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A
Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly. It was the easiest thing I've ever done in my life. It was. It's actually idiot proof, actually. If it wasn't for the open flame, George could do it.
B
And Liz, if we're out of beer, Maddie will take a seltzer. But, like, he's always drinking, and I'm just like, guys, come on, drink the beer. The beer's for you. The seltzers are for the girls. I don't know what else to tell you.
A
Your mom. Time off starts. Welcome back to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. Happy Friday. Happy Memorial Day weekend. Happy start of summer. At least for some of us. Summer, summer, summer.
B
It's summertime. I guess it doesn't change my life at all, but for some of you, it totally changes your life.
A
It takes my world and puts it upside down, and I do. Even if it didn't, I'm just choosing to mark it as. As an event, as a change of season. I'm transitioning totally.
B
And it is such a change for your children, and it's always so exciting. And, like, you want to match that energy for your kids.
A
Yes. I'm so worried about just, like, the wear and tear my home is going to take this summer, you know, like. Yeah. I mean, I like a neat house. I like things clean. I mean, I've got white couches, like, and I. And I know that's, like, my cross to bear, and, like, I'm insane for that, but I'm just a little worried about what four kids at home all day looks like.
B
Yeah.
A
And see, last year, the little kids were still in daycare. So, like, the little kid. The big kids were home, but the little kids were gone. I'll have four kids all the time at home.
B
That's, like, so crazy.
A
I know
B
lots of outdoor activities.
A
Well. And I'm telling you, like, our reps is really going well.
B
Good.
A
And there's just. I feel like I've really taken my power back with my children. And I was talking to one of my cousins, and she kind of, like, gave me this advice. She's like, I don't really care if my kids have an attitude about some things, but they still have to do the things. She's like. So if they're sassy about it or, like, if they roll their eyes at me, like, I'm not gonna pick that fight because ultimately it is getting done. And I think there's a time and the place for everything, but I don't need them. It's taken a Lot of pressure off me to, like, I don't need. Enjoy doing their reps. You're doing them or you're not watching tv. It's just like, it's a very simple. It's very.
B
Life is about doing things you don't want to do. And your attitude. Your attitude towards things is important, but that can be learned when you, like, can regulate your emotions better.
A
Right. And also, that's up to you. The rule is you don't have. My rule for the reps is you don't have to have a good attitude about it. You just have to do it. Or. Or you don't have to do it. But they don't get to watch tv. You know, Hattie blows through it. How he wakes up every day. Can I start cleaning, Mom?
B
Yeah.
A
And then George, he's just, like, hates it. Which is so funny because it's like, had. He probably likes watching TV more than George even does. They're, like, so funny. They're just funny.
B
She might just like having, like, bound, like a boundary.
C
Yes.
B
And, like, an expectation.
A
Hattie likes the structure, and I think George is a little bit more like, you know, can't. I can't really explain them, but we'll just see how it goes.
B
Yeah, okay.
A
Ultimately, we'll see how it goes. But I am excited for Summer and. But. But even before that, I'm excited to sit down on the mic with you because we have so much to talk about.
B
Yeah, we do. We have a lot to catch up on. I had my glucose test this morning, so hopefully hear back on a negative on that and just chugging along on this pregnancy.
C
Third trimester energy.
A
I love that.
B
Let's just do it. Let's get it over with.
A
It's going to be a long, hot summer.
B
It always is. It always is for me. It seems.
A
We were talking, I think, you know, there's always. There's always new science and new products hitting the market where it's like, oh, that's a good time to be pregnant. I am happy for you that you are pregnant in a time where mocktails are, like, everywhere. Yeah, they are.
B
They are.
A
And there's just so many more fun drinks out there. Like, I just saw your Instagram stories about the bubblers.
B
I would rather drink. Even on when I can drink. I'd rather drink a bubbler over a white claw. You're not gonna catch me drinking a white claw for the rest of my life. Like, what? Like, so such an average drink.
A
I know.
B
Not enjoyable.
A
I had a white claw at the wedding that I was at last weekend and I'm just, I'm not, I'm with you. I'm not the biggest seltzer person. I actually did enjoy it more than I was expecting to.
B
I like a High Noon. I explicitly don't like. I don't mind seltzers. I explicitly. White Claw used to be the thing cuz it was the only one on, on the market. And now it's like if I'm going to drink a seltzer, it's going to be a High Noon. And I'm sure there the technology has evolved even since then when I was on this wedding. Oh, I have a note about weddings. We got on the party bus and like there's all these seltzers I've never seen before or these like canned cocktails maybe. So I'm excited to get back into that. But they ran out of seltzers and we ran out of seltzers on my party bus on my wedding as well. And you know, I'm looking around at all the people drinking seltzers and all these boys have a seltzer in their hand. The beer frit. The beer cooler is full. I'm like, if you boys weren't all drinking multiple seltzers, there would still be some available. You need to drink a beer. Like, I'm sorry, I have.
A
I'm sorry. Ick. Unlocked a man choosing a seltzer over a beer. Sorry.
B
Ick. I, I kind of agree. I'm sorry if, if we're out of beer, Maddie will take a seltzer. But like he's always drinking and I'm just like, guys, come on, drink the beer. The beer is for you. The seltzers are for the girls. I don't know what else to tell you.
A
We don't make the rules. Those are the rules. Beers are for boys, Seltzers are for girls.
B
And I also wouldn't care if they didn't run out. But what you're going to expect these girls to pick up a Miller Light after they just had like a refreshing. Boys are strawberry lemonade.
