We chat about how good we are at getting things done, which tasks are easy for us to start and finish, and whether anything helps us check things off our lists.

Life lately

Sarah (along with all of Bloomington) is prepping for April 8's solar eclipse.

Abby got a puppy, Edie.

Reading lately

Sarah highly recommends the YA novel, In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner (especially the audio version).

Abby has been slowly making her way through the first three books of the Her Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen.

Eating lately

Abby hacked a grocery store cookie cake for Pepper's birthday.

Sarah tried out this Pad Thai recipe.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

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Life lately

Abby is feeling good about their family's summer plans.

Sarah's kids are enjoying some winter hobbies.

Reading lately

Abby read True Biz by Sara Nović and Sarah read S.K. Ali's young adult novel Saints and Misfits.

Looking ahead to turning 40

As we enter the last year of our 30s, we look back over the last decade, look ahead to our 40s, and share how we hope to celebrate our milestone birthdays.

Eating lately

Sarah tried two new focaccia recipes but had the most success with this one from Alexandra Cooks.

Abby shares about a new Trader Joe's product: garlic asiago cheese dip.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life lately

Sarah is thankful that January is behind us, and night shift is going surprisingly well for Abby.

Reading lately

Sarah read (and loved) The Good Part by Sophie Cousens.

Abby listened to Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann.

Religion and spirituality

We discuss our experiences with religion and spirituality, growing up, today, and how we think about religion and spirituality as parents.

Eating lately

Abby ate Torchy's Tacos every day she was in Texas and has no regrets.

Make-your-own sushi is a big win at Sarah's house.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New year’s intentions, 2024

We set our intentions for the year, share our words for the year, and discuss specific goals in various categories.

Life Lately

Abby is looking forward to time with family over the holiday (plus Tex-Mex!).

Sarah shares to home winds: the headboard Neil made and all the secondhand plants.

Reading lately

Abby found a new romance series by Sarah Estep--the Brunch Bros.

Sarah read the technology parenting book Growing Up In Public by Devorah Heitner.

Eating lately

Sarah found success with a traditional caramel recipe and Abby enjoyed apple cider caramels made by a friend. We recommend this thermometer that attaches to the pan.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for

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We look back on our respective years, talk about how we did with our intention words, and do a lightning round of favorites from 2023.

Life lately

Sarah recommends the Fantastic Fiction website.

Abby is leaving the leaves this year.

Reading lately

Sarah read the nonfiction book The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World by Max Fisher.

Abby enjoyed the first two installments of the Wilmot Sisters contemporary romance series by Chloe Liese.

Eating lately

Abby is very into Cherry Cordials, the best seasonal Little Debbie.

Sarah has significantly upped her bean game.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our year in books, 2023

We share the highs and lows of our reading year as well as our favorite books in various categories.

Life lately

Abby loves her new Pact sweaters.

Sarah is cozying up with the Calm Christmas podcast.

Reading lately

Abby read the spicy romance novel (set in Bloomington!) How Not to Fall by Emily Foster.

Sarah read Michelle Huneven's novel Search.

Eating lately

Sarah made cranberry orange bread and Abby wants you all to know about shrimp toast.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thank you for listening!

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We give an update on the state of clutter in our homes and discuss how we think we might manage it better. We'd love your ideas! (And here's the podcast Sarah mentioned: A Slob Comes Clean)

Life lately

Sarah ran a half marathon—yay!

Abby built a screen door.

Reading lately

Sarah read the satirical novel Wellness by Nathan Hill.

Abby enjoyed the first two mysteries in the Jane Austen-inspired Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series by Claudia Gray.

Eating lately

Abby tried out a new spinach dip recipe, and it was a hit at her work potluck.

Sarah and E made some yummy mint brownies (similar to this recipe, just swap ganache for mini chocolate chips).

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenting strengths and weaknesses

We share areas of parenting that come easily to us (and those that don't!), our partners' parenting superpowers, and a recent parenting win.

• Episode about our everyday superpowers

Life lately

Abby shares the sad news that the hospital where she works will be closing Labor and Delivery later this month.

The renovation continues at Sarah's house... In this update, concrete stain!

Reading lately

Abby read the YA fantasy novel To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose.

Sarah read R.F. Kuang's Yellowface.

Eating lately

Sarah tried two new recipes from the Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook for Neil's birthday.

Abby enjoyed a buffalo chicken dip made by Andrew.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

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We look back on how the summer went and what we learned about how to make next summer even better.

Life lately

Sarah is picking paint colors again. (What a nightmare.)

Abby healed one of her kitty's ears without a vet trip thanks to this product.

Reading lately

Sarah read the Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom Duology by Leigh Bardugo.

Abby read Feed the Baby: An Inclusive Guide to Nursing, Bottle-Feeding, and Everything In Between by her dear friend and IBCLC, Victoria Facelli.

Eating lately

Abby loved this recipe for samosas made with crescent roll dough.

Sarah made a delicious white bean chicken chili in an effort to get back to meal planning.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mindsets

We share mindsets and mantras that have served us well over the years, ones that do not work for us, and mindsets we are trying to help our kids cultivate.

Life lately

Abby was on television for her work.

Sarah's family has joined the local climbing gym.

Reading lately

Abby is all-in on Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

Sarah recommends Maame by Jessica George.

Eating lately

Sarah and Abby both enjoyed meals cooked by their moms: orzo pasta salad and hashbrown casserole.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

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We reflect on how the year is going so far, remind ourselves of our words for the year, and look ahead to the second half of 2023.

Life lately

Sarah’s children are at sleep away camp for the first time.

Abby recently did a refresh of her indoor plants.

Reading lately

Sarah read and loved You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smith.

Abby listened to Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Eating lately

Abby and her family have been harvesting their homegrown blackberries.

Sarah enjoyed a seafood boil on a recent beach trip.

If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.