A LOT GOING ON IN THE MOST MAJOR WAYS
Annotations will appear as you listen
0:00
41:09
Car
Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade is a big SUV that can fit lots of people and has nice seats and features. It's a popular choice for families who want a comfortable ride.
Car
Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator is a big, fancy SUV with lots of space and cool tech inside, like big screens and a nice dashboard. It's made by Lincoln, a luxury car brand.
Concept
hybrid
A hybrid car uses two types of power: gas and electricity. This helps the car use less gas and be better for the environment.
Car
Kia Carnival Hybrid
The Kia Carnival Hybrid is a big family car that uses both gas and electric power to save fuel. It has lots of room for kids and stuff, making it good for families.
Concept
minivan
A minivan is a big car that can carry a lot of people and stuff. It usually has special doors that slide open to make it easier to get in and out.
Term
car seat friendly
When a car is car seat friendly, it means it's easy to put kids' safety seats in it and keep them safe while driving.
Car
Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is a family van that many people like because it is dependable and can save gas with its hybrid version. It is good for carrying kids safely.
Term
higher trim
A higher trim means a fancier version of a car with more features and nicer stuff inside.
Car
Ford Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a big SUV that can carry lots of people and stuff. It's good for families or anyone who needs a lot of space and power.
Term
bench seat
A bench seat is one long seat where several people can sit side by side, instead of separate seats for each person.
Car
Volkswagen Atlas
The Volkswagen Atlas is a big family SUV that can carry lots of people and stuff. The 2027 version is a new or updated model coming soon.
Term
taillight
Taillights are the red lights at the back of a car that help other drivers see it and know when it's stopping or turning.
Car
Volkswagen Teramont Pro
The Volkswagen Teramont Pro is a version of the Atlas SUV made especially for China. It looks similar but has some differences for that market.
Car
Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a small SUV that is roomy inside and easy to drive. Many people like it because it has good technology and is comfortable.
LIVE
Welcome to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.
Really, I'm really on the cusp of greatness over here.
So I am so happy to announce that I have exited my ugly era in kind of a major way.
And Liz.
And we just got a dog, so I have to file dog paperwork and we got to get him a vet schedule.
Like I'm literally, it's not even work, it's not even my kids, it's literally just like my personal life.
My personal admin life is just like out of control right now.
Your mom time off starts now.
Welcome back to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.
And Liz.
Hi, Liz.
Hey, Cal.
You good?
I'm still warming up.
It's so cold today.
We went to the same Patrick's Day parade.
And I have not been outside in like 35 minutes and I'm still freezing.
It's a bone chilling cold.
I am not comparing it all my morning to your morning, but I had to walk from a far parking spot to the coffee shop.
And it took me, I almost ordered a hot coffee.
Like it took me, it's, for some reason, I'm chilled to the bone.
My bone is to the chill.
Yeah.
No, I'm chilled to the bone.
But by the time this episode comes out, this is going to be like the most irrelevant conversation ever.
Because literally tomorrow it's like 30 degrees today.
Tomorrow it's going to be 60.
It's, you know, I kind of made like the funniest jokes.
So I like have something like kind of crazy.
I have kind of another side quest that I'm working on a micro hobby, if you will.
I am, and I'm like, you're going to, people are going to think like I'm such, I'm such a contradict, contrarian.
But that may be true, but I believe one people can change.
And I believe, and I also say I'm doing this for my business.
I am trying to become a tiktoker.
Now, I know you don't have tiktok.
I just felt like I'm making the content.
I should be posting on multiple platforms.
And I've spoken about this before because I feel like people are using tiktok as a search engine.
And I want them to search for me and my content.
Because I think that my family car content is the best and the most helpful.
And if that's where the families are, that's where I want to be.
So I like have gone back and forth with posting on tiktok.
As of right now, I have 48,000 followers on tiktok.
Now, some people, that's a lot to me, that's nothing.
I am setting a goal for myself because you know, I love goals.
I want to try to be at 100,000 by the time my kids get out of school.
By the time summer starts.
Oh, wow.
Okay.
Yeah.
It's a big goal.
So that's like end of May.
So what are your plans and steps to get there?
Well, I'm happy you asked.
And this is kind of why I brought this up in the first place.
So first things first, I'm just like taking my reels and uploading them on tiktok.
Like that's just like a boom and a boom.
But tiktok also feels so much more fun because like it's if something flops, I don't care.
Whereas like something flops on Instagram, I really care.
So I yesterday was talking about the weather and I'm like, I have something like kind of funny.
I think it's funny to say about the weather, but like it's not funny enough for Instagram.
But like it's either going to go viral or it's not that funny.
And I'm happy that I can just like use this as a testing board.
Okay.
So what was the joke?
Like what was it a joke?
It was more just like a, so like I have cortisol issues, but I also live in the Midwest.
And I don't know how I'm supposed to accept my body to regulate its cortisol when the
temperature is like going on a 50 degree swing in 24 hours.
It was just more like a good point.
Now that reel has flopped.
Okay.
But I posted something else about the seats in the Palisade and I have almost a million
views.
So if one's going to be, if one's going to go viral, I'm happy it's that one.
First of all.
So I was like, things are ebbing and flowing.
And I'm just like, I'm kind of just using it as like a thought experiment.
So I don't know, follow me on TikTok or don't, I don't care.
I'm not like still like really, I'm not reading comments.
That's insane.
I'm not really like participating in the TikTok culture.
I'm just like trying to get my good content to TikTok.
Get your good, your hilarious weather jokes to the right people.
Exactly.
Exactly.
So yeah, just kind of like micro hobby alert.
Speaking of micro hobbies, we are the center.
Now I'm in two met March Madness leagues.
The Sun Trip fam started our own and I'm really excited about it.
I'm excited about it too.
Both Mike, everyone in my family did it.
And so I went through all of the mascots with James and I said, you want this guy or this
guy?
James so fittingly actually has the Mizzou Tigers winning because he's really into tigers
right now.
And I thought it was going to be like the Long Island sharks.
Like the sharks make it really far in James's world.
I think it's Long Island.
I don't know what, there's a random shark.
Sloan's is based on which one looks the most cuddly, like which one you wouldn't want
to snuggle the most.
And so that actually has Alabama winning with their elephant.
And I just kind of like went really quickly and randomly picked one and I have Duke winning.
Okay.
You know, I'm like so fun.
It feels like gambling.
Well, it is.
I guess it is kind of like gambling.
It just feels like we're playing the lottery.
Like I'm just guessing Tyler was being a bit of a Grinch and I was like fill out your
bracket, fill out your bracket.
He's like, I don't want to do it.
So I just went and I did random generator on his bracket.
Perfect.
So he is random generator and I did not do Fred and Libby.
But like I'm all right.
Now I'm managing four brackets.
That feels like you're managing a lot.
I didn't, I thought it was cute that your kids did ones.
I was like, all of my kids do one.
They won't care.
Like your kids are going to be into it and mine aren't.
Yeah.
I'm just like really excited about this.
We need more things like this in sports.
Yeah.
Well, I think I'm actually, I don't know if I've made this announcement, but like a huge
micro hobby I have coming up this fall is I am going to do a fantasy football league.
You haven't announced that.
Who are you in a fantasy football league with?
With my friends.
Oh, okay.
My friends.
Where I live.
Where I live.
We've, we've, we've chatted.
Okay.
We've chatted about it.
That's a good idea.
Yeah.
Maybe you can do it.
Kelly has always, her entire life been trying to just like, she's always been like this.
Kelly made me and all of her friends create fantasy professional bowl writing.
Teams in high school, which is a thing that exists.
And then when they came, when the PBR came to St. Louis, she had us all get shirts made
with different bowl writers last names on the back.
Like we had to get them custom made because they don't exist, I guess.
We all wore those.
When I go hard on something, I go hard.
Like if I'm into it, I'm into it.
No, it's a good, it's, it's a good thing to be, you really find the joy in the little
things.
And I think that's, I think that's important.
Yeah.
I'm a passionate person.
So anyway, all's to say, currently for me, it's coming up, TikTok and March Madness.
That's what I have going on like the most major ways.
Okay.
That's a lot.
Yeah.
What do you have going on like the most major ways?
I'm just like, I am so busy.
I don't know.
I just feel like I'm drowning in work.
I'm drowning in upcoming things going on.
Like I really just need March and April to be over.
And then I can move on with my life.
I am kind of drowning right now.
Okay.
Um, and like, you want to dive into it kind of way or like, you know, you want to move
on.
No, I don't know.
And like a, and it's a frustrating kind of way where it's like two weeks ago, I was
like, I can do anything.
Maybe it's a puppy.
Maybe the puppy is at a level.
Um, no, I just, I don't feel like I can start anything new right now.
So like I did fill out a bracket, but like I can't, I'm not going to be watching it
very closely.
Like I just don't think I can really take any on anything else right now.
But that's fine.
This is, I think it's a set it and forget it kind of thing.
No, for sure.
Yeah.
We'll just like see what happens and like a game's on.
We'll see.
I just have really learned like in my life and in my motherhood journey, like you've
just got to get uncomfortable in the ebbs and the flows.
Like you've got to get up.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
Talk to me about that.
Well, like there's just always going to be ups and downs.
Yeah.
And like life is not ups.
Like life is not up, up, up, up, up, life is a lot of ups.
Life's, life's are some ups, some downs and a lot of just middles.
And I just think like you got to get okay with just some meh days.
