Mother Stories
Meet Kristin Myllenbeck, Seattle Mom and Cool Pool Maven
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by Belathée Photography
Aug 6, 2019
After spending the day with this Seattle mother/wardrobe stylist, it makes perfect sense that she decided high-style kiddie pools were her calling. Kristin Myllenbeck is a sartorialist with an unflappably sunny attitude. She launched Mylle last year, and her gorgeous inflatable pools have quickly become a coveted summer essential for design-minded folks. She also makes being a mom look like the most fun job in the world (along with running a cool pool biz) and hopes to eventually have at least four kiddos of her own splashing around in the yard. She’s well on her way—she and her boyfriend are currently parents to sweet 3-year-old Suvi (which means ‘Summer’ in Finnish) and are expecting their second, a boy, in a few months. Kristin shows us around her minimalist city pad in Seattle, and talks about everything from her current pregnancy cravings to why the best outfits are the ones she’ll be embarrassed by in the future. Click through the full tour and interview below, and prepare to be inspired!
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- "My boyfriend Elof and I bought our townhouse eight years ago. We bought during the recession, when there wasn’t much being built in the city. At the time, our townhouse style was thrillingly new and modern, and as the economy recovered, versions of our house started popping up all over the city. While it’s funny seeing near-replicas of your home all over town, it’s a strong visual reminder that our city is becoming more dense and in need of space-saving housing more than ever before. It has also been an amazing community for us. There are eight townhouses centered around a driveway, and since buying in 2012, most of us started families. So, what began as a diverse group of couples has evolved into an urban version of the suburban cul-de-sac. We spend many nights hanging out in the driveway while our kids ride bikes and play together. We regularly have BBQs, dragging out the small BBQ and folding table and eating on the ground while the kids run around with popsicles. It is exactly the opposite of how I imagined this home purchase would turn out, but it is exactly my favorite thing about it."
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- "I ultimately want to have four kids, and while I originally pictured us moving to accommodate a larger family, we’re seriously considering trying to do it all here. I can’t imagine having babies without the strong support system of my neighbors. We spend many nights a week together, and the kids love to run between houses and have a near sibling-like bond. Plus, kids share rooms all over the world, and all over the city. I think people often forget that when they freak out upon hearing our plan. Living on a retail block, we are also in an extremely walkable location. Just on the block behind our house there are restaurants, a grocery store, dry cleaner, coffee shops, a wine shop, yoga studio, etc. I credit being able to walk and keep a regular routine so easily after having Suvi for keeping me sane during those crazy infant months. And it’s been so fun seeing her grow up in the neighborhood—riding her balance bike to dinner, walking around the corner for coffee and a muffin with her dad on the weekends."
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- "Simple and minimal. I am really influenced by my surroundings, and tend to feel overwhelmed in cluttered spaces. I used to joke that my home inspiration is a cyc—that white curved surface in studios for photoshoots—because I don’t like having ‘stuff.' I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by a few purposeful things that are beautiful, but then still have a little visual breathing room."
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- "We moved into a new home, so it was more about making tweaks to make it personal than it was about renovating or drastically changing anything. We’ve updated most lighting fixtures, cemented the fireplace, installed floating shelves, a floating credenza, and installed built-ins in my office. Even small changes felt extra important since we were starting with such a blank canvas, and it kept our house from feeling like one of many clones."
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- "Buy what you love. But don’t buy much. Editing is a huge part of my approach and when I started only buying things that were purposeful or I truly loved, I started to feel connected to my house. I don’t feel like I always need to be changing things, or that I need more, because I can easily see my favorite things, and that is plenty. It really opens up a lot of head space for me to live in an edited environment. This ethos is what made me realize I needed to start my own company. I could not believe that I couldn’t find a nice looking little pool that I would be happy looking at all summer in my small space. I didn’t want to have to put it away after every use, and if I’ve been able to find something beautiful and functional in every other category, why couldn’t I now? One of our inflatable pools now takes up ¼ of our rooftop, and believe you me, it makes me happy every time I see it."
