Interview by Angela Lo
American expat Courtney Adamo originally came to London with her husband for what she thought was to be a brief stint. Ten years on and four children later, she’s still in London and now calls the leafy area of Highgate home.
As one of the three co-founders of international shopping portal site Babyccino Kids, she carefully handpicks and showcases top boutiques catering for babies, tweens and mums – bringing style and inspiration to families around the world.
We recently caught up with Courtney…
The Babyccino online boutique is one of the most original, imaginative and chicest sites out there. Do you, Esther, and Emilie each focus on different categories or is it something the three of you do together?
Babyccino Kids is a shopping portal of children’s boutiques, so we represent the shops not the products. We offer a curated directory with around 300 of the world’s best and most stylish shops, sorted into categories to make it easy for parents to find what they’re looking for and to discover great new shops and brands.
Esther and I run the shopping portal together and split the tasks between the two of us. It’s so nice having a partner to share the workload and to keep each other inspired.
What secrets can you share about balancing being a busy mum to four and managing your business? I feel like I’ve got my hands completely full with two and I’m amazed that you manage with twice the load!
I feel so lucky that I get to juggle work and motherhood! Sometimes you meet mums who work full time and never get to pick their kids up from school, or I’ll talk to mums who wish they had a job because they’re feeling bored at home. It’s always tricky to find the right balance, and it’s something I am always working on. My best advice is to try to be present in the moment. I try to never check emails on my phone or answer work calls when I’m with my kids. When I leave my house at 3 p.m. to pick up the kids from school, I try to leave work behind and focus on the next few hours with my children. Things seem to be easier to manage if I keep my two roles separate and try to be as efficient as I can in each role.
As for having four, I think once you have two kids, you’ve already learned to juggle. It doesn’t get worse with more kids. In fact, I actually found the fourth baby to be the easiest addition because the older kids were helpful and I already knew what to expect. Also, I’m so aware of how quickly time passes. I’ve learned to really enjoy the chaos because someday it will be easier, our home will be quieter… and I will miss it all!
What is your typical day like?
We always eat breakfast together as a family. My husband doesn’t start his workday until 10ish, so he’s around to help with the morning chaos and the school run. I usually work from 9 until 3 every day while the bigger kids are at school. I have a nanny who comes three days a week to watch the baby and help with the house and laundry. On the days when the nanny isn’t here, I have to try to keep the baby entertained and occupied while I squeeze in work. It’s not always easy, but I’ve learned to be efficient in the small spurts of time the baby allows me! I work until it’s time to pick up the three bigger kids from school. We’re usually home from the school run and afterschool activities by 4:30 and things start to get a bit hectic with dinner and bath and bedtime. My husband comes home from work at 7 and together we put the kids to bed. After we put them down, we sit together and eat dinner just the two of us. I’m so thankful for a husband who is so hands-on. I really couldn’t do it without all of his help!
I find myself constantly trying to come up with healthy options for a quick supper. What is your go-to recipe when you haven’t got too much time to prepare?
One of our favourite go-to meals is penne pasta with a tomato and tuna sauce. I just make a simple marinara sauce (garlic, olive oil, basil, canned tomatoes) and add a tin of tuna at the very end before mixing it over the pasta. So easy and so yummy!
What is the one piece in your wardrobe that you can’t live without and think all mums need?
It’s a bit boring, but I bought a Woolrich parka about four years ago and it literally changed the way I feel about winters in London. It’s so warm and so easy to wear and has big pockets for all the little things my kids are always asking me to carry. It’s not very fashionable, but it’s warm and functional! I’m also always wearing a scarf, even in summertime! I have used my scarves as picnic blankets, baby blankets, shade for the buggy, to wipe up messes, dry wet hands, etc.
What I love about London is that it’s such a great city to live in with kids. What is your favourite thing to do with the kids in London?
My favourite thing about London is all the parks and green spaces! If you compare it with so many other cities, this is the one great thing that makes it stand out. We love taking long walks through Hampstead Heath on the weekends. We usually walk from our house, through the heath over to Hampstead village. We’ll eat lunch in Hampstead and then walk slowly back home through the heath. I love that my city kids can explore the wilderness, get lost in the woods, climb trees, catch crayfish, find treasures, throw a Frisbee, ride their bikes, and so on.
Being a blogger I find it so fun looking for new stories and ideas and I probably spend way too much time on Pinterest and reading other people’s amazing blogs. Is there one site that you currently find inspiring?
We also spend too much time on Pinterest! It’s so addicting! I wish I had more time to read blogs, but when I find the time I love to read A Cup Of Jo and Bleubird.
About the author:
Angela is a Jersey girl who has been living in London since 2007 when her Swiss-American husband was transferred for work across the pond. You can follow her at Lattes and Juice which showcases kids’ and mommys’ fashion, child-friendly London , all of her travels and latest obsessions.
