Mini Magazine Fall 2022, Ashley Tisdale

PAJAMAS FOR GOOD

Getting cozy just got a whole lot sweeter thanks to Janie and Jack’s new Good Night Collection and the launch of their Pajamas for Good program— an ongoing initiative focused on partnering with nonprofit or ganizations in support of children’s literacy and education. The Good Night collection features a variety of 100% cotton styles in fun, colorful prints and characters (like Snoopy and Linus!), sized Newborn to 12 years old and priced from $44-$48. janieandjack.com

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT Yoto comes the latest 5-Minute Stories from the Paw Patrol crew! Join Ryder, Marshall, Skye, Rocky, Chase and Rubble on seven action-packed five-minute adventures, from rescuing aliens to digging for gold! These short stories are perfect for a quick break, imaginative quiet time, or sim ply to settle into your nightly bedtime routine. Available at yotoplay.com.

PIE.

Back to packing lunches for your Mini school-goers and ready to throw in the towel? Jenny Mollen’s latest book, Dictator Lunches , will lighten the mood with inspired meals to please picky eaters and add the fun back into their lunchboxes. “This book will have you excited to cut out cucumber flowers and make faces out of grapes,” says Mini’s Editor in Chief. “No more boring lunches!”

Head to Disney for Mickey’s NotSo-Scary Halloween Party haunt ing the Magic Kingdom after normal park hours from 7 PM to midnight through October 31.

officially sweater weather!

Celebrate Mexican heritage at the Hanover Park Day of the Dead Dance in Chicago! Enjoy Latin music, authentic Mexican food, and face painting on November 4!

96th Annual Macy’s

giving Day Parade

set to return to New York City

24—

the one-of-a-kind Spider Pavilion at LA’s Natural History Museum this November for an open air glimpse into the lives of spiders!

A singing crocodile in New York City? Lyle, Lyle

debuts this month and tells the tale of young Josh in need of a friend who then comes across this caviar-loving, bath-taking, musical am phibian and the two take on not-so-nice neighbor, Mr. Grumps.

mini-magazine.com

40 FALL BABY NAMES INSPIRED

NATURE Expecting a little one this season? These autumn-centric

names

THE BEST GUCCI MULE LOAFER DUPES We love these designer mule look-alikes to wear

everything this season.

HOW TO EASE SCHOOL ANXIETY If heading back to school is getting the best of your Minis, these helpful tips can calm nerves and make mornings easier.

8 FALL BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO KICK DARK CIRCLES Cooler weather can wreak havoc on skin, but these hero beauty essentials will bring brightness back to your face!

minisclusives

STYLE SPOT Cute

and

It’s the style

chic

carefully-curated

of

moms

BOOK CLUB New fall releases to cuddle up with

bump

THE BAG Jenny Fleiss

what’s inside her Lanvin In&Out

KIDS

THE CLOCK Drink Ramona founder Jordan Salcito shares her favorite app, guilty pleasure, and more!

THE SCENE Find the hottest new baby gear, from an updated uber-popular stroller to a washable crib mattress!

| SCOOP We share a fun

kids

pant

book,

need,

ON THE CLOCK

Frank founder Christina Bryant talks fave

SCHOOL DAZE Keep

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS INDOORS Cassarokids

AN AMERICAN IN PROVENCE Jamie Beck intended to spend a year in France— then never left

| LET’S DO LUNCH Jenny Mollen celebrates her new book Dictator Lunches with fun lunchbox

BEING ASHLEY Cover mom Ashley Tisdale opens up about her blissful birth, surprising transition to motherhood, and Frenshe

86 | FAMILY FIRST Interior designer Hilary Matt explains how to keep spaces practical and polished

92 | LUCKY STARS Model/DJ mama Pamela Tick talks birth dates and raising babies in NYC and Aspen

104 | THE SCULPTOR The Sculpt Society creator on working out while pregnant and growing both her brand and family

116 | READY SET BABY SET Active founder Lindsey Carter shows us around her nursery space as she awaits

Founder and Editor in Chief Kaitlyn Kirby

Cover Photography Kimberly Genevieve

Cover Hair Buddy Porter using Leonore Greyl at Walter Schupfer Management Cover Makeup Jenna Kristina at Forward Artists Mini Offices Mini Magazine Email | hello@mini-magazine.com Web | www.mini-magazine.com

Mini Magazine is a digital lifestyle publication for the modern parent available online at www.mini-magazine.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmit ted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in digital and print reviews.

Copyright © 2022 Mini Magazine.

INSIDE LOOK:

(On Right) Our fall cover mom Ashley Tisdale opens up about her latest venture and life since welcoming daughter Jupiter last year. (Below) We had a beautiful fall day for our cover shoot— nevermind the coyotes who tried to steal our spot that morning.

And just like that, it’s fall. This season always feels so fresh, a stark contrast to that 90 degree weather in which I was writing my last Editor’s Letter— It’s 50 degrees here today!

We’re back with another 100+ page issue, will inspiring parents like SET Active founder Lindsey Carter (TikTok loves this activewear brand!) as she gets ready to welcome her second baby, The Sculpt Society founder Megan Roup, who gives us her best tips for working out while pregnant (and into the postpartum phase!), and DJ model mama Pamela Tick along with

her adorable Mini. Jenny Mollen also shares hacks for making lunchtime fun again with the launch of her new book, Dictator Lunches, Jordan Salcito of Drink Ramona, Jenny Fleiss of Rent the Runway, and of course, our fall cover mom Ashley Tisdale. In our cover feature, the creator of Being Frenshe opens up about her motherhood journey and launching her standout wellness line just a few months ago. Enjoy the rest of your fall season, Mini friends, and we’ll see you again this winter!

SWEET DREAMS

The Leanne Ford x Crate & Kids collab is a neutral nursery lover’s dream. crateandbarrel.com

SPOOKY JAMMIES

My girls are obsessed with seasonal jam mies and these are the actual softest! littlesleepies.com

COZY SHOES

UGG Boots are back! I grabbed a new pair of Mini (of course!) boots, but the platforms are also catching my eye! — ugg.com

PRINT PERFECT

The Marie-Chantal x Schumacher collab includes stunning prints— the Scat tered Stars wallpaper is my fave! — fschumacher.com

faux shearling coat is perfect for the cooler weather on the way! —hatchcollection.com

WARBY PARKER KIDS SUPER CHILL

BOOTS ON BOARD

EYES ON YOU

Inspired by their adult counterparts, Warby Parker rolls out Minisized versions of their customer favorites this month! The Weathers Jr., the Percey Jr., and the Whalen Jr. are perfect for twinning with Mom and Dad or make a bold statement by choosing a vibrant hue! Kids can take their pick from a variety of new, vibrant colorways to the brand’s existing kids styles in cluding Periwinkle, Plantain, Gogi Berry, and Rosemary Crystal. warbyparker.com

CLICK TO SHOP THE NEW WARBY PARKER KIDS STYLES!

SUPER CHILL

When the air turns crisp and cool, it’s time to grab one of these adorable jackets to keep your Minis toasty and warm.

These fuzzy jackets are ideal for layering this season. Above : $34.99 ; Sandie Sher pa Shacket, cottonon. com. Below : $29.99 ; Color Block Sherpa Jacket, oldnavy.com

FURRY FRIENDS

Complete with faux fur for extra warmth, we love this padded parka. $34.99; hm.com

CORDUROY CUTE

Grab this jacket whether you’re hitting the stables or school. $79; janieandjack.com

This mixed material jacket is ready for chilly playdates. $49.99; oldnavy.com

QUILTED COOL

This quilted jacket is peak fall fashion for the Mini crowd. $36.99; oldnavy.com

BOOTS ON BOARD

ESSENTIALS SAKARA

BEAUTY ROUTINE

As busy moms, we’re constantly on a quest to simplify our daily routines, from morning school runs to cleaned up beauty regimens. Oak Es sentials , the beauty brand by lifestyle tastemaker Jenni Kayne, tackles sim plified skincare with their aptly named bundle, The Routine ($225). Com prised of five products, The Routine includes a Moisture Rich Balm, Conditioning Lip Balm, Restorative Mask, Bal ancing Mist, and Ritual Oil, all made with clean, organic ingredients that are both cruelty-free and non-GMO. “The Mois ture Rich Balm will be on repeat during these colder months,” says Mini’s Editor in Chief, Kate Kirby. “The Routine products are really all you need. I also love that it comes in a Mini version ($68) for on the go!”

RIGHT NOW WE’RE LOVING

KENT, the first-ever compostable clothing line, gaining traction(Shark Tank, anyone?) with its plastic-free underwear! Necessity trulyis the mother of invention— just askfounder Stacy Grace who designedKENT out of a need for underwear without synthetic fibers. Her solution was KENT’s one-of-a-kind GOTS-certified cotton underwear that is both LA Compost verified and designed to break down in 90days! We’re big fans of basics andKENT takes it to a whole new level by upping the sustainability factor. wearkent.com

JUST IN

FRESH START CLEANSE

Sakara, the organic, plant-based meal deliv ery service founded by Danielle DuBoise and Whitney Tingle, just dropped their all new Sakara Sytems targeting common health concerns and delivering lasting results. Systems include the Metabolism Reset, Gut Health Reboot, Performance System, and our pick, the Fresh Start Cleanse which focuses on eliminating toxins from the body and replenishing with vital nutrients. Available now on sakara.com.

SHADE GEAR

“I’m always try ing to get me and the kids to wear [a baseball cap and sunglasses].”

Organic Cotton Broken-In Baseball Cap, $29.50; madewell.com

QUICK FIX

“Aquaphor [is a]quick fix for dry lips, hands, and kiddy boo boos.” $4.99; target.com

Water Bottle “With a tight cap since I’ve had too many leak incidents!”

SUNSCREEN

“Even in the winter time, I am on the whole family’s case about this!”

$44; supergoop.com

WHAT’S IN THE BAG

JENNY FLEISS

The mom of three and Rent the Runway co-founder spills the contents of her Lanvin Embroidered Canvas In&Out bag.

Hand Sanitizing Wipes “Keeping it clean.” $5.49; grove.co

SNACK MOM

LANVIN EMBROIDERED CANVAS IN&OUT BAG lanvin.com

“My kids’ current favorite is Zbars brownie flavor and I try to mix in some freeze dried apple crisps and usually some mints or Vitamin C cough drops when I need a solve for the inevitable mini meltdowns.”

MINI MUST HAVE

BARK SAFETY

A leader in the online safety space for children, Bark monitors texts, email, YouTube, and 30+ apps and social media platforms for signs of issues like cyberbullying, sexual content, online predators, depression, suicidal ideation, threats of violence, and more. Parents can receive email and text alerts when Bark detects potential issues so you can talk to your child and make sure everything is OK. Add location sharing into the mix with check-ins and location alerts too to keep tabs on Minis after they’ve left the house!—bark.us

RIGHT NOW IN TECH KIDS

Next time you need batteries for your Mini’stalking toys or tech, opt for Better Battery Co. instead, the only certified carbon neutral batterieson the market! These sustainable, alkaline bat teries deliver lasting power and can be recycledby the brand when depleted. Simply select yourbattery subscription plan and be sure to save thepoly mailer inside the box to recycle your batter ies, at no extra cost! —betterbattery.co

The Urban Stroller

Book

We can’t think of anything better than cozying up on a crisp, fall day with a collection of new children’s books, including these fun titles!

EDITOR’S PICK

MEANWHILE BACK ON EARTH... by Oliver Jeffers

This new picture book by Jeffers gives Minis a new perspective on our place in space!

FOR CURIOSITY

BUSY BETTY

by Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon’s debut children’s book tells the tale of curious, creative Betty.

FOR ADVENTURE

I AM BATMAN by Brad Meltzer

The latest in Meltzer’s Stories Change the World series, you can now introduce your tiny superheroes to Batman in this adorably illustrated adventure book.

FOR AUTUMN

A VERY BIG FALL by Emmy Kastner

Follow these adorable leaves as they learn about finding joy in change when the weath er turns cooler.

FOR SHARING

GIVE THIS BOOK AWAY!

by Darren Farrell

Perfect for the season of giving, this book details what happens and how you feel when you give to someone else— and asks you to do just that!

ON MY NIGHTSTAND Paris to the Moon, Frog and Toad, and a Paul Arnhold glass in pink speckles, full of water.

BEFORE KIDS, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD Let them snuggle with us every night in our bed or have a house overflowing with Cars characters.

JORDAN SALCITO

MINI SPENT TEN MINUTES WITH THE Founder of organic Italian wine spritz brand, Drink RAMONA, and mom of two (to Henry and Ronan) to chat personal details like her favorite local shop now living in Paris, what she keeps on her nightstand, the apps she uses most, and the chicest wardrobe staples to snag now!

FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL Salina, Sicily.

MY COFFEE ORDER Cap puccino these days. At Balthazar in NYC, it’s a café au lait in a bowl.

IDEAL DATE NIGHT Dinner with my husband, somewhere with a smart cocktail menu, wine list, plenty of

GROWING UP, I WANTED TO BE AN Environmental lawyer.

WARDROBE STAPLES Black and white checkered dress (@annother.archive), a structural khaki skirt in Italian trench fabric (@ EDIT_the_brand), cardigan set by brilliant mama Anne Gaelle Van de Weghe’s new line Vegetable Sweater. For a night out, anything Rosie Assoulin.

Rain by George Saunders.

APPS I USE MOST Weather app, Audible, Instagram, Washington Post, and the “heart” app that monitors steps.

FAVORITE KIDS BOOKS The Snail and the Whale, Room on the Broom, and Frog and Toad.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT Have been loving Vantre and Parcelles Paris since moving to France a couple of months ago.

ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE Organic milk for the boys and lots of fresh produce. Right now, it’s Israeli dates, Spanish mangoes, French Cavaillon melons, and lemons from Amalfi. Also, of course, RAMONA!

GUILTY PLEASURE Brioche en Sucre (warm, if possible) from Le Pain Retrouvé in the 9eme.

CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO Deepak Chopra.

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOP Le Bon Marché.

IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS Finand improve my Italian.

ON THE CLOCK FAVORITE KIDS MOVIE Cars and Ratatouille.

relax, parenthood just got 3x easier

Good news: now there’s Nuna for every age. Our well-loved PIPA infant seat, new RAVA convertible, and new AACE booster are sleek, simple and exceed American safety standards. So you can relax and enjoy every magical, messy, covered-with-crumbs moment. Take a test ride at nuna.eu

the

FLY, BABY, FLY

Travel coming up? The new Bugaboo Butter fly stroller will be your on-the-go BFF. This ultra-compact stroller was designed for parents who want a stroller that adapts to their lifestyle, ready for any adventure at a moment’s notice (the Butterfly even fits into most overhead luggage compartments!). The Butterfly allows for seam less transitions in daily life with a one second fold and unfold and its ability to maneuver with just one hand! This new Buga boo must-have was made specifically for babies and toddlers over 6 months old and weighing up to 50 pounds and features the roomiest seat of any ultra-compact stroller with extra padded cush ioning! You already know what you’re bringing on your next trip. bugaboo.com.

HANDLE IT Round Handle

The round handle de sign offers a much more comfortable position for your wrists.

TRIV NEXT

Formerly the Nuna Triv, this uber-popular stroller is now equipped with eight major updates, including improved brake function and wider wheels.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF NUNA

NEW BUILD Updated Frame

The new rounded, modern frame de sign is just as sturdy as the original but now more compact and narrow.

FULL STOP One Tap Brake

No more flipup brake— The improved one-tap brake system is a great addition!

WHEEL DEAL Bigger and Better

The Triv’s larger wheels allow you a smoother ride and tighter turns.

EASY IN Magnetic Buckle

Out with the old puz zle clip harness and in with a simple, mag netic buckle.

For life at home.

NEWTON MATTRESS

Before you make your Mini’s bed, consider swapping your crib mattress to this— the only breathable and washable mattress available for both babies and kids.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF NEWTON

BREATHE EASY

100% Breathable Newton’s Breathe-Thru Technology allows your baby to breathe right through, reducing the risk of suffocation.

BETTER SLEEP

The Trifecta

With the right level of comfort, support, and air circulation, your Minis will enjoy better sleep— and no sweat!

LONG LASTING Multi-Stage Mattress

This 2-stage infant through toddler mat tress was designed for longevity.

SQUEAKY CLEAN

100% Washable Newton offers the only crib mattress that’s 100% washable from cover to core.

THIS JUST IN IN THE MINI

Scoop

P.S.— WE MADE THIS!

