Josephine’s Creative Career Moms: Tanya Birl-Torres

Tanya in a photoshoot for Broadwayworld.com

This month I am so excited to feature Tanya Birl-Torres, a talented Broadway dancer and new mother. Tanya’s story is honest, inspiring and very close to my heart, as we grew up together. Motherhood can be a rollercoaster ride, with many ups and downs, but it’s stories like these and connections with other mothers, close friends and family that help to keep us grounded and sometimes inspire us to keep going. Tanya gave me some insight into the strong mother-models that she’s looked up to in her life and after hearing Tanya’s story, I hope that you are as inspired as I was.

Ok, so let’s hear your story. How did you make it to Broadway?

Broadway was never something that I sought after directly. I made my Broadway debut in Finian's Rainbow in 2009. To clarify, when you say Broadway, it is referring to a small block of theaters lining the very famous street in New York City. My debut came after many years of touring the US and the world performing in other Musicals. I was introduced to musical theater more indirectly. I was studying at the Alvin Ailey Dance School in New York City and I was focusing very intensely on a career in modern dance. During a ballet class one day, I received a call from my mom that someone from the Lion King was inquiring about my availability (I had auditioned over a year previously in New York and never heard anything back). They had an opening on the national tour and told me that it was between me and two other women. After a week of waiting anxiously, casting called me and told me to pack my bags. I got the job. That phone call changed my life and introduced me to the world of musical theater, and in turn, Broadway. 

Did you always dream of becoming a Broadway dancer?

Funny enough, No. Broadway was never really on my radar.  I did grow up singing in church and watching a lot of musicals like West Side Story and The Sound of Music at home with my family.

Is it every dancer’s dream come true?

It is a dream come true for many people and is something that is so sought after and admired. For me, it was a real sense of accomplishment.

Tanya and her Beautiful Family on the High Line in NYC

When did you decide it was time to start a family?

I had told my husband Wilson that we could start a family once I had done three Broadway shows. We got married during my Broadway debut and the second (Memphis) came a few months later and the third (How To Succeed in Business) came six months after that. It was a lot faster than I had thought! When How To Succeed closed after a year and a half; we saw a window of opportunity in between our next projects to give it a try. We did, and the rest is history.

Opening Night of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (six-and-a-half months pregnant)

What’s it like being pregnant in this field? What were some of the challenges?

I had a blast being pregnant in this industry. I was very fortunate and was cast in the Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Scarlett Johansson while I was a few months pregnant. The show is about family and fertility and they saw my character as a welcome addition. I grew with the show (and my costumes) and ended the run of the production 8 1/2 months pregnant. It was a play, so I didn't have to dance at all; I did a lot of walking and acting. It was a real gift. The biggest challenge was walking up a flight of stairs for every entrance of the show. To be honest, I kept on doing everything I did before I was pregnant (except the occasional glass of wine) and never felt more beautiful or capable. It was post pregnancy that was jammed packed with lessons and breakdowns/breakthroughs.

Can you describe a typical workday? What’s it like now that you have a little one?

A typical workday (let’s say a Tuesday) would be waking up with Noemi around 7:30am, reading some books and getting ready for the day. We have breakfast and then walk the dog. We take Noemi to daycare for a few hours so that we can get some things done. I go to yoga at 9:30 am in the neighborhood and run errands. My husband will practice (he's the percussionist for Les Mis on Broadway) and then he will pick her up at 1:00 pm. We then come home for her nap and I get started on dinner. We eat and then get ready to leave for work. The babysitter comes around 5:00 pm and I leave the house at 5:15pm. We both return from our shows at 10:30pm. We then have a snack, watch some recorded TV and head to bed around midnight. 

Current show: On the Town 

If you could use one word to describe your life as a mom and a dancer what would it be?

One word to explain my life as a mom and dancer is Balance. As tired and exhausted as I am at the end of each day, I get to be with Noemi all day (except for two show days) and then go into Times Square and release the stress of the day by dancing, laughing, singing and letting loose for a living. It definitely takes a village to make things run smoothly, but I feel like two years in, we are finally finding the balance of it all. I always say that I am a better mom when I am a working mom, so for where I am right now, I feel extremely fulfilled.

Who or what inspires you to keep at it and follow your dreams?

I have some extremely strong women in my life that are thriving at being a mother and a top notch career woman. I also grew up with a mom that was very present, but worked full-time for most of our childhood. It was important to see that it is quality not quantity of time that matters. It taught me a great sense of work ethic and passion for family and career.

Finally, can you offer other career moms, especially ones in a demanding field like this, some survival tips?

Take everything moment to moment. Be where you are. If it's a moment of silence while you are washing a dish, revel in it. If it's accomplishing a difficult task at work, use it to amaze yourself at how much we women and mothers can handle. I also try to be present when I am with Noemi. When things get hectic and I feel some guilt for being away, I think about how I spent my time with her that day and it always puts me at ease.

Sweet Strawberry Rhubarb Salad

I get so excited for farmer’s market season every spring. An afternoon at the market makes what can sometimes be a seemingly mundane task like grocery shopping into an enjoyable and inspiring outing.

           

Today was the first week of our local farmer’s market and the colours of the vender tables were particularly vibrant, filled with strawberries, spinach, cucumber and an abundance of rhubarb. 

After walking past a series of tables that were featuring rhubarb, its vibrant red stalks and lush leaves catching my eye at every turn, I decided to stop and ask one of the vendors what was the best way to incorporate this vegetable into everyday meals. Wasting no time, he quickly began to show me how to clean the stalks and explained that it would taste best if used to make a simple syrup. His kind and helpful tips are what became the inspiration for the dressing and salad featured below.

Sweet Strawberry Rhubarb Salad Ingredients

Salad

2 Cups Fresh Spinach (tear into bite-size bits)

1 Cucumber (sliced)

2 Strawberries (sliced)

2 Tablespoons granola

Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

1/3 Cup Rhubarb (cleaned and cut into small slices)

1/4 Cup of Strawberries (sliced)

1/4 Cup of Sugar

1/4 Cup Water

Dressing

2 Tablespoons of the Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

1 Teaspoon of Dyonnaise Mustard Blend

1 Teaspoon of Lemon Juice

1/8 of a teaspoon of salt and pepper

Directions Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

1.     In a small saucepan, combine rhubarb, strawberries, water and sugar.

2.     Bring to a boil at medium-high heat for 7 min or until your rhubarb is very soft.

3.     Remove from heat and let stand for 10 min.

4.     Set aside the larger pieces of fruit

5.     This makes more syrup than you will need for your dressing, so I like to keep what's left for Sunday morning pancakes!

Directions for Dressing

          Combine 2 tbs of the syrup, dyonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper; whisk until blended.

Directions for Salad

Combine spinach, cucumber and strawberries; pour dressing and sprinkle with granola.  Lightly toss. Top with the bits of strawberry and rhubarb leftover from your syrup.

Enjoy!

Josephine’s Creative Career Moms: Heather Coughlin of Calluna Studios

Photo Credit: Tracy Allison, Edits by Jennifer Moher 

I've decided to do a feature for Josephine’s Creative Career Moms series once a month. I’m planning to highlight amazing mothers who have followed their dreams and developed creative careers.

This month I am so excited to introduce Heather Coughlin of Calluna Studios. I featured Heather back in April on Parent Life Network, and can't wait for you to read more about her inspirational journey as a mother turned photographer.

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

Heather and I go way back, she has literally been our “family photographer” for the past four years, capturing some of the biggest moments in our life. Heather shot our engagement, wedding, maternity and, most recently, newborn photos, all of which are incredible examples of her beautiful work. Her soft, bright and whimsical style makes you want to re-live the moments she captures in her romantic photos. It is this simplistic beauty comes through in her story as well.

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

Even though we kind of know each other already, can you tell me a bit about you and your company?

I sure can! My story is very archetypal, mom with a camera type. I got a Canon Rebel before the birth of my youngest son. When I first photographed him I was blown away at how well I could express myself through a viewfinder. That's when my addiction began. A short time later, I began offering portrait sessions aimed towards families with babies and young children, and my business was born! 

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

When did you start the company? Can you describe its beginnings for me?

My business began shortly after the birth of my youngest child, back in 2007/2008. It was a slow progression at the beginning, having two young children and starting a business was tricky. Finding balance between work and family life was difficult. Once I found a happy median, it all felt so right. 

What made you decide to take the chance and start your own business?

My husband used to run a large store that I helped manage. We were both working 50-60 hours a week and I found it quite stressful putting in hours like that. I couldn't imagine us both working those hours while raising a family. I wanted to watch my kids grow, I wanted to be home more and make my own hours. It was risky to start my business when I did, but it all worked out wonderfully! 

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

How would you describe a typical workday?

Ha! Nothing about my work schedule is typical! I wake up, have breakfast with my family, get the kids off to school, exercise and begin my day. Sometimes it begins with checking my email and social media for new inquiries and questions from clients, and sometimes it begins with heading out for an early morning portrait session. Occasionally my workday doesn't begin until four in the afternoon, when I finally get a few minutes to myself to edit or answer messages. 

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

What is it like being a mom and an entrepreneur? What are some of the challenges?

I love it! I have so much freedom; I'm home with them all the time. On nice summer days when they want to go to the beach, I can take a break and we go! It becomes challenging during these busy summer months when my workload is heavy. I have to focus more and be careful that I don't neglect the business, or my family. Quite often I spend my evenings and nights working because I've made the decision to spend the day doing what the boys want and I wouldn't have it any other way!

What inspires your work?

Beautiful light. Emotional interactions. Subtle touches. Honest and unassuming moments... I could literally go on forever here.

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

Has photography always been a part of your life?

Funny you ask! As a child I loved looking through photo albums lying around my parents home and still do! I loved the idea of photography, but didn't pursue it even as a hobby until later in life. Now I can't imagine life without photography!

Did you always consider Photography a business venture?

No not at all! I actually wanted to become a veterinarian, or a supermodel... But didn't every 12-year-old girl?

How would you describe your style?

I am a very simple photographer. For me, it's all about connections. Not complicated posing and intense compositions. I focus on what's in front of me and translating that in honest and unexpected ways. 

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

What are your hopes for the future of this company?

That I continue to grow artistically and as an entrepreneur. I hope the business allows me to travel more. I love destination shoots!

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin

Heather’s honesty and light-hearted humour really comes through in her work and her entrepreneurial story. You can hear more about her most recent photography and life stories on her blog at: https://callunastudios.wordpress.com/.

Mini Vacations with Babies

Part One: Getting our Baby Travelling Feet Wet at the Cottage

Travelling is something my husband and I love to do, and to be honest I can’t get enough. The travel bug bit me years ago and I think I may have a small case of wanderlust. Every time we come home from a trip, all I can think about is where we should go next. Our last big trip was to England and Ireland just over a year ago and even though we splurged on that trip, thinking it might be our last one for a while, I’ve been reading up on how to fly with a little guy. So, in order to prepare for another potential skip across the pond with Benjamin we are going to try a few mini vacations first.

First Stop: The Family Cottage in the Kawarthas

For our first trip with Benjamin we chose to try the family cottage; a place that feels like home away from home. It took a week of convincing, as I was worried about Ben’s sleep patterns in a foreign place, but after a few lengthy dinner discussions I gave in and we decided that it was time to give this mini vacation thing a try.

Here are a few things that we learned from our first mini vacation with a baby:

1.     Plan your Packing

Try to keep track of diaper counts and clothing changes a week before you leave in order to plan your packing. We did not do this and ended the weekend with only two diapers to spare. Now that the cottage has road access, we could have gone into town for more diapers, but it was close.

2.     Pack a Bottle or two for the Road

If you are breast or bottle-feeding, this plan works! Even though I did a feeding right before we left the house and the trip was only two hours long, Ben still got hungry on the highway and I was able to feed him while we were driving, which put him back to sleep right away.

3.      Backseat Diaper Changes are Best

After two experiences with no change stations in public bathrooms, I decided that the backseat change is best. Being a bit of a germaphobe, this option has now become my preferred choice even when a gas station change table is available. The Brica goPad Diaper Changer is perfect for these situations.

4.     Invest in a Travel Bassinet/Playpen

We put the Graco Travel Lite Crib on our shower registry mainly because our house is so small that this was the best playpen option we could find. It turns out this is also a must have travel item! It pops up and folds down in seconds, which makes it perfect for packing. It also offers three stages depending on the age of your baby: giving you sleep and play options. I never thought I would say this, but it’s a travel mom’s dream.

5.     Consider the Elements (weather, bugs …both)

Knowing that May is black-fly season, we brought a baby bug net with us up North. This was also another great shower gift. It comes in handy at the cottage and in the city, there are some serious bugs in the city this year (or having a baby makes you more aware of them) and this allows us to go on walks or just hangout on the back deck without having to worry about them. Either way, no bug bites for baby Benjamin as he practically lived in this bug net. I also just found out that sunscreen is not recommended for little ones (infants), so a good sun hat and a baby tent are necessary for those sunny days. The Travel Crib/Bassinet has a tent-like attachment, which is perfect for this as well.

6.     Don’t Forget to Take Some Much Needed Mommy Time

While we were away there was plenty of family around to play with and look after Benjamin, giving us one of the mornings to enjoy a little time to ourselves. This is something I still find hard, but I have to admit, it was really nice. Take a bit of time to enjoy the holiday, if possible have your morning coffee before the baby wakes-up, or take an early morning stroll while daddy’s on baby duty. You want to make memories with your family while away, but also take a breath and enjoy.

Do you love to travel? What are some of your go-to products and suggestions for travelling with little ones? 

I Finally tried the Famous One Pot Pasta!

Being Italian I am always a little sceptical of Internet pasta recipes. Growing up on a healthy diet of pasta and tomato sauce, I’ve been spoiled with homemade sauce since before I could even speak the words to describe it. So, when a friend suggested this One Pan Pasta recipe to me a year ago I was a little hesitant. But, when I finally gave it a try I was blown away! Martha you’ve done it again.

Martha Stewart’s One Pan Pasta is delicious and incredibly simple. I’ve made it a few times now and after playing around with some of the flavours and directions (something I will only do after trying the recipe first) I’ve come up with my own spin on “a good thing.”

It used to be embarrassing to tell people that Martha Stewart taught me to make my first Basket Weave Pie at the age of 12. Yes, I watched Martha Stewart’s show when I was 12; but now I am kind of proud of this sad little piece of my personal history. As lame as it sounds, this and the fact that my mom will sometimes refer to me as Martha, should have been a sign that Martha Stewart would always be a part of my life. So when I decided it was time to give this “one pot” trend a try, Martha’s version was the obvious choice.

After trying Martha’s version, using a pot rather than the pan she has in her video simply because I don’t own that pan, there were a few changes I made to make her spin on this popular one pot trend my own.

One Pot Pasta

Ingredients

enough pasta for four people (12oz of Spaghetti/Linguine or 2 cups of Penne)

1 ½ cups of cherry or colourful heirloom tomatoes, halved

1 large onion, thinly sliced

3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

3 sprigs of fresh basil

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon of salt

¼ teaspoon of pepper

4 ½ cups of water

freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Cooking Directions (two options)

Option One: All at Once

Pour a tablespoon of olive oil into the bottom of your pot, combine pasta, tomatoes, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, pepper flakes and two basil sprigs into the pot, filling the space evenly. Pour in water and boil on high heat. Stir very often with tongs or a wooden spoon. Seriously stir the whole time or the pasta will stick to the pot. Cook for about 8-9 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked to your liking. Cooking times will vary depending on the type of pasta used (penne will take about 9 or 10 minutes).

