1 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: Hi. I'm Laura Vanderkamp. I'm a mother of five, an author, journalist, 2 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: and speaker. 3 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 2: And I'm Sarah hart Hunger, a mother of three, practicing physician, writer, 4 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 2: and course creator. We are two working parents who love 5 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 2: our careers and our families. 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to best of both worlds. Here we talk about 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: how real women manage work, family, and time for fun, 8 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: from figuring out childcare to mapping out long term career goals. 9 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: We want you to get the most out of life. 10 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: Welcome the best of both worlds. This is Laura. This 11 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: episode is l airing in late November of twenty twenty four. 12 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: This is going to be our all Things Holiday episode, 13 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: something of an annual tradition at this point, just as 14 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: many things are traditions. With the holidays airing right before 15 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving in the United States, So if you are celebrate that, 16 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. Sarah, what is 17 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: the basic scaffolding of your holiday season this year? Yeah? 18 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 2: So, and I'm envisioning everyone listening to this, like while 19 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 2: they're on a long drive or I don't know, preparing 20 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 2: to get on a plane or something. We are doing 21 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 2: Thanksgiving in Philadelphia this year because my parents are celebrating 22 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,680 Speaker 2: their fiftieth anniversary wedding anniversary, And this is kind of 23 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 2: a big deal for us because we do Thanksgiving in 24 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 2: Miami Beach pretty much always. We even used to fly 25 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: down to Miami Beach when we lived in North Carolina. 26 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: It's a really, really big holiday in my husband's family, 27 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 2: and I usually balanced that out by then during winter 28 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 2: break doing something closer to Philadelphia. So this is like 29 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 2: a departure or from routine. But I'm excited about it, 30 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: and we gave them lots of warning, the Miami clan 31 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: that we would not be here, so kind of excited 32 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: for it. 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: What about you guys, Yeah, well, we usually get together 34 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: with my extended family over Thanksgiving. One chunk of that 35 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: family is doing sort of what you are doing. They're 36 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: going elsewhere for Thanksgiving, which means that they won't be available, 37 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: and so I will probably be posting a smaller Thanksgiving 38 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: this year. But I am planning on cooking as this 39 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: is airing, and do the turkey and all that stuff. 40 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: You know, we'd be around for much of December. We're 41 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: going to go away for a few days after Christmas, 42 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: and you guys are going away over the Christmas time too, right. 43 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, and this was kind of like took us a 44 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 2: long time to decide. This was not one of those 45 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 2: trips like I feel like we usually tend to plan 46 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 2: our big vacation trips many months in advance and kind 47 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: of have it slated. But we made a pretty impromptu 48 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 2: decision around October to go back to Big Sky and 49 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 2: ski again. So super super excited about that. The kids 50 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 2: have two weeks off for winter break, and they have 51 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 2: a full week off for Thanksgiving, which I understand is 52 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 2: not the case with you. Correct. 53 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, and even worse, we have a bunch of 54 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: like half days for some of the kids, So it's 55 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: just like the worst, I mean, two half days or whatever. 56 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: Just give people the week. I don't know, but then 57 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: I understand it's harder to get to your required one 58 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty days or all that. But two weeks 59 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: off over Christmas is kind of a long time. We 60 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: had slightly longer than we normally did, and so in 61 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: my mind, originally I thought we were going to go 62 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: somewhere far away for Christmas. But yeah, it didn't seem 63 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: like a great thing. Some of the kids want to 64 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 1: be home for Christmas, I mean and there is nice 65 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: things to being home for Christmas in terms of doing 66 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,279 Speaker 1: the same things that you always do and having those traditions. 67 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: So we're only going away for a couple of days, 68 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: even though we have about a week and a half off. 69 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: But I mean, you're trying to get some work done 70 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: during at least one of those weeks of the holiday break, 71 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: aren't you. Yeah. 72 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: I mean I am blowing through a ton of PTO 73 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: at my clinical job, which I also did last year, 74 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 2: but I did the calculation and I seem to have 75 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: it to spare. So my plan is to really have 76 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: like a family centered week of traveling and then a 77 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: me centered week of getting work done. Thing is, I 78 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 2: am not sure what I'm doing with the kids for 79 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 2: that work centered week because my husband's going to be 80 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: on call, and so I do need to figure that 81 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: out because I need to get writing done. I want 82 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: to do some planning type stuff, and I have the 83 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: idea of maybe like they'll leave me alone for a 84 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 2: few hours per day, But I Laura is like shaking 85 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 2: her head because she's probably right. It's going to be 86 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: really disjointed and rough, and someone's going to be asking 87 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: for something every twenty minutes. 88 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and like, if you need the focus mental space 89 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: to work, I think they need to be elsewhere because otherwise, yeah, 90 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: even if they're playing video games all afternoon, they may 91 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: stop at some point for something, and then you're going 92 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: to feel bad about like yelling at them to get 93 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: out of your closet where you do your work. And 94 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: you also just having the knowing, like sitting down at 95 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: eight o'clock that you have until five o'clock to work 96 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: is often good for getting yourself in the feeling of 97 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,719 Speaker 1: being productive as opposed to like, Okay, I'm trying to 98 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: grab twenty minutes here before anyone needs me and all that. 99 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 2: I never feel like I have eight to five to 100 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: work on anything ever, So I don't even necessarily feel 101 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:10,919 Speaker 2: like I need a full day, but I need like 102 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 2: a solid half day. I need like a three four 103 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 2: hour concentrated stretch. So maybe there'll be some camps that 104 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: I have to look into. 105 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I think that would be wise. I think 106 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: it would be wise. Well, so Sarah did kind of 107 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: the organization of this episode. We switch off on who 108 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: does what with the episodes that are both of us, 109 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: and so maybe you could talk a little bit about 110 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: this approach you wanted to take for the holiday episode 111 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: this year. 112 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: Yes, So I promise Laura this would not be simplify 113 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 2: your holidays. That's not her favorite trope. It's a little 114 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: bit overdone. And sometimes we don't see the point of 115 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 2: simplifying things that bring you joy. I mean, why not 116 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: like expound on the things that bring you joy. However, 117 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 2: I don't know. I'm very into like the idea of 118 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: like not going with preconceived ideas and like assuming everything 119 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 2: is a half do, or like taking a more design 120 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,359 Speaker 2: mindset to your holidays. So my idea was a start 121 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 2: from scratch holiday design, and Laura has some feelings on it, 122 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: so I'll let you talk before I push back. 123 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: Well, no, not so much feelings on it. It's just 124 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: that I think if you have always done something, that 125 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: is a reason to keep doing it, right, Like, you 126 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: don't have to not do something because you're like, well 127 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: it seems a little silly or funny or whatever. I mean, 128 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 1: we do the same things over and over again and 129 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: a lot of aspects of life, and it's partly just 130 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: because we've done them a great many times. So tradition 131 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: has its own weight. So obviously you don't want to 132 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: do anything mindlessly or if no one enjoys it or 133 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: gets any meaning from it, then what is the point. 134 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 1: But now I think you don't want to assign, like 135 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: I wouldn't put zero based accounting on the holidays. Let 136 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 1: me put it that. 137 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: Way that makes sense. I mean you could start with 138 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 2: a zero based budget, I guess sort of, but give 139 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: extra points extra weight to things that are traditional for 140 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 2: your family. But I mean I also do feel like 141 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:07,799 Speaker 2: sometimes it does raise the question because maybe you always 142 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 2: have Aunt Jane's like cranberry sauce, but like every year 143 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: nobody likes it, Like you could just stop having it 144 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 2: one year and nothing will happen, Like it's okay. Most 145 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: of these things we're going to talk about are kind 146 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 2: of optional fun activities, and if you're at a point 147 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: in your household when no one's having fun, then it 148 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: may make sense to revisit. I mean, I know that 149 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: can be like bittersweet in a way, And I also 150 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: think it's important to like have the opposite, which is 151 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 2: that don't just assume that something won't be fun just 152 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: because your kids have reached a certain age. Like you 153 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 2: could be like, ah, yeah, that's for like little kids. 154 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 2: But if you talk to your kids and you start 155 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 2: from zero and you bring that to the table. They're like, no, 156 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 2: I love that, that's important, so please like, do it 157 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: continue that tradition. 158 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's why we were going to have breakfast with 159 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: Santa this year. Ah see, I love that, And it 160 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: wasn't the four year old asking for it. So with 161 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: that in mind, if somebody really wants to make something 162 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: happen that we've done a lot in the past, it 163 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: is worth doing. 164 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent, And I think you're right, but 165 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: there should be some like points assigned just for the 166 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 2: tradition's sake, just not one hundred points in automatic jumping 167 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: it on to your agenda, because at some point you're 168 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 2: going to want to add things and something's going to 169 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 2: have to go at some point. We have finite amounts 170 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 2: of time, all right, So with that, we're going to 171 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: go buy category and talk about what we're choosing to do. 172 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 2: If we were we are, we're going to be like, okay, 173 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 2: blanks late, what are we choosing, what are we opting in? 174 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 2: What are we opting out? In various categories? And I 175 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 2: just think these episodes are fun because I'm sure everyone 176 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: many of the listeners are just thinking about a lot 177 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: of the same things. Even though Laura celebrates Christmas and 178 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 2: I don't, we still have lots of seasonal traditions in common. 179 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 2: Just kind of growing up in a common culture, I guess. 180 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 2: And yeah, so this will be fun to see where 181 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 2: things differ and where things don't. All. Right, So first 182 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 2: category hosting, Well. 183 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: We're hosting Thanksgiving, right, even if it'll be small, So 184 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: we'll do the traditional cooking, which, again, I don't know 185 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: that everyone likes turkey, but I think not cooking a 186 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: turkey on Thanksgiving would be quite a statement, like, oh, 187 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: we're just ordering Chinese food. I'm not sure that that 188 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: would go over all that well. Right, So there's one 189 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: where even if it is just tradition, there's sort of 190 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: a reason to keep doing that. I don't currently have 191 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: any plans for a holiday party, but you had one 192 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: of like having it maybe into January. 193 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 2: Well, we're getting to that later. About parties, I met 194 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 2: more like having people like stay at your house and 195 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 2: hosting being so you're hosting the Thanksgiving dinner and is 196 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 2: anybody coming to stay at your household? 197 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: I don't know. I mean, we live pretty close to 198 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: a lot of our relatives on my side at least, 199 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: and then we're not having a big get together with 200 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 1: my husband's family over the holidays, so I don't think 201 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: that they would be coming either. So yeah, I think 202 00:09:58,160 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: it's pretty much just going to be us. 203 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 2: Okay, we're going to take a quick break, and then 204 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: we're going to get to the next category, which is 205 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 2: cooking fancy meals. All right, we are back, And by 206 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 2: the way, I didn't answer my own question about hosting, 207 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 2: and I will say I don't think there's going to 208 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: be any of like the obvious hosting happening, which is great. 