The life with be

Brigid and Elizabeth are discussing the finer points of home offices(and work spaces in general)now that it’s back to school season (read: time to shop for school supplies!) and so many people are still working from home. They’re sharing all sorts of hot tips (and trickles, natch) for keeping organized, setting up a home office that actually makes you look good on those Zoom calls, and the merits of allowing your home to evolve to meet your current needs. There’s possibly also some TMI and some reminiscing about Mr. Sketch. Whether you’ve got a need to print all the papers or you’re decidedly digital, it’s important to be sure that your work space reflects who you are and what you need to be successful. Even if you do take your Zoom calls in a blazer and sweatpants. Business on top, party on the bottom... Listen in for some hot takes, life lessons, and learn how to make your home office work for you!

We’ve all been there ... friends are stopping by for a quick drink or snack and you’re 100% not ready to host a shin dig. So, what do you do? Naturally, Brigid and Elizabeth are turning to Jason for his best tips and tricks to get you ready for a Party in a Flash! (For more of Jason’s expertise, listen to his past episodes on Grilling, Brunch, Bar Carts, Household Supplies, and Laundry!) Mr. Particular himself is also known as Mr. Entertainment and Mr. Jack of all Trades, for sure! (He’s available to rent for your cocktail parties, natch!) Join in as the crew chats through how to quickly get your house ready for guests (there may or may not be talk of gathering up all the random stuff that’s out into a laundry basket and shoving it into your car...), the merits of guest - only prop soap and hand towels, and a variety of yummy, easy to make and keep on hand snacks to serve your last - minute, but totally welcome, guests! (Note: this is where breadsticks, the underdog of snacks, come into play!)

It’s the episode you’ve been waiting for! Join Brigid and Elizabeth as they discuss all things ...Cousin Camp! Who knew that camping in your own backyard could be your favorite family/social event of the year? Clearly, Brigid did. For the past few years, Brigid and her husband have hosted all nine cousins, aged three to 16 in the backyard for Cousin Camp,complete with camping in the backyard, s’mores, and camp activities. Brigid swears she keeps it simplistic, though her version includes labels for ants on a log, bandana and burlap décor and even some infrastructure in the form of an outdoor movie screen. Whether you’re just dipping your toe into the notion of camping as fun, or you’re ready to pack up and pitch a tent with your crew, listen in for Brigid and Elizabeth’s (read: mostly Brigid’s) tips and tricks for a summer night to remember.

Can you BE-lieve we’re already in August?! Welcome to the sweatiest month of the year ... In more exciting, and far more pleasant, happenings, Brigid and Elizabeth are sharing their top three items for August! The gals aren’t sticking with a theme this month, but it’s really because they’re so in love with the random collection of items they’ve found that they couldn’t wait to share!! From stain remover by The Laundress (ahem, sweat!) , Porter Teleo’s swanky cocktail napkins, and adorable paper goods by Minor Detail CLE to a frizz - fighting hair turban by AQUIS (approved by Shea McGee , so obviously top - notch!), the telescoping marshmallow sticks you never knew you needed by MalloMe , and The North Face’s indestructible backpacks, Brigid and Elizabeth are sharing all of their end - of - summer loves! Listen in for more HOT tips ... seriously, really hot and sweaty.

Brigid and Elizabeth are chatting with Tracy Hobbs, founder and owner of Eleanor and Hobbs(definitely one of their favorite Rocky River, OH boutiques) about all things shopping and fashion! Join them as they chat through what makes Eleanor and Hobbs a beautiful store to shop in, how to find the perfect pair of jeans (HINT: feedback is critical!), and why you should really break out of the “oh, it’s beautiful, but I could never wear that!” box and embrace your own take on your style icons. You may remember Eleanor and Hobbs from Elizabeth’s Top 3 in July(she took a dive into color!!) but there’s so much more the store has to offer, including, natch, a signature scent (see also: Top 3 With be: July). See, everyone needs a signature scent! And a good stylist/girlfriend to tell you to step away from the jeans you purchased online!

Join Brigid and Elizabeth as they recap Brigid’s recent family road trip through California! While
not the most relaxing of trips (read: it was a trip not a vacation, natch) it was certainly chock-
full of memories! From hiking, being one with nature and enjoying the beauty of the Pacific
Coast Highway to channeling her inner DJ Tanner (blasting the Full House theme song when
vising the Painted Ladies) and enjoying the creature comforts of celeb-haven Shutters on the
Beach, Brigid’s California trip touched on so many of California’s offerings. Including, wait for
it… a trip to see the Friends set and even sit on the famous couch! Grab those road trip-worthy
snacks, and listen in for all the tips and tricks to plan your own Cali getaway. Or, perhaps just hit
the sofa and watch some Full House and Friends. Your call!

Bob Ross said, “ I believe, I believe every day is a good day when you paint” and he might have been talking more about painting a landscape than your walls, but Brigid and Elizabeth are choosing to believe that he was talking about painting your home! This week, they’re on a roll(see what we did there?) and discussing all things painting. There’s also a touch of discussion on the appropriate number of caffeinated drinks per day, but that’s a whole other debate. Whether you’re curious about what finish to use on your walls vs. trim, where to use color vs. neutrals (HINT: almost always neutrals unless MOODY is the goal!), or how to test paint colors, Brigid and Elizabeth have the answers to all of your questions! Listen in, and get those paint rollers ready! *Or Google the number of your local painting contractor, which is also 100%acceptable!

Brigid and Elizabeth are back with their top three items for July! From the coffee drink Elizabeth uses to fuel her through those new mom days, to the perfect candle and even a new found favorite shirt in a color other than black (gasp!), Elizabeth is on a roll with trying new things and falling in love with them! Brigid’s all about the latest Ellen Hildebrand book (perfect for vacation, with all the Nantucket vibes), the PataGUCCI, natch, man purse that is going to finally free her from being the family sherpa on vacations and the best all-ages, all-people ring toss game for the back porch that is perfect for the non-competitive and competitive alike! And also, a bit of chatter about renaming Life With be, Life With biotch, what the Life With be’s signature scent would be, and more!

Grilling is THE way to cook during the summer and Brigid (the marinator), Elizabeth (the
consumer), and knower-of-all-things Jason (the grillmaster) are fired up to share all of their tips
and tricks to help you dish up the best (and safest) summer meals! Why did we mention safest?
Well, listen in for all the details on Brigid’s fear of losing her eyebrows in a gas grill mishap
and/or salmonella, AND for Jason’s tips on cooking foods to the correct temp, keeping your grill
clean to avoid flare ups [see skanky drip pan above], and how to get the tasty extra flavor of
your marinade sans salmonella! Read, and listen, on for their grilling guidance and a must-have
recipe that involves rum, pineapples and brown sugar. The perfect summer dessert!

Join Brigid and Elizabeth as they chat through Brigid’s labor of love – her backyard project! From the boring (read: not sexy at all) drainage issues and regrading of the land, hence the extreme construction equipment, to the way more fun design inspiration and details, they’re covering the whole thing. Listen in and learn all about cousin camp (yes, it’s really a thing), Elizabeth’s distaste for actual camping (but glamping = A - OK!) and just how many string lights Brigid used in this project. Whether you’re hoping to do a quick revamp of your backyard or patio for summer, or you’re ready to dig some trenches and completely reimagine your backyard, a la Brigid, the gals have just the inspiration you need for your project! Tap over to the Shop page for all of the products Brigid used to bring her yard to life (life = like a resort, obviously).

Join Brigid and Elizabeth as they recap Elizabeth’s recent trip to Bruges, Belgium with the Leaders of Design Council, baby Sophie in tow! From needing to PIVOT (I hope you read that in Ross Gellar’s voice) when it came to feeding Sophie (in bathrooms and stairwells, no less) to details of an actual castle inhabited by the Vervoordt  family (yes, that Axel Vervoordt that decorated Kanye’s house), they’re discussing it all! There’s even a quick geography lesson involved. Pivoting might have involved sweet Sophie trailing behind Elizabeth in various cabs with her aunt and uncle. But, the moral of the story: don’t let an amazingly fulfilling (personally and professionally) trip pass you by just because you’ve got a little one! The pivots are half of the fun. Listen in for all of the details!

Summer is HERE (even if it seemed like June would never arrive) and Brigid and Elizabeth’s Top3 for June are celebrating all things outdoors and summer! In between a bit of reminiscing about old-school movies and music (looking at you, Dirty Dancing and Boyz II Men) and Elizabeth’s first hiking trip in Colorado with her husband that may or may not have involved scaring bears and mountain lions away, the gals are bringing you their favorite items for the month. From Pottery Barn’s glassless outdoor lanterns and gorgeous potted lavender for the porch, TEVAS for non-hiking activities, and the apparently indestructible Ridge Wallet(that’ll cover you for Father’s Day, for sure), to Elizabeth’s favorite white t-shirt from Athleta that repels stains (literally, this cannot be overstated as a selling point) and Brigid’s secret to glowing skin in the form of Dr. Dennis Gross’s Universal Peel, Brigid and Elizabeth are full of tips, tricks, and suggestions to get you summer ready! Take a listen and hear why Elizabeth’s husband might possibly think her style evolution was a bit of a misrepresentation of her love (or lack thereof) of hiking, and why Brigid is still hoping for a line of credit at Lake Road Market. And also, learn why their new motto when it comes to summer clothes, and anything else really, is to put on something you feel comfortable, just smile, be cool, and eff the rest! Take a peek over to the shop section of the website where you’ll find these Top 3 items, as well as those from months past.

Brigid and Elizabeth are dishing up all the hot brunch tips with everyone’s favorite everything - guru, Jason! (There totally needs to be an applause button, because it would be perfect right here.) Whether you’re a fan of the lazy brunch (read: buying your coffee at Starbucks and your donuts from Dunkin ; Elizabeth, ahem ) or the more traditional (read: you know what a strada is ; Brigid and Jason, natch ), listen in to get prepped for your next brunch bash! There may have also been a few detours to chat about day-drinking leading to Taco Bell ( Brigid has strong feelings on the appropriate order and Jason is slightly concerned about the contents of the cheese ) and the merits of cloth vs. paper napkins ! I think you can guess where the gang comes out on that debate ...

It’s that time of the year...it’s time to get your yard prepped and ready to look fabulous for the year ahead and the month of May is calling your name! Prepping your yard to be the perfect summer entertainment spot is no easy task(we get it, for real). Keeping those flowers alive all year long? Even harder! But have no fear, because Brigid and Elizabeth (well, mostly Brigid with the green thumb) are sharing all of their landscaping tips to whip your yard into shape! The hottest tip: dump your money into dirt! Not literally but, well, pretty mu(l)ch! There may also be a bit of chatter about a mini-dustbuster®, personal leaf blowers, and the merits of keeping your yard’s flowers color wheel approved. Dig in and listen for all of their dirtiest tips. (We totally went there.)

The start of the month can only mean one thing -Brigid and Elizabeth are back with their Top 3 items for May! We hope you found the shop section of the website, where we’re sharing our monthly Top 3 items AND things from our homes ... If not, pop on over there via this link. Now that that’s out of the way, we have one more favor to ask – if you like the podcast, make sure to leave us a review and follow us ! Phew. All the plugs are done, EXCEPT for our favorite items this month! Join the gals as they chat through their M ay favorites, which for Elizabeth have a vaguely French theme, even though one of the ladies doesn’t even like French food . Quelle horreur! From luxurious napkins from RW Guild to the Stella Dress by La Ligne (that’s French for “The Line”) and a stunning new line of home goods called Kept Home , Elizabeth’s favorites are très bien ! Brigid’s bringing the pool/vacation gear recommendations with her newly adopted love of pool slides by APL and handy take - anywhere cocktail mixers (mocktails 100% approved, too!) from Skinnies and her new favorite home fragrance dispenser that is, wait for it, controlled by your phone from Pura ! Listen in to learn whether it’s Brigid or Elizabeth with the aversion to French food, more discussion on the merits of spray tans, and which of this month’s favorites were on Oprah’s Favorite Things ... because if it’s good enough for Oprah, it’s good enough for us!

