RHOP alum Monique Samuels talks life after divorce: 'I don't have any regrets'

Monique samuels talks live after divorce in personal interview | motivation with marissa.

In a new series with FOX 5's Marissa Mitchell, Marissa sits down with Monique Samuels, former star of hit reality shows, "The Real Housewives of Potomac" and "Love and Marriage DC" to talk about her highly-publicized and scrutinized divorce from former NFL Star Chris Samuels. Debuting on FOX Local Saturday at 9 a.m.

WASHINGTON - Monique Samuels, former star of hit reality shows, "The Real Housewives of Potomac" and "Love and Marriage DC," details her life following her highly-publicized and scrutinized divorce from former NFL Star Chris Samuels in an interview with FOX 5's Marissa Mitchell. 

The couple finalized their divorce in September 2023, after appearing on both The Real Housewives of Potomac and Love and Marriage: D.C. Their struggles with their decade-long marriage were documented on both reality shows. 

Samuels says reality TV didn't cause her divorce – but it did "expose everything" in her life she had been ignoring. 

"I started to realize the illusion that I created even within my marriage, the people pleasing, the needing to prove myself, all of those different things. It kind of allowed me to really wake up and just see the life that I was living. And I did not feel like I was living a life that really served who I was as a person. I did not feel as though I was able to get everything that I needed personally, when it comes to my marriage," said Samuels in the first episode of Motivation with Marissa. "At the end of the day, you just get to a point where you just start to grow apart, and that's clearly what happened."

As with any reality TV show, the couples' appearances on RHOP and Love and Marriage: D.C. was rife with fighting and drama. But Samuels says it's all part of her journey. 

"I don't have any regrets," said Samuels. "I feel like everything that has happened to me, every experience that I've ever had, was necessary for me to get to where I am now."

Watch the full interview with Monique Samuels, where she talks more about her divorce, debunks common-held misconceptions about her and her life – and even gives us an insight into what exactly was in her binder of receipts at the season 5 reunion of RHOP. Streaming live on FOX Local 9 a.m. Saturday and available on demand. 

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Rolling Out

Monique Samuels opens up about life after divorce

  • By Amari Apple
  • Aug 23, 2024

Monique Samuels

Former “Real Housewives of Potomac” star Monique Samuels recently shared her experiences post- divorce from Chris Samuels, revealing a newfound happiness and a deeper connection with her children. In a candid YouTube live session on her channel, “Tea With Monique,” she discussed the changes in her life after their separation.

Life after divorce

After a decade of marriage, Monique and Chris Samuels finalized their divorce in 2023. Reflecting on her journey, Monique Samuels expressed that she feels significantly happier now. One of the most notable changes is her ability to be a more engaged mother to their three children: daughter Milani and sons Christopher and Chase.

She emphasized that the emotional weight of past arguments and misunderstandings had lifted, allowing her to flourish as a mother.

Positive changes noticed by her children

Samuels shared a touching moment during a family trip to Mexico, where her children remarked on how much happier she seemed. This acknowledgment from her kids brought her to tears, as she had made the difficult decision to prioritize their well-being over her fears of their potential resentment.

Samuels explained that she didn’t want her kids to grow up thinking that a toxic relationship was normal. She also noted that their home environment had been strained for a long time.

Today, Monique and Chris maintain an amicable co-parenting relationship, focusing on their children’s needs.

Reality TV and relationship struggles

During her time on reality television, Monique and Chris faced numerous challenges that played out in front of the cameras. Monique clarified that their issues predated their reality TV debut. She acknowledged that reality TV served as a distraction from their core issues, ultimately leading to their separation.

Monique Samuels’ journey post-divorce highlights the importance of self-discovery and prioritizing one’s happiness. As she embraces her new life, she continues to focus on being the best mother she can be while fostering a positive co-parenting relationship with her ex-husband.

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  • Chris samuels , divorce , family dynamics , featured middle , happiness , Monique Samuels , motherhood , Real Housewives of Potomac , reality TV

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Inside monique samuels’ reality tv return after ‘housewives’ ‘ptsd’.

When Monique Samuels exited “The Real Housewives of Potomac” in 2020 after four consecutive seasons, she didn’t see a reality TV comeback in her future.

