A For Effort

We all have memories (traumatic or not) of Thanksgivings past, and in this episode the listeners share theirs! From turkey travails to food fails and Amanda's passive aggressive wardrobe reminders, we're feeling exceptionally thankful for the start of this holiday season. Pass the pie around while you listen, but you can keep that cinnamon applesauce to yourself, please and thanks!

You asked, and we delivered! We're talking snacks today and send you off to the store with a list of all our favorite items to get you through the day. Because we all know, any problem can be solved with a snack;)

Grocery lists:
- Apples
- Rockit apples (Walmart or Target)
- Steamed sweet potatoes (teal bag, Costco)
- PB pretzels (Kroger or other store brand)
- Barely dried strawberries (Costco)
* Any other dried fruit is a great snack, just check for added sugar.
- Seaweed aka Dandruff of the Sea (any store)
- Salsa (TJ's mild salsa is delicious) + cottage cheese + chips (Siete brand from Costco OR On the Border "lightly seasoned" from your local store. It's a black bag)
- All the veggies to make your own veggie tray
- Archer brand mini jerky sticks (Costco)
- Earths Best mini meatballs (Walmart or Target)

Amanda's quick protein pancakes:
BASE:
- eggs (use at least 2, I use 4)
- Heaping scoop of cottage cheese
- Kodiak Cakes buttermilk pancake mix (I use about half the bag)
- Water to make it the right consistency

ADD COLOR:
Pink: 1 raw beet, peeled + 1 scoop Just Ingredients Strawberries and Cream protein powder. 
Orange: 1 raw sweet potato, peeled + 2 raw carrots + good dash of cinnamon
Green: handful spinach, 1 zucchini + banana + cinnamon

Blend your base and a color choice together in a powerful blender until completely smooth, pour onto skillet. Top with butter and syrup, watch kids devour. 

HAPPY SNACKING!
xo

Cream Puff and Croissant here to talk all things nicknames. If you don't have any in your arsenal, we highly suggest it! Cleverly using a nickname or pet name for your kids can lighten any situation and is guaranteed to make them smile. Happy listening, Baby Cakes!

If you want to experience complete joy, total excitement and a righteous amount of pride, then there is only one way to feel all of that. It comes by way of sticky little humans who have no concept of space or noise. And somehow, someway, they bring us the most fulfillment. Go figure.

It’s that time of year again! Spooky season! Amanda loves any opportunity for Prank Sinatra to pay a visit, and Megan hates it all because she startles easier than a newborn baby. In this episode we talk candy trends of 2024, family costumes, treat strategies, and favorite Halloween handouts from childhood... like sloppy joes, of course. Hoping your kids bring home a certain orange-wrapped candy this year from their trick-or-treating excursions?? Remember, what you put into the world comes back to you (thanks,John).

We all have it, and if you don't, well then you win. But that one, or maybe those two, small things that are non-negotiable that you absolutely need to survive another day in parenthood. For some it's a good drink, for others it's a good nights rest. And for kids, it's basically just taking care of their biological needs and a roll of tape. Simple things really. 

Remember when parents used to say, "Get a job!" to their teens? Nowadays some parents aren't so sure about that command. In this episode we  debate whether or not teens today should seek employment. We also get to reminisce with you about the jobs many of us held as teens, and share a few of our favorite memories from the good 'ole days. Plus, parents weigh in on their dream jobs (besides being a parent, of course)! 

This episode has us feeling nostalgic as listeners tell us what they remember from their school days.Do kids use hall passes at school in Kazakstan? Does our elementary student ID number follow us for the rest of our life? Listen in as we ponder on these baffling questions, and hear The Mayor and The Queen share a few of their own school memories, I beg of you...

Who would want to leave their darling children for longer than 24 hours? Turns out, nearly 90% of the parents we surveyed would! However, the real dilemma for most parents is determining who to leave our little angels with... will it be Grandma and Grandpa? The college kid down the street? The teen from our church congregation? They all have their pros, with a few cons possibly sprinkled in. Narrow down your babysitter list as listeners share their worst babysitter experiences, and remember to give everyone a little bit more grace. After all, no one can love your kids as much as you do. 

They wanted to suck us in, and boy did they! Did you even know "rage bait" was a thing?? We did not until this episode and honestly, it worked. They got us, but they also got some good conversations going. So although it's unanimous that NO ONE will be paying for playdates anytime soon, it is good to just be aware of the kind people hosting our kids. Let's make sure our village knows how much we appreciate them. And watch out for that rage bait!