DANIELLA MONET ON GROWING BUSINESSES AND BABIES
BOLD KIDS ARTWORK TO SPRUCE UP ANY SPACE THE PROGRAM CHANGING THE VIRTUAL SCHOOL GAME
THE SPROUTED DIAPERS CO-FOUNDER IS EXPECTING A BABY GIRL
For
life at home.
LOUI BABY
Beautiful design and function have collaborated on a much cuter pacifier to complement your cutie. Breakthrough brand Loui Baby introduces their safe, stylish pacifier made of 100% medical grade silicone (BPA, phthalate, PVC, and latex-free!) with a single piece construction (no joints or cracks for dirt or bacteria to hide!) in a sweet scalloped or classic round design. Loui is easy-to-grip, dishwasher safe, and quite honestly, the most posh paci we’ve ever seen. —louibaby.com
ON THE EDITOR’S LIST
Bathtime just got way more fun! Founded by Architectural Digest Style Director Jane Keltner de Valle and her award-winning designer and architect husband Giancarlo Valle, Paloroma offers thoughtfully-formulated personal care products for kids (a gentle cleansing bar, daily wash, and cream) all free of harsh chemicals and fragrances (even dairy, soy, and gluten!) and put together in an exquisite, soft blue package. paloroma.com
FROM OUR FRIENDS AT
FridaBaby comes the Essential Booger Picker Tool (yep, we said it!) that you never knew you needed. The new 3-in-1 Nose, Nail + Ear Picker is as satisfying as the snot-sucking NoseFrida, complete with four different tips to help you pick those baby bats in the cave, clean under nails, remove visible wax from Mini ears, and an extra utility tip for random gunk like belly button fuzz or toe jam (yuck!).
$9.99; Available at frida.com.
Cal
MINI MUST-HAVE ▶
These Mini Hansel from Basel socks are the best way to cozy up this fall season!
No need to leave the house for this one! Visit fieldmuseum.org and let your kids ask Maximo, the world’s largest dinosaur, any question!
Boo at the Zoo, the Bronx Zoo’s annual Halloween event is back this year—masked, of course! Reservations are required to enjoy the Costume MASKerade and more!
Pack up the kids and drive through the Hauntoween Jack-O-Lantern Tunnel in Woodland Hills, complete with a socially distant photo op!
Hit the one-way trail at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo this fall to take in the fall ambiance—sans crowds! Free reservation required.
We can’t think of anything more genius than a YouTube channel where celebrities (like Kristen Bell, Oprah, and Jimmy Fallon!) read kids books aloud! Storyline Online is a free online resource where your Minis can imagine with the stars! —youtube.com
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Head to Mini for more interviews with parents around the world, style, and more
LIVING BABY+KIDS
FOLLOW MINI
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If you’re on Instagram, be sure to follow Mini! We’re sharing behind the scenes peeks at making the magazine, new kids products and collections, and much more!
50 GREEK BABY NAMES
YOU’LL LOVE THIS YEAR Browse these stunning Mini monikers from the shores of Mykonos and beyond!
THE BEST PRADA BOOT DUPES YOU CAN BUY Give your fall wardrobe a boost, mamas, with these affordable Prada-like boot picks!
THIS BLOGGER’S NURSERY CLOSET MAKEOVER IS GOALS If you’re looking for organization inspo this season, look no further than this blogger’s nursery!
GO INSIDE DADA DAILY FOUNDER CLAIRE OLSHAN’S NURSERY You’ll want to snag every element from this beautifully bold yet neutral NYC nursery
14 | MEET THE TEAM The team that makes all the Mini magic possible
18 | EDITOR’S LIST
A carefully-curated list of Kate’s favorites this season
21 | THE STYLE SPOT A chic selection of voter gear, sweatsuits, and slip-on shoes
28 | IN THE BAG Chriselle Lim shows us what’s inside her Givenchy bag
31 | MOM It’s the style spot for all of you chic Mini moms from bump to beyond
34 | TECH KIDS Discover the latest and greatest from the Mini tech sphere
36 | IN THE BAG Beauty guru Julee Wilson shows us what’s inside her MZ Wallace bag
39 | BOOK CLUB Sweet new children’s book titles to cozy up with while stuck indoors this fall
40 | HOME Where to find the most beautiful new cribs and adorable bins to organize your nursery
42 | ART FOR ALL
Spruce up any space with these kids art prints featuring dinosaurs and more!
44 | ON THE CLOCK Mini puts Catherine Lowe on the clock for 20 questions, including favorite movie!
49 | ON THE SCENE Explore a must-have single to double stroller and an easy-clean high chair
54 | STRESS AWAY Escape the chaos of the day with these luxurious CBD goodies like bath bombs and oils
56 | SCOOP Learn all about DIY dough, plus the virtual preschool that’s changing the home school game
64 | SMOOTHIE PROJECT
Weelicious founder Catherine McCord shares two delicious smoothie recipes
68 | ON THE CLOCK Mini puts Duff Goldman on the clock, answering questions about his new book and advice for his baby
72 | GET TO KNOW HER Wovn Home founder Davina Ogilvie opens up about starting a business
76 | LUNCHBOX HERO The lunch-packing gear that makes mealtimes more fun
78 | GROWING Our fall cover mom Daniella Monet has sprouted a new venture
90 | MOGUL MOM Designer and mom of two Carly Cushnie shows us around her bright Brooklyn home
102 | BABY LOVE Annie Lawless Jacobs dishes on welcoming daughter Daisy
114 | A CHANGE OF PACE
Goop Editor at Large Elise Loehnen talks raising two boys, and the new path she’s forging
124 | PAJAMA GAME LAKE
Pajamas founders open up their Atlanta store to talk business and motherhood
132 | DOMESTIC GODDESS Weezie Towels co-founder Lindsey Johnson shares how she found a niche in musthave towels
MINI
Founder and Editor in Chief Kaitlyn Kirby
Cover Photography Gretchen Easton
Cover Styling Kaylee Jackson
Editorial Team
Contributing Photographer Mary Catherine Brownfield
Contributing Photographer Charlie Juliet Photography
Contributing Photographer Jennie Corti
Contributing Photographer Vanessa Tierney
Mini Offices
Mini Magazine
Email | hello@mini-magazine.com Web | www.mini-magazine.com
Mini Magazine is a digital lifestyle publication for the modern parent available online at www.mini-magazine.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in digital and print reviews.
Copyright © 2020 Mini Magazine.
Editor
INSIDE LOOK:
(On Right) A peek at our fall cover shoot with soon-to-be mom of two Daniella Monet and her sweet son Gio! (Below) I tried that Amazon dress everyone is raving about—and it’s the most comfortable, nursing friendly thing I own!
It’s already fall! This year seems to be flying— doesn’t it? But that doesn’t mean it’s been easy. We’ve dubbed this the Self Care issue, peppered with ideas for treating yourself, because honestly, who isn’t a little drained by 2020.
We are thrilled to welcome soon-to-be mom of two Daniella Monet to our fall cover along with her darling son Gio, Brooklyn-based designer Carly Cushnie, clean beauty CEO Annie Lawless and baby girl Daisy, plus more inspiring moms like the founders of LAKE Pajamas (AKA the only pajamas I wear!), Weezie Towels co-founder Lind-
sey Johnson (their makeup towels are a must-have!), and goop Editor at Large Elise Loehnen (who has some seriously inspiring words to share!).
I hope you’re all holding up well during this chaotic time, whether you’re at home juggling Zoom School and endless snack breaks, with that tricky work from home set-up, or reading this while waiting for preschool pick-up or even hiding in the bathroom (been there!). Just enjoy— You deserve it!
EN ESPANOL
My daughter is crazy about Canticos and their new books offer endless fun! — canticosworld.com
LOVING LELE
TRAILBLAZERS
These tees celebrate prominent figures and make a bold statement too! —
I can’t wait to get my hands on these Lele Sadoughi hats for fall and the adjustable kids masks (on right) are a must! — lelesadoughi.com
New nursery brand Nestig has the most beautiful cribs— I can’t stop staring! —nestig.com WELCOME TO MY CRIB
THE SPOT TO SHOP FOR THEIR MINI WARDROBE
Style
STYLE BY SCHULZ
Filled with all of our favorite childhood characters like Snoopy, Woodstock, and Charlie Brown, children’s fashion brand Janie & Jack debuted their all new Peanuts Collection and it’s everything your Minis will want to live in this season! The character pull-over sweatshirt comes in adult sizes so you can twin with your Mini, and with pieces like joggers, tees, and even pajamas, there’s no excuse not to be decked in head-to-toe Charlie Brown all day, every day! The collection is available now online and in select stores. — janieandjack. com ◀
PEANUTS X JANIE & JACK MINI LEISURE SUITS EASY OFF SHOES
CLICK HERE TO SHOP
PEANUTS X JANIE & JACK!
FOR THE MAMAS
For those of us who can really vote, opt for these patriotic get-ups! Above : $105 ; Limited Edition I Am a Voter Boxy Crew; thisisthegreat. com; $50 ; When We All Vote Necklace; bychari.com Below : $150 ; Limited Edition Callie Vote Boots; naturalizer.com
MINI VOTER
There’s no better way to share the power of the vote than with these Mini American ensembles.
FUTURE VOTER
This hand-embroidered sweater will be useful for years. $160; linguafranca.nyc
Honor the late, great RBG with this Trailblazer tee. $28; piccolinakids.com
Sold separately, these sets still match perfectly for your Mini leisure lover! Above : $24 ; Zip Hoodie; $22 ; Jogger; primary. com Below : $32 ; Bright Basics Sweatshirt; Bright Basics Sweatpant; hannaandersson.com MIX AND
LEISURE SUIT
Spending more time at home doesn’t have to mean the same ol’ mismatched sweats, spring for these sweet suits instead!
