Haute Mom: Nicole McGregor

Name: Nicole McGregor
Children & Ages: Hudson – 5, Savannah – 9
Hometown/Current Location: San Clemente, CA/Scottsdale, AZ

Quick Bio: After studying Communications and Journalism at Loyola Marymount University and Stanford, Nicole embarked on a career in Television News as a Reporter/Anchor for Markets in Washington, California and Arizona. She hung up her microphone after her struggle with fertility finally produced a second child. Being a working “Mom Journalist” for 4 years, taught her that the best and most important story to tell was inside her own home. Nicole quickly settled into her role as Household CEO but soon missed writing. That’s when she started a blog about projects, parties and parenting called One Picky Chick. It humorously and thoughtfully chronicles her life and mission to do it all as best she can during this one chance she’s been given.

You can find Nicole at One Picky Chick or on Facebook and Twitter

Q:What is your favorite piece of advice to new Moms?
A: My favorite piece of advice/warning to give new Moms is: Be selfless but don’t lose yourself. Before I had kids I tried very hard to get most of my selfish-ness out of my system. I think that’s important because you need to be sure you’re ready for kids. No regrets for not fulfilling your dream because now it’s more about theirs! And those kids are like parasites – they suck everything from you! At the same time – and this is a fine balancing act – you have to remember to carve out a little time for you (and your spouse). Because in the end if you’re not happy – they won’t be either!

Q: How do you balance being a Mommy and keeping your sense of self?
A: I still do the things I love to do. Even when my children were very young. It was few and far between but I took opportunities to shop, decorate, drink wine, go out with my friends and husband, it’s why I started One Picky Chick. I wanted to maintain myself almost as much as my kids. Your children will only benefit in the long run.

Q: How do you incorporate fitness into your daily routine?
A: This is so easy for new moms to do. Grab a stroller and roll. Nobody gives walking the credit it deserves. I lost ALL MY BABY WEIGHT from walking in months! Walk 5 times a week for an hour, with your baby, once they’re 3-4 weeks old and you’ll be able to do it with them until they’re 5! Don’t wait until they’re over 1 year… they’ll never stay put. And the best part, it’s FREE!

Q: What’s your most memorable Mommy moment to date?

A: It’s not a good one so brace yourself. One day, after being sick and tired my daughter looked at me and said, “I’m just so sad from the inside, out…” Shocked I replied, “do you feel like that often?” To which she said, “sometimes in school I feel like crying for no reason.” It was at that moment I realized the popular prescribed med she was taking was making her depressed and changing her personality. I had been struggling with understanding her mood shift prior to that and it finally clicked. It was such a horribly deflating Mom moment because I felt as if I had let her down. I was supposed to guard and protect her yet I had unknowingly let something come in and steal a big piece of her away – all as I was watching it happen. It made me realize that you need to really be present 24/7. Now, I’m a Stay-at-home-Mom so I don’t mean just physically. I mean you have to constantly be in their faces, analyzing, testing, loving, guiding and supporting. Otherwise, something will get past you and I promise, you don’t want to take that chance. Of course I wrote about the experience on my blog HERE.

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