Podcasts I'm Loving Lately

I've been down a black hole and it's called podcasts. I've never really been one for podcasts or really listening to anything that wasn't music. Like so many others, I became mildly obsessed with Serial back in the fall. I had never listened to a podcast before and didn't really have an inclination to, but never wanting to be left out of a pop culture craze, I jumped in with both feet and couldn't get enough!

Following Serial, I gave up on podcasts, but recently I was inspired to get back on board. I put out a call on Instagram for some podcast recommendations and today I'm rounding up some of my favorites!

Fresh Air. This is a great podcast for keeping up with pop culture. The first episode I listened to was an interview with Billy Crystal and Josh Gad and I was immediately hooked. Other episodes of interest: DJ Mark Ronson, Louis C.K., Graham Yost, who is the EP on Justified, an interview with a former SeaWorld trainer, and I have many more in the queue.

This American Life. I enjoy the randomness of this one. Lots of different stories about very different things. Yesterday, I listened to Same Bed, Different Dreams, stories of people who are tied together but have very different hopes and dreams.

Undisclosed: The State vs. Adnan Syed. This is kind of like a follow up to Serial, but by a different group of people. It's a different way of storytelling, and as the narrator admits, not a beautifully crafted narrative like Serial is. You need to listen to Serial prior to this one, so if you haven't...well what have you been doing for the last six months?

The Bugle. This was recommended by a friend whose opinion I trust implicitly, but I just haven't had a chance to listen yet. I have a few episodes downloaded though!

Nerdist. Love love love. I'm a self-proclaimed pop culture nerd and so is Chris Hardwick. It also now makes me appreciate his street cred prior to getting the Talking Dead gig on AMC (a post-mortem of The Walking Dead each week). This also features various interviews. I recently listened to Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and I loved it.

WTF with Mark Maron. More pop culture here. Funny interviews with big stars, pop culture icons and more. I tend to prefer the style of Nerdist and Fresh Air a bit more, but this is also a solid listen with huge name guests.

Also on my list to try based on your recommendations: Spilled Milk, The Moth, America's Test Kitchen, Doug Loves Movies, Cashing in with TJ Miller, The Motivating Mom and The Chalene Johnson Show.

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, what are your favorites?

Mother's Day 2015

Today it feels as though we've skipped right over spring and ran right into summer. It's very warm and humid out and I'm wishing that I took the time this weekend to switch my winter and summer clothes because I really had a hard time finding something to wear this morning. How was your weekend? We had a really nice one. All I really wanted this weekend and for Mother's Day was to spend as much time as possible with Penelope and so that's what I did. Saturday was spent catching up on life. I spent some time reorganizing Penelope's toys which was long overdue and I finally have a reduced sense of anxiety over how cluttered our apartment feels. Shaun made steaks for dinner and it was glorious to just be home, drinking wine late at night and watching TV.

On Sunday, we had a packed day of visiting family. We started the morning with brunch at my parents house. We dined on bagels, cheesy scrambled eggs, cheese blitzes and more. We played outside with bubbles and chalk and just enjoyed a casual day with family. My aunt, uncle and cousins joined us and our best family friend was in town from Poland. After brunch, we hopped over to visit Shaun's parents for the rest of the afternoon. We grilled burgers and hot dogs for our first grill of the season. I'm so ready for a long summer filled with burgers and hot dogs! We spent more time outside playing with bubbles and even got a little soccer going with Penelope.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I'm so thankful for this wonderful weather that allowed us to have so much outdoor time :)

Happy Friday!

{our favorite spring indulgence: loaded hot dogs from boulevard drinks in jersey city}

It's the most glorious weather today in New York and I'm looking forward to welcoming a wonderful weekend with open arms. We'll be celebrating Mother's Day with both of our moms on Sunday and meeting friends for brunch tomorrow. Hopefully we will have some outside time and I also have some less-than-ambitious mom's day crafting on the docket for Penelope and I to do tomorrow (for her grandmas). Tonight, I'm hoping for a mini Shameless marathon as we still haven't finished the last 3 episodes and if I get some solo time, I have 2 more episodes of The Jinx that I simply cannot wait to watch.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend celebrating the moms in your life. Wishing the happiest day to all the Moms out there, whether with us or not, the moms-to-be, the moms who want to be, and the moms who are all doing their very best every single day. Sending so much love to you all!

{via}

And now some links to get you through the day!

toddler cold vs. allergy symptoms

some solid mom/life hacks

i really want to try this coconut butter coffee

we are kind of obsessed with john oliver right now, esp when he takes down standardized testing

should these foods go in the fridge or the cupboard?

what are you making for mother's day? i'm going with these baked blintzes and a cherry clafoutis

whole foods is launching a lower cost spin-off

 this new york city edible classroom garden is pretty amazing

an interesting take on mac n cheese

why a rear-facing car seat is recommended until age 4 {i'm a nut about this. P is 27 months and still comfortably rear-facing!}

you too can be enjoying a mason jar salad in 5 easy steps

i cannot WAIT to watch this documentary on Carroll Spinney aka Big Bird

i love this beauty advice for my daughter

what do you think of reese witherspoon's new product line?

and finally: 22 ways to upgrade your avocado toast. yum.