PANT BY COTERIE

PS. WE MADE THIS!

Erica Domesek, AKA the Queen of Crafts and the brains behind DIY lifestyle brand P.S. I Made This , released her first book this month— a creative trove of super fun crafts to make with your Minis, aptly named P.S.— We Made This! The book is chock-full of hands-on activities to entertain your Minis (like a pretend brick pizza oven!) and tons of ideas to put all of your extra cardboard boxes to use!

—psimadethis.com

Meet the Pant

Diaper brand Coterie just rolled out a 2-in-1 diaper pant to rule them all, making the transition to potty training much more gentle for your Minis.

DOUBLE DUTY

It’s a bird, it’s a plane... it’s the Pant! Sustainable diaper brand Coterie re cently released the Pant, a 2-in-1 diaper pant to rule them all. Made from Jap anese spandex with 2.5x the stretch of traditional training pants, the Pant was ergonomically de signed for active babies to enable freer movement, support easier changes, and provide overnight ab sorbency. The Pant comes complete with 90 percent more liquid capacity than leading training pants and can be changed lying down with its resealable, personalized-fit waist band or pulled up and down like underwear. That transition into potty training just got easier! coterie.com

Greater Grocer

Allergies in the family? You know the stress of grocery shopping. Enter Basquet— an online allergy-friendly grocery store with goods delivered right to your door.

WORRY-FREE FOOD

Allergy-friendly online grocery store Basquet is a breath of fresh air to households with specific dietary requirements. The modern grocer allows you to shop by allergen, making it easy to leave out the Top 9 or nar row it down to uniquely peanut-free items, for instance. Basquet cu rates products from well-known brands like Yumearth and Lesser Evil (among many oth ers!) and delivers them straight to your door for a smooth, worry-free gro cery experience. shopbasquet.com

CHRISTINA BRYANT HERBERT

MINI SPENT TEN MINUTES WITH THE Co-Founder and Creative Director of St. Frank (and mama to 9-month-old Bryant Francis “France” Herbert) to get up close and personal with everything from her favorite local shop, most used app, and the one thing on her nightstand that she says changed her life!

photography by DANIELA SPECTOR

ON MY NIGHTSTAND The Five Minute Journal. This daily gratitude practice changed my life.

IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS IN THE DAY, I WOULD Take a long walk with my husband, bambino, and pup! Our favorite weekend activity.

FAVORITE KIDS MOVIE My favorite as a kid was The Sound of Music.

MY COFFEE ORDER An Americano, black.

BEFORE KIDS, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD Love and appreciate my body.

ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE Eggs.

ON THE CLOCK

GROWING UP, I WANTED TO BE AN Entrepreneur (or an actress!).

FAVORITE KIDS BOOK Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?

WARDROBE STAPLES Frame denim, an Isabel Marant top, and Frēda Salvador KEEN mules.

IDEAL DATE NIGHT A couples massage, please.

LAST BOOK I READ The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai.

APPS I USE MOST Uber Eats. I’m a typical New Yorker who doesn’t cook.

FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL Mexico City or Havana.

CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO Taylor Swift after watching her documentary.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT I Sodi in the West Village.

GUILTY PLEASURE The Bachelor franchise, including following @bachelordata.

SIGNATURE SCENT Hermès Voyage.

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOP John Derian in the East

SHOWS I’M WATCHING RIGHT NOW My husband I just finished ter Call Saul we both enjoy watching, but we loved this.

PREGNANCY CRAVINGS Blueberries and frozen

1.

Little

( $59;

$10; smar

3.

( $400;

4.

( $55;

5.

$24;

$58;

HOW TO KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED THIS FALL

Heading back indoors for the season has never been more fun with these sustainably made play structures from Cassarokids .

photography by CASSAROKIDS

With the summer sun now behind us and temperatures beginning to drop, it won’t be long before we’re all back indoors and the words “I’m bored” return to the routine. Keeping kids busy inside can be a challenge— after all, there are only so many board games you can play, so many crafts you can do, without going even just a little stir crazy.

Luckily, sustainably-sourced and brother-owned children’s brand Cassarokids offers many solutions for squashing boredom and satisfying Mini creativity— all of which we give the Mini Stamp of Approval!

INTRODUCE A CLIMBING TRIANGLE

Let your littles learn to pull themselves up and climb on this unique play structure. Great for developing gross motor skills, strength, and confidence, the Climbing Triangle folds with no tools necessary for easy storage and comes in four age-appropriate sizes.

ROCK AND READ

Do you have any Mini book worms in your family? The wooden rockers and arches can be paired with a comfy pillow for storytime or daydreaming, rocking out to your favorite tunes, and attached to a Climbing Arch or Triangle for a challenging, swooping ladder. Just imagine what your Minis can dream up on these, battling the seven seas and befriending mermaids!

LEARN YOGA MOVES

Create a cozy place for your Minis to stretch, move, tumble, or nap with Cassarokids’ plush floor pillows. Crafted from soft velvet or cotton, these pillows also offer the

perfect surface for practicing yoga poses and impressive tricks.

PLAY HOUSE

Sure, forts are fun, but have you ever spent an afternoon in a play space like this? Kids love it for designing their very own reading nook or play house, parents love it for its easy-fold-and-store capabilities.

PRACTICE BALANCE

Build both confidence and balance with a sustainable, solid wood balance beam. Your Minis will adore pretending they’re walking the plank, performing gymnastics, or being careful not to fall into the lava!

Cassarokids is dedicated to bringing play back in its purest form, no matter the season. With indoor play structures, your child can safely explore their limits while building stronger bodies and minds. —cassarokids.com

Indoor Play ESSENTIALS

TRIANGLE

Grow your Mini’s gross motor skills, strength, and confidence.

ROCKER

Upside down or rightside up, use this to rock, row, calm, climb, or crawl.

BALANCE BEAM

Construct a bridge, practice balance, build a pen for your stuffies— so many uses for the beam!

PLAYHOUSE

Create a cozy reading nook, open a cafe, rest, and relax in this.

PLAY TOWER

Pull up to the kitchen counter to cook, draw on the attached chalkboard, attach a slide or climbing triangle for endless activity.

AN AMERICAN IN PROVENCE

After dreaming of living in France, Jamie Beck left her bustling Manhattan photography career to spend a year in Provence. Six years later, she now calls the French countryside home. photography

by JAMIE BECK

LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT PROMPTED YOUR MOVE TO PROVENCE .

“I do believe it was fate that pulled me to Provence. In the middle of my fast paced, Manhattan photography career, I received an assignment to shoot the fashion designers, Creatures of the Wind, for Vogue, teaching a workshop at the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Provence campus in Lacoste. I’ll never forget that first morning, opening the French wooden shutters at sunrise from high on the perch of this hilltop village overlooking the valley below toward Bonnieux and seeing blankets of color across the landscape. The yel low of sunflowers, the purple of lavender, the greens of vineyards, the gold of wheat set to a backdrop of misty blue mountains and illuminated in glittering French light. From that moment, I was enchanted and bewitched by Provence. It wasn’t but a year later I came back for an assignment to photograph the May roses of Grasse for Chanel perfume. After the shoot was over, I drove back to Lacoste to feel this magical place again. I didn’t know it at that time, but by September, I would be living here! The second time fate intervened

was on a flight home back from Sweden to NYC when the plane hit bad turbulence and I was certain we would crash. In a moment of pure clarity, I heard myself think, “Great, now I’ll never know what it’s like to live in France.” I heard myself say that and thought, “Wow, if that’s my dying thought, I should probably go and do that then!” I made a promise to myself that if the plan landed, I would move to France. One month later, that is exactly what I did. In the beginning, it was only to be for a year and within that year, I fell absolutely madly in love with Provence. A love affair that, to this day, six years later, is still unfolding.”

WHAT ASPECTS OF FRENCH CULTURE DID YOU FALL MOST IN LOVE WITH?

“In France, the workers are king. Which means, life does not center around work. Work is part of life, absolutely, but it is not the only thing, and it is certainly not worshipped. France forced me to slow down, to take time. To take time to be with friends, to take time to eat a meal, to take time to talk to the farmers who grow the very food you eat. France taught me how to be present by folding into a culture that eats seasonally and locally, and not only lives within, but celebrates the gifts of the natural world around us. I love that the

focus of this culture is not what one has, but what one thinks and creates.”

