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Kelly
Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly. And he'll put on, like, khaki pants, a button down, a cowboy hat, a tie, a belt. And I'll be like, george, you don't have to get that dressed up. We're just going to our friend's house. And he'll tell me, well, I want to show respect.
Liz
Mom and Liz, summer, especially a pregnant summer. I'm gonna really lean into the paper plates. And I think that that's just like the season for paper plates, you know, sue me, whatever your mom.
Kelly
Time off. Start. Welcome back to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. And it's Friday. It's about to be the weekend. You kind of have a big weekend.
Liz
I have a huge weekend. I have. My childhood best friend is getting married, and so I'm in the wedding. So, you know, I've got the rehearsal dinner. I'm probably getting my makeup done at 6am on the wedding day. I've got the wedding figured out all day long. So I'm, like, so booked. It's so. I'm so excited. It is so much harder to, like, navigate the wedding plans of when, like, when you're in a wedding when you have kids, because it's like, who's watching the kids win? Who's feeding them dinner? Who's doing that? So I'm kind of like, navigating to dong. I'm gone. I'm out of. And then Maddie has to attend the wedding as well.
Kelly
You're basically out of town this weekend.
Liz
Might as well be. Yeah, might as well be. But I'm so excited. It'll be so fun. I haven't been to a wedding in forever. I. I feel like my, like, crazy wedding season was like, like one year. And then it's just I. I never really went because when I met Maddie, I met him. So when he was like, he's five years older than me, so he was 29 when we met. So he kind of, like, went through, like, the crazy wedding season of all of his friends, like, before we met. And then it was Covid, so we never really had that. Every weekend in the summer, we have a wedding to attend, which I'm really thankful for because I just really feel like I've been able to enjoy every wedding I've gone to.
Kelly
What's so crazy is it I'm also going to my childhood friend's wedding this weekend. Yeah. But different childhood friends, so we actually won't be seeing each other. But I'm very excited.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
I wish everyone had the privilege to Experience wedding Tyler, because he is such a delight. Tyler is so much fun at weddings. I had never been to a wedding until I started dating Tyler. I feel like Tyler's. I don't think culture is the right word, but, like, Tyler's.
Liz
His upbringing.
Kelly
His upbringing in, like, his community and, like, his town. Like, everyone just goes to everyone's wedding. Where I feel like in our community or where whatever in our life, you would go to, like, some people's weddings, but it was, like, a lot smaller. But, I mean, Tyler goes to, like, three, 400 people's weddings all the time. Like, they just invite the whole town
Liz
to the wedding, and they also invite kids, I feel like. So he was going when he too.
Kelly
Yes.
Liz
Like, it's very small town community, which we've kind of lost.
Kelly
And they're a lot more casual.
Liz
Yeah, they are.
Kelly
They're a lot more casual than, like, I think some of the St. Louis weddings, like, there's no assigned seats. It's just kind of like, it's all. They're all at the same hall, but they're so much fun. And we had a very, like, the year that we got married, we, I think, had, like, seven weddings. The year we got married. It was kind of insane. And now I'm coming up on nine years.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
It's, like, so crazy.
Liz
That is so crazy. I feel like you guys need to go on a trip for your tenure.
Kelly
We are gonna go on a trip. We've already spoken about it.
Liz
Okay.
Kelly
I think. I don't know for sure. I kind of want to go to Napa. I've just, like, think I would love Napa. I think Tyler would love it. The problem with me and Tyler, though, is, like, we just. We want to have, like, some alone time, but, like, we want to, like, meet other people or, like, go on a trip with other people. Like, we're not, like. So, like, part of the fun for us is, like, hanging out with other people.
Liz
Yeah, I get that.
Kelly
So. But I feel like maybe at Napa, like, you know, you go to a winery, you meet the people, and you, like, caveats or. Because I'm like, we can't invite, like, friends on, like, our anniversary anniversary trip. Like, it's like, I met my book club on the anniversary trip. Like, so weird. So just. Yeah. Something to think about.
Liz
You know what Maddie sent me? He sent me this ranch in Idaho or something, and it, like, looks beautiful. You do horseback riding. It looks very, like, relaxing. And he was like, we should do this next summer. And I'm like, just us no kids. I'm like, yeah, totally. Kind of like, yeah. And, you know, in a perfect world, we could do that. But he was like, no, I think we should. I think we should book it. So we can't. So we're committed. I think we should book it now. I'm like, sure. Let's definitely get, like, insurance to be able to cancel it if need be. But it's. And we haven't done it yet. But it is kind of a good idea if you just want to do something but you don't think you'll actually do it. Just, like, should you just book it now? You know?
Kelly
Yeah. I really was. I almost. I wanted to go to the beach this summer, but Tyler told me no, which is probably fair.
Liz
You're so close. I feel like, for it being so easy to travel with all your kids on an airplane, but, like, now is probably not the time.
Kelly
Yeah. Anyway, here. Nor there. But it is almost summer break, which is so crazy, huh? And it's almost the auto show, which is even crazier. Get your tickets@thecarbon.com use code CARPOOL to save some money. And we have been prepping this week. I don't know if we've spoken about this at length, but something really fun we're doing at the auto show, and it'll. It's a fun fundraiser for a Catch a Ride is we're doing a closet sale. Me, Liz, our mother, who, you know, has some good threads, and Merrick. Merrick White, she's donated. We're doing an amazing closet sale.
