HEALTHY LIVING I how she does it
HEALTHY LIVING
I how she does it Tonjiawith her husband, Greg, and their kids, Benjamin,4, and Anna Caroline,1
Haute MOll} No more sweatpants! Mompreneur Tonjia Coverdale, 31, ....... keeps mothers and babes superchic BY JILL COX-CORDOVA ESSENCE:With two children under age 5, how do you manage being a parent and running a business? TonjiaCoverdale: Since part of my business is kids apparel, work has brought me and my children closer together. When I'm with investors or when I talk to other moms, I can bring my kids. I'm a real mom and that's who the business is for. Plus, my children are my models and my inspiration. ESSENCE: How did your clothing company, Divas N Babes (divasnbabes.com), come into being? Coverdale: My son, Benja:min, was a preemie, so my husband and I made the decision for me to put my career on hold to take care of the baby. 1went from being a dressed-up university professor to a stayat-home mom in my husband's oversize sweat shorts and T-shirts. They were the only comfortable clothes I could find. A lot of people would see me and ask, "When are you going back to work?" Being a mom at home is the most work I have ever done in my entire life. SoIdesigned a T-shirt that
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read "1AM at WORK!"That was the start back in 2006. Now we have customers on every continent except Antarctica.
ESSENCE:What's a typical day like? Coverdale:The kids wake me at about 6:30 A.M. and we do chores like folding laundry, have breakfast, and Iget my oldest to schooL Theri it's Gymboree class or swimming lessons for my youngest. In the afternoon, while my kids are with our South African au pair, 1either work on my dissertation for a Ph.D. in business administration or on Divas N Babes fulfilling orders, updating the Web site, and doing PRoAfter a family dinner, the kids go to bed at 7 P.M. and Greg and 1get quality time until about 9:30 P.M. ESSENCE:How do you keep the fire burning with your husband? Coverdale:Eversince we met in 2000 we've had a date night on Friday, no exceptions. We'll get someone to watch the kids and go out for sushi or wait until they go to sleep and watch a movie at home. It doesn't have
to be fancy, just a consistent effort. ESSENCE: Any "mompreneur" advice? Coverdale: Do what you love! If you love it, your children will love being a part of it.
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I how she does it Tonjiawith her husband, Greg, and their kids, Benjamin,4, and Anna Caroline,1
Haute MOll} No more sweatpants! Mompreneur Tonjia Coverdale, 31, ....... keeps mothers and babes superchic BY JILL COX-CORDOVA ESSENCE:With two children under age 5, how do you manage being a parent and running a business? TonjiaCoverdale: Since part of my business is kids apparel, work has brought me and my children closer together. When I'm with investors or when I talk to other moms, I can bring my kids. I'm a real mom and that's who the business is for. Plus, my children are my models and my inspiration. ESSENCE: How did your clothing company, Divas N Babes (divasnbabes.com), come into being? Coverdale: My son, Benja:min, was a preemie, so my husband and I made the decision for me to put my career on hold to take care of the baby. 1went from being a dressed-up university professor to a stayat-home mom in my husband's oversize sweat shorts and T-shirts. They were the only comfortable clothes I could find. A lot of people would see me and ask, "When are you going back to work?" Being a mom at home is the most work I have ever done in my entire life. SoIdesigned a T-shirt that
u. C
read "1AM at WORK!"That was the start back in 2006. Now we have customers on every continent except Antarctica.
ESSENCE:What's a typical day like? Coverdale:The kids wake me at about 6:30 A.M. and we do chores like folding laundry, have breakfast, and Iget my oldest to schooL Theri it's Gymboree class or swimming lessons for my youngest. In the afternoon, while my kids are with our South African au pair, 1either work on my dissertation for a Ph.D. in business administration or on Divas N Babes fulfilling orders, updating the Web site, and doing PRoAfter a family dinner, the kids go to bed at 7 P.M. and Greg and 1get quality time until about 9:30 P.M. ESSENCE:How do you keep the fire burning with your husband? Coverdale:Eversince we met in 2000 we've had a date night on Friday, no exceptions. We'll get someone to watch the kids and go out for sushi or wait until they go to sleep and watch a movie at home. It doesn't have
to be fancy, just a consistent effort. ESSENCE: Any "mompreneur" advice? Coverdale: Do what you love! If you love it, your children will love being a part of it.
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