M+A Edit

Entrepreneur and photographer Gray Malin—who started by selling his art throughout LA flea markets, and now has worldwide distribution, along with collaborations with brands like AWAY suitcases—is a lesson in building your own luck. The founder of the Gray Malin lifestyle brand is best known for his inventive aerial beach, ski, and park scenes of some of the world’s most popular destinations, and since 2009 Malin's been changing the way we see and enjoy fine art throughout our lives.Listen in to hear Malin describe why authenticity drives all of his...

Flexibility is a key factor in helping women not only survive, but thrive, in the workforce. (Especially as we wait for federally-mandated paid leave—we're just a few decades behind the rest of the world on that one.) But here’s the thing: there’s a playbook to successfully asking for a flexible schedule, says Lauren Smith Brody, author and founder of The Fifth Trimester. (Rule number one: don’t think of flexibility as a favor—this is a natural evolution of your career development.) Keep these tips in mind before sitting down with your...

As a new or expecting parent, lining up amazing childcare can be the toughest nut to crack. You can’t call your pediatrician for the answer, Google it, or buy it on Amazon Prime (at least, for now). It takes legwork—and if you’re considering daycare, a fair amount of touring. Just like those college visits, you’ll get a gut feeling the minute you walk in the door on a daycare tour, but it’s essential to come armed with the right questions. “Treat your tour like an interview—don’t be scared to ask...

By Hadley Seward, Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Founder of Bonne Nuit BabyMost new parents have heard of the four-month sleep regression. Just when you thought you’re in the groove, everything gets crazy again: short naps, multiple overnight wake-ups… the list goes on.It’s true that sleep can get wonky around 16 weeks. Your baby’s body and brain are making huge developmental leaps, all of which coincide to disrupt sleep and leave us parents worried that we’ll never sleep again. And guess what? The changes to your baby’s sleep are here to...

While most new moms pack their baby registry with bottles and nursing gear, fewer have time to map out the kitchen tools they’ll crave in four to six months when baby starts on solids. (Truth: your itty bitty newborn will be snacking on sweet potato faster than you think!) Registered dietitians Amanda Baker Lemein and Julie Pappas did the vetting for you—check out their favorite mom-tested, expert-approved feeding tools that make prepping nutritious meals and snacks a whole lot easier—and actually a lot of fun. Puree dispensing spoon The Boon...

Since starting Zumba in 2001, Alberto Perlman has been pushing himself and his company further and reaching for a better customer experience. Known as 'exercise in disguise', Zumba blends contagious world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography, for an effective, total-body workout that feels more like a party than exercise. Growing from a small three person operation, Alberto has seen Zumba change into a fitness phenomenon spanning over 180 countries and serving over 15 million people. But through all of this, what has made Zumba successful are not those things that have...

From the all-important “book” adoptive parents create for birth families, to the years of paper work and waiting lists, and that final, life-changing call—elementary school teacher Christina Forzley shares what adopting a newborn looked like for her family. On deciding to adopt: My husband Matt and I always knew we wanted a family in some way, shape or form. Adoption has always been a big part of my family, because my brother is adopted, so we had the idea we might adopt at some point. We spent several years trying...

When Gretchen Hansen spotted two pink chairs in the back of a vintage shop, she immediately had that “I found it” feeling. But when she couldn't find a way to make them work in her space, she enlisted the help of her friend, an interior decorator, by sending her a few quick pictures. Her friend had the perfect solution to make them fit in the space. Gretchen immediately thought: what if I was able to bring this amazing remote decorating experience to everybody? Gretchen Hansen is the CEO and founder...

By Hadley Seward, Pediatric Sleep Consultant + Founder of Bonne Nuit Baby As new parents, we’re all fixated on our babies’ nighttime sleep. We fantasize about those 10-hour stretches and dream about the day our little ones will be on a 7-7 schedule. Finally, we’ll have our lives back! But most of us don’t focus as much on naps, since it doesn’t impact our sleep as much. Here’s what you may not know: there’s a lot of cognitive and physical development that goes on during a nap, especially after 16...

Whether she's documenting her breastfeeding journey, NICU stay, or swaddling struggles, Ro Williams Brann, founder of the jewelry line, The Mom Life Co., is the first to admit that 'learning baby' is no joke. (Cheers to her suggestion that moms deserve doctorate degrees.) With three-year-old Arya London and five-month-old Avery Jae at home, we chatted with Brann about the beauty of toddler distractions, transitioning from one to two, and the importance of giving yourself grace. Running my own business with a new baby is: like the most terrifying yet exhilarating...