Mini Magazine Summer 2023, Stassi Schroeder

FOR THE MODERN PARENT

SIMPLIFY SUMMER TRAVEL WITH TODDLERS

AMANDA SEYFRIED LAUNCHES KIDS PLAY DECOR

Straight Up Talks

Pregnancy

Parenting And Purpose

EVERYONE LOVES A SUMMER BBQ. IN FACT, THE WORLD RECORD FOR LONGEST TIME BARBECUING IS 80 HOURS!

Meet Clixo— the hottest toy of the summer that offers a modern magnetic play experience for Minis ages 4 and up. “We took our Clixo set on vacation with us,” says Mini’s Editor in Chief Kate Kirby. “It’s easy to take on the go, the kids loved making different creatures and objects, and it packs back up into the box in a flash. Endless possibilities!” —clixo.com

SCENTS OF SUMMER

Bring a little summer into your bathtime routine with the new Tubby Todd x Sesame Street collection, featuring a delicious, limited edition Juicy Watermelon scent! The collection features three classic Sesame Street characters—Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird—available in Hair and Body Wash, Everyday Lotion, Bubble Bath, and a special Gift Set that includes all three products! Add on the Watermelon Bath Bomb Bundle to kick this season’s tub time up a notch!

tubbytodd.com

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT

Yoto comes a new set of Solar System audio cards that transports Mini astronauts to Space Camp! Follow Jamal and Kat on their scavenger hunt around the solar system, exploring all eight planets, finding flags, unlocking clues, and ultimately completing their space mission! This out-of-thisworld adventure developed with astrophysicist Sarah Barker is sure to inspire curiosity, creativity, and independence. Available at yotoplay.com.

THIS JUST IN

Cal

MINI MUST-HAVE ▶ Babiators performance gear offers UPF 50+ protection for summer fun!

Harry Potter: The Exhibition celebrates the Wizarding World through authentic props and magical environments now through October 13 in NYC!

Visit the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Butterfly Pavilion with up to 30 different species now through August 13th!

ON THE EDITOR’S LIST DISNEY AND PIXAR’S ELEMENTAL ▶

Join Barbie Mania this summer by visiting the new Malibu Barbie Cafe in Chicago! The unique dining spot offers beachy decor, lifesize Barbie Box, and a fun menu!

Out East this summer? Join a Mini Farmer Class at Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett where they can learn how food is grown and plant seeds!

A story of differences and learning to embrace them, Disney and Pixar’s latest release, Elemental , is out now! In this animated flick, the characters are all one of the four elements—fire, water, earth, or air—and ultimately find they have more in common than they previously believed.

mini-magazine.com

Head to Mini for more interviews with parents around the world, style, and more

FOLLOW MINI

Be sure to follow Mini on Instagram and TikTok! We’re sharing behind the scenes peeks at making the magazine, new kids products, nursery tours, and much more!

Find us on Instagram: @minimagazine

30 BEAUTIFUL BABY NAMES INSPIRED BY THE BEACH If you’re expecting a summer babe, these sand-and-suncentered names are for you!

BARBIE MANIA IS HERE— MINI CLOTHES TO CELEBRATE With the big movie debut this month, grab these iconic ensembles now!

HOW TO MAINTAIN BABY’S ROUTINE ON VACATION

When baby’s nap schedule is thrown for a loop, we all know what happens— Ease the chaos with these tips.

TRAVELING WITH KIDS? TAKE THESE 10 THINGS WITH YOU Mom of three Marissa Hermer shares the must-have items that make traveling with her crew a breeze.

15 | MEET THE TEAM The team that makes all the Mini magic possible

18 | EDITOR’S LIST

A carefully-curated list of Kate’s favorites this season

21 | THE STYLE SPOT Super stripes and the coolest pajamas to beat the heat!

27 | MOM It’s the style spot for all of you chic Mini moms from bump to beyond

30 | IN THE BAG Cyndi Ramirez shows us what’s inside her Loewe pouch

32 | TECH KIDS Discover the latest and greatest from the Mini tech sphere

35 | BOOK CLUB This stack of new Mini book releases is perfect for reading poolside

37 | ON THE SCENE Get to know the best city stroller to hit the street, plus a comfy, mesh baby carrier!

42 | ON THE CLOCK Meet the founder of Rylee + Cru as she shares details like her favorite local restaurant, guilty pleasure, and more!

46 | SCOOP Take a closer look at the new DockATot bassinet, kid-friendly SPF, and Lalo bathtub!

52 | IN THE BAG Dr. Deepika Chopra spills the contents of her woven Clare V. Petit Simple Tote

54 | COVER MOM Soon-to-be mom of two Stassi Schroeder gets real about what matters most to her now

68 | HOME Amanda Seyfried and friends launch a cute and sustainable line of children's play decor

72 | HEALTH How to keep kids safe online, postpartum meditation, and what you should know about hiring a doula

Capturing

the beauty, simplicity and magic of childhood.

80 | TRAVEL The moms behind Big Little Feelings share how to make travel easier with toddlers

82 | SWIM SHAKEUP Three fashion world moms debut the first-ever line of chic, sculpting swimwear

86 | FULL BLOOM How one mom turned her postpartum creative outlet into a full-fledged custom clothing brand

90 | FAMILY JEWELS We introduce you to the moms behind jewelry brands like gorjana, Elisa Solomon, Jennifer Fisher, Tiny Tags, and more!

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MINI

Founder and Editor in Chief

Kaitlyn Kirby

Cover Photography

Kimberly Genevieve

Cover Hair

Bradley Leake

Cover Makeup

Hailey Hoff

Mini Offices

Mini Magazine Email | hello@mini-magazine.com Web | www.mini-magazine.com

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

Copyright © 2023 Mini Magazine.

INSIDE LOOK:

(On Right) Our summer cover mom Stassi Schroeder opens up about how motherhood has changed her. (Below) I recently received this locket by Monica Rich Kosann and it has two tiny photos of my girls inside— I'm in love!

I cannot believe we're well into July now and summer is fully underway, complete with crazy heat waves! There is so much to be excited about this season from classic summer ensembles (like Super Stripes on Page 22!), the swimwear system changing the game (Page 82!), and that I'm having my third baby in 10 days! In the next 100 pages of Mini, you'll get expert tips on traveling with your toddlers

(from the founders of Big Little Feelings!), a peek inside the bags of mom bosses like Cyndi Ramirez and Deepika Chopra, plus what to know before you

hire a doula, the cutest custom kids jackets, and the eco-friendly playhouse we all need. In our cover feature, soon-to-be mom of two Stassi Schroeder lets loose on what she's doing to prepare for baby, what's different this time around, and how she's found a whole, new purpose. Stay cool and relax with this awesome summer issue, Mini friends, and we'll be back in just a couple of months with fresh fall pages— and for me, a new baby!

IN THE STARS

I’m scheming for my third baby’s nursery and this gold star wallpaper is at the top of my wish list. serenaandlily.com

WATER WONDER

Finally— a water table that entertains the kids and isn’t hard on the eyes! playsmol.com

THE HOT SHOT

The FP Movement x HATCH Hot Shot Onesie is a style staple for moms-to-be right now! hatchcollection.com

ALLERGY BUDDY ◀

These new allergen-inclusive organic Oat and Fruit Bars and Baby Oatmeal now feature Daniel Tiger! —readysetfood.com

FUN TO BRUSH

My kids are obsessed with this Hello Kids

Magical Mermaid

Fluoride Toothpaste! hello-products.com

Style

POOL PARTY

MERMAID POOL PARTY

Mini Mermaid Lovers— this is your time! Channel your inner sparkly sea dweller with these summer-loving accessories from Super Smalls ! This magical set was designed by Luna, Super Smalls’ Kid-in-Chief, and features “freshwater pearls” and a gem-covered sea shell. The stretchy jewels are made for easy onand-off and ready to take on any pool or ocean adventure this season. Just BYOMT (Bring Your Own Mermaid Tail)! supersmalls.com

These striped beach essentials will amp up your summer. Above : $78 ; Beach Towel, weezietowels.com; Below : $198 ; The All Over Striped Tote, kule.com

SUPER STRIPES

Nautical is the vibe this season and that means grabbing your best stripes, from classic Bretons to whimsical waves.

