The Keri Croft Show
The Keri Croft Show
Lisa Suarez on Navigating her Divorce, Salon Trends, CoCo's Braces & the Dating Jungle!
It's a three-peat for my girl, Lisa Suarez! With her recent divorce behind her, Lisa opens up about how she got through the breakup by focusing inward and leaning on her incredible team to keep her bustling salon, Lacquer, thriving amidst the turmoil. Lisa's experience is a powerful testament to adaptability and strength in the face of life's unexpected turns.
We also dish about the salon industry, and we go in on the pivotal role of mentorship and hands-on experience in a salon setting for newcomers. Lisa and I explore the shifting trends post-COVID, as many professionals return to salon communities for the camaraderie and support they offer. If you're a budding entrepreneur or simply curious about the salon world, this conversation is packed with insights.
And a chat with Lisa wouldn't be complete without some reality TV scoop, and Lisa shares some of her wild adventures in the dating scene post-divorce, navigating the world of apps and new connections with humor and grace, per usual.
Thanks for stopping by again, Lisa!
xoxo-
Three, two, one. Hey there you beautiful badass. Welcome to the Keri Croft Show. I'm your host, keri Croft, delivering you stories that get you pumped up and feeling like the unstoppable savage that you are. So grab your coffee, put on your game face and let's do this thing. Baby, ready to elevate your self-care game, bosco Beauty Bar is a modern med spa offering everything from cosmetic injectables, lasers and microneedling to medical-grade facials and skin care. Conveniently located in Clintonville, grandview, powell and Easton. Making self-care a priority has never been easier. Use code KROFT for $25 off your first visit.
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Speaker 1:Lisa Suarez, one of my favorites. Welcome to the Keri Croft show, Of course.
Speaker 2:Thanks for having me again.
Speaker 1:You know it's a three Pete. Yeah, you know, I really like you when it's a three-peat.
Speaker 3:I know You're looking, girl you're looking good, thank you.
Speaker 1:You're looking like a dime Thanks, plus a couple cents I'll take it. So what's new in your life? So any big changes since we've last gotten together?
Speaker 2:Where do we begin, guys? When did Um, when did we do that last one?
Speaker 1:It was before any, I think, big changes in your life.
Speaker 2:Um yeah, everything with the salon's going good, everything, you know, that's kind of old news. Everything's consolidated, um yeah, just kind of living. My best life Went through a divorce, which is always somewhat a blessing and a curse. I guess, yeah, but everything's been good. Coming on the other, you know out the other side, staying busy with friends and myself and Coco's doing well, coco's thriving, she's thriving.
Speaker 1:Yes, let's start with a divorce component, not to like go, because I know it's still fresh. Some of the embers are still burning out there. You know what I'm saying. So not to go too deep into the actual divorce rabbit hole, but I do want to talk about the idea of running a successful business. Being the boss bitch that you are and you know, having something is catastrophic I mean it's, it's traumatic, it's something like that, dropped on your lap in the middle of of you know nowhere, and you still have this whole thing called lacquer. That depends on you, right? I mean, of course you're a wonderful team, but like, how astronomical was that? Like when you were, did you feel like you were like kind of like suffering and like maybe falling underneath the weight of all of that? Or how did you sift through managing the business and like your own personal life kind of exploding?
Speaker 2:Right. So I'm very I think naturally everyone knows about me very black and white, very much like on the go, taking care of everybody, always having everything kind of under control. So when something that's that big of a deal happens, that's so out of your control and you just kind of have to like push everything to the side and deal with it. That was a huge lesson in like what we were talking about as far as like delegating and really just like leaning on my team and kind of restructuring how things were, because I feel like a lot of business owners over the years and meeting and stuff when not necessarily divorce, but it could be like loss, it could be like buying a new house, anything that's stressful. When that stuff just pops up, you're kind of like what do I do now? Where do I go from here? And you're kind of reaching ever. You're not do now, where do I go from here? And you're kind of reaching every. You're not used to reaching, you're used to always being the one that does it all. So delegation was a huge thing for me and really just like oh, I'm always looking for ways to like elevate my own team, but being like okay, we're going to move people up in roles. We're going to give people more work to do, pay people more. Just kind of let other people handle it for once, instead of always being the one never not working and having to handle it.
Speaker 2:Cause at the time I just I needed an entire year to just chill you know what I mean and to take care of myself and to take care of Coco and to just get like the home together. And lacquer is very much the second baby in the second home. So you know you still have the responsibility of making sure that all those things are running seamlessly. But I just honestly didn't have it in me. I was like I need all the help I can get.
Speaker 2:So it's been a good lesson for my Scorpio ass to be like help me, I need it. Where are my friends? Just leaning into my team and asking for help when needed? And and also just knowing your limits. I don't think I've ever in my life known just knowing your limits. I don't think I've ever in my life known my limits. I was always the one that was like, if I can do it, I will. You know what I mean. Like physically, I probably just didn't have it in me all these years all the time. But you and why put out like half-assed work if you just don't have a hundred percent? So that's been a good lesson for me.
Speaker 1:Where do you think you are right now? Are you like percentage wise? Are you like 85 percent? Are you like I'm at, okay out of 100 like just in general like with the whole thing, like the emotion and the divorce and all that like I would say like I'm finishing, like tying up loose ends, but that's just like that stuff takes about a year you know what I mean um.
Speaker 2:So I'd say I'm about, I'm solid.
Speaker 3:98 you're solid 98.
Speaker 2:I was actually just we had a manager meeting the other day and I was telling the managers I was was like I really feel like I'm ready to kind of dive back in this year and let's not confuse things.
Speaker 2:It wasn't like a year of like I'm just not gonna do anything for a year and I'm just going to lay there and die. It wasn't like that, but just really like, um, I took a whole entire year, which I think is a great human experiment that, like everyone should do, especially those of us that do the most all the time Like you need to just take a year to chill sometimes. So I took an entire year post-divorce to be like I'm going to say yes to every single experience or like fun that I can. So, just as much as I'm like can I physically do this? Can I run to the salon at four o'clock in the morning? All that energy that I was pouring into other people and other things, I had to pour into myself a calendar year. I started last. I started October 2023, and I really didn't tell people about it, but that's the best way to do it is you don't mention it, cause then people will try to get you to do it.
Speaker 3:And then it's a thing. It doesn't need to be a thing, it's your own thing.
Speaker 2:So October, like first 2023, until October 1st this past year, I was like I'm just going to do the experiment, experiment say yes to everything. So like, even if a friend was like do you want to go for a walk with me? And it's like 10 o'clock in the morning, it's cold, and like, go get a coffee, am I doing anything? No, can I physically go? Yeah, and then I would go and have the best time. And so, through doing that for an entire year and then putting everything that would overextend me or add to my plate that I just couldn't handle. I had to just start saying no. And the power of saying no is wild because I wouldn't consider myself like a yes man or like, you know, always telling people yes. But I guess I was kind of doing that in business especially and just overextending myself you know.
Speaker 1:Do you do it in business because you want to be liked, or is it just the way? Is it more because you just want to control everything, or is it like a mix?
Speaker 2:I think it's a little bit of control and it's a little bit of like. Like, let's say, somebody on your staff is coming to you and they're like, I have this great idea, blah, blah, you don't. You're like, yeah, that is a good idea, and they took time and they thought about it and like they put energy into it. So like, if I can make this happen, I can, but is that always the can? But is that always the best business move? Is that always the best financial move? Is that always the best use of everyone's time and energy?
Speaker 2:And I think, with having a stronger um, what's the word I'm looking for? Not available, like, just like, for example, steph, our salon manager, angel they really, really helped a lot this past year and like being able to like truly bounce stuff off of someone instead of just always having to be the one that makes all the decisions is really helpful, because, especially and not always being around like, like minded people and all this stuff all the time of just like working more as a group with the management team instead of like, ok, let me get information from them, let me think about it, then I'm the one making the decision. It's more of like a collaborative effort now.
Speaker 3:You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:And then through that you get, you can understand like better use of your time, things like that, better use of money, you know, because the team comes to you with ideas all the time. But just the other day there was a really good idea that came through that I would love to trust me. I'm the first one that, so I don't want to give it away.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:But this is an investment to do this. Three years ago, four years ago, five years ago, I would've been like, yeah, let's do it. I'll figure it out as my eyes twitching and I'm up till three o'clock in the morning trying to make it happen. Now I just take 10 minutes and I'm like let me truly think about this on a scale of like one to 10, or this ladder of things that we need to get done. Is this the smartest decision right now? No, and that's what my whole team has known since the jump for a decade is it's never no, but it can be not right now and that's okay I actually like that.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Like it doesn't have to be, but I feel like a lot of people are like no, no, no, and I never want to be like that, but I'm just trying to better use of time, finances and energy I do like that idea of like prioritizing things on the ladder and being like okay, yeah, maybe next year, maybe two years from now, that seems like common sense to somebody, but I feel like that's what's been interesting about.
Speaker 2:Businesses is just completely changing every year, and how I look at it is completely changing and what I want to put into it and what needs to be put into it, you know. So last year it actually worked out kind of great with all that stuff in my personal life going on, that at the same time we have so many ogs that have worked at lacquer forever. We were just kind of we needed like a coast year. Anyway, you know what I mean. I'm like everyone's chilling, everyone's great, nothing's happening, we're all good, yeah, and that's what was also interesting for me is I always feel like there needs to be change and there needs to be this and we need to be doing the most, but it's like it was totally fine, yeah. So I think that's a lesson just outside of business too.
Speaker 1:So speaking of business and you're in this. You know this services industry. This is a hot pop in industry. Lots of competition, lots of options out there. You have definitely carved out a very authentic niche, like when I I posted my story the other day, when I went in to get my brows done and I was like this place just oozes of authenticity.
Speaker 1:And that's the best way to describe you as a person and how it's transcended into your brand and like it's really cool the way you've been able to literally create this brand. That is basically you. I mean like your style, your vibe, your values and it's like it's everywhere. But my question to you is like I know it's dog, eat dog out there, and I know that things are constantly changing.
Speaker 1:So, for this wild ass world we're in right now, where everything's expensive, so product is skyrocketing astronomical you know, like, give me, like for somebody who is sitting at home and they're a little baby and they're like, oh, my dream someday would be to, you know, have a salon, loft or do be a massage, whatever. What are you seeing out in the streets that could maybe help?
Speaker 2:someone. So my best advice for somebody like because I get emails like this every week, right, of someone that's fresh out of school, right? So what I would tell them is do not under any circumstance and I know people do it all the time and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but my like OG advice would be do not run off to a loft. I feel like a lot of people do that. I feel like, um, it's just, you know, it's what you see on TikTok and Instagram and you know it's like, oh cute, I get to decorate my own spot, I get to do my own thing.
Speaker 2:But there is nothing like first starting out and learning off of others, like getting into a shop, seeing how, like customer service works and just like the flow of your day and booking people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, customer service is the biggest one, because when you're on your own and you've never worked in the beauty business and you get thrown into it, it's a lot. You know that there's going to be a time, the very first time, a client makes you cry that you're flinging and you haven't eaten lunch and blah, blah. So it's nice to have people to like bounce off of and learn off of and kind of, you know, get your feet wet and figure it out before you go out on your own, and that doesn't have to be years and years, and years. But I'm seeing like an uptick in. There was a little bit of that where everybody was jumping to lofts and then it wasn't a success because obviously you're straight out of school, you're still a little little baby nail tech or baby esthetician and it's so expensive and I just don't think that they knew what they were getting into. So a lot can still be learned from like mentorships and, like you know, just learning off of others.
Speaker 1:I mean, I guess I would think too, being somebody out there who's very um ready to go and like once, once now which is great, but it's really cart before the horse to go and and rent a salon loft. That's not going to be cheap and then you don't have your book of business built yet.
Speaker 2:Right, so, but that was happening a lot. I was seeing that a ton. So so you did see that like people getting a lot for a little bit and then subletting and things like that, and that's very different than people being in this industry for a couple of years and then doing a loft situation because they have it down, um, but yeah, a fresh, fresh person out of school, go learn and get better.
Speaker 2:And also I always tell people to hone into some things. You know what I mean. So if you're let's say you're an esthetician, there's so much you can do. You can do lashes, you can do facials, you can do waxing. You can literally do everything. So get into a salon that does a lot and then figure out what you loved and then get great at those things and then that's your specialty, and then that's how your clientele and everything else follows. But I think there's just a lot of energy in the beginning, which is great. Like, don't we all miss energy?
Speaker 1:I wish I had energy, so but you can pour that energy into like your own branding and social media and like all that stuff you know, and yeah, what else are you seeing in in the industry in terms of maybe something that's worked in the past isn't working anymore, or ways you have to sort of?
Speaker 2:acquiesce or pivot, okay. So kind of on the same lines of, like lofts and all that stuff, you're seeing an uptick, especially, I'm going to say, post COVID, which is kind of wild to think that we're so far out of it now. But expense, like salon expenses, hit very hard during that time. So now what you're seeing is people that maybe did a loft for a while and stuff. People are coming back to salons. But I think that's also the whole work life balance thing that we all collectively as human beings realized and worked on is maybe some people are like yeah, I liked doing my own thing and whatever, but it's really expensive and I kind of miss having a receptionist and I kind of miss like talking to friends in the break room and showing people like the cool brows I did today and I kind of miss the community you know, and kind of missing going to work and then going home and not having to like run my own business.
Speaker 1:Run your own business.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and there's nothing wrong with that, I think that everyone should just be doing what they want to do. Yeah, and it shouldn't be like you have to do a loft, you have to be in a salon or you have to be you know whatever.
Speaker 1:When you say loft, like if I were a creative I'd be like oh yeah, that sounds cool, Like a cozy loft. And then you get into it and you're like wait, like there's, you're in the thick, there's a little business I have to run, and if you're a creative, at heart of it, let me do the things.
Speaker 2:I love to do. But I've even experienced that over this last year, like we were just talking about like me, basically, you know, going through my divorce and dealing with that through business and all that is how everything is set up now Having like the managers do their thing, having a salon manager, then having me as I I joke now where I'm like I'm just the owner, just the owner over here. But I truly get to come in every day Like I do you know my businessy stuff in the morning and then I get to take my clients and then I get to go home check in on everybody you know my little TLDRs on Trello and then but I truly get to like go back to being creative and like working and I love that part. So I get why people are like I'm tired, I would just want to do hair all day. I just want to do nails all day. I just I get it.
Speaker 2:So going back to salons are fine, going to lofts are fine. I just everybody needs to be doing what's best for them. What's a tldr? Uh, too long didn't read, so you know. Like let's say, okay, this is why I say, uh, stuff, the salon manager is literally the light of my life because they deal with everything right, and then I'm like I just TLD army. So basically let's say all this stuff is happening all day. I don't see it anymore. I get the paragraph at the end of the day like this is what went on.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 2:It's really good for my little ADD brain oh yeah because then it's like I'm still hearing and seeing everything, but in like a micro version, instead of me dealing with it in live time. So then while I'm tattooing and hanging out with you know my people and like seeing clients and yapping all day which is what I like to do I have other people handling the part that I, you know I'm not going to handle anymore and then but I'm still in it, I'm not out of it, but that is like your, that's the dream, that's what I wanted to get to. I just wanted to go back. I'm a true service provider. That's what I do. A lot of people own salons and you know that's great, that's what they do. But like I love being a service provider and like working, like actually physically doing that part of it, because if I'm just at a desk all day, it just kills my spirit.
Speaker 1:No, I mean, you're a creative person. I mean you're brilliant like the. Is that your favorite thing to do? I think because people always ask me.
Speaker 2:Now they're like what are you liking better tattooing, or you know cosmetic tattooing it's. They're so different because tattooing to me is like such a challenge and all that. But I've been meeting so many different people and that's what's kind of cool. It's like all the little stories, especially because I just do like the dainty little stuff. So it's amazing when someone just wants like little angel numbers on them and you get to yapping for two hours about what it means and all this stuff and next thing you know they come in for a touch up a month later and then they want another one, another one, and then you have their sister and their mom. You know the whole little fam microblading. I've been doing these brows for so long that I've like watched their kids grow up or they've seen me go through my whole life and all that stuff, and I only see them like once a year. So those appointments are like a different type of special, because we get to like completely catch up you know what's the dumbest idea that you have?
Speaker 1:we were like I can't believe I did that, or do you have any?
Speaker 2:hmm, I guess I try.
Speaker 2:I maybe I've gaslit myself to think that they weren't a horrible idea and it was just like I have no bad, it was a learning curve um a bad idea or something that just didn't like that kind of flopped well, I did, like this past year where I was doing the whole like Airbnb thing and the spaces are beautiful, my landlord, that like, gave me the opportunity and stuff Dean is a king and great Adore him. All of that was great, but I just got set up with the wrong people to help me through it and that was a little bit of a lesson, you know, because I'm very much like um, I, I should, I just should have done it differently. I should, I should have tackled that one differently. Maybe I bit off more than I could chew, but again, it was like opportunity was being brought to me and I feel like at the time everyone was really trying to help me out.
Speaker 2:My whole divorce saga was like the Barbie movie, like the amount of people that came out of the woodwork to like just be, like, what can I do? How can I help, Cause I'm always the one, what can I do? How can I help? Um, yeah, I think the opportunity to have those properties was amazing, the opportunities to do Airbnb, to get paired up with people that knew what they were doing and stuff. I just think that we didn't gel and we didn't vibe like the people that I was working with, and so a mistake. It wasn't really a mistake, cause I'm still running with it, but I feel like I should have just looked into it more.
