Episode 55: Hired Help & Sexy Faeries

This weeks episode is a bit of a catch up, catch-all conversation, including us discussing what kind of help or luxury services we'd hire if we were rolling in cash.

Here’s some of the links to things we talked about in this episode.

Mel’s Brand Builder Retreat for female business owners

Gabby’s favourite Indian food restaurant in Belfast— shout out to the Archana!!

Interested in seeing if there’s a Corepower Yoga near you? Check it out!

If you want to check out the A Beautiful Mess Podcast you can do so here

Want to get on the sexy faerie bandwagon, check out the Court of Thorns and Roses Series.

Until next time!

>>> Click here to read the computer generated transcript (note that the transcript isn't perfect)

Gabby: welcome to the making and effort podcast, the podcast where you get to sit in on a conversation between two friends, discussing all the things they make an effort with and some of the things they don't. And this week we're just going to do a little. Uh, life update, answer a few questions maybe, and maybe even read some listener mail, be a little bit of a hodgepodge of everything. Um, so hopefully, hopefully that's fun. Hi Mel. Cause that's what you get. Mel: I made, let's tell the truth. We did not have a topic in mind for this episode. Well, you know, must be. Gabby: You know, that's just how it goes sometimes. And also, uh, we also have a lot going on, so I feel like, I feel like that's also why the life update. Isn't like the worst idea. Anyways. Talk about, you know, Mel: No, that's not because yes, we have a lot going on. And sometimes we are like a brimming full of ideas for this podcast of things that we want to talk about. And then weeks like the last week, you know, your husband has been away on tour. You're grow into people inside your body. I have had, you know, a weekend of not being a mom because my kids went away for the weekend. And I just did not think. Anything other than yourself, Gabby: which is exactly as you should. Mel: Um, so I. Yeah, I just haven't thought I hadn't thought about it. Um, and then it comes around quick a Tuesday. It does not, this is what we record on a Tuesday. Yeah. Um, Gabby: well you also know what it is, Mel. We recorded one on Friday because, so that's why it feels like it came around really quick. Cause it did it Mel: did it actually did this time. Yeah, that's true. That's true. But also, I just like this whole podcast has been about us. Um, I mean it was just, you know, shooting the shit about the things we normally do anyway. So we thought let's try and let's try and do a little bit more of that as well. Um, as well as having some of the really thoughtful things. Although funny, is it funny slash not funny that our piece are, I guess, based on critical thinking and council culture came out yesterday, the day after the Oscars. Gabby: Yeah. Yep. That was, did we get any comments about that? Mel: Well, no, just people like that had shared the episode band, like, oh, this is, this is timely. And I just want to say for the record, like as a, as a white woman, I have no, I have nothing to contribute to that conversation. So if you think that that was kind of in some and anyway, Like a hot tech and absolutely it was not, it was recorded like three weeks ago before any, any kind of stuff happened, Gabby: but I don't really watch the Oscars. So, I mean, I've had a woke up and was like, oh wow, this happened. Mel: Oh, my word, did you seize and data? Yeah. Did you see her outfit? The skirt and the like, like a silky shirt, crop shirt thing. Oh, she looked at me. I said, Gabby: I mean, I'm pretty much always just there for a red. Situation like I, I do. I stayed up long enough. You know, see all the highlights online of the red carpet and then I went to bed. So Mel: did you, did you see Jake Gabby: Gyllenhaal? Jake? I saw, I mean, I saw everyone. I do have to say, I think Billy Eilish is dressed. Yeah. Might be my all time. Favorite red carpet dress of all. I Mel: was thinking. That you would love that because it's very like the outfit you wore in our photo shaped, like that kind of vibe, that kind of Gothic like, but also Luxe. Gabby: Yeah. Lots of, lots of material comfortable, but also like a sexy shoulder moment. If you want it, you can do anything you want with your hair. I don't know. I just, I was like, I, I would never want to take that dress off. She looked so beautiful as well, but she really don't say that's probably top, at least top three, if not the top of all time, red carpet Mel: dresses. Did you see, do you follow comments by celebs on Instagram? See Gabby: the Mel: footage of her? Um, like when she won the. No. And then, and then she comments, she commented below it. She's like, I cannot believe that I hugged dedi before I hug my brother, my mom and my sister. She like got up and like, he was at the same table and she liked just like threw herself onto him and then, and then realized that her family was there. She commented. Gabby: So again, oh my gosh. That's hilarious. I