The Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast: Recent Episodes
Lindsey
Shining a raw, vulnerable, and shamelessly honest light on REAL motherhood- not the filtered version we see on social media. The Salt & Light podcast will be tackling the spiritual, physical, mental and relational changes that accompany this motherhood journey. Let's normalize the highs and the lows, the good and the bad, the breakdowns and the breakthroughs that we ALL experience. We were never meant to do motherhood alone... and with the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast, you don't have to!
Kendahl’s motherhood journey is all too familiar- struggling with anxiety, comparison, and unrealistic expectations, she had lost her joy and felt like a failure (seriously yall, having her on was like talking to my postpartum doppelganger.) She joins us on the podcast today to open up about her journey thus far-discussing lessons learned (oftentimes the hard way) and ways she is taking charge to rewrite her motherhood story (all while helping other moms along the way!).
Kendahl is a podcast host and motherhood “cheerleader” living and working in Texas with her husband and two children. She strives to create a sense of “community” for mom’s in her area by hosting fun and creative “mom’s night out” events all while promoting a sense of empowerment and belonging. Her mission is to remind women that we are all in this journey of motherhood together and that “Mama, You’re Doing Great!” (even when it doesn’t feel like it)
Join us as we take a deep dive talking through our unique motherhood journeys, all while realizing that they are, in fact, quite similar. Reminding us that quite frankly, none of us have this motherhood thing figured out… we are ALL struggling and learning and growing TOGETHER! This episode is the pep talk we ALL need... grab your headphones and your reheated coffee and join us!
**If today's episodes leaves you wanting MORE- be sure to get connected with Kendahl by following her on instagram at @kendahlyanez or by check out her podcast (which drops new episodes weekly!) by searching “Mama, You’re Doing Great” on Spotify and Apple podcasts!
If you are enjoying our chats here on The Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast, please be sure to leave us a review and/or a 5 star rating! These simple things take just a few seconds but REALLY help to promote our podcast! Thank yall so much for your support!
Rooting for you always mama,
Linds
It's common knowledge that teaching your little one to sleep independently is often considered the "holy grail" of motherhood goals. When researching infant sleep with my firstborn, a quick google search instantly resulted in an overwhelming amount of information - with dozens of sleep training "tips & tricks," methodologies, gimmicky quick fixes, links to social media "specialists", and a dizzying amount of sleep-focused websites. Everywhere you look and everyone you ask has an opinion on child "sleep"... WHY? Because having a child who "sleeps" has become an unspoken measurement of "success" in motherhood, because sleep is essential for growth and development and because frankly, waking up 183497839247 times a night just plain SUCKS.
Which leads me to introduce today's studio guest- Brittni Cepeda, certified holistic sleep specialist and Owner & Founder of Resting in Motherhood. Brittni's approach to infant/child sleep goes against the grain of "common" sleep training programs and focuses instead on promoting infant-parent attachment, sleep science, and helping "support" little ones to sleep. Brittni is passionate about educating families on biologically normal infant sleep strategies that respect their little one, while also helping parents make changes to the things that aren’t working during bedtime. Her biggest role is “mama” to a 3.5 year old spirited and extremely fun daughter, who has been her driving force and inspiration for her business and sleep program.
Brittni walks us through a few holistic sleep strategies, sheds light on common misconceptions and misinformation surrounding child sleep, answers questions regarding bed-sharing safety, and discusses realistic sleep goals for little ones. Her program offers a child-led approach to sleep support and strives to provide attachment-focused strategies throughout the process. Even if you're happy with the current sleep situation in your home, I encourage you to tune in, because if you're like me you'll learn a thing or two (or three or four) from this informative discussion.
But listen yall, keep in mind this discussion is simply meant to INFORM you not CONDEMN you for your decisions as a mother- so whether you're team cry-it-out, team pick up/put down, team sleep support, team bed sharing... DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY without comparison, regret, or judgement. Regardless of the method used- the goal is SAFE SLEEP for you and your little one!
Rooting for you always, mama-
Linds
*If you want to get connected with Brittni to learn more about her Holistic Sleep Support Program, be sure to follow her @resting_in_motherhood
** If you're interested in learning more about recommended bedsharing guidelines see the link below. Please us the topics discussed on today's podcast as a catalyst for YOUR OWN RESEARCH regarding child sleep and always keep in mind it is YOUR responsibility to choose/implement a safe sleep situation that works for YOUR family!
https://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/
Let's talk about INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS. Those thoughts that pop into your mind during motherhood- "What if my baby stops breathing in the middle of the night?" "What if I get into a car accident on the way to the pediatrician appointment?" "I'm not fit to be a mother." Oftentimes they're scary, or extreme, or shameful... they stop you in your tracks and make you think, "OMG how could I have even thought that?!"
Did you know that intrusive thoughts are actually FUELED by hormonal shifts or high stress/abrupt environmental changes??? (Ummmm... HELLOOOOO postpartum!) And even though MANY women experience these thoughts at some point or another after having children, most of these women are too ashamed to discuss these thoughts and bring them to light... so that's just what we're going to do!
On today's episode we are going to strip the shame from these thoughts... mostly because that's all they are- JUST THOUGHTS- to remind you that even though they are unsettling, they do not define you as a mother!
During our discussion today we are going to dive into what they are, why they appear and how to manage them when they do- with the hopes that in doing so we will normalize their existence and remove the shameful stigma they induce!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE in this motherhood journey!
Rooting for you always, mama!
Linds
Spend any time around Becca Vidrine and you’ll immediately realize something is “different.” There’s a steady peace about her- a sense of wisdom & self assurance that is equal parts intimidating and comforting. After a life-changing diagnosis a few years ago, Becca realized that time is too precious to be spent on or with anyone or anything that doesn’t bring joy, captivate your soul and fill your cup. She now proudly, “dances to the beat of her own drum”- from giving away her possessions & moving away from family & friends, homeschooling her son, boldly sharing her thoughts & beliefs with the masses through her writings, YouTube channel, and online blog, advocating for gun safety, or partaking in spiritual retreats… her hobbies include a delightfully entertaining mix of passions, all of which she is brazenly unashamed.
My conversation with Becca for this episode was a fun one- covering topics ranging from gun safety to homeschooling, marriage to motherhood, medical challenges & unexpected blessings, love, life, & legacy. So whether youre on an afternoon stroller walk, cleaning your house, sitting in carline, or finishing up a middle-of-the night breastfeeding session- pop in your headphones and join us as we leave no stone unturned with this raw, honest, authentic conversation that is guaranteed to leave you wanting more (I know I did! Already scheming on how I can get her back!) Happy listening, mama!
**Wanna get connected with Becca? Be sure to follow her on instagram @thisblissfulpursuit & subscribe to her personal blog for more of her content! And as always, be sure to follow us @saltandlight21 and leave us a podcast review! We appreciate you listening and joining us on this motherhood journey! We were never meant to do motherhood alone!
Rooting for you always, mama.
Linds**
Struggling with infertility? Questions about adoption? Wanting to learn how to best support your friend during THEIR adoptive process? Well then you've come to the right place, momma! Today we talk with Kaitlyn Thibodeaux- wife, mama, counselor, adoption advocate... the list goes on. Six months ago, Kaitlyn and her husband received the call that would change their life... after struggling with multiple miscarriages, deciding to pursue adoption, and undergoing months of trainings and home studies in preparation for their new roles, they had finally been chosen to be parents to a local little boy- now named, AJ.
Since being catapulted into her motherhood role, Kaitlyn has been very open about her experience with adoption - her honesty and vulnerability regarding her journey to motherhood and her family's experience is both informative and refreshing. She joins us today to peel back the curtain on the highs and the lows of adoption and give us insight on the unexpected (and sometimes difficult) ins and outs she continues to navigate.
By helping to provide an intimate look into this not-well-talked-about path to motherhood, Kaitlyn hopes to provide encouragement to other women considering this journey. Although, even if you are NOT in this position and are not considering adoption, I encourage you to tune in and learn how you may BETTER SUPPORT women in you life who ARE. Because no matter where you are in your motherhood journey... moms need moms yall! We are all in this TOGETHER!
Rooting for you always, mama.
