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Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Layla Shaikley – Efficient, Full, Emotionally Regulated Days as a Founder and Mom of Three What does it look like to build a venture-backed tech company, raise three young kids, recover from a major injury, and stay emotionally steady through it all? In this episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Layla Shaikley, co-founder of Wise Systems, writer, and mom of three (ages 3, 5, and 7). Layla shares how predictability, emotional regulation, and ruthless prioritization are what make her high-capacity life sustainable, not hustle or perfection. This is a powerful, grounding conversation about ambition, motherhood, and learning how to regulate yourself so you don’t burn everything down when things get hard. In this episode, we cover: Why emotional regulation is the real foundation of high performance, and how Layla thinks about passing that skill to her kidsThe predictable morning routine that allows her to work East Coast hours while parenting on the West CoastHow she structures work around goals, not tasks, and why feeling “behind” is often a sign you’ve lost sight of outcomesWhy proximity determines extracurriculars (and why that’s not “failing your kids”)What evenings actually look like with three young kids, and how she lets chaos happen without reacting to itThe systems she uses to buy back time, from outsourcing household work to using AI as a thinking assistantWhy this season is about choosing three priorities only, and being okay with everything else waitingIf you’re a working mom trying to hold ambition, caregiving, health, and sanity at the same time, this episode will help you breathe a little deeper and think more clearly about what actually matters. Follow Layla SubstackInstagramTikTokReferences Case Study7 Types of RestListen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Dahlia Stroud – Crazy, Stressed, Well-Dressed Days as a Founder and Mom of Two What does it really look like when you’re building something new, parenting school-aged kids, and trying to keep yourself intact in the process? In this episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie chats with Dahlia Stroud, a UK-based consultant and host of Stressed But Well-Dressed, about the beautifully messy reality of her days. From “Jekyll and Hyde” mornings to late-night second winds, Dahlia shares the routines that ground her, the pressure she’s actively letting go of, and the moments that feel surprisingly sacred right now. This is an honest, relatable conversation about ambition, energy, and redefining what balance actually means in midlife motherhood. Listen to find out: Why Dahlia says she has two completely different morning routines and how both somehow get her kids out the door on timeThe one non-negotiable habit she uses to reset her mental health before opening her laptopHer refreshingly honest take on after-school activities and why kids already “work a full day”What evenings really look like with older kids, when bedtime turns into the moment they finally want to talkThe nightly ritual she’s doing with her 10-year-old that’s become the highlight of her dayHow launching a new consultancy forced her to rethink boundaries, energy, and perfectionWhy she’s letting go of having it all together and feeling better because of itIf you’re a working mom navigating career growth, school-aged kids, and the constant pull between ambition and exhaustion, this episode will feel deeply familiar. Where to find Dahlia Instagram: Stressed But Well-Dressed (podcast updates, wardrobe takes, confidence convos)Podcast: Stressed But Well-DressedLinkedIn: Dahlia StroudListen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Mary James, who leads an analytics group at Real Chemistry (a pharmaceutical marketing and communications company) and is raising two little ones, a 9-month-old and a 2.5-year-old. Mary is the primary earner in her household, while her husband is a stay-at-home parent, and she gives an honest look at what it actually takes to keep work, kids, and sanity moving forward in a season that feels nonstop. Mary describes her days in three words: dynamic, relentless, and funny, because if you don’t laugh… you might cry. In this episode, we cover: The 5 a.m. OrangeTheory era (and the real reason she’s doing it) - Mary is in her “rebuild my strength postpartum” season, and early workouts are the only time that’s truly hers.Her tiny morning ritual that keeps her from disappearing - A simple “for me today” list - a few selfish, non-negotiable things that serve her before she starts serving everyone else.The workday strategy that protects her brain from constant context switching - She time-blocks calls, aims for “three key things,” and shares a few meeting hacks that might save your sanity.The 5 p.m. hard stop (and why it matters when you’re the breadwinner) - Their household runs on a daily