MetroMom Nicole Feliciano
Some fashionistas refuse to give up the high heels even after the kids come along. That’s the case with Nicole Feliciano, Editor and Founder of Momtrends.

MM - How did your life change when you became a mom?

Prior to becoming a mom, I worked as a fashion executive for Polo Ralph Lauren. In addition to incredibly challenging and interesting work, I wore 3” heels every day, had a swank office on Madison Avenue, traveled and had the most drool-worthy wardrobe ever. Well, I still love fashion and cling to my style, but the 3” heels? They are only brought out on date nights. My life is still incredibly full. Now my fashion inspiration comes from the playgrounds as much as the runways—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

MM - HWhat has been your most memorable moment (s) as a mom?

Any time I can travel with the girls. One trip that stands out was a trip to South Africa. Being able to show my children stunning natural beauty and expose them to amazing foreign cultures make me deliriously happy. Off the coast of South Africa we went out on a whale-watching cruise. When I saw my daughter view a breaching whale, well, it doesn’t get much better than that.

MM - If you could give another mom or expectant mom one piece of advice, what would it be?

Do it your own way. There is no such thing as a perfect mom. If you are shooting for perfection you are going to be sorely disappointed. I’ve picked a handful of things that I choose to be “good enough” at –crafts, baking, sewing—not for me. Instead, I play to my strengths, travel, outings, fashion (naturally) and sports. And never compare yourself to other moms. Sure, ask for tips and help, but know that you are on your own path.

MM - Momtrends is an amazing website with Trends and Tips that all moms can benefit from - What was the inspiration behind the site?

In 2004, when I was pregnant the first time, I waved bye-bye to the heels and Ralph Lauren office and made the jump to full-time mom and part time freelance writer. At this time blogs were just starting to explode. I started “mom blogging” for Babble.com covering baby gear and mom style news. While Babble is amazing in it’s own way, I wanted to do something different and I wanted it to be in my voice. Momtrends was always meant to be an extension of my aesthetic. It’s a place for me to house all the brands, experiences and people that inspire me and make me want to be a more fun mom. It could be an easy and delicious recipe, a pair of shoes (yes, it always comes back to shoes with me!) that looks amazing and can withstand a mile-long walk to preschool drop off. As the site has grown, Momtrends.com has morphed from a mom blog to a style-centric e-zine and that’s where I think it belongs. We don’t chase celebrities, though we do make mention of them occasionally, instead we like to be ahead of even the celebrities when spotting trends.

MM - What has been your favorite find?

Wow, that’s like trying to pick a favorite child. I’ll share a few recent passions—first, I’m addicted to make my own seltzer with the sodastream. It’s green, practical and cool looking—awesome. When it comes to baby gear, I’ve witnessed an explosion in stylish and practical gear. How a breastfeeding mom could live without a Bravado tank is beyond me! Design-wise I’m infatuated with my Berg bunk beds and with just about everything Appaman makes for kids.