I think that's why I always like to try to have things to look forward to.
Yeah.
To like get me through my meh days or my meh seasons.
But sometimes it's not like sometimes you don't need to like fix anything or like get more
organized.
Sometimes like you just need to kind of ride, like ride it out.
Yeah.
You know?
Yeah.
No, maybe.
I had such an interesting this past weekend.
I, I was around, I was around two babies and Libby was also there.
So it was one of the first times that like I had been around babies when I didn't have
the baby.
Like I don't have a baby anymore.
You're not pregnant.
One is not coming.
One's not coming.
I'm not nursing.
I'm not trying to keep things.
Like one's not crawling.
Like it was a toddler.
It was so interesting to like see this mother with her baby and be like, oh yeah.
I don't like Libby.
Had doors watching Libby like they're in the other room.
It was just a very strange and very exciting.
Yeah.
And very exciting.
But I don't know.
I just think you've got to ebb and flow.
I think you really, I know we know this, but like you cannot compare yourself to anybody.
I'm really comparing myself to myself and who I was a few weeks ago and, and who I will
probably be next week.
It's just like, you know what it is, is I have like so much like at personal admin
stuff going on, like taxes are due.
So I'm sitting here like working on tax stuff.
And we just got a dog.
So I have to file dog paperwork and we got to give them a vet schedule.
I'm literally, it's not even work.
It's not even my kids.
It's literally just like my personal life, my personal admin life is just like out of
control right now.
I know you're going to say no to this, but maybe to somebody else listening, they'll
say yes to this.
So that's why I'm going to say it.
Okay.
Why don't you get a VA?
Because like they can't do my taxes and it's like, I don't know, they can help.
I don't think I'm quite there because I don't think I'm there.
That's fine.
I knew it wasn't going to be for you, but just to like somebody else, the other working
moms, I just really think sometimes people don't realize VA is our sense of virtual assistant.
They can work as little or many hours like you decide or it's a mutually agreed upon.
And I fought it for so long having Matinee help me with personal things.
And now I use Matinee all the time.
I don't think I have, I don't think I have as many personal things going on.
Like I don't have school emails.
I have to read.
Like it's really, it's really not that much.
It's just like all feeling like a lot in this moment.
And like I have to find outfits for things, which is like, ugh.
Oh, I hate finding outfits for things.
I have so many things I have to find outfits for.
Like for our upcoming events.
Our upcoming events.
My friend's bachelor at party and then our brother and Charlotte's engagement party
is coming up and it's Derby themed.
Luckily I have a hat, but I need to find a dress.
I'm probably going to offer repeat for the third time.
Well, mine, mine A was run the runway and B won't fit me anymore.
Okay.
I feel like kind of a crazy idea.
What?
To kind of help with your outfit situation.
Okay.
What if we went in person shopping?
They don't sell maternity clothes in store anywhere.
I don't think you need maternity.
I think, I don't think you need maternity.
I think you need, I think you need a flexible clothing for my friend's bachelor party.
I do need a maternity swimsuit, but that feels like an Amazon order away.
Yeah.
Maybe we could for like a dress for the, for the party, the party and some of the speaking.
Yeah.
Oh, but trying clothes on and fluorescent lighting.
I mean, you already know, I'm like on a mental breakdown.
You're going to, that's going to be my final straw.
I appreciate you trying to help.
I'm fine.
I'm fine.
I really am trying to help.
And I'm fine.
And sometimes I just like need to not, there are no solution needs to be had.
I just need to get through it.
Well, I have really, I'm really on the cusp of greatness over here.
So I am so happy to announce that I have exited my ugly era and kind of a major way.
Um, I had been kind of stuck in it for a minute there, mainly because I was breaking out in
hives, which I have since doesn't help not been broken out in hives.
Um, so that's been like just a huge W.
So like already I'm in the same way people like acknowledge and they don't have a sore
throat.
I'm acknowledging the fact I don't have hives on my face right now.
And I'm like really like writing that into the sunset.
Yeah.
But I was following this girl on tic-tac and she is so beautiful and she has these beautiful
eyelashes.
And I'm like, I still read a comment like what my security is.
She goes, oh, I just use these like fake eyelashes.
And like she just puts them on every day.
And I was like, okay, I don't know.
I'm sure I'm ready to do that.
But I'm always looking for, oh, I'm sorry.
I'm doing a beauty shop where I share a recent beauty swap.
I'm always looking just to like find my level two makeup.
Like I have a good level one.
You know, I've got my every day, but if someone's like, Hey, let's go out.
Like I'm not reaching.
I don't know how to do a smoky eye.
Like I don't have, I don't have level two.
You know?
Eyelashes help.
I feel like fake eyelashes.
That's a good level two.
So I was perusing Target and they had these.
I don't know the exact name of them, but I'll try to find them on Instagram or try to post
them on Instagram.