Linds
(P.S. Thanks for tuning in and continuing to support and share our episodes! The Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast would be nothing without YOU! )
If you look at the title, I think you'll find that today's episode is pretty self-explanatory. There are certain things that, well, are considered somewhat "taboo" or "frowned upon" to say out loud when in comes to motherhood. Now, don't get me wrong... 99.9% of us are THINKING them... we just don't say them out loud... mostly because we feel we may get judged, or be deemed a "bad mom" or get a side-eye or two from our in-laws.
So today I'm going to pull all the ugly skeletons from deep in the motherhood closet. We are going to say the things we aren't "supposed" to say. We are going to air the hell out of the dirty laundry of mom life.
Now, unfortunately I do not have the ANSWERS to many of these tough thoughts/feelings, but my hope is that you find some comfort in knowing that we are all just doing our best to navigate this crazy, curveball-filled journey of motherhood. My hope is that you don't feel so alone. That you realize you AREN'T a bad mom for thinking these things. And that you realize we are all in this TOGETHER.
( And hey--- if you DO have the answers... feel free to DM me :) I'd love a cheat sheet! )
Rooting for you always, mama.
Linds
**Today’s podcast is going to talk about lessons learned in childhood- MY childhood to be specific (because honestly, who else’s childhood could I talk about…). The inspiration for this episode came to me on my drive to the podcast studio one day and I literally brain dumped the entire podcast into my voice notes over a period of 5 minutes and subsequently had it recorded within the hour, which can only mean one of two things… This topic NEEDED to reach the airwaves and was divinely inspired/influenced OR I’m borderline delusional secondary to my pregnancy insomnia and am making rash decisions. For my own self confidence, let’s stick with option one.
1). What I Learned as a Child of Divorce
2). The Importance of Meals Around the Dinner Table
3). "Use Your Head"
4) Not Letting Stereotypes "Box" You In
5). Trust... but Verify
6). The Importance of Showing Up**
These lessons may seem “simple” at first glance, however they have/continue to make a huge impact on my personal/professional life today. They influence decisions in my motherhood, my marriage, my career, my relationships, and my goals/visions/dreams for the future… and while they may not impact you to that extent, my hope is that, if anything, this discussion prompts you to evaluate some of the powerful life lessons YOU continue to practice and apply in your life. Maybe some that you’ve previously forgotten that you need to reimplement? Maybe some that you’ve been using that need to be tweaked for your current season?
The purpose of the discussions had on the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast are to promote conversation, encourage self reflection, and create a sense of community… and hopefully this episode does just that. Let me know your thoughts/feedback and don't forget to hit that subscribe button!
Thanks for listening, thanks for sharing, thanks for being here.
Rooting for you always, mama.
Linds
Charity Phillips- wife, mother, business owner, gardener, homeschooler, missionary, budding homesteader, Woman of God, community leader... you name it and this woman has DONE it yall! Despite having a resume that would make any accomplished woman take pause, Charity is one of the most humble and gracious people I know. She is steadfast in her values and confident in her call to serve.
What started with my genuine interest in gardening/homesteading/sustainable living practices, quickly turned into an insightful conversation about SO MUCH MORE! Charity drops some serious wisdom on faith, motherhood, marriage and juggling it all with grace and a sense of adventure! I left this conversation with my mind and my spirit refreshed and renewed and my hope is that you will too!
This is a long one but don't let the time stamp intimidate you mama- it's a discussion you won't want to miss! So put the babies to bed or take it in chunks if you must... but tune in and get ready to learn a thing or two from Mrs. Charity Phillips. You won't be disappointed!
Rooting for you always, mama...
Linds
Where my default parents at?! For the majority of you who know what I'm talking about and are raising your hands this episode is for YOU my friends (and for the likely 10% of you who don't know what I'm talking about, this episode is ALSO for you because honestly when it comes to this whole parenting game, the more you know... the better it goes!) Today's episode rips the bandaid off of this common parenting conundrum and the resentment, bitterness, and burnout that often inevitably follows.
We talk about real life scenarios in how default parenting can/often does play out in motherhood and ways to tackle this issue head-on with your partner- in a productive/non confrontational way! The goal of this podcast is to help level the parenting playing field and successfully delineate household/parenting tasks so that BOTH parents can better utilize their individual time throughout the day (because we know time is a precious commodity in parenthood, amiright?!)
