Episode 33: Laughing Your Way Through Motherhood: Finding Humor, Community, and Balance with Maria Roberts

Episode Description: 

In this episode, Christina and Kristina sit down with lifestyle creator Maria Roberts — the voice behind @mariaroberts and former co-founder of the beloved blog Spinach for Breakfast.

Maria shares how she went from creating easy recipes with her sister in their early blogging days to building one of the most relatable (and funniest) motherhood communities online. She opens up about:

• The shift from Hoboken’s walk-everywhere lifestyle to suburban mom life
• How she uses humor to stay grounded through motherhood’s ups and downs
• The inspiration behind The Little Glow Society and creating a space for kids to feel celebrated
• What it's really like to have content go viral — the good and the bad

It’s an honest, funny, and heart-filled conversation about identity, change, and finding connection in the middle of motherhood.

💗 Pink Spotlight
Each week, we highlight a moment, product, or practice that’s bringing us joy:

✨ Christina: The Alix Earle iPhone light — it’s under $25 on Amazon and truly a must-have for any content creator. It clips right onto your iPhone, laptop, or iPad and makes a huge difference in low light. Alix Earle made it famous for a reason — it’s the best for nighttime photos or beauty videos.

✨ Kristina: Portofino ‘97 by Victoria Beckham — she hadn’t switched up her perfume in years, but after smelling this on a friend, she had to copy. It’s become her new signature scent — fresh, warm, and just so good.

✨ Maria: A family tradition that’s as heartwarming as it is simple — every night at dinner, her family shares the peak and the pit of their day. It’s a sweet ritual that gets everyone talking and keeps them connected.

🌸 Things We Mentioned

• The Little Glow Society — a space in Hoboken for kids to feel confident and celebrated. @thelittleglowsociety
• Maria’s favorite accounts for mom humor: @csapunch and @overthemoonfaraway

Join the Conversation

📌 Follow us on Instagram: @prettyinpinkagain @christinatarabishy @kristinabontempo
📌 Share this episode with a friend
🎧 Subscribe and leave a review—it helps more women find this show!

Don't forget:  Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts, DM us your address, and we’ll send you a light pink beaded bracelet with a gold pink flamingo charm—just to say thanks for being here. 💕

Hey PIPAS! Send us a text for episode feedback, ideas, and questions!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
I'm Christina and I'm t and thisis the Pretty and Pink Again

(00:03):
podcast.
We're Motherhood MeetsRediscovery.
Hello.
Hi guys.
Hi.
Hey.
We have a virtual guest ontoday.
Yay.
Maria Roberts.

(00:24):
We are so excited to have you,Maria.
Thank you so much for having me.
My first podcast ever, so Ican't believe that.
I'm very excited.
You must be in such demandthough.
I'm sure people wanna hear fromyou because if you guys don't
know Maria, first of all, gofollow her.
Her handle is at Maria Roberts.
And if you don't know who I'mtalking about, you've probably

(00:46):
seen her in your feed and you'veprobably sent her to one of your
mom friends, or Christina hassent you one of her Yes.
Memes.
Yes.
But she is a gorgeous, hilariousmom humor account and just woman
humor account.
I feel like you make light ofall of the stuff that we as
women and moms go through.
And so you have definitely seenher in your feed before and she

(01:09):
is here live and we're soexcited to chat.
Thank you.
Thank you again.
I'm excited too.
Yeah.
I love watching your content.
I think you are so cute and Ilove that you make light of.
Everything that's going on inthis house right now.
I'm like, how did she know thatwas happening here today?

(01:29):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Liz is happening at your house.
It must be, it's probablyhappening at your house.
It's always like perfect timingtoo, because sometimes I'll see
something and I'm like, wait,she literally must have been in
our house.
'Cause we just had thisconversation.
We just had this argument.
How did you know Maria?
Wait, the one that you just didthe other day with the hormones,
with the, you jumping up anddown and on the ground and we
just did a podcast abouthormones.

(01:51):
Yep.
And I'm like, this ishysterical.
And the husband's just standingthere so stoic.
Anyways, I love your stuff.
It's awesome.
Thank you.
I feel like it all is just sorelatable is what I'm finding,
especially creating this contentas well.
Sometimes I'll be like, this isfunny to me and you throw it out
there and you don't knownecessarily what the reaction is
and when everyone is oh my god,same.

(02:13):
And I like to consume thatcontent as well.
It makes you feel.
Better.
If you're stressed aboutsomething, you're like, oh, I
don't even know if I'm doingthis right.
Or I messed up the other day.
And then you get to see a videoof someone doing the same thing
and it's funny and then you'relike, okay, this is fun.
Like I, we're all fine.
Yes.
We're all doing our best.
Yes.
We're all doing our best.
We're all our best over here.
Yeah.

(02:33):
I love that so much.
I think it really helps.
And I love, from like alighthearted perspective, I feel
like motherhood, we always say,and t and I have guests on and
we tackle all the hard stuff onhere but we also always say we
don't wanna come off complainy.
And so sometimes the best way toget through something is to
laugh.
And so that's why we appreciate,the humor in this.

(02:56):
Yeah.
You have to laugh your waythrough motherhood because if
not you scream, you cry, youcomplain, you push people away.
When you use humor, it bringsyou close to the people that are
around you.
I think to your point, we alltalk about the same stuff all
the time, and you can go aboutit in two ways or multiple ways.
Yeah.
You can be really crotchety andcomplainy about it.

(03:17):
Yep.
Which, ugh, come on.
Nobody wants to hear that.
Yeah.
We're all going through the samestuff.
Why are we gonna all complaintogether?
Or you can like joke about it.
Laugh about it, and laugh aboutit.
Yep.
Yep.
And move on.
You always say too, you'realways like if you if you like
took the roof off of the houseYes.
If you took the roof offeveryone's house is probably the
same.
Everybody's probably having thesame argument.
Everybody like looks like theirlife's together and it's not.

(03:39):
You're probably having the samemeltdown that we are and
everybody's sitting next to thesame pile of laundry.
Literally as we speak.
Thousand percent.
I like cannot agree with thatmore.
It's really the only way that Ican get through it.
I wanna take us back and I will,I'll kind of preface and say me
and you know each other.
So we, yes.

(04:00):
We went to college together.
We didn't run in the exact samecircle, but there was a lot of
crossover with our friends.
Yeah.
And so Maria, you went to Yukon.
She went to Yukon.
She's RH too.
Is it?
You're a Ucon girl.
I'm a Yukon girl.
Oh my.
And you graduated in oh eight?
Yep.
Oh my gosh.
Wow.
Yeah.
Fun.
Small rock.
I love that.
We connected a few years aftergraduation because we had both

(04:22):
started blogs and your blog waswith your sister and you were
one of my favorite recipeaccounts.
I feel like you share a littlebit of that now, but that was
how you started and I feel likethat's such an interesting
point.
So I wanna talk about that andthen your transition into this
mom humor account.
So can you take us back?
It's funny, take us back.

(04:43):
We were in like the OG era, likepre-Instagram.
Instagram wasn't even a thingand I feel like it's so funny it
how, why I even started, this isso random, but Lou, who is my
husband, bought me a camera formy birthday, like one of those
like Canon, yeah.
Zoom lens cameras.
And I remember being like, I.

(05:05):
Want to use this, but what am Igoing to take pictures of?
And at the same time, I wasdoing this clean program cleanse
with my sister.
We both lived in the city andwe're like, what if we start to
take pictures of what we'remaking for dinner?
'cause this was like pre.
Gluten free, dairy free.
It was like on the cusp, but youcouldn't really find recipes
like you can today where it'severywhere.
Like it wasn't as niche.
No.

(05:25):
We were like, what if we takepictures of what we're eating,
put it on a blog, and it's onlyfor like if anyone's doing the
clean program cleanse, they cancome to the blog.
It was like so narrow, sospecific, and really just like a
side hobby.
We were both working full time,but we were like, this could be
fun.
Let's use the camera.
And that's really how itstarted.
It was spinach for breakfastbecause in this clean program
you had a green smoothie everymorning.

