Chatting With My Amigas

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Today we are getting to know one of our four amigas better, Michy. Tuning in you’ll hear about Michelle’s background growing up in Venezuela, how her family came to immigrate to the USA when the political situation started changing, her initial resistance to the move, and how her perspective changed over time. Michelle opens up about the events that shaped who she is today from learning independence to her financial struggles, and the stories of the toxic relationships she got involved in and then got out of. She opens up about how her parent’s marriage modeled for her what she believed she was supposed to put up with as a wife and how she found the courage to leave her abusive husband after 12 years. She explains how she diminished her level of tolerance for abuse and stopped repeating the pattern. Tuning in, you’ll find out about the profound revelation she had from a conversation with her ex-husband and how this impacted her life. For some great wisdom from an inspirational woman who has overcome so much, tune in today! Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for domestic abuse.

Key Points From This Episode:

Hear about what it was like for Michy to grow up in Venezuela.
How her family decided to emigrate when the political situation started changing.
How the opportunity came about for Michelle’s dad to work in the USA.
Michelle’s plans to return to Venezuela and what changed her perspective on living in America.
Her goal to become a financial analyst.
How getting out of a toxic relationship helped Michelle learn independence.
The financial struggles she experienced when she first went off on her own.
The story of how she met the man who would become her husband and her son’s father while working as a bank teller.
How her career developed into property management.
How Marcy and Michelle met through a mutual friend and Michelle’s first impression of Marcy.
What led to the end of Michelle’s marriage and how this impacted her life.
TW: For listeners who wish to skip Michelle’s recount of the abuse suffered by both her mother and herself, please skip audio from [31:39] to [35:11]
How the modeling of verbal abuse in her parents’ marriage influenced her own marriage and the abuse she suffered.
How Michelle diminished her level of tolerance for abuse and stopped repeating the pattern.
The conversation that Michelle had with her ex-husband that led to the realization that she had allowed herself to be abused.
How much of the story Michelle’s son, Steven, knows about her relationship with his father.
Thoughts on the difference between choices and sickness.
Why Marcy is impressed by Michelle’s refusal to settle and her continued efforts to raise the bar for herself.
Where to reach out for support if you are in an abusive relationship.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1800 799 SAFE (7233)

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There is a difference between having friends and having friends you do life with. The four of us have a very unique friendship that grew organically out of respect, transparency, and love of course! Collectively, we are the best versions of ourselves and we support the best versions of each other. In this episode, we share how we came to be friends who do life together, and what we feel is so special about our connection. We discuss the immense value we’ve gained from our friendship, the commitment we have to each other, and the acceptance we each feel. We also take a look at how this friendship differs from the ones we have with high school friends or from the connection we have with our sisters. Tune in to hear about our journey together as amigas, as well as the most pressing things on our minds today, from enhancement surgery to our kids growing up! We look forward to sharing our friendship with you.

Key Points From This Episode:

What’s on our minds today!
Daimy’s upcoming enhancement surgery and the body image challenges of aging.
Why Marcy and GG don’t own scales!
The options we have today to dress well within any budget.
What enhancement surgery GG is planning and why.
Michelle’s teenage son’s first day driving alone!
The self-transformation program Marcy’s starting: 75 Hard.
The difference between being friends and doing life together.
How we became friends who do life together, collectively and individually.
The value we gain from our friendship and how we support and enhance each other.
The differences in the way we approach life.
The transparency and commitment we have within our friendship.
How our friendship with each other and with high school friends differ.
Our will for each other to win!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas Email

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75 Hard

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All four of us are mothers, so we know that motherhood is as challenging as it is rewarding! Based on our experiences, in today’s episode, we are going to be sharing our top pieces of advice for all the other moms out there. We discuss the approaches that we have taken to discipline, teaching our children about budgeting, instilling a sense of responsibility in them, and more! We also dive into our experiences of “mom guilt” and how we have learned to navigate these feelings. It’s important to remember that every mom and every child is different and although it is very helpful to learn from others’ experiences, at the end of the day, you need to trust yourself to make the decisions for your family unit. This episode also serves as a reminder that nobody is perfect so don’t aim for perfection as a parent, just aim to be the best mom that you can be!

Key Points From This Episode:

The importance of addressing bad behavior.
Why your children need to know that you are not their friend, you are their mother.
The benefits of tough love.
Examples of how to teach your children the value of money and hard work.
Ways to instill a sense of responsibility in your children.
There isn’t one right way of doing things, every parent and every child is unique so you need to figure out what works for both of you.
The value in being open to adjusting your parenting strategies depending on the context or the child.
Differentiating between needs versus wants (and between what we want and what our children want).
Why you should never aim for perfection as a parent.
Examples of what “mom guilt” can look like, and advice for how to navigate these feelings.
The importance of paying attention to what your children are doing and saying.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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Women seem to face a near-constant stream of scrutiny, whether it’s about the way we dress, the lifestyle choices we make, how we parent our children, or how we forge ahead in the corporate world. Even if you aren’t aware of it, nearly everyone is guilty at some point of tearing a woman down and, oftentimes, it’s other women who are the biggest critics, not necessarily men. Fortunately, figuring out how to stop making negative comments about women in your everyday life can be as simple as getting real with yourself about your behavior and examining how these microaggressions might be reflections of your own fears or insecurities. Tune in today to learn more!

Key Points From This Episode:

Expectations of career women, who are seen as ‘full of themselves’, not confident.
Why women should empower each other, not tear one another down.
Microaggressions and bullying, which are likely rooted in resentment or insecurity.
The importance of surrounding yourself with strong woman mentors and role models.
Examining your motivations for making a negative comment about another woman.
Conflating freedom of speech with feeling entitled to vilify others.
Understanding that different people have different styles of communicating.
The progress we have seen in society; but there’s still a lot that needs to change!
Why women need to shift the conversation about other women, starting at home.
Why living unapologetically doesn’t mean you never have to apologize.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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We live in a world of many conflicting beliefs and opinions, and unfortunately there is a trend toward giving the loudest voices in the room precedence over the rest. In today's conversation between the Four Amigas, we unpack some of the issues we have with intolerance in today's society. We see these problems arising in all areas of modern life, whether we are in the workplace, at schools, or attending family gatherings, creating an unsafe and unaccepting atmosphere for many people. With so many hot-button political issues and the prevalence of social media in our lives, it can be hard to escape the judgment of others and the cruel ways that different stances can lead to being discounted. To hear us talk about how this relates to important subjects such as abortion laws and freedom of religion, and how we can begin to have more respect and space for different opinions and belief systems, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

