1 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: Hi. 2 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 2: I'm Laura Vanderkamp. I'm a mother of five, an author, journalist, 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 2: and speaker. 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 3: And I'm Sarah hart Hunger, a mother of three, practicing physician, writer, 5 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 3: and course creator. We are two working parents who love 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 3: our careers and our families. 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: Welcome to best of both worlds. Here we talk about 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: how real women manage work, family, and time for fun. 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: From figuring out childcare to mapping out long. 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: Term career goals. 11 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: We want you to get the most out of life. 12 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to best of both worlds. This is Laura. 13 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 2: This episode is airing in late December of twenty twenty five. 14 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 2: We are going to be doing our annual year in 15 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: review episode, talking about all things good, bad, et cetera 16 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: that happened in twenty twenty five, what we learned from 17 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 2: the year, how we did on our various goals, and 18 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: play any highlights, any low lights. 19 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: You know. It's that type of year, right, Sarah. 20 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 3: Yes, quite a roller coaster kind of year that we'll 21 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 3: have to talk about today. 22 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: But I love this annual tradition. Yeah, and it has 23 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: been quite a year. 24 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: I mean, first of all, like, we're very excited that 25 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 2: Sarah is still with us. 26 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I selected finite as my word of the year 27 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 3: for twenty twenty five. Keep in mind, I had no 28 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 3: idea of any of the drama to ensue, and then 29 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 3: in early March ended up with a major medical event, 30 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 3: very dangerous cardiac arrhythmia that thankfully ended once it ended 31 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 3: mostly well, but with a pretty life altering diagnosis. So 32 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 3: it's been quite a year. There's been massive ups and 33 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 3: massive downs and a lot that happened, and I do 34 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 3: feel like I'm exiting the year with just a different perspective. 35 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 3: But all that to say, there were still many sort 36 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 3: of little victories and little things to celebrate that aren't 37 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 3: that different from other years. 38 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, so, you know, fine as a word for twenty 39 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 2: twenty five. There's a lesson here about being careful with 40 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: our words that we select. 41 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: No, I know it has nothing to do with it. 42 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: I'm not superstitious, but it was something to get that 43 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: message in early March. But Sarah has been very resilient 44 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: about the whole thing, and twenty twenty five has been 45 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 2: a good year in many ways. 46 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I would still call it a good year. 47 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 2: I agree, Yeah, still call it a good year. Well, 48 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 2: my year has not been quite so exciting medically, Thank 49 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 2: goodness that keep saying I had This was a non 50 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: official goal that I didn't share on the podcast last year, 51 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 2: but to get more caught up on medical thing like 52 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 2: screenings and like I didn't even have any doctors going 53 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: into the year because my OBGI in practice had closed. 54 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: I hadn't really. 55 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 2: Had a PCP during this time because I was, you know, 56 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: the course of five kids. I was at the doctor 57 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 2: all the time, so I just didn't bother going to 58 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: extra visits outside of that. But we joined a practice, 59 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 2: my husband and I a It's one of these concierge 60 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 2: practices here in the area, so he and I both 61 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: joined that. 62 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,639 Speaker 1: We had our physicals in March. 63 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 2: I as a result of that, wound up doing a mammogram, 64 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 2: which I had not done before this year. And before 65 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 2: anyone writes me angry, notes, I was nursing up until 66 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: like twenty twenty four. 67 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: So that's why fair You did not want to irradiate 68 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 1: the milk. 69 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: Then, well, just I thought it doesn't like I thought, 70 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 2: they aren't as accurate if you are nursing either. 71 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm not an expert, but you're not an experts Okay, anyway, plausible, 72 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 3: that's what I was told. 73 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: And then I got skin cancer screening. 74 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: I found a k new OUBI practice, OBGI in practice, 75 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 2: like all this stuff. So I am I am at 76 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: least more caught up than I was doing. Okay, Yeah, 77 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 2: and health is so important. Again, if I I've learned anything, 78 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: it's sort of re emphasizing that. You know, if you 79 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 2: don't have your health, you don't really have much at all. 80 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 2: So I applaud you for taking those steps. 81 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. 82 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: Anyone listening to this is looking for a goal to 83 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 2: set in twenty six, we heartily encourage you to go 84 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: get your health checked out. If you are like me 85 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 2: and been in the baby making stage for a long 86 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 2: time and haven't looked at anything else, any other organs 87 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 2: on the rest of your body, maybe that can be 88 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 2: a goal for the year and hopefully everything will be 89 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 2: great and then you can feel good about it and 90 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 2: raise a glass to good health in the new year. 91 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: So in this annual episode, we talk about what has 92 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 2: been good. 93 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: Our highlights are low lights, how we did on our goals. 94 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 2: So first of all, let's talk about core memories, like Sarah, 95 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: apart from your medical drama, your personal medical drama, I mean, 96 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: what we're your core memories of the year. 97 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, so it was definitely the year of best laid 98 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 3: Plans the book, and I know we talked about it 99 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 3: a lot on the last episode if I won't be 100 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 3: labor that, But just to summarize, I finished writing it, 101 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 3: I did all the editing, I read the audio, and 102 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 3: I launched it. So this was really like a very 103 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 3: key book year. Then there was just lots of travel 104 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 3: and family fun. Actually friends, let's talk about friend travel first. 105 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 3: I have friends that I know in the blog world, 106 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 3: but at least one of them, Elizabeth, I hadn't met 107 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 3: in real life, and I met Kay and Elizabeth in 108 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 3: Nova Scotia for a really fun weekend. 