Tea with Meek & Nique

00:41 - And we back, and we back, and still black! Can you believe that it’s the last episode of Season 3? We have a unique recording setup for this final episode - watch out on social media to see Monique’s temporary studio.   2:35 - But first, what are we sippin’ on? Of course Meek has the Meka Special, peach tranquility tea with citrus mint and a hint of agave. Because she’s at home, Nique made a nice matcha green tea latte with Oatly oat milk and a splash of agave.    4:15 - Let’s talk about the season and how we got here, at the end, through all that this year and COVID has brought, the good and the challenging. Meek and Nique reflect on how the podcast started and how the community of moms has grown so much. You all inspire us and motivate us to keep going!   8:23 - This is such a reboot season, it’s comforting to revisit things that we love. Did you have a favorite episode this season that you’re re-listening to? We’ve been watching all the reboots and black comfort TV shows, getting nostalgic about the good memories those bring back. What are you watching or revisiting in your reboot season?   11:28 - Meka reviews one of her favorite episodes from this season - navigating virtual school! The adventures of school-at-home are on-going, but these offer us life lessons and teachable moments that are important for our kids to learn.    14:33 - Nique shares her experiences of having her children learning at home in a new city, wrestling with the idea of whether or not to bring the kids back to in-person school, and finding that their new routine is working so well for their family.   19:18 - Meek talks about working to find the best ways for Jagger to learn and excel in the world, to give him the tools and resources to serve his needs and watch him grow. It can be a challenge, but it’s so worth it to put our energy into our children in the ways that they need to really allow them to flourish.    23:02 - Another favorite of Nique’s is the How Are You, Really? episode. Being honest about where you are, how you’re feeling, being vulnerable, and showing that not everything is always picture-perfect is refreshing and freeing, because we don’t always have it together. We have to hold space for ourselves and others to feel how they’re actually feeling.   29:25 - A theme of this season has been “leveling up.” Meek is leveling up by taking on the #75hardchallenge and she extends that challenge to everyone else to keep working at it. Nique’s leveling up is in the form of her Peloton 100, a challenge that she made up for herself! She’s leveling up her health by being more intentional about good food, a healthy home, she completed a yoga teacher training…. She’s learning some things and doing some things!   35:34 - So, what are our Roll Out Tracks? Meka chooses Level Up by Ciara because it’s so on theme. Monique goes with Open Door Season by Dietrick Haddon, a super fun song that speaks to opportunities and leveling up in the next season.    Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their socials!  Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell. Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma. Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sipping on, and say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!

00:40 - Welcome back! Today we’re talking about friendships, strong women, supporting each other, and how important it is!   2:15 - But first, what is in your cup? Of course, Meka is having the Meka Classic, her peach, ginger, mint, with a hint of agave. Monique has a delicious South African mango rooibos. So sit with us and sip your tea while we chat.   3:22 - So, we gotta talk about friends. Meek tells us about her tribe, her girls that have been with her for decades, and reflects on how their relationships have grown from their college days until now.     5:38 - Monique explains the love of long-term, childhood friendships, but also the importance of holding space within ourselves to invite others (and be invited) into new friendships in our adult years. Meek and Nique met in their young adult years - there’s always good in meeting new people and having new friends!   8:15 - True friendship looks like fruitful relationships and people who inspire you. Those who you can Facetime in Covid, who can see you in your sweats and being real.   11:33 - We sidebar for a minute, our experiences as black women are so important. Remember to use your words, recognize people and the space we take up, and offer respect. See black people, respect our space, see us. Having friends that affirm you and your experiences are needed so we can digest these together, without judgement, so it doesn’t make us go insane!   14:00 - Representation in your friend group and in your experiences is so important so we can relate to each other, support each other, and be intentional in what we do, how we behave, and how we treat others. Pouring into each other means we are filling ourselves up too - friendship is a two-way street and we have to meet each other where we’re at.   18:00 - Who pushes you to grow? The friendships that Meka and Monique appreciate the most are those from women who pray for them, uplift them, challenge them to grow and change, who celebrate their successes and who do better with them. Those who want you to stay the same may end up being toxic, holding you back from being the best you can be. Cheer your friends on and let them feel your support and love!   23:23 - Meka shares a few tips on how to be intentional with your friends. First, check in with them - like really check in to make sure they’re okay, don’t just like their Insta. Second, know what your friends’ love language is! Learn how to support them in the way that they value the most.   25:00 - Meek says another tip is to support your mama friends by also taking care of their kids. Give the mamas a break to take care of themselves, run errands, do a date night, or engage with the kids in a creative way to give the parents a break while building bonds. 27:00 - Most importantly, friendships are two-sided, so remember to check the balance. Sometimes the scales will teeter to one person or another in our times of need, but the investments in each other and our relationships are critical to our own health and happiness. Finding your people, especially as an adult, is so special.    28:25 - We gotta bring it home with our Drive Tracks! We’re listening to What About Your Friends by TLC and More Than Anything by Sunday Service Choir, because we still got Jesus when all our friends are gone.    Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their socials!  Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell. Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma.   Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sipping on, and say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!

00:40 - We back! Thrivin’ and survivin’. We’re excited about this episode today because we’re talking about the state of our marriages and all about our husbands, the lessons, the takeaways, and how we are doing it together.   2:55 - But first, what are you sippin’ on? Meka has the Meka blend, a peach, citrus, mint blend with just a hint of agave. Nique has peach oolong tea, a nice fruity, black tea. Be on the lookout for a tea list!   4:05 - Getting right into it: The State of Our Marriages. For Meka, she and Jacobi are getting on to year 8 together, 4 kids in, and finding balance with each other. He’s the calm to her crazy, the fun parent to her enforcer. Monique and Pierce are on 14 years together, 12 of those married! Nique is the orderly and laid back one and Pierce is the solid, visionary, planner.    7:57 - So, how has COVID impacted our relationships? It’s definitely annoying being together all the time. Yeah, we love each other, but your own space is nice. Meek finds her therapy in time away at the store, walking around getting groceries or doing a Target run.    10:55 - Meka stresses the importance of stopping and intentionally remembering your spouse. Getting a date night in is so nice! Having that time together, getting dressed up, having fun - it’s critical to reconnect one on one.    12:39 - Monique’s experience with Pierce during COVID… well, there was only one time during lockdown that she thought it was done. But those moments let us know how we can rebuild together to be stronger. Nique and Pierce are each other’s TEAM - built on Trust, Empathy, Adoration, and Mission.   16:40 - It’s always helpful to remember you were a couple first, you have so many shared experiences and memories, you grew together and it is a wonderful foundation to come back to when things get difficult.    18:45 - The ladies talk about the realness of needing their own space (maybe their own separate house) - so everything can be the way it needs to be, for serenity, for independence. Family can come visit, don’t worry! Having time to be yourself by yourself is so important to your mental health and wellbeing. What is your sacred time and space?   23:50 - Marriage and relationships are also about sex, but how has COVID and being home all the time changed our sex lives? The ladies share some wise words. Be intentional, keep the fire, find the spice, and find other couples who are gonna keep it real with you.    29:07 - We gotta wrap up with our drive tracks! Keeping with today’s theme, Meka is listening to Crazy in Love by Beyonce, and Nique is feeling two songs - you can always rely on Jhene Aiko but Moments by Big Sean really speaks to her right now.   Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their socials!  Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell. Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma. Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sipping on, and say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!

