Christmas Reanimation

Summary

Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak

Episode: Christmas Reanimation
Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak

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Episode Overview

This festive episode marks a special holiday return for Kulap and SuChin, who gather to share their evolved philosophies on gift-giving, preparation for the Christmas season, and recommendations for thoughtful, unique presents. Their conversation is filled with humor, friendship, and candid reflections on both the joys and stresses of the holidays—sprinkled with notable tradition updates and sharp-witted banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Return for Holiday Cheer and Traditions

• The hosts return for this special holiday episode, emphasizing the personal delight they find in recording for Christmas, even if the regular show schedule is on pause.

  • “We text and we're like, we have to come back at least for Christmas. Not for anyone else, but just for me and you.” (00:39 – Kulap)

• Nostalgia for previous recurring guests and segments ("Santa Paul Sheer" and "Tree Time"), creating a sense of community and tradition.

  • “For me, tree time is like, my treat.” (01:03 – Kulap)

2. Philosophy of Gift-Giving and Holiday Preparation

• SuChin debuts her 2025 holiday philosophy, influenced by a recent trip to Italy and a desire to minimize stress and maximize enjoyment.
• This year’s mantra: Condensed, intentional shopping and reclaiming the joy of the season.
  • “Christmas shopping is going to happen in three days. Two days of whittling down... Once that list is down, I've got one day to buy every single gift for every single person, and then I’m done.” (12:07 – SuChin)
• Focus on savoring “tree time” and seasonal experiences, not letting shopping tasks encroach on joyful moments.
  • “Number one, most important thing, Enjoy it...I do not want to spend any more Christmas music time...taking away from all of that...In the end, the person getting it, it doesn't even fucking matter.” (13:29 – SuChin)

3. Decision Fatigue & Shopaholic Truths

• Honest confessions about the compulsion to shop, the overwhelming lists, and how compressing gift-buying into a short, focused window helps combat decision fatigue and guilt.
  • “So I just need to purchase it and be done. I can go back and forth on one person on my list for the entire season and it will drive me crazy.” (15:11 – SuChin)

4. Reanimation: The Thrill of Shopping

• SuChin’s “reanimation” story: Shopping (especially great deals or special sales) literally animates her and brings palpable excitement and energy to her life.
  • “I have never seen you this animated...when zombies come back to life, it's called reanimation.” (17:33 – SuChin and Kulap)

5. Sharing Seasonal Joy: The Instagram Vignettes

• Kulap agrees to share random, funny photos of Christmas décor from her home on Instagram, giving listeners daily doses of endorphin-inducing holiday spirit.
  • “You'll be going about your day and making dinner and then bing. You look, and it's two doves on a tree. And you say, God damn it, my day is better.” (07:46 – SuChin)

6. Parenting, Midlife, and Being Real

• Open, humorous reflections on aging, motherhood, and bodily mishaps in middle age—infusing intimate, relatable moments with laughter.
  • “45's the year when I'm like, oh. Oh...I'm changing my underwear at such a rapid rate.” (20:34 – Kulap)

7. Rediscovering Time for Self-Care

• By finishing shopping early, SuChin aims to reclaim time for rest, pampering, and solo enjoyment during the busy holidays.
  • “Me time. Yeah. What am I talking about? Facials, massages, dinner for one, matinee, movies. All of the things that I want to do that make me happy just by myself.” (22:02 – SuChin)

8. Combatting Consumerist Overload

• Candid acknowledgment of the tension between holiday consumerism and family values, with some partners and family members dismissing or resisting décor and gift traditions.
  • “Christmas could be an afterthought, where you have to constantly fight the tide of ‘I don't want more stuff.’” (09:58 – SuChin)

9. Gift Guide Bonanza: Personal Recommendations

Both hosts share detailed, handpicked gift ideas across categories and recipients:

Books

• Pick a Color by Suvan Kamtamavongsa – A poetic, beautifully written novel capturing the immigrant experience; short, powerful, and highly giftable. (24:07 – Kulap)

Fashion

• Yitai sweaters – Hand-embroidered, landscape-themed sweaters from a Pasadena-based small business; praised for quality and unique design. (25:56 – Kulap)

  • “These sweaters are stunning...endrophin dressing in such an elevated way.” (27:00 – SuChin)

• Catbird recycled gold jewelry – Thoughtful, delicate pieces that can be personalized with meaning. Kulap has previously gifted SuChin a special charm. (27:52 – Kulap)

Skincare

• AUNU Skincare with FDA-cleared Manuka Honey – Recently launched, clean, clinically backed; a unique, deeply moisturizing cream praised for efficacy and a luxurious texture.
  • “It is a consistency in a cream that I've never experienced...it looks like whipped honey.” (33:33 – SuChin)

Multi-Category Online Shopping

• Smallable.com – Chic, French-founded curation of gifts across ages and categories, from home goods to teen and baby gifts.
  • “So well curated and edited...brands I’ve never heard of, price points range really good from cheap to expensive.” (36:24 – SuChin)

Kid’s Gifts

• Super Smalls – Maximalist, feminine jewelry and accessories for little fashionistas. The "Time to Shine Dress Up Mega Trunk" is highlighted for playfulness and style.

  • “Let’s try to make it chic...there is not one single tacky item in this box.” (43:06 – SuChin)

• Fart Monster – A scented whoopee-cushion plush (bubblegum or pineapple scents) for hours of kiddie laughter.

  • “A plushie with a whoopee cushion inside...‘buttloads of fun’ and that's double T.” (45:48 – Kulap)

• Snoopy Portable First Light – Adorable, portable night-light to aid with toddler sleep routines. (48:44 – Kulap)

White Elephant & Stocking Stuffers

• Cute matching mugs (I love you / Good morning), clever bucket hats, and quirky hair accessories, each selected with humor and taste in mind. (38:38 – SuChin)

More Fashion & Accessories

• Abby Arad’s seasonal fashion drops – One staple item per season, vetted by a pro stylist (best hat, best barn jacket, best denim shirt). (53:23 – SuChin)

  • “Someone's already done the work and the thinking...These are just staple things that a fashion stylist who's been doing this for years is like, you know what should be in every person's closet?” (54:26 – SuChin)

• Damson Matter apron – An example of a gift that is both practical and elevated. (56:35 – SuChin)

• Tyla Jelly kitten heel thong sandal – Jelly heel with a twist, available in chic colors. (58:01 – SuChin)

• Fabric cord covers – Quirky, “hygge” touch for home décor or as a distinctive gift. (59:19 – SuChin)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Reanimation Metaphor:

  • “When zombies come back to life, it's called reanimation.” (17:45 – Kulap)
  • “I wish I could see what he saw through his eyes. And I was like, get out of my way. Get me every sock.” (17:56 – SuChin)

• Holiday Joy Sharing:

  • “You look, and it's two doves on a tree. And you say, God damn it, my day is better.” (07:46 – SuChin)

• Aging Commentary:

  • “I coughed too hard. I laughed. I'm changing my underwear at such a rapid rate.” (20:34 – Kulap)
  • “Wait till your teeth start falling out...the grim reaper comes for us all.” (21:08 – SuChin)

• On Parenting:

  • “The fact that you get anything done and I have help...Every parent should get an award because it's like...the ship's hitting the fan.” (19:25 – Kulap)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:10 – Show return and holiday intention
• 01:03 – Tree Time tradition; holiday joy
• 12:07 – SuChin’s three-day Christmas blitz shopping philosophy
• 15:01 – Decision fatigue and strategies for relief
• 17:33 – “Reanimation” story (shopping as life-force)
• 19:25 – Parenting confession & admiration
• 22:02 – Self-care and reclaiming time with earlier shopping
• 24:07 – Gift Guide: Books (Pick a Color)
• 25:56 – Gift Guide: Yitai sweaters & Catbird jewelry
• 31:32 – Skincare Gift: AUNU Manuka Honey cream
• 35:33 – Shopping resource: Smallable.com
• 40:25 – Kid’s Gifts: Super Smalls trunk
• 45:13 – Kid’s Gifts: Fart Monster plush
• 48:44 – Kid’s Gifts: Snoopy night-light
• 53:23 – Fashion: Abby Arad’s seasonal staples
• 56:35 – Gifts for adults: Aprons, jelly sandals, cord covers
• 61:37 – Christmas Village segment, SuChin’s new Sights & Sounds cake factory (detailed, comedic description)
• 73:04 – Show wrap-up and social media updates

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Tone and Style

The episode is warm, irreverent, and deeply personal: Two friends delighting in each other’s company, mucking around with the absurd and the practical alike, and offering real, lived-in advice. Laughter and digressions abound, but the tips and insights are sharp and actionable.