Speaker 1:It's like, again, one of those things where it's like a hot, it's like a hot word, right, let's Airbnb. And everyone thinks oh, I'm going to do that. That's easy. There's, it's everything. When you peel it back has I mean you don't get any expense.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh my gosh, trying to uh, I almost said finance. Um, what am I trying to furnish Like three spaces and stuff. That is a huge upfront cost. I think, okay, I'm going to peddle myself back. I think that that's what it was, is I wasn't expecting so much cost to go into it. And then you've been doing something for a year and you're like yeah, I haven't made a penny off of this. But I always talk about that with business. Everyone always thinks, just because you own a business, you're like so rich and I'm like help me.
Speaker 1:No, I'm not, so that's another misconception.
Speaker 2:You're just always poor. You're just always moving money around.
Speaker 1:People probably like you know, like whatever the, you know the little chatter is in the streets but like what do you say to that?
Speaker 2:people that own businesses know it's kind of like a funny inside joke that we're just like. I understand why people think that way. I'm sure I thought that way at one point, but the second you make a penny you're spending a dollar. You know what I mean, because you're always pouring back in and that goes into like supply cost gloves I will die on this hell. Gloves used to be 4.99. They never changed, it was always 4.99 for like nitrile gloves. Whatever covet happened all that. They went up to like 20 25 dollars a box. You might be able to catch them for like 18, but like that cost never went down.
Speaker 2:You know how many boxes of gloves we use at a hair salon, a nail salon, a skin salon and a tattoo shop every day? $25 is just being flung out in the air. Or then you have things that are really out of your control, like our acetone. Acetone comes from Israel. Okay, acetone used to be like whatever $8 a jug, now it's $40. Do you know how many jugs of acetone that a salon goes through? You know what I mean. And then it's just hard because clients have to feel the cost and, like everyone, everywhere is rising prices on everything. But there is a reason behind it, you know, and it's just it's hard out here.
Speaker 1:No, it's, it's hard, people don't talk about that you know, they just assume that everyone has so much money and it's like no, they see what they want to see, right, oh she, everyone has so much money and it's like no, they see what they want to see.
Speaker 2:Right, oh, she's got this. This is glamorous. I want that, yeah, no. So what about the? The best idea that you had, or the best move you made, best move I ever, ever, ever did was bringing everything to that one block. I will always say that was the smartest decision, because that's another thing with businesses.
Speaker 2:People think it's like, oh, the more you have, or like, if you have, like we had our clintonville location, our time village location. That was very confusing for people too. I don't know if I talked about that in the last pot. Everyone was like when covet happened, it was just timing, where we were able to bring everything to one side of town. They're like, oh, lisa had to close all these. But it's so funny, like what people think, like reality, instagram versus reality, right Of. Like Lisa had to close businesses. It really got her. I was like, actually we were able to do more and bring, just bring it all to one block, which was great Cause you think about, we'll talk about costs and expense.
Speaker 2:Think about like trash service. Okay, now, instead of having trash service at Clintonville and town village and Harrison West and all over the place, we just have one trash service. You have supplies. Now, instead of being like we need more paper towels but we have a million paper towels at Clintonville, do we just order more? Do we pay someone to go drive 13 minutes away and come all the way back and use time and resources? It's like now we just kind of bulk order stuff and have it all one corner. If I need something, just pop across the street, pop back. Or receptionist, being able to be like oh, I can cover here, I'll go across the street for this shift, you know.
Speaker 2:Or like the salon manager, stuff, you know, being able to bounce around, it's just best idea I've ever had no, it really is and so now I get hit up all the time of, like lisa, we have this opportunity at easton, we have this opportunity downtown and I'm like I don't want to hear another opportunity, unless it is on third and Michigan. I don't want to hear about it yeah because now it's like a cozy little hub. Oh for sure and for clients.
Speaker 2:Gone are the days on going down to one phone number instead of location numbers. So now, when a client this happens literally multiple times a day, because you know they'll park on Michigan and then come into the hair salon and they're like I'm here for a nail appointment and everyone's like oh right next door, instead of hey, actually you went to the wrong location and now you're going to actually miss your appointment because you have to go drive in traffic all the way across town and, by the way, you missed your appointment.
Speaker 1:So here's your iou, like it's kind of like now it's like, oh right there when I walk in to lacquer I know the the vibes I get and the feelings I get. But, like, when you're designing it, like, what do you want people to feel?
Speaker 2:So I do get asked about the look and the design a lot, and it sounds pretentious is the first word that came to my head and that's probably not what I mean. But I think people are. They think there's a lot of thought and effort into it and I will stand by this. For any business owner of any place just do what you like, because then it'll always feel authentic, like you said, which is the hugest, like the biggest compliment you can give me, um, and you'll always dig it, and then you can always kind of change it as you change you know. So the vibe is just, I don't know, I like funky, weird stuff, I like conversation pieces, um, I don't know. Okay, here's a little story.
Speaker 2:I was in Press Girl the other day with some of my friends and I was talking about because Coco turns 14 tomorrow, which I could cry even thinking about it. I only cried three times at her birthday party this weekend and I'm literally like teary-eyed even thinking about it. But I was looking around, there was this little stuffed animal that's been there since I used to go there and eat almost every day. The buffalo shrimp at Press Girl is amazing. I used to go there when I was pregnant eat and there was this cursed, weird little snow leopard doll.
Speaker 2:That's like up and now. It's like dirty and grungy and whatever, and I was just looking at it like oh, I've been looking at that for like 14 years and like you know, and I was like I want that thing, I, but I want that one. I want that cursed, weird, dusty, gross animal. So I was talking to the bartender and I was what do I have to do to get that snow leopard? They were going to give it to me, but I guess the owner has some lore behind it. So right away on Amazon, as I'm sitting there with my friends, I'm like I need that for my house, I need to have that. So then I ordered this cursed little doll showed up the next day.
Speaker 1:Coco named it Portia, and it's in my dining room.
