M+A Edit

Job: Monica + Andy Storyteller + Editor Location: M+A Chicago Headquarters What is Monica + Andy? We are a digitally native, organic baby and children’s brand that strives to make things better for parents and babies. And we are growing! Inspired by the birth of her daughter, our Founder Monica Royer created Monica + Andy to deliver softer organic fabrics, better-designed clothing and blankets, and a seamless, easy shopping experience for new parents. Thoughtfulness can be found in every design detail and extends to our in-store workshops and classes for...

Most babies will start to make a move towards crawling somewhere between seven and ten-months-old. Keep in mind that the process of learning to crawl differs from one child to the next, but there are a few easy things you can do to encourage your little ones. Is your baby not crawling? Here's what to do. We asked Dr. Payal Adhikari, a board-certified pediatrician at Child and Adolescent Health Associates and expectant parents teacher at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago, to fill us in on the top things to keep...

'As an entrepreneur, you have a few, go-to key advisors. For me, Bobby Yazdani rises to the top of my list. In many ways, he's a start-up 'coach'. He doesn't lay out the answers for me, but gives me tools I need to help Monica + Andy grow. He has the keen ability to, as he says, 'see around the corner' and help use those insights to build processes that foster our growth. I'm so excited to share his invaluable insights with all of you.' - MonicaAs the founder and...

To my tiny travel companion:These past two years have been a wild ride, haven’t they, Gemma?Sometimes it takes all of our energy just to get out of the house, washed and dressed, and get anywhere on time.And yet we made it all the way to Japan! And Jamaica and Croatia and Amsterdam and many other places that involve long flights and surprise snacks and epic jet-lag. I traveled a lot before you were born. But I started late and clumsily. I always thought it would be such a gift to...

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the women who are making waves by fostering progress and inclusiveness in their communities. And there’s no one that has rocked the boat of breast health and self-awareness quite like Bright Pink founder and chairman of the board Lindsay Avner.According to the CDC, breast cancer (aside from skin cancer) is the most common cancer to affect American women. Bright Pink’s mission is to save women’s lives from breast and ovarian cancer by empowering them to live proactively at...

One weekend while studying abroad in Italy, Ariel Kaye checked into a boutique hotel on the Amalfi Coast and got into bed after a long day of travel. She felt sheets that were softer and more luxurious than anything she had ever experienced. The experience stuck with her.Ariel went on to graduate from NYU before spending ten years at an agency in brand development and advertising. In 2012, she was shopping for bedding and was faced with overpriced monotonous products. So in 2014, with those Amalfi Coast boutique hotel sheets...

Wait, you have to brush their tooth!? Just when you seem to be getting this whole parenting thing down, it seems something else comes up you need to learn how to do. Thankfully, brushing baby's teeth doesn’t have to be a complicated process. We turned to Dr. Payal Adhikari, a board-certified pediatrician at Child and Adolescent Health Associates and expectant parents teacher at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago, to give us the 411 on all things baby teeth. Bottom line? It’s never too early to start getting your little ones...

When Morgan Hutchinson had her first child, she realized no one in the online retail market was catering to that fashionable mom who wanted to wear her favorite brands through every stage of motherhood. She wanted on trend machine washable clothing with easy access for nursing and more forgiving silhouettes. When she couldn't find it herself, she decided to curate it on her own and become the go-to style resource for pregnant women and new moms. Buru, a multi-brand ecommerce site dedicated to elevated style for moms was born. Today,...

Bee Shapiro makes a living out of helping you look, feel, and smell good. The beauty guru is well known for her work as New York Times beauty columnist and more recently, founder of Ellis Brooklyn, a natural fragrance and skincare line she created when she couldn’t find options that were both pregnancy safe and luxurious. Shapiro is now mom to two adorable daughters, 3 1/2-year-old Ellis (the line’s namesake) and 18-month-old Sky, and busier than ever. Her ability to juggle the worlds of motherhood, business owner, and writer are...

Our latest mom crush is Samantha Eisenberg of Samantha Faye Jewelry, a darling collection of gold plated and sterling silver pieces that you can easily splurge on (most pieces ring in under $50). We especially love her Two x Two necklaces made for mama bears and baby bears.The former lawyer-turned-jewelry designer (more on that next) charmed us with her honest answers about motherhood and running a business (spoiler: it won’t always be smooth sailing), and what makes it all worthwhile.Name: Samantha EisenbergAge: 36Your kids: Emma (3), Noah (21 months) Day...