Margs and Mindset

Send us Fan MailFive years into business sounds like a celebration until someone calls your company “mature” and you realize… oh, this is the livelihood now. We’re sipping margaritas and telling the truth about what that milestone brings up: pride, pressure, gratitude, and the very real question of how to build a sustainable business for the long haul without spiraling into fear.We also get into the brand refresh we thought would be “just new photos,” then quickly became a full identity check. New pictures lead to new website copy, new clarity, and a new standard for how we want to show up as business owners. If you’ve been feeling like your old brand no longer fits, this conversation will help you name what’s changing and why it’s so emotional, especially when you run multiple services and your business keeps evolving.From there, we zoom out into the entrepreneurship mindset that keeps us moving: intentionality over reaction, asking deeper questions, and letting fear ride along without letting it choose the route. We talk about the weird nerves of full-time entrepreneurship, the fear vs excitement reframe, and the reminder we found in our original Dream Big notebook that the process and the vision were always there. If you’re building something in Rochester (ROC) or anywhere else and you want a grounded push to keep going, you’re in the right place.Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s in a growth season, and leave a review so more builders can find us. What part of success feels the scariest to you right now?Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailA grapefruit margarita at 10:30 AM sounds like chaos until you hear the point behind it: we’ve built a life where we get to choose our mornings. That little moment turns into a bigger conversation about entrepreneurship, time freedom, and why your calendar should be a tool instead of a trap. We talk about the never-ending to-do list and how changing the narrative helps us feel less boxed in while still getting real work done.We also go deeper into the mindset shift that “time is made up.” Not as an excuse to avoid responsibility, but as a way to stop letting the clock run your nervous system. We share what it looks like to stay grounded when plans change, why we’re proud of the earlier versions of ourselves who pushed through the hard seasons, and how emotional resilience shows up in everyday moments that used to derail our whole day.Then we pivot into health, wellness, and routines that finally stick. We unpack morning and evening routines, the value of working with a nutrition coach and personal trainer, and why your food story can be tangled up with stress, mental health, and old survival patterns. We also share a very real wake-up call around diabetes risk and lifestyle change, plus the reminder we keep coming back to: you don’t have to like everything you do, but you still have to do it if you want the best version of you.If this hit home, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s rebuilding their habits, and leave a review so more people can find Margs And Mindset.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailEight courses will do that thing where you show up thinking you’re just going to eat, and you leave remembering who you are. We’re fresh off a North Carolina family vacation and the end of four back-to-back trips, and our bodies are begging for routine, homeostasis, and that simple grounded feeling of being home in our own space. We talk honestly about motherhood, travel fatigue, and why rest can feel like the smartest move you make before a packed season.Then we jump into the private dinner that brought everything together: an elevated Mexican tasting menu with a real story arc, plus craft cocktail pairings that somehow taste exactly like the bartender predicts. We break down the experience course by course, including the dishes we swore we wouldn’t like and then absolutely demolished, and we share the tiny details that made it feel intentional: being seated like guests, being prompted to take the photo, and being pulled into community with total strangers.The deeper takeaway is bigger than food. Telling our story out loud reminds us how far we’ve come, and it reinforces the celebration system we’re building on purpose so we can pour into our business without burning out. If you’ve been stuck in “life is happening to me,” we get into the mindset shift that changes everything: life can happen for you when you choose a new perspective and actually say yes to the moments that refill your cup.Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review if the mindset shift lands for you.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailGetting laid off can either shrink your world or crack it wide open. We sit down with returning guest Aubre Fox exactly one year after she gets pushed into full-time entrepreneurship, and the timing is almost too perfect: the day we record, we’re also processing a fresh layoff on our side. What follows is an honest, grounded 365-day look at how confidence actually gets built, one project, one relationship, and one hard decision at a time. Aubre walks us through AF Brands and Co, the umbrella that finally makes her work feel clear and bookable: NXT Level Collective, A Fox Interiors, and “Aubre” as a brand for speaking, programming, and creative opportunities. We talk personal branding and business clarity, why “trying things” is not being scattered, and how you know you’ve moved from exploration into alignment. If you’re searching for entrepreneurship advice, solopreneur support, or how to build multiple income streams without confusing your audience, this conversation delivers real examples. We also get into the culture shift that matters most: no gatekeeping. From CEO circles and retreats to simple moments of asking a friend for the number you don’t know, we explore how community building helps women in business grow faster. Aubre shares what it’s like to book commercial acting work through relationships, what “proof of life” selfies are, and why she’s comfortable saying, “I usually get paid for this.” If this hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s building something new, and leave a review so more founders can find the show.  