It's time to put a HALT to default parenting yall! Tune in to learn how :)
Rooting for you always mama,
Linds
**As always, thank you for your continued support of the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast- you listens, comments, downloads, shares, subscriptions are ALL seen and ALL appreciated! Be sure to leave us a review and follow us on Instagram at @saltandlight21.
For those of you who have been following along, you've likely heard me mention my other day job (outside of being a full time mama!) as a nurse practitioner working in Oncology. Many people assume because of the nature of my patient population that my job is mostly sadness and end of life- and while that is present on some days, there is SO much more to it than that. I have been blessed with the privilege of walking alongside these people in the scariest moments of their life. Navigating a cancer diagnosis- no matter the outcome- often brings with it reflection and deep introspective thought... and because of that, I have learned SO MUCH from the patients I have served over these last 5 years of practice.
So while today's episode may sound morbid at first glance, I assure you it is far from that. These patients remind me daily what is REALLY important when life & death is on the line. We are going to walk through some of those most life changing lessons and perspective shifts I have learned thus far and how these lessons can then be applied in motherhood and in LIFE!
So reheat your coffee mama and settle in- it's about to get REAL deep REAL fast. These are the life hacks we ALL can use and the reminders we ALL need.
Here we go...
Rooting for you always mama,
Linds
**As always, thank you for your continued support of the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast- you listens, comments, downloads, shares, subscriptions are ALL seen and ALL appreciated! Be sure to leave us a review and follow us on Instagram at @saltandlight21.
We are joined today on the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast by my dear friend, Katie Hebert! Katie is a licensed clinical social worker, business owner, perinatal mental health advocate and fertility mama warrior! She gets candid with us today about her long road to motherhood and the ways her fertility journey has impacted her life, her marriage, her business and her motherhood as a whole.
Together we dive into the impact of mental health in motherhood and discuss openly the struggles that so many fertility mommas face. Whether you've navigated infertility personally or know someone who has... THIS is the conversation for you. Honest, personal, raw... you know, the kind of conversations we NEED to be having in motherhood, this chat is one you DON'T want to miss!
As always, thank you for your continued support of the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast- you listens, comments, downloads, shares, subscriptions are ALL seen and ALL appreciated! Be sure to leave us a review and follow us on Instagram at @saltandlight21.
To get connected with today's guest, Katie Hebert find her on Facebook/Instagram Katherine Hebert LCSW / @katherine_hebert_lcsw or follow her business page @bloomacadiana!
Rooting for you always, momma.
Linds
On today's episode we are going to talk a little about COMPARISON- but likely not the type that initially comes to mind. When I mention comparison, most people immediately assume I'm referring to external comparison- where we see an item someone has or a situation they are in (let's say on social media) and instantly desire said item/situation. We wonder, "Why is my life not as fun (easy, abundant, carefree, put together...) as hers is?" or "Why can't I have [insert item bringing a perceived immense amount of joy and contentment] when everyone else seems to have it!" And while this form of comparison is toxic and will immediately bring you into a mindset where you feel lesser than, lacking, etc. There is another form of comparison, often less widely discussed, that I feel is equally (if not MORE) toxic and insidious and that is INTERNAL comparison.
Internal comparison occurs when we compare our current version of ourselves or our current season of life with either a past or future version. "My life was so much more carefree before I had kids!" " I miss my pre-baby body!" " I can't wait until my children are older and can take care of themselves!" See where I'm going with this? It's a comparison trap we ALL find ourselves in - ESPECIALLY in the hard seasons of life, when it may be easier to focus on the past or the future than be in the present.
Today we will dive into common forms of this insidious, internal comparison and how they are working OVERTIME to keep us disconnected and steal our joy in motherhood. We talk through real life scenarios and discuss ways to actively combat this negative, self-deprecating mindset so that we can TAKE BACK OUR JOY!
My hope is that you leave this episode feeling a little less alone in your struggles and realize that SO MANY women are in the same boat and are learning to navigate through these same issues. We are all growing and striving to be better TOGETHER- because we were never meant to do motherhood alone my friend!
Rooting for you always, momma.
