Episode 281: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Living in a Post-Pandemic World with Pandemic Struggles

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We’ve on a bit of a hiatus this month and in today’s episode, we explain why. Our family’s restaurant, Guelaguetza, has been extremely busy (in a good way!) as covid restrictions begin to lift. We’re getting back to our roots and putting in work at the restaurant as servers, bussers, bar backs - wherever we need an extra hand. We’re hustling to get things done in the restaurant everyday, but we also realized we need to practice what we preach and take some time for self care when we need it most. So we took some time off for ourselves to celebrate our little sister, Elizabeth, and enjoy her bachelorette party! This is still a crazy pandemic time we’re living in, but we’re taking every opportunity to be thankful and use the wellness tools we have picked up along the way to help ourselves get through the tough times. We’re excited to move forward in 2021, more normalcy and more business!

P.S. BE NICE TO PEOPLE! Especially service industry workers. When you listen to the episode, you’ll know why. 😉

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s tip - On the days you feel like you want to quit, don’t. Slow down, start small and don’t stop.

Bricia’s pick this week is an electric lighter (you might have caught her Instagram story earlier this week). All you do is charge it with a USB! It’s one of the best new inventions of the 21st century. 😂

Episode 280: Ask Me Anything: A Super Mamas Q&A

Paulina might be out of town this week, but we’re still bringing you a new episode! We love when you submit your questions and ask us for advice, so this entire episode is dedicated to just that. We talk about a lot - relationships with our in laws, choosing schools for our kids, sleep routines and even new rules according to millennials. If you’ve ever wanted advice from us or wanted to ask something about us, this is the time to do it! Send us an email to hello@supermamas.com, a DM on Instagram or give us call on our hotline at 424-326-3707 and we could pick your question next! 

Our Conversation

The New Rules According to Millennials

Are your kids in public or private school? Pros vs. Cons?

I’m 30 weeks pregnant and debating whether I should get my covid vaccine. Thoughts? (Disclaimer: We are NOT medical professionals and therefore cannot give professional advice. Always discuss your best options with your doctor.)

How do you get along with your in-laws?

Tips on how to deal with postpartum depression, virtual learning and covid

Sleep routines for older kids. How do you put down the girls?

Story time - Bricia’s infamous JLo story and Paulina’s high school ditching days

When did you start going out with all your kids? (Like restaurants, etc.) 

How do you keep your weight down? Any specific diet?

Links

We never post… but maybe we should! Follow us on TikTok - @bricialopez and @iampaulinalopez

Episode 279: The Power of Inclusion and Making It Happen with Eliana Tardio

This week we interview an incredible super mama, Eliana Tardio. As an international advocate for children with Down syndrome and a mom of two, Eliana has taken social media by storm, showing her followers that people with down syndrome are normal like the rest of us. She talks to us about her personal journey on understanding her children’s needs and how she created a career by advocating for them and what we can do to share their story to help others understand the power of their voices and the endless opportunities we all have when we work hard to make our dreams come true.

More about Eliana: “My name is Eliana Tardio and through my blog, I share advice and inspiration with over 100,000 unique visitors a month. I have been blogging since 2007 after my second child was born and I have grown on social media along with my children through the technological and social media revolution. We are digital natives and as a family, we are recognized in the community as tough leaders and strong activists transforming the world through the power of social media.

My two children, Emir and Ayelen, are the inspiration and the reason behind this site and everything I do. They were born with Down syndrome, and in my attempt to learn and give them the best possible life, I started this journey of love and growth that has inspired hundreds of thousands who follow us here and on our social media platforms with a combined following of 1M people from all over the world.

I have a bachelor’s in Communications with a major in Legal Studies and a Master’s in Marketing and Science of Legal Studies. My passion is communications for sure, and my mission is to use my voice to build a more inclusive world for all along with my children. I work as the Director of Communications for the Parent Training and Information Centers in Florida and as team member of the National Center for the Systemic Improvement of the Education in the US.

As an international speaker, I have visited more than 12 countries to share my knowledge and passion for education to thousands of people. I provide as well training on advocacy and leadership to several organizations nationwide, and I share my story to help immigrants like me understand the power of their voices and the endless opportunities we have when we work hard to make our dreams come true.”

Gems 💎 Dropped During Our Interview with Eliana

As parents, we don’t see anything else besides our children - Paulina 

No one understands the love of a parent. - Paulina 

Erasing the labels is never the answer. They are persons with disabilities and they are apart of many peoples lives that we know. We don’t need to change the words, we need to change the perception. - Eliana

In order to give to my children, I need to give to myself - Eliana

We should encourage everyone to be uncomfortable because thats how we grow. - Bricia 

Where can we get resources and support if we know our child needs help? Advice from Eliana

  • Search online for a disabilities support group in your community.

  • Look for a group that will activate your desire to become an advocate for your child. When you’re ready, look for those who will make you feel comfortable and share info, questions, etc.

  • Take advantage of government resources, training and the information center in your community. Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Act here.

  • Follow influential people in your community who are working towards the same goal as you - like Eliana!

Links

Learn more about Eliana, her work and how you can become an advocate for disability rights on her website.

Follow Eliana and her children, Emir and Ayelen, on Instagram @elianatardio.

Episode 278: Continuing Tradition & Culture through Storytelling with children’s author, Meg Medina

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“Storytelling is important because that’s the way we continue tradition.” - Paulina

Being a story teller is a true talent and children’s author, Meg Medina, shares her gift with us in this week’s episode. We talk about how many of Meg’s stories are inspired by the memories & traditions she created & learned in her own family, how we can tap into our inner child to unleash our creativity and why we need Latinx voices in the book world. Plus she shares about her new book, “Merci Suarez Can’t Dance” and a few of her other titles that are favorite bedtimes stories in our homes too! 

