The Big Boo Cast

Well naturally we kick off this week's episode with a Thanksgiving weekend recap in general and a college football recap in particular (you should expect no less from us in late November / early December). We also talk through a fairly extensive list of shows we've been watching, and Melanie fills us in on her family's recent trip to the Christmas tree lot - among other Christmas-related dramas. On top of all that delightfulness (is it? let's pretend it is, okay?), we're back in it with Five Favorites this week, and one of them is the old Instagram because the new Instagram is garbage. We sound like we're 102 when we talk about how WE DON'T LIKE THE CHANGES, and we're okay with that. Enjoy, y'all! Become a Patron! Our Amazon Shop Show Notes: - The Crown - The No's of Hallmark Movies on The Popcast with Knox and Jamie - Dash & Lily  - Virgin River - Season 2 - Grand Designs - Voices of Fire - Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker - COOP Home Goods Pillow - OUR FAVORITE - Hello Fresh (IT IS A BLESSING TO MY SOUL) (use promo code BIGBOO90 for $90 off your first order) (I LOVE IT) - The Nester's thoughts on quieting the house - HomeTown on HGTV - Christy Nockels' The Thrill of Hope - A Ben Rector Christmas - Leslie Odom Jr.'s The Christmas Album Sponsors: - Sakara (use promo code BIGBOO for $20 off your first order of the Prenatal) - NoteCube (use code BIGBOO for 20% off) - Best Fiends (download in the Apple App Store or on Google Play)

On this episode we did a little spin on our weekly Five Favorites to spend some time focusing on gratitude. Yes, 2020 has been a train wreck, but it's also given us all sorts of opportunities to be thankful for essential workers and college football and Phil Rosenthal, among other things. And just in case we haven't said it enough: we are extraordinarily thankful for all of you who make up our little podcast community. There's no way to adequately express how much you have enriched our lives over the duration of the podcast - but maybe this year more than ever. Y'all are the best, and we love you. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Enjoy episode 212! Become a Patron! Show Notes: - Our Amazon Shop - Hazel's beloved dog bed (she has the 36-inch) - "The act of thanks-giving is holy protest against cynicism, covetousness, fatalism, entitlement, self-pity, joylessness, discontentment, self-sufficiency, greed, arrogance, and apathy.” - @dukekwondc - Ouida Wednesday (look on Sophie's Instagram in the highlights) - Somebody Feed Phil - Ted Lasso Sponsors: - Hydrant (use promo code BIGBOO for 25% off your first order) - Storyworth (use this link for $10 off your first purchase) - Hello Fresh (use promo code BIGBOO90 for $90 off) (also: the joy of my life has been how much David loves to cook our Hello Fresh meals; it has been a GAME CHANGER for us) - KiwiCo (use promo code BIGBOO for 50% off and free shipping)

Well, we're back with the second installment of our annual Holiday Gift Guide, and man oh man has it ever been an eventful week between part 1 and part 2. We catch you up on all of that at the beginning of the episode, and then we dig into our favorite gift ideas for men and women in lo, the year of our Lord 2020. If you missed last week's episode, you can catch up on our gift ideas for teenagers right here. Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! Grateful for y'all! Our Amazon Shop Become a Patron! Show Notes: (some links are affiliate links) - The Queen's Gambit - The Crown - Southern Charm Gifts for Men: - Eddie Bauer Oversized Down Throw - Groovelife Belts - Aggie Ring ornaments - Bose Solo Sound Bar - Fishing Tackle Storage Bag - Waterfield Laptop Sleeve - Digital Ear Muffs - Howler Bros. Snapshirts - Olukai house shoes - Pickwick & Co. Leather, Tobacco, & Woods candle - Black Rifle Coffee - Benerx MD CBD pain cream (10% off and free shipping with code BIGMAMA) - 2020 Dumpster Fire Ornaments (here's another one) Gifts for Women: - Nepresso Vertuo Coffee & Espresso Maker - Michelle Morin Animalia Flannel Shorts - Half Baked Harvest Super Simple Cookbook - Shelf Subscription from The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia (would also be a wonderful gift for a man or for children) - Leila Meacham books - Old Navy High-Waist Powersoft 7/8 Joggers - ABLE Celine Huggie Hoops (use code BIGMAMA25 for 25% off) - Hobo Vida Wristlet (Sophie's FAVORITE wallet) - Jo Malone Cologne Discovery Sample - Jo Malone Body Wash / Bath Gel in Lime Basil & Mandarin - Rifle Paper Co. Island Poppy Notebook - Everyday Holy by Melanie Shankle - Gentle & Lowly by Dane Ortlund - Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison - Emily Freeman's books - Two Funny Girls 10-Count Styro Cups (code MERRYBIGBOO for free shipping - expires 11/27) - Two Funny Girls Personalized Pillowcase (code MERRYBIGBOO for free shipping - expires 11/27) Sponsors: - FabFitFun (promo code BIGBOO for $10 off your first box) - care/of (promo code BIGBOOCAST50 for 50% off your first order) - NuCalm (use this link to get 50% off your first 30 day subscription) - Magic Spoon (promo code BIGBOO for free shipping)

This week Melanie and I dig into some areas of personal dysfunction - practical things in our lives where we have largely operated as if we had no choice but to participate in poorly functioning systems (that sounds really serious, but I can assure that our discussion is not). We also spend some time celebrating the #5 Texas A&M Fightin' Aggies before we jump into the main focus of this episode: our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide, this week with gift ideas for teenage girls and guys. All that to say: it's links aplenty in this week's show notes, and we hope that some of our gift suggestions will make your life a little easier this year. Next week we'll talk through our gift ideas for women and men, so GIDDY UP, everybody. Hope y'all enjoy! Become a Patron! Show Notes: (some are affiliate links) - Threshold Gold Plated Utensil Holder - Cereal containers - Melanie's new printer - Seychelles Offstage Chelsea boots - Dolce Vita Huey Chelsea boots - COOP HomeGoods pillow - Offline Real Me Crossover High Waisted Legging - Cattlebaron in Cashmere on IG - Pure Sciences Neck Firming Cream - Kleem Moisturizing Retinol Cream Teenage Girls' Gift Guide - Morgan Harper Nichols' prints - Project 62 frame at Target - Heather Schieder's prints - UV LED Nail Lamp - Galaxy Lights - ABLE Rachel Wristlet (use promo code BIGMAMA25 for 25% off from now until the end of the year) - ABLE Letter Necklace (use promo code BIGMAMA25 for 25% off from now until the end of the year) - Retro Sweatshirts and t-shirts  -- Van Halen t-shirt dress  -- Red Hot Chili Peppers t-shirt  -- Beatles sweatshirt (all sizes) - Disney+ Gift Subscription - Chelsea boots in white (and here's a Zappos link) - 4-in-1 charging station (great for girls or guys) - Bath & Body Works Sweater Weather (any product in this scent) - Massage gun for deep tissue (great for girls or guys) - Desktop Bible verse calendar by Pearl & Rose Designs Teenage Guys' Gift Guide - Sports apparel (Melanie's favorite online retailer is Shop '47) - Basketball shorts (Amazon Basics or Under Armour) - Ice Mule - Oofos Recovery Sport Slides - Foot Massager - Restaurant Gift Cards or Cash - Spike Ball Set - Goodfellow Knit Pajama Pants - AirPods Pro (for girls or guys) - on sale at Amazon right now - $55 off Show Notes: - Prose (free in-depth hair quiz and 15% off) - Thrive Market (sign up and receive a free gift of your choosing up to $24 in value) - Native (use promo code BIGBOO for 20% off your first order) - AcornTV (use promo code BIGBOO for 30 days free)

Well, we recognize that there's a lot going on this week (#election2020), so we do our best to PROVIDE SOME DISTRACTIONS. We talk about the storm that hit Birmingham last week, some exciting news in Melanie's family, and our unexpectedly reflective thoughts about 2020 in general and quarantine in particular.  We also discuss five of my current favorite things as well as the new devotional book I'm using in the mornings. Plus, we have a conversation about college football because DO YOU KNOW US AT ALL? :-)  Enjoy, y'all! Become a Patron! Show Notes:  - Our Amazon Shop - New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp - Everyday Holy by Melanie Shankle - Our beloved leather totes from Rural Route 3 - Stars Above Wide Leg Cozy Lounge Pants - Dolce Vita Huey Suede Chelsea Boots - Everspring Mandarin Ginger Dishwashing Liquid and Foaming Hand Soap - Everspring Lemon & Mint Liquid Detergent - Orolay Thickened Down Jacket - Living Proof Dry Shampoo - Somebody Feed Phil season 4 (IT IS A BALM) Sponsors: - Hydrant (use promo code BIGBOO for 25% off your first order) - Magic Spoon (use promo code BIGBOO for free shipping) - KiwiCo (use promo code BIGBOO for 50% off your first month) - Thuma (use this link for free shipping on The Bed)  

We recorded this episode when one of us (okay, it was me) was experiencing some significant sleep deprivation, but why let a little loopy-ness stop the podcast fun? We talk about an incredible meal we had in Pawhuska, a recent shampoo / conditioner revelation, and our new favorite TV show that's on Apple+. In addition to all that goodness, Melanie shares an update on Imogene from Imogene's basement (we talked about it in episode 207), and she also weighs in with a verdict on her new pillow. COULD YOU EVEN IMAGINE MORE EXCITEMENT? Hope y'all enjoy! Become a Patron! Show Notes: - P-town in Pawhuska - Emily in Paris (this is not for the children) - Ted Lasso (this is not for the children) - Somebody Feed Phil (season 4 is out on October 30th!!!) - Our Amazon Shop - R&Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo - R&Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Conditioner - Coop Home Goods Pillow - porcelain fluted coffee mugs - Good Earth Sweet & Spicy decaf tea - Black Rifle Beyond Black coffee - Half Baked Harvest - Cocina de Coco's King Ranch Chicken Sponsors: - NoteCube (use promo code BIGBOO for 20% off and free shipping worldwide) - Best Fiends (download in the Apple App Store or Google Play)  

We recorded this episode earlier this week when we were in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, so it's probably no surprise that we talk a little bit about our trip. Unfortunately, though, we recorded before we had the feast of our adult lives at Ree's P-Town restaurant Monday night, so we'll for sure have to talk about that next week. Perhaps we will have recovered from all the deliciousness by then. We do cover some football ground this week - what with the Aggies defeating the Bulldogs and all - and we also answer one of your questions about the early days of motherhood. Plus, I share five favorites - NOW WITH THEME MUSIC - and Melanie tells us all about a recent shopping trip. FUN APLENTY, it is. Y'all enjoy! Become a Patron! Show Notes: - Our Amazon Shop - Pawhuska, Oklahoma - Spicy Cowgirl coffee - cast recording of Moulin Rouge! The Musical - Karen Howell on Saban's coaching status - Our friend / business manager Retha's A Better You webinar on Friday 10/23 - Offline Real Me High-Waisted Crossover leggings - Stainless steel Yeti Ramblers for cold drinks - All Rise by Gregory Porter on Apple Music and on Spotify - L'anza Keratin Healing Oil Hair Plumper Finishing Spray - Charles Hunter III on Twitter and on Instagram - Center Stage reading glasses from Peepers.com Sponsors: - Magic Spoon (use promo code BIGBOO for free shipping) - FabFitFun (use promo code BIGBOO for $10 your first box) - Hydrant (use promo code BIGBOO for 25% off your first order)

This week was a real home run as far as our technical prowess, because something extra bizarre happened with my sound file the first time we recorded - so we had to re-record two days later.  We're just trying to stay on brand with 2020, apparently.  So what we have here is a barely-edited episode (which is why it's a little longer than normal) - just edited enough to put the ads in their appropriate places - and you'll have to trust that we did our best to stay enthusiastic even though what we would have really liked to do is quit. Look at our perseverance! Enjoy, y'all. :-)  Become a Patron! Show Notes: - Our Amazon Shop - Universal Thread Amalia Fashion Boots - Olukai Kalia Li - the shoes Perry bought and loved - Emily in Paris - Melanie's new magnifying mirror - R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo - R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Conditioner - Coop pillow - Revitabrow - magnesium - Bobbysue's Nuts - Wind River by Bailey Caliber Outback hat - Jessica Simpson house slippers Sponsors: - Best Fiends (download from the Apple App Store or Google Play) - Hello Fresh (use code BIGBOO80 for $80 off across five boxes and free shipping on your first box) - NoteCube (use code BIGBOO for 20% off and free shipping worldwide)

There's only one way to sum up how the college football weekend turned out for Melanie and me: it was not ideal. So on this episode we discuss our respective disappointments (in fairness, Melanie seemed to handle things much better than I did) and do our best to believe there are great football days ahead. You can almost smell the optimism.  We also talk about what Melanie's watching, why she wants some new living room chairs, and what in sam hill is going on with her computer (I complain a little about that last thing). If all that weren't enough, I confess some sentimental feelings and share my new booties obsession. DOESN'T THAT SOUND LIKE MORE FUN. Hope y'all enjoy! Become a Patron! Show Notes: - Our Amazon Shop - Lane Kiffin's suit - Ted Lasso - Emily in Paris - Assets by Spanx at Target - Pickwick & Co. Tamboti Wood Candle - Dale Chelsea boots - Dolce Vita Huey Suede Chelsea boots - Crevo Maeve Suede Block Heel Chelsea boots - Sorel Lolla Cutout bootie - I took Melanie's advice about a Target "starter boot" and ordered these instead of the pricier Anthro booties Sponsors: - KiwiCo (30% off your first month plus free shipping) - Hydrant (use promo code BIGBOO for 25% off your first order) - Magic Spoon (use this link for free shipping)

Normally Melanie and I try to show some restraint during college football season, but this week, between the start of SEC football, Mike Leach's coaching debut with Mississippi State, and my Bulldogs winning in Baton Rouge, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY. Thank you in advance for your patience with us during this very exciting time. In addition to talking about football, football, and LO, MORE FOOTBALL, we discuss my day-o-fun at a student leadership retreat and five of Melanie's current favorites.  Enjoy, y'all! Become a Patron! Show Notes: - Our Amazon Shop - Lane Kiffin and his baseball jersey - Weekend at Bernie's in the stands - Mike Leach says last Saturday was "better than average" - Coach Leach's postgame speech - Pickwick & Co. Leather, Tobacco, & Woods candle - Revitabrow - Goodfellow & Co. quilted pullover - Family Savvy's Spicy Hamburger Soup - Spotify Time Capsule playlist (this is the one Spotify made for me - but any Spotify user has one) - Opal Ice Machine - Melanie's new cereal bowls - Poppies on Blue china Sponsors: - Hydrant (use promo code BIGBOO at checkout for 25% off your first order) - Prose (use the link for 15% off your purchase and a free in-depth hair quiz) - Best Fiends - download on the App Store or Google Play - Living Proof Live Simulcast (use promo code BIGBOO5 for $5 off your simulcast ticket) (this is always one of our favorite events of the year!)