I feel like I have a split personality during the Christmas season. At the first of December I am Andy Williams singing,”It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the year.” I blast the Christmas tunes, pin every beautiful dish from Pinterest, and string lights on every wall in my house. By mid-December something changes in me. I am starting to feel the stress and THE GRINCH starts to come out in me. The toys, the parties, the bags! The food, the shopping, the tags! I start to hate the whole Christmas sea...
Dec 04, 2018•48 min
How do grandparents figure out grandparenting? They do what they did to figure out parenting: stumbling forward doing the best they can to love all the adults and kids in their lives. We have received numerous requests to do a show on grandparenting from our many listeners trying to navigate this exciting yet dicey road. We have gone to the experts to bring parents and grandparents a “survival guide” in this episode! Richard and Linda Eyre are among the most popular speakers in the world on pare...
Nov 27, 2018•52 min
Whenever I hear about families that are creating humanitarian kits for kids in South America, sewing quilts for people in Africa, or serving at the local soup kitchen, I always say, “I want our family to be one of THOSE families.” But, when it really comes down to it, I feel overwhelmed and never really know where to begin. This week we bring back Merrilee Boyack! Merrilee has a passion for serving. She and her family have made helping other a priority in her family. This culture of service has ...
Nov 20, 2018•49 min
YAY! We have so much to celebrate this week! We are celebrating our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! We started this crazy podcast one year ago. We have loved learning from our many experts, laughing at our many mistakes and challenging ourselves to do better. We are so grateful for our amazing Mom Squad. You all continually inspire us. In this week’s episode, in addition to celebrating our podcast anniversary, we also talk about one of our favorite holidays...THANKSGIVING. This episode is full of laughter...
Nov 13, 2018•43 min
Does it seem right that when you have children you suddenly lose your sleep, your free time, your sanity and YOUR BODY? In my naive mind, I thought I would say good-bye to my pre-baby body for nine months while I was pregnant and then life would go back to normal. HA! I am still searching for that body. I hope someday I find it. Maintaining a healthy weight and healthy lifestyle is a constant battle in the busy lives of mothers. Too often we are trying so hard and it is easy to get discouraged w...
Oct 30, 2018•1 hr 2 min
I am a planner. When I am entering a new situation, I like to know what is happening, visualize the outcome and plan for all variables, So, needless to say when I was pregnant with my first child, I PLANNED. I read numerous parenting books and observed what other parents did (and of course, I told myself I would NEVER make the same mistakes they were making). Well, it turns out that no matter how much planning AND praying I do, these little humans come with their own personalities and ability to...
Oct 23, 2018•54 min
There is a scene in the Disney animated version of Robin Hood that often comes to mind. (Please watch it with your kids. It’s important to their development. And yours. I promise!) All of the characters are animated animals. Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham have just discovered that Robin Hood is at their tournament and they are trying to catch him. At one point, Prince John’s guards (charging Rhinos, naturally) storm into a tent where Little John is hiding, carrying the tent across the...
Oct 16, 2018•1 hr
I honestly believe there were lines that we could get in before we were born. One of those lines was for potential parents and it was labeled "Those Who Want To Spend Your Life Running Around Like a Chicken With Its Head Cut Off Line Up Here." The other was probably something like "Living With Purpose and Having Your Junk Together, Line Up Here." I don't know if I was attracted to the chicken theme, the headless theme, simply illiterate, or just plain dumb, but I CLEARLY joined the wrong line! L...
Oct 08, 2018•57 min
True story...one day, on a mom fail DAY, I allowed my sons to play video games for HOURS. Finally after I finished whatever project it was that had distracted me from paying attention to my boys, I told my boys to get off their devices. As soon as my boys got off, it was like a fog had been lifted from them. They told me they were starving and had to go to the bathroom. They had been so sucked into their devices that they had completely stopped paying attention to their basic needs. My boys coul...
Oct 02, 2018•56 min
This week’s episode is SO MUCH FUN! We talked with four normal (amazing) moms who shared some of their funniest and most outlandish mom fails with us. This is an hour of stomach-clenching, tear-streaming, head-shaking laughter that you are sure to enjoy! We love mom fails because ALL MOMS have them but our society is so aimed at perfection that no moms WANT to admit and share them. Instead, they are hushed. And shamed. Instead of moms having a cathartic laugh at all the imperfections, they feel ...
