Minimalist kids are kids who are content. Kids who know how to play, kids who know how to talk and have relationships. They’re not glued to screens all day. They spend a lot of time playing outside using their  imaginations, conversing with their friends or siblings if they have them. And honestly, they enjoy more of a 1970’s sort of childhood than a 2018 one. If we are going to choose to live a minimalist lifestyle, then we are raising our kids to do the same. That means we are shaping the next generation and how amazing is it that we have a chance to break the over-consumeristic cycle? I love that I get to do that for my kids and hope that you find encouragement to do the same from this episode!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/066

How do you feel when you walk your home? Do you feel happy? Calm? Overwhelmed? Angry? Depressed? Resentful? Blessed? Do you feel like you just don't even have time to care about how you feel? Because I've been there. And now I want you to answer this: How do you want to feel when you walk into your home? Do your answers to those two questions match? If not, I want to help you get to the place where they match and you feel good walking into your home.

There is a connection between minimalism and motherhood. We have to move beyond organization and dive deep into decluttering to experience the joy that comes with minimalism. Once we do that, we can truly enjoy motherhood more! I promise I'm not going to offer you some kind of ridiculous cleaning schedule or a set of tasks to check off every day, because that’s unrealistic. I am here to give you something that will last - I am giving you the gift of less so that you can have more.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/065

We all desire for our kids to be kind. We want them to know what respect is and understand how to genuinely treat others with that respect. And that can be a tough thing to teach our kids, especially when we look at society today and see all the bullying and disrespect in the world. Fostering kindness starts in the home, between parents and among siblings. Once that kindness is established, kids will step outside of their little bubbles and respect others with a greater understanding of what it means. They can grow in kindness towards their friends, as well as those they have differences with. And it is such a beautiful thing to watch them grow in! It's like planting a seed and then it grows.

Kristin, Kendra, and Julie are the founders of The Ruth Experience,  which is all about living out authentic faith, fostering positive community, intentional living, and also living really generously. They teach women how to be kind to others and how they can teach their kids to be kind. It's not really about the acts of kindness or even what it's doing for the other person that you're affecting. It's that it's changing your mindset to get into the habit of just always having that “giving” state of mind that will become apart of your kids lives too!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/064

Motherhood is chaotic, no matter which way you slice it. We could all use a helping hand from someone a few steps ahead of us. I’ve been a mom for nine years now. I had all four of my kids within five years and I rocked the stay-at-home mom thing for about seven years before I started my business from home and added that to the mix. If you are a mama who is “in the thick of it,” I have come up with these little tips and tricks that might make day-to-day life easier for you.

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, whatever your circumstances are, just know that I'm here to lighten your load, give you a breath of fresh air and without actually being there, give you a hug, a little squeeze and say that we're all in this together. I hope that this episode does just that - lightens your load and makes you feel a little more hopeful and inspires you.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/063

Emotional eating and food addiction are just like any other addictions. But the biggest difference is that food is placed in front of us multiple times a day, because our body needs food as fuel. I admit I struggled with emotional eating, emotional bingeing and food addiction. I used food to fill a gap in my heart and in my life. I idolized food and it started to run my life. But now i can confidently tell you that I am winning this battle with emotional eating and food addiction. Everybody has struggles. This is mine. And if this is yours, I’m right there with you. So, let’s talk about it because if we don’t we feel alone and feel like we can’t conquer this thing but I know we can!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/062

Motherhood is a lot of things, but boring is not one of them. As my kids get older, we get into schooling, and realize the activities that interest them, I find that my life just gets fuller and fuller. I really enjoy having a full schedule. Other than the occasional need for a week off, I truly thrive when my calendar is full and my days are packed with a life lived on purpose. There’s a big difference in being too busy and in simply having a full life. Embrace where you’re at and if you find yourself overwhelmed, find ways to simplify wherever you can.

