Sorta Awesome

It seems like perimenopause is a buzzing trend word right now, but how do you know if you are experiencing the signs that you’ve been initiated into the club? Midlife with Mindy and Meg is back, and this week, they are talking about the symptoms, signs, and signals that our bodies give us about this season of change. Plus, they share some inspiring information on moving our bodies, even and especially when we don’t feel like it! They’ve got a motion sickness solution and the most comfy clogs of the season in Awesome of the Week!

As you are shopping Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support Sorta Awesome for FREE when you shop through our affiliate link: SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon

And! Check out Rebekah’s very awesome debrief of her trip to Austin to see Harry Styles over on our Patreon!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*CozyEarth: Go to cozyearth.com to get 35% off site wide when you use code AWESOME

*Pair Eyewear: Go to paireyewear.com/AWESOME for 15% off your first purchase

*Fabric: Apply today in just 10 minutes at meetfabric.com/awesome

SHOW NOTES:

Mindy’s AotW: Hion Anti-Motion Sickness Smart Glasses

Meg’s AotW: Birkenstock Tokio shoes

at Kith

or Birkenstock

or Amazon

MORE MID-LIFE EPISODES FROM SORTA AWESOME:

Ep. 380: Let’s Talk About Midlife: Brain Fog and Cycle Chaos

Ep. 389: Let’s Talk About Midlife: Nonstop Appetite & Historical Hysteria

Ep. 395: Let’s Talk About Midlife: Parenting Our Parents and Life in the Middle

Ep. 401: Let’s Talk About Midlife: The Ups and Downs of Sex!

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

Find Mindy on Instagram and as a regular on the Currently Reading podcast! Mindy also produced and created Bookend Homeschoolers.

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!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a tiny commission from the seller at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!

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

Times are tough for so many of us right now, and the thought of the holidays approaching might make the season feel even more stressful. But don’t worry - Meg and Rebekah have got you covered! This week, their conversation is filled with ideas and inspiration that you can start doing now to help make the holidays just as fun as ever, even if we need to be more frugal!

As you are shopping Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support Sorta Awesome for FREE when you shop through our affiliate link: SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon

And! Check out Rebekah’s very awesome debrief of her trip to Austin to see Harry Styles over on our Patreon!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*CozyEarth: Go to cozyearth.com to get 35% off site wide when you use code AWESOME

*Rocket Money: Cancel unneccessary subscriptions with Rocket Money today. Go to RocketMoney.com/awesome.

*Issuu: Get started with Issuu today for FREE or sign up for an annual premium account and get 50% off when you go to issuu.com/podcast and use promo code AWESOME.

SHOW NOTES:

Meg AotW: Burn After Writing

Rebekah’s AotW: Every Single Album (podcast)

Food:

Rebekah's Favorite Soup Recipes

35 Comforting Depression-Era Desserts

Activities:

Rebekah's Favorite Nativity Themed Picture Books

Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt Printables

Giving:

Amazon Price Checking at CamelCamelCamel.com

Sorta Awesome's Amazon Affiliate Link: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon

Follow on Instagram for Deals:

@SortaAwesomeShow

@SimplyRebekah

@TheMoneySavingMom

@JessicaNTurner

Subscription Ideas:

Kiwi Co Crate

Book of The Month

GameFly

Casely

Dollar Tree Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Neighbor Gift Ideas Part 1

Neighbor Gift Ideas Part 2

Neighbor Gift Ideas Part 3

Stovetop Potpourri Recipe & Printable

More episodes from Sorta Awesome

Holiday Gift Guide 2017

Ep. 179 Five Clever Clutter Solutions

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!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a tiny commission from the seller at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!

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

We all know one of the TOP stressors in life is moving. Moving house, moving cities, moving countries … no matter how close or far away you are going, it can be so hard! But what if it could be a little more awesome? Meg welcomes Kate Nixon Anania back to Sorta Awesome this week, and Kate has acquired TONS of experience moving through the years, and she is excited to share her wisdom with you, Awesomes! Plus some bookish picks perfect for the season in Awesome of the Week!