WHAT ASPECTS DID YOU FIND DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE ?

“The language is such a challenge. Even if I have the words right, the pronunciation for an American accent is daunting, intimidating! Even my three-year-old daughter Eloise has corrected me!”

SINCE YOU HAD YOUR FIRST CHILD IN FRANCE, HOW DID YOU FEEL FRENCH HEALTHCARE DIFFERED FROM THE US?

“I speak to this directly in the book because it is a very significant point to touch on as I have experienced both the American and French healthcare systems firsthand now. In the United States, I was paying over a thousand dollars a month for health insurance and was terrified to ever go to the doctor because I never knew (nor did they) how much any visit would end up costing. Not until I received a surprise bill in the mail. The system filled me with so much anxiety, I just never went to the doctor nor did I ever intend on having a child. I had too many friends, with healthcare, receiving post-childbirth bills from a minimum of $5,000 to, I kid you not, $100,000! The stress of not knowing was too much for me. In France, it’s entirely different. Doctor’s offices have a posting of how much everything will cost full price, out of pocket, and

everything is priced appropriately. There are no surprises. You pay for your visit on the spot. It worked exactly the same for having a child. We knew exactly what the bill would be before I ever went into labor. And for the French citizens who have the Carte Vitale, their national healthcare, they pay nothing out of pocket. It’s absolutely incredible, freeing, and allows you to live life stress-free.”

WALK US THROUGH A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR LIFE AS AN AMERI CAN IN PROVENCE .

“On the weekdays, we spend the mornings with Eloise, doing breakfast and playing a bit, before walking her to school in our village. My husband and business partner, Kevin Burg, and I then go to work. My photography studio is in an old building on the first floor and Kevin’s office is just below on the ground level. In the mornings, I do my photo editing and any writings I may be working on for magazines or future book research. In the afternoon, I will transition into photographer mode and begin working on the day’s photographs at hand. For example, today I have a few bouquets of flowers I purchased at the Sunday farmer’s market in Coustellet I will make a few photographs for. We walk over to pick Eloise up from school and follow her around town, some days just for a walk, other days we go to the bookshop or she rides her bike. We make dinner at home most nights with whatever is available that day in town. It’s a very small and simple life and we love it that way.”

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT RAISING YOUR DAUGHTER IN FRANCE ?

“I am hoping her childhood is enveloped in a sense of calm. Kids don’t have iPhones here or designer clothing and I love that. There is not the constant presence of consumerism and I think that allows for our little family to spend more time together peacefully and in creative play. I deeply hope that she will be instilled in the cultural aspects of France that I love— eating a proper meal, at a table, of seasonal food in slow, served courses. At her school, they always start with a salad course, then the main, then cheese, then dessert which is typically fruit; though on special occasions, such as Mardi Gras or King’s Day, they will have beignets or tarts. Of course, I think it’s priceless that she is already effortlessly fluent in French. That’s a gift I wish I had been given!”

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN AN AMERICAN IN PROVENCE AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE READ

ERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BEAU TIFUL BOOK?

“Though the book contains many personal essays that vary from memoiresque to self-help to travelog, I am, in my heart of hearts, a photographer. My hope is that everything my words may lack in communication, my photographs can complete in telling the incredible story and life lessons of Provence.”

HOW WILL YOU BE SPENDING THE FALL IN PROVENCE ? WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED TO DO, SEE, TASTE, VISIT THIS SEASON?

“We love to take a visit to the Roman city of Arles with it’s stunning colosseum and mysterious ancient winding streets. The photography festival, Rencontres d’Arles, is here and a wonderful immersion into art and culture. We also love going to the local fall festivals where you will find steaming vats of chestnut soup, garlic roasted escargots, and my favorite— roast chicken with wild mushroom foraged cream sauce! It’s a true taste of autumn, washed down in local red wine, and the smell of burning firewood.”

LET’S DO LUNCH

Jenny Mollen puts the fun back into lunch this fall with her new book, Dictator Lunches . This collection of lighthearted lunchbox ideas is sure to please even your pickiest eaters.

WHAT’S A GOOD TRICK FOR MAKING LUNCHES FUN AGAIN?

“One of my fave all time tricks is taking a Benadryl syringe and filling it with yogurt or pudding and then piping it into raspberries or strawberries for a bite sized parfait. You can even add granola on top.”

WHAT IS THE DIC TATOR’S IDEA OF A PERFECT LUNCH ?

“The dictator would love to be sent to school with a giant bagel and cream cheese with maybe a mountain of chips on the side. That’s why I have to keep on my toes, always be woke, and ready to outsmart him.”

YOU’RE GETTING READY TO PACK A DICTATOR LUNCH . WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO?

“I’m starting with the main which is most often a riff on whatever we had for dinner the night before. I’m then going to start dicing veggies and choosing what kind of fruits I want to throw in. Then, I rummage through the pantry for something crunchy and easy to eat at snack break without needing a fork. And lastly, I think about the bribe. AKA: the reason the dictator keeps going, stays the course, and doesn’t fully revolt.”

LUNCH BOX HEROES

CHANGE TEXTURE

If your kids don’t like mushy oatmeal, try baking it into cupcakes.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE A BIG HIT WITH YOUR TINY DICTATORS THIS YEAR?

MAKE IT FUN

Add some candy eyes to the top of your sandwiches, fruits, or veggies to encourage engagement and eye contact.

EXPERIMENT WITH COLOR

Throw a beet into your hummus or white fish salad to turn it pink.

“ I finally convinced them to get into hummus and pita sandwiches. I’m going to be making a variety of bean spreads with various toppings this fall. I also cannot wait for squash season! Now that I discovered this insane maple syrup from Pappy & Co, I’m going to be roasting a ton of sweet potatoes and gourds that I can drizzle.”

FROM EXPERIENCE, WHAT IS ONE THING YOU SUGGEST NEVER PACKING IN A LUNCHBOX ?

“Fondue.”

HIDE THINGS

Take a veg your kids don’t want like a watermelon radish or jicama and cut it in a shape. Then cut the same shape in the center of something your kids do eat, an apple, a cucumber, a peach. Stick your foreign shape into your familiar beloved fruit like a Trojan horse and serve.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK ?

“I love all the healthy takes on familiar classics. I love how fast everything is to whip together. I really wanted to do a cookbook for the type of mom who doesn’t traditionally buy cookbooks. This stuff isn’t pretentious or difficult to make. It’s food you can feel great about feeding yourself and your kids, but that you can also take pride in. The kitchen can be intimidating and this book is really there to hold your hand.”

ASHLEY

BEING

by

makeup by

KRISTINA AT FORWARD ARTISTS hair by BUDDY PORTER USING LEONORE GREYL AT WALTER SCHUPFER MANAGEMENT

ASHLEY TISDALE never considered herself as someone who couldn’t wait to be pregnant or even dreamt of having a baby. “For my husband and I, we’ve been married eight years now, there was a time where we were like, “I don’t even think we’ll have a kid. We might just be those people,” the Fren she founder tells Mini. But after she found out she was expecting her first child—daughter Jupiter born in March 2021—it seems the actress’ metamorphosis was well underway, not just into a mother, but into a more confident, more aligned version of herself. “When I was pregnant, I felt so confident in all of my choices for the first time and I feel like that came from her,” Tisdale says. We sat down with the new mom to talk about life with an

A18-month-old, her blissful birth experience, surprising fourth trimester, and the wildly successful launch of her new wellness line, Being Frenshe.

MORNING ROUTINE

“Jupiter gets up around 6:30 a.m. When she was younger, my husband and I were like, ‘Let’s do every other day to let one of us sleep in,’ but as she got older, that was not working as well. When she starts school next year, we’ll have to get into the whole breakfast and lunch [routine], but now, we both wake up with her and it’s really nice. [My husband] Chris wakes up a lot earlier because he likes to get a meditation in before she gets up. I usually find time to meditate

after, but we wake up with her, make her breakfast, and play around with her. I was always a morning person, that’s never really hard, it’s just middle of the night stuff that gets hard for me.”

NEWBORN DAYS

“It was a really beautiful time because I was resting as much as she was. I was trying to find my footing with everything. I remember, it was almost like a cloud, but I had this moment when I was running to a store and had this feeling like, ‘This isn’t going to last very long. This is only a moment in time and [it] might go by fast and it sure does. I look back to a year ago and see how small she was. It’s just crazy.”

