A True Warrior
(Photo Courtesy of Unlimited Possibilities) Local mom Vanessa Warrior helps children with developmental delays improve their gross motor skills while offering hope to families. Vanessa...
Empowering Mom Figures
Meet influential moms who balance a successful career with motherhood, and serve as role models for future generations, showcasing the importance of hard work and family.
Editor's Picks
Mom Time
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo) Mompreneur Cristina Gamarnik saw a need in the community for a safe space for new moms, and The Mommy Center...
Influencing for Good
Find out how these social-media-influencing OC moms are using their platforms to give back. (Photo Courtesy of Irma Lomidze) Tina Sadri Licensed Marriage & Family...
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Moms at Work
From event planner and leaders in the nonprofit sector to children’s book author and reality TV star, these moms are making waves, find out how they do it.
Moms with Unique Passions
Meet these fascinating local moms with driving passions ranging from Bollywood dance to scare acting. Apra Bhandari Family: Daughter, Saanvi,…
Nominate A Mompreneur
Know a mom who balances work with family life? Use our form to tell us about a mompreneur in Orange County who can be featured in our Moms at Work Issue.
A True Warrior
(Photo Courtesy of Unlimited Possibilities) Local mom Vanessa Warrior helps children with developmental delays improve their gross motor skills while offering hope to families. Vanessa Warrior fights for children to have the best life possible regardless of their circumstances. “I get to play with kids who have developmental delays,” says the Lake Forest resident who helps local children as young as 4 months and adults up to age 22 develop and improve their gross motor skills. Warrior, a mom to a 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, is the manager of physical therapy at Unlimited Possibilities where she’s worked for...
Healthier You In The New Year
(Photo Courtesy of Desiree Williams) Local physical therapist and TV personality offers seven tips to help new moms create a healthier lifestyle for the whole family. Welcome to the most impactful, exhausting, overwhelming, all-encompassing, full-time job you will ever have — motherhood! As a new mom, finding the balance between your needs and those of your new child can be challenging, and that bounce-back, post-baby body is never quite as easy as the celebs make it seem. The truth is there is no magic solution to getting you back to your pre-baby bod, nor should you put that additional pressure...
Moms at Work
(Photo Courtesy of Marcella De Anda) These busy OC moms share their insights on running their businesses while balancing family life. Marcella De Anda Family: Matteo, 14, Sebastian, 13 City: Yorba Linda Business: Taqueria De Anda headquartered in Fullerton How does Taqueria De Anda stand out? “Taqueria De Anda was founded by my mother and father 40 years ago. Taqueria De Anda is different and special because of its authenticity — our dishes are truly those you’d find from the best cooks in Mexico, whether they are street vendors or chefs specializing in the region’s traditional foods. We use only...
Mom Time
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo) Mompreneur Cristina Gamarnik saw a need in the community for a safe space for new moms, and The Mommy Center was born. Cristina Gamarnik had a tough time after the birth of her first son three years ago. “I struggled making mom friends and getting support during the difficult first year as a new mom,” says Gamarnik. “My son was very spirited and my experience was far from what I had expected. I felt overwhelmed and sad that it was so much harder than I thought it would be. My friends without kids or family...
Moms at Work Spotlight
(Photo Courtesy of Foster Family) These OC moms share their personal challenges and offer advice to being your own boss. Savannah Foster Family: Husband, Brooks, Beckham, 4, Romy, 2, and Millie, 6 months City: Aliso Viejo Business: NFL agent and vice president of client relations at Athletes First Biggest challenge: “With a 24/7 career, I find myself on my phone way too much, and I struggle with unplugging and remaining fully present while at home with my family. I’m constantly working to maintain a better balance and give my kids the best version of me.” Best advice for mompreneurs: “Take...
Moms Doing Good
(Photo Courtesy of Julia Bendis) Moms across the county share their stories of how and why they give. Julia Bendis City: Rancho Santa Margarita Family: Husband and two sons ages 17 and 22 How do you give back? “Since Day 1 of the war in Ukraine I got on the phone connecting with volunteers, civilians and military personnel on the ground, translating documents from the Ukrainian government with requests for medical supplies, connecting NGOs and other volunteers for evacuations, calling Ukrainian people stuck in their homes to get them evacuated safely, a lot of them elderly, disabled or with medical...
A Healthy Outlook
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo) Reality TV star and OC mom Ashley Wahler talks about helping others feel beautiful through hair, and raising awareness about mental health and addiction. For as long as Ashley Wahler can remember, she’s always had a passion for hair. “My great-grandfather was a hair stylist who immigrated here from Italy, so it is definitely in my blood,” said Wahler, of Laguna Hills, who works at Indigenous Salon in Laguna Beach. In fact, she loves hair so much that she recently launched her own hair accessories line called The Gold Collection by Ashley Wahler. If Wahler’s...