do love her. Yeah, that's really, Mel: um, I always think that. I always think that it would be super fun to like, get ready for a big award show like that, do a fan, but then I have to like go to a wedding or something. And I remember that that was actually really, really stressful. Gabby: No, but here think about it. You're the reason it's stressful is because you're doing your hair, you're doing your makeup. You're doing your own styling gear, sending outfits back that's if you. The stylist who would be like giving you options, helping you try stuff on you would have someone doing your hair. You'd have someone doing your makeup, like begging you up, like a high, a total hype table. I'd be like, oh my gosh, this looks amazing. Like, Mel: I want that. I want that. Why, why can we not hire a hype team for ourselves? Just as like regular Joes? Like I, why do I have to, why do you have to be a celebrity before you have someone come round and like, get you ready for things? Gabby: I don't have to be a celebrity. You can just have to have enough money. Mel: Okay. So here's a good question. Here's a good question on that Sam fan, if you could hire Dave and I always talk about this. In fact, I talked about this with my brother the other day. If you could hire, like, if you could afford to hire three types of like luxury help. Gabby: Ooh, what would Mel: they be? Okay. Like, can you answer and get like a T like a staff team yeah. That you, that are like, always with you I'll be available to you? For what reason would you have them to do what? Okay, Gabby: well, uh, okay. So why don't you answer first? Because I want to hear, I feel like you've thought about this a little bit more, but I do have some ideas. Mm Hmm. Mel: I would have. Okay. Let's see. I think I would want someone to take care of all of the food. Whoa. Okay. Okay. As in like, No, maybe not necessarily like, this is what Tim and I were talking about the other day. Maybe not necessarily have them in my house, not like a chef comes to cook or like, you know, a team, but I would love to have somebody just like me, like make the most delicious food cater for all the family. And then it just be in my house every day. Yeah, they would just bring it, like, that's the kind of luxury that I would love. Yeah. So like something that Dave would eat, something that I would eat, something that the kids would eat. And then obviously like a pepperoni pizza Frita. We're still on that guys. We're still on the old. Two pounds, 50 P Mazda, pepperoni pizza every night for eater, not a whole pizza, like half pizza, Gabby: cheese. No. What, like, what if ADA grows up to be like a Michelin star chef? And this is like part of her, like her arc. This will Mel: still be the first third of her autobiography. Gabby: No, but wouldn't that be hilarious? Like if she just like, what, like really she's like, yeah, for the first six years of my life. Mel: Oh my goodness. Yeah. For the first six years of my life, all I had was, and she doesn't even, like, I've sometimes bought like a marks and Spencer pepperoni pizza, or like a pizza express pepperoni pizza, but she just loves a shitty Asda, like one, you know, that's cheap. You know, the cheese is plasticky and all the rest of it. Um, and I'm not, we're not fighting about it or not. No, it's, we're just, we're just going with it. She's tried new things recently and she's, she's going to get there and that's the end of that story. Okay. So foods for someone taking care of the food, definitely. Like a housekeeper of some sort as in like cleaning and laundry. I think laundry is like, I would outsource laundry and like in a heartbeat I really, really would. Um, because we just do the bare minimum when it comes to laundry. When yeah. Avid listeners will know this, we are, uh, Dave puts it in the wash, puts it in the tumble dryer and I fold it and put it in. That's how it works. My gosh, we don't do fancy washes. We don't iron. We don't. I mean, Dave doesn't massively separate things, so we don't take massively good care of our clothes. And I would love someone to. Do that memory read all the Gabby: labels, MTF Mel: the pockets, blah, blah, blah. Do the statins, you know, just really take care of business that way. And probably, I don't know, personal trainer maybe, or, yeah. Um, I'm trying to think of another. I don't feel like I need an admin, like a, an assistant. I don't feel like I need that. I'm a wee bit too controlling for that, but like general housekeeping stuff, including laundry. And someone to do the first stuff. And then I don't know if it was like a personal trainer or someone to like, do, um, like a massage once a week or something like that. Yes. What about you? Gabby: Wow. That's a good list. Well, you know, what's so funny is I was actually just thinking about this the other day as I was rewatching a load of towels for. The third time this week. Um, cause I kept forgetting to like move it over and I laundry for sure. I I'm way worse at laundry than you like. I do the whole rewash, the loads of