A SIDE OF MELON FRIES

Welcome to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.

For you to take my order, ask me to tip for what?

Oh, the only exchange we've had is what would you like?

I said it, here's the total.

I haven't even tasted it.

What if you make it wrong three times?

And Liz.

Only reason I'm tipping a dollar

is to avoid you potentially spitting it.

Like, right.

That's what I'm actually paying for.

It's to avoid it being darnished.

Your mom time off starts now.

Welcome back to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.

And Liz.

Hi, Liz.

Hi.

How are you?

I mean, I don't want to make you feel bad.

Yeah, so I'm great.

It's good to know that one of these days I'll be great again.

Dude, it's just like, it is just the end of pregnancy

where you're, it's a mind, it is a mind game.

It's a mental game.

Yeah.

It is such a mental game.

And for me, this time it's a really physical game.

I did have a bit of a scare.

This, not scare, but false, false labor, maybe.

Anyway, I thought my water broke and turns out,

I just peed myself in public.

But I went to the doctor to get it checked out anyway,

because I'm like, I don't know what happened.

And I went and they were like, they were told me it was the right thing to do to come in.

Like everyone was great, no one shamed me, no one sent me home.

What you have to, like if you think there's a chance like you have to go and get it checked out.

But being in the room, I was like, oh, I'm really not prepared for this.

Like I'm really getting nervous about giving birth.

Are you nervous about giving birth or are you nervous about having three kids?

Yes, both.

Separate.

And I'm also nervous about having post-partum depression.

Well, that's the thing with those just like baby blues looming over.

You just, what I don't like about post-partum depression is a myriad of things.

But what I really don't like in my experience is I could never predict if I was going to have it or not.

Like it doesn't matter what you do, I find it to be random.

George and Libby, PPD, full swing.

Fred and Hattie, post-partum joy.

I didn't do anything different.

You have no idea.

And so, you know, when people are trying to, you know, I cannot make a plan

past in August.

Like don't ask me for a plan.

Obviously I'm not doing anything.

But like even so, I'm like work things like, hey, do you think you can maybe work with this brand in September or whatever?

It's like, I do not know because I do not know what my headspace will be like.

I don't know what my recovery is going to be like.

You know, I hope that it's smooth sailing like it was with Sloan.

Like you don't know if you're going to end up having an emergency C-section.

Like you don't know anything.

So you really, you can only plan for so much.

So true, Bessie.

So, but.

Well, I will be here to support whatever version of you comes out of that hospital.

Thank you so much.

I'm excited that you can actually be there for me.

No, we've been talking about this a lot because with Elizabeth's first two,

I was in the postpartum trenches myself.

And now I've, you know, I've obviously doing great.

I'm doing great to be honest with you.

She wants to talk about how great everything is.

Finally, my summer.

I'm telling you, it's, and I was talking to my sister in on this past weekend

and she was just saying like how hard it is.

And I said, girl, it's just not your summer.

And once you give yourself permission to know it's not your summer,

but your summer will come around again.

I always found a little peace with it.

And I'm happy to report that it is my summer.

And I am so excited to serve you because I don't know it's good enough credit for how

actually like acts of service is kind of probably one of my love language.

That's how I, that's not how I like to receive love.

I like words of affirmation, but I love to do things for people.

You like to do things for people and then be told how great it was that you did this thing for them.

Hundred.

First of all, that's a little rude, but it's also true.

Beautiful. It's a circle of life. It's beautiful,

but I don't want to hear it necessarily for my own ego.

I want to hear it so I know that it was helpful.

Yeah.

Um, I get that.

So speaking of acts of service, Elizabeth, I came over last week.

Honestly, kind of was a dumpster fire of a day.

Kelly came over last week.

And actually now that I know that that is your love language, I feel really bad because after

you left, I was like, wow, it would have been so much easier if you just didn't come over and

you're like, really?

And I'm like, oh, sorry.

You just drove like an hour round trip.

Like you cleaned up my fridge.

Like you brought two kids.

Like I understand that was insensitive of me, but also it was a dumpster fire.

Well, you just never know.

So that's what a little bit that I get together with our younger kids.

We never know what we're going to get.

And tell.

We think we're going to get one thing and we always get the opposite and we refuse to learn.

And that's insanity.

We're insane.

But one of these days, it's going to all cut.

One of these days, it's going to be a good idea.

So basically Maddie was working late.

I was like, I'm going to bring Fred and Libby over.

I'm going to bring, I brought some beautiful steaks.

You had some burgers.

I was like, we'll let the kids play.

I'll help you out a little bit.

And it just didn't go that way at all.

But one thing that we noticed is when we first get there, our kids are the best.

They're not fighting yet and they're entertained.

So I got there and I hit the ground running.

I said, give me your refrigerator.

I took everything out of a fridge.

To the point where like the first 10 seconds you entered my house,

you were cleaning your fridge.

Because I also, because no, because we have learned some things and I wanted to leave

having accomplished something.

Yeah.

And my refrigerator looks great.

So I cleaned out deep cleaner fridge, took everything out, got my scrubby daddy out,

was washing, drying, throwing away expired things.

About halfway through when I was starting to put things back into the fridge,

the kids started having an utter meltdown.

All of the children.

Yeah.

All of the children.

And I've never seen a person really crush teaching a child how to share because sharing

is such a, it's kind of such a dumb concept if I'm being honest with you.

And I know it's a necessary concept and like I want kids to get a,

I don't want the kids to fight.

And I guess they're fighting over the same toy since, since, so they have to share.

But it's so hard because like, if Fred is playing with something

and now all of a sudden James wants it, like, what does James have to,

why does Fred have to share on the flip side?

