It's Tradish!

Turning the tables can be an exhilarating experience, and that's exactly what we're doing in this episode. Today, I (Nicole) have the pleasure of shining the spotlight on my co-host, Alix Mackey, as we toast to her exciting entrepreneurial journey. Alix's story is one of triumph, a beacon for anyone navigating their midlife journey with boldness and joy. Pull up a seat at our family table where traditions simmer alongside our favorite dishes. We'll give you a taste of the magic that happens when families come together in the kitchen. So, let's raise our glasses (and spatulas) to crafting a legacy of laughter, love, and a little bit of mess in the kitchen.

In this episode, we talk about the following:
1. The importance of family dinners, traditions, and building connections.
2. Adding a "sprinkle of fun" to meals and involving kids in cooking.
3. The lasting impact of family traditions on children's memories.

Join the Midlife Squad:
Want to stay up to date on the Don't Call Me Midlife podcast and community? Click below so we can keep you in the know!
www.itstradish.myflodesk.com/dontcallmemidlife

Hang Out on Social:
Follow Alix on Instagram @everydaywithalix
Follow Nicole on Instagram @touch_of_stass

______________________________________________________________

Help us expand our mom-tourage! Share our podcast with your fellow mom friends and let's conquer midlife together.

Transcript

Midlife Journey and Friendship Podcast

Speaker 1 0:03

Welcome to the Don't Call Me Midlife podcast . I'm Nicole and I'm Alex . We're your coffee-addicted , wine-loving , amazon-obsessed mom squad . Think of us as your new besties , but with a podcast . And , just like you , we're navigating the Google-defined chaos of midlife while wrangling a pack of boys . But here's the twist we're more than just moms and wives . We're on a mission to reclaim our identities beyond motherhood , and we're bringing you along for the wild ride . Now , we don't pretend to have all the answers to life's mysteries , but we're so good at learning and laughing our way through them . So whether you're sipping from your trusty Stanley , indulging in an oat milk latte from Starbucks or raising a glass of Whispering Angel , get ready to hang with us . Together . We'll keep it real , have some laughs and remind you that this crazy journey called life is one adventure worth sharing . Hi , friends , it's Nicole here . So today's episode is a bit special because , guess what , I'm the one leading the show and Alex is in the interview seat . Yep , that's right . I get to be the one asking all the juicy questions this time . But before we dive into all the fun stuff , let me properly introduce you to my bestie and co-host , alex Mackie . Today , on our Modern Mom Day , I am going to be interviewing Alex Mackey . She's in the hot seat so I'll be asking all the questions , but I really , I'm really excited for Alex and I'm excited for you to know what's going on in her life , and we're going to dive into all that once we find out what's in her cup . Hi , I'm super excited to talk to you too . I'm a little nervous .

Speaker 1 1:47

I am very basic . Today I've got my Stanley with LMNT , but I brought out my bright pink one that I love that I just got . Ooh , that's fun , it's like neon pink . So good , I'm actually gonna give away one for my birthday . Nicole , don't tell anyone , but listeners , be on Instagram on my birthday , which is June 7th .

Speaker 1 2:09

And then I also just have black coffee because I always have to have coffee . So I'm pretty simple , but my cup is also filled with excitement , like major , major excitement . Yes , my cup is filled with pride . I am so freaking proud of you . I am just like a mama bear , so freaking proud of you . I am just like um , like a mama bear , just so proud of you . And I have seen this journey from before . It was even , I don't know , started or it was probably like always burning in the back , but , um , it's just been like a beautiful , like unfolding , and I'm just like , so excited to be like one of your biggest cheerleaders . So , yes , you're so sweet . Well , you are my work wife , so you have been instrumental in this journey of my new company , so I thank you for that , because there's no one like you . So , thank you . Oh , my gosh , we're just like a bunch of , we're here to have fun and , um , get this , get this party started .

Speaker 1 3:12

Um , but before I ask you , um , any questions about your business , I want to know how you feel about the word . I want to know how you feel about the word midlife . You know what we I know we both have learned so much about midlife and we started this podcast . We were like , ah , do we call it midlife ? And the podcast is don't call us midlife , right , because such of the negative connotation of midlife . But I have to say , after doing this podcast , for what have we done six months ? I actually feel proud to be in midlife . I know that's going to be a silly thing to say no , no , not at all .

Speaker 1 3:52

I think where we are right now , our whole journey has brought us to here , right , honestly , I don't think I could have started this company without this podcast , because it's given me an insight into midlife , especially confidence about what we're doing in midlife . So so I love midlife right now . I think it's empowering and I love the word midlife , I love where we're at , where we're going , where we've been , all those things . What do you think ? No , honestly , like I couldn't agree more with you . Like my idea of midlife before we started this podcast was , I mean , I didn't have the stereotypical like oh life's over type thing . But you know , in doing this I can see , like , how life has led me to this point and connecting all the dots that obviously you don't see when you're younger . But and every dots are going to be different and I'm so glad that our dots have crossed paths , but I do .

Speaker 1 5:00

I think it's a beautiful time in life and it's also just very exciting and I just feel so much more confident in where I'm at and who I am and where I want to go and what I want and who I want in my life . I just I really love it and I remember being , you know , in my younger like 20 something years and thinking like what am I going to do with my life ? Like the quarter life crisis and , like women , I've always looked up to certain women and they've always been at least 15 , 20 years older than myself . So you know , it's um . So I love here and I'd like to stay here for a while . You know , I don't want to rush through it because I felt like I wanted to rush through my 20s and , you know , get to the next milestone . But like I'm like I love riding this wave . It's beautiful , yeah , well , we hope all our listeners do too . So let us know , pop us a DM or an email about how you're feeling right now about midlife . We hope that Nicole and I changed your mind a little bit about midlife . You know and that's our goal is , I think , the thing about midlife and we hear this from a lot of our guests , nicole is there are no limits to what we can do .

Speaker 1 6:19

Right , I started my new business . I'm 46 years old . Like , if you asked 40 year old me , would I be starting a business at 46 ? No , no way in heck would I have ever thought that . But now it's like there's no glass ceiling , like the there's no limits as to what both of us can do , whether it's our business , our personal life . Like , I don't feel any like like I just don't feel held back by any expectations and it's like you know what this is like super exciting , and it's super exciting for our kids to see us too , at the same time , like what we are doing , what we're building Right , um . So , yeah , midlife is good , midlife is good , we're good , it is good .

Speaker 1 7:00

So for for um , for those of you that can't see , alex , she is wearing the cutest apron and I want you to tell us what it says . It says my new company . I love this . It's very cute . You can buy one too . It's called it's Tradish . That is my new company name . So I'm the CEO and founder , and the tagline is reinventing family dinners with a sprinkle of fun . And if you see these colors I've got . I got pink , of course , and I'm wearing a fun pink headband Um , but I have orange , I have turquoise , um . So I have lots of fun colors on there and I love my new logo . I'm excited , I love it . I love the name it's Tradish , it is . It's like a fun twist , it's like a little whimsical twist on the . Obviously the word traditional , and obviously you always bring fun to whatever you do .

Speaker 1 7:57

But how did you come up with the name , like what was , what was the story behind the name ? Behind the name ? Well , it's been a huge journey . So I didn't realize , you know , being a health coach before I was given a program right , so I was selling someone else's business essentially , right , I had my own business . So I learned a lot from that on how to build my own business . But building your own business what I didn't realize was it is very much a personal journey because I knew when I was health coaching and you know this that I loved the meal planning and prepping aspect and that's sort of what I dived into . It made me feel alive and so connecting all of those dots to build a business around it has been a journey in into who I am and what my story is and who I want to be , right . So the combination of well , I'll talk a little bit about how it got , how it got to be .

Speaker 1 8:57

So I've always , you know , I've always loved cooking . I had the catering company when I was 13, . I did , I was social chair in college and just have always loved bringing people together and I realized that over time that connection to family dinners , to cooking , was because of my father and he loved to cook . You know , my mom's amazing but she is not a cook . So we cooked and we had these family dinners and I went through a little bit of that journey when I wrote the cookbook Nourished , last October . But I really realized what I loved about the cooking was the connection . And you know we have three boys . I'm not really sporty . So when I started meal prepping and planning , it was that connection of bringing my kids into my sort of story and connecting with them through food , through family dinners . That was really really empowering to them and me , because they could also help me . And I realized , okay , I do have three boys hungry boys , right , like we do that meal planning and prepping isn't as hard as everyone makes it seem . It doesn't have to be that way .

Speaker 1 10:00

And actually having the family dinners , I didn't realize I was starting a tradition , you know , by having these family dinners and how important that was until one time . You know , baker's a boarding school and he said to me I go , well , what do you miss most about home ? And he's like I'll cry , he's like I miss family dinners , you know . And so it was just like all these little pieces that have built me to build this and I love it's tradition because it's a slang term right , it's a modern day term on taking old and new traditions . But I think there's a lot of busy moms out there that have written a story like I don't have time to cook or I don't cook , or I don't want to cook or I can't cook , and I think bringing in that sprinkle of fun making food fun again has something that I've always , always loved . So , yeah , I'm excited about bringing all the new traditions and bringing some fun to the family . So I love this story and it does . It brings a tear to my eye because it hits so close to home , like this was . This was my um own personal thing that I wanted the family dinners , and it is . It just does so much more for our families than we . We then I don't know if it's that we realize , because I think we do know the importance , but those memories that we're creating , I mean you still have memories from when you were a little girl with your dad . So , yeah , I think it's beautiful , did you ?

Speaker 1 11:30

When you were growing up and you had your family dinners ? Was it like on Sundays ? Was it a lot of the time or it was mostly on Sundays ? Yeah , it was mostly on Sundays , cause that's when my dad worked a ton . So when he was home for dinner it was a big deal . I mean , he , we lived in Connecticut , he worked in the city , new York city , and he had to wake up at four , 30 and he had to entertain clients too . So it was mostly what the way that I grew up , it was like a grill night , right , which is something that I do on Sundays too .

Speaker 1 12:00

My dad loved to grill . He's this love food , right . He loved to eat . He loves . Anyone that knows him knows that , um , and so it's like he introduced me to like mozzarella and tomato salad with like a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and olive oil , and I remember some of the food that he introduced us to . I remember when Alex and I got married he grew up in the Midwest , which is very like you know , more meat and potatoes , and there are still things to this day where he's like I don't know what that is and I'm like , oh my gosh , I'm so appreciative that well of Alex , but that well of Alex , but that my dad introduced me to these different foods and I want to do that for my kids , not saying I liked all the food that he introduced me to . But it was really these Sunday dinners with big steaks or burgers or you know anything on the grill that were really nice .

Speaker 1 12:44

And my brother , sister and I are all one year apart , so we are super close in age , but we're all going through things at different times , right . And now that we have teenagers , just bringing them together over a common thing like dinner , right , it seems so easy . But , like your journey , I know your journey about family dinners and I think it does have an a bigger impact than we think . Right , our teenagers aren't going to be like thanks , mom , I love family dinners , you know , I mean they do . Well

Family Fun With Traditional Meals

Speaker 1 13:18

, john Mackey does . John Mackey cooks with me .

Speaker 1 13:18

But I've seen in the past two years when I've really dived deep into this , nicole , like my kids wanting to cook , my kids asking me about food . I make fun , you know . Uh , you know I'll do some extravagant things like a breakfast buffet or a basketball , you know themed thing for my kids' friends . And I had one of my son's friends recently say to me oh my gosh , this is amazing . Did this take you like all afternoon to do ? And I was like that's so cute .

Speaker 1 13:43

I felt that sense of pride , right , because I think when I also was , you know , meal planning and prepping , I would realize that I could cook healthier food , right . I also save time . So I felt better about myself as a woman , not just a mom , and I also had more time to do the things that I wanted to do , like work out right it take walks , things that I things have more time with friends . So I think that's part of our energy energy , a pile of , you know , not be like on the couch all the time . So there's lots of . There's a whole family connection aspect of my business . But there's also empowering moms to feel good about themselves , and that doesn't mean that she has to go be Betty Crocker and cook everything . Part of empowering the moms is also her empowering her family , like I've done , and incorporate your family into prepping , cooking planning , setting the table , you know , deciding what's fun . So that's that's part of it too , that I just , I just love doing .

