podcast

10 MORE Podcasts You Should Be Listening To {And I’d LOVE to be a guest on}

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Four years ago I made a post about podcasts that I love and I would be so crazy excited to be a guest on. FOUR YEARS ago. I feel like podcasting has gotten even bigger since then. I’ve started two podcasts and dabbled in it as well, and am getting ready to launch another one. It’s a medium that I absolutely love and can get behind. It’s so great for staying up to date on things, learning things and just being entertained. And while True Crime might be a lot of people’s favorite type of podcast there’s a ton out there.

Here are some new favorites and make sure to check out the old list These Are Their Stories! For all my True Crime fans here is my old list of These Are Their Stories.

  1. These Are Their Stories – This is one of the newest podcasts I discovered randomly scrolling through the lists. Its an entire podcast dedicated to the Law and Order series (original, CI and SVU). Since I was born and raised on Law and Order and wish every darn day that the original series would come back…..and have ridiculously strong opinions. The commentary is funny, and everyone on the show takes it as seriously as I do.
  2. Red Handed – These cheeky ladies hail from across the pond and I absolutely love it. Part commentary, part true crime. they do decent research and it hasn’t transcended into some weird stand up routine as some true crime podcasts do. They do a lot of foreign crimes that I don’t know so it makes it even neater. I’d love to chat it up with these ladies. I have a Criminal Psychology Degree….maybe I can be an American guest on their Stateside tour?! Come on ladies!!! Come to DC!!
  3. Crime Junkie – Essentially what everyone who loves true crime podcasts wishes they would have thought of first. Similar to Red Handed, the stories are well-researched discussions from a true “crime nerds”. I love the length of these episodes. They aren’t too long and aren’t prioritizing comedy at facts expense. The ladies are witty and have good conversation. It’s just a really good podcast.
  4. Hot Marriage, Cool Parents – I’m a recent fan of this show and of the show’s hosts. Jamie and her husband met on Married at First Sight. This crazy thing, that God used for so much good is the backdrop of their pretty amazing story. I would love to chat it up with these guys. It’s just a most of the time funny, sometimes serious, take on life, parenting, and marriage.
  5. What Should I Read Next – This should be on the podcast list of every book nerd. I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect when I started listening. Would it be just another review podcast? Not really. It’s so much more. Guests, and host Anne, talk about why they read, what they look for in a book and {Like me} how connected and affected they are when they read. It’s such a fun show to throw in the mix, especially if you are an avid reader. Sometimes it’s easy to simply fall back on what’s comfortable, but listening to a podcast like this you’re able to get ideas from people with different tastes than yours.
  6. PS I Hate This Movie – Perhaps the greatest podcast idea ever, PS I Hate This Movie addresses the very real feeling of loving to love {and hate} romantic comedies. With their most of the time absurd plot lines they still make us feel good. A hilarious look at some of our favorite romantic comedies.
  7. We Hate Movies – This particular podcast doesn’t reserve its “hate” for easy targets like rom coms, but for all movies. Comedy podcast at its finest. Movies so terrible we love them….and also movies we just plain hate….but in the most loving way. It’s all the conversation you would have with your friends and its amazing.
  8. Crime in Sports – combining two of my favorite things – Sports and True Crime. I mean, what more could a girl want? Crime with a sports twist? I’m in!!! Hosted by two comedians…so you know its more comedy than crime, but in the best way.
  9. Sports? with Katie Nolan – I love love LOVE Katie Nolan. Being a female in the sports world, still in 2020, sucks! If not only because there still just not a lot of them. What could girls possibly be contributing to the conversation? Not only does Katie contribute to the conversation she does so extremely well, eloquently and frankly, gosh darn hilarious! IF you love sports add this podcast to your list.
  10. There are so many Doctor Who podcasts….like a lot. I even have one called Two Nerdy Girls (you can find us on iTunes). Some of my favorites that I would love to be on include Debating Doctor Who, Doctor Who: Gallifrey Public Radio and Bad Wolf Radio (There’s literally so many more! And they are all pretty darn good!).

There are so many podcasts I love to listen to, but not that many make the list (comparatively) of ones that I’d like to be on. No matter what the topic is, you can’t make a good host out of thin air. I’d love to hear some of your favorites. Comment below or join the conversation on social media. Follow me at @RheChristine on Twitter and Instagram and @cammostylelove on Facebook.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

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amazon, shopping

8 Favorites from Amazon Subscribe and Save

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I haven’t been using ‘Subscribe & Save’ for that long, but I’ve quickly learned to love it. Sometimes I love it for the price, sometimes its convenience that wins. Whatever the reason I’ve learned that Subscribe and Save can really save me time because usually, the things that I put on the list are not things that I’m including in a regular rotation of grocery shopping. These the things that are added in every once in awhile, things I don’t get at Costco and things oftentimes forgotten.

Cat Litter

Mr. Air Force is kind of picky about litter. He likes it to clump well and stay clumped when it needs to. He also wants one that is specifically designed to work with multiple cats, even though we don’t have them. We have our cat box in our playroom, so it is kind of out in the living area. We want to make sure its not the first thing people smell in our home! We get it delivered and we never have to worry about it. It also gives us a nice reminder on when we should be completely redoing the litter box.

Cat Food

I love that this comes at the beginning of the month, every month and I don’t have to worry about it. Sometimes it’s just super convenient to not think about it. We personally love this limited ingredient food, and it is pretty affordable all things considered. Subscribe and Save also saves you between 5% and 15% dependent on how many things are on your list.

Shampoo and Conditioner

We love getting our shampoo on amazon. Its another convenience order, but this is also a steal! I don’t feel so bad when the kids go through it really fast because who is watching to make sure everyone is using a quarter size, or not using it to make bubbles when I’m not looking? Plus, this particular brand does wonders for Ami’s “easy-to-tangle” hair.

Detangler

I’ve talked about this brand before. Its a summer staple because they have amazing chlorine products. I also love their 3n1 that I can just send into the showers with the kids at the pool as well. This detangler is a year-round staple. SoCozy also has lice preventative products as well.

Feminine Products

As I was searching for alternatives to my health products, and also looking ahead to when I won’t be the only one using them in my household, I started researching cotton and earth-friendly options. I have been known to use a DivaCup…..but I think I might be lazy or my uterus is super weird because it is almost NEVER easy for me. So, I like to have other options. Enter these cotton products with biodegradable packaging. Certified organic cotton and plant-based packaging make me happy, and is an easy way to make significant changes!

My Shampoo

I’ve been wanting to share this particular shampoo with you guys since I bought it, but I knew I needed to give it a couple of weeks to really make sure it was something that I felt comfortable recommending. After a ton of research, reading articles and reviews I stumbled across Pure Biology Shampoo and Conditioner. I know that I am not the only one that suffers from hair loss. I found that I had it post-partum, pretty badly. Obviously I am not post-partum. My baby is eight (no, I don’t want to talk about it). But two years ago I was the victim of verbal and emotional abuse that was pretty significant. It wasn’t until last year that I even labeled it for what it was. Mostly I brushed it off as stupid conflict. But after talking to people about it, I have put a name on it which has gone a long way in helping me recover. Some of the symptoms included weight gain, insomnia and hair loss. Yup, there it is. So, I’ve been in search of options. I haven’t begun to notice real hair growth yet, but after a month of using there has been a significant decrease in my hair falling out. It really cleanses my hair and doesn’t leave my hair feeling oily or weighed down. And my scalp feels amazing!! I am thrilled with this shampoo and would recommend it!

Cotton Rounds

We now use a ridiculous amount of cotton rounds in our home. I use them for make-up remover and toner, my daughter uses them to cleanse her skin with micellar water, and my oldest uses it in his skincare routine. I like that these come on a semi-regular basis and I don’t have to think about remember that we are out and ordering more. If it overlaps great!  I know that I will always have some.

Dog Treats

Since we now have a puppy in the family we decided to add some of those supplies to the list as well. I’ve found that actually shopping at Petsmart is the best. Amazon, for whatever reason, just doesn’t have the variety I’m looking for. But they do have this puppy parent staple, denta-stix. Love these for keeping up the dog’s teeth in between grooming. I’m also cheap so I do the grooming myself. It’s not perfect but worth saving the money! Puppy loves these and so far the vet has agreed that they are doing the job!

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Valentine's Day

Personalized Videos Make Your Valentine’s Roses The Perfect Gift

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I’m so excited to share Prive Roses with you guys this Valentine’s Day. I wanted to partner with a brand that had something unique and had Military service members and their spouses in mind. Lizbeth from Prive Roses has created something really special. She creates beautifully displayed roses, and forever flowers delivered to the DC/NoVA area {even some locations in MD!!}.

What I really loved about Prive Roses is its unique offering of a video greeting that is delivered with the flowers in the form of a QR code in the envelope. For military service members deployed this is the perfect opportunity to send something sweet to your loved one and have them see your face. How neat is that?

Prive Roses was created by Lizbeth Melendez, an amazing woman who graduated from George Mason University, who after some experience modeling and working for a large consulting firm, decided that in 2017 she would take that entrepreneurial leap and create Prive Roses. Her goal is to bring something beautiful and unique to the DC area. Flower Delivery Reviews placed Prive Roses in the top 13 for flower delivery in the DC area for 2020!

I know that I would absolutely love to receive these flowers and the ones I’m holding in the picture have lasted beautifully for over a week with only slight discoloration! That is insane quality. Plus supporting a local small business should be something everyone strives to do. Our small businesses make our community great!

My favorite might be these little single roses! How adorable are they?!

If you are local to the DC/NoVA and Maryland area give Prive’s website a visit for Valentine’s Day and any holiday…or even just because!

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

 

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DC/NoVa Adventures

#dcnovaadventures Smithsonian American History Museum

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With my parents in town we made our way to the Smithsonian American History Museum. They had never been, and we hadn’t checked it out in awhile. They have done some changes in their displays since we’ve been, and it was neat to see what they had changed up.

Places of Invention and American Enterpise

The Places of Invention and American Enterprise sections were new to me and had some really cool things. Within those exhibits you can trace Advertising across the decades – from radio to television ads and other things that trace American democracy and capitalism through the decades. There was a docent on hand who happened to be talking about the Altair 8800 and went into more detail about the period of history. That is what I love about the Smithsonians!

The First Ladies

The First Ladies section has been a mainstay of the museum, and they have added the additions of Michelle Obama and Melania. Melania’s dress in person, from the inauguration, is hands down the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen. Michelle’s which I was absolutely nuts for in photographs and on the tv screen, didn’t translate well in person. Fashion like that is always fascinating to me. Dresses on hangers can look terrible until you put it on. Hillary Clinton’s Inauguration dress is also a top favorite for me, and she looked gorgeous in it. Some of my daughter’s favorites included Jackie Kennedy’s pale yellow State Dinner dress and this beautiful one shoulder sequin dress worn by Nancy Reagan.

Music and Innovation

The Smithsonian also added a small jazz section where they housed instruments from famous jazz and regular musicians, like Poncho Sanchez and Willie Smith. Hang around for a meal and head to the Jazz Cafe, where you can enjoy a bite to eat while listening to jazz.

   

Super Heroes

The Super Heroes collection showcases the evolution of super heroes through the decades, showcasing comic books and various memorabilia including Captain America’s Shield and Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman Costume. Of course you can also get your photo next to Val Kilmer’s Batmobile! This Exhibit runs through January 12, 2020.

In ‘American Stories’ you can see a part of Plymouth Rock, check out Apolo Ohno’s speed skates and Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves. Moving pieces of the exhibit include a living mask of Abraham Lincoln and the video camcorder that caught the first plane going into the Twin Towers. This exhibit will be rotating and will take the opportunity to share different pieces that represent our American history – from well known pieces to lesser known like ornate Firefighter hats from the 1700/1800s. I like this exhibit particularly because it contains a wide variety of artifacts from those with typical historical appeal to old toys and pieces from many time periods all in one space. Items that you might not typically see all in one place.

Another new exhibit that we didn’t have time to get to was called ‘American Democracy: A Leap of Faith. This exhibits shows us items that highlight the fight for democracy and the path to achieving it, including everyday citizen’s and their participation. It looks really neat and I can’t wait to get back to check it out.

As always, this is a hit for families, and my kids (especially the older two who are 13 and 11) really enjoyed it. It also really highlights a lot that Washington DC has to offer visitors in one place because of the variety of items displayed and significance of the items (with the crowing glory being the Star Spangled Banner).

I think living here we can sometimes take these museums for granted, maybe we visit once or when family comes into town. But the exhibits change frequently and you might miss something really cool. The free museums in our area are truly incredible, and while going into the city might be a frustrating prospect to some, its something that is so worth it in my opinion.

happy learning!

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Christmas, gift ideas

5 Unique Gift Ideas for Christmas

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  1. Magazine subscription – I love this one and have used it for my kids before. Its super fun and is like a present every month! I’ve even given a subscription to my mom as a gift before. Did you know that Amazon has discounted magaizine subscription links? You can also get Kindle versions of the magazines as well. I’ve linked some of my favorites below:

2. Subscription boxes with activities – These are super fun, because like activities, it is something exciting every                                  month! Whether you have a little baker, an artist or a scientist, subscription boxes are a great way to keep your kids                            learning for fun!

3. Activities – This is a fun one too, and one we have used before to gift our children special activies like Parkour classes                       for our oldest, and archery for our daughter. Find something they need for that class and use that as an opportunity to                         a) buy it and gift it (I mean, lets face it, you have to buy it anyway. Make it feel more exciting by wrapping it in a box),                           and b) a fun way to let them know they get to do said activity!

                     Ideas – soccer ball and shin guards for soccer classes, ballet bag for ballet                                     classes, special leotard for gymnastics, bow and arrow for archery classes.

4. Keep It Simple – Another way to keep it simple and keep yourself focused is something my mom has done for years.                          Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read. Keeps you focused and doesn’t                        let you get out of hand. Make it a theme!! If you have a kind into Harry Potter, add the illustrated version to your                                    bookshelf this Christmas and include these Harry Potter socks, Harry Potter Lego set and find something in the need                         category that might be themed like school supplies, or something like that!

5. A Trip – Sometimes an event or a trip during Christmas, or a gift right after Christmas is a perfect opportunity to teach                         kids about saving, and how to make an exchange. We aren’t going to spend a bunch of money on toys are stuff like                             that. Instead, we are going to spend money on this amazing trip. I have a friend who is going on a Disney Cruise for                            Christmas. Next year I hope to be in Europe right before Christmas so that will be a part of our gift.

Christmas can be such a great time, but can easily fall into being all about THINGS! We have such an amazing opportunity to bring more to our children, and show them how things don’t always have to be the same. Sometimes its about toys and silly things, because there’s a lot of Christmas magic in that. But, sometimes, its about memories and the experiences.

Do you give unique or interesting gifts at Christmas? I’d love to hear about them!

 

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