Liz
Yeah. So I am collecting the clothes. I'm tagging the clothes, and there's some clothes that, like, maybe still have the tags on them that I've been holding on to for, like, a rainy day. But I'm like, you know what? And I didn't want to just, like, donate this to Goodwill, but because I know that. That 100% of the proceeds of this sale will go to Catch a Ride, I'm, like, done.
Kelly
Like, I'm feeling the same way.
Liz
It's very easy for me to. To let go of these really nice clothes that otherwise I would have held on to because they were, you know,
Kelly
it's like, well, I shouldn't take it to Goodwill because, like, I could sell it or I could, like. And I'm just not getting around to that. Like, I have anthropology dresses. I have a Hill House dress I'm getting rid of. And I agree. It feels so good to just know that it's all going to charity. So if you're Coming to the auto show. The closet sale will be open at the VIP night, so they'll get first dibs on it, and then whatever's left will still be open at the auto show. I'm very excited. I think the closet sale is going to be really fun. And then we're doing our duck pond of all of our pr.
Liz
Did you order the ducks?
Kelly
No, no, no, no.
Liz
I.
Kelly
It's a. It's a. It's a grab bag. I'm just calling it a duck pond.
Liz
Oh, okay.
Kelly
I have blue bags. Every bag will have some random pr. We've been sent. You know, there's everything from, like, a dipstick to an electric picks bracelet to some tinted sunscreen to some merit makeup. Like, it's just all the PR have been sent $20 a bag, and then you just pick a random bag and you get what you get. You don't throw a fit because it all goes to charity, and you're walking away with something that's valued probably more than $20.
Liz
For sure.
Kelly
So those are our two, like, big fundraisers that'll be both at the VIP night and the auto show. I really wanted to, like, try to bring a dinner auction to the auto show, but, like, log. Basically, I just couldn't do the dinner auction that I wanted to. So this is kind of like my way of. You'll see sprinkling in some dinner auction funness.
Liz
You will get your dinner auction one day, Kelly.
Kelly
I do believe that. Yeah, I do believe I will plan. And, you know, we kind of considered it this year, but I really just, like, couldn't find a venue that I loved. And I think it's because if I ever do it, I think I will do it at a grade school gym. Like, just, like, get the complete vibes.
Liz
Yeah, totally.
Kelly
Like, if it's not an under the sea themed grade school gym fundraiser, I don't want it.
Liz
Yeah, I do think it needs to be, like, NASCAR themed, though.
Kelly
You think?
Liz
I think it has to be, like, something, like, car themed.
Kelly
Yeah. Okay.
Liz
I don't know.
Kelly
My cross to bear is just like, I'm just. I'm the car mom. But it's like, I just. I don't know anything about nascar.
Liz
No, me neither. But, like, racing flags and, like, a leather jacket. Like, I can. I can throw that together.
Kelly
That's true. We. Yeah. Like, race to the auction.
Liz
Done.
Kelly
Write that down.
Liz
Right.
Kelly
So anyway, I'm just so excited for the auto show. I can't believe how soon it is. I can't believe how. Oh, we ordered Our merch. So cute. Exclusive to the auto show.
Liz
It's really cute.
Kelly
Have I sold you enough? Like, it's, like, so much fun.
Liz
Yeah. I'm so excited.
Kelly
But before that, I kind of got a huge week. I've got a kindergartener graduating. I don't know if all schools do this, but our school does, like, a really big kindergarten graduation, and it's going to be darling. They wear a cap and gown.
Liz
That's so cute. That's ridiculous.
Kelly
I love that George is really into dressing up. Have you noticed this about him? Yeah, and it's so funny. Like, you think it'd be like, Hattie and like, Hattie's whatever. She doesn't really. I mean, she cares what she wears, but, like, George really cares what he wears lately. And frequently I'll be like, hey, we're going over to, you know, dinner tonight. Go get dressed. And he'll put on, like, khaki pants, a button down, a cowboy hat, a tie, a belt. And I'm like, george, you don't have to get that dressed up. We're just going to our friend's house. And he will, he'll tell me, well, I want to show respect, Mom.
Liz
See, and that's what I love. Like, he, like, I do feel like some boys maybe his age may be a little bit older when they, like, dress up. It's because they want to put, like a gold chain on or like silly baseball clothes or like, just something that's not, you know what word I'm thinking. But just like, he. He like, puts it like, yeah, like, tucks his shirt into his giant belt buckle. It's so funny.
Kelly
It's so funny. So when it came to graduation, you know, they wear a cap and gown, but, like, they wear a nice outfit underneath it. And I was like, I'm gonna get this guy a suit because I think, like, he would love a suit. So I texted Merrick because her boys are always in suits. And I feel like she kind of has, like, tall, skinny boys, kind of like George. And I was like, what's the best suit to get? Like, a 7 year old? And she said, this is brand called Appa Man. So I ordered him one and I showed it to him last night. I was like, hey. And I also got it for him because I'm actually gonna bring my big kids to Craig and Charlotte's engagement party.
Liz
Oh.
Kelly
Which is derby themed. And I showed it to George and he's like, mom, that's perfect. I'll wear that all the time. I can wear it to Graduation. I can wear it to Christmas. I can wear it to dinner. I can wear it to Gigi's house. Like, he's, like, listing all these places. He's gonna wear his suit. And I'm just like, you're so funny. He's such a funny kid.