More about Meg: Meg Medina is an award-winning Cuban-American author who writes picture books and middle-grade and young adult fiction. Her middle-grade novel Merci Suárez Changes Gears received a Newbery Medal and was a New York Times Notable Children’s Book of the Year, an International Latino Book Award nominee, and a Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature finalist, among many other distinctions. About this sequel, Meg Medina says, “I’m so excited to bring my readers into the world of the Suárez family and Seaward Pines once again. . . . New friends, new teachers, and new self-doubts. It’s been a thrill to write about all the zany things that the seventh grade can throw at a person.”

Her most recent picture book, Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, published in September 2020 to several starred reviews. Her young adult novel Burn Baby Burn earned numerous distinctions, including being long-listed for the 2016 National Book Award and short-listed for the Kirkus Prize. She is the 2014 recipient of the Pura Belpré Author Award and a 2013 Cybils Award winner for her young adult novel Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. She also received the 2012 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award for her picture book Tía Isa Wants a Car.

Meg Medina’s work examines how cultures intersect through the eyes of young people, and she brings audiences stories that speak to both what is unique in Latino culture and qualities that are universal. Her favorite protagonists are strong girls. In March 2014, she was recognized as one of the CNN 10 Visionary Women in America. In November 2014, she was named one of Latino Stories’ Top Ten Latino Authors to Watch.

When she is not writing, Meg Medina works on community projects that support girls, Latino youth, and literacy. She lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia.

Our Favorite Titles from Meg Medina

Her newest book - Merci Suarez Can’t Dance

Mango, Abuela and Me

Tía Isa Wants a Car

April is Independent Book Store Month! Learn more about how you can support at indiebound.org and to find an independent bookstore near you.

LINKS

Follow Meg on Instagram @megmedinabooks and on Twitter @Meg_Medina - she’s most active there!

Visit MegMedina.com to order her books directly and for more news, events and resources on all things children’s literature.

Episode 277: How to Encourage Creativity and Dream Big with Puppeteer and star of Waffles + Mochi, Michelle Zamora

Photos by Adam Rose

We’ve been talking nonstop about Netflix’s new show, Waffles + Mochi, but maybe we’re a little biased 😏 since our family is featured on episode two on their series. Have you seen it yet? We can almost guarantee your kids (and even you) will be obsessed!

This week we interview one of the stars of the show, Waffles aka Michelle Zamora. Her captivating energy will jump through your speakers as she drops serious innovative gems 💎 about how her parents encouraged her creativity from a young age. She also talks about her company Viva La Puppet and shares details on what it was like to work with ultimate Super Mama, Michelle Obama.

More about Michelle: Michelle Zamora is the CEO + Creative Director of Viva La Puppet, LLC. In 2000 she began this puppet journey while getting her BA in Theater at Cal State- L.A. In 2014 she formed the LLC with her husband Matias, who shares her vision for a community of dedicated artists working to bring creative projects to life through Puppetry. Originally from Brownsville, Texas she discovered her love of puppets at an early age creating humanettes out of her dolls, stop-motion VHS videos with her sister, and miniature people out of clay. What started as a childhood passion turned into a company that works to elevate the art form of puppetry into a fresh new innovative direction.

Most recently she worked on set for Zedd + Katy Perry’s 365 video, lead the TRUTH puppet campaign with 72 and Sunny (2019 Super Bowl commercial), puppeteered with Terry Crews for Old Spice, and managed/performed the Funner than Water ad for Vitamin Water. She co-directed Har Mar Superstar’s Restless Leg puppet video with Warren Fu on the streets of New York. Other fun projects include Rick & Morty’s Butthole Ice Cream stop-motion [adult swim] ad, giant puppets for Bob’s Burgers Live at The Orpheum, underwater puppet collab with Andrew Thomas Huang, Snoop Dogg puppet for California Roll music video w/ Pharrell + Stevie Wonder, and shadow puppets for The Pee Wee Herman Show-Live on Stage! Viva La Puppet celebrates life through inanimate objects and brings together great people to create magical moments one puppet at a time. Long Live the Puppet®

The Colorful Quotes of Michelle Zamora

“[My mom] understood passion and life and encouraged that.”

“If you’re going to dream, dream BIG but dream specific.”

“We’re at this place in our life now that we are able to understand and accept what’s happening in our lives and own it. Yes, we have done a lot to get to where we’re at.”

“This is the universe saying, you go, Mama. You go have fun.”

“The energy you put into something really does translate to the person at the other end.”

“It’s been a long puppet journey for me.”

“As long as I’m making puppets and bringing them to life, I’m making myself happy.”

“Be your beautiful selves and go follow your joy.”

LINKS

Follow Michelle on Instagram - her personal account @michellezamoraofficial and her business account @vivalapuppet.

Learn more about her business and past projects at VivaLaPuppet.com

Follow @WafflesandMochiOfficial on Instagram, learn more about their food adventure on WafflesandMochi.org and watch the show, now streaming on Netflix.

Episode 276: Recovering from Covid and Dealing with Survivor’s Guilt with therapist, Dr. Joanne Koegl

We have survived a year of coronavirus and the pandemic, but how do we really feel about what has happened? This week we bring back therapist and grief specialist Dr. Joanne Koegl. We had her on the show last year just after the pandemic began, to discuss grief & collective loss of normal life. During this week’s episode we cover everything from Joanne’s personal experience of loss due to covid to identifying survivor’s guilt and Paulina’s guilt & depression from her experience of surviving the disease last year. This was not an easy year for anyone but we’re here to listen, talk about our feelings and as always, we recommend reaching out to a professional if you feel deeper feelings that just aren’t getting resolved.

It’s okay to not be okay. If you are struggling, know that asking for help is a sign of strength. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential assistance.