BECOMING A MOM

“I’ve always known who I am as a person and what I wanted in life, so I really haven’t ever gone through a period like the

typical, you finish school or college and you’re like, ‘OK, what do I do with my life?’

I’ve never experienced that because I’ve always known I wanted to do acting and be in the business I’ve been in since I was little, but that was the first time I’ve really ever experienced like a, ‘Who am I now? I know I’m not the person I used to be, but who is this new person?’ It definitely was a transition. It’s complicated and beautiful and exciting, but [also] exhausting.

PREPARING FOR BABY

“I had an amazing pregnancy. Compared to stories I’ve heard, it was very easy. I’m so blessed and grateful for that. I remember a lot of my [older] friends telling me, C-sections are always the best because of a ‘Where do you want your stitches?’ type of thing. So, in my mind when I was younger, I was like, ‘If I ever have a baby, I’m going to have a C-section.’ I remember hiring my doula and she asked, ‘Well then why am I here?’ I was like, ‘I think because we’re in Covid, I can’t go to any classes, I really don’t know what to prepare for, so it was great to have someone.’

But she said to me something that literally changed my mind. It was just the way she thought of birth and that whole experience and she said, ‘The baby will choose how the baby wants to come into the world.’ And when she said that, I was

like, ‘It’s not about me.’ All of those choices before were about me and selfishly, about what I wanted, and I think that was my first experience of being like, ‘It’s not about me anymore, it’s about the child.’

Every single time I would go do an ultrasound, she was always head down, ready to go. In my mind, I was very in tune with her. I did a lot of yoga when I was pregnant and I’m a very present person—I meditate a lot—so there was just something in me that was like, ‘She wants to come out that way.’”

HER BLISSFUL BIRTH

“Honestly, it was such a beautiful birth. It was like a spa. I’m always about wellness, so I told my doula, ‘I want it to be like a spa. I want it to be fairy lights and face masks.’ And it was a spa. It was a beautiful experience.”

THE MOST SURPRISING

“What surprised me the most [about motherhood] was how truly difficult it is. I knew it was hard because I’ve seen my sister, who’s a single mom, raise my niece, so I’ve always seen that this is not easy. People make it look easy sometimes, but it’s difficult in every stage. You never get comfortable is the thing. Once you’re like, ‘We’re great at this,’ something else comes along. ‘Now she has to eat solids?’ You never get to this comfort zone of being like, ‘We’re

“I know I’m not the person I used to be, but who is this new person? ”

killing it here!’ It’s just another stage of moving forward. I’ve always been someone who, when I do things I’m 100% in it, so I really try to master it and I think this is the thing where I’ve had to let go and be like, ‘You know, there’s going to be awesome days where you feel like you’re killing it and there’s going to be times where you feel like you don’t kill it and it’s hard.’ But it’s really the most beautiful experience.

What also surprised me is how everything is just for her. With my work— I’m

inspired by her—even interior design. I was designing our home when I was pregnant and I felt so confident in all of my choices for the first time and I feel like that came from her.”

RAISING JUPITER

“I want to teach her everything that I’ve been through, teach her to be strong and independent and confident in herself. She’s a pretty independent lady, so I want to make sure that continues to grow. She is very much my personality. She looks a lot like my husband, but she’s very much my

“I felt so confident in all of my choices for the first time.”

personality. One of my favorite things about myself is that I’m a really strong person, but I’m still pretty sweet. I’m not jaded in any way. I really hope that she can be tough, but also have that sweetness and vulnerability.

I want her to work hard because I have always worked hard, my whole life. In the future, I want her to [understand] that if you want something, you have to work for it. That mentality. I want her to learn that anything is possible as long as you dedicate yourself to whatever you want to do.”

THE NAME GAME

“The name came a year before she was even a thing. I have always named my pets before I get them. There were many years where I would come up with a name and then a friend would get pregnant and they would use that name; they didn’t know it was something I liked. I remember coming across something on Pinterest or Instagram that reminded me of Jupiter. That, [along] with a song my mom used to sing me when I was younger that had the word Jupiter in it. I loved that name for a boy or girl and I asked Chris, ‘What do you think, Jupiter French?’ He loved it and he chose the middle name which was Iris. From the start, I just knew that was her name.”

THE FOURTH TRIMESTER

“I talked about it on my blog, Frenshe, because no one actually tells you about it. A friend of mine, who had a baby right before me, was like, ‘Just so you know, this is the stuff that’s going to happen and [it’s] actually worse than anything,

ASHLEY ON THE CLOCK

The Being Frenshe founder shares four fast facts.

COFFEE ORDER

Almond milk latte.

NOW WATCHING

“I love Bluey I think a little bit more than she does. She also loves Gabby’s Dollhouse.”

FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP FOR KIDS Smallable.

CURRENTLY READING

Con Pollo: A Bilingual Playtime Adventure by Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Fallon.

worse than birth,’ so she kind of prepared me, but no one really prepares you. For me, it was very difficult, but I was also dealing with a postpartum symptom from taking Motrin in the hospital. I had really bad acid reflux, like painful. I had acid reflux when I was pregnant, but after my birth, three days into being home, in the middle of the night, it was this pain in the middle of my back and I did not know what to do. I was in tears and I missed a feeding with her which was really hard for me. I kept reaching out to my doctor and chiropractor and everybody was like, ‘This is just not a postpartum symptom’ which just made me feel really alone. It would come out of nowhere and it was so sad, just periods of crying, on

a heating pad, on my back. I listened to my body and remember hearing my stomach growl. I realized the one time I ever felt that way was when I had acid reflux, so I took medication for [that] and the feeling never came back which was wild. Apparently, when [acid reflux] gets so bad, it goes into the middle of your back because of your esophagus.”

FOUNDING FRENSHE

“I created the blog, Frenshe, a couple of years ago. It was the first time I was going to let people truly into my personal life. I knew if I was going to do a blog, I was wanting to share experts and people I’d

worked with. I went through a really stressful time a few years prior and met with a lot of different holistic doctors and regular doctors, talking about what was going on with me. I thought I had something wrong with me and it was a lot of anxiety. I learned through them that living a cleaner lifestyle was better overall and I felt like I had all this knowledge and wanted to share with everyone what I’ve gone through. I loved the idea of doing a blog that was also really accessible and affordable. I felt like everything we knew about well ness was expensive, for myself, so I couldn’t imagine for someone following me. For Frenshe, we believe wellness is for everyone, so I really wanted to share the products I think are the best at what they do and the best price range.

“My mission in life has alwaysbeen to make people happy.”

myself and I started to create rituals that would help me every day. If I had a bad night of sleep, I would wake up, open a window, and light a candle; I feel like that just changed the energy in the room. I’ve always been candle and fragrance obsessed and it’s so interesting that just those two things can lift your mood. So I started to have the idea of Being Frenshe. I felt that if I needed something to help with healing on this experience we’ve gone through, I think more people will need some healing vibes as well. I was excited to create this product line that has a mood-boosting scent to make you feel good. I didn’t know what it was going to do and if people would even like it, so to see how successful it’s been has been mind-blowing. It’s like my second baby. It was something that I was creating with [Jupiter], while I was pregnant, so it’s pretty cool to see.”

When I launched, I didn’t know what people were going to think of it, but everyone was really needing something to connect to during the pandemic. I think I was looking for connection with people too, so it was this really amazing place where I was able to talk about mental health and wellness and also share my vulnerable stories. As I was doing that, I was realizing a lot of people were in the same situation I was. I’m not someone who is great at being home a lot because I’m so used to being on set and working, so I was constantly meditating and trying to ground

HER SELF CARE ROUTINE

“I love taking a bath, and using the bath bombs. I love allowing myself to have that night where I take a bath, exfoliate, moisturize my skin, because during the week, I don’t really have as much time to do that. I love to do a face mask. My favorite thing is to put in a hair mask at night and sleep in it because then I don’t have to rush to blow my hair out. I love face tools and ending up in a robe. A robe just reminds me of a hotel; it feels very luxurious. That, to me, is epic self care.”

GROWING THE BRAND

“We’re developing some new scents which I’m very excited about. Actually, I like to say, new moods, because it’s always developed by the mood first and how I want to feel versus just the scent.

