Family Fights & Tulane Nights
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Welcome back to another episode of Hot Mess with Alex Earle. Happy Thursday. This week we are going to New Orleans and I'm taking all of you guys with us. So we are going to Ashton's Parents Weekend at Tulane and I'm so excited. I've actually never visited Ashton at school besides coming for Mardi Gras, which doesn't really count because I was just with all my friends. But teeny, I can't wait. I'm hopping on my flight tomorrow morning.

Wait, did I just turn that off? How do I get that back on? I'm a hot mess.

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passes the vibe check explore all of the possibilities for yourself tinder it starts with a swipe download tinder today what is the vibe like i feel like everyone at tulane dress is cool you all seem like cool girls yeah everyone here honestly is a cool girl i feel like that's why i started really like i'm not kidding like everyone here i go to class i'm like damn everyone looks so good um

but yeah like you just called me and asked if you should wear heels to the game no I just called Ashton I was like is that acceptable to wear heels to the football game I can't well like you're not gonna want to wear heels you're gonna be breaking your ankle and stepping in mud if especially if we go tailgate at the frats before it's like muddy you know you know how frats get uh

I just always want to wear heels. I would say, like, sneakers or a lot of girls here wear, like, boots or cowboy boots. Okay. If you have any of those. I do. I think I have an outfit that I think will be good for this. I think I put something together once you said no to my heels. And then, like, what should I wear to, like, dinner or going out? I feel like dinner...

I usually do like a jeans and heels vibe. It's still hot here, which is really annoying because I love fall and we have had zero fall weather. It's still in the 80s. Yeah, wait, I was kind of packing for fall. I packed like a lot of sweaters and jeans and then I realized that it's hot. Well, that's the thing. Like I can't wear shorts to class anymore. So like I'll be wearing jeans, but I'm sweating walking to class, but then the classrooms are freezing. So it's really difficult for me right now. But yeah,

Yeah. Jeans are fine. Like a light jacket at night. Probably it gets, it gets cooler now, but you know, I'm so excited and I can't believe the whole family is coming. All 45 of us. I'm actually so stressed. People are like, Oh, how many people in your family are coming? I'm like everyone. They're like, Oh, who's everyone? I'm like, there's nine of us. And they're like, what? I'm like, yep. We don't travel light. No, no, no.

we don't do anything like unfortunately I'm like so stressed kind of I'm so excited to see everyone but I feel like I feel like I'm hosting not really but like kind of so I'm like you are you have to show us a good time should we bring the kids to the frats I think we should I think they would have a great time did I tell you what happened last year during parents weekend

um i don't remember so it was dad ashley mom the three kids there was this one like saturday event at this big venue it's like an outdoor indoor bar and then there's just this whole like sandlot type thing it's a really weird venue we have here but it's fun and it was three different frats were throwing

A darty there. So this was like a big deal. This has never happened before and I was super excited So we I got brunch with the fam Before and then we went back to our house for a little bit to meet up with like my friends and their parents and we all like Pregamed and hung out a little here. Meanwhile, the kids are still with us and I was texting all my friends in the frats I was like, can I bring my little siblings? Like I feel like they're fine. Like they're cool at this point. I'm already drunk and

And bad. Bad, bad Ashton. Because we were drinking at brunch and then we were pre-gaming here. And...

all the little kids I was like yeah we're bringing all the little kids to White Sands it's gonna be so much fun I still have scaries from this day because I we got there and at first there was like I think they had like freshman boys like running the door and one of them like tried to not let the kids in and then he got yelled at apparently which I feel really bad about and but anyway they get in and we're just fine everyone's just kind of like chilling they get in

The kids get into the bar, no biggie. And we're all hanging out and I decide I'm going to run away from everyone. I ran away like six times from everyone. And the kids were so mad at me. The kids and dad and Ashley eventually left and mom stayed. And me and mom were like dancing on the tables and everything. It was a really dark day for me. And I woke up the next day and the kids were like, you left us. And I was like, I don't know.

I don't know what's wrong with me. So that is not... Is that where the videos of Penelope dancing on like the picnic table came from? Yes. And they're like standing on the stools. I was... Yeah, I was so confused. I was like, why are my little siblings at a wrap party? It was really a cool, fun venue. But for some reason, I was just...

In a weird mindset and I kept running away from everyone which is not normal. Actually. No, I do that a lot I kind of get drunk and like run away from people but i'm not doing that this year because I I actually felt so Horrible and bad especially for the little kids. Don't leave us. No, i'm not. I don't know I was in a weird I was being weird But no, I think I was like you're always being weird. I was chasing after a boy actually I was just I was just um

I had like just started like hanging out with this guy like barely knew him and I was talking to him and dad walks up to him because he had like dad of course knows everything and I was like oh my god and dad's like hi are you blah blah blah nice to meet you and I was like this is not happening and I think that's why I kept running away. Our parents have a problem of doing this our parents sometimes like too comfortable with yeah because we're so comfortable with them yeah they think that

they are our best friends but sometimes it gets to a point when they intervene with like the guys and i'm like you still have to act cool like you're still the parent like yeah don't be like i've heard so much you know yeah yeah and uh

That's another thing I've realized though. I've started to get to a point where I feel like I don't care like any guy can meet my parents. I'm more embarrassed of the guys than I am of my family now. Like because like you know you get what you get with our family like we're fun like I like introducing people to our family. I know I feel like meeting guys with our family isn't that big of a deal because it's just like they're our extended friends. Like I have texted dad being like I'm embarrassed like he's giving me the ick like don't

don't judge me for this boy it's kind of backwards but it's kind of funny I love our relationship with our family yeah our parents are like our extended friends and one thing about them is they will go out and that's the one thing about parents weekend is that there's some parents that go to parents weekend and visit their kids at college and it's very like they're there to take them out to a nice dinner spend some quality time walk around the campus see where they go to class and

Our parents are like parents weekend, we're here to throw down. We're going to the parties, we're going to the frats. Like what's the best club in town.

It's just how our family is. No, I feel like dad has been here so many times and he's like, yeah, you've never walked me through campus. I'm like, well, we've partied here. We've been to the boot multiple times. And he's like, yeah, but I don't think I've ever like really gone through your campus with you. I was like, okay, well, let's do that this time. Yeah. And it's always kind of awkward when like sometimes you have friends that their parents are their

for like strictly business and strictly to just see their kids and take them to dinner and like then our parents come in and they're like woohoo let's go out let's take shots yeah and i'm like let's cool it down like guys act cool act normal act like we're fitting in with the other pretend we're normal but then there are some other parents that are really fun and it's always fun when the parents make friends with the other parents that are fun yeah like my

would make friends with my friend's parents. And it's just funny, like seeing older versions of us out and about. Yeah, like our dad and Rowie's dad, who Rowie's been my roommate since freshman year. They like love to go out together. My dad's always like, I can't wait to see Dan. Like we're going to have so much fun together. And I'm like, okay, you too. Oh, it's so fun for them.

I know. And honestly, I used to be like, wait, what's wrong with my parents? Why do they want to go out? And now that I'm not in college, I'm like, this is the best time. Like we're getting to go back and experience college. I'm so excited. I'm going to be the blacked out older sister at the frat house. I'm scared for you to be here.

