Episodit

  • "Bangarang!” is the battle cry of the Lost Boys in Hook as they take part in the most extraordinary food fight in cinematic history. It’s this very scene that inspired my kids to suggest a messy, sticky, ooey-gooey kick off to summer break.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 53] as Abbi relays the tips, tricks, and experience her kids had as they squirted, threw, and flung all sorts of food.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, baby showers, girls’ nights
so many occasions to celebrate. But how do we do it “right”
and what does that even mean?!

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 52] as Abbi shares the experiences she’s had and how celebrating has evolved over the past decade.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Woodland Themed 1st Birthday (Part 1 & Part 2)

    Construction Site Themed 2nd Birthday (Details post & Party pics by Abi Ruth)

    Baby Girl’s 1st Birthday

    Monster Artist Party

    ******

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Puuttuva jakso?

    Paina tästä ja päivitä feedi.

  • Community is one of the most rewarding aspects of life of Earth. So
when is the last time you intentionally had conversations to get to know your people better? How often do you sit with them, give them your full attention, and ask questions that give you a glimpse into their thoughts and passions? If you are longing to create a deeper sense of unity in your relationships, this event is one you can tailor to suit your needs.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 51] as Abbi outlines the why and how behind planning a Relationship Relay of your own.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Table number holders

    Name Tags

    Service Bell; Megaphone Bullhorn :)

    Relationship Relay questions printable

    ******

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Even when your schedule is crazy-busy, you need some simple routines and tools that help you feel like yourself: Music. Self-care. Spiritual enrichment. Goal tending. Mental stimulation. Treats.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 50] as Abbi shares some of the items in her life that are keeping her going during a season of going-going-going.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    AWANA Clubs

    Tyndale NLT Inspire Bible

    “100 Days of Bible Promises”

    Duolingo

    Energy Fizz Sticks

    EO rollers for DIY moisturizer

    Little Voice on Apple TV+

    Ally Banking

    Little Polka Dot

    Adsumudi

    Prime Climb

    ******

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Happy THREE YEARS, my darlings! It has been such a fun experience to produce this podcast and to have you listen along! Thank you for being the reason I do what I do here on the podcast.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 49] as Abbi looks back on some of her favorite segments from the show as well as submissions from listeners relating their favorite aha moments or how creativity manifests itself in their lives.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Find my friend and fellow Podcast producer, Rachael Jamison, here.

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Many times in life, circumstances turn out just fine and we breathe a sigh of relief. But what do you do when the means to the end were less than fulfilling? Should we just brush it off and be thankful things didn’t end up any worse?

    We have cliches like, “All’s well that ends well,” but that thinking can be dangerous if it causes us to stuff down our feelings about the journey. Does it have to be either/or? Can’t it be both/and? Let’s find out together.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 48] as Abbi explores the process of reflecting on disappointment and how asking ourselves some hard questions can help us appreciate both the journey and the outcome.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Download the “Unpacking Disappointment” printable here.

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • When the weather causes power outages, or screen time is cut short because the parents are fed up with the sour attitudes caused by too much zoning out, what’s a kid to do? Well
anything! In fact, it’s quite possible that when a child (or really, a person of any age) is “bored,” this is also when they have the highest likelihood of coming up with amazing ideas.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 47] as Abbi considers the value in boredom and shares a game her kids created that you can play at home, too.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Jumbo Foam Dice (set of 2) (you can also sometimes find these at party or toy stores)

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • No matter what age or stage of life you are, it’s natural to occasionally ask yourself questions such as, “Is this all there is to life?”, “Am I the person I truly want to be?”, “Am I content, or does it feel like something is missing?”

