I look at a photo of myself taken recently at a wedding. I’m wearing cherry red lipstick and the last …
The Mudroom: When Other People Think Your Kids Are Apples
The Mudroom asked me to write about parenting kids with special needs and as I approached the article, I kept thinking …
Lighten Up #48: Halloweenie Fun
Today in honor of my favorite holiday, my friend Kendall Ashley and I talk about our favorite Halloween costumes from …
40 Things I’ve Learned in 40 Years
Well, no matter what I do to try to slow time, it’s happening. I’m turning 40. We can kid ourselves …
Lighten Up #47: This Is 40
Here’s a special “this is 40” episode of Lighten Up. That’s right, I’m turning 40 this week and can’t think of …
Lighten Up #46: Shauna Shanks
Today I’m talking with Shauna Shanks about receiving the unexpected honor of “Ohio’s Exemplary Citizen.” No seriously, that’s a thing, and …
Lighten Up #45: Tricia Goyer
Today I’m talking with Tricia Goyer, author of more than SEVENTY BOOKS, including her newest, Walk It Out. She shares …
Lighten Up #44: Sharon Hodde Miller
Today I’m talking with Sharon Hodde Miller, author of Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not about You. …
Coffee+Crumbs: That Thing Where I Have a Teenager Now
“My friend uses a credit card to do cat eyes with her eyeliner,” she tells me as she’s getting ready …
Lighten Up #43: Shawn Smucker
Today I’m talking with Shawn Smucker, author of the new novel, The Day the Angels Fell. We cover Shawn’s Amish …
Lighten Up #42: Heather Avis
Today I’m talking with Heather Avis, author of The Lucky Few: Finding God’s Best in the Most Unlikely Places. We rank kids’ …
Lighten Up #41: Catherine McNiel
Today I’m talking with Catherine McNiel, author of Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline. We talk …
Lighten Up #40: Sarah Bragg
Today I’m talking with one of my favorite podcasters, Sarah Bragg, of Surviving Sarah. We unpack her extreme deer fear, …
Lighten Up #39: KariAnne Wood
Today I’m talking with KariAnne Wood, the DIY expert behind the award-winning lifestyle blog, Thistlewood Farms, and the author of So …
Lighten Up #38: Jeannie Cunnion
Welcome to Episode 38 of Lighten Up with Melanie Dale! That’s me. Today I’m talking with my good friend Jeannie …
Lighten Up #37: Lisa Lloyd
Today I’m talking with Lisa Lloyd, a professional actress and author of Chasing Famous: Living the Life You’ve Always Auditioned …
The Problem Is Ours
So many times now I’ve sat in front of my little personal blog and tried to organize thoughts about current …
Lighten Up #36: Leslie Klipsch
Well, my kids are back to school this week so as I’m thinking about school and kids and motherhood, I …
Coffee+Crumbs: Family “Vacation”
My husband and I recently took our three kids on a family “vacation” to Washington, D.C., where our son was …
Lighten Up #35: Kari Sowers
This week on Lighten Up I talk with Kari Sowers, owner of Manifest Collab and the Manifest Collab+Create Podcast. We …
Episode #34: Summer Reading
Courtney Westlake and I talk about traveling with kids, going to Disney, public restrooms, her experience with Whole 30, and …
Episode #33: Swimsuit Edition
Today as we continue our HOT DANG IT’S SUMMER! series, author Courtney DeFeo and I talk about pool etiquette and …
Episode #32: Most Embarrassing Moments…in Church
We’re cruising along in our Hot Dang It’s Summer! series over on Lighten Up, and I’m having a blast bringing …
Lighten Up #31: Surviving Summer
This week on Lighten Up, I talk with Logan Wolfram, author of Curious Faith and host of the Allume Conference, about …