M+A Edit

Our guest today is Mia Duchnowski, cofounder of Oars & Alps. When every option for men's skin care was too expensive, full of chemicals, tailored to women or just plain inconvenient, she and her cofounder took matters into their own hands, creating no-nonsense products without any pointless toxins, senseless rigmarole or needless middle men.Before starting her new business, Mia Duchnowski had her dream job working as an anchor on Bloomberg Television. While there, she learned about skin care through her makeup artist, who often sent her home with tons of...

1. Avoid leather. Spilled milk and formula do not bode well for your new leather bag. Look for bags with cotton or polyester lining. Bonus if they’re machine washable! 2. Polyester interior lining is key. You'll find snacks, pouches, napkins, and who knows else in the floor of your diaper bag. Anything with an easily wipeable interior will make your life a bit easier. 3. Avoid velcroIt’s super hard to clean, and you’re not going to want to rip that bag open with a sleeping baby nearby! 4. Pockets are...

You’ve probably heard the stats: all it takes are a few bad sunburns in childhood to double a person’s chance of developing skin cancer. But what exactly is in the SPF we’re supposed to slather on our babes (that is, after six months), and which brands offer the safest, most effective ingredients? Read on before you hit the kiddie pool. Babies Under 6 Months: An umbrella, stroller canopy, and lightweight, long-sleeved clothing are your best bet for sun protection if you’ve got a little babe under six months. Doctors recommend...

Growing up in Pakistan as the daughter of a doctor, Umaimah Mendhro was always encouraged to dream big, and fantasized about starting her own company and becoming the CEO. And on her first trip to the United States as a teenager, she saw just how real her dreams could be. She later wrote down on a napkin, 'I want to study in America', and it wasn't long before she was on her way to Harvard Business School.Since 2014, VIDA has created clothing, accessories and home decor designed by independent artists,...

You beat the four-month sleep regression. Convinced your standing baby to let go of the crib rails and lay down for naps. It’s sleep victory—at least until you roll out the toddler bed. If you’re dealing with midnight visits to mom and dad’s bed, endless water requests before lights out, or a painfully early riser, check out this try-it-tonight advice from childhood development and sleep expert Julie Wright, MFT, founder of The Happy Sleeper. Think of the bedroom as an ‘expanded crib’ Gearing up for the crib to toddler bed...

Holly Thaggard did not follow a traditional path when launching her business. After graduating from college, Holly became a third grade school teacher, then pivoted to pursue a career as a professional harpist. The last thing she anticipated happening was starting her own business, with the goal of creating a healthier sunscreen and educating children on skin care, but life had its own plan. In 2007, Holly started Supergoop, a program to get sunscreen and education on skincare into the hands of kids around the world. Three years later, she...

37-weeks pregnant with her first baby (a boy!), Chicago-based wedding planner Grace Hanson, Founder of Events by Grace, has navigated the fine art of surviving on your feet with a serious bump. (Hint: it's all in the cute flats, swim breaks, and warm baths.) She's got one final wedding this month before the arrival of her May baby, but made time to share a few of her best tips for dressing a bump on the go first. It's wedding day for one of my amazing brides! This cooperative oversized furry...

When Erik Allebest met Jay Severson at the Stanford Business School, their unlikely friendship would spark a love of chess that Erik was never able to shake. Turning down jobs at big tech companies (including Facebook), Erik juggled his education, a family, and building Chess.com as a resource for them and their friends to find chess related information. But as it grew, Jay and Erik realized they had something bigger on their hands. Chess.com is the number one place to play, learn about, and discuss chess, hosting more than 25...

Bouncing off the walls. It’s pretty much the only way to describe the frenetic energy you might notice in your kiddo after the second, or third, slice of cake at a birthday party. But get this: studies show that there’s actually no link between sugar and hyperactivity in kids, says Chicago-based registered dietician Amanda Baker Lemein, MS, RD. Surprised? You're not alone—most parents assume extra sugar provides kids a quick dose of kooky, but a number of double blind, placebo-controlled studies (the best kind) done over the years haven’t found...

By Megen Disanto “Do you feel guilty?” It was a harmless enough comment made by a well-intentioned friend at an inopportune time. Which guilt could she possibly be referring to—the guilt I had from binge-watching Real Housewives instead of making homemade baby food? Or the guilt I had about placing suspenders over my baby’s stained onesie instead of changing him for the third time that morning? I took a deep breath before answering my friend—the tears were so frequent now I could feel them starting to form. Of course, I...