Listeners are drawn into the “auntie” circle, encouraged to embrace the season, savor traditions, and shop with intention (and joy).

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Stay Connected

• Follow on Instagram: @addtocartpod for daily holiday vignettes and product picks.
• Gift guide and episode links: On Instagram and the Add to Cart website.
• Special promises: Look for Instagram Lives, home and village tours (“Titties and Bitties”), and spontaneous content drops throughout the holiday season.

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Happiest holidays to all Carters! However you celebrate, we celebrate you. (73:04 – Kulap)

Transcript

[A]

Also with that fire boy.

[B]

Wait.

[A]

And we're back so soon from the last episode. Please enjoy this frequency, but do not get used to it. I'm your auntie.

[C]

That would be your mistake.

[B]

Cool off, Elisa.

[C]

And I'm your other auntie, Sujin Park.

[B]

Listen, we dusted off these mics. His tis tower teasing.

[A]

We dust it off ourselves.

[B]

We're like, both of us have not said one word about add to cart. I mean, we have, but, like, you know what I mean.

[A]

Not really.

[B]

We text and we're like, we have to come back at least for Christmas. Not for anyone else, but just for me and you.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And we know so many of you. Enjoy the ride.

[A]

I am. I sad to not have our regular programming, though. Sue, like our Santa Paul Sheer. Yeah.

[C]

The tree roundtable.

[A]

Tree time.

[B]

Tree time is.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

For me, tree time is like, my treat.

[A]

It's such a treat. It's my treat too.

[B]

Yeah, it's the treat.

[C]

But you guys, we have hours of treat time.

[A]

That's true.

[B]

If this is the first time you're hearing of treat time, I envy you.

[C]

I envy the journey you're about to take.

[B]

And then for those that have been with us in the beginning, you are.

[A]

You're already.

[C]

You've already done the re. Listen to all the tree times. And so you're.

[B]

You're prepped, you're. You're ready to pop.

[C]

And this is this episode.

[A]

It's true. All right, so we are going to. This is like our what to buy, right? Is that.

[B]

I think it's just. Yeah. I think it's our love language is gift giving.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so this is our approach to the gift giving season, whatever that is. Stuff that we love to buy, philosophies around it, timing, all of it.

[A]

All right, let's. Let's just dive in.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I think we need to start with your me. Yeah. Yeah. Because I feel like you've got something to say about philosophy.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

That I think will set the table and we'll go back and forth. By the way, you don't feel like you gotta, like, the bulk of it.

[B]

All right, so I'm just gonna give.

[C]

You my 2025 Christmas philosophy.

[A]

Oh, yes.

[B]

And this is from the point of view of.

[C]

I've just come back from Italy.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

So, you know, when you take a.

[C]

Trip this close to the holiday season, it sort of, like, jiggles the telescope a little bit.

[A]

Throws you off, you know?

[B]

Throws you off.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Cause as I was getting pictures of you putting up the tree, I'm like.

[C]

But I'M meeting prosciutto in bed. You know, like, where's my Christmas? Like, what's happening with Christmas? So.

[A]

But you were in the shops, though, Though.

[B]

I was in the shops. I was in the shops. And. And at times I was sprinkling in gift buying.

[A]

But, sue, can I just. This is gonna shock you.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

This year.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't think I'm going to traditions. I'm not going to the. I. I can't even pull the other place that I go to.

[B]

Aldi or Aldi.

[A]

Yes. Wait, no, not Aldi.

[C]

No. Aldi.

[A]

Aldi.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I. I don't.

[C]

Why? Are you not depressed?

[A]

No, I just. No, I'm not. Thank you for asking. And yes. No, I'm not. I don't. First of all, I have so much.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Part of the reason why I go this early is that the production that is involved. I know most people traditionally go up December 1st, not company included. Traditionally Suchin. But for me, I put all this up to only enjoy it for 25 days is actually. Doesn't make sense.

[C]

Listen, we were on a group chat in Italy. The thing that, like, for one second, I missed a step in my chomp, chomp, chomp, Pac man chomping was. We were in a group text with Lauren Lapkis, and someone said, there's only 39 days of Christmas music.

[A]

Of course it was me.

[B]

She said, I'm in a panic, right, Because I haven't listened to enough Christmas music yet. And you said, like the grim reaper that you are, bitch, we only have 39 days of Christmas music. And I. Mid step, I almost twisted my ankle like, it popped my breath. My diaphragm contracted at a beat. Every once in a while, I'll be thinking, and I'm like, fuck, son of Christmas music time.

[C]

You really set that damn table.

[B]

You brought down the headless axe.

[A]

I did a episode of Garbage World wherein, you know, Danielle. Danielle also is December 1st. And what Casey thought I was going to say was more of like, you know, more of like, I get it, we're different or whatever. And I'm thinking what I said and the tone that I said, and I didn't really realize it. I was like, well, if it's important to you.

[B]

She's like, it's important to me. I'm like, yeah, you're.

[C]

Well.

[B]

Well, if it's important to you. Because what I'm getting is. It's not. But that's okay. It's not important to you. Yeah.

[A]

You don't value.

But the crux of it Is is that I need this.

[C]

And.

[A]

And God damn it, guys. It's fucking Mary. It feels good. I just pulled my camera so she.

[B]

Could tilted it up to see the moose in her gold glistening lighted up glory. Every year I see that view and I know it's time.

[A]

But this year, Soochan, it's been about and I'm sorry that I inserted myself as you launch into your philosophy. I have put more of a focus on exterior. There are more lights up now there's a trio of deer lit up deer outside.

[B]

Wait, is that new? The trio of deer?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Wait, with the giant, didn't you. You got something else one year that was huge for outside.

[A]

You're talking about my two massive statue ornaments?

[C]

Yes. Yes.

[B]

I was like, I was like, is it a gift box? Is it an ornament? Yes.

[A]

No, they're ornaments. Oh, you are bigger than you think.

[B]

You are going theme park. You want the bus to stop.

[A]

It's not there yet. But it was an area that had been neglected.

[B]

It'd been neglected.

[A]

And so by the way, you're like phase one, phase two. What's phase three? What's phase four? Phase three involves those bulbs after Thanksgiving.

[C]

They go out.

[A]

They go out. The bulbs go up. Okay.

[C]

I love it.

[A]

I will take photos for everybody.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And I've got a cute little animal statue. It's like animal friends. I'll take a picture of it and you'll go cool up. Why? But I beg of you to think that my intention when I saw it and I unpacked it get a larger than you think of a deer holding a solar sort of lantern that will light up in its mouth with like a couple of other animal friends like beside it. And I look at that and go that's year round, baby.

[B]

Dare I make this promise here listening.

[C]

That every day from here on out I'm going to drop a photo on our Instagram of just one little thing in Coolb's house.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Because I say this because the absolute.

Joy that I get when you send me a fucking random pic of a.

[C]

Jolly little snowman with a pot belly.

[A]

Can I say something?

[B]

Two doves on a tree. I want people to enjoy this.

[A]

I can do that. If it's not about me having to cut and paste if I don't have to write a description. If it's just do a story.

[B]

No random. The way that I get it is the way that you should get it. And you meaning the audience is you'll be going about your day and making dinner and then bing. You look, and it's two doves on a tree. And you say, God damn it, my day is better if it's just about. Nope.

[A]

Vignettes, peaks. I don't have to think about it, Sue. I can do that.

[B]

No, I'm not even talking about a vignette. I'm talking about a photo askew. I can do that from your non writing hand. I'm happy to do that even for you because it brings me so much joy to get these random little pictures. Happy to do that. Fantastic, if you will. I think the true Carters right now. I mean, chills. And they make me laugh. Some of them are like, aw. Some of them just make me laugh so hard. And the thing is, is there's nobody.

[C]

In my life I can share this.

[B]

With other than you and a random.

[C]

Person I don't know that's listening to.

[B]

This is the only other person that I can't go to my kid and be like, the doves are up, guys. The doves are up. You know, I can't go to my crabby, non Christmas husband and say, look.

[A]

He'S the last person.

[B]

The snowman.

[A]

Look at his little belly, his naughty.

[B]

Little face that he's been up to no good.

[A]

He's holding a banner that says, mary, I can't.

[B]

Who do I. So I just have to. It just goes inside. So I just need to let some of that out.

[C]

But I'm saying just post Bing.

[B]

And it doesn't matter what time, it.

[C]

Doesn'T matter what it is. It doesn't even matter if it's lit. We all get it.

[B]

It's just that little endorphin hit of.

[C]

People who love this holiday season.

[A]

Okay, Done.

[C]

Great.

[A]

I actually. Okay, I'm excited, too.

[C]

Yeah, well, I'm excited to give that gift. That's my gift to you Carters.

[A]

Okay?

[C]

Because I get to enjoy that gift. And when she just sends me these.

[B]

Random fucking photos of some weird little thing in her house that's Christmas themed.

[C]

I get so happy because I know.

[B]

That the season is upon us. And if you live in a house.

[C]

Like I do, where Christmas could be an afterthought, where you have to constantly fight the tide.

Of.

[B]

This is a consumer holiday. I don't want more stuff. Christmas, you're going crazy constantly. And a lot of you are in.

[C]

That household with me.

[A]

I know.

[B]

It's just plastic junk. You already have that. How many more boxes are coming?

[A]

God, this is the only time I wish we did a video podcast. We're never going to do it, but that this is so funny. She's like punching towards the screen because.

[B]

You have to fight. You got to fight.

[C]

You got to fight.

[B]

You got to fight. And so when I get those, that's.

[C]

The only validation that I get. I mean, I'm doing this on my own out here.

[A]

You are. You are.

[C]

I'm doing this.

[B]

So anyway, for all those listeners, they're.

[C]

Going to get that, like.

[B]

Yes. Come on, just one more. You know what I mean? Just one more toot. Toot for the team.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Of one.

[A]

Anyway, okay, so I. Please tell me your philosophy.

[B]

So I came up with this philosophy.

[C]

And it's an approach to the holidays that I've had before, and it's just more of an extension of it. And this is what I'm gonna be doing this holiday. So all year long, you and I were shopaholics.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Let's just say it.

[A]

No.

[C]

Right?

[A]

No, let's call. Can we say a spade? A spade. Is that cool to say?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know.

[C]

Seems fine to me. Yeah.

[A]

And.

[B]

And you can keep your drugs, you can keep your tobacco, you can keep your drinks.

[C]

It's shopping. Yeah. Okay.

[B]

And so for me, I've got a list always going for this podcast for you and me. For me personally, even if the podcast doesn't exist, we're both doing.

[C]

Still having lists of things we want to buy, things we're into.

[B]

So all year long, this is happening. However, I've decided this year, Christmas shopping.

[C]

Is going to happen in three days.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Two days of whittling down. That's the most time consuming thing, is getting that list of 10,000 items down to just the nary few for the.

[C]

People that are on your list.

[B]

And is a lot of that time.

[C]

Being like, okay, this could be good.

[B]

For someone, and then suddenly you're clicking, click, click, click, click. Two hours later, you're like, oh, wait, what was I doing?

[A]

Because you started looking for your stuff.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I'm saying you get into a rabbit.

[B]

That's why you need 48 hours to.

[C]

Whittle down that list.

[B]

Some people who have more attention and maybe aren't shopaholics, you can do this probably in five hours.

[C]

Yeah. I'm being realistic. I need 48 hours because I start to wander. Yes. So I've got two days of whittling down that list. Once that list is down, I've got one day to buy every single gift for every single person, and then I'm done.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

As of. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, sorry. Go ahead.

[C]

I was gonna say as of this recording Right now. By the end of Saturday tomorrow.

[B]

I.

[C]

Will be done with all my Christmas shopping.

[A]

Okay, so this is a pre Thanksgiving finish.

[C]

Correct.

[A]

You're actually inspiring me.

[B]

Yeah. Let me tell you because we started off right and this is why you're.

[C]

Going to be on the same page. Number one, most important thing, Enjoy it. Yeah.

[B]

We just said. We just gave you the countdown. I do not want to spend any more Christmas music time. I do not want to spend any more setting up my village time. Taking away from all of that, taking.

[C]

Away from tree time for you, thinking about gifts, editing the gifts, when in.

[B]

The end the person getting it, it doesn't even fucking matter. Yeah, you could just get a candle and a chocolate and be done with it. But you and I, our brains don't work that way. They don't care. Just get the gift. They're going to be so psyched. Whatever you pick, you and I pick from our gift list. It's going to be amazing. Because we've been doing this all year long.

All year long, our entire life, our life, lifetime long. We've done our 10,000 hours, 10,000 hours many times over. Every year we do 10,000 hours. So what does that make us? Okay. And so there's that.

[C]

Right.

[B]

And so you have that time to enjoy. And I remember one year, maybe it was last year, maybe it was the first year that we did tree time. When you realize that, like, I need.

[C]

More time to sit in front of a tree and look at it.

[B]

Meaning we need more time to enjoy with our families. You know, I want to free up time for. Do I host one small thing this year?

[C]

I don't remember.

[A]

This is so wild.

[B]

I don't know. Probably tingling, probably not tingling. But what will happen if I free myself of this?

[C]

Yes. Right.

[B]

Okay. So that, number two is decision fatigue.

[C]

I've talked about it just in my life in general.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

It's too much.

[B]

So I just need to purchase it and be done. I can go back and forth on.

[C]

One person on my list for the entire season and it will drive me crazy. And I will do that if I don't have these guardrails.

[B]

So.

[C]

And then the final thing is that I realized being in Italy, blah, blah, blah. I mean, these shopping trips are just like. It's. It's my drug.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's just like. It's like dopamine. Dopamine.

[C]

Dopamine. 24. 7.

[B]

I mean, I have more energy, more good cheer. I mean, you've never seen a corpse.

[C]

Put on more human flesh than me on one of these trips.

[B]

And I think for me doing this.

[A]

It'S like the sandman. Death gets to be alive for one day every year. And that suits you in for this trip. Okay. She fully is, like, awakened and blood is pumping. She unshrivels.

[B]

I can cry.

[A]

Rehydrate the rehydrate.

[B]

I rehydrate. I rehydrate. In this season, shopping rehydrates me. I once went, okay, do you remember when Fred Spiegel closed the one?

[C]

Yes. Okay, right.

[A]

On Melrose.

[B]

I didn't.

[C]

On Melrose. I didn't know that Fred Siegel was closing. We always go. My two friends Ryan and Adam and I, we always go and eat brunch there at that restaurant. And one day I was in la. I don't remember when it was. And I was like, is Fred Siegel closing? And he was like, oh, yeah.

[B]

And I went into the store, which.

[C]

Looked like an empty warehouse, and it was 90 was something ridiculous, like 99% off sale. Wow. Like below wholesale.

[B]

Below the cost of goods.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Clearance fire.

[B]

Sale fire.

[C]

And there were a few things left in my size.

[B]

And my dear friend Adam, who has.

[C]

Been with me through many stages of my life, New York and back, who bought those damn mushrooms at the John Darien Target drop last year for me when I couldn't find them here, he turns to me and he's just like, deadpan. He's like, I have never seen you this animated.

And that.

[B]

When he said animated, he was truly.

[A]

He had never seen a reanimated body.

[B]

He had never seen a corpse come to life.

[A]

When we see when zombies come back to life, it's called reanimation.

[B]

He was scared.

[A]

Yeah. He knew true fear.

[B]

I wish I could see what he saw through his eyes.

[C]

And I was like, get out of my way.

[B]

Get me every sock. I mean, I bought so many gorgeous, all cotton. I still have them Japanese socks at.

[C]

This sale, 99% off.

[B]

I mean, dare me to fucking pull.

[C]

That out of one of my closets.

[B]

You know, Like, I just. This is where I get my hit. And so I've decided that doing this.

[C]

In this short amount of time with this intention, when I tell you I'm going to rip on that. That retail bong, I'm going to get it down to my toes. And I think that endorphin high of 24 hours of just being like. And especially for someone like me who puts it in cart and can for.

[B]

Years think about it and just be.

[C]

Like, check out, checkout, checkout. I think that is going to animate me. Through the end of the year.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So that's why I've done that.

[A]

This is a really.

[B]

Yeah, Think about it.

[C]

Ku.

[B]

You can do this very easily, and.

[C]

I think you would love it to be like, I've got one day. That's it. I'm buying every single gift today.

[A]

And with my schedule, it is actually the smartest, especially for you. This is the chin where things are. And I've been okay with, like, just letting things. I'm not going to be able to get to it.

[B]

This.

[A]

This is the year. And I. I've said this before to you, and I'm going to make apologies to all of my girlfriends who have. You have more than one child? A lot of my friends have three. The. The fact that you get anything done and I have help. It's like.

That I. This whole time you got shit done is incredible. And every mom should get an award. Every parent should get an award because it's like shippy hitting the fan. The other things. I just want to backtrack a little bit. I'm 45. This is the year that I'm not. I'm understanding for the first time why people get upper bluffs. God, at least if both my eyes were doing it were dropping at the a concurrent time and not the right. Really laying down hard. I'm like, wow. And what else is happening?

[B]

That's right, baby. You know, now you know salmon folds have come for you. They will come for all of you.

[A]

All of you, get ready to get ready for this. 45's the year when I'm like, oh. Oh.

[C]

What?

[A]

Soochin said, oh, I coughed too hard. I laughed. I'm changing my underwear.

At such a rapid rate.

[B]

Rapid rate. And then even sometimes my underwear, my fucking pants, I can't even tell you.

[A]

Yeah, we started this podcast. She would throw down these stats. She would talk about.

You because you were young, because you were 45 at the time when we started young.

[B]

Yeah, you were young.

[A]

And now I'm here and I'm like.

[B]

Oh, God, yeah, wait till your teeth start falling out. And everybody laughed.

[A]

Ha ha, ha ha.

[C]

Five years ago.

[B]

And everybody thought I was insane. And then the grim reaper comes for us all. That's right.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

You know, sometimes I change my underwear with such frequency, you're going to get to this point, I'm 50. And you're going to be like, wait, is this a new pair of underwear?

[C]

Who cares? Take it off.

[B]

So, I mean, for now, I don't even. I don't even count before I Thought it was funny.

[C]

And I counted. I.

[A]

Why I'm just shaking my head.

[C]

For whom.

[B]

Whom doth the bell toll?

[A]

Whom doth the bell toll? So what you're describing.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

This is pretty good.

[B]

Yeah. And guess what? So with that time back, I'm going to be.

[C]

Yes. Fun times with the family. Great. And two. Me time. Yeah. What am I talking about?

[B]

Yes, babe.

[C]

Facials, massages, dinner for one, matinee, movies. All of the things that I want to do that make me happy just by myself. That's what I'm going to do.

[B]

And the only way that I can free myself to do all these things.

[C]

Is to get this albatross from around my neck and let her go. Let her soar into the sky.

[A]

That's right.

[C]

And that's it.

[A]

Check it out.

[B]

And I'm going to combine it with another one.

[A]

What?

[C]

That broke my brain. I, I, I'm. And then it's going to slide straight into no buy.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because the, the shopaholic brain. You're like, okay, I'm not Christmas shopping.

[C]

But then I'm sales shopping. Yeah. Post holiday deal shopping.

[B]

And so you gotta just turn that spigot off.

[C]

It's gotta be dry.

[B]

So that's kind of where I'm at.

[C]

Because I've been so animated by this trip to Italy. I am in human form and thinking clearly.

Wow.

[A]

Well, okay.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

All right.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I love it.

[C]

All right, let's get to our list because you guys, you guys. 24 hours 20 minutes purchase.

[D]

Did you know you can opt out of winter with VRBO? Save up to 1500 dollars for booking a month long stay when thousands of sunny homes are waiting for you. Why subject yourself to the cold? Put the snow shovel down, put the parka back in the closet and don't you dare scrape another windshield. Slip into some flip flops. Consider a sunless tan and use the monthly stays filter to save up to fifteen hundred dollars. Book your warm getaway at vrbo.com.

[A]

Okay, so a book that you're receiving and most people are receiving for this holiday season is my friend Suvan Kamtamavongsa's first novel. It's called Pick a Color.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

It's on so many books list and she just won the Geller Award. She started and she, it remains a poet. So she doesn't, she doesn't waste words. This book comes in under, I believe it's like 192 pages.

That said the interior lives of.

Her characters are so rich. And so I'm gonna read just a Description of the book, please. To give you an idea, this is a quote from the book. I live in a world of Susans. I got name tags from everyone who works at this nail salon. And then everyone is printed. The.

The protagonist, Ning, is a retired boxer, but to the customers who visit her nail salon, she's just another worker named Susan. And on this summer's day, much like any other, the Susans buff and clip and polish and tweeze. They listen and smile and nod. But beneath the superficial veneer, Ning is a woman of rigorous intellect and profound complexity. A woman enthralled by the intricacy and rhythms of her work, but also haunted by the memories of paths not taken and opportunities lost. A woman navigating the complex power dynamics among her fellow Susans, whose greatest fears and desires lie just beneath the gossip they exchange. It's told over a single day. She's really good at the immigrant experience. It's very complex and it's a quick read. Add to cart. Add to cart.

Sue, this will be coming into Santa Barbara very soon.

[C]

Gobble it up.

[A]

Gobbling it up. Okay, so that's a book. And then I'm going to also say I haven't purchased these sweaters yet, but I'm interested in and I'm trying to think about who's the person to purchase it for this. Yitai is somebody who. It's a small business out of Pasadena.

[C]

Oh my God. I love these. 100% cotton.

[A]

Yes. Embroidery. Whoa.

[C]

Great price point. Anywhere from 128 or even 96 to 200.

[A]

And these are hand embroidered.

[C]

Oh my God.

[A]

I really want to call out the landscape style sweaters. They are fun, they are bright, they're beautiful. Like, sue, do you see the sakura embroidery sweater? Like, I just think they've got a lot of personality.

[C]

These sweaters are stunning. Wait, the great wall embroidered crew neck.

[B]

This is so good.

[C]

We're doing this because today is my last day of whittling down.

[A]

Right.

[C]

And so this could go on the list for someone.

[A]

Is there an LA person who would. Who is a fan of like the Griffith Park Observatory or the Santa Monica Pierce? But you have New York friends. I know there's some New York stuff in there too. Like, these are really cool. Interesting. This designer I saw on TikTok because they do a lot of videos about how they're basically ripped off by like Shein and like, you know, this is like the source material. So. But these prices are, I think for the work, pretty impressive.

[C]

The sakura embroidery, it's really Pretty.

[A]

Like there's a Central park one.

[C]

It's also like endorphin dressing in such an elevated way. Cause, you know, sometimes people do that and you're like, it's cute, but I don't know if you'll wear that again.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

It's kind of silly. This is. Yeah. Okay.

[A]

And the last thing before we jump to your stuff is just in general, recycled 14k gold jewelry from Catbird. Catbird is out of New York, but they have, like. They have a shop on Larchmont near. Near me. Um, I've gotten Sujin.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Presents from there.

[C]

Gorgeous book charm.

[A]

That's right. Her. She likes silver, so I got her silver that. They do a lot of collabs. The thing that I got for such in. Was a collab with the singer. I'm can't pull it right now. Lafayette Lafay.

[C]

Lafay. Okay. Yeah.

[A]

They have a lot of collabs with like, Jenny Slate or like, Claro. And then just great stuff, too. The thing that I think I'm going to get my friend is this gold ear cuff.

You don't need to have a piercing. It's adjustable. One size fits most. It's sold as singles. It's made in the Brooklyn studio. They do really nice fine and delicate pieces, and I think the price point's pretty great. And generally at this time, of course, there's a sale. So, you know, I think they. They do also a lot of fine and delicate charms. So you can get something that's worth something that, you know, you don't have to. You could get one charm for a friend, like a quality item, and not feel like you have to get, like, a bracelet filled with charms. But it still could have some meaning between the two of you. It could be like an inside joke or something that they really like. So definitely check out Catbird if you're not already aware of it.

[C]

So cute.

Okay. We're gonna go back and forth. Okay. So then.

[A]

Well, I. The thing that I want to request of you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In this blitz of yours is that historically you will find, like, the deals that feel like it was a mistake. Like, you will find deals that, like, somebody went rogue and, like. And I'm going to call out some things. Remember the Alex Mille jacket that I. That was from, like, a Santa Barbara store that was at such a discount that I ended up getting Scott.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

For. And he gets so many compliments. And it was at, like, this Alex Mill chore jacket before each or jackets were even a thing.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

For like. Oh, yeah.

[B]

It was like for that same store was.

[C]

Was doing a fire sale on Marnie bags.

[A]

There was a different store. You had you did Marnie bags. So you found. It was. So you had found like it was either Bergdorf. This was the other thing I was gonna bring up. It was like Bergdorf or something like that that had like Marnie bags for less than 100 bucks. So when these things come up for you, please send a link over.