Minimalism is one way to do this. It kept me afloat and simplified my to do list in a very chaotic, uncontrollable time of my life when babies dictated everything, all the way down to how much sleep I got. No matter how many kids you have and what season of motherhood you’re in, minimalism lifts a huge burden you may not even know you’ve been carrying. It’s such a gift and is especially helpful for the family with a full calendar.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/061

As moms, it is easy to make excuses when it comes to taking care of our soul. However, when we have little kids or are in a super busy season, that's the time that we honestly need it the most. We are constantly pouring out and don’t realize that we need poured into. And the more we make excuses now, the harder it is going to be to get back to taking care of our souls. Val Woerner is the owner of ValMarie Paper, where she creates journals and tools that are really help “cut through the noise” of everyday life and find fullness of life in the presence of the Lord. Even if you're busy, even if you're a mom of little ones, no matter your season. And I want to encourage you by telling you that whatever you have to give now is more than enough.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/060

Welcome to this month’s Coffee & Questions segment here on The Purpose Show! The Coffee & Questions segment is a time when I sit down with 2-4 questions from you. You guys ask questions in many different places – email, Instagram Messages, Instagram Comments, Facebook, all of that. I have my team help me pull a few select questions and I answer them once a month. This is a time where I always physically have a cup of coffee with me because it feels super fun. It feels like I am sitting down with my friends, having coffee, and just…chatting. That’s what I want my show to feel like, especially this segment. If you asked a question, this is a time where I may answer it. So, sit down, cozy up, get a cup of coffee, and let’s chat!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/059

Do you desire to stay at home with your kids? I think we all do, at some point. But often, we are held back by this fear of finances. I want to encourage you that just because you stay home with your kids doesn’t mean you have to lack financially. There are plenty of ways you can stay at home with your kids while making an income. You can do it! Ask yourself, what am I good at? You are good at something. It may not be writing or podcasting, but it may be art or sewing or taking care of animals. Whatever you are good at, you can learn how to create more income with that!

Erin Odom is a stay at home, working mom to 4 who is passionate about helping other moms stay home with their kids and there is a lot that goes into that. From budgeting tips, bringing in some extra side income, turning a blog into a money maker, and more. She has so much to share with us in this episode!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/058

Communication is something Brian and I get asked about a lot. We don’t have it down, we are far from perfect at it, and we certainly are not experts. But we have learned and grown a lot over the years. One of the biggest areas our communication has evolved is understanding one another’s personality type and the way we communicate best. Be encouraged - communication will never be perfect, but I think what matters is that it is existent, a priority, and is always growing.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/057

Chaos is a normal part of life, especially as moms. And it is important that we remember to slow down in the chaos and not wish it all away. You know, those moments spent begging for your little one to walk or talk, to sleep through the night, to hurry up and do the next thing. Because there will come a day when your kids are grown up and you will wish for those moments again. The moments you won’t ever get back; the moments you tried so hard to rush through.

Nichole Nordeman is known for her music as a Christian artist but she is also a mother of 2 and author. Her book, Slow Down: Embracing the Everyday Moments of Motherhood, is such a calm and easy read. It's one of those books you’d want to have on your bookshelf to reference here and there when you need a reminder to really be present and just be with your kids. Her mantra is to lower the bar of expectations we place on our lives and to slow down, embracing the everyday moments of life.

*Note, if you aren’t a mom, this episode is still for you! There is SO much wisdom in this episode that we can all use when it comes to learning to slow down and enjoying the everyday moments of life.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/056

This episode is really light and fun! I wanted to share with you some of the stories and moments from the early part of my days as a blogger that you don’t know. From starting as a family blog to learning how to make money without ads and sponsorships, there have been some really great (and funny!) moments along the journey. I am letting you in on some of the behind-the-scenes, funny, interesting, and inspiring stories. I look back and see how I evolved as a writer, as a blogger, and as a person, and never in a million years did I think my blog would bring so much light to the topic of minimalism and simple living. But here we are now, and I love every moment of it!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/055

