WHEN LIFE GETS BUSY, START A GARDEN
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Brand
Delta
Delta is an airline. Their “lounge” is a nicer waiting area at the airport, usually for people with certain tickets or credit cards.
Brand
American
American refers to American Airlines, another major U.S. airline. The discussion contrasts choosing airlines based on schedule and arrival time, which can matter more than airline loyalty perks.
Term
day pass
A day pass is a ticket you can buy to use an airport lounge for the day. It’s for people who don’t already have lounge access through a card or status.
Term
pre-check
Pre-check is a program that helps you get through airport security faster. If you’re approved, you usually don’t have to do as many steps as everyone else in the regular line.
Term
Stanley
They’re talking about a reusable water bottle/cup brand called Stanley. You can put fruit in the bottle so your water tastes better while you’re busy.
Term
ATV
An ATV is an off-road vehicle meant for dirt and rough trails. In this conversation, it sounds like the kids can only use it after they do other responsibilities first.
Concept
sensory bin
A sensory bin is just a container filled with fun materials for kids to explore with their hands. The point is to keep everything contained so cleanup is easier.
Term
kinetic sand
Kinetic sand is a special type of sand that feels like sand but sticks together when you press it. Here, they’re using it in a container so kids can play without making a huge mess.
Car
Nissan XTerra
The Nissan Xterra is a rugged SUV that’s meant for rough roads and outdoor use. Here they’re talking about a new version coming out around 2028/2029.
Term
V six engines
A V6 is an engine with six cylinders arranged in a V shape. They’re saying the new platform will use V6 engines, including versions that can be gas or hybrid.
Concept
hybrid form
“Hybrid” means the vehicle uses both a gas engine and an electric motor with a battery. The goal is usually better fuel economy, especially in stop-and-go driving.
Term
body on frames
Body-on-frame is a way of building a car where the main structure is a separate frame underneath. It’s often associated with SUVs that feel tougher and handle rougher conditions better.
Car
Hyundai Palisade
They’re talking about the Hyundai Palisade, a big family SUV. They noticed the front grille styling on a newer model and thought it looked great.
Car
Hyundai Santa Fe
They’re talking about the Hyundai Santa Fe and whether they like the newer version. They say the inside looks more upscale, but they miss the older Santa Fe’s look and don’t think the refresh was necessary.
Brand
Infiniti
Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury brand. In this segment, they’re saying Infiniti could get new SUVs and trucks that follow the same general construction approach as Nissan’s rumored vehicles. The big theme is that Infiniti might also move toward body-on-frame for certain models.
Car
Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier is a mid-size truck designed for work and everyday tasks like carrying cargo. The discussion suggests a newer version may be coming, and that Infiniti may get a related truck model too. New generations usually mean changes to how the truck drives and how it’s built.
Car
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is a larger SUV with three rows of seats, meant for families or groups. People talk about it because there may be changes to how it’s built, and because there could be a related Infiniti version. Those changes can affect how it drives and what it can handle.
Concept
independent ladder frame
Some trucks use a “frame” that’s like a strong skeleton under the car. That frame helps the vehicle handle heavy work and rough roads better than designs that rely mostly on the body itself.
Concept
suspension
Suspension is what helps the car absorb bumps and stay stable. It connects the wheels to the body so the tires can keep gripping the road.
Concept
powertrain
The powertrain is the set of components that generate and deliver power to the wheels—typically the engine, transmission, driveshaft(s), differential(s), and related parts. In the context of a ladder frame, the chassis/frame is designed to support and protect these components under load.
Concept
pickup trucks and large SUVs
Big trucks and many large SUVs are often built to handle heavy jobs. That’s why they frequently use a stronger under-structure designed for towing and rough roads.
Concept
unibody
A unibody car uses the body as the main support structure. It’s different from trucks that have a separate frame underneath, and it often makes the ride feel more like a regular car.
Concept
chassis
The chassis is basically the car’s foundation. It’s what everything mounts to—like the wheels and suspension—so the car stays solid and stable.
Term
press car
A press car is a car a company gives to journalists to drive and talk about. It’s usually not the person’s own car—it’s provided for review purposes.
Car
Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is a family minivan. It’s designed to make it easier to fit kids and car seats in the back rows without it being a huge hassle.
Car
Mazda Cx90
The Mazda CX-90 is a big SUV with three rows. The host is saying it’s not as convenient as a minivan when you’re trying to set up multiple car seats.
Term
captain's chair
A captain’s chair is a single seat by itself, not a long bench. In a minivan, that usually means easier walking space and easier access to the back.
Concept
minivan life
“Minivan life” just means using a minivan for everyday family needs. It’s about having enough room and the right seat layout for kids and car seats.
LIVE
Welcome to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.
And sometimes I think being like a working mom or really just a mom is kind of like giving yourself permission to just like be whoever you need to be that day.
Yeah.