As you are shopping Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support Sorta Awesome for FREE when you shop through our affiliate link: SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*CozyEarth: Go to cozyearth.com to get 35% off site wide when you use code AWESOME

*LUS Brands: Get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more when you go to LUSbrands.com and enter promo code AWESOME

*Raycon: Get 15% off your Raycon order at BUYRAYCON.com/sorta

*Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout

SHOW NOTES:

SORTA AWESOME AMAZON: sortaawesomeshow.com/amazon

Meg’s AotW: The House Witch: A Humorous Romantic Fantasy as recommended by Awesome Meredith of Currently Reading podcast)

Kate’s AotW: The Scholomance Series

Twenties in Your Pocket: A twenty-something’s guide to money management (Kate’s book!)

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

Find Kate's book Twenties in your Pocket on Amazon and find more from her on her website twentiesinyourpocket.com!

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!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a tiny commission from the seller at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!

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

Break out the apple cider and grab a pumpkin for painting (or carving, if you’re old school!) - it’s time once again for YOUR awesome list for the season ahead! Meg and Kelly are DELIGHTED to bring you the list of all things awesome for autumn 2022 including recipes, fashion trends, entertainment, fall fragrances and more!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*CozyEarth: Go to cozyearth.com to get 35% off site wide when you use code AWESOME

*Faherty: Go to fahertybrand.com/AWESOME and use code AWESOME at checkout to get 15% off

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly’s AotW: Shoyu Ramen at Costco

Meg’s AotW: Maple Greek Frappe from this TikTok

1 tsp instant coffee

1 tsp maple sugar

1 tsp light brown sugar

Ice

Milk of your choice

Inexpensive milk/coffee frother

KELLY’S FALL LIST:

Electric lighter

Korean Beef Bowls from Damn Delicious

Royal Cinnamon from Burlap & Barrel

Natural textures for decorating your home (like woven pumpkins and dried arrangements!)

MEG’S FALL LIST:

Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+

Taylor Swift’s Midnights album

Woman Without Shame by Sandra Cisneros

House of Gloi pumpkin butter Ghost Puffs scent

Sugar and Spite perfumed spray in Hellsville

Sweet Water Decor reed diffuser

Leaves of Leisure Autumn Breeze tea

Tattersall Cranberry Liqueur

Big ol’ blanket—like this or this or this!

Cargo pants

Clogs

Maxi skirts

PAST FALL LIST EPISODES:

Ep. 349: AWESOME LIST FOR FALL 2021!

Ep. 262: The AWESOME List for Fall 2020!

Ep. 215: Awesome List for Fall 2019

Ep. 166: The Awesome List Fall 2018

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

Find Kelly on Twitter , Instagram and on her website!

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!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a tiny commission from the seller at no additional cost to you, if you purchase from them. We only share products and services we have used, tested, and love ourselves!

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

Take a break from your September stress and get SILLY with Meg, Kelly, and Rebekah as they play another round of WOULD YOU RATHER. This time, the questions were asked by you, the Awesome community! From reading romance novels out loud in public to ruining your favorite shoes with dog poo to the most BRUTAL questions personalized for each of them, these three are more than happy to keep you guessing with their deliberations!

(Check out Ep. 400 Would You Rather? 4 vs 400 edition here!)

HEY AWESOME! Wondering what on earth to wear this autumn season? Alison Lumbatis of Outfit Formulas has the answer to everything you need to know to look and feel great in the months to come. Check out the FALL 2022 CAPSULE WARDROBE available now! (Sorta Awesome affiliate link)

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*LUS Brands: Get up to 15% sitewide at LUSbrands.com!

*Pair Eyewear: Go to paireyewear.com/AWESOME for 15% off your first purchase

*Dame: Go to dameproducts.com and enter code AWESOME for 15% off site wide

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah’s AotW: Custom Cookbooks from SimplyCookbooks.com

Kellys' AotW: Mini Turkey Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries

Meg’s AotW: The Violin Conspiracy: A Novel

(Kelly’s BONUS AotW: 'The Violin Conspiracy' is a musical who-done-it with deep notes)

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

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

Find Kelly on Twitter , Instagram and on her website!

