THE MOTHER NATURE

THE FAMILY GROOVE’S PROFILE OF A MOM WHO’S MAKING IT HAPPEN

Gone are the days of the traditional coffee clutch, because at THE FAMILY GROOVE, we’re doing it
new school, bringing people together to laugh, learn, share and commiserate in the global village
called the Internet.

In the interest of full disclosure, we must tell you that Nicole Di Trolio Standley is an old-school friend
of the Groove (an FOG, if you will). By school, we mean actual school. By old, we mean back in the days
of Friday night basement parties, sleepovers and liking boys who didn’t always like us back. But that’s not why she’s our featured mom this month. Nope. She’s our spotlight mom because she’s a one-woman dynamo in the world of celebrity gifting and promotions (see the ASI Central 2009 Hot List, where she’s named “The Entertainment Diva”) and her launching-in-October The Perfect Swag (www.theperfectswag.com) will reinvent the way we shop for gifts. Taking the celebrity gifting paradigm and bringing it to the masses, Nicole is like a fairy godmother (a fairy giftmother!) set on sprinkling her handpicked bouquet of glamorous goodies into the lives of people just like us—because we deserve it. Her enthusiasm and passion for finding that perfect present for that special someone has propelled her to the top of her industry and straight to the speed dial of every famous Tom, Dick, Harry and Jay-Z out there. But what’s probably most impressive is that Nicole is still Nicole. This you wouldn’t know because you didn’t hang out with her in the Friendly’s parking lot, but let us tell you, she’s still as cool, down to earth, smart, generous and well-meaning as she ever was, and as mom to Coco, she shines.

Here, Nicole talks about her new site, “Daily Consciousness Tune-Ups,” balance, simplicity and the Foo Fighters. Ah, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Nicole Di Trolio Standley 1. Who are you?
Nicole Di Trolio Standley

2. How old are you?
34 years old

3. Where do you live?
Corona del Mar, Calif.

4. How many children do you have? How old?
One daughter, Courtney, or “Coco,” and she is 2 and a half years old.

5. What time do you get up?
5:45 a.m.

6. What daily rituals must you do to feel normal?
My husband starts my day with a Green Iced Tea with extra ice and two packs of Sweet’N Low from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, then I have to make sure I check and respond to all my e-mails by the time Elmo’s World and Mr. Noodle are over. I also make sure to read through at least one magazine before I end the day to stay on top of the trends. I’ve never felt “normal,” and I’m not sure if I ever will (maybe I’m there already), but even despite the chaos, I do everything in my power for myself and my family to lead a simple life filled with laughter and happiness.

7. What do you wish you’d do every day, but haven’t been able to incorporate into your routine?
Yoga! I want to practice all the time; I love it, but it’s all about timing right now. So every day I read and make sure I comprehend and practice the short “Daily Consciousness Tune-Up” that I subscribe to from Yehuda Berg.

8. Do you work?
I’d consider it more a labor of love.

9. What do you do?
Principal director and founder of an online boutique called The Perfect Swag, launching in October 2009.

10. Tell us about it.
ThePerfectSwag.com is a premier online gift boutique overflowing with hand-chosen gifts that are classy and sought after (yet peppered with some spunk!). Due to our impressive team of board of advisers and committee members, we’ve collaborated to bring the goodies from celebrity gifting suites and event swag bags right to your computer. Our main goal was to make our clients feel that they do not need to be a presenter, nominee or award-winning celebrity to have the latest and greatest glitz and glamour they just saw on the red carpet or in their favorite publication! We are only as good as our designers, so we partner with the best of the best.

11. What’s the best thing your mother ever told you?
“There is nothing that you cannot have or cannot do or cannot be. You just need to figure out how to get it and do it!”

12. What does being a good mother mean?
It means patience. It means watching The Incredibles back to back without losing your mind. It means reading the same Dr. Seuss book over and over because when you say, “The end,” that sweet voice looks at you and says, “More! More!” It means loving your child(ren) so much that as much as it breaks your heart, you need to be stern and consistent when disciplining because it is your responsibility to raise your child(ren) with respect, manners and proper etiquette by teaching them to be young ladies and gentlemen. And most of all, it means missing all your TV programs because your TiVO is 100 percent filled with Sesame Street, Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Madagascar and The Bee Movie, yet somehow it always manages to record Monday Night Football!

13. What’s your mantra/personal philosophy?
Be the change you want to see in others. Lead by example.

14. What do you tell other mothers?
I’m usually the one asking the questions! I never changed a diaper or really held a baby until they handed me my daughter! However, I make sure to gift or tell new mommies-to-be to read the book The Modern Girl’s Guide to Motherhood by Jane Buckingham. It gives you just the right amount of information on everything, every question, every scenario and every wonder you could possibly have!

15. Finish this sentence: I want my children to know…
…that I may yell, scream, holler and get upset, but there is nothing they cannot come and tell me. Together we will get through anything.

16. Who inspires you?
It sounds so cliché, but my husband, Jamie, and my daughter, Coco. I married a superhero. He is my backbone. He supports me and loves me and Coco more than anything in this world. Then there is my lil’ miss thang, Coco. She just amazes me every day; she’s the reason I breathe, and I want to be an amazing role model for her to trust and look up to.

17. What are you passionate about?
Music. I feel that I was raised by music. There is a soundtrack of my life playing in my head 24/7 like a scene from a John Hughes classic. It’s the one thing that can bring me up, calm me down, make me smile and get me prepared for whatever I need to tackle. Whether I’m in the car or my home, there is always music playing.

18. How do you balance your life as a woman, a mother, a friend?
You cannot be a great friend or good mother if you are not an amazing woman! You cannot neglect yourself. Balance is the key to life. While being the best wife and parent is my No. 1 priority, I need to surround myself with other inspiring women to laugh, listen and learn. We make our own happiness, and if you allow yourself enjoyment, everything else falls into place.

19. What do you wish you knew then that you know now?
That they were right; I would regret getting a tattoo.

20. How do you get into your groove?
Nothing gets me more excited, motivated and in the groove than playing the Foo Fighters really loud and dancing alone like an idiot around my living room, just twirling and smiling with the windows open and feeling the fresh air. I just love it!

For more from Nicole, go to www.theperