Amanda is living that solo Vermont life for a few glorious days while Brooke has a shocking Target-adjacent confession to share. The ladies then chat about picking up hobbies as adults, letting go of control and embracing good enough-ish results when it comes to creative hobbies, and the surprising results that can often come from trying something new.

Amanda then shares a fairly obvious but nonetheless important-to-acknowledge joy-sparker, and Brooke lets us in on a favor to her future self that comes in super handy when overwhelm hits.

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Brooke, Amanda.

Hi.

Hi.

This is so weird.

Hi.

It's weird.

We're, we're in different places.

Yes.

Which we've, we've done a couple times before with recording.

We have, but, but we're using a new software.

Mm-hmm.

We just, we don't, we don't know what the final result's gonna be.

So we don't really know.

We don't really know what we're doing, Brooke.

That's not true.

We don't, we do.

No, we do know what we're doing.

You did research before and you got us all set up in this system.

You gave me an orientation that was extremely clear.

Oh, thanks.

I have, yeah, I had logged on, I mean, it took me like seven minutes

this morning to like follow your orientation and get us all set up.

So it's fun.

It's fun because.

I don't know.

It's like new.

I like learning new things and you know, I like tech, so this is fun.

We know.

Yeah.

You're a lifelong learner and a tech lover.

Lifelong learner.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And I got myself a fancy new microphone.

I'm proud.

We're really stepping it up here.

I'm so proud of you, Brooke, because you're frugal.

You're a frugal lady and you know, it takes a bit for you to invest in

a big piece of equipment like that, but you did it and look at you, it.

Uh, look at me now, Amanda.

So we're recording from two places because you are in Vermont.

Yes, I'm in Vermont.

And can I just tell you, it's amazing here.

So I had my Black Bear weekend, which everybody on the podcast has heard about.

It's my annual girls weekend that we've been doing for like 20 something years.

And, um, It was at my friend's house in Vermont, Jocelyn, and she

so kindly allowed me to stay here for a little solo retreat for a few

days after the weekend was over.

And I am living my best life.

Living my best life.

Yeah.

Solo life.

Yeah, she's in Rwanda.

My friends are very international.

You have the most worldly friends of anyone I've ever met.

Yeah.

Well, so she's going to Rwanda.

Uh, Karen lives in Senegal.

Um, Melissa lives in Vienna, Austria as your friend alls and mm-hmm.

And Lindsay lives in Dubai.

Amazing.

And I live in Westchester, Pennsylvania.

You do?

And that's okay.

Westchester, Pennsylvania is also a lovely place, but, well, so you're

living your best solo life and, um, yeah, I'm, I'm not gonna lie, I'm a

little jealous of the solitary time.

Yeah.

I mean, it's been busy.

The, one of the reasons why I'm here is because I'm teaching.

I'm teaching.

Um, so twice a year I teach incoming classes of Kaari trainees, people

that wanna be kaari consultants.

And one of those times, because of the time difference in West Coast

stuff I teach until from 7:00 PM till one o'clock in the morning.

Oof.

So that was why I actually wanted to stay here in Vermont because it's hard

to do at home to just like be in my office from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM Yeah.

Um, but here I can.

I more easily do that.

So it has been busy, but it's been nice to just like sleep in,

lean and enjoy the Vermont life.

I got a rental car and it's a Jeep.

Oh, fun.

It's not like a Jeep Wrangler, it's a Jeep Compass or something like that.

Okay.

Like it's just whatever they gave me, I requested like a Kia Pop.

Nothing.

But I got the cool Jeep and it's fun.

It has like a double sunroof.

Oh yeah.

And I'm coming with you next time.

Yeah.

And then I'm inviting myself.

Yeah.

And then one last update on Vermont.

So I'm taking care of Jocelyn's dog Nova, who I pointed out to you earlier.

The dog is so chill that like I do worry that it's been sedated or something

because the comparison to Juni is stark.

Hmm.

It's a real stark comparison and a real wake up call about the

amount of training that Juni needs.

Was it the reminder you needed?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Well, okay.

One of these days, Junie will not greet me with so much enthusiasm and I might

be a little sad about it, but you know.

I also understand that you need to get that under control.

Yeah.

Yes, I do.

What's up with you?

Tell me everything.

So I know that we both did something last weekend.

Um, yours was a little bit more I.

Fun drive-in atmosphere.

But we both saw the Barbie movie.

Oh my God.

Did you love it?

Okay.

I did, but I only heard about 30% of it.

Yeah.

So you're gonna have to see it again.

I loved it so much.

It was just visually it was.

Phenomenal, obviously.

Yes.

Um, and then the story was so great and the part where she's like in

the car singing to Indigo Girls.

Oh, did you know that?

Did you know that Indigo You did?

I knew that was coming because I had seen the Trailers and Indigo

girls, like on their Instagram.

They had posted that scene.

I was like, why are they sharing the Barbie movie?

Like it seemed, you know, Off brand, but then when I realized like what

the, what Barbie is singing in the car, it's just, it's so amazing.

So I wanna see it again.

Yeah.

And I also wanna tell you that since we last recorded, um, my quiz team

did bring home a first place win.

Yes, it did.

Yes it did.

Yeah.

So freaking proud of you.

So freaking proud of you.

I, I was so proud of myself and like, I think the other teams are

gonna like, stand down a little bit.

Now they're like, okay, we see you.

