MOM GOALS Q&A With Parker
A brand I love, Parker, recently approached me for a #MOMGOALS Q&A. I thought, "ME?! Mom goals?!" I could think of so many other mamas that have it way more together than I do. But then I thought, "You know what? We are all just doing our best!" You've heard me say it before and I'll say it again: there is no such thing as balance. Whenever people ask me how I handle motherhood, blogging full time, and being married to a plastic surgery resident who is hardly around, my mind immediately goes to the 76 partially-finished, or more likely, partially-started items on my to-do list. The truth is, no person, not even Wonder Woman, can do everything well all at once. And, as I have learned from this past month suffering from a second ectopic pregnancy which ended with an emergency surgery, sometimes we absolutely have to take a break. And breathe. It always seems like there are a million and one tasks to do, but as mamas, the best thing we can do is not be so hard on ourselves. If we do it all with love, we should feel good about each day, no matter how matter how far down the to-do list we make it. Below is the Q&A with Parker! Shop my dress here.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, we caught up with Elizabeth Savetsky, founder of @excessoriesexpert. She’s a full-time mom, running a successful blog and doing it all with style – making her our definition of #momgoals! Check out the full story below for more on how she balances it all.
What does a typical day look like for you?
The girls wake me up around 7. We have breakfast together, play and then I take them to school at 9. I usually workout at SLT or get right to work on my blog. My schedule is different every day. Sometimes I have meetings or am writing, other times I have press events or am taking photos for a project. I'm typically home by 5, unless I have an event to attend. I love to take the girls to an early dinner in their pajamas and then come home and watch a movie with wine! My husband usually works late, but if he’s around we love to stay home.
What inspired you to start your blog Excessories Expert? How did you do it?
I worked for a fashion PR agency for several years. I was working with bloggers way before Instagram even existed. I always loved to write and noticed that nobody was cornering the market on accessories blogging. With my passion for shoes and bling, it seemed like the perfect niche. When I started my website, it was honestly my 27th priority - I was still working full time and had a baby. The blog was a place where I could say “this is who I am and what I do.” I never thought it would turn into a career or a community of people! Once I started on Instagram, things really took off. My platform has evolved from very curated to a much more organic strategy. My followers really appreciate my honesty and transparency. We are in a constant dialogue with one another.
How do you balance being a successful blogger and a full-time mom?
I really make an effort to be present with whatever I am doing. If I am with my kids I try not to be focused on work at all. On Shabbat, from Friday night sundown to Saturday night sundown, we use no phone, TV, or computer. It’s all about connecting with one another.
When I do photos with the girls, we take 90% of them on my iPhone in burst mode. Something always works. I also think the iPhone captures the REAL moments so well. I cannot have my kids in a stiff, formal photo shoot multiple times a week. If we have a special project, we will shoot with a photographer, but do so very quickly. I don’t want to overly disrupt their world.
How have the skills you’ve learned from being a mother helped you succeed at your business?
I would love to say that I’ve learned time-management and organization, but that would be a complete lie (hah!). However, I will say that I don’t sweat the small stuff as much now. I used to let the tiniest burdens ruin my day. Now, I know what really matters and it helps me focus on being productive instead of being bogged down by time-wasting negativity.
Being around my kids also brings out my creativity which is hugely important in the blogging industry. My girls inspire me with their wild imaginations and their unabashed personalities. I am constantly working to come up with fresh concepts that we will enjoy executing and my audience will be receptive to - even if it’s just a silly cooking video with the girls and I in matching aprons and a retro song playing in the background. I think about what we’re doing in our real life and then how I can package that up and share it with my followers in an appealing, unique way.
Finally, I have learned that if I am going to encourage my girls to be confident, I have to lead by example. Some people don’t take blogging seriously as a career, which is understandable because it is still relatively new. But, it is critical that I take myself seriously as a career woman in this industry in order to be respected. Being a mom has taught me not to be afraid to stand up for myself and ask for what I deserve.
What is the #1 thing you hope to teach your girls?
To be confident. This world will tear you down, so I want to do whatever I can to build my girls up. I believe the key to success in life, work, and relationships is self-confidence. I just want them to love themselves and feel like they can go out there and kill it!
Photography by: Lisa Richov