I'm already scared for me to come to because I just know it's going to be embarrassing and it's like just pack it up Alex pack it up and I know that I'm not going to I know that I'm going to make a fool of myself oh absolutely but it's going to be great because we're all going to do it together

Yeah. I mean, it's like one Earl does it. The rest of the Earls are on board. At least there's nine other of us doing the same thing. I think it was my freshman year. We were it was after a football game during parents weekend and we were at the boot with everyone. And it was like me and which I'm so excited to go to the boot. You have to give the boot is like this bar on campus. And that's all I'll say. The boot is awesome.

literally in campus and Alex is obsessed with it because we have cheap drinks I'm like go to any other normal college that isn't University of Miami they have bars with cheap drinks but the boot's fun because it's literally on campus and it's kind of like a freshman bar but it's also just like a pregame bar that we always go to it's super close to everything and it's super convenient what is that Kristen what just happened wait do you need help um

literally sounded like her cabinet just toppled over and fell onto Kristen. Oh, is she okay? She said that everything just... I hope that we got that audio. She said that everything in the cabinet just... I just heard like a... But I didn't really know what it was. Oh my god. Um...

wow that was funny but yeah the boo we love the so much fun so much fun and you know what parents weekend do you remember my parents weekend university of miami freshman year when you guys came to visit me ashton was still in high school i got in so much trouble that was like the best weekend of my life that was just such a fun weekend for me because i remember the first night i remember we went to um

Sandbar was it? Mm-hmm I just remember like dancing with like all your guy friends and they were all like ooh like Alex's little sister and I was like eee like this is so fun That's so cool that you were you got to like visit someone in college when you were in high school I begged mom and dad to let me stay in the dorm with you because I wanted to get the full experience

i know i know and my parents were like ashton's not allowed to stay with you like what are you gonna do to her she would stay in the room and i had i yeah that part is coming i had a little twin bed and ashton would sleep in it with me and we literally would just like spoon and sleep together oh my god actually i don't know if you're gonna want to keep this in but remember the that first night you didn't

I slept in your friend's room. Oh my gosh, yes. Yeah, the first night Ashton came to stay with me, actually, I was with a boy, so Ashton had to sleep on my friend's air mattress.

I slept in my denim miniskirt and my pink bra top. And it was great. I woke up at like 9 a.m. still in my outfit. I remember like taking a selfie being like, this is so college. Like waking up in my outfit. That's what college is about. Granted, you were the room next door, though. So it's not like you were far away. No, no, it was chill. I had a great time. I wasn't upset. Yeah, it's okay. Anywho, I got...

grounded and in so much trouble because I remember it was that Saturday of parents weekend we went out I think to like a pool party or a tailgate whatever during the day and then you nap until probably like 10 p.m 11 p.m and then you wake up and then everyone goes to the clubs Saturday night and

and I wanted to go out and I wanted to take Ashton to the clubs in Miami and show her what a real club was. I don't think you've ever been to a club before. No, I've never been clubbing before. And I was just so excited, and I will say, like, the first year going to U Miami, it was just always, I was always bragging about it because it was just so cool and such a surreal experience. And you were always at the clubs. I was always at the clubs. You, like,

You owned the clubs of Miami your freshman year. My first semester freshman year, I literally was at the club Tuesday through Sunday night. So anywho, I was really, really adamant about showing Ashton.

And my parents were like do not take your little sister to the club and I was like i'm not gonna do that Don't worry and that's why they didn't want ashton to sleep over at my dorm because they knew I would take her out and They were like we have the trackers on your guy's phone Do not leave the dorm do not take her to a club. She's too young and I was like, okay Yeah, whatever. I won't take her

So anywho, we wake up at 11 p.m. and I started getting ready to go out and I was like, Ashton, just come on. Like, it'll be fine. It'll be fun. And the thing about going out in Miami is you don't have to go out until, you

1 a.m. or 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. because it just like doesn't really close so there was really no there was no rush I was like you know what once our parents go to bed and they put their phone down and they're not tracking us anymore and they think that we're tucked into my dorm bed sleeping in the twin bed together let's get ready and let's go to the club and

So we got ready. We pre-gamed in my dorm with whatever alcohol I had left there. And we went out. I think we left the dorms at like 2 a.m. I think it was like 2.30 maybe. We were like, okay, they're definitely asleep. Like they're not going to know we're going out right now. They'll have no idea. We thought our plan was foolproof. We thought that our parents would never know. So it was me, Ashton, and my other friend. We went to this club.

And we were having so much fun. I have to insert the pictures right now and show you guys just like look at us little babies in the door. It was so funny. Alex dressed me because I was like, I don't have any like cool clubbing outfit. So she put me in like this like tight mini dress and her sparkly high heels that were like three sizes too small on me. I just remember my feet being in so much pain the whole night. But I was like, yeah, like I'm going to a club. We're having a fun time.

I get a text from my dad at probably like 530 in the morning because that's when my dad is waking up. And this is the part of the plan that we didn't think through was that we were out so late that it's when my parents were waking up. So they woke up and they checked the tracker and they see us at South Beach at the club. And my dad was like,

Get your asses home right now. You're grounded. And I got talked to, like my parents sat me down and it was like one of those talks where I like actually felt bad. I was like, I fucked up. I was like, I am a genuinely terrible human being. Like I should never be allowed out of the house. I shouldn't even be in college. Like they made me feel so bad about myself, but we were fine. We had so much fun. No, I had a great time. No regrets on my end.

And now looking back, it's fine. But like my parents used to be way stricter. When I was a freshman in college, and I guess being the older child, you always get like the brutal end of the stick of just like whatever. I remember dad was like,

If you go out past curfew, I will call the police. I will send a helicopter to the club to pick you up. Yeah, so he would scare me all the time. And now it's like our parents don't care. Like, think about Isabel and Penelope going out. They're going to be like, have fun. They're going to be clubbing when they're 13. They're already clubbing. They're going clubbing with us this weekend. They're going to the frat parties.

I actually took Isabel to my friend's like birthday party last year when they were visiting it was so cute it was like a little just like birthday celebration and then we were going they were all going to the bars after and they were like bring your sister and I was like I don't

think I should bring her to like a bar like at night it was like 11 p.m I was like I think we're gonna go and my friend was like no just bring her like I talked to the bouncer he said she's good I was like no thank you though that is the problem with my friends they're all gonna be like bring the little kids everywhere but Isabel thank god was like I don't want to go and I was like good because I don't want to go and then we had a cute little she slept over in my room

at my college house that night we watched vampire diaries and then my roommate came downstairs and they were like gossiping about the actors and i was like this is girlhood i love it and then we snuggled in my bed and it was great oh i love when they get to sleep over and do big kid things with us because think about she's in sixth grade right now and she's going to visit like colleges like she must be the coolest girl in school oh she's definitely the coolest girl in school if i have anything unless we definitely embarrass them a lot

Yeah, we're definitely the embarrassing older sisters, but I don't care. But I actually have to go because I have to get packing. Another thing is I'm going to vlog. So we're going to have a little mini vlog in here because I know you guys loved when we used to do like travel episodes and vlogs. So we're going to bring a little vlog element into this weekend. And I'm going to take you guys all to New Orleans, to Tulane, to Ashton's parents weekend. Yay. My last parents weekend. I have to pack. I have to pack.

Let's go to Tulane. Okay, well, I'm actually a big fat liar because I said that I was going to vlog all of parents weekend and I didn't. Did not vlog for you guys. We actually got...

No content parents weekend. Well, honestly, to be fair, it kind of flew by. I was expecting like, I just, dealing with our family, it's just, it never goes as planned. It's so chaotic all the time. And then it's like, we do something we planned and then it's like, there's a problem or someone's upset about something or complaining and then we do something else and then we cancel plans and we change plans. Yeah, and after this, we were in New Orleans and then we went to LA with my family. And by the end of this trip, I was like, I don't really want to see you guys for like a while. Yeah.

Yeah. Actually, me and all my friends were talking about that because like everyone, obviously their families were here for Parents Weekend. My one friend sent me like the first dinner, like the first night her family was here when they went to dinner. She sent me a picture of her like sobbing and I was like, yeah, I get it. No, no.

Like everyone's just like so excited for parents weekend. And then it's like, everyone's here and everyone's like, well, it's just family. Like it's like, but I do love my love each other. There's no problems or anything, but just like, we're just so much at once. And I'm just like, wait a minute. I need, I need a breather and I need a second from you guys. And it's reminding me right now. I'm watching tell me lies. And I'm on the part where everyone just like went home for Christmas break from college. And I'm like,

and i'm like why is this just so accurate like everyone goes home and then it's like by like the third day home everyone's texting then they're like get me out of here we started watching this like a month ago or something or whenever it was before braxton got hurt you started watching it before i started watching it it was before braxton got hurt but then when braxton got hurt his mom came to stay with him and we couldn't really watch it because

Yeah, it's not really a family friendly show. I don't really understand. I don't love that every other scene is like porn. And I'm like, wait, can we? Sometimes I'm just like, I know it's literally porn. I feel like shows and movies these days, they get like too in depth with the sex scenes and they last like five minutes. It's like, OK, like we get it. They're having sex. You don't need to like, I like don't like show them. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know.

But yeah, so we had to stop watching it for a while, but now we're back on it. And I think we're on episode eight, seven or eight of season one. After this, honestly, I'm probably going to go back over to Braxton's and just keep binge watching it.

Yeah, I think you should keep binge watching it because that's when it gets like it starts to get really crazy and then it's just craziness. It's so crazy how well they can depict a toxic relationship. And you, you remind me. Okay, anyone who listens to Hot Mess and when I say like, oh, Ashton gets closed off or like doesn't show her emotions.

the girl Lucy in Tell Me Lies is Ashton. Like when, when I try to like get through to her and she's just like, no, no, no. She's like a bad person in the show. Don't say that. Well, not where I'm at. I don't think she's a bad person, but like she's just closed off and like,

what is it when her friends are like, oh, trying to be like, he's like cheating on you. And she's like, shut the fuck up. Like, don't fucking talk to me. Instead of being like, oh my God, wait, what? Like, tell me more details. And I was like, that's so Ash encoded.

Shut up. Wait, do you know they're dating in real life? The actors? That makes it so much better. And they're like so cute and he's like seems so nice in real life and like so fun. And I'm like, I still don't trust you. Like I still don't believe you. Acting is so cool. You're a bad person. I would. It's crazy. I would love to try acting. You could maybe be good at it. You're good at putting on like a little show. I'm going to take that as a compliment and then continue on.

I'm going to tell you guys a story really quick and this is about one of my first jobs I ever had. I was working at a boutique and we started using Shopify to move this boutique to online sales. I was so scared in the beginning. I didn't know how to run an online website and Shopify just made it so so easy. Shopify is a commerce platform that allows you to start, grow, and manage a business just like mine. It's the one commerce platform behind the

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what was i gonna say have you seen all the wicked press tours that like it's just them crying at everything and everyone's like oh my god but yes and everyone's making fun of them crying but i just i don't know i kind of love it like ariana grande said that was her dream role and she's like i cry when i watch the things of them and i'm like this is so crazy i just see people making fun of them crying and cynthia shaved her head for the role she is just

an astonishing amazing person I'm obsessed with her like she is so devoted I watch so many videos of like actors talking about their roles like I love like the chicken shop dates and like

the Hot Ones videos where people are always like they do it before a big movie or something comes out and they're always talking about their roles and like their perceptions on acting and everything and I just think it's so cool and admirable like how like obsessed and like into their roles these people are like that's also why I'm obsessed with Paul Mezcal he's in Gladiator too he's starring because he's just like first of all such a

But he just like loves acting so much. Like he gave up his like football career to like devote it to acting. And have you seen Sydney Sweeney who like did a full transformation for her new role? Yes. That's so cool. I do think actors deserve the most credit out of

Like anyone in the world. Like they just, I don't know. They really, they're really cool. I don't know. Like I've got to say after seeing how long it takes to film a little commercial skit, that will be 30 seconds. It will take a full year.

16 hour production day if I say a line they have to film it five times from the front five times from this angle five times from that angle and then I was like wow this is I was talking to one of the cameramen on a set that I was on I was like this is so crazy how much production goes into such a a

small thing and he was like I was saying like I can't even fathom how movies are made and how long it takes to make them and just all like what goes on behind the scenes and he was like yeah I mean like filming a fight scene and a movie sometimes takes like a month long to film and it's it's so crazy that's crazy yeah I was just I just watched um

Paul's Hot Ones, you know, where they eat the hot wings, which I want to do that so bad. I'm determined because I'm so stubborn. Yes, I'm determined. I just want to know if I can do it. Me too. I'm like, I wouldn't be choking up like that. Like, I'm like, it's just dramatic. No, I would be like, probably like throwing up on the inside, but I'd be like, I'm fine. I'm okay. I need to try it though. Did you see, they also have one where it's like, you can like verse people. So it's either like two actors. We should verse each other. Like Billie,

that's what I was going to say. Billie Eilish and her brother did it against each other. And it's like, they ask them questions or if they don't want to answer something, they eat like one of the death wings. I need to do that. No, because I'm determined that like, it wouldn't be that hot. Yeah. Like we'd be fine. But like, I definitely, what I was saying was I had a pepper flake on my pad Thai last night and I was choked.

no I'd definitely be like throwing up but what I was saying was I just saw the one with Paul Mezcal for Gladiator 2 and he was talking about how you know with like eating and acting how they always talk about like doing spit takes like that's just so they like eat food chew it and spit it out so they don't like get full because they have to refilm them eating so much

Which I was like, I would never even think of doing that. Yeah. I mean, there's a lot that we don't think about that that goes on behind the scenes. But wait, we got really sidetracked. I know. Should we like do a little parents weekend recap? Yeah, I think we should. So the first night. Wait, I don't remember. Well, actually, you came over first because everyone wasn't here yet. But you got here on Thursday and then you came to my house. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I remember. Yeah. Yeah.

