RADAR
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MINI
CHARLES M. SCHULZ’S IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN MADE ITS TV DEBUT ON OCTOBER 27, 1966.
NEW BREAST FRIEND
LACEVO is bringing red light therapy to breast care with EMPOWER, a wearable set that uses red and near-infrared light to promote circulation and help relieve breast pain. Designed to slip discreetly inside a bra, the flexible therapy pads offer three modes and intensity levels, with support for engorgement, blocked ducts, soreness, and postpartum recovery. —lacevo.us
LISTEN UP
Yoto just introduced its biggest hardware upgrade yet with the new 4th Gen Yoto Player and Yoto Mini. Both screen-free audio players are faster, tougher, and now feature a programmable Green Button that gives kids instant, cardless access to up to 20 favorite stories, songs, sounds, and more. The Player adds an upgraded full-panel night light and wireless charging, while the travel-ready Mini gets a water and dust-resistant design. —yotoplay.com
ON THE EDITOR’S LIST
Make It Cute—the play brand co-founded by Amanda Seyfried—just added a new way for kids to build their own little world. The Tiny House Craft Kits turn simple folds into a bakery, bookshop, or fairy house, no tools or glue required. Made with planet-friendly materials, each kit is designed to inspire screen-free creativity. Collect all three to create a full Tiny Town.
FUN AC T I V I T I E S TO T R Y THIS SEASON
Cal
MINI APPROVED P L AC E S A N D E V E N T S TO VISIT
MINI MUST-HAVE ▶
Grab this classic fall jacket with a plaid lining for cool weather adventures!
Fall for the City is serving up hands-on fun Sundays starting October 11, with slime making, pumpkin painting, trickor-treat bag decorating, and sweeping views from NYC’s Top of the Rock.
Autumn at the Arboretum transforms the Dallas Arboretum September 19– November 1 with a Pumpkin Village and more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash!
Boston’s free Fall-o-Ween Children’s Festival takes over the Boston Common Frog Pond October 16 with a haunted maze, train rides, and more!
Boo at the L.A. Zoo returns for two spooky weekends October 24–25 and October 31–November 1, with trick-ortreating, pumpkin animal enrichment, live performances, photo ops, and more!
He’s back! The Cat in the Hat makes his animated big screen debut in theaters and IMAX November 6, with THE CAT IN THE HAT ▶ Bill Hader voicing the iconic troublemaker as he sets out to cheer up two siblings adjusting to a new town. NOW PLAYING
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M I N I FALL 2026
mini-magazine.com Head to Mini for more interviews
F E AT U R E S
with parents around the world, style, and more
LIVING
F O L LOW
MINI Be sure to follow Mini on Instagram! We’re sharing behind the scenes peeks at making the magazine, new baby gear, nursery tours, and much more! Find us on Instagram: @minimagazine
BABY+KIDS
THE MAGAZINE
THE BEST PRESCHOOL BACKPACKS AND LUNCHBOXES FOR FALL The right preschool gear can make mornings feel a little more pulled together 70 GILMORE GIRLS BABY NAMES INSPIRED BY STARS HOLLOW From Rory to Rune, you might be surprised Lorelai isn’t the only baby name climbing the charts 75 FRENCH GIRL NAMES THAT FEEL EFFORTLESSLY COOL These French girl names strike that perfect balance between elegant and wearable
10 MINUTES WITH HATI HOME FOUNDER KALLIE THOMSON Meet the selftaught designer and mom of two behind the heirloom-quality furniture brand
minisclusives VISIT US
MINI Find all of t his and more on our website!
MINI-MAGAZINE . com Discover daily content, interviews, and more in between issues.
Exclusive stories, baby names, the latest in parenting— all in one place.
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19 | THE STYLE SPOT A tween destination, preppy looks, and fall footwear! 13 | MEET THE TEAM The team that makes all the Mini magic possible 16 | EDITOR’S LIST A carefully curated list of Kate’s favorites this season
fall
24 | ON THE CLOCK Little
Spoon co-founder Angela Vranich shares her cravings and the tunes on repeat
29 | MOM It’s the style spot
for all of you chic Mini moms from bump to beyond 32 | TECH KIDS Discover the
latest and greatest from the Mini tech sphere
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35 | BOOK CLUB A selection of cozy reads to fuel your cool weather indoor hangs 36 | ON THE CLOCK Dagne
Dover CEO Melissa Mash talks what’s in her fridge, her fave kids book, and more 41 | ON THE SCENE Explore
Stella McCartney’s debut stroller, a redesigned high chair, and your new travel companion
The coziest & chicest new addition to your wardrobe
FOR ALL YOUR LADY BUMPS.
BUMPSUIT.CO
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46 | SCOOP Go inside the tween brand boom, the baby gear brands going auto, and the Y2K trend taking over maternity photos
66 | READY OR NOT Cover mom Tay Lautner is content with stepping into the unknown of motherhood and her next chapter
56 | GOOD AS NEW One Brooklyn mom may have the answer to making your kids’ clothes last longer
82 | AT THE TABLE Fly By Jing
62 | HOME A 10-year-old
90 | IMAGINE THAT Beloved
reworks her bedroom (and bathroom!) to look like a sophisticated boutique hotel
founder Jing Gao is passing culture down to her son one flavor at a time
author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers on the formula for raising creative kids
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98 | A CHARMED LIFE Jewelry designer Elisa Solomon knows the smallest pieces can hold the biggest memories
MINI Founder and Editor in Chief K aitlyn K irby Cover Photo graphy K imberly G enevieve Cover Hair Anyssa M aciel R epresented at H ighlight Ar tists Cover Makeup Kelly Tull Cover St yling S onia Young R epresented at The O nly Agenc y
CONTAC T US M ini M agazine Email | hello@mini-magazine.com Web | w w w.mini-magazine.com M ini M agazine is a digital lifest yle publication for the moder n parent available online at w w w.mini-magazine.com. All r ights reser ved. No par t of this publication may be reproduced, distr ibuted, or transmitted in any for m or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other elec tronic methods, without the pr ior wr itten per mission of the publisher, except in the case of br ief quotations embodied in digital and pr int reviews. Copyr ight © 2026 M ini M agazine
AND NOW A LETTER FROM
INSIDE LOOK: (On Right) Cover mom Tay Lautner on set of our fall cover shoot. (Below) The new mom talks body image, postpartum, letting go of the plan, and the kind of parent she hopes to be.
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M I N I FALL 2026
Editor
Coming out of a scorching summer, I’m always happy to jump into fall. To quote one of my favorite movies, You’ve Got Mail, “It makes me want to buy school supplies.” It also makes me want to put together a new Mini issue and this one is packed with inspiration for a new season. On the cover, we have Tay Lautner, who is stepping into motherhood for the first time after welcoming daughter Lennon Taylor and talking candidly about pregnancy, body image, postpartum, letting go of the plan, and the kind of home she hopes to create for her daugh-
MINI’S FOUNDER K AT E K I R BY
ter. Inside, we’re looking at the rise of the tween market, talking creativity and family life with Oliver Jeffers, sitting at the table with Fly By Jing founder Jing Gao, and getting sentimental about jewelry with designer Elisa Solomon. We’re also having a little fun with bedazzled baby bumps and a lineup of auto-inspired baby gear that’s ready to hit the track. Consider this your cue to take a breath, sit back, and flip those pages. Enjoy, Mini friends!
E M A I L M I N I ’ S F O U N D E R A N D E D I T O R I N C H I E F AT K AT E @ M I N I - M A G A Z I N E . C O M
EDITOR’S LIS T
COMFY CUTE
◀
ALL AMERICAN
The Tommy Hilfiger x Peanuts collab is equal parts nostalgia and preppy cool.
◀
MINI
Fall weather calls for cozier sets and these from Lola and the Boys have the most magical patches and sayings!
◀ ROYAL TREATMENT
Adidas launched a Samba Jane inspired by Sleeping Beauty— a must for your Disney princess lover!
◀
A&F GOES MINI
Abercrombie & Fitch expanded into baby earlier this year and the Mini flannels are perfect for fall.