laundry, um, stuff doesn't get put away. Like I've got a huge restroom right now. I've got a huge pile of Danny's unfolded laundry on the bed right now. And it's just like, And, and it's about to get worse because we're gonna have these babies and it's just going to be two more people and two people who go through like four outfits a day. So I'm really, I'm, I'm not looking forward to that, but Mel: we need that. We need this laundry person to show up like sooner rather than later, to Gabby: why exactly. Um, and then the other thing that I think about all the time, actually like a weird amount is so, you know, when you go to like a nicer hotel, And, you know, you like, you know, you drop your stuff off, you run to dinner, you like go see the town or whatever you come back like around whatever time you come back. And there's been a turndown service, I've been dimmed, the like, whatever, like the room's been like gently. Tie-dyed like your S your shoes have been like lined up. You know, there's sometimes there's a little chocolate on the bed if you're like in a really bougie place, but sometimes there isn't, sometimes it's just, you know, the, like the, the cover has been like pulled back gently GI on the gentle touch, us gentle. It's like, you can tell someone has been there with love and I'm like that. What I want in my life. Like if I can have him follow her to do a turndown service for me every night and just like prep my bedroom for me, you know, like dim the lights, get my white noise on all of that. That would change my world. Mel: Oh, that is lovely. That is lovely. I would probably look for a candidate in the housekeeping laundry arena that can also do that. And they have Gabby: to be there all day, but yes. I mean, you're, it's, this is our luxury life that we're dreaming up. So it's, this is how it is down to say Nabby here. Oh, Mel: for real. Okay. The other one that I just thought of is interior designer. Yeah. Guys, I cannot tell you, like I have all the ideas, all of the Goodwill, like. And I, I just can't make it happen. And this is, this is a problem because I want my host to feel lived in and as in like finished and homey and sometimes it just, and I know that people are going to be like, what, but the pieces that you see on Instagram or the, or the Instagram paces, like. Like right here in this corner is like, I just don't, I don't want shit everywhere. I want storage and I want like, you know, wallpaper and my, um, nice tiles and I just need somebody to come and see into my Pinterest and my head and make it happen because I. I would love that. Gabby: I mean, yeah, I get that. I mean, you're looking at you, she just pointed like the laptop at like a small pile of books in a very clean corner of a white room. And I'm thinking, oh no, I'm not even exaggerating. That's the actual truth. And I'm like in our grungy basement guest room that is currently overloaded at all our kitchen stuff. And I'm just. Cool. Oh, Mel: but you're so close to having a functional kitchen. Gabby: I know, I know. Speaking of kitchens, let's do a little life update. What's going on in your life right now? What is happening? Uh, day to day, what's busy. What's making you happy. What's making you sad. Mel: So, okay. I I'm planning a retreat at the minute for business owners, like female business owners, and that is exciting may at the minutes. Um, and I've just had the first person begin for that because I've been kind of quietly given out the information. But can link to people. Cause I really want people to be there if they're, um, to like talk about it. Loads, if people are really interested. Cause it's pretty nice because it's here and it's female business owners and all the rest anyway. Um, so I find this unbelievable property on Airbnb. And I mean, like, it looks like it belongs in LA. It is like, oh my gosh. Oh, Gabby: you post that on your Instagram. Mel: I'm going to send you the link right now to get your like real time. Yeah. Okay. Please do. Okay. I'm going to send it because you're gonna, you're gonna fricking love this place. Um, Gabby: wait, where is it again? Generally? Mel: It is in, uh, it's like 20 minutes away from. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, you saying it's so beautiful. Did you get it? Gabby: Oh, it's sorry. I said I was waiting for a text, but she said to them in the chat, so, oh my gosh. Yes. Perfect. Villa escape with lake top view and hot tub. Okay. yeah, this is pretty special. Okay. So this is it. This is going to be a retreat for business owners. Yeah. Oh my gosh. That back garden is like the garden of dreams. Oh, that's my third one. Gardner was gonna, I was going to say by really caught up in the one in the turndown service. Oh my gosh. And the views to that water. It's right on Mel: a lake. I know. Gabby: And they've got like a pool table. Sorry. Mel: It's okay. And then, so the plans are all coming together. So this is like a whole outdoor, like cabana thing as well with like a pool table and a wood-fired hot tub and like a swing set set out on