And they were these glueless like little wispies.
So it's not a full lash.
It's like you kind of like choose your own adventure.
Yeah.
But it was glueless and they can like, you can use them up to four times, which I think
is crazy.
Like I think that feels, that doesn't feel right.
But they weren't that expensive.
And I went home and I'm like, I'm just going to like try to put these on.
So I put on two in each eyelash.
They were so easy to put on.
Like you, they give you a little tweezer.
You just take it in here.
Eyelashes like this.
You go boom, boom.
Like they're on.
Uh-huh.
I looked in the mirror.
I'm like, I don't even need to use mascara.
Yeah.
Like this, I'm not gonna, I, if I, so if I wanted to go level two, I would add mascara.
Oh.
But I'm like, what if I just don't add mascara?
And what if I just get to live my day without mascara on?
So I did that.
Do you have them on right now?
Yeah.
Can't even tell.
Good.
Yeah.
Like it's not a lot.
I'm just like wondering.
I just, it's just been like kind of a blind spot for me on my beauty routine.
And I just think like it's kind of something like I'm hoping to learn to master within
the coming months.
Like I want to have a real, and I'm just like, I'm not going to do the lash extensions.
Like I just, I don't have the time to sit.
I don't want to spend the money on that.
I'm not doing the lash extensions.
But like, what if I could just throw on a lash and go?
And if I think if I don't add the mascara, I could maybe reuse them.
Is it your first day wearing them?
Well, I have a confession.
Okay.
Last night I washed my face and like they didn't come off.
So you slept so long?
So I slept so long today.
It's kind of impressive.
Like it's, but like, and I got up and went.
That's kind of crazy.
The problem for me is lashes sometimes like make me feel so tired because they're like
heavy on your eyes.
I know.
These ones are not.
Interesting.
Like I tell you, I slept.
I woke up.
I'm like, they're intact.
They're intact.
And I didn't add mascara today.
I am going to take them off tonight.
I promise.
But I don't know.
Now I'll let you, I'll keep you posted if I get pink eye, but I don't really know why
I would.
I don't, I don't know why you would either.
I think you're probably in the clear.
And then my next thing is like, I talked about this on my Instagram, but dibs has come out
with this new, I'm going to butcher their name and they like when I get the names right.
It's like a blush stain.
So like think like that, that like lip stain, but for your cheeks, proceed with caution
because it is so pigmented.
But when you nail it, like I have it on today, it looks really good right now.
It will be the last thing off my, like my lashes will fall off before this blush does.
It does not move.
And like I put on my dibs blush stick today and then like I went out to the parade and
stuff and like, I doesn't look like I have blush on anymore.
No, this it, and I love blush.
And I think if you have blush, to me, blushing a gloss goes so far.
Yeah.
So if I have blush on all day, not moving, I'll reapply my gloss.
My fake lashes are still on.
Like I'm telling you, I have exited the ugly era.
Here I am.
Okay.
Well, you look good kid.
I'm feeling good.
Good.
I'm happy.
I'm feeling really good.
So I just wanted to share that.
Oh, my code for dibs, I believe it's car mom.
I know it's car mom.
I think it's only for 10% off now, but I like lover girl and moody girl.
Those are colors.
Those are the colors.
Okay.
Love it.
And I like the little brush they sell it with too, but I'm just telling you like, however
much you think you need, cut it in half and then cut that in half again.
Like I'll literally never have to buy it again.
What are you talking about?
Like how are you applying it?
It's like a lipstick.
So like you squeeze or like a lip gloss.
So you squeeze a little out and you take the brush and then you go, but like that's
too much.
Like you have to be so careful because what it's not very forgiving where I feel like
the dipstick is like idiot proof.
How do you could apply a dipstick?
This takes some concentration.
That's that's a very good context.
Yeah.
Today's episode is brought to you by quints.
These days I'm all about quality over quantity.
You guys know I am decluttering my house.
And so if things in my closet are not well made and versatile, they're not worth it to
me.
I'm getting rid of them.
And that's why I love quints.
The fabrics feel elevated, the cuts are thoughtful and the pricing actually makes sense.
Quints makes high quality wardrobe staples using premium fabrics like a hundred percent
European linen, a hundred percent silk and organic cotton poplin, lightweight cotton
cashmere sweaters, perfect for the changing seasons and can't miss seasonal colors and
prints for spring, versatile, well made pieces that make getting dressed simple.
Did you also know that quints sells kids clothes and like home goods?
I just got some of these linen blackout curtains for my bedroom and they're wonderful.
They are great quality, really thick, willy, willy-rail made and they look amazing.
Quints is always my go to when I need really anything.
I go to see if it's available on quints first because you're going to get the best price
and the best quality.
So right now go to quints.com slash carpool for free shipping and 365 day returns.
