Latest / Pretty In Pink Again / Episode 72: We’re Back! We Gave T’s Sister-in-Law a Mic… Family, Siblings & How to Actually Get Along

Transcript

Episode 72: We’re Back! We Gave T’s Sister-in-Law a Mic… Family, Siblings & How to Actually Get Along · Pretty In Pink Again

• 0:00
  I'm Christina.
• 0:00
  And I'm T.
• 0:01
  And this is the Pretty in Pink Again podcast.
• 0:03
  Where motherhood meets rediscovery.
• 0:05
  was gonna say.
• 0:16
  Like Nicholas.
• 0:21
  When my dad- Yeah was in the hospital- we, I, like, went with, like, a rolly- Poor Nicholas,'cause we torture him.
• 0:29
  Oh, of course.
• 0:29
  We torture him.
• 0:30
  We will talk about that.
• 0:31
  But, like, no, but, like, Nicholas, he's literally, like, a backpack.
• 0:34
  Can we talk about- I have, like, a, I- what you brought to the hospital?
• 0:36
  Well, I, well, I have a rolly suitcase, hanging clothes.
• 0:39
  And a garment bag.
• 0:40
  My Louis Vuitton, like, Of course.
• 0:42
  Duffle duffle and the tote.
• 0:44
  So I have all this on the streets, and Nicholas has a backpack.
• 0:47
  And he goes I packed appropriately because I knew we had to walk." I was like,"I thought we were gonna take, like, a Uber," but we had to walk, so he has his backpack.
• 0:55
  No, Uber?
• 0:56
  You were like,"I thought we were taking a private car-" black, a black car." A jet.
• 1:00
  Where's the helicopter?
• 1:01
  Oh my God.
• 1:01
  So then, so then he puts on a backpack, and he's walking, so I take a picture no, you sent me a photo of him, and I go,"He looks like Dora the Explorer." Dora the Explorer.
• 1:12
  So then I, like, was singing that to him or something.
• 1:14
  Back to the helicopter like,"I need this song." I was, like, singing it to him, and he's like,"Ugh." But, he didn't say that he packed appropriately.
• 1:21
  He used some other big word- to make it seem like he was, like- Efficiently?
• 1:25
  Yeah.
• 1:25
  Yeah.
• 1:25
  Like, efficient maybe.
• 1:26
  Yeah, yeah.
• 1:27
  I'm like,"Whatever." I'm like,"I didn't know what we were doing, so I came-" His way of- outpatient packing efficiently is not having- All the things clean underwear and socks for the return trip home.
• 1:36
  That's not efficient.
• 1:38
  You don't often have underwear either.
• 1:39
  I never have underwear.
• 1:43
  I think that intro says it all.
• 1:45
  Wait, can you like check your- So my sister-in-law's here today.
• 1:48
  Yay.
• 1:50
  See, that's why we needed to have you on here today.
• 1:53
  I know.
• 1:54
  'Cause I referenced you- All the time we both reference you on the podcast all the time, and I'm like- So she's either G or Gina.
• 2:00
  Gina I was like,"She doesn't listen to the podcast." Right.
• 2:04
  No, I listen to the clips.
• 2:06
  Yeah, no, but you, Gina, Gina is my biggest hype girl- Uh-huh because any time I post anything or we post anything- Ooh, my makeup on it she likes, re-shares, and comments instantly.
• 2:18
  Well, because not for nothing, that's what normal people do.
• 2:20
  When you know somebody, like that's what you do.
• 2:23
  Well.
• 2:24
  I know, and not every- Define normal.
• 2:26
  Well, I know, and I know not everyone does it, but like when you know somebody, you should like their things and support them.
• 2:31
  You're, you do it to me too, and I like it.
• 2:32
  Yes.
• 2:33
  Yeah,'cause she's supportive.
• 2:34
  You are the best.
• 2:35
  To her point, she's very supportive.
• 2:36
  She's the best.
• 2:37
  She's the best sister.
• 2:38
  You're a hype girl.
• 2:39
  Sister-in-law.
• 2:39
  Mm-hmm.
• 2:41
  And all of the things.
• 2:42
  All of the things.
• 2:43
  All of the things.
• 2:44
  Aw, well thank you for coming.
• 2:46
  I know.
• 2:47
  I'm hanging out with you guys.
• 2:47
  Even though I sort of bullied you to be in this.
• 2:49
  I don't, actually didn't have a choice.
• 2:52
  Oh, it's funny'cause I text, I said to you last night in the kitchen, I go,"So- Which is why I'm in my bathing suit.
• 2:58
  Thought I was gonna be by the pool.
• 2:59
  She goes...
• 3:00
  I go,"So I told Christina you're on for tomorrow," and she goes,"I never said that." And she goes- I literally said none of those things I go- I was like,"Wow, I thought we were gonna have to do some pleading, but well cool."'Cause I said to Christina, I'm like,"We literally never said any of those things." So...
• 3:15
  I love this.
• 3:17
  I always love being around both of them, and it's so funny because I met you a long time ago too.
• 3:21
  Yeah.
• 3:22
  I've known her for probably as long as you've known me.
• 3:24
  Yeah.
• 3:24
  Yeah.
• 3:24
  Yeah, I met you right away, and T has two sisters, blood sisters, right?
• 3:30
  Yes.
• 3:30
  And but then here comes Gina, and I'm like thinking at first like this is your sister.
• 3:36
  Everybody thinks that.
• 3:37
  You know?
• 3:37
  Like- Which- Which is so funny yeah, no, everyone thinks that we're sisters.
• 3:41
  And then I'm like,"No, that's my sister-in-law." There needs to be, like, a different word.
• 3:46
  Because if you think about all the different sister-in-laws- Yeah and the way that you can..., is it your husband's sister?
• 3:53
  Or is it his brother's wife?
• 3:55
  brother's wife?
• 3:55
  Mm-hmm.
• 3:55
  Is it...
• 3:56
  Like, there's just so many different- Right, or is it, like, your husband's brother's wife?
• 3:58
  Your husband's brother's wife.
• 3:59
  Yeah.
• 3:59
  Like, I have all of those.
• 4:00
  I have, like, all of them, and it's like they're all my sisters-in-law, and it's crazy.
• 4:04
  But it's like- Mm-hmm but you end up then having to be like it's my husband's sister." Yeah.
• 4:09
  It so confusing.
• 4:10
  So it's like there should be different names.
• 4:11
  Well, and I think with Nicholas and I too, because it's just the two of us.
• 4:14
  So then that's also why, Christine and I are so close.
• 4:18
  Right.
• 4:19
  Because a lot of the times you have so many sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws- Right whatever.
• 4:22
  But, like, Nicholas and I, it's just the two of us.
• 4:24
  So it's like that's all we have.
• 4:26
  So this is your sister-in-law.
• 4:27
  And, like, what's funny is, like, me and Nicholas were not close growing up.
• 4:31
  Like, we were total opposites.
• 4:33
  Well, you guys are still.
• 4:34
  We're total opposites.
• 4:35
  Like, he would be with my dad working at, like, eight years old.
• 4:39
  I got my first job when I graduated college.
• 4:41
  So it's like we're- You're still trying to get out of it still trying to get out of it.
• 4:45
  So we, we could not be any more different, like, at all.
• 4:52
  But, Christina and I are so similar.
• 4:54
  You are.
• 4:54
  Yeah.
• 4:55
  But when you guys first met- Nicholas.
• 4:57
  was there, like, w- was it, like, a instant bond, or was it, like, a grow into this relationship?
• 5:05
  What I think is funny is when I think Nicholas, Kinda like eased her into- The fam listen, my sister is, I don't even know how old I was.
• 5:13
  25?
• 5:14
  26?
• 5:14
  Yeah, she's 26.
• 5:16
  But, he eased you into it.
• 5:18
  Because, like, she would come over, God knows what I would be talking about, where I was coming from.
• 5:24
  I think the first time I met you I was in a hot pink Juicy outfit.
• 5:28
  It was the day after Thanksgiving.
• 5:30
  Okay.
• 5:30
  And I didn't wanna go to your house for Thanksgiving because, me and Nicholas had just started dating, so, like, we weren't ready to do, like, the holiday yet.
• 5:37
  Yeah.
• 5:37
  So I did mine with my parents, and he did it with your family.
• 5:40
  Oh, that's right.
• 5:40
  And then I was like,"I'll come the next day, and then I'll spend, like, the weekend in New Jersey." Yeah.
• 5:45
  So what I learn now is, like, you and your mother would like to go shopping, like, the day after- Yes Thanksgiving.
• 5:51
  So you had on these, like, lights around your neck.
