moms extraordinaire
"Every working mom needs a little me time!"
October 2008 Jeanette The ------------------------------------------
Sandra King Cooper performs inside sales for a master distributor of commercial and military graded fasteners. Her job consists of working out the specifications on the fasteners for her customers. Not claiming to be a multi-tasker, Sandra manages to meet the challenges of her demanding position and juggle her two children under five and all of their activities, while still finding time to go out on date-nights with her husband and time fulfilling one of her passions which is event planning for weddings, anniversary parties and Sweet 16 parties. In addition to her numerous commitments, Sandra is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and she enjoys reading, scrap booking and traveling.
Personal Style:
Feminine, very girly with a funky edge
Favorite place to eat:
Hands down my favorite place to eat is the Crab House located in
Favorite vacation spot:
I love to cruise because of the flexibility that cruising allows . It ensures that all my family has an enjoyable time. 
There are activities targeted just for children, as well as adult entertainment for my husband and I. In my opinion
a cruise is a
prefect vacation for families with small children to teenagers.
On her “always wanted to do” list:
I consider myself to be quite adventurous and I’ve always wanted to try sky diving.
Tip for how she juggles it all:
One thing that isn’t part of my juggling is multi-tasking. I feel when I do that nothing is successfully completed. I work from home and during my down time I spend as much time as possible with my 18 month old son Noah. Once my older son Connor returns home from school it’s all about him and his day and our time together. Once both boys are asleep for the night my husband and I settle down and do our time. To make sure mommy is taken care of because she needs it, I pick a day that is “my day” that consist of doing anything that just caters to me. My philosophy about work is that it will always be there, and many times while the children are sound asleep, my husband and I work.
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July 2008
Tonya Pemberton takes pride in her ability to manage work, family, and social commitments gracefully! As a working mother of three children, Tonya is dedicated to both her family and her work and still manages to squeeze in some “me” time! She currently works as a Surgical Device Specialist, requiring her to leave home as early as 5am several mornings a week. In addition to her family and work commitments, Tonya also serves as the Preschool Age Group Advisor for the Newton, MA Chapter of Jack & Jill, and is also a member of the Middlesex Chapter of The Links, Inc. In her spare time, she has been working with her husband, Steve Pemberton, a VP Monster.com, to launch a networking website for African American Professionals called www.Amightyriver.com. She says the keys to her success are threefold: God, a helpful husband and good planning!
Personal style: Chic/Sophisticated Casual
Favorite place to eat:
My backyard! I love having friends over in the summer. It’s great to watch your children play with their friends while the adults enjoy some grown up time on the deck!
Favorite vacation spot:
While I absolutely love the beaches in
On her "always wanted to do" list:
Run a
How she juggles it all:
Thank God for your life and your family everyday and it keeps you calm! Try to plan ahead for as much as you can, whether it’s packing lunches, using a crock pot for dinner, or doing a load of laundry each day. Completing small tasks the day before can make a big difference. And most importantly, a happy mom means a happy family, remember to take time for yourself! I know it’s difficult to schedule but spending time with friends and connecting with other moms can make all the difference!
According to Tonya, planning makes all the difference and cuts the stress level from what could have been an 8 or 9 on the stress scale down to a 3 or 4. As a former teacher, Tonya knows that children need structure and that’s just what she’s created to make her family’s life run smoothly. Children thrive in predictable environments. When they know what to expect, they can complete tasks independently and that builds confidence. Tonya claims the added bonus is it decreases the amount of verbal instructions we typically need to give! She provides a simple schedule/checklist for her children to follow with items like get dressed, brush your teeth, comb your hair, etc. This simple but easy routine allows for a smooth morning in the Pemberton household.
After teaching, Tonya worked for several years in the Pharmaceutical Industry and last year accepted a position in the Medical Device field. In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives she claims it’s important to take time out for yourself and to not take life too seriously. Being able to laugh at yourself regarding what you can control and what you can’t helps to keep things in perspective. She says it’s taken her a while to learn that life is about the little things, the precious moments we share with loved ones who make all the difference in our lives. As a working mother, it’s about learning, sharing, and growing with those we love and making a difference in the lives of others, while balancing what we love to do.