the lake and some beer than areas and it's happening in June. So hopefully it will be really nice weather like. Spectacular. It is so, so stone an am. I cannot wait to do a retreat there. Gabby: Um, yeah, this is, this is it. This is the spot. There's like a little fire pit outside, huge dining room, table, outdoor patio seating. Oh Mel: my God. Like many pigs and goats and ducks that live on the site as well. Gabby: It might start a business just so I can apply it to I've had so Mel: many messages like that. Um, but yeah. Wow. I know. Gabby: Sorry. I'm like lost it. Starting to dream here Mel: now. I know it's so cold and. So that's happening. And then I just, I got the menu three for that yesterday. Do you want to hear what's on the menu? Yeah, I really do because you're going to shit. The bed is so good. So when they, when people arrive, they're going to get a date Walnut and nutmeg care. With caramel sauce and cram fresh dinner is going to be is going to be grilled lemon and herb chicken baked, baked rice topped with all of and fresh herbs, French bean edamame, I pay and to understand broccoli and lime salad whipped Fattah hot charred tomatoes, and then pomegranate and Marangu apricot Moran cake. Oh, my gosh. Okay. That's just like, that's just the first night. And then we've got like overnight oats, granola, um, cores yet. Fattah and Teresa loaf for breakfast. Oh gosh. Like D like it's just, everything is so amazing and I cannot wait. Um, The food is just going to be mind blowing. So I'm really excited about that. It's in June, so there's, it's a little ways away. Um, and I am kind of re I'm going to follow it up with like three months, three months of like group coaching after with the same group. So the retreat is kind of like the kickoff. So I feel really excited about that. The other thing that I'm really. Enjoy and at the minute, and you know, this is I've started. I started going to a gym. Yes. And I've started to lift weights and do like more strength training. And I am sore all the time. Yeah. So if anyone has any like muscle recovery tips, send them my way, but I am just really enjoying. Hmm. And it's not something that I've really ever done before. Is this, this kind of like lifting with tacos about your Gabby: gym? Because it's like, I it's very cool. The gym that you go to. Mel: Well, I mean, I, I feel like I don't, I can't like. I've only been going for a few weeks. It's only been a few weeks and it was my friend cat that has been going for a couple of years and she really, really loves it. Um, and I just felt like I needed to do something. I go do them in that bowl, really enjoying it. And then I just want to like, be a bit stronger. My upper body strength. This is so pathetic. It, it truly, truly is like, I'm I really struggle to like, Do a push up or even on my knees, like, um, my upper body strength is, is non-existent. So, um, and then also like just for your joints and your mobility and your bones. Gabby: It's really good. I mean, bone health, like this is a thing, this is, this is a middle age part of our lives. It's like, oh, we have to think. We have to think about like, for real, like just being able to like have some kind of functionality when our kids are older and yeah, this is the way to do it for sure. Mel: But it's mostly, it's like a, women's only. There's there's one guy that is a personal trainer there, I think. And I've seen a couple of guys come and go. So I don't think they're like super exclusive, but it basically is a women's only gym. Um, and these girls that laid it. Oh, my word there's these two girls that like started up and they're only 30 and I have never seen anything. Like it. They're just unbelievable. They're just so confident. And so, oh my gosh, knowledgeable and really. Yeah, sassy and so fun. And they are tanks like, as in, gosh, they're not like, they're not like, I think, I think what was always put me off the gym and stuff like that. I, uh, you know, being self-conscious about not being, um, a gym bunny, like, you know, going into that space and they are not in any way interested in, so there's no, like let's weigh you before you get started. Yeah. You know, go in here or less take your measurements or less do a before and after pictures or anything. It's, there's not even a hint of that. There's no, like. Interested in that at all. And I'm really here for that and actually have this other client that I work with at the minute, Betty, Betty Robinson, she's a personal trainer and she's a C I'm like, she's just, and she's amazing. And if she wasn't my client, I would definitely be, um, working out with her. But she. You know, like I just love women hair into like being strong and yeah. Moving their body well, and that kind of thing. And that's just, that's just the vibe that I get so far. So I'm just, I've been really, really enjoying that even though it is pushing me and, um, and my muscles hurt. Yeah, best because they haven't been used. Gabby: Yeah. I mean, I think that's so great. Like you, she she'll like, come on Marco polo and ex like, describes like, well, and then today, you know, like after class we all went outside and like sat by like, there's like near a golf course. And we sat in the sun and all had like a cup of tea and like our protein, like protein balls and. The sounds so amazing just to have like a little bit of community and like have like no pressure on, you know, anything superficial, just like. Just moving your body because you can and being grateful for it and making friends. And I was like, this sounds so dreamy. I'm like, Mel: so they do. So they do deals like small group stuff. Um, and by small group of me and like, there's like 15. Um, but then they also do the classes and there I did a body attack class last week. Um, I nearly wet myself, Gabby. Gabby: I probably would've been pregnant with her for real. Mel: I was like, all these girls jumping a bite. And I was like, is this an audition to be in? Beyonce is downstream because. The coordination you need for a body attack class, anyone who's been, you know what I mean? Like the way you have to move. And they're like if to clap and like, Gabby: yeah, you have to clap. Mel: Oh my goodness. And like, it's not so much. So like running or the like, oh, it's the jumping jacks. Gabby: It's like, yeah. Jumping jacks with a room full of women is dangerous at the best Mel: of times. Like, so my friend, my friend, who's been going for a while. She messaged me when I told her I was going. And she's like, where are your period pants? And I didn't. And I should have, Gabby: yeah. Yep, yep. I feel that. So because the pelvic floor. Mel: It's not as strong as it used to be. Guys. It's real. Gabby: Holy. Mel: Hey everyone. We wanted to take a quick break in this episode and let you know that we have a Patriot on peerage NAI. Uh, you know, we love, love, love doing this podcast each week and connected with you and our Patreon page is a way for you to get to hang out with. Um, and for us all to be together even more and help us cover the costs of running the podcast. So we can keep our sponsored ads to a minimum it's just $5 or four pounds a month to access it. And we have some really exciting plans for spending more time with you guys there this year. So when you become a patron. You'll get access to our monthly, making an effort magazine, where we're going to be sharing all of our best recommendations for food and books and TV and music and what we're wearing and all that good stuff. You'll get a patron only extra video podcasts from us each month and an invitation to join us for our annual making an effort virtual cocktail party, where we get to. Together and meet each other more. So if you want to join the making and effort gang, you can find a link to our patron and the show notes, or you can go to www.patrion.com forward slash making an effort podcast. Can't wait to see you inside. Gabby: Okay. Um, tell Mel: me what's exciting. You, what are you enjoying at the minute? What is like fun in your world? You obviously have got kitchen coming together. That's going to feel exciting. What else? Gabby: What else? What else? Um, yeah, so, um, We found out that you're pregnant last year, right before we went to Northern Ireland for Christmas. Um, and then we found out we were having twins, uh, January at the end of January, which was crazy. We were not expecting. Although my hormones were so bad in Northern Ireland. I was so sick. Like the whole time we were there, we had so many plans to like see people and do things. And I spent most of the time, just like in bed, like not eating things will oscillating between like starving, like the worst hunger I've ever experienced in my Mel: gray. I didn't pick up on this. Like when you were saying you were so, so hungry. I was just like, maybe that is just second baby thing. I like, it never twigged me that I could be no, Gabby: no same. Like, I have never experienced hunger like this in my whole life. Like I would wake up in the middle of the night in tears, like, cause I mean, obviously I'd eat something like, but like, it was like that level of. Okay. We went to, uh, sorry. This is like not current news, Gabby news at all, but I will share a story. So there's this Indian restaurant Indian food restaurant that we go to every time we're home in Northern Ireland in Belfast called the, our Chana Arcana. I don't know how you pronounce it. Um, but it's. Oh, gosh, where is it? I dunno. It's kind of like closer to the university side of, um, downtown Belfast anyway. So like they, we go there every time they like, and I always order the butter chicken, cause it's amazing. Everything there is like literally incredible, but they, they come out in these like huge. Bulls. And normally I like I'll eat myself. Like I'll, I'll eat as much as I can, but usually just get through half a bowl and then. When I was there pregnant, I ate the whole thing. I starters I, my whole side of rice, a all my non I, the whole thing. And I still, like, I was like, I was like, okay, finally, I'm full. And then I came home and was like, I'm still