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EP 149: Summer 2026
1 Playsin 5 hours
Summer is officially here, and in this week's episode we're talking all things summer.
From the things we loved most about summer growing up to the traditions and experiences we're hoping to create with our own families, this conversation is a celebration of the season we're all craving right now.
We're sharing what's on our family summer bucket lists, the trips and adventures we have planned, and why we're intentionally focusing on a simpler summer filled with more time outside, less pressure, and more opportunities to connect with our kids.
If you've been feeling the urge to slow down, get off your phone, head to the beach, eat dinner outside, or just soak up this season a little more intentionally, this episode is for you.
In this episode, we chat about:
- Why summer feels different than every other season
- The things we loved most about summer growing up
- Our family's summer bucket lists for 2026
- The simple activities we're prioritizing this season
- Getting outside more and embracing slower days
- Summer travel plans, beach days, and family adventures
- Creating connection and fun without overcomplicating things
- What we're hoping this summer feels like for our families
Whether you're planning a packed summer or simply hoping to make a few sweet memories with your kids, we hope this episode inspires you to lean into the magic of the season.
☀️ Grab your iced coffee, throw on some sunscreen, and come dream about summer with us.
Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:
📸 Instagram: @momgroupchat
🎵 TikTok: @momgroupchat
Questions/comments/need to vent? Email us at momgroupchat@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction & Outfit Talk
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're going to get into it. What up, moms? I'm Whitney Williams, and I'm here with my best friend, Candice, and this is the Mom Group Chat Podcast. We are summer gals in our summer colors. We're matching, not on purpose, but how cute.
00:00:28
Speaker
I love when we get on and we match. I just feel like it's like a good omen for the episode we're about to have. It's like we are simpatico and we are ready to have a great episode.
00:00:41
Speaker
What's funny is I went to the gym this morning at 515. Yes, I'm better than everyone. um And and i had a partner and we were both wearing the same thing too.
00:00:52
Speaker
So this is weird. Twin day. It is twin day. Twin day. And it is a Gemini month, so twins.
Podcast Positivity & Friendship Reflections
00:01:02
Speaker
Yeah, I am married to a Gemini. Oh, yeah.
00:01:06
Speaker
And every one I feel like every astrology video I see is like, Gemini men are the worst. And I'm like, I'm married to one. but Well, help we' Chris and I are both Scorpios, so.
00:01:17
Speaker
Yeah. I don't know. i ah I feel like we are recording this episode on the best possible day because, you know, it's one of those things where it's like the universe is just giving you what you need. Whitney already knows this because I voice note her after drop off, but I was just in the most sour mood.
00:01:41
Speaker
this morning, like Mrs. Complain. Okay. And I'm not going to bring that energy to this pod. Okay. I'm not, I just had a hard morning and a hard couple days. And this episode being about like summertime and like how to get through the summer. and like also even prepping for this episode this morning, when I sat down to like make my little list and like prepping, I was like, I love summer. i need to be happy. And for your mood change just a Yeah, my mood changed. I'm excited to I mean, my mood always changes when we record. We say this all the time. Like it just brings me back to life on a day where I feel lifeless. And that is what it's going to do for me today. So I'm just I'm thrilled to be here.
00:02:28
Speaker
I know whenever we were like thinking of ideas, I'm like, I'm kind of in this like, mmm, vibe of summer just because y'all, I'm not exaggerating when I say it's rained here for two freaking weeks straight. And today is like the first great like sunny day that we're going to have with the UV of nine. So I'm like, oh my God, I am like bursting. Now it's summer.
00:02:54
Speaker
Yeah. It's so funny that you say that. I, uh, you remember um, our friend Kitty, who is an alpha fee. Yeah. Catherine friend, she lives in Nashville and she actually, when I saw her, yeah, I saw her at the wedding at in San Diego and she was like, I need to reach out to Whitney. Like she was like, I feel like we're in different phases of life. Cause like, I don't have kids yet, but like they're getting married on June 20th, her and her husband. and she was like, I feel like we're going to have a baby soon, and then I want to be friends with Whitney.
Parenting Twins & Summertime Challenges
00:03:25
Speaker
They live in like East Nashville, I think.
00:03:28
Speaker
That is so funny that she thinks she needs all these accessories to be friends with me, and I'm like ready and willing to be friends without. Okay. well You do not have to have a husband. You do not have to have children.
00:03:42
Speaker
i i'm i can be the old Whitney. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you know what? You're good stepping back into that. Yeah. You got 18 days to be the old Whitney before Kitty gets married. But anyways, funny her and I message all the time now because she is my my sister in tarot. And so we message about our tarot cards. And she's my my like witchy friend. But um she messaged me yesterday. And she was like, it's been raining for, I swear to God, 30 days here straight. She was like complaining about the weather.
00:04:14
Speaker
And here you are. um but Yeah. It's been Miz. Like when it rains on the weekend, you're just like, what did I do to deserve this? Why didn't I know she lived here? I feel like I follow her.
00:04:28
Speaker
She doesn't post a ton, I feel like. I'm so thrown off. I know Chelsea lives here. We're talking about Alabama friends now. FYI, so sorry. But i know Chelsea lives here, but she lives in like... She's in the country now, I think.
00:04:44
Speaker
She's just in a burb. But not my burb. Well, they just moved to like a farmhouse. Like their brand new farmhouse. looked fucking awesome. it It is. I'm like, damn, girl.
00:04:54
Speaker
Get it I know. They're like on a freaking farm. I literally, I messaged her recently and I was like, hi, I'm going to come visit and have a farm weekend. like Y'all, I think we need to like talk about them because they are like an anomaly. Two sets of twins. Yeah.
00:05:12
Speaker
like I actually have said, I think I've said before we need to have her on this podcast to talk about like twin life. Like that is... I want to, what's the statistic on that?
00:05:23
Speaker
And also she, I had that, I'm pretty sure she had them like two under two. She had two sets of twins yes under two. so four kids under the age of two.
00:05:35
Speaker
Yeah. Bananas, bananas. Like she deserves them. She's in the, she's in the mom hall of fame for sure. When I saw that, I was just like, there's no way that that's possible.
00:05:50
Speaker
Yeah. What's her handle? I feel like we need to shout her out. It's like it's like that twin mama yeah something. I mean, it's kind of crazy. i yeah Good for them. I mean, and they're all so freaking cute.
00:06:05
Speaker
It's Chels that underscore the twin mom. yeah But I think she's private. I'm not going lie. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. So sorry. yeah But we do need to have her on to talk about twins ah because...
00:06:18
Speaker
but I just, that's an experience we don't know. And I, you know, for my third baby, I hope I never know. i just, I cannot. Oh my God, No, wendyney I can't even put that energy. Like I need to sage the room right now to like, we're not putting twin energy into the, like. Candice.
00:06:40
Speaker
y'all Y'all would have to put me away. Like I would, you'd have to put me down. i I'm seeing this for you. Go from two kids to four kids. I'm seeing this for you.
00:06:53
Speaker
When he's like laughing like a witch, I was just talking about witch being doing witchy things with my tarot. She's over here with casting a spell for me to have twins.
00:07:05
Speaker
Don't do that to me. I have my cauldron right next to me. She's got an altar with like ah her. Oh my God.
00:07:16
Speaker
No, no, no, no, no. Anywho, how did we get here? That was a serious tangent. That would be like the shock. Oh my God.
00:07:27
Speaker
Well, maybe. Hopefully not. Maybe. Maybe. I'm scared. um But yeah. So anyways, ah we're going to do a little summertime episode. I feel like we do one of these every year. and it's just like what we're doing or what's on our summer bucket list. That's one thing. But also like some things we're doing to kill the long daytime hours, to keep our kids busy and entertained, to keep ourselves sane,
00:08:04
Speaker
All the things.
Crafts & Activities for Kids
00:08:06
Speaker
I will say, when we brought up this idea, I'm like, okay, yes, we do this every year, but why all of a sudden this year, like this is my kids, Graydon's fifth summer, I guess. And why do I feel like the stakes are higher? Like, I feel like I have to go bigger, bolder, like not that i need to, but I'm just like, wow, wow.
00:08:31
Speaker
do I need to actually invest in a bouncy house, water slide, slip and slide? Like, am I there? And that's what I mean by bigger. Yeah.
00:08:42
Speaker
We mean physically going bigger. Um, Okay, I'm going to just flat out answer your question right now and say yes. I know, right? Because weekends recently have just been, like that's our go-to, is to get together with friends. And one of us has a giant bouncy house blow up slide water situation. And the kids just feral love They love It keeps them busy, especially the one that over Memorial Day weekend, we went over to our friends, Zach and Joanna's, and they have one that truly this slide has everything. It had two different slides, one smaller, one bigger. So there's like...
00:09:25
Speaker
different options in the center of it is an area that fills with water, like a pool. So there's like a standing pool. And then in front of the slides, it's like a big flat area that doesn't really fill with water. I mean a little bit, but you know what i mean? It's like shallow and like the parents can sit there or or, the kids have like a little, the babies have like a more shallowy area.
00:09:50
Speaker
And then around the side of it is like a tunnel. And then up, you know, steps up. How big is this bitch? It's a big bitch. But I'm telling you, it's the best one. the it keeps the kids like busiest, the longest. Like truly, they...