(05:46):
So that's how we started it andit was like a no pressure, just
for fun hobby.
Christina, did you feel the sameway when you started it?
I did.
It really was just for fun.
Yep.
I remember specifically youbeing on my blog role, I've
talked about this like where youused to have the side blog, like
where you would be like, oh,there's other people that you
should follow, and you were onthere.
Yes.
And I was like, this is one ofmy favorite recipes.

(06:08):
And I always loved making yourstuff because again, you had the
most amazing, very like easy,very healthy recipes.
And so those were, some of thosewere like in my rotation and
honestly still are.
So I was like so excited to beable to like collaborate with
you in that way.
And I know we used to share eachother and so it's just crazy.
We go, yeah.
Back, way back totally.

(06:30):
It's funny.
And I feel like there weren't asmany people doing it.
And I think when Instagramstarted, anyone who had a blog
shifted over onto Instagram.
But again, like there was noinfluencer, if you were to make
money, it was if you had an adbar on your blog.
Yep.
Like that, right?
That's like how people madeincome.
We started in this world wherethey're.

(06:50):
Paid partnership on Instagramwasn't even a thing.
Nope.
Yet.
No.
And then it just slowly startedto evolve the same way your
account did as well.
And I don't know.
Here I am now, I know for myfull-time job, but can you talk
to us about I guess like thesplit off because you did do the
blog with your sister and thenit was your Yes.
Your Instagram was also the twoof you, like the face of it.

(07:11):
I wonder if you scroll back, I'msure on your account, right?
It's probably still there.
Oh yeah.
Deep in there.
So how did that, but yeah, no,how did it kind of transition
then?
So we did that for a while andmy sister and I actually lived
in the same building in the cityfor a few years.
So that made it really easybecause we worked during the day
we came home, I would make arecipe, she'd come over and

(07:32):
shoot it.
Like we had a little thinggoing.
We had a good work plan.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And again, it was just for fun.
But then I moved to Hoboken withLou.
She was still in the city.
This was like I was having kidsand our content just started to
shift a little bit.
I feel like the passion that Ihad for the food was really more
in like the photography, theblog, post writing.

(07:53):
I don't, I didn't really lovecooking.
I still don't love cooking.
It wasn't like that was thepassion of mine.
I think when you create content,you have to love what you're
doing.
Sure.
If you're going to havelongevity in doing it.
And I started to burn out alittle bit.
With the food.
My sister was like deep in afull-time corporate job, and we
were what should we do here?
And this is when it was reallylike 2020.

(08:14):
TikTok was coming through,lifestyle was becoming really
big.
Humor was becoming really big.
I was pregnant with T Kaya and Iwas like, I think that this is
the direction that I want to goin.
It's what I'm consuming.
So I feel like it's what I'mgoing to love to create.
And it was just a natural shiftand I'm so happy that I did it.

(08:34):
'cause I don't know if I couldhave maintained doing the recipe
content for that much longer.
'cause I just like my, likeheart wasn't in it, if that
makes sense.
No, it makes perfect sensebecause I think if anything in
life.
You have to have passion aboutwhat you're doing and you have
to love what you're doing ifyou're gonna stand behind it.
Because if you otherwise, toyour point, you're gonna have

(08:54):
burnout and you're gonna havefatigue and you're, yeah.
The people that are watchingyour content are gonna feel it.
And it's also what's relatableto you right now?
What you're going through.
And so Exactly.
That's how you build thataudience is because it has to be
authentic to what is in yourlife right now, especially the
lifestyle content.
And I can imagine with the foodjust constantly needing to

(09:15):
create and reinvent and figureout I can't imagine how hard
that must be.
So this seems just like a muchmore natural progression.
Do you remember your first videowhen you pivoted to more of the
mom humor, lifestyle, more ofwhat you were saying that you
were consuming?
Do you remember your first videothat you put out?
I remember one video I did withLou and I was like, I don't know

(09:36):
how this is going.
And it's so funny.
It is not this is not my.
Personality, and I mean it is,but if you would've told me back
in college, Maria, your job isgoing to be humor content online
for people to view, I would'vebeen like, there's no fucking
way.
There's no way that I'm doingthat for my job.
So the fact that I'm doing thisis funny, but Lou and I did a

(09:58):
video, I don't know if this isthe first one, but it was the
first one that really gottraction where it was like the
intro was like.
Our kids just went to bed and wewere like, what are we gonna do
next?
And it was like us on the couchlistening to one of those like
murder things.
It just was lighthearted andfunny.
But people thought it alsoagain, it's relatable, same, and
Nick also do that and it'sshareable.

(10:20):
And I think that's again, whenlike the algorithm and
everything started shifting,there's some content creators
where if you like, go in adifferent direction and it kind,
you're just like following thealgorithm.
And and I mean that in like thebest way.
Like when sharing became reallyimportant when you could hit
that arrow and send it topeople.
Yes.
That's when stuff started totake off.
So if you had content that wasstuff that people wanted to

(10:42):
share with their husband, withtheir friends with their family,
that's when that all started.
So you were just like in thatsnowball where it just Yes.
Started to all click and makesense.
You keep referencing yourhusband, Lou?
Have you roped him into thiswith you and how does he like
doing the humor videos with you?
He's the best because he if itwasn't for me, he would not even

(11:04):
be on social media.
He's not trying to be like asocial media star.
Like he really does it for mebecause I ask him and he's so
naturally funny and so naturallygood at it and people love him.
So yeah, he is just the best andsupportive of me and I think
that when you do have a husbandwho.

(11:25):
Can partake in your videos.
It does open up a different.
Area of content and videos thatI can do.
And again, I think the husbandand wife or the parents is just
like another whole relatableaspect and Oh, totally.
He really is just so good.
Like he'll do it in one take andit'll take me like seven takes.
Oh, I love it.
Are you an actor?
Like you do that?
Tell me that you can act.

(11:46):
I dunno what's happening, but heis.
He's great.
That's really fun.
That's awesome.
I know.
That's really fun.
And I feel again, it opens it upto more of the parent thing
because I feel like it's veryeasy to.
Constantly just be like, oh,moms are in this.
Moms are in it.
Yeah.
But like a lot of the timesit's, I feel like the dads
sometimes get left out of it,like if you have a very involved

(12:06):
partner, a very involved dad,like they're experiencing the
same stuff too.
So they're probably findingexactly the same humor in
things.
And so it is really nice.
And then it's also, I think it'slike nice to see you guys poking
fun at it together as opposed tojust being from the female point
of view.
Just like you poking fun atyourself.
Or the situation.
The togetherness is also morerelatable.

(12:29):
And I think it's funny sometimesbecause I feel like we'll do
videos sometimes that we'll pokefun at Lou, like he's poking fun
at himself, but then there willbe like an uproar in the
comments.
But I feel like I don't, I'mlike, we're just pretending.
And he's involved in this.
Like he knows what's going on.
Like he's saying the line.
So like he's there.

(12:49):
I know he's here, he's recordingit.
I guess that's a good question.
How has it felt?
I'm gonna reference one'cause Iknow you've had some very viral
videos.
What's your most viral video?
What are the views on, do youhave a few pins that are, so
here's what's funny.
I have two that I think of veryviral videos.
For two very different reasons.
My most viral video is of Blue.

