Latest / Pretty In Pink Again / Episode 70: Learning to Love the Body You’re In | Turning 40, Identity Shifts & Finding Confidence Again

Transcript

Episode 70: Learning to Love the Body You’re In | Turning 40, Identity Shifts & Finding Confidence Again · 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.
• 0:16
  Hello, hello.
• 0:17
  Hi.
• 0:17
  How are you?
• 0:18
  I'm good.
• 0:19
  It's a duo episode.
• 0:21
  Yeah.
• 0:22
  We're having ourselves a day over here.
• 0:23
  I know.
• 0:24
  We actually just got back from having such a fun morning.
• 0:27
  It's now fun that we have, like, this business together.
• 0:30
  Mm-hmm.
• 0:31
  And we do projects together that I used to do alone- Mm-hmm as an influencer, especially locally.
• 0:37
  Mm-hmm.
• 0:37
  And now we get to do them together, which is, like, even more exciting.
• 0:40
  I said to T,"It is so much more fun to have a partner to do things with than it was to do things solo." I know.
• 0:47
  It's the best.
• 0:48
  Thank you for rank- like, bringing me into this.
• 0:50
  No.
• 0:50
  And also, like, I feel like I have always just been, like, a, a, I don't know, a community lover, and every time we go anywhere, I mean, we were in there yapping it up with these people- Yeah for, like, the past two hours.
• 1:01
  Like- We went to a store opening.
• 1:02
  We went to, a jewelry store opening, which was so exciting.
• 1:05
  It's Michael's Estate Jewelers in Avon, Connecticut for those local, and we basically just tried on diamonds and all sorts of insanely beautiful- All of these beautiful- jewelry heirloom pieces.
• 1:16
  Like, so fun, but it's a real family business.
• 1:19
  Mm-hmm.
• 1:19
  And sometimes you hear, like,"Oh, it's a family business," but, like, it's an estranged family business, or, like, the brothers got in a fight, so one has one and one has another.
• 1:27
  Like, the guy that was opening this business, all of the other owners of all of the other Michaels all came to this opening- Yeah to, like, help out and rally around him.
• 1:36
  It was really cool.
• 1:37
  It was so fun.
• 1:37
  It was such a fun morning.
• 1:38
  So T and I, yeah, we had our, had ourselves a little morning and got to hang out, and it was really fun.
• 1:44
  I know.
• 1:45
  Well, now I keep thinking about those pearl earrings that I tried on.
• 1:48
  I know.
• 1:48
  They were so stunning.
• 1:50
  Do you feel- They had so many stunning pieces do you- Like, I want them.
• 1:53
  Do you feel like, we're obviously both turning 40- Mm-hmm and actually, when this airs, it will be my 40th birthday.
• 2:01
  My birthday's July 9th, and this is airing on July 9th, which is insane, so happy 40th birthday to me.
• 2:06
  Happy 40th birthday to you, Christina.
• 2:09
  But do you feel like the last, I feel like the last, like, stretch of time, just, like, everything is a 40th birthday gift, right?
• 2:15
  It's like everything is- celebrating the 40th birthday.
• 2:18
  Everything is related to the 40th birthday.
• 2:21
  Yeah.
• 2:21
  That's, that's the way to do it, right?
• 2:23
  It's, like, the whole year.
• 2:24
  Right.
• 2:25
  Well, I was joking- So that's my point, was I was telling you- Oh, yeah I was like, I was the friend- You're like,"Get it for your 40th." You were like,"These earrings," and I was like,"Um, well, our 40th birthday is coming up, so, like, get the earrings." I know, and I, and I said,"I think Nick bought me my 40th birthday present, like, two years ago."'Cause in real, like, T fashion, I, pick out my gifts, and I'm like,"It's for Mother's Day in 2031." Yeah.
• 2:45
  Like, it's fine.
• 2:46
  It's fine.
• 2:47
  So I've been, I don't wanna say rewarding myself, but I've been thinking lately, like, it's my 40th year.
• 2:54
  It's our 40th year.
• 2:55
  Yeah.
• 2:56
  I want to enjoy my time, and I don't wanna feel bad about it.
• 3:00
  I don't wanna feel guilty about it.
• 3:02
  To yourself.
• 3:02
  I don't wanna feel bad that I'm having a good day.
• 3:04
  I don't wanna feel bad that I'm enjoy- enjoying my time.
• 3:07
  I don't wanna feel bad that I'm letting my kids run amok and have fun.
• 3:11
  Like, I just wanna, like, soak up some of these good times, and so, yes, maybe treating myself to, like, some jewelry or some clothes or some this, or, like, good meals or whatever, but I just wanna, like- It's also the mindset I just wanna, like- You wanna live be happy.
• 3:25
  Yeah, I feel that way too.
• 3:26
  And live and, like, make, not the safe choice.
• 3:29
  I just wanna, like- Yeah do.
• 3:31
  I'm feeling the same way.
• 3:32
  Almost, like, a little risky in a way.
• 3:34
  Yes.
• 3:34
  Yes.
• 3:34
  You know?
• 3:34
  Like, I'm kinda just like, life is too damn short.
• 3:37
  Like, we- I wanna live, I wanna be happy, I wanna be in the moment.
• 3:40
  I don't wanna care about stupid shit, and I wanna, like, spend as much time with my family and my friends as possible, but I also want to fill my cup in all of the ways that make me really happy.
• 3:51
  Yeah.
• 3:51
  And I wanna get strong this year.
• 3:53
  Yes.
• 3:53
  And I wanna, I wanna feel comfortable in my skin, and I wanna say what I wanna say, and I j- it, it- I feel like- And not have to say the roundabout way around it.
• 4:03
  Yeah.
• 4:03
  Like, just this is what- And I- This is it and I don't want to be around people who suck energy out of me.
• 4:09
  I wanna be around people who lift me up and who I feel inspired by, you know, also.
• 4:15
  That's a good one.
• 4:16
  Yeah.
• 4:16
  That's a good one.
• 4:16
  So I feel, we're actually, we were t- toying around with the idea of doing, like, a 40th birthday,'cause both of us turn 40 this year, obviously.
• 4:24
  But we wanted to do, 40 things we would tell our younger selves, so we're, we're kind of thinking, we're starting to compile these like little- Yeah right, tidbits.
• 4:33
  And- And I think it will have to be like decades, like the- Yes the 10-year-old Christinas.
• 4:36
  Oh.
• 4:36
  Like, right?
• 4:36
  Like- Yeah the 20-year-old Christina.
• 4:37
  Yeah.
• 4:37
  Oh, like things you would tell your- The 30-year-old Christina.
• 4:42
  Like I'm tr- when I think about like things I would tell my younger self- Mm-hmm I th- I think of myself, and I don't know if you feel this way too, like I feel like I see different versions of myself- I f- as I like go back.
• 4:52
  For sure.
• 4:52
  You know?
• 4:53
  For sure.
