Episode 237: Keeping it Real with the Super Mamas - Positive Thoughts on the Rollercoaster of Qua-routines

It’s been a while since we’ve caught up with you and we’re all over the place! It has been 9 or 10 weeks since we’ve started practicing social distancing (depending on when you started). Between new quarantine routines with our families, starting to work out again and eating a lot, it has been tough learning to balance motherhood, kids, school, work, cooking, and intimacy during these wild times. After some lazy, junk food filled weeks, we found that sticking to routine and finding a new way to have “alone time” has really helped us feel better. In this week’s episode, we’re sharing what we’ve been doing to care for our families and especially ourselves. We’re all about staying positive, mamas! Life will get back to normal one day, but for now let’s remember to be kind to ourselves and take it one day at a time. 

Pick or Tip of the Week

We are sharing some good, relaxing tips because these are wild times we’re living in. 😂

Paulina’s pick this week is the Bloom app. She feels that she needs instructions when practicing mindfulness and she loves this app because it talks to you and tells you what to do, plus you can keep track of your feelings. It’s super interactive and gives you activities to do when you’re feeling a certain way. Try it out and let us know how you like it!

She has also really been into plant videos and propagating her plant babies, and has realized that watching plant videos are so calming! It’s her way of winding down at night. Check out this video about propagating plants and one of her favorite YouTube plant guys, Hilton Carter.

Bricia has been having gnat struggles with her plants, so she went on a deep research dive on YouTube about how to get rid of them and found a few products that have been helpful.

• Dual sided sticky gnat traps (also good for flies) - you out them in your indoor or outdoor plants and once the gnats get stuck there, they can’t reproduce.

• Neem oil - It smells weird but it works on all stages of insects so fingers crossed that it works!

• Mosquito bits - to put in your plant soils for the gnats to eat and then they can reproduce. We’re trying this in our backyards for summer nights too!

Bricia’s final tip is to speak positive words in people’s lives. If something negative is coming out of your mouth, rephrase it to be positive.

Let’s remember to be positive, be kind, and take care of your mind, sisters!

Episode 236: Balancing Our Technology Intake During Our Time at Home with Rocio Lopez of Common Sense Latino

After a quick break from our Super Mamas ZOCIAL, we’re here with a new episode! We’re still under the safer at home order, and we’ve been spending so much time watching tv and online, even after homework and work is done. It got us thinking about one of the last guests we interviewed before the lockdown happened - Rocio Lopez from Common Sense Latino. We decided to rerecord her interview for a better update on how we can have a healthy balance of technology during this newfound time at home.

We talk about setting up screen time schedule and tech free zones, child safety while online, and easy tech tips everyone can use while social distancing. She even shared her top technology tips and some free resources below! Every family and situations is different, so there’s no need to feel shame for extending tech time; luckily Rocio and Common Sense Latino will help us learn how to balance it all!

More about Rocio Lopez: Rocío López is the Community Partnerships Manager for Common Sense Latino and facilitates parent workshops and coaching on healthy media habits and wellbeing in the digital age. She is passionate about working in the community and providing free resources for Latinx families to thrive in this world of media and tech. Rocío regularly does segments on Univision LA about technology and parenting. A theatre teaching artist by trade, she has 15 years of professional experience coordinating youth and family programs in California and New York, as well as developing arts programs for children and foster youth. 

Rocio’s Top Tech Tips

1. Set up a screen time schedule for your household. Every child is different, but accommodate their schedule with your work schedule so they coincide.

2. Build in tech free zones and tech free times into your schedule. For example - not technology during meals, in the bed, during exercise, one hour before bedtime etc.

3. Have your kids use their technology in close proximity to you so you can listen and overhear what they’re doing & saying.

4. Be aware of your children’s behavior changes. Are they acting out because of the time they’re spending online (or not spending online)?

LINKS

Learn more about Common Sense Media and the free resources, like technology ratings & reviews for apps, books, games, movies, website and more, and everything else they offer on commonsensemedia.org.

Check out wideopenschool.org, a free resource site for educators and families with kids from kindergarten through 12th grade, for more activities and learning opportunities.

Follow Rocio’s adventures on Instagram or Twitter @itsRocioLopez 

Get FREE weekly bite-sized advice and tips right to your text messages, in English or Spanish!! Just text the word KIDS or FAMILIA to 21555

Episode 235: Learning to Stay Sane and Zen-stoic while on Quarantine with Life Coach Victor Pierantoni from Zen-Stoic Mastery

It’s now the sixth episode of our quarantine series and after last week’s episode where we learned about the stages of grief, we now know we’re in the phase of social distancing where we’re over it! We want our regular life back and this beautiful weather isn’t making it easier, but we’re going to continue to comply by washing our hands, staying indoors, staying six feet away from others when we take family walks, and wearing our masks in public. What about you, super mamas? Are you quarantined with a partner, a toddler, a teenager, or your parents? Have you ventured outside yet?

This week’s episode will hopefully be more helpful in getting your quarantine mindset right. It is so hard to stay calm and positive during this crazy times that we needed to call in some help, this week we have Life Coach & Zen-Stoic Master Victor Pierantoni chatting with us about different tools to direct our mind toward a more positive state.  He tells us what it means to be Zen-Stoic and how to pivot the negative questions our mind throws at us to more purposeful and fulfilling ones.  We talk about the outmost importance of self care and priming yourself at the beginning of the day! You will feel much better after hearing all he has to share with us sisters!

More about Victor Pierantoni: Victor is a lifelong martial artist, entrepreneur, international speaker, coach, philosopher, and husband. He believes our greatness, creativity, and excellence come from channeling the pain of our past into a purpose that serves the common good.

