Our conversation with Andrea Nauta

About our guest:

Andrea Nauta is a military spouse - her wonderful husband Dustin has been serving in the military since 2007. They have two beautiful girls who are 11 and 9. 

Andrea and her family have moved back and forth between Comox and Petawawa, and they are currently happily settled in Comox where Andrea works as a support worker at a local school.

 Andrea is an accomplished baker.  She started baking when she was 8 with simple cake box mixes and making cupcakes for her family.  Her passion grew year by year – and she dedicated herself to learning more  through books, YouTube, and cooking shows.  

Eventually her love of – and talent for – baking brought her to season 3 of the Great Canadian Baking show

Toady Baking is something Andrea does to relax. She has scaled back on large cake and macaron orders and now bakes for fun. 

If you want to see some of Andrea’s fabulous baking creations – including a photo of the fabulous mermaid tail that Andrea made for her Great Canadian Baking show audition - you can follow her on Instagram at @nautabakes

Contact us:
We would love to hear from you.  If you are a Military Family Member that wants to share your experiences and lessons learned, email us at Podcast.Feedback@PetawawaMFRC.com 

Transcript

Julie [Intro]: 

Welcome to Military Family Life, the podcast for Canadian military family members, by military family members. Do you ever wish you had a guidebook or mentor to help you with some of the challenges you're facing as part of a military family? Each episode we're going to bring you the stories of people who have been there, they're going to share the lessons that they've learned along the way to help you live your best military family life. 

Julie [00:00:28]:  

Hi, and welcome to Military Family Life. My name is Julie Hollinger. Often on this show, we talk about the challenges that come with being a part of a military family. We talk with things like relocations and deployments and transitions. But what about some of the other challenges that come up in life? things that we'd like to do but maybe are a little bit too afraid to step out and take the risk.  

Our guest for this episode is Andrea Nauta. Andrea is a military spouse. Her wonderful husband Dustin has been serving in the military since 2007. They have two beautiful girls, Zoe who is 11, and Olivianna, who's 9. Andrea and her family have moved back and forth between Comox and Petawawa, and they're currently happily settled in Comox, where Andrea works as a support worker at a local school. Andrea is an accomplished baker. She started baking when she was 8 with simple cake box mixes and making cupcakes for her families. Her passion grew year by year, and she dedicated herself to learning more through books, through YouTube and cooking shows. Eventually, her love of, and talent for, baking brought her to season three of the Great Canadian Baking Show. Today, baking is something Andrea does to relax. She scaled back on her large cake orders and macarons and now bakes for fun.  

My co-host, Claudia Beswick, and I were excited to catch up with Andrea to hear more about her life in BC, her experiences as a military family member, and to ask all of our questions as fans of the Great Canadian Baking Show. Claudia and I even consider what reality shows may be in our future. We hope that you enjoy our conversation with Andrea Nauta.  

Hi! So, we are here with Andrea today. Andrea, I'm going to give you an opportunity to introduce yourself but thank you so much for joining us on the podcast. Andrea is another spouse that is coming us, to us, from the West Coast of Canada. We are recording the podcast out of Petawawa, but Andrea used to be with us in Petawawa and moved out to the West Coast and we are slightly jealous, and we do miss her. But Andrea, can you just tell us a little bit about yourself? What's your connection to the military? 

Andrea [00:02:25]: 

Yeah. Thanks, Julie. My connection to the military is with my husband. He joined, I guess, it's about 15 years ago now. So, we've been in, in the military for quite a while. He first joined when we were actually in Comox before, and then he got posted out to Ontario. So, we were in Petawawa for five years, and then we got back to Comox, which is my favorite place. So, yeah. 

Julie: 

So, you were from BC before you came out? You started there and you're, and you're coming back. 

Andrea [00:03:01]:  

Yes, exactly. 

Julie: 

What is like, the biggest differences you notice between life in Comox versus life in Petawawa? 

Andrea: 

So, like well, at first, I was so like, I didn't really like. It was kind of like a small town and I'm like “Oh no, where do we move after living in BC?” And then like, weather wise, totally opposite. So, Comox is beautiful, like, in the winter. Yeah, it rains. But it's not blistering cold, and we don't have to deal with like 6 feet of snow, so it's so nice that way. 

And then as far as like just living, maybe because my kids were younger back when we were in Petawawa, but I didn't get out very much other than like, family resources were so much more in Petawawa. But I didn't get out in nature that much. You know, there were so many different provincial parks and everything around there. 

Whereas Comox there isn't as much family-oriented things as there was in Petawawa, but so much more outdoors here, so we're always outside going on hikes, finding all the water holes. So, like it's, it's kind of opposite in that way. 

Claudia: 

Do you notice a difference? Obviously, Petawawa is very much an Army base and Comox is an Air Force Base. Do you notice much difference between the two? 

Andrea [00:04:24]: 

Well, like I said, like I find that Petawawa was way more family-oriented, like, Army base was more like close-knit and everyone kind of did things together, and it was really taking care of the families, whereas the Air Force, like at least in Comox, it's so widespread and I feel like they don't do as much. It's not as frequent. 

Claudia: 

Yeah, Petawawa’s pretty much a, a very small, closed, base, right? With PMQs on there, and it's, it is a very tight-knit family for sure. 

Andrea: 
Yeah. 

Julie: 

Did you have any connection to the military before you, before your, your spouse joined? Did you come from like a military family, or was it all brand new? 

Andrea: 

Well, my husband's father was in the military, but I didn't know him at that time, right? So, that is the reason why, like my husband kind of got interested in it, because it's he came from a military family. But I had no connection to it at all. 

Claudia [00:05:24]: 

How did your kids feel about the move? Because they were old, probably a lot older, right? When you left Petawawa to go back to Comox? 

Andrea: 

Well, they were four and six, so they were still really young, and they didn't have that many connect, like close, close friendships, so they were actually really excited. We had a really fun move across the country. So, they were really excited about the road trip and all that. Coming to Comox, they like adjusted so easily, and that I'd be more worried about when we leave Comox, now, because they have so many more closer friendships and relationships and all that, right? So… 

Claudia: 

Do you think you're going to be posted out of Comox soon? 

Andrea: 

I don't want to be. 

Claudia: 

Famous last words. 

Andrea: 

Right. Yeah, yeah. 

Julie [00:06:13]: 

Yeah, you’ve put it out to the universe. It's not looking good for you, girl. 

Claudia: 

Quick, quick, where would you want to go besides Comox? Esquimalt? 

Andrea: 

Esquimalt, yeah, exactly. I would love to stay in BC. I have an amazing job and everything like that. So, I just don't want to leave, but like, going to the East Coast would be really cool experience too, so... 

Claudia: 

There's a lot of snow on the East Coast. Just saying. 

Andrea: 

That's the one thing I don't enjoy. 

Julie: 

Now, some people may not necessarily recognize your name, and unfortunately, we're not going to show the video, so, they're not recognizing your face, but once we talk about this, I think a lot of people are going to be able to place you. You were on a season of Great Canadian Baking Company, and in addition to doing an amazing job creating things that I could never have imagined, you spent a lot of time talking about your experience as a military spouse. Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to sign up for that and what was it like talking about your experience as a military spouse, as a military family member? 

Andrea [00:07:18]:  

OK, so, I first auditioned for season 2 when I was in Petawawa. My mom was like, “You're always baking. You should apply for this.” I'm like, “Are you crazy? Like I'm never going to get on a show like that. Like I'm just home baker. I just do it for fun.” And so, I applied and then I got my audition and I had to travel to Toronto. That was like the most stressful time to travel because I made a cake, and I had to drive from Petawawa to Toronto all by myself, which I had never done before, traveling with the cake. So, that was really hard. And then I got to, like, nearly like, they said, we wanted to bring you. But there was one person that met the requirements just before you. So, I didn't quite get that, they’re like, “Come back next year! Apply next year! We really want you!” So, I, once we got to Comox, so it's like, “OK, maybe just try. Slight chance, maybe I'll do it again. We'll see.” And then I applied again, I guess, because there's, like, who knows? And I got my audition call again and I had to travel to Vancouver and that was even more stressful. 

Julie: 

With a cake. 

Andrea: 

No, I actually made a ginormous macaron tower, and that was the most, that was even more stressful because like I was like, “It's going to fall apart. It's just going be a disaster.” My husband was driving, and we had to go on a ferry and everything like, “Oh, my gosh, this is going to be a nightmare.” But no, it made it, thankfully. And then yeah, I got on the show, which was really cool. 