◀ PLAYING HOUSE
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M I N I FALL 2026
No one does it like Babyletto when it comes to kids’ furniture. This house bed is such a fun addition to any kids’ room!
Beauty in the Everyday
T H E S P OT TO SHOP FOR THEIR M I N I WA R D R O B E
Style
NEON REBELS P R E P TA L K FA N C Y F O OT W O R K
◀ TWEEN SCENE
Maisonette is growing up! The kids’ marketplace recently launched Neon Rebels, a new destination for ages 7–14 featuring more than 100 brands across apparel, accessories, beauty, skincare, home, and electronics. The lineup is intentionally tween-specific, with brands like YES DAY, founded by Coco Granderson at age 13, and Pip Pop Post, known for hypoallergenic, water-resistant flat screw-back earrings made for kids, tweens, and teens with sensitive ears. It’s a onestop shop for that tricky in-between stage, balancing what tweens actually want with the quality and age-appropriateness parents are looking for— from expressive fashion and room decor to gentle skincare and personal care essentials. —maisonette.com
P REP TALK
This season is leaning preppy, with varsity jackets, rugby stripes, cable knits, plaid, and collegiate-inspired layers making the grade.
TEAM PLAYER
Rugby shirts are officially back in the starting lineup. Above: $39.50; Girls Scallop-Collar Rugby Sweatshirt, jcrew.com; Below: $35; Pieced Stripe Rugby Shirt, hannaandersson.com
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M I N I FALL 2026
VARSITY BLUES
SPORTY SPICE
This Florence Eiseman varsity jacket hits it out of the park. $87; saksfifthavenue.com
This pleated denim skirt pairs perfectly with knit tights. $39; hannaandersson.com
CRICKET CLUB
ICONS ONLY
Pint-sized prep never looked so good with this dress. $125; ralphlauren.com
This classic cardigan will easily become a staple in their closet. $85; jacadi.com
FANCY FOOTWOR K
Fall’s best shoes are a little more polished, with loafers, Mary Janes, clogs, and classic silhouettes stepping into the spotlight.
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1. RED HOT
3. VELVET CRUSH
5. COURT CLASSIC
$49; The Kids Clog in Firetruck Red, rothys.com
$120; Burgundy Velvet Mary Jane Shoes, lacoqueta.com
$29.99; Faux-Leather Lace-Up Sneakers, oldnavy.com
2. SOFT STEP
4. LOAFER LOVE
6. BUCKLE UP
$35; Toddler Vegan Suede Clogs in Terra Brown, gap.com
$65; Elephantito Logan Leather Loafers, saksfifthavenue.com
$55.90; Leather Clogs in Brown, zara.com
ON MY NIGHTSTAND
My red light mask and retinol hand lotion. IDEAL DATE NIGHT
A glass of wine and Lucia Pizza of Soho (vodka slice) on my couch. WARDROBE STAPLES
ANGELA VRANICH MINI SPENT TEN MINUTES WITH THE Little Spoon co-founder and Chief Product Officer who’s expecting her first baby this December, to chat cinnamon bun cravings, the country music currently on repeat, her ideal pizza-on-the-couch date night, the wardrobe staples she lives in, and the singing career that definitely wasn’t meant to be.
An oversized blazer, vintage Levi’s, a Chelsea boot, and a good cashmere sweater.
serenaandlily.com
ON THE CLOCK FAVE KIDS MOVIE The Parent Trap. TYPICAL COFFEE ORDER Black espresso.
ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE
APPS I USE MOST
Sheet masks, eye patches, and a crispy apple.
TikTok, Google Maps, and Instinct. GUILTY PLEASURE A 90
minute deep tissue massage.
GROWING UP, I WANTED TO BE A Singer, but I
PREGNANCY CRAVINGS
have an awful voice so it would have never worked out.
Cinnamon buns.
SIGNATURE SCENT Amal by Layermor. FAVE LOCAL RESTAURANT Scalini Fedeli
in Tribeca.
FAVE LOCAL SHOP Rigor
Hill for produce and prepared foods. Clic for home goods. Westside and 180 The Store for clothing. IF I HAD MORE TIME
I would find time to cook a really good dinner every night.
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M I N I FALL 2026
LAST BOOK I READ Theo of
Golden by Allen Levi.
CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO Ella Langley.
I’ve been into country music lately.
FAVE PLACE TO TRAVEL I’m most content
when I’m on the beach in Nantucket.
FAVE KIDS BOOK Make Way
for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. NOW WATCHING Furious,
Beef, and whatever weird documentary of the week is on Netflix.
Capturing the beauty, simplicity and magic of childhood. S H O PP E H R .CO M
J U S T F O R YO U MAMA, FROM B U M P TO B E YO N D
◀
FALL FUEL
Molly Baz and Perelel are putting a protein-packed spin on fall’s favorite flavor. The cookbook author and chef teamed up with the women’s health brand for its limited-edition Pumpkin Chai Triple-Support Protein, a plant-based powder with 20 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of creatine per serving. To mark the launch, Baz created an exclusive Pumpkin Chai Protein Oats recipe complete with buttery berries that is without a doubt the coziest way to work a little more protein into these cooler mornings. Available at perelelhealth. com while supplies last.
Mom
P E R E L E L P U M P K I N P R OT E I N M I R A CO R T I S O L T E S T K I N D R E D B R AV E LY B A R E B O N D
THIS JUST IN
ST RESS LESS
Mira calls its new Cortisol Pattern™ Kit the first at-home urine stress test, measuring urinary free cortisol to help women understand how stress patterns shift over time and alongside factors like hormones, sleep, and daily routine. After about a week of consistent testing, the Mira app builds a personalized baseline so users can spot changes and better understand what’s typical for their body. Launches in November.—shop.miracare.com
RIGHT NOW WE’RE LOVING
Kindred Bravely’s new BareBond™ collection uses true bonded, no-sew construction in breathable cotton, with patent-pending SoftFuse™ technology to add support and lift without wires or bulky seams. Scalloped edges give the bras a more polished finish, while builtin nursing clips keep them practical for motherhood. The collection includes three bra silhouettes plus coordinating seamless underwear, with prices from $16.90 to $64.90 in sizes S–1X.
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M I N I FALL 2026
Meet Belly Oil. Like a prenatal for your skin.
Use code M I N I MAG 1 0 for 10% off your first order
T H E L AT E S T F R O M THE MINI TECH SPHERE
Tech
NODI FLIP T W O PA R E N T S & A P O D C A S T WITH ALEX AND HARRISON FUGMAN
MINI MUST HAVE
NODI FLIP NODI Flip ($249) is a screen-free alternative to a first phone, built for kids ages 5 to 12. It lets kids listen to parent-approved Spotify playlists, audiobooks, and podcasts, send voice messages to approved family and friends, and access learning content— without a browser, videos, feeds, or endless scrolling. WiFi comes standard, LTE is optional, and after the first batch sold out, the second is set to ship in late October.
L I S T E N TO T H E L AT E S T EPISODE HERE!
RIGHT NOW IN PODCASTS
32
Two Parents & a Podcast, hosted by Alex and Harrison Fugman, is equal parts parenting, relationships, pop culture, and chaos. From newborns and screen time to marriage and work, it’s the kind of funny, unfiltered listen that feels like catching up with parent friends who are figuring it out right along with you.
M I N I FALL 2026
KID APPROVED! Rugs that take mess and chaos in stride.
From left to right: @diymom.ca, @citysage, @myfavoriteroombykbmdesigns, @lewisishome, @tomboykc, @minimagkate, @lifeontheshadygrove, @ashleyaltenbach
You can Framebridge just about anything. framebridge.com
Book Club
NBA dreams, ADHD hacks, a Gruffalo family reunion, tiny mahjong tiles, and a sewing story with heart— these new reads have something for every kind of kid.