That's a full year to wear it and love it and you will.
Now available in Canada too.
Don't keep settling for clothes that don't last.
Go to qince.com slash carpool for free shipping and 365 day returns, quints.com slash carpool.
Today's episode is brought to you by Alma.
Where do you want to be a year from now?
Who do you want to be?
And maybe more importantly, who's on your team helping you get there?
Because the right therapist, someone who makes you feel comfortable, challenges you in the
right ways and has the clinical skills to support you can make a huge difference.
That's why I tell you about Alma.
Alma's on a mission to simplify access to high quality, affordable mental health care
and they've built a nationwide network of over 20,000 diverse therapists.
What's great about their platform is it's easy to find someone who fits your needs.
You can browse their therapist directory without even having to make an account and you can
filter things like insurance, gender and therapeutic approach and more.
And affordability matters, 99% of Alma therapists accept insurance and people who find a therapist
through Alma save it on average of 80% on the cost of sessions.
They even have a free insurance cost estimator so you would know exactly what you'll pay
up front.
A year from today isn't that far away.
Get started now at helloalma.com slash carpool.
That's helloalma.com slash carpool, C-A-R-P-O-O-L.
Okay, something else.
So Elizabeth and I, we used to work in person a lot together but it's just kind of like
the least efficient way to work together because when we work together, it's not that we don't
work, like we do work but a lot of it could be a one person job that we're turning into
a two person job.
I think really what a lot of it is is like you wanted, you just didn't want to be alone
or like didn't want to do it alone so you would ask me to come and do it with you but
then that put me behind on things that I could have been doing and we're just like, Kelly,
maybe you just need to do some of this stuff without me.
I don't know if it was all my fault though but yeah, I see what you're saying.
I mean I wasn't going to be like, no, at the end of the day you're kind of like my boss
so if you say you need me to help you with this video or ad then you need me.
Yes, well there is a level of emotional support that first of all I do need to be the car
mom.
I mean it's an emotionally taxing job some days but all to say is I'm learning how to
film without Elizabeth.
Just like, so I get her the content, like we're learning how to do it.
So I made kind of an insane business purchase.
Oh yeah.
And it all starts back with home begins with love.
First of all, she's still one of my favorite Instagram followers to this, follows to this
day.
Like I want to get her back on the podcast.
She was just, I love following her, 10 out of 10 recommend.
And she was prepping for dinner and she was making a video and she's like, you have two
perspectives on this, my iPhone and my Meta glasses.
That's recording her chopping this out and it was such a good POV to like see her chopping,
see her in her kitchen.
And then I'm thinking, I'm like in this Lincoln Navigator and I'm like, this car is so beautiful,
like sitting in the driver's seat with the big screens and like the beautiful dash like
it is so stunning and it's just not translating when I'm holding it down here with my iPhone.
I'm like, I should buy these glasses and I can do driving POVs.
I could do install car, I could have the two camera set angles and then do like installing
a car seat and showing that I could do like a come with me to the auto show.
Like, I think it's kind of giving endless.
Yeah.
They weren't as expensive as I thought they were going to be.
I thought they were going to be at least like $500.
I agree, they were $350.
Now, I went so back and forth about I should get the glasses or the sunglasses.
Oh.
I went for the glasses.
I think that was the right call.
I think it was the right call too.
I think.
Yeah, I know.
Because I figure I do like when you're driving.
Well, I don't know where sunglasses.
Well, that's not true.
I think you're fine.
No, that's not true.
I mean, I wear sunglasses when I drive, I guess, but I don't need to film the 30-minute
drive.
No, no, no.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, I think you made the right call.
So I'm very anxious to get them in and just kind of like see where the wind takes me.
I'm excited to know someone with my glasses.
I just feel like that's a cool thing.
Yeah.
Kind of same.
I'm not going to eat.
I'm like, let me be so clear.
Like one thing about me, I will not ever like use them in like a meta way.
Like I'm going to try to enter the metaverse.
Oh, is that what people use them for?
Well, yeah, I don't think everyone's just like filming their life.
I think they're trying to like do their emails on meta, right?
What is meta?
Meta's Facebook.
I don't know, Elizabeth, but I'm just using them for the camera quality.
Okay, perfect.
I'm excited.
So stay tuned.
Okay.
Stay tuned.
So we have a non-related car advice question, but before we get to that, I want to go through
like this really interesting conversation that I had with a friend of mine who is in
need of a new car.
She just became a mom three months ago.
She lives like two hours from St. Louis, so has to kind of like drive into St. Louis
a lot.
So she wants a hybrid just because they need good gas mileage.
And she wants like three to four kids and she's like, she can't do her car.
Like she's always driving in St. Louis.
She has so much stuff always with her for her baby.
And she's like, what should I get?
And she has a balloon and she has a balloon business.