I love doing this. I’ve always dreamt of having something like this and being creative. My mission in life has always been to make people happy. I’m someone who comes from comedy, so whether I’m acting in a show or doing a product line, I just want to make people feel good because I know that there’s moments in life that don’t feel so good. Being able to take someone out of their life for a minute to laugh at a show that I’m in or create a ritual where they take care of themselves, that’s my mission— to make people feel good.”

HER PROUDEST MOMENT

“The launch of Being Frenshe. I keep telling everyone that Frenshe was the door into people getting to know me as me, because I was willing to be vulnerable and share my personal stories. Being Frenshe is where people are getting to know what I’m inspired by and my personality versus knowing me as a character. I love that I get to help people in their journey because I also have been through a lot, [with my mental health]. I still love acting and I’m developing something on that side as well and I will continue to do that, but there’s something about being an actor where you are bringing someone else’s vision to life. Being Frenshe makes me feel like I’m doing something that is really important. It feels really good to me. It’s one of my proudest moments so far.”

“I’ve always been someone who, when I do things I’m 100% in it. I really try to master it and I think [motherhood] is the thing where I’ve had to let go, but it’s really the most beautiful experience.” Ashley Tisdale

NYC-based interior designer (andmom of two) Hilary Matt shows off her Water Mill Project, a family home with smart elements to keep the spaces feeling both practicaland polished.

photography by RIKKI SNYDER

HOW DO YOU DESIGN SPACES WITH KIDS IN MIND?

While I always design with function in mind, when I am designing a space specifically for kids, I take that even more seriously. [I consider] the necessary elements that a child and parent need in this room and then I go from there. Storage is one of the main elements as well as soft surfaces throughout. I also like to take the kid’s preferences into consideration— for example, in this space, the daughter

loved pink, so we did her room in a pink shade that was also something that her parents could live with as well! Kids spaces don’t have to always just use decor and furniture that is marketed for ‘kids,’ you can use many adult pieces in kids spaces and add in whimsy touches with accessories or other elements.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS NURSERY. WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION HERE?

The clients are a very chic couple that both work in fashion, so we wanted the whole house to be as sophisticated as them. That is why we chose to stick with a neutral nursery that didn’t scream a specific gender and instead, gave a light and airy feeling. We had fun on the ceiling with the Porter Teleo wallpaper that hints at masculinity but is also just a fun design element. To keep the space playful, we gave them a nice way to display books so that they are easily accessible for a nighttime read. The furniture is very clean and almost completely white for a fresh and airy look that the clients are very fond of and will be versatile when this room isn’t a nursery anymore!

WHAT ARE YOUR FA VORITE ORGANIZATION STRATEGIES TO USE IN YOUR SPACES?

I think easily accessible storage containers are best, like the book shelves on the wall that allow the children to easily help clean up and understand where the books go. The tabletop storage in the playroom is a super helpful set up for arranging art supplies while still having them available. I suggest any opportunity to choose a piece of furniture or element that has additional storage over one with less.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE ARTWORK IN THE PINK KIDS ROOM?

I love choosing artwork for clients; I think it is one of the most personal touches of a space. Since we kept most of the color scheme neutral and minimal, I like to add a graphic and colorful element with artwork. The Will Cotton piece of the lady with the macaron hair seemed like a little girl’s dream and something that she will appreciate later in life, as well. The parents were not wanting [the paint color to be] too aggressive, so we settled on

the beautiful, yet subtle, Phillip Jeffries wallpaper. We used a Romo fabric for the custom window treatments, matching to the checkered fabric used for the Serena and Lily rattan bench.

TELL US HOW YOU KEPT THINGS ORGANIZED AND CHIC IN THE PLAY ROOM.

The custom cabinetry on the far end is the perfect way to add in a whole wall of additional (and hidden!) storage. We did just lower cabinets so they would be easily accessible for the kids to reach. The candy wall was a fun touch that really is any kid’s dream and acts as artwork! We kept things bright and airy, like the rest of the house, but used upholstered chairs that would be comfortable for a child. This room will soon be filled with colorful toys, so minimizing the color elsewhere allows the toys to be less overwhelming. The oversized pendants were full and playful— appropriate for a playroom! We made a custom table that was clean lined and allowed for many friends and playdates to happen!

FAMILY DESIGN

Hilary Matt shares her best tips for creating spaces for families.

THINK LONG TERM

Use outdoor fabrics whenever possible. They are much more durable!

KEEP IT CLEAN

Don’t be afraid of white spaces if you’re creating for kids. Just use the color thoughtfully, making them as easy to clean as possible.

MAKE IT FUN

Bring in whimsical elements in fun ways like the candy wall we did or oversized stuffed animals that act like a piece of sculpture.

LEAVE OPEN SPACE

Don’t overcrowd kids spaces with furniture. So often kids are running around or on the floor and they need space to do both!

SPRING FOR SOFT

Incorporate textiles that will be appealing to kids. They are constantly touching, everything!

photography by ANA GAMBUTO interview by KATE KIRBY

Determined to give birth to her first child on the seventh— a distinct lucky number in her family—DJ and Creative Entre preneur PAMELA TICK opens up about welcoming daughter Miller Delilah in perfect tim ing, from pregnancy through postpartum and into the magic of motherhood.

ON HER MORNING ROUTINE

Here’s how it starts— We wake up, Millie gets a bottle and I get a coffee. We put on music, put on cute looks, then cruise around the city.

ON THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF MOTHERHOOD

I think the challenge (but also, the beauty of it) is that it all comes back to you, mom.

ON THE SURPRISES OF MOTHERHOOD

What surprised me the most on motherhood? It’s all surprising! Every day is a learning game for both of us. It feels like a new life, and the greatest one yet.

ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT IN RAISING HER DAUGHTER

Being the best version of myself and role model for her. Exposing her to Ryan and I’s love so she grows up surrounded by it. Always instilling the right values and teaching her to be confident sit at the top of that list too.

ON HER TRANSITION TO ONE CHILD

It was never really zero to one for us because we have [our dog] Dex. He prepped us in the smallest and largest of ways. Whether it was something as simple as waking up early and having a regimented schedule to something as intense as actually being responsible for a life, I think we knew as human parents we would find that balance too.

ON CHOOSING HER DAUGHTER’S NAME

Miller is named in honor of my husband’s sister, Mikaela. We didn’t know if we were expecting a boy or girl, but we were set on the name Miller regardless of the gender.

ON HER FIRST THOUGHT UPON LEARNING SHE WAS PREGNANT

Let’s feast, baby!

ON DESCRIBING HER PREGNANCY WITH BABY MILLER

I would describe my pregnancy as the closest relationship with my body I’ve had. We were lucky to have an easy and smooth run! I felt calm, free, inspired, and excited about the future. I like to channel a certain sexiness when I’m pregnant, I think. Well at least for Baby #1. Ha.

ON HER BIRTH EXPERIENCE

My birth and pregnancy experience were pretty analogous. I was determined to give birth on December 7th. 7 is a distinct lucky number in our family. She ended up being born at 11:57 PM on the 7th.

ON THE POSTPARTUM STAGE

The postpartum stage is a lot. It’s an adjustment mentally and physically. Everything becomes a learning experience. I found that the more patient with myself I was, the better. It’s such a special time, but also such a vulnerable time. Being gentle with yourself is important.

ON MAKING A GREAT PARENTING TEAM WITH HUSBAND RYAN

The word compromise stands out to me more than anything. Also, [we don’t take] everything so seriously. Bigggg laughing couple!

ON WEARING MANY HATS IN HER CAREER

I don’t like to limit myself to “what I am.” Most importantly to me, I make people dance and feel good— two of my favorite things. Being a DJ for high fashion brands allows me to incorporate my style and vision in terms of music and dressing as well, as having a social media presence.

ON HER PROUDEST MOMENT TO DATE

Proudest life moment: Being a hands-on mom every single day. Proudest DJ moment: Spinning for Elon Musk’s Cyber Truck launch in California.

ON HAVING IT ALL

Everyone’s idea of having it all is different. For

me, having it all means having a healthy and happy family, success in business, and being surrounded by love.

ON RAISING HER DAUGHTER IN NEW YORK AND ASPEN

[I’m most excited about] exposing her to a balance of New York City’s concrete jungle and Aspens magical mountain life.

ON HER ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR MILLER Show up.