Sep 25, 2018•52 min
Overwhelmed. Too busy. Too much stuff. Who else is feeling this? I don’t know about your family, but my family is constantly running from one activity to another. Quality family time seems to be a precious commodity now. This week we are talking to Jillian Johnsrud of the popular website, “Montana Money Adventures.” Jillian coaches people to live an intentional life. Her popular website provides resources to reduce spending and increase freedom. Jillian and her husband were forced to live a mini...
Sep 18, 2018•50 min
I saw a meme the other day that said “ I don’t do the KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON thing. I do the spontaneously combust and go totally mental thing. Just FYI…” It made me laugh and think that most parents INTEND to do the keep calm thing, but END UP doing the spontaneously combust thing instead. Why?!? Well, today we bring you HOPE and HELP from none other than Ralphie Jacobs of “Simply on Purpose”. If you’re not familiar with Ralphie’s instagram site where she teaches parents, then you are in for a ...
Sep 11, 2018•56 min
Assertiveness? Who else is a little afraid of that word? In this week’s episode, Dr. Julie Hanks talks to us about the value of being assertive and how it is a benefit to both you and your family. Julie is the owner of Wasatch Family Therapy. She is a licensed therapist and the author of both The Burnout Cure: An Emotional Survival Guide For Overwhelmed Women and The Assertiveness guide for Women: How to communicate your needs, set healthy boundaries and transform your relationships . If you fee...
Sep 04, 2018•46 min
This week’s show is all about saving lives ! Dr. Greg Hudnall is with us and shared some incredible insights in how we, as parents, can help our kids, our kids friends, and community members to keep hope alive and prevent suicides. Dr. Hudnall is a former high school principal, student service director and associate superintendent with the Provo City School District. He has been involved with suicide prevention for the past twenty years and has personally been involved with over forty-five suici...
Aug 28, 2018•1 hr 1 min
It's just us on the episode today! We asked our Mom Squad to ask us questions that they have been DYING to know the answer to and today we are answering them. Who are we? How did we meet our husbands? How did this podcast start? What goes into starting and running a podcast? Why are we so amazing? Ok no one asked us that :) We talk about how Family Looking Up got started, why we put in the hours to keep it going, and a little about each of our personal lives and families....
Aug 21, 2018•49 min
Mom Squad! This week's episode is for you! We have Chanelle Neilson, from the Moms Who Know podcast, talking with us about why moms need to take care of themselves, why moms don't, and why it is SUCH a big mistake! Listen in to hear a great story about how Chanelle found out she was pregnant with her fifth child (a major surprise), at age 38, and how Chanelle began her writing and podcasting career in China....whaaaat?!? Plus find out Andrea's best tip for breastfeeding moms. Chanelle Neilson is...
Aug 14, 2018•54 min
Note: This is a continuation of episode 22. Today we have Niki Olsen…AGAIN! She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She has spent over 16 years working with youth and families specializing in a modality called Mind Body Bridging which can help a variety of issues. She is married with two little girls in elementary school. She currently lives in Utah but is originally from Oregon. Niki loves to be with her family, and in her free time can be found exercising or sleeping. We are focusi...
Aug 14, 2018•1 hr 1 min
Every parent wants their children to grow up and be independent, responsible adults, right? But how do we do this? This week we have the opportunity to talk to Merrilee Boyack. Merrilee Boyack is an estate-planning attorney. She is also a professional lecturer and speaks all over the country. Merrilee has been featured for many years at BYU Education Week and Time Out for Women, and is a published author. Her current passion is working with Family Watch International as President for Utah. She i...
Aug 07, 2018•51 min
Recognizing Gifts in Yourself and Others/ Guest Eric Richards Eric Richards teaches at Utah State and speaks all over the country and is known for his constant smile and his popular ‘ brotherichards ’ Instagram/Facebook accounts. His upbeat CDs at Deseret Book are best sellers. Some random facts: He can clap with one hand. He’s part White, Black, Polynesian, and Native American. He’s left-handed. He eats chocolate every day. He grew up as an only child; his mom is an only child, and his grandma ...
Jul 24, 2018•49 min
Holly Thurgood is a stay at home mother of seven. She is a trained Parenting With Love and Logic Facilitator. Parenting with Love and Logic is a parenting philosophy founded by Jim Fay and Foster Cline. Parents who use the Love and Logic approach can help their children to be accountable for their choices. This philosophy encourages parents to disengage from confrontation and allow the kids to come up with solutions for their own problems. It also gives parents strategies to get children to comp...