She has a balloon arch business too.
So she like is bringing these like huge blown up balloon arches.
So I was talking to her and I'm like, I think like I have the key of carnival hybrid.
I think you probably need to get the key of carnival hybrid.
So she came and she looked at my car, but she was struggling so much with the she's
like the only, only hold up is the fact that like it's a minivan and I'm 32 years old.
Like I understand I'm like the age to get a minivan, but I don't feel like I should
be at the age to get a minivan and she was really, and she's only been a mom for three
months.
I really couldn't relate to this sentiment because it feels like so sorry.
James is crying outside my room.
He's fine.
No, that's okay.
I just was wondering if it was one of mine.
No, it's James.
He's like recently discovered where my office is in our house and so whatever.
Anyway, I just want to talk about kind of we need an office space.
Anyway, a sentiment that I can't relate to because I'm like loving my minivan life,
but I have also been a mom for several years that it's kind of a pill that I've swallowed.
Yeah, I think it's interesting for the moms who find themselves car shop for the first
time moms who find themselves car shopping, who are using their brains and realizing like
they want more kids.
They know their family is going to grow, but like it does it sets.
It's such that dramatic jump from like the car when they were like a hot young single
thing to like a minivan.
Like it's it's enough to give you whiplash.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's kind of it's a lot.
It's a lot to take on.
I asked her if she would do like another series with us kind of like we did with Merrick and
she was like, yes, like literally my only hesitation is that if I do choose the minivan, it feels
like it will be like a declaration to everyone.
I know like I'm a minivan girl.
Yeah, that's like so crazy.
I think she kind of needs to.
I think she's let a little that go.
I know I'm really trying to just like remember like she has literally only been a mom for
three months, though.
Well, here's why it's hard because you actually don't need the minivan for a three month old.
You don't need the money.
She could keep doing what she's doing right now, but it is time to get a new car.
She needs a new car.
She needs.
But anyway, one of the reasons we recommended the carnival was because it could be a hybrid
and it's very car seat friendly and three to four kids is I mean, that's a lot of kids
in a car.
So I think it's in and Sienna's out of budget.
So I think it's really the obvious choice.
Um, but this is also a scenario where I know she doesn't, she drives too much to probably
lease.
Yeah, she probably just needs to get over it.
Yeah.
And yeah, she drives just so many miles.
I know.
I think she probably will.
And I was like, you know what?
If you are like, I personally think this is the best looking minivan.
So if you're going to get one, this is the snazziest one, like she's going to get a
higher trim.
I'm like, get a beautiful color on the exterior and just go with it.
I can have like a major update on my end too.
What?
I have put out some feelers for a car.
Oh, what kind?
Well, obviously an expedition.
Yeah, but I want to I want a white expedition.
With the bench seat.
I want the black roof.
So it's like a black roof with a white body.
I think it will help like tie in the black tailgate better.
Platinum.
Mm-hmm.
The craziest thing, though, is I'm not you guys are going to freak when I say this.
I'm not going to get the max.
I know.
We've talked about this already.
Have we?
How you have you don't think you need the map?
Yeah, we've talked about this because you because Tyler drives all the time.
Well, and now that we have the the other more context like Tyler Tyler drives his truck
all the time now that everyone knows that we also have the au pair like or she drives.
And so like we just don't need that trunk space.
And I have a navigator press card this week, a short rail base.
And let me tell you, like it's enough for me.
Yeah.
It's enough for me.
The stroller part is going to be tough, but like I'm really almost out of the double
stroller phase.
I'm sorry.
I like sweating right now.
Like both my eyes are crying.
Maddie's like wrangling a dog.
I'm sorry. I'm sweating.
Um.
So anyway, I decided not to do the max.
I there's not.
I mean, if anyone's looking for expedition, you know how hard the bench seats are to
find. So I don't have one yet, but I have decided that I'm that I think I'm ready.
So pretty jazzed about it.
Pretty jazzed.
I really want a white car.
I'm excited for you.
I hope you find it.
I will.
OK.
OK, back to the advice, the non-car related advice question.
This comes from Jen.
Hi Kelly and Liz.
I wanted to say how much I adore your podcast.
I've never missed an episode.
You guys are hilarious.
I wanted to get some insight on your evening routines.
I have.
I think she has a typo.
She says I have one kids, five and three.
She has two kids, five and three.
And it feels like such chaos between getting home from school at 3 30 in bedtime.
Do you eat dinner as a family or feed the kids separately?
When do you squeeze in baths, playtime or some TV downtime?
No matter how I manipulate our schedule, it never works.
Thanks in advance or thanks for your advice.
Do you want me to start or do you want to start?
I just think I just think it's an interesting question.
And I think other people would also be interested to know other people's
like evening routines, but you can even start.
