SPEAKER_00 0:05

Hi, friend, and welcome to the Dreamers Podcast, the show where we explore bold dreams, highlight inspiring stories, and the real journeys behind them. I'm your host, Lydia Ingenieri, and each episode I sit down with creators, founders, visionaries, and everyday people who dared to imagine more and did something about it. This isn't just about success. It's about the setbacks, the turning points, the late nights, and those moments when quitting felt easier than continuing. So whether you're building something new, standing at a crossroads, or simply searching for inspiration, you're in the right place. So take a breath, lean in, and let yourself dream a little bigger. This is the Dreamers Podcast. Thank you for tuning in. Whether you're listening on Spotify or Apple or watching on YouTube, I am just so grateful that you've chosen to spend some time with me and my special guest today. And let me tell you what, I am so excited about my guest today. I have the incredible Mila Martinico in the studio, in the house, and we get to talk today, all things, Mila, all things that she is presently doing. We're gonna hear her story, we're gonna talk about her family, we're gonna talk about her business, which around these parts of Middle Tennessee is a thing, let me tell you. And uh I'm just so sad that it took me as many years as it did to actually make it down to Mila's, but once I did, I've been hooked for the last several years. Our family goes all the time to Mama Mila's in Columbia. But today is gonna be such a great conversation. Mila, thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. So excited. So excited. Um, as I do with all of my guests, I just like to start at the beginning. And so I would like to invite you to just share with us your beginnings, your story. How did all of this start for you?

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Okay, first I want to say thank you guys for coming in all the time. Oh, you're and supporting the restaurant. Like so welcome, you know, you're becoming an OG customer. Yes. Now we're there a lot. Yes. I'm so grateful. All your work. Um okay, so I think the most important thing is that I am the eldest of everybody. Okay. Which I think has a special calling. Yeah. Um, and my mom was a single mom. And my dad was like in and out of my life here and there. And um, but we live next door to my non and non no. And they were immigrants.

SPEAKER_03 3:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

And so it's so funny because I get a lot of flack from my family members because like you'll always see them on the comments because they're always like the passive aggressive comments. I'm like, I don't know why I have to fight the people who are related to me.

SPEAKER_00 3:14

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

Um, but um, they're always like, why do you say like you have a first generation upbringing? And it's like, well, I didn't have like grandparents, I had three parents, you know. So I got the old school Italian like upgrade, upbringing. Yeah. And um, my grandparents were tailors, and when they um when they retired, they literally remodeled the tailor shop into the restaurant.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 3:44

And so I grew up in my family's restaurant, and it was not a fun time. Uh it was not a fun time at all because we had no life.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

And so, um, you know, no vacations. We had one vacation a year, and it was at my nonnu's birthday, which was the fourth of July, and we got four days off. Okay. And so I think that especially with my grandparents just recently like passing away in the last, well, I think it's been like six or seven years now for my nonna, but um, my nonnu last year. I think it just really drove home for me how important you know, family time is. Yes. And how I feel kind of gypped out on that because the restaurant just was so much. So um, so yeah, so all of that, I was really, I've think I've been fat my whole life. Like I for real though, like, and so I was put on my first diet when I was six. And so, like wait, put on a diet. Put on a diet when I was six. Yeah. Wow, okay, that's a lot. So it was a lot, and I've been on every single diet you can think of, like Jenny Craig, Lindor, Weight Watchers, like every single one. Yeah, and so um a lot of my childhood was spent thinking that I wasn't good enough and that there was something wrong with me, and then being bullied. And of course, I was, you know, on a scholarship at the Lutheran school. Okay. And so, because my mom was a single mom and she had a sandwich shop called Mama Mia's. Okay. And yeah, and so I spent really once I was homeschooled, I was working at the sandwich shop during the day, and then we'd go to the restaurant at night.

unknown 5:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

And I started working when I was nine. Wow. And I don't know, I think it's just the Italian work ethic. Yeah. You know, and then I met my husband when I got a second job at Starbucks. Okay. When I was, I think I turned 17 the first two weeks of working there. Okay. And I met Matteo my first day. Wow. And did he work there? Or was he? He worked there. He worked there. Yeah. In fact, my first day was on Halloween, and I was like a little cat, like I had leopard ears and I drew little whiskers. And I drove my 55 Chevy because that was my car, my daily driver. Yeah, you'll see it parked in front of my house. Oh my godness. I saved up for it since I was five. Yeah. Yeah. I was like, okay, I saw three, which is not appropriate for a five-year-old. That is hilarious. And I saved up for my car and like I drove it, and he was like, Whose car is out there? Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00 6:31

Okay, now that's a good way to get a boyfriend, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 6:34

Yeah. And so I just kind of bullied him into liking me, I think. Because I was like, ooh, he's Italian. He's got all this chops.

SPEAKER_00 6:42

I was gonna say his name is Matteo. Yeah. Okay. So you like immediately were drawn to him. Yes. Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:49

And um, it's funny because when I was 15, I felt like the Lord told me to write out everything I wanted in a husband.

SPEAKER_02 6:55

Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 6:56

And so I wrote out it literally was 78 things that I wanted. And I ended up finding it in my Bible. I don't know. I think the girls were like four and five and they're teenagers now. And when I looked at it, he was every single thing that I had written down. Like everything. It was so crazy, you know. But um, that's how God works.

SPEAKER_02 7:20

Wow, I love this.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

So, and then you know, yeah, it's just been us against the world ever since.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

Yeah. Wow, amazing. So in the restaurant world, which was all that you knew, yeah, being, you know, raised in that place, like, was it your grandma that taught you how to cook? So, like, did you have this natural love and desire to want to learn all this stuff? Or like, how did that happen?

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Well, even as like a little girl, you know, when they would ask you, Oh, what do you want to be when you grow up? I wanted to be a mom.

unknown 7:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

And so I just always I was always playing house, you know, whatever. Now, unpacking that with my therapist, I realized that it was me trying to create some kind of normalcy. Wow. Because you didn't have that. I didn't have that. Okay. And unfortunately for my mom, like my parents together um were so toxic that I think it was just a lot of spiritual turmoil for her. So, you know, she was always on the floor in the kitchen calling the 700 club, you know, asking for prayer, like, you know, all of that. And so, um, and we were just always involved in church, you know, we went three times a week, like all of that.

