Shirly Brener Mom, Actress, Producer, balances her beautiful, busy life with grace
Workin’ Mama Spotlighting Momprenuers from coast to coast
Tracy Hutson
Mom and accomplished designer launches new product line
The Daddy Diaries Actor Steve Belanger’s honest account of raising a toddler
May/June 2010 stylecafemomsmagazine.com
Photograph by Mathew K. Dunn
7 Letter from the Founders
11
17
9 The Daddy Diaries Actor Steve Belanger’s honest account of raising a toddler 11 Fun in the Sun Wendy Navarro of Saige Nicole’s gives us the scoop on this season’s most sought after tot bathing suits
23
17 Taste of Summer Erica of FavFamilyRecipes.com shares some of her favorite Summer recipes with us 19 School’s out for Summer Take inspiration from the season and apply it to your child’s room 23 Shirly Brener Mom, Actress, Producer, balances her beautiful, busy life with grace 33 Trendy Loft Little Crown Interiors shows us how to choose safe and stylish window treatments 37 Workin’ Mama Spotlighting Momprenuers from coast to coast 41 The Best Summer Beauty Products We highlight a few of our favorite Summer beauty products
4
43 Tracy Hutson Mom and accomplished designer launches new product line
43
48 Fashion for the Savvy Mom A few of our favorite fashion finds for the season 49 Office Style Nicole Balch, mom, blogger, designer and business owner allows us a peak into her home office and shares with us, how she stays organized and how she balances being a work at home mom.
49
4
Founders and Editorial Directors Becky Ocasio and Kimberly Morales Editor-in-Chief Belinda Lopez Creative Director Victoria Ocasio Senior Editor Megan Ocasio Associate Editor Charissa Morales Associate Editor Jessica Valdes Marketing Director Michael Beers
www.monkeybarbuddies.com
I see London, I see France, I CAN’T see your underpants!!
Letter from the Founders I've always stressed to my children, "be a leader, not a follower"! I've always firmly believed in that. So, naturally when it was time for us to choose the direction, look, style and feel of Style CafÊ Moms Magazine, we knew we wanted something more out of a Mommy Magazine, more of what is missing in parenting magazines today. What does "more" mean? For us, the founders, more means sexy, edgy, stylish and fashion forward. Our love for dancing to the beat of our own drum has now trickled into not only our off spring, but now this publication, as you can see by our cover shot of Shirly Brener. Shirly Brener, actress, producer and mom is a perfect fit for our cover‌sexy, edgy, stylish and very much a mom to Mila. Gracing our cover and also allowing us a glimpse into her busy life, Shirly is quite the busy mom, wife and career minded woman. Did I mention that she has abs that I long for? Of course we had to add some humor into the mix with our "Daddy Diaries" column by Steve Belanger. Actor, writer, comedian and stay at home dad, Steve's take on life with a two year old will keep you laughing until the end. Need a few fresh ideas on organizing your home office? You will love Nicole Balch from the popular blog, Making It Lovely. Grab a peek at her home office and a bit about her via our Q and A. She is definitely dancing to the beat of her own drum - love that! From tips on decorating the nursery to our summer beauty product picks, we have you covered. We have so many fresh ideas and great things in store for our readers in this issue and those to come. Enjoy!
Happy Spring! Kimberly & Becky 7
The Daddy Diaries
Me & My Boy
by Steve Belanger
I love my son. I really do. So why is it that sometimes I want to list him on eBay and offer free shipping? I would throw myself in front of a bus for this kid, I love him so much. But some days, I wish that bus would just hurry up and get here to put me out of my misery before I have to read All Around the Island with Thomas & Friends for the forty gazillionth time. (My god! What is it about that creepy blue train!!) I know that my fatherly frustrations are due mostly to my own poor parenting skills and lack of patience. You see, I’m a stay-at-home dad, so I’ve been with him from dawn to dusk for just about every day of his life. It would be tough for two adults to survive the endless hours me and my boy put in together, especially with all of the diaper changing. I hate to admit this, but my son is exceptionally well-behaved. For a two & a half year old, he is extremely even-tempered, listens very well and rarely ever throws a tantrum (and when he does, he’s usually able to shake it off in a minute or two.) I dread saying this for several reasons. •The first is that you will hate me. There are many reasons to not like me, but my son is not one of them. •The second is that by saying it out loud, I’m afraid I will break the spell and he will transform into a real brat. •The third is that I fear his angelic behavior early on is just to make up for the hell he’s going to put us through down the road.
