Sisters-in-Law Spill: Postpartum Body Struggles, Worst Dates EVER & V-Day Gift Ideas

Summary

Always Here Podcast – Sisters-in-Law Spill: Postpartum Body Struggles, Worst Dates EVER & V-Day Gift Ideas (Feb 13, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this lively Valentine's Day special, sister-in-laws (and both named Abby Howard) take listeners through the real, sometimes funny, sometimes vulnerable ups and downs of relationships, motherhood, and marriage. This episode focuses on body image after childbirth, disastrous and hilarious date stories, and creative last-minute Valentine's Day date and gift ideas—all delivered with the duo's relatable warmth and trademark wit.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Postpartum Body Image: Real Talk & Validation

Segment begins: [13:00]

• Both Abbys share their honest experiences with body image challenges after having children.
• "I've just been really struggling with body image. And I hate to say that because even saying it out loud, I'm like, I feel so dumb saying that because I just had a baby four months ago."—Abby ([13:04])
• The duo reflect on the pressure to "bounce back" physically, noting how clothing can trigger insecurities.
• Normalizing both gratitude for what your body has done, and frustration with how it’s changed.
• Insights from Addy: No one judges another mom’s body the way we judge our own. "I'm like, also, I don't see you...I don't notice. I don't look at other women and be like, oh, she's postpartum." ([16:24])
• Importance of self-compassion and recognizing the value of voicing these feelings.

Memorable Quote:
"You can hold both. Like, I'm so grateful that my body grew and stretched and all these different things…But you can also be like, okay, I kind of miss my closet. I kinda miss my clothes." — Abby B. ([14:19])

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2. Funny & Embarrassing Worst Date Stories

Segment begins: [27:15]

Abby A's Valentine’s College Date Gone Awry ([28:23])

• Thought a $50 dinner special was for two—turned out it was per person.
• "We can’t afford this." – had to tell the waitress and leave, ending up at Chipotle instead.

Abby B's Michelin Star Mishap ([31:16])

• Unexpected five-course fine dining experience, not their style, slow service, food they didn't enjoy, and a surprise $600 bill.
• "We went in and out and then picked up Griffin, and we were just like...what was that?" ([36:12])

Tyreek Hill at Cheesecake Factory ([38:25])

• Abby A describes a date “ruined” by Caleb’s star-struck silence when seated next to NFL star Tyreek Hill. "Caleb didn’t speak a word to me that entire dinner. It was the worst date of all time." ([40:10])

The Comedy Show Fiasco ([42:35])

• Abby B took her husband to a comedy show, where he got called onstage for an embarrassing comedy game involving fart sounds and Blockbuster diarrhea. “Honestly, I feel like my brain is protecting me from this moment.” ([45:31])

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3. Heartfelt Reflections: Motherhood & Gratitude

Segment begins: [09:34]

• Abby B expresses gratitude for her current season of life: “I just love my life. I don’t know, I’ve just been thinking about this a lot recently...I enjoy the things that are happening.” ([09:34])
• Both Abbys emphasize communicating joy to their children about being a mom: “I want them to know that...I like enjoy being their mom.” ([10:36])
• Reflection on how affirming words shape children's self-image.

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4. Creative Valentine’s Date Night and Gift Ideas

Segment begins: [47:23]

Last-Minute/Low-Key Dates:

• Ballroom dance class (planned by Matt, Abby B’s husband): “It could be really fun...It’s memorable because you don’t do it often...It’s also, like, obviously connecting and not serious, so it’s fun and touch and...yeah.” ([49:38])
• Ice skating at the local rink: “It’s so romantic. You can get hot chocolate. You hold hands. If you’re a bad skater like me, your husband basically holds you up the whole time.” ([52:14])
• Art activities: Sip and paint, or blown glass at a local studio; hands-on, memorable, and different from the typical dinner.
• At-home themed movie night: Go all out—decor, themed food, and snacks. (“I made Slytherin soup for a Harry Potter marathon…” ([57:28]))
• Arcade dates: At Dave & Buster’s, Fat Cats, or Main Event for old-school fun and lighthearted competition. “I just want to do something, like, cheesy like that you see, like, in a romantic comedy.” ([60:29])
• Renting a dream car for a day on Turo—especially for “car guys,” paired with a city drive or photos.

Gift Ideas (by budget):

$ — Budget-Friendly

• Car wash subscription: “Honestly, I want that. Isn’t that a great gift idea? Men are so practical.” ([64:04])
• Conversation or intimacy decks (Amazon): “They’re great for date nights... good to actually spark conversation beyond kids and work.” ([65:30])

$$ — Mid-Range

• Personalized leather journal or wallet: “He’s used that for maybe eight years, and it just gets better looking over time.” ([67:05])
• Quality boxers like Tommy John’s
• “Adventure Challenge Book — Sexy Edition” ([65:52])

$$$ — Splurge

• Tickets to NBA/NHL games or planning a sports weekend trip, paired with team merchandise.

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5. Listener Call-ins & Q&A

Segment begins: [73:13]

• How to split up Valentine’s Day planning: “We take turns every year planning the date... it’s fun to, like, plan a date, but it’s also fun to, like, be surprised.” ([73:38])
• Sweet listener story: Google-searching “how to make spaghetti and meatballs fancy” for a college Valentine’s, now a tradition. ([74:51])
• Best travel recommendations: Nashville and Oregon Coast for US trips, Amalfi Coast (Italy) and Mexico/Croatia for international.
• Fun book-to-movie prompt: “If you could act in one of your favorite books adapted into a movie, which would it be?” Abby A picks The Nightingale; Abby B picks The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. ([80:06])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You can hold both—gratitude for what your body did and also, ‘well, here we are.’” — Abby B ([14:19])
• “Postpartum, ladies, if you’re putting your swimsuit on it for the first time: I see you, it’s hard. But... no one sees me. It’s just me.” — Addy ([16:24])
• “We were happy. We were revving up, as well... We stuck broccoli in there. We stuck nerd cluster in there.” (On making tongulu, a Chinese candied fruit dessert) — Abby B ([21:40])
• “You ex–you tried it.” — Abby A, on trying a $600 fine dining date ([37:18])
• “Honestly, I want that. Isn’t that a great gift idea? Men are so practical.” (on car wash subscriptions) — Abby A ([64:04])
• Listener’s charming date story: “[His] top Google search was, ‘how to make spaghetti and meatballs fancy’” ([74:51])

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Fun & Relatable Banter

• Discussion of regional language quirks and “replacement cuss words”
• Friendly teasing about their husbands’ quirks and shyness around celebrities ([41:49])
• Lighthearted countdowns to shopping trips—“Let’s go shopping, Sunday—put it on the calendar!” ([14:19])

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Timestamps of Major Segments

• [00:59] – First mention of postpartum struggles and body image
• [13:00] – In-depth postpartum body image discussion
• [27:15] – Worst date stories begin
• [47:23] – Date night and gift ideas for Valentine’s
• [73:13] – Listener Q&A and call-ins
• [84:13] – Book club announcement and last words

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Conclusion

This episode is a blend of encouragement, comic relief, and real sisterly support—offering solidarity for moms navigating body changes, plenty of laughs at awkward or failed romance, and thoughtful love-day ideas for all budgets. The Abbys keep it honest and warm, reminding listeners that life (and love) is about embracing the hope and the hard—with a little humor and creativity.

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How to Listen or Share

• Podcast: Always Here (Daylight Media)
• Episode Title: Sisters-in-Law Spill: Postpartum Body Struggles, Worst Dates EVER & V-Day Gift Ideas
• Hosts: Abby Howard and Abby Howard
• Release date: February 13, 2026

For listener call-ins and book club info, check podcast show notes.

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“Remember, we’re always here.” — The Abbys ([86:10])

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

I love him.

[B]

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same experience. The greatest love story of all time. Why did you leave me? Why did you betray your own heart? A film by Emerald Fennell Heathcliff Margot Robbie Jacob Elordi Kiss Me and let us both be damned Wuthering Heights Original.

[A]

Songs by Charlie XCX now playing only in theaters.

[B]

Experience at an IMAX rated R. Under 17 not admitted without parent.

[A]

I've just been really strugg body image saying it out loud. I'm like, I feel so dumb. I just had a baby four months ago. I remember feeling like, scared to put on, like, don't fit still.

[B]

Let's go shopping Sunday.

[A]

Really sexy too. A car wash subscription.

[C]

Honestly, I want that.

[A]

And they have their unlimited free vacuums and their unlimited air tire pressure pumper uppers. Yes.

[B]

Sign him up. I took Matt to a comedy show. The one that Matt got called up for was like being stuck in Blockbuster with diarrhea.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

And the whole thing has like fart sounds it out. Honestly, I feel like my brain is protecting me.

[A]

Welcome back to Always Here.

[B]

We're your hosts, Abby Howard. Howard. Abby Howard.

[A]

Yeah, we got it. Welcome back, sister.

[B]

Thanks. Glad to be here.

[A]

Glad to be here.

[B]

I keep coughing. It's because I did a cardio workout. And every time I do cardio, I can't stop coughing the rest of the day.

[A]

Why?

[B]

I have bad lungs.

[A]

I didn't know that. Yeah.

[B]

No, if I run, I'll cough the rest of the day.

[A]

Really? I thought it was just like a heart rate thing. Like, you got a heart of a rabbit.

[B]

Yeah, I do.

[A]

What's your heart rate at right now?

[B]

Over 100.

[A]

You're kidding.

[B]

You're kidding. Not kidding.

[A]

That's insane.

[B]

105.

[A]

What's your resting?

[B]

My average is 66.

[A]

That's your average resting heart rate?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. I think that's pretty good.

[C]

I think that's good.

[A]

I think mine's like 48.

[B]

Okay, runner girl. I mean, quit bragging.

[A]

Gosh, no, I'm not bragging. Let's just.

[B]

No I'm just kidding. I googled it one time and I was like, why is my heart rate so high? And then they're like, it's usually related to obesity.

[A]

Okay, perfect.

[C]

No problem. Okay, wait. A normal resting heart rate is between 60 to 1/ hundreds. Though highly trained athletes may have closer to 40.

[A]

Okay, let's not like fluff.

[B]

My Gabby's an athlete.

[A]

I'm gonna I don't know my name tag for the rest of my life.

[B]

I do have a theory that, that short girls do have higher heart rates. And it's literally just because my other friends that are short or shorter than me also have high heart rates.

[A]

Cuz the blood just flying through your body, it's like my doctor's like, maybe.

[B]

You'Re just like a little bunny. And I was like, that doesn't sound medical. I think she's trying to make me feel better.

[A]

Oh, I kind of like that.

[B]

They did. They did say they could refer me to a cardiologist.

[A]

Oh, you're like.

[B]

Well, the concerning point is if you feel faint when your heart rate gets up or it can't recover quickly, which that's never been a problem.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

I feel fine.

[A]

Yeah, you're good.

[B]

Just hacking a lot.

[A]

Just coughing constantly. Well, I wanted to give you your Christmas gift February 2nd.

[B]

Thank you. Not me. Last time. Being like you never gave me that gift.

[C]

I sold her out.

[A]

I did put it in the first bag that was on top so it says Baby Love.

[B]

Beautiful. I'm just impressed that you wrapped it.

[A]

Yeah, I honestly thought about it twice. So the backstory on this is that it's custom made. It's just like a little cute thing. But it's from Caleb and Matt's family friend Carly. She started a quilting business. You can open it.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Sorry. I'm giving the gift away and you haven't even looked at it.

[B]

This is so cute.

[A]

She made that. And I thought it'd be cute to put your books in and your journals, your Kindle, your studies. And then inside is the original gift that I wanted to get you. They are covers for your sourdough bowls.

[B]

I almost put this on my head.

[A]

I thought it was a shower cap.

[B]

You're kidding. No.

[A]

So you don't have to use shower caps anymore.

