Back To Homeostasis

Eight courses will do that thing where you show up thinking you’re just going to eat, and you leave remembering who you are. We’re fresh off a North Carolina family vacation and the end of four back-to-back trips, and our bodies are begging for routine, homeostasis, and that simple grounded feeling of being home in our own space. We talk honestly about motherhood, travel fatigue, and why rest can feel like the smartest move you make before a packed season.

Then we jump into the private dinner that brought everything together: an elevated Mexican tasting menu with a real story arc, plus craft cocktail pairings that somehow taste exactly like the bartender predicts. We break down the experience course by course, including the dishes we swore we wouldn’t like and then absolutely demolished, and we share the tiny details that made it feel intentional: being seated like guests, being prompted to take the photo, and being pulled into community with total strangers.

The deeper takeaway is bigger than food. Telling our story out loud reminds us how far we’ve come, and it reinforces the celebration system we’re building on purpose so we can pour into our business without burning out. If you’ve been stuck in “life is happening to me,” we get into the mindset shift that changes everything: life can happen for you when you choose a new perspective and actually say yes to the moments that refill your cup.

Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review if the mindset shift lands for you.

Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Transcript

Margarita Guessing And Catching Up

Barb 0:15

Episode one hundred and thirty-two.

Lyssa 0:19

Knocking them out. We are so good at this.

Barb 0:22

Me too, baby. Uh, what is in your cup? Oh, margarita. And this margarita has to be the clearest margarita I've ever seen in my life.

Lyssa 0:33

I've been having a lot of fun with this guessing of the margarita. So I think the last one that we said, we couldn't figure out whether it was like the pineapple or the tropical. So it was passion fruit and coconut. Who knew? Um, who knew? But I I think that's what it was for me because it was very much tasting like uh a Malibu and pineapple, which like used to be my thing. I used to drink that a lot. So trust me, I know what it tastes like. Um and that's what it was giving, which is why I thought it was pineapple. Um, but that passion fruit, that's a that's a tricky one. It really is. It tastes like a lot of other fruits. Um so yeah, so at first when I saw this one, I was like, oh, this must be a classic. But now looking at it, I think it's just straight tequila.

Barb 1:13

We'll see. Salute. Salute.

Lyssa 1:19

What is that?

SPEAKER_02 1:21

Straight tequila.

Lyssa 1:22

No, it's sweet. Yeah, I wasn't expecting that. I thought it was gonna be a classic. I don't think it's a classic.

Four Trips Later We Crave Routine

Barb 1:30

Mmm, I definitely thought I was gonna be like, dash is too strong, but it's not. I'm gonna drink it off. Yum for me. Anyways, we are a few days removed from vacation. Kids are back to school.

Lyssa 1:45

Finally, uh, you know, eight days straight with just you and your kids. I know that this is a podcast where we do talk about our motherhood a lot, and I love every element of our motherhood journey. I especially love this vacation because it's been such a long time since we've gone away, just the four of us, and like poured into that bucket. And F T K.

Barb 2:11

You know, you know, you know, you know. Um, so yeah, kids are back at school. Today's the first day of what routine life is. And while we had an amazing vacation, we went down to North Carolina, I'm sure we're gonna talk about it. It was so great. Yeah. And I feel every fiber of my body begging me to go back to homeostasis, to go back to routine, to go back to not getting on planes every other week. And you know, yeah, I just I'm ready. So here we are.

Lyssa 2:48

Absolutely. It's the culmination of it. It's like it wasn't the fact that this was just one vacation, it was the fact that it was the last of four vacations that were all just back to back to back. And while I would not take any of it back for anyone, I want to do it again, and the plan is to rinse and repeat. Um, I couldn't agree more. Yeah, like I'm like, oh my God, can I just be home? Like it's that since we started, we have been home literally for a max of two weeks before we have to go to the next thing. So we get to go. We get to go to the next thing. Yes, and it was fabulous. And it it just meant that I was living in this constant state of like temporary. Everything was temporary. I couldn't settle into anything, I couldn't really unpack everything and put it all away and kind of like do the things because there was something else coming up very quickly that I just had to prep again. And that's not here, right? Our next one is genuinely not until October. So it's like, I can come home. I can unpack everything. I can actually put the suitcase back in the closet instead of leaving it on my floor. Like where it goes. We're done here. And while I don't want to be done in a way, uh, it feels good to be home. I spent the day at home yesterday, which is the first time that I spent my whole day at home in like two months. And it was nice. It was nice to to to just ground. Yeah. In my space.

Barb 4:17

Yes, in your home. There's something about being in your home that is your home, right? It's not anyone else's home. You are the king or queen or whatever highness you want to be. Or whatever it is.

Lyssa 4:29

You can give yourself it's all made up. Make up your own title.

Barb 4:32

Um, specifically for me, I think I told you on this last trip, I just needed to shower in my shower. There's something about taking a shower. I can't get clean in any other shower that's not mine. What is that? I don't know.

Lyssa 4:44

Even like, and it's not just like it's just a hotel room. I don't know. If it's not my shower, it doesn't matter. It doesn't count. It doesn't count. Yeah. Even if I bring all my stuff with me, there's still something about it that's like not the same. I almost feel like I need to, you know how you clean for the cleaner. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 4:57

Like I almost like need to get clean for like somebody else's. And I'm like, no, I just want to be dirty in here. Where can I go and be dirty?

SPEAKER_02 5:06

You know? Never thought I'd need that before.

North Carolina As A True Family Vacation

Barb 5:10

So yeah, we are we're enjoying life. We're living the dream, and we find ourselves in this beautiful. I don't want to call it an ending because that sounds sad, but it is. It's an ending to something that we planned last year. Yeah. And it went exactly the way that I thought it was. It was all amazing, it was all great to end with a North Carolina trip where we go, where we recharge. We spend time with family, we grow our dreams, was the cherry on top. And we knew that. Yeah. I I already knew that. And because this time we didn't have to work, yeah, I felt like it was the first time we've ever gone to North Carolina. Is that weird? We've gone so many times now. It was the first time that we got to explore and go do things in the towns and cities around the area and see what that place truly has to offer. Yeah. And it kind of took me aback because, you know, I just thought it was we go there and we see family and then we throw some parties and that's it. Yeah. And it's so beautiful there. It is such a beautiful location. The sun was sunning, right? All the vitamin D's were happening. We let our toes out. It was glorious. And we truly had a family vacation. We went to nature parks, we went to kids' museums, we went to different restaurants, we took family pictures. Yeah. I can't wait.

Lyssa 6:50

I can't wait. I honestly have just been like staring at my email, like waiting for it to come through. I'm like, come on, just give me some sneak peeks and something. I need to see them.

Barb 7:00

Um, but we really we did. We poured into ourselves like we planned on it. Yeah. And I feel physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, all the things ready to take on this next phase, to take on this next chunk of the year, knowing that I set myself up for success. I didn't deprive myself. I didn't, I actually gave myself and my family everything that they needed so that this next chapter can happen the way that it should. Absolutely. And that I'm just so fucking proud of us. We've never done that before.

Celebrating On Purpose Before The Grind

Lyssa 7:44

I fucking love that. Um, no, that was perfect. And it, this of the four vacations that we, you know, kind of took all back to back over these last couple of months. I just couldn't think of a better like wrap-up. And this one, I would say, is the only one that truly felt like a vacation. And I don't know if it's because we did, I mean, we didn't work in Vegas either, but I don't know. I think Vegas, there was just so much to do and so much to experience that we were like go, go, go the whole time. And this one, I just there were moments where we just sat in the sun and just lizard life did. And that was just amazing. Like I think it was exactly what we needed at the end of this. I truly felt really recharged. I truly felt like this was of all of them, this was like the vacation, the relaxing, just chilling out, vibing with my family, not a care in the world, you know, just kind of zenning. And I did. I loved every second of it. And I loved the fact that we had all of this in place. Like we set these intentions just right. We gave ourselves this reflection at the end of 2025 when we realized that we killed that year and we didn't celebrate at all. And we said, no more of that. And now we put into place all of these things and almost the system. We put together the system that we need to be able to fuel the lives that we want to have, to fuel the business that we want to have. And I didn't know I was doing that. I I knew that we had all these vacations, I knew that we were celebrating these moments, but it really wasn't until we realized how much we didn't celebrate that we were able to walk into these, right? These vacations were planned in advance, right? So it was almost like at the end when we were like, shit, we didn't celebrate anything, but here we go, about to walk into all these celebrations. It was like, okay, well, we we kind of knew what we were doing, but it was able to set that stage. We were able to set that intention and walk into every single one of these vacations, knowing I'm here to celebrate something because look at everything that I did, and that's that culmination. And it set up this system that we put into place that now we know this is our time period of the year to go do this, to celebrate everything that we do in a year because we know we're about to do some shit. These last five years have shown us we're about to do some shit every single year. And now I have the system of like, okay, this is the time of the year where I go and I get to do these things. And these things are going to fuel me. These things are going to recharge me. They're gonna put all the pieces in place that I need in order to move into this next phase, right? Where we got sold out weekends and shit's about to get crazy, and we're about to go pour ourselves into our business, into our busiest season, and give the business what it needs now. And I can do that because I just spent the last three months giving myself and my friends and my family and my loved ones everything that they needed. I filled all of those cups, I filled all those buckets because I'm about to go take the next three to four months and I'm about to pour myself into my business, and I'm so fucking excited to do that. Like all of these little things, like we've just been talking about it more. And one thing we have to talk about is that eight-course dinner. Oh my god. And at that dinner, um, food to come, at the dinner, like we sat sat next to this couple, and they asked about our story, like they asked about us, and we got to talk about things from the very beginning. And like, I think that's what I needed. I needed someone to take me all the way back to the beginning to make me relive it, reshare it, bring it to the top of my inbox, feel the feels, feel the feels, and now I'm like, oh yeah, that's right. That's my fucking story. Yeah, I'm fucking cool. And now I'm just like ready to go and live that story and prove to these complete strangers that I sat next to that I am everything that I said I am because watch me go. That's really freaking cool. And I can't, I can't wait. I'm I am just as excited about these crazy months that are ahead of us as I am about the last crazy months that were ahead of us. They're two completely different months, they're two completely different versions of ourselves that we get to to live, and I'm ready to be this next version. I'm ready to be this boss ass bitch that's about to go around this town, party over here, party over there, party over here. Like I'm ready. I'm I want to do it. I'm fueled for that.