The next time you show the quizzo, there's not gonna be anybody there.

They're all gonna like, retreat.

Retreat.

Yes.

Yeah.

So I don't know if.

Uh, you know, we've had to take some weeks off because of various vacation schedules

and things like that, but our little core team of five, we, we brought home the win.

So I'll keep everyone posted on how we do next time.

And, um, also wanted to share that evidently ski ball leagues do exist.

I looked this up after our last recording, um, because we decided that like ski ball

is just like the sport for all that we should be playing, and there are ski ball

leagues, including here in Philadelphia.

What, wait a second.

You told me that there were ski ball leagues, but you Yes.

You didn't tell me that there were ski ball leagues in Philadelphia.

So when I searched again, one of them, I believe it's called Brew ski ball.

What?

They have a Philadelphia location.

What I know.

So we might have to go check this out for research purposes.

'cause I, I told you, Brooke, I was like, I'll move to Milwaukee.

Like I don't care for ski ball, anything, you know.

But, um, wow.

Philadelphia.

Mm-hmm.

Well, Brooke, a little teaser.

A little teaser is that are, um, our main topic today is hobbies.

And, uh, I have a feeling I just acquired in.

Brand new one.

I think you did.

Mm-hmm.

We just have to bring it to the burbs.

'cause you know how I feel about driving into the city.

I know.

But if they have, if they have cute shirts, imagine if you get a Quizzo

shirt and I get a ski ball shirt.

Yeah.

I don't think Quizzo has shirts, but I can make one as we've discussed.

I, I can.

Will I?

They do now.

Quizzo has shirts now.

Quizzo has shirts now.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh my God.

Okay.

That's great news.

That's a shocker.

That was something that I didn't know about the Philadelphia

part, and so I'm on it.

I'm on it.

Okay.

Alright.

We're gonna have to do this soon.

My birthday is coming up next month.

I'm not sure that I want it to be like a ski ball birthday, but

it could be an excuse to get out.

Of our comfort zone here in the burbs.

Yes.

Yeah, because I don't think I can weed until March to have a ski

ball birthday, but you know, so maybe I can convince somebody else

in my family to have ski ball.

We'll go scope it out.

We'll scope it out.

Yeah.

Okay.

I also wanted to let you know that this is kind of a sensitive.

Sensitive subject because you know how I love Target.

I do.

Um, and I just, I feel like I need to come clean to everyone that I am.

I'm, I'm cheating on Target.

Oh my God.

Um, so what have you done?

What have you done?

What have I done?

So it's okay.

Um, I mean, target and I still have a relationship, but right now, so I

think I've talked before about how I'm.

A member of like the Panera SIP club.

Correct.

Which is like you pay a flat fee per month.

I think it's like 10 bucks or something.

And every time you go to Panera you get a free coffee or fountain

beverage every two hours.

Yes, yes.

So like there's days that I will camp out there for four hours and get worked on.

So I'm getting free sodas, I'm getting free coffee.

And you can also, I didn't know every two hours.

I thought it was just once a day.

No, it's every two hours.

For your refill needs.

Oh, that's cute.

And you also get, like, you can save, you know, a dollar or $2

here and there on your food.

So for the frequency with which I go, especially now in the summer,

the kids are here with the sitter.

I am getting out of the house more often to do work, um, with fewer distractions.

I, you know, kept up with the Panera SIP Club, uh, membership.

Well, with it recently came a free three month membership of Walmart Plus.

Okay.

Okay.

And with that comes free delivery.

Oh.

And Walmart is pretty big on groceries now.

I don't ever do my grocery shopping there.

'cause all our Walmart, like the parking lot is terrible.

And it's just like, And it's kind of far right?

Isn't the Walmart isn't the one in Springfield?

No, it's pretty close to me.

Oh, okay.

Its like a five minute drive.

But I like that shopping center, like I avoid at all costs

because of the parking situation.

Yes.

And so I was like, oh, their groceries are pretty good prices

and I'm getting free delivery.

I placed an order this morning for some things that we need

and I don't have a chance.

To run out between the kids and recording and all of that stuff.

And it's gonna be here at two o'clock this afternoon.

Oh, same day.

Same day.

Okay.

It, it's not always available same day.

It depends on like their schedule.

So I tried it once on a Saturday, and the soonest delivery they could offer

me was Monday morning, which was fine in that instance, but today I was

like, oh, we're outta strawberries.

We need this, we need that.

And I go to Trader Joe's for a lot of things too.

But today I just needed.

Some stuff delivered to my door.

Mm-hmm.

And like the earliest delivery was 2:00 PM and this was at like nine 30.

I placed my order this morning.

That's amazing.

Because I do the giant Peapod like delivery.

Yes.

Giant Direct, I think it's called now, but usually you do have

to order at least a day or two before to get it on the same day.

If I need same day delivery, I'll do Whole Foods.

But that's 9 99 now for same day delivery.

That's a lot.

It's steep.

No, I really only do that like in case of a total emergency.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

And like, I won't be doing this likely during the school year,

but right now it's like we have the sitter for 20 hours a week.

Um, you know, Nick's working at his office an hour away.

It's just like my time is at a minimum right now.

So it's working out really well.

I love that you're, I don't want anyone to worry.

I'm.

Still gonna be faithful to target for many other things.

Yeah.