A
Boys are so unselfaware. Because some guy, I literally bet some guy's like, oh, cool, I got the last seltzer. Like, what an insane. Like that's what he thought.
B
No, literally, I. The day, the day of my wedding, I did not have a sip of alcohol before because I was like, did not want like I was so mad at anyone if they tried to drink before my wedding. I'm like, we're going. It's a Catholic Service. Like, we're not having any alcohol before. I was so high strung. Finally, Maddie and I take pictures. Everyone's on the bus, like, starting to drink. I'm finally ready to have my seltzer. They're gone. They're gone.
A
My.
B
My sister in law had like, just opened hers had taken like three sips. She just like hands it to me. I'm like, thank you. Like, and it just, it begs the question. I'm like, did I not have enough seltzers or were the boys drinking the seltzers when it wasn't for them? Boys only, girls only.
A
We need coolers. That's insane. It's so funny. We're talking about seltzers because we're planning, like, for the auto show and for the VIP night. And, you know, we're big note takers. And like, on our notes we said, buy more seltzers, buy less wine. Because we're thinking this is like an. Like we ran out of seltzers and we had. I am still drinking the wine from the leftover VIP night of the other show two years ago.
B
No, Kellen, I took half the wine too.
A
No, I. Like, we had so much wine and we had. So we had no seltzers. I do think at the auto show, I will only let women drink seltzers.
B
We're not gonna do that. We're not gonna do that. But just be self aware. Just again, I don't care if a boy drinks a seltzer. I just care when there's a limited quantity. I do think that.
A
Okay, so this is something that I had happen also recently because, you know, I'm.
B
I'm not pregnant.
A
Like. Yeah, I'm. I'm drinking like crazy.
B
Well,
A
and I was drinking. Yes, I'm with you. Like, there's all these new beverages on the market now that I haven't been aware of. And something you have to be aware of is the alcohol count in some of these.
B
Yeah.
A
Because I was sipping on a cut water. 12%. That's like three seltzers. I was like, what just happened?
B
Yeah, you gotta be careful with those. That's so true. Yeah.
A
Interesting.
B
I don't even know what's out there. So anyway, that's my take on. That's my take on that.
A
And so back to you. So for your third trimester though, you have, you know, you've got the ollipops, the poppies, the bubblers, the blooms. The blooms. Like, there's just so many more fun beverage beverages than ever before. Like when I was pregnant way back when it was like soda Bust. Soda. Water. Soda or water.
B
Yeah, no, it's really nice. I'm.
A
It's been good for the mocktail space.
B
Very, very blessed. Because I love something in the afternoon.
A
Well, something on my summer bucket list. I want to do a whole summer bucket list episode with you. I'm not ready today.
B
Okay.
A
But I've seen this all over my Instagram. They're these deli container cocktails.
B
Have you seen these? Yeah, I've seen this girl.
A
Guess who has deli containers? Me. Yeah, I've got deli containers because I bought them to take soups to friends, which I've never done, but I could take a friend a deli container cocktail mocktail.
B
I saw this girl who makes the mocktails in the deli container.
A
Looks.
B
Looks amazing.
A
So fun with a lid.
B
So fun with lid.
A
It's just. It's just a fun thing to bring.
B
Yeah.
A
Or to take or to make.
B
Whatever.
A
Whatever your adventure is. I'm pretty sure about that. Okay. So something. Can I. May I please.
B
You may have the mic. Okay.
A
I want to kind of go on like kind of a rant with you.
B
Okay.
A
And I think it's really important that at every. That I just want everyone to take a deep breath and I want you to not center yourself. Oh gosh. Because this isn't going to apply to everyone. And it's more just a. It's more just a broader conversation that I got a lot of interesting feedback on. So my mother in law, Barb, came over Monday to help watch the kids. And something that Barb does really well is she finds the most random things to clean in my house. It's like in the past, she's like taken apart my laundry, my washing machine, and like cleaned apart that I had. That's never seen the light of day. I didn't even know it existed. You know, she's done things like sometimes she'll like. I think one time she brought over stuff to deep clean my dishwasher with.
B
Wow.
A
This past week she deep cleaned all the kids crocs. Like took them all from the garage, scraped all the mud off, washed them all. Wow. And I always appreciate it because she's always like going deep and like finding things that, that I haven't done. And I had several mother in law and I shared that to my Instagram and I had several mother in laws message me and they were like, I love that you appreciate her. When I try to do this with my daughter in law, she just thinks I'm like coming at her for not taking care of her family or like, I don't have pure intention when I do it. It's so nice to see you appreciate her. And someone was like, yeah, mother in laws don't get enough love sometimes. And I do think there's too many people in this world who maybe take their mother in law's intentions for what they aren't. And like, maybe this woman's just trying to help you. Like, maybe it's not an attack on your motherhood or your wifehood that your kids crocs were dirty.
B
Like, she was just trying to like, my kids crocs are dirty. I hear that. And I see someone who remembers what it's like to have own kids and remember, like, it's like the weeds. Like I'm gonna have weeds because I can't get around to cleaning them. And she's like, she has a lot on her plate. She's not gonna, gonna get around to scrubbing the crocs down. I will take this off her plate. Like, I see that as someone looking for the things that you're not gonna do. And then she's also not stepping on your toes because she's not trying to put your laundry away or fold your own.
A
No, she does that.
B
That's fine. That, that, that might be overstepping for some people, but she's like, she's, she's not trying to. I feel like she's not getting too close in your space by finding something kind of outside of your regular rotation, but so not throwing off your schedule.