If you have listened to my podcast or followed me for any amount of time you know that I love setting goals and I am really intentional about reaching my goals! When I sit down before New Years, I write out one word that I want to focus on for the next year and write my goals around that word, then I jump into the year working hard to achieve those goals. But - here is the big secret - I don’t forget about them throughout the year! I think it's really easy to abandon your goals and your intent for the New Year once it's not the New Year anymore. It’s easy to not think about it again until the next New Year comes around and everyone starts to get reflective again. We fall into this pattern of life really happening and goals are forgotten. The difference between people who actually reach goals and people who just set resolutions is how often they come back to their goals to check in on them and how often they reflect on what their intention and purpose was for the year. So, by revisiting your goals throughout the year, you are setting a pace for yourself to actually achieve your goals and be intentional with your focus for the year.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/054

How do you define happiness? What are ways that you find happiness? You don’t need to spend a lot of time, money or energy to find happiness. Not everyone can uproot their lives and travel the world - most of us have kids who need us at home! Simple changes to your daily habits, a deeper investment into the relationships in your life, or putting self care as a priority are all ways that you can boost your happiness daily. You just have to decide that you are going to find ways to be happier right in the middle of usual. Which is why I brought Gretchen Rubin on the show for this specific topic! Gretchen is a wife, mom of 2 daughters, co-host of The Happier Podcast, and a New York Time bestselling author. She uses her platform to help others find their happiness, create good habits, and cultivate a more inner calm. And I know she is going to help guide you to defining and creating happiness in your life!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/053

Welcome to this month’s Coffee & Questions segment here on The Purpose Show! The Coffee & Questions segment is a time when I sit down with 2-4 questions from you. You guys ask questions in many different places – email, Instagram Messages, Instagram Comments, Facebook, all of that. I have my team help me pull a few select questions and I answer them once a month. This is a time where I always physically have a cup of coffee with me because it feels super fun. It feels like I am sitting down with my friends, having coffee, and just…chatting. That’s what I want my show to feel like, especially this segment. If you asked a question, this is a time where I may answer it. So, sit down, cozy up, get a cup of coffee, and let’s chat!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/052

How am I supposed to be a mom who keeps humans alive all day, stays up all night with a baby, and focuses on living a healthy lifestyle? That sounds so overwhelming! Wellness, exercise and eating well should work with you, not against you. It all should fit into your life, not overwhelm you! And wellness looks different from season to season.We cannot put a standard on wellness that we expect to work in every season of our life. If we focus on obsessing over wellness we are putting more stress on ourselves, our kids and our husband because we are trying to squish a certain standard into something that's not going to fit.

Amanda Wilson is a well of wisdom when it comes to the mom life version of exercise, health, fitness, wellness and carving out that time for yourself. She strives to help others relieve the pressure of a wellness by sharing simplified approaches to living a healthy lifestyle.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/051 

I've spent the last six years uncovering something that changed my whole life. And when I first started, I didn't know what it was called or even that it was an actual thing. I was just a desperate girl trying to find a way out of survival mode because I believed in my heart that I was created for more. And that thing, of course, is minimalism. The philosophy of less that comes with minimalism took me from overwhelmed, depressed and fighting, and barely getting by to loving motherhood, thriving in my role and being the mom that I always wanted to be.

 For me, minimalism is about simplifying what I have in my home so that have the time and joy to focus on my family, offering my kids and my husband the best of me, not what's left over after I pick up, wash a thousand dishes, fold six hours’ worth of laundry and reorganize all the toys again. Minimalism is all about where my focus is. Not how many items I have, not how many pairs of jeans I have, not how minimalist I appear. I don't want to deprive myself of things for the sake of “being a minimalist.” There are things that bring me joy, make me happy, and fill my life. It's more time in my day, more time for what matters, more time for pursuing what lights me up and makes me feel alive.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/050

You know those moments when life is really difficult or when things aren’t going well? Those moments are hard! Let’s not dismiss that. But we don’t have to stay down forever! It is important that we remain positive, that we acknowledge what is happening and what we are feeling, and that we do what we need to do to move forward. If you're in a difficult place, if you’re just really overwhelmed or if you're really having a rough time, I’ve got you! Today I am sharing three simple ways that you can remain positive when life knocks you down. You're going to get over this because you are a doer. You are an overcomer. You are going to push through this and I'm rooting for you!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/049