Liz
I know. I love him. That's so cute.
Kelly
And then in other big news. I got my American Girl doll in.
Liz
Yes, Samantha.
Kelly
Samantha is. I can't express to you how much fun I had unboxing her. And the best part about buy. Listen to me. I don't know if you get it, but it's worth a try. Go buy the cheapest thing on the American Girl Doll site in hopes that you will start getting the magazine. Because, like, there is nothing better than the American Girl Doll magazine.
Liz
No, it's. First of all, two thoughts. Seeing you unbox it. Like, I could see the childlike wonder in your soul. And I was like, I want to. I'm, like, jealous. Like, I totally get that. And then seeing Hattie flip through the American Girl Doll magazine that you post on your stories. Yeah. I mean, they're set up. They're cute. Like, it's so interesting because since you started talking about American Girl, like, American Girls everywhere.
Kelly
They're kind of everywhere.
Liz
Hill House, American Girl. Have a collab right now. T. Collab.
Kelly
Hill House has no.
Liz
Oh, no, it's T. Maybe it was tea, maybe.
Kelly
No. And Hill House. T and Hill House will have an American Girl dog collab. No. It's kind of insane. Like, what is that? Do you feel like whenever I talk about things, they kind of become big?
Liz
Well, I. I do think a lot of these collections have probably been in the works for a while now.
Kelly
No, for sure. So fine. It might be a coincidence, it might not be. Who knows? But, you know, I am so obsessed. So I. Anyway, I unboxed my Samantha. And I'm not going to be a freak about it because there's no fun in being a freak about it. But I did let. How you know, I was like, this is my doll. You can play with it a little bit. But there's rules around Samantha. And I let her play with her a little bit. And Samantha's gonna come with work to work with me tomorrow. I'm gonna bring her to the Kia store, and we're gonna give her kind of her, like, debut moment in the sun.
Liz
Fabulous.
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Liz
Where do you go?
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Liz
Oh yeah, that's an exciting thing we're doing. We are doing a. Another keys please.
Kelly
Which people are like, some people love the name, some people, it's a very controversial name.
Liz
But I don't know it's controversial. I only see how it's good.
Kelly
I don't think people get how it's like, like the ending thing. It's, it's like so are you saying yes to the dress? I'm saying so are you saying you would like the keys? And they go, give me the keys please.
Liz
Yeah, it's cute.
Kelly
Like, it's the best. First of all, I hate when people say I don't like it, and I don't have another idea.
Liz
Yeah, like, we've been thinking about it, and this is what we've come up with. It's a good name. So, anyway, our keys, please. That we're going to film tomorrow is with my high school friend. She is looking for a car hybrid between 40 to 45,000. Is her budget new? She has one kid, but she drives constantly. She, like, lives two hours away from St. Louis, and her family is in St. Louis. So she's always, like, driving, lives out of her car. So we are going to look at a couple of cars with her, and
Kelly
it'll be a lot. I'm excited. I think I know where we're gonna end up, but I'm excited to take. To take. To take the journey there with everybody.
Liz
Me, too. Me, too.
Kelly
And I'm excited to see Madeline because I haven't seen her in five.
Liz
Ever. Yeah, she's in the wedding this weekend that I'm in.
Kelly
Oh, that's so what synergy for you two.
Liz
No, the wedding that I'm in is, like, such good synergy. I have her and then my neighbor, who's also one of my closest friends, she's in the wedding. So we are, like, carpooling. And then the boys are gonna car together because they have to be there at every time. And then I'm driving everyone home. Like, there is just. I saw this reel that it's like, it is. The neighborhood you choose to live in is so important because it's your community, it's the people around you. And I didn't really. We didn't really think about that so much when we picked this neighborhood. It just so happened that some of our closest friends were also looking in the same area. And it found a house right next door to us, essentially. So it's worked out, like, beautifully. But it is so nice. And I already just know it's going to serve us so well to just, like, be this close to someone that you trust wholeheartedly. You can't put a price on that.
Kelly
Will Smith, I believe, said it before.
Liz
He is he.
Kelly
Do people still think he's kind of crazy since he, like, slapped Chris Pratt that one time? Or not Chris Pratt. What's his name?
Liz
I don't know. I don't really follow.
Kelly
Who did he slap?
Liz
Who did. It was a comedian. I think it was Chris. Was it a Chris?
Kelly
It wasn't Chris Pratt.
Liz
Who did Will Smith slap?
Kelly
It Was the guy who plays Chris Rock. Oh, Chris Rock. We're so dumb. Anyway, but what. So one thing Will Smith has said. I believe you can kind of tack this onto my fast lane philosophy is two of the most important decisions you'll make is who you marry and where you live.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
Because they will really shape your entire life. If you think about it. It's so true. And same thing. I mean, we have really been just, like, kind of steering head first into our community and our neighbors and our friends. And, like, those are just some of the most important relationships to foster, in my opinion. Because, like, when you need something or, like, it's just something, like, I'm really into at the moment is I'm really liking. I think one of the key. This is so deep. I'm sorry. Like, can I take, like, a left hand turn for a second?
Liz
Sure, let's do it.
