Latest / Momtalk Maryland / Building With Grit and Grace: Turning Your Ideas Into Reality

Transcript

Building With Grit and Grace: Turning Your Ideas Into Reality · Momtalk Maryland

0:00
SPEAKER_01: Hey friends, and welcome to Mom Talk Maryland.
0:02
SPEAKER_01: I'm your host, Claire Duarte, founder of the Columbia Mom.
0:06
SPEAKER_01: And this is your spot for real conversations, local love, and a whole lot of community.
0:10
SPEAKER_01: Whether you're folding laundry, running errands, or hiding in your car for some peace and quiet, let's dive in.
0:16
SPEAKER_01: Let's do it.
0:17
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
0:17
SPEAKER_01: You ready?
0:18
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we were here.
0:19
SPEAKER_01: Cheers.
0:20
SPEAKER_01: Um well I'm so excited to have you here, Nina, so we can talk about you, your business.
0:27
SPEAKER_01: And you know, I kind of feel like I want to do things a little bit differently today.
0:29
SPEAKER_02: Are you cool with that?
0:30
SPEAKER_02: I'm into it.
0:30
SPEAKER_02: Let's do it.
0:31
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
0:32
SPEAKER_01: Uh I feel like, I don't know, I feel like I'm feeling a little weird.
0:34
SPEAKER_01: Maybe it's because it's like Halloween.
0:36
SPEAKER_01: The spirits are in the air.
0:39
SPEAKER_01: Um, but before we jump into the meat and potatoes, tell us a little bit about yourself.
0:46
SPEAKER_01: Tell us about the business.
0:47
SPEAKER_01: Um, I love an origin story.
0:49
SPEAKER_01: That's how and why I got started, why I love getting to know you, why I love getting to know local businesses.
0:55
SPEAKER_01: So let's start there.
0:56
unknown: Okay.
0:57
SPEAKER_02: Um, I am Nina, Nina Orlando.
1:00
SPEAKER_02: I am um the owner of a construction company.
1:04
SPEAKER_02: My origin story?
1:06
SPEAKER_01: Um started 30 years ago.
1:09
unknown: Right.
1:09
SPEAKER_02: Well, actually, growing up, um, I had to, my dad had like a small like mom pa type um handyman construction business, and my siblings and I always had to help.
1:21
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
1:21
SPEAKER_02: And it was not my thing.
1:22
SPEAKER_02: And I was right.
1:23
SPEAKER_02: I swore I would never get into the construction field, and I went off to college and I went into hospitality management, and somehow I ended up here.
1:31
SPEAKER_02: So um that's kind of where it stemmed from kind of working for my dad, working for him, and kind of seeing the different stigmas in construction and the uh male mentality and the whole male-dominated industry and the just disorganization, you name it.
1:51
SPEAKER_02: I kind of wanted to get my hands on it, so I started small and I started with my dad's company, and I started with having templates made for contracts and not doing things on a handshake anymore, and you know, just kind of so baiting it.
2:05
SPEAKER_02: Right, right.
2:05
SPEAKER_02: And then we kind of got more into like marketing, and then I was on Vistaprint, and I was getting like business cards made for him, and just I realized that I really liked that aspect of it and the organization of it and the sales of it.
2:19
SPEAKER_02: Um, I moved on to another company and worked with them in sales and realized I liked meeting with people.
2:25
SPEAKER_02: I beyond meeting with people, I like pleasing people and kind of doing what they like versus what I feel like is so common in this industry, being told what you can have, you know.
2:35
SPEAKER_02: Oh, you want that?
2:36
SPEAKER_01: How about just this industry women in general, which we'll get to, but let's start here.
2:42
SPEAKER_02: So then I decided um that I wanted to do it on my own.
2:45
SPEAKER_02: I started a company with my ex-husband at the time.
2:49
SPEAKER_02: Um, and then obviously that didn't work out.
2:52
SPEAKER_02: Um and then I went out on my own.
2:54
SPEAKER_02: The marriage, not the business.
2:56
SPEAKER_02: Kind of both.
2:56
SPEAKER_02: Kind of both, but yes, more on that.
2:58
SPEAKER_02: More on that.
2:59
SPEAKER_02: Um, and I've been on my own ever since.
3:02
SPEAKER_02: Obviously, I have a great staff behind me.
3:04
SPEAKER_02: Um, I want to make sure people get credit where it's due.
3:06
SPEAKER_02: But uh being on on my own has been the best outcome for me, and it's it's just been it's been awesome.
3:12
SPEAKER_02: I do a lot of construction.
3:14
SPEAKER_01: I do a lot of construction that sums it up and we'll cut the scene now.
3:19
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
3:20
SPEAKER_02: A lot of construction-related work, but I also get to do stuff like this with you.
3:24
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
3:24
SPEAKER_02: Um, I get to speak at a lot of schools.
3:26
SPEAKER_02: Just because I'm a woman in the industry, um, I get invited to do a lot of classes, uh, just a lot of different things.
3:34
SPEAKER_02: And my goal now isn't just, you know, pleasing clients, which it will always be and doing construction, but also kind of getting the word out there that women can do it too and better.
3:46
SPEAKER_01: If you give us a chance.
3:48
SPEAKER_01: Like it's an end scene.
3:49
SPEAKER_01: What would you say?
3:49
SPEAKER_01: You do a lot of construction and do it better.
3:52
SPEAKER_01: I mean, that pretty much sums it up, right?
3:54
SPEAKER_01: So I love that, and I think that's why obviously I've enjoyed getting to know you and like I've loved our connection, and obviously the more that I've learned about your business too, right?
4:04
SPEAKER_01: Which is again why I'm so excited to have you here.
4:06
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so um, how many years in total have you been in your current business?
4:12
SPEAKER_01: So this is our 11th year.
4:14
SPEAKER_02: Wow.
4:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's pretty cool.
4:16
SPEAKER_01: That's so cool.
4:18
SPEAKER_01: And you guys are um getting ready for uh your build out and um and some other new things coming down the line.
4:26
SPEAKER_02: Yes, we're very excited.
4:28
SPEAKER_02: So we are in the process of changing locations.
4:30
SPEAKER_02: We've been building a new location here in Howard County, very excited.
4:34
SPEAKER_02: Um, and we're kind of doing a whole rebrand.
4:37
SPEAKER_02: So um I wanted to do a little more of a play on again, female in the industry.
4:45
SPEAKER_02: So we are changing our name.
4:47
SPEAKER_01: We are gonna be we don't have to reveal it now, but uh we're very excited.
4:52
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we're very excited too.
4:54
SPEAKER_02: Um, I will reveal.
4:55
SPEAKER_02: We are going to be grit and grace.
