Lauren LaRosa (2:40)
What's up? It's Lauren the Rosa. And this is another episode of the latest with Lauren the Rosa. This is your daily dose of all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Alrighty, y'. All. So let's get right on into checking in behind the scenes of the grind. So today, checking in behind the scenes of the grind, I am still feeling the love from the Brown style magazine feature. I did some photos with the COVID of the magazine over on my Instagram. Lauren the Rosa everywhere, if you aren't following me already. But I did want to just take a minute to talk a little bit about one of the articles that was in the magazine. Now, there were a ton of amazing writers and creators that helped put this magazine together. And there was an article in the magazine, and it was all about, like, finding yourself outside of your work and, like, you know, as you get older, realizing that, like, trying to figure out work in life isn't your life purpose. So Vanessa Simmons, the sister of Angela Simmons, was a guest contributor in this issue of Brown Style magazine. The magazine that I was a part of or that I was the COVID star for. This month during Women's History Month, featured Vanessa Simmons in. In a. Like, a hundred other women in media that you should know. And the crazy thing about the conversation that she was having was that this is a conversation that I have, like, almost daily with my boyfriend and, you know, just kind of with myself a little bit because I'm starting to, you know, like, now that I'm getting older and I'm establishing career and, you know, I'm. I'm. I'm understanding where and how I want things to fall in line and fall in place. It's like I have a bit more, not a lot, because, you know, I'm still new at this and everything is, you know, being established, but I have a bit more time to really like, to really just, I don't know, think about what is life like outside of being at work. And I know it sounds crazy to y', all maybe that it. That it's kind of crazy to me to have even thought about that because it's like, I feel like in order to have such a full life, you're a person who does a lot. You work, you have friends, you have family. You try just do so much things right. And I've always been a person with a very full life. A lot of Friends, a lot of experiences, all of the things. But what I begin to realize in my adult life is that. And it's not even just in my adult life, in my adult life, as I begin to really care about having a balanced life. Like in the last episode of the Latest with Lauren LaRosa, please go check it out if you have not. I talked to you guys a bit about like praise, worship, taking control of your day. And all of that was just mental exercises and faith and spiritual based exercises to help feel balanced. But there's also things in a physical that you do to help yourself stay balanced that I've never really prioritized because it's always been about, I need to do this, I need to get this done. I only got but so much time in a window. And I still feel like all of that is true. My industry and what I do is very out of sight, out of mind. But a part of me now understands that, like the total, I just understand the totality better. Like, okay, you go take a walk three days out the week and just learn to take a break. That doesn't stop your work. It actually makes you stronger and show up stronger because you're able to be more present. Things like that. So Vanessa Simmons was having a conversation in Brown Style magazine, which is the magazine I was the COVID star of this month. And they did a whole feature, whole write up on me as well too. You could check that out at Brown Style. Just, you know, she said she was with her man's side of the family and somebody asked her, like, what do you like to do? And like, as a hobby? And she couldn't answer the question. And I remember, like, there's been so many times, even in interviews, even in that interview, because the tagline of my cover story feature was the Brown girl who's always on her grind and how to live a soft life. So, you know, even in that interview, they, they were asking me a lot about like, things outside of work. And I'm like, I don't really have. Like, I work, I love my family, you know, hanging with friends and honestly just sleep and not answer my phone when I'm not at work. That was like one of my, like, things that kind of stuck with me. It's like I don't really have things that just helped me be balanced. Like this whole living a balanced life thing is so new for me. Vanessa Simmons talked a lot about, you know, even at her age, I'm 34, she's older than me. I told you guys, she's the Older sister to Angela Simmons. How she is still figuring that out? She says she tried a bunch of different things. Pole dancing, classes, nascar, like. Like, racing, driving. Just so many different things. Walks in the park. Then she finally did a paint and sip class. Not even a class. She did a paint and sip, just, like, you know, for a birthday or something like that. And she just loved the stillness that she had when she was painting. And that has become something that now she does outside of being a mom and work and just to have her life be balanced. So behind the scenes of the grind, like, my mind. That's where my mind is today. Like, I mean, I know I don't have, like, my window is different, right? Like, during the. Especially during the week, like, I am doing so much to just stay up to beat and on the beat. Trending news and breaking news is very much that you gotta be on the beat. But at the same time, like, now, I'm trying to figure out, like, in those few moments during the week and those big moments on the weekend, how can I do things that help me to disconnect? And I think I've been doing pretty good about it. And not feeling guilty, that's the biggest thing is, like, the guilt feelings. So when I'm home with family, not feeling guilty that I'm not watching my phone, watching every movement on Twitter and Instagram and on the dot coms and the media. And then when I'm at work, not feeling guilty that I'm not taking more time for myself or family, doing things like going to bed early on nights where I feel tired, which is something I would never do because I would just always be so nervous and I'm not gonna be prepared. Doing those small things like that have been kind of like, just the small steps that I'm taking to kind of learn and understand balance. Taking a Sunday where I'm like, all right, the first few hours of the day, I dedicate to, like, breakfast or, you know, like, waking up with bae, like, just honestly spending some time just doing nothing, church on a routine, it just feels good. Then once you hop it back into work and prepare for that Monday. So, you know, those are some things that I'm thinking about in, you know, just figuring out. And I've never even thought about stuff, like, because I'm not an athlete, you know, but, like, even, like, things that just get you, like, physically moving as you get older are important. And the other day when I was reading the magazine, I was in the hair salon, I was reading it, and I was like, you Know what? Because I do enjoy, like, being outside, being in, like, I love walks. I love, like, that's one thing I loved about la was being able to just go to the beach and sit and walk, you know, be in nature. Because I do love that. And I feel the replenishment of it. I'm like, yo, what if. What if we did, like, bike riding? Which is easy to say in New York as it warms up, but it's like when it gets freezing cold outside, girl, what are you going to do? But I'm figuring it out, y', all, one day at a time. I'm figuring it out. I'm just proud of myself for even thinking about stuff like this. Like, I remember Taylor, who works for Black Effect. Taylor made it. She said to me one time, we were having a conversation, and I couldn't really answer her when she asked me, asked me, what do I do to kind of, like, take a break? And she was like, you know, for herself, because she's a new mom. She's editing, you know, the latest with Lauren, the podcast Brilliant Idiots, which is with Charlamagne and Andrew Scholten, you know, so many other Black Effect podcasts. She was like, girl, sometimes it's something that small is just dedicating my, like, 20 minutes to myself to do my night routine, wash my face, be in the mirror, put my skin moisturizer on, play my music, like, 20 minutes. And it does so much more for me as I rest that night in the following morning. So to behind the scenes, to grind. Today I'm. I'm thinking more about what is the totality of everything and how can I show up, like, in a way that is full, like, you know, at what I'm doing at work, but also, like, dedicating that same time and energy to, like, showing up for myself outside of it all. So, yeah, now let's get on into the latest. So speaking of. Hey, y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa, and, you know, I give you your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. And for me to give you all the factual content when I get into the details, I gotta make some phone calls. I'm calling lawyers, attorneys, managers, publicists. Shoot, I'll even call your mama if she's the person that's gonna give me the exclusive I need. But did you know that 2026 will mark the 150th anniversary of the first ever phone call? It took place on March 10, 1876. And from the call that sparked it all to the first long distance phone lines, the first line across America, the first line across the Atlantic, the first round the world call, the first commercial cell Service, the first 911 system. AT&T has been connecting people for 150 years in so many different ways. I'm just happy that somebody's gonna answer the phone because how else would I bring y' all the news all up in the people business, but they enter. Thank you AT&T. Connecting changes everything. AT&T.