Mother Essentials: Connie Wong
Written by Erin Feher
For our latest round of Mother Essentials, we tapped Connie Wong, a NorCal-based public relations pro and mother to one (4-year-old cutie, Kate). Wong’s all-women PR firm, Moderne Press, reps several of your favorite small-biz brands (Bon Ton Studio, Chasing Paper, June & January, Polished Prints, and many more!). We asked Connie to share which products and brands play the biggest role in her day-to-day life, and she gave us all the goods—from her fave germ-proofing hand sanitizer to the splurge bag she picked up in Paris. Check out her full tried-and-true Mother Essentials list below.
Nature’s Bakery Whole What Fig Bars. “As a parent, it’s always important to have a snack, in case of emergency! These bars are relatively healthy–so much so that we buy them in bulk because my entire office loves them, too.” Nature’s Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars, $5.35, Amazon.
Removable Wallpaper. “This removable wallpaper from Chasing Paper is super high quality—it’s actually peel-and-stick fabric!—and incredibly durable. The wallpaper comes in an amazing array of prints, which makes it easy to satisfy the design aesthetic of both parents and kids. The company collaborates with a wide array of designers and brands; my current favorites are Spotted by Jen Peters and Botany by Kelly Ventura, both of which would satisfy my design aesthetic and my daughter’s, which is currently pink everything!” Chasing Paper Removable Wall Paper, $40, Chasing Paper.
Converse All-Star Shoreline Slip-Ons. “You’ll find me in these 99% of the time on the weekends. They are super easy to slip on and go–for all those weekend jaunts to the playground and more!” Chuck Taylor All Star Shoreline Slip, $50, Converse.
Stasher Bags. “The snack version is the ideal size for healthy snacks on the go! I use them for school lunches, as well as in my purse for any potential #kidhangry situations. We have a bunch of different colors, but my daughter’s favorite is the Rose Quartz, because, pink.” Stasher 100% Silicone Reusable Food Bag, $11.97, Amazon.
Crayola Twistable Crayons. “No peeling crayon paper, no melting in the heat, and minimal breakage. It’s a parent’s dream crayon! We keep a set in the car along with a blank notebook, as well as a set at home displayed in a pretty gold planter set from CB2.” Crayola Mini Twistables Crayons, $4.47, Amazon.
Sunnies Face Airblush. “Over the past decade or so, but especially since becoming a mother, I’ve been trying to use more clean beauty products; but blush is a really a hard one to replace! My friend Bessie gave me one of the Sunnies blushes, which I’m really enjoying. It’s pigmented, but buildable.” Sunnies Face Airblush, $18.95, PNY Beauty.
Polène Numéro Un Bag. “A splurge souvenir in Paris! I have it in the Trio Carbone colorway, and love its versatility. It’s just big enough for all the mom essentials, like snacks, etc., but still has an elegant shape that makes me look pulled together.” Numéro Un Bag, $420, Polène.
Babyganics Foaming Hand Sanitizer. “This foaming version is super affordable, and I like that it’s alcohol and fragrance free.” Babyganics Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer, $5.29, Target.
Native Jefferson Bling Shoes. “My daughter loves a good sparkle—just like mama!—and these are always easy to slip on and off.” Native Jefferson Bling Shoes, $45, Zappos.
Mules. “As a mom, the shoes that get the most wear on weekdays are mules. They’re super easy to slip on and make me look instantly polished when we’re rushing out the door in the morning.” KAANAS Women’s Kingston Tassel Flat Loafer, $154.25, Amazon.
Summer Fridays CC Serum. “This leaves my skin glowy and bright!” CC Me Vitamin C Serum, $64, Sephora.
One Love Organics Botanical B Cleaning Oil. “This oil is super gentle and leaves my skin feeling moisturized. Bonus: It smells pleasantly like a piña colada!” Vitamin B Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover, $42, Follain.
The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry Books. “My friend Audrey Smit co-authors and illustrates this series of kids’ travel books. My daughter is enchanted with Lily’s bravado and adventures, and even better, they have piqued her curiosity about different parts of the world.” The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry Books, $18, Amazon.
Weleda Skin Food. “In the winter, my skin gets especially dry–and this completely has saved me. It’s super thick and a bit greasy in application, but is very soothing and fixes any of my dry patches.” Weleda Skin Food, $12.49, Amazon.
Light-Up Unicorn Stuffed Animal. “Shout out to the other parents out there who have kids who are scared of the dark. My daughter was gifted this recently, and it has 100% helped her fall asleep easier at bedtime.” Athoinsu Light up Stuffed Unicorn Soft Plush Toy with LED Night Lights, $19.99, Amazon.
Maison Miru Secrets & Stories Necklace. “I wear mine on most days! It’s a not-cheesy charm necklace that I can build over time. The brand is all about expressing your creativity with their ‘cool girl’ jewelry basics, which I appreciate. My necklace has my daughter’s first initial, the Chill Pill, and Pave Moon charms that serve as wearable and meaningful reminders throughout my day.” Secrets & Stories Necklace, $39–$138, Maison Miru.
Manduka Yoga Mat. “This yoga mat has lasted me about 8 years and is still going strong. It’s light enough to walk to a yoga class, and has gotten more grippy over time.” Manduka eKO SuperLite Travel Yoga Mat, $29.73, REI.
June & January Basics. “I’ve been buying June & January’s sweet and affordable basics before I even had my daughter, as baby gifts. Their mix-and-match basics makes it easy to pair with other fun pieces in my daughter’s closet. She has an affinity for their swing dresses, since they’re twirly and comfortable. Even better, they are a female-led company and genuinely nice.” Swing Dress, $23, June & January.
Refinery29’s Money Diaries. “It’s so incredibly fascinating to read about other people’s spending habits and lifestyles, and it allows you to reflect on how to improve your own financial habits.” Refinery29’s Money Diaries.
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. “I’ve been using this eye lash curler for over a decade. They sadly don’t retail in any U.S. stores anymore, so I buy them in multiples every couple of years online.” Eyelash Curler, $23, Shu Uemura.
Formulary 55 Candles. “My office loves these soy candles! All of them are beautifully scented and the simple, beautiful glass vessels can be recycled or reused.” Frosted Glass Candle, $24, Formulary 55.
For more Mother Essentials, peep our past columns with designers Anna Wallack, Cynthia Rowley, Rebecca Atwood, Dana Haim, Rachel Zoe, and Taylor Jay, Olympian Alysia Montano, Wiley Body founder Vanessa Wade, Partake founder Denise Woodard, model and muse Slick Woods, children’s author Serena Minott, clean living expert Kristian Henderson, June & January founder Amy Richardson-Golia, Bubbsi founder Sweta Doshi, Oakland retail queen Sherri McMullen, Shahidah Zareef of Bossmom Nation, Joanne Encarnacion, LaTonya Yvette, Morgan Walker of Make.do, Iguehi James, and more!
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