SPEAKER_02 8:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:33

But um growing up in that, and then I think that, you know, we were always made fun of for being different because there aren't really a lot of Italians um in this little tiny town in Southern California where I grew up. Okay. It's all like history. Hispanic. Okay, yeah. So, which I don't know about you, but I kind of miss like that culture here. I'm like, somebody show me a cholo. Like, dear God. Totally. I was like, oh my gosh, like I can't believe how much I missed that. No, you know, but that is like such a cool culture in that, and growing up in that. But um, anyways, but then being with my non new, because I was like his little sidekick, and you know, I'd go everywhere with him to the hardware store, like whatever, since I was little, little. And um being with him and just realizing like, hey, this is a heritage, like this is something to be proud of. That's right. But my family was always very proud to be American, also. Yeah, like so it's different, like, and I think it's something that a lot of people don't understand, you know. But um anyway, so in that we had my nonna, Maria, and then we had my mom, Mona Lisa, and my uncle Marcantonio. So all of them cooked at the restaurant. Okay. So I had the absolute joy of learning from each one of them. Wow, that's awesome. So it's really helped me um at the restaurant because I feel like my nonna taught me so much. It's, you know, probably 90% her.

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

But then my uncle really taught me about hey, like this is the systems and why we do it as we do. Yes. And then my mom was an incredible baker. So that's how I'm able, you know, to come up with all these fat girls' delights and you know, all these like. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 10:35

You guys, no, listen. Not only is her food amazing, but her baked goods, we cannot go there without getting the peanut butter pie. Isn't it? Like every single time. Every single time. And this fat girl's delight, my friend. We were just at your place on Saturday, and my friend got it and she carried it back to the table. We were trying to guess how much it weighed because it literally felt like it weighed six pounds. That we were off. I know it doesn't weigh that much, but it was it was so good. Yeah, it's almost two pounds because we weighed it, yeah. It was so heavy. Yeah. I was like, this like month has to be six pounds.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Yeah. That's what that was my guess too. But I was like, dang, I should be more like pound aware for somebody who's weighed themselves their whole life.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

Oh my goodness. Well, that's incredible. So you had just all these different influences from your family that taught you all these different aspects of it. That is awesome. So then you and Mateo, your boyfriend, you fall in love, you get married, and then did he get into the restaurant business with you in California, or how did that all start for you guys as a family?

SPEAKER_01 11:39

No, not at all. Okay. In fact, we were so poor. Like it was a struggle to survive. And he was going to school full-time to be an engineer. Okay. And um we ended up having a stillbirth that was caused by medical neglect. And basically, like our daughter was murdered. And I just looked at him and I was like, we have to pursue Jesus because I don't want us to be a statistic. And I just can't imagine doing my life with anybody else, you know? So I just knew that I did not want to get divorced.

SPEAKER_03 12:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 12:21

And so um, we started praying and we realized that we had to get the heck out of there.

unknown 12:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:26

Like there was no way that we would survive. I mean, we all lived on um, which I am so grateful for because my nonna really took care of everybody. Like she took care of everyone in the family, but we lived on a family compound. And so growing up, we lived next door to my grandparents, like my big fat Greek wedding. Yeah. That was my life. Except for it was aloe vera instead of Windex. Okay. So like my nonna burnt the crap out of my forehead in second grade on picture day and duct taped a piece of aloe vera to my head. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

No, she did not.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

Yes, she did. And so that was my life. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:09

Wait, did you take your picture with that?

SPEAKER_01 13:12

I have to find it. Mom, when you listen to this, you better find it. You have to. We have to see this. It's like terrible. I have no teeth, and I'm like with an aloe vera leaf right on duct tape to my head. That is funny. Yeah. No way. So that's like old school. Wow. Yeah. Italian. That is old school. But and she didn't even cut off like the pokey belt either. So every time I talked, I poked myself. But it was fine. I was already weird enough as it is. No, not.

SPEAKER_00 13:41

Oh my gosh. All right, next time we're together, you're showing me this picture. I gotta tell my mom. We gotta get that picture. Oh my gosh. Yes. Okay, so you realized we can't be here. Yeah. We need to leave. Yeah. So what did that look like?

SPEAKER_01 13:54

So we started looking around for like an RV, uh, whatever. Well, I've always loved vintage everything, like just my whole life. Um, and I think that probably comes from my grandparents because they were tailors. Yeah, and you know, people dressed beautiful back then. And I've always had a classy. Yeah. And so um I told Mateo, I was like, I'd really like like an airstream, you know, but like that was the dream. Well, he ended up finding one and we went to look at it, and we had saved $14,000 and there was just no way. Like my foot went through the bottom of it when we stepped into it. It was dilapidated. And the guy wanted like four grand, and I just told Mateo, I was like, There's no way, like all the we have to put everything into this, you know? And so um the man heard me, he's like, Can't you see your husband's vision? I said, My husband's vision's expensive, absolutely not, and so you know, we I think two months went by, and all of a sudden we got an email from the guy, and he said, I had a dream last night, and the Lord told me to sell it to you guys for twelve hundred dollars, and you can make payments. Wow, and so I went and I got a couple extra shifts at the restaurant, and I just, you know, um I just we ended up you know paying it off, bringing it home, and when the girls would go to sleep at night, we would go out there and just work on it one piece at a time. Wow, yeah, and just buy one piece at a time, and it took a year and a half, but we ended up doing it, and then we packed up everything, our three kids, whatever we could fit in there, and we came here and lived on a farm. Okay, and yeah, now as a parent and not like in my 20s anymore, I'm just like, oh my god. No wonder everyone thought we were joining a cult. Yes, you know, and so like, and I did not I that I literally went to an like an antique store and we put on like the Amish hats and took a picture, and I told my family, I was like, I would like to be addressed as Sarah, and this is Jebediah. You're nuts, and so a hundred percent. I was just like, you know what? I will add fuel to this fire. Oh my goodness. My grandpa thought it was the best thing.