And if you've been thinking about joining the collective but have been on the fence we're here to say DO IT!We even have a discount code to save you 10% off your membership: HOMEMADE10Meet Aubre FoxAubre Fox is the founder of AF Brands & Co., where she builds brands that blend creativity, strategy, and community. She also brings her on-camera and creative experience to each company. This includes being featured in commercials, leading brand shoots and promotions, and partnering on events as a creative collaborator from concept through execution.The NXT Level Collective is Aubre’s community for women in business who want real support, real strategy, and zero gatekeeping. Through memberships, events, and curated experiences, it helps women scale with stronger systems, confidence, and connections.A.Fox Interiors is her high-end residential interior design firm, focusing on family-friendly, elevated spaces that feel timeless and functional. The team offers full-service design support from concept to completion, allowing clients to enjoy the process and love the result.If your’re anything like us, you’ll want to be friends with Aubre after this episode! You can follow her journey on:NXTwww.thenxtlevelcollective.comig: @nxt_levelcollectiveA.Fox Interiorswww.afoxinteriors.comig: @a.fox_interiorsPersonal Brand / AF Brands & Cowww.afbrandsco.comig: @Aubre_Fox Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailThe calendar flips to spring in Rochester and suddenly it’s go time: events stack up, the pace accelerates, and every tiny crack in your business systems shows up all at once. We’re fresh off a one-day retreat called Scaling For Sustainable Success, and it gives us the exact mindset shift we need to step into busy season without melting down. Not because we find a magic template, but because we realize the real work starts with the person leading the business.We talk about why the most effective business retreat experience we’ve had doesn’t begin with revenue goals or marketing plans. It begins with self-awareness, identity, and leadership. We share how breathwork and visualization keep landing for us, even when we doubt it right before it starts and how releasing old stories changes the way we make decisions, handle pressure, and show up as business owners. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “bad at this” after one messy day, this conversation is for you.Then we bring it straight into real life: four events in three days, a full array of challenges, and a totally different response than we used to have. Instead of spiraling, we problem-solve in the moment, plug holes in our workflows, and treat mistakes like data. Yes, we even talk about the scissors problem and why “buy more scissors” is sometimes the most honest operations strategy. We also share a coaching line that hits us in the chest: you can’t judge your whole career off your worst game.If you’re building a small business, scaling an event business, or craving sustainable success without burnout, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s in growth mode, and leave a review with the biggest system you need to build next.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailOne Friday call. Boss, boss’s boss, HR. “Effective immediately, you no longer work here.” After 11 years in corporate America, Lyssa expects the kind of moment that wrecks your stomach and scrambles your future. Instead, a smile creeps in and the truth lands fast: she wasn’t going to quit, so the universe pushed her off the ledge.We unpack the real-time aftermath of becoming a full-time entrepreneur, including the part nobody warns you about: you can be “fine” and still not have processed it. Lyssa shares how she kept it together to record a podcast minutes after the firing, why privacy and professionalism mattered, and what it means to finally answer “Do you do this full time?” with a clear yes. We also talk about the limiting beliefs that keep smart, capable people stuck like the comfort of steady pay, the myth of “free money,” and the identity trap of being a high achiever who won’t let anyone down.Then we get practical about the nervous system shift: sleep changes, weekends feel different, vacations aren’t haunted by a laptop, and work-life balance stops being a theory. We reflect on scaling a small business, “working ourselves out of our jobs,” and how being surrounded by women entrepreneurs turns fear into momentum, especially when your people cheer for you instead of grieving the job.If you’re thinking about leaving your corporate job, starting a business, or stepping into a bigger season of abundance, this conversation will hit. Subscribe to the show, share it with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review. What would it take for you to finally choose yourself?Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailVegas didn’t blur for us. It sharpened. We came home one day removed and already know we’re not the same people who boarded that plane. No partying fog, no boozy memory gaps just full-senses, wide-awake joy, awe, and a couple of moments that hit so deep we’re still processing them.We went to Las Vegas to celebrate a 37th birthday and finally see Jennifer Lopez live on March 6, after months of anticipation and a past tour that got canceled. The timing felt unreal, like everything lined up on purpose. Then the universe doubled down: a random pick for birthday breakfast turns into a stranger giving an eerily spot-on reading that cracks us open before 10 a.m. It becomes this reminder that the right trip at the right time can feel like confirmation, not coincidence.And then there’s the desert. First time seeing it and our brains basically short-circuit. Raw earth, naked mountains, sunsets that don’t look like they belong on the same planet as our everyday life. It sparks a bigger question about travel, curiosity, and how much of the world we’ve been taking for granted. Add in the Vegas food experience list (Hell’s Kitchen, Mon Ami Gabi, Jardin, Wolfgang Puck) and we’re forced to admit our standards and our mindset both leveled up.If you’ve been craving a reset, a girls trip idea, or a push to build “something to look forward to” into your life, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend you’d travel with, and leave a review with the place that changed you most.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailA pink-tinged marg, a splash of ginger beer, and a truth bomb: hospitality is the art of making people feel held. We sit down with Adrian of Seared and Sacrum—our go-to catering partner—to unpack how a women-led team builds unforgettable events through craft, care, and clear boundaries. From proper shake technique and why texture matters to edible storytelling that turns grazing tables into tiny worlds, Adrian shows how customization beats cookie-cutter, every time.Her journey runs from dive bars and distilleries to fine dining and craft cocktails, then into entrepreneurship sparked by a simple question: if mediocre men can launch businesses, why not us? We dive into the math and mindset of growth—hitting a 50-client cap on meal prep, deciding when to hire, and why culture outranks skill when you bring people aboard. Chef’s choice menus become a case study in saying yes wisely: lower costs, better quality, more magic. Not everyone will love it, and that’s the point—alignment over appeasement.We also get personal. Adrian works with endometriosis and designs her schedule around her cycle, naming what many women feel but rarely say: consistency is not a moral virtue. We talk motherhood, rest, and how permission creates better work. Anthony’s story—three years sober, shifting from “Guinness Tony” to Chef Anthony—highlights quiet leadership and food as a voice. Then we zoom out: the patriarchy’s fingerprints on hospitality, from witches who pioneered brewing and distilling to the power of “gossip” as community care. Aging comes into focus as an asset, not a flaw—moving from producing to mentoring, from proving to guiding.If you care about events that feel like you, about building a business without burning out, and about partnerships where values show up on the plate, you’ll feel at home here. Tap play, then tell us: what boundary are you claiming this year? If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.Meet Adrean:Adrean Valerio has worked in the hospitality industry since she was 15 and is the owner of Seared & Saccharum Catering alongside her husband, Anthony. She built her career around the belief that good food and genuine hospitality can bring people together in meaningful ways.She’s a mom to Leland, with a beloved dog named Walnut rounding out the household. When she’s not planning events, she’s usually reading or falling down the rabbit hole of a new hobby.Adrean is a staunch feminist and human rights advocate who cares deeply about community, family, and doing what she can to make the world around her a little better.If your’re anything like us, you’ll want to be friends with Adrean after this episode! You can follow her journey on Instagram: @searedandsaccharumWebsite: searedandsaccharum.comAnd if you're looking for delicious and healthy meal prep don't forget to our listeners get 50% off meal prep using code Margs50!Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailSun on our faces, sand in our shoes, and a whole new standard for what family time can feel like. We just came back from a resort-and-ruins whirlwind and a cruise that forced us to unplug, and we’re talking about how travel rewired our kids’ expectations, our work rhythms, and our own sense of what a rich life looks like. From a first sip of bitter espresso to a virgin daiquiri on the beach, little moments sparked big conversations about taste, boundaries, and the kind of care we want our kids to expect from the world.Mexico gave us more than tan lines. A day in a Mayan community and at Chichen Itza hit like a reset button, reminding us why we leave home: to be changed. Then came the cruise—the kind of old-school hospitality that makes you feel remembered—plus a near disaster when we almost drove to the wrong port. With no service at sea, we actually had to be present, and it felt like a gift. We came home, cracked a champagne bottle tied to a very specific goal, and celebrated beating our event target in the shortest month of the year. Ritualizing wins turned momentum into a habit.All of that flowed into a bigger theme: this is the year of flow. Last year was discovery and surrender; this year we integrate. We’re choosing to put away the laptop when the family bucket needs filling, to trust that abundance expands when we stop gripping, and to let plans we made months ago finally land—like a Vegas trip lined up with a birthday and a JLo residency we’ve dreamed about since we were kids. We talk manifestation without fluff, the power of intentional planning, and why standards aren’t snobbery when they’re rooted in curiosity, care, and self-belief.Press play for travel stories, honest laughs, and practical takeaways you can use to build a life that celebrates as it grows—one goal bottle, one memory, one flow-state decision at a time. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge to plan their next memory, and leave a review to help more listeners find us.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you say yes without having any idea what you said yes to and walk into a house full of strangers with nothing but a weekend bag and an open heart? We did exactly that at a women’s goddess gathering and left with something rare: real friendship, a calmer nervous system, and a new standard for joy. This isn’t a recap of spa vibes; it’s the story of how cacao, Human Design, Reiki, tarot, and a private-chef dinner teamed up to make vulnerability feel safe—and fun.We start with the wobble: two lifelong “room kids” realizing they’re sharing a bedroom with someone new. Instead of bailing, we lean in. A cacao ceremony dissolves the small talk and invites real shares—the kind you usually save for a late-night phone call. From there, Human Design becomes our map. Side by side, we see how our energy works, why we click where we do, and how to give each other space where we don’t. It’s not a label; it’s a workflow for life and business that reduces friction and amplifies what’s already strong.Then comes the bodywork that changes everything. Reiki lands like a somatic exhale, releasing what words can’t touch. Tarot and a blazing phoenix goddess card give language to the same truth: it’s shedding season. We talk about burning down old roles—pleaser, over-doer, constant performer—and rebuilding with more play and less proving. And yes, we geek out on the food. A calm, intentional private chef turns meals into care, reminding us that real ingredients and presence taste like love. Grapes in salad, chimichurri on everything, and a flourless chocolate cake that lives rent-free in our minds.By the end, we’ve set up a “domino plan” for the month: a string of joyful commitments designed to keep the momentum going. The takeaway is simple and doable. Try the thing you wrote off. Revisit practices with a kinder lens. If it feeds you, keep it. If it doesn’t, release it without drama. This is an episode about sisterhood, spiritual awakening, practical self-care, and building community beyond business.If you felt the tug while reading this, hit play. Then subscribe, share with a friend who needs a courage nudge, and leave a review with one thing you’ll say yes to next. Your next domino is waiting.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailWhat if your most enduring love story began with a teacher asking a fourth-grader to be a friend? We share the arc from that first yes to a Valentine’s Day reunion in seventh grade and the 28-year bond that followed—one built on unspoken rituals, trust without scorekeeping, and a village-first approach to love and life. No clichés, no tidy labels—just the real mechanics of a relationship that defies assumptions and still feels simple.We walk through how everyday gestures—one of us crafting the perfect margarita while the other dials in cameras and mics—become a part of our love language. That language powers everything: our personal lives, our parenting, and a business that runs on devotion expressed as structure. We unpack why we don’t ask one person to be every bucket and how a village model brings more stability, less jealousy, and a lot more joy. From navigating outside judgments to finding partners who honor our soulmate friendship, we show how consent, clarity, and care become our operating system.You’ll hear why chosen family can be a strategy as much as a sentiment, how planned joy turns into a season of celebration, and why the most efficient business process might be a deep breath with someone who knows your whole archive. This conversation invites you to rethink monogamy myths, redefine commitment, and design a life where love is abundant, logistics are thoughtful, and kids grow up surrounded by steady hands. If you’ve ever felt seen beyond words—or wanted to—this one’s for you.If the story resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who’s building their own village, and leave a review to help others find the show.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailWhat if wedding planning felt like love instead of noise? We share how a simple meal prep habit with Seared and Sacrum turned into a white glove partnership that raised our bar for every touchpoint—then fueled a bold experiment: a micro wedding expo built for intimacy, intention, and real conversation.We start with the everyday magic of great food showing up exactly when and how you need it, and the way that reliability reshaped our mindset for client care. We unpack how traditional expos overwhelm couples with crowds, sales pitches, and zero time to think. Our answer was to flip the format. Couples arrived on staggered schedules, walked through fully staged tables and a sweetheart setting, saw a pristine buffet before the first guest touched it, and then tasted dishes that matched the visual promise. Afterward, Adrean from Seared and Sacrum sat down one-on-one to demystify menus, logistics, and costs. The result wasn’t swag—it was trust.Along the way, we talk about luxury as intention, not price tag: slower pacing, thoughtful sequencing, and space to be heard. We get honest about the emotional stakes too. People cried. Hugs happened. Stories surfaced. That’s the heart of micro weddings—materializing emotion in a room through design choices that reflect a couple’s history and hopes. We also share how breathwork helped us integrate the win instead of sprinting past it, and how our past roles quietly trained us to orchestrate moments that land with a visceral “oh.”If you’re curious about micro weddings, curated tastings, experiential design, or how to build community-first events in Rochester, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s planning, and leave a review with your dream guest count so we can tailor future experiences.