GETTING READY FOR HOLIDAY TO-DOS

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Getting Ready for Holiday To-Dos" – The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Release Date: November 7, 2024

Hosts: Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John

In the "Getting Ready for Holiday To-Dos" episode of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz, hosts Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John dive into the bustling preparations for the holiday season, share personal parenting experiences, offer beauty and self-care tips, discuss recent purchases, and present insightful auto industry news. The episode culminates with heartfelt listener stories honoring Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Below is a detailed breakdown of the episode's key segments and discussions.

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1. Embracing the Holiday Season

Holiday Preparations and Traditions

Kelly and Lizz kick off the episode by immersing themselves in holiday preparations. They discuss the excitement of bringing out Christmas trees early, shopping for festive decorations, and selecting unique stockings for their children.

• Kelly: "I'm getting my Christmas tree out ASAP." (03:16)

• Lizz: "I order my stockings from Land's End and they are beautiful." (03:56)

The sisters emphasize the joy of customizing holiday items to reflect their children's personalities, sharing anecdotes about picking out stocking designs and integrating family traditions into their festivities.

2. Parenting: Navigating the Joys and Challenges

Recognizing Kidless Spaces and Parenting Isolation

Kelly touches upon the concept of "kidless space," reflecting on moments of respite that parents cherish amidst their busy lives.

• Kelly: "When you are in that free moment of not having a kid, you're able to recognize the kidless space." (01:22)

They also delve into the feelings of isolation that can accompany parenthood, especially for those who are among the first in their social circles to have children. The conversation highlights the importance of acknowledging one's current life phase and seeking supportive communities.

3. Beauty and Self-Care: Managing the 'Ugly Era'

Makeup Routines and Self-Confidence

Lizz introduces the concept of the "ugly era," where makeup routines become sporadic due to the demands of parenting.

• Lizz: "Sometimes your ugly shines through like, you know what you did to cover it up and to find something else." (15:30)

To combat this, Kelly shares her secret weapon—a spray tan—and discusses the challenges of maintaining beauty routines while breastfeeding.

• Kelly: "It's a spray tan." (15:41)

Lizz counters with her own beauty adjustments, like switching to silver jewelry to freshen her look, inspiring Kelly to consider similar changes.

• Lizz: "I switched my earrings and my jewelry to silver." (16:33)

4. Recent Purchases: "Last Three Transactions"

Kelly's and Lizz's Recent Buys

In the "Last Three Transactions" segment, Kelly and Lizz reveal recent expenses, offering listeners a glimpse into their personal lives and priorities.

• Kelly: Purchased a fabric shaver to remove pilling from her couches for $18.71. (23:01)

• Lizz: Bought the Gold Shift dual ride Evenflo stroller, praising its quality over competitors. (24:55)

• Kelly: Acquired six cardigans from Target to stay stylish and comfortable while breastfeeding. (26:00)

Lizz candidly shares her experience purchasing a towel warmer, reflecting on her child's reaction and contemplating its practicality.

• Lizz: "Tyler laughed at me and said, are you serious? He's like, we're not." (35:55)

5. Transitioning Toddler from Bottle to Sippy Cups

Ditching the Bottle: Tips and Challenges

Kelly discusses her journey transitioning her 16-month-old from bottles to sippy cups, sharing strategies and setbacks.

• Kelly: "I'm making much more intentional steps towards ditching the bottle." (33:54)

She outlines her approach of introducing different types of cups for morning, evening, and daytime, aiming to reduce spills and encourage independence.

6. Parenting Styles: Comfort vs. Spoiling

Balancing Comfort and Independence in Children

Lizz and Kelly explore the delicate balance between providing comfort and avoiding overindulgence in their children. They debate parenting hacks, such as warming clothes to encourage kids to dress themselves, and the potential implications of such methods.

• Lizz: "If you're, like, love them and comfort them without making them so dependent on or just like babies?" (38:36)

The conversation underscores the complexities of fostering independence while ensuring children feel loved and supported.

7. Auto Industry Insights: Used vs. New Car Pricing

Record Gap Between New and Used Car Prices

Shifting gears to their expertise in the auto industry, Kelly and Lizz discuss a significant trend: the widening price gap between new and used cars. They highlight that:

• The average new car costs around $47,000 in Q3.
• The average used car costs approximately $27,000.
• This represents a record-breaking $20,000 price gap. (39:46)

They analyze the implications for consumers, noting that while used cars become more attractive, the lack of rebates and high financing rates make new cars less accessible.

Ferrari's Durability and the Flooded Car Market

Further industry news covers the remarkable longevity of Ferraris, with 90% still on the road, thanks to Ferrari's pre-owned market programs. Additionally, they address the impact of recent hurricanes, emphasizing the surge in flood-damaged cars entering the used market.

• Lizz: "Believe it or not, 90% of all Ferraris are still on the road." (41:00)

They provide tips for spotting flood-damaged vehicles, advising listeners to inspect for moisture, rust, and electrical issues to make informed purchasing decisions.

8. Expert Tips: Dinner Recipes and Kids' Eating Habits

Delicious and Nutritious Dinner Solutions

In the "Drive Thru" segment, Kelly and Lizz share easy dinner recipes to help listeners break out of their culinary routines.

• Lizz: Shares her favorite recipe—a turkey taco skillet with ground turkey, taco seasoning, and zucchini, topped with cheese. (46:12)

Kelly recommends a simple hack to reduce picky eating by sprinkling dried parsley on meals, encouraging children to become accustomed to subtle green flavors.

• Kelly: "Just sprinkle a little bit of dried parsley on anything that your kids are going to eat." (48:06)

9. Blake's Besties: Honoring Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness

Heartfelt Listener Stories

Concluding the episode, Kelly and Lizz honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month by sharing poignant stories submitted by listeners, providing a platform for healing and community support.

1. Bailey's Story Bailey recounts the devastating loss of her first baby shortly after marriage and pregnancy. Rebounding with a second pregnancy, she finds solace and healing with the birth of her baby girl a year later, believing her first baby was sent to guide their family through grief.

   • Bailey: "Every year on her birthday, she'll be—for this year, I remember the heartbreak I felt on December 15, 2019, and the complete healing I felt on December 5, 2020." (50:45)

2. Caitlin's Story Caitlin shares her experience of discovering her baby's heartbeat had ceased at her 12-week appointment, leading to a natural miscarriage. The support from The Carpool community provides her comfort during this painful time.

   • Caitlin: "Grief came to you, my friend, because love came first." (52:12)

Kelly and Lizz express profound empathy, acknowledging the deep pain of their listeners while recognizing their own journey to understanding and supporting those who've endured such losses.

• Kelly: "I think it's always like, the moms I've talked to...they'd still go through all of it for minutes, for moments with your babies." (53:05)

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Conclusion

The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz delivers a heartwarming and insightful episode that seamlessly blends holiday preparations, parenting challenges, beauty tips, personal transactions, and critical auto industry news. By sharing personal stories and listener experiences, Kelly and Lizz foster a sense of community and support, making this episode a must-listen for millennial moms navigating the complexities of modern motherhood and beyond.

