Nailed it!

This week has flown by...From that joyful chaos, we zoom into the strange and delightful: a Taco Bell 50K where hundreds run 31 miles and eat at nine fast-food stops, and a science-backed case for why dancing might be the brain’s favorite reset button. It all leads to a surprisingly rich deep dive on nail polish—how a simple ritual holds time together, why acrylics and press-ons are both art and obstacle, and how names like OPI’s can turn a shade into a story.

We also explore why four in ten younger adults watch TV with subtitles even when the sound is on—captions as a focus tool, an accessibility win, and a habit shaped by social video. Then we bust a few household myths: polish doesn’t belong in the fridge, batteries either, and your most reliable results come from a cool, dry cabinet and a little common sense. Nail shapes spark debate too: coffin, squoval, trapezoid—how language frames taste—and we land in a cozy palette for fall with moss greens and warm neutrals that pair with sweaters and pumpkin bread.

Our highs and lows keep it real: drivers blocking grocery pickup spots, a lawn saga starring sod, seed, and a silent sprinkler system, and the proud glow of a freshman who found his footing at homecoming. If you’ve ever found calm in a manicure, clarity on a dance floor, or comfort in a perfectly named shade, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a laugh and a little science, and leave a review with your fall nail color pick—we’ll read our favorites next week.

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Transcript

Warm Welcome & Life Juggle

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Hi, thanks for joining us today. It's Nora and Nora. Thanks for tuning in to those of you joining us for the very first time. And to those of you who are along for the ride week after week, we're glad you're here. We sure are. Welcome, welcome. How are you doing, Nora? Uh, as you can tell, I'm a little scrambled. I think just when things calm down, they get crazy again. Indeed. Indeed, they do. Yeah, and if I don't write something down in four different places and check my email 712 times, I'm bound to miss something. I just realized our kids are supposed to wear a particular color to school tomorrow for the fun run. Did you see that? No. Ooh, yeah, my kids are supposed to wear yellow and orange. I have an orange shirt from the walk. Oh. Do you? Yes. There you go. Oh, see, you're a good problem solver. Thank you. I didn't realize that, but those are the little things I keep missing. Yes. Because I don't know. I I don't know why. I have no idea. Oh, there's just a lot happening. Trying to keep it together. Fine. Yeah. Nothing too too crazy. How about homecoming? That was fun. Homecoming was fun. Yes. We had, well, we both had two kids going. And it was kind of funny because Al and I were like, all right, I'll take Aiden, you take Rory. And then we made plans to have dinner with some friends after one of the picture things. And then we realized, oh no, our babysitters are going to homecoming. We had to get a babysitter. Oh, you did? Yes. Shoot. Well, I'm glad you saw one. We did. It was, but it was like one of those we just haven't had to get a babysitter in so long. It was kind of funny. But Kevin and Rose were really excited. To have a sitter? Yes. And not to have a sibling babysitter. But it is kind of crazy to me how extravagant these homecoming picture parties have become. Yeah. I just want to- I appreciate it. Yeah, the people who open up their homes and get taco trucks and all the stuff. It's so generous and so kind. But was it like that in Arizona? I don't think so. No. Okay. No. I mean, maybe now, but not back then. No. I will say I sent we sent pictures on a group chat to another group of friends that were somewhere else. And the response was from Yeti's to Waterford, you guys are moving on up. And that kind of painted the perfect picture, right? Like, yeah, people are pulling out all the stops. It's really fancy. I mean, we would just like eight of us would be at my parents' house in front of our fireplace and we go to Benegan's or Benegan's clean company for dinner. Remember Benegan's? Yes. And then you go to the dance. Yeah. I think now these parties are so nice that sometimes it's hard to get the kids out. At one point I forgot my kids were at the pre-party because they were all in the back and we were all inside. And I was like, wait, I'm actually not, I'm actually not at a cocktail party. Because partying really isn't for me. It is for my children. Um and then we stopped at another party after our kids left. And then that was it. Yeah. I didn't even join Elle because she was somewhere further away. And they went with a big group of girls. Fun. Which was, I think, strange. I think it's nice that kids do that. I was glad she did that. Where there's no like, oh, you don't have a date. And they all made flowers. They're before. Yes, this is a sweet new thing, too. The girls at Aidan's pictures had that. Yeah. It's very sweet. Well, I'm glad a good time was had by all. I was exhausted by Sunday. Yes. I was thinking about the woman, the activities director at NAS who plans all this and like home run A for my gardener who does all that because the whole week, it was like a whole week of fun. Yeah. And then the dance, I think, was really great. They had tro snow, which made me laugh. I'm like, tro snow, hoco? That was a tro snow. Trosno, hoco. Oh. That is all good. But I did read a funny story. Oh, what? Um we got a little cardio chasing after the dog before we started recording. But have you heard about the Taco Bell Ultramarathon?

unknown 4:02

No.

Dance, Brain Health, and Joy

SPEAKER_00 4:02

It is exactly what it sounds like. To eat everything on the menu. So 5K is like or 50K is like 31 miles. Okay. And 1,200 people gathered in Denver to do the Taco Bell 50K. And they must eat at nine out of the 10 Taco Bells along the way. My God. And they have to run? They either have to have a Chalupa Supreme or a Crunch Wrap Supreme by stop four. Okay. And then they either have to have a burrito supreme, or this is what I would do, a nachos Bel Grande by stop eight. Wow. Isn't that disgusting? It's it would be one thing if you're like, oh, it's it would be better. I don't know why I think this is better. If it was a walk. It would be great if it was a big thing. If it was a walk, I feel like that would be better. It's just the thought of running with Taco Bell inside your belly. Yeah. Um disclosure. I got Taco Bell the other day. But you didn't run chips and cheese. For whatever reason, I was like, oh my gosh, that's all I want. I just maybe I needed some salt because it was all salt. But yeah, I I think when I was pregnant with Kevin was the last time I had it. But I was just, I'm not pregnant by the way. Okay. But yeah. Chips and cheese. Yeah. They said they started this in 2018. Seven people showed up. Five people completed it. Oh. Then in 2023, 50 people showed up. I don't know how many completed. Yeah. In 2024, it grew to hundreds. And then thanks to TikTok this year, they have 1,200 runners from 40 states. 1,200. Wow. Yeah. I will never be one of those runners. Yeah, there's yeah. That's that's a lot on your body. Because that's a lot of miles. Yeah. That's more than a marathon. Mm-hmm. And then it's like a marathon and a half almost. Yeah. That's a lot. Gross. Speaking of physical activity, one of my favorite magazines, National Geographic, just had an article about dancing. Oh. And how good it is for your mental health. That it activates your emotional and cognitive and sensory pathways, kind of reawakening the connections in your brain. I love that. And I thought that was true. And I was thinking, I used to make up dances in my room all the time growing up. Yeah. And then in college, because I worked for the theater department and I had keys for all the buildings, I used to go and like into the dance studio and bring my boom box and I would dance. By yourself, by myself. I would make up dances, just blast the music, I bring my tap shoes and my jazz shoes, and I would make up, or sometimes barefoot, and makeup dances. And I was like, you know what? I think I would do that when I was just feeling overwhelmed. That's so great that you would do that. You just you wouldn't really break in because you had a key. Yeah. So I was allowed. But then Did you ever have an audience? No. No, if anyone ever like knocked on the door, I'd be like, no, no dancing going on in here. Uh I think they were mostly talking about group dancing. But but I think any kind of dancing helps. And I saw on like school Instagram, man, they were dancing at the dance. Oh, good. Yeah. I didn't see that post. I gotta get back on Instagram. But it is true. Like if you're at a wedding and there's a great dance floor or a party. I used to love to go out and dance. Yeah, I we hopped on the dance floor in Miami. Oh, that was a bar. Oh, that was a bar. That's for a different podcast. We talk about fire.

unknown 7:44

Yeah.

Subtitles, Focus, and Media Habits

Sponsor Break: Mike Haggerty Buick GMC

Nail Polish Rituals & Trends

SPEAKER_00 7:46

Oh, with the Nazareth 125th ball where we stepped out on the dance floor and shut that thing down. We sure did. It feels good. Yeah, I like to dance. So go out there and dance or stay inside and make up a dancer. Or break into your local musical. I feel I'm like, because I do feel proud of myself after I choreographed those dances for the musical. I'm like, oh, maybe that's why it's good for my mental health. And they probably feel happy doing it too. I hope so. Well, sometimes. They sure look good. And then the other interesting thing I read do you use subtitles when you watch TV? No, do you? I do. Rory started us all on this. And then this article is saying one in ten adults, 45 and younger, use the subtitles often for TV and movies. Even though the sound is on? Yes. Sound on, subtitles on. Yes. And I think Rory has ADHD, and so I think it helps him kind of focus. But then I think he also likes having it because then if people are talking in loud, then he does he's not worried about if people are talking because Oh, because he can still stay engaged. Do you ever use subtitles? Never. No, no. Unless like we watch Acapulco and the subtitles come on and I read them to see if I can understand the Spanish. Oh, that's cool. Because sometimes if I'm watching even shows where people have an accent, I appreciate it. Then I don't feel like I have to turn it up so loud. Yeah. Anyways. What it was it? One in ten? Four in ten. Four in ten. Yes. That's a lot. That is a lot. They think it might have something to do with like social media and people are used to reading on TikTok videos. Oh yeah. Things like that. But I don't know. I I'm not against it. No, me neither. I just have never thought about using it. Check it with our sponsor. Let's do it. Hey Nora. Hi, Nora. How are you? I'm great. I was just wondering, do you like firecrackers? Is the Pope from Chicago? I sure do. And guess what else is from Chicago? What? Mike Hagerty Buick GMC. Bless my soul. God bless America. New Canyons, Sierra, HDs, terrains, Acadias, Yukons, you name it, they've got it. Oh my goodness. But the real firecracker of a sale is the 2025 Buick Envision. You can lease it now for$3.39 a month for 24 months. God bless America. So head on down to Mike Haggerty Buick GMC on the corner of 93rd and Cicero or check them out online at Haggertycars.com and tell them the North sent you. Now back to the show. Our topic today is nail polish. Nail polish. Yes. These days I'm not great about a manny, but in my younger days, I had a standing nail appointment every Friday afternoon. Did you really? I did for years. Um like at what age? Like in your 20s or in college? Well, my c in college we always got our nails and our toes done.

unknown 10:46

Really?