Kelly
But I think one of the keys to longevity is, like, keeping a really big circle.
Liz
Mm.
Kelly
Because I've re. I've read this somewhere, I believe, and if not, it makes sense to me. But, like, these blue zones, like, these people who live a very long time, they have very big circles. They see multiple different people every single day and week. And if I think about, like, someone like Tyler's grandma, for example, she is 90 and she has a better social life than any of us. Like, she is constantly. She watches her great grandchildren. She has chickens and does egg runs. She goes to town. She's always inviting people over for dinner. Like, she's always going to dinner. She's always going to her grandchildren's and great grandchildren's things. Like, she is beat bopping around town all the time. And I think that's just such an important thing because I think the problem with one of the problems with aging is your circle starts to get smaller and smaller and smaller. And that gets really sad.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
So I'm into keeping my circle young. I'm into keeping my circle big. I think the easy way to do that is to people who, like, are convenient to see. So that's why, like, I love being so involved in our school and our church and our community and with our neighbors. And I love, like, I feel so blessed to have our house because it's such a place to have people over. And, like, even on the days where it's like, oh, my gosh, like, I don't want to host today, I'm just like, you know what? It's just not that big of a deal.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
It's just, like, good for everybody.
Liz
Yeah. And you know, when you do it enough, like, those same people, like, sometimes they will see your house when you have done it the most with the hosting, and sometimes they're gonna see it when you just have, like, paper plates and, like, that's fine.
Kelly
Yeah, that's, like.
Liz
It doesn't always have to be this, like, big ordeal. It can sometimes just be, like.
Kelly
And I think sometimes, like, the more casual times, like, is when people feel, like, more comfortable and more at ease. Like, I don't want it to always be. I mean, there's definitely times where, like, I want to clean my house and, like, have a great dinner or, like, host a great party, but I also don't want it to be a place where people feel like they can't, you know, let their kids run wild, because I let my kids run wild all the time here.
Liz
Two things that I think my neighbor that I was just talking about does well is she's. She is always, like, you know, inviting over. They recently, for their daughter's birthday, they got a bounce house. And so now they have a bounce house.
Kelly
Like, they bought a. Like, now they're the family with the bounce house.
Liz
They're the family of the bounce house. She was like. It was the same. It was like, 300, which is, like, what it was going to cost them, essentially, to rent it for as long as they wanted to rent it. So she's like, I'm just gonna buy the bounce house. And so now she texts me. She said, hey, we can throw the bounce house up for the kids if you want to come over.
Kelly
No, the bounce house is such a good scapegoat. Like, if you're wanting to, like, dip your. No. You know how I always say, like, if you want to, like, dip your toe into hosting, like, how to do it. I feel like if you're wanting to dip your toe in, like, your neighborhood more. Because also, sometimes I like an activity that's like, hey, come over and stay outside.
Liz
And that's what the bounce house is. There's. I'm not expecting her to, like, feed. Feed me or my kids. I'm not expecting even a drink. I mean, maybe. I mean, they'll always offer you a drink when you go over there, but, like, I'm not expecting any. Like, we're going there for the bounce house, and that's it. And we're gonna all sit outside and watch the kids jump on the bounce house.
Kelly
And you could, like, so easily, like, text your neighbor you don't know very well, be like, hey, just so you know, like, we're outside on the bounce house. If you guys wanted to swing by, like, that's so, like, expectations are set. That's so easy.
Liz
That's what I'm saying. Be the family with the bounce house. If you are wanting to dip your toe, and then it's like, kids only are only going to jump on the bounce house for so long. Like, maybe you're there. Like, you could leave 30 minutes later if the vibes weren't right, you know? And then the other thing that she recently did is because we're in this
Kelly
wedding, this is kind of niche.
Liz
But she was like, hey, I am having someone come over to do spray tans for me and my mom. Do you want to come over and get a spray tan as well? Like, she knows I also have to get a spray tan for this wedding. I'm like, yeah, that would be great. Thank you.
Kelly
Yeah, I love that.
Liz
Just, like, looking for ways to just, like, little tiny ways to invite people over.
Kelly
Yeah. I'm going to get back on my hosting grind. I did take a little bit of time off this summer Cow. So I know it's summer. The pool is open. You know, there's animals in the barn. So I am ready to kind of. To take it up a notch. I need to do inventory of my paper goods in kind of a major way, and I need to decide if I'm gonna get a smoker, because I think that's also just, like, such a good, like, you know, hey, I just smoked a bunch of pork butt. Do you guys want to come over?
Liz
Yeah, totally.
Kelly
But would I just use it for pork or, like, would I smoke more?
Liz
I don't know. I don't know enough about it.
Kelly
I know. I don't either. Something I'm considering.
Liz
Yeah, you might use it a lot.
Kelly
I could. No, that's what I'm saying. Because I think it's like. I think it's like a man's crock pot. Like, I think it's like a set and forget.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
You know, unfortunately, my husband's just like. And I. My. I feel like both of our parents grilled growing up, but I feel like in some households, like, either the mom grilled or the dad grilled. Tyler did not grow up with a dad who grilled. Only his mom grilled. And I'm the griller in our house. But I actually love to be the griller. Like, it's actually something that I'm not really. I don't really want to let go of that.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
No.