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- "The funny thing about smaller spaces is that our whole house is basically our living room. The main floor we’re on is just an open box that’s the kitchen, dining, and living room. We’re usually on the go, so we never spent that much time at home until we had Suvi. Still, during the day, we’re usually out and up to something, but after she goes to bed, Elof and I spend most nights hanging out in the ‘living room.' That was a big adjustment at first, but now it’s a pretty lovely center of our universe. It’s where we end every day, just us as a couple, the way we’ve been for 13 years—either talking or deciding we’re too tired to do anything other than watch stand-up comedy and eat a popsicle—my current pregnancy craving!"
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- "I have a lot. I try not to bring things into my home unless they already are my favorite. But if you’re making me pick, I have to pick my Mylle pool on our roof. I am so proud to see it there—I started this whole company because I wanted a pool that complimented the rest of my tiny outdoor space. Now Suvi plays in the pool every weekend and many summer nights while we grill and hang out, and I could not be prouder. I have also spent a lot of my own time in there trying to cool off this pregnant body while living AC free! As for the interior of my home, my current favorite is the spray-painted mint green column from our Mylle 2019 campaign shoot that we use as a side table to a very fancy vintage chaise. My friend Manny, the lovely photographer who shot it, found the column on craigslist for $15, and my friend Mandy, who was the prop stylist, spray painted it mint. It’s unnervingly garish for the space and has such a good backstory that includes people I really like, so I think it deserves to live here more than any designer piece of furniture I’ve ever bought."
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- "Every room is a playroom! But it’s all stored in what appears to be boring adult storage. That’s the thing about being minimal—it saves lots of room to actually do stuff and have fun. Suvi keeps her toys in drawers underneath the bench in the living room and in the credenza behind the dining table. I can promise you it’s much more fun to pull out art supplies, Candy Land, and a pot full of dry noodles (Suvi’s current favorite toy) than it is to just store extra vases and candlesticks in there. Because we play out in the driveway so much, she also has a cabinet in my office cupboards that is filled with important things like soccer balls, bubbles, and a bike helmet. We’ve been able to find storage solutions that fold Suvi into our lives, so we can all enjoy our time together instead of going off to our separate areas for our own activities."
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"We decorated Suvi’s room the same way we did the rest of our house: simply, with just a few things that we love. We chose a daybed for her big-kid bed, so we can snuggle and read books together. Her mobile was made by an artist I found on Etsy, and the big pink painting behind her bed was a background my prop-stylist friend Natalie painted for a job we were on together years ago. I wonder if she even remembers she gave it to me? Hi Natalie!"
Kristin wears a Bluetiful headband and a Zara dress. Suvi wears a family-made dress and H&M skirt.
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- "Most of it. I love hanging out with Suvi and I say this at every age, but now that she’s 3, I’m pretty sure this is my favorite. She dresses herself every morning and I love to see what she’ll put together. At the moment it’s lots of skirts over dresses. Seeing what she’s into has always been a surprise—when she turned 2 and was old enough to watch T.V., her show of choice was Seahawks highlight reels on YouTube. Now that she’s 3 and in the middle of her ‘WHY?’ phase, she is learning so much, clearly as a result of some really long 'WHY?' convos she’s had with her dad on the way home from school. She’s started telling me a lot about ultra-violet rays—it’s wild."
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- "Whatever my parenting blind spot is. Nearly everyone has complaints about their parents, though I’m willing to bet you their parents thought they were doing a good job and were honestly doing their best. And since I also think I’m doing a good job, there must be something I haven’t thought of. Am I being too lenient? Too rigid? Who knows. That’s the mystery, I guess."
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- "I love having a girl. I’ve always led a very ‘girl’ life—all of my friends are women, my bosses were all women, my doctors women, my podcasts hosted by women, and my only sibling is a sister. Aside from my boyfriend, my life has nearly been all women, all the time. I think it’s helped me be a better mother to a girl, and not fall into the over-gendering trap of only exposing girls to princesses and tea parties. Not a single woman that I know is a princess or tea party host, so I know how important it is to show great and varied examples of what a girl can be, so she can live her life and play the way she likes to play. She loves to play with tool sets, wear twirly dresses, ride her bike, and dance. It’s really cool to see her pick her hobbies a la carte, having no rhyme or reason aside from that they are things that interest her."