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

From picture books read to us as children to our first visits to the public library to the school-assigned reading that ended up changing out lives, all of us can point to books that have made us the people we have grown to be. This week, Meg welcomes Sorta Awesome regular for books and reading Katie Proctor back to the show, and they each bring a list of books that have shaped the people (and the readers) they are today. Don’t miss this conversation about their most meaningful reads!

Come be a part of our Patreon community and join in our FIRST book club discussion of Tabitha Carvan’s This Is NOT A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch: the joy of loving something - anything - like your life depends on it.! You’ll get exclusive content every month plus hundreds of hours of Super Star episodes to download and binge right now! And bonus - get our texting number so you can send us your thoughts anytime! Go to patreon.com/sortaawesome to become a Super Star Awesome!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*Rocket Money: Cancel unneccessary subscriptions with Rocket Money today. Go to RockeyMoney.com/awesome.

*Foria: Get 20% off your first order by visiting foriawellness.com/AWESOME or use code AWESOME at checkout

SHOW NOTES:

contains affiliate links

Katie’s AotW: Liquid IV

Meg’s AotW: Sephora #LIPSTORIES Lipstick

Katie’s list:

Babysitter’s Club Series by Ann M Martin Amazon | Bookshop

American Girl Series Amazon

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech Amazon | Bookshop

The Iliad by Homer Amazon

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Amazon | Bookshop

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Amazon | Bookshop

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares Amazon | Bookshop

The Hurried Child by David Elkind Amazon | Bookshop

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving Amazon | Bookshop

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown Amazon | Bookshop

Inspired by Rachel Held Evans Amazon | Bookshop

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer Amazon | Bookshop

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Amazon | Bookshop

Meg’s list

Face on the Milk Carton by Carolyn B Cooney Amazon | Bookshop

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Amazon | Bookshop

The Road from Home by David Kherdian Amazon | Bookshop

Beloved by Toni Morrison Amazon | Bookshop

Complete Poems of ee. Cummings Amazon | Bookshop

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Amazon | Bookshop

Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw Amazon

Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning Amazon | Bookshop

Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey Amazon | Bookshop

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosch Amazon | Bookshop

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson Amazon | Bookshop

The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr Amazon | Bookshop

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

You can find Katie at her website or on Facebook and Instagram! And be sure to check out her latest book Hand in Hand!

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

Our Midlife with Mindy & Meg series is back this week, and in this conversation, Meg and Mindy get physical - physically uncomfortable, that is! Two issues that challenge many women in midlife are hot flashes and changes to our skin. Tune in to hear real-talk conversations about how these are impacting the quality of life for both Meg and Mindy, and join them in feeling conflicted about what to do about anti-aging skin products and routines!

Come be a part of our Patreon community and join in our FIRST book club discussion in September! You’ll get exclusive content every month plus hundreds of hours of Super Star episodes to download and binge right now! And bonus - get our texting number so you can send us your thoughts anytime! Go to patreon.com/sortaawesome to become a Super Star Awesome!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Raycon: Get 15% off your Raycon order at BUYRAYCON.com/sorta

Dame: Go to dameproducts.com and enter code AWESOME for 15% off site wide

SHOW NOTES:

Mindy’s AotW: Drive-a-Logue

Meg’s AotW: Heartstopper: webtoon, books, and TV show!

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

Find Mindy at bookendhomeschoolers.com and on Instagram! You can also find her as a co-host on the Currently Reading podcast!

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

What if the secret to knowing how to make friends and to deeply enjoy your friendships is hidden in the story of your childhood? That's what Meg is discussing today with Dr. Marisa G. Franco whose new book Platonic: How The Science Of Attachment Can Help You Make - And Keep - Friends explores the connection between attachment theory and friendship. Tune in to hear what Dr. Franco has discovered in her research that can help change everything for the friendships in your life!

Come join the conversation in the Sorta Awesome Hangout group!

