Life Lately: Spring Break, Real Life & Everything At Once

This week is… a little bit of everything.

Spring break is coming up, life feels full, and I’m in that very real space of holding excitement and heaviness at the same time—planning a trip while also saying goodbye to my 91-year-old grandma.

So we’re keeping it lighter today… consider this your official yap session.

We’re talking spring break energy, what we’re watching right now, the internet doing what it does best, and the version of us that packs for vacation… versus what actually happens.

Chloe joins me for a very real, very unfiltered conversation including packing habits, vacation personalities, family time, and the stuff that ends up mattering way more than you expect.

Nothing groundbreaking. Nothing life-changing.

Just real life… happening all at once.

Because it doesn’t really slow down for the good or the hard, you’re usually just in the middle of both, figuring it out as you go. 

https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbetweenthelines/

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hey, what's up everyone? It's Maggie File from Navigating Between the Lines. It's been a little bit of a full week over here. We are headed to spring break later this week, which feels exciting. But I was sitting down and I was trying to figure out what I was even going to record. And I had this moment like, do people even listen to podcasts on spring break? Like people are traveling and on the beach or doing a hike. And I was like, well, not everybody is going away on spring break this week. So, which is life, right? Everyone's got different things going on, navigating in different lanes. Some weeks are busy, some weeks are slower, some are here for reflection. And these next few days for me are for getting it all done. Because at the same time last week, my sweet, sweet 91-year-old Grandma Pat passed away. And we have her visitation before we leave, which is gonna be sad. It's always amazing. Like what a wonderful life to live until 91 is just such a gift. I am very grateful that she lived so long and had all that time. Um, it also feels a little heavy, just like returning to the same, you know, funeral home that I was there when my mom died. And it's just, it's a little bit of a lot. Like three days to cram all of these things in and get everything done. And it feels like all of the emotions, but that is, I guess, very on brand. Like you're holding plans, you have logistics, and you're just navigating it. So I was at a lunch on Friday and we covered a lot of topics, as always, like the deep stuff, life stuff, the random stuff. And I remember leaving and I was like, I just need something light here, like mentally checked out of anything too serious right now. And maybe you're there too. So, with all of that being said, whether you're on your way to work, you're on a plane, or you're just on a walk trying to get a second to yourself, let's have a little yap session today. I love to call it a little yap. This is your official spring break briefing. What's the book? You know, the one people we meet on vacation. This can be like topics I'm bringing into vacation. I don't know. My version of a TED talk, I guess. Whether you're actually going somewhere warm or you're mentally already there on vacay, which I feel like half of us are there this week. And if you're not going anywhere and your version of spring break is just vibes and surviving the week, well, you are my core audience. So I'm gonna catch you up on what's happening in pop culture, what we're watching, and just the general energy of life right now. This is not hard-hitting journalism. This is like dear diary, what's on my mind this week. And I have my favorite co-host, the one who brings the real vibes every time, Miss Chloe File. Hi. We are coming fresh off an Easter egg hunt, you guys. So the sugar rush, hi, it's a real thing. Chloe, what's up, girl? Welcome.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

Thanks. I'm I'm really happy to be here again. I love being in your podcasts.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Thank y'all. Okay, first of all, nothing unites us more, it seems, on the internet when we can all like be focused on like the happenings of the internet. Can you agree with that? We can agree to disagree on so many things, but Summerhouse? Who watches Summerhouse? Are we watching? Are we not watching? Are we just consuming it through like the reels, everything that's happening, this whole Wes and Amanda situation? First of all, the investigators on the internet is so good. I don't know. I always feel like with these shows where there's smoke, there's usually fire. But also by the time we're hearing about it, it's already over two, or is it just happening? I don't know. Apparently, there's a photo. If you've watched, Sierra has seen it. And I'm like, just release the photo. Let the public decide we are ready. Also, trending on my Instagram. Have you heard of this one? Alpine divorce. It's honestly one of the most insane things I think I've heard. I don't know, these trends happen, and then everybody's like posting all these reels. Basically, it's this idea that someone goes on a hike and then they leave their partner, like fully abandons them, and that's how the relationships end. I don't know. I it's kind of crazy. Like we've evolved backwards. Like, couldn't you send a text? You had to leave me at a mountain. Also, I just have so many questions. Like, how do you actually get left on a hike? So, anyway, that's a very interesting one for me. Morgan Stewart, she came out with the podcast this week. You guys, I've always liked her. She's just very no BS. She says what she's thinking. She started this podcast, and so I listened to it this week. And one of the things that she said, and I like, I'm like, oh my gosh, you're so honest. But she's like, I just find death very inconvenient. At first, when I was listening, I was like, wait, where are you gonna go with this? Because her dad and passed away and she also lost her brother, too. And the more she explained it, I was like, no, no, that's actually very real because it is very inconvenient. It completely disrupts your life in a way that nothing else does. And we don't really talk about it like that. It's one of those things where you hear it and you're like, I wouldn't have said it like that, but I do get it. And those are the conversations I'm always drawn to. I'm really excited to see where that goes. So, Morgan Stewart Podcast, listen if you're looking for something like that. Also, the Hills reunion. Who's watching that? I did not watch it, I probably won't. I just usually get my stuff from the clips, but I do love all the footage on it. And I don't know. I fun fact, I did have a Hills themed store party once. So that was fun. Chloe, what about you? What do you think about all of that stuff that I just said?

SPEAKER_00 6:22

Uh, I didn't really get it because I didn't go on Instagram.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

Yeah, well, that's good because you're 10. But you know, that's the internet, the non-stressful corner of it. Just as a reminder, we all have the option to what we filter into our news section. You can be responsibly informed, and you also don't have to consume negative media all day long. Okay, let's move on to what we're watching. Oh, yeah. What's up, girl?

SPEAKER_00 6:50

Okay, so you'll probably need to edit this part out, but um uh, will I have a chance to say if if me and my husband show?

SPEAKER_01 6:58

Yeah, literally that's where I'm going.

unknown 7:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:03

Because I asked on Instagram, like I did a poll clo earlier this week, and I was like, Do you guys know about the show The Last Kingdom? 75% of you said you've never heard of it, and 25% were like, Yeah, it's the best. Totally fair. I think it's from 2015. And I gotta be honest, I'm someone who really hates recommending shows. Everyone has a different vibe, and I don't want to be responsible for anything. Like if you hate it or it's you're not your thing, but I love it. Justin started watching this years ago, and I remember when he watched it, I was like, What? I cannot get into this. And I never watched any of it. Maybe some like snippets here and there, and every time I was like, This, I hate this show. Well, he just recently restarted it. It's on Netflix, and I was hooked immediately, maybe because like the kids were younger when he first started watching it. And I was like not into that, you know, like war vibe. But um, I mean, it's like old school war with like swords and stuff, but now I'm into it. Utrid is the main character. Um Smoke Show. So there's that. But I also can I say that in front of you? Smoke Show.

SPEAKER_00 8:17

I don't care.

SPEAKER_01 8:19

But also, he's married to Allison Williams, you guys. I just found this out from girls uh who watch girls. It's their 10-year anniversary this week. I've been seeing that going around. And we are just at home. We're definitely the couple who typically has a show. And Chloe, this is where you come in because you pointed that out the other day. What can you share what you said?

SPEAKER_00 8:42

Okay, so I was asking my mom, like, is that your show with my dad? And I was just like, if I have a husband someday, the show, the show we're watching is definitely gonna be what I want, not what he wants. So, like, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:01

You actually said, My husband better be breezy. Oh, I forgot. That's okay. But I loved that, Chloe. You're right. We do watch a show right now every night like 9 p.m. to midnight. Fully locked in. I will say the characters uh they get a glow up every season. And you know. Also the level T of loyalty, chaos, and fighting. I, you know, I just think that maybe we could go back to some of those old systems sometimes because the justice system was completely different. Anyway, just a thought. Bridgerton, did you watch Bridgerton? I did not read any of the books, but I've heard from people who did that this was their favorite storyline out of all the books. I thought the last episode got a little theatrical, maybe, but overall, I love it. It's the same with Virgin River. I'm not through that entire season yet, but I think I'm team Brady. Still deciding. And then there's the new show, The Madison. Who's watched The Madison? I already know we're gonna like it. It's the same writers from Yellowstone, right? I think. Is that right? Um, but we're not gonna start that yet. It's like we're entering summer mode, and summer is not for starting new shows in our house. We, yeah, I don't know. I think we'd never watch TV in the summer. I either watch an entire series in three days or I don't watch it all. There's no in between. All right, Chloe. I want to ask you some questions.