Um, and with the free delivery comes like, I'm adding a tip to it for the

driver and things like that, but I think I'm still saving money in the long run

because their prices are really good and I'm not taking the time to go.

So, yeah.

And you're also not strolling the aisles and being like, oh, this and

that and this, and look at these cute.

Stickers and look at these, you know?

Yeah.

I'm kind of, Nick traditionally has done our like larger giant

shopping order because I'm kind of a disaster when it comes to that.

I'm like, Ooh, this looks, this looks fun.

Oh, I know.

So it's best to keep me out of this store.

Yeah, I know.

And with the free.

Walmart Plus comes a free Paramount subscription, so it's like from my one.

For how long?

For how long?

I think also three months.

Oh, so it was like Panera gave me the Walmart plus freebie, and then Walmart

plus gave me the Paramount freebie.

I feel like I'm really working the system here.

Yeah, I mean Panera Care Gateway Drug here.

Oh my gosh.

So, oh wow.

Okay.

These are all very intriguing tips.

Mm-hmm.

And at one point I did again, like working the system, and I didn't mean to game

the system this way, but at one point I wasn't going to Panera very often.

This was like a few months ago.

So I went to cancel my subscription and they're like, oh, I t won't

you stay for only 3 99 a month.

I was like, yes, I'll, you got me?

Yes, I'll, I'll, so I am paying full price now.

But you know, all those things, just if you keep an eye on it and

make sure that you're not paying for subscriptions that you're not

using, you can gain a lot from those little freebies and things like that.

You're good.

I try.

You're good?

Yeah.

I try.

I'm here to impress.

Amanda, should we take a little break?

Let's take a break.

I'm excited.

Spoiler.

I'm excited about our topic today.

Okay.

We'll be back.

Okay.

Bye.

We're back.

We are back.

We are back.

And as I've mentioned seven times, our main topic today is hobbies.

And you know what got me thinking about this topic was, you know,

as I said, I'm up here in Vermont and my friend Jocelyn, who is.

Our host here in her home is learning guitar, and so there were

a couple nights where, you know, she got the guitar out and was like

teaching us what she was learning and it was just really cool to see.

It's like a whole different it.

It operates like a whole different part of your brain.

Mm-hmm.

To try to learn something new And the guitar is really hard.

Yeah.

But it's really hard.

Um, so I don't know.

I just kind of felt inspired and I also felt like I don't

really have a lot of hobbies.

Like I read, I read, what else are my hobbies?

I read, I read.

You read?

I think I mentioned that.

I'm sure I have other hobbies, but, um, I don't know.

I have been thinking a lot about, I wanna get back to sewing.

Mm.

Because I used to sew when I was a little girl, and I think I've mentioned

about five times this weekend in different occasions that I won a

four H contest once for selling.

I knew I, I did not know this about you.

Yes.

I, I wonder if it, what did you sew?

I sewed.

I sewed.

Mm-hmm.

I sewed.

Mm-hmm.

A rainbow skirt for myself and a matching rainbow skirt for my doll.

And I can't remember if it was a cabbage patch, kid, doll, or one of those other

standup dolls or whatever, but I won.

And I don't remember if I won first place.

I don't think I did, but I won some.

It's okay.

Everyone's a winner.

Do you still have it?

I like, I'm sure it's somewhere.

My mother probably saved it.

It's probably somewhere.

Oh my gosh.

I know.

Um, it would be adorable.

So you're stressed.

Can you imagine if it was, can you imagine if it was the same size as Isabelle and we

found it, she could wear my rainbow skirt.

How freaking amazing would that be?

Oh my gosh.

New mission.

You need to find it.

Well, you know why I am excited about the idea of sewing, like, you

know, I'm a very concrete person.

Yeah.

And I like, and I like quick wins.

So like, for like knitting for example, which I know we're gonna

talk about, it seems like it's just too long of a process for me.

Yeah.

Like for example, like I could knock out like I love pouches.

I never met a pouch I didn't like.

I love pouches and like I could knock a pouch out.

Once I got good at it.

I could knock pouches out in like 30 minutes.

You could sew so many pouches.

Zipper pouches.

Drawstring pouches.

So many.

Yeah.

I never met a pouch I didn't like, so I like the, the concrete

aspect of this is exactly how you do it, and then you get X result.

Okay.

Now do you have a sewing machine?

No, but my niece had a brief stint with sewing and she does not want

her sewing machine anymore, so I think she's gonna give it to me.

Okay.

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

So you have the resources to get back into sewing.

I don't know where I'm gonna sew.

I don't know where I'm gonna do it.

Yeah.

Okay.

We can, we can work that out.

You have tables?

We can, we can figure that out for you.

Yeah.

I like this for you.

Are you, um, I mean, so something that.

It has always been tricky for me is as like a creative, like my job

is creative with graphic design.

Mm-hmm.

Is that I am very particular about the final outcome of things.

Mm-hmm.

So it's, it's helpful for me to have creative hobbies that are

not related to my income, but it's also difficult for me sometimes to.

Not love the outcome or not be good at something creative right off the bat.

So that's something that I need to, 'cause I also, I I've, I've let some

of the hobbies fall by the wayside.

Um, but one that I love that I discovered several years ago from

my friend Tina Crespo, she is an amazing photographer and fine artist,

and she taught me alcohol ink.

Hmm.

Which is a medium that.

Basically has, there's no control.

Mm-hmm.

And you need to really surrender your need for control and just be kind of delighted

with the outcome, whatever it may be.

Mm.

Now there's techniques and you can, you can use techniques to, um, you know,

manipulate, ate the aim things and Yeah.

Shape things and manipulate it.

But like you truly, when I would start with a few different colors.

So it's basically, it's these little, um, Tubes of ink that mm-hmm.

It's like very concentrated marker ink almost.

Oh.

Um, that's not actually what it is, but it's like if you took the

concentrated ink that goes into a marker.

Okay.

This is how concentrated it would be.

So a single drop of this ink, and then you put a little.

Um, dropper of actual, like rubbing alcohol.

Mm-hmm.

And then you kind of move it around the page.

You can use a straw to like blow it around.

You can use a hairdryer, all different techniques.

Mm-hmm.

And sometimes I will get in there with like two or three different colors and the

final result is often beautiful, but it is never what I thought I was going to get.

Wow.

That's So where are you doing this?

That's, where are you doing this project?

So it's.

Mess free enough that I can do it.

Like at my dining room table.

Huh?

I have like a big, um, like cutting mat that I use as a surface.

Okay.

I've actually had this cutting mat since college still has my maiden name

written on it, and I love to use it.

Oh my gosh.

Just as like a creative surface.

So I'm not getting anything dirty, but ultimately it's these little ink droppers

you use, you know, little, um, droppers that you can add the alcohol on it as

well to manipulate the colors, but it's a pretty mess free, low mess thing.

Okay.

I like that.

The only thing is that it does smell, if you're using the rubbing

alcohol, you can go a little hard.

So you gotta make sure that you're my, this is why you like, This hobby.

Right.

Gotta be sure that you're being mindful of that.

And you know, I don't do it when the kids are around, but like a lot of

times if I haven't done it in a while, but if Nick would like take the kids.

To his parents for the weekend, weekend or something.

I'll get out my supplies and you have to use this certain kind of paper.

Mm-hmm.

Um, I believe it's called epo.

It because it doesn't absorb the ink.

It, it kind of like sits on top of the surface.

Oh.

And you can also do it on, um, like I've done it on tiles to make like a coaster.

It's just a really awesome.

Medium and it's very inexpensive to get into.

So that was one that for me, fun and easy.

Yeah.

And Tina, like I went to some of the workshops that she taught.

On this medium, but it's, it was really important for me to do something

that had like an imperfect outcome.

Yes, I like that.

Um, because I get a little bit of, I, I am a little bit of a perfectionist

and most of my hobbies do end up being some sort of creating or making.

Mm-hmm.

Like you said, we also both like reading, but is there another hobby that you

are interested in, in taking up that.

Is not creative like sewing, or what are hobbies that aren't creative?

Gardening is gardening.

Creative.

Sure.

Well, yeah, but in a different way.

I don't want to garden.

I don't want to garden.

You don't, you're like, I don't wanna do it.

It is just, I mean, it's creative in a certain way, but you're not, you're

not creating something in the same sense as like, Sewing, but even, I

mean, sewing, it's creative, but it might need to for people that might

not feel like they are quote unquote creative people, which I disagree.

Mm-hmm.

I think we all.

Are creative in certain ways, but sewing is a really good one

because you can follow a pattern.

Yes.

And you can, you know, you're buying fabric that already exists.

You're buying textiles that someone else has put thought into the pattern, or, yes.

So it's like, and I also like that's, I like the practicality of it too.

Like, for example, Isabelle has bought a few shirts recently

that are really big on the side.

Hmm.

And I'd love to learn how to bring them in, but bring them in in a way

that I can then let them out again.

So that she can wear them again later.

Like, I kind of like that home steady, darn, the socks, like kind of like, you

know, like fixing things sort of thing.

Home steady.

I love it.

I don't know.

I mean, one of the things like, I mean, so like the piano for example,

I played the piano when I was little.

But I felt a little bit turned against it because I hated

practicing and I was not playing.

I think we've talked about this before.

Yeah.

I was playing, you know, like Rock of ages and I, today I'd

love to play like Ed Sheeran.

Yeah.

That could be something kind of fun.

Like Isabelle actually has a, um, A Casio.

See this?

Okay, Brooke, this is good.

All right.

Okay.

This is good.

We're talking it through.

We're talking it through because I'm already going to like, well,

where am I gonna do all this?

She has a Casio and I need to get a stand for it because it's just

like you would just set it on a table or something and play it.

But I wanna ha to have a stand and I'd like, and they have all these.

Apps now that you can, these piano that will teach you to play piano.

Um, and she actually showed some interest in that too, so it'd be fun to do that.

My question is, Where, and the thing is too, like with the sewing, it can be a

bit messy 'cause you've got the scraps and the threads and the blah blah, blah.

But what do you think Brooke, about, you know how my dining room, I'm

trying to make it not a dining room and more like kind of a creative room.

Yeah.

Would it be weird for you to walk into my house and see a sewing

machine and a, um, what is it called?

A keyboard in there?

Not at all.

It would delight me.

I mean, I love to see how people use their spaces to create and also who caress.

What anybody thinks when they walk into your house.

'cause Brooke, who cares, because I have a whole keynote talk about

quitting the shoulds, quitting the caress, who, and Right.

And also who's coming into your house that isn't someone that

you like and respect, you know?

Correct.

Like anybody invited into your home is gonna love this about you.

