family business

Episode 263: What We Learned in 2020 with Lernando Fopez

It’s our last episode of 2020!

This week we interview our one and only little brother, Fernando Lopez. The three of us talk about what a year it’s been - both positive & negative - and the lessons we’ve learned. We learned to adapt to new business practices and precautions, how to focus on just a few things rather than spreading ourselves thin, and best of all, we learned how empathic and supportive our local communities can be during times of struggle. Even though this episode gets a little serious, there’s a lot of sibling laughs and teasing! And maybe a special message from Fernando to all of his fans 😂 but you’ll have to listen to the end of his interview for that! We are so grateful for family this year and could have survived without each other’s help. 

We also could not have had the successful year that we did without our super mamas sisters! You overwhelming support listening to the podcast, engaging with our content and supporting our family businesses means the world to us. We can’t wait to truly celebrate our incredible community at some point next year - hopefully sooner than later!

Feliz Navidad and happy New Years, sisters! Enjoy the rest of this year with your families, and let’s all manifest a better year in 2021. 

Lessons Learned in 2020

  • Fernando learned how nice and empathetic, giving and helping people can be in times of need.

  • He also learned how cruel and mean people can be, doing the bare minimum to help people out.

  • Paulina learned she could not run the business without her siblings / family. With the kids and everything else that has happened this year, one of them is always willing to step up and help and she is grateful for that and them. 

  • Bricia learned that everything really is how you look at things, or “perspective on perspective.”

  • Bricia, Paulina, and Fernando learned the power of focus - learning to focus on a few things instead of spreading themselves thin.

  • They all learned to adapt - all the processes from work to school to shopping changed, and we were forced to change the way we do things.

  • They all learned the importance of financial literacy during the pandemic. We recorded an episode about maximizing our finances during covid this earlier this year.

  • Most of all, we learned how lucky we are to have healthy families, both spouses working throughout the pandemic, and a great support system.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Family nights on Zoom are Paulina’s tip this week. Since we can’t all get together for the holidays, we’re finding other ways to hang out. We used Quizizz.com and Kahoot.com to play trivia games and quizzes with each other last week and everyone was so into it. Both sites make it easy to log in and use one code for everyone playing, and everyone uses their own phone. A great way to bond virtually!

Bricia’s recommendation is a garlic peeler. Sounds weird, but it’s this magical silicone tube that you roll around and it peels garlic. It’s the best invention and she doesn’t know how she could ever live without it after this! It’s a great stocking stuffer, an awesome gift for your foodie friend.

Also if you’re looking for some last minute holiday gifts, be sure to read our 2020 gift guide! This year we highlighted local small businesses, and there are shops that you’ll want to shop at well into next year too.

Links

Match Made in Hell video - if you’re over this year but want a good laugh, this is the video for you!

Episode 177: Keeping it Real with Claudette Zepeda Wilkins

 
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With her purple hair and all her realness, we have the incredible and unapologetic Claudette Zepede Wilkins back on the show this week,  presented by FuertesConLeche.com! This past Friday we drove down to San Diego to share our moments of tradition with Milk and got down on THE most delicious breakfast at her new restaurant, El Jardín. We sat down and talked about realizing her dream, learning how to accept compliments, embracing our traditions and food, to her recipes and we relived moments about our childhood that we LOVED.

Before the interview, you know who has the keys? Not Paulina, that’s for sure. Paulina takes us through her key adventure which is a great lesson to everyone: get yourself a spare key. Also, SHOUT OUT to our San Diego moms for taking the time to enjoy some matcha with us. WE LOVED MEETING YOU ALL!

Topics

What was your goal in opening El Jardin?

Where do you source your ingredients?

Mexicans embracing Mexican food 

Including our children in our family business

What inspired today’s Milk Menu?

Remembering the moments with milk from our childhood. Who else can eat corn flakes, leche and platano everyday?

Claudette’s recipes with Milk

Why milk is a key ingredient in our traditional dishes

Why milk is important for our kids

Reinventing what “poor mans food” is

What is it like now to have a 13 & 15 year old

Claudette’s first episode with us: EPISODE 101: THE SCHOOL OF LIFE WI/ CLAUDETTE ZEPEDA WILKINS

How would you have been different as a daughter now that you’re a mom?

Links

Holy Matcha 

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