He is here to teach Zen Stoic Philosophy: a hybrid of Zen Buddhism and Stoicism that he pioneered and modified for a modern age. As the founder of Zen Stoic, he offers clarity, mindfulness, and insight on how to best navigate the unique personalities of his students. Victor’s goals with Zen Stoic are simple:

• Inner Peace: To give you the exact skills and tools they need to create inner peace at will, through a unique method of meditation without costing you additional time.

• Mental Toughness: To provide you with a mental operating system that converts your everyday stress into productive energy without burning out.

• High-Level Performance: To equip you with time tested principles that allow you to be laser-focused and in control of your emotions in high-pressure situations.

• Purpose: To discover your truest “why” that allows you the channel the pain of your past into a purpose that serves a greater good for yourself and others.

• Accountability and Structure: To hold you accountable to walking the path of your happiest life, remaining focused on the tasks that move the needle in your business, and discarding the BS that distracts you from your mission.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina has a few picks this week. First, she has downloaded two apps for Krista since she has been missing her friends and social interaction so much: a game called Roblox and Messenger Kids on Facebook, which the parent controls through their Facebook account. She’s able to talk to family and friends, as long as a parent approves the friend request!

Paulina’s final tip is for the mamas & mamacitas - schedule in a weekly Zoom date with your girlfriends! Paulina does this every Saturday night with her friends and they talk, drink, and dance, and sometimes it lasts til 3am! It’s so fun and helps you feel better, even being stuck inside.

Bricia picked a few shows for you this week. She bonds with Eduardo in the morning for 30 minutes and they watch cartoons they both like - Hello Ninja and Archibald’s Next Big Thing on Netflix. For adults, she just finished watching the limited series, Waco on Netflix. It was so intense and it’s also a true story.

Links

To learn more about Victor and the Zen-Stoic Philosophy, check out his website and tune into his podcast - Bricia will be featured on an upcoming episode! You can also follow him on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

El chisme has it that there’s nothing better than the I Love Micheladas party pack! Use code SUPERMAMAS at checkout for an extra 15% off of your entire purchase.

Episode 234: Maximizing Our Finances in the Times of Covid-19 with Ramona Ortega from @MyMoneyMyFuture

Hey Super Mamas! It’s Week #5 of our Quarantine episode series. With everything happening around us, taking care of our finances has become imperative during this time, but how and where do we start?! Luckily we have our friend & finance expert Ramona Ortega from @mymoneymyfuture on the show this week to talk about easy steps on how to maximize our resources. We also talk about the opportunities available to grow both financial and intellectually so we can start getting ready for the future! Make sure you have a pen and paper ready, you’ll want to take notes!

Before the episode, Bricia gives an update on her pregnancy, but she is also becoming the ultimate plant mom! She’s obsessed with replanting, propagating her plants and learning about the best ways to care for them. Paulina is also talking about her new obsession of washing her hair with limón. You’ll have to listen to the episode for her explanation, but you can also check out this article for how to make your own lemon juice hair rinse. (Disclaimer: You should always consult your doctor about any questions you have regarding a medical condition)

More about Ramona Ortega: Ramona Ortega is the CEO and Founder of My Money My Future. She is a money expert and serial entrepreneur with over two decades of leadership in the public and private sectors. Prior to becoming a tech entrepreneur she was a corporate attorney on Wall Street. She spent her early career as a journalist and policy analyst focused on economic justice and human rights and started her company to help empower communities of color to build wealth. She is a contributor to TechCrunch and Huffington Post on issues of law, tech  and diversity and sits on the advisory boards of Village Capital, Camino Financial, and Community Health Council. Ortega has been featured in Forbes, CNN, TechCrunch, Nasdaq, American Banker, NPR, Latina Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine and La Opinion.

LINKS

Stay up to date on relevant COVID Money topics from My Money My Future and get access to capital and recent webinars (like taking care of elder parents). Just open a free account HERE.

Learn more about Ramona and check out her most recent posts & resources on MyMoneyMyFuture.co.

Up your professional skills! Take classes from Udemy and Harvard University.

Episode 233: Quarantine Week #4: Getting Real on Grief & Loss with LMFT Joanne Koegl

Another week of quarantine went by, and with it came all sorts of feelings. On this week’s episode, we have Dr. Joanne Diaz-Koegl, Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, back on the show to help us sort out what we’re experiencing and feeling.

We talk about the stages of grief and the collective loss of our normality. Of course we are full of questions. How do we make sense of this new reality and how do we even explain that to our kids? Is it ok to be sad, angry or mad or do we have to be positive all the time? Know that there is no right or wrong way of feeling about this, whatever you feel, you have the right to feel. 🙏🏽❤️ We felt so much better and so much more normal after discussing our feelings with Joanne, and we hope this episode can provide more clarity for you too.

OUR CONVERSATION WITH JOANNE KOEGL

The stages of grief

What are some healthy ways to deal with what we’re going through?

What are some ways to explain to our kids what is happening? What is the correct amount of information to share with them?

How do we talk to our kids about death and grief that they’re feeling?

How do we create healthy spaces for ourselves & our significant others when we have to be together 24/7?

How do we tell others that it’s okay to grieve and that we don’t have to be positive all the time?

Pick or Tip of the Week

We brought back your favorite segment! We know not everyone is shopping right now, so we’re sharing our favorite tips.

Bricia’s tip this week are the new parental controls on Netflix. It’s hard to admit, but we’re all spending more time in front of the television right now, and Netflix’s parental controls gives you options to see what your kids are watching and regulate it. It’s a great way to block the shows you don’t want your children to watch and also to block the annoying shows you don’t want to listen to. 😂 Learn more about it on our blog.