FOR BEING TRUE
PATCH WORK
FOR CONFIDENCE
FOR GRUFFALO FANS
FOR TINY TILERS
JALEN PLAYS IT ALL
GRUFFALO GRANNY
AMERICAN MAHJONG FOR BABIES
by Jalen Brunson NBA star Jalen Brunson takes kids through the sports he tried before finding basketball, with a feel-good message about mistakes and perseverance. FOR ADHD BRAINS
Get It Done & Have Fun!
by Penn and Kim Holderness The Holdernesses are back with kid-friendly hacks for tackling everyday tasks.
by Julia Donaldson The Gruffalo returns! Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler head back to the deep dark wood for the first new Gruffalo story in more than 20 years. This time, Granny is coming to stay and bringing a brand-new adventure to the beloved world families know and love.
by Megan Trottier Oh My Mahjong founder Megan Trottier brings craks, bams, dots, dragons, and flowers to the littlest players with this bright, interactive introduction to American mahjong.
by Craig Conover Craig Conover makes his children’s book debut with a story about a young boy learning to embrace his love of sewing, stand up for himself, and lead with kindness.
ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Earplugs and an eyemask. Must protect the sleep! IDEAL DATE NIGHT
Korean BBQ and seeing a favorite comedian live. FAVE KIDS MOVIE
MELISSA MASH MINI SPENT TEN MINUTES WITH THE Dagne Dover co-founder and CEO and mom to Leo (10) and Arlo (6) to chat the fantasy football league she somehow ended up running, her ideal Korean BBQ date night, nostalgia for the ’90s and early aughts, and the Broadway dream she technically got to live.
Encanto, Moana, Inside Out. How can I pick just one?
For life at home.
ON THE CLOCK GUILTY PLEASURE Carbs. FAVE PLACE TO TRAVEL Korea is always so much fun.
ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE
FAVE KIDS BOOK
Kombucha. Just that little kick of caffeine and happy gut health.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld. An important lesson that I learned in my 30s!
PREGNANCY CRAVINGS
My older son is made out of 50% Sweetgreen and 50% cupcakes.
GROWING UP, I WANTED TO BE On Broadway.
During the five years that we lived on Broadway, my husband liked to remind me that I had “made it.” SIGNATURE SCENT Jasmine body oil. My
co-founder, Deepa, gave it to me years ago and I’m obsessed.
FAVE LOCAL RESTAURANT Yoon Haeun-
dae Galbi in Koreatown.
APPS I USE MOST Slack for
work, Instagram for work and culture, Notes for family management, and Amazon for groceries.
FAVE LOCAL SHOP LEIF
in Williamsburg.
TYPICAL COFFEE ORDER
IF I HAD MORE TIME
I would cook something, sometime, somewhere, somehow.
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M I N I FALL 2026
CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO 90s and
early 2000s playlists. Take me back to a time before we knew what things like responsibility and PFAS were.
Coffee makes me crazy. Matcha latte with almond milk unsweetened. BEFORE KIDS I NEVER
Thought I would be the commissioner of a fantasy football league. But here we are, 3 years strong.
M AT E R N I T Y S O YO U C A N K E E P D O I N G YO U
B A BY G E A R E V E R Y PA R E N T NEEDS NOW
on the
Scene
RUNWAY READY
Your stroller just got a fashion-week-worthy makeover thanks to Stella McCartney. The designer teamed up with Bugaboo on a limited-edition collection that reimagines three of the brand’s most recognizable strollers—the Fox 5 Renew, Butterfly 2 Plus, and Dragonfly Plus—in a rich Tobacco Brown colorway with Saddle Brown accents. Inspired by McCartney’s iconic Falabella bag, the designs feature its signature diamond-cut chain woven into the canopy, vintage gold medallions, monogram fabrics, as well as branded wheels, harnesses, and frames. The fashion details come with a sustainability story too. Fabrics are made from recycled polyester and colored using water-free dye technology, while the hardware incorporates recycled aluminum and bio-based materials. Coordinating accessories include a tote, footmuff, and exclusive parent-toddler mittens. The collab is available now in limited quantities at Bugaboo and select retailers, with strollers starting at $725.
B U G A B O O X S T E L L A M CC A R T N E Y L A LO T H E C H A I R I I U P PA B A BY KO N A
THE CHAIR II
This updated high chair grows with your little one, with a streamlined design and adjustable features made to take them through the toddler years. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LALO CLICK TO S H O P
SEVEN WAYS
T H E N E W L A LO
A 7-in-1 design that grows from high chair to booster to play chair.
CHAIR II!
CLEAN SWEEP
The dishwasher-safe removable tray pops off with one hand for easy cleanup.
BUILT TO LAST
Sustainably sourced beechwood, BPA-free plastic, FDA-grade silicone straps, and water-based paint make up the design.
GROWTH SPURT
Supports up to 30 pounds as a high chair, 50 pounds as a booster, and 250 pounds as a play chair.
EASY DOES IT
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M I N I FALL 2026
At just 14 pounds, the chair is lightweight enough to move around the house and still feel sturdy.
UPPABABY KONA
UPPAbaby’s newest stroller bridges the gap between compact and full-size, pairing everyday comfort with a lighter 22-pound frame and one-hand fold. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF UPPABABY C L I C K TO
NO ADAPTER
SHOP THE
UPPAbaby infant car seats and the Bassinet click directly onto the frame without extra adapters.
U P PA B A BY KO N A !
FAST FOLD
BORN READY
A lightning-fast onehand fold works no matter which direction the seat is facing.
A near-flat recline ready from birth, with four recline positions and an extended seat back for growing kids.
CITY WISE
Kona is just 21 inches wide and built to handle narrow doorways, tight sidewalks, elevators, and small trunks.
SMOOTH MOVES
Large wheels, suspension, never-flat tires, and lockable front wheels keep the ride steady across terrain.
EXTRA ROOM
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M I N I FALL 2026
An oversized storage basket holds up to 30 pounds of gear— impressive for a slim stroller!
Paint you can feel good about Zero VOC paint & colorants
No hazardous air pollutants
GREENGUARD Gold certified
No toxic air contaminants
Ultra-low odor
No EPA chemicals of concern
Get everything you need to paint, delivered. | Clare.com Color: Make Waves
THIS JUST IN IN THE MINI WORLD
Scoop
T W E E N TA K E O V E R WONDERFOLD X PORSCHE L A M B O R G H I N I R E E F A L G I A L LO B E D A Z Z L E YO U R B U M P
TWEEN OVER
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M I N I FALL 2026
TAKE
Beyond Baby Frida recently launched a 32-product collection created specifically for kids ages 6–11.
A A N E W WAV E O F B R A N D S I S
designing skincare, hygiene, fashion, and personal care specifically for tweens and proving the space between baby and teen is big business. Until now, the tween years existed in something of a retail no-man’s-land. Too old for the baby aisle, too young for products made for adults, kids somewhere between first grade and middle school were often left choosing between things that felt juvenile and things that asked them to grow up a little too fast. But that gap is closing. This fall alone, Frida expanded into personal care for kids ages 6 to 11, Maisonette launched an entire marketplace devoted to ages 7 to 14, new wellness brand Siiiba debuted with hygiene products created specifically for growing bodies, and Pipette introduced face care formulated for kids
ages 5 to 12. Together, they’re part of a growing trend toward treating the in-between years as a stage with its own needs, routines, tastes, and increasingly, its own brands. What’s especially notable is how specific these products are becoming. Frida Kids Personal Care
spans body, hair, and oral care, with formulas and packaging designed around the years when kids start taking more responsibility for getting ready themselves. Pipette’s new Foamy Face Wash and Jelly Face Cream take a similarly age-conscious approach, offering a simple routine for developing, sensitive skin rather than introducing kids to a full adult skincare regimen. That feels particul-
arly timely as beauty and skincare culture reaches younger audiences through social media, tempting tweens to copy more grown-up skincare routines and earn the name “Sephora Kids.” YES DAY, co-founded by Coco Granderson at age 13, grew out of a question that gets right to the heart of the category: why wasn’t there skincare made specifically for people her age? The brand now creates formulas for tween and teen skin, pairing the kind of packaging and routines kids see online with products actually designed for younger users. Siiiba is addressing a different part of growing up: puberty. Its debut product, a natural deodorant for pre-teens and teens, was created around the idea that kids entering this stage aren’t little kids anymore, but they aren’t adults either. It’s a subtle distinction, but one that increasingly seems to be driving the entire tween market. “Growing up to-
Growing Up Neon Rebels, Maisonette’s new marketplace for ages 7 to 14, offers more than 100 tween brands in one place.
