Episode 316: Adventure is Out There with Tori Bolt, co-owner of Bolt Farm Treehouse & Airbnb Superhost

We love a good vacation this time of year! This week’s guest is Airbnb super host, Tori Bolt. We have previously mentioned why we love renting homes while on vacation versus staying in hotels (with Bricia recently launching her own rental property on Airbnb), and after our conversation with Tori, we know we’ll be adventuring in rental homes for more vacations to come. Tori explains how she and her husband created Bolt Farm Treehouse, what it takes to be a great rental host, and how faith guides her and her husband in all that they do. She has such a calm yet adventurous spirit, and we’re ready to book our next experience in one of her special homes!

More about Tori: Tori Bolt is co-founder of Bolt Farm Treehouse, an inspiring place to reconnect with nature, the people you love, and your purpose, and the leader in luxury outdoor travel. What started as a treehouse for Tori & Seth’s wedding day quickly became, under Tori’s marketing & PR prowess, a nationally recognized brand featured on Netflix, a celebrity hot spot, and named the most popular Airbnb in South Carolina by Buzzfeed.

Before building treehouses and operating these one-of-a-kind boutique hotel-vacation rental hybrids, Tori was a news producer and entertainment reporter, which is how she met her husband, Seth, founding member of the band Needtobreathe. Now, Tori leads the Bolt Farm Treehouse team and utilizes her passion for PR while Seth, the company’s visionary, dreams up future designs. Her mission is to create intentional, inspiring environments that help travelers reconnect, and to inspire female entrepreneurs to chase their dreams, live their best life as they pursue meaningful work & meaningful relationships.

Tori and her husband, Seth

Expectations as a Short Term Rental Guest (from Superhost Tori)

1. The fewer rules, the better. No one wants to read a giant binder of rules, just mention the important ones.

2. You attract people in the way you write your description. I.e. If you don’t want party people, don’t describe your space as “great space for entertaining,” etc.

3. Highly recommend a personalized welcome video! Explain a few rules, how to use certain things like hot tub, tv, etc.

4. Tips for guests so they have the best stay. It keeps that personal touch.

5. Tori’s NUMBER ONE pet peeve as a guest: “Don’t give me a long list of check out instructions especially if you’re going to have a high cleaning fee.”

3 things hosts can do to motivate guests to leave reviews

• Ask them! Send a follow up message once they check out.

• Do the work for them. If they say something kind to you, remind them that they can copy and paste it into their review.

• Give them an incentive. Maybe a coffee mug, discount off their next stay, t shirt, etc. People love a good freebie!

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s husband gifted her an Oura Ring for Mother’s Day and she’s obsessed with all the information it provides. It tells you when you might be getting sick, tracks your period, when you get good sleep and what you did that day that made a difference in your sleep. She’s learning so many things about her daily habits that she never noticed before!

Since Paulina is still on her journey or reorganizing her home, she is loving these Ziploc Space bags. She’s packing away all the winter coats, big comforters, and they really are saving her space in the cabinets!

Links

Connect with Tori on Instagram @toribolt and follow her journey at @boltfarmtreehouse

Netflix’s World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals episode

Episode 315: Unapologetically Marcela: A Conversation with chef, author & super mama, Marcela Valladolid

To say we fan-girled over this week’s guest is an understatement! We interview Marcela Valladolid - chef, television personality, designer, author, businesswoman and ultimate super mama - and she took us to church. She talks about growing up in Tijuana, MX, her book writing process, personal growth, health, and her beautiful family. If you follow Marcela on Instagram, you know she is always unapologetically herself. Her real authentic personality transcends through the microphone throughout this episode and you’ll want to take notes, because her words will encourage you to be unapologetically you, too.

More about Marcela: Marcela Valladolid is an Emmy nominated celebrity chef, television personality, designer, author, mother and businesswoman.

Growing up around expert and traditional cooks in Tijuana, Mexico, Marcela was raised to be passionate about food. She enrolled full time in the Los Angeles Culinary Institute and trained in Paris where she graduated as a classically trained pastry chef at the Ritz-Escoffier Cooking School.

Marcela began her professional career as a Food Editor for Bon Appetite Magazine. Her first television show was "Relatos Con Sabor" for Discovery en Español and she published her first book, "Fresh Mexico", in 2009.

She hosted her second show, "Mexican Made Easy", for the Food Network in 2010 and released a companion book, "Mexican Made Easy", in 2011.

Marcela was a co-host on the three-time Emmy Nominated Food Network hit show "The Kitchen." She has also appeared as a Celebrity judge for 3 seasons on the Food Network show "Best Baker in America" and was the Host of the Food Network's "Holiday Gingerbread Showdown" which aired December 2018.

She is currently co-hosting the "Marcela & Carina Show" a virtual live cooking class & entertainment show with her sister and motivational speaker Carina Valladolid, which was recently mentioned in the NY Times.

She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, NY Times, People Magazine, Food & Wine Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, NY Daily News, Better Homes & Garden, and has appeared on national TV shows such as Today Show, The Talk, The Chew, The View, Access Hollywood Live, The Rachael Ray Show, Live! with Kelly and Michael, AOL Build, Yahoo News and more.

Marcela has done partnerships and promotional events with companies such as Capital One, Google, Herdez, Northgate, Target, Bank of America and Estee Lauder to name a few. Marcela also had a branded line of food products in partnership with Safeway. She was the only celebrity to have had her own branded food line sold exclusively nationwide at Safeway/Vons/Pavilion's.

Marcela started a partnership with This Is Latin America in January 2021 that includes a line of curated products by Casa Marcela.

She released her 3rd book, CASA MARCELA, in April 2017 and her 4th book, "Fiestas; Tidbits, Margaritas & More," in April 2019, both listed as national best sellers. She just released her 5th book , “Cocinando on Cook Street”, a children's book in partnership with Latina-led publishing house, Lil Libros.

Marcela resides in Chula Vista, CA with her partner Philip Button and their three children (Fausto, David and Anna Carina) and their dog, Kongo.

Our conversation with Marcela

Who is Marcela?

The book writing process

Whats App - the Mexican Way

“Her dad is the OG instagram feed” - Paulina about Patty’s father

Growing up in Tijuana

Marcela’s mom

“My mom taught us the only way to find your happiness is to be authentic to yourselves.” - Marcela

“‘Que van a decir la gente?’ You hear it your whole life.” - Marcela, on the biggest lesson she learned from her mother

La generación de cristal

“I carry a lot of guilt because I’m a working mom.” - Marcela

The parental balance in the household

Marcela’s personal growth

Yoga & being sober

“Your energy is just so ever flowing.” - Bricia to Marcela about her personal growth

Seeking therapy

Maintaining emotional health

“I can be going through a really rough moment and that it’s going to pass and I’m going to coexist in this moment and go on with other things in my life.” - Marcela

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s pick is Sneakerella on Disney+. It’s basically Cinderella but a dude with sneakers, and Eddie loves it. The music, singing and dancing is great! It’s a great pick for kids since they’re going to be spending more time at home now that it’s summer vacation.

Paulina’s tip is actually a tip from Patty Rodriguez that they picked up during their short trip to Texas.  When it’s really hot out and you’re wearing a hat, grab a few small ice cubes and stick them in the seam of your hat. It’s great for sport days, summer camp, traveling - whenever you’ll be outside and need to cool off.

Links

Follow Marcela on Instagram - @chefmarcela

You can get her new book, Cocinando on Cook Street: A collection of mi familia’s recipes on Amazon

Episode 314: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Look for the Helpers

TW: This episode discusses the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. 