• 5:54
  These, like, Christmas lights that you got.
• 5:56
  I remember that necklace.
• 5:56
  I get to the house, and she's standing at the top of the stairs in her hot pink Juicy outfit and her, light up necklace.
• 6:01
  And she was, like, excited to, meet me,'cause I was also, like, a young girl.
• 6:05
  Yeah.
• 6:05
  And, her brother's, like, it's, like, Nicholas.
• 6:07
  He wears his hair, slicked back and, a striped sweater and jeans.
• 6:11
  And Nicholas is so, quiet and, he's super, reserved.
• 6:13
  You're the younger sister.
• 6:15
  I'm the younger sister.
• 6:16
  Yeah.
• 6:17
  And, literally we're just so different.
• 6:18
  So when he was bringing her home, he's like,"Yeah, Gina, like, you know you're gonna like her.
• 6:23
  You guys are kinda, similar." You guys are.
• 6:24
  It's always the three of us.
• 6:26
  Like, in between- The whole thing in between my, like, suitors- Suitors yeah, in between my suitors, we'll say.
• 6:34
  It's always the three of us.
• 6:36
  Now it's the seven of us.
• 6:36
  I know.
• 6:37
  I love that.
• 6:38
  I think it's so sweet.
• 6:39
  I love the relationship that you guys have.
• 6:41
  Obviously the silliness, but there's so much love and respect that you guys, you can, like, feel it, that you guys just love each other.
• 6:48
  And T always talks so highly about you and how, even how you treat the kids, you know, like, as the aunt.
• 6:56
  It's such a beautiful dynamic to watch.
• 6:58
  We call them our kids.
• 7:00
  Yes, our kids.
• 7:01
  Yes.
• 7:01
  I, I do.
• 7:03
  I'm like,"My kids." When you post the girls, like, you're like,"My girls." Yeah, they are.
• 7:06
  Like, they're your girls.
• 7:07
  They're hers.
• 7:08
  But when I do reference the kids, I mean, people that know me, I say my kids, and they know I'm talking about- Right my nieces and nephews.
• 7:14
  Right.
• 7:14
  But then obviously, like, people don't know, so then I'll, correct it.
• 7:18
  But I always say how thankful I am.
• 7:20
  I'm like, it's so nice.
• 7:21
  Like, my sister-in-law allows me to, be how I am with the kids, you know?
• 7:26
  Like- Such a deep involvement and you're really, like, t- you take part in almost raising them.
• 7:31
  They spend time with you.
• 7:32
  When the twins were born, was that, no, it wasn't COVID yet.
• 7:36
  But, even when they were first born, I came and I, like- You're here I, I wanted to stay.
• 7:41
  Yeah.
• 7:41
  Like, you know, like, I- Yeah Obviously I love my nephews.
• 7:44
  Yeah.
• 7:44
  But then, like, once the girls were here, it was just, like, you know.
• 7:47
  But our relationship was different when the boys were born versus when the girls were born.
• 7:52
  Yeah.
• 7:52
  And I think to, like, your point earlier, I don't think that I was ready to, fully open up until the girls were born.
• 7:58
  Yeah.
• 7:58
  'Cause I think, sometimes with in family dynamics, you're like,"No, I'm the mom.
• 8:02
  This is my job.
• 8:03
  I wanna do it.
• 8:04
  When I come home from the hospital, I don't want anybody there." Right.
• 8:07
  "I want everybody gone.
• 8:08
  I just want it to be me and the boys." Like, step down, you know.
• 8:13
  But in your defense, we're a lot.
• 8:13
  Like- We're like, it's, it's like, you know, the mom, the dad, me.
• 8:17
  Like, it's like- The dogs we're, yeah, like we're like a lot.
• 8:21
  So in your defense, I mean, I even say to her, like sometimes I'll say to my mom, like,"Ma, like if that was my mother-in-law, I would be like,'No, thank you.'" But like Christina is very open and welcoming to us being like- Really present.
• 8:36
  Very.
• 8:36
  Yes.
• 8:37
  She- That's a good way of putting it don't you think if you have somebody on your side that's like recognizing you"I see you.
• 8:43
  I see that this is a lot," they're, like then it's easier to be like,"Okay," then jump in.
• 8:48
  But if somebody's just like expecting to be there, then you're like,"No, you didn't even ask permission." No, like could you imagine?
• 8:54
  Like she has the babies and we're like there.
• 8:57
  Yeah, but you're- I'm telling you, if it were me, I would have been freaking- You would have put the walls up oh my God.
• 9:03
  Yeah.
• 9:03
  I would have been freaking out, and that's why I think like I try to think of it both ways because- Wait, tell Christina about the 40th birthday.
• 9:11
  Oh, yeah.
• 9:14
  Because Christina's uncertain of what she wants to do the day of her birthday.
• 9:18
  She's like,"You know- Right I'm turning 40.
• 9:20
  Maybe I just want a day to myself.
• 9:22
  The kids are gonna be at school.
• 9:23
  I don't know if I want everyone here." And I was talking to my mom about it,'cause we were trying to figure out, okay, are we gonna come up on Friday or Saturday?
• 9:31
  'Cause we're doing family dinner on Saturday.
• 9:31
  'Cause Saturday's family dinner.
• 9:33
  So my mom goes,"Should go," but I think she's maybe having like a Mahjong thing on Friday," like her friends.
• 9:39
  And I'm like,"Okay, Ma, but even so, like- Which I invited her to.
• 9:42
  Yeah.
• 9:42
  I'm like,"But even so, like I wouldn't want my mother-in-law there." I'm like,"Why are we gonna go up?" So then I'm telling Christina this story.
• 9:50
  And she's like,"Oh," she's like,"I wouldn't care if she was there." Poor, I was like,"Poor Shirl." No.
• 9:55
  No, no, no, no, no.
• 9:56
  And listen, like I w- when I was getting married, I actually really did like my, who would've been my mother-in-law.
• 10:05
  I loved her.
• 10:06
  She was amazing.
• 10:07
  And I probably would've been the same with her.
• 10:09
  So like I do say that.
• 10:10
  Yeah.
• 10:11
  But it's just like I can understand it being overwhelming, like to have us constantly but you're so warm.
• 10:17
  A lot of hands.
• 10:18
  You're, I think you both treat it so well, Well, I think in any relationship it takes more energy to be mean, to hate someone, to be angry, than it does to just be nice and enjoy.
• 10:29
  That's such a good point.
• 10:29
  Like, why do you want to cause problems for yourself?
• 10:34
  Right.
• 10:34
  Like, nobody wants that.
• 10:35
  That's so true.
• 10:36
  Like, nobody has time for that.
• 10:37
  Like, just go about your day, enjoy your life.
• 10:39
  It just makes things so much better.
• 10:42
  I totally agree with that.
• 10:43
  I actually think sometimes that you think the opposite- Yeah where it, like, takes so much effort to be kind and to be open- It takes more effort.
• 10:51
  It takes more effort to be nasty it takes so much more effort to be nasty and to be closed off.
• 10:56
  Correct.
• 10:57
  Correct.
• 10:58
  And I mean, I even find myself, like I check myself'cause I'm like, if there's things that are bothering me, I, talk to myself.
• 11:03
  I'm like,"Gina, like, you know there's things out of your control.
• 11:07
  Like, if it's out of your control, don't let it stress you out." It's just something- You can talk yourself in or out of something- Exactly very quickly.
• 11:13
  You can go either way- What was that thing- very fast that Nicholas told you?
• 11:18
  Oh, Nicholas told me when we were in Italy,'cause it was really hot out- Mm-hmm and I was complaining.
• 11:22
  Yeah.
• 11:22
  And he's like,"You can do anything for an hour.
• 11:24
  You can do anything for an hour." True.
• 11:26
  And then he was like,"Okay, you can do anything for a day.
• 11:29
  You can do anything for a week."'Cause he has a very s- like strong mind, and I'm like,"Fine.
• 11:35
  I can do anything for an hour." As we're walking through Rome and it's like 110 degrees.
• 11:41
  In the heat wave.
• 11:41
  In the heat wave, and I'm wearing heels.
• 11:43
  He's like,"You can do anything for an hour." It is really true- Okay though, and I'm like such a Negative Nancy.
• 11:48
  I can completely be, the glass is half full.
• 11:53
  Yeah.
• 11:53
  Like, that's where my mind goes, and I'll be, queen of complaining, but it is so true, that you just said that, G.
• 11:58
  Like, it's so much easier to just be, go with the flow and just be- It is, and it's like- O- then you're not stressing- Yes yourself out.
• 12:07
  And, like, honestly, stress is not good for you.
• 12:09
  You get yourself aggravated for no reason.
• 12:12
  That's why Gina looks so hot.
• 12:12
  She's...
• 12:12
  No, but you wanna know- She's not fair actually, this is a funny story because once- I said to my students, I said...
• 12:18
  They're like,"Wow.""You have, so much patience for us.
• 12:20
  We don't even know if you're angry and you just take it." And I'm like,"I'm gonna be honest with all of you.""The reason I'm not gonna get aggravated and scream at you is because I don't wanna stress myself out and get wrinkles or gray hair." So they start laughing, and then I was out at a party, at, like, a social event, and I was talking to one of the parents of one of my students, they said to me, they're like- Oh, you know, so and so, they came home and they said to me,"You know what, Ma?
• 12:47
  I can't stress out because I'm gonna get wrinkles and gray hair." I was like,"Oh my God." So the mom was like- Oh my gosh"I know that came from you." But like literally, but literally not- But it's true a gray hair or wrinkle in sight.
• 12:58
  I know.
• 12:59
  Well, but I just got my hair colored.
• 13:00
  But it's true though.
• 13:02
  If you don't stress yourself out, it just is so much, better- I know for, you, mentally.
• 13:07
  I know.
• 13:07
  All around.
• 13:07
  Well, also, I have to quickly interject because you've been teaching for over 20 years.
• 13:12
  Yeah.
• 13:12
  And we're, like, making jokes about you being a teacher and telling the kids about wrinkles.
• 13:15
  The parents- wait in line to request her.
• 13:17
  Oh, I'm sure.
• 13:17
  She's like literally the best teacher at that school.
• 13:20
  Well, thank you for saying that.
• 13:21
  Like, in the district, in the town.
• 13:23
  Like, she- we're, like, making jokes of it right now.
• 13:25
  She is, the best teacher, and she has so much patience with the kids.
• 13:28
  I know.
• 13:28
  It- And I think that's why, too- Well, thank you for saying that like, I think we became so close, like, when the twins were born and you were here.
• 13:34
  You were just like,"I got this.
• 13:35
  Like, I'm gonna do this with you." Mm-hmm.
• 13:37
  Like,"We're gonna have these babies- Yeah together." Yeah, yeah.
• 13:39
  And- I think that also G is, like, one of the people, and you're like this too, T, so I feel again, this goes to both of you having a lot in common.
• 13:48
  And even your personalities are similar in ways, but you're a doer.
• 13:53
  You just, you- Gina Johnson in the house do insert yourself, and I mean that in, like, such a good way.
• 13:58
  I feel like, again, sometimes it's easier to hang back.
• 14:01
  Yeah.
• 14:02
  You and T are both the people that show up.
• 14:04
  Yeah.
• 14:05
  Like, you not only say it, you don't ask, you just go.
• 14:09
  Yeah.
• 14:09
  You're there.
• 14:10
  You, like, throw yourself in the deep end, right?
• 14:12
  Mm-hmm.
• 14:12
  And T is like that, and you've been like that to me.
• 14:15
  Thank you.
• 14:15
  Mm-hmm.
• 14:15
  Like, so I, and I th- I think that's so admirable to be like that.
• 14:20
  Thank you.
• 14:20
  And you're both that for each other.
• 14:23
  You show up.
• 14:23
  You're there.
• 14:24
  And I think it's, understanding what somebody's feeling.
• 14:27
  And that's like with friendships, with whatever, and it's like you kind of understand what somebody could be going through.
• 14:32
  And rather than, just- Hanging back, right hanging back- Yeah it's like,"You know what?
• 14:35
  Let's talk about this." Show up.
• 14:37
  And T and I talk so much, too, about how, in this season of life now, we're basically all in our 40s.
• 14:43
  T's a li- couple weeks away.
• 14:45
  But what it's, you really do end up spending so much time with your family.
• 14:51
  Mm-hmm.
• 14:51
  And the family is in all of, like, the intimate moments and all of the milestones.
• 14:56
  And it, it's wonderful to have friendships, but your family really is, who you end up being with the most.
• 15:02
  So it's really important.
• 15:05
  Even for me, I wanna kind of like dissect the two of you, your relationship, we can kind of almost call this, like, an in-law chat.
• 15:12
  Mm-hmm.
• 15:12
  Because Obviously, you're not perfect, right?
• 15:16
  I'm not trying to put you guys on a pedestal to be like,"Oh, there has never been a problem," or,"Our relationship is perfect." But I just think it's so fascinating because it's like we're at this point in our lives where we're spending so much time with our family, and your in-laws are a part- Yes.
• 15:29
  Mm-hmm of that.
• 15:30
  And you guys just do it so well.
• 15:33
  So I wanna dissect it.
• 15:35
  Yeah.
• 15:36
  Well, it hasn't always been easy.
• 15:37
  Yeah.
• 15:37
  And I think what Gina said, like, it wasn't always easy because, me and Nicholas lived in Connecticut.
• 15:42
  Mm-hmm.
• 15:42
  They lived in New Jersey.
• 15:43
  Mm-hmm.
• 15:43
  So there was always kind of like a little bit of a tug of war.
• 15:45
  Mm-hmm.
• 15:45
  Like, are we going here?
• 15:47
  Are we going there?
• 15:47
  Who are we doing the holidays with?
• 15:49
  Mm-hmm.
• 15:49
  Who are we doing this with?
• 15:50
  Yeah.
• 15:50
  You know, like, going back and forth, and Gina never got, like- Territorial into that, though.
• 15:55
  Yeah.
• 15:55
  Like, she always kind of took- It was more like the, the parents she always kinda, like, took my side.
• 15:59
  "Mom, as, a daughter, with me, what would you want me to do?" Right.
• 16:02
  Like, She always took my side.
• 16:04
  Yeah.
• 16:04
  You know?
• 16:04
  Because the dynamic is like you're coming from a very, very tight-knit sisters family.
• 16:10
  You guys are all so close, and G doesn't seem to take offense with anything.
• 16:15
  And y- to your point, it takes more effort to be pissed at everything and pissy with every, every decision made.
• 16:22
  Yeah.
• 16:22
  And, like, you just seem to- Not take offense in such a good way, you know?
• 16:28
  Yeah.
• 16:28
  Thank you.
• 16:28
  And be understanding of things.
• 16:30
  You're not like- Oh.
• 16:31
  "Oh, well, you guys are with your family for the holiday.
• 16:33
  I didn't even see you." You know, like- Never.
• 16:35
  She would just come up- No and be there.
• 16:37
  And she would just come.
• 16:38
  And I think that it speaks to see how well you've integrated into her family, which again, it's, I love that blending, and that's always the goal, right?
• 16:48
  Yeah.
• 16:48
  Oh, it's not his side or her side.
• 16:50
  It's just blended.
• 16:51
  Yeah.
• 16:51
  Like, that's the best.
• 16:51
  Also, like, you have to remember, we have a small family.
• 16:54
  Nicholas is just, has him and his sister.
• 16:57
  Right.
• 16:57
  And his sister ended up being my best friend.
• 16:59
  Right.
• 16:59
  It all kind of, like, worked out really nicely.
• 17:01
  Right.
• 17:01
  And what's been nice is, like, instead of putting up walls and being like,"Oh, we gotta go to New Jersey this weekend." Like, keeping score and checks and balances.
• 17:09
  It's just been easier to just be like, this can all just be one- Right thing.
• 17:13
  Right.
• 17:14
  But I, it didn't, that doesn't happen overnight, so, no.
• 17:16
  And as the kids are getting older, it's getting easier to just- To integrate to just integrate and to just- Mm-hmm go.
• 17:23
  It doesn't have to be, like, a thing.
• 17:24
  Yeah.
• 17:24
  When we go there, like, everybody will just sleep wherever.
• 17:27
  Like, when they were babies, I used to, fuss over the stupidest shit.
• 17:31
  Like, where is somebody gonna sleep?
• 17:33
  Right.
• 17:33
  Where's this?
• 17:33
  Da, da, da, da, da.
• 17:34
  How am I gonna this?
• 17:35
  Ba, ba.
• 17:36
  Like, I would just fuss over the stupidest things, and then it would- And it makes you, like, hang back and, like, not wanna go- I would hang back and be icy- Right and reclusive- Right and I wasn't, like, fun.
• 17:44
  Nobody wants to be around that, but I think that when people hang out with their in-laws, that's what happens.
• 17:48
  They don't get, like, the best version of themselves- Right because you're already, like, ugh.
• 17:52
  But again, in your de- again, in your defense, When we are coming together, it's not oh, we're coming over the house for dinner and then we're leaving.
• 17:59
  When we were coming together, it's like all of us coming to stay here for a few days, or them coming-'Cause there's long distance, right?
• 18:06
  Yeah, or them coming to stay with us for a few days, so we're all living, under one roof for, like, a few days.
• 18:11
  As, like, one big family.
• 18:13
  Exactly.
• 18:13
  So, like, somebody coming in- Right I mean, I would feel the same, like, if I was going into, to be with my in-laws in that way.
• 18:20
  Right.
• 18:20
  It's, it's overwhelming.
• 18:21
  Right.
• 18:21
  But can you talk to me?
• 18:23
  Because obviously I've known you for a long time, but there was already, an established relationship.
• 18:28
  Did that take time to grow, or was it kind of, like, instantaneous, you guys have chemistry, you're just, like, fitting?
• 18:35
  'Cause you had even admitted to, like, you didn't really feel like you were able to let your walls down, right, in terms of the family, until you had all the kids- Right and then you're like,"I want everyone to be around." I do think we got closer once the kids were born.
• 18:48
  Yeah.
• 18:48
  Like, we were sister-in-laws- Yeah and then I think we became friends.
• 18:52
  Yeah.
• 18:52
  And I think that there's a distinction between the two.
• 18:54
  I agree.
• 18:55
  And sometimes how I measure, my friends or, my level of friendliness is, like, how often, I speak to somebody on the phone.
• 19:01
  Yeah.
• 19:01
  And, like, I speak to you on the phone multiple times a day.
• 19:03
  A day, every day.
• 19:03
  Just about, whatever.
• 19:04
  Yeah.
• 19:05
  Like Like about Just about, like, stupid shit.
• 19:07
  But I get...
• 19:08
  You know?
• 19:08
  But, I feel like early on, I felt like I didn't know, like, what I could tell you.
• 19:13
  Also, we were younger, too.
• 19:13
  And also it's weird.
• 19:14
  It's weird, like- We were, at the time, we were younger.
• 19:14
  We're, like, 20s, and I mean, listen, I'll admit, I wasn't the most mature.
• 19:20
  She was probably more mature than I was, and she was a few years younger, you know?
• 19:23
  So, it probably took me until, like, mid-30s, to really, mature and, you start to realize, like, what's important- Yeah and things like that.
• 19:31
  You f- what you can appreciate, and- Yeah yeah.
• 19:33
  Exactly.
• 19:34
  So, like, when her and I first met, we also were- Was this in your single dating days?
• 19:39
  I don't wanna say names, but not when you first met me.
• 19:43
  Remember?
• 19:43
  Oh, right.
• 19:43
  Yeah.
• 19:44
  But then, yeah, so then I went through my different, like, stages.
• 19:47
  And, um, yeah, so then I was in, like, a bit of my singles stage.
• 19:51
  She- but, like, Gina's always just been fun.
• 19:54
  She's always a breath of fresh air.
• 19:56
  Oh, yeah.
• 19:56
  She's never heavy.
• 19:57
  Well- Even when she was going through heavy times- Mm-hmm she's just fun.
• 20:01
  And like she's just what is the point of being so negative?
• 20:05
  Yeah.
• 20:05
  Like it's not that serious.
• 20:06
  Yeah, no.
• 20:07
  And I feel like that's so good for me.
• 20:08
  I feel like there's people, when we talked to like Marissa Mead last summer- Mm-hmm and we had talked about being in different stages of life, but when your connection is just so strong and when you peel back the layers of people and you look at them for who they are- Yeah it doesn't matter that you're in different stages of life.
• 20:28
  Yeah.
• 20:29
  So like you could be in your single crazy partying stage- and because that's not what the dynamic was based off of, you know?
• 20:37
  Yeah.
• 20:37
  You didn't need to have those connection points because you were in the same stage of life.
• 20:42
  Mm-hmm.
• 20:42
  And I think, again, that's so important as we get older, and these are the relationships that you're like hoping to build on, and these are the people that are gonna be in your life and a part of all of the best moments of your life.
• 20:55
  And I know that you can always build your family, right?
• 20:58
  Like you can always have friends that are family.
• 21:01
  But it's so amazing when you really can have family that is family- Yes you know?
• 21:06
  And like not family that is strangers.
• 21:09
  Yeah.
• 21:09
  You know?
• 21:09
  I agree.
• 21:10
  And I- I know, I mean, I tell her everything.
• 21:11
  She- But also like gives me like, like constructive advice.
• 21:15
  Yeah.
• 21:15
  You know?
• 21:15
  So it's like she, I mean, but she's also been through all of it with me.
• 21:19
  I'm a vault.
• 21:19
  She's been through it.
• 21:20
  I'm a vault.
• 21:20
  She's, it was funny because one time the dad said to me- he like cornered me and he was like,"What do you know about such and such?" And I was like,"Uh, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." And I was like,"She's my friend." Yeah.
• 21:35
  "I don't wanna tell you." Yeah.
• 21:35
  And he's like,"She is not your friend, she is your sister-in-law.""Tell me." No, because my parents are always like,"Oh," they're like,"Well, you don't tell us anything." But like why?
• 21:46
  Yeah.
• 21:46
  Like, you know?
• 21:47
  There's certain things I'm not going to say, and it's like, you know?
• 21:49
  So there's like some things that fall under like the friend category- Right, right and other things that are like- Yes, the lines get blurred the f- the family category.
• 21:56
  Yeah.
• 21:56
  And I'm like I just, I don't know.
• 21:58
  I don't know.
• 22:00
  I don't know.
• 22:00
  Well, I know, and that's why sometimes I'm like, oh, I shouldn't tell her- I'm like, you know what?
• 22:03
  Maybe just don't tell me this because- and then she doesn't have to tell Nicholas ooh, that's a good question.
• 22:07
  Yeah.
• 22:08
  Do you guys- No, I don't tell Nicholas.
• 22:10
  No, but if there's something, like'cause then at the same time- Yes it's like well I can't keep a, like- Yeah you don't wanna keep a secret from the husband.
• 22:15
  Yeah.
• 22:16
  So it's like you get- That's an interesting dynamic so there's like that too.
• 22:18
  Right.
• 22:18
  So like- I mean, we like cl- see, here's the thing that's great about Nicholas, like we're kind of painting him to be a little bit of a square.
• 22:25
  But he's, I know, he's great.
• 22:26
  But he, his edges have softened- I agree significantly- I agree over the years.
• 22:31
  And he- When we were at the hospital, well not the hospital.
• 22:34
  But like when we were in the city for when my dad had- Yes, he said he had a great time with you we had a great time.
• 22:38
  Me and Nicholas have never hung out the two of us I don't think like ever in our lives.
• 22:42
  So when my da- and it's, uh, I'm sorry my dad had surgery.
• 22:45
  It was unfortunate that had happened.
• 22:46
  However, me and Nicholas- He's doing great.
• 22:48
  He's a good guy got to do, we're great.
• 22:49
  Yeah.
• 22:49
  All good.
• 22:50
  Nicholas and I had a great time.
• 22:51
  We had such a good time.
• 22:53
  We, and your mom is like,"You two are having so much fun, and daddy's in the hospital." I actually think I had a little too many martinis when we got back to the hospital.
• 23:02
  Yeah, Nicholas was like,"My sister drank too much, and now Gina's drunk at the hospital." I'm like, okay, this all tracks.
• 23:09
  So anyway, so the point is he has softened up, like, a lot.
• 23:13
  A lot.
• 23:14
  But-'Cause I think even for himself, like, he's, like, becoming wh- who he needed to be, you know?
• 23:18
  Yeah, he needed to loosen up a little bit, for sure.
• 23:20
  But I was, like, laughing to myself.
• 23:22
  I'm like,"These are my two closest people in my life." Yeah.
• 23:24
  Like, my husband- Yeah and my sister-in-law.
• 23:26
  Of course the two of them are gonna have fun together.
• 23:29
  I don't know why you two are so awkward.
• 23:31
  'Cause it...
• 23:31
  She's like,"What am I supposed to talk to my sister about?" Yeah.
• 23:34
  I'm like- No, I was dreading it"Nicholas" I was dr- I said to my mom-"What do you talk to your wife about?" No, but I was- Like, she's your- dreading it.
• 23:40
  I was like,"Ma." I'm like,"Now I have to stay over in the room with Nicholas.
• 23:43
  Like, what are we gonna do?" Yeah,'cause she's always the buffer.
• 23:44
  "What are we gonna talk about?" Yeah.
• 23:46
  You know?
• 23:46
  There's like a buffer.
• 23:47
  I'm like,"What are we gonna talk about?" Right.
• 23:48
  Wait, I have to tell you this funny story about last week.
• 23:51
  So we went to the beach for the week.
• 23:52
  We do this every year.
• 23:53
  We go down to, like, Long Beach Island.
• 23:54
  Mm-hmm.
• 23:55
  And Gina comes.
• 23:56
  Last year, Nicholas had to go to work.
• 23:58
  So I when I got to the house, Gina- Like, I go to Dave's, Nicholas isn't there Gina had already gotten to the house, undid all the groceries, put everything away, brought the rosé, brought the Rook coffee.
• 24:08
  She's standing on the roof of the house, like,"Party's ready to start," and, and- And the kids are like...
• 24:13
  "oh, my God, when I'm with you and my aunt, it's like the two lesbian moms." And then they're the kids.
• 24:18
  I'm like,"What's wrong with that, yeah.
• 24:20
  "What's wrong with that?" And then Nicholas had to leave, so then Gina comes, and Gina and I are having ourselves a time.
• 24:27
  So we went out on Wednesday night- to, like, this bar.
• 24:30
  My girlfriend and her husband- from home are there who obviously have known Gina as long as I have known Gina.
• 24:37
  And we have, like, such a fun time at dinner, and then we go out to this bar after.
• 24:42
  It was, blocks from the house, and we were, like, keeping in touch with the kids.
• 24:45
  Mind you, like, Joseph is old enough to stay home and babysit.
• 24:48
  Mm-hmm.
• 24:48
  And, we had had them involved in activities all day, so they should have been able to just, be quiet and go to bed.
• 24:54
  Self, independent.
• 24:55
  Right?
• 24:55
  So they're calling and calling and calling and calling and calling, and we're like,"Okay, we're at dinner.
• 25:01
  We're gonna be home soon.
• 25:02
  Okay, now we're- Wait, this is the reel that you made?
• 25:04
  Yes.
• 25:04
  Yeah.
• 25:04
  Now we're at a a restaurant.
• 25:06
  We're gonna whatever.
• 25:07
  Yeah.
• 25:07
  Now we're, like, seeing a con- I'm trying to, like, downplay it.
• 25:11
  So then my girlfriend Lizzie, her husband Steve gets on the phone and is like, let Mom have a good time.
• 25:17
  I'm gonna send you brownies and- Cookies cookies to the house.""What's the address?" So we're hoping to, like, buy more time with that.
• 25:24
  They would not let up, and I was like,"Gina, we need to go before they call your mother."'Cause that-'Cause then we're really gonna be in trouble the next thing, that was the next thing.
• 25:32
  I'm like,"I know they're gonna call my mom, and if they call my mom, now we're gonna be in trouble." She's gonna be calling me,"Get home." And Christina and I are literally on the floor dancing.
• 25:43
  I don't even know what.
• 25:52
  They were playing such good music.
• 25:52
  We were dancing.
• 25:52
  It was a bar.
• 25:52
  Like, it was, like, a beach bar.
• 25:52
  It, it was a legitimate b- I didn't, I was like,"Oh, do you have rose?" Like, no.
• 25:53
  Like, I don't even know what we were drinking, but- You drank a Sun Cruiser.
• 25:57
  I didn't wanna drink the camel.
• 25:59
  She had the straw Straw.
• 26:00
  She's drinking a Sun Cruiser with a straw- at a beach bar.
• 26:03
  But we were there.
• 26:04
  And you should have seen her outfit.
• 26:05
  She had the cutest little outfit on, and she had, like, a polo sweater, like, wrapped around her, like Carlton from, um- from, uh- Fresh Prince from Fresh Prince.
• 26:14
  At a beach bar.
• 26:17
  Well, no, because generally when you're in LBI, I was like,"Let me put, like, a little sweater." And then It was like one of the, like, the bar where they stamp your hand.
• 26:25
  I was like,"Ugh," so I put it- Like, turned, I turned it around so they stamped it here.
• 26:31
  Oh, my God.
• 26:32
  I don't think I've been to a New Jersey bar in a long time.
• 26:35
  It was so much fun.
• 26:36
  But we had a good time.
• 26:36
  It was the Nerds.
• 26:37
  We had a good time.
• 26:38
  But then Camilla was FaceTiming us, so we're like,"Do not answer." No, if she saw us, at a club dancing- music in the background, like, she would flip.
• 26:45
  Well, she gets jealous because- She feels left out we, she- She wants to be a part of it well, Gina and I do a lot- with the girls.
• 26:51
  Like, Cami- Gina takes Camilla, I take Ava.
• 26:53
  Mm-hmm.
• 26:53
  We pair off.
• 26:54
  We do a lot with everybody.
• 26:55
  Yeah.
• 26:55
  With Nick and the boys, too, but, like, we do a lot with the girls.
• 26:59
  Camilla's first concert, Aunt Gina comes.
• 27:01
  We go to the city for Christmas- Mm-hmm Aunt Gina.
• 27:03
  Mm-hmm.
• 27:04
  Like, it's, it's all a big thing, so when we do things without her, she gets so mad.
• 27:08
  She feels left out.
• 27:09
  'Cause she doesn't respect and understand the distinction between, like, adult things- Right and kid things.
• 27:14
  Oh.
• 27:14
  Because we do everything with them.
• 27:16
  Yeah.
• 27:17
  But she, she wants to be a part of it, and I, I, mean, I always say to her, I'm like,"Listen, when you're 21, I'm gonna take you to the bar." She's like,"I don't wanna go to the bar with an old lady." It's literally what she says to me.
• 27:29
  And I forget how old I'll be when she's 21.
• 27:31
  We figured it out, but I can't remember.
• 27:33
  So I was just like,"You know what, Camilla?" I'm like,"Maybe I'll be old, but I'll still look the same, and I will still go out and dance with you." You'll be in your late 50s, right?
• 27:41
  I think we figured- 50- I'd be 50-something.
• 27:43
  50-something.
• 27:44
  But I don't care, I'll still go.
• 27:45
  She's gonna still look the same.
• 27:46
  Yeah.
• 27:46
  Because she doesn't stress, so that's why she doesn't get wrinkles.
• 27:48
  Because even Monday oh, speak of the devil.
• 27:51
  Hi, miss.
• 27:51
  There she is.
• 27:52
  We're almost done You get lunch today?
• 27:55
  She said the same, but she wants steak.
• 27:56
  You're getting lunch today, Camilla?
• 27:57
  Thank you.
• 27:57
  Goodbye.
• 27:57
  She yelled at me yesterday.
• 27:59
  Thank you.
• 27:59
  She, she said- You didn't get them lunch yesterday she, she said it again to me this morning.
• 28:02
  "Sugar, you gonna get me lunch today?" Nobody asked me on the way home- Gina, you don't have to defend yourself but not only that, I actually, no, and actually I did say to them,"Is anyone hungry?" And they were eating chips, and I actually said to them,"Do not eat all of the chips because you're gonna get a stomach ache." Nobody told me we were hungry until we get home and then they're screaming- It's too late.
• 28:24
  Yeah that I did not feed them lunch.
• 28:26
  Well, okay.
• 28:26
  Parenting is a thankless job- I did not feed them lunch'cause all I,'cause instead of hearing like,"Oh my God, Aunt Gina took care of us for three days," I heard,"She didn't stop and I had to pee and she didn't feed me lunch." I'm like- Yes, yeah really?
• 28:38
  And mind you, we get home- I feel so sorry for you we get home, we get out of my car, did the girls pee?
• 28:44
  Was that the first thing they did?
• 28:45
  No.
• 28:46
  They're running around, playing with the dog.
• 28:48
  Forgot to pee.
• 28:49
  Meanwhile, they're screaming at me- Yep that they have to pee, and how did I not stop for them to pee?
• 28:53
  You haven't stopped laughing since we've had them this year.
• 28:55
  I love it.
• 28:56
  I live for this.
• 28:58
  I know.
• 28:58
  No, okay.
• 28:58
  Because the kids- I wanna, I do wanna, I wanna ask you- Go ahead.
• 29:01
  I wanna ask each of you a serious question.
• 29:04
  Okay.
• 29:04
  So T, what has it meant to you to have Gina be so involved with your kids?
• 29:12
  Aw.
• 29:13
  Okay, so not to be like super sappy, but like I lost my aunt, and she was like my second mom.
• 29:21
  She was everything to me, and I was so, so close to her.
• 29:26
  And my kids look at Gina the way I look at my aunt.
• 29:32
  Aw.
• 29:32
  Especially Camilla.
• 29:33
  Mm-hmm.
• 29:33
  And like the fact that my kids have that is so special'cause like obviously, like I love my mom.
• 29:39
  Mm-hmm.
• 29:39
  But there's like certain things you can't tell your mom.
• 29:41
  Mm-hmm.
• 29:41
  You know?
• 29:42
  Mm-hmm.
• 29:42
  Because like it's your mom.
• 29:43
  Like, she might judge you, or she might like look at you.
• 29:46
  I don't know if you ever had anybody like that in your life other than your mom,'cause I know you're like super, super close with your mom.
• 29:51
  But having another person in my kids' life that loves them- Mm-hmm is the best thing in the world.
• 29:57
  It's such a gift.
• 29:58
  It is such a gift.
• 29:59
  When you have other people that love your kids the way you love them- it's such a gift.
• 30:05
  And if anybody like listening to this has ever like struggled with their in-laws or people, like, if you have people in your life that love your kids- Mm-hmm like drop your own bullshit about- Yeah your own- Yeah boundaries and your own controlling ways.
• 30:19
  Like, you're only gonna hurt yourself, and you're only gonna hurt your kids.
• 30:21
  Because if somebody wants to love your kid, maybe they're gonna do it a slightly different way.
• 30:26
  Like, let them.
• 30:27
  Yeah.
• 30:27
  Allowing myself to just allow my in-laws in- has only helped me.
• 30:33
  Mm-hmm.
• 30:33
  You know?
• 30:33
  Mm-hmm.
• 30:34
  It only hurt me when I was like,"No, leave me alone." Not pushing it away.
• 30:37
  Leave me alone.
• 30:38
  Right, right, right.
• 30:38
  You know?
• 30:39
  Putting off all the bou- But- I mean, I get boundaries are important, but it's when you learn to just let people in- Yeah especially into your kids, and not creating boundaries for them.
• 30:51
  Yeah.
• 30:51
  You know?
• 30:51
  Obviously when needed, but not everything is needed.
• 30:55
  You know what I mean?
• 30:55
  Right.
• 30:55
  Like, letting other people in and letting other people help shape your kid- it's so important.
• 31:00
  Right.
• 31:00
  It can be so important to them.
• 31:02
  Right.
• 31:02
  Well, now I think my boundaries are more, like, w- they're still in place, but they're more, like, almost like Gina and I, like, joke about them.
• 31:09
  She's like,"Oh, we're gonna have the girls this week, but my mom wants them till Thursday." I'm like it's funny,'cause I'm the mom." And we'll, like, laugh.
• 31:17
  Like, but it's not as serious as it once was.
• 31:20
  Right.
• 31:20
  Where I'd be like,"Oh, my God." Right, right.
• 31:22
  Now I'm like, whatever, bring them back whenever is convenient, and we figure it out.
• 31:26
  Mm-hmm.
• 31:26
  Not because I said I wanted this day and you said- Right you wanted that day.
• 31:29
  Right.
• 31:29
  Like, that's more like a go at it- Right versus, like- The, it's like the battle for control, right?
• 31:36
  Yeah, it's not necessary.
• 31:36
  Right.
• 31:37
  It's not necessary.
• 31:37
  And what about you, G?
• 31:38
  'Cause you are so heavily involved in all of the kids' lives, and these are your only nieces and nephews, so, like, this, you're all in- Mm-hmm with them.
• 31:48
  What has being an aunt added to your life?
• 31:51
  Especially in this situation because I don't have children of my own, and that's why a lot of the times I'm am so thankful to Christina and my brother for allowing me to be so present in their lives.
• 32:06
  In their life, yeah.
• 32:07
  Because, that's all I have.
• 32:09
  I, I, I don't have, children.
• 32:11
  And Camilla especially, I mean, I love them all, but she's my little buddy.
• 32:16
  Her and I are- Well, from the day she was born- Yeah and like the twins were in the bassinet, I would grab for Ava and you would grab for Camilla.
• 32:24
  Yeah.
• 32:24
  You just have such a connection.
• 32:25
  It was like- We just, we just have like this little- It was like a bond like bond, and then- And she kind of looks like you- She kind of looks like me with her facial expressions.
• 32:32
  And it...
• 32:33
  We have this thing in the, in one of the rooms in, in my parents' house, and it's me and Nicholas when we were younger.
• 32:40
  And Camilla's like,"Well, well, why does that look like me?" And I'm like- It's you"Because, you know, you kind of look like Aunt Gina." Yeah.
• 32:45
  Like, it's just me.
• 32:46
  From like, like from when she was a baby.
• 32:48
  Yeah.
• 32:48
  Like her baby picture and my, you know, baby photos, she looks very similar to me.
• 32:53
  So anyway, we had just bonded and, you know, even when she's at the house, she likes to sleep with me.
• 32:58
  And but along with that bond, we also butt heads a lot, her and I, because we're so similar, you know?
• 33:04
  So, um- I know your parents think it's very funny, actually- like it's like Gina 2.0.
• 33:08
  Oh my goodness.
• 33:09
  Like her and I, we will get-'Cause your mother's like,"Oh, just you wait.""There's another one.""Just you wait." We'll get in like a screaming match with each other.
• 33:17
  And but actually, I don't actually yell at her that much, but she remembers, I think it was like four times I actually really yelled at her, and she remembers all four times and will tell you the times I yelled at her.
• 33:29
  But anyhow, I am very thankful to be as present in their life as I am because, and I don't know if I had kids of my own, if I would be, you wouldn't be able to.
• 33:42
  I know, I know- Because you'd have-'cause we've talked about that you'd have, we've talked about this.
• 33:45
  I was like, you would have to split your time.
• 33:47
  I'm close to my sisters.
• 33:49
  Yeah.
• 33:49
  And my sister, Nicole, I mean, I love her, but we have kids.
• 33:52
  We had kids four months from each other both times.
• 33:55
  Like, it's, it's hard to, like- Mm-hmm be the aunt and- Yeah you know?
• 33:59
  Right.
• 33:59
  That you wanna be.
• 34:00
  And the mom.
• 34:00
  And the mom- Right at the same time.
• 34:00
  Right, right, right, right.
• 34:00
  Like, I love her kids, but I- Yeah can't do all the things'cause I have my own kids, too, yeah, so I do think that definitely, you know, plays a role into it.
• 34:11
  And, you know, also I'm unmarried, and also that's another thing anyone that I'm with, no- the kids come first.
• 34:17
  It doesn't make a difference where my life takes me, I get married, this or that.
• 34:22
  They come first.
• 34:24
  My family comes first, you know?
• 34:26
  Like, it's Christmas, we're coming to Connecticut.
• 34:28
  If you can't come, oh well.
• 34:29
  Yeah.
• 34:29
  Some of the suitors have made it here.
• 34:31
  Yeah.
• 34:32
  You know?
• 34:33
  But it's like, that's also, like, uh, how I feel, too, about the family.
• 34:37
  Mm-hmm.
• 34:37
  I would say, mostly thankful that I can be here for them in the way, that I am.
• 34:44
  And, you know, it's also long-term, like- I, you know, you think down the road, like, you know, God forbid the girls, something happens, I wanna be there for them just as much as, like, the parents- Mm-hmm.
• 34:53
  Mm-hmm you know, because the parents can't always be there.
• 34:55
  Yeah.
• 34:55
  Or like we were saying before, maybe there's certain things that, like, you feel awkward talking to your mom about.
• 35:01
  Right.
• 35:01
  You know?
• 35:02
  That different perspective.
• 35:03
  Exactly.
• 35:04
  Mm-hmm.
• 35:04
  Well, what's funny, when I was younger, my aunt, so my dad's sister, my dad is one of five, but he only had one sister, so my Aunt Lisa, I was close with her growing up and, as you start maturing and go- Because she was also, the young aunt.
• 35:16
  She was young- Mm-hmm'cause she was the youngest.
• 35:17
  Mm-hmm.
• 35:18
  So, you know, you start maturing, you go through the changes, and, my mom and I, as close as we are, we're always awkward about that kind of stuff.
• 35:25
  So she- But I think that's, like, not uncommon.
• 35:28
  No, it's not.
• 35:29
  Like, I think that's, like, not uncommon.
• 35:30
  It's not uncommon.
• 35:32
  So she figured, okay, let's have Aunt Lisa, take Gina, bra shopping, go through all that.
• 35:37
  So my aunt, I'm at her house sleeping over.
• 35:39
  She gives me the bras.
• 35:41
  I threw them at her and I scream at her,"I'm not wearing these." So now, fast-forward, I think of Camilla.
• 35:47
  Yeah.
• 35:47
  And Camilla's like,"Can I wear your bras?" Like, it's so different.
• 35:54
  But, like, it's just, it's nice to have that because sometimes with Mom, things could be, like, a little different.
• 36:00
  Mm-hmm.
• 36:01
  But yeah, they're good.
• 36:01
  Oh, my God.
• 36:02
  But, like, even, like, dance competition, Gina comes up to Connecticut, stays in the hotel- I know.
• 36:07
  Yeah with us, goes to the first dance comp.
• 36:09
  It's, like, the seven of us.
• 36:10
  I'm crying.
• 36:10
  Yeah.
• 36:10
  It's the seven, it's always the seven of us.
• 36:12
  The girls, Nicholas- The boys are in one room Nicholas and the boys are in one room, me, Christine are in the other room.
• 36:19
  And so we had shirts made that says, like,"Dance mom, dance aunt." Oh, it's so cute.
• 36:23
  And then so I had already seen her dance before, so I was, like, not as emotional.
• 36:28
  But the first time we went to the dance comp, like, I was outside by the trash, like dry heaving,'cause I was so nervous for her.
• 36:34
  So I knew when she came in, she was gonna be, like, the same, so she's crying.
• 36:39
  I, I, like, couldn't go- Watching her dance I, like, couldn't come down.
• 36:41
  I'm bawling.
• 36:42
  I mean, you see this, like, you, you know, from when she's a baby and she's on stage- and she's doing this dance, and, like, her little outfit, and I'm like,"Oh, my God." I was hysterical.
• 36:50
  Even thinking of it now, I'm tearing up.
• 36:52
  I was, like, hysterical.
• 36:53
  But yeah, so I really- Did we answer your question?
• 36:56
  I know, it was, like, all these, like, stories.
• 36:59
  But no, I mean, even at school, I talk about the kids as if they're my own kids.
• 37:04
  It's just, it is so nice to be able to have- Mm-hmm that kind of relationship with them.
• 37:09
  Mm-hmm.
• 37:09
  Obviously, I wish that I lived closer so I could, come and go more.
• 37:13
  Mm-hmm.
• 37:14
  But then, like, you know, situations like this, it's nice because- Yeah it's like we're all under one roof and, you know- it was so fun to have you here.
• 37:22
  I know.
• 37:23
  I feel like I talk about you all the time.
• 37:24
  I know, and Tia and I haven't- We could like- Oh, you know what I wanted to do?
• 37:26
  tell stories forever and ever.
• 37:28
  I mean, even the three of us, like all, some of our times together.
• 37:31
  I know.
• 37:31
  And Raj, Christina's husband.
• 37:33
  I know, I know.
• 37:34
  Loves- Loves Gina Gina- Yeah and a bottle of rose.
• 37:36
  Raj is just sweet.
• 37:37
  Oh my God.
• 37:37
  Yeah.
• 37:37
  I feel like you haven't had a bottle- I know of rose with Raj yet this summer.
• 37:41
  No, not this summer.
• 37:41
  Maybe invite him somewhere.
• 37:41
  No, we are due.
• 37:42
  No, last, last summer.
• 37:42
  We're due.
• 37:43
  Last summer we had rose.
• 37:44
  It's every summer.
• 37:45
  I know.
• 37:45
  Raj loves girl talk- I know with Gina.
• 37:47
  You know what?
• 37:47
  Yeah, Raj is so sweet.
• 37:48
  I think, I think the both of you just really make anybody feel like family, and I mean that in such a good way.
• 37:55
  Aw.
• 37:55
  Family.
• 37:55
  Like, well, yeah, but I f- I, again, I feel like it's very inspiring to be around people who want that, you know?
• 38:03
  And like who act like that because then it, it almost rubs off and it makes you want to be more open and have those sort of relationships too because it's so important.
• 38:14
  Yeah.
• 38:14
  And- All of our sister-in-law reels that we've done on Instagram- I know, I love them.
• 38:18
  I live for them are so, we need to do another one.
• 38:19
  The, my favorite was at the dinner table.
• 38:21
  Oh my God.
• 38:22
  I loved that one.
• 38:23
  So good.
• 38:23
  I re-watched that- I know, you guys should have like a series like five, five, six times.
• 38:27
  I lit- it like shows you how many views.
• 38:29
  Yeah.
• 38:29
  Probably like 1,000 were me.
• 38:30
  Yeah.
• 38:30
  Can I get you anything else?
• 38:32
  Um.
• 38:32
  A new table?
• 38:34
  But every, every dinner is me and Gina having ourselves the time.
• 38:38
  Right.
• 38:38
  And like- Every family dynamic and Nicholas- And my dad sits there Nicholas- My dad sits there shaking his head.
• 38:43
  At the table.
• 38:43
  Do you really need another rose?
• 38:44
  And everyone else looks so furious, and then you two.
• 38:46
  Well, and then Nicholas like getting frustrated with the kids'cause he wants them to act a certain way, and then your mom probably wishing she was out with just the two of us.
• 38:54
  But yet she's like with the ki- like taking care of the kids.
• 38:58
  Does Gina have a, a Pink Spotlight?
• 39:00
  Oh, so we do a person, place, thing, tip, mantra- Anything you wanna share product, anything you wanna share.
• 39:08
  We'll go first.
• 39:09
  Most of my Pink Spotlights are things that- Right you have told me about- Yes and then I share them on here.
• 39:13
  But I always give you full credit- She really does'cause you tell me everything.
• 39:16
  And she al- and she always does.
• 39:18
  She says,"Actually, this is from my sister-in-law," and always gives you, always plugs you.
• 39:24
  We'll, we will go first so my pink spotlight this week, I feel like I have so many because we haven't been filming It could be a whole pink, uh, spotlight episode I'm...
• 39:33
  Well, I'm gonna just have to save them'cause sometimes I'm, like, stretching for something I haven't shared before.
• 39:37
  But I found a dupe for the Oura Ring.
• 39:41
  Oh.
• 39:42
  Wait, by the way, your heart rate is so low.
• 39:44
  You have, like, such a chill heart rate I saw on the fig.
• 39:47
  Yeah.
• 39:48
  Mine is, like, 100 beats a minute- Okay, well, I will say- and yours is, like, nice and calm Okay, so I'm gonna say something.
• 39:52
  Tell me.
• 39:52
  So I screenshotted a bunch of stuff, like, when I was gonna share it.
• 39:56
  I was, like, so excited, and I was trying to screenshot so that I could see against what the Oura Ring measures.
• 40:03
  And so I screenshotted a lot of statistics before it had a chance to really know my body.
• 40:09
  Oh, got it.
• 40:10
  And because you were like,"Your sleep score, it said excellent." Yeah, I was like- And I was like,"Uh, I haven't gone to bed yet." Oh.
• 40:19
  So I was like, no.
• 40:20
  Usually it's like, meh or good.
• 40:22
  Oh.
• 40:23
  Like, you know?
• 40:23
  Like-'Cause I was, like, looking at it and like, wow, she has- No a really high sleep score and a really low resting heart rate.
• 40:29
  I need to, like, redo- she is thriving over there.
• 40:31
  So, okay, so background, background.
• 40:34
  I have been wanting- This is huge the Oura Ring.
• 40:36
  It is expensive.
• 40:37
  It's, like,$500.
• 40:37
  And I'm always just, like, always looking for a look for less, you know?
• 40:41
  Mm-hmm.
• 40:41
  And I'm also like, sometimes I don't like spending the money if I'm like, am I really gonna want this?
• 40:46
  Is this something, like, I really need?
• 40:47
  And I ended up finding this on Amazon.
• 40:49
  Oh.
• 40:50
  And it's 50 bucks.
• 40:52
  Oh, wow.
• 40:52
  And it does a majority of the same things.
• 40:54
  It has its own app, it has all of the vitals, it tracks your sleep, it tracks your steps, it tracks your heart rate, it tracks your blood oxygen, it tracks your stress level.
• 41:07
  Oh, wow.
• 41:07
  All of it.
• 41:08
  And it can predict things, so it's very similar to the Oura Ring.
• 41:11
  It's obviously not exact.
• 41:12
  Mm-hmm.
• 41:12
  But it's similar enough for 50 bucks- Yeah if you want it.
• 41:16
  I think it's great.
• 41:17
  Well, aesthetically, it looks the same too.
• 41:19
  It looks the exact same, so it's just, like, a gold big band.
• 41:22
  I, I wear it, like, I kind of, like, alternate which fingers depending on how many french fries I had the day before, you know?
• 41:28
  But...
• 41:29
  I know.
• 41:29
  Well, me and Gina were talking about this too, like, the fluctuation sometimes if we, like, eat- It's crazy too many french fries- Yeah or, like, too much salt or, like- Yeah have, like, a dirty martini, we'll, like, retain weight the next day.
• 41:40
  For sure.
• 41:40
  Or like water the next day.
• 41:41
  So, like, sometimes it has to fit on another finger.
• 41:42
  Well, that could be my- Pink Spotlight.
• 41:45
  Pink Spotlight because I, well, two things is I think that the mushroom coffee- helps because I have mushroom coffee every morning, and it helps release my body of- Okay toxins.
• 41:57
  And I- Instead of real coffee.
• 41:59
  Do you switch to real coffee?
• 42:01
  So actually, no.
• 42:01
  So actually what I do is I try it by itself, but then I didn't like it by itself.
• 42:07
  Okay.
• 42:08
  So I put the mushroom coffee, it's like a powder- Mm-hmm at the bottom of the cup.
• 42:12
  And then I make my...
• 42:13
  I'm laughing as I'm saying this- Like a real coffee because I have my, like, routines of what I do, and that's why, and she knows this.
• 42:19
  So I put the coffee, like a pod, and then I m- mix the real coffee- Okay with the mushroom coffee.
• 42:25
  So that I think helps because it makes my stomach, like...
• 42:29
  I just have, like, a good stomach now from, from using that.
• 42:32
  And I think it's- So instead of just being, having caffeine on an empty stomach.
• 42:35
  Yeah.
• 42:35
  And it's just, like, your digestive system just- Yeah doesn't work properly.
• 42:39
  Well, they say that it's not the best thing to d- have coffee, like, on an empty stomach- Yeah first thing in the morning, so this kind of helps.
• 42:44
  Yeah.
• 42:44
  So I feel like that helps.
• 42:46
  And I also started taking, um, a collagen, which is called Spoiled Child, and it's a liquid.
• 42:53
  And I take that every day with a little bit of water, and I also think that has been helping with that extra bloatedness.
• 43:00
  Wait, l- show them how long your hair is.
• 43:02
  It's like to your butt crack.
• 43:03
  Yeah, she has really long hair right now.
• 43:04
  Well, and actually it's like curl today.
• 43:05
  Wow.
• 43:06
  Wow.
• 43:06
  It's so long.
• 43:08
  It's so long.
• 43:10
  Liquid collagen is where it's at.
• 43:12
  Yeah.
• 43:12
  I should try that.
• 43:13
  And this particular one- Spoiled Spoiled Child, and it tells you, like, after a week what you should expect, after two weeks.
• 43:19
  And I really find that it's working in the way that it said it was supposed to.
• 43:24
  Wow, I love that.
• 43:25
  Yeah.
• 43:25
  So at, definitely, like, it helps with your skin, your hair, and then it also helps with your digestive.
• 43:30
  And I feel like a lot of that, like, extra, you know, like- Like a bloat yeah, that extra bloatedness- Mm-hmm I feel like is- Ooh, that's great.
• 43:38
  Yeah.
• 43:39
  So that's definitely another product, and it comes in mango or pineapple.
• 43:42
  Ooh.
• 43:42
  Ooh.
• 43:43
  Which one did you try?
• 43:44
  So I originally- Do you have it?
• 43:44
  Did you bring it here?
• 43:44
  I, I do have it here.
• 43:47
  Oh, I wanna try some.
• 43:47
  I originally started with the mango, which I liked the mango, but then I switched to pineapple.
• 43:52
  Mm.
• 43:52
  And it's a bit, So it's a concentrate, so you can mix it with water.
• 43:56
  I just take a shot.
• 43:56
  Or just take a shot.
• 43:57
  Yeah.
• 43:57
  I take a shot of it, and then, like, I'll, whatever the residue, I'll mix it with water.
• 44:02
  But, I find that it's really helping.
• 44:04
  Love it.
• 44:04
  And it's one of the things that popped up on my Instagram, and they do have celebrities that spoke about it and how great it works, but also you never know.
• 44:12
  And everything works differently for everybody.
• 44:13
  Yeah.
• 44:13
  But I found that and the mushroom coffee- Love it helps.
• 44:17
  Spoiled Child.
• 44:18
  Spoiled Child.
• 44:19
  Spoiled Child.
• 44:19
  Can't forget- I might- What?
• 44:20
  No, uh, when it comes- Can't forget that name.
• 44:21
  She has been- When it comes, yeah, it, my dad's like,"Oh, I guess they named this after you." It's like,"Yep." What about you, T?
• 44:30
  I don't know.
• 44:30
  What should I share?
• 44:31
  I feel like I have 100 products and 100 things to share.
• 44:34
  Well, this is what happens when we take a break.
• 44:35
  Now there's like a million, th- there's like a backlog What about the new pink from Alo?
• 44:40
  Oh, the new pink from Alo, the marshmallow is so pretty.
• 44:41
  Oh, that's pretty.
• 44:43
  It's so pretty.
• 44:43
  It's really pretty.
• 44:45
  Actually, I'll share a product with you that Gina s- turned me on to.
• 44:48
  Do you ever buy clothes on Shein or Shein?
• 44:51
  I have not.
• 44:51
  How do you pronounce it?
• 44:52
  Shein.
• 44:54
  Shein.
• 44:54
  Shein.
• 44:54
  Shein.
• 44:54
  Gina had on, like, a two-piece outfit from there, and actually, I made her take it off and give it to me so I could wear it to Italy.
• 45:00
  Yes.
• 45:01
  And then I bought a bunch of outfits from Shein.
• 45:04
  The outfits were probably, like, between$7 and$10.
• 45:07
  Yeah, crazy.
• 45:08
  They are so cute.
• 45:10
  Actually, the quality is pretty good if you look at it.
• 45:13
  I'm like,"Wow, this is, like, good quality." I got, like, these really t- cute two-piece sets.
• 45:16
  Mm-hmm.
• 45:17
  And, and if you, like, style it with, like, a nice bag and a nice shoe- Yeah, a little high-low it looks, it looks so nice.
• 45:24
  Yeah, it's all about how you, like, put it together.
• 45:26
  Love it.
• 45:26
  But yeah, that was another website Gina told me that she had ordered from Sheen, Shein, whatever.
• 45:31
  And I ordered a bunch of outfits from there, and I think I spent, like,$50 and I got- Yeah like five things.
• 45:36
  You can get so much stuff, and you're spending, like, no money.
• 45:38
  Money.
• 45:38
  And like, and yeah, and the quality is decent.
• 45:40
  And it was cute.
• 45:40
  Yeah.
• 45:41
  It was cute, yeah.
• 45:44
  We love you, G.
• 45:45
  Thank you so much for coming and sitting.
• 45:46
  We love you, guys.
• 45:46
  Thank you for having me.
• 45:46
  I can't believe we had to talk you into this.
• 45:49
  I'm like,"It's just gonna be, like, us hanging out like we always are." Well, I'm not gonna lie, I didn't know that this was on until, like, w- I- We do that sometimes.
• 45:56
  Yeah We just get it going.
• 45:57
  'Cause we were, like, chatting and I thought we were just chatting, and then you were gonna be like,"Okay, now we're gonna start." Yeah, because you know what?
• 46:02
  Sometimes it's just it's good to just get it in the mi- like, uh, in the middle of a conversation.
• 46:06
  That was better.
• 46:06
  That was better.
• 46:07
  Yeah.
• 46:07
  Because I didn't realize at first.
• 46:09
  And- And then I realized and I was like, but then- Yeah, when you're like,"Lights, camera, action"- Yeah it also is, like, weird.
• 46:13
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 46:14
  'Cause then it's like you tense up a little bit.
• 46:15
  Frozen.
• 46:15
  Frozen.
• 46:15
  I feel like this just eases us in- Yeah and then it's like people are just hanging out with us.
• 46:19
  Yeah.
• 46:20
  Yeah.
• 46:20
  Yeah.
• 46:20
  That's what we do here at PIPPA Media.
• 46:23
  Yeah, thank you, guys, so much.
• 46:23
  And thank you for being so patient.
• 46:25
  We still had a ton of listens on the rewinds, which are- Great which are the episodes that are older that we re-air, and thank you guys for being patient.
• 46:35
  We appreciate that you guys listened in on those, and hopefully you heard them for the first time.
• 46:40
  I'm sure we have some newbies that are listening in, but we're so excited.
• 46:44
  We have a lot of really, really, really impactful conversations coming in the fall.
• 46:49
  And we're gonna be back.
• 46:51
  We're, we're no longer- Yeah on our summer hiatus.
• 46:53
  We're back in the seats each week, and we have a lot coming up.
• 46:57
  We are.
• 46:58
  Yeah.
• 46:59
  All right.
• 46:59
  I will s- we'll see you all next week.
• 47:00
  Bye.
• 47:01
  Thank you, guys.
• 47:01
  Bye.
• 47:02
  Bye.
• 47:02
  Bye.