[B]

This is so cute.

[A]

And I thought it looked small. Remember when I said I think I got the wrong size? It does fit over a kitchenaid bowl.

[B]

Does it? Yes. White stretches.

[A]

I tested it on mine. So when you're rising your bread, you don't have to.

[B]

These are adorable. This is such a good gift, Abby. You're like, it's nothing much. I like, love this so much.

[A]

She did a really good job. So she. If you guys can't see it, she quilted it and it has a little star and it's in the always here colors. And then she had embroidered always here.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

And then the inside, she did blue, which was really thoughtful. Yeah.

[B]

That is so sweet. I actually have like a. Just a cheap one from Amazon of these. This is like, it's very useful. So this is perfect. And now this will fit a lot more too.

[A]

Yeah, it's. It's a good size. I didn't tell her specifically what size. I said just.

[B]

No, it's a perfect size.

[A]

A pouch, a large pouch.

[B]

I like so much. Both these very useful, very thoughtful.

[C]

Good.

[B]

Very personalized.

[A]

If anyone's in the. Well, I should tell Carly this, but like on Etsy, I was trying to find cute customized bowl covers for Bread Rising and I couldn't find anything that was customized or even remotely attractive looking. So that's. I reached out to Carly when I saw she was making stuff so that there's a gap in the market. Ladies, if you're looking for a little side hustle.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And honestly, I love using like something that sticks rather than a towel. Cause it just fits so nicely. And I also think it keeps it more contained. This is perfect. Thank you so much. I love this. I like, really, really love this.

[A]

Oh, good. Merry Christmas.

[B]

Hey, really quick. It would mean so much to us. Hey, how about a little Valentine's Day gift to us right now and give us five stars. Write a review if you feel so inclined. We really, really appreciate it. Subscribe to our show. Share it like it. Do all the things. And we'll just give you a couple seconds to do that. Thank you. You're the best. I knew you were gonna do it that time. I love.

[A]

We're feeling it.

[B]

Share the love. And now we can go back to the episode.

[A]

My hope is I'm getting to give that to you. I'm just kidding. Also, we're hosting a Super bowl party this weekend.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

We planned it last night. So today's Wednesday. The party's on Sunday. And I think it's gonna be fun and low key.

[B]

That's a plenty of time.

[C]

Time.

[A]

There's plenty of time.

[B]

Yeah, that'll be fun.

[A]

Yeah, we have. We've actually. We hosted last year because Caleb's two favorite teams are the Chiefs and the Eagles. And you're.

[B]

I don't even Know who's in the Super Bowl?

[A]

I. I know the first team. It's the Patriots. But who's the other team, Addy?

[C]

The Seahawks.

[B]

Seahawks.

[C]

I didn't have to look that up.

[B]

Just so everyone knows, I'm going to root for football girl for the Seahawks. I hear about the bliss.

[A]

I am excited for the Seahawks as well.

[B]

I have no other reason. I don't even know where they come from.

[A]

Yeah. Seattle.

[B]

Seattle Patriots. Where do they come from?

[C]

New England.

[B]

I do that. I'm honestly impressed.

[A]

You do that.

[C]

I don't.

[B]

I honestly. New England's always eluded me. It's in America.

[C]

Next episode I'm gonna quiz you guys. NFL teams and where I actually would.

[A]

Be really good at the Caleb quizzes me sometimes and I could even tell you some of the announcers names.

[C]

Oh yeah, he really quizzes me.

[A]

Well, I know Joe bug because. From St. Louis.

[C]

Oh yeah. Trying to think of the other guy's name.

[A]

Scott Van Pelt, svp.

[C]

People don't like what's his name. Another one of them.

[A]

There's a lot of controversial ones.

[C]

It might be Joe Buck.

[A]

Yeah, I. We should. I feel like that's one fun thing. As a girl, it's like getting a football or like a sport.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

You know what I mean?

[C]

Maybe it's for girls who. Their spouses like, like sports. Sports.

[A]

Matt would be like, why get in a.

[C]

You like live sports.

[A]

You got into the X Games, Abby.

[B]

Max, I'm thrilled. He's not even really into it though. He's into participating in these things. But he does not. He's not a fan of the like sports necessarily.

[A]

Maybe that wouldn't like, make him want to be into the X Games. And you guys could take X Games trips.

[B]

What is X Games? Is it skateboarding? Yeah.

[A]

And biking.

[B]

He would like that. He would like that.

[A]

Or like the Winter Olympics are coming up. Just start studying of all these snowboarders. You should do a video of that where you'd quit. Like, look at all the big snowboarders.

[B]

And then you turn it on and.

[A]

You'Re like, oh, Matt, look at this guy's trick.

[B]

And then he would be very, very thrown off.

[A]

What?

[B]

I wish I was like that kind of cool wife who like knew the stuff. But, you know, no, maybe. Maybe in another life.

[A]

That's. Anyway, that's my hope. Excited to host a party.

[B]

That'll be fun. I'm excited. Bum.

[A]

Yeah. Last year you're supposed to come, but you got sick.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Well, the boys were sick.

[B]

Yeah. That honestly kills me when that happens.

[A]

I know. I was bummed, too.

[C]

I was there last year. You guys came and I already told her I'm not going to be there this year. I'm not flaking. I have told her I'm not coming.

[A]

I respect you guys have a busy schedule this week. We do have a busy schedule. Yeah.

[C]

I'm maxed out on Blake's activities.

[A]

Yeah. And he loves football, so he wants to be focused.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I was telling my mom, I said, basically, I'll be hosting the party and Caleb will be on the couch just watching the game.

[C]

Yeah. I'm like, unless there's, like, a light that says Blake, this is where he can sit.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[C]

No one interrupt him.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Antisocial.

[A]

Yeah. What about you? What's your hope this week?

[B]

Honestly, my hope is I just love my life. Wow. I don't know. I've just been thinking about this A lot of reason. I'm like, wow. I just. I just enjoy the things that are happening. Like, I just. I have. I feel like, okay, so we intentionally made February, like, jam packed. I feel like I always love having plans. I feel like we know that. I talk about that all the time, but, like, February is, like, absolutely jam packed. And that, like, I, like, love that. Makes me feel so happy. And some could say I'm distracting myself.

[A]

I love that tactic.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Personally.

[B]

Thank you. And so I have, like, I have so much to look forward to. I think that's part of it. And also, just, like, the weather is beautiful. Like, I truly, like, enjoy my kids. Actually, this is something I've been thinking about a lot. I think it's really important. This is such a side tangent. I think about it a lot. I tell, like, our kid, my kids a lot because I, first of all, I totally mean this, but I think it's really important that my kids know that I, like, enjoy being their mom so much.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

And I, like, enjoy being a mom in general so much. I want them to know that. I think growing up, I always knew my mom, like, loved being a mom. And that does something, I think, for kids. Like, you just feel like just your presence around your parents is just, like, it's so pleasing to them. Yeah. And I feel like that's really important. So all the time I'm like, I love being your mom. And then now they mirror back. They're like, I love being your kid. They're sweet. So I just, like, I don't know. When I was driving the other day, I was like, gosh, things are so good. And so, yes, I say this because when I hear other people, like, say. Say that they love their life, that's obviously so dramatic. Like, a weird way of saying it. But they're happy with their life circumstances or they're having a good time. That makes me look at my own life in a posture of gratitude and thankfulness. And it doesn't make me like, oh, I wish I had their life. So sometimes I'm like, oh, I don't wanna say that. I'm just so happy with how things are going. But that's not how it works. Cause it feels boastful, but it's like, I feel like most people then reflect on their own life in a positive way. More so also, I think, like, you.

[A]

Guys are going through a hard season. You've been going through a hard season. And so it's like, to see the positive side of it too, where it's like, you can go through hard things and still feel happy, enjoyed, and, like, grateful is, I think, important for people to see. Yeah, I think that's great.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

I love that. I love that.

[B]

Yeah. I don't know.

[A]

I started telling CJ, like, two weeks ago or a couple weeks ago. I've always been very, like, affectionate towards CJ and tell him all the time, like, I love you with all my heart. I love. You know. But I started telling him recently, I just love hanging out with you. I love hanging out with you so much.

[C]

C.J.

[A]

And the immediate, like, the. You can see in his posture. He just, like, feels so comforted by that. So now I've been saying it more often, but you saying that, I'm like, oh, my gosh. I just started telling CJ how much I love just spending time with him.

[B]

I think it's really important because they also don't necessarily understand, like, okay, why is mom, like, emptying out the dishwasher? Why is she, you know, doing all these things? And it's like, I want them to know that, like, the times that I am, like, I have to do these things, but the times I enjoy the most are, like, with you.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

100 fun for hards. What was. Is yours light or heavy?

[B]

I actually didn't have one.

[A]

That's great.

[B]

I was gonna play that card because I was like, I've had a lot of heavy, so we're just gonna lighten it up. I actually really don't have one.

[A]

Okay, good. Well, we're just running on the. Love your life.

[B]

Okay. Yeah.

[A]

Should I skip my heart?

[B]

No, I love my life too.

[A]

No, I mean, it's not really. I think it's relatable. Okay. Addie and I were talking about this today. Just like, I feel like I'm at the four or five, four and a half months postpartum. I've just been really struggling with body image. And I hate to say that because even saying it out loud, I'm like, I feel so dumb saying that because I just had a baby four months ago, but I think in my head too, and I feel like I kind of talked this about this with my schedule and feeling overwhelmed. You get to a point where you start to feel good and, like, feel normal again. And then it's like, oh, then I should. Then I feel like I've arrived or I'm back to my normal or whatever. But then I put my clothes on and they don't fit still. And then just every time I remember feeling this a little bit after cj, like, scared to put on my clothes totally. Because I'm like, I don't want to put them on in fear of feeling, like, remind the reminder that they don't fit still. Which I have, like, a small section of my closet that is for like this postpartum season in my pregnancy season. And to be honest, I'm so sick of those clothes. Yeah, I, like, hate them right now. These pants again, let's go shopping. But then I don't want buy new stuff because at the same time, your body changes so much when you're buying this stuff. I know.

[B]

Just buy the stuff. Let's go shopping Sunday.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

Put on the calendar.

[B]

Let's go shopping. No, seriously. I do think that helps. I think you sharing that is honestly probably speaking to so many women listening to this because there's this. Not to over talk on your. No talk about it. But like, there's like this narrative that is very. It's not even a narrative. This is just true. Like, it is amazing what our bodies do and the changes that come with it. It's like we still. You can hold both. Like, I'm so grateful that, like, my body grew and stretched and all these different things. And there's evidence of that reflected in my postpartum body. But then you can also be like, okay, I kind of miss, like, closet. I gotta miss my clothes. I kind of miss, like, you know, looking this certain way in this swimsuit or things like how they were. You can have both. You can have gratitude for your kid and what your body did and also be like, well, here we are. Here we are. Like, you're allowed to have both. And I remember. I think everyone feels that way.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And, like, I also will say, I feel like each kid that, like, you can't hold yourself to the different standard as your first kid.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Because you're entering into a different. Your body's doing a whole different thing, kind of. I mean, it's the same thing, but if, you know, now having two pregnancies, like, it's different.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Things happen differently. And so I think this. The sentiment I hear is usually, like, with each kid, it gets a little bit harder, and, like, that's just part of it. And so it's like, being honest with that also gives you freedom. Like, it's like, yeah. Like, this is a struggle, and it gives other women freedom. So.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm glad you shared that.

[A]

Yeah. Thanks. And I feel like I see online all the time, it's just like, people are like, don't complain about or don't be hard on yourself. But sometimes you just are hard on yourself.

[B]

Sometimes you are.

[A]

Then I feel bad that I'm being hard on myself, and I'm like, dang. But then I'm like, okay, don't be hard on yourself.