day is louder, faster, and more public than we’ve ever experienced,” said Yris Palmer, co-founder of Siiiba. “I wanted to create something that could help make these new routines and conversations feel more natural, empowering, and less intimidating, for both kids and their parents.” And the tween brand boom extends well beyond the bathroom counter. Maisonette’s new Neon Rebels gives ages 7 to 14 an entire shopping destination of their own, with more than 100 brands spanning clothing, shoes, accessories, home, electronics, beauty, and skincare. Instead of making older kids hunt through children’s sections for something that feels “grown up enough,” the marketplace was built around that middle stage from the start. Even jewelry is aging up with them. Pip Pop Post, known for hypoallergenic, flat screw-back earrings made for sensitive
ears, now has a dedicated tween and teen collection with hoops, huggies, gems, and other styles designed to feel a little more sophisticated without giving up the comfort and practical details parents want. The common thread is less about selling tweens more stuff and more about recognizing them as their own consumer group. These are kids beginning to develop personal style, take ownership of routines, and have opinions about what lands in their bathrooms and closets, but they still need products designed with their age in mind. If this fall’s launches are any indication, the boom is only getting started. As brands are quickly realizing, the in-between years were never too small a market— just an underserved one. ■
Made for little foodies. high chair that turns into a play chair
non-toxic FDA grade silicone easy for little mouths to sip
easy for little han9s to grip
dishwasher safe
meetlalo.com
BABY GOES AUTO
WonderFold and Porsche introduce a family wagon with room for four, autoinspired details, and optional Porsche E-Assist Wheels built for the long haul.
FAST TRACK
The new special-edition WonderFold x Porsche Stroller Wagon seats up to four and brings plenty of auto-esque details along for the ride, including carbon fiber-inspired fabrics, red accent stitching, a drive mode handlebar, integrated headlights and rear lighting, plus a projected Porsche logo. Optional Porsche E-Assist Wheels add uphill, downhill, straightaway, and rocking modes, with signature red brake calipers to complete the look. Available now at wonderfold.com, starting at $1,999.
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M I N I FALL 2026
A better way to design custom window treatments EVERHEM.COM
BORN TO RIDE
Built like a supercar and dressed like one too, the limited-edition Silver Cross Reef AL Giallo brings Lamborghini’s design language to a stroller.
BABY‘S FIRST LAMBO
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M I N I FALL 2026
Silver Cross and Automobili Lamborghini are back for round two, this time in unmistakable Giallo yellow. The limited-edition Reef AL Giallo borrows its sharp lines and luxe finishes from Lamborghini’s supercars, with a faceted frame, highgloss polycarbonate bassinet, performance suede, genuine Italian leather, an automotive-inspired brake pedal, and exposed spring suspension. Only 500 will be made worldwide, with each stroller priced at $4,999.99. Available at silvercrossus.com.
ALL THAT GLITTERS Maternity photos are getting a Y2K makeover as moms-to-be bedazzle their bumps with rhinestones, pearls, hearts, and plenty of sparkle.
C L I C K TO SEE MORE JEWELED
BEDAZZLE YOUR BUMP
BUMP INSPO!
Moms-to-be are trading traditional maternity photos for rhinestone-covered bumps, pearl details, crystal hearts, and enough shimmer to turn the belly itself into the statement piece. The look feels equal parts Y2K nostalgia and playful self-expression and no two versions are exactly alike. From barely-there embellishment to completely covered designs, these moms are proving maternity photos can be just as bold, glamorous, and fun as any fashion shoot.
From Top @michelleonelove; @_alinacryystal; @portraitsbyhairface
F First came blueberries. Then paint, grass, markers, and eventually a son whose favorite things seemed to change by the week. For Brooklyn-based mom Prue Linehan, replacing another perfectly good shirt stopped making sense. The problem wasn’t that kids’ For Brooklyn-based mom Prue clothes couldn’t Linehan, replacing another perfectly be repaired, it good shirt stopped making sense. was that the traditional fixes Then she thought of the perfect, didn’t fit easily sticky solution. into everyday interview photography family life. K AT E K I R B Y E M I LY H L AVA C G R E E N Sewing and ironing took more time and effort than she realistically had, so Linehan set out to create a simpler option. After testing dozens of adhesives and putting them through thousands of wash cycles, she launched New New Patch: washable, peeland-stick fabric patches designed to cover stub-
GOOD AS NEW
Sticker Patch It Each sheet includes 12 patches in Rainbow, Picnic, Pastel, or Space designs, made for 100% cotton kids’ clothes.
born stains, refresh clothes kids have lost interest in, and keep favorite pieces in rotation longer. As a mom, what was the moment that made you realize parents needed an easier way to save stained kids’ clothes?
It was the piles of my son’s blueberry-stained clothes that were otherwise perfectly good, but going unworn and being replaced with new ones. I knew I could sew or iron patches onto them, but as a new mom, I didn’t have the time or energy for either. I found myself throwing away his clothes simply because buying something new was easier. That was my aha moment: kids don’t need more new clothes, we need easier ways to keep the clothes we already have. So I looked for a solution. You tested 45 different adhesives and completed thousands of wash tests before finding one that worked. What kept you going when manufacturers told you the idea was impossible?
I kept going because I needed the solution myself so badly and it felt like such a simple thing to ask for: a washable peel-andstick fabric patch. If we can have driverless cars, surely we can make a patch that sticks without ironing or sewing. And the problem kept getting bigger. At first it was blueberries. Then it was paint, grass, markers and eventually opinions. As my son got older, his clothes weren’t just getting stained, he was developing very strong opinions about what he wanted to wear. One week
it’s unicorns, the next it’s space. I didn’t want to keep buying new shirts just because the old one had a stain or suddenly wasn’t interesting anymore. There had to be a better way. New New Patch makes repairing clothes easier than replacing them. Do you think convenience is the missing piece when it comes to helping families make more sustainable choices?
Absolutely. I think convenience is a huge part of it. Right now, it’s so much easier to buy new than to repair what you already have. Parents know clothes can be saved, but saving them often requires more time, energy, and effort than they have to give.
Families want to make more sustainable choices, but the reality is the easier option often wins out of necessity. If we can make keeping something just as easy and appealing as replacing it, a lot more families will do it. Kids can choose and help apply the designs themselves. How can involving them in the process change the way they think about their clothes and about throwing things away?
My son sees a new package arrive almost every day, but he’s never seen me with an iron or sitting at a sewing machine. Those kinds of traditional repairs just haven’t been part of our everyday life together. With Sticker Patches, repair becomes something we can actually do together. We can get excited about it, choose a patch, put it on, and talk about why we’re keeping this shirt instead of replacing it. It makes something that can feel abstract—caring for what we already have— really tangible for him and really fun.
And I believe that has the potential to change how kids think about their clothes. They start to see clothes as things that can be personalized, should be repaired and kept in wear, rather than things that are simply replaced when they’re no longer perfect. Maybe next it goes to a local dye bath. Then Grandma gets involved and embroiders it. Sticker Patches aren’t the only answer. We’re just one really easy place to start. ■ New New Patch Sticker Patches are available at newnewpatch.com, with sheets starting at $20.
W H AT ’ S N E W ON THE HOME FRONT
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I N S I D E A PAT T E R N - F I L L E D BEDROOM WITH A NOD TO B O U T I Q U E H OT E L S
THE SUITE LIFE photography R A C H E L A LY S E
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For her tenth birthday, one young client got a room inspired by two of her favorite things: weekend sleepovers and the polished charm of a boutique hotel. Mary Crawford Design worked closely with the Mini tastemaker to create a sophisticated space that feels personal, playful, and entirely her own, while still making plenty of space for friends. The result is a pattern-rich retreat layered with color, texture, and thoughtful detail. Madeaux wallpaper wraps the walls, while Holland & Sherry covers the ceiling, creating a softly enveloping backdrop for an eclectic mix of prints and fabrics. A dramatic canopy surrounding the two beds becomes the room’s focal point, with Namay Samay fabric on the exterior and Casa Branca inside. Pinktrimmed bedding from Look Linen Co. keeps the space feeling youthful and inviting. Every corner was designed around how its young owner actually lives. A Chelsea Textiles desk creates a dedicated spot for homework, a Schumacher-upholstered chair offers a cozy place to read, and the layout leaves room for getting dressed, hanging out, and staying up late talking with friends.
