Plus One

Cologne Trude is the cofounder and designer of boho chic brand, Show Me Your Mumu, along with long-time pal and new mom Cammy Hebert Miller. But now it won’t be long before this first-time mom-to-be adds one more into the mix and she’s opening up to Mini about baby prep, birth plans, and the unexpected twists and turns of pregnancy.

MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home! How would you describe the place?

COLOGNE TRUDE | Our house is Spanish style, built in the 1920’s, so we updated and brightened the look a little to make it feel more Venice Beach. My husband, Sam, is from Sydney, Australia, and I am from Newport Beach, so we both love clean, beach, boho vibes. We did some remodeling and added a lot of white paint when we moved in two years ago and feel like we created a little European beach house in LA that is comfortable and feels very California.

MINI | Do you have a favorite room in your home?

COLOGNE TRUDE | It used to be my front yard, but now it is my nursery! It is still a work in progress, but she definitely has the best room in the house! It is this tiny room that used to be the office, but it has so many little windows and sits in a treetop, so it feels like a little indoor treehouse. We added white shiplap walls, a Bird of Paradise palm, white and rattan furniture, and hung a bunch of shell chandeliers that I got in Kauai— a little paradise for her!

MINI | What are some of your favorite elements in your home? Where did they come from?

COLOGNE TRUDE | I love our tile staircase. It is fun to keep some of the authentic Spanish elements alive. I love my vintage rattan furniture. I have collected a lot of fun indoor and outdoor pieces over the years from flea markets and sites like Etsy. Palms indoor and outdoor are a must for me; it instantly changes the look and makes me feel at home. I like to mix up where I get things. Some pieces I splurge on from Restoration Hardware or Serena and Lily, and then I mix them with vintage flea market finds, and inexpensive stores like Home Goods.

MINI | Talk to us about the nursery! What are some of your favorite pieces in the baby’s room?

COLOGNE TRUDE | I love the nursery! I love the handmade shell hanging chandeliers I got in Kauai, where Sam and I got engaged, and married. We hung a big picture of La Fontelina Beach Club in Capri above her crib— it’s a magical place with blue and white umbrellas and my husband and I love it there. It has a touch of nautical with the shiplap, and rope details. We wanted it to feel like a little boat in paradise. And of course, a palm. Basically everything that makes us happy— beach, boats, Kauai, Capri, palm trees. We hope she feels the same way as us!

MINI | How is the baby naming process going?

COLOGNE TRUDE | We have a few but don’t know “the one” yet! It is such a big decision and so hard! We think we have to meet her first to decide. With a name like Cologne, I guess I have to think of something special!

MINI | Do you have a birth plan in mind?

COLOGNE TRUDE | My birth plan is to go with whatever happens! I don’t think you can plan how your labor is going to go, and so many unknowns can happen. I don’t want to plan anything because I don’t want any expectations or let downs. It is just going to happen and at the end there is going to be a baby! I only can hope for a healthy baby at the end no matter how she gets here.

MINI | How has your pregnancy gone thus far? Is it easier or harder than you expected?

COLOGNE TRUDE | My pregnancy has been so great! I was pretty scared and intimidated before, but it honestly has been so easy and has gone by so fast! I had, of course, my ups and downs. In the beginning, I felt sick, I hated keeping it a secret, but was filled with excitement. The middle felt like I almost wasn’t pregnant, besides just being really hungry and growing. The end gets tougher physically, but by then you can see the light and you get excited about the baby! It is really phenomenal what our bodies are capable of, and the feeling of having a baby inside of you! You definitely have to change your style a little bit though— you only fit into things for a few weeks at a time!

MINI | What do you think is the one thing no one really warns you about pregnancy?

COLOGNE TRUDE | I was surprised at how much of your pregnancy goes by where you don’t even really look very pregnant. I, for some reason, pictured myself with a huge belly for nine months, but your tummy doesn’t really pop big until about five or six months. It was different than I expected— much better I think! All the other stuff, I think I knew was coming: swollen ankles, sore, big boobs, inability to put on your shoes, morning sickness, pregnancy brain. It’s all real.

MINI | Has your personal style changed at all since you’ve been pregnant?