SPEAKER_00 16:21

Oh my gosh, but wow, okay, so okay, so you have this dilapidated airstream that you have now, now at least your foot's not falling through it, right? And you're able to bring it to Tennessee, yeah. But you left everything that was precious to you, your grandparents and all of that. So how did that go? I mean, like, and what and what was it about Tennessee that that made you feel like you wanted to be here?

SPEAKER_01 16:50

Um this kind of sounds crazy, but I had met a friend on Facebook and we were friends for four years, and it you know, we would FaceTime all the time, like whatever. And it's it's it it's so wild because we're not even friends anymore. Um and not like in like a terrible way, it's just like they're not, yeah, they're just not part of your world anymore.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:16

Yeah. And you know, I love Jesus and they don't. So I just you know, show me your friends, I'll show you your future. And so, um, but I am so grateful to their parents for letting us, you know, be on that farm through winter. And even though it was hard, it was the first time in my life that I ever had to be alone. And Matt and I had to really figure it out, you know. And um I've talked about this before, of course. Um, but that is the $12 Christmas where all we had was $12. And I just literally went in there, I closed the curtain in the airstream, I sat on the toilet, and I was like, Lord, like dawning, like I don't ever want to feel this way again. Like you told us to move. He made it so clear over that year and a half that this is where we were supposed to be, and so I was just like, I've given up everything to be here. Because we came here, we had no jobs, no nothing, and it was insane because through you know, being teenagers into um becoming parents and adults, Mateo, you know, he'd be working a job, yeah, and we would be praying, like, Lord, he just wants to move up in this company, yeah, you know, and he went he did mold remediation, he did roofing, he did general contracting and handyman and whatever. And like all of a sudden, these these companies would be like, Well, we're moving to Arizona or something like that. And the door would just shut and he would cry. And I'm like, Lord, all he wants is to be faithful to somebody. What is happening? Yeah, but little did I know that what I thought was rejection at that time, we would end up becoming homeowners in 2020 to you know, an old house from 1890, yeah, and every single job he's had to use on this dang house. Yes. Wow. Yeah, you know, amazing. So I don't know. I see like the redemption of God in all of that and all that stuff that we had to go through and just the building of character and the building of um what is the word that I'm looking for? Endurance.

SPEAKER_00 19:34

Yes, yeah, yeah, a lot of endurance, yes, and how God uses every season of our lives to build that character within us. Totally. Because we don't know what's coming, yeah. And yeah, I've I've had to really settle that like in my own heart and not to even despise those seasons that we all go through that sometimes we just hate. It's like, why am I here? Why am I doing this? Why do I have to go through this? Not knowing or even fully understanding or seeing the big picture of what God is working in you, like building up even just that capacity to be able to handle, you know, what's about to come, you know, or what he's asking you to build or to do. That is amazing. That is awesome.

SPEAKER_01 20:17

And you know, and I just was like, okay, like I had a little dream of, you know, I was like, maybe one day I'll be a homesteader or whatever. But now that I have all these homestead friends and they're always telling me of everything dying, I'm like, you know what? Like, I'm glad I'm not doing that. I'm fine. I live a block away from the restaurant. Yes. I walk to work, it's been incredible. That's awesome. I didn't know you lived so close. Oh, yeah. That's when you drive by, you'll know which house is my house.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

Okay, okay. Yeah, I'm gonna go to the house.

SPEAKER_01 20:44

It's the one with the tub on the porch right now.

SPEAKER_00 20:49

Dear God. It's that house. It's that house. Oh my god. That's hilarious. Well, you're renovating and doing a whole bunch of stuff. And yes, yeah. Because it's like an ever-ending ninety. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_01 21:03

My advice to you is if you're gonna buy an old house, um, have enough money to buy one that has been renovated. Because it sounds like a dream, and you're like, I have a vision, you know? And I'm sure one day I'm gonna look back and be like, it was worth it. But I'm in the season of endurance with the house. And it's just a lot.

SPEAKER_00 21:25

Oh, I'm sure it's gonna be amazing when you're done. I can't wait. Yes, yes, I bet, I bet. Yeah, so you uh now have built this incredible, you know, restaurant, which is really more than just a restaurant, it has become um a destination for many of us who live here. Um, it has become the it spot, uh which is just incredible to see, just knowing your journey. So you started though before you got into your home. You started selling food out of your airstream. Yeah. Which you named Louise, right? Louise. Louise. Which I love. She named her airstream. I love this because I name everything too. Like my car's name is Lola. And every every room in the Awaken House has a name. I think names are very important. Yes. And prophetic. Yes, and and prophetic. So where did this idea come from to start selling food out of your airstream? And how did it turn into Mama Mila's? Okay.

SPEAKER_01 22:28

It's crazy. Okay. But um, speaking of, you know, prophetic, so my name is Maria Lisa. Okay. But growing up, it was always because it was Maria, Mona Lisa, Maria Lisa, and my little sister, Lisa Mania. So it was always like you are. And I always felt grouped together. Sure. And then one day I decided to look up my name and what it meant in Italian, and it meant bitter woman. And I was like, Wow, great. So I just was really praying about it. And I was like, you know what, God, when we move, I want a nickname. Like I just I need a new, fresh start. Like I'm not. I love that. You know, when your family is kind of like big in your town, but you don't have a you. You're a them.

SPEAKER_02 23:19

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 23:20

And so I didn't want that. And so I, you know, thought, well, if I drop six letters, it's Mila. You know? And so I looked it up and it said beloved by all.

unknown 23:31

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 23:32

And so I was just that you are, my dear.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

Fat you are.

SPEAKER_01 23:35

So weird. I'm like, okay. Like, I mean, my five haters obviously have no job. But like just the fact that the restaurant has the reputation that it has that we all work so hard to build and create is just, I think, a testament of Jesus. Yes. Because it's just a lot. You know? But um anyway, so that all happened, and I was like, I'm gonna go buy me less. So then I ended up, my Nona ended up passing away so tragically. Like she called me and I was like, Nonna, like you sound tired. And I was like, Are you okay? And she's like, I'm tired, Muddy Elisa. I'm so tired. And she said, Let me talk to the girls. And this would be the last time that I would see her on FaceTime and the last time I would talk to her. And she looked at my girls and said, I want you to remember that your persona loves you. And she looked at me and she said, The best thing you ever did was move away. And then she literally ate a bologna sandwich and a Miller High Life and had a heart attack and was gone in two days. Oh my gosh. And so, um yeah. And so that happening, and Mateo and I, you know, he had just started his handyman business with that $12 we had in the bank. We were in this little tiny rental in what they consider the ghetto here, which is laughable. I'm like, you guys clearly have never really been in the ghetto because that's where I grew up. Right. And so, like, you know, that was nothing. I just cooked for my neighbors and they watched our stuff. Like, yeah. It was easy. East ninth, baby. East night. I was like, I was the best.

SPEAKER_02 25:24

Love it.

SPEAKER_01 25:24

But um, wow, and so I did it. Like, I well, my nonness started like coming to me in dreams. And I've always had very prophetic dreams my whole life, wow, since I was a little girl. And um, she just kept telling me, keep my legacy alive. Well, then when I thought about that, I would just think about her like, you know, she would tell me, Your uncle thinks he's the chef. But when he turns around, I add salt and garlic, you know? And so like I just kept thinking about her and you know, just how passive aggressive she really was. And um I thought, I bet you it would be good because I was a waitress at this time too, um, dur during a breakfast shift. And I thought, well, I bet I could just start selling like pastries out of Louise. So then I would come home and uh Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, I would bake all day. And so pastries and taking bake lasagnas, and then I'd go park and just start selling out of there. And I named it Mama Mila's because my mom had Mamma Mia's, and I just thought, like, you know, it's so Italian, like Mamma Mia. Yeah, and I thought, oh, Mama Mila's is cute, but now it's just mostly old men calling me mama, and it's fine. No, yeah, it's like they're like, hey, mama, and I'm like, gross, like, don't call me mama unless you have a yacht and two million dollars. But it's fine. I'm just like, uh, but it's oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. But I've become well, like in the way that names are prophetic, it's like I have become the mother. Yes, you know, like come on. So many of the kids that work for me, yeah, you know, are homeschooled kids or um just young kids, and I've been able to really like bring them out of their shelves, or you know, um, and the thing is too, like with the restaurant, you know, I didn't know all of the paperwork and all of that side. So I have the business side, yes, yeah. No, I know. And so I've had to like learn that. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 27:36

And for some reason it's been really, really hard. Me too. No, I can relate to that. Yeah, right. Because the people part is is our passion. Yes, the hospitality is the passion and all that other stuff. It has to be done, but it's it's not the passion. We have to learn it. Oh, I totally can understand that.

SPEAKER_01 27:52

And I ended up having like a who I thought was my friend, um, and she ended up embezzling out of the restaurant. And no way. Yeah, it was crazy. It was so satanic because I was like trying not to have a mental breakdown because we had just opened at this new spot after fighting and fighting and fighting to stay open at the other one. And come to find out, you know, this woman who when I would tell her, like, why are we barely making it? Like, I'm coming here at 5 a.m., you know, and I'm leaving at almost midnight. I don't see my family, I don't, you know, and I'm running ragged. My cortisol was so high. Yeah. Like you just get so fat when your cortisol is so high, you know, and you're like, dang, I can't tie my shoes. And like it's just up and down and whatever, you know. And she just would look at me and be like, I thought that you trusted Jesus. Oh my gosh. You say you're a Christian, you know, and the whole time she was embezzling. And so we had enough money to do payroll and to um do an order. Wow. And I looked at my husband and I said, It's your business or mine. And he looked at me and he said, Your business is more than a business. You know, and so he came to the restaurant and then look at him now. He's like living his Italian dad life. Yeah. Like rolling out the sausage and the meatballs, and and I've created a monster. Yeah. I have literally created a monster. I mean, I think that we almost got divorced last year over tomatoes because he was like, I can taste the acidity in these tomatoes. I'm like, Mateo, I swear to God, I cannot like you cannot add anything else on my plate with these tomatoes.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

You're making me laugh so much.

SPEAKER_01 29:47

But it's like so true. You're just like, why? But it's my fault because you know, you're you'll be on Instagram and you're like, hey, guess what? This is bad for you now. And here's the studies. And then I started sending it to him, and now he can taste if something's been cooked in aluminum form.

SPEAKER_00 30:06

He's like now the expert.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

Yes. I love that. Yeah. And so, but yeah, our crazy standards have been so incredible for the restaurant. Oh, it's so good. It's the best. So it's like it's yeah, it's wild. Yeah. It's wild. Crazy, crazy. I think did I answer your question?

SPEAKER_00 30:24

I yes, I think. I don't even remember what my original question was because I'm just so enjoying just hearing from you. But I mean, but I mean, let's talk about the quality because that that is I mean, what sets you apart. And you've been very vocal and out there about the fact that everything is imported. Um, the things that are not are local, they are organic, they are the best of the best. So just talk to us about like your standards on that and just why that is so important to you.