Almost two weeks ago, 17 students and 2 teachers lost their lives in an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. During this podcast episode, we have a conversation about our feelings that day and the days following. We are heart broken for the city of Uvalde, but also in awe of the people who came together to support & comfort the victims’ families in need and the surrounding community. We don’t have any answers as to why this happened or how it can be stopped going forward. All we want is to open the door to conversation about our thoughts & feelings about Uvalde, Buffalo and other communities who have experienced tragedy, what our children are feeling, and how we can continue to support one another when these events happen. What we do know is that we won’t forget what has happened in Uvalde or any other community who has experienced this type of loss, and when we need it most, the kindness of community is always there to help. 

We would love to speak to other community members who can give us more insight, resources and more on what we can do to help. If anyone is open, we would love to have them on the show. Please email us at hello@supermamas.com with suggestions. 

What You Can do to help

Donate to the families on the verified gofundme pages.

Write letters to the surviving children and families. You can mail them directly to the school:
Robb Elementary
715 Old Carrizo Rd.
Uvalde TX 78801

Donate to José Andrés’ @wckitchen. Your donation allows local restaurants to provide meals to the community, especially children. Helping the community with space to grieve without worrying about meals.

Donate to the Robb School Memorial Fund. The First State Bank of Uvalde has opened a memorial fund for the families of Robb Elementary. All proceeds will go the families:
Make all checks payable to “Robb School Memorial Fund”
Mail checks to: 200 E. Nopal St., Uvalde, Texas, 78801
Or to donate through Zelle, email: robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com

Donate blood.

Keep bringing awareness to all the issues surrounding what happened.

Show up and never forget.

Links

Support and donate to World Central Kitchen, who provide meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. You can also learn more about the organization by watching chef José Andrés’ documentary We Feed People on Disney+.

More ways you can help

Read more about our experience in Texas on Instagram - @bricialopez @pattyrodriguez @julissaarce

Episode 313: When Business and Motherhood Meet with Ellen Marie Bennett, founder of Hedley & Bennett

Who knew that becoming a mom is so much like running a business? Only our friend, Ellen Marie Bennett. She’s a new mom, founder of the brand Hedley & Bennett, and an incredibly accomplished woman who has changed the culinary industry. She talks about her birth story (including her 40 hour labor!), why it’s necessary for both parents to be a part of the postpartum experience, and how becoming a mother has changed her perspective as a business owner. She may be a new mama, but she has been exuding super mama vibes for a long time!

More about Ellen:  Growing up, Ellen Bennett, the founder and Chief Brand Officer of Hedley & Bennett, the leading Los Angeles based culinary brand, found herself spending summers in her native Mexico learning to cook with her abuelita. Soon after graduating high school, Ellen found herself back in Mexico City attending culinary school where she would rekindle the joys of her summer cooking adventures while learning the skills needed to tackle the hustle of the professional kitchen. Back in L.A., she put her training to work cooking in two Michelin Star restaurants, Providence and Baco Mercat. It was during this time working on the line that she experienced a “uniform” that was not aligned with the creativity and confidence found in the kitchen. This led to the vision for Hedley & Bennett; make the best aprons in the world by marrying the needs of professional chefs with the design trends for today's discerning consumers.

Today, Hedley & Bennett makes culinary workwear and gear that outfits over 6,000 restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, resorts and hundreds of thousands of home cooks all over the world. This evolution has also led to creative, out-of-the-box collaborations with brands and partners such as the Grateful Dead, Vans, Madewell, Parachute Home, Rifle Paper Co., Product (RED) and more. 

In early 2020, Ellen pivoted the resources of her company during the global COVID-19 pandemic to make masks to meet the needs of both professionals and consumers while donating hundreds of thousands of masks to front line workers. 

In April of 2021, Ellen released her first book Dream First, Details Later, which outlines her personal playbook of putting your inner worrier on silent and leaping into action. Peppered with unfiltered behind-the-scenes stories and colorful illustrations, the book empowers readers with the tools they need to bring their boldest and best ideas to life.  

Ellen and the Hedley & Bennett story has been featured in the New York Times, Fast Company, Inc., Forbes, Entrepreneur,  Bon Appetit, Martha Stewart, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Today Show and more. Ellen lives in Echo Park with her husband Casey, their brand-new baby boy Nico, their pet pig Oliver, and six chickens.

Our Conversation with Ellen

“My greatest accomplishment yet.” - Ellen, on becoming a mom

Her pet pig, Oliver

Nico’s birth

“40 hour labor - that’s a full work week!” - Ellen on her birthing experience

The story of Hedley & Bennett

“It started with this decision and this mental shift from no to yes and then taking the actions necessary which is very much like running a business.” - Ellen, on deciding she was ready to start a family

“There are crazy similarities with business and motherhood and I’m only 5 months in.” - Ellen

“It’s incredibly important that both that both the man and the woman show up for postpartum because it’s so fucking hard. It’s so much work and it’s so intense for the mother, and no mother should have to do it on their own.'“ - Ellen

Ellen’s postpartum experience

“I have never stopped in that way. I’ve never stopped for 40 days ever. It was crazy but I needed it.” - Ellen

“When the baby comes, you feel like your marriage becomes #2. But it shouldn’t. It needs to be number 1.” - Ellen

Business & a baby

Links

Follow Ellen on instagram @ellenmariebennett

Follow Hedley & Bennett on Instagram @hedleyandbennett and shop aprons, accessories and more at HedleyandBennett.com

Buy her book Dream First, Details Later: How to Quit Overthinking & Make It Happen! “It’s an easy read!” - Ellen

You can also buy the audio version, read by Ellen herself

Bricia also recommended this book, The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother, to Ellen during her baby shower. They both highly recommend it when preparing for your postpartum experience.

Episode 312: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: I Can Breathe Again!

A few weeks ago, we let you know that Bricia was out for the week due to a minor surgery. In this episode, she tells the story behind her nose surgery and why it needed to be corrected. After a nose job as a teen and years of terrible breathing problems afterwards, Bricia decided a few years ago to finally get the problem fixed. The story of her surgery day is a little nerve wracking for the Lopez family, but in the end everything turned out well and Bricia is on the road to healing! It’s a personal reminder that a healthy quality of life is more important than anything else. 

Our Conversation

Teenage Nose Job

Lopez Family Breathing Problems

Bricia’s Surgery Decision

Eddie’s Birth Story

Surgery Day

Paulina’s Side of the Story

The Recovery Process

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s doctor is requiring her to tape her nose a little longer, so she found this skin colored tape and is highly recommending it ! And shout out to Bricia’s doctor, Dr Nima Shemirani, for taking care of her and making the process so flawless.

Paulina’s tip this week is when you go into surgery, leave good contact information for your loved ones! Once you listen to the episode, you’ll know why. Let someone know how they can reach your doctor or the office if you’re under anesthesia or doing an important procedure.

Final tip: DON’T talk about death the day before your surgery.

Links

Eddie’s Birth Story - we reference this a few times because it seriously felt like dejavu!