Yes.

Um, no, I love that you've made your, like you've turned what could

have been or might have been in the past, a traditional dining room into.

Like a more versatile space with a lot of like Isabelle's

art supplies and a little desk.

And yeah, you have the table in the middle, but like, who says

you need to use that for dining?

Yeah.

And you know what, that little desk that's in there, nobody is using it.

Like I don't, no.

Use it to pay bills.

Isabelle doesn't use it to do her homework.

So slap a little sewing machine.

Sewing machine on that puppy.

And I have all those really cute baskets that I can just put scraps

and that kind of stuff in there.

Mm-hmm.

Go.

I'm slapping a sewing machine right on that puppy, Brooke.

And.

I need to get the Cassio stand.

Brooke, I have delegated Fernando to purchase the Cassio stand.

Okay.

I've made several requests.

I've made several requests to check in.

How is the purchase of the Cassio stand going?

Mm-hmm.

Um, I don't have, how, how is it going?

I don't have a Casio stand yet because like, I want him to like

get the thing out and see like what kind of stand does it need?

And he is like, oh, you can just order any stand.

It's universal.

And I'm like, I don't believe you.

But even so could you just do that right.

Then you order any stand.

Yeah.

Correct.

So like, but no.

Yeah, I digress.

Are you feel, are you feeling like, I mean, I know you said

Jocelyn was playing guitar.

Like, are you feeling like you are missing out on something because you don't

feel like you have hobbies right now?

Do you feel like you've let that part of yourself go?

Or like what's, what's in, what else is inspiring you to feel like

it's time to pick up something new or maybe pick up something old like

piano and make it your own, versus like learning the classical music

that maybe you didn't love as a child.

Yeah, I think this is such a insightful question, Brooke.

Oh, thank you.

I think I'm the type of person like I like to be.

I.

Busy.

Yeah.

And it's hard for me to relax, but because it's hard for me to relax, I

often find myself just like, oh, okay, well I don't know what else to do so

I'll just clean up the kitchen or I'll just do the laundry or I'll just do this.

And I'm always kind of running around and spinning.

But I would like it if I was doing something that was active that 'cause

I have a little bit of this restless energy that something that was active,

but it's not necessarily like productive.

You know what I mean?

Like it's something that's enjoyable like ski ball.

Mm-hmm.

Ski ball, like ski ball.

Like it all comes back to ski ball.

Brooke.

It it does.

I, I, it's, I get to get out, like, so I guess that's why a lot of

people play sports and stuff, right?

Because you're doing something fun and you're moving around.

I mean, so I guess yoga is a bit of a hobby for me.

Sports and stuff.

Sports, you know, that's why the people do the sports and stuff.

Why the people do the sports, because yeah, you're moving your body.

You're, you're, you know, so you're, You're using a lot of that energy.

For good instead of just like, okay, well let me just spin

around the house and tidy up.

Yeah.

Or get so sucked into work again that you accidentally burn yourself out.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

'cause you don't like, I feel like that was something that I had a hard time

with when I first became self-employed and we, when we started Curious and

Company, I just, it was hard to relax, but if I didn't have something else to

be doing, Again, it could be, you know, something fun or creative with my hands.

I just fell back into work because it was there and it was easy for me to do.

Mm-hmm.

And there was always more to do.

Mm-hmm.

But having something that feels like, um, you know, yes, there can

be an end result that brings me joy versus being connected to my income.

Mm-hmm.

That can be really good to give your brain a break while still using that

restless energy that you might have.

Yeah.

And I like the idea of these hobbies that I'm talking about right now because

it feels like, it's like I, if I wanted to like do a little piano like at 20

minutes and for 20 minutes in the middle of the day, I could do that if I wanted

to work on a little pouch project in the middle of the day, like I could do that.

Whereas a hobby that's like golf, that's like a freaking day of your life.

Mm-hmm.

Fishing, you know what I mean?

Like these like really intense hobbies that require a lot of.

Stuff and a lot of time is not something that I'm super interested in.

Um, I I say that these things that you can just do in little, little spurts.

Yeah.

Nick has always liked fishing and he does fly fishing, which can

be done at creeks around here.

Mm-hmm.

And like, yes, he's accumulated all of the correct rods and

equipment and gadgets and things.

But it can also just be like a two hour thing, you know?

Yes.

He can go to a local creek and he does catch and release and he just likes it

because it's just, it's forced like.

Slow down, relax time.

Yes, correct.

Like you are just sitting there, not sitting, you're standing,

usually waiting in some water.

Mm-hmm.

Waiting, waiting for a waiting, waiting and waiting for, uh, you know, a fish.

But there's nothing you can do to make the fishies come faster.

I mean, I'm sure there's some strategies there, there, there

are strategies, but Yeah.

But you know what I mean?

So that's something that he loves.

Um, I was also recently reading Michelle Obama's lead book.

Yeah.

I've been listening to it.

Gotta listen to that.

And she talks in the first chapter, she talks about, um,

how she has loved knitting.

Mm-hmm.

And I'm gonna read a little quote from it.

She says, I.

In knitting, when you create the first stitch of a new project you cast on when

an item is finished, you bind it off.

Both of these actions I've found are incredibly satisfying.

The bookends of something manageable and finite.

Mm-hmm.

They give me a sense of completion and a world that will always and

forever feel chaotic and incomplete.