“My experience with reality TV has been somewhat of a roller coaster to the point where at the end of it all, I had reality TV PTSD,” Samuels, 38, says at the top of “Love & Marriage: DC,” her new unscripted project for OWN Network. “And I was pretty much done.”

But then Carlos King called. The super-producer behind “LAMDC” — a spin-off of his first OWN hit “Love & Marriage: Huntsville” — was able to quell any nerves she had about a return just two years later.

“I didn’t want to do it [at first]. I said, ‘Carlos, I do not want to do another ensemble. I really don’t,’” Samuels recalls in an exclusive interview with Page Six. “After talking to him some more, he said, ‘Look, this will be different, I guarantee you.’”

Monique Samuels

King’s promise panned out. Unlike her experience on Bravo, the Mila Eve Essentials founder and her husband, former NFL player Chris Samuels, were able to handpick the other DC, Maryland, Virginia area-based couples they wanted to film with. 

The Samuels ultimately landed on Erana and Jamie Tyler of TikTok fame and DJ Quicksilva and his podcaster wife, Ashley Silva. Though Monique and her vibrant personality rest on the axis of the series, she assures us that her married friends are equally entertaining.

Chris and Monique Samuels on the poster for "Love & Marriage: DC"

“Even though the show was kind of built around my husband and I, when y’all meet the Silvas and the Tylers, let me tell you, they hold their own,” she notes. “They hold their own and they are incredible.” 

“LAMDC” is a more comfortable environment for Monique, she says, as it highlights her authentic character — not the “angry” woman she feels she was portrayed to be on “RHOP.”

“I had to leave the ‘Housewives’ franchise. It was just not really for me, you know? When I was on ‘RHOP,’ it was always, ‘Oh, let’s show her when she’s angry. Let’s show her when she’s zero to 100,’” says the ex-“Housewife,” whose explosive interactions with Candiace Dillard polarized her final days on the show. 

The cast of "The Real Housewives of Potomac"

“I was interacting with a group of women who were, for the most part, toxic.”

Monique concedes that she can still lose her cool at times, but clarifies that there are “other sides” of herself that will no longer be left on the cutting room floor.

“This time, you get to see me as the full person that I am,” she elaborates. “In this situation, I’m not being put into a box. I’m not being edited to look only one way. It’s showing me as a wife, a mom, a businesswoman and a friend. I’m very passionate and felt like a lot of times that was cut away when I was on that other show .”

Monique Samuels and Ashley Darby on "The Real Housewives of Potomac"

Monique — who maintains close friendships with “Potomac’s” Karen Huger and Ashley Darby, the latter of whom she is supporting amid Darby’s divorce — says that fans will see a “true difference” in how she and Chris navigate their marriage on “LAMDC.” 

“We’re very open and very real,” she says. “This time, it just won’t be edited out.”

The “Not for Lazy Moms” podcast host — who shares kids Christopher, 9, Milani, 6, and Chase, 3, with Chris, 44 — believes the inaugural season of her OWN show served as a “marriage growth spurt” for the Samuels following 10 years as spouses.  

Monique and Chris Samuels

“We have a will to keep pushing. [Divorce] is not an option,” the mother of three tells Page Six. “I’m like, ‘You ain’t about to give up on me! I’m not about to give up on you, so we’re just going to figure this thing out.’”

Having to dissect their marital issues on-camera — “Communication is the biggest one,” Monique admits — and turning to the Tylers and Silvas for support proved to be beneficial for the Samuels’ relationship. 

“There are times when you’re like, ‘Yo, maybe [divorce] is the right move.’ But then when you’re weighing out the good with the bad, it’s always more good than bad for us. There are other couples who maybe had issues that they couldn’t get past,” she says.

Monique Samuels, Chris Samuels and their three kids: Christoper, Milani and Chase

“But I truly believe in our marriage and I just feel like this is a growing moment for us. It doesn’t feel comfortable when you’re going through a growth spurt. So, this is our marriage growth spurt — and fortunately, yet unfortunately, it plays out on this show.”

“Love & Marriage: DC” premieres Saturday, May 14, at 9 p.m. ET on OWN Network. 

monique samuels loc journey

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8 Things We Learned About Real Housewives of Potomac’s Monique Samuels: “I'm A Housewife, But I'm A Businesswoman”

monique samuels loc journey

Since  The Real Housewives of Atlanta  premiered in 2008, we hadn’t seen another predominantly Black reality show on Bravo until last year when  The Real Housewives of Potomac  debuted. After getting to know Karen Huger, Gizelle Bryant, Charrisse Jackson Jordan, Ashley Darby and Robin Dixon last season, we were introduced to Monique Samuels for season two after Katie Rost left the show.

Samuels is the wife of former NFL player Chris Samuels, and the mother of a four-year-old son Christopher and daughter Milani who’s almost two. 

Over the past month, we’ve gotten an opportunity to get to know Samuels every Sunday night, but we exclusively talked to her to learn more about the tell-it-like-it-is “housewife,” her family and her life. As she told us, “the Samuels are very genuine and what you see is what you get with us.” 

Keep reading for eight things we learned about Monique Samuels.

1.   Monique and her husband were friends first

Monique shared that she and her husband Chris were actually friends before they started dating. She told us, “My husband and I have a very interesting relationship. We started off as friends so we love to have fun together.”

2.   Charrisse introduced Monique to RHOP—and they’re really good friends

Before our interview, Monique had actually just hung up the phone from speaking with Charrisse. Samuels told us, “I have a close relationship with Charrisse definitely. We talk whether we’re filming or not.” She also shared that Charrisse is the one who introduced her to the show. “Oddly enough my husband and I were looking at homes in the Potomac area to move to so that kind of sparked it all along. At first I was a little hesitant. My husband was like, ‘You know what? Let’s have fun with it.’ We only live once.”

3.   Monique wanted to “show people something different” on reality TV 

Reality TV can sometimes get a bad rep, and Monique wanted to change that. “I’m not the typical NFL wife like how most people think that the lifestyle is so glamorous. I bust my butt, work hard and it’s been that way since my husband and I started dating.”

4.   Monique and her family are loving the Potomac area and moving into their new home next month

We saw Monique and her husband find and purchase their new Potomac home on the show, but she told us they’re in the process of having it remodeled and will move in the top of June. â€œWe have friends that live in the Potomac area so we’re not totally new to the scenery there. We’d been there quite a few times, and we wanted to go somewhere that had a great school system. It’s like a little country, a little city so we love that aspect of it. It’s very quiet. The people are nice. So it’s been a pretty easy adjustment so far.”

5.   Monique is not worried about reality TV affecting her marriage—or her life

“I really feel like the show or any reality TV puts the spotlight on whatever issues you already have,” explained Monique. “But for me and Chris, we keep it real with each other. We’re very open in our communication. We both have that desire to want to be happy and have a great marriage and raise our kids. And I think that since we’re both on the same page, I really believe we’ll be fine.”

6.   Monique has always been “an entrepreneur at heart” and she runs her husband’s businesses and just launched her own

Monique used to have her own real estate appraisal company before she started dating her husband. Now she runs her husband’s company CRS Real Estate as well as Chris Samuels Enterprises and the Chris Samuels Foundation. “I created the Chris Samuels Foundation in order to allow Chris the opportunity to give kids who were in underdeveloped areas equipment for sports,” explained Samuels. “We just wanted to stabilize the community through sports and activities that would keep the kids outdoors and doing something fun.”

7.   Monique juggles being a wife, mom and businesswoman by being very organized

Monique told us that she operates on very little sleep and often gets her work done before her kids wake up or after they go to sleep. “I’m the first person up in the morning and I’m the last one in bed,” she said. “But it’s fine for me because if I’m choosing to do anything outside of my family, then it means I have to make time for it. I think a lot of people sometimes misconstrue that whole concept. They have their desire for things, but they don’t realize that you have to set aside time for that and still make time for your family.”

8.   Monique loves to empower other women, and is a bona fide businesswoman

Monique’s latest venture is her I’m BOSS Foundation to help women find their passion and turn into a business. BOSS is an acronym for Beating Odds, Setting Standards. “It’s really focusing in on changing your mindset,” she said. “If you can change your mindset, you can change a generation. So I think a lot of women these days get so focused on the glitz and glam and the fame that they don’t realize that at the end of the day, it’s still a business. You still have to know how to conduct your business. So I’m a housewife, but I’m a businesswoman.”

8 Things We Learned About  Real Housewives of Potomac ’s Monique Samuels: “I'm A Housewife, But I'm A Businesswoman”

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Love & Marriage: DC's Monique Samuels Talks Life On And Off Reality TV - Exclusive Interview

Monique Samuels smiling at an event

Reality TV — it's a genre many people indulge in as a guilty pleasure. In fact, Nielsen reports that reality TV was one of the top most-watched genres as of 2021, during a year in which "Americans streamed almost 15 million years' worth of content." While it's debatable as to how "real" reality TV programming is, for many, it doesn't really matter — it serves as an escape from the real world, where so many activities are still limited or restricted due to the pandemic.

Many reality TV series such as Season 5 of "The Real Housewives of Potomac" were even filmed right before the pandemic (per Salon ). When the season aired at the end of 2020, scenes of the cast's flashy vacation in Portugal took viewers back to a simpler time in which Americans could easily travel to Europe. 

This was not, however, a simpler time for "The Real Housewives of Potomac" star Monique Samuels, who was involved in a heated altercation with fellow castmate Candiace Dillard-Bassett (per Bustle ). Samuels drew the line and left the show when she saw rumors surrounding her family get dragged into the conversation. But after a two-year hiatus, Samuels is back gracing our reality TV screens on OWN's "Love & Marriage: DC." We sat down with Samuels for an exclusive interview to speak about her return to reality TV and how it's different this time around.

The story you miss from reality TV

Monique Samuels speaking next to her Real Housewives castmates

You're coming back from a two-year hiatus in reality TV . How would you describe your past journey with "The Real Housewives"?

Oh, wow. It's good moments, [for] probably my first season when it was very pure and I was so naive, not understanding what I was walking into. Then it grew more toxic every year.

I read a little bit about your time there through a Page Six interview , and you described your experience as "reality TV PTSD." Can you elaborate more on that feeling?

Yes. There is a sense of misconception when it comes to reality TV. People think that everything that they see on the show is exactly what happened, how it happened, as it happened. But what people don't understand is that in reality, you're filming your real life during the filming phase. The next phase, when they're editing and they're creating a story based on what you filmed, there's a whole different crew that actually puts those pieces together. You have one set of individuals that capture your reality. Then you have another set of individuals that piece together a story of your reality. The traumatic part of it all is once it's shown on TV.

You know exactly what happened in all of those scenes, but then you're being forced to accept and identify with a narrative that may not necessarily be who you are or true to what even happened in those moments. The PTSD of it all comes from the manipulation and how things play out and then having to then do interviews and accept the narrative that was shown on TV that you know is not true. It can be very toxic. It can be very challenging because you know who you are, and it's a constant reminder every day — "I know who I am, I know who I am" — while everybody else sits back and watches TV and judges you based on the story that was pieced together [from] your actual reality.

It can be very traumatic if you're also coupling that with behind-the-scenes issues, network issues, production issues, cast member issues. To think about even coming back into a situation like that ... It can be a little scary.

I'm sure fans get heated, too, with social media, and you get to see some of their reactions.

Yes, absolutely.

Love & Marriage: DC will show a more complete picture of Monique Samuels

Cast of Love & Marriage: DC posing at event

There's only so much viewers get to see of you on TV with this edited storyline and the narrative. W hat's one major thing you think viewers didn't get to see of you during your time with " The Real Housewives "?

I didn't think that they were able to see the business side of me. They saw glimpses of everything. They saw a glimpse of me being a mom, a glimpse of me handling business, a glimpse of me as a wife and as a friend, but they didn't really get the full picture. Honestly, now I can say that I don't think that people will ever get a full picture by looking at a reality TV show, because when it comes down to it, it's based on entertainment. While I was on reality TV the first time, I was put into positions that I would not necessarily put myself into in real life. That was one of the major things that was a stain.

Now you're starring in "Love & Marriage: DC." How is this experience different from what you described with "The Real Housewives"?

What I love about "Love & Marriage: DC" is that it's talking not just about an individual group of women — it's actually about marriages. What I love about this show is the fact that there are three couples who are real couples. They are people who I would actually hang out with, and we have pretty solid marriages that we can all learn from. Every part of the filming process for this show was a situation that I, in reality, would actually participate in. That's what I loved.

The whole filming process was very genuine. It was just "be me" — show up and be myself and be open and vulnerable. I love the fact that we were real about [how] we didn't come into this situation knowing a lot about each other. We have very social friendships. One of the ladies that is a part of the show, she's a friend of the show. I met her probably 15 [or] 16 years ago while my husband was still playing in the NFL because her husband, at the time, was his teammate. We go back a long, long time ago, so our friendship is one that is very social.

We never hung out with each other. We never "kiki" on the phone or anything like that, so there was growth. There was room for me getting to know her in front of an audience at the same time that the audience can get to know her and get to know me and the other ladies who also were very social. That's what was my favorite part — you're getting to know us as we're getting to know each other.

Monique says Washington, D.C., is a fun place for couples

Monique Samuels smiling with husband former NFL player Chris Samuels

Are there any challenges in being a power couple in D.C.?

I wouldn't say that there are any challenges. You just live your life. There's so much that you can do in this area. When it comes to being able to date and get out and do something fun, you'll never fall short in D.C. You have everything you can think of. From country living to city living, to museums and monuments, to amazing outside theaters and shops and everything that you can think of, all the events that happen here in the sporting world, in the theater world ... There's so much to do here. You could never be bored.

We see a clip in the trailer of you and your husband, former NFL player Chris Samuels, sharing a very vulnerable moment. What was the journey like filming with your husband?

It was very different because my husband is not as comfortable in front of cameras as I am. He was always short of words and it was a lot of me doing the talking. One thing that I know about reality TV is no one's going to sit there and watch you just sit there.

Nobody wants to see that, so I will keep a scene going. I will keep talking. I will keep pouring out. He is quite the opposite. He's very reserved. He's an overall private person. This time around, I don't even know if he fully understood and appreciated what he was getting himself into because it was in ... When we were on Bravo, all of that was more so on me. He was able to pop in on different scenes as needed, versus this show, he's an actual cast member.

It's not an option. It's like, "You are a part of this filming process and you have to take an active role in it." It was definitely different because in my mind, I'm thinking we're going to have the same conversations that we have behind closed doors in front of the cameras and be open and vulnerable, but his level of openness wasn't the same as mine. We didn't get to hear a lot about what he thought and his take on certain things.

How Monique empowers other mothers through her online platform called Not For Lazy Moms

Monique Samuels posing with others at grand opening of W Nail Bar

Can you delve deeper a little bit into the experience of filming with other couples? Did you learn anything from them? Did they learn anything from you?

Yeah. Carlos King, the creator of the "Love & Marriage" franchise, actually allowed me to build the cast for the show. The couples that I chose were couples that I had social relationships with. I met Erana [Tyler] on Instagram, talking to her and DMs.

I met Ashley [Silva] when I was still on ["The Real Housewives of Potomac"] and I was filming my last season there. I actually met her at an event there, and she and I remained in contact ever since then. I was a part of her podcast — she has a podcast called "Fun Time Moms." We collaborated with my podcast, the " Not For Lazy Moms " podcast. From that, we always stayed in touch on a social level.

They came to be [on "Love & Marriage: DC"] because I felt like they would make great TV, because I felt as though they had solid marriages. They seemed very open to the process. The show is a hit because of them.

You spoke about your online community, " Not For Lazy Moms ." From your experience, how can having an online community help moms?

Oh, man — let me tell you, the reason why I started "Not For Lazy Moms" is because I was the number one babysitter. I watched all my cousins, my little brother. I was that girl that always had a baby in her hand. I really thought that when I became a mom, I knew everything. I thought that I would be fully prepared for motherhood. Once I gave birth to my first son, I realized how unprepared I was. I said, "I cannot be the only one." 

Having this community has been a safe space for moms to share their struggles, share their tips, share their secrets. How do you get by? How do you get through? How do you get out of the house and have both shoes matching? How are you able to keep yourself together and balance it all?