Speaker 1 14:43

So it sounds like you have a lot in the in the works . There's a lot you can . There's a lot you can bring and teach everybody , because I don't know , is it going to be focused on like one specific thing , or are you going to have many , many different things down the road . Well , you know I do . I'm not at a lack of ideas . This is very true about you , yes , anyone , anyone that knows me or sees me anywhere .

Speaker 1 15:10

Um , so I launched , you know , my new brand on May 20th , and that was . That was exciting , and it was a lot of fun to get there . Different photo shoots , lots of different ideas . Um , what I have out now is I have a seasonal guide called savor the season and it is a meal prepping guide for dinner , dinners and family fun for the summer . So that's a free guide that I have . I'm going to be coming out with one every single season . I like being creative with the seasons and so you can definitely get that one . That's a free one . I also have a prep and plate guide that is make ahead family friendly meals that you can also get , because I think I'm a big fan of planning ahead and if you do that you can save time . So I think it's changing that mindset too , of thinking ahead a little bit .

Speaker 1 16:02

I also am doing , on June 3rd coming up , five-day dinner reset , and I did this for free a couple months ago and I revamped it and I'm excited about it because I am going to be teaching you my full plate planning method , which is how I plan dinners . So , step-by-step , we will go through that and then I'll tell these listeners and you a secret I'm going to be coming out with a membership in the fall . Oh , so fun . Yeah , I'm super excited about it . You'll get recipes , you'll get meal plans , you'll get fun stuff . You will get everything . You'll get all of me .

Speaker 1 16:45

So I can't get enough of you and I feel very lucky to work with you but also be your friend , to be like hey , I need help with this idea . I don't know what to do . I'm at the grocery store , what should I make for dinner ? So you always have ideas right then and there . So for anybody to have access to you in this membership is such a treat . It's so fun . It's going to be fun . And the dinner reset is great because you do have one-on-one access to me so I can answer you back . You know I do answer my texts . It's me . I answer my DMs . We know that . We know that I think one of the fun things that's been well , there's a lot of fun things of forming this business and again , it's like this , this journey . You know I'm going to have the membership . Hopefully I'm going to have some live events and things that come up .

Speaker 1 17:31

So , um , the idea of a sprinkle of fun , and I thought a lot about this , right , and I wouldn't . I knew we were going to do this . I wanted to ask you because a lot of people have said well , what , what is fun ? What does that mean ? Right , and I'm not going to totally define it , like this apron to me as a sprinkle of fun , right , but my headband is a sprinkle of fun . But defining what fun is for everyone's family is a little bit different . So , this concept of it's tradition , I'm not going to tell you exactly what to do . I will give you the tools to figure it out , but part of the fun of the process is you deciding for your family or for you what works for you , your family , and what is fun .

Speaker 1 18:16

Is fun putting fresh flowers on a table ? Is fun doing pancake for dinner ? Is it adding sprinkles to a Sunday bar ? Is it wearing a margarita t-shirt ? I don't know . Well , I can tell you my youngest thinks sprinkles on everything is fun , because when you came to visit you realized I didn't have sprinkles and then you sent me some and now he's like can I have sprinkles on my I don't even know my oatmeal ? I'm just like , oh sure , yes , yes . So I have . I also have a drawer of seasonal sprinkles . So I I swap out my sprinkles every single season . I do always have um rainbow color and chocolate , but I do , I do .

Speaker 1 19:01

Sprinkles are just like automatic fun , just like balloons . I mean , it is like I have like a dial into party city . I just love it . I love it . Yeah , I love the color that it brings , like when you put it on whipped cream . It's just like so fun and cute . So , yes , I'm a sprinkle person too . I just um , I just don't always have it . Now , this is completely off topic , but I'm just curious Do you like the little round ball sprinkles or do you like the more ? Like the little ? Um , I think the traditional ones are easier to put on things . But I think the traditional ones are easier to put on things , but I think the balls and the shapes are more fun . Yes , okay , I've had a lot of different sprinkles . It's so funny and I think it's fun .