4:57
SPEAKER_02: Oh kind of like tried to play it together.
4:59
SPEAKER_02: Yes, so we're very excited about that.
5:01
SPEAKER_02: Um, but yeah, we've got a lot of exciting stuff coming up, we've got a lot of commercial builds that are coming up in Howard County, so we're just all around very positive.
5:10
SPEAKER_02: We're very excited right now with what we've got going on.
5:13
SPEAKER_01: That's a lot of great things to be excited about.
5:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
5:16
SPEAKER_01: Question, this is kind of like sidebar.
5:17
SPEAKER_01: Like, what does it mean to you to have a Howard County like established business?
5:24
SPEAKER_01: Because, like, you know, you could build anywhere.
5:26
SPEAKER_01: I mean, obviously, you are from Howard County.
5:28
SPEAKER_01: I just mean that, like, you know, with the economy and all these things happening, right?
5:32
SPEAKER_01: Like, I'm almost thinking like wide Howard County.
5:35
SPEAKER_02: I just I have to.
5:36
SPEAKER_02: I have a connection here.
5:38
SPEAKER_02: Growing up here, I obviously moved out and then came back.
5:42
SPEAKER_02: It just it's so special for me here.
5:45
SPEAKER_02: Not just that I went to school here and grew up here, but my I have my daughter here and school activities and we just love the atmosphere.
5:52
SPEAKER_02: Like, whether we're at Merriweather District or we're just at a restaurant, we just we love the way the community is.
5:57
SPEAKER_02: You can't beat it.
5:58
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I know.
5:59
SPEAKER_01: It that is literally so spot on, you know.
6:01
SPEAKER_01: Well, I just when I was thinking too for even from the outset of like, you know, it's not easy to like, I mean again, you're in the right industry of like I was gonna say, like finding space and you know, and the cost of materials, which is a whole thing that you you know that world thousand times better than I do, you know what I mean?
6:15
SPEAKER_01: So um, but I mean I think when I I then I go back to like local economy and how great that is that you can and are building out here in Howard County, which I'm like, duh makes sense that way.
6:25
SPEAKER_01: You can obviously stay close to home.
6:26
SPEAKER_01: Say, you know, it's obviously it's better supports your family and things like that.
6:29
SPEAKER_01: So um, so yeah, so that's exciting.
6:32
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean it is it's everything's crazy right now in terms of building, even with the government shutdown.
6:37
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I don't work for the government, but I do work for the government because we have government contracts.
6:41
SPEAKER_01: So I was just gonna ask, yeah.
6:43
SPEAKER_02: So how are you guys managing those?
6:45
SPEAKER_02: It's been fine.
6:46
SPEAKER_02: We're just on a hiatus.
6:47
SPEAKER_02: So um right now we have four different uh three-year-long contracts with the state highway administration, just different district offices that they have that we're doing work in, and we're not working there right now.
6:59
SPEAKER_02: So we'll see how that goes.
7:02
SPEAKER_02: Other than that, I mean it's been fine, knock on wood.
7:04
SPEAKER_01: Right, yeah.
7:05
SPEAKER_01: Well, that's good.
7:06
SPEAKER_01: At least it's hasn't brought you guys like to a full stop or anything like that.
7:10
SPEAKER_01: Um, are other than what you're personally going on with the business, like any cool, upcoming, unique projects on the horizon that you're allowed to share, I guess.
7:21
SPEAKER_02: Yes, I can.
7:22
SPEAKER_02: So we uh I'm trying to think of something that well, we are in the middle of building, um, actually, we're not in the middle, we're at the end of building the Life Med Institute in Rehobeth Beach, which I think is awesome.
7:35
SPEAKER_02: Oh, wow.
7:36
SPEAKER_02: And they are getting ready to have us do another location for them in West Ocean City, so we're very excited about that.
7:43
SPEAKER_02: Wow.
7:43
SPEAKER_01: I didn't realize you built all the way out there.
7:45
SPEAKER_01: That's so cool.
7:46
SPEAKER_01: We did.
7:46
SPEAKER_02: So we're excited about that.
7:48
SPEAKER_02: And then we are in the middle of doing another um build-out for one of our clients.
7:56
SPEAKER_02: I think I brought this up last time I talked to you.
7:58
SPEAKER_02: Have you been to the breakout games yet?
8:00
SPEAKER_02: If not.
8:00
SPEAKER_02: I've heard of it.
8:01
SPEAKER_02: Let me let me support a Howard County business.
8:03
SPEAKER_02: Right, right, yeah, right over here off of my Maga.
8:06
SPEAKER_02: Oh, yeah.
8:08
SPEAKER_02: Yes.
8:08
SPEAKER_02: And they just started, they got a partnership with Hasbro.
8:12
SPEAKER_02: Oh.
8:13
SPEAKER_02: The gaming company.
8:14
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
8:14
SPEAKER_02: So now three of their rooms, one's Monopoly.
8:17
SPEAKER_02: Oh, it's so cute.
8:18
SPEAKER_02: One is Clue, and one is like a license.
8:22
SPEAKER_02: Spot on.
8:23
SPEAKER_02: Right, yeah.
8:23
SPEAKER_02: So we just finished building those.
8:25
SPEAKER_02: So I highly recommend anyone who wants to uh Wait.
8:29
SPEAKER_01: Now, well, you probably was gonna say, I should, I need to find them out.
8:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they're awesome.
8:33
SPEAKER_02: The clue room is like four rooms.
8:35
SPEAKER_02: You get to like oh there's a candlestick.
8:37
SPEAKER_01: I was like, it's perfect time with like the holidays and stuff like that.
8:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
8:40
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
8:41
SPEAKER_01: Snap.
8:42
SPEAKER_01: All right, I'm literally gonna put that on my list.
8:43
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's so awesome.
8:44
SPEAKER_02: I love like the there's just so many different little businesses that I get to learn about too.
8:48
SPEAKER_02: Like I could talk about it all day.
8:50
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
8:50
SPEAKER_02: Um, but we get to just uh like obviously I'm very involved in my own job in the construction, but I get sidetracked sometimes.
8:57
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, tell me a little more about this.
8:59
SPEAKER_02: Oh, what do you do here?
9:00
SPEAKER_02: Like, we have so many jobs.
9:01
SPEAKER_02: Now I'm picking jobs based on what can I learn?
9:04
SPEAKER_02: What someone else's industry can I get into?
9:07
SPEAKER_02: Right?
9:07
SPEAKER_01: I know well we're we're speaking to like the right people.
9:09
SPEAKER_01: Clearly, like I'm like, I that's talk about like sidebar, side tangents.
9:13
SPEAKER_01: That's like my build a job around that of just literally, like I said, literally talking.
