Where did you grow up: My husband and I both grew up in Lake Clarke Shores. We have deep roots in the Palm Beaches, I’m a 5th generation and his family came in the 1850’s, they were the original pioneers that surveyed the area. We met in 4th grade and were dating by middle school. Now we’ve been married almost 15 years.
Why you love living there: I am totally in love with Tequesta, it has a small town vibe with monthly gatherings in the park. Friendly families, beautiful waterways connecting everyone and endless outdoor activities. The ocean is to the east, State Park to the North, Lox River the to West and lively Jupiter to the South.
Tell me about your kids: My son Luke is 13, he loves adventure and is a little too brave for his own good. He is extremely social, most weekends he will hop from surfing at the beach to the dam in the Loaxahatchee river, which was named after his great great great grandfather Lainhart. Last summer he was SCUBA certified. Luke has been playing the drums for 5 years and will compete in NY this May. At least once a week you can find him mountain biking the trails at Johnathan Dickenson State Park, he loves the 50 mile growler ride.
My daughter Drew Love is 7, she’s has always had a thirst for learning which I can’t keep up with. She will spend hours tinkering with gadgets, creating things out of scraps and writing stories. I love that shes into art because so am I and it’s something we can do together. When she asked if she could splatter paint her bedroom I couldn’t have been any more proud, it turned out so cool. Drew has been riding horses since she was 5, and she loves playing piano. Most days after school we will meet friends at the playground so both she and I can be social.
Ideal family vacation spot and why: Like many Floridians we love the Bahamas, now that the kids are older we are particularly fond of the Exumas. There are so many reasons to love it, the locals are incredibly kind. The ease of hopping around on a little Whaler and adventuring with family, it’s a relaxing wonderland.
What’s your ‘day job’? My degree is in graphic design but for the past 12 years I’ve been working as a photographer ( I totally photo-shopped the wrinkles out of my bio pic). My focus is mainly on children and families, but very much enjoy branding as well. I feel fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world and work with many high profile clients. My seasonal mini sessions are popular and fill up quickly. It’s an affordable way to document each stage of growth. Many of my clients have been with me for 10+ years.
What is something that makes your life easier/better/more fun? Staying digital has kept my life easy, I can do everything from my phone; plan play dates, track my son, pay for horse riding lessons, turn on the car, etc. My husband knows when I burn dinner because the phone alerts everyone when smoke is in the house. I love that our family calendar syncs on all devices so we can see whats going on from anywhere and my husband can stay in the loop. Something that has made life more fun is Alexa, impromptu dance parties are frequent in my kitchen.
Who inspires you and why? I have been blessed with amazing parents and in-laws. My mom has clothed, fed and furnished homes for hundreds of families in the area. She is currently working on building a facility in Belle Glade for children who need a place to go after school. She is the most kind and selfless person I’ve ever met. My mother in law is a fierce go-getter with a loud contagious laugh. She has taught me to be confident and not get offended easily. When my kids were born she mandated a Friday night sleep over that started once they turned 4 moths old. So every weekend I get a 24 hour break from being a mom. It’s invaluable and probably what has kept me sane.
What do you do for self care? Hot baths, chocolate and weekly date nights.
What did you wish you knew but no one told you about being a parent? I wish someone told me not to use google for researching what type of rash my kid has. What a scary sight!
Anything else you want to share? There is one more thing, I’m trying to educate parents on the risks of Wifi baby monitors, even on a secure password protected network. I found out first hand how easily a complete stranger can have access to some of the most sensitive parts of your life. If you have a crib in the master bedroom, point the camera in a direction that does not show the room.