ICONIC BRETON

Throw on over your suit before a night swim or bonfire. $75; minnowswim.com

SOFT WAVES

This PJ set in Hydrangea Blue is ready for a week on Nantucket. $48; lakepajamas.com

THE TINY LEO

A classic pair of seersucker shorts. $50; hillhousehome.com

SUN SAFE SHIRT

This sunblock top is fast-drying and protects from UVA/UVB rays. $16; hannaandersson.com

BEACH BOUND

GOODNIGHT GANG

The weather may be hot, but these cool jammies will make summer nights more fun with their festive prints and patterns.

Rip Tide, kytebaby.com

2. SEA EXPLORER

$25; Baby Shortie Sleeper in Deepest Diver, hannaandersson.com

3. BY THE SEA SHORE

$32; Shortie Pajama Set in Seashell Hunt, monicaandandy.com

4. SHARK ATTACK

$54; Organic Long Sleeve Pajama Set in Sharks, shop1212.com

$40; Florida Sunshine PJ Short Set, shopdanrie.com

6. TREAT TIME

$39; The S’More, The Merrier Convertible Footies kikiandluluco.com

Use code XOMINIMAG for 20% off your first Sakara Meal Program or 10-Day Reset.

JUST FOR YOU MAMA, FROM BUMP TO BEYOND

Mom

THE SCIENCE OF SKIN

The brainchild of Happily Grey ’s Mary Lawless Lee, Nemah is a science-backed, sustainable, and vegan skincare line for maternity and beyond. Each product— from Revitalizing Stretch Mark Cream, Restorative Scar Treatment, Nourishing Body Oil, and a Renewing Nipple and Lip Balm—is rigorously tested by real moms, a third-party scientist, and Medical Advisory Board to help you nourish your body and baby with the best, high-performing, plant-based ingredients. Products begin at $24. —nemah.com

NEMAH VEGAN SKINCARE FRIDA FERTILITY HEATHER TAYLOR X SOLLY BABY

CLICK TO SHOP THE ENTIRE NEMAH SKINCARE LINE!

RIGHT NOW WE’RE LOVING

The Heather Taylor Home collection with Solly Baby— complete with Lemonade, Poppy, and Picnic prints. The collection brings the classically quaint prints of Heather Taylor Home to your favorite baby wraps, swaddles, sleepers, hats, and even crib sheets! Lemonade features a tonal yellow gingham; Poppy, a minimalist cornflower floral with a just-right pop of red; and Picnic, a small-scale gingham in blue and green. “The Lemonade wrap is the perfect summer carrier with its cheery yellow hue and gingham print,” says Mini’s Editor in Chief Kate Kirby. sollybaby.com

FRIDA FERTILITY

Frida, the preeminent baby and feminine care brand founded by Chelsea Hirschhorn, has just launched their third brand, Frida Fertility. Joining Frida Baby and Frida Mom, the new Frida Fertility line offers simple solutions for the often not-so-simple act of babymaking— including an Early Detection Pregnancy Test, Ovulation Prediction Test, Male and Female Pre-Conception Supplements, and an At-Home Insemination Set. Available in Target now and online at Amazon and Frida.com.

CELINE WALLET

“I may need to get her in more colors. Cutest wallet ever.” $670; celine.com

SMITTEN LIP OIL

“I love pairing my liner with a lip gloss— no lipstick needed. Ami Colé’s lip oils are elite.” $20; sephora.com

ON THE MEND

“This never leaves my bag. I keep my nails looking polished at all times. When I’m sans Chill Tips, [this] is a lifesaver. The file is top notch and the repair serum strengthens, softens, and brightens my nail beds.” $25; chillhouse.com

Cyndi Ramirez

The Chillhouse founder and soon-to-be mom of two spills the contents of her Loewe Bracelet Pouch.

“The amount of times I’ve dropped my phone, you’d think it’d be shattered. I’m obsessed with the green!” $62; casetify.com

SOAR LINER

“I feel naked without lip liner. I’ve been a Mac Soar girlie forever.” $24; ulta.com

LOEWE PLEATED BRACELET POUCH SHOULDER BAG loewe.com

CLARE V CASE

Tech

TALLI BABY TRACKER VOOKS ANIMATED STORYBOOK LIBRARY

TALLI TRACKER

Keeping up with a new baby’s feedings, diapers, and naps is one thing— logging them is another. Enter the Talli One-Touch Baby Tracker. Talli Baby comes ready to track eight default events (with 90 icon-based decals and endless customizations available) right away including sleep, bottle feedings, diapers, pumping, and more. WiFi sends data to the app for you to view anytime, anywhere, and even save for pediatrician visits, sleep or lactation consults!

talli.me

RIGHT NOW IN TECH KIDS

Bedtime stories, summer reading, quiet time activities— if your Minis love to read, they will flip over Vooks. An entire library of storybooks brought to life with beautiful animation, read- aloud narration, engaging music and sound, Vooks offers a safe, educational, ad-free platform that will inspire a lifelong love of reading! —vooks.com

THE LATEST FROM THE MINI TECH SPHERE

Book Club

Throw these summer children’s book releases into your beach bag and head out for a day spent under the sun with your imagination!

FOR HISTORY

KING CHARLES III

by Jen Arena

If Coronation Day sparked questions about the new king, this Little Golden Book has the answers about the first new monarch in over 70 years!

FOR SWIFTIES FOR SELF LOVE EDITOR’S PICK

LITTLE BLACK HOLE

by Molly Webster

Perfect for Oliver Jeffers fans, this space tale celebrates the power of friendship and memory.

FOR RAINY DAYS

THERE’S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin and Danielle Jonas

Let this imaginative book inspire your next day stuck indoors.

I WANT TO BE SPAGHETTI

by Kiera Wright-Ruiz

A funny picture book about how one little packet of ramen perched on a supermarket shelf finds self-love and belonging in a spaghetti-obsessed world after being brought home.

TAYLOR SWIFT: A BIOGRAPHY

by Wendy Loggia

Taylor Swift is sweeping the nation with her Eras Tour and now you can introduce your littles to the music icon with this new read!

CITY STROLLING

The new Bugaboo Dragonfly stroller takes the title of Most Comfortable City Stroller, now with a patented, first-of-its-kind compact fold. The stroller folds in one-piece whether you’re using the seat or bassinet and operates using only one hand to keep your other free. The Dragonfly includes high performance urban wheels, full suspension, and precision steering for navigating busy streets. But before you start to wonder if the Dragonfly can truly have it all, you’ll be glad to learn that the XL underseat basket holds up to 22 pounds of supplies, while the expandable rear pocket can move to the back, front, and handlebar. On the eco front, the Dragonfly is made more sustainably to reach a net zero future by 2035 and with bio-based materials, has already reduced its CO2 footprint by 21%. — bugaboo.com

Scene

BUGABOO DRAGONFLY NUNA CUDL CLIK BABY CARRIER

THE DRAGONFLY

Meet the Most Comfortable City Stroller, now with a patented, first-ofits-kind compact fold into one piece with the seat or bassinet.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BUGABOO

ECO IMPACT

Sustainably Built Dragonfly is easy to repair and sustainably built to last using biobased material.

SMOOTH MOVE

Urban Wheels

Offers full suspen sion and new urban wheel design for smoother rides in the city.

more storage.

SIRONA M WITH

Theonlysmart-techconvertiblecarseatthat providesessentialalertstokeepbabysafe whileyoudriveandwhenyouarrive.

NUNA CUDL CLIK

Designed to keep babywearing cool and comfortable no matter the season, this new baby carrier features breathable mesh and padded straps.

SAFETY FIRST Magnetic Buckle

Built with Magne

Tech secure snap, a self-guiding mag netic buckle that automatically locks into place and en sures an easy and secure attachment.

GROWS UP Right Position

Four carry positions provide ergonomic positioning as baby grows: Newborn, Facing In, Facing Out, and Back Carry.

EASY WEAR Extra Padding

The CUDL Clik features breathable mesh fabric, plus padded shoulder and waist straps to make babywearing comfy for you both.

SHADES UP

Breeze Cover

The attached hood shades baby, while the self-stored breeze cover pulls up to protect baby from the elements.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF NUNA

KELLI MURRAY LARSON

MINI SPENT TEN MINUTES WITH THE mom of three (to Rylee, Cru, and Quincy), and founder of Rylee + Cru to get the details on her favorite children’s book, the apps she uses most, shows she’s watching right now, and her guilty pleasure that you’ll want to add to your grocery list!

ON MY NIGHTSTAND A glass of water, Aquaphor, and glasses.

PREGNANCY CRAVINGS Waffles with peanut butter.

IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS IN THE DAY I would sleep and rest more, cook more meals, and spend more time with friends.