DOUBLE DUTY
This ribbed set feels like butter and could double as pajamas. $38; poshpeanut.com
organic
VIBES This organic cotton sherpa set is as soft as it is adorable. $38; monicaandandy.com.
Available in three fall shades, this hooded set is a cozy dream. $17.99; hm.com
AUTUMNAL
SHERPA SOFT
MATCH
EO HAND SANITIZER SPRAY IN FRENCH LAVENDER
$11; amazon.com
HOURGLASS LIP OIL
“This anti-aging lip treatment contains essential oils and vitamins, keeps my lips moisturized, and gives me a natural hint of color.” $49; sephora.com
LARGE BAG $2650, saksfifthavenue.com
WHAT’S IN THE BAG
Chriselle Lim
The BümoBrain Virtual School co-founder and mom of two spills the contents of her Givenchy Antigona bag.
LELE SADOUGHI MASKS
“I love their masks because they have adjustable straps— perfect for my girls’ little faces.” $40 ; lelesadoughi.com
GR8NOLA MINI BAG
“This is my favorite clean granola. Great to take on the go for myself and kids.” Gr8nola Mini Pack, $2; gr8nola.com
THINKBABY SUNSCREEN
“This sunscreen comes in a travel size tube which makes it easy to carry and is free of biologically harmful chemicals making it perfect to use on the girls.” $12, target.com
HONEST DIAPERS
$10.95 ; honest.com
THE NEW PRENATAL
When LA moms, Alex Taylor and Victoria Thain Gioia, found themselves pregnant and frustrated with their prenatal vitamins, they dove head first into the research surrounding what each should contain (finding there is little information about what should even be in there!) and quickly learned that the industry’s one-size-fits-all approach to prenatals was not the right one. That’s when the two created Perelel , a new approach to prenatal vitamins with vitamin packs for preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond! —perelelhealth.com
SKIMS MATERNITY
SKIMS, Kim Kardashian West’s line of shape-enhancing undergarments, has taken the world by storm with its buttery soft and seamless fabrics, comfortable and flattering designs— and now the brand is moving into maternity! The new SKIMS Maternity collection offers essential shapewear styles designed to provide comfort and support for your changing body during and after pregnancy, from a sculpting bodysuit to nursing bras and tights! —skims.com
The new Wave 2021 Eclipse Diaper Bag ($169) from Silver Cross fits perfectly with the luxurious and contemporary Wave stroller! The 3-D sculpted fabric and rose gold detailing are just two of the many features that make this premium bag stand out. You’ll also find leatherette details, with a magnetic fastening and adjustable shoulder strap for convenience. If you’re looking for a new fall diaper bag, this is it! silvercrossus.com
Tech
NANIT PLUS
Aiming to keep parents informed and connected, the Nanit Plus smart baby monitor provides personalized insights and guidance to support their baby’s sleep and well-being. The AI-powered Nanit Plus camera tracks and analyzes a baby’s sleep, monitors real-time breathing with Breathing Wear apparel, and captures amazing moments with the in-app Memories feature. The Nanit Plus camera starts at $299 and is available on Nanit. com and internationally via shopping platform Big Apple Buddy. nanit.com
Canticos is the #1 Bilingual Preschool Brand that has the Mini crowd singing, counting, and reading en espanol! Now with the Canticos Bilingual Preschool App, your little ones can nurture their language skills with math, phonics, music, and social awareness via the brand’s three adorable chickies, Nicky, Ricky, and Kiki! —canticosworld.com
relax, parenthood just got 3x easier
Good news: now there’s Nuna for every age. Our well-loved PIPA infant seat, new RAVA convertible, and new AACE booster are sleek, simple and exceed American safety standards. So you can relax and enjoy every magical, messy, covered-with-crumbs moment. Take a test ride at nuna.eu
BUMP OIL
“Being that I’m pregnant, I’m even more oil crazed. My bump-rubbing oil of choice is Rosehip.” Organic Rosehip Seed Oil, $17; breedlovebeautyco.com
QUOTE ME
“I actually handwrite most of my articles (in cursive!) and then transfer them to the computer later.” Shinola Hard Linen Journal, $24; shinola.com
WHAT’S IN THE BAG
Julee Wilson
BEATSX BY DRE
“I know, I know— everyone has AirPods. They just don’t make sense for me. These are sleek and wireless, BUT will also not go flying if a bud pops out of my ear. These are truly genius!”
AFRO PICK
“I love keeping my Afro at its peak glory, which means I always have an Afro pick on hand. I love this new one by Pattern Beauty. Anything created and co-signed by Tracee Ellis Ross is a MUST-HAVE!” $9; patternbeauty.com
BITTEN LIP TINT IN CHÉRIE $36, victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Book Club
The weather is cooling down and while we’re all snuggled up inside, choose from these children’s books to complete the cozy picture.
FOR TRAVELING
50 ADVENTURES IN THE 50 STATES by Kate Siber No need to even leave your home to travel to go on a journey through the States!
FOR DANCERS
THREE CHEERS FOR KID MCGEAR by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Meet the newest truck to join the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site crew!
FOR ASTROLOGY
BABY VIRGO
FOR HISTORY
I AM ANNE FRANK by Vashti Harrison
Teach your Minis all about Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who documented her life while hiding from the Nazis during World War II.
EDITOR’S PICK by Daria Harper by Misty Copeland
A cute intro to the Zodiac!
BUNHEADS
Inspired by prima ballerina and author Misty Copeland’s own early experiences in ballet.
Home
MINI MUST HAVE
NESTIG CRIBS
We’ve found it— the perfect crib. Nestig has created a crib that both grows and changes right along with your Minis! Watch your crib transition from a Mini Crib, to a Full Crib, to a Toddler Bed in no time. The brand is breathing new life into the modern nursery with its Wave, Cloud, Snow, and Mountain cribs, ranging in price from $449 to $599 all blending seamlessly into any nursery design. —nestig.com
WE’RE LOVING RIGHT NOW
These sweet Follow Me printed pints from Pehr make for the easiest organization in nurseries, playrooms, and Mini bedrooms! Choose from elephants, giraffes, or deer in soft blush, yellow, and blue gray shades to match your nursery or kids decor! The muted patterns also come in crib sheets, swaddles, and more! —shoppehr.com
1. DINO DUTY Bronto Wall Print ( $24; minted.com )
2. GOODNIGHT
Sleep Under the Stars Wall Print
3. ABC, 123 Alphabet Numbers Posters by EarlyBirdPrintCo
4. CLOUD NINE
Beignet Art Print ( $19.50; frompea.com ) ( $9.50; etsy.com ) ( $150; kimgenevieve. com )
5. IN THE STARS Space Poster ( $28; mushie.com )
6. HAPPY FACE
Feelings Art Print ( $45; littlecheesephoto.com )
7. WILD ONE
Oh, Zebra Print ( $24; minted.com )
CATHERINE LOWE
MINI SPENT TEN MINUTES WITH the Dallas-based new mom of three (Samuel, 4; Isaiah, 2; Mia, 9 months) and founder of luxury stationery brand LoweCo., covering every base from guilty pleasures (hello, Bravo!) to what’s on her nightstand (Hint: her fave chapstick!) to pregnancy cravings, plus the apps she uses most!
ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Two full bottles of water, Blistex Herbal Answer chapstick, a stack of books I need to read.
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT
Mot Hai Ba.
IN MY FRIDGE YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND Organic honeycrisp apples, fresh uncooked tortillas, vegan cream cheese.
LAST BOOK I READ American Royals by Katharine McGee.
ON THE CLOCK
GROWING UP, I WANTED TO BE A Food critic.
FAVORITE KIDS MOVIE Tangled.
APPS I USE MOST Instagram, Miku, Amazon, New York Times Crosswords.
IDEAL DATE NIGHT A nice meal at a new restaurant and then to the Angelika Theatre for a movie.
IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS IN THE DAY, I WOULD Cook or sleep!
PREGNANCY CRAVINGS salads with ranch dressing.
GUILTY PLEASURE Anything on Bravo and pizza.
FAVORITE KIDS BOOK
Another by Christian Robinson.
CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO Disney Hits Playlist but sans kids ‘90s hip-hop.
COFFEE ORDER Black tea with lots of lemons.
WARDROBE STAPLES GoodhYOUman capri leggings and a Splendid black tee.
SIGNATURE SCENT Versace Bright Crystal.
SHOWS I’M WATCHING RIGHT NOW Great British Baking Show, Dateline, Real Housewives.
BEFORE KIDS, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD Be so obsessed with kids. I was never a baby person, but I LOVE MY KIDS and they’ve turned me into a baby person.
Your Greatest Travel Companion
Bugaboo Ant
ARTIPOPPE CARRIERS
ARTIPOPPE CARRIERS
Artipoppe , the first ergonomic baby carrier to combine comfort and aesthetics, prides itself on allowing parents a way to stay mobile, demonstrate self-confidence, feel beautiful, and show the world they care (for instance, did you know babies that are worn often cry less?). Their woven baby wraps are famous for versatility, the ring slings popular for ease of use, as well as the Zeitgeist baby carrier for built-in support that transitions from baby to toddler. — artipoppe.com
NUNA ZAAZ
Our most loved travel system just got lighter and sleeker so your family can stroll for longer!
