Beyond Mom, A Closer Look at the Mom Behind Motherhood in Hollywood

What makes you a Beyond Mom?

I’m so honored to be considered a Beyond Mom and I hope I can live up to the description. I work very hard to continue to find new ways to be creative in my career and parent with patience, but it’s not easy. I fail a lot. Anybody else?  The only I think I can say for sure is that I try to learn something, anything, from those failures and celebrate the victories. As an actress and writer, I have a constant craving for creativity. And one of the things I realized when my daughter turned 2, was that I was losing myself in motherhood. I was so focused on being a mommy that I had lost touch with the creative, wildly inappropriate person I was before I became a mom. So I started Motherhood in Hollywood, a comedy podcast and blog, where I can talk about the things I love most – being a mom, an actress, and all things Hollywood. I also thought it would be a great way to make connections with other moms in my field, and beyond. Hey, I guess I am a Beyond Mom!

Since starting MIH, it has more than exceeded my expectations. The response to the show has been tremendous and I’m enjoying every minute of it. I get to interview interesting people like Allison Holkerfrom DWTS, Travis Oates (Voice of Piglet), and Mommy Concierge Rosie Pope. Amazing! And because I control all of the production of the show, I can decide when, where and how often I do interviews. I have creative control over a product that I love which is incredibly empowering. I’m also a former reporter who loves to ask questions. The guests on my show have no idea how much research I do to make sure they come off looking even more fantastic. They also have no idea that I will interject ridiculous questions and add my own blunt observations. That’s my little surprise!

MIH continues to grow as I learn more about myself, and my vision for the future this show holds.  It’s now a full-blown business and I’m so proud that it’s something I created out of love for my daughter.

What are the parts of you that have grown and expanded since becoming a Mom?

Since becoming a mom I’m much more sensitive and aware of other parents and what they’re doing through. I know it’s cliche, but the struggle is real!  My husband and I were married for nearly 11 years before having our daughter. We were very set in our ways and super judgy of parents who seemingly couldn’t “control” their kids. We were such jerks!  We had no idea karma was about to serve up a dish of cold, hard reality. I think about that person I used to be when my daughter is throwing a tantrum in Target or refusing to eat her food even though I’ve begged and bribed. Parenting is hard! None of us are experts. I’m doing the best I can to raise my daughter and I have complete compassion for other parents who I know are doing the same. And even though parenting is a challenge, the rewards far outweigh the negative aspects. When my daughter pretends to put on makeup with me in the bathroom or wants to dance to The Fresh Beat Band after breakfast, every tough moment disappears and she’s pulled me in with her girlish gravity. And that’s the part of parenting I didn’t realize was possible. The overwhelming love you, feel for your child is what keeps you from going insane during those challenging times. Now I find myself looking at other parents with empathy, not sympathy. Big difference. I’ve been there. I get it. Keep your chin up, Mama. The breakfast dance is coming.

Can you share a collaboration/success story with another woman; what helped the collaboration become successful?

I recently planned a huge fundraiser with 3 very strong, very opinionated women. It was the first-ever Motherhood in Hollywood podcast in front of a live audience. I did it to raise money for an organization called No Kid Hungry, which provides meals to hungry children all over the U.S.  I called on 3 women who I knew had experience in this area to help me see my vision through. We were all very different people, but working toward the same goal. Throughout this process, I found that nothing brings people together more than helping someone else. Each person brought a unique perspective on the event but everyone was respectful of the others’ role. Does this always happen with fundraisers or event planning? Probably not. Maybe I just got lucky. I learned so much about dealing with vendors, booking space, rentals, etc. One thing I used to my advantage is that I’m a good listener and note taker. There’s a lot of details in planning an event and it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. The podcast has helped with that a lot too. Often times we are so caught up in the noise of social media, our kids, our mind wandering… We forget to take in information, instead of just dishing it out. I would say that was a key factor in the success of our event, and our friendships.

What relationships help you stay connected to yourself?