(13:11):
He back in Hoboken, took Luca tothe coffee shop across the
street.
He took him to school everymorning and they stopped at the
coffee shop across the streetfor 10 minutes every morning
just to have time together.
And then he would walk him toschool because he works full
time.
And that was like a greatone-on-one time for him.
So I posted a video of that.
'cause every morning he took apicture of Luca in the little

(13:32):
coffee shop seat that has, Ithink like 3.1 million likes and
wow.
All it just hit, it just is likevery heartwarming sentiment.
A unique story.
Yeah.
And it's awesome.
Like I, it's my favorite videothat I've ever created and the
comments on that video areamazing.
I read through and I get tearyeyed for the things that people

(13:52):
are saying.
And The Today Show reached outand I.
Good morning America had reachedout.
It like became a whole thing andit was awesome.
So cool.
On the flip side of this, we didanother video, which we were on
a airplane.
On a plane.
Yep.
I know exactly which one.
That's where I was going.
So if anyone did not see theairplane video, it again is
making fun of a relatablesituation where I was sitting

(14:17):
with both kids on the plane, I'min the middle and I'm like
getting them their snacks andlike doing all the stuff.
And then it pans over to Lou andhe's like watching a movie just
across the aisle.
Yes, just across the aisle.
And I feel like for me, that isa true situation of how we fly
where if we're gonna goanywhere, he books the vacation,

(14:37):
he books the flight, he booksthe reservations.
Like everything about thevacation he handles, I handle.
Packing the kids' carry-on bagsand packing their outfits and we
divide and conquer that way.
So when we're on the airplane,especially when they were
little, it was easier for me.
I knew what was in there,carry-on bags.

(14:58):
It was easier for me to sit nextto not one of my toddlers and a
stranger to just not that poorstranger in the corner.
Just have both my kids there.
So you're making fun of arelatable situation, which in
the beginning when I posted it,so many moms were like.
So funny.
Same thing.
Yeah.
Like we fly the same way.
This is hysterical.
Then it hit like the other sideof social media, which again,

(15:19):
not everybody is going to findmy content funny.
Not everybody is going to agree.
I totally understand that.
But it like went like dark, goton the Daily Mail.
It was like this whole thingfather doesn't sit with family
on airplane.
I'm like, he's literally right.
Like handing kind of the watercup like across the aisle.
He's not like up front.

(15:40):
So it just was funny.
I, that type of stuff does notbother us.
I feel like when it hits anaudience of people who don't
follow me, who don't know us,who just want to write mean
things or whatever they say,like you have to just brush that
off because.
You can't get bothered by thattype of thing.
It's crazy because that, justfor logistics wise,'cause I

(16:02):
don't think we talked about thislike we know this, but you, so
it's you and Lou, and then youhave two kids.
So you have Luca and Kayah, andso it's four of you.
So if you are on an airplane,there are no four seats.
It's three and three, sometimes3, 2, 3.
Everyone was like, we wouldnever it's always 50 50.
Like I take one, my husbandtakes one, which like, if that

(16:23):
works for you, amazing.
I hope that works for you.
But for me it was just easier tohave both my kids next to each
other not bothering anybodyelse.
I could shuffle back and forthand then.
Again, then we get off theairplane and my husband is the
one who is carrying thesuitcases and has organized the

(16:43):
transportation to pick us up andis covering the cooking when we
get back.
And we, you divide and conquerin different ways.
I know not and this is againjust my opinion, but I feel like
not every single task has to be50 50, I think.
Okay.
Yep.
Divided up with just what worksfor you.
And is it always the bestsituation for the mom?
No.
Sometimes we end up carrying onthings because our kids also.

(17:07):
Just might wanna sit with us.
And it's a struggle, and you'renot gonna fight it.
You're just gonna, whatever'smaking the situation as smooth
as possible, I don't know how itis in your families, but my kids
act differently when me and Nickare together versus when it's
just like me and the four littleducklings, or like me, Nick and
the, and all the kids together.
And when it's just me and thefour kids.

(17:29):
I do everything.
I like pride myself on that.
Yes, I can go to the dancecompetition and the hockey games
and I can do all the bags and Ican do all the things and I can
get all the food and every,whatever.
It's totally fine.
But if Nick is around, I actlike I don't have it.
My hands don't work.
I'm like the bags, the food.
What are we doing?
Yes.
I just dumped them.
Duh.
It's crazy though'cause the factthat you even have to explain

(17:49):
that.
I think it's unfortunate.
It's part of the job.
Anytime you're like openingyourself up and you're
explaining how you do things inyour family, some of it, like
you said, it like hits the rightaudience.
It's relatable.
Yeah, it's likable.
And then when it hits the darkweb, when it hits the wrong
people, then you end up.
Unfortunately, having to hearsome of those comments, it's

(18:11):
nice to know that you guys tryto roll them off.
Like you, you know what placeit's coming from.
It's coming from a lightheartedplace, you know how you operate
and you know what works for yourfamily.
So you just have to let thatroll off.
But I'm sure it's hard and it'snice that you guys get to go
through it together and it'snice when you guys are in it and
on the same team and you can letit roll off, but I'm sure

(18:32):
sometimes it sucks just to, withyour type of content too, you're
probably nervous great, this isgetting viral.
And then you're like, oh shit.
I hope this doesn't go to thewrong audience.
That's probably rough.
And again, I feel like we justcircle back.
And Lou is very funny as welland like our friends are, we
just are surrounded by funnypeople and one of his friends

(18:53):
after that was happening likemade Lou a sweatshirt and it's
all the mean comments fromThat's awesome.
The real with like his face onthe Daily Mail I feel like you
just have to approach things.
I love it.
With humor.
Yeah, because then what else?
It's no, you're not gonna sitthere and doom scroll and read
all of these negative things andyou can't do that if you do this
job because.

(19:14):
You're not gonna make itthrough.
Like we know that we have agreat thing going.
If anyone else, wants to seedifferently, then that's of
course like their own opinion.
But you just kinda have to rollwith it.
So another one this was againduring COVID, so don't judge me.
No, I was pregnant during COVID.
We were in our apartment.
He was.

(19:34):
Two, not even.
And we watched a lot of PeppaPig because I was drowning.
And he legitimately developed aBritish accent.
It was so cute.
It was so cute.
We didn't know because we werejust in our own bubb, it's like
hard to tell when it's your ownkid.
So finally we had people friendsover for the first time and they
were like, why is Luca British?

(19:57):
I was like, is he?
And he was like, can I have acup of coffee?
And we were like, oh God, he'sBritish.
That's so cute.
It was the cutest thing.
It was adorable.
And yeah, we missed his littleBritish phase.
It phased out, but it was reallycute when it, it was, and I
think in the beginning too, Iwas sharing because I'm a speech
therapist as well, so I wassharing a lot of that.

(20:20):
As they were babies, a lot ofthat, like early language things
and like showing examples ofwhat to do from a speech
therapist point of view, from amom to promote language
development.
So I feel like it all juststarted naturally.
I don't really have a plan.
I just, I'm just going with itas my life is going and I feel
like it will take like form andshape year to year just

(20:41):
depending on how it goes.
But it sounds like the videosare following you.
You are not following thesetrends that other people are
doing and you're not trying torecreate it.
You are living your life, yourchildren are growing, you're
growing, lose, growing, and withthat you're creating the content
around what you're doing.
That's why it's so organic andit's so fun and interesting to

(21:02):
watch.
For sure.
Yeah, it helps.
It's funny, like I feel likenow, and Tu can understand this
too, I'm in like.
Homework phase.
There's different humor.
I'm out of the trenches, I wouldsay of the Yes, Christina is
very much Christina.
You're in the trenches.
Still in the trenches.
That's why Maria's even given met she's even wrote me back girl,

(21:22):
it's okay.
The light is coming.
Yeah.
It's so true.
And I feel like that a lot, likea lot of that early motherhood
stuff was like the in thetrenches content.
Yes.
Because again, like you're init.
And I think sometimes when Iwould scroll and see other
creators and they would make afunny video of it, I'm like, I
needed that laugh today or likein that moment.
'cause I'm drowning over here.

(21:43):
Yes.
But now my kids are five andseven now, so I'm So you're just
starting to come, you're justnow coming out of it now with
your youngest just being five,that's a huge transition year.
Going to school.
Yeah, all day.
I'm using air quotes becauseeven my kids are in school all
day and it's still not even allday, but yeah.
When your kids are in preschooland you have to get them there

(22:04):
from nine to 12, what are yousupposed to do in three hours?
How is some one supposed to workor do anything productive for
three hours?
Preschool adds time to your day.
It doesn't for sure.
Doesn't take it away.
Yes, it enriches them for a fewhours, but it is not good for
the mom.
But you've now entered this newphase.
Yeah.
I feel like just everything iseasier.