Speaker 2:So what is your? I mean, is your decor in your house? My home, this is similar. I should probably like attached photos of my dining room to like have you post or something. Um, every time someone comes over for the first time, they always say, wow, it's lacquer in here.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the whole inside of my house is black. The whole outside is black, so kind of lacquer vibes. If a wall isn't't black then it's like light wood and I I have this whole shelf in my dining room. When you walk in, I actually have the number one piece that everyone talks about. Shout out to zoe and doug. Zoe is going to be our new hair manager at the hair salon. I have a high school photo of doug from the 80s and it's like a glamour shot and it's just him and he has his little mullet and he's thriving. But that is in my dining room and everyone that comes over is like so can we talk about who's this man on?
Speaker 2:and I was like, so, actually zoe that works at salon, it's her husband, it's from the 80s, you know things like that that everyone's like why do you have this? And I'm like it's funky and weird. Or I have coco's braces, or I have like a two-headed taxidermy duck, or I have oh wait, where are Coco's braces? And on the shelf in the dining room, like braces like her um, what is it?
Speaker 2:Her palate expander. And she's always like mom, that's so embarrassing, take that down. And I'm like, how is a palate expander? I just need everything of her. Her baby teeth I'm actually having, um, my friend Tyler makes weird funky jewelry and he also makes like my little grills that I wear and stuff. But, um, he's making me a ring right now of Coco's baby teeth, which she said is vile. I think it's cool. Well, everything is vile when you're 14. Oh yeah, she's like that's so cringe. I'm like, okay, but what other mom wears your teeth and has your name tattooed on their face?
Speaker 3:I'll wait hey, maria Milligan, here with Remax Premier Choice. I grew up right here in this town. I schools the parks, even the best places for coffee on Sunday morning. When you work with me, you're not just getting a realtor, you're getting a neighbor who knows this town inside and out. Let's find you a place that feels like home, sweet home. Text me at 614-314-1355.
Speaker 1:You know what?
Speaker 2:How much do I love you? That is commitment.
Speaker 1:Exactly, so I think maybe could you do a video like through your dining room.
Speaker 2:so we can actually post this, because I think people have to be curious.
Speaker 2:Or like my favorite artist of all time, local Dana Harper. She's the one that's done all my like fringy, like the iconic lacquer fringe Actually did one of the key chains that are in there too. Um, she, I'm part of her Patreon and she sent yesterday these like beautiful, they're like paper mache dumplings but then she's like painted beautiful, like designs on them and stuff. But I was like this is so cool, immediately in the dining room Like actually I have the old um support your local girl gang signs from like the first lacquers and I put like the dumplings on the base. You know, just like anything. Or I have the old everyone that went to the Clintonville salons. I had the old what are the flamingos that you stick in your yard? We had those all around the salon and they look like they're tattooed and like those are in my dining room. So it's kind of a little bit of a lacquer museum slash, cocoa museum slash.
Speaker 1:So it's not like a pottery barn situation which we figured it would not be. Cursed pottery barn, oh my God.
Speaker 2:But it gives you stuff to look at. But it's thriving Prayer candles of Dolly Parton and RuPaul. What else do I have? I have a Louis Vuitton baseball bat.
Speaker 2:I have we need footage of all of this by the way, all sorts of just quirky stuff that everyone's like this is you, so that's all that. To go back is like that's what I want the salon to feel like. Like I like weird quirky stuff, which is why I'm so excited um the new hair salon. Should we've only been working on it since 2021. That should be coming soon, I'm gonna say by spring, and so then we'll be able to scooch hair over there, make nails one big one again, like the old school building, and so I'm excited to kind of like have lobbies again and like be able to like bring in the weird kooky stuff do it, do that's my favorite.
Speaker 2:I love having like the community spaces and I mean there's nothing like it yeah, and just having somebody sit there and you're waiting to like for your nail appointment, you're like is that a walrus on the wall? What is going on here?
Speaker 1:but it's, yeah, it's eye candy everywhere and again it's.
Speaker 2:It's unlike anything else but it's all just stuff that I like, that I think is cool and interesting, and if you dig it, you dig it, and so I say, yeah, just lead with what you like yeah, you know and you can get inspiration from.
Speaker 2:I save things on instagram all the time, where or I was even talking about like that table that you have there. I think that's so cool, but that might be something that I'm like oh, in the back of my head, you know. But then I'd also have like a weird baby doll on it, probably, or something.
Speaker 1:Maybe coco's braces in the middle of the lobby at the salon so what is it like in this columbus community having this successful difference?
Speaker 2:yeah, we just stay in our own little spot but I mean, are people supportive in this industry?
Speaker 1:are they kind of like die hard, is everybody territorial? Or do you just find cool people within it and then dicks within it, kind of like anything else?
Speaker 2:if anyone's been a dick to me.
Speaker 2:Everyone in columbus at this point knows I just who cares yeah, you don't I'm so just like we only get to, not to be corny, but like we're literally just spitting on this rock. None of this matters, you know what I mean, like we're just chilling. So I just like to protect my peace, so anything that is like negative or like dramatic or whatever. I'm just like, I'm 37. All I want to do is come to work every day and make sure that the door is still open every day for all these people to work and do cool shit. And then I go make tattoos all day, and then I I want to go home and I want to hang out with my kid, and then I want to like smoke a jay by my fire and like watch housewives and like wiggle my toes in bed. That's what I want to do. So I don't have time for it. I just do not have time for people to like poke me or to be like to care.
Speaker 2:And then I found the coolest people in this industry too, like other salon owners and people that become really good friends of mine, like my friend Nona is like one of my best friends and she owns a salon in Grandview, and it's like people are like you go to a salon in Grandview to get your hair done and I'm like I love being a client. I have my friend, jamie, so talented she's at this spot, like off Broad Street, she does my nails. Like I like being the client. I like rubbing shoulders with other salon owners, I like talking shop, I love seeing my people, you know, at lacquer and things like that. But um, yeah, I love being the client and I I'm a girl's girl. I've always been a girl's girl.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you for that clip that we're going to now have on social media of you talking about wiggling your toes. That was my toes in bed.