Liz
I think if we, like, had A party. And there was, like, more things for me to do. Like, the grill would be something that I would throw Maddie on. But yeah, no, Like, I made burgers last night and I just grilled them outside. Like, I'm not going to wait for
Kelly
him to get home.
Liz
Get home to grill.
Kelly
No, you should definitely know how to grill.
Liz
I didn't know how to grill until I got married.
Kelly
Same. And that's where, like, when I. That's where. When Tyler and I kind of, like, were figuring out, like, who's gonna be the griller, we had to, like, kind of have that conversation. And I'm like, will you grill these steaks? He's like, I don't know how. And I'm like, well, I don't know how. Yeah, And I just kind of adopted it totally.
Liz
Anyway, Kel, what else you got for me?
Kelly
Well, I have a base model luxury that I'm, like, really excited to bring. I've got industry news. Then, of course, I have a ditch the drive thru. Like, that's just kind of what's on my horizon.
Liz
Okay. I'm always kind of a little bit nervous for your base model luxuries, but we'll see what you bring.
Kelly
Okay. So as everyone knows, I've kind of been on, like, a journey with my diet, and I am loosening the purse strings just a tad on a couple of things because I'm what, on like, week nine or ten? Like, I've been here. I've been here for a minute. I'm almost done with, like, this intensive program.
Liz
That's the intensive program, not including the 40 days of no sugar that you also did before you started.
Kelly
No, that's what I'm saying. Like, it's been like. And I would say, overall, I'm so happy that I did it. I'm so happy that I have the tools in my tool belt. I mean, it's great that I've, like, lost some weight and lost. My hives are completely gone. So, like, all good. My energy's good. I'm less hungry. Like, all good things to report, but sometimes I'm just, like, looking for, like, a beverage, like, just a more interesting water. And I think the problem that I've noticed is, like, I think we've kind of girl bossed too close to the sun with electrolyte powders, you know, because I'm not always looking for, like, 500 to 1,000 milligrams of sodium. I just, like, I'm not even deh. I get when you're like, you didn't
Liz
like go on a marathon run. Like, you just are living your life.
Kelly
No. And like, I'm just living my life.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
And sometimes I felt like they didn't make me feel that good afterwards.
Liz
Okay.
Kelly
And then I kind of realized, like, and I think, like, this is looked down upon. Like, electrolyte powders are, like, so healthy and like, water flavoring is like, so unhealthy. Don't you think that's kind of the perception?
Liz
Yeah, well, I think, I think it's when they have like, dyes in them and stuff. People aren't like, into that.
Kelly
Well, okay, whatever. I've been into flavored water. Like a little stir, huh? Yum, yum. Or there was like a Jolly Rancher flavored water packet. Sorry.
Liz
You got it.
Kelly
So yum.
Liz
Oh, that does not sound good.
Kelly
Okay, well, you're wrong. It's amazing.
Liz
Okay.
Kelly
And like, you know, I still drink plenty of regular water. I want to be, like, so clear with that. I don't know, I feel like there's such a stigma around, like, flavoring your water. Like, you're not a grown up unless you drink regular water. And I do drink a lot of regular water, but in the afternoons I used to reach for like a cocktail or a soda and I'm not doing that anymore. Okay. So I'm do. Yeah, so sometimes I do Jolly Rancher water. Sue me.
Liz
I think, I mean, I do think that there are people's entire Instagram accounts dedicated to, like, making a fun, funky.
Kelly
People get hate for that. And sometimes those people are a little crazy. But I'm just saying, like, before you, like, I'm just saying there's a, there's a way to flavor water without just electrolyte packets. And I think we've kind of been gaslit into thinking, like, electrolyte packets are, like, so healthy and so amazing. And like, you're insane because you put a little mio in your water.
Liz
Okay, I feel you. I, I, I, I can understand that.
Kelly
And then sometimes you can take like that Mio and you know, what you do with it then you take it to the restaurant and you order a club soda with vodka and then you can DIY your own cocktail there.
Liz
Yeah, for sure.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
And I think toss it in your bag.
Kelly
You just toss in your bag. And then I think that's, I think that shows forethought. Someone who thinks ahead, someone who is trying to elevate their everyday life. Like, they know that the bar is not gonna, you know, because sometimes you're not always going to, like, an artisan craft cocktail place. You know, sometimes you're drinking. Well, drinks.
Liz
I know. And you know what? I've gotten so, like, snotty now that it's like I can't even. I can't just do like a vodka and soda with a lime anymore. Like, I need. I like to add a little crayon to it. Like, I need. You're right.
Kelly
I need.
Liz
Maybe I need a meo.
Kelly
So I've just been in, like I'm telling you, like a Stanley. Ice cold, a ton of ice, A little flavor packet. Sorry.
Liz
All right, girl.
Kelly
It's like a little sweet treat.
Liz
Well, I'm insanely into those bubblers that you turned me on to. Speaking of drinks.
Kelly
Speaking of drinks. So. That's a good point. So there's these energy drinks bubbler. You Google the can B U, B, B, L, R. You've seen it, but
Liz
you've never reached for it because the marketing is, I think, so bad.
Kelly
I think the marketing's so bad. They say, like antioxidant sparkling water. So they're like five calories.
Liz
And you're thinking, you're, you're seeing the can, you're thinking it's going to taste like a spin drift. It's going to taste like a Lacroix. It's sparkling water.