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 46] as Abbi shares some thoughts on assessing where we are in life and how to work toward becoming who God is calling us to be.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • We first heard about the Coronavirus in China months ago and thought it wouldn't apply to us here in the U.S. Fast forward several weeks, and all across America, people are following “Safe at Home” and Social Distancing guidelines to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

    Our daily lives have been flipped upside down by this worldwide pandemic. We are anxious. We are overwhelmed. We are not in control. But we can still create rhythms that help us not only survive but thrive.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 45] as Abbi talks about our collective loss of normalcy and how to regain some semblance of routine during this unprecedented time.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Great Homeschool Conventions

    Outschool

    Time Capsule Tips [Episode #45]

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • It’s no secret that life is busy, and we all do our best to keep our respective plates spinning. But more often than not, it’s wise to take a break before you feel broken.

    The struggle lies is learning how to find rejuvenation when the schedule is packed full or the budget is maxed out or there’s no babysitter in sight.

    Listen in to Creative Mama [Episode 44] as Abbi shares some simple ways to find rest on a regular basis and tips for making it happen in a way that doesn’t feel like one more obligation.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Great Homeschool Conventions

    Sarah Mackenzie, author of Teaching from Rest and The Read-Aloud Family; mastermind behind the Read-Aloud Revival blog and podcast

    Steve Demme, founder of Demme Learning and creator of Math-U-See curriculum

    Pam Barnhill, host of Your Morning Basket podcast

    My favorite meditation track for relaxation

    Full episodes of This Is Us

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • He dreams of the day he can advance in his career. They long for a baby to add to their family. She takes lessons and trains and counts down the days until her first performance. And the closer each of these dreams get to becoming reality, the more terrifying they seem.

    Perhaps you can relate. Maybe there’s something you’ve wanted for ages, and now the opportunity is here. How do you feel? Anxious? Intimidated? Unsure? Turns out, those are all very normal feelings, even in the face of something you deeply desire.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 43] as Abbi opens up about her latest dream-turned-reality, and how examining the fear that lies beneath the surface of our dreams can actually empower us to overcome it and live the lives we’ve always wanted.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Life is fleeting. Tomorrow is not promised. The days are long, but the years are short. We all know these old adages about time, but few of us feel the weight of them in our day-to-day lives. Often times, we don’t appreciate the brevity of life until we experience the loss of a loved one or a life-altering event like a terminal illness or serious accident.

    Then again, sometimes we stumble across ideas that cause us to reflect on the preciousness of life. If we’ll only apply the new ways of thinking and ponder the questions they stir inside of us, this perspective-shift can help us be more purposeful and passion-filled in our daily endeavors.

    Let’s spend some time together unpacking the mystery of time and what it means for us as human beings, shall we? Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 42] as Abbi shares about a work of fiction that’s affected her real life.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Scythe by Neal Shusterman

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that has the potential to feel overly commercialized
the generic cards, the oversized stuffed animals that are obnoxious clutter after a single day, the chocolate-covered nougat that gets thrown away once you bite into it and realize it’s not caramel. What’s the point?!

    Maybe the value of Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with what you can buy, and everything to do with what you can say. The people in your life need your love and your affirmation, regardless of the date on the calendar.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 41] as Abbi suggests several easy and inexpensive ways to show love and appreciation to the people in your life.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Creative Mama [Episode 4]: Favorite Things Party

    My favorite dry erase markers

    Goodie Bag ideas: stickers, LEGO mini figures, Pokemon cards, scrunchies, colored pencils, markers, crayons, ear buds, patterned socks, nail polish, jerky

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Sometimes making resolutions for the new year just sets us up for failure, amiright? Why not choose a different approach this time and select a single word or a phrase to focus on as you pursue personal growth?

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 40] as Abbi shares her One Word for 2020 and shows how the meaning behind it may also impact your life, no matter what you’re personally focusing on this year.

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)

    Hobby Lobby Craft Stores

    Life.Church

    Creative Mama [Episode 22]: Sow to Grow

    My One Word site

    My One Word: Change Your Life With Just One Word book

    One Word That Will Change Your Life, Expanded Edition book

    To purchase custom hand-stamped bracelets or pendants, visit my shop here.

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage!

  • Between the schedule packed full of parties and pageants, the gifts you feel obligated to buy, cold and flu germs lurking around, and the tension of strained family relationships, this time of year often has a way of making us feel a bit frayed around the edges.