Jul 17, 2018•1 hr
Sam Passey is a stay at home mother of six children. She has developed a weekly cleaning routine that allows her to deep clean her entire house every week in less than an hour a day. In this interview we talk about her cleaning system and how you can implement it in your own home. So if you are a slob, like us, there is hope for you if you follow her plan. Here is what we talked about: The importance of making cleaning a priority in our home. Sam’s cleaning routine. How to schedule a weekly clea...
Jul 10, 2018•50 min
In this episode we had the privilege of talking with twin sisters, two moms who have had extensive experience working on capitol hill and in the white house. They now run a website called The American Moms , where they teach all about civics, civility and raising our kids to be big proponents of both. BIOS: Andrea Reeve worked on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. During her time there she served two U.S. senators as their press secretary, where she acted as their mouth piece to reporters and the pu...
Jul 03, 2018•43 min
We were honored to speak this week with Heidi Tucker. She is an award-winning author and speaker. Her passion for writing and speaking about light and hope has inspired thousands. Heidi is known as a great storyteller who believes that every story not only teaches a gospel principle, but can make you feel it. She has inspired many to rise up, cling to their faith and position their hearts to recognize God’s hand in their life. Heidi Tucker won a 2018 Illumination Book Award for her new release S...
Jun 26, 2018•57 min
Father’s Day was this week. Did you make the dads in your life feel special? We wanted to celebrate all the fathers out there. We brought Kirby Heyborne on the podcast to lighten things up. Kirby is a husband, father, comedian, actor, and audio narrator. With Kirby’s hilarious sense of humor we talk about lessons he has learned as a husband and father and discuss parenting tips that have worked for him. Stick around after the interview because we decided to put our own husbands on the hot seat a...
Jun 19, 2018•47 min
Don’t we all want to be happy? Although we cannot control our happiness 100% we do have some control. How happy we feel is 50% genetic, 10% circumstance and 40% up to you! Today we talk to Hank Smith, professor, speaker, and author. We discuss his book, “Be Happy: Simple Secrets to a Happier Life” and talk about the ten things that we can do to make our lives a little bit happier.
Jun 12, 2018•53 min
Summer is here! Does this create excitement or fear? I always have a mix of emotions. I’m excited to have a more relaxed schedule, and do some of the things that we don’t have time for during the school year. But, anxiety creeps up in me as I think about how to keep my kids busy ALL DAY. This week we talk to Jenny Layton, a professional organizer, mother and speaker. She is going to put all your fears to rest. In this conversation all about summer with kids, Jenny gives us great advice about set...
Jun 05, 2018•1 hr 12 min
Let’s go on a trip! I always say I want to travel, but just don’t make the plans to make it happen. This week we talk to world travelers Kam and Shani of the popular travel blog and instagram account “Our Family Passport.” Their goal is to encourage other families to take a “time out” together and go and explore the amazing world. They travel together as a multi-generational family with ages that range from the very young to the grandparents. In this conversation, Kam and Shani share their trave...
May 29, 2018•1 hr 6 min
Feeling overwhelmed with your home, family and life? ME TOO! Luckily this week we talk to Angie Calderwood. She is a professional organizer, designer and loves to inspire others to get organized and find a proper place for everything in their life. This episode is full of practical tips to get our homes, families, and life organized. Here is what we talked about: How Angie become a professional organizer. Why it is important to be organized. Angie’s shift in mindset that organization is more tha...
May 22, 2018•55 min
Every Tuesday morning we wake up to a new episode of Family Looking Up with an amazing guest on the podcast. They share their knowledge and experiences with all of us and hopefully give us some ideas of how to make our families a little better. At the end of each episode we ask them for a “Mom Squad Challenge.” These challenges are meant to give us something plausible we can think about, work on, and apply to our lives each week. This is one of my favorite parts of the episode. Instead of just h...
May 15, 2018•52 min
Hey Mom squad! This week is Mother’s Day. YAY!!!! We wanted to celebrate YOU this week, so we brought on three very special guests. This week we talk to Calee Reed, Hilary Weeks and Shawna Edwards. All three women are talented musicians. And all three women have written beautiful songs about motherhood. This week we get to talk to these fun ladies about their families, their mom fails, their musical talent and the inspiration behind their beautiful songs. Get ready to learn, laugh, and cry. Our ...
May 08, 2018•1 hr 23 min