hungry. Sorry. I was asleep. So for me though, it was just like next I've never experienced I've. I mean, to this day, I'm still quite hungry, but not as bad as that first trimester anyway. Um, So, yeah, we got that going on. Um, and then we had booked in, I mean, cause this is just the way it works before we found out we were pregnant. We had like, had a remodel in the kitchen for the, our kitchen in the pipeline, which I'm glad is getting done before the babies come, but also has been incredibly challenging to do. I mean, it's always challenging to do a kitchen remodel, but especially when you're pregnant, like. I dunno, everything is so hard. Like making coffee is hard, making toast feels hard, you know? And like the fridge is in a diff a different room to where we are. Like, it's just like all this stuff where you're like, everything feels like a challenge. So. I definitely don't recommend doing a huge home remodel while you're pregnant, uh, and have a toddler, but, well, I say toddler he's for, um, but also I'm really grateful that it's getting done. And so that is going to bring me a ton of joy. We got our countertops in yesterday, um, and that's exciting. So, um, I'm really looking forward to it all coming together. Um, but that is definitely a huge part of our lives right now that are making us feel, I would say this isn't any, you asked what is joyful and happy in our lives, obviously super happy about this happening, but the downside has been, we've just felt super displaced and scatterbrained for like three months now. So, um, that, that isn't the best. But, um, other than that, let's see what is good in my life. Uh, we had some huge life transitions in those last month, too. Like I, uh, we had some, some rearranging with our childcare situation. Um, I have been taking kind of a little bit of a step back from some of my freelance work. So, um, I've just been kind of settling into a season where I'm focusing on being mom, which I'm really grateful that I get the opportunity to do that. Um, but right now all of my kids are very, including the ones that aren't born yet are very high need. So I'm just, you know what, I'm just embracing it and it's, but it's been a transition. So, um, But I actually inspired by you yesterday, went to my first group workout class, since I'm just going to check to make sure this is true. It is. If it's not my first pre pandemic was certainly one of like a very small handful, but I don't actually remember the last time I checked it was. I went to core power workout. Cause I was like melons, loving, so much fun with all these women. Um, and so I found one that was close to like my son's school and, um, we, I invited a friend and we went and it was just so nice. Like it was just so many homework outs and I love them, but yeah, it was good. There's nothing Mel: like band with other Gabby: people. Yeah. It was really. Mel: Yeah. So what is court? What's Gabby: a core, core power. Yoga is a brand like a chain of like yoga studios, but I used to do it in high school. Like I used to have a membership there in high school actually. Um, it's kind of like it's yoga based, but, um, it focuses a little bit more on like muscle building. So the class that I took. Uh, it's, it's a very much more like a fitness focused than like yoga, spiritual side, which I love, I love both. Um, so tell Mel: us Peloton yoga is about like that, isn't Gabby: it? Yeah. Yeah. Like I do like. Versions, but this one just happened to be close to like where I needed to be at the time. And so I was like, what the heck? I'll go. Um, and we did a sculpt class and it was, I was able to kind of keep up for the most part. Good job. The only joke, the only thing I couldn't do was the jumping jacks. So I just modified those. I was like, if I am forced to do jumping jacks, like I will just peel over this floor. So, um, and that would be very uncomfortable. But, yeah, Mel: that's so good on you. I mean, having twins, like pretty heavily pregnant and yeah. Go on like deciding to do that. Gabby: It actually feels so good. It felt real. I think it's that second trimester, like. Magic. So if you've never been pregnant before we use a lot of times, what happens for a lot of women is that your second trimester comes along and it's kind of like the sweet spot. So like your first trimester, a lot of times you're sick or you're dealing with all these raging hormones in your body. You're tired. That was my experience. Definitely. And then your third trimester. Usually you're like too uncomfortable to deal with anything. But your second trimester is kind of the sweet spot between lake. You have this burst of energy that comes from like a hormone boost and you're not like so physically uncomfortable yet that you can't do stuff. So it's this kind of sweet spot. And I'm just like riding that wave right now. You've got to ride the wave for sure. Not going to be here for Amber Mel: to know. I haven't asked you yet. Can you have you felt the baby's case? Yeah. Like your feeling. Are you feeling the move? Yeah. Like