109 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: My college friends came here to hang out me in 110 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: Fort Lauderdale. 111 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 3: Best Like Plans Live honestly feels like a friend's gathering 112 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 3: at this point. I did a family friends trip to 113 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 3: Hawk's Kay with our Miami Beach friends, and then I 114 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 3: got to see Laura a lot in Philadelphia and Philly's 115 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 3: game in Longwood. So I just feel like it was 116 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 3: a really good friend year, and travel wise, I feel 117 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:47,679 Speaker 3: like it was more low key. I think twenty twenty 118 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 3: six is going to be a little more memorable on 119 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 3: that regard, but we did have a nice trip to 120 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 3: New Hampshire and made some nice memories, including everyone going biking, 121 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 3: which had been a the I don't know goal for 122 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 3: our family for a while. But we have certain members 123 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 3: who didn't know how to bike, and certain members who 124 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 3: knew how to bike but didn't want a bike, and 125 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: it turns out everyone really enjoyed it. And then finally 126 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 3: we have not gone on our actually we're on our 127 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 3: ski trip. If all went well as this episode airs, 128 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 3: It's always a highlight for us going to Big Sky, Montana. 129 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 3: But yeah, since the episode was being recorded prior to that, 130 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 3: I can't really include it, but I suspect it. 131 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: Will be yeah, yeah, No. 132 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 2: I think they had some travel core memories for me 133 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: as well. I made a wound to being a huge 134 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 2: travel year the first half of the year, and I 135 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 2: hadn't entirely anticipated all of that. I wound up going 136 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: with my husband to Spain for a work trip, which 137 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: was a lot of fun. I wound up speaking in Portugal, 138 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 2: so that was another across the Atlantic trip, and then 139 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 2: I went to France on the choir tour with Jasper 140 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 2: and so that was another fun tour around there as well. 141 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: Hawaii with the family was also fun. We saw some 142 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: beautiful spots. I went swimming with the sharks with joh 143 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 2: That was maybe not an adventure I would have willingly 144 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 2: gone on myself, but I agreed to do it, and 145 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: it was memorable for sure. I will remember that for 146 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 2: a long time. There's also just like some little adventure 147 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: type stuff. I mean, seeing the miniature show in Cherry Hill, 148 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 2: New Jersey. So there's a Philadelphia Miniature convention every year 149 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: and it is the same weekend as Best Laid Plans Live. 150 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: So it wasn't entirely clear that I would be back 151 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 2: to do it, but it managed to. 152 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: Happen, and I'm so glad. I went, Like I love miniatures, 153 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: and there was. 154 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: Like two ballrooms full of tiny stuff, just like tiny 155 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:46,119 Speaker 2: whatever you might think of. And I had never seen 156 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: that much miniaturia in one location, So I'm really glad 157 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 2: I went. I will remember that biking memory, Yeah, biking 158 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: by the beach. That biking is always great. 159 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: I don't know. 160 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 2: Going to the Eagles playoff games, to two of them 161 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: early in the year, I mean that was exciting because 162 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: I mean it was not known that they would be 163 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 2: going on and winning the Super Bowl in early twenty 164 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 2: twenty five, and so getting to go to two of those, 165 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: and then finally singing in the B Minor Mass, which 166 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 2: happened after our last year in review recording and such. 167 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 2: It was actually New Year's Eve twenty twenty four going 168 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: into twenty twenty five, but I will sort of put 169 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: that as a core memory for the year, since we 170 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: hadn't mentioned it at the last time. 171 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: But you know, that was on the bucket list. 172 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 3: Now that's been on your on hundred dreams list for 173 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 3: such a long time, so that's must have been very. 174 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 2: Like writing a book for you. You know, the timing had 175 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 2: to be right. All these things require other people and 176 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 2: luck and things to happen. And if it's on your 177 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 2: bucket list to go to Hawaii, you can in fact 178 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 2: buy a ticket and go. Whereas if it's on your 179 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 2: bucket list to like publish a book with a commercial 180 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 2: book publisher, like, that's going to require more people to 181 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 2: assent to it, and you know a process for that, 182 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 2: And same with singing in the B Minor Mass, like 183 00:08:58,760 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 2: I mean, I mean, maybe if I was a bill, 184 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 2: you could like just bring in an orchestra you know, 185 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 2: and hire a conductor and rent out a big concert 186 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 2: hall to do it. But as I am not, I 187 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: had to rely on this happening and being here that 188 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:13,319 Speaker 2: I could be part of. 189 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 1: So it finally did. It's so true. Those are outcome goals, definitely. 190 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we we had to make them happen. So, 191 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: Sarah low Lights, have you know obviously there are some. 192 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 3: Well yes, my medical stuff obviously, but not just me. 193 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 3: So we have three children in our family and before 194 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 3: the year twenty twenty five, nobody had ever fractured anything. 195 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 3: And as I stand here, we had five broken bones. 196 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 3: Every single kid broke at least one bone. One person 197 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 3: broke bones in a spectacular faction, open displaced, had to 198 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 3: have surgery. And all these breaks were incredibly disruptive to 199 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 3: various things. I mean, I'm talking like an entire lacrosse 200 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 3: season was lost, gymnastics meets that we were supposed to 201 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 3: travel for. Where can old Poor Genevieve had to go 202 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 3: to summer camp with a cast that went like up 203 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 3: to her armpit. 204 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: This was a lot. 205 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 3: We actually just had our final Genevieve had her little 206 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 3: rod taken out of her elbow, and Annabel was cleared 207 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 3: from her last pinky fracture, So maybe maybe we're done. 208 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: But that's definitely a low light. That was terrible. 209 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 3: I think I've been to the orthopedis twenty times, Like 210 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 3: I'm not actually exaggerating. 211 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, that sounds terrible, Like there's no way around that. 212 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, and then let's see other low lights. I don't 213 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: know I had them. Wait, hold on a second. 214 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 3: Sorry, I'm I'm gonna break here because I know I 215 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 3: had others, but my page is not. 216 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: No, I think that's it. 217 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 3: No, that was it, Okay, just kidding. So I think 218 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 3: that was pretty much our biggest low light of the year. 219 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, I'm hoping that nobody either recording. 220 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 2: This or listening to this experiences that in twenty twenty six, 221 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 2: because broken bones are no fun for anyone whatsoever. I, 222 00:10:59,360 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 2: you know, had this. 223 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: I think I want as a kid that like, oh, 224 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:03,599 Speaker 1: you get a cast that people can write on. It's like, 225 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: good lord, they can write on your arm. 226 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 2: If you want, Like you do not want a broken bone, 227 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 2: just to get a cast that your friends can right on. Well, 228 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 2: my low lights, I mean some of mine were just 229 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 2: like long plane flights. I don't I do not like flying. 230 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 2: I wish I did, because it would make travel that 231 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 2: much easier if I did that. I'm not a comfortable flyer. 232 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 2: I find it hard to sleep on planes. I don't 233 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 2: like the bouncing, like when you go through turbulence, like 234 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 2: the flight home from Hawaii, and I sound so terrible 235 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 2: saying this, but it was miserable, like it's an overnight flight. 236 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 1: Henry didn't sleep till the last two. 237 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: And a half hours, and that is when we started 238 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 2: bumping like crazy. 239 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: So I didn't sleep the whole time. 240 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 2: He needed stuff like every ten minutes for the entire 241 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 2: flight before he went to sleep. 242 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: So good times. You know, like you're counting minutes. 243 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 2: I hate the idea of counting minutes, but I was 244 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 2: counting minutes, and there's. 245 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: A lot of minutes on a flight. There's a lot 246 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: of minutes because it's a long flight, just like even 247 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: flying home. 248 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: Went skiing in Utah as a family, and for whatever reason, 249 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 2: the flight home was just I don't know if we 250 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 2: were flying through snowstorms. It's just like the approach to Philly, 251 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 2: we actually flew up into the air like I mean, 252 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 2: people were like if gasa, I'm unfortunately they were wearing 253 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 2: their seatbelts because we were on the descent, so for 254 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 2: the most part, people were in fact in their seats. 255 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 2: But like if I'd had a baby in my lap, 256 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 2: I mean, the kid would have flown up into the air. 257 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: I just it was horrible. It was horrible. I don't know. 258 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: So anyway, and yeah, necessary my favorite thing. 259 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 3: This is a total digression I like to tell myself 260 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,119 Speaker 3: while flying I learned from you, which is that turbulence 261 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 3: is just like shaking in a bowl of jello. 262 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: So I don't know, Yeah, it's kind of funny if 263 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: you hear. That helps me a lot. 264 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 3: That and using the mindfulness app on my watch to 265 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 3: do box breathing, and I just think to myself, like, well, 266 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 3: if we have three hours left, it's five minutes long, 267 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 3: and I do this thirty six times, like the flight 268 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 3: will be over. 269 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: So yeah, that is true. 270 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 2: I have found myself counting that sort of thing and 271 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 2: be like, okay, you know, a minute just passed, and 272 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 2: we just need sixty more of those and will be 273 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 2: an hour more into this or whatever it is. But 274 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: of course, you know, when you're on like ten hour flight, 275 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,559 Speaker 2: that's a that's bad. I mean, but all time does pass. 276 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:10,559 Speaker 2: All time does pass. 277 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: I don't know. I mean, Henry's still hard to put 278 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: to bed. 279 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,599 Speaker 2: It's better than it was, but it's still not great. 280 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 2: Helping going through the college admissions process was stressful for everyone, 281 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 2: so you know, there are low lights, of course, there 282 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 2: always will be. 283 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: But highlights too. 284 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 2: All right, we're going to take a quick ad break 285 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 2: and then we'll be back with how we did on. 286 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: Our goals this year? Well, we are back. 287 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 2: So every year we set goals, we do a mid 288 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: year goal check in as well, and so then we 289 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 2: can compare how we did on the things that we 290 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 2: decided we wanted to set out to do. So, Sarah, 291 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 2: let's start with work and creative work. What were your 292 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 2: goals this year and how did you do on them? 293 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: Yeah? 294 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 3: Well, first I will share that the way I do 295 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 3: this episode, and I think Laura's done in the past, 296 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 3: is I listened to my prior year episode. So I'm 297 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 3: responding to my prior self, looking at the notes that 298 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 3: I wrote and also what I said on the podcast. 299 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 3: It is very interesting to listening to yourself a year 300 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 3: ago set goals. 301 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: So you can do this too. 302 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 3: You could write a voice memo on your phone to 303 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 3: yourself right now. Talking about you know, how you're listening 304 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 3: to this a year from now, and what do you 305 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 3: think you'd like to get done? And you might find 306 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 3: that fascinating. So I'm full of digressions today. But the 307 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 3: things that I wrote were finish and launch book definitely 308 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 3: can give myself a check for that. Did I put 309 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 3: as much effort into the actual launch process as I 310 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 3: would have liked? Yes, and I did the amount that 311 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 3: I could do. Just put it that way, and I'm 312 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 3: okay with it. I did give myself a goal to 313 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 3: put myself out there with more podcast pitches and speaking 314 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 3: type stuff as well, and I did do two pretty 315 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: sizable speaking engagements in early twenty twenty five, but I 316 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 3: didn't try very hard to get more or to try 317 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 3: to get on more podcasts, So I would give myself 318 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 3: a C plus for that particular goal. 319 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: I wanted to improve my shutdown ritual. 