Friendlier

With this episode, we're starting a new schedule for Friendlier. We’ve decided to release new episodes on the first Tuesday of each month, instead of every other week, as we’ve been doing. As our lives have gotten busier, it’s been tough to fit in podcasting, but we love this creative project and connecting with all of you, so we’re hopeful that the new schedule will help us continue to fit the pod into our lives.Life latelySarah and E enjoyed seeing Annie together.Abby has a nest of baby birds on her front door wreath. Reading latelySarah loved Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld.Abby is deep into The Ravenels series by Lisa Kleypas.Looking ahead to summerWe discuss our summer plans and aspirations, as well as how this summer will be different from summers past. Eating latelyAbby introduced her children to toaster strudel.Sarah was inspired to make shrimp tacos.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at fri

K-12 school experiencesWe share the highs and lows of our experiences in elementary, middle, and high school.Life latelyAbby has poison ivy.Sarah just got back from the SEC gymnastics championships in Georgia.Reading latelyAbby enjoyed the cozy fantasy The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.Sarah read Jennette McCurdy's memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died.Eating latelySarah's family is having pancakes for breakfast nearly every day.Abby's enjoying hearty salads for lunch at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss what we want more of and less of, as well as things that are just right in our lives.Life latelySarah took the kids to their first public meeting.The neighbors fixed the fence at Abby's house.Reading latelySarah enjoyed Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.Abby got into the cozy fantasy/romance Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree.Eating latelyAbby resurrected a childhood frozen favorite: Mrs. T's Pierogies.Sarah brought back delicious gummy bears and chocolate from Germany.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TechnologyWe share our most used tech in daily life, technology other people seem to love but we don't, favorite tech related to kids/parenting, and our technology aspirations. Links we mentioned:Kindle strapWireless headphonesWyndy appCalm appLife latelyAbby shares that her beloved cat, Duncan, passed away last month.Sarah just got back from a ten day to trip to Germany.Reading latelyAbby listened to, and loved, Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson.Sarah read the tennis novel Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid.Eating latelySarah a new to her dining experience--Michelin star restaurants in Berlin.Abby tried a sheet pan dinner with roasted veggies and sausage.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about cultivating a family food culture: what we want food and eating to feel like in our families, what is working and not working in our family food experience, and resources that we’ve used in developing family food culture. Links we mentioned:Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse ReschVirginia Sole-Smith’s InstagramEllyn Satter’s Division of ResponsibilityVisible ChildLife latelySarah and Neil rented and watched Free Solo.Abby remade some old pillows with new stuffing and is enjoying how they look on her couch.Reading latelySarah read Spare by Prince Harry.Abby listened to Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Stanley Blair (AKA DesignMom, also the author of this Tweet thread).Eating latelyAbby made meat loaf in the Instant Pot.Sarah and her family are loving Cool Ranch Doritos.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail

The days are dark and cold, at least in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. We thought it would be fun to share what is bringing us joy, comfort, and generally helping us get through these months until spring arrives.Life LatelyAbby used this kit to pierce a second set of holes in her ears.Sarah’s kids are enjoying sleepovers with friends.Reading latelyAbby read Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins which was a recommendation from a listener—thank you Chrissie!Sarah and E enjoyed the Friends series of graphic novels written by Shannon Hale and illustrated by LeUyen Pham: Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever.Eating latelySarah made vegetarian beef stroganoff (with Impossible meat) from this Damn Delicious recipe.Abby treated herself to chocolate mousse from Costco.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlier

We discuss our favorite spaces in our homes, the projects we want to tackle, and how we want our homes to feel.Life latelySarah’s enjoying her newly installed windows and an accompanying living room rearrangement.Abby passed the NCLEX (nursing board exam) and is now an RN.Reading latelySarah read a cozy mystery, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.Abby loved the most recent romance in the Spoiler Alert series by Olivia Dade, Ship Wrecked.Eating latelyAbby was pleasantly surprised by how well this Instant Pot beef stroganoff came out.Sarah and her kids have been making energy bites for the kids’ lunches, which they are packing independently.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listenin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New year’s intentions, 2023We set our intentions for the year, share our words for the year, and discuss specific goals in different categories.Life LatelyAbby shares a toy all six of her cats love.Sarah and Neil attempted a calendar meeting to moderate success.Reading latelyAbby read The Bookwoman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson, the sequel to The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek.Sarah read Sophie Cousen's Just Haven't Met You Yet.Eating latelyAbby is loving the chipotle pot de creme from El Barrio.Sarah is eating fancied up ramen noodles multiple times a week.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We reflect on the past year and discuss our words of the year, how it went in several categories, and do a lightning round of 2022 favorites.Life latelySarah and her family took an awesome train trip to California, and Abby is struggling with the transition away from school. Reading latelySarah listened to Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton, and Abby enjoyed The Stand-In by Lily Chu.Eating latelyAbby made an autumn sangria (subbing champagne for white wine and bourbon for brandy) on Thanksgiving, and Sarah and her family ate plenty of dessert in the dining car on their train trip.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thank you for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our year in books, 2022We share the highs and lows of our reading year as well as our favorite books in fiction, non-fiction, memoir, romance, audio, most-enjoyable, and read-aloud.Life latelyAbby has finished nursing school and Sarah is starting a new job.Reading latelyAbby read the novel We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman.Sarah read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.Eating latelySarah attempted this caramel sauce while Abby enjoyed two new cheese dips from Trader Joe's.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thank you for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life latelySarah and her family had a lovely Halloween, and Abby gives a winter garden update. Reading latelySarah enjoyed the nonfiction read, Achtung, Baby: An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children by Sara Zaske, and Abby read two romance novellas from the Love Unscripted series by Olivia Dade.Gift giving and receivingWe share our philosophies about gift giving and receiving around the holidays, at birthdays, and for anniversaries. This is an update to our 2017 episode on a similar topic.Eating latelyAbby's been eating food prepared by Andrew after she works a 12-hour shift. Sarah's jumping on the no-knead breadbandwagon. If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thank you for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life latelyAbby successfully completed her longest solo-parenting stretch to date!Sarah is headed into a cold-weather camping weekend; wish her luck!Reading latelyAbby read Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, the first book of a fantasy fiction trilogy. Sarah stepped outside her usual genre and listened to the classic novel Another Country by James Baldwin.Graceful quittingWe share why neither of us are quitting averse, our most memorable quitting (and not-quitting) moments, quitting regrets, gracefully quitting relationships, and our thoughts on quitting books and television shows.Freakonomics episode on The Upside of QuittingTwitter thread about setting boundariesEating latelySarah is searching for simple lunches to incorporate into her family’s life.Abby is looking forward to eating roasted cranberry sauce, both on Thanksgiving and for many days after.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at 