[C]

Oh, yeah, obviously.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

The other. I read this thing in one of these newsletters that I thought was so interesting as I was thinking about this Christmas blitz philosophy that I've adopted was to do themes around gifts.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

So it could be a theme for the entire season. Like for a minute I kind of considered only Etsy gifts, but you could be a theme for a person. So for Kai, he's just really got into surfing, so all of his gifts will be surf themed.

[B]

So it could be like a personal thing, you know, so that's something to think about because I think the Etsy.

[C]

Thing is broad enough and big enough where I could possibly do that this year. But anyway. Okay, so the first thing I want.

[B]

To talk about is something I is a gift idea.

[C]

But it's also just something I wanted to tell you about because I've been really excited about this skincare launch. I think it's pronounced a new A U N U. And it was a friend of Carol's that a while ago had given her like pre production, like samples.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And we were testing them out. One of our like ajuma lunches.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And the thing about this product that.

[C]

I so excited about and it finally just launched, I think literally last week, just recently is they are exclusively using Manuka Honey. And Manuka Honey is kind of like a fake marketing term that a lot of people use, both in consuming it as a food as well as in products. But this company actually is using the only FDA cleared Manuka in the world. They work with a company in New Zealand that's been doing this for a long time called Comvita and they have the exclusive skincare like partnership. And so that's what's in this skincare line. And honey, if you don't know, it is incredible for your body, but for your skin because it's, it's super high in antioxidants, it's anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, and it's just naturally very moisturizing. It's a humectant. And so because we're both skincare junkies, like how do you kind of like for Me, like, cutting through all of, like, the marketing, scamming stuff and get to something that is really worth its value.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Is like, that's my. That's where I like, dig and dig and dig. And for a product like this to have that kind of clinical promise to it is, I think, incredible. And so if you wanted to just try or gift one thing, it would be this jar of cream. It's just. They only have one thing. It is a consistency in a cream that I've never experience. So it looks like whipped honey. Do you know what whipped honey looks like?

[A]

I do, yeah.

[B]

Yeah. It's like that creamy white, and it looks like that. And so when you scoop it up.

[C]

And you put it on your skin, it's almost like there's like a layer of, like, silicone or wax in the best way over your skin.

[B]

It's the weirdest feeling.

[C]

And I put it on at night and in the morning. How you know that a cream is working for you is in the morning, your skin is still hydrated. That's how you know something is working and something isn't. And this, I would say, is akin to like an. I never know the pronunciation. Augustine Spader.

[A]

Yeah. Which gotta say. Okay.

[C]

But I mean, I know people love it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I've tried stuff of theirs that.

[C]

I've loved and I've tried stuff there. I'm like, not for me, but this is akin to that in terms of, like, clinical. Like, this is really.

[A]

But you know what the difference is? Price point.

[C]

Price point. It will always be that for me. And so I just think that this skincare line that just launched is such an amazing gift either for yourself, someone with mature skin, someone with eczema. I mean, you know, there's like, nothing in it that could be irritating for sensitive skin. So I'm all about that. And I'm just super excited to share that with you in particular and also with our Carters.

[A]

You may get that for me, Soojin. For Christmas. You're cleared.

[B]

You cleared.

[A]

You're cleared to go.

[B]

I was just thinking that, like, you.

[C]

Know, get it for a bougie mom for their baby. Like slathering this baby's little tootsies and Manuka Honey cream. Ugh. I'm just saying.

It'S an endless list of people.

One other place. Cause what I'm trying to do is give you guys ideas where a lot can happen. Yeah. I've never heard ofsmallable.com, have you?

[A]

Okay. No.

[C]

Okay. Wait till you go into this site.

[A]

I'm turning it on right now.

[C]

I mean I'm turning it on right now. So no turning on is the right action here.

[B]

It's this woman. It's this chic French woman who started.

[C]

It in 2008 and she just started with like chic kids and baby stuff. And then it's now become. It has everything for grownups, for teenagers, for whatever.

[B]

And I put some links on here for especially difficult.

[C]

I find categories of GIFs that could be solved on this site. And so the site is extremely well curated and edited.

[A]

Oh my God.

[B]

Some of the stuff on there I've seen maybe, but most of this stuff.

[C]

I've brands I've never heard of.

[B]

Price points range really good from cheap to expensive.

[C]

I just feel like we're not doing Amazon, we're not doing Target. So like where are the sites I. E. Like quints or you know that.

[B]

You can get from home goods to.

[C]

Baby goods to luggage. Like where are those sites that have all those. And this is super edited and curated.

[B]

So like for, you know, maybe it's.

[C]

A mother in law that's like in her scarf season.

[B]

I left my scarf season behind just for now. You know, if you click on that, it was.

[C]

It's this beautiful black silk scarf with like this kind of elevated bow motif on it. 69 bucks. You know you're not gonna be mad.

[A]

At that, Soojin, you're clear to purchase that for me as.

[C]

I like this.

[B]

Because you've taken decision fatigue off my.

[C]

List and that's a gift back to me.

[A]

I. I, sue, am entering my scarf era. I was searching for myself the exact Hermes.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Scarf ring that I got you for me which is so much harder.

[C]

It's mine. Sorry. A more generous person would give it back to you, but that's not happening.

[A]

I would never ask that. But they're way more expensive and I'm scouring and of course. Okay, but just saying you're cleared.

[C]

Cleared.

[B]

Cleared for takeoff.

[C]

I like that. I like when we're on each other's lists. Cleared for takeoff. Another small little gift that the category.

[B]

For a teen boy.

[C]

Good luck. You know, and this is a hard one for me always with my son. Maybe your teen boy is a little fashion, you know, lover that loves basketball. I found the cutest little basketball motif. Bucket hat that.

[A]

I mean it's really cute. It's really cute.

[B]

Tre chic.

[A]

Very.

[C]

Okay, how much is that? $1 50. $50 bucks. White elephant. That's another one. I'm like, oh God, what do we get? What about matching mugs? Okay.

[A]

Handy Wait, wait, let me ask you something because I just had a white elephant. I don't buy for what elephant. I have all these like things that we were given.

[B]

Yeah, you do. But not.

[C]

Maybe not, you know.

[A]

Carter, thank you, thank you, thank you such. And thank you, thank you, thank you for that. Sorry. Sometimes I just think it's about me, you know, I was clearing you for things for me.

[B]

Always I get corrected. I say it correctly of others. Yep.

[C]

Mother Teresa, they call me.

[A]

Yes, you are saint.

[B]

The one mug says I love you.

[C]

And the other mug says good morning. How cute to get one or a pair.

[A]

22 bucks each. Very cute.

[B]

So anyway, so I just thought small.com.

[C]

Was like, again, if you're going to come on this journey with us and do a blitz Christmas, you could just get a lot done in one place.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. This is pretty great. Thank you for this. So, yeah, this is important stuff. Thank you. I will be scouring with a fire too.

[C]

It's so fun to go through this. I love any kind of site where you're just discovering new brands to just.

[B]

Fuel your own shopping habit.

[A]

Yeah, we're gonna. It's a one for you, one for me situation.

[C]

One for you, T. Can't wait.

[A]

Yeah, it's great. Because look, I've got to fill my list up for Scotty, so I mean, you know, he's got to be able to shop somewhere too.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

Which is my notes list clear for takeoff.

[C]

Scotty.

[A]

Okay, so now my category of things that I'm going to talk about is for Emerald Birdie Aukerman.

[C]

Love it.

[A]

Super Smalls. I think that's a pretty well known. You've got a maximalist fashionista child who likes jewels. I mean, I think that's the easiest way. She likes things that are bejeweled. Sparkle that, sparkle that.

[C]

Oh, she's gonna love this.

[A]

So, so cute. Super Smalls shows up in a lot of lists. I've purchased things for her from there before. At this time, of course there's sales. Sales on sales. One of the things that I have added to cart for her is this time to shine. Dress up. Megatrunk. She if I'm wearing heels and the shoes are by the door, girl be putting them on. I've said this on the podcast before. I had hoped that I could continue to dress her up as a Japanese grandfather in sort of.

[C]

Oh, that dream is so short lived.

[A]

In denims, in khakis, in whites and.

[B]

Navies, chore jackets, bucket hats.

Yeah. Going to the matcha farm now.

[A]

We are negotiating about, you know, can you not wear something pink today? What if we were to, you know, Sue, I am trying to push her into, like, you're Claudia from babysitter's club.

[B]

Like, that's like, that's.

[A]

That's what I'm like, wanting to like, okay, if we're doing this, it's like, quirky, you know, like. But at the end of the day, you buy what makes your kid happy, you know?

[C]

That's right.

