Two Noras and a Mic

Oodles of Pools and the most Disgusting Chip Ever

Send us a textWe kick off by unpacking Denmark’s approved name lists and the cultural logic behind banned or protected names. It’s part language, part legacy, part gatekeeping. We share the odd, the sensible, and the eyebrow-raising examples. From there, we shift to a case that rattles any listener with a heartbeat: a young woman pronounced dead, later found alive at a funeral home. The term “Lazarus syndrome” surfaces as a legal defense, and we explore what’s rare but real, how errors unfold, and what accountability looks like when systems fail.We recalibrate with a list of America’s favorite franchise restaurant brands—sweet surprises and coffee-led loyalties included—and then dive headfirst into a taste test catastrophe. “Old hot dog dust” becomes the phrase of the day as a $1.99 bag of novelty chips teaches a harsh lesson about product development and common sense. Beauty talk follows with “slugging,” the petroleum jelly seal that promises glow while threatening pillowcases everywhere; we trade practical tips and harmless skepticism without the hype. Finally, we wade into pools: childhood swim teams, community pool realities, adult pool party etiquette, and the modern twist of renting private pools by the hour through Swimply. It’s equal parts nostalgia and negotiation—about safety, cleanliness, time, and what counts as summer joy.We wrap with personal highs and lows: a printer saga that turns into a small win, neighborly saves that make a week easier, and the pure delight of communion dress shopping. Hit play for a smart, warm, sometimes messy tour through the rules we live by, the risks we navigate, and the comforts we chase. If this episode made you think or laugh, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—we read every one.

Dresses but also Deodorant, Caviar, and 6-7

Send us a textThe kind of week where you fix a broken deodorant with sheer will, crawl back onto the Peloton, and somehow end up at a house party with caviar pie and pigs in blankets is exactly our tempo. We’re juggling four-kid calendars, long drives to the wrong gym, and those quiet late-night moments when a red eye and a to-do list won’t quit—and we still manage to squeeze in a laugh (or ten).We dive into everyday myths and trends that shape our lives more than we admit. SPF isn’t “hours of protection,” no matter what your sister says. A Florida baby named "Six Seven" sparks a real talk about names, identity, and how choices age. The Bears-Packers game delivers a live lesson in sportsmanship for our kids, reminding us that community often shows up when the score doesn’t. Then it’s style time: poet core gets a vote, turtlenecks earn side-eye, loafers get love, and the universal joy of dresses with pockets becomes nonnegotiable. We share fit hacks—adjustable straps for uneven shoulders—and that electric nostalgia of wedding and communion dresses, petticoats and all.Work culture is changing too. After-work happy hour is fading as hybrid schedules and sober curiosity rise, but mentorship and camaraderie don’t have to disappear. We talk better replacements—mocktails, coffee walks, bite-size gatherings that build trust without pressure. And yes, we go full foodie: Noma’s $1,500 LA pop-up and its free table for young hospitality pros, plus our own kitchen courage, trying a classic caviar pie and admitting what we liked. It’s comfort, curiosity, and a little chaos stitched together by humor, heart, and dresses that let us breathe.If this blend of real life, style smarts, and culture shifts hits home, tap follow, share with a friend who loves pockets, and drop a review to tell us your unexpected high this week.Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

That's the Ticket!

Send us a textWe dive into tickets—how prices balloon with fees, why scarcity makes some seats legendary, and how to time your buy without gambling away the experience. Along the way, we detour through Denmark’s street fireworks, the great pizza-and-ranch candle controversy, and a laugh-out-loud reel of rejected vanity plates that somehow says everything about the internet’s sense of humor.We get honest about family logistics and the cost of memories: when to splurge on theater, why football’s price curve stings more than most, and how digital tickets removed paper headaches but also erased the small joy of a torn stub tucked into a scrapbook. We traded hacks on picking seats, gifting shows without a physical ticket, and the pros and cons of resale roulette. Then it’s the real world of friction: red-light cameras that bill your mailbox, a passport errand that turns into a lesson in patience, and the relief when technology works as promised—like choosing movie seats in advance and breezing to the middle of the row.What ties it all together is the pursuit of the moment. Whether you’re chasing Broadway, playoff energy, or a comedian under the summer lights, the value comes from who you share it with and how present you feel once you find your seat. Hit play for wit, warmth, and practical takeaways that help you save money, save time, and maybe save a stub or two in spirit. If this episode resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves live events, and leave a quick review—what’s the one ticket you still want to score this year?Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Ringing in 2026!

Send us a textThe holidays are over, the house is quiet, and the batteries—literal and social—need a recharge. We open the door on that in-between mood: the relief of wrapping paper cleared, the small panic when a favorite tool (hi, Dyson) dies, and the surprising joy of a new coat, fresh socks, or a perfect iced tea cup that makes winter feel a notch warmer.From there, we zoom out. We compare reading goals to the comfort of nightly word games and design a plan that doesn’t pit pleasure against growth. We talk boundaries through the lens of “social battery” science, spotting early signs of burnout and choosing better exit ramps before you’re tapped out. Our take on stress flips the script, favoring meaningful action—movement, helpfulness, tidy wins—over retreat-only self-care. You’ll leave with practical, low-friction ways to feel better without waiting for motivation to strike.We also have fun with New Year rituals around the world and the ones we can craft at home: color-coded intentions, wish confetti, plates in Denmark, waves in Brazil. And yes, we detour into iguanas “freezing” in Florida and the chaotic charm of local countdown TV before landing on what really makes a reset stick—consistency with heart, goals that fit your real life, and rituals that make ordinary days feel new.If this conversation made you smile or gave you one idea to try tonight, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your notes help more people find the show and keep this community growing.Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Wrapped And Ready

Send us a textThe shortest day of the year brought big energy: we kicked off with solstice coziness, then plunged into a Chicago adventure that ended with a minivan reversing down Lower Wacker so we could make the Nutcracker!We trade laughs and real talk about value and scarcity—from wild penny auctions to a color-of-the-year that didn’t quite land—before landing on the joyful noise of a kid-made song that refuses to leave our heads. From there, we zoom into practical habit science and why Wednesdays are a smarter start line than Mondays. It’s a lighter lift, faster wins, and a better shot at keeping momentum through the holidays without the guilt spiral.Then we unwrap the good stuff: how to wrap gifts that wow without overspending. We share where to find sturdy paper that doesn’t tear, why wire ribbon changes everything, and how to make playful pom-pom toppers from leftover scraps. We dig into the psychology of presentation (yes, wrapping changes how a gift is received) and the surprising history of modern wrapping thanks to the Hall brothers. We also debate unwrapped wedding showers and how to honor givers whether you display gifts or open them live—gratitude is the key either way.We close with our highs and lows—eye drama, laundry fails, Nutcracker magic—and the traditions that make Christmas morning stretch longer. If you want a warm, witty guide to making this season feel intentional, beautiful, and actually doable, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves a big bow, and tell us: tags or stickers for your gifts? We’re taking votes.Mike Haggerty Buick GMCRight on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.