A Sweet Life
(Photo Courtesy of family Walls of Wonders Photography) Mom, social worker and entrepreneur Kimberly Luu taps her social network to help others. Kimberly Luu’s Instagram page portrays a glamorous life. Scrolling through images of fashionable moments interspersed with snapshots from her and her husband’s dessert parlor, Polar Playground in Huntington Beach. She posts at least one weekly update about her adorable 2-year-old son, who is usually eating pancakes. Based on images alone, an outsider might think Luu’s life is pretty sweet. Yet, she’s more complex than her social media persona. As a daughter to immigrant parents, she tries to help...
Moms at Work
(Dr. Behnaz Motlagh/Photo Curtesy of Ralph Palumbo) Local mompreneurs talk about their passions for business and family — and how they’ve overcome challenges. Dr. Behnaz Motlagh Family: Husband, Omid Nazeri; daughter, Moneli Nazeri, 13, son, Keon Nazeri, 7 City: Laguna Niguel Business: Health Solution Medical Corporation (healthsolutionsmedical.com) in Laguna Niguel What inspired you to become a doctor? “When I was 15 years old, I experienced a medical miracle. My father was in desperate need of a heart transplant at the age of 45. The heroes, his doctors and surgeons, were able to do the high-risk procedure and give my father...
Vision Mission
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo/Dr. Arian Fartash and her daughter Isabella) A local optometrist helps educate parents and protect their children’s eyes with OC-based GlamBaby. When Dr. Arian Fartash became a new mom, one of her favorite pastimes became shopping for her baby girl. But the local optometrist soon found out there was one accessory that was severely lacking for young children — eyewear. “It was a surprise, given my passion and commitment to eye care, that there wasn’t a company committed to protective, stylish and quality frames that were also reasonably priced,” said Fartash. “I knew that if I...
Benefits of a Mindful Mom
(Photo Courtesy of Maksim Chernishev/Unsplash) Learn how practicing mindfulness can help with some of the stresses of motherhood. Nothing in the world can fully describe the emotional roller-coaster that is motherhood. Motherhood marks a new chapter in a woman’s story and brings with it a new sense of purpose and meaning to life. Mothers experience a myriad of new emotions and a fierce love for their children, like they have never felt before. Nonetheless, motherhood can get overwhelming and exhausting. Some days you may feel like you are being pulled in a thousand different directions, making you feel drained and...
Influencing for Good
Find out how these social-media-influencing OC moms are using their platforms to give back. (Photo Courtesy of Irma Lomidze) Tina Sadri Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Family: Husband, Ehsan; Sofia, 9, Siena, 5 City: Newport Beach Handle: @tinasadri on Instagram and TikTok Website: tinasadri.com Follower Count: 195K on Instagram What is the focus of your social media influencing? “The overall theme of my social media is living a well-balanced life. I often have clients as a licensed marriage and family therapist who are extremely successful in one or two areas, but are lacking overall happiness. I find that paying equal...
Cool to Be Kind
Local mom creates book systems teaching kids that success is built on character. Being a mother doesn’t come with a handbook. So Danielle LaBriola, mother of two, decided to write her own book. A series of them, actually. Her book series, Crafting Character, is a five-trait system of books with accompanying interactive plushies that help cultivate the best character from kids. “I struggled to conceive my ‘miracle babies’ so I went all-in trying to be a perfect parent,” says LaBriola. Living in Coto de Caza with her 11-year-old twins, Jack and Scarlett, LaBriola says she planned amazing adventures for her...
A New Normal for Mompreneurs
Find out how these OC mompreneurs have adjusted and adapted throughout 2020. Jasmine Roth Age: 36 Family: Husband, Brett; daughter, Hazel, 5.5 months City: Huntington Beach Star of: HGTV’s “Help! I Wrecked My House”; previously on “Hidden Potential” How did your passion for home construction and design begin? “By accident! I started building a house for my husband and I, and it sorta snowballed into a career. Whoops! That said, it's been a lot of hard work and dedication to get into this space and leave my mark. I still feel like an outsider and I'm constantly trying to prove...
Mom Power— Giving Birth to Premature Twins During the Pandemic
Local nurse becomes a patient and a mother in the midst of COVID-19. Becoming a working mom is hard enough. Being a nurse is hard enough. Life during the pandemic has been hard enough. Melissa Leite pulled off something like the modern mom hat trick, giving birth to twins at the hospital she works in during a pandemic. You may applaud if you like. As a nurse at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, she’s worked in various departments, so she understands the value of preparedness. But there are only so many things you can plan for. “Nothing was normal with our...
Developing Skills for Mindful Parenting
[caption id="attachment_43257" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by Madison Lavern on Unsplash[/caption] Parents have a lot to handle these days. Here are some methods for staying sane when things get real. Becoming a parent and having the opportunity to raise a little one of your own is one of the best gifts that life has to offer. Still, as beautiful as the experience is, there’s a lot that goes into parenting that can wear you down until you feel like having a temper tantrum of your own. When it feels like you’re losing control of your emotions, some mindful parenting techniques can...
Moms on the Frontline
Five steadfast and courageous Orange County moms, serving the community amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Paramedic Stephanie Maynard Job: Orange County Fire Authority firefighter/paramedic Residence: Central Orange County Family: “I’m a single mother of one boy who is 7 years old and is in first grade.” What inspired you to make this your career? “I have been a firefighter for 13 years and a firefighter/paramedic for two years. I had always wanted to be a firefighter as they had helped me when I was in a car accident in my 20s. The camaraderie of station life, uncertainty of what...
Your Guide to Super Parenting in 2020
Here’s how to up your parenting skills to superpower level for the new year. Parenting is a tough job. Your commitment, love and genuine desire to help your children grow and thrive are key to super parent success in 2020. The new year offers an opportunity to refocus and reprioritize. For working parents, that means taking some time to think about your family dynamic. If 2019 was a year of challenges, confusion or frustration, the new year is a chance to switch up your routines. You can find a better way for your family members to support and relate to...
7 Mom Entrepreneurs
From writing to baking and organizing, these OC mompreneurs are putting their own unique stamp on business. Leslie Bruce Lives in: Laguna Beach With: husband, Yashaar, and her daughter, Tallulah, 5, and son, Roman, 1.5 Profession: Author; writer of “You Are A F*cking Awesome Mom” Connect: @leslieannebruce on Instagram, @lesliebruceamin on Twitter, unpacified.com Background: “As cliché as this might sound, I’ve actually been writing my entire life. As a little girl, I always kept journals, and would make little books out of construction paper and crayons. As an adult, I received my graduate degree in journalism at the University of...
Brunch with Mom
Ways & Means Oyster House Serve Mom an ocean view with her bottomless mimosa at Ways & Means Oyster House. Tucked inside Pacific City in Huntington Beach, Ways & Means serves a seafood-studded brunch with Maine lobster Benedict, shrimp avocado toast and crab huevos rancheros. Mother’s Day Brunch will be offered from 10 am to 3 pm, with reservations highly recommended. 21022 Pacific Coast Hwy. B140, Huntington Beach Old Vine Cafe Costa Mesa’s Old Vine Cafe is known for seasonally driven and innovative dishes and their Mother’s Day Brunch will be no exception. Indulge in family-friendly favorites like caramel apple...
OC Moms: Kate Casey, Briana Vartanian, Kenna Florie and Audrina Patridge
These moms may be in the public light, but they’re moms doing the real work of raising kids. [caption id="attachment_31921" align="aligncenter" width="330"] Photo by Ralph Palumbo[/caption] Kate Casey Comedian/Host/Author | www.loveandknuckles.com Married to: Dan Kids: Mia, 9, Jack, 7, Hayes, 5, Sutton, 3, and Caroline, 9 months Lives in: Newport Beach Podcast: “Reality Life with Kate Casey” (since 2016) In a nutshell: “Philadelphia suburbs born and raised, college in Washington, D.C. Worked in government and then ran my own public relations firm media consulting for global law firms. After the birth of my first child I began writing television recaps,...
Orange County Influential Mothers
These social media mavens and moms have some serious marketing clout as influencers—and have tons of fun doing it. In this age of tech and gadgetry, a new type of marketing opportunity has sprouted from the seeds of social media. The result? Social media influencers. These influencers are powerful experts and personalities who have amassed a significant social media following. In fact, the fans—which number in the thousands and millions—are so large that companies and brands pay these influencers for a mention. These influencers can include anyone with a niche market—from travel to beauty and fashion—including moms. Orange County is...
Healthy Living Advice from a Fitness Trainer
Fitness trainer Nancy Anderson offers words of advice for keeping your family healthy. Family fitness is an important topic for trainer Nancy Anderson. She’s not only passionate about helping moms lose the “baby fat,” but she’s developing a new program specializing in all stages of motherhood—from preconception through pregnancy and beyond. “Everything I teach and include in my programs is completely evidence-based and grounded in research,” says Anderson, who is also a celebrity trainer, nutritionist and CEO of Nancy Anderson Fit, based in Dallas, Texas and Newport Beach. “I also take a unique and targeted approach to addressing common issues...