[A]

I try to. In terms of her toys and what's left inside the home. I try. I try to mitigate the fuchsias, the pinks, and, you know. But then Auntie Casey buys her a big car that's pink. Oh, well, then that's. It gets to be a slippery slope. You know what I'm saying? Anyways, we buy what makes our kids happy. I'm going to get her this time to shine. Dress up Mega trunk that has two pairs of, like, play shoes.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And it's got a tiara. It's got these dress rehearsal gloves that are kind of lacy, but if you put them on, it makes it seem like you have rings on. You got some fairy gem makeup. It's a very femme.

[B]

No. And it's hyper femme, but hyper fashion.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, there's nothing tacky about one single item in this box.

[A]

Thank you for saying that.

[C]

No, there is not. I mean, listen, it's. This brand kind of is elevating that thing that we shy away from. Yes. The frilliness. And they're saying, listen, okay, moms, if they want it, let's at least make it chic.

[A]

Let's make it. Let's try to make it chic.

[C]

Let's try to make it actually fashionable so it doesn't hurt your eyes every day.

[A]

To that end, I'm also getting her. We'll have a link. The Chit Chat prime pearl snap clips. Soojin, how would you describe these hair clips? It's a set of five.

[B]

They're colored pearl.

[C]

Hair accessories, but, like.

[B]

In colors that are very fashionable.

[C]

They're not like, bright and garish. They're beautifully iridescent.

[A]

And I would say that they're oversized, so it's giving a bit of, like, pop. And if you scroll down to the little girl.

[C]

Oh, I didn't know how big they were.

[A]

Yeah, they're large. The little girl in a black and white checkered sweater. I mean, I'd wear them.

[C]

No, I was about to say. I was like, wait, if these are that big, how cute. How fashionista to Do a stack of these in, like, a monochrome. Like the white one. The white Beret. Beret.

[A]

It's just the scale.

[C]

Four. Yeah, it's the scale. They're really giant pearl. Wait, 24 bucks.

[A]

See, with the sale now, did I find that because I had free shipping.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Huh?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Babe, I am who I am.

[C]

Oh, wait, it's 30% off.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, so put that in. Put in your list.

[C]

The list. Put it to your list.

[A]

Some other things that I'm getting. You know, part of our research.

Is, you know, when other people put lists together. Yeah. Do I have to go through every one of the New Yorker strategist list? Yes.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And it's hard because it's a slog. Because their lists are like.

[B]

These are our working hours.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

This is when we put in the.

[C]

Time at the factory.

[A]

Because they're not. They're doing things, like 589 things that are.

[C]

And you gotta get through every single link.

[A]

And you're looking at those links and you're doing the Rolodex of who's in your list. So I found this next thing here.

[B]

This is.

[A]

There's no other way of putting it other than call it what the product is, which is Fart Monster.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

What is this? This is such a Our Bender family coded thing. What is it, though?

[A]

Oh, God, I totally forgot.

[C]

I mean, if we're not known for farts, then what else? Mama's in trouble. You know, she ain't cashing those checks.

[A]

Is a scented plush toy of a monster. But it's a whoopee cushion.

[B]

Oh, but it looks like a plushie.

[A]

Yeah, it's a plushie with a whoopee cushion inside.

[C]

And the tagline is, quote, unquote, buttloads of fun. And that's double T.

And that's double.

[A]

T. So randomly, I asked her, what do you want? And things that I could understand. You know, she was like, my monster. And then she said, snoopy. So I can. I can understand. Like, we can grasp on the things when we're talking about Snoopy and Woodstock or, like, Hundred Acre Wood stuff. But I was like, what? What do you mean by monster? Yeah, like, what? What? What are you talking. You know, it's like a pink monster.

[B]

All right, well, guess what?

[C]

Hey, my monster's gonna fart. She's gonna love this.

[A]

Talking about toots, we're still, you know, we're potty training. We still have accidents here and there. We're definitely not sleeping without a diaper yet.

[B]

So this is.

[A]

These are our conversations that we're having. Great. Let's do this. Let's. And it's available in a number of colors and scents. The one I'm getting is Squeaky, which is pink, and that's scented like bubblegum, but maybe you want windy. And that's pineapple scented.

This I found on the strategist.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[C]

These are the kind of deep cuts. These are different.

[B]

Yeah. You let the loser next to you.

[C]

Buy, you know, the socks and the box of crayons. I'm gonna bring a little plushie that is actually a fart toy that's going to put out pineapple scented farts. Go ahead. That's right. And drop that mic.

[A]

And that is going to be, whether you like it or not, hours of fun, hours of laughter.

[C]

I'll check in with you next time we sit down maybe in 2026 and see how this fart's going.

[A]

Well, here's the thing, is that because it's gonna bother Scott so much that any annoying that I will hit, I'll break through and have, like, second, third, fourth wins. Pun intended. The other day, she was being so annoying and, like, she was, like, screaming loud. And what I did was join in. And the way that his eyes like the harrumph. And I. All I simply said was like, this is your life. Like, I didn't help the situation. I only made it worse.

Shant be the last.

[B]

No, Shan. Shan't be the last.

[C]

May just be the tip of the iceberg.

[B]

He has no idea.

[A]

No idea.

[C]

No idea.

[A]

He don't know. He don't know. Okay, so for my last item, still with Emmy Sue. I've already done my moma. I've gone through all of them.

[C]

That's another site. That's another mega site that you don't have to think twice about. You can get your entire list on this site.

[A]

That's right. Um, I'm gonna get Emmy this Snoopy portable first light. We've been so, so lucky with her sleep. We've switched, and she's still in her crib, but it's in that transitional period where one side is open, open, and she can come and go. She's got the alarm timer that lights up yellow and green when she can get up, and that's good. The knobs to her door, we have, like, the childproof ones where she can't get out to. She can't go in her bathroom, and she can't go out into the hall. But there has been major resistance to going down lately. And I think this Might help. This turns on, it's portable, and then it fades down to after 15 minutes.

[C]

You take it into the crib with her.

[A]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna put it to the side of it.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

Got it too. Yeah. Like a little side table to crib. I think this will help. And it's super cute. You can get it large, but I'm gonna get the small one.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

It's only because she may want to.

[C]

Move it around and play with it. It's a good idea.

[A]

Yeah. So it's 35 right now. There's a sale. There's always a sale. I think that's almost redundant for me to say. Everything we're talking about probably is on sale.

[C]

I mean, right?

[A]

Don't you think?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[C]

I mean, I'm trying to see on my list if it's everything on my list so far could be on sale.

[A]

Oh, I want to vent a little bit. There was this, like, new to me site called Joanie, and it's English clothing store. And I. How I was became aware of it was because my friend Ricky Lindholm posted about it, and they were doing a collab with the amazing Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks, who. I'm not saying we have similar body types. She's so beautiful. But in that, like, she's got.

[B]

That.

[A]

She's got the boobs, and, you know, she's got the bod. So Christina Hendricks is somebody who, if I generally can wear silhouettes.

[C]

Interesting. Yeah.

[B]

Makes sense.

[A]

Oh, they're doing a collab. Oh, these are pretty cool prices. Not bad. Not bad. And then now they, like, they have, like, something almost up to, like, 70% sale. So I was like, hell, yeah. And Sue, I like, added to cart $300 worth of stuff at. And it was a lot of stuff. I was like. And of course, everything for me. Sorry. This is, like, everything for me.

[C]

Clear from the beginning.

[A]

Add to cart. Add to cart. Wow. What a great deal. Now, I did see, you know. Oh, yeah, like, tariffs it'll be, you know, But I just glossed over it. It wasn't until I got the email, like, confirming my order, the tariffs were, like, $200. Oh, it's not their fault. It's not their fault. You know, fault it is.

[C]

You know whose fault it is.

[A]

I had. I canceled the order, and they were cool about it, but, like, I was shocked. And I'm sure that's why they're doing that huge sale is they're trying to survive.

[C]

They're trying to survive. I mean, so many of These smaller brands, I mean, you keep hearing about it. I mean, it's just killing them. It's akin to. In terms of the retail industry, Covid. And I don't know the ins and outs of it because we're not in that business, but just the stories that I hear is that the effects of what is happening to retail, these small businesses will reverberate for years. It's not. Not like, okay, the tariffs are, you know, let's say, magically disappear. They're back on track. No, because that's not how supply chain works. I don't know exactly how that works either, but I just been hearing a lot about it. So to think that not only are these companies going to go under, but they probably will never be able to come back. That said, you returned it.

[A]

I mean.

[C]

I mean, what are you. You going to pay double?