9
The Daddy Diaries But I can’t worry about that stuff now, I’ve just got to get through our day-to-day life together and all of the frustration that sometimes brings. Like the small stockroom of toys that must accompany him in his car seat. The current list stands at one airplane, one helicopter, Diego, Lightning McQueen, the King and Mater. Not having one of these is like disconnecting the distributor cap, no matter how much of a hurry I’m in, I’m not going anywhere.
Sure, I’ve got the same external pressures as everyone else -- economic fears, global warming, the end of Lost, but I wish I were more even-keeled when it comes to the kid. I mean, so what if he wants to watch Yo Gabba Gabba every single night before bed? Just because I know each line in every show verbatim and it’s turning my brain to mush, doesn’t mean I should deprive him of his favorite part of the day.
Whenever he does some little thing that
And if sitting in the backyard blowing bub-
drives me crazy, my wife will remind me
bles for hours on end makes him happy,
that, on the whole, he really is exception-
who am I to argue?
ally well-behaved for his age. But I keep forgetting. We’ve spent so much time together that I don’t see him as a little boy as much as a smallish man and expect him to behave accordingly. Maybe it’s the fact that I have spent so much time with him that, I’ve lost touch with my own friends. I’ve lost a small part of my identity spending so many hours a day with my “Dad” badge on. Not that I regret it. He’s my little sidekick. He’s Butch to my Sun-
Everyday, I wake up & strive to be a better parent than I was the day before; have more patience, set a better example, etc. And most days I succeed. Hopefully the building blocks I’m laying with him will pay off in the long run. I know he won’t remember much from these years, but I can only hope that the traits he’s picking up now will help him when he makes his own way in the world. Which I both hope and fear are just a few short years away. ◊
dance. The Laurel to my Hardy. The Robin to my Batman. But as close as we are, I still don’t understand why I can lose my cool so quickly.
Steve Belanger is an actor, writer and comedian. He has worked with Oscar winners, written countless articles & screenplays and performed standup on the country's most celebrated stages. But the title he's proudest to hold is simply ... "Dad".
10
Fun in the Sun Photograph by Stacey Kelly Vintage inspired bathing suit by Chichanella Bella. (available at www.saigenicoles.com)
Tot Bathing Suits Make a Big Splash This Season By Wendy Navarro
It’s time to strip away the layers, pull
out the shorts and flip flops and plan for fun in the sun.
Vintage inspired swimsuits hit the boardwalk this summer and take center stage. Influenced by the bathing beauties of the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, era inspired bathing suits combine amazing details like rouching and ruffles paired with whimsical prints in polka dots and stripes to create a look that will take you back to simpler times of boardwalks and Ferris Wheels. Ballerinas by the bay. Our love for tutu skirts and ruffles does not end just because it’s summertime. This fashion trend continues on strong in whimsical bathing suits.
Photograph by Justin Borucki
This season tot bathing suits and pool side fashions are making a big splash! Children’s wear designers take swimsuit fashions two-steps forward and transfer favorite every day looks to create new and bold swimsuit designs. Styles range from traditional to retro inspirations, fabrics are bold and sassy; when infused you get fun, whimsical swimwear perfect for the innocence of child’s play.
Vintage inspired bathing suits by Chichanella Bella. (available at www.saigenicoles.com)
Look for tutu-esq skirts layered over one piece suits and bikini bottoms. Popular colors to look for are ballerina pink, turquoise blue and lemon yellow. Long board shorts for boys rock the waves! Bold prints and themes range from nautical to preppy to punk. There’s no holding back. So, regardless of whether you’re into classic nautical themes or skulls and cross bones there’s a suit out there to fit your little guys personal style.
12
Special Features and Gear Fabric has come a long way. Many of today’s swimsuit designers have infused sun protection into fabrics creating greater UV protection. Sun hats are a must have and protect your little one’s head and face from the harsh rays of the sun. Cover-ups and shade umbrellas provide your little one with an extra barrier against the sun’s rays when you expect to be out for any length of time. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Look for sunscreens that are made specifically for little one’s delicate skin and provide adequate UV protection. Consult your pediatrician if your child is 6 mo or younger.
Vintage inspired bathing suit by Chichanella Bella. (available at www.saigenicoles.com)
About The Author: Wendy Navarro is the proud mom of three and owner of Saige Nicole’s www.SaigeNicoles.com an online boutique for baby and toddler girls and boys specializing in boutique clothing, accessories, gifts and décor that capture the essence of childhood frolic and Vintage inspired bathing suits by Chichanella Bella. whimsy. (available at www.saigenicoles.com)
13
Photograph by Joe Hart
Vintage inspired bathing suits by Chichanella Bella. (available at www.saigenicoles.com)
Photograph by Justin Borucki
Vintage inspired bathing suits by Chichanella Bella. (available at www.saigenicoles.com) 15
Photograph by Stacey Kelly
Taste of Summer
F
avorite Family Recipes started out as a way for a bunch of siblings to swap their favorite recipes. Erica and her sister Emily created the Favorite Family Recipes website a few years ago as an easy way for them to share recipes. Turns out, there were other people out there who wanted to have their recipes too! Visit www.favfamilyrecipes.com
Pesto Pizzas: For the Dough: 2 packages Quick Rising Yeast 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. sugar 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 c. hot water Mix together then add: 3 cups flour (we do half white and half wheat) Topping: Pesto Sauce (we use the big bottle from Costco) Feta cheese (tomato and basil flavor) Tomato slices Dried basil Salt and pepper to taste Knead dough for 1 minute then divide into 8 balls. Roll out into individual pizzas and layer on a plate divided by wax paper. Let dough raise for about 20 minutes. Grill on medium heat. After the first side is done flip and top with pesto and feta. When fully cooked, remove from heat and add tomato slices and season with basil, salt, and pepper.
17
Taste of Summer Guacamole: 3 avocados Red onion, chopped (about 1/4 c.) 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped 1 jalapeno, finely chopped (or to taste) 1 large ripe garden tomato (or 2 smaller tomatoes), diced juice of 1 lime 4-5 shakes green Tabasco sauce Kosher salt, to taste Fresh cracked pepper, to taste Pit avocados and mash in a bowl. If you like your guac kind of chunky (that's how we like it), coarsely chop with the side of a fork instead of using the fork to mash it straight down. Carefully stir in remaining ingredients until well mixed. That's it! BBQ Ribs: 1 rack baby back pork ribs Pappy's seasoning (or any other seasoning you like) 2 c. water 1 bottle of "Sweet Baby Ray's" BBQ sauce 2/3 c. packed brown sugar 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce Rub ribs with seasoning and place in large crock pot (you may have to cut the ribs up so they all fit). Pour in water and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours, until ribs are cooked through and they are already starting to fall off the bone. Combine BBQ sauce, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce in medium-sized bowl. Heat grill to medium-high heat and place 2-3 ribs sections on at a time, slathering completely with BBQ sauce mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until it gets that good BBQ flavor and BBQ sauce gets cooked onto the meat. Place finished ribs on upper rack of grill to keep warm and to keep getting that smokey flavor while you are grilling the other ribs. Serve hot with remaining BBQ sauce.
18
19
20
Shirly Brener
Mom, Actress, Producer, Balances her beautiful, busy life with grace Photograph by Mathew K. Dunn
M
om, Actress and Producer, Shirly Brener, fills us in on her delicate balance of career and family, how she stays in such great shape and more. SCM: Describe a typical day in your life. SB: The one thing I can say about my days is that none of them are “typical” I wear so many hats and at so many different given times the situations are various, so the order of things changes significantly. If I'm on a movie, I’ll typically wake up at 4am and head to set and work for 12 to14 hours, then I usually go work out or do yoga and then have a quick dinner with the family followed by a late coaching session with one of my acting coaches prepping for the next day. When I’m not shooting, I typically wake up at 6:45, answer all of my emails and do some work, get my daughter ready for school and drive for 30-40 minutes for a school drop off. While driving I'm usually on business conference calls, then hit the gym for a 5K run or bike followed by some circuit training, or do Bikram yoga. After which I start hitting production meetings, auditions rehearsals, financing meetings and everything that has to do with acting and producing. Some days I spend the whole day on the phone, on email, in conference calls, or negotiating contracts and putting deals together. I pick up my daughter from school and take her to one of her many extra curriculars that include ballet, karate, swimming, piano or hebrew.
Photograph by Mathew K. Dunn
At nights I usually attend classes either at The Beverly Hills Playhouse – my theatrical acting training or at Second City, my sketch comedy place. I'm usually in bed by 10:30. SCM: Between being mommy to Mila, your busy work schedule as an actress and producer and Mila's activities, how do you manage it all? Do you have outside help? SB: I'm a total overachiever, I have to be the BEST in everything including how I am as a mom and I’m not competitive with other people, I am mostly competitive with myself? I'm so in love with her (Mila) and our relationship, she is the sweetest, most funny person I have ever met. It was definitely one the best decisions I made to have a child while having a career and not wait “till I had a career” or sacrifice one for the other.
24
I'm also lucky I have an amazing nanny. She has been with us since Mila was 3 weeks old. She helps a lot. Mila is very attached to her, she is like family. My mom helps too. My mom is also a great grandma, she also helps taking Mila to swimming or ballet classes. Indeed it’s a lot to juggle. But I love juggling; I’m a master at multitasking. Bruce is an amazing dad, caring, nurturing and helps me at every turn. It has helped our relationship grow as a couple. We make it work. We take turns playing with her, reading books to her, doing art projects, it does get overwhelming but we love it. I actually really admire people who have 2 or 3 kids and do it all. I think having one makes it a bit easier. SCM: Do you think that your sense of style has changed since Mila was born? How?
SB: My style has not changed much since Mila was born, I have always been a cool jeans and cute tank kind of gal. But I've actually gotten so much more comfortable with my body since Mila was born because I worked so hard to get it back , I now have a better one than before. I used to never wear skirts and short shorts, now my legs are so sculpted that I love wearing things that expose my legs. I tend to gravitate to more classy and couture designer clothing, with cleaner lines, no prints, not too many crazy colors. I like muted tones like beige, white, gray, black, navy, brown. Also the one thing I really learned to do is appreciate myself without makeup, being a mom, you don’t always have the luxury of getting all dolled up for hours. SCM: With your hat as an actress which role has been your favorite and why? SB: My favorite job to date was Righteous Kill, working with two of the greatest legends of cinematic history and together in the same film in and together in the same scenes with me. I will never forget Robert De Niro complimenting me on my acting! It was definitely a high moment in my career. Also I really enjoy playing characters that are emotionally complex and challenged and that come from a darker place. The actual opportunity to share the set and learn from Robert De Niro and Al Pacino was really a pinnacle moment in my career.
Photography by Brian B Hayes
SCM: Do you encourage Mila to follow in your footsteps? SB: I AM big on extracurricular activity for Mila. She is currently enrolled in ballet, tap,
25
swimming, musical theater, karate, voice lessons, piano and private tutoring in Math and English. I believe in enriching your kids as much as you can. My parents facilitated that type of education with me and it’s helped me become a very well rounded person. I come from a family of over achievers, I guess I’m bestowing that concept on my child. Recently we started teaching Mila snow skiing and next will be water-skiing in the summer. She is fearless and loves her lessons. Mila often comes to visit me on set and has been traveling with me on work since she was 2 months. When Mila was 6 months, she was signed by Ford models, she has since done campaigns, shoots, commercials and movies. She is a pro at this. It’s fun for both of us, for her a film set is like a giant playground and for me it’s a chance to still spend some time with her while working and not missing her so much. Mila has done campaigns, shoots and editorials ranging from Fit Pregnancy, SELF, JC Penny, Baby Talk and has done commercials for Honda and Wal-Mart, and is the face of a children's fashion label. I’m not sure that if I were a mom from a different industry that it would be easy to pursue. It takes a lot of time, work, attention and dedication.