More about Joanne: Dr. Joanne Diaz-Koegl is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist from Pasadena, California. Prior to her Master’s Degree, she worked for over 18 years as a television producer working on numerous TV Shows. After experiencing the sudden loss of her young husband in a car accident, she realized her life lacked a deeper meaning and purpose. She decided to return to college and received her Master of Arts in Marriage, Family, Therapy in 2005 and also wrote a 291 page thesis titled “The Impact on the Surviving Spouse with Respect to Anticipated Versus Unanticipated Death”. Joanne is very passionate in helping her clients thrive and grow from their experiences in therapy. She now specializes in couples counseling, premarital counseling, loss and grief, individual and personal growth therapy/coaching, and has worked with thousands of individuals and couples to create better, more fulfilled, happy lives.

Mindfulness Practices Recommended by Dr. Joanne to Help Process Traumatic Events

LINKS

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

The Rebellious Widow: A Practical Guide to Love and Life After Loss by Jill Johnson-Young helped Joanne deal with her grief last year.

Episode 275: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Post-Vaccine Travel, Birthdays & the Bulgaro Lady

Are you ready for a sister update? Because we’re ready to spill the tea! Bricia tells us about her first trip post-covid vaccine and while she had a little bit of anxiety getting to her destination, she is really thankful she was able to getaway. Paulina is talking about her new healthy habits and becoming the búlgaro lady. We also talk about Eddie’s second birthday party ever, Bricia’s extra decorations and as always, we’re sharing our picks and tips for the week. #AddToCart 

P.S. Shoutout to our favorite Evelyn from Harlow Planning, balloons from Lotus Party Co. and installation from Preferred Projects for creating this incredible set up for Eduardo’s 6th birthday! Nothing wrong with a little extraness. 😉Check out his backyard party set up in the gallery above and reach out to these amazing vendors for your next party!

Paulina’s Breakfast Smoothie

Spinach

Broccoli

Blueberry

Blackberry

Almond butter

Ginger

Tumeric

Bulgaro milk

Pick or Tip of the Week

Last week, Fernando asked Paulina if she wanted to go to the movies. Some movie theaters are allowing you you rent out the whole room for yourself up to twenty people - your family or whoever is in your bubble. They went to the AMC in Monterey Park and everyone loved it! This is going to spoil the kids because they were able to walk around throughout the movie and yell at each other. It’s a good sign that everything is slowly getting back to a new normal. Check out local theaters in your area to see if they offer this cool opportunity!

Bricia’s pick is a kids’ finance app called Greenlight. It’s a savings + spending app that she found when she was trying to figure out how to pay Eddie from his business since he has to pay for his new iPad (if you missed the story about that, listen to the intro of THIS episode and check out his tie dye shop). Greenlight is a prepaid debit card made just for kids. You can transfer money, send allowances when they complete chores, see their expenses and how much money they have. Eddie used his debit card to pay for his new iPad and his independence even shocked the guy at the Apple store! You have to listen to the episode to hear about the rest of his first big purchase.

Links

Arca restaurant in Tulum - Bricia and her husband, Eduardo, went here during their post-vaccine travels and they loved it! The food was so creative and well executed, blown away by the menu and flavors.

Paulina the búlgaro lady has been referencing this article and this one to learn more about kefir.

Ayara Thai in Westchester, CA

Episode 274: What is CBD? The Misconceptions of Cannabis with Jessica Gonzalez, owner of Happy Organics

Everyone loves a new episode! This week we talk to Jessica Gonzalez, owner of Happy Organics, a wellness company and apiary company in California. When her father was diagnosed with cancer a few years back, she and her siblings turned to cannabis to help him with pain relief and after a ton of research, her company was born. Jessica talks to us about the basics of cannabis, the difference between CBD & THC and the products she’s created through the years (including one of Paulina’s favorite salves). You know we never shy away from taboo topics, so we get to the bottom of CBD for you and how you can add it to your daily routine. 

Cannabis Glossary Terms from this Episode

The most important takeaway from our interview with Jessica: “The main misconception around cannabis is that hemp and weed are two different plants. They come from the same plant, but there are different laws around the two regarding distribution. Scientifically, it’s the levels of THC in the plant.”

Jessica’s Top 3 Products

Pick or Tip of the Week

One of the ways Paulina’s body reacts to stress and anxiety is dry scalp. There was a time she made her scalp bleed she was scratching so much. Her tip this week comes from her sister Liz, who suggested and also uses coconut oil with apple cider vinegar as a leave-in mask. Twice a week she uses a small bottle of equal parts coconut oil and ACV. She uses a small applicator to apply all over her scalp for a minimum of 10 minutes (usually on the days she washes her hair).

After the third application Paulina has not scratched her head anymore! It’s helped her scalp a lot and it’s way better than the doctor recommended shampoo filled with chemicals. Sometimes going natural is better than anything!

Also part of her scalp / haircare routine - Dr. Bronner’s tea tree soap and a scalp massager for when she washes her hair. 

Bricia’s tip is a SHAMELESS PLUG - watch Waffles + Mochi on Netflix! Produced by Michelle Obama, this show is geared towards children but it’s great for the whole family to watch. Bricia is shook that this show is so good but of course, it’s produced by the Obamas! You can catch us on episode 2 about salt. The best part of the episode is the last twenty minutes. Be sure to check it out and tag us!

Links

To learn more and shop all CBD products, follow Happy Organics on Instagram @happyorganics.co and happyorganics.co

Episode 273: Let’s Talk About Sex, Fertility Awareness, and that Time of the Month with Cindy Luquin of Howl at the Womb

We LOVE to talk about sex! But really, as taboo as it is in the Latinx community, it’s so important that we talk about sexual wellness. This week we talk to Cindy Luquin, founder of Howl at the Womb. We talk about why she created her business, plus we touch on fertility awareness, unprotected sex, basal body thermometers and so much more. These can be uncomfortable topics to discuss but Cindy makes it easy and informational, and we know we’ll be having her back for another chat soon!