00:10:05
Speaker
Love that thing. And I don't know how much it was. So um I had a lot of people, I posted it on my stories and a lot of people were like, oh, yeah, I can' like remember that. I remember you posting it. And I was like, my thing is like all of them are like semi on sale. And like the one that's like the cutest, I feel it's like almost too small for like my son's entertainment value at this point. Like I kind of go pretty big for it to be worthwhile at this point.
00:10:34
Speaker
Yeah. It's going to be a big slide. ah And lots of little little things. um Because Margo likes to s slide, but she'd rather pitter-patter in the water. i don't know. I do want a water one.
00:10:47
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I feel like I literally wrote this on my notes when I was prepping for this episode. is like For me, the name of the game is ah focus on backyard, yeah like water fun and just backyard toys in general. Like the, the longer we stay inside of my house, the more destroyed and the more cooped up, the more mentally unstable I am. So if we are outside in the water, in a water slide, and you were just saying about like baby pool or,
00:11:23
Speaker
ah all or Oh my God. What am I saying? Margo just wanting to pitter patter in the water. Like what we've been doing is we have like a bigger bouncy house situation, but we, I always just blow up the little baby pool and fill that up. And they kind of hop back and forth. I have these like so this like stepping stone toy activity that I've set up on the side that they really love. I just feel like options is better. And then I get to sit my ass in my patio chair,
00:11:54
Speaker
and drink a beer, a Corona light with a lime and they keep themselves busy. And I will put out a snack tray, like just with everything, fruit, chips, I'll snack on it They'll snack on it. And i'm it's the happiest I've been in a while.
00:12:13
Speaker
It's so true. Having the bouncy house and stuff is fun. My issue is we also, well, this is an issue, but we have the pool, which has been fab, great. And someone suggested getting like a blow up slide for that. And I've seen those, but I've heard that they get holes pretty easily. So that made me a little nervous because, you know, it's scratching up against the pavement. Yeah. My issue with getting a blow up thing is that I have like a fence around my back, my back, like, uh, thing but so then we'd have to go outside the fence yeah and all the parents would have to sit out there and chairs just to watch them so that part kind of sucks yeah i don't know because you'd want it to be in the grass I'm assuming you want it on concrete group is there some sort of like
00:13:06
Speaker
I don't even know if this exists, so I may sound crazy, but is there some sort of like in pool situation where like it floats in the pool, but maybe like connects to the sides?
00:13:18
Speaker
Maybe like a rock climbing thing where you could jump off of it. That's yeah. But it like also has a slide where they slide into the pool. well There is a slide that goes into the pool. It's inflatable, which that might be an option. i mean, I could try it.
00:13:32
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. i don't know. That's just like my stupid third What is it? First world problems? Third world. oh my God. SOS. No. First world problem of mine. I want one, but damn, we got to go sit out there. i know. Especially if like the littles are out there.
00:13:55
Speaker
Yeah. I will say like my I thought when you were saying like my issue when you were like prefacing it, I thought you were going to say things like for me, my issue is like the mosquitoes and the bugs. Well, that's another if you go in the back backyard, we get it sprayed. Doesn't matter.
00:14:13
Speaker
Ticks or bugs? No, mosquitoes. We get sprayed. We have that shit every... We have like mosquito spray everywhere. We have the lotion. We have the stickers. like We are prepared.
00:14:27
Speaker
but It doesn't matter. doesn't matter. I... I saw this video. Y'all are insane. I'll never forget. the my God. Yeah. Fourth of July. It was crazy. It was crazy. And I'm lucky they don't touch me for some reason. Like they don't really, but they eat my kids alive and they eat my husband alive and they like welt up. Like it's bad.
00:14:48
Speaker
um I read or I saw this lawn guy talking about the mosquito and like people spraying for mosquitoes. And the truth is he said like in order for that to actually work and be effective, pretty much everyone within like 10 houses of you on all sides, like everyone has to spray at once. And that's the only, the only way it will work is like if everyone is on board and everyone is spraying and That's not happening definitely in my neighborhood. So I because there's like some people who take care of their lawns and then some people that don't give a shit. And so unfortunately, we're screwed. I I've I told Vinny this year i want to try making some of those like mosquito dunk buckets. Have you seen those? no
00:15:37
Speaker
It's like a – you take like a bucket from Home Depot, like one of those like, you know, concrete mixing buckets. You fill it like a quarter or a half with water. And then they make these like disc-looking – they're called like mosquito dunks, literally. They're something that attracts the mosquitoes. And once the mosquitoes go in there, it kills them pretty much. You fill it with like leaves and lawn stuff. And then the mosquito dunks – And then you put like netting on top so that like no one animals don't get into it and whatever. And you leave them in like the far corners of your lawn. You can like um hide. A lot of people will like spray paint them green so that you can't really like see them and stuff. Um,
00:16:21
Speaker
And ah that I have heard from neighbors that does like help a lot. Like it attracts the mosquitoes away from you and then they, the mosquitoes will like lay eggs inside of there and they're killed like immediately. so I know it's just the worst.
00:16:38
Speaker
I know. And we have so many trees in our backyard. They just like live in the trees. I know. So it's just annoying. But oh well. Like that's just part of it it. was really nice last year because we had Margo and Graydon's birthday like in the yard because we always like congregate by the pool. So for us to like actually physically like make the party in the rest of our backyard, it was like I want to enjoy it more out there. But We always hang out by the freaking pool, which is great, which is so great.
00:17:09
Speaker
Love it. That is like my number one summer hack is get a pool. Man, I never knew. i never knew. yeah Okay. So your number one summer hack is get a pool. I have a i have my number one summer hack. Everyone just get a pool. Yeah.
00:17:26
Speaker
No, no, I know what you mean though. Like spend time by yeah like, yeah, swim wherever you can swim. My number one summer hack is to, and I've said this before, like find a family that has kids your exact same age and are like so similar Having the war goes like, which is like our, our chosen family now, like have girls the same age, the fact that we switch off houses and just constantly go over there and like, they have a pool. So that's another summer hack. They have the pool. But we switch off. we They host dinner. I host dinner. They'll pay for dinner. I'll pay for it. We just switch off.
00:18:11
Speaker
And I swear to you, it is so nice to just have another place to go and the kids entertain themselves because they're the same age and they love each other. and Don't get me wrong. There's you know little fights and tiffs here and there, but like for the most part, they love each other.
00:18:27
Speaker
And that I feel like is going to save me through the summer, honestly. It is the best thing you can do is finding friends that have kids the same age. Like, yeah you know that that's like my my vibe. um We do the same thing and my friends are, one of my good couple friends are moving and they're getting a ah pool. So I'm like, yay, now there's like another place to hop and and go versus just ours, which I feel like Chris and I consider our house like the summer house. Yeah.
00:18:59
Speaker
And a lot of our friends have like great backyards. So like everywhere is actually really fun. But agreed. Did I talk about this on the podcast? Like when I i think I did where we went to the winery and i was like really nervous to go because like we had taken Margo one time, but it was just Margo. So like we were chasing her around, but we went with a big group, ah our friend group, and the kids like entertain each other. i was like, duh. Yeah.
00:19:29
Speaker
Why didn't I think that that was going to happen? And they just like played in the rocks and they like ran around the trees. And I was like, oh, my God, this is such a wonderful experience. I don't know if anyone else that was attending enjoyed all the kids running around them while they were trying to enjoy wine. But us as parents loved it.
00:19:48
Speaker
Yeah. I was like, so sorry to everyone else, but I'm having a ball. Yeah. And guess what? You can't worry about what everyone else is doing. you're It's it's survival of survival of the fittest and you got to do what you got to do, you know? Mm-hmm.
00:20:07
Speaker
Mm-hmm.
One-on-One Time & Creative Play
00:20:08
Speaker
But what else? Okay. Oh, I have some other things. some Oh, go ahead. This was just another one of like one of those like, do I buy it?
00:20:18
Speaker
Like a ah a projector screen for outside. oh I've seen a lot of that. Mm hmm. But it's like, ooh, I could set that up in front of the pool and have like MTV spring break vibes and like play some music videos.
00:20:35
Speaker
Or set it up in the backyard and like do a little like movie night when it's still slightly bright out. Because, I mean, she shit stays bright out until 8.30 now. Yeah. And just like watch a cute little movie under some blankies.
00:20:51
Speaker
That does sound nice. It's getting expensive is what I'm going to say for us, I don't think we're on that journey, but that's just because we already have a TV that we're putting outside. we don't have one. We like have one that's on a roller stand that we can bring up, but it's like not the vibe Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:13
Speaker
We are hanging a TV on the wall in the back porch and the goal is to have it up by football season and new patio furniture so that we can watch football games outside. That's the goal. That's the goal. um But honestly, I love that journey for you if you do decide to do that. I probably not. I mean, all this is like so expensive. I think if I were to like splurge on one thing, it'd be the bouncy house.
00:21:42
Speaker
Mm hmm. Yeah. i don't know. I mean, do what you got to Like if you want, i am all for investing in things that are going to make your summer life easier because I think the summer is long.
00:22:00
Speaker
And although it's like one of my favorite times of year, it can be a lot as a parent. It's a lot of extra time with your kids. It's longer hours,
00:22:11
Speaker
For us like who are in like a more classic school schedule, like my kids are out of school, it's a lot of extra time. So you investing in ah something like that, like more power to you. like The things that I have invested in is like more craft things and like more i've i'm in i've I've mentioned this before, but I am in my learning activity area or era. i
00:22:43
Speaker
now have a whole folder in my phone of like learning crafts, and my girls are loving it. they you They all usually take me... like five to 10 minutes to prep or set up.
