Ringing in 2026!

The holidays are over, the house is quiet, and the batteries—literal and social—need a recharge. We open the door on that in-between mood: the relief of wrapping paper cleared, the small panic when a favorite tool (hi, Dyson) dies, and the surprising joy of a new coat, fresh socks, or a perfect iced tea cup that makes winter feel a notch warmer.

From there, we zoom out. We compare reading goals to the comfort of nightly word games and design a plan that doesn’t pit pleasure against growth. We talk boundaries through the lens of “social battery” science, spotting early signs of burnout and choosing better exit ramps before you’re tapped out. Our take on stress flips the script, favoring meaningful action—movement, helpfulness, tidy wins—over retreat-only self-care. You’ll leave with practical, low-friction ways to feel better without waiting for motivation to strike.

We also have fun with New Year rituals around the world and the ones we can craft at home: color-coded intentions, wish confetti, plates in Denmark, waves in Brazil. And yes, we detour into iguanas “freezing” in Florida and the chaotic charm of local countdown TV before landing on what really makes a reset stick—consistency with heart, goals that fit your real life, and rituals that make ordinary days feel new.

If this conversation made you smile or gave you one idea to try tonight, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your notes help more people find the show and keep this community growing.

Mike Haggerty Buick GMC
Right on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:06

Hi, thanks for joining us today. It's Nora. And Nora. Yeah, welcome to all. If you're joining us for the first time, welcome. If you're back for more, welcome back. Happy 2026. We made it to all the moms that made all the holiday magic happen.

SPEAKER_02 0:25

You did it.

unknown 0:26

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 0:28

Wow. The relief one feels on December 26th. Yes. Right? Yes. You feel lighter. Feels like accomplished.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 0:41

It really does. Well done. Thanks. And to you too. How was Christmas? Christmas was great. Everything went according to plan. Most of my gifts had arrived. And I had everything wrapped the two days before. Which is good because I realized I forgot a gift. Oh man. I know. My husband and I were giving my daughter an American girl doll. And I ordered accessories for it and not the doll.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

It's a good thing you caught it. And wasn't he like the Christmas English?

SPEAKER_02 1:19

I was like, I'll go on Christmas Eve. I'll just do it then. And he was like, that's a terrible idea. Which he was right. He's like, I'll just go now. And he went down and got it.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Because he had come over to our house to pick up some things for the hunt and let us know about that.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

So other than that, it was fine. My family all came over. I got outvoted on my traditional Christmas lasagna. Oh, shoot, because that's an easy one. Yes. My mom was like, maybe we should add ham. And Al was like, well, if we have ham, we can't have lasagna. So we need to have turkey. And I was a little bit grumpy about it, but it worked out fine. So then did you have to make all the sides? No, I didn't. I was like, I'm not doing Thanksgiving 2.0. We'll have mashed potatoes. We'll have a couple sides. It's not really about the food on Christmas to me. Like true, true. You know, like every we had 16 people there who were like, when are we opening the gifts? 18 people.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

But, anyways, how about yours? It was great. It was quiet. We do six o'clock mass because it's chill. So we had an early dinner and then we came home and opened a couple gifts and just hung out. It was great. It was just the six of us, which those times are kind of few and far between. But it's so nice to just be with them. And yeah, we had a wonderful Christmas morning. And we celebrated with Ryan's family a couple days later, which was so much fun.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

Nice.

SPEAKER_01 2:43

And then we celebrated with the Haggerty side a week before.

unknown 2:46

Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

When you hosted. So yeah. Oh, that's awesome. And I checked both boxes. And then Catherine Grace left for Scottsdale for the week. So that was nice for her. Isn't it funny how if you're missing a child, it's how it changes the change.

SPEAKER_02 2:59

It changes everything. I know. It totally does. Yeah. It is bizarre. Because you don't, you're like, oh, it's only one person out of six. But it is like your whole ecosystem is thrown off.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

Yeah, it really is. So we had a merry little break. Mm-hmm. And here we are.