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailA margarita, a mic, and a moment of truth: that’s where our conversation with leadership coach and community-builder Sarah Napoli really begins. Sarah opens up about the “pretzel twist” of corporate life—how chasing targets and fitting into someone else’s values can tighten you into a smaller version of yourself—and the surprising freedom that came when she loosened her grip on timelines and held the vision instead.Meet Sarah:With over 25 years of leadership experience across retail, beauty, med-tech, and healthcare, Sarah has always been driven by more than results. She found her greatest fulfillment in developing people - mentoring leaders, building culture, and helping others step into their potential.Today, she is a personal and professional leadership coach, supporting individuals, leaders, and teams who are ready to evolve. Her work centers on creating space for growth and empowering people to lead with clarity, confidence, heart, and strategy.We trace Sarah’s arc from retail floors to multi-unit leadership and into coaching, where she now supports women founders and executives through clear audits, belief work, and culture change that actually sticks. She shares how rejection becomes redirection, why the best leaders stand with one foot in vision and one in operations, and how empowerment beats push tactics when you want results that last. Expect practical tools: a simple life audit to spot misalignment, future-self thinking to guide habits, and the power of “borrowed belief” when fear blocks the first step. Along the way, we talk consistency over intensity, health choices that serve you decades from now, and the underrated celebration of a deep breath to integrate wins.If you’ve felt wound tight by a role, a title, or a timeline, this conversation offers language, frameworks, and community to help you uncurl. You’ll leave with mantras worth screenshotting, questions that sharpen your next move, and a reminder that unbecoming and becoming can happen at the same time. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s on the edge of a big move, and leave a review with your top takeaway—what’s one grip you’re ready to loosen this week?If your’re anything like us, you’ll want to be friends with Sarah after this episode! You can follow her journey on Instagram: @sarahnapoli.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailA lifetime of vague symptoms can make you stop asking questions. When a clinician finally names the pain—painful bladder syndrome (PBS)—the relief is real and the path forward gets bright. We talk through what that moment felt like, why a diagnosis can unlock calm, and how to turn insight into daily choices that reduce symptoms and return joy to the body.We get specific about triggers and tradeoffs: alcohol, caffeine, citrus, chocolate, artificial sweeteners, and processed foods vs. a baseline of gentle, whole food staples. An elimination diet becomes a map, not a punishment, helping us find personal thresholds and rebuild confidence. Movement, hydration, and sleep show up as non-negotiable allies. Most importantly, a mindset practice—gratitude, reframing, and self-advocacy—transforms compliance into commitment. It’s not about losing treats; it’s about gaining clear mornings, steady energy, and pain-free workdays.Alongside health, we open the door on community and belief. One person’s yes years ago sparked our business and this show, and now we’re paying that forward—mentoring friends, fielding unexpected messages, and seeing proof that storytelling compresses someone else’s timeline. We revisit our origin story, reflect on therapy wins that improved communication, and talk about parenting for the long game: modeling values, celebrating growth, and planning adventures that build independence and trust.If you’re navigating chronic symptoms, craving practical steps, or just need one voice to say you can do this, this conversation is for you. Hit follow, share this with someone who needs clarity, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your next step could be the one that changes everything.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailReady for a year that actually feels different? We open 2026 with a grounded surge of confidence, a clink of margarita glasses, and a candid look at how two weeks of family, silence, and sawdust helped us integrate life and business without losing our spark. From the relief of getting meal prep back to the reality of running separate households, we explore what happens when routine disappears, awareness expands, and gratitude takes center stage.We share the “13 magical nights” ritual we tried—imperfectly and honestly. Thirteen intentions on paper, twelve burned to release control, one kept as our job for the year. That process surfaced the stories we needed to rewrite: letting go of judging ourselves for trying new things, and learning what “taking breaks” actually means for people who rarely stop. Through journaling and messy action, we found practical mindset shifts that invite trust, cut down on chasing, and turn intention into behavior. If you’ve ever worried about doing growth “wrong,” this segment will feel like relief.A multi‑generational Christmas became a live seminar on parenting phases and legacy. Toddlers tugged “I need you,” big kids wandered free, elders held quiet wisdom. Seeing the same party through different lenses changed how we set goals and how we teach our kids to handle change. That continued with Oliver’s room upgrade: a metal “O” from newborn days came down to make space for Star Wars and Crunch Labs. Watching him say “you can let it go” reminded us that identity evolves—and our environments should evolve with it. We finish by naming what integration looks like now: aligned priorities, systems that support energy, and a single intention we own while the universe co‑creates the rest.Subscribe, share with a friend who’s craving a fresh start, and leave a review with your one intention for the year—what are you choosing to own in 2026?Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailA spilled margarita and some wildly irritating under-eye patches cracked open a bigger truth: we were performing self-care while ignoring what our lives actually needed. So we started asking better questions. What do we want our days to look like? What do we want our kitchen cabinets to say about who we are becoming? That’s how a cabinet clean-out turned into a manifesto on curating joy—pizza on vintage plates, margaritas in teacups, and a home filled with objects that carry stories instead of dust.We get honest about cohabitation, purging with love, and why convenience culture keeps us from choosing things that make us feel alive. The dishwasher-safe reflex meets a slow-life rebuttal: sometimes handwashing is the point. Then we map how mindset becomes momentum. After a year of grinding and building an abundance mindset, we finally gave ourselves what we’ve been working toward: a Q1 built for celebration. A women’s retreat to refill our cups. Family trips to Mexico and Florida with a Bahamas cruise. A long-overdue girls’ trip to Vegas for a birthday show. A true, no-work week in North Carolina. We’re not escaping real life—we’re curating it. If you’re ready to trade guilt for intention, plastic for patina, and grind for grace, this one’s for you.If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs permission to decorate their life, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailA cranberry margarita, a haunted retreat story, and one simple framework that quietly changes everything you touch—our convo with Dominic Piaccentini will help set the tone for the entire year. Meet Dom:Dominic Piacentini is the founder of R4 Wellness & Consulting and a Real Estate Professional who helps leaders and entrepreneurs make clearer decisions under pressure. With a background spanning education, real estate, and entrepreneurship—including owning and operating a catering business, hosting wellness events and retreats, and property management —Dominic brings a practical, real-world lens to mindset, leadership, and growth.Now a professional learning leader and executive coach, he works with organizations and individuals to strengthen focus, resilience, communication, and follow-through. His work blends strategy, mental fitness, and human connection—delivering insights that are actionable, grounded, and built for real life.Dom breaks down mental fitness with a four-part flow: -Detect the patterns and triggers that hijack your day-Disrupt them with fast somatic resets-Reframe without slipping into toxic positivity-Surf the waves with steadier presenceOur convo gets into the science too—why the refractory period keeps you stuck in fight or flight, and how short, consistent reps shift activity from the limbic system into the prefrontal cortex where focus, creativity, and problem solving live. If you’ve ever wrestled with “justification lies” or lingering stress after tough moments, this will hit home.If you’re curious to try it, Dom’s launching a free four-week Rise and Thrive intro to mental fitness in mid-January—join in and tell us what changes for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this reset, and leave a review to help others find the pod.If you're anything like us, you'll want to be friends with Dom after this episode! You can follow his journey on IG @dominic_j_piac and learn more here!Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailThe pause finally arrived—and with it, clarity. After a relentless run of projects, we sat down with our margs, looked honestly at the past year, and turned a messy pile of effort into something simple and strong: intention, consistency, and proof. That proof showed up in the best way possible when our accountant confirmed what we’d been grinding toward all year—we ran a profitable business. Not vibes. Not almost. Real profit that changes how we plan, spend, and dream.We pull back the curtain on what shifted, from tightening operations and pricing to leaning on coaches and staying painfully consistent when motivation dipped. The win sparked something bigger than numbers: once your brain sees evidence, you stop apologizing for wanting more. That confidence spills into life at home, too. We talk about cohabitation as a shared project, planning with kids in mind, and the unexpected growth that comes from doing renovations and relationships the same way we do strategy—step by step, with rest built in.Of course, we celebrate. This time it involved a next-level burger and a milkshake that could power a small city, followed by a hilarious sugar crash and a humbling reminder that bodies keep the score. We unpack what smarter celebrations might look like, why frequent recognition beats year-end blowouts, and how to keep momentum without sacrificing health. There’s also a detour through a surprise eye scare, a telemedicine shrug, and the ongoing practice of meeting chaos with humor and gratitude.If you’re hungry for a practical, heart-forward roadmap—set a clear intention, do the work even when it’s boring, collect evidence, and then aim higher—you’ll feel seen here. Hit play, then tell us: what’s the intention you’re willing to back with action this year? Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review to help this community grow.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