MY COFFEE ORDER Iced vanilla latte.

IDEAL DATE NIGHT Casual dinner and a walk on the beach.

ON THE CLOCK

GROWING UP, I WANTED TO BE A Veterinarian.

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOP Pigment.

WARDROBE STAPLES

Denim, crop tees, and easy summer dresses.

FAVORITE KIDS BOOK Where the Wild Things Are.

LAST BOOK I READ

The Inflammation Spectrum by Dr. Will Cole.

APPS I USE MOST Pinterest, Instagram, Adobe Lightroom.

FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL New York or Minnesota.

CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO Maverick City.

FAVORITE KIDS MOVIE The Sandlot.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT Waverly.

SIGNATURE SCENT Gypsy Water by Byredo.

GUILTY PLEASURE Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

BEFORE KIDS I NEVER THOUGHT I would get worried every time my house was too quiet.

SHOWS I’M WATCHING NOW I love a good Netflix documentary. Just watched Stutz.

SUSTAINABLE SLEEP

Known for their uber popular baby loungers, Scandinavian company DockATot has launched the latest in its sustainable, safe sleep lineup: the Kind Essential Bassinet. The responsibly designed, corrugated cardboard bassinet features 8 different colorways—including William Morris prints like Strawberry Thief and Willow Boughs—and can be assembled in 60 seconds or less. Each Kind Bassinet comes with a supportive Sorona foam core mattress and 100% cotton fitted sheet and the company, in turn, plants a tree for every one sold. Win win? We think so. dockatot.com

Scoop

DOCKATOT KIND BASSINET SUN BUM SUNSCREEN LALO BATH TUB

Summer, Sun, Safe

Created with the most active and adventurous kids in mind, Sun Bum’s new kids SPF collection applies easily and absorbs quickly.

YOUR SUMMER BFF

Before you head out on your beach or pool dates this week, think about grabbing the new Sun Bum Kids SPF Collection to keep your Minis happy and protected in the heat of the day! The collection’s clear, water-resistant formula applies easily (and absorbs quickly!) to both wet and dry skin— plus it’s free from any synthetic fragrances! Products in the new lineup are vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, reef-safe, and include the Clear Sunscreen Face Stick, Clear Sunscreen Spray, and Clear Sunscreen Lotion. Available at SunBum.com , CVS, Target, and Amazon. sunbum.com

It’s Tub Time

Baby and toddler essentials brand Lalo launched a bathtime collection that has now been added to over 60,000 baby registries— and for good reason!

SCRUB-SSENTIALS

With Lalo’s Bathtime Collection, your littles will love the routine whether it’s their first splash or nightly tub time. Made from non-toxic materials, essentials include The Bath Tub (the only one you’ll need for baby’s first year and beyond!), Spout Cover, Rinse Cup, Knee and Elbow Saver, and fun accessories like Stacking Cups, Hooded Towel, and a Bath Toy Bin to keep it all organized. Minimalist parents will appreciate the sleek, style-minded design of each product, like the Bathtub available in Coconut or Sage hues complete with removable insert and basin that can be used as a sensory bin later! — meetlalo.com

For life at home.

BI-FOLD WALLET

“I ditched my checkbook wallet (I had one for a really long time!) a while back because I am a very mini bag kinda gal. This fits perfectly into any bag I decide to use.” $690; bottegaveneta.com

SIGNATURE LIP “The Merit Lipstick in Cabo is one of those holy grail products I can’t go without. The orangey-red is so gorgeous and I love how buildable it is!” $26; sephora.com

Dr.ChopraDeepika

The mom of two, behavioral scientist, Optimism Doctor® and founder of Things Are Looking Up® spills her Clare V. Petit Simple Tote.

SPRAY SANI

WAVE CASE

“I’m obsessed with my cream curly wave case. I love the style and durability so much that I’ve already repurchased twice and gifted a few to friends!” $12.99; amazon.com

“Spray hand sanitizers keep my hands so much more moisturized. This Malibu

Sanitizer is one of my favorites.” $23; evolvetogether.com

YUMEARTH LOLLIPOPS “The perfect clean treat for me and my boys!” $4; yumearth.com

After spending her first pregnancy with daughter Hartford stuck at home, soon-to-be mom of two Stassi Schroeder isn’t holding anything back with her second. The Straight Up with Stassi host tells Mini how she’s preparing, what she’s doing differently, and what’s most important to her now.

HERE WE GO

GENEVIEVE

AGAIN

photography by KIMBERLY

hair by BRADLEY LEAKE

makeup by HAILEY HOFF

IT WAS 2020 WHEN Stassi

Schroeder was expecting her first baby—daughter Hartford—and her days were filled with sweatpants, baking cakes, and watching every last season of The Great British Bake Off. “It was peak Covid, so I didn’t leave the house for most of my pregnancy,” the Straight Up with Stassi host tells Mini. “I was actually scared to be pregnant again, because I associated pregnancy with being under house arrest, [but] everything about this pregnancy feels different.” From ditching the loungewear for pulled together ensembles, eating at restaurants, and traveling once again, the soonto-be mom of two has made sure to keep her schedule full to make up for last time, even adding a national podcast tour into the mix. We dove right in with the summer cover mom to talk preg-

Inancy, parenting, and preparing for the changes of a growing family, including her own personal metamorphosis.

MORNING ROUTINE

“Our mornings are really chaotic and never the same. [Hartford] typicallwakes us up by coming into our room around 7:30 a.m. and on a good day, she’ll snuggle with us before we go upstairs, but for the most part, she comes barrelling in demanding we get going. I’ll make toast and jam for us to share (it’s my main pregnancy craving and one of Hartford’s favorite foods) and Beau will normally make her a proper, balanced breakfast.

I get her dressed. She’s in a phase where she only wants to wear dresses, and we inevitably battle over whether she’ll let me do her hair. We’ll brush our teeth, she’ll hang out with me while I do my make up, and then she’s off.

PREPARING THE BIG SISTER

“I’m doing everything I can to talk to her about it, but she isn’t really getting it and is totally going to be in for the shock of her life come September.”

THE SURPRISES OF PREGNANCY

“[No one prepares you for] constipation and hemorrhoids. I’m sorry if that’s TMI, but let me tell you, it’s life-ruining how bad it is. I don’t understand how this isn’t talked about more often. No one warns you that your butt is going to be in serious pain 24/7.”

ADVICE TO HER NEW MOM SELF

“I wish I knew not to beat myself up so much over breastfeeding. I spent the first few months in a constant state of stress and panic over the fact that I wasn’t able to produce enough milk. I ended up isolating myself and not fully enjoying those initial moments as a new mom, because I spent the majority of the day and night pumping and doing everything I could to make more milk. When I’d wake up in the morning, instead of running to Hartford and holding her, I’d have to pump for 20 minutes and it was those types of moments that made me feel lonely. I wish I could go back and tell myself that breastfeeding isn’t everything. Your baby is just as healthy with formula, and that a happy and present mom is more important.”

CHOOSING A NAME

“Beau and I only have one rule when it comes to baby names, and that rule is that it can’t be in the Top 1000 (I even joke Top 5000 sometimes!). I loved growing up and being the only kid with my name wherever I went and I want my children to have that. Beau actually thought of Hartford’s name and I love that it was unique, but

still sounded smart and somewhat classic. I came up with the new baby’s name and I think it gives the same energy as Hartford. It’s definitely not common.”

EXPECTING A BABY BOY

“I didn’t have any feelings about gender before we found out, but I have been ridiculously excited about having a boy because everyone says they love their mamas so much. Hartford is such a daddy’s girl that I’m often the one left out, but I always joke that with my son, I’ll hopefully get to be the favorite in our house.”

THE FOURTH TRIMESTER

“I was really scared going into the fourth trimester with Hartford. I read so much about postpartum depression and I felt that given everything that 2020 was, environmentally I was set up perfectly for PPD. However, I ended up being really lucky. Being forced [to stay] home actually worked to my advantage. I was able to heal and relax without the pressure of having visitors for a while. I didn’t feel FOMO, because we were collectively at home. I also used Mommy Made Encapsulation and religiously took my placenta pills, which is supposed to help with PPD.”

“I wish I could tell myself that a happy and present mom is more important.”

RAISING A FAMILY

“I just want to raise happy children who become happy adults. There are so many things I hope for my children, like kindness and inner strength, but if my kids lead happy and fulfilled lives, if they walk around every day knowing they’re truly loved, I will feel like I somewhat succeeded.”

