BCM - How did your life change when you became a mom?
Daya - A lot less sleep, more trips to the park, less movies, more Barney, big messes and a love that is indescribable.
BCM - What has been your most memorable moment (s) as a mom?
Daya - So many...the first time I held her and more recently when she said "I love you mommy." I melted.
BCM - What has been the biggest challenge for you in motherhood. Any advice for new moms?
Daya - Getting enough sleep! My daughter doesn't care that I went to sleep at 4am because I was working. She still wakes me up the minute the sun hits her window. My advice is to try to take a nap when your baby naps. I still do it. Even if it's only 30 min, or 15 min. A small cat nap makes a world of difference.
BCM - Congrats on your latest role of Nina on the new hit show Unforgettable that is filmed in NYC! Tell us a little bit about your character on the show.
Daya - Thank you! Nina is super sassy and street smart. She's the youngest detective on the show and has a lot to prove. She works hard, and while she questions Carrie's (Poppy Montgomery) ability to remember everything, it later challenges her to step up her game.
BCM - You started dancing and acting at a young age, would you like your daughter to follow in your footsteps?
Daya - I do plan to put her into ballet class when she's 3, but that's because she already loves to dance and fell in love with a tutu when she was 18 months old! Of course, I want to expose her to everything: dance, sports, art, school, etc. As she grows, my Husband and I want to see what becomes her bliss...which we will support fully.
BCM - Living in NYC is completely different from where you grew up in California. How do you like living in the Big Apple?
Daya - Love it! It's been an amazingly smooth transition. It doesn't hurt that we found an incredible apartment. We live a block from the subway and across the street from the most incredible park and river. It's the best of both worlds and most importantly our daughter loves it.
BCM - Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important to you. Can you please share some tips for moms?
Daya - I want to tell all the moms out there that after I gave birth to my daughter I didn't have the ability to hire trainers, personal assistants, or get special food. I couldn't get to the gym or anything. So I did what was free...walk! It's key. If I had an appointment or errand, instead of driving, I would walk. If it was too far, I would drive for most of it, but park far away, so I would still have to walk. Little tricks like that add up and end up burning calories and shedding the baby weight. Also, you can eat mostly what you want, just have smaller portions. It's all about moderation.
BCM - How do you manage your work life balance?
Daya - Mostly with the help of my Husband. He really holds down the fort and communication is key. We check in with each other many times throughout the day. We recently hired someone to help out three times a week, but other than that, it's just us. It is difficult, but luckily we both have a lot of energy.
BCM - What types of activities do you like to do w/ your daughter?
Daya - Dance, read, run in the park, go to the museum, swim, and visit Grandma.
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FUN FACTS:
I’m totally obsessed with….
Daya - good food, toddler shoes, imdb.com and the sky
My biggest influence is…
Daya -my family
My favorite drugstore buy is...
Daya - aveeno face wash
Products I can’t live without...
Daya - Sugar Rose lip balm, Pur mineral powder, Lancome mascara and Dr. Bronner's soap
My guilty pleasure is...
Daya -reading entertainment blogs
Favorite NYC restaurant….
Daya - Morimotos downtown and Aquagrill in SOHO
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