Nupoor Patel and Vinnie Patel: 10.9.16

 

 

 

Owners, Baby Mantra

www.babymantra.com

 

 

BCM: If you could hand off one chore to someone else each day, what would it be?

Nupoor: I would hand off grocery shopping. It never seems to end! I go buy food on a Wednesday, and need more by Thursday.

Vinnie: Laundry! I feel like I’m doing laundry more than anything else, and it definitely gets old.

 

BCM: What is your favorite thing to do to relax and unwind?

Nupoor: I enjoy spending time with my two girls. They are 8 years old and 10 years old, and they are getting to the age where they are self sufficient (for the most part), and just a joy to be around. I’m watching them grow up into beautiful young women.

Vinnie: Curling up with a good book in the living room while my little one plays with her toys is very relaxing for me. Family time in general is when I take a deep breath and really reconnect with my life and what is important.

BCM: What is your best parenting hack?

Nupoor: We use lemongrass oil as a bug repellent whenever we know the girls are going to be outside for long periods of time. Perfect for BBQs!

Vinnie: Ditto! My whole family uses lemongrass oil as an insect repellent. It is safer for our skin, for the environment, and cost friendly!

Nupoor and Vinnie Baby Mantra

BCM: What is the best white lie that you’ve told your child? 

Nupoor: I had just poured myself a cup of coffee, and my daughter asked if she could try a sip. I told her coffee would stunt her growth!   

Vinnie: “Use the potty and I’ll give you a surprise.” My then two-year-old was so excited that she had successfully used the toilet that she forgot about the surprise!

BCM: If you could describe motherhood/fatherhood in one word, what would it be? 

Nupoor: Humbling.

Vinnie: Gratifying.

BCM: What’s one moment in your motherhood journey that has made you proud?

Nupoor: Watching my older child, Ritu help her younger sister Richa with homework.

Vinnie: Watching Bella – who just turned 3 dance to a crowd of 500 at her cousin’s engagement

BCM: What is one piece of advice you want to pass along to your children?

Nupoor: I’ve already started instilling in my girls that they need to take care of their bodies. They only get one, and the food they eat and products they use now will play a large role in their wellbeing as adults.

Vinnie: I want my daughter to know that she can always come to me for advice or guidance. After all, if we hadn’t felt comfortable enough going to our own mother for advice, Baby Mantra wouldn’t exist!

BCM: What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms?

Nupoor: I would tell other moms – especially moms with more than one kid – that each child is different, and that this sometimes means you have to parent them differently. Having two daughters myself, I’ve found that they react to the same situations in entirely different ways. I’ve adjusted my parenting style to make sure what I am trying to tell them is received in a way each of them can understand and benefit from.  

Vinnie: I would remind other moms that there is no rulebook when it comes to parenting. You have to do what you think is right at the time for your kid. What works for one mom may not work for you, and that is okay.

Nupoor and Vinnie Baby Mantra

BCM: How do you tackle the work/life balance?

Nupoor: Communication is key. My husband and I work together which gives us a unique chance to spend more time together, but we also have to remember not to bring the work home. When one of us is stressed, the other will be the voice of reason, and that is a huge help in keeping my life balanced.

Vinnie: Being very aware of how much time I spend working versus how much time I spend doing things I enjoy, like spending time with my family, or going out to lunch with a friend, is really helpful. If I’m cognizant of my time and manage it well, I find that I can balance work and my personal life fairly well.

BCM: What was the last book you read? 

Nupoor: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Vinnie: The Happiness Project

BCM: Congratulations on the success of Baby Mantra! What inspired you to start the brand?

Nupoor: After having my first daughter, I had a very hard time finding all-natural, organic hair and skincare products for her. I was spending so much time reading the labels on some of these supposed all-natural products, yet not recognizing any of the ingredients! So I thought to myself, I’m going to whip up my own. Here we are a few years later, with Baby Mantra.

Vinnie: Having grown up with home remedies our mother made, it was a no-brainer that we should want the same for our kids. When Nupoor came to me with the idea of making our own organic products, I was all-in. We used them ourselves as well as on our kids, and gave some to friends, too. All of a sudden there was this demand, and we realized we could fill this gap in the market. So we did.

BCM: What’s your best skincare tip?

Nupoor: Wash your face every night before bed, religiously! Going to bed with remnants of the day still on your face is bad for your pores, to say the least. Believe me, I know what its like to want to just roll into bed, but take those two minutes to wash your face. You won’t regret it.

Vinnie: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I can’t say this enough. Have you ever heard of tech neck? We are all so attached to our cell phones now that we are constantly looking down, and we are getting wrinkles on our necks long before we should be! Always apply face lotion in upward motions and very gently.

Fun Facts:

Favorite Beauty Product:

Nupoor: I’m obsessed with the Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser. It is all-natural and has ingredients like sugar, lemongrass, and coconut oil. Smells amazing and feels great on my skin!

Vinnie: I really love Lush’s liquid lipstick in the color Perspective. It’s gorgeous and perfect for everyday wear!

Favorite Form of Exercise: 

Nupoor: I’m a fan of a jog in the morning. I feel accomplished before I’ve even started my workday!

Vinnie: I have a love/hate relationship with circuit training, but I find that taking 30 minutes out of my day to run through a few sets of abs, arms, legs, or cardio workouts is helpful. It gets those endorphins going, that’s for sure!

What is on your DVR? 

Nupoor: Game of Thrones (I’m catching up)

Vinnie: The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Favorite App:

Nupoor: I love the Mint app. It is a great way to track my spending and also gives me tips on saving, investing, and budgeting.

Vinnie: The Grocery Gadget Shopping List app is a lifesaver. It allows me to make multiple lists for multiple stores, and also matches coupons to shopping items!

Favorite Kids Store:

Nupoor: Babies R Us

Vinnie: Pottery Barn Kids