Speaker 1:I just want to smoke a J by fire. That's all I want to do Is this a nightly thing, smoking the J every night.
Speaker 2:Of course, a the doctor away okay, so it's just one jay.
Speaker 1:Are we doing it intermittently? Are we like a jay, kind of intermittently throughout the day, kind of gal like are you more? Are you more creative when you're tattooing and stuff? If you were?
Speaker 2:there is no way I could operate high. I just couldn't, because I just I'm more of like because I don't like I'm not a heavy drinker, like I will go out with my friends and stuff like that, but I'm kind of like a two drink girly yeah, you.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean. Like I'm just rather they're having a good time. Um, so yeah, like smoking a J at night, like when I'm just like outside doom scrolling on my phone, like with chai wrapped in my leopard, you know, coat by my little fire in my backyard. It's more just like how people have a glass of wine or how people like relax. That's really it just like shuts my brain off. And then, yeah, I'm usually watching one of my little shows or my podcast in bed and I just what what's hot right now?
Speaker 2:with your shows I watch a lot. Trisha Paytas, my girl, I watch a lot of um who's that? How do I not know that? Oh, you know, I don't even know how to explain Trisha Paytas. She's been on the internet since like the beginning of time, but this is someone I literally have watched since like 2006, and so she has several podcasts out now. I watch, um yeah, a lot of stuff like on YouTube. I'm into, like I've been watching, a lot of TikToks and um, so I'm into that.
Speaker 2:But as far as TV, you know, I have to watch my housewives. I know so where are we right now with that? Okay, so housewives, I think we're at Beverly Hills right now and I do watch all the 90 day, that whole universe like 90 fiance before the 90 days and then the one show that I wish I hope everyone hears this loud and clear that I talk about all the time and I need more people to get into it is all the love after lockups, like all.
Speaker 1:All of that I'm into see, I think I would be. I don't know why I haven't delved into it, so back to the housewives and. Beverly Hills. So like Dorit and PK like duh yeah right, I can't even believe that.
Speaker 2:That was like a very strange pairing yeah, I'm just surprised it took this long, but I think doreen's gonna be fine no, she'll be 100, fine.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm still kind of sad about mauricio and kyle.
Speaker 2:I don't know why I feel like they were our constant yeah, and they're like such a good little family and so sweet, but I also feel like if everyone left them alone then they could still be like a cute little family. Yeah, you're right, you know what I mean. What I mean and like do their own thing. The kids are grown Like, it's fine. Is she with Morgan? I think so. I feel like everyone thinks so and knows so, but I got she hasn't confirmed- she hasn't called us, she hasn't she hasn't.
Speaker 2:Did you text me, kyle Richards? No, is that your favorite one is? Potomac um, I love potomac. I just don't feel like it gets enough attention. Yeah, I feel like people kind of forgot about that one, the early seasons of potomac. I will die on that hell. Best tv also miami, which I feel like they just now started showing on bravo, but they used to like hide that one and I'm like, why are we hiding miami? First of all, these women are the hottest, they're the richest, which I just love watching them spend their money.
Speaker 2:I'm just sitting there like I said, wiggling my toes in bed, like just what are you buying? Because I'm not Show me. Yeah, Miami was so good and they had like true, genuine, like long-term friendships, which a lot of times it's like arranged, you know, because they have like characters up the show. So I don't feel like people give miami or potomac enough attention.
Speaker 2:Well new york is getting like haven't even watched it haven't even watched it, since they revamped, really terrible unless it's ramona, and like that whole the countess, I don't want it yeah, I didn't even try it. And another one that everyone is shocked that I never started watching, but it's because it got so big on. Social media is all the um, oh, my gosh dubai no I didn't watch that one either.
Speaker 1:Um really, really popular out Salt Lake oh yeah, like all that, but at the end of that, the end of it was really good but it was so happening in live time that I didn't feel like I needed to watch it yeah, no, you're right I was just like oh, I already kind of know what's going on and I did watch a couple episodes and I loved like what is it?
Speaker 2:Meredith's son? And yeah, I was getting into it, but I just kind of like forgot about it.
Speaker 1:So, last but not, least before we close out this riveting third conversation together what's up with the dating life and what's it like out there? That's a loaded like 45 more minutes.
Speaker 2:It's gotta be it's, it's gotta be wild, right? This is what I tell people, because everyone's like what's it like? First of all, it's very interesting dating after you've been a loyal wife for almost a decade. This is what I tell people. I say I can't just date anyone so I have to date everyone. So it's been fun, like I feel like I'm truly dating, going on dates, experiencing people, finding out what I like. I'm not in any rush, like it's not like I want to have any more children. You know Coco's 14. I think she'd kick me out if I ever had another child.
Speaker 3:You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:So it's not like I have a sense of urgency, of like I need to find a partner, I need to have a baby, I want to be married, I want to, I would and I love being a wife and being married and monogamous and all that stuff, um, but there's zero sense of urgency. So I feel like I'm just like taking my time, I'm dabbling. I've met amazing people. I have hilarious stories that should be like a Carrie Croft after dark hilarious stories, but I've had some of the best amazing dates with amazing people that just like I didn't click with. You know what I mean. Long-term, obviously, I'm single, um, um. It's been an experience, but it's been like fun.
Speaker 1:I'm having fun what's like one that sticks out.
Speaker 2:That was wild, a bad story, one that you can, that you can tell I don't even know how I could tell it short, because my friends love this story, but I'll give you a tidbit. Uh, how do I even start? Okay, I went on a couple dates with someone and I was like a mistake that I've made before is especially when you're dating people that are like out of town, because that's another thing. Columbus is so small, so to date people here I don't want to date someone that's like been out with my girls or, you know, my people at work, um, overlapping with friendships. It's just hard because now we're all like you know, I'm dating anyone between the ages of, let's say, 32 to 46.
