I remember the feelings of insecurity and anxiety when I was having my first baby, as if it were yesterday. Becoming a mother, and all of the unknown can be incredibly overwhelming, particularly when it comes to all of the baby “stuff” you need. The market is so saturated with products, and stores only promote and have knowledge regarding what they are currently selling. Moms need an honest and reliable resource for all things baby, and Monica Banks, aka the Gugu Guru, has filled this gap! Monica created an incredible lifestyle and parenting quiz, powered by an algorithm, that allows experts in the baby market to provide product recommendations suiting your personal needs. They are not fueled by any advertising dollars, it’s just straight up great advice from the people who know best. I cannot tell you how helpful this would’ve been for me in my beginnings of parenthood! It eliminates so much time stressing about giving your babies the best, and figuring out what that even means. Gugu Guru is your new BFF!
Read moreThe Wonder - Play All Day
There’s a new play space in town, and you’re going to want to sign up! The Wonder opened up its first location in TriBeCa, the Mecca of family life. This is a space for both kids and adults to congregate, truly bringing the outdoors in! There is a lot of open play space, filled with themed wooden toys, a cozy book corner, and room for arts and crafts. Unlike other play spaces, this one is also geared towards adults looking to sit and work or grab a bite in the cafe. There is a private room carved out as a workspace, as well as a soothing nursery to bring babies while the kids run around. I’ve never seen a more well-thought out environment for children and their parents in NYC. Founders and parents, Noria and Sarah, made this space a members only club you will want to be a part of, and it’s constantly evolving with the seasons to feel fresh and new.
Read moreNetherfield Collection - Always Evolving
Heather Severs, is not new to the accessories industry. Having a career in fashion publications, over a decade as the accessories director at Town & Country, she knows jewelry WELL! It is of no surprise that her longtime passion became her newest venture, creating a new line of vintage charm necklaces called Netherfield. Each necklace is special in that it’s one-of-a-kind, vintage charms are made to order depending on the tales of your life’s journey. They are the best gifts, even for yourself, as they tell a story that you can build upon each year. Today we are giving you a head start with our giveaway on Instagram. Head over to my page @mamaandtata for more details.
Read moreHeritage - Family Heirlooms
A dear, old friend of mine, Lilly Weekes, has launched her second business with friend Elizabeth Bonner, and it’s at the top of my Mother’s Day wish list. Heritage is a fairly new jewelry brand filled with chic, classic, everyday pieces that are the perfect accent to any wardrobe. They have rings, bracelets and pendents that you will want to collect, filled with meaning and heart, encapsulating family memories and significant moments in time. Their pendents are exquisite and timeless, and look best layered or stacked. These two close friends have created something very special, and their pieces are the ultimate Mother’s Day present. I'm excited to announce I’ve partnered with them to give away one of their signature mother of pearl Mommy & Me heart necklaces for Mother’s Day. Head over to my Instagram @mamaandtata to learn how to enter!
Read moreMama-of-the-Moment: Melissa Wood-Tepperberg
Describe yourself in 3 words...
Loving, passionate and loyal.
What is your daily workout regimen?
My workouts! I love to mix it up with either my 30-minute full body or an abs/arms targeted flow. I also live for my power booty series. I share all of my workouts on my website and offer a 5 Day Free Trial for all people that are new to me.
What are your favorite go-to healthy snacks for both you and your children?
Mustache Munchies (they're like an insane vegan goldfish) for myself and my son, and then for my daughter, the Baby Mum Mums.
Read moreLet’s Get You - Spring Cleaning
Although I’ve never needed this service for myself, I noticed that more and more women around me are hiring stylists because they have difficulty piecing outfits together for themselves. Whether it’s a matter of women in business being too busy to shop for work and events, or just needing help figuring out how to make your clothing more versatile so you wear them well, this is a service that proves very beneficial. Nicole Russo has been providing this service for many years working as a top stylist at Net-a-Porter, and is now venturing out on her own with a new business called Let’s Get You. Nicole doesn’t follow trends, rather she looks to improve upon her client’s own personal style, by helping fill in the gaps to make a cohesive, sophisticated collection to be worn many ways, many times. She is as friendly and kind as they come, and has impeccable taste, encouraging her clients to take risks in their wardrobe. In 20 minutes of looking in my closet, she was able to pull 5 looks that I would’ve never thought to combine, and I am so excited to wear them this Spring!
Read moreHeartKnit - Bonding Time
Sophie Thimonnier has created something very special. She transfers her positive, soulful, peaceful energy on to everyone she meets, so it was of no surprise that her newest venture, HeartKnit, a class dedicated to taking a break from technology and bonding over handmade creations, has become a big success. Sophie teaches group classes on how to knit with beautiful, colorful yarn, decorated with soothing florals and herbal teas. The event she creates allows women to really connect with one another, while honing in on a new skill, in an environment with no distractions. Similar to meditation, the experience is therapeutic and has been scientifically proven to have health benefits, giving its participants clarity. In my opinion, this is something we all need weekly, as we sometimes forget that life exists beyond our phones.
Read moreThe Black Bib - Editor’s Select
Jasmine Snow was an accessories editor for 8 years, and style is her nature. She, like many other women, couldn’t understand why there were so many unattractive bib options for her new baby when she first became a mother. She would purchase these adorable outfits for her baby, and spend all of this time dressing her up, and then slap on these colorful, printed bibs the second they got to a restaurant. She wanted to create a chic and unisex option, a forever baby accessory, and The Black Bib was born! This black leather bib, much like a great leather moto jacket, looks great with any outfit, and isn’t distracting. They are totally baby-proof, and can be cleaned with a wet wipe. My girls, even at this age, get very messy, so I’m waiting for Jasmine to make a few in their size!
Read moreUnion Square Play - A Place to Grow
When my sister’s dear friend, Jennie Monness started her blog Mo’Mommies, I was thrilled for her, as she dedicated her life (pre-parenthood) to studying childhood development, and was probably the most prepared mother-to-be I knew. I loved the philosophy behind her play-based methods, and her blog helped her create an actual physical space for babies and children to come learn. Union Square Play is a new play-space which offers drop-in classes throughout the day where children are encouraged to explore the environment and find activities that foster their curiosities to expand their development. There is a beautiful community of parents that have found each other through their children in USP, who have created a very nurturing and supportive culture, that is unique and special. Jennie has also brought on one of my personal favorite activities, playAGAIN with Lisa Zaretsky, who now has a permanent space within USP, so go say hello for me!
Read moreBroadway Bees - Theater Camp
As we can all tell from my Instagram account, I have two very theatrical daughters who love the performing arts. When I was little, I volunteered for every play offered between camp and school, always hoping for a lead role, as singing dancing and acting were my passion. I’m happy to have found Broadway Bees, a short-term summer camp program that runs weekly, in Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Greenwich, supporting children’s acting skills and assisting with confidence building and public speaking. I believe that enrolling children in programs like this at a young age will facilitate strength and risk-taking, even for children who struggle with speaking up and voicing their opinions in the classroom. This program was founded by Valentina Berger, a Broadway veteran, who has worked as a producer in the industry for years, and I’m excited for the girls to try it out.
Read moreGiggle - New and Improved
Way back when, when I was pregnant with my first child, approximately 7 years ago, there was only one shop I loved, and it was Giggle in soho. They were a small boutique, where I ended up befriending my regular salesperson, because she was just the coolest, and it made the search for the endless newborn products easy and enjoyable. They were well-curated with only the best products and furniture on the market, so even if you were new to the baby game, you kind of couldn’t go wrong in this shop.
I remember walking into stores like Bye Bye Baby and feeling so overwhelmed by the sensory overload surrounding me, I’d literally run out the door. I was sad to see Giggle go a few years back, even though I was past that phase of life, however they are now under new ownership, back as an online store, and better than ever!
Erin Moennich has found all of the best baby products and will even be starting her own line to add to her site. She has a very well-curated layette available for purchase and has partnered with Darian Ablon to create a quality private label collection of children’s pajamas and clothing at affordable prices. For all of you new Mamas out there, this will be your go-to for all things baby.
Read moreVestiaire - Out With The Old, In With The New
As many of you know, I have a real affinity for vintage clothing and accessories. As the years have gone by, my collection has grown to be too large for my apartment, and I finally found a good place to sell it. Vestiaire, a platform for buying and selling used clothing and accessories, that specializes in vintage apparel. They have a tremendous collection on consignment from various collectors around the world, as they started a decade ago in Europe and have more recently opened up their site to the US. We all know about the Real Real, but Vestiaire has been providing this service as well, and their stylists curate a truly beautiful, chic online boutique.
Read moreInkwell - Back To Work
Manon DeFelice is a woman I admire. She has taken my mantra of women supporting women to the next level, opening up her recruiting company almost five years ago, catering to women requiring flexibility in the workplace. There are so many brilliant, talented women out there who held important positions at work but left after motherhood, and never felt empowered or encouraged enough to return to their previous employment because they wanted to be present for their new families. This is a challenge I see even with my own group of friends, who would love the opportunity to launch a company or assist in building a start-up, but feel it would take too much time away from their children. Manon created Inkwell with these women in mind, and helps place women in the work force who need to work remotely, or have a shortened work week. Flexibility is the foundation of her business, and she provides financial rewards to the clients who give referrals. Her business is what supporting women is all about, so if you are feeling the itch to get back in it, shoot her an email.
Read moreNova Octo - Made Runway a Reality
There’s a new shop in town, and you all need to know about it. As busy women, whether attending work events, social gatherings, or philanthropic functions, we have a lot of occasions that require evening wear. This can be an extremely expensive endeavor, as well as wasteful, since the likelihood of wearing that memorable, special piece to multiple events is slim. We all like to feel confident and beautiful, and we deserve to be able to wear many important dresses and gowns, at a much more affordable price.
Nova Octo is a place where you can find all of the most luxurious designers, even some you’ve never seen or discovered in the states, and rent them for a small fraction of the price to wear to an event. The entire experience from start to finish is glamorous and fun, and owner/founder, Silje, is very accommodating to her clientele. For each rental, Silje gives back, making a donation to the client’s charitable organization of choice. She has a great eye and a kind heart.
Read moreThe Letters NYC - Art Education
Lara Björk, a talented, seasoned art consultant, has launched a new business that both kids and adults can appreciate. The Letters NYC, are a series of artful alphabet portraits, covering multiple cities, using each letter to match with an iconic, artful place/landmark within the city. Lara comes up with the letter references and visuals and her partner illustrates them, using bright colors that appeal to children of all ages. These special works of art are wonderful baby gifts and birthday gifts, and each comes with their own explanation sheet to teach your children the meaning and history behind the art. Lara has partnered with the Soho House to create a new weekend activity called “Kids House,” where children can express themselves through art and creation with her team, we are excited to try it out!
Read moreBoaz Studio - Challenge Yourself
I love finding new great workouts to incorporate as a complement to my regular Tracy Anderson regimen. A close friend of mine, who has the best taste in just about everything, turned me onto a new private training studio on the Upper East Side called Boaz Studio. Boaz and his trainers customize the workout to suit your body’s needs, and really build strength and tone the body in a way that lasts long-term. I love the vibe when I walk into the studio, a beautiful townhouse just off of Madison Avenue, with the best old school rock and roll music. The sessions with Boaz go so fast, I hardly feel like I’m working out. He makes the strength training enjoyable, and has a great way about him, which is why his clients always return. I’m very excited to try out his new boxing studio which will open soon on the first floor, bringing a new element to the workout.
Read moreJane Winchester - Jewelry With Meaning
As Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, a holiday I now only celebrate with my kids, I wanted to bring back the romance of the the day with this feature. Jane Winchester has been in the accessories business for decades, and has now launched her own brand of jewels inspired by the gypsy coins of the 1900s. The reason for this inspiration, is that she sought out to create pieces with meaning, pieces that last a lifetime. Each amulet Jane creates symbolizes positivity, strength, hope and luck, to be worn daily as a constant reminder. Jane is passionate about her product, and making sure that each piece expresses the important, personal milestones in her customer’s life. It’s a true feel good gift!
Read moreSabria’s Brows - Sabria Celaj
Eyebrows are the focal point of a face, according to ME! I’ve always been obsessed with eyebrows, because, if done well, there is truly no need for makeup, they brighten a face all on their own. Everyone who knows me well, knows that my brows get the most maintenance of all; they are trimmed, plucked, and arched once a month! I’ve gone to my dear friend Paulo for years, but so many people uptown ask me for someone who is comparable in their neighborhood, and I found someone great! Sabria Celaj works in a salon on the upper east side, and does a beautiful job shaping the brow, appreciating my same aesthetic. I found that when she worked on my eyebrows, the experience was very relaxing, as she has a great energy and her positivity comes through.
Read moreOutrageously Beautiful Floral Arrangements by Arthur Golabek
I love to entertain, as you all well-know, and at the core of any party are the florals. I was lucky enough to have met Arthur Golabek in the Hamptons, and he helped create some unbelievably beautiful floral arrangements in my home. Recently, he opened up his own business here in NYC, lucky for all of us, and his first big project was for my ShopBAZAAR x Black Iris Launch Dinner. The table was outrageously beautiful, filled with bright, wild flowers, that lit up the room. He interpreted our vision for the launch to perfection, and was so lovely to work with. If you are looking for a new florist, he’s definitely your guy.
Read moreFEYZ Studio - Glass Candy
Feyza Kemahlioglu is a young, inspiring and talented woman. She is passionate about creating beautiful glass sculptures, each unique in their shape and color, that add a pop of fun in any room. Whether used as candy jars, jewelry boxes, or filled with floating florals, her sculptural objects are magnificent. She’s expanded her art form to include incredible light fixtures, that truly make a room. I couldn’t get over her combination of glass and metals, in the most beautiful soft colors that gave each room a romantic glow. I am excited to see what Feyza comes up with next, as she’s definitely a woman to watch in interior design.
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