A Private Dinner And Sharing Our Story

Barb 12:36

And that was the goal. That was the goal with all doing all of this, right? Finding the secret sauce at the end was supposed to give us this rejuvenation and eagerness, and it did just that. And again, you know, universe is out here serving always and all the time, and I'm here to just take it. Yep, you're gonna give me something, and I'm gonna take it. We came back from vacation Friday night. 7:30, we landed back in Rochester. And the next day we had two events. Yes, immediately jumping into a wedding and this uh dinner. So here we had the last seven days to pause, to recharge, to have fun, to do all the family things, and then come home and immediately grit thrusted into the thing that we love to do. I love doing events, I just love it, you love it, and it shines through. So Adrian and Anthony hosted a private dinner. Yes. And of course, because we are partners, you know, we're here. What can I do? I'm here to help in any way I can. And it just so happens that we help in the events way, right? We we make it look elevated and bring all the things, and we get to enjoy the food as a thank you because I made it look pretty and now I'm here to eat. So amazing weekend or week. Yes, come home, thrusted back into work and get to have such an amazing experience with a group of strangers because I we didn't know many names. We I think we knew just a couple of people, and we ate amazing food, as you shared, and ate course meals, eight courses, plates, yeah, eight courses of traditional flared Mexican cuisine. Yes, that wow, mm-hmm. So, you know, we love to eat, so we're happy. There's drinks affloing, there's good conversations, there's connections being made where couples were inspired. They were like, wait a minute, I'm sorry.

Lyssa 14:59

Who are you? It was the it was the going back for me, right? Like it was the I told you my story, I give you a little sprinkle of like who I am. We eat a couple courses, and then you turn around and you're like, okay, no, I need more, right? Like, plate after plate after plate. I'm over here, like, give me more food, give me more food. And while you are also enjoying this food, you're also like, give me more of you. You didn't want just another bite of food, you want another bite of Bar Lisa.

unknown 15:27

Oh, yeah.

Lyssa 15:29

Do you know how that makes me feel?

Barb 15:33

And it's crazy because there, I know, I remember there was points in time where I didn't want to talk about me. I didn't want to share my story because the story was not as cute as it sounds now, you know? And I didn't feel confident in my story. I felt ashamed of my story. And to now be able to sit here as completely different people, as completely different women, business owners, all the things, and share a story that gives people goosebumps that leave people saying, Wait, what that did not happen. Or like, no, that happened. You did what? So you found each other when, how long? Like all of these questions is so affirming. And it helps give that part of the story grace because I needed that fucked up part. Yeah, I needed to go through the trenches taking grenades and doing all the things because that's what got me here. Yeah. But if I didn't have that, would I be here right now? So there's just so much. It's so layered, it's so there's so much beauty in it that every time we find ourselves in an opportunity to share a little bit more, to come out of the shell a little bit more, we're always taken aback by the reaction. And I don't know why.

SPEAKER_04 16:58

I don't know. Every time I'm surprised you you liked that?

Lyssa 17:02

You thought that was cool? Like you're that mattered to you. It is. It's always that reaction that just like throws me off because I am. I feel like I'm gonna tell you this, and you're gonna look at me like I'm nuts. You're gonna look at me like I'm a lying liar who lies. You look at me, I don't know. Like I'm just so frightened by the reaction. And since starting this, like we, I don't know, the reactions have, we've never gotten a bad reaction. And I think even now you would think that that would change, and and it doesn't. Like, I'm still, like you said, taken aback. I'm still surprised every time someone is like, wow, that's a really inspiring story. And it it makes me go back and reflect because when you're the one living it, right, you're sometimes you're too close. And I need this reminder every once in a while to show me just how far I've come. I need to relive the story because it's so easy to just keep moving forward. It's so easy to just keep looking into the future, right? I don't want to look into the past anymore. I'm I am focused on my future, but sometimes you need to turn around and look and see just how far you've come in order to appreciate even more where you're going next. And that's what I feel like I got out of that dinner. Outside of the food, which we're gonna go down. I feel like I need to pull up the menu because I don't want to miss a thing. Um, and I need everyone to know everything that happened there. But the story side of it and and the conversation side of it and the connection side of it, like the community part, I was not expecting. Like I literally was like, I'm here to work in a way, you know, and like you said, I'm willing to take payment in food. So I'm your partner, I'm here, I'm gonna put this together for you. And, you know, and then I'm gonna sit at this table and I'm gonna enjoy this meal. I was not ready for the community aspect of it. I was not ready for the connections that we were gonna make. We sat next to this amazing couple that we shared this, you know, complete strangers with. And then on the other side of us, we got to sit with a client, a previous client, and like and connect with her on a whole nother tone. Like, really talk to someone that, you know, that shares in the memory, that understands what it is that we bring to the table because she experienced it for her daughter's birthday. And then now we get to just really connect with her on a personal level. And I wasn't ready for that.

Barb 19:32

I almost want to do that with every client meal, though. Because obviously, when you're building an event and you're planning and you're doing all the things, there's little time to build the community. Exactly. Because there's a job to do. And afterwards, you right, we love her, she loves us. We had a great time, you had a great time, and then it's over, and then you're moving on with life, and you're, you know, the next kid's birthday and the next celebration and all the things. Yeah. And to be able to really get to know her, to talk, oh, well, where did you come from? And you speak Spanish, and our kids don't speak Spanish, and like all the things and all of that community. I we first got there, and I asked Adrian, like, you know, so like what is this? Right, right. What are we doing here? Yeah. And her response was, well, eating good food. So like, check. Yep, yummy. And she said to just bring people together, bring good people together, and just let it happen organically and check. Yeah, it did. Yeah, we connected with everybody at that table. Everyone was blown away, not only by the food, not only by the drinks, the whole ambiance, the whole thing. And that's what makes us great partners. Yeah. Because you bring your piece, I bring my piece. Yeah, everybody brings a little nugget, and it makes this beautiful evening. Yeah. We were, I'm pretty sure we were there for like four hours in community, sharing and listening and hearing and connecting, and oh my god, me too.

SPEAKER_00 21:14

And oh my god, I would never do that.

Barb 21:16

And it was the best way to come home. It was the best way to end what was an amazing two months of like YOLO and all the things to end it with an A-course meal and knowing that we are on our path. Yeah, this is where we're supposed to be. This is what I'm supposed to be doing. This is where we belong. Yeah.

Eight Courses That Changed Our Palates

Lyssa 21:41

There's no doubting that part. The doubt is is completely diminished. So on that note, let's talk about this food. Okay. Oh my god, we have courses. Eight courses. Okay. So mind you, we set up this table. So this is like one of my favorite parts of the um of the evening was that. We set up this table. We took all the pictures. It was adorable, obviously. Um, and then it was we went to the other side of the restaurant. So I wasn't expecting for the table to be any different, right? So I love that even though I was a part of this, I still get to experience it as a client. Like I still get to have these cute little surprises, magical moments wasn't ready for, right? So classic barley. So we set up the table and then we're just kind of like chilling as on the vendor side. And then Adrian comes over and she does what she does best and she reminds us that we're also guests here and not just uh the vendor. So she comes in and she tells us, go to the other side, get a cocktail, enjoy it. And that really set the scene, it set the tone, all the things. So it was perfect. Um, we went over, that's where we kind of had our thing. We were mingling, we're making community, and then she brought us over individually to sit us down. And I was like, that is sexy, you know, not just like, hey, go sit down and do a thing. No, I'm going to seat you. And another thing that she did, which I absolutely loved, was she intentionally took a picture, right? Like there's so many times that we put up photo backdrops, and people like just don't stop and take the picture because they're doing all these other things. I love that she set the intention. She said, No, we're here for something. So we walk in, we take the picture first, and then she sits us down. And at the table is this beautiful bowl that's looks like a rose, but it's not a rose, it's beet chips and this avocado mousse. And so it was meant to be, you know, a play on chips and guac. But were they little triangle tortillas with just like some guacamole nut? No, it was in a bowl, and it looked like a rose, and it was gorgeous and beautiful, and it almost made me not want to eat it until I ate it. And then I wanted to lick the bowl. I have a picture of the empty bowl actually, because beet chips, chips made out of beets. I never would have done that. I didn't even know that was a thing. I didn't know you could make that. I don't wow. So I was inhaling them.

Barb 24:10

I looked at the menu as we were setting the table. Yes. Because we get to that's the purpose we get to see. And oh, I don't know about that. I don't fuck with beats like that. And then the like down the way was like this fish thing. I was like, uh, I don't know, Chef Anthony. This might be the day. And you know, Adrian does her thing of like, no, you don't try anything. Don't be such a baby. And like, thank you. I don't fuck with beats. I've never fucked with beats. Fun story. My grandma used to eat beats out the can like a thug. Because she was straight out of the can. I would watch this lady eat these red circle things. And I would look at him like, you are crazy. I don't even think I saw a beat until I was an adult. I've never seen like a real one, I guess. Whole I've only ever seen them out of the can in the preserves. So instantly I'm like, no, I'm out. I'm out of the beat game. Like, I watched this crazy lady eat beets out of the can just because you fried them or you baked them, whatever you did to them. No. It's like then I ate it. It's like, and then I ate the whole thing.

Lyssa 25:19

The whole thing. And I almost licked the plate. Like, and it was right, it wasn't just like a guacamole, it was this avocado mousse. And like, it was so smooth. Like, I don't know, man. Like sometimes you just gotta taste it. And I I just need everyone listening to buy the ticket next time that that they do this because you need to taste it. Such an experience. Um, so yeah, so our first course was like already there waiting for us. I loved the presentation, I loved the little element of surprise. It was beautiful. Um, inhaled it. Second course, what was that? The uh play on elote. Oh my god, that was so good. Yes, because it they take it off of the cob. So when they take it off the cob, then it's like not elote anymore.

Barb 26:03

Um, but like chef's kiss. He put mayonnaise in it, and I was instantly like, no, I don't fuck with mayonnaise, I don't like it. And she's like, Yeah, just try it. And mixed in with everything. Everything else.

Lyssa 26:16

I don't know what other he had some sauce in there, and I I don't know, just all the toppings, the cheese. It just made this like it had like a little soup, a little juicy juice, like at the bottom, and I was literally like slipping that up.

SPEAKER_02 26:30

Oh my god.

Lyssa 26:32

So good. Like there was there was not a kernel left in that bowl. No, I agree. Yes, I agree. Ate it. Third course came in. That was the papas. That was the papas bravas. And that was like this. He did it in like a layer, like those layered potatoes. I don't know. I only see fancy people do that, like on the TV. So I've never actually experienced it. Um, but it was that, and he had some sort of smoky paprika sauce all over.

Barb 26:58

Oh my god, I just didn't know a potato could taste like that. You know what it is for me? When you don't have to add anything to the meal, because the meal is, it's got a little bit of everything. It's got some sauce, it's got it's the balance of every oh, anyways.

Lyssa 27:13

It was just like I I couldn't believe it, right? So, yeah, so now we got a little bit of potato. It was so freaking good. And then the next scores came out, and I think that was the taco.

Barb 27:23

No, so there was uh cucumber apple salad. I don't remember what it was called. Yes, I don't remember that.

Lyssa 27:29

That was a matcha, ma matcha cucumber uh salad. Red onion, apples, cucumber. From like off, who knew the moment that he was like, you know, I saw the cucumber and like I don't not like cucumber, it's just also it doesn't taste like cucumber. I don't I don't not like it, but I'm not gonna go choose it. You know, I'm not gonna be like, oh, can I go get that cucumber? And no, I don't know, I don't get it. Um however, when he said apple, I was very intrigued. So, like it was they had this dressing on it, and it had hazelnut in it too. That's what it was. Oh, the no, the hazelnuts were in the corn. Oh, yeah, yeah. And that's okay, okay, okay. Right, because that's what threw me off. Because I was like, why the hell would I put hazelnuts in my corn? And then I ate it, and then I was like, I only need hazelnuts in my corn. Like, I don't know why I wouldn't eat that any other way. Um, yeah, that was perfect. But this one was weird. This one was the apple. It was apple, red onion, and cucumber. And I was like, I don't understand how those three things together. It was so good, it was so fresh. It was light. I loved the apple. Like the apple gave this crispness, and the cucumber gave this freshness, and then I feel like the pickled onion is like what just gave it like that salady flavor. I don't know, I fucking loved it. It was so good, it was so good. And then the tacos, then the tacos.

Barb 28:46

So read it tongue and cheek. And I said, no, no, cheek and tongue tacos, and I instantly knew what that meant. Because again, my grandma's a thug, right? My she we ate all of that stuff when I was younger, and I didn't know what I was eating. Thank God no one told me, right? Because I would be like, oh my god, no, get this cow tongue out of my plate. But now it's just like, no, that shit is so good. Put it on my plate, give me another one.

Lyssa 29:12

Yeah. So when I saw that, that was the first one where I was very much like, nope, I'm not gonna eat that. Thank, thank you. Thank you. You can just skip that one. But Adrian, being Adrian, she said, no, you're gonna eat it, you're gonna try it. And like, what a good mama. I love that she made us do that because that shit was so good. So everybody's favorite meal up to that point was the papas bravas, was the potatoes, because like that sauce they had on them were so good. And then we all ate the cheek and tongue taco, and then we were like, they're hands down, hands down, this was the most delicious thing that I've ever eaten. The meat was tangled. It was so soft, it was so good. You would never, you would never know. If somebody told me that was a chuck roast, I would have said, okay, and I would have just ate it. Like, you would never know what part of the cow it is. So, like, get that out of your head and just fucking eat the delicious food because wow, that was so good.

Barb 30:08

He made hand pressed shells, tortillas. Tortillas were amazing, and everything was just top tier. So we had those tacos and then another course. Yes, then we had a tostada with fish.

Lyssa 30:25

Yes, and that was the second one where I was like, Adrian, you know I don't do the ocean. You know how I feel about the ocean. They're gonna get you one day. It's not safe. That was one of the things that I shared. And because again, right, when you feel in community like that, I feel like sometimes I like to let the guard down and I like to let people know that I am weird and it gets crazy in here. And I like sharing that crazy sometimes because I think it it to me that is what helps build the community. I think it helps other people feel like they can just be more of themselves when I show them who I really am, which is don't go in the ocean, it's not safe. Um, so I shared how I don't eat the ocean and I'm smarter than everyone on the planet for doing that. Um, and yet obviously Adrian was like, you have to try it. And I eat the whole thing. That shit was so good. I genuinely didn't taste the fish, like which is ocean-y. That's my biggest thing. Everything from the ocean tastes like one thing, and that's salt water. And I've never tasted anything different. And this time I did. This time I tasted a whole lot of avocado, and it was so good. So apparently, if you eat fish with avocado, I'm down for it. Um, but it was, it was the same thing. It was a tostada, so it was the fried um tortilla this time, and it was just like that perfect crunch. Um, and everything on top was just the avocado, it was just very creamy, once again, very flavorful, a little bit of the the fish, and then they had scallions. It was scallions on top, and like that. I think they had jalapenos too. And it it just it all just came together so good. Oh, I don't know how you do that. It was amazing. It was it was honestly really good. And the first time that I can say I genuinely enjoyed fish. Never, never ate that before. Um, and then we had a tamale, a tamale, a pork tamale. Yes, and then just you already know. So it was the same masa that he used for the corn tortillas, so everything was just so fresh and hand like I knew that he was back in the kitchen making that. Like I know that he didn't make that days ago, it wasn't frozen. Like I could just tell all of the kisses that he blew to it. I could tell all of the love that he stirred into it. And that was the seventh course. So fortunately, so this is a part where I feel like we need like little disclaimers ahead of time because what I didn't know was that I could take it to go. So I ate only a little bit of it because again, seven out of eight courses, I was so full at this point. Um, and so I only took like a couple bites, and then I was like, Yeah, like I genuinely can't finish it. And then one of our new stranger friends was just like, Oh, can I take mine to go? She's like, Yeah, I'll pack it up for you. And I was like, God damn it, yeah. I didn't know it was an option. You yeah, disclaimer that next time. I could have this to go. Um, but yeah, that was so freaking good. Um, and then he brought it all home with uh a matcha ice cream um and this whole like spread around the plate that he made it look earthy. It was like this earthy, just it was it brought the whole theme, all of the food, everything, this whole combination, like back down into this one plate where I got to choose my own adventure. I got to pick and choose what I put into my ice cream and like eat it. And I made room for that, obviously. Oh well, it's dessert, you have to. Um, and it was it was so good. I I just couldn't think of a better ending to this meal.