The reason why I created the "Not For Lazy Moms” community was so that we, as women, can share some of our secrets to help the next woman who thinks that she has it all together, and then has a baby, and realizes that she doesn't. It's like, "Why do I have to go through all of this if someone can lend some advice to me so that I can make it through and be confident in my mothering or parenthood journey?"

Not For Lazy Moms provides tips on everything from traveling to potty-training

Monique Samuels posing in gold dress

What sort of content does the platform cover?

We cover everything — natural remedies and alternatives for you and your whole family. We cover maintaining mommy. Then we have lifestyle tips, such as potty training. I started potty training all of my children as soon as they were able to sit up. My son and my daughter were both six months old. My youngest son, Chase, was four and a half months old when we started the potty training process. [We're] giving those different tips of things that people don't realize is possible. 

Then we have lifestyle tips for traveling — traveling with a child for the first time, traveling with multiple children. I do it all the time, so I share my life experience, and we have other contributors who also share from their life experiences as well.

The traveling one is a very important topic.

Oh, yes. I have a really long article, and I did a video of how we travel, how we'll wake up our kids at 3:00 in the morning and surprise them with the trip, and I'm documenting the whole thing. We have all kinds of videos on the website, "how-to" videos and everything. It's been a really fun community.

How did you come up with the title for the platform?

"Not For Lazy Moms" was a play on words. One day, my six-month-old daughter had a double ear infection ... my older son was a toddler. My mom came into town to visit, and I was all over the place doing natural remedies for my daughter and also caring for my son. She was like, "Wow, this is not for the lazy." I was like, "That's it. Not for lazy moms."

It's a play on words because being a mom is the exact opposite of lazy. This community is for you if you are a mother. [If] you have a child, this community is for you because it is not a job for the lazy. It doesn't matter if you are that super mom or if you're that mom that does just enough. Either way, it takes so much from you to put in the work to raise children. It was a play on words that my mom inspired and that I turned into "not for lazy moms." In other words, it's for you.

Monique turned her passion for self-care into a thriving business

Monique Samuels posing next to her brand's products

You also own an essential oil line called Mila Eve Essentials . What led you to start your own brand of essential oils?

I was kind of bullied into starting it by my fans and followers on Instagram. When I was on ["The Real Housewives of Potomac"], they always saw me with essential oils, and people would message me and they would say, "Listen, I want to try essential oils, but I want to try your essential oils." I'm like, "Oh, well, I don't have my own." They're like, "Well, let me know when you have your own." This kept happening so much that I was like, "You know what?"

During the quarantine, I said, "I have the time. Let me go ahead and look into this. Let me see if I can find an amazing source for getting 100% pure therapeutic essential oils." And that is exactly what I did. During quarantine, I started the process in March of 2020, and I was able to launch the entire company by December 15, 2020. That was our soft launch. Within four days, we were sold out of darn near the entire store.

By the time we actually launched, which was January 1, 2021, I couldn't believe it. I was having sales every day from the time we launched the website. Even into today, it's like business — it's been mind-blowing. It was one of those situations where I did it because I saw that there was a need and a lot of my followers who loved listening to me talk about essential oils. They were like, "No, you've got to start your own company. We want your oils." I was like, "All right, let me look into it." I had the time to do it.

I looked through your website, and I saw the Namaste oil. That looked exciting.

I have it right here. It smells amazing. It has rose in it. I'm actually wearing that today. It's so funny — I just did an intuitive healing session with my intuitive healer. Her name is Terry Christine; she was on the show on "Love & Marriage: DC” as well. But she's adjusting my energy and she's like, "What is that you have on? It smells so good." I'm like, "Oh, I'm wearing Namaste."

Balance is key in managing a well-rounded life

Monique Samuels sitting in powder blue lace dress

How are you able to balance having your own business, managing a blog, being a mother and wife, along with being a reality TV star?

I really had to prioritize. I had to slow down and step back and see what all could I handle legitimately. What do I need help with? Then [I have] a plan for my husband and I so that we can have some more teamwork when it comes to the children.