Why is James having to share all of his toys?

Like it doesn't make any sense.

And I'm actually not this mom who really believes that kids have to share that much

hot take in certain situations.

Like we've been, we've, we've had situations where like,

my kids bring a toy to like maybe a get together or to the park.

They don't have to share.

They brought it.

They brought it not to share.

Like, sorry, your kid didn't bring a toy.

He does not have to share his Paw Patrol.

He brought it.

I agree.

And I do think that, I mean, I think it's easier said than done when it's like your

niece or nephew, because if Fred like once James is dinosaur and we're in public,

I'm like, well, you know, that's, that's James's, he brought it.

If he, maybe in a little bit, I'm sure he'll get sick of it and maybe then you can play with it.

But I'm not going to say James handed over to Fred because you just walked in here.

But I understand the pressure when you're with like, maybe a new mom friend or just like,

you're not, I'm not going to talk to someone else's kid that way.

I'll talk to your kids that way because I'm partially in charge of raising them to be,

you know, as well, because I'm their aunt.

I actually love them.

Who, who, who I trust and who are close friends or family discipline my kids.

I actually love it.

You know what?

Someone came up, James was throwing a meltdown yesterday in the grocery store.

And this woman, he's screaming.

Maddie's trying, I'm trying to check out.

Maddie and I are like trying to, Maddie and I were both there.

Okay.

And like Sloan's fine.

James is screaming.

We're trying to check out and this woman comes up and gets in his face and goes,

Hey buddy.

And I'm like, woman get away from my son right now.

She goes, do you think you could, could settle down?

I don't want you to get hurt.

And Maddie's like, he's fine.

Like I'm like the audacity to come up to a screaming child and try and console them or

tell them anything is insane.

Would you obviously, you obviously don't have the context.

She's like, I've just been watching him and I just like want to make sure he's okay.

And Maddie's like, yes, he's fine.

Like it was insane.

That's an insane behavior.

It was 1pm and we were at the grocery store.

Like it was a bad move on our part.

Both of his parents were there.

Like I'm not like this mom who's like needing help.

Like, oh my gosh, go away.

So anyway, that just reminded me of that was like the most insane thing ever.

Maddie and I both got in the car and we were like, what was that about?

Who does that?

Anyway, um, yeah, I get that.

Like people you trust, uh, and no, disappointing them or correcting them.

Yeah.

I mean, I just think, I think sometimes they'll just listen.

Um, anyway, also not with sharing.

Like if your child is young, too, we young, definitely younger than two,

maybe two, this one that we can start talking about sharing.

But don't have your one and a half year old.

Don't say, Hey, buddy, can you share?

Like I did not expect your one and a half year old to do anything.

Like your one and a half year old does not need to be sharing.

Like they're going to, I'm kind of of the mindset.

Like if I have 21 and a half year olds, let them figure it out.

I don't need to intervene here because it's not going to do anything.

Like they need to socially figure it out themselves.

I agree.

Even, even Fred and James, if they're fighting over something like until

someone like starts throwing hands, like maybe let's just see what,

let's just see what happens.

But it's so hard.

It's one of the hardest part of like making new mom friends is you just don't always know.

It's just, it's a very awkward situation.

That's why I always say that should, I mean, I would say if they're like, Hey,

will you share?

I'm like, Hey, do whatever you feel comfortable doing, how you want to handle the situation.

But no, for me, I'm not expecting your child to share with my kid right now.

Like they're young, they're very young.

I always just say that and I don't know if that's helpful or not.

But I just like, I want to get the expectation out of the way that I do not care.

It is just so insane because like you're never asked to share in your adult life.

No, yeah, not in that.

Yeah, that's true.

Like I'm trying to think of like, what's the adult equivalent to like sharing?

I mean, of course, like you would let someone borrow something.

But I was like, your shoes are cuter than mine.

Take them off and give them to me.

I'll, I'll set a timer and then we can, we can swap them back.

I forgot sunglasses.

Can I have yours?

Yeah.

It's like, I brought these.

So I'm really just, I'm a little, to me, sharing is different than learning to play with others.

Yeah.

That's a good skill.

I don't know.

I need to think about, so I'll just say, of course, I make my kids share.

People really haven't, I've been on the wrong side of the internet.

People have really been taking my stuff out of context these days.

What do you mean?

Well, I posted that this past week and I did like a, like an indoor toy roundup.

Because I was just trying to like share what has been working for us this summer.

And I'm sorry that I'm just of the belief that sometimes you can just buy your kid

something new instead of going to blow $25 a pop at a children's museum.

I'm sorry, like that, I'm not saying I don't believe in in-person experiences.

I'm not saying I'm trying to create these spoiled kids.

I buy them something every five seconds.

I'm saying sometimes you can just buy them an activity to do at home instead of taking

them to do an activity and spending way more money.

That's actually a beautiful point.

And also you don't live, you don't live near a million children's activities to go and do.

I'm a 45 minute drive to any act children.

I live near a lot.

So my kids do, do those things a lot.

You live in rural areas.

And so yeah, you have to bring the experience to your home.

And I was just trying to make the point, like, so for example,

our kids just got that Hot Wheels track.

It's like $25.

It's like this really cool track.

All the kids are obsessed with it.

And I just gave it to them without a reason.

Like it wasn't a birthday.

It wasn't a holiday.

But I needed an activity for this week or for the next couple of days.

And so I just bought them that and said, here's what we're doing today.

But you know what?

No one bats an eye if you would have like connected it out of like tissue paper holders

and made it yourself and said, look what I did.

Like no one would bat an eye if you did that.

But because you had to order it off Amazon, it's all of a sudden a problem.

I know.