Join Brigid and Elizabeth as they chat all things mom ahead of Mother’s Day! Both moms themselves, the gals share a few things that they’ve learned from their moms over the years, from gardening, holiday décor, and keeping an open door policy to creating family traditions and instilling a love of learning. But don’t worry, there’s still some tales of gym class - related insubordination, some discussion of 80s - inspired hair and having to undo the laundry lessons learned in a big family (thanks, Jason, for the excellent re - training on the be With Jason: Laundry episode!). And possibly, a bit of snark about how Mother’s Day is smack in the middle of sports season for your kids, terrible weather, and school and Father’s Day is gloriously free of those deeply inconsiderate issues. (Change.org petition to start Parent’s Day in June coming soon.)

Our favorite home guru, knower of all the things , is back! (If there were an applause button, we’d add it here, for sure!) Join Brigid and Elizabeth as they chat with Jason about the ultimate adulting accessory – the bar cart. Whether for actual drinks, or more for serving and décor, having a bar cart, beautifully stocked and styled, is super chic. From the bar essentials you need to have a well - stocked and functional serving space, to the world of possibilities for other (read: non - booze) uses for your cart and the endless décor options out there, the trio covers it all! Whether you’re drinking fancy, adult cocktails ( or seltzer in your sweatpants, à la Elizabeth ) grab a drink, and dive in!

We’re nearing the end of winter and Brigid and Elizabeth are READY to refresh for spring! Join them as they chat through a few tips to move your home from cozy & warm to bright and renewed. While the merits of dyed easter eggs as décor were found lacking, B&E discuss quite a few other ways to liven your home for spring, with out being too holiday centric . HINT: think fresh air, bringing the outdoors in, and lightening things up through scent, fabrics, and prints! And also, if you’re Elizabeth and itching for a big change, you can always rearrange the whole house. (Fine print: Perhaps not recommended for the faint of heart.)

Brigid and Elizabeth are both (no longer) tanned and relaxed after simultaneous, but separate, beach trips and they’re dishing up all their faves about their dual destinations: Marco Island, Florida and Aruba! Join them as they chat the merits of walkability, the romance of steel drums, the absolute luxury of snacks in bed, and also a little bit of snark on dark décor at the beach. From Elizabeth’s tips for traveling with two little kids (hint: don’t forget to plan for diaper acquisition) and her newly discovered hack for saving money in arcades (another hint: little kids are none the wiser) to Brigid’s thoughts on 8 pm dinner reservations (worth it, but snacks definitely necessary beforehand) and the reason you should load up on sunscreen before you jet off to Aruba, join B&E as they banter all things beach!

Brigid and Elizabeth are back with their Top 3 items for April, AND now you can shop directly from the Life With BE website! Join them as they chat all things spring, because you know they love a good theme! From Elizabeth’s newfound attempts at becoming an organized packer to her also newfound ability to embrace non- live flowers (we don’t say faux around here) and Brigid’s excitement at the coming together of two favorite brands (Weezie and Tuckernuck) to spruce up her powder bath, as well as her foray into fashion finds! (No more old lady tennis shoes for B!) Listen in for a trip down memory lane a la Bonne Bell 10.0.6 lotion and Lip Smacker, some thoughts on how to make monogramming and embroidery edgy (ha! You can guess which of the gals is on that mission) and how to nail the high-low fashion dream we’re all striving for. (Target dresses forever! But, with a touch of luxe!!)