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Notable Quotes:

• Kelly: "Get your Christmas tree out." (03:16)
• Lizz: "I order my stockings from Land's End and they are beautiful." (03:56)
• Kelly: "I'm making much more intentional steps towards ditching the bottle." (33:54)
• Lizz: "If you're, like, love them and comfort them without making them so dependent on or just like babies?" (38:36)
• Lizz: "Believe it or not, 90% of all Ferraris are still on the road." (41:00)
• Bailey: "Every year on her birthday, she'll be—for this year, I remember the heartbreak I felt on December 15, 2019, and the complete healing I felt on December 5, 2020." (50:45)
• Caitlin: "Grief came to you, my friend, because love came first." (52:12)

Note: Timestamps are indicative and correspond to the transcript provided.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Let's get some fireball. Let's get a little apple cider. Let's put it in like the proper like chinat to go cup and let's sit my butt at the bonfire. Yeah, and that's what I want to do.

[A]

And Liz, when you are in that free moment of not having a kid, you're able to recognize the kidless space. Someone who's never had kids can't recognize a kidless space. Your mom. Time off starts now.

[B]

Welcome back to the Carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. Happy Thursday.

[A]

So we're recording this a week out and what's spooky is that we could know the results of the election on this day. And like we don't know it right now, but it's like the neck. We're gonna know the net who the next president is and that's wild to me.

[B]

Yeah, that's crazy. I didn't even think about it. Like that kind of snuck up on me, the old election.

[A]

I know, Me too.

[B]

Well, get out and vote. We're hopeful you did.

[A]

Oh, yeah, it's too late to vote. Hopefully you got out and voted and well, we'll see what happens.

[B]

And it's going to be okay. And we're all going to be nice to each other and that's what I'd like to say about that.

[A]

Yeah, I hope, I hope. I actually have no idea what's going on no, truly, like, I'm genuinely, like, so nervous because I think, like, either way, I could see things, like, not going well.

[B]

Well, some people are happy, some people are sad. That's, that's, that's how the cookie crumbles on these things. Yeah. And, yeah, it's just kind of an interesting time politically, and I'd like to segue away from this conversation in any way possible.

[A]

Yeah, no, and we will. And we will. I just, like, felt like we needed to, like, address the elephant in the room, which is we might know who our new next president is, but at the time of this recording, we don't know. So that's how we're not really going to address it. And we don't address politics on this. On this.

[B]

No. And we're moving into November. And what to move into November with is. It's. We're in the holiday season.

[A]

Kel. Yes. Get your Christmas tree out. I'm getting my Christmas tree out asap.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. It's November. I mean, I'm not gonna. Won't bore you with the trope of it's too early for things. I'm not gonna play that game. You set it up when it's comfortable for you. Okay. Like, I'm not gonna yuck anyone's yums on that, but things I'm excited for for Christmas, obviously, my Christmas card, it actually is getting delivered today. And I'm so excited. And I'm going to literally drive my butt straight to Marshalls or HomeGoods and pick me out of frame.

[A]

Yeah. Can't wait.

[B]

Because that's what I need to do. Also, I get to order a stocking.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Now I know you have a mother in law who makes you. Makes you stockings. Like needlepoint stockings.

[A]

They're beautiful.

[B]

They're beautiful. I order my stockings from Land's End and they are. There is not, like hand needle pointed, but it's that look, they're monogrammed. You're like out the door for less than $40.

[A]

I don't, I do not understand how they are that affordable.

[B]

And it's good. It might be more than. It might be 50 by the time you get the monogram, but it's a good. It feels good. Yeah. And I'm so excited to get Libby stocking.

[A]

Yeah. And it's so fun to pick out things like that for your kids. Like, my mother in law let me pick out the designs for. Actually, she didn't let me pick out the one for Sloan. She picked it out. And it was a very girly One, and it was the one I was gonna pick out if we had a girl, but she started making it before we knew if we were gonna have a boy or a girl. But anyway, it's so her vibe. I just love picking out custom things for your kids to like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Showcase their different personalities and things like that.

[B]

Well, and I think the stockings, you kind of have to grow with it because, you know, you don't know. Yeah, we got them when they were as babies, but I do think Libby's. I haven't. I haven't liked Josiah yet, but go end. If you're looking, they have one with bells on it. And sometimes I call her, like, Libby Bell because we call her Liberty.

[A]

So you call her Literary Liberty Bell. Oh, I think you should hear the bells.

[B]

I think I'm gonna get her the bells.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Liberty Bell.

[A]

Yeah, I think that's cute.

[B]

I also have started calling her Olivia.

[A]

Yeah, that's weird. You should stop that. I don't think that one's gonna catch on. I call her Liberty Liberty more than I call her Libby. Yeah.

[B]

I call her Liberty. And I actually. I like, actually have made me kind of like the name Liberty.

[A]

I mean, it's giving to grassy.

[B]

It's so giving to grassy.

[A]

Wasn't there a character named Liberty?

[B]

Yeah. Gosh, I cannot believe we were allowed to watch that show for not being. For having to watch Hannah Montana. We were 15. I guess mom just never sat down and actually knew what Degrassi was about.

[A]

Yeah, that was crazy. Yeah.

[B]

So anyway, I am going to be purchasing Libby's stocking. And I don't know, I just kind of have, like, a whole new house. And I. I was such a holiday, like, and I'm still a holiday minimalist. Like, I'm never going to be a Macy Blackwell. Like, just. Just for a multitude of reasons. But I am kind of excited to buy maybe a few Christmas decorations for my new house because now we have, like, you know, some more places to put some things. And you have bookshelves. I have bookshelves. I have to get a bigger. I'd like to get a bigger tree, so I might see. I might hit up Costco for a bigger tree.

[A]

Well, you have very tall ceilings now.

[B]

Yeah. So I don't know. I'm. I'm very excited for. For that. And, like, you know, we did the other day, which just felt it. You just gotta remember, like, you don't have to do a ton to, like, make it a big tradition kind of thing.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

But I wanted to. I guess I was Having mom guilt because I, you know, I'm kind of going back to work and I just kind of feel bad. Whatever, whatever. I had mom guilt and I was like, I'm gonna make like monster cookie bars with the kids. I like saw it on Pinterest. I was like, how hard can this be? I was able to instacart like grocery pickup. Googly eyeballs or eyeball sprinkles. M M's chocolate chips. And we made monster cookie bars. And like they thought like, you also just like called it a monster cookie bar. And now it's seasonal. Like it was just a cookie bar like I. But we added these sprinkles and now it's seasonal. So I think I'm just gonna be like, okay, now we're gonna make, you know, whatever snowflake cookie bars.

[A]

Yeah, totally.

[B]

Turkey cookie bar. And you just like get the sprinkles or whatever to make it a seasonal to do. Yeah, I just think that's where you can kind of get a little magic in there, you know?

[A]

Well, speaking of seasonal to do's, I saw this on Instagram and I feel like there's always something new on like what to do with your kids Halloween candy. And I'm very. I've seen a lot more this year that are just like, stop trying to do everything. I just let them eat their stupid candy.

[B]

I've seen that too.