320 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 3: I do feel like I've gotten better with my shutdown ritual, 321 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 3: including just sitting there and making a migration mark on 322 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 3: tasks I didn't get done. I find that oddly closure 323 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 3: inducing for myself because I don't always complete everything on 324 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 3: my daily list. But if I know that I have migrated, 325 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 3: it I can feel at peace with that, and I've 326 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 3: even started to do things sometimes like take a twenty 327 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 3: minute walk at the end of my creative work day, 328 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 3: just to create some sort of buffer between doing the 329 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 3: work and. 330 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: Starting the evening. 331 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 3: So I think I have made progress on that. Come 332 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 3: up with a fun and different summer project. No, absolutely not. 333 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 3: I don't know what happened to the summer. I just 334 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 3: actually I do. I was recovering from the hard stuff. 335 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 3: I wasn't quite like I was going to therapy like, 336 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 3: I wasn't quite there yet. So I'll give myself a 337 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 3: low grade, but a pass. Yeah, So those are my 338 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 3: work goals. What about your work goals? 339 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 2: Well, I wanted to finish writing big time, which I did. 340 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 2: That's my book that will be out in May. So 341 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 2: exciting about that. It's in the final processes right now 342 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 2: of edits and it we'll start launching all that in 343 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 2: a few months. I wanted to write fifty two more sonnets. 344 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 2: This is one of my year long projects. I write 345 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 2: two lines and aambic pentameter every day and as a 346 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 2: result of that, I will have fifty two sonnets by 347 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 2: the end of the year. It's I've been doing this 348 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 2: this is the third year I've done it now, so 349 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 2: it's a pretty ingrained habit and I enjoy doing it. 350 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 2: It's a good writing practice, so I am excited about 351 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 2: having done that. I said I wanted to write a 352 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 2: novel in between writing big time and starting on the 353 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 2: Golden Hours, and. 354 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: I didn't think I was going to do that, but 355 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: then I. 356 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 2: Did wind up writing a novella during National Novel Writing Month. 357 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 2: It is not the full fifty thousand words. It's a 358 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 2: lot shorter than that. It's probably only about twenty thousand 359 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 2: words because I finished the plot I don't know I wrote, 360 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 2: and then I was kind of done with the plot 361 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,199 Speaker 2: I had dreamed up, which right there reminds me that 362 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 2: I need to make it bigger. But I wouldn't have 363 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 2: known that if I hadn't written it. And so now 364 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 2: I have something that I can think about and come 365 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 2: back to. And I've done this with a lot of 366 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 2: I mean, Juliet School of Possibilities began as a National 367 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 2: Novel Writing Month novel, and then I wound up sort 368 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 2: of mining that for other things than to turn into 369 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 2: the book that became Juliette. 370 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 1: So yeah, you have to start somewhere and. 371 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 2: Then the one thing that didn't, Oh I need I said, 372 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 2: I don't think I listed this in the goals episode, 373 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 2: but I did want to print up a copy of 374 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 2: The Courtland Boys because that was something that had been 375 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 2: bugging me for a while that I didn't have a 376 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 2: true printed copy with the cover and everything. 377 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 1: And it was easy enough to pay a service to 378 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: do that. So now I have a printed up copy 379 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: of it. Do that for Norwegian Secret I probably could. 380 00:17:57,680 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 2: I need to get that one professionally edited though, because 381 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 2: I haven't even done anything with so I need to 382 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 2: hire an editor to work on that one. But maybe 383 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 2: in the future. It's not an official goal for twenty 384 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 2: twenty six, but it could. And then I wanted to 385 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 2: get eight hundred paid subscribers to vander Hacks, which is 386 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: my subset new letter, and I am not quite there yet. 387 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 2: Which this is the frustration of setting an outcome goal, 388 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 2: because I actually grew a top and I grew a 389 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 2: lot with it. I might you know, I get emails 390 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 2: from substack about being one of their rising stars. 391 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: Well you know, it's just. 392 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 2: Like not that many people make what could be considered 393 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 2: a full time income off substack, and I do, But 394 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 2: it's not the outcome goal I set, so you know, 395 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 2: it's like the frustration of that. But anyway, I've enjoyed 396 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 2: doing it. I hope to continue growing it. I know 397 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 2: that there's some worry that we've reached peak substack, but 398 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 2: I think it's still a worthwhile thing to read, so 399 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 2: hopefully other people agree. 400 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 3: I renewed my subscription, so that's to saying, well, thank 401 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 3: you for doing that, Sarah. Well, and well, let me 402 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 3: just innerjact about the outcome goal. Like the good news 403 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 3: and I've said this like in my book, is that 404 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 3: your goals list is not even though I'm joking and 405 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 3: giving them grades, it's not really a life report card. 406 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 3: It's just it's as useful as you want it to be. 407 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 3: So even though you didn't meet your exact number, you 408 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 3: can still celebrate the progress you made in growing your 409 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 3: sub stack, and maybe this will inform how you set 410 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 3: the next outcome goal, like what you can expect as 411 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 3: realistic piece of growth. 412 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I mean I think it could have been 413 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 2: a realistic goal. It's just again, we substack is not 414 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 2: seen as much of the meteorite growth as it did 415 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 2: the year before. Anyway, Relationships Sarah what do you have 416 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 2: on that front? 417 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 3: Okay, the first one I had was that I wanted 418 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 3: to seek out opportunities for. 419 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: One on one time. 420 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 3: And I will say I do feel like I noticed 421 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,199 Speaker 3: and appreciated this when I had it. I don't know 422 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 3: that I had all that much more than I've had 423 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 3: other years. I did do a great memorable Mommy day 424 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:56,479 Speaker 3: with Genevieve where we went to the beach and then 425 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 3: this place in Miami that you know, it really wasn't 426 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 3: that hard. Everything was local, but it was still stuff 427 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 3: that she often asked to do and I say no 428 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 3: because we don't have time. So being able to do 429 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 3: that felt pretty special. And then I do I will 430 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 3: say I kind of had a fail at. I wanted 431 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 3: to do a seven year old trip with Genevieve because 432 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 3: I've done it with other kids, and we didn't do it. 433 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 3: But I already have a very very short trip to 434 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 3: Philadelphia for my niece's birthday party, and. 435 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 2: I'm planning just to take I only got tickets for 436 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 2: myself and Genevieve, so that's going to. 437 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: Count excellent, excellent, Well that sounds good. Well then there 438 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: was more. Yeah, oh you went well, hell yeah, there's more. 439 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 3: Okay, I had goals to increase our date nights. Josh 440 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 3: and I were not doing very well with having regular 441 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 3: date nights, and I will say I met the school, 442 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 3: but I only met it in November when I realized 443 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 3: that I needed to do that as part of my 444 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,640 Speaker 3: monthly planning to actually set the dates that we would 445 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 3: go out. And once I figured this out, funny, we 446 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 3: started going on date nights again. I wanted to throw 447 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 3: a casual neighborhood hang. Did not happen unless you count 448 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 3: the fact that I hosted book club, which include a 449 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 3: lot of members of my neighborhood, but wasn't exactly what 450 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,159 Speaker 3: I had envisioned. And then finally, I really wanted to 451 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 3: spend a lot of time visiting friends, and I would 452 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 3: say I definitely met that goal. As I mentioned in 453 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 3: the highlights, there was just lots of friend time, including 454 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 3: far flung friends, so a plus on that one. 455 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: Yay, good job. 456 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 2: I think I was thrown by the January trip to Philadelphia. 457 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 2: I was like, wait a minute, I thought you were 458 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 2: coming in February, so. 459 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 3: I am the January ones very short. So I have 460 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 3: not yet mentioned it because I don't think I'm going 461 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 3: have time. 462 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: To hang out with you. 463 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:34,640 Speaker 2: Sorry, Laura, We'll be here, but I won't be seeing you. 464 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: No. 465 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 3: And actually, when I booked the February trip, which I 466 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 3: am coming to Philadelphia and we'll get to see Laura, yay, 467 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 3: my sister goes, oh, no, that means you won't come 468 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 3: for Miriam's birth and I was like, you know, I 469 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 3: can fly twice because it's like a two and a 470 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 3: half hour flight, and actually the prices were so like 471 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 3: double digit flights we're talking about, so. 472 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, because nobody's going that direction, Well, I thank 473 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:01,719 Speaker 1: you going for ord to two food. I'm not going 474 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: to stay and drive home. 475 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 2: I have too, I know, but still maybe it's a 476 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 2: round trip originating from Florida's the's. 477 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: Where you get the discount on it. Well, I'm here twice. Yeah. 478 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 2: Well, so I set a goal to go to three 479 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 2: pro sports games and I did. 480 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: I doubled that. 481 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 2: In fact, we wad the two football, one basketball, three baseball. 482 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: So that was cool. 483 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 2: I wanted to enjoy our last nine months with Jasper 484 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 2: and launch him. I'd say that's going pretty well. He 485 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 2: will be almost done. I mean when this AIRRS, he'll 486 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 2: be done with his first semester. Of college and it's 487 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 2: gone quite well for him, and we had fun together 488 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 2: in France. That was a really cool time being roommates 489 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 2: when we traveled around France with the choir, and so 490 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 2: I'm really glad we got to do that. And we've 491 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 2: also been talking and texting a lot, and I've gotten 492 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 2: to see him a couple times this fall, so it's 493 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 2: you know, he's not gone. It's a different sort of relationship, 494 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 2: like I'm not managing him in the weekly family schedule, 495 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 2: but we've managed to stay in touch, which has been great. 496 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 2: Henry's starting music because I wanted to have a family 497 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 2: that does music, and Henry has started piano. He is 498 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 2: singing in the church choir, so lots of music for him. 499 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 2: Still working on some of the older kids on a 500 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:21,360 Speaker 2: regular practice schedule. 501 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 1: I'm not sure exactly what. 502 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 2: Sort of bribery will work, but because you've got to 503 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,719 Speaker 2: get over that hump of being good enough that it's fun, 504 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 2: so we're totally figuring that one out. I wanted to 505 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 2: host a holiday party, so this actually is okay. 506 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: I'll back up. 507 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 2: We did host several big parties through the year, which 508 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 2: is usually it's been about offering our home as a 509 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 2: place to have a party that is already going to happen. 510 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 2: So like the choir picnic, we had a recruiting event 511 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 2: for my husband's office. We hosted the whole high school 512 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 2: cross country team for an event like so it's kind 513 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 2: of cool to have the And actually we did the 514 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:04,880 Speaker 2: theater club, the high school theater club too. 515 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: That one was a little bit more crazy. I left 516 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 1: in the middle of that one. 517 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 2: I don't even want to know what transpired in that one, 518 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 2: but it was reasonably like no kids are high on life, Sarah. 519 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,919 Speaker 1: It wasn't substances. It was like just that they are 520 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 1: gung ho kids. 521 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 2: Anyway, So we've like four huge parties at the house. 522 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 2: I said I wanted to have a holiday party, But 523 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 2: the truth is I am going to host my extended 524 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 2: family on Christmas Day and I want to as I'm 525 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 2: thinking about that, I can like turn that into a real, 526 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 2: true like Christmas party. I mean, we think about, like, 527 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 2: I don't know, I read like Ma Martha Stewart Living 528 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 2: Magazine from years ago about her party at the Bedford House, 529 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 2: and think about how we could do that right, like 530 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 2: you do some sort of appetizer and a holiday cocktail 531 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,919 Speaker 2: and have people go through different things. We'll have the 532 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 2: dinner and the presence of course, but you don't really 533 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 2: think it through and have it be a coherent party. 