Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
EP 120: November Catch Up
1.8k Plays1 month ago
It’s time for our monthly catch-up — and this one’s a cozy November chat filled with life updates, laughs, and a little pre-holiday chaos.
Candace’s computer decided to call it quits (RIP to all the open tabs 🪦), she’s rocking a new haircut that has her feeling like a new woman, and Whitney’s back from a weekend in Alabama with stories that’ll make you want to plan your own girls’ trip.
We’re also chatting about easing into the holiday season — how we’re prepping, what we’re simplifying this year, and the things we’re not stressing about.
Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:
📸 Instagram: @momgroupchat
🎵 TikTok: @momgroupchat
Questions/comments/need to vent? Email us at momgroupchatpodacst@gmail.com
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're going to get into it. What up moms? I'm Whitney Williams and I'm here with my best friend, Candice, and we're the Mom Group Chat Podcast. Hello.
00:00:22
Speaker
Happy November.
Whitney's New Hairstyle
00:00:25
Speaker
My first recording with my short haircut. I know she got on and I was like, oh, I haven't seen it like in person. We haven't talked since you got your haircut. Well, to be honest, it's very greasy today and it's giving the bottom in these headphones. It's giving Lord Farquaad, but it's fine. No, it's not.
00:00:44
Speaker
I was, my mom came to pick up Evie this morning and I was like fully still in my pajamas, like hadn't brushed my teeth or anything. We were just having like a slow morning. And, uh, my mom was like, Oh, your hair.
00:00:59
Speaker
i could tell that she was like saying it in a way that she was like trying to gauge if like, that's how it normally is And she's seen my hair since I've gotten a cup, but like she hadn't seen it like in the morning. And here's the thing about the short hair.
00:01:12
Speaker
it is so much easier to do. Like I can fully do my hair in no joke, five minutes, which is so great. But when I wake up in the morning, I look crazy. I look like, i don't even know how to describe it. I look like, like Martha Stewart had a wild night out or something. It's like, it's giving like old lady short haircut that's like slept on. I don't know.
00:01:36
Speaker
So, um, in the mornings it's scary, but then I, it takes me like five minutes to do. It's so cute. but I love when you cut your hair. She hasn't done this in a while. So I, the last time I did this was 2021. So it's been four years so of long hair. that was It was right before I got pregnant.
00:01:56
Speaker
It was February of 2021. Was it this short? Yeah. Wow. remember that all. Actually, sorry. It was probably January ah maybe.
00:02:07
Speaker
Yeah. I know that this is so sad that like this is how I remember thing and gauge things. But um ah it was this short when the Bucks won the Super Bowl. Like when we were at all of our like Super Bowl pictures because that was such a wild time. The Super Bowl was in Tampa and the Bucks were in the Super Bowl. It was like probably one of the most fun like year, like six months of my life was that football season. We were just – We were newly married. We had a new house.
00:02:34
Speaker
COVID was like kind of like coming out, you know? Anyways. ah But I remember like when I look back at those photos of that like fun time of our life, my hair is short. So it was around there somewhere.
00:02:46
Speaker
i haven't cut my hair like that since I lived in Rhode Island. I did it twice up there. Two chops. I loved it though. I know. I feel like you would look really cute with it too.
00:02:57
Speaker
Yeah. I would. I would do it again. But it's more like, A summer thing for me. I'm like, i want to chop it thin. And then I hate growing it out.
00:03:07
Speaker
I know. That is like the one thing. Like if there's one thing I've learned about myself is that I look great with long hair and I look good with super short like chin length hair.
00:03:18
Speaker
But anything in between is ah Not it for me. It's not good. Not good. Yeah. And I know what's going to happen here is I'm probably going to keep it short for a year, i think.
00:03:32
Speaker
And then I'll get pregnant again and I'll look so bad. you'll taking some vitamins and just grow it right back out. ah Yeah, exactly. I'll grow it back through my pregnancy and then I'll have my final my my final glow up after I have another baby. Yeah.
00:03:50
Speaker
so good well it looks great i love thanks you're so chic oh thanks i it's funny that you say it's a summer thing because i feel like for me it's like a fall and winter thing it's like with a turtle yeah whoa yeah can't wait to see that i can't wait i mean it doesn't happen often here in florida but i am going to new york city in a month so i'll be able to rock it there for sure fun so fun Yeah, but what's new with you?
Catching Up on Life Events
00:04:19
Speaker
so this is our November catch up. So and I feel like it's actually been a while since like you we you and I haven't recorded in weeks.
00:04:28
Speaker
Has it been? Yeah, our last according to Zencaster when I logged on, ah our last recording was Kelsey. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
Tailgating and Bar Memories
00:04:39
Speaker
So I went to the game. Yes. Okay. Give us a full update. um That was so fun. um We had ourselves a full on day. It was a night game. So.
00:04:53
Speaker
Um, the whole time I was like, I'm not going to start tailgating until two. That was definitely not the case because the bar scene in Tuscaloosa was out of control. Like I've never experienced something like this. Like there were lines to get in and it was like one in one out. So you just couldn't go in anywhere. Like we didn't get to go into bear trap at all, which is one of our favorite rooftop bars.
00:05:17
Speaker
Yeah. We, We bought cover ahead of time, which didn't matter because if the line wasn't moving, you didn't get to go in. like You just couldn't go.
00:05:28
Speaker
That is so crazy. its wild to think that its yeah It's wild to think that it's like that because when I think about Alabama, like we were there in the prime. like We won three national championships while we were there.
00:05:41
Speaker
like There was no better time to go to Alabama. and it was not like that when we went there. Do you remember ever remember waiting in line ever?
00:05:52
Speaker
Maybe at Innisfree. But we just didn't go. it was like if we knew it was crowded weekend we're like okay we'll just go on a Tuesday because we can. you know like We didn't waste our time there on the weekends or anything. We just like let all the tourists do that and like people in town. But We were the tourists. We were the alumni. So we we bought cover ahead of time. Thanks to Chris's little sister. You can do that now.
00:06:18
Speaker
Which, what the hell is that? You can either buy line skip or cover. So I'm like, okay. Line skip. I'm sorry. Is this Disney World? There's fast passes to the bars?
00:06:33
Speaker
I need a lightning pass to the front, please. um So anyway, I didn't know that I needed a travel agent to.
College Visit Highlights
00:06:41
Speaker
ah What? That's so crazy. so we got our cover to Galette's. We bought it on a Thursday and we were like, well, shit.
00:06:50
Speaker
If we want to even freaking go in there, we're just going to have to go. So we went full send at 1030 a.m. We're like, I guess we're going in. So we got right in and we go up to the front. We're like four yellow hammers, please, which is the drink that you drink at Galette's.
00:07:06
Speaker
And I don't think I ever had one like when I was actually at school there. But here we are. We're here. And they were like double or single. And our friend Dave was like, we'll have a double. And so we just like went for it. And then we i would too. I would drink them all day.
00:07:21
Speaker
And we like finally like went to a tailgate afterward. And she was like, oh my gosh, like it's a marathon, not a sprint. I said, oh, I'm sprinting, baby. I am sprinting. Like at that point I was just like jazzed up. um We found like a shot ski on the quad and did a shot ski.
00:07:40
Speaker
i mean, was just full on college experience. I got to go in the sorority house. So that was nice. Wait, tell your voice memo made me laugh so hard when you were talking about finding our composite photo. Yeah. First of all,
00:07:58
Speaker
Jenny like not shy at all, which is my sister-in-law. She went up to some girl in Theta and was like, hey, she was an alumni. Can you show her her composite? And I was like, thank you, Jenny. Like, this is so embarrassing.
00:08:10
Speaker
And so they take me. i was like, I am. It was this year. It was like 2013. It was like the year I graduated. And she was like, oh, I think they're over here. And it was like some back ass hallway.
00:08:21
Speaker
One of them was on the floor. One of them was hanging like our our senior year one where we were like, on exec and so I found it and like my hair part was all the way to my ear like I had like oh yeah yeah deep side yeah so yeah same I feel like I didn't start parting my hair in the middle until I like moved to New York City probably you were doing it like right in the beginning when hair hair in the middle was like starting Yeah.
00:08:51
Speaker
I don't know what, I think it was, you know what it was? It was a hairstylist in New York who cut my hair and she was like, you need to be doing the middle part. And i was like, okay, fine. Sure. Whatever. Um, anyway, so we were in a back hallway. We aren't in the main hall anymore. we got scooted and booted.
00:09:09
Speaker
and i mean, it was like, there was one of the, um, workers was still there I was like hi Mr. Terry I don't know if you remember me and he goes yeah you from the old house
00:09:24
Speaker
there's no way Mr. Terry remembers me there's no way was like okay well yeah he just just he makes he makes like inference like you know he knows okay this girl's clearly in her thirty s she definitely was from the old house And then he was like, Leisha had a stroke. And I'm like, oh, God. like Oh, my God. Okay. I didn't ask. But like, okay. Prayers for Leisha.
00:09:50
Speaker
Good to see you. um But it was fun. We like just went in and they gave me an alumni button. I didn't get any. They had like soda fountain. It was fancy. Like, so the houses all got redone on sorority row. It was like a 10 year plan when we were seniors. Like, so that all the houses had equal home. Like you weren't choosing a home because one house is better than the other. They're all equal now in size and whatever they're.
00:10:18
Speaker
they are. So anyway, was a brand new house and it felt like a hotel. I was like, where's the warm, fuzzy feeling? it feels like i don't even know this place anymore. um The houses, for those of you that don't know, like the houses were like all different and they all had their own like charm and they definitely had like, it still felt like a house when we lived there. Like it felt like a super large house.
00:10:44
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, now it's like like, are the bathrooms upstairs different? I didn't go up. Okay. Yeah. You probably, i don't know if they allow that. just didn't feel like going up there. Yeah.
00:10:55
Speaker
It wasn't like on my to do. Um, but I mean, everything was super nice. Everyone was really, really nice. And we like got a coffee and we sat on the back patio before going in the game and like drank some coffee and it was really lovely.
00:11:10
Speaker
um what else? I want to go. But i I'm honestly like blessed to you who has gone before me and is now bringing back all of this valuable intel of like what we would do differently.
00:11:25
Speaker
Um, yeah, the to rent a tailgate, I found out was like actually kind of easy and they aren't like hella expensive and they have people that set it up for you. So i was like, okay, if we ever go like, let's do that.
Planning a Tailgate Trip Together
00:11:37
Speaker
Yeah. And um obviously, like you have to find a place to stay like well in advance. And I'd rather go to a game weekend where it wasn't so much of a rival and like a close yeah proximity school. Like not even that there was a lot of UT people there. I didn't see a ton of orange, but yeah.
00:11:52
Speaker
It was just a popular game and so busy. um it was crazy. But the actual game was so fun. I'm not like a huge like going into the football game ban. Like boring. But now you can like actually drink in there even though I took a break. i was like, I need a four hour break from drinking.
00:12:12
Speaker
So I was just like i been going since 10 a.m. My God. I was like, I'm drinking water. So um they all did. Did you feel shitty and the next day? Not at all.
00:12:22
Speaker
Like not at all. Wow. That's impressive. Honestly. Yeah, we were fine. Like Chris and I both were like, okay, that was fine. Um, but yeah, the actual game was so fun.
00:12:36
Speaker
um and then we went out for a little bit after got home by like 1am. Damn. Good for you. I'm so jealous and I cannot wait to go back together.
00:12:48
Speaker
I think we should, is the schedule even out for next year? I have no idea. No, they don't release that for a while. When the schedule does come out, I think we should look at it and plan something, especially because I am going to get pregnant after that. And then it's going to be a good two years before we're going.
00:13:04
Speaker
So yeah we should do one more. we we should do a game next season. Even if we were to like fly to Nashville and then drive together or something, or I don't know. We can figure it out, but let's choose a game and let's
Sorority and Parenting Stories
00:13:20
Speaker
go. And let's see if we can maybe get like some other couples or something to come with us or other friends. Whenever I was there um and I saw like all of our, like some random like sorority sisters posting, they were there. i was like, what, why didn't you tell me? I was like offended.
00:13:36
Speaker
I'm like, um I posted that I was coming to this game like days ago. No one said anything, but I did run into like one, I think she was in um two years below us I ran into her and she had brought her son to the game so that was like cool running into someone that we were and school with and i was like oh like how old is your son and like how does he do like during the game like I was just like curious for Graydon and she was like he loves it so I was like good to know yeah so and I think he was like five or six
00:14:08
Speaker
Okay. Good to know. um But it was so loud. I was like, God. I know. That's like what I would be concerned. Alice hates loud. Yeah. Like when we go to Disney, she's like, it's so loud. I'm like, girl.
00:14:23
Speaker
Yeah, but it was really great. I loved it. And it's not, I don't i don't know, not too far from here. So it wasn't bad at all. And like, I was so used to driving it from my hometown that like living on the the other side of Nashville, was like, that took like no time.
00:14:39
Speaker
totally. Well, I love. Okay. Well, I'm happy that you went and that you gathered all of this intel so that we can plan accordingly for next football season. For sure.
00:14:51
Speaker
For sure. What have you been doing? Amazing. Pumpkin patching and shit. Yeah. We have like, I feel as though this month of October has been like a preview into the holidays of like, I feel like we're already in the holiday craziness.
Family Fun at Busch Gardens
00:15:08
Speaker
Like, you know, that real I posted last Christmas where I was like bus club, another club, another club.
00:15:16
Speaker
plain like and about holidays with the kids I somehow feel that's already happening and like I don't know how we got here um it's we've just done a lot and I would say like overall it's good like we've had so much fun and there's been some like good opportunities that have like fallen into my lap which is why like I feel like I've said yes to things that I I wouldn't normally go out of my way to plan like this past weekend. Um, we got to go to Bush gardens, which is like the theme park here in Tampa, which I am not kidding.
00:15:52
Speaker
I have not been to in 15 years. Like I have not been since I was like 20 years old. Um, and it's a bomb theme park. Like I, and I had heard really good things about taking kids there. They have a whole like Sesame street land, um, or, ah playground area. And then I obviously it's known for like it's animals and stuff. So I knew that it was a good place to have kids. And then I had ah mom reach out to me who like knows that I, she, she's a listener of this podcast, I think, and knows that I'm local to Tampa. And she was like, Hey, Bush gardens is having their sweet tackler event, which is like a trick or treating event at Bush gardens.
00:16:32
Speaker
Um, would you be interested? And I'll give you free tickets. And I was like, I'd love that. We need to switch the algorithm to Nashville because I need to be getting some shit. I'm like, um, hello.
00:16:45
Speaker
like Everything's Tampa, Tampa. I'm like, can you the needle? Let's move the needle up here. For real. I don't need any more opportunities. You know? No, I'm just kidding. I i really do love it.
00:16:56
Speaker
But, um, so we, I was like, why not? Let's go. So Saturday we did that and it was such, and it was also like, I really loved, it sounds so bad, but I love doing things for free because there's no pressure attached to it. You know, it's like, I didn't really care how long we stayed or like, you know, because I'm just like, you know, it's a free thing and like, whatever.
00:17:19
Speaker
And honestly, ah like 10 out of 10. It was so fun. The sweet tackler event was so cute. They got to like practice trick or treating. And I feel like now Evie like really understands like what it you know?
00:17:31
Speaker
yeah Um, and the animals are so cool. We saw like monkeys and cheetahs and elephants and like all sorts of things. We got to ride some rides. I rode Montu, which is like a roller coaster that I like used to ride in high school that,
00:17:48
Speaker
Listen, I have been to Disney World and I've done like Guardians of the Galaxy and stuff, but that's like kind of a different yeah type of roller coaster. It's like indoors, you know. Montu is like a true giant thrill, like your feet hang like roller coaster.
00:18:06
Speaker
And let me tell you, i don't know if it's just that I was old or I am old. But I was like, holy shit, that was so intense and so crazy and scary. i mean, it was fun. Like, I'm happy I did it. But I was like, whoa I feel like I used to ride roller coasters like it was no biggie. And now I'm like, oh, wait, I'm um feeling old.
00:18:26
Speaker
Yeah, it was fun. I love them. I used to not. Like we had Opryland here growing up and they got rid of it and put them all there instead, which was devastating. But i was so scared. I never loved them until like I got a little older. And then I was like, what have I been doing?
00:18:43
Speaker
Roller coasters are the tit days. They're so fun. they They really are. And when we were leaving, I asked Rob to look up because we ended up inviting Rob and mom to come with us because we had six tickets.
00:18:54
Speaker
And I'm like, what are we going – and Alice and Evie are free. So I was like, what am I going to do? So um mom and Rob came with us and Rob was like – or I asked him, i was like, can you look up like where Busch Gardens ranks in like rollercoaster theme parks? Because like after going there and see how many rollercoasters they actually have, i was like,
00:19:16
Speaker
This is actually a like I forget how cool it is that this is like in Tampa, honestly. And it's like number three in the country. Oh, well. And I had no idea. It's like the the only thing above it is like Six Flags, Cedar Point and like the other one other Six Flags, maybe in Atlanta or something. I don't know.
00:19:34
Speaker
Yeah. um And I was like, wow, I had no idea that it was like that. popular. But anyways, it was so fun. um And then Sunday we had family photos at 9 a.m.
00:19:46
Speaker
And then we had swim at 1030. And then we had a birthday party at 11. And by nap time, i was zonked, you guys. Like I was so tired.
00:19:57
Speaker
And I don't know. it's And then the weekend before that, we did like two fall events in one day, like on opposite ends of Tampa. Like we went up to Dade City And then we drove down to St. Pete. So like from way north to way south, we had an hour and a half drive in between and we just let the girls sleep in the car.
00:20:18
Speaker
So I don't know. I feel like part of me is like I'm exhausted, but also part of me is like we're creating memories and like doing keeping them busy. And I do like being out of the house more than I like being in the house, to be honest. So so yeah, it's just been like,
00:20:36
Speaker
go go, go, busy times. And then i don't know. I feel like the other like big, I don't know, update things or things that like feel big in my life is just like stuff
Candice's Newsletter Launch
00:20:48
Speaker
happening with work. Like I, launched my newsletter, which I am so excited about.
00:20:57
Speaker
Um, if you're interested, you can go to my Instagram and like sign up, but, I love writing. I've always loved writing. And I've always wanted a place where I can like write more and just share more random stuff. like all And the newsletter will be anything and everything. Like personal stories, beauty and skincare stuff, fashion, parenting. I mean, literally, i like nothing is off limits is kind of my thought there. And I'm just going to write about what I –
00:21:31
Speaker
what i'mus what I'm enthusiastic about that week. So I'm really loving it And the feedback has been so good so far. So um that's felt like really, thanks.
00:21:42
Speaker
I'm very passionate about it. Well, Candice this morning, it's like, i'm very passionate about this, this email I'm getting. It's so good. Thanks. It really means a lot. like I don't make any money from it or anything. And that's like why it's just like a passion project for me. I just i want to write more. and i um it's just it's so it's I feel like the words of kindness like mean even more because it's something that I'm so passionate about. so Thank you for saying that.
00:22:13
Speaker
You're getting like an A-plus on your grade. Oh, thank you. um And then next week's newsletter, I do have to tease this because I've already, I've been working on it for like two weeks is the Sephora sale starts on Friday on October 31st.
00:22:29
Speaker
And next week's newsletter is like a deep dive into the Sephora sale, what I'm purchasing, what I already own that I'm repurchasing and just like all like a deep dive into makeup and skincare products for the Sephora sale. So if you're interested,
00:22:46
Speaker
Now's the best time to sign up. Speaking of, i told Candace this. I forgot my whole ass makeup bag when I went to Tuscaloosa. So I got there and I was like, oh my God. Yeah, you never told me what you did.
00:23:01
Speaker
um Jenny let me borrow her makeup. So that's where I was going with this was that I got to try so many new things and I loved everything. fun. I was like, wow. I really needed an update with like she had like nice stuff. Damn. That's amazing. She had ah like a huge like Tarte eyeshadow palette that I have to have. Like, oh my God.
00:23:25
Speaker
It went on so well. I was like, I'm obsessed with this palette. She had like NARS this whatever like um whatever that guy's name is um Makeup by Mario yeah that's my favorite brand in fact when I was making my Sephora sale list I'm like people are gonna be like are you sponsored by Makeup by Mario I fucking wish okay I fucking wish but that's like every single product of his is incredible. Like I have yet to use any, I'm literally looking at a eyeshadow palette right here.
00:23:56
Speaker
I, everything that he puts out is like so good. Yeah, that was really good. um She had like that Tarte concealer for under eye. I was just like, we this is so fun.
00:24:09
Speaker
um And then like her shampoo was great. I'm like, she has that expensive ash. I was like, Jenny, you live in rich, honey. like I need all of this. I need it all. Well, it's like when you're you don't have kids and you just have like you're working and you're like just making an income, I guess. Huh?
00:24:27
Speaker
know I'm like, wow, this was fun. The dream. yeah but I bought like all kinds of new stuff and I was like, yeah, deserve this. Yeah, you do. You do deserve it. So I got me a new Tarte palette. I'm excited about it. Oh, good.
00:24:42
Speaker
i should have waited for the sale. What an idiot. I know. The Tarte though interesting. Some things, a lot of Tarte stuff is like exclusive to Ulta though. So it may not. Where did you, did you buy it from Sephora? i just bought it from Tarte.
00:24:53
Speaker
Oh, okay. Okay. So it may not even be like sold at Sephora. So you may not have missed anything, honestly. I don't know. um But yeah, i needed because I have family pictures coming up. So I was like, I just wanted everything here to have. Totally.
00:25:07
Speaker
So I could. Yeah. So I was like, I need to order that. But yeah, maybe I'll look. Honestly, a little look-see. It's a great... um People also sleep on the holiday sets on Sephora, especially if you're someone who like wants to try some new things without like committing. you know um They have some great holiday sets that like are smaller versions of products and stuff. like And some of my most favorite products are like holiday set items that I'll never get again, which is sad, but I...
00:25:41
Speaker
like you should check those out. It's also great gifts for, like friends and family. Yeah. Yeah. great time the first Yeah. yeah yeah good idea The other update i have is, do I clearer in this camera i I kind of look the same. I mean, i Mac.
00:26:07
Speaker
Damn it. I was hoping you would say yes.
Tech Troubles and Solutions
00:26:10
Speaker
by My computer completely died last week. And it sent me into a fucking king spiral. Let me tell you.
00:26:21
Speaker
i was so annoyed last. Okay. So last Wednesday, I'm just going to tell the story like, because it's just pertinent to my week last week. I'll get my tea ready.
00:26:34
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So last week, my computer definitely, i got it in 2020. It's technically a 2019 Mac book. I got it in early 2020, literally as the world was shutting down.
00:26:45
Speaker
And so it's like five years old, six years old, you know, yeah, i knew I knew that laptop was like probably on the horizon for me. I knew that it was like, but like I thought maybe in a year i would get a new laptop.
00:27:02
Speaker
But my computer was starting to be like super laggy and just like not functioning the way it should. And I talked to my brother about it and we cleared out a bunch of stuff from store, like the storage.
00:27:13
Speaker
I had like over a hundred gigabytes of open storage, maybe even more. So it definitely wasn't the storage anymore, but it was still lagging. And he was like, when's the last time you've updated this? And I was like, I don't know.
00:27:25
Speaker
I couldn't tell you. And so I updated my computer and After that update, it was unusable. Like actually, if we had tried to record next last week, we probably wouldn't have been able to like um it was everything. I couldn't load zoom.
00:27:43
Speaker
I had my mentorship call on Thursday of last week. I couldn't have it. I couldn't host it because it wouldn't even let me get on zoom or do anything. Um, and um,
00:27:56
Speaker
yeah It just sent me in. ah Like there is something so frustrating about tech stuff when like you feel like you're doing everything right. I've just felt like such a boomer. like card like i feel like I was getting so angry at my computer and like being so irrational.
00:28:14
Speaker
And Rob was like on FaceTime with me. And when I was trying to like get like just set things up, it was like wasn't working and Rob was like, calm down. I'm like, don't tell me to calm down.
00:28:27
Speaker
I was like, being person. That's like with my freaking camera. i was like, I'm going to figure this out. Because my camera wasn't working a few weeks ago. And I was like, oh, hell no. And it took me like 30 minutes to figure it out.
00:28:38
Speaker
It was so frustrating. So I updated. i ended up talking to someone from Apple. And they were like, listen, your computer is six years old. It just can't handle the updated software. Like, it's just not.
00:28:52
Speaker
like, I think it's time to turn, turn, it turn it over. So i ended up having to go to the Apple store and get a whole new laptop, which was just a little bit of a gut punch. You know, when you like, like, you're just not expecting to drop $3,000, like on a random Friday, you know,
00:29:15
Speaker
and like you think you're like budgeting for the month or like in my case, like in my business, like I feel like, you know, I'm budgeting or, you know, whatever. And I have to like dip into things I didn't think I'd have to dip into in order to purchase a laptop. And it's just that feeling of like, oh, I don't know. It was just an annoying week and it's fine. i just keep trying to tell myself that like, this is something I tell myself often if I'm having like money drama in my head is like,
00:29:44
Speaker
money is meant to move. Like it's meant to come in and out. That's the whole purpose of it. And like, I, you can always make more money. And like this lap, this new laptop that works better is going to make me more money. And like, I just try to like, remember that, but it was, I had a lot of drama around it, to be honest. I think it's just that we've, like I said, in the beginning of this episode, I think I said this is the beginning of this episode, like We just spent a lot of money recently in like the, on the outside of this house. And like, there's just been a lot going on and I'm just like, Oh, another big expense, you know?
00:30:18
Speaker
Yep. All right. For sure. We were just talking about this, me and my due date group, because few of us have like moved recently. And one of our friends is moving this week or closing or whatever. And then I have another friend here that just moved. And it's like, when you're spending that much money, you almost just like buy more because you're like, whatever, lump it in with whatever the fuck I'm spending right now. You're like, get the TVs you want, get the dresser you want, like What's another couple grand? Throw it in the pile of bills.
00:30:48
Speaker
No, literally. You're just on a spending spree. But i know you didn't mean to. I didn't mean to, but it is one of those things that's like, i you know we're approaching the holidays and I know that comes with like more spending and more yep going on. And so I'm like, what?
00:31:09
Speaker
it's just like I have to be smarter now going into the holidays to make sure that like everything's fine and it's just like I hate being an adult you budgeting sucks it really does I don't want to do it i don't like to look at it it just stresses me out so yeah I don't know I'm sorry that's okay but that's just one little life update yay new laptops I know. And I did, ended up like my old laptop is like a 16 inch. It's pretty large. And ended going with the little baby one, the 14. It feels baby to me. It's probably very normal to everyone else. I have a 14. I like it smaller. Yeah. Well, I just thought about like how, like even, you know, if we like go to Disney or like just even like day trips, like when we went to Anna Maria, I was like, oh, I should bring my laptop so I could do some work, whatever. But I'm just like,
00:32:01
Speaker
it's so heavy and like big to carry around that now I'm like kind of excited to have this little guy that I is easier to travel with. Yeah. I had, I just recently got a new computer. They switched it after three years. They're like, that's old.
00:32:15
Speaker
And I mean, it was, it was like, I was joking that it was breathing. Like it had diabetes. Like anytime I turned it on, it was like, like really sucking in air. And I was like, are you okay? Like, yeah.
00:32:28
Speaker
Wait, that's really funny. That's so funny. It was Struggs, but i got a new one too. And you told me I did look crispier. I looked less gray. You definitely did.
00:32:40
Speaker
You do look crispier. Like even this background here is like, Chef's kiss. Yay. And even though it's like gloomy out, you can still see me. Yeah. Like you don't look dark and gray. You look bright and shiny. Perfect. Perfect.
00:32:55
Speaker
That's great. Yeah. We, um, I feel like we've done a lot of stuff too. Like our past week was very busy. We had like plans every afternoon. like we had our school fall festival, which like, I'm always so excited to go to. And then it was like, I'm overstimulated. Like, yeah.
00:33:13
Speaker
And it was like it's in the front parking lot. So you kind of have to keep an eye on them. There's trunk or treating going on. There's a bouncy house. I was just like, i music's blaring. Ghostbusters. And I'm like, my God, I'm overwhelmed.
00:33:27
Speaker
and then you're like trying to talk to the adults. And it's just like, wow, overwhelming a little bit. And we only stayed for an hour. And I was like, I got to get out of here. i Yeah, ah can't.
00:33:38
Speaker
And then we had like fun little afternoons, like pumpkin carving with our old neighbors. And then we did more pumpkin decorating yesterday. it's just so fun. i love it. So fun. I know the the fall time is really fun. And that's why I'm trying to like remember that as we, like I said, we've been so busy, but I'm like, okay. But when I look back at the photos and everything we've done, we've had like such a fun fall time already.
00:34:03
Speaker
And it does, it's such a blip in the year. So it's like nice that we're leaning in, you know? I know. And then like last night we all sat down and like made plans for the rest of the year. We're like, let's get it on the calendars now. And so we have like, our friends are doing a Friendsgiving, which I haven't done in years, like since I lived in Rhode Island. So I'm so freaking excited for Friendsgiving.
00:34:25
Speaker
And then we're going to go out and do like, cause Nashville does tons of like pop-up Christmas bars. And so we went last year we're like, let's do it again. So we're going to go to like a Christmas dinner, just the adults and like do all all the bars and stuff. And then,
00:34:40
Speaker
there's a Christmas party. So it's going to be like, bam, bam, bam. Wow. Amazing. I need to do the same. i need to get some things on the calendar with friends. host a thing a friend's giving we're all bringing a side dish and they're making yeah there's there we we do typically have a friend's giving every single year and this year there's already been like discourse about it in conversations about dates it's like no date works like there's some and and eventually I ended up saying in the group I was like listen someone's just not going to be able to come and we just need to set a date like
00:35:16
Speaker
There's every, we had started to talk about dates and someone's like, I have a wedding. I'm out of town. ah blah blah And I'm like, that's just sad, but it's like the way it's going to be. i don't like You're like, okay, now I'm not the one coming. Right. Which like the the weekend that I like, I'm, you know, gone the weekend of November 14th, which like really is kind of a prime ah Friendsgiving. And i I think I said in the group, i was like, if you guys want to do it that weekend, and like I'm not going to be offended. That's ours is.
00:35:44
Speaker
Yeah. You know? um So we'll see. But I love Friendsgiving. I do think I'm going to plan. i know this is getting ahead of time, but I think I'm going to get something on the calendar for my birthday and do like a dinner or something i haven't done anything like that in a really long time i don't really like to do it but then like chris insisted because he was like let's just go to dinner and then we like asked the group last night and they're like we want to come and i was like oh okay yeah yeah um that's nice especially because this is 35 i feel like any like five year mark is like kind of a big deal yeah
00:36:24
Speaker
Thank God, like, Chris and I, like, share it. So it's not, like, about me. It's, like, about us. So I'm like, yay. Oh, you don't like it being about you? anymore i'm Not not into it anymore.
00:36:37
Speaker
I'm not typically a birthday girl either. But there are some, like, I feel like once every five years I do want it to be about me. You know? I feel like my birthday really gets lost in the sauce, you know? Yeah.
00:36:50
Speaker
But your holiday birthday, too, like, being... the day before Halloween, like that's a big, and I love it. I mean, yeah I feel like it's a whole weekend thing. That's why I like it so much because I'm with so many people. It like just lumps in together. I'm like casual dinner on my birthday. Then it's Halloween.
00:37:08
Speaker
And then it's Chris's. but It's just like fun to have all that happening. Three days of fun.
00:37:17
Speaker
Are you asking for anything specific for your birthday? Oh, I'm getting a hairdryer. I think. The T3. And I think Chris is buying me hokas, which LOL, but they're so cute. Oh, they're pink.
00:37:34
Speaker
Cute. I know. I'm excited. I just saw some at Nordstrom Rack and I contemplated them. I was like, do I want these? And then I was like, not today, but I do feel like they're old people shoes, but like everyone wears them. So I was like, they're cute.
00:37:49
Speaker
I feel like they're a little bit more of like a Southern thing. I don't see like, like, I feel like there's a, or maybe not. I don't know. feel like I, I feel like I do see a lot of people wear them here, but it's like,
00:38:06
Speaker
I don't know. I'm not a shoe person. Like ah for real. I'm really not. Yeah. You're not. I don't really care about shoes at all, but I was like, those are cute. And I need new pair. I haven't gotten new tennis shoes in like two years. So I was like, give me some shoes.
00:38:22
Speaker
I know you want to buy me them. That's like what you want. You probably want to buy me a bike too. Don't do it. He's like, maybe she'll run with me. yeah Yeah. Maybe she'll bike and run and do a triathlon with me. Don't hold your breath, dude.
00:38:38
Speaker
I don't want to. Oh, wait, I do have another big life update.
Celebrating Achievements and Future Plans
00:38:42
Speaker
I completely forgot about it. And he deserves his flowers. Vinny passed his third final GC license exam.
00:38:50
Speaker
Done. Let's get building. Done. So, and for those of you that don't know, Vinny's been like literally studying for this for over a year. So it's, he passed his last exam and ah we're just so excited to put that behind us.
00:39:07
Speaker
And yeah. That'll be so good. Does he have any plans for what he wants to do with it? Like what's the move? i mean, right now i think he's going to stick to like Starlight and Ashton Woods where he works and like ah he's going he's in a good place there and he loves the team and all of that I think the goal eventually like in the next five to seven years is to go out on his own and like be his own builder um but there's lots of like planning and stuff and like you know that needs to go into that and I think he needs a little bit more experience um
00:39:50
Speaker
Y'all should just start out doing your home. Like do some bookshelves. That's what I told him. i'm like, well, I think I told you this or maybe I, I don't know if i ever sent you the inspo, but we have that random ass slide door closet in yeah. In our living room. That is so useless to us, honestly. And it's just like a weird place to have a sliding door closet, honestly.
00:40:12
Speaker
So we want to remove the doors, remove the trim and basically build out that closet into like a dry bar kind of fun.
00:40:23
Speaker
Um, and it'd be like almost like an entertaining thing that also has storage. It also backs up the wall shares with the washer though. So it would also be easy to put in a sink if we wanted to do like a wet bar, but I don't know if that's like kind of old school.
00:40:39
Speaker
I don't know. Whatever you feel like, I guess. Yeah. I don't know. I have some inspo saved for it, but I told him, I'm like, we need to just start doing projects and documenting them and people will hire you for random jobs. Honestly. Yeah.
00:40:52
Speaker
That's, I mean, like I would 1000% be like, Hey, can you come here and put picture frame molding around my room? Yeah. 100%. So, but yeah, we're very excited. I'm so proud of him. He is like not a school guy. Like he doesn't love school. He doesn't love studying. So,
00:41:10
Speaker
for him to do that and work as hard as he did and pass the test was like, I'm just proud of him for doing it. So that's all three. That's crazy that they make them take three tests. That's crazy.
00:41:22
Speaker
Well, we, he felt really good because we were at the, but we were at a birthday party yesterday and we were talking to some other guys who have their GC license and they were like, there's a couple, in fact, I think most of them are all of them like had to take more than one test, like more,
00:41:38
Speaker
more than once. Like they had to retake a couple of them. And so Vinny was like, oh, I did it on the first try. He was like feeling really proud of himself. Yeah. Yay. As he should. That's amazing.
00:41:49
Speaker
Yeah. So that'd be so good. I'm jealous. I wish I had like a handy man around here. Not like, not like digging on Chris. I'm just saying like, I want a contractor friend. ya Yeah. Hey, will you come over? Like how much would it call? Like at my fingertips would be so nice. Yeah. Yeah.
00:42:08
Speaker
No, for sure. And that's what we've been that's what I've been saying. I'm like, we we need to just like, there are so many friends of ours that need shit done to their home and now you can just help them. h So I'd hire him. Stay tuned.
00:42:23
Speaker
I'll fly him up here.
00:42:27
Speaker
ah But yeah, I feel like those are all my updates. Those are all the big things. Big things. Yeah. Mine too. I know. I am excited for November. We are going to see each other.
00:42:43
Speaker
We got announce we are. I'm going to Candy. She's coming to Tampa, Florida.
Upcoming TV Appearance in Tampa
00:42:50
Speaker
And are actually going to be on TV.
00:42:54
Speaker
thank But for local people only. So sorry. But um we got invited by Maggie Rodriguez, I think, who is the host of like the daytime talk show here in like the local Tampa Bay area.
00:43:08
Speaker
So if you're local to Tampa, stay tuned on November Whatever day. I'll have to. I'll confirm that. I'll put it on our Instagram. Is it like live? Yeah. think Don't that pressure on me. Oh, God. I'm sorry.
00:43:23
Speaker
my God. You're going to be fine. We'll be fine. Yeah. But we're going to be on TV. She's doing a whole segment about mom group chat and like us. And then we are going to be a part of a mom panel that she has every Thursday. yeah.
00:43:41
Speaker
so Yeah, it's very exciting. And then also Whitney's flying here to do that, but we're also going to get to like spend a couple days together. So that'll be so fun. so thrilled. It'll be so fun. and I haven't been down there in a what like in over a year. So excited to come see you and spend time with y'all. And I can't wait. I forget that I'm coming.
00:44:03
Speaker
I know. Well, it was so like quick, you know, it was like i made we got the opportunity. You were like, I'll be there. And then you booked a flight within like five minutes. It was so crazy. It was so, the flight was so cheap. It was less than $200. was like, okay, well, I'm booking it now.
00:44:20
Speaker
Yeah. It's cheapy, cheap. was like, okay. You're like, fine. Done. ah But yeah, we're excited. And anytime I get to be with my best friend is like obviously the best.
00:44:36
Speaker
time. So ah fun. Um, excited. Can't wait. We'll see you then Tampa.
00:44:44
Speaker
Well, that's pretty much it. I mean, we have a lot of exciting stuff coming up for mom group chat, a lot of like holiday cheer coming your way. I'm sure we'll do, i think we should do like a holiday wishlist episode like we did last year. so fun Um, else that something else I don't think you and I have talked about this, but I'm going to say it because I think we're in a... like We did this last year.
00:45:09
Speaker
um For Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, we always like to highlight mom-owned small businesses. So I think I'm going to create a Google form maybe for people to like send in their businesses and a little bit about them.
00:45:26
Speaker
And we can highlight... ah your, if you own a small business um and we always love to highlight those on small business Saturday after Thanksgiving. So um I'll post that on Instagram, like sometime in the first week of November next week.
00:45:42
Speaker
um But yeah, exciting stuff coming. Perfect. Okay. Well, love you. I love you. Have a good week.
00:45:53
Speaker
Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat. New episodes drop every Tuesday. And don't forget, the group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there.
00:46:04
Speaker
All right, gotta to go. My toddler just put something in her mouth.