A
Yeah. I'm just, I just want to say, and like, as a future mother in law myself, like, I don't do.
B
Do you know what I'm saying?
A
Do you find that sometimes it's just a little.
B
I do find, I do find. I think that there's a lot of stuff on the Internet just about like, oh, crazy mother in law is this and that. And so people sometimes think like if their mother in law does something for them or does something in a different way, they're like, oh, I must have one of those and something. Not everyone has a crazy mother in law.
A
Yeah.
B
And even if you and your mother in law aren't, even if you don't have a barb or even if you're not super close, like,
A
even if you
B
don't like your mother in law, at the end of the day, she raised the man that you decided to commit your life to.
A
Right.
B
So she's doing something. She did some things in her, in her life. Right. And you need to Honor that and you need to respect that.
A
And at the end of the day, she's your kid's grandparents. Grandma.
B
Yeah.
A
And like she does not that she shouldn't respect your. I don't know. I'm with you. I just do. I think some mother in laws are toxic. Sure. Do I think some deserve hate. Yes. I am just not going to be part of. I have a great mother in law and I plan on being a great mother in law. And I just think sometimes we need to. I think sometimes some people don't look at their intentions as pure or like just trying to be helpful.
B
You know, it's a. It is a tricky place to be. I feel like in the mother in law space. I was talking to mom the other day because she was like thinking about finding a dress for Craig and Charlotte's wedding and she was like, I just feel like I have to tone down what I would have done for your girl's wedding because like I'm the. I'm the mother in law now. Like I'm not the mom where she can like go and like.
A
Yeah.
B
Do her big whole thing. And I'm like, actually, Mom, I do think Charlotte wants you to be yourself and like wants you to be your fabulous, authentic self. So I do think you are lucky there in the fact that Charlotte wants that for you. But I didn't realize like how much insecurity she had about the way she's approaching Craig and Charlotte's wedding versus how she approaches.
A
Approached our wedding. It is. It's very interesting.
B
And my mom and Charlotte have a great relationship.
A
Yeah, it's very interesting. Just like. Yeah. Just the differences.
B
The differences. Yeah. So.
A
And I also agree it is different than your mom. Yeah.
B
You know, at the end of the day, here's. Here's my gonna. Where I'm gonna plant my flag on it. Intention matters. People's intentions behind things 100 matter. So sometimes their intentions might be the way that people were saying. Like they're just like nitpicking my motherhood. And also just like have expectations for people. If someone acts a certain way, they're going to act that way for the rest of their life. Especially by the time they're in their 50s and 60s, you know, by the time like so you just have to have your expectations set for them and they're going to act that way. And you can like, that's just what it's going to be. So buckle up.
A
Appreciate. Appreciate what you can out of.
B
Appreciate what you can and get what in and look past what you can't.
A
Yeah, I'm just saying I had a lot of mother in laws dming me saying like they're trying to do this and their daughter in laws are being sassy about it. Surely not. Surely not my followers. But I'm just saying some people.
B
Interesting that. I'm very intrigued to hear it from the mother in law's perspective because I only feel like I see things from the daughter in law's perspective. Yeah, so that's interesting.
A
It is interesting. But anyway, here nor. Well, I guess it is here and
C
there Today's episode is brought to you by K12 the end of the school year means you're probably thinking about the beginning of next year and what that education is going to look like for your child. Every student deserves an education that helps them thrive and reach their full potential. That's where K12 powered schools come in. These are tuition free accredited online public schools where students learn from caring teachers who are trained in online education. K12 offers safe, flexible at home learning environment for students in kindergarten through 12th grade with options for every student whether whether they need more challenge or support. Students learn their own pace with curriculum tailored to meet their unique GO goals, needs and interests. And K12 state certified teachers use hands on innovative technology that makes learning interactive. K12 has more than 25 years of experience helping students gain the skills they need to thrive in the future. And it could be perfect for your child too. Join the more than 3 million families who have been served by K12 and bring personalized learning to the comfort of your home. Enroll online today@k12.com Carpool that's letter K the number 12.com Carpool k12.com Carpool
B
Today's
C
episode is brought to you by Alma. I'm so thrilled to see the amount of content and support that is out there for mental health, especially when it comes to postpartum mental health. It's something we talk about a lot, but when you're experiencing that, it's very hard to know what the next step is to take. Where how do you find a therapist?
B
Where do you go?
C
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A
L. This is kind of ditch the drive thru. I'll save it for that. What else do you have? We had our shared note. Cuz I've been like blowing up our shared note lately.
B
Well, you had mother in law so I just checked that off. And then you have two things that I think you have granola and popcorn on there. Is that your dish to drive thru?
A
No, it's actually not.
B
Is shaved beef that you have on there your ditch the director. Okay, so we can do granola and popcorn first.
A
I think I've been gaslit into thinking some things are harder than they are.
B
Kelly. I'm pissed. I'm actually pissed at the world for this popcorn thing.
A
Okay, so mom's so like microwavable popcorn. Like I've heard the rumblings that it's bad. It's also I'm always burning it and like I just think it tastes kind of chemically. And what's so interesting is our au pair, she one time like bought just popcorn kernels and I'm like, what do you do with those?
B
I don't have a popcorn maker.
A
And she's like, I'm gonna make popcorn on the stove. And I'm like, I don't think it works like that. Maybe the popcorn's different here. She's like, no. And so she makes popcorn all the time on the stove. And the other day I was like, I'm trying my try my hand at the kids wanted popcorn. It was the easiest thing I've ever done in my life. It was. It's actually idiot proof actually. If it wasn't for the open flame, George could do it. So first of all, why is that not the default way to make popcorn? At least not for me. Why is microwavable popcorn selling so much? And even worse than that, I can honestly wrap my head around microwavable popcorn because you don't get a dish dirty. So like, I can at least kind of understand that to have a separate tool to make popcorn is an insane use of consumerism. And when I posted that I was making this, so many were like, you've got to get the popcorn machine. I'm like, why? I just made popcorn.
B
Did you not see it?
A
The popcorn? I made popcorn in my Dutch oven.
B
Okay, so first of all, walk me through how you make popcorn in your Dutch oven.
A
Okay. So I use my Dutch oven, and I put enough, like, vegetable oil in just to, like, fill, like, the bottom of it.
B
Okay.
A
And then you just throw, like, two or three test kernels in there. Turn it on.
B
How long are you. How long are you putting the.
A
The.
B
How long is the oil sitting before,
A
you know right away? Because, like, as soon as the kernels pop, the oil is hot enough, it's kind of.
B
Okay. Okay. Gotcha.
A
Those are to tell you when you can do it.
B
See, I don't know the science, and I just.
A
I think it's just. It's. There is no science. It's so easy. Okay, So I just. Just enough to, like, line the bottom of it. Put some. Three test kernels in there. One popped. And I was like, okay, game time. So I took a third. A cup.
B
Okay.
A
Of popcorn kernels. Enough to just kind of, like, also fill the bottom of the pan. Put the lid on. Kind of cracked the lid so it'll get a little airflow.
B
Sure.
A
I hear pop. I wait till the pops, like, kind of stopped open the li. I had popcorn. I'm, like, looking around, like, are you kidding?
C
So why did we.
B
Why did popcorn makers ever become existed?
A
No. I don't know. And it was so easy. The kids thought it was fun. I'm, like, making popcorn on the stove, and now.
B
Now you feel like farm to table somehow because you're making some in your Dutch oven.
C
Literally.
A
A Dutch. My Dutch oven. Amazing. And then, you know, I made every kid their own little bowl, and I put. You know, you could, like, make them yourself. Like, someone wanted cinnamon sugar on there. Someone just wanted butter and salt. And I'm, like, making my kids all their own popcorn. I wrote it down on my, like, good party or good lake slash farm foods for the summer. It's like, you just bring a thing of popcorn, and you're like, let's pop some popcorn tonight.
B
I'm, like, so frustrated at how easy it is, and I just can't believe
A
they're, like, selling things that are probably so hard to clean.
B
So hard to clean. You have to store them somewhere else. This is blowing. This has blown my mind. Because I wanted a popcorn maker because I. I wanted to move away from the microwave of popcorn, but I was like, oh, what popcorn maker do I get? Blah, blah. Oh, this one, you know, that looks like it has microplastics in it. I'm like. So I'm like, my mind is blown.
A
I mean, and, like, if you are gonna say, no, no, you have to get a popcorn maker. Please. In what world would it be better than just using what I already have? Like, I don't understand it.
B
Yeah, I don't either.
A
And the next thing, I was like, what if I made granola? Okay, file that under the easiest thing in the world to make.
B
Okay. How do you make granola?
A
I got some oats, some pumpkin seeds, and some walnuts, melted, a little coconut oil, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon. Put it on the mixture, spread it out on a cookie sheet, put it in the oven for 30 minutes at 300, let it cooled. I had granola. Homemade granola. It's so good. And so I told you last episode, I liked the idea of doing, like, bringing, like, a yogurt parfait to a mom.
B
Sure.
A
But what I'm gonna do instead is now that it's, like, summer, I'm gonna text some of my mom friends and say, parfaits in the park this morning. And I'm just gonna. We're all gonna meet at the playground at, like, 8:30 in the morning because all of our kids are awake. And I'm gonna bring yogurt, my homemade granola, some berries. Parfaits in the park. Isn't that cute?
B
It's very cute. I love parfaits in the park. Have you seen the girls who bring, like, fixings to make, like, like, iced coffees for their playground playdates?
A
That's adorable. Also. I'm gonna work on that too. Oh, that could be a good thing
B
for me to work on, because then you just get, like, some iced coffee, and then they. They had cream, and, like, they had, you know, caramel or flavors or whatever. Like, you can do as much or as little. But then they just made, like, fun iced coffees for the girls, and I like.
A
And I think that's a really fun thing to. You're not even at your house. So, like, imagine sending this text this summer. Hey, guys. Just made a huge batch of granola. Like, first of all, they're like, oh, my gosh, she makes granola. What's the recipe? Anyone want to meet at the park tomorrow for parfaits and let the kids run around? It's giving like, you're. Now you're part of the village. And then, you know what? Then you send home everyone with a little bit of extra granola. I really want to have. I don't know if my friends would be down for this, because it does seem like a lot of work for the season of the life that we're in. But have you heard of those, like, Farmer market. Farmers market parties.
B
No.
A
Okay, so you, like, invite, you know, whatever, 10 girls, and everyone brings something that they made.
B
Okay. Yeah, I've seen.
A
And then everyone gets to bring home 10 things. Like, someone could bring, like, you know, some sourdough, some granola, some pickles.
B
Yeah. If you make, like, body scrubs or lotions. Yeah, something like that.
A
You don't have to really make it. I guess it could just be, like, you know, but then it's like a farmer. It's like a farmer's market with your friends. I think it sounds fun.
