Episode #183: Summer time Bucket Checklist & E-book Membership Alternatives

This week, we’re going over our summer time bucket checklist and letting you in on all our summer time plans. Plus, we’re revealing our Q2 guide membership alternatives and what has been sparking pleasure for us recently.

You’ll find the podcast posts archive right here.

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And, when you’re in search of a particular code you heard on the podcast, you’ll be able to see a full checklist on this web page!

Present Notes:

Obtain your Summer time Bucket Checklist

What’s on Your Summer time Bucket Checklist:

Emma – Household journey to Costa Rica, begin engaged on novel #3, and arrange vacation decor.

Elsie – Bond with Springfield, nesting, and extra meals running a blog.

Try our Springfield Metropolis Information

Q2 E-book Membership Alternatives:

Beach Read by Emily Henry

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

Sparks Pleasure:

Elsie – Vinyl star decals and espresso machine

Emma – Brief-style underwear

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Episode 183 Transcript:

Emma: You’re listening to The Stunning Mess Podcast, your cozy consolation hear. This week we’re going over our summer time bucket checklist and letting you in on all our summer time plans. Plus we’re revealing our quarter-two guide alternatives and what has been sparking pleasure for us recently. This needs to be a enjoyable one. Preparing for summer time. Bought summer time studying. We obtained summer time plans. Oh yeah. 

Elsie: Sure. So earlier than we bounce in, I simply wanna discuss how we’re so shut. That is our second to final recording day the place we’re aside, the place we stay in several states nonetheless. And we’re so near dwelling in the identical city and going to the pool all summer time, and it’s gonna be superb. I’m so pleased. I’m so, so pleased. It’s lastly nearly right here. 

Emma: I’m so pleased. Yeah. Yay. We’re within the pool on a regular basis. Always. 

Elsie: Sure, we’re gonna have a lot enjoyable. Yeah, cuz after we first determined to maneuver, it was final summer time, so it’s been nearly a complete yr since we’ve simply been planning it and it began to really feel prefer it was by no means going to occur or prefer it was type of like an imaginary factor and now it’s actually taking place in just a few weeks, so it feels actually good. So we’re gonna undergo our summer time bucket checklist. Did you put together three? I ready three.

Emma: Sure. So we are able to simply commute. Okay. So the very first thing on my summer time bucket checklist is a reasonably large one. We obtained Oscar, who’s two a passport. Who has the tiny child passport. I didn’t have a passport till I used to be like 18. So to me, this can be a huge deal. Some persons are most likely like, properly, yeah, you bought your coat on the passport, however like I by no means had one till I used to be like 18. So anyway, yeah, we obtained Oscar’s passport and on our summer time bucket checklist is someday this summer time, we’re gonna go on a household journey to Costa Rica, and that would be the first time he makes use of his passport and will get a bit stamp. And he’s additionally, by no means flown earlier than, so it’s gonna be simply gonna be a giant journey for us as a household. And I’m actually enthusiastic about it. I’m additionally a bit nervous. I feel he’s gonna do nice. He loves to simply observe and stare at folks. So I really feel just like the airplane will probably be enjoyable for him, and he’s fairly good about with the ability to sleep elsewhere. So I feel he’ll nonetheless if it’s like nap time, I feel he’ll nonetheless be capable to take a bit nap. So I feel it’s gonna work out. However perhaps we’ll have an enormous meltdown and that’ll not be essentially the most enjoyable a part of the journey. However that’s okay. 

Elsie: Yay. Yeah, it’s undoubtedly among the hardest moments of my parenting journey have been on planes with folks observing us whereas our children cried. However general, I feel it’s often simpler than you assume it’s gonna be. 

Emma: And you already know, you get via it even when it’s horrible time passes and also you get via it. So no matter. 

Elsie: Do you wanna know my random tip? When you deliver a bit field of band-aids, identical to common band-aids, if you really want one thing, you’ll be able to identical to let him undo and play with Band-Aids as a result of it’s one thing thrilling that they don’t often get limitless entry to. I feel it really works very well, it’s a toddler age they only love band-aids. 

Emma: Yeah. No, that’s a terrific tip. I’m 100% going to try this. The emergency bandaids. 