Afrin Nasal Spray really helped Bricia breathe at night after surgery

Episode 311: Beauty, Business and Good Moms: An Interview with mother-daughter duo Rea Ann Silva and Erica Dickerson of Beautyblender

Whoa, talk about a real GIRL POWER episode! This week we interview not just one, but TWO incredible super mamas: Rea Ann Silva, creator & founder of Beautyblender and her daughter, Erica Dickerson, Global Beauty Director of Beautyblender and podcast host of Good Moms, Bad Choices. The two have worked together basically since the conception of Beautyblender (when Erica started assembling products in the family garage!) and have since grown the business and their personal relationship. We talk to the duo about managing mom guilt, single motherhood, encouraging your children to follow their heart, and so much more. And of course, there is no shortage of beauty tips from these gorgeous ladies. We are obsessed with these two and the relationship they’ve created both at work and at home!

More about Rea Ann: Rea Ann Silva is a professional makeup artist and the creator and founder of Beautyblender. Her experience spans a nearly 30-year journey as one of the most sought-after Hollywood makeup artists in the industry. As the creative force behind Beautyblender, she single-handedly changed the beauty game. The Beautyblender concept came to Rea Ann while she was the Department Head of one of the first TV shows shot in hi-definition. Rea Ann handled the constant touch-ups with her hand-cut, edgeless sponges to mimic the seamless look of airbrushing. Soon, every celebrity that sat in Rea Ann’s chair wanted their own hand-cut sponge; thus creating the original edgeless sponge. Beautyblender quickly became the secret on set that had every pro talking.

Today, the category-creator holds countless beauty awards and is beloved by both makeup aficionados and newbies as the go-to tool for achieving a perfectly blended complexion. As Beautyblender expands, we continue to innovate easy-to-use products that require minimal efforts yet offer maximum results. In November 2020, Rea Ann was honored at the Smithsonian American Museum of Natural History in the “Only One in The Room” exhibit, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage.

More about Erica: Erica Dickerson is the Global Beauty Director of Beautyblender, host of the podcast Good Moms, Bad Choices and a content creator. Her history with Beautyblender began at conception...literally. As the daughter of Founder and CEO Rea Ann Silva, Erica was the brand’s “first-ever product assembler” back when Beautyblender began out of her mother’s garage in Los Angeles. Little did she know that her mom’s side project would turn into the most popular makeup tool in the world.

Before becoming Beautyblender’s Global Beauty Director, Erica pursued acting where she landed a handful of national commercials and major roles on shows like “Bones” on Fox and “Insecure” on HBO.

When she turned 18, Erica left Los Angeles to attend college at Marymount in New York City. After completing her first year, an opportunity arose to assist and road manage Grammy-winning artist, Macy Gray. Yearning to travel and get real work experience, she took the job and worked closely with Macy for three years while she toured the globe.

In 2010, as Beautyblender began expanding into consumer retail outlets like Sephora and the ever- growing social media landscape rapidly changing she became heavily involved in growing the digital side of the brand.

Conceptualizing, producing, and creating the brand voice for Instagram, Youtube, and Sephora’s education team, Erica has played a major role in Beautyblenders massive cult following. With the company’s rapid growth, she was tapped to help grow their Broadcast business where she currently appears on the HSN and QVC. She also works closely in product development creating many of the products that grace the shelves of Sephora and Beautyblender’s other global partners.

Aside from her full-time career in beauty, she is also the host of popular podcast, Good Moms Bad Choices. Over the last three years, she has helped develop a platform and safe space for mothers and women to share, listen and learn about all things related to parenthood, sex, culture, and mental health. Good Moms Bad Choices is rated in the top 5% of podcasts globally and continues to change the landscape of what is acceptable for mothers and WOC to seek, accept and discuss.

Through the success of her Podcast, she just signed a major book deal with Harper Collins based on GMBC and her experience navigating single motherhood slated to release in 2022. She has been featured in Vogue, BET, Good Housekeeping, XO Necole, and recently was honored by Create and Cultivate as one of the Top 100 Entrepreneurs of 2021.

Erica currently resides in Los Angeles with her daughter Irie Jane.

Our conversation with Rea Ann and Erica

Who are Rea Ann & Erica?

The Creation of Beautyblender

Erica’s start at Beautyblender

“A lot of our bad choices are actually good choices. It just depends who you ask and who’s listening.” - Erica

Parenting a 7 year old

The differences in their parenting styles

Being a working single mom

Working together as mother & daughter

The concept of time

Does mom guilt ever go away?

The evolution of women supporting women

Building a community

Tips for Flawless Skin

Drink lots of water & apply sunscreen - Rea Ann

WET YOUR BEAUTYBLENDER - Erica

Links

Follow Rea Ann and Erica on Instagram - @reaannsilva and @watcherica

Follow @beautyblender, the original edgeless egg-shaped sponge, on Instagram

Follow @goodmoms_badchoices and listen to their podcast here

Check out some of Beautyblenders’ latest products! Shop the newest Papaya sponge and sign up for the waitlist for the new BOUNCE™ Magic Fit Creamy Bronzer & Highlighter Duo

Episode 310: Valuing Yourself & Loving What You Do with Adrienne Borlongan, co-founder of Wanderlust Creamery

We’re getting so close to summer, we can almost taste it! And speaking of tasting, this week’s guest is an expert at wanderlust flavors. We interview Adrienne Borlongan, co-founder of Wanderlust Creamery, an artisanal ice cream shop in Los Angeles. She creates all of the flavors, just opened their sixth store location and still has time to be a boss mama to her 3 littles. We talk about why delegation is one of the biggest lessons she learned since opening her business, and all the help that goes into running her successful family business. This interview is fun, insightful and leave you craving a sweet treat. And don’t worry if you’re not local to L.A. - the shop ships nationwide!

More about Adrienne: Adrienne Borlongan is the Creative partner & Co-founder of Wanderlust Creamery.

The Granddaughter of a flavor chemist from magnolia ice cream, Adrienne developed her palate & understanding of flavor theory while working as a mixologist, crafting multiple cocktail programs for SBE hospitality.

Adrienne has a unique passion to globalize palates through unique yet familiar ice cream flavors. She is a mama to three babies all under the age of three. She and her husband own and operate Wanderlust Creamery’s six locations and a weekly pop up at Smorgasburg in Los Angeles, California.

Episode 309: Keeping Our Children Healthy During COVID-19 with Dr. Ilan Shapiro

School is almost out for summer and we can feel our children getting more excited as each school week ends! But even though it feels like things have gone back to normal with fewer masks, warmer weather and summer vacation plans of travel & family outings, it doesn’t mean that COVID-19 has left us for good. In honor of Children’s day and in partnership with Juntos Sí Podemos, this week’s episode focuses on how we can continue to protect our children and families from COVID. We interview past guest and great friend of the show, Dr. Ilan Shapiro, about the latest updates in COVID and it’s variants, getting our kids vaccinated and what we can expect in the future with this pandemic. We understand that vaccinations are a personal choice, but Dr. Shapiro says it best during this episode: “I want to be as safe as I can. That’s why I chose to be vaccinated.”
For more information on COVID, vaccinations for your kids and how to keep your family safe & healthy this summer, visit https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/.

More about Dr. Shaps: Dr. Ilan Shapiro joined AltaMed in 2016 as the Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer, where he oversaw an expansion of behavioral health and employee health education services. He was also involved in the creation of programs to prevent and manage chronic disease in children and adults, as well as helping patients facing economic hardship, food insecurity, and mental health challenges. Most recently, Dr. Shapiro has been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as a leading source of education and information and a trusted media resource on both national and international news outlets, including CNN, NBC, MSNBC, Telemundo, and Univision. He also continues to have a strong social media presence averaging more than one billion unique views per year. 