[A]

However, here is, here's just like this doesn't really help the sugar intake at all, but it does. It did look good. And it's kind of a fun idea is to make cookies, just regular cookies, like chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips, and then cut up a bunch of different types of candies like Snickers, Reese's M&Ms, like all the chocolatey candy and mix them in the cookie dough. So it's like instead of putting chocolate chips, you put crushed up Halloween candy and then you have these like candy cookies.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Which again doesn't help the sugar intake. Makes it worse actually. But they did look good. And it's like something.

[B]

Then you just say, okay, let's get your Snickers out. And it takes three Snickers and you take all their Snickers and like then they just did it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I just love what I think I'm going to do this year is I'm going to give them two days of just like whatever, like wild, not. Not totally wild west. Like I'm going to let them have some candy and then I'll probably tell him I'm going to put in our candy basket in our fridge and kind of hide it a bit. And then I'm gonna take it to the dealership. I love taking things to the dealership because it's the Bermuda Triangle.

[A]

It's just a dumping ground.

[B]

Take it to the dealership, and then it's, you know, good.

[A]

Put it in the break room and it'll be gone.

[B]

Things just disappear. Disappear.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Anyway, so. Anyway, so what I wanted to say about holidays.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Thanksgiving's coming up. So excited for Thanksgiving.

[A]

Food.

[B]

I'm also so excited that we get a drink on Thanksgiving. Yeah, we drank last Thanksgiving.

[A]

We did. Yeah. We. We weren't pregnant.

[B]

We weren't pregnant. But it's been a while, and I really haven't. I feel like when I normally have a baby, then I, like, am so excited to just, like, you know, have a drink here or there. And I'm, like, doing, like, a seltzer. I haven't really, like, I've had a few drinks here and there, but I haven't really, like, done much drinking, which.

[A]

I'm also, like, having a baby. I've yet to have a cocktail. Yeah.

[B]

I've yet to have a cocktail.

[A]

I've had. I've had a beer and I've had wine, and I've haven't had a cocktail.

[B]

Yeah. Which, you know, we're also, like, breastfeeding and, you know, so I'm not trying to get crazy with it.

[A]

True.

[B]

But I would like a great cocktail. And I want us to make espresso martinis with the Nescafe.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

I think, like, what is. What powder. Espresso. To make. I just think, like, that's what we should make.

[A]

It just feels on brand. It just feels like it's time. It just feels easy to do. Feels like a low list vlog.

[B]

I have my sights set.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

On doing that. On making espresso martini.

[A]

Espresso martini. We normally like dirty martini girls on Thanksgiving, but, yeah. Maybe we're going to be espresso. Yeah.

[B]

And I want to, like, really? I'm all about, like, accumulating the vibes these days. So, like, with Thanksgiving dinner, I'll probably have, like, a glass of wine.

[A]

Like, one glass red wine for sure.

[B]

But then, like, I want to. I'm going to pass any kid off to another adult, and I want to sit at the Thanksgiving table with an espresso martini and some pumpkin pie.

[A]

That's true.

[B]

I want to sit there, and I want Sydney and Grayson to sit next to me and just, like, find deep in their core, like, the Hottest gossip they can come up with, and I want them to tell it to me.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And that's the. Like, that's what I want to accumulate.

[A]

Mm. I think we can make it happen. I think it's in the cards. I think it's a realistic ask.

[B]

I'm asking for 15 minutes.

[A]

I'm not sure how realistic it is to not have one of your kids, but. Well.

[B]

Well, I. I mean, I'll hold a sleeping Libby. That's. That's all I'm really willing to commit to.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because I hope the gossip is juicy enough where, like, it shouldn't be heard by.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Patty and George, and there's no way it's gonna be Fred.

[A]

Yeah. For sure. Can't have it.

[B]

I'm just seeing, like, our husbands. Take the. All the. All the kids downstairs. Fine. We'll keep the babies. No, mom can take a baby. I'll hold a baby.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Husbands. Take the kids downstairs. Older kids downstairs. And Sydney and Grayson, just. We belly up with them with our espresso martinis.

[A]

I can't wait.

[B]

That's what I want. And I'm so, like, my new thing with, like. Because now I have, like, this relationship with. Not relationship, but, like, moving forward. Like, I'm only drinking if it's a vibe.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And, like, I want the table to be set. So, like, for example, we're going to the farm, and we talked about, like, well, maybe we should, like, have, like, a fun fall cocktail at the farm. Like, that's fine. Let's get some fireball. Let's get a little apple cider. Let's put it in, like, the proper, like, chinat to go cup, and let's sit my butt at the bonfire.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And that's what I want to do.

[A]

It's gotta be a vibe. It's gotta be a vibe to make it worth it. Yeah.

[B]

It's gotta be a vibe to make it worth it.

[A]

Mm. I totally.

[B]

And I love. Like, I'm just really into especially. I think when you. I always say that word wrong, people get triggered. Especially.

[A]

Yeah. You say especially, and it's especially.

[B]

Why does that bother people so badly? I don't know. Like, it's an. I haven't.

[A]

It's an accent. I know. Like, it's not especially. It's especially. Okay.

[B]

Like, that's my Midwestern charm, my Midwestern accent. And I just feel like any other person. You can't make fun of their accent. Like, that's how I talk.

[A]

No, I know. It's rude, and it. It feels like console versus counsel was different. That was you just saying a word wrong. Especially. Versus especially just isn't. It's an accent. It's. It's not. Not that I've never picked up on it anyway.

[B]

I feel like especially that sounds wrong. I feel like especially when you're a mom, you have to live for the vibes. Like, the minutes of the vibes, because you're not getting a whole day. So, like, you have to. You have moments.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's really. And I think I always. I know you always got so mad, or all of my sisters always would get so mad when. Whatever. You know, I think when you're. When you're the first of, like, your friends or your siblings to become a parent, it is a little isolating. And, like, there was definitely a lot of years where I felt a little isolated from you guys. And I would always just tell you to acknowledge the space that you're in. And everyone didn't like that advice. Maybe they still don't like that advice, but sometimes I have to take that advice and just, like, acknowledge the space that I'm in right now. Like, acknowledge your moment, because this is a moment.

[A]

Well, I don't think you can acknowledge it unless you've been on the other side of it. So it would be annoying when you'd be like, acknowledge the space that you're in. It's like, okay, I'm just, like, living my life. Like, no, but I think I can't relate. I can't relate. I'll never know what it's like until I'm there. So for you to say that that's for you. It's not for me. But when you are in that free moment of not having a kid, you're able to recognize the kidless space. Someone who's never had kids can't recognize a kidless space.

[B]

Yeah. But just no one ever told me that there was. I was so naive to, like, becoming a parent, and I just don't think anyone ever told me that I wouldn't be able to just, like, sit down and enjoy an espresso martini at Thanksgiving dinner. Like, I didn't realize that that was something that would be taken from me when I decided to become a moment. So that's what I was just trying to tell them of the.

[A]

All the sacrifices that are made. That is. That's a big one.

[B]

Yeah. And speaking of sacrifices that are made, we're always going in and out of our ugly era. And we've talked about the uglier on our podcast, In Depth and kind of like my theory behind it. And it's some days all your makeup goes on. Right. Your hair lays. Well. But it's to me, it's never a day to day thing. Mine's normally like a couple of weeks. A couple weeks on, a couple weeks off.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you're either in your ugly area or you're out of it. And maybe it has to do with my ovulation phase. I don't know. I think it does. I'm not going to invest. I think it maybe does. I'm not going to investigate into that because I also haven't had many periods over the last six years, so I don't know that well enough. But I do know that every once in a while I find something that gets me out of my ugly error. And I think, this is it. This is going to change my life forever.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And then sometimes your ugly shines through like you know what you did to cover it up and to find something else. It ebbs and flows. One thing that always fixes it is what, Elizabeth?

[A]

It's a spray tan.

[B]

It's a spray tan.

[A]

But sometimes you can't go get a spray tan.

[B]

No. Sometimes a spray tan sounds like the hardest errand in the world for me to run right now.

[A]

Oh, especially when you're breastfeeding too. And then you have to like, I feel bad. I don't want to have. I don't even want to wipe it off. I don't like doing spray tan when I'm breastfeeding.

[B]

I don't like that either. And that's like an errand where I can't take any of the kids to.

[A]

Nope, no one can be in that room.

[B]

I've tried to take, I think I had George with me and I tried to take George to get a spray tan, being like, I'm just going to put him in the room with me. Like not. And they were like, no. And that was like some 16 year old at Palm Beach. And I'm like, sister, I'm not going to trust you out here to watch them. So I guess I'm not getting a spray tan today anyway. What is in the past things like a haircut or Botox or a new lip color will fix your ugly era. Well, I can't do a lot of those things right now. But one thing I can do and one thing I did do was I switched my earrings and my jewelry to silver jewelry.

[A]

Oh, I did not think you were going to say that.

[B]

So I'm normally a gold girl, but one time we got our colors done, and I was told that I should be wearing silver jewelry. And I laughed it off because that's. I'm not doing that.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

I'm just not doing that. But now silver has come on the scene in kind of a big way. Like, it's trendy. People are wearing silver shoes, they're doing silver things. And I find myself being like, oh, I. Maybe I like silver now because I've just been so inundated with it lately. And I went to this store and they had these just, like, very simple. I'm going to show you silver hoops.

[A]

They're cute. They're very cute.

[B]

And then I got a silver necklace. And then like a mixed metal moment. So I like. I still have a little gold. And I just think it's changed my whole face, my whole life. Okay.

[A]

I'm so. I have some things to say. I'm so happy to hear that you went out and just, like, bought the stuff, because I was like, I don't have any silver jewelry. Like, I wouldn't even. I couldn't even do that if I wanted to. So maybe you just, like, go to Marshalls and you get some like. Or Target. Yeah. Some cheap stuff. Okay. Yeah, I mean, that's. I think it's worth a shot. I think anything's worth a shot. I'm definitely in it right now.

[B]

And maybe just because I haven't seen this color, like, on my skin and next to me.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm telling you, even Tyler was like, you look really pretty today. And I'm like, it's cause I have silver jewelry on. Because my makeup was the same from today versus yesterday. And you didn't tell me that yesterday. So either you want something or I actually do look pretty today.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Hard to.

[A]

Okay. I think. I think it's worth a shot.

[B]

It's worth a shot.

[A]

I think it's worth a shot. I'm gonna get. I'm gonna give it a go because I need some help.

[B]

Just go get some silver earrings. Like, some. And some everyday stuff. I think that's the other thing. It's not buying new earrings for when I have mascara on. Like, I just. I can't always begin putting mascara on these days.

[A]

I've also found that just sometimes, if you have the opportunity, blow drying your hair can really keep you out of it. At least for me, someone with slightly more unruly hair. And you know what? Blowing my hair takes me about 11 minutes to do. And for some reason, I think it's gonna take me an hour.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it just doesn't take that long, so that, that sometimes helps. I mean, obviously I didn't do it today, which is why I'm having regrets, but.

[B]

Well, that's good to hear.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I also, I went shopping with Ashley and I'm like, just still kind of like, I'm gathering my thoughts. I'm going through all the products we bought together and she got me on tubing mascaras. And I talked about this a little bit last time. I just want to come back on here and say I will never not use tubing mascaras. They're incredible. It doesn't flake. Like, I look good all day.

[A]

Yeah. And it doesn't like, get like down underneath your eyes.

[B]

And you know when you like, do your makeup in the morning and then maybe you want to like, touch. Then if you have an event that evening, you want to like, touch up and like, it's always such a to do with your mascara because it's like, what do you do with your mascara? Because your mascara looks horrible now. But if you want to redo your mascara, you have to take off your whole makeup.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Mascara, it looks the exact same. Like, it literally doesn't flake at all.

[A]

Okay. I have a note on that as well. We had our St. John family, like extended family photos and my sister in law has got their makeup done and they asked if I wanted to do it, but they live 30 minutes away. So I was like, no, I'll just do my full Ashley glam. I'll just do my own makeup. And they were doing fake lashes. And so one of them suggested to me, you know how you can just buy. Instead of buying like a whole row of lashes, you can just buy like little tiny, like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Patches of lashes, little wispies. I bought a pack of those and I just put one on the outer corner of each eye. And it changed. It looked amazing. It. It tied my entire look together and it added such a subtle like, fullness to my look into my eyes and to my lashes that I will like, that is my new thing.

[B]

That's your new thing. That's a good hack.

[A]

It is a good hack. And it's very. It's the, the whole row of lashes. Not everyone can do. It is hard to do.

[B]

I hate that.

[A]

This is very easy. It's just place one little patch on the outside of each of your. On the ends of each of your eyes and it really just.

[B]

Yeah. Well, together then you have two levels. And I always. That's what I told Ashley when I was makeup shopping. I'm like, I only have one speed. I only have one level.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I don't have, I don't have daily makeup. And then like, oh, I'm going to a wedding tonight makeup. I don't have that. I only have the one speed.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So now I think I'm, I'm working. I think that would give me another speed. Definitely second gear, if you will.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

First gear, second gear.

[A]

There you go. This is an automotive podcast after all, after all. Today's episode is brought to you by Clean Simple Eats. You guys know Kelly and I are both huge fans of Clean Simple Eats. My current obsession is using the protein powder in my iced coffee. So I will mix my iced coffee and then just add some milk, whole milk, and then a scoop of my protein powder. It's delicious. It makes it a flavored, flavored coffee. Whatever I want. Pumpkin spice rice, vanilla chocolate, and then I'm also getting 20 grams of grass fed whey protein. And the protein is so incredibly creamy and smooth. It doesn't have that chalky texture found in most protein powders. And it is the best way to get my protein in. And we do have a code. You can visit CleanSimple eats.com and use code CARPOOL10 out checkout for 10 off your order. That's CleanSimple eats.com code CARPOOL10 for 10 off your order. Check it out.

[B]

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[A]

For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit botoxcosmetic.com or call 877-351-0300.

[B]

Remember to ask for Botox Cosmetic by name. To see for yourself and learn more, visit botoxcosmetic.com that's botoxcosmetic.com okay, Kel, well.

[A]

I was thinking, if you don't have anything else on your dump, I was thinking we could do our last three transactions.

[B]

Sure. I think that could be fun.

[A]

Okay, well, now it's time for last three transactions where we reveal our recent bank account subtractions.