every day was that let's see. Gabby: Oh my goodness. Yeah. That's crazy times. I saw them by a single baby thing though. I have to say, oh, zero baby things. And don't you Mel: worry, you're going to get baby shard. To the health, I imagine. Gabby: Well, we'll see. Well, we're notching it. So I'm not getting a traditional maybe shower this time, mostly because Chris. It has been complaining our entire parenthood part of our marriage that only, I don't know how it is in the UK, but in the states, especially in the south, there's very much a culture of like baby showers or the women's domain, which is crazy. If you think about it. But usually like, I'll get invited to all these baby showers at my first baby shower was just like a bunch of girlfriends and it was lovely and it was so much fun, but he that's why he wants to go. He's like, there's so much good food. He's like the aesthetics. So great. So we're actually going to just probably throw like a little backyard bash and like cater some food Mel: in. Yes. I love this idea. Why aren't your dads involved in some sort of baby shower? Yeah. That's a great question. Well done, Chris. Yeah. Gabby: So we're, we're changing the game there a little bit. Um, but it'll be, it'll be good. I want to pay there. I want you to be there too. They'll probably be in June. If you could make it over, that would be great. Just hop on a flight and fly over. It's I just, Mel: would I just, yeah, I don't know. Oh, I hate living Gabby: so far away. Mel: Um, so that's why I think that's going on my life. When do you think you're going to come here with the babies? Gabby: It depends on if my mother-in-law's listening to this or not right now. Hey, Mel: Mariel, listen up. Gabby: I don't know. I'm I. So I'm a very low capacity person, period. Like my parents not true. No, it is. Especially with motherhood, especially Mel: low capacity for him. No, I Gabby: like, I emotionally, what I mean by that is like, I can I have this. Energy bursts. Like usually that come in line with my cycle. Like every week I have like a, I have an energy burst, but the rest of the time I usually spend the other three weeks, like feeling very overwhelmed by the decisions I made in that week of energy bursts. You had to have lectured this to me about this anyway. So basically where I'm going with this is like I'm setting the bar so low for what I do after having these babies. Cause I think, oh yeah. If I don't do that emotionally, I'm just going to have a hard time, like, so I'm just, I'm telling myself right now that anything I get to do. That works out is like bonus. But in my head, I'm preparing for a little bit of like a cocoon of like, I'm just going to be home. I'm going to focus on, you know, full-time breastfeed reading some books, hopefully like whoever wants to come over can come over. Making some food and my new kitchen and just like setting the bar super low. But what that means is, I don't know when we're going to go back over. Um, it's already very hard to travel and fly with Danny as it is right now. Um, so I'm not sure, um, I'm just, I'm just I'm I don't imagine that it will be too long, but anyone who wants to visit us cat and Mel: I don't want to, I really do. Oh, okay. Well look, I thought I would just, we would read out one of the lovely emails. We get emails from you guys and it makes our day, and it's so lovely. I'm not going to say who it's from, just in case. Um, but, um, It says hi, Gabby and mail. Just wanted to send an email thanking you for your recent podcast episode about nostalgia and books and rating. Reading was always a vital part of my childhood. And I would often immerse myself in stories to try and escape from the broken and painful world around me. Once I made it to university that changed with my access to social media and streaming sites and the overwhelming amount of homework I had to the point where I was maybe reading five books a year, rather than the 20 or 30 from school, that unfortunate habit has connect. Post university until these last three months. And then she goes on to say, Um, in January, I resolved to read more books this year, starting with some of my childhood favorites. I've re-read seven books already with eight on hold at my local library. And I've read a total of 29 books as of this day in March. When I listened to your podcast this morning, I finally realized why this was so important to me rereading these books. It's like sitting down with your favorite person, a cup of tea and hearing all the same stories, laughing at the right moments, anticipating. Building, despite knowing what's going to happen, getting us when those two characters finally get together, knowing how the story is going to and has brought me joy and comfort. And I've come back to these stories. That means so much to me, all that, to say, I know, thank you for putting this episode. Your fun nonchalant conversation has helped me process something. I didn't realize I needed to prove. Thank you for being authentic in your conversations and just talking about