Planned-ish

32 - We Ranked Every Board Game & Fought About Summer Jobs

We are back and we came ready. Episode 32 kicks off with a full twin chaos report: short fuses, nap time pants disappearing, and drawstrings making a very necessary comeback in this house. We also recap the most perfect Mother's Day, summer trip planning, and Alexandra hitting 400K views on a reel which we are still not fully over. Joe debuts his brand new segment where he picks a recipe straight from backtwohomebase.com [http://backtwohomebase.com] and talks about it and he went straight for the Bulldog Chili. A crockpot recipe with attitude, fire roasted tomatoes, the right amount of cayenne, and a cornbread debate that somehow got personal. Then we fought about summer jobs. Alexandra started working at 17 and will defend it with her whole chest. Joe thinks kids should enjoy their freedom and has zero regrets about never slicing a bagel for minimum wage. They disagree completely and you get to decide who's right. And the Elite-ish 8 is back with everyone's most controversial topic yet: best board game night games. Exploding Kittens, Monopoly, Battleship, Telestrations, Cards Against Humanity, Stratego, Candyland and Game of Life all made the cut. Go vote on Instagram and crown the winner. New episodes every other Thursday. Subscribe, leave a review, and come tell us whether summer jobs build character or steal childhoods. Follow Alexandra | Back Two Home Base on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backtwohomebase/ [https://www.instagram.com/backtwohomebase/] Join the super fun Hosting Club: https://www.backtwohomebase.com/homebasehostingclub [https://www.backtwohomebase.com/homebasehostingclub] planned-ish podcast couples podcast parenting podcast toddler twins twin mom summer jobs for kids should kids work board game night best board games game night rankings hot take podcast bulldog chili back two home base elite-ish 8 funny couple content mom podcast lifestyle podcast Florida mom exploding kittens monopoly crockpot recipes toddler life small business mom #plannedishpodcast #podcastclip #hottake #boardgamenight #marriagepodcast

31 - Airport Wings & 90s Things

We're back after a month and a half and honestly? We have no regrets. In this comeback episode, Alexandra and Joe break down why they hit pause — travel, sick kids, burnout, and Joe being home for a grand total of six days in April — and why they're relaunching with a new format, a new cadence, and a whole lot more energy. In the Debrief: the Bahamas trip, toddlers who now eat hors d'oeuvres, a garage sale operation that's made $580 on Facebook Marketplace, and the storage unit that is actively robbing them both. Then we introduce our brand new segment — the Hot Take — and Joe kicks it off with what might be his most unhinged opinion yet: is it actually socially acceptable to ask a stranger at a bar if you can eat their leftover wings? Joe says yes. Alexandra says absolutely not. The beers were flowing, the wings were untouched, and he really almost did it. Plus the Elite-ish 8 is BACK — zero to zero, best of seven, and this week's topic is the best things only 90s kids will truly understand. AIM messenger, MapQuest, rewinding VHS tapes, one family computer for six people, Disney Channel original movies, and the absolute anxiety of watching the school closure ticker at the bottom of the news. Go vote on Instagram to crown the winner. And a quick Home Base Moment — the Hosting Club has two fresh themes ready for your summer entertaining, and the new Planned-ish Party Moodboard series drops every Friday on Instagram. New episodes every other Thursday. Subscribe, leave a review, and for the love of all things good — go vote on the wings poll. planned-ish podcast comeback episode parenting podcast twin mom toddler twins mom podcast marriage podcast 90s nostalgia 90s kids AIM messenger VHS tapes MapQuest hot take podcast funny podcast couples lifestyle podcast back two home base hosting club entertaining ideas summer hosting mom burnout working mom podcast relaunch Elite-ish 8 funny marriage content Florida mom small business mom party planning toddler life airport food couples podcast

30 - Potty Training & Party Planning (With Sarah Mechling)

This week on Planned-ish, we’re celebrating episode 30 the most Planned-ish way possible: by being behind and slightly chaotic 😅 Joe and I kick things off with a debrief on the last week— hand, foot, and mouth took out the boys, then made its way to me, Joe was gone all week for work, and my aunt Laura absolutely saved us by stepping in to help with the twins, the house, and honestly my sanity. We also chat about joes birthday food gauntlet, why kids only sleep in when they’re sick, how potty training is still very much alive in our house, and how this podcast somehow made it to 30 episodes when we thought it might be a three-episode experiment. Then I sit down with Sarah from Tinkle & Toot — a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, mom of four, and potty training expert — for a super helpful conversation on why potty training feels so defeating for parents, what’s actually normal, how to motivate your kid without turning it into a battle, and why the “three-day potty training” mindset can mess with parents more than it helps. Plus: I hosted a girls brunch inspired by my Home Base Hosting Club theme Petals & Plates, but turned it into Bouquets, Bracelets & Brunch — and it was such a fun reminder that hosting can be simple, creative, and still feel special without being over the top. And of course, we wrap with Elite-ish 8: Best Things About Vacation — random edition. If you’re in a sick-kid season, potty training season, or just trying to create some good moments in the middle of chaos… this one’s for you. 🔗 Follow Sarah: @tinkleandtoot [https://www.instagram.com/tinkleandtoot] ✨Check out her site for her A++ potty training course: https://www.tinkleandtoot.com/ [https://www.tinkleandtoot.com/] 🔗 Follow along: @backtwohomebase [https://www.instagram.com/backtwohomebase/] ✨ Home Base Hosting Club: backtwohomebase.com/homebasehostingclub [http://backtwohomebase.com/homebasehostingclub] planned-ish podcast | potty training twins | toddler mom life | parenting podcast | real life parenting | episode 30 podcast | sick kids survival | hand foot and mouth | solo parenting while husband travels | twin toddler chaos | girls brunch hosting | bouquets bracelets and brunch | petals and plates | back two home base | home base hosting club | spring hosting ideas | potty training help | low pressure potty training | parenting in the trenches | marriage and parenting banter #PlannedishPodcast #TwinToddlerLife #PottyTrainingHelp #MomLifeUnfiltered #HostingMadeEasy

29 - From Chaos Parenting to Calm: Feng Shui & Real Life (With Brittany Berman)

Joe and I are back with a real-life debrief after a couple weeks of hand, foot, and mouth chaos, birthday celebrations, travel, sick kids, and me trying to survive on applesauce and mint chocolate chip ice cream. We’re talking: – Parenting in the thick of it – Why kids only sleep in when they’re sick – Potty training wins (and skid mark confessions 😅) – The mental load of sickness + schedules – And our ongoing Elite-ish 8 showdown (ice cream edition) Then I sit down with Brittany Berman for a conversation that completely shifted how I see our home. We talk about how your space impacts your nervous system, why fluorescent lighting might be sabotaging your sleep, and how flow matters more than perfection — especially in a house full of toddlers. This episode is equal parts chaotic debrief and grounding reset. We also share what’s happening inside Back to Home Base, including the brand new Home Base Hosting Club theme: Petals & Plates — think spring hosting energy without the overwhelm. Florals, brunch, simple beauty, and real-life gatherings. If your house feels loud, your schedule feels heavy, or you just need a reset — this one’s for you. As always… keep showing up. 🔗 Follow Brittany: @brittanyberman [https://www.instagram.com/brittanyberman/?hl=en] ✨Check out her site: https://www.brittanyberman.com/ [https://www.brittanyberman.com/] 🔗 Follow along: @backtwohomebase [https://www.instagram.com/backtwohomebase/] ✨ Home Base Hosting Club: backtwohomebase.com/homebasehostingclub [http://backtwohomebase.com/homebasehostingclub] parenting podcast | toddler life | twin mom life | home energy | feng shui for moms | nervous system regulation | real life parenting | marriage and parenting | potty training wins | sick kids survival | working from home mom | home reset ideas | spring hosting ideas | mom mental load | stay at home mom life | marriage banter | relatable mom podcast | home organization tips | mom burnout | planned-ish life #ParentingPodcast #MomLifeUnfiltered #TwinMomLife #HomeReset #PlannedIsh

28 - Valentine’s Day, Strawberry Picking, and a Sourdough That Runs Our House

We’re debriefing the week exactly as it happened: twin potty training is still very much alive, we took the boys strawberry picking—where Brodie tapped out in 10 minutes and immediately found mud, obviously—plus quick Super Bowl thoughts and the snack situation. We also talk Valentine’s Day, because it’s coming whether we’re ready or not. We wrap with Elite-ish 8: Valentine’s Edition—our picks for date ideas that don’t feel forced, overdone, or like a rom-com from 2004. Think realistic, fun, and doable… even in the toddler trenches. Also: we did our Home Base Hosting Club theme “A Slice of Home” as a family pizza night and it was exactly the kind of “this feels special without being a whole production” moment we needed. Brody went rogue with the cheese. Tate turned potty time into a game. Balance. AND my sourdough starter has officially become the neediest member of our household. Apparently she requires warmth, distilled water, constant feeding, and emotional support (same). TBD if she rises or ruins my confidence. If you want the full pizza night plan + menu + timeline—whether you’re hosting people or just making a regular night feel fun—it’s live inside Home Base Hosting Club. 🔗 Follow along: @backtwohomebase [https://www.instagram.com/backtwohomebase/] ✨ Home Base Hosting Club: backtwohomebase.com/homebasehostingclub [http://backtwohomebase.com/homebasehostingclub] 🔗 Potty Training blog & items we used: https://www.backtwohomebase.com/elite-ish-edit/pottytrainingtwins [https://www.backtwohomebase.com/elite-ish-edit/pottytrainingtwins] planned-ish podcast | twin toddler life | potty training regression | potty training twins | strawberry picking with kids | mom life unfiltered | marriage + parenting | Super Bowl snacks | Valentine’s Day date ideas | realistic Valentine’s Day | Elite-ish 8 | family pizza night | make your own pizza night | hosting made easy | intentional family moments | sourdough starter | beginner sourdough | weekly debrief | Back Two Home Base | Home Base Hosting Club #PlannedishPodcast #TwinToddlerLife #ValentinesRealLife #MomLifeUnfiltered #HostingMadeEasy