How the loudest voice in the room dominates the narrative.
Intolerance and how it is justified in today's climate.
What today's attitudes toward abortion say about the state of society.
Other issues that deserve attention right now.
The role of education and why facts and skills should take precedence over opinions.
Examples of attacks and minimizations of other peoples’ beliefs.
The Value of learning about those who are different from us.
How acts of kindness should be given more of a platform.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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In the light of the recent school shooting in Texas, the four amigas reflect on this tragedy and some of the many other tragedies that have affected children over the past few years. We all lived close to Parkland when tragedy struck in our community a few years ago and we reflect on how, to this day, it continues to affect us and our kids. Tuning in, you’ll hear why we believe everyone has a role to play in making spaces safer for children. We discuss why we need to be using our voices for good, not blaming others, and how if you are feeding hate or divisiveness, you are part of the problem. We touch on topics such as gun control and mental health before Marcy breaks down what she believes could be the solution to this problem. The amigas feel that everyone with a platform should be using it for something positive, and today we use ours to reinforce that we are all responsible for making this world a better place for our kids!

Key Points From This Episode:

How today’s topic was inspired by the tragic school shooting in Texas.
The amigas experience of the Parkland tragedy in their community a few years ago.
Conversations we’ve each had with our kids about these incidents.
Other tragedies that have struck kids over the past year.
Our children deserve better and we are all responsible for making the world safer for them.
Why we need to be using our voices for good and not blaming others.
How, if you are feeding hate or divisiveness, you are part of the problem.
Thoughts on how it feels like no one can agree on anything anymore.
Michelle questions why people have to carry guns and Daimy defends why her husband carries one.
The failure of society to properly deal with mental health issues.
Statistics on the cost of an election and why Marcy believes people should rather donate money to the local community.
Everyone has influence and you should use yours for something positive.
How we should be looking for what we can all agree on.
The importance of engaging with kids and being their safe space.
Why Daimy believes we need to bring God back to school.
Closing words on how we are all responsible for making this world better for our kids.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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Welcome back to Chatting with My Amigas! Since this week is Mother’s Day, today’s topic is motherhood. Tune in to hear each of our stories of parenting and being parented by the women in our lives. Becoming parents has made us appreciate our own mothers in a different way, as we navigate raising children in a world so different from the one we grew up in. Today’s conversation also explores the impact of family planning and parenthood on our relationships with our partners and former partners. One thing we all agree on is that nobody can challenge and reward us the way our children do through every phase of life. Join us to hear what becoming mothers and being mothered means to each of us today.

Key Points From This Episode:

Today’s topic in light of Mother’s Day coming up.
GG’s journey into motherhood and the turning point she experienced with her ex-husband.
How becoming a parent has made GG appreciate her own parents.
Differences between what our parents experienced as children in comparison to today.
Daimy’s story of support and care from her mother during an unexpected pregnancy.
The story of how Marcy’s mother became a friend to her when she moved out.
How she and her partner decided to have a child of their own.
Why nobody can challenge and reward you the way that your children do.
How the family dynamic changes when your children find partners.
The reality: many couples end up gravitating toward the woman’s side of the family.
Noticing your mother’s attributes in yourself as you grow older.
How your feelings as a parent never change no matter how old your children are.
Where to find, rate, and share the podcast with your own amigas.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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What do your weekends look like? Do you ever look back and find that you have spent a lot of time doing nothing? During today’s chat, all four amigas share their thoughts on creating free time and spending it wisely to recharge, relax, and connect with loved ones. We touch on guilt, the influence of the pandemic on how we spend our time, and Marcy’s husband’s suggestion to create a fun game out of doing a household chore. Join us today to learn more!

Key Points From This Episode:

Reflecting on the weekend and how we spend our time.
An observation that we create time to relax, but end up craving busyness.
Striving to be productive as a result of the pandemic’s pressure to use the time well.
The dance between feeling guilty about wasting time or deciding to ‘waste time’ and enjoy it.
How you are likely to either be wasting money or wasting time.
Why the struggle is not necessarily wasting time, but rather how much time you are wasting.
Creating effective business practices where you are able to have the free time you need.
Gamifying your daily tasks to increase efficiency, as per Marcy’s suggestion.
The meaningful time that Marcy had with her sister and daughter over the weekend.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Today as we catch up with our amigas, Marcy explains a recent situation where she found herself in close proximity to someone who chews very loudly. She explains why this is a pet peeve of hers and how it inspired the topic for today’s episode. The rest of the amigas chip in with the things that bother them the most. Tuning in, you’ll hear about personal space invaders, loud husbands who think they are funny, people who drag their feet, distractingly long eyelashes, noisy jewelry, needy Facebook friends desperate for validation, and even people whose toes hang off the edge of their shoes! For a lighthearted look at all those little pet peeves and a couple of laughs along the way, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Marcy’s pet peeve of hearing people chew and how the other amigas can relate.
How Daimy hates it when people invade her personal space.
Michelle and Daimy’s pet peeve of people slurping.
GG’s pet peeve: when she’s engaged in a conversation with someone and they have a side conversation with somebody else.
Why Marcy hates it when her husband mutters to himself.
Michelle’s pet peeve of being put on speakerphone in someone’s car.
Marcy’s pet peeve of when other people use the speakerphone in the office.
How Daimy struggles with her husband and mother-in-law’s loudness.
How Marcy’s husband thinks he’s a comedian and why this bothers her.
Marcy’s frustrations with the aggressive noises her sons make when playing games.
GG’s frustrations with her husband’s loudness in the mornings.
Michelle’s frustration with people who drag their feet.
How Marcy gets distracted by eyelashes that are too long.
Michelle’s pet peeve of big jewelry that makes a noise.
Marcy’s pet peeve of people who wear ill-fitting shoes where their toes hang off the edge.
Why Marcy doesn’t like it when doctors or dentists are late for an appointment without an explanation.
Michelle’s frustration with people who have bad body odor.
Marcy’s frustration with people who draw out a story.
Marcy’s pet peeve with people posting about how in love they are on social media.
Daimy’s frustration with unnecessarily negative people.
GG’s friend who is constantly asking for validation on social media.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had global ramifications, driving the cost of fuel and food up significantly. As a result, Business Insider released an article that suggests that Americans budget an extra $5200 this year. Join the Amigas today as they discuss this article and how the price increases have affected their parenting. We dive into the discussion with why Marcy feels that $5200 is not enough, and how each of the Amigas are tightening their belts. As mothers, it's important to the Amigas not to let their kids suffer the same way they did, but how do you get them to appreciate the value of money when they have never been exposed to it? Daimy talks us through how she has changed her attitude towards what she cooks, while GG breaks down the challenges of being a yes mom. The key takeaway from today is to be mindful of your finances, and to parent in such a way that your kids are mindful (but not stressed!) about finances too. For all this, and so much more, press “Play” now.