So, prior to the show, they came to do my introductions when we were in Comox with my family and stuff like that, so we had to talk, like they got to see the military community, met my husband and my kids, and we just talked about just our life on the island, being in the military. 

It felt kind of strange at first, but then it kind of just felt comfortable and it was, it was pretty easy after that. It's kind of been part of our life for a while, so… 

Julie [00:09:31]:  

Now, we met you when you were in Petawawa. You were one of the, one of our very important volunteers at the MFRC. And one of the nice things about having someone like Andrea as a volunteer is she brings baking with her. So, when I saw her on the Great Canadian Baking Show, I was like, “Yeah, no, that tracks.” I do not bake. I wouldn't even look at the web page to sort of be like, had the idea… Do they tell you to come with like something that you think is fabulous? Like, what is the process for that? Like I can't even imagine. Do you, did they give you directions or you just sort of come up with something that you think is going to be fabulous? 

Andrea: 

Like for the audition or for the actual show? 

Julie: 

For the audition. 

Andrea: 

So, for the audition, they say to bring something that inspired you to apply, or something that you really enjoy that you want share with us. So, macarons are something that I really, really enjoy. So, I, I was like, I'm going to do macarons and then. I said, “OK, well, I only go all out this time. Like I really want to make that big impression. Like, I know that they are already interested in me, but I wanted to, like, go all out.” So what I made for my audition is a macaron mermaid tail. 

Julie [00:10:45]:  

I can't even imagine. 

Claudia: 

Oh wow. 

Andrea: 

Yeah. It was all macarons in the mermaid tail, so it was really cool to bring that. And then, they were just something that I really enjoyed. So, they just say, bring something that you really enjoy that you want to share with us. And, yeah, so that's what I did. 

Julie: 

Now, when you go, are you there for several weeks? Do you go back and forth? Like, if you live in Comox, picking everything up and going lock, stock and barrel to Toronto to bake in a, I assume, hot tent? That's a big disruption to your life. How does that work out? Now, it's not like your family is any, you know, a stranger to separation. But I guess this was your husband's chance to hold down the fort while you were gone. 

Andrea [00:11:27]:  

I know, right? Yeah. So like, it depends on how long you're there. As you guys know, I was only there for three episodes, but that was a total of two weeks. So, I was there that entire time. But like, the one, the contestants that are there longer, I believe halfway through they got sent home to kind of do some more practice bakes and stuff like that, and then they flew back to Toronto. So, they do, like, depending on how long you're there, you will go home for a period of time and then go back. But I was only there two weeks, so I didn't get a chance to come back, which I was OK with. It was so nice, and it was a nice break for me. Nice change. It was really weird to be like, “OK. Bye guys. Have fun!”. 

Julie: 

It's different being on the other side, but I'm sure you were better at setting it up because, like, “Let me tell you what you're going to go through. I'm going to organize this for you.” 

Andrea: 

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. 

Claudia: 

What did you, what did you think of your experience? 

Andrea: 

On the show? It was really stressful, but honestly it was the best experience of my life. I met so many amazing, amazing people that are still my friends, so they still talk to you on the daily, which is really cool. We actually have a group chat with all the other seasons as well. So, like of six seasons, they're on this group chat, so there's like 80 of us or something. So, it's really cool to like, connect with all the bakers that have been on the show, so, yeah… 

Claudia [00:13:02]:  

It's amazing, what a wonderful opportunity. 

Andrea: 

Yeah, it was. 

Claudia: 
And having been someone that has tasted your desserts when you were bringing them in as a volunteer, amazing.  

Andrea: 
Thank you. Thank you so much. Yeah. The whole experience, though, it was, it was stressful because I like to bake in my kitchen, by myself. Quiet, like my, like, little peaceful time. And it's like, when you're on the show, in the times, it's like people in your face is talking to you all the time. You always have to say, “OK, going in the oven,” or like anything like that, right? So, it was totally opposite of what I'm used to. Like, when my kids come into the kitchen and I'm like, “Go guys, I'm baking right now,” and they're like, “We want to beat you.” 

Claudia: 

But Mom's a celebrity now. She's been on TV.  

Andrea: 
Yeah, exactly. 

Julie [00:13:56]: 

Did people recognize you? When you got back to Comox? 

Andrea: 

Not right away, surprisingly. But then, it's funny because as you can see, my hair has changed a lot since I was on the show. Since I was in Petawawa. 

Julie: 

You had blue hair on the show, right? 

Claudia: 

Was it blue or purple? 

Andrea: 

It, it was. Mermaid.  

Claudia: 
Mermaid. OK.  

Andrea: 
It was like blue, and then mermaid-coloured scales on the back. It was like I said, I went all out. Yeah. So, like, it's funny, once I grew my hair out and went back natural, people started to recognize me more and like I look totally different from when I was on the show, but yeah, it was just really weird. Like, they recognized me a lot longer after. 

Claudia [00:14:42]:  

So, just in case someone is listening to this podcast, why don't you talk about what season that you were on, and if people are interested, they can catch it on the reruns, because I know I've seen you. I've watched those reruns a couple of times now, so… 

Andrea: 

Thank you. Yeah, I was on the Great Canadian Baking Show, season three. And yeah, you can watch it on CBC. I believe it used to be on Netflix, but they've taken it off Netflix now. So, which is really weird for me to be like, “Oh I'm on Netflix.” 

Claudia: 

Like I said, a celebrity. 

Julie: 

I'm pretty excited to hear there's a group chat, because I always sort of think, “They look like they're all friends, I hope they're all friends.” My husband's like, “Julie, just let it go.” But I'm going to tell him, I was right. You guys are all friends?  

Andrea: 
Yeah. 

Claudia [00:15:28]:  

Well, it's interesting, right? Because when you hear the individual, or the interviews that they do when people, you know, leave the show and they say, “Oh, we're going to be friends for life,” or, “I've made some excellent friends here and we're going to stay in touch.” And it's really good to see that you guys do, and embrace all the new contestants as well, right? 

Andrea: 

Yeah. Yeah, it's really cool. And it's like, if you ever you have a question, you need a recipe, you just like ask, and like, everyone shares it. And it's like, it's really cool. 

Julie: 

And it's different, I guess, than asking random people. Like, these are people you know are actually going to give you a really good recipe. 

Andrea: 

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. 

Claudia: 

Do you know if there's any other military spouses or family members that have been a contestant? 

Andrea: 

No, they're hasn’t. I was the first and only, so far, so I can't really say that. 

Claudia: 
Yeah, you have a lot to be proud of. 

Andrea: 
Awe, thank you. 

 Claudia [00:16:25]:  
Making it onto the show, and even, you know, for the, the two weeks that you were there, I think it's pretty phenomenal and you should pat yourself on the back for that because it was some amazing desserts.  

Andrea: 
Thank you so much.  

Claudia: 
At least it looked very amazing. 

Andrea: 

Right. 

Andrea: 

Like, I look back on it now and I'm like, “Oh my gosh, that looks awful. What was I thinking?” and I made so many mistakes. 

Claudia: 
It looks pretty. 

Andrea: 
Thank you.  

Claudia [00:16:50]:  

Yeah, and tasty. 

Julie: 

Do you find that some of the things that you have learned or experienced as a military spouse has sort of affected you in other ways? I was thinking like, you know, you go to this show, it's 10 brand new people. You're thrown in. Go ahead and make friends. Do you take experiences like, “I got posted to Petawawa and didn't know anybody, and I managed to make friends.” We started talking about the fact that being a military family member, it changes you and it gives, you know, experiences that maybe other people don't have. Do you find that those kinds of things translate? 

Andrea: 

Yeah, absolutely. Like, I, I'm kind of always been a person that usually is able to talk to people, but I find that because I've moved back and forth so much, that I'm like, “OK, new place, got to make connections somehow.” So, I like, go out there and like, I definitely feel that military guys, with their posting, it has kind of like, made me more open to making new friends easier and stuff like that. Going to events, I can say “hi” to anyone, and it's OK, like I don't get nervous, so. 

Julie: 

Did you guys only have the two postings like to Petawawa and back? Were those the only two times that you put everything you owned in a box and off you went? 