Linds
**As always, thank you for your continued support of the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast- your listens, comments, downloads, shares, subscriptions are ALL seen and ALL appreciated! Be sure to leave us a review and follow us on Instagram at @saltandlight21.
In a world overrun with different "Tips & Tricks", 10 Step Programs, Gimmicky quick-fixes, and never ending lists of "How To's & Hacks" it's hard not to get lost on the merry-go-round of information overload. Social media has become one of many double-edged swords in modern motherhood- giving women easy access to knowledge that can helpfully guide decisions and positively affect change while simultaneously serving as a trap- a black hole of sorts- where moms can quickly lose themselves in the pit of comparison and leave them feeling as if they aren't "measuring up" against the unattainable standard which surrounds them.
In today's episode we talk about some of these common pitfalls of motherhood - from the different rates at which our children achieve developmental milestones to the always elusive postpartum "bounce back" - and discuss ways to combat the negative mindset these "societal standards" inevitably bring in their wake.
My hope is that this episode serves to remind our listeners of the importance of not measuring individual "worth" - as a mother, as a wife, as a women- on the ever-changing and (likely) filtered versions of perfection swarming around us. Your WORTH should be defined by your heart, the love you share, your empathy, your willingness to learn, your selflessness, the relentlessness with which you fulfill your passions... (I could go on, but you get the idea!) So let's flip the script on motherhood and instead strive to be better today than we were yesterday, to give ourselves and our children grace, and to embrace this motherhood journey and the MANY lessons learned along the way.
Your best is ALWAYS enough- you're doing great, momma.
Rooting for you always, my friend.
Linds
Thanks again for tuning in to the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast! Please be sure to leave us a review and hit that "subscribe" button- we drop episodes weekly and wouldn't want you to miss out! Follow us on Instagram, at @saltandlight21 to check out all the behind the scenes fun happening between the episodes! Can't wait to connect my friend! See ya soon!
Today's episode was a fun one! I had the pleasure of having someone very close to me join me as our first guest... my husband, Brent! Yes, I borderline forced him, but hey he signed up for this- it's part of the marriage vows! (Ya know, "To have and to hold and to support your wife's podcast..." Pretty sure it's in the fine print somewhere yall...)
Brent is joining us today for an open and honest discussion about parenting, marriage, how parenting affects marriage and allllll the juicy stuff in between! We dive into lessons we have learned/are learning in this parenting journey so far, our "team mindset" in marriage and how we use it in the "tough" moments, Brent's childhood experience being raised by a single mother and how it has impacted his fatherhood so far... ok, I've got to stop, I'm giving too much away!
Having Brent on opened up another side of parenting that is not often discussed within the Salt & Light Community- a FATHER'S perspective - and he did not disappoint. This is an interview you won't want to miss! Tune in today for my discussion with Brent- it's a good one, and I can't want to have him (force him) back!
Rooting for you always, momma.
Linds
Welcome mama! This is PART TWO of our discussion of the impacts anxiety can take on our motherhood journey. If you tuned in last week you heard me talk a little about several "signs" of anxiety that I saw in my own perinatal/postpartum experience. We dove into each of these signs individually with the hope of educating women and shining a light of some common "red flag" symptoms of which to be aware.
So let's say you listened to Part ONE of this discussion and realized that you or someone close to you is likely struggling with some undiagnosed/uncontrolled anxiety issues as well... then today's episode is for YOU my friend! We are going to talk NEXT STEPS- and walk you through what to do once you've identified your struggles. I break down SIX practical/tangible tools that I use/have used in my day-to-day life to help me manage my anxiety (notice I said MANAGE, not CURE). These tools may not be for everyone and you may not agree with some of the tactics discussed... and that's OK. Feel free to cherry pick and adjust as needed/necessary- make them applicable for YOU and YOUR life! These tips are not a prescription to be followed systematically... they are merely a reference list to serve as guidance for those lost in the fog of mental illness and overwhelm.
Sometimes there is comfort and empowerment in realizing you are not the only one navigating through struggle and if these episodes on anxiety help even ONE PERSON realize that, then I have MORE than accomplished my goal.
As always, thank you for your continued support of the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast- your listens, comments, downloads, shares, subscriptions are ALL seen and ALL appreciated! Be sure to leave us a review and follow us on Instagram at @saltandlight21.
