Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
I’ve lived all over NJ! I grew up in Atlantic County (Hammonton to be specific), then my husband and I first lived in Union County for several years (Garwood), before moving our family to Monmouth County (Lincroft) 2 years ago. NJ gets a bad rap sometimes, which thoroughly annoys me, so I occasionally find myself becoming a personal cheerleader for the garden state when I’m talking with non-NJ residents. (The beach! The parks! The schools! History! Horses! Fresh produce! So close to so many major cities and attractions! etc etc)
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
I have 3 girls 5 and under. Even typing that now made me think, “I honestly don’t know how that happened so fast!” haha.
Daisy – 5 and a half
Ginny – 3
Josie – 8 months
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
Here’s a few:
I’m an only child. At least, people always seem surprised when I tell them that!
I’ve been to 6 continents – only Antarctica left to go!
I can speak fluent spanish. (At least, I used to be able to! Not much opportunity to practice out here in the ‘burbs.)
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
Oh my gosh…everyone?? Parenthood has been such a communal journey. Our parents have helped my husband and I beyond measure, and I’ve learned so much from friends and online communities, too. Now that my kids are getting a little older, I feel like I should thank them for being patient with me as I try my best to figure it all out… And apologize for all the times they are my guinea pigs when I have no idea what I’m doing!
Favorite things to do with your kids?
Right now, I love taking them for hikes in our local parks. I feel like kids are meant to grow up outside as much as possible, and I really treasure the times we are able to explore outdoors as a family.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
Yes! In fact, my kids inspired my business. I founded Shortcake Albums, a custom photo album design service, when my eldest was about to turn 1. I felt guilty that I had never put the time in to creating a baby book for her. (Such a common mom-guilt issue!) But then I realized I had shared a lot of her milestones and special photos with family and friends on social media, and thought there should be a way to pull those photos and captions into a personalized album design. I’ve bootstrapped a business based on that idea for the past 4 years, creating a company that now serves clients nationwide (and a few international, too!). I LOVE helping our customers realize their hopes for family memory books, whether it be wedding albums, baby books, family yearbooks, or any other special occasion. So many of my customers cry (real tears!) when they receive their album in the mail. It’s unbelievably fulfilling to bring so much joy to them and their families.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Local mom communities are so important and helpful whether you are a new mom or just moved to a new area. They are incomparable resources for everything from where to have birthday parties and which pizza place is the best, to those “does anyone else’s kid act this way” questions and all the other ways we reach out for much-needed validation and support. They help us feel less alone in our struggles and challenges, which gives a wonderful boost to our mental health and the assurance that we can do this crazy thing called motherhood.
You can create your own Shortcake Album by visiting their website or following them along on social media here:
