Friendlier

Naming humansIn honor of Abby's announcement, we wanted to share how we chose our children's names, our naming styles, names that got away, and our favorite naming resources. Appellation Mountain Swistle Nameberry One Bad Nugget Facebook Group (must be a member of the One Bad Mother FB group to join) Baby Name Wizard Name Voyager Life latelyAbby has big news: she's pregnant!Sarah is on a spending spree in preparation for winter.Reading latelyAbby read a duology by Laini Taylor Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares. Sarah finished the Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. If you want to learn about segregation and housing but aren't ready to commit to the book, check out this interview with the author.Eating latelySarah is loving Dots pretzels and considering ordering in bulk.Abby made a jazzed up version of the traditional baked potato: fiesta lentil potatoes.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're going meta with this episode and talking about podcasts: what we love about them, when we listen, and all our favorite shows. We'd love to hear your favorite listens so we can add them to our rotation! Shows we mention: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text NPR Politics Girl Next Door Food Psych (some favorite guests include: Lindy West, Fiona Sutherland, and Alan Levinovitz) Death Sex and Money Cohesive Home Streamlined Motherhood Highs and Lows (listen to Abby's episode here) She's All Fat More Perfect We Live Here (especially their most recent episodes on housing) Still Processing Minimalist Moms Your Parenting Mojo Conversations With People Who Hate Me (episode on the term Latinx) What Should I Read Next Reading Women Not By Accident But Why? Sparkle Stories Life latelySarah's been digging up weeds and planting native plants in her front yard.Abby shares the ups and downs of her recent trip to D.C. for a conference.Reading latelySarah read My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan and Abby read Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler.Eating latelyAbby's family is enjoying spaghetti with meat sauce on a weekly basis.Sarah has found a new breakfast favorite: avocado toast.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.

Friendship logisitcsWay back in Episode 14 we talked about friendship, but we wanted to revisit the subject with a focus on how we maintain friendships and how that's changed since becoming parents.Life latelyAbby shares her family's new toilet paper: Who Gives A Crap!Sarah is reveling in how much smoother the school year transition has been compared to last year.Reading latelyAbby has more romance to share, this time in the form of Hamilton's Battalion, a collection of three novellas by Rose Lerner, Courtney Milan, and Alyssa Cole.Sarah read Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein, which felt particularly timely in light of the Supreme Court hearings.Eating latelySarah made a dairy-free chicken pot pie.Abby shares a brie and apple sandwich, inspired by the Fido restaurant in Nashville.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 how we approach food with our kids, what our dinnertime routines look like, and family favorite meals we didn't expect.Links and resources mentioned: Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating resources: Food Psych podcast Ellyn Satter Institute The F*ck It Diet Body Positive Panda on Instagram Keekaroo high chair Curry potatoes and eggs Lentil loaf Life latelySarah's happy to be reunited with her Chacos after having them re-soled.Abby shares how she and her family prepared for Hurricane Florence.Reading latelySarah read Educated by Tara Westover and Abby read the middle-grade novel The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine.Eating latelyAbby made pizza bagels--easy and delicious.Sarah loved this lemony lentil soup as recommended on the Girl Next Door Podcast.And don't forget to check out two great shows from our friends Melissa and Kate: Cohesive Home and brand new show The Streamlined Motherhood Podcast.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our shownotes, 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.