Because someday I need to be a little more selfish and some days I need to give it all to my kids.
And Liz.
What are these systems? Like people just throw out the word system out there.
It's buzzing.
Like it's supposed to change my life and they never give me any context.
Your mom time off starts now.
Welcome back to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.
And Liz.
Happy Friday everybody.
We made it to the end of the week.
We made it to the harder part of the week.
We made it I know used to be like a relaxing thing and now it's like so much worse somehow.
I'm telling you.
Well, I am running.
I am firing on all cylinders like not in a fun way.
Like I am.
I'm really too.
So busy.
Kelly, I'm so nervous for you because I know you have very high capacity for things.
But then you reach a point of explosion and I've been on the receiving end of that explosion and it's really sucks because you're in the right for sure because you're really overwhelmed.
But like you you don't let it out until it's everything's coming out.
And then you're like everything and then you're like and also I'm stressed out because of this.
You're ugly.
And also you're ugly and also you got the better sparrows when we were in high school.
I was so upset about that.
So I'm just like really nervous.
I'm like on tiptoes.
So okay.
So you can feel it.
Yeah.
So I'm nervous.
I'm like very nervous.
Okay.
It's like kind of like the Cold War.
Yeah.
Like no one's doing anything but we're saying a lot of things.
Exactly.
So yeah.
Watch out.
No, I am.
I am.
Yeah.
No, I'm fine.
It's just like it's like website auto show like spring and spring summer.
I have a lot of travel.
Like I'm kind of like.
I'm like disgusted.
I'm much of the point.
Like one of my travel trips this month include me driving to one place for an event and then
flying out of that place to go to another event.
No, I can't believe it.
It's crazy.
I know what I'm really looking.
The only thing I'm looking forward to is I'm looking forward to like refining of just
I want to be an in and out travel girl, a carry on travel girl.
Like I'm really going to start refining it.
My only question for the class is now that I foresee me taking realistically probably
two to three trips a month for the foreseeable future, like that's just kind of how it happens
for me.
I know it's fine.
It's fine.
It's getting easier.
The kids are getting older.
I'm getting better at making them like one or two day trips max and it's also just part
of the job.
I mean it is part of the job.
How do I get into an airport lounge or am I not on that level?
No, I think you I don't think it's hard.
I know Maddie has access to a lounge because he has a certain credit card.
Oh, so it's a credit card thing like American Express or something like that.
So it's like, it can be a credit card thing.
And that definitely feels like you open up like a credit, like you might have to stretch
Tyler, Tyler a little bit and allow him to like use another bank.
But if you like open up a business card for the car mom, then she can go and sit in a
lounge.
Sure.
From my understanding.
So, but then are the lounges airport, but they're like airline related.
Like people always talking about like the Delta lounge.
Yeah.
So then that could also be like if you travel Delta a lot or maybe if you have a Delta card
and see, I don't travel anything a lot.
I travel the best flights.
Like I don't, I can't imagine like choosing like Delta over American.
If it's like, well, I want to get there when I want to get there.
Yeah.
So like, I know Maddie has the American Express one.
And so he always has to like look up, you know, what terminal we're going to be in.
And if there's express lounge and sometimes there is, and sometimes you have to walk to
another terminal and sometimes we just can't access it.
Okay.
I just, I'm always seeing like all the Instagram girlies like in the lounge and I'm just like,
go up and say, can I buy a day pass?
Oh, okay.
I'll just do that.
I didn't know that was a thing.
I think, I think that's a thing as well.
Anyway, I'm just like, try to catch me an airport lounge in 2026.
I'm also going to get pre-check because that's like another.
If you don't have pre-check, that's so ridiculous.
Because I refuse.
I don't like to travel.
I thought it in my whole life.
I'm like, why would I need pre-check?
I hate being here.
But now I understand that I need pre-check.
Yeah.
No, for sure.
So I'm going to get on that.
But anyway, so yeah, a little stress kind of firing on all cylinders, but excited.
Just kind of like sit down with you.
It doesn't like have some things that are on my catch up.
Oh, sure.
And what I wanted to catch up on was while I have so many things going on, I also looked
at my life and said, it's time to do a garden.
Yeah.
So I went to Lowe's this morning with both of my little kids.
And I got incredibly overwhelmed and probably made poor choices.
But I did walk out with $200 worth of plants.
Yeah.
No, I think that's good.
I do find sometimes when I am my most stressed out and run down, I'm like, I think it's time
to pick up sourdough again.
Like there's just something about, I think your body needs like a non, not that it's
not like a non stressful, low commitment hobby.
Like you need something new in your life that's not work and not taking care of kids.
No, I need something new.
And I feel like right now where there since there's just so much work stuff going on,
I can't, I'm not always like looking to like bring that up in conversations with like friends
and acquaintances because it's just like they would need so much context.
And someone's like, how are you?
I'm like, how much time do you have like realistically?
Can I tell you about, you know, the interesting things that have gone on?
Or can I just be like, you know, I started a garden.
Yeah, no, I did cherry tomatoes.
They're doing really well.
That's all people want to hear.
They don't actually want to hear about what's going on.
And I respect that.
Yeah.
So I'm looking forward to having a more like easy palatable grocery store convo.
Yeah.
Um, that's not, you know, talking about the different DMS as I'm considering for my website
like gag.
I don't talk about that.
Yeah, I would love to like not even hear the word DMS.
Um, no, I love it.
And then it's like, you're going to reap, you're going to re you're learning
something new.
Like it's just fun.
It's fun.
It's fun to do new things.
Yeah.
So I'm sure you're like chopping at the bit to find out what I'm going to plant.
Uh huh.
So I ended up doing two big cherry tomato plants.
I'm not doing an heirloom or a beef steak.
I'm just doing cherry tomatoes in my garden for the main reason.
Like I like that the kids, they'll get riper sooner and the kids can pick them.
That just sounds more fun.
It sounds like more of an activity.
And I'm just not convinced that I could grow a better tomato than like one I could find
at the farmers market.
So I'm just going to go to the farmers market for like a good old beef steak in season
heirloom tomato, but a cherry, a couple cherries and make a bruschetta like all day long.
Sure.
I'm doing that.
And then I'm doing peppers.
I just did red and yellow peppers.
I am not optimistic.
Those are going to turn out well, but I'd love to be proven wrong.
And then I, Lowe's was out of zucchini plants, which was not fun.
So I'm going to have to make a second trip somewhere because I definitely do zucchini.
And then I'm going to have like a little herb section.
So I just did cilantro, sage and basil.
Now do those go together?
Not sure.
I'm just, I don't even have the headspace to Google it.
So I'm just going to kind of trial and error it myself.
I would tell churchy BT everything you have until and they will tell you where to put everything.
That's a good idea.
I might keep the basil in a pot in my kitchen.
Yeah.
I love to because like nothing kills me more than like buying a thing of cilantro.
And they know they always give you way more than you could possibly ever need.
Yeah.
And then it goes bad.
So that's exciting.
I don't think any better about using herbs.
I'm like kind of loving herbs.
Like right now I have chives, dill and cilantro.
And I chopped them all up and put them in a chicken salad for breakfast this morning.
It was kind of insane.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
The power of an herb.
That's what I'm saying.
Like we're not giving them enough credit.
They are the most, they're so flavorful and there's no substitute for a fresh herb.
I'm sorry.
Get your, I mean, do I use the dried?
Of course.
Now dried thyme and dried rosemary.
I stand by those being fine.
Yeah, I agree.
Dried parsley.
Get out of here.
Yeah.
It's not doing anything.
It's not doing anything.
I almost picked up a head of lettuce to throw in the garden, but I just got a little nervous.
I'm nervous.
I've never had a garden.
Yeah.
I think you're testing it out.
I think it's going to be great.
Yeah.
If I can just like harvest.
So yes, I'm looking forward to, you know, and I would just rather learn from word of mouth.
I'm going to try to do it the old, old fashioned way.
I'm actually not going to chat GPT it.
I'm just going to bring up my garden to as many people in person as possible and see
what I can learn from the people.
Okay.
Sure.
I'm getting back to the roots.
I'm not going to chat GPT everything.
Okay.
That's fine.
So anyway, that's what I have going on.
What do you have going on?
Well, you know, I'm, it's been okay.
It's been, I know.
I'm sorry.
It's been fine.
I'm trying to catch up.
Like mom is down for like two days and like everything is falls off the rails.
So I see all online people are like, now I was like you, my life was chaotic when I,
and then I developed a system and now my house is never messy.
And I'm like, what are these systems?
Like people just throw out the word system out there.
It's like, like it's supposed to change my life and they never give me any context.
I, so I'm trying my own, I'm trying to system.
It's actually, it's actually kind of taken from Caroline Deppman on Instagram.
She kind of like does this.
Okay.
Things I'm doing every single week is like folding, like doing laundry every single
day I'm cleaning the kitchen, you know, wiping the floors down.
Like I'm certain things are always going to happen.
Some things I never seem to have time for.
And then I look at them and then they stress me out.
So for example, I have a stair basket.
There's no day of the week that the stair basket is getting unloaded.
The stair basket doesn't get unloaded every day.
I get a lot of packages from like Amazon and just like influencing and stuff.
They just like collect dust in my corner because I can't get the headspace to like
go open up all these packages.
There's these, you know, the diaper caddies I have everywhere.
You, they don't, I don't, I'm not constantly refilling them.
Like there's just these little things in my life that are not regularly happening.
And I'm like, what if every Tuesday I unloaded the stair basket?
What if like I'm doing everything I'm normally doing and also I'm unloading the stair basket.
Wednesday I'm doing everything I'm normally doing.
And also I'm just going through and refilling all the diaper caddies.
Thursday I'm opening my packages.
I'm putting this stuff away.
I'm throwing the boxes away.
Like what if I just do one thing, one extra thing a day?
I love that.
Simplify it down to one thing.
And it doesn't sound like it's not going to solve all your problems,
but what it's going to do is solve seven of your problems.
Exactly.
It's going to solve seven of my problems.
And like,
And that's a good start.
I'm starting it today.
I'm starting it with my stair basket.
And I wonder next week, my stair basket, how full is it going to be?
Not very full.
So it's going to be even easier next week.
Like, is it just going to be the hardest that it is this week because I'm just like starting, you know?
So that's my system that I'm, and it's very simple.
And I'm just trying to like tackle a few little areas that I notice seem to cause a little
bit extra like ping of stress in my, in my life.
I really think that's going to help you.
I think it's going to just like, um, what is the word?
Oh, it's like, it's like a daily anchor.
Yeah.
That's like new protocol that I'm doing.
Like you have a lot of daily anchors and like they're not, they're a little bit more intense.
But at the end of the day, like no matter what happens, like you get your daily anchors done
every single day.
So this is one of your daily anchors.
I feel like my daily anchors are like that.
Yeah.
Sure.
My daily anchors, I feel like are, you know, everything else you have to do, like clean
the kitchen three times.
Yeah.
But I'm sorry.
Those just feel like, those are just surviving.
I mean, everyone's life.
That's just life.
Everyone's cleaning the kitchen.
Everyone's cleaning the kitchen three times a day.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
So those are my things.
Those are your daily anchors.
You know, here's why I struggle with like a weekly system just for me is because I am
telling you, I am a different animal every day.
Like some days I am like, Hey, we're getting McDonald's for dinner for the kids.
And then last night I made homemade chicken pot pie from scratch.
And then I also made homemade cookies for my kids.
Yeah.
And then I gave everybody a bubble bath, put lotion on all of them, clipped all their finger
nails, brushed all their hair, gave them all jammies.
And then some days I'm like, did you take a bath two days ago?
Yeah.
Okay.
Let me just wash your feet off in the bath.
Like I'm telling you, I don't know who I'm going to be that day.
And sometimes I think being like a working mom or really just a mom is kind of like giving
yourself permission to just like be whoever you need to be that day.
Yeah.
Because some days I need to be a little bit more selfish and some days I need to give
it all to my kids.
Yeah.
But, you know, we just don't have it all figured out.
No.
But that's, we are figuring it out.
Yeah.
Wow.
That's beautiful.
Clip that.
I don't think that was very good.
We don't have it all figured out, but we're figuring it out.
No, you're right.
I don't think that's very perfect.
I just said the word twice.
You're right.
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Change your clothes.
Let's talk.
I kind of want to continue this.
Yes, life is crazy.
Yes, we're stressed, but let's just do something a little bit extra for ourselves.
I have a base model luxury that I just want to remind everyone about.
I just think summer is such a good time for this because we've got the fruits out, citrus,
cute.
Maybe we're cutting up a veggie tray for our kids.
We've got watermelon.
Like make all your leftover fruit and stuff.
It doesn't have to be leftover.
You can use fresh ones too.
Make spa water.
Now what's a spa water?
You fill a pitcher with water and then you throw some cucumbers and limes in there and
you put them in the fridge.
A mint.
An herb.
A mint.
An herb.
Throw an herb in there.
Take your freaking like leftover like lemon.
It's like ugly.
Your leftover strawberry.
Yes, it's like ugly simmer pots.
It's ugly spa.
It's ugly spa water.
It's ugly spa water.
And also it doesn't have to be ugly.
Like you can also just like do something for yourself.
Yeah.
But like also you don't have to.
So spa water, keep it in your fridge.
And it's just like makes you feel so, so healthy for some reason too.
I don't know.
Mom always has spa water at the holidays.
That's just what we call it.
So it's like, you know, at Christmas you'll have like a cranberry cucumber.
Yeah.
No, I love a spa water.
I need to do that.
So I was just like, and I kind of liked the idea of like putting it in just like your
Stanley for the day.
Right.
Or just put it in your Stanley.
And then it's like, it's just kind of like your little secret then.
Then like you're just like running about your day.
But then every time you take a drink of water, like it's fruit infused spa water and no one
knows but you.
So you're just kind of like going around life like with spa water that people don't know
about.
It's kind of like iconic.
That's a good point.
I've actually been doing that with my lemons.
Like when I cut a lemon and I squeeze it, I just throw the whole lemon in there.
In my Stanley.
Yeah.
You don't need a fresh lemon for a steak.
Yeah.
It's an ugly Stanley pot.
Yeah.
You can't see in there.
You can't see.
How would you know?
How would they know?
How would they know?
So that's my, that's my base model.
That's a really good one.
Thank you.
Um, well, I think we wanted to do last three transactions forever.
I haven't done it in forever.
I am happy to report.
I have, I've been transacting with some pretty iconic like kids activities because as you
guys know, like I'm still really hitting my reps hard with my kids, which is before
they are allowed to watch an ATV.
They have to read, do something educational, play and do an active service for me, which
is either babysitting or cleaning up.
And let me tell you that the service is my favorite and I think it's so good.
My kids are getting so good at cleaning up and helping.
And even though like Fred can't do what George and had he can do, he can do it with them.
Yeah.
And it's like, so he's learning how to do it too.
I've really been enjoying the reps.
They still hate it and they grovel and they're like, that's funny.
They're never going to enjoy it, Kelly.
No, but they, I think they actually will enjoy it or I think they will at least understand
it.
But that's why I'm like, Hey, you don't have to do it.
Like you, we have our daily chores.
You have to be like, you have to feed the animals.
You have to bring your dishes over.
You have to clean up your locker before bed.
Like we have our daily chores.
If you don't want to do it extra things, like then you just don't get to watch TV.
Yeah.
So that's just kind of the rule.
So I think they kind of do like the option that it gives them.
Sure.
But then Hattie's always like, if I do George's, can I have money?
I'm like, no.
No.
Oh my gosh.
And guess what we're doing tonight?
What?
It's Hattie's half birthday.
Oh, so you're going to dinner.
So we're going out to dinner.
A new tradition that we started.
We take just the birthday, just the half birthday kid out to dinner for their half birthday.
Yeah, so fun.
I am.
We were going to let her invite George, but we decided no.
Because like the point is I want Hattie.
I want to get to know Hattie alone, alone on an independent level.
I think she is so jazzed about it.
It's so hard to start something though, because like George's half birthday isn't
until like so long.
So like Fred's is next month and George is going to it's going to break George.
But it'll be coming up.
He's fine.
Yeah, his birthday.
I said, I said, we'll all do something special with you for your birthday.
Yeah.
But half birthday dinners on my dad are just a half birthday dinner thing.
And yeah.
So yeah, I'm pretty excited.
Yeah, I'm so excited for you.
I love that idea.
OK, well, anyway, back to our last three transactions.
I'll go first because I ordered something this morning that I'm really excited about.
New activity for James, because I'm always trying to like have activities to do at home.
He's really into dinosaurs that eat fish.
So like, if you know, you know, like a Spinosaurus, like a Baryonix,
like we're very much into those.
So I ordered him is some blue kinetic sand and some plastic fish.
And I'm going to make him an ocean on like, I'll just get a like a cookie sheet,
put the blue kinetic sand on there, sprinkle some of these fish in there.
And then that's going to be our new sort of like what sensory sensory bin.
So you're doing blue kinetic sand for the water.
And then I ordered some like little plastic fish,
and then he's going to take his Spinosaurus and the Spinosaurus
are going to eat the fish in the ocean.
George went through a phase like that when he liked the ones that eat the fish.
That's so funny.
Yeah, it is funny.
That's cute. I love kinetic sand.
I actually need to probably make a new kinetic sand bin.
That's a good tangible takeaway for me for the coming weeks.
Because I love it as one of those things that's like, oh,
they spill on the floor like, no.
And then you start cleaning it up and you're like, oh,
it's like not hard to clean up at all.
No, it's not hard to clean up.
And I mean, I definitely think I like the idea of containing it to a container.
Yeah.
But I want to buy like four bags of kinetic sand, put them all in one big container.
I you got to do same.
I agree. You have to do same color, though.
I'm not doing mixed colors.
No, you got to do same color.
This is me off.
Got to do same color.
Um, yeah, I should get on that because it will be a good quiet time activity for
my kids. And you know, we are really into the red ones
because the dinosaurs were in the hot lava.
And now I'm like, OK, well, now the dinosaurs are going to be in the ocean.
And because the weather is getting warmer, so it all just like makes sense.
And it's a totally new activity.
So something I kind of bought in bulk, if you will,
is I was at my sister-in-law's house this past weekend.
And she has a two year old, two year old.
And the two year old, they had like this binder or this like folder.
And inside the folder, they had white paper and just like a ton of stickers.
And all this two girls was doing is taking the stickers off the sticker
chart and putting it on white paper.
My kids were infatuated with it.
And of course, like we've we've had we've had the stickers here and there.
But I've never had just like a box of stickers before.
And you know, we're big colors, but I thought this would be like a different,
maybe more just a different, maybe in a way, easier activity from a car or a restaurant.
Maybe I'll even let them bring it to church.
And it's like, here's a piece of paper.
Here's a notebook. Here's two sticker sheets.
Have fun. Go to town.
So I went on Amazon and I mean, I bought so many sticker sheets.
Do not go to like.
I was trying to buy these at Michael's the other day.
I'm like, you're about to bankroll me, Michaels.
I got 36 sheets of stickers.
They look like this.
Oh, it's I can't see it.
OK, good call for seven dollars.
Yeah, I got a thousand stickers.
I got two. I got a thousand stickers for four ninety nine. Wow.
That's a lot of stickers.
And that's a lot of stickers.
So I'm going to make just like a sticker binder.
And I think all the and I even think Libby would like to do that supervise.
I'm almost wondering if that's like better for that age group, because she could
if I handed her a sticker or a paper, like she could do that.
And you know, then with the older kids, because when we've had,
we have like Pokemon stickers and sometimes I'll be like, OK, draw,
you know, a home or a scene and then you can put three Pokemon stickers on it.
Like, it's kind of fun to kind of combine them with the coloring.
So they should all be arriving today.
And I'm really excited to look at all of them, all my stickers.
I love that.
These are like such good tangible takeaways.
OK, something else that I recently ordered.
I like just need new maternity shorts.
So I ordered some maternity biker shorts from Old Navy.
And then obviously while I was on Old Navy's website, I had to look at all the
kids stuff. And if you're a dinosaur mom, like in your kids,
like T Rex's lame, don't care.
Like, stupid.
The only thing we care about are spinosaurs and baryonics is right now,
like the niche ones, like maybe.
Baryonics is what I can tell you about a baryonics.
It's like a cousin to a spinosaur, which doesn't have a spine,
but has a mouth of crocodile or an alligator or whatever.
Oh, yeah, baryonics. OK, I see it.
OK, it's kind of cool dinosaur.
Anyway, so like you think there's a lot of dinosaur clothes out there,
but like they don't have spinosaurs on them.
And like now James doesn't want them.
It has a spinosaur on it.
So I found a sick t-shirt from Old Navy with a spine.
Like imagine how jazzed I was to see like an actually kind of cute
like graphic tee with a spinosaur on it.
I love diversity and within the dino space.
Well, and it's kind of like crazy.
Like I really don't know why like anyone gives a rip about like a stegosaurus.
Like they're no one's favorite.
They're I'm sorry. They're no one's favorite.
No one's favorite.
And like, oh, they've got a cool silhouette.
I'm sorry. A spinosaur is a cooler silhouette.
So what? So just like justice for the spinosaur.
The spinosaur is bigger than a T-Rex.
So it was like the biggest carnivorous dinosaur.
But anyway, I could go on and on about justice for spinosaurs.
It sounds like it.
Anyway, that reminds me that I also saw this like maybe feels so bad.
I saw this reel and it was this girl and she posted like her son
in his like shirt.
He had like this dinosaur shirt that's currently at Target that I just bought.
And she and the caption was like, when grandma buys your kid ugly clothes,
and that's all they want to wear.
And she was literally calling out this specific shirt that literally.
OK, I understand that there are ugly shirts for kids with dinosaurs or tractors.
There are ugly ones.
This one was like not that offensive looking.
And I'm just like, let the kids wear what they want to wear.
I don't know.
I was like, rub me the wrong way.
Don't yuck. Someone's yums.
Again, like, do you like the most offensive ugly one?
If you want to, like it was a very subtle dinosaur T shirt.
Like it's a basic in my in my household, really.
So anyway, I thought I saw a sort T shirt at Old Navy.
You're OK.
Along with my just like activities that I'm trying to I don't know.
I was in like a I was thinking I'd maybe like make a real
on like good road trip activities, and I was just like kind of thinking about
like what what's a good like book to look at?
Because, you know, part of our reps that they have to do is they have to read.
Now, can George read like kind of can how do you read not at all?
But I like the idea that I'm just like looking at books.
I think that's just like a good habit to build.
So I was like, what's just like a fun book to look at?
Like, whether it be for like a book we keep in the car, a book we bring to a
restaurant, a book for quiet time.
What's what's just like the best book to look at?
And I said, well, why fix what's not broken?
And I bought all the Where's Waldo's books.
OK, I was going to say I spy.
But yeah, Where's Waldo is good, too.
They have like a whole series.
And I was like, OK, like like, where is Waldo?
Yeah.
That's a good one.
Yeah. So they're not in yet, but I'm pretty excited.
Your kids are just like it's so fun to see.
Just like your kids are so much more capable of doing things.
Now that it's like, oh, now you can buy like Where's Waldo book?
Where's like last summer, it's like no one would have known what that is.
Trough. Trough, Trough, Trough, Trough.
OK, what else am I buying?
Let me go to my Amazon.
Nothing fun.
Nothing fun like.
OK, I can give my last one if you want to go while I'm trying to figure it
out. My last one also related to kind of like stickers and Where's Waldo
is I bought a kid's word search book.
OK, that could be a fun.
I'm going to count that as like their education for their reps this spring and
summer. Again, I think that could be a good activity to do in the car.
Just like the idea of like we go to the lake or we were just at home
and they're looking for something to do in the afternoon.
And I'm like, do a word search, do a puzzle, do a sticker page.
Like I'm just looking for more of those activities.
So I think the word search will be fun.
It looks very age appropriate.
I think both George and had he could handle it, you know, another Amazon find.
Well, I like it word search.
I guess like the one in the last like I got two boring things like we're getting.
I'll do one boring thing.
Um, James like has figured out how to open doors
like this one specific sliding door that you can never hear it.
And when it's open, it's in our playroom.
So I had to order like more of those doorchimes
that will like alert me when someone is leaving the door, which I knew.
Thought you then thought it was a little bit annoying.
So you unplugged it, but I kind of just have to go for it.
And you never know.
Yeah, you know, like it's kind of like
keep my kid alive kind of situation.
So I sort of don't have a choice.
Yeah. Um, well, those are our transactions then, Bebs.
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.
Well, let's move on to a little industry news
where I spilled the hot tea going on the auto industry.
OK, because we kind of kind of have a fun story.
And that says Nissan teases Xterras mean mug
and confirms late 2028 arrival.
The next generation Nissan XTERRA will launch 2028,
likely for a 2029 model year and will be built in the United States.
The XTERRA will be a body on frame and will sport a rugged design
to match its off road capabilities.
The platform will spawn a family of body on frame vehicles
using V six engines offered in gas and hybrid form.
This could be the thing to put Nissan back on the map.
Yeah, OK, I'm looking it up.
It doesn't look amazing, but like it looks like nothing like a cyber truck.
It does kind of look like a cyber truck.
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot I don't like about this picture,
but I got you're just seeing the grill. Yeah.
I don't know, but I'm interested with other like body on frames,
like family SUVs are. Mm hmm.
I'm very excited for it. I loved the XTERRA.
It says. All right, sorry, go ahead.
I was just saying I'm nervous.
They're just going to make it too weird.
Like everyone, I'm sorry, I was driving today and I saw a white,
probably 2024 palisade had like a silver grill.
That's a beautiful car. I know.
Let's don't even get me started. I know.
They're just making them so.
And I'm curious to everyone's like appetite on the Santa Fe.
Like I've been waiting to like the Santa Fe more
and I just still don't like the look of them on the road.
I really like the interior of the Santa. Same.
Interiors, the very luxury looks really cool.
The exterior is like fine to me.
But again, I liked the old Santa Fe.
Like I didn't think it was dying for a refresh.
And I like a boxy car.
I know that everyone's doing it.
I'm like, can I see a rounded car?
I know. I know.
Well, that's exciting about the exterior, though.
And I'm kind of, I'm also like really nervous
that they're going to screw it up.
But what do I know?
Yeah, what do you know?
And then it also says that the exterior will utilize
the body on this platform, which will form the basis
for new family capable SUVs.
Nissan says is exploring five new body on frame vehicles,
one of which is the exterior.
And the automaker also mentioned pickups
and multi-row SUVs across Nissan and Infiniti's brands.
Previous reports have suggested that one will be
a next gen frontier truck while Infiniti is expected
to get a model based on the XTERRA.
That would be interesting.
The other models could be rumored body on frame,
three row pathfinder and Infiniti counterpart.
And if you're wondering what body on frame means,
it's like a, this says it's a traditional
automotive construction method where a separate body
is mounted onto a rigid independent ladder frame,
ladder frame or chassis.
The frame supports the powertrain suspension and wheels
providing high durability, superior towing
and off-roading flexibility,
commonly used in pickup trucks and large SUVs.
I love a unibody.
I love the word chassis.
Same.
That's such a good word.
Chassis, it's kind of a pretty name.
Chassis, and I,
Cassie? Chassis?
Chassis?
Chassis, Cassie?
That's funny.
So yeah, we'll have to see kind of what that brings.
When I pull up on other industry news,
do you know my priest car for the week?
You're what?
My press car?
So it's a priest car.
No, what's your press car?
It is.
Hey.
Toyota.
Sienna.
Sienna.
Yeah.
The Sienna St. John.
Sienna St. John coming in.
Coming in.
So excited, excited, excited.
Okay, yay.
I love it.
Good play around in the Sienna.
Yeah, I'm going to commit to the bit.
I'm going to put all four car seats in it,
which I rarely do with my three-row press cars.
I just don't always get around to it.
Because I'm sorry, I'm just not going to inconvenience
my life in a Mazda CX-90 to put four car seats in for fun.
But as Sienna, I'm sure it has the captain's chair.
So like I'll be trialing the captain's chairs.
And yeah.
That's really exciting.
I'm going to commit to the bit drive for a week.
Like I'm really ready to go, so.
Okay, well, welcome to the minivan life
for the temporary week that you're driving it.
You were so on the minivan train.
Yeah, I just love it.
And now we can move to ditch the drive-thru,
where I give you an easy dinner recipe
to mix it up to get you out of y'all.
Dinner rut.
So many things I've been making.
So the first is, let me put you onto this idea.
So you know, like a salmon, like locks,
like smoked salmon, cream cheese capers,
red onions, dill, on a bagel.
Okay, so anyway, I was like, I'm craving locks,
but I'm not eating like the gluten right now
so I can't do a bagel.
So I was like, I'm going to make this into like a salad.
So what I decided to do was I cut the salmon up,
like kind of small, like kind of,
so it would look like canned tuna.
And then I put like a dollop of cream cheese,
some capers, some red onion, some fresh dill,
lime, a little lemon juice, a little salt and pepper,
mix it up, and then I put them on cucumbers.
And I was like, this is such a better way to eat it,
all like in a salad form,
because then I'm getting what I want in every bite.
I'm just like make a locks bagel.
It's like, oh, there wasn't capers in that bite,
or like, oh, that one was all same,
and that one was too much cream cheese.
And I'm just like, I'm taking the matters into my own hands,
and I'm ensuring that it's a more even experience.
And it was delicious.
Mm, yum.
Yeah, super yum.
Love it.
Well, I'm making taco skillets tonight,
which is a little bit maybe more attainable to other people,
for people who don't like locks.
Yeah, not everyone likes locks.
Yeah.
But if I can still, it's a good way to like use up ground beef.
Yeah, it is.
Make the ground beef, add in some salsa,
add in some rice, add in some broth, let it all cook up,
top it with cheese, butter, bing, butter, boom, delish.
Butter, bing, butter, boom, and it's great leftovers.
It's like, there's also that.
It's great leftovers, yeah.
And then tonight for supper, I am doing,
I am doing,
okay, so do you follow?
Yeah, home begins with love.
Yeah.
She keeps talking about this insane thing
called a chicken loaf.
Have you seen this content?
Mm-mm, I've not seen the chicken loaf.
I guess it's just like a very juicy way to cook your chicken,
but she basically like puts a bunch of chicken thighs
in a loaf pan and like presses it down,
Ew.
Bakes it and then comes out and like slices it,
but like the chicken is like very juicy.
She said it's amazing.
So I'm gonna try, I bought some chicken thighs
to do a chicken loaf.
Okay, well, we'll have to let us know
where the chicken loaf goes.
Yeah, I love her.
She's a really good follow.
She's a great follow.
She does this funny series called like
Ingredient House After Dark.
And Elizabeth and I grew up in an ingredient house,
like the most ingredient house you can imagine.
And it's just funny like, because some people could like,
like we just, there was there,
you weren't going to get a snack in the pantry.
So she's like how she makes snacks,
like a snack for herself in an ingredient house.
It's just a funny series.
Tortilla with a butter and cinnamon sugar.
It's like a dessert.
Totally.
All right, well, you got a call.
I'm about to have a coffee and fit.
So we're going to end this episode.
Thank you so much for listening to the Carpool Podcast
and we'll talk to you next time.
See you guys, bye.
Thank you for listening to the Carpool 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 Lizz swap busy-mom life updates, from airport-lounge credit cards and pre-check plans to managing overwhelm with simple “systems.” One host starts a garden at Lowe’s—cherry tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and a planned second trip for zucchini—framing it as a low-stakes hobby for easier conversations and fresh produce. They also trade “last three transactions” like sticker binders, dinosaur-themed kinetic sand bins, and Where’s Waldo/word search books for car and quiet time. Industry news covers Nissan’s body-on-frame next-gen Xterra (late 2028/2029) and a week with a Toyota Sienna press car, plus quick dinner ideas like lox-on-cucumbers and taco skillets.
Original notes
Kelly is firing on all cylinders! She's busier then ever, which is only about to pick up soon with even more travel. (BTW - who has a hook up with airport lounges?) But with everything going on you would think she would try to slow down right? NOPE! Now, she's starting a gardening project! And she won't be Chat GPTing it!
Lizz has decided now is the time to get her life in order, one day at a time. She's got a new method on how to get those big chores done every week and you may want to steal this one. Speaking of making your life better, Lizz also has a base-model luxury that is perfect as we get into summer: spa water.
It's been a while since Kelly and Lizz did a Last Three Transactions. Kelly is fully in her REPS era and is buying items to keep the kids entertained over the summer. It's all about stickers, "Where's Waldo?" books and word searches. Lizz is also buying stuff for the kids including blue sand and fish for a sensory bowl, dino shirts and a safety alarm for the door.
In Industry News, we'll be seeing a new Nissan Xterra in 2028 and Kelly has a new press car that she is excited about (mostly because it has a great name). Finally, Kelly and Lizz have to very different Ditch the Drive-Thrus: a lox salad and taco skillet.
The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz
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