WHEN LIFE GETS BUSY, START A GARDEN

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz

Episode: WHEN LIFE GETS BUSY, START A GARDEN
Date: April 17, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, sisters Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John dive into the chaos and realities of busy mom life, their latest hobbies and self-care strategies (including starting a garden and making "spa water"), household systems, and practical tips for family organization. With their signature blend of humor and honesty, they weave in updates from their daily routines, new traditions, and share their thoughts on upcoming auto industry news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. The Reality of Being Busy Moms

• Both Kelly and Lizz describe their lives as very hectic, balancing travel, work, and family responsibilities.
  • Kelly reveals she's "firing on all cylinders" with a packed travel schedule for work.
    Quote: “I am running. I am firing on all cylinders. Like, not in a fun way.” - Kelly (00:49)
  • Lizz jokes about Kelly's tendency to explode from stress only after reaching a breaking point, referencing even old high school grievances for humor.
    Quote: “You don’t let it out until everything’s coming out…and also you got the better Sperrys when we were in high school.” - Lizz (01:07)
• Kelly is working on refining her work-travel routine, aiming to become an "in-and-out, carry-on travel girl".
  • They discuss the practicalities of airport lounges, credit cards that grant access, and the flexibility needed for unpredictable schedules.

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2. The Appeal of a New Hobby: Gardening

• Amidst busyness, Kelly decides to start a garden, embracing it as a form of "mom brain-break."
  • The physical act of planting something new is framed as self-care and a way to connect with others about something besides work.
  • Quote: “I also looked at my life and said it’s time to do a garden.” - Kelly (05:02)
• Kelly shares what she purchased for the garden: cherry tomatoes, peppers, and various herbs (cilantro, sage, basil).
  • She's intentionally keeping it simple, skipping heirlooms and beefsteak tomatoes in favor of fun, "kid-friendly" picks.
  • Timestamps: Gardening talk starts around (05:02)
• Lizz notes that picking up a creative, hands-on hobby is a “low-commitment” way to recharge for stressed-out moms.
  • Quote: “I think your body needs…a low-commitment hobby.” - Lizz (05:13)
• Kelly prefers to figure out her garden by word of mouth rather than Google or ChatGPT, looking to "get back to the roots" (08:47–09:10).

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3. The Power of Herbs and Fresh Ingredients

• The sisters praise using fresh herbs in cooking—Kelly shares she’s “loving herbs," recently adding chives, dill, and cilantro to chicken salad.
  • Quote: “There’s no substitute for a fresh herb. I’m sorry.” - Kelly (08:17)
• They playfully disparage dried parsley but defend dried thyme and rosemary as fine for daily use.

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4. Real-Life Systems and Household Rhythms

• Lizz vents about the social-media hype around "systems" and the lack of practical detail.
  • She describes her new approach: assigning one extra household task (like unloading the stair basket or refilling diaper caddies) to each day of the week to alleviate stress.
    Quote: “What if every Tuesday, I unloaded the stair basket?...What if I just do one thing, one extra thing a day?” - Lizz (10:21)
  • Kelly supports the idea, calling these "daily anchors"—repetitive routines that ground each day.
  • They acknowledge the importance of self-forgiveness and flexibility as a mom.
    • Quote: “I am a different animal every day…Sometimes I need to give it all to my kids, and sometimes I need to be more selfish.” - Kelly (13:10)

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5. Base Model Luxury: "Spa Water"

• Lizz introduces a simple self-care idea for summer: "spa water" (fruit, herbs, and veggies added to water in the fridge or in your tumbler).
  • Quote: “Make a spa water…Take your leftover fruit and stuff—throw some cucumbers and limes in there…Just makes you feel so, so healthy.” - Liz (16:42–17:22)
  • Kelly calls it an “ugly Stanley pot” if you put leftovers in your Stanley cup. It’s a small act of self-indulgence just for you.

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6. Last Three Transactions – Tangible Takeaways

• Both hosts share recent purchases aimed at improving home life or keeping kids entertained:
  • Liz: Plastic fish and blue kinetic sand for a sensory bin (“my kid is into dinosaurs that eat fish” - 21:44)
  • Kelly: Bulk sheets of stickers for an easy kids’ activity (“I bought a thousand stickers for $4.99” - 24:19)
  • Kelly: Where’s Waldo books (“Why fix what's not broken? And I bought all the Where’s Waldo’s books.” - 28:14)
  • Lizz: Maternity biker shorts and a Spinosaurus t-shirt from Old Navy, and door chimes for child safety.
  • Kelly: Word search book for kids—new quiet time/education activity.
• They discuss favorite activities for occupying kids, like sticker notebooks, coloring, kinetic sand, and Where’s Waldo or word search books.

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7. Auto Industry Updates

• Kelly brings hot takes on Nissan news: the Nissan Xterra returns in late 2028 as a rugged, body-on-frame, off-road-ready SUV.
  • Quote: “This could be the thing to put Nissan back on the map.” - Kelly (31:21)
  • They debate the design (“kind of looks like a Cybertruck” - Lizz, 31:29) and theorize about family-friendly off-road SUVs.
  • Quick explainers break down industry jargon like "body-on-frame" construction and “chassis.”
• Kelly reveals her current review car: the Toyota Sienna minivan. She plans to put all four car seats in and "commit to the bit" for research.

