From 9 to Mom

baby is here, now what? | with Baby-Chick

You've got the nursery done, the registry checked off, and the hospital bag packed — but are you actually ready? This week, Catie and Danielle sit down with Nina Spears, founder and CEO of Baby Chick, certified baby planner, birth and postpartum doula, and author of the brand-new The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy. With 15+ years of experience supporting 800+ families and attending over 350 births, Nina has seen it all — and she's here to talk about the one thing most moms skip: preparing for becoming a mother. Nina breaks down why our culture obsesses over baby stuff but ignores the emotional, physical, and relational shifts that hit hardest after delivery. She shares what she wishes every mom knew before coming home from the hospital, how to navigate the identity crisis of returning to work, and why the most capable women often struggle the most. If you've ever looked at your baby and thought "now what?" — this episode is for you. 📖 Pre-order Nina's book and enter to win over $5,500 in prizes (Halo, Mockingbird, Coterie + more): baby-chick.com/positive-pregnancy-book [http://baby-chick.com/positive-pregnancy-book] Subscribe to Nina's free newsletter and explore all things pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood at baby-chick.com [http://baby-chick.com] ---------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Welcome 01:35 – Nina's Origin Story: How a Childless 23-Year-Old Became a Baby Expert 05:22 – "Baby's Here, Now What?" — How Unprepared Are Moms Really? 07:02 – Why Our Culture Celebrates the Baby But Forgets the Mother 10:50 – The Most Common Thing Moms Wish They Had Prepared For 13:43 – Identity Shifts, Mom Guilt, and Learning to Ask for Help 15:34 – How Baby Chick Was Built (and How Nina Vets What Gets Published) 18:39 – The Information Overload Problem — and How to Find Trustworthy Advice 21:57 – Returning to Work as a Completely Different Person 24:12 – The Emotional Reality of the Fourth Trimester (and Beyond) 27:25 – If You Want a Village, Be a Villager 29:36 – Why the Moms Who Look Like They Have It Together Often Struggle Most 30:48 – The One Thing Nina Wishes Every Mom Knew Before Baby Arrives 33:27 – About the Book + Giveaway Details

it's giving therapy

Come catch up on life with us. For those of you that are new here, welcome. We're 2 working moms who have full time 9-5 jobs. We work remote, mostly. We also run this full time and are business partners. Catie's kids are 3 & 4 Danielle's kids are 3 & 7 Let's get into this weeks therapy session. Catie's three-year-old is basically blind (fine, astigmatisms, but same energy), Calvin showed up to the office in mom's sunglasses watching Peppa Pig during a live meeting, and somehow rainbow glasses are now a hill we're willing to die on. Meanwhile Danielle solo-pilgrimaged to a BTS concert in Vegas, made three new best friends in the parking lot, and is already planning her Stray Kids festival outfit down to the lightstick. We also solve the great debate: summer bucket list vs. themed activity days, why $590 art camp is a hard no, and how drop-off logistics are genuinely a second full-time job nobody hired us for. Chaotic. Unfiltered. Basically free therapy. * 00:00 – Welcome to the Therapy Hour * 00:48 – Calvin Is Basically Blind & We're Spiraling * 07:40 – Peppa Pig, Dilated Pupils & a Very Unbothered Toddler * 11:16 – Colton Failed the Swim Test & We're Actually Fine With It * 12:25 – Danielle Goes Solo to Vegas (for a K-pop concert, obviously) * 13:21 – Are We Too Old for Concert Merch? (No.) * 17:01 – $590 for Art Camp. We Said No. * 22:04 – Bucket Lists vs. Themed Days: The Summer Planning Debate * 27:12 – Why Are We Still Dressing Our Kids? They're Four. * 29:17 – Morning Drop-Off Math Nobody Warned Us About * 31:26 – Moms Gone Wild (Nick Jonas + Stray Kids, separately)