And then, well, what'd you think of my house? What were your first impressions? - I love Ashton's house. Ashton's house was perfect and amazing and it made me really depressed. And then when the other part, just all the college houses in general just make me depressed because when else are you gonna be living in a house

with like six of your best friends. Like it just, it doesn't happen. And actually my college friends from Casa Moore, my senior year house are staying with me right now. And it's just, it's so nice to be able to walk out into the living room and it's like, who wants to go on a walk? Like one out of the five girls will probably want to go on a walk with you. Or like, I just, I like not being alone. And it's just, it's so special. And I, I'm like really excited

I was really mad going actually. It put me in a bad mood. Alex the entire weekend, the entire weekend. She's like, can I stay with you longer? I have to come back another weekend. She's like, I miss college so much. And then Alex was like, am I being weird? Am I being too much? Cause she was like, I was like, no, you're fine. Well, I was drunk and talking to like some of the girls that you're friends with, but like,

not best friends with. So I was like, wait, am I embarrassing myself? And I just was like, this is the best time of your life. Like live it up, say yes to everything. I was like, oh, they like probably didn't want that prep talk from me, but whatever. So funny how like everyone says that until like,

But then you're like, yeah, yeah, yeah until it actually happens and then you're like shit. I want to go back Yeah, it happened with high school. Just wait just wait. I know I know so anyway, so you came over thursday and then we had a little meeting at my house Then we went to one of my favorite little spots for brunch Which is bearcat in new orleans, if you know, you know So good, it was really good. So the first night we all went to a big family dinner And it was so much fun but

But, I mean, even right off the bat, it was like, all right, family, like, let's do a little phone stack. And everyone put their phones, and especially the kids, and Thomas is on the iPad all the time, and, like, I'm editing stuff. I was like, let's just all put our phones down. The family's all together, like, ruha. And it was, like...

30 I don't even think we made it 30 minutes without everyone's like the kids start pulling each other's hair out everyone's screaming then they're kicking me climbing over each other and then dad's like oh my god like get them to be quiet and I was like okay maybe everyone just like take your phone and be silent no I was so excited to see everyone though and

honestly that was my first time going to that restaurant would you think it was pretty good except it took two hours that's when everyone started to get antsy because it took like two hours for our entrees to come out and everyone was already really tired from traveling and then everyone was like yeah i mean that's the problem is not obviously the adults were fine but when we do these things with the little kids it's like there's a point in the night where

It's just like once it's past their bedtime, it's like the monsters come out. So it was like past the point of everyone was tired and just cranky from traveling. And then our food wasn't there. And everyone just started to get like all antsy and dancey. And I think the kids like fell asleep at the table. And then we woke them back up.

isabel was falling asleep at the table but she kept being like we have to go to cafe du monde after we have to go i want beignets and i was like okay but she kept like falling asleep but then she was like in her sleep she's like we need to get beignets and i was like okay no so we ended up walking no no because this next part might be the most triggering part of the whole story is getting my family you're right getting my family first of all from the restaurant to

to the beignets place was a 10 minute walk you would have thought that we had asked so simple our family to walk 85 miles like they were like let's uber that's so far i was like guys it's a 10 minute walk like let's go outside we just like you know after two like a big meal i'm like i want to like walk

like I feel like I want to walk I don't want to or I'm gonna get all like gassy and bubbly I'm like I need to like you know whatever it would be like me and Ashton on one block my mom was three blocks back but we lost my mom on that walk to a bar she just dipped halfway through we were like hey where's mom she she didn't even say bye she's like I couldn't walk anymore she went to a bar um then we're halfway through this walk we're like five minutes there

and which really took us like 20 minutes to get to the five minute point. My dad's like, where's my phone? My dad was drunk and left his phone at the ice cream shop that they went to. So then they had to go back and then we all had to walk back. And then it's like, we're walking. I was just like, this has got to be like a joke right

now also like a 10 minute walk on maps is maybe like a five minute walk like it's it's the easiest walk ever and dad every 30 seconds was like how much longer he was like how much longer and we took us so long because not because the kids were walking slow we had all the kids we were two blocks it was our parents they were

trudging along so every few steps me and Alex would stop wait for them to catch up and then they'd catch up and we'd all start walking and then somehow they'd trail behind again and it took us like

20 minutes to get there. And then it'll be like Thomas drops his teddy bear. And I'm just like, it was crazy. So finally, after like 45 minutes, we made it to this place. And I was like, you know what? Maybe they were right. Maybe we should have just called an Uber because this was ridiculous. But the beignets were great. They're great. And that's the original location, the Café du Monde. I've never had a beignet before. It was really, really good. Alex kept calling them beignets. And I was like, I'm going to punch you in the face if you keep saying beignet.

but i was just doing it to annoy you but then the next day was oh and then this was the next problem with the next day was we had like a brunch planned then we wanted to go to a zoo and then we wanted to go bowling i tried to plan things because usually the only things you plan are like dinners and lunches and then it's like we're just eating the whole time so i try to plan events and

Because I don't want everyone to just be sitting around like, what are we doing? And then, you know, it just... I mean... Nothing ever works out. Like, yeah. Again, just another time of, like, we would have two hours in between each of these events. And it was, like...

everyone was late it takes anyone two hours we went to brunch and then it was like we could have just easily hopped over to the zoo but for some reason no one wore clothes that they could wear to the zoo to brunch so then everyone went home got changed and we were like oh everyone will take five minutes to get changed took everyone like well this is also your fault because oh well then all of a sudden everyone's ready to walk out the door and alex is like wait guys i have a

30 minute meeting well because you just wait for me my meeting was scheduled for when we were coming back from the zoo but we were so late that the meeting was by the time we were heading out the door to go to the zoo so then I had to hold everyone up 30 more minutes and then we got to the zoo Ashton didn't even come to the zoo

Well, no, at that point, I was not going to lie. I was. She was like, I'm done with all of you. I was just like, I need a nap. I was like, I need a nap before going out with everyone again. So it's Ashton's family weekend. We're all there to visit Ashton. We get to the zoo. Ashton's not there. The zoo's closed. Oh, actually, the zoo.

The zoo's like two minutes from my house and you guys got there before me and you said it was closed. So then I was like, okay, I'm not leaving. And then I fell asleep. So yeah. You guys ended up going through really quickly, right? Yes. Basically we got to the zoo and they were like, we're closed. Like tickets are done for the day. Like the, it was,

It was like 4.45 and the zoo closed at 5. And they were like, we're not selling tickets. Like, we're closing down. Then our family came through like a wrecking ball. And I think Ashley was like, please, just like, we'll run through, like, whatever. And then they were like, okay. So they let us through. It was actually the prettiest zoo I've ever seen in my life. But I actually... Apparently, it's like one of the top zoos in America. I don't like zoos, but...

Is that zoo? I honestly... I kind of feel like I'm very pro, like, animals and whatever. So I'm a little bit... Yeah, I don't think zoos in general are very pro-animal. Unless they're, like, a... I don't know. ...rehabilitation type of zoo. So, yeah. I don't know. Zoos... The kids really love, like, the animals in zoos, and Thomas loves them. But, like, I get stressed out because I feel like it's... The animals should be free. Kind of sad. So, yeah. Yeah.