(22:24):
It does, and I feel like momsare like, it gets easier and it
truly does.
I can take a shower and I don'thave to have my kids in the
bathroom with me.
And I even just think about theHI mean, this is the first time
we're in a house with stairs.
And obviously I know people doit with younger kids, but.
Everything is easier.
Traveling is easier.
Going to restaurants are easier.

(22:47):
I can work a little bit while mykids are busy and I don't have
to Be chasing them around.
So it's nice.
They're at really fun ages andso now yeah, we're in different
challenges, which I feel like Ican see myself entering where
it's not a toddler tantrum, butit's.
A child getting left out of afriend thing which I actually
don't know if I'm ready for Ifeel like I might rather take

(23:10):
the toddler tantrum than achild, getting their feelings
hurt.
I don't know.
I'm like, that's like a no,you're, you can do it.
You can answer it.
Another thing you are gonna haveto do more listening than
talking as your kids get older.
Yeah.
It is a lot more listening thantalking.
And the best advice is honestlysaying less.
You have to ask them, how didthat make you feel?
Or maybe not in such a weirdtherapy way, but yeah.

(23:33):
Tell me the whole situation.
And you really have to bementally sturdy as they get
older.
It's not as physical.
Like scooping and carrying andcleaning and stairs.
Yes.
Yeah.
But it's so mental.
You said that so well, and Ifeel like it's something that.
I am trying to remind myself ofbecause you want to start to

(23:54):
like blabber and keep talking.
You wanna fix it, fix it.
You wanna go and fix it mode.
And it's not the, I think thebest approach, like you're
saying, is taking a step backand just making, putting herself
in the position of being thelistener.
And I think there's definitely adifference between my daughter
and my son.
I feel like my daughter spillseverything.
My son's a little bit more.
Everything's fine.

(24:14):
Just we're all fine.
Yeah.
So navigating both.
But yeah, I feel like in generalI'm like really excited for the
next few years.
I feel like they call them likethe golden years.
Yeah.
For a reason.
Not five to.
What, 10?
Like the elementary, I thinklike the elementary school is
what they call that.
And it's the kindergartenthrough fifth grade or

(24:35):
kindergarten through fifthgrade.
So yeah, five to 10 they're outof survival, but you just really
special years.
Yeah.
Yeah.
How did your kids do with yourmove and your, their new
transition?
They did.
Okay.
I feel like it is, it's a bigchange for them both, like in
lifestyle, which I feel likethey did a great job with.

(24:56):
We moved at the end of June fromHoboken, which is a little city
to a true suburb town.
So I think they had the summerto acclimate to the town, which
I feel like the house and theyard and the space, they were so
excited to just be able to runaround.
That was definitely, I think areally smooth transition.

(25:16):
I think school was a littleharder.
My daughter going tokindergarten, that was pretty
easy.
And just because everyone wasnew, but my son going into
second grade yeah, was a littlebit trickier and he's such a
good kid, but he was definitelyaware that all of these kids
probably know at least eachother, someone else.
And it's like also like newsoccer team or new everything,

(25:37):
sports, new everything.
And if, how are you far fromwhere you used to live?
Is he far from all of hisfriends?
Yeah.
We're like a good 35 withtraffic, maybe 40 minutes.
So I feel like it was throwing,the camps were new.
Everything that we're doing.
I'm throwing him in.
He's new and doesn't know anyoneand that's a lot.
It's a lot for, and I think he'sdoing a great job and I just.

(26:02):
I know at least now, like we'resettled and this is where we're
staying.
So week by week, month by month,he'll meet new kids and make new
friends and it'll get easier.
But I feel like I'm proud of mykids and how they transition.
'cause that's a lot.
Awesome.
How are you doing, how are youdoing with the transition?
Most importantly from you werecity mom, even though I know

(26:22):
Hoboken is like a little bitmore quaint.
It's very close to New YorkCity.
Yes.
But it's a such an amazing town.
It's so quaint and I feel likeit's so like neighborhoody and
family oriented and it's, I'msure a wonderful spot.
T and I always say that we'revery suburban moms here and we
always say oh, how nice would itbe to just be able to walk out
and walk to a coffee shop.

(26:43):
So it's always grass is greener.
Like we always look, I know Iwould look at you and be like
what a dream.
And then you probably are like,oh, I would love a yard and a
car and all these things.
But how is the transition fromyou as like city mom to suburban
mom?
I'm getting there.
Yeah.
I feel like it's, we love ourtown.
I love the space.
I've never had an extra closet.

(27:04):
Looking at like people with truehouses, I was like, oh, the
space.
So the space has been amazing.
The yard, I feel like the greatpart about being in a little
city is you walk out your doorand you're like, which of seven
parks should we walk to?
Everything is right there, it'sat your fingertips.
But to get your kids to gooutside, you are packing the

(27:24):
stroller, you're packing thesnacks, you're getting yourself
together.
It's more of a process.
And now I feel like the factthat my kids can just run out is
such a luxury.
Everything was doubting before,now it's just open door, and go.
Exactly.
So I feel like that is awesome.
I think the one thing that'sinteresting that you guys are
probably used to but I feel likethe suburbs are.

(27:47):
Like isolating in a way, if thatmakes sense.
I am so used to being aroundpeople all of the time.
I step out of my apartmentbuilding and I am around people,
whether I'm going to the coffeeshop or I'm walking my kids to
school or we're walking to thepark.
You're always out and about.
You're always running intopeople.
Your kids are always runninginto friends, and here you

(28:07):
really don't, I'm in the carline in the morning and I'm in
the car line in the afternoon,and then kids are playing in
their backyard.
You have to like really make aconscious effort to see people
have a play date or to seepeople and when you don't know
anyone, it's you.
It's like you really gotta putthe effort in.
It's hard, right?
It's hard.
If you were planning outings allthese other times, and now if

(28:28):
you're.
Opening the door and justplaying in your own play scape
in the backyard.
Sometimes it's not as fun.
Your kids, how many times dothey wanna go on the swing?
But just your brother andsister, it's always more fun to
going to other people at theplayground.
It's always more fun for youtoo, obviously.
Yeah, I was gonna say, I feellike even as a mom, like
especially at the beginningwhere it's so isolating.
I remember we had taken a tripwhen Leo was about three months

(28:49):
old to Newport and that was likea little bit of more of a
walkable town.
Very similar to Hoboken in likelayout and everything.
Yeah.
The stroller town.
And it was a stroller.
Yep.
A stroller town.
He was like three, three and ahalf months old and I would pop
him in the stroller and walk toget a coffee and I was like.
This is the first time in threeand a half months, I feel like a
human being.
Like just to see another personand just how easy it was.

(29:12):
A lot of the times, I think inthe suburbs, it's like the
logistics of I have to get thecar seat in and out and then I
have to, and it's so mucheffort.
It's not worth it.
It's not worth it.
Totally.
Yep.
So I do think at the, especiallyat the be beginning and be back
and be back for nap and be backyou're like fight.
Yeah.
It's just so much, it's so manylogistics to fight through.
I could definitely see at thebeginning how important that
would be.
And I feel like now you'resaying your kids are at a sweet

(29:34):
spot it's a better transitionnow.
But I bet it totally, I bet you,you thrived at the beginning
just being able to see peopleand get out of the house Yeah.
And all of that.
And I feel like I don't, I'm oneof those personalities, I don't
know what you would call it,like the extroverted introvert
or however you say it, but I do.
Like to be surrounded by peopleor maybe I'm just used to it for

(29:55):
so long, since I, right aftercollege I moved to the city.
So it was just been like almost15 years of that kind of
lifestyle of just constantlybeing around people and I really
enjoyed that.
So I think that's like thebiggest transition for me in the
suburbs is just really notseeing anybody.
I feel as my kids start to, andt you probably know this'cause

(30:16):
you have older ones too, oncethe sports pick up and all of
those things, you're justconstantly you're at practice,
you're here, you're there andyou're like with all the
different mom groups.
So I think I, I haven't likequite hit that yet.
But I feel like I can see thatcoming.
Yes.
That will definitely be coming.
And also I think it's importantto remember that even though

(30:36):
you're meeting those peoplethrough your children, they may
not necessarily be your people.
They may be a nice people to bearound if you are somebody that
likes to be around other people.
But I think it's important too,especially for you, you work at
home to do things that you enjoydoing and meet people doing
those things too.
You know yourself, you wannameet your people.