209 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 2: It means I don't have to worry about guest bedrooms 210 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,559 Speaker 2: or menus or anything like that. We'll talk about how 211 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 2: I'm still excited to participate in these events, but not 212 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:38,319 Speaker 2: really planning on any hosting this season. So that's for us, 213 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 2: all right. So cooking fancy meals, we kind of got 214 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: to that. With hosting, it sounds like you are kind 215 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: of on for Thanksgiving? Am I getting that right? Yep? 216 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: Getting I'm going to be doing it, although because my 217 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:54,359 Speaker 1: brother's wife will not be there, like they're traveling elsewhere 218 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: for Thanksgiving. She always makes really good roles that are 219 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: kind of a highlight of Thanksgiving. There was one memorable 220 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving where Alex had a one of those kid plates 221 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 1: that has like four quadrants in it, and he literally 222 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: just took four roles and put one in each quadrant. 223 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: That was what he wanted for Thanksgiving dinner. Just that 224 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: no turkey, so she won't be there. So I guess 225 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: I need to try to come up with some approximation 226 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: thereof either this role recipe or do something else that 227 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: people are really going to like, because I think that 228 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: people will miss so, you know, wish me luck on 229 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: that one. 230 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: That sounds like a fun project. I'm going to ask, 231 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 2: even though this is really exiting the scope of our show, 232 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,959 Speaker 2: are they those like twirly like roles that are like like. 233 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: Noah, they are yeast rolls that are like butter flavored, 234 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 1: but they're with the like shortening. It's pretty old school 235 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 1: Southern recipe kind of thing. 236 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 2: Love it, Love it. We always had these like crescent 237 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 2: roles that like kind of rolled up and like, I 238 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 2: think I might have eaten a plate with four of 239 00:11:58,200 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 2: them on it. In addition to. 240 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 1: Other things, Thanksgiving not the time to give up carbs. 241 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 2: No, all right, we will exit from roles. But now 242 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 2: I'm getting excited, so we're not again. I'm not like cooking, 243 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 2: but I'm planning to kind of lean into helping other 244 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 2: people cook in various circumstances. So my mom is cooking, 245 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 2: but I don't have like stuff that I'm going to 246 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:19,599 Speaker 2: be doing otherwise, So I'm just going to be like, 247 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 2: I will be your sush chef, and whatever you need 248 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 2: help with, I will chop, I will whatever. So I'm 249 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 2: looking forward to that kind of like a active role 250 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 2: but not a take charge role. That sounds kind of 251 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 2: appealing to me. And I will have to make every season, 252 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 2: I have to make some key lime pie. So even 253 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 2: though I won't be here for Thanksgiving, I know I 254 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 2: have to bring key lime pie to Miami Beach at 255 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 2: some time around Thanksgiving or people will be very very disappointed. 256 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 2: So I will do that. 257 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: Sounds good. How about holiday cards? Are you doing that 258 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: this year? Yeah? 259 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 2: So sending cards? Definitely doing that. Even if I had 260 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 2: never done it before, I'd be excited to do it. 261 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 2: And we do New Year's cards because then I don't 262 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 2: have as deadline driven and also because then I can 263 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 2: collect everyone's address when they send it to me and 264 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 2: then use it to make my address list, which helps. 265 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 2: I finally made a Google sheet for the holidays this 266 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 2: year after many years of like using paper and kind 267 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 2: of haphazard systems, so I am so, so so excited 268 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: to put that into action again this year. 269 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: What about you, Yeah, well, this always nudges us to 270 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: get family photos taken in fall at some point, which 271 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: we did in late September, and you know, I sort 272 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: of guilt trip my kids into doing it because you said, 273 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: this is going to be one of the last years 274 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: that everyone will just sort of automatically be here, which 275 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: so getting them all together might be a little bit 276 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: more complicated other years. I don't know what our holiday 277 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: card will look like, but still have all five of 278 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: them on it the share. So yeah, I enjoyed doing it, 279 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: getting them printed up, sending them to people, and just 280 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: a real quick tip, even if you're not sending cards, 281 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: it's nice to acknowledge if people do send you a card, 282 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: like you can just sort of text the person and say, hey, 283 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 1: cute card, Glad to hear everything's going well with you, 284 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: or you know, you could share a quick update of 285 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: your life too, but it's a sort of easy way 286 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: to keep that connection, even if you're not doing the 287 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: whole postal game yourself. 288 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 2: I love that. That's really nice the idea to send 289 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 2: a text. Are you exempt from sending the text if 290 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 2: you send your own cards? Because I admit I have 291 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 2: never done the text thing. 292 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: They're letting your own cards. That's the appropriate reciprocal response. 293 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 2: Okay, perfect? And by the way, do your cards have 294 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 2: like any I can't remember because I've gotten your cards 295 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 2: before and you've gotten mine. I like to put like 296 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 2: a very short summary of like stuff that went on, 297 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 2: and I take a lot of joy in that. And 298 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: I know some people don't do that, but I love 299 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 2: it when people do that. 300 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, we used to do the letter, like 301 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: the whole letter, but it became a bit more like 302 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: family resume, like let me, you know, tell what everyone's 303 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: doing in their lives. So now we tend not to 304 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: do that. I just write a quick note saying hello 305 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: on the back. But I do sign them all and 306 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: put a quick note because and I leave space for 307 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: it when I've created the card. It's fun to get 308 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: personal notes. I mean, you know, if you're gon go 309 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: to the effort of mailing the car. And I know 310 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: some people have a whole automated system of it. But 311 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: if you're gonna go to the effort of mailing it, 312 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: it only takes a little bit more time to like 313 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: say hello and sign your name, and so just throw 314 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: that out there that you may as well take the 315 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: extra seconds and make it a little bit more personalized. 