Lo, it is our last episode of 2020, and right out of the gate Melanie comes in strong by sharing catchphrase she's heard for 2021. I have a feeling that this episode won't be the last time we reference it. Besides the catchphrase fun, we talk about our respective Christmases, my deep affection for a new year, and we also discuss what three product discoveries from 2020 we plan to carry with us into 2021. 

Oh! And I share a recipe for an easy dip I made on Christmas day, plus we discuss the challenges of new technology at this stage of life, and Melanie shares her five favorites. 

Enjoy, y'all!

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Show Notes:

- That Sounds Fun with Annie Downs and guest Ben Rector

- Universal Standard Stephanie Wide Leg Stripe Pants 

- Vidalia Onion Dip (made it for the first time in forever this Christmas and remembered why we love it)

- Thrive Market

- Cuisinart Coffee Center (update as I'm editing this episode: we have finally figured out our best strategy for a great pot of coffee - 12 cups of cold, filtered water and 8 large scoops (that's 16 tablespoons) of ground coffee)

- Kleem Organics retinol moisturizer

- Kenra Heat Cast thermal spray

- Living Proof Dry Volume Blast (Melanie's hair MVP)

- Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

- Living Proof Triple Detox Shampoo

- Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Body Wash

- R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner

- Prose Pre-Shampoo Scalp Mask

- Hair Scalp Massager

- COOP Home Goods Pillow (a for sure 2020 MVP)

- Redland Cotton Sheets

- Alexa Home Studio

- Echo Silver on SNL

- Colorfulkoala leggings 

- M3 Anti-Cellulite massage oil

- ABLE Leather & Lavender candle

- @heymadinelson on Instagram

- Lucky Peacock Designs

Sponsors:

- Pipette (use code BIGBOO for 30% off your order)

- Hello Fresh (use code BIGBOO90 for $90 off and free shipping) 

This week I share a terrible (okay - not really terrible - just exasperating) thing that happened when I had to go to Walmart and Target on the same day, and Melanie analyzes the Aggies' College Football Playoff chances. We also have a discussion about Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash, only I call it Sierra Mist Cranberry Blast, and clearly I have reached a point in my life where I just make up my own names for familiar products. 

And as a public service to readers everywhere, Melanie makes some book suggestions that feature war / espionage as a backdrop for brave actions by gritty heroines, and I share my Five Favorites. Only I forgot to include the Five Favorites background music. I hope you can forgive me. 

Please do enjoy, everyone.

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Show Notes:

- Tasha Cobbs Leonard

- Beatriz Williams (she has tons of books; Melanie mentioned three: A Hundred Summers, Golden Hour, and Along the Infinite Sea)

- The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

- The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

- Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

- The German Heiress by Anika Scott

- The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

- The Huntress by Kate Quinn

- This Secret Thing by Mary Beth Whalen

- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas

- Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas

- Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush

- R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo

- Prose Hair Mask

- Prose Dry Shampoo

- Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

- Compassion Live Show - this Saturday, December 19th, at 7pm central - sponsorship option

- If you attended the live show back in the summer, message our friend Retha on Instagram and she'll pass along a special code just for summer attendees

- Buy a ticket for the live show

- Bath & Body Works Fresh Balsam candles

- Algenist Eye Renewal Balm

- Mindy Kaling's ring finger

- Old Navy sweaters in regular sizes and plus sizes

- Sanctuary Project jewelry (use promo code SANC25 for 25% off)

Sponsors:

- NuCalm (use this link for 50% off your first 30-day subscription)

- Magic Spoon (use the code BIGBOO for free shipping)

- FabFitFun (use the code BIGBOO for $10 off)

- KiwiCo (use promo code BIGBOO for 50% off and free shipping)

This week we talk about weather (yes, we are 107), some fun fashion memories, and college football because if we didn't talk about college football then the world would surely stop spinning on its axis.

We also share part of this month's Closer Look episode from Patreon - with special guest Travis Cottrell. As many of y'all know, Travis is one of our very favorite people - and he happens to be a huge fan of 80's music. You'll hear the 80's music part of our Patreon discussion on this episode, and you'll also see a link to Travis' 80's Duets Playlist in the Show Notes below.

And on top of all that: Melanie shares Five Favorites.

Hope y'all enjoy!

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Show Notes:

- Silk Reflections hose

- A great Barefood Dreams alternative (I decided the Barefoot Dreams options were way too long for Martha - and this style is much more her speed) (please don't tell her that this is one of her presents) :-)

- Travis Cottrell

- Travis' 80's Duet Playlist on Apple Music

- Travis' 80's Duet Playlist on Spotify

- Revitalash

- Pure Science Neck Firming Cream

- Melanie's new favorite Stars Above pajamas

- "Heirlooms" by Amy Grant

- Allie+Bess bracelets

- Lucky Peacock Designs

Sponsors:

- Magic Spoon (use promo code BIGBOO for free shipping)

- Storyworth (use this link for $10 off your first purchase)

- Hydrant (use promo code BIGBOO for 25% off your first order)

- Acorn (use promo code BIGBOO for 30 days free)

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!

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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)