SPEAKER_01 30:53

I think that it's something that goes against the norm for sure. Um, I think that a lot of people who open restaurants and open businesses in the hospitality field, um, everything is about the bottom dollar. But the thing that has, because I opened Mama Mila's thinking, okay, if I can make it a year, I've done my purpose. And that was it. You know, like I just want to plant a seed, share what it is, like Italian culture, share my nonna. Yeah. You know, I did what she asked me to do, which was keep her legacy alive. Yes. And, you know, and that's what I did. Yeah. But now it's turned into just planting little seeds, you know, of wondering like, oh, when I come to the restaurant, I don't feel bloated. I don't feel like crap after I eat this. Like it tastes different, you know, and it's hard because you're teaching, like here where we live, there's everyone thinks Italian is like the olive garden, but that's like telling a Mexican person that Taco Bell is Hispanic. And so they don't understand what it's like because real Italian food is fresh, beautiful ingredients. And it doesn't have a bunch of seasonings and a bunch of stuff in it. It's just simple things made well. Yeah. And so it's been really cool to just kind of share that. And like the restaurant standards are, you know, no seed oils, all flour imported from Italy, grown in Italy. Like you have to jump through all these like little hoops, you know. Um, our tomatoes, Matteo and I, I had to suck it up, and he definitely won. He won the tomato war. Yeah. The Italian woman in me had to give it up. But um, you know, they're grown at the bottom of Mount Vesuvius and grown in acidic soil, and we get almost a thousand pounds of tomatoes a week. And we are only open three full days. So, you know, like Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday, Saturday, split shift all day. But we prep for three days. Yeah. Because everything is just we're making the meatballs, we're hand rolling them. Like there's no shortcuts.

SPEAKER_00 33:15

No, no, there is not. And that is felt and tasted and seen. Yeah. So good on you. Yeah, good on you.

SPEAKER_01 33:21

It's been really interesting, especially lately, just you know, because so many people have their opinions on, you know, what we do. Yeah, you know, and I know that coming in and seeing a line is hard. And but there's not a line every day. Like come in Wednesdays our slowest night. There's not a line every day.

SPEAKER_00 33:40

And I will say the many times that I have stood in that line because it is so worth it. I mean, come on, people, can't we just use that time to have fun conversations with our family and friends? And make a friend. Can't we? Exactly. Can't we build community during that time? If you just utilize that time and do something productive and fun and creative, it goes so fast. And by the way, your line does go fast. I've never stood in that line more than 30 minutes. And we stand in those in lines for so many other things that aren't even half as good or as worth the experience. And I think what you have to understand if you go to Mama Millie is it is an experience. Yeah. It's it's it's it's it's time that you are investing. And and I would encourage you, you know, if you're impatient, which most Americans are, so we all have that tendency, of course, as humans, but like I really think there's something to have a list of really fun questions that you ask each other. Like if you're on a date night, use that time in the line to have an amazing conversation. And like you said, talk to the people around you. We've met some great people in line at your restaurant that we've talked to. So like I love that. It is doable, but like you have to realize that it is an experience, yeah. And I love it. I love it. It is, it is just incredible. It is just awesome.

SPEAKER_01 35:00

Thank you. I mean, I've prayed about every single thing, you know? And Mateo and I are always like, okay, Lord, like if there's something that we're supposed to change, like tell us how to do it, tell us how to whatever. But for us, it's like, you know, I I think that people look at us and they see like, oh wow, like they're successful. But they don't see the seven years of absolute struggle. Yeah. And how many, you know, tears we've cried and how many like people have just like betrayed us and hurt us. And um just the things that you have to go through, like sourcing and trying to figure everything out when you have standards. When your standards are, hey, I'm gonna buy a case of this, you know, frozen product and I'm gonna put it in a deep fryer and serve it on, you know, a bun from the store, like whatever, like cool. That's you, you do you. But Mateo and I are different. Yeah, and so there's a time and a place for both, but we just choose to live our life differently.

SPEAKER_02 36:06

Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 36:07

I love that so you know, and there's no hate ever because you know, yeah, every once in a while. Yeah, but I think I like to be baby.

SPEAKER_00 36:14

I think what makes it special though is that you've stuck to your convictions, yeah, and to your standards. Yeah. And there are way more people that love you and support you and want to be at your place than people who don't. Isn't it crazy? Yeah, and you just have to, you know, those people can just move along. But your social media presence is absolutely hilarious. So let's let's just let's just talk about that conversation for just a second. So you've become kind of a uh social media, I don't know, for lack of better words, influencer, I guess, um, celebrity, quote unquote, um, just for being, you have so much amazing attitude and sex when you talk about like, but I mean, she goes on her social media, like you go on there and I mean you're you're just an open book. Like you're sharing your recipes, you're showing us how to do it. I mean, come on. I mean, not everybody does that. And and in the meantime, you're like, and you haters out there. I mean, you always like interject these like hilarious things. But I mean, is that your way of just you know, having fun, but also like making your point come across like, listen, move along if you don't love me and it's fine, not everybody has to love me. And that that is true. Not everybody's gonna understand you, yeah, love you, or even like you. And oh well, like, you know, I mean, oh well. So, like, but talk about your social media. Like, yeah, first of all, do you even enjoy that part of it? Um, I know for me, I have a total love-hate relationship with social media. Um, but I will say what you've done is I feel like it's helped you build your brand and represent like who you are and your restaurants. So talk to me about your social media.

SPEAKER_01 37:55

My social media is crazy. I'm still there for it. It's very on brand. Um, it's so crazy because um like people were just talking about it because we're coming out of like the week of hell, you know, because um I usually am pretty good about, you know, my haters or whatever because it's not new to me.

SPEAKER_00 38:20

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 38:21

Okay, yeah, like get out of here. Like I hated myself for so many years. Yeah, yeah. Do you think that the enemy's gonna use like he used myself against me?

SPEAKER_03 38:30

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 38:30

You know, until Jesus like showed me that he had his identity for me. And so I've just think that you come to a place where you're like, I'm gonna be me. And if I'm I've always been too much, too fat, too whatever, like if it's too much, choke. I don't care. You know, and I think that people think that everybody needs to know their opinion. So they get on social media and they get crazy. So, like, people were going crazy on iHeart Columbia this past like what two weeks ago now, I guess. Um, and I just think that that name should be changed to iGripe Columbia because dear God, do we not have better things to do?

SPEAKER_00 39:15

We have one of those here in Spring Hill too.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

Oh my God. I'm just like, what kind of building of community is this? That's something I want to change. But um, because like I said, nobody knows, you know, what goes into a business and everybody could have a bad day, you know, whatever, whatever. But usually the people who come against me are people who come in and have no boundaries and don't like that I have boundaries because nobody's allowed to act crazy in my place because it's my place. Right. And if anybody's gonna be crazy, it's me.

SPEAKER_02 39:48

Right, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 39:49

You know, and it's just kind of like I don't understand. Um, actually, I do understand. I think that COVID created a lot of entitlement and created a lot of um people just not, you know, caring caring about each other, and that's not my place. No, you know, so on social media, yeah, I was just like, you know what? Um, we need to bring back a little shame. Okay, you should be ashamed of being bad, and you should be ashamed of the things that you say that hurt people because you don't know. Like, like I told you before, like I'm my worst critic. If you're gonna sit there and call me this, call me that, make fun of me, whatever, like I've already done it. Yeah, find something new. Yeah. So in social media, I'm like, you know what? I don't care. Yeah, I don't care what people are gonna say about me. I just like we just posted, I made like a Zabayon, and I like literally was crashing out during this like entire filming. And God bless Riley, because she is like my assistant, she records everything, she helps me run the social media and um she just goes with it. Yeah, and I think that and I hope that people see that I'm just me and that they appreciate that, yeah. Because so much of social media's fate. Absolutely, and I'm just not no, no, so and that's what's so refreshing about all that you do.

SPEAKER_00 41:17

I'm like so authentic.

SPEAKER_01 41:19

I'm like, it's me and my double chin against the world. Like, I'm always like beautiful. You know, you're like strike. But you know, like, yeah, you're supposed to like be posing and be like this, and like whatever. And I'm just like, whatever, I don't care anymore. I've had too many children. Like, and that man still loves me. So we're good.

SPEAKER_00 41:41

That's all that matters. Yeah, I know. Oh my gosh. In the start of Awaken House, I would get on and like do these reels and stuff, and I just felt like I'd crawled out of a hole. I mean, it's like after days of being here for 16 hours working, painting, and I'm supposed to be getting on here doing like reels and marketing, and I looked so bad. Like I was like the worst version of myself that had ever existed, like physically, emotionally, like I mean, and so many good things were going on, but I was just exhausted. And I look back on some of that stuff, and I'm like, oh my gosh, I can't believe I, you know, put my and I don't even put myself out there, even close to what you do. In fact, you are um inspiring me that I need to be better at that. But but yeah, no, it is so your family. So I was just reminded about something that you said at the very start of this entire interview was that from day one I just wanted to be a mom. Yeah, and you are you are another to Columbia, the mother to Columbia and to five kids, four kids or five. I always count, Jada. You count, Jada. I love that five babies, five babies, five incredible babies. Um, and I know that your family is your number one priority, your marriage is your number one priority. I would love to talk about how you have put some safeguards around yourself to um preserve your sanity with your family and to help even protect your kids, although they are very involved in what you guys do, which my kids are involved in what we do as well. Um but uh just if you're willing, share with us some of your boundaries and some of the things that you've put in place to help safeguard your family life.

SPEAKER_01 43:22

Yeah. I think that it's crazy because I really feel like Mateo and I are finally stepping into um being where we want to be more family time-wise. Because between the house, the restaurant, there was just never really any time for our kids. And you know, homeschooling them while we were prepping or how in the world? I know it's crazy. Wow, it is so crazy. And I felt like a failure a lot. A lot. And there I have cried so much. I I I mean just but but I th I really do feel like God will not give you something if he doesn't think that you can handle it.

SPEAKER_03 44:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:12

You know, and um like I had shared with you earlier that I've been recently going through um like an MCAS situation where my body has just been having these flare-ups and it's just been the years of the stress. And I think that God has just been showing me like pursue me and everything else will fall into place. Yes. Because you know, my nonna was always had to be at the restaurant. Always, always when it was open, she was there. She was, you know, and she died because of it. And I do not want that to be me. No, I don't want to look back and be like, wow, what were my kids' childhood like? Yeah, you know, and after I had nuncio, so like really the past two years, I felt a lot of guilt because I have not been home. And I've been at the restaurant and doing all that, and it's so funny because um, you know, I've been recovering from surgery, yeah, and our babysitter, I don't say nanny because I feel like the rich people say nanny, and I'm not at that point yet. But um Victoria was like, respectfully, I can't wait for you to go back to work. And I was like, why? And she's like, Nunzio's not like this normally. Like when you're home, he's a terror. And God just put something in me where I was like, it's okay that I'm at the restaurant, you know, because I'm at home for the really important things. The morning snuggles, you know, the putting him to sleep, the uh we have um Sundays are our days to be a potato at my house, and they are so special. I wake up, I usually sometimes even at the restaurant, I'll prep a casserole for the morning.

SPEAKER_03 46:03

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 46:04

And um, you know, or we'll take a couple frozen pizzas from the freezer and I turn on worship and it's just our family being lazy. Yeah, you know, and so um that and just also just making boundaries with customers because um, you know, I love everybody. So I love being everybody's friend. Yeah. And you know, when people write on social media, whatever, it's always like I'm writing you back, I'm commenting back, you know. Um, luckily I have Riley to help me with that, you know, a lot. And she'll be like, hey, what do you want to say? You missed this one. I'm like, oh, you know. Um, but I really do think that I've just really had to learn that Mateo and the kids come first.

SPEAKER_03 46:54

Of course.

SPEAKER_01 46:55

And so once we're out of this bathroom remodel, we are gonna take a vacation. Yes. Um, yeah, but yeah, yeah. And I mean, honestly, God just gives me the strength to get through it. And I'm not a perfect parent. There has been so many times. None of us are, sweetheart. Oh my god. None of us are. I've had to like apologize to my kids and just tell them, like, I'm trying to break things, but I don't know how to do it. But that is you're doing it by doing that. And so you break it by doing that.