We all have been through tough stuff in our life. And sometimes we feel like we are the only person in the world who has ever experienced those tough moments. You normally don’t hear about other people going through those same things. There is beauty is sharing your struggles with others and there is strength that can come from it. Jessica Rasdall is one of those people who has bravely shared her story with the world. She took a moment that could have broken her and turned it into a story that has changed peoples lives. Her message is one of hope and encouragement; you are not alone in your struggles!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/048

We celebrate birthdays big time in our house! But most of the time it is in nontraditional ways. We make birthdays special without having a big party. And there's something sweet, intimate and special about doing it that way. We can get into this mindset of “if you're not having a big party then you didn't really celebrate” and that's just not true. You can totally make birthdays special without the big party! There's nothing against having parties, just keep it simple so that you enjoy it. It’s a big day. It's the celebration of the day you became a mom, either for the first time or the fifth time. It’s the celebration of a new life and it matters. We don’t need to perform or impress, we need to celebrate!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/047

You know that feeling when you fall into a funk midday. Maybe the morning sucked. Maybe it just hasn't been a great day and you fall into this place of “blah.” All you really want to do is eat candy, sit down and Netflix hard. You feel like this and you really don’t know why. As moms, we have things that really need to get done. We have to make sure everything is functioning. We've got a lot on our plates and it's important that we're energized and ready to take it on. But sometimes when we're just not feeling it and if we give in to those feelings, things may fall apart and our family will definitely feel that. I have developed some things that helped pull me out of that midday funk state of mind. Because that's really all it is; it's a state of mind! I am so excited to share my tips with you and hope you find them helpful when you find yourself in a midday funk!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/046

We often look at the media and other people to tell us what we need to be and how we need to look. But in doing that, we create this false narrative in our minds that we aren’t enough, that our bodies aren’t beautiful, and that we aren’t worthy. And these narratives are far from the truth! We should be confident in our bodies … they can do incredible things! Body confidence isn’t just waking up one day and being like, “I am perfect, I am whole, I am complete.” It's really looking at those limiting beliefs that we've had in our brain and paying attention to that dialogue that we're having with ourselves every single day. Body confidence is about honoring your body, fueling it and not punishing it.

Jenna Kutcher is an entrepreneur, wedding photographer, and uses her social media platform to discuss personal things, like marriage, body image, and more. She recently went viral for a vulnerable and honest post about her own body confidence journey. She is amazing at wearing what she wants and not what other people think she should wear based on her size. She's beautiful, confident and I hope she inspires you on your own journey to body confidence.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/045

Welcome to this month’s Coffee & Questions segment here on The Purpose Show! The Coffee & Questions segment is a time when I sit down with 2-4 questions from you. You guys ask questions in many different places – email, Instagram Messages, Instagram Comments, Facebook, all of that. I have my team help me pull a few select questions and I answer them once a month. This is a time where I always physically have a cup of coffee with me because it feels super fun. It feels like I am sitting down with my friends, having coffee, and just…chatting. That’s what I want my show to feel like, especially this segment. If you asked a question, this is a time where I may answer it. So, sit down, cozy up, get a cup of coffee, and let’s chat!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/044

Minimalism has so many benefits. You hear me talk about them all the time! But one of the benefits that I haven’t talked about yet is the positive impact minimalism can have on ADD. Living with ADD amplifies the feeling of being overwhelmed by a never-ending to do list and expecting perfection 100% of the time. But when you clear your space, you free your mind of striving too hard. Believe it or not, physical clutter adds to the struggle of being able to focus!

This issue is super close to my heart and it was a true honor to sit and talk with fellow-mama Chelsea Reinking. Her journey with ADD and motherhood is empowering! Whether you struggle with ADD or not, I believe you will find great value in listening to this episode.

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/043

What you do in the evening definitely affects how your morning goes. I'm telling you, it's not about you personality type. It's about setting yourself up for success, for joy. It’s about giving yourself the gift of a good solid start to the day, so you can handle what the rest of the day throws at you. So why wouldn't you want to set yourself up for success, right?

It's really important to make all your routines work for you and your life. What works for someone else may not work for you. I hope that through hearing what my (very flexible) evening routine looks like, you find what works for you!

Everything I talk about in this episode can be found here: http://alliecasazza.com/shownotes/042