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  • We chat about how good we are at getting things done, which tasks are easy for us to start and finish, and whether anything helps us check things off our lists.


    Life lately

    Sarah (along with all of Bloomington) is prepping for April 8's solar eclipse.

    Abby got a puppy, Edie.


    Reading lately

    Sarah highly recommends the YA novel, In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner (especially the audio version).

    Abby has been slowly making her way through the first three books of the Her Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen.


    Eating lately

    Abby hacked a grocery store cookie cake for Pepper's birthday.

    Sarah tried out this Pad Thai recipe.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


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  • Life lately

    Abby is feeling good about their family's summer plans.

    Sarah's kids are enjoying some winter hobbies.

    Reading lately

    Abby read True Biz by Sara Nović and Sarah read S.K. Ali's young adult novel Saints and Misfits.

    Looking ahead to turning 40

    As we enter the last year of our 30s, we look back over the last decade, look ahead to our 40s, and share how we hope to celebrate our milestone birthdays.

    Eating lately

    Sarah tried two new focaccia recipes but had the most success with this one from Alexandra Cooks.

    Abby shares about a new Trader Joe's product: garlic asiago cheese dip.

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


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  • Life lately


    Sarah is thankful that January is behind us, and night shift is going surprisingly well for Abby.


    Reading lately


    Sarah read (and loved) The Good Part by Sophie Cousens.

    Abby listened to Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann.


    Religion and spirituality


    We discuss our experiences with religion and spirituality, growing up, today, and how we think about religion and spirituality as parents.


    Eating lately


    Abby ate Torchy's Tacos every day she was in Texas and has no regrets.


    Make-your-own sushi is a big win at Sarah's house.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • New year’s intentions, 2024

    We set our intentions for the year, share our words for the year, and discuss specific goals in various categories.


    Life Lately

    Abby is looking forward to time with family over the holiday (plus Tex-Mex!).

    Sarah shares to home winds: the headboard Neil made and all the secondhand plants.


    Reading lately

    Abby found a new romance series by Sarah Estep--the Brunch Bros.

    Sarah read the technology parenting book Growing Up In Public by Devorah Heitner.


    Eating lately

    Sarah found success with a traditional caramel recipe and Abby enjoyed apple cider caramels made by a friend. We recommend this thermometer that attaches to the pan.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for


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  • We look back on our respective years, talk about how we did with our intention words, and do a lightning round of favorites from 2023.


    Life lately

    Sarah recommends the Fantastic Fiction website.

    Abby is leaving the leaves this year.


    Reading lately

    Sarah read the nonfiction book The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World by Max Fisher.

    Abby enjoyed the first two installments of the Wilmot Sisters contemporary romance series by Chloe Liese.


    Eating lately

    Abby is very into Cherry Cordials, the best seasonal Little Debbie.

    Sarah has significantly upped her bean game.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Our year in books, 2023

    We share the highs and lows of our reading year as well as our favorite books in various categories.


    Life lately

    Abby loves her new Pact sweaters.

    Sarah is cozying up with the Calm Christmas podcast.


    Reading lately

    Abby read the spicy romance novel (set in Bloomington!) How Not to Fall by Emily Foster.

    Sarah read Michelle Huneven's novel Search.


    Eating lately

    Sarah made cranberry orange bread and Abby wants you all to know about shrimp toast.


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


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • We give an update on the state of clutter in our homes and discuss how we think we might manage it better. We'd love your ideas! (And here's the podcast Sarah mentioned: A Slob Comes Clean)


    Life lately

    Sarah ran a half marathon—yay!

    Abby built a screen door.


    Reading lately

    Sarah read the satirical novel Wellness by Nathan Hill.

    Abby enjoyed the first two mysteries in the Jane Austen-inspired Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series by Claudia Gray.


    Eating lately

    Abby tried out a new spinach dip recipe, and it was a hit at her work potluck.

    Sarah and E made some yummy mint brownies (similar to this recipe, just swap ganache for mini chocolate chips).