The project extends beyond the bedroom itself, with an adjoining bathroom and a playroom designed for the family’s three daughters, creating a suite of spaces that feels just as functional as it is beautiful. ■ Wallpaper Madeaux Ceiling Wallpaper Holland & Sherry Canopy Outside fabric by Namay Samay; inside fabric by Casa Branca Bedding Look Linen Co. Nightstand Society Social Lampshade The Shade Shop Desk Chelsea Textiles Upholstered Chair Schumacher fabric with Samuel & Sons trim
READY
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photography K I M B E R L Y G E N E V I E V E
interview K A T E K I R B Y
For TAY LAUTNER, motherhood is the biggest unknown yet. Now she’s learning to loosen her grip on what comes next, give herself grace, and trust she’s more ready than she thinks. hair stylist
ANYSSA MACIEL
makeup artist K E L LY T U L L
wardrobe stylist
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plan. She’s a self-described Type A, loves to organize and declutter, and as a registered nurse, she’s used to having information at her fingertips. Motherhood, however, isn’t exactly known for following a schedule. “I’ve been able to really sit in contentment with not knowing what’s next,” she tells Mini. For a planner, it’s an unexpected place to land, but pregnancy has already taught Tay that there’s only so much you can prepare for. She describes the last several months as a roller coaster of high highs and low lows, with parts that have been harder—both physically and mentally—than she expected. Body image has been one of them. Tay has been open about struggling with the changes that come with pregnancy and talking
about it publicly has helped, especially when other women have chimed in with similar stories. It’s a reminder that even during a season filled with excitement, it’s OK if you don’t love every part of it. Being a nurse comes with its own pregnancy pros and cons too. Tay knows what’s happening, understands the medical side of things,
and also knows perhaps a little too much about everything that could go wrong, which she says may make birth a little scarier. Still, as her due date gets closer, she’s trying not to overthink it. She hasn’t read every parenting book or mapped out exactly how those first few months will go. Even her birth plan is pretty straightforward: show
up at the hospital, have a healthy baby, be a healthy mom, and go home. That ability to let go a little has been helped by the person beside her. Pregnancy, Tay says, has made her realize just how well her husband knows her and how strong their communication has become. As the two get ready to become parents for the first time, she says having that support has made stepping into the unknown feel a little easier. And then there’s postpartum, something Tay is already thinking about with the same honesty she’s brought to conversations on The Squeeze, the podcast she hosts with her husband. Asking for help doesn’t come naturally to her, but she knows motherhood might require it. Her reminder to herself is simple: her daughter needs a mentally healthy mom, not one who silently pushes through when she’s struggling. Self-care is another area where she’s anticipating change. In those
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early days, she says, 30 minutes to shower and do her skincare might be enough. For now, though, she’s letting herself enter this next chapter without having every detail figured out. She knows the kind of home she wants to create and how she wants her daughter to feel in it: loved, supported, seen, and heard. She wants her to grow up watching her mom work, just as Tay watched her own mother, and to know that the sky is the limit. And if there’s one thing she hopes her daughter always knows, it’s that “she is worthy enough just the way she is.” The rest, Tay is figuring out as she goes. You’re expecting your first baby— a girl! What has this pregnancy been like for you so far and what has genuinely surprised you about it?
It’s been a rollercoaster filled with so many high highs and low lows. As beautiful as
it’s been, I was not prepared for how much of a toll pregnancy would take not only on my physical body, but also on my mental health. Body image during pregnancy is something a lot of women struggle with quietly. How has that been for you and what have you found that’s actually helped? What do you wish the conversation around it looked like?
I’ve definitely struggled with body image throughout my entire pregnancy and honestly struggled with it a lot earlier than I anticipated. The thing that has helped the most has been being vulnerable and open and sharing my experience with body image struggles online because the amount of women that have reached out to me and said they are going through the exact same thing has made me feel so much less alone in this process.
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As a registered nurse, did your medical background make pregnancy feel less scary or did knowing too much make it harder in unexpected ways?
Honestly, both. Having the knowledge around it has helped me be very in tune with my body and the unexpected medical scares that have come with pregnancy. But at the same time, I think it is going to make birth scarier for me because I know what can go wrong. You and Taylor are both navigating this together for the first time. What has pregnancy revealed about your partnership that you didn’t expect?
It’s revealed how well he knows me and also how good our communication has gotten over the years. How has nesting shown up for you? Are you a spreadsheet person, a design the nursery person, a read-every-book person? What’s the thing you’ve done to prepare that felt a little over the top but you did it anyway?
I love to organize and declutter, so nesting has been the perfect excuse to do all of that! I normally am the type of person that would read every book, but with this pregnancy, I’ve been very relaxed with all of that which has been really surprising to me. Birth is one of those experiences you can read every book about and still not fully prepare for. How are you making peace with that? Is there a mantra or mindset you’re going into birth with?
My birth plan is one of those that consists of “show up to hospital, birth healthy baby, be healthy mom, go home.” I just keep telling myself that so many women give birth every single day and if they can do it, I can do it too. You said one of the first things you thought
when you found out you were having a girl was that you’re excited for her to see you work. Tell us more about that. What does it mean to you to model that for a daughter specifically?
I think this is something I’m most excited for. Growing up, I watched my mom work every single day and still do today. Seeing how hard she worked instilled a work ethic in me that I am so proud of and I only hope to pass on to my daughter. I want her to know that if she puts in the work, she can accomplish whatever goals she sets for herself and the sky is the limit.
judgment, so that when they’re older that type of communication and language is already instilled in them. You’ve done a lot of hard work building your mental health toolbox, with therapy, journaling, quiet mornings, and monthly check-ins even when things are good. How are you thinking about protecting those habits once a newborn is in the picture? Anything you are doing now to set yourself up well for the postpartum season?
“That all falls back on my marriage and This is such a good question it’s something that I do the support because think about often. I truly don’t what this next chapter of I feel from know life is going to look like. I have early on it’s going to my partner.” alookfeeling like 30 minutes to myself
What kind of mom do you think you’re going to be and what kind of dad do you think your husband is going to be?
Hopefully good parents! As long as our kids look back on their childhood and feel loved, supported, seen, and heard, then we did our job. That’s the kind of parent I want to be. Mental health advocacy is at the center of everything you do. How early do you think that conversation should start with kids and what will that look like for you as a parent?
I think that conversation can start much earlier than people may expect. Naming an emotion or feeling and communicating about it is something I want to implement. I want my children to have the space to open up and share whatever big feelings or emotions they are feeling without feeling
to shower and do my skincare routine and as time goes on, hopefully I’m able to find an hour a day to do something for myself. I’m trying to give myself a lot of grace with this.
First-time parenthood is basically signing up for the world’s biggest unknown. How do you sit with that as someone who has done so much work around uncertainty and control?
As someone who is very type A and likes to go into everything prepared, when it comes to the unknowns of parenthood and what to expect even right after birth, I feel like I’ve been able to really sit in contentment with not knowing what’s next. I think that all falls back on my marriage and the support I feel from my partner. You’ve been so open about your PTSD diagnosis and burnout after leaving nursing. Has that experience changed how you’re thinking about asking for help in early motherhood?
Asking for help is something I very much still struggle with and have struggled with during this pregnancy because I am such an independent person and sometimes feel like a burden to others. I am trying to remind myself that my daughter needs a mentally healthy mom, not a mom who pushes through postpartum in silence to do it all on her own. The Squeeze started as a way to show that mental health struggles don’t care how famous you are. What has hosting that podcast taught you about mental health, about your marriage, about yourself?
If I were to list off everything this podcast has taught me, we would be here for hours! If I could pick one thing, it’s that we really are all experiencing life at the same time. What I mean by this is that we all have ups, downs, happy times, hard times, really hard times, loss, love, grief, celebration, and everything in between. It has helped me feel less alone, but also taught me to give not only others, but myself, grace when it comes to hard seasons of life. You’re stepping into motherhood while also running a nonprofit, a podcast, and a platform. How are you thinking about what that looks like on the other side of this baby?