Well, similar to how we were talking about earlier, it's a ride.
What is it? It's a ride.
And some evenings go better than others.
Like they do not all look the same.
Even if our situation doesn't change.
Like even if we're just home two nights in a row, sometimes it's good.
Sometimes it's not some major shifts that I've made that have helped.
One, we do not all eat dinner at the same time.
I personally am not personally.
I'm not of the belief where I like I want to feed kids when they're hungry.
I feed them as soon as possible.
Like we don't do after school snacks.
We do a four o'clock dinner.
I have dinner ready by four, four thirty at the latest.
Like that's when dinner is ready.
So when you are hungry, I will make you a plate.
I don't leave the kitchen during the evening routines, like three to five.
I'm in the kitchen the whole time.
So I'm either like finishing up work, I'm cooking, I'm prepping.
Like so if the kids want time with me, if they want to talk to me,
if they want to decompress about their day, I'm in the kitchen serving food
to anyone who is sitting.
Now, I actually love not all eating dinner as a family.
For the ages that my kids are now, I could see how when they are older,
I will want us to sit down.
But right now, if we were off, if everyone was to sit down,
we would not I would not have like meaningful conversations
with with with the kids one on one like I do.
So it works for me.
Now Libby, now Fred, George and Heidi are playing.
They're normally playing outside downstairs.
We don't really we don't do TV until jammies are on and like before bed.
So we don't do any sort of TV during that time.
Unless it's a really, really bad day.
And I feel like they need like 20 minutes to just like shut their brains off
before like from school.
Then sometimes I'll allow them to watch like something low stimulating to get together.
I also really like to I'm kind of getting on a
emphasis on screen time.
I don't we do screen time in our family, but whenever possible,
I like them to watch screen time together.
Because I think that has like some sort of at least that has like some sort of
bonding and interactive interaction.
Like there is not a world where like all three of my kids
are like watching something different on like a tablet or a TV.
Like we are watching one thing as a family.
So anyway, back to my unit routine.
Um, so I'm just kind of like making food.
Oh, so then Libby's just normally in her high chair.
Like I'm feeding her very slowly or she's just like literally on my hip.
Normally annoying me.
But for the most part, I try to stay in the kitchen and the kids kind of just free play.
Once we have dinner wrapped up, we kind of do.
We give we bathe kids every other night.
So normally like the boys take a bath, the girls take a bath.
That's kind of like a newer thing for us, but it's just kind of what's worked lately.
I think that's helpful.
And then.
I get their jammies on.
We get everyone's jammies on.
I put them in there, but I put them in the sunroom.
They watch a little TV.
I quickly clean the kitchen and then we go to bed.
Yeah.
I have like a totally different approach.
It's funny because like it just totally depends on your kids.
And also I only have two kids.
Like I love what you said about getting able to talk with each of your kids at
different times we do all eat together.
But that is because since my kids I've noticed our pickier eaters eating as a
family encourages them to eat more.
So I do find eating together helps for us.
Um, another thing that has been like really life changing for us is popsicle
baths at the age of my kids who maybe need to be tempted to go or know that
like getting in the bath is going to be fun and it's going to be an activity.
We do a popsicle bath, which is just where you give them a popsicle in the bath.
And it kind of encourages them to eat their dinner.
And from there, like once so we have a two story house.
And I think this is kind of key for me.
Like once we're upstairs after baths, we're not going back downstairs.
Because upstairs is like wind down time.
So we're, we're up, we're here for the night.
We're going to play in our rooms, maybe the watch TV in my bed and we're not.
The lights are low.
Um, as far as cleaning the kitchen goes when I try and get that done.
I mean, my husband's really helpful.
So like he'll hang out with the kids upstairs while I clean the kitchen.
I'll, I'll try and or I'll do it after bedtime or sometimes I'll like let them
watch will James like watch TV in my bed while I clean the kitchen.
Um, I evenings have gotten easier for us lately, but I will say like, you know,
four o'clock, three 30 rolls around, you kind of have to like give yourself
a little mental check of like, okay, it's about to go down.
Yeah.
And just like, no, that things might, might get go off the handles, but like
you, you got, you got to get your head in the game.
Yeah.
So that's, that's our evening routine.
Okay.
Well, are you ready for industry news where I saw the hot tea going on in the
auto industry?
Yeah.
Okay.
Not like kind of all crickets.
I think everyone's just like kind of not really doing anything for a while.
Um, but we got another like teaser photo of the Atlas.
So this is a story from auto evolution.
It says the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas teased again.
We'll debut at the New York international auto show update.
We did get invited to the event.
So we will be there.
So we will be able to bring you that hard hitting drama.
Now the photo they've released is just this like pixelated esk taillight.
See that?
But what's interesting is this is really put people into a tizzy because
they're saying that like this taillight looks very similar to, to the, uh, to
the Chinese version of the Atlas, which is called the Terra mount pro, which
looks like this.