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8. Dish the Drive-Thru: Easy Dinner Ideas

• Kelly: Shares her "salad version" of a bagel & lox—smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, red onion, dill, lemon—served on cucumbers for easy, gluten-free bites.
  • Quote: “I’m taking the matters into my own hands and ensuring that it’s a more even experience.” - Kelly (36:45)
• Lizz: Taco skillet dinner—ground beef, salsa, rice, broth, topped with cheese.
  • Great for leftovers and easy to make (37:04).
• Kelly plans to try “chicken loaf” (baked, pressed chicken thighs) inspired by @homebeginswithlove on Instagram, citing its juiciness and versatility.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mom Life:
  • “Sometimes I think being like a working mom or really just a mom is kind of like giving yourself permission to just, like, be whoever you need to be that day.” - Kelly (00:02, 13:36)
• On Systems:
  • “People just throw out the word system out there…like it’s supposed to change my life and they never give me any context.” - Lizz (00:18, 09:53)
• On Herbs:
  • “There’s no substitute for a fresh herb. I’m sorry.” - Kelly (08:17)
• On Spa Water:
  • “It’s an ugly Stanley pot.” - Kelly (18:34)
  • “How would they know? How would they know?” - Lizz (18:42)
• On Parenting Strategies:
  • “Still hitting my reps hard with my kids…before they watch any TV, they have to read, do something educational, play, and do an act of service.” - Kelly (19:05)

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Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------|-------------| | Busy Mom Life & Travel Stress | 00:02-04:40 | | Gardening as Self-Care & Hobby | 05:02-09:10 | | Real-Life "Systems" for Surviving Home Chaos | 09:21-14:01 | | Spa Water & Everyday Luxuries | 16:42-18:44 | | Last Three Transactions/Kid Activities | 19:05-29:45 | | Auto Industry News (Nissan Xterra) | 30:36-34:13 | | Easy Dinner Ideas ("Dish the Drive Thru") | 35:33-38:29 |

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Tone, Style & Takeaways

The conversation is candid, humorous, and practical—full of "mom hacks," gentle self-deprecation, and encouragement to make small changes to manage stress. Kelly and Lizz model self-acceptance and flexible thinking, reminding listeners that perfection isn't the goal; showing up as you are, day by day, is enough.

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For Listeners

• Takeaway 1: Don’t underestimate the power of planting a garden, starting a new (even small) hobby, or changing up your routine as a form of self-care.
• Takeaway 2: Little household "systems" and simple luxuries like infused water can genuinely improve your day.
• Takeaway 3: Getting creative with kids’ activities needn’t be expensive—stickers, kinetic sand, and classic books work wonders.
• Takeaway 4: Stay tuned for auto industry news for family vehicles—the Xterra’s return could be a game changer.

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This episode is relatable and filled with actionable ideas that fit real life, reminding all busy parents that starting small—be it with a garden, a new recipe, or a fresh approach to chores—can make a meaningful difference.

Transcript

[Kelly]

Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly. And sometimes I think being like a working mom or really just a mom is kind of like giving yourself permission to just, like, be whoever you need to be that day.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Because some days I need to be a little more selfish, and some days I need to give it all to my kids.

[Liz]

And Liz, what are these systems like? People just throw out the word system out there.

[Kelly]

It's buzzing.

[Liz]

Like it's supposed to change my life, and they never give me any context.

[Kelly]

Your mom. Time off starts. Welcome back to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. Happy Friday, everybody.

[Liz]

We made it to the end of the week.

[Kelly]

We made it to the harder part of the week.

[Liz]

We made it. I know it used to be, like a relaxing thing, and now it's, like, so much worse somehow.

[Kelly]

I'm telling you, I am running. I am firing on all cylinders. Like, not in a fun way. Like, I am. And I know you were too. So busy.

[Liz]

Kelly, I'm so nervous for you because I know you have very high capacity for things, but then you reach a point of explosion, and I. Oh, yeah. Been on the receiving end of that explosion. And it's really sucks because you're in the right for sure because you're really overwhelmed. But, like, you. You don't let it out until it's. Everything's coming out. And then you're like, everything. And then you're like. And also I'm stressed out because of this. You're ugly and al. And also you're ugly. And also you got the better sperries when we were in high school. And I'm so upset about that. So I'm just, like, really nervous. I'm like, on tiptoes, so.

[Kelly]

Okay. So you can feel it.

[Liz]

Yeah. So I'm nerv. I'm like, very nervous.

[Kelly]

Okay, well, good.

[Liz]

I kind of like the cold war.

[Kelly]

Yeah. Like, no one's doing anything, but we're saying a lot of things.

[Liz]

Exactly.

[Kelly]

So. Yeah. Watch out.

[Liz]

No, I am. I am.

[Kelly]

Yeah, no, I'm fine. It's just like. It's like website auto show. Like, spring, summer. Spring, summer. I have a lot of travel. Like, I'm kind of like.

[Liz]

I'm like.

[Kelly]

I'm to the point. Like, one of my travel trips this month include me driving to one place for an event and then flying out of that place to go to another event.

[Liz]

Kyle, I can't believe it. It's. It's crazy.

[Kelly]

I know. What I'm really looking. The only thing I'm looking forward to is I'M I'm really looking forward to, like, refining. Just, I want to be an in and out travel girl, a carry on travel girl. Like, I'm really going to start refining it. My only question for the class is now that I foresee me taking realistically, probably two to three trips a month for the foreseeable future. Like, that's just kind of how it happens for me. I know. It's fine. It's fine. It's getting easier. The kids are getting older. I'm getting better at making them like one or two day trips max. And it's. It's also just part of the job. I mean, it's part of the job. How do I get into an airport lounge? Or am I not on that level?