Paulina’s tip is from her marriage class. Her homework that she’s sharing with you is to improve your communication skills with your spouse during social distancing. It’s a 10 day challenge where everyday with your spouse, you pray, play and please.

• Pray together or over each other;

• Play together - board games, workout, watch a movie, or do other activities with each other;

• and please each other for 30 minutes each - a foot massage, a long shower/bath while the other watches the children, etc.

Links

Listen to Victor Pierantoni, Bricia’s life coach, podcast - The Zen Stoic Podcast

Learn more about the services Joanne offers and book a Zoom session with her via her website.

Books mentioned by Joanne - “On Death and Dying” by Elisabeth Kubler Ross and "Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief" by David Kessler

Episode 232: Quarantine Week 3: Get Counted & Educated on the 2020 Census with Mariana Dale from @kpcc

Another week in quarantine, and we are making the best of it by turning to the kitchen to fulfill our hearts (and our stomachs 😜) at home. We’re bringing you a pre-quarantine interview with KPCC reporter and advocate Mariana Dale, who came to educate us on the importance of being counted in the 2020 Census. Now more than ever we realize the importance of representation, and this is one very important way to make our voice heard. Take notes, share, and get counted - we are home, there is no excuse!

Before the episode, we talk about how we’re getting down in the kitchen. We’re baking and cooking - Bricia is ready for Master Chef now! We also mention the incredible banana bread we made on Instagram Stories last week and Bricia talks about the recipe for her mole nachos - both so delicious. Have you been spending more time in the kitchen during your time at home? Let us know what you’re cooking up!

More about Mariana Dale: Mariana covers early childhood education for KPCC, L.A.’s No.1 NPR station and LAist.com. She was born and raised in Arizona and has worked at newspapers and radio stations in Tucson and Phoenix. Her mission is to help families, caregivers and educators have the information they need to help children 0-5 grow and thrive by identifying what’s working and what’s not in California’s early childhood system.  She'd previously reported for KJZZ, the public radio station in Phoenix since 2016, where she most recently focused on education. While at KJZZ, Mariana helped found the engagement reporting project, Q&AZ, which led her to answer questions about everything from the history of Japanese internment to saguaro cacti. Mariana has a strong belief in the power of engaged journalism. “Connecting with the community at every step makes for better journalism," she said. She also mentors aspiring college students through NPR’s Next Generation Radio.

Our Conversation with Mariana

What is the census?

What does it ask?

Who is this information shared with?

What happens if I don’t fill out the census?

How does it impact parents? Kids? Education?

Can it be filled out online?

You can fill out your 2020 Census online at 2020census.gov/.

To respond to the questionnaire by mail (paper) and for other options, please visit 2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond.

Learn more about what’s on the census questionnaire. Click here.

CORONAVIRUS CENSUS UPDATE

Due to the Coronavirus and social distancing, some census dates have been pushed back. The NEW final deadline for filling out the census is August 13, 2020. Click here for a complete list of updated deadlines.

LINKS

Learn more about Mariana on her personal website and follow her on social - @mariana_dale on Twitter, @marianadalereports on Instagram. You can ask her your questions about early childhood here.

Read LAist for all of the latest on local politics, food, culture and the absurdities of L.A. life. They currently have great articles like a “No-Panic Guide” to Coronavirus and the impact of the virus on our little ones.

Shout out to Guerilla Tacos for a bomb burrito! Support your local restaurants like Guelaguetza by ordering family meals online for easy curbside pickup and delivery via DoorDash and Grubhub. You can also order our mole or cookbook for in home cooking and your favorite I Love Micheladas mix to get you through the cuarentena!

Episode 231: Week #2 in Quarantine: Coronavirus Chat with Dr. Ilan Shapiro

Another week in quarantine, another zoom interview. This week we speak with Dr. Ilan Shapiro, about the coronavirus. There is so much information about COVID-19 out there and it can be overwhelming to continue watching the news. We put together a list of what we felt were the most important questions and Dr. Shaps broke it down for us. Dr. Shaps talks about why it’s important to stay home, the safest way to go to the supermarket, how to protect our families and so much more. The next few weeks of social distancing will be tough, but as long as we’re informed and doing our best to stay safe & healthy, we will get through this! 

Our Conversation with Dr. Ilan Shapiro

What is the Coronavirus?

Why are cities shutting down?

Why is it so important to stay home?

What measures should we take if we need to go out? 

Does wearing masks and goggles work or not?

What is the safest way to go to the supermarket? 

What about vegetables? Can we spray disinfectant on those?

What’s an allergy vs a cold vs coronavirus?

How can we protect our families?

Links

CDC Coronavirus Guidelines

World Health Organization - Coronavirus

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America

How to Protect Yourself & Others from the Coronavirus (CDC)

How to Wash Your Hands Properly (CDC)

Episode 230: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Quarantine Week #1

Social distancing isn’t going to stop us from bringing you a new episode! On the show this week, we’re catching you up on our lives during this quarantine. All kinds of great things that are happening now that we’re stuck indoors - Paulina is spending more time with the girls (even though they’re fighting every day 🤣) and Zixta is finally potty trained! Bricia is still working out every day and doing art studio time with Eduardo, and they’re also spending more time with their dog, Diego. 

Even though we are feeling stressed and anxious, we’re using this time to think positively, be grateful and tap into our creativity with art & cooking. Have you seen Paulina’s #supermamasgratitudechallenge on Instagram? Check out the video to learn more about how you can stay positive while we’re all at home these next few weeks. Will you make a gratitude jar to remember to stay thankful when all of this is over? 