[C]

Yeah. I told. I told Abby before because I saw on her sheet that she was going to talk about. I'm like, oh, finally, someone else who also is insecure about their postpartum body. I mean, everyone is, but everyone's like, don't. You worked so hard. I'm like, but I want. I want it back. Like, I want to get back in shape, and it's hard sometimes. And I was telling her, when we were just on vacation, I put my swimsuit on. I was like, I wanted to post something and be like, okay, postpartum, ladies. If you're putting your swimsuit on it for the first time I see you, it's hard. But I'm like, also, I don't see you. I don't notice. I don't look at other women and be like, oh, she's postpartum. Or she looks. I see her stretch marks. Like, I don't see you exactly in that way. And so I was, like, trying to, like, okay, no one sees me. No one sees me. It's just me. You're okay. You know?

[B]

Well, it's even crazy hearing you guys both share that, because I think you guys look amazing. Like, I really do. And I know I can say that a million times, and it's not going to necessarily metabolize into, like, your own identity, but I think it's, like, amazing. So I'm surprised to hear that. But I'm also like, it makes sense. I've been there too. And like, you know, I know I.

[A]

Always want to share it too. Because then it's like, am I being, am I just being vain? Am I just being self? You know, are these thoughts, like not good thoughts to have, which they aren't to be, like to be picky about those things. And so that's why I also wanted to talk about it or like voice it out loud. Because sometimes when I say them out loud, then I'm like, this is silly and not something that I should be. It's not of importance. Like, it's not a big importance. It's just a body.

[B]

So let's go shopping.

[A]

Abby, do you ever wake up sweaty?

[B]

Sure do.

[A]

Because I definitely.

[B]

I know you do.

[A]

I know I'd be so wetting up in that bed. The temperature in your bedroom can make or break your sleep.

[B]

Absolutely. And honestly, your sleep makes or breaks your health.

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

I love that.

[B]

I know, it's.

[A]

They feel just as good, if not better than sheets you'd find at a five star hotel but without the same cheap price tag.

[B]

You have the sand colored.

[A]

Yeah, I did get the sand.

[B]

I'm partial to white sheets.

[A]

I know. But I love the sand. They're very warm. They look really luxurious. It's a rich feel. It's a rich color. It's stunning.

[B]

They have so many color options and they really are such good quality. So it's time to upgrade your sleep or give the gift of better rest. Go to trymiracle.com Abbey to try Miracle Made Sheets today. You'll save over 40% when you use promo code Abby and and you'll get an extra 20% off plus a free three piece towel set.

[A]

They really make an amazing gift. And with a 30 day money back guarantee, there's no risk at all. That's trymiracle.com Abby code Abby@ checkout. Thanks to Miracle Maid for sponsoring this episode.

[C]

Okay, let's go shopping. Problem solved.

[A]

Or we can just go to the kitchen and make tongulu and more.

[B]

It's healthy segue.

[C]

People are commenting about that, that they think it's funny that I don't know.

[A]

How to segue, that we're trying to.

[C]

Like segue we can go shopping or.

[A]

We can go eat some desserts.

[B]

Okay. So my latest obsession has been making tongulu, which is a traditional Chinese snack. I think it's actually traditionally eaten also more around this time of year. Cause it's like the new year. The Chinese New Year. Lunar New Year.

[A]

Oh. It's one of their desserts.

[B]

I think it's. I don't know if it's specifically tied to the new year, but I think it is. Cause at Disneyland, it's like a stand around their Chinese New Year.

[A]

Oh, that's fun.

[B]

It's candied fruit. And traditionally they use strawberries, clementines, and oranges. We got a little crazy with it the other night, and I think they do other things too, but we got a little. We took some liberties.

[A]

We did. We were like, what can we tongulu in this house?

[B]

It's so fun. Okay, so you literally just melt sugar and water and then dip your fruit in it.

[A]

I'm sorry I called you out for the. The other night, and you just. Milt.

[B]

Do you hear it too?

[C]

I didn't hear it.

[A]

Did you hear Milt?

[B]

I say milt, and I know that it's wrong. You actually say that When I'm talking fast, yes.

[C]

Okay. But you know, it's melt. Sorry.

[B]

Melt.

[A]

Melt.

[B]

I almost feel like I would have to stay it slower in a deeper tone to say it right.

[A]

Melt.

[B]

I melt.

[A]

Melted.

[B]

I melt.

[C]

It is deeply connected to Chinese New Year as a symbol of joy, family reunion, and good luck.

[A]

I could say I felt all those things eating it.

[B]

It was very. It was amazing. And so I actually was, like, going back and forth at Disneyland. I was like, this is ridiculous because it's $10 for three strawberries.

[A]

But I was like, oh, no.

[B]

Kind of YOLO vacation. And plus, I don't love, like, overly sweet desserts. The funny thing is, it's very sweet. I was almost like, wow, you need water.

[A]

And I love overly sweet.

[B]

It's not rich, but it's very sweet. And so it's. You just dip your fruit in sugar and water, dip it in ice, and it makes this, like, perfect, thin, crunchy shell. And then you bite into it, and it's like juicy fruit on the inside. It's so good.

[C]

Really good.

[B]

And I was like, abby, you're gonna love this. We gotta try this. And it was like 10pm Our kids are, like, running amok. Still awake. Still awake.

[A]

We're just in the kitchen dipping. Dipping things in sugar.

[B]

Like, literally don't get tired. Especially when they're playing with Their cousin. They're just kind of like.

[A]

They just keep rubbing up. Yeah, totally.

[B]

And so we were happy. We were revving up as well.

[A]

We were.

[B]

We stuck broccoli in there. We stuck nerds clusters in there.

[C]

Nerd clusters are probably good.

[A]

It was so good, the broccoli. So gross.

[C]

Gross. I was about to say. If you were about to say it was good.

[B]

I yacked it up.

[A]

Yeah, we both bit it out.

[B]

You should cook the broccoli if you're gonna do it. But even then. Don't do it.

[A]

Don't do it.

[B]

Don't do it.

[A]

Don't do it.

[B]

We did blackberries. They were good.

[C]

They originally were from hawthorn berries is what they. Where they originated from. And now it's mostly with strawberries, tangerines, kiwis, and apricots.

[B]

Kiwis would be so good.

[A]

Oh, that would be good.

[B]

I never had a fresh apricot.

[A]

I've never heard of a hawthorne berry.

[C]

What about a pineapple?

[A]

Oh, yes, that would have been good.

[C]

Oh, you can't do it.

[B]

I don't think it would work. Anything that is wet, it doesn't stick to it.

[A]

We should have tangled a bread.

[B]

Tangula. That bread. No, I saw the digiovanni. Tangulu to croissant.

[A]

A cinnamon roll.

[B]

Oh. It's logistically difficult, but we can make it happen.

[A]

We should do a whole YouTube video.

[B]

But we keep talking about it. Literally. No, they exist because I was. I was going down that rabbit hole.

[A]

Let's start.

[B]

Let's.

[A]

Let's enter the rabbit hole.

[B]

I always say phrases wrong, and I just say them with so much confidence.

[C]

Oh, I've been saying that Tangulu wrong for ever since you mentioned it.

[B]

No, I'm talking about phrases like, I don't know. I still to this day, don't know if it's whole bowl of wax or ball of wax.

[A]

Can you use the saying in a sentence?

[B]

You've never heard of it?

[A]

I don't think so.

[C]

I'm not ball of wax.

[B]

Hannah, have you heard of this? What? Can you like the whole ball of wax or bowl of wax?

[A]

I've never heard.

[B]

Okay. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up. Okay. I know a lot of phrases that I should know. Oh, I say, who shot John?

[A]

That one is unique. I've never heard that before.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, I feel like my grandpa.

[A]

Even when you're saying it fast, I'm like, slow down. Who shot John?

[B]

That's some. Who shot John? When someone is saying something that they're just like, that's a lie. It's a lie. Or they're, like, very over exaggerating it. Or they're making up a story. I always use it for Blake because I feel like Blake is always saying some who shot John, My brother, but he's a little brother, you know? So you're not really.

[C]

You're.

[A]

It's nice.

[B]

I'm like, you don't know that as a who show. Are you just.

[A]

Is it kind of similar to, like, hoopla? Like, that's a hoopla.

[B]

Yeah, similar. Well, hoopla makes me feel like excitement.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

This is the whole ball of wax.

[B]

Ball of wax, yeah.

[C]

And it's mean. Is the entire amount Everything.

[B]

The whole thing. Yeah. It's like putting that little table food and cooking utensils. I forgot again.

[A]

It's never gonna stick.

[C]

Never gonna stick. No. Or people were saying, you said Jiminy Cricket.

[B]

Okay. Jiminy Cricket.

[C]

They're saying that comes from people saying, like, to not say the Lord's name in vain is where that the J.

[B]

In the C. Well, that's what G's comes from, right?

[C]

Probably. But they also say Jiminy Christmas is what some people are saying.

[B]

I say that, too.

[C]

So just mix it, man. We're still with a C word.

[A]

Love that.

[B]

Yeah. I just say weird things.

[A]

Caleb's always like, I don't like when, like, Christians replace cuss words with fake cuss words. Like, I'll say, frick too much.

[B]

Feels like a separate word.

[A]

I know. I'm like. He's like, that just sounds so cheesy. Just don't say anything at all.

[B]

I. I sometimes say F sometime. Yeah, sometimes like E, F, F. What's.

[A]

The cuss word that you say in your head but won't say out loud? I say the S word a lot.

[B]

S word in my head a lot.

[A]

That's the one that comes out when.

[B]

You stub your toe.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Something's about to happen. It's the impulse one.

[A]

It is. And when something impulsive happens and I don't say it out loud, I'm like, good job, Abby.

[B]

That's the one that thinks is okay to say. And I'm like, it's not still okay. Like, when he's driving, that's when he, like, thinks it's okay. And I'm like, no, still not.

[A]

My dad gave me permission when I turned 14 that I could say the D word. And now I'm like, that's a bad one. We shouldn't be saying that.

[B]

Such an adult one.

[A]

Yeah. I was like, I'm not Gonna say.

[B]

It on your birthday when you turn.

[A]

14, or maybe it's 15, I don't know. But when I turned 15, my mom.

[B]

Still hates when I say pissed.

[A]

I say that all the time.

[B]

She hates it. And she's like, I cannot believe that your friends say this too.

[A]

Yeah. Was that. Does that used to be a bad word?

[C]

I think people think it's a bad word. I don't see it. I mean, when you're a kid, you're not allowed to say it. So I feel like it just like when you get older, they're like, still.

[A]

Because I would say all the time. And then our mother in law, I asked her one time, I was like, is that a bad word? And she goes, I would think it is.

[C]

Oh, I don't think it's a password.

[A]

I. I think a lot of people think that. I never thought that until I need.

[B]

To work on it. I'll change it to peeved.

[C]

Peeved.

[A]

I feel he owed. What are the other options?

[C]

I feel like saying I'm ticked. Pissed off sounds worse than saying I took a piss. Oh, like saying it that way.

[B]

Oh, that sounds worse. I'm just saying I took it.

[C]

That sounds worse.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what I'm saying.

[C]

Like a male obviously saying that.

[B]

I prefer wax. I can't even say I. I say whiz.

[C]

Okay, next segment is. What are the cuss words that we say that aren't cuss words?

[A]

That's crazy. Wow, you guys.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

We have a great episode, you guys.

[B]

We spend a lot of time with children.

[A]

We wanted to do. Because last week was the Galentine's episode. This one we wanted to make for the. The love bugs, the lovers, for the lovers. The lovers of the. Of the.

[B]

We're talking about your hubbies, your boyfriends. Fiance.

[A]

Fiance's. Yes.

[B]

That's pretty much it.

[A]

That's pretty much it.

[B]

Do you know when we tell the kids that we're gonna go on a date, Griffin will be like, I'm taking Augie on a date. Like, they get like competitive with us about. And I'm like, do it.

[A]

Good.

[B]

Show them.

[A]

Treat each other. Treat yourself. I thought it'd be funny if we started with our worst date stories.

[B]

That's funny, huh? I like this.

[A]

I guess we thought it'd be funny. Not me. We thought it'd be funny if we started with our worst.

[B]

Your stories are with Caleb, right?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. I don't have any recollection of dates, really, other than with Matt. So.

[A]

Yeah. I feel like my Other boyfriends were in high school, so it wasn't anything like. I didn't really go on dates until I started dating Caleb because I also couldn't drive, so my mom's not gonna drop me off on a date.

[B]

Wait. Oh, yeah.

[A]

We would just hang out at each other's homes. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So, yeah, they're all with Caleb.

[B]

Wait, when was your first boyfriend?

[A]

Well, like, the first one that counts. I had a lot of boyfriends in middle school.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. That were, like, two weeks or whatever. But my first. I would say sophomore year of high school. Okay. Was when I first started dating. I only had maybe three or four. They, like, called my boyfriend.

[B]

I'm just already anticipating this as a parent now. Like, going into this, I'm like, I don't need to worry about that yet.

[A]

Yeah, we need to cross that bridge when we get there.

[B]

We were gonna think about that later. Yeah. Okay. Worst dates, you share one first.

[A]

Okay, this one's just kind of silly. We were in college, Kaleb. I were in college. It was Valentine's Day, so very fitting for a Valentine's episode. And we were, you know, we're broke college kids. We didn't have a lot of money, and we were planning about what we wanted to do for our date, and I saw a flyer that our restauran town was doing. It said, $50 for a three course meal. I was like, that's a great price. Like, we can spend $50 and go get three course dinner. So we make the reservation, we get dressed, look nice.

[B]

Wait, a flyer?

[A]

Yeah, it was like some pamphlet. Remember, this was the dark ages. This was 2015.

[B]

Wait, at school, you saw a pamphlet or just.

[A]

Yeah, I saw, like, a fly. Like an advertisement.

[B]

Cute.

[A]

Okay, the Internet wasn't what it is now. And so, yeah, we show up to.

[B]

The restaurant and you never heard of the restaurant?

[A]

I had heard of it, but I've never eaten before. But it was, like, in the town, so we could walk there from our.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

From our apartments, which was really fun. So we got all dressed up, went the waiters. Waitress.

[B]

Were you married?

[A]

No, this was in college.

[B]

Oh, yeah. You said college.

[A]

Yeah, I wasn't. I'm not like you, lady. I didn't get married till after college. So we sit down and we look at the menu, and it's $50 per person. And Kayla and I look at each other.

[B]

Oh, yeah. I would have assumed that as well.

[A]

We didn't assume that. We assumed $50 total.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Right? That's just how you like what we Spent on meals was usually like $12 a person. We were like, wow, 50 bucks is a nice thing. So we kind of look at each other. We start panicking and realize that we can't afford this dinner. We're seated at the table, we've gotten waters brought to us, and Caleb, it's like, we can't stay. We can't pay for this. And it was the only. It was the only menu. Like, you couldn't order other. Other things.

[B]

Okay. Yeah.

[A]

So Gail was just looking down at his shoes, and I look at the waitress and I go, excuse me, we can't afford this.

[B]

I go, like, it's our special.

[A]

Yeah, we're gonna have to leave. So we had to get up and leave.

[B]

That was very honest of you. I probably would have just fled the scene.

[A]

I think Caleb wanted to. For some reason. I felt like we had to tell the waitress because she'd already come over. And I was like, you can't just disappear. And we were both very embarrassed about that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It kind of scarred us for a little bit. That was a bad date. And then the. What you were doing.

[B]

Do you remember?

[A]

I think we just went to Chipotle or something really inexpensive, and it kind of just put a bummer on the rest of the night because we were so.

[B]

We were a little embarrassed, like, all dressed up.

[A]

Yeah. We read this wrong. We read that round.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Dang it.

[A]

That was a bad day.

[B]

No. Good for you, though, for being honest.

[A]

I mean.

[C]

Staying. Like, you're like, we can't afford this. I probably would have stayed and paid for. For it, even though we couldn't afford it.

[A]

I just. Well, I mean, Caleb was going to pay for it and he didn't have the money, so what were we going to do? Put it on my dad's credit card? Sorry, dad.

[B]

We wanted to do something fun.

[A]

Yeah. We just wanted a nice night.

[C]

A.

[B]

That's sweet, though.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

My story is kind of similar, but it happened a little bit more recently. We happened upon, due to unusual circumstances, a restaurant had been picked for us. And we had never been to this restaurant, but we knew it was like a little bit, like, fancier, elevated. But what we didn't know is that it was like, actually like fine dining, like Michelin star food. Right. So I'm like, I like food.

[A]

Right.

[B]

I like. I like food. That'll be great. This will be fun. I like good food. Yeah, this will be fun.

[A]

Award winning food.

[B]

They're like, well, do you want to sit at this table outside next to this fireplace? And we're like, beautiful, gorgeous. Like, yeah, we'll sit there. And then the waiter comes or the server comes to our table, and he was like, okay, so at this table, we only offer our five course option. And then he just, like, looks at us, and we're like, we'll take that one.

[A]

We'll do that one, please.

[B]

That one we will do. I don't know why that table or, like, maybe it was the night and I misremember it, but I'm pretty sure he was like, here, outside, we do this.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

And I was like, all right, okay, sign us up. And then we start getting these plates out. First of all, there's like an hour between every course.

[A]

Wait, why?

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

An hour.

[B]

I will tell you. It was really spaced out. And I'm telling you, the food, I realized I was like, I don't like fine dining. I like big portions of relative, like, flavorful, but, like, relatively normal food in the grand scheme of things. I don't like, we were eating duck, bone marrow, other stuff that was scary. Eggs of some sort. No, the bone marrow. You literally had to scrape it out.

[A]

There's something I do not like a fancy egg. Like a duck eggy.

[B]

There was so many weird things, and we are. We had a one year old at this point, and we were like, we got it. It has been. We're on course three and had been three hours.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

And so we're like, surely it's about to wrap up. And the reason we thought it was gonna wrap, first of all, we're, like, eating things. And I. I pride myself on, like, I'm not very picky.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I felt the need to, like, spit it out. And I felt washed. We were the only people out here. I felt, like, literally, it was spooky. I felt being like we were being watched. I started spitting things in the fireplace. I have to get rid of the evidence. And so there was, like, a lot of pressure. They kept coming, and they were like, they wanted to talk about the food. They wanted to be like, oh, kind of educate. They want. Yeah, they want to educate a lot. They want to see us try it. They wanted to, like. And I was. It was just so much pressure. And then Matt and I were like, we have to leave. Like, it's so and so. Eventually, we're, like, about to, like. And then he's like, now it's time for your tour of the kitchen. And we're like, what? And so they take us to the back and we, like, do this tour of the kitchen, it's like ratatouille. I mean, everyone's, like, got their own thing going on.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And I was like, lift up your hat. It was like, very, like, impressive kitchen. And then we sit back down. They bring out sorbets, which is apparently, like, a very, like, fine dining experience. You do sorbets? And between. As a palate cleanser, sometimes between other courses, I thought this was the dessert. Right?

[A]

Of course.

[B]

In my head, I'm like, we're done wrapping it up with dessert with sorbet. They bring out another savory dish. And I was like. So I was like, matt, we have to tell them. That's the last thing I want to do. That is the last thing I want to do. But I was like, we have to get our kid. It is nighttime now. Their babysitter was not planning on being there that long. I was like, hey, I'm so sorry. Like, we have a little one. We did not plan accordingly. Can we wrap this up? They were, like, very offended. I was like, whatever. Last course. We could just maybe box it up. They were very offended. Cause it's like, a whole experience, you know, thing. And I was like, I'm sorry.

[A]

You can't hold people hostage if they have to leave.

[B]

I know. I was like, but we really need to leave. And so then the best part is we got the bill. $600.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

No alcohol. No alcohol. What we didn't realize was that every time we got water, which we were drinking a lot of water, because I was, like, clear, dusty. Every bottle of every water they were filling from a glass, like, fancy water. We paid, like, 10 bucks per what Thing of water?

[C]

What they never told you?

[B]

Never told us anything. We didn't ever see a menu, you guys, because they're like, this is our free. This is our option. And we didn't get any alcohol in a $600.

[A]

Oh, my.

[B]

And I remember, like, Matt, like, opening. He's like. And we were mortified because we were also starving.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

We were so hungry.

[A]

So hungry.

[B]

We went in and out and then picked up Griffin, and we were just like.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Neither one of us planned it. And so neither one of we both felt free to be like, what was that? And so I learned I am not as classy as I would have thought before. I'm not classy. No. I like. I was like, I like Chili's.

[A]

Sure, I like Chili's.

[B]

I, like, take me to Chili's any day over that.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Like, Cheesecake Factory.

[A]

Gosh.

[B]

If we want to be fancy. If we want to be fancy, let's do Cheesecake Factory. Let's not do Michelin Star. Anyway, so I just. I just know now where I rank. That's a bad dining experience. I was literally spitting into the fire.

[A]

I was like, that's insane. 600. Can you.

[B]

I didn't know that existed. I did not know that existed.

[A]

Oh, I. I literally can't imagine. I'm like, what would I eat for $600?

[B]

Nothing. Not one thing.

[A]

Yeah. I can't think of anything. I'm like, that's worth it.

[B]

There's plenty of delicious things for. For 20.

[C]

15.

[B]

15 even.

[A]

10. Probably.

[B]

Probably. No, I just know now that I'm not. I'm not that classy.

[A]

Well, you know what? You ex. You tried it.

[B]

We tried it, and it was so funny because we actually knew other people that had eaten there, and we were like, what did you think about?

[A]

Right?

[B]

And they were like, it was so bad. And I was like, oh, I'm glad we're.

[A]

They agreed. Yeah, okay.

[B]

Funny. So funny. I love that. For people that love that. And I also do think very highly of them if they enjoy that.

[A]

Yeah. Well, also, it's impressive. The chefs can do that, but.

[B]

Yes. Yeah.

[A]

If that's not what you're planning on and you're not playing to spend that. I need money. You need to be mentally prepared for an experience.

[B]

Like, maybe the people that do this often, like, they know what they're doing. Like, people. People there. Like, I was like, everyone's a regular and a part of this club that we are not a part of.

[A]

It is. I think it is a different world.

[B]

It was a different kind of like.

[A]

The wine world is very, like, you. You can't just, like, dip your toes in.

[B]

Oh, that's how I feel about. Exactly how I feel about wine. I'm like, you enjoy that. That's awesome and classy. I'm gonna pretend to, like, people are.

[A]

In, like, clubs and know all about it. You know, it's like, wow, you're on another level. Hats off to you. Yes.

[B]

Good on ya, sir.

[A]

Good on ya. Okay, speaking of Cheesecake Factory, that's where my second bad date's at.

[B]

Stop. Don't say this.

[A]

No, it wasn't because of the food.

[B]

Okay. That's blast.

[A]

So when we lived in Kansas City, we lived on an air called an area called the Plaza, which is a really nice, like, shopping district. They have some nice restaurants.

[B]

Great Cheesecake Factory.

[A]

Great Cheesecake. Cheesecake Factory. And Caleb and I, one night, when we Lived there. We could walk to it. And so we're like, let's just go on a date night. Let's just go have fun, go on a little. Get a good dinner and some cake. So we walk in, it's winter. Time to set the scene. So football season is over. Or you know what? I set the scene, and I don't remember now. I think we might have been in football season. Anyway, we walk to our table, and immediately Kill just becomes a statue. I'm like, what is wrong with you?

[B]

Do they both do this?

[A]

Like, Gail gets so stiff in his body, and immediately I can tell on his face, like, his mind is just running a mile a minute. I'm like, what is wrong, Caleb? Like, why'd you just get so weird? He is sitting back to back with Tyree Kill. Oh. If you know who that is. He's like, he was at the time the best player on the Chiefs. And Caleb immediate immediately started just going on his phone, like, is this really Tyree Kill? Is that really him? He was on a date with a lady. So I was like, can you just chill because you're not going to talk to him at dinner.

[B]

I love that he went to Cheesecake Factory.

[A]

Yeah, I know. He took her on a date to Cheesecake Factory. He's so rich. And he. Yeah. Took a lady to Cheesecake Factory.

[B]

Hey, it's fine dining.

[A]

Fine dining. And the whole dinner, we sat there. We must have just been sat right after them because we were there the exact amount of time and the entire time that we were sitting there, killed.

[B]

Did they get Cheesecake?

[A]

I couldn't tell because we're in booths.

[B]

Caleb could tell me.

[A]

He probably remembers everything. Caleb didn't speak a word to me that entire dinner. I. I literally was. It was a silent dinner.

[B]

He was just listening.

[A]

He was. He was listening, and he was just, like. I knew in his head, he was thinking, what could I say to Tyra Kill? Oh, how is this gonna play out? I don't want to be weird. I don't be a fan. What can I say? What can I do? But I want to, like, say something. So I'm looking at him, and I'm just frustrated and, like, Killed. This is the worst date of all time. Yeah. Literally, it went, like, connect, and now you're literally a brick wall. As we pay the bill, they're also paying the bill. They get up. We also get up to leave. We start walking out at the same time. We're all. We're on an upstairs level. We start going down the stairs at the same pace. I'm like, kill, just say something. This is your opportunity. I'm kind of like, hitting him. Like, just say, hey. Like, good luck in your game or great season. Just say anything. Tyreek opens the door for us as we leave. Okay. We start walking out together. Caleb's like. He keeps stuttering over his words, and he's saying nothing. And then Tyre starts to walk the other way. We are. We need to walk the opposite direction. Caleb starts to follow him. Okay, we're not gonna follow him to his car. I grabbed. Caleb said, you missed your shot, buddy. You missed your shot. And Caleb did not speak the rest of the night. It was the worst day ever. I was like, you're so starstruck, and you did nothing about it. And I'm mad at you for that. He opened the door for us. Like, you could have said, thank you so much. Like, by the way, big fan.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Goofy.

[B]

That's funny.

[A]

That is just classic.

[B]

So Tyree Kill ruined your date.

[A]

Tyree Kill ruined our date.

[B]

That is so funny.

[A]

And I learned that Kill gets really shy.

[C]

That happened to Blake once. We were in the airport line in Greece, and he saw, like, a golfer that he likes. Oh, my gosh. Like, that did YouTube and stuff, and they're right next to us. And he wouldn't say anything. So I went up and I said. I said, my husband's a really big fan. Could he get a picture with you?

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Thank you. Addy took one for the tea.

[C]

I stood up.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

I was like, you're just gonna go back home and tell all your friends that you met him and that you saw him and you didn't say anything.

[B]

My dad did the same thing. Matt would always say something. I feel like, yeah, but my dad saw, like, famous, like, wrestler in the airport one time, and he was like, that's so. That's so. And so I was like, go say hi.

[A]

Love it.

[B]

He's like, no, he's like an old school wrestler. Like, okay, maybe just let him.

[A]

I remember that he might like, yeah.

[B]

My dad just couldn't stop thinking about it, though. Yes, that's funny.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. My second bad date story was also somewhat recently. Still feels fresh at times. I planned this one. This one's on me. And I took Matt to a comedy show because I was like, oh, this is, like, so different from normal walk in.

[A]

I love this story.

[B]

Really small venue from the get go. I was like, this is an intimate experience.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Cool. Not cool is that they hand everyone a name as we're Walking in, like, a card. A card with a name on it. And I'm. And mine is something about like, oh, was it something goblin?

[A]

It was something goblin. It was ass goblin. No, it wasn't.

[B]

No, gosh. No, wait. Oh, it's off my. Wait.

[A]

That was a tattoo someone had in high school.

[B]

Sorry. Why did high school have a. No way.

[C]

No way.

[A]

My brother from high school had that on his butt. Ew.

[B]

In high school.

[A]

Okay, sorry. It was something.

[B]

Something goblin. Now I can't think of it right now. It's gonna really bother me.

[A]

It'll come to you.

[B]

I'll have to ask Matt. Mine was something goblin, and Matt said, shy fry. B word. I was like, what is this?

[A]

What do we do?

[B]

Well, my word. Then I'm like, these are references that I don't get, right? Therefore, comedy is probably not gonna land. And I want to feel awkward. Okay, so everyone's sitting down, and they're like, okay, so look closely at your name, because people in the audience, you get to participate tonight in the show.

[A]

Biggest fear.

[B]

And right in my head, I'm like, gosh, I really hope I. Cause at this point, I'm very pregnant with Augie. I'm wearing a dress that looks like a first grade teacher. Like, I don't look like someone that is, like, down for crude jokes. Right, right, right. And I can already kind of get the atmosphere, like, kind of get the vibe that I was, like, not gonna be clean.

[A]

It wasn't your craft.

[B]

It wasn't my crowd.

[A]

How many people were there?

[B]

I'm gonna say less than. Less than 50, for sure.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Okay.

[B]

Intimate.

[A]

Wow. And.

[B]

But there were a lot more scenes, right? But we're all, like, close to the front. They had, like, had everyone move down. And so I. Off the top of my head, I'm like, Matt's gonna get called on stage because that is just literally how he is. Like, he is going. That's just going to happen. Sure enough, he's called on stage. I'm like, good luck, baby.

[A]

I love you.

[B]

I'm so sorry. So he goes on stage, and this whole thing is like a comedy show. But there's also, like, a video game aspect, and if there's anything I don't know anything about is probably video games. And the one that Matt got called up for was something about having, like, being stuck in Blockbuster with diarrhea.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

And you had to get out, and the whole thing has, like, fart sounds going on.

[A]

And act it out.

[B]

I don't, like Honestly, I feel like my brain is protecting me from this moment because I was like, what's going on?

[A]

Why is he on stage?

[B]

And, yeah, it just, like, lasted a while. And I was like, please do not. Because at this point, my ratio, my odds of getting called on stage are so high.

[A]

Really high.

[B]

I did not get called.

[A]

That's good.

[B]

Matt was on stage for a decent amount during doing something humiliating, and I was like, well, you know, we tried something new.

[A]

We went to Benata.

[B]

The whole venue smelled like cigarettes and, like, people were drinking a lot and. Which is all fine, but it was just not what I had pictured. Right. And it was very. I didn't understand. Like, I was so, like, I'm so sorry that I am not your crowd and I am here. Like, I. I'm here and I shouldn't be. Basically, the whole time I was like, it's just I'm not the right audience for this and respect what you do, because I'm sure there's, like, a lot of, like, technical aspects to these. They were literally coding video games for this show.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

But just went over my head.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

And it was so just. It was so funny how out of our element we were. And it was all my fault. And Matt's such a good sport, but afterwards we're like, what'd you think? Did you have a lot of fun? And it was just really, really funny.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Because also, people knew that we were going to this, and they're like, how was it? I was like, oh, you know, little silly. It's a little different.

[A]

It was different. It was new, but it's funny. That's great. I love that. I love hearing bad date stories.

[B]

I know.

[A]

We all got them.

[B]

We all got, got them.

[A]

I thought, well, I'm going to stop saying I thought because we thought. We thought our podcast, we thought we could share our worst dates and then also give some good, maybe last minute date ideas.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Considering tomorrow is Valentine's Day.

[B]

How do you do Valentine's Day? Like, in your marriage?

[A]

We've always celebrated on the 15th because, I don't know, we just always. It's cheaper to do that. Yeah. So we always call it Howard's Day. And we would go on a date to a restaurant and Caleb gave me flowers that are like a little dead and candy that's on sale. And it's just been special.

[B]

That's sweet. It's just been really special. We do Valentine's Day, not necessarily always on the day, but we take turns every year planning the date.

[A]

Oh, that's fun.

[B]

Yeah, I like that idea. Yeah, it's fun because, I don't know.

[A]

I feel pretty good.

[B]

Both do it. So we've had some really funny ones, especially early on, like, low budget, like, fun date nights at home that are really special. We still talk about to this day all the time. So, yeah, that's just how we do. We take turns.

[A]

I like that I should pitch that to Caleb and see if he'd be down for that, because it is.

[B]

It's.

[A]

You know, I like treating Caleb and planning things for him, so it's kind of fun to switch off.

[B]

And then also when you feel like, a little personal responsibility for doing it, I feel like you do a little bit more rather than, like, we're both going on a day, like, I don't know, it makes it, like, a little bit more, like, intentional.

[A]

Totally. Yeah.

[B]

I like that.

[A]

I thought we. I'm sorry. We thought.

[B]

It's fine.

[A]

Just a tick. I think at this point, we could do last minute ideas and then last minute gift ideas.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

Do you want to go with your first date?

[B]

Yes. So this one's actually inspired by Matt because he already planned it and we're doing it this weekend, and I was gonna invite ladies, so he planned. He text me the day. He's like, oh, in the email. Don't look at this top email. And then later on that day, he was like, okay, I just have to tell you because we do need to find childcare, but we are. I plan a ballroom dance class lesson with you. And then now it has since evolved to, like, he has now booked a private one. And so all of our friends and, like, their spouses can come. And so I was like, that would be really fun. We've never, shockingly enough, we've never done a partner dance class together.

[A]

Yeah, that's really cool.

[B]

It could be really fun. And I think for certain husbands to be totally outside their comfort zone. Blake. I think Blake would never come.

[C]

Yeah. We have something else going on, but that's fine because he would never come.

[B]

But I kind of think that's, like, the point of it. I think it's fun to, like, do things that are, first of all memorable because you. It's memorable because you don't do it often. And then it's also, like, obviously connecting and it's not serious, so it's, like, fun and touch and. Yeah. So it'll be fun.

[A]

Yeah. Romantic. Out of your comfort zone. It's an activity. I feel like guys really like activities.

[B]

Yeah. Face to face.

[A]

Uh huh. Yeah. There's actually.

[B]

That's the opposite of what they like. Don't they like. Don't they say guys like side to side?

[A]

I think you're right. I love the eye contact line dancing.

[B]

You can do that like literally any dance class. And also it's good because you're probably gonna be supporting a local business too, doing that. And it's really like, it's a good way to just actually talk. Look each other in the eye and touch. What does Arthur Brooks say? You have to look in the eye, make eye contact and physical touch, it bonds you.

[A]

I always send Caleb any Arthur Brooks clips where he talks about eye contact. Cause I'm like, I think we both just run through the day and so sometimes I'm like, what do you look like today? I haven't looked in your eyes once.

[B]

No, it's easy to do.

[C]

I did a ballroom dance class with my dad once. Not once. We took classes cuz he was going to surprise my mom at prom, like our prom because they were chaperoning and dance with her like so I did them with him so he could learn the steps.

[A]

That is so sweet.

[B]

That's so sweet.

[C]

Right?

[A]

Oh my gosh. That's a great idea.

[B]

But I wouldn't have to do ballroom. We could do tango. We could do cha cha.

[A]

Spicy.

[B]

We could do anything.

[C]

Salsa.

[B]

I think that'd be fun. That'd be really fun.

[A]

That's a really good idea.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Also all of those are ballroom.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. Maybe your class will just be a mix of all of it or do.

[B]

You know what shimmies in there?

[A]

What is it a Walt? What kind of class is it? Do you know?

[B]

Except what do you mean?

[C]

Like those are all types of ballroom.

[B]

I get you now.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

What do you mean?