Our Conversation with Cindy

What is Howl at the Womb?

Fertility Awareness Methods and Body Literacy

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How do you feel when it’s your time of the month?

  1. Your basal body temp: Use a basal body thermometer to check your basal body temperature (resting/core temperature). You need to track this throughout your cycle because it shifts. When a spike in temperature happens, this is when you ovulate.

  2. Check for cervical mucus, AKA wetness in your undies.

  3. Your cervix: Insert your fingers into your vagina and check the position of your cervix. It changes positions at different times in the month.

Using apps to predict your cycle

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Methods to NOT conceive

Pulling out 🙈

Using a basal body thermometer (like this one)

Cindy’s Liberated Lovers course

When do you start preparing for menopause?

Introducing our little ones to their boundaries and teaching consent

Links

Learn more about Cindy and her Liberated Lovers course at HowlAtTheWomb.com.

Follow Cindy on Instagram @howlatthewomb and be on the lookout for announcements for workshops, classes, etc.

Episode 272: Dealing with Post-Pandemic Anxiety in Children with Dr. Maritza Mikolich, PsyD, LMFT

The world may be getting ready to reopen again, but are our kids ready for in-person school after a year of virtual learning? We speak with therapist Dr. Maritza Mikolich about anxiety issues our children might be facing when going back to post-pandemic life. We talk about behavioral signs to look for and how to listen and validate their feelings. She also offers tips on how to help them get back to normal in-person socialization in a safe & healthy way!

Before the episode, we’re talking about Eddie going back to school! He’s so excited to see his friends and it feels like he grew up overnight (or during quarantine 🤣) because he’s getting ready for school on his own and even packing his school snacks, including the new plant-based Sabra Kids Snack Kits. We dared Eddie, Krista and Sabina to try the snacks and all they talked about was how good they were! The girls love the yummy Brownie Batter flavor and Eddie can’t get enough of the Taco dip, especially the delicious tortilla chips. We’re daring YOU to dare your kids to try these snacks - we know they’ll love it!

More about Dr. Maritza Mikolich: Maritza is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a doctoral degree in psychology. “I come from a traditional Mexican family, raised in the United States and spoke Spanish as my first language. My parents were born and raised in Michoacan, Mexico and moved to the U.S. for the American dream of giving their family better opportunities. It was that dream that highly motivated me to follow my passion by going to college and studying psychology when I discovered it in high school. I was the first college graduate in my extended family to get a college education. I obtained my bachelors degree at the University of San Diego, my masters degree at Saint Thomas University in Florida and my doctorate degree at Alliant International University in San Diego. During my studies, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico and Madrid, Spain.

“I have therapy experience working in different settings including: youth and parents in foster care, teenagers in group homes, children in schools who struggled with behavioral issues, individuals struggling with co-parenting issues, and crisis intervention with all age groups. During the pandemic, in October 2020, I decided to start my private practice in hopes of giving back to the Hispanic community. I provide psychotherapy primarily to adults in English and Spanish virtually through telephone and video throughout the state of California. I provide individual, family and couples therapy virtually to people struggling with depression, anxiety,  trauma, life stressors, and relational problems.”

For more information on how to contact Dr. Mikolich, check out her site DrMikolich.com and scroll below for more links!

Tips & Resources for Parents from Dr. Mikolich

Parenting During Covid

  • Self-care

  • Manage your own emotions

  • Manage your home environment

  • Be more aware of your child’s mental health

  • Practice healthy communication skills

  • Manage school stress

Suggested Reading

Resources

  • National Parent Helpline 855-4APARENT

  • Parents Helping Parents: 800-882-1250

  • San Diego Crisis & Access Line: 888-724-7240

  • Youth Talkline: 877-450-5463

  • Resources in San Diego: 211

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

  • National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI): 760-722-3754

  • Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): 800-826-3632

  • Codependency Anonymous: 888-444-2359

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s pick is the covid vaccine. She and Paulina are lucky enough to have received their first rounds of the shot and they are very thankful they’re on the road back to normal life. Bricia suggest doing the research, finding reliable sources and talking to your doctor about any questions you might have. If it’s your turn and you can get the vaccine, get it! You can find more information at myturn.ca.gov.

Paulina’s pick is Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty. Her therapist suggested it as a tool for Krista to use to that help ease school stress and use during study time. It’s kind of like slime and it’s relaxing.

LINKS 

Learn more about Dr. Mikolich and her practice at drmikolich.com. Call or email for a free consultation at therapy@drmikolich.com. She is also available for virtual appointments via video or phone.

Try the new Sabra Kids Snack Kits now! Click here to find a grocer near you.

Episode 271: College Success & Resources for Undocumented Students with Sarahi Espinoza, founder of DREAMer's Roadmap

“If I can change the life of one person, if I can help one Sarahi out there and let them know they can go to college after high school, that’s success to me.”

- Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca

Is someone in your family getting ready to apply to college? Maybe your teenager is looking at school’s out of state or your young cousin is starting to think about their future career and what schools would benefit their education? This week we interview Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca, founder of DREAMer’s Roadmap. This free mobile app provides resources and helps undocumented students find scholarship opportunities for college. Sarahi talks to us about her own journey as an undocumented student, the inspiration behind creating the app and what high school & college students can do to make their college tuition life a little easier. Furthering your education can be a little confusing, but luckily Sarahi has created a helpful resource for any student looking for new opportunities!

More about Sarahi: Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca is the Founder and CEO of DREAMers Roadmap, a mobile app platform that helps undocumented students navigate the necessary resources to access higher education. This is Sarahi’s project for the past 4 years within a longer trajectory of activism within and for the undocumented community, which has placed her in the spotlight of continued conversations centered on national immigration policy.

