The Story Behind Miracle Milkookies

Message from Mom partnered with Headfirst Mental Health Initiative to launch a new series where moms and mental health experts gather together to have an open conversation about topics relevant to our lives and our culture at this very moment in time. The topic of the conversation was Forging Your Own Parenting Path. We asked Dr. LaKaavia Taylor, a PhD clincial professor at Southern Methodist University to join us to offer her insight. In this episode, you will hear a conversation that took place in a home in Dallas on Thursday, September 7th. We discussed the rising trend of anxiety in very young children and how to recognize what is normal and what isn't. We talked about the influence parents have on their children's behavior and the challenge of balancing control with independence in a world filled with information overload. The conversation also delved into the significance of breaking the cycle of generational trauma, advocating for self-compassion and the willingness to adapt and improve parenting approaches. A special thank you to our guest, Dr. LaKaavia Taylor and our hosts Laura Mclaughlin, founder of Headfirst Counseling and founder of Headfirst Mental Health Initiative, and Tazim Salehani, a board member of Headfirst Mental Health Initiative and founder of 360 to 180. 

Katie Beal Brown is known as the trailblazer behind Lone River Beverage Company, the hard seltzer company inspired by her West Texas roots. Just 11 months after launch, Lone River Beverage Company was acquired by the world's leading alcoholic beverage company, Diageo. But behind the brand, is the inspiring story of Katie. In this episode, Katie talks about how she launched Lone River Beverage Company in NYC at the start of COVID. She then describes how a planned two-week photoshoot in West Texas turned into a year and a half stay due to the pandemic, and how this unexpected time with family supported her business growth. Katie emphasizes the importance of a clear business vision, authentic branding, and connecting with consumers. Her story touches on adapting to unexpected changes, integrating motherhood with entrepreneurship, and finding balance amid life-altering events. You can find Katie on Instagram @katiebealbrown and her company at loneriverbevco.com. 

Annie Stull and Emily Johnson, the co-founders behind the artist-illustrated table linen brand, Fenwick Fields, sit down with us to chat about their journey of building a brand while raising young babies, navigating challenges, and adapting their strategies to create a successful and sustainable business.

We get into the nitty gritty about why they make it a priority to be directly involved in every aspect of their business, from fulfillment and marketing, to collaborations and pop-up events. 

We learn how Fenwick Fields' success stems from Annie and Emily focusing on their core product and perfecting it before branching out, as well as being attuned to the needs of their market and making adjustments accordingly.

You can find Fenwick Fields online at www.fenwickfields.com or follow along on Instagram @fenwickfields

I'm so excited to introduce you to Catherine Cartie as the first interview in our 6-part mini-series featuring mompreneurs that have turned their side-hustle into a thriving business! Catherine's story is unique because she's always been creative, but she didn't really have the idea to start a business of her own until after she had her first child. As a new stay-at-home mom, Catherine decided to take a calligraphy class in Dallas and after taking that class a love for calligraphy was born. From there, Catherine taught herself how to watercolor and then took online courses, eventually launching the incredible design business that she runs full time today. Catherine gets candid about how she has grown her business organically and what she has done to successfully grow her business while simultaneously growing her family. You can find Catherine on Instagram @CatherineCartieCalligraphy  and her website is catherinecartiecalligraphy.com. 

Today, I'm sharing the story behind Miracle Milkookies in light of the fact that we are celebrating our fifth birthday, this August. Something that I get asked a lot is, how did I come up with the idea to make cookies to help moms boost their milk supply? And how do you run a business while also raising a family? These are questions I often ask my podcast guests when they come on because as an entrepreneur and as a mom, I'm so curious how other people do it. In this episode, I'm sharing all of the steps I took to grow Miracle Milkookies from the ground up through word of mouth, grassroots marketing, and a lot of hustle! You'll hear why I'm so passionate about not throwing money at an idea until you know it works and why the mission behind my company is the driving force behind everything we do. You can find my company at www.miraclemilkookies.com or follow us on Instagram @miraclemilkookies

When you hear that a new school is coming to town, it's easy to put it into a category of schools that have come before it. But in reality, The Compass School of Texas was created to be something entirely different than any school that has come before it. The story behind The Compass School is a response to a problem seen my moms. Moms who, like many of us, were disenchanted by the options available to their children. Moms who decided to come together to create a school with full academic transparency, more parental involvement, and an environment that encourages as much outdoor learning as it does indoor. In this episode, the founders of The Compass School fo Texas share why they felt called to start a new school. What it looked like to take that first step, and what we should be looking for as we try to determine the best school for our children. If you are curious about The Compass School of Texas, you find more information at www.compassschooltx.org.

Caitlin Wilson is recognized internationally for making timeless designs that are accessible to all. In this episode, Caitlin takes us behind the scenes of her life to share the raw, yet beautiful story  behind building the life and brand that is known today as Cailtin Wilson. She shares the devastating loss she experienced in her early twenties as a first time mom, how she utilized her blog and social media to launch her business in the early days of e-commerce, the steps she has taken to build a successful business while raising five young children, and the inspiration behind her first book, Return to Pretty, which launches this spring. You can pre-order Caitlin's book now on her website caitlinwilson.com and follow Caitlin on instagram @caitlinwilson.

Dr. Ally Loupe has been practicing pelvic health for over a decade and currently works with Genesis PT in Dallas. In this episode, Dr. Loupe does a deep dive on the prenatal and postnatal issues that are common among most women, but aren't necessarily normal. She addresses bladder incontinence, diastasis recti, managing endometriosis, why we all need to have a better understanding of vaginismus, and so much more. Get ready because we talk about ALL. THE. THINGS. and more!

Jillian, a mom of three, was faced with a breast cancer diagnosis after a lump from mastitis never seemed to go away. With young children to raise, and so much life to give, Jillian embarked on her breast cancer journey with a ton of courage and a lot of faith. Although there is so much hardship and pain in a cancer diagnosis, Jillian's journey is a testament to the fact that the bright spots can overcome even the darkest times.