Photograph by Mathew K. Dunn
SB: Mila goes to a school where she studies Hebrew 5 hours a week. She also goes to a Sunday school at Wilshire Temple and learns all the holidays, the songs, the food. My mom does a good job of that as well. We travel to Israel often as well, where I've had numerous jobs and I always try to take her with me. There my Grandmother, Dad and cousins show SCM: Coming from a Jewish backher around and she is exposed to the food, the culture and the ground being Israeli how do incorpopeople. Both Bruce and I are not very religious, however to rate your heritage and culture into me it’s more about tradition and roots. Mila's upbringing? SCM: Describe your perfect family day?
26
Photograph by Patrice Nelson
on’s School of Design and went on to create paintings and murals both for personal collectors as well as public arenas. He was in charge of the restoration of the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles as well as the Kodak Center, home for the Academy Awards. Its amazing to live in a SCM: Tell us how you met your husband, well home with somebody so creative that has -known artist, Bruce Rubenstein? found such a unique voice for himself with his SB: I met Bruce on a movie that I produced , painting, it pushes me to the next level with my our location was the Kodak center on Hollyacting and he always teaches me to trust my wood and Highland and he happened to be raw talent and to communicate in my art, my there doing some public art. Somebody from true voice, that which I am, not that which oththe production crew introduced us and sparks ers try to mold me to be. I'm lucky to have flew. At first I was not sure this is what I him around and I’m lucky to have married the wanted, I was always sort of preconditioned to love of my life. He is a fantastic husband and marry a “yuppie”, a lawyer or a doctor, not a my best friend. bohemian type, an “artist”, but we fell in love. Bruce is what I define as a multifaceted artist. SCM: Any plans to expand your family in the He started as a student in the prestigious Pars- near future? SB: We do a lot of cool stuff as a family…a perfect day would be doing a yoga class together, and then hitting the beach , cooking with friends and then ending the night with movie.
Photograph by Patrice Nelson
Photograph by Tony Donaldson
SB: We are discussing having another child. When? I'd love for it to happen before 2010 ends, but I would have to figure it out amongst my work load and project schedule. I've always wanted more than one child. I think 2 are perfect. It seems to never be the right time and its always the right time. I started over thinking it a bit, when the time is right I will “just do it” and that time is approaching any day now. If I had unlimited financial abundance I would love to adopt a child. But that’s another dream and we shall see if it ever materializes. SCM: You look great, how important is eating healthy and exercise to you? What measures do you take to instill healthy eating habits in Mila? SB: I’m obsessed with fitness and working out. I’m a Bikram Yoga girl and I have been practicing it for over 4years and I do it 3-4 times per
29
week. I also love running. I do a lot of circuit training and calisthenics, people don’t understand that they spend years at the gym and don’t get the right results because they are not training properly, they push equipment around instead of pushing their own body weight, which is way more beneficial. I occasionally play tennis and when warm outside I swim laps in the pool. I cut a lot out of my diet- dairy, caffeine, soda, sugar, artificial sweeteners, cigarettes, alcohol, carbs. I love seaweed, coconut water, kambucha, olives, and avocados. I count calories and really stay away from processed foods and rice, bread, pasta- those are killers. I'll take a sashimi dinner any night over creamy fettuccine alfredo. I also try to not eat after 7 PM. I mostly eat raw organic
veggies, fish, some turkey and chicken. I've actually started writing a book about fitness and cooking and compiling some of my more exciting recipes. If I wasn’t an actress and producer I might have become a chef. Both my grandmothers were amazing cooks. They taught me so much about finding my way in the kitchen. SCM: What advice can you offer moms who are juggling their careers and families on how to maintain their sanity while trying to do it all? SB: My advice is stick to a routine - a tight schedule and plan in advance. To me its all about the planning and the structure. I plan my months and weeks ahead, but don’t be rigid about it be flexible. Eat right it will give you energy and vitality and sleep enough to function but don’t waste your life in sleep, find hobbies that relax you (for me its yoga) , occasionally treat yourself to a great pair of shoes or a nice massage. There is no right formula, every woman has her own obstacles, personality, set of chalPhotograph by Shacham Zaguri lenges, find what it is that helps you and do it. and supermodel Bar Refaeli. More recently, I've SCM: Regarding your acting and producing sold a reality show with a partner who created it – career, what can we expect to see from you Henry Algerrisi titled “Demolition Chef”. The first venture under the Brener Praxis relations is in the future? Blood Hostage. A mixed martial arts, action, SB: I signed a lucrative 6 picture deal with Krav Maga film directed by Isaac Florentine. Set Praxis Films as a producer. I am now VP of to shoot in Israel this summer. “ Praxis Films US and basically shepherd the US branch of the company. I had actually After Blood Hostage, Praxis has several creative been producing for a couple of years prior and interesting projects lined up. We also reto that. I've formed Brener films and started cently signed a co-production deal with one of the on a suspense thriller directed by acclaimed more powerful studio based , big budget ,high Israeli dir. Haim Bouzaglo, “Session”. Star- grossing companies in Hollywood. I cannot disring Steven Bauer (Scar Face and Traffic ) close more details on this deal yet as its still in the
30
early stages and we are working the details out. Let’s just say that should things materialize in the way that we hope they will, the future is looking super bright . I am also working on 2 other films of my own. The first is titled Asleep At the Wheel and the Second film under Brener Films to shoot by Fall is “Everyone Wants the Kush” written with the help of my husband and 2 other young up and coming writers. I'll also be acting myself in the 2 projects named above. I am first and foremost an artist and I love acting and I feel so comfortable in my own skin acting now, especially after having over 25 feature films on my resume. In June, I will start shooting National Lampoon teen horror, titled “Cheerleaders Must Die”. I play the lead- Ms Hammer who is the coach to a high school cheerleading squad. I'm really excited about all that I'm doing- juggling being a wife, mother, actress and producer. I love being a piece of the puzzle and I love putting the puzzle together. SCM: Your skin absolutely glows, what is your favorite skincare/beauty product? SB: Thanks for telling me my skin glows- I actually don’t think I have the “best” skin but like anything I work hard at it. I already discussed with you my eating habits which I think help a lot for your skin. The best thing is to stay out of the sun (sun damage is terrible). I try to use Retin-A nightly and wash my face with a glycolic skin soap and toner and other than that drink tons of water. ◊ Photograph by Shacham Zaguri 31
Trendy Loft
Safe & Stylish Window Treatments
How to Choose Safe and Stylish Nursery and Children’s Room Window Treatments by Little Crown Interiors Over the years we’ve learned a thing or two about the do’s and don’ts of safe window treatments in a nursery design. While every parent has a different view on sleep, it’s fair to say that we can all agree on one thing – a sleeping child is a good thing. No matter your sleep technique, well-planned window treatments in your child’s room can definitely make a difference. First off – invest in black out shades – you won’t regret it. Window treatments with blackout lining are available at all price points in all kinds of designs (from inexpensive roll-down shades, to blackout lined curtain panels and roman shades, there is something for every everyone). If budget allows, custom blackouts are a beautiful and lasting investment – try using fabrics that coordinate with the room décor. An inexpensive, reliable option that we use from time to time is from JC Penney. Pottery Barn Kids has beautiful blackout lined panels as well. For great design that’s highly customizable, try Smith and Noble.
33
Nursery with Blackout Roman Shades for Night and Sheer Curtain Panels for Day During the day, allow light into the room for naps. This solves a concern that many parents have: “will my child learn to sleep in a room with light?” For daytime, we recommend shutters, blinds, or sheer “nap curtains”.
Trendy Loft Custom Blackout Lined Roman Shades Ideally, we also recommend choosing a window treatment solution that allows for two forms of window treatments. In this case, use blackout shades at night only. This will keep your child asleep when the rooster crows far too early, and help them settle down when older kids are still outside playing in the sunshine.