SPEAKER_00 10:42

Okay, I'm ready.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

Are you ready?

SPEAKER_00 10:44

I'm ready.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

Do you think? So we're going on spring break.

SPEAKER_00 10:47

Yeah. No, I got this. I got this.

SPEAKER_01 10:50

Chloe, do you think I act different on vacation?

SPEAKER_00 10:54

No, I feel like you're just your own person and breezy.

SPEAKER_01 10:58

Oh, I like I like to be breezy though. That's a good answer. What is your favorite part about going on spring break?

SPEAKER_00 11:05

Um, honestly, I love the plane rides. I really think it's fun. And then I just really think it's fun to get away from school a little.

SPEAKER_01 11:17

That's definitely fair. What's the first thing that you know you have to pack when you know that we're gonna leave on a trap?

SPEAKER_00 11:25

My iPad.

unknown 11:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:28

Okay, but to be fair, when do you get to use an iPad? Just on plane rides. Okay, and that's it, right?

SPEAKER_00 11:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

What do you think dad's vacation personality is?

SPEAKER_00 11:39

I honestly feel like just vibing, you know? Literally just vibin. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:46

Um, I like that. So let's talk about packing. I know you always pack for yourself. Do you think you're an over-packer or do you pack just enough? Or do you sometimes run out of outfits?

SPEAKER_00 12:02

Honestly, I feel like I think I'm gonna change the outfits up, but I don't really use all of the outfits I pack for like I wear some of the same outfit twice.

SPEAKER_01 12:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:15

I love that. I always have to check your work, you know?

SPEAKER_00 12:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:20

Um, what's your favorite food item to order on vacation? Like if you're like, oh my gosh, yes, it's spring break. What I can I not wait to have?

SPEAKER_00 12:28

I cannot wait to have the waffles at restaurants there in the morning. One time I went somewhere and they had the best waffles ever.

SPEAKER_01 12:39

What's your favorite topping on a waffle? Chocolate chips and syrup. Easy breezy, girl. Easy breezy. Do you like ordering your own food now, or do you like it when I do it for you?

SPEAKER_00 12:49

Honestly, I like doing it myself because when you order it, I want the waiter to know I'm mature enough to order my own food.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

That's a really good answer. What's the one thing you always want to get that I always say no to?

SPEAKER_00 13:05

Um, a slushie.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

Yeah, okay. Um is snacking on vacation better than snacking at home? Yes. If you could plan the whole vacation, okay? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:21

Say like like anything I want.

SPEAKER_01 13:24

Yeah, what would we do?

unknown 13:25

Unlimited money.

SPEAKER_01 13:27

Unlimited money.

SPEAKER_00 13:28

Okay. Um, so I honestly think we would go to Hawaii again. I think that was a great experience. We would go snorkeling and we'd do a lot more things. I just feel like I'm more of a person who likes the sun, hotness, and jumping into the ocean. What about you? Where would you go for a spring break?

SPEAKER_01 13:50

Uh yeah, I think I would go back to Hawaii too. I really want to do a Europe vacation with you guys though. Don't they speak a different language? So it depends on where you go, but it's okay. I love that. Okay, I just have a couple more questions. Okay, I love answering them. What's your favorite part about just the four of us being together on vacation?

SPEAKER_00 14:16

Uh, so one of the things is it's great that you guys have a lot of friends and stuff, but when you run into them, I feel like it just talk, talk, talk. It's very un And I just I I just want to spend time with you guys, you know?

SPEAKER_01 14:29

Chloe, I think that's a really that's fair. So what's your favorite part though? Just the four of us? Don't say like what I do wrong. Just say Okay, I'm gonna ask you again. Okay. All right, Chloe. What's your favorite part about just the four of us, our family of four, being on a trip together?

SPEAKER_00 14:45

So honestly, I love the dinners because I feel like it's our family having fun jokes and just having our own talk time with each other.

SPEAKER_01 14:54

Okay, I think that's good. Um, what's something you wish we did more of?