HOW MOTHERHOOD HAS CHANGED HER

“The real question is, how hasn’t it? I know a lot of women who say, ‘I’m not going to let motherhood change me or become my identity.’ Of course, I hope I’m someone who still has a strong sense of self outside of motherhood, but I definitely welcomed every change. Being a mom is the most profoundly significant thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s the thing that matters the most to me, so that’s going to shift who I am. The second you become a mother, your life isn’t about you anymore. There is something so much more important than you, and as much as I miss being selfish every now and then, I started to like myself a whole lot more as

“Being a mom is the thing that matters the most to me.”

someone who lives for someone else. My priorities have shifted, and because of that, my interests and lifestyle changed. I value peace and joy so much more than I ever did before. I was so chaotic prior to having children; I never thought I’d be someone talking about peace and joy.”

PARENTING WITH HUSBAND BEAU

“I couldn’t imagine a better teammate throughout all of this. Besides being aligned in what we value and prioritize, we just instinctively know when the other person needs a break or help and that’s when the other operates at a higher percentage. I’ve heard horror stories about how parenting can turn into a competition over who has done more with the baby or who is more tired. I’ve never felt that once. We both want the other to feel the least possible amount of stress, so it truly is a partnership in how we parent. It’s like a seamless dance of tag teaming. We each have our things: Beau cooks, I always do bathtime, that sort of thing. But I think what it really boils down to is that we prioritize each other’s happiness and mental health, so we’re always trying to help each other out.”

DRESSING THE BUMP

“I’m all about roomy mini dresses. You can dress them down with loafers, sneakers, or sandals and then switch to heels for a more elevated look. I love a good fitted, simple, cotton dress with a trench over it. Easy and elegant.”

CHOOSING BABY GEAR

“I am so incredibly behind with all the baby gear. I just wrapped my tour, and am finally settling into nesting life at home right now. I’m hoping

I can just reuse a lot of Hartford’s things, but I know I can’t live without the Hatch Rest sound machine and the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced. I also used the DockATot 24/7. I remember when I was pregnant with Hartford, I had quite literally everything purchased and decorated by my fourth month. Second time around, it’s last minute vibes, for sure.

PROUDEST CAREER MOMENT TO DATE

“As a parent, you don’t have that much time for yourself. Parenting is a full-time job. Even if you have childcare, you can never fully tap out of being a parent. Because of that, every little thing I accomplish since having children matters so much more to me. I don’t have all the time in the world anymore to make my dreams come true, so when I do manage to make them happen, it’s that much sweeter. To write a second book and have it become a New York Times Best Seller after becoming a mother is something I will hold onto forever. But I’m proud of every podcast episode I put out, every show we put on for tour, because I was doing that all while multitasking being a parent.”

ON RAISING KIDS IN LOS ANGELES

“I feel like there are endless opportunities in L.A., and I always want to instill in my children that they can do anything they set their minds to. It’s so important to me to teach them to dream big, whatever that means for them. I like the hopeful energy of L.A., that you can be whatever you want to be.”

FAVORITE KID-FRIENDLY PLACES IN LOS ANGELES

“I love to take her to the Huntington Gardens or the Descanso Gardens. I always say a good walk in controlled nature soothes the soul. I really love anything that’s festive. The Grove feels like Main Street at Disneyland. And Universal Studios isn’t far from our house, so that’s always a fun place to spend the day.”

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR HER KIDS

“I hope my kids walk through life with the confidence knowing that they can make their lives exactly what they want them to be. They’re capable of anything.”

“It’s so important to me to teach my children to dream big, whatever that means for them.”

STASSI ON THE CLOCK

The NYT bestselling author shares fast facts.

DATE NIGHT

“When not pregnant, I’m simple! Either Italian food with lots of wine or Mexican with lots of margaritas.”

KIDS MOVIE “ Encanto .”

COFFEE ORDER

KIDS BOOK

“ Little Golden Books: The Haunted Mansion .”

BEFORE KIDS

“I never thought I would be the parent who lets their kids use iPads at restaurants, but I’ve realized parenthood is all about survival.”

GUILTY PLEASURE

“Historical fiction melodramas… all the time.”

LISTENING TO

“Whatever my daughter demands.”

“Starbucks iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso is everything.”

ON MY NIGHTSTAND

“Eyeglasses, water, Heartspring lip balm, and Kindle.”

WATCHING NOW “ Outlander. ”

Home

MAKE

MAKE IT CUTE DEBUTS THEIR ECO-FRIENDLY CHILDREN’S PLAYHOUSE

CUTE

Amanda Seyfried, along with childhood best friends Anne Hoehn and Maureen North, introduce Make It Cute , a sustainable and innovative new brand of kids play decor.

IT

HOEHN: One idea was to recreate the cardboard playhouses that I had made for my kids years ago from furniture boxes. Kids obviously love playing in cardboard boxes, but I didn’t want the big, plain boxes in our main living space for any length of time. Instead, I painted one with colors I loved, glued on shingles, trim, and a roof and turned it into a cute little house. The kids were obsessed with it and it was so fun to watch their imaginations go wild in their tiny house (plus, I liked the look of it!). Once the three of us agreed on this idea, we didn’t look back and it became so much more than I could have ever imagined. It took us two years to design and produce the perfect playhouse and it was all worth it because we think what we’ve created is pretty special.

SEYFRIED: Our commitment and dedication to sustainability, style, and ease of use [is what sets Make It Cute apart]. We are uncompromising when it comes to these three pillars of our brand. The three of us have been best friends for over 30 years and we all have kids around the same age. Our shared

values as mothers and founders are really the driving force in making responsible choices as a business. It was a long road to get here, but I believe that the love and passion that we put into building these playhouses is evident as soon as they emerge from their box. I’m so happy to have the opportunity to further give back to the planet through our partnership with EARTHDAY.ORG’s The Canopy Project. This relationship has been really important to me and they’re an incredible organization. Not only are our playhouses made from recycled materials, but they’re also recyclable and a tree is planted for every playhouse purchased through our partnership with EDO.

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention and when childhood best friends Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hoehn, and Maureen North found themselves looking for a creative outlet, Make It Cute was born.

SEYFRIED: “We are fans of neutrals and subtle pops of color, so we really wanted the playhouses to feel neutral enough to fit into anybody’s home but also feel beautifully elevated. Our playhouse designs are based on architectural styles that we love. The Cottage was inspired by the beautiful architecture and greenery in New England, and the Modern Farmhouse was inspired by the popular white siding and black window look that we also love. We pulled together endless inspiration images and worked with the very talented Sophia Vincent Guy to bring our designs to life detail by detail through her hand-illustrations. The playhouses are wonderful vehicles from which kids can explore and create their own Make It Cute worlds.

NORTH: “I’m constantly teaching my kids that the earth is a living system and I work to involve them into many of the choices I make at home. A big thing for me is buying toys and children’s products second-hand as often as possible. My friends all know that I love online second-hand marketplaces. It is more time-consuming to shop this way than to buy new, but it is worth it for our planet. All three of us (Amanda, Anne, and I) try to live by the motto of less is more especially as it comes to toys. Creating the Make It Cute playhouse has helped us live by this motto because when you have a toy as entertaining as our playhouse, it really minimizes the need for many other toys. As soon as you bring your Make It Cute playhouse home, you’ll see how the

toys you already have become ‘new’ again as kids turn the playhouse into grocery stores, car garages, and sleepover parties. Some of the other seemingly small but impactful things that my family and I do at home are to choose non-toxic products, run a cold wash cycle instead of warm or hot to decrease the amount of energy utilized by the washer, pick up trash and avoid single use plastic. My family, friends, and I LOVE arranging local beach clean-ups as it’s another great way to get the whole family involved. More to come from Make It Cute on beach clean-ups and how you can join in!

HOEHN: Like Amanda said before, the three pillars of our brand are sustainability, style, and ease of use. We feel that parents and caregivers of little kids already have enough on their plate, and we are committed to providing products that make it easy to make responsible choices for our homes and planet (and that look pretty cute too!). Follow Make It Cute for new playhouse styles, accessories, and exciting collabs coming out very soon!

SAFE ON SCRENS

More free time may mean more time for screens, so we asked Bark how to keep kids safe online this summer.

2

STAYING SAFE online is a constant concern for parents with kids from toddlers to teenagers and now that we’re in the dog days of summer, more free time may translate to more screen time, causing a jump on your worry meter. We asked Titania Jordan, the Chief Parent Officer at leading parental control app Bark, how parents can make changes to their internet habits (think before you share!) and routines in an effort to keep their Minis better protected during their time using tech.

