Life lately

Sarah is happy to have made it through January.

Abby presented at a science communication conference.

Reading lately

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Sarah read the domestic thriller Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty.

Abby is going through Mhairi McFarlane’s older books and loved It’s Not Me, It’s You just as much as her newer releases.

Food Habits

We share quick and easy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, what we keep in our pantry, and what is not feeling quick and easy about feeding our families.

Eating lately

Abby shared the croque madame casserole her family had on Christmas Eve, while Sarah baked an everything bagel pull-apart bread.

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

Life lately

Abby has joined in on the Wordle craze.

Sarah thinks she’s found the perfect time to get groceries.

Reading lately

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Abby read the novel Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy and Sarah read Kate Baer’s newest collection of poetry: I Hope This Finds You Well.

Claiming rest

We reflect on what rest means to us, how society’s view on rest impacts us, activities we find restful, and our rest aspirations.

Eating lately

Sarah is snacking on popcorn with ranch seasoning and Abby’s family loves these parmesan garlic roast potatoes.

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

Life lately

Sarah’s family is making some serious tidying progress.

Abby shares a frugal win.

Reading lately

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Sarah read Alix Harrow’s novella A Spindle Splintered.

Abby read the magical romance A Marvellous Light by Freya Markse.

Community, revisited

We revisit the topic of community (which we first talked about five years ago), including the state of our current communities, what we need from our communities, how to cultivate community, and future community dreams.

Eating lately

Abby made pumpkin bread and Sarah tried a chocolate peanut butter cake.

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

Life lately

Pepper is fully weaned and Abby’s found a great new bra.

Sarah joined a buy nothing group to aid in her family’s decluttering.

Reading lately

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We both read books by Nora McInerny Purmont: Hot Young Widow’s Club and No Happy Endings.

New year’s intentions, 2022

We reflect on the year that was, set intentions for 2022, and share some of our favorites from 2021. Links we mentioned:

• Last year’s intentions episode and our mid-year check-in
• Ted Lasso
• Baking Impossible
• Bake Squad

Eating lately

Sarah is appreciating a stocked freezer and Abby’s family tried stuffed shells.

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

Life lately

Sarah is recovering from surgery.

Abby is enjoying a break from work before nursing school starts.

Reading lately

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Sarah read Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Good Girl, Bad Blood.

Abby is reading the London Celebrities series by Lucy Parker.

Our year in books, 2021

We take a look back at our reading life in 2021: our challenges, our wins, and of course, our favorite books. Highlights from the year:

Fiction: Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow, One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel, Raybearer by Jordon Ifueko, The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Romance: Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane, Act Your Age by Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert, and The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Non-fiction: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon

Most enjoyable: Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Idea of You by Robinne Lee, Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Memoir: No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler and Raising a Rare Girl by Heather Lanier

Audio: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane, and No Happy Endings by Nora McInerny

Read aloud: Heartwood Hotel series by Kallie George, Adventures With Waffles and Lena, the Sea, and Me by Maria Parr, Building Our House by Jonathan Bean, and Construction Cat by Barbara Odanaka

Looking forward to: Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik, Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn, and Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

Eating lately

Abby tried a baked potato soup.

Sarah devoured chicken and dumplings made by a friend.

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

Life lately

Abby shares a story about keeping track (or not) of toddler glasses.

Sarah has a new (to her family) washing machine.

Reading lately

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Abby read Satisfaction Guaranteed, a female-female romance by Karelia Stetz-Waters.

Sarah read a Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman.

Bodies and food during the holidays

We reflect on our relationships with our bodies and exercise, as well as how that influences our parenting, especially during the holidays. Resources we mention and others that are also great:

• Aubrey Gordon and her podcast Maintenance Phase
• Jessamyn Stanley, both her personal and business Instagram accounts
• Virginia Sole-Smith’s Instagram, where she shares her life and journalism
• Christy Harrison’s podcast
• Shira Rose’s Instagram
• Shana Minei-Spence’s Instagram
• Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole
• F*ck It Diet by Caroline Dooner
• Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin
• Awesomely Emma by Amy Webb
• Health at Every Size by Lindo Bacon
• Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig (glorious memoir and one of the best ever primers on disability)
• Robyn Nohling, a registered dietitian focused on fertility & pregnancy

Eating lately

We share our tricks for the perfect beans and rice.

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

Life lately

Sarah recommends the This Land podcast.

Abby got into nursing school!

Reading lately

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Sarah read Kate Bowler’s new memoir No Cure For Being Human.

Abby enjoyed the Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner.

Making the holidays meaningful

We share our ideal holidays along with what we are doing (and not doing) to make the holidays special this year. Links mentioned in the episode:

• Lego advent calendar
• Vanderbeekers of 141st St by Karina Yan Glaser

Eating lately

Abby is treating herself to chai lattes made with half and half, while Sarah has plans to make these pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

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

Life lately

Abby completed fall planting around her house.

Sarah is doing lots of push-ups.

Reading lately

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Abby listened to State of Terror, co-written by Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny.

Sarah read (and absolutely loved) One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel.

Therapy thoughts

We share our experiences with therapy and insights we’ve learned along the way.

Eating lately

Sarah tried a cheesy hashbrown casserole (with no cream of soup!).

Abby has found a recipe for light and airy banana cupcakes.

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

Life lately

Sarah completed her first 5k in more than fourteen years.

Abby finished the chicken coop repairs.

Reading lately

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Sarah read the YA mystery The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Abby listened to Cantoras by Carolina de Robertis.

Halloween

We discuss our Halloweens growing up, the current state of Halloween in our families, how we handle all the candy, and tips and tricks for making Halloween a success.

Eating lately

Abby shares a breakfast casserole, while Sarah’s been eating sandwiches.

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

Life lately

Abby made some living room updates by adding this ottoman and lampshade.

Sarah shares her water woes.

Reading lately

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Abby found a contender for best non-fiction of the year: Raising a Rare Girl by Heather Lanier.

Sarah listened to the YA mystery One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus.

What’s getting us through

Inspired by episodes from the Girl Next Door and Lazy Genius podcasts, we share the big and small things that help us get through when life feels overwhelming. Links mentioned:

• Abby’s new water bottle
• Zapp’s sweet creole onion chips
• Trader Joe’s ice cream sandwiches
• Simple cheese dip

Eating lately

Sarah’s eating roasted root vegetables with sausage for a delicious fall bowl.

Abby has found the perfect brownies: Ghiradelli’s dark chocolate premium mix.

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