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s tip for this quarantine period is don’t throw away your recycling items: boxes, egg cartons, and packing supplies! Kids don’t need toys because they can create so much with leftover boxes, paint, stickers, markers, glue and more. All you have to do is look online for crafts, for example, google “egg carton craft” and you’ll find a variety of activities to choose from.

Paulina’s tip is the gratitude jar from her IGTV post. You can use it as a reminder of all the good things you have going on in your life regardless of the situation we are currently experiencing. Have your family add to it everyday and at the end of this social isolation, go through all the papers and know you survived something so tough. it’s a way to stay grounded and connected with the family during this tough time. 

Links

Support small businesses!

Order family meals online from Guelaguetza for easy curbside pickup! You can also order delivery via DoorDash and Grubhub. You can also order our mole or cookbook to recreate your favorite dishes at home.

Order your favorite I Love Micheladas mix to quench your thirst for the next few weeks, and to get prepped for summer!

If you’re celebrating a birthday during the social isolation period (and when the quarantine is over), check out @lotuspartyco for balloons and more!

A comic for exploring coronavirus with your kids - a printable worksheet from NPR

How to make a zine fro one piece of printer paper - an activity for the kids

Episode 229: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Life Changing Routines

This week on the show, we give you an update on how morning routines have helped motivate a lot of changes in our Super Mamas lives. From physical, mental to spiritual changes, we see how small changes today can make a huge difference in us tomorrow. Whether it’s prioritizing sleep and stretching like Bricia or working out and journaling like Paulina, we personally feel changes in our overall health and wellness when we stick to our routines. Bricia also gives us an update on her pregnancy and how she’s preparing for her new baby this time around, like already getting waitlisted for daycare - and the baby isn’t even born yet! Paulina is also in Oaxaca this week (this episode is pre-recorded) and she’s so excited because she’s going without kids! She’s going with her husband and they’re ready to explore the city as adults with no kids. 🤣

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s pick this week is hand sanitizer and anything else that’s sanitizing. 😂 With flu season and everything else going on, she’s washing her hands for at least 30 seconds (and also teaching the girls how to wash their hands correctly). Also, we would provide a link to buy but sanitizer is sold out or on back order online … so just make sure you wash your hands! For a great how-to, check out the graphic below from the World Health Organization.

Bricia has two picks this week and they’re both TV show. Her first new show is Cheer on Netflix. The athleticism, intensity, and drive the athletes showed is so hardcore. Her second pick is the Imagineering Story on Disney + which basically tells the story of Disneyland, Walt Disney, and the transition since the park and company began.

Links

Rise Podcast with Rachel Hollis - Episode 125: How to Supercharge Your Morning Routine - this is the podcast that changed Paulina’s life with a regular morning routine! Start one for yourself today!

Episode 228: Celebrating the Beauty of Womanhood at Every Stage with Super Mamacitas Yarel Ramos & Jessica Molina of Wait, Hold Up Podcast

Hello March! This week we're kicking off Women's History Month & International Women's Day with two special super mamacitas - Yarel Ramos & Jessica Molina, full time journalists and co-hosts of Wait, Hold Up podcast. They spoke on why they are passionate about learning & sharing stories of the local community on their podcast, the difficulties of making & keeping friendships as adults, and how they're helping each other grow in their spiritual journeys. Do you remember your life pre-kids? We miss sleeping in until 7:30AM like Jess!

More about Wait, Hold Up! Podcast: This podcast is for everyone who is out there trying to live their best lives, but need some support, encouragement, and most importantly, dope girlfriends. Jess and Yarel are here to hash out their own real life moments as well as get into those 'wait, hold up!' moments with our guests! Each episode offers something new, whether we're diving into topics around career, spirituality, personal development, wellness, or so much more. We want our listeners to walk away from this podcast feeling validated, supported, and like they can take on the world. 

More about Jessica Molina & Yarel Ramos: By trade, Jessica is a journalist and digital content producer and Yarel is a journalist and news anchor for Univision. On the pod, they're friends who are both obsessed with figuring out ways to live their best lives, stressing if mercury is in retrograde (again!), fighting for justice, and learning as much as possible from their guests. They grew up on different coasts – Jessica in NJ & NY and Yarel in LA, so while these two Latinas may have a lot in common, they definitely see the world in unique ways.This podcast is for everyone who is out there trying to live their best lives, but need some support, encouragement, and most importantly, dope girlfriends. Jess and Yarel are here to hash out their own real life moments as well as get into those 'wait, hold up!' moments with our guests! Each episode offers something new, whether we're diving into topics around career, spirituality, personal development, wellness, or so much more. We want our listeners to walk away from this podcast feeling validated, supported, and like they can take on the world. 

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s pick is for her four-eyed friends. 🤓She struggles to clean her glasses regularly, but her brother Fernando shared the how good the Up & Up pre-moistened lens wipes from Target are! They clean your glasses really well, are inexpensive, and super easy to throw in your bag or pocket to use throughout the day.

Bricia has a crazy pick and a bunch of tips this week. Her pick is those towel warmers that you see at the nail salon (suggested by Sean Bartholomew, a holistic body healer who will be on the show very soon). Bricia and Eduardo put herbal packs in there to keep them warm to put on you back, legs, arms, etc. You can also put your eye mask in there! Disclosure for the herbal packs - if you’re pregnant like Bricia, you don’t want to use them all the time because the detox your body and when you’re growing a new life, you’ll want to get rid of a lot in your body.