In his new role, Dr. Shapiro will lead strategy for external health communications, policy, and community relations to advance equity and inclusion and expand community health and wellness initiatives. He will serve as the chief physician spokesperson for AltaMed and work closely with the Public Affairs, Government Relations, and Civic Engagement departments in this capacity.

More about the Juntos Sí Podemos campaign: The HHS COVID-19 public education campaign is a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. For more information, please visit https://juntossipodemos.hhs.gov/.

Our Conversation with Dr. Shapiro

Dr. Shapiro’s pandemic experience

As people are getting ready for summer, many people think the pandemic is over and we’re done with this virus. What do you tell those families about the current status of the pandemic?

What do we need to do to keep our families healthy?

Kids & COVID-19

Are boosters really necessary for children 12 and older if they’ve already been vaccinated 

AND have had COVID? 

If a child has already had COVID, why is it necessary for them to get vaccinated, especially now that rates of infection have been declining steadily?

Medical advice for unvaccinated folks

Why do you think some parents remain hesitant to vaccinate their children?

Should parents be concerned about any long-term side effects of COVID vaccines? 

Should we expect the covid vaccine to be an annual shot like the flu shot?

When will vaccines for children under 5 years old be approved and how will those vaccines be the same or different from the ones for 5 years and older?

Pick or Tip of the Week 

Two pick this week from Bricia! First, Liz Hernandez’s WORDAFUL Kids Affirmation Cards. She’s going to start adding these to the kids’ everyday routine because they’re so beautiful Second, during Bricia’s dinner party this past weekend they guests all played WORDAFUL The Game and it got deep. Highly recommend for your next girls’ night.

Paulina’s pick is also staying in theme with the episode - something for the kids to keep them healthy! If you caught it on our Instagram Stories, Zixta, Paulina’s youngest daughter, got sick and made a trip to urgent care. She used these Vapo Patches on Zixta’s clothes and it helped her feel more comfortable and get a better sleep.

Links

Follow Dr. Shapiro on Instagram and Twitter @dr_shaps

Learn more about the HHS COVID-19 Public Education campaign. Visit WeCanDoThis.hhs.gov to learn about COVID-19 vaccines and more.

Episode 308: Advocating for Your Health with Sarah & Boo Simms of Lady & Larder

These ladies are putting our sister relationship to shame! In this episode we interview twin sisters, Sarah & Boo Simms, owners of Lady & Larder. You can thank them for being one of the forces that started the charcuterie board trend that’s all over social media right now! Sarah & Boo are big on family and they talk to us about how they balance their work and personal relationship. They also talk about how they supported each other when Sarah was diagnosed with cancer last year. The story makes us just as emotional now as when we heard it the first time, but it’s a great reminder to not only stay on top of your health, but to also advocate for yourself when you know something isn’t right. Get ready to cry, laugh and take notes because these sisters are dropping serious gems that you won’t want to forget!

More about the Simms sisters: Twin sisters Sarah and Boo Simms are the culinary and creative duo behind Lady & Larder – the Los Angeles based cheese shop credited with starting a global grazing board movement in 2016. The two have deep roots in the California hospitality industry and both share extensive backgrounds in the food and beverage industry – Sarah on the culinary and operations side and Boo in design and marketing. Raised under the notion that the dinner table was (and still is) a sacred place, Sarah and Boo maintain that the only thing bigger than their love of food is sharing it with others.

Lady & Larder was built around their profound respect for American-made seasonal ingredients and an immense appreciation for the role beautiful food plays in creating moments of connection and joy - offering small-batch cheese, natural wine, craft beer, farm fresh flowers, local bread and curated gifts that spark joy. Since their start, Lady & Larder has become the go-to source for those looking to entertain in Southern California - specializing in edible displays, created with seasonal crudités, fruit, cheese and charcuterie. For those looking for something special out-of-state, Lady & Larder also offers DIY cheese and charcuterie board kits, custom virtual classes and an array of seasonal gifts that ship nationwide.

Most recently Lady & Lady was featured as one of Oprah’s Favorite things in 2019, was featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Forbes, Los Angeles Magazine, O Magazine, and Martha Stewart Weddings . To learn more, visit ladyandlarder.com and check them out on IG @ladyandlarder.

About Lady & Larder

We are Lady & Larder. We live in Los Angeles, California. We are 100% women-owned. We are twin sisters and best friends. We grew up in the kitchen.

We provide the very best American made cheese and cured meats along with a selection of radically seasonal and impeccably sourced local accoutrements. We believe in supporting a 100% domestic and sustainable food culture, one that will continue to thrive for generations to come. Our goal is simple: use the best stuff we can get our hands on. We have found that the finest ingredients come from small batch producers and we, like you, know there is no substitute for quality. These American farmers, butchers, and cheesemakers are truly the best of the best. We are proud to support their unwavering commitment and dedication to their craft. So, build your board, invite your favorite people over and celebrate these inspiring makers with us. Cheers!

Gems from this week’s conversation

“Do every job you’re in to the best of your ability. Pick up skills, don’t burn bridges, and years later you’ll look back and you’ll realize your toolbox is full.”

“Sometimes people ask you a question and you answer and you’re like, ‘Wow, I know what I’m talking about.’”

“We’re all just out here winging it.” - Sarah & boo on adulting

“As twins, you go through a period where you try to do things individually and figure out how you’re different.”

“We fill in the blank for each other a little bit.” - Boo, on being a twin

“I feel like a more whole version of myself when I’m with her. When I’m by myself, I feel [I’m] lacking.” - Sarah

“With siblings, you’re just a little more raw.” - boo
”Completely raw.” - Sarah

“It’s the best part about having a business together. We get to share all the highs and low. It makes all the victories sweeter when it’s with someone you love and knows how important it is.” - Boo

“It makes us a stronger business owner, a stronger partner, stronger parents if we can set our foundation up and make sure our health is taken care of.” - Sarah

Pick or Tip of the Week

Our collective tip for this week is to schedule your physical! Go to the doctor. Stop pushing off what is necessary for you to do for your health.

Bricia’s pick is the Lady crackers from Lady & Larder. They’re so good and perfect for your cheese boards! You can pick them up in store if you’re local to Santa Monica, CA or order them online.

Paulina tip that everyone should know is that every insurance carrier has a patient advocacy office. If you have questions, comments or complaints, speak up! This is the department you want to talk to and they’ll make things right for you.

Links

Follow everyone on Instagram - @ladyandlarder @lafemmepicure aka Sarah and @boosimms

Boo & Sarah are mirror twins. Sounds pretty cool!

Visit the American Cancer Society website to learn more about what cancers to get screened for at certain ages. It could save your (or a loved one’s) life!

At Sarah’s request, her email is sarah@ladyandlarder.com. If you have cancer, have a loved one with cancer, need resources or connections or just need to talk, please send her an email. She wants to help,

Episode 307: The Money Talk: Investments, Debt and Sharing Finances with Jully-Alma Taveras of Investing Latina

It’s Financial Literacy Month! We always have money on our minds and in this episode, Jully-Alma Taveras sits down with us for yet another money talk. This time we chat about how to have the money talk with your partner. From shared accounts, personal savings or even tackling debt together, Jully gives us advice on how to have these conversations with loved ones and what’s best for certain situations. We also talk about how Latinxs are finally creating spaces for themselves in the financial marketplace and it’s about 👏🏽 damn 👏🏽 time 👏🏽. Get your wallets ready because this episode is going to help your money grow!