handoff. She signs off at 5:00, not because it’s easy, but because it’s how they keep resentment from building.Dinner realism: kids at 6, adults later, and no shame about it - Family dinner happens when it happens. Otherwise, it’s “survival food,” frozen options, and DoorDash in a season where time is the luxury.Outsourcing that feels like getting your life back: laundry pickup - This is the one she’s not giving up. Pickup, drop-off, done. (Now they’re just figuring out the “put it away” part.)Friendship in the trenches: Marco Polo, audio notes, and staying in it without texting back instantly - A genuinely workable approach to keeping friendships alive when your hands are full and your phone is always being stolen.Follow Mary Mary Faith James References Kindle Scribe Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Kelsey Smith – Adaptable, Intentional, Caffeinated Days as a Working Mom of Two and Email Accessibility Consultant On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Kelsey Smith, a working mom of two toddlers living just outside Denver. Kelsey works in marketing, technology, and digital communications for a large public university and also runs her freelance consulting business, The Email Edit, where she helps nonprofits, small businesses, and entrepreneurs improve email marketing with a focus on digital accessibility. Kelsey shares what life looks like right now with two kids just 11 months apart, a household that runs on teamwork (and coffee), and a workday shaped by a two-hour time difference. From chaotic pre-dawn wakeups and daycare drop-offs to hot sauna workouts, low-effort dinners, and bedtime that suddenly takes an hour, this episode is full of the real stuff working moms are navigating. If you are balancing remote work, little kids, a relationship, and the constant feeling that your to-do list is never done, you will feel very seen in this conversation. In this episode, we cover: Two toddlers 11 months apart and mornings that start before you are ready - Kelsey’s reality right now: kids up between 5 and 6 a.m., a toddler climbing into her bed overnight, and mornings that feel like chaos before coffee even happens. Remote work across time zones - What it is like being on Mountain Time while the rest of your team is on East Coast time, and how that creates built-in protected focus time in the late afternoon. Time blocking for technical vs creative work - Kelsey’s approach to structuring her day: technical tasks and meetings in the morning, creative strategy work later, and a consistent end-of-day plan for tomorrow. Bedtime phases and sleep curveballs - How bedtime used to be easy and suddenly is not, what it looks like getting two toddlers down, and the looming toddler bed transition. How to find a therapist through insurance platforms - Kelsey’s experience starting with SonderMind and moving to Alma, plus the reminder to check your 2026 benefits. Work travel with young kids and “partner guilt” - Why she does not feel mom guilt leaving but does feel the weight on her partner, and how family flying in makes travel possible. Friendship in a busy season - Staying connected through small touchpoints, hosting, and aiming for at least one friend meetup a month. Date nights without babysitters - Their every-other-Friday at-home date night rotation, alternating who plans, and creative ways to connect during the day while the kids are in daycare. The ball she is letting drop - Releasing pressure around cooking and remembering: if you only have 40% that day and you give it, you gave 100% of what you had. Connect with Kelsey Find her on Instagram: @the.email.edit (email marketing, digital accessibility, and life as a working mom) Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Lucie Corkery – Chaotic, Messy, Joyful Days as a Mom of Three On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie chats with Lucie Corkery, a mom of three under five, writer, and creator behind What Lucie Says and the Substack series Between Friends. Lucie lives in Massachusetts with her husband Kevin, their three kids, and their corgi Beverly, and shares a refreshingly honest look at full-time motherhood in a deeply busy season. If you are in the thick of young kids, constantly forgetting lunch, negotiating bedtime chaos, and trying to stay connected to yourself, your partner, and your friends, this episode will feel deeply relatable. In this episode, we cover: Mornings with three kids under five - Why Lucie wakes up an hour before her kids, the bare minimum routine that helps her feel human, and how TV at breakfast is sometimes the only way mornings work. Finding time for yourself as a stay-at-home mom - How tennis became Lucie’s outlet for movement, focus, and adult connection, and why having time without her phone has been surprisingly transformative. The midday juggle no one talks about - Laundry running constantly, walking the dog alone, vacuuming with a toddler and a toy leaf blower, squeezing