[Liz]

No, I think you. I don't think it's hard. I know Maddie has access to a lounge because he has a certain credit card.

[Kelly]

Oh. So it's a credit card thing like

[Liz]

American Express or something like that. So it's like, it can be a credit card thing. And that definitely feels like you open up like a credit, like you might have to stretch Tyler a little bit and allow him to like use another bank. But if you like open up a business card for the car mom, then she can go and sit in a lounge.

[Kelly]

Sure, sure.

[Liz]

From my understanding.

[Kelly]

So but then are the lounges airport? But they're, they're like airline related. Like people always talking about like the Delta lounge. Yeah.

[Liz]

So then that could also be like, if you travel Delta a lot or maybe if you have a Delta card.

[Kelly]

See, I don't travel anything a lot. I travel the best flights. Like, I don't. I can't imagine like choosing like Delta over American if it's like, well, I want to get there when I want to get there.

[Liz]

Yeah. So like, I know Maddie has the American Express one. And so he always has to like, look up, you know, what terminal we're going to be in and if there's express lounge. And sometimes there is, and sometimes we have to walk to another terminal and sometimes we just can't access it.

[Kelly]

Okay. I just am always seeing like all the Instagra girlies, like, in the lounge and I'm just.

[Liz]

You can also just like go up and say, can I buy a day pass?

[Kelly]

Oh, oh, okay. I'll just do that. I didn't know that was a thing.

[Liz]

I think, I think that's a thing as well.

[Kelly]

Anyway, I'm just like, try to, you know, catch me in an airport lounge in 2026.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Kelly]

I'm also Going to get pre check. Because that's like another fun fact.

[Liz]

You don't have pre check. That's so ridiculous.

[Kelly]

Because I refuse. I don't like to travel.

[Liz]

I know.

[Kelly]

I fought it my whole life. I'm like, why would I need pre check? I hate being here. But now I understand that I need pre check.

[Liz]

Yeah, no, for sure.

[Kelly]

So I'm gonna get on that. But anyway, so yeah, a little stress, kind of firing on all cylinders, but excited to just kind of like sit down with you. Just like hash some things out on a mic, catch up. Oh, sure. And what I wanted to catch up on was while I have so many things going on, I also looked at my life and said it's time to do a garden.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So I went to Lowe's this morning with both of my little kids and I got incredibly overwhelmed and probably made poor choices, but I did walk out with 200 worth of plants.

[Liz]

Yeah, No, I think that's good. I. I do find sometimes when I am my most stressed out and run down, I'm like, I think it's time to pick up sourdough again. Like, there's just something about. I think your body needs like an A. Not. Not that it's not like a non stressful, low commitment hobby. Like, you need something new in your life that's not work and not.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Taking care of kids.

[Kelly]

No, I need something new. And I feel like right now where there. Since there's just so much work stuff going on, I can't. I'm not always like looking to like bring that up in conversations with like friends and acquaintances because it's just like they would need so much context when someone's like, how are you? I'm like, how much time do you have? Like, realistically.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Can I tell you about, you know, the interesting things I have going on organized be like, you know, I started a garden. Yeah. No, I did cherry tomatoes. They're doing really well.

[Liz]

That's all people want to hear. They actually want to hear about what's going on in your.

[Kelly]

And I respect that.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So I'm looking forward to having a more like easy, palatable grocery store convo.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

That's not, you know, talking about the different dmss I'm considering for my website. Like gag.

[Liz]

I don't talk about that. I don't even. Yeah, I would love to like not even hear the word dms. No, I love it. And then it's like, you're gonna reap, you're gonna re. You're learning something new. Like, it's just fun. It's fun. It's fun to do new things.

[Kelly]

Yeah. So I'm sure you're, like, chomping at the bit to find out what I'm gonna plant.

[Liz]

Huh.

[Kelly]

So I ended up doing two big cherry tomato plants. I'm not doing an heirloom or a beef steak. I'm just doing cherry tomatoes in my garden for the main reason. Like, I like that the kids. They'll get riper sooner and the kids can pick them. That just sounds more fun. It sounds like more of an activity. And I'm just not convinced that I could grow a better tomato than, like, one I could find at the farmers market. So I'm just gonna go to the farmers market for, like, a good old beef steak in season, heirloom tomato, but a cherry, a couple cherries, and make a bruschetta, like, all day long. So I'm doing that. And then I'm doing peppers. I just did red and yellow peppers. I am not optimistic those are gonna turn out well, but I'd love to be proven wrong. And then I. Lowe's was out of zucchini plants, which was not fun. So I'm gonna have to make a second trip somewhere because I definitely wanna do zucchini. And then I'm gonna have, like, little herb section. So I just did cilantro, sage, and basil. Now, do those go together? Not sure. I'm just. I don't even have the headspace to Google it. So I'm just going to kind of trial and error it myself.

[Liz]

I would tell Chachi BT everything you have until. And they will tell you where to put everything.

[Kelly]

That's a good idea. I might keep the basil in a pot in my kitchen.

[Liz]

Yeah, I love to, because, like, nothing kills me more than, like, buying a thing of cilantro. And they know. They always give you way more than you could possibly ever need.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And then it goes bad. So that's exciting.