Taking Down Decorations And Systems

SPEAKER_02 3:14

How soon after Christmas had you taken down all your decorations?

SPEAKER_01 3:19

Well, usually I like to do it the 26th. But we were going to Fond du Lac on the 27th. So I kind of had to clean up the actual like Christmas. Yes, yes, yes. And all the things. So I didn't get it down until the 28th. That's late for you. That's very late for me. Yeah. How about you?

SPEAKER_02 3:36

Well, I was like, maybe, because my family was always the tradition was you leave it up until little Christmas. Yes. Which is the epiphany. Yes. On January 8th, I think, or is it the 12th? I think it's the 12th. Okay, January 12th. And I was like, maybe I'll do that this year. And then on New Year's Eve, I was like starting to get itchy.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Had you take did your did your family take everything down except the tree?

SPEAKER_02 4:01

No, everything was up. Everything was everything was up. We were still full on Christmas. But like some of the batteries were starting to die on like the garland, and like certain things weren't lighting up.

SPEAKER_01 4:11

It might be getting a little spotty. I'm interrupting you.

SPEAKER_02 4:15

No. Oh, yeah, on the Epiphany? Because I think it's 12 days after Christmas. January 6th. So I was wrong on both accounts. I think I said the 8th. I mean, you know what? That's the holiday return policy at the Apple store. If you got gifts from the Apple store, you have to January to return them. 11 days after Christmas. So then New Year's Day, I was I today's the day. I started, I was like, oh, just take the ornaments off. And then I was like, nope. Does anyone help you take it down? Or do you do it all yourself? The ornaments I do myself because I like to wrap them and I like to put them away in a particular like the homemade ones and the non-I'm a little bit crazy. It's my own fault. But then my older two boys did help me. I just said, I need you to go around the house. Anything that's a Christmas decoration, bring to the dining room. Oh, great. That was easy. So they were kind of like my retrievers. And I was like, I don't need you to pack because I want to pack it up myself. So do I. Do you? Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_01 5:09

I like to do it myself, but I did have the big kids take the ornaments off the tree for me. Okay. And just like pass them to me, and I'd wrap them and put them away. And that made such a difference. I've never done that before.

SPEAKER_02 5:20

Even like I have these little candles that are battery powered, just having Rory, because I probably have about 15 of them. Rory took every candle and took the batteries out. And I was like, that's Amy a lot.

SPEAKER_01 5:32

Yes, I know. I love how your house feels when it's clean and all the decorations are gone.

SPEAKER_02 5:46

But it was time to get the house back in order.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

I know.

Favorite Gifts And Winter Essentials

SPEAKER_01 5:50

Did you get any good gifts? Are you you've been good this year, no? I have been good this year. Notable. My mom gave me a great purse. I got new slippers that I had really needed and wanted, which was exciting. Nothing like super crazy. My mother-in-law gives Fantastic Gales a really cool Mackenzie Child Planner. Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_02 6:15

How about you? Well, I got a new coat from my that I wore today that I love and I desperately need because it's freezing here. Yes. My sister gave me, and I know I'm so late to the party on this, a Laneige lip mask.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

Have you ever used this?

SPEAKER_01 6:30

All the time. Oh my God. Game changer.

SPEAKER_02 6:33

Yes. Because I'm a big lip balm girl and I'm using less lip balm because of the mask. It's incredible. It's good. Now I see what everybody said all the rages about it. Yes. I'm bad at a nighttime routine. Yeah, I don't have one. I don't have one. And so I keep it, I've been keeping it by my bed, and I'm like, oh my God, this stuff is great. Yeah. I'm like three years late to the park.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

That's okay. But what do we say? Better late than never?

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Yeah, I guess. So that. And then I got very nice earrings from Alexander, which was a Christmas. Well, are you wearing them? Yeah. Anniversary gift, which was very thoughtful. Um they're beautiful. And they're very pretty. And I like them. That, and everybody was happy with the gifts I gave. So that that makes me happy too. That's what makes you almost even more than what I got.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

It makes me more happy to yes. Yes. Because we're kind of at a stage in the game where like if I need something, I'll just go get it.

Cold Snaps And Falling Iguanas

SPEAKER_02 7:28

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's fine. Yeah, all good things, and it's over, and now we're just January. We're just Januarying. Jam. January. Wait.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Jamonic. Speaking of January and the weather. We weren't really talking about the weather. Well, I said it was cold. Yeah. We weren't. Did you read the story about the iguanas in Florida?

SPEAKER_02 7:48

Are they dropping out of the trees? Yes. Oh my gosh. Do you know what I mean? This is one of my favorite things. This is a thing. They get so cold. Yes. They just, it's like they play possum. Yeah. They just freeze and then they drop out of the tree to preserve their body heat.

SPEAKER_01 8:03

And then when the external temperature like regulates and gets warmer, they come back. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 8:09

So don't, if you're in Florida, don't be like, oh great, I'm going to bring this in my house. Because once they thaw out, I didn't know that. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:17

Isn't that wild?

Resolutions, Reading Vs Word Games

SPEAKER_02 8:18

Yes. It's so crazy. I what I would love to see is a video of one coming back to life. How about this? I have a video of a guy finding one. Oh my. If an iguana fell on me, though, I would not appreciate that. What about any New Year's resolutions? How did you do on your 2025s? Great. Yeah, same. I fell 13 games short of my crossword puzzle goals. Nora. And I like to blame my eye situation. I consider it a win.

SPEAKER_01 8:48

Only 9% of people follow through.

SPEAKER_02 8:50

Well, I'm yeah, I'm in the 91%.

SPEAKER_01 8:54

Not really. No, I think it counts. It was close enough. You round up. 13 short. But I had this eye situation in the past month. So it made doing crossword puzzles very difficult.

SPEAKER_02 9:04

Very difficult. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:05

Do you have one this year?

SPEAKER_02 9:07

Well, so this is what I'm trying to because I love my word games and I I do quite a few of them before I go to bed. I probably spend about 20-ish minutes doing word games. Do I switch to reading books? Do you try to give up my word games? Do you like your word games? I love my word games. Then why switch? Or do I try to do them during the day and then save reading for the nighttime? Because I miss, you know what it is? I miss reading books. And then I also, women our age talk a lot about what they're reading, and I do feel a little left out. Well, I'm big reading. It's my own fault.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

I'm a big reader, but it's not a resolution. Could you just like read to read?

SPEAKER_02 9:48

Yeah, I don't think I'm gonna. I'm just kind of it's not a resolution, it's more of a like a Could you just kind of integrate it? Kind of a thing where I'm like, I should try this.

Book-To-Movie Chat And Instagram Goals

SPEAKER_01 9:56

I have a great book for you. I read it cover to cover yesterday. What is it called? It's called No, it is called The Housemaid. Wait, is this a movie now? Yes, it's now a movie. So my friend Heather gave it to me yesterday. And it is a big book. 300 Oh my god! 25 pages.

SPEAKER_02 10:18

And I read it all in one day. I just want to read I'm not gonna borrow it from you because I'm a notorious book not giver backer. Because I it takes me so long to read them.

SPEAKER_01 10:27

Wow, but I wanted to read it so I could go see the movie. It was great. It was a movie.

SPEAKER_00 10:32

You're gonna go see the movie? Yes. What?

unknown 10:34

No.

SPEAKER_02 10:35

I want to be there for that.

SPEAKER_00 10:37

We're gonna read the book and in all right, okay.

SPEAKER_02 10:39

I'm gonna read the book. I'm gonna try to do both.

SPEAKER_01 10:41

All right, I have a podcast resolution too. Oh, okay. I'm gonna try to post more consistently on Instagram. Okay, duh. And I will change more consistently to something like actual once I figure out what it is. Great. Because I think you reach your goals if you have like specific like number goals, like smart goals. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:59

Like if you're like in like incremental kind of you're not like five- I'm gonna post 500 times a year. It's like what? No, you can keep trying to do that. I probably need to do a better job of sending you content to texting you pictures of it.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

I don't think it's it's it's a this normal problem, not a that neuro problem.

SPEAKER_02 11:16

I also just keep sending you pictures of every time I hear a skater boy on the radio.

SPEAKER_01 11:21

Which is at least three times, or maybe four, once I didn't send it to you. Do you think they can hear us talking about it? And so that's why they play it for you.

Sleep Hacks And Puppy Paws Trend

SPEAKER_02 11:28

It is bizarre. It is bizarre. I mean, I do listen to a 2000s radio station on XM radio, but the fact that this song has went on so much. So much. Well, the other funny thing I read about, but and I was laughing at it until I realized I do it. There was a trend on TikTok. If you can't sleep, do the puppy pause sleep position. What is the puppy pause? And wait, is your dog here? Yeah, she's okay. Yeah. So they were saying how when dogs sleep, they have their hands like kind of under them, like this. And I realize I so they like if you get into bed and you're kind of on your side or your belly and you have your arms like tucked under you. Do you do that? I do do that. And that helps or doesn't help? It just makes me feel cozy. Yeah. Do they say do this? Yeah. Like get your arms up under you. It's almost like you're punching yourself in the and then you lay on it? Yes. And that helps you sleep. That'll help you kind of fall asleep. Yeah. You make it look like you're breathing from impact. It doesn't look good. But and I am too. I think it's hard not to do it unless you're laying on the ground. Let me see. But it is comfortable. I'm gonna lay on it. Yeah, we can do this.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

Yeah, and all of you like, oh no, no, I like to go like this. You're you're a star food to go like this. Oh, you got the that's also a dog position. Yeah, I'll have my I'll have my arms under me like this. They also basically in female position.

SPEAKER_01 13:15

Oh, should we hop back up on the mic?

SPEAKER_02 13:20

Those pictures would be great. Oh my god. You just woke your dog up. I'm sorry, sweet dog. But um so maybe that's not for you.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

You know what? Should we check in with our sponsor?

Sponsor Break: Buick And GMC

SPEAKER_02 13:29

Let's do it.

SPEAKER_01 13:31

Hey Nora. Hey.

SPEAKER_02 13:35

You know what? I think this gray weather for the winters has got me down. Like I maybe I need some vitamin D.

SPEAKER_01 13:41

No, you don't need vitamin D, Nora. You need vitamins GMC. Oh my gosh, I think you're right. That'll knock those winter blues right out. Tell me more. Well, it's easy. Just head down to 93rd and Cicero to Mike Haggerty Buick and GMC, and it's like sunshine on the corner. Oh my gosh, that sounds like exactly what I need. You need a new car, you need your car serviced, they'll meet all your needs. That's amazing. And if you don't want to take a drive down there, you can go to their website, Haggertycars.com.

SPEAKER_02 14:21

That sounds so refreshing and already makes me feel warm inside.

New Year Rituals And Color Superstitions

SPEAKER_01 14:26

I'm here for you, Nora. Thanks, Nora. And now back to the show.

SPEAKER_02 14:31

So usually this is when we announce our topic, but we don't really have a topic today. We're just kind of like New Year's and the New Year and New Year's and the new just talking about New. New All King is new.

SPEAKER_01 14:43

I wanted to talk to you about a New Year's trend. Ooh, let's hear it. They these TikTokers, these kids have been. This is what's been trending. Okay. Your undies color to manifest your 2026. Okay. So if you are really looking for romance in the new year, wear red undies New Year's Eve.

