Laura Deutsch & Heather Ouida’s 10 Favorite Things
The co-owners of Mommybites tell us the things that make them tick as both business women and moms.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Mommybites is the mecca for everything mom-related. Whether you’re looking for a prenatal yoga class in your neighborhood, a tofu veggie bowl recipe, or a sleep solution for your toddler, Mommybites has you covered. In addition to an online community for moms, Mommybites offers free tele-classes, e-articles, one-on-one phone or Skype sessions with parenting experts, a nanny directory, coupon codes, giveaways, and more. (We weren’t exaggerating about the whole mommy mecca thing.)
Mommybites’ flagship city is Manhattan, but there are Mommybites communities nation-wide including Boston and Chicago. With one of its co-founders hailing from Summit, Mommybites also has a strong presence in northern New Jersey where its new branch Mommybites Bergen just launched.
With such an impressive number of online resources, one would think Mommybites requires an army to operate, but it’s run by a talented quartette of women, including co-founders Laura Deutsch and Heather Ouida. If Deutsch’s former teaching career or Ouida’s previous work as a learning specialist doesn’t prove their expertise on child-related topics, perhaps Deutsch’s Masters in Early Education and Ouida’s Masters in Childhood Development does. Degrees and resumes aside, it’s perhaps their titles as moms that best attest to Deutsch and Ouida’s understanding of motherhood. In true co-founder fashion, Ouida and Deutsch split this week’s “10 Favorite Things” list into two lists of “5 Favorite Things.” When the business partners are not ruling the world of momtrepreneurs, they can be found practicing yoga, indulging in delicious foods, or doing another one of their favorite things.
Laura Deutsch’s 5 Favorite Things:
Hot Yoga at Loya Yoga in Summit:
I am addicted to hot yoga. My business partner, Heather, introduced it to me about five years ago and I haven’t looked back. My favorite class is the Tuesday 6 AM class. The incredible teacher keeps the room dark and lights candles all around the room. It is so calming and I leave there feeling invigorated!
My Vitamix:
I am a huge smoothie fan. I have smoothies for breakfast many days of the week. Making smoothies in my vitamix is such a pleasure because it is beyond powerful. I can put anything in there and it will blend right in! We’re talking carrots, broccoli, broccoli STALKS…anything!
La Focaccia in Summit:
This is my husband’s and my go to date night restaurant. The food is beyond amazing. My favorite meal (and I get it every single time I go) is the grilled shrimp with bean puree dip. Heavenly!
Decorative Pillows:
I am obsessed. The brighter and bolder the better. Since I prefer muted colors for my furniture and walls, I love letting loose when it comes to my pillows.
Seriously. This has changed my TV watching experience. Hook up this $30 device to your TV and you have access to Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc. Movies and shows galore!
Heather Ouida’s 5 Favorite Things:
My favorite mantra I learned from yoga is “Your exhale is someone else’s inhale” meaning each person has the ability to positively or negatively affect those around them (I try to make sure for me - it’s a positive affect!).
Nutella Latte:
I get one every morning from the Petite Shell coffee shop and bakery on 85th and Lexington. Pure delicious bliss.
Our Local Movie Theater:
Going to the movies (especially action ones!) is one of my all-time favorite things to do, and now that my older son is a teenager, we often go together.
Shiseido “Benefiance” Eye Cream:
No matter how tiered I am, this eye cream always creates the illusion that I’ve had a full eight hours of sleep (which is rare!).
Because I have Amazon Prime (free shipping!) I literally buy everything from books, to make-up, to clothes, to almond milk, etc. from Amazon.