So I got some messages being like, I just worry about what this is creating for your kids.

Or like, well, now you're just being so wasteful because you're buying things.

And I'm like, sister, first of all, be so for real.

No, if you want to take your four kids doing activity,

you would be driving 45 minutes away and spending $100.

And also you have to get lunch on the way back because you're 45 minutes away.

Yeah.

So that was just the point I was trying to make.

Like, okay.

And this summer really like I am not ready to do my summer recap after action report

with the carpools or jet.

But just know like I have been taking copious notes.

Taking notes in my motherhood is probably one of my best tips.

I think that literally the other day I got asked what's my tip for moms.

My tip is to take notes on your life and see how you can constantly be improving them.

And one of my tips from last year was like, you know, buy some toys or save some toys

to give them in the summer.

Like just make like working into your budget, working into like, you know,

however much toys you want to give your kids,

because you actually don't need to spend time inside in the summer.

You know what, and my kids are young, so they forget about,

but we always complain about how much, how much stuff grandparents give them

for their birthdays and for Christmas.

When they get so much stuff at once, I let them open it.

We take it home.

I put half of it away in a closet.

Yeah, that's a good idea.

And I pull it, I just pulled out a Christmas present the other day

because like we needed something new to look at and great.

And then they actually played with it.

So if your kids are still young enough to do that,

freaking hide the, put it in a closet and bring it out when you need it.

That's what I'm saying.

So anyway, I just like shared some of like our favorite toys

and this Hot Wheels track is it's been the, it's been an amazing,

it was the best $25 I could have spent.

Truthfully, we've gotten more hours at that at a children's museum.

That again, would have been $20 a pop per head, $80.

And you would, you can only be there for one hour and have nothing to show for it.

Wow. Okay.

I'm like so frustrated for you that anyone said anything to you.

I'm frustrated for you with that girl in the store.

Like people are so crazy.

People are so crazy.

Well, that's what, you know what?

It's like the great Tobiki said, God is great, fear is good and people are crazy.

That man was like, what, what quote, you know?

Which one?

He's got some good ones.

They're all good.

That is Tobik Keith, right?

I have no idea.

I feel like it's not actually.

Fear for my horses is not really Tobik Keith.

No, fear for my horses.

People are crazy.

It's Tobik Keith.

Oh, it is?

I'm looking it up.

I don't think it is.

Billy Currington.

Who's Billy Currington?

One hit, one hit.

He sings, take, no, he sings a, and turn of grains.

Oh, thank gosh for good directions.

Turn of grains.

Yeah.

Stupidest song ever.

That is a stupid song, but I love it.

I love it.

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Okay, Carol, what do we have on today's episode?

Oh, hold on. Let me pull up my, I think I had something on my Dumpity Duda.

Oh, I was, so the other day, where was Tyler?

Oh, Tyler and I are coming back from Florida.

And I feel like there's so many people in this world who were forced to tip,

who maybe I don't enjoy tipping.

And then there's other people where it's like not socially acceptable to tip them.

And I think that's crazy.

Like I think I just decided we need like rethink our tipping strategies.

Do you know what I mean?

No, for sure.

Because like EMT would love to tip.

Oh yeah, okay.

Would love to tip.

Inappropriate.

Um, not all baristas, but again, tipping a barista before I've received the beverage I'm getting.

Wake up, America.

Yeah.

Or figure out how I can tip afterwards.

Like for me to have to, for you to take my order,

I'm not going to beat this dead horse.

For me to take my order, ask me to tip for what?

All the only exchange we've had is what would you like?

I said it.

Here's the total.

I haven't even tasted it.

What if you make it wrong three times?

The only reason I'm tipping a dollar is to avoid you potentially spitting.

Right.

Like that's what I'm actually paying for is to avoid it being tarnished.

Right.

Yeah.

Anyway, but I was thinking, although tips are inappropriate, sometimes gifts are appropriate.

Yeah.

So Tyler, we were coming over from Florida and there was this cute little family.

It was like a mom and dad and like a 10 year old girl.

And when we got on the plane, they handed the flight attendants three Starbucks gift cards.

Love that.

And I was like, you know, they literally got them at the airport

because there's always Starbucks at the airport.

The flight attendants can always access the Starbucks.

And I was like, that is such a kind thing to do.

And the flight attendants were so gracious.

So like they were sitting right behind me.

So they also got on right in front of me.

So I saw them give them to one flight attendant.

The other two flight attendants came to their seats during the flight

to thank the family for the Starbucks gift cards.

You want to be on the flight attendant's good side too.

1000%.

Did you hear what they said when he gave them the gift cards?

Like, what did he say?

I didn't really understand what was happening until after the fact.

So no, I didn't like hear that exchange.

But I guess it was like, hey, like these are for you and the flight crew.

Sure, something like that.

And then as we landed, the flight attendant said,

and thank you so much to the family who brought us the gift cards.

Me and the whole crew really appreciated it.

Like these flight attendants were so grateful.

So I think I'm going to start getting gift cards for my flight attendants.

Okay, no, that's I mean, honestly,

especially when you're coming on with kids, you know,

especially when you might need like someone to like bring you a juice quickly,

like you need someone on your, on your side.

People I'm interested in having on my side's flight attendants.

Totally.

That does bring a good point.

I don't really need to disturb it.

Flight attendants, they're, they, people are so rude when they travel.

Like I always telling you traveling sometimes feels like a simulation

because people aren't thinking with their heads.

It's like how I always tell you whenever I sit down,

people don't even like make eye contact with the person

they're going to sit next to you for the next three hours.

Like we don't need to speak, but I say, hi, how are you?

Like, you know, like just talk to people.

People are so not themselves when they travel.

