The Most Surprising

“I’m surprised how strong I’ve become for my girls. I thought motherhood would be all about raising our children and teaching them how to take on the world… but they have actually become my greatest teachers. They make me stronger than I ever thought I could be. I think our children show us the way through difficult times. I want to provide a safe place for them to be creative, to express themselves, and to grow into their own self.”

Transition to Two

“I think it was actually harder going to two because it was a harder season of life. There are so many outside factors that can affect being a parent. It made me realize that having children is a beautiful blessing, but depending on what other stressors we have going on, it can affect us so much. If you have support and minimal stress in your life, it can be a lot easier. But if you have a harder environment, then it can be more difficult. Couple that with sleep deprivation and it’s just really tough mentally and physically. ”

What I Learned

"[To moms about to have their second baby], set your life and family up to have minimal stress. It’s key to have as little commitments as possible and a peaceful and calm environment. If you have a job, ask for extended maternity leave and postpartum therapy support. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, because you never know. Also, someone told me to 'Never blame the baby,' and it helped so much. If you’re tired and can’t run around with your first born, try not to say it’s because their sibling kept you up. Or if they want you to play, but it’s breastfeeding time, say something along the lines of, 'I can play with you in 10 minutes. Can you go set up the toys and get the space ready for us? I’ll be there soon.' This helped tremendously to prevent Isabelle ever being upset with Colette.”

Journey to Baby

"Along with lots of complications along the way, we ended up in an emergency C-section. I hemorrhaged in the OR causing me to lose more than half my blood volume. They gave me three blood transfusions to save my life and I am so grateful that I am here. I thank God, my nurses, and doctor that I am here and get to be a mother each day."

The Name Game

"Isabelle Margaret is both our grandmother’s names. Colette Jane is a name we loved, plus my mom’s name, Jane."

On Working with Her Husband

"We work together really well! Brian is a brilliant product developer and innovator and I’m a creative, so between the two of us, we have a lot of fun. The challenges of working together are making sure we shut work off and connect as a couple and as parents."

Proudest Career Moment

"It’s hard to think of just one thing, but yesterday, I had a moment that brought me to tears. I’m designing swimsuits and it may seem small, but my daughter came up and said to me, 'Mommy, you made this?' and I answered her, 'Yes, this is one of mommy’s designs.' She held it up and said the words, 'Wow, we can make any project we wish for!' She calls artwork "projects" and my heart just burst with happiness. Whatever I do, I hope I inspire my daughters, and any woman out there, that she can create the life of her dreams. As long as we’re creating art and loving what we do, we can find joy and fulfillment."

Making Time for Herself

"I’m still working on this. I try to take time for working out before the girls wake up. Now that Colette wakes up just one time throughout the night, I can finally wake up and do something for me. I also journal and listen to at least one book a week. I listen while on walks or doing housework. I really enjoy listening to other women and their wisdom and lived experiences."

On Her Home

"Thanks for coming over Mini Magazine! Our home is in Manhattan Beach. We love how open the space feels. Isabelle can be playing in the living room while we are cooking and we can all still feel together.

On Her Kids Spaces

"Our whole house kind of turns into a playhouse. We do have a toy bin next to our sofa, but Barbies can be found everywhere. We always have arts and crafts on our dining room table too. It’s rarely clean, but I love it so much. I love seeing artwork out and paintings halfway done. We also set up a small playroom on our bottom floor with toy and craft bins. My favorite part of our home is a big white board in the kitchen where we hang Isabelle’s artwork and school projects.

Advice to Her Daughters

"I can't think of just one thing— so here's a short list! Listen to your intuition… it’s your strongest guide in life. Also, mistakes in life are so normal and okay— how we react and recover is what’s important. Don’t dwell too long, have the courage to live happy. Find joy in small acts of kindness each day. Give to the less fortunate, talk to the elderly, smile at strangers, ask how your barista is doing and remember their name, and volunteer. Lastly, love so deeply that it outweighs any turbulence you experience, because life is a wild ride, but love conquers all."

What's On Deck

"We just launched Mommy and Me sweatshirts on ShopBabyBarn.com. They’re in the most beautiful powder blue color. We also started carrying more sizes and expanded the brand to toddlers as well. I also have a podcast called Live Beautifully where I interview women (and some men) about living beautifully through all of life’s challenges."