From hair (we both have so much!) to skin-care (what exactly is a toner anyway?), we share our style and beauty routines and how they have changed over the years. We'd love to hear which aspects of beauty and style are worth the effort for you, and which aren't. Links featured in this episode: Photo on Tumbler that features this quote: "In a world that profits from your self-doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act." Frugalwoods blog post and book Ernie Buffalo Life latelyAbby shares Plum's transition from the Guava Lotus travel crib to a floor bed.Sarah has a new dishwasher, which--gasp!--actually washes dishes.Reading latelyAbby continued in the romance genre with Helen Hoang's The Kiss Quotient.Sarah read The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir.Eating latelySarah put in the effort to make a Greek salad (why is chopping vegetables so hard?!).Abby's enjoying homemade seltzer, courtesy of Andrew's home brew supplies.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 details of our summer--the good, the bad, and the never-do-again (I'm looking at you, split red-eye flight with a toddler). We cover our childcare situations, swim lessons, and the ups and downs of traveling with kids. Leave us a comment to share what worked (or didn't) for your family this summer!Life latelySarah's loving using these new containers for her kids' lunches.Abby shares how entertained Plum is by these water beads.Reading latelySarah read The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer and Abby finished Nell Scovell's Just the Funny Parts.Eating latelyAbby's family has been eating Instant Pot baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese sauce.Sarah tried to make sushi, but ended up with sushi bowls, which happily turned out to be just as satisfying less work than rolls.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.

Kids and screensWe talk about screens and media--what we watched as kids, how our families handle screen time, and our favorite resources and recommendations. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the issue and if you have any media we should be sure to check out. Screen Time as a Feminist Issue Lifecake app Babies OK Go! Sparkle Stories But Why? Brains, On! Life latelyAbby has entered the world of e-readers with a new-to-her Kindle.Sarah shares the tale of two hikes from her recent trip to Colorado.Reading latelyAbby tried a new genre: romance! She loved Tessa Dare's A Week to Be Wicked.Sarah read An American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield.Eating latelySarah has been upping her popcorn game and making a version with chex mix seasonings.Abby's whole family is enjoying tuna salad--a perfect summer food.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.

Have you ever wondered how we produce Friendlier? Wonder no more! In this episode we share the backstory of starting the show (including our original failed concept), what we do to prepare for each episode, our recording set-ups, and the editing and post-production that gets Friendlier to you. We mentioned lots of links and resources, but if you have other questions please reach out; we'd love to pass on what we know. Other resources: Behind the scenes episodes from the Girl Next Door and the Mom Hour Kelsey's blog series Equipment: Microphone Pop filter (It makes such a difference in sound quality!) Headphones Microphone stand Sound and art: Freesound for sound effects Yady Kates for our logo and header Audrey for intro and outro music Programs: Voxer for brainstorming Skype to connect during recording Audacity to record our files and for editing Google Docs and Drive to share outlines and audio files Pippa for hosting Life latelySarah's embracing summer--swim lessons, travel, and endless park time.Abby deleted Facebook from her phone and has no regrets.Reading latelySarah read Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond and Abby finished Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy.Eating latelyAbby's discovered the perfect summer snack: pickles!Sarah can't get enough of this white cheese dip.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 how we made and continue to make decisions around at-home-parenting, what frustrates us most about the cultural narratives around these choices, and how we see things evolving as our kids get older.Life latelyAbby recounts all of the effort that went into to setting up a rock box for Plum.Sarah is celebrating being two-toilet family again. Bathroom renovation, complete!Reading latelyAbby worked her way through a poetry collection: Oceanic by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.Sarah thoroughly enjoyed From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon.Eating latelySarah made a mushroom quiche based on Mark Bittman's recipe in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.Abby prepared fancy sandwiches: brie and turkey on focaccia, topped with either garlic aioli or cherry preserves.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.