THINK, THEN SHARE.

“Caution your kids on sending or posting images and videos online,” says Jordan. “Teens especially tend to overshare on social media without realizing the consequences. As parents we must remind our kids that the internet never forgets.”

SNEVER TRUST STRANGERS. It’s time to put that Stranger Danger mentality to use. “Protect your kids and their personal information from any hackers or predators by choosing non-identifying screen names and teach your child to verify the identity of anyone they connect with online,” Jordan shares.

JOIN A PARENT AND TECH EDUCATION GROUP.

“Stay up to date with new trends or platforms and share experiences with your children and social media to help others stay connected and informed,” Jordan suggests. “It is important to be knowledgeable about what happens on social media in order to protect your children from the dangers.”

USE A MONITORING APP.

“Consider a third party monitoring app such as Bark to do the heavy lifting for you,” says Jordan. “Bark can monitor your child’s texts, emails, YouTube, and 24+ social media platforms, scanning for signs of potential issues like cyberbullying, self-harm, violence, sexual predators, and more.”

BE AWARE OF CYBERBULLYING. “Cyberbullying is one of the biggest risks associated with social media use,” Jordan tells Mini. “It is important to help your child understand what it looks like and how to prevent it. Cyberbullying can also be illegal in some circumstances, with severe consequences.”

Bark is a leading parental control app that gives parents the ability to manage every aspect of their kids’ digital worlds. With Bark, parents can manage screen time, filter websites, manage calls and contacts, track location, and receive alerts.

HEALING YOU

The Fourth Trimester can be tricky to navigate. Try these tips from renowned Peloton yoga teacher and new mom Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts to heal yourself through mindfulness.

YYOU’VE JUST BEEN through, undoubtedly, the greatest transformation of your life in becoming a mother. In fact, you’ve probably heard the adage before— When a baby is born, so too is the mother. Not only are there new normals and routines to learn and accept, but your body is on the mend from the incredible feat of growing and birthing a new person.

Healing yourself and navigating the challenges of the Fourth Trimester, or postpartum phase, can seem impossible, but we asked Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts to share her insights on using mindfulness and meditation to soothe your new mama mind, body, and soul.

TAKE YOUR TIME. Be patient with yourself! You just did something miraculous. Nothing about

your existence will ever be the same and one way to honor this change is by starting a meditation practice that is as resilient and loving as you will be as a parent.

DO A LITTLE PREP. Oftentimes, you may hear, “sleep when your baby sleeps,” and that’s not bad advice. But, before you move into that sweet rest, I invite you to consider a five to a ten-minute meditation that may move you into a more mindful and peaceful nap.

JUST BE STILL. Breathe with your baby. After those middle of the night and early morning feedings, try placing your baby on your chest and feeling the rise and fall of both you and your baby’s breath. This is one of the best ways to connect with your baby and its life force: the breath.

TAKE MIND BREAKS. Schedule a short two to five-minute meditation after every feeding. This is one of the best ways to create a consistent practice that is not overwhelming. It also places your health and mindfulness at the center of your parenting journey as a reminder that your sustenance is one of the keys to your baby’s wellness.

WRITE THINGS DOWN. Keep a journal to document your progress, whether it’s positive or negative. Remind yourself of the positive affirmations you used when you were having a hard time and the amazing revelations you had during your meditation after that difficult, 4 a.m. feeding. Hopefully, you’ll look back at your journal entries with fondness and you find these precious first months and years of your new journey into parenthood intentional and rewarding.

WHAT TO

BEFORE

HIRING

KNOW A

DOULA

Choosing your birth team is key to ensuring your safety, comfort, and confidence during one of the biggest moments of your life.

Bintou Diarra of Global Maternity Education Organization Mama Glow shares what to consider before you decide on a doula.

DO YOUR RESEARCH.

Before hiring a doula, familiarize yourself with the scope of birthwork. So many people are unsure of what doulas actually do, and part of that is because the field is one of great diversity. Birth doulas provide emotional, physical, and informational support to the birthing person before, during, and after childbirth. While a lot of messaging refers to doulas as advocates, the ultimate goal is to arm birthing people with the tools to advocate for themselves.

KNOW THE LIMITS.

Familiarizing yourself with the scope of birthwork also means understanding what doulas don’t do. Doulas experience high rates of burnout, and expectations that do not align with their work is a contributing factor. Doulas do not provide medical advice or perform clinical tasks. They also do not diagnose conditions. They do not make decisions for clients, and they don’t take on the roles and responsibilities of surrounding systems of support.

GET THE DETAILS.

While all birth work is valuable, not everyone has the same amount of experience. For this reason, it may be useful to consider things like certification status, training, and total months or years of experience.

MAKE YOUR PLAN.

Consider what an ideal birthing experience looks like for you. Doulas can provide assistance in crafting a birth plan and can also help in working to ensure that it is enforced at the time of birth.

FIND WHO ALIGNS.

The diversity of birth work extends to the nature of offerings. Every doula has a unique set of skills that they bring to their work. Some doulas may offer cooking and baking services to families as part of their package, while others may offer prenatal yoga sessions as a mode of embodied practice. When choosing a doula, think about which skills and offerings you would most benefit from during your pregnancy and postpartum experience.

FEEL IT OUT.

You won’t mesh well with everyone. Compatibility is especially important within birthwork, as the person will be present at one of the most vulnerable moments of your life. When looking for a doula, consider if the person is someone you feel comfortable sharing space with. Does conversation flow easily? Do you feel comfortable and confident voicing needs and concerns?

Bintou is a doula, first-year medical student, and the Editorial Lead at maternal health and lifestyle brand Mama Glow.

READY SET

The founders of Big Little Feelings hand out their tried and true tips for one of the most daunting tasks traveling with toddlers.

BEFORE YOU head off on your late summer vacation or even a trip to visit the grandparents, you’ll likely feel those familiar nervous waves about forgetting something, but more importantly, how your little one may process a chaotic Travel Day. But does stress-free travel with your tiny team even exist? We asked Kristin Gallant and Deena Margolin, LMFT, the brilliant co-founders behind Big Little Feelings, how parents can ease family travel this summer and here’s what they had to say.

DITCH THE ROUTINE. Let boundaries and structure go out the window. Seriously. Be gentle with yourself. On travel days with kids, we are all just trying to survive. This means lollipops, infinite screentime, truly whatever we need to do to make it to the destination.

BRemember, if you’re doing an iPad on the airplane for the first time, practice using the headphones at home ahead of time so your kid can understand how it works.

TAKE SNACK BREAKS. To prevent and soothe ear pressure or pain on the plane, we recommend giving babies a pacifier, bottle, breast, whatever you feed them with to suck on. For toddlers, give them a snack to chew on, as chewing and swallowing helps to relieve the pain.

CREATE A CALM SPACE. Make sure their sleep environment is as similar to their home sleep environment as possible. Bring their favorite nightlight,

sound machine, sleep sack, whatever items cue sleep and make your little one feel most comfy at nighttime.

BE RESOURCEFUL. If you are worried about your older toddler rolling off a hotel bed, use a pool noodle underneath the fitted sheet to create a barrier at the edge of the bed! Bring childproof safety locks to put up high (and out of reach) on any balcony doors (especially if your kid already knows how to unlock doors).

PLAN AHEAD. If we are travelling somewhere where we will be swimming, we like to ask the hotel ahead of time if they have kids’ toys— buckets, water toys, pool floaties. If they don’t have them ahead of time, another option is to rent them (you can usually do this through a crib renting service) or have them shipped to the hotel ahead of time.

JUST DO IT. Get in the bathing suit. Make memories with your kids!

SWIM SHAKE UP

Designed to empower women with poolside confidence, STYLEST serves up chic, sculpting swimsuits and the first-ever collection of Aqualingerie

photography courtesy of STYLEST

Fashion experts Joyann King Michael, Alia Bosworth, and Chrissy McCurdy are changing the swimwear game with the launch of STYLEST, their innovative system designed specifically with moms in mind. The standout swimwear brand aims to give women outfit plans, rather than disjointed pieces, so they can look and feel their best by the water. “It all started at a pool party in Millbrook, NY, when Chrissy shared she was wearing a bra under her swimsuit for added lift and support,” says founder Joyann King Michael. “As former fashion editors, stylists, and buyers, we were inspired by this styling hack for moms and came together to create STYLEST, the first-ever sculpting swimwear system to give you your best body in a swimsuit.”

A STEP AHEAD

“STYLEST features the first-ever collection of Aqualingerie™, bras engineered for the water and designed to be worn under your swimsuit. Waterproof lingerie to give you that sculpted, held-in-feeling, plus ultra-flattering swimsuits and innovative cover-ups,” says Michael. “Our mission is to empower women by giving them an outfit plan for a day by the water. We know moms only have three seconds to get ready for the day ahead!”

DESIGNING AQUALINGERIE

“Aqualingerie™ is a collection of swim bras designed to support all your chest challenges— lift, support, push-up, or minimize. They are all designed for the water and dry as fast as your swimsuit. Our Invisible Swim Bra is the best strapless bra out there and was created to disappear under fashion’s best-selling one-pieces, but I love to wear it under cocktail dresses too! The cups are waterproof, there is an amazing side zipper, so you have a completely flat back, and the silhouette is cut lower profile for all of swim’s fun neck and back lines.”

THEIR FIRST COLLAB

“This was our first-ever children’s collection and we were so excited to collab with Lola + The Boys to bring to life our prints in mini size,” Michael tells Mini. “The collection features one-of-kind prints in palm, leopard, and ombre that make up the playful swim collaboration for boys and girls, while offering moms matching silhouettes in STYLEST’s exclusive sculpting designs.”

THE SWIMWEAR SEARCH

“[When searching for swimwear], I like to ask women about their lifestyle, where are they wearing the swimsuit, what are they doing,” King says. “It helps to style them in a look that is practical and chic.”

“She was wearing a bra under her swimsuit for added lift and support.”

“The momentum has been really amazing. We immediately realized what we were bringing to market was a completely new idea that women really wanted and needed. We hope to expand into new categories that support our mission of merging solutions and style for moms.”

PROUD MOMENT

“STYLEST is being featured on the Today Show with Hoda & Jenna. I am obsessed

with them, and, as moms, they really get the brand’s genius.”

ADVICE FOR STARTING A BRAND

“Find a partner! We love having three co-founders. Not only are we really able to divide and conquer between three powerful mom-agers, but we also get to have fun doing it together. Running a business is a rollercoaster, and you want someone to hold onto during the highs and lows.”

“ What we were bringing to market was a newcompletely idea.”

“

JOYANN ON THE CLOCK

The STYLEST founder shares fast facts.

WATCHING NOW

Ted Lasso and The Lincoln Lawyer. ”

GUILTY PLEASURE

“Wine and sleeping in.”

COFFEE ORDER

“Iced with oat milk.”

LISTENING TO “ How I Built This with Guy Raz. ”

KIDS BOOK

KIDS MOVIE

“ Mary Poppins .”

“ Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave by Jessica Hische.”

FAVE RESTAURANT “Tamarack Preserve.”

4754 Route 44 Millbrook, NY

BLOOM FULL

Mom of three Brittany Trocher always dreamed of starting a children’s boutique, but it wasn’t until her twin daughters came along that Three Wildflower Designs began to blossom.

“I resigned from my corporate career and became a stay-athome mom after we found out we were having twins… 8 months after my son was born!” Trocher recalls. “I started making t-shirts and selling them to our local community. Eventually, I opened Three Wildflower

Designs, naming it after my three children: Delia, Ellie, and Garrison. I bought three denim jackets, one for each of my kiddos and posted a photo on my Instagram to see if anyone was interested. To say they were a hit was an understatement!

A year later, we’ve opened our new website, sold worldwide, and our jackets have been seen on many celebrities and influencers.”

EVOLVING .

“It’s unbelievable how quickly we’ve grown, focusing primarily on our patched denim jackets. Now that we recently launched our new website, this is a great opportunity for us to branch into other product lines. Later this summer, we are launching a new collection that will include a variety of sequin bomber jackets with patches and fun prints, and tulle, sequin, and sparkle dresses, some with patches sewn onto them. This collection represents where I want the brand to go moving forward— an online boutique for children and mamas with unique and head-turning clothes that you can’t find anywhere else!”

HURDLES

big, corporate brands. I marketed everything on my Instagram that I made for my children in the beginning, hoping something would take off. It wasn’t until I shared photos of my children in their patched denim jackets when my business began to pick up.”

.

“Finding my niche and learning how to market to customers was definitely the biggest hurdle. This came with a ton of patience and a lot of trial and error! There’s a lot of competition in the Instagram shop world and it becomes hard to stand out as a small business, especially with

PROUD MOMENT.

“Our shop was asked to participate in an exclusive Mother’s Day brunch event with some of the most inspiring influencer and celebrity mamas in LA. We designed and made over 30 mama themed jackets for the event. The amount of social love and shares we received from this event from every attendee was absolutely unbelievable— our jackets went viral! Every attendee loved their jackets and to see them worn by

some of my favorite influencers was by far my proudest career moment to date.”

PINCH ME MOMENT. “Honestly, I feel like I’m living in a dream most of the time because there have been so many moments that I never thought would ever be possible! But, by far, my most special moment was seeing Katelyn Brown (Kane Brown) and their daughters, Kodi and King, wearing our jackets! I couldn’t believe it and the amount of love they had for their jackets made that moment even more special!”

ADVICE TO MOMS. “Go for it!

Remember to keep a good home/work balance. This was really hard for me at first, balancing staying at home with three toddlers while finding time to work. I was constantly on my phone responding to customers and taking time away from them to make jackets. Over time, I learned that I needed to designate times to work, either late at night when the kids are asleep or early before they wake up. I really try my hardest to be as present as I can when I’m with them!”

LESSONS. “Follow your heart. As cliche as it sounds, it’s the truth! We are known for the patched denim jackets, but I’ve been contemplating branching out into other styles of clothing. It was a tough decision to make and I go back and forth with it, but my heart has been telling me to take the chance with the investment— and I did! I cannot wait to

launch the line later this summer!”

MAKE YOUR OWN.

“On our new website, we offer hundreds of patches that you can mix and match to create your perfect jacket. We have a really neat program built in that allows you to drag and drop patches onto a blank denim canvas. I love this feature because parents can sit down with their littles to design their own jackets and watch it come to life!”

ADVICE TO MYSELF.

“Don’t compare to anyone else! There were many times in the first days in business that I’d compare myself to others, and that’s something that’s hard not to do on Instagram! Other shops had more followers than I did, their products were better than mine, they were getting more orders. Keep focused on your business and what you offer. Your customers will be loyal, especially when they sense your honesty as a business owner! Keep focused on YOU!”

DESIGN A JACKET

Choose your jacket color (White Wash, Medium Wash, Dark Wash), then select the patches for the front and back.

LETTERS

$3; Pink Chenille Letter Patch, threewildflowerdesigns.com

$6; Disney Character Patch, threewildflowerdesigns.com

DISNEY

FAMILY JEWELS

Personalized jewelry from zodiac charms to letter initial necklaces is the perfect way to celebrate your family and the moms behind brands like gorjana, Jennifer Fisher, Elisa Solomon, Tiny Tags, and Monica Rich Kosann give us a peek into how they do it so well.

California DREAMS

BRAND: gorjana

LOCATION: Laguna Beach, CA

FOUNDER: Gorjana and Jason Reidel

FOUNDED IN: 2004

HOW DID YOUR BRAND BEGIN? Jason and I met at ASU and started dating after college. We talked about working together on our second date, but did not start our journey until a few years later. We both had different jobs and were tossing around a bunch of business ideas. Creating jewelry was something I was doing for fun and to get by until we figured out the “big idea.” It came very naturally for us to work together. We just combined our individual

strengths. During our first year, we hit the road with samples in tow and drove a collective 50,000 miles to sell the initial collection. We filled our orders from our apartment floor and we worked the trade show circuit as a team of two. We made it work until we could hire our first employees.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN SINCE? I was 22 when we started and could not afford any high-end jewelry, so I started designing pieces for myself and my friends that were high quality, but at a more approachable price point. Since then, we’ve opened 50 retail stores across the U.S. and expanded into a range of fine materials such as solid gold, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and opals. It’s been an amazing evolution.

WHICH PIECES ARE IDEAL FOR PASSING DOWN? I love all of our personal designs— charms, diamond pavé alphabet bracelets, solid gold zodiac necklaces and birthstones... these are all such meaningful pieces that can be worn to honor loved ones and passed down for generations to come.

HOW DO YOU DESIGN NEW PIECES? Design is always such a fun process and never really the same. I get inspired by different things all the time. Sometimes it’s a certain gemstone, fun outfit, or a cool pattern I see and want to incorporate into a design. I am also really influ-

enced by the Southern California lifestyle and the more relaxed culture. The process is never the same, but that’s what keeps us motivated and creative.

WHAT IS YOUR BRAND BEST KNOWN FOR? We’re known for timeless designs that layer well together whether they’re new or a few years old. This allows our customers to create their own unique looks by mixing and matching pieces they’ve loved forever alongside newer items. Our most popular necklaces are adjustable and we offer extenders so that customers can customize the length of the various chains. We recently designed solid gold charms which add a personal touch to chain necklaces as well.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL EVERYDAY JEWELRY LINE UP? For everyday, I wear my 14k Gold Diamond Parker Necklace paired with a colorful piece like our Peruvian Opals or Turquoise and a simple chain like the 14k Gold Micro Mini Venice Necklace, which has a really cool textural element. I love to rotate out our fun, seasonal fashion jewelry depending on my outfit, occasion, and mood.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS? I am so excited for August's new arrivals. We've been rapidly expanding our fine jewelry assortment and customers have been requesting 14k charms for a while. We've finally delivered and they are SO good, and really meaningful, collectable pieces. The charms can be worn on various 14k gold chains we offer and we also designed some new necklaces to pair with them as well.

Peace AND LOVE

BRAND: Elisa Solomon Jewelry

LOCATION: New Jersey

FOUNDER: Elisa Solomon Kaplicer

FOUNDED IN: 2004

HOW DID YOUR BRAND BEGIN? My mom introduced me to artisan jewelry when I was a child. I excelled at art and knew I wanted to pursue a career making something wearable. I attended the University of Michigan and took a metalsmithing class during my first semester. I fell in love and majored in Jewelry and Metalsmithing. I had fantastic summer internships in New York City where I immersed myself in learning the business and public relations side of the

jewelry world. As I entered my senior year, fashion designer and retail icon Steven Alan offered to sell my collection at his Tribeca store. The pieces sold to clients such as Ashley Olsen and fashion stylists. After graduating, I worked for two jewelry brands to learn more about design and the many aspects of having a collection. Three years passed and I decided to focus solely on my own business. In 2008, with incredible support from my parents, I did just that! I was truly fortunate to have an amazing response to my collection, landing incredible press, and retail accounts. It was a very magical time.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN SINCE? My brand has grown as I've grown. When I launched my collection, I lived in Manhattan's Greenwich Village and my jewelry had a very bohemian feel. When I was engaged to my husband, I designed several engagement rings and wedding bands. When I was pregnant with my son, I created my mama collection. After my daughter's birth, I launched my charm collection. In addition to the ways my designs have evolved, I'd say a major example of growth is my web business. I redesigned my website in 2017 and the launch came at the perfect time.

WHICH PIECES ARE IDEAL FOR PASSING DOWN? One of my favorite jewels (that my daughter already requests) is the circle charm necklace. It was my "push

present" with my son and I added a circle charm when I had my daughter. Another treasure for passing down is the custom encrusted white diamond name ring. I hand carve each name and it's encrusted in teeny, white diamonds. They are meaningful and timeless.

HOW DO YOU DESIGN NEW PIECES? I am inspired by lots of things! Often my children inspire me and so do their favorite things (I made a polar bear charm based on my daughter's love of them). Sometimes a song inspires me (most often by The Beatles), an animal we are learning about, or a symbol that expresses something we are feeling. My process starts with an idea or a stone I'd like to focus on.

I taught myself how to carve in wax after graduating college, so [that is a] main part of my process. A design can take as little as an hour and up to a week to carve! It's very relaxing to me, almost like a form of meditation!

WHAT IS YOUR BRAND BEST KNOWN FOR? My collection has always had great inspiration from the peace, love, and happiness of the Sixties. The peace sign is my personal favorite symbol so the large multicolor peace sign necklace is a signature piece. The most popular design in my collection is the mini moon which began as a necklace and is now sold as a charm, ring, studs, and bracelet. The

moon is special because of the customization options. There are seven stones in each mini moon and the customer can select a center stone and three stones for each side.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL EVERYDAY JEWELRY LINE UP? On my ring finger, I wear two custom encrusted white diamond name rings stacked with a mama band. Around my neck, I wear an available-upon-request diamond teeny letter charm necklace that spells ASHER LAYLA, a diamond three letter necklace, and a birthstone circle charm necklace. On my left wrist, I wear two skinny ID bracelets, a dog bone ID bracelet, and a diamond encrusted name bracelet. On my right wrist, I wear a diamond classic cuff bracelet and a white ancient bead bracelet. I have four piercings in each ear and I wear tie dye huggie hoops, charm huggies, mama studs, teeny encrusted letter studs, and a diamond seedling stud.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS? My newest piece is the moon and star charm necklace. I love it because it is weighty! The charm and chain are heavier than most pieces in my collection. There's also a lot of room for customization. I made my mom a whimsical charm necklace for her birthday with lots of sweet, personal charms. I enjoy making custom one-ofa-kind pieces lately, similar to the jewels I made when I launched my brand.

Telling THE STORY

BRAND: Monica Rich Kosann

LOCATION: New York, NY

FOUNDER: Monica Rich Kosann

FOUNDED IN: 2003

HOW DID YOUR BRAND BEGIN? I am a storyteller. This started many moons ago when I was a portrait photographer and continues to this day with each collection I design for my fine jewelry brand. Initially, my work was primarily private commissions to photograph families from celebrities such as Usher and Jennifer Lopez to people all over the country. I had this innate sense for how to capture a moment and tell a story with images that really resonated

with my clients. I then started placing some of these personal photos inside of vintage lockets, compacts, and cigarette cases (which I’d source during my frequent trips to antique markets!) and give them out as thank you gifts to my customers. They were so intimate, so deeply personal, and unique that it gave me the idea to create my own image cases of sorts. Not something old that had been done before, rather, something fresh and interesting for the modern woman that felt timeless… a locket that is endlessly cool. And so, the MRK locket was born and my brand came to be. I always say lockets are the sexiest piece of jewelry a woman can wear and I’d like to think I am part of making the locket new again to hold those special tokens of love.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN SINCE? When we first launched, I had a single shelf in Bergdorf Goodman. Now, almost 20 years later, MRK has a fully branded 400 square foot fine jewelry shop on the 7th Floor of Bergdorf Goodman along with two freestanding New York City stores, a robust direct-to-consumer business, and a presence in over 100 wholesale doors nationally.

WHICH PIECES ARE IDEAL FOR PASSING DOWN? I have two daughters and I have raised them to always feel confident

and empowered. My jewelry reflects that philosophy and is meant to accompany us on the journeys and roads of our lives, so I always consider that when designing my pieces. I own and love my Four Image Locket which is engraved with my initial. I fully intend to pass that piece down to one of my daughters and my Charm Bracelet which, is customized with personal charms that are part of my everyday story, is one of my favorite heirlooms that I will give to my other daughter.

HOW DO YOU DESIGN NEW

PIECES?

Our pieces are designed to tell a woman’s story, to help her celebrate and cherish all the milestones in her life or merely to give her courage daily. I am inspired by everything everyday: life, my daughters, pop culture, museums, vintage pieces, art. I am always thinking and dreaming. Funnily enough, my best ideas come to me in the middle of the night! My daughter, Danielle Kosann, who is the Artistic Director of MRK as well as an accomplished painter and illustrator, contributes many ideas for design directions as well.

in partnership with Chris Evert, the 18time Grand Slam champion who coined the first ever tennis bracelet in the 1970s) are a big hit as well. Our Slim Lockets are probably our best-selling locket styles and they’re engravable which makes for an incredibly personal gift, especially for a new mother. Each locket is completely customizable using our Locket Bar which allows the wearer to place personal photos inside. I also love our Baby Charm which can be engraved with the date, name, and weight of a newborn and placed either on a bracelet or necklace. Lastly, the MRK Poesy Rings and Bracelets are so special too because they come with an empowering phrase on the inside.

IS YOUR BRAND BEST KNOWN FOR?