B
I saw this one, and this is, I think, for actually less. For women with families. Unless you're. You could, I guess you do it for lunch. But it was, like, five girls, and they all made a different dish and then put it into five different meal prep containers. And then they handed every. Everyone got one. So then you had, like, five meals for the rest of the week, which they were, like, individual containers. So I do think that would be really cute for, like, you know, maybe your. Your co workers or something. Not so much for, like, your family, because that's too much. But that was. I thought that was kind of a fun idea.
A
Yeah, I love that. So anyway, friends. Who? Friends. If you're listening and you want to have a farmer's market party, let me know.
B
Okay.
A
You know, I hate to, like, ask. Hey, guys, I'm having a party. Everyone's. To bring 10 things. That seems kind of crazy.
B
Yeah. Maybe you can't have, like, 10 people. Then maybe it has to be less people.
A
I don't think it's the number. I think it's just the act. Because what's the difference between five or ten?
B
Because I'm making five loaves of sourdough, not ten loaves of sourdough.
A
Okay, well, you're right. See, I would make granola, because that's. Or popcorn. Or popcorn.
B
Yeah. And I'm like, oh, I could make a loaf. But that would be a lot to make 10.
A
Maybe do half loaves.
B
Sure. I could do a half loaf.
A
So anyway, I'm just, like, excited about those things in my life right now. And also, all my Amazon disposable products came in, so I'm ready to start meal prepping and serving others. And serving others. And we're really. After the auto show, I'm really gonna get into it.
B
Okay, good. Yeah. I really think after the auto show, our life is just gonna open up.
A
That's what I keep telling myself.
B
I know. And, you know, I see, like, I'm starting To see people on Instagram who are due around the same time as me with their first and, like, their nursery's getting ready and all this stuff. And I'm like. I'm like, it's so weird because creating, like, a nursery is so reserved for your first child and, like, curating your nursery and having everything, like, set up, it's, like, so exciting. And I loved that time of my pregnancy with James. And this is like, you don't get that hurt. Like, I still don't know where everyone's gonna sleep. I don't know where her dresser is gonna be. Like, we don't have enough bedrooms. We do, but I use one as an office, so I'm like, she's just gonna live in the room in my room for a while. And I don't even, like, know what all. Like, what all. I need to get out. I'm like, I can't think about it until after the auto show when we will figure it out, because we do have everything. I just have to, like, sort through it all. But it's like, it's so funny how you just don't get those same experiences.
A
I know.
B
With your subsequent children.
A
No, you don't.
B
No, I get that nursery. So beautiful. Anyway, I'm gonna shove another dresser in Sloan's room.
A
I'm gonna get another six cube organizer from Target and hope it changes my life.
B
Literally.
A
I just do that about once a quarter. I'm like, hold on. This is gonna really get my life together.
B
I know. I know.
A
Solidarity. I mean, my kids rooms are still not really done.
B
You know what? I'm really excited to, like, do my kids rooms when they are older, and I have maybe more of a disposable income to do that. And also, like, they can be involved. And then I can do, like, a stunning, fun room redesign. I'm not really interested in doing it at this age.
A
I'm not either. And I'm also of the mindset, and this is, like, kind of a hot take that I have. I don't also think kids need, like, super amazing, elaborate bedrooms. Like, I'm not really looking. Looking for my kids to spend any much more time in their bedroom than needed. Because I like communal family space.
B
Don't you just remember looking through the PB Teen magazine?
A
Yeah.
B
And it just, like, being the most fun.
A
Yeah. And I had friends who had, like, amazing rooms and had, like, TVs in their rooms and, like, I don't know. And we had good. I mean, of course, like, we had good rooms too, but I don't know. I just don't always like an emp, especially for. I mean, I think it's different even when you're like a teenager and maybe you like, need some space to like be crabby. Because maybe like, I don't want your attitude around me, but for right now, I just like a lot of communal family spaces.
B
No, and that's what I mean. Like right now, I don't think it, I don't think it matters so much. Yeah, but I. I think it'll be more exciting when, like, they have a opinion and they're saying it and what I. Whatever. I don't have the time for it.
C
This episode is brought to you by Quince. Lately, I've been more intentional about what
A
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C
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B
Kelly and I mentioned this the other
C
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B
I recently bought James this fabulous linen
C
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B
Quince.com Carpool anyway Kel, we have some advice questions to get to and we don't say this enough, but if you want to write in to get your own advice, you can write to hello@the CarmomOfficial.com, mom, you know what else?
A
Hold on before you go there, you know what I've been thinking about also in Just like this Crazy may sember what all the people who are going through May sember while playing the spring sport. Sorry, couldn't be me.
B
Cal, I'm not going there again with you.
A
I'm just saying I'm like, I don't know how you're doing all of this and T ball sounds insane.
B
I know, it's. I don't know. They make it work.
A
Okay.
B
Okay. Hi Kelly and Liz. I was loosely beginning to consider what an all girl education would look like for my daughter one day. Would you be willing to share your experiences going to an all girls school regardless of the face perspective? I'm so intrigued by the confidence building, leadership skills and never once considered it until now. I thought this was a good question because we haven't really talked too much about our all girls school experience.
A
It was wonderful.
