Girlfriends (a Podcast For Catholic Women)

This week we are talking about the joy and peace to be found in being fully present in the HERE AND NOW. Mindfulness is kind of a buzzword these days, but what does it really mean? How can we practice being focused on the present moment when there is so much about the past that haunts us and so much about the future that causes us to worry? Well, Jesus reminded us, "Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." (Matthew 6:34) How can we do that, though? It's so hard sometimes. We share these three thoughts that can help: 1) STOP. Build breaks into your day and give yourself moments where you can just BE and know that it is enough. 2) Pay attention to your thoughts. Get in the habit of noticing when your thoughts leave the present moment and train yourself to keep reining them back in. 3) Pay attention to noise. What kind of "noise" do you allow in your life on a regular basis? TV, radio, social media, stress from news? Look for ways to insert more quiet

The holidays are such hard time of year for anyone who wants to stay healthy, eat well, and exercise on a regular basis. The change in routine plus the abundance of "unhealthy" options of eating add up to a difficult challenge for most of us. But I am here to help, with some simple ideas for ways that can help you stay on track (at least a little) during this busy, indulgent time of year. In this week's show, I share thoughts about the following: 1) It’s not all or nothing. You can say no sometimes. 2) Eat a salad a day. One easy way to balance your eating during the season. 3) Work out in the morning. Get it done! 4) Plan ahead to have healthy options at the ready. Have single-portion healthy options for meals and snacks ready to go. 5) Go on a winter walk. A great way to connect with family and friends! 6) Drink your water. Water is a necessity, especially during this dry season. We also talked about the Advent Prayer Retreat offered by Pray More Novenas. Go here to find out more about it and join me in pra

How can we add more joy to our days, especially as we gear up for Christmas and life gets busy and stressful? This week I am sharing 14 small ideas for ways you can be more joyful every day and bring joy to others in your life. What are your ideas? Please share them! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

What does it mean to have a heart like Mary? In this week's shorter episode, we reflect on Luke 2:15-20, and we talk about how to have a heart like Mary, keeping things and reflecting on them in our hearts this holiday season. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you ready for Advent? Are you dreading the busyness and stress in the weeks ahead? Have no fear! This week, our special guest, Sterling Jaquith, is sharing some encouragement and support to help us all face the holiday season with joy instead of trepidation. You will love Sterling's down-to-earth wisdom and advice for getting through Christmastime without losing your mind. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

6 Things that are Keeping You from Accomplishing Your Goals #095 by Ascension Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

When life sends suffering your way, do you remember to "offer it up"? This is phrase many of us grew hearing our moms say to us, but what is the Catholic idea of "offering it up"? Do our sacrifices really have value? For ourselves? For our family and friends? For souls who might be in purgatory? What exactly IS redemptive suffering and in what ways can it help us to grow in gratitude, gain spiritual insights, and grow closer to God? Also this week I share feedback from listeners Jennie, Tanya, Sam, and David. Send me your thoughts about this week's topic and I will share them in our next episode! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you want to improve your marriage? The number one thing you can do today to improve your marriage is focus on communicating better with your spouse. This week, I'm sharing six tips for improving communication in your marriage. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are talking with writer and speaker Mary Lenaberg. Mary shares the beautiful story of caring for her disabled daughter for twenty-two years, and then after losing her daughter, carrying on her daughter's legacy through the work God has called her to fulfill. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you ever find yourself despairing of ever having a meaningful prayer life? This week we are sharing about ways to "pray all day" and become more aware of God's presence in your life, even if you are a very busy and distracted person. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am talking with author Emily Jaminet, who together with her friend Michele Faehnle wrote The Friendship Project: The Catholic Woman's Guide to Making and Keeping Fabulous, Faith-Filled Friends. Emily shares beautifully about the struggles of making and keeping friends, but also the importance of spiritual friendships among women. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you long for a simpler way of living? Many of us have a restless sense in our hearts that life could be simpler and we could be happier, but how? This week, I’m offering seven ideas for ways to simplify even a very busy and complicated life. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you trust in Jesus? It's so hard sometimes, isn't it? In this week's episode, I share five tips to help you put your life in Christ's hands and entrust yourself to his love. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week, I start by giving you my Hurricane Irma update and recounting several moments of bursting into tears over the weekend. Good times! Then, I share my recent conversation with the awesome Maria Dunlap, founder and executive director of Vivian's Victory, a nonprofit that supports families as children are helped and healed. Maria and her husband Rod saw the need of families during long hospital stays with their children after they experienced a 59 day stay with their first daughter Vivian. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

How do you begin your day? With peaceful prayer and journaling time? Or in a mad frenzy to get everyone dressed, fed, and out the door? How we start our days can set us up for failure or success, regardless of our life circumstances. Putting some thought into our morning routines can make a lot of sense, so I have five ideas that might help you better start your days. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

What does it mean to "Keep holy the Sabbath"? What does that look like in real family life? This week I am sharing some thoughts and encouraging you to share your ideas for setting Sundays apart as a day of rest and worship. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

We all want to know how to raise Catholic kids who will keep their faith and make it their own, but is there a magic formula to share? NOPE. The good news, though, is that there are some things we can do as families to encourage our kids in their faith lives and increase the likelihood that they will keep their Catholic faith well into their adult years. I talk about some of these in this week's show. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

What is a Catholic feminist? Is that even a thing? We are talking this week with Claire Swinarski, host of The Catholic Feminist Podcast. Claire shares her journey toward fully embracing her Catholic faith while holding onto certain feminist ideals. She talks about the struggle of sometimes feeling caught between the two worlds of feminism and faith. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

We all know the drill about how important it is to "MAKE" time for yourself, or worse yet, "CARVE OUT" some time for yourself as a mom, but let's be honest. It just doesn't always happen. Life gets in the way. And sometimes, we are our own worst enemies when it comes to finding to time to care for ourselves. This week, I'm sharing 4 different obstacles many of us face when it comes to finding time for our own pursuits, and some responses we can have to them. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

If work stress, job loss or some other challenge has your man down these days, you as his wife – the one he looks to most for love and affirmation – are in a unique position to help him feel like a hero again. This week we're sharing some practical ways wives can build up their husbands during difficult times. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe