Sorta Awesome

Fix up a hot cocoa and snuggle up by the fire with us, Awesomes! This week, we’re doing a deep dive into favorite holiday traditions! Meg is joined by Rebekah, and they share some traditions old and new that make the holidays memorable for their families. Then they share some of the best holiday traditions shared with us by YOU, the Awesome community! All of that plus practical charging solutions and a handy app for selling your stuff in Awesome of the Week!

COME TAKE A SURVEY and enter to win an Amazon gift card! Please AND thank you!!

These GIFTATEACHER.ORG teachers are counting on your support for next semester!

Pari Omidbakhsh

Lucia Deus

Matt Bickers

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Rothys: Go to rothys.com/awesome to check out the latest styles

Bombas:  Save 20% by visiting bombas.com/awesome and enter the offer AWESOME in the checkout code space

Billie: for 10% off of your new favorite razor, go to mybillie.com/awesome

Kopari: Go to koparibeauty.com/awesome and see how you can save $5 off your first order

Legacy Box: Go to legacybox.com/AWESOME to get 60% off your first order

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah's AotW: POWRUI Outlet Extender with USB ports

Meg’s AotW: Mercari app

Rebekah's Favorite Christmas Books:

Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Who is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate & Ashely Wolff

Mrs. Wishy Washy’s Christmas by Joy Cowley

15+ Best Nativity Picture Books for Kids

Community Appreciation Gifts:

5 Easy, Clever, and Cheap Neighbor Gift Ideas

5 More Easy, Clever, and Cheap Neighbor Gift Ideas

How to Gift Redbox Codes

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy December, Awesomes! You know that we preach the message of practicing self-care year ‘round, but we think it’s especially important during the often chaotic season of the holidays. This week, Meg is joined by Kelly, and they have a list of seven kinds of self-care to practice to keep yourself healthy and sane during the weeks ahead. Plus, a very touching Awesome of the Week (followed by a sensory relief for the bathroom!).

GIFTATEACHER.ORG Teachers:

Pari Omidbakhsh

Lucia Deus

Matt Bickers

Amanda Johnson

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

ThirdLove: Go to thirdlove.com/AWESOME to find your perfect-fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase

Lola: Go to mylola.com and enter code awesome30 at checkout for 30% off your subscription

Grove: Go to Grove.co/AWESOME and receive a free sustainable swaps set with your first order

LinkedIn: Go to linkedin.com/AWESOME and get a $50 credit toward your first job post. Terms and conditions apply.

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly's Awesome of the Week: Kindness - pay it forward. (This is the pet ornament Awesome Liz sent her in honor of her dog Sami, if you'd like to see it or you know someone else who might like one.)

Meg: Trader Joe’s Super Lemon Spritz

Mentioned on the show:

The 7 Types of Rest You Need to Actually Feel Recharged

This is What ‘Self-Care’ REALLY Means, Because It’s Not All Salt Baths and Chocolate Cake

Sorta Awesome Ep. 162: Self-Care, Self- Comfort, What’s Healthy, What’s Not

Advent resources:

Field Notes by Sarah Bessey

CCCA Bible Project 2019

For further reading:

The Importance of Self-Care During the Holidays

5 Tips for Self-Care During the Holidays

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s here, Awesomes! Our annual guide to all the best gifts in our Sorta Awesome Holiday Gift Guide 2019! Join Meg, Kelly, and Rebekah as they help you shop for the men in your life, those white elephant gift exchanges, and the people in your life who have everything. Plus stocking stuffers for all!

Sorta Awesome’s Amazon shop!

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sortaawesome

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Kids in Need Foundation invites you to Gift a Teacher

Legacy Box: for a LIMITED TIME, go to legacybox.com/AWESOME to get 60% off your first order

Boll & Branch CPA: Get fifty dollars off at BollandBranch.com, use promo code AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

White Elephant/Gift Exchanges

Nice:

Cravings by Chrissy Teigen 7" My Go To Serrated Santoku Knife

Shower Notes

Naughty:

Charmin Super Roll

Yodeling Pickle

Bob Ross Color Changing Mug

Moonlight Makers Kitchen Towels:

Oh Kale No

Every Now and Then I Fall Apart

Sweet Dreams Are Made of Cheese

Stocking Stuffers for Kids:

Head lamps

Light Saber Toothbrushes

Plus Plus Construction Toy Mini Tubes

Canary Cardboard Knife

Out of the Box: 25 Cardboard Engineering Projects for Makers

Magic Milk Straws

Blacklight Tape

Blacklight Flashlight

Chatbooks - (SIMPLYREBEKAH-X2JH for $10 your first order)

Gifts for Men:

Yeti lowball

beer advent calendar

root beer of the month

whiskey stones

Wireless charging pad

Record player and favorite vinyl

Camping hammock

Smart Wool sweater

Bombas

Lyndale t-shirts at Target

Whoven t-shirt subscription

emergency tool kit

t-shirt blanket

backyard heater

Stocking Stuffers:

Food - sugary cereal - your own pint of ice cream

Beauty boxes at Target

campfire starters

magnets from trips

Those who have everything:

Sustainable Smoked Salmon

Tucson Tamales

Maytag Dairy Farms

Pennsylvania Macaroni Co

Fancy umbrella

C3 Custom Cooler

LuminAID Lanterns

Tine's Watercolor Pets

Handwritten Sentiment

Stocking stuffers: grown-ups

Ice roller for face

Scratch off tickets

Christmas beer cans for beer-themed stocking

Blue light blocking glasses

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The table is all set, Awesomes, and you are invited! So pull up a chair and listen as Meg and her sister and show regular Emily Harris tell you all about Thanksgiving when they were growing up, and what new spins they have put on old traditions, especially when it comes to food and recipes! All of that plus they each have a podcast recommendation for you in Awesome of the Week!

Become a Sorta Awesome Super Star!

Sorta Awesome’s Amazon shop:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sortaawesome

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Ancient Nutrition: for $10 off of your order go to ancientnutrition.com and use promo code AWESOME

Billie: for 10% off of your new favorite razor, go to mybillie.com/awesome

FabFitFun: Use code SORTAAWESOME to get $10 off your first box at www.fabfitfun.com

Wander Beauty: Get 20% off your purchase at wanderbeauty.com/AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Emily AotW: Last Podcast on the Left

Meg’s AotW: Dolly Parton’s America

The Sporkful episode

Recipes:

Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole

Spiced Percolator Punch

Christmas Salad

1 package of mini marshmallows, divided

2 T butter

4 eggs, beaten

1 T sugar

2 T apple cider vinegr

1/4 c. milk

1/2 t. salt

1 c. whipping cream, whipped

2 C red grapes, halved

2 small cans mandarin oranges, drained

1 small can crushed pineapple

large jar maraschino cherries, drained, halved

Emily's mashed potato casserole

4-5 lbs of russet potatoes

1 stick of butter

1 package of cream cheese

8-12 oz of sour cream

seasoned salt 

one big block of cheddar cheese, shredded

about 1 cup of starchy potato water from potatoes

1-1.5 cups of heavy cream

1 egg beaten

1 pkg of dry ranch dressing mix

Boil the potatoes with about a tablespoon of salt. Save a cup of water before draining. Add the stick of butter and mash with a hand masher. Add softened cream cheese and mix. Add about half of the starchy water to fluff up the potatoes. Heat the sour cream and the heavy cream to keep it from making the potatoes too pasty. Slowly add in the heavy cream until you get a thick soup consistency. Add 1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix and taste. Add more salt or ranch dressing if needed/desired. Add in the beaten egg by tempering it first. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes to an hour. During the last 15 minutes add shredded cheese to the top and continue cooking.

Melt butter in top of double boiler.  Add combined egg, sugar, vinegar, milk and salt.  Cook over gently boiling water 2 min, stirring constantly. vAdd 2/3 of the marshmallows, sitr & beat 6-10 min til melted. Cool to room temp. Fold in whipped cream, fruit & remaining marshmallows. Refrigerate; mixture will set

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

You can find Emily on Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know that one way to be an Awesome is to be generous with giving to others, and the holidays are filled with ways to practice generosity! But sometimes giving to others can get a little messy, no matter how good our intentions may be. This week. Meg is joined by Rebekah and her husband Nate who returns to Sorta Awesome to give us some fresh perspectives on having the right mindset when it comes to giving to those in need at the holidays. As the executive director of a homeless shelter, Nate has seen it all when it comes to the responses of both the givers and the recipients of gifts at the holidays, and his wisdom and experience are so valuable. Then Meg shares some Dos and Don’ts to keep in mind when it comes to giving internationally. All of that plus a cute party dress, junk food on YouTube, and feeling strong as a mom in Awesome of the Week!

Sorta Awesome’s Amazon shop!

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sortaawesome

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Rothys: Go to rothys.com/awesome to check out the latest styles

ThirdLove: Go to thirdlove.com/AWESOME to find your perfect-fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase

First Leaf: For six bottles of wine at $29.95 and free shipping, go to tryfirstleaf.com/awesome

Bombas: Save 20% by visiting bombas.com/awesome and enter the offer AWESOME in the checkout code space

Kopari: Go to koparibeauty.com/awesome and see how you can save $5 off your first order

Legacy Box: Go to legacybox.com/AWESOME to get 40% off your first order

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah's AotW - Oxiuly Party Swing Dress https://amzn.to/2oTS7mm

Nate's AotW - One Bite Pizza Reviews

Meg’s AotW - MommaStrong

Sorta Awesome Ep. 59 Crushing misconceptions about homelessness with Nate Hoffer

Meg’s series on Lebanon and the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Part 1, 2, and 3

13 Things I Want American Christians To Know About The Stuff You Give Poor Kids by Awesome Rachel Pieh Jones

World Visiion

Heifer.org

charity :: water

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mental load. Emotional labor. Invisible work. You’ve heard these terms and how they describe a sometimes un-awesome part of life - the work that many women do to keep everything running in homes, families, and in the workplace. This week, Meg and Kelly are talking about the bigger concept of “invisible labor” - defining what it is AND talking you through some ways to feel empowered to do something about it! Plus comforting cold weather food and a cute top for nursing moms in Awesome of the Week!

Sorta Awesome’s Amazon shop!

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sortaawesome

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Lola: Go to mylola.com and enter code awesome30 at checkout for 30% off your subscription

Grove: Go to Grove.co/AWESOME to get your FREE Sustainable Swaps set!

LinkedIn: Go to linkedin.com/AWESOME and get a $50 credit toward your first job post. Terms and conditions apply.

Kiwi Co: Go to kiwico.com/AWESOME for your first month free!

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Meg AotW: Latched Mama nursing pullover:

Kelly’s AotW: Grilled cheese and tomato soup: How to get this classic combo just right

Listen to ‘Dear Sugars’: The Invisible Work (Most) Women Do — With Gemma Hartley

Articles:

This is Why Your Wife is Stressed Out (Spoiler Alert: It Might Be You)

The Advice Therapists Give When One Spouse Does All the Emotional Labor

I Created a System to Make Sure My Husband and I Divide Household Duties Fairly. Here’s How it Works.

Lucky Orange Pants Facebook essay on invisible labor

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Picture it now, Awesomes. It’s the day of your big holiday gathering, and instead of feeling frazzled and stressed, you are calm, cool, collected, and even … joyful. Is that even possible! It TOTALLY is! This week, Meg sits down with Rachel Tiemeyer from ThrivingHome.org and Rachel shares all the awesome that you need to know to have a less-stress holiday. From cute conversation starters around the table to a freezer stocked with delicious, crowd-pleasing favorites to tips and tricks for using that Instant Pot, Rachel has a TON of suggestions for what to do now to have an awesome holiday season.

All of that plus body-moving self-care and a hot new historic true crime podcast in Awesome of the Week!

Sorta Awesome’s Amazon shop!

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sortaawesome

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Wander Beauty : Get 20% off your purchase at wanderbeauty.com/AWESOME with code AWESOME

Mejuri: Skip the special occasion and buy that beautiful jewelry piece for yourself now at Mejuri! Free shipping over $100 at mejuri.com/awesome

Quip: Get the toothbrush that creates healthy habits AND a free first refill at getquip.com/awesome

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Catlick podcast from BT Harman

From Freezer to Cooker

From Freezer to Table

Find ALL of Rachel’s ideas for you at our special page on Thriving Home: Freebies and Recipes for Sorta Awesome

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Learn more about Rachel and Polly’s latest book FromFreezerToCooker.com (available for pre-order now!). And follow them on Facebook, Instagram and at ThrivingHome.org!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been a minute since we opened up the listener mailbag, friends! This week, Meg is joined by her sister and Sorta Awesome regular Emily Harris, and they are taking questions from the Awesomes. Tune in to hear Emily’s introvert recharging practices, Meg’s newest family management game plan, and the one story from their childhood that Meg cannot believe Emily shares with the Awesome nation. All of that plus a delicious YouTube channel and a sorta surprising decision in Awesome of the Week!

Sorta Awesome’s Amazon shop!

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sortaawesome

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

FabFitFun: Use code SORTAAWESOME to get $10 off your first box at www.fabfitfun.com

Bombas:  Save 20% off your first purchase at bombas.com/awesome

Billie: for 10% off of your new favorite razor, go to mybillie.com/awesome

Ancient Nutrition: for $10 off of your order go to ancientnutrition.com and use promo code AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Epicurious on YouTube

MakeupRehab subreddit

Where the Crawdads Sing

The Mother-in-law

Miracle Creek

First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie

Belif Aqua Bomb

PIXI Glow Tonic

CoxRX Advanced Snail 96

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

You can find Emily on Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know how sometimes in life a thing is TOTALLY AWESOME … until it’s not? This week, Meg and Rebekah explore what to do when the awesome wears off. They revisit some past Awesomes of the Week that have lost their sparkle and shine, and they also explore some real life examples of things that are no longer all that great. Meg shares five tips for how to bounce back when the awesome is gone, and they talk clear complexions and a hot new release in awesome of the week!

Check out Meg and Kyle’s new fine rosary shop Nikolaus Design!

Sorta Awesome’s Amazon shop!

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sortaawesome

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Rothys: Go to rothys.com/awesome to check out the latest styles

ThirdLove: Go to thirdlove.com/AWESOME to find your perfect-fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase

Grove: Go to Grove.co/AWESOME and get your free sustainable swap set

First Leaf: For six bottles of wine at $29.95 and free shipping, go to tryfirstleaf.com/awesome

Mathnasium: Go to mathnasium.com/awesome today or call 855-401-MATH

Kopari: Go to koparibeauty.com/awesome and see how you can save $5 off your first order

Legacy Box: Go to legacybox.com/AWESOME to get 40% off your first order

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Zit Fighter Essential Oil Blend

Miracles and Other Reasonable Things, Sarah Bessey

Sortd

Party of Five

The Royals

Orange is the New Black

Modern Kiwi Maxi Dress

Tarte Shape Tape concealer

StitchFix

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sweaters and boots and sweets, oh my! Yes Awesomes, fall is here, and that means it’s time for our annual Awesomes for Fall List! Tune in to hear Meg and Kelly share their top picks to help you have the best fall yet. You’ll hear about everything from recipes to fall fashion trends to their favorite ways to get cozy. All of that plus a very literary Awesome of the Week!

Check out Sorta Awesome’s Amazon shop!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

LinkedIn: Go to linkedin.com/AWESOME and get a $50 credit toward your first job post. Terms and conditions apply.

Lola: Go to mylola.com and enter code awesome30 at checkout for 30% off your subscription

Kiwi Co: Go to kiwico.com/AWESOME for your first month free!

Mathnasium: Go to mathnasium.com/awesome today or call 855-401-MATH

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

Kelly’s Fall List:

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Dresses at ThredUp (This is Kelly's affiliate link that will give you $10 of credit to spend at ThredUp on your first order)

Disney Plus

Applesauce bars

Bonus: Salted Caramel Oatmeal Cookies

Meg’s Fall List:

ASMR channel: Goodnight Moon, Babblebrook Series

The Highwomen album

Scandi trend: like this and this

cropped wide leg jeans

Thai Chicken Coconut Curry

Cardigan scent from Twinkle Apothecary

Sorta Awesome Fall List 2016

Sorta Awesome Fall List 2017

Sorta Awesome Fall List 2018

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices