Do you ever wonder other moms secrets? Like actual real beautiful day to day hard working moms? So often I see a darling one at the park and think wow, she looks so great! I wonder what she is doing so well. With that in mind I thought I’d begin a new series on ALFS – Everyday Moms. These are moms I know, moms that have been recommended to me, moms that inspire and are beautiful inside and out. Let’s peak into their lives just a bit, shall we?

Meet Kelly!

Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Job Title: Account Manager at The NPD Group, Inc.

Kids: Jack (2)

You’re in your closet – what do you reach for first? Now that it’s fall, I’m definitely reaching for a cute scarf to dress up my t-shirt and jeans style.

Hands down the one beauty product you can’t live without. Only one! Rose Salve lip balm.

Your daily moisturizer. Are you happy with it? No! I am always experimenting with new kinds and have yet to find one I love. I do; however, swear by this Evian Facial Water Spray before moisturizing—it hydrates my skin and leaves it so refreshed. It’s especially great when travelling.

Your nightly moisturizer. Are you happy with it? A little bit ago, I jumped on the coconut oil bandwagon and I love it! Not only is it a great moisturizer and makeup remover, but it is all natural as well. Oh, and it’s cheap too! Win-Win-Win-Win.

Something in your shopping cart online right now that you want to buy – budget is no limit. If a remodeled kitchen doesn’t count, I’ll take some Frye riding boots.

How do you feel your beauty routine changed when you became a mom? Well, I definitely wear more hats than I typically did before Jack, sometimes embracing that wash your hair *ahem* every few days trend. But I have always been a pretty simple girl in terms of makeup, so that has served me well with now having less time to get ready- lip balm, mascara, a little blush, GO!

Biggest indulgence you allow yourself. Coffee, coffee, coffee. I’m an addict.

Tell us about your kid(s). Jack is a very sweet curly haired 2-year-old who is all boy, albeit a momma’s boy. He is a lover, always giving out lots of hugs and kisses, and is very loved in return, especially being the only grandkid on both mine and my husband’s side. He is constantly on the go and loves to do anything outside, but his favorite thing is to turn sticks into “edgers” (weed whippers) and edge the grass. He is obsessed with anything that has to do with lawn-care: lawn mowers, edgers, leaf blowers – he can’t get enough of all of them. He could watch lawn service videos on youtube all day if we’d let him. Weird, I know. Overall, he is a wonderful little boy who keeps us on our toes and I’m so happy I’m his mom.

What is your biggest struggle as a mom day to day. I think it’s finding balance, and then learning to not be so hard on myself when life is a little off-balance. Yes, before having kids I went to the gym more, I went on more dates with my husband, the house was cleaner, I got more sleep. But now, I have this beautifully challenging title of “Mom,” and with that comes a new set of priorities. I often feel guilty that I can’t always devote 100% to work, being a mom and wife, the house, and dare I say it, myself. But, I’m working towards finding the right balance and accepting that even as hard as I try to be, I’m not perfect. And when I accept that, I can get on with my main priority: loving my son and husband as an imperfect mom and wife.

What is your biggest happiness as a mom day to day. Jack is my biggest happiness as a mom. I love seeing life through him-his innocence and pure appetite for life is so beautiful to me. Each day brings a new experience and it’s so fun to see how he is so fascinated by it all. I still can’t get over how quickly he is growing up and how much he changes week to week, but I’m enjoying soaking up each moment.       

Snap your fingers – you could have a magic fairy help you with one thing around the home every day. What is it? I would love to come home to a home cooked delicious and nutritious dinner that the whole family approves of each night. I love eating clean, healthy foods—the more roasted vegetables the better, while my meat and potato loving husband would prefer to never see another “green thing” again, and if it isn’t chicken nuggets or mac ‘n cheese, Jack puts up a struggle. It’s exhausting to try to find something we all enjoy eating day after day!

Because you are oh so pretty, tell us about your favorite feature! I would say my smile – even on days when I am not wearing makeup, I’ve still got my smile.

Thank you Kelly for sharing you darling family and your time with ALFS! I so loved reading your answers (Jack and his landscaping obsession is amazing) and I’m thinking those Frye riding boots better be under the tree for you this year.

 

Do you ever wonder other moms secrets? Like actual real beautiful day to day hard working moms? So often I see a darling one at the park and think wow, she looks so great! I wonder what she is doing so well. With that in mind I thought I’d begin a new series on ALFS – Everyday Moms. These are moms I know, moms that have been recommended to me, moms that inspire and are beautiful inside and out. Let’s peak into their lives just a bit, shall we? 

Meet Lori!

Location: Denver, CO

Job: Vice President Strategic Partnerships at bswift

Kids: Willa (6) and Crosby (3)

You’re in your closet – what do you reach for first? I work from home 70% of the time, so much of my wardrobe consists of yoga pants, old t-shirts with holes in the armpits or my Costco Couture wear. But if I really want to feel fabulous for a rare date night, I’ll grab my trusty black silk shirt, my favorite necklace and jeans.

Hands down the one beauty product you can’t live without. Only one! Blush. It just adds life to your face.

Your daily moisturizer. Are you happy with it? Sanitas Topical C. It’s thick and takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s amazing and has transformed my skin.

Your nightly moisturizer. Are you happy with it? The same! I use Top C at night as well.

Something in your shopping cart online right now that you want to buy – budget is no limit. An all-inclusive trip to Hawaii or Italy.

How do you feel your beauty routine changed when you became a mom? When I lived in Chicago and was a young, single, fabulous twenty-something I would get pedicures and manicures every three weeks on the dot. It wasn’t even a luxury so much as it was just a part of my life. Those days are certainly long gone, as the closest I get to a pedicure these days as a minivan-driving-surburban mom is buying one of those heel shavers from Walgreens.

Biggest indulgence you allow yourself? Monthly facials. It’s so dry here in Colorado that it’s a necessity. Or so I tell my husband.

Tell us about your kid(s). Have you ever read the book “Taming your Spirited Child”? That is my daughter, Willa (6). She is incredibly smart and inquisitive, paired with a flair for the dramatically over emotional. Crosby (3) is in love with anything with wheels (cars, planes, trains). He surprises me so often by saying these wonderfully eloquent sentences and then I realize that he isn’t actually the baby anymore that I imagine he is.

What is your biggest struggle as a mom day to day? Balancing a very busy corporate job, frequent out of state business trips, a working husband, two kids, a house…you get the gist. I recently spoke on a panel for Women in Leadership and clearly this is not a unique struggle. Everyone down to our female CEO seemed to share the same challenges. In a way being super busy has made me focus on what is important to me. I “outsource” whatever I can to try to help the cause. And try my best to embrace our lived-in mess.

What is your biggest happiness as a mom day to day? The cuddles, hugs and unconditional love.

Snap your fingers – you could have a magic fairy help you with one thing around the home every day. What is it? To get my kids ready for bed and help them fall asleep which would easily save me an hour day. Which I have calculated (while lying in their beds staring at the ceiling waiting for those rugrats to close their eyes) amounts to over 15 days a year.

Because you are oh so pretty, tell us about your favorite feature! My eyes. It’s the one part of me that never lets me down.

Monthly facials – you are my kind of girl. And we’ve all been there with the heel shaver – made me laugh out loud. Thank you so much, Lori, for sharing your time and darling family with ALFS!