That is a great question. I’ve tried to think about what it’s going to look like, but I know I truly won’t know until I’m in it. I’m so thankful that my work is also my passion and something that I have such a deep love for. So I think going into all of that on the other side of having a baby will only add to the excitement and my “why” behind what I do. ■
“I’ve been able to really sit in contentment with not knowing what’s next.”
WHAT SHE SAID The first-time mom breaks it down. P O D C A S T YO U ’ R E LIS TENIN G TO N OW Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce. C R AV I N G YO U ’ R E MOST EMBARRASSED ABOUT Otter Pops. THE ADVICE YO U ’ R E I G N O R I N G “Just wait until...” T AY L O R ’ S B E S T DA D - TO - B E H A B I T How he wants to be involved in every step. BA BY P RO D U C T YO U ’ V E PA N I C - B O U G H T Everything first-aid related. O N YO U R N I G H T S TA N D Iced water, coconut water, and sparkling water. T H I N G YO U ’ R E MOST SCARED ABOUT The newborn phase. O N E T H I N G YO U H O P E S H E G E T S F RO M YO U My work ethic. O N E T H I N G YO U H O P E S H E G E T S F R O M T AY L O R His empathy.
Passing it down Fly By Jing founder Jing Gao is a mom to two-yearold son Kai.
AT THE TABLE
A childhood steeped in Sichuan flavor became the foundation for Fly By Jing and now founder Jing Gao is passing that same sense of culture and connection on to her son. interview K A T E K I R B Y
“I want it to just be there for him— normal, present, and something to be proud of.” You grew up in Chengdu, lived all over the world, ran an award-winning restaurant in Shanghai, and then landed on a chili crisp in a jar. How do you explain that path to people who are trying to make sense of it?
I’ve had a bit of a winding path, but it feels like a very natural progression in retrospect. I grew up in Chengdu, and even after moving around the world during my childhood, chili crisp was always a constant on our table and became the foundation of how I cooked. After business school in Canada, I moved back to China and opened Baoism, a restaurant in Shanghai. Later, I started hosting Fly By Jing supper clubs, named after the fly restaurants in Chengdu— small, hole-in-the-wall spots known for serving incredible food. I was already putting my chili crisp into jars for those dinners because it made serving easier and before long, guests started asking if they could take a jar home. The turning point really came in 2018 when I attended Expo West in Anaheim. Walking the show floor, I was struck by how little Asian representation there
was. I saw an opportunity for chili crisp to be a gateway condiment that could introduce people to the bold, layered flavors of Sichuan cuisine and transform how Chinese food is understood. That was the moment I decided to turn the jars I was making for friends and family into a business. I moved to Los Angeles in 2019 to build Fly By Jing and the brand became a way to reclaim my own story and even my own name, which I had changed from Jing to Jenny. What started with a single jar of chili crisp has always been about something bigger: helping people discover the flavors I grew up with and expanding people’s palates and minds through Sichuan flavors. The name “Fly By Jing” is a nod to Chengdu’s “fly restaurants” or hole-in-the-wall spots so good they attract people like flies. What is it about that energy specifically that you wanted to bottle?
The magic of a fly restaurant is that there’s no marketing and no polish. Most of the time, there’s no real reason you should even know it exists. They’re usually tiny
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spots with plastic stools, a menu that hasn’t changed in decades, and a line out the door at any hour because the food is just that good. People make the trip because the flavor is worth it. Those were always my favorite places growing up in Chengdu and I wanted to capture that spirit in the name Fly By Jing. The brand is rooted in bold, unapologetic Sichuan flavors, and I was inspired by the same philosophy those restaurants embody: if you make something truly great, people will find it. You’ve been very intentional about calling what you make “premium Chinese food,” not fusion and not “inspired by.” What do you want people to understand about Sichuan food and culture that a jar of chili crisp alone can’t tell them?
There’s no wrong way to use it. You can cook
with it, drizzle it, or even eat it off a spoon at midnight. Growing up, chili crisp was always on the table, ready to add texture and bold flavor to whatever we were eating. What I really want people to understand is that Chinese food is allowed to be premium. For too long in the U.S., many people saw Chinese food as something that was supposed to be cheap and fast— the thing you order when you don’t want to think. But Chinese cuisine, and Sichuan cuisine in particular, is incredibly nuanced with generations of craft, regional traditions, and a real point of view. From the beginning, Fly By Jing has been about shifting those perceptions. We were one of the first brands to put “premium” and “Chinese” next to each other in the U.S. and that was intentional. I wanted to
help people discover and fall in love with the flavors I grew up with, while broadening how Chinese food is understood and appreciated. Fly By Jing started DTC and is now in stores across North America. What changed when you moved into retail and started reaching people who had never heard of you or your story? Did anything surprise you?
In DTC, your whole story is on display. On a retail shelf, you have a split second to catch someone’s eye, so your packaging has to communicate what makes you different before anyone picks up the jar. As we’ve grown into more than 11,000 retail doors and reached people who may have never tried Sichuan flavors before, we’ve been really intentional about evolving the brand without losing what made people fall in love with it in the first place. Last year’s brand refresh wasn’t about changing who we are, it was about creating more clarity on shelf, making it easier for someone to understand what the product is and why they should pick it up, while staying true to our bold visual identity and Sichuan roots. That same philosophy carries through to our innovation. Whether it’s launching products like our Roasted Garlic Noodles and Mild Crunchy Garlic Chili Crisp for people who want to experience the layered flavors of Sichuan cuisine without the heat, or continuing to develop new flavor profiles, the goal isn’t to water anything down. It’s to invite more people into the world of Sichuan cooking while keeping our heritage, our ingredients, and our point of view at the center of everything we make.
From top: Fly By Jing Classic Soy Noodles (6-pack; $30, flybyjing. com); The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp ($35); Fly By Jing Sweet + Spicy Sichuan Chili Sauce ($32); Fly By Jing Original Sichuan Chili Crisp ($30)
You’ve described presence as the real luxury since becoming a mom. What does that actually look like on a day when the business is pulling hard in one direction and Kai is pulling in the other?
The moments I protect most are the simplest ones: sitting down to share a meal with Kai and giving him his bath at the end of the day. No matter how hard the business is pulling, those are non-negotiable. Sometimes that means I stay up late to finish my work and my sleep suffers a little, but I remind myself that there is a season for everything and this is the season for this. I know it won’t last forever, so I want to be fully present for it while I can. You were born in Chengdu, built something distinctly Chinese for a global audience, and now you’re raising a child in America. How do you think about what you want Kai to know and feel about where he comes from? How does your own childhood experience shape what you’re intentional about giving him that you didn’t always have?
I think about it constantly, maybe because I moved around so much as a kid myself. I was often one of the only Asian kids in the room and the food on our table at the end of the day was the thing that kept me tethered to who I was. It’s what eventually pulled me back to China as a young chef. With Kai, I’m intentional about making sure that connection never feels like something he has to go looking for, the way I sometimes did. I didn’t always have a version of my culture that felt confident or celebrated out in the world. I want it to just be there for him— normal, present, and something to be proud of. Food has always been one of the most natural ways for me to share that with him. Has motherhood changed the way you think about what Fly By Jing is for, who it’s feeding, what it means?
I really wanted to introduce Kai to real Sichuan food early on and that’s exactly what led us to launch a few non-spicy products this past year, like Classic Soy Noodles, Roasted Garlic Noodles, and the Mild Crunchy Garlic Chili Crisp. They all retain those real, authentic flavors of Sichuan without the heat and it’s been such a joy to be able to share some of my favorite flavors and dishes with him at a spice level that he enjoys.
Tiny tastes “Any carbs— bread, mac and cheese, noodles. If it’s white, he probably loves it,” Jing says of son Kai’s favorite foods. “Very typical toddler behavior.”
