In today’s episode of WTF Just Happened — Life Is Messy, Let’s Talk About It, we dive deep into what we lovingly call La La Land — the emotional space you slip into when real life feels too heavy, grief is suffocating, or adulthood is simply too much.

If you’re a widow, a divorcée, a woman in midlife, a burned-out mom, or someone trying to hold it all together while your heart is quietly falling apart… this conversation is for you.

This episode unpacks:

💛 Escapism during grief — why travel, distractions, spending, and staying “busy” become survival tools
💛 The emotional crash of re-entry — that moment you walk back into your house and reality hits like a freight train
💛 Grief fog + decision fatigue — when even choosing dinner feels impossible
💛 Widowhood + identity loss — rebuilding yourself after losing the person who knew you best
💛 Living alone for the first time ever — navigating quiet, loneliness, routines, and rediscovering who you are
💛 The universal midlife meltdown — how even people who haven’t experienced death still find themselves living in their own version of “La La Land”
💛 The guilt around joy — what it’s like to love travel, adventure, sunshine, and freedom… while grieving
💛 Widow’s Fire — YES… we go there 👀🔥 (and it’s a real thing)
💛 Why community matters — friends, family, and the people who won’t let you disappear into the couch
💛 Redefining adulthood — hobbies, purpose, self-discovery, and figuring out who the hell you are now
💛 Self-compassion through transition — why it’s okay to have cheese + wine for dinner, skip the grocery store, or not brush your teeth for a day

We talk honestly about grief, loss, trauma, escapism, resilience, and the messy, beautiful, confusing transformation that happens in midlife. Whether you’re navigating widowhood, divorce, a breakup, empty nesting, burnout, mental health struggles, or a massive identity shift — this episode will make you feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

Grab a cocktail, mocktail, Stanley cup, or emotionally supportive snack… because La La Land is a wild ride — and we’re talking about all of it.

Thank you for joining us for another real, raw, and healing conversation on WTF Just Happened — Life Is Messy.

Connect with us on the socials:

🎙 Podcast: @wtf.lifeismessy

💛 Hilary: @hilary.mode

💛 Sada: @simplysadajames

If you’re walking through grief, midlife transitions, healing, or the messy middle and want deeper support, Sada offers RISE, an intimate 8-week mentorship container for women ready to feel held, seen, supported, and less alone. It’s for anyone craving community, clarity, connection, and a softer place to land through the hard.

We love you for being here. Subscribe, share, and stay messy with us. 💛

Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views shared are based on personal experience and do not constitute medical, legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual situation. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or this podcast.

In this brutally honest — and hilarious — episode of WTF Just Happened — Life Is Messy, Let’s Talk About It, Sada and Hilary dive into one of the most requested topics of midlife: our faces, aging, facelifts, fillers, and what the hell is actually happening to our skin at 20, 30, 40, 50, and beyond.

We’re joined by the incredible Amy Melchior, MSN, APNP, FNP-BC, advanced injector, educator, and owner of Medical Rejuvenation, a boutique aesthetic practice just outside Portland in Gladstone, OR. Amy brings decades of medical wisdom, compassion, and zero-BS guidance about how women can age gracefully (or not-so-gracefully — your choice), what treatments actually work, and what’s nothing but expensive hype.

In this episode we unpack:
✨ Why your face looks different in the 40's and 50's — volume loss, ligament laxity, fat pad shifts, skin texture changes, and hormone-driven aging
✨ The truth about facelifts — who benefits, who doesn’t, industry myths, healing timelines, and why many women get little return doing it too early
✨ Fillers vs. surgery — what filler can and cannot fix, when it makes things worse, and how to know which path is right for you
✨ 40s vs. 50s aging reality check — perimenopause, exhaustion, parenting stress, career burnout, and the moment we all ask: “Why do I look so tired?”
✨ The decade-by-decade guide to aging — what to expect and what tools give the biggest results at different ages
✨ IPL vs. CO2 vs. microneedling — which treatments actually improve pigmentation, texture, and sun damage (and which ones are outdated or risky)
✨ Medical vs. aesthetic perspective — how Amy’s ER and cardiology background shapes her safety-first approach
✨ Why so many women are getting cosmetic procedures now — and why it’s nothing to be ashamed of

This conversation is real, raw, educational, and genuinely empowering. Whether you're thinking about Botox for the first time, considering a facelift, battling pigmentation, or simply curious why your neck suddenly changed overnight… this episode will make you feel normal, informed, and supported.