SPEAKER_00 47:25

That is being honest. Being honest, and there is so much power in a parent um coming humbly before your own kid and saying, I didn't do that well. In fact, I didn't do that well at all. Yeah, I lost it and I shouldn't have. And I am so sorry for you know, I mean, that there is so much power um in that. And and I know my kids have, you know, come to me. Be I I mean, in these last couple years too, they they've been my most vulnerable because I've I've been so tired. Yeah, I I've been going through, you know, a lot of the same thing like you, just hormonal crap and just like all that stuff. And sometimes my thing is I've I've struggled with like forgetfulness and just like they will tell me something that's important to them. It's real. And I'm like all in it, and literally the next day I'll ask about it, and they're like, Mom, we talked about that for like 10 minutes yesterday. And I'm like, I'm sorry, I love you. I really was listening. I'm so sorry. And and and I've had to go back and like pray about that and be like, Lord, if that is stress or something going on in me, Lord help me, Lord, fix that, Lord show me if there's something I need to do to align myself, but like, and then you just make stupid mistakes, you know, or say something or act in a way that you shouldn't, but um, but you change it by doing what by by doing that, by being willing to just confess and be like, I am so not perfect. I think that teaches our kids um so much. I think it shows them strength, actually. Um, and when your kids see you toiling, when your kids see you going after it, pursuing the call of God on your life, when you have $12 or a million dollars, it doesn't matter. Um, I mean, the million dollars. That'd be great, Lord. Actually, it does matter, but let's go. I'm here for it. Money does not equal happiness, but it sure helps. Yeah, for real. But I think I think that's a thing that my kids have come back to me with over these last couple years is mom, look what you have been willing to pour yourself into. Because I went through that whole guilt, like I wasn't here for these last year, I've been so busy. And I mean, I have but like you said, of course we've been present. We've been as present as we can be. Yeah, we've um but there's been a change, at least for me, there's been a huge change. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. But but there is so much power when we as parents um do the things that maybe we weren't raised with, you know, breaking those generational curses and those habits and those things that were just passed down. Because yes, you definitely have kept your Nona's legacy alive, but the truth is is you're building your own legacy. You and Mateo have you, you, you, you took your heritage, you know, we're born into our heritage. We can't do anything about that, right? But we can do something about the legacy that we leave and the way that we do it. Um so that's amazing, really, that that even in your flaws and in your you know, crap that we all have, yeah, that we can just recognize I'm not doing this perfectly, but I am doing it. And I'm choosing to get up every day, put one foot in front of the other and do the best that I can. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:58

And I think um, you know, I've been through a lot of trauma in my life. And especially like when our daughter passed away. Um I chose every day. I was like, okay, I'm gonna get up and I'm gonna be the best mom that I can for Gia and Gemma. This was before I had Pearl. And I was like, I'm gonna be the best mom that I can, and when they go to sleep, I'm gonna cry for 15 minutes and I'm just gonna make it to there. That's all that I have to do. Yeah, and so then I would cry and I just then, but then after that, I would put on worship and I would worship. And I was just like, okay, you know, and I think that that's kind of just how I live my life, you know, and I'm just like, I'm gonna choose to do better and to be better, even if it's not perfect. And I don't know, I think because Mateo, like, it's always been like us against the world, it felt like. And you know, when I was a little kid, the Lord told me that I was going to be the breaker for my family. And when you're a kid, you're like, woo, that's cool. I got a calling, and then you're inning, you're like, you're just like, why?

SPEAKER_03 52:16

Like, why may Jesus take this mantle?

SPEAKER_01 52:20

Um, but it's so interesting because like here I am, you know, like I'm 37 and I'm just like, you know, I have one parent and my other two parents, my grandparents, you know, they've both passed away. And it's so weird when you're the adult, but then you have to like you have to heal from the hurt from them. Even though there was such good, there also is bad with everybody, you know, and it's just been really incredible to be like to sit with the girls and be like, look, like I'm sorry, you know, you don't have grandparents. And I'm sorry that it's just dad and I. But like I promise, when you have kids, we're gonna be the best grandparents, you know, and we're gonna break that. And um, you know, even though it was really rough growing up with my mom, um, I will say like the one thing she really did, she was always really real about everything she was going through. Yeah, you know, and so that taught me that it was okay to have a mental breakdown a little bit, you know, and it's okay to not be strong all the time. Yeah. Because when you're not strong, you have to rely on Jesus. And that's just basically what I do. I'm like, speak to me in all the little ways, you know. And I'm just like, tell me what to do. Like, you're the only dad that I have.

SPEAKER_00 53:57

So that's good. That's good. Thank you for sharing all that. Yeah, because I know it's so personal and um yeah, it's good.

SPEAKER_01 54:05

Yeah, but I hope somebody can relate, you know. Oh, I'm sure. It's hard when we all can the people who love you disappoint you, yeah, you know, and but really looking at them and just being like, how does Jesus see them? You know, because it's like and I feel like we're like the generation that is so emotionally aware and so like spiritually aware because I don't know if the veil is so thin or what is happening, but you're just like, okay, like this is a hurt person to a hurt person to a hurt person, and then I'm breaking the hurt. Yeah. And you know, where do you go from there? Right. And in your children, like, I do believe that we are raising like these history makers because this is the time that they're supposed to be alive. So you know, here we are.

SPEAKER_02 54:54

That is so good. Yeah, that is so good, and I like them.

SPEAKER_00 54:57

Yes. Oh, I know I love my kids. I love my kids too, they are so amazing. And I just look at them every day and go, I can't believe I get to be your mom. Like, I can't believe I get to raise you. I'm always like, I made this. I know you're my you're little, you're my little creation. I love it. I love that too. So as we kind of wind down, um, I'm sure there's many entrepreneurs listening to this, and just people who love you and um just have followed you and just get so much joy out of eating at your restaurant. And what would be some advice that you would give to young entrepreneurs that are wanting to launch out into their dreams? And what what would be just a word of encouragement from your heart to theirs?