00:22:56
Speaker
And there's just like a handful of like staples you need, like a big roll of brown paper, markers, those paint stampers, all that. If you have all of that stuff, everything else is like home stuff. Like I just made them ah an activity.
00:23:12
Speaker
using an Amazon box and markers and Q-tips. And you poke holes with a screwdriver into different shapes that are different colors. And then I took Q-tips and colored the tips of the Q-tip with a marker. And then they have to add the Q-tips to the holes of the shapes, you know?
00:23:33
Speaker
literally kept them busy for like an hour and then they took it all out and did it again. And so I feel like one thing I'm doing this summer is like every week trying to pick like two or three new learning ish. And I say learning ish because like, you know, it's more so just like some sort of stimulation, game, activity, craft, something that's going to keep them busy, keep them out of my hair for 30 minutes to an hour-ish, and teaching them, like, something, you know?
00:24:10
Speaker
Like hearing you say all that, it kind of makes me sad because I feel really burnt out on crafts and I consider myself like artsy and like into that kind of stuff. But I like can't think I probably think Valentine's Day was the last time I did something super crafty with them other than like coloring.
00:24:30
Speaker
And I don't know why, like, the I just know that they're going to be asking for, like, tons of help. And then, like, there's other things involved and there's a lot of prep involved. And so I don't know why I feel, like, very overwhelmed. And, like, I always think this is going to be a cute moment and it ends up being, like, super chaotic. Kind of like when you want to, like, bake with them. It's like, oh, yeah. Huh.
00:24:55
Speaker
thought this was going to be cute. I overstimulated. I feel the same way as you, to be honest. I feel like I have leaned more towards like the the crafty like activity things I'm talking about. Like they do not need help with. We're not cutting things. we're not We're not putting together a perfectly curated like – rainbow thing where it has to look a certain way. I, the I feel like the, the key to happiness with crafts is to have it be open ended and like, you in a way that mess is fine. Cause that's what stresses me out. It's like, Oh no, are they getting paint on the rug or like, stay over there. Don't come in here with the paint, whatever.
00:25:42
Speaker
I have now started taking the brown paper outside. I let them have paints. If they get it on the patio, it's a rinse off situation. Like you just have to change the setting to be more open ended and let them like do whatever they want. It doesn't have to be so like structured, you know? Yeah. Yeah.
00:26:05
Speaker
I don't know. i just feel like when you get like k craft boxes and it's like they yeah spend time with your kids. I was like, I'm like very overwhelmed by all of it. Um, yeah, so I really have the, the Valentine's one was easy. Cause it was just like stickers decorating a box. I was like, that was fun.
00:26:23
Speaker
Super easy. Um, Graydon's really gotten into coloring and drawing. Finally. I'm like, oh, there it is. I've been dying for him to get into that. He really loves it. So like that occupies him for a while. But i don't know. Something about k crafts has really turned me off lately.
00:26:40
Speaker
I don't know. It's a lot of it's a lot of work. It's also a lot of What's the word I'm looking for? It's like a lot of supplies you have to organize and like put away. i get that. It's like extra cleaning.
00:26:56
Speaker
i just find – I think of them both together. Like me doing it with both of them is like really hard and i like envision me doing it one-on-one being it really easy. Like I don't know.
00:27:08
Speaker
They both are just like both asking for things and I'm like, ah, I don't know.
Summer Fun Prioritization & Simple Joys
00:27:14
Speaker
Yeah. there's just like No, I get it. You're not in that phase. um I want to be.
00:27:19
Speaker
i love it Truly. no i definitely, it's funny that you say the one-on-one thing. One of the things like on my summer list is more one-on-one time with each girl, like each of my kids.
00:27:34
Speaker
And I want that for Vinny too. Like I want him to have one-on-one time with each of them. And, you know, as much as I want to do stuff as a family, I also want to like be intentional about like ah ah kind of splitting things up this summer and like having special one-on-one time. Cause like as much as we can do things together and they like a lot of the same things, the truth is like Alice is hitting a new age of like yeah able to do bigger, better things.
00:28:06
Speaker
And Evie's still little like and I think that there is more opportunity for Alice and I and Alice and Daddy to do some like bigger, cooler things that Evie would like hold us back from, you know, but also like there's still some things that Evie would enjoy that Alice is like kind of outgrown, you know. So so that's on my list too is like more one-on-one time with each kid and just having that be some like intentional time.