Speaker 1 19:48

This is the place where you can incorporate kids , whether any age right , whether you have little toddlers or whether you have kids home from college , right , incorporating that fun because a big part of what my dad did for me is sorry is leaving this legacy . This part about legacy , right , and again , you don't have to be a good cook , I'm not a gourmet chef , but it's part of our legacy , needs to be . You know these memories and I love the quote . It's like they may forget . It doesn't matter whether they remember X , y , z , but they're going to remember what I really want people when they come to my house , when they come to dinner , my kids . And when I say family , I also mean friends , because you know , I consider friends family . So whether it's a backyard barbecue with couples or you're having another family over or it's just your core family , it's still the experience of that eating , which doesn't have to be extravagant either . Right , like you , putting out the sprinkles for heiress , like that's fun . He's like , oh yes , this is fun , I like this .

Speaker 1 21:05

So , just remembering that you can keep it simple , but also leaving , passing on that legacy and talking with your kids about some of the traditions that you used to do as a kid and making new ones and not making dinner boring . So , yeah , I love it and , honestly , you , I don't tell you enough how much you've inspired me to bring fun into dinner and just , I just think you're just such a beautiful person and I'm about to cry right now because you truly , you truly are one of those people that makes everyone feel special and like the most important person in your life and I can only imagine what you're doing for your children . And this business is just going to , you know , hopefully have a ripple effect on other families and bringing in fun and new traditions and realizing it doesn't have to be so hard . And , yes , you can . You can grill and eat on paper plates and sit around and and just talk . You know , but , yeah , it's , it's , it's a lost , it's a lost tradition . You know these family dinners that are just so important and I hope , I hope your impact reaches all around the world because I think you're just so special and I love what you're doing .

Speaker 1 22:19

Alex , I'm excited . I've got lots of fun plans . Hope to be on the Today Show one day . That has been my goal since day one , because my mom was like , wow , you've really made it . When you're on the Today Show , I'm like , yeah , I've got a while to go , but you know , it's okay , look at , look at Martha Stewart . She started at this age .

Speaker 1 22:35

So , um , yes , midlife , go midlife , go midlife , yes , so , anyway , um , so where can everybody find you ? Tell us your business name again . You can find me now on my Instagram at it's tradition again , you can find me now on my Instagram at it's tradition T R a , d I S H . And you can also pop me an email at Alex a L I X at it's traditioncom . Amazing , all right . And then they can find , like , where to sign up for your um , sign up for the day dinner reset . You can sign up for all my guides , um , and there will be new stuff , you know , seasonally , and if you have any questions , just pop me a DM , give me any feedback , things that you are having a challenge with with meal time .

Speaker 1 23:17

I love , love , love hearing from people , from our listeners , um , because that's what matters . So , yes , all right . Well , thank you , alex , for sharing so much of your soul today . I love it , and thank you about your business . Okay , but my unsolicited advice is go follow Alex and get her stuff . Get on her newsletter , because it's incredible , um , and you can sign up for her newsletter on your Amazon , um , amazon page , your Instagram page , right , you can sign up for newsletter too . I send that out . I also have a um , a free Friday dinner text where I give a recipe and some tips for that . That's super fun to do too .

Speaker 1 23:58

I love doing the newsletter , I love doing all this stuff . So lots of , lots of good info out there . So , okay , awesome , all right , thanks , love you . Love you too . Bye , and that's a wrap for today's episode of don't call me midlife . We hope you had as much fun as we did . Absolutely . Your support means the world to us . If you're just waiting in the carpool line , don't forget to follow the show , and if you're feeling extra spicy today , leave us a rating and review before we part ways . We've got a special invitation for you join our newsletter to stay in the loop with all things midlife magic , bonus , bonus content and more . Head on over to the show notes for how to sign up . We can't wait to keep the conversation going . And , of course , remember , in the whirlwind of life and motherhood , don't forget to fill up your own cup first . You're extraordinary and your journey is worth every moment . Until next time , cheers .