WHAT

Lockets are the foundation of our business, but MRK is so much more than that having expanded into numerous categories. Some bestsellers to note: our Design-Your-Own charm necklaces where our customers can choose their own combos of inspiring medallions and chains thus creating their own empowering stories as investment jewelry. The tennis bracelets (created

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL EVERYDAY JEWELRY LINE UP? Without fail, I wear my diamond tennis bracelets every day and never take them off. I also wear my charm bracelet often. I switch the charms a lot depending on what encouragement I need for the day. Right now, my two favorites are the Wish Dandelion Intaglio Charm which was inspired by my grandson (one of our special times together is collecting “wish flowers”) and the Enamel Sundial Charm which always reminds me that time is precious and to be in the moment.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS? We recently leaned heavily into earrings and we’re debuting some beautiful new colors in our tennis bracelet collection this August. We have so many products coming for Fall, so stay tuned!

All About YOU

BRAND: Tiny Tags

LOCATION: Boston, MA

FOUNDER: Melissa Clayton

FOUNDED IN: 2011

HOW DID YOUR BRAND BEGIN? I started Tiny Tags over 10 years ago on my kitchen counter when I wanted the perfect "mommy necklace" and couldn’t find one. My inspiration for making that first necklace came from having my first son and just wanting to wear a necklace with his name on it as a way to celebrate this bundle of joy and new chapter. The Tiny Tags brand, and our mission to celebrate children, very much comes from what I feel in my

heart— that children are gifts to be treasured and that every woman's motherhood journey is to be celebrated. This desire to focus on mothers came from the early days when I realized how much I loved connecting with other mothers. I found myself spending hours talking on the phone, answering emails, and bonding with customers over the journey of motherhood. Having this focus has allowed us to have an intimate and personal connection with our community.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN SINCE? When I started, I was hand stamping each piece myself but quickly realized that I wanted Tiny Tags to be heirloom quality jewelry. At that time, the options for fine, personalized jewelry for moms were very limited. I wanted something that would work with jeans and a tee but also work with a little black dress. My vision was that Tiny Tags would be the Tiffany’s of personalized jewelry for moms. This shift away from hand stamping required a complete overhaul of our manufacturing process. Fortunately for me, Rhode Island (only one hour from my home) has a long history of jewelry manufacturing and I was able to find a manufacturing partner that was already making fine jewelry for some of the most iconic brands on the market. Within six months, I completely stopped hand stamping and moved to laser engraving, which is a very labor intensive process, but allows us to do both front and back engraving and produce an absolutely beautiful piece of

jewelry. Additionally, we were now able to offer all our pieces in 14k gold, sterling silver, gold vermeil, and offer stone embedding.

WHICH PIECES ARE IDEAL FOR PASSING DOWN? We introduced a new piece called ‘The Reflection Coin Pendant’ last year that was inspired by the belief that to fully love another, we must first love ourselves. I think every woman can relate to this. I love the idea of a mom giving this piece to her daughter when she sets out on her own as a way to say ‘take care of yourself, you are a gift!'

HOW DO YOU DESIGN NEW PIECES? Our community inspires me everyday. I know it sounds corny, but it's true. The inspiration for our Reflection Coin Pendant came from the moms in our community who I kept saying needed to take care of themselves before they can take care of others. This resonated with me on so many levels, from my own mother’s experience and my own. The Reflection Coin Pendant has six symbols that represent the gifts to give yourself before you are able to give them to another. I wear mine every day to remind myself that taking care of me matters.

WHAT IS YOUR BRAND BEST KNOWN

FOR? Our best sellers are our signature mini dog tag necklaces. They are stunning and perfect to have your child’s name on the front and then add a birthday or time on the back. Plus, as your family grows you are able to add new tags to the necklace. A second is our pavé date necklace that is part of the Madi Nelson x Tiny Tags collection. It is a beautiful way to include your partner by wearing your wedding date. As my kids get older and my husband and I are alone more, I see how important it is to not lose your connection with your partner and this piece is a gorgeous reminder of that!

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL EVERYDAY JEWELRY LINE UP? My staples right now are our bar necklace with my three boys' names engraved and their birth times on the back, our Reflection Coin Pendant, and our pavé date necklace with my wedding date. I love this stack because there is a piece for my boys, my hubby, and me.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS? We have quite a few new collections launching this year. My two favorites are our enamel hearts which will come in different colors and lockets that are launching for the holidays!

Against ALL ODDS

BRAND: Jennifer Fisher

LOCATION: New York

FOUNDER: Jennifer Fisher

FOUNDED IN: 2006

HOW DID YOUR BRAND BEGIN? Ultimately, my business was a happy accident. I began my career as a wardrobe stylist working on feature films, television shows, and commercials in both New York and Los Angeles. After college, I worked as a wardrobe stylist for national ad campaigns like American Express and Budweiser. After ten years of dressing and styling Hollywood, I met my husband, Kevin, and we settled in New York City, where the company is

now based. I was living and styling in NYC for an LAbased director when I was diagnosed with a desmoid tumor. I went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy to shrink my tumor, all the while working on ad jobs. When Kevin and I wanted to have children, my oncologist didn’t think it was a good idea for me to carry a baby because my tumor grows from estrogen. After years trying to have a baby, I became pregnant naturally with my son, Shane. Against the wishes of my oncologist, I carried my baby. After a perfectly healthy pregnancy and baby boy later, I learned that my tumor had shrunk from my pregnancy. When Shane was born, I began receiving jewelry gifts to represent him that were dainty and weren’t very me. Shane’s birth was a major deal for us; I wanted something to wear that represented him in a way that felt like me and expressed my personal style. So, I went out and sourced my own custom piece. I made a very simple gold dog tag with Shane’s full name that I wore on a heavy, gold long link chain. Having his name on the dog tag was very important to me, given the struggles I had trying to conceive and have a child. I wore the necklace on set while I was a wardrobe stylist, and it became an instant conversation piece that people would stop me in my tracks to ask what it said.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN SINCE? Our brand started as a direct-to-consumer online retailer and has now grown

into a full, omni-channel brand with retail storefronts in Beverly Hills and New York City. Selling fine jewelry direct-to-consumer very early on gave my brand global reach. After six years of only selling fine jewelry, I was lucky to have garnered a significant following. In order to offer jewelry to a growing customer base, I decided to expand with the launch of the brass collection, focusing on large statement pieces at a more accessible price point. I truly believe that the early timing of this coincided with the beginning of the online shopping boom, resulting in a happy accident. I started the company out of my bedroom in SoHo and now, in a full circle moment, have a storefront in the neighborhood.

WHICH PIECES ARE IDEAL FOR PASSING DOWN? Every single piece of our jewelry is meant to be heirloom. Our bespoke jewelry is designed to be modern, cherished, and passed down for generations.

HOW DO YOU DESIGN NEW PIECES? I find inspiration for my pieces based off things I would like to wear. This August, we are launching our new website and there are new pieces that I’m very excited about. The new pieces are a classic,

modern take on a popular shape charm. I always want to design jewelry I know people will want to wear every day. I create jewelry that doesn’t feel too ornate in style or dated because I feel simple is better.

WHAT IS YOUR BRAND BEST KNOWN FOR? Our signature dog tag is one of our most popular styles along with our gothic letter charms. People love the gothic letters as they offer a slight edge but can still be worn daily. We also do different versions of customizable ID bracelets that can be made to represent your name, family, loved ones, or a special date. To start your collection, I would purchase a Medium Dog Tag and put your family’s initials on it. I would wear it on a long link chain somewhere between 20-28” because you can wear the charm on a long chain or clip to wear shorter. You can always add more charms which is the beauty of our jewelry. Once you buy a necklace, you can add or remove charms daily as you desire because they are not fixed on the chain unless you request them to be.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL EVERYDAY JEWELRY LINE UP? My daily gold chain

is the 18K Fisher Link Chain in 16” that I clip with our Fisher Link Charm Clasp. The charm clasp gives me the ability to wear the chain at different lengths or wear two different clusters of charms all together. My daily charm clusters include a Jumbo Family Lock with two White Diamonds that reads "Fisher," a Medium White South Sea Pearl with Diamond, a Jumbo Floating Diamond “F” charm, and a Medium Family Gothic Circle with both of my children's

names and “Fisher” on it. I also wear my Single Oversized Floating Diamond Huggies layered up my ear with three Oversized Floating Diamond Ear Cuffs every day. Always a diamond story on my ear and a charm story on my neck. If I’m not wearing my charm necklace around my neck, it’s in my bag. It’s a talisman, my good luck charm, and always with me.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS? We have some new charms coming this fall that I’m super excited about. Modern, vintage pieces— stay tuned!

“ I started out of my bedroom in SoHo and now have a storefront in the neighborhood. ”

The coziest & chicest new addition to your wardrobe

FOR ALL YOUR LADY BUMPS.