(30:58):
Yes.
It's so true.
So I'm starting all the, Istarted tennis lessons for you.
Totally.
Yeah.
Good.
I took my first Mahjong do andpeople in your town play
Mahjong.
Oh yeah.
Our neighbor is a big Mahjonggirl.
Yeah.
She has a group.
So I'm learning to play, so I'mlike, I can get invited to the
places.
Yes.
People are playing.
So yeah, I feel like it's likelearning all the things, trying

(31:18):
new things.
And I feel like I've beentelling myself I expect my kids
to put themselves out there andgo to all of these things where
they don't know anyone and Ifeel like I really need to do
the same.
And also leading by example.
I feel like you have to I remindmy kids of that too.
Mommy doesn't know anyoneeither.
And I have to make new friends.
Just the same way that you guysare making new friends.

(31:39):
So I feel like hopefully thathelps them.
Yeah.
A little bit.
How did you like your firsttennis lesson?
I love it.
And my hand-eye coordination isnot my strongest skill, neither.
However, me neither.
It's fun.
I think it's something, it'salso much more complex.
Like I knew tennis was not easy,but it's much more complex than
I thought it was with all thegrips and the.

(32:02):
And how to do all of the, theswings and serve and all of
that.
But I think I'm really going toenjoy it.
I think once I finish thislittle basic beginner clinic
it'll just be something fun todo with friends.
I love that.
Yeah.
I love that you're tryingsomething new.
You're never too old to havesome new hobbies.
I know.
I know.
Try new things.
I know, and we say this on thepodcast all the time, but how

(32:22):
sometimes you get into thisseason of life where you really
do have to push yourself backout.
Yeah.
And we always say, like justfrom sports and activities, and
that's like a lot of the timesthe best way to meet people is
when you're doing things like,we always say bigger than you.
Yeah.
When you're involved insomething and everybody's.
Playing something or learningsomething new.
A lot of friendships form thatway as kids, so it makes sense

(32:45):
that you would go back to thatas an adult when you need to
meet new people.
Yeah.
You had a nice sharedexperience.
And also, yeah, for this pastSaturday I played in a tennis
match and I hadn't missed myson's hockey game and I was
like, oh, sorry bud, it won't bethere.
I have a tennis match and he isoh, good luck, mom.
Like you too.
And I think sometimes it's nicelike for my kids to know that,

(33:07):
obviously yes, I try to make alltheir sporting events and put
their things first, butsometimes I have things too,
it's nice for them.
Totally.
It's nice for them to see.
Yeah.
And they probably look at youlike, oh, she's committing to
something and staying withsomething and she's gonna have
fun and so am I.
Yeah.
I said, how'd you do?
He is oh, we lost.
I'm like, ah, me too.
Bon Temples.
We're losers today.
It's alright.
Yeah.
But that to have a drink and aice of pizza, it's, yeah.

(33:28):
Like we can both, no, I feellike that is amazing and I
think.
Again, like Christina, you arein a different phase right now,
but I think it's finding we canget so wrapped up in doing every
single thing for our kids, whichwe love to do when we would do a
million times over and work andeverything that we have to do to
run a household and all of thethings.

(33:50):
But to find those little pocketsof whatever you enjoy, whether
it's even just like reading abook, which I know a lot of moms
are like, I would love to justread, or I would love to just,
work out more, get, have lunchwith friends or whatever that
is.
And I feel like it depends onthe season of your life, but if
you can make it where you canprioritize something for
yourself, whether it's even justonce a week for 45 minutes,

(34:13):
sometimes that's all you need tojust feel refreshed and like
ready to be like, now I can takeon the rest of this week.
'cause I.
I did something for me.
So that is great advice.
And I'll add to that and notsecond guess yourself.
And guilt yourself because thattakes up precious time.
You, that could take an hourjust overthinking the decision

(34:33):
could be that hour that youcould have been doing something
that you, for yourself, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Sometimes you just need to hearit.
You just gotta do it.
Yeah.
You need to hear it and then youneed to do it, so I wanna chat a
little bit'cause you hadmentioned your speech pathology
and I know that's what you wentto school for and did school
afterwards for, is thatsomething that you still do or

(34:54):
are you a full-time contentcreator?
Oh, now I'm a full-time contentcreator.
That was a hard decision for me.
Yeah.
Because I.
Was working full-time in first Idid early intervention birth to
three, and then I was working inthe special education preschool
in the city for six years, butalso building a private practice

(35:15):
that I did with one of my bestspeech friends.
Eventually transitioned to onlyprivate practice once I had
Luca.
But I feel like that was like abusiness that I built that I was
proud of.
And I loved the field of speechtherapy and the job and making
difference in children's lives.
And I felt guilty, I guess isprobably the best word for
leaving a job like that to dosomething like social media.

(35:40):
I felt bad about it.
But eventually as my accountgrew and then I signed with an
agency and it became more of areal thing.
And I really was burning myselfout trying to do both jobs, both
my private practice and doingthe content creation for as much
time as I needed to do it.
So I decided to just go contentcreation full time.

(36:02):
And the flexibility that I havefor my kids at this young age is
really just like unmatched.
So I think that was probably thebiggest reason.
I love it.
I love this job, but theflexibility for my kids, it was
getting a little tricky becauseLuca was in preschool, so he'd
be in school and then I wouldpick him up and then go out to

(36:24):
see all of my private clients inthe afternoon.
So he,'cause you see a lot ofkids after their, after the
school hour.
So it was like, he would see metwo seconds and then I would be
like, mommy has to go to work.
And he was like wait I just sawyou, you just got here.
So that was getting a little bithard and I think.
When I had the opportunity tomake the career shift, I just
took that leap for sure.
And I am happy that I did.

(36:46):
'cause I do, I really enjoy it.
That's awesome.
It's so cool.
I know I know a lot of womenhave to do that.
They have to work when theirkids are home.
They have to find another way todo it.
And I think it's so great thatyou've had an opportunity now to
work full-time and mother.
Your children, you're able,you're making both work.
Yeah.
So how does that It truly is.
How does that work for you?

(37:07):
Doing both at the same time?
Yeah.
Because you're still workingfull time.
It's not like you gave it up.
I know.
Yeah, I know.
And I always think that's likean very important, I wanna
emphasize that didn't a workingmom.
And there is so much that goesinto content creation.
We've gotten into it a littlebit on here as yeah.
There's so much more behind thescenes, and so it's not just
like popping up a cute video,especially when you're working

(37:29):
with brands.
Yeah.
There is a ton of work that goesbehind the scenes, and then
there's just different avenuesof ways that you can make money
and monetize things.
And so it's not just popping upone video a day and you're done.
Like it's, it does, it's noteven like that.
Now that the kids are in school,there's probably a good window
of time to work now.
Yeah, so I try my best.

(37:50):
I'm like, I feel like I'm like awork, like a working mom and a
stay at home mom.
Yeah.
Like at the same time.
So yeah, I really try my best todo everything that I can between
nine and three.
And then when I pick up my kidsfrom school, I'm with them in
the afternoon.
Now there's still pockets oftime where, I think that's
another thing that I'm trying tobalance, what you guys probably
know as well, is it's a jobthat's constant, right?