in workouts, and always forgetting to eat lunch. Quiet time, shared rooms, and realistic rest - How Lucie structures naps and quiet time for three kids at different stages, and why rest time is non-negotiable for everyone’s sanity. Afternoons, activities, and getting the wiggles out - Why leaving the house almost always leads to a better evening, even if it’s just a library trip, playground stop, or long car ride. Early dinners and separate adult meals - Why her kids eat at 5:30, she and her husband eat later, and how letting go of family dinner expectations has made evenings calmer. Bedtime chaos and small parenting hacks - From bath time that ramps kids up to the light-flicking trick she stole from teachers to regain attention during total mayhem. Marriage, date nights, and staying connected - Why Lucie and her husband prioritize weekly date nights, how they find babysitters for three kids, and why investing in their relationship matters in this season. Friendship in a misaligned season of life - The inspiration behind Between Friends, how friendships shift after kids, and why putting plans on the calendar is the only way they happen. The ball she’s letting drop - Letting go of a spotless house, embracing the mess, and choosing peace over perfection in a home full of young kids. Connect with Lucie Instagram: @whatluciesaysSubstack: What Lucie Says, including the Between Friends seriesReferences Skylight CalendarListen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan – Chaotic, Peopley, High Energy Days as a COO and Single Mom of Two On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at Feast & Fettle, and single mom of two girls, ages 5 and 13. Kyla splits her life between Rhode Island and Washington DC and gets real about what it takes to lead a fast growing company while solo parenting in a high energy season. She opens up about slow, coffee fueled mornings, packed meeting days, and why outsourcing laundry and dinner is the only way she stays present with her girls. She talks about embracing being not a morning person, protecting dinner and bedtime, and navigating late-thirties dating across two cities. In this episode, we cover: Two city, single mom logistics - How Kyla balances life between Rhode Island and DC, structures her week around meeting-heavy and deep-work days, and uses flights as protected, no-Wi-Fi reading time. Work life balance in a 24/7 business - The two time blocks she guards at all costs, the very real 9 to 11 p.m. “mom catch up hour,” and how she manages boundaries when her operation never actually turns off. Weeknight dinners without the chaos - What it’s like being both a leader and customer at Feast & Fettle, how her girls remix meals to their liking, and why cooking in DC has become her creative outlet. Evenings, puzzles, and an overstimulated mom brain - Her realistic night routine, the end-of-day reset she swears by, and how puzzles, reading, and dry humor TV help her wind down. From toxic restaurant culture to people first hospitality - How her early years in restaurants shaped her mission to build Feast & Fettle’s W2, benefits rich, people centered model. Chores, acrylic nails, and outsourcing the things you hate - The brilliant deal she struck with her 13 year old, how she divides chores by age, and why laundry and bill-pay live permanently on autopilot. Friendship and dating in your late thirties - Maintaining long-term friendships in a kid heavy season, giving herself permission for a “hobbit night,” and treating online dating in DC like a low pressure social experiment. If you’re a working mom juggling leadership, caregiving, airports, group texts, and a never ending to do list, this episode will make you feel seen in the best way. Follow Kyla: Feast & Fettle (instagram) LinkedIn Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Cameron Oaks Rogers — Routine, Chaos, and Joy in the Thick of MotherhoodIn today’s episode, Ellie sits down with Cameron Oaks Rogers — full-time content creator, podcast host, mental health advocate, and creator of Quiet Your Mind and Busier Hands. Cameron opens up about raising two young boys, building a multi-layered career, and navigating the beautiful mess of this season with honesty, structure, and humor. If you love real routines, candid talks about mental load, and hearing how other women make the day work, this episode delivers. In this episode, we cover: Cameron’s deeply routined (yet realistic) 5:30 a.m. morning - How she uses her Hatch, silence, meditation, half-caf, matcha, pajama workouts, and strong boundaries around phone time.The truth about food fatigue and outsourcing dinner - Why cooking became her biggest stressor, how she finally gave herself permission to let it go, and the huge mental relief of having help.How she structures her workdays as a full-time creator - City days, computer days, content days, hiring a full-time producer, and bringing her podcast in-house for more control and creativity.Friendship, marriage, and staying connected in the chaos - The group chats, weekly touchpoints, and why she prioritizes female friendships.What self-care looks like right now - Tennis, acupuncture, Kindle reading, coloring, morning walks, and redefining what rest actually feels like.How she found her therapist eight years ago - Her “first-date” approach to therapy and the vetted therapist list she shares with her community.Creative energy and building Quiet Your Mind - How coloring became a calming outlet, the creation of the adult and kids editions, and why this project brings her so much joy.Holidays, traditions, and making Christmas magical - Balancing both sides of the family, keeping Christmas morning at home, and creating that nostalgic, joyful feeling for her kids.Follow Cameron @CameronOaksRogers on Instagram @CameronOaksRogers on TikTok Conversations with Cam Podcast Fill Your Cup on Substack Quiet Your Mind and Busy Your Hands Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Emily Doyle — Founder, Mom, and Creative Building a Colorful Life in Vermont Join Ellie for this week’s episode of A Day In Her Life with Emily Doyle—co-founder of Ursa Major Skincare, mom to eight-year-old, and longtime Vermonter balancing entrepreneurship, parenting, partnership, and creativity. Emily’s days are exactly how she describes them: lively, colorful, and crazy. In this episode, we cover: Morning Rhythms: Cozy family wake-ups, coffee, lunch prep, and why morning walks with friends or her dog set the tone for her day. Co-Founder Life: The realities of running a 15-year-old remote-first company with your partner, back-to-back meetings, and the Ursa Major products she recommends for beginners. Motherhood in Motion: School pickups, overscheduled seasons, Millie’s growing independence, and the after-school rush that always leads into 7 pm dinners. Home & Routines: Favorite NYT weeknight recipes, Sunday waffle mornings, what she lets drop, and her simple approach to self-care. Relationships & Community: Staying connected to friends through micro-moments and building a partnership with Oliver through walks, drives, and time outdoors. Creativity & Joy: How she finds inspiration today, the magic of Vermont’s seasons, and her current cozy obsessions. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to build a mission-driven brand while raising a family, this episode is full of honesty, humor, and the relatable chaos working moms know all too well. Follow Emily @ursamajoremily @ursamajorvt References Golden Hour Recovery Cream Golden Hour Dry Oil Essential Face Wipes Use Code DayInHerLife15 for 15% off Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Tory Stroker — Chaotic, Fulfilling, and Busy Days as a Dietitian & Mom of Two Join Ellie for this week’s episode of A Day In Her Life with Tory Stroker, a registered dietitian, content creator, and mom of two living in New Jersey. Tory runs a thriving weight-inclusive nutrition counseling practice supporting women in eating disorder recovery, all while parenting a four-year-old and a baby, running her Substack, and navigating the beautiful chaos of this season. Tory opens up about what her days really look like—messy, meaningful, funny, and full. From boundary-setting with her phone to snack-plate hacks for her preschooler, she shares a refreshingly honest look at work-life balance, recovery, motherhood, and building a life aligned with her values. In this episode, we cover: Mornings in the Trenches: The reality of wake-ups with two little kids, carving out coffee rituals, and the strict phone boundaries that have changed everything for her anxiety.Mom Days vs. Work Days: How she divides her week into client facing days, pure “mom days,” and what those schedules actually look like.Running a Weight-Inclusive Practice: Tory’s path from dancer to dietitian, her eating-disorder recovery, and how she helps moms break generational cycles around food and body image.Afternoons & Snack Plates: The exact system she uses to avoid constant “can I have a snack?” requests and keep everyone fed until dinner.Self-Care That’s Realistic: Walks, Sculpt Society workouts, simple meals, rest when she can take it, and the cookbook club she created to stay connected socially.Community, Friendship & Support: How she stays connected through Marco Polo, voice memos, and humor with her sister and close circle.Outsourcing & Systems: Grocery pickup, childcare help, shared calendars — and why she’s embraced “good enough” over perfect.If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, overly stimulated, starved for rest, or stuck in the nonstop loop of drop-offs, snacks, naps, and dinner chaos — this conversation will make you feel seen, understood, and absolutely not alone. Follow Tory @torystrokernutrition The Hoka Moka References Tory’s Post about Cook Book Club Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! Join Ellie for this week’s episode of A Day In Her Life with Andrea Wightwick—entrepreneur, Substack writer, and mom of two living in Atlanta. Andrea shares what her integrated, bold, and fun days look like as she juggles family life with building her non-alcoholic cocktail brand Hapsy, after years of experience in CPG. From mindful mornings and carpool spreadsheets to Friday “tacos and tequila” dates and middle-school bedtime check-ins, Andrea offers an honest look at the structure, chaos, and joy of raising teens and growing businesses. In this episode, we discuss: Career Evolution: From Pepsi and Nielsen to launching her own non-alcoholic cocktail company, and why she’s focused on sustainable, joy-filled growth.Work Rhythms: Strategy Mondays, meeting-heavy midweeks, and “playing hooky” Fridays for hikes, errands, or solo creative time, by building the company she wants to work for.Partnership & Parenting: How she and her husband divide household duties, plan meals via shared calendars, and balance business ownership with family life.Teen Parenting Transitions: Letting kids lead bedtime, using email “training wheels” to build real-world skills, and reframing family connection.Friendship & Connection: Why she believes in “rage walks,” voice memos, and bringing back “sit-com-ing” (dropping by a friend’s house for a quick porch chat).AI in Everyday Life: How Andrea uses AI tools like Grammarly, Claude, and ChatGPT (“Chatty”) to brainstorm, edit, and streamline work while keeping a human touch.Letting Go: Dropping the glass ball of Thanksgiving and embracing the holiday in her own way with her family.Andrea’s story is a grounded, empowering reminder that success doesn’t have to mean burnout—and that joy, structure, and purpose can all fit in one life. Follow Andrea @andreawightwick Andrea’s Substack - The Business of Adulting Hapsy References Roots App Greenlight Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! Join Ellie for this week’s episode of A Day In Her Life with Virginia Frischkorn, founder of Partytrick, mom of two, and multi-city entrepreneur splitting her time between Colorado and New York. Virginia shares what her full, structured, and chaotic days look like as she builds a tech startup, parents solo half the time, and still finds space for joy, movement, and community. In this episode, we cover: Early Riser Energy: How Virginia wakes up at 3:30 AM for deep work, coffee, and breathwork before life begins.Structured Chaos: How she balances two kids, multiple sports schedules, and a growing startup—with no nanny and lots of color-coded calendars.Parallel Parenting & Flexibility: Her honest approach to co-parenting and how she keeps transitions smooth (two sets of gear included).Movement & Mindfulness: Why she swears by breathwork, intentional movement, and daily walks as non-negotiable self-care.Founding Partytrick: How losing her father led to a purpose-driven career shift—turning her luxury events company into a tech platform helping people gather with ease.Friendship Systems: Why she uses Asana to remind her to check in with friends and how intentional connection keeps loneliness at bay.This episode is an inspiring, relatable look at modern motherhood, entrepreneurship, and finding structure inside chaos. Follow Virginia Partytrick.com Virginiatrafton.com @virginia_frischkorn @partytrick References Corene Phelps Fyxer Granola Otter Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! Join Ellie for this week’s episode of A Day In Her Life with Laura Krenek —Head of Brand Marketing at Esri, wife, mom of two, and creative spirit living in Redlands, California. Laura shares how she’s built a meaningful career in tech while raising young kids, creating daily rituals for connection, and making space for joy and creativity in her full, intentional life. In this episode, we cover: Morning Routines That Work: How Laura starts her day at 5:30 AM, handles the solo morning rush, and creates small moments of connection with her kids—like her adorable “word and math of the day” fridge drawings.Flexible Work & Leadership: What it’s like leading brand marketing at a global company, managing international teams, and carving out no-meeting focus time to get real work done.Partnership in Action: How she and her husband divide household duties, stay flexible during travel-heavy weeks, and apply a “minimum viable product” approach to parenting and home life.Connection & Community: Why Taco Tuesday dinners with friends keep her grounded midweek, and how she builds “chosen family” through authentic friendships.Self-Care & Sanity: The role yoga and walking meetings play in managing stress and staying present, plus how she completed her yoga teacher certification as a form of personal growth after becoming a mom of two.Legacy & Lullabies: The generational lullaby that reminds Laura of her mother’s love and the importance of finding joy and grace in motherhood.This episode is packed with real talk about ambition, motherhood, and creativity—and how to build a career