You can read the baby books, you can ask for advice, but nothing can teach you about being a parent *quite* like living it. In this moving episode, Liz shares about her first few months of new motherhood: the hard, the beautiful, and a few things she's learned along the way.    Thanks to our episode sponsors! GREEN CHEF | Get 50% off (plus FREE shipping!) with code SIMPLIFIED50 at http://greenchef.com/simplified50    SHOPIFY | Sign up today for your $1/month trial period at...

Traveling is the best—especially when we get to bring the whole family! And it never hurts to keep a few tips in your back pocket to make travel with kids a bit more stress free. 😉 Laura's quite the adventurer, and this week she's sharing her best tips to keep the fun times rolling while you're on the road! Whether you're road tripping or flying, visiting the big city or the great outdoors—or even Disney!—she's got you covered. (and a bonus: she has a few money-saving tips for you too!)   ...

Who were you 15 years ago? What did your life look like? What kinds of dreams did you have for yourself? This month, Simplified turns 15, and Emily and Bryan are going down memory lane to think about all the wins, fails, and lessons they’ve learned over the past decade and a half. And Emily realizes one important truth: on every path, it’s going to get dark. You may not know which way to go. But if you trust yourself, push past your comfort zone, and surround yourself with people who can lend...

Shorts, dresses, swimsuits, footwear, hats: Liz and Laura give the scoop on their must-have pieces in their summer wardrobe that are perfect for days by the water, on a hike, by the pool, or just lazing around in the AC at home.   Get allll the links on the show notes page! http://emilyley.com/podcast  Thanks to our episode sponsors! BETTERHELP | Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/simplified    HATCH | Get up to 15% off (and free shipping!) at...

Need something to do with your kids at home this summer? Want to use the time together in a low-key constructive way that’s actually kind of fun? Teach them some basic life skills at How to Be a Person Camp! Whether it’s tying their shoes, or learning to make scrambled eggs, or even how to pay with a card, you can find easy, age-appropriate ways to help kids become a bit more independent. If you’ve got a posterboard, some marker, and a little time and patience, you can do this!   **Check...

Thinking about moving? Or, maybe you're still enjoying your home and want to spruce it up in ways that future buyers will enjoy too! Zillow's Home Trends expert Amanda Pendleton has some insight into what today's buyers want, along with tips for easy DIYs inside and out that are worth your time and money. Paint colors, outdoor fixes, kitchens and bathrooms and more—if you love Zillow surfing as much as we do, you'll *love* this episode.   Thanks to our episode sponsors! BETTERHELP | Get...

A few weeks ago, Emily led a discussion on her Substack that got . . . well, a little attention. It was about alcohol—the expectations we have around it,  the “wine mommy” marketing, what we use it for (to celebrate, to cope) and how that might change (or not!) moving forward. There were so many thoughtful conversations in the comments, Emily thought, Why not ask my own Simplified women about this? She brought Liz and Laura in for their takes around some scientific research and their own...

Do you want ✨vibes✨ as soon as you walk into your home? Do you need a new top or a piece of furniture, but your budget doesn't have room for another big purchase this month? Do you miss the avocado green Tupperware your grandma collected in the '70s, or want to let your kid have the rite of passage of owning a hamburger phone? Then sis, it's time to go thrifting! Jessa's a thrifty maven who's got all the tips (seriously, just go look at her Instagram @jessabrayy—from her house to her...

Looking for easy ways to create fun this summer? From fresh salads and no-churn ice cream, to tips for road tripping and hosting a backyard Super Soakers tournament, a Summer Bucket List doesn't have to have *huge* things on it—and you don't have to check everything off, either. This is all about ✨vibes.✨ Emily, Liz, Jessa and Laura share easy ways you can create the kind of summer you want: one that’s a bit more loose and carefree, like the ones you loved when you were a kid.   Thanks to...

“I cannot show up to be the mom I want to be for Bennett if I don't show up for myself,” says co-host Liz. But when you have so many things pulling at your attention—your kids, your work, your partner, your family and friends—how *do* you find time to show up for yourself? Ashlee Gadd, found of Coffee + Crumbs, knows this struggle all too well. Ashlee talks with new mama Liz about how she learned to let go of the guilt of not doing it all perfectly, and why pursuing what fills you up...

🇬🇧 What we choose to wear communicates a message: What do we value? And how do we want to present ourselves to the world? This is *especially* true for the British Royal Family, says journalist Elizabeth Holmes. Elizabeth is the brilliant mind behind “So Many Thoughts,” a Substack and Instagram series where she breaks down the messages (and history!) behind what the Royals choose to wear. Ahead of King Charles III’s coronation, Emily and Elizabeth break down how Royal style has evolved over...

When women come together with open books and open hearts, the best thing happens: connection. When co-host Laura moved to a new town in 2019, she had no idea how she was going to make friends. But a chance encounter with a fellow mom at the neighborhood pool changed Laura’s life—because it led her to her life-giving group, The Book Club Babes! Laura shares easy tips you can use to create your own book club: how to meet your people, decide what to read (spoiler alert: you can read anything you...