(38:13):
So you're constantly filming,you're constantly editing,
you're constantly puttingstories up and thinking of ideas
and but I'm trying my best to bepresent with my kids after
school and.
Not answering the dms and tryingto, work on the side.
Although there's times where Ido need little windows of that.
But that is truly my goal duringthe day, is to really try and

(38:33):
see if I can wrap it up at threeand then be with them in the
afternoon as much as I can.
Yes.
I think that's, so you try tobatch things.
So a lot of your like contentcreation, the editing, maybe
some of the concepting if it's acampaign or something.
Yeah.
So you do a lot of that duringlike your business hours and
then Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then you find windows,right?
Exactly.
Yep.
Exactly.
And you're gonna, this issomething that nobody told me,

(38:55):
but when your kids get older,you have the time when they're
in school and then they comehome from school and then you
have very important face timewith them where you have to
listen or when you are drivingthem.
That is like important timewhere you talk to them when
you're there, but then you getthis weird time back where
they're in activities thatsomebody else Yeah.
Is in charge of them.

(39:15):
And you can.
Do two things.
You can sit on the sidelines andtalk to other moms and
socialize, or I started to workduring that time.
Totally.
I bring my computer and I workat hockey at here, I edit.
I do whatever I have to doduring that time.
So you get more time back againin the evening.
I do the exact same thing.
My kids, Kay.
Takes a tumble class and Luca'sin like a ninja warrior class at

(39:37):
the same time, at the same gymfor an hour.
Yeah.
And on my computer out, I've gotone more hour Yeah.
That I can to be strategic.
Yeah, exactly.
So I feel like you fill it in asyou can.
But I feel fortunate to be ableto get that base time with my
kids after school.
A lot of people who havecorporate jobs or commute into
the city like you, are younecessarily, what used to do

(39:59):
before that was, yes.
Yeah.
Yeah, exactly.
If I kept that job before, Iwouldn't be able to do the
volunteering that I can sign upfor now while my kids are in
school because I would've beenat a different school or, seeing
speech clients.
So it does, it gives me thatflexibility, so I'm so fortunate
for it.
That's great.
That's awesome.
So I wanna also talk about,obviously you transitioned to a

(40:22):
suburban mom, but you did starta business back in Hoboken,
literally right before you left,right?
And yes.
And so I wanna chat about thatbusiness because it's so
adorable and very exciting.
Thank you.
And then you also did that withsome other moms, and so I feel
like this is really cool andthis just hits all the points
that we talk about on here.
And we would love to plug yourbusiness and get a little bit

(40:42):
more information about it.
Thank you.
Yeah, so it's called The LittleGlow Society and it's owned by
five moms, which is for one,just like the coolest, so
awesome thing.
And we all work full time, butwe all bring something unique to
the business and we all have ourstrength and it has just been
really fun and really awesome tocreate.

(41:04):
And I feel like when it started,the original idea was let's do a
spa party space for that five to11-year-old age group.
And Hoboken is amazing in somany ways and has a lot for
little kids.
Like birth to Four, I would saythere's a million classes and
all of these things'cause it's alot of young families.

(41:25):
And then a lot of the times thefamilies move out, but there
isn't as much for that four to10-year-old age group.
So we were like, let's bringsomething here for that next age
group.
Something, like doing the spaparties.
And then when we started toreally create the brand, we were
like, this is way more thanjust.
A spa party space for kids.
This is about confidence andthis is about empowering girls

(41:48):
and this is about a safe spacethat kids can feel like they can
go and meet new friends and feelspecial.
And we're so proud of it andwe're so excited about it.
And it's still fairly new.
I don't think we've been openfor six months yet.
I think we're like hitting ourOh wow.
Six months soon.
But was this where you had yourdaughter's birthday party Yeah,
I saw it on birthday yesterday,Instagram.

(42:09):
It looked so beautiful with thedresses.
Thank you.
Explain to us talk us through,is this a space that you use
just for birthday parties?
Is this for do you have likeclasses?
What does it entail?
Yeah so we have the birthdayparties and then, you learn so
much this is my first timeopening.
A small business and it's areal, it's a brick it and order.
It's like an actual right.

(42:30):
Yeah.
It's a brick.
Brick and mortar.
Exactly.
Like I had my private practiceand I have this Instagram
account that's been, just me.
It's virtual, both of them, sothis is the first like true
business in an area that I haveno experience in, to be
completely honest.
So you learn so much as yourbusiness is just open and you
get feedback.
So I feel like it started asjust parties and then we were

(42:51):
getting all of these messagesfrom moms being like, Hey, can I
just come in with my daughterand book a, a time for us to
come in?
So now we have mommy and Me.
Oh, cute time slots, which isreally cute.
And we just rolled out thisafter Glow club after school.
So it's a space for kids to comeafter school and they can do
their homework and we havespecial activities for them and

(43:12):
maybe, whether they get littlemanicures that day or face mask
that day.
We're thinking of the girlsafter school where, again,
Hoboken is very walkable, wherea lot of the times, the older,
maybe that fourth fifth gradeage might want to walk to
Starbucks or they wanna be alittle bit independent, if that
makes sense and hang out withtheir friends.
But this is a space for them togo to that they feel part of a

(43:36):
little club or like a littlesociety.
Yeah.
That's adorable.
Oh my God, I love that.
Did you think, do you think youbrought some of your speech
pathology background since youare catering to kids and you
have that foundation, did youfeel like you brought any of
that back into this?
Totally.
I think that a lot of what I'velearned in my speech career is

(43:58):
how to keep kids entertained asyou're doing other things.
So I think how we structure ourparties and how we structure our
events is.
Kids, they need to be busy.
The activities can't take toolong.
And I think just understandingwhat kids are interested in and
what would make them feelspecial and what we're bringing

(44:21):
in a lot of activities that areconfidence based and affirmation
based, like always bringing itback to why are you special,
what do you love about yourself,what makes you a good friend?
Which I think for these kids inthat kind of five to 10-year-old
age group is so important.
And whether they're going withtheir friends or they're meeting
new friends there it's it's allvery positive.

(44:43):
What a nice mission.
It's more about the inside, notjust like looking good on the
outside.
Obviously it is fun to getpampered, but I love that you
have these, very importantpillars of your business.
For sure.
And how did you meet the otherfour moms that you started this
business with?
So it started with, there's twomoms in Hoboken that actually
approached me with the idea.

(45:05):
One owns a med spa, so thelittle kid spa Yeah.
Piggybacked off of that.
Yeah.
The other mom is a nursepractitioner and then I jumped
in and then they were like,let's bring on another mom,
Sophia, who has like an amazingbusiness background and another
mom tos who has amazing anamazing financial background.
We all again came together withour own skillset and it just,

(45:28):
yeah.
Yeah, it's been great.
I love that.
That's awesome.
I feel like that I, again, thatjust hits all the things that we
always say it's like meetingpeople and putting yourself out
there and having an idea andpushing and believing in
yourself enough to do it.
And that's just, it's reallyinspiring and it's really cool
to think that you can do thisafter having a family, because I

(45:49):
feel like a lot of the times wesaid you put yourself on the
back burner and it's all aboutthe kids.
Yeah.
And it's just a really, I think,a really inspiring message that
you can start a new businessafter you have kids, and thrive
during it.
You just gotta jump.
Yeah.
That's really cool.
Yeah, I think, it's somethingthat just makes you feel.

(46:09):
Good and makes you feel like youare contributing something and
whatever you're passionate aboutit and as inspire your kids.
I think it's really cool thatyour kids are gonna see that you
took a leap of faith.
You started this like obviouslymultiple things.
You had your speech pathologyjob, but then, and then you put
yourself out there on socialmedia and created a career and
then you've done it now for abrick and mortar store.

