founders
BCM: If you could hand off one chore to someone else each day, what would it be?
TK: I would have to say cleaning the cat liter box. Its like digging for buried treasure…but the treasure stinks, literally.
EH: Laundry. It never ends.
BCM: What is your favorite thing to do to relax and unwind?
TK: Peacefully read my People magazine without pages torn out. For some reason, my 10 year old son loves to read People and by the time I get to it there are so many missing pages!
EH: Good food and wine at home with friends. I love to cook!
BCM: What is your best parenting hack?
TK: Competition! When my kids don’t want to do something like get dressed or brush their teeth, I say “I’ll race you to see who can do it first”. I always let them win so it really works every time.
EH: Scavenger Hunts. It can keep them busy for a good hour!
BCM: What is the best white lie that you’ve told your child?
TK: For the three year old, I told him that we hired the nanny to keep monsters out of the house! It’s her job to make sure no monster can get inside and if they come close to the house she puts them in the garbage.
EH: The TV went to sleep.
BCM: If you could describe motherhood in one word, what would it be?
TK: Master-Multi-Tasker (Is that three words?)
EH: Exhausting.
BCM: What’s one moment in your journey that has made you proud?
TK: Snap’t was a t
wo and a half year journey of a lot of hard work, some mistakes and lots of learning until we launched in March. My oldest two have been along for the ride with me and for them to see our ideas come to life and be so successful from the start taught them so many lessons about patience, perseverance and hard work. My son has been learning about finance and business in school and his teacher asked me to come in and speak to the class about starting a business. He was beaming with pride and I was so happy to share the lessons I learned and my experience with his class.
EH: My 7-year-old reading to my 3 year old.
BCM: Congratulations on creating Snap’t — we are in love with the designs! Tell us what inspired you to launch a super-fun collectible accessory line for girls.
TK: I felt like I was always buying less than stellar products for my daughter. She would wear them once and that would be the end of it. We wanted to create something for young girls to collect, trade and have an experience with. But the Snap’t brand is really about encouraging girls to be their best selves and however you Snap’t is awesome. There is no right or wrong way! We knew we wanted a tool to spread the message of kindness and to help young girls feel confident and secure. That’s why every season we partner with a charity specifically involved with anti-bullying and helping girls build high self esteem.
EH: After owning and operating a café in NYC for 10 years, I wanted to do something that did not tie me to store hours and allowed me to connect more with my kids. I also remember trading and collecting stickers and stationary when I was a kid and wanted to create something that evoked that kind of community among friends.
BCM: How did you decide to partner together?
TK: We used to own a restaurant together (pre-kids) in NYC. We work so well together because we both have very different strengths and that makes a great team. Also, there is no one you could trust more than a sister!!! Also, with one of you in New York and one in Miami–how does that work being partners? Lots and lots of phone time!
EH: Tara is my “little” sister. We talk all the time anyway, now we just talk about business along with the sister stuff. There is always Facetime if we need to show each other something and we see each other in person often as it is.
BCM: What is one piece of advice you want to pass along to your children?
TK: Since I was a little girl, my father would sign every card to us “Be You Always.” As I got older, it held more and more meaning for me. I want my kids to love, respect and be proud of themselves. Be confident and stand up for what you believe in.
EH: No one is perfect. You just need to be the best you, that you can be.
BCM: What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms?
TK: Pick your battles carefully. It doesn’t bother me when my son wears two different socks (or shoes), my daughter picks out the ugliest sneakers, or my little one wears a basketball jersey EVERY DAY. It’s what makes them individuals and I’ve learned to embrace it.
EH: Don’t be too hard on yourself. Being a mom is the toughest job out there!
BCM: How do you tackle the work/life balance?
TK: It’s a struggle. When I turned 40, I decided that I needed to take care of myself better. I started exercising every day and that has been like therapy for me. I try to make time to go out for dinner alone with my husband at least one night a week. And try to meet friends for drinks/dinner too. Weekends are for family. It’s not always perfect, but I’m okay with that.
EH: I have been trying to accept the fact that my life may never be balanced. At different times, my attention needs to be more focused on work or family. When push comes to shove, my family always comes first.
Fun Facts:
Favorite Beauty Product:
TK: Latisse- not having to put on mascara is huge!
EH: Oribe, Supershine Moisturizing Cream for my hair. I love the way it smells!
Favorite Form of Exercise:
TK: Spinning.
EH: Yoga
What is on your DVR?
TK: Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, Anthony Bourdain- Parts Unknown, Chelsea Does
EH: What isn’t? Who has time to watch TV?
Favorite App:
TK: Waze- could not survive without it.
EH: Waze when I’m driving, Uber when I’m not.
Favorite Kids Store:
TK: Malibu Sugar- Their customer service will keep me a customer forever!
EH: Lou and Norman & Jules, both local Brooklyn stores.