Andrea: 

Well, when my husband joined, after he went to his basic training, he had to go to Kingston, Ontario, for his P. O. E. T. T. And then, I was young then, of course, and then didn't have kids. So, I flew out there and had just to step on in my suitcase. We lived in Kingston, Ontario, for a year. And then we moved to Comox after that. So, it's only ever been Comox, and Petawawa really, like other than the one year in Kingston. 

Julie [00:18:37]:  

Do you look back on things like that and think, “Oh my gosh, what it was like to have that much freedom and that much bravery?” Like, yeah, I'm just going to put everything I have in a suitcase and just move there for you. What the… what could go wrong? 

Andrea: 

I know, it was so crazy because like I went on, I was. I don't even remember how old I was now. Oh my gosh, so long ago. But like, I went on Kijiji, and I was looking for places to rent, because I couldn't stay with, where my husband was because he was in the barracks. So, I went on Kijiji, connected with this, like, random person, but she ended up being amazing, but like I didn't know what I was doing. So, I'm like, I'm going to move to Kingston and live with this stranger, and like my parents are like, “You are crazy.” And Dustin didn't even know what I was doing. So, like now I'm like, “Wow, I did that.” And like, I don't know if I would be able to do it now, obviously, but like, yeah, it's kind of cool to think that I was so like, “Hey, it's fine. I don't have any responsibilities. I'm going.” 

Claudia: 

It’s amazing how little fear we have when we were so much younger, right?  

Andrea: 
Exactly. 

Claudia: 
More, more apt to jump in with both feet and not, not think about any, anything else after that. So, that's pretty amazing. 

Andrea [00:19:56]:  

Yeah, absolutely. 

Julie: 

Now, you have two young girls. Do you think that military life has affected them? 

Andrea: 

Well, like I said, we haven't moved very much. Luckily. Like, in Petawawa, I loved being there when they were young; there was so much to do with families. Like, all the events and things that you guys organized, it always so amazing. And I think that really made it the posting it was, because of all the things you guys put on for the families. I don't think I would have been happy otherwise because there's not much to do at all. But like, coming up to Comox, they have a lot of military friends because we live on, in the PMQ's, and they go to the school that’s right across the road from us, and a lot of the kids are military kids. So, they, it's affected them in the sense that a lot of their friends have been posted out. So, it's kind of hard like that. They, they've made some really good connections with a bunch of kids that have been posted, so that way it's definitely affected them, and then making new friends, like they're easily able to make new friends and stuff like that, too, which is really cool. 

Claudia [00:21:15]: 

Did you have to, did you find that you had to explain to the to the kids why they would lose their friends? Or why, you know, there'd be, like a group of friends that would leave one summer? Or, you know, I, I know that it's hard when, when children do lose their friends, and I know even when my kids had to move, trying to explain to them why, you know, that this was just the military way. I think. Yeah. So, just wondering if you had to do any of that, or was it just a natural course and the girls just carried on? 

Andrea: 

Well, like yes and no. Like, we kind of talked about it. Like I said, they had a couple friends that were twins, that they were like sisters. They were like my second pair of kids we shared back and forth. And that was the hardest, I guess, separation because I was like best friends with their mom and, and they were best friends with their daughters. So, that was the hardest one, and we had to kind of like gradually work up to it. But after they went through that initial, like, separation of their good friends, they kind of just got used to it. They're like, “OK, they're posted now.” And like, every once in a while, they're like, “We want to be posted.” I'm like, “Do you though? Do you really?” 

Claudia: 
You really don't.  

Andrea: 
“Like, we have a good here, girls, you don't want to go.” 

Claudia [00:22:39]:  

Do they stay connected now with all of the social media access, and Zoom, and FaceTime, and all that kind of stuff? 

Andrea: 

Yeah, absolutely they, they have their tablets, and they're always talking to their friends that have been moved away and stuff like that. But yeah, like, I'm so thankful. Like when I was a kid, we didn't have as much social media as they do, like, they are so lucky. So, like, it's really nice that they can stay connected and like anything like that. 

Julie: 

When we were kids, Claudia and I used to send letters to people. So, like, this is like… 

Andrea: 

Right? 

Julie: 

So far removed from my, from like tablets, and social media, and Zoom. Like people, we’d have pen pals, like through the school. Remember you, they used to have lists, like you could get a pen pal in another city, and you would send letters, like 2 letters, and then the whole thing like fizzled out? 