✨ Secrets Revealed! ✨ The brand-new Spring Collection is HERE! And to celebrate, we're asking: ever wonder how Team Simplified chooses new planner patterns? And how do they figure out new products to make?? Creative Director Whitney Hawkins joins co-host Laura (and Graphic Designer extraordinaire!) to reveal some *fascinating* Simplified secrets behind all things design. Don't miss this one—and grab your favorite new Planner and accessories in the Spring Collection! https://emilyley.com  ...

Ahh, spring is here! 🌷 Time to open the windows, break out the cleaning caddy, and give our rooms a fresh start. 🧹🫧 Laura’s at the mic this week, and after her BIG move, she’s revealing her top tips for giving your home a thorough declutter quickly so you can get back to the sunshine. She also shares the *best* tools and potions to keep your home sparkling clean (spoiler alert: there are two kinds of vacuums on this list—and zero regrets).   Thank you to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to...

“If you want to make one decision to ensure your own health and happiness,” said a recent study from Harvard University, “it should be to cultivate warm relationships of all kinds.” And that includes friendships! But what kinds of friends do we need? And what kind of friend should *we* be? Author and podcaster Laura Tremaine (of 10 Things to Tell You fame!) is here, and she’s written a fantastic new book called The Life Council. And this week, she and Emily are talking about where they’ve...

What an interesting time to be alive—isn’t that right, Millennials? That’s especially true when it comes to being partnered or married to someone, because the world looks a liiiiiittle different than when our parents were our age and trying to navigate their own relationships (i.e. The economy! A pandemic! Social media!). Laura and Jessa get vulnerable and peel back the curtain on their marriages, each going on dozen years. What’s been the best thing? What’s been super hard? How do they...

Sometimes you just *need a minute,* right? Jessa and Laura definitely do, and they’re talking about alllll the shows that bring them a quick dose of good feels: shows to put on in the background (look at you, The Office and Park & Rec), who’s Team Friends and who’s Team Seinfeld, which reality TV shows and documentaries are worth your time (have you seen The Jinx!?), and—most importantly—why Schitt’s Creek may be the greatest comfort watch of all time (“EW, DAVID!”). Thank to our...

Have you ever felt yourself coming to a new chapter—but you weren't quite sure how to navigate it? Maybe you finally reached the milestone you've worked so hard for, or you can't figure out exactly how to get there. Weirdly, in both scenarios, we find ourselves asking, "What's next?” Which can often be translated to: “What's the next right decision for me here?"   Emily shares about reaching her own "What's next?" moment, and what she's doing to answer that question for herself.   Thank...

Let go of "perfect" and say hello to "Halfway Homemade" – the mantra that's going to change your life in the kitchen! Jessa and Laura share the easiest 30-minute meals to make on a busy weeknight (that their kids actually eat!), plus the freezer and pantry must-haves that cut their cooking time in half, and why most kitchen fails can be fixed with a sauce. Because sauce. ✨   Thanks to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help you save)   GREEN CHEF | Get 60% off (plus free shipping!) with...

What do you do when something so heartbreaking happens that it takes you years to process exactly what you went through? If you’re NYT author J.T. Ellison, you put it in a thriller novel. This week, Emily joins J.T. (who’s one of Emily’s favorite authors!) for a conversation around a topic that links them both: infertility. J.T. vulnerably shares about her own miscarriages, about transmitting pain into your work, why marriages has room for secrets but not lies, about the joys and pitfalls of...

What's it *really* like to build your own home? After selling her house via text (yep, really) and beginning to build her forever home with her family on the lake they love, co-host Laura knows. And she's here, along with Jessa, to share her best tips for creating the home of your dreams (while avoiding the same "fun" surprises she encountered along the way).   Thanks to our episode sponsors! GREEN CHEF | Get 60% off (plus free shipping!) with code simplified60 at...

It can be lonely to feel like you're the only one who struggles with something. For the longest time, that's how co-host Liz felt, too, as she struggled with anxiety that turned her days upside down. Liz opens up with producer Amy as they talk about Liz's journey with anxiety and how it's affected her life. They talk about the concrete steps that have helped Liz move through hard moments, how she's learned to become her own best advocate and how to care for herself well.   PS: if you're...

"How did you know your partner was 'the one'? What advice would you give yourself before your wedding day? How do you move through parenting situations where you don't see eye to eye? What do we *really* get the partner who says they don't want a gift?"    We asked for your relationship questions, and you delivered. And in honor of Valentine's Day, Emily and her husband Bryan draw from their 15 years of married wisdom to answer some of your most frequently asked questions.   Thanks to our...

Need a 30-minute weeknight dinner without burning a hole in your credit card? Jessa would like to introduce you to the magical world of ALDI. #IYKYK (PS: ALDI has no idea who we are. We’re just doing this episode because we really like ALDI!)   Thanks to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help you save ) VEGAMOUR | Get 20% off your first order at https://vegamour.com/simplified  ROCKET MONEY | Cancel unwanted subscriptions—and manage your expenses the easy way!...

Join Emily as she walks down memory lane—and shares some exciting news we think you're going to love! 🎉   Thanks to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help you save) GREEN CHEF | Get 60% off (plus free shipping!) with code simplified60 at https://greenchef.com/simplified60    GLADSKIN | Get 15% off (plus free shipping!) on your first order at https://gladskin.com/simplified    FABRIC | Protect your family today with Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just 10 minutes at...