[B]

No, I want you to go first. Get us started.

[A]

Okay. I my couch pills and I hate the feeling of it. And I bought the warranty and I tried Getting it under the warranty. They're like, it doesn't cover pilling. Great. Someone talked. I. Maybe I talked to this on my Instagram. Like, someone recommended that I get a fabric shaver because a fabric shaver, like, will remove pilling on your and it also removes pilling on furniture. So I bought a fabric shaver from Amazon. It was. Let's see how much it was. It wasn't. It wasn't very much. Maybe like 20 bucks.

[B]

I bet it was 14.

[A]

It was 1871. And that's what I bought. And it worked. I. I still don't love the feeling on my couches because then now they just kind of feel old. But it did remove the pill. Look better.

[B]

Not held up well for you.

[A]

You know what? They were cheap. They were cheap. So there's not. Not very well made.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. One of my recent subtract. No. Yep. Subtractions was I bought a new car seat because I haven't. Hi, I'm Kelly. I'm an addict, but I like to. They're always just coming out with new ones and I'm just like, well, that could be the perfect thing for this. So I got the Gold Shift dual ride evenflo stroller. It's evenflow's version of like the Duna, like, stroller seat. And I love it. I'm never. I'm just not that big of like a stroller car seat person, personally. It's very heavy. And this one's nice because you can, like, unattach the wheels from the base. So it does make it lighter. I. I don't think. I don't think I would ever buy one if I only was going to buy one car seat. But a lot of people really like them, so I wanted to know what the differences were. And I like it significantly more than the Duna.

[A]

Okay. Why do you like it more than the Duna?

[B]

Well, the wheels can remove the handlebars taller. It comes with, like, wheel cover, so it doesn't, like, trash your car.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Can hold, like smaller babies really well. I just think I honestly, I was holding them like next to each other, like, feeling them. I just think the even flow feels significantly nicer. Like, the Duna feels like a bunch of cheap plastic. I don't know not to hate on the Duna. I just, like, couldn't believe the differences in the quality that I felt with them. So. Shout out.

[A]

Obsessed.

[B]

Obsessed for. For what it is like. And I'm not saying not to buy it. I just, like, really love my cluckling Nuna, pipa, mockingbird, stroller combination. Like, to me, that's just. That's easy for me to do, too. I don't know, I just don't find myself, like, in situations where I have to push them around a lot. Like, I. And I also, like, love to utilize my bassinet attachment because I always, like, want to get them out of the car seat, you know?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that's why, like, I. That's why I don't like it personally. That's why I wouldn't buy one personally. But if you're into the stroller ones, you got to get the even flow.

[A]

I'm happier. I'm happy. You are trying them all out. I think that's good for. For you and for the brand. Okay. One of my recent subtractions, Kel, I think cardigans are coming in style because they're everywhere at Target, which, thank goodness, since we're breastfeeding. I bought, like, six cardigans at Target the other day.

[B]

I saw your.

[A]

My haul, my trial also is all 25% off, so that's why I also bought it. But I don't know, I just, like, I really have not bought. I. I know I have bought clothes in the last two years, but I just feel like I haven't had, like, a big, like, splurge on myself because I've been pregnant the last two years, essentially. So I. And when I was breastfeeding with the James, it was more summer months, so I never really, like, got into the winter months breastfeeding. So I was like, I need to get some sweaters. Cardigans, Breastfeeding friendly. Target has a ton of really good ones. And I guess they're like, they're cropped cardigans. They're very cute.

[B]

And they're the kind of thing where it's like, you wear it as a shirt. You don't wear it as a shirt.

[A]

You wear it as a shirt or.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Or you wear a tank top underneath it and you, like, open it up. But I think mostly you wear it as a shirt.

[B]

I heard skinny jeans are kind of coming back too.

[A]

Yeah, I think that that's wise.

[B]

I think that we. I think a bunch of people just, like, looked at themselves in jeans and were like, wait, this isn't flattering anymore. Kind of woke up.

[A]

I think that just like, all jeans are kind of coming back in style in the sense of what looks good on your body type is what you should wear. Because it was like, only skinny jeans, no baggy jeans, only high rise skinny Jeans. Okay, well, that doesn't look good on everyone. Then low, then baggy started coming in, which looked better on some people than skinny. Then low rise started coming in. High rise looks bad on some people. Low rise looks better. Like, is a better choice for some people. So I kind of feel like now it's like, high rise, low rise, baggy, skinny, everything is in. It just kind of depends on your body type, which, like, wake up, America. I feel like, thank goodness.

[B]

Yeah. I feel like the men of the world probably think us women of the world are crazy for that reason. That I just think, like, if you were a woman, like, wearing jeans that are best for your body, like, no, man. Not that you're only dressing for men, but, like, your person is just like, oh, you look good in those jeans. Like, they're not in it for the trends. And jeans are so, like, they totally can change your outfit because, like, they either fit you great and they're flattering or they're not. I see that you're Liz. I can keep going, right?

[A]

No, and you, you can. You can take my cropped cardigan, for example, and you could wear it with skinny jeans or with baggy jeans or with high rise jeans or with low rise jeans and whatever looks most flattering on your body. Like, it's going to be the same outfit. You just got to dress for your body. I think that's just what we need all be doing.

[B]

Okay. Next thing on my last three transactions was I was, you know, I'm always following busy toddler. Like, she's just always busy toddler in me, Susie and I, Chuck and Tyler, our three kids and my four kids. We are the same people in different fonts. Like, we just, like, they are, like, living in Seattle. I am living in Missouri. Like, they're building rockets like we're lassoing pigs. But, like, it's the same. Do you know what I mean? It's the same, but different.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And she was talking about some toys. And one thing I also like about Suzy. And one time, I don't. Not like, not trying to. I mean, any excuse to bring this up, but one time we had dinner together, like, in person. Probably the most famous person I ever went to dinner with. And we were talking about, like, I was like, you know, are you ever worried about, like, as your kids get older, like, losing, like, this motherhood audience? Like, it was like, it came up in conversation. Like, I wasn't just, like, so bold to ask her that. And she's like, I think it's actually really good to learn from people who have. Have been through it. And I think so often as moms or as a mom blogger myself and someone who consumes it, like, you're like, sometimes getting advice from people who are like, in the same space as you. And I'm not saying you can't do that because some girls have thought of things that you have and vice versa. But sometimes it's very nice to get advice from someone who's out of it, who's done it with three kids.

[A]

Well, that's why. That's why I want to have mom and her best friend Janice on the show, because they both had five kids and both had husbands that worked really late in, like, the very young years. And mom and Janice, like, basically, like, raised 10 kids together in some senses. And, like, I want to hear their story.

[B]

I want to hear their story. Yeah.

[A]

And I think we all could, like, benefit from hearing their tactics and how they survived. Like mom told me the other day, she was like, because dad would work until like 11:00 at night. She was like, during daylight savings or whenever, whenever it doesn't get light, she said I would. Or it stays light until like 8:00. She goes, I would take all you kids upstairs and then I would close every single window and blind on the upstairs, so you all thought it was night time so I could put you to bed. And like, that's a hack.