[B]

That's.

[C]

No, Can't.

[A]

I can't.

[C]

No, I can't.

[A]

So.

[C]

So beware. Buyer beware.

[A]

Shopping locally, huh?

[C]

Turns out.

[A]

Turns out.

[C]

Turns out.

[A]

So good job. No, no, that's not one of my.

[C]

No.

[A]

Okay, Sue, I have to get it to your list for me, and then we're gonna do a village update before.

[C]

We get to that.

[B]

One more shout out.

[C]

I don't know if I know you follow Abby Arad stylist. If you guys don't. She was on our pod years ago, but she's quietly been doing some pretty fantastic stuff. And I just have to commend.

[B]

So she's a stylist that basically every.

[C]

Season will drop one thing that in her opinion as a fashion stylist is the best of that thing. And the thing that she drops will be in your wardrobe for a lifetime, but also is a staple.

[B]

So the first thing she dropped was.

[C]

A beach hat, which you and I both have and I have bought for so many people.

[A]

It's the best beach hat.

[C]

It's the best beach hat.

[B]

So it's like whatever she drops per season, it's the best X.

[C]

Okay, so now I don't know if.

[B]

You saw this, but she dropped a barn jacket.

[A]

I'm looking at it now. She dropped me so cute on you.

[B]

Denim shirt.

[A]

Oh.

[C]

Which I'm.

[B]

That was her last drop. So I just want you to be.

[C]

Aware that, like, someone's already done the work and the thinking. You don't have to do that. And wonder if the quality is going to be good, if the fit's going to be right. Wonder if, like, this person really needs this. Because they do. These are just staple things at a fashion stylist who's been doing this for.

[B]

Years is like, you know what is.

[C]

Should be in every person's closet. Xyz, Let me just make one version of that. Yeah, that is perfect.

[A]

The visor. Every woman you know would want this visor. Like it's great. It's the right size what Soochan's talking about.

[C]

It's like it's attention to detail. Yeah. She's so. Because she's focusing just on one thing a season. You can imagine the level of detail from the straps to the hardware to the material that goes into it. So I wanted to shout that out because I think that anything on that list for anyone that you're like, I don't know what to get, or for the person that has everything, et cetera, they may have a version of this, but it won't be this well made or this carefully thought out. Like they won't be mad that you're getting them another barn jacket if they have one that is this version of a barn shower.

[A]

Well, this is cropped too. It's really nice.

[C]

She kind of is thinking about like, okay, I'm thinking about your wardrobe as a whole. Like what is going to work for a lot of pieces and people and situations. And so I just was like really impressed with what she's doing.

[A]

I didn't know this was a good update too.

[C]

Yeah, it's a good update. So I mean I was like, we may not have time for this, but.

[B]

These are things that are on my.

[C]

List that once this 24 hours is done, I may get myself.

So they're just random things that I think are that I want and that could be great gifts. There's this brand damson matter. I don't know, is it Anthropologie? I have no idea what this brand is. I don't know if it's an in house brand or whatever. Now it's an apron and this one I'm talking about is a dark leopard apron.

[A]

Oh, it's so cute.

[C]

I have been looking for an apron.

[A]

Oh, I love it.

[C]

And because I cook so much and everything splatters, I'm a very messy cook. I'm a messy person in the kitchen. You guys all know that. And I'm constantly wiping things on my pants and getting grease spots. But an apron for some reason is one of those things that for some reason in my head I have a glitch about because I'm like, I'm only going to buy one and I'm never gonna buy another apron. Do you Know what I mean? Like, I don't want five aprons. Don't need five aprons.

[B]

And so I have been for the.

[C]

Past, like, eight months just looking at aprons.

[B]

By the way, aprons can be, like, $300.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I thought I would find one in Italy.

[C]

The one I found was, like, close to $300. It was like a denim, you know, with a little bit of leather. And I was like, oh, I love that. And then I came across this, and I'm like, this could be a nice.

[B]

Price point for me.

[C]

And it's funky enough, and I just want to buy one perfect apron.

I understand. Could be my perfect apron.

[B]

Speaking of sales, this one, I almost.

[C]

Didn'T make it because I thought I was going to get it for you, but I decided on something else. Cause to me, this is very you, but you may not have it.

[B]

Is from the site bets.

[C]

It's the Tyla Jelly kitten heel thong sandal.

[B]

It's on sale.

[C]

It was $129. It's on sale now for 77. I don't generally do. I don't have any thong. Anything. Anything between my toes.

[A]

This is what I know about you.

[C]

And I will always wear socks. So I don't know if I'm gonna get this, but there was something.

[B]

Yeah, what?

[A]

It seems like you shouldn't for the reasons that you said.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, I probably won't. But I still wanted to bring it up because I have seen a version.

[C]

Of this that looks like this. It's like.

[B]

What would you say? It's like a jelly thong with a tiny heel.

[A]

Kitten heel. Like, it's. Yes, it's a very.

[C]

She.

[A]

It's very demure, but also very demure.

[B]

I could see. See it. You in this in a little sundress.

[C]

You're going out to dinner.

[A]

That's true.

[C]

Capri.

[B]

You know, it's a walkable heel. It's waterproof. It's a little bit of a twist.

[A]

You're right.

[B]

On that thong heel that everybody's doing from, you know, the Row and Kate.

[C]

And all of that.

[B]

And so I just loved it.

[C]

And it's on sale. And the.

[A]

I think this is great. And many colors, Many colors.

[C]

But I love that chocolate espresso.

[B]

And the final thing, again, a random thing for me, I didn't know that.

[C]

You could get fabric covered like cord covers.

[B]

Do you have one of these?

[A]

I don't think that's my style, but I appreciate it, really, because there's some.

[B]

Version of this out there that I feel I'm always Trying to figure out.

[C]

What to do with these cords.

[B]

My house is wired.

[A]

You have a lot.

[B]

That's. This is the difference. I have a lot of cords because.

[C]

We don't have WI fi.

[B]

That's a big thing. But everything is plugged in. And so I'm always trying to think.

[C]

About, you know, how do I hide these cords?

[B]

And then I came across this site.

[C]

And I'm sure if you went to Etsy, there'd be a million.

[B]

But they're like.

[C]

Like a.

[B]

It's like a checkered plaid cord cover that you put, I guess, over your cord, and so your cord can be out, but it's still very cute. And you could, I'm sure, find a fabric that is very much in line.

[C]

With whatever your house is doing. So this may not be the style.

[B]

But I just thought I was like, oh, that's an interesting thing. Again, what is a gift for someone.

[C]

That they're like, huh. I would never buy this for myself.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then your hope is that they use it and they're like, I can't.

[C]

Believe that I never had something like this.

[B]

I'm always looking for a version of that.

[C]

And I think you're looking for that.

[B]

That fart toy is a little bit.

[C]

Like that for me.

[A]

Yeah. Yes.

[B]

Where you're like, it's a little bit left of center.

[C]

So. Yeah. Anyway, those were some random things that have been on my list. Cause I. As I was trying to figure out what to say on the site, this has just been on my random list of like, huh.

[A]

I think this is for your friend. I mean, I think maybe you're right, especially. Cause these are. It's very nice. And these are different types of plaids that are like your cottage core friend. I would say it's like a very.

[C]

Homey, very high higgy.

[A]

Yes. Yes.

[C]

You know, that cozy vibe. There could be someone in your life for that. I just think it's a very fun, quirky little thing. It's 35 bucks. I'm sure you could find a million of these on Etsy in a million different patterns.

[A]

No, it's a really good idea.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

We must. We must.

[C]

Okay, so we're ending on this.

[A]

What I want to say we're going to end on this. Is that in your, like, jet, like, stupor?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You touched down. Probably not. Probably not. 24 to 48 hours.

[C]

That's correct.

[A]

In that. The aforementioned text chain with Lauren Lapkis.

[C]

Yeah.

I dropped it, and I dropped it hard.

[B]

I said, pooh, you've been sending me for the Past two weeks, Christmas things.

[C]

And I've just been drooling and chomping at the bit. Watch this load come down the chute. And I just dropped it. I left it there. And it's coming today.

[A]

What is it? Suchin Pak.

[C]

It's my 2025 LeMax Christmas Village piece. Once a year, it's a beauty. I get a moving piece. I went through all the ones in Italy, and there was a holiday floor at this department store in Italy that had lamax villages because Italy knows how to do it. And so I looked at all of them and I'm only looking for the big ones. I'm looking for the ones that move.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay. It's called Sights and Sounds.