For better or worseWe share the best and worst traits we and our spouses bring to our marriages.Girl Next Door's Best Spouse / Worst Spouse episodeLife LatelyAbby has started her practicum in a labor and delivery ward.Sarah cut off her hair and is rocking the buzzed look again.Reading latelyAbby read the unique and quirky Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki.Sarah's been reading more graphic novels including Smile by Raina Telgemeier, El Deafo by Cece Bell, and Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier.Eating latelySarah loved the edition of Trader Joe's elote corn to her cheese dip.Abby is planning to try a new recipe for apple fritter cake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You all submitted a wide variety of questions, and we loved answering them. If you sent in a question, but didn’t hear it, it was probably so meaty that we’re saving it for it’s own episode later on. Thank you for being such great listeners!Life latelySarah shares updates on her latest 5K and 10K, and Abby just took her final exam of nursing school. Reading latelySarah enjoyed the YA graphic novel, The Girl From the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag. Abby found a new regency romance series (The Palace of Rogues) and read the first in the series, Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long.Eating latelyAbby has been making root beer floats, and Sarah made a two-layer chocolate cake for E’s birthday.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Novelty and progressWe share how we feel about novelty and progress, where we most enjoy them in our lives, where we prefer the comfort of the familiar, and how our thoughts have changed over time.Life latelyAbby prepared her garden for fall, including removing all the giant zinnias.Sarah is gearing up for two races despite limited training.Reading latelyAbby listened to How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith. We also discussed the interview with Smith and Ashley C. Ford at the end of her memoir, Somebody's Daughter.Sarah was flew through the ya mystery Queen of the Tiles by Hana Alkaf.Eating latelySarah has fancied-up her easy enchilada recipe (but still uses this enchilada sauce). Abby has another five-ingredient Trader Joe's recipe to share: turkey soyaki bowl. If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. S

We chat about the seasons, including our favorite and least favorite things about each one, the best seasonal foods, and whether there are seasons we’d skip if we could.Life latelySarah’s kiddo HP took his first trip away from home without family along—and did great. Abby and her family watched Coco with the family and loved the Dia de los Muertos vibes. Reading latelySarah had fun reading nonfiction, The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again by Catherine Price, and Abby was delighted by the queer YA romance, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jagirdar.Eating latelyAbby found a new Instagram account, Trader Joe’s 5 Items or Less, and tried out their Cheesy Corn Orzo Pasta with salmon cooked in the InstantPot. Sarah cooked chickpea + couscous salad from Hello Fresh.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Also, we’r

Personal policiesWe share mantras that guide our lives, boundaries we maintain, things we always say yes/no to, and aspirational policies we'd like to bring into our lives. Mentioned on the show:Girl Next Door episode on personal policiesSow Connected episode on rules to live byB Team Facebook groupLife latelyAbby is enjoying her new art from Nicole Simmons.Sarah is getting new (black!) windows.Reading latelyAbby enjoyed the cozy sci-fi Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.Sarah was delighted by Bonnie Garmus's novel Lessons in Chemistry.Eating latelySarah attempted homemade cold brew coffee.Abby has found the perfect snack: mini-Kind bars.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about how we’re coping with inflation, what frugal tricks have helped, and our frugal aspirations.Reading latelySarah read another family gap year memoir, We Came, We Saw, We Left by Charles Wheelan.Abby was compelled by but is not sure what to think of Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey.Life LatelySarah and her kids cleaned the kids’ room. Abby is almost done with her semester.Eating latelyAbby has been enjoying peach salsa her in-laws brought to town, and Sarah is into Everything But the Bagel seasoning from Trader Joe’s on ramen and popcorn.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

FlexibilityWe share where it's easy for us to be flexible, where we find it more challenging, and how we've grown more and less flexible over time.Life latelyAbby got another cat and Sarah has Covid.Reading latelyAbby flew through the Ravenswood series by Talia Hibbert.Sarah was moved by Imbolo Mbue's latest novel How Beautiful We Were.Eating latelySarah wants to perfect homemade cold brew and Abby shares her favorite breakfast.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We discuss the things giving us life at the end of the summer. Links to Abby's bathing suit top and bottoms (although it looks like black is sold out).Life latelySarah loves the towel racks and trash can Neil custom made for their new bathroom. Abby is so thankful for her nursing school friends.Reading latelySarah read My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress by Rachel DeLoache Williams.Abby recently finished Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez.Eating latelyIt's frozen food day on the pod. Abby was a bit disappointed in the Beecher's frozen corn and not-fried rice she tried, while Sarah's kids are into the Kroger chocolate chip frozen waffles.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at friendlierpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.