THE CHEESE GAL (feat. Cortney LaCorte)
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- Welcome back to this week's episode of Unlocked. I am so excited about today's episode. We have Courtney LaCourte. - Hello, my friend. - Hi. So Courtney and I have known each other for,

Since I started Cheese Gal. Because Shannon. Yes, our girl Shannon. She's always like the. Shannon's always connecting everyone. It's wild. Six degrees of separation. Literally. So we met, if y'all don't know, Courtney's Instagram, Cheese Gal, right? Is it still Cheese Gal? It's still Cheese Gal. Okay. So you've got to follow her. It is wild. Back in the day, she did the most outrageous cheese boards. I love cheese so much. And they're.

I really do. They were like so good. Thank you. So good. Thank you. It really was like a form of therapy at first. And then it started into like a cheese art. So how did...

How did that come about? Well, I remember Shannon like bring it about. She did. Like she came up with the name. Remember, it used to be Nashville Cheese Gal. Yes. And then it turned into I dropped the Nashville. But it really honestly, it stems from a love of hosting and entertaining. I always grew up watching like Martha and Ina and wanted to be Julia Childs and or my mom throwing a dinner party. And the cheese board was just the way that I could kind of get into that. But I started making cheese boards when I was 15.

- Stop. - Yeah, no, could you imagine? 15 years old, I'm just like, okay. Now they weren't always like what they are now. - They maybe had some cheese whiz back in the day.

A thousand percent. There was a cheese whiz. There was a Ritz, whatever, you know, nothing fancy. But I loved just the idea that this beautiful edible thing could bring people together. And so, yeah, I used to have a business and that's how, yeah, we met through Shannon and you were one of my first, like, I remember bringing a board over to y'all's house. Yes, you did. You brought like, you brought that one and then you started doing like vegetable type boards.

boards and it's crazy. You had a store and now at first you just did it and like deliver it to people's houses. Then you had a store in Nashville and at the trauma, I'm just thinking about, Oh yes, I had a store. Yep. It was insane. Like it's,

for people listening to, if you look at her Instagram, I just told Courtney before we sat down, I was like, I save everything. Like she'll post all these recipes. And what's wild is now she's working on a cookbook. Yes. I can't, but can you believe the evolution? Like it's so, it really is wild. That's wild. Like you went from making cheese boards in your kitchen. Yeah. I've had a cookbook deal. I'm like, how the hell did that happen? Well, I mean, look at it. It

it and your husband yes like you know he's one of my I consider him like a recipe developer he contributes a lot of it no I'm not saying every recipe is his but a lot of them like I'll say okay taste this he's like ah needs a little acid add a little lemon a little salt I'm like

Okay. So he's going to help me with the book as far as recipes are concerned. But he's also like a creative too. He's a songwriter. Songwriter, producer. That is wild. It's still so crazy to think. I know. Like, so, okay. So with the cheese boards, what, when you started making them, like what was the joy in it that you had when you were making them and then

Probably your favorite person you've ever delivered to. Oh my gosh. Okay. Well, I started making them really as like a creative outlet and

At the time, Chris was a touring musician. He used to tour with Dustin Lynch for like eight, nine years. So he was on the road all the time. But then we had Charlotte, who I think she was like 18 months old. I love she got her personality. She's a star. She's hilarious. She's hilarious. She's so funny. Like her little cooking videos and her little. I can't. I don't know where she gets it. Yeah, right. Strange. No, I really was like a creative outlet for me when he would be on the road. I would invite my. She

Shannon girlfriends over whenever Charlotte would be asleep and I'd make a cheese board as big as my dining room table. And that's really kind of how the idea started. Um,

Shannon was one of the first people that was like, you need to do this for a job. And this is before that was a thing. Now it's everywhere. I swear it was not a thing until you. Yeah. I think, yeah, I think I was one of the first in Nashville for sure. Without a doubt. And then it just like, I was so, but I have to say this about you too. You were one of the most supportive people for me from the very beginning. Truly. Yeah. Well,

- Well, thank you. I mean, that's part of it. That's my thing. It's like, we all need people to believe in us and support us and even it for like the littlest things. But the thing about you though is you never asked for anything.

That was you. Like, you know how some people will be like, Hey, will you post this? You do that. Never. You never did that. And I think that's what makes it so great. And that's what makes people want to support you is because you just go out here and you do it. And you're like, well, I hope people talk about it. Exactly. Exactly. You kind of do it and going, okay, well,

If they will, awesome. But if not, I hope they enjoy it. It's great. And my mom, oh my God, my mom always loved your cheese boards. Always. And she'd be like pulling up your Instagram. So sweet. Like every, and to now, obviously it turned, what was like the turning point? So you started the cheese boards and then you ended up like getting a kitchen outside your house, right? Open up the storefront.