Food As Story And Community Building

Barb 33:58

His culinary style is to take you on a journey. He's telling a story with food, and that's why when he said eight courses, I'm like, God damn. That's a lot of food. That's a lot of journey. Yeah, like holy, that's a lot of story you got going on there, and it was beautiful, it's it's beautiful every time, right? Yeah, the last plate was this beautiful dessert where everything on the plate was edible. Yeah, so he had the ice cream, he had cake, he grounded uh Oreos to make it look like dirt. He bought edible rocks and they looked like eggs, right? So like a nest, and there was like a green cake that he made that he put on the side, and there was a beautiful monarch butterfly that was also edible, edible, yeah. So here, you this is not just food, no, this is an experience, this is a journey, and probably one of my most favorite journeys to go on is a food journey. Who knew?

Lyssa 35:10

I didn't know, I had no idea. I love coming into our culinary selves because just all of the things, and we have Searden Sacrum, we have Adrian and Anthony to thank for for all of this. We knew we were foodies, we've always been foodies in that realm. We incorporated that into our brand, you know, very early on. Spoon, fork, and knife, baby, because I'm eating. Snacks go here, you know, because we're always gonna bring them snacks. And to find this partnership, to find these people who take that culinary experience to the next level, who remind me, oh yeah, I am a foodie because I want to do nothing but eat your food all day, every day. Like they, I don't know, they add this just elevated experience to my life. Like they have changed our lives. I loved talking about meal prep, right? All the clients there, they were also meal prep clients, and we got to talk about how they changed our lives. We sit on this pod and we talk about how this meal prep changed our lives, and it can feel one-sided. And now here I am at this table with all of these people saying, No, their meal prep changed my life.

Bring People Together And Buy Tickets

Barb 36:22

We actually talked about like, what's your favorite meal that you've made? No, what's your favorite meal? I would definitely take this meal over and over again. And that is a core value for them, right? Building community around food. Yeah, how do we do it? We build community around beautiful events and core memories. These these moments and everybody working in their zone of genius, everybody doing what they were meant to do together now produces this beautiful like culmination of it. Well, yeah, we're gonna we're gonna meet the goal because everybody's doing what they're supposed to be doing, everyone's pouring love and thought and good vibes into this. Obviously, it was gonna be a great event. Yeah, and it was, it really was. And grateful to be there, to eat, to set it up. Can't wait to do it again. Because that's that's my kind of date night. Uh, I I know I told when we got home.

Lyssa 37:25

Um, I told Darnell, I was like, okay, so Barb and I were talking, and we decided that the next one we will bring you guys along because at this point, after this experience, I am now starting to feel bad. I feel like I'm keeping back from greatness. And like, I don't want to keep holding you back. Like, everyone deserves to eat this, everyone deserves to experience this. I was like, I promise the next one you will come because wow, Jeff, just wow.

Barb 37:54

And I told him, I was like, Well, because we're gonna have to be there already to set up. Like, you're gonna have to go pick up Darnell or like carpool there, yeah, and then just like meet us, yeah, and then we'll have this experience together. And he hit me with the classic, I don't know, then I'm gonna eat as I don't care.

SPEAKER_02 38:09

Adrian's gonna make you try everything. It's gonna be gonna love it.

Lyssa 38:12

And I think that's the best part. There were literally half that menu when we were putting this table together and reading it. We were like, oh, I don't know, I don't know. And then I ate every single thing on every single plate. So much so that no joke, I woke up the next day full.

SPEAKER_02 38:29

I didn't eat until like midday the next day. Full in the morning. And that never happens. You girl wakes up hungry, you know? And like, nope. I was good.

Barb 38:41

So a long way to say we had a great Saturday back. It was amazing, Adrian. Thank you, Anthony. Thank you, Handlebar Pete. Yes, for all the drinks. It was just a beautiful way to wrap it all up that I wasn't expecting. I I just wasn't expecting that. And now we are right. I I've hit all the buckets. Yes. The vacations, the memories, the food, the experience, the community, the filling the cup of who we are and sharing our OG original story, and knowing that we're about to move forward into this next phase as boss as bitches. Boss as bitches. Knowing that we are living our purpose and we are serving our community, and we're living our best lives. Literally. I am living my best. There's no question this is my ideal life. Yeah. Planes, trains, meals, parties, all the things. All the things that I want.

Lyssa 39:53

Rich in life because I have everything that I could ever want. I already have it. How cool is that?

Barb 40:00

I think that was pretty amazing. Two and a half years ago when we started this podcast, we weren't here. And now two and a half years later, we have arrived. And it's beautiful and it's glorious. And I want everyone else to like get there. Yeah because you can get there. Yeah. I didn't think I could get there, but look at me. I'm here. I'm I'm here. So like do it. Go for it.

Craft Cocktail Pairings And Adult Freedom

Lyssa 40:26

Whatever it is, whatever it is, whatever's on your heart, whatever's on your mind. Just again, remember that it's all made up, that you get to make it up, you get to choose. Everything's a choice. It's literally the only power that you have in this world is the power of choice. It's in it's in the palm of your hand. So the next time you see that story go by and it says, Hey, we're selling tickets, click that fucking link. You won't be doing that ticket. Eat that food. Because it can and will literally change your life. All the things. And I did, I forgot, I can't believe I forgot about Pistol Pete and the craft and the craft cocktails. Like, not only was it eight fucking courses, but then they had these cocktail pairings with every other course. I believe it was two. So every two courses, no for real. Oh my god. I was already fucked up, but it was only every other. Um, so yeah, it was it was four drinks, and and they did, right? Like he also told this story, and I remember it was the very last drink that was with dessert, and I wish I could remember all the things, but he named three things. He was like, When you sip this, first this is what you're gonna taste, then you're gonna get hit with this, and then at the end you're gonna get this, and it's gonna make you pick up that fork and eat that, uh, or pick up that spoon and eat that ice cream. And I was like, Okay, pistol pee, whatever you say, you know? And I took a sip and it was like boom, one, two, three, in the exact order that he said it. I felt it, I tasted it on my tongue, and the only thing I wanted to do next was pick up my spoon and eat the fucking ice cream. And I was like, this is this is a craft. I I think it's a different type of craft, witchcraft, but like, oh my god, yeah, how fucking cool was that? It was just an experience. What a crazy experience. Like this, if this is what being an adult is, I I am cool to be here. I'm doing it the right way. I'm doing it the right way because like we just we grew up with adults who like didn't necessarily love their lives or love, I don't know. Adulthood was never something that I necessarily looked forward to, and now I'm like, I am so lucky that I am a grown-ass woman, I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, eat whatever I want, whenever like I get the power to do whatever I want with my life, and I think that's pretty fucking cool, and I think I'm wielding that power pretty well because my life is just abundant and only going to grow more because that's what I want from it, and that's what I'm gonna make happen for it.

Barb 42:59

We came from a very life is happening to me, and everything that's happening to me is bad. Yeah, there's nothing that's ever happening that is like good and pushing me forward and rising me up the tide, and it took a lot of years to unlearn that life is not happening to us, it's happening for us, and that means that you have to change the perspective, you have to change the mindset, you have to change the diamond and shift it a little to see a different sliver of it. And when you do that, you find the good in things. And when you find the good in things, you're like, Well, that was good. I want to do that again. Right. And now you're we're almost like yeah, I don't want to say chasing it because we're not chasing it, but now I'm just very clear. I'm aware of it. I'm very clear on the fact that it's my mindset and it's the way that I approach things, and I do have control over it. I don't have to approach everything. In this negative woe is me, I I can change that. Yeah. And there's beauty and magic and freedom in that.

Lyssa 44:14

And you know your girl loves freedom. If there's anything that I love, it's freedom. It's TV free. It's not. I love it. Well, now that we just drowned you out with all that food, I feel like this is probably a good place to love and leave our friends. Thank you for listening and make sure you buy your ticket to the next one. But this is the part where you're gonna do all the things. You're gonna like and follow and subscribe. You can follow us on Instagram and YouTube at Marks and Mindset Podcast. And if you're local to the ROC and you want to party with us at HomeMade Events ROC. Until next time.

Barb 44:46

Bye. Lonnie, you're literally on time. This is why we don't record at home. No. Here, do you want to say something to our audience?

Lyssa 44:56

No. Gosh, show dogs.