WHAT SHE SAID Foodie mom founder Jing Gao keeps it real. TOY T H AT ’ S TA K E N OVER THE HOUSE Anything Sonic or Super Mario. I blame his dad. Our house is basically a graveyard of tiny Sonic and Mario figurines. R E S TAU R A N T YO U ORDER FROM MOST Milpa here in Las Vegas. They make fresh, modern Mexican food and their street corn is the best. Kai loves it too. YO U R TO P F I V E PA N T RY S TA P L E S Fly By Jing noodles, Vital Proteins collagen, Four Sigmatic coffee, Fishwife’s Fly By Jing Smoked Salmon with Sichuan Chili Crisp, and Amara smoothie melts for Kai. MORNIN G RITUAL YO U WO N ’ T G I V E U P Meditating for 45 minutes and writing my morning pages. C U R R E N T LY R E A D I N G Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane. THE BEST MEAL YO U ’ V E E V E R H A D A simple tomato and egg dish at a fly restaurant in Chengdu. It tasted like childhood, made with the best tomatoes and silky beaten egg.
Food has clearly been a common thread throughout your life and your book, The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp, Crisp, traces chili crisp from your grandmother’s kitchen to the world. What did that look like for you growing up— what were you eating, who was cooking— and are you recreating that for Kai now?
Some of my strongest food memories are from visiting my grandparents in Chengdu and eating at fly restaurants together. Those meals shaped my understanding of what makes food special: it doesn’t have to be elaborate or polished, but it has to have soul. One dish I especially want to recreate for Kai is a non-spicy version of mapo tofu, which has always been my favorite. It lets him experience the flavors and comfort of a dish I love in a way that feels right for him now and, as he grows, the dish can grow with him. Trusting your intuition has been central to how you’ve built Fly By Jing. Has that same instinct translated into how you parent? Do you trust your gut with Kai the way you do in business?
I think there are a lot of similarities. Building Fly By Jing taught me that, while it’s important to learn from others, you also have to trust your own instincts. Parenting feels much the same. There’s no single right way to do it and every child is different. I’m constantly learning, adjusting, and trying to stay present with Kai rather than feeling like I have to have all the answers. I’ve learned to pay attention to who Kai is, what he needs, and trust that we’re figuring it out together. Like building a company, parenting is a constant process of learning, adjusting, and staying open.
“I don’t think anyone is born only liking bland food.” How are you getting Kai involved in the kitchen at home? Has he shown any interest in cooking yet?
His favorite way to be involved right now is by snacking on everything while I’m cooking. He’s always nearby, curious about what’s on the counter and ready to taste whatever I’m making. I love that his relationship with the kitchen is starting from a place of play and curiosity, he’s learning that cooking is part of the rhythm of family life simply by being there. What’s your philosophy when it comes to introducing kids to bold, complex flavors?
I don’t think anyone is born only liking bland food. My philosophy is to make a wide variety of flavors feel normal rather than something unusual or intimidating. Sichuan cuisine is so much more than heat— it’s layered, balanced, textural, and deeply flavorful. I think kids are much more open to bold, complex flavors when they’re introduced naturally and early, as part of everyday meals rather than treated like something separate or “grown-up.” I’m most excited about helping Kai experience everything Sichuan cuisine has to offer, not just the heat. There’s so much depth and variety in the flavors I grew up with and I want those to feel familiar to him from an early age. Right now, he’s
especially into the Classic Soy and Roasted Garlic Fly By Jing Noodles. He thinks they’re so fun to eat and I love that they’re an easy, protein-packed meal on busy nights. I’ll often add steamed edamame or a soft-boiled egg, but they’re just as delicious on their own. Has Kai had his first taste of something spicy yet and how did that go?
He has! He loves our Sesame Noodles, which have a gentle kick. More than anything, he seems drawn to food with real flavor. I don’t want spice to feel like a test or a dare; I want it to be one part of a much bigger world of tastes and textures that he can explore at his own pace. What does a regular dinner at your house actually look like? Is it always elaborate or is there a “throw something together” version of Jing Gao’s kitchen?
Dinner depends on the day. Sometimes we’ll make hot pot, which has become a favorite family ritual because everyone can gather around the table and cook together. Other nights, when we’re reaching for something simple and quick, I really like our Classic Soy Noodles. As much as I love cooking, I’ve learned that dinner doesn’t have to be elaborate to feel special. It’s less about what’s on the table and more about creating space to be together. ■
IMAGINE T H AT Beloved author, illustrator, and dad of two Oliver Jeffers—known for How to Catch a Star, Here We Are, and the wildly popular Crayons books— reminds us that curiosity, creativity, and wonder often start with simply paying attention.
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Down Time When he’s not coming up with his next book, Jeffers’ ideal day off is spent “walking, cooking, and playing,” he tells Mini.
O OLIVER JEFFERS IS A
beloved author, artist, and illustrator who has built a career around curiosity. How we see the world, how we make sense of it, and what happens when we give imagination room to wander have all become part of the storytelling that defines his work. From his much-loved debut How to Catch a Star to the #1 New York Times bestseller Here We Are—plus his instantly recognizable illustrations for The Day the Crayons Quit and its sequels—Jeffers has spent more than two decades creating work that speaks to children and adults alike. That same sense of play carries into the way he thinks about family travel, drawing with his own children, and creativity itself. For Jeffers, it doesn’t have to be complicated: it can begin with looking closely, making room for
mistakes, and following an idea wherever it leads. You recently partnered with Trainline and Yoto on a collection of travel-inspired drawalongs featuring everything from mountains and bustling cities to underwater worlds and beach scenes. Why do you think travel has such a unique way of inspiring creativity?
Travel is good at interrupting your
budding artists, with the landscape continually changing outside the window. Many parents reach for screens while traveling (understandably!). What are some of your favorite simple, screen-free ways to keep kids entertained between stops?
Screens have their place while traveling, but we like to travel with some things like a simple pack of cards or games. I also ask kids to grab a pencil and paper and choose one thing they see outside the window to draw, like a roof. With a little creativity, a roof can become a hat and a cloud can become a whale, and suddenly the travel time between stops has a plot. If a child opens a sketchbook while traveling and says, “I don’t know what to draw,” what’s your favorite prompt to help get their imagination started?
usual sights, throwing new and unfamiliar shapes, sounds, and landscapes at you and prompting your brain to make stories out of them. That’s what I love about the Yoto Daily Draw Along with Trainline— it gives children a starting point, while leaving enough room for the journey. Plus, rail travel is the perfect backdrop for
Often my answer to this is “draw your hand holding the pencil,” and by the time you’ve done that, draw what is coming out of the pencil. When we are traveling, I suggest they draw the last thing that flashed
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Super-so, hand-illustrated, foam mats reminiscent of an heirloom rug.
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past the window. It can be as simple as a red flower and there’s no such thing as giving a “wrong” answer. The mistakes are usually where the imagination gets in.
C L I C K TO SHOP BOOKS BY O L I V E R JEFFERS!
You’ve said that “creativity often starts with simply looking closely.” In a world that’s constantly moving, how can parents help children slow down and become better observers of the world around them?
I like giving children one small thing to become the expert on— chimneys, clouds, hats, whatever catches their eye. Attention is easier when it feels like a private mission. For parents who don’t consider themselves particularly creative, what advice would you give for nurturing creativity at home? Is there a simple activity or habit you’d encourage them to make part of everyday life?
Creativity is more about presence and practice than about quality. It’s about really being yourself and letting out whatever is in your head. There is no right or wrong or even good or bad. There are people who simply do it more and are more free with themselves. I think drawing whatever comes into your head on a large roll of brown paper can be a good place to start. No correcting or editing. Just adding to it. Five minutes at the table, with no correcting and no need for a masterpiece, is enough to show that creativity is a habit rather than a talent you wait to acquire. Your illustration style is instantly recognizable. How has your creative process evolved over the years and where do your ideas usually begin?
When people ask me how to find their style of art making, I remind them that you don’t find it. It finds you. When you get out of the way of your hand, all the wobbles and bumps that are imperfections become your style when you lean into them. Ideas usually begin with a vague feeling, whether that becomes a story or a color combination depends on what happens when I start trying to extract it from my head. Your books often spark big conversations while remaining wonderfully playful. How do you balance creating stories that connect with both children and their parents?