THE WAVE
The Silver Cross Wave 2021, the brand’s most loved single to double travel system, is upgraded for a new year, now both lighter and sleeker.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SILVER CROSS
IN THE DETAILS
Elevated look
Beautiful twotone melange fabrics and tan leatherette details give a luxe feel.
MOVE ALONG
Comfortable seat
Back rest and footrest offer three positions, along with the forward or rear-facing seat.
QUICK SWITCH
Seven modes included Starts as a single, converts to a double with newborn and toddler— easily switches between modes!
USE AS A SINGLE OR DOUBLE FROM BABY TO TODDLER!
COVERED UP Nets and covers Two rain covers and two mosquito nets mean your little one is protected from the elements— and bugs!
NUNA ZAAZ
More compact than most high chairs, the Nuna Zaaz slides right up to the table and easily dissembles to clean in the dishwasher!
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF NUNA
THIS MODERN HIGH CHAIR COMES IN THREE COLORS!
UP AND DOWN
Hidden lift
Lift mechanism adjusts height easily and lets baby join in at the table.
LEVEL UP
Converts to seat
The Zaaz transitions from baby high chair to big kid seat which means you get more use out of your baby gear!
STYLE WISE
The Zaaz comes in almond, carbon, and pewter neutral shades. Three colors
EASY CLEAN
Dishwasher safe
No-crevice design outwits crumbs and cleans up like a dream— parts can go right in the dishwasher!
COMFY SEAT
Air cushion
Unique air foam cushion fits each chair and pads both small and bigger bottoms.
5. CBD ROYALTY
Lord Jones Royal Oil ( $100; lordjones. com ) Multi-purpose CBD oil with just two essential ingredients.
6. SLEEP AID
Fleur Marche Le Sleep Kit
( $180 ; fleurmarche.com ) Get to sleep faster with this curated set of dreamy CBD sleep aids
STRESS AWAY
1. REST EASY
Prima R&R Cream ( $55; prima.co ) This advanced recovery rub will soothe and relax tired muscles.
2. BON BON BREAK
Greater Goods Marshmallow Bon Bons ( $18; fleurmarche. com ) Delicious chocolate covered and full spectrum hemp oil infused.
3. BATH TIME
Balance Bath Bombs, Set of 4 ( $45 ; myeq.com ) Pop one of these in your tub and feel the stress melt.
4. GOODY GOODY
Molly Jones CBD Gumdrops ( $60 ; mollyjones.com ) Juicy, sweet, and fruity—the perfect combo to take the edge off any crazy day.
READY, SET, DOUGH
Beat the boredom that inevitably comes with spending more time at home with the Dough Project! The brand’s new DIY Dough Mix provides step-by-step instructions and everything you need to whip up a batch of fresh, all-natural dough at home. Simply choose your pack (1 or 3 colors) and start to dream up what you and your Minis will make with this delightful dough! From $12.99; thedoughproject.com
The Convertible Stroller
Bugaboo Donkey
Designed specifically to grow and flow with your family.
Meet BϋmoBrain
The new virtual preschool that’s changing the at-home learning game, created by powerhouses Chriselle Lim and Joan Nguyen.
THE NEW HOME SCHOOL
Many parents are struggling with the new normal of having kids distance learning at home, with many school programs falling flat for Mini learners. That’s where BumoBrain co-founders Chriselle Lim and Joan Nguyen come in— the two mompreneurs set out to transform the virtual preschool game with quality, specialized online curriculum and live lessons by certified teachers in small group settings. BumoBrain is designed for ages two to six, offers the ability to go at your own pace, and a student-to-teacher ratio of 6-1, making it the closest thing you can get to a real classroom. We sat down with Lim and Nguyen to get the scoop on this innovative platform. bumobrain.com
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND BÜMO?
As working mothers and entrepreneurs, Chriselle and I were very disheartened and then motivated by the binary decision-making that parents had to face— stay home and care for your child or go to work and feel like an absentee parent (not true, but we feel that way sometimes). We wanted to create a co-working space with licensed, onsite childcare so parents can be co-located with their children. This, of course, is our preCOVID, first iteration of Bumo!
HOW IS BÜMOBRAIN VIRTUAL SCHOOL (BVS) MAKING THINGS EASIER FOR PARENTS DURING THIS TIME?
BümoBrain makes things easier for parents because we take the guesswork out of educating children. We create daily, age-specific lesson plans so that parents don’t have to do that.
WHAT MAKES BÜMOBRAIN VIRTUAL SCHOOL STAND OUT FROM OTHER VIRTUAL LEARNING PROGRAMS?
acter building), Learning Videos (on everything phonics to math), Activity Sheets, Movement and Mindfulness Lessons,and Experience (Unplugged) Lesson.
HOW DO YOU SEE BÜMO GROWING IN THE FUTURE? WHAT’S NEXT?
We are currently in over 20 countries and so excited about our international growth. We hope to continue to build new features and understand the pain points for parents and for students and adapt changes incrementally. We strongly believe that we have filled a void that needed to be filled in the virtual early learning space.
We offer a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. Some programs are very much “click here, tap there” but we know at BumoBrain that learning at this age (2-6 years old) is experiential and involves non-digital play. So, our program is virtual but with unplugged activities. Also, we offer live classes with a maximum of 6 students.
WHAT TYPES OF LESSONS CAN PARENTS EXPECT TO SEE IN BÜMOBRAIN VIRTUAL SCHOOL?
Parents can expect a daily Morning Video (char-
WHAT DO YOUR OWN KIDS LOVE ABOUT BVS?
My [Nguyen] kids love the characters. We have puppets and animated characters and they just love their personalities along with the unplugged activities! Each month has a theme (this month is Dinosaur-themed) and my kids just loved learning about math, phonics, and more “dino-themed.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Baby Brain Food
As a practicing neurosurgeon, Dr. Teresa Purzner knows how a healthy brain should look and operate. The mom of three quickly found the pouches all kids know and love were lacking serious nutrition and so she set out to change that, developing Cerebelly , the organic baby food with all of the nutrients that support early brain development.
DR. PURZNER
On the nutrients baby foods are lacking...
When I had my first baby, I was at Stanford working on my PhD in Developmental Neurobiology, so I was spending countless hours studying the specific growth patterns of the brain— how different regions were growing at different times. One of the discoveries I made was that specific nutrients help support and optimize the brain during these critical windows of development.
Of course, I wanted to provide my children with the right nutrients at the right time to support each region of the brain as it developed. I went down to the healthiest grocery store in the Bay Area and flipped over every pouch only to discover a startling lack of genuine nutrition. The pouches were packed with sugary fruits and worrisome claims, like foods touting omega-3’s to “support brain growth,” only to find that the omega-3 they had was ALA. ALA needs to be converted to DHA for the brain benefits, but humans don’t metabolize it in meaningful amounts. In fact, ALA has been shown to NOT benefit early brain development.
My only options were to either offer my children subpar nutrition or take
it to my own kitchen to make homemade baby food. Despite my many commitments, I chose the latter, even if it meant staying up into the early hours, steaming and pureeing vegetables, grinding up sunflower seeds and baking spinach-rich green muffins.
On the nutrients that support kids’ brain development...
Outside of trauma and disease, there are three basic determinants of early brain development: genetics (biological parents), the environment (the way you interact with your child), and nutrition. Each region of the brain has a specific window during which it grows, and decades of research has shown that specific sets of nutrients are required for each region. When developing Cerebelly, we looked at those nutritional needs and worked backwards from there. Which foods had the most choline? What’s the best source of DHA? We’re really fortunate to have an incredible team of world-class pediatric nutritionists, dieticians, and food experts who worked together to bring our products to life.
On why a child’s first three years are key...
During those first three years, different regions of the brain grow at different times and each region requires its own specific set of nu-
trients to grow properly. There were 19 nutrients that I was focused on and, being quite busy, the first thing I did was find baby food pouches that would provide those nutrients. Of the 19 I sought out, I could only find 3 or 4. There was a clear gap between what I knew children should be eating and what was available to parents at the supermarket. I created Cerebelly to bridge that gap. I partnered with world-class pediatric nutritionists and pediatricians to make sure we covered the whole body. We turned to farms that were not only organic but were hand-selected for the soil the vegetables were grown in to avoid heavy metals— a disturbingly common problem in baby food. We didn’t just want omega-3’s in the food; we put out water-extracted, algae-derived DHA. Every pouch had to have a vegetable or legume as its first ingredient, which meant we had to steam rather than boil the purees (not a trivial task— we had to buy our own machine to do it). What we finally came up with is a baby food that’s not only delicious and nutritious, but also organic, non-GMO, 100% plant-derived, vegetable-first, dairy-free, and gluten-free, with no added sugar that’s tested for heavy metals before every batch is put out.
On the food s kids should be e ating for brain and b ody...
During this period, the brain is growing at a remarkablepace and while nearly all the cells in your body (skin, hair, lungs, heart) will self-renew over the course of your lifetime, the majority of the brain cells that you have at the age of three are the same brain cells that you will have for the rest of your life.
and paracalcarine regions, etc).
In the same way that reading books to your child helps with language but not as much crawling or walking, some nutrients are important to the language areas of the brain but not the motor or coordination areas.
At 6 months, a baby’s visual development is in overdrive. You’ll notice they prefer more complex visual stimuli and are beginning to understand spatial relationships by observing and interacting with the people, objects, and spaces around her. Underlying all those behaviors, there are key regions of the brain responsible for visual processing and visuospatial perception (the cuneus
Vitamin A, lutein, and iodine are known to support those brain regions as they develop. So I made sure their first foods were those rich in Vitamin A (carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, butternut squash), lutein (peas, broccoli, leafy greens) and that they were getting necessary levels of iodine (which is harder to get from whole foods).