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March 2008
Lauture
an
extraordinary
mom
Owner -
Aunt Jean's
Toys & Treats
Personal Style:
Chic/Casual
Favorite place to eat and why:
Cuban Pete's in Montclair, NJ, because being a Latina, I want my children to be exposed to that cuisine and I need my fix on some authentic Spanish dishes
Favorite vacation spot and why:
I love the Carribean (Puerto Rico, Jamaica, etc...for the laid back atmosphere and the beautiful beaches.
On her “always wanted to do” list:
I've always wanted to take skating lessons. As a little girl, I wanted to be a professional figure skater - because of the love of dance and ice skating.
Tip for how she juggles it all:
Lots of support from my husband, family and my staff. Once a month I try to make time for my husband with date night (more if possible), a special treat for me (massage, mani, pedi, girls night out), a special one-on-one date with each of my twins, and I try to arrange for a family dinner in between. Thank God there are 30 days in a month!!!
Read how Jeanette Lauture fulfilled one of her passions! The Story Behind Aunt Jean of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats:
In the fall of 2005, Jeanette Lauture was a bio-pharmaceutical sales specialist. It was a highly specialized role that she had held for over a decade, and one she enjoyed—except for the lengthy commute from Montclair, New Jersey to the South Bronx. Two years earlier, in 2003, Lauture and her husband, Lionel, had twins—a boy and a girl. Lauture was looking for a change that would allow her to be closer to her family, but she didn’t know what it would be.
Thus was born Aunt Jean’s Toys and Treats. From the beginning, there was a certain fate at work. Lauture has fond memories of the toy stores she went to as a child growing up in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and of the candies she ate (Lemonheads, Pixie Sticks, Charleston Chews, Boston Baked Beans), and toys she played with (Lincoln Logs, Slinky, Play Dough, Silly Putty, Playmobil, kites). Later in life, Lauture always had a knack for discovering the most appropriate, evocative, and breathtaking gifts for her twins, and the other hard-to-please children in her extended family. Lauture even met husband Lionel during a convention in
Part of a diverse family and multicultural family herself, with children of both her Puerto Rican and her husband’s Haitian heritage, Lauture also emphasizes globalism and multiculturalism. She carries children’s books in Spanish, and rare European toys by HABA and Bruder Trucks. In place of Barbie, she carries multicultural dolls by Mixis and Karito, and the proceeds from sales of the latter help to beautify the world.
Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats is a toy store that speaks strongly of the owner’s personality. “We’re not your run of the mill mass-market toy store,” says Lauture. By this she means two things: superior customer service, and extreme variety. All in all, it’s just what Lauture had in mind - a place that simultaneously evokes the beloved, classic toy stores of years gone with their untold treasures to be discovered, coupled with a 21st Century sensibility that includes toys from around the globe and giving back to the local community.
December 2007
Stephanie
Toczylowski
an extraordinary
mom
Store Manager -
Nicole Miller
Livingston, NJ
Personal Style:
Funky. I love to put together pieces that you wouldn’t normally match up like a gray t-shirt with a taffeta skirt and a funky necklace. My signature piece is a giant Swarovski crystal ring. I have a collection of them and wear a different one every day. They are my weakness.
Favorite place to eat:
For lunch definitely The Soup
Favorite vacation spot:
Every year my husband and I go to our condo in
On her “always wanted to do” list:
Visit
How she juggles it all:
Lots of Dunkin’ Donuts ice coffee! I really stick to a schedule each morning, take my son to the sitter and head off to work. After work my husband picks up Declan, so when I get home we can all eat dinner, play and get the baby to bed between 8:00 and 8:30pm so we have time to spend together. My husband and I also have date night once a month so we can enjoy each other.
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Jill Johnsonan
extraordinary
mom
Chief
Operating
Officer -
Institute for
Entrepreneurial
Leadership
Jill Johnson is a woman with vision, purpose and passion, and lives everyday to make a difference. After spending several years at Goldman, Sachs & Co. executing $100 million+ merger and acquisition transactions for public and privately held companies, Jill moved to the opposite end of the spectrum to work in, with and for small businesses. While the promise of riches was nearly certain working at the prestigious Wall Street firm, the Jill’s vision for her life led her in another direction.