Kelly
No, it tastes like an Alani.
Liz
It tastes like an Alani. I was. Before I got pregnant, I was so on to the Alanis, like borderline to onto them. And then I had to stop because of pregnancy. And now these have 65 milligrams of caffeine. So like, I have my cup of coffee and you can have like 150-200mg of coffee a day when you're pregnant, can't you?
Kelly
You know, I think spread out, you're fine.
Liz
Spread out.
Kelly
And so I think they say 70. But you know what? You do.
Liz
I don't think they do because a cup of coffee is 95. I looked, I actually looked it up the other day to make sure.
Kelly
I think it's. I think it's a choose. Your. I think it's a choose. That's a discussion for you and your doctor. But yes, Elizabeth, that's the point. They're only 65 milligrams. We need to stop these Alanis. And that's why I also like the clean, simple each energy drinks because they're. They're only a hundred. You, Alani and celsius people having 200 milligrams of caffeine. I don't know how you do that. How do you not have heart palpitations after?
Liz
Anyway, the bubblers taste like an Aulani, so they're like scratching that itch. They're so delicious. They've got a lot of flavor. They give you just like a little bit of caffeine and they are, they're delicious.
Kelly
And I have been having so much fun, like trying the flavors.
Liz
Mm.
Kelly
Yeah, they are so good.
Liz
Well, I have a base model luxury.
Kelly
Oh, let's hear it.
Liz
It's kind of niche. You have to have a truck. But I think a lot of families have trucks, and that is truck pizza. Truck dinners. Maddie did this the other night when he was solo parenting, and then we did it on Mother's Day as well.
Kelly
Truck. Yeah.
Liz
Truck, yeah. He has like, like a box. A box on the back of his truck, which is the perfect height for children to like eat a meal standing on. And he also just through his years in the Marine Corps and stuff, like, he has a lot of like pop up furniture. So he's this pop up table that fits perfectly in the bed of the truck. Maddie, me and Maddie and the kids were all sort of like sitting in the truck having our pizza on paper plates outside.
Kelly
Love.
Liz
It was also contained. Like we have a puppy. So he was able to be outside without, you know, trying to like jump up on us. And we didn't have to like constantly correct him to like, you know, not jump up while we're eating dinner. So like, that was another nice layer to it. But with the truck, you don't care if some, you know, grease or pepperoni or whatever falls on the truck bed. You're going to go through the car wash, it'll fly out. Like a bird will get it. Like, the cleanup is so minimal. And it is just like a fun and new different thing for the kids to do. So we have had truck pizza twice now. And, and we love it.
Kelly
I think something we. I think the kind of tangible takeaway for this who can apply to anybody is you need to. Let's work on our outdoor eating space. And not in a formal capacity and
Liz
an, in an unfortunate informal capacity.
Kelly
Because this summer I think you'd like the tool in your toolbox. And maybe it's just you grab a blanket and you put it on the driveway. Maybe you get like a little kids table, maybe you do a truck pizza. But I agree, I think we should all be introducing eating outside. And also, you don't just have to eat breakfast dinner outside. You can eat any, any meal of the day. Like Elizabeth doing these like breakfast walks. You could just send the kids out there for lunch this summer or you have dinner outside. I think we should all just kind of, you know, nap time, kitchen. On her channel, it talks about, like, resetting your home for the season. I think something we could all reset for summer is how to. How to have a meal outside in a fun way within moments. What do you.
Liz
Yeah, because, you know, we're not. We're not paper plate pizza or paper plate people year round summer, especially a pregnant summer, I'm gonna really lean into the paper plates and I think that there's. That's just like the season for paper plates. You know, sue me, whatever. And the other thing that I'm really going to try and figure out this summer that I'm excited about. So we're getting like our patio redone because it was just. It was horrible from when we moved in. And so we're gonna be eating a lot outside. And I'm really excited for it. I want to figure out what I need. Like, I need a tray, I need a basket. Like, because when the kids need ketchup, we need paper plates. We need whatever. I need my basket to, like, bring everything out and then bring everything back in in one trip because I can't. I need a caddy. But, like, what's the caddy?
Kelly
Yeah. I don't know. I'll just.
Liz
I'll.
Kelly
Yeah. Or a tray. I'm with you.
Liz
I need my. I need my serving tray.
Kelly
You have it. Here's. Here's what you don't need to do. Buy something new. You have it in your home.
Liz
I might. I might. Even if it's literally just like a giant of giant. A cookie sheet or a giant plastic box or whatever it is. But I do think, like, something that could spark joy for me is like, maybe it is like a cute wicker basket or something. And like, that's my aesthetic.
Kelly
Oh, yeah, I know that is cute.
Liz
But yeah, you're right. I need to. I need to figure out how big it needs to be before I go and buy something. And I can certainly workshop different things in my house because I don't think I cook. I don't think a cookie sheet's gonna be big enough.
Kelly
Okay, I get what you're saying. And like, you probably something with a little bit more of an edge to it.
Liz
Right.
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Kelly
you ready to finish your news where I spill the hot tea going on the auto industry?
Liz
Yes, I am.
Kelly
Okay, so the big, like, story that broke last night, which I'm so excited to like be talking about, is Audi released their new Q9, which is their new upcoming SUV that is larger than the current Q7 and the Q8. And we were just talking about Audi and how like, they literally are kind of like in their flop era. Do you remember this conversation?