SPEAKER_00 15:00

Uh I honestly feel like doing more like daredevil things. You don't really like doing that stuff, but I honestly feel like it would be fun. It would get the vibe going, you know? It would just get the pump.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

Listen, I'm not a big daredevil. Like, can you give me an ex- like you want to go swimming with sharks or something?

SPEAKER_00 15:17

Okay, that's a little too much. Okay. But maybe like zip lining, like 100 feet up. Like one like like like a thousand feet up in the sky, or maybe bungee jumping. Bungee jumping. Or maybe skydiving. You would skydive? I would definitely skydive. Would you think dad would skydive? No, that's why I would like to do it.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

I don't know, man. I don't think I can do any of that stuff. Nothing else to add.

SPEAKER_00 15:52

Oh, that nothing else that we would do? I don't know. Okay, uh I honestly have one more thing. Okay. Sorry, I love this. What we're doing here. Okay, good.

SPEAKER_01 16:02

So, um Well, I feel like I talked for like the first part I introduced you and then just talked about shows, so sorry.

SPEAKER_00 16:07

No, it's fine. Um So I honestly feel like it would be fun if we literally just did something like soothing, like maybe a like a family yoga.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Yeah, I think that's gonna be fun. But we like to work out together, don't we?

SPEAKER_00 16:25

But sometimes, like working out, there's some skills in workout that you, the parents, adults, can do, but the children can't, you know?

SPEAKER_01 16:34

Like, give me an example. I feel like you can do anything I can do.

SPEAKER_00 16:37

Sometimes, like a treadmill, I used to not be able to do that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:41

And at some workout places, they're you have to be all there. Yeah. Yeah, that's fair. Well, I think we're just gonna be outside on this one. Yeah. So I think we're good. Okay, Chloe. I feel like I kind of want to go back to shows really quick because you and I like to watch a show together too. We do. Right? What's our show right now? So we like to watch Gilmar Girls. Yeah. It's really fun. Questions, right? I think it's like a good show. You know, mom and Nana used to watch shows together, too. Yeah. I think you're old enough for some of that stuff.

SPEAKER_00 17:13

I I also think we watch we used to be in the middle. That was a show we always used to watch all the time. But we finished it, and you guys probably do not want to watch it. It's kind of a kiddish show, but my mom liked it and it's really good.

unknown 17:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 17:34

I think we talked about the middle before though.

SPEAKER_00 17:37

I know. I just, wow, it's my favorite show.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Get a little plug back in there.

SPEAKER_00 17:41

Uh huh.

SPEAKER_01 17:42

Okay, back to spring break. I'm gonna say spring breaks for me as a family are always my favorite. As you said, we do travel. Chloe, you brought it up. We travel a lot with our friends, we do a lot of dinners out, all of that. But there's really something special when it is the four of us. You guys are getting older. No sports, no after-school stuff, no schedule pulling you in 10 different directions. That always feels really special. And I had this moment the other day, I think because you guys turned older. Are you yawning? Are you exhausted?

SPEAKER_00 18:16

Uh your sugar crash is fading. Yeah, I think that is true, but I do have a comment. Oh, yeah. What okay, so you were saying something about we have don't have yeah, after school activities anymore. And I honestly feel like we do have more after school activities. Like, we'll starting track. I'm gonna start gymnastics.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

Like I'm saying when we're gone, like on a trip, we don't have to worry about any schedules.

SPEAKER_00 18:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

We just go and just can do whatever we want to do. And that's what I mean. But I think when you guys, after your birthdays, 10 and 12, I was like, we have, you know, six more spring breaks with William at home, which is just insane when I say it at home. And it's wild too, because you can see it. Like I can picture us on all these trips with the diaper bags, the strollers, two car seats, planning everything around naps, being stuck in a condo for four hours in the middle of the day. You were a four-hour napper. Always it was like the best. Noon to four, one to five. You were just a snoozer.

SPEAKER_00 19:22

I was crabby.