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Parenting strengths and weaknesses

    We share areas of parenting that come easily to us (and those that don't!), our partners' parenting superpowers, and a recent parenting win.

    Episode about our everyday superpowers

    Life lately

    Abby shares the sad news that the hospital where she works will be closing Labor and Delivery later this month.

    The renovation continues at Sarah's house... In this update, concrete stain!


    Reading lately

    Abby read the YA fantasy novel To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose.

    Sarah read R.F. Kuang's Yellowface.


    Eating lately

    Sarah tried two new recipes from the Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook for Neil's birthday.

    Abby enjoyed a buffalo chicken dip made by Andrew.


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


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • We look back on how the summer went and what we learned about how to make next summer even better.


    Life lately

    Sarah is picking paint colors again. (What a nightmare.)

    Abby healed one of her kitty's ears without a vet trip thanks to this product.


    Reading lately

    Sarah read the Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom Duology by Leigh Bardugo.

    Abby read Feed the Baby: An Inclusive Guide to Nursing, Bottle-Feeding, and Everything In Between by her dear friend and IBCLC, Victoria Facelli.


    Eating lately

    Abby loved this recipe for samosas made with crescent roll dough.

    Sarah made a delicious white bean chicken chili in an effort to get back to meal planning.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Mindsets


    We share mindsets and mantras that have served us well over the years, ones that do not work for us, and mindsets we are trying to help our kids cultivate.


    Life lately


    Abby was on television for her work.


    Sarah's family has joined the local climbing gym.


    Reading lately


    Abby is all-in on Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.


    Sarah recommends Maame by Jessica George.


    Eating lately


    Sarah and Abby both enjoyed meals cooked by their moms: orzo pasta salad and hashbrown casserole.


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


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • We reflect on how the year is going so far, remind ourselves of our words for the year, and look ahead to the second half of 2023.


    Life lately

    Sarah’s children are at sleep away camp for the first time.

    Abby recently did a refresh of her indoor plants.


    Reading lately

    Sarah read and loved You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smith.

    Abby listened to Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.


    Eating lately

    Abby and her family have been harvesting their homegrown blackberries.

    Sarah enjoyed a seafood boil on a recent beach trip.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Preferences

    We share our preferences in our lifestyles, food, music, tv/movies, books, and socializing, as well as how our they have changed over time and whether they align with our spouses' preferences.


    Life lately

    Abby's battling the lice that made their way into her home.

    Sarah's family is preparing for an egg drop competition.


    Reading lately

    Abby read the queer, young adult romance Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth.

    Sarah read Laura Bates' Men Who Hate Women, which she heard about through an interview with the author on the Offline podcast.


    Eating lately

    Sarah is enjoying homemade sushi, using this Instant Pot sushi rice recipe.

    Abby found a simple and delicious recipe for pork shoulder.


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


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • With this episode, we're starting a new schedule for Friendlier. We’ve decided to release new episodes on the first Tuesday of each month, instead of every other week, as we’ve been doing. As our lives have gotten busier, it’s been tough to fit in podcasting, but we love this creative project and connecting with all of you, so we’re hopeful that the new schedule will help us continue to fit the pod into our lives.


    Life lately

    Sarah and E enjoyed seeing Annie together.

    Abby has a nest of baby birds on her front door wreath. 


    Reading lately

    Sarah loved Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld.

    Abby is deep into The Ravenels series by Lisa Kleypas.


    Looking ahead to summer

    We discuss our summer plans and aspirations, as well as how this summer will be different from summers past. 


    Eating lately

    Abby introduced her children to toaster strudel.

    Sarah was inspired to make shrimp tacos.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • K-12 school experiences

    We share the highs and lows of our experiences in elementary, middle, and high school.


    Life lately

    Abby has poison ivy.

    Sarah just got back from the SEC gymnastics championships in Georgia.


    Reading lately

    Abby enjoyed the cozy fantasy The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.

    Sarah read Jennette McCurdy's memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died.