Definitely the relationship with my husband, Chris. No one is more honest, more supportive, and more respectful of me than he is.  It was one of the promises we made to each other when we got married 15 years ago. If I lose sight of my goals, he’s quick to remind me why I’m doing my podcast or why I’m an actress in the first place. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of Hollywood and forget who you are. When I had the idea for the Motherhood in Hollywood he was the first one in line to cheer me on. Everyone needs someone in their corner to remind them to stay humble, stay focused, and be kind to yourself. Chris Brooker is that person for me and I’m so grateful for him every day.

Do you have a ‘Beyond’ dream that you are pursuing? If so, please share…

I would love to have a series regular role on a TV show. And as with anything in life, sometimes you have to take the bull by the horns and create something yourself. So instead of waiting for Hollywood to come to me, I’m writing a script in the hopes that I can sell it to a fabulous producer who will want to put it on TV with me in it. Lofty, I know. But you wanted something Beyond and for me that would be Beyond amazing.

What wellness activity can you not live without? What is one thing you do daily that balances you?

I stole this idea from my friend Retta so I have to give her credit. But I do a “brain dump” every night before bed. I jot down all the things I need to do the next day, any podcast ideas I have, or quick notes just to get them out of my head. Otherwise I will be up all night tossing and turning, going through that list. I need to clear my mind before I go to bed or I won’t get any sleep. It’s a problem I’ve had for years.  My mind races over ideas and I can’t relax. I’ve found that doing the dump (LOL) before bed is a huge help. I know what I need to do. It’s all laid out for me when I wake up.

How does style influence the way you stay feeling ‘Beyond’? Who is currently your favorite designer?

Can I be honest and say that I am the worst person to ask about style? I live in my sweatpants. It’s one of the things I love about doing Motherhood in Hollywood. It’s audio only! I can sit behind my mic in my studio with my favorite sweatpants on and no one is the wiser. A recent guest on the show was my friend and stylist Alexis Scott. I couldn’t wait to talk to her about style and try to zero in on what exactly my style is. We came to the conclusion that my style is “active, without activity.” I’ll take it! I do a lot of shopping at Target and Torrid. But beyond that, I’m a bit of a style mess.  I’m also open for suggestions for anyone who has a plus size brand they love. Hit me up because I definitely need some style. I’m in Hollywood after all!

Favorite Spots that Embody The Beyond Mom:

Beyond Cocktails and/or Food:

Without a doubt, one of the best places to have a cocktail without the pressure of dressing up for an expensive night out is a place called Castaway in Burbank, CA.  The outdoor patio overlooks the San Fernando Valley and Downtown LA. It’s romantic, without being cheesy or trendy.  Love that place.

For food there is a great place in Downtown LA called The Pie Hole. They serve sweet and savory pies that are to die for. Mexican Chocolate comes to mind. I dream about that pie.

I’m also addicted to Souplantation, and not just because they send me awesome coupons. I love going there and filling up on greens and veggies. It’s also kind of fun to show my daughter all the colorful options she can scoop and put on her plate.

Beyond Workout:

I’m excited to share about this one! Right now I’m in the midst of a weight-loss challenge for my anniversary called the #MIH15by15. I’m trying to lose 15 pounds by my 15th wedding anniversary. I’m challenging myself to get off my couch and get out into the world. I’ve been trying a bunch of fun, unique workouts all over LA. Highlights include PlyoJam, Sword Fighting, and Aerial Fitness with Cirque School LA. My anniversary is on May 5th and I’ve almost reached my goal! The workouts are a blast, but the diet is the real challenge. I’m a snacker and I love desserts. But the goal is to look better and feel better in my clothes and when playing with my daughter. I’d love to hear more workout suggestions. And you can join me in the final weeks of my challenge by following along at MotherhoodinHollywood.com

Beyond Shopping:

If someone would pay me to shop my life would be complete. Clothes, shoes, housewares, toys, electronics. All of it. I love shopping at home stores like Pottery Barn, Home Goods or Williams Sonoma. Even though I can’t afford anything in WS, I still go in and lust after all of the beautiful kitchen things that I want, but probably don’t need.  Then I go to Target and buy a cheaper version of it cause ya know, budget.  I’m also addicted to DSW and basically any online shopping. I’ve recently discovered a toy subscription service called Bumby Box that I’m addicted to. And I want to own everything on modcloth.com. Yeah, I realize I might have a problem with shopping. But why be an average shopper when you can go Beyond?