I think this is a by-product of me being my own target audience. I’m fortunate enough to still remember how the world felt as a small child and can reel in some of those memories; I’m old enough to be curious about how we repair or improve the things that clearly don’t work for us as a species; I’m naive
enough to try to convey them into simple artworks or narratives that might help things be better. If I can explain a concept to my daughter, who is 8, or my father, who is 80, and they are both equally there with me, I think I’ve done my job well.
The Day the Crayons Quit has become such a beloved modern classic. Did you ever imagine it would resonate with so many families around the world?
I knew the book would be popular when I first read the script, given its simplicity, the art of letter writing as a form of protest, and its unique approach to basic color theory, but I had no notion of just how popular it would become. It hit a sweet spot at the right time. The draw-alongs encourage families to create together. How are you fostering a love of art, storytelling,
or creativity with your own children?
I try not to make creativity feel like a lesson in our house. It’s often a pencil left on the table, a story begun in the middle, or one of us drawing a shape for everyone else to turn into something impossible. You’ve written and illustrated so many beloved books over the years. Is there one project that challenged you—or perhaps surprised you—the most creatively?
Yes! There’s a Ghost in This House was technically SO difficult to make. From working
out how the tracing paper folded into the structure of the book and adapting the story around those moments, to lining up the ghost art with the scene in a way that didn’t impede the writing, to finding the right images from old furniture catalogs of empty rooms, it was by far the most challenging book I’ve ever made. After creating so many beloved books, what continues to inspire you creatively? Is there a story or idea you still hope to bring to life one day?
Yes, I still have a few story concepts up my sleeve that I want to explore. Ideas can be funny like that sometimes; when you try to find them directly, they can be quite elusive. It’s often when you’re doing something else that they invite you in. Travel can be like that too and consistently inspires me creatively. When you have a set agenda of things to see, it can feel quite regimented and the “joy” of travel seems to hide from you a bit. But when you just go where the wind or the mood or the momentum is taking you, the most joyous travel moments are usually the ones you least expect. The moral here is to be at one with the flow of life. What do you hope children—and perhaps their parents, too—take away after spending time with one of your books?
It really depends on the book. But I hope to sprinkle a little beauty, joy and curiosity into the minds of everyone reading them. For some of the books, I hope the additional elements of care and responsibility for the world around us, whether local or global, are implemented in those minds too.
Finally, if you could leave aspiring young artists with one piece of advice, what would it be?
Stop caring what other people think of your art. The best art never looks like a carbon copy of the thing it is trying to represent, and it is in all the imperfections that we find all the charm and accessibility. ■
WHAT HE SAID The artist and author goes on the clock. W I N D OW S E AT OR AISLE Window. TRAIN RIDE O R ROA D T R I P Train ride. COFFEE OR TEA Coffee. P E N C I L O R PA I N T Pencil.
Artist’s Choice Having written and illustrated dozens of books, we asked Jeffers for the one art supply he can’t live without: “Paper,” he tells Mini.
M O U N TA I N S OR OCEAN Ocean. FICTION OR NONFICTION Nonfiction. MUSEUM OR BOOKS TORE Museum. MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL Night owl. FAVO R I T E CHILDREN’S BOOK The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. I F YO U W E R E N ’ T AN AUTHOR OR I L LU S T R ATO R , W H AT D O YO U T H I N K YO U ’ D B E ? Unemployed.
photography K E L LY S T U A R T
A C HARMED LIFE For jewelry designer and mom of two Elisa Solomon, the pieces we never take off are rarely just accessories— they’re tiny, wearable reminders of the people, places, and moments we want to keep close. There’s something inherently sentimental about a charm. It’s small enough to sit against your skin, but somehow capable of holding an entire person, place, season, or memory inside it. For Elisa Solomon, that has always been the point. Since launching her namesake fine jewelry line in 2004, the trained metalsmith has built a world around pieces meant to feel deeply personal: name rings carved while pregnant with her children, initials worn close to the heart, custom jewels made to mark milestones, and heirlooms designed to eventually make their way to another generation. Her latest collection, Beauty in Nature, may be her most personal yet. Beauty in Nature was born out of a year of slowing down and paying attention— snowflakes, lilacs, sunsets, changing leaves. What made that particular year feel different and what made you want to capture it in jewelry?
My beloved German Shepherd, Bear, was
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slowing down and I sensed that we were nearing the end of his life. We sat in the grass, taking in our surroundings, enjoying nature. Each season felt magnified in a way. I noticed the beauty around us and really wanted to capture the moments we shared. What did those moments with Bear mean to you and what does it feel like to have them permanently captured in these pieces?
This collection is always going to be incredibly meaningful to me because Bear died on June 25, about a month after I released the collection. I see the pieces and they’re a precious reminder of the natural world that we loved experiencing together. They bring me back to moments that meant a lot to me, which is what I think makes jewelry so powerful. It is a talisman that holds a dear memory.
Walk us through your design process for this collection. Where does a piece start? Is it a sketch, a stone, a feeling?
I don’t sketch, I just get a clear idea in my mind. I see the piece in my imagination, take out my green carving wax and tools, and begin to carve a tiny “sculpture” of the jewel. When I carve the design, I know which stones will be going into the jewel and make sure to carve space for the special details. My carving is then cast in fine metal, set with diamonds or colorful gems, and polished. Is there a piece in Beauty in Nature that feels the most personal to you and why?
My favorite piece, that I haven’t taken off, is the tiny dog bone charm. I think many pet owners will connect with this piece. There is a space on the bone for your pet’s name, which is hand-engraved in script or block
lettering. The bone is customizable, so you can select four diamonds or colorful gems for the charm. I made one with Bear’s name when I was crafting the collection and I made one recently with the name of our newly adopted puppy, Indigo. You launched your first collection in 2004 with the mission of creating jewelry that carries deep personal significance. Twenty years in, what does that mission look like now?
I’ve always stayed true to the vision and vibe I saw for my company. My fine jewelry has always been created to evoke joy, positivity, meaning, and love. I’d say the mission has become even more powerful since becoming a mother and it introduced me to a beautiful community of fellow moms. What do you think makes a piece cross that line from something you own to something you can’t take off?
I believe it’s the connection. The connection can be to a person, place, moment, or event and the piece becomes an incredible symbol of that. I personally have a selection of jewels that I never take off because they mean so much to me. You do custom work and remakes— pieces that get lost, recreated, passed down. What does it mean to you when someone trusts you with something that significant?
I take it very seriously. It’s emotional and a huge honor. I set out to make something that will be cherished and hopefully passed down to future generations.
Sugar Rush Elisa teamed up with iconic NYC restaurant Serendipity 3 on a Frozen Hot Chocolate charm, complete with diamonds and ruby details inspired by the beloved dessert.
Do you have a piece of your own that you’d be devastated to lose?
My two white diamond-encrusted name rings are my favorites. I carved each while pregnant with my two kids. I also have a white diamond letter necklace that I wear with my pets’ and kids’ first initials. To me, they are incredibly powerful symbols of love. Are you already thinking about pieces you want to pass down to your kids someday?
Yes, and while I’ve made many pieces for my daughter, I have also made pieces for my son since he was born. They are proud of what I do and I want them to have these special tokens for themselves and their own families one day. You’re a trained metalsmith. You actually make things with your hands. How does that craft background shape the way you think about jewelry differently than someone who just designs it?
There is a huge difference and it’s one of the reasons why my jewelry is unique and special. Every piece has my hands in it and I love that it doesn’t look like it comes from a machine. There is a handmade feel that my clients love. The jewelry feels like mini pieces of art. What does a regular workday look like for you and how do your kids factor into the rhythm of running a creative business?
Every day, I always make sure to check my emails, social media, and orders. Aside from that, some days I might be carving, picking stones, shipping jewelry, working on the website, writing journal entries for my email list, or speaking with partners. This business has been a gift as a mom because I’m able to set my own hours. I feel fortunate that I run a business I love while also being a very present mother. What’s the most rewarding part of what you do that has nothing to do with the finished piece?
The most rewarding part is the community that has formed through my business. I have many kind, wonderful clients who truly feel like close friends. ■