Serve the pasta in four bowls, divide the remaining olive oil and pour over each bowl, grate Parmesan over the warm pasta and garnish with basil.

Option Two: Prepare Ahead

For this option you can prep the pot ahead of time (note: do not add the olive oil until you begin cooking for this option). Combine pasta, tomatoes, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, pepper flakes and two basil sprigs into your pot in the morning, or a few hours before you plan to cook the meal.  Cover the pot/pan with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate until it’s time to cook the meal.

Once you are ready to cook, simply add the olive oil and water to the pot and bring everything to a boil for about 8-9 minutes.

This option allows you to do all the prep work, toss it into the pot ahead of time and just add water when it’s time for dinner!

The one pot dish is a great option for a quick and healthy weeknight meal. The pasta absorbs all of the ingredients and makes for an incredibly flavourful bowl of bliss. 

Enjoy!

If you've come up with a variation on this recipe or other "One Pot" dinners please share, I would love to hear about them. 

JOSEPHINE

Hello and welcome to Josephine!

Photo Credit: Heather Coughlin of Calluna Studios

Josephine is a lifestyle blog that was inspired by both the creativity that comes out of becoming a new parent and Josephine March of Louisa May Alcott’s famous novel, Little Women. Josephine, or Jo March, is a creative, ambitious, thoughtful, unconventional, imaginative and loving woman who finds creativity in every corner of her life and shares these creative ideas with her sisters.

As a reflection of her character, this blog is a place to share ideas for creative and simple living. Exploring topics like: baby life (parenting/family), food, interior decorating, city life/travel and personal stories (features) this blog aims to be a space for creative inspiration where ideas and stories can be shared.

One of the major projects of this blog is to share the inspirational stories of creative career mothers. In the Features section a series called Josephine’s Creative Career Mothers will highlight the stories of ambitious mothers who found their way amongst diapers and daydreams to create the life they imagined!

           

Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed

Mother’s Day gifts can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, trying to find the perfect present for someone so special is not easy. It wasn't until I recently became a mom that I realized how simple this could be. This year is my first Mother’s Day and my husband keeps asking me what I want.  After some serious online browsing, window-shopping and discussion I've come up with one simple idea; breakfast in bed!

Finding the perfect gift for mom this year might be something as simple as spending Sunday morning in bed. I can remember the first time I tried to do this for my mom and while the toast was burnt, the coffee a mud puddle disaster and the eggs a runny mess; she was happy.  Simple and creative ways to spend time with mom might be exactly what she wants.

For me, my favourite part of the weekend is Sunday morning cuddle time with the whole family. Even our dog, Charlie, knows that Sunday mornings are best spent together in bed.

Photo credit: Heather Coughlin at Calluna Studios 

So how do you plan for a gift like this? By waking-up a little earlier than usual and preparing your mama’s favourite breakfast. Here are a few of my favourites.

COFFEE FIRST:  for this occasion you want to get her the best. A couple of my beloved beans include: Birds and Beans’ Guatemala Santa Rita and Muskoka Maple.

BLUEBERRY PANCAKES: after learning that my husband did not know we had pancake mix in the cupboard and made the most delicious pancakes from scratch a few weeks ago, these are a must have for me. Simply mix in a ½ cup of blueberries into your pancake batter (homemade or boxed will do) and then sprinkle a few fresh blueberries over a dollop of whip cream to make these special.

ROSEMARY BACON: this is something I've had a few times while out for brunch and absolutely love! You can't go wrong with this; who doesn't love bacon? All you need to do is add a little fresh rosemary once the bacon is almost done cooking and you've taken an already beloved breakfast staple and made it gourmet! 

BERRY BOWL: this adds something light and fresh to the meal. Just wash mom's favourite berries, sprinkle a little sugar on top and voila – simple, sweet and fresh.

If you're looking for a creative way to make mamma happy this Mother’s Day, consider these tasty twists on the classic breakfast in bed.

And to all the mamas out there, Happy Mother’s Day!