SPEAKER_01 55:44

I think um don't give up. Yeah, it's so easy to give up in the world and to be like, well, I tried. But I'm my grandparents came here with nothing. They had no choice but to succeed, you know, and that's kind of how Mateo and I moved here. Yeah, we had no choice but to succeed, but in that I had to fully rely on God. And so my biggest advice is ask the Lord about everything, whether, you know, it's you know, where to get a tomato from, or you know, who you should use as an accountant, or you know, all the things. Um I think it's like it's wild to me. This is like a little tangent, but um, there are so many people who will copy what you do. Don't take it personally. You know, sometimes it really sucks because you be over here like, Jesus, give me an idea, and then you get it and you go to do it, and you're like, wow, thanks for copying me. And all the hard work that I've put in this and I've budgeted to buy this so that we could do this or whatever. But um, God will give you vision, He will give you wisdom. Yeah, you know, like even right now, I was telling you earlier, like, man, I want to go into production, you know, and produce lasagnas, ship them all over. Like, I would love to do that. Yeah, I'm not worried about it because I prayed about it and God told me, present, be present this year. And I was like, okay, cool. So this is gonna come in my future, and I'm gonna believe for it. Yeah. And then this year I'm gonna be present. Yeah, yeah. Because your girl don't have a hallway as we're speaking right now. Matt just blew it out to put in a window.

SPEAKER_00 57:41

So, you know, but that being present, but that is so good because I think as creatives, those of us who are constantly thinking of the next idea and get excited about things, we also have to learn that not everything is for now. Yes. And even if it is the idea, there's also something called the right time. Yes, the right timing. Yes. And that's not something you want to fight against. That's something you want to flow in. Yeah, you know, and so that is really good to just be present because you can never go wrong. Never go wrong. It's so true.

SPEAKER_01 58:12

And prayer walks and like just being like, Lord, like yeah, I love to pray over and anoint the business. Yes, you know, like part of my little hormone regulating whatever I'm doing is like every day I go for walks. So I'm walking around the restaurant, you know, and I'm pushing nunzio and I'm praying, and I'm like, Lord, like whatever your vision is for the arts district, like I'm here for it. Let's open doors that need to be open. Show me vision, show me wisdom, show me what we need to do next, you know. Help me steward this in the way that it needs to be stewarded. Whoever needs to be here, let them be here. You know, and just to create the community. And like, I mean, you you're creating community here, you know, and it's not easy when there's so much division in the world, but it's like, no, I want to do this in a heavenly way, you know, and I want to do this in a supernatural way of being like bring the people together who need to be here. So good. So yeah, don't give up. Yeah, pray always and believe in the Lord's timing. Amen. That is very good advice. He gives you vision for a reason.

SPEAKER_00 59:22

Yes, yes, yeah, yes, he does. Last question for you What are you currently dreaming about that you're not doing yet, but you would like to do?

SPEAKER_01 59:33

Girl, I'm telling you right now, where is the food network? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 59:38

Oh, you need to be on there. That or TLC. Yeah, we're gonna pray that in. I'm like, You'd be amazing.

SPEAKER_01 59:46

I mean, with all the crazy stuff that like happens at the restaurant, sometimes I'm looking around, I'm like, am I on the Truman show? I swear I am. I'm like, whether, you know, but so Food Network. Wouldn't that be incredible? Oh, it would. They need an unhinged Italian woman.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:03

Yes, they do. I mean, come on. All right, we're gonna petition. We are gonna petition. Let's go to be on there. Amazing.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:10

I mean, it would be great, but really my biggest dream, my biggest dream is, and I've even, you know, I used to be like, oh, I want to have land, you know, and Mateo and I, like whatever. Now I'm at the point where I'm like, I think we're just gonna do the best that we can with this house. And then I'd love to have a house in Italy.

unknown 1:00:30

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:31

And I would love to buy a big enough house to where it could be a refuge for people. Oh, and like we go over there and like, you know, food is healing, spiritual healing, like health healing. I don't know, all the things. Just something good. And I just love that. I want to go to Italy because I feel like I want to bring so much back. Yeah. So yeah, that's like a crazy goal and dream. You know, get my food out there, food network, and then um Italy. I think that's like my three little life, yeah, you know? Yeah. And don't die. And don't die. So I'll be taking my vitamins.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:23

And don't die. That is the best advice. Yeah. Oh my gosh, Mila. That's where I'm at. Oh my goodness. I have, you know, I have such a hard time keeping it together anyway, with my laugh. And so you've just made me laugh so much. It has been fantastic. Little, you know, goodness. I love it. Mila, thank you. Thank you for having me. So special and so I keep hitting my chin on this. I'm so sorry. No, I have like acoustic marks all over the microphone. Um, this has been so fun, so good. It's been a mix of deep and personal and just funny and amazing. And again, thank you for what you're doing to shift the atmosphere and to truly impact people's lives through your very own. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your story. Thank you for choosing life and for choosing healing and for just choosing to do the best that you can. Make me cry. That is that is truly um all that we can do. And uh something about you so speaks to me and resonates in me. Although our stories are different, there's so much about you that I relate to. And I'm very glad to be your friend and to be able to build business and community together alongside of you in this area is just such a joy. So thank you for the way that you love and the way that you serve. And tell us, real quick, before we sign off, how can we follow you and get in touch with you and see all the amazing things that you're doing at Mama Mila's?

SPEAKER_01 1:02:50

Yes. So TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, although I'd stay away from Facebook because that's where the trolls are mostly. Um, and then I also have a cute little YouTube. And then, of course, our website is Mamma Mila's Mafia.com and it has pictures of everything. Yes. And we have a newsletter that I on the first of the month, one email. I'm not crazy. I hate that. Um, and I just like update you on what's going on, you know? Perfect. And all the good, delicious specials. Yes. And I'm unhinged everywhere. Nowhere is safe. So there it is. Amazing. Oh, Mila, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:32

Yes, thank you. And thank you all for tuning in and listening today. I just want to encourage you, if you don't follow or haven't subscribed, follow this podcast, subscribe to it, share it. If you know of somebody as you were listening to this that could really benefit from hearing Mila's story and just gleaning from her wisdom and all the fun conversation that we had today, please share it. Thank you so much for joining us on the Dreamers Podcast. We will see you next time. Dreams don't come with the roadmap, only courage, curiosity, and the willingness to keep going. If today's story resonated with you, let it remind you that your journey matters, even if it's still unfolding. Thank you for spending this time with me today on the Dreamers Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a little inspiration today. Until next time, keep dreaming, keep moving, and trust that the story you're writing is worth telling. We'll see you on the next episode.