Andrea: 

Yeah, yeah, I, I did that. 

Claudia: 

We've decided as much as these podcasts are great, it just makes Julie and I feel old, older. 

Andrea [00:23:37]:  

It's so true though, like. Technology is just gone insane since so long ago. 

Julie: 

So, you talked about the fact that you have moved from coast to coast, back and forth, as a military spouse, a lot of us sort of talk about the challenges of finding yourself and finding a life in different communities. What advice do you have if somebody was just sort of starting off as a military spouse right now, what advice would you give them about how to sort of chart your own path, and sort of live your own life, and still be cognizant, or aware, of the way that military life is going to affect you? 

Andrea: 

For me, I've always, I've been with my husband since I was 16, so, I kind of like followed him, I guess. And then, I kind of found my way with baking when I was in Petawawa, and I did a lot of that there. But then, when we got home up to, like, I kind of want baking to be more of a passion, so, I tried to find my own path in the way that, what, what did I originally want to do before I met Dustin. So, it was definitely to be working in the school system. So, trying to get back into finding me again, which I never really did, so that would be like the biggest advice is to stay true to yourself. Like, do what you want to do, but also be like, respectful of like your spouse and your surroundings. But like, try to find your passion. Try to find what you really enjoy. For me, I love my job so much that it never feels like work, so I would tell anyone else to always find a job that really makes you happy, that you love going to, and that works well with your family life as well with being in the military. So, yeah. 

Julie [00:25:24]:  

Was it tempting to, did people sort of really encourage you after you were on the show to say, “OK, you should take this baking and make it your career?” Was there like, a, a pressure to sort of make that your next step? 

Andrea: 

Not really, but I've always, I always say, “If I had a dollar for every person, that said that I should open up my own bakery, I would have enough money to actually do it now.” But… 

Claudia: 

Do you still, do you still bake as much as you did? 

Andrea: 

Not as much as in Petawawa. Like, in Petawawa, I was making like cakes for people, and cupcakes, and macarons. Like, I was taking a lot of orders. I don't do that as much now because I work full time. I have my kids and so. And don't do that as much. And I honestly, like, I was starting to lose my passion when I was doing so much for other people. Like it became like a job, and I didn't enjoy it anymore. So, now it's like I bake because I want to give it to people, not because I want to, like, make money or anything like that. It’s more like, something that I love, that I could share with people, that brings them joy, brings me joy. And yeah, so baking is more a love, not a job.  

Claudia: 
Awesome. 

Julie [00:26:42]:  

I think that takes maturity to find that out, because I think a lot of people sort of think if I love it, it's obviously going to be a great job, and you know, do people keep telling you advice, like, do something you love. But, if you lose the love for that, then you know you've lost something that’s a part of you. 

Andrea: 

Yeah, exactly, like that's what I was saying earlier, like find a job that you love. And I thought, “Oh yeah, baking something I love. I'm going to do that.” And that's what I was doing. But then it started to feel like, not like something I enjoy. So now it's like, I don't have to do it if I don't want to. But I love doing it, and it's just for fun. 

Julie: 

So, what would you say was the biggest challenge that you were on the show? What was the one thing that we looked at, and you, you look back and you're like, I'm really proud of that? 

Andrea: 

Well, I'm really proud of just like, honestly, getting there, which was really cool. It was really nerve-wracking, too. But the biggest thing I was really proud of was that British Columbia cake I made, even though it didn't turn out perfectly like I planned. I was still really proud of it because it’s something, BC is so, so much, I love it so much. So, making that cake was really cool to do. 

Julie: 

Do you know ahead of time what they're going to ask you to do? 

Andrea [00:27:58]:  

So, I'm hoping I can say this, but like they, they give you some weeks ahead with what we're going to bake, and then you can kind of send in recipes and they'll say, “OK, no, we don't want you to do that, try and find something else.” But the technical, that was totally, like, we had no idea what it was, or who was going, like, what we were baking at all. 

Julie: 

Some of those technical bakes, and looking at, I wouldn't even know where to start. Like, even the instructions look difficult. How long should this go? How long do you think it should go in for? I don't know. Like how? What's this even supposed to look like? 