534 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 2: I think I can do that, and especially since I 535 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:03,919 Speaker 2: know the guest list. I mean, it's my extended family, 536 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,400 Speaker 2: so it'll be good sounds it's going to be a win. 537 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, all right, right, Well we're going to take 538 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 3: a break and then get to our next category, which 539 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 3: is personal. 540 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 2: Well, we are back talking our year in review. We 541 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 2: talked about some highlights, some lowlights, and now we're talking 542 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 2: about how we did on our various twenty twenty five goals. So, Sarah, 543 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 2: how about your personal goals? This part's kind of amusing. 544 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 2: So my first personal goal was to strength train because 545 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 2: I was not doing very well with that. I think 546 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 2: I counted something like twenty five total sessions in twenty 547 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:46,920 Speaker 2: twenty four. 548 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: It was disappointed with that. 549 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,399 Speaker 3: And guess what, guys, I did so much strength training 550 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty five because it turns out the secret 551 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 3: ingredient for me strength training is that I'm not allowed 552 00:25:55,880 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 3: to run, so strength training becomes my activity of choice. 553 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 3: And I didn't actually count all my strength training, but 554 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 3: I would not be surprised if it was more than 555 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 3: one hundred and fifty, with my goal being one hundred 556 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 3: because most weeks I'm doing three or four strength training 557 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 3: activities and that doesn't even count going to pilate's because 558 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 3: that's not really the same thing as strength training, but 559 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 3: even just traditional lifting dumbbells using videos. I met this goal, 560 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:24,159 Speaker 3: so yeah, that's great. My second one was a safe 561 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 3: Boston qualifying time, so well, sometimes you have a goal 562 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 3: that you can just completely abandon kind of peacefully and 563 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 3: not have to worry about it again, So that one 564 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 3: was axed off the list. The third one is I 565 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 3: wanted to improve my wardrobe and I had specific items 566 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:42,639 Speaker 3: I wanted to get. I wanted two new pairs of Genes, 567 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 3: which I got and really like, and they have enhanced 568 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 3: my wardrobe significantly since that's generally my uniform on non 569 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 3: scrubs work day. I wanted two presentable tops that are 570 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 3: not T shirts. 571 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: I did not. 572 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 3: I don't think I sh no other T shirts. Yeah 573 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 3: I did not succeed. They're like nicer T shirts, but 574 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 3: they're still T shirts. I wanted a new professional utfort 575 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 3: for speaking that did not happen, and I said, I 576 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 3: genuinely wanted to invest more in clothing than I did 577 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty four, and I would say I did. 578 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:16,960 Speaker 3: I particularly got some really nice casual sandals. They're mefisto, 579 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 3: they have like a gold buckle, and they just make 580 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 3: my everyday jeans uniform look a little bit more elevated 581 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 3: and nice, and still they're extremely comfortable. So I think 582 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 3: I actually would say like B plus on my wardrobe 583 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 3: improvement set of goals. Then I had a reading habit goal. 584 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 3: I don't know, I'm always setting weird reading goals and 585 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,160 Speaker 3: then being like, no, I'm just I'm fine the way 586 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 3: I am, Like why am I messing with it? And 587 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 3: I wanted to read ten minutes a day of nonfiction 588 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 3: and ten minutes of fiction, and honestly, most days I 589 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 3: did do that, but I don't think I did the 590 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 3: fiction every single day. I did probably read nonfiction almost 591 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 3: every single day, but I didn't track it. And I'm 592 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:57,239 Speaker 3: finishing the year at around fifty books. As we're recording this, 593 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 3: it's early December and I'm at forty five, so it's 594 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 3: just my number. And then finally I wanted to continue 595 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 3: to track and curate media because towards the end of 596 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 3: twenty twenty four, I realized I really enjoyed it if 597 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 3: I wrote down the podcast of the TV shows, the 598 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 3: books that I read throughout the day, and I just 599 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 3: incorporated that into my daily planner page. And it turns 600 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 3: out I do love doing this. I do this every 601 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 3: single day. I wrote down yesterday that I read all 602 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 3: of the well I skimmed all of the New York Times, 603 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 3: and it was just fun to write things like that down, 604 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 3: or that I listened to the Mariah Carey Christmas album 605 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 3: or whatever it was. 606 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 1: So yeah, I love media tracking. I'm going to continue that. 607 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: So I'm glad I gave it a try. 608 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 2: Very all right, your personal goals, yeah, I don't know. 609 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 2: Maybe you just should stop setting reading goals. 610 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 3: Yeah I don't have any bandage year, or I want 611 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 3: to abandon more books. 612 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 1: That's my well, no spoilers, but yeah, I agree. Yeah. 613 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 2: Well, for personal I wanted to listen to all the 614 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 2: works of Beethoven. That was my listening project for the year, 615 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 2: and I will have done that. Curiously enough, today's today's 616 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 2: assignment is actually Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, So that was a 617 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 2: pretty big winner of a day. 618 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: On that one. It's been fun. 619 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 2: I've been following the calendar at complete Beethoven dot com. 620 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 2: This has three hundred and sixty six entries because it 621 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 2: was originally done for twenty twenty, which was a leap year. 622 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 2: If anyone's looking for that as a project, it's pretty 623 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 2: well structured, so you could do this as well as 624 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 2: long as you stick with it. I wanted to read 625 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 2: Anna Karnina, which I did. I don't know if I 626 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 2: mentioned that in the goals episode or not, but I 627 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 2: ultimately decided that that was on my list, and I 628 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 2: read it at the pace of one chapter a day, 629 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 2: got through it by September, so that that is done. 630 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: I wanted to eat. 631 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 2: Produce for breakfast, and I have every day except for six. 632 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 2: Those were six days when I was traveling and not 633 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 2: in charge of my breakfast, and not everyone automatically includes 634 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 2: it in produce in breakfast, so there's only so much 635 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 2: one can do about that, unless you're like traveling with 636 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 2: bananas or something. 