just like the theme on TikTok and Instagram of like your hyper fixation meal. Oh yeah. Okay. We should go around and do our child's hyper fixation meal and then our current hyper fixation meal. I'm going to have to go first cause I don't think I've seen that.
00:42:17
Speaker
Okay. It's just like the thing that you like constantly want all the time recently. Okay. Um, Alice's is so bad. Do not judge me because it is like not organic or anything, but someone let her try the deluxe Kraft mac and cheese. The kind with the cheese that is like Oh, yeah. And now she's it's the only mac and cheese she wants. So um we bought it and now she's getting gooey Kraft Mac and cheese. So that's hers. Mom of the year over here. And then um mine is Carabas chicken soup. But I made yeah literally last night I made the copycat version at home and it was so good. I'll have to post the recipe somewhere. It's so fucking random. Yeah.
00:43:07
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Mine are equally good. Von, Von is so obsessed with the dots pretzels. Have y'all had those? They're so salty so yeah and bad.
00:43:20
Speaker
trying them because I love them. And yeah he now calls them bond
Current Hyper Fixation Meals
00:43:25
Speaker
pretzels. And i'll I'll buy like the, you know, healthy brand. Well, I'll buy like the cauliflower pretzels and be like, Oh, you want pretzels? Here you go. And he's like, No, he's like, I know. i'm playing that's his um For me, gosh, I don't know. I feel like for breakfast, I go through phases for like months and months where I just eat the same thing. So I'm on the reds breakfast. I was going to say you influenced me to try those. They're so yummy. They're so good. They keep me full till lunch, which is a lot. Cause I'm hungry all the time, but they're great. yeah I mean, great ends has always, and will always be chicken nuggets, the dinosaur shape ones. I mean, he wants them. um That's could be like his side dish, his main dish. Like he wants them.
00:44:11
Speaker
Side dish made. Did you know that every time Alice sees a dino nugget, she says, well, she'll point and say, those are great. And I go, yeah, yeah. Still his favorite. And like my current like obsession is Kava for sure. I want Kava big time. Like if Chris is like, do you want to order out? I'm like, Kava? And he's like, no, Jesus. Like, I don't want to eat that anymore. I'm like, I could eat it every day, I think.
00:44:41
Speaker
There's so many worse things, I feel like that's... I was gonna say, I feel like that's a that's like ah great hyper fixation. I think it's that garlic dip. What is... Oh, it's so good, the, wait, the creamy feta. No, yeah it's called like a garlic dip. It's white. I don't think I've ever had that. I feel like I haven't had kava in a while. Yeah, me either. Now that we live with my mom out here in the boons, but we don't have kava. Okay. but I wanted to go um talk a little bit about her planner. Of course.
00:45:19
Speaker
I'm looking at it. I was literally going to say I see mine. There it is. Walk us through your planner, your 2025 happy and healthy planner. um Tell us what all is in it. I would love everything. Yeah, I was going to say I would also love to hear kind of the background of like how you got into like creating your own planner as a planner girl.
Happy and Healthy Planner Creation
00:45:40
Speaker
Like I feel like every planner girl dreams of this. It's like, oh, if I could create my perfect planner. But i I don't know. I kind of I want to hear the background of it.
00:45:48
Speaker
For sure, so yeah, it's it's called the Happy and Healthy Planner. I created the first one in, gosh, was it 2021, I think. my ah One of my followers worked at a book publishing company and she just reached out and she was like, hey, would you want to write a book? And I was like, no, I would not. but they We kind of worked together and realized that I could do a planner as a book. So that was the first you know foray into it. And I really got to sit down and think about, okay, what do I love about my current planners?
