BCM - How did your life change when you became a mom?

Ali:  Wow, how didn’t it change? I guess for me the biggest change would be the adjustment to not being in control.  Although it’s probably an illusion that you’re in control at any age, I find parenting to be the antithesis of control.  You have to learn to adjust, and just when you think you have a routine, it’s time for a new one!

BCM- What has been your most memorable moment (s) as a mom?

Ali:  Sadly, I lost my father right before my son’s second birthday.  My father was a great man, and it was a terrible, premature loss.  But in the midst of it all, I had Tyler.  And that meant that as wrong as the world felt during that painful loss, I always had a reason to smile and be okay.  Being a mother is a gift of the new generation.  And I'm privileged to have my dad – and someday me – live on through Tyler. It’s an incredible reminder of life, its cycle, and the gift that it all is.  Tyler reminded me of that then, and will forever.

BCM- What has been the biggest challenge for you in motherhood?

Ali:  I’m just like every mom out there: I want to do it all perfectly all of the time, but I’m only human and am acutely aware of my own imperfections.  Whether it’s the daily juggle, trade-offs of being a working mom, sleep exhaustion, or decisions about everything from parenting philosophies to school choices to what to make for school lunch, motherhood is full of challenges.  I want it all to be perfect and yet wonder the whole time if I’m getting it right. That’s when I just have to breathe, and remember that many moms have done it before...Seriously neurotic – ha! 

BCM - What inspired you to start your own business - Giggle?

Ali:  I think I was born an entrepreneur. I came by it honestly, since my father was an entrepreneur.  But from the time I started my career with Nike to the day I left to start giggle, I moved to the ‘creation' side of every opportunity, in both the big companies and small ones.  As for giggle specifically, it really is the sum of my career as a consumer brand marketer focused on women’s markets – and also the result of coming from a big family full of kids. (I’m one of 9 kids, and Tyler now has 15 cousins on my side alone!)

Bottom line, I became mesmerized by the changing demographic of today’s parent who's older, more educated, and voracious in their appetite for knowledge and the best products. There was a proliferation of products available for new parents – almost too many choices – but nobody was narrowing it down to just the best and the smartest. So I wanted to help make new parents' jobs a little easier so they could spend less time worrying about what to buy and more time being a parent. That’s how giggle was born.

BCM - How do you manage your work/life balance? Any advice for moms?

Ali:  It’s a journey…that’s all I can say.  Seriously, I would be lying if I said I ever felt totally “in balance.”  For me, it’s about the ebb and flow. It all means a lot to me, and I try hard to give it equal time, but I rarely can do it on a daily basis.  So for me, it’s about never forgetting what’s important, but also cutting myself some slack on the days where balance just isn’t achievable – because it happens.

BCM - What types of activities do you like to do w/ your kids?   What do you do for fun?

Ali:  We bought a small house in the Catskills Mountains for some country time.  Because I grew up in Montana, I feel strongly that I want my New York City son to have some of what his mom had, so the Catskills is our retreat.  Our favorite country activities?  We garden; we camp out in our backyard; we love our local farmers’ market; we visit a farm every week to collect our own eggs; we play in the Delaware River; we ride our bikes; we belong to the community center swimming pool; we ski in the winter and we just like to play outdoors.

BCM- What are your favorite Mom Essentials and why?

Ali:  Well since my son is now a big 5-year-old, my mom essentials are different than when he was a baby.  Here are a few of my current favorites:

• Sunscreen Wipes – I love the new single-use sunscreen wipes.  In the era of needing to remember sunscreen all of the time, try as hard as I may, sometimes we end up at an event and I realize we’ve forgotten to slather on lotion before we left.  Sunscreen wipes make it easy to always have the right supplies on hand and to be able to apply protection anywhere (and without too much mess).  I have them stashed all over the place!
• Summer Infant Electric Toothbrush – We’re in that stage where brushing takes a lot of reminders but is really essential. I find this perfectly sized, inexpensive electric toothbrush a saving grace when I’m trying to help make sure we get a good brushing, especially since I’ve usually got a wiggling – and not necessarily cooperative – 5-year-old on the other end.
• SmartSippy – My current favorite sippy cup. It's BPA-free, easy to use, and easy to keep using into the post-toddler years when you still need a lidded cup for certain rooms of the house or when you're visiting friends and don't want to take any chances with their carpeting.
• Tripp Trapp Chair – I’ve been using it for my son’s seating since he was about 2 years old, and, at age 5, we still see no end in sight! It’s easy, functional, still looks like new, and is always cute in our dining room. 
• The Flip Camcorder – Wow, an easy-to-use and awesome way to capture the impromptu moments forever.  It's small enough that I can throw it in my purse, and simple enough to use that I won’t accidentally leave the cap on and miss the whole thing.

BCM- If you could give another mom or expectant mom one piece of advice, what would it be?

Ali:  Remember to giggle!  Seriously, one of the greatest gifts of parenting is that it reminds you what life should be all about – and that’s fun!  In all the hustle and bustle of the juggle, it can be easy to miss out on if you’re not careful.

BCM - Do you have a motto you would like to share with other moms?

Ali:  I often find myself saying to customers, “Breathe, it’s okay, your instincts about what to do are usually more right than you think.”  At the end of the day, no one knows better than you do what you need or what your children need.  There’s a ton to read, learn and do, but, at the end of the day, the two keys to good – and I would argue happy – parenting are trusting your instincts and being comfortable in your choices.  And believe me, this is a motto that I often have to remind myself!

BCM - Which BCM event was your favorite? 

Ali:  The Ultimate Registry Event. It’s great!