B
St. Louis is like I think really unique because there are so many all girl or all girl or all boy schools. Like it's like fraternities and sororities in high school. Like there's probably off the top of my head maybe seven of each. Yeah, I really loved my all girls school experience. I felt like so up until eighth grade I went, we went to co ed schools and then freshman year through senior year we went to an all girls school. And I felt immediately like when I was just in a classroom with all girls I wasn't as like insecure about ants like raising my hand and getting questions wrong. Kelly and I both were like the presidents of our class. Not sure I would have had the confidence to do that if like there were boys around. There was like no distractions, there was no how do I look before I
A
leave
B
it, you had your first of all, you had your uniform which I just think schools in general should have uniforms because it puts everyone on the same playing field. There's no that person's wearing Lululemon. That person's wearing this like uniforms make things easier. And so there was no like you didn't wear makeup. You weren't worried about anything. The only trade off that I think you're get. Well one of the big trade offs with the all girls experience is there's no like Friday night lights, like football team, like cheerleader, like there, the cheerleading thing is not there were cheerleaders but it, it wasn't like it is at a co ed school and we would go to like the all boys school football games for like the social aspect. But there, there was not that same like Friday night lights feel that you would maybe get out of co ed school.
A
Yeah, I ditto everything you said. I think that it did so much for Our confidence because I wasn't this. I even remember like my freshman year. I wasn't this tall, lanky girl the boys made fun of. I was just like, you know, with other girls it was just, it was, it was really beautiful. And I think we actually had a lot less drama because we all like met boys because, you know, like you said we would go to like football teams. Like people like had friends from their grade school they stayed in touch with, but there wasn't that drama. Like rarely ever came into school, you know. And there was no like, oh, you break up and then you see, I'm like, how do you do that?
B
Focus. How do you focus at school if you're like ex boyfriend or the boy who like teased you or whatever is like sitting next to you. Also, the cell phones weren't, I think like at the end of my senior year, like computers and cell phones were kind of like coming into the school. So there was just like, there was really no distractions and it was great. And it's the approach that I would like to take for my children living in St. Louis.
A
We probably won't take that approach because we live just really far from the schools. Yeah, no, you can't. But it'll be. But so, you know, I would say if I. But I would. If we live closer, I would probably do it because I think it was really fun for the kids. I can't speak to like how what boys would say, but I feel like boys would have the same.
B
I was thinking about that when I was. When I picked this question. I'm like, I'd be so curious to know like a boy's opinion on the schools, but obviously they're just really big in St. Louis and I think everyone has a positive experience. And like we did have prom and we did have homecomings. It's just like you would go to the all boys schools, homecomings and the boys would come to the all girls homecomings. Like it was just, I don't know, that's just how it worked. So I loved it.
A
Yeah. So fun.
B
Okay, and our next advice question is going to be car related minivan or no. Hey, Kelly and Liz. I have the typical third baby dilemma and need some expert slash practical advice. I currently drive a 2023 Subaru Ascent and love it. I bought it new and I'm still making payments, but I believe it's still worth more than what I owe. I have two kids, they are five. Forward facing, three rear facing, rotating car seat. And now baby number three on the way. A bit Sooner than expected. Do you think it's worth it to part with my ascent? Even though I really love it to get a minivan, I would get something used so that I can lower or possibly even get rid of my car payment. So financially it's probably a good. But the hassle of finding the right van and making the switch doesn't seem worth it to me. And I'm worried I'll be sad and miss my ascent. I'm like Kelly and just prefer to drive an suv, but we can't afford a full size. Is the minivan really gonna give me that much more convenience than my ascent? As far as space and car seat setup, what would you do?
A
Good question. Girlfriend to girlfriend, like, I'm just gonna level with you.
B
Oh, can, can I. A little more info. My ascent has captain's chairs, so I was planning to move my three year old forward facing when the baby comes and put both those forward facing car seats in the third row. So that would make my trunk space pretty tight.
A
Okay. Like just not as the car. I'm just like, as like a girl you would just call on the phone or as the karma. I don't think you'll miss your ascent at all, to be honest with you. I think, and I actually think even though you might like be downgrading like by year, by mileage, even by features, you are going to upgrade so majorly in convenience, in space, you're going to feel like you won the lottery. Like, so you're saying that there's a world. I don't, I don't have all the numbers, but there's. You obviously could. Maybe you have some equity, maybe you have some cash. Like let's say you could. If there's a world where you could lower your payment slash get rid of your payment and get more room. Like what am I? Why would you not do that? And just like my bird's eye view with minivans. Here's the thing I want to point out about minivans. If you're on a budget it and you're looking for a minivan, my advice, you can try to find a used Sienna. Those are very hard to find and they're still very expensive. And you can't get the bench seat. Like rarely you can find a bench seat and it's only on the lowest trim. I would go after the oldest, best maintained Honda Odyssey. You can find thing with the Honda Odyssey. They changed it in 17 and they haven't been bothered to change it since. And I just saw an article that also Said they're not planning on changing it for a very long time. Time. They did, like, an update in 25, and they didn't like you. If you put a 25 and a 24 in front of me and I had a magnifying glass, I would not even be able to tell you the differences between the two.
B
Okay.
A
So that being said, go find the oldest, best maintained, lowest mileage, highest trim odyssey in your budget and buy that and get rid of the ascent, and you will be happy. Yeah. Yeah. End of story.
B
It just changes. It just changes your life. It really does.
A
End of story. And just. I also do want to say I like an expedition, but I am by no means anti minivan. Like, I actually do really like minivans.
B
Well, you know, something that I'm kind of getting a little bit nervous for with my minivan and having three kids is, you know, like, I think I'm gonna put James in the third row. So my third row is going to be up the whole time. And now my trunk is just going to be really deep. And I'm a little bit nervous for not having, like, a flat trunk, But I guess if I take that seat out of. Then I'll have more, like, space inside the cabin. So, like, I'm thinking, like, on the go, potties, like, diaper changes and stuff like that. I think I can do that within the cabin if I remove that outboard seat and I.