Sarahi was a Champion of Change at the White House in 2014, has received 4 House of Representatives Awards, and was named in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2016. A former undocumented student who once had to drop out of school to support her family, Sarahi’s personal experience informs her unwavering vision: to help hundreds of thousands of students eliminate the barriers to success and achieve their full potential. 

More recently Sarahi has directed two major campaigns serving minorities. #FirstOfTheMonth where she and two other local orgs Cosme together and raised 2.2 million dollars to help the most vulnerable of their neighbor who were impacted by covid and got no financial support. The other #Supplies4FarmWorkers a grassroots community-led campaign organized by 100% volunteers where we go to farmworker camps and fields to distribute backpacks, school supplies, PPE, and essentials. Serving families affected by the California fires and Covid19.

Tips for College Success from Sarahi

  • Be proactive!

  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

  • Reach out to the Admission’s Office and EOPS offices.

  • Be persistent. Call, email and show up in person if possible.

  • If parents can’t make these calls due to language barriers, students need to make these call.

  • Check out FastWeb.com for random scholarships. Anything helps!

Links

Follow @dreamersroadmap on Instagram and Facebook.

Download the DREAMer’s Roadmap app from the Apple Store or Google Play for more information, scholarship opportunities, resources and events local to you and around the country.

Episode 270: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamás - Post-Pandemic Dreams and Acknowledging Personal Growth

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Who else has missed our catch up sessions? We sure did, and this week is a little profound talk between sisters. Not only are we imagining what life is going to be like post-pandemic with family vacations (and maybe trips without them 🤣), going back to school, eating in restaurants and birthday parties, but we’re also getting deep into our feelings. We’re exploring buried emotions and acknowledging that growth from our childhood is just as important now that we’re parents and trying to understand our kids. It’s never too late to grow, sisters! 

P.S. Have you entered our giveaway for the new #TomAndJerryMovie ?! We’re giving TWO movie kits to a lucky random follower and a tagged friend! Check out our Instagram post for all the details on how to enter and watch the official movie trailer below.

Paulina’s Kid Schedules

The pandemic is finally on it’s way to out (we hope 🤞🏽) and Paulina barely started getting the hang of it! She realized that her girls needed to be on a better schedule before and after school, so she used Over to customize the schedules below. When the girls start to bother each other or tell Paulina they’re bored, she just points them to the schedule and asks what they’re supposed to be doing. Whether it’s meal time, school or free time, there’s always something to do.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia and Eduardo tie dyed some shirts this weekend! The tie dye kit was gifted to her by Paulina. It’s a brand called Rit and it came in camel brown color and Bricia ended up buying more colors. She and Eddie went to Joanns for shirts, squeeze bottles and extra dye. Now her $5 shirt now looks like it cost $45 dollars!

Paulina is really into her eyebrows right now. She loves the Microfilling Brow Pen from Benefit. The tip is like three points and it almost feels like micro blading, and gives a much more full look. Elizabeth also recommended a brow gel from Anastasia. Paulina uses the gel first then the pen to fill in. 

Links

Bricia has started working with her life coach Victor Pierantoni again. Check out the episode we recorded with him about staying sane and zen in the pandemic earlier last year!

Episode 269: Market Investing Fundamentals with Ramona Ortega of My Money, My Future

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Money money money money ! 🤑🤑🤑One of our friends and favorite financial gurus, Ramona Ortega of My Money My Future, is back on the show this week for more money talk. A few weeks ago there was a ton of drama in the stock market involving Game Stop, Dogecoin and more, and we realized that some people probably had no idea what was happening. We reached out to Ramona to get to the bottom of it as well as learn more about the basics of investing, financial strategizing, financial freedom funds and so much more. We understand that new terms and money can be confusing for many of us, but that’s exactly why we interviewed Ramona about this info. If you’re just starting to explore the money market, this is the episode to tune in to! 

Join Ramona’s Don't Just Thrive. Survive. Investment Bootcamp! You’ll learn more about the fundamentals of finance and risk factors, how to choose & buy high performing stocks and so much more. Plus it’s a self-paced course with a live Q&A every two weeks, so you can join at any time!

More about Ramona Ortega: Ramona Ortega is the CEO & Founder of My Money My Future. MMMF is personal finance app helping Black and Latinx millennials save, invest, and build wealth with automated financial guidance and personalized product recommendations. Ramona was recently named one of the most Notable Women in Personal Finance by Crain's Business. Ramona has been an Entrepreneur in Residence with Azlo and is a sought after thought leader in fintech and financial inclusion. She is on the board of Village Capital, Camino Financial and Los Angeles Community Health Council. Prior to founding MMMF, Ramona was a Wall Street attorney and worked on complex securities litigation and corporate matters in private practice and at the SEC and U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Ramona is a contributor to TechCrunch and is working on a book called No Shame in the Money Game: A Broke Girls' Guide to Building Wealth.

Our Conversation with Ramona

The Language of Finance

Ramona’s Investment Bootcamp

How to Strategize Different Accounts

Investment Tips for Beginners

Why Financial Literacy is Important, especially for Latinos

Short term vs. Long term Investing

What is stock split?

Investing for your Children

How to choose a good stock

Mutual Fund vs. ETF

What is Crypto?

The Game Stop Drama

Links

Follow Ramona on Instagram @MyMoneyMyFuture, Facebook.com/mymoneymyfuture, Twitter @MMoneyMFuture and check out her site MyMoneyMyFuture.co for more financial tips.

You can also follow Ramona’s personal Twitter @dinero_diva for more inside tips.

Episode 268: Relationships in the Pandemic - A Valentine’s Day Special with Samara Fabrick

“Part of what keeps eroticism alive in marriage is separateness. You need to be your own person and your partner needs to be their own person, and when you come together as the Venn diagram, that's where the sexy, spicy comes.”