00:46:21
Speaker
you know ive Like you, I've tried every brand, every planner under the sun, some are better than others. And I was able to kind of design a wellness and lifestyle planner all in one, because a lot of the time it's like a wellness planner is so heavy on like, how many workouts are you going to do a day and like, you know, really focusing just on that, but with no space for appointments or actual to do lists or things that you actually have to get done in the day. And on the opposite end, you know, I found myself writing in a normal planner, like, Oh, I drank my water check, like kind of in the margins, and I wasn't able to marry the two until I created my own. So this is the fourth one that I've done. It's definitely my favorite. So far, it feels the most luxe and I was really proud of the price point for the quality of it. And yeah, it's just fun. I created it for my followers. Any
00:47:16
Speaker
pen and paper girls like me who just want to get all of the things out of our brains, whether you're a mom, you're working from home, you are in an office, whatever it may be. I felt like there was an option for everybody in there because there's like budgeting section, there's habit tracking, there's, you know, mindset and gratitude stuff. But then there's again, a ton of space for just notes and to do lists and appointments and all the things that we have to keep track of as women.
00:47:43
Speaker
I love a brain dump. Let me tell you. This is perfect because she has an on the menu page for, you know, each each week. So it's that nice like where you can start getting organized. I'm like, wow, this is perfect.
00:47:57
Speaker
yeah That alone, that page alone is like my number one reason I was so excited to get this. is because that is something like I'm constantly creating these little menu things on random pieces of paper and I'm losing them. and then It's also nice to have them all to where I can look back at past weeks. like when like Let's say I get to July and I can look back and be like, what have I made in the past? you know there is So helpful. um the saved folder on Instagram, there's a section of this planner that has recipes to try so you can write down. Oh, nice. I know this is the one I want to try whether it's from Instagram or somebody recommended it to you. ah So that then when you're building out your menu for the week and your shopping list, it's all just right there.
00:48:39
Speaker
So, yeah, I'm i'm very excited. I really love it. I've been taking it with me into work because I have to go into work now. um But I've been taking it into work and it just feels so like beautiful and like people are like, so what is that? And so I've just been getting to like show everybody and I I like taking my little notes in there on the blank pages. So it's been freaking awesome. I love it. Well, I'm glad you like it. Yeah, I'm like counting down till Jan once so we could use it.
00:49:06
Speaker
I know. I haven't, I haven't used mine yet because I'm reading till Jan one. doodling i'm too excited i love um What are some things that you do besides obviously a new planner to like get ready for the new year to go into the new year, like the clearest and
New Year Preparation and Goal Setting
00:49:30
Speaker
healthiest or, um, you know, just some things you do to kind of get ready for a new year.
00:49:36
Speaker
I love as cheesy as it is. I love a vision board. I love intention setting. all well And I think something that I started two years ago that's really helped me is making my vision board digital and using it as my computer or iPad background.
00:49:51
Speaker
Which I know a lot of people have done, but it really does help me whenever I open my computer, open my phone or whatever I put it on to just quickly look at it. You know, let's say it's April and you're like, Oh, I decided I was going to read this year and I have done nothing to start that. Like, how do I.
00:50:09
Speaker
actually take steps to make these things happen. It's just when it's in your face every day, I feel like it's harder to ignore versus just like a list you put in your phone that you're not going to look at ever again once you write them down. So big believer in vision boarding. I have a video on how I do it on Canva, but I'll, I'll repost that ah probably at the end of the year. Super easy. Just, you know, screenshot a bunch of things. And I feel like as far as resolutions or goal setting, I again, in the planner, I have a section for that and I break it into categories of what do I want to be? What do I want to do? What do I want to try? ah What I want to start, stop, you know, thinking about the past year and then at the end of the year, going through those wins and kind of figuring out what worked, what didn't and what you can do moving into the next year. So I think taking steps to actually do those things and feeling accomplished
00:51:03
Speaker
in six or seven goals versus 25 is the way to build self confidence, you know, in your life yeah um or not, you know, trusting yourself to cross those things off your list is the best way to feel good.
00:51:17
Speaker
about your year, I set my goal this year to start reading. And I did it. and I'm so proud of myself. I like literally can't wait to cross that off my list at the end of the year, because there's plenty of things I did not get to do. But I did that one thing. And it's made me realize like, okay, I i took the steps to do it. And now I can apply that same framework to a different goal for next year, because it's done.