    Eating lately

    Sarah's family is having pancakes for breakfast nearly every day.

    Abby's enjoying hearty salads for lunch at work.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • We discuss what we want more of and less of, as well as things that are just right in our lives.


    Life lately

    Sarah took the kids to their first public meeting.

    The neighbors fixed the fence at Abby's house.


    Reading lately

    Sarah enjoyed Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.

    Abby got into the cozy fantasy/romance Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree.


    Eating lately

    Abby resurrected a childhood frozen favorite: Mrs. T's Pierogies.

    Sarah brought back delicious gummy bears and chocolate from Germany.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Technology

    We share our most used tech in daily life, technology other people seem to love but we don't, favorite tech related to kids/parenting, and our technology aspirations. Links we mentioned:

    Kindle strapWireless headphonesWyndy appCalm app

    Life lately

    Abby shares that her beloved cat, Duncan, passed away last month.

    Sarah just got back from a ten day to trip to Germany.


    Reading lately

    Abby listened to, and loved, Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson.

    Sarah read the tennis novel Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid.


    Eating lately

    Sarah a new to her dining experience--Michelin star restaurants in Berlin.

    Abby tried a sheet pan dinner with roasted veggies and sausage.


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


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • We talk about cultivating a family food culture: what we want food and eating to feel like in our families, what is working and not working in our family food experience, and resources that we’ve used in developing family food culture.


    Links we mentioned:

    Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse ReschVirginia Sole-Smith’s InstagramEllyn Satter’s Division of ResponsibilityVisible Child

    Life lately

    Sarah and Neil rented and watched Free Solo.

    Abby remade some old pillows with new stuffing and is enjoying how they look on her couch.


    Reading lately

    Sarah read Spare by Prince Harry.

    Abby listened to Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Stanley Blair (AKA DesignMom, also the author of this Tweet thread).


    Eating lately

    Abby made meat loaf in the Instant Pot.

    Sarah and her family are loving Cool Ranch Doritos.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • The days are dark and cold, at least in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. We thought it would be fun to share what is bringing us joy, comfort, and generally helping us get through these months until spring arrives.


    Life Lately

    Abby used this kit to pierce a second set of holes in her ears.

    Sarah’s kids are enjoying sleepovers with friends.


    Reading lately

    Abby read Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins which was a recommendation from a listener—thank you Chrissie!

    Sarah and E enjoyed the Friends series of graphic novels written by Shannon Hale and illustrated by LeUyen Pham: Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever.


    Eating lately

    Sarah made vegetarian beef stroganoff (with Impossible meat) from this Damn Delicious recipe.

    Abby treated herself to chocolate mousse from Costco.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listening!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • We discuss our favorite spaces in our homes, the projects we want to tackle, and how we want our homes to feel.


    Life lately

    Sarah’s enjoying her newly installed windows and an accompanying living room rearrangement.

    Abby passed the NCLEX (nursing board exam) and is now an RN.

    Reading lately

    Sarah read a cozy mystery, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

    Abby loved the most recent romance in the Spoiler Alert series by Olivia Dade, Ship Wrecked.

    Eating lately

    Abby was pleasantly surprised by how well this Instant Pot beef stroganoff came out.

    Sarah and her kids have been making energy bites for the kids’ lunches, which they are packing independently.


    If you’d like to join in the conversation, please leave us a comment on our show notes, email us at [email protected], or find us on Instagram @friendlierpodcast. Thanks for listenin


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • New year’s intentions, 2023

    We set our intentions for the year, share our words for the year, and discuss specific goals in different categories.

    Life Lately

    Abby shares a toy all six of her cats love.

    Sarah and Neil attempted a calendar meeting to moderate success.

    Reading lately

    Abby read The Bookwoman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson, the sequel to The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek.

    Sarah read Sophie Cousen's Just Haven't Met You Yet.

    Eating lately

    Abby is loving the chipotle pot de creme from El Barrio.

    Sarah is eating fancied up ramen noodles multiple times a week.

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


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.