Chatting With My Amigas

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Marry Me

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The RealReal

Fashionphile

Poshmark

Pinterest

Yellowstone

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ramona Hall

Phillips Concessions

Chatting With My Amigas Website 

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram

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

Key Points From This Episode:

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

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Chatting With My Amigas Website

Chatting With My Amigas Email

Chatting With My Amigas on Instagram