[Kelly]

I've been getting better about using herbs. I'm, like, kind of loving herbs. Like, right now I have chives, dill, and cilantro, and I chopped them all up and put them in a chicken salad for breakfast this morning. It was kind of insane.

[Liz]

Oh, wow. Yeah. The power of an herb.

[Kelly]

That's what I'm saying. Like, we're not giving them enough credit.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

They're the most. They're so flavorful. And there's no substitute for a fresh herb. I'm sorry. Get your. I mean, I do. I use the dried. Of course, now dried Thyme and dried rosemary. I stand by those fine.

[Liz]

Yeah, I agree.

[Kelly]

Dried parsley. Get out of here.

[Liz]

Yeah. It's not doing anything. It's not doing anything.

[Kelly]

I almost picked up a head of lettuce to throw in the garden, but I just got a little nervous. I'm nervous. I've never had a garden.

[Liz]

Yeah, it's. I think you're. You're testing it out. I think it's gonna be great.

[Kelly]

Yeah. If I can just like harvest. So. Yes, I'm looking forward to, you know, in. And I would just rather learn from word of mouth. I'm gonna try to do it the old, old fashioned way. I'm actually not going to chat GBT it. I'm just going to bring up my garden to in person as possible and see what I can learn from the people.

[Liz]

Okay, sure.

[Kelly]

I'm getting back to the roots. I'm not going to chat GPT everything.

[Liz]

Okay. That's fine.

[Kelly]

So anyway, that's that what I have going on. What do you have going on?

[Liz]

Well, you know, I.

[Kelly]

How's it been?

[Liz]

It's been okay. It's been bummer. I know. I'm sorry. It's been fine. I'm trying to catch up. Like mom is down for like two days and like everything is. Falls off the rails. So I see all online people are like now I was like, you. My life was chaotic when I. And then I developed a system and now my house is never messy and I'm like, what are these systems? Like people just throw out the word system out there.

[Kelly]

It's buzzy.

[Liz]

Like it's supposed to change my life and they never give me any context. I. So I'm trying, trying my own. I'm trying to system. It's actually, it's actually kind of taken from Caroline Detman on Instagram. She kind of like does this. Okay. Things I'm doing every single week is like folding, like doing laundry every single day. I'm cleaning the kitchen, you know, wiping the floors down. Like I'm certain things are always going to happen. Some things I never seem to have time for and then I look at them and then they stress me out. So for example, I have a stair basket. There's no day of the week that the stair basket is getting unloaded. The stair basket doesn't get unloaded every day I get a lot of packages from like Amazon and just like influenzing and stuff. They just like collect dust in my corner because I can't get the headspace to like go open up all These packages, there's these, you know, the diaper caddies I have everywhere. You. They don't. I don't have. I'm not constantly refilling them. Like, there's just these little things in my life that are not regularly happening. And I'm like, what if every Tuesday I unloaded the stair basket? What if, like, on. I'm doing everything I'm normally doing and also I'm unloading the stair basket. Wednesday, I'm doing everything I'm normally doing, and also I'm just going through and refilling all the diaper caddies. Thursday, I'm opening my packages. I'm putting the stuff away. I'm throwing the boxes away. Like, what if I just do one thing, one extra thing a day?

[Kelly]

I love that. Simplify it down to one thing. And it doesn't sound like it's not going to solve all your problems, but what it's going to do is solve seven of your problems.

[Liz]

Exactly. It's going to solve seven of my problems. And, like.

[Kelly]

And that's a good start.

[Liz]

I'm starting it today. I'm starting it with my stair basket. And I wonder next week, my stair basket. How full is it going to be? Be not very full. So it's going to be even easier next week. Like, is it just going to be the hardest that it is this week? Because I'm just like, starting, you know, so that's my system that I'm. And it's very simple and I'm just trying to like, tackle a few little areas that I notice seem to cause a little bit extra, like, ping of stress in my. In my life.

[Kelly]

I really think that's going to help you. I think it's going to just like. What is the word? Oh, it's like, it's like a daily anchor.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

This, like, new protocol that I'm doing. Like, you have a lot of daily anchors and, like, they're not. They're a little bit more intense. But at the end of the day, like, no matter what happens, like, you get your daily anchors done every single day. So this is one of your daily anchors.

[Liz]

I feel like my daily anchors are like the. Yeah, sure. My daily anchors, I feel like, are, you know, everything else you have to do, like, clean the kitchen three times.

[Kelly]

Yeah, but I'm sorry, those just feel like those are just surviving.

[Liz]

I mean, everyone's life.

[Kelly]

That's just life. Everyone's cleaning the kitchen. Everyone's cleaning the kitchen three times a day.

[Liz]

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So those are my things.

[Kelly]

Those are Your daily anchors. You know, here's why I struggle with, like, a weekly system just for me is because I am telling you, I am a different animal every day. Like, some days I. I'm like, hey, we're getting McDonald's for dinner for the kids. And then last night, I made homemade chicken pot pie from scratch. And then I also made homemade cookies for my kids.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And then I gave everybody a bubble bath, put lotion on all of them, clipped all their fingernails, brushed all their hair, gave them all jammies. Like, and then some days, I'm like, did you take a bath two days ago?