Anywho, we ran through this zoo. We sprinted 145 miles per hour. We just ran past every exhibit. And it was like, by the end, I was like, we don't need to see everything in the zoo. Let's just do the lap. Obviously, that was not an option for our family because they were like, we have to hit every corner of this zoo, every acre. And by the end, I was dying. Penelope was dripping in sweat. And

Yeah, it's still hot here, which is crazy. Yeah. It's gross hot, too. It's different than Miami heat. It's like... Muggy. What's the word? Humid. The zoo was great, though. Great experience. I think for graduation weekend, we have to book a swamp tour.

That's what I want to do. I want to do that. They take you around on like those little boats and they see all the alligators like through the swamps. And I've never done one. So like I want to do it. I would really love it. I would really love to do that. So for graduation, we have to make that happen and we have to book off a whole

a whole day in advance so that our family can get there. And then this night was my favorite place that we went. It was this bowling alley that was also a bar, also live music, also like an arcade with games, also food. Like I could have stayed there all night. I never need to leave there. I loved it. I love rock and bowl. And I was really, really glad I had that idea because a lot of parents weekend is like

kids going to bars with their parents and I was like obviously the little kids are here and that's not really gonna fly so I was like what can we do that like all my friends can be at with their parents have fun have drinks that the kids can also do and I was like oh my god my favorite place rock and bowl and so I booked like a little like party through them and I invited like all my friends and their families and

And they gave us like little snacks too, which was so fun because I love snacks. But yeah, we rented out some bowling lanes Friday night and

And I had so much fun. I loved it too. And it was kind of like a, they were very relaxed. Like they did not be like put on. That was super chill. They're like, no, don't put on bowling shoes, whatever. You bowl in your heels. It's great. So this is where things started to get a little tricky again with my family. Because now it's like we have bowling balls involved with the kids, with a competition. The Earls were sometimes sore losers. Yeah.

Wait, no, even before this, though, this is really funny. I don't know if you saw this. Thomas, like, picked up a bowling ball and he's, like, walking over to the lane. And I, like, whip out my phone to take a video. I'm like, Thomas, you're so cute with the bowl. Like, just, like, looking at him. I'm like, oh, he's so cute. And Ashley runs over. She's like, he's gonna drop it.

And I was like, didn't realize the ball was slipping out of his hands. And I was like, oh, Thomas, you're so cute. And she was like, he almost just dropped that. And I was like, oh my god, I'm not a good parent. I don't know how they were picking up the bowling balls, because I could barely pick up these bowling balls.

And so Thomas basically, I don't know how they didn't like put a hole through the floor because the little kids were just like picking it up with their two arms and slamming it down. And he would throw it. And the one time it went over the bumpers and like would get stuck on the lane. And then again, it started to get late. So they started to get cranky. And then Thomas is a really sore loser. We love Thomas, but he just like youngest child syndrome where you're just like babied and loved. Like he does not.

do well with losing like we would play candy land and like when he was a super super little like a little baby and he if he lost it was like the board was getting torn in half so i think it was like penelope and thomas were like competing or something and then it's like the one of them like went to like throw the bowling ball at the other and i was like all right let's like settle it down on the lane here take it down a notch then the other lane is all of us adults and

Todd like pulled his hamstring or something all of a sudden I look over Todd's in a split and then he's like I wish I saw this all my friends were like, yeah I don't know if I thought Todd was doing like some fancy bowling move like he just went and he was like, I don't even know he like tensed up and was like He like what he pulled his hamstring or something. Yeah, yeah I he got like stuck in like a split or something and like I

I didn't hear it but mom and everyone said that they heard like a pop and he was like kind of freaking out and he was like my leg is numb and he was like starting to get really nervous so then I was getting nervous and I was like here's water we got him like an ice bag I was like can our

family didn't you call braxton too yeah so then i called braxton because obviously braxton knows about all the different type of like injuries that can happen or what to do because i was like do we need to take him to the hospital he was freaking out so then braxton like calmed him down on the phone and braxton was like yeah he definitely like tore his hamstring but like you can still like walk and like it there's nothing really you can do about that so yeah we're just a hazard anywhere we go

You can't take us anywhere. Yeah. And then that night we ended up going out together and I ended up... Yeah, Mom and Todd came for a little bit too. You got so drunk. I blacked out. I blacked out. Mm-hmm. That was Joe's fault. It's always Joe's fault. No, it's not. I love Joe. He's perfect. Well, all the parents and everyone's like, lemon drop shots, green tea shots. Like, I forget that they're so sugary and also alcohol. And I'm just like, oh, this fun little game. Yeah. Yeah.

Welcome back to college. Yeah, I was not feeling good the next morning. All my friends and their parents and their siblings ended up going to this rooftop bar that we love Friday night. And we had a time Alex met some of my other friends that weren't at bowling and we took way too many shots and

and Alex was going cross-eyed by the end of the night. I had to like walk her to the elevator. I was like, okay, Pookie, time to get home. I know. And like in the moment, I remember Ashton walking me. She's like, I miss college. I love it. Ashton always says that there's like a point where like my eyes, you guys know, I always talk about like my, my drunk eyes are just, I have a drink and like something in my eyes, they just like loosen. Like my eyelids. They like, they loosen. I don't know how to explain it. They like start just going in different directions. Like,

Like, my eyes are always so telling. Like, you'll know if I had a drink just by looking at my eyes. And then Ashton always says there's, like, a point in the night where it's, like, lights on, no one's home for me. And I'm not good at monitoring that myself. No. That's because the lights are on, but no one's home. So you don't know. But you just kind of, like...

Sometimes you go like silent and you just kind of like stand there and like look around with your googly eyes and I'm like and she's just like kind of swaying back and forth just like looking but like silent. I've seen this a few times and I'm like okay.

Time for Alex to hit the hay. I don't know. I'm a pretty functional drunk though because I... No, you are functional. I went out this past weekend and I was with all my girlfriends and there's just a certain point in the night where I don't remember a thing after that.

And I'm like, my friends were like, oh my God, I didn't even like know you were that drunk. But like, there's like some of my friends who it's like, you need to be like wheelchaired out once you've had a few drinks. So I'm, I'm pretty good. I always get home. I always have my bag, my purse, my wallet, and I'm always safe sound. And I call Braxton before I go to bed. All those things always happen. She's...

such a good girl sometimes she just doesn't remember how they happen though yeah but sometimes I'm like I always wake up but I'm like oh no is my purse here it's always there I'm like is my phone here did I call Braxton and check my call log I'm like I'm doing all the things I need to do it's just like I don't know where my brain is for these activities but I'm pretty functioning your brain was just taking a nap she was logging off for a little bit

The next day, Saturday, was game day. So we had to be up bright and early. Oh, I wanted to die. I was also pretty hungover. Yeah, I was pretty hungover that day. Yeah, then everyone came to mine for a little bit. We met up and then we went to my other friend's house because they had all their parents over as like a pregame before the frats for the tailgates. Well, we went to the tailgates, which was very fun. And in the backyard of...

these frat houses and i will say our little sister penelope is going to be the life of the party and we've known this and she's been little but she was standing on the like little surface in the middle of this tailgate it was like a little bench in the middle and i she kept like dancing and i was like help you like are you okay like i know like dad and thomas are like in the front like do you do you want to like go back up with them she's like no i want to stay i want to party all my friends all my guy friends were like your sister's so cool and i was like i know