[C]

Do you know what is.

[A]

Yeah. What. What type of dance?

[C]

A Walt is a type of.

[B]

I don't think it's gonna be a waltz. Waltz. Is that the three? Three. One, two, three.

[A]

I think so.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

No, I don't know. I feel like that'd be a difficult one to start with.

[C]

Probably will Salsa.

[A]

I really think you guys are just doing this. You could try to get on Dancing with the Stars. I think I said that. Last time you mentioned farm dancing.

[B]

I mentioned this already.

[C]

I think so. She did say that.

[B]

I don't know when, but did I talk about this on the podcast?

[A]

You just kind of mentioned that you guys were gonna do it.

[B]

Oh yeah, yeah.

[A]

But these are the details.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

A date idea.

[A]

That sounds funny.

[C]

Sorry, audio listeners. Abby Is smacking her head on the mic. You will for sure.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

My first date is ice skating. I was just thinking, what's something easy, breezy, last minute? Like, in St. Louis, there's a really beautiful outdoor ice rink called Steinberg's. And it's so romantic. It's, you know, chilly, cold. You can get hot chocolate. You hold hands. If you're a bad skater like me, your husband basically holds you up the whole time. So lots of touch.

[B]

Lots of touch.

[A]

And it just. Yeah, you can talk while you skate. It's just like. I think it's something. It's good to be outside a little bit. You get fresh air. Just a little something different than going to a restaurant, you know, that's fun. So, yeah, if your town has something cute like that ice skating.

[B]

Some bass pro shops have it. I don't know if the ones out here do, but they have ice skating. Not in the parking lot.

[C]

Oh, yes.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. Oh.

[B]

And it's like. And they have, like, little fires. It's, like, really cute.

[A]

Cute. Do you think that's still a thing right now? In February, actually, now that I think.

[C]

About it, ice skating.

[B]

I feel like a lot of America is actually frozen right now.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You know what? You're right about that.

[B]

This category was art, and you got to know your husband for these because I have dragged Matt to a couple art ones. Surprisingly enough, he doesn't love them. He's happy that I'm having fun, but he does not love them. But I have one that I think most men would like more for. When we did, like, sip and paint. I think there's a lot. There's probably one in your area. There's a lot. This is, like, kind of a popular thing now. I like it because it's, like. It's creative, but it's structured.

[A]

Right.

[B]

They have. They walk you through how to do it. You're gonna get a decent painting. Like, not that you're necessarily gonna save it and put it up on your wall, but it's fun to just, like. It's casual. You get to talk and, like, do something fun.

[A]

Those are really fun.

[B]

Yeah, it's a really fun thing. And then if you're sipping on wine, it's, like, a little bit more elevated, too. Not. That wasn't. That didn't land great with Matt.

[A]

He didn't like that.

[B]

He didn't like it. No. I think. I think he also doesn't like being told, like, what to paint.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

And also, I don't think he cares to paint at all, actually. So I don't want to put words in his mouth. I think he's just. He really doesn't like to paint. He doesn't really like crafts.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Never liked crafts. But one that is really fun and is a little bit more niche is blown glass. We did this for a date and that. I feel like, guys, Caleb would be.

[A]

That is Caleb's dream date. Caleb would be a dream date.

[B]

There's places out here that do it. I know.

[A]

He was really jealous of that you guys did that.

[B]

It's really. It's a really fun thing to do, and I feel like it does. It's a little bit more masculine.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

And it's not easy, like, to do, and it's really kind of fun and cool. And then you get to take, like, a art piece home. Like, we use the glasses that we made there, and we also made, like, a paperweight and a vase, so it's like things that you're gonna use, and you just kind of have like, a little thing to remember it by. And I also just have so much appreciation now for people that do this. I was like, that was not. It seems easy.

[A]

I don't think it seems easy, personally.

[B]

Takes a lot of air pressure.

[A]

Yeah. I'm like, dang. You have glass with everything. Everything's glass. And then you watch how they make it, and you're like, they do this for every single cup in my kitchen.

[B]

No, they don't think they blow. All of them are not blown glass.

[A]

Oh. What are they?

[B]

I don't know. I think they just made me form it.

[A]

Oh. But I'm confused. Is that the only way that you can make glass?

[B]

No, I don't think so.

[A]

Oh. But it has a technique.

[B]

You know, glasses, sand.

[A]

Right. I feel like I did know that a long time ago, and I forgot until you just told me.

[B]

Isn't that crazy?

[A]

That is crazy.

[B]

That's crazy. No, I. There's got to be an easier way. There's no way that this is all blown glass.

[A]

I just gotta say, it'll be a million dollars.

[B]

Right. I'm telling you, it's a lot of work.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But if you can't blow up a balloon, you're not gonna be able to blow up some glass. But maybe your husband.

[A]

Your husband probably could.

[B]

And it's really fun, and it's cool. And you kind of. You get close because you have to spin it. And I'm like, I can't do it by myself. And it's like you're spinning it together. It's Fun. And it's something that's a little different. You get a little memento to take back with you.

[A]

That's cute.

[C]

They're either made from pressing a mold into the hot glass or blowing air into the glass.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Those Amazon glasses I have are molds.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I was going to say about the painting. I did that once with Blake for our one year anniversary. So when he was still into doing different things that aren't necessarily. But we did it. It was also during COVID So we did it at home. I don't know if they still do them, but you get sent home, you go pick up all the things you need. You can do it at home and there's a video that you follow to make the painting. So if you don't want to go.

[A]

Out, that's a good idea.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Something you can do at home. I like that. This is another at home idea. So I actually did this for Caleb. I've done it a couple times throughout our dating and marriage. I've done a themed movie night. And I'm not just saying, like light on the theme, heavy on the theme. I did a Harry Potter. We did a Harry Potter marathon in college and I made Slytherin soup. Like I made all these different foods and dips and huge spread. And I gave everything place cards that were designed and that I wrote in Harry Potter handwriting with different, like Harry Potter names. We watched the movie. I decorated the apartment. Kind of Harry Potter theme. I made his butterbeer like this. Went all out. It was really fun. It was so memorable. Like, we still talk about it. Another one that we did was when we watched the Last Dance. It was the NBA documentary about Michael Jordan.

[B]

Do you know that my dad has a hyper fixation on that? And he has watched it a thousand times. It's an amazing documentary. A thousand times. Really?

[A]

Well, maybe it just has to be playing. I love that. I love that. It's just always on the background.

[B]

My dad's hyper fixation is the Last Dance. Because they're like, does anyone want to watch the Last Dance? We're like, no. No. Fun fact about my father.

[C]

I didn't know that an exaggeration at all.

[B]

It's not an exaggeration.

[A]

I didn't know that. That's funny.

[B]

He's sick.

[A]

I mean, it's a great docu series, but we did it where we went to the. We went to the store and we each picked out like concession stand appetizers, like mozzarella sticks and pizza and all kinds of things. And we went Home and we just played the space jam them.

[B]

Why did we ate it? Same thing. We watched it. We watched a son's game at home and I got Wetzel's pretzels and we made like a basketball fruit pizza and we place.

[A]

He's so like a basketball. You have to. You have to. So that's something really fun. If you didn't want to go out to spend money, you want like an at home date night. Just go all out and pick a theme. It's. I told you. I think I said it last time. But the other one I did was a high tea and that one didn't quite land the same.

[B]

But did Caleb put his pinky up?

[A]

Yeah. He was such a good sport. But I was like this is maybe for the ladies.

[B]

Did you make like cucumbers?

[A]

Well I was like we were watching great British baking show at the time so we were really into British culture. So you know, just doing. Sticking to a theme.

[B]

That's cute.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

It's so memorable.

[B]

That's fun. You're a good wife.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

It's a lot of work. Yeah.

[A]

But it's so fun.

[B]

That is fun.

[A]

It's fun.

[B]

My last one we haven't done but I have wanted to do and I have actually partially planned this multiple times so I really need to make it happen. I want to go to just do a classic arcade date.

[A]

Oh, cute.

[B]

That would be really fun. I feel like. And like I just think about Dave and Buster's because it's more of like a semi adult one. But you could go to any random arcade in a mall. Do they still have those though?

[A]

Ones that are really big? The new chain that's going in everywhere.

[B]

Oh, fat cats.

[A]

No, no, no. It's. Oh my gosh. It's going to drive me nuts.

[B]

Fat cats would be fun.

[A]

It has and budget a bowling alley in it and an arcade and laser tag.

[C]

Fat cats Main event.

[A]

Main event.

[C]

Oh, they're in the main. Yeah.

[A]

Going everywhere. Yeah. And that's a great one.

[C]

There's like race car tracking.

[B]

I think that would be fun. Especially if you've been married for like six, seven years. Like just do something fun that you wouldn't necessarily do. Like something silly and like light. It would be really fun.

[A]

That would be really a little competition like laser tag.

[B]

That would be really fun and just silly. One time we also did like in a similar like buildings like fat cast main event. Some of them have these like VR like experiences and we did this zombie one one time. Okay. I did almost throw up it made me very motion sick. You're literally. It's so funny if you take your goggles off because you are just in an empty room. But I was, like, tiptoeing because I thought I was gonna, like, fall off this edge and there's, like, zombies. I was terrified. But it was, like, cute and fun that we, like. It wasn't cute, but it was fun to do together. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That would be a good double date option too, because, like, you have teams.

[A]

Yeah, that is fun.

[B]

But I'm like, I just want to do something, like, cheesy like that you see, like, in a romantic comedy.

[A]

Yeah. There's a reason. It's a tried and true.

[B]

It's fun. It's so fun. I want to do it. I want to win, like, a little prize.

[A]

Yeah, you go like this. Just cashing your tickets.

[B]

I think we'll probably go to fat Cats. Gosh.

[A]

Okay. Happy Valentine's Day.

[B]

You took the kids to fat Cats for Halloween this year.

[A]

I've never heard of this place.

[B]

Yeah, you surely have some maybe better than others.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

We talk about it a lot because thank goodness my kids are 2 and 3. We went. And there's a chase from Paw Patrol. Noah's Marshall. Not that it really matters, of course, as the most budget costume I've ever seen in my life. His head's falling off. He's not even wearing shoes. He has socks on as hands.

[A]

This is a guy dressed up like this. He's a mascot.

[B]

Some high school kid. And Griffin and I are like, marshall, Marshall. I was cracking up because I was like, yes, get a pink shirt. Sure.

[A]

Have you seen those videos? But you probably have it of girls dressing up as spider man for their nephew's birthday party. Comments are like, whoa. I know. Spider man had all of that.

[B]

That's funny. I've seen dads, like, dress up as stuff for their kids birthday party.

[A]

You know, it's like, Kirby. Oh, lady Curves. You know, on Spider Man.

[B]

That's funny. That's hilarious. I love them.

[A]

That's a good idea. Be like an arcade.

[B]

Cute and fun.

[A]

Classic.

[B]

I need to do that.

[A]

That'd be fun. That's a great one. My last one. I actually. A girl that we were friends with did this for her husband in Kansas City. She went on Turo and rented a sports car for the day. This is such a good idea. Okay. He had, like, a dream car. So if your man is like, got a dream car? Go on Turo. See if you can rent it for the day and just take it For.

[B]

A joyride, I rented a Kia Carnival for the day.

[A]

That's a different vibe. You're testing out mom cars.

[B]

Just.

[A]

We're testing out sports cars.

[B]

Either one. Either one could be fun.

[A]

I even. I think she actually got a photographer to go, like, pictures with the car.

[C]

I think that's fun.

[B]

I know.

[A]

It's just, like, a little different, creative.

[B]

If he's a car guy.

[A]

Yeah, they're a car guy. Go out on town. Go. Like, one time, Caleb did that for me in college, he borrowed his friend's Mustang. It was like, a really cool car. And I was like, whoa, baby. You know, it's just kind of different.

