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Throughout this conversation, Christiane Michaelis and I speak openly about unleashing creativity in yourself and your home.

My good friend, Kelly Lamont, is NO stranger to homeschooling. She's been homeschooling her 4 children over the past 7 years and has some amazing nuggets of wisdom shes' picked up along the way to share with YOU! If you are feeling fear and trepidation about the prospect of homeschooling your children during this global pandemic, Kelly's soft-spoken words of encouragement to ALL Mamas out there will put your mind at ease. So sit back, get a cup of coffee or tea, and take notes. Kelly is here for all of us!! Here are some online resources she listed to help us get started with the best mindset possible: WWW.CONFESSIONSOFAHOMESCHOOLER.COM Here is a link for ideas specifically regarding homeschooling during covid 19: https://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2020/03/covid-19-homeschooling.html Getting Started homeschooling: https://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2013/08/homeschooling-101-getting-started.html www.plainandnotsoplain.com She is a homeschool mom of 10 kids that has great free resources. Free homeschool--every subject www.allinonehomeschool.com Material we love and that we use/used: Pre K/Kinder: Confession of a homeschooler "Letter of the week" Preschool: Learning your letters/numbers, learning to serve www.heavenlyhomemaker.com Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

My good friend, Lauren Humphries, knows a thing or two about quarantining kids.  She and her husband Kenneth have been fostering children with severe medical needs for 14 years, and have had to go on complete lockdown with their family to protect the children in their care for months at a time.   Lauren's time and experience-tested wisdom comes to us at a time when we all need it most. She knows how difficult it is to keep kids occupied, educated and most of all, how to teach them about the things we do for LOVE. Every time I talk to Lauren, I am immediately calmed and made to feel at ease.  She has a heart of gold, she is full of love and she gives us practical tips we can all use as we talk candidly to our children about our current situation with quarantining and keeping each other safe in order to not overwhelm the hospitals. Loved this talk with Lauren and I hope you will too! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this podcast episode, Amy talks candidly about her struggle with Mommy Guilt and how, when it creeps in, it can rob her and her family of her ability to be present.  This is a raw, unedited version of the podcast so that she can just get something out to you and start a conversation about this gnawing, mindnumbing, everpresent subject. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy chats with Lisa Spangenberg of Garden Getaway Designs.   An avid gardener for many years, Lisa Spangenberg has turned a hobby into a thriving garden design and consulting business. In addition to her design business, she worked for several years at a local nursery and has taught garden and design classes to several community organizations. Lisa loves the design process and views her clients yards as an extension of her own backyard.  Lisa enjoys building and developing customer/client relationships and views this as critical to understanding the vision each client brings to their landscape. Lisa and her husband John love being parents to their three children. With two in college next year and one a few years away, they will soon be empty-nesters and are looking forward to pursuing new hobbies (including gardening!) together. While they mostly talk about the journey that led Lisa to start her company and all the challenges of juggling a small business and three children, Lisa also talks about her enjoyment of gardening and helps us not be so intimidated by the process.  If you want to reach Lisa or find out more about her business, take a look at her website at https://www.gardengetawaydesigns.com or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GardenGetawayDesigns. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy talks about how she had to take a step back from recording the podcast in order to contemplate some criticism she had received as a result of doing the podcast.  Sometimes, when we receive criticism, and it's hard not to take it to heart and let it slow us down or stop us altogether from doing what we know we were called to do.  But we can also use that criticism for our benefit and take a step back and think and pray over what we're supposed to be doing so that we can be stronger and clearer for having done so. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Today, I sat down with Laura Woolsey of Memory Forward and talked about the process by which her business came to be.  As the name of her business suggests, Laura and her team help people organize and digitize photos and videos so that they can be used, viewed often and easily accessible.  In this interview, we discuss how Laura founded her company and the juggle of starting a company while raising two young girls. Here's a bio from Laura's website: My name is Laura Woolsey, and I’ve been a professional photo organizer for over ten years. All my life, I’ve had a knack for transforming chaos into order and keeping track of tiny details and loads of data. These traits allowed me to: Catalog my family’s entire VHS video collection when I was eight years old (including creating a a guide that listed the start and stop times for each movie). Keep my own family’s photos organized and labeled for my entire life. Graduate with a computer science degree from TCU, and work for over 15 years as a web developer and data analyst. Launch a business as a professional photo organizer in 2007 – long before most other photo organizers came on the scene, when people had just begun taking digital photos, and when the concept of digitizing printed photos was in its infancy. Getting things right for my clients is so important to me, and I love sharing my talents and skills for such an amazing purpose as creating a photographic family archive. As a leader and veteran of this industry and a master of all things technological, my team and I can confidently offer you the absolute best solution for your family’s needs. If you or someone you know would be interested in her services, you can reach her here on her website. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe at my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