• 4:53
  I don't know if I can go back farther than age 10, but like in my mind, like when I think of like the character- Yeah of myself.
• 4:59
  Yeah, yeah.
• 5:00
  But I, I think I...
• 5:01
  We'll, we'll have some time to think- Yeah to do this.
• 5:04
  But- To, to compile all of the little advice.
• 5:08
  Right.
• 5:08
  But- I don't know.
• 5:09
  We'll come up with, we'll come up with some good ones.
• 5:12
  But you made a good point earlier just, just recently saying you wanna be around this, you wanna do this, you wanna do this.
• 5:19
  Mm-hmm.
• 5:19
  And I think those are always things that in my back of my mind that I've always wanted to do, but there's like some thing more recently that it's like, but no, I'm not just gonna say it.
• 5:29
  Like this is actually what I want.
• 5:32
  Right.
• 5:33
  You know?
• 5:33
  Like you, you feel- I have like- more empowered to make it happen.
• 5:36
  Yeah.
• 5:37
  Not just say it and wish it.
• 5:38
  And I think that there must be something with like the turn of a decade and like the shedding of maybe your old thoughts or the way you did things.
• 5:48
  It's kind of feels like a New Year's, right?
• 5:50
  But it's just like so much bigger, and we're really approaching kind of like the second chapter of life, right?
• 5:58
  I think it's more that than like shedding the old me,'cause I don't wanna shed all of it.
• 6:03
  Mm-hmm.
• 6:04
  I just want to make the most of this ne- the next 40.
• 6:08
  Right.
• 6:08
  Right?
• 6:09
  And you know that life just continuously goes so fast, and it probably just gets faster and faster.
• 6:16
  That's what everybody says.
• 6:17
  So- It's like lightning.
• 6:19
  Yeah.
• 6:19
  It is lightning.
• 6:20
  Yeah.
• 6:20
  My sister, Marissa, she-- My niece just graduated from elementary school.
• 6:26
  She's going to middle school.
• 6:27
  Mm-hmm.
• 6:27
  And my sister, Marissa, sent a picture of her when she graduated holding Joseph and Gianna.
• 6:34
  Aw.
• 6:34
  And I looked at the picture quickly, and I thought that it was my niece holding babies, and I'm like,"Oh my God, no, that was Marissa." And the babies just graduated.
• 6:43
  Right.
• 6:43
  So like, oh my God, the time just like flipped really fast.
• 6:48
  Right.
• 6:49
  You know?
• 6:49
  You b- literally blink and here you are.
• 6:52
  So I think like the combination of like end of year graduation, kids moving up, turning 40, all of this stuff.
• 6:58
  Mm-hmm.
• 6:59
  Just, I just keep seeing all these things pop up- Yeah, yeah I don't wanna feel like I have to apologize or hide, happiness.
• 7:08
  Mm-hmm.
• 7:08
  'Cause sometimes I think people, like, don't wanna show it because it sounds like you're bragging or boasting or whatever.
• 7:14
  Like, I just wanna be happy and live.
• 7:17
  Yes.
• 7:17
  And be okay with it.
• 7:18
  Yes, and I wanna be around people okay with that too.
• 7:22
  Yeah.
• 7:22
  You know?
• 7:22
  Like, in that same mindset, I'm not saying I can't be around people that are having an uncomfortable- Mm-hmm unhappy moment, but- We've all been there.
• 7:29
  Mm-hmm'cause we've all been there, and I'll be there again.
• 7:30
  I just, I want to just embrace this- Mm-hmm.
• 7:33
  I am with you and be okay with it.
• 7:35
  Mm-hmm.
• 7:35
  You know?
• 7:36
  And also, like, as we're aging, things are changing with our bodies.
• 7:41
  Mm-hmm.
• 7:41
  And all these other things I'm coming to terms with, but how I fit in my clothes, I just, I can't...
• 7:48
  And again, I realize that this sounds ridiculous because, like, if you would look at me you'd be like,"W- what the fu- what are you complaining about?
• 7:55
  Your body looks fine." Okay, I need to feel comfortable- Mm-hmm in my own skin.
• 7:59
  Sometimes I don't, and that's like, I feel like I'm being so, I feel like this is an ironic statement'cause I'm sitting here being like,"Oh, in my next chapter-" I wanna be, yes.
• 8:06
  I wanna be okay with this- Yes and this and this," but yet I'm still not okay with, like how I look under this outfit.
• 8:12
  I remember my mom had said to me one time that every decade she felt like her body changed a little bit.
• 8:20
  Even, and it wasn't, like, always in a negative way, it just changed, and you almost feel like you have to get to know this new body that you're in.
• 8:30
  And I have known it to be true.
• 8:32
  I feel like when I turned 20, like, my body changed, right?
• 8:36
  Like, I kinda felt like I had a, got a little bit more curvy.
• 8:39
  I feel like I got a little bit more of a woman's body when I turned 30.
• 8:42
  I started holding weight in different places, and now I feel like I'm 40 years old and I can actually feel my body changing, and it's a weird place to be, and I'm also blending that because I had kids in my mid-30s.
• 8:57
  So I feel like the last half of my 30s I have been really getting to know a completely new body than I knew before, and it is a crazy place to be.
• 9:08
  I wanna be happy in my body, but it also still feels so foreign to be in a different body.
• 9:15
  And I do think that whenever you bring awareness to that sort of topic, the first thing people might say to you is like,"Oh, well what do you have to worry about?" You know?
• 9:26
  Like, it gets minimized.
• 9:28
  And it's not so much about the actual shape or size It's, it's the feeling, and it's the feeling of feeling disconnected from the body that you know.
• 9:39
  Mm-hmm.
• 9:39
  Versus, I don't look at myself and think I look bad.
• 9:43
  I- know what I've been through.
• 9:46
  I, I can appreciate what my body has been through, but it's more of just it's like the mind-body connection of feeling disconnected from my body.
• 9:56
  Right.
• 9:56
  Feeling foreign in it.
• 9:58
  Right.
• 9:58
  That I wanna talk about today,'cause I think that that's something that I'm sure a lot of other women, whether you're a mom and you've gone through any sort of body changes related to being pregnant, or whether you go through body changes just because we're all getting older, I think that this is something that we wanted to like open up and talk about.
• 10:18
  Sure.
• 10:19
  Do you think that a disconnect occurs when there's rapid and multiple changes occurring?
• 10:26
  1,000%.
• 10:27
  I think that for me, getting pregnant was the first time I ever had a sort of like rapid body change.
• 10:37
  And then postpartum, and then getting pregnant so soon after, right, with Layla.
• 10:45
  So I it was a rise and then a fall and then a rise.
• 10:48
  And then when I was postpartum with Layla, I, I have been so open about this, but I was suffering from a lot of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety.
• 10:59
  I tried medication at that point, so I lost a lot of weight, and it was very, very rapid.