- Samara Fabrick

Are you feeling the love this week? 🥰 Ahead of Valentines Day, we brought back previous guest, Samara Fabrick, a couples therapist who talks to us about relationships during the pandemic. So many of us are facing issues with our partners like never before and Samara is breaking down the pros & cons to our newly realized problems. She is sharing ways that we can get our sexy back with our partners during quarantine and when we need it in the future! 

Listen to our previous episodes with Samara that will help set the mood for Valentine’s Day:

More about Samara Fabrick: Samara Fabrick is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been in private practice as a psychotherapist in Beverly Hills for the past 20 years. Samara specializes in working with clients suffering from anxiety as well as a specialization in relationship and couples therapy. She taught the premarital course, Making Marriage Work, at the American Jewish University for 15 years.  As part of her extensive work with couples, Samara works with a variety of sexual issues including those related to dating and sexuality in the course of long-term relationships. Samara has been married to her husband for 26 years and has two grown children.

How to Get Your Groove Back 😉

  1. Make sure you are taking care of yourself and practicing self care. You need to feel good about yourself first before you focus on anyone else.

  2. Find something that feels novel, or new. Samara suggests a few dates ideas below.

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

  • Get someone to watch the kids and take a night drive with your partner. Park somewhere and fool around a bit.

  • If you live close to to the beach, take a drive up the coast. Super relaxing.

  • Have a picnic in your backyard or the local park. Do the things that we used to do at the beginning of the pandemic that have become complacent.

  • Do what feels sexy and special - take a bath or hot shower together, read a book.

  • Make a date to have sex! It might not feel sexy to schedule it on the calendar, but it obviously matters enough. You NEED to make time for your partner! Lock the door and tell your kids it’s mommy & daddy time. Your kids will survive. 🤣

  • Paulina’s suggestion - Prior to covid, she and her husband used to visit sex shops together. Now her husband will buy her something sexy online and have it delivered. It’s a fun surprise for both of them.

LINKS

For more information on Samara and to book a session, visit her website at SamaraFabrick.com

Divorce Rates Spike in China due to Coronavirus Lockdown

Paulina mentions how not sexy these sock gloves are (her pick from last week’s episode) but they are SO nice for your feet!

Samara’s favorite books right now - Girl, Woman, Other: A Novel by Bernadine Evaristo and The Vanishing Half: A Novel by Brit Bennett

We’re all also loving with making cocktails at home, especially with Fortaleza tequila! Not sponsored.

Samara’s guilty pleasure is Below Deck on Bravo.

And yes, we’re still obsessed with Bridgerton. Can you blame us?! We’re getting in the Valentine’s Day mood.

Episode 267: A Journey through IVF with Dulce Candy

The journey to mamáhood is not the same for everyone. This week we speak to beauty icon Dulce Candy Ruiz about her journey with IVF. After struggling to conceive for years and trying other natural fertility methods, she finally felt comfortable with the idea of IVF and decided to tackle the treatments with the support of her family. Dulce talks about the importance of having a strong mentality throughout the IVF process, explaining the decision to her Latinx family and how she feels like a first time mom all over again. We love Dulce’s real, transparent take on her experience, and we hope that her story gives other struggling mamas hope for their future too.

More about Dulce Candy: Dulce Candy Ruiz is a beauty icon who has been sharing her experiences and insights since 2008 through high-quality self-produced content across videos, photos, and blogs. Her focus ranges across self-love, beauty, petite fashion, and family. She immigrated to Southern California from Mexico as a young girl. At 18 she joined the armed forces to serve in the US Army in Iraq. Dulce is a globally recognized published author & beauty expert who has collaborated with hundreds of lifestyle brands, all while prioritizing her role as a mother, wife, daughter, and big sister to her millions of viewers from around the world.

Dulce’s Top Baby Picks

Solly Baby Wraps

Sleep Sacks like these highly recommended from Babylist

What Dulce is absolutely loving right now

Last great movie she watched - Soul on Disney+

The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz

Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush - great for blending products and using for all over your face

Check out Dulce’s IVF Journey on her YouTube channel

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s tip is to get your things ready for the next day the night before! It makes morning before school/work much easier. Her pick this week are these gel socks for her feet! She has always struggled with dry skin and dry feet. She tries to use them for a few hours or overnight, and her feet are soooo soft!! This will make a big difference in the summer time when it’s huarache season.

Bricia has two picks this week! First, her husband is obsessed with personal hygiene and his teeth. He found Coco Floss - coconut oil floss that’s cruelty free and vegan. Her second pick are aging eye drops from Similasan. Bricia suffers from dry eyes and its hard for her to find good eye drops that don’t irritate her eyes even more. She uses them multiple times a day and it never stings!

Links

Follow Dulce Candy on Instagram and subscribe to her Youtube channel.

Babies documentary

Kiinde bottles - Bricia’s favorite!

Dulce’s favorite morning shakes - Boobie Body and Shakeology

Paulina bases her morning routine off of Rachel Hollis’ morning routine. It’s really made a difference for her in the past year!

Paulina is also on the hunt for a new daily moisturizer. Dulce’s favorite for everyday is Pacifica Vegan Collagen SPF30 Every Day Lotion. Bricia’s favorite cream is Honest Beauty CCC Cream.

Episode 266: The Realities of Blogger Life with Jacqui Saldaña of Baby Boy Bakery

One of our favorite amigas is back on the show! This week we talk to Jacqui Saldaña of Baby Boy Bakery. She’s one of the OG mama bloggers and has been creating content for family for years. This week we talk to Jacqui about the inspiration behind her newest content and recent website relaunch. We also talk about the ups & downs of quarantine life, how this year has changed her as a mom, and how much we all miss Disneyland! 😩Chatting with Jacqui is always such a good time - she’s real, honest, and hilarious! She has so many goals and ideas coming soon, we can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. 