In contrast, around 7 months, we start to enter a period where balancing and coordinating muscle movement start to kick in, where they start to sit without support and move from hands and knees to a sitting position. This is in part driven by the cerebellum and it is supported nutritionally by zinc, folate, and niacin. So, I
thought about zinc-rich foods (spinach, beans, egg yolks) and legumes or broccoli (folate). I also started crushing seeds into their whole fat, low sugar Greek yogurt to get some vitamin B3.
Skipping forward to their first birthday— we’re starting to see higher order cognition and acceleration of growth in the parietal lobe. This is a time when I started to think more seriously about protein and iron, so I started to introduce lean meats, fish, chicken, beans, lentils, and chickpeas more seriously.
Cerebelly is available on Cerebelly.com as well as in Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, Raley’s and Wegman’s stores across the United States.
The Smoothie Project
Weelicious founder Catherine McCord shares two of her favorite great-tasting, good for you, healthy meals in a glass that your kids will love— all part of her latest book, Smoothie Project: The 28-Day Plan to Feel Happy and Healthy No Matter Your Age.
Blue Chia Smoothie
This smoothie has recently become one of my go-tos, as the ingredients are basic ones I always have on hand. It’s packed with antioxidants from the blueberries and protein from the chia seeds, hemp seeds, and nut butter. It keeps you plenty full, but it’s easy to digest. If you want to take it up a notch, toss in a few green cubes or a handful of fresh greens. Or just enjoy it just the way it is. You’re rushed enough.
INGREDIENTS SERVES 1
3⁄4 cup (111 g) frozen blueberries
1⁄2 fresh or frozen banana, peeled
2 teaspoons chia seeds
2 teaspoons hemp seeds
1 tablespoon almond or cashew butter
1 cup (240 ml) almond milk or milk of choice
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Banana Split Smoothie
My mother didn’t allow my brother and me many sweets when we were kids, which only made me want them more. Once every few weeks my dad would shuffle us into the car and take us to Baskin-Robbins for a treat. I’d generally get a scoop or two, but on extra-special occasions, he’d let me get one of my favorite desserts: a classic banana split. Eating it was a kind of religious experience. Every bite had to be perfect, with a little ice cream, banana, nut, and strawberry in each spoonful. I still love me a banana split every now and then, but, you know, I’m not a kid anymore. That’s why I developed this smoothie that you can eat with a spoon.
INGREDIENTS SERVES 1
1 frozen banana, peeled
1 tablespoon almond or peanut butter
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1⁄8 teaspoon vanilla paste
1⁄2 cup (120 ml) milk of choice
1 dried date, pitted
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a serving glass lined with slices of fresh banana, if using, and then add any of the other toppings that you want to use.
DUFF GOLDMAN
MINI SPENT TEN MINUTES WITH the soon-to-be first time dad and author of new kids cookbook SUPER GOOD BAKING FOR KIDS, talking everything from his favorite cake flavor (you won’t guess this one!) to his favorite kids book and what he’s most looking forward to about being a dad— plus a sweet piece of advice!
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR MY BABY Be as weird as you want. Don’t let anyone tell you to be normal.
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT Reel Inn.
IN MY FRIDGE YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND Cheese.
ON MY NIGHTSTAND Water and a book.
LAST BOOK I READ Imajica by Clive Barker.
Go Places, Big and Small.
Designed for your daily adventures and exciting excursions, the MINU offers modern conveniences in a portable, lightweight stroller. Go where you want, how you want – there’s nothing extra holding you back.
ON THE CLOCK
GROWING UP, I WANTED TO BE AN Artist.
FAVORITE KIDS MOVIE Ice Age.
APPS I USE MOST Wikipedia.
IDEAL DATE NIGHT Dinner (that I’ve made) and live music.
FAVRORITE FAMILY MEAL Patty melts and onion rings.
CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO James Brown.
COFFEE ORDER Gas station coffee with extra cream. IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS IN THE DAY, I WOULD Spend it with my wife.
FAVORITE LOCAL SHOP Next Chapter Books in Canoga Park.
FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY Horseback riding with my brother.
SHOWS I’M WATCHING RIGHT NOW Sopranos, Umbrella Academy, Cobra Kai.
WHAT I’M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT FATHERHOOD Getting to give my child their first slice of pizza.
FAVORITE CAKE FLAVOR Yellow box cake mix with canned chocolate frosting.
A Window of Opportunity
Davina Ogilvie always took the time to make every place she lived in feel like home, but the new mom found herself constantly stuck on window treatments. The NYC-based mompreneur started Wovn Home to provide accessible, high-quality design that can elevate any space.
MINI | Let’s talk about Wovn Home! What was your inspiration behind the brand?
DAVINA OGILVIE | I inherited a love of textiles and home décor from my mother, although it wasn’t until I moved to New York City that this appreciation started to really take form. In the various apartments I was renting during my 20s, I always took the time to make the place feel like my “own.” One area that I felt stuck on was window treatments. At the time, there were only two options: traditional custom window treatments, which can be very expensive and take a long time to produce, or cheap offthe-shelf curtains which didn’t have the same quality and couldn’t be customized to the sizes I needed for my spaces. It was from this dilemma that Wovn Home was born—we are all about accessible, high-quality design that can both elevate and personalize a space. From our neutral fabrics to vibrant colors to our playful patterns, we produce tasteful designs that we hope will create meaningful design moments in people’s homes.
keep me organized and productive. But most importantly, checklists help me in identifying what is essential, workwise, and what can be done tomorrow. This frees me up to spend the quality time I enjoy with my son. I find that the days I am accomplished or productive are the days where I feel most excited and energized. This attitude makes me more present when I am with my son. I hope one day he recognizes how much his mother loved her job and will be inspired to do what he loves too.
MINI | What has been your proudest career moment to date?
MINI | How do you manage the day-to-day of running Wovn Home with motherhood?
DAVINA OGILVIE | I like to focus on each day at a time and am a big to-do list person; checklists
DAVINA OGILVIE | When I was figuring out the flow of Wovn’s website experience, my goal was to make it as seamless as possible for others. That’s to say, there’s a ton that goes into customizing and making window treatments. How could I convey the important bits of
information in a way that was digestible to others? The first time a customer made a purchase online, I received a nice email about the shopping experience. That was a really happy moment. It helped to validate the concept and customer experience for me.
MINI | What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in business thus far?
DAVINA OGILVIE | In identifying suppliers and fine-tuning production, I traveled quite a bit abroad. I ultimately decided to source fabrics from Belgium and base all production with family-run workrooms in North Carolina. Operating this way ensures quality is never compromised while keeping prices accessible. I learned that it takes time and effort to get what you want, particularly when running a business, but that time and effort is always worth it.
MINI | Do you ever experience self-doubt running your own company? How do you get past it?
DAVINA OGILVIE | As a solo founder, there have been isolating moments when I felt pressure to make the right decisions for the business on my own. There were definitely times when I would have liked someone else to bounce ideas off of. With that said, there are advantages to being a solo founder. I’m able to react and make decisions quickly, which is necessary in an ever-changing retail environment. And I do enlist the help of subject matter experts to complement my own skill set, understanding where and when you need support is so important!
MINI | Where do you see your brand going in the future?
DAVINA OGILVIE | In the near term, I’m planning to launch more beautiful fabrics and patterns as well as embark on some exciting collaborations with other brands. I also see us coming out with more products that clients can customize for their home to suit their own style and tastes.
LUNCHBOX HERO
5. IN THE BAG
Stasher Reusable Sili cone Sandwich Bag
( $11.99; stasherbag. com ) Reusable food bags in every shape and size!
6. BOX LUNCH
MonBento Bento Tresor 3 Compartment Box
( $23 ; smallable. com ) This dusty pink lunchbox keeps each food item in its own place.
CHILL BABE
Kids Chill Lunch Box
$29.99; bentgo.com ) Built-in ice pack keeps your Mini’s lunch colder, longer.
SNACK PACK
BraveJusticeKidsCo
Snack Attach Snack Cup
$9.99; amazon.com ) Spill-proof, dustproof, 100% silicone snack cup in six pastel shades.
ON THE GO
Hydroflask Small Insulated Lunch Box
$44.95 ; hydroflask.com ) Two layers of insulation = hours-long chill!
4. DEEP FREEZE
Construction Freezer Pack ( $10.50 ; potterybarnkids.com ) Glowin-the-dark soft freezer packs keep things cold without the mess!
#COVERMOM
Growing
Soon-to-be mom of two DANIELLA MONET (the actress-turned-mogul just celebrated son Gio’s first birthday and is expecting a baby girl next year) is not just growing her family, but her empire— having just co-founded Sprouted, the first-ever Certified Vegan diaper line to market.
photography by GRETCHEN EASTON
styling by KAYLEE JACKSON
MINI | We’re thrilled to have you on our fall cover! Let’s dive right into your life as a mom. What does your morning routine look like?
DANIELLA MONET | Gio wakes up sometime between 6:30 and 7:30 AM. At that point, I get him from his room and bring him to bed with Andrew and I until one of us gets up for the day (usually Andrew). He’ll take Gio into the living room and get breakfast going while I lie in bed and catch up on emails. I’ll get out of bed around 8 AM, or earlier if I hear Andrew start coffees sooner than that! Lucky for me, Andrew is an AMAZING barista and makes me a cappuccino almost every morning.