Key Points From This Episode:

The article that Marcy came across that suggested Americans budget an extra $5200 this year, and why the Amigas feel this is too little!
What the Amigas are doing to tighten their belts: from reducing their travel, to changing their shopping habits, to eating in.
Why you don’t want to be dipping into your savings yet, and how Marcy’s dad taught her to notice price changes.
How these increases have impacted businesses and those on fixed incomes.
Why it’s important to explain to kids what the current situation means for them, financially.
Saying “No”: the tradeoff between wanting the best for your kids but not spoiling them.
How Daimy’s changed her approach to what she cooks and the activities she lets her kids do.
Why living through struggle is something that will make you stronger.
A debate on how to show kids the value of money without making them stressed.
The benefits and the drawbacks to being a yes mom or a no mom.
Being mindful of how the current situation can be a teachable moment.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Americans Should Budget an Extra $5,200 This Year to Cover Rising Prices, Bloomberg Economists Estimate

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Today we, Marcy and Gigi, are joined by our dear friend Lilibeth to chat about the ever-evolving world of health and beauty, and the expenses that come with keeping up with expectations. We discuss our tendency to procrastinate making appointments and our personal beauty habits. Naturally, the conversation pivots to mood lighting and dating; Lilibeth fills us in on the challenges of dating for women in their 40s, with organic communion becoming less and less common by the millisecond. Tune in for another authentic chat on the Chatting With My Amigas Podcast!

Key Points From This Episode:

Marcy’s experience with her various health checkups this week!
The tendency to procrastinate necessary appointments.
Introducing our dear friend, Lilibeth.
The new norm of health and beauty practices and the resulting expense!
The importance of creating time for yourself.
The ease of booking appointments with technology.
The pressure on women to keep up with ever-evolving beauty trends.
How much product we end up wasting!
Candle overload and mood lighting.
The challenges of dating and what the dating world looks like today.
Marcy shares a story of being set up on a date.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Today we talk about living in the age of filtered lives in light of how we portray ourselves on social media compared to how we really are in reality. As women with businesses and children in school, the amigas open up about the challenges of living their lives in this day and age. Marcy starts the conversation by talking about her recent experience on a flight and how people dress down when they fly these days, despite carrying designer luggage and glamorizing their travel online. Tuning in you’ll hear about the differences between how people present themselves in reality versus how they do this on social media, and why this is. The amigas discuss how living filtered lives results in distorted opinions of what beauty is, especially among young girls, and the role of social media in bullying, low self-esteem, and depression. To find out why Michelle wishes she had grown up in this era, why Daimy is relieved that she didn’t, and what we should all really be aspiring towards, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Marcy’s experience on a flight and thoughts on how people dress on flights these days.
An introduction to today’s topic of filtered lives and the differences between how people present themselves on planes versus on social media.
How this results in a distorted opinion of what beauty is, especially among young girls.
The story of Kim Kardashian’s photo edit fail.
Michelle shares why she believes people dress down on flights.
The role of social media in bullying and low self-esteem among young people.
Why Daimy is relieved she didn’t grow up in this era.
The prevalence of mental health issues as a result of social media.
A 19-year-old that Daimy knows who lives her life for likes.
Why Michelle wishes she had lived her teenage years at this time.
Speculation on why people who dress down wear designer shoes and carry designer luggage.
Thoughts on what it truly means to be rich.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Seeing as though it is Women’s History Month, we thought it would be a good time to spend today’s show speaking about our careers, how they started, and where we are today! From challenges we faced as women, to struggles more immediately associated with our individual identities and situations, we have all had to work through pretty tough situations to find the success we have. Juggling school with learning English and being a mother while also trying to set up a career and be taken seriously in the workplace in a male-dominated industry is no small feat! So tune in today with us and hear how we all did it, the lessons we have learned, and the intentions we have to help other women elevate themselves in every moment we possibly can.

Key Points From This Episode:

The learning experience GG had in her entry-level marketing position at the number one Latin newspaper in LA.
How GG ended up getting her next job after working at the newspaper.
The challenges of growing professionally while juggling the responsibilities of being a woman.
How Michelle got into property management and ended up enjoying the position.
The promotion Michelle was offered while on maternity leave.
Challenges Michelle faced between work and family life.
Daimy’s experiences having to learn English, being at college, her first job, and how she got a better job selling skincare.
The many opportunities Daimy got for better jobs and how she got into property management.
Challenges Daimy faced as a foreign Latino woman.
How Marcy got into property management and the willingness she had to take opportunities.
The male-dominated nature of real estate even though more women work in it.
How some opportunities come through work but you have to ask for others.
Challenges of being a second-language English speaker and how this became an opportunity.
Paying it forward as women by helping other women get better positions.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Today the four amigas share the best advice they ever received and who it came from. Tuning in you’ll hear relationship advice that Marcy and GG received from their mothers, the parenting advice Daimy received from her mom, and how Michelle learned from her mom’s example more than her words. The amigas also discuss who they go to for advice and how this often depends on what the subject is, or what they really want to get from the person (like tough love or validation). You’ll hear about the difference between asking for advice to fix something and asking for advice to face or go through something, as well as a word of advice on exercising caution when you decide who to ask. For an episode that is full of wise words and profound insights, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Advice Marcy received from her mother on her wedding day.
Advice GG received from her mother when she was going through a tough time in her relationship.
Parenting advice Daimy received from her mom: “Raise your kids for others.”
Advice Daimy got from her husband that helped her to be more confident.
Advice Michelle received from her mom, “If you had done one thing differently, would the outcome have changed?”
What Michelle learned from her mom’s example more than her words of advice.
The experience Marcy had where the advice, “If the shoe fits, wear it,” really hit home for her.
Who the amigas go to for advice or second opinions, and why.
Whether or not Michelle, as a single person, would rather seek relationship advice from someone who’s single or someone who’s in a relationship.
The difference between asking for advice to fix something and asking for advice to face or go through something.
Why you should be careful who you ask for advice.
What Marcy learned from the latest Jennifer Lopez movie.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Marry Me