A
My thing with trunk space, like, kind of my hot take with trunk space is I think you'll use what you have. And I think some people, when they have all this trunk, they use all this trunk space. But, like, if you didn't have it, you're still gonna live your life.
B
You just, like, will, you know, empty your car instead of.
A
You'll actually probably be more organized.
B
Yeah, no, for sure, because you'll have
A
to be, because right now, your trunk does just kind of get to be an abyss because it's so big.
B
Yeah, that's so.
A
But you'll get kind of more strategic. I am very curious to see what I think about going from the max to the standard wheelbase.
B
Uhhuh. Me too.
A
Again, personally, I think it's. I think I'm going to really enjoy it, but stay tuned. I'm, like, dying for an update on my expedition. I haven't gotten a VIN number. I haven't gotten nothing.
B
When is it supposed to be ready?
A
No idea. I haven't gotten anything. But I'm very excited for it.
B
I'm very excited for you.
A
Okay. You ready for Ditch the drive.
B
Yes.
A
Yes. Will we give you an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get
B
you out of your dinner rut?
A
Shaved beef.
B
Okay.
A
Yeah.
B
Back to the shaved beef. Talk to me about it.
A
Do you know what shaved beef is? Like, you can just buy it.
B
Okay, yeah. See, no. Like, I know it's, like, at a restaurant, but I would never think I can just go buy it in the same way. Like, I can pop popcorn in my Dutch oven.
A
Right. There's just, like, all of these.
B
That's, like, taboo.
A
So it's all, like, so how you were grown up, too. Like, I remember. I love our mother. I love our mother, but I remember being married and being, like, wait, I can just put salmon in the oven.
B
Making salmon for the first time when I was, like, 25, Blake blew my
A
mind because mom just, like, never made salmon. Pork chops all the time.
B
Yeah.
A
Chicken. Yeah. Too many. Too many times we had pork chops. I guess mom's just not a fish person, which is. She kind of is now, but growing up, she just, like, I didn't know you could just make. Yeah.
B
Giving five kids, like, assuming five kids are all gonna eat salmon. So, like, not totally worth it. Like, we just probably weren't eating it.
A
My four kids do, so.
B
Okay, well, you're a better mom.
A
What can I say? Anyway, back to shaved beef. So I was just, like, perusing my. My grocery store, and first of all, if you're not another thing that I just, like, forget you can do is, like, talk to your. Like, talk to the butcher at the grocery store. Do you know what I mean? And they are. Every experience I've had with a butcher is they are genuinely so happy to just help. Have you ever had this. Have you talked to a butcher in the last 90 days?
B
No.
A
Okay. So I was at the grocery store, and I was looking for ground pork, and I asked the butcher. I'm like, do you have ground pork? He's like, oh, I don't know. Let me just get. Let me just do some for you really fast. He, like, took a pork loin or something and just ground me a pound of pork. Like, such a. Such a gentleman. So anyway, I was perusing just, like, my local section, and they had some shaved beef, and I was like, oh, this would be fun for, like, fajitas or stir fry or, like, steak and eggs. It's shaved, like, pretty paper thin. It cooks in five seconds. It cooks in five seconds. You put it on a hot pan, you pull it off, and it's such a fun, quick weeknight.
B
Meal.
A
So what I did is I kept it simple. I chopped up a zucchini and a yellow squash and an onion. The onion was already chopped up. Just for. Just so people know, I sauteed it for a bit, put the beef in, sauteed it, served it with some leftover rice.
B
Okay.
A
I didn't really have a. A meal. Some of the kids added nothing to it. Some of the kids added that like. Or that Japanese barbecue sauce to it. I just added some salt. Cooked in five seconds.
B
I'm imagining it, like, on a hoagie or something.
A
You could imagine it on a hoagie. You can imagine it as a. In a stir fry, a fried rice. Like, it's. It's very versatile. It's very quick. It's a good weeknight meal rotation.
B
Okay. That's so good to know. Sounds quick too. Okay, so shaved beef. Talk to your butcher, get some shaved beef, make popcorn this week.
A
Yeah.
B
That's sort of what's on the agenda for everyone.
A
I think so.
C
I think so.
A
And let me know. Any other, like, you know, mind blowing. I'm just kind of looking just kind of stretch myself culinary. Culinary wise this summer. I just want to really continue to be the mom who always has the snacks, always has the meals, can throw dinner on the table. Like, you know, the Ella Langley song. I just want to be her so bad. That's so bad it hurts. So I want to be her. I want to be the mom who's like, oh, yeah, I just, like, prepped all this fruit in the beginning. Let's meet at the park. I'll bring a bunch of fruit. Oh, you need a meal. Hold on. I have, like, all the containers ready to go. You know, so just like, such a
B
good Instagram story too, like, for your friends. Like, oh, like, look at how cool we are at the park having parfaits.
A
Yeah. Kelly made homemade granola. And people think I'm doing the most.
B
Yeah, I like it.
A
I also want to. I also am gonna. I want to try to do an outdoor movie night. And just like, I have a projector because I put on my garage. The thing that's hard about outboard during a movie night in summer, though, is like, it doesn't get dark Till like,
B
9pm no, that is the problem.
A
So it kind of is like a fall activity.