It really stresses me out.

It's like when you're driving, like everyone is so on the defensive, like so mean,

like thinks everyone's out to get them.

That's not true, but that does, that does bring up a good point.

Like, yeah, people who you would love to tip my labor and delivery nurse,

but why does that feel inappropriate?

But you could give them a gift.

I could give them a gift.

Yes.

So just something to think about.

Well, why is a Starbucks gift,

like why is like a hundred dollar Starbucks gift card different than a hundred dollar bill?

Literally, I have no idea.

You know, but it is, but it is.

And like you could even, even a Visa gift card would be weird.

Yeah, but you can't give them cash.

You can only give them a gift card disguised in a gift basket.

Is, is it legally wrong?

I'm not sure.

Okay.

Because I do think Maddie might have given this one of our nurse,

some of our nurses cash when I delivered it.

And I hope she took it and like mom's a word.

Like, well, it's like you put it in a card.

Like, thank you so much.

Open it later.

I don't know.

What's the thing here?

What do you do?

They're on the pod, but every industry is a little different.

But I'm telling you one time, I've shared this a hundred.

I've shared this sort of before, but one time had he had a seizure,

febrile seizure, and we had to call 911 because she was unresponsive, super traumatic.

And the EMTs who came, they were the nicest gentlemen I've literally ever met in my entire life.

Like I was trying to send them home with PR.

Totally.

She wants a protein powder.

Hey, your wife will love this retinol just like, please.

Yeah.

Just interesting.

So interesting.

I think that's going to be, I'm just, you know,

Tyler started doing something kind of cute too.

Tyler went to the bank and got a bunch of $2 bills,

which I guess you can just do that.

What?

$2 bills.

He's the guy who carries around $2 bills.

To put in travels now.

There's always a guy.

I know, but like that's fun.

No, it is fun.

So now he's like tipping with $2 bills,

because I guess he's too cheap to do fives.

I don't know.

But like once you're feeling up, I don't know, it's weird.

No, but a $2 bill, like you can never actually go and spend.

Like $2 bills are so weird.

I've spent, I've, I spend my $2 bills

when they come across my desk.

Yeah.

But like a man like can't like, I don't know, gave us one.

Maybe it gave like the kids one.

I don't know.

And I'm like, I feel like I can't spend this stuff.

No.

So what do you do with that?

You're just a novelty.

Well, you can just go to the bank and pick them up.

That's what I said.

I'm like, really?

This is not, this is not for that special.

They were like crisp, new $2 bills.

He had like so many of them.

He got like $50 worth of $2 bills.

That's 25 last time I checked.

Okay.

There you go.

I didn't know that.

So I wanted to say that thing about flight attendants.

And then this past weekend, I hosted kind of a big crowd.

I hosted 13 adults and 19 kids.

Oh my gosh, Kelly.

Yeah.

I ordered pizza from a local pizza place.

I was going to make a salad,

but then I got too scared of the parasite.

So I faded the salad and someone brought a veggie try.

So it was a very simple.

I didn't actually cook.

But I took that energy into making a bar.

Like I set up a bar.

Okay.

So I had someone bringing kid drinks,

which like if I remember hosting someone asked what to bring,

I always think kid drinks is like a very easy thing to offshoot to somebody.

Now the person who brought the kid drinks crushed it.

I've really added this to my notes.

Because if I was asked to bring a kid drink,

I would bring two boxes of juice boxes, not even on ice.

Like I would be insane.

100%.

She had a cooler, which like makes sense.

Like just make it a cooler,

a cooler with juice boxes,

mini water bottles and mini Gatorades.

So it was variety.

And it was like iced down in the cooler

and she just brought the cooler in.

And I was like, thank you so much for it.

I would have really rolled up with like two boxes of Capri Sons

and called it good.

And then like, do you have a cooler?

I can put this.

It's like I have a cooler.

Well, I just had never thought to like,

I know that sounds bad,

but sometimes you just have to think.

So I took that note.

So someone brought a kid drink,

someone brought a veggie tripe,

two people brought desserts.

Oh my gosh, the dessert that my sister-in-law brought.

Unbelievable.

I'm gonna, I'll have to,

that's the story of another time.

They were called like salt river bars.

It was basically like club crackers

covered in chocolate and caramel.

They were unbelievable.

Okay.

Anyway, so since I wasn't cooking,

I took that energy and I put it into a bar cart.

I was like, or a little bar.

And I went to someone's house a couple of months ago

and they had like a bar set up.

Like they had mixers, ice and different types of alcohol.

And I'm like, this is fun.

Like it's kind of like a DIY your own adventure

or like I as the hostess could tell you what I could make you.

Now my cocktail recipes need work.

Like I definitely didn't crush.

My prep was there.

My execution wasn't.

So again, I've written that down on my notes.

But here are the cocktails I could make.

I had stuff to make Moscow mules.

I had stuff to make like skinny Palomas.

And my new summer cocktail of choice

is like kind of crazy cocktail of choice.

I have been doing unsweet iced tea with vodka and lemon.

Yeah, that doesn't sound good.

It is good.

Okay.

Could you know what it is?

It's just no nonsense.

Yeah.

It's just like,

But you know what?

In my cocktail, I like a little bit of nonsense.

You know?

I mean, a little like a little bit of nonsense, Cal.

Yeah.

No, I'm telling maybe it's just again,

I'm like still coming off of my sugar fast.

So like things are like a lemon is like so sweet.

I'm so toxic.

At least I'm in sufferable to be around right now.

Yeah.

But I've been liking that.

I'm just letting you know,

I got the spin drift iced tea lemon.

Pour that into a tumbler with a ton of ice and a shot of vodka.

I'm telling you,

there's something about it that I like.

It's like a spike iced tea.

It's just, it's fun.

It's easy.

It's basically water.

So anyway, that was my bar cart.

So I'm just always working on improving my hosting abilities.

Okay.

I like it.

Well, something we haven't done a while.

So I have more.

Sorry.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I have more to say.

I'm sorry.

I'll just continue to listen.

Please continue.

No, it's okay.

No, what is it?

Did you want to do?

What is to have?

I thought you were done.

I'm never done.

Yeah.

Anyway, so then my new theory.

So one thing I feel like I haven't done a good job

of this summer is I actually haven't like perfected anything.

You know what I mean?

Okay.

So I was such like a trial and error summer for you though.

Well, it is a trial and error.

Last literal five summers of your life have been survival summers.

Now it's like a trial and error summer.

Yeah.

I just want to feel like I like have something on my roster,

like a new dish, a new setup, a new something on my roster.

That's perfected.

And I just haven't perfected anything yet.

So the next thing I plan on trying to perfect is

something I'm calling melon fries.

Okay.

You're so ridiculous.

Let's hear about the melon fries.

So I bought this thing off Amazon.

Like just to spend a day in your brain, you're just like,

okay, I have this meeting.

I have this, I have to go on this like intense podcast where I don't know

what they're going to ask me and I want to figure it out.

I have to do this, this person has to be paid this, that I have to film this ad.

What about like melon?

How should I like perfect the melon fry for my children?

My husband hates me.

He's always like, did you get that ad done?

And I'm like, no, he's like, why?

And I'm like, because it's just not my creative process.

The thing is, it's like, say what you will about me.

I do get it all done.

It's your process.

Yeah.

Anyways, so I found this thing off Amazon and it's like, uh, it's like a knife that's ridged.

Oh, I can, I can picture.

You don't know what I'm saying.

I don't know what it's called.

It's like a slicer.

And I told this thing on Pinterest and this person cut honeydew, watermelon and

what's the other one, cantaloupe into these fries and made a delicious, you know,

probably yogurt based dipping sauce.

And it was such a fun take on like a fruit try.

I don't know about you, but like, I don't think anybody, I mean, just with, with this

parasite, like I'm not literally looking to like do berries right now.

Totally.

I also hate washing that stuff and they're expensive and like they're not,

they're not really in season right now.

I don't think I'm not really sure.

Maybe they are.

Who knows.

But what is in season is melons.

Okay.

See a strawberries like always kind of the same year round except for when they're really in

season, a melon only in the summer.

And so this beautiful tray.

So the pictures, this is a beautiful tray.

They have green melon fries, orange melon fries, watermelon melon fries.

And I was like, that looks yummy.

You know, and what is it about like cutting a honeydew or a cucumber up into a cube?

It's never easy to eat.

Your mouth is always too full.

We really need to be reworking the way we're cutting up our melons.

So you see why I'm passionate about the melon fries.

No, Kelly, you got me.

I mean, now I'm hooked.

Like, yeah, I agree.

I haven't.

You're losing sleep over it.

I understand now.

Now we're, now we're all going to.

So I haven't, like I said, done it yet.

Like, oh my gosh, this is so cute.

Here it is.

Oh, I'm going to send you this link.

Well, they did a pineapple too.

I just really want to execute this in the way that my brain wants me to.

Please look at what I just sent you.

All right, I'm looking.

Oh, yeah, no, I love, I love it.

Like, I love it.

No, I'm bought in.

So I bought that little, thing that they're showing.

Okay.

Yeah, I like this.

I want to know how long it takes you to cut it up and everything.

Fruit fries with lemon dip.

I don't like the term fruit fries.

Sounds like fruit flies.

So that needs to be reworked.

That's why I think melon fries is better.

Melon fries is better.

Yeah, I agree.

Okay.

That was worth talking about.

And the last thing.

Okay, yeah.

I have found myself on such a glorious side of the internet.

Okay.

And that is giant pumpkin.

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

I saw you posed about this.

I couldn't really get behind this one in the same way.

So apparently there's all these people who are documenting what it's like to try to grow a

thousand pound pumpkin.

And I am hooked.

This is the kind of TV shows we need.

We need less just like bring back like just interesting things.

Anyway, if you haven't landed on giant pumpkin talk, sorry.

And now, now, now I have myself googling where to go see one of these in person.

And one of my followers sent me that her dad is a giant pumpkin grower in Iowa.

And it's only four hours from my house and they had this big festival.

So I'm considering taking the family.

Okay.

I could keep going, but I won't.

Okay.

You know what?

Melon fries, good giant pumpkins does less for me.

Okay.

That's fine.

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Okay, are you ready for some advice questions?

Obviously.

Okay, if you would like to write and get your own advice,

you can run into hello at thecarmomeofficial.com.

Okay, I was wondering if I could email you for advice.

I'm currently driving a Least 2025 Hyundai Palisade with one year left on my lease.

I have three children right after Christmas.

We found out we're unexpectedly expecting our fourth baby at the end of August.

I have a dilemma because while all four kids will fit in the Palisade,

this leaves me with very little trunk space.

I cannot even fit a single stroller, let alone my double.

I would really like to trade in my Least Palisade for a Honda Odyssey Minivan sooner than later.

My question for you is, do you have any advice on how to get out of a lease early

without paying an arm and a leg?

If not, then any advice on how to best optimize my space in the Palisade with four kids

for the rest of my one year left on my lease?

Oh, she has one year left on her lease.

So there's so many nuances to this conversation.

But what people need to understand about leasing is leases are designed to go to term.

And people have a lot of trouble with that sometimes.

And some manufacturers, some dealers will tell you,

I can get you out of your lease.

But money is never just disappearing.

Like it's always going somewhere.

So just also remember that.

If a dealer tells you, I can get you out of your lease.

OK, well, they're just taking less money off the car or charging you more for the next car.

I mean, the money is going somewhere.

You know what I mean?

Leases are really different than they used to be.

And since you're going from a different brand, it's also a little bit more nuanced

because before COVID, you used to be able to turn your leases into other manufacturers.

So you'd be able to take way back when you could take your Hyundai lease to Honda and

like Honda could buy your Hyundai lease.

They don't know that anymore.

So you have to go back to a Hyundai store.

So my only piece, so truthfully, in my opinion,

I would not try to get out of your lease early.

Because the thing is, it will cost an arm and it will cost what to get out of your lease.

I would make it work for the short term.

It means you have a year left.

Like you'll be fine.

You have a year left.

Fade the double stroller.

Yeah.

Baby wear.

Okay.

Or riding board.

Fade the double stroller.

In the Palisade, you can lift up the bottom of the trunk to give yourself a little bit more depth.

So you'll be able to...

I mean, I've fit a full-size stroller in the back of Palisade.

Yeah, I've had a mockingbird in the...

Yeah.

We've had a full-size stroller.

But yeah, fade the double.

With baby wear or walk.

Or take two...

I mean, sorry.

You don't want to hear that.

But yeah, I know it will cost you money to get out of your lease.

So if you don't want to spend the money.

So that's where I just think like...

Need a stroller might be cheaper to like find like a more like a travel stroller on

Facebook Marketplace or like buy like a smaller stroller if you need to.

That's the thing about strollers is that everyone wants like a one-size-fits-all for strollers.

Like when they register, like should I get this one or this one?

It's like sometimes what you just need to realize is that throughout your life,

throughout your motherhood, you just like might need to get multiple strollers.

Yeah.

So like go on Facebook Marketplace and buy and resell.

Yeah.

But I think like this is just the discussion of like,

okay, would a Honda Odyssey be easier?

Could you feed a double stroller?

Sure.

So is it worth it to you to spend an extra...

I don't know.

I mean, I don't know how much...

I don't know how much would cost you to get out of your lease.

But like, okay, you want to spend an extra two grand to get out of your lease.

Is that worth it?

So you can take a double stroller for like the four times you're going to need a double stroller?

Or like, can you just not take a double stroller one time?

Like just put a price on it.

And depends on your lifestyle.

And it depends on your life.

You could be like, no Kelly, we take our double stroller every single day.

I don't know much about her.

She might be a stay at home mom and goes to the library like every day.

No.

I don't know.

No, for sure.

But you have to put a price tag on that.

Yeah.

Okay.

That's my answer.

I like it.

Okay.

This one's not correlated.

Okay.

That comes from Jen.

I live in a pretty relaxed HOA neighborhood.

We have rules like about like boats in the driveway,

but there's nothing about yard up keeper landscaping.

Ours looks kind of bad right now,

but as a full-time working mom with a husband who's on call on weekends

and working during the week, we really just don't have time.

Yeah.

I guess we could hire it, but also like hello, student loans, groceries,

et cetera, life is expensive.

Anyway, apparently my neighbor across the street has been complaining

to other neighbors about us.

She's normally a sweet little old lady who literally lives in her yard

and smiles and waves, but more and more people keep joking to me

that she's mentioned our overgrown beds and faded mulch.

Do I fix it just for her?

I'm kind of annoyed right now.

And she's being rude, right?

If we lived in a strict HOA, I'd probably be more motivated,

but I'm just not.

It's really not big on our long list.

It's really, it's really, it really is on our long list,

but not on my short list.

Am I being a lazy neighbor or is she overstepping

by talking ever and about it?

I don't know if I'm looking for validation

or for someone to tell me to just step up and find the time to do it.

This woman, it sounds to me like she needs a hobby.

And unfortunately, the hobby is complaining about your yard.

No.

Yeah.

You know, people like love some crappy old people love an HOA.

I think you need to, here's what you need to, here's what I would tell you.

Your yard is all she probably has.

Yeah.

So don't because like that.

Imagine if you fixed it, like what would she do with her days?

Like she would have nothing to complain about.

I have a really, I have very sweet neighbors who will like stop and talk to me and

they're older.

Like I see my neighbor, like he will go and take like scissors to his yard.

Like this is what they have is to work on their yard and their yard looks great.

Mine looks horrible.

I've said it to her.

I was like, you know what?

I know our yard looks terrible.

Like I'm so sorry.

Things are so crazy right now.

Like and I, and she's like, oh my gosh, I don't even notice that kind of stuff.

Sometimes just like addressing it straight up in a very like almost apologetic way.

But like I'm not sincerely sorry.

I mean, I am because I do like my neighbor.

I'm like, I know I'm sorry.

Things are just like so crazy.

Just like look at my life.

She's like, I get it.

I've been there.

Like don't even worry about it.

So I'm just like saying that and addressing it kind of like

yeah, I agree with that.

I agree with that.

I wouldn't fix it for her.

If you don't have the time, I get it.

I've got overgrown weeds.

Like I also don't have the time to do it.

It's just, it's not my summer to do it.

I wouldn't, I would not do anything about it.

I like your theory of I would address it with her.

If it comes up as kind of like sass, like you're kind of sass.

Yeah.

I would not go, I heard that you were talking like,

it's totally just like almost make her feel bad.

It's like when someone sends like Kelly,

like you a hate message and then you like message them back

like with a voice memo.

I voice memo.

You know I like voice memo.

And they're like, oh no, no, no, no.

Like I didn't mean like blah, blah, blah, blah.

And they're immediately like,

she's just looking for something to do.

She's the poor, the poor woman.

And yeah.

And it could actually be the start of something beautiful.

You know, maybe show off her to help.

Well, wouldn't that be nice?

And that's on being neighborly.

I'm telling you, people aren't neighborly anymore.

And people just like want to assume the worst of people too.

Like they want, they see overgrown weeds in your yard

and they think you're lazy, you're this, you're that,

you're the, you're the other.

And if they would just like let you say,

I'm a full-time working mom,

my husband is on call on the weekends,

like we don't have time for this.

It's just, it's on my long list,

but it's not on my short list.

She'd probably be like, I totally get that.

Yeah.

But people aren't willing to assume anything

but the worst these days.

And she may still, she may say that to your face,

still talk about you behind your back.

Cause I just also think there's a level of like,

for some people for, cause I used to live in a strict HOA.

And for some people like just know that's all they have

and just let them have it.

Oh, I have stayed in my old, my current neighborhoods

like Facebook group is so inactive,

like no one cares about anything.

My old one, oh, the drama was so good.

I stayed in it just so I can like stay in touch

with the drama because it's like literally

all the people I've going on.

I know.

People who live in a neighborhood love to act like

they live on five acres without neighbors.

It's like, you just don't get, I mean, it's people are crazy.

No, it goes both ways.

Like people are crazy for caring too much

and people are crazy for not caring enough.

Oh, I took Elizabeth 1000%.

Here's something that I think the HOA should attack because

so our old subdivision, we used to have an HOA

and it was active.

It was active.

Like, you know, I felt like brought home like a trailer

for work and like left it there for a day.

Like we would get a letter.

They were crazy.

Yeah.

But something they don't touch is how early you put up

Halloween decorations.

And I specifically call it Halloween

because it seems as people always rush

Halloween more than they rush Christmas

because really like if it's after,

if you're putting up Christmas after Halloween,

whatever, at least it's November, cold,

like whatever.

I'm not going to have that discussion, but like we do it.

So the people who bought our house, our old house,

they, their favorite holiday is Halloween.

September 1st, they have a beat,

a whole Halloween beat in their yard.

I'm talking like headless horsemen, zombies, skeletons.

Guys, September 1st.

Kids aren't even, some kids aren't even back to school yet.

And they have a coffin in their front yard.

First of all, it's gory.

I don't like it.

No, that's the thing.

I don't care when you put your, your Christmas decorations up

because they're unoffensive.

I don't want my kids to be scared when we go on our walk

because you have a 16 foot skeleton and a headless horseman

and a zombie popping up in your yard.

Like it's hard to look at.

And like it's 2pm on September 16th.

Calm.

If you want to set that up, the week of Halloween, fine.

You want to be the haunted house.

Where's the H.O.A. event?

Yeah, I totally agree.

I totally agree.

I think I truthfully believe H.O.A. should say

decorations have, Halloween decorations have to be PG

until the week of Halloween.

Because it's, when we used to live there,

like there was another house that was crazy too.

We went to walk on the other side of the street.

Yeah.

But sure, my husband's trailer, work trailer out

in the driveway for two days is not going to cut it.

Well, that's the thing.

It's the double standard.

Right.

And that's the problem.

I hate Halloween.

Because I don't want to, to police like,

you know, if that's what makes people happy.

Like just because I have young kids,

like maybe that's my problem.

But I just like, even as a person, like I don't like,

come on.

Like Christmas, other decorations are cute.

They're joyful, they're whatever.

But like just the gory zombie or like the witch

hanging upside down or like the person being hung.

Like it is not appropriate.

For two months.

But they're like no signs in your yard

that say any, like anything.

You got to take that off.

For two months.

Yeah.

No, it's crazy.

Wow.

I bet.

Yeah.

This podcast is really full of a lot of opinions today.

Well, let's get into digital art through it.

We give you guys an easy dinner recipe to mix it up to take.

Oh, industry news.

Really quick.

Industry news.

Yeah.

One quick story, one story.

Okay.

So there's some new rumblings because the 2027 Tesla model

YL finally lands on American shore starting at $63,000.

Okay.

So the model X is gone.

And so now they're giving us a model Y long wheelbase.

And I'm shook to my core about it.

Okay.

Plenty of families bought the model X for its fancy rear doors.

Not for its fancy rear doors, but for its three row convenience.

With the X put out to pasture, Tesla needs to offer

something a bit bigger than the Y.

And it already makes such a car for the Chinese market.

The new Tesla model YLs is six inches longer.

And it gives a proper third row compared to the regular model L.

And it will start at $63,000.

Now, I got invited to this reveal.

So I always like to shout out the manufacturers who do invite us.

But I unfortunately have another obligation that I have to go to.

So I'm not able to make it.

But I'm excited.

I'm ready, Tesla.

I'm ready.

You know what?

You had your moment in the time with the Cybertruck.

You know, Elon went a little Elon-y.

And now we're back.

I actually like the Tesla SUVs a lot.

And I'm ready for them to shake it up Chicago

and do something new.

And I'm excited for the Y.

Me too.

I'm nothing but optimistic.

Me too.

OK.

Agreed.

All right.

So now it's time for just the drive through.

We gave you guys an easy dinner recipe

to mix it up to get you an interrupt.

Thank goodness we covered that auto story for 25 seconds

so we can stay in the automotive category.

Well, I could talk about the CX-90 loan that I had

because I had my first ever press car

and it was so exciting to drive a Mazda CX-90.

And there was so much that I liked about it

and so much that I just is unforgivable about it.

Totally.

It's a tough one.

It's a niche one.