Anytime your circumstances start to feel all consuming, I suggest you try going

in the other direction toward the small.

So she, you know, has this whole thing.

Um, That she calls the power of small too, that ties into this,

like knitting can feel just like a, you know, something small.

It's little by little it, like you said, it does take a while, but sometimes

that smallness is what reminds us.

To slow down in the world.

Mm-hmm.

That when the world feels scary and just insurmountable, like all of the

problems in the world, there's this little thing that you have control over.

Yes.

That can just change your whole mindset.

So I love that.

I learned, I.

I learned to knit several years ago.

My mother-in-law taught me and I made scarves for everyone I know new.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

And then stopped knitting because I was like, okay, I'm done.

I made all the scarves, but I have, there's a new, I guess at this

point, it's like almost a year old, but there's like a new yarn fibers.

Store right here in media.

Mm-hmm.

Um, called Home Sew.

And I've thought about maybe taking a class and me getting back into

getting, do they also sew, doing sewing classes at that place?

I think they might.

We're gonna need to check it out into, for you.

I need to check it out because I would love for the process to start not feeling

frustrating, you know, like I feel like if I get frustrated earlier on, I'm be

like, ah, forget this, this is too hard.

But if I can go to a class or something, a little 1 0 1, that would be awesome.

Yeah.

Or maybe the process of becoming frustrated is something like a good

lesson to just I know, I know, Brooke.

We don't like to be frustrated.

No, but you're dishing.

You're dishing out the wise nuggets today, Brooke.

I feel like the wisdom.

Did you take some sort of, I mean, wow.

Okay.

You know what I did this morning for the first?

Did you time in weeks, did you?

I went for a walk.

That's I wonder list.

Did it make me wiser?

Yeah.

This morning I said the.

Eh.

Okay.

I think it's a hobby.

It's something that, what, I mean, what is a hobby?

What is the definition of a hobby?

Right.

Something that you do that you enjoy.

Boop.

I mean, television is my favorite hobby.

Like watching television.

Exactly.

And that's the thing.

Yes.

I think what you and I are feeling right now is that maybe we are looking for some

more creative hobbies, but there are.

There are plenty of things that we do that could be called hobbies.

And yes, I think I realized, because Graham and I haven't been

taking our morning before school walks because there's no school.

Mm-hmm.

And the kids aren't doing camp or anything.

And we've just been having slow mornings.

I've been really starting to feel sluggish.

Yeah.

And.

As much as I love our slow mornings and not needing to go anywhere this

morning, it was pretty nice out.

Wasn't gonna be too, too hot yet.

And I said, guys, let's get dressed.

Um, the problem is not problem, but Paige is a little slower.

Mm-hmm.

And so Graham and I can't take our brisk walk that we had

been doing, um, before and.

So they kind of like, he played on the playground, Paige and I just kind of

like walked laps around the school.

Yeah.

So we could check in with him and then they got tired and wanted to go home.

And so we went home and I just continued.

I walked around the block a few times.

Great.

And I only walked a mile and a half, but it was like, It was

that head clearing that I needed.

Yes.

So yes, that is a hobby and yes, that's a hobby.

It made, it made me wise today.

It made you wise.

I, it made me wise.

I think I'm gonna make you, before we record every podcast, maybe we should do

like, laps around my house or something.

Oh, oh my gosh.

That would be fun.

Or maybe we need to walk.

Walk uni's energy off.

Maybe we need to start doing walks when I come to your house.

Brooke, how much fun would that be if you got there and we took a walk together?

That would, that would be really good.

Yeah, because we could take a little notebook with us.

'cause we do a lot of like our podcast planning when, when you first get there.

But we could do a little walk and talk.

Take a little notebook.

Take Junie.

I like this.

See, but then this is us combining work with a hobby.

So while it's good, we also need to make sure that we also, and, and that's fine.

I, my thing is that I need to make sure I also have hobbies that are solely correct.

Work related, you know?

Correct.

So, yes, but we can also do that.

Okay, great.

Um, and another fun one that my family loves, and again, it's quote unquote

creative, but you don't necessarily, like you can follow a pattern.

My family loves Pearler beads.

You know the little, okay, I'm seeing milk beads seeing this written in the notes and

I don't know what you're talking about.

You don't know what they are?

Oh, actually, I bet I do.

I bet I do.

I think I do Now they're these, they're the little I'm gonna

show you on the, on the camera?

Yes.

They're just the little beads.

Okay.

Yes.

That you put on the little grid thing.

This is super descriptive, the little beads that you put on the

little grid thing, but like it.

It's such a relaxing activity because it has to be like Graham made some

with his, um, favorite baseball logos.

I'm showing you.

You're not looking 'cause I'm writing it down.

I'm writing it down.

Oh.

So like, he'll make his favorite baseball team logos and we, you can

find patterns on the internet for color.

These, wait a second.

It's one of the things where you like, then you melt it.

And it kind of like, yes.

So then you iron it, there's like, it comes with wax paper and

you iron it and then it melds it all together, melts and melds.

And it's one of those things that Nick also finds super relaxing.

Like he will get them out sometimes and just make like

a little coaster or something.

And if you don't wanna iron it when you're done, you just dump the

beads and start over the next time.

But it's one of those things like if you need something relaxing to do with

your hands, I think the key for me is like, Doing something with my hands.

Yes.

Um, is really.

Important for my brain.

Yeah.

