BCM - How did your life change when you became a mom? 
Tara - The biggest change for me (besides the obvious!) has been the progressive honing of my intuition. Being a mom has truly taught me to listen to my inner voice and know my own truth allowing me to love myself and my three little people in ways I didn't know was possible before motherhood.

BCM - What has been your most memorable moment (s) as a mom?
Tara - The arrival of our third baby, Miss Vivienne. Let me start by saying, I love epidurals and had planned for yet another hospital birth. Vivienne had other plans. My first contraction began about 9:30 on a Saturday morning and less than 45 minutes later, Luke and I delivered Vivienne on the floor of our apartment. During the delivery I kept thinking to myself "he's a doctor, he's a doctor" but then I'd look at his face (eyes like saucers) and think "I want a different doctor!" Luckily Vivi was incredibly healthy and so now the story seems incredibly sweet.  People always told me that 3rd babies comes fast. Enough said.

BCM - What has been the biggest challenge for you in motherhood.  Any advice for new moms? 
Tara - As far as I can see, pregnancy and the postpartum experience is an emotional crapshoot. Some women breeze through, never feeling better, never more beautiful, never happier. And then there's the rest of us. I had postpartum depression (PPD) with all three of my pregnancies. With my first baby, I didn't have the experience to recognize it or the support to treat it so I suffered in relative silence wondering why motherhood didn't feel like I thought it would, wondering  what was wrong with me. When I was pregnant with baby #2 (8 years later... yeah, it took a little time before I was willing to sign up for it all again) I was hopeful that this time would feel different, but within weeks of his birth, I found myself in a similar emotional postpartum space. And with baby #3, I actually started taking Zoloft during the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy and continued for the full year postpartum, understanding that I am a better version of myself when taking an antidepressant. Advice for new moms? Please know that there are so many moms who have been through and are going through postpartum depression. Find the right doctor, the right medication and the right support and know that you are not alone.

BCM - Congratulations on the success of Medbasics!  What was the inspiration behind starting your company?
Tara - Thank you! The inspiration for starting MEDBASICS came from having to save my own son during a severe choking episode on a random Tuesday afternoon. I knew what to do most likely from my training as a nurse but I was left with the unsettling thought that moms, dads and babysitters who were not medically trained might not know what to do in that same situation. Once I did a little research, that hunch was confirmed as I found that 80% of people who take a CPR/first aid class fail when retested just 6 months later. The mission of MEDBASICS is to embrace that statistic, stop pretending that people will remember and provide solutions for parents and caregivers to use during actual emergencies. 

BCM - What type of information can be found in your products?
Tara - Topics include: Allergies, Bites & Stings, Bleeding, Burns, Choking, CPR, Falls (head injury), Fever, Poison & Rash. Parents and Caregivers can easily understand when to call the doctor, when they can treat something at home and perhaps most importantly, when to call 911 and what lifesaving actions should be given until the ambulance arrives. 

BCM - You have Medbasics home packs, travel packs, and even an app?  What's next?
Tara - The newest version of Baby MEDBASICS was published by Running Press April 2011 and Toddler MEDBASICS was released just last month, October 2011. (both available through amazon, barnes & noble, target…) The Baby MEDBASICS app is available for download on iTunes. I'm most excited about a new initiative to place infant and toddler choking instruction posters in restaurants. Most people don't realize that the current laws only require restaurants to display adult choking signs… we're going to change that. Lastly, MEDBASICS is offering comprehensive in-home safety courses as well as safety focused play dates. The safety play dates are fantastic because moms can spend time with their children, time with other moms and go home feeling super empowered.

BCM - How do you manage your work life balance? 
Tara - I'm laughing because immediately I hear myself say… not well. I guess that's not totally true. Honestly, I try and take life minute by minute. Lots of meditation, lots of breathing and occasionally a big glass of red wine (or two… or three).

BCM - What types of activities do you like to do w/ your kids?
Tara - Seasonal activities like apple picking, pumpkin carving, holiday crafts, the beach, the park, we love to make decorations and plan "parties" (these are sometimes holiday related but maybe just "Happy Friday" or something equally as mundane but fun). I love to bake so I bake a lot with both my sons. Oh, we like to watch the X Factor together too.
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FUN FACTS:   
I’m totally obsessed with…

Tara - Buxom's "Brandy" Lip Gloss

My biggest influence is… 

Tara - hands down, my sister

My favorite drugstore buy is.. 

Tara - Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

Products I can’t live without..

Tara - the Patricia Wexler M.D. line of facial products, especially the skin brightening daily moisturizer… the best, the best, the best!

My guilty pleasure is...

Tara - Gossip Girl.. love that show!

Favorite NYC restaurant…

Tara - Marea (240 Central Park South)… I day dream about their mushroom risotto… ridiculously yummy!