I'm on the struggle bus this week.  School started two weeks ago for ALL 3 KIDS!  Guys!!!!  Then, I went out of town for a wonderful Sing! Conference with Keith and Kristyn Getty in Nashville, TN.  Then, my husband got really sick with kidney stones.  Then, our minivan's a/c went out in the dead of summer.  And thennnnnn, our family dog died unexpectedly.  And now, I think I might have a torn meniscus in my knee.  What the WHAT?!  All that, on top of lots of travel and a chaotic space, has left me a bit paralyzed and unable to get going again and really get the things done that I so desperately want to do -- like work on this podcast, go to the gym, work on my blog, or my furniture restoration projects or prepare for those house concerts I am trying to put together. The truth is, we only have so many hours in a day, and sometimes, life just HAPPENS, and there's nothing we can do but roll with it.  In other words, I'm not stressed, you're stressed.  Just kidding.  I'm not stressed.  I just wanted you to hear from me and know what's been going on -- not that you feel sorry for me, but so that you don't feel abandoned and most importantly, can maybe somehow relate to all the things that continually prevent us from achieving our goals. Anywhoooo, I am really feebly attempting to be back on here with you on the regular.  I love it.  This podcast is my baby!  So bear with me and let me know you listened.  I love hearing from y'all!! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram. Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening! xo, Amy

Well, I'm back after a long hiatus in Europe, and I cannot WAIT to jump back into the routine of podcasting!In this episode, I chat about a couple (of many) observations I made while I was in Europe: I don't spend enough quality time with my kids.  I need to be more intentional about that! I need to slow down more often and resist the urge to make my life so busy and hectic! Also, in this episode, I talk about my vision for this podcast and my blog over at www.momonthefringe.com.  I really want it to be a solid community for people, like you, who are thinking of ideas for a new business or are already in the midst of your business and needing a community of support and possibly help to get things moving in the right direction!I'm so happy to be back with you and can't wait to share some of the episodes I've got up my sleeve!Stay tuned! xo, Amy 

In this episode, Amy chats with her friend, Christiane Michaelis, who she met several years ago in a German speaking meetup group. Christiane is the owner of The Dirty Easel and she helps companies and their employees to tap into their creative minds and think outside the box with their problem solving skills. Christiane can also be heard giving A TedTalk on the subject of creativity and found on her website at www.thedirtyeasel.com.

In this episode, we talk about how sometimes, it takes us stepping out of our comfort zone, out of our microcosm or corner of the world, to fully realize the limitless possibilities!  And although I'm currently traveling abroad, I want to encourage listeners to see their potential tribe right in front of them on social media or online forums of people doing exactly what it is they want to do or are already doing.  We don't need to travel 7000 miles to realize that our possibilities are endless.  In fact, it's easier now more than ever! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy talks candidly and raw about the struggle of committing to something and putting things out there that may not be your best—just because you said you would show up.

In this episode, we kick off our miniseries which breaks down the daunting task of starting your own business and working on your business.  This series is for women who KNOW they need to do SOMETHING to earn extra income, but also KNOW that it has to work around their priorities. In "All the Things", I take you through a 10-step process in determining what you could do as a business and I offer listeners a fairly exhaustive LIST of the top businesses you can do from home in 2019.  Get it here! In this episode, I mentioned learning online with YouTube and specifically Skillshare.  There are so many online resources out there, but I've found these to be extremely helpful as well as learning to podcasts LIKE THIS ONE! :) Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

This week, I’m slowing my pace wayyyyyy down on the podcast and coming up for a bit of air to really get organized and offer you the best content possible.  I have SO much to share with you, that I literally want to share it all at once...but I just can’t do that AND keep up with all the other things I need to tend to, so I want to pace myself a bit more and only offer you 1 podcast per week of our normal podcast and 1 per week of our Amy+Friends segment.  Even that sounds like a lot, right?  It is.  And I really feel like it’s so necessary to slow things down in order to keep up the pace with all the other things, attempt at creating community and continually bring you the quality of content that is going to help you and not clutter your mind.  As much as I want to grow and keep moving because of my excitement and momentum, I also know that I really need to sustain this energy so I don’t burn out prematurely.  So, here I am pacing myself and practicing SELF CARE!  WOOT! Also, I don’t want to bombard you with so much information that you can’t process it all.  I want this to be a journey that we go on together. A little bit at a time... So, every week, here’s what I want you to be able to expect from ME: 1 podcast episode airing every Wednesday at 12pm (CST) 1 bonus episode airing 2 Thursdays a month at 12pm (CST) 1 Amy+Friends episode airing 2 Fridays a month at 12pm (CST) 1 blog post per week that talks about the week’s theme 1 Facebook and Instagram Live per week Wow!  That’s already quite a bit.  But I think it’s doable and I really want to see this little podcast gain some momentum.  I may have to slow my roll again before it’s all over, but at least I can get off to a fun start with you all! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