Elsie: Sure, precisely. So my first bucket checklist merchandise is, so we’re having our first season in our new residence, in our new metropolis. It’s not likely new to us, nevertheless it’s gonna be model new to our children.

It’s gonna be the primary time we’ve lived there in eight years. The primary time we’ve lived there since we had children, and I grew up there, nevertheless it’s been some time. Issues have modified, so my purpose is to have a bonding season to attempt to actually bond with the town, be open to new issues, and check out new locations. There are numerous locations which have modified or opened that we haven’t tried but. We’ll have to search out all new routines, all new, all the pieces. Like boring issues like an orthodontist, however like thrilling issues like a farmer’s market and new mates. I simply wanna have a really open-minded, open-hearted season and attempt to simply make one of the best of it. As a result of this summer time is type of like our time to settle.

Emma: Yep. And we are able to hyperlink one thing to point out notes for anybody passing via Springfield or when you stay right here, we lately put up a metropolis information so it has tons and many domestically owned companies like eating places, bars, desserts, ice cream, locations like Pineapple Whip, espresso retailers, locations to buy, no matter. Numerous family-friendly stuff, numerous stuff only for adults and yeah, we are able to hyperlink that. However yeah, I feel the truth that you’ve by no means lived right here with children is gonna be a complete totally different stage as a result of I do assume it’s such a terrific metropolis for household life. So, Yeah, it’s gonna be nice. You’re gonna find it irresistible. Don’t fear. 

Elsie: I’m so excited. I’m a bit nervous and it’s thrilling. Simply wanna make this summer time all about attempting all the pieces since there are such a lot of totally different locations. I’ll say the town information was superb. She obtained all my favourite flea markets and I used to be impressed. And it has our favourite Chinese language meals place. 

Emma: Sure. So I used to be like, you need to put my favourite as a result of Springfield cashew hen is type of a factor, and like everybody has their place as a result of there’s so many and so I used to be like, I actually wanna put my place in right here. The one which I like essentially the most. So anyway, yeah, I’m excited for the summer time too. We’re gonna make it a particular one. Oscar is so excited to play on the pool along with your women and simply do all types of issues. You’re gonna find it irresistible. All proper, the second factor on my bucket checklist is I’m going to start out engaged on novel quantity three. So my homicide novel, novel quantity two, I’m speaking to some folks like brokers. Nothing to announce at the moment when I’ve information to announce that it’s extra official. I will probably be on our podcast when it’s time, however I’ve nothing to say in the meanwhile, simply speaking with some of us. We’ll see. However yeah, so within the meantime, I’m gonna begin engaged on novel three, and I feel I’ve talked about a bit bit prior to now like what the concept was. So basically months and months in the past after I was ending my second novel, I stayed at this little trendy tree home in Branson, Missouri, which is about 45 minutes from the place I stay. And when you’ve by no means heard of Branson, Missouri, it’s a really huge vacationer vacation spot. They’ve numerous exhibits and so they have Silver Greenback Metropolis, which is like an old-timey-themed amusement.

Elsie: It’s the Las Vegas of Missouri. 

Emma: It actually is, and it’s actually enjoyable and actually charming and really simply, I don’t know, a humorous place. So anyway, from the Airbnb I used to be staying at, you would see the lake and I may see the showboat Branson Bell, which is, I feel like a steamboat-style huge boat. Form of like a cruise, when you’ve ever been on a cruise. It’s like that kind, it’s not that huge, nevertheless it’s that kind of a giant boat and you may go on it. And so they have like a dinner theater, so you will have dinner and there’s like a present. I’ve really by no means executed it, although I solely stay like 45 minutes. However I’ve heard about it lots. And anyway, I may see that from the window and I simply obtained it in my thoughts that I used to be like, I’m gonna do a guide that’s like Homicide on the Showboat Branson Bell. Like characters are on the boat and a homicide occurs and so they should determine it out, and that’s principally the premise. I don’t have a lot else labored out. So it’s gonna be a bit extra like clue type of, numerous totally different characters. All people has a motive, who is aware of who did it, blah, blah, that type of factor. So I hope will probably be enjoyable. I do not know. I’m simply beginning it however that’s on my summer time bucket checklist to actually, I really feel prefer it takes me a very long time to determine the plot and the define and as soon as I’ve that, the writing is simply the manufacturing facility work. So long as I give myself time, that’s no huge deal. That’s identical to barreling via it. But it surely takes me a very long time to type of marinate on how’s it gonna occur. And who’re the characters? Sure. And simply all these issues. So I’m engaged on that this summer time. 

Elsie: Magical. I’m so excited to learn this one. I’ve your new novel printed out and sitting on my bedside desk, so I’m so excited to learn that as properly. 

Emma: Oh, and I’ve to go to the present about Branson Bell. I discussed that. I haven’t ever been, in order that’s like the first step. Yeah. As I’m making a complete bunch of my mates go together with me. I haven’t booked it fairly but, however we’re gonna go fairly quickly. So most likely by the point you hearken to this, hopefully, I’ll have already gone, we’ll see. Gotta go. Gotta get impressed. 

Elsie: Okay, so my second purpose for this summer time is to do nesting stage 10 out of 10, like no matter, I don’t know what to name it, code pink alert. So I wish to be loopy about nesting. I simply wanna totally settle into our home and I wanna make it excellent and ideal is a relative time period. I wanna make it excellent to me like I wanna make it really feel like residence. So a few episodes again, we talked about how we bought our home furnished and yesterday I obtained numerous questions on my Instagram about it and I used to be considering perhaps in a future episode we may do one about furnishing a home from scratch as a result of that’s the following step and that’s what I’m doing now. Yeah. There’s a lot to it. However I’m very impressed. I’m actually having fun with it thus far, and I’m simply type of wanting ahead to spending the summer time establishing the rooms and filling issues out with antiques and many flea market searching and issues like that. Set up these cupboards, all these issues. After which principally set the scene in order that we are able to have essentially the most epic Halloween and Christmas ever. In order that’s my dream and yeah, it’s undoubtedly nesting season. 

Emma: I find it irresistible. I really like establishing a home. It’s additionally that second the place you already know when you go on a trip and it’s such as you needed to take a few flights after which an Uber otherwise you needed to get to your rental automotive and also you waited in line, all of the issues, and you then lastly get to wherever you’re lodging and also you sit down on the mattress and also you set your stuff down. You’re simply kinda like, Ah, you already know, that second. I really feel like whenever you’re first in your own home after you’ve moved and also you’ve set sufficient up which you can stay such as you’re not executed. You haven’t opened each field, however you’re like, arrange sufficient. I really feel like that’s the second of ah, you already know, and shifting is so worrying. So I’m excited for that second for you. 

Elsie: Thanks. I’m wanting ahead to that second as properly. All proper, okay, what’s your third one? 

Emma: Third factor on my summer time bucket checklist is I’m gonna arrange all my vacation decor, and I do know what you is likely to be considering. Emma, why are you organizing all of your Christmas and Halloween stuff in the summertime? Properly, one, it provides me a terrific excuse to be messing round with all my Christmas and Halloween stuff in the summertime. However two primarily I would like it to be executed earlier than the season begins as a result of I really feel like as soon as I’m able to get out all my Halloween stuff, I don’t need that day as I’m adorning for Halloween, since that’s earlier than Christmas, similar factor for Christmas although. I don’t need that day to simply be like, oh, I’m so dissatisfied that each one my shit’s simply shoved in a closet and I can’t even discover stuff and I’m identical to coping with that. I really assume pulling out all of the stuff is just like the pleased half. It’s so thrilling and so I feel it’ll really feel higher if I have already got all of it organized and simple to entry, in order that’s a purpose for this summer time. Plus, I really feel just like the summer time for us tends to be a bit bit slower. So far as like weblog world. So I really feel prefer it’s time to try this as a result of This fall and the vacation season are usually fairly busy. So, I don’t wish to make it a purpose in that season to arrange it. I simply don’t assume it’ll occur.

