Every mom holds her own magic - that arsenal of must have products and best kept secrets which allow her to get through the day and on occasion make motherhood look like a breeze. Each week, we'll use YOYA's 20 Questions to unlock the vault and provide a sneak peek into the essentials of our favorite moms.
After having children of her own, West Chelsea resident Tara Figotin began to realize her beloved New York City neighborhood was missing something — a children’s store! Inspired by her own little sunshines, Kai and Sasha, it was then the idea and the name of what was to become “My Little Sunshine” began to take shape in her mind.
My Little Sunshine opened in the fall of 2010 and was followed by the opening of a second location in Tribeca in 2013. Tara first met YOYA founder Cristina Villegas years ago, and the two have had each other's backs (along with those of NYC's west side moms) ever since. Enjoy learning more about Tara below, from her go-to baby gifts, to her favorite undercover Parisian spa that we cannot wait to try!
ABOUT ME
Neighborhood: West Chelsea
Work Industry: Owner of My Little Sunshine, Children's Boutique
My Crew (Kids/Ages): Kai age 11, Sasha age 8
Morning Routine: Run around like a chicken without a head!! Lol... Coffee always comes first for me. Then… prepare breakfast and lunch for the kids. Get everyone ready including myself, take kids to school and go to the store.
ESSENTIALS
Go-to Outfit: High-waisted Jeans and a tee shirt with either sneakers or low-heeled booties I can run around in.
Best Workout: I LOVE to dance and love all kinds of dance, but particularly Salsa :). It is my passion, my therapy and if can dance every day I would. Unfortunately, my schedule only allows me to dance 2 to 3 hours per week. And for an extra workout, I try to go up and down 11 flights of stairs to my apartment daily.
Must Have Beauty Product: Pure Argan oil for the face
Guilty Pleasure: Pasta, Pasta, Pasta (my absolute fave is rigatoni Pitti at Bar Pitti)
Currently Reading: My children's homework!
Favorite Instagram Account(s) to Follow: The Bucket List Family and YOYA! (YOYA has such a tasteful Instagram and store, of course…and is an inspiration to me).
Home Decor Style: Shabby chic / industrial … very French, warm and cozy. To me lighting is everything. So dimmers are essential and everywhere at home.
Favorite Destination: My family and I love the beach and love good food. Some of our favorite places are Anguila, South of France, and Paris.
Travel Essential: A Bluetooth speaker to listen to your music, either in your hotel room or on the beach. My family is big on music and cant live without it! We have music playing all of the time.
Hidden Gem: (restaurant, shopping, etc) My most recent discovery was in Paris. Ladda Spa is a small, intimate, first class, undercover spa with the most beautiful, most magical views of Paris. A true gem… A must!!!
KIDS
Describe Your Kids' Style: They each have their own personal style. My son definitely has a Cali surfer look. Despite her femininity and love for fashion, my daughter doesn’t care for dresses much. She is a leggings and tee kind of girl and she LOVES cool sneakers and shoes. She would prefer to get a new pair of shoes or clothing item over any toy!
Favorite Kids Brand: Too many to mention!
Go-to Gift: (new baby, bday party, etc) Jellycats are my fave! Aden and Anais Bamboo swaddle and Tane Organics kimono onesie with leggings in black. Babies dressed in black are so chic to me :)
Essential Snack on the Go: Cut up strawberries and hummus with pretzels
Favorite Rainy Day Activity: Home sweet home. We are all home bodies in my family but we rarely get a full day at home. So getting to spend a rainy day at home watching movies is a huge treat for us.
For more of Tara's favorites, follow along at @mylittlesunnyc