Since the heat is letting up a bit, I like to take my coffee and go for a walk with Gio before his first nap at 9 AM.
MINI | What has surprised you most about motherhood thus far?
DANIELLA MONET | Motherhood has matured me in so many ways. I used to be passive and less opinionated. I struggled with standing up for myself when I should have. Becoming a mother has helped me to have more respect for myself in business, and in my personal relationships— an absolutely priceless tool that I know will take me far as an individual and more importantly, as a parent. It’s important to me that Gio grows up seeing a strong and independent mother; this way, respect and gender equality are traits that are instilled in his character from an early age. Motherhood [has] forced me to prioritize what’s most important so I can focus on the things that matter. It was so easy to waste time before becoming a mom. Now I realize just how precious every minute of the day is.
MINI | What do you think is the greatest challenge of motherhood?
DANIELLA MONET | This may sound strange, but it’s been challenging to love someone so much. I care more about Gio than myself, and almost anything at all. He’s my main focus, and with that comes challenges.
I always thought I’d be a super laid back mom, and for the most part I am, but there’s this protective instinct that you can’t ignore and sometimes that can be challenging to navigate.
MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry or fear?
DANIELLA MONET | I just don’t want for him to ever be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately, we live in a society where bad things can happen to good people and it’s heartbreaking to be part of tragedy or loss of that kind. All I can do is teach him to be aware, make good choices, and never take life for granted.
MINI | What is most important to you when raising your son?
DANIELLA MONET | Being a loving, supportive, and present parent. I want to be someone he can trust and lean on for support. My hope is that we have a relationship where we can talk about almost anything. I want to be there when he needs me.
MINI | Tell us how you decided on your son’s name. Were there some names that you liked and your fiancé didn’t, and visa versa?
DANIELLA MONET | Gio has a sentimental backstory. My brother, who I love dearly, is named Mario Giovanni. Andrew’s grandpa, who is an absolutely amazing man, is
named Garnet, but has gone by Gee for years. Both my brother and Andrew were nicknamed “G-man” as a kid, so it was an easy decision we both agreed on with little to no reservations! I was also pleased to give Gio a hyphenated last name with both Andrew and my names combined. Though we’ve been in a committed relationship for over nine years now, we still aren’t legally married, so it was a beautiful way to come together.
MINI | OK, let’s talk about your new diaper line, SPROUTED! What inspired you to create the line?
DANIELLA MONET | Back when I was still pregnant with Gio, I was already thinking about which diapers I was going to commit to. I care so much about using eco-friendly, natural products that are sustainably made and I struggled to find anything that really spoke to my level of ethics. I felt like I wanted something that didn’t exist, and I knew I wasn’t alone, so I sought after manufacturing my own.
MINI | What makes SPROUTED stand out from the rest?
DANIELLA MONET | First and foremost, we are the very first Vegan certified diaper to the market, certified by BeVeg! As a vegan for 20 years, and an animal rights activist, this was so important to me. We never have, and never will, test our products on animals, and our diapers ship in 100% post-consumer recycled cartons. Sprouted diapers are made with only the safest ingredients for your baby’s skin which is one of the reasons we sourced untreated fluff pulp and used chlorine-free processing.
As for quality and protection, we worked really hard to design a diaper that gives your baby cloud-like comfort, breathable coverage, superior absorbency, and the perfect fit— which after a massive blowout one week into mothering, I very quickly realized was crucial. We also added elements that really mattered to me like a wetness strip indicator to ensure that your child is never sitting in an overly-soiled diaper, but it also prevents unnecessary diaper changes, keeping more diapers out of the waste stream. We even added a comfortable elastic waistband, super soft top sheet, and dual leg cuffs to help prevent leaks. As I said before, eco-friendly shouldn’t
mean you have to compromise on fit and functionality. What I think is most exciting about Sprouted is our plan to increase our eco-friendly features as we leverage the latest developments in sustainable materials. It’s absolutely imperative that we continue to be transparent about our ingredients and procedures as we tirelessly work to create some of the most innovative vegan baby products that are clean, safe, and effective whilst always being mindful of our environmental impact.
MINI | Any plans to introduce other products to the line besides diapers?
DANIELLA MONET | Yes, but strategically. As many know, motherhood can be a bit overwhelming. Myself and Sprouted don’t want to add to that. I believe that less is more when it comes to baby necessities which is why we’re going to simplify our product line to help take the guess work out. It’s all about quality over quantity. We believe that this will simultaneously help create awareness around wasteful consumption.
MINI | Talk to us about your podcast, Adulting Like A Mother Father. What inspired you to start it and what do you discuss there?
DANIELLA MONET | Adulting Like A Mother Father was another concept that came to me while pregnant. Being an adult and navigating things like business, personal relationships, becoming parents— it all just comes at you fast, with no manual too! Andrew and I were about to embark on one of the most unchartered territories of our relationship. We were excited and nervous all at the same time, but I knew above all, we weren’t alone.
MUST HAVES
NOW WATCHING
“Just patiently waiting for the Bachelorette .
COFFEE ORDER
“Oat, hemp, or almond milk cappuccino.”
FAVE BOOK
The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah
“One of the first books Gio fell in love with was The Pout Pout Fish and My Car. ”
FAVE LOCAL RESTAURANT
“Sugar Taco.”
7257 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA
NOW PLAYING
“Bob Marley. He’s Gio’s favorite.”
FAVE SHOP
Baby Barn Organics Twosie in Sea Foam ( $23 ; babybarnorganics.com ) “My favorite place to shop for kids is Baby Barn Organics.”
Diesen
It wasn’t long after having Gio, Andrew decided to resign from the business world— which led to us agreeing to not only parent together for the first time, but work together too. Needless to say, Adulting Like A Mother Father has become the therapy we never knew we needed, and we’re glad to be able to help shed light on the things most Adults, mother, and fathers can very much relate to.
MINI | You really have a lot of irons in the fire! Can you give us some background on your other business ventures right now?
DANIELLA MONET | About five years ago, I decided to make my very first large investment in a startup company. Today, that
company is known as Outstanding Foods, a plant-based snack food company with the only high protein vegan pork grind of its kind. Shortly after, I invested in Sugar Taco, an eco-friendly plant-based Mexican restaurant located in LA.
One of my biggest and proudest labor of loves is Kinder Beauty, my 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic beauty subscription box I founded with my partner Evanna Lynch. We launched in January of 2019 and have since grown this incredible community helping us to raise more money than ever for animal rights and environmental organizations.
MINI | What has been your proudest career moment to date?
DANIELLA MONET | As much as I’ve loved my acting career, I’d have to say some of my proudest career moments are outside of that. I’m well aware that the entertainment industry is not a consistent form of work, and so in-between jobs, I finished my real estate education and after three attempts at passing the state exam, I finally did. Second to that, when I made the conscious decision and risk to invest in ethical businesses, I felt like I was living with so much more purpose and that makes me proud to this day.
MINI | What helps you to juggle motherhood and career?
DANIELLA MONET | NAPS! Luckily Gio takes two of them a day and sleeps at least 12 hours at night, so between that and Andrew being an excellent help, I’m able to get almost everything I need to, done. I may be exhausted by the end of it, but what mother isn’t?
MINI | We all experience mom guilt! When do you find you experience it most and how do you get past it?
DANIELLA MONET | I felt it more before quarantine. I experienced five whole months of mothering outside of the pandemic and I remember one time in particular where I was away half of the day filming, and could barely focus on work at all. I felt anxious being there altogether. the guilt was almost debilitating, and I remember the only thing that helped calm me down was to ask for time to go pump. The sensation of pumping helped me feel like I was taking time for Gio, even though I wasn’t with him. It was in that moment that I became extremely selective as to
what I said yes to, and one of the biggest motivations for creating multiple streams of income. I want to be more in control of my success so that I can have flexibility.
MINI | What are you looking forward to most about raising your son in LA?
DANIELLA MONET | Spending time by the ocean, and growing up with family and friends. Gio loves the beach and lucky for us, my big Italian family is also from LA, so those two things make us very happy.
MINI | If you could give your son one piece of advice, what would it be?
DANIELLA MONET | Short and sweet— dream big. It’s been something I’ve said since I was a kid. I always, and still, believe nearly anything is possible. I want him to believe that as well.
MOGUL MOM
The epitome of effortless elegance, CARLY CUSHNIE radiates the same vibe that she puts forth into her eponymous luxury women’s readyto-wear and bridal brand, Cushnie. The Brooklyn-based mom of two (to daughters Santiago and Quincy) invites Mini into her modern, lightfilled brownstone to talk giving birth during a pandemic, transitioning to two children, and why she’s thrilled to raise her family in NYC.
photography by CHARLIE JULIET PHOTOGRAPHY
MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home! How would you describe the place and where do you spend the most time here?
CARLY CUSHNIE | I would describe my home as being eclectic modern. We spend most of our time between the living room and the kitchen. I love how open the space is and the height of the ceilings makes it feel larger than it is. The kitchen opens out onto our back deck and garden where we love to hang during warmer months.
MINI | How about your kids’ spaces? What are some
of your favorite elements in their rooms?
CARLY CUSHNIE | Now that Quincy is six months and fully sleeping through the night, we plan to transition them to sleeping together in the same room. Santi’s room is so warm, elegant, and charming, but not big enough for the both of them. They will both move into the guest room very soon.
MINI | You just welcomed your second daughter during the pandemic. Can you tell us a little about what that experience was like for you?