Like when Isabelle was little, I used to love Play-Doh.

I used to love, oh yeah.

Play-Doh.

In fact, there would be times we had this little cupcake maker

where it would make the cupcakes.

Oh, I know it.

I know it.

Oh, that's right.

I brought it over to, and I babysat one.

And I loved that thing and I think I've told you before, like there's been time,

'cause Isabelle would always smush my cupcakes and there would be times that

she would go to bed and I would be like, I'm gonna make an intact cupcake

and enjoy like every step of this process and not have somebody smush it.

I really liked Play-Doh and Isabella and I.

We went to, so my coworking space, align space, which, you know, I

love had these coloring books there.

And normally I don't like adult coloring books.

I feel like they're stressful for some reason.

But these adult colory books were, were lovely.

And the markers were like these brush stroke kind of markers.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

That are very relaxing.

So I ordered those and, um, you know, I, we just don't

pick 'em up and do them enough.

But that's another thing about these hobbies with the sewing.

And the, uh, the piano.

Like I want it to be something, it's almost like a Montessori

feel where I want it to be around.

And for Isabelle to be interested in it, especially with how she goes into

the tween years and you know, the devices and all of this kind of stuff.

Like, I want there to be really easy alternatives.

It's almost like you need to, so just like talking specifically

about your house here?

Yes.

Um, because you do have that dining room slash kind of multipurpose room.

It's almost like you just need to make a point to go in there

for half an hour every day.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And pick up something.

Yeah.

So whether it's the sewing machine, whether it's the keyboard, whether

it's Play-Doh, like give yourself a dedicated half hour and we

should all find ways to do this.

Yes.

Like, I found my half hour this morning to go for a walk.

Yes.

I need to, you know, create time each week to do Alcohol Inc.

Or some sort of drawing practice or other creative practice that is just like

I have that dedicated time set aside.

So since you have that amazing room set up with everything kind of Yeah.

Somewhat in place until Fernando gets the Casio stand.

Oh my god.

You can kind of just say for half an hour every day, I'm gonna go in this

room and see what comes of it, you know?

Right, right.

I like that.

I like that a lot.

Okay.

That is your assignment.

Yes.

And so my to-do is also, I need to get the sewing machine.

So Ella's leaving for college soon, and I think they said they know where it is,

so I'm gonna grab it before she goes.

All right.

Yeah.

So listeners tell us what are your hobbies?

Are your hobbies?

What do you, what do you like to do that is not at all work related.

Whether it has a creative end result or not.

Like what do you do for yourself when you need to clear your head?

Um, a lot of people, I know it's like exercise, but what are some of those other

hobbies that we might not have touched on or that we might not know about?

There's so many cool creative ventures that, that I wanna learn.

I wanna hear from our listeners.

I know, I bet they've got some really cool stuff going on.

I bet they do.

All right, everyone, we're gonna take a break and we'll be right back.

Amanda, we're back.

We are back.

And I think you've already touched on this a little bit, and I've mentioned

that I'm a little bit jealous, but tell us what's sparking joy for you right now?

I mean, Brooke, it's very simple.

It's alone time.

Alone time.

Mm-hmm.

You know me, I'm an introvert.

I need decompression time.

I need alone time.

I need thinking time.

Like I feel like my life at home is just like one interruption after another.

It's very rare.

I'm in my house by myself, which always isabelle's there, my mom's

there, or Fernando's there, or the dog needs to go in or out or whatever.

And yes, I can go to my coworking space.

But you know, it's usually for, you know, a few hours at a time or whatever.

But I'm just really, what's sparking joy is alone time and really,

really realizing that I need that and I need it for extended periods.

And I'm excited because I actually have.

Several speaking engagements coming up.

Um, I have Virginia in August and where am I going in September?

I am going, I have Orlando in September and I have Charlotte in October.

And for each one of those, look at me.

And so each one of those speaking engagements, usually they'll cover one

night in the hotel, but I am getting myself a second night in the hotel.

Yeah, just like adding on a little retreat.

Right?

Because a lot of times mm-hmm.

These hotels, they're really beautiful locations, you know, in terms of they

have, you know, lots of amenities and that sort of thing, so, I think that's

gonna be really life changing for me.

Yeah, that's gonna be great.

And like honestly, one night in a hotel is not even, you know, 24 hours because

you can't check in till the afternoon.

You check out in the morning and it's more of just like an

in and out kind of transaction.

Mm-hmm.

I think you giving yourself that extra time is really awesome.

You're kind of, you're making use of.

Of the time that you're already being given because of this speaking

engagement and extending it so you don't have to pack up and leave.

Yes.

You can just kind of camp out for a little bit in a nice location.

It's gonna be great.

Yes.

And I am, yeah.

I think this is a good reminder too that, um, Nick has some time off coming in,

coming up in August, and it's a week that we won't have our babysitter anymore.

Um, and I am thinking like he's probably gonna spend some

time at his parents' house.

They have a pool and I might ask if I can spend a few days at home, or, this

is me asking while he's listening.

Hi.

I would like to, I would like to spend some time.

I'm loon.

Hello?

Yes.

Um, because yeah, I, I need a little bit of that.

Creative, rejuvenation.

Yeah.

And quiet.

Quiet.

Yeah.

My brain needs so much.

Quiet it.

I know.

I know.

It's amazing.

I mean even, yeah.

So I am just realizing, and I.