Elsie: No, that is sensible. I feel it’s good to provide a delegated time to do the organizing and never having to try this whenever you’re simply attempting to place stuff away actual fast. Okay, my third purpose is, so I formally am getting into my meals blogger period and Emma is aware of this, however I wanna inform our podcast listeners as properly, I’m like meals running a blog so loopy and it’s a lot enjoyable. I’m so enthusiastic about it. I’ve meals blogged the entire time, like each occasionally. Not persistently as my fundamental factor, however this can be a good season for me to do that as a result of I’ve already shared all my home excursions and I’m not gonna have new completed rooms, I wanna settle and revel in it. It’s not time for me to be like a house weblog or girl as a result of I simply wanna l take pleasure in it. I’ll undoubtedly share overshare my residence on my Instagram, don’t fear. However on the weblog, I’m largely doing recipes proper now and it’s so enjoyable. I really feel like I’ve a brand new love for running a blog from beginning it as a result of it’s simply actually totally different and I’m actually having fun with the pictures. I’m actually having fun with the analysis, identical to attempting. I really feel like I’m studying on a regular basis, which is one thing that works very well for my character. Simply be consistently studying how one can do one thing new that I didn’t know. So yeah, please go away me a five-star recipe evaluation and that’s how I’ll know that you just love me. 

Emma: When you don’t, you don’t love us. 

Elsie: Emma leaves me one on each recipe. 

Emma: Yeah, as a result of I really like you and I suppose nobody else does. No, I’m simply kidding everybody. However yeah, I feel for thus lengthy we felt like folks wouldn’t be concerned with like fundamentals and now we’re type of realizing, and this isn’t tremendous new like this has been like a yr or two within the coming, however we’re like, no, folks wish to know actually good all the knowledge, how one can do one thing that’s perhaps type of fundamental, however that’s what they’re really making. They don’t essentially at all times wanna make the wacky, bizarre, tremendous onerous, tremendous tough stuff. Which, that’s not even like what I’m good at cooking and I feel for you at occasions you at all times felt intimidated, like that’s what you had been imagined to be. And also you had been like, no, I make like actually good smoothies and actually good espresso, and may I discuss utilizing my air fryer or is that like boring to folks? And it’s like, no, folks like wanna hear about it. So yeah, I feel it’s period. 

Elsie: Me too. I’m having a lot enjoyable. I’m engaged on my cocktails archive this summer time. So when you like cocktails or smoothies, it’s popping. It’s popping off. 

Emma: I’ve been engaged on, some espresso stuff, so I’ve been extremely caffeinated recently.

Elsie: Good. Oh yeah, I simply ordered, Emma bought me on her espresso machine and I simply ordered one. So I’m so excited. I’ll put it within the present notes as a result of when you’re in search of an espresso machine, that is medium-priced, not too costly. It’s not low-cost nevertheless it’s not too costly.

Emma: Yeah, it’s an espresso machine. They are usually fairly dear.

Elsie: It’s round like $500 I feel, which is within the center. I simply need one which works properly, that’s constant, that doesn’t break on a regular basis. And that’s the issue I had with my previous one. I’m actually excited to strive one thing totally different as a result of for a minute I believed we simply weren’t gonna get a brand new espresso machine as a result of we had been so fed up with the braking.

Emma: Yeah. And I’ll say I additionally, when you’re in search of one thing even cheaper, one, you are able to do range high espresso, and that’s the most cost effective factor you are able to do. However yeah, two, it is a bit more concerned, you’d should have your personal grinder and a few various things, however you are able to do it and that’s the most cost effective method. Additionally, I sincerely do like espresso. Some folks don’t like pods, they don’t need any espresso maker that has pods, I get that. So if that’s not for you, I get it. However when you’re getting one, I do assume they’re fairly top quality and I like them. However this espresso machine I’ve, it’s you employ entire beans so you should buy any beans you need, which I feel makes the espresso higher as a result of I simply purchase native beans from Espresso Epic or Kingdom, that are two espresso retailers on the town that like roast throw beans and also you don’t should do the factor the place you prefer to press it into, the little cup, like a barista. You simply put the beans in and also you press the buttons. You’ll have to add water and it’ll immediate you when you want to clear out the grounds and issues like that. But it surely’s actually the simplest to make use of, however nonetheless actually high-quality residence espresso and it’s cute. It’s a cute machine so it may be sitting out and it’s fairly. In order that’s my fast delicate promote if you need an espresso machine. That is how I bought Elsie, I used to be like, hear, that is one of the best one.

Elsie: Yeah, we’ll blink it within the present notes. I’m actually excited to strive it. 