Another tip shared with her by Sean Bartholomew - she shouldn’t massage her feet and ankles (which is counterintuitive because that’s what hurts the most as your pregnancy goes on) during pregnancy because it releases tension in the womb that can cause harm to the baby.

Bricia also has an extra tip for changing your sleep pattern since Daylight Savings is approaching on Sunday morning, 3/8 (spring forward, fall back). She suggests changing your alarm a little earlier three days prior to the time change on Sunday - 15 minutes earlier on Thursday, 30 minutes on Friday, 45 minutes on Saturday and then you’re ready to lose an hour of sleep on Sunday. Disclosure - Bricia isn’t a doctor 🤣 but this is what works for her, and Paulina will try it too!

Links

Follow @waitholduppod @yarel_ramos and @heyjessmolina on Instagram.

Listen to Wait, Hold Up! on iTunes now.

Episode 227: Paletas, Side Hustles and Having Your Life Partner as Your Business Partner with Amy Saravia from @Gourmeletas

This week we interview Amy Saravia, founder of Gourmeletas, delicious hand dipped paletas covered in your favorite toppings. Anyone remember their yummy ice cream at last year’s Super Mamas Social? This mama of three talk to us how she & her husband started their business by switching from pizza to paletas. She was looking for some “me-time” from her full-time stay-at-home-mom life (aren’t we all 🤣) and ended up creating a yummy new business venture. Amy also shares her best tips for turning a side hustle into a career (a.k.a. save a lot of money & don’t quit your day job just yet!) and how to communicate with your spouse when they're also your business partner. is a go-getter who puts her trust in God to make sh*t happen, and she’ll make you feel determined to make your dreams into reality.

More about Amy & Gourmeletas: Husband & wife team, Amy and Tomas are the creators of Gourmeletas. They sought to re-imagine the classic hand dipped ice cream/ paletas served on unique carts. Their dessert company now offers a full line of gourmet desserts to all types special events and clients. Learn more at gourmeletas.com.

Before the episode, we’re talking about Bricia’s big announcement - she’s pregnant! This is why we’ve been eating so much and talking about our taco orders. 🌮 Send her all of the best pregnancy and baby products you recommend because she’s starting from scratch. Paulina also talks about how she and her husband and done having kids (yep, we’re talking about vasectomies again 🤣).

Pick of Tip of the Week

Paulina’s pick is such a mom pick. It can be a struggle to wake up her daughters for school in the morning, but Alexa has made it so much easier. You can customize the alarm to different songs, celebrity voices and sound bites. It’s simple and helpful and her daughters love it. Learn more here. 

Bricia is asking for tips this week! She’s not a fan of the belly band during pregnancy (it just desnt work for her 🤷🏽‍♀️) but she is still looking for something she can wear as her belly grows. Let us know in the comments if there’s anything you recommend! Other tips she has for preggo mamas as she gets closer to her due date are rubber bands for her pants that her mom taught her, drawstring pants and long shirts. Her pick of the week is bio oil which is keeping her skin really hydrated.

Link

Follow @gourmeletas on Instgram.

Bricia mentions her birth story from her first pregnancy - listen to that episode here.

Episode 226: The Importance of Growing Up Seeing Ourselves on TV with the legendary Lalo Alcaraz from Nickelodeon's @TheCasagrandes

Time for a new episode and this one is GRANDE! This week we sat down with Lalo Alcaraz, award-winning cartoonist, consulting producer and cultural consultant for the Nickelodeon animated series, The Casagrandes, an all-new spinoff of the Emmy Award-winning series, The Loud House. We talk about Lalo’s contributions to the show as a writer & what it means to be a cultural consultant and the importance of featuring a Mexican family and other diverse ethnicities & societal groups on mainstream television today. We also laugh about nicknames, and why almost all Latinx households own birds. 

More about Lalo: Alcaraz is the creator of the first nationally syndicated, politically themed Latino daily comic strip, La Cucaracha, which is read in American newspapers nationwide, including the Los Angeles Times. He also consults on films and television shows--most recently for the Oscar Award-winning film Coco (2017). He was a producer and writer on the animated show Bordertown and is also featured on an upcoming Latino program Habla y Vota special along with George Lopez and Jorge Ramos. Alcaraz is the co-host of KPFK radio's wildly popular satirical talk show, The Pocho Hour of Power, and co-founded the seminal Chicano humor 'zine, POCHO Magazine.  

He is a 1987 graduate of San Diego State University, where he received his bachelor's degree "with distinction" in Art and Environmental Design. In 1991, he earned his master's degree in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.  In addition, Alcaraz recently taught illustration at Otis College of Art & Design.

Alcaraz was born in San Diego to Mexican immigrant parents from Sinaloa and Zacatecas. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, a public school teacher, and their three children.

You can watch NEW episodes of The Casagrandes on Nickelodeon Saturday mornings at 11/10c!

LINKS

Follow @thecasagrandes on Instagram.

The Casagrandes is also available for download on iTunes and watch more Casagrandes content on the Nickelodeon YouTube channel.

For Words of Wisdom from Abuela text ABUELA to 91757. Receive 2 msg/week sent via auto dialer. Privacy policy: at.nick.com/Nickprivacy | T&C: at.nick.com/SMSterms | Text STOP to quit HELP for help | Msg & Data rates may apply.

Follow Lalo Alcaraz on Instagram and Twitter!

You can receive his comic strip, La Cucaracha, directly to your inbox at gocomics.com/lacucaracha or read it daily in the Los Angeles Times. Shop his merch at https://laloalcaraz.com/store/.