    But here’s the trick
feeling happy (or merry or jolly, or any of the other, more festive versions of ‘happy’) is often a result of spreading kindness. I know, I know, like you need ONE MORE THING on your to-do list. But acts of kindness don’t have to be complicated or cost a dime.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 39], where I share a handful of ideas on boosting spirits (yours and someone else’s) this holiday season.

    As always, I'd love to connect with you through my website or Instagram, or you can send an email to [email protected]

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Not finished with holiday shopping? For the same price you’d pay for your items anyway, you can support the Creative Mama Podcast by shopping through this link. Thanks for your patronage! Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store

  • If you’re human, I’m guessing you can remember at least one situation where you said what was on your mind and then immediately regretted it.

    Why is it so hard to keep our opinions to ourselves? Why do we think of most silences as ‘awkward’? How can we exercise the wisdom to bite our tongues?

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 38], where I discuss the value and importance of keeping our mouths shut and basking in the freedom of silence.

    As always, I'd love to connect with you through my website or Instagram, or you can send an email to [email protected]

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Episode 37: Just a Mom

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store

  • Motherhood is so rewarding. And HARD. And sweet. And overwhelming. And thankless. And full of joy and wonder and worry and laughter and tears. In short, motherhood is an opportunity to experience the fullness of life!

    When a new acquaintance asks, “What do you do?", do you find yourself replying, “Oh, I’m just a mom,” and then feeling a bit ashamed, as if mothering is not a worthwhile contribution to society? Well, you are wrong! Nurturing the next generation is one of the highest callings there is, and YOU are doing a great job.

    Join us for Creative Mama [Episode 37], where I share some insights and encouragement for those of us who know deep down we are so much more than “just” a mom.

    As always, I'd love to connect with you through my website or Instagram, or you can send an email to [email protected]

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    For more information about The Lift Event, email [email protected], attn: Robin Meadows

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store

  • Laundry. It’s never-ending. So many of us feel discouraged and overwhelmed when we glance in the laundry room and see the bottomless mountain of shirts, socks, and towels. We muster up the strength to crank out a few loads, only to turn around and find the pile has grown yet again.

    Even if laundry is a necessary evil, there are bound to be some ways we can make the process less daunting, right? The trick is finding a system that works for your unique circumstances.

    Listen in to Creative Mama [Episode 36], where I break down some simple steps to help laundry feel like less of a chore.

    As always, I'd love to connect with you through my website or Instagram, or you can send an email to [email protected]

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store

  • In a day and age where we can research any topic to death or compare our journey with strangers far and wide, it’s easy to take a simple desire or dream and muddy it up.

    Whether you are a homeschooling mom who covets all the Pinterest-perfect school rooms you see, or an entrepreneur looking to break into a new arena, we all struggle with feeling like we MUST. KNOW. MORE. before we can take the first step towards a goal.

    During Creative Mama [Episode 35], I offer up my thoughts and invite you to reflect on what it is you may be over-complicating. Yes, knowledge is power, but so is action!

    As always, I'd love to connect with you through my website or Instagram, or you can send an email to [email protected]

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    The Mystery of History curriculum by Linda Lacour Hobar

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store

  • The newborn and toddler years of our kids’ lives seem to both drag on foreverrrrrrr and fly by. One day we look up, and our baby is a preteen. How did we get here and are we preparing our kids (and our own hearts) for the next chapter?

    Join me for Creative Mama [Episode 34] as I share my thoughts regarding the process of letting go of control over our children, one park visit or sleep-away camp at a time.

    As always, I'd love to connect with you through my website or Instagram, or you can send an email to [email protected]

    With this episode, we’re wrapping up Season 3 of the show. I’ll be off for the next several weeks, but you can join me again on Monday, September 9th when we kick off Season 4!

    ***

    People, Places & Things in This Episode:

    Connect with Abbi on Instagram

    ZasinZebra.com, the home of Creative Mama and other pursuits

    Support the show by making a donation

    Shop on Amazon through our Affiliate store