637 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 3: Instacart blueberries to your friend's house or something your friend 638 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 3: my produce. 639 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 2: So exactly, so I guess it'll wind up being close 640 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 2: to three hundred and fifty five days, maybe by the 641 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 2: end of the year, So I'm happy about that. 642 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 1: I think that was good. 643 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:28,680 Speaker 2: And I wanted to do one more strength session a week. 644 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 2: I mean, I've been working out with my trainer since 645 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three, and so I wanted to make sure 646 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 2: I did an extra session on my own. And I 647 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 2: think I pretty much have done that. It's been ten minutes, 648 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 2: but that's fine. I hit it so great. 649 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: I love it. 650 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 3: Do you report back to your trainer, like, is there 651 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 3: an accountability element? 652 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:46,719 Speaker 1: Nope, No, I just do it. They don't care. 653 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 2: But I put it on my planner, like my weekly 654 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 2: planner page I have. I've started to do a line 655 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 2: that says run one, two, three, and then strength one 656 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 2: two and then I need to end the. 657 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 1: Week with all of those crossed off. 658 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 2: Love it, Yeah, all right, So other categories, Sarah, you 659 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,239 Speaker 2: had a few more than I kind of did, but 660 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 2: I had household. 661 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 3: I had one more, and I wanted to declutter, but 662 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 3: it didn't happen. 663 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 1: I thought some of it did. No, you're right, isolated 664 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 1: areas got decluttered. That is true. 665 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 3: Genevieve's clothes, but it hasn't been completed in any cohesive 666 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 3: way to prevent it from happening again, and I'm not satisfied. 667 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: With my progress. 668 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 3: Ar Nanny did do like a really nice organizing job, 669 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 3: but I just don't think we got rid of enough 670 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 3: stuff for everything to be sustainable. 671 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 2: So well, I'm curious, Yeah, when you're going to decide 672 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 2: that's done right, Like, I don't know that. 673 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: I disagree with Marie Kondo. 674 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:43,520 Speaker 2: There is not a point where it will be forever 675 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:46,680 Speaker 2: done and you will not relapse into disorganization. 676 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: So I'm very curious how this goal. 677 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,280 Speaker 3: I'm literally rereading that book right now and I was 678 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 3: guffing at I was reading it aloud to Josh and 679 00:31:55,600 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 3: he's like, that's so funny. And I love her her 680 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 3: writing and have loved the things that she promises, but 681 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 3: there are certain things that I just I just can't 682 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 3: And I really would love to see Sharshley has a 683 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 3: new book out, but I would love to see an 684 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 3: updated edition of Life Changing Magic from the perspective of 685 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 3: someone now with two or three kids and probably a 686 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 3: much larger home than she had when she wrote that book. 687 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 2: So well, yeah, we'll see. I don't know what the 688 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 2: decluttered house like. How we will know we have achieved 689 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:29,040 Speaker 2: this zen like state of happiness here. 690 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:31,440 Speaker 1: It's a good question. I'll have to think about what 691 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,480 Speaker 1: the end quoder should look like. Yeah, well, because then 692 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 1: I think you could aim for it, right, Like if you. 693 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:39,400 Speaker 2: Could say, like these ten spots in my house will 694 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 2: be decluttered, like that would be a goal you could 695 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 2: actually execute against. 696 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 1: Yes, that's true, Okay, I. 697 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 2: Sort of had a household goal of getting some more miniatures, 698 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:53,360 Speaker 2: which I did. They are on shelves in my office. 699 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 2: I have different vignettes. I now have a primary bedroom, 700 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:00,040 Speaker 2: a kid's bedroom, a kitchen, a living room, a laundry room. 701 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 1: And bathroom, plus accessories for all of those. 702 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 2: I almost don't even have more space, Like I don't 703 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 2: know what other room I would put in at this point, 704 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 2: our garage. 705 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 1: I can do it. 706 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 3: Love this hobby of yours, and I almost feel like, yeah, 707 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 3: every year, I imagine the miniature world is going to grow. 708 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:20,240 Speaker 1: It will it will be Well. 709 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 2: I bought like a little Christmas tree at the miniature show, 710 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 2: so you know that's that's fun. But just a sort 711 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 2: of reminder with this episode that a year is a 712 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 2: lot of time. That eighty seven hundred and sixty hours 713 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 2: is spacious. I mean even you know in retrospect if 714 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 2: it feels like it's gone fairly quickly or whatever. 715 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:44,960 Speaker 1: I mean, you can do a lot in a year, even. 716 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 2: If there's very big highlights, some low lights, and there's 717 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 2: still a lot of downtime and space even with all 718 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 2: these things. 719 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 3: So totally with even all these things we listed, I'm like, 720 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:59,680 Speaker 3: and there was also so much puttering. 721 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:03,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, and to be expected, huttering, scrolling for me, 722 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 2: I mean, headline reading it could, I mean just a 723 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 2: ton of it, even with everything else. 724 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 1: So there you go. All right. 725 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 2: So our question for this week this came out of 726 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 2: one of our Patreon meetups. We were talking the holidays, 727 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 2: and somebody asked, is there a way to steer extended 728 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:26,000 Speaker 2: family away from large gifts for kids or ones with 729 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 2: lots of plastic pieces? You know, like that three thousand 730 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:31,960 Speaker 2: plastic piece set that you know is going to be 731 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:35,439 Speaker 2: turning up in the vacuum cleaner for the next year 732 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:36,080 Speaker 2: at least. 