Send us a Text Message.

My guest today is the wonderful Jenae Waddell, and she shares her birth story, which she coined "Crowing Glory." She shares from pregnancy to labor to delivery. She discusses her experience at a birth center, the incredible support of her midwife and doula.

Jenae shares her encouraging labor affirmations included "my pain has purpose, I am fierce, I am powerful." Jenae reflects on the power of her body and the love she feels for her baby as well as post partum body. She also emphasizes the importance of trusting one's intuition and not judging other mothers' choices. She also shares her experience in the NICU, including the support she received from her amazing and loving partner.

The takeaway was to trust your intuition and know your power as a mother, and that every mother's journey is unique and there is no one size fits all approach. She shares the lesson to love and appreciate your body for the incredible things it can do! Our bodies are for living, not for looking.

Sound Bite

"I felt really powerful after birth. Like, what did this body do? Woo! Like, I was in the shower a couple days later and I hugged my body and just told her thank you."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Appreciation for Entry Level Mom Podcast
04:10 Labor and Delivery at the Birth Center
13:10 Reuniting with Baby and the NICU Experience
34:44 Lessons Learned and Advice for Younger Self

Support the Show.

• Website: booksbybonnielippincott.com
• Instagram: @books_by_bonnie_lippincott
• TikTok: @entrylevelmom
• Email: booksbybonnielippincott@gmail.com

Charity: Baby2Baby is a national non-profit organization that provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. To learn more and get involved, visit www.baby2baby.org

Send us a Text Message.

My guest, Kiwi Chrissy, discusses moving her family from the United States to New Zealand. Chrissy shares her experience of living in New Zealand compared to California, United States and the journey to get there, including stacks of paperwork for immigration.

She discusses the differences in time zones, school systems, work-life balance, food, and cultural norms. Chrissy highlights the New Zealand saying of 'giving it a go' meaning trying new things, and the lack of pressure on children to specialize in one sport or activity. She also mentions the safety and gun control measures in New Zealand.

We discuss the cost of living and food in New Zealand compared to the United States. We talk about the flexibility of renting and the affordability of beach houses in New Zealand. They also discuss the importance of buying fruits and vegetables in season and the high cost of out-of-season produce.

The quality of food in New Zealand is wonderful since there are no GMO foods nor use of Roundup. For example, she shares the vibrant colors of eggs and the delicious taste of cherry tomatoes!

Lastly, Chrissy shares the surprises she encountered, such as the British influence and the politeness of the people. She encourages families to consider moving abroad and experiencing different cultures.

Takeaways

Living in New Zealand offers a different lifestyle compared to California, with differences in time zones, school systems, and work-life balance.

New Zealand places an emphasis on giving things a try and encourages children to explore multiple activities rather than specializing in one sport.

Safety is a major factor in choosing to live in New Zealand, with a lower crime rate and stricter gun control measures.

Moving to a different country involves a significant amount of paperwork and navigating the immigration process. Renting in New Zealand offers more flexibility and affordability compared to the United States.
Buying fruits and vegetables in season is important to avoid high prices for out-of-season produce.
The quality of food in New Zealand, including eggs and cherry tomatoes, is exceptional.
New Zealand has strict regulations on GMO foods and the use of pesticides like Roundup.
Moving abroad can be a rewarding experience, allowing families to explore different cultures and lifestyles.
Driving in New Zealand requires adjusting to roundabouts and slower travel times.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Living in New Zealand
01:06 School System and 'Give It a Go' Mentality
08:29 Adjusting to Differences and Math Conversions
11:16 Safety and Gun Control in New Zealand
23:21 Government Changes and Taxes
25:03 Affordable and Flexible Renting in New Zealand
26:01 The Importance of Buying In-Season Produce
30:14 Exceptional Quality of Food in New Zealand
31:16 Strict Regulations on GMO Foods and Pesticides
36:23 The Rewards of Moving Abroad
39:33 Navigating Driving in New Zealand


https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-many-types-of-kiwis-live-in-new-zealand.html

Support the Show.

• Website: booksbybonnielippincott.com
• Instagram: @books_by_bonnie_lippincott
• TikTok: @entrylevelmom
• Email: booksbybonnielippincott@gmail.com

Charity: Baby2Baby is a national non-profit organization that provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. To learn more and get involved, visit www.baby2baby.org

Send us a Text Message.

In this conversation, my guest, Keyara Alexander, owner of KA Aesthetics, and we discuss the topic of "self-care through skincare." Keyara shares her experience of becoming a mother at a young age and her relatively easy pregnancy and delivery. She also discusses her passion for skincare and how she intuitively knew about the benefits of natural ingredients from a young age.

• Skincare and nutrition are interconnected, and what we put into our bodies can have a significant impact on our skin health.

Keyara emphasizes the importance of self-care for mothers, highlighting the need to prioritize oneself and set boundaries.

• "Saying no is saying yes to ourselves."

She also advises her younger self to be "selfish" and not seek validation from others.

She discusses the concept: growing as a mother alleviates pain in our children later. Finally, we discuss how options and opportunities are always available and it is never too late to pursue our passions and dreams.

Takeaways

• Motherhood should not mean sacrificing oneself; it is important for mothers to prioritize self-care and maintain their own identity.
• Skincare and nutrition are interconnected, and what we put into our bodies can have a significant impact on our skin health.
• Taking care of oneself first allows for a greater capacity to give and be present for others.
• Setting boundaries and saying no is essential for self-care and maintaining a healthy balance in life.
• Options and opportunities are always available as long as we have breath, and it is never too late to pursue our passions and dreams.

Sound Bites

• "Motherhood taught me self-care because you don't want to lose yourself."
• "Saying no is saying yes to ourselves."
• "Trying to please people because you want love is not how you receive love."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

12:49
The Journey of Motherhood

33:25
Embracing Options and Opportunities

Support the Show.

• Website: booksbybonnielippincott.com
• Instagram: @books_by_bonnie_lippincott
• TikTok: @entrylevelmom
• Email: booksbybonnielippincott@gmail.com

Charity: Baby2Baby is a national non-profit organization that provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. To learn more and get involved, visit www.baby2baby.org