[B]

That's fun.

[A]

And we went out to dinner and had a good meal and then drove around the car, and it was so fun.

[B]

That's cool.

[A]

Yeah. So that's my last idea.

[B]

That's a good idea. Thank you for the car guys out there.

[A]

For the car guys. Okay, let's do. Let's do some gift ideas.

[B]

Matt and I both are terrible gift givers. I have to say that. But we do give time.

[A]

Really a bad gift giver.

[B]

Specifically, time out with each other.

[A]

Oh, sure.

[B]

We really don't do much. Sure. But we do give Valentine's Day gifts. What? Okay, so a free one.

[A]

Okay. Oh. Oh. Oh.

[B]

Well, never mind, Children.

[A]

No, no, it's not bad.

[B]

We do this every Valentine's Day. Maybe we can cut this.

[C]

I know what it is. I'm reading it.

[B]

But no, that's not even the one.

[C]

Oh, you changed it.

[B]

No, this is a free one that I didn't put on here.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

But we do do this every year, and I actually thought this year might be a pass. But then Matt brought it up. What? We do a lingerie photo shoot. Oh. Or not photo shoot. Oh, my gosh. Like a Runway. Like a Runway shoot. Like three. We don't even know. Not a photo shoot. But, like, I like. Well, like, he'll. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

You can try on spicy outfit. And you know what? They don't need anything, honestly. They just want to see you. And just a little. Not photo shoot. What's the word I'm looking for? Like a Runway. Like, yeah.

[C]

Catwalk.

[A]

A show.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

The last time I did that was at my bachelorette party.

[B]

Oh, I think. Yeah. Yeah, we do it every Valentine's Day.

[C]

That's sweet.

[A]

I'm sorry. A photo shoot. I would have passed away. I'd be like, you have to cut that.

[B]

I can't say.

[A]

But we have to keep.

[B]

I can't say. Photos are never taken.

[A]

Okay, Matt and Ivy's camera roll is not safe. We okay, which is why Matt got us mine's also.

[B]

I am not kidding.

[A]

We gotta talk about this often. I need to know later. Okay, mine first one. This is the $1 sign. Really sexy too. A car wash subscription. Honestly, I want that. Isn't that a great gift idea? Men are so practical. And it's the gift that keeps on giving every month. You're Gonna pay your 20 to $40.

[B]

Quick quack car wash.

[A]

Yes, exactly. And they're gonna go get a nice shiny car. They're gonna vacuum. Vacuum the inside. They're gonna be like, my wife is the best.

[B]

They're gonna vacuum.

[A]

They're gonna think every month when they have their unlimited car washes and their unlimited free vacuums and their unlimited air tire pressure pumper uppers. Yes, yes.

[B]

Sign him up. Sign him up. And then you get a clean car out of it.

[A]

And maybe he'll take your car too. And it's the gift that literally keeps on giving.

[B]

That's a good idea.

[A]

Thanks.

[B]

Okay, my actual $1 sign one conversation decks. Oh, you can get them on Amazon. So it's last minute. Look it up. They have an intimacy deck and, like a deck for couples. But we love these, like, they. And I'm not saying intimacy and like. Okay, well, that's my other second one. Of course, you could get a sexy deck if you want.

[A]

The adventure challenge book. Sexy edition.

[B]

That too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm talking about like a 52 card. Oh, just pull one out randomly. You could do that one. Or I'm talking about the conversation ones. Really? Because PG13. They're great. They're really great for date nights for the rest of the year. Like, when you're not doing, like, big, planned, unique dates. Like, it's fun to, like, have one to, like, I don't know, spark conversation. A rule we have for date nights is that we try to follow is not to talk about the kids or work. And so sometimes, gosh, we're like, I know we have a lot to talk about. We need to kind of spark something else. Cause this is all I'm thinking about right now is kids and work. And so this is a good thing to, like, kind of spark. And you're not going to just like, sit there and read those cards the whole night. But it will, like, spark more fun conversation. Or you can do a sexy deck too.

[A]

Just do both.

[B]

Do both with that.

[A]

Okay, my next gift. This is the $2 set is a leather. Good. I got Caleb A journal. It's like a refillable journal so you can reuse it. And obviously it's leather. And I had his initial stamped in it and then his favorite Bible verse on it. And he's used that since. I think he's used that for maybe eight years.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

And it just gets better looking over time. It's like kind of rugged, masculine. They're not that expensive. And it's something that he's going to use forever. And every time he looks at it, I hope he thinks of me a little bit.

[B]

That was top filled.

[A]

Yeah. And I thought that or a wallet. A wallet is a good one. Do you have that on your list?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. The last time I thought this was a funny story, I bought cable wallet like 10 years ago when we were in college. And I remember I went into Macy's. I never shopped at Macy's. And I went in there, I was like, okay, I'm getting this wallet. The lady asks me, do you want to sign up to get a discount? I said, sure. So I'm going through the.

[B]

You got a credit card?

[A]

She goes, what's your Social Security number?

[B]

It's always that one.

[A]

I go, wait, why do you need that? For my email address to give me an email. Like sign me up for your email list. She goes, no, you're. Honey, you're opening up a credit card. I go, oh, I do not want to do that. So I caught myself. But I almost opened up. Amazing credit card, but a wallet. He still uses it to this day.

[B]

Oh, that's awesome.

[A]

Time for probably to get him a new one.

[B]

That was actually my three dollar sign one. Like a leather wallet. I was thinking of like, sorry, no, you didn't steal it. That was a good idea.

[A]

Thanks.

[B]

Men are hard to shop for.

[A]

They really are.

[B]

My two dollar sign one was fancy boxers like Tommy John's.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like they're not gonna buy themselves nice underwear, but let's be real, they need some new ones.

[A]

You know my scale of all of his underwear? My mom.

[B]

My mom Abby. That's crazy.

[A]

No, she's just like, I went to Lululemon and I got these on sale and she'll just pick up packs of boxers for everybody. Whoa. For everybody.

[B]

She has no sons.

[A]

Right? Exactly. Her son in law said my dad.

[B]

Well, that's funny. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. So get your bins and undies.

[B]

Yeah, Like Tommy John's are actually. They're very expensive, but they're really nice. And every time Matt is like, like, I like, I really like. These are so Much better than other ones. They're really nice. Yeah.

[A]

Good quality stuff. It's the stuff you only. It's all that you reach for when you. Yeah.

[B]

And it feels like an appropriate Valentine's Day gift.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Maybe my head's in the gutter.

[A]

Always.

[B]

Gosh.

[A]

My last one. And maybe we could. We can check on this one together. An NBA or NHL ticket. And then get them a jersey or a hat or something fun to wear to the game. And if their favorite team is out of state, plan a trip.

[B]

Oh, fun.

[A]

That's three dollar signs, baby.

[B]

Well, I was gonna say you could go to the suns game for $8.

[A]

Are they bad this year?

[B]

Just depending on who they play.

[C]

They traded away all their, like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Good guys.

[B]

Other stars. So it could be a $1 sign that. But depending on where you're going.

[A]

Totally.

[C]

Get them a jersey then, too.

[B]

Yeah. That would be way more than the ticket.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Your nachos would be more than the ticket. Gosh dang.

[A]

Surely.

[B]

I mean. Yeah, they almost. He almost took the boys. I think they were playing the Kings basketball team. Yeah. Okay. That's what you're talking about. Not that popular, apparently.

[A]

The Kings as a team. LA Kings. Wait, that's hockey. Wait, wait. I pride myself on knowing sports. And I don't know.

[C]

The Sacramento Kings.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Basketball is really fun to watch, and I don't even like sports. So live basketball, even if it's not like NBA.

[A]

Oh, it's a circus.

[B]

But NBA especially is like. Whoa, whoa, whoa. So fun. That's a good idea.

[A]

Pop music. They have every second that the clock stops, they have people out there doing a performance.

[B]

Oh, yeah. It's a full show. There's no downtime.

[A]

No, it's really fun.

[B]

The mascots are also hilarious. A lot of the times the sun's one is hilarious. The ape.

[A]

Oh, yeah. I guess I wasn't about that.

[B]

He's funny.

[A]

They do a good job.

[C]

Yeah, you can be in the nose moods and it's so fun.

[B]

He gets paid well.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yes. We looked it up.

[A]

I actually knew someone, though. It's a professional mascot.

[C]

This is the sun's gorilla.

[B]

The sun's gorilla.

[A]

Is that how it is? Okay, well, let's talk to the marketing team about a more creative name.

[C]

The name the gorilla or go. The gorilla. Oh, his name goes.

[B]

Okay, maybe. Yeah. Interesting.

[A]

Interesting.

[C]

Great.

[B]

Well, that's a really good idea. Yeah.

[A]

I hope this gave you guys some inspo.

[B]

Yeah, that's fun.

[A]

Last minute. Left your last minute, girlies. Like the Abbeys. These are some of your ideas I forgot to talk about. Well, there are two things we forgot to mention at the beginning. One, we're not wearing our sweatsets. So we're mixing it up, people.

[B]

We're mixing it up.

[A]

Mixing it up.

[B]

I really gotta get some more pink and red in my wardrobe. Same.

[A]

Actually, thinking about that, I was going, let's go shopping.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

And then also people, I was reading the comments from last episode. They like the Always Homies. I did see that there were some other good suggestions. Oh, also, my book club book is delayed, so I haven't started it yet.

[B]

You need a Kindle.

[C]

Yeah, people were saying that too. Like they're. It's on back order and things like that. So I'm like. They were saying maybe mix in a new release and then like a non. Like next month.

[B]

It's also supposed to be free on Audible.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And you have an Audible subscription.

[C]

You can just call the listeners. Abby too.

[A]

Oh, hello, Abby's.

[C]

Oh, blabbers. Or the Abblers.

[A]

That's what it was. The Always Honeys.

[B]

That's cute.

[A]

That's really cute.

[B]

That's cute too. Okay, well, between Always put on the Instagram Always Homies are Always Honeys, because those are real.

[A]

I feel like one is masculine, one's feminine.

[B]

That's true.

[C]

Everyone who commented Always Homies did the.

[B]

Peace sign with has to have that. We asked on Friday night. I asked Caleb and Matt which one of which, Abby, was girlier because I did not know what they were gonna say.

[A]

Right.

[B]

But they said me.

[A]

Yeah, I think so too.

[B]

Which we were talking about this on our call.

[A]

But it.

[B]

I have a theory that all girl households can be the grossest. Like, because maybe they feel like that someone has to be like, a little bit more. I shouldn't say grossest, but, like, we were.

[A]

We were gross.

[B]

They are maybe more masculine than you think.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Then, like in a household with boy and girl, like, you, like, fall more into the feminine. Like, huh.

[A]

You can't have three really, really girly girls in a house. It probably need to have a balance of.

[B]

No, that was all the all girl families I knew. They kind of. Yeah, way this way.

[A]

Totally. Ask, Ask, Ask Abby. Hey, guys.

[B]

I love watching your show and listening.

[A]

I was just curious how you and your husband, like, decide who's gonna do this special thing for Valentine's Day each year. Do you have, like, a process of. You do it one year, your husband does another year just wandering. Love you guys.

[B]

Cute. That's a good question. Yeah, we kind of touched on that, like, we take turns on years because it is fun to, like, plan a date, but it's also fun to, like, be surprised.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I think being clear is also good, because then you don't, like, go into it like, I thought you were gonna do something. I don't think it has to always be the husband planning it right for the wife for Valentine's Day.

[A]

Yeah, I agree. Caleb knows that I definitely want flowers, and I'll be sad if he doesn't give me flowers. That's, like, the one thing that I'm like, he'll be have to do. But a lot of times we end up planning the date together. Okay. Like, that restaurant sounds good. Let's do that. It's more of a conversation, but I like the switch off, switch on idea. Hi, Abby. And, Abby, I love your show. My cute Valentine's Day story is that when I first started dating my now fiance over seven years ago, we had dinner in, like, his college apartment, and he made me spaghetti and meatballs and, like, bought a dessert. And then later, we were talking about something, and I looked up something on his phone, and his top Google search was how to make spaghetti and meatballs fancy, which was the cutest, sweetest moment ever. So now we always have spaghetti and meatballs for Valentine's Day.

[B]

Oh, that's so.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

You're so sweet. He's like, what do I need?

[A]

The effort is amazing.

[B]

That's sweet.

[A]

Yeah, it's just the effort. It's like, it could have been the nastiest spaghetti meatballs of all time, but then seeing that Google search, you're like, this.

[B]

He's like, I'm gonna see you, babe.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

That's amazing.

[B]

And I love that you carried that tradition out to, like, future Valentine's.

[A]

Yeah. That's amazing. Hey, y'. All, I really enjoy listening to Yalls podcast, so thank you so much.

[B]

One question I have for you is, where is some of the best places.

[A]

You have ever traveled to?

[B]

Tropical mountains abroad in the U.S. what are your best travel recommendations? Thank you. I feel like my answer is so different. Like, pre kids and post kids. Like, yeah, after kids, it's very different. Like, you're experiencing locations in a very different way.

[A]

Oh, that's true.

[B]

I mean, we had a really fun trip to Nashville last year. Was that last year when you stayed.

[A]

There over the summer?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I was like, nashville would be a really great place for either pre or post kids. Sure. Like, it has both there. That was really, really fun. And I feel like you could do it fairly inexpensively or you could do like, go all out. Like you could go to Broadway and like, see all the lights and the shows and all the people. Or you could also have like, go outside to like Franklin and have like a really sweet, like, brunch experience. And it's also just beautiful and nice weather and everyone's very friendly. So I feel like that was a really fun place to travel that I didn't necessarily. I know Nashville's like booming, but I didn't necessarily think of it as like a travel destination for some reason.

[A]

Yeah, I guess I feel like when we grew up in St. Louis, it was so close that people would go like on the weekends a lot. But I never really went. I've only been once.

[B]

Like, people here fly to Nashville.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I think Caleb and I would really enjoy it and go and have a fun trip. I think for. I'm gonna do one domestic and then do you want to do one international?

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Okay. I loved when we went to Oregon.

[B]

Oh, that was so.

[A]

The Oregon coast is really beautiful and I wish we had more time there because they have got national parks and the beaches so beautiful. And I feel like it feels just so unique within America.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

It's just such a unique landscape.

[B]

Specifically the coast.

[A]

The coast, yeah. Oh, I want to go back.

[B]

Cuz we flew into Portland and I was like, I don't know much about Portland.

[A]

I don't either. And we drove to the night. We didn't even see anything.

[B]

Yeah, don't do that.

[A]

That was actually horrifying. I thought we were going to die. We like. We landed really late and the driver was just. I kept watching him. I was trying like this. I could not close my eyes. The fog, you couldn't see feet in front of the car.

[B]

It was going so fast.

[A]

Barreling down this road and he was just drinking coffee. It was like three in the morning. I'm like, this dude's falling asleep. So I was so scared.

[B]

That's a really good one.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And good food and it's.

[A]

Oh, the chowder.

[B]

It's unexpected. It's. I feel like for me, like that was a really unexpected.

[A]

Me too.

[B]

Really good.

[A]

That was really great.

[B]

Okay, international. You do your international one first.

[A]

I was just gonna say Italy. Caleb and I are on our honeymoon. We went to. We did a couple different spots in Europe and obviously the Amalfi coast was the most gorgeous place ever. And it's so walkable. It was not that expensive. It was just amazing. We stayed in a little town called Atrani which is connected to Amalfi by a tunnel. So you could walk to the big cities and you could take the little water boats to all the little coastal cities along the Amalfi coast. It was so amazing. We did a cooking class. I mean, there were just so many. We hiked one day. It was a little bit of everything. Beach, mountain, city, all in one. It was insane. I want to go back.

[B]

We haven't done, like, a ton of international travel together, but I was gonna say Croatia, because I was surprised by, like, how much fun we had in Croatia. And obviously anywhere in Europe there is a ton of history. And so. And I'm not. I wouldn't consider myself a history buff, but that is. There's something you're in it. It's good when you travel to, like, learn about the history of, like, where you're going. And it's just also so outside of the normal of what you're used to seeing in America, that it is, like, very interesting and beautiful. But I'm actually gonna say Mexico. We love going to Mexico. And I feel like you can get a lot of different things there. Also a lot of history, but then also, like, you can hike, you can go in the ocean, you can have amazing cuisine. And honestly, it's fairly inexpensive. And yeah, I think it's close. It's close. I mean, that's the other thing too, is I think, like, it's a two hour flight.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

To. Yeah, to Cabo.

[A]

What part of Mexico do you go to?

[B]

We've gone to Puerto Vallarta, which is further. A lot further. Yeah, like a lot further. Which is. Mexico is huge.

[A]

I was gonna say we went to the east side. It was really far.

[B]

Actually, no, from Cabo. It's two hours to Cabo.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Okay. So that's really nice if it's like, you don't want to get. Go too far from the kids, but you want to do a little. I mean, you're literally international travel.

[A]

Yay, baby. Hi, Abby's.

[B]

My name is Ellen, and this is.

[A]

My first time calling into a podcast. I'm so excited. But I have a just kind of for funsies question.

[B]

I know y' all have been talking.

[A]

About books that you love, starting the book club soon. So my question is, if you could.

[B]

Act in one of your favorite books adapted into a movie, what book would it be? And which character would you want to.

[A]

Play in the movie? Love you guys and love the podcast.

[B]

I thought of one.

[A]

Ellen, what a fun question.

[B]

That is such a fun one.

[A]

Immediately, I thought of one too.

[B]

Okay, which one? What? What is this spicy?

[A]

The clickbooks. No, I'm just kidding. I'm not kidding. But as an adult, probably my favorite book was the Nightingale. I don't necessarily want to act out that movie, but to be the girl that was the nightingale and act it out would be insane.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What a fun and hard role.

[B]

I think they're making a movie of that one, right? So I didn't get picked for the part. Dang it. You just made me think. When you said click, I was like, oh, my gosh. My dream as a kid would have been Nancy Drew. And I loved that movie. But I was also terrified of that movie. When she looked up into. Or when he. The guy driving the car looked up into the rear view mirror and had the two different eyes, I remember just, like, gripping my seat. Yeah. Blake were both terrified.

[A]

That was such a good movie. I actually did audition for the clique movie.

[B]

You're kidding. No.

[A]

They had, like, mailing mail in tapes. No, no, no. I don't even think I, like, mailed in my tape, but I spent all day filming my, like, self tape click movie, and I don't think my mom ever sent it. Dang it.

[B]

That was your chance. That was your chance.

[A]

But I tried.

[B]

You did. I immediately thought of the Bodyguard by Katherine center, because I remember reading that character, and I was like, I feel like I'm her. Like, she's very, like, clumsy and, like, she doesn't take herself very seriously. And. But she is also kind of awkward. Like, I don't know. And so basically, it's like she gets hired to be this bodyguard of this, like, celebrity, and she's not like. She's like, we're not like, the. A big buff bodyguard men. She's like, our job is to go, like, think of everything in advance so it doesn't come to that. And so she's, like, smart and, like. But anyway, her character is just so funny.

[C]

I love that. That book. It's actually getting made into. I just looked it up. It's made into a movie, and they have already casted it. Do you know who Leighton Meester is?

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Fun.

[C]

Yeah. She's gonna be the main character. She was in Gossip Girl.

[B]

Do I look like her?

[A]

No.

[C]

No.

[B]

And then Jerry short. I feel like she has to be a short.

[C]

And then Jared maybe.

[B]

I don't know who lay this.

[A]

You wouldn't recognize her if you saw her. She's been in a ton of stuff.

[B]

Okay. She is not who I pictured I pictured, like, a short.

[A]

You pictured yourself? She.

[C]

Also, he doesn't look like he's gonna be that big of a bodyguard.

[B]

Well, he's a celebrity.

[C]

Oh, you're right. She's the bodyguard.

[B]

That's not what I pictured in my head.

[A]

Addie, what would you say? Gosh, what was the first thing?

[C]

Nothing came to mind. Because I'm like, I. More so if I just think about, like, books that I want to be adapted into movies is more. Every single book that I read, I'm like, ah, I want to see this as a movie. The patience getting made into a movie. I would not want to act in that. No.

[B]

No, I don't even.

[C]

I fell for an AI Trailer of that movie.

[B]

I hate that I fell for an AI Trailer. I fell for an AI Disney, like, really bad movie, like, poster.

[A]

The men. AI, Please.

[B]

Seriously, don't.

[A]

Please. Save it for the men.

[C]

Keep it for the men.

[A]

Okay, what have I. I'm trying to think through. I'm like, I said the Nightingale because I just feel like I haven't read that.

[B]

Abby, have you ever finished Daisy Jones in the six?

[A]

I'm gonna be honest.

[B]

You don't like it?

[A]

I like it, but I'm not, like, flying through it.

[C]

Okay. The first thing that came to my head was the perfect marriage. Okay.

[B]

No, we wouldn't be good at that. She's a lawyer. Huh?

[C]

She's a lawyer in the murders.

[B]

She would be good at that. I could see that.

[C]

Why is that the first one that came out?

[A]

What movie could you see me being in?

[B]

I was gonna say maybe Daisy Jones in the six. That would be really bad.

[C]

That would make sense. Okay. I actually have my answers. It'd be Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. That's my favorite book. I read it. It was so good. She was a doctor. They like, Love Story, but they write each other letters.

[B]

Cute.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

That's a fun question.

[A]

It's a really fun question. And, Ellen, thanks for calling in. Calling again. We. You got creative questions.

[B]

Awesome. Well, thanks, guys, so much for sending in your questions. And like we said a couple times, we have a book club now. Yeah, we already have members, so that's very, very exciting. Our book this month is My Husband's Wife, and we're just gonna read it in the month of February by Alice Feeney.

[C]

There's.

[B]

By Alice Feeney. Surprising that there's more than one of those. I know.

[C]

Have you guys started yet?

[A]

No, mine hasn't even arrived yet.

[B]

I need to finish the book. I'm on.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Taken me a Hot minute.

[A]

Don't worry, I'll buckle down. I will finish it by the 28th for sure.

[B]

Hey, and also, if there's something in there that you're like, oh, well, I can't believe we haven't read it. That's kind of the whole point.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

I want to have fun.

[A]

Too blind.

[B]

So, yeah. Thank you to everyone who wrote in, who's joined the book club, and also thank you to those of you who have engaged with our podcast in really any capacity, but especially those of you that have actually rated us five stars and written reviews. I want to read a review right now. This one says, proud to be an always homie. I think we gotta use that one.

[A]

Is that gonna stick?

[B]

I think it might stick. Caleb. She gave us five stars and she said, I'm loving always here. It literally feels like I'm on the couch with you guys. I appreciate the transparency and vulnerability you guys bring to the podcast, making it feel relatable and authentic. Proud to be and always homey.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

So cute. So thank you so, so much. Yeah, if you also feel so inclined to write a review, it would make us very, very happy. Yeah, that username is AGW7000. I wish I knew this person's name, but thank you guys so much.

[A]

Yes. Okay, if you guys want to leave a voicemail, a question, it could be a cute story, a funny story, a question for us, advice, whatever it may be. You guys can call 602-456-9690 and leave your questions there. Thank you guys so much for doing comment down below.

[B]

Any other date night ideas? You better hurry because it's tomorrow, tomorrow. So heads up.

[C]

Prime your gift.

[B]

Amazon prime your gift. A lot of these are on prime, so just hurry up on that.

[A]

I think that's it. Remember, we're always here.