(201) Family Spring 2018 | Page 29

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP The Rosie Pope + Naturepedic Pure & Secure Sleep organic crib mattress (shown above), available at Nordstrom and Kohl’s, is part of the brand’s GOTS-certified organic sleep collection. but if you see life in phases, it’s easier to understand how things may be hec- tic and crazy now but in a few years, as kids grow older, you will have more time for yourself. Looking at things this way puts less pressure on us to try and balance everything when there aren’t enough hours in the day. Having said that, you still need to stay sane: Take as many “bathroom” trips as you need. It’s your sacred space…your few minutes of quiet. Agree to turn off from work for a few hours when you know it’s possible. Constantly checking in or looking at your phone won’t provide fulfill- ing time for you or your kids. Treat yourself like someone you love. Easier said than done, but if you are going to make this work and be happy while doing it, you have to be physically and emotionally able to handle it all — and that only comes from treating yourself the right way when it comes to food, sleep, exercise and having fun. WHY DID YOU CREATE THE ROSIE POPE LIFESTYLE BRAND? I founded Rosie Pope the brand 10 years ago on the premise that parents should have a reliable brand they can turn to for great products, style and guidance. At the time, brands in the baby/ parenting space only focused on one thing, e.g. clothes or gear or mater- nity. I have always believed when you find something you love and trust, you want to stay with it, and so we set out to grow with our customers from maternity to baby and beyond. WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FOR SELECTING THE STYLES AND PRINTS FOR THE PRODUCTS IN YOUR CLOTHING LINES? Actually, it becomes hard to think of prints as opposed to narrowing them down! Because of the nature of retail, we produce many collections a year and they all need their own unique prints that are different from the ones before. Constantly coming up with cute and on-trend options can be a tricky combination. Ultimately, I have to rely on what I like to call my “ooh instinct.” Basically, if it makes me gasp, if it tickles me, I know it is right because that is exactly the way I hope other parents will feel when they see it. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? My kids. I want to provide them with every- thing they need and every wonderful opportunity I can help them have. Knowing how hard parenting can be, and knowing I can help make things better, easier, and more fun for the people that encounter my products is so motivating. WILL YOU BE INTRODUCING ANY NEW ITEMS TO YOUR WOMEN, MATERNITY, NURSING OR BABY LINES THIS YEAR? Yes! We are con- stantly adding and growing as we see the need, and we feel we have a unique and expert point of view to add. We recently added a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)- certified organic sleep collection, including a collaboration with Naturepedic Mattresses for cribs. We will also continue to expand into the accessory space with gear for strollers, car seats, school lunches and more. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF EXPANDING INTO TODDLER CLOTHING AS WELL? Yes. I’m working on it, I promise! WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ITEM? It’s so hard to pick one, as each season has standouts and different parts of America always favor different things. My favorite item has to be our baby t urbans…I love them. > (201) FAMILY | SPRING 2018 27