MANIAC feature
ADRIENNE TOTH
BRANDY VLASIC & VIVIAN MARIE VLASIC
On Clinical Trial at Hillman Cancer Center
General Manager/Owner, Arlecchino / Alla Famiglia (along with husband, Chef Jonathan Vlasic) and Wedding Planner, BMV Weddings
Pregnancy is difficult enough, but Adrienne Toth had extra challenges as she went through those nine months while battling cancer. She is currently a Stage IV cancer patient, and gets “alone time” with her husband, Dean, each Wednesday night when she’s getting her chemo infusion. “Talk about romance!” she quips. This is her second diagnosis, and she says it made her realize “how important it is to enjoy every minute of every day.” Adrienne accomplishes this, in part, by spending time with her family and loving herself as she is. After losing her hair twice, doing thirty rounds of chemo, giving birth, and having her breasts removed, she says she still feels sexy. “I rock my bald head and new body because it’s me.” Even in the midst of her trials, Adrienne has dealt with hurtful comments made by those who thought she should not get chemo while pregnant. She made some difficult choices, and did what she believed was best for her and her precious son. This is one Maniac mama who is sexy and inspiring—bald head and all!
MANIAC MOM CONTEST
WINNER WITH OVER 1,400 VOTES
ANDI STEIN Executive Assistant, Classrooms Without Borders One of the things Andi Stein has learned is how difficult it can be to juggle everything. She says finding that balance between your lover, baby, pets, and life in general is very challenging, but rewarding and absolutely worth it. She acknowledges how difficult it can be to find time for herself, but finds that being organized and timing things out is more important than ever. Andi thinks the idea that moms tend to “let themselves go” is a myth, but she says sometimes you just have to get a quick shower and air dry your hair in order to fit everything in the day. “I want to look good for my son, Sebastian, and be a role model as he grows up,” she says. Something tells us Sebastian doesn’t mind if his mom does a quick air dry or has a fancy blowout—he loves his Maniac mom just the same and so do we.
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Brandy Vlasic finds great satisfaction in being a mom and a businesswoman, but acknowledges that it limits her free time and forces her to prioritize quality time with her husband and daughter, Vivian. What once were priorities to Brandy now seem trivial in comparison to enjoying time with her beautiful little girl. She says she wants to feel good about herself inside and out, and is committed to staying in shape and tries to avoid the sweatpants vortex many women get sucked into. She says she wants to “be a fit mom and a role model” for Vivian. Despite having little free time and having to manage her ambitious business pursuits, Brandy wants to look and feel good and be the best mom she can possibly be. Whether she’s managing her restaurant or planning a wedding, Brandy is up for the challenge, but her heart is always with her family. www.allafamiglia.com, www.arlecchinopgh.com
MOLLIE HANNA LANG CEO/Founder byLangley™ As a high-powered CEO, it would be easy for Mollie Hanna Lang to forget to spend some quality time with herself, but she says she makes it a priority. “I am not my best if I don’t do the little things for me--whether it’s going for a run or making time with girlfriends.” She realizes that the reason many moms have a reputation for not being very glamorous is because whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or work outside the home, your day doesn’t usually belong to you. As the devoted mother of a 3-year-old and infant, Mollie has a lot on her plate. Despite that, Mollie says, “Haircuts and workouts should not be seen as luxuries—they’re maintenance.” The true luxury is time, and finding that is the secret. While Mollie wants to be sexy and exude a positive image to her daughters, she says women shouldn’t be so hard on themselves. “We should strive to be our best, but that does not mean being the best at everything.” www.byLangley.com 41