Welcome to another episode of Mom on the Fringe! In this episode, I talk very openly with my friend, Olivia Gibbs.  Olivia is an Illustrator and Surface Patter Designer who was born and raised in Spain. She met her husband in Vienna while studying business abroad and later moved to the USA to be with him. Together they have two little girls aged 5 and 3.  She is a freelance designer who creates illustrations for greeting cards, fabric, stationery, for home decor and the children's market.  She works mainly with digital designing, but has started working lately with traditional media as well.  In this segment of Amy+Friends, Olivia shares how she taught herself how to do illustrating by taking online courses and watching YouTube videos.  She also talks about her work habits and how mindset plays a big factor in her creative inspiration.  One of the other things we discuss at length was how she juggles working on her art AND feeling like she is giving enough attention to her two daughters -- especially since one of them is still at home with her. During this conversation, Olivia and I have such a great time talking about the challenges and the joy of discovering your own passions and following your dreams wherever they may take you!  She is truly an inspiration to me. If you'd like to find Olivia, you can see her work online here on her website.  You can also find her on Instagram @oliviagibbsillustration. Her work can also be found in the greeting card section of Trader Joe's and American Greeting cards at Target as well as fabrics at JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby.  Go Olivia!! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

There are so many ways we can practice self care, and what might be a good fit for one person may not be a good fit for YOU. In this episode, Amy offers some self care tips and suggestions for self care that you can take or leave.  But the point is, do something to fill your cup! Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

Does the term "self care" make you scratch your head and leave you confused and almost feeling frustrated? When you hear the term, it might make you think of the most selfish, self-centered woman you know...or it may cause you to laugh outloud, because, WHO IN THE WORLD ACTUALLY HAS TIME FOR SELF CARE?!   Well, in this episode of Mom on the Fringe, I talk through my own journey in discovering what self care looks like and does not look like for me personally.  I share how appealing the secular viewpoint was for me, but also how much the literal interpretation of it threw me into a tailspin and caused me to become an insatiable, unbearable monster who seemed to never get enough ME TIME. Throughout the episode, I share contents of the book "A Mother's Guide to Self Renewal" by Renee Peterson Trudeau, and I compare its contents with that of the book, "Loving the Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic.  Spoiler Alert:  My head loves the first book, but my heart knows the second one is actually the way I want to live out my years as a mother to 3. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

In this episode, Amy talks about how the actual doing of the thing you want to do will teach you to be better at that thing.  There's no magic in it, Folks!  Contrary to popular belief, there aren't many *special* people out there that possess some amazing gift that isn't already present in YOU!  I don't say that to be motivational.  It is a fact.   True talent is never something you're just born with.  It is something you usually develop over a long period of time.  Day after day after day.   So start.  Whatever it is you want to do.  Just begin.  And over time, you'll figure it out and be amazing at it!  Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

Welcome to another episode of Mom on the Fringe!   In this segment of Amy+Friends, I chat with my soul sister, Karen Michaels in Las Vegas, NV, and I could NOT be more excited to share our talk with you!   Karen’s zest for life is unmatched by most! She lives her life as a multi-tasking maven. And, she wouldn’t have it any other way!   And, as many of you Moms and parents of humans and creatures know, it is in the figuring out of that very multi-tasking lifestyle, genius can occur.   Karen combines the textures of wife and motherhood with the dreams of her music and entrepreneurial passion. She has so much to offer you and she can’t wait to help you reach your ultimate life goals!     Highlights: Biz Owner of Karen Michaels Music, Director of Vocal Power Las Vegas, The Social Butterfly Guru Marketing Agency, SCORE Mentorship Speaker and Board Member Nevada Arts Council  I love how this conversation started and where it led us:  talking about the trap of COMPARISON!!!  I've been chatting about this on the podcast in episodes 11-13, and I'm tellin' ya, this chat with Karen took the conversation over the top!!!  She's the real deal, Baby!!  And I loved getting the chance to laugh and get transparent with her about the struggle for balance, being a creative and keeping a level head when it comes to comparing ourselves to others. I just KNOW you're going to love this talk too!   Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy

Easter, Football, Field Trip Permission slips, yearbook orders, Teacher Appreciation Day, Oh My! I think I've officially hit the proverbial wall.  I'm dunzo.   If I have to sign one more reading log or actually read AND respond to another IMPORTANT EMAIL, I'm going to pack my bags and run away to Greece. Stick a fork in me.  The end of the school year is closing in, and it couldn't come a day too soon.  I’d love to hear from you!  When you listen to this episode, I’d love to hear comments on our Facebook page under the post or you can email me at amy@momonthefringe.com.    Stay tuned for the next episode of Mom on the Fringe!  So glad you're here! You can find me and more information about Mom on the Fringe on my website, as well as Facebook and Instagram.   Also, if you haven't yet, please jump over to iTunes, SUBSCRIBE to this podcast and leave me a rating and review!  It would mean so much to me, and it would really propel this podcast and get the message out to others! Thanks for listening!  xo, Amy