The Big Boo Cast

It's our first regular episode of 2025, and we're off to a strong start with some inconvenient (though entertaining) challenges. The Aggies lost their bowl game, one of Mel's refrigerators has gone on to its eternal reward, and the Shankles have had some unexpected visitors in their laundry room. VIVA LA 2025! We also reflect on our words / phrases for 2024, discuss our words and phrases for the new year, and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites. - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - Fayetteville Live Show Tickets Show Notes: - Las Vegas Bowl - our Favorite Favorites episode on Patreon - One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson - Bagster at Lowe's - 2025 Low-Level Goals episode on Patreon - Cole at the Pop-Tarts Bowl - A Fine Sight to See  - Conair 2-in-1 steamer - Rubbermaid 28-piece storage container - OSEA Dream Night Cream - Grace for the Moment Daily Bible - makeup brush cleaner Sponsors: - AG1 - Dwell - LMNT - Zbiotics

When we recorded this episode, Melanie was making cinnamon rolls, and I had just completed a grocery run full of vegetables and several different kinds of sugar. In other words: Christmas Day is upon us, and on this episode we talk about all of our last-minute preparations and even some plans that have gone awry. It's also my turn for Five Favorites. Merry Christmas, everyone - we are so grateful for you, and we hope your Christmas is full of time with the people you love the most! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - Fayetteville Live Show Tickets Show Notes: - the cinnamon rolls Mel likes to make - the Chex Mix we both like to make (I use Dot's Pretzels and add the Gardetto rye chips) - Ouida Wednesday squash casserole - sweet potato casserole (I use half and half, not evaporated milk - and no cinnamon) - "Jesus Can Work It Out" with Dianne Williams - JazzTX in San Antonio - A&M (and Mississippi State) to be featured on SEC football show - "Tourniquet" by Zach Bryan - Libro.fm - a great way to listen to audiobooks - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - Dinner with Vampires by Bethany Joy Lentz - James by Percival Everett - Black Doves on Netflix (not for the children) - Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake - Aerie cozy long sleeve oversized boyfriend tee - Catrice Instant Awake under eye brightener - OneSkin peptide topical supplement and skin longevity age reversal eye cream - Mrs. Meyer's dish soap in peppermint Sponsors: - AG1 - use this link for a free welcome gift, a bottle of D3/K2, and 5 free travel packs for new subscribers - OSEA - use code BIGBOO for 10% off sitewide - Drink LMNT - use this link for your free sample pack with any order - Boll & Branch - use this link to get 25% off plus free shipping on your first order

'Tis the season to record an audiobook and do a little bit of hostessing - or at least that's what Melanie and I have been up to this past week. On this episode we talk about our college kids' laundry situation (it's bad here in Birmingham), what we've been reading and watching, and why Melanie needs a new rug in her dining room to help with podcast recording quality. We also discuss a fantastic concert I went to this past weekend, and it's Mel's turn for Five Favorites. Hope you enjoy! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - 2024 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide - Fayetteville Live Show Tickets Show Notes: - Melanie's new book - Helen in Birmingham - Leslie Odom, Jr. - Leslie Odom, Jr.'s Simply Christmas - Courtney DeFeo's podcast - The God of the Woods by Liz Moore - All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett audiobook - Polo on Netflix - No Good Deed on Netflix - Cold Case: Who Killed Jon Benet Ramsey on Netflix - Shark Pro vacuum mop - v-neck batwing sweater - Quince cotton cropped cable knit sweater - Varley Hawley half-zip sweatshirt - Frank & Eileen Shirley oversized button-up Sponsors: - Helix - use this link for 20% off plus two free pillows - Lume - new customers get 15% off with code BIGBOO - Thrive Causemetics - use this link for 20% off your first order - Trust & Will - use this link for 10% off plus free shipping

Since college football is starting to move into the rearview mirror just a tiny bit, this week Melanie and I discuss our end-of-year Spotify and Apple Music info, we consider my new maximum volume hair product strategy, and Melanie talks about an audiobook she absolutely loved.  We also take a look at what's ahead for both of us this week, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Hope y'all enjoy!  - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - 2024 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide - Fayetteville Live Show Tickets Show Notes: - Georgia vs. Texas - College Football Playoffs field of 12 - Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lentz - A Fine Sight to See playlist on Apple Music - A Fine Sight to See playlist on Spotify - T-Pain's covers album - Color WOW Raise the Roof Thicken + Lift Spray - Color WOW Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer - Color WOW Dream Cocktail Carb-Infused Leave-in treatment - R+Co Dallas Thickening Spray - Dan in Real Life - Leslie Odom Jr.'s Simply Christmas - Kate McLeod Sleep Stone - Goddard's jewelry cleaner - Burlbero Rocky Mountain sherpa fleece vest - Southern Living's coconut cream pie recipe - Menus: A Book for Your Meals & Your Memories Sponsors: - Thrive Market - use this link for 30% off your first order plus a free $60 gift - ZocDoc - use this link to download the ZocDoc app for free - Storyworth - use this link to save $10 on your first purchase - AG1 - get a free bottle of D3/K2 and five free travel packs with your first order

This week Melanie recaps her time in College Station - though she wishes the game had gone a different way - before we break down our respective Thanksgivings and I lament the Egg Bowl (on top of lamenting a two-win season for my Bulldogs).  Melanie also shares a flat tire situation she had to deal with, and it's her turn for Five Favorites. Enjoy, everybody! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - 2024 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide - Fayetteville Live Show Tickets Show Notes: - Texas at Texas A&M - "The Yellow Rose of Texas" - Mississippi State at Ole Miss - Georgia Tech at Georgia - Cheese Gal salad - The George Hotel in College Station - June's Journey - our bonus podcast episode with Cole Cubelic - Weem hair and skin gummies - Long duster cardigan - Smartphone photo printer  - Lavender tea tree eye cleanser  - Trader Joe's Stepping It Up spicy snack bar mix Sponsors: - Turtle Beach - use code BIGBOO for 10% off - AG1 - get a free bottle of D3/K2 and five free travel packs with your first order - Honeylove - use this link for 20% off - Maya Chia - use code BOO15 for 15% off

Earlier this week Melanie and I recorded with our friend Cole Cubelic for a Patreon episode - and then Cole's audio upload proceeded to get caught in an internet no-man's land for several days. This morning, though, we got news from our friends at Riverside.fm that they were able to recover Cole's audio, so I put together a quick bonus episode in the event that you're bored / traveling / curious about Cole's Thanksgiving (and football) favorites. Plus, much to our delight, Cole shares his thoughts on tomorrow's football game between the Texas A&M Fightin' Aggies and their arch rival, the Texas Longhorns. Hope you enjoy! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - 2024 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide - Fayetteville Live Show Tickets Show Notes: - Melanie's cornbread dressing (and her broccoli rice casserole recipe) - strawberry pretzel salad - ending of Oklahoma vs. Missouri - Oklahoma vs. South Carolina - Alabama vs. Vanderbilt - Read & React with Cole and Roman Harper - Cole's podcast, The Cube Show

Melanie and I spent our weekend in the loveliest village on the Plains, so this episode is chock-full-o-details about our time in Auburn, including our shenanigans with Caroline and Ella and the Aggies' unfortunate loss in four overtimes. FOUR OVERTIMES.  We also discuss all the fun we had in Birmingham, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Enjoy, y'all - and Happy Thanksgiving! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - 2024 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide - Fayetteville Live Show Tickets Show Notes: - The Valley Hotel in Birmingham - Helen in Birmingham - Davenport's in Birmingham - Gus Mayer - At Home in Homewood - Botanic in Opelika - A&M at Auburn - braided hair ties - pack of 100 for less than $10 - sausage ball scoop - Pilcro foil sweatshirt - BaByliss travel hair dryer - Claire Bella towel wrap Sponsors: - Maya Chia - use code BOO15 for 15% off - Helix - use this link for the exclusive November offer - Factor - use code BIGBOO50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month while your subscription is active - AG1 - use this link for a free bottle of vitamin D3/K2 and five free travel packs - a $48 value for free

This week Melanie and I talk about the latest with college football, the latest with what we're reading, and the latest with my very early Christmas decorating. We also discuss the fact that Melanie and Caroline are headed to Alabama this weekend so we can take a little road trip to the loveliest village on the plains.  On top of that, I share some of Hazel's most recent issues (the separation anxiety is real), and it's Melanie's turn for Five Favorites. Hope you enjoy! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - 2024 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide - Fayetteville Live Show Tickets Show Notes: - Auburn's eagle crashes into press box - Florida beats LSU - Georgia beats Tennessee - The Wedding People by Alison Espach - What in the World?! by Leanne Morgan - All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker - Mood Christmas Edition by Jon McLaughlin (I said the wrong last name when Mel and I were talking!)  - Jonathan McReynolds "Sent Me a King" - The Speckled Beauty by Rick Bragg - Dan Campbell on leadership - full length fleece plush robe - Goop Beauty salt scrub detox shampoo with rose hip oil - retro stripe tube socks - J. Crew long sleeve knit pajama set - sequined a-line dress Sponsors: - Honeylove - use this link and save up to 50% off sitewide - AG1 - use this link for a free bottle of vitamin D3/K2 and five free travel packs - Thrive Market - use this link for 30% off your first order and an additional $60 gift - Lume - use code BIGBOO for 15% off your first purchase

Melanie and I both have happy live show hangovers this week, so we break down all of our Dallas fun as well as some fantastic memories from not even 24 hours in College Station. We had time with our friends Beth and Ree, we had time with each other and our friends and family, and we saw some amazingly talented college students perform in Chi O Songfest. It was quite a time. We also wrap up our gift guide suggestions (see what I did there?!) this week, and we hope you enjoy!  - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop Show Notes: - Crescent Court Hotel in Dallas - Mi Cocina in Dallas - Retha, our business manager - Beth Moore - tap shoes on Amazon (seriously) - wings in tap shoes - Ree Drummond - The Texas Theatre - Songfest at Texas A&M - digital copy of Songfest - Mia Maria - Spicy Hamburger Vegetable Soup - 2024 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide Sponsors: - Storyworth - use this link to save $10 on your first purpose - Thrive Causemetics - use this link for 20% off your first order - Maya Chia - use code BOO15 at checkout for 15% off - AG1 - use this link for a free bottle of vitamin D3/K2 and five free travel packs

Oh, how the college football turns have tabled. Melanie's Aggies traveled from the football mountaintop to the (temporary, we believe) valley this past weekend, so as you can imagine, she's still processing her emotions re: the loss. However, the good news is that this week marks the first installment of our annual holiday gift guide, and we're just as happy as we can be about that. Plus, we talk about our favorite fruity candy flavors, so basically we're changing the world one podcast episode at a time. So excited to see some of you in Dallas this week - and hope you enjoy, everybody! - Join Us on Patreon - Our Amazon Shop - Ticket info for San Antonio and Fayetteville live shows Show Notes: - A&M at South Carolina - shrubs at South Carolina's field - Cam Matthews - breakfasts with Matthew - Skittle Gummies - 2024 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide Sponsors: - ZocDoc - use this link to download the app for free - Lumen - use this link for 15% off your purchase - Trust & Will - use this link for 10% off plus free shipping of your documents - OSEA - use code BIGBOO for 10% off