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Okay, let me just wash your feet off in the bath. Like, I'm. I'm telling you, I don't know who I'm gonna be that day. And sometimes I think being, like, a working mom or really just a mom is kind of like giving yourself permission to just, like, be whoever you need to be that day.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Because some days I need to be a little more selfish, and some days I need to give it all to my kids. Yeah, but, you know, we just don't have it all figured out. No, but that's. We are figuring it out.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

Wow, that's beautiful. Clip that.

[Liz]

I don't think that was very good.

[Kelly]

We don't have it all figured out, but we're figuring it. No, you're right.

[Liz]

I don't think that's very.

[Kelly]

Probably. I just said the word twice. You're right.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

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[Liz]

I. I kind of want to continue this. Like, yes, yes, life is crazy. Like, yes, we're stressed. But like, let's just, you know, do something a little bit extra for ourself. And I have a base model luxury that I just want to remind everyone about. And I just think summer's such a good time for this because, you know, we've got the, the fruits out like citrus. Cute. You know, maybe we're cutting up a veggie tray for our kids. We got watermelon. Like make all your leftover fruit and stuff. It doesn't have to be leftover. You can use fresh ones too. Make a spa water now. What's a Spa water. You fill a pitcher with water and then you throw some cucumbers and limes in there and you put them in the fridge.

[Kelly]

A mint. Leave an herb.

[Liz]

A mint. An herb. Throw an herb in there. Take your freaking like leftover, like lemon. It's like over strawberries.

[Kelly]

It's like ugly simmer pots. It's ugly spot. It's ugly spot water.

[Liz]

It's ugly spot water. And also it doesn't have to be ugly. Like, you can also just like do something for yourself. Yeah. But like, also you don't have to. So spa water. Keep it in your fridge. And it's just like makes you feel so, so healthy for some reason too. I don't know. Mom always has spa water at the holidays. That's just what we call it. So it's like, you know, at Christmas she'll have like a cranberry.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Cucumber.

[Kelly]

Yeah. No, I love a spa water. That's. I need, I need to do that. It's also just like. And I kind of like the idea of like putting it in just like your Stanley for the day.

[Liz]

Right, or just put it in your Stanley.

[Kelly]

No. And then it's like, it's just kind of like your little secret. Then. Then like you're just like running about your day. But then every time you take a drink of water, like it's fruit infused spa water and no one knows but you. So you're just kind of like going around life like whiskey water that people don't know about. It's kind of like.

[Liz]

That's a good point. I've actually been doing that with my lemons. Like when I cut a lemon and I squeeze it, I just throw the whole lemon in my Stanley.

[Kelly]

Yeah, you need a fresh lemon for a state. Yeah. It's an ugly Stanley pot.

[Liz]

Yeah. You can't see in there. How would you know? How would they know?

[Kelly]

How would they know?

[Liz]

So that's my. That's my base model lug.

[Kelly]

That's a really good one.

[Liz]

Thank you.

[Kelly]

Well, I think we wanted to do last three transactions forever. I haven't done it forever. I am happy to report I've been transacting with some pretty iconic, like kids activities because as you guys know, I like, I'm still really hitting my reps hard with my kids, which is before they are allowed to watch any tv, they have to read, do something educational, play, and do an active service for me, which is either babysitting or cleaning up. And let me tell you, the service is my favorite. And I think it's so good. My kids are getting so good at cleaning up and helping. And even though, like, Fred can't do what George and Hattie can do, he can do it with them.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And it's like, so he's learning how to do it too. I've. I've really been enjoying the reps. They still hate it and they grovel.

[Liz]

And I'm like, they're never gonna enjoy it, Kelly.

[Kelly]

No, I. But, no, but they. I think I actually will enjoy it. Or I think they will at least understand it. But that's why I'm like, hey, you don't have to do it. Like, you. We. We have our daily chores. You have to do, like, you have to feed the animals, you have to bring your dishes over, you have to clean up your locker before bed. Like, we have our daily chores. If you don't want to do extra things, like, then you just don't get to watch tv.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So that's just kind of the rule. So I think they kind of do, like, the option that it gives them. Sure. But then Hattie's always like, if I do George's, can I have money? I'm like, no.

[Liz]

No.

[Kelly]

Oh, my gosh. And guess what we're doing tonight.

[Liz]

What?

[Kelly]

It's Hattie's half birthday.

[Liz]

Oh, so you're going to dinner.

[Kelly]

So we're going out to dinner. A new tradition that we started. We take just the birthday. Just the half birthday kid out to dinner for their half birthday.

[Liz]

Yeah. So fun.

[Kelly]

I am. We were gonna let her invite George, but we decided no, because, like, the point is, I want Hattie. I want to get to know Hattie alone on an. Alone on an independent level. I think she is so jazzed about it. It's so hard to start something, though, because, like, George's half birthday isn't until, like, so long. So, like, Fred's is next month, and George is gonna. It's gonna break George.

[Liz]

But his birthday's coming up. He's fine.

[Kelly]

Yeah. His birthday. I said we'll do something special with you for your birthday.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

But half birthday dinners. Mom and dad are just a half birthday dinner thing.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

So, yeah, I'm pretty excited.

[Liz]

Yeah. I'm so excited for you. I love that idea. Okay, well, anyway, back to our last three transactions. I'll go first because I ordered something this morning that I'm really excited about. New activity for James, because I'm always trying to, like, have activities to do at home. He's really into dinosaurs that eat fish. So, like, if, you know, you Know like a spinosaurus, like a baryonyx. Like we're very much into those. So what I ordered him is some blue kinetic sand and some plastic fish and I'm going to make him an ocean on like I'll just get a, like a cookie sheet, put the blue kinetic sand on there, sprinkle some of these fish in there and then that's going to be our new sort of like what? Sensory. Sensory bin.

[Kelly]

So you're doing blue kinetic sand for

[Liz]

the water and then I ordered some like little plastic fish and then he's going to take his spinosaurs and the spinosaurs are going to eat the fish in the ocean.

[Kelly]

George went through a phase like that when he liked the ones that eat the fish.

[Liz]

That's so funny.

[Kelly]

Yeah, it is funny. That's cute. I love kinetic sand. I actually need to probably make a new kinetic sand bin that's a good tangible takeaway for me for the coming weeks because I love it.

[Liz]

Santa is one of those things that's like oh, they spill it on the floor like no. And then you start cleaning it up and you're like oh, this is like not hard to clean up at all.

[Kelly]

No, it's not hard to clean up. I mean I definitely think I like the idea of containing it to a container.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

But I want to buy like four bags of kinetic sand, put them all in one big container. I, you got to do same. I agree. You have to do same color though. I'm not doing mixing colors. Pisses me off. Gotta do same color. Yeah, I should get on that because that will be a good quiet time activity for my kids to do.

[Liz]

And you know we were really into the red ones because the dinosaurs were the hot lava and now I'm like okay, well now the dinosaurs are going to be in the ocean cuz the weather's getting warmer so it all just like makes sense and it's, it's a totally new activity.

[Kelly]

So something I kind of bought in bulk if you will, is I was at my sister in law's house this past weekend and she has a, I don't know, two year old. Two year old. And the two year old they, they had like this binder or this like folder and inside the folder they had white paper and just like a ton of stickers. And all this two year old was doing is taking the stickers off the sticker chart and putting it on white paper. My kids were infatuated with it. And of course like we've, we've had, we've had this stickers here and there. But I've never had just like a box of stickers before. And, you know, we're big colors, but I thought this would be like a different. Maybe more just a different, maybe in a way easier activity from like a car or a restaurant. Maybe I'll even let them bring it to church. And it's like, here's a piece of paper, or here's a notebook. Here's two sticker sheets.

[Liz]

Have fun.

[Kelly]

Go to town. So I went on Amazon and, I mean, I bought so many sticker sheets. Yeah, do not go to. Like, I was trying to buy these at Michael's the other day. I'm like, you're about to bankroll me, michaels. I got 36 sheets of stickers. They look like this.

[Liz]

Oh, it's. I can't see.

[Kelly]

Okay, good call for $7. Yeah, I got a thousand stickers. I got two. I got a thousand stickers for 4.99.

[Liz]

Wow, that's a lot of stickers.

[Kelly]

That's a lot of stickers. So I'm going to make just like a sticker binder. And I think all the. And I even think Libby would like to do that supervise. I'm almost wondering if that's, like, better for that age group, because she can. If I handed her a sticker to a little promise paper, like, she could do that. And, you know, then with the older kids, because like, when we've had, we have, like, Pokemon stickers. And sometimes I'll be like, okay, draw, you know, a home or a scene. And then you can put three Pokemon stickers on it. Like, it's kind of fun to kind of combine them with the coloring. So they should all be arriving today. And I'm really excited to, like, look at all of them. All my stickers.

[Liz]

I love that. These are, like, such good, tangible takeaways.

[Kelly]

Okay.

[Liz]

Something else that I recently ordered. I, like, just need new maternity shorts. So I ordered some maternity biker shorts from Old Navy. And then obviously, while I was on Old Navy's website, I had to look at all the kids stuff. And if you're a dinosaur mom, like, and your kids like T. Rexes. Lame. Don't care. Like, stupid. The only thing we care about are spinosaurs and baryonyxes right now. Like, the niche ones, like maybe baryonyx. Okay. I can tell you about a baronics. It's like a cousin to a spinosaur, which doesn't have a spine, but has the mouth of crocodile or an alligator or whatever.

[Kelly]

Oh, yeah, baryonyx. Okay. I see it.

[Liz]

Okay. It's kind of cool dinosaur. Anyway. So, like, you think there's a lot of dinosaur clothes out there, but, like, they don't have spinosaurs on them. And, like, now James doesn't want them as a spinosaur on it. So I found a sick T shirt from Old Navy with a spot, like, imagine how jazzed I was to see, like, an. Actually kind of a cute, like, graphic tee with a spinosaur on it.

[Kelly]

I love diversity in. Within the dino space.

[Liz]

Well, and it's kind of, like, crazy. Like, I really don't know why, like, anyone gives a rip about, like, a stegosaurus.

[Kelly]

Like, they're no one's favorite. They're.

[Liz]

I'm sorry, they're one's favorite.

[Kelly]

They're no one's favorite.

[Liz]

And, like, oh, they've got a cool silhouette. I'm sorry. A spinosaur is a cooler silhouette silhouette. So just, like, justice for the spinosaur. The spinosaur is bigger than a T. Rex, so it was, like, the biggest carnivorous dinosaur. But anyway, I could go on and on about justice for spinosaurus.

[Kelly]

It sounds like it.