Our other siblings were by the food truck in the front sitting in like a quiet corner Then they left early penelope was like up there dancing on the platform like having the time of her life And I was like, I think she brought the party She did because the party was kind of like it was very like chill just because it was a lot of like parents Standing around. Yeah, you know and they tried to like class it up a little bit for the parents yeah, they were playing like throwback music and

And it was definitely not like when I was there for Mardi Gras. I will say those were like two different ends of the spectrum. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. But yeah, my little sister Penelope, I'm pretty sure was the life of this frat party. Then we danced and then it was raining. So we didn't go to the game. And honestly, probably my favorite night that we all had was we all went, which you slept through this again, like Ashton slept through all of the things we're supposed to do for parents weekend. Yeah, I think it was just a culmination of everything I've been doing for the past month had really started to

catch up to me and I was so so tired and I do feel this I don't know if this is a bad thing I feel very very drained sometimes when I spend time with our family too much yeah you were getting like you were getting like cranky cranky and I was like why are you being such a bitch and you were like I'm not you were yelling at me again like Lucy I do notice that sometimes I get like snappier when I'm like with our family for too long well honestly

Well, honestly, only around our family. I'm always the most like optimistic friend of my friend group whenever it's like everyone's like, oh, like, I don't know if I want to do this or that or like being Debbie Downers. I'm like, no, come on. Like, let's have fun. Let's be happy. Let's be positive. Like everything's great, blah, blah, blah. But then I don't know what it is about our family that like takes it out of me sometimes. I think also the fact that I was like.

technically hosting everyone too so I I could tell Ashton was I get anxious yeah she's not Ashton's not a good host love you so much but like

I could tell that she was getting stressed out about like our family and the plans kept changing and like she was just getting like really snappy and I was like Ashton like reel it back so then that night and actually when we were going to the game because everyone's like should we go to the game should we not whatever I literally was like everyone shut the fuck up I'm ordering Subway sit down peace and quiet because there's just with our family there's just so much

so many people and so many different voices. - It's so hard to like get everyone together. - So I was like, this is what we're doing. Sit down, we're not going to the game. No one's going to enjoy going to the game. The little kids are gonna be complaining. We're ordering our Subway, we're eating it, we're sitting down. And then I was like, let's all go back to my apartment. I got everyone out, or not my apartment, but my hotel room. We left Ashton at her house alone sleeping. 'Cause I was like, she's being a cunt.

And then I took the little girls to my room and we had a little girls night. We showered, we took a bath, and then we ordered Chinese food. So then like...

mom or not mom dad but ashley dad thomas isabel penelope all came to my hotel room and we all had chinese food and we watched um some cartoon movie i forget what it was it was about like a cat and we had like the best night just chilling in bed together without you no i actually did have fomo i i was i was planning on coming over but i wanted to shower first and like put on pajamas before i came and

And I was waiting on my bed because my roommate was showering in our bathroom. So I was waiting on my bed and I fell asleep face down on my bed with my cowboy boots on waiting to shower. And then I woke up and it was like 6 or 6.30 when you guys left to go back to the hotel. And I woke up at 11.30 and I was like, whoa, I was like, what happened? And then I was awake for an hour and then I went back to sleep and slept for like nine hours. That's how you know I was awake.

I was not okay. I was drained. I also really thought that you weren't going to come on our flight to LA the next morning. It was an hour before our flight. You're like, I didn't pack yet. I was like, oh God, she's like in some type of rut. And she's just at the airport before all of you. I know, but I didn't know. And even at the airport, you were so snappy. I was like, where are you? Like, let's meet up at the airport. And she's like,

at the airport i was like well yeah but where and like i was just like that wasn't being snappy that was just me being like she was cranky she was cranky and then see this is what i hate too because alex is always like you're so cranky you're so cranky and i'm like i'm not but now i am because you're bothering me about it so much and now i hate you sorry

that isn't a lie that I do that you're right and you say it over and you're like you're so cranky and then you say to the whole family Ashton's being cranky and I'm like well now I'm pissed it's like when someone says like oh are you on your period and like you actually are and you're like fuck off you know anywho

Continuing on, this next flight to LA, I thought that we were all going to die. I genuinely thought, OK, our whole family line is going to be discontinued because we're all going to die on this flight.

That's what I was thinking about because so for context we were all flying from New Orleans to LA together on Sunday and it's my mom her boyfriend Todd my dad Ashley the three little kids Alex and I every single one person in our family on this flight and it's which I was already thinking about this beef before we got on the flight because my roommate's dad was saying this because her parents flew in separately and

And I was like, oh, why'd they fly in separately? And she was like, oh, like they have this weird thing about both being on flights together just because they have like a history with like

planes going down and it's like you know at least there'll be one parent yeah it's which is really sad and cryptic that's really scary but anywho yeah no no like she just explained that to me before this flight we got on so i was like that was prevalent in my mind i never get anxious flying because i fly every other day like i live on the airplanes especially like a big commercial flight it's just like it really never scares me it really doesn't and we are now like

Three and a half hours into this flight. We're not at the, like, landing, coming up or going down. So it was like, you know, the time of the flight when it's just smooth sailing. The flight attendants were in the middle of the aisle with their carts handing out drinks. And all of a sudden...

I thought that we landed because it was like, boom. Like it felt like we like hit a wall. The flight attendant. The girl with the cart in the middle, she like flew into someone's seat. Like the cart went. The flight attendants start screeching like, ah, and obviously when they freak out, cause like, you know, when something happens on a flight and you like look to the flight attendant and I'm like, are you okay with this? They're just like,

she was because they're always just like chill yeah she was screaming and i was like and all of a sudden they like got on the microphone and they were like everyone in your seats like whatever and the flight was like this like just everyone was going like this everyone's heads were bobbling and it was like for what like 30 seconds to a minute yeah well it was really bad for like

15 seconds and then it was like it took maybe like a minute to like fully stabilize again in the moment that this is all going down I'm sitting here and I'm thinking oh my god oh my god oh my god like

like we're going down, like something's happening. I look out the window because I was freaking out. So I opened up the window. I was like, where are we? And we were over mountains, which scares me even more because like, say we had to like emergency land. Like you can't really do that on a mountain. You know what I mean? Like you need flat land. So I was like, oh my God, oh my God. I think that's like where the weird wind comes from. Like, yeah. So from like the difference. Nonetheless, this is all happening. And I'm thinking, oh my God, like maybe this is like,

Like God put us all on this plane together so that like we could all go out together to suffer. Like I literally was so horrible to think of. I know. So I'm I don't know. Whatever. So I'm I'm like really freaking out on this flight. And then all of a sudden it stops and they were like,

So we just experienced some like clear air turbulence. And I'm thinking, what is clear air turbulence? Because like I'm used to the jelly story where I'm like, we're in jelly. We can't go down. So I Google clear air turbulence. And it's like a storm in the sky, basically, that you can't see. So hence like the clear air. And every photo I see online of clear air turbulence is like the face masks down. The seats are dislocated. People are upside down. And I'm like, what?

