Today I have a very special treat for you on Moms on the Move... It's our very own co-founder Christianne Cruz! Not only is she a kick-ass business woman and mom, but she's also one of coolest ladies to be around. Check out her interview to get a little peek behind the scenes and find out what inspired her to start MiLOWE, how she networks and of course her favorite Insta accounts.

Tell us your story! We’d love to hear a little bit about yourself and your business.

My daughter, Mia, stepped into our lives last year and nothing has ever mattered more. Being a parent has opened my eyes to an industry I knew nothing about. I found myself diving into a sea of businesses, researching how these independent ventures have helped to elevate parenting in the 21st century. Kids products have evolved so much, from the use of aerospace materials in car seats, organic and sustainable apparel, better (and cuter) diapers, tech-driven this and smart crib that, tot food delivery services, portable everything and more. I quickly became fascinated with all things parenthood. Before starting this venture, I lived in Toronto and worked in publishing, advertising and sales. After moving to Los Angeles, I pivoted into the entertainment industry working in film/tv at an agency. I took those skills and became an independent producer (my first project is a comedic feature film called Black Mitzvah which recently landed a spot on the coveted Black List and I have a few other ones I haven’t announced…).

MiLOWE came like all of my best ideas…. in the middle of the night. I was breastfeeding my daughter, Mia, in a super dark nursery at 3 am. I felt very isolated. I knew I wanted to create a supportive and resourceful community of modern, like-minded parents like myself. I brought the idea to Callie and together we launched MiLOWE at the end of Oct 2019. In a mere 2 months, we launched MiLOWE’s Made in LA baby apparel, published over 75 articles, produced 5 videos, hosted 2 co-branded giveaways, 2 live events and partnered with over 35 brands. We look forward to working on and offline to support new parents when they need it most.

How many kids do you have, what ages?

One fur baby, Jeffry, who is roughly 6 yrs old (he’s a rescue dog) and Mia who is 16 months!

What are your top three recommendations for things to do with kids in LA?

1. Strolling around the beautiful Lake Shrine for some R&R in the middle of what can be a chaotic city
2. A visit to The Huntington Gardens & Libraries (with lunch at the dumpling house in the Chinese Gardens!)
3. Grab a (Godmother) sandwich from Bay Cities and have a picnic with the turtles at Douglas Park in Santa Monica.

How do you network as a parent and a business person?

This year I joined the Female Founders Collective founded by Rebecca Minkoff. it’s a great organization that encourages online users to connect offline. MiLOWE has already collabed with lots of members like Latrice Littleton of Ardor Bin Co. and Stephanie G-M of Ouli’s Ointment. We’re proud to be a part of this collective of strong women. Prior to that, I was in Women in Film in a mentoring group for a while for my film/tv production work.

I’d like to add that I naturally love to network… all the time. From chatting up strangers in cafes, to initiating a mom group at the West Hollywood library (these women are my mom rocks), the ability to form relationships has led to very valuable acquaintances and life long friends. Networking has been a very useful skill in both my business and new life as a mom.

Where do you go for inspiration on the web and in real life?

I have a million tabs open on my browsers and inspo can come from anywhere and everywhere but here’s a few specific places I like to look besides pinterest and instagram:

1. Ad Age
2. Mirador
3. Vimeo
4. No Proscenium

What is the first website you visit every morning?

Definitely instagram. Work work work work work.

What are your three favorite Instagram accounts to follow?

1. @SampleTimes
2. @kids.eat.in.color
3. @thehoodwitch

What is on your to do list for today?

- keep Mia fed and entertained
- go to the playground
- pitch a producer a new project over the phone
- take a long walk to melt away the holiday pie that still sits in my belly
- write the interview you’re reading right now
- e-mail a status report to the creative team I’m working with on an animated project
- prep for tomorrow's first MiLOWE meeting of the year
- review an original song written for my next secret project
- post.on.social.media.urgh.

Describe motherhood in one sentence.

Motherhood is like one giant test. On some parts, I feel like i’m acing it and others… not so much.

And finally, where can we find you?

o Website: https://www.milowekids.com/
o Instagram: @milowekids & my personal @milowemom