Andrea: 

Yeah. And like, that was scary, and it's like I guess we kind of all helped each other in that sense. So, like and we still didn't really do them right most of the time. They were, they were really stressful. They were like so much fun. 

Claudia: 

But they do that for a reason, right? Like that, that's, that's why they make it so technical. Yeah. 

Andrea: 

Yeah. Yeah, like, you don't actually have the exact recipe. So, like, they leave things out and you're like, you're looking over at your neighbours and you're like, “Well, what are you doing?” 

Julie: 

That looks really different than mine. 

Andrea [00:29:16]:  

If you, like, copied what they did, that might not have been the right thing either. So, like, there was a, I think it was the one with the marshmallow cookies, we were supposed to string at the seeds at the Jelly that goes in them, but none of us did because we like they were all copying each other. And I think only one person actually did train at the seeds, and they, they won that part, right? 

Claudia: 

So, I have one more question for you. And so, you've done the Great Canadian Baking Show, is The Amazing Race Canada next with you and your hubby? 

Andrea: 

Oh, my goodness. I wish I could ask like, “Well, would you do it again. Will you try?” I can't be on the Great Canadian Baking Show again, unfortunately, as much as I would love that. They always ask if you would try for another show anything. It's like the opportunity came, I would, but never The Amazing Race, no. 

Julie: 

I watched The Amazing Race and I'm like, “I don't think my marriage would survive that.” 

Andrea: 

Right, yeah. I honestly don’t. 

Julie [00:30:19]: 

I go to the airport with my husband, and he just turns into a different person. And then like, if we're doing that for like several weeks, we're not going to make it like even. My kids would just be like, “No, absolutely not.”  

Andrea: 

Yeah. You know my like, my husband would be dragging me along because I'd be like, “No, I don't want to do this right now.” 

Julie: 

I said to my husband you have military skills that we would have to use for that. If someone to jump out of an airplane, that's going to be you. If someone's going to rappel, that's going to be you. If someone's going to eat something disgusting again, going to be you. He's like, “What will you be doing?” I'm like, “I will be very encouraging from the sidelines.” 

Claudia: 

Pretty sure that's not how it works, Jules. 

Julie: 

The Military Family Life Amazing Race team, Claudia and I should just go on and see how we survive. 

Andrea: 

There you go. 

Claudia: 

That's a hard no. 

Andrea [00:31:05]: 

No, it would be fun, but like, I mean, because I think I would actually do the things just because you're like, on the spot, right? 

Claudia: 

I, I would do the Family Feud Canada. That, that's about my limit. We could do it for charity. Look at us, our podcast, podcast guests, and we can give back to the MFRC. Get on that, Julie. 

Julie: 

Yeah. No, in my free time, I'll get us on like a game show that's going to be great. No problem at all. 

Claudia: 

Not. Not The Amazing Race. 

Andrea: 

Yeah. 

Julie [00:31:39]:  

What is your advice for anybody who is taking a look at a challenge that might be outside their comfort zone and saying, “I don't think I'm ready, I don't think I can. I don't think I can put myself out there,” do you have any advice for them? Based on your experience of taking a leap and trying something? 

Andrea: 

Honestly, now, I'm like, “Just do it. If you even think about it. Just do it. Don't ponder on things, because then you second guess yourself. Then you go back for it all. I can't do it. Well, maybe just do it.” 

Julie: 

I always sort of talk to my girls about the fact, “Don't wait to do it to a time when it's going to be more convenient,” or like, “Don't wait. I'll do this.” When people talk about the fact, like, you know, we'll start having kids when we have enough money. There's never going to be a time in your life where you like, “OK, this is the perfect time,” or, “We have enough money to do anything.” Like, you know, take a leap and sort of stretch yourself. 

Claudia: 

If you want to do it, live your best life. 

Julie: 

Thank you so much for joining us. If you are a military family member and you have a story to tell, if you have advice that you would like to share with other military spouses, we would love to hear from you. Please send us an e-mail. It's in the show notes, and we will see you again next month. 

Claudia [Outro]: 
And that's it for this episode of Military Family Life. From one military family member to another. If you have any advice that you would like to share, let us know! We would love to hear from you. We may even share your experiences on future episodes. If you have family and friends who want to learn more about living their best military family life, don't hesitate to let them know about our podcast. Thanks for listening. Join us again next time for more Military Family Life.