I was like, well, thank God that we were okay. And like,

I but like for the rest of that flight I didn't know that yeah so for the rest of the flight I was so shaken up like I wouldn't stop shaking it was the worst like hour and a half of a flight I've ever like I was just I don't know it was so scary and I really never get scared flying and it was just every like possibility was going through my mind um but we're okay thank god but um

i don't know i really didn't like that i really was scared ashley was freaking out she texted ever she immediately whips out her phone actually basically said goodbye she texted my grandma she's she was saying goodbye to everyone she texted the kids babysitter she texted everyone she texted your publicist she was like we just we just hit turbulence how did you already sign off

to everyone i was like she was like she's quick with it ready to be done but one thing about ashley is she will get it done like i said like the zoo was closed she was like we're getting in that zoo like if we were going down like ashley would have had like a helicopter like on the way up with life vests like before we even were like close to going to the ground like ashley will get shit done so like i really appreciate that about her but she is a little bit like freaked out um neurotic

yeah well where like she was saying her goodbyes um do you remember in the beginning of covid when this was like we first got sent home for covid it was still called like corona at this point and we she made us wear hazmat suits in the house oh my god like yes guys i kid you not like a full-blown like she bought hazmat suits head to toe we were covered in a hazmat suit and i was like this was still like

before we even knew how bad covid was this was before that you know this was like hazmat this was yeah i don't even know how to explain it this was like pre like this was like they found like one case yeah they found like one case in new jersey and she was like buys hazmat suits she stocked up like our basement looked like we were going into a zombie apocalypse we had

8 000 cans of ramen noodles yeah she bought like non-perishable foods like i don't know what she was thinking like but that was so fun i totally think about ashley is she's gonna figure it out and she's also gonna be the most freaked out at all times

Yeah, she's going to do the most is what she's going to do. She's going to be doing the most. But honestly, it makes me feel safe. If any situation were to be happening, I would like to be with Ashley. I had to act calm, cool, and collected because I had Isabel next to me, my younger sister, who's 12. And I was like, I know she's probably so scared right now. And if she looks at me and sees that I'm scared, so I was like, hehehe.

I was like I was like tightening her seatbelt I was like it's okay it's okay and then I felt bad because the girl next to me was not a part of our family and like the only person in like three rows that wasn't our family and she was like and so we're all like holding hands you know when you're like next to a stranger and like there's turbulence and you're looking at them like what are you thinking right now like are you

and she was like definitely freaking out and she was like can we put up the window and i was like yes and i was like you're now part of the family but yeah so that was like a really scary flight and i feel like i really never have scary flights or scary stories like that but not to make anyone nervous for the girls who write in that are saying they're anxious flyers but i was a little terrified for my life in that moment i remember we walked off and ashley was like

To the pilot, she was like, thank you for not letting us die. I want to know, like, I don't know. Actually, I don't want to know. But yeah, I mean, I'm getting on a flight tomorrow, so it's got to be fine.

It is fine. It's fine. It's fine. Let's just not think about it. That was also Isabel's birthday. So we went to go to a birthday dinner. We had planned like a birthday dinner in LA for her because it was her birthday. We, me and Alex get there like five minutes after my parents and the kids got there. Isabel's already sleeping on the bench at the table. And we're like, what is the point of even doing this dinner? She slept through the entire birthday dinner. And I think we only went to that restaurant because they have like a really fun birthday dessert. Right. Is that what you were saying? Yeah. Yeah.

I don't know. So we didn't get to do that. I miss everyone already. Excited for Thanksgiving. Excited for Thanksgiving. Next week, we're all going to be together. I just realized I just booked my flights.

yesterday and I was like oh my god I'm leaving on Thursday I know I'm coming to Miami I didn't realize it's already the middle of November wait when did that happen I thought it was just like Halloween's about to happen I just I'm already prepared that it's like gonna be 2025 by tomorrow this is what happens this is what happens it's always like once the holidays start everything goes by in like a week because we have like four holidays

main holidays so close to each other so it's like you always have something kind of like going on and you're thinking about and it just goes by so quickly like I feel like they should spread out like Halloween like

like Thanksgiving, like Christmas, Hanukkah time, New Year's, like spread it out a little bit. Let us savor it. Yeah. But then when we did it in LA, that was really fun as we went to Dancing with the Stars. And I basically dragged my whole family there with me because I was like, I'm such a fan of the show and we are all going. And no, I was so excited. The little kids didn't even know what was going on. Thomas is like, where are we? And it was like, obviously, two hours that it's like you're being filmed. So you can't like

leave or do anything and Thomas was like sleeping in the back it was so funny the cameraman would be like right next to us recording the audience next to us and you just hear Thomas going daddy I'm tired and we're like Thomas just

Because it's like they film it live and they like get clips of like people in the audience. And like they're also like, you know, you know, clap, you know. It was so fun to see. It was so fun to see. Isabel and Penelope were like standing there. I was like, guys, like I'm like, are you having fun? They're like, yeah, this is so cool. I'm like, clap and smile. Yeah.

They're so cute. Our family standing there like zombies in the back. It was so fun. It was a long week for us, but yeah, that I loved it so much. Everyone was so good. I don't understand how they do that. I was thinking that too, because I was like, wait a minute. I always thought like,

Oh, I used to be a dancer. Like, you know, I could maybe do this. And I was watching what they were doing. And I was like, I don't know if I could do that. Like, that's crazy that people that aren't dancers are getting out there and like performing these whole dances, memorizing it. And then they did like the instant dance. And I was I was very shocked. The instant dance was crazy. It was the 500th episode ever.

of Dancing with the Stars. So they did this new thing that they've never done before was like the instant dance. And I guess each team knew of like four different types of dance it could be that they had to prepare for anything. And then they didn't know what song on the spot. So they didn't know like what beat or tempo to do it at. Yeah.

So on the spot, they got the song and the dance and then they had to like run, pick their costume, change. And they had like three minutes, I think, to rehearse the dance before they did it in front of everyone. And they all did so well. I thought it was going to be a mess because they were like, we don't know how this is going to go. I was expecting it to be like everyone was like not knowing the next move. Everyone was doing so well. And I was like, how is everyone doing this right now?

No, it was legitimately impressive. Especially, I feel like the athletes that you would just not expect to be good dancers, they all killed it. And we met Steven.

who obviously is perfect they brought him over because they knew I wanted to meet him and I was like I think that's the actual first person that I've ever asked to like meet or be introduced to because like I just would never do that but like I literally was just like freaking out I was like hey and I was just so awkward um but yeah I think that's the first person that I've like asked

to be introduced to or to me in any situation that I've ever been in is Stephen because I know he's also he's literally Thomas did you see that TikTok that someone posted and they were like we always say that Thomas it is we were like Stephen is Thomas in 20 years and it they are they're the same person and every time Stephen came out Thomas was like oh my god that's me I was like it's you Thomas

Oh my god, I can't. Which is why I thought it was so funny that someone made a TikTok of that because I was like, yep, they are spot on. We were crying at the end of him and Riley's dance. Their waltz. We were crying. I looked over at Ashton. She was crying and I was crying too. And we were like, are you crying? I'm crying. I was like, yeah, wiping my tears. Well, I'm going to kick you off and do a few What Would Alex Do? And then we will see you guys next week. Okay. Love you. Love you. Bye.