Episode 225: How to Talk to Your Kids about Personal Safety with Dr. Ilan Shapiro

In this week’s episode, we're covering a serious topic. Last year, there was a school shooting in a local Los Angeles neighborhood and we were reminded again that this is the scary reality we live in. We decided to invite Dr. Ilan Shapiro to talk about how to address situations like this with our children. He talks about how to talk to our kids about personal & public safety and how to teach them to say something if they've seen something dangerous. He also talks about how adults and parents can be better listeners so children trust that they are safe and don’t feel like chismosos when they talk to adults. Don’t worry, there are definitely a lot of laughs in this episode! We also laugh about how quick and easy vasectomies are for men, despite many protests. 😂

Before the episode, the ladies also talk about their Valentine’s Day ❤️plans. Bricia recently attended a Galentine’s Day brunch and put together some gifts for her friends. Both Paulina and Bricia will be celebrating the holiday with their families as well. Do you celebrate with your girlfriends, kids, or just your partner? Share with us! And if your little one still needs valentine’s day cards to pass out at school or if you want a fun activity to do at home, click here for some cute + easy printables you can do at home tonight!

A little bit about Dr. Shaps: He is an energetic physician and spokesperson that creates strategic networks to empower health solutions utilizing education and technology for the needs of our Community. Dr. Ilan Shapiro was born and raised in Mexico City. After graduating as Honorary Valedictorian for his MD, he began working for the Mexican Secretary of Health as the liaison between Mexico and the World Health Organization (WHO), followed by his Pediatric Residency at Mount Sinai Children’s Hospital in Chicago; a community hospital serving and advocating for minorities and the less privileged.

Ilan is actively involved in creating Binational Public Health Programs to reach Hispanic communities in both sides of the border; he acted as the Medical Advisor for the Mexican Consulate of Mexico and created the Editorial Board for a Health Bulletin representing Hispanic Health topics. As part of the community projects and advocacy, he was invited to become a part of The White House Hispanic Policy Group in 2011, educating the Hispanic Community on the Health Care Act Policy, he actively participates in the Associates Board at the advocacy groups like Sargent Shrivers Center as the first Hispanic Physician, National Hispanic Medical Association and commemorated as a Fellow of the National Physicians Alliance leaders.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s pick this week are snacks from Trader Joe’s! While working on an upcoming project, the team brought a bunch of snacks from TJ’s and she couldn’t get enough. Her top three picks are the cheese curls, hot cheetos and takis. And you can’t forget about the movie popcorn! Bricia’s trick is mix half popcorn and half cheetos while Paulina’s choice is the movie popcorn with Valentina hot sauce. Also, the Spindrift sparkling water is the best - grapefruit flavor is so bomb!

Paulina’s pick are girl scout cookies!! Support her daughter Krista’s troop and shop for your favorite cookies at kristavelazquez.com.

Links

Follow Dr. Shaps on Instagram and Twitter at @dr_shaps.

Bricia and Eduardo also might be adding The Mirror to their gym routine. Check it out here.

Episode 224: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Multiple kid living & après skiing

Happy February! It feels like it took forever to get to a new month. We’re keeping it real this week & catching you up on our busy lives. First, Paulina is talking about her weekend with four kids - and no she isn’t pregnant, she was watching Eddie while Bricia was out of town. 🤣 The cousins had a movie night, sang karaoke, and went to their local library where Krista learned an important lesson in responsibility. Bricia also recently traveled to Sundance in Utah and experience how “the other half” lives LOL. 💰 Apparently people have a ski-in, ski-out rooms in their Utah homes and do this thing called “après ski” but more fashionable (guess we’re going shopping 🛍). She also shares a hilarious story about an awkward moment with one of her fave celebrities, Issa Rae, that you’ll have to listen to!

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s pick is something for families with multiple kids or for when you have a lot of kids over, like she did last weekend. The kids always want water or juice, this or that. Her favorite cup hands down is the Munchkin 360 cup. She has so many, and with so many colors she’s able to give each kids a specific color that they can keep track of. There were no spills, no accidents, plus they’re super easy to clean or throw into the dishwasher (just make sure you wash each of the 3 parts). 

Bricia has two beauty picks this week. She received two new lipsticks - the first one is from Sweet Street Cosmetics and it’s the thick and thin lipstick & lip liner duo. It has two tips, one darker and one lighter, to give that chola look (dark outline and light lip is back in) but way more chic. The second is a lip gloss from Facil and it has become one of Bricia’s new favorite nude shades. She received it as a gift from a party at Sundance and it’s a great shade for daytime wear.

We’ve extended our giveaway until Saturday February 8th! ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $500 TO KICK OF YOUR WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATION FUND! ENTER ON INSTAGRAM TODAY, AND CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES & TO LEARN MORE.

Episode 223: Fighting for Our Immigrant Families & DACAmented Youth with Angelica Salas from CHIRLA

This week, we speak with Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). Since becoming CHIRLA's director in 1999, Salas has helped win in-state tuition and access to financial aid for undocumented immigrant students, and most recently helped win drivers licenses for the undocumented community in California. Salas is also a leading national spokesperson and organizer on federal immigration policy. She is a leader in national coalitions of organizations which have successfully mobilized millions of immigrants to demand comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship, family reunification, and protection of civil and labor rights.

Angelica talks to us about how she got her start with the organization after her own family’s experience with deportation and she’s letting us know how we can help other immigrant families. Angelica also talks about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the resources the organization offers. Get ready to be moved by Angelica's strength - you'll be inspired to make a difference!

Before the episode, we’re reflecting on this weekend’s tragedy where 9 lives were lost in a helicopter accident. Being born & raised in Los Angeles, we were devastated to learn that Kobe Bryant, who embodies everything that is LA, and his daughter Gianna, as well as other parents and children, lost their lives. It’s a reminder to live as Kobe did - love and help others as we are supposed to, just like God intended. Simple as that.

