Caprese A La Costa

Dinner time can be very stressful for a new mom.  Long gone are the days of (re)creating gourmet meals; slicing, dicing, chopping and mixing.  So here's 1 quick solution that looks and tastes more Chef Bobby Flay than Chef Boyardee and will take no time at all.  The cherry (tomato) on top??  It's damn good for ya.  My take on a classic,  The Caprese Salad: 

Makes 4 Servings

4 firm tomatoes 

2 large buffalo mozzarella balls

Basil Leaves (Enough to pair with each tomato/mozzarella stack)

1 cup Arugula lettuce

6 Kalamata Olives for taste/garnish 

Balsamic Vinegar

Olive Oil

sea salt

cracked pepper

To prepare, first thoroughly wash your veggies and herbs.  Cut 1/2 inch thick slices of tomato.  Do the same with the buffalo mozzarella and then cut each piece in half.  Using less cheese goes a longer way, still packs a punch of flavor and substantially cuts down the fat.  Pull apart basil leaves placing them to the side.  Take a dinner plate and begin forming your caprese, first laying down 1 tomato slice covering it with 1 piece of mozzarella and topping off with a basil leaf.  Repeat until your plate is filled.  In the center, pile high arugula and top it off with the olives.  I'm the kinda gal who just wings it when it comes to seasoning.  Less is usually more in my opinion.  Drizzle olive oil and balsamic and sprinkle on sea salt and ground pepper.  Voila!!  Caprese is served. ♥

Fergalish: The Mom, The Myth, The Legend

If there's anything we know here at Haute Mom's Life, it's that Fergie is one sexy mama, not just to the rest of the world, but to her very own hubby, Josh Duhamel.  The songstress jokes in the February issue of Allure magazine that upon meeting her, "he just wanted to get in my pants"  Well fortunately for both that happened, some 10 years ago, and now they have a gorgeous little tot, Axl Jack to show for it.  

I recently worked New Year's Rocking Eve for Dick Clark Productions, hosted by Fergie so I had the chance to see a lot of her over several days of shooting.  Here's what I can tell you, she's got the looks of a queen, style of an icon, and one of the cutesssssst bambinos of all time.  That Axl...he sure is dreamy.  He was running around with his grandparents as Fergie sashayed across the stage hair and makeup following closely behind, primping her just moments before her heart-to-heart with One Direction.  Anywhoooo...this haute mama truly has it all.  Professional √  Personal √  Oh yea, and one haute hubby to cuddle up to every night √  It's good to be Fergie!

For more on how Fergie makes her marriage work, click here www.allure.com 

Hauttie Of The Week: Energy, Nature, Attitude and Zest For Life

 

It's no shocker that my beautiful soul sista, Samantha Shapiro, is co-owner of 3 uber-successful Chicago clothing boutiques with her 2 sisters, aptly named, ENAZ, an acronym for Energy, Nature, Attitude and Zest for Life.  The blonde bombshell embodies all those qualities and takes #HauteMama to a new level.  She's a proud new member of the club, giving birth to a ridiculously adorable baby girl, Selma Maize on 11.4.14.  While Selma was still cozy, growing in Sam's belly, some real magic happened and she documented it in this series of beautifully tasteful pix.  We're excited to share this pregnancy shoot with you as potential inspiration for all you haute mommies hoping to capture a piece of your own journey.  Enjoy!

AC: What inspired you to do a pregnancy photo shoot?

SS: I wanted to capture how beautiful and empowering pregnancy is by dressing up the baby bump and also showing my creative side with fashion. 

AC: Who did you model it after?

SS: I wanted the pictures to give off a "bohemian chic" vibe which is really my favorite kind of fashion. I believe clothes can be so telling about a person so hopefully my pictures can convey my love for art and music. Fashion idols: Kate Moss and Sienna Miller

AC: The pics are seriously stunning. How did you ensure they turned out so flattering?

SS: Thank you!!! I thought if I stayed true to myself and wore things I was comfortable in, then the pictures would speak for themselves.

AC: Did you have any hesitation before stripping down?

SS: Who me? Never. I'm pretty comfortable in my skin (to say the least) and I would have never decided to have these pictures taken if I wasn't fully confident. My hope is that Selma will see these pictures and think I was a cool chick back in the day!

AC: What advice do you have for other Haute Mommies considering a pregnancy shoot? Was it worth it for you?

SS: I say go for it since being pregnant is such a blessing, why not capture it on film? It also sends a message to other pregnant women to love their bodies and to embrace the moment.

AC: Where are you displaying the pictures?

SS: I haven't decided what to do with them yet. I might include them in a cool coffee table book and choose my favorite one to hang in Selma's room.

AC: How far along were you when you shot?

SS: About 6 months

AC: Which is your fave and why?

SS: I love the one wearing a motorcycle jacket. It's a little rock n roll, all American and just bad ass!

AC: How much does a shoot like this cost?

SS: My very talented friend, Jackie Trezzo did this shoot in 2 1/2 hours. Not only does she have a creative eye but also helped with the lighting and styling all for under $500.

Supermom Stats

For all you supermoms out there...here's a bit of interesting info you may want to know: Moms account for about $2.5 Trillion in spending globally according to Oracle

2 Billion Moms in the world. Average age 25

84% of Millennial Moms rely on recommendations from trusted peers

60% of moms use social media everyday

The Power of Moms

• Moms represent a $2.4 trillion market
• Fifty-five percent of active (daily) social media moms said they made their purchase because of a recommendation from a personal review blog
• 18.3 million Internet users who are moms read blogs at least once a month
• In 2014, 63% (nearly 21 million) of all online moms will read blogs
• Moms mention brands an average of 73 times per week compared with just 57 times per week among males
• Seventy-seven percent of mom bloggers will only write about products or brands whose reputations they approve of, and another 14% will write about brands or products they boycott
• Ninety percent of moms are online vs. just 76% of women in general
• Sixty-four percent of moms ask other mothers for advice before they purchase a new product and 63% of all mothers surveyed consider other moms the most credible experts when they have questions

http://www.happyworker.com/supermom/facts#.VLlnBtxyygE

http://www.m2moms.com/fast_facts.php

Dig It Or Ditch It? Haute Mom's Addition

If you've had a baby, you know you get bomb-blasted with a shit ton of products that everyone just sweaaaaars by, leading to brain overload and in my case, acute anxiety disorder.  Here's a small way to help avoid the madness.  Buzzfeed breakdowns baby products according to the greatest critics of all, us, the mommies.  From sophie the teething giraffe to bottle warmers and everything in between, we uncover what you should dig or probably ditch.  A great guide for you new moms.  Check it out 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/these-are-the-items-parents-say-you-do-and-dont-n