• 11:05
  And then since then I started working on my hormones again, and my weight has climbed back up, and it's now more than, you know- Yeah than I was.
• 11:15
  So-- I have been such a variety of sizes- In such a short period of time in such a short period of time, which is so frustrating because getting dressed is not only a part of, like, what makes me happy, but it also is a, it's my job.
• 11:29
  Part of your job.
• 11:30
  It's part of my job.
• 11:31
  And at one point it was my full job.
• 11:33
  That was what I did.
• 11:34
  I was, you know, a, a style blogger, I felt so disconnected from my body.
• 11:39
  I did not even know how to dress myself, and I feel like I would hear that from other people, but I, I never lived it, honestly, until recently, and it's such a weird place to be.
• 11:52
  And- You didn't even share it.
• 11:53
  You didn't even share it with me until last week when Meg was on, and Meg was like,"You haven't been doing as much-" Style styling." Mm-hmm.
• 12:01
  And Meg was, like, commenting how much she loved your style and how that was like you were one of her favorite people to follow.
• 12:06
  I know.
• 12:06
  She gave me such a nice compliment.
• 12:08
  Because she just, she even, like- Mm-hmm reminded you of, like, these white boots and, like, you were just so- original in your styling.
• 12:14
  You weren't a copycat.
• 12:15
  You were just so original in your styling.
• 12:17
  Thank you.
• 12:17
  And you shared that you s- have slowed down that part of your page because you're struggling with this body image- Mm-hmm and it's changing so rapidly.
• 12:26
  Mm-hmm.
• 12:26
  You didn't know how to dress yourself, so how are you supposed to dress and inspire others?
• 12:31
  I felt terrible, first of all, that I didn't know that.
• 12:33
  Well, it's- And that- No,'cause it sounds so- You know?
• 12:36
  Like, it's- It literally sounds so effing dumb when you're thinking about it.
• 12:39
  It didn't sound dumb to me, though.
• 12:40
  It- At that moment, I felt bad.
• 12:42
  Like, it's part of your job, and you're, like, going through these ebbs and flows, you know?
• 12:46
  I almost feel shame even talking about it now because it just sounds so trivial.
• 12:51
  Mm-hmm.
• 12:51
  And honestly, at that point of my life, it also was- Yeah because there was so many other things that I was focusing on.
• 12:59
  I was adapting to being a new mom.
• 13:01
  I was adapting to having two under two.
• 13:04
  I was so much more focused on my mental wellbeing and emotional wellbeing that getting dressed was, like, the last thing of importance, in the scheme of things.
• 13:14
  But it also, like, wasn't helping me kind of get back online to not have that part of me that, it was another part that was adding to stress, so you just kinda took it out?
• 13:25
  I just, yeah, I made it not a part of my life anymore.
• 13:29
  Do you miss it?
• 13:30
  I do.
• 13:31
  I think I'm coming back around a little bit more.
• 13:35
  I also am, like, a very reflective person- Yeah and I've said this before on the podcast, that usually when I'm going through something, I don't vocalize it.
• 13:45
  I do a lot of internalizing things, and there's been many times where I am either on the other side or I'm starting to come up on the other side, that I'm like,"I wish I was just strong enough to talk about this while I'm going through it." Right.
• 14:01
  Because I really feel like I could have thrown myself into that, you know?
• 14:07
  Mm-hmm.
• 14:07
  And I did a little of it, of kind of like rebuilding my wardrobe after baby, here are some pieces.
• 14:12
  But it's, when I look back at that content, it seems, again, so trivial.
• 14:16
  It's like,"Oh, my jeans don't fit, so, like, let me go find another pair of jeans." And there wasn't, like, emotion connected to it.
• 14:23
  Yeah.
• 14:23
  There wasn't storytelling around it, and I wish I handled it differently,'cause I think that it could have helped other people who are probably feeling the same.
• 14:32
  Right.
• 14:32
  Because it, if you had told the story that way, it would not sound trivial or vague- It wouldn't be about clothes at all.
• 14:38
  It would be about- You know?
• 14:40
  Right how a rapid shift in your life- Mm-hmm can cause you to feel insecure- Mm-hmm in your own skin.
• 14:46
  Mm-hmm.
• 14:46
  And you're go- actively going through this.
• 14:48
  Right.
• 14:48
  And I think that people go through it after they have babies.
• 14:51
  Yeah.
• 14:51
  I think that you kinda know it's gonna happen when you have a baby.
• 14:55
  Mm-hmm.
• 14:55
  You're kinda like,"Okay, I'm gaining weight because I'm having a baby." Yeah, but it's not just the weight.
• 15:01
  And then once the, it n- you know, like the whole- It's, it's not...
• 15:03
  Right then you have the baby and you're like- Right"Oh, okay, I've lost this weight," but like- But your body's different but now my whole body's different.
• 15:09
  Yes.
• 15:09
  I- Like, I feel like that part- Yes you're not necessarily prepared for.
• 15:13
  Like, you're prepared for the weight gain and the weight loss, right?
• 15:15
  It comes with the territory.
• 15:16
  But you don't- But not the whole change of everything no,'cause you don't understand that, like, it's not just, oh, going back to your pre-baby weight.
• 15:24
  It's your whole body changes.
• 15:27
  Yeah.
• 15:27
  Like, I literally feel like my ribs expanded.
• 15:31
  Yeah.
• 15:31
  Your feet can grow and then shrink.
• 15:33
  My, my fingers kind of grew and shrink.
• 15:36
  It's like everything- Everything changes everything changes.
• 15:40
  Yeah.
• 15:40
  And then obviously add on aging, we said, you blink and, like, five years goes by.
• 15:46
  Five years when you start going from 25 to 30, 30 to 35, you start to have, like, gravity working against you, you know?
• 15:55
  And so you're kind of coupling all that together, and everything sort of changes.
• 16:00
  And I think that when- You look at yourself in the mirror, right?
• 16:05
  You might have a disconnect of like, I don't even recognize the body anymore, and it's hard to grapple with that, you know?
• 16:15
  And- It is.
• 16:16
  And then when you add in like trying to get dressed and trying to do basic things which help fill your cup, especially as a new mom.
• 16:24
  Well, it's supposed to put you in that mindset.
• 16:25
  Yes.
• 16:25
  It's supposed to help the mindset.
• 16:26
  Yes.
• 16:27
  I think that- It's very discouraging I- it's so discouraging.
• 16:31
  I would go into my closet, a closet full of clothes that nothing fit me, or it didn't fit the way it used to fit, or I didn't know how to dress my body anymore.
• 16:41
  And then I also didn't wanna make any sort of rapid changes to my wardrobe because your body is constantly changing too.
• 16:49
  Mm-hmm.
• 16:49
  So I felt like I learned pretty fast, like, I'm postpartum, let me buy myself a couple of things that can hold me over, and then a couple months would go by, and then those pieces wouldn't fit anymore.
• 16:59
  And so I just kept collecting clothes that literally did not work for my body, and I felt like when I would go into my closet, this overwhelm that would, like, overtake my body was insane.
• 17:11
  I would be like,"I literally don't have anything to wear." Like, I would feel like a meme.
• 17:15
  Like- Mm-hmm walk into my closet staring at clothes that were almost, like, staring back at me like,"Ha ha, nothing fits." And, like, your husband won't understand.
• 17:24
  It's something that you are just going through, and it's so frustrating.
• 17:29
  It is.
• 17:30
  Well, you also don't see that.
• 17:31
  I mean, there's so many things that you can see on Instagram.
• 17:34
  Mm.
• 17:35
  I would love to see somebody doing, like, a Zara unboxing and being like,"Okay, like, this is my body today.
• 17:43
  This is the same shirt in four sizes- Right because I don't know which one is gonna fit me." Right.
• 17:47
  Like, I would love to watch that unboxing.
• 17:49
  Right.
• 17:50
  You know?
• 17:50
  Yeah.
• 17:50
  'Cause all, what I usually see is like,"Oh, this looks like this, and this looks like this, and this fits like this, and I look great in all six of these outfits." I'm like, well, when I get a box from Zara- Mm-hmm it's usually keep one, send back five.
• 18:01
  Yeah.
• 18:02
  Which is just the reality.
• 18:03
  And, and like- And then I usually share the one that fits- Right after, and I'm like,"Oh, this fits- So it looks like a success story my body.
• 18:09
  It looks like a success story." Yeah.
• 18:12
  But what really happens when I do an unboxing is it's usually, like- Mm-hmm you know, half's going back or th- you know, three-quarters just going back.
• 18:20
  You make a really good point too because I think that obviously so many of us right now have been in this, online shopping world for a really long time, and that was my experience, obviously becoming a mom.
• 18:32
  But I feel like what you really need when you go through a rapid body change is to physically go in somewhere and try on a bunch of different things because not only are, like, sizes different, but that's also a very discouraging feeling when you go to order a bunch of stuff, and then nothing fits.
• 18:50
  And you're like,"I don't know if this would fit in a different size" so it just feels like treading water and getting nowhere all the time.
• 18:57
  Right.
• 18:57
  You know?
• 18:57
  It's j- it is a very frustrating thing.
• 18:58
  Do you ever do that?
• 18:59
  Do you ever order a bunch of things in different sizes to see what works?
• 19:02
  I-'Cause I usually am like,"This will probably work," and then I order just one.
• 19:07
  Like, I don't usually ever do that.
• 19:08
  Well- Like order the small, the medium, and the large I will tell you that obviously I was styling clothes for a freaking living- Right for over a decade, and, like, really before any of my body changes started happening.
• 19:20
  And so I was extremely good at, knowing my body type, knowing my size.
• 19:27
  I literally would have my measurements kind of in my mind, right?
• 19:30
  So when I was, like, looking at a size guide, I would say,"Yep, that size would fit me," and I would order one thing, and it would damn well fit my body.
• 19:38
  And then I feel like since then, I, I cannot connect the dots.
• 19:43
  Right.
• 19:43
  So now that happens so much, where I order something and it's like, not only doesn't fit, it's not even close to fitting.
• 19:51
  And I'm like,"What is going on?" Like, I feel it's so frustrating.
• 19:55
  And so I feel like very bad at shopping right now.
• 19:57
  Like, truly.
• 19:58
  Mm-hmm.
• 19:58
  So it's a huge reason why that, that content pillar, if you will, has taken a backseat- Mm-hmm because I'm still finding my footing in it again.
• 20:10
  Right.
• 20:10
  And like maybe I should share a little bit more of that, but it's so frustrating to me that I don't even wanna be reminded of it.
• 20:17
  Right.
• 20:17
  You know what I mean?
• 20:18
  Right.
• 20:19
  I don't l- l- even like sharing it because it f- a lot of it feels like fails.
• 20:25
  I think you should do it in the form of mom humor.
• 20:27
  Yeah.
• 20:28
  Like, this is 40.
• 20:29
  Yes.
• 20:29
  You get a box of stuff- And nothing fits and nothing fits.
• 20:33
  Right.
• 20:33
  Like that- Right that's what 40 is.
• 20:35
  Right.
• 20:35
  You know?
• 20:35
  I have to have the humor spin on it.
• 20:36
  Like, I think you have to have the humor spin on it.
• 20:38
  'Cause otherwise I would just cry.
• 20:41
  You know, like things have not fit along the way, but like when lots of things have changed.
• 20:46
  And also, like I don't know about you, but like this outfit was too tight on me today, but it was like loose two weeks ago.
• 20:53
  I know.
• 20:53
  Like, depending on where I am- Yep in the month- In the cycle or in the cycle- Yep or if like if I eat too many french fries and pizza- Yep or like have too many glasses of wine- Yep like- It may not fit it may or may not fit.
• 21:03
  Like, is that normal?
• 21:04
  No.
• 21:05
  Ugh.
• 21:05
  Like, some days my rings are too tight, and I'm like,"Did I gain weight in my fingers?" I remember once my mother-in-law, this was like 10 years ago, we were at a wedding and she was wearing a tennis bracelet.
• 21:14
  Mm-hmm.
• 21:15
  And I was like,"That is so stunning.
• 21:16
  When did you have that?" She's like,"I've had it forever, but I lost a little weight, so it fits me now." And I looked at her like she had 10 heads.
• 21:23
  I was like,"Ma, what?
• 21:24
  You lost weight in your wrists?
• 21:26
  Like, what?
• 21:26
  Is that even a thing?" And she looked at me like,"You will understand one day." Yeah.
• 21:30
  You will.
• 21:30
  Like, don't even, don't even give me that, you know?
• 21:32
  And I, like, I get it.
• 21:33
  Yeah.
• 21:34
  I get it now.
• 21:35
  It's like everything gets tight sometimes.
• 21:39
  Yeah.
• 21:39
  It is so frustrating.
• 21:40
  Even your wrists.
• 21:40
  Your wrists, your fingers, your feet.
• 21:42
  Like, literally.
• 21:44
  Did you feel like you went through...
• 21:46
  I always say you were younger when you had kids, so sometimes I feel like the younger you have kids, the easier it is for your body to kind of, you know, do its thing and like bounce back a little, even though I hate that, saying that.
• 21:59
  Yeah.
• 21:59
  But like, kind of come back faster or- After I had Joseph, I was down like 12 or 15 pounds from before I had him,'cause I was nursing, I was running all over the place.
• 22:12
  Like, I was just so- Active.
• 22:13
  Yeah busy.
• 22:14
  Like, I remember before I had kids, like sitting down, having a leisurely breakfast- Mm-hmm having a lunch break at work.
• 22:21
  Like, I ate.
• 22:22
  Mm-hmm.
• 22:23
  And then I would like exercise and whatever, but like when I had Joseph, like I wasn't eating, I wasn't sleeping, I was nursing.