Acrylics, Press-Ons, and Practicalities

SPEAKER_00 10:47

But in right when I was starting teaching on Friday when I'd come home. Yeah. And then I kept it for ages. Yeah, it was just my little treat on the root. But I became very close with my nail girl. That's awesome. She made blankets for the kids when they were born and native Vietnamese dresses for the girls. Yeah, very nice. They're a very nice family. On the flip side, I would I would paint my own toes. Actually, I had this, I bought it because I went with this family as a babysitter on their trip to Italy. And I bought it, it was like black nail polish. It was like gray, shiny black nail polish. It was from Mac, and I would uh paint my own toes. I never had a pedicure until I was a senior. And I in college. Really? In college? Yes. Well, I did it myself. You know what, though, in Arizona, the dogs are always out. Yeah, that's true. So that's probably why. And then when I moved to New York and there were nail salons, like as far as the eye could see, and it was so cheap. I used to get my nails done a lot in New York. But now I never do. No. And actually, just yesterday I just cut all my nails short because I was like, they're getting too long. I don't know. I think I washed my hands too much. I do too. But my mom growing up and still now had a weekly nail appointment, her nails always looked so beautiful. My mom bites her nails. Oh, she does. So I don't know how she sustained that all through like child room years, but I definitely didn't pass it. And then would you just get regular polish or would you get like tips or I don't know the difference between acrylics? In college, we would get acrylics. So how long were your nails? They were long. And then we would go get them filled and you know. Wait, why do you have to get them filled? Because then like when your nails grow out, then they like fill them with more acrylic and stay on. Oh no. How does it look like how would they take those off? You soak them. And what? Stuff. Stuff. Okay. I think acetone, maybe. Oh, okay. Yeah, but my girls like acrylics. I won't let them do it till they're 13. Okay. And they can't do it at school. Well, uh, my oldest kid. Okay. Um, she'll do it for special occasions and that's it. But it's expensive and sometimes they're they look kind of tacky if they're long. So so long as it's like a neutral-ish color for special occasions, I say okay. It is remarkable though, like some of the artwork. I mean, we talk about it a lot, like the nail trends and things like that, but just the artwork that is on people's fingernails. In high school or college, did you ever have them use the gems to make flowers? No. They would put like a one-colored gem in the middle and then other colored gems around it, and then you'd have like a flat finger. I don't know. I also, when I was working at Ritz Carlton, they were really strict about nail polish and nails and things like that. So I couldn't really. What about lead press on nails when you were a kid? No. No, that was never, never allowed. My mom was not into all that. So we never did it. Rose, when we were in New York, I think this past summer, my mother-in-law got her press on nails and she was loving her until she couldn't pull her pants down. Oh, it used the ladies' room or something. Yes. She like couldn't undo the button on her pants, and then she's like, I need to take these off. They're a big deal at my house still. Oh. Uh with Catherine Grace, but then I find them everywhere. That I was just gonna say. I found them in like pockets of hoodie and like finding like finger. It feels like a crime scene, right? It's gross. Evidence. I do love the nail polish names. Like the OPI, like who the I looked up how they come up with those. Oh, you did? I did. And it was very interesting. It's they it says OPI names its nail colors through a collaborative, democratic process involving a team of employees from different departments, marketing, purchasing, and customer service led by Susie Weiss Fleischman. No, Susie Weiss Fishman. Uh, she's the brand's co-founder and ambassador. Fishman, S-C-H-M-A-N-N-Fishman, which I think is so neat. And she's the one who revolutionized the nail polish industry, making fun of memorable names. That would be such a fun job to sit on and say, come to this. I wonder how you get that. I wonder how you interview for that job. Maybe they show you colors and they're like, name that color. Like that and the paint samples. I wish that was my job coming up with names. Which name is Well, the modern nail polish in Spo came from car paint in the twenties when people were coming up with colors to paint their cars, and then it just kind of transferred over to nail. But I they didn't have those names back then. Like is OPI the only label that I think does a fun name? No, I think other brands do it now. But not as well. No, they're the best at it. And that does influence my decision. Oh, it does? Yeah. Yeah. When I pick out a color and I look at the name, I'm like, eh. Or if it makes if it makes me laugh, I'm like, so that's it. Yeah. 100%. My aunts used to keep their nail polish in their fridge, like in the 80s. Like when we would go stay in their apartment. And I was always curious about that. And so I looked that up too. Uh turns out not a good idea. No? No. Because it can cause the polish to thicken and like condensation in the bottle. Oh, exactly. What you don't want. Yeah. So cool, dry place. What about keeping batteries in the fridge? Oh, yeah. Is that a good idea? I don't know. As kids, we used to keep our batteries in the fridge. Let's check it out on the old no. No. You should not put batteries in the fridge. Okay. Condensation. And humidity can damage them. Thicken. And that's extreme temperatures reduce their lifespan. Oh, that makes sense. Because you think about, like, I know for our doorbell, it always tells me cold weather will affect the battery life on our doorbell. So, okay, batteries and take them out. Do you keep your peanut butter in the fridge? No, it's too hard. Yes, meet me the guy. That's way too much work. But I will put a Reese's peanut butter cuff in the fridge. Same. Because I want that to be. Yeah. What do you is there anything you keep in the fridge that is like that most people don't? Yeah. I'm trying to think. Do you? Is there something you like red wine chelt? Not freezing cold bike. Yeah, just like a little child. Well, yeah. I wouldn't want hot. I would rather a cold red wine than, oh, this was out in the sun. Right? Yeah. I can't think of anything off the top of my head. Matters, I guess. Standard kind of we keep insulin in our fridge, but then you have to do that. Wait, I wanted to talk real quick about nail shapes. Because we talked a lot about coffins. We sure did. Remember, do you know the coffin shape nail is in?

unknown 17:40

Get out of here.

Naming Colors, Storage Myths, Batteries

SPEAKER_00 17:42

You're killing me. The elegance of oval with the edginess of square creates the coffin shaped nail that people are going crazy for. Hmm. I just feel like for any kind of design or like thing I'm paying for for like a fashion or something I'm wearing, I would have a hard time ordering the coffin version. You know? It just doesn't feel right. I'll take the coffin look. And who named that? Certainly not Susan Fishman. Susan Weiss Fishman? Yeah. No, and I would imagine there's couldn't you say like half a hexagon?