00:28:39
Speaker
Even you like just saying that like I could easily text my friends and be like, hey, let's all just take the older kids to the splash pad because this this like splash pad that's close has two or three slides. And while Margo would 100% enjoy it, I'd be like pinging all over the place and I would have to be like yeah really still watching. But if we only just took the older kids who would still just entertain each other I feel like I could relax a little bit and just watch Graydon go down the slides.
00:29:12
Speaker
It's so true. That sounds so enjoyable. And then, i don't know, the dads could hang out. i don't know. Maybe Chris would want to do that with Graydon and the boys. Who knows? But either sounds kind of nice.
00:29:26
Speaker
I know. I'm telling you, like it splitting it up sometimes is just like it it's a form of a break without it being a break. Yeah. um We only do that like if we're running errands. It's never like super intentional on us doing it.
00:29:43
Speaker
Yeah. I feel like Vinny and i do split up a lot, but more so like the one person has all the kids and one person doesn't. um But I feel like I want to split the kids up.
00:29:59
Speaker
Yeah, we split the kids up. Yeah. Like. Yeah. So, yeah. Okay, what else is on your list? I have a couple other things too.
00:30:11
Speaker
Okay. So I was thinking since Graydon's a little older, like having an actual like planned water balloon fight. And I thought that that be- Yes. And either we do it like with our group of friends, but having it like prepared when they come over and having like, I don't know if we want to do the ones that you can like put back, you know, the ones that like magnet back together or actually like- old school it, fill up a few buckets and be like, go. i think it could be fun either way. um
00:30:45
Speaker
But I was just like, I want to do that this summer. We haven't done that yet. That sounds so fun. That's like some of my fondest memories as a kid, like water fights, water guns. That's another thing. They're very into the water squirters. We don't have like a – you remember like – I mean, you had an older brother. So they were like so into like the bazooka like water guns. Like they were so intense growing up. Oh, yeah.
00:31:12
Speaker
And like I had friends with tons older people. definitely got an ear infection from water going in my ear. Yeah, I'm like, God, we're not like there yet, but I just know if I got that for Graydon, he'd be pumping that thing and then just like, I already know, which i i I don't know if I should do that yet because like Margo and I are both like no splash zone, like pisses us off. Like don't do that. um Yeah. Yeah, maybe like the water gun that door yet. Yeah, I know. I feel like stick to the water balloons for this summer and like maybe next summer we can introduce some water guns with some rules. but
00:31:51
Speaker
But I don't know if they would even follow the rules. Like I know that it would be. Yeah, so that's like It'd be war. yeah And then I was like, oh, there's like a huge water park.
00:32:06
Speaker
nearby it's it It's not nearby. It's in Kentucky. But I'm like, is this the year we go? And just maybe take Graydon. I don't know.
00:32:18
Speaker
I think he's old enough. Like, that's a big deal. i mean, you know we went to Blizzard Beach and it was like the best day of our lives. that's on That is on our summer family bucket list is to go back to Blizzard Beach one day because the water park was so fun. It was – I swear to God, my kids liked it more than Disney itself. ah so I've only ever been like as like a middle schooler to adult. Like I can't even remember if there is a kid section.
00:32:53
Speaker
That's the one thing is like I feel – like the, we do have a water park here in Tampa, but from my recollection, it's like pretty like older kid water park, you know, like, like I remember going in absolutely like loving in middle school type thing. Yeah. Whereas like Blizzard Beach definitely like,
00:33:15
Speaker
Do they have some of the older stuff? Yes, but like it's definitely like little kid friendly. you know right so it could be worth a little more research to just make sure. yeah yeah that's... Duh.
00:33:28
Speaker
Duh. Research what's there. It's so true. I kind of got the bug when we went to Water Sound and they have Camp Water Sound, which was like a free park... with your stay in the area. And they had like two or three slides. They had a lazy river. They just had a huge like walk-in pool. And I was like, oh my God, this is so nice. Like Graydon like wore his life jacket the whole time. So I just kind of of let him run. And I was like, you're free.
00:33:56
Speaker
Go do you boo. And we just kind of hung out and let Margo swim. and she liked the little slide. So I was like, ah, that was fun. Yeah. I feel like overarchingly, my advice from this podcast is to sit down and create a list of possible things to do because there will come a time this summer where you are like, what the fuck are we doing to fill our time today? And if you just have like a menu of ideas that you have ready and waiting for you, you're going to be so happy. Like,
00:34:30
Speaker
yeah So just sit down and create a list of things that you could possibly do. i think um the Nashville Zoo has brew at the zoo coming up too, which could be really fun. And that's like a later thing. And now that they're older, i think it's like starts at six o'clock, but you can just go at night and it's not as hot. And yeah, they have all these breweries set up in the zoo and it's kind of cool for the adults too. I want to go to that.
00:34:57
Speaker
That sounds fun. Yeah, I've never gone. i I've always heard it's really fun. Damn, I want to do that. That sounds like right up my alley.
Summer Food & Drink Favorites
00:35:07
Speaker
i love animals and beer.
00:35:11
Speaker
And I'm like, god I mean, we have a zoo pass and it's like, you either have to go really early. It just gets really, so hot. i know. Ours is the same way. Ours gets crazy crowded. Okay. Mm-hmm.
00:35:25
Speaker
Um, ours is so hot, but they have a really nice like splash zone area. I've said to Vinny, like if we go like it almost like has to be water time kind of. It's just so yeah ah Yeah, I agree. Yeah. and And don't know. Sometimes Chris and I decide like morning of because it opens at nine and we're like, do we go?
00:35:47
Speaker
And then we like rush out the door and go because we'll just like go for two hours and let them like there's a huge playground there and they love it. So we'll probably end up doing that at some point. But.
00:36:00
Speaker
Got to make the time. hmm. I think one of the biggest things on my list is going to the beach because i don't do that enough for someone who lives so freaking close to the beach.
00:36:15
Speaker
And I feel like I've had a tumultuous relationship with going to the beach as a mom. i feel like I used to love it. And then we, the very first time we went to the beach with Alice, it was like, to be honest, hell on earth. Like I couldn't imagine anything worse. She hated this band. It was like so much work to get us out there, blah blah, blah. But we've had a couple moments since then, like now that she's older and now that Evie's older, where I'm like, okay, this is doable and I'm like having fun again.
00:36:48
Speaker
They can each like carry a little bag of stuff themselves. yeah I think because they're older, like I can bring less with me. And also i feel like I've put so much weight on going to the beach in the sense that it's this big thing. I live 30 minutes from a beach. Like I can go to the beach for two hours and it's fine if we don't stay all day. Like, I feel like I've put this, i I've had this idea that like, if we go to the beach, it's like this, we're, we're there all day and we have to bring food and snacks and we're going to, you know, be there for seven hours. I'm like, no, Candace, like you can literally go for two hours, not bring any snacks, Well, let's be real. I would bring snacks. You know what I mean? I got to bring some snacks. But like I'm not – I don't need to bring lunch and a cooler and like I can pack what we need and have them carry a bag and like we're going to be okay. So I would like to try to go to the beach more and take advantage of where we live because I don't do that enough.
00:37:51
Speaker
At least like once a month. I mean, that's just three times a summer. That'd be like... No, and it needs to be more. And also, I want to try in my time that I do have alone this summer, like with the three days my mom is watching them or whatever, like I actually do want to try...
00:38:11
Speaker
to go to the beach by myself for a couple hours. And like, even if I take some work with me or something, like, I just want to try to enjoy the beach and enjoy where I live because I forget that I live in a beach place, honestly.
00:38:27
Speaker
ah See, I would go to the yacht club and like read maybe. Yeah. Get some chicken nugs. I do love the outcome. Time is just, it's it's different now. Like time is so precious and you have to decide like, do I want to spend my alone time driving all that way? know.
00:38:44
Speaker
Just to enjoy it. I don't, that's like, I always like time is always just like my most precious thing. Yeah. Yeah. It's all about choices, unfortunately, and priorities.
Summer Goals Recap & Bucket List
00:38:57
Speaker
ah i hate it I want no choices and no priorities.
00:39:02
Speaker
No responsibility. i chose the wrong life being a business owner mom. Speaking of um like this conversation, like did you have you watched In the City at all?
00:39:14
Speaker
Mm hmm. It's like funny to see or like what Lindsay said that her number one priority right now, like after like being cooped up, raising her daughter, Gemma, by herself, like she goes, my number one priority is like fun because you are so cooped up in this like ball up for so long. You're just like bursting. You're like, I want to do something for myself.
00:39:39
Speaker
Yeah. just thought that was funny. It's so true. We're all the same. Honestly, yeah. Like, I feel the same way, Lindsay. This summer, I want to prioritize some fun. Like, especially if at the end of this year, I'm getting pregnant it again.
00:39:52
Speaker
i'm Give me the fun. Okay? Give me the fun. Mm-hmm. Wow. With your twins. Don't you dare.
00:40:04
Speaker
Don't you dare. Sorry. Sorry. Oh, scary. i feel, i feel the, I feel the pregnancy scaries. Um, it'll be great. But some of the little things that we, I think now like our house is kind of known for to all the friend group is like, we're like the popsicle house. All the little kids when they come here want popsicles, even in the winter, it's kind of funny. I'm like, Oh my God, am I the popsicle bitch? Like, okay. So I thought that that was kind of cute. So i always have to have like ice cream at my house.
00:40:38
Speaker
Yeah. I love that. I know. I think that that's kind of cute. And then um i just love like swimming, pizza parties, ice cream. um and I've also like kind of made this rule, which I felt like – a bad person but I was like no kids inside like I made the rule like if we're swimming we're staying outside and so then like all the parents just reinforced it so then like my house was not destroyed And then they ended, they did end up going in like over the weekend just because it is still like, it was May. So still like kind of chilly, but like in the summer we just stay outside the whole time. And it's so nice. yes
00:41:17
Speaker
I feel like that's common. So when we go over to the Wargo's, like they have a pool, if we're swimming, that's also the same. She's like, we're staying, like we're staying outside and she'll bring snacks outside. And we usually like grill out. So dinner is like outside. We're just like,
00:41:32
Speaker
We're hanging outside, you know? yeah Which is so nice. Yeah. And I love that rule. protect the Protect the house because protect the that is something that will send you over the edge.
00:41:46
Speaker
Send anyone, not just you, anyone. Yeah. Glad it's like a universal pool owner rule. Yeah. Mm-hmm. But yeah, I feel like my goal this summer, like I said, more fun. I also just want to keep it simple. Like even like meals and stuff, like simple. We're grilling out and we'll buy some sides. Like we're meals for the kids, slices of watermelons, popcorn, chicken. Like we are keeping it simple and that's when everyone is the most happy happy.
00:42:23
Speaker
Yeah. Preach. Preach.
00:42:28
Speaker
Summertime. I do that every time in the summer. I'm like, summertime and the living's easy. i almost started the um podcast with that. i was like, no, i've i I've done that before. I need to chill.
00:42:41
Speaker
Okay, wait. Tell me your – let's do a little rapid fire summer thing. Okay. What's your summer drink of choice? What's your drink of choice? and A Negroni Spagliato with Prosecco in it. i I like lot of things. What you want to know? like a Marg. I like a Pina Colada. I like a High Noon. I like white wine. I like Rosé.
00:43:11
Speaker
All those sound great. Yeah. All that sounds good. I was going to say Marg or like a Corona with lime, like a beer. That sounds good. I want that. i've got the way I feel like so many girls don't like beer. I feel like I've had a lot of interactions recently hanging out with other moms and the the consensus is they all hate beer. And I'm like, I freaking love an ice cold beer.
00:43:38
Speaker
I've kind of gotten away from beer. I used to really like it, but a Corona with lime sounds great. I'm telling you an ice cold beer with a lime in it hits different. It just does. It does. good m um Okay. What's your, like some, if you're grilling out, what's your favorite thing to have? That's easy. That's a hamburger with a side of like um pesto pasta salad. And i love like chips and corn.
00:44:10
Speaker
What about you? Okay. I was going to say burger, corn, potato salad. I'm a potato girl, you know, potato salad. Mm-hmm. That sounds Vinny and I fight over this because he prefers pasta salad and I prefer potato salad. I need like that little cut of like vinegar in there. i need that little sour with with the side Yeah, i I feel that. I feel that.
00:44:35
Speaker
i do like potato though. I love a potato. o um Okay. Swimsuits. One piece or two piece?
00:44:46
Speaker
I have to wear one piece now. Thanks. Pregnancy. What about you? No, you don't. you Yes, I do. I actually have to. No, you don't. Yeah, I do. Your body is my stomach. I'll never see the light of day ever again.
00:45:02
Speaker
Oh my gosh. You're so crazy. Um, i love a high waist bottom top situation, but I also love a one piece, honestly.
00:45:14
Speaker
I used to love em high waist. I actually am about to do for the moment. I'm about to do a like full swimsuit deep dive. I got gifted swimsuits from Somersault. Oh my God. That's so nice.
00:45:30
Speaker
I know. And um this company called Albion Fit sent me a swimsuit that's like literally targeted for moms. So i love Somersault. Those are my two favorite swimsuits I own. I haven't tried them on yet. I need to. um but yeah, I'm going to, so if you're a moment subscriber, stay tuned for that. I'm going to do a little deep yeah dive.
00:45:52
Speaker
Cute. Okay. What else? What other, what other summer questions can I ask? Do you have a sunscreen of choice for your kids? I feel like Tubby Todd is like what we normally wear.
00:46:07
Speaker
I don't know. That's all I got. that Those are all the questions I got. Great rapid fire. All right. Well, happy summering. am going to create, I had always planned to do a little summer bucket list sign for inside of my house. So I'm going make that and I'll post it on mom group chat and you can make one yourself and share it with us. Tag us in your posts and Yeah. Love you guys.
00:46:37
Speaker
Love you. Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat. New episodes drop every Tuesday. And don't forget, the group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there. All right. Got to go. My toddler just put something in her mouth.