Speaker 2:So there's, we've all been dating and stuff for a while, so the crossover is going to be there, um, so yeah, dating people, especially when you're dating out of town and stuff, you don't always see how people live in real life. So those are always the wildest stories. It's like you think like, oh, I've been out with this person a couple times, but then you see how they live and you're like what? That's all. I mean.
Speaker 1:That's really, that's the best way how did the person live like what's good, but just uh I had a guy.
Speaker 2:This is awful.
Speaker 2:I'm not gonna know what it is. I had a guy once that was like, oh, and I've told the story so many times, if people love it where he's like, oh, I'm gonna like make you food, like whatever. I was like finally seeing his place for the first time, like, okay, we've had a couple good dates, like let's see how you live, we'll have like a fun little day, we'll run around and stuff. And so he stopped by his house and it was nothing that I thought it was going to be where I was just like how do people live like this? Because, again, when they're coming from out of town, right, you see their car, you see how they dress, you see their job. We're not talking about money, just like how people present hygiene, talk about hygiene, and then seeing how someone lives is very eye-opening, where you're just like can't even sit down in their furniture and you're completely freaked out. But they're like lovely and you're like how, how did you finish?
Speaker 2:the date were you just? Like I got the fuck out of there you did um, at one point you said oh, like I'm gonna cook for you, I'm gonna make you something you're like the hell, you are why was I fed food that was like five days old?
Speaker 2:That was like takeout that someone else ate off. Why would something like that? But then I've had like the most beautiful, thoughtful, sweetest, like out of a movie first dates where I'm like, let's say like I didn't vibe with them and I'm not going to see them again, where I'm like I'm very good about um, really telling guys when I go on good dates like this was an amazing date. You did such a good job. Like these are the key points that were great, cause I want them to continue to do that for people. Yeah, cause I'm like wow, I'm so. I feel so great that I got to experience this. Like it wasn't my person, but I hope someone else goes on like an amazing date like this.
Speaker 2:What is your type? Do you have a type? I don't feel like I have like a type. I feel like lately you know what's not my type and you know what? Watch my little bitch ass sit here and say all this and then I come back like two years from now and I'm like meet my husband and it's exactly what I say. It's not.
Speaker 2:I'm going to have receipts. Physically, I don't really have a type. The only thing that I would say I really do want somebody like taller than me, but that's I'm five, seven, that's not hard. Um, other than that, I really don't have a physical type. I love people that can dress like can you dress well? Are you funny? Like you know, I love all that. Um, I just don't want anyone of like people I've been with before. So I always say I will never date another tattoo artist, I will never date. I don't even care if someone's tattooed and that's another thing. Is guys, especially because, like I'm on hinge and stuff like that. Right, they'll be like I don't have any tattoos and I'm like great love that even better, even better.
Speaker 1:What's hinge like?
Speaker 2:okay, do you want to hear the breakdown? So? This is this is interesting, I do so, um, I used to just be like on hinge. And then, um, because I was like, oh, I'll just try, I'll dab dabble Right, and so I was on hinge.
Speaker 2:I have, I have all three right, you have, you have the trifecta you have the hinge bumble and tender and I'm bad Cause I don't check them that often and stuff, but when I do, it's like you know you can kind of sort through. What I find is hinge are the guys that are like assertive and very much like a little bit no nonsense, a little bit of like hi, my name is so, and so we see enough things in common. When are you available? Like they're very like persistent masculine. I like that. Um, actually I could read you what's on my?
Speaker 2:okay, you guys, this is what I'm looking for for all the single men out there yes okay, this is what I want.
Speaker 2:Set me up. No, no one set me up. Actually, I could tell you stories for days of people trying to set me up and I'm like, don't ever do that again. Um, this is what my profile says, which I stand by and I don't change it. They're all three are the same. It says I'll brag about you to my friends if that's the prompt. You're a masculine provider, leader, lover boy, who plans dates, is consistent, thoughtful, thoughtful and prefers voice notes, calls and FaceTime over texting.
Speaker 3:That's my spiel. Okay, I like that.
Speaker 2:I like masculine men Like I like I'm kind of traditional and people don't think I'm very traditional. I think that they think that I like. But I have to be in control and stuff all day long. I have to be like the leader. I have to be like the one running stuff. So romantically, I'm just a girl.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:So what about Tinder and Bumble?
Speaker 2:Okay. So Bumble, I feel like it's for the golden retriever boys. Those are the soft boys and the reason I think this is I wonder if other people have this experience. I feel like Bumble is for the guys, because the women have to say hi first. They're the ones that are like hey, I'm just here.
Speaker 2:If you like me, let me know, but please let me know, Like they're just the sweeter, but those will be your pen pals. Those are the guys there. There's no follow, they're just treading so late. But I think that it's the app the format of the app sets that up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, tinder is hilarious. Tinder is just for comedic relief, honestly, like that was one. Um. I was out with one of my, my friend, ashley, one day and she's like you should be on tinder. I said, dude, first of all, I never want anyone to ever see me on Tinder, cause, like I have like the old school way of thinking of Tinder, cause you got to think I was with my ex-husband before. Tinder was like put popped off. So to me, tinder is hookups and I'm like no, but Tinder is funny. Tinder, there is such an abundance of people I will say so, a lot of people on all three. Then you do see crossover, but you do get different things out of all three. So I only have all three because I'm you know, I'm just like dabbling and looking and it's fun. Like I love when my girlfriends come over if you haven't seen one of your girlfriends in like a week and you like pull it up on like airplay on the tv and you like go through each other's matches and stuff and it's oh yeah.
Speaker 3:That's like a party game.
Speaker 2:You can be like who wants to put their Tinder up and you're like scrolling on the TV and you know what about Raya?
Speaker 1:What's up with that?
Speaker 2:Listen, raya invited me last year and then my profile, like my Instagram and stuff wasn't public and one of my clients was telling me how like she got on Raya and stuff and because everyone's like you just need to be on Raya and I'm like I know guys get me on there.
Speaker 1:Get me on there Raya. So there's a weird thing with. Raya being super hard to get on.