00:51:41
Speaker
Yeah. And we last talked. We, we had both just started our gateway book, which wow. Olivia's like taking it and ran with it. You've been reading a lot. real yeah they guys You guys love the like fairy sex book, right? I do, but I also like thriller stuff. I feel like just something where I can escape and it's not like, you know, I'm constantly just shoving self-help down my throat. I think.
00:52:07
Speaker
something at the end of the night where when the kids are in bed and I can take a bath and I can just in turn my brain off. It's been really great. Yeah. No, I need to start. Honestly, I love I like thrillers and stuff, too. I tried to audio book. What's the one for me?
00:52:27
Speaker
Yes, but the audiobook wasn't for me. I was so visual with
Achieving and Adapting Goals
00:52:31
Speaker
like, ah there were so many characters and names, I need to revisit because I actually did like it, but I need to read it with my eyes. Yeah, audiobooks are tough for a first, like if you haven't already read the book, right? Or at least for me, it's I'm the same way. It's like, I have to. Yeah. How is it spelled? Like, um I'm, I'm audiobook. That's all I do. I know.
00:52:52
Speaker
Wow. I think it's, and that's like a thing from growing up. Like I listened to every Harry Potter growing up with my mom. Oh wow. Wow. You were ahead of the time. It was on tape, baby. We had to put it in the stereo system or in the car. We did it all the time because my sister was like in college and we would drive to Knoxville and listen to Harry Potter.
00:53:18
Speaker
It was like our thing. That's cool. Wow. that I love her podcast just grew from there. yeah
00:53:27
Speaker
In general, just being able to say, okay, I have a few goals and I'm going to do one at a time versus let me change every single part of my life and everything about myself at the start of the year. It's, it never works. So totally.
00:53:47
Speaker
deciding, you know, a few things that are going to improve your life and then focusing on one. So, you know, if you're trying to lose weight, you probably need to work out and focus on your nutrition, but do one before the other. And I'm no expert. I've found in the past where if you're wanting to do something like that and you try to do both at the same time, it's, it's so overwhelming. And then you just kind of fall off both.
00:54:12
Speaker
So if you could get one spot and then move on to the next, it it feels like you're creating more momentum to continue. Something I've noticed too, as a mom, like there's so many seasons in motherhood, like, and I have found, yeah, I could start the year and I could be like this year in the next 12 months. But like, I mean, look at my life the past year, like on month nine, my whole life was turned upside down and like,
00:54:39
Speaker
My goals have to look different for the next, I don't even know how long if we're building a house or you know renovating our house or whatever. so i tried to look I love looking at things like quarterly like for the next three months. Here's what I'm going to focus on. I just find it to be more overwhelming and I can tailor things more to like what I know I'm going through currently.
00:55:01
Speaker
um That's something that's helped me a lot because I don't know. Sometimes when you think about a whole year, it's like, oh my God, so much can happen in a whole year and you just never know. like in ah december I created all of my goals for 2023. And then on New Year's day, I found out. The universe was like psych. Yeah. So the vision board had to be edited. Oh my God. That is so funny. Also you talking about your vision board. My vision board is my phone background. Look at you. I love it. Y'all are literally twins.
00:55:40
Speaker
No, we are Capricorn twins. Every time I talk to Olivia, I'm like, we're the same person. we go Well, this has been so fun. Where can people find the planner? Where can people follow you? Give us the deets.
00:55:56
Speaker
All right, it's a long list. So my Instagram is at skinny hangover. And then my baby and kid Amazon account is Minnie must and the planner is happy and healthy planner and they are available right now we have a few left ah that would that should be available until the end of the year, but act fast. And they sold out last year and I'm so glad I got one. So get after it, ladies. We'll put a link in our Instagram for that as well, as well as all her handles. But we are so glad that you were able to join us again. We love having you. We'll have you over and over. Our first repeat guest. No, I feel so honored. no i love you And it won't be the last, truly.
00:56:41
Speaker
and All right. Well, love you guys. Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat. New episodes drop every Tuesday and don't forget the group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there. All right. Got to go. My toddler just put something in her mouth.