CARLY CUSHNIE | It was definitely a scary time and in the early days of the pandemic, so there was so much unknown and things were changing daily. I’m just so glad that Governor Cuomo made the executive order that expecting mothers were allowed to have one birth partner with them during delivery. It was a surreal experience, but thankfully she arrived very quickly and all went really smoothly. I felt very safe and well taken care of at NYU Langone.
MINI | How has your transition been going from a mom of one to two kids? Was it easier or harder than going from zero to one?
CARLY CUSHNIE | I was a lot more nervous as a first-time mother. Despite giving birth during the pandemic, I was way more petrified of delivering the first time. Juggling two babies is definitely really hard. Santi is only a year older than Quincy, so it’s a lot to manage. But after having my first child, I felt a lot more relaxed and confident in myself as a mother. Plus, with the stay-athome order, my husband was home the whole time, so we all just hunkered down as a family and it’s been an incredible bonding time for all four of us.
MINI | What advice would you give to moms about to have their second baby?
CARLY CUSHNIE | Don’t beat yourself up about
not getting it all done. There’s always another day.
MINI | Tell us how you decided on your daughters’ names.
CARLY CUSHNIE | Santiago Lola and Quincy Sol— Giving them both masculine first names wasn’t so much done on purpose, we just really loved those names. We felt they sounded so strong and charismatic for a female.
MINI | What has surprised you most about motherhood thus far?
CARLY CUSHNIE | Everyone tells you how amazing motherhood is and there’s no other
love like it, but you never understand it until you actually experience it for yourself and it truly is out of this world.
MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry or fear?
CARLY CUSHNIE | As soon as they leave your body and enter the world, everything is a worry. But all you can do is love them and guide them as best as you can.
MINI | We are so inspired by your brand! Can you tell us how it all came to be?
CARLY CUSHNIE | The collection is both clean and minimal, but also ultra feminine and sensual in aesthetic. Always focusing on the female body, creating sculptural shapes, fluid lines in vivid colors and luxe fabrics. When I began creating this collection, I felt there was a need for clothes that struck that balance.
MINI | What has been the greatest lesson you’ve learned in business thus far?
CARLY CUSHNIE | The need to be nimble.
MINI | As a fashion mogul, we have to ask! Has your personal style changed at all since becoming a mom?
CARLY CUSHNIE | My personal style overall hasn’t changed, but there are certain aspects of dressing that have because of juggling two kids. Like I definitely don’t wear heels as much as I used to. I need to give my back a little bit of a break!
MINI | What do you look forward to about raising your kids in NYC?
CARLY CUSHNIE | I’m happy that by growing up in New York, my children will have a diverse upbringing. They will interact with people from all different walks of life and also get to experience so many arts and so much culture within one place.
MINI | If you could give your daughters one piece of advice, what would it be?
CARLY CUSHNIE | Love yourself and love each other.
CLICK HERE TO SHOP THE LATEST FROM CUSHNIE!
The Urban Stroller
Bugaboo Bee3
Designed specifically for parents who live life on the fly.
BABY LOVE
Chairman and CEO of clean beauty brand LAWLESS, ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS recently welcomed her first baby (daughter Daisy was born in August) and invites us into her stunning California home to talk new motherhood and how she’s carried over that sweet newborn love into her latest cosmetics collection, The Baby One.
photography by JENNIE CORTI
MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home! Tell us about the place? How would you describe the feel, the design
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | Our home is very bright, open, and airy with a modern California design. The home has clean lines, utilizing natural stone and wood materials with large glass windows that have a minimal, yet warm aesthetic. The high ceilings and natural light pouring in, along with white linen furniture and neutral accents, give the space a fresh, serene vibe that we love. All of the glass doors pocket open, allowing an indoor/outdoor
living experience, which allows us to take advantage of the lush landscaping in our backyard and the gorgeous Southern California weather.
MINI | Where do you spend the most time in your home?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | My bathroom! I do lots of product testing and work at my vanity, and it is such a peaceful space for me. The most beautiful natural light comes through the skylights and the neutral stone materials contrasted with sleek wood cabinets give it a spalike feeling. I feel very grounded and inspired in this room.
MINI | Now let’s talk nursery! What was your inspiration when designing a space for your Mini?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | I wanted Daisy’s room to be feminine, but also neutral and serene like the rest of the house. Instead of going pink everywhere and incorporating girly florals, I went with soft white linen fabrics, white and natural wood furniture, contrasted with dark wood floors and feminine touches like chandelier lighting, a blush silk rug, and artwork.
MINI | What are some of your favorite elements in her room?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | The artwork! We love butterflies and have
a large Damien Hirst butterfly piece in our entry at our beach house, so I incorporated an ethereal feather heart above her crib, and a beautiful gold butterfly piece and daisies above her changing table to add warmth and personality.
MINI | Since you just welcomed your daughter, Daisy, tell us about your pregnancy! What was the experience like for you?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | I am so grateful that I had a really easy and beautiful pregnancy! Being pregnant during a pandemic really allowed me to power down and spend lots of time at home, resting, and nesting. I was very fortunate to have no complications and I felt really great throughout. Daisy was
two weeks overdue, so that last stretch was definitely a marathon, but I loved being pregnant and cherish those memories.
MINI | Was Daisy’s birth what you imagined it to be? What stands out most in your mind from that day?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | It all happened so much faster than I expected! Once I was induced, I was fully dilated within three hours and pushed for 25 minutes before Daisy made her debut. The thing that stands out most in my mind is the feeling that washed over me the minute they laid her on my chest. It was a depth of love I had never experienced and something so indescribably euphoric.
MINI | Tell us how you decided on your daughter’s name.
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | With everything happening in the world during Covid, we knew we wanted something happy that was bright and positive. Looking forward to our baby girl was our bright light during this time and we wanted her name to reflect that. We walked and hiked every day during my pregnancy, and there are lots of daisies on this particular trail near our home. One night at dinner while we were discussing names I said, “What do you think of Daisy?” and my husband immediately lit up and said he loved it. Daisies are such a cute and happy flower, which was exactly the feeling we wanted to capture with her name.
MINI | Let’s talk motherhood! What has surprised you most about motherhood so far?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | When I found out I was pregnant, I was scared that becoming a mother would make me lose a part of myself and my identity. Now that I am Daisy’s mom, I have never felt more me, and more aligned with my purpose. I feel that as a mom I am becoming more myself every day.
MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry or fear?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | My biggest worry is the state of the world and that I won’t be able to protect her forever the way that I can
now when she is in my arms.
MINI | If you could give your daughter one piece of advice, what would it be?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | Chase your dreams and do what you love because anything is possible when you live in accordance with your passion and purpose.
MINI | We are so inspired by your brand! Can you tell us how LAWLESS came to be?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | Three years ago, I had transitioned to clean skincare and loved the results. I wanted to switch out my makeup products and purchased tons of clean makeup from many different brands to try and test to see which products could replace my conventional favorites. When I did this, I was very underwhelmed by the lack of pigmentation, coverage, color, and performance of the clean makeup on the market. It felt very geared towards the “no makeup makeup” look and that is not what I was looking for. I realized there is a big white space in the clean color category for the user that loves a full face of makeup and full coverage. I knew that if I wanted to make the switch, but couldn’t find what I was looking for, other people had to be doing the same thing. That was when I decided to start LAWLESS, to not only fill that need for myself, but hopefully many others as well.
MINI | What has been the greatest lesson you’ve learned in business thus far?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | Find something you love that there is a need for in the market. I could not find clean makeup that performed the way I needed it to as a makeup girl who loves full coverage and color. Filling a white space and providing something that people need that makes their lives better is a big key to earning a loyal consumer base and building a great brand.
MINI | As a beauty mogul, we have to ask! Can you give us a peek into your morning and nighttime beauty routines?
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | I am a skincare junkie, and in the evening, I follow the steps in the Korean skincare routine: double cleansing, toning, misting, essence, serums, moisturizer, eye cream, and masks. I find that spending the time to take care of my skin and properly remove my makeup, treat, and hydrate goes such a long way in the way my makeup applies and wears. In the morning, I keep things much simpler. I cleanse with a gentle cream cleanser, mist my face with rose water, and apply LAWLESS Set the Stage Hydrating Priming Serum which is a skincare serum, moisturizer, and primer in one. I love this product because it really cuts down the number of steps in my morning skincare routine and sets my skin up beautifully for makeup application.
MINI | What do you think about the idea of “having it all?”
ANNIE LAWLESS JACOBS | I think having it all means something different for everyone, and is completely achievable. For me,
having it all is feeling fulfilled in all areas of my life— my relationships, my career, my role as a mother and wife, and my relationship with myself. It doesn’t mean getting everything on my to-do list done or striving for perfection. It is really about taking care of myself first and foremost, so that I can show up as my best self and do all of the things in my life that make me happy. When I do that, I feel like I have it all.
ANNIE ON THE CLOCK
KIDS BOOK
Curious George Goes to the Hospital ( $7 ; amazon.com )
NOW PLAYING
“Second Life podcast by Hillary Kerr.”
ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Le Labo Santal Candle ( $75 ; nordstrom. com ) “Le Labo Santal candle and lots of pacifiers.”
IN MY FRIDGE
“I always have guacamole and a chilled bottle of rosé.”
FAVE RESTAURANT
“The Pony Room at Rancho Valencia Resort.”