More about Jully: Jully-Alma Taveras is the founder of Investing Latina, a Plutus Award-winning bilingual personal finance expert, and the brand ambassador for anda Bank Account. This FDIC-insured bank account bridges the old with the new in digital banking. She tells money stories from the lens of a Dominican Republic-born immigrant living in New York that went from being a shopaholic to a smart spender and diligent investor. Her money philosophies have inspired thousands of women to live minimally and spend intentionally so that they can invest and build greater wealth.

Jully is a sought-after Fortune 20 speaker and facilitator who has led workshops at Nasdaq, Google, Verizon, and The White House Economic Council (2021). She has taught over 8,000 people how to invest through her Investing Workshop program. Although she has a social following of 43k+ on Instagram and collective social impressions of over 23 million, she is highly approachable as an educator. She is the eldest of three in her own family, so her audience sees her as the older sister who will force you to do better while also being your cheerleader.

Our Conversation with Jully

Who is Jully-Alma Taveras?

Investing Latina

Anda Bank Account

Talking finances with your partner

---

How many accounts do you have?

1. Shared Checking account

2. Personal checking account

3. Basic Savings account

4. Personal High Yield Savings account - to get the most amount of money (keep a few months’ worth of savings here. This is your emergency fund.)

5. Retirement / brokerage account

6. Crypto account (personal and joint)

---

What is an NFT?

What is a cold wallet? A warm wallet?

How to have a healthy savings account

Having “the money talk” with your partner

Handling debt

---

Jully’s top tips for building a healthy financial foundation

(This is non money specific advice.)

1. Build confidence in yourself. You have to feel like you can do this and know that you might mess up but you can make it happen.

2. Figure out what is most important to you and factor it into your budget. Know that this may change later on in life!

3. Take action. Just do it! Don’t be afraid and don’t ignore it. Money is a tool - use it wisely.
   

Episode 306: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Back to Pre-Pandemic Busyness

It feels like life is starting to get back to normal! This episode is a classic catch up session between the sisters. Between travel, birthdays and kid’s activities, it’s been a minute since they have been home and able to catch up. Bricia is still spending her weekends going to baseball and Joshua Tree but Paulina was finally able to catch her breath at home, so she got a jump start on her spring cleaning. Bricia also talks about her trip to Utah and the incredible people she connected with. Sounds like we can expect some cool new guests in the podcast’s future! 

A Conversation Between Two Sisters

Bricia’s binge watching WeCrashed on Apple TV + after listening to the podcast episode on How I Built This and watching the documentary on Hulu

Paulina just finished the second season of Bridgerton

Spring Cleaning - We have too much shit in our houses 🤣

Did you know you can write off the items you donate to Goodwill?

Paulina’s facial with Natalie from N4 Skincare

The Traeger Summit Event. Check out Bricia’s recap!

She met Chef Eduardo Garcia and Mary from Five Marys Farm

Also, #notsponsored but she really loves her Traeger Grill

Finally, did you know Bricia has been working on a new cookbook? Order her first cookbook Oaxaca now!

Pick or Tip of the week

Paulina and Bricia are still both using the Byte aligner trays. Since Paulina wears her all day, she needs to remove them before she eats and brush her teeth before she puts them back on. She’s loving these mini disposable toothbrushes from Crest. One side is a toothpick and other side is a brush. She brushes wherever she is and it’s helpful with her aligners and perfect for traveling, camping and just keeping in your bag for emergencies.

Still #notsponsored, but Bricia loves the Ranger portable grill by Traeger.

Episode 305: Generational Wealth, Rallying for Your Community and Moving On with mom boss with Patty Rodriguez

One of our greatest amigas, Patty Rodriguez, is back for a new episode! If you’re Angelenos like we are, you know that she just made a major move, leaving KIIS FM after over 15 years as a producer. Now she’s ready to grow in other ventures and she’s starting with helping her community. Patty talks to us about equity crowd funding for her company, Lil Libros, and why the time is right for our community to learn to invest & build generational wealth. She reminds us that it takes courage to change & make our dreams come to life, and we can’t wait to watch her dreams come come true during this next chapter of her life.

Patty is a great role model, an example leader and an inspirational super mama just looking to make her community a better place. We are honored to know her, excited for her next moves and hope you enjoy her episode!

More about Patty: Patty Rodriguez is one of the most influential American Latino leaders as a nationally recognized entrepreneur, radio producer, media personality, founder, angel investor, and best-selling author. Proudly raised in Los Angeles by Mexican immigrant parents, she has dedicated her work to elevating the voices and stories of the American Latino experience.

Patty founded Lil’ Libros, the #1 family-trusted bilingual children's media publisher, inspired by her journey toward motherhood and desire to raise her children in a bilingual environment that valued understanding, respect, and appreciation of their family's culture. After Lil’ Libros received numerous rejections from major publishers, she immediately recognized the historically underserved market she represented. Patty took matters into her own hands, partnering with childhood friend Ariana Stein to propel Lil’ Libros into what would become the critically acclaimed publishing company and industry titan. With over a million books sold, Lil’ Libros is recognized in the Latino community and beyond with shelf space at Target, Barnes & Noble, museums, boutiques, and independent sellers alike nationwide.

Her passion for uplifting her community extends past children's books, as Lil’ Libros became the first children’s media company to be community-owned. In 2021, over $2 million in equity crowdfunding was raised from over 5,000 investors in less than five days. As an influential Latina entrepreneur, Patty has also made angel investments in early-stage startups, including Hedley & Bennett and BLVD MRKT.

Being a storyteller at heart, Patty launched sin miedo productions in 2021 with longtime friend, Erick Galindo. Their first project, Out of the Shadows: Children of ‘86, is currently in production with iHeartMedia and explores the lives of children who were raised by the three million immigrants granted amnesty through the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Patty got her start at iHeartMedia’s 102.7 KIIS FM Los Angeles, infusing culture on and off the air for over 15 years working as a Senior Producer and On-Air Talent of the internationally syndicated radio show, "On Air With Ryan Seacrest." She also founded MALA by Patty Rodriguez, a jewelry line aiming to empower women to take pride in their identity through fashion. Fans of the collection include Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Becky G.

Among her accomplishments, Patty launched a grassroots campaign asking MAC Cosmetics to create a line in honor of the late Selena Quintanilla. Her petition collected over 30,000 signatures in just days, receiving national coverage in English and Spanish and capturing the attention of the makeup giant. The MAC x Selena collection was successfully released in October of 2016, making it the best-selling cosmetics collection of all time, proving the buying power of the Latino community.

Patty has been recognized as California’s Woman of the Year, along with having received the LA Times Latinos De Hoy Cultural Influencer Award. She has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, LA Times, People, Buzzfeed, Univision, Rolling Stone, CNN Latino, Latina Magazine, People En Español, Cosmopolitan, and American Latino TV to name a few.

She currently lives in Los Angeles with her two beautiful boys, Alexander and Oliver, and their ten guppies.

Gems from this week’s episode

“Have the courage to make a change in your life.”

“What I want for my kids to understand is that there’s a purpose for every step that we take.”

“If you know me, my inner compass is what drives me 99% of the time. If I’m not excited, that’s the universe telling me that’s not the decision you should be making.”

“I felt that this was the least we could do for the community that helped build lil libros.”

“It was never for us, but now it is.” - Patty on financial literacy , generational wealth and becoming an investor 

Become an Investor!

You still have time to invest in Lil Libros! Visit wefunder.com/lil.libros until 4/30/2022 to invest in this community built company. If you have questions, send Patty a DM on Instagram (linked below)! We can build generational wealth together.