Speaker 2:It's hard to get on, but they but people don't always get invites and I got invited and then they didn't like look at my stuff cause it was private, so that I'm public now. Um, but I don't know dating seriously right now and they're yeah, I'm just kind of you're snorkeling along I'm snorkeling along, I'm vibing that's fun, and then it's hard, though, too.
Speaker 2:I feel like, as an adult too, like when you're dating people that are also kind of in my same position, where we're all just kind of like we don't know. It's like when does that cross over to be like do we actually like each other? Is this ever going to become a thing, or do we just hang out or like well, that's kind of awkward too, I think you'll know. So I'm vibing, I'm vibing.
Speaker 1:That's good. I think you need it. You need some vibe time I'm listen.
Speaker 2:I'm happy to vibe.
Speaker 1:I could vibe for 10 years girl, I'm telling you what I can imagine you being like a hot ticket out there but it's exhausting and it's also like it does.
Speaker 2:Okay, we talked about earlier that's the first thing we talked about is how much time and energy do you want to put into things like I could go, which I do feel very fortunate. There's a lot of like amazing, amazing people in columbus, you know, I mean even just locally that you know I get asked all the time on dates and things like that. And, um, it's just like how many dinners do you want to go out in a week? I want to see, I want to wiggle toes in bed yeah, like, what's your rhythm with that?
Speaker 1:like, do you do like a date a week, or are you like multiple some?
Speaker 2:dates there's multiple, some weeks there's I just don't feel like it. But I'm I feel like one thing I've have been very, very transparent with dating. You know what I mean. Yeah, so I'm very honest about like I am just like casually dating around and stuff like that, because I feel like I've fallen into this other part with dating. Okay, this is something that's happened to me a lot and it's interesting because, like I said, I'm not used to any of this. I'm used to just being a wife and just being with one person. I'm happy with one person is I've dated, like, let's say, you, you're hanging out with a guy for a while, right, and then all of a sudden and I'm talking about a while might just be like a couple weeks where you're seeing each other consistently right away.
Speaker 2:They want you to be like their girlfriend, like they want to be in a relationship, and and I go, okay, no, cause that's too fast. And I do believe in the 90 day rule, like, if you're, I feel like if you're talking to a guy and he only wants to talk to you and he only wants you to talk to him and he doesn't, he wants to take you off the market, right, cause what guy wants to pursue someone when they know they're pursuing other people? You should be trying to do a great job and communicate that you only want to see each other. That's how I feel, like that should be normal. But that's not. People just don't Okay.
Speaker 2:So I get these guys. They only want to see me. They're very vocal about that. I want you to be my girlfriend. I say so. I'm dating around and, um, we have to see how this, like 90 days, would go. Like, can you be consistently consistent and everything go well for 90 days? They never last that long is the problem. Like they will never. They make it like a couple of days, maybe 10 days, before they start acting up. You know what I mean. But I just don't want to have several committed like. I don't want to have like a boyfriend. Then you see me six months from now. Oh, I broke up with him. I have it. I'd rather just continue to date around and feel people out, versus like being in a relationship. The day you guys see me in a relationship with somebody, just know we've probably been hanging out for a very long time and that is like the prize person over 90 days over over 90 days.
Speaker 2:Okay, so let's go back to that. I'll be like okay, let's see where things go, and maybe I stopped talking to other people, let's just feel each other out, right? They say this has literally happened, carrie, like five times. I'm not talking to anyone, I promise, I promise, okay, I am, you don't have to, but thank you for letting me know. So they're trying to be honest, right, and be like I'm not.
Speaker 2:Then a guy will say here's my phone. Look at which is triggering as fuck. Look through my phone. I'm not talking to anybody else. No, thank you. I don't really feel like we need to go through each other, like I don't need to look at your phone. No, really, no really. Literally, carrie, five times this happened. Look through my phone. I'd rather not. We're just dating. Finally, I do, because they're begging me. What do you find? Don't lie about it, just don't lie, because I'm dating, you should be dating, and then, when we both come to that agreement, we can just talk to each other. It's so weird. It's almost like they want to like, put a, like, hold you here and do whatever they want, but it's like how about? Everybody just does whatever they want until you both choose each other yeah and have that conversation.
Speaker 2:Damn, it's so weird it's, it's different. It's night and day of 10 years ago, obviously wild I know the internet made things really small and um, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm just a traditional girl you're just a, I mean you are just a traditional girl one day, no rush with. Like you don't look like a traditional girly, but I love the fact that you are.
Speaker 2:Men are a little terrified of me you're like, um, uh, what, what?
Speaker 1:what did somebody say about me the other day? You disrupt a bias? Yeah, cause like somebody looks at you and they think one thing.
Speaker 2:Oh, but I'm completely different. Do you cook? Yeah, Like I enjoy cooking stuff, but it's just Coco and I, so we make easy stuff Like I'm not. You know, I always say I make reservations.
Speaker 1:Oh, there you go there you go, I don't mind cooking.
Speaker 2:I like enjoy cooking, but am I going to like make my own?
Speaker 3:bread.
Speaker 2:No, I mean that's cool. Hell. No, I'm busy. Yeah, but I think people like I'm not trying to do that.
Speaker 1:I'm not trying to be like a trad wife. That's a whole side of TikTok no, all place and I just can't wait to see what else happens with you and lacquer and I know 2025,.
Speaker 2:I think there's going to be some good energies back feeling good. Yeah, I'm ready to pour into it. Do some cool stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, bring some new things. Thank you for your thank you for always just being so supportive and for coming back again, and I'm definitely going to have you on, don't worry, you're a cameo.
Speaker 2:You're going to be. I love it, I love it. Let's check in All right?
Speaker 1:Thanks, lisa, of course, and if you're still out there following your girl, follow me on YouTube, spotify, apple or wherever you get your podcasts. And until next time, go make an appointment at Lacker Get your brows done Get a tattoo, whatever you're going to do Go to Lacker. She owns third you.