SPEAKER_01 19:23

You were crabby. And now we have these little travel buddies. You guys carry your own luggage, you go up and you order your own snacks, you order your own food. I mean, it's like you guys got it. I love it. And I think I know that's why I've started to really appreciate that much so much more, because it's so easy at home to fill every open second. A free Saturday turns into 10 plans without even trying. And then you get away, and it's like your schedule is a morning walk on the beach, maybe pickleball before it gets too hot, figuring out when you're gonna go to dinner, and that's it. And I just really, really cherish that, the simplicity of it. And I think that's why it stands out to me so much now, because these trips like this, spring breaks every year, or whenever you decide to get away on your family vacation, and they have a way of just showing you things, not in a heavy way, not in a heavy way, just like what you actually enjoy, what you don't miss as much as you thought you would, and what you wish you had more of at home. And I think for me, it's always I'm like, I love the slower pace, time together without feeling pulled in 10 different directions. We don't really talk about that part a lot, but it's definitely there. I think we have created this normal go, go, go in society, but I, you know, I'm not gonna win that game today. All right, Clo little, this or that. Okay. I love questions. Gotta go quick. Okay. Beach or pool? Pool. Early morning walk or sleep in and miss it completely. Early morning walk. Fully planned dinners or figure it out at like 7.30 when everyone's starving.

SPEAKER_00 21:10

Figure it out at 7.30 when everybody's starving so we can go through a drive-thru and get some good stuff.

SPEAKER_01 21:17

We'd never go through a drive-thru.

SPEAKER_00 21:19

But if we were starving.

SPEAKER_01 21:21

What what drive-thru do we go?

SPEAKER_00 21:23

McDonald's. No, wait, that's a lie. Well, we could've though, if we were hungry. Maybe culverse, Chick-fil-A. We can do any of that stuff if we're hungry. Just fast food or on spring break.

SPEAKER_01 21:36

Yeah, these are like all spring break related. Oh, okay. You're wild.

SPEAKER_00 21:44

I am.

SPEAKER_01 21:44

Carry on only, or I might need some options. Energy. I have no clue what that means, really. Yeah, actually, when I put that in, I'm just asking you this. Yeah, you probably don't. So we carry on like a Suitcase. Oh yeah. Carry on. Uh-huh. So if you check your bag, that means you have to wait for it. Like so you get off the plane and you have to go to baggage claim. I would go to check. We never do that. But then you can bring more stuff. You can bring a bigger bag.

SPEAKER_00 22:12

I like check because there's a big reason bees. I like it when they go bot, but and then he just goes around.

SPEAKER_01 22:20

That's true. You're right. It's true. You do know that. What else, girl? You got anything else you want to talk about? So you can edit this out if you want. Well, just why don't you think for a second and then you can go.

SPEAKER_00 22:32

Oh wait, I'm not sharing that. Uh what?

SPEAKER_01 22:40

I'll tell you later. Um this is your last chance. Just go because I can always edit it out. Wax! I told you. Oh my gosh, you guys. I took Chloe. Yeah, should I say it?

unknown 22:58

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:59

I took Chloe to my bikini wax appointment yesterday. And she's traumatized by it. But we survived. Uh it's just the same as like people getting their eyebrows waxed.

SPEAKER_00 23:17

Uh yeah, I know. I just it just very confuses me a little.

SPEAKER_01 23:22

Well, Chloe, that's what I like about you, babe. You're always telling me how you feel.

SPEAKER_00 23:27

Well, I actually have some questions for you. Oh, go ahead. Okay, spring break, also related. So would you rather um go on a spring break to a hotel or a house?

SPEAKER_01 23:41

Oh, that is a really good question. I think it kind of depends on the location. I think I love a hotel because then I don't have to worry about like cooking and doing all that stuff. But sometimes having a house in a certain location is really nice. So I think it just depends on where we go.

SPEAKER_00 24:03

Okay, so do you want to wrap us off?

SPEAKER_01 24:06

Yeah, I was gonna just say that's a wrap. That's what's going on. A little bit of everything per usual. We've got spring break, we've got real life, we've got me just trying to figure out when I can lay down for a second. I also gotta like figure out our taxes. So there's that too. Life's always life. It's just up to us how we show up in it. So there is your very important, very unimportant update for the week. Take what you want from it, bring it to dinner, don't bring it to dinner, DM me. Chloe and I will be sharing some behind the scenes on vacay. Either way, I feel like we covered enough. So, can I head this out? Go ahead. Peace.