I also homeschool our children. Every day is a pretty full day. We allot Monday through Friday to get everything done. Saturdays and Sundays are chill days. I rarely have anything planned on Saturdays and Sundays. If you invite me to go somewhere on the weekend, I'm more likely going to tell you no, because that's when it's straight up family time and I'm getting rest and relaxing with my children. We have our movie day. We like to sit in the house on the couch, or we get in the pool. 

It's [about] prioritizing: What is most important that needs to be done right now? I typically plan out my life by quarters. For each company, I'll have what my target list is for the quarter. I do it by quarters every year, and I check off things as they go. I learned that time doesn't exist; I can do what I want when I want, how I want to do it. If I don't meet a goal that quarter, I simply move it to the next quarter. 

Then I do my best at checking off what comes first and what takes most priority. I learned how to take the pressure off myself by realizing that I do not have to control everything. That was a huge life lesson that took me years to learn, and it works for me. Now I don't sweat the small stuff.

That's a great tip. I'm going to have to try that quarterly tip.

Oh, it works. It's nice too, because as you start checking those boxes, you can look back and see all that you actually accomplished. Then that gives you even more of a push to keep going, because you don't feel like you wasted time and you got nothing done. You actually see, "Whoa, okay. Out of the 20 things that I had, I checked off 12 of them. I did do something. I may not have gotten those eight done, but I did do a lot. I did the majority of what I needed to do."

Lists are the ultimate tool in managing time for Monique

Monique Samuels attending event

What's the most important advice you would give to moms who do want it all?

I would tell them to always know what matters most and then make a list — I'm big on lists — of what's most important. You can't have it all. You can't do it all. Don't be afraid to ask for help. That was one of my biggest lessons that I had to learn outside of not controlling everything: knowing that it's okay to ask for help. Sometimes, we feel like because we saw our parents do it, or our grandparents do it, and they seem like they did not have help — although a lot of them did — we get overwhelmed and we say, "Well, our mom did it so I should be able to do it too. I shouldn't have an excuse." 

Then we put so much pressure on ourselves. The biggest way to do it all is by removing the pressure from yourself and realizing that you can do small doses of everything that you want to do. You can be a full self-care woman, a great wife, and an amazing mom all at the same time. It's looking at what priority is most important and then not being afraid to ask for help. If you need help, part those lips and ask. Having solid people around you will help you to push forward.

The season finale of "Love & Marriage: DC" airs Saturday, July 30, at 8:00 p.m. ET on OWN. Episodes are also available to watch on the OWN website.

This interview was edited for clarity.

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Monique Samuels

Not For Lazy Moms

We want it all. we do it all..

A Community of New Generation Moms

Monique Samuels, Founder

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What mom is lazy? Being a mother is one of the most challenging, yet fulfilling jobs you can ever experience. It requires wearing several hats and using several hands to multitask and get the jobs done.

Not For Lazy Moms is a community of resourceful women who are determined to accomplish their goals and dedicated to helping one another succeed. Through the strength of this common bond, Not For Lazy Moms will grow into a global network of contributors who share stories about overcoming obstacles in life, open up about challenges, and share ideas and advice. We are not experts, we are real women who want it all, and do it all. Not For Lazy Moms is a community that you can depend on for support as you search for answers on your journey to live a healthy and happy life.

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    33K likes, 735 comments - moniquesamuelsMay 4, 2023 on : "Today is my Loc anniversary! 2 years ago I began my journey and it was the best decision I've ever made. I ...

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    31K likes, 586 comments - moniquesamuels on September 12, 2023: "I'm officially FREE! I removed my loc extensions. All natural thanks to theeeee BEST Loctician Chaunsey Seelo who has cared for my locs since my journey began May 4, 2021! I love listening to my hair and my locs said it is time!! They are so soft. I didn't think I could be more in love with my hair!!! This is life!! ".

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    What are your ultimate goals and purpose in life? The "Self" Challenge is an open discussion hosted by Monique Samuels that provides real life stories of how one can truly be in alignment with their purpose, promote self-discovery and self-love, rid themselves of ego and realize your potential, personally, professionally, spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally.

  5. Monique Samuels

    Loc'ing my hair was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. The freedom of it all Shout out to the best loctitian The Locin' Lo keeping them beautiful, soft, moisturized and healthy! Be sure to tune in every morning 6am-10am for the WPGC 95.5 #goodmorningshow or download the Audacy app!