Being much more strategic about giving myself that time.

And even just stuff like thinking about the business, I have a lot of

big decisions that I wanna make in the business right now in terms of what

certain things I'm leaning into and if I wanna hire help and you know, and

I need to think about those things.

And so I've actually, I went to Staples while I was here, bought

like really pretty Post-its, and Jolin has a blank wall here and I

might do a little bit of post-it.

Brainstorming.

So I'm post, post-its, post-its Love, some colorful post-its

love, some colorful post-its.

Yeah.

They also sparked joy.

So what are you doing?

Yes, they sparked joy.

What are you doing to do your future self a favor?

Okay, so this is a tool that I learned about a few months ago.

I, I actually forget where I learned about it, but it's called, it's.

An online tool called Goblin Tools.

Yes.

Okay.

That is it.

Mm-hmm.

Um, and it is basically, I'm gonna read the little description here

because that it just sums it up.

Goblin Tools is a collection of small, simple, single task tools, mostly designed

to help neurodivergent people with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult.

So it's just this very simple website.

Mm-hmm.

The, the way I discovered it is if you go to the tab that says Magic

to do, um, first of all, I like that because it's a reference to the show.

Pippin Magic to Do is a song, um, anyway.

Oh.

Um, but it's basically magic, like to do as in mm-hmm.

A to do task.

Mm-hmm.

And you can add a task.

So like, I did this once and it was like, um, I wanted to see what.

The result would be, so it's basically using AI chat, G P D type of technology.

And it's coming up with a to-do list based on my end task.

Okay, so I'm gonna type in clean the bathroom because that is something

I need to do, and I can choose how much breaking down I need.

So do I need just a couple, um, specifics of how to break down this somewhat

overwhelming task to me right now?

Or do I need it like mm-hmm.

Extra broken down.

Mm-hmm.

So I'm gonna choose like a little more towards extra.

Okay.

And then we're gonna click the button and.

It is going to, I'm then gonna click breakdown items, so it comes

up with this little magic wand.

Okay?

And it's working.

It takes a couple seconds, but it's going to break down, like step-by-step.

Gather cleaning supplies, remove all items from surfaces.

Sweep or vacuum the floor.

Mm-hmm.

Remove trash and replace trash bags.

Scrub the toilet with toilet clean toilet cleaner.

So this is like if your brain is on overdrive and you don't know

where to begin with something.

This is such a fun tool.

And it's also really interesting, like I did it for a work related task in

terms of like submitting my planners to print and it had some pretty, um, like.

Really on par terminology and things in terms of like how the

print and design process works.

Yeah, I was really impressed.

There's also a tab where you can do a formalize so you can turn, um, oh.

Have you any text, like you can make it.

Yeah, you can make me more professional, more formal.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Or you can turn something into bullet points.

Some people, like, a lot of times I get very wordy in emails

and I realize, you know what?

This needs to be a bulleted list, so this would turn it into those bullets for you.

So it's really fun.

There's also a tab where you can go to judge and say, am I misreading the tone?

The tone of this, he can enter some text and then it will judge it for you and

let you know, like, yes, this is snarky.

No, you are what?

You know, this is polite.

That's amazing.

I know it's really fun.

So it's not necessarily like, uh, there's an also an.

An estimator, just tell me how long this task is going to take.

So look into it.

If nothing else, just like bookmark this.

Remember it for the future.

Mm-hmm.

Do your future self a favor by like getting familiar with this.

So the next time you have a totally overwhelming task, go

to Goblin Tools and see what it.

How it tells you to break things down.

It's really fun.

I see you writing it down, Amanda.

I'm writing it down.

I'm writing it down.

I know you're, yeah.

Which always crack i'll, because I think I played with it a little bit

when you first told me about it, and then I just forgot about it.

Yeah.

So I really wanna go back and play with it again.

Yeah.

Because I mean that's, it's really interesting.

Yeah, that's what I mean, even, um, Last night, you know, last night when I was

teaching my Kaari class, like the name of the game, a lot of times with decluttering

is just bite sizing everything.

Like bite-size, bite-size.

Mm-hmm.

Bite-size.

Mm-hmm.

Like if I'm helping somebody declutter exactly their bathroom and I take

all of their bathroom stuff and dump it on the floor, they're like, Ah,

but then if I divide it up into hair care, skincare, dental, and they're

like, oh, okay, here's four things of floss, uh, four toothbrushes.

Like my brain can handle that, right?

Yeah.

So I think like bite size is the name of the game.

It is, this will definitely bite-size things for you if you're

too overwhelmed to do it yourself.

So we'll share.

As always, we share everything in the show notes, so this link will be there

and all the other, um, things that we've chatted about will be there as well.

And don't forget, listeners to sign up for our Patreon.

Yes, we've got the different levels, bonuses coming your way.

Soon And, um, just do it.

It's really fun and it's a way to support the podcast.

I know.

It's so fun.

I love our levels.

They're so cutely named.

I know.

We're so, we're so, I know.

We're so, we're so cute.

We're so cute.

No, what's the word?

Witty.

We're so witty.

Alright, well I had so much fun with you today.

You were dropping the wisdom bombs like nobody's business and That's right.

I think pretty successful in our remote recording.

It was a lot of fun.

And, um, yeah, we're gonna see how it sounds.

Yeah, see how it sounds, but, um, all right everybody.

We'll talk to you soon.