How Not to Become a ‘Momager’ or ‘Dadager’
We’ve all seen – and shuddered – at the overbearing “stage dads” or “momagers” on reality television shows who know the pageant dance numbers better than their competing kid. Parents who have kids involved in the performing arts tend to be more prone to stage mom syndrome – especially since it’s the parents who have to sit through rehearsals, or watch their child repeatedly practice their dance or acting routines, attend the shows or competitions, and so on. If your child is passionate about acting or dancing, then you naturally will (and have to) be too. But before you start...
Mompreneurs of OC: Baby Edition
When these hardworking and innovative mamas got down to business, they took inspiration directly from their little ones! Anna Dubrovsky City: Orange Mom to: Leela, 5, Rafael 4 Business Name: Wee Likey | weelikey.com Business Location: Wherever I happen to be Year of Business Creation: Incorporated in 2016, launched in 2017 What inspired you to become a mompreneur? I remember going to Babies“R”Us when pregnant and feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of products. I didn’t know what I would need or want. After my daughter was born, what I really wanted was sleep and the occasional shower. Earrings and bracelets...
Seeing Double (or Triple!)
If your joy (and possibly panic) has been multiplied by news of twins, triplets or more — fear not. We’ll help you keep your sanity with these tools for new little bundles of bliss. Pump In Style Advanced Backpack Not only might you need to pump to enlist helpers during group-feeding time, when on the go you will likely need a hands-free tote, as yours are bound to be occupied. Sling on this backpack-style double pump set and you are good to go. This will also work well for those observing post-cesarean lifting restrictions and those in need of a...
Bump Up Your New Year’s Game!
Love your bump, but bummed about a diminished New Year’s? Here are our hacks to keep your party on, Mama! A Smooth Pregnancy Being pregnant certainly doesn’t end the grown up fun, and just might be seriously amp up the action. No matter how maintained you are in non-bump life, at a certain point shaving becomes a feat reserved for yogi and can even be downright…dangerous. The pros at OC Waxing have you covered. Or uncovered. Many are moms, and all have been trained in positioning for pregnancy waxes. (Keep this in mind pre-delivery, vastly superior to seeing that nurse...
Mommy Works
Have you ever dreamed of bringing your kids to work with you? Well, now you can. Mommy Works is a child-friendly office that gives work-from-home moms a space to engage, collaborate and work with other professionals, all while keeping a watchful eye on their children. The office, which describes itself as a “co-working community for all moms”, offers desks, Wi-Fi, coffee and conference rooms for moms and a safe, supervised playroom for kids. Geared at children aged six months-to-six years, Mommy Works also features breastfeeding and pumping stations, a child-friendly kitchen and a quiet room with a children’s reading corner....
The Bank of Mom
Educating Kids on Money Matters Scheduling annual wellness exams for our children is a high priority, but complete wellness goes beyond mental and physical health. Raising kids to become happy independent adults includes teaching them to be financially responsible. A recent study by the Council for Economic Education shows that children who receive financial education have higher credit scores at the age of 22 as opposed to those who do not. We can boost our children’s financial health by talking about money matters in our daily life both early and often. Unlike hiring tutors or paying for travel team trainers,...
Mum’s the Word
Q: [Whole Family] I am a stepmother to an adorable 3 and 5-year-old. They spend a lot of time at our house and sometimes the older one slips and calls me “mom” or refers to me as her mom to her friends. The little one mimics her. I’m hugely flattered, and kind of get it. If someone asks me how many kids I have, I say three (my son is 9) without distinction. But I don’t want to cause a problem with their mother. How should I handle it without hurting their feelings? A: Parenting is a challenging task no...
Meet our New Social Media Mama!
As if she didn’t have enough going on, we decided Jennifer Hulick needed to add a bit more to her plate and tagged her as our new Social Media Mama. What’s it like to raise a very full house of two teens, triplet kindergarteners, husband and boxer-mix Marley? “We’re busy, but that’s how I grew up – we had a big family and were always on the go. On Sundays, we spend time as an extended family at my parents’ in Huntington Beach. We’re all no more than a bike ride away, which is great. The kids all play in...
Keeping it Real: Alexis Bellino
Alexis Bellino is not your typical reality star. She and her husband Jim attend church with the children weekly and pray together as a family at meals and bedtime. While both were previously married, they seem determined to do it right the second time around and if the whole world happens to be watching as they try, well, chalk that up to America's voracious appetite for reality programming. Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise is big business as former OC Housewife Jeana Keough (who has a new reality weight loss show premiering on Bravo in September), knows well. But whether it's conducive...