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LOEHNEN AT HOME IN LA WITH SONS MAX AND SAM
A CHANGE OF PACE
Mom of two ELISE LOEHNEN has spent the last decade climbing mastheads, but is now embarking on a new, more personal path. The goop Editor at Large shares on this much-needed time for slowing down, how she manages the work from home routine with two young boys, and perhaps the most impactful thoughts on the concept of “having it all” that we’ve ever heard.
photography
by
VANESSA TIERNEY
MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home! Tell us about the place! How would you describe your home?
ELISE LOEHNEN | We live in a 1950’s A. Quincy Jones house, which was part of a planned community in the hills of Brentwood— the idea was to create a neighborhood of affordable post-war homes with a co-op nursery, etc. Unfortunately, not many remain. It’s a post and beam house that’s really stunning in its simplicity—it’s also small! My husband works for the modular furniture/shelving company Vitsoe, and so fortunately we have Vitsoe everywhere since there is very little built-in storage in our house. We have to live with almost all of our belongings on display.
MINI | Do you have a favorite room in your home or place where you spend the most time?
ELISE LOEHNEN | We spend most of our
time between the living room, the little TV den that we just added on, and the kitchen— all three rooms are open to each other and within shouting distance. The living room gets blasted by sun and has the most open space for my kids to get ALL of their toys out, while the den is the coziest.
MINI | What are some of your favorite elements in your home?
ELISE LOEHNEN | If my husband has his way we would blast off the drywall and make our house an original museum piece— but not so fast. I love all the windows and skylights and the fact that it feels like we more or less live outside.
MINI | We are so inspired by goop— big fans over here! Can you give us an idea of what a typical day looks like for you?
ELISE LOEHNEN | In my role as chief content officer, I spent a lot of time preparing for the podcast— probably 6 to 10 hours depending on the length of the guest’s book. And then a lot of my time was spent on team management and moving new ideas and concepts along from ideation to execution. I recently decided to transition my role at
goop [now Editor at Large] to be able to have more time to write a book and I’m excited for this next iteration.
MINI | How long have you been with goop and what was your journey like to get here?
ELISE LOEHNEN | Seven years, which feels like a minute. I worked in magazines for almost a decade, working my way up the masthead at Lucky and Conde Nast Traveler. Then, I took a job at a huge internet company in Los Angeles to get a better handle on digital before I met Gwyneth when she moved from London to LA.
MINI | What WFH tips do you have? What helps you to stay on task and motivated while working from home?
ELISE LOEHNEN | I work hard to create buffers. Coffee in the morning with my kids before they start Zoom school (no laptop out if I can help it), and then I try to go for a walk at the end of the day to mark the transition from work to home since I no longer have a commute.
I just got a Fitbit because I’ve otherwise become way too sedentary (unless I’m walking to the kitchen for a snack or more coffee). I need prompts to get up and stretch! The other essential is blocking out my calendar for times to think and read, otherwise I end up working all weekend to catch-up.
MINI | What has been the greatest lesson you’ve learned in business thus far?
ELISE LOEHNEN | Patience. Creating enduring brands and platforms takes a lot of time and can’t be rushed. It’s sort of like a consistently healthy lifestyle— if you make precipitous change, it won’t endure, it’s just consistent slow and steady.
MINI | We all have mom guilt from time to time. When do you find you experience this and how do you deal with it?
ELISE LOEHNEN | From time to time?! This is an active and ongoing practice for me because in my perfectionistic tendencies, I will always feel like I never do enough, or be enough, for my kids. Even before COVID, my kids theoretically spent too much time watching TV/on screens. But there is no A/B control for parenting, no way to look back and say that this was a bad decision, or that was a good decision. So I try to just find some faith in doing my best and modeling the qualities that I care about the most: That they’re kind, that they treat other people with respect, that they stay open-minded and curious.
MINI | As a mom of two, what has surprised you most about motherhood?
ELISE LOEHNEN | It feels more natural and obvious to me than I expected it would— even as I maintain that none of it felt totally second-nature, or “natural,” or “easy.” We are still just winging it every day. I think because in my “woo-ness” I think of them as totally distinct from me, and as spiritual beings who picked this family, it helps me to be a little bit more objective about the whole thing. To take them less personally,
if that makes sense. We are all just on this wild ride together.
MINI | What do you think is the greatest challenge of motherhood?
ELISE LOEHNEN | There’s no model, no “right way,” no assured path. Like in all things, parenthood is full of uncertainties— and it is high stakes uncertain because you don’t really know what it feels like to love someone until you have a kid. And the power of that love is uniquely terrifying, too.
MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry or fear?
ELISE LOEHNEN | We have addiction in our families and so it’s something I work hard to understand and theoretically, guard against. But I also recognize that while there is likely a genetic component, it is also very bound up with trauma. So I’m just trying to keep my kids in a place where they feel like they can process and allow their feelings, always.
MINI | Give us your thoughts on the concept of “having it all.”
ELISE LOEHNEN | The term bothers me because it sounds greedy. I think the brilliant journalist Rebecca Traister said something to that affect. That “having it all” sounds like an inequity, whereas I think what we want is quite beautiful and fair. Peace, love, balance. We don’t want “it all,” we want enough.
MINI | What is most important to you when raising your kids?
ELISE LOEHNEN | That they feel like they truly know who they are and are not trying to project themselves onto any idea of who we would like them to be. My parents gave me that gift and a lot of room to find myself— I hope to pass it on.
MINI | Since staying home is a sort of new normal for all of us, tell us how you’ve spent the time in quarantine and what will you remember most about this time?
ELISE LOEHNEN | I’ve really loved and needed this time, as wild and at-times terrifying as it can be. I needed the pause, to stop flying every week, to go, go, go in what sometimes felt like auto-drive. As desperate as I am for my seven-year-old to be under the watchful, physical eyes of his teachers, it’s also been
intellectually interesting to watch him learn.
MINI | If you could give your kids one piece of advice, what would it be?
ELISE LOEHNEN | Life is hard and suffering is an essential ingredient that’s unavoidable— it’s also fun, beautiful, and full of joy. I think that building the resilience for the former makes the latter more impactful.
MINI | Favorite places to visit or things to do in LA with kids, GO!
ELISE LOEHNEN | Pre-COVID, we loved going to the Getty Center. There’s a train, a cafeteria, a grassy hill to roll down, and a little kids art activity center. The exhibits are great yet manageable for small legs.
LOCAL RESTAURANT
“Farmshop, Pizanna, and Jon & Vinny’s.”
KIDS MOVIE
“Zombies is on repeat in our house.”
NOW PLAYING
“Sufjan Steven’s The Ascension .”
GUILTY PLEASURE
“Almond croissants and latenight online shopping. My comfort buy is always books, either at Diesel, or Bookshop.org.”
COFFEE ORDER
“Oat milk latte.”
FAVE KIDS SHOP
“Mini Rodini, Boden, Rockets of Awesome, Old Navy, La Coqueta.”
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THE PAJA MA GAME
During a time when we’re all living for matching sets and cozy wares, LAKE PAJAMAS founders and long-time friends Anne Read Lattimore and Cassandra Cannon are taking the pajama game to the next level. Opening the brand’s second-ever store in Atlanta (the flagship resides in Charleston) and expanding their line of daywear, maternity, men’s, and children’s pajamas, these mompreneurs (with five kids between them!) share what they know about successfully growing a self-funded DTC brand.
photography by LAURA NEGRI
MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your Atlanta store! Tell us about the place!
LAKE FOUNDERS | We wanted to create a space where our customers would be inclined to spend time with us and to discover the brand offline. We designed the store to feel less like a retail space and more like a friend’s well designed living room. Atlanta interior designer Lee Kleinhelter designed a cozy seating area, local artist Sally King Benedict created a dramatic piece for the entrance, and we stocked the shelves with our favorite books and bedroom accessories.
MINI | What are some of your favorite elements in the store?
LAKE FOUNDERS | Our tented dressing rooms may steal the show. They are painted in thick cabana stripes and tented and draped for maximum effect. It’s really fun.
MINI | We are huge fans of LAKE! Can you tell us how the brand came to be?
LAKE FOUNDERS | New motherhood really connected us. We spent many nights together dreaming of ideas for starting a business together. Pajamas were something that we talked about a lot at that phase because we were dressing our babies in the softest pajama sets and going to bed ourselves in our husbands’ old t-shirts. Somehow there just wasn’t anything in the market that spoke to the functionality and style that we wanted, so we saw the opportunity and ran with it.
MINI | How has the brand evolved since it began and where do you hope to see it go?
LAKE FOUNDERS | We started as a digital-first brand selling only from our website to friends and friends of friends. It was a true grassroots effort that gained traction. As our ecommerce business has grown over the past six years, we’ve added a warehouse, new team members, and retail stores. We opened our second store in Atlanta this August and have an incredible group of loyal customers who not only buy new sets for themselves season upon season, but use LAKE as a go-to gift for friends and family, teachers, and neighbors. We love being a small part of those special life moments. Finding more communities like Charleston and Atlanta where our two stores are located to open new LAKE locations would be a dream. We love hosting
creative events and partnering with other local businesses and fellow entrepreneurs in the cities where we have a loyal LAKE following.
From a product standpoint, we are so excited about our new pajama, loungewear, and robe designs in development! We always put comfort first when designing and source our fabrics very carefully, aiming to find quality fabrics that are sustainably sourced and produced. We strive to offer pieces that effortlessly fit at-home life, styles that perfectly fit the season and are those reliable pieces you’ll reach for over and over again.
MINI | What has been your proudest career moment to date?