Our Conversation with Angelica Salas

How did you get started in CHIRLA?

What was it about your upbringing that made you want to get involved?

What is the DACA policy? Who does it protect and who doesn’t it protect?

How can we help?

1. Be vigilant about the DACA decision. If it ends, we need to rally and push for a permanent solution from Congress.

2. Register to vote & participate in elections.

3. Become a member of CHIRLA or donate to the DACA trust fund.

THERE is one WEEK LEFT TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $500 TO KICK OF YOUR WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATION FUND! ENTER ON INSTAGRAM TODAY, AND CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES & TO LEARN MORE.

Episode 222: Mentoring Your Community & the Importance of Play with Mom Boss Blanca Gonzalez, VP of @Nike LA

The year just started and it feels like it’s flying by! This week on the show, we interview Blanca Gonzalez, General Manager/Vice President of NIKE Los Angeles/West Territory. We talk about how making clothes for her Barbies as a kid sparked her passion for product, about being an advocate for children with disabilities, and the importance of having access to sports & play. She also stresses the importance of using your voice & being authentic in your work environment. This is an interview you'll want to replay over & over!

Before the episode, Paulina and Bricia discuss anxiety and the expectations that adds to the “alka-seltzer feeling” as Paulina describes it. Paulina talks about how she’s been feeling anxious since coming home from our Walt Disney World trip (btw - don’t forget to enter our giveaway! Learn more here). She decided to take a break from social media and has a new morning routine, because she knows that having structure keeps her busy and keeps her mind away from anxious thoughts. Paulina is also conquering it by talking to her loved ones and strengthening her relationship with God. When speaking about her feelings with her friend, the friend questioned Paulina saying, “So what if it all that happens?” It really gave Paulina a new perspective about her anxiety and feelings, and has helped her think: What is this going to teach me? What am I supposed to learn through this experience?

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia is still on her “no shopping” sabbatical and it’s so hard, especially with the new Ivy Park line that launched (you know how much she loves Beyonce). This week she is sharing her all-time FAVORITE pen. It doesn’t smear all over her pinky when she journals, it makes her writing pretty and it’s so light! Send her all the pens since she still can’t buy new things. 😂

Paulina asked for a few things for Christmas, one of them being the Party of Four kit from Drybar. It’s a game changer because it not only comes with great products, but also has travel sizes which are great for travel and also throwing in your purse when you have things to do throughout the day. It helps her get out the door quick & easy every morning.

Links

I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi - We are obsessed with this book!

Rise Podcast with Rachel Hollis - Episode 125: How to Supercharge Your Morning Routine

There’s still two weeks left to enter for your chance to win $500 to kick of your Walt Disney World Vacation Fund! Enter on Instagram today, and click here for official contest rules & to learn more.

BONUS EPISODE: How We Would Take Our Walt Disney World Trip to the Next Level

Two episodes in one week?! We couldn’t keep it all the Disney Magic to ourselves! ✨

We're still dreaming about Walt Disney World, but we got to talking about what we would do differently next time. We would definitely schedule more meals at restaurants like Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom (we heard the grey stuff is delicious 😉) and Jaleo, a José Andrés restuarant at Disney Springs. We would also plan a day to rest & recharge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and take advantage of the resort amenities, like a massage or pedicure (for tired feet!) at the beautiful Senses Spa and then let the kids enjoy the waterslide at Beach Pool.

Towards the end of the episode, we interview more Disney Cast Members about new attractions coming to Walt Disney World. First, we speak with Stephen Lim, Walt Disney World Ambassador, which is our new dream job. 😍Stephen’s knows all things Disney and speaks about Disney's Hollywood Studios' newest attraction, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opening March 4, 2020. We also interview Fabrice Becker, former Olympic Gold Medalist (check that off our bucket list ✔️) & Director of Creation of Cirque du Soleil's newest show, Drawn to Life. This collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering opens for previews March 20, 2020, and officially debut April 17, 2020, so you won’t want to miss this!

DON’T FORGET TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $500 TO KICK OF YOUR WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATION FUND! ENTER ON INSTAGRAM TODAY, AND CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES & TO LEARN MORE.

Episode 221: Keeping Up with the Super Mamas: Our Walt Disney World Vacation !

Happy New Year Super Mamas! We’re finally back with brand new episodes and not to be biased, but this was worth the wait. 😉 This week, we’re recapping our family trip to Walt Disney World! We spent five days and four nights at the most Magical Place on Earth, and it was such a great experience. We were lucky enough to be invited to celebrate 20 Magical Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World in 2020 and experience all the reasons for ourselves.

We visited all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks during our visit - Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom Park. We used our fast passes throughout our visit, which was absolutely worth it because we were able to ride a lot of the most popular attractions like Frozen Ever After, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Avatar Flight of Passage. We stayed at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which had great restaurants, the Bippity Boppity Boutique where Sabina got her princess makeover, and even a spa that we’re definitely trying next time we visit the parks (✨manifesting a yearly Walt Disney World trip✨).

One of the best parts of our trip was that we were invited to check out some exclusive sneak peeks, including a new ride called Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opening March 4, 2020. We even had the opportunity to interview Cast Members (aka Disney team members) who worked closely on some of these projects: Cesar Avila, who chats about Disney’s Riviera Resort, a new resort inspired by Europe and imagined by Disney, and Disney’s Skyliner, the best way to get around the theme parks, and Monica Yukopila, who share tips on how to get more DISNEY out of your Walt Disney World vacation when you stay at a Disney Resort hotel. You can listen to both of these interviews at the end of today’s episode.