After fifteen years of working with start-up companies, she decided to apply her Ivy League education and Wall Street training to create the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership – an organization dedicated building communities through entrepreneurship. At the core is a focus on helping minority and women entrepreneurs overcome the challenge of undercapitalization to create multi-million dollar enterprises. Through IFEL, small businesses have access to expertise that otherwise is only available to well funded small businesses and large corporations. Jill is living her passion in working toward fulfillment of the IFEL mission.
Despite her busy work schedule, Jill is dedicated to making a difference in her community. She serves as Co-Treasurer of the South Mountain Elementary School PTA, Co-chair of the Main Street Economic Development Committee and is an appointee to the Redevelopment Committee all in
On top of the professional and civic accomplishments, her greatest challenge and most fulfilling reward is in her role as the mother of four sons ranging in age from 9 months to 8 years. She spends a lot of time at school and sporting events serving as sideline coach and cheerleader. Jill believes that raising her children to be contributors to society is the most important job of any that she holds.
Jill has a B.A. in economics from
Personal Style:
Relaxed and professional
Favorite place to eat:
At home because I don't have to take the children out.
Favorite vacation spot:
On her “always wanted to do” list:
Climb Mount Kilamanjaro
How she juggles it all:
Learn how to prioritize and let yourself off the hook for things that do not get done. Being realistic about your own time and learn when something you have done is good enough.
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Charisse Carney-Nunes
an extraordinary mom
President -
Brand Nu Words, LLC
Senior Vice President -
Knowledge
Development &
Relations, The
Jamestown Project
As a publisher and author, Charisse is busy with book signings and scheduling speaking engagements. Her role as President of Brand Nu Words, LLC, has her working on the marketing, promotions, public relations, inventory control, special events and much more. She also designs and implements programs and builds communications strategies as the Senior Vice President of Knowledge Development & Media Relations, The Jamestown Project (an action-oriented think tank). In addition, Charisse is the Senior Staff Associate at the National Science Foundation.
Personal Style:
Relaxed and athletic
Favorite place to eat:
On my basement floor on
a blanket “picnic-style”
with the family. Fancy restaurants with 2 athletic
and very allergic kids isn’t my idea of fun. And I’m
always in search of peace. Need I say more?
Favorite vacation spot:
On her “always wanted to do” list:
Live free.
How she juggles it all:
I guess my best advice is to multi-task and to overlap responsibilities as much as possible. I also rely heavily on new technologies – wireless Internet, email, my laptop (though my husband is often jealous of the laptop), and my Outlook calendar and reminders. Sadly you MUST MUST MUST schedule in DATE NIGHT, EXERCISE, AND MASSAGES, just like you schedule in conference calls, book signings, and Brownie meetings. Forming a babysitting swap with my cousin has made a big difference in my one-on-one relationship with hubby.
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Candice Hardiman
an extraordinary mom
Merchandise Manager -
Girls Shoes
Collective Brands
Payless Shoe Source,
Inc.
Kansas City, KS
As the Merchandise Manager for Payless Shoe Source, Candice is responsible for buying girls shoes and spends 35% to 40% traveling. She travels to Europe and works with branded agents for trend direction. Her team selects the assortment by geographical region and they make sure moms and dads have trend-right shoes for their kids at a reasonable price. She loves her career because they democratize fashion for all kids.
Personal Style:Classic with a little edge
Favorite place to eat:
The soul food restaurant Peachtree in Kansas City,
KS. My son loves the
live Jazz music and
the sweat potato muffins. Of course mommy and daddy love the catfish and atmosphere!
Favorite vacation spot:
We don’t have a favorite spot at this time. We just like to be on the go! However, I can't wait to take the kids to Disneyland! I just want to make sure they are old enough to appreciate.
On her “always wanted to do” list:
How she juggles it all:
I have a great husband who is very understanding of the travel and demands of my career! We know each other’s calendar in advance and plan accordingly. We also have relatives that help. We network with other parents at the daycare and other organizations to keep us involved in the community.
Above all we pray as a family and make sure each of us do what we enjoy in life. My husband makes sure he plays golf and I make sure I spend time with friends and family. It is a give and take. We put GOD first in our lives and then everything else seems to fall in place.