• 22:29
  I was like down weight.
• 22:31
  And I remember being, like, skinny, but, like, skinny, like, flat, like, flabby- Mm-hmm almost skinny.
• 22:36
  Mm-hmm.
• 22:37
  And then I gained the weight back, but I remember wearing...
• 22:41
  Remember those peplum tops were very popular?
• 22:43
  Oh, yeah.
• 22:43
  Yep.
• 22:44
  I remember wearing a peplum top, and even being skinny, like skinny for my body, it didn't fit me right because my ribs had expanded.
• 22:54
  Yes.
• 22:54
  Like, my abdomen had expanded.
• 22:56
  Yes.
• 22:56
  So even though I was down weight, I didn't have, like, a, like, a waist.
• 23:01
  A...
• 23:01
  Right.
• 23:01
  Yes.
• 23:02
  And then I lost all my boobs at the same time.
• 23:05
  Like, no boobs.
• 23:07
  No boobs at all.
• 23:07
  And then I, like, gained weight back after I had Vincent, and then after the twins, I was like,"What is happening?" Like, where is everything?
• 23:17
  You know?
• 23:17
  But then I, like, you know, like, after a while, things just start to, like, taper out.
• 23:21
  Yeah.
• 23:22
  And now I'm just, like, at a time in my life where if I, like, eat a little bit too much for dinner- Mm-hmm the next day I'm, like, 10 pounds...
• 23:30
  Like, I look- Stop 10 pounds heavier.
• 23:32
  Or if I get, like, 15,000 steps in one day, the next morning I'll wake up and my stomach's flat.
• 23:37
  I'm like- I just wanna be the same every day.
• 23:40
  That's kind of how I feel.
• 23:41
  Like, I just wanna be the same.
• 23:42
  It's, it's honestly the fluctuations that kill me.
• 23:45
  Yeah.
• 23:46
  Like, that's how I- That's what it is it's the flu- It's not the same body every day.
• 23:49
  Because it's like, uh, all- Like, who is that?
• 23:50
  we need in our life is you, all you want is predictability.
• 23:55
  You wanna be able to walk in your closet and get dressed and have everything fit you like in your head it should.
• 24:01
  Yeah.
• 24:02
  And so I think that that's actually, you hit the nail on the head.
• 24:05
  Yeah.
• 24:05
  It's, like, the fluctuations, and it's not only the fluctuations from, like, a life event, like having a baby.
• 24:12
  It's like- Yeah you eat one too many french fries and nothing fits you anymore.
• 24:16
  Yeah.
• 24:16
  And it's like, how does this happen?
• 24:19
  And that's why, you would hear the, jokes where you're, like, 20 years old and you can eat anything, and you're like,"Whatever." It's like, live your life, girls.
• 24:26
  If you're s- if you somehow are very young listening to this podcast, like, go eat your freaking french fries.
• 24:32
  I know.
• 24:32
  Because, like, we can't.
• 24:33
  That's what I'm gonna tell my daughters.
• 24:35
  Like, eat them.
• 24:36
  Eat what you want, do what you want, and live your life.
• 24:37
  Enjoy your life.
• 24:39
  Well, and to that point, I said at the very beginning of this podcast, like, turning 40, I want to live my life.
• 24:46
  Mm-hmm.
• 24:46
  I want to enjoy my life.
• 24:47
  Yeah.
• 24:47
  I wanna eat the pasta, I wanna enjoy the food.
• 24:49
  I wanna, like, take it all in.
• 24:51
  Yep.
• 24:51
  Well, if I'm living my life too well, my, my- Your clothes won't fit things aren't, my clothes won't fit.
• 24:58
  So there's that.
• 25:00
  I just did a, a reel the other day, and one of my girlfriends was like,"Your boobs look so big," in that, in the reel I had a sports bra on.
• 25:07
  Yeah.
• 25:07
  And I was like,"Thanks, but they're gonna go down in a couple days.
• 25:11
  Like, I'm just about to get my period." Right.
• 25:13
  Like, don't be too excited.
• 25:14
  It's literally the fluctuations.
• 25:16
  Like, it's, they'll only last for three or four days.
• 25:18
  Yep.
• 25:18
  It is, it is wild.
• 25:20
  Something that I don't think that you're, like, mentally prepared for, truly.
• 25:25
  No.
• 25:26
  Is there any piece of clothing that you feel like will always work for you, or that you're always like,"Ugh, I love this," or,"I like how I feel in this"?
• 25:34
  Yeah, I think an A-line dress.
• 25:38
  So something that kind of flares out at the waist.
• 25:42
  Tight on top, flares out a- somewhere at the waist.
• 25:45
  Like the dress you wore when we were recording last week with Max?
• 25:48
  Yes, yes.
• 25:48
  Like that's considered an ar- Yep A-line dress?
• 25:50
  Yeah, like anything where it's kind of like, it, it kind of can depend on where,'cause sometimes the drop waist, because I do have a waist and I'm curvy, like- Mm-hmm at my hips, sometimes the drop waist doesn't look great on me.
• 26:02
  But as long as it hits above my waist- Mm-hmm the bust is sort of tight, and then the bottom kind of flares out.
• 26:09
  Mm-hmm.
• 26:09
  And it could either be like a mini or a midi dress.
• 26:11
  Mm-hmm.
• 26:12
  I feel like all of those, like the, anything in that family is something that usually works for my body type.
• 26:18
  Okay.
• 26:18
  What about for you?
• 26:19
  I s- I don't really know.
• 26:21
  I'm still trying to figure- Mm I'm still trying to figure that out.
• 26:24
  I guess that's why I kind of asked you.
• 26:26
  Is there anything, any particular thing that you feel like you're most comfortable in?
• 26:30
  I like a set.
• 26:31
  A s- yeah.
• 26:32
  I feel like sets- Yeah look good on me- Mm-hmm or I, like, feel comfortable in a set- Mm-hmm'cause it's a whole outfit.
• 26:37
  Yep.
• 26:37
  Perfect.
• 26:37
  I feel like it looks put together.
• 26:40
  I've always been like a, a lover of a set.
• 26:42
  Mm-hmm.
• 26:43
  You know?
• 26:43
  I know you d- I know you always...
• 26:44
  You're wearing one right now.
• 26:45
  I'm wearing one right now.
• 26:46
  Yeah.
• 26:46
  I'm wearing one right now.
• 26:47
  So I wanna turn this a little bit then we obviously just spent time complaining, you know, about the bodies that we're in, but like, and we- we're saying we wanna live our lives going into 40s, but We wanna love the body that we're in also.
• 27:05
  Are there ways that you're trying to do that?
• 27:09
  Yeah, so I like to walk- Mm-hmm every day.
• 27:12
  Mm-hmm.
• 27:13
  And I did-- I've been doing the walk with the vest- The weighted vest the weighted vest, and I've been walking with the wrist weights.
• 27:21
  Mm-hmm.
