What do you love most about living on Long Island?
We have a lot of family here on Long Island and love being so close to them. We also love having access to local beaches and being near the water.
How many kids do you have and what are their ages/anything else you would like to share about your kid(s)?
Between the two of us we have 6 kids
Lauren 12 (g), 2 (g), 1 (g),
Jolene 5 (b), 5(g), 3 (b)
Jolene has fraternal twins and Lauren has Irish Twins. We all live less than a mile from each other.
What do you want or wish most for your kids?
Ultimately, we’d love for them to be happy and be true to themselves.
Why did you decide to launch your business?
Our backgrounds in early childhood has nurtured a passion for learning in the early years which has been catapulted since the pandemic started. We both noticed a desire in other parents to teach their children at home; however without having a clear direction of how to do so. Our goal is to help parents facilitate purposeful play at home with the carefully curated materials that we provide in our shop. We are in the beginning stages of birthing our business and have a lot of exciting ideas on the horizon.
Tell us more about your business!
Lauren is a former educator turned SAHM and Jolene is working part time as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. We want to provide children with multi-sensory play experiences that will engage the many layers of learning. We understand that every child has different learning styles and needs.
What motivates you?
Our children are our biggest motivators. We love that we can set an example for them to take risks, work hard for what you believe in and follow your dreams.
What is the best mom advice you have received (or can give)?
Everyone is doing the best they can in a way that serves their own family. There is no “one size fits all” approach in anything as it relates to parenting. Give yourself grace, have an open heart, open mind, follow your gut and don’t second guess your instincts.
Define Motherhood in your own words.
Motherhood is beautiful chaos. It is a journey unlike any other. There’s no clear-cut way to parent and just when you think you’ve got it figured out your child enters a new stage, requiring something to change. Not only that, but once you’ve “been there, done that” and decide to have another child, they turn out to be a whole different ball game!
What is your favorite go to dinner recipe when you are short on time?
Lauren’s go to dinner is Totchos (taco meat over tater tots topped with Greek yogurt, avocado, salsa & tomatoes.) Super healthy, I know!
Jolene likes to make Quinoa Pilaf with any fresh or frozen vegetables.
Sauté yellow onion or shallot in a pan with butter and olive oil until translucent and then add the rest of the mirepoix (carrots, celery, garlic) and any other frozen veg you have that you want to add (peas, green beans, corn, etc.)
Continue to Sauté for 5 minutes.
Add 1 tsp of better than bouillon paste or seasoning and 1 tsp tomato paste. Mix with veg. Pour in quinoa, add liquid and deglaze the pan. Bring to boil and then cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Throw in some fresh, chopped spinach leaves and parmesan cheese and put the cover on for 5 mins until the leaves are wilted. Stir to combine.