and home life rooted in meaning and connection. Follow Laura! LinkedIn Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! In this episode, Ellie sits down with Stephanie McCulley, founder of the nonprofit WillPowered Autism, to talk about her unpredictable, fun and chaotic days, and her mission to empower families navigating autism. Stephanie opens up about her son’s journey with spelling to communicate, how her identity is shifting after seven years as a stay-at-home mom, and the daily routines that keep her grounded. In this episode, we cover: How to become a morning person: How Stephanie became a morning person with 5 AM wake-ups, workout classes, journaling, and quiet time before the chaos begins.Big moves: Moving from Chicago to coastal Florida for a slower pace and better support for her autistic son, William.Launching WillPowered Autism: Helping families afford therapies and access life-changing communication tools like spelling to communicate.Finding balance: Managing two school schedules, therapies, and after-school activities while carving out time for herself.Support systems that matter: Using a “mother’s helper,” nearby family, and outsourcing guilt-free to make room for what matters most.Self-care that sticks: From dry brushing and skincare to reading before bed and sauna/cold plunges—her realistic rituals that help her recharge.Stephanie’s story is a reminder that routines can evolve, community can grow in unexpected places, and purpose can come from even the hardest seasons. Follow Stephanie @stephaniejanemcculley @willpoweredautism References Melissa Wood Health Will Powered Autism Spellers Documentary Taylor Dukes Bone Broth Protein Powder Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! Join host Ellie Rineck for this week’s conversation with Dr. Saumya Dave — psychiatrist, novelist, and mom of two young boys living in Brooklyn, NY. Saumya shares what it looks like to balance a clinical practice, a writing career, and family life in a city that never slows down. From tag-teaming mornings with her husband to building community, this episode is full of real talk about ambition, motherhood, and learning to let go of perfection. In this episode, we cover: Realistic Mornings: Switching off early routines with her husband, “living multiple lives by 9 AM,” and the small systems that help their family stay afloat.Work-Life Design: Balancing three days of private practice and two days of writing, and learning to focus deeply (or flex when her kids are home sick).Partnership & Planning: How she and her husband divide household tasks, use Google Calendar to keep it all straight, and hold monthly check-ins during date nights.Friendship in the Chaos: Scheduling time with friends, weekly “proof of life” video updates, and the value of finding community with other writers.Creative Rhythms: Writing across novels like Well-Behaved Indian Women, What a Happy Family, and The Guilty Pill, and embracing the long, nonlinear path of creativity.Movement & Growth: How a shared personal training session every Friday morning became both self-care and connection timeParenting Joy: The power of bedtime stories, and why she believes reading builds empathy, connection, and calm for both parents and kids.Whether you’re juggling creative work, young kids, or just trying to find a rhythm that fits your season — Saumya’s perspective will leave you feeling grounded, inspired, and a little more at peace with the mess. Follow Saumya @saumyajdave References The Chutney LifeSaumyaDave.comListen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

Tell us what you think!!! Join Ellie for this week’s episode with Jess Botros, Vice President of IT Strategy & Operations and mom in Frisco, TX. Jess shares how she’s navigating a new kindergarten schedule, a meeting-heavy role, and frequent work travel—while keeping family, community, and sanity front and center. In this episode, we cover: Workday Design: Blocking 8–9 AM for no-meeting focus, managing a Teams + email firehose, and the simple tools that keep her on track including her RemarkableTwo Careers, Two Calendars: How she and her husband coordinate overlapping travel, use Sunday night planning, and lean on nearby grandparents.Community First: Hosting friends, casual watch parties, and bringing their son along to keep adult friendships alive.Self-Care That Sticks: Her “retirement day” every few months (spa/sauna, long walk, solo lunch) and embracing fall to reset energy.Creativity in the Margins: Crafting alongside her kid, letting hobbies be seasonal, and being okay with “beginner” energy (like learning golf).Everyday AI: Paid ChatGPT for trip planning and home problem-solving, and Copilot at work for meeting summaries and admin lift.If you’re a working mom juggling big projects, shifting school schedules, and real life at home, Jess’s approach will give you some practical insights. Follow Jess LinkedIn Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock