CREATIVE MAMA | TATIANA COHENDY

// Today’s guest is the very stylish and very sweet Tatiana of the clothing line, Garcon Milano. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing a woman living her truth through personal style. I am always so drawn to this and am constantly admiring the clothes women choose. I also adore Tatiana’s perspective on motherhood and how we should really just leave the mess and go out and enjoy life! Enjoy! //

Kiddos

Noa (3) and Elia (18 months)

Dwell

I live in Milan, Italy in the Navigli district, a very charming and magical place (well at least for my taste). We live in a 2-bedroom apartment that we entirely renovated to fit our taste. Our home decor is very eclectic and is a blend of both modern and antique pieces. It has definitely a very European vibe to it. We like to find unique pieces of furniture and mixing colors and styles.

On Creativity

I’ve always been a creative child (drawing all the time and playing music instruments) but lost that side of me in the teenage years. Luckily motherhood brought it back to me. I’m inspired by my children, our life in Milan, Europe generally, films, photography, people on the streets, Pinterest… I would say I’m more of a “visual” arts person (which is why I love Instagram that much).

A few months ago, I started to design a children’s clothing line “Garçon Milano” which will launch in January 2019. We create fun and elegant clothes with a retro-cool touch for little boys (but girls are more than welcome to wear them too as it is after all unisex!). We love using delicate and unusual shades for boys in our collections and love to tell a story. The Spring/Summer 19 collection is inspired by Wes Anderson universe and more particularly the Bar Luce in Milan. This adventure was not only a way to reconnect with my creative side but also a challenge for myself. I wanted to take risks and do something that I never really thought I would be able to do.,

On Simplicity

I love the concept of simplicity as for me it means going back to your essence, to what really matters to you and leaving aside what is dictated by our society but that does not feel like “you”. I became quite selective about what I buy, what I do with my time and children have a way of bringing you back to simplicity and to your essence.

Personal Style

I would describe my personal style as both effortless and sophisticated at the same time. I love prints, deep colors and mixing styles (for example masculine and feminine pieces). I shop in many different places: vintage shops in Milan, online on Asos or Zara, little boutiques… My daily uniform would be a vintage floral dress, white sneakers, a casual jeans jacket and a little fun accessory like colorful socks or a hat.

Beauty

I am a big believer of taking care of the inside so that it shows on the outside. I quit smoking 2 years ago and eat pretty healthily. I don’t spend much on beauty products but love “French pharmacy” creams such as Avène for my face. I exfoliate twice a week, use a hair mask after each shampoo and always wear a little bit of makeup.

Living Well

I believe in being more active in order to feel less tired (very important for us moms!). Even with kids you can walk with the strollers or just dance with them at home. Also I believe a lot in “emotional” energy, I always notice that when I go out and have fun with friends the next day I wake up much more energized and in a good mood (even if I slept less hours). Your mind has such a big impact on your body so my motto would be “have fun and cultivate positive thoughts”.

Typical Day

The organization of the day is becoming easier now that both kids go to school (before that I had to bring them to meetings or sample fittings). Nowadays, I bring them to school then usually work from home or go to meetings, then around 4pm I pick them up and we usually go to the park or go for a walk. I try to leave the housework to when they are sleeping and enjoy fully the evening hours with them. Having a creative business means working on your self-discipline though, it’s hard to juggle both. Sometimes you just need to have a walk in a different neighborhood or have an interesting conversation for inspiration to come back to you.

On Feeling Beautiful

I would say when I do something I’m passionate about such as working on my clothing line, living a healthy active life, playing music and having fun with my kids… Remember: your kids need to have a passionate, vibrant mom not a crazy mom deep cleaning the bathroom everyday!

Loving Now

• Consuming less: borrowing books at library, buying second hands, avoiding useless packaging and many other things...

• Caramel/camel color trend: me and the kids have so many items of this color in our fall wardrobe.

• Texturising Salt Spray from CatwalkbyTigi: I love the messy hair look and I discovered this spray on Amazon and I’m loving it...It’s perfect for fine hair.

• Go for a morning run (or even walk) and leaving the kids with Dad on a Sunday morning… Perfect way to start the day and improve your mood.

• My Spotify app: I listen to music and discover new artists all the time and the kids seem to enjoy it, it puts everyone in a good mood. More music less whining please!

On Balancing Motherhood and Creativity

Stop feeling guilty about taking time for you, leave the kids to Dad or family when possible a little bit more and do things you enjoy doing or exercise. Less chores and more fun (dusts comes back anyway hahaha). They need you balanced and healthy.

// All photos are property of Tatiana Cohendy //

Tatiana’s Links

INSTAGRAM

MY CLOTHING LINE INSTA

CLOTHING LINE (GARCON MILANO) WEBSITE

CREATIVE MAMA | KERA THOMPSON

//Hey tribe…welcome back to a brand new season of “CREATIVE MAMA.” This series is intended to celebrate all of the mothers navigating a life that is both creative and well. It honors all aspects of motherhood/womanhood/ and the creative process. I keep meeting the most amazing women on social media and in real life and I can’t not showcase them here in this space. So read, get inspired, expand your horizon, and shine your light out into the world. Today i want you to meet Kera. She is such a beautiful soul who I instantly connected with. Her vibe is high and her ideas on life are incredibly smart and on point. Her beauty, stunning, inside and out. Enjoy!//

Kiddos

Owen 11, Asher 9, Elena 6, Selma 2

Dwell

We have been living in our dream house for almost a year, nestled in the foothills of beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah. We LOVE where we live, and feel so grateful that we have such a wonderful space and community to raise our family.

On Creativity

I LOVE design and am inspired by my incredibly connected community of makers and influencers here in the area. Design has taught me to appreciate the value of editing our surroundings and how to create spaces that help you live your life with more joy and abundance. I have an online shop called Interwoven where I curate artisanal home decor for the modern dweller, and I also work for the Utah Jazz (NBA) as an on-court entertainment host.

On Simplicity

When I mentioned “editing” our surroundings above, I’ve learned that less is more. I take great care and thought about everything that comes into my personal space, and that has spilled over in other aspects of my life- whether it’s my social circles, the food I eat, and the activities I participate in. Maybe a better word to use is “intentional”. I’m learning to be intentional with my actions, and that allows for more peace in my life overall.

Personal Style

I’m a Taurus, so I am known to have a taste for the finer things in life. But I’m also practical, and a mother with young children, and balance is key. I like all of my spaces, including fashion, to have a curated look. I love the age we are living in where we are so globally connected and influenced by each other. Inclusivity seems to be at the forefront of people’s minds and it’s a great era to experiment and pull inspiration from everywhere. I basically aspire to project my inner goddess with my daily looks: sensual, earthy, and comfortable in any setting. Target right now has several great lines, and carries the bulk of my fast fashion purchases, but some other brands I love are: Vince, Madewell, Elizabeth Suzann to name a few. I also LOVE jewelry, and one of my favorite parts of getting ready is finishing off a great outfit with pieces I’ve collected from all over.

Beauty Routine

I take my beauty routine very seriously, mostly because I believe caring for yourself is a radical act and can become a deeply personal and sacred ritual that renews your spirit each day. I try to use naturally derived skincare, and swear by the small locally owned line: Mom’s Stuff Salve. I use their salve medicinally, and never leave home without it, and their body oil and face balms are wonderful. I try to plan my day so I have some solid time by myself to really enjoy the process… I burn some incense, play my favorite tunes, and try to practice gratitude in the shower as I wash my body. I love makeup, and hair care products, and I’m constantly editing my selections- seeking out natural, ethically sourced brands as often as I can. In the evening, a beautiful bath can be such a great way to connect with yourself and wind down after a stressful day.

Mottos to living well

I love the movie The Last Samurai… Japanese culture has always fascinated me. I love the line in the movie that says, “Life in Every Breath”. Finding joy, for me, is seeking out the patterns and the beauty- the light and the shadow in everything. Knowing that we are all connected, and learning to be intentional with our thoughts and actions allows us to find the sacred in a cup of tea, in our yoga practice, a bath, and even in that pile of laundry waiting to be folded.o

Typical Day

Every day is different! I like to have a general idea for what needs to be accomplished, but having children has taught me to be a lot more flexible with my expectations. I also realize how privileged I am to be able to have the option of staying at home with my kids. In terms of a daily schedule, I definitely have boundaries and hard lines of how I want my life to look, so I find that as long as I have those ideas established, I can be more graceful with how my day looks. It is a huge priority to have a clean, organized home for instance, as well as having time for myself, so actually establishing that makes planning my day a lot easier. 3 out of 4 of my kids are in school full-time so this stage of my life is a lot more manageable than when they were younger. Being flexible also means realizing that there are times and seasons for everything.

On Feeling Beautiful

I feel the most beautiful when I feel comfortable and confident enough to stand in my truth. Maintaining alignment is achieved through the broad work of self-care, and the realization that circumstances and other people and their projections have no power over me.

Favorite things right now

• Mantra Music from Good Vibes Collective

• Slippers, cozy sweaters and my morning coffee

• My fitbit versa watch

• Madewell earrings

• Rope incense and self-care offerings from lesley saligoe botanicals

On balancing motherhood and creativity

Stop looking for balance… balance and justice is inevitable and is better left for Mother Nature to sort out. The best thing you can do is to go forth on the daily fearlessly and intentionally towards your joy and the joy of those around you.

// Thanks Kera for sharing your joyful vibe here on c+w //

KERA’S LINKS

INSTAGRAM

SHOP

//ALL PHOTOS ARE PROPERTY OF KERA THOMPSON//

SIMPLIFYING YOUR SPACE

Since practicing yoga over 10 years ago i have learned so much about myself.  It was a true coming home for me.  It ignited my relationship to my body and what spirituality meant for me.  It connected me more to the people in my life and the food on my plate.  I was essentially tapping into the real me: my truest self and i have learned to love her hard (mostly) and forgive her (always).  My time on the mat continues to serve as a  mini vacation: a time to check in and dump some ill fitting mental and physical stuff off.  I always leave the mat feeling incredibly restored and spacious.  

Creating space is something that has brewed into my life and into my business.  Our modern day world is filled to the brim with stuff that numbs us and cancels out any chance of human interaction.  We are living in excess and so this idea of minimalism of simplifying is really peaking our interest because at the end of the day we are super tired...stressed out....sick....unhappy...and constantly feeling like we need more more more.  

As a mother of 3, i assure you every day is a remembering to create space.  My days are mostly cluttered and busy and over stimulating so it requires a true commitment to doing the work.  To chose how to wind down, tidy the house, take a moment for myself.  No one does this for you...there are no magical fairies (sadly). 

Knowing how to create space in our internal and external environments is the key to well-being.  Today i am showing you how to create more space in your living environment.  Where we live effects our emotions.  The things that we have and have to take care of effects how we live out our days.  I want for you to live in a space that promotes creativity, health, and meaningful relationships. So....

Here is a quick little system to get a space feeling minimal and spacious:

1.  Pick one room....essentially the room you are most connected to

2. Without going in the room write down all the things you believe that you absolutely need in that room (ex. bedroom: a bed, nightstand, lamp, dresser, some books, jewelry, etc.)

3. Go into the room and now write down in a different column all of the other things in there

4. Compare the lists and move only the things you really really need from the EXTRAS column to the first ESSENTIALS column

5. Remove from the room the EXTRAS and donate, return to right place, or recycle/trash

6. Tidy what is now in the room... make sure it has a purpose and a place (ex. do you need 10 pillows on your bed?)

7. Admire your space.... note how you feel upon entering

8. Start another room

There you have it... I assure you this is instantly gratifying for the mind body and soul.  

Note: Your space will get messy and cluttered again...you are human.  I assure you that the less you have in your space the less tidying you will have to do. 

I would love to hear if you do this and if it works for you so share below! 

Need more personalized help? SIMPLIFY + REDESIGN FOR YOU SPACE is launching soon!

All love, 

Jax

Photo by Paul on Unsplash

A SIMPLE MORNING ROUTINE

Every morning is a fresh start.

My littlest is waking up more times than i care to mention and I even thought about how little i am even able to wake up and commit some time to myself.  But so is life and I know deep down the importance of having this time.  It doesn't have to be every day.  Maybe even do it on a weekend.  I post this as a gentle reminder to put some time on the calendar for yourself. TAKE BACK YOUR MORNINGS...take them back from your children, your computer, your 3 cups of coffee,  your innate desire to keep hitting snooze whatever keeps you from a little bit of a.m. time to yourself.  I promise you that if you can give this morning routine a go you will no doubt feel better, accomplish more things, choose healthy food, etc.  My answer to every ailment is always yoga + food and a good morning routine. Here is mine:

MORNING YOGA + AYURVEDA ROUTINE

Wake up half hour before the sun rises or earlier if you like (6am is perfect)

Drink lemon water or just water (keep some next to your bed)

Rise and use the bathroom followed by splashing your face (esp eyelids) with cool water

Put the kettle on and make some tea.  Mint is nice.  Grab a banana or something light to eat 

Roll out your mat and do some light yoga stretches followed by some deep breathing and or meditation *

Take a shower followed by a cool rinse (bonus if you dry brush and self oil beforehand)

Eat a nourishing breakfast (my favorite right now)

This routine takes no more than 30 minutes.  And if you have longer than 30 well than you can really enjoy each step.  IF you don't have even 30 minutes just take some time to stretch and breathe.  This can be as little as 10 minutes.  But i really challenge you take the 30.  You deserve it.

LOVELOVE, 

Jax

* I am putting together a video for two simple yoga sequences: One for AM and one for PM.  Check back soon for those!

Photo by Bekah Russom on Unsplash