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Send us Fan MailMeet Julia 👋🏽 Julia is a certified Mat Pilates and Barre instructor with six years of fitness instructing experience. A native of Rochester, she found her love for fitness in NYC before returning back home to her roots. She currently instructs at Satori(a studio by Elevate), Barry’s Yoga Studio, Yoga170, M/Body and The Country Club of Rochester, is the Lead Ambassador for Lumos Infrared Sauna + Cold Plunge as well as hosts community class popups. Her main goal to ensure you feel better leaving the studio than you did coming in and will be your biggest hype girl along the way. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailthis season is all about trying new things. it’s about having fun and letting lose. being open to a new adventure. and that’s exactly what this weekend had in store for us. tune in for another classic Barlyssa mess around 😂😂Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailya girls had a hell of a week. another amazing NXT Level Retreat in the books but this time…. we were on the panel. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

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Send us Fan Mailanother Super Bowl week in the books. 8 straight days of being on and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.not only were we crazy and worked 8 days straight but we also hosting and participated in our first weekend retreat. we held space with 20 other people for 3 days learning and growing in community. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailthis week we dive into the Halloween scarves, K Pop Demon Hunters anthem and a Super Bowl week. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailthe one where they drank spicy margaritas for the first time 🌶️🍹 and almost died!! a short and sweet episode because the spicy took the words right out of our mouths.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailanother wild week in the books for ya girls. from an impromptu gala where a trip to Walmart to buy nipple pads resulted in someone asking for Barb’s number to sitting in a room with the new owner of a business we were going to buy last year. learning to lean on the universe and realize that life is happening for us always. listen along with week for all the ridiculousness that is us 👯‍♀️Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailyour fav duo find themselves planning business retreats and loving it. we are learning and growing in a way that feels safe and expansive. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailOliver got surgery.Alyssa got the flu.and Barb went to Therapy. what an episode we have for you!Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailwelcome to the Margs & Mindset podcast where we drink Margs 🍹🎉this week we share how we got out of our way and shot our shot with Seared & Saccharum for weekly meal prep & margs! after a mindset shift we were able to ask for help and get out of our own way to get them gains baby. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailour little Luna turned a whole year old 🎉🎉🎉we have our fav guest Executive Producer Teresa Raquel Lopez Jones on the pod to share her motherhood journey this first year. if you’re a mama you know this journey is the most challenging AND rewarding journey you will ever go on. we believe celebrating milestones in our mama journey is crucial for all mama’s.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailkicking off these first episodes in our 100’s with a bang!we attended a Stella Foundation Workshop where we not only gained knowledge & confidence but also left with pep in our step to make all of our dreams come true. and in true Barlyssa style we then watched a documentary to help us integrate everything we learned. tune in to hear your weekly laughs and golden nuggets that help us move our business forward. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailep. 100 🎉🎉🎉 ya girls made it! we have officially arrived to our 100th episode and we are riding high. we knew we wanted a fun new episode for the big 100 and the universe gave us an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. taking the kids to their first concert and recording a podcast about it was exactly how we wanted episode 100 to go down. so we hope you enjoy our kiddos and have fun listening to one of the best core memories we’ve made yet.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailwe’ve made it to ep 99 🎉 and in true Barlyssa form we have a story to share with you guys. from a weekend full of unlocking core memories for our amazing clients to unlocking a core memory with our kids we will never forget.tune in this week and hear all about our first family concert & what sitting in the nose bleed really means. all the way to us sharing how we continue to elevate ourselves, our business and our clients in this beautiful little life of ours.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailanother Homemade wedding in the books for you favorite event magicians. tune into this weeks episode to hear all about our under the sea wedding & our growth journey through entrepreneurship.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailmargs is in our cup for ep. 97 🍹 join us for a conversation dump of all things Barlyssa. from work updates, to the newest family game that the kids are eating up, and concluding with chat about how much we love lani. this week has something for everyone. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailwe recently were interview by Bold Journey a magazine that focuses on sharing peoples stories & experiences in hopes to inspire others to pursue their passion and goals. after the reading the article we had SOOO many feelings we had to jump on the mics and work through them, per usual. this week we take you behind the scenes of the article and share our aha moments after the article was complete. if you find yourself wanting to read the article for yourself here’s the link 👇🏽https://boldjourney.com/meet-barlyssa-lopez-2/Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailwelcome back friend’s!Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailit’s Alyssa’s birthday 🎉 and you know what that means… it’s a time to reflect on our journey and set the intention for what we would like to welcome in our lives this next year. listen along to this weeks episode to hear the story behind why Alyssa isn’t saying she’s 29 anymore and stay till the end to hear a homemade first that will blow your mind! Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Maildid you read the title and instantly tell yourself “I need to know more” 😂😂 classic Barlyssa over sharing as always. fresh into summer vacation and we are on the struggle bus. juggling new schedules, routines being completely thrown off and not being able to finish a thought without being interrupted is throwing us off our game a little. so we took time on the comfy couch to do what we do best, talk, and help us reframe how we want to integrate these experiences. Small Biz Shout Out 📢 Marilla’s Mindful Supply’s-Sustainability is great, but sometimes it can feel out of reach! At Marilla's,we make eco friendly easy, and work with you to find the zero waste swaps that make sense for your lifestyle! Our mission is to keep our corner of the world cleaner and to empower our community with the belief that the micro dictates the macro. By making small changes in our daily routine, we take big steps towards a cleaner planet and a brighter future!if your local to the ROC make sure to check out the store in person. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

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Send us Fan Mailthis week we are sipping on Strawberry Lemonade margs while we recap our Super Bowl weekend. 6 events in 1 weekend 🎉Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailwe want to take a moment and say thank you to  Kacia Ghetmiri for creating the EmpowerHer Podcast. her podcast was our first podcast we ever listened to and we were hooked from the first episode. thank you Kacia for being your authentic self & showing us that it is possible to build a life you are obsessed with. she was the person who inspired us to have the courage to share our story & start our own podcast. forever grateful for you and what you created. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailentrepreneurs tap in, this week we have the amazingly talented Cecilia Denise of Cecilia Denise Photography.  we got cozy at Slate for our first ever podcast in the new space to talk to Cecilia after finishing an engagement session we worked on together. in true girls night style we let our hair down and hand honest conversations about entrepreneurship & what it means to follow your dreams. Meet Cecilia Denise:I’m Cecilia, a 29 year old wife & lifestyle/wedding photographer from Western New York! I document all types of love stories, in a genuine, documentary-style ways. I use both vintage & modern techniques to bring an artistic and unique perspective to your day. find Cecilia here:IG- @ceciliadenisephotogoceciliadenisephoto.comMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailthis week as we sit on the comfy couch we talk about all things motherhood. it’s Oliver’s birthday which means we take a trip down memory lane to reminisce on the last 9 years of being his mother & birthdays truly means to the mama. listen along as two mamas share where they are in their motherhood journey & know that you are not alone.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailcurating core memories for ourselves was the inspiration to begin our journey unlocking core memories for others ✨ we practice what we preach because if you don’t take the time to celebrate your accomplishments, your discipline, your consistency to show up everyday in this world, then who will? listen in how we intentionally curated our 4th birthday celebration and the core memory that we carry because of it. there’s not enough thank you’s to Seared & Saccharum for curating THE BEST MEAL (sorry grandma) we have ever had in our lives! & thank you to Susan Elizabeth Photography for capturing this moment in time for us and sharing in our experience. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan Mailhappy 4th birthday to us 🎉🥳🎊we are still reeling over the fact that we have been in business for 4 years. those year 1 girlies are so fucking proud of the dedication & work we have poured into ourselves & our business. as we say goodbye to the Homemade HQ, ring in our 4th year in business we also have exciting news to share!! Homemade Events is now the in house venue coordinators for Slate on South! we are overflowing with gratitude & excitement for this next year in business. there is no doubt in our minds that it will be the best one yet 🖤🤍Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Send us Fan MailWE WON AGAIN 🏆🏆🏆we attended the Home Start Hope 3rd annual Tablescape event & walked away as this years first place winners!! hours of planning, dreaming & manifesting produced what is by far our favorite work of art. this event will forever live rent free in our brains. by far one of the coolest things we’ve ever done and in try Barlyssa style we are taking you behind the scene of our manifesting process.Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background MusicMusic Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music