PAMELA ON THE CLOCK

FAVE NYC RESTAURANT

“Emilio’s Ballato.” 55 E Houston St, New York, NY

GUILTY PLEASURE

“Scalp massage and Vitamin D.”

FAVE KIDS BOOK “ I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont and Dear Girl, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal.”

FAVE KIDS SHOPS

“Ralph Lauren, Bonpoint, 1+ in the Family.”

ORDER “Iced oat latte with an extra shot.”

FAVE HAMPTONS

“Rumba.” 43 Canoe Place Road, Hampton Bays, NY

MINI | We’re thrilled to have you in Mini! Let’s jump right into it. Tell us about how the Sculpt Society came to be.

MEGAN ROUP | The Sculpt Society was born out of my love for movement and workouts that made me feel good! I spent a period of my life over exercising, yoyo dieting and thinking that I needed to spend hours doing cardio. I wanted to create a class that felt FUN, effective, and combined sculpt and easy dance cardio in an approachable way. Movement has had such an impact on my life and I knew I had to share this feeling and workout with other women, thus The Sculpt Society was born.

MINI | What is the Sculpt Society all about? Tell us about your unique approach to fitness.

MEGAN ROUP | The Sculpt Society is the #1 Sculpt and Dance Cardio workout designed to empower women through movement. TSS is about feeling confident and strong in our bodies. The TSS method combines powerful sculpting exercises with easy-tofollow dance cardio for a fun and effective workout. The goal is to give you a great workout in less than an hour. From beginner to advanced, the TSS method will help you see and feel results, while having FUN.

photography by MORGAN PANSING

Fueled by her love for movement and feel good workouts, Celebrity Fitness Trainer and Founder of The Sculpt Society MEGAN ROUP continues to grow her sculpt and dance cardio community alongside her family, having welcomed her first child, daughter Harlow, last year.

MINI | What is your current daily fitness routine?

MEGAN ROUP | I try to carve out movement (whether I want to or not) every day. Depending on my schedule, that could look like a live on the TSS App with my community or doing one of my quickies. I’m a firm believer of committing to less, so you can show up more. We just launched an exciting program with my friend and client, Miranda Kerr, called the Feel Good Program. It’s a 2 week, full body, low impact program that features workouts under 20 minutes. I’m doing the program with my community right now. It’s a great place to start if you’re new to TSS!

MINI | Since you’re a mama now, let’s talk motherhood! What has surprised you most about motherhood thus far?

MEGAN ROUP | I was extremely nervous to become a mom. For so long, my focus has been my business. TSS was my baby and I was worried I wasn’t going to enjoy motherhood. However, my experience has been the exact opposite (thankfully) and I have truly LOVED becoming a mom to Harlow!

MINI | What have you found to be hardest aspect of motherhood thus far?

MEGAN ROUP | Being a small business owner and a mom, means there is a

lot of juggling going on, but you just figure it out, day by day. When I am not with Harlow, I feel guilty that I am not spending time with her and when I am with her, I feel like I should be working.

MINI | What is your greatest joy of motherhood right now?

MEGAN ROUP | Seeing Harlow grow into her own person and her personality start to form. She is so happy, curious, and kind.

MINI | What is most important to you in raising your daughter?

MEGAN ROUP | As cliche as it may sounds, I really want to make sure she is fulfilled and happy.

MINI | Tell us how you decided on your daughter’s name.

MEGAN ROUP | My husband’s last name is Humphrey and we knew we wanted an H name for the alliteration. Although it wasn’t the obvious choice at first, it kept making our top choice list and we eventually fell in love with it.

MINI | Where have you seen the biggest changes in your life since becoming a mom?

MEGAN ROUP | There have been so many life changes since becoming a mom! I think the lack of free time and spontaneity. My husband and I aren’t big planners and these days, unless something is planned out around Harlow’s schedule, it doesn’t end up happening.

MINI | As a busy entrepreneur mama, tell us what a typical work day looks like for you.

MEGAN ROUP | On days where I’m going live on the app, I’ll make sure I’ve laid my outfit out the night before [and] I start my day with lemon water and coffee, MUST have coffee.

If I’m teaching a workout live on the TSS app, I will always review my content, test the connection, and lighting (still a small business, so I do all of this

myself!). After my live, I’ll make sure there aren’t any tech issues uploading the video and then reconnect with my daughter for some snuggles. My husband, who is also our COO, is a great partner and keeps Harlow entertained (and quiet) while I film. I’ll usually fuel up with some eggs on Ezekiel bread or blueberries and Good Culture cottage cheese. I’m a creature of habit and could easily have this for every meal of the day. I connect with my team and discuss upcoming launches, partnerships, marketing initiatives, and create new class content. I might sprinkle in a private client, head to an event to support other female founders, or work on new choreography.

MINI | How about your wellness routine? What does your diet look like?

MEGAN ROUP | Like I said, I’m a creature of habit, but I really listen to my body and intuitively eat. I’m trying to drink more water! We try to eat organic (but not always perfect) and fresh food as much as possible. On busy weeks, I really rely on meal delivery services because it takes the guesswork out of what to make. I know it’s healthy and I can heat it up or prepare it in a pinch.

MINI | What was your fitness routine like while pregnant?

MEGAN ROUP | During my pregnancy, I created and filmed my TSS Mama pre/postnatal program. I’m a certified pre and postnatal specialist. As I went

through each trimester, I filmed new programs including 360 breathing and pelvic floor exercises. All of the workouts are safe, fun, and effective. I truly believe that as a result of my pelvic floor exercises and 360 breathing, I was prepared for giving birth.

MINI | The Sculpt Society has already grown so much! What has been your proudest career moment to date?

MEGAN ROUP | Honestly, it’s the community. The #TSSfam motivates me on a daily basis to show up, to continue creating new programs, and to better myself! During the pandemic, we connected after our lives on the TSS app with our coffee chats and we have a growing Facebook community

where we share everything from program recommendations to workout clothes. Some members have organized their own groups to work out virtually and in-person together. I’ve also been able to connect with this community IRL, popping up in cities across the country and it’s been so special to see them not skip a beat with the choreography and put faces to Instagram handles that have been with me from the beginning.

MINI | If you could give your daughter one piece of advice, what would it be?

MEGAN ROUP | There are many things I want to share with her, but it’s so important to me that she feels confident in herself and her values.

CAN I DO CARDIO PREGNANT?

As always, make sure you cleared with your doctor to do cardio first. If you were doing cardio before you got pregnant, then yes, you can continue to do cardio throughout as long as it feels OK. No pregnancy experience is alike, so it is incredibly important to listen to your body and modify or eliminate things when something feels off. If jumping doesn’t feel good while you are pregnant, I suggest going for moderately paced walks.

CAN I DO ABS ON MY BACK WHILE PREGNANT? During your first trimester, nothing major needs to be modified. As long as it feels OK, you can continue your core routine. However, if something feels off, modify or skip core work. During our second and third trimester is when we want to eliminate abs on our back, plank work is OK, but an elevated plank or modified plank is preferred. Adding in my Pelvic Floor and 360 breathing videos will be the extra core work you will want to do to set yourself up for delivery and postpartum core recovery. Pro Tip:

During pregnancy, we want to avoid major twisting. If we are twisting, we want to make sure our hips and shoulders move as one unit and we aren’t disassociating from each other.

SHOULD I STOP EXERCISING WHILE PREGNANT? No! As long as you are cleared by your doctor to workout, exercise is one the best things you can do for yourself and your baby during pregnancy.

IN YOUR FIRST TRIMESTER...

Your low energy levels and food aversions may inhibit you from working out. The goal during your first trimester is to incorporate a little bit of movement on the days you are feeling better. In my first trimester program, we focus on short gentle workouts that allow you to squeeze in workouts to feel good. This is a great time to start working on strengthening and lengthening our pelvic floor through 360 [or] Diaphragmatic Breathing. I have specific videos within my Prenatal Program dedicated to the PV and 360 Breathing that will help guide you. It’s incredibly important to do the PV and breathing work as it will help with delivery and our core recovery postpartum.

IN YOUR SECOND TRIMESTER...

Hopefully your energy levels are back and

Wondering about the best ways to WORK

OUT while pregnant? ROUP gives us her go-to tips she shares with prenatal clients.

MEGAN ON THE CLOCK

Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison

$7.19 ; amazon.com

FAVE LOCAL SHOP “Verve.”

IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS IN THE DAY

KIDS BOOK “A Colleen Hoover book.”

IN MY FRIDGE

water.”

NOW PLAYING

“How I Built This on NPR.”

DATE NIGHT

“An early dinner with my husband at a Mexican restaurant and then a movie at our house.”

COFFEE ORDER

“Almond milk latte.”

ON MY NIGHTSTAND

“I would proba

you’re feeling a little less nauseous than your first trimester. This is a great stage to return to a regular movement practice. It’s important to note that in our second and third trimester we want to start modifying our core exercises. Certain core exercises like abs on your back we want to avoid as they increase the intra abdominal pressure in our stomach and can exacerbate the likelihood of Diastasis Recti. Instead of abs on back, I continue to have you engage your core through my Pelvic Floor and 360 breathing videos as well as accessing our core through modified plank work and exercises like bird dog that will still require core engagement and strength.

IN YOUR THIRD TRIMESTER...

Many women experience an overall dip in energy. My third trimester program will still have workouts (when you’re feeling up for it) as well as prenatal stretches and PV and 360 Breathing videos to help continue to strengthen your pelvic floor connection and prepare you for delivery and postpartum. The same modifications will apply to the third trimester as the second. Our focus is to take the pressure out of growing bellies by wrapping and engaging our transverse abdominals with 360 Breathing and implementing functional exercises while lengthening and strengthening our PV muscles.

READY BABY SET

photography by JENNA ELLIOTT

The founder of SET ACTIVE and now mom of two, LINDSEY CARTER invites us into her Beverly Hills home to chat pregnancy, design, and running one of the hottest activewear lines on the market.

ON HER MORNING ROUTINE

I’ve always been an early riser, and now I feel so lucky to get to wake up in the mornings and spend time with [my son] Ace. I drink my coffee in bed while Ace watches a few minutes of TV and we snuggle. I absolutely love this special time with him. After a little bit of one-on-one time together, I’ll get ready for work and then my husband joins us downstairs to eat breakfast together as a family. We like to share a moment of calm and connection before the craziness of the day takes over. I’m usually out the door to be at the office by 8:30am, because I love getting into work before most of our team shows up. I intentionally found an office really close to our home so I can maximize family time before and after work which has been amazing.

ON HER CALIFORNIA HOME

We’ve lived here for a little over a year and while it’s still not completely done, it’s come so far from when we bought it. We renovated almost every inch of this house, staying true to its original traditional character but adding in so

many transitional elements to make it feel more modern and functional for our family. I am so particular about design and wanted our home to both feel one-of-a-kind and supremely comfortable. We love having friends over and hosting gatherings, so having space for everyone to hang out and making intentional design choices that would make it feel more welcoming were both really big priorities for us. When people are here, we spend a lot of time downstairs in the kitchen and in the attached family room, or playing outside and swimming. If it’s just me, I love to get into bed as early as possible, which might just be where I spend the most time in our home.

ON HER KIDS’ SPACES

I’m absolutely obsessed with my kids’ rooms which is so important to me because we spend so much time together in them. Ace’s room was designed to be really classic and neutral, but I recently added Gray Malin pieces to bring in a little more fun. Designing our baby girl’s room has been a dream project. I’ve fully leaned into the girly vibe and love all the little feminine details, from the decor down to the wallpaper. Recently, Ace has started going into her room and saying “sister’s room” which just melts my heart.

ON THIS PREGNANCY

My second pregnancy has been easier emotionally, but harder physically. My first pregnancy was filled with a lot of excitement, but also a lot of anxiety. As a first time mom, it was hard not to worry about every symptom or feeling, and sometimes it felt like time in between doctor’s appointments was going so incredibly slow. With this pregnancy, I’m so busy with Ace that I don’t have as much time to fixate on every little thing I’m feeling. Speaking of being busy with Ace— it’s seriously no joke running around after a toddler while pregnant. I’m definitely a lot more exhausted this time, and it’s felt much harder on my body.

ON PREGNANCY SURPRISES

My mom friends are all pretty open, so there wasn’t anything about pregnancy that felt super

surprising to me. I think one important thing a lot of women don’t know is that you can (and should) advocate for yourself through the process. A couple months into my pregnancy with Ace, I started getting the feeling that my doctor wasn’t the right fit for me, so I actually switched to a new OBGYN. Sometimes medical situations can feel intimidating and first time moms don’t always know what’s “normal” or not. But if you ever feel like something is off or you’re not being heard by your doctor, you should always ask for exactly what you need or switch to a new practice where you feel more comfortable.

ON PREPPING ACE FOR THE NEW BABY

I’m a big believer that babies can understand so much more than we even know, so we’ve been talking to Ace about becoming a big brother since pretty early on in this pregnancy. He notices my growing bump and will point to it and tell me his baby sister is in there which is so sweet. He’s definitely a mama’s boy so I’m sure the transition will have its challenges, but I’m lucky to have the support of so many mom friends and I know Ace is resilient and will be the most loving big brother.

ON DRESSING THE BUMP

I’m all about comfort over everything when it comes to third trimester style. I wear my SET leggings or Sportysuit almost every single day with either an oversized SET crewneck, vintage sweatshirt, or denim button-up. If I’m not in SET activewear, I’m in SET Lounge, because again, comfort over everything. I’m also really into accessorizing with cool sneakers, sunglasses, and handbags, because it’s such a fun way to add more personality to a look.

ON BABY GEAR SHE’S USING

I don’t think I could live without our Nanit monitor that we use for Ace, so we’ll get a second one for our baby girl. It’s perfect for me to be able to check in on the babies even when I’m at the office. We’re also upgrading our stroller from a Bugaboo Fox to a Bugaboo Donkey so we can fit both babies sideby-side.

ON STARTING SET ACTIVE

SET was created out of my desire to make getting dressed feel easier. Before SET, I was running my own social media agency, so I was spending my days going from meetings to lunches to photoshoots to happy hours.

At that time, activewear was primarily made for working out, so while I loved the functionality of it, I felt like I looked like I was going to a workout class (and I didn’t want to feel extra guilty if I wasn’t). I created SET to make it effortless for people to look put together, feel confident, and be “set” for their entire day. While we started with athleisure, we’re about to expand into so many more categories that will help simplify the way you get dressed, so stay tuned.

ON HER PROUDEST CAREER MOMENT TO DATE

The thing I’m most proud of at SET isn’t a moment, it’s our team and our community. We have such a dedicated, hardworking

LINDSEY

team that cares so insanely deeply about our SET community. In turn, our SET community has been so involved and supportive as we’ve grown. I really feel like the luckiest founder and CEO in the world.

ON THE PIECES SHE WEARS THE MOST

My Luxform® leggings, the Sportysuit, anything Lounge, and our Sweats.

ON THE GREATEST BUSINESS LESSON SHE’S LEARNED

Surround yourself with people who offer good insight and perspective, but ultimately it’s so important to listen to your intuition as a leader. Also, stay nimble and be flexible. Things rarely go 100% according to plan, so be ready to make quick decisions and pivot as necessary.

ADVICE TO MOMS STARTING THEIR OWN BRAND

It will never feel not scary, and there will probably never be a “right” time, so just go for it! Similar to being a mom, starting your own brand can feel like both the hardest and most rewarding thing you can imagine. My most tangible advice is to make sure you’re creating a product or service that helps solve a problem or fill a need for a specific audience. Get to know that audience as deeply as you can,

so you understand how to bring them as much value as possible. Lastly, define how you will differentiate yourself from other brands in your general market. Understanding and leaning into what makes your brand special will give you a huge edge.

ON THE IDEA OF “HAVING IT ALL”

Life is never perfectly balanced between work, social plans, family time, and selfcare. Personally, I need all of those things in my life in order for me to thrive, so I think I’m just out here like every other mom, doing my best. Sometimes I’m better in certain areas than others. Having mom friends helps because we aren’t afraid to be honest with each other about the realities of what that actually means and we know we’re all in it together. I’ll also add that I’m really big on investing in help and outsourcing where I can— my life would be much, much harder without the help of our nanny and my assistant.

ON RAISING HER KIDS IN LA

As someone who was born and raised in LA myself, I can’t wait to re-experience some of the things that feel nostalgic to me, this time though my kids’ eyes. I love the simple things, like taking Ace to the beach, letting him visit the petting zoo at the farmer’s market, or having 5pm dinner with friends on a weekday.