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- "I’m currently pregnant with a boy, and while that surprised me at first, living such a women-centric life, for us, it’s really the same principal raising a boy as it is a girl. We’re trying to raise good people, who can like and do whatever makes them happy while still respecting other people. And I don’t think that approach needs to change depending on your gender. Though I am very excited to see what he’s like— I’m sure his interests will be just as surprising and entertaining to me as Suvi’s have been these last three years."
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- "Suvi means summer in Finnish. We just liked the name, meant to look into others, and then made the mistake of saying it aloud and it just stuck. But maybe that’s because it just felt so obviously right. Myllenbeck is my last name, and since all my kids will have Elof’s last name, they will all take my last name as their middle."
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- "She's three and a half and she’s into everything! But one of her favorites is medical play. The only show she wants to watch is Doc McStuffins, and she loves to pull out her doctor’s kit and give us all a ‘dianosis.' She has a ‘big book of booboos’ just like Doc, where she draws pictures of your injury after she gives you your check-up. Her neighbor bestie was over having a sad time—I think his mom wouldn't let him eat cookies before dinner—so Suvi ran to her room, got out her book, and let me know she found a ‘dianosis’ for him so she could go help him feel better. I think he had come down with a case of 'Sad-oto-tosis' if I remember correctly."
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- "Yep. Sure did. My pregnancies have been completely standard, maybe even on the easy side. No morning sickness, no major pains. It’s still tricky for me—I’m pretty active and self-sufficient, so it’s hard for me to dial it back when my body is changing so rapidly. I was really into boxing during my first pregnancy, and me and Elof would do a boxing workout a few times a week until nearly the end of my pregnancy. This time, I’m being a little more gentle on myself, but it’s tough to ask people for help when I just want to do things myself. Even when it comes to the logistics of Mylle, I need to remind myself to be thoughtful. Each pool is around seven pounds, so if I’m taking 10 to the post office (yep! I still do most of the shipping!), I need to remind myself to carry a few at a time. It’s really hard to convince myself to slow down."
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- "Yes! We both took parental leave; Elof was able to take 7 weeks paid, and I took 18 weeks, though only 6 of them were paid at 60 percent. I’ve been a good saver, and Elof was able to float us during those months, so I took the full time knowing that I was lucky to be able to value bonding time over a paycheck. Going through it, I realized it is a luxury that many mothers aren’t afforded in this country. After I went back to work, I joined Moms Rising, and tried to pitch in when they were pushing for legislation for paid family leave in Washington. It’s hard to find the time for any activism as a new mom returning to work, but they run an amazing program that makes it easier than you would think to do something. They set up Senator visits and provide wonderful education and talking points to help you better share your stories and concerns with people in office. I cannot recommend them enough. And this year, Washington has rolled out it’s first family leave program, so I’m excited that more people will be able to have this same bonding time."
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- "I’m still figuring it out, but am saving up and planning to at least take a few months and then ease into work slowly, so I feel okay going back earlier since I can start in a less-than-full-time capacity. Now that I’m freelance and a business owner, I am waiting to see how the state family leave program roles out for self-employed people. They rolled out the program for larger corporations earlier this year, so hopefully something will be in place by the time I have my baby in October. They say the opt-in will be available shortly, but we’re saving up in the meantime since it feels uncertain and I don’t like to be unprepared. Elof will also be taking his full parental leave time, so I’m really excited to have 7 weeks completely dedicated to transitioning into being a family of 4."
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- "Maybe this is what should make me nervous about parenting—I’ve only read one book and it was 20 pages outlining sleep training philosophies. But I rely a lot on the advice of friends, doctors, and school, and all seems to be going well. I think a lot can be said for intuition and just respecting that your kids are people. I also joined a moms' group in my neighborhood after giving birth, and I received a ton of advice and inspiration from other much smarter moms."
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- "My grandma. She was always having the time of her life—every year she would say ‘this is the best year yet’ and ‘it keeps getting better.' She had four kids and was completely stoked about them. I look at my three-year-old daughter and just want to freeze time because I love her being little so much, yet I remember my grandma being so excited about her kids in their 60s, thinking what they were doing was so special and amazing. She was able to balance a busy social life, four kids, sometimes a career, and eventually nine grandkids. Her life was completely full and always a party up util the end. I’m really excited to do the same, and to still be surprised and delighted by the things my daughter teaches me when she’s 63. And as for celebrities: SERENA. How does she do it? I have to know. If there was ever an example for 'Girls Can Do Anything' I think she is it. When I found out she’d been quietly starting a venture firm my eyeballs popped right out of my head. She has so many jobs, each one of them a crazier career goal than I would ever dream of, and still seems to manage being a very involved mom. It’s beyond inspiring."
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- "Fun! My mom stayed at home, and was always very present and supportive. My parents definitely had high expectations for me to do well in school and be responsible, but were also really open and encouraging for us to have fun. I spent most of my summers running around my neighborhood with my friends—that amazing feeling of independence you can only feel at age 10—but coming home most nights by 6 p.m. for dinner. It was a good balance of festive but scheduled."
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- "Relaxed within reason. We try to let Suvi make choices that work for her, and not over-parent her, but also set a loose schedule and expectations so we’re giving her a good framework for her life. For example, we bring her everywhere with us, but she gets to choose if she walks, bikes, or takes a stroller ride. And while we keep a regular bedtime routine, she has choices in it: Where does she want to brush her teeth? Does she feel like wearing jammies? Basically, we try to let her have as much control over her life as is safe to let a three-year-old decide. Unlimited T.V. and no seat belts? Sorry kid, those aren’t on the list of choices you get to make."
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- "Definitely. Before the 2016 election, I was one of those white women living in a bubble, who figured Hillary was a shoo-in, and had not managed to see a lot of the issues so many people face in our country. I’ll always remember talking to a friend after the election feeling a little sorry about having never gotten involved before, and she so kindly said 'I’m just glad you’re with us now.' And I think that is such a good way to look at it. I think it’s unfortunate so many of us were checked out before, but that shouldn’t ever stop us from caring and doing what we can to make things better now. I know a lot of people, myself included, feel nervous getting involved because everyone else knows so much more than them. But actually, people are pretty excited to bring you in when you’re just honest that you aren’t an expert but you aren't going to let that stop you from doing what you can. Especially when they see you are actively working to be engaged now."
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- "It is such a good idea! In my industry, most people didn’t have kids, so I was quite nervous and wasn’t sure how I could balance it all, or if it was just going to be so much work. Sure, of course it takes work, but that’s not the main thing. The main thing is you will never have more fun, or love anyone more than your kids. Whenever I talk to anyone about it I tell them I 10-out-of-10 recommend and they should do it if they’re at a point where it makes sense for them. That’s all you need to know. You can figure out the rest."
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- "Yep. I’ve wanted four for a very long time, and as my negotiating tactic, I would always tell Elof I wanted so many, at least six, so now when we talk about just four, it seems pretty reasonable to him. I think it was a good technique. We’ll see what happens though, I’m 35 and only on kid two, and don’t want to rush too quickly on to the third, so time will tell."
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- "I run Mylle; we make the most beautiful inflatable pools in the world! However, I can’t quite turn away from my previous career as a stylist, so I still do wardrobe styling on a freelance basis for a variety of clients, from fashion to commercial. It is nice doing both because they help inform each other. I’m a better stylist now that I’ve been art directing and producing shoots for Mylle, and I’m a better business person because I learn about so many businesses in my freelance career. It’s a bit too hectic doing both, but I can’t choose just yet and trust that it will continue to work out."
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- "I was born in Seattle, and my whole extended family is here, but I ended up spending most of my school-aged years growing up in Yakima, a small town three hours away. I came back for college at University of Washington, and majored in business, because I was decent at math and thought it was the responsible choice. I had always wanted to work in fashion, I just wasn’t sure how. But I was able to take an unusual round-about route that eventually landed me on the small styling team at Nordstrom, where I focused on catalogs, campaigns, and editorials. I had some amazing co-workers and bosses there, really grew in my styling ability, and was able to contribute uniquely with my business background. I always enjoyed the strategy and fact-based research behind trends and fashion storytelling. In 2016, I had the idea to start a pool business, in 2017 I started creating it, and in 2018 I left Nordstrom to launch my company and my freelance styling career simultaneously. It was a lot of ‘new’ at once, but I was also marrying my backgrounds in business, marketing, and photoshoots in one focused career change. I have grown so much over these past two years, and I’m so glad I took the leap of faith, though I’m still finding my footing. I can’t wait to tell you how it all turns out!"