Find Dr. Marisa G. Franco on her website, Instagram, and Twitter!

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

For some, it’s the most wonderful time of the year; for others, it’s the most chaotic! Whether or not you have school age kids, there’s something so energizing about the back to school season! Today, Meg is joined by Sorta Awesome regular Julie Tepperman, and they have SO MUCH to share with you to make this back to school season more awesome than ever! From favorite products to tips and tricks for kids AND grown-ups to recipes to get back into the school year groove, you do not want to miss this conversation!

Come be a part of our Patreon community and join in our FIRST book club discussion in September! You’ll get exclusive content every month plus hundreds of hours of Super Star episodes to download and binge right now! And bonus - get our texting number so you can send us your thoughts anytime! Go to patreon.com/sortaawesome to become a Super Star Awesome!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

*LUS Brands: Get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more when you go to LUSbrands.com and enter promo code AWESOME

*Faherty: Go to fahertybrand.com/AWESOME and use code AWESOME at checkout to get 20% off

SHOW NOTES:

Julie’s AotW: Tower 28 ShineOn Milky Jelly in Sesame (lip gloss)

Meg’s AotW: Only Murders in the Building on Hulu. (Sign up today for a Hulu Free Trial using our affiliate link!)

Takeya water bottles

Mdesign water bottle holder

Museum gel (holds things still in cabinets/on shelves)

OxyClean max force gel stick

Fun socks for kids

Grown-up bento lunchbox

Bentgo lunchbox for little kids

Freezer pack-it snack pack, lunch box

Cool composition notebooks like this and this

Cute pencil cases

Shout wipes

Project organizer with dividers and folders in the kitchen (similar to Sunday basket)

Task bracelets: bracelets and key tags

20 minute candles on Etsy

Milk Street: Cookish: Throw It Together: Big Flavors. Simple Techniques. 200 Ways to Reinvent Dinner

How to freeze rice

Lisa’s stir fry: 

1 tablespoon canola oil 

12 ounces flank steak, chicken or tofu cut diagonally across the grain into thin slices 

1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (or broccoli, or snap peas - whatever you have!)

1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips 

3 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger (or the minced/jarred paste)

2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (such as Lee Kum Kee)

4 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces (I usually skip this, still great!)

2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds (I usually skip this, still great!)

Preparation

Total: 20 Minutes

1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add steak to pan; cook 2 minutes, searing on one side. Add bell peppers; cook 2 minutes or until beef loses its pink color, stirring constantly. Remove beef mixture from pan.

2. Add soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, and chili garlic sauce to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Add beef mixture and green onions to pan; toss well to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

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

Find Julie on Instagram and Facebook!

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

As promised, this week Meg and Rebekah return to the listener mailbag to uncover the questions that you want answered! The Awesomes have questions for these two, and they don’t disappoint in their answers. Topics include how Meg became so soggy after years of being crunchy, the fictional world they each want to live in, the podcasts THEY are obsessing over and more!

Come be a part of our Patreon community and join in our FIRST book club discussion in September! You’ll get exclusive content every month plus hundreds of hours of Super Star episodes to download and binge right now! And bonus - get our texting number so you can send us your thoughts anytime! Go to patreon.com/sortaawesome to become a Super Star Awesome!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Pair Eyewear: Go to paireyewear.com/AWESOME for 15% off your first purchase

Dame: Go to dameproducts.com and enter code AWESOME for 15% off site wide

Truebill: Don’t fall for subscription scams. Start cancelling today at rocketmoney.com/AWESOME

Butcher Box: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/AWESOME and use code BONUS100 to get 1 pack of free bacon in EVERY box for the life of your membership PLUS $100 off your first order

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah’s AotW: Ticket to Ride

Meg’s AotW: Laurel & June fragrances

Redmond Real Salt

How Rebekah Set Up Her Toy Rotation System

FAQ About Toy Rotation

Rebekah;s current podcast obessions:

Love To See It podcast

Fated Mates podcast

Meg’s current podcast obsessions:

Obsessed with Disappeared

Normal Gossip

Scam Goddess

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