Emma: I find it irresistible. We use it like every single day. We’ve used it every single day since Christmas. 

Elsie: Oh, wow. Okay. Properly, that’s a shining evaluation. 

Emma: Yeah. We find it irresistible. 

Elsie: Cool. Okay, so subsequent we’re going to share our Q2 or Summer time E-book Membership alternatives. So this can take us all the best way until August, after which in August we’ll announce how we’re gonna do a Halloween guide membership theme this yr, and it’s gonna be spooky. Okay, so for summer time, Emma did one thing tremendous beneficiant. She despatched me all of the books and so they had been largely books I had learn, which I used to be so pleased about due to shifting. So we’re gonna do two books for the summer time and so they’re each books that I’ve already learn. 

Emma: Elsie’s forward. 

Elsie: Yeah, I get a bit little bit of like simpler time. So yeah, since I’ve already learn these books, I believed I may do the suggestions. Okay, so the primary one is Beere by Emily Henry. When you’ve by no means learn an Emily Henry guide, you’ve most likely seen them. They’re like actually cute, colourful colours. I feel that she might need a factor the place ultimately she’s attempting to do the entire rainbow as a result of they appear like each is a unique shade and so they’re actually fairly. I’ve learn, I feel two of her books, and so they’re undoubtedly like a romantic comedy in guide kind and I really like them. I feel they’re actually enjoyable. They’re undoubtedly temper meals for me. I’ve to be within the temper for only a gentle, straightforward, romantic guide. And the tales are good and it’s enjoyable, they’re every totally different. Yeah, so Seashore Learn is a summer time romance, I feel the title is cute, the duvet’s cute, and I can even say that Julia Whelan performs all of Emily Henry’s audiobooks and when you’re an audiobook particular person, you most likely are like everybody who likes audio books loves Julia Whelan, I hear this on a regular basis. She’s simply actually gifted at doing most of these books. And he or she does numerous fashionable books as a result of she’s executed I feel many of the Taylor Jenkins learn books additionally and all the Emily Henry books after which another actually fashionable books. So anyway, when you haven’t tried an audiobook I feel this can be a good one to strive. I’d undoubtedly advocate it. 

Emma: Yep. And I will probably be studying this on the pool this summer time. 

Elsie: Sure, undoubtedly, I feel the truth that the duvet says Seashore actual huge, makes it cute for a trip.

Emma: Yeah, I do too.

Elsie: It’s candy. The subsequent guide is The Artistic Act by Rick Rubin, and I listened to this guide additionally. I listened to it on a drive. It’s fairly brief, I feel it’s round 5 hours lengthy. And Rick Rubin is a well-known music producer. I don’t actually know what’s what with that type of factor, however I undoubtedly know that he’s one of the well-known music producers on the earth, and that’s most likely all you really want to know. The guide isn’t about music, he’s not speaking about his profession hardly in any respect. So when you don’t care about that, don’t fear the guide is Massive Magic adjoining. It Vibes good, very well for Massive Magic followers, which I feel most of us are. That’s one in every of my favourite non-fiction books of my entire life and this guide, has numerous that, nevertheless it’s a bit totally different and it was very good. He has, I don’t know in the event that they’re known as gongs or chimes, however there’s like sound results, very incessantly all through the guide, which I loved and I simply thought his efficiency was very entertaining. So I undoubtedly advocate this guide when you like, a artistic, any type of guide that encourages creativity, that is going to be your jam. When you like an audiobook, his efficiency is cute. When you don’t prefer it, learn it, it’s not lengthy in any respect. So, yeah, that’s my onerous promote on each of our summer time books, and I hope you all will learn together with us. 

Emma: Yeah, I’m very excited for each of them. They had been each ones that I advised to Elsie. I haven’t learn both, however I’m very enthusiastic about each of them. All proper let’s do a sparks pleasure. What has been sparking pleasure for you recently? 