• 27:22
  But- Yeah, Roger says he sees you almost every day walking.
• 27:24
  I have been walking every day.
• 27:26
  I started wearing my Apple Watch to, like, track my steps- Yeah because I was in a step challenge with Joseph.
• 27:32
  But since the kids are home, I haven't been going out to my exercise class, but I have been folding laundry with the wrist weights on.
• 27:40
  The weighted wrist weights.
• 27:41
  With the weighted wrist weights on.
• 27:42
  Wow.
• 27:42
  And in the morning when I'm, like, running around doing my routine- Mm-hmm I don't always have time to, like, go out and get my steps in, so I've been doing it with the vest and the wrist weights.
• 27:50
  Inside.
• 27:50
  And it- Wow when I wear the watch, it calculates as a workout.
• 27:56
  And again, I realize I look ridiculous- but I'm trying to, I'm trying to get my workout in and also do chores and mother so I can, like, do the fun stuff later.
• 28:07
  Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
• 28:07
  But the vest and the weights- Wow I really like.
• 28:10
  That's a really good tip.
• 28:12
  And then I also moved my rebounder, my trampoline- Mm-hmm up into my bedroom, because this also sounds ridiculous, but if you have a gym, like your gym is in your basement- Mm-hmm if I have to walk from my bedroom to my basement, I'm gonna get distracted.
• 28:29
  Yeah.
• 28:29
  Like I'm tr- I'm gonna get distracted, or I'm gonna see my kids, or I'm gonna think about something else.
• 28:33
  So I moved the rebounder to my bedroom- Mm-hmm and I've been doing 10 minutes on the trampoline.
• 28:38
  Just jumping?
• 28:39
  And that's my workout.
• 28:40
  Wow.
• 28:40
  I'll watch TV- Wow and I'll just, like, jump, or I'll listen to music and I'll just, like, jump.
• 28:44
  Mm-hmm.
• 28:45
  And that's my workout.
• 28:46
  So I've been doing, quote, less time working out just to like- And just more activity just t- just, like, just to, like, get it in and do it.
• 28:54
  Mm-hmm.
• 28:54
  Because I feel like I just need to, like, move a little bit- Does that help you- and be okay with it like, does moving help you feel comfortable in your body?
• 29:02
  It does.
• 29:03
  It just makes me feel more calm in my skin.
• 29:05
  Like, when I move and when I- Mm-hmm see that I've, like, moved a lot, and I feel like it's so mental.
• 29:09
  Mm-hmm.
• 29:10
  Like, I'll check my steps and be like,"Oh, I did 12,000 steps today." Right.
• 29:13
  "I had an active day." Right.
• 29:14
  I shouldn't have to, like, look at that number as a barometer- Right to tell me, like, if I should feel good or not, but it does, it, like, kind of helps me.
• 29:22
  So I do think that movement is, the best medicine, and sometimes getting up and going to a workout class, as much as I love, like, the social and the camaraderie of it, it does-- it's not always, like, the most effective way to feel good in my skin.
• 29:34
  Right.
• 29:35
  You know?
• 29:35
  Right.
• 29:36
  It's really about the, the actual activity.
• 29:38
  The actual activity.
• 29:39
  Right.
• 29:40
  And then I also just ordered, and I haven't used it yet- One of those shake plates.
• 29:44
  Do you have one yet?
• 29:45
  The vibration plate?
• 29:45
  The vibration plate.
• 29:46
  I don't.
• 29:46
  No, I don't have one.
• 29:47
  I just ordered it on Prime Day.
• 29:49
  I'm gonna try it out over the next couple weeks, and I'll report back.
• 29:52
  People swear by them, so.
• 29:53
  But I'm gonna put that in my room, too.
• 29:55
  Mm-hmm.
• 29:55
  I'm gonna keep every- everything- Just keep everything- in- housed up there my room.
• 29:59
  I kind of agree with you that it's...
• 30:02
  Well, they say for, like, our age, anything like rebounding- Mm-hmm is supposed to be good on your joints.
• 30:09
  Mm-hmm.
• 30:09
  And the shake plate is supposed to be good for, like, your lymphatic system.
• 30:12
  Right.
• 30:13
  So, like, while, yes, I think movement is good for, like, feeling good in your clothes- Right it also just overall I feel like is supposed to make you- Right just, like, feel better.
• 30:22
  I've wanted to try that.
• 30:23
  I don't know.
• 30:23
  What do you think?
• 30:24
  I've wanted to try the vibration- Is it too gimmicky?
• 30:25
  plate, but I swear I'm still at the point where I can't...
• 30:30
  I'm trying to, like, simplify my routines as much as possible.
• 30:34
  And so for me, I've said this before, but, like, I have been so guilty of not having my priorities straight as far as movement goes.
• 30:44
  Mm-hmm.
• 30:44
  It's like one of those things that I know makes me feel better, but it's somehow, it's like a bad habit that I would always put it on the back burner.
• 30:53
  So like, something could always distract me from working out for the day.
• 30:58
  It's like,"Oh, I have to do this for work," or like,"I would rather do this," and it would always become something that I would prioritize last.
• 31:05
  And something in me the last probably six weeks has, I don't know,'cause I can't exactly put my finger on what it was, but it is a non-negotiable for me right now.
• 31:17
  And- So what does that look like for you?
• 31:18
  It, so I am either walking around our neighborhood, I'm going for an incline walk on my treadmill for at least 30 minutes.
• 31:26
  I'll try to do sometimes 40, 45.
• 31:29
  I have my Pilates, reformer machine, so doing a Pilates workout, usually around twice a week.
• 31:36
  And then I started adding a lot of weights in since we've been talking to people, and I feel like I've learned so much on this podcast about that, and how it's so important to add weights into your working out now.
• 31:49
  Mm-hmm.
• 31:50
  Especially as we are into our 40s, you're losing muscle.
• 31:54
  Right.
• 31:54
  Not, not only are you not gaining it, you're- You're losing it rapidly actively losing it.
• 31:59
  And so I started adding that into my daily sort of routine, and now that's a non-negotiable for me.
• 32:07
  And it really, I do agree with you, like, it really does help me feel good in my skin.
• 32:11
  I don't really care about the way I look from it.
• 32:14
  It's more just about how I actually feel, and like the mental clarity, and it, it feels very productive- Yeah to do that.
• 32:23
  And I'm very guilty of always putting that at the bottom, and I don't know what shifted, but- But now that you've been doing it and you realize- I think it's the 40s how- Yes good you feel when you do it- Yes now it's become a non-negotiable.
• 32:35
  Because I'm kind of like- I need to do it you know what?
• 32:36
  I'm going into my 40s, and I'm kind of like thinking about the rest of my life.
• 32:41
  Like, I need to start the habits now so that I have them for the rest of my life.
• 32:45
  This is not just about the way you look, it's about the way you feel and for your health.
• 32:50
  Right.
• 32:50
  It's actually for your wellbeing- Right down the line, you know?
• 32:54
  Your balance, you don't wanna fall.
• 32:57
  We'll probably have Leah on again.
• 32:58
  Mm-hmm.
• 32:59
  Leah Masselli, she's talked to us extensively about this.
• 33:02
  She's my Pilates instructor.
• 33:03
  What did she say to us once about muscle?
• 33:05
  Like, muscle is like the key to your longevity because the more- Yes muscle you have- Yes it helps, like, your entire body.
• 33:11
  Pre- it prevents falls.
• 33:13
  If I'm sitting here reflecting, I'm not doing this as a nicety, it's a n- a necessity.
• 33:19
  Mm-hmm.
• 33:19
  Right?
• 33:19
  And so I think that that must have been the shift, like almost knowing that I'm approaching 40, and I was like,"I gotta get my ass in gear." Like, this needs to be part of my daily non-negotiable list.
• 33:30
  Mm-hmm.
• 33:30
  And now it is.
• 33:32
  Yeah.
• 33:32
  I know, the w- I, I think walking is the best.
• 33:35
  I do too.
• 33:35
  And you can really, like, kick it up a notch if you walk on an incline- Mm-hmm or if you have a hilly neighborhood, or, like, the weighted vest- Mm-hmm or, like, even, like, the weights around your wrist.
• 33:43
  Right.
• 33:43
  You know, you can get your kids involved.
• 33:45
  You can have them- Right bike with you.
• 33:46
  They can walk with you.
• 33:47
  You can push your kids in the stroller.
• 33:50
  Like, w- I just feel like when I walk, I just, like, feel, like, a release.
• 33:53
  It really feels like a full body workout for some reason.
• 33:56
  Yeah.
• 33:56
  You feel, like, mentally good, and so, yeah, that's, that is how I'm living life right now.
• 34:00
  All right, so we're walking into our 40s.
• 34:02
  We are.
• 34:03
  All right, so we will close off this podcast- Mm-hmm and this decade- Oh with our Pink Spotlight.
• 34:11
  Yeah.
• 34:11
  Which is our person, place, thing, tip, mantra, piece of technology- item, the list goes on and on and on this week.
• 34:19
  So what do you got for me?
• 34:20
  So mine is the Skylight calendar.
• 34:23
  I got myself a Skylight calendar a couple of months ago, Did it take a while for you to set it up?
• 34:27
  It really did not.
• 34:28
  Okay.
• 34:29
  It took, it was very, very quick to set up.
• 34:32
  I love that it's v- it's actually very basic.
• 34:35
  Hmm.
• 34:36
  And what I mean by that is, like, it's a calendar and kind of like a to-do list, and that's it.
• 34:42
  I feel like sometimes when you have, like, a hub and it does, like, a million other things- Yeah like, it doesn't play videos.
• 34:47
  It doesn't do- That's why I was asking.
• 34:49
  It doesn't do anything else.
• 34:50
  Did it take a lot?
• 34:50
  Oh, okay.
• 34:50
  There's no other frills except it, it's a extremely efficient piece of machinery.
• 34:56
  I love it.
• 34:56
  Where do you have it?
• 34:57
  So it's a...
• 34:57
  So we put it on our desk.
• 34:59
  If you don't know what the Skylight calendar is, it's basically like a hub, and it's a, an electronic calendar that you can put on, like, a wall.
• 35:06
  You could put it on a desk.
• 35:07
  And there's an app associated with it and you can kind of organize the entire family and all of the things that you have going on.
• 35:16
  I love it because we have different caregivers, right, in and out of our house.
• 35:20
  We have our moms who help.
• 35:21
  We have babysitters, nannies.
• 35:24
  It's me, my husband.
• 35:25
  Like, I, I feel like when we're with our kids, it's like,"Who's with the kids today?" And there was no central place for us to include all of the information of, like, who's here for the day, what activities do we have going on, what time is school pickup, what doctor's appointments are where, you know?
• 35:42
  And this is, like, a place to keep everything.
• 35:45
  And I like it because you can color code by family member too, so each of us has our own color when it's an event associated with us, and then we also created one for the family.
• 35:57
  So when it's a family event, we have a different color for the family.
• 36:00
  So you really can see, like- So it's not like you really have to, like- where everyone is supposed to be hone in.
• 36:05
  It kinda, like- Yeah, it's a really good- The colors sort of, like, tell you the story.
• 36:08
  It's a...
• 36:08
  Yes, it's a kinda- Oh, I like this it's a, it's a nice snapshot.
• 36:11
  And I like it's a touchscreen calendar too, so you can add either from the actual calendar- Oh, you don't have to do it only on your phone or you can do it, and then you can sync your calendar.
• 36:20
  So you can sync, like, your Gmail calendar, and that, all of your events can go right on there, so you don't have to manually add them.
• 36:26
  And then there's, like, add-ons, like, for the subscription part, which are, like, to-do lists, chores, grocery lists, like- So as your family grows- Yes you can incorporate some of those other- Yes.
• 36:38
  Oh, that's awesome tasks that need to be done, and checklists, and- But even for, like, Leo at four, that would be even so cute for him now.
• 36:45
  Like, what's a, what's a task for him that he could...
• 36:48
  Like, empty the garbage pail or something.
• 36:49
  Right, and then it's like- Like a cute- Check, I did it yeah.
• 36:51
  You know?
• 36:51
  It's, it's really, really great.
• 36:53
  I've always heard about it.
• 36:55
  I have a code, so I'm gonna put that in our show notes because it was on sale for Amazon Prime, but if you happened to miss that a couple weeks ago, My code is the sale price, so that's great.
• 37:05
  So if you happened to miss that, you can still get it at, I think it's 20% off, which is great.
• 37:09
  Oh, that is a great deal.
• 37:11
  Mm-hmm.
• 37:11
  Oh, I love that.
• 37:12
  So I love it.
• 37:13
  I love it.
• 37:13
  Very, very big fan.
• 37:15
  Worth the hype, one of the products.
• 37:16
  Oh, worth the hype.
• 37:17
  I would always see it and I would be like- I know I wonder if this is as good as everyone said it is, and it totally is.
• 37:22
  Okay,'cause sometimes when you get technology, it takes so long just to figure it out.
• 37:27
  You're like,"Forget it.
• 37:28
  Just forget it." Or, or it's like-"I'm over it." a, a nuisance to update.
• 37:32
  Yeah.
• 37:32
  You know?
• 37:32
  Okay, so what do you have for me?
• 37:33
  I'll give you my pink spotlight.
• 37:34
  Okay, so I'll tease this.
• 37:36
  So when this airs...
• 37:38
  No, I won't have left yet.
• 37:39
  So I just planned a trip to Italy for me and Nick.
• 37:41
  Mm-hmm.
• 37:41
  So for my 40th and for our 15-year wedding anniversary- Yeah we're going to Italy.
• 37:46
  Oh my goodness.
• 37:46
  So- Happy anniversary.
• 37:47
  Thank you.
• 37:48
  Happy early birthday.
• 37:48
  Thank you.
• 37:48
  Nick turned 45 this year, too, but he's like,"Is this for me also?" I'm like- No"Sh, no.
• 37:55
  Is any- is it anything?" But, so I switched to Claude.
• 38:00
  Yes, you did.
• 38:01
  And I really like Claude, and I'm gonna tell you why.
• 38:04
  I think that chat spits back what I say in a more, like, refined way.
• 38:12
  I feel like Claude is like,"Hmm, let me think about it for a minute." And Claude, like, has a thinking process.
• 38:18
  Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
• 38:19
  Like, it takes, like, a few minutes or a few seconds to, like, spit back information to you.
• 38:24
  It's thoughtful.
• 38:24
  It's very thoughtful.
• 38:26
  It's very th- She's very thoughtful.
• 38:27
  I know.
• 38:28
  She's very thoughtful.
• 38:29
  So it has this compatibility with your email as well.
• 38:33
  So I spit out the dates of when we were gonna be away and the hotels that I wanted to stay at.
• 38:39
  It was able to check availability at the hotels and give me a ballpark range of prices.
• 38:47
  Wow.
• 38:47
  And then also, it gave me step-by-step list of what I needed to do.
• 38:51
  So, okay, before we do anything, you need to book your flights.
• 38:54
  Okay, now you have your flights.
• 38:55
  Now you need to book your hotels.
• 38:56
  Mm-hmm.
• 38:56
  Okay, now book your transfers.
• 38:58
  This is how you transfer.
• 38:59
  Okay, now email the hotel this email.
• 39:03
  Click here to send the email.
• 39:06
  Wow.
• 39:07
  So it wrote the email, and then you click the link, and it takes you into your email, and then you hit send.
• 39:13
  So you got it all connected.
• 39:14
  I, I got it all connected.
• 39:15
  Wow.
• 39:15
  So it won't do it, um, automatically for you, but...
• 39:19
  'Cause obviously sometimes you don't wanna just send it like that.
• 39:21
  No.
• 39:21
  So it set up the, the, the transfers, any activities-'cause it asked me like,"What are your interests?
• 39:28
  What are you looking to do?" And I was like,"Well, I don't even know what I'm looking to do in this area." So it was like,"Okay, well, here's a list of options.
• 39:35
  Okay, here's a list of potential tours." And then from there, me and Nick looked it over and we were like,"Oh, this looks like something we'd wanna do.
• 39:43
  Okay, let's book this, let's book this." But we booked everything through Claude.
• 39:46
  Wow.
• 39:46
  And I wanted to go through a travel agent, the same one that I used when my mom and I went to Italy in October, and she was booked.
• 39:54
  And this was in April or May, so again, it was last minute.
• 39:58
  We were going in July.
• 39:59
  She said,"I'm currently not taking any-" Wow.
• 40:01
  Like, the, the soonest reservations I'm taking for European trips are for October.
• 40:07
  So we had to kinda do it ourselves, and I was very much able to.
• 40:11
  Okay, so you are a Claude convert now.
• 40:13
  I really, really liked Claude.
• 40:14
  Wow.
• 40:15
  I think, I mean, maybe this, a similar thing could be achieved on chat, but I really liked, I really liked Claude.
• 40:21
  I wanna learn more about it.
• 40:22
  Me too.
• 40:23
  I'm so fascinated by it.
• 40:24
  I am too, and just, like, streamlining, and I think that it's- Yeah just really cool.
• 40:28
  We obviously have to, like, embrace AI.
• 40:30
  Yeah.
• 40:30
  But- We have to I feel like there's ways to really, like, streamline your life and use it in a way that really helps you.
• 40:36
  Right.
• 40:36
  You know?
• 40:37
  And it's not always correct either.
• 40:39
  Like, you c- you have to fact-check.
• 40:40
  Right.
• 40:40
  So, like, I'm not fully relying on it.
• 40:42
  Right.
• 40:43
  But it gave me enough of an outline that I could still fact-check- Right you know?
• 40:47
  Right.
• 40:47
  And make sure it was all...
• 40:48
  So that's, so that's my pink spotlight.
• 40:50
  I love that.
• 40:50
  But I have a little closeout for you, since this is your birthday.
• 40:53
  Oh my goodness.
• 40:55
  So Christina, 10 years ago we met.
• 40:58
  And I had no idea, at the Baha Mar, that I would be meeting one of the greatest loves of my life.
• 41:03
  Aw, T.
• 41:04
  So let me tell you about this girl.
• 41:06
  I feel like if you tune into our episode week after week, you have a pretty good idea of who this girl is.
• 41:12
  But if you have only been tuning into her on Oh So Glam or Christina Tirabassi, you may not know this, so let me enlighten you- about my friend.
• 41:22
  This girl will make you pee your pants laughing every single time.
• 41:26
  Give her a couple of beers and she'll tell you anything you wanna know.
• 41:30
  And probably some things that you didn't.
• 41:33
  She's thoughtful in the way that catches you off guard.
• 41:36
  She's beautiful inside and out.
• 41:37
  She's mommy to two of the luckiest kiddos on Earth, and of course those fur babies who won the lottery and who are her first loves.
• 41:44
  Aw.
• 41:46
  And she's Raja's ride or die.
• 41:48
  Loyal, loyal beyond loyal, and the kind of loyal you build your whole life around.
• 41:54
  10 years in and I'd choose you again in a heartbeat.
• 41:57
  Happy 40th, my friend.
• 41:58
  Here's to the next decade of laughing until we cry, telling each other everything.
• 42:02
  I love you so much.
• 42:03
  I love you.
• 42:03
  Your other Christina.
• 42:04
  Oh my goodness, I love you so much.
• 42:07
  Happy birthday to you.
• 42:07
  I'm so grateful for you and everything that we've built here, and our friendship, and just I'm so happy.
• 42:14
  I really am so blessed, and I love this community so much, and I'm so, so happy to enter my 40s.
• 42:23
  I feel like the best is ahead.
• 42:25
  It is.
• 42:25
  Truly.
• 42:26
  It is.
• 42:26
  What's that quote the, by Frank Sinatra?
• 42:29
  "The best is yet to come.""The best is yet to come." You know?
• 42:31
  And I really feel like that, and I cannot wait for you to join me soon.
• 42:35
  Oh, I'll be right there with you.
• 42:37
  We'll blink, and it will be September.
• 42:39
  So happy birthday to you.
• 42:40
  Thank you so much.
• 42:41
  And thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in.
• 42:43
  Thank you.
• 42:44
  We love all of you, and thank you for being on this journey with us.
• 42:47
  Amazing.
• 42:47
  Whether you like it or not- you're stuck with us.
• 42:52
  Thank you, guys.
• 42:53
  We will see you next week.
• 42:54
  See you next week.
• 42:54
  Bye.
• 42:55
  Bye.