I think because I grew my social media presence at the same time as growing the actual business. In fact, you know, for the longest time, I didn't even have a website. Instagram was how people say stuff. No, I really do have like PTSD thinking about all of that. I don't know how I did it, first of all. But I grew Instagram at the same time as growing the business.

And I started doing little things like, I don't know if you watch this, but I did the Dirty Martini Journey like three or four years ago. Trust me, I've watched it. Yeah, like Dirty is the Cumberland. Dirty is the Cumberland, baby. Have that trademarked as well. Oh, yes. Oh, yeah. And I started to really look at it as like,

my show, which was where I used to pretend at five years old to have my own cooking show. By the way, I would have two fake, uh, cameramen that were teddy bears, both named Dan. Stop. And I would kid you not. Thank you, Dan. Thank you, Dan. Hi everybody. My name is Courtney Tucker and here's how you make spaghetti. Like five years old. There are, there's video of this. So I think I really just wanted a cooking show. And so then I learned how to make cheese boards and then I'm like, wait, I can kind of have this on my Instagram. Um,

And so when I started having fun doing that, then I started getting brand deals and I still was running the business, but I'm like, it's, it's a lot running a small business is it's a lot hard and it's stressful because, and to first off you did the dirty martini journey. You did, then you did the, um, bloody Mary journey. Yeah. That. Oh my gosh.

And for those wondering what we're talking about, they're probably like, what is this drink? I loved the idea of drinking a dirty martini, but I kept over the years, I would tell Chris, I'm like, it's my drink. He's like, you order it, you take two sips and then you stop drinking. I don't think it's your drink. I'm like, uh, but don't you, it's me. It's like a vibe. And he's like, okay, it's a vibe. And so I finally, it was the best one. Sperry's.

I know Sperry's 100% does. Oh my God. It's ice cold. It just was the right. That's where you get it wrong. That's where you kind of went like, first off the dirtiness of yours and the

The ice chips. I've got to have the ice chips. So I tried. I was like, OK, at the time I had two small kids. I'm like, obviously, we're not going to a steakhouse every night. Yeah. So I was like, how can I make that martini at home? So every day, I kid you not, for the month of July, this is, I don't know, three years ago, maybe I tried a different recipe. I tried different vodkas, vermouth, no vermouth. What brand? Until I got to the right recipe. And I'm sorry, it's the best damn martini you'll ever have.

Those are big words, but I feel like I can back it up. I need to find the recipe you landed on. Oh, I'll send it to you. I'll text you. There's a whole thing on Instagram about this. There's a whole thing. It is absolutely amazing. It's really good. And...

Leave anything out. You know how some people will like post their recipes, but you know they left something out because they don't want you to have the real recipe. Oh, yeah. And I just put it up. Like that pisses me off so bad. It's annoying. And so then it's OK. So you're growing your business and social media at the same time. Yep. And I start getting brand deals and I'm like, wow, this is kind of great.

But then I'm like, okay, I can't keep going at this rate because I was drowning. I just felt, I remember when my friends would ask, how are you doing? I'm like, drowning. I'm well, this is a lot on top of being a mom. I'm like, I don't know how I can do this. And with Chris being gone all the time. Yes. And thankfully 2020 brought him home. And that was when he left that he was like, and he started having success. His first number one was Sam, I think was in 2020. Yeah.

So it's like we started seeing that. He's like, all right, I'm retiring from the road. I'm really doing this full time. And so, yeah, through these different things on Instagram, getting brand deals. And then the real kicker, I don't think I've told you this story. My assistant calls me. She's like, we need to have a meeting. And I'm like, oh, no, she's leaving. She tells me she's giving her two week notice. And I'm like, how? And I start spiraling. When I tell you spiraling, I was like, oh, my God, how am I going to do this without her? Like, I can't. So I call Chris and I go.

I don't want to do this anymore. And he says to me, I'm so glad to hear you say that. I said, what? He goes, I've been praying that you would come to this realization. He was like, you don't need it anymore. It got you to where you needed to go. You can now evolve. Yeah.

And I was like, I can. And when I, I don't know, just giving yourself that permission to change your mind. Yeah. I think was a really powerful moment. It had to have been scary. Totally scary. Because you had put a lot of time, money, everything into this business. Yep. Was there ever a point in time where you were like,

Because I know people listening and they kind of compare their stories that you're like, when you shut down the store, was there a time where you were like, does this mean I failed? Or does this? Oh, thousand percent. There was almost an identity crisis that happened for the first six months. But I will say, if I've learned anything through it, it's kind of what I just said a second ago. It's like, it's okay to change your mind. That does not equal failure.