Check out all of the links below to learn more about where we stayed, what we saw & did, and what we ate.

Want to enter our giveaway for a chance to win Disney Gift Cards to start your Walt Disney World Vacation fund? Head to our Instagram or click here to learn more !

Our Walt Disney World Vacation Locations

Day 1

Where we stayed - The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Gasparilla Island Grill - perfect for quick (yummy!) bites

Day 2

Disney’s Animal Kingdom - Kilimanjaro Safari Ride and Na’vi River Journey

Epcot - Fish & Chips from the United Kingdom Pavilion were the best ever!

Epcot Forever Fireworks - an incredible show!

Day 3

Disney’s Hollywood Studios - Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land

Day 4

Magic Kingdom Park - from classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Roller Coaster, every ride is incredible

Bippity Boppity Boutique for princess and prince makeovers

Disney Springs - shopping, restaurants, NBA Experience & more

Disney After Hours - experience an almost empty park, enjoy rides with a 5 minute wait, and free snacks like ice cream, popcorn, & select drinks

Day 5

1900 Park Fare for character breakfasts

Disney’s Riviera Resort - opened in Dec. 2019

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Episode 220: Setting Realistic Goals for the New Year & Getting Rid of Impostor Syndrome with Michelle Gomez, Career & Life Coach

It’s our last show of 2019 and we’re ending with a bang! This week, we speak to Michelle Gomez, Career & Life Coach. She speaks to us about what imposter syndrome is and how to turn it into a positive by identifying your unique cocktail of needs (read more on that below). Michelle also talks about the best methods for setting your goals in the new year and why it’s important to celebrate yourself when achieving these goals. There are so many gems in this episode, you’ll want to take notes. Get ready to set your intentions and make sh*t happen!

Before the interview, Paulina and Bricia are talking about how excited they are to spend time with their families and not having a packed schedule of events. All they want to do is be housewives for the holidays - shopping, cleaning, cooking, baking, spending time with the kids - doing it all!

What is imposter syndrome? How do you surrender to this feeling, understand it, and use this instead of it using you?

Imposter syndrome is a behavioral phenomenon where high achieving people seem to internalize their success. They explain their accomplishments away rather than own them. There is a consistent fear of being caught as a fake or phony. It could happen to anyone, but typically it happens more to women.

Michelle believes there is power in identifying. In her book, “Own Your Brilliance: Overcome Impostor Syndrome for Career Success,” she helps people identify their UCON, or unique cocktail of needs. By understanding these five competencies, people can then identify their triggers and can start to work through their internal dialogue by journaling, meditating, etc.

1. The Perfectionist: Tends to focus on something that’s done. High expectation of herself and sets the bar high. When she doesn’t achieve, she experiences harsh inner criticism and shame.

2. The Natural Genius: Expects to have natural abilities, AKA an easy flow of intelligence that would result in being able to approach any task or goal with ease. if it’s not easy, she believes it’s not for her - impostor.

3. The Expert: Believes true competency is in possessing as much knowledge and skill as possible, or be able to retain and execute all forms of self-mastery and seeking out all forms of credential. Tend to hold yourself back.

4. The Rugged Individualist: a person who can approach the task all on her own, with no help. If she approaches it and sees she needs help, she pulls back because she’s an impostor.

5. The Superwoman: believes she should fulfill all her duties masterfully (wife, mother, sister, friend, employee, leader, etc.) and she should handle with ease.

Which of these competencies do you identify with? How will you be changing these behaviors into a positive? Listen to Michelle drop gems during her interview and comment below!

Pick or Tip of the Week

This is not an #ad, but Paulina’s new favorite thing is Disney+ ! She loves it. They not only have all the animated shows that their sister, Liz, used to watch as a kid, but also a lot of shows that Bricia & Paulina grew up watching too. Her favorite shows to watch are the animated shorts, and she’s also been meaning to check out Boy Meets World with the girls. It’s the perfect way to spend their Christmas break.

Bricia has a pick AND a tip this week. Her pick is Apple TV+. It has two shows she is obsessed with - The Morning Show, which is a drama with comedic moments, and Dickinson, a comedy starring Hailee Steinfield, which Bricia’s says is her favorite show she’s seen this year.

Bricia’s tip for the rest of 2019 is for all the super mamas to reflect on the year. Don’t be afraid to own and shout out your successes, as little or as big as they are. Rejoice in your achievements without worrying about what people are going to think of you. Own your shit and live your best inner self. You should be proud of everything you’ve achieved this year, no regrets.

Links

Follow Michelle on Instagram @mgsuccesscoach and learn more about her coaching at michellemgomez.com.

Michelle’s favorite book: “The Four Agreements”

The last book Michelle read: “The Beautiful No”

The Oprah Tour - we want to go !

Episode 219: Our Super Mamas' Holiday Gift Guide 2019 is here!

Happy holidays super mamas! On this week’s episode, we’re sharing our favorite picks for your holiday gifts. 🎁 We have beauty picks, kitchen items, and even some *ahem* x-rated presents, so whether you’re shopping for your mom, your amigas, or yourself (#treatyoself), there’s a little something for everyone. Don’t forget to send this episode with your partner, friends, and Santa 🎅🏽 to make sure you get something you love this year!

Before the episode, we’re laughing about dollar store gingerbread houses and how to save money on airport water bottles. Plus, we also quickly recap this year’s Vision Board Posada! For a complete recap (and lots of event pictures), head to the blog.

Check out our complete post on our gift guide picks on the blog. What’s your must have item from this year’s gift guide? Comment below!