SPEAKER_02 15:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 15:07

If you're looking Oh, just on New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve, yep. If you're looking like for it to be a powerful new year, powerful new year, black. Okay. If you're hoping for like abundance and prosperity and all things of that nature, green. Okay. And if you're looking to be more calm, more grounded, more more serenity in your life as 2026 draws near. Pink. Pink. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:35

It's interesting that people would choose something that's so close to their butt to like manifest their outlook for year, right? Something that's behind you. To think about the year ahead. I would almost be like, wear a hat because that's on the top.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

Oh my gosh. No, I don't know if people are wearing hats, but in the Philippines, people wear polka dots. On New Year's Eve? Mm-hmm. Oh, that's it. To symbolize wealth and prosperity. Jolly. What is jolly?

SPEAKER_00 16:10

I like hats. Hats are I mean. I've never seen you wear a hat. I don't actually really like that.

SPEAKER_02 16:23

I like a winter hat. And I do like a baseball hat because it covers up my forehead. Yeah. Do you watch what do you watch on New Year's Eve? Like TV.

SPEAKER_01 16:33

How much I drink? Oh. No.

SPEAKER_02 16:36

The bottle go down. I the ball. The so the ABC seven, like the square uh square times. Time Times Square. Hello. So yes, usually we watch that one too because we're interested in the New York New Year because my husband's from New York. But this year was the first year that Chicago was included. Yeah. The national Dick Clark Rock and Eve.

SPEAKER_01 16:59

Yeah, and we got Chance the Rapper.

TV Countdowns, Wish Confetti, And Nostalgia

SPEAKER_02 17:01

We got Chance the Rapper, who was great. And I thought he did a phenomenal job. But I'm not gonna lie, I missed our local. Because the local one is like so bad, it's good. Because it would usually be like ABC 7. They would have reporters out at different parties. Like two years ago, they had this husband and wife at like the pierogi fest in this one town in Indiana. And I do love the husband just got bombed because he kept doing shots and the wife is pregnant, and she's like, ha ha ha. I'm gonna slow down. You're not gonna feel great tomorrow. And then they have like other people at banquet halls, and then usually the weather girl and that one newscaster do a dance. I didn't know that. Oh, okay. And it's like so elaborate and it's kind of hilarious. And they didn't really get to do that this year. So I missed it. I thought Tance Rapper did a nice job, but I missed the local so bad. It's good.

SPEAKER_01 17:57

I didn't know about the local. So we have to keep that in mind. I did find an interesting story that 3,000 pounds of confetti is cleaned up in Times Square. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:07

It's a lot. They clean it up fast.

SPEAKER_01 18:10

And I also didn't know about this wish fetty. Did you know about that? No. That in Times Square, people write down their wishes for the following year. It started in 2015. And then they use all those wishes and turn it into confetti, and that's what falls. Oh, so they write it and then cut it up. Uh I think they write it on a wall.

SPEAKER_02 18:30

Oh. And then they take it. That's in Times Square? Yeah.

unknown 18:34

Oh.

SPEAKER_02 18:34

I wonder where you go to write your wish down. There was a link. Do you have to have it coordinate with your underpants? I don't know. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01 18:47

I give all those people in Times Square a lot of credit because that's I don't even love Times Square not on New Year's.

SPEAKER_02 18:52

So I feel nostalgic in Times Square because I used to work there. Oh, you did? My first job in New York, I worked right on 47th Street. So it was bananas. It was like during the height of TRL. So like if I had to run around and run errands, I'd be like, oh, these people in front of it. How about killing TRL was pretty?

SPEAKER_01 19:13

You know what I'll say when I think New Year, New This, New That, I was thinking about all the things I love new. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:20

I love new running shoes. Yeah. I just bought myself new tank, like tank tops for like under sweaters. Okay. I was like, I don't know if this is really quite. Oh my God, they're so fresh and clean and new. But now that made me really happy. And I also love new pens, new school of supplies.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

You're right there with me, aren't you? Yeah. Yeah. Nothing beats new pens. They also put down new cleaning supplies. Yeah. Something about like a fresh bottle of Windex.

SPEAKER_02 19:48

Even like a new thing of toilet paper. Yeah. And it just because it's like getting those as opposed to like the big giant like Sam's Club that has only two rolls left. You're like, how old are these things?

SPEAKER_01 20:01

I know. There's something about new and fresh, like a fresh iced tea. New socks. Oh, new socks. That's a good one. New socks are great. I like a new season too. Mm-hmm. New kitchen towels are nice. New kitchen towels are fantastic. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 20:16

Yeah, it's a good too, isn't it? And I think it's nice at this time of year because sometimes this the weather can make it feel like icky. So even just a small thing, like you said, like a new new pens or new pad of paper feels like a treat.

SPEAKER_01 20:31

Well, it feels like dirty outside.

SPEAKER_02 20:33

My car is filthy.

SPEAKER_01 20:36

My car isn't great either. But I was reading.

SPEAKER_02 20:39

We know okay. It's it's a very social time of year. We're kind of coming out of that right now. And I was reading an article about your social battery. Like how long it takes for your social battery to run out. Because we all, you know, we all benefit from being in a social situation. But then this article is talking about fatigue sets in, your patient starts to wear thin, the thought of heading home sounds irresistible. How long does it take to reach that breaking point?

SPEAKER_01 21:08

How long does it take?

SPEAKER_02 21:08

And they surveyed more than 10,000 people, and 38% of people experience signs of social exhaustion, overstimulated, losing energy after just two to three hours of hanging out. What?

SPEAKER_00 21:20

Like right when the party gets started.

SPEAKER_02 21:22

I was surprised. I'm like, that's low. Yeah. So I thought that was in interesting. And but then it also said, you know, you have to take into account who you're hanging out with. You know, if it's like your best friend or your like if I was to hang out with you for two hours, it'd fly by. That's usually what we do when we record, and we're always like, I have to go. But then certain people might wear you out faster than others.

SPEAKER_01 21:51

Yes, a hundred percent. That is true. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 21:53

Yes. So they they kind of gave you some warning signs of when you've hit your lemon. Do you want to hit your own? When you say your husband, sudden irritability or impatience. You find yourself getting snappy over small things. Is that what it says? Yes. Cutting people off mid-sentence or feeling overstimulated by every clinking glass. Withdrawal. Maybe you offered short responses instead of actively engaging.

SPEAKER_00 22:21

Or in the corner drinking by yourself. Your body language might shift too. Like sitting down while everyone else is still stint.

SPEAKER_02 22:29

Sorry, my battery's low. Zoning out, harder to stay present. You're spaced out, daydreaming about being anywhere else, or instinctively scrolling on your phone to mentally check out.

SPEAKER_01 22:40

Gosh, maybe these people need new friends. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:44

That sounds bad. I know. It's a you can kind of like recharge yourself in the moment. It just says instead of carrying the burden of initiating the conversation, just be an active listener. Yeah. Ask follow-up questions, make eye contact, and laugh.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

And laugh. At appropriate times.

SPEAKER_00 23:03

Exactly.

Stress Reframed: Act, Don’t Retreat

SPEAKER_01 23:05

So that I thought was really funny. I do appreciate the social battery though, because that really is. Sometimes I'm just like at zero. A hundred percent. I think it's important to recognize that and be like, you know what? You don't have to say yes to everything.

SPEAKER_02 23:18

You don't. And it is, I feel like I've gotten better at that as I've gotten older. Same. Where I don't feel like I have to justify it. I'm just like, I can't make it.

SPEAKER_01 23:30

Um the other thing is I feel like the longer we've lived here, the easier it is for me to say no because when you move to a new place or you're establishing a base, whether it's like with whether your kids are at a new school or you've moved or whatever the case. Like you have to say yes right on jump so that you can get involved.