Nursery with Wood Blinds for Day and Custom Blackout Lined Curtain Panels for Night One last note – no matter what you choose, please, please, please be sure they are safe. Cribs and children’s beds should not be placed under windows (for sun exposure and safety reasons). Curtain panels should not be reachable from a crib. If you must have cords, they should be continuous loop or remote controlled (to avoid strangulation), and it’s always a good idea to check up on recalls – in December 2009 alone, the CPSC recalled millions of window shades. For up-to -date recall information, visit: www.cpsc.gov
34
Meet the Designers Early in 2008, Naomi (a graduate of IDI and Allied Member ASID), and Gerri (a UCSD educated artist) met while working for an Orange County based design firm. After collaborating on numerous nursery and juvenile projects, the two realized their shared excitement for innovative design and deep love for children. These common inspirations sparked the concept of Little Crown Interiors: to focus on designing the most luxurious, innovative, safe, and well-planned spaces imaginable – exclusively for babies and children. Combining extensive knowledge and ongoing research in the industry’s new and existing products, vendors, manufacturers, and safety regulations with expertise in thoughtful design, custom creations, space planning, and matters of convenience, Naomi & Gerri have created countless one-of-a-kind spaces for stylish, adventurous and forward-thinking parents - nationwide.
35
Workin’ Mama
Spotlighting Momprenuers from Coast to Coast
P
ixie Bows, launched in 2005, is the
brainchild of Sharon Tanner mom of boy/girl twins, Jack and Dylan. Sharon had been working in the clothing design and merchandising industry for years and had recently stopped working right before her twins were born. She wanted a way to make a little extra money and to have some “me” time, while at the same time still being creative. Sharon began making hair bows with a friend, selling their creations at local arts and crafts shows. This led to an obsession for Sharon, to keep on creating and coming up with totally unique and quality hair accessories for little girls. She was not a hair bow person and at the time there was not much else out there, especially in the South where she was living. So she began sourcing new materials and tinkering around to come up with some new ideas. Shortly after moving back to California Sharon decided that she wanted to take her little past time obsession to the next level and created Pixie Bows LLC. Sharon wanted create a line of clips that were unique and trendy, something that spoke to the different personalities all our little girls have.
Bow Available at PixieBows.com
37
She stopped doing arts and craft shows and turned her attention to wholesale accounts, instead going to industry tradeshows. Pixie Bows can now be found in boutiques across the USA, Europe and Australia. As a stay at home working mom it is a challenge to have balance, especially with two preschoolers at home with Sharon most days. She tries to make sure they do at least one fun activity a day so they feel fulfilled. She also plans a lot of play dates, which forces her to step away from her work and go out and have fun too. Both Jack and Dylan enjoy sitting and helping Sharon create, they love to be apart of what she is doing which she believes is important, it makes them feel included in the big picture of the company, instead of something that takes away from time with them. Sharon also tries to get up before the twins do in the morning, that way she is able to get a big chunk of work done before they rise, then she doesn’t feel guilty if she doesn’t get too much work done during the day but instead spend it with her children guilt free.
Workin’ Mama
Spotlighting Momprenuers from Coast to Coast Pixie Bows has some very exciting things in the pipeline. They just debuted their Suede Collection at ENK Children’s Club tradeshow in NY. The new line was extremely well received and is in boutiques across the USA already. It is a very fun vibrant range made using faux suede. There is assortment of product from headbands to bobby pins and baby snaps. They will be available on Pixie Bows new website scheduled to launch May 2010. Sharon is also in the midst of developing an Eco-Friendly line that will have everything from headbands and clips to ponytail holders. The market has swung heavily in favor of eco-friendly clothing and she believes hair accessories are an untapped market. ◊
Bow Available at PixieBows.com
Bows Available at PixieBows.com
38
41
mom and accomplished designer announces new product line
44
T
racy Hutson has dedicated her career to helping others beautify their homes. As a member of the design team on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Hutson knows first-hand the positive effects of a welcoming, comfortable and beautiful living space. Tracy has taken her makeover mission one step further and has developed her new product line: Tracy Hutson Love Where You Live, created exclusively for QVC. The new product line will be making it’s debut on QVC May 21st. We recently had the opportunity to talk with Tracy about her new product line, Tracy Hutson Love Where You Live, her career aspirations and how she finds balance between her busy work schedule and her family life.
admits that since having her first son her decorating style has evolved. While pregnant with her youngest son she was able to relax a bit and know that the baby she was bringing into this world would not care about how beautiful his nursery was but how much love their home was filled with. Tracy admits “When you’re expecting you want everything, including the nursery, to be perfect but after you bring your baby home you know that beautiful nursery is far from relevant to your new addition.”