“Let’s make our children feel that this is part of our environment.” - Patty Rodriguez

Links

Follow Patty on Instagram @pattyrodriguez

Learn more about Lil Libros on their website and follow them on Instagram @lil_libros

Club de Cuervos on Netflix - the show that Patty was binge watching when she had the idea for equity crowd funding for Lil Libros

Episode 304: Bring the Receipts to the Table! Learn How to Successfully Communicate with Your Partner with Dr Veronica Eyo, LCSW

As mothers, the caretakers, let’s be honest - after the past two years, we are burnt out. After pushing through for months, we think we’ve reached the light at the end of the tunnel, the final countdown to this pandemic and now we feel like we are back to normal… but are we really feeling okay?

In this episode Dr. Veronica Eyo, LCSW, talks about how we can learn to repair the relationships we have with our partners, kids and even ourselves, after what was a dark period for many of us. We lost a lot of time connecting with our partner because we were focusing on other things - our health, working & learning remote, caring for loved ones - and she’s walking us through steps on how to reconnect with each other successfully. Yes, that might mean that we might have to bring some notes notes to future arguments but trust Dr. Eyo when she says it’s for good reason! At the end of the day, there is always room for repair and this episode will encourage you to change for the better. Trust us too, we’re taking lots of notes (and then bringing them back to the table at a later date. 😂)!

Before the episode

Paulina also talks about her weekend trip to Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico and the Airbnb she stayed in. Since she often vacations in Airbnbs with her family and Bricia is currently working on a rental property, she asks her for her suggestions on what all rental homes should have for families. Check out her list below.

• Kitchen - basic pantry items like salt, pepper, commonly used spices, olive oil. A microwave is great for heating up kid-friendly food like pizza. Plastic utensils, dishes and cups are also a great option, because no one wants to deal with broken glass with kids!

• Bathroom - basic shampoo, soap and clean towels. If you have a busy rental, make sure you update the towels and linens often! If they get used a lot, they may lose their quality.

• Great instructions for television use, instructions for jacuzzi/pool, etc. While it’s helpful to reach out to the property owner, it would be better if you really didn’t have to. 🤷🏽‍♀️

• Basic cleaning supplies - extra trash bags, paper towels, broom/vacuum, etc.

• First aid kit! Because accidents happen.

What would you add? Share with us in the comments!

More about Dr. Eyo: “Hello. I am Dr. Veronica Eyo, a Bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and it’s my passion to help mamas, new and seasoned, navigate the challenges of parenthood. I graduated with my doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California where I researched the factors that influence the success of student mothers in higher education institutions.

My journey as a therapist has led me to work with clients throughout different stages of life. I began working with older adults particularly with end-of-life issues before I transitioned into working with adults and couples. During my time working with adults, I mostly worked with women in their twenties and thirties, to manage difficult emotions, set appropriate boundaries, discover their resources, and ultimately grow into feeling confident and competent in themselves. My work with couples focused on deepening communication and understanding to build empathy and trust. 

 I transitioned my practice into primarily working with mothers after I became one. Some of the experiences that I navigated, especially in the beginning, led me to seek specialized training in working with moms but especially with mamas of color. I believe that our shared experience can add to the building of rapport in navigating this pivotal life change. 

I have advanced training in diagnosing and treating antenatal and Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMADs), as well as trauma and infertility. I’m certified in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International. Additionally, I am certified in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).”

Gems from this week’s episode

“The last two years it’s mostly about managing the mom role, the wife role, but where do I find time for me?”

“I’m pouring from an empty cup.”

“I’ve lost time for me and I’ve lost time to connect to my partner.”

“How do you take care of yourself? Do you even know how to take care of yourself? We forget.”

“As a therapist and a mom, I believe in repair. We can try again.”

“I think as mothers, we put these expectations that we have to be the best communicators or we always have to show up for [our families], but the thing is, we’re human too. And we also have other things that pull us. “

pick or tip of the week

Paulina’s tip this week is to schedule date time with your partner. It can be hard to be spontaneous with a busy schedule (work, kids, etc.) but if you commit to setting aside time to be with your partner, it’s something you can both look forward to.

Bricia also suggests a scheduling tip. Set aside one hour a week for house keeping. Imagine that running your home is like running a business and you & your partner are co-CEOs. Following through with it is the hardest part but it’s something you can do together and another way to practice communication and delegate who does what.

Links

Learn more about Dr. Veronica Eyo. Visit her website for more resources and to schedule an appointment. You can also follow her on instagram @drveronicaeyo for more communication & mental health tips.

Dr. Eyo also suggests reading The 5 Love Languages of Children for more insight on how to communicate with your children.

Episode 303: Empowerment, Support and Strength: Learning about Community Resources with Jessika Ahlberg of My Safe Harbor

Shining a spotlight on community resources is something we love, and today’s episode features one of our favorite organizations. This week we interview Jessika Ahlberg, program director at My Safe Harbor in Anaheim, California. This organization focuses on empowering mothers and strengthening families through education programs and community get togethers, and the success rate of program graduates is awe-inspiring. These are mothers who want to learn, work hard and support themselves and their families in ways that might not be possible without the resources provided by My Safe Harbor. We are honored to be able to donate to this wonderful group so that they may continue to support local moms who need encouragement in their lives and with their families. To learn more about this group and how you can help, listen to the rest of this episode and visit MySafeHarbor.org.

Before the episode, Bricia is talking about her new cookbook and the full on photoshoot production thats happening at her house! She also talks about last weekend, where the entire Lopez family got together at the park for a carne asada cookout for the book (and we taught you the right way to secure tables at the park LOL) and she also talks about her son’s freak accident.

A lesson from this episode

“You can’t be a good mother without mothering yourself first.”

Pick or tip of the week

Paulina’s pick is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. She’s read it multiple times before and Bricia suggests even reading it once a year. Paulina goal is to pass the book around to everyone in the restaurant staff because she feels it always has new lessons to provide, no matter how many times you read it.

Bricia’s tip is from their life coach, Victor Pierantoni. He gave her a tip on how to take visulization to the next level. You visualize it from three points of view and read it every night. Check out their tips below and let us know if it works for you!

How to Visualize Your Goals into Reality

1. Write it in your goal down in a journal as if it’s happening.

   example: You want 5 kids.

2. Visualize someone talking to you about your goal and write it down as it someone is talking to you about it.

   example: “Omg Bricia, I can’t believe you have 5 kids!”

3. Visualize and write it down as if two people talking about it together.

   Example: “Wow, did you see Bricia has 5 kids?! How does she do it?”

   “She’s such a great mom! Her kids are great and so well behaved.”

Links

Learn more about My Safe Harbor on their website. You can also follow them on Instagram @my.safe.harbor and like their page on Facebook.

Episode 302: Keeping it Real with the Super Mamas: Staying Motivated through Tough Times

Good days and bad days are totally normal, and this vent session will remind you that we all go through it!

First, Paulina starts us off with the story of how she lost her toenail. We’ll give you fair warning: if you’re squeamish, you might want to skip to minute 12 of our episode. 🙈 And that’s not all that’s happened to her lately! Her husband got covid, and so did she! Remember when she and her family first tested positive for covid in 2020? Then Bricia talks about working on her latest cookbook and the stress of creating new recipes on top of work and mom life. She gets busy and realizes that it’s okay to outsource sometimes.

Ultimately we’re still learning that even during some of our toughest days, there is always goodness to look forward to, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia is watching Inventing Anna on Netflix. It’s so good that you’ll want to binge it all in one night.