the things that you enjoy. Um, I've always loved watching or reading about deep friendships and yours is a real life example of a flourishing friendships. Thanks for all the EGA. Oh gosh. That is Gabby: a lovely email. Thank you for sending that in. Um, Okay. Can we talk about books for a second? Yeah, go for it. So I listened to the making or the making an effort, a beautiful mess podcast by Elsie Larson. And, um, Emma, I forgot her last name. Oh my gosh. I feel so bad. Um, but they recommended a few episodes ago. A book series called the court of thorns and roses. I think it's called or rose thorns. It's like a sci-fi fantasy novel series that is steamy. It's sexy fairies fairies. That's what, that's what they call it on their podcast or sexy various books. And, um, I. Like I have needed the mental escape the last few weeks in a big way. So I started reading the series and let me tell you they're sexy. They, I would say so I started actually started. This is cheating, but I, I read, started reading the series from the second book because I don't know why it was just the book that they recommended. Um, but I read a synopsis for the first book, so you can totally do that. I see. I've never read the first book. I can't vouch for it, but I can vouch for the, all the books that come afterwards and they get increasingly steamy with every edition. Um, I think they're a great read. The characters are fun if you're looking for like something, especially for like the summer where you can just like pick up while you're by the pool or whatever. Um, I think this is a B, or if you're going on vacation anytime soon. Definitely bring a copy of this book. I've been recommending it to everyone and I just found out they're making it into Hulu series. And so I've never really been a huge one for like the romance, um, novel category, like not for any particular reason. I have my, like, I prefer murder mysteries, as we all know. Uh, but I picked this up because it came so highly recommended. And, uh, I would just say it's a good time. It's a really good time, but it is like the most recent book is probably the most graphic. So if you're like, oh, I don't know if I want to go there. Yeah, that's fine. Or if you're like, that makes me want to read it more than go there. Mel: Yeah. Totally. Speaking of graphic. Oh yes. Um, here's our parking. So season two of Fredericton. Okay. Yes. Here is what I want to say about this. I'm not going to give you any spoilers. There's no spoilers, obviously. Cause I hate people that do that, but I'm, I'm pretty good chunk of the way through. And you know why Netflix has like at the top it has like the reading and them says like sex, sexual images, drugs, violence. Oh, Gabby: yeah. Yeah. I'll say what it contains, swearing, Mel: all that kind of stuff. Like it's got all of those warnings at the top and I am, I am like a good few episodes in, and I feel like they're telling me like, Gabby: Okay. Yeah. You're like waiting for it. Yeah. Mel: I'm like any minute. And I, there's going to be like hands all over a gossip somewhere and it's not happening yet. And it's actually doing my head in because like last season with the joke, it was all about the sex and. And it's a wee bit Tam the season, so, so far. And I'm just like, why put that warning on there whenever you're telling lies? Yeah. So anyway. Oh, wow. Just, I just need to read a fairy, like yeah, if you want. Yeah, you do. Right. I just need to, I just need to read a fairy book. I get, get some sexual. Stimulation Gabby: to say, oh, Mel: I should definitely call this episode a day before Gabby: I say anything else. Oh my gosh. This is so good. Oh yeah. I'm Mel: not sponsored by Dempsey. Gabby: No, not yet. Not yet. Mel: All right. Well, that was, that was fun. I hope, I hope that was fun for you guys. Just to hear a little chatty episode of what's going on. Um, and maybe we'll be more organized next time. Um, but maybe not now. Maybe there'll be no after. Gabby: Yeah, this is probably the least effort he podcast of the effort podcast we've ever made. That's true. It's exciting. Mel: Okay. On that note until next time everyone. See you later. Bye. Gabby: Thank you so, so much for listening to this week's episode of the making and effort podcast, it feels like such an honor to get to connect with you all every week like this. And we just want to say a massive thanks. You can always get in touch with. At our email address, which is hello@makinganeffortpodcast.com or you can get in touch with us individually on our Instagram accounts. In our DMS, you can get in touch with Mel at Mel Wiggins, or you can get in touch with me at gap Llewellyn. And if you're feeling really generous today, we would be so grateful if you took the time to like, and subscribe and maybe even leave a review and maybe even share this episode with your friends on. Social media. Um, those kinds of things go such a long way for podcasters like us. And, uh, it would be such an honor to receive that from you. So thank you. And we will talk to you next week. Bye.