00:40 - And we back! We are on top of it today - we are starting with what we’re sipping on. Meek has her Meka Classic, her peach, mint, and ginger, while Nique has got her trusty citrus mint.    4:05 - Today, we are talking about all things four-legged, our furry best friends, we’re talking dog moms today. If you have furbabies, this episode is for you! Monique starts off with her story of how she is dog-mom-adjacent. She is a surrogate dog mama, loving and supporting her pups from afar, but it’s just not a perfect fit up close.    7:05 - Meka has a bernedoodle named Marley, her super smart, not shedding, huge furbaby. Marley is a big, gentle baby, even though she is larger than Elle and almost as tall as Meka when she’s on her hind legs! Marley and Axel especially have a sweet relationship, because they grew up together.    10:40 - Nique talks about Onyx, her pup living with her in-laws. Onyx is a mini Australian labradoodle who fits in perfectly with her in-laws because he’s a great connection point for the family to talk over!    12:04 - Meek points out that having a dog is great, but can be inconvenient for when we’re able to travel again… but this is where Nique shines as a dog auntie and she is down to babysit. Although, Meka breaks the news that they’re welcoming another furry addition to the family, and she’s encouraging other families to welcome bernedoodles into their homes too!   14:47 - Meka needs your help, listeners - who else has two big dogs and kids and can handle it?? Dogs are forever babies and will always need you to keep them on routine. Keep this in mind when you’re thinking of adding a furbaby to your family!   18:00 - Stay tuned for the adventures of Marley and Harley (maybe a new insta is on its way). Meka’s kids are excited to have the new puppy but also are ready to take on the responsibilities too.   19:50 - No matter which way you have a dog in your life, whether you’re a dog mama or a dog auntie, these pups do bring happiness and enjoyment to us. They’re always so happy to see you and other people are nice to you too!   21:10 - We can’t say bye without our Drive Tracks. Add these to your playlist - Big Sean Wolves (keeping with the fur theme), and a classic, Whitney Houston’s Every Woman. Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their updated socials!  Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell. Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma. Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sipping on, and say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!

00:40 - Hey mamas, welcome back! We back and still Black and excited to be here with you! Don’t forget your tea. You know what Meka is sippin on - her peach, mint, ginger classic with honey mixed in. Monique is changing it up today by sipping on some matcha.   04:32 - This year of 2020 has been something else for us all. The ladies reflect on how they brought in 2020 and how different the start of the year was from our current situation. We’ve all learned so much since the pandemic hit, but what exactly have these lessons been? Meek feels she’s gained perspective on how short and special life really is, as we’ve all gone through so much loss this year. Let’s use every talent and ounce of energy we have to put into living a rich and good life.   08:45 - Nique adds to that sentiment, realizing she’s at the “ma’am” stage of her life and she wholly embraces it! Let’s give love to each other while we’re here, not just when we lose someone or are faced with pain.   12:32 - Anybody else have that creeping feeling that the other shoe is gonna drop? Sometimes, it can be hard to enjoy all the good things in life because we’re so conditioned to expect and prepared for bad things - thinking about what happens if a partner dies, where are all the important documents, what happens to the family dynamic, having all these hard conversations!   14:55 - One of the biggest lessons of 2020 is that we can do better, we can do so much better and we have the capacity to elevate the work that we’re doing to do more for ourselves, our minds, our kids, our communities. Monique talks about the simple joy of having a bathtub and time to think and gain perspective, of up and moving to a new city and understand what is really needed in life.   17:20 - Meka adds that she is more present, more grateful for what she has and her journey to this point in her life, and the fact that there is more growth in her future. She is learning to love what she has, is letting go of the junk, and reshaping what home means to her.   19:57 - The ladies encourage the listeners, if there’s somewhere else that you’re being called to be, take the leap and watch the doors open up for you. Even when you’re scared, you can do it and create change in your life! What would your excellent day and excellent life look like?   22:53 - Even though this year has been challenging, with so much loss and so many changes, there is good still happening! Marriages and celebrations, job growth and babies being born; remember to focus in on the good.   25:45 - Meek and Nique reflect on how the pandemic has grounded their travel plans and remember back on their last plane trips. There’s so much about traveling that we miss, but maybe there are some changes we can make when we are able to travel again - travel less, stay longer, be more present and thankful for being able to be somewhere new.   28:24 - We always gotta end with our Drive Tracks. Meka is listening to the whole Detroit 2 album by Big Sean but is especially loving Harder Than My Demons. Monique is listening to Stevie Wonder’s Don’t You Worry Bout a Thing, which is especially fitting for the present time.    Make sure to follow Meek and Nique on their updated socials!  Meka’s blog is Hanging with the Harrells and her instagram is @xomekaharrell. Nique’s website is Monique Hibma and follow her @moniqueimanhibma. Follow the show at @teawithmeekandnique on Insta to see behind-the-scenes and more content, make sure to use the #teawithmeekandnique so we can see what you’re sipping on, say hello to your fearless hosts at meekandnique.com, and tune in for the next episode!