(46:30):
It's just really inspiring.
Thank you.
That's cool.
Oh my gosh.
What?
What's next?
I know.
What is next on the docket?
I don't know.
The laundry.
The laundry.
The laundry.
Yes, exactly.
I don't know.
I think it's the funny thingabout this, Christina, you
probably feel the same way.
Like a few years ago might nothave known that you were gonna
be a podcast.

(46:52):
You know, Both of you hosting apodcast, we don't really know.
I just.
Roll with it and whatever comesnaturally comes.
And same for you guys as well,in terms of what comes next in
for both of you.
It's always just exciting tofollow along and see.
I want you to franchise thisplace.
I wanna take my onto it.
Maybe that's the next step.

(47:12):
Like I feel like that could bereally cool.
Yeah, we would love to open upmore locations in different
areas and I feel like that.
That would be the goal for sure.
So I guess to that point formoms listening who want to build
a community, maybe who wannabuild something on social media,
maybe they wanna build abusiness like you did or

(47:33):
something that they're thinkingof and brewing.
We hope that our listeners leavethis feeling inspired to put
themselves first.
But do you have any advice forsomebody who's maybe thinking of
something or wants somethingmore?
Yeah, I think when it comes tocontent creation,'cause I get a
lot of messages about that.
And I think I used to hate thisadvice.
I feel like back when I was.

(47:56):
Trying to grow more.
And you would hear there's nolike specific rules that you can
follow.
'cause I remember being like,I'll be a good student.
I'll do like X, Y, and Z andfollow the exact template if you
tell me to, like growth andsuccess or whatever it is.
And there really isn't that whenit comes to social media, I feel

(48:16):
like you just have to startcreating content and trialing
and erroring and seeing whatworks.
And I think as long as you justbring it back to being a true to
yourself, b, creating contentthat you love if you love style,
don't necessarily try and doanother area because other

(48:40):
people are doing it and doingwell with that if it's not true
to you and vice versa.
But yeah, I think just, thebusiness or the content creation
career or whatever it is, can'tstart if you don't try and not
everything is going to work out.
You have to be okay with failureand you have to be okay with
sharing things and it not doingwell or people not seeing it.

(49:00):
I did that for a really longtime before my account grew.
And I think the difference rightnow is that because it is such a
well-known, I guess like job nowyou would say people are hoping
to just start and take off, haveit take off.
Yep.
And for some people it does, butthat doesn't happen with
everyone.
So you just have to make sureyou enjoy it and stick with it.

(49:23):
And you'll find your thing andpeople will come.
Yes.
That's such great advice.
I wanna, before we get into ourpink spotlight, we're gonna do a
little quick fire round.
So now that you're, you leftcity life and you're in
suburbia.
City Coffee Shop or SuburbanKitchen Coffee.

(49:43):
Oh, city Coffee Shop all theway.
Oh, I'm, I can imagine.
What about an Instagram accountthat makes you laugh?
Oh my gosh.
I'm going to butcher thesehandles.
Because you know how you seehandles and you're like, but I
don't always look at them.
You don't know how they write,how they're sounding out.
I, you can look it up, will putthe correct one.

(50:03):
It's, I think it's cs.
Yes.
Punch.
Yes.
Oh, I love her.
I am obsessed.
I don't know this one.
Obsessed with, oh my God, she isoh my God.
Isn't she a doctor or somethingtoo?
She's she's a dentist.
Yeah, she's a dentist.
Yep.
She, every video is incredible.
She's just so smart and sofunny.
She is someone if you're havinga bad day.

(50:24):
Oh, I agree.
Just scroll.
Oh, I agree.
Yep.
Scroll through.
There's so many accounts likethat just.
Awesome.
But she always comes to theforefront of my mind because she
is just so funny and she doesnot give a shit and she posts
anything.
Her stuff is so hysterical.
I love it too.
And I'm, it's totally, I loveall of the millennial girl ones.
Yes.
Like they're like, which I feellike there's just like a flood
of the, there's like a littlefleet of those girls right now

(50:45):
and I'm like, they're likegetting dressed from like 2011
and they're putting on all thestuff that we used to wear and
I'm like, how do you have that?
Like it's big belt and the gachopants.
I'm like, how do you still havethose and where'd you get it?
I know it's new.
They're like eBay.
I'm like, I am obsessed.
I literal, I know.
I think one account is over themood.
Yep.
And that one, she's another.

(51:07):
I mean there's so many good onesand they are just so talented
and make me laugh every time.
I know it's the best.
It always seems to be like rightwhen you need it too, where
you're just scrolling and itjust transports you.
Especially like the nostalgicones.
I am obsessed.
Yes, me too.
Then last one.
Best mom hack you've learnedrecently?
This, so this is random, but Igot the skylight calendar.

(51:29):
Oh, did you guys hack theskylight?
I felt like I was losing mymind.
Do you have it, Christina?
I have the Amazon like the bigfire TV thing.
Okay.
In the kitchen that I use as acalendar, but I don't have the
skylight.
So similar.
I felt like I was all over theplace.
I don't know.
For some reason the calendar onmy phone does not show me

(51:51):
enough.
I'm like, I need it.
Large, big picture and I need itall there.
And I color coordinate it basedon my kids and myself.
And I feel like that has helpedme.
Grasp the weak.
And I now just because I feellike I'm a scatterbrain all of
the time, I have to put it inthe calendar or I will not
remember.
So it could be something that'slike a doctor's appointment or

(52:13):
something so small and I'm like,it has to go in there so it's a
something you have to purchase.
But for me, if you feel likeyou're all over the place and
wondering if it's worth it, ithas helped me.
I have heard that really goodthings about that and what I
hate about having, like I'm acalendar person and a notes
person, but then you're stillharboring and responsible for
all of that information and Ifeel like sometimes that always

(52:35):
goes back to the mental load.
Like you, yes, it's nice to beorganized and have all of the
information at your fingertip.
Still the keeper of that, butyou still are the keeper, right?
So it's if it's out and aboutand you're like, it's on the
fricking calendar, you can seeit too.
Yes.
Like exactly.
This you can read too, right?
Literally all there.
Yeah.
So yeah, that it has beenhelpful for me to just stay,

(52:56):
stay organized.
Yeah.
I love it so much.
I love that.
So I have one other question foryou.
You work now on social media andthen you also use your phone for
other things.
Mm-hmm.
Because, hello?
You're a girl.
Just like the rest of us.
Yeah.
I'm always on my phone.
Yeah, just doing life.
How do you, on a day when you'reworking, how do you like
separate the phone stuff?

(53:17):
Like from, not scrollingquestion, working to calendar
to, oh, room mom stuff.
Oh, this, that.
Oh, back to work.
Like how do you toggle betweenthe two and chunk your work?
Because I'm struggling with thatright now too.
I struggle with it too, and Ifeel like it's making me lose my
mind.
'cause my mind is constantlylike ping, ping, ping, And it's

(53:38):
different.
You're using different parts ofyour brain, yes.
Because you're like all over theplace.
Like creative.
Oh no, I have to.
No, this is yeah.
Yeah.
I'm majorly struggling with thatright now.
I have zero advice because I amnot doing a good job.
And I feel like it's hardbecause I feel like I'll, you
open up the Instagram app or theTikTok app to respond back to
some comments, let's say, andthen then you start scrolling

(54:00):
and you're like, I'll scroll formaybe like audio ideas.
And then I'm just scrollingbecause the content is funny.
So now I'm like in like a so nowyou're in consumer mode.
I don't have time for that.
And yeah, I feel like theconstantly being on my, it's
actually like impacting my neck.
Like I'm having like a, like I'mconstantly on my phone, I edit
on my phone.
I'm doing so much on there that.
I'm trying to think of a newsystem because it is my, my

(54:24):
brain is also firing in amillion directions all of the
time, which is why I can'tremember things, which is why it
has to go on my calendar.
Yes.
But yes.
I don't know if anyone out therehas advice besides, oh, which,
your know, we're live.
I don't know what to do.
No.
We bought an iPad for work andthe computer for work, but when

(54:44):
we were trying to do the socialmedia stuff, it doesn't work
well on there.
No, you always go back on yourphone.
Yep.
It's like you try to get awayfrom the phone, make it hard so
that you're like, I need my, Iknow.
Freaking phone.
I tried, I've tried to useInstagram on the computer to at
least be like, not looking downand having more of like screen
it does it, it doesn't functionthe same.