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- "It’s made me better at embracing the moment and finding ways to prioritize Suvi amidst the scheduling uncertainty that comes with my career. I am proud of my job and want to set a good example of what it means to be a working parent for our daughter. Elof and I are very serious about approaching parenting equally, and since I have a more erratic travel schedule, I try to find ways to balance that out. If I’m working over the weekend, I try to take a weekday off to hang out with Suvi. Or better yet, I am sometimes able to take her and my mom with me when I travel; one of Suvi’s favorite trips was to Portland, where she mostly just swam in the pool at a corporate hotel with my mom. It can be tricky to juggle, and I don’t want to over-do it in showing her that work can be an exciting priority, but I am also very proud that I can be an example of finding a career that truly makes you happy but still allows space for your real life."
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- "We have been really lucky with our support system. Most of my extended family is here, and my parents are happy to watch Suvi or cover for us somewhat regularly. My sister even spent many days with Suvi as an infant and they have a really sweet bond because of it. We’re also so lucky with our neighbors; Suvi will sometimes go next door to play and that will free up time for Elof and I to relax or get things done. We had crazy snow for about two weeks this winter, and everything shut down, so we sent the kids back and forth between our houses and it really made the whole time much more manageable and festive. And of course the kids loved it."
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"Yes, just live in the moment. There are too many loose ends and uncertainties with all those things, so while it’s good to plan, also just make sure you’re taking time for all the parts of your life that are important and enjoy them while you’re doing them. I’m definitely a work in progress with this—it’s so easy to get wrapped up when you’re building a brand, but I try to remind myself that when I’m not in my office or dealing with something urgent, I need to ignore my company until it’s a reasonable time to work again. Eeeeek...that's easier said than done, but I bet I’m going to be great at it after a year more of practice."
Kristin wears a Ganni dress and Le Specs x Adam Selman sunglasses. Suvi wears a Seaesta Surf swimsuit.
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- "Yes, every time I travel for work I have it. I just try to focus on why I’m making the choices I’m making. With travel styling jobs, I do it because I can get a lot of work done in a big chunk, and then take a big chunk of time off afterwards to hangout with Suvi—something I couldn’t do if I was working a regular nine-to-five. So, it helps me to ask why I’m feeling guilt, and then think about if that means I should change my decision. If I determine I should not, but that this is the best decision, I can be more at peace with it. You can’t do everything, but you can make the best decision."
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- "I think about it all the time. It’s one of the main reasons I make the choices I make. Not just in my career or parenting, but in my whole approach to life and how I feel about myself and others. I want Suvi to be inspired to be exactly how she wants to be—to be happy with her choices, confident in her life, and empathetic to those around her."
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- "I love the walkability of our neighborhood, and how open minded and progressive most people in Seattle are. Most places are kid and dog friendly, so it’s easy to do things together as a family. I also love that people freak out in the summer here—we have such terrible weather most of the year, that by the time the sun is out, people are going wild. There is something interesting to do most days, from events at the park by our house, to outdoor concerts and outdoor movies. Many of the political marches start in our neighborhood, so it’s been cool to expose Suvi to that kind of civic engagement so early in her life. Even though the city is changing, there are still places that feel like the crunchy Seattle from my childhood—I spent many Fridays during my maternity leave going to baby drum circle with Suvi, and it has those same vibes I remember from going to the kids co-op with my mom when I was a kid."
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"Nope! Seattle happens to be one of the only places where both Elof and I can work in our preferred careers. He is an aeronautical engineer and works at Boeing. Before starting Mylle, I worked for over a decade as a stylist at Nordstrom, and have continued my career freelancing for different companies since 2018. While I often have to travel for shoots, there is enough of an industry here that it makes a great home base. We both really value each other’s careers, and so we realize how lucky we are that we live in one of the only cities where the aeronautic and fashion industries overlap. It’s certainly a very niche combo—one you will never find on a ‘move to Seattle’ brochure—but one you should definitely keep in mind if you find yourself needing to fulfill those two career goals simultaneously!"
Kristin wears a Nike shirt, Girlfriend Collective bike shorts, and a deconstructed tulle dress from Zara. Suvi wears a Something Navy for Nordstrom dress.