SPEAKER_02 23:47

Right. Because there there's that fear of if I say no, they'll stop asking me. My dad used to say that when we were little. Yeah. Al and I felt like that too. We're like, we have to go. And I I remember on the uh on the flip side, people we would invite and they would be like, Oh, it's just bad timing. Please don't stop inviting us. Like it's just we we really want to do it, we just can't. Like, please, like, don't read it as yeah as a symbol or a signal that we can't we don't want to.

SPEAKER_01 24:16

We just And now we're kind of in a place too where like four kids going in four different directions can be challenging sometimes. Correct. And sometimes it is nice to just stay in, and other times you truly can't because your kids have commitments.

Global Traditions From Plates To Waves

SPEAKER_02 24:33

Right. And there's yeah, there have been times where especially Halloween, I feel it a lot on Halloween where you're like, well, one of us has to be able to drive the other ones around or be home base for the kids who have other plans. Agree. Yeah. And that's stressful. And I was reading this article about ways to manage your stress. Oh. That the kind of I thought this was interesting that most people turn to self-care and like going internal. And this article says it's not harmful, but although those are trying to control your stress, where this doctor is saying, manifest your stress outwards instead of trying to be like, I'm so stressed, I'm gonna take a bath, or I'm so stressed, I'm just gonna sit down and like do nothing. Could you exercise? Exercising, she said also like helping others, take meaningful action, get out and do instead of like that kind of urge to like drink work. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 25:36

Which I kind of because then I feel like the the more I'm if I'm stressed, if I feel like I have gotten things done, then I feel less stressed. That's very true, right? Like checking off the boxes. Because she was saying stress has cortisol and adrenaline. Those are the hormones that, but it also has oxytocin, which she called the cuddle hormone, and it motivates you to connect and seek support. It stirs a specialized kind of it's spurring like specialized and meaningful action.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

So if you engage in a meaningful task, like helping others, your stress should, in theory, reduce. Mm-hmm. Great. I love that. Keep that in mind.

SPEAKER_02 26:16

Yeah. And also I think for me, and maybe for you too, it almost be for you, that's probably easier for me to do right now than to like light a candle and take a bath. Oh, yes, 100%. Getting in a bathtub. But I could go and get stuff done and knock things off my to-do list and feel good about myself. I agree. So I think that I liked that. I like that one too. So, anyways, just a little thing I uh did you read out on the World Wide Web.

SPEAKER_01 26:43

Did you read anything about what other traditions do to bring in New Year's? No, I did not. I'd love to hear them though. Thought you might have. No. Um in Denmark, they throw plates at the front door. What? To welcome good luck. Wait, my sister was in Denmark for New Year's Eve. Oh, she was? I'm gonna ask her. I know she saw a heck of a fireworks display and a parade. They do like, they think the loud shattering scares away the evil spirits. And then your large pile of dishes is how well loved you are. And then the cleanup when they all clean it up, it symbolizes unity.

SPEAKER_02 27:19

Oh, that's lovely. I don't have any dishes I would want to smash. Don't walk around barefoot. Right. Denmark. I cannot wait to ask Aaron about that. Okay. Yeah, ask her and see. Yeah, they s they were there, they left New Year's Day.

SPEAKER_01 27:35

Okay. And then the Brazilians make seven wishes while they jump into seven waves. Because the waves carry away the old.

SPEAKER_02 27:43

That's cool. I kind of like that one. That's really something you can only do in certain climates. That's true. That's true.

SPEAKER_01 27:51

And then how about in Latin America you eat 12 grapes?

unknown 27:54

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 27:56

I think I've heard that. Not at one time. You eat them one at a time. You eat them with each chime of the Oh, that's fast. That's a lot. That's how I eat grapes actually. Small grapes. That's neat. I might take seven sips. Of a grape. Oh, I mean twelve.

Champagne Stats And Skepticism

SPEAKER_00 28:17

I only have seven right here. I was thinking seven days in a week. Oh, okay. Oh, twelve sips of a grape. Of a wine, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:27

That's manageable.