Elsie: All proper. I’ve a really particular one, so, our daughter is popping eight in June. She has requested for an area and science-themed bed room, and nothing could possibly be cuter to me it matches her completely. It’s what she’s been concerned with for a very long time, so I’m very excited. I feel subsequent yr when she turns 9, it’s doable she may go to area camp. I used to be studying about that and I feel you need to be 9 on the youngest to do it. So anyway, very particular. So my sparks of pleasure this week are these vinyl star decals. So in our final home, we used these similar decals as Christmas decor, and I’d simply stick them on the wall and type of simply stick them throughout. It’s identical to little gold stars, identical to including a bit magical flourish in rooms. However for her bed room, we did a black ceiling, after which we’re utilizing these, two totally different sorts of gold star decals, they’re vinyl, they’re simply stickers to brighten it as like a sky, an evening sky. After which she’ll have a bit cellular with all of the planets. And in addition an vintage chandelier. So I feel it’s gonna be like a really magical children’ room. I’m actually enthusiastic about it and yeah, that’s what’s sparking pleasure for me this time. 

Emma: Yeah. It makes me consider, I really feel like within the nineties, so many children, together with myself, had the like plastic glow-in-the-dark stars that you’d tape onto your ceiling. That was just like the nineties starter pack, and I undoubtedly had them in my center college bed room. Okay, my sparks pleasure is underwear. That’s proper, I’m gonna discuss underwear for a second. So I purchased a pack of like boxer temporary fashion underwear however for ladies. So principally my factor is all my cute pajamas are very wintry. They’re like lengthy sleeves. They’re lengthy, they’re fairly heat, and I really like them. I put on all of them winter lengthy. I’ve a complete bunch of them, a complete bunch of units. And I don’t ever actually know what to put on for pajamas in the summertime as a result of it’s hotter and we alter our comforter. So our mattress isn’t sweltering scorching, however I nonetheless don’t really feel like sporting these lengthy pajamas that I often put on all yr spherical. I’ve a few short-sleeved, however I simply don’t have as many units and I type of don’t really feel like shopping for as many units trigger I don’t love the patterns as a lot. All my winter ones it’s like I’ve a pair that’s like ghosty. I’ve numerous Halloween sorts. 

Elsie: I’ve the identical drawback. Yeah. My fall and Christmas and winter pajama assortment is large and my summer time is simply a few units with shorts, with flowers. So inform me about this underwear. 

Emma: That’s what I’ve is like a few units which can be like florals and so they’re advantageous, however I don’t need tons extra of ’em. So anyway, so I used to be like, you already know what I’m gonna do? I’m simply gonna put on T-shirts and underwear to mattress, however I don’t actually like sporting my common underwear round the home. I put on numerous common bikini kinds, and I additionally put on thongs lots. And I’m not strolling round the home with a t-shirt and thong. there’s an excessive amount of canine hair in my home. I’ll be trustworthy, that’s why I’m not gonna do it. I’m not sitting on the sofa in simply my thong. No, it’s an excessive amount of canine hair, I can’t do it. So anyway, it’s not a modesty factor, it’s only a, we obtained crumbs on the sofa. I can’t take care of this. So anyway, I used to be like, my husband wears briefs and I used to be like, I feel I’d put on that to mattress. And so anyway, I purchased a pack and that’s what I’m doing now and it’s a sparky pleasure for me trigger it’s good and breezy however I feel they’re type of cute. I really feel like I’m simply sporting gymnasium shorts type of however they’re not like compression like gymnasium shorts. And so yeah, it simply feels very comfy and good. 

Elsie: That sounds cute, you’ll should hyperlink to them. I’m curious to see what they appear to be. That sounds cute. 

Emma: I’ll, I’ll hyperlink to ’em and you then’ll know the type of underwear I’m sporting round my home at night time. Sitting on my sofa. 

Elsie: So good. I’m glad. Okay, it’s now time to go over a joke and a truth with Nova. All proper. I’ve Nova right here, Nova this week. Do you will have a truth for us or a joke? 

Nova: Truth. 

Elsie: A truth. Okay. I’m prepared. 

Nova: Do you know that pugs are recognized to be humorous, good and I feel cute. They prefer to stay in folks’s homes and so they initially got here from China.

Elsie: Good truth. That was one. All proper. Have week. 

Nova: Bye. 

Emma: All proper. Thanks a lot for listening and keep in mind which you can submit your questions at podcast an exquisite mess.com, or you’ll be able to name and go away us a voicemail at 417-893-0011. We’ll be again subsequent week. We’re gonna have ideas for adorning the outside of your private home.