Don't Mom Alone Podcast Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Ready or not, the holidays are upon us! What are your favorite holiday traditions? What are the ones you could leave behind? 

Get sidetracked with Cynthia and me as we discuss everything from trees (real, fake, and Jesse) to gift giving philosophies (more or less presents than Jesus?) to elves and shepherds and the awful name your pie might get if it doesn’t come out just right. There’s even help for the mom who just wants to help her kids see Jesus in the midst of all the holiday stuff!   

Connect with Cynthia Yanof: 





Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/ 
Podcast: Messmerized

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof 
Instagram:  @cynthiayanof 

Links Mentioned:  





The Jesse Tree
Heather’s  Mother-in-law’s Wassail Recipe→ combine in a pot: a gallon of apple cider (or juice) with 12 whole cloves, 4 tsp whole allspice, 12 sticks of cinnamon. (optional: 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup orange juice, 6 Tbsp lemon juice). Bring to a slow boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and serve hot. 
Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls Recipe 
Pioneer Woman Chocolate Marshmallow Pumpkin Pie 
Courtney DeFeo’s Light ‘Em Up 
Cultivate What Matters Powersheets 
Christmas Eve Service Printable 
Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional by Paul David Tripp
“Pilgrim Rick” Season 1 Episode 8 of This Is Us

Related Episodes:





Truth in the Tinsel with Amanda White (Ohamanda) :: [Ep 3] 
Celebrating Advent :: Tsh Oxenreider [Ep 305]
Christmas Traditions with Little Ones :: Jacki Rucksdashel [Ep 142] 

Featured Sponsors: 




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How are you doing? 
Honestly.
What is the pace of your day? What do you long for and feel you are missing out on? What activities have you crammed in your life out of a “should” mentality? When do you focus on your spiritual life?

Today we are getting honest about our lives. And discussing ways to deepen relationships, simplify schedules, and connect spiritually.
This week’s podcast guest is the talented, Shauna Niequist. Author of several books (“Cold Tangerines”, “Bread and Wine”, etc), she has a new devotional available called, “Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are”.

If you are longing for friends you can share vulnerably with, Shauna offers a simple plan.
If you struggle with the concept of slowing down and “savoring”, we discuss our own struggle and practical ways to start. If you want to expand your spiritual life beyond time alone with your Bible, then Shauna paints a beautiful picture of what that can look like.
Shauna dishes out oodles of wise words. Enjoy!

Connect with Shauna Niequist: 





Website:  https://www.shaunaniequist.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sniequist/ 
Instagram:  @sniequist


Links Mentioned:  





 Savor: Living Abundantly, Where You Are, As You Are by Shauna Niequist

Cheddar Sage Shepherd’s Pie–switch out the sage for thyme and extra cheddar
Nigella Lawson’s Guiness Chocolate Cake

Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Wayne Muller’s “A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough” 
Concentric Circles of Care



Related Episodes:





Soulful Over Frantic :: Shauna Niequist [Ep 127]
Walking Through Seasons of Unbelonging :: Shauna Niequist [Ep 362]
Recovering from Mom Burnout :: Nicole Zasowski [Ep 257]




Featured Sponsors: 




Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “college tuition”? Does your heart rate speed up? 

Sending a child to college is the culmination of a lot of effort. It’s emotional and there are a lot of logistics to manage. In this hands-on, information-packed conversation Kristi and I cover the basics of applying for financial aid for college. We talk through deadlines and how-to’s to help relieve some of the logistical stress of sending a child to college.  

Connect with Kristi Steele: 




Website:  https://www.kc360.co/ 
Links Mentioned:  





FAFSA

Federal Student Aid 
CSS Profile
MyCap College Funding Services 

Kristi’s The College Project  

Lunch and Learn: A Deeper Dive Into Financial Aid and Scholarships: November 27, 11:00am CST (Webinar will be recorded and recording sent to all who register)
**Private School Special Circumstance Form will be found with the specific university your child is applying to**

 Related Episodes:




Work of Worth :: Kristi Griem [Ep 39]
Featured Sponsors: 

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What are two words to describe your mind when your head hits the pillow most nights? 

The quiet space before sleep can be our most vulnerable moments. Whether it’s to-do’s or dredging up memories from the past, our thoughts can feel overwhelming. If we let our mind spiral we’re sacrificing the rest God intends us to enjoy. But my guest this week, Emily Ley has some bedtime rituals that can help us stop the spiraling. Crafted to help herself with the nighttime barrage of thoughts, Emily’s simple routines and reminders can set you on a path to the peace that comes, not from an easy life, but from an abiding trust in God. 

Emily is a mom of three, a best-selling author, and the founder of organizational products and tools company, Simplified.   

Connect with Emily Ley: 





Website:  https://emilyleybooks.com/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplified 
Instagram:  @simplified 

Links Mentioned:  






The Simplified Planner Heather uses

Raising Them Ready: Practical Ways to Prepare Your Kids for Life on Their Own by Jonathan and Erica Catherman  
How to Be a Person Camp - Emily Ley on Substack 
Near in the Night: 100 Evening Meditations on God’s Peace and Rest by Emily Ley

Sure as the Sunrise: 100 Morning Meditations on God’s Mercy and Delight by Emily Ley 
Growing Boldy: Dare to Build a Life You Love by Emily Ley
A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living by Emily Ley 

Related Episodes:





Fighting Toxic Thoughts :: Jennie Allen [Ep 272]
Freedom From Anxiety :: Ashley Willis [Ep 180]
Getting Brave About Anxiety :: Sissy Goff [Ep 311]

Featured Sponsors: 

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do the sights and sounds and feels of parenting overwhelm you some days? Or most days? How can we parent kindly and intentionally when we desperately need a break from all the stimulation? 

My guest this week is Mary Van Geffen. She is a mom who has striven to cultivate good relationships with her children and husband while also navigating life as a Highly Sensitive Person with diagnosed ADHD.  She knows firsthand the struggles moms face with sensory overload and she’s not trying to “fix” you - you’re not broken! But she does offer a bevy of tips to help us take care of ourselves amidst the din of life and to parent in a calm and connected manner. 

Connect with Mary Van Geffen: 





Website:  https://www.maryvangeffen.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentcoachforspicyones 
Instagram:  @maryvangeffen 



Links Mentioned:  





 How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty Class with Mary Van Geffen 

Heather and Mary’s Instagram performance–Body Posture in Parenting



Related Episodes:





Body Awareness in Parenting :: Mary Van Geffen [Ep 333]
When Your Child is on the Autism Spectrum (Part 1) :: Terri Conlin [Ep 182]
When Your Child is on the Autism Spectrum (Part 2) :: Terri Conlin [Ep 183]
Parenting Neurodivergent Children - Summer Edition :: Carrie Cassell [Ep 413]
Parenting Sensitive and Intense Kids :: Lynne Jackson and Lydia Rex [Ep 395]
Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues :: Lynne Jackson [Ep 258]



Featured Sponsors: 

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Pull out the petit fours and lip plumpers - it’s time to celebrate! Don’t Mom Alone has officially reached double digits!! 

Get Sidetracked with us as Cynthia leads us on a surprising, only mildly teary ride as we look back on 10 years of the podcast.  There’s even a Cameo from Bob Ross! Jk, there isn’t.  But we do have a great lineup of special guests and listeners to help us commemorate 10 years of mom-ing together. 

Connect with Cynthia Yanof: 





Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof 
Instagram:  @cynthiayanof 

Links Mentioned:  






Don’t Mom Alone 
Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and Occupy Your God-Given Space
PREORDER: Life is Messy, God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life by Cynthia Yanof  

Milani Keep It Full Maxxx Lip Plumper **Plump At Your Own Risk**

Related Episodes:





Helping Our Kids Foster Friendships :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 338]
Raising Girls :: Sissy Goff [Ep 141] 
The Worry-Free Parent :: Sissy Goff [Ep 421]
Getting Brave About Anxiety :: Sissy Goff [Ep 311]
Raising Worry-Free Girls :: Sissy Goff [Bonus]
Raising Emotionally Strong Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 368]
A Lil Help with Boys and Screens :: David Thomas [Bonus]
Understanding Boys Better :: David Thomas [Ep 315]
The Art of Nuturing Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 119]

Shrinking or Swelling to Fill Your Space :: Courtney DeFeo [Ep 406] RWYB Wk 5 
Light ‘Em Up :: Courtney DeFeo [Ep 50]
“Help, I’m Tired of Fighting with My Daughter About Clothes” :: Kari Kampakis [Ep 429]
Connecting with Your Daughter Through Humility and Compassion :: Kari Kampakis  - Part 1 [Ep 390]
Steady Identity in Shifting Roles :: Kari Kampakis - Part 2 [Ep 391]
The Goldmine of a Mother’s Hindsight :: Chrystal Evans Hurst [Ep 71]
Rescuing the Girl in You :: Chrystal Evans Hurst [Ep 172]

Featured Sponsors: 




Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.