We have one precious life. Do you really want to live it? Oh, staying married to a job that you're not happy with. That's not, I think when I realized it was draining me more than it was filling my cup, I was like, it's time. It's time to close that. Yeah. And I literally hang up the phone, uh, talking to Chris run. I was at Soho over here, run right into my managers. And I said,

I'm going to close the store. And they said, we're so, I mean, everybody said, we're so glad to hear you say that. And they said, we've been turning down deal after deal because I didn't have the capacity to take it on. So I was saying no to things I wanted to be saying yes to. And from that day forward, I really never looked back. But like I said, there was definitely a moment of time where I felt like, wait, who am I? And I'm like, what am I doing? But I think I looked at it as...

I used to own cheese gal and I now am cheese gal. Right. So instead of being the one in the kitchen all day, you know, doing like, I could actually show people versus like selling a product. And too, I feel like a lot of times when you take your passion and business gets involved in your passion and money and contracts, you're like, it takes some of that passion away. It does. Yeah. And

And so then you went, you just started focusing solely on social media. Solely on content. And I, I mean, it's been two years of doing it full time and I just landed my first major cookbook deal. And I'm like, I can't believe it. I'm so excited. Like, I think I'm more excited than you are for this. Because so.

so much stuff you'll post and I'll just like save it. Like that's the best compliment you could get me. I'm telling you, it is so good. And they're easy recipes too. Oh girl, I'm not a chef. Here's the thing. Let me tell you something. She's not a chef. Um, no, I'm, I am a mom that's just trying to put dinner on the table. Okay. We have bluey on in the background. There's a meltdown or two. Like I am hanging on by a freaking thread. So I'm not a chef, but I really love food. And even like

just like I said, like the cheese board thing comes from a love of hosting and entertaining. And when I really think about it, I don't know if this is the case for you, but like food there's in every favorite memory, it brings people together. It does. Like even with my mom, like all of us just sitting down at the table at night, like, yeah, I mean,

before my parents left, like I rarely ever went to the grocery store cause I just like shop at my parents' house. You know, I'm like, she always had everything. And then we'd go over there for dinner, literally probably four nights a week at least. And,

And it's, we had so much fun. It's your time together. Exactly. It's time. You like bond over it. You so much great stuff happens around the dinner table. Over food. Literally. I love it. And now I like one of my big things that I like to do. I love little couch caviar. Do you like caviar? I was just about to bring you. I know. I was just about to bring that up. Couch caviar. Yeah. Chloe. Okay. Chloe's sitting over here on her phone. Chloe, do you like caviar? Yeah.

You know what she asked for for her 11th birthday? Girl after your own heart. She asked for a caviar party. And I was like, you're 11. No. Are we sure she's not mine? Oh my God. We went to Cayman.

And there's a restaurant there. They have the best cheeseburgers, but they also have the best caviar in the entire world. Oh, I bet. And we sat there and just ate and ate. And then the kids were like, can we get caviar to go? This was one night. They were like, we're just having this as an appetizer. I was like, guys, what have I done? And when there's no one to blame but us, trust me, my kids are the same. I'm like, well, yeah. So the couch caviar is fantastic.

amazing. It's, you know, for me, it's like, it's just about taking that 20, 30 minutes out of your day. And listen, I totally know it's, you can't do this every day. Okay. But why save it for only celebration? That's kind of the way I'm looking at life, right? I'm like, wait, why save it? Why save? It's so short. We're not promised tomorrow. And also like,

being a human is hard so and what are we doing all this for anyway so and have a caviar on Tuesday night just make sure you have okay this is the bite and now I need to know what your bite is well I know that you you tried to do uh you obviously do like the really nice caviar and then you tried to do like ideal caviar or something and it was like the salmon roe

I saw that and I was like, it's the texture. It's a little, it's a little bigger. Yeah. Okay. And a little pop and it's a little fishier. Yeah. I was like, but if you, I was like, I'm really trying here. You're really trying. Listen, I was really trying to do the work. Okay. I was trying to make, I was, I was trying, but I agree. It's not my fave.

Okay, but my favorite bite of caviar, and I have to know what your favorite bite, like how do you eat it? It has to be for me, like potato chip, salt and vinegar. Yes, okay. The blue bag, the kettle brand. The kettle brand. Okay, I tried that and I loved it. But when we were in Cayman, we had to like make do because we had got all the stuff to go and like all the little toppings for it, whatever. And then we get home and I'm like, oh shoot, I'm like, I don't have sour cream. So we used cream cheese. Okay.

That's actually so smart. It was so good. Ruffles, potato chips with a little bit of cream cheese and caviar. Oh my God. It was so good. Okay. Well that's innovative and delicious. I love that. Try it. Okay. Now I'm going to. So good. Yum. I know. That makes sense. Like any type of like cream base. Like that would be perfect. I was like, well, we don't have sour cream, so let's just make two. Oh, you know what would be good? I wanted, the only thing I haven't done is the baked potato. Oh,

- I've been wanting to try it so bad. The baked potato. And then when we went to dinner in Cayman, we had, I put it with my steak. - Oh my gosh. - Steak and caviar. Oh my God. - This is... - It was so good.

Yes. And to like caviar with a dirty martini. It's heaven. So good. Because apparently don't like, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I've heard like Russians. Oh yeah. Like the caviar bump. The caviar because it takes the sting away from like a vodka shot. Oh yeah. And they do it. Yeah. So for sure. You're right on. And it compliments so well because you've got this like really fresh. Do you? This is why. This is why I write a cookbook folks.

And the way I'm passionate about this, Savannah, like I can feel it from the depths of my brain. - It's great. - Yeah, no, you're correct. - Okay, see, I knew I was right on track. - You're right on track.

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$44 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June of 2022 and May of 2023. Potential savings will vary. Discounts not available in all states and situations. When it comes to, okay, Couch Caviar, that's a whole other segment on Instagram, guys. It is absolutely amazing. But when it comes to hosting, like what are your do's and don'ts? I think the first thing is don't overcomplicate anything.

Because at the end of the day, it's like what we were just talking about. It's about being with your people, having that moment together. So if you're doing something that is really stressing you to freak out, you're just like,

I just say the freak out. Okay. The most choogy thing I've ever said. You can. Oh my God. Courtney, get it together. My first thing I would say is don't overcomplicate it. You know, plan it out a few days in advance so that you're not stressed and then do as much as you can before.

So you can be with them. Yeah. I will say this. One of my favorite, like around the holidays where hosting is insane. I always throw a New Year's Eve party, but I call it bougie comfy. You come in your pajamas. I get Publix fried chicken. We do have caviar. You know what I mean? Publix fried chicken and caviar. Great combo. It is elite. Like the best. The best. And of course we're back to caviar. I'm so sorry. Yeah.

Okay, so don't overcomplicate it. Do put some thought into it. Like if it's summer, right? Fresh. Yes. Tomatoes are in season. Peaches, you were just mentioning that. Burrata. Oh my God, she does this like peach burrata. So good. Basil, balsamic reduction over top, a little flaky salt, a little pepper.

So good. So good. What's like your favorite recipe? Oh my God. That you make like your favorite summer recipe. Favorite summer recipe. Okay. There's this, I'm actually probably gonna make this tonight. There's this, and I do make this in the fall too, but whatever. It's an instant pot recipe. It's a chicken chili verde. So you're taking poblanos, Anaheim peppers, serrano. My kids love this too. Onion, cilantro, and you put this in the instant pot with some chicken thighs and

And you let it come to pressure, do its thing. And you literally just take out the chicken, blend up the peppers. It's very healthy too, but it's just really fresh and light. Yeah. And my kids love it. You could serve it with the tortilla dip in. It's so good. That sounds awesome. It comes together in 30 minutes. So is that like, what's the theme of your cookbook going to be? So the title is oversharing, which. That's very on brand. It's on brand. It's a double meaning, a triple meaning and beyond. Um, that's.

The theme, I would say kind of, it's kind of a mix. It's everything that you see on my Instagram, right? So of course there's the bougie couch snacks like we were just talking about. Oh yes. Which by the way, I love like easier things too, like saltine cracker with a little butter and a little flaky salt while I'm watching Bravo. You know what's so good? Saltine cracker with a little mayo on top. And

and cut up like tomatoes oh heirloom tomatoes and do olive oil like garlic uh garlic powder like pepper i love and like cilantro and then put it on top oh my god i will be doing this today so good sending you a picture of me doing i'm telling you it is oh my gosh phenomenal yeah so like little snacks like that little snacks like that and then there's also obviously cocktails

That's part of my brand as well. Okay. Let me guess. Let me guess. The dirty martini. A thousand percent. The peach ranch water and the Bloody Mary. Yep. Okay. And those are three of like, I think we're looking to do 15 to 20, but the rest have to be new. That's the thing about the cookbook is that 80% of my recipes have to have never been published.

And by the way, this doesn't come out till 2026. I just chose to overshare when my deal was signed. I couldn't wait. I mean, it's like in every thread of my life, everyone's like, oh my God, wait, it's pre-order soon. And I'm like, no, I just signed my book deal. So we got two years. So it's kind of everything I'm doing. My favorite chapter is...

W-E-A-K, like week night dinners. That's one of my favorite chapters. And that's like... Like just you don't want to make dinner, but you have to. Your kids have had mac and cheese twice this week already. So you got to do something, but you don't have much to give. Like that's the idea. Because it's real. I need that because... Me too. I need it. She told me she was tired of Domino's. Yeah. So...

You know, like we're doing better though. You know, it's okay. My daughter, the other day we made tacos and she was like, mommy, this is so good. You can work at Taco Bell. I was like, thank you, babe. Honestly, I freaking love Taco Bell. So that was a great compliment. Thank you. You can work at Taco Bell. This is great. Thank you, honey. I knew because we, I love Taco Bell. I, hey. It's for fast food. They used to have the fiery Doritos Locos tacos. That was my favorite. That was my favorite. They got rid of the fiery ones. Just...

Okay. I know. No, that's not upsetting. That is. Okay. So the drinks. So the drinks, we have weeknight dinners. And then like where Chris is really coming in to help out. The meat section. The meat section. A reverse seared steak. Okay. He's going to show us how to.

smoke a brisket, things that I don't know how to do. But so chapters that have a little more, I'm not going to even use the word complicated. Nothing will be hard in this book. Just some will have more steps. Yeah, for sure. When you want to impress someone. Okay. If your mother-in-law is coming over, this is what you need to make. Chapter.

Like the title of the chapter. Impress someone. Of course there will be cheese boards. I'll show a few of those in there. But it's kind of just like a little of everything. It's also not like serious. I don't know. Is it going to be one of those where you show a bunch of pictures? Every recipe will have a photo. I love that. I hate

When I love cookbooks that like actually show step-by-step photos too at times. Because it takes out the intimidation factor. Yes. You know, because I mean, listen, it can be intimidating when you're opening the book. That is, I am so excited. Me too. I wish it didn't take so long. I didn't know. I didn't know. I was like, wait, why can't we do it next year? And they're like, well...

I have to turn the manuscript in April. Um, and then, yeah, that's wild. Yeah. Savannah, you should share your story with Courtney about, um, your mom's first experience of cooking for nanny.

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My dad was like, oh, you know, like I would love a banana pudding. Right. And my mom can do that. I can do that. Like so easy. Yeah. And like goes in, like whips it up and like 20 minutes. Oh, exactly. Exactly. I was like, that's incredible. I'm like, oh God. Oh no. And it's like instant banana pudding with like some bananas chopped up in it and like vanilla wafers. Like that's it. My dad was like,

What is this? Like, it's a banana pudding. He's like, no, that's not, that's not a banana pudding. Like where's the meringue? Where's the, you know, all of that. And then it was like their first Thanksgiving. And my mom was going to like cook a Turkey, all this stuff. My nanny Faye gives her, tells her how to do it, but she,

sabotaged her like intentionally and told her to like put the turkey in the oven all night long. Stop. Like all night long. All night long. And she woke up to just like a carcass. Oh, I was going to say it was, it's like the one from Chevy Chase versus vacation where it's just like up in flames. And my mom was like crying and was like, stop. She sabotaged me. Like, oh my God. Yeah. Wait, that's also like hysterical. Yeah. Um, do you remember speaking of nanny? What happened?

You sent me a video after I delivered a cheese board. Was it her trying to say the word charcuterie or a charcuterie board? Yep. Her trying to say charcuterie board. And that video, she, I don't even know. She calls it, no, she calls it a coochie board. That's what, coochie board. Awesome. Let me say that again.

You get one of those Koochie boards today. Oh my God, stop. That makes me, every time when I was driving over here, I was like, I can't remember what she said, but I remember it killed me. That's what it was. Incredible. Yeah, one of those Koochie boards. I just need to just rebrand. Rebrand. Just call it the Koochie board. I just said Koochie gal, but I don't think that works as well. Oh God. Anyway. I am done. Yeah, so welcome, guys. That's so funny. That is awesome.

is amazing oh my god how hilarious there was a question i was going to ask you about okay no where i was going with that was uh besides the coochie boards and all that it's obviously a mom yeah like trying to build this business it was there what was like the most challenging part trying to kind of build a business live out your dream while having kids

It's always the hardest part of being a working mom is trying to find that work life balance. And I'm convinced that it's just not possible because I feel like you can do your best. But at all times, I'm either failing, I feel like, at my job, but I'm doing a great job being a mom or it's vice versa. Yeah, that's definitely one of the hardest things.

things. And also I will say working from home, though, it's such a blessing and I'm so grateful for it. It's also hard. It's hard because you don't have any boundaries. Right. Right. You don't have any boundaries whatsoever. Yeah. Was there ever a time that you like, cause I think at my life, like right now and trying to do everything that I do, like there've been times where I've just like had a breakdown. I'm just like,

this is impossible. Like I am sucking. I'm like not showing up the way I need to show up in this area or, you know, like, well, how, how did you overcome that? I truly feel like I haven't. I feel like, I feel like I'm still walking it out every day. I think one of the biggest things that helps ground me is I always have in my mind, my non-negotiables things that I'm not. I say that all the time. Non-negotiables. You have to have non-negotiables. You have to like,

This sounds basic, but I'm not missing Charlotte's recital. So if Oprah comes to me and says, we need this, it doesn't matter. This is my non-negotiable. So I think having that really helps get closer to the balance. Yeah. And not feeling bad. Like, I feel like it's, we're made to feel bad for having boundaries. Yeah. Especially as women. Without a doubt. Without a doubt. Like we're made like, and to be.

Especially in the South, like as a woman, you cook, you clean, you stay at home with kids. And if you kind of do anything outside of that, you're not showing up the way you need to show up. Right. You're made to feel like, oh, someone else is raising your kids. I'm like, excuse me, if I don't have help...

that I can't work. I'm helping provide for my family. Exactly. It's a whole thing. I had someone send me a DM recently and they were like, oh, you have a babysitter, don't you? And I said, I absolutely do. And she's incredible. And I could not do what I do without her. I'm not going to sit here and feel bad about that. And that's the thing that I even bring up. Like why I look at Chloe and Grayson and I look at just like friends of mine who have stepped up and people who have helped me and people who have loved them. I'm like,

don't you want as many people as possible to love on your kids? It's what's best for them. Yeah. It's what's best for them too. Exactly. Oh my gosh. We couldn't do it. Literally people come at me and be like, oh, you're just living your life. First off, I don't just travel to travel. Like I travel if I have to do work stuff or if it's not work stuff, they come with me. So like, I don't just travel for the hell of it. And

The stuff people say, it's just mind boggling. And I can only imagine. Yeah. Like what the things that come out of their mouths. Exactly. I love when someone, I don't know if you get this. My favorite thing is when someone sends me a DM, but they meant to send it to the person who sent them my story or something. Yes. Cause they'll send and then they'll watch the story and then it's like reply, but they really reply to you. Yes. What would you say is the worst one you've gotten?

Oh, the worst one. Well, I did just have one a couple of days ago and actually this was, it was,

I found it to be hilarious and almost a little endearing. This is definitely not the worst one. It was just what I'm thinking of. I had posted a Spanx ad last week and this woman, this woman sends me and she was like, it's just so, so, so, so, so bad. And I said, oh, I know. And I was like, you didn't mean to send that to me, did you? And all she said back was no. And I said, yeah, I figured. And she said, looking forward to your cookbook.

you'll get a signed copy don't worry um so it's not like the worst one i mean but that's just that is hilarious yeah that is kind of funny oh it's so funny i'm like you know it's

It happens. Whatever. Okay. Sometimes we're thinking it. I know. We don't, you know, we just send it to the wrong person. What do you do? Yeah. I've done that before in like a text message or something where it's like you're talking or thinking about someone and then you end up sending it to that person instead. I've never turned my phone on airplane mode so fast and like keep it on there for the whole day and hope it like doesn't go through. Yeah. Does that work? It does. Okay. If you get it right before, like if it's slowly going.

and then you turn airplane mode on, you just got to keep it on airplane mode until it fails to send. Now you can unsend. Yeah. You can unsend them now. You can unsend them now. Yes. Life hack. That is if they haven't seen it yet. Right. Yeah. Right. Yeah. So that's a good tip, but I do love the non-negotiables. I feel like that's so important in every aspect of your life to just like, these are things I say that in relationships, like,

first time I go out with someone people are like dear god just lay it all out on the table don't you and I'm like yep yeah because why do I want to waste my time like these are my non-negotiables this is what I want if you don't want that let's have a few drinks exactly and it's fine yeah exactly waste your time and especially too as a mom and working and before when Chris was out on the road that's tough yeah it was just you at home that was before I had help

Oh, I don't know how I'm telling you. I don't have zero help. Like I say that I say like people that I hired now, like my grandmother will help me a lot. But like it's I don't know how you do it. It's a lot. It's a lot. You figure it out. I would say, is it an incredible how like you look back in like five years from now and you go, how did I do that? Oh, I even look now like because we're what over 20.

a year and a half in. Yeah. And I look back and I will never forget. It was like right when my parents left and I moved because we didn't touch anything at my parents' house until after they left. And so I moved all the kids stuff over to my house and Chloe's room is like a disaster because we're trying to move everything in. And I had to find them clothes to go and visit that weekend. And I just broke down. I was like, fell to the floor in her room and I just started crying. And I was like, I am not my mom. Like I,

I don't know how I'm going to do this. Yeah. I was like, I'm not my mom. Right. And then, but you just, you do it, you do it, you do it, get up and you just do it. And that strength, I look back and I'm like, holy shoot. What a right. Like going from no kids to a,

I don't wish this on anyone, a preteen girl. - My God. I'm scared. I'm so scared. Charlotte as a preteen. - Be scared. - Dear Lord. - And you'll say something and they'll be like, why did you just say that? And I'm like, okay, calm down. I didn't know that was triggering. I'm sorry. It's the wildest stuff. And then to have to teach them about shaving and everything else. - The whole thing.

Oh, no. Oh, see, these are things I haven't thought about yet. I'm not ready. I'm not ready. Start thinking about it. No. Start thinking about it. I was like, how did I like not? Not only was I like given two kids, but like you're like a preteen girl and a 17 year old boy. Like, yeah.

yeah I was so hard yeah it was well you're gonna have to I'll be calling you in about five years I'll be calling you like what do I say I don't know what to do I literally have friends doing that now and I'm like who would have thought you would be asking the 20 almost 27 year old like person who's never had a kid but raising kids like I'm like this is funny how life works yeah

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That is wild. Okay. So cookbook. Yeah. Unfortunately it's not coming out until we've got a minute. It's a minute. But do you have any more fun segments planned out on Instagram? Like journeys? Yes. Honestly, we do need another journey. We need another journey. I don't have any in my mind. I think I've just been like trying to, you know, we need another journey. You're right. Yeah. You should do a fun like Aperol spritz journey. Okay. Actually, because third

is easy to make as people make it seem like. The ratio has to be right. And sometimes like it tastes good when you put a little citrus in it and like a little squeeze of orange or lemon. Yes, and it has to be Aperol brand. The other brands are like not good. We need another journey. Okay, I do. Okay, I did just get this new

like healthier apparel. So it's probably terrible. It's not made with the bad dyes. Cause fun fact, I didn't know this till I went to Italy.

Which now that's my other personality is talking about how I went to Italy. I love, I vicariously lived through you on those trips. I just need your itinerary because I'm going. I will tell you everywhere to go. I say as soon as mom comes home, I'm like, I'm traveling. I said I'm taking 90 days because I had this whole plan of doing like 30 countries before I turned 30. And so now I'm like, all right. That's right. You're going to knock it out. We're doing it. You're doing it. Like travel the whole year. Literally. Hey,

It's possible. It's happening. It's happening. We're speaking. You deserve it. So when you went to Italy. Yeah. We had April and someone had DM'd me saying, oh yeah, it's nice because they don't have the bad food coloring in that. I'm like, wait, but it's the same brand as we have in the States. And sure enough, when I got back home, there's a red 40 in it. Like why? They use beet juice over there. No, that's not right. Rhubarb. They use... Wow. Wow.

Butchered that. They use something natural, like food, to color it over there. But over here, no, they're just putting things that cause cancer. So that's a real bummer. So there's... Was it better over there? Oh, yeah. Okay. There's just something also just about like, wow, I'm in Tuscany overlooking...

But I just got a brand that's healthier. It doesn't have the dye in it. I'll report back and let you know. We need another journey. Because I agree. Not all the brands are good. But maybe I'll do the journey of that. That's a good idea. You should. Okay. I like that.

I know it's been too long since I've done a journey. We need a journey. I like, I've lived it. I lived all of it. I lived all of it. Like the facial expressions when it tastes terrible and you're like, this tastes terrible. Like I'm telling you. So your Instagram is still cheese gal. Cheese gal. Y'all go follow her and look, it is amazing. It just makes you feel better about your life. Oh my God. It really does. Nice. It really does. But it also makes me feel better that you're sitting here being like, Oh yeah.

It looks perfect on there maybe, but like... It's not real. It's not real. No. Like I'm doing takeout tonight for sure. Yeah. Like even in your content too though, you're like, hey, it's been a day. It's so important to be authentic. And I know, I mean, you're the same way. Yeah. Like what you see is what you get with you. And I hope to be the same way. And it's like, we have enough...

I don't know. We haven't enough of seeing all these people that have seemingly perfect lives and they've got the mom thing. That's not real. No. And it makes people feel bad about themselves when they, you know, they're scrolling and they're like, wait, why does she have it all figured out? And I don't, it's like, no, they need to see us being like, listen, I'm hanging on by a freaking thread. Exactly. Yeah. So what would you say is like your one piece of advice for like,

moms that are trying to juggle it all between wife and mother and working. And my biggest thing is to be nice to yourself, be nice to yourself. None of us are perfect. Not one person has it all figured out. Like I mentioned, there's a time where you're going to feel like you are killing it in one area of your life and you're failing in the other. And it's like, just be nice to yourself. The

They've got a roof over their head and they have parents who love them. Period. Thank you. That's it. Thank you. I'm like this unrealistic expectation of perfection is wild. Oh my gosh. Totally. Totally. That is insane. It's not attainable. No, it's not. It's not. It's not at all. But my biggest piece of advice, yeah, when you're looking at your life and you're like, okay, I could go this way or this way. Why?

where are you finding your fulfillment? Where are you finding your joy? And if you are finding yourself going, this is draining me more than it's filling my cup. It's time to make a, a change. It's time to make a change. Yeah. And that's not to say it shouldn't happen. Like, that's not to say it's going to happen overnight because we're not, we're not saying go out and quit your job. I'm not saying do that because we do still need money. Let's be clear. And I do understand that also, um,

I come from a point of privilege being able to make that decision. I know that that's not something that is always there for every person. Like I'm very blessed that I was able to make that. You can, at that point in time, like, like you said, if it wasn't for you making that decision. Yeah.

I mean, you help provide for your family now. Like you help because of that decision that you made. Yeah. And I mean, I'll be honest with you. I always thought, especially growing up, I grew up in Dallas, Texas. Okay. I had a friend that got married the day after we graduated from high school. Hell, I got married at 21 years old. So it's like, I don't know. Not to Chris, by the way. I've lived a hundred lives, by the way. Um,

Where was I going with that? You just coming from the South. Coming from the South. And I always thought that I was just going to marry someone and hopefully he would do well. I never thought that it could be me. And it's been such an empowering thing. Especially for your daughters. That's it. Being able to show my kids that no, no, mommy can do it too. Like, and I think that's what's

beautiful about my marriage and I'm so thankful to have a partner like Chris who is so supportive of me. It's wild. It's the sweetest thing ever. He's the best. And I just think always having each other's back is so important. But yeah, like you were saying, just showing my kids also that like you can do anything you put your mind to. You also have to put the work behind it though. You know what I mean? Exactly. But yeah, just taking that leap.

Even when it's really scary and you're like, but I remember feeling like the first six months when people would ask me, so what do you do? And I'm like,

Don't make cheese boards anymore. I am on social media. I like didn't know how to say with confidence. I'm a content creator, recipe developer. And now I say I'm like, and I'm writing a cookbook. So that's amazing. And it took that one leap, the one leap to get to where you're at today. Yes. Like, I love that for your daughters, too, because I just know from like growing up, my dad taught me like you can do anything the guys can do, if not better. That's right. I love it. He would always say. Yep. And I

And I'm like, well, watch me. Yeah, I'm gonna do it. Yeah, exactly. I love that. I love that. Well, thank you for coming on. Thank you for following on Instagram. We're about to have another journey. Girl, we need another journey. I might need you to come hop, be one of my taste testers. I will be the taste tester 100% because Chloe, what drinks do I like? Smoothies and something on the wall.

She had that ready to go, by the way. Did she say New Zealand? She said New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Yeah, she knows. Yeah. Like, it's hilarious. That's incredible. I love, too, because, like, I've even said, eventually, one day, I'm like, I want my own...

like line of like wines, alcohol. Oh, I could see that for you. First off, I could see that people are kidding themselves. If they're going to say like either a single parent, even just a mom in general, parent in general, like you come home at the end of the day and you're like,

I kind of want to drink. Yeah. Like a little glass of wine. Exactly. And if you say that you don't and you judge people for doing it. Yeah, I can't. I can't. Oh, I get judged all the time. All the time. And it's like, okay, y'all, I'm not. Exactly. It's like, I'm not a freaking lush. Like I'm not a drink. Exactly. Like leave me alone. I was on vacation last week, literally at the beach. Okay. And someone was like, wow, always drinking your hand. I'm like, you know what, Sue?

Yeah, I'm at the beach. I'm on 30A living my truth right now. Her name is Sonser. Yes. Sue me. Thank you. Like it is wild. So yeah. Well, we're following the journey. I love you. I love you so much. Freaking happy for you. You're the best. Thank you for having me. Of course.

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