733 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 1: So, Sarah, what did you have for this? 734 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:41,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, these ideas actually are not mine. These are 735 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 3: collected from the wisdom of our wonderful Patreon group. So yeah, 736 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:48,760 Speaker 3: if you want to have your own burning questions answered 737 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:52,719 Speaker 3: by this collective wisdom, then you can join anyway. So 738 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 3: one idea is to have the gifts be free for all, 739 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,040 Speaker 3: but have them live at those people's houses. So sure, 740 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 3: you can buy the Barbie dream House, but it's for 741 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:03,839 Speaker 3: grandma's house and our kid will be delighted to play 742 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:07,359 Speaker 3: with it whenever they're there, which is probably true, and 743 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:10,239 Speaker 3: then keeps the item out of your home. 744 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 1: That's your desire. You could have an open discussion. 745 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 3: People definitely noted that your mileage may vary with this 746 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:20,800 Speaker 3: on how well or not well this goes. And you 747 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 3: could have wish lists on Amazon or another app just 748 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:26,279 Speaker 3: to make things a little bit easier, and perhaps you 749 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:31,239 Speaker 3: include items on there that are not necessarily tangible items 750 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:34,480 Speaker 3: but more like subscriptions or tickets or things like that. 751 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:39,520 Speaker 3: I like the Marie Condo inspired This is Condo Heavy episode. 752 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,160 Speaker 3: The gift's purpose was to make the giver feel good. 753 00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:45,640 Speaker 3: We thank them and then dispose, donate or rehome later. 754 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:49,399 Speaker 3: And then one final idea was to ask for consumables 755 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 3: or books, because neither of these are cluttery and hopefully 756 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:53,080 Speaker 3: they can get used up. 757 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, yeah, those are great ideas. 758 00:35:56,000 --> 00:36:00,600 Speaker 2: I mean, certainly asking for a membership to an area 759 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:04,160 Speaker 2: zoo or children's museum or science center or something, because 760 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:06,279 Speaker 2: that's something you could use over and over again, and 761 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 2: particularly if you say, like, oh, this is thanks to Grandma, 762 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,839 Speaker 2: We're going to the science museum again. Isn't it fun 763 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 2: to go to the science museum thanks to Grandma? Just 764 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:17,920 Speaker 2: keep bringing that point home and then your kids will 765 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 2: probably talk about it with your relatives as well, and 766 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:22,719 Speaker 2: I think that could be a far more meaningful experience. 767 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:25,040 Speaker 2: But yeah, this is tricky because I mean, part of 768 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:27,960 Speaker 2: a thing with a gift is that people choose to 769 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:31,879 Speaker 2: give what they choose to give, and sometimes people want 770 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:34,520 Speaker 2: to do that in their own way, and there's not 771 00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:37,279 Speaker 2: a tremendous amount you can do about it if they 772 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:39,080 Speaker 2: are not asking for your input. 773 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 1: So there you go, love of the Week. All right, Sarah, 774 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 1: what do you have? Yeah? 775 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:46,720 Speaker 3: Well, I'm just excited that I'm going to be digging 776 00:36:46,719 --> 00:36:49,920 Speaker 3: into my twenty twenty six planners very soon. I actually 777 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:52,200 Speaker 3: marked in my calendar that the day we get back 778 00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:54,600 Speaker 3: from Montana and maybe the day after will be my 779 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:57,920 Speaker 3: days of just diving into my planners and getting them 780 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:00,400 Speaker 3: set up for the year. And so well, if you 781 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 3: want to see what those look like it is on 782 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,720 Speaker 3: YouTube on my Best Laid Plans video channel. 783 00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:06,360 Speaker 1: But yeah, just excited about that. 784 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 2: What about you, Well, I love photo memories. I love 785 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 2: that my phone just serves these up. I mean the 786 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:15,400 Speaker 2: photo widget or whatever on the home screen that you 787 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:19,120 Speaker 2: get some photo that's in your photo role from. At 788 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:22,319 Speaker 2: this point, it's like ten years that I've I've had 789 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:26,719 Speaker 2: this same Apple ID through various phones, and so yeah, 790 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:29,880 Speaker 2: it could be a photo of Alex at age eighteen 791 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 2: months and that's kind of crazy. 792 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:34,799 Speaker 1: But you know, it just serves up something random and 793 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:38,719 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, that's so cute. And so I love 794 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:39,920 Speaker 1: seeing how little they were. 795 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:42,720 Speaker 2: I mean even as early recently, as like twenty twenty, 796 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:44,080 Speaker 2: everyone was still fairly little. 797 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:47,840 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's been cool to see that. 798 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:49,800 Speaker 3: Well, I love when you serve me up a memory 799 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,680 Speaker 3: of like us, it's some recording trip four years ago 800 00:37:52,760 --> 00:37:53,080 Speaker 3: or something. 801 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:54,920 Speaker 1: It's very fun. We look less cute. 802 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:58,560 Speaker 2: We were not appreciably cute four years ago than now, 803 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:01,840 Speaker 2: but still you know, slightly, slightly, Well, that's goods. The 804 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:06,839 Speaker 2: long hand of time get to us all. This has 805 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,120 Speaker 2: been best of both worlds. Speaking of the long hand 806 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,320 Speaker 2: of time, we have been reminiscing about twenty twenty five, 807 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:16,319 Speaker 2: celebrating what went right, commiserating about things that did not 808 00:38:16,360 --> 00:38:19,719 Speaker 2: go as we entirely planned, but ultimately happy that we 809 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:22,399 Speaker 2: are still here and still recording and we have had 810 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:26,640 Speaker 2: a great year. Thank you everyone for listening to all 811 00:38:26,719 --> 00:38:30,400 Speaker 2: these episodes in twenty twenty five, because having this community 812 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:32,920 Speaker 2: has definitely been a highlight of the year for me. 813 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:36,240 Speaker 3: Right, Sarah, Yes, we appreciate each of you. It's been 814 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:38,640 Speaker 3: so much fun, and thank you so much for listening 815 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:39,040 Speaker 3: as well. 816 00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:42,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll be back next week with our goals episode 817 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:45,440 Speaker 2: Goals twenty twenty six. But in the meantime, if you 818 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,160 Speaker 2: are celebrating Christmas, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and 819 00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:50,200 Speaker 2: we will be back next week with more on making 820 00:38:50,239 --> 00:38:51,480 Speaker 2: work and life fit together. 821 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:54,400 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. 822 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:57,640 Speaker 3: You can find me Sarah at the shoebox dot com 823 00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:01,760 Speaker 3: or at the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, and you can. 824 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:05,920 Speaker 2: Find me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. This has 825 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:09,239 Speaker 2: been the best of both worlds podcasts. Please join us 826 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:12,640 Speaker 2: next time for more on making work and life work together.