9:17
SPEAKER_01: Um, because I'd equally get as nerded out.
9:19
SPEAKER_01: But I think you know, you saying that is shows how much that informs your work and I think what makes um you good at what you do because I think when you can help, because that you know, it's not just casting vision, creating vision, and then bringing it to life, right?
9:35
SPEAKER_01: And I think that's so important with you know the full process of what you do.
9:40
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no, it really is, and it's also cool because most of these business owners are also residents of the county as well.
9:46
SPEAKER_02: Like Adam, him and his wife and their kids are all in Howard County.
9:50
SPEAKER_02: It just it's really neat to kind of be able to work with someone, then get to know them, and it's just so many businesses supporting other businesses.
9:58
SPEAKER_02: Like while we're talking about his project, we're also meeting for lunch at a restaurant and supporting that business.
10:05
SPEAKER_02: And it's it's cool to bring all the locals together.
10:07
SPEAKER_01: I couldn't agree.
10:09
SPEAKER_01: Um, and Adam is the owner of Play Street Museum here in Columbia, which is gorgeous, by the way.
10:14
SPEAKER_01: And it's that shopping center is just it's great.
10:17
SPEAKER_01: Like I know they've gotten some great tenants in there now, which is awesome.
10:21
SPEAKER_01: Um okay, and I don't think I've asked you this before.
10:24
SPEAKER_01: And I know it's like probably like too hard to pick favorites, but what is the do you have a favorite project that you've done?
10:33
unknown: Oh my god.
10:35
SPEAKER_01: Um or top two, top three.
10:38
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
10:38
SPEAKER_01: I'm just kind of curious what it was because you've done so many different types of things.
10:44
SPEAKER_02: We have.
10:45
SPEAKER_02: We have done a lot.
10:47
SPEAKER_02: Um I'll give you some top ones.
10:50
SPEAKER_02: There we go.
10:51
SPEAKER_02: I love so we built all the Wood Forest banks here in Maryland.
10:55
SPEAKER_02: They are the bank um inside of Walmart's.
10:59
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
11:01
SPEAKER_02: That one was cool for me because it went from like a white wall like this because we had to build a temporary wall because we were working overnight.
11:08
SPEAKER_02: Um, and then we took the wall down, you know, 21 days later, and there was a bank behind it.
11:13
SPEAKER_02: But I like that one because I got to learn about again, I got to learn about someone else's industry.
11:18
SPEAKER_02: Like installing the safe, how we need to connect it to the concrete floor, how we need to do the electric to it, how we there was just so much learning in that one.
11:27
SPEAKER_02: Right, which is obviously super important because it's about money and holding money and everything.
11:31
SPEAKER_02: So I loved that one.
11:34
SPEAKER_01: That's very unique and not like not what I would have expected you to say, but I can like I wouldn't know where to start.
11:43
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
11:44
SPEAKER_01: And I'm guessing, like, you know, whoever you have your contract with is also like providing some of the like, yeah, like you know, these are the rules and regulations with some of the stuff.
11:52
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so it's cool with franchises like that.
11:54
SPEAKER_02: Right.
11:55
SPEAKER_02: Because they kind of give you a franchise binder and they're like, these are the things you need to have.
11:59
SPEAKER_02: You go do all the building portion, but make sure you have AB and the same.
12:02
SPEAKER_01: Make sure it like has to hit these.
12:04
SPEAKER_01: Right, right, right.
12:04
SPEAKER_01: That makes sense.
12:05
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
12:05
SPEAKER_02: So I would say that one.
12:07
SPEAKER_02: Um, I mean, obviously, so I will tell you a little background story.
12:14
SPEAKER_02: So during COVID, which obviously hit so many businesses, um, we had a bunch of contracts signed up.
12:21
SPEAKER_02: And I had just put all of my personal savings into the building that I just bought that I'm currently in, commercial building.
12:29
SPEAKER_02: And a week later the state shut down.
12:33
SPEAKER_02: So I'm like viscerally triggered for you.
12:37
SPEAKER_02: So during the next two weeks total, every contract that I had didn't cancel, but they indefinitely postponed, which was a polite way of saying they canceled.
12:47
SPEAKER_02: Um, and I was kind of sitting there and I'm like, okay, I just put all my personal money into this building.
12:53
SPEAKER_02: I don't have any contracts.
12:54
SPEAKER_02: Where is this going?
12:56
SPEAKER_02: And then one of my clients, one of my residential clients, was like, Hey, I have this military job out in Hawaii, and I need to hit a woman-owned percentage.
13:09
SPEAKER_02: Um, do you want to take your staff out to Hawaii and build 30 houses on the beach for on a military base?
13:17
SPEAKER_02: And I said, Is this real?
13:20
SPEAKER_02: And he was like, Yeah.
13:21
SPEAKER_01: Like I said, this sounds like just someone just gave you and like an all like here's your password, here's your new ID, here's your new life.
13:27
SPEAKER_01: Like, sign me up.
13:29
SPEAKER_01: So I did, and uh we spent Oh god, I had no idea.
13:33
SPEAKER_02: That's crazy.
13:34
SPEAKER_02: So I ended up going back and forth and I had staff there all the time.
13:38
SPEAKER_02: I have a child and other things here.
13:40
SPEAKER_02: But um, you know, so you almost completely went.
13:43
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, yeah.
13:44
SPEAKER_02: So we spent two and a half, almost three years out there in Oahu, and Zoe and I, and during COVID, McDonough was uh doing um at-home learning as well.
13:54
SPEAKER_02: So we were in Hawaii every month.
13:56
SPEAKER_02: Just not, I mean, not I might want to use the word chillin'.
13:59
SPEAKER_02: I was working.
14:00
SPEAKER_02: You were working, but you still don't have a project.
14:04
SPEAKER_01: You led with the bank, not discount.
14:07
SPEAKER_02: I always forget.
14:08
SPEAKER_02: I always forget.
14:08
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, oh yeah, we did do a whole bunch of houses out there.
14:11
SPEAKER_02: So that was cool, and it was also cool because it was commercial government, but it was also residential.
14:17
SPEAKER_02: Um it was awesome.
14:19
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it was that was definitely a dream job.
14:22
SPEAKER_02: And then I would say, what's gonna be my third?
14:28
SPEAKER_02: I've done so many.
14:29
SPEAKER_02: I've done a bear trapping facility for the Department of Nature.
14:32
SPEAKER_02: I have done Where?
14:34
SPEAKER_02: Uh up in Deep Creek.
14:36
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
14:36
SPEAKER_02: We've done here.
14:37
SPEAKER_02: There's a fish hatchery here that we've done.
14:41
SPEAKER_02: Um, which that was cool.
14:42
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if you know this or not, but did you know that Maryland stocks all the rivers and lakes with fish every year?
14:48
SPEAKER_02: And they have fish hatcheries all over.
14:51
SPEAKER_01: No, but I think that makes sense because like I think I've heard of that cons.
14:55
SPEAKER_01: I mean, you've heard of like farms or whatever, um and you know, wildcaught versus farm, whatever, but like I've heard of like into them releasing them into you know, because it helps the ecosystem.
15:06
SPEAKER_02: I have no idea.
15:06
SPEAKER_02: We did a project for them, we made everything waterproof.
15:08
SPEAKER_02: That was our project, uh, the receptacles, the lights, everything in the building.
15:12
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, just a whole bunch of little baby fish swimming around.
15:14
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, what are these for?
15:15
SPEAKER_02: They're like, we s we stock the waters every year.
15:17
SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, you what?
15:20
SPEAKER_01: And so that's how I learned how everyone's gonna be.
15:22
SPEAKER_01: I mean fishing, like it makes sense, right?
15:24
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
15:25
SPEAKER_01: You gotta feed the the ecosystem, support the ecosystem since we're probably killing it.
15:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
15:30
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, you know, we've done all like we did uh this past year we did the archery center.
15:34
SPEAKER_02: I didn't even know that the Department of Natural Resources had an archery center.
15:38
SPEAKER_02: Anne County.
15:39
SPEAKER_02: Uh no, in Anorundal County.
15:41
SPEAKER_02: Anarundal.
15:42
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
15:43
SPEAKER_02: Wild.
15:44
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
15:44
SPEAKER_02: So we've done all sorts of cool stuff.
15:47
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, to pick a favorite, I can't.
15:49
SPEAKER_02: Done a lot of cool top ones.
15:51
SPEAKER_02: Um, and then I would say my favorite type of project is having awesome clients.
15:57
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I have so many clients that are now friends who just like clicked while doing the work.
16:02
SPEAKER_02: They kind of make all the difference.
16:05
SPEAKER_02: It's awesome.
16:06
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
16:07
SPEAKER_01: Um, okay, so now that we talked about like coolest project, let's shift into uh I'm just kind of curious.
16:13
SPEAKER_01: And I'm I'm just doing things a little bit differently today.
16:15
SPEAKER_01: Like, I usually like we come in and we talk and like, you know, I just I'm feeling like just wanted to jump all over the place.
16:21
SPEAKER_01: We're both mums, and I think we're both just like, you know what?
16:24
SPEAKER_01: Let's just go for it, right?
16:25
SPEAKER_01: Okay, residential projects.
16:27
SPEAKER_01: What's the I mean, I got we got to see one of them, or I had to see one of them recently, which was beautiful.
16:32
SPEAKER_01: Um, and it's funny how like I mean, you know, sometimes small, it well, I say small, it's not small, but like from the naked eye, like, oh, you just moved, like blah, blah, blah, but like, from even you explain, like, I know like that was like a year and a half battle, right?
16:46
SPEAKER_01: And then then and then all the actual work, right?
16:48
SPEAKER_01: But um, what is the most unique thing that you've gotten to do on a residential project?
16:58
SPEAKER_02: Unique.
17:01
SPEAKER_02: I would say I mean, just going, just like that specific client.
17:10
SPEAKER_02: Um, just going to war for our clients and getting them, you know, with the county.
17:15
SPEAKER_02: Not a war.
17:16
SPEAKER_02: Anyone watching this from the permit office?
17:18
SPEAKER_02: I love you guys.
17:18
SPEAKER_02: Just yet.
17:19
SPEAKER_02: Um but just being able to take something where they've been told no initially and getting that variance and getting them that yes, that's pretty unique to our company.
17:30
SPEAKER_02: I feel like a lot of companies don't do that.
17:32
SPEAKER_02: Um, in terms of builds themselves, every project is unique.
17:37
SPEAKER_02: Everyone wants something special catered to that.
17:39
SPEAKER_01: It's true, it's true.
17:40
SPEAKER_02: We've had clients that have done, you know, elevators, which I think are a little unique to have in a residential home.
17:46
SPEAKER_02: Especially in this area, yeah.
17:48
SPEAKER_01: Like you see that like the beaches or something like that, but yeah.
17:51
SPEAKER_01: Or I don't know, does somebody get like a a f a shark tank installed?
17:56
SPEAKER_01: Not shark tank, but like something.
17:58
SPEAKER_01: That kind of unique.
17:59
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
17:59
SPEAKER_02: I have done two projects here in Howard County that are probably not appropriate for this podcast kind of unique.
18:07
SPEAKER_02: The master bedroom.
18:09
SPEAKER_02: That was just That'll be the after hours podcast.
18:14
SPEAKER_02: And I was like, this is amazing.
18:17
SPEAKER_02: But we have we have definitely done some master bedroom enhancements.
18:21
SPEAKER_01: And go to Nina's website for the before and afters.
18:24
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so we've done that.
18:25
SPEAKER_02: I will definitely call that unique.
18:26
SPEAKER_02: Um that's hysterical.
18:28
SPEAKER_02: We've done some built-in, oh, built-in bubble walls are pretty unique.
18:32
SPEAKER_02: What's that?
18:32
SPEAKER_02: It's basically like the bubble, or like you said, fish tank, but in between the walls, so you can see it on other either side.
18:38
SPEAKER_01: Oh, okay, okay.
18:40
SPEAKER_02: We've done some porches, and I feel like everyone has a screen porch, everyone has a deck, but a lot of our clients have been into like the rounded railings.
18:47
SPEAKER_02: Uh-huh.
18:48
SPEAKER_02: So it's a little unique for residential.
18:50
SPEAKER_01: Um we saw the coolest thing.
18:52
SPEAKER_01: We went to um our friends.
18:55
SPEAKER_01: Um, they just recently um bumped out what was their deck, and they essentially like screened it in, but it um so the flooring is um tracks, I guess.
19:10
SPEAKER_01: Um and it's I'm trying to remember because it was like I was only I was there like a month ago.
19:16
SPEAKER_01: Um and yes, it's screened, but then it's like it's almost like plastic shielding.
19:23
SPEAKER_01: Um it looks like a window and easy freeze windows.
19:26
SPEAKER_01: They're plexiglass.
19:27
SPEAKER_02: And you can take them all the way out or enclose it in the winter.
19:30
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
19:31
SPEAKER_01: So it's it's not um air conditioned, um, but she said the pollen is really bad over there.
19:37
SPEAKER_01: So she was asking their neighbors who have just like a regular screened in.
19:40
SPEAKER_01: She's like, they never use it because the pollen is so bad and it just will and it will get on everything.
19:45
SPEAKER_01: Um so they have a fan in there, they have um a little fireplace so that they can like still um use it, you know.
19:53
SPEAKER_01: Obviously, it's not gonna be like it'll be warm enough, and then it's probably still, you know, I don't know what it feels like during the summer, but they could take that down potentially and put the and use the fan.
20:03
SPEAKER_01: But I was like, that was so cool.
20:04
SPEAKER_01: I didn't know that that was even like a concept kind of thing.
20:07
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, those are super popular.
20:08
SPEAKER_02: We've done a lot of those out in Marriott's V.
20:11
SPEAKER_02: The Easy Breath windows are so nice because a lot of people want to have to be able to have like a three and four seasons room, like use it year-round, but they can't necessarily whether it's not in their budget or I mean doing a full-on edition is a f is a full-on edition.
20:26
SPEAKER_01: Because that's what it is, like really at that point, which is excellent for them, you know.
20:30
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
20:30
SPEAKER_02: But those windows make it so and this comes into play with the county.
20:34
SPEAKER_02: So if you're building an actual addition, there are codes you need to follow.
20:38
SPEAKER_02: Like you must insulate under the floor, you have to have a base, you have to make sure that your existing HVAC unit can draw air and support that square footage, if not upgrade it or add it to the room.
20:50
SPEAKER_02: So all these things, if it's a legitimate addition to the county, but if you're calling it a screen porch and putting those plexiglass windows on it, you don't have to follow all those codes.
21:01
SPEAKER_02: Not that it's any more janky of a project, it's still a beautiful property.
21:05
SPEAKER_01: Like literally, I walked in and I was asking him okay, I was like, it looked literally just like a room.
21:11
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
21:11
SPEAKER_01: And because they, and that's what I think what was nice about that design is like it um because they I guess still has a frame, and so it looks like a window as opposed to just a big screen.
21:19
SPEAKER_01: Do you know what I mean?
21:20
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
21:21
SPEAKER_01: Um, and I was like, that's genius.
21:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's awesome.
21:24
SPEAKER_02: And then in the summer you can take them completely out.
21:26
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, they just fold down into there's four panels, and one goes into the next, into the next, and then this little thing, and you go put in your closet because it's nice out, and then when the fall comes around, you just put them back up.
21:36
SPEAKER_02: Right, yeah.
21:37
SPEAKER_02: I was like, that is so cool.
21:39
SPEAKER_01: Um yeah, I didn't even like know that was a thing.
21:42
SPEAKER_01: I'll have to like tell my parents that they need to do that or something.
21:45
SPEAKER_02: No, that's awesome.
21:45
SPEAKER_02: We've uh we I mean we've done unique projects, and I it's funny, like it's probably very unique to you and people listening, and I'm like so used to it.
21:54
SPEAKER_02: We've done like pickleball courts and basements, gymnastic studios for children, especially like out in the Maple Lawn area.
22:02
SPEAKER_01: We've done saunas.
22:04
SPEAKER_01: Sauna.
22:04
SPEAKER_01: I feel like saunas, yeah.
22:05
SPEAKER_02: Like I think my neighbor put in a sauna.
22:08
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
22:09
SPEAKER_02: Um everyone wants like the gym floor matting, you know, and for their gym equipment.
22:14
SPEAKER_02: We've done some really cool basement movie theaters, and I don't just mean like getting the recliner chairs.
22:20
SPEAKER_02: We've done like elevating the floor so that each row doesn't see each other's head.
22:26
SPEAKER_02: We've done the recessed uh rope lighting in the ceiling and putting the you know, the uh projector on a remote that stays up in the ceiling, you can't see it, and then when it's movie time, you push the button, it comes down.
22:37
SPEAKER_02: That's done some pretty cool like theaters, popcorn machines built into the wall.
22:42
SPEAKER_01: Oh my god, have you seen okay?
22:44
SPEAKER_01: Only because you said this, and it literally I should have shared it with you.
22:47
SPEAKER_01: I want to see if I can find it.
22:49
SPEAKER_01: Um there's a house up in Timonium that the the hook was um on the on the reel was um this house has a soccer field in it or in the basement.
23:00
SPEAKER_01: And um I w I hope I saved it.
23:02
SPEAKER_01: I want to see if I can find it.
23:04
SPEAKER_01: Um because oh no, of course it's not gonna come up.
23:07
SPEAKER_01: I'll have to find it later, but and it wasn't like a full, you know, thing, but it was definitely like turf, like in like like like a gym with like a small one.
23:15
SPEAKER_01: I was like, that is so cool.
23:16
SPEAKER_01: I would have never thought about something like that.
23:19
SPEAKER_02: Neither would I.
23:20
SPEAKER_02: I and it's funny because I've done a lot of projects and I've shared them later with my daughter who is nine, and then she's just like, well, why didn't you do that for me?
23:26
SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, you know.
23:29
SPEAKER_02: Seriously, I know they love their children more.
23:35
SPEAKER_01: That's honestly the right answer.
23:37
SPEAKER_01: Wait, um, that's hysterical.
23:40
SPEAKER_01: Um I know.
23:41
SPEAKER_01: Well, and I've always like, I think those gyms are like really cool.
23:44
SPEAKER_01: And I think it's hard being a parent to you and wanting to do certain stuff because like it's I mean, maybe it's easier for you to kind of flip things.
23:51
SPEAKER_01: Um, even like just like painting rooms, that's one thing.
23:53
SPEAKER_01: But like, you know, I think about oh, like you know, we could do these kinds of things, but like, you know, then they're gonna phase out of it and then but I mean some of that stuff that's like action-based, like they're gonna use for a while.
24:03
SPEAKER_01: So I think like that that kind of stuff seems really cool to me while they're still young.
24:07
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
24:08
SPEAKER_02: No, yeah.
24:09
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, definitely.
24:10
SPEAKER_02: There's so many cool things.
24:12
SPEAKER_02: We have a lot of people who want to like paint the cha the chalkboard.
24:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, they do the chalkboard in the kitchen for their kids.
24:18
SPEAKER_02: There's we've actually done a lot of projects based around children, which I think is awesome.
24:23
SPEAKER_01: That is really cool.
24:25
SPEAKER_01: Um what are any any I'm just curious to know any like cool you mentioned um like gymnastics ones.
24:32
SPEAKER_01: You you said pickleball cords?
24:34
SPEAKER_01: I think that was more for the adults, but yeah.
24:36
SPEAKER_02: She said I I mean yes.
24:39
SPEAKER_02: We've done, it's funny, we've done actually quite a few uh Montessori-based projects where we've had uh clients who've won us.
24:48
SPEAKER_02: I guess one of the concepts from Maria Montessori is to have everything at the child's eye level and their height, and so that they can become self-sufficient.
24:57
SPEAKER_02: So we've done a lot of miniature toilets, miniature vanities, like kind of at that toddler's height, so they can do that.
25:05
SPEAKER_02: I thought that was really cool.
25:06
SPEAKER_02: Um, a lot of like uh lower children's bedrooms and just having basically everything at their height based on this Montessori concept.
25:15
SPEAKER_02: So that's neat.
25:16
SPEAKER_02: What else have we done for kids?
25:18
SPEAKER_01: Well, I feel like that's really cool, and I I would have no doubt that projects like that keep informing other things that you do.
25:26
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
25:27
SPEAKER_01: Like obviously, you know, I don't know what order that was with like Play Street, but you know, Play Street's still like a franchise.
25:32
SPEAKER_01: There's still rules and these are gonna follow specifically for those places, you know what I mean?
25:37
SPEAKER_01: But um, like like the bank, for instance, like, you know, if you were to, I don't know, do something like that again, you know?
25:42
SPEAKER_02: Oh yeah, no, everything I can retain from these jobs definitely plays into other jobs.
25:47
SPEAKER_02: And it's cool too when clients are asking my opinion or what I know from experience.
25:51
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, well, I've had another mom who's done something similar, like uh things I feel like I've been repeating all of 2025 um in-law suites have been all the rage.
26:00
SPEAKER_02: Like, dude, we're talking about it.
26:03
SPEAKER_01: We're talking about it because like like moving.
26:06
SPEAKER_01: Like, you know what I mean?
26:08
SPEAKER_01: Well, not not right now, but like, you know, what's also like you know, it's not just that, but like the cost of like how am I gonna take care of you?
26:15
SPEAKER_01: You know, it's like it's gonna end up being cheaper if I probably just build out space at home.
26:19
SPEAKER_02: Says everybody.
26:20
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I I think residentially, besides like groups, which are always very popular with us, like that's our next biggest project right now of this year.
26:29
SPEAKER_02: I mean, if we've done an every type of in-law suite, we've had the mom's here every day watching the littles, so build an addition onto my house.
26:38
SPEAKER_02: We've had, well, mom's gonna be here, but can she have her own entrance?
26:41
SPEAKER_02: And we've had mom's gonna be here, separate accessory building in the yard, please.
26:46
SPEAKER_01: So we've had like all types of Right, right, right, right.
26:49
SPEAKER_01: I know that's what we feel.
26:49
SPEAKER_01: Like, yeah, it's like in my brain, I'm like, we feel like we have the basement space, but like we would need separate entrance.
26:54
SPEAKER_02: We would need separate, like otherwise we will all and that's what we've been doing, and we've had, and it's it's been awesome, and especially meeting, because I then I get to meet, you know, with the client, but then I'm also having meetings with the person living in the space.
27:07
SPEAKER_02: We're doing one right now in Columbia, and it's gonna be like a shared in-law space because they both have in-laws, and so four in-laws, yeah.
27:15
SPEAKER_02: And it's just and and this one is actually cool because it's a front of the house edition.
27:20
SPEAKER_02: So we're actually building out the front door and everything, and that's where because they want to have single floor living, they don't wanna we're keeping ADA and walking and everything, bad hips in mind.
27:29
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, um, so yeah, so we're kind of well, my mom this, well, my dad that, and it's really cool, but every everybody's doing it.
27:37
SPEAKER_02: I have to let you know, everyone is doing it.
27:39
SPEAKER_01: I feel like that's the thing because like, you know, when we were growing up, um, uh, I mean, well, obviously my parents, my grandparents were independent, but like my they're my grandparents are all now deceased, but um, you know, they were you know, they eventually made it into assisted living, and um two of them were, you know, needed to be there for like, you know, dementia support, so they had to be in those facilities.
28:03
SPEAKER_01: Um, but you know, I feel like we're all you know, we're all shifting, we're all changing.
28:07
SPEAKER_01: And and there's I know there's a lot of cultural factors that impact, you know, all of those pieces too.
28:11
SPEAKER_01: But anyway, that's good to know because clearly that's what we're all like probably like economically feeling, and just there's a lot of decision making that goes in with that.
28:19
SPEAKER_01: But I do.
28:19
SPEAKER_02: And I think everyone, like, we're in a world where mom and dad are working, you know what I mean?
28:24
SPEAKER_02: Right.
28:24
SPEAKER_02: It like I think it's not just like financially, but like if you think about the kids and everything else, like supporting the family system.
28:31
SPEAKER_01: Right, exactly.
28:33
SPEAKER_01: So that is definitely all the rage right now.
28:35
SPEAKER_02: Okay, and getting the permitting for that is all the rage as well.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: Well, because I was gonna say I feel like that can be complicated to do, especially like not to name names, but just you know, there's a lot of HOAs that restrict or I'm assuming that was restrict um additions or things like that.
28:53
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
28:54
SPEAKER_02: It's funny.
28:54
SPEAKER_02: So like this one that we're doing is in Columbia near the mall, near like like right near the mall.
29:02
SPEAKER_02: And so I didn't have any HOA issues.
29:04
SPEAKER_02: I needed to um I do all of that for my clients.
29:08
SPEAKER_02: I'm I promote a turnkey, I do the turnkey.
29:10
SPEAKER_02: So I'm doing all the HOA applications, I'm doing everything.
29:13
SPEAKER_02: There's nothing I had to do for that one, just permitting.
29:15
SPEAKER_02: But we're doing another one um over in the Wild Lake area, and not only is it like the Columbia Association HOA, but it's like the Wild Lake HOA.
29:25
SPEAKER_02: There's just like three applications I have to do in addition.
29:28
SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, huh, okay.
29:30
SPEAKER_02: And then you're getting neighbor's signatures and you're doing the whole thing.
29:33
SPEAKER_02: Are you doing all of that?
29:34
SPEAKER_02: I do all of it.
29:35
SPEAKER_02: I know I have so many clients that are so busy.
29:38
SPEAKER_02: Like, think about you and how busy you are.
29:40
SPEAKER_02: I I just imagine everyone is just as busy as I am, and the last thing that you want to do is to be figuring out what you need to fill out.
29:47
SPEAKER_02: Not that any of my clients are ignorant, but like it's not their specialty.
29:50
SPEAKER_02: I wouldn't tell them to how to do their job.
29:52
SPEAKER_02: So I I like to just take care of everything start to finish.
29:55
SPEAKER_02: So I'm like, pick out everything you like, sign this contract, I will take care of the rest.
30:00
SPEAKER_02: So I do everything so that it's just a very stress-free um process.
30:07
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and you know what when you say that, that is a godsend because um we've had the you know, for very minor things that we've done with our house, just because, you know, dealing with you know HOA and things like that, just the idea of having to get my neighbor's signature gives me anxiety.
30:20
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
30:21
SPEAKER_01: Not because I'm afraid of people, but because it's a lot.
30:24
SPEAKER_01: You know, it's a lot.
30:25
SPEAKER_02: You're like, oh and I also imagine, like, you know, some of these, like an in-law suite, that's a huge endeavor, okay?
30:31
SPEAKER_02: Not just financially, but just in general, it's gonna disrupt your life.
30:34
SPEAKER_02: Like, I want as least amount of disruptions as possible.
30:37
SPEAKER_02: I don't want you to have to take off work to try and find a time to find a piece of the deck in color to ask your HOA if it's okay, drop it off if they're off.
30:45
SPEAKER_02: Like, I can do all that.
30:46
SPEAKER_02: You can just do your job, and then I'll let you know that we passed and we're good to go.
30:50
SPEAKER_01: That's the anxiety that I of a product that I'm not even doing, just like, wow, yes, I felt that.
30:57
SPEAKER_01: Felt that.
30:58
SPEAKER_01: Um, okay, so you're you're a mom with a nine-year-old.
31:03
SPEAKER_01: I feel like, you know, there's so many challenges that you experience in this industry and growing this business.
31:09
SPEAKER_01: How what is it like being, you know, again, like a single mom, juggling your kid and also needing to like be in all the places?
31:17
SPEAKER_02: It is a lot.
31:19
SPEAKER_02: Um the good thing about me is that I don't require a lot of sleep.
31:27
SPEAKER_02: I told you that.
31:27
SPEAKER_02: I told you before I got here I didn't have time to put makeup on, so you probably sounded as great.
31:32
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you know?
31:33
SPEAKER_02: Um, it is definitely a lot.
31:36
SPEAKER_02: Uh I wouldn't change anything for the world, but it is a lot to juggle.
31:40
SPEAKER_02: I am up pretty early in the morning.
31:43
SPEAKER_02: I would say my normal day starts at between 5:30 and 6.
31:48
SPEAKER_02: Um, I am getting Zoe ready for school, doing the whole mom thing in the morning.
31:54
SPEAKER_02: But at the same time, fielding all the phone calls because around the same time my child needs to get ready for school, my employees need to get ready for work.
32:01
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
32:02
SPEAKER_02: So they are all at the office, getting bands loaded up, getting ready to go out.
32:06
SPEAKER_02: Um, so kind of juggling that.
32:08
SPEAKER_02: And then we've had our own kinks that Zoe and I've worked out where she's like, Are you gonna pay attention to me at the breakfast table?
32:13
SPEAKER_02: And so now I'm like, Okay, phone on silent while we're gonna go.
32:18
SPEAKER_02: Because I do want to be engaging with her.
32:19
SPEAKER_02: I know, I know.
32:20
SPEAKER_02: Um she goes off to school, I get to get some work done.
32:23
SPEAKER_02: I'm all over the place.
32:25
SPEAKER_02: I mean, as you heard, we're in Rehoboth, we're here, we're there, we're everywhere.
32:28
SPEAKER_01: Um How do you manage all of your different job sites while also needing to like again, I kind of feel like still gotta be there for your kit.
32:39
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I'm I'm even just thinking with my own activities, like, you know, I mean, obviously I'm all over the place with my job too, but I think being on a needing to be on job sites is very different.
32:47
SPEAKER_02: It is, it is, and it is a lot of uh give and take and balance, and it's taken us a while to get to the point that we are now.
32:55
SPEAKER_02: Um, thankfully, the school she goes to, she also she's in the equestrian program, so she just rides ponies.
33:01
SPEAKER_02: Um, so she is there a lot longer than your average school day.
33:05
SPEAKER_02: Because she's also she has her own pony, so she's taking care of it, she's washing it, bathing it.
33:10
SPEAKER_02: So that kind of keeps her occupied um and keeps her at the school longer than your normal 315 you know dismissal time.
33:19
SPEAKER_02: I was gonna say that's a game changer, too.
33:21
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
33:21
SPEAKER_02: And then where there's a lot of benefits that people remember being an entrepreneur, like you get to write your own schedule.
33:27
SPEAKER_02: So yes, am I gonna be at the Halloween parade this Friday at the school?
33:30
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely, because I write my own schedule.
33:32
SPEAKER_02: Right.
33:32
SPEAKER_02: But am I missing a lot of other normal things, like maybe shaving in the shower, self-care?
33:38
SPEAKER_02: Right.
33:39
SPEAKER_02: Right.
33:40
SPEAKER_02: So it's like it's definitely there's a lot of pros, which I'm sure you know, and a lot of cons.
33:44
SPEAKER_02: Um, she is great though.
33:46
SPEAKER_02: I don't bring her on any dangerous job sites, I don't bring her on sales meetings, nothing unprofessional, but she's definitely mama's little helper.
33:53
SPEAKER_02: She'll let you know how it is, she'll put her heart.
33:56
SPEAKER_01: I wonder where she gets them from.
33:58
SPEAKER_02: She's very stubborn, she's very, very much a uh apple from the tree.
34:03
SPEAKER_02: So but she's been awesome.
34:05
SPEAKER_02: And it's cool.
34:05
SPEAKER_02: I get to come in and talk to her classroom, bring tools, bring bulldozers.
34:10
SPEAKER_02: Bulldozers, kind of let them touch all the uh the equipment, truck, like those kind of things.
34:15
SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh.
34:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
34:16
SPEAKER_02: So she loves that kind of aspect to it.
34:18
SPEAKER_01: Well, and I think that's so awesome to be not only a like a mom entrepreneur, um, I mean, because I can relate to that in this, I mean, I'm like in the very early stages of my business too.
34:28
SPEAKER_01: Of like, I didn't set out thinking I'm gonna be a business owner.
34:33
SPEAKER_01: Like, nowhere did that ever like I don't have like a history of that in my lineage at all, you know what I mean?
34:38
SPEAKER_01: It's kind of like one of those things that just sort of happened, right?
34:40
SPEAKER_01: And but I think that is really cool for our daughters to see us paving the way and you specifically in your industry, in a male-dominated industry, right?
34:51
SPEAKER_01: And as a single mom, like see not only you doing it, but crushing it and doing it so well.
34:57
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
34:58
SPEAKER_01: And and I love going back to that name, like you know, grit and grace.
35:01
SPEAKER_01: Like, I just think that like is such like a beautiful marriage of like those concepts.
35:06
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it is.
35:07
SPEAKER_02: It's and it's been like it's been such a journey.
35:10
SPEAKER_02: It's so funny because everyone's like, wow, 11 years, that's amazing.
35:13
SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, yeah, and I kind of still feel like sometimes when I'm doing things, I still feel like I'm at day one.
35:18
SPEAKER_02: Like, yeah, there are so many accolades I've received, like I've been in um Baltimore style, I've been the cover of their magazine, I've been in uh Baltimore Business Journal, Forbes, like there's so many accolades and so many amazing things that I've received, and I'm still kind of like I told you, yeah, the one emptying the trailer into the dumpster or moving it out of the way.
35:37
SPEAKER_02: You know, and there's still very humbling things that happen that I think people forget as a business owner, and especially forget as a woman in a male-dominated industry.
35:46
SPEAKER_02: I'm still doing all those things, hopefully a little more gracefully, but uh they're still happening, you know.
35:53
SPEAKER_02: There's just it just all over the place.
35:56
SPEAKER_02: Um, Zoe goes to bed at night, we do bedtime routine, we do homework, we do the whole nine.
36:00
SPEAKER_02: I'm up all night doing office work because during the day I'm running around.
36:03
SPEAKER_01: Oh, so kind of nighttime is my catch up, yeah.
36:06
SPEAKER_02: My office time.
36:07
SPEAKER_02: Um it just it's not moving.
36:10
SPEAKER_02: Uh I'm not moving, it's never ending moving and nonstop.
36:14
SPEAKER_02: Even when I go out of town on vacation, I'm a travel girl.
36:17
SPEAKER_02: I love me some travel.
36:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
36:18
SPEAKER_02: Um, I'm still working by phone, by laptop all the time.
36:21
SPEAKER_02: It just, it's definitely not, I always tell people this, it's not a career, it's a lifestyle.
36:26
SPEAKER_02: I mean, there's no getting out of it, there's no really turning your phone off.
36:30
SPEAKER_02: It's just a temporary pause.
36:32
SPEAKER_01: It's hard, and that's a conversation for another day too.
36:35
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I've again running like a social media-based business, like I am obviously the worst.
36:39
SPEAKER_01: And then being like a business owner, right?
36:41
SPEAKER_01: It's like, you know, it's so hard to to unplug um and to balance when there are so many demands on you.
36:49
SPEAKER_01: Um, but you know, you're right.
36:50
SPEAKER_01: It is sort of like a lifestyle, and you know, practicing distancing at when we can.
36:55
SPEAKER_01: I mean, even my daughter said she's like at gymnastics, like you're on your phone the whole time.
36:58
SPEAKER_01: And I was like, it's not just like I'm sitting there scrolling, like I'm in my brain, I'm like, but that that's a fair point of like that's what she sees, which is true.
37:06
SPEAKER_01: That's not inaccurate, where I'm like, I know that I'm responding to emails, I'm editing content, I'm like planning my calendar, like you know, and both are legitimate, both are fair.
37:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but it was the reminder of like, I don't want my kid to feel like that all the time, you know what I mean?
37:21
SPEAKER_01: So, but it's that's just that's just mom life.
37:23
SPEAKER_02: It is.
37:23
SPEAKER_02: And it's it's funny because she'll try and like she'll try and check me, like spot check me.
37:27
SPEAKER_02: Because we always she has an iPad, but she has a time restraint on it, she can only have 30 minutes on it, and she's like, show me your hour average on your iPhone.
37:36
SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, Well, we're not gonna do that.
37:38
SPEAKER_01: Listen.
37:40
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I can't I just can't do not need my kids to know that.
37:43
SPEAKER_01: Oh god.
37:44
SPEAKER_02: She's like, what was your average for the week?
37:45
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, well, this is different for mommy because remember, mommy's on No, no, no, but just show me.
37:50
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, I'm not showing you.
37:52
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I'm not ready for that.
37:53
SPEAKER_01: I am so I'm gonna be cooked.
37:55
SPEAKER_01: I'm going to be cooked.
37:56
SPEAKER_01: I know.
37:57
SPEAKER_01: Oh my god.
37:58
SPEAKER_01: Definitely.
37:59
SPEAKER_02: But you're right.
38:00
SPEAKER_02: It's awesome.
38:00
SPEAKER_02: You have a daughter, you get it.
38:02
SPEAKER_02: You love being able to be like, hey, guess what?
38:04
SPEAKER_02: This is what you can do if you put your foot forward, and this is what we're capable of, and we're strong, amazing, and I know.
38:11
SPEAKER_02: It's cool to be able to say that to your own kids.
38:13
SPEAKER_01: It is, it is.
38:14
SPEAKER_01: And and showing them.
38:15
SPEAKER_01: I mean, just the same way, like you're you saw your dad doing all those different things.
38:19
SPEAKER_01: You get to do it better.
38:21
SPEAKER_01: Like you get to do it better, exactly.
38:24
SPEAKER_01: And I think that's really cool.
38:25
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
38:25
SPEAKER_01: So I love it.
38:26
SPEAKER_01: Well, cheers to you.
38:27
SPEAKER_01: Cheers to those.
38:28
SPEAKER_01: I'm thank you for coming along this funny, silly little mom journey with me at a success.
38:32
SPEAKER_01: Of course.
38:33
SPEAKER_01: I've I don't know how you feel.
38:34
SPEAKER_01: I feel good.
38:34
SPEAKER_01: I feel like we I checked the bucket and like let's just hop all around.
38:38
SPEAKER_02: I love it.
38:38
SPEAKER_02: That's how I live my life, so we're good.
38:40
SPEAKER_01: I was like, I feel like the this energy is like probably dangerous, but I was like, this is what I want to do today.
38:44
SPEAKER_01: I was like, I don't want to stay on not I'm not never on script, but other I don't really feel like just going from like linear.
38:49
SPEAKER_01: I was like, we need to just just hop around and see where it takes us.
38:52
SPEAKER_01: That's perfect.
38:52
SPEAKER_01: That's good.
38:53
SPEAKER_01: Well, cheers.
38:54
SPEAKER_01: Cheers to Grit and Grace and cheers to you.
38:56
SPEAKER_01: And I'm excited to see your next project.
38:58
SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much.
38:59
SPEAKER_01: Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Mom Talk Maryland.
39:02
SPEAKER_01: If you loved it, leave a review, share it with a friend, or tag me at the dot ColumbiaMom on Instagram.
39:08
SPEAKER_01: I'd love to hear what you think.
39:10
SPEAKER_01: And don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.
39:13
SPEAKER_01: Until next time, keep showing up, keep supporting local, and keep being the incredible mom, the woman, and human that you are.