[A]

Sights and Sounds. So there are lemaxes that don't move.

[C]

Most of them don't. Oh, I did not know that most of them don't. Because you only know lemax through me.

[A]

Yep.

[C]

And if you're gonna go through me, you're gonna go through Sights and sounds.

[A]

Happy that. Understood now. Now I get it.

[C]

I looked and I looked and I considered, you know, twirling Christmas trees. I considered an elf making something. Again, not on theme. I'm. There's certain rules. Every Christmas village.

Participant has rules. We talked about this with Paul. My rule is that it's not Santa's workshop. It can't be elves and it can't be Santa. There's that whole category. It has to be grounded in realism.

And there has to be a sense of harmony and balance. Okay. Because when I first set up this village, I bought a lot of them at once to set up. And I really went hard on the rides. I got a lot of rides in my village. Okay. So I need to balance that. Last year, for instance, I didn't. Or I've one year. I don't remember last year. But it wasn't a sight and sound. Because, by the way, you could do a sight and sound. And then the rest is unlimited. You can buy as many little non moving pieces as you want. One year I bought non moving just a light up. I thought, you know what? Let me just ground this in realism. And I bought one. I think it was like a Christmas version of a natural history museum.

Like they were having their annual.

Gala.

And it was like a wreath around a T. Rex. Yeah.

[B]

In their sign or something like that.

[A]

That's really good.

[C]

And one year I bought because I was like, you know what I'm missing? I'm missing a sports thing. And I did and continues to be. I haven't Got this piece yet? So this could surpass it. My favorite piece in the entire village. And my kids and I, we spend. This is what I want to do more of. I want to set up the village earlier this year because I've got the shopping out of the way. And what I love to do is I love to turn it out and I love to sit with my kids and be like, which one is your favorite.

And why? And everybody says, okay, this is my favorite one, this one. And mine is, since I bought it, the Ski Chalet.

[A]

Well, there's a lot going on with that ski chalet.

[B]

There's a lot going on with it. And we're skiing family now, finally coming into our bender kingdom, continuing that tradition.

[C]

And so it just means a lot to me. I don't. This may beat it. So should I say what it is?

[A]

Well, yes, you should, but that's just if, you know, you're a new listener. The ski Chalet has like, there's a lift, there's a hot tub, there's. There's lots of things going on at the ski Chalet.

[C]

Yeah, there's a lot going on there. That's what sights and Sounds is. That's what you're putting the money down for. What you're putting the money down for is awesome animation.

Incredible story design. Stop.

[B]

Incredible story design, character development, a soundtrack.

And sometimes I wish they would leave this out, but it is part of the sights and sound is scripting. Those are the things I feel like.

[A]

How your friend Ryan felt about being animated when you were standing in the ashes of Fred Siegel. In the ashes.

[B]

99% sale. Haha. Joke, joke. Fred Siegel on you. You think I can't find one on your last day? You think I can't find something to buy here?

[A]

Ha ha.

[B]

Fred, joke's on you. Steal it out of your checking account. Don't dare me. So those are the five things that.

[C]

You'Re going to double down on if you're.

[B]

Listen, we come from a place of.

[C]

Privilege and we come from a place of deep sorrow.

[B]

And when those roads.

Meet on the.

[C]

Countryside, deep sorrow on the right and privilege on the left, what you get is sights and sounds.

So that's what you're going to get.

[B]

And this year, this piece is lemax45268.

[C]

Is the serial number.

[B]

I'm really milking this.

[C]

And what it is, is a Christmas cake factory.

[A]

Sold.

[B]

You're like, Christmas cake factory. What is that? Okay, you're going to have a twirling three tiered cake on top. You're going to have a baker's production line where two bakers in chef's hat are going to be putting the finishing.

[C]

Touches on the Christmas cake as it goes by on a conveyor belt.

[A]

Wow.

[C]

Okay, you're gonna get that.

[B]

And what are the Christmas cakes topped with? Yeah, two little. They could be strawberries, they could be cherries. You're gonna get a lit up Acme.

[C]

Oven where the Christmas pies, various flavors, by the way, pecan, apple, pumpkin, are being baked with a timer.

[B]

You're gonna get a baked fresh today stand where the retail person is going.

[C]

To be boxing up your Christmas pie or cake. Okay. Wow.

[B]

You're going to get a batter dispenser.

[C]

What is that? Sorry if I'm machine speaking too much, you know, because you may not be aware of all, all the heavy machinery that goes into a cake factory, but.

[B]

What this is is tubes of batter going through a pastry bag where the.

[C]

Batter has to be put into the actual mixing bowl and that has to.

[B]

Be squeezed out at a timely fashion in surgical precision order, grounded in realism. How do you have a cake? And what you're going to see is the tray coming in and out as the batter dispenser squeezes it. Okay.

[C]

What?

[B]

You're also going to get to your. Because if you haven't seen the cakes on top going through the conveyor belt, well, you're going to get a cake windmill.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

You're going to get a rotation of.

[C]

Cakes in a different perpendicular plane. Because you've seen it.

[A]

We're doing different angles. We're in space.

[C]

Right. And the final.

[B]

Let me just leave you with.

[C]

This is a giant and I'm talking maybe the size of in LeMax Village, like a giant truck size. Imagine a giant truck size bowl with.

[B]

Batter and then a mixer on top.

[C]

Mixing that batter in the oversized bowl. Why? Because it's marketing.

And that's how you're going to get everyone to the Christmas cake factory. What I'm missing is this is entrepreneurship in my village.

[A]

I thought we were pulling back from that in our lives.

[C]

No, in my village. In my village, I'm talking about balance. What is the thing? What is the.

The harmony that I need to create in this village for everyone to be happy here?

[A]

Okay.

[C]

And I looked at this, I gasped. And that's how you know, that's how you know it's gotta take my breath away. I've been through so many videos of sights and sounds and I considered a root beer factory.

[B]

You know, I was like, it's kind of Cool.

[C]

It's a little bit off, you know.

[B]

Root beer Christmas, you know, but a Christmas root beer float kind of sounds like a float.

[A]

Okay, okay. And that could be a new tradition. But you said. No, no.

[B]

When I saw this ton size batter.

[C]

Being mixed by an oversized KitchenAid mixer, I said, this person is in it to win it.

[A]

This is the P.T. barnum of cake factory owners spectacle.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

And to that marketing genius, I welcome.

[C]

Her into my home because it's only. It can only come from a female mind.

[B]

This level of detail mastery and tomfoolery.

[A]

I tip my hat to you.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And so she's coming.

[C]

I think she's coming today.

[A]

Imminently.

[C]

Imminently. And I will reveal it on perhaps an Instagram. Who knows?

[A]

I think. Who knows? Maybe these old bitties do an Instagram live where we.

[C]

Titties and Bitties.

[A]

Titties and Bitties is our Instagram live series. And we'll get, you know, we'll weave and we'll do again what I've always wanted, which is cribs. But with your village.

[B]

And we've done it before. I know we've done it and some of you love it.

[C]

And I only care about that some.

[A]

Yeah, well, we don't have the capacity to take in all that other stuff.

[C]

It's not enough seats at the table, but.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

But you just walk through it.

Audio.

[C]

Wise and if these titties and bitties are up for it, it will give your plump, juicy eyeballs a thrill.

[A]

Maybe that's why you sign up to.

[B]

Add to Cart World for silent emails.

[A]

Maybe that's that. Maybe.

[B]

Who knows?

[A]

Who knows?

[B]

You won't know until you sign up. And guess what? It costs you nothing.

[A]

Nothing. Nothing. And likely we won't do anything with it.

[B]

Yeah. So what's holding you back? You freak.

You freak.

[A]

Happiest holidays to all our Carters. However you celebrate, we celebrate you.

[B]

So go to that darn website that we had my brother throw up. Add to Cart for free.

[C]

Thank you. Shout out CM Pak.

[B]

Add to Cart World. Enter your email, get these updates that are sure to come. And how will you know otherwise?

But for sure we're going to get like holiday endorphin hits, like little mini hits all season long on our Instagram @atticartpod.

[C]

That we can promise.

[A]

Happy New Year.

[B]

We love you.

[C]

Bye.

[B]

Atikart is an auntie's unlimited production executive. Producers are Kulat Vlaisak and Sujin Pak. Tony Williams is our engineer. The music is by Wasabi and produced by LA Made it and oh Sofa. Familiar with additional music by APM Music. Be sure to check out all the items mentioned today on our Instagram at. Add to Cart Pod Follow Add to Cart wherever you get your podcasts.