Friendlier

How we're doing in the time of COVID-19We wanted to check in with each other and listeners to see how everyone is doing two weeks into being at home. We talk about our mental state, how we're coping, and resources for kids that we've found useful. Links we mentioned in this episode:Gourmet MakesSchitt's CreekAudio books through Libby and HooplaThe Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter BrownStorytime DurhamWonderlab Science MuseumSparkle StoriesArt/Lab at Home with Ms. KadyWe are thinking of you all and hoping you are staying safe and well in this uncertain time.Reading latelySarah read (and loved) The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay and Abby finished the second book of a young adult series, The Map From Here to There by Emery Lord.Eating latelyAbby stocked up on her favorite granola and Sarah made this chocolate banana bread.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 ac

A quick note: We recorded this at the beginning of the month, before all of our lives were upended by COVID-19. We will be recording a bonus episode (out next Tuesday) about how we are coping. May you all stay safe and healthy in this uncertain time. -S&APrioritizing readingWe discuss when we find time to read, why we have read more after having kids than before, what gets us out of a reading slump, and our favorite places to find reading inspiration and recommendations.Instagram follows with good book recs: @katejbaer @catherinenewman, and @v_solesmithNewsletters from Molly Westerman and Feminist MidwifeModern Mrs DarcyHot and Bothered podcastLife latelyAbby and Sarah share a birthday surprise Neil planned.Reading latelyAbby read Motherwit: An Alabama Midwife's Story by Onnie Lee Logan and Sarah was inspired by Being Your Best When Your Kids Are At Their Worst by Kim John Payne.Eating latelySarah made a chocolate cheesecake (but substituting this crust) in the Instant Pot using this pan.Abby is making a

We describe our current spaces, share our home related dreams (both the realistic and the not), and what makes us love the space we’re in. Here are the links we mentioned in the episode:PrismsBig Dreams Small SpacesLife latelySarah is trying to invite people over more often and take the advice of this article on not worrying so much about the cleaning.Abby went from being a no-playdough home to a playdough-loving home. Here’s the recipe Sarah’s family uses for the homemade version:1 cup flour1/2 cup salt2 tsp cream of tarter1 cup water2-3 drops of food coloring1 Tbsp vegetable oilCombine dry ingredients in a skillet, add wet ingredients, then cook on medium heat, stirring continuously until playdough begins to pull away from the pan. Remove from the pan and knead dough it’s evenly combined. Store in an airtight container and enjoy!Reading latelySarah read The Duchess War, which is the first in the Brothers Sinister Series by Courtney Milan. Abby read Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest novel, City of Girls.Eating late

Marriage--what's working (and what's not)We've both recently passed the decade mark of marriage, and thought it would be fitting to share what's been working, what hasn't, and the relationship advice we hate.Life latelyAbby's family purchased a new vehicle (and is soliciting gold-inspired names!).Sarah is reveling in her newly arranged living room.Reading latelyAbby read both Shrill and The Witches are Coming by Lindy West and Sarah listened to The Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.Eating latelySarah made spinach and artichoke dip as part of an appetizer themed Christmas dinner.Abby made a quick dinner courtesy of 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. Thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today, we talk snacking preferences and then detail a week in the life of our snacks. And if you are in need of a sweet snack, we both recommend this recipe for chocolate chip cookies–easy and delicious!Life latelySarah is tracking all of the things with Habit Bull.Abby offers her commentary on Meghan and Harry. For more along these lines, check out this BuzzFeed article contrasting media coverage of Meghan and Kate, this Medium piece, and this tweet.Reading latelySarah read her second graphic memoir: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui and Abby listened to the Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson.Eating latelyAbby made a lemon blueberry loaf and Sarah had chili with all the toppings.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.

We share what kind of sick people we are, our preferred supplies to get us through, and our most memorable bouts with illness. May we all have a healthy 2020.Life latelyAbby gives a sleep training update and Sarah is happy to have (finally) fixed her Kitchen Aid mixer.Reading latelyAbby read The Which Way Tree by Elizabeth Crook and Sarah listened to Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger by Rebecca Traister.Eating latelySarah made "no-peek chicken," the perfect rainy day meal.Abby has found the sugar cookie equivalent of our favorite chocolate chip cookie. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We share what we like about childcare, how we find it, our past childcare situations, and what we see in our childcare future. We fully recognize that as two primarily at-home parents, our perspective is limited. We’d love to hear from listeners with different experiences to expand the conversation. What has worked for you when trying to find daycares, nannies, and/or babysitters? Share in the comments below or over on Instagram.Life latelySarah is doing Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge this year and loving it. She found both Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home and Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey through the challenge. If you want to chat books with us, join us in our Goodreads group!Abby is loving the Brandy version of Cinderella and welcomes recommendations of other non-scary, but engaging movies for preschoolers.Reading latelySarah finished Katherine McGee’s American Royals and Abby read Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb.Eating latelyAbby has

See you later, 2019! We are not sad to see you go. We reflect on the year that was, set intentions for 2020, and share some of our favorites from 2019. Here’s to a happier, healthier new year. Things we mentioned:Last year’s intentions episode (and our mid-year reflection)Dance MomsMerge DragonsMarvelous Mrs. MaiselFleabagTo All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (and the sequel comes out in February!)Kindle PaperwhiteTrader Joe’s Butter Toffee PretzelsLife latelySarah is loving the open-ended play opportunities her kids have with neighbors and classmates.Abby bought a house! Which may come as a surprise to listeners who have heard our previous episode on housing.Reading latelySarah has a new favorite for the year, How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together by Dan Kois (co-host of the Mom and Dad Are Fighting podcast).Abby was in moving hell, which left no time for reading.Eating latelyAbby is loving a cozy hot toddy.Sarah recently learned how to cook salmon in he

We take a look back at our reading life in 2019: our challenges, our wins, and our favorite books. Highlights from the year:Fiction: Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, and Once Upon a River by Diane SetterfieldNon-fiction: Bad Blood by John Carreyou, The Eating Instinct by Virginia Sole-Smith, and The Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox GurdonMost enjoyable: Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas and Court of Thorn and Roses series by Sarah MaasMemoir: All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung, Flat by Catherine Guthrie, and On Living by Kerry EganAudio: Becoming by Michelle Obama and the Flavia de Luce series by Alan BradleyLooking forward to: City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica MorganLife latelySarah's entryway is getting a remodel.Abby is grateful for her buy nothing group, especially in the days leading up to her move.Reading latelyAbby read The Wedding Party, which is the third book in the series that started with The

Since our last episode about minimalism was nearly three years ago, we thought it was time for an update. We share what’s working (and what’s not) along with our minimalism goals and the challenges we face in making them a reality. Resources we mentioned:Tidying Up with Marie KondoMinimalism podcasts, including Minimalist Moms, Cohesive Home, and Practical MinimalistsLife latelySarah upgraded her cargo bike and now is cruising the town with electric assist.Abby shares a new way of styling her hair–the curly girl method.Reading latelySarah (and her whole book club) loved Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne.Abby read Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell, the sequel to one of our favorites, Carry On.Eating latelyAbby and her family enjoyed eggroll in a bowl.Sarah made lentil taco soup with all the toppings on recommendation from Kelsey.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 listen

Travel with kidsWe explore the ups and downs of life on the road, including what helps us get through long car rides and flights, travel horror stories, and what we love most about traveling as a family. Links we mentioned:Audiobooks, including Frindle by Andrew ClementsSparkle Stories, especially the Martin and Sylvia onesHooplaPlayaways from the libraryLife latelyWe share about our recent trip to Colorado for a friend's wedding, including an incredible surprise the groom had for his new wife.Reading latelyAbby read The Birth House by Ami McKay, which fed her desire to read about birth and midwifery.Sarah shares a book she read earlier in the year, Flat: Reclaiming My Body From Breast Cancer by Catherine Guthrie.Eating latelySarah loves snacking on Trader Joe's marcona truffle almonds.Abby recommends beergaritas as a great happy hour option.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 list

In this episode, we share our many aspirations along with a few tips for how we best make our time work for us. Resources we mentioned:Off the Clock by Laura VanderkamScreentime utility on the iPhoneGoogle KeepLife latelySarah has been regularly climbing at her local rock climbing gym.Abby was happy to say goodbye to her family’s home-brewing equipment.Reading latelySarah read The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Abby enjoyed the middle-grade novel To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer.Eating latelySarah made a hearty cornbread from cornmeal milled at a local state park.Abby tried a new frittata recipe and loved the heartiness the potatoes add.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.

MovingIn honor of Abby's impending move, we explore how moves have gone for us in the past, what we love about them, what we hate, and a few tips we have for making the process as pleasant as possible.We both recommend This Is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick for anyone new to a community and wanting to feel more at home.Life latelyPlum is scooting around town on her balance bike.Sarah's family just returned from their fourth camping trip of the year.Reading latelyAbby flew through His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novak and can't wait to read the rest of the series. Sarah is loving Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield--a cozy, creepy read that's perfect for this time of year.Eating latelySarah had an "upscale" camping meal: campfire roasted potatoes with Maya Kaimal split peas on top.Abby enjoyed old fashioned friend chicken, courtesy of her mother-in-law.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.