So they're saying it's okay.
This is the, this is basically the Chinese Atlas, um, which I didn't really
realize it was there.
So it says the taillights a match, which makes sense because the Terra mount
directly above sold in China is an Atlas, but built for that market.
The current generations are identical, but this new one seems like it will
continue that trend.
So then people have been like pulling up a lot of pictures of the Terra mount,
specifically on the interior.
They do think the interior will be, will look different, maybe not quite as,
I'll say the word designed, but kind of gives us an idea of like what the layout
could be.
Now, first glance, I mean, the taillight did nothing for me because it's just
like a pixelated taillight.
I don't really think the Terra mount is a very attractive looking car.
I'm actually not liking the exterior of this car at all.
I think it's very busy.
I think it's, I think the grill looks bad.
I think it's a lot of plastic.
So I'm actually hoping, I think, I think it's, I think it's overdesigned.
They're kind of like losing that simplest, that simplistic look.
And the Atlas is a very, the Atlas body lines are just very aggressive.
Like it's what I would describe.
Wouldn't describe it as a boxy car.
I would describe it as more of like a muscular, more, more contours found
on that vehicle.
Like the Atlas is not a box, whereas like some of the other cars are.
So I'm a little worried about, I don't like how this looks.
OK, so we'll have to see how much they adapted it for the American market.
And yeah, I'm really excited to see it.
We are speaking of things we didn't outfit for.
What do you wear to an Atlas reveal?
Need to add more to my plate.
Forgot that I have to pack for New York.
Don't expect much from me.
OK, the Spanx jumpsuit is what I will probably be in.
He looks so cute in one.
Thank you so much.
So that's kind of industry news.
I'm going to have plant my flag and I don't think it's going to look like this
pteromont.
I'm going to plant my flag in.
I.
I'm going to plant my flag is that I'm not going to like the exterior as much.
I think I'm going to lie.
I think we're going to like the exterior.
I hope we do.
I really hope we do.
I really hope we do.
Volkswagen, I've I really liked what Volkswagen has done in the in the past.
Well, and I really like the new Tiguan.
Yeah, so I'm not I'm really not worried.
I'm excited.
And now it's time for just the drive through.
We give you an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to get you out of your dinner.
A lot.
Here's what I'm about to go make because
my kids are having chicken nuggets for lunch.
I'm going to take some bear chicken nuggets
and I'm going to toss them in my Buffalo Wild Wings chicken parm.
You garlic parm, you said you wanted to get rid of this.
You know, it's just it's something I have and I am going to make
Buffalo Wild Wings at home today.
But it's so good, but it's so expensive
and for literally boneless wings, it's that expensive
and you can buy any of their sauces.
Yes, so why is it so expensive?
Why? And it's like shockingly expensive.
I wish I had some celery, but I do have some carrots and ranch.
And I'm just going to like I you know what I wish I had was a cardboard
tray is what I really like to like get the full experience.
But that's what I'm going to go have for lunch right now.
That sounds so tasty.
We are having a classic in the Stumpy household.
We're having a because it's like the last cold day at the time of this recording.
And we are having a chi chi pie pie.
Kelly, I literally instacarded the ingredients for chi chi pie pie this morning.
And it was too early, so the rich history chickens weren't out.
So I'm I'm pivoting and I'm not making that tonight, but I'm making that this week.
Yep, we're having a good old fashioned chi chi pie pie.
And I'm very excited about it.
Are you doing biscuits or pie crusts?
Pie crusts.
OK, yum. Yep.
Pie crusts, I'm just going to kind of do it up right.
And that's what's for supper tonight.
So thank you guys so much for listening to the Carpal Podcast.
Sorry, we're a little all over the place today.
But the most important thing is we got an episode in your ear, which.
Yeah, is all we can really ask for these days.
So you guys, here's your here's your assignment.
Have an amazing weekend.
And we will see you podcasters on Wednesday.
Love you. Bye.
Thank you for listening to the Carpal Podcast with Kelly and Liz.
Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode.
And if you enjoyed riding with us, tell everybody, you know,
there's room in the car for everyone.
About this episode
Kelly and Liz dive into their busy personal lives, from adopting a new dog and managing family chaos to Kelly's new TikTok content strategy and Liz's fantasy sports leagues. They share candid thoughts on motherhood, evening routines, and embracing life's ups and downs. The conversation also covers Kelly's excitement about new filming tech for car content and a detailed car-buying discussion focused on family-friendly hybrids and SUVs. They wrap up with industry news about the upcoming 2027 Volkswagen Atlas reveal and share easy dinner ideas, blending lifestyle, humor, and practical advice.
The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz
The Car Mom LLC / tentwentytwo Projects
0:00
41:09