Midlife Matters

Summer is vacation season! It's the time when we try to set aside a week or two to spend with our family relaxing and making memories. Today we're talking about planning and enjoying a family vacation, managing expectations, family bonding, and ways to make the experience more fun. We'll give you our best tips for saving money on travel, accommodations, and meals. We'll also share ways to make the car trips more fun, when to splurge, and how vacations change as kids grow and leave home. Join us!

Who needs a summer strategy? We think everyone can use one! Whether you're at home with kids, work full time, or something in between, we can all use a plan to make the most of this special season. Today we'll cover ways to relax and slow down, how to set some easy goals and accomplish them, ways to incorporate new experiences and adventures, and the hardest question of all in our stage of life...how to entertain and have an awesome summer with preteens and teens in the house! Join us!

Today's episode is all about DIY landscaping and gardening! Marie doesn't have a green thumb, but her mom does. Nancy will join Julie and Mindy to inspire listeners to try planting and cultivating something new this year! We're talking about flower, herb, and vegetable gardening, as well as giving lots of tips for great plants and bushes to try in your yard. Also learn about cost friendly ways to multiply your plants and update your outdoor spaces. Join us!

Today we're talking about a topic that keeps many moms awake at night...sending their first child off to college! Mindy's oldest started college last August and she's here to tell us all about freshman year. We'll discuss choosing a college, move-in day, dorm life, visits home, and all the emotions a mom feels throughout that first year! Join us!

This week we're celebrating motherhood! Mother's Day is almost here and we thought it would be fun to look back on our favorite Mother's Day memories, and share some not so favorite memories! And of course, no Mother's Day episode would be complete without telling some stories about our own mothers. What did they do that still makes us laugh years later, what's the best advice they ever gave us, and what do we think makes them the happiest? Join us!

Meal planning and warm weather meals are on the podcast today! We're talking quick summer recipes and foods that your whole family will love. We also cover grocery pick up and delivery options, picky eaters, and what to serve groups both large and small. Join us for ideas to help make cooking dinner easier and more fun!

Today we're talking with Rachel Marie Martin, the voice behind the popular blog, Finding Joy, and the author of The Brave Art of Motherhood. Rachel is a mom of seven who is dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their dreams in the midst of the demands of motherhood. Join us to learn how to rediscover your true self, silence the voices of guilt, and fully embrace your unique calling!

Today we're talking with Joyce Shulman about a great new program she started called 99 Walks. We'll discuss building friendships and community, physical and emotional health, and the many ways all of these can be strengthened through walking! Join us!

The Nashville based stylist, Meredith Mathis, is here to answer all our clothing questions. She'll give us the scoop on spring trends and what to wear. We'll also learn the essentials every woman should have in her closet and how we can look terrific at any age! We're having our first giveaway at Midlife Matters this week. Follow us @ Midlife Matters Podcast on Instagram for all the details!

Today we're talking about overcoming fear and anxiety with our special guest, Scarlet Hiltibidal. Scarlet has written a wonderful book, Afraid of All the Things. Join us as she shares her journey of growing up in the green room of Saturday Night Live, being born to a fire-eater and adopted by a SWAT cop, having internal organs explode, and adopting a deaf girl from China. Find out why Scarlet lived in fear most of her life and what is different about her now!

Today's show is all about spring and the joy it brings after the long, cold winter. Join us as we discuss ways we're renewing our minds, attitudes, homes, wardrobes, and more! We're recommending lots of great ideas and products to get you in a spring state of mind!

Today we're talking about ways to age gracefully. Julie's sharing why she let her hair go gray and the year long process it took to get there. How did people react? What was the hardest part? We'll also explore tips and tricks to look younger after age 40!

Our friend, Elizabeth Boyd, is joining us today to talk about the joy of becoming a midlife mother. Elizabeth has an amazing testimony of love, loss, and new life that we can't wait for you to hear! Her story will encourage and inspire you to hold onto faith as life takes its twists and turns.

Today we're talking about how to raise entitled kids. Some of the areas we cover are gratitude and appreciation, encouraging financial and personal responsibility, and ways to have your child learn to struggle while they still live at home. Join us as we share what has and hasn't worked in our families!

Today we're joined by a special guest, Tiana Blasdel, to talk about teens and dating. As a long time youth pastor's wife, Tiana has observed lots of teen relationships and she has some great advice to share with us!