[Liz]

Anyway, that reminds me that I also saw this, like, made me feel so bad. I saw this reel, and it was this girl, and she posted, like, her son in his, like, shirt. He had, like, this dinosaur shirt that's currently at Target that I just bought. And she. And the caption was like, when grandma buys your kid ugly clothes and that's all they want to wear. And she was literally calling out this specific shirt that literally. Okay, I understand that there are ugly shirts for kids with dinosaurs or tractors. There are ugly ones. This one was, like, not that offensive looking, and I'm just like, let the kids wear what they want to wear. I don't know. Also, does it kind of rub me the wrong way?

[Kelly]

Don't yuck someone's yums again, like, do,

[Liz]

like, the most offensive ugly one if you want to. Like, it was a very subtle dinosaur T shirt. Like, it's a basic in my. In my household, really. So anyway, I thought I said dinosaur T shirt at Old Navy.

[Kelly]

You're okay. Along with my just, like, activities that I'm trying to. I don't know. I was in, like, a. I was thinking I would maybe, like, make a real, like, good road trip activities. And I was just, like, kind of thinking about, like, what. What's a good, like, book to look at? Because, you know, part of our reps that they have to do is they have to read now. Can George read, like, Kind of can. How do you read? Not at all. But I like the idea that I'm just, like, looking at books. I think that's just, like, a good habit to build. So I was like, what's just, like, a fun book to look at? Like, whether it be for, like, a book we keep in the car, a book we bring to a restaurant, a book for quiet time. What's a. What's just, like, the best book to look at? And I said, well, why fix what's not broken? And I bought all the Where's Waldo's books.

[Liz]

Oh, okay. I was gonna say I Spy, but, yeah, Where's Waldo is good too.

[Kelly]

They have, like, a whole series. And I was like, okay.

[Liz]

Like.

[Kelly]

Like, where is Waldo?

[Liz]

Yeah, that's a good one. Yeah.

[Kelly]

So they're not in yet, but I'm pretty excited.

[Liz]

Your kids are just like, it's so fun to see. Just like, your kids are so much more capable of doing things now that it's like, oh, now you can buy, like, Where's Baldo Book. Whereas, like, last summer, it's like, no one would have known what that is. True. Okay, what else am I buying? Let me go to my Amazon. Nothing fun. Nothing fun. Like,

[Kelly]

okay, I can give my last one if you want.

[Liz]

Yeah, you go. While I'm trying to figure mine out,

[Kelly]

my last one also related to kind of like stickers and Where's Waldo is. I bought a kids word search book. Okay. I thought that could be a fun. I'm gonna count that as, like, their education for their reps this spring and summer again. I think that could be a good activity to do in the car. Just like, the idea of, like, we go to the lake or we. Or just at home and they're looking for something to do in the afternoon. I'm like, do a word search, do a puzzle, do a sticker page. Like, I'm just looking for more of those activities. So I think the word search will be fun. It looks very age appropriate. I think both George and Hattie could handle it. You know, another Amazon find.

[Liz]

Well, I like it. Word search, I guess. Like, the one, the last. Like, I got two boring things. Like, we're getting. I'll do one boring thing. James, like, has figured out how to open doors. Like, this one specific sliding door. Then, like, you can never hear it. And when it's open, it's in our playroom. So I had to order, like, more of those door chimes that will, like, alert me when someone is leaving the door, which I knew thought you then Thought it was a little bit annoying, so you unplugged it. But again, I should have to go for it.

[Kelly]

Hey, you never know.

[Liz]

Yeah, you know, it's kind of like, it's kind of like keep my kid alive kind of situation. So I. I sort of don't have a choice. Yeah.

[Kelly]

Well, those are our transactions then, Biebs.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Well, let's move on to a little industry news where I spill the hot tea going on the auto industry.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Kelly]

Because we kind of, kind of have a fun story. And that says, Nissan teases Xterra's mean mug and confirms late 2028 arrival. The next generation Nissan Xterra will launch 2028, likely for a 2029 model year and will be built in the United States. The Xera will be a body on frame and will sp design to match its off road capabilities. The platform will spawn a family of body on frame Vehicles using V6 engines offered in gas and hybrid form. This could be the thing to put Nissan back on the map.

[Liz]

Yeah. Okay. I'm looking it up.

[Kelly]

It doesn't look amazing, but like, it also looks like nothing.

[Liz]

Like, kind of looks like a cyber truck.

[Kelly]

It does kind of look like a cyber truck. Yeah. I mean, there's a lot I don't like about this picture, but I got. You're just seeing the grill.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

I don't know. But I'm interested with the other, like, body on frames. Like family SUVs are.

[Liz]

I'm very excited for it. I loved the Xterra.

[Kelly]

It says.

[Liz]

All right, sorry, go ahead. I was gonna say I'm nervous. They're just gonna make it too weird. Like everyone. I'm sorry. I was driving today and I saw a white, probably 2024 Palisade, had like a silver grill. Like, that's a beautiful car.

[Kelly]

I know. Let's don't even get me started.

[Liz]

I know they're just making them, so.

[Kelly]

And I'm curious. Everyone's like, appetite on the Santa Fe. Like, I've been waiting to like the Santa Fe more and I just still don't like the look of them on the road.

[Liz]

I really like the interior of the Santa Fe. Same interiors look very luxury. It looks really cool. The exterior is like, fine to me. But again, I liked the old Santa Fe. Like, I didn't think it was dying for a refresh. And I like a boxy car. Now that everyone's doing it, I'm like, can I see a rounded car?

[Kelly]

I know, I know.

[Liz]

Well, that's exciting about the Exterra though. Okay. I'm also like really nervous that they're gonna screw it up, but what do I know?