COLOGNE TRUDE | My style is very California. I like prints, nautical stirpes, lots of white, and denim. I usually live in high-waisted, rigid jean shorts or jeans, so I definitely had to change my style! Thank God for overalls and Mumu jumpsuits; short or long, I live in these now. I also love our maternity jean shorts. They are super comfortable, and great with a big button up or t-shirt. I have to be comfortable, so the Mumu Muternity line saved my life! It was lucky we were able to create clothes based on exactly what we wanted to wear while pregnant, and what we couldn’t find in the market.

MINI | What baby gear do you have ready for your little one?

COLOGNE TRUDE | I am trying to get only what I need for a newborn since we don’t have a lot of storage in our house. There are so many options out there, it was hard to pick! I have been told to get the Nuna Pipa car seat, and we are going with the Bugaboo Fox stroller for Venice, and the Yoyo for traveling. We got the Lovevery Baby Playmat that is meant to help the baby’s developing brain. We got a lot of onesies from Kickee Pants and Spearmint Love. The Peanut diaper changer, Dock-A-Tot, and Comotomo baby bottles are apparently must-haves! And a whole lot of cute clothes from Zara Baby.

MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry?

COLOGNE TRUDE | Balancing everything and having enough time for my husband and baby. I will make it a priority, but I know it will be challenging with the job that I have and my busy lifestyle.

MINI | What does a typical day look like right now?

COLOGNE TRUDE | I get up about 7 or 7:30 and usually go for a run with my Boxer, Navy. I had to stop running later in my pregnancy, so currently I walk or do a couple of chores before heading to downtown LA to the Mumu offices. I’ve worked full-time through my pregnancy so I think maternity leave is going to be a little bit of a shock for me! Once I get into the office, it’s back-toback meetings and time with my Mumu girls until 7:30 p.m. Then I race home to be with my husband and puppy for a couple of hours before pregnant lady has to go to bed! I love working, but I am also excited to spend some more time at home with my new baby and family.

MINI | How are you anticipating your schedule to change once you have your little one?

COLOGNE TRUDE | My schedule will change a lot! Right now, I’m gone for work for about ten hours a day. I’ll have to cut back and try to move some meetings to Venice. It will be a good change for me, and allow a lot of the girls at work to step into their roles. I also will be juggling a newborn, so you never know what surprises that is going to bring!

MINI | Since Cammy also just welcomed a baby, how has she supported you through your pregnancy thus far?

COLOGNE TRUDE | Oh my gosh, she’s been SO helpful! Her baby was due three months before me, so I got really lucky with my timing. From pregnancy, to birth, to baby products, she has guided me through it all! It was really fun to be pregnant together and go through this phase of our life at the same time. It has been very special. Can’t wait for our little girls to meet and grow up together!

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

COLOGNE TRUDE | Taking the time to be in their lives and help steer them in the right direction. I want to teach them good manners from the beginning so they are a pleasure to be around (or at least as much of a pleasure as kids can be!), mutual respect, and a lot of love. And, of course, having so much fun as family!

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

COLOGNE TRUDE | Work hard and enjoy life. Being happy is the most important thing and relationships with your friends and family is a big part of that. The world will give back to you what you put out, so be a good person.

MINI | How many kids do you see yourself with?

COLOGNE TRUDE | I was the middle of three, and I have always wanted a big family so three feels right. We’ll see what I say after two though!

Favorite kids movie... The Little Mermaid!

Fave local restaurant... Great White in Venice!

Fast Facts

Typical coffee order

Venti iced coffee with almond milk. Right now, it’s a venti iced decaf Americano with almond milk.

Signature scent

Kai. It smells like vacation!

Favorite local shop

Show Me Your Mumu on Abbot Kinney!

Can't stop listening to

Feel good classics like Fleetwood Mac.

Guilty pleasure

Frozen yogurt with sprinkles, every night.

On my nightstand

For the first time, baby books! Currently, Bringing Up Bebe and Happiest Baby on the Block.

Always in my fridge

White wine, before I was pregnant. Now sparkling water and a lot of sauces and salad dressings.

Favorite kids book

Where the Wild Things Are, Madeline, Eloise.