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
And the problem is the Q7 and the Q5 and the Q8 were just like, not it in any capacity. Well, I'm sure I shouldn't say that there were not it for like the family cars. Like, they didn't have the Volvo XC90, Lexus TX. Yeah, vibe. And it was so disappointing because if you don't know, Volkswagen is. Volkswagen owns Audi. And you guys know how much I love the Atlas. And the Atlas is such a good family car. So it's like, why the flap isn't the Q7 the same as the Atlas? Like, this is what we see in every other luxury brand and their mass market, you know, brand too. Like the TX and the Highlander are basically the same. The Infinity QX60 and the Nissan Pathfinder are basically the same. So it was just like disappointing because, like, they have Such a home with the Atlas, like juice it up and give us an Audi. Well, they're finally doing that and it's going to be called the Q9. Now. What's so crazy about, like, this release? I've never seen a release on like this before because, like, they released the interior but not the exterior. Because I guess they had a reveal of which they did not invite us to it. And the car is like, still has all of its, like, spy wraps on, which is like, so dumb.
Liz
Yeah, like, come on, just either be done or don't, like, don't halfway do it.
Kelly
Well, it's like, why. Just why show us the interior first? Like, I just don't really get it. But what's funny about this one is it is copy paste carbon copy of the new Alice.
Liz
Which is good.
Kelly
Which is good.
Liz
Yeah.
Kelly
Which is good.
Liz
Okay.
Kelly
The only thing that's going to give me heart palpitations is whatever these monstrosities of headrests are in the second row.
Liz
Oh, my gosh. Hold on, let me look this up.
Kelly
That's not looking great. It's got tether anchors in all four seating positions. Only two season. The third row apparently is going to come in both a six and a seven. Pass the German. It will come with the second row bench. But I haven't seen the bench yet. But I haven't seen the new Alice bench yet either. But yeah, I. I'm excited about it. I'm excited about the size of it. I'm excited about the size of it.
Liz
I know we were just talking in the last episode about, like, having, like, this is what I mean, there's too many tech features. Like, I'm sorry. The passenger does not need a screen.
Kelly
The passenger does not need a screen. They need to cut it out with that.
Liz
The way it looks is you have your, your infotainment kind of facing the driver and then the passenger has a screen for some reason.
Kelly
I'm pretty sure that's how it is in the Atlas too. Like, I'm telling you, it's out of pocket. It's insane. It's just not. It's just very interesting. And then they have these like, doors that like, open and close by themselves. It's just exhausting. And they're just making cars so much more expensive. And this was also. This was a really interesting kind of story that I had been following with Car Edge. I was listening to Car Edge's podcast and they were talking about destination fees. And I don't think people know what a destination fee is, but it's going to make me start talking about car prices differently because a destination fee is a fee that comes from the manufacturer and it's their justification for getting the car to the dealership. And it's the same on every car because they felt like it had to be fair. So like, let's say they think there's a. Let's, there is. There's a cost associated with getting a car from, you know, the plant it's built at in Detroit and all across the country. But like, it wouldn't be fair to like charge, you know, cars going to Missouri less than cars going to California. So like everyone just pays a destination fee. Designation fee used to be like 500 to 1200 bucks, which is a lot, but like they're, they are 500 to 700 bucks or whatever. And again, that's from the manufacturer. Like it's, it's in the dealer's invoice price. Like it's not something from the dealership. Can't stress that part enough to you. Well, they keep raising the destination fees, but what's interesting about that is they're not. So but that doesn't technically count as the msrp. Even though you can't buy a car without paying the destination fee. I mean, you could literally go to the factory and be like, I just want to pick it up. And they would still make you pay the destination fee. Like it's a built in fee. But what these manufacturers are now doing is they're like, oh, we started our car starts at 37,000, but then it's a $2,000 destination fe. So your car is 39,000.
Liz
Right, right. And that, that, that's $2,000. That's the difference between, for some, for some people affording it or not.
Kelly
Well, and it's also just like you have to pay attention to what I hate. What I think is a little broken about. I mean, there's plenty of issues with dealerships. Of course what I think is a little broken about the car manufacturers at the moment is they can just, you know, numbers can just get manipulated six ways to Sunday. And like everyone just wants to be like the best in class or the lowest price or like the highest of this. So like it's like the perfect example is like the Mazda CX90 legroom. How we like discovered that it's not 39 inches of legroom, it's 39 inches when the driver, when the passenger seat is pushed all the way forward. But like on paper they wanted to say that it's the same thing with the pricing. So it's just like really hard to know to get just. It's really hard to compare cars in an apples to apples kind of way. And it shouldn't be so difficult, in my opinion.
Liz
Yeah. And I think they, the, the annoying thing is they can just keep raising it. They're never going to bring it the price down.
Kelly
No.
Liz
It's so annoying.
Kelly
No. Yeah. I mean, cars are kind of out of control price wise. And that's why I'm always just talking, trying to talk about pre owned cars and just the importance of, you know, really being just understanding what your goals are with the car.
