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.

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)

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.

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.