✨ Connect with Today’s Guest: Amy Melchior, MSN, APNP, FNP-BC

Owner, Medical Rejuvenation (Gladstone, OR)

🌐 Website: https://medjuv.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medical_rejuvenation/
📍 Address: 15 82nd Dr Suite 230, Gladstone, OR 97027
📞 Phone: 503-421-9271

Thank you for joining us for another real, raw, and healing conversation on WTF Just Happened — Life Is Messy.

Connect with us on the socials:

🎙 Podcast: @wtf.lifeismessy

💛 Hilary: @hilary.mode

💛 Sada: @simplysadajames

If you’re walking through grief, midlife transitions, healing, or the messy middle and want deeper support, Sada offers RISE, an intimate 8-week mentorship container for women ready to feel held, seen, supported, and less alone. It’s for anyone craving community, clarity, connection, and a softer place to land through the hard.

We love you for being here. Subscribe, share, and stay messy with us. 💛

Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views shared are based on personal experience and do not constitute medical, legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual situation. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or this podcast.

In this raw, deeply honest, and at times darkly funny episode of WTF Just Happened? Life Is Messy, Let’s Talk About It, Hilary shares the true story of the day a cheerful call from “Susan at Wells Fargo” blew the lid off her marriage — and ultimately became the catalyst for divorce, reinvention, and rising from the ashes.

Hilary takes us inside what it’s really like to be a mom of three young daughters, trusting her spouse to handle the finances, only to discover massive hidden debt, emotional stonewalling, and a life built on silence. From bankruptcy court and financial ruin to divorce, custody battles, restraining orders, and rebuilding from a credit score in the 500s, this episode pulls no punches.

But this isn’t just a divorce story.

It’s a story about:
• Financial infidelity and hidden debt
• Emotional neglect and stonewalling in marriage
• The silent unraveling so many women experience behind closed doors
• Divorce as a business decision, not just an emotional one
• Rebuilding after bankruptcy, divorce, and betrayal
• Finding joy, love, and stability after your life explodes
• Why trusting your intuition can save your future

Hilary also shares practical, hard-won advice for women who may be in the thick of it right now — including how to prepare financially, protect yourself, and take small steps toward independence even when you feel stuck, scared, or overwhelmed.

Along the way, she reminds us that even when life feels like a total plot twist, there can be silver linings — new love, deeper self-trust, laughter again, and a life you never could have imagined for yourself.

If you’ve ever:
• Been blindsided in marriage
• Trusted someone who broke that trust
• Felt trapped by finances, fear, or silence
• Walked through divorce, grief, or reinvention in midlife
• Wondered if it’s possible to truly start over

This episode will make you feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Grab your emotionally supportive snack, pour a cocktail or mocktail, and settle in. This is one you won’t forget.

✨ Content note: Adult language, real talk about divorce, finances, and emotional trauma.

📩 Need support or resources?
DM us on Instagram — we’re listening, and we’ve got you.

Thank you for joining us for another real, raw, and healing conversation on WTF Just Happened — Life Is Messy.

Connect with us on the socials:

🎙 Podcast: @wtf.lifeismessy

💛 Hilary: @hilary.mode

💛 Sada: @simplysadajames

If you’re walking through grief, midlife transitions, healing, or the messy middle and want deeper support, Sada offers RISE, an intimate 8-week mentorship container for women ready to feel held, seen, supported, and less alone. It’s for anyone craving community, clarity, connection, and a softer place to land through the hard.

We love you for being here. Subscribe, share, and stay messy with us. 💛

Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views shared are based on personal experience and do not constitute medical, legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual situation. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or this podcast.