Paulina just watched Cheer on Netflix. The motivation and determination the athletes have really helped her push through during her injury and covid. Paulina is also obsessed with Coach Monica’s leadership skills and is taking notes from her too.

Links

Paulina mentions having a home birth with her last daughter to avoid needles. Listen to that episode here.

Watch Dopesick on Hulu. An incredible story, but scary reality.

Paulina was riding dirty around her house on a medical scooter like this one.

Remember when Paulina got covid for the first time in 2020?

Lastly, if you don’t have our Oaxaca cookbook then what are you waiting for??

Episode 301: Big Feelings, Changes & Body Positivity: A Girl’s Puberty Talk with Dr. Marni Sommer

“Big feelings are taking over our house!”

The time has come… for the dreaded puberty talk! 🤭 Lucky for us, our guest is making the conversation a little easier. Dr. Marni Sommer, professor at Columbia University and co-author of “A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods” sits down to share more about her book and how parents shouldn’t be embarrassed to talk to their kids about growing up and bodily changes. For many of us growing up, the only source of information was from our girlfriends, but that doesn’t have to be the case for our daughters.She explains that the secret to talking to your daughters, nieces or whichever young girls who look up to you in life about the changes their bodies are going through is by being a source of safe, factual information. Dr. Marni also shares tips on handling big feelings, surprise periods and reassurance that these changes are normal and happen to everyone. We’re taking all the notes for the changes awaiting us with our daughters!

More about Dr. Sommer: Marni Sommer, DrPH, MSN, RN, is a Professor at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University and co-author of A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods. Dr. Sommer has been working in global health for twenty-four years. Her areas of expertise include conducting participatory research with adolescents, understanding, and promoting healthy transitions to adulthood, the intersection of public health and education, gender and sexual health, and the implementation and evaluation of adolescent-focused interventions.

Dr. Sommer founded Grow and Know, Inc. in 2010. Her current research focuses on the intersections of gender, health and education for girls and boys transitioning into adulthood around the world. Her research with girls in Tanzania formed the basis of the original book project. She continues to conduct research and advocacy on puberty, periods, and education globally.

Our Conversation with Dr. Marni

Fear of Change

First Period Stories

Where do we start? When does it start and what topics do we cover?

How can we include dad in on this conversation?

How to talk about sex and naming all the parts

What signs should we look for when it comes to puberty and periods?

Period Kits

About the Book

A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods is a body-positive illustrated book that helps girls ages 9-14 understand what to expect about puberty and everything that goes with it. An important point of differentiation from other popular puberty books is that this new offering provides “my first period” stories and advice from diverse girls across the U.S. to help young women understand that everything they’re going through is normal. Parents will also appreciate that the book incorporates factual health content and practical tips developed by adolescent health experts at Columbia University. The goal is to empower girls to feel more confident and knowledgeable about their changing bodies. The book is available for purchase now via Amazon and other major book retailers.

Links

You can get your copy of A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods on Amazon now.

Check out agirlsguide.org to learn more more about the book and check out videos like the one below!

Episode 300: Regarding Her Big Owner Energy with Dina Samson, restauranteur and co-founder of RE:Her

Everyone is always what else we do for work (because yes, we have real jobs besides the podcast!) and in this episode we talk about one of Bricia’s passion projects. This week we interview Dina Samson, restauranteur and co-founder of RE:Her. The non-profit started as a covid era support group for women owned restaurants like the Lopez family’s Guelaguetza and Dina’s Rossoblu and Superfine Pizza, and now continues to support & encourage women in the hospitality industry and the communities they serve. Dina also runs us through her busy days as a twin mom and how she structures the rest of her restauranteur work between mom life, and she’s sharing her best advice for restaurant owners that mamas can also use when raising their kids. 

More about Dina: Dina Samson adeptly assumed the role of “unexpected restaurateur” when she opened her first restaurant, Sotto, alongside husband/chef Steve Samson, in 2011. Since then, she has become the visionary and operational glue for their two concepts, Rossoblu and Superfine Pizza which fall under their newly formed Mighty Nice Hospitality Group. 

True to their hospitality group’s core values of compassion and community, Dina has co-founded RE:Her, Independent Hospitality Coalition, and FeedLoveLA, all organizations which focus on supporting and uplifting the Los Angeles restaurant community. Samson is both a James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership and C200 WinLab fellow. 

More about RE:Her: Nine female restaurateurs in Los Angeles formed Regarding Her (aka RE:Her) in November 2020 as a response to the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the restaurant industry. Their first undertaking, 10 Days RE:Her, united over 100 female food and beverage entrepreneurs across Los Angeles for a 10-day festival featuring unique collaborations, thematic menus, virtual events and conversations, and more.

RE:Her is a 501(c)(3) non-profit fund actively seeking donors and sponsors to support its services and initiatives, including its RE:Her Grant Program, designed to distribute cash grants to women-owned restaurants in Los Angeles County impacted by the pandemic. 

The members of RE:Her’s leadership team operate the organization, and do so pro bono. Their hope is that their work will support and empower the community they hold dear – the female-led culinary world of Los Angeles and beyond – and, in doing so, help to save HER restaurants.

Our Conversation with Dina

Tell us about the non-profit. What is it about and who is it for? 

How do you structure your day? 

What else do you do besides RE:Her?

How to become a member of RE:Her

Dina’s best advice for restauranteurs

Mom tips!

Pick or Tip of the Week

We always talk about the importance of self care! One of Paulina’s self care practices includes studying her Bible. She always reads it in the morning and journals, and she found pens and highlights made specifically for thin Bible pages. They’re by Mr. Pen in the Amazon store and they have plenty of options at different price points. It makes her self care experience that much better!

Bricia pick is the Good Notes app on her iPad. You can create anything for taking notes! She uses it for her Bible study and even created her own template based on the templates available on the app.

Links

Follow Dina, her restaurants and projects on social media - @dinasam, @rossablula, @superfinepizza, @regardingherfood, @independenthospitalityla and @feedlovela

Become a member of RE:Her! More regions coming soon.

Kanye West - The College Dropout album

Watch the documentary jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy on Netflix

Episode 299: Revolutionizing the Gifting Experience For Our Kids with Elian Savodivker, founder of Nabu

Tired of gifting the same toys to kids? Our guest this week is super papá, Elian Savodivker, CEO and Co-Founder of Gift Nabü. Gift Nabu is a fun (and tactful) way to ask for swim lessons, zoo membership, dance classes, etc for your child’s birthday. Their goal is to increase access to incredible experiences for children who would otherwise be left out. He also talks about running the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Education Scaling Program, where he met Paulina!

Before the episode, we also talk about our crazy experience at the 2022 Super Bowl! You’ll have to check out our recap video on Instagram too.

More about Elian: Elian Savodivker is the CEO and founder of Gift Nabü, a startup that is revolutionizing the gifts we give kids. Parents can create a birthday campaign for their child's birthday and share it with friends and family. Then, those friends and family can gift towards the campaign and the parent can book!

STEM, arts, and sports summer camps can be life changing experiences for kids, however they are often unaffordable for many families. With Gift Nabü’s collaborative gift giving. friends and family contribute toward the gift your child will never forget.

Apart from his work on Gift Nabü, Elian has helped hundreds of Latinx entrepreneurs through LBAN and the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Education Scaling Program for which he has run since 2019.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s tip this week is to READ THE REVIEWS before you purchase something on Amazon! She ordered some Valentine’s Day goodies for her daughters’ classmates off of Amazon and didn’t check the reviews as well as she should have. You’ll have to listen to the episode to listen to the major oops she almost gave to the classmates LOL - she was almost that mom.