(55:06):
Transition.
You can't go fast enough.
And I'm like, I need to plowthrough these dms right now.
I know.
So I know.
It's crazy.
I know.
And then I always get the oh,you didn't reply back to me and
you're always on your phone.
I'm like, there are so manythings, like once you're on your
phone, it's like, it's almosttoo much.
There's too much to do becauseyou end up having to do
everything on there and you'retrying to stay focused and
you're trying to be creative oryou're trying to, you always end

(55:28):
up having to be back to thephone.
And then I feel like veryunproductive because I'm always
on my phone.
It's like just such a weird, butI feel like everyone, exactly.
I guess everyone's in the same,all right, so situation, group,
consensus, we have no answer.
Yep.
We just, we come back to that alot.
That's always our favoritething.
We're like, oh we posed aquestion.
None of us have the answer.
Okay.
So no.
Okay, great.

(55:49):
I'm save, I'm the asshole.
Or someone will roll somethingout to make this a little bit
easier.
You would think.
You would think they want us onour phones, so we're gonna.
Segue into our pink spotlight,which is our person, place
thing.
Tip, mantra, anything that'smaking life a little bit better.
I'll go first today.
'cause I think you had this, butit's not gonna be a great

(56:11):
commercial for it because itdied in the middle of our, in
the middle of our filming today.
But, so mine is, I'll do alittle show and tell.
Mine is the, this is called theAlex Earl Light that she made
this famous, oh, is this whatyou had or is it a little
different?
Show.
Oh my God.
Yeah.
Okay, so now we got two.
We got a two out of three withthe Alex Earl Light.

(56:32):
So I got this on Amazon.
This is like a little light incase you're listening and not
watching us, but this is a lightthat you can clip onto your
phone and it's a really goodlight.
It's a fantastic light.
It really makes such adifference.
So if you are creating content,so if you're like an aspiring
content creator, if you'realready creating content, you
need to get this light becauseit makes a huge difference when

(56:53):
you're doing makeup.
Even if you're just talking intothe camera, it just provides.
Wonderful light and likecreating content is all about
the light.
You need it.
So especially if you're doinganything sponsored or if you're
trying to highlight anything.
Yeah, this is fantastic.
And the battery life minus whathappened to Maria, it really
does last a long time.
That's because it probablydidn't charge it.

(57:13):
Charge.
You don't need to.
It lasts a really long time, andso it does.
This is great.
This is great.
It clips on, it could clip ontoyour laptop, your iPad, your
phone.
It's amazing and it's reallyhelpful Yeah.
For when you're using the frontfacing camera, because that's
usually when it gets grainy andit's small enough where it can
fit in a bag.
So if you're going out, this isthe light that I obnoxiously

(57:34):
bring with me, T hates me, do I?
She's, it should come with adisclaimer that say may cause
temporary blindness.
Yes, it does.
Because that also might happen.
You'll look amazing.
You, but you won't be able toread the menu in order your
dinner.
Also, everyone around you willhate you, but it's fine.
And you might, youll get thecontent, you'll get the picture.
But like you can see thedifference if anyone is watching

(57:57):
the video.
It like, is a, it's a bigdifference all of the time.
Yes.
Okay, good.
Okay.
You're helping me with mycommercial.
'cause it does, it makes such abig difference.
And it's like an Amazon find.
It's usually under$25.
Yeah.
I feel like even for like outfitpictures, like when we were just
in New York for Fashion week, wepulled out our lights so we
could get like night shots.
That's the only way we would geta night shot.

(58:18):
And it's, it makes such adifference.
So content creator, but I feellike now everyone's a content
creator, so you need this.
Alex Earl was saying that thisis how she creates all her
content.
'cause she always looks gorgeousand this is what she says.
Yeah.
Oh, good tip.
Love it.
So I'll link this one.
What about Yout?
I'm doing a product this weektoo, and it's ironic that I'm
choosing this product on thisweek because I have a cold and I
can't smell anything.

(58:39):
But I always wear the samefragrance.
I've worn Chanel number fivesince I was in high school.
My mom bought it for me backthen and I've always worn Chanel
number five and I just got thisnew perfume in a few weeks ago.
'cause my girlfriend Vanessa waswearing it and I think it
smells.
No, I know.
So good.
And I never changed my perfumeand now I'm starting to wear
this new one.
It's Portofino 97 and it'sVictoria Beckham.

(59:03):
Ooh.
It smells wanna smell delicious.
So when you smell it at first,it has like a musky smell.
Ooh, no, I like this.
I like a muskie, but it driessweet.
I love it so much.
She makes a good product.
I have a lip stain by her, andit is, I love it.
I haven't done any of her beautystuff and now I'm, her beauty
stuff is her eyeliners arereally good.

(59:24):
I don't know if you've evertried those.
They're like a gel.
I haven't.
They're very smooth.
But oh, she doing it wrong.
Yeah.
I feel like some.
I know I love her, so I'm like,but yeah, so this, that, that
smells really nice.
This was my little perfumessplurge, but again, I don't
typically buy fragrances and youdon't, you usually can have them
for a while, so I feel like youcan have them for a while.
Yeah, totally.
So this is mine.
New switch up, so Love it.
Now my girlfriend Vanessa'sprobably like, why did you copy

(59:46):
my scent?
Im like, too bad.
Sorry.
How about you Maria?
Okay, so I'm going to share, nota product, but this is this just
randomly came to my head, butit's something that we do at
dinner time that I actually tookfrom my neighbors who lived
across the hall.
They did it first and then we'veadopted it in our family, but
it's pit and peak.
I love that.
This, and we do it with our kidsat dinner.
We do not have family dinnerevery night, but when we do have

(01:00:08):
family dinner, we will go aroundthe table and talk about our
peak of the day and our pit ofthe day.
And I think it just gets theconversation flowing.
And I think it's also good forour kids to hear that everyone
had something that was awesome,but we might all have had
something that.
Wasn't as great and it gets yourkids to share a little bit more
in a safe space.

(01:00:29):
And they love to do it.
So I feel like if you are tryingto get conversation going with
your kids.
During dinner time or whatevertime that might be.
Like, sometimes it's even when Ipick them up from school in the
car and I know we're not doingfamily dinner that night.
I'll be like, all right.
What?
Tell me your pit and your peakof the day.
And I like that you share too,so they get to hear from you.
Yeah, we share it too.
Yeah.
That's really cool.

(01:00:49):
Yeah.
It's a good icebreaker.
I love it.
Yeah.
That's a great, really greattip.
That's fun.
You share with your kids that wewere your peak today.
I know totally.
Mommy was on a podcast.
Yep.
And yep.
And guess what?
Everybody goes through the samething.
You're mine.
Yep.
Exactly.
Yes.
Oh, I love it.
So I know.
That's so nice.
This has been so fun.
I can't believe it's, you guysare setting this up.

(01:01:11):
Thank you.
You, Abby.
I know Maria, we are such bigfans of you and we love you so
much.
If you guys have not followedher already, she's gonna be
linked in our show notes.
So just hit that follow buttonand go follow Maria.
And we are so appreciative ofyou spending your morning with
us and we just love you so much.
We hope that your accountcontinues to grow.

(01:01:32):
We hope your business continuesto grow and we're just excited
to be able to be fans and watchyou'cause it's amazing.
You guys are the best.
I love you.
Thank you for having me.
Honestly, we I wish we livedcloser.
I know.
Next time I'll take a trip to,I'm due to for a Connecticut
trip.
It was so nice to talk to you,Maria.
We will talk to you soon.
So much for having me.

(01:01:53):
Bye guys.
Bye bye.