SPEAKER_00 28:28

That I could do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:29

But eaten twelve grapes. That's what it said with every time. That is cool. And then I told you about the Philippines wearing polka dots to symbolize.

SPEAKER_02 28:39

Is there an American tradition? No, I don't think there is. I remember banging pots and pants.

SPEAKER_01 28:45

I remember banging pots and pants.

SPEAKER_02 28:46

But I don't think that was I think that was just to be loud.

SPEAKER_01 28:47

Well, I guess I wonder if our ball drop.

unknown 28:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:50

And well now the wish confetti.

SPEAKER_01 28:53

Yeah, but that only was started in 2015.

SPEAKER_02 28:55

I don't know. I didn't really look. Yeah, then I don't feel like there's any American New Year's Eve traditions like that.

SPEAKER_01 29:03

Champagne, we drink three 360 million glasses of sparkling wine is consumed. Although I wondered how they figured that out.

SPEAKER_02 29:12

I guess just by how many bottles are sold. But here's the thing. I bought two bottles of champagne, but I've only drank one. I mean not by myself. I still have one left. So they lie. They lie. They lie. Or I'm throwing off the numbers.

SPEAKER_01 29:28

That's a lot of champagne. Or sparkling light. A lot of bubbles.

Highs And Lows: Dyson Drama, Dog Groom

SPEAKER_02 29:31

Well, happy new year to everybody. Should we dip it to our highs and lows? Let's go for it. I'm gonna go first because my low is also kind of a high. It's a low high. All right. Listeners, you may know that I was very generously given a Dyson Airwrap for Christmas last year by my from my in-laws. Love this thing. Like it sounds insane, but it really changed my life. And it made getting ready faster. I wore less ponytails, very happy with my hair. On December 26th, it broke. I love that you give a date. Oh my God. I turned it on. It went like and then it was flashing red. And I legitimately out loud went, oh no! And I was so sad. I tried everything to kind of troubleshoot it. I went on the app to troubleshoot it. And then finally I went on the chat with the technical support.

SPEAKER_01 30:26

Was it a robot or a real person?

SPEAKER_02 30:29

It was a robot until they were like, we need to transfer you to a real person. To a human. Yes. And then I was on with a human and he talked me through a couple things and he was like, it looks like it needs to be replaced. And my heart sank because this is not an inexpensive luxury. And he's like, but you are within the warranty period. So we're gonna So great. Do you want a replacement? And did it arrive? Today today's the day. It's been a really long time. I'm like, my hair is not the same. It's so boring. But I can't it's supposed to come today.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

Oh, I'm happy for you. Did you buy the upgraded warranty?

SPEAKER_02 31:06

I will register it when this one comes. Absolutely. This is my public service announcement. I think not a lot of people register their products when they get them. Do it. I never I've never registered products. Always do. You do. I do. And sometimes it comes in handy. Like now. Like now. That's awesome. So um can't wait to get her back. Yay. How about you?

SPEAKER_01 31:27

My low is our dog needs a haircut. Oh she's so cute. She's so fluffy, and I need to just mom. I need to call and make the appointment, and I haven't, and it's outrageous and out of control. And it could be turning into dreadlocks at any moment. I mean, if it's look for her. Um, and my hi is my mom sent Catherine Grace back with a thoughtful gift for me. My favorite spot to pick up an iced tea in Scottsdale is AJ's. So she sent me back, sent her back with a sleeve of AJ's plastic cups, lids, and straws. That's right. So I can make I know so I can make the AJ's iced tea here. Were you out of them? But I didn't ask for them. She just surprised a nice mouth. Yeah, so fun. That's awesome.

unknown 32:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:15

Oh, well. So 2026 is off to a good start.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Yeah, that's it. That's all she wrote. I'm excited about it. I am too. It's the year of the horse, giddy up. Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_00 32:26

Love it. Where was that at the top of the store? I don't know, but it's a great way to end. All right. Bye. Bye.