Tracy says motherhood is her top priority and while she loves being a working mother she knows there is a delicate balance. She sneaks in work time like many other working mothers, while her children are in school and after they go to bed at While promoting her book, Feathering the night. Even though on many days Tracy is Nest, last Spring, Tracy was introduced to sleep deprived, she is passionate about besomeone who worked with QVC and ing a working mom and her children help eventually was approached with the op- her keep everything in perspective. portunity to develop the Tracy Hutson Love Where You Live product line. Over When asked if she has any plans for a secthe years Tracy has saved hundreds of ond book, Tracy shares “I have a lot of proinspirational pieces and these pieces jects on my mind and would love to create along with photographs and sketches another book possibly focusing on “tween” have shaped the new line. The product decorating. The tweens I have worked with line ranges in price from $32 .00 to on Extreme Makeover Home Edition are al$210.00. “Working with QVC on develop- ways so passionate about their space so I ing the new product line has been an feel that would be a great focus for anamazing ride, we started with about 150 other book.” products and by process of elimination have narrowed the product line down to Approached with the question of what her 12 - 15 pieces but I have to say it was hopes are for her career, Tracy reveals that such a hard decision because I loved one day she would like her own show as every piece”, Tracy shares. well as work more closely with the nonprofits she currently works with. ◊ Describing her decorating style now as laid-back, realistic and eclectic, Tracy
45
46
48
Nicole Balch, mom, blogger, designer and business owner allows us a peak into her home office and shares with us, how she stays organized and how she balances being a work at home mom. SCM: Tell us a little bit about your blog, Making it Lovely, and your online shop, Pink Loves Brown. NB: I have been fixing up my hundred year old bungalow and documenting the process on Making it Lovely for the past three years. I also share my inspirations, design ideas, and talk a bit about what's going on in my life on the blog. When I'm not blogging, I'm working on my shop, Pink Loves Brown. I design and sell stationery, cards, pins, magnets, and pocket mirrors, all with my original illustrations and patterns. SCM: In three words describe your decorating style. NB: Feminine, patterned, quirky. SCM: Designing and decorating your own home workspace can be quite the undertaking what has been your biggest challenge? NB: I need my office to be efficient and functional, but I still want it to look cute! That has been the hardest part‌ working in the necessary items (like a huge printer) while still keeping the room looking nice. SCM: How do you keep your home office so organized? What are a few of your favorite organizational products? NB: I am a person that needs to have a designated space for everything. Otherwise it's too easy for clutter to pile up in random corners and on my desk! I love my little drawer unit on castors for storing paperwork. It's been great for organizing piles of paper into neatly organized categories.
49
SCM: Being a work at home mom obviously has it's challenges, how do you maintain a balance between work time and quality family time? NB: I try to fit in as much work as I can during my daughter's naps and when she is asleep for the night. I spend the day playing with her and I make sure to spend time with my husband when he gets home from work too. And I try (I really try!) to not work on the weekends. SCM: As a mom entrepreneur where do you hope to see your business in 5 years? NB: I would love to get to the point where my husband could stay at home with us! That would be fantastic. SCM: What advice would you give a mom who is considering working from home? NB: The office is always there, waiting for you to do some work, but often you can only fit in little bursts of productivity here and there. You have to be really efficient at time management. â—Š
50
Subscribe to Style Cafe Moms Magazine Only $21 for 6 issues. Just $3.50 per issue. A savings of $14.94 off the newsstand price. Style Cafe Moms Magazine is published 6 times per year. Visit www.stylecafemomsmagazine.com to subscribe.