Since we are at the mid-point of 2018, we wanted to take some time to reflect and check-in on our intentions for the year. We share what is going well, what has challenged us, and what we hope for in the second half of the year.Life latelySarah learned about the trait of high-sensitivity (thanks, Abby!) and read The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aron.Abby describes her plumbing woes.Reading latelySarah read the Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan and Abby completed the All Souls Trilogy (A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life) by Deborah Harkness.Eating latelyAbby's been eating spaghetti carbonara--a family favorite and Andrew's signature dish.Sarah's family is enjoying these banana muffins as a hearty breakfast or mid-morning snack.If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our shownotes, 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 our values around getting outside and exploring nature, how we are incorporating it in our family life now, and how we see that changing in the future. Links to things we mentioned: The best sun hat (for kids and adults!) Rain bibs Free Forest School Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk Life latelyAbby completed some DIY car repairs that were ever-so-satisfying.Sarah is loving reading chapter books with HP.Reading latelyAbby read We're Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union and Sarah finished Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.Eating latelySarah has been having picnic dinners with her family and bowl after bowl of the mousse Abby discussed in a previous episode (turns out, doubling it was unnecessary).Abby enjoyed the most delicious flan you will ever eat, made for her by a friend for her birthday. (Email us for the recipe!)If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on the shownotes, 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 our food philosophies, history with food, thoughts about thin privilege, and how important (or not) the social aspect of eating is for each of us. Here are the resources and links we mentioned this episode: Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver Shrill by Lindy West Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan Tell Me I'm Fat episode of This American Life Catherine Newman's blog and chicken wing recipe Caroline Dooner's F*ck It Diet Life latelySarah has started meditating using the Calm app.Abby gives an update on her dog, Tonks. Since we recorded this episode several weeks ago, Tonky's health declined rapidly, and we said goodbye to her on May 31. We miss her lots, and we're thankful for your support and love.Reading latelySarah listened to Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design by Charles Montgomery, a non-fiction book about the history of our cities and how we can design and modify them to make the people who live there happier.Abby listened to two middle-grade historical fiction novels: The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won, both by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.Eating latelyAbby made special burritos following a recipe that friends created in honor of their new baby.Sarah shares her "fancy coffee" recipe: coffee + peppermint tea.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 walk you through the details of a day in our lives, what was atypical, and if it highlighted anything we'd like to change.Life latelyAbby describes her plans for a royal wedding watch party.Sarah shares how terrible she is at choosing paint colors.Reading latelyNow that we are both up to date, we talk all about our favorite mystery series: Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache.Eating latelySarah made a broccoli and mushroom casserole: 1 lb mushrooms, sliced 1 onion, chopped juice of one lemon 1 large head of cauliflower or broccoli 3 cloves garlic, crushed butter salt and pepper to taste three cups rice, cooked (I cook up two cups of brown rice in the Instant Pot) 2 1/2 cups grated cheese of your choice Saute the mushrooms and onion in butter and lemon juice. When mushrooms and onion are soft, add the garlic and cauliflower. Continue to saute briefly and add salt and pepper to taste. Mix all of the above with rice and cheese. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.Abby's been enjoying kringle (a filled pastry treat) from Trader Joe's.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 chat about how we define balance, if our lives are balanced now, whether we feel over-scheduled, and favorite resources for getting back on track if we've gotten off balance. Listeners, we'd love to hear how you find the right balance in your life. Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne The Joy of Doing Nothing by Rachel Jonat Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Life latelySarah's kids are now using her childhood bunk beds.Abby gave herself a new spring look by cutting bangs into her hair.Reading latelySarah listened to An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, which follows the marriage of Roy and Celestial before, during, and after Roy's wrongful incarceration.Abby loved Beartown by Frederick Backman, a novel about a small Swedish hockey town.Eating latelyAbby is making her own chocolate mousse.Sarah is eating whole chickpeas (gasp!), as part of a chickpea salad.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 makes for a good host, our favorite kinds of hosting, what we love (and don't love) about hosting, and our stance on hostess gifts.Life latelyAbby loved having her sister visit for an entire week.Sarah is apparently the last person to discover audio on faster speeds.Reading latelyAbby read This is How It Always Is, a novel by Laurie Frankel about parenting, marriage, and how one couple navigates raising a transgender child.After having multiple friends recommend it, Sarah read The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne.Eating latelySarah's put "easy enchiladas" into regular rotation in her house. Just use tortillas, refried beans, sauce, cheese, and call it good.Abby's been eating deviled eggs, both the fancy and traditional variety. And if you haven't tried boiling your eggs in the Instant Pot, Sarah recommends it--even the freshest of eggs are easy to peel!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.