LAKE FOUNDERS | The most rewarding part of this journey also happens to be the most challenging, and that has been starting and building this business with young kids. When we started LAKE in 2014, we each had a baby under one year old. Six years later, there are now five kids between us. We can’t say it’s always been easy, but we have been very intentional about being present mothers from the start.
MINI | What has been the greatest lesson you’ve learned in business thus far?
LAKE FOUNDERS | We learned the importance of having plans that can adapt. Like most businesses, we’ve been tested this year in unexpected ways. Being nimble and flexible has definitely helped get through the more challenging times.
MINI | What advice would you give to moms looking to start their own brand?
LAKE FOUNDERS | A few notable things that I think helped us immensely is to start small, test the market, and prove that you have a winning product. It sounds obvious, but it’s unbelievable to see how many brands grow too quickly and fizzle almost just as fast.
MINI | Let’s dive into your life as moms. What do you think is the greatest challenge of motherhood?
LAKE FOUNDERS | Finding time for ourselves. Because our kids were so young when we started our business, we felt the need to
prioritize our time so we could be with them as much as possible. That meant catching up on work at night and on the weekends during naptime when we might have had some down time. As a result, we’ve learned to be very efficient with our time at work and at home so that we can have time to recharge.
MINI | We all experience mom guilt from time to time. When do you find mom guilt creeps in for you and how do you deal with it?
LAKE FOUNDERS | When mom guilt creeps in, I commit to carving out individual time with each child. There’s nothing that kids love more than getting a parent’s full attention. Even small things can feel exciting and special when it’s one-on-one.
MINI | Social distancing is a new phrase in everyone’s vocabulary right now. How have you spent your time in quarantine? What will you remember about this time?
LAKE FOUNDERS | We are fortunate to live in a city with a very mild climate, so we have been spending a lot of time outside with our kids. We go on a lot of walks, play in our garden, and have picnics in the backyard. I will remember this as a time that I was able to slow down and spend more time with my family at home than I would normally get to. It has made me realize that as long as we are healthy and together, there’s not much else we need to be happy.
MINI | We wear LAKE to bed almost every night. Can you give us a glimpse of your
own nighttime routines?
ANNE READ LATTIMORE | My nighttime routine typically consists of a quick shower, followed by pajamas, of course, and a simple skincare routine. I really love Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask. Then I’ll watch an episode or two of a show with my husband, and then do a little reading. I’m a big fan of sleep, so it’s usually lights-out for us by 10:30.
CASSANDRA CANNON | I am not a great sleeper, so there are two things that I must do every night that help me fall asleep easier: take a bath and read a book. Everything else looks different most nights. I also love a good skincare routine. Right now, I am
using Vintner’s Daughter’s Active Botanical Serum and Tata Harper’s Restorative Eye Creme. My goal is to be asleep before 11.
MINI | Favorite places in Charleston to visit with kids, GO!
LAKE FOUNDERS | We don’t visit as often as we’d like with our kids in tow, but The Dewberry hotel downtown is a great option as it has a restaurant with outdoor seating and a fun rooftop bar that is kid-friendly. Bonus, it’s across the street from the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Marion Square that’s a great place for breakfast or lunch and some outdoors activities, like jump castles and live music.
MOM MUST HAVES
KIDS BOOK
“ Goodnight Moon .”
NOW WATCHING
“Get Organized with The Home Edit.”
GUILTY PLEASURE
“Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups”
FAVE LOCAL RESTAURANT
“The Gray” 109 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA
NOW PLAYING “Any True Crime podcast.”
FAVE SHOPS
“Favorite places to shop for kids include Pepa & Co, Maisonette, and Minnow.”
COFFEE ORDER “Flat white.”
True mothers of invention, LINDSEY JOHNSON and her co-founder Liz Eichholz are quickly changing the luxury bath towel market with the introduction of their stand-out brand, Weezie (a name drawn from two family monikers), even introducing a kids and baby collection later this month!
Domestic
Goddess
photography by MARY CATHERINE BROWNFIELD
MINI | We are huge fans of Weezie Towels! Can you tell us how the brand came to be? And how the name was chosen?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | My cofounder, Liz Eichholz, approached me for the idea with Weezie while I was at Columbia Business School. She had just moved from New York to Savannah, was newly married, and on the hunt for fresh towels. Unfortunately, the process proved to be frustrating and overwhelming: the jargon was confusing, quality was unpredictable, and embroidery options were archaic. What should have been an enjoyable experience really fell flat. As we dug into the idea, it quickly became clear there was a gap in the market for a go-to luxury bath towel brand. A year and a half of customer research and product development later, we launched Weezie in October 2018.
Weezie is a modern nickname for the classic names Eloise and Louise (family names for both Liz and me!). We like to think of Weezie as the new age hostess— thoughtful, but laid back and fun at the same time. We have built our brand around the idea that buying and customizing luxury towels should be approachable, easy, and enjoyable!
MINI | How has the brand evolved so far and where do you hope to see it go?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | Since launching just over two years ago, we’ve evolved in so many ways as a company, team, and brand. In October 2018, it was just Liz, our lead embroider, and me. Fast forward to October 2020, and we have more than thirty-five employees! On the product side, we’ve expanded beyond our core bath collection, introducing robes, beach towels, and now chil-
drens’ with the addition of Lil Weezie! There are so many more fun things to come from Weezie in 2021 and beyond. We truly feel this is only the beginning! Wherever we go next, we aim to continue to bring moments of everyday delight to our customers, one towel or robe (and now kids product!) at a time.
MINI | What makes Weezie stand out from the rest?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | In our hundreds of hours of focus groups, it became crystal clear that consumers prioritized softness and absorbency in their towels. Too often, one comes at the expense of the other: soft towels aren’t absorbent, and vice versa. Weezie uses an innovative spinning technology that spins air into each and every fiber, which ensures a towel that is equal parts soft and fluffy. Our materials are the best of the best: 100% organic long-staple cotton. Even better? It’s OEKO-TEX certified, meaning it’s free of harmful chemicals. As a new mom, this has become even more important to me when shopping for our family. We also offer seamless online customization so that our customers can create a beautiful towel or robe unique to them. We truly believe we created the perfect product, and hope it brings as much joy to our customers as it does to us!
MINI | Tell us about the Lil Weezie line. What can we find there and when does it launch?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | The Lil Weezie collection
has been over two years in the making. We dreamed of it even before launching the brand! We’re excited to finally bring luxe to the littles with childrens’ robes, hooded towels, washcloths, and bibs— all in soft and fluffy terry our customers know and love, in colors and patterns unique for kids. The collection will be available on weezietowels.com later this fall. Follow along on Instagram or by signing up for our email or text updates to be the first to know when it’s live!
MINI | What has been your proudest career moment to date?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | On October 9th, our business turned two years old. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined being where we are today only two years in! Speaking to our team in advance of our Second Anniversary Sale, I was brought to tears looking at all the incredible people that work for us. I am just so proud of the team and culture we’ve built and can’t wait to see what year three brings.
MINI | What has been the greatest lesson you’ve learned in business thus far?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | This is tough because I feel like I learn something new every day! One that I always come back to is to trust your gut. Nobody knows your business (or situation, or problem, etc.) as well as you do. So you can certainly lean on others for counsel, but there is no “playbook” and at the end of the day, your gut will usually lead
you to the right answer. I have learned this one the hard way!
MINI | What advice would you give to moms looking to start their own brand?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | Get out there and do it! Talk to anyone and everyone about your idea. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You’ll be surprised how willing people are to help, and you never know where a conversation might lead.
MINI | Running this business, what do you think
about the idea of “having it all?”
LINDSEY JOHNSON | I think the old school notion of having it all is a bit delusional, and can put unnecessary pressure on women. Sure, there are some days when things click and everything is perfectly in balance between work, family, friends, wellbeing, etc. Other (most) days, not so much, and that’s okay. I think it’s important to define what having it all means to YOU, and then give yourself some patience and grace as you work towards that.
MINI | What do you think is the greatest challenge of motherhood?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | It’s been a challenge to keep my own wellbeing a priority! I firmly believe that I am a better mom when I am making sure to take care of myself, but so often it is just hard to justify, not to mention find the time.
MINI | We all experience mom guilt from time to time. When do you find mom guilt creeps in for you and how do you deal with it?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | Oftentimes I get mom guilt when I am with other moms talking about what activities they were able to do with their kids that week, or what “first” moment they recently witnessed. I have to remind myself that I am no less of
a mom for missing those moments. Everyone is different, but I know myself well enough to know that I personally am a better mom to Miller because of my career.
MINI | Staying home is the new normal for everybody right now. How have you spent your time in quarantine? What will you remember about this time?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | I had Miller in early March in New York City, just days before the reality of the pandemic set in. While these past seven months have not been without their challenges, I’m so grateful for the quality time I’ve been able to spend with my daughter and husband as we’ve settled into our new life in Atlanta as a family of
three. I will remember nearly constant moving (from NYC, to my in-laws in VA, to my parents in GA, and only recently into our own home), time well spent with family, and just a much needed slower pace of life.
MINI | Can you give us a glimpse of how you use Weezie in your own daily routine?
LINDSEY JOHNSON | You’ll often find me wrapped up in our long robe early in the morning with a cup of coffee, and again at night with a glass of wine. Somewhere in between is bathtime with Miller who cozies up in a Lil Weezie hooded towel right afterwards! I’m also a makeup towel loyalist— the navy towels have rendered pesky mascara stains a thing of the past!
SIRONA M WITH
Theonlysmart-techconvertiblecarseatthat providesessentialalertstokeepbabysafe whileyoudriveandwhenyouarrive.