316 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 2: I like that because then the recipient knows it at 317 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: least for a moment, like you were thinking about them. 318 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 2: That's nice. 319 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, which is good? 320 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 2: All right? Gifts, Yes, I mean this isn't really an 321 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 2: opt out. It'd be interesting if it was. I guess 322 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 2: maybe some people do share your opt out of gifts stories. 323 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 2: But we definitely are opting into doing gifts this year. However, 324 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 2: once again, I think Josh is going to take the 325 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 2: lead on the kid gifts. We do do eight gifts 326 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 2: for the eight nights of Hanakah. They expect stuff, it's 327 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 2: just a thing. However, some of these gifts are very minimal, 328 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 2: so it's not it's not eight iPhones or something like that. 329 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 2: And then we are pretty limited with the rest of 330 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 2: our gifts with giftless and I don't see that changing. 331 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 2: We do our nieces, our nephews, and I will ask 332 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 2: for specific submissions to just make that process a little 333 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 2: bit easier as to what they want. I do send 334 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 2: gifts to my college friends because that's kind of is 335 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 2: a year's long tradition that I don't think for planning 336 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 2: on letting go at this point. And then, of course 337 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 2: gifts for all kinds of staff at work, our nanny, 338 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 2: are cleaner, et cetera. And I keep it very simple. 339 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 2: For all of those people, I give cash, and then 340 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 2: for teachers, I either give cash or Target gift cards, 341 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 2: which I tend to just buy, like all at once, 342 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 2: a whole bunch of them. And as I was creating 343 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 2: this easy plan, I was like, you know, when I 344 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 2: go to Target to get the gift cards, I should 345 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 2: get a nice box of cards to put these into, 346 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 2: because it tends to be a weird pain point that 347 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 2: I have every year, which is like I have the 348 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 2: cash and I don't have anything like nice to put 349 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 2: it in, so I need to get like a just 350 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 2: generic but cute Happy Holidays box of like, hey, I 351 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 2: should just get fifty cards. I don't think people will 352 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 2: care if they get the same one two years in 353 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 2: a row, as long as there's a nice gift in there. 354 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: And you need a fiftyth wedding anniversary gift for your 355 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: parents too? 356 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: There, right, Yes, So my plan for that, and I mean, honestly, 357 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 2: as I was doing this episode, I'm like, I need 358 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 2: to put this on my planner is I want to 359 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 2: hire a photographer to come take a picture of our 360 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 2: family when we're all there for Thanksgiving, my sister, my niece, 361 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 2: my parents, et cetera. And then I'm going to have 362 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 2: that printed in some form. I think that is probably 363 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 2: there's no material gift that would make them really all 364 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 2: that happy, but this would be, I think, really great. 365 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, the idea of hiring a photographer and 366 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: putting together an album is actually a really good gift 367 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:37,479 Speaker 1: idea for any sort of like older relative or people 368 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 1: who have a lot of stuff. But it's a way 369 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: of preserving memories because it is a pain to hire 370 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: a photographer and to organize it and to get everyone 371 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:47,719 Speaker 1: to gather to do it. So if you're having some 372 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: sort of family gathering, I did this for so my 373 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: sister in law. I hired a photographer when we gathered 374 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: for my parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary a few years ago, 375 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: and we love having those photos and so then I 376 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: hired a photographer when we got together with my husband's 377 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: family for my mother in law's eighty fifth birthday. And 378 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: I can tell you it is a pain. It it's 379 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: a pain, like nobody wants to do it. Like if 380 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: you're get together with twenty people, PEO don't want to 381 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: stop and pose for like fifty photos in different combinations. 382 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: It's kind of a party buzzkill. Even more so if 383 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: you make them wear the same thing, which I did. 384 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: So if a big group, like everyone wearing jeans on 385 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: the bottom and white on the top. Some people have 386 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: done like khakis on the bottom, light blue on the top, 387 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: So you're gonna be dealing with some whining. I'm just 388 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: gonna throw that out there, but you will be happy 389 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: to have them afterwards, Like everyone's gonna be happy to 390 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: have these photos. And if you create an album or 391 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: do some bigger prints as gifts for people, that can 392 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: take you for a while. So I will throw that 393 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: out there as an idea. Other things like that, Yeah, 394 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: like collecting family recipes would be a great way. There's 395 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: some pretty easy like self publishing technology. You could print 396 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: ten copies of the book to distribute to your entire family, 397 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: So thinking of stuff like that might go a long 398 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: way for people who are not going to be the 399 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: sort you shop regular stuff for my kids. On the 400 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: other hand, I can shop regular stuff, or you're gonna 401 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: try and get this all done by Black Friday. 402 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: I want to order it online. I don't want to 403 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: have to like go anywhere. Josh likes to go places, 404 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 2: so he may want to go places, but I feel 405 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 2: like we're both going to be in Philadelphia. And by 406 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: the way, as people are listening to this, they're like, 407 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 2: she's hiring a photographer and it's in like two days, 408 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 2: so like we are recording this a few weeks. 409 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: Out of time. 410 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 2: Yes, we're not totally delusional, but I mean, to me, 411 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 2: that's like we're so preoccupied with other stuff, work, the kids, 412 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 2: activities the rest of time, whereas we're going to be 413 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 2: like a captive audience in Philadelphia for the week of 414 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:48,360 Speaker 2: Thanksgiving and there's going to be all these sales and stuff. 415 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,919 Speaker 2: So I don't want to stand in line at like 416 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 2: some Big Bucks retailer at six am or something like that. 417 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 2: But I assume a lot of these deals to be 418 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 2: you as. 419 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: That kind of person, Sarah. I know you were fighting 420 00:19:58,600 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: for that television. 421 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 2: Yes, I want the like that doll that like spoke 422 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 2: or something like that tickle me Elmo. Thankfully, I think 423 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 2: we've aged out of that, so yeah, no, there used 424 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 2: to be like a separate cyber Monday, but since now 425 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 2: people generally just shop online as a normal thing, many 426 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:17,920 Speaker 2: of them, I'm assuming there'll be plenty of actual Black 427 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 2: Friday deals that I could purchase with my fingers. So 428 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 2: I just think that would be a really nice way 429 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 2: of like knocking a lot of that out and then 430 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 2: entering the month of December worrying about other things because 431 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 2: I also have a kid with a birthday, a husband 432 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 2: with a fiftieth birthday, and like just like a million other. 433 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: Concerts, et cetera. Yeah, yeah, totally. So I actually do 434 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: like going to the stores around Christmas. I mean partly 435 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: because you know, we buy so much stuff online and 436 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: it's very easy, but you get ideas by kind of 437 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,239 Speaker 1: looking at a section, and obviously an online algorithm can 438 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: suggest stuff too, But I feel like every time I 439 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: go to one of the bigger targets around here, or 440 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,959 Speaker 1: you know, the Walmarts or whatever, I come up with 441 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: toy ideas that I wouldn't have thought of, and often 442 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: it's the older kids even who there might be fun 443 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: games or things like that that I again I wouldn't 444 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: know to think about, but there are things that are 445 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: targeted for say twelve year olds or ten year olds 446 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: or whatever, and a smart store will have a display 447 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: along those lines, and so that can give you great ideas. 448 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 1: So yeah, I will be in the stores. I am 449 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: sure there will be a lot of shopping. Will always 450 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:32,880 Speaker 1: be more shopping than there should be. But the good 451 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: news is in my family, the kids that it's sort 452 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: of easy to overbuy toys for, like the younger too, 453 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: the nine year old and the four year old. We'll 454 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: have birthdays right after Christmas, so it's fine. So if 455 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: I overbuy, I can just shove the extra stuff into 456 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: a corner, put it under wraps, bring it back out 457 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 1: further birthdays. One thing I do, and I will do 458 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: this again. You know we're not going to zero some 459 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: accounting here. I make a list to keep track of 460 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: who's getting what and make sure it is even. Because 461 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,360 Speaker 1: everyone needs to unwrap about the same number of stuff. 462 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 1: Everyone needs to have at least one thing under there 463 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 1: that they are very excited about. So sometimes I've even 464 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: bought like a bigger, cheap thing for somebody because all 465 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 1: their presence were small and they needed something big to 466 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: make it look like a bigger pile of presents. And 467 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: that's just one of those things you do as a 468 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:26,719 Speaker 1: parent of five children. 469 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 2: And you know, I think this might be our first 470 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 2: Google sheet hanikah, Like. 471 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: I see a spreadsheet Google sheet, honey in my mind. 472 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 2: That needs to happen, and that would help with the 473 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 2: like evenness, you could like highlight the one big gift 474 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:40,360 Speaker 2: and then you know, make sure. But when you say 475 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 2: equal like, it's not like you're tallying exact now. 476 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: And I mean, I don't do money. Like what I 477 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: want is everyone to get stuff that they are happy about. 478 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,879 Speaker 1: And the nature of this is that older children get 479 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: more expensive stuff than younger children. So you know, like 480 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: an iPhone versus you could get a lot of toys. 481 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 1: I mean, you could go like in a whole spree 482 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 1: through Walmart for toys for the cost of an iPhone. 483 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 1: But that's just the nature of it. So I'm not 484 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: going for that. I'm going for equal happiness. Love it 485 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 1: all right, Let's take one more quick ad break and 486 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: then we'll be back with more on figuring out the holidays. 487 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,399 Speaker 2: All right, we are back. I will have to report 488 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 2: back to let you know if my efficient gift strategy 489 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 2: ends up coming to fruition, but I'm kind of excited 490 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,679 Speaker 2: about it. We're going to move on to parties and 491 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 2: specifically throwing parties. So do you have a holiday party planned, Laura, Nope, 492 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 2: it sounds fun. 493 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: I'd like to do it sometime, but I think I 494 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: would probably do it as kind of an open house 495 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: sort of thing, like just for a couple of hours. 496 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: People drop by and make it very much adult and 497 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: kid so invite like people and kids classrooms and their 498 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: parents or the kids. 499 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 2: You know. 500 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 1: I know some of my kids friends, but don't know 501 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: their parents all that well for the older ones because 502 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:13,159 Speaker 1: they kind of get together independently at some point without 503 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 1: parental involvement. So yeah, I mean, I think it'd be fun, 504 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: but I'm not necessarily taking that on this year. Maybe 505 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: in the future. 506 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I kind of feel pold to do 507 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: some kind of neighborhood something. I don't know exactly what 508 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,359 Speaker 2: it would look like, but I feel like I've gotten 509 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 2: to know enough like locals that it'd be fun to do. Yeah, 510 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 2: Like similarly like an open house. But I think I'm 511 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 2: just thinking about like the actual calendar and the realistic 512 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 2: nature of probably not getting it in December, so I'm 513 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 2: thinking it would be more like New Year. It's January. 514 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 2: I mean, for us, it's not the doldrooms. No one's cold, 515 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,439 Speaker 2: no one's sad, everyone's like woo who. It's lovely. But 516 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 2: I still think kind of like post vacation inks, et cetera, 517 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 2: just a little happy hour to like lighten the mood 518 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 2: might be fun. 519 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:01,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, So my church choir has a twelfth Night party, 520 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: which is really great for timing because people tend not 521 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,400 Speaker 1: to be busy the first weekend of January, where they 522 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: definitely are in the December weekends before Christmas, and then 523 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,440 Speaker 1: it just like pushes forward the holiday cheer a little 524 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: bit further. I will point out that the twelve days 525 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: of Christmas are in fact after Christmas. Many people don't 526 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: know that, but it starts on the twenty fifth goes 527 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,439 Speaker 1: to the sixth, and so you may think about how 528 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,880 Speaker 1: you could celebrate that that. There might be various festive 529 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:38,199 Speaker 1: opportunities to stretch out the season a little bit more. So, 530 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 1: maybe we can combine some of these last categories, I'm like, 531 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: oh my god, we still. 532 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:43,880 Speaker 2: Have a lot of categories to get through, and we're 533 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 2: really into the holiday spirit. 534 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 1: We are really into the holidays. 535 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 2: I'm going to consolidate the attend party, but I want 536 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 2: to know if you're going to like design your clothing 537 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 2: aesthetic for any holiday parties, have you thought about how 538 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 2: that might go. 539 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: I think I've mentioned this on this podcast before that 540 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: I realized over the years that there was this issue 541 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 1: that my festive dresses were like little straps or whatever. 542 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: And it's cold in December, so I don't really actually 543 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: want to wear these dresses in December. I'm as wearing 544 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: some sort of wrap around it, like I'm practically wearing 545 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 1: my windoor coat into the event because I'm like too 546 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: cold and I can't be bothered to be uncomfortable if 547 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: I'm like at something. So eventually, last year just went 548 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 1: on Amazon as one does, and specifically looked for long 549 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: sleeve dresses and so got something that's more of a 550 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: velvety type thing. It's like a Mermaid cut. I really 551 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 1: like it. In fact, I liked it so much I 552 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 1: bought it in Green. Last year, I decided just to 553 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,439 Speaker 1: buy it in blue this year. So that is what 554 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: I will be wearing to various holiday parties this year. 555 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 1: It is not the same dress. I could wear the 556 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: same dress. I don't think anyone would care or notice, 557 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: but just for my own sense of dignity, it is 558 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,640 Speaker 1: not the same dress, but it is very very similar. 559 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,199 Speaker 2: I love it a very decide once kind of approach. 560 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 2: I also have like one gold dress that I'm like 561 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:07,360 Speaker 2: that works for any holiday. And I got a sparkly 562 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,919 Speaker 2: shirt for the Taylor Swift concert and I got in 563 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 2: the Target kids section. But it looks like way better 564 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 2: than that, and I think that's going to be like 565 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 2: for casual holiday stuff. That plus jeans, I feel like 566 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 2: I can rocket anything sparkly. 567 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: Right, Absolutely, anything sparkly can work as a holiday thing. 568 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:28,120 Speaker 1: Speaking of which, decor, if one is deciding from scratch, 569 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 1: what sort of decor to do, Sarah, are you doing 570 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: any sort of decor? No? No, okay, so we are. 571 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:36,879 Speaker 1: I have had it kind of on my list of 572 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: one hundred dreams to have the house professionally decorated for Christmas. 573 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 1: We have sort of started moving in that direction that 574 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:47,919 Speaker 1: we got the fancy tree last year, but it's an 575 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: artificial trees. We own it now, so it's very easy 576 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: to just like put it back up and have those. 577 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 1: We have a couple other you know, nice decorations that 578 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:58,679 Speaker 1: are our house manager is going to put up. And 579 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: she also got a group of people. It's a company 580 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 1: that does window washing in the summer and in the 581 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: winter they do holiday decorations. So they are going to 582 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 1: do a bunch of trees in our yard, you know, 583 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: with lights, because they have the ladders and all the 584 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 1: lights and all that stuff. And so I'm excited to 585 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:17,160 Speaker 1: see how this is going to look a figure. I'll 586 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 1: just try it something a little bit more festive this year. 587 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 1: Don't ever have to do it again if we don't 588 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:22,639 Speaker 1: like it, or if it seems like a waste, but 589 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 1: you know, may as well give it a whirl. 590 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:27,120 Speaker 2: And do they have takedown services as well? 591 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 1: They do. You would absolutely not do this so that well, 592 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:31,919 Speaker 1: you're borrowing the lights from them, like you don't own 593 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: the lights, right like they own the lights, and so 594 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 1: they put them up and then they come take them down. 595 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 2: That's excellent. I love it. I can't wait to see it. 596 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll hopefully it'll be up when you're here. 597 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 2: Oh really By Thanksgiving. That's exciting. 598 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,840 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, oh well they were almost booking a weekend 599 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:47,560 Speaker 1: in October to do it. I was like, Okay, I 600 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: feel a little bad about doing that. Maybe we push 601 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: it into November. So but I mean, you know, you 602 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: pay the same amount if it's up for like two 603 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: weeks versus two months, so you may as well. May 604 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: as well have the full on festivities for two months. 605 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 2: Love it all right? 606 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 1: Holiday going to yoh, go ahead. 607 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 2: I was gonna say, Holiday Media, we can combine our 608 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 2: performance category with our movies and music category. 609 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: Well, so we were exchanging notes back and forth here, 610 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 1: and you know, we often go to the Nutcracker and 611 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: stuff like that, and Sarah does too. But she made 612 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: an interesting point that one could decide to not go 613 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: one year and then go the next year, and if 614 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 1: you go to something every two years, it feels a 615 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 1: little bit more fresh and new and not like you 616 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: just went, but it's still part of the tradition. So 617 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 1: I think that's a great idea in general, Like if 618 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: there's something you enjoy but it seems like it's kind 619 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 1: of a big deal, like it's a you know, pricey 620 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 1: tickets or something like that, deciding to do it every 621 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:47,960 Speaker 1: other year means it's still a holiday tradition, but it's 622 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 1: not quite as frequent. I think that's a nice thought 623 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: and jump. 624 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I just want there to be like a little 625 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 2: bit more novelty, Like I feel like we went not 626 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 2: that long ago, even though I guess it was a 627 00:29:57,680 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 2: full year. So yeah, that might be our policy every 628 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 2: for two years, maybe every two to three years we 629 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 2: go to the Miami City Bell. 630 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: Well. I mean I've seen like, yeah, the Nutcracker like 631 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: ten times in a little and maybe maybe it's time 632 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 1: to take a slight break from that. But we are 633 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: going to go see the Rackats. We have not gotten 634 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: our tickets yet. We will. Well, we went for the 635 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 1: first time last year with a group, enjoyed it quite 636 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 1: a bit, and so I'm just going to take some 637 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: day in December to go to New York and see 638 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:28,440 Speaker 1: the Racket, see the Rockefeller Plaza, Christmas Tree, go out 639 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 1: to dinner with the family, and just kind of make 640 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:33,960 Speaker 1: a day of it. It's actually a really good show. 641 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 1: I never went when I lived in New York because 642 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: I had this idea. It was like, oh, it's so cheesy, 643 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: like all the tourists are lined up around the block 644 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:45,040 Speaker 1: to go into it, and so you know, we needed 645 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 1: something to do with the group last year, so we 646 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 1: did it. And it's actually a really good show. 647 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 2: There's a reason everyone's lining up around the block. 648 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 1: Everyone's there. It's so fun. So that's super cool. I 649 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 1: would totally do that. That's great. You're doing more of 650 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 1: the movie thing, right, Like you guys have your favorite have. 651 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 2: To I don't know if your kids, like my kids 652 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 2: love I mean, they have to watch Elf. They have 653 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 2: to watch Home Alone. I mean they don't have to, 654 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 2: they will want to. I have to watch Charlie Brown Christmas, 655 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 2: and then I drag whoever many kids I can get, 656 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 2: and then there are like some newer fun ones that 657 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 2: like we watched eight Fit Christmas, I think last year 658 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 2: that was. 659 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 1: Really really good. 660 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 2: And then I love, love, love holiday music. So my 661 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 2: policy is I don't want to like start it too 662 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 2: early because I want it to feel really special. So 663 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 2: December first, like dismplaylists are. 664 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: On December one. Yeah, December one is also the earliest 665 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 1: that the Elf can appear in our house, which is 666 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 1: a tradition that I am only doing because it is 667 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,680 Speaker 1: a tradition. The Elf would perhaps not be welcome in 668 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: our head. 669 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 2: I love it. You're doing it because they love it, 670 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:44,920 Speaker 2: not because it's just a tradition. You're doing it because 671 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 2: they would be sad if that elf was not there, 672 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 2: you know. 673 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 1: I yes, maybe more people can be involved in the 674 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 1: elf wonder this year. Maybe the elf can have little 675 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:03,160 Speaker 1: helpers who are interesting. So, oh well, let's see cooking 676 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 1: we've already talked about, like holiday meals and stuff. Do 677 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 1: you do any baking though, I mean, do you have 678 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 1: baking sessions? Gingerbread cookies? 679 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 2: I love the idea of it, but we generally don't. 680 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: My mom used to. 681 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:19,040 Speaker 2: Make these really good shortbread cookies with iconic designs. They 682 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 2: were super good, and I loved that. A couple of 683 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 2: people in my office at work tend to make cookies 684 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 2: and bring them in because I enjoy eating them. But 685 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 2: I'm not putting this on my list. I just don't 686 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:31,520 Speaker 2: want to like another thing. We might do some like 687 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 2: prefab gingerbread house creation with a kit or something, because 688 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 2: the kids it's like a fun well maybe your kids 689 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 2: cheating out of my house. I mean, we like gingerbread 690 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 2: kit type. I think we did that last year. I 691 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:44,360 Speaker 2: think we did, But we could do it again, they 692 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:45,520 Speaker 2: would be over the moon. 693 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,960 Speaker 1: So yeah, so okay, I'll just buy enough kits for everyone. 694 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: I'll put that on the list. But I put baking 695 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 1: on my holiday fund list mostly because my daughter loves 696 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 1: baking and she'll do a lot of baking on her own, 697 00:32:58,520 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 1: which she is allowed to do as long as she 698 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 1: remembers to turn off the oven, which it's good to 699 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: have somebody in the house at least at some point 700 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:08,200 Speaker 1: within the hour she is doing it, just to confirm 701 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: it's off. But she can do most of it. I 702 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 1: think she can take the lead on it, and I 703 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,200 Speaker 1: will just make sure that all the ingredients are available 704 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: for her to do that, and then I can be 705 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: more of the sous chef for that experience and have 706 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 1: a real holiday baking extravaganza. But the upside is that's 707 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: something that you can put in a lot of different places. 708 00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 1: You can kind of look at a weekend that has say, 709 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 1: two parties and a trip to a light display and 710 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 1: like a rehearsal for a performance, like you can't put 711 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 1: something else big in there, but you could put a 712 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:47,440 Speaker 1: two hour baking event that would fit. So I think 713 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 1: as you're making your holiday fundlist, it's good to have 714 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 1: a range of activities. There's some stuff that is specific 715 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 1: to a time, some stuff that there are lots of options, 716 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 1: like the roquettes, but you do have to commit and 717 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:00,520 Speaker 1: then other things that you're in one make a time 718 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: for it, but it could go in lots of different cookies, movies, 719 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: cookies and movies. Yeah, yeah, yeah, those are or if 720 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:09,359 Speaker 1: you have any sort of craft you're doing. I don't 721 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:12,399 Speaker 1: think we put that on here for us, but it's 722 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,279 Speaker 1: something we could do. And then you always want to 723 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 1: plan for the next year too. I mean that's a 724 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 1: big part of the holiday fund for you. 725 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 2: I love doing that. I like doing it the second 726 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:25,560 Speaker 2: week of when my kids are off and I'm off 727 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 2: and like January is just on the horizon. I don't 728 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 2: like wait to fill in my planner. In fact, this year, 729 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:32,279 Speaker 2: I think I mentioned it on a prior episode, but 730 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 2: I just was like diving in in October, like I 731 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:37,240 Speaker 2: have stuff to schedule in January and I'm not magically 732 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:40,160 Speaker 2: like I need to use this thing now. But at 733 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:41,960 Speaker 2: the same time, that's when I do my like more 734 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 2: formal scheming of like all kinds of goals and things 735 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:47,280 Speaker 2: like that. Now I am going to put a plug 736 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 2: for two different things. Number One, I run personally a 737 00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:53,920 Speaker 2: Best Laid Plans at Home kind of annual planning course 738 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:57,120 Speaker 2: that's four hours. It's actually based on what we do 739 00:34:57,239 --> 00:34:59,239 Speaker 2: at Best Laid Plans Live. And then people wanted like 740 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:01,839 Speaker 2: a virtual version. So if you're like I want a 741 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:03,960 Speaker 2: lot of structure around my planning and I want to 742 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 2: sit there for four hours with you with the workbook 743 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 2: and like do it with you, that is still available 744 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 2: and for a lower key version of that that's still 745 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 2: really really fun. We have our Patreon which every December, 746 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 2: and we haven't set the date yet for this, but 747 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 2: it'll probably be. 748 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 1: Setting after November twenty six when this is airing. So 749 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 1: the good news is it hasn't happened yet. 750 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:28,520 Speaker 2: Yes, you still have a chance. It'll be an hour 751 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:32,359 Speaker 2: usually around twelve Eastern time, where it'll be like a 752 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:35,440 Speaker 2: mini version of that like planning, and you'll get to 753 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:38,840 Speaker 2: dive into your the beginning of your annual planning, including 754 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:40,839 Speaker 2: maybe figuring out when you're going to do the rest 755 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:42,840 Speaker 2: of it in more detail. But we do visioning and 756 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:44,400 Speaker 2: we start with goal setting and all that kind of 757 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,520 Speaker 2: fun stuff. So if you want the long, long long version, 758 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:50,319 Speaker 2: the four hour version that's bestly plans at home, and 759 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:52,960 Speaker 2: then if you want the little mini planning that will 760 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:56,839 Speaker 2: still really get you started, join us in Patreon. It's 761 00:35:56,880 --> 00:35:57,480 Speaker 2: a lot of fun. 762 00:35:58,160 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I like to have this mostly set when we 763 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:01,799 Speaker 1: do our goals episode for the next year, which we 764 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 1: always record seemingly early, and so I'm like, I gotta 765 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 1: get this locked down by then, so you know, but 766 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 1: a lot of fun things going on with the holidays, 767 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:13,759 Speaker 1: lots of traditions or new traditions you can start. I 768 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 1: think it's fun to always try, you know, you do 769 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:18,359 Speaker 1: the stuff that you enjoyed from the past. You can 770 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:21,520 Speaker 1: also try one or two new things each year because 771 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:24,279 Speaker 1: maybe you'll discover something that you want to do again 772 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:26,839 Speaker 1: and again. Of course, you may also discover you don't 773 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:28,319 Speaker 1: like it, and then you don't have to worry about 774 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 1: it or think about doing it again in the future. 775 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:34,359 Speaker 1: But hopefully everyone's making a great holiday fun list as 776 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,440 Speaker 1: they are hearing this episode, and we look forward to 777 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:41,280 Speaker 1: hearing what you come up with. But our question, Sarah, 778 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: what do you want for Hankakah or Christmas? Do you 779 00:36:45,239 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 1: guys get Hanakah presents like the adults or it's only 780 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:48,879 Speaker 1: the kids. It's only the kids. 781 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:52,360 Speaker 2: We don't that's the funny part. I'm like, but you know, 782 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:56,120 Speaker 2: I think it's sometimes maybe I'll buy myself a Hankika gift. 783 00:36:56,680 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 2: You should buy yourself eight gifts, Sarah, I might need 784 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:02,200 Speaker 2: a sufferate. 785 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 1: Little like one could be like a nail polish. One 786 00:37:04,239 --> 00:37:05,960 Speaker 1: could be a lipstick. One could be a book, right, 787 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:06,759 Speaker 1: like you know. 788 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:09,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, you're right, that might be fun. Maybe I'll open 789 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 2: them up in front, like, oh, look what I get today. 790 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 2: So I think if someone were actually buying me a gift, 791 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 2: which like, well, my college friends we kind of buy 792 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:20,880 Speaker 2: each other gift, so I get gifts that way. I 793 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,320 Speaker 2: think loungewear, like I want to buy myself some nice 794 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:26,040 Speaker 2: like I want to elevate my loungewear. I want to 795 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:30,640 Speaker 2: like feel cute and comfy after hours, so loundwear. And 796 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:33,279 Speaker 2: then I think a book that like if you love 797 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 2: a book and you really like see that other person 798 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:36,800 Speaker 2: loving a book, I think that it's like a really 799 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:40,480 Speaker 2: fun gift. Or if someone had a cosmetic product that 800 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,719 Speaker 2: they think is like a miracle worker, like buy it 801 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 2: for me. 802 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:44,680 Speaker 1: That sounds good? 803 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:45,920 Speaker 2: What about you? 804 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:49,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean what I honestly want is like to 805 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 1: get away for a while. It was like go sit 806 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:54,640 Speaker 1: in a cabin in the woods for a while and 807 00:37:54,680 --> 00:37:58,400 Speaker 1: write and somebody else will handle the details of my life. 808 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:02,480 Speaker 1: So we'll see if that happened. But stay tuned. Love 809 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:04,520 Speaker 1: of the Week, Sarah, what do you have? 810 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:05,520 Speaker 2: Oh man? 811 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:06,799 Speaker 1: Be guys, we've had a lot of loves of the 812 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:07,960 Speaker 1: weeks in this Yeah. 813 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:11,720 Speaker 2: I just love holiday albums of all my favorite artists. 814 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:14,200 Speaker 2: They make me happy. My favorite is Casey mus Graves. 815 00:38:14,239 --> 00:38:15,960 Speaker 2: I've shared them before, but maybe I'll have a new 816 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:17,560 Speaker 2: favorite this year. I'll have to shop around. 817 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:20,239 Speaker 1: We'll try new ones out. Yeah, yeah, Well, I mean 818 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,720 Speaker 1: I like the holidays in general. I would like to 819 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:25,160 Speaker 1: make sure that my mental load isn't overwhelming with it, 820 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:28,840 Speaker 1: but it usually isn't, so we'll be having many people 821 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:32,000 Speaker 1: take on different projects of it. But holidays are a 822 00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:35,120 Speaker 1: festive times. It's good to do good to do well. 823 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:37,520 Speaker 1: This has been best of both worlds. We've been discussing 824 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:40,600 Speaker 1: all things holiday. Would love to hear what you have 825 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:43,319 Speaker 1: planned for your holiday seasons. We will be back next 826 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:45,600 Speaker 1: week with more on making work and life fit together. 827 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:50,440 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening. You can find me Sarah at the 828 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:54,799 Speaker 2: shoebox dot com or at the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, 829 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:55,880 Speaker 2: and you can. 830 00:38:55,719 --> 00:39:00,360 Speaker 3: Find me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Been the 831 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:03,839 Speaker 3: best of both worlds podcasts. Please join us next time 832 00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:06,760 Speaker 3: for more on making work and life work together