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- "Because we live in such a walkable neighborhood, we definitely fall victim to getting trapped here. We go to this restaurant Smith, just a block from our house, at least once a week. There is a little bench up front where Suvi can stash her bike underneath while we eat. It is by no means promoted bike storage, but I think we’re there enough and it fits, so everyone has been really nice to us about our routine. We regularly go to Volunteer Park—it’s possibly the most beautiful old park in Seattle, built by the Olmstead brothers of Central Park fame, and it’s just a nice place to hang out."
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- "The opposite of timeless. I only want to look back on pictures and feel embarrassed, because that will mean I was really enjoying my time at that time. How sad would it be to look back on the '80s, with everyone looking like Jem, and you were just wearing a tasteful cardigan? I love to see pictures of my 5’11” self trying to dress like a tiny Olson twin in 2006, with an arm full of bracelets, a huge bag, a scarf, and quasi-oversize-but-not-really-because-I’m-too-tall layers. And then in 2009 always in 5" heels—my favorites were always unusual, and I blame Daphne Guinness, Alexander McQueen, and Lady Gaga. I was way too inspired by their footwear."
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- "It’s more so just changed because it always changes as time marches on. I definitely wear bike shorts under dresses a lot more now because I’m going to be bending over and sitting on the ground! And I used to wear a lot of black, flowy, asymmetrical dresses, which now just feel like maternity dresses since I wore them into pregnancy, but I’m pretty sure I would have stopped wearing them when I did anyway. I’m always ready to move on."
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- "Sneakers are always staples. I worked on a lot of Nike projects and am forever brainwashed; I just thought about styling them too much, plus they are amazing anyway, so it completely seeped into my wardrobe. I love a chunky sneaker with a dress, but then again, do I really? Or is that because Balenciaga and the Triple S left such a lasting fashion impression on us, but we’re about to be over it? It’s probably that, and I’m already getting excited for my next staple."
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- "Eeep! Perfect timing. I finally tried the Go Be You serum and I am completely obsessed. It was started by a friend I’ve worked with who is a makeup artist. I had always meant to try it but just kept forgetting, until I got pregnant and needed to make the switch to cleaner beauty products. I thought I was just being a nice supporter, but it’s seriously the best thing for my skin. I’m one of the freaky cult people about it. You should try it before it gets too popular and starts selling out regularly. It’s made lovingly small-batch, so I’m honestly afraid that will eventually happen."
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- "I do a lot of the regular stuff: workout, acupuncture, get enough sleep. But my favorite is that I watch Real Housewives every morning while I shower and get ready. I don’t have a lot of time for reality T.V., but my love is real, and where there is a will, there is a way. So, after I get my daughter off to daycare, I put my iPad on a ledge up high in the shower and multi-task—I get ready for the day and keep up with what Dorinda has to say about things."
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- "I’ve been pretty lucky because Elof takes Suvi to daycare every morning, so I get her ready and into the car, but after they leave I can work out and get ready for the day quietly by myself. It’s been lovely and consistent 'me time,' but we’re about to switch to a daycare closer to home that I’ll be taking her to, so I think I’ll need to find a different time for myself. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. I am excited to start having special mom-and-me breakfast time with her though, so it’s just a balance of too many good choices, I guess."
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"Yes, so many! The main one of course is giving birth to baby #2 and having him fit seamlessly into our family. I don’t know if that qualifies as a goal or resolution, but it is a very big deal and something that will certainly color the next year of our family’s life. As for business, I’d really like to see Mylle continue to grow, both internationally and perhaps into a few key retailers. A few exciting things are in the works on that front, and I don’t want to jinx them, so I’ll just tell you that I’m very goal oriented, and I’m extremely excited and a little nervous for the future. That’s always been a good mix for me, though, and usually an indicator that I’m on the right path, so stay tuned."
For more on Kristin, her growing family, and her cute pools, be sure to follow her on Instagram.
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Wow! Where to start with this incredible barefoot momma? How about the first picture, with her gorgeous pedicure visible on her right toes and partial sole and the unbearably cute undersides of her left toes? That left big toe is beautiful beyond words! Picture #2, barefoot and pregnant. No words to describe the beauty and femininity. Picture #21, lovely long slender toes. The pedicure is impeccable. Picture #31, another beautiful shot of Kristin’s exquisite bare feet. I so love dark color pedicures, and black specifically.