Well, we'll call it a niche one.

It's in the same way there's a lid for every pot.

There's a CX-90.

There's a key for every person.

It's for some people.

No, it's for some people.

I just want to highlight the things

that I really enjoyed about it.

First of all, I think it's probably one of the better

looking cars in its class.

I just have to say.

Like, it's a very good looking car.

Sure, okay.

Also, I found out that I'm a trackpad girl, Kel.

No, you're wrong for that.

No, I'm not wrong for that

because it was too far away for me to reach.

Well, that's their fault then.

They put the screen closer.

I liked the trackpad.

I found myself, like, even though their Apple CarPlay

is touchscreen, I found myself really enjoying the trackpad.

Like, I felt so techy.

I just felt like I was in control of my dash of my life.

Like, I liked the trackpad.

And I didn't know that about me.

That's a really hot take.

Yeah, the no-stealing vents was brutal.

It was also just the hottest week of my entire life.

And it was a little tight.

Yeah.

It was a little tight in the second row.

It's also expensive.

People forget about the price of that car, too.

Oh, see.

And I haven't even gotten into that, yeah.

It's a little expensive for what it is, in my opinion.

Yeah.

It's just it's hard.

In the class of cars that we are trying to help people at Shop 4,

it's just like it's hard to justify that one over other ones.

But the safety ratings are also very safe.

And it's beautiful.

To me, I have an easier time recommending that.

And it's available as a hybrid.

I found myself recommending that more than something

like the Subaru Ascend.

Like, I'm sorry.

Like, you just can't catch me recommending that car.

Sure.

As I said, I don't like it.

I just someone would need to sit me down and say explain to me

why they bought it over other things.

And maybe you just didn't know that there's cars that everything

that car can do.

There's other cars that can do it better.

That's what that's what it all boils down to.

Yeah.

For me.

Just like, yeah.

Yeah.

You know, it was nice.

I felt very comfortable from the driver,

but I just feel like everything happening behind

was just like hard.

Yeah.

You know.

So.

So that helps them on the CX-90.

Well, now we can do that.

Well, I bought the Costco pulled rotisserie chicken.

And I turned it in to three meals.

OK, let's recap.

Three casseroles.

Let's hear them.

Chicken pot pie.

Broccoli, cheddar, cheese, chicken, casserole.

Yum.

Poppy seed chicken.

Put them all in my freezer.

Which one is you told me you made me a freezer meal this weekend?

Which one of those is for me?

Well, I was going to ask you that because I know you don't love

poppy seed chicken and I just made you a poppy seed chicken.

So I was going to offer you the chi chi pie pie or the broccoli

cheddar.

I didn't know if your kids would like the broccoli cheddar.

You know, my kids are.

It's hard to know.

So which one would you like better?

I think I think I'll do broccoli cheddar because my kids might eat that.

Like it's going to be, you know, for James, it's going to be the vegetables.

If you're interested in like making freezer casseroles,

let me introduce you to your best friend, Risa Roney.

That girl.

I if Risa Roney has no fans, I've passed away.

I love a Risa Roney.

And so you can do so much with it.

So for the poppy seed chicken, I do the chicken flavor.

For the broccoli cheddar, I do the four cheese.

If I'm making Mexican, I do the Mexican rice.

Yeah.

Sometimes I'll do the rice pilaf if I'm feeling crazy.

Like I love Risa Roney.

So it's really good.

And I do a lot of garlic salt in it.

So it's like a garlicky cheddar.

I mean, there's nothing not to like about it.

It's so good.

Okay.

I will take that one then.

I suppose.

Thank you.

Okay.

I'll I'll I'll send it your direction.

Thank you so much.

I'm going to give it to you like maybe this week.

Okay.

I thought you could use it like prior too.

Because I already told you I'm going to bring you

when you have your baby.

Yeah.

What I'm going to bring your ribs.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

The ribs for sure.

And maybe some depending on how easy the melon fries are to make,

like maybe some melon fries.

Done.

I'm going to bring red side of melon fries.

Ribs, melon fries.

And a recipe that I'm really going to perfect

because my kids love it is I'm going to perfect

Isla Faye Stumpy's zucchini bread.

Okay.

Oh yeah.

Love a zucchini bread.

Zucchini for me, zucchini over banana.

Do you know what I mean?

I don't know.

Yeah.

Well I do.

I think there's a time and a place for both.

No, never me.

It's it's it's always zucchini over banana for me.

Okay.

I don't think I've had like enough zucchini bread then to feel that.

So I'm going to bring you ribs, melon fries, zucchini bread.

And then what else?

Well, and now the obvious choice would be a bag of salad,

but we can't do that these days.

So no, not in this time.

No, no, no, no.

No Taylor Farms.

I will bring you something maybe just like a veggie tray.

Okay.

You know what someone sent me when I actually

know exactly who was my aunt sent me when I had James a edible arrangement.

And it was like so nice to just like have fruit.

I mean, I think the melon fries are going to be an edible arrangement for,

you know, a fraction of the cost.

I'm so nervous about it.

But yeah, no, like having just like fruit,

things easy to grab that's like not packet.

It's just really refreshing.

It was like things that stuck with me with someone,

with someone sending me like an edible arrangement.

Like I actually really enjoyed that and ate it all.

Okay.

Well, I've got a busy day because I have all the work as we've mentioned,

and I have melon fries on the brain.

So I simply have to try to execute these today.

Yep, yep, yep, yep.

Okay.

We'll let us know how it goes and we will talk to you next time.

Maybe I'll do a reel.

No promises.

Okay.

All right.

Well, thanks for so much for listening to the Carpool podcast.

We'll talk to you next time.

Bye.

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