[B]

It's a hack. It's a hack. Yeah, yeah. So anyway, all that to say is Susie was linking some of her like, like some toys that her kids have played with for years. And I think our kids play very similarly is what I was trying to say.

[A]

Okay, gotcha.

[B]

And she linked these things called Link. What are these Link and Learn links? It was 23, but it was a big old tub of them. Here's it look like. Oh, George and Hattie obsessed. We are linked. We are taking. We are building the links and we are trying to touch the basement stairs. We are making ropes out of them. We are linking them in between our bar stools. We are linking and learning everything. We're obsessed.

[A]

Okay, so this is like a really good hack.

[B]

Well, I think you're. I think James is too young for it, as I wouldn't buy it yet.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But it was just. And you know, it's like one of those toys that like. Yeah, I get the. That's not gonna make the most exciting thing. They open up on Christmas. So I, I bought it. I was gonna give it to him for Christmas, but then I was like, you know what? Whatever I got. I was trying to cook dinner one night, I just pulled him out. That's. That's my toxic trait. Like, during the month of November, like, I'll buy something. Really? I. I kind of like, buy or thrift for Christmas all year. And like, I have a. Or like, if we're going to a birthday party, like, then I have a stash of, like, toys when I find them on sale. You know, sometimes, like Marshalls just clearances stuff out.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But my toxic trade is then, like, sometimes I need a minute in November and then we get something new because mama needs a minute. And that's my. I don't think that's a hack. I think I should learn how to get minutes other ways, but that's where I'm at.

[A]

And maybe that's why your kids are only getting two Christmas presents, because you gave their other seven to them before November. Literally.

[B]

So anyway. But I did think the Lincoln Learns weren't going to be, like, the most fun present to open, so I decided to give it to him early.

[A]

I love.

[B]

And yeah, because I get that it's not the most showstopping thing, but. Wow. They're playing with them all the time. All the time. You should see what we're linking and learning these days.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I'll take some pics.

[A]

Please do. Okay, let me see. Okay, so here's where. Here's what I'm going through in life. And don't judge me if this feels late. James is 16 months old. We're ditching the bottle, and it's something that I genuinely don't know how to do. And I've tried, like, a couple different. Like, I'm trying to figure out the different sippy cups and I've like, bought and thrown away, like, multiples because they spill. So I'm making a much more. I did some research and I'm making much more intentional steps towards ditching the bottle. And so how I'm doing that is I bought, like, sippy cups that look really good and spill proof and they don't have, like, a bottle nipple, but they're also kind of a little bit more like, suck on it. Like, it's not a total jump scare. And I'm gonna give him that in the morning and at night for his morning and his, like, evening bottle, because that those kind of, like, wake him up and, like, calm him down. And then during the day, I bought these cups with straws.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And we're gonna do cups with straws during the day, and that's what. Whatever website I picked on, it might have been taking care of babies. I'm not sure. Said do. You should try to do is like do the morning. The nighttime ones like last and like try and supplement during the day with like different cups.

[B]

Love. Okay.

[A]

So I just. I just order new sippy cups. Yeah.

[B]

You know, the poor stumpy kids. We go straight from bottle to Tupperwares.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's tough. It's tough on them.

[A]

Well, I bought. I bought something. I know that's the thing is like I have just have had milk everywhere and I'm just.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I'm trying to, you know, find the transition. But I also at Google also said that spilled milk is part of the process, so.

[B]

Well, and I think that's sometimes. Yeah. I. Sometimes there's just not always a magic wand. Sometimes it's like, yeah, then they spill milk for a couple of weeks and then they move on.

[A]

Yeah, exactly. Like, he's not like so dependent on the bottle. Like, he can't go to sleep without his bottle in his hands. Like, I can give him a bottle at 5:00 and then put him down at 7:00 and it's fine. But it's just like I. I don't. I don't have anything good to give him right now. Like, I just haven't bought that. I haven't been in that stage yet.

[B]

Well, I just have to make them by my last. My transactions was I have. This is kind of a story. But I ended up getting the towel warmer. Okay. And then Tyler was like, hey, what's in this box? And I was like, oh, I got a towel warmer. And he laughed at me and said, are you serious? He's like, we're not. He's like a towel warmer. Kelly. Really? And then I got really self conscious about it and he kind of yucked my. Not in like a mean way. But then I was like, maybe you're right. That was kind of a stupid purchase. So where were you going to put it? And I was like, I was thinking behind like the door. He's like, another thing. And I'm like, you're right. I didn't even take it out of the box yet.

[A]

Are you going to return it?

[B]

Yeah, I might keep it and like donate it to our school's dinner auction.

[A]

You're not even going to try it out? Kelly, you've come this far. Tell him it's for the podcast.

[B]

I don't know if. Okay. I mean, I mean, obviously he'll let me open if I want to open it, but I'm just like, was he right?

[A]

No, I get it. You're like self conscious and then like, if you don't use it and then it just sits there, then it's like he wins and he's right and we can't risk that happening.

[B]

What would you do if you were me? I mean, is he right? Is it. And now everyone's sending me that. There was like, there's also one at Costco and it's very similar to the one that I got. I did find one that warms a towel in like six minutes versus, like, I think when we talked about on the podcast, it was like 20 minutes. This is six minutes. I'm easily taking a six minute shower.

[A]

Yeah, well, and also when I re listened to that episode, I was thinking so much about using it for myself and less about, like the kids. And I do think it is accusing it for the kids and the baby.

[B]

It's.

[A]

If it were me, if it were me, I probably wouldn't have bought it. But I do also think that, like, you're in a unique situation where you, like, talked about it on your podcast and you like, like, you're a jerk. You're like, you're a journalist and it's kind of like worth telling your audience of, like, it's a taste drive. It's a test drive, essentially. Like, should they buy it or not? And you can tell them, yeah, well.

[B]

I'll think about it. I'm going to think about it because I'm probably not going to return it because I'm probably.

[A]

Who has time to go to ups?

[B]

Well, I haven't done. I return other stuff, but I was thinking it'd be a good, like, donation. I was going to make donations to the auction anyway, so maybe I'll just throw it on there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But what was I going to say, Elizabeth? Oh, I, I think it's also the, like, speaking of, like, doing it for your kids is, I'm so curious, like, what is the balance on like, comfort versus, like, spoiling of your kids? And it just like, I saw this reel and this mom was sharing a good hack. Like, if you're, hey, if your kids don't want to get dressed in the morning, put their clothes in their dryer for five minutes while they're eating breakfast and then they'll put on warm clothes. And I was like, who doesn't like to put on warm clothes fresh out of the dryer? But the comments kind of surprised me because the comments were very much like 50, 50 like, making your kid too comfortable or like, this is like way too much. And I think you. I can kind of see both sides because I also don't want my kids to grow up and be like, you all don't know those kids or have seen like the movies or whatever. It's like, well, my mom always used to put my clothes in the dryer and then like, brush my hair and brush my teeth. So it's like, what is like, how do you, like, love them and comfort.

[A]

Them without making them, like, so dependent on or just like babies?

[B]

Like, you won't put on, like, you know, cold clothes. Like, I get it, it's cold. Put your clothes on faster. I don't know. I don't have the answer. I just think it's. And I was thinking the same thing with the towel warmer. It's like, somebody's gonna raise kids, like, won't grow up unless their towels are warmed up. And then it's like, truthfully also, that is more work for me.

[A]

Yeah, I know. That's kind of what I was gonna say. Because, like, what happens when you have made them so dependent on the warm clothes in the morning? It's like, oh, you.

[B]

Now we're running late. Yeah, we're running late now.

[A]

My warm, my clown, my clothes. That'd be worse.

[B]

And now it's a fight that I did that didn't exist.

[A]

Yeah. That you created.

[B]

It was a different fight. I don't want to get dressed, but now the fight is I don't want to get dressed because my clothes aren't warm and now I gotta throw them in the dryer. Just. This is something to think about.

[A]

No, it's an impossible thing to know.

[B]

But you know, it's not an impossible thing to know. Industry news where I spill the hot tea going on in the auto industry.

[A]

Let's hear it.

[B]

Okay. This was from car dealership Guy. The price gap between new and used cars breaks a record. Used car prices are dropping faster than new ones, pushing demand towards pre owned models. The average used car now cost $20,000 less than the average new car. That is the biggest price gap on record.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I know.

[A]

That's crazy.

[B]

I know. In Q3, the average new car cost $47,000, while the average new car costs $27,000, representing. Yeah, well, the average used car represented $27,000, representing a record breaking $20,000 gap.

[A]

That's kind of crazy.

[B]

Yeah. New cars are unaffordable. That's what I pray to tell people. No one's listening. Yeah, we like it's, it's insane. It's insane.

[A]

Used car prices remain elevated from pre pandemic average. Pre pandemic averages by about 31.4%. Wow. So that's bleak.

[B]

No, but it's because used cars are going down and new cars are going up.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That's why the gap is getting bigger.

[A]

Yeah. Okay, so it's good for used cars, not good for new cars.

[B]

I mean, it's good for used cars, but that makes it bad for people because then people who normally like people who have a $30,000 budget are in the used car market.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So it's taking people who would have been in the new car market and putting them in the used car.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

And like the benefits for new cars are so bleak right now because also, like, you're not going to get a good financing rate because there's no specials, there's no rebates. It's kind of just crazy. Okay, speaking of pre owned cars, believe it or not, this is from motorone.com Believe it or not, 90% of all Ferraris are still on the road.

[A]

That's crazy. Yep, 90%.

[B]

Thanks. Thanks largely to Ferrari's pre owned market pre owned program. Sorry. These Italian exotics have managed to stand the test of time. Ferrari and reliability aren't two words that necessarily go hand in hand. But you remember that's. But when you remember that so many of these supercars end up as garage queens, it's not shocking to hear that 90% of Ferraris over ever produced are still on the road.

[A]

Yeah. I mean you're taking, you're taking very good care of your Ferrari. Yeah.

[B]

Kind of. Cool.

[A]

Yeah. It's estimated that over 80% of all Toyota models sold more than 20 years ago are still on the road.

[B]

Yeah. And then I was going to dive into. Look at you like bringing up like other stories on the side.

[A]

No, I'm reading the article you sent.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

That's also included in the article.

[B]

All right. Ready for my last story?

[A]

Yeah, I am.

[B]

I thought this was just kind of interesting. 350,000 hurricane flooded cars hit the used car market. What buyers need to know. So obviously we're coming off of two major hurricanes in our country and so much damage, so many lives lost. And unfortunately it's all unfortunate. And that also means that there's a lot of damaged cars and it can get a little stressful because sometimes it can be hard to know if there was flood damage. Whether it's like you're trying to buy private party and Also sometimes, like, sometimes things just take a while to show up on a Carfax. And just like, just like a multitude of things can happen where you might not know if it was a flood damaged car. So this article gives some things to look for on how to spot a flood damage. Okay.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Check for dampness and odors. One of the clearest indicators of flood damage is moisture inside the vehicle, but also like a musty smell. And obviously flood damage is important because like, even if the car is running great now, like any car that's been like submerged in water like that can have long term electrical issues. So even if it's like running good now, you don't know what happened.

[A]

Yeah, and I just want to add one more thing before you read it because this is also in it saying that flood damaged cars don't always stay in the states where they were damaged. So don't think that this is just relevant to people living in Florida. They said many are shipped to other parts of the country to avoid void local scrutiny. While hurricanes Beryl and Helene were concentrated in the south, cities further in the south, cities further north like Chicago, New York still have a high concentration of flooded cars in 24. So everyone needs to listen up.

[B]

Yep, you make it to me. Okay, thank you. Okay, so I said checks for D, inspect for rust or silt. Is that how you say that? S I L T silt, I guess. Look for rust in unusual pit laces. Just look for rust in unusual places such as seat rails, door hinges, and under the dashboard. Flood waters also leave behind silt and mud which can be accumulated in hard to reach areas like under the seats, inside the glove compartment or around the engine bay. Foggy or moisture laden lights. Fogging inside the headlights or tail lights can be a sign that the vehicle was submerged. Inspect the lights carefully and then obviously testing out the electronics. Electrical systems are often the first to fail and flood damaged cars. So if any of these don't work correctly, it's a strong indication of water exposure. I also want to note though, yes, Elizabeth is right, that you might not. Those cars might be for sale in other areas, but on the carfax or autocheck it will also say like where the car was owned. So if the car was. So if this is like two years from now or a year from now and the car was owned, you know, in like Florida.

[A]

Some of like the thing with the carfax is that like you kind of have to read between the lines and like kind of use some critical thinking skills on what everything means so like a common example Kelly will use will be like, has it been in and out of the shop a lot? That's going to tell you something about the future of where the car is going to go.

[B]

Or like, it's, it'll say car has been an accident. And people will think that's such a red flag. And I'm like, well, it was in an accident five years ago. And they've like, then it drove on to be a good car five years. Sometimes it says in an accident. And then you see on the carfax, it's in the shop every two months, months after the accident. Like that sketch.

[A]

Liz is right.

[B]

User critical thinking.

[A]

So it kind of like tells a story and you have to figure out the puzzle.

[B]

It's a mystery. It's kind of like a little mystery.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And that's industry news, where I spilled the hot tea going on the auto industry.

[A]

Okay, Cal, well, it is time for just the drive thru where we give you an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get you out of your dinner rut. And I have one to bring.

[B]

Oh, I have one too.

[A]

Oh, okay. Well, you, you can go.

[B]

Well, you want to go first?

[A]

Well, I think we should save them. I think that we should have just one maybe, perhaps.

[B]

Okay, that's fine. I just.

[A]

Is yours going to be a soup?

[B]

No, it's not a soup.

[A]

Okay, then you may share.

[B]

Okay. First of all, I love following this girl on Instagram called the college nutritionist. I'm not sure why that's her name, but she's great. And she's like a. I think she's.

[A]

I think she probably just like made her Instagram a really long time ago is my guess.

[B]

Probably. But she is like a weight loss dietitian, so she has a lot of like high protein, low calorie meals. There's something called being a volume eater, which, first of all, I'm totally a volume eater. Like I love to eat a big plate of food. Like, I just like to eat a lot.

[A]

Me too.

[B]

But she has a recipe that I, that she shared that I've been making really consistently and it's like a, it's a taco skillet. So you can do with any ground. Be any ground meat. I kind of get burnt out on ground beef, so I do it with ground turkey and I get my big old cast iron out. I love a recipe in a cast iron. First of all, I get my cast iron out and I brown some ground turkey, add some taco seasoning, and then I also add to it zucchini. So she does two zucchinis, throws that in there. Ground turkey zucchini, taco seasoning. Flatten it out on the cast iron, top with cheese. That's it. That's the recipe.

[A]

Yum.

[B]

It's just like a turkey taco skillet. And I make it maybe like hot sauce. Yeah. No, no. Then. Then it's up to you. Then it's fixings from there. Like, you know, I'll. Dr. Tyler's a little sour cream, salsa, cilantro. Like, do his up or like, leap. Won't even put cheese. I have to at least half of it off. No cheese for George. And I'll throw sometimes the kids, like in a taco if I want to do that for them. Just like a very versatile kind of different take on just like a taco night. Turkey taco skillet.

[A]

Yeah. Added to Taco Tuesday.

[B]

Like, add it to your Taco Tuesday rotation.

[A]

Yeah, that reminds me. You putting cilantro reminds me of this reel that I saw about, like, making your kids not picky eaters. And it was saying to just sprinkle a little bit of dried, like parsley on anything that your kids are going to eat. So that way they get used to random green specks in their food.

[B]

That's a good one. Yeah, that's a good one.

[A]

So anyway, that just reminded me of that. Okay, Cal. Well, it is time for Blake's Besties, where we honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month by reading the stories of our listeners of the carpoolers who lost their babies too soon. So we are going to read two stories. So if you do not want to hear this part of the podcast, this is all this is going to be at the end of the podcast. So you can sign off if you're not interested, but. Or if you can't handle it. But we're going to read them. This comes from Bailey. So she kind of wrote a lot. So I am going to like, pick and pick some of pieces of it just so we can kind of tell the story.

[B]

And if you do want to write in, like, you're more than welcome to write in as much or as well as you want, because Elizabeth and I read them all. But for the podcast, we just, like, listen. We have to shorten it.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. So this is the story of her first baby. So her and her husband got married and they got pregnant pretty quickly. Right away. They were super excited, immediately rushed to tell their parents, and her sister was also pregnant, and the babies would only be five months apart. They were so Excited. And it never even crossed their minds that they would not meet this baby before her eight week check. She says I was extremely sick and could hardly eat anything. I was just so happy that I already had symptoms. And we started talking about names and nursery ideas. We went in for my routine 10 week check and the ultrasound tech didn't say anything and just went to get the doctor. It was December 15th. The doctor told us that they couldn't find a heartbeat. The baby had passed. And she saw all of her dreams and hopes just crash. To make matters even harder, my body refused to pass the baby. So on December 31st, I had to have a DNC to actually force my body to let go. It took months to finally get my HCG back to normal. I was so upset. I wanted my kids to be close in age. And then the grief and anger set in. We finally decided to try again for a baby. Again. I was lucky to get pregnant immediately. I was shocked and scared. Every appointment went well and our baby girl was growing as she should. Her due date was December 5th.

[B]

Death.

[A]

But little miss decided to wait until December 15th to be born.

[B]

Oh my gosh.

[A]

I swear that this little girl was sent by her older sibling to let us know that they were okay and we would meet them and to make sure their hearts, our hearts healed in December and not to be sad on that day. Every year on her birthday, she'll be for this year. I remember the heartbreak I felt on December 15, 2019, and the complete healing I felt on December 5, 2020. I wear a ring with all my kids names on it. And the angel baby just has a heart and wings. Since we never got to know their gender, we talk openly about all three of my pregnancies. The little one now has two siblings and we make sure our first baby isn't something anyone forgets. Because one, that baby mattered. And two, that baby for sure sent their sister and healed our hearts in the best way.

[B]

Wait, so what was the December 15th day? That's the. That was the day that they lost the baby.

[A]

Yeah. That was the day that they didn't detect a heartbeat.

[B]

And she went 10 days over.

[A]

And her daughter, her second, was born 10 days late on December 15th.

[B]

That is crazy.

[A]

I know it's crazy.

[B]

What was the mom's name? Bailey.

[A]

Bailey.

[B]

Thank you, Bailey, for sharing your story. Okay, and this next one comes from Caitlin, who at their 12 week appointment learned that their sweet baby no longer had a heartbeat. A few days later, she had a natural miscarriage at home. But she says because of Blake's besties. In that very challenging moment, I knew that I wasn't alone. I knew my baby wouldn't be forgotten. I knew that there was a tribe of women standing with me who knew the pain and the heartache I was feeling. I knew there would be plenty of babies for my little one to play with in heaven. She said that while I was pregnant with our sweet angel baby, I was extremely tired. I joked that I was narcoleptic. I could just be sitting on the couch and all of a sudden would no longer be awake. I craved lots of ice cold water with lemon or lime juice. My husband would pick up bags of citrus because he knew how much the baby and I loved it. Even though our baby was gone too soon, I found great comfort in knowing that our sweet angel baby moved to heaven. There was a quote that brought me peace. Grief came to you, my friend, because love came first. Thank you for holding space for these mamas. Thank you for not forgetting these babies who left this earth too soon. I know in my heart one day our family will grow. I welcome the growth of whenever that perfect time comes along. Mother of one angel baby, Caitlin.

[A]

Okay, I'm crying. I love that. That quote is amazing.

[B]

The quote's amazing. And that's. I think whenever we read these stories and I. And I always think about, like. And I know that I've. I know that I've never experienced it, so I'm not trying to, like, totally put myself in their shoes, but I think it's always like, the. The moms I've talked to, it's always like, even if, like, you knew the pain, like, you'd still do it because, like, that's like, how much like, we care about these kids. Like, and a lot of these moms like myself include, like, I would go through all of it for minutes, for moments with your babies, you know?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I'm thinking of Caitlin.

[A]

Yeah. Also, like, that first trimester fatigue is like, so real. So feel that. And they're all just like walking around narco narcoleptics.

[B]

And like, I think I'm gonna like, get kind of deep here for a second because I just feel like it. I think like, they're like the, you know, the. The two kind stories we hear a lot are like. And. And they both bring their own level. They both bring different. They both pull on my heartstrings in different ways. Like, one of parents who have kids at home who lose a baby, and one of people who don't have a baby who lose one. And on one hand. It's, like, so hard to lose one when you, like, when you know what you have and, like, you have siblings. And then I think about the people who, like, have to then tell their kids that, like, they lost their sibling, like, the level that brings. But then I also, like, so long, and my heart, like, aches so hard. Like, I can physically feel it aching for the moms who are longing for it and don't have babies on the earth side yet. And that's another level of freaking pain.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I hate both of them.

[A]

No, they're both equally horrible.

[B]

Yeah. So anyways, that's Blake's besties. Thank you guys for writing in and participating. If you want to write in, please do at hello atthekarma official.com. and that's our episode. That's our episode.

[A]

So thank you so much for listening to the carpool podcast, and we'll talk to you next time.

[B]

See ya.

[A]

Thank you for listening to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed riding with us, tell everybody you know there's room in the car for everyone.