Post Category - Family LifeFamily Life - Post Category - That MamaThat MamaCharlotte Groeneveld-Van Haren is one global mama and blogger of TheFashionGuitar. She navigates the streets of New York with her two little ones while looking super chic and fashionable. With more than 188,000 followers on Instagram (er, have you seen her gorgeous feed?!), we’re just a tad jealous of her big city life…
Your name, blog and children’s names and ages
Charlotte Groeneveld – Van Haren, my blog is called thefashionguitar.com, and my kids are called James (almost 4) and Stella (almost 2).
What city do you live in and how long have you lived there?
We currently live in New York, a city close to our hearts. We moved there in May, 2014, after spending a little over 4 years in London.
What do you love most about your city as a mama?
I love the fact that it [New York] “never stops” and “anything is possible”.
It’s a kind of energy that keeps me going, as a mother and a business woman. There’s a ton of activities, winter and summer, for the kids. Business-wise, there are so many opportunities for me here, that it gave my blog a huge boost.
What would be your top tips for a family day out for visitors to your city?
Pick a neighbourhood and stroll around. That way you can really see what’s going on there, try the local cuisine, and explore ever corner of it. If you want to do all in one day, you won’t enjoy. I would say, start with the West Village and Soho.
What are your favourite fashion stores for kids wear?
I buy designers online, or I go to GAP and Zara.
What are your go-to mama stores for fashion and home?
West Elm, Buy Buy Baby, and lots online. I don’t have the time to go out to shop unfortunately.
What is your favourite holiday destination?
We’ve been to St. Barths this summer, and this is our current favorite I think!
Have you ever been to Dubai? If so where did you stay, was it child friendly and what was your favourite activity? If you haven’t then would you be interested in visiting and why?
Not yet, but we are planning to. So all tips are welcome!
Describe your parenting style in 3 words.
Relaxed, loving, and easy going, but strict where needed.
What are your 5 must-have mama items?
Hand and face wipes, stroller cup holder, a little designer cross body bag to make any denim and t-shirt look more fun, a good pair of sneakers, and a pair of sunglasses to cover those dark circles under my eyes 😉
How would you describe your home/interior style?
A mix of modern and vintage/second hand furniture. A little colour in combination with soft earth tones. And there’s toys everywhere, but in an organised way, we have a family household and I’m not trying to cover that!
How do you like to spend your weekends?
We go out to get a coffee, early in the morning, and go to the playground or a museum. We go to our favorite store on Bleecker Street – Murrays – and get cheese and other cold cuts to have lunch. Then buy fresh food and cook with the kids.
What’s your easy go-to meal that’s super fast and easy to make if the kids need to be fed now now now?!
Stella eats anything, James is very picky. So if I want them both to eat, I usually make a simple meal of grilled chicken, pasta with a little butter, and broccoli and cucumber. James loves fish though, so fish fingers – all organic of course – are always good too.
What’s great about being a mama in your city?
I can give my kids an international upbringing, meet all kinds of nationalities, and learn to live in a place where you have to share space with others. Then, of course, it’s New York, so I want them to feel it’s a privilege to live here, and that it can bring them anything, as long as they are polite and friendly.
Do you capture your moments through a phone or a camera, tell us about it and which model?
I use my iPhone all the time, or a Canon Mark II for vacation photos!
