Shailey & Katie's Lemonade Stand: Design Moms Finding the Happy Balance as Creative Entrepreneurs

This week on Shailey & Katie’s Lemonade Stand, get ready for Black Friday because we’re spilling our go-to gift ideas—the ones we actually give, actually love, and actually hope show up on our doorstep. We’re talking: Gifts that don’t cost a lot but feel thoughtful Gifts that are technically “a splurge,” but perfect for going-in-together with family or friends Gifts for creatives, moms, homebodies, entrepreneurs, and your spouse who “doesn’t need anything”. Whether you need a last-minute Amazon idea, a meaningful DIY, or a “treat yourself because you deserve it” moment, this episode has you covered. Pour your hot lemon...wassail? Peppermint mocha? and let’s make your Christmas shopping delightfully easy.

In this episode, Shailey and Katie dive into the real, practical side of gratitude — the kind that actually rewires your brain, improves your relationships, and helps you show up as a calmer, less-reactive human (science says so). They unpack how neuroplasticity works, why your brain loves repetition, and why gratitude isn’t about ignoring hard things — it’s about training your mind to notice more than just the problems. Katie jumps in with research on gratitude, self-awareness, and why “toxic positivity” isn’t the goal — acknowledging the real stuff is part of the healing. Together, they introduce a simple experiment to help listeners practice gratitude in a way that feels doable, not delusional. The Practical Gratitude Challenge Pick a trigger category — a person or area that normally sparks frustration — and choose your challenge level: Light: Do a one-time brain dump of everything good or redeemable about that challenging area/person. Medium: Write one genuine gratitude each day for two weeks. Intense: Write three specific gratitudes daily plus one “first-person goal” (a sentence you want to be true about you, written as if it already is). Bonus: Add The Complaint Diet for the week — pause before venting, redirect where it makes sense, and watch what shifts.

“People pleasing is actually about controlling others.”Wait—what? Rude! But it’s true. When we’re trying to make everyone happy, what we’re really trying to do is control how people see us. This week, we’re unpacking that sneaky truth and learning how to say no (without turning into a soulless- boundary-monster). People pleasing. From apologizing for existing 😆 to saying yes when your soul is screaming no, they get real about why we do it, how it sneaks into everyday moments, and what it looks like to finally break free. They share cringe-worthy personal stories (we’ve all been there), and dig into how to set boundaries without burning bridges. You’ll hear about the power of pausing before reacting, assuming positive intent (even when it’s hard), and how curiosity can diffuse 90% of awkward human moments. And because we love a good game, the episode includes a “Boundary Blitz” — a rapid-fire roleplay where Shailey gets to practice saying no. You’ll walk away with practical ways to stop over-explaining, start communicating clearly, and actually feel confident when you say no — without the shame spiral. 

Travel Hacks! The art of traveling — with kids, with friends, or with whoever’s part of your current adventure crew. ✈️ We’re sharing our favorite tips to make trips enjoyable and (mostly) stress-free — from setting expectations before we even leave the driveway to giving everyone small “travel jobs” that build independence and teamwork. We talk about how we balance adventure days with real rest, budget for souvenirs that actually mean something, and use simple games to keep long travel days fun. We also get into creative destination ideas, building a family (or friend group) bucket list, and why having a transition day after getting home might be the most important part of the trip. Most of all, we want this episode to remind you that you don’t have to wait for the perfect season to travel. You can weave adventure and connection into the life you already have — chaos, car seats, or carry-ons included.

Katie's talking about how to fall back in love with your everyday life — the ordinary, in-between moments that usually fly under the radar. Because somewhere between unloading the dishwasher and answering another email, we forget that this is our life. And it’s happening right now. How to romanticize the routine — not by pretending everything’s perfect, but by slowing down enough to notice the magic that’s already there. From making your morning coffee feel sacred to turning carpool into your favorite thinking time, they share small mindset shifts that turn the mundane into something meaningful. It’s about showing up fully awake to your own story — and realizing it’s already beautiful.