[Kelly]

Yeah, what do you know? And then it also says that the Xterra will utilize the body on sales platform which will form the basis for new family cable SUVs. Nissan says is exploring five new body on frame vehicles, one of which is the Xterra. And the automaker also mentioned pickups in multi row SUVs across Nissan and Infinity's brands. Previous reports have suggested that one will be a next gen frontier truck. While Infinity is expected to get a model based on the Xterra. That would be interesting. The other models could be rumored body on frame, three row Pathfinder and Infinity counterpart. And if you wonder what body on frame means, it's like a. This says it's a traditional automotive construction method where the. Where a separate body is mounted onto a rigid independent ladder frame. Ladder frame or chassis. The frame supports the powertrain, suspension and wheels providing high durability, superior towing and off roading flexibility commonly used in pickup trucks and large SUVs. I love a unibody.

[Liz]

I love the word chassis.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Same.

[Liz]

That's such a good word.

[Kelly]

Chassis. It's kind of a pretty name. Chassis.

[Liz]

Chassis. Cassie.

[Kelly]

That's funny. So yeah, we'll have to see kind of what that brings. Hold on, let me pull up on other industry news. Do you know my priest car for the week?

[Liz]

Your what?

[Kelly]

My press car.

[Liz]

There's a priest car? No. What's your press car?

[Kelly]

It is a Toyota Sienna.

[Liz]

Sienna.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Sienna St. John.

[Kelly]

Sienna St. John. Coming in. So excited, excited, excited.

[Liz]

Okay. Yay. I love play around in the Sienna.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I'm gonna commit to the bit. I'm gonna put all four car seats in it. Which I rarely do with my. Even my three row press cars. I just don't always get around to it because I'm sorry, like I'm just not going to inconvenience my life in a Mazda CX90 to put four car seats in for fun. But a Sienna, I'm gonna, I'll be. I'm sure it has the captain's chairs. So like I'll be trialing the captain's chairs.

[Liz]

Mm.

[Kelly]

And yeah, that's really exciting. I'm gonna come in, I'm gonna come into the bed right. For a week. Like I'm really ready to go. So.

[Liz]

Okay. Well welcome to the minivan life for the temporary week that you're driving it.

[Kelly]

You were so on the minivan train. Yeah.

[Liz]

I just love it.

[Kelly]

And now we can move to dish, the drive through, where I give you an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get you out of y' all dinner. Ruth, so many things I've been making, huh? So the first is, let me put you onto this idea. So, you know, like, a salmon, like, lox, like, smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, red onions, dill on a bagel. Okay. So anyway, I was like, I'm craving lox, but I'm not eating, like, the gluten right now, so I can't do a bagel. So I was like, I'm gonna make this into, like, a salad. So what I decided to do was I cut the salmon up, like, kind of small, like, like, kind of so it would look like canned tuna. And then I put, like, a dollop of cream cheese, some capers, some red onion, some fresh dill lime, a little lemon juice, a little salt and pepper, mixed it up, and then I put them on cucumbers. And I was like, this is such a better way to eat it all, like, in a salad form, because then I'm getting what I want in every bite. I'm gonna just, like, make a lox bagel. It's like, oh, there wasn't capers in that bite. Or like, oh, that one was all same, and that was too much cream cheese. And I'm just like. I'm taking the matters into my own hands, and I'm ensuring that it's a more even experience. And it was delicious.

[Liz]

Mmm. Yum yum.

[Kelly]

Super yum.

[Liz]

Love it. Okay, well, I'm making taco skillets tonight, which is a little bit maybe more attainable to other people. People who don't like lox. Yeah.

[Kelly]

Not everyone likes locks.

[Liz]

Yeah, but it's still. It's a good way to, like, use up ground beef.

[Kelly]

Yeah, it is.

[Liz]

Make the ground beef, add in some salsa, add in some rice, add in some broth, let it all cook up, top it with cheese, Bada bang, bada

[Kelly]

boom, delish, bada bing, bada boom. And it's great leftovers. So, like, there's also that leftovers.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Kelly]

And then tonight, for supper, I am doing. I am doing. Okay, so do you follow? Yeah. Home begins with love. Yeah. She keeps talking about this insane thing called a chicken loaf. Have you seen this content?

[Liz]

I've not seen the chicken loaf.

[Kelly]

I guess it's just, like, a very juicy way to cook your chicken. But she basically, like, puts a bunch of chicken thighs in a loaf pan and like, presses it down, bakes it and then comes out and, like, slices it. But, like, the chicken is, like, very juicy. She said it's amazing, so I'm gonna try. I bought some chicken thighs to do a chicken loaf.

[Liz]

Okay, well, we'll have to let us know how the chicken loaf goes.

[Kelly]

Yeah, I love her. She's a really good follow. She does this funny series called, like, Ingredient House After Dark. And Elizabeth and I grew up in an ingredient House, like, the most Ingredient house you can imagine. And it's just funny, like, because some people could, like, like, we just. There was there. You weren't going to get a snack in the pantry. So she's like, how she makes snacks, like a snack for herself in an ingredient House. It's just a funny space.

[Liz]

A tortilla with a butter and cinnamon sugar. It's like a dessert.

[Kelly]

Totally.

[Liz]

All right, well, you got a call. I'm about to have a coughing fit, so we're gonna end this episode. Thank you so much for listening to the carpool podcast, and we'll talk to you next time.

[Kelly]

See you guys. 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.