The Mom Salon

Mother's Day Series: part 6

A bit late with our final episode of our Mother's Day series because life got in the way but we went out with a bang with a special guest. We sit down with Emily Ritzer, the creator behind the Calm Minded Mom Instagram community. Emily is a mom of three, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for helping mothers navigate life's challenges with confidence and clarity. During our conversation, Emily opens up about her deeply personal journey through marriage, divorce, and the difficult decision-making process that led her to choose a new path for herself and her family. With honesty and vulnerability, she shares the realities of what it looked like to reach that decision, the emotions that came with it, and the challenges she faced along the way. More importantly, Emily offers a hopeful perspective on what comes after. She discusses the healing process, rediscovering her identity, and rebuilding her life as a single mom and business owner. Her story is a powerful reminder that while major life transitions can be incredibly difficult, they can also create space for growth, self-discovery, and new beginnings. Emily's refreshing honesty and wisdom will resonate with any mom who has ever felt stuck, uncertain, or questioned what comes next. This conversation is filled with compassion, encouragement, and real-life insights for women navigating change and searching for a path forward. Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt discussion about resilience, healing, motherhood, and finding yourself again.

Mother's Day Series: part 5

This week on Part 2 of the Mom Salon Podcast, Paige Souza is back and holding nothing back. After opening up in Part 1 about motherhood, identity shifts, and her decision to undergo a breast reduction, Paige returns post-surgery to share the full experience.. the recovery, the emotions, the unexpected challenges, and ultimately, how this journey changed her far beyond the physical. Paige gets candid about what the healing process really looked like as a mom of two young girls, balancing recovery while still showing up for her family. She shares the fears she had leading into surgery, the emotional highs and lows afterward, and the overwhelming sense of relief and confidence she feels now on the other side. We also dive into the deeper conversation so many women quietly struggle with: learning to prioritize yourself without guilt. Paige reflects on body image after motherhood, reclaiming confidence, and how making this decision for herself impacted not only how she feels physically, but mentally and emotionally too. This conversation is vulnerable, empowering, and incredibly honest. Whether you’re a mom navigating your own identity shifts, considering a similar procedure, or simply trying to feel more like yourself again after kids, Paige’s story will resonate deeply. Part 2 is raw, real, and the reminder so many women need that taking care of yourself is not selfish.. it’s necessary.

Mother's Day Series: part 4

This week on the Mom Salon Podcast, we sit down with local mom of two, Paige Souza, for one of our most honest motherhood conversations yet. A former teacher turned SAHM, Paige takes us back to the height of COVID when she welcomed her first daughter in April 2020 and her entire life changed overnight. Continuing our motherhood series, Paige opens up about the raw reality of stay-at-home mom life.. the beautiful moments, the isolating ones, the identity shifts, the sacrifices, and the unexpected ways motherhood can completely reshape who you are. We also dive into how she began growing on social media, turning content creation into both a creative outlet and a side hustle during the chaos of raising young kids. But this episode goes even deeper. Paige shares the emotional journey that led her to make the decision to get a breast reduction after children from years of discomfort and insecurity to finally feeling ready to prioritize herself again. We talk through the anxiety leading up to surgery and the excitement she has about reconnecting with her confidence and feeling good in her body again. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation and trust us, you are going to want to come back for Part 2.  After her surgery, Paige returns to the podcast to share everything: the recovery, the emotions, the outcome, and whether this major decision changed more than just her body.

Mother's Day Series: part 3

Episode 3 of our Mother’s Day series brings a fresh, uplifting conversation with a dynamic duo you’ll instantly love, a principal and a first-grade teacher who have taken their shared passion beyond the classroom and into the vibrant world of farmers markets. Meet Farm Fresh & Fabulous Now working side by side in a whole new way as they build an online community dedicated to discovering and sharing the very best local markets. Each weekend, they explore, taste, and report back with everything you’d want to know that you may otherwise miss ! But this episode goes deeper than market finds. Woven throughout is their honest, evolving journey through motherhood—raising older children, navigating shifting identities, and redefining purpose while staying rooted in career and other emerging passions. Their story is one of friendship, reinvention, and finding joy in new seasons of life. It’s a feel-good, inspiring conversation full of warmth, laughter, and practical inspiration,perfect for anyone craving connection, community, and a reminder that it’s never too late to grow something new.

Mother's Day Series: part 2

This week in our Mother’s Day series, we’re joined by Ashley, founder of Hot Tommies and a mom who proves it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. After years of building and scaling her community running Business Socialistas, Ashley found herself at a crossroads. What once fueled her no longer filled her cup and she made the brave decision to pivot. In her 40s, she stepped into the unknown and launched a completely new venture: a heated vest brand designed with both function, confidence, and fashionable in mind. In this episode, Ashley opens up about what it really feels like to outgrow something you once loved, the emotional weight of closing a meaningful chapter, and the courage it takes to trust your path...even when it’s unclear. We talk about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, identity shifts beyond motherhood, and listening to that inner voice that tells you when it’s time for something new. This conversation is for any mom navigating change, questioning what’s next, or learning to trust herself again. Or even the mom who can't see past the diapers and spit up right now. Ashley’s story is a reminder that pivots aren’t failures, they’re often the beginning of something even more aligned. Tune in and be inspired to embrace your own evolution.