Before the episode, we’re also talking about how big Augustina is getting! She’s getting ready to start her solid foods journey and Bricia is really focused on using the RIE parenting method again. We did an episode about this technique a few years ago, but we’re thinking it’s time for a refresher course! You can listen to that episode on Spotify here.

Also, Paulina might have shared a secret about her growing family on the episode. 😉 But you’ll have to tune in to find out!

More about Jacqui Saldaña: Jacqui is the author of Baby Boy Bakery, an inspirational online space that offers the tips and tools you need to feel the most confident within your kitchen. Jacqui began Baby Boy Bakery ten years ago as a place for families to gain insight on cooking simple meals and creating lasting memories together in the kitchen. It has since evolved into an uplifting space giving viewers an honest look inside Jacqui's home, as she invites everyone to cook alongside her and her little ones.

As a mother of three she keeps it real and simple, perfect for parents looking to whip up a tasty meal while also soaking up the time they have with their family. Jacqui shares delicious recipes, kids activities, and personal stories that resonate with most. She writes candidly about her journey through parenthood helping thousands of parents feel less alone as they face the hard times along with the beautiful ones. Her community loves her for being relatable and honest. Her fierce passion lies with food and family. You can count on Jacqui for recipes that will make you feel proud, fun ideas to make the most of your family time and stories that will help you hold on to joy!

Our Conversation with Jacqui

Quarantine life at home

Where she gets her content inspiration

Learning Sisterhood series on BabyBoyBakery.com

How this year has changed her as a mom

Her decision to keep going after tradgedy

Her relationship with her husband while in quarantine

“Hispanic Panic” 😂

Jacqui’s goals for the new year

What Jacqui is loving right now

The Crown on Netflix

Cookies! Because she’s a stress/emotional baker. Check out some delicious cookie recipes from her site including Sugar Cookies 4 Ways and a simple Brownie Cookie recipe.

She also loves organizing her closets. So relaxing!

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia is loving two protein powders right now. It’s so easy for her to add them to morning smoothies when she needs a quick breakfast.

  1. Ora Organic - There are a few different flavors but she loves vanilla.

  2. Four Sigmatic - This plant based protein gives Bricia so much energy, which is helpful because she’s detoxing from caffeine this month.

Paulina’s pick is also health related. She recently read an article about gut health and was inspired to do some more research for her nine year old, Krista, who is lactose intolerant. These Garden of Life probiotics for kids have helped her so much! Her skin condition and overall gut health have really improved. It reminded of an older episode we did about poop - yes, poop and the mind/gut connection. Maybe it’s time for a refresher episode on gut health too!.

Links

Follow Jacqui on Instagram @babyboybakery and check out her new site relaunch at BabyBoyBakery.com! You can find recipes, insightful parenting posts and ideas for kids activities that we love to do with our own families.

Also check out Jacqui Saldaña on YouTube for new, easy recipes every week! We love the recipe below for an easy, no bake cheesecake.


Episode 265: Birth Charts, Astrology and Predictions for 2021 with astrologist Dr. Veroshk Williams

Horoscopes? Birth charts? We’ve never been too much into astrology, but over the last year we have had so many guests talk about their star signs and how it plays into their personality, business decisions, and more that we were curious to learn more. We are both Libras and come from a family of many more Libras, but we know almost nothing about what that means!

In this episode, we dive into what astrology really is with Dr. Veroshk Williams, astrologist and psychologist. She explains how studying a person’s astrological birth chart can tell you about their core personality, communication skills, and so much more. She also tells us what happened in 2020 according to the planets and what’s predicted for 2021. Who would have thought the solar system would teach us so much about ourselves? 🪐💫

More about Dr. Veroshk Williams: Dr. Veroshk Williams is an entrepreneur of wisdom. Her work in psychology and astrology distinguishes her by her vision of the emotional, self-understanding, and actions directed at success. Her work model is based on creating a solid healing space for the entire community. She graduated from Cornell University and Ponce Health Sciences University where she did her PhD in clinical psychology. Also, she studied astrology in Colombia.

Currently, Dr. Veroshk runs Sanación Infinita PR, a multidisciplinary health clinic where she integrates her astrological and psychological consulting services. In addition, the clinic integrates other health professionals. Dr. Veroshk oversees clinical psychology doctorate degree students , who offer their clinical practice at low cost to the community. She also has a Sanacion Infinita office in New York City where Dr. Veroshk offers her services.

She is the creator of 'RESET by Veroshk' a series of virtual and face-to-face wellness events to restore the four dimensions of being: body, mind, emotion and spirit, with the support of lunar energy to achieve balance and well being.

Her website www.veroshk.com offers information about her services and wellness materials such as the Membresia Veroshk, downloadable meditations, worksheets, and other healing resources developed by Dr. Veroshk. She is also the creator of Shop Veroshk which is an online and physical store where she has developed branded products such as ritual candles and love elixirs, you can also find incense and a diversity of quartz.

All of this encompasses Dr. Veroshk’s vision on wellness and mental health which can be summarized as: “Mental health and healing is possible for all, you just have to find the way to make it happen.”

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s pick this week is a baby pick! She would gift this to any new mom - the dockatot. It’s been her everything with baby Augustina. She started sleep training at 3 months from 7pm - 7am, and Bricia thinks the dockatot has made a difference with keeping her asleep and keeping the same environment for her.

Paulina’s tip is the total opposite of baby gear. Bridgerton on Netflix! If you haven’t watched it yet, you need to! Make this your super-mamas-self-care time for yourself because it’s the ultimate novela. There’s a reason 63 million people have watched this already.