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It’s common for kids to fly the nest at the age of 18 in the American culture, but this is very different from Latina cultures where kids stay with the family sometimes for decades! Join us today as we discuss the contrasts and similarities between Latina and American familial culture, and what each of the Amigas appreciates from both. We hear why Latina women eat last on special occasions (to make sure the men are out of the way!), and how GG and Daimy have adopted some of the American attitudes towards kids leaving the home. Marcy talks about why the family-first approach in Latina cultures is so wholesome, and GG tells us a funny story of the Latina habit of inviting friends of friends to events. We also learn about “American time”, and why taking kids to events at any time is actually good for them, plus so much more in this engaging episode.

Key Points From This Episode:

What sparked Marcy’s interest in her friends’ cultures.
The real reason the women in Latina cultures let the men eat first on special occasions.
How Daimy has adopted the American culture of kids leaving the home at 18, or near to.
GG’s change in parenting strategy from her first son, to her youngest two.
Why the Amigas feel it’s important for kids to fly the nest before their mid-20s.
What Marcy appreciates about the Latina culture: the family first approach.
Why GG won’t change her children’s rooms even after they have left home.
What American time is, and why it’s so different from what the Amigas know!
GG’s experience of friends inviting friends to other peoples’ events, and why it upsets some people.
How kids are included in all parties regardless of their age or the party start time, in Latina cultures.
Why Marcy loves that everything is a celebration in the Amigas’ cultures.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Change is inevitable and constant… It is also often tough and uncomfortable. In today’s episode, the amigas share with us some of their recent life updates. We hear how GG is currently sharing her house with her 30-year-old son and his girlfriend, how Daimy is navigating her daughter potentially quitting basketball, and Michelle’s feelings about her new commute, her new home, and her car. While there are positives and negatives in the changes that are happening in the lives of the Amigas, through their efforts to encourage each other, this conversation is a comforting reminder that we can all embrace the changes and commutes of our lives with a positive mindset. To find out what profound question Daimy asks herself that helps her embrace newness (and that can help you too), tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

What it has been like for GG to share her house with her 30-year-old son and his girlfriend.
How she is going to have all of her sons under her roof for the first time in three years.
Daimy’s life update and navigating her daughter potentially quitting basketball.
Michelle’s feelings about her new commute and thoughts on “What you resist persists.”
Michelle’s problems with her new home and her car.
The dumb thing that Daimy did yesterday and the dangers of being distracted.
A funny story about Marcy’s family.
A valuable idea that Marcy got from social media.
How Daimy has decided to decorate for all of the holidays this year.
The amigas share their love and hate for commuting.
What the amigas do during their commutes.
How to embrace your commute and life’s changes with a positive mindset.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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In this catch-up episode, our amigas don’t discuss any specific topic but instead talk about a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Marcy asks the amigas three questions. The first question is about when we’re going to be able to buy full shirts again, which leads the amigas into a conversation about crop tops, oversized blazers, loungewear, and all the other things that they love and hate about current fashion trends. Then, we gain new insights into the lives of our amigas as they discuss what they each do in their downtime in response to Marcy’s second question. You’ll hear what each of them plans to do to celebrate Valentine's Day (and the event that changed Valentine’s Day for GG forever), what apps the amigas use to find fashion deals, what show they can’t stop raving about, and so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

The amigas share their frustration with crop tops.
Thoughts on how loungewear became so popular during the pandemic.
The struggles of finding cute shoes and nice business wear.
The trend of oversized blazers.
Marcy’s love of pointed shoes.
Where the amigas go shopping for deals.
The apps that Daimy uses to find deals.
How Daimy uses Pinterest to plan her wardrobe.
Why Marcy hates shopping.
Insight into what each amiga does in her downtime.
How Daimy got hooked on Yellowstone.
Michelle’s love for long, hot showers
GG’s love for calling people and listening to her own music.
Why Marcy can’t listen to the music she likes and relax at the same time.
The Amigas’ plans for Valentine's Day.
The event that changed Valentine's Day for GG forever.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The RealReal

Fashionphile

Poshmark

Yellowstone

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Today, we are going to broach a subject that no one ever seems to talk about and something we would like to pretend doesn’t happen to us: aging and the change of life. In this episode, Marcy opens up about when she first started experiencing symptoms of menopause, how the hormonal changes affected her life, and how it was hard for her to talk about what she was going through when she first opened up to Griselle on a birthday trip they took together. Griselle shares her own symptoms and experience with menopause and our hosts debunk a lot of commonly held misperceptions about what menopause is all about: it’s not just hot flushes and a decreased sex drive! While the symptoms can be very unpleasant, Marcy believes that the worst thing about menopause is simply the fact that people don’t talk about it. She also shares how she approached her doctor for help and how she now manages her symptoms. We all want to feel good and be productive well into our old age and, in order to help each other achieve this, we need to normalize discussions like this one. For this candid and necessary conversation that will help you to prepare for the inevitable and age gracefully, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Marcy talks about when she first started having symptoms of menopause.
How she first shared what she was feeling with Griselle on a birthday trip.
How Marcy advised Griselle to prepare for menopause.
The menopause symptoms that Griselle has experienced, including mental fogginess.
The treatment that Griselle heard about from a friend.
What Marcy believes to be the worst things about menopause.
How men go through the same changes and the benefits of going through it together.
The necessity of doing more than just a medical but also extensive blood work.
The need for normalizing talking about getting older.
How Marcy manages her symptoms and how it has helped.
The importance of having these conversations, even if they make you uncomfortable!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Joining us today, we have Ramona Hall, Owner and CEO of Philips concessions, headquartered in Miami, Florida. Ramona is a mother, a great friend, a dynamic leader, a mentor, an incredible entrepreneur, a community advocate, connector, and an overall amazing woman. In our discussion, she explains what it was like for her to start a business as a young single mom and how she made it work despite the adversity that she faced. She talks about her family, how she prioritizes quality time with her daughter, and how she has helped her son through his struggles with drugs. We cover how Ramona has been impacted by failure, how failing in business is vastly different from failing in relationships, the hurt she experienced when a friendship of 19 years came to an end, and how she used the energy from this bad experience to drive her forward. We feel we gained a lot from her insight and wisdom, and hope that you will join us for this profoundly dynamic, authentic, direct, and unapologetic conversation.

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to Ramona Hall and her role at Phillips Concessions and in her community.
Ramona’s advice to her former self: Start earlier.
What it was like for Ramona to start a business as a young single mom.
How she made it work despite the adversity that she faced.
How young people want an ‘instant life’ or instant reward without the hard work.
Why she refers to her daughter as “the mini CEO” and how they prioritize quality time.
Her son’s LGBTQ status and his struggles with drugs.
The time Ramona found a drug dealer in her house and how she handled it.
The importance of understanding that there’s only so much you can do for your kids.
A quote by Ramona and how she has been impacted by failure.
How failing in business is vastly different from failing in relationships.
Ramona’s experience of a friendship of 19 years dissolving.
How Ramona used the energy from this bad experience to drive her forward.
The challenges of balancing friendships with both working women and stay-at-home moms.
Why Ramona considers herself a giver and the value that she places on being able to give.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ramona Hall

Phillips Concessions

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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One of our goals here at Chatting With My Amigas is that we want to get comfortable having the conversations that often make people uncomfortable. In light of this, today we broach the topic of finances. Tuning in you’ll hear about how each of our upbringings impacted the way we handle money, some of the mistakes we’ve made with our finances, and some of the hard lessons we've learned along the way. You’ll hear about the dangers and trickery of credit card debt and student loans, the value of budgeting, and how we can help the next generation learn from our mistakes. We also discuss the value of smart investing, avoiding unnecessary purchases, getting help when you’re in debt, and other valuable, honest advice. For some helpful tips on how to be responsible with your money and avoid many of the pitfalls that often land us in trouble, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

How Marcy got into and then out of credit card debt.
What Daimy learned the hard way about credit card debt and how she educates her children.
GG’s struggles to pay off her student loans and how she’s educating her sons about money.
How Michelle learned the true value of money growing up in Venezuela.
Michelle’s fear of using a credit card when she was given one after moving to the USA.
How some of the amigas learned entrepreneurship from their parents.
Why Daimy believes that if you really want to splurge on something, you should wait a week before you buy it.
The value of understanding what it means to sacrifice, and how to convey that to the next generation.
Thoughts on the saying: “Take care of the smaller cents because the bigger bucks take care of themselves.”
The value of smart investing.
The dangers of getting caught up in competition and getting into debt from showing off.
The need for good guidance when you’re already in debt.
The hard truth that nothing is free and the trickery of 0% interest.
The importance of being disciplined with savings and bonuses.
Closing thoughts on why you shouldn’t be chasing someone else’s wealth.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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It’s the start of a new year and with it comes new year’s resolutions. Today on the show the four Amigas take a closer look at their habits and the role they play in achieving (or not achieving) their goals. All four of the Amigas are undeniably goal-oriented, but often these goals can be undermined by bad habits. Even being overly ambitious and doing too much too soon can undermine your efforts by being unsustainable in the long run. In our conversation, the Amigas share some of their bad habits and how they would like to change them. We delve into how three out of the four Amigas are excellent planners and why it’s been important for them to introduce more flexibility and spontaneity into their life. They also share some of their tips on how anyone can become a better planner, including prioritizing and taking stock of how you spend your time. So grab your notebooks, your calendars, and your coffee, and let’s get planning!

Key Points From This Episode:

Michelle gives an update on her work life as well as her move to a new apartment.
Some of the ways the four Amigas have had to adjust their habits to achieve their goals.
How the four Amigas have had to learn to manage their expectations, especially after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Michelle differs from the other Amigas: she is not a planner!
How going with the flow allowed GG to have one of her best birthdays with her family.
Why you need to know where you’re spending your time if you want to be a better planner.
The four Amigas share some of the bad habits they would like to get rid of and why.
Marcy’s goal to be more positive this year and how she wants to change her thought processes.
The planners of the group share their tips for anyone aspiring to manage their time better.
How GG’s use of multiple calendars helps her plan and keep track of her many projects and commitments, including those of her children.
Some of the tools the four Amigas use to create more time, like turning off the notifications for all their apps.
How starting with small and incremental changes will help you achieve larger goals.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

First Things First

Chatting With My Amigas Website

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Happy New Year Amigas! For many of us, the beginning of a new year is a chance to look back on the past year and reflect on what it taught us, as well as to set goals and intentions for the coming year. In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic was rife and, along with all of its related challenges, it also brought with it some important lessons, some of which we discuss in today’s episode. Each of us has elements of our lives and within ourselves that we want to work on in 2022 and, in keeping with the My Amigas style, we share these openly with each other and, of course, with you! Tune in today to learn more about how we’re viewing the new year as an opportunity to be better versions of ourselves!

Key Points From This Episode:

How COVID impacted some of our New Year's celebrations.
Why the beginning of 2022 has started off differently than other years for some of us.
Perspective that we have gained from the past few years.
Some of the goals that we have for 2022.
Appreciation for waking up on the 1st of January without a hangover.
Elements of ourselves that we want to improve upon this year.
The importance of learning to sometimes put yourself first.
Why being present is such a valuable skill to learn.
Don’t look past the little things; every step forward matters, regardless of how small it is.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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When you find out that a person who you thought held you in a favorable light has said something unkind about you behind your back, it is hard not to feel blindsided. Unfortunately, Marcy recently had an experience like this and we spend today’s show speaking about how to deal with these kinds of situations. Marcy found out that an old employee from 20 years ago had said something mean about her to an acquaintance. The worst part is that this ex-employee had often sent Marcy kind messages, and they even had brunch together three months ago! After breaking this news to the rest of the Amigas, our hosts weigh in on their thoughts about what Marcy should take away from what happened. One of the main points we make is that when people say bad things about us, it is more of a reflection on them than us! If a person’s behavior is toxic, it is okay to cut them out of your life. This leads us to the end of the conversation where we consider the nuances of how to deal with different kinds of toxic relationships. A particularly difficult case is when a child is dating somebody toxic, so tune in today to hear our perspectives on the matter!

Key Points From This Episode:

An experience Marcy had of an old employee talking badly about her.
How the Amigas feel about people expressing negative opinions about them.
The strangeness of Marcy’s acquaintance’s behavior, seeing as this person often sent her nice messages.
Remembering to not be affected by other people’s negative views, especially if they are based on old versions of oneself.
Deconstructing why a person’s negative opinions might be triggering for you.
Showing up as your better self and rising up above people’s behavior.
People’s expressions of negative views of you are a reflection of them, not you.
Learning how to cut those with energy you find toxic out of your life.
How to deal with situations where kids are in relationships with toxic people.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Since we are coming to the end of December, we thought it would be a good idea to use today’s show as an opportunity to reflect on 2021, express our gratitude, and set some intentions for the year ahead. Tuning in today, you’ll hear the Amigas weigh in on the challenges they have overcome in terms of career, family, and personal growth. There is a big sentiment across the board that the tough times are behind us now and that the bumps in the road have to lead to so many good things. We are all incredibly blessed to have the people in our lives that we love and feel extremely thankful for the way we have expressed our togetherness in the form of this podcast. We talk about the effects of the pandemic on social life and our intention to bring more one-on-one connections back into our lives in the upcoming months, starting with calling people on their birthdays again! So for a real conversation filled with learnings from the past and excitement about the future, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Challenges the four Amigas have faced, what they are most thankful for, and what they are visualizing for the future.
Michelle’s experiences with her promotion that she is looking forward to.
How Daimy is aiming to grow her business and work on finding a life companion.
GG’s focus on health moving into 2022 and the news about her boys growing up.
Gratitude from Marcy about the challenges she and her family have overcome.
Changes in real estate and all of the adjustments the Amigas have faced in their careers.
Intentions around having more one-on-one encounters in the new year.
Wanting to bring back the practice of calling people on their birthdays.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Welcome to another chat with the Four Amigas! This week we discuss our relationship goals, both with our friends and intimate partners. We kick things off by hearing from each of the Amigas about the rules that govern their relationships, from clubbing with friends to navigating loyalty, trust, and how to set boundaries. Michelle breaks down her list of requirements when she meets someone new, and unpacks which of those items are non-negotiable in her dating life. We hear from Daimy as she expands on the rules that govern her friendships, and why she has no space for toxic or needy people in her life. Michelle explains why anyone she commits to needs to also meet the criteria of her close friends, and what being married has taught her. We also discuss some of the rules we have around dating men with children, how to navigate those relationships, and how a previous marriage can deepen your understanding of yourself and how to share a life with someone. Join us for a lively and honest conversation on relationships, life, and the importance of taking risks!

Key Points From This Episode:

The four Amigas share the rules, and non-rules, that govern their relationships.
Discover how the four Amigas treat loyalty, jealousy, and commitment in romantic relationships.
Michelle breaks down her list of rules when it comes to dating.
Daimy shares how she steers clear of toxic friendships.
How each of the Amigas approaches clubbing, work events, and travel in their relationships.
Why Michelle’s partner needs to meet the criteria of all the Amigas.
Learn about Michelle’s non-negotiables in her dating life.
Marcy’s advice for anyone who is considering dating a man with children.
The Amigas share their thoughts on dating a man in his forties who has never been married.
Why Michelle believes in taking risks and what she has learned from taking chances.

Tweetables:

“They were amazing parents and you leave nobody behind. Somebody falls, you stop, you pick them up, and you move forward.” — Michelle [0:03:58]

“I don't need needy friends. I don't need toxic friends. Like, anything that's negative in my life. No, we don't need it. So I think that's the main priority for me.” — Daimy [0:05:46]

“We both have God as our center. We're a couple of faith, and we try to be grateful and we try to meet personally. I always say I talk to him every day.” — GG [0:07:51]

“You have to grow and change as a couple because when you're in a long term relationship, friendship, or a marriage, or a loving relationship, you have to adapt to those changes.” — Marcy [0:12:35]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Today on Chatting With My Amigas, we discuss what showing up as our best selves means to each of us. We talk about how showing up as your best depends on who you’re showing up for. After realizing that we often find it easier to do this at work than to do it at home with our families, we discuss why this is the case, the role of boundaries in the workplace and at home, and why we sometimes struggle to invest in our families the same way we invest ourselves in our work. We also chat about the challenge of finding the balance between being true to yourself while also trying to be your best self when you’re not feeling your best at all. To hear our candid conversation on why we should measure ourselves against ourselves and not other people, how we feel about the standards set by society on the roles of a woman, and the difference between trying to be perfect and trying to be your best self, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

What showing up as your best self means to each of the four amigas.
How showing up as your best depends on who you’re showing up for.
The problem we have of showing up as our best selves at work and then having nothing left for our families.
How Marcy uses Pinterest to motivate herself when she’s not feeling her best self.
The challenge of finding the balance between being true to yourself while also trying to be your best self when you’re not feeling your best.
Being your best is measured against yourself, not other people.
Why faking it ’til you make it is not the best strategy.
Why Marcy finds it easier to show up as her best self at work than at home.
The role of boundaries and how they’re different at work and at home.
Why we struggle to invest in our families the same way we invest in our work.
Thoughts on the standards set by society on each role of a woman.
The difference between trying to be perfect and trying to be your best self.

Tweetables:

“Every day is a different struggle, and every day there’s different day-to-day issues and concerns, and I think it’s just a matter of staying positive, staying focused, and knowing what your ultimate goal is that day.” — Daimy [0:01:08]

“I’m a true believer that what we put out in the universe is what you’re going to get, and sometimes it’s hard.” — GG [0:02:35]

“Showing up as your best depends on who you’re showing up for.” — Marcy [0:04:06]

“What does that look like for you? And stop judging yourself against what that ideal for your best self should be.” — Marcy [0:25:18]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

Chatting With My Amigas Email

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With enough persistence and dedication, any dream or goal can be transformed into a reality. This is one of the main lessons to be learned in today’s conversation with our dear friend Claudia. The heart and soul behind @msclaudia, our guest for today began her blogging adventure in 2020 and is well on the way to becoming a full-time influencer. Claudia joins us on the show to talk about why she became an influencer, the niche her content occupies, her approach to blogging, and how she juggles her side hustle with being a mom as well as a teacher! We kick off the show by hearing about Claudia’s dream to help other women and how she decided to take action on it using the medium of social media. She talks about how she overcame her fears and took the first few steps, drawing ideas from influencers who inspired her and finally writing her first post! We explore the routines Claudia has set up for herself, the model she is using to earn money from her content, and why she chose Target as a brand to represent. She also gets into the subject of sharing her personal life, what parts to keep private, and the feedback she gets from her family about her newfound passion. For all this and a whole lot more from Claudia about how she took action on her dreams and what the future holds, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Teaching, being involved with Daimy’s wedding, and how Claudia met the Amigas.
How Claudia realized she could help others as an influencer and decided to start her blog.
Claudia’s process of finding inspiration from other influencers and curating who she follows.
How Claudia overcame feelings of imposter syndrome and wrote her first blog post.
Juggling blogging with work and motherhood and where Claudia is at in her journey.
Setting oneself apart from other influencers; how Claudia decided what products to promote.
Claudia’s goal to make blogging her main activity and what she is doing to reach it.
Yearning for authentic social media experiences in the pandemic and Claudia’s approach to content creating.
The feedback Claudia gets from her family and how she prioritizes blogging over her other roles.
How Claudia incorporates fashion as a lifestyle influencer and her experiences promoting Target.
The exhaustion of teaching and how blogging can help Claudia spend more time with her kids.
An app Claudia uses that allows her to make a commission from her posts and how it works.
Claudia’s advice for starting a blog: Believe in yourself and just go for it!
The time Claudia spends on blogging each week and her strategy for content creation.
What Claudia needs to do to become a Target affiliate and an Amazon influencer.
Content delivery and how Claudia makes sure she does not alienate her audience.
Where Claudia draws the line of what parts of her life she does not share online.
An example of a bad day Claudia shared online that involved an emotional moment with her son.

Tweetables:

“My friend inspired me to do a mom blog. I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s me. I could give mom advice. I’m a pretty cool mom. Why not?’” — Claudia [0:08:07]

“A year later I’m still doing it. I’m very consistent at what I do. I’m juggling work, mom, and my blog, and I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job at it.” — Claudia [0:10:32]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Claudia

Claudia on Instagram

Target

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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This week on the Chatting With My Amigas Podcast we get into the festive spirit and discuss our holiday traditions! We unpack what we do, why we do it, and how our traditions have changed over the years. Tuning in, you'll hear how our cultural backgrounds have shaped our holiday celebrations: from how Christmas and New Year’s Eve is celebrated in Puerto Rico, to having a spouse from a different religion, we’ve found fun and creative ways to integrate disparate aspects of our lives, for unique and memorable holiday traditions. We discuss some of the stress we feel during the holiday season and share our tips and strategies for adapting, like relinquishing control to other family members and allowing ourselves a moment to breathe and just enjoy ourselves. So grab your favorite celebratory drink and tune in for a fun, festive, and reflective episode on our favorite holiday traditions!

Key Points From This Episode:

We share a rundown of how we feel about and celebrate Thanksgiving.
Christmas and what the tradition looks like in each of our families.
How our Christmas traditions change as the kids get older.
The stress that can come with holidays and some of our solutions.
How holidays are valued differently in our different cultures and how we navigate that.
The role that gifts play during Christmas and how we feel about it.
Our divergent feelings about New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The excitement of the Three Kings celebration in Puerto Rico on January 6th.
The envy we feel when we don’t participate in some holidays and why it’s irrational.
How our parents celebrated New Year’s Eve and how we now celebrate it.
How we determine our New Year’s resolutions and our tactics for keeping them.

Tweetables:

“It's very hard for some people to say what are you thankful for? And the kids participate, adults participate and I love that it kind of brings the reason and everybody together.” — Michelle [0:11:00]

“So as I've grown older, older, I focus more on cooking, because I truly enjoy it. So then I let the kids do the tree.” — GG [0:22:10]

“My mother-in-law would call and be like, ‘Oh, are you doing the Christmas thing again this year?’ And I'm like, ‘Well, I'm still a Christian this year.’” — Marcy [0:22:56]

“I think family, professional and self. I always kind of look at it like, okay, what can I do to improve, you know, myself as a person?” — Daimy [0:40:07]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Balance is an elusive concept in today’s world where, when we’re not working, we’re picking our children up from school, making meals, perhaps starting a side-hustle, all the while trying to find some peace and quiet to read a book or go for a romantic dinner with our partner! All four of us know from experience how exhausting all of this can be, and we’re here to tell you that it’s okay to not have everything running smoothly or be giving 100% of yourself to every task at hand all the time. Balance looks different for everyone, and there is no such thing as perfection, so you have to learn to give yourself grace. Take a deep breath, situate yourself in the present moment, and join the Amigas as we share some of the most valuable life lessons we have learned along our journeys as working moms!

Key Points From This Episode:

Each of us share what’s currently on our minds.
Balance doesn’t mean everything is going to be equal all the time.
The danger of putting others above yourself.
Why being present is so important.
How our idea of balance has changed over time.
Balance means different things to different people.
Negative impacts of putting too much emphasis on work.
The importance of learning when to say no.
How systems and schedules can help you to find your balance.
We share some quotes about balance and imbalance.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Welcome to another chat with the Four Amigas! During today’s conversation, we get personal about our relationships, from first marriages to current partners. We kick things off by asking Michelle what it’s been like to be the only one in our friend group without a permanent partner, before diving into the murky waters of dating with children. You’ll hear about the childhood experiences that informed our attitudes to adult relationships, and how religion and our parents’ marriages impacted how we approach family and friendship today. We also discuss domestic violence and abuse, and finding the freedom to escape, before exploring the challenges and celebrations of marriage, and what we should change about the narrative we pass along to our children. We hope you join us today to hear another insightful and candid chat with the Four Amigas!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to the four Amigas: Marcy, GG, Michelle, and Daimy.
What it has been like for Michelle to be the only one in relationships that are not as permanent as the other Amigas.
What it was like for Michelle and GG to date as single parents.
Why it doesn’t have to be super formal to introduce a child to a partner.
How the relationship dynamic is different when there is a child, no matter what age.
What it was like for Michelle to realize that she could leave an abusive situation with her child’s father.
Negotiables and non-negotiables and how the negotiables need to outweigh.
Accepting that no one’s perfect, and understanding that if you know you know.
How there are parts of a relationship that are supposed to be fun and easy.
Michelle’s experience of seeing domestic violence growing up.
The universal trend of celebrating the length of marriage without considering the quality.
GG shares that not every year is great, that there are celebrations, but also a lot of work.
Why it is so important to go into a marriage with the same expectations as your spouse.
How marriage is not a sacrifice, although you will sustain difficult times.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Women often struggle with confidence in their appearance. The media has a set ideal for "the perfect woman,” but very few women actually look like this. Join the four Amigas today to talk about their struggles with self-confidence and the events that shaped their perceptions of themselves. We hear how labels given to each of these women in their childhood stuck with them for life and what they do to make it through the day when they don’t feel their best. Find out how GG’s biggest insecurity as a teenager became one of her favorite features as an adult and why confidence is key, as well as how your parents' issues may have been projected onto you and why we should never comment on someone's appearance when discussing how they are doing. To learn more about how to raise a daughter without labels and change your attitude to ‘who cares?', don’t miss out on this honest conversation with the Amigas!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to the four Amigas: Marcy, GG, Michelle, and Daimy.
How a label given to Marcy in the third grade affected her perception of herself for life.
Daimy’s struggles with being labeled “too skinny.”
How our family and friends scar us, and how we work through it.
Why GG doesn’t own a scale.
How GG’s insecurity about her hair changed to confidence as she grew up.
Why the ‘don’t care’ attitude towards your appearance is important.
How the attitude toward labels has changed compared to when the Amigas were growing up.
How accepting a label gives away your power.
The impact of our parents projecting their issues onto us.
Embracing who you are: becoming comfortable in your skin.
Michelle's struggles with her body from being a competitive gymnast to being a mother.
How to make it through the day when you don’t feel your best.
Why body weight should not determine how a person is doing.
How photos of the Amigas made them examine their flaws.
Being real and transparent and how this represents true confidence.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas website

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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Being diagnosed with the big C can be overwhelming and terrifying, not just for the patient, but for their family and loved ones too. There is also the chance of cancer spreading, returning, or occurring in other parts of your body. This week on the Chatting With My Amigas podcast we welcome our very first and very special guest, our good friend, Dori, who has survived multiple cancers and has learned a lot about herself and her body in the process. When Dori’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 60, Dori had already had multiple experiences with mammograms. But it was only after her mother’s diagnosis that she chose to get the BRCA genetic testing done. In our conversation, Dori recounts her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer and explains her reasoning for pursuing an aggressive approach through a double mastectomy, despite other options available to her. Dori’s pragmatism has been consistent. After being diagnosed with cancer a second time, the culprit this time being a mass on her ovaries, she opted to have a full hysterectomy. She goes on to share how that decision quite possibly saved her life since it meant doctors were able to discover that she also had uterine cancer. Dori shares how she has been able to remain energetic and positive throughout her treatments and why, for her, her breast reconstruction has been one of the most painful consequences of her journey with cancer. We also hear from Dori about survivor’s guilt, her unique experience with thyroid cancer, and why she has always trusted her doctors. It was such an honor and a joy having Dori on the show. Join us today for an expansive conversation, on life, friendship, navigating cancer, and more.

Key Points From This Episode:

Get to know our first official guest, Dori.
Dori shares her health journey and her experience with mammograms.
What it meant for Dori when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dori’s reaction when her BRCA test came back positive.
The surprising amount of different specialists you need when you have breast cancer.
Dori’s introduction searching for a surgeon.
The options that Dori had for treating her breast cancer.
Why Dori chose to have a double mastectomy.
Why having a positive BRCA test result created a sense of guilt in Dori.
Dori’s naturally positive demeanor and how it helped her remain calm throughout her journey with cancer.
Dori’s complete trust in her team of doctors and how it prevented her from spiraling on a Google search.
Some of the surprises Dori experienced during and after her surgery.
Dori’s subsequent experiences with cancer and how she chose to have a hysterectomy.
The iron infusions that Dori needed to prepare her for surgery.
The mass that the doctors found on her uterus during surgery and the mass on her thyroid a few years later.
Dori’s difficult experience with reconstructive surgery of her breasts.
Why Dori’s reconstructed breasts feel like a reminder of her cancer.
How the impact of thyroid surgery has been the most difficult consequence of cancer to live with.
The challenge of knowing how to support a friend going through cancer treatment.
The developments and innovations that are occurring in medical science
Why it’s important to consult with a doctor who is aware of the latest developments.
The important role that eating healthy has in supporting you when you’re ill.
Why early screening is essential.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas

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Welcome to the first episode of the Chatting With My Amigas Podcast! Meet Marcy, GG, Michelle, and Daimy, four close amigas who have a deep commitment to one another and their friendship. Marcy shares what inspired the podcast after carefully considering the media she was consuming, and how the COVID 19 pandemic facilitated her insights. This show will be an opportunity for her and her friends to explore a range of topics. Their opinions won’t always align, and some of the conversations may get heated, but they will always be underpinned by kindness and the respect they have for one another. Tune in today to join us on the first step in this exciting journey!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing our new podcast Chatting With My Amigas!
Why we decided to start this podcast.
How Marcy didn’t see herself and the conversations she was having reflected in the media she was consuming.
Gigi’s response to being asked to be on the podcast, as a very private person.
Why Michelle was excited about the podcast from the get-go.
Jamie’s reaction to Marcy’s idea for the podcast and why it seemed like a natural extension of their friendship.

Tweetables:

“After many, many months of working on something and talking about it, we're here doing Chatting with My Amigos.” — Marcy [0:00:43]

“The end of last year, 2020, I think was a year of reflection and thought, and I think all of us in different ways looked at what was in our life and some of the things we were consuming.” — Marcy [0:00:53]

“I think it's just the perfect timing for us to get together and just be authentic. And we have such a great, great relationship, right?” — Daimy [0:14:43]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas

Chatting With My Amigas: Recent Episodes

Amigas Marcy, Griselle, Daimy, and Michelle