unknown 18:21

I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 18:23

I catch you. I don't know. Trapezoid maybe? Trap. Yeah, I'll do the trap. Trap. Give me the trap. Yeah. Trap rap. Trap nanny? Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. In the fall colors. Kind of on trend with the pickle girl fall. Moss. I do moss. I actually just bought a couple tops and moss. Moss traps? Moss tops. But which I finally get to wear because finally it's getting a little chilly. I know. I'm excited to wear some sweaters. They're all just like. I turned on my fall can't my pumpkin spice candle. Oh, very nice. Have you made any pumpkin bread yet? I did. You did. Rose had a play date and asked if I would make it for her and her friend. And then it was funny because I said, Oh, how did Maddie like the pumpkin bread? She's like, She doesn't like flavored breads. And I was like, okay, then she will not like pumpkin bread. Coming from a girl whose mother does not like flavored chips. And so I that's why I'm like, totally gift. I respect that. Do you? Like with a little more empathy. Not empathy. Yes, but like understanding. I take no offense. But yeah, the pumpkin bread turned out. I do like flavored bread. And it made my house smell so good until Al made one of his stinky lunches. He takes leftovers and he fries them in a frying pan. So smelling. Ryan takes leftovers, does not fry them, but puts together the strangest combination. Al like, don't do that. And then I'll be like, oh, maybe I'll like cut up some American cheese or like some lentils. Oh, okay. To each their own. I don't have to eat it. Exactly. At least he's not frying it, so I don't not smell it. There's a lot of baking it in the oven, a lot of strange sandwiches. I think I'd rather that.

unknown 20:06

Yeah.

Shapes, Fall Colors, and Cozy Season

SPEAKER_00 20:07

Then you hear the sizzle. The sizzle. The sound of lunch. Yes, indeed. Well, hooray for nail polish. Yeah, all over my own. I want to get my mail and now I kind of want to get my nails done. Same. I wish I didn't just cut off all my fingernails. That's okay. Fresh day. Should we launch into highs and lows? Sure. Okay. My low is kind of petty. Oh, I love a petty. So you know, I'm a big fan of the order ahead pickup groceries. Yes. Yes. Such I know. There are four spots clearly marked for pickup. Oh, yes. And lately, there's uh people in those spots who are not picking up groceries. And I know this because they're not in their car. Like, come on. I want to put a post-it note on there and be like, you're in the wrong spot. Like, I'm getting really aggravated about it. You made a mistake. Like, oh, I'm sorry you can't read this time. It's for grocery pickup. Because not just for me, even though it's a lot for me, because it makes me mad. But then the people whose job it is to bring those groceries out for the people who have ordered them. Then you have to call the store. Then you have to say, hi, I'm here, but I'm not in the spot because there's other people. Then you then they have to like find you in the parking lot or go a longer way to bring you your groceries. Those people are already working hard, and I just feel bad for them. And then also it bothers me. And you also feel bad for the non-readers. The non-reader followers who are driving. It says this. That is not petty. I hear you. Thank you for listening. How about you? Well, my low is that something happened to our grass. I saw you had a couple little bald spots. Yeah. Something happened. They brought out some sod, then I took matters into my own hands for areas I thought should have been sodd, but they didn't. Okay. So I seed it. No, I pulled up grass and laid dirt and seed, and we work hard on our grass. You do. And Ben, the lawn guy, is usually pretty good when he shows up. And I'm just disappointed. Sorry. We realized our lawn looks dead because Al stopped watering it. Then I'll do it. When the power went out, it knocked out the sprinkler system. And he so that was in July. Oh my gosh. He just realized it on Sunday that it hasn't been watered. And we've been in like a major drought. Yep. Well, you know what? At least yours wasn't self-improving. I was gonna say, at least it rained. It's been raining. Yep. And now our sprinklers are back on. So now it's like flooded. Oh, feast or famine? Yeah, exactly. What about your high? My highest fall is here. I'm excited for Halloween. I'm excited for the season. We took out our decorations. I still have to do that. We just did it yesterday. So it's you're not too far behind. I am torn though because it's been so nice for so long. I've left all my spring and summer flowers in. And I think this weekend I'm gonna try and get the moats in. Yeah. How about you? Just that my kids had a nice time at homecoming. Yeah. My freshman who gets a little nervous about social things had a blast and really got into all of the hoopla and had a good time. And so I was happy for him and glad they all had fun. And yeah. Yeah. That's it. Well, join us next week. We'll be here. All right. Bye.