Two Teas in a Pod with Teddy Mellencamp and Camera Jedge. Hi, guys, welcome to Two Teas in a Pod. I am Tamera Judge. I am flying so low today because the second tea to our twats is filming Celebrity Big Brother. We're super excited about that. But don't worry, We're gonna have some amazing U guest hosts in the next few weeks. I'm excited to introduce my guest today, a real housewife of Miami who just made it official. Alexia. Alexia, thank you so much. You the first Miami housewife we've had on two Teas, and you were the one we wanted first. I apologize because Teddy could not be here today and she's so bummed. But I don't know if you've heard, but she's doing Celebrity Big Brother. Yes, I'm so I'm so proud of her. I'm so happy for I don't know if I'm not happy, I'll tell you want with her am or not. But wow, that's like a big deal. I don't know that I could do it. What about you? I was just gonna ask you the same thing. Do you think you could do it? For one thing? I think would be really difficult because if you go the full way, you could be away from your family for like thirty days with no phone, no interaction, nothing. Yes, I I you know, I'm mentally very strong, but I don't think that I could do it. And I don't think my my family can be without me for thirty days. That's right, like not even thirty minutes pretty much. Yeah, say on opposite. I'm physically strong. I don't know if I'm just so mentally strong up there. Yes, but welcome back. We are so excited. Your season so far is so good. I know you just filmed the reunion and you probably can't tell us too much about that, but I want to take it back to the very beginning, like ten years ago when you first began. How did you get casted? Okay, so I got casted. I was actually the last one to get casted because I really didn't want to be part of the show. I need know much about the show. All I knew was really New Jersey and like Theresa flipping the table. That's like as much Housewife watched. But what I found really funny wasn't in Miami. Everybody that was watching would say like, oh my God, if the show ever comes to Miami, you definitely need to be on it, you know, like my friends that really knew me. And I was like, I don't see that happening. But so fast forward a few years later, you know, they started casting from Miami. Um. At the time, my son was also casting for another like reality show with kids, so um, I was dropping him off and apparently was like the same casting director. So they saw me and they're like, oh my god, we're also casting from Miami. Like do you think your mom would be interested? And he's like, no, my mom will be interested. And fast forward. His show never happened. The casting directors got to know me because I would drop him off and take him in the whole thing, and they were begging me to try out, and um, last minute, I said, you know what, a friend of mine called me actually, and she was the one that was really interested. She was a doctor, a dentist and it's not Karen Um somebody else. And UM, She's like, oh my god, please you have too like a company made or casting. And I said, if you're going to the Miami Housewife, think like they really want me to cast, So I don't think you want me there because I maybe taking your position, and you know, I ended up going with her. I sat down. I remember her telling me like, don't talk with your hands, and you know, like you know, being you know, dress conservative, you know. Yeah right, I'm like, okay, you apparently have now watched the show, right right. So she sat there. So I went in and everybody's like Peter's mom, Peter's mom, and I'm like, yeah, I'm here, and I'm like, what, my husband doesn't know that I'm doing this my family if nobody knew, it was just like me and her. So basically I sat down, I started talking with my hands. I said all the right things like my husband doesn't know I'm here, um, and all the crazy stuff that comes out of my mouth. And ten minutes later after my casting, I had a phone call saying like, we want to go to your house and when I made your family and the rest was history. So they came up with the next day. You know, my husband at that time never really supported it, that's the truth. Um, he never really wanted me to do the show. Um, so I pretty much like signed the agreement even like without his blessing. So yeah, but I did it, and eight years later, well ten years later, I'm here. I know we have some so many similarities and our life and I really relate to your storyline, which is um with your you know, blending of the family. I had the same situation, and I know that a lot of people that have been divorced and getting remarried with kids, you know, it's difficult. And I that that meeting that they'll sit down that you had with Todd and Peter and Frankie. I was almost crying because it took me back to when I was married to Simon and my oldest son Ryan, who was thirteen when we end up getting married, just did not click, and it would. It puts you in such a horrible sad spot that you're walking on eggshell So I I totally got that. Yeah, you know, I feel like like you. I feel like a lot of women you know, in the world, you know, on our streaming so they're watching us all over the world. So I feel like a lot of women are in that position, you know, and you know, we as a women, you know, you're in the middle between two people that you adore and are your life, and you're just like, you know, like very sad because you want to fix it, and really the only people that can fix it is them, you know. So you know they obviously have you know, and we got married and you know, but but it's tough, you know, especially I feel like when they were younger, I think it's easier. I mean I've always said that, you know, because again, you know, like my second husband, you know, he had older children. I had younger children, and it was easier, you know, to blench. And you know, our kids get along great, Like Todd has two beautiful girls. I don't mean you saw them on the show or not, which I participated very little, but you know, my kids love her. We all, you know, Frankie lives here, the girls live here, and you know, but you know, these shows are like that. You know, you obviously only saw that, you know, that side of our story. You know, we also have a lot of happy moments, and I want they don't want to show that part, right, so we you know, I just want you to keep that in mind. Obviously, you know, we obviously got through that. It was really difficult obviously, you know, to see you know, once it plays back, you know, when you're in the moment of it. Obviously it was horrendous. It was terrible. But then when you see it as well, you know, we cried seeing it as a family together. It was really hard to watch. But you know the good thing is that we noticed what we needed to do and like god, we we acted on. You know, we're like, okay, like this is really like myself. We need to fix this, you know. And you know, sometimes you have to get really uncomfortable in order to see results, right, But I think you were very brave to even put that out there. And the people other families that are going through it, we'll totally understand. Now, your son Peter reminds me of my son Ryan. A lot have gone through the same thing, same issues. We don't need to get into it, but um, it's very sweet kids. But you know, I was guilty of enabling him because I had him when I was barely eighteen. I was a single mom, I had no money. I had to give him to his dad for a little bit because I had couldn't support him, and so that affected him long term, and I always carried that guilt, you know, And then I got well, I feel like as a mother, term right, even if you do everything perfect and you're still married to the same man. And you know, you're like the home room mom and you do everything perfect. I think as a mom, if things don't turn how we would like them to turn out, or or we go through like different stages, we always want to blame ourselves. And you know, we live with this guilt. You know, it's like a women's thing. It's that we live with guilt. And I think even like me like being Latin, I feel like Latin women even more like I don't even know. It's it's just like crazy, it's like a continuous boot and you know we have to work on that ourselves because you know what we did the best that we could. And you know, kids don't come with a handbook. I mean, preventing is really hard. And then there's I wouldn't feel like yeah, I mean, genetics are play like a really big role. So there's so many, like other factors before people come in and judge, and you know, and they're saying, you know, I don't I just don't like the word enabler. You know, I think I get a little bit defensive, you know when they say I'm an enabler, because for me, an enabler is somebody that like encourages like negative and bad behavior. I agree, Yeah, so I'm not encouraging it for real because I know what's bad. I know what's you know, the difference between good and bad. But so I don't like that term. But I do recognize that. It's not that I enable it. It's just that I'm compassionate. I'm empathetic. I'm his mother. It's like this unconditional love then no matter what they do, and if we're not there for them, who else is going to be for them? Like we get today? You know, it's like just not okay with that. And you went through so much with the accident with Frankie. How is Frankie? He? I just love him to death and the way that if he would he here, he would be like talking to you, Oh, I want to talk to beautiful. I want to hang out with him. He is so sweet, so kind and always so supportive of you. And when you talk about things you want to talk about the way he's like, no, mom, like I die every single time. So how's he doing? He's doing good. I mean he lives here with us and does a matter of fact, now after like that scene that you guys saw, but you know, it was always like, you know, it's always like a my goal list, my my goal list, it's always my kids the priority. I'm like, got the last, my oldest. So by the time I get to me, I'm like, oh my god, I'm tired, like you know, how to work on everybody else? Right, So, um, after that, I reached out, Well, I didn't reach out. I was always always trying to find somebody to like shadow him, you know, to spend more like more like a therapeutic you know, like physically, mentally education why everything. So um, I found this young man, this young guy that actually does this. This is what he's studied. He's like a behavioral therapist. So he's like shadowing him and like you know right now, he's with him every day from four to six hours. So you know he's doing that a lot because you know, I'm very busy. And then again there was the guilt. I feel guilty like, oh my god, I have him here with me when he should do something else. So you know, yeah, I mean that's true too. And you know, thank God to like falling in love with Todd and having it. You know, he's helped me realize that, you know, I need time for myself too, and that you know, I and you know your children you know, find their way, you know, I mean eventually, you know they do. You know it's up to us to be here obviously and support them and you guide them. But you know, at the of the day, you know, we need to teach them to go and be happy. You know, Frankie's case is a little different. Obviously, he'll always be here with me, but um, you know, I'm trying to make him as independent as he can and as and as happy as as he can. And he's a happy kid. So we're blessed with that because you know, a lot of brain injuries, um, they're they're they're angry, they're frustrated. You know, they can't express themselves. So you know, with Frankie, it was a total blessing because he's he's an angel. He's always happy, and he's always happy. Yeah, and the for real like a time and you're not, he looks at you, he can kind of like feel it and he'll tell you, weren't you happy? Like look at me, I'm alive, So like what are you complaining about? You know what I mean? Look at me and I'm super happy, right do you really have gone through so much and people just just love you for your strength and and you had to reschedule your wedding because I did, your mother passed away and I'm so sorry. I'm like literally him back the tears right now, but I'm so sorry. Yeah, it was really the fird time in my life besides everything that was going on. Um, and I got COVID and um right after a few weeks later. You know, my mother got COVID and you know, she she didn't make it and she passed away on my wedding day. So that was like, but you went on to get married a few months later, right, we did say was trying to get married? Thank you? Um, Like I said, I mean, it's always like I have to. I was like, get know if you feel this way, but I always have to fight so much for like happiness and like to be in a good place. Yeah, right, you have to. Yeah, I'm afraid to even be so happy because I'm like, oh my god, Okay, this is not supposed to happen to me, like and if it does. That's what I said to a therapist once I go I'm afraid to be happy about things because I feel like it's going to be ripped out from underneath me any minute now. And then also I tend to not try to get attached to anything because I just feel like it's going to be gone. So it's you know, I feel the same thing like you. So because of that, and you know, and and it's a it's a hard way to live like that. It's not a good way to live because it takes away from the moment, you know, happiness, Like I'm short right that we don't want to feel that. So I'm working a lot on that on my own. I do need a therapist as well, probably, but you know, it's something again that you have to do on your own. I'm like, okay, like just black that out and just try to be But then things like this happened, and you're like, god, right, But right after my mom passed away, Todd's father had a stroke. A lot of people don't know that because you know, it's very private and we weren't filming obviously. Jeez. Yes, can you imagine after tam Ron he had a stroke and he didn't make it, but we lost his father. I adored Todd's father. He was you know, they have a lot of similarities. It was an amazing man and and and so nothing. So this was like what our years been like. So we really wanted to make it a point to have like a happy moment before the year was over and you know, to finally you know, get married. That that's what we always wanted. This is what we've been trying to do since two thousand nineteen and um, so we finally had that moment December sixteen, we eloped. You know, we told the family before, but you know, we kind of be looped at our own. We said we want no kids, we want no family, no friends. Marison was trying to speak in and come and it's like, no, sorry, so you didn't film it and wasn't We're not going to see it on the show. Uh you might. I mean I feel like you guys filmed it yourself and you can give them up. Yeah, and we probably you know, you're probably like I feel like the viewers need to see that. If the viewers are rooting for us, I need to see it. Yes, it doesn't take it the footage. Yeah, no, I I agree. You know what I mean. It's like, you know, people see this and you know it's been such a top two years, not only for myself. I'm not complaining like I'm grateful honestly, because you know what, I accept things. I always think there's a reason for it, you know. I try to learn the lesson. I move on. I don't live on the past, because if not, I can't move forward. I really need the present. I don't even worry about to forget about it, so I don't do that. So I feel like the viewers, you know, are seeing all this and like they're really you know, praying and rooting for us, and they want to see a happy moment. And I also wanted that happy moment to todday and night. That's what we always wanted. So, you know, we we finally got married in same guards, just him and I and and it's been great since then. I feel like I needed to sign the paper, right, Yeah, I feel married life is amazing. Yeah it is. I mean, we've been living together for a long time now, and we've been together for five years. But you know, I think that psychologically, you know, it did something for us as a couple, you know what I mean. I feel like, you know, I don't know really how to put it in words, but it makes you have to split assets now, just kidding. You guys are beautiful, absolutely beautiful couple. I'd have to say, so, Um, Gertie didn't plan your your wedding. Well, Gertie's an amazing event planner and wedding planner. As I was very you know, grateful to have her. So you'll see a little bit of that. But you know, this is remember this is a reality show, and you know more than anybody like you know, you know what it started and what it ended up. It was two different things. You know. I was supposed to have the perfect fairytale wedding, you know, and you know when we started doing this whole thing and and then it turned into that that was like my reality. You know? Did I like it? That? I want to know? But this is what what you see is like what you've got. That's what I'm trying to say. So you know, moving forward, we do want to celebrate, you know. Yeah, I just gonna ask my next question, are you gonna have a party? Um? We are, we are because we were supposed to get married in this beautiful yacht um here in Miami and the Sea Fair yacht, so we have that there obviously, but we were waiting you know, for like to come back for the year to start, and then you need to pick like a good day. We have to have all our friends and family and just make it a big party. I mean, you know, this is my third marriage. It's taught second marriage. You know, we're in a different stage in our life. You know, it's not really about the you know, the nonsense of like the first time wedding. You know that you want everything to be perfect and you want all that. For me, it's just like I want my friends to be there, and you're invited, Yeah, I want to go. I want to go. And this is this is my third wedding and my husband's second wedding as well. So and I'm telling you a third time's a charm. It's it's just an amazing thing, right. I think it's like a different time in our lives, right, Like as women, we really know what we want, what didn't work before, we're trying, you know, we fixed it or we're like sometimes it takes this girls a while to figure out what the hell we want. I agree. And also so for real, I really think that you know, maybe we would have met at a different time in our life. It wouldn't have worked out, but now this is like, you know, it's like we met each other's match. It's kind of like a mismatch. He's my match, like we belong together, and you know it will be like I mean, I will I will say you guys would have made beautiful babies that I know that I'm gonna miss. Yeah, that will always say like, oh, our kids would have been this and that, But no, you and I are exactly the same age. Yes, yeah, so yep, fifty four. Yes, oh my god, you look amazing, so do you. We're changing things, alexey, I'm making fifty the new thirty five with our wisdom right there and our blonde hair. Yes, yeah, it's all the blonde hair. You just have to haven't you noticed that all the women when they turn like a certain age, they're all blonde people blonde all our lives. It's easier to hind the grade. Um, would you guys start filming again? Do you know they haven't told us because you know, they're very quiet about that about and then she sees, you know, if there's even a new season. We don't know that. I mean, come on, yeah, I mean we're hoping that it will be because it's been pretty amazing, so I'm sure you'll start soon. So out of all the ladies on the show, um, who do you get along the best with? And I'd have to tell you we need to talk about Nicole because I really like her, and I don't like what's happening right now. I know, I know, I saw that you liked her by the way, you know, and I liked her too. I mean you liked her, liked her. You don't even like her anymore? No, no, I said, no, I do. I continue to like her because her you know, you know what this is what happened to me with Nicole, Like I kind of like brought her into the group and we had like you know, lunches issues and my birthday. We we even went out, like you know, with her with her husband and with my well, with her and fiance now because they're engaged, you know, we've all gone out as couples. Everything was great. But and you could probably ug this because you've been part of the show. Then when she showed up to film, it was like a different person. And I was like, okay, like I had one of those. I had one of those. So yeah, so that's frustrating. It is frustrating. And it's not that I wanted her to be like my best friend, my new best friend, because I'm not looking for any more friends. But I just thought that it was really like sneaky of her. I just think she's like a sneaky person, and she did it like in a way that I didn't like, you know, And I always thought that I was I have because I like her, like who she is, I like what she represents. I mean, she would totally be my friend all day long, and but I started seeing things of her that I didn't like. And you know, unfortunately we never got to really have a conversation like on camera. So you know, sometimes when you don't clear things, you know, it just becomes worse and worse. And I think that that's just like what happened. Are we going to see some of her sneakiness coming up. There's just a lot of talk. I mean, it's just like I knew her differently, you know what I mean. I feel like some women when you know them differently, And Marathon Marison is going full forth. She's like you you're sneaky, You're this so well. The thing is that you know my m s smalltel just like I'm sure like everybody kind knows each other when you're like in a certain group. So um, So Marison knew a lot of things about her, and I always suck up for her, by the way, like between that when we were filming like before that, so I was like, you know what, Marison, I don't care what you say about her, Like I like, oh, you're so naive, You're gonna see her true colors and all that. And I was like, Okay, I don't really care about that, but I know her this way. But then in the Hampton's she supposedly attacked me. I mean, I was so tired, I was so like going through so many things that I don't really care about the room. I don't really care about anything. I just wanted to like sort things out and put my bags down. And for whatever reason, she decided to like attack me, saying that you know, I was being you know, aggressive, and I was being loud, and I didn't think you were being aggressive at all. No, I was, for the record, you were. I was like, where did this come from? So the Marissos like, you see, that's exactly what I'm telling you. You think she's your friend? And look at her attacking you. I was like, you know what, I honestly, I just wanted to I really wanted to cry because it was so you did cry. I did you did? You see? Because I kin'd even because I was like, you know, how hard it took me to be here, like to plan for me to go away with the girls for a couple of days. I'm leaving my family, franking, my husband, my business that's so our year, like you know, like to find help. So like I do all this stuff. I just want to have a fun time with the girls and get drunk and be silly. And then they're fighting about a room or like the other one. Nicole, like you know, like just decides to attack me because she thinks I'm being aggressive, which again I think, you know, I think like some of the new girls, like they want to have their moment. And you know that because my sitting with Nicole. Yeah, I was sitting with Nicole telling her like, you know, we're talking about her dad, and I was telling her, listen, you know, like you know our parents are older now, you know you have to forget the things they did, just you know, think about the good positive things. I think that you do need to like fix things with your dad. I was giving her great advice, you know, as a friend, as a woman, as a daughter, as somebody that's gone through that, and then we land there and she attacked me like that. So Marisa was like, you're an idiot, and I was like, well, you know that's how I am. You know, I'll have my moment with her, but we never kind of did. So it's kind of that's why I still I'm still not well. That's what makes the show so good is that you guys have conflict, you have issues, and it's all played out on TV. I like every single one of you girls. I think you're all amazing. I love the houses. I talk about your garage up. I'm like, oh my, I'm so your car literally comes into your living room. Yes it does, it's right there. I don't know if you see them. I do. That is I've never seen anything like that ever, and I thought I've seen at all, not even in the de Breau Chateau. Now the same developers making a second building. It's just amazing. Um, I have a couple I know you've got to go, but I have a couple of fan questions that they how do you stay so positive with everything you've gone through? You're so inspirational? Thank you? Um. So, you know, I think it's something that I've always had, even like as a little girl. You know that I you know, whatever I was going through, you know, as as a younger girl. You know, I always create. You know, I always like wrote things down to the journal and and I always found like my own inner peace. Like I it's like the strength and this piece that I have and that I'm grateful. I don't know how I have it. I don't want to say, you know, I have a lot of misfortune, but I feel like that's been one of my fortunes, you know what. I need to have this ability for me, for me to be able to handle all these things and still be positive, have a smile, be hopeful, be happy. So I I, like I said, it's just something in it in me. Now, are you happy that you reached out to herman's lover? And are you at peace with that? And did you have any idea? Okay, well those are three questions you could just blend it all in because I feel like they're right. Yeah, so answer what you want. I did not have any idea of his lover. I found out about his lover um after he passed away, because you know, like after you passed away, after you no longer here, you know, people want to talk. I feel like while he was alive, a lot of people knew about it, and there were rumors. Um. But you know, he was such a wonderful man and he was so loved in the community, so people like would protect him obviously and wouldn't say certain things. And then we're up. They thought that we're protecting me, which I find it very stupid, protecting me from what from my husband being bisexual. I don't think that's a thing, honestly, Like, I get it they're protecting me from something bad. But you know, I've never seen bisexuality or homosexuality as something bad ordgerous, so to me, I don't. I really didn't know why. But you know, obviously it's been six years, so I have you know, found out a lot of things, you know, like you do with time and with the person no longer being here. Um. So I remember like after Herman passed away that I did find a lot of these things out, and a lot of them are from his his children, by the way. Um. So at that moment, I wanted to reach out, you know, to this individual and just have like a heart to her conversation because he was the one really that was with him, you know, more time than with me. Even though we did work together, we were obviously separated, and so even though there was still like a connection, obviously it wasn't the same as you know, the person he was with. So at that moment, I wanted to do it right after that, and everybody's like, Alexia, you're not ready, you know psychologically, you know, emotionally, don't do that. It's gonna hurt you. You're not strong enough. So I kind of gave it something and said, you know what, you're right. You know I still have mixed emotions that may be angry. You know, I may do this wrong, and you know, I want this moment to be right right when I'm ready. So fast forward, you know, a couple of years passed by, and um, my friend Johnny, you know, is season around in places, so he's had a conversation with him and you know, they know about each other, and he said, you know what, this is my phone number. If I like said, everyone was to call me or talk to me. You know, I'm here for her because you know, I know, so he was already kind of trying as well. So when I'm talking to Marison and Johnny, I'm like, you know what, like would I be really weird? Like does it sound really weird if I told you that I would love to talk to like, you know, Herman's lover. And Marison thought it was weird. I would yeah, the marathon at first, and she was like, why would you want to do that? First? I know you, and you would do even more than that, right that my conversation with her, So stop, Okay, I know you. But second of all, Marisov didn't really understand at the moment when I said it. Why And I said, Marison, like I need to know, like I don't want to know about like I need to know that he was in a good place, Like I need to know that he was happy that he finally got to do was he you know what he wanted to do? That was he planning telling me? He was never gonna tell me, like his lover told me at that time, but like he was never going to tell you, Alexia, you respected you so much? And I said, yeah, so you know, a lot of these questions kind of like for like not to put closure obviously, you know if a put closure to my life. But at the same time, it was like it was a conversation where we both laughed at the same stories, we cried. You know, he told me things, I told him things. It was just perfect and at a perfect time. So in any way, it was like to make him look bad. But you know how it is camera. I mean like, okay, I'm saying it, but guess what, maybe America doesn't know about it, but all Miami does. So it's like everybody was saying it behind my back. Even that's what they tried to mention something like that, right, and you know they shut it down, but you know it's something that everybody knows. And again I'm focusing on the positive and on the good of it. Well, you definitely were graceful through the whole entire thing. I mean actually, everything that happens or comes up or comes your way. I just feel like you are just like Teflon. You're just like just slide off of me. I'm just gonna keep smiling and adjust my crown. You're amazed, and Alex say, I know that you have to go. Thank you so much for taking the time to come on to teas in a pod and um, I'm I want to come to your party in Miami. Yes, you definitely invite it. And when I'm in l A I'll call you so we can. Yes, I would love that. I would love that. Well, thank you so much and have a wonderful day. Thank you you as well, Tamara, thank you

Two Teas in a Pod with Teddy Mellencamp and Camera Jedge. Hi, guys, welcome to Two Teas in a Pod. I am Tamera Judge. I am flying so low today because the second tea to our twats is filming Celebrity Big Brother. We're super excited about that. But don't worry, We're gonna have some amazing U guest hosts in the next few weeks. I'm excited to introduce my guest today, a real housewife of Miami who just made it official. Alexia. Alexia, thank you so much. You the first Miami housewife we've had on two Teas, and you were the one we wanted first. I apologize because Teddy could not be here today and she's so bummed. But I don't know if you've heard, but she's doing Celebrity Big Brother. Yes, I'm so I'm so proud of her. I'm so happy for I don't know if I'm not happy, I'll tell you want with her am or not. But wow, that's like a big deal. I don't know that I could do it. What about you? I was just gonna ask you the same thing. Do you think you could do it? For one thing? I think would be really difficult because if you go the full way, you could be away from your family for like thirty days with no phone, no interaction, nothing. Yes, I I you know, I'm mentally very strong, but I don't think that I could do it. And I don't think my my family can be without me for thirty days. That's right, like not even thirty minutes pretty much. Yeah, say on opposite. I'm physically strong. I don't know if I'm just so mentally strong up there. Yes, but welcome back. We are so excited. Your season so far is so good. I know you just filmed the reunion and you probably can't tell us too much about that, but I want to take it back to the very beginning, like ten years ago when you first began. How did you get casted? Okay, so I got casted. I was actually the last one to get casted because I really didn't want to be part of the show. I need know much about the show. All I knew was really New Jersey and like Theresa flipping the table. That's like as much Housewife watched. But what I found really funny wasn't in Miami. Everybody that was watching would say like, oh my God, if the show ever comes to Miami, you definitely need to be on it, you know, like my friends that really knew me. And I was like, I don't see that happening. But so fast forward a few years later, you know, they started casting from Miami. Um. At the time, my son was also casting for another like reality show with kids, so um, I was dropping him off and apparently was like the same casting director. So they saw me and they're like, oh my god, we're also casting from Miami. Like do you think your mom would be interested? And he's like, no, my mom will be interested. And fast forward. His show never happened. The casting directors got to know me because I would drop him off and take him in the whole thing, and they were begging me to try out, and um, last minute, I said, you know what, a friend of mine called me actually, and she was the one that was really interested. She was a doctor, a dentist and it's not Karen Um somebody else. And UM, She's like, oh my god, please you have too like a company made or casting. And I said, if you're going to the Miami Housewife, think like they really want me to cast, So I don't think you want me there because I maybe taking your position, and you know, I ended up going with her. I sat down. I remember her telling me like, don't talk with your hands, and you know, like you know, being you know, dress conservative, you know. Yeah right, I'm like, okay, you apparently have now watched the show, right right. So she sat there. So I went in and everybody's like Peter's mom, Peter's mom, and I'm like, yeah, I'm here, and I'm like, what, my husband doesn't know that I'm doing this my family if nobody knew, it was just like me and her. So basically I sat down, I started talking with my hands. I said all the right things like my husband doesn't know I'm here, um, and all the crazy stuff that comes out of my mouth. And ten minutes later after my casting, I had a phone call saying like, we want to go to your house and when I made your family and the rest was history. So they came up with the next day. You know, my husband at that time never really supported it, that's the truth. Um, he never really wanted me to do the show. Um, so I pretty much like signed the agreement even like without his blessing. So yeah, but I did it, and eight years later, well ten years later, I'm here. I know we have some so many similarities and our life and I really relate to your storyline, which is um with your you know, blending of the family. I had the same situation, and I know that a lot of people that have been divorced and getting remarried with kids, you know, it's difficult. And I that that meeting that they'll sit down that you had with Todd and Peter and Frankie. I was almost crying because it took me back to when I was married to Simon and my oldest son Ryan, who was thirteen when we end up getting married, just did not click, and it would. It puts you in such a horrible sad spot that you're walking on eggshell So I I totally got that. Yeah, you know, I feel like like you. I feel like a lot of women you know, in the world, you know, on our streaming so they're watching us all over the world. So I feel like a lot of women are in that position, you know, and you know, we as a women, you know, you're in the middle between two people that you adore and are your life, and you're just like, you know, like very sad because you want to fix it, and really the only people that can fix it is them, you know. So you know they obviously have you know, and we got married and you know, but but it's tough, you know, especially I feel like when they were younger, I think it's easier. I mean I've always said that, you know, because again, you know, like my second husband, you know, he had older children. I had younger children, and it was easier, you know, to blench. And you know, our kids get along great, Like Todd has two beautiful girls. I don't mean you saw them on the show or not, which I participated very little, but you know, my kids love her. We all, you know, Frankie lives here, the girls live here, and you know, but you know, these shows are like that. You know, you obviously only saw that, you know, that side of our story. You know, we also have a lot of happy moments, and I want they don't want to show that part, right, so we you know, I just want you to keep that in mind. Obviously, you know, we obviously got through that. It was really difficult obviously, you know, to see you know, once it plays back, you know, when you're in the moment of it. Obviously it was horrendous. It was terrible. But then when you see it as well, you know, we cried seeing it as a family together. It was really hard to watch. But you know the good thing is that we noticed what we needed to do and like god, we we acted on. You know, we're like, okay, like this is really like myself. We need to fix this, you know. And you know, sometimes you have to get really uncomfortable in order to see results, right, But I think you were very brave to even put that out there. And the people other families that are going through it, we'll totally understand. Now, your son Peter reminds me of my son Ryan. A lot have gone through the same thing, same issues. We don't need to get into it, but um, it's very sweet kids. But you know, I was guilty of enabling him because I had him when I was barely eighteen. I was a single mom, I had no money. I had to give him to his dad for a little bit because I had couldn't support him, and so that affected him long term, and I always carried that guilt, you know, And then I got well, I feel like as a mother, term right, even if you do everything perfect and you're still married to the same man. And you know, you're like the home room mom and you do everything perfect. I think as a mom, if things don't turn how we would like them to turn out, or or we go through like different stages, we always want to blame ourselves. And you know, we live with this guilt. You know, it's like a women's thing. It's that we live with guilt. And I think even like me like being Latin, I feel like Latin women even more like I don't even know. It's it's just like crazy, it's like a continuous boot and you know we have to work on that ourselves because you know what we did the best that we could. And you know, kids don't come with a handbook. I mean, preventing is really hard. And then there's I wouldn't feel like yeah, I mean, genetics are play like a really big role. So there's so many, like other factors before people come in and judge, and you know, and they're saying, you know, I don't I just don't like the word enabler. You know, I think I get a little bit defensive, you know when they say I'm an enabler, because for me, an enabler is somebody that like encourages like negative and bad behavior. I agree, Yeah, so I'm not encouraging it for real because I know what's bad. I know what's you know, the difference between good and bad. But so I don't like that term. But I do recognize that. It's not that I enable it. It's just that I'm compassionate. I'm empathetic. I'm his mother. It's like this unconditional love then no matter what they do, and if we're not there for them, who else is going to be for them? Like we get today? You know, it's like just not okay with that. And you went through so much with the accident with Frankie. How is Frankie? He? I just love him to death and the way that if he would he here, he would be like talking to you, Oh, I want to talk to beautiful. I want to hang out with him. He is so sweet, so kind and always so supportive of you. And when you talk about things you want to talk about the way he's like, no, mom, like I die every single time. So how's he doing? He's doing good. I mean he lives here with us and does a matter of fact, now after like that scene that you guys saw, but you know, it was always like, you know, it's always like a my goal list, my my goal list, it's always my kids the priority. I'm like, got the last, my oldest. So by the time I get to me, I'm like, oh my god, I'm tired, like you know, how to work on everybody else? Right, So, um, after that, I reached out, Well, I didn't reach out. I was always always trying to find somebody to like shadow him, you know, to spend more like more like a therapeutic you know, like physically, mentally education why everything. So um, I found this young man, this young guy that actually does this. This is what he's studied. He's like a behavioral therapist. So he's like shadowing him and like you know right now, he's with him every day from four to six hours. So you know he's doing that a lot because you know, I'm very busy. And then again there was the guilt. I feel guilty like, oh my god, I have him here with me when he should do something else. So you know, yeah, I mean that's true too. And you know, thank God to like falling in love with Todd and having it. You know, he's helped me realize that, you know, I need time for myself too, and that you know, I and you know your children you know, find their way, you know, I mean eventually, you know they do. You know it's up to us to be here obviously and support them and you guide them. But you know, at the of the day, you know, we need to teach them to go and be happy. You know, Frankie's case is a little different. Obviously, he'll always be here with me, but um, you know, I'm trying to make him as independent as he can and as and as happy as as he can. And he's a happy kid. So we're blessed with that because you know, a lot of brain injuries, um, they're they're they're angry, they're frustrated. You know, they can't express themselves. So you know, with Frankie, it was a total blessing because he's he's an angel. He's always happy, and he's always happy. Yeah, and the for real like a time and you're not, he looks at you, he can kind of like feel it and he'll tell you, weren't you happy? Like look at me, I'm alive, So like what are you complaining about? You know what I mean? Look at me and I'm super happy, right do you really have gone through so much and people just just love you for your strength and and you had to reschedule your wedding because I did, your mother passed away and I'm so sorry. I'm like literally him back the tears right now, but I'm so sorry. Yeah, it was really the fird time in my life besides everything that was going on. Um, and I got COVID and um right after a few weeks later. You know, my mother got COVID and you know, she she didn't make it and she passed away on my wedding day. So that was like, but you went on to get married a few months later, right, we did say was trying to get married? Thank you? Um, Like I said, I mean, it's always like I have to. I was like, get know if you feel this way, but I always have to fight so much for like happiness and like to be in a good place. Yeah, right, you have to. Yeah, I'm afraid to even be so happy because I'm like, oh my god, Okay, this is not supposed to happen to me, like and if it does. That's what I said to a therapist once I go I'm afraid to be happy about things because I feel like it's going to be ripped out from underneath me any minute now. And then also I tend to not try to get attached to anything because I just feel like it's going to be gone. So it's you know, I feel the same thing like you. So because of that, and you know, and and it's a it's a hard way to live like that. It's not a good way to live because it takes away from the moment, you know, happiness, Like I'm short right that we don't want to feel that. So I'm working a lot on that on my own. I do need a therapist as well, probably, but you know, it's something again that you have to do on your own. I'm like, okay, like just black that out and just try to be But then things like this happened, and you're like, god, right, But right after my mom passed away, Todd's father had a stroke. A lot of people don't know that because you know, it's very private and we weren't filming obviously. Jeez. Yes, can you imagine after tam Ron he had a stroke and he didn't make it, but we lost his father. I adored Todd's father. He was you know, they have a lot of similarities. It was an amazing man and and and so nothing. So this was like what our years been like. So we really wanted to make it a point to have like a happy moment before the year was over and you know, to finally you know, get married. That that's what we always wanted. This is what we've been trying to do since two thousand nineteen and um, so we finally had that moment December sixteen, we eloped. You know, we told the family before, but you know, we kind of be looped at our own. We said we want no kids, we want no family, no friends. Marison was trying to speak in and come and it's like, no, sorry, so you didn't film it and wasn't We're not going to see it on the show. Uh you might. I mean I feel like you guys filmed it yourself and you can give them up. Yeah, and we probably you know, you're probably like I feel like the viewers need to see that. If the viewers are rooting for us, I need to see it. Yes, it doesn't take it the footage. Yeah, no, I I agree. You know what I mean. It's like, you know, people see this and you know it's been such a top two years, not only for myself. I'm not complaining like I'm grateful honestly, because you know what, I accept things. I always think there's a reason for it, you know. I try to learn the lesson. I move on. I don't live on the past, because if not, I can't move forward. I really need the present. I don't even worry about to forget about it, so I don't do that. So I feel like the viewers, you know, are seeing all this and like they're really you know, praying and rooting for us, and they want to see a happy moment. And I also wanted that happy moment to todday and night. That's what we always wanted. So, you know, we we finally got married in same guards, just him and I and and it's been great since then. I feel like I needed to sign the paper, right, Yeah, I feel married life is amazing. Yeah it is. I mean, we've been living together for a long time now, and we've been together for five years. But you know, I think that psychologically, you know, it did something for us as a couple, you know what I mean. I feel like, you know, I don't know really how to put it in words, but it makes you have to split assets now, just kidding. You guys are beautiful, absolutely beautiful couple. I'd have to say, so, Um, Gertie didn't plan your your wedding. Well, Gertie's an amazing event planner and wedding planner. As I was very you know, grateful to have her. So you'll see a little bit of that. But you know, this is remember this is a reality show, and you know more than anybody like you know, you know what it started and what it ended up. It was two different things. You know. I was supposed to have the perfect fairytale wedding, you know, and you know when we started doing this whole thing and and then it turned into that that was like my reality. You know? Did I like it? That? I want to know? But this is what what you see is like what you've got. That's what I'm trying to say. So you know, moving forward, we do want to celebrate, you know. Yeah, I just gonna ask my next question, are you gonna have a party? Um? We are, we are because we were supposed to get married in this beautiful yacht um here in Miami and the Sea Fair yacht, so we have that there obviously, but we were waiting you know, for like to come back for the year to start, and then you need to pick like a good day. We have to have all our friends and family and just make it a big party. I mean, you know, this is my third marriage. It's taught second marriage. You know, we're in a different stage in our life. You know, it's not really about the you know, the nonsense of like the first time wedding. You know that you want everything to be perfect and you want all that. For me, it's just like I want my friends to be there, and you're invited, Yeah, I want to go. I want to go. And this is this is my third wedding and my husband's second wedding as well. So and I'm telling you a third time's a charm. It's it's just an amazing thing, right. I think it's like a different time in our lives, right, Like as women, we really know what we want, what didn't work before, we're trying, you know, we fixed it or we're like sometimes it takes this girls a while to figure out what the hell we want. I agree. And also so for real, I really think that you know, maybe we would have met at a different time in our life. It wouldn't have worked out, but now this is like, you know, it's like we met each other's match. It's kind of like a mismatch. He's my match, like we belong together, and you know it will be like I mean, I will I will say you guys would have made beautiful babies that I know that I'm gonna miss. Yeah, that will always say like, oh, our kids would have been this and that, But no, you and I are exactly the same age. Yes, yeah, so yep, fifty four. Yes, oh my god, you look amazing, so do you. We're changing things, alexey, I'm making fifty the new thirty five with our wisdom right there and our blonde hair. Yes, yeah, it's all the blonde hair. You just have to haven't you noticed that all the women when they turn like a certain age, they're all blonde people blonde all our lives. It's easier to hind the grade. Um, would you guys start filming again? Do you know they haven't told us because you know, they're very quiet about that about and then she sees, you know, if there's even a new season. We don't know that. I mean, come on, yeah, I mean we're hoping that it will be because it's been pretty amazing, so I'm sure you'll start soon. So out of all the ladies on the show, um, who do you get along the best with? And I'd have to tell you we need to talk about Nicole because I really like her, and I don't like what's happening right now. I know, I know, I saw that you liked her by the way, you know, and I liked her too. I mean you liked her, liked her. You don't even like her anymore? No, no, I said, no, I do. I continue to like her because her you know, you know what this is what happened to me with Nicole, Like I kind of like brought her into the group and we had like you know, lunches issues and my birthday. We we even went out, like you know, with her with her husband and with my well, with her and fiance now because they're engaged, you know, we've all gone out as couples. Everything was great. But and you could probably ug this because you've been part of the show. Then when she showed up to film, it was like a different person. And I was like, okay, like I had one of those. I had one of those. So yeah, so that's frustrating. It is frustrating. And it's not that I wanted her to be like my best friend, my new best friend, because I'm not looking for any more friends. But I just thought that it was really like sneaky of her. I just think she's like a sneaky person, and she did it like in a way that I didn't like, you know, And I always thought that I was I have because I like her, like who she is, I like what she represents. I mean, she would totally be my friend all day long, and but I started seeing things of her that I didn't like. And you know, unfortunately we never got to really have a conversation like on camera. So you know, sometimes when you don't clear things, you know, it just becomes worse and worse. And I think that that's just like what happened. Are we going to see some of her sneakiness coming up. There's just a lot of talk. I mean, it's just like I knew her differently, you know what I mean. I feel like some women when you know them differently, And Marathon Marison is going full forth. She's like you you're sneaky, You're this so well. The thing is that you know my m s smalltel just like I'm sure like everybody kind knows each other when you're like in a certain group. So um, So Marison knew a lot of things about her, and I always suck up for her, by the way, like between that when we were filming like before that, so I was like, you know what, Marison, I don't care what you say about her, Like I like, oh, you're so naive, You're gonna see her true colors and all that. And I was like, Okay, I don't really care about that, but I know her this way. But then in the Hampton's she supposedly attacked me. I mean, I was so tired, I was so like going through so many things that I don't really care about the room. I don't really care about anything. I just wanted to like sort things out and put my bags down. And for whatever reason, she decided to like attack me, saying that you know, I was being you know, aggressive, and I was being loud, and I didn't think you were being aggressive at all. No, I was, for the record, you were. I was like, where did this come from? So the Marissos like, you see, that's exactly what I'm telling you. You think she's your friend? And look at her attacking you. I was like, you know what, I honestly, I just wanted to I really wanted to cry because it was so you did cry. I did you did? You see? Because I kin'd even because I was like, you know, how hard it took me to be here, like to plan for me to go away with the girls for a couple of days. I'm leaving my family, franking, my husband, my business that's so our year, like you know, like to find help. So like I do all this stuff. I just want to have a fun time with the girls and get drunk and be silly. And then they're fighting about a room or like the other one. Nicole, like you know, like just decides to attack me because she thinks I'm being aggressive, which again I think, you know, I think like some of the new girls, like they want to have their moment. And you know that because my sitting with Nicole. Yeah, I was sitting with Nicole telling her like, you know, we're talking about her dad, and I was telling her, listen, you know, like you know our parents are older now, you know you have to forget the things they did, just you know, think about the good positive things. I think that you do need to like fix things with your dad. I was giving her great advice, you know, as a friend, as a woman, as a daughter, as somebody that's gone through that, and then we land there and she attacked me like that. So Marisa was like, you're an idiot, and I was like, well, you know that's how I am. You know, I'll have my moment with her, but we never kind of did. So it's kind of that's why I still I'm still not well. That's what makes the show so good is that you guys have conflict, you have issues, and it's all played out on TV. I like every single one of you girls. I think you're all amazing. I love the houses. I talk about your garage up. I'm like, oh my, I'm so your car literally comes into your living room. Yes it does, it's right there. I don't know if you see them. I do. That is I've never seen anything like that ever, and I thought I've seen at all, not even in the de Breau Chateau. Now the same developers making a second building. It's just amazing. Um, I have a couple I know you've got to go, but I have a couple of fan questions that they how do you stay so positive with everything you've gone through? You're so inspirational? Thank you? Um. So, you know, I think it's something that I've always had, even like as a little girl. You know that I you know, whatever I was going through, you know, as as a younger girl. You know, I always create. You know, I always like wrote things down to the journal and and I always found like my own inner peace. Like I it's like the strength and this piece that I have and that I'm grateful. I don't know how I have it. I don't want to say, you know, I have a lot of misfortune, but I feel like that's been one of my fortunes, you know what. I need to have this ability for me, for me to be able to handle all these things and still be positive, have a smile, be hopeful, be happy. So I I, like I said, it's just something in it in me. Now, are you happy that you reached out to herman's lover? And are you at peace with that? And did you have any idea? Okay, well those are three questions you could just blend it all in because I feel like they're right. Yeah, so answer what you want. I did not have any idea of his lover. I found out about his lover um after he passed away, because you know, like after you passed away, after you no longer here, you know, people want to talk. I feel like while he was alive, a lot of people knew about it, and there were rumors. Um. But you know, he was such a wonderful man and he was so loved in the community, so people like would protect him obviously and wouldn't say certain things. And then we're up. They thought that we're protecting me, which I find it very stupid, protecting me from what from my husband being bisexual. I don't think that's a thing, honestly, Like, I get it they're protecting me from something bad. But you know, I've never seen bisexuality or homosexuality as something bad ordgerous, so to me, I don't. I really didn't know why. But you know, obviously it's been six years, so I have you know, found out a lot of things, you know, like you do with time and with the person no longer being here. Um. So I remember like after Herman passed away that I did find a lot of these things out, and a lot of them are from his his children, by the way. Um. So at that moment, I wanted to reach out, you know, to this individual and just have like a heart to her conversation because he was the one really that was with him, you know, more time than with me. Even though we did work together, we were obviously separated, and so even though there was still like a connection, obviously it wasn't the same as you know, the person he was with. So at that moment, I wanted to do it right after that, and everybody's like, Alexia, you're not ready, you know psychologically, you know, emotionally, don't do that. It's gonna hurt you. You're not strong enough. So I kind of gave it something and said, you know what, you're right. You know I still have mixed emotions that may be angry. You know, I may do this wrong, and you know, I want this moment to be right right when I'm ready. So fast forward, you know, a couple of years passed by, and um, my friend Johnny, you know, is season around in places, so he's had a conversation with him and you know, they know about each other, and he said, you know what, this is my phone number. If I like said, everyone was to call me or talk to me. You know, I'm here for her because you know, I know, so he was already kind of trying as well. So when I'm talking to Marison and Johnny, I'm like, you know what, like would I be really weird? Like does it sound really weird if I told you that I would love to talk to like, you know, Herman's lover. And Marison thought it was weird. I would yeah, the marathon at first, and she was like, why would you want to do that? First? I know you, and you would do even more than that, right that my conversation with her, So stop, Okay, I know you. But second of all, Marisov didn't really understand at the moment when I said it. Why And I said, Marison, like I need to know, like I don't want to know about like I need to know that he was in a good place, Like I need to know that he was happy that he finally got to do was he you know what he wanted to do? That was he planning telling me? He was never gonna tell me, like his lover told me at that time, but like he was never going to tell you, Alexia, you respected you so much? And I said, yeah, so you know, a lot of these questions kind of like for like not to put closure obviously, you know if a put closure to my life. But at the same time, it was like it was a conversation where we both laughed at the same stories, we cried. You know, he told me things, I told him things. It was just perfect and at a perfect time. So in any way, it was like to make him look bad. But you know how it is camera. I mean like, okay, I'm saying it, but guess what, maybe America doesn't know about it, but all Miami does. So it's like everybody was saying it behind my back. Even that's what they tried to mention something like that, right, and you know they shut it down, but you know it's something that everybody knows. And again I'm focusing on the positive and on the good of it. Well, you definitely were graceful through the whole entire thing. I mean actually, everything that happens or comes up or comes your way. I just feel like you are just like Teflon. You're just like just slide off of me. I'm just gonna keep smiling and adjust my crown. You're amazed, and Alex say, I know that you have to go. Thank you so much for taking the time to come on to teas in a pod and um, I'm I want to come to your party in Miami. Yes, you definitely invite it. And when I'm in l A I'll call you so we can. Yes, I would love that. I would love that. Well, thank you so much and have a wonderful day. Thank you you as well, Tamara, thank you