How do your children inspire your work at goop?
I don’t know if the kids inspire my work, but they definitely motivate me. I am efficient with my time, and even a quick cab ride between meetings is a chance to tackle my to-do list (order a bday present, pay a bill, fill out a school form). When I am home, I really try to shut down and just hang with the kids (I am good about putting the phone away 90% of the time). When I jump back onto my computer at night, the work email that had me twisted at 4pm seems meaningless at 10pm. My husband and kiddos help me keep my priorities in check.
Being an expert on great finds over at goop, what are some of your favorite shops, either online or in NY for kid's clothing?
Egg is my go-to for last minute outfits and Two Kids and a Dog is my palace for last minute birthday gifts. They are both conveniently located in Dumbo, where I live.
We travel a lot as a family, and I can never have enough bathing suits for the kiddos. My go-to swim suit for both kids is Minnow (minnowswim.com), the cutest mix of matching suits for boys & girls. For my daughter, I always load up on cover-ups from Roberta Roller Rabbit.
How do you carve out "me" time during your day, while juggling a full-time job and motherhood?
I work in little pleasures, like a quick mani/pedi after work or a weekend workout (reformer pilates). With goop on both coasts, I travel often to LA. The plane rides have become peaceful “me time” and I try to catch up on work and then sneak in a movie or book.
What was your favorite family vacation to date?
The Viceroy in Anguilla was perfect- I had little to no expectations prior to going, but the kids camp, multiple pools and easy boat ride from SXM made it super kid friendly.
What are your beauty secrets? Any new products you have found particularly helpful?
Our goop skincare line is actually life-changing: my favorites are the face oil and exfoliating instant facial. Oh, and I love the Ursa Major face wash. I am trying to completely detox my beauty assortment, but it has taken years to finish that last bit of fancy eye cream. Almost there!
What are your favorite NY activities when spending the weekends with your children?
Tribeca Children’s Museum, followed by brunch at Westville
Jane’s Carousel in Dumbo + the pirate ship park
Museum of Natural History (the kids do a full sprint to T-Rex the minute we walk into that place)
Do you have any favorite books that you read to Cate and Cole?
Have you filled a bucket today? This always triggers interesting conversations about buckets the kids filled at school, or buckets they took away from. Our house is constantly filled with “bucket chatter”, and it cracks me up. Never thought I would refer to a bucket so frequently.
Love you forever (and they both remind me they will always be my babies, even when they turn 40. Not sure why they picked 40, but that’s the number that tends to come up the most)
Pinkalicious for Cate
Good Night Darth Vader for Cole
How did you build your inspiring career?
I spent the first 2-3 years post kids debating if I should keep going at this speed. But while debating, it also dawned on me that I’ve created a rhythm of getting fulfillment from so many different places. I was doing exactly what I should be doing.
On a personal note, I get a ton of satisfaction from helping others…whether someone needs a new job, a connection to an editor or career advice. By staying in the mix, I feel like it’s easy to help people navigate the career world, and it’s my MINI contribution to this world (since I am seriously lacking time to volunteer)!
What has been the most challenging aspect of motherhood?
My kids are only 17.5 months apart. Going back to work after the second, with two little ones, was really tough. Once my youngest turned 1, I finally started feeling comfortable running around with both of my kids solo (literally, I can go out on a city adventure without my mom, sister or the nanny with me). For a long time, I felt that I was constantly in over my head, and had a really hard time balancing it all (I was always missing a diaper, bottle cap, blanket, etc). I am lucky my entire family helped me along the way, and that extra hand holding helped me get through that first year.
What values do you hope to instill in your children?
Respect for others, kindness and contribution. We have had a strict one in and one out policy (benefits of city living) so the kids have grown up donating both toys and clothing since they can remember. I love that they are now proactively making piles of their old toys…it’s the little things.
And, I have no doubt my daughter will be strong willed…from what I can already see, the apple does not fall far from the tree.