The holidays with little kids can feel magical…and completely exhausting.

Late bedtimes. Skipped naps. Travel. Sugar. Family gatherings. Daylight saving time. And, of course, the well-meaning relative who says, “Just let them stay up—it’s a special occasion!”

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha welcomes back Chrissy Lawler, licensed marriage and family therapist, newborn sleep specialist, and founder of The Peaceful Sleeper, for a realistic conversation about protecting your family’s sleep without missing the holiday magic.

Chrissy reminds parents that the goal isn’t a flawless schedule. In fact, when traveling, she suggests thinking in terms of roughly an 80% routine—protecting some important sleep while allowing room for real life. She also shares why most kids can recover from holiday sleep disruptions within a few days.

Samantha and Chrissy talk about handling grandparents and relatives who challenge bedtime boundaries, creating a familiar sleep environment while traveling, navigating overtired babies and toddlers, and deciding when staying late at a holiday gathering simply isn’t worth it.

And this conversation isn’t only about the kids.

Chrissy explains why protecting mom’s sleep matters too—including recognizing the impact of late-night holiday prep and alcohol on sleep. Sometimes choosing rest means skipping the Pinterest-perfect wrapping, saying no to another event, or showing up with store-bought treats instead of putting more pressure on yourself.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How to handle baby and toddler sleep schedules during the holidays
• Why overtiredness can be especially difficult for babies under two
• How much flexibility to allow around bedtime
• Holiday travel sleep tips for babies and toddlers
• White noise, blackout shades, and bringing familiar items from home
• How to recover after a late bedtime or missed nap
• Setting boundaries with grandparents and extended family
• Navigating daylight saving time with kids
• Why parents need to protect their own sleep, too
• Letting go of holiday perfection and unrealistic expectations
• Choosing meaningful traditions instead of trying to do everything

Chrissy’s biggest reminder for overwhelmed parents? “It is not that deep.” Your kids don’t need 27 holiday events or a perfectly curated December. Love, warmth, responsiveness, and a handful of meaningful moments matter far more. Peaceful-Sleeper---Holiday-Spee…

Because sometimes the best holiday memories come from the moments that went completely off-script.

Connect with Chrissy Lawler

Chrissy is a licensed marriage and family therapist, newborn sleep specialist, and founder of The Peaceful Sleeper. Find her at ThePeacefulSleeper.com and on social media at @the.peaceful.sleeper, as shared in the episode.

Connect with The Running Wine Mom

Follow The Running Wine Mom on Instagram at @therunningwinemom_ for conversations about motherhood, parenting, wellness, and finding a little more joy in the chaos.

If this episode helped you feel a little less stressed about the holidays, send it to another mom who needs permission to loosen the schedule and enjoy the season.

Is there something more beyond the endless loop of school pickups, folding laundry, and mental burnout? In this episode of The Running Wine Mom Podcast, host Samantha Selinski sits down with Sarah Lynn Thomas, co-CEO of Behold Retreats. Sarah guides luxury plant medicine retreats in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Portugal and has worked alongside co-CEO Danny Yepez with nearly 2,000 individuals—including NFL players featured in Netflix’s Enigma.

Whether you are curious, skeptical, or just running on empty, this conversation breaks down what plant medicine actually is, how safety and screening work, and what surrendering control really looks like for an everyday parent.

In this episode, we cover:

• Wine, Whine, & Win: Sarah shares her signature 7-ingredient morning coffee/cacao recipe, calls out people-pleasing, and celebrates strong support teams.
• Explaining Plant Medicine to Skeptics: Why you should focus on the end result rather than the visionary experience when talking to loved ones.
• Self-Care & Motherhood: How filling your own cup prevents resentment and makes you a more present parent.
• The Anatomy of Surrender: The physical and mental stages of letting go of control during ceremony.
• Safety & Screening: Who plant medicine is NOT for and how Behold Retreats screens for medical and psychological safety.
• Healing vs. Expansion Tracks: Why corporate executives and athletes seek expansion, while others seek healing.
• Honoring Indigenous Traditions: How Behold Retreats works with indigenous communities through the Sovereignty Alliance Foundation.
• Lessons from NFL Athletes: What elite performers do differently when integrating life lessons and mindset tools.
• Practical Advice for Tonight: Simple dietary shifts, microdosing guidance, and shifting to full presence at home.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more or book a complimentary call at Behold Retreats.
• Follow The Running Wine Mom Podcast on Instagram: @therunningwinemom_
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Becoming a mom changes a lot—including, for many of us, the relationship we have with our clothes, our bodies, and even the person staring back at us in the mirror.

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha sits down with Jamie Lewin, an FIT-trained designer who has worked with major fashion brands including Ralph Lauren, Armani, J.Crew, and Gap and is now the founder of Vetted, a style guide designed to make getting dressed and shopping easier for real women.

But this conversation goes much deeper than what’s “in” this season.

Samantha and Jamie talk about why personal style is often one of the first things to disappear under the mental load of motherhood—and why caring about what you wear isn’t necessarily superficial. Jamie explains how clothing can affect confidence, the way we carry ourselves, and how we show up in our everyday lives.

They also tackle the infamous mom uniform. If your closet is filled with black leggings, Jamie gets it. She explains why leggings became such an easy default for moms and shares simple alternatives—including track pants, pull-on pants, and satin pants—that can feel just as comfortable while making an outfit feel more intentional.

Jamie also shares a realistic three-minute outfit formula for chaotic mornings, tips for organizing your closet to reduce decision fatigue, and practical ways to dress for the messy reality of motherhood—kids, spills, errands, playgrounds and all.

And then Samantha and Jamie take on some of the style myths women hear constantly:

“I’ll buy nice clothes when I lose weight.”

“I’m too old to wear that.”

Jamie challenges the idea that women should wait for a different body, size, or stage of life before dressing in a way that makes them feel good. Our bodies change through postpartum life, motherhood, aging, and everything in between. Instead of waiting for some future version of yourself, Jamie encourages women to dress the body and life they have right now.

They also talk about navigating fashion in your 30s, 40s and beyond without feeling like you have to follow every TikTok microtrend—or suddenly start dressing according to an arbitrary set of “age appropriate” rules.

Because finding your style after motherhood doesn’t have to mean becoming someone new.

Sometimes it’s about finding your way back to yourself.

In this episode:

• Why women often lose their sense of personal style after becoming moms
• The connection between clothing, confidence, and identity
• Why caring about what you wear isn't as frivolous as we sometimes believe
• How the black-legging “mom uniform” became the default
• Easy, comfortable alternatives to leggings
• Jamie’s three-minute outfit formula for busy mornings
• How to organize your closet to reduce decision fatigue
• Dressing stylishly through the messy reality of raising kids
• How to tell the difference between personal style and a passing trend
• Why you don't need to participate in every TikTok fashion trend
• Dressing the body you have instead of waiting to lose weight
• Letting go of “I’m too old to wear that”
• How personal style can evolve naturally through your 30s, 40s and beyond

About Jamie Lewin

Jamie Lewin is an FIT-trained designer with experience working with brands including Ralph Lauren, Armani, J.Crew, Gap and other major names in fashion. After becoming a mother herself and experiencing the realities of balancing a demanding fashion career with raising young children, Jamie began building a career that allowed her more flexibility with her family.

She is the founder of Vetted, a style guide created to make fashion, trends, outfit building, and shopping feel more approachable for women without adding another decision to an already overflowing mental load.

Connect with Jamie:
Vetted — Jamie’s style guide, shopping recommendations, and fashion resources
Jamie’s social channels — Follow along for approachable styling inspiration and everyday fashion advice

Connect with The Running Wine Mom:
Instagram: @therunningwinemom_
Listen and subscribe to The Running Wine Mom wherever you get your podcasts.