Rooting for you always, mama.
Linds
Well, I promised yall open, honest and vulnerable motherhood and we are definitely ripping off the band-aid with this episode here. Over the next two weeks we will be taking a deep dive into anxiety in motherhood- specifically MY journey with anxiety. However, while this is coming from a personal perspective, in talking to several moms over the last year I feel like a lot of the things discussed are pretty common for those women attempting to navigate their motherhood journeys while dealing with mental health struggles.
In part one of this anxiety series I'm going to be discussing 6 common signs of anxiety and how they each unfolded in my life during my transition into motherhood. We will look into detailed specifics of how each of these symptoms affected my day-to-day parenting, my confidence, my relationships and my experiences with my son.
My hope is to educate women on some of the signs of anxiety so that maybe they can then recognize them in themselves or in others and begin to take the necessary steps to affect change--- sooner than I did. I let my struggles with anxiety steal so much of the joy from my motherhood in those first few months, but if this episode can help even ONE of you work your way out of that darkness then that's the silver lining from my experience. The mental health struggles in motherhood are often hidden from those around us- out of feelings of fear, shame or failure- but dark feelings such as these only gain their strength in the darkness... so I guess it's about damn time we bring them in the light! So ready or not, here we go ladies!
As always, thank you for your continued support of the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast- your listens, downloads, shares, subscriptions are ALL seen and ALL appreciated! Be sure to leave us a review and follow us on Instagram at @saltandlight21.
Rooting for you always momma,
Linds
Well, I promised yall open, honest and vulnerable motherhood and we are definitely ripping off the band-aid with this episode here. Over the next two weeks we will be taking a deep dive into anxiety in motherhood- specifically MY journey with anxiety. However, while this is coming from a personal perspective, in talking to several moms over the last year I feel like a lot of the things discussed are pretty common for those women attempting to navigate their motherhood journeys while dealing with mental health struggles.
In part one of this anxiety series I'm going to be discussing 6 common signs of anxiety and how they each unfolded in my life during my transition into motherhood. We will look into detailed specifics of how each of these symptoms affected my day-to-day parenting, my confidence, my relationships and my experiences with my son.
My hope is to educate women on some of the signs of anxiety so that maybe they can then recognize them in themselves or in others and begin to take the necessary steps to affect change--- sooner than I did. I let my struggles with anxiety steal so much of the joy from my motherhood in those first few months, but if this episode can help even ONE of you work your way out of that darkness then that's the silver lining from my experience. The mental health struggles in motherhood are often hidden from those around us- out of feelings of fear, shame or failure- but dark feelings such as these only gain their strength in the darkness... so I guess it's about damn time we bring them in the light! So ready or not, here we go ladies!
As always, thank you for your continued support of the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast- your listens, downloads, shares, subscriptions are ALL seen and ALL appreciated! Be sure to leave us a review and follow us on Instagram at @saltandlight21.
Rooting for you always momma,
Linds
Hey friend! Lindsey Goodyear here! For those of you who don't know me, this episode will serve as a quick welcome and introduction. Some of you may have stumbled across this podcast during a late night breastfeeding session or as you struggle with your pregnancy insomnia... maybe you're in the fog of postpartum and were sent our way by a friend or ran across our social media pages in your desperate search to find community in motherhood... No matter the path that brought you here, let me be the first to say WELCOME to the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast! This is a no- judgment, come-as-you-are (spit up covered tee, yoga pants, messy-bun and all) kinda space. You BELONG here my friend and in case no one told you yet today, you are ROCKING this whole motherhood thing (even if it doesn't feel like it.)
This community was created to shine a raw, vulnerable, and shamelessly honest light on real motherhood, not that filtered version we see on social media. During our podcast chats we will be tackling the spiritual, physical, mental, and relational changes that accompany this motherhood journey. Why? Because no one else is! I'm all about normalizing the highs and the lows, the good and the bad, the breakdowns and the breakthroughs that we ALL experience. Because we were never meant to do motherhood alone.
Join us weekly on the Salt & Light Motherhood Podcast for thoughts, insights, and motivational motherhood moments as we navigate mom life and learn to balance it all together!