Bricia is loving these cute shoes from Bobux for her daughter. They’re perfect for everyday wear!

LINKS

Learn more about Gift Nabü on their website. You can also follow them on Instagram @giftnabu and like the page on Facebook.

Can’t decide what experience is best for the little one you’re gifting? Let Nabü help! Check out their experience finder to help narrow down your choice of gift. Have a child's birthday coming up? Now you can onboard at giftnabu.com

A Few More Links…

The BEST Super Bowl Performance of All Time!

Am I the only person who expected an Eminem vs Slim Shady hologram to happen? #SuperBowl

— Bricia Lopez (@BriciaLopez) February 14, 2022

Episode 298: Finding the Funny in Life with stand up comedian, Aida Rodriguez

You know we love a good laugh and our latest guest is a pro at dishing them out! This week’s guest is stand up comedian, writer, producer actress and more, Aida Rodriguez. She’s the first Latina with an hour long comedy special on HBO Max and after this interview, we know exactly why she deserves it. From being “unhoused” with her children to shooting her comedy special during two hurricanes, talks about why we need to continue to lift up Latinx creators and why we don’t always have to be victims but can be victors. We also talk about funny moments, serious moments and she also reminds us that unless we have a healthy mental headspace, we will not see success in our lives. Aida has so many great projects coming down the pipeline (starting with her special that’s out on HBOMax now); she is serious, funny and a seriously funny mama that we will absolutely be having on the show again soon! 

More about Aida Rodriguez: Aida Rodriguez is a Comedian, Writer, and Actor. Lauded by Esquire Magazine as “raucously funny,” she has become a favorite with fans and critics alike. With her first hour standup special set to premiere, her own TV series in development, both at HBO Max, and a deal for an animated series with ITV, Aida is bound for the comedy stratosphere.

In November 2021, Aida’s first hour standup special Fighting Words premiered on HBO Max. In the special, the comedian takes to the stage to address today’s audiences about cancel-culture and the social issues of the day, not just because they’re ripped from the headlines, but because they are in the pages torn out of her personal life. Additionally, Rodriguez is developing her own half hour comedy series with HBO Max based on her own incredible life story, which includes surviving two kidnappings, sexual abuse, and a period of homelessness. Co-written and Executive Produced by Rodriguez, Chris Case (Showtime’s Flatbush Misdemeanors) and Nastaran Dibai (Netflix’s Dear White People), the project examines the struggle of a comedian (Rodriguez) who is trying to kick start a career while raising two very different teenagers on her own over multiple time zones. It is an uplifting story of survival and triumph in the face of a darkly funny Miami inner-city upbringing, where she learned skills that allowed her to thrive and endure. In addition to her HBO Max projects, she is developing an animated series with ITV.

In 2020, Aida headlined the HBO LatinX standup special Entrenos while also appearing in Showtime’s Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam, one of only four women to have performed on the series in its 15 seasons. Prior to that, she had her own half hour special on Netflix’s hit comedy series They Ready, Executive Produced by Tiffany Haddish and Wanda Sykes. In reviews Decider gushed that the special “will have you laughing, crying and begging for more” and Esquire Magazine declared “This is Rodriguez's genius—using comedy to turn pain into progress, to give voice to the voiceless, and to laugh instead of cry.”

In addition to her TV projects, Aida was handpicked by director Taylor Hackford for his feature film “The Comedian” starring Robert De Niro. She is also the five-time host of PBS’ Imagen Awards, which recognizes and rewards creative excellence of Latinos in television and film. She is a guest writer for Buzzfeed as well as a regular Commentator on the popular online progressive political talk show The Young Turks. Rodriguez hosts her own podcast, Truth Serum, which is an interactive weekly wrap up show covering the week’s hottest topics, where inclusivity and diversity are a standard, not an initiative.

A longtime favorite on the standup circuit, Aida was a finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and has been featured on several comedy fan-favorite TV series, including Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar, HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay, and TBS’ Tournament of Laughs. She tours the country performing her distinct brand of poignant and insightful comedy to sold out audiences, inviting her longtime fans to laugh hard, think hard, and feel hard.

Our Conversation with Aida

New Year’s Resolutions

All about Aida

How she got started in stand up comedy

Aida’s HBOMax special - Fighting Words

Her joke writing process

Where Aida finds her strength

Trauma Bonding and Mental Health

Pick or tip of the week

Paulina is late to the game but glue dots! They are so great for crafts because she stick everywhere and come off. She used them this week for the girl's’ Valentine’s Day crafts and they used them last year for their sister Liz’s bachelorette party.

In case you didn’t know, Bricia loves coffee. She and her husband stumbled upon Mariposa Coffee Company in Yosemite last year and now have a subscription. Every morning she grinds fresh beans and puts them in her french press. She gets the Mariposa Morning blend and Mariposa Blueberry and she loves them both!

LINKS

For more information go to www.FunnyAida.com

Follow Aida on Instagram and Twitter - @FunnyAida

Aida and her children recommend the book, Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

Episode 297: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Damn Loca, Where You Been?

Surprise! We’re back after a much needed break.

No, we weren’t fighting 🤣🤣In all honesty, we needed to let the podcast take a backseat while we focused on the restuarnt, our families and especially our mental health. We felt we needed to recharge because 2021 was more difficult than 2020 in a sense - we were dealing with the aftermath of the beginning of the decade. Our family’s restaurant and other businesses needed more of our attention, and we couldn’t dedicate as much time as we wanted to the podcast. So we both did some reflecting and thought about what we really wanted out this community we’ve created.

And you know what? That hiatus worked. We’re refreshed and know exactly where we’re taking our little podcast project. So sit back and catch up with us as we explain where we’re at in our lives and where we’re taking you next. Super Mamas, let’s do this!

GEMS 💎 from this episode

I had a choice. Do I sit back and wait for life happen to me? Or say okay I have to do something because I don’t want to live my life like this anymore. - Paulina

I needed to learn, I needed to grow and now I’m here. - Paulina

The more you grow and the more you put yourself in situations that make you uncomfortable, thats where growth happens. - Bricia

As you grow you have to deal with the demons that are inside of you. - Bricia

When we get stuck doing something we don’t like, more often than not its just based off other peoples expectations. - Bricia

It’s important that the decisions that you make aren’t based on others expectations, but are based on your inner reflections and what you choose to do for yourself and what’s best for you in that moment. Not let other peoples opinions drive you because that could be the end of your mental health. - Bricia

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s pick is the show Never Have I Ever on Netflix. It’s the cutest show and it’s a good introduction to what teenage years could be like for any parents who are about to be there, like Pau. 

Speaking about shows of high school kids, we’re still very into Euphoria - but these are two different high school experiences and definitely not a show for kids.

Bricia’s pick this week is also a show. The Sex Life of College Girls created by Mindy Kaling. Another show that isn’t for kids (I think we’re starting to see a theme here LOL) but more great prep for parents whose kids are going to college soon.

LINKS

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

Check out our previous interview with Victor Pierantoni, Paulina & Bricia’s life coach

Bricia also talks about Viome, a microbiome gut health test. You send in a few samples to learn what food you should avoid, what to minimize and what are your super foods and things to enjoy. You also get suggested supplements best on your results. Bricia was shocked at her results but is going to try it out for the next six months to see if she can feel any changes. This is not sponsored, just something she wanted to try. Please talk to your doctor for personalized medical advice.