your style just got better - with nina piccini

Motherhood changes everything — including how you get dressed. But here's the thing: your style didn't disappear, it just evolved. And that might actually be a good thing. In this episode, we're joined by personal brand stylist Nina Piccini to talk all things mom fashion — from building a wardrobe that works across every version of your life, to navigating trends without losing yourself, to finally tackling that decision fatigue every time you open your closet. We also pull back the curtain on our own lookbook experience with Nina — what the process looks like, what surprised us, and what we absolutely loved. What we cover: * Why your style actually gets better after kids * How to build a versatile wardrobe that works from drop-off to boardroom * Using lookbooks and Pinterest to reduce morning decision fatigue * How to shop trends without losing your personal style * The real reason button-downs aren't working for you * Wardrobe refresh strategies that don't break the bank * Style myths every mom needs to stop believing Connect with Nina: https://www.ninapiccini.com/ [https://www.ninapiccini.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nina_piccini [https://www.instagram.com/nina_piccini] Substack: The Style Brief https://ninapiccini.substack.com/ [https://ninapiccini.substack.com/] ---------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Personal Brand Styling 02:48 Nina's Journey to Styling 05:46 The Importance of Wardrobe for Moms 08:51 Creating Lookbooks: The Process 11:46 Incorporating Personal Style 14:20 Overcoming Fashion Fears 17:12 Navigating Trends and Personal Style 21:06 Navigating Fashion Trends 29:35 Wardrobe Refresh Strategies 34:19 Style Myths and Budget Shopping 35:12 Embracing Personal Style as a Mom

plastic free-ish: what busy moms actually need to know with Jessica Franklin

In this episode of From 9 to Mom, we’re diving into a topic that’s suddenly everywhere: plastics, microplastics, “clean living,” and the overwhelming pressure moms feel to somehow detox their entire homes overnight. 😵‍💫 We’re joined by Jessica Franklin, busy mom, health coach, and host of The Live Lightly Podcast, to break down what actually matters when it comes to plastics, toxins, and low-tox living… without spiraling into fear or throwing out every sippy cup you own tomorrow. From plastic cutting boards and kids’ lunch gear to hidden plastics in bedding, clothing, and everyday products, Jessica helps us understand where these exposures are really coming from, what the science says about microplastics and hormone disruption, and how moms can make practical swaps without adding another full-time job to the mental load. We also talk about: • The truth behind “BPA-free” labels • Why plastic cutting boards became everyone’s villain origin story • The hidden plastics most families never think about • Affordable, realistic swaps that actually make sense • How to avoid fear-based wellness marketing • The balance between awareness and overwhelm If you’ve watched the documentaries, fallen down a TikTok rabbit hole, or stood in Target staring at “eco-friendly” labels wondering what any of it means… this episode is for you. Because healthy living shouldn’t require a chemistry degree, a full pantry relabel, or losing your sanity in aisle 12. 💛 Sign up for the Microplastics Masterclass here: https://livelightly.myflodesk.com/microplasticmasterclass [https://livelightly.myflodesk.com/microplasticmasterclass] Featuring: Jessica Franklin of The Live Lightly Podcast [https://livelightly.eco/]

how to take advice

Everyone has an opinion… especially once you become a mom. 😅 In this episode, Catie and Danielle dive into the overwhelming world of advice, from parenting tips and social media “experts” to professional feedback and personal growth. They talk about how to filter the noise, trust credible sources, and take advice with grace without losing confidence in yourself along the way. The conversation covers information overload, motherhood, mental health, trusting professionals, and learning when to listen… and when to let the advice scroll right on by. Plus, the hosts share personal stories about navigating feedback, building trust, and protecting their peace in a world full of opinions. If you’ve ever felt buried under unsolicited advice, conflicting parenting recommendations, or the pressure to “do it all right,” this episode is your reminder that you know yourself and your family better than anyone else. ✨ Topics Covered: * How to take advice without taking it personally * Managing information overload as a mom * Trusting experts vs. social media opinions * Parenting advice, professional growth & self-confidence * Setting boundaries and protecting your mental well-being ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 Navigating Advice in Motherhood 02:57 The Challenge of Information Overload 05:39 Finding the Right Sources of Advice 08:50 The Importance of Professional Guidance 11:38 Personal Experiences and Parenting 14:27 Building Trust in Relationships 17:20 Embracing Vulnerability and Growth 20:19 Practicing Receiving Feedback