Links

Follow Dr. Williams on Instagram and all social platforms @vroshk

Check out her podcast AstroTerapia, all about fusing astrology & psychology and mental health advice

You can contact Dr. Williams for your own birth chart reading at info@veroshk.com or 787.460.3247

——————————-

Tenet - Bricia recently watched this movie and now she’s really into learning about time travel 🤣

The Dig on Netflix

What Dr. Williams is reading - Becoming by Michelle Obama

Episode 264: Keeping it Real with the Super Mamas: How Covid-19 Tried to Steal Our Holiday Cheer

264_cover.jpg

Happy New Year, sisters!

This week’s episode is about our personal experience after Paulina and her family were diagnosed with covid right before Christmas. After months of being so careful and trying our best to stay safe, Paulina, her husband and children, and our parents, . What a way to end 2020, right? 😅 It was a scary, painful and stressful few weeks, but the entire family is on their way to recovery. So many of you not only reached out to send well wishes and covid experiences, but also shared home remedies that helped us fight the virus off even faster. We’ve included some below, which we will absolutely be using in the future for when flu season rolls around again. At the end of the day, we are blessed to have our good health and the support of our family, friends and followers! The year can only get better from here!

*If you’re a covid survivor, please consider donating blood and plasma for research. Learn more at redcrossblood.org.

Coronavirus Remedies

Flu Bomb Recipe

Smash one clove of garlic and one teaspoon of grated ginger.

Mix with 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, one teaspoon raw honey, one lemon and 1/4 cup warm water.

Drink one in the morning and one at night to help with flu-like symptoms.

Pick or Tip of the Week

After Paulina’s Instagram Live, where she let the followers know she had coronavirus, many of you reached out to share remedies that have worked for you and your families who were also recovering coronavirus. Her favorite was a Flu Bomb that she knows she’ll use whenever she’s feeling sick. It helped with a lot of the flu-like symptoms of covid, plus it’s anti-inflammatory and helps with infection. Check out the recipe above and video above for more details.

Everyone is pretty used to virtual learning at this point in the pandemic. Bricia’s pick is Osmo, an app that children can use with their tablets at home. It’s a great gift and another great option for your kids who are learning at home and are craving a different kind of stimulation. Bricia bought it for Eduardo last year and it’s been great while he’s learning at home. He even wants to use it during his free time!

Links

If you’re a covid survivor, please consider donating blood and plasma for research. Learn more at redcrossblood.org.

Daniel Fast - Guide, Food List, Resources and more

Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker



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 262: Walking in Gratitude, Body Positivity, and Prioritizing Happiness with Rosie Mercado

There are only a few new episodes left for the year, and this week is a good one. Our guest, Rosie Mercado, is a podcaster, TV personality, author, plus-size model, mama, and that's just the beginning! Rosie talks about her 240lb. weight loss journey, her growing faith, and what it’s like to be a new mom after a 14 year gap between her kids. Listening to Rosie’s story will motivate you to begin creating your own happiness as soon as the episode is over. There's no better time to start working on you than right now!

Before the episode, Bricia is catching us up on her mini vacation with her husband that she mentioned during last week’s episode. It was their first trip alone since Augustina was born earlier this year!

More about Rosie Mercado: Television star Rosie Mercado is capturing hearts and imaginations across the globe with her compelling story, electric persona and breathtaking beauty. 

A proud, bilingual Latina, Rosie is a true crossover star who also guest-hosts and is a correspondent on leading Spanish-language networks, Telemundo and Univision, as well as on the Emmy-award winning Dr. Phil Show and The Doctors. 

The journey of her 240-pound weight loss and life transformation into a prominent voice for women’s empowerment went viral. In 2019, Rosie was named as one of the “Top 25 Most Powerful Latinas” by People en Espanol. 

In fall 2020, Rosie launched two projects simultaneously. Her shocking story of survival and triumph was released through the publication of her memoir, The Girl with the Self-Esteem Issues, in both English and Spanish. With the same title, she launched her podcast with both video and audio components and is also available in English and Spanish. Each episode features candid discussions between Rosie and influential figures from all walks of life covering topics such as parenting, health and relationships.

Episode Gems from Rosie Mercado & more

“It’s a blessing to be present as a mom.” - Rosie

“Until you know someone’s story, you don’t know who they are.” - Rosie

“No mas. I’m going to work on me.” - Rosie

“Becoming a mother just makes you a different person. You start looking deeper into who you are meant to be.” - Paulina

“Sometimes when people are being mean to you, it’s not a reflection of you. it’s a reflection of them.” - Rosie

“When you change you mind, your body changes in the process.” - Paulina

“Find things that you like, that make you happy and give it an opportunity.” - Rosie

“Self care is essential for transformation.” - Rosie

“I want more peace, I want to find answers, something is guiding me. I know there a presence out there.” - Rosie

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s pick is the cutest tie dye sweat suit from our amiga, Rachel Gomez’s line, Viva la Bonita. It’s cozy and perfect for hanging out at home during the holidays, so support a small Laguna owned business and buy it for someone you love (or yourself 😉) today!

Paulina’s tip is the movie, War with Grandpa - watch the trailer here. She saw it a few weeks back at a drive-in movie and it’s so funny! It’s family friendly and she highly recommends it for children and grownups alike

Links

Follow Rosie on Instagram @rosiemercado and her podcast @thegirlwithselfesteemissues.

Learn more about Rosie, her book, and more at RosieMercado.com.

Listen to her podcast The Girl with the Self Esteem Issues in english and in Spanish, La Latina con Baja Autoestima.


What are your plans for the weekend ?Come join us this Saturday! we’re cooking up something STRANGE with @chefashleyshep and @iampaulinalopez! Check out the link in our bio to be a part of a very special STRANGE WORLD Mommy and Me cooking class
I feel like I’ve gotten to know so much more of myself in the past couple of weeks, from my trip to Oaxaca reconnecting to my inner child and the traditions that fill me up so much to meeting with @victor.zenstoic today. I feel so grateful and