  6. #Repost Monique Samuels: I'm officially FREE! I removed my loc

    #Repost Monique Samuels: I'm officially FREE! I removed my loc extensions. All natural thanks to theeeee BEST Loctician The Locin' Lo who has cared for my locs since my journey began May 4, 2021! I...

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    My journey through life , living with Lymphedma.

  8. Monique Samuels

    Monique Samuels is an American television personality who starred in The Real Housewives of Potomac and Love & Marriage: DC. She was born in 1983, married former football player Chris Samuels, and divorced in 2023.

  9. RHOP alum Monique Samuels talks life after divorce: 'I don't have any

    Watch the full interview with Monique Samuels, where she talks more about her divorce, debunks common-held misconceptions about her and her life - and even gives us an insight into what exactly ...

  10. Not For Lazy Moms

    Immerse yourself in sound and meditate while doing it. Not for Lazy Moms is a community created by Monique Samuels for new generation moms who want it all and do it all. We strive to be the best versions of ourselves - in our parenting, relationships, careers, and self-care. Learn more by reading our blogs or subscribing to our podcast!

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    Monique Samuels is a former reality TV star, a radio personality for WPGC 95.5, and the founder of Mila Eve Essentials and Not For Lazy Moms. She is also a mom of three, a writer, and a philanthropist who balances her personal and professional lives.

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    Not For Lazy Moms is a platform founded by Monique Samuels, a radio personality, entrepreneur, and mom of three. It offers stories, advice, and support for women who want it all and do it all in life.

  13. Monique Samuels

    Loc'd and loving it 🥰 ️🙌🏾 See yall at 7pmET for Tea With Monique (Link in bio) on YouTube! "Zodiac Dating" with myself and co-host @jayehinson! Special guests @psychicchrism and @ashleyboalchdarby ️ ️ ️

  14. Chris Samuels Breaks Silence Following Divorce from Monique Samuels

    The former NFL player and the RHOP star finalized their divorce in September 2023, after Monique filed for separation in April. Chris shared a message of trust and faith on Instagram, while ...

  15. 20 Questions With Monique Samuels (Love & Marriage: DC)

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  16. Monique Samuels opens up about life after divorce

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  17. Inside Monique Samuels' reality TV return after 'Housewives' 'PTSD'

    Monique Samuels details her reality TV journey in an exclusive interview with Page Six. Page Six. King's promise panned out. Unlike her experience on Bravo, the Mila Eve Essentials founder and ...

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  19. 8 Things We Learned About Real Housewives of Potomac's Monique Samuels

    Keep reading for eight things we learned about Monique Samuels. 1. Monique and her husband were friends first. Monique shared that she and her husband Chris were actually friends before they ...

  20. Podcast for Moms

    Monique and Riley, joined by Ray Nell Jones, discuss the meaning and importance of helping your community. The Not For Lazy Moms podcast was created for moms and shares stories about overcoming obstacles and getting through every-day challenges. Monique Samuels shares her expertise on marriage, kids, parenting and more. Subscribe today!

  21. Love & Marriage: DC's Monique Samuels Talks Life On And Off ...

    If you need help, part those lips and ask. Having solid people around you will help you to push forward. The season finale of "Love & Marriage: DC" airs Saturday, July 30, at 8:00 p.m. ET on OWN. Episodes are also available to watch on the OWN website. This interview was edited for clarity.

  22. Monique Samuels

    42K likes, 856 comments - moniquesamuels on August 18, 2021: "Loc'd and loving it 殺 ️ See yall at 7pmET for Tea With Monique (Link in bio) on YouTube! "Zodiac Dating" with myself and co-host @jayehinson! Special guests @psychicchrism and @ashleyboalchdarby ️ ️ ️ #teawithmonique #zodiacsigns #moniquesamuels #locs #locstyles #blacklocs #naturalhair #locslife # ...

  23. Not For Lazy Moms

    The "Self" Challenge is an open discussion hosted by Monique Samuels that provides real life stories of how one can truly be in alignment with their purpose, promote self-discovery and self-love, rid themselves of ego and realize your potential, personally, professionally, spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. The Self ...