Liz
Well, and you know, people trade cars back in all the time for no re. For no reason. Like no serious reason. You, you could go on to any lot and find a 20, 26 used car. That price has maybe gone down a little bit and you don't have to pay the destination fee. No, I'm just saying, like, just if you do want a 26, like, also, like, don't discount looking at 25s or 26s used because they could be out there. Um, 25 is definitely there. We just looked at a 2026. What was it? It was the GMC Yukon.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
Why isn't. Oh no, it was a 24. Uh. Oh, it was the BMW X7.
Kelly
Um, okay, we have to get on to ditch the drive thru because you know, Liz, you don't just get a plan like the biggest global car event of the year without having meetings, Meetings, meetings. So we have a meetings means to get to. So I want to give everybody our ditch the drive thru where we give you an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get you out of your dinner rut. First of all, I've been seeing you guys tag me in your kebab girl summers, and I'm obsessed with kebab girl summer.
Liz
Love that.
Kelly
Love that. I might try to like dip my toe into like a dessert kebab in the future. You know what I mean? Like, like a mini brownie bite, a strawberry, a blueberry, a marshmallow. That's like, I think if you brought that to a potluck, like, it would kind of be like. I think it'd be a really good. I think people would be talking about it.
Liz
Yeah, I think so too.
Kelly
Also, like, what a good thing for this summer when you're like, hey, we're having kebabs. You want to come over? Like, whoa. Yeah, but it's like so easy. Like you just put them on the grill.
Liz
Yeah, totally.
Kelly
Okay. Anyway, that's not the ditch. The drive through. The ditch. The drive through is what I am just in the drive through with tonight, which is such a classic, something we haven't made in a long time, and that is pulled pork in the crock pot. And what's my recipe? One pulled pork, one can of Dr. Pepper.
Liz
Now, I do like to season it.
Kelly
No. Okay, sorry. So I'm salt and peppers and garlic is like.
Liz
Yeah, garlic. I like a paprika. Like, I miss sometimes brown sugar. Like, I like. I like to season my pulled pork.
Kelly
You like to do the most.
Liz
It doesn't feel like it's. It doesn't feel like it's adding that
Kelly
much of a layer, I'm telling you. Crock pot or pulled pork in the crock pot. It's. If you're like, I know we're always talking about hosting, but, like, if you're intimidated by hosting, it's cheap and it's so easy and it's so versatile. And they get a couple of buns and get, like, three different types of barbecue sauces to, like, be fancy. Make a bag of coleslaw. Cut up a watermelon. Okay. Ideal summer meal. Done. Yeah. So good.
Liz
Yeah. Good leftovers, too.
Kelly
Great leftovers. Good to freeze. Make nachos. Do it on a pizza. Like, I'm just so excited. And I got a giant pork butt. I mean, giant pork butt, but for $15.
Liz
Yeah, it's so. It's. Pork is so affordable.
Kelly
Yeah, it's such a. And I, like, love pork too. So that's your dish to drive through.
Liz
That's your dish to drive through. We're doing a take on pasta and jarred sauce, and I got. I got, like, frozen tortellini with meat inside of it. So we're doing tortellini with a vegetable and some marinara. So good.
Kelly
So good. Okay, guys, well, that's gonna be our episode. I hope you guys have a fabulous, dabulous weekend, and we will. See y' all on Wednesday. Don't forget to get your tickets to the auto showthecarom.com. love ya.
Liz
Bye.
Kelly
Bye. 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.
Release Date: May 15, 2026
In this upbeat and candid episode, sisters and auto-industry experts Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John draw on their daily lives as millennial moms and business partners to discuss community, celebration, and the “keys” to enduring happiness—and actual car keys, too. They share events from their schedules, chat about family traditions, home hosting, and car news, and offer practical tips for keeping connections strong, both behind the wheel and at home.
Both Kelly and Lizz are attending childhood friends' weddings this weekend.
Travel and Anniversary Planning:
Kindergarten graduation for Kelly’s son George:
Nostalgia & Parenting Joys:
Maintaining a vibrant social life is a “key to longevity.”
Neighborhood as Community Anchor:
Base Model Luxury: Flavored Water & Beverage Rituals
Base Model Luxury: Truck Pizza
Audi Q9 Reveal:
Understanding Destination Fees:
Encouragement to Consider Pre-Owned:
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------| | 00:01 | George’s dress-up routine (“I want to show respect, Mom.”) | | 02:09 | Wedding plans and small-town celebration culture | | 05:15 | Fundraiser details: Closet Sale and Duck Pond for charity | | 09:20 | Kindergarten graduation and dressing up kids | | 11:26 | American Girl Doll unboxing nostalgia | | 17:10 | The importance of neighborhood in family life | | 18:26 | The “big circle”/key to longevity philosophy | | 21:43 | Bounce house as hosting hack/neighborly connection | | 24:36 | Base model luxury: flavored waters and the myth of healthy hydration | | 29:47 | Bubbler drinks and the caffeine debate during pregnancy | | 30:11 | Lizz’s “truck pizza” outdoor eating tip | | 35:26 | Auto industry update: Audi Q9 details | | 39:48 | Car pricing transparency and destination fees explained | | 42:36 | Ditch the Drive Thru: Summer hosting—Pulled pork, pasta, and kebabs |
Tone:
Lighthearted, friendly, and conversational, peppered with practical wisdom and authentic millennial-mom relatability.
For more:
Find Kelly and Lizz on Instagram, YouTube, and at their upcoming Car Mom Auto Show event. For tickets and fundraiser info visit thecarmom.com.