We share how we care for ourselves in hard times, what others can do to best support us, and resources for helping those close to us when they are going through something tough.There Is No Good Card for This: What to Do and Say When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowellEmily McDowell cardsOption B by Adam Grant and Sheryl SandbergVanessa Zoltan’s thoughts on suffering in Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and Hot and BotheredOn Living by Kerry EganLife latelySarah is loving walking after school drop off.Abby has two television shows to share: Fleabag and The Zoo: San Diego.Reading latelySarah read Circe by Madeline Miller. Abby’s loving the Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas.Eating latelyAbby used up her summer squash with a three cheese squash casserole.Sarah found a breakfast her kids will actually eat: bagels!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 Instagr

We explore the idea of body positivity, how it's changed the way we see ourselves and others, how it's shifted the way we think about food and exercise, and how it influences our parenting. We are both still learning and recognize that our thin and able-bodied privilege color our perspective. Below is a list of resources we've found helpful on this journey and we'd love for you to share more in the comments so we can all continue learning together.Instagram follows:YrfatfriendMegan Jayne CrabbeDani AdrianaKate J BaerPodcastsFood Psych, especially the interviews with Lindy West, Virginia Sole-Smith, and Ijeoma OluoShe's All FatBooksF*ck it Diet by Caroline DoonerHealth at Every Size by Linda BaconHunger by Roxane GayShrill by Lindy WestThe Eating Instinct by Virginia Sole Smith (and her recent NY Times article When You're Told You're Too Fat to Get Pregnant)Life latelyAbby tried out grocery delivery, but is not yet convinced of its convenience.Sarah is vacuum sealing all of the blankets in her house.Reading la

We explore how books and reading are part of self-care, including our favorite snacks, our ideal reading experience, and how parenting and reading for self-care intersect. Here are some of our favorite books to reach for when we are in need of a self-care reading experience:The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica MorganRed White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonStill Life and other Inspector Gamache novels by Louise PennyHarry Potter by J.K. RowlingElla Enchanted and other Gail Carson Levine booksThe Wedding Date and other Jasmine Guillory novelsAnd if you’re looking for thoughtful commentary about romance novels in our culture, check out Hot and Bothered, a new podcast by Vanessa Zoltan and Ariana Nedelman.Life latelySarah shares happy news about her health.Abby laments her children’s inability to sleep through the night.Reading latelySarah was inspired by The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon. Abby enjoyed Spinning Silver by Naomi Novak.Ea

We're back! We thought it would be fitting to check back in with our intentions from January and see where we are as we head into the fall.Reading latelyAbby read (and LOVED) Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.Sarah read The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. Thanks to listener Kristen for the recommendation!Eating latelySarah made falafels and strongly recommends adding the suggested binding agents.Abby was gifted an ice cream maker attachment and made this cherry garcia recipe in an attempt to recreate the Ben and Jerry's version.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 give a quick update on what's been happening in our respective families and announce that we'll be taking a break through the summer. We appreciate your support and look forward to being back in your earbuds this fall! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Home decorWe share our style, favorite pieces, and struggles with home decor. We may not have a lot of tips to share, but we can both wholeheartedly recommend our friend Kady's shop.Life latelyWe have both been playing family games, including Hoot, Owl, Hoot!, Zingo, and Uno.Reading latelyAbby read Kindred by Octavia Butler and Sarah finished There is No Good Card For This: What To Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell.Eating latelySarah enjoyed stuffed french toast, based off this recipe.Abby's neighbor brought over a delicious biscuit breakfast casserole.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 share how we view mental health, positive influences on our mental health, our experiences with therapy, and our favorite mental health insights and resources. In this episode, we discuss:Light therapy lampCalm app for meditation and sleep storiesDooce blog, especially this articleAudio companion to Mindful Birthing by Nancy BardackeLife latelySarah is seeking advice on the perfect paint color for her kitchen.Abby’s found a new technique for cleaning her shower.Reading latelySarah was along for the ride in Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. Abby loved Jenny Han’s YA series (and movie!) To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.Eating latelyAbby’s family has been enjoying pigs (cows) in a blanket.While they are as good as in Texas, Sarah’s been loving the tamales from her co-op.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 o