Fab Fete – Fab Mom Blogger Bash

I firmly believe in women supporting other women and had this vision of gathering mommy bloggers who cover fashion in NYC together for an inspiring networking session.  The vision came to life last week when these beautiful women came dressed in black and white to match the event’s theme.

Upon arrival, guests delved deep into meaningful conversations with the icebreaking opening question, ‘what is your blog’s greatest highlight and challenge these days.”  We mixed and mingled and got to one another’s businesses.  I find that asking the right questions sparks the most interesting conversations.

All the food and decor was black and white which was easy for me because this is a favored theme of mine and I happen to own a ton of it already.  So I simply used old damask curtains as linens, lined my party platters with damask papers, bought black and white beverages and placed all the salads and light bites into black/white containers that I already owned.

Here’s a closer look at the f&b table.  The custom cake pops and #fab_mom cookies are by Angela from Sweet Fix, a NY based, fellow mompreneur. You’ll see that the sushi, black and white desserts and drinks continued the black and white theme.

Plus we had VROU, our water sponsor offering tastings of all their enriched water flavors.

I couldn’t have set this all up without the help of my friend and special speaker of the night, Hope McGrath who came in a couple hours early to help setup and greet guests.

The two of us have started working side by side, once a week on similar business strategies and in doing so have worked out an in-trade partnership where we trade hours working and helping one another on each other’s special events.  It is this sort of creative collaboration that I’m hoping would inspire others to do the same at this event and beyond.

Hope, who is now a transformational life coach, (doesn’t her name sound like she was born to do this??)  led a helpful exercise which required everyone to reconsider and practice their elevator pitch.

The goody bags had further information on how to follow-up and further refine that pitch.

Throughout the event, new connections and friends were made, requests on how we could support each other were verbalized, and we all left feeling a little more rejuvenated and motivated.

And thanks to Tricia from Roden + Fields we received some pampering and oohed and ahhed at all the amazing before/after photos of people who have used her products.

At the end of the event, Hope randomly pulled 5 winning names for the raffles.  A special thanks goes out to the following raffle sponsors:  Cosabella, Roden + Fields, Soul Cycle, and Kidville Fidi.

Special thanks to goody bag sponsors:

• Cosabella (who has launched a fashionable, new maternity line!)
• Roden + Fields
• Oasis Day Spa
• Massage Now
• Artifact Uprising

And thanks to all my #fab_mom friends!  Remember to tag #fab_mom on your mommy and me pics on Instagram, follow @fab_kids and @fabgabblog and enter for your chance at a feature!

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6 Reasons Why Fab Moms Need To Stick Together

I’ve written about how to spot a fab mom on the playground here.  I’ve featured fab moms every Monday on my @fab_kids Instagram page. And I’ve expressed what being a fab mom means to me.  But to my husband and any other person off the street, the term ‘fab mom’ is simply synonomous with being an over-the-top fashion mom. In everyone else’s eyes it’s like we’re a whole different species, obsessed with fashion, turning back-to-school shopping into a science.

Well it’s time fab moms around the world unite.  Here are 6 reasons why:

1.  It’s a way to normalize yourself.  Fab moms, if you wanna feel normal, (and we all know you’re not), you need to find others like you!  Remember that feeling in high school where all you wanted to do was be able to fit in and sometimes all it took was finding the right ‘clique?’  Guess what, motherhood is high school all over again.  Being a new mom shoves you into a whole new world where making new friends is a basic requirement to survive.  Finding others like you is the key to comfortably fitting in.  I remember this one time a mommy friend and I trekked all the way uptown with kids in tow for a very 2015- Insta meet…you know where you meet in person the fashionistas you’ve been stalking, err I mean talking to on Instagram.  Yea we’re modern moms like that.  And we were willing to travel to the other side of Manhattan to hunt for these other fab moms.  Except when we arrived at the selected playground, all we saw were Birkenstocks, mommy jeans and athletic sneakers.  We were momentarily horrified that we wasted the trekk and slightly defeated thinking we’d never really find our tribe.  Luckily we eventually all found each other by strategically spotting the other highly decorated toddlers (and their designer strollers).
2.  You don’t want to be the only Mamarazzi around.  What’s a mamarazzi? We’re the outlandish mom who acts like her child’s personal paparazzi! With camera phone in one hand and a SLR draped around the neck, we stalk our mini muse’s every move making sure to capture each sashay and over-the-shoulder look.It’s nice to be around other Mamarazzis because fab moms see one another and give each other appreciative looks instead of the judgemental ones that we’re used to getting during our never-ending photo shoots.  Mamarazzis admire one another for the perseverance exhibited when trying to capture the perfect photo!  And they are the perfect bystander to ask a photo favor from.  “Do you mind taking a shot of us in our matching outfits?  The selfie can only capture so much…and we need a head-to-toe, full-outfit shot please.”  Who else would be able to respond with such a supportive, ‘YES, sure!’ and say it without a pinch of criticism or ridicule?
3.  We don’t shy away from Instafame and never say no to an impromptu photo shoot so it’s a minor relief when we find other moms who share the same ideology.  It’s incomprehensible how one would have a Pinterest-worthy play date and NOT record it on social media (right?!?).  Other fab moms get that and even encourage those Instagram posts of the kids.  We’re not trying to raise miniature Kim Kardashians but we don’t mind living out and sharing our lives on social media.  It’s all in good fun and a fellow fab mom is always more than willing to help out, assist and style your photo shoot with you – who wouldn’t love that?!

The above screenshot is of my @fab_kids Instagram account that features the most stylish minifashionistas from around the world.  If you aren’t already folowing, why NOT??

Here’s little J getting some Insta love at the recent Chanel pop-up store during New York Fashion Week.  Notice how she’s so used to the cameras that all this attention didn’t even phase her.

4.  Your kids need to socialize with other fashion kids.   You don’t want your child wondering to themselves, why they’re the only freaks dressed to the nines .  Insert another over-accessorized child or two and suddenly your child doesn’t seem so out of place!

5 Your husband isn’t likely to understand your overwhelming need to find the perfect holiday themed outfit and neither are the rest of the PTA members.  But your fab mom friend will and she will not only share your enthusiasm for the search but be able to rattle off the top 5 places to get the best deal and most unique fashions!  She may even offer to help organize that closet, let you borrow her fab finds and suggest you shop together! Finally, someone who shares your unbridled passion for fashion!

6 Zagat won’t be able to help you but we will!  As a new mom, finding the perfect kid-friendly places to see and be seen is like trying to find a Vogue Italia at Yale University.  No one around you cares or has a clue as to what you’re talking about.  Your typical event sites and local directories won’t point you into a  glam girl section.  No, you need your fellow fab mom as a resource! “Have you heard about the adorable Eloise shop at the Plaza?”  “There’s no occasion but wanna join me for a brunch at American Girl?”  “I hear Laduree has a beautiful garden in SoHo – tea anyone?”  “Can you get me into NYFW?  How about Kids Fashion Week?”  These are all commonly heard sayings amongst fab moms who are desperately looking for reasons to break out their new wardrobe and break in some new shoes (kids’ and moms’ both!).  Kids need reasons to dress-up too!

That’s why I’ve hosted posh play dates and hosted dress-up kids’ parties in Manhattan through my organization, Fab kids.  White party for toddlers anyone??  I’m on a personal mission to connect these lost and poorly understood souls.   We all want a mommy meetup that we can actually look forward to and look fab for, right?  Fab moms unite and if you’re in Manhattan, let’s meet up!  I’ve got a fashionable crew of fab moms who want to meet you.

If you know of any fab moms, please share this post with them and encourage them to join our (self-deprecating) tribe on FB!

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