B
A fall activity. Then you get blankets. Never forget. During COVID Maddie had to get really creative with our date night nights. And so he surprised us on the top of his parking garage in his apartment. He put he and his friend Carried a couch out of their apartment, put it in the bed of his truck. I don't know, I guess to move it. And then we sat in the bed of his truck, and he projected a movie on this, like, wall that was at the top of the parking lot.
A
I love dating.
B
I know. It's so cute. And. And he had said. We were actually just talking. We're like, we need. This will be. We need to redo that. Like, when with the kids. But it's hard because it doesn't get very dark. Another fun thing that Maddie did.
A
It doesn't have to be dark or can you do it? No, it does have to be dark.
B
You can't see anything.
A
Okay. Fair.
B
Another cute thing that Maddie did was we were supposed to go to Cabo, and then our trip got canceled because of, like, covet had just hit. So he filled his truck bed with sand, and at this time in Covid, they were, like, doing to go alcohol because restaurants were trying to, like, stay alive. So we got to go margaritas and a kiddie pool and sand and beach chairs and put it in the bed of his truck.
A
That sounds so fun.
B
I know. It's so cute.
A
Speaking of dates, Tyler and I, this is a surprise for Tyler. Okay. But he doesn't listen to the podcast, so I don't think he'll hear this, but please, no one tell him. But I'm taking Tyler on a surprise. So we are going to Vegas for one night because I got invited by Ford to do this, like, off. I don't know why I'm whispering.
B
I think I. I kind of like it. It kind of makes us feel more like we're.
A
So I got invited to go to this bronco off roading course, but I'm still gonna surprise him. So, like, I told him, I'm like, hey, I have to go to Vegas for a work thing. You're gonna go. Like, we're gonna. It's like, not. He doesn't know what we're doing, though.
B
That's so fun. He'll love it.
A
I think I'm gonna keep it a secret to, like, we get. I mean, I'm not gonna be like, okay, blindfold. We're bowling. I'm like, oh, we're going to Vegas. But it's a surprise. And he's probably gonna think it's just, like, a concert. But then we're gonna, like, go to this, like, four hour off roading thing, which. Wow. I know.
B
That's good. You need. I. You need. We both need. But you can have. You can carry the experience. Like a true off roading experience. Because I feel like. I agree we hate on off roading stuff all the time. And, like, I really want to know
A
what, like a true skid plate in action, you know what I'm saying? Like, I want to see, I want to use those features.
B
Yeah.
A
And I think it'll be a fun. Like, I love that it's a. It's an experience. And they have these courses, like, all over the country. So, like, for some people, they don't have one in Missouri, but, like, they're in like five or six states and you could just like, go kind of a fun, like, date night experience. Like, I love an experience.
B
I love it.
A
I know it'll be a memory. Like, going out to dinner doesn't always make a memory.
B
Well, I just gave two memories of dates that Maddie and I had and it was like, because. And I like, couldn't tell you by the time we went bowling, you know, and it's because I'm trying to think
A
we did something different. If I have any date nights with Tyler, I can't really think of literally any.
B
I mean, you guys, like, literally haven't been dating for, like, so long. Like, you've just had kids for like, seven years.
A
You think something would stand out. He used to surprise me a lot, actually, in college. Like, he used to just show up sometimes and that was, like, always really fun.
B
Yeah.
A
Or like, tell me he couldn't come and then, like, just walk into the restaurant.
B
Yeah.
A
With my friends. He used to do that. That was fun.
B
Yeah. That's cute.
A
Okay, well, that's our episode.
B
All right, well, I hope everyone has a fun and safe memorial weekend. Happy summer. We'll see you guys on Wednesday. Thanks for listening to the episode. Bye. Bye.
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.
Episode: NEW ICK UNLOCKED!
Date: May 22, 2026
Hosts: Kelly Stumpe & Lizz St. John
In this lively episode, Kelly and Lizz dive into the chaos and excitement of summer as busy moms. They unlock a hilariously relatable new “ick” regarding men and seltzers, discuss the underestimated ease of making granola and popcorn from scratch, share heartfelt advice about mother-in-law boundaries and appreciation, offer parenting hacks for surviving summer at home, and, of course, field auto questions—this time, minivan vs. SUV. They also sprinkle in fun ideas for summer entertaining and reflect on their all-girls school experience and the joys (and perils) of organizing kid spaces.
On Men and Seltzers (05:46):
“Ick UNLOCKED: A man choosing a seltzer over a beer. Sorry.”
—Kelly
Chores & Parenting Philosophy (02:34):
“Life is about doing things you don’t want to do. And your attitude toward things is important, but that can be learned when you can regulate your emotions better.”
—Lizz
Mother-in-Law Appreciation (13:06):
“At the end of the day, she raised the man that you decided to commit your life to… and you need to honor that and respect that.”
—Lizz
Making Popcorn From Scratch (19:01):
“It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was… idiot-proof, actually.”
—Kelly
On Kids’ Spaces (28:36):
“I don’t think kids need super amazing, elaborate bedrooms. I like communal family space.”
—Kelly
All-Girls School Impact (32:01):
“When I was just in a classroom with all girls I wasn’t as insecure about raising my hand and getting questions wrong.”
—Lizz
Car Advice—Minivan Value (38:36):
“Go find the oldest, best maintained, lowest mileage, highest trim Odyssey in your budget and buy that and get rid of the Ascent, and you will be happy.”
—Kelly
This episode perfectly mixes humor, practical advice, real-life mom confessions, and community spirit. Listeners will find validating “icks,” smart car and home hacks, empathy for family dynamics, and encouragement to embrace the little moments—and maybe even try making some popcorn (and memories) from scratch.