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passes the vibe check. Explore all of the possibilities for yourself. Tinder, it starts with a swipe. Download Tinder today. Help. I like this guy a lot, but I don't know if I'm ready to be in a relationship yet. Like, I genuinely am stressing over the fact that he's going to ask me to be his girlfriend soon. What should I do? Okay, I think this is a very relatable what would Alex do question for me because I have been there, been in that position, and I

I have been on both ends of the spectrum. I feel like in college, I kind of would just like be like, oh, okay, like we'll date like just because I didn't really know what to do. And I was like, oh, we're hanging out, but I really didn't want to date, but I also like didn't care to see anyone else. So I was like, I was confusing myself.

And then that's with Braxton is we were talking for nine months before we officially were like label on it, dating, committed. And partially that was my fault because I had a little bit of just like

I was in a little bit of denial. I was like, I don't really like him or not that I don't really like him. I was like, I don't really want a boyfriend. Like, I just I'm not going to do this. Like, I really don't want a boyfriend. I was so dead set on like, I don't want a boyfriend. And then I was hanging out with him every day and whatever. And honestly, with Braxton, that was the first time that I just like told him I was like,

I really like hanging out with you. I was like, I'm just kind of stressed about like this label or I don't know why I feel like it's going to like mentally stress me out or like change something in my mind and I don't want it to like things are going so well. And he was like, okay, well, you just let me know like when you're ready, I'm here. Like I like hanging out with you. Like we'll just continue hanging out. And if it works out, if it works out, if it doesn't, it doesn't. And I think like

me getting that off my chest and saying that to him alleviated so much stress because right now you're probably just so worried like oh my god like whatever and it's probably getting in your head and messing with you figuring out if you actually like really really like this guy or do want to be with him or don't want to be with him so I would just let him know like where your head is at it's always better to just be open and honest is what I've learned and I think if

He really likes you and likes hanging out with you. And I mean, I don't know like what really the rush is to date if someone isn't ready besides the fact of

It can feel to the other person like, ooh, like they don't like me because I guess as girls, like we've seen it on the other end too, where guys like, I don't want to date or whatever. But like, I think, you know, you could clarify, like, are you seeing other people or not? Or is it just like the label that's stressing you out? Because like personally, me, I was in therapy. There was some personal stuff that I had to work through. And he just kind of let me take it.

that time and figure it out for myself and he was very understanding of that so I would say to you whatever your personal thing is and maybe it's just that like you don't know each other that well yet because I do think that there's some guys that want to rush into a relationship and it's just I kind of think it's like an immature thing to do is like

I don't know. There's some people that you know each other for, like, a week or two and then you start dating, which is also fine, but that was just not really my speed or how I wanted to, like, go about things. I was, like, I would rather, like, really get to know this person before, like, committing to dating someone because I think when you're, like, really closed off to someone, it's

So it's an important, special thing. I didn't want to just date someone just to say like I was dating someone, you know, like I want to date someone that I could truly like see myself being with for years.

you know, a long amount of time or not breaking up ever, you know. So I would say just be honest with him. And I think if it's only been like a month or so of you hanging out, I feel like that's like reasonable for you to be like, I just like want to keep hanging out, getting to know each other. Like I don't want to commit to anything yet. If you're more in the range of it's leaning like five, six months, I think, um,

that's a point where like he probably is like why have we not like solidified this yet and I think if that's something that stresses you out for whatever personal reason you just have to tell him and be honest and let him know um and I think

honesty is the best policy. It's always going to go over better. You're always going to feel better and then you don't have to like be worried and feel guilty of like, oh my God, I don't know what he's thinking. What is your opinion on men in a relationship watching OnlyFans? Should they be doing that slash allowed? Is it right for me and my friends to be bothered by this? Okay, I don't know if this is a hot take, but this is what Alex would do.

That, for me, I think OnlyFans is different than, like, porn, which I don't... How have we said that word on here so many times in this episode? I just feel like if you're, like, subscribing to, like, one person and, like, personally paying to watch one person, like, that feels wrong. And to me, like, I would just... I would not allow that or like that. So...

I don't know. I don't know if it's, like... I think it's... Relationships, it would go with whatever you feel with. If that's bothering you, then it's bothering you. And, you know, you don't need to, like, have this whole big justification. Like, for me, if I found out that Braxton was subscribed to OnlyFans, like, I would punch him in the face and break up with him. But...

That's just me, you know? So yeah, do whatever makes you feel good. Hey Alex, what would you do if you really didn't want to live with your best friend after college but don't want to hurt her feelings by saying no to her? I love her, we're just better as friends than roommates. Oh my god, the roommate thing is always so tricky. Like that's just never, it's never going to be easy conversation, I'm not going to lie, it's never going to be fun.

It's it's never a good feeling when you like you don't want to live with someone and they want to live with you and you're like. But I feel like if this is your best friend and this is a true best friend, then you can be honest with her. And I always say like my best friends, like we can shit on each other. We tell each other our flaws. And like at the end, we're like sisters. You know what I mean? Like at the end of the day, we're not going to get hurt.

And I did have so I had this happen with some friends after college where they kind of went through the same thing of like maybe they lived together in college but they didn't live together after college and it's like their best friends. And I will say these girls are still best friends but they did have to go through that hard part of having that honest conversation of like hey I love you so much.

But I really don't think that we would be good roommates. Personally, this is a decision for me. I don't want to live together. Has nothing to do-- well, I mean, I guess it does have to do with them.

But like, I would just be honest, like maybe they're a disaster and a mess. Like I would be completely understanding if Kristen was like, hey, I don't want to live with someone who keeps their room like a tornado just went off in there. I'd be like, that's so fair. And you definitely shouldn't live with me then because that's how my room is at all states and all times. The living room, I try to keep a little bit better, but it's just like me.

Me, clutter, and a mess follows. So, you know what? If she said that to me, I would be like, all right, let's check myself and I would know that that is okay and she does not need to live with me if that is not what she's looking for. Honestly, she's probably not looking for that, but she hasn't told me. She hasn't told me that it bothers her yet. So, there's different reasons why people don't want to live with one another and I think you just have to like be honest with her and

If she's being realistic and honest with you, she will accept it and admit to it and like take it and suck it up. And I don't know. I mean, it is different, I guess, of like, are you going to be living with other girls?

Or you want to live alone. It's probably seeming like you want to live with other girls. But just not with her. And I think whatever that reason is. I'm sure there's a good one. That's okay. You just need to have a conversation. And it can. What I want you to know. Is that it can be done tastefully. Because I do have friends that had to have these conversations after college. And they're still best friends. But for whatever reason. Sometimes you're just not good living partners. You know. It's like people have different living habits. So yeah.

Hopefully, just telling the truth goes over great. It makes sense and I love you and I'm wishing you the best luck. And that is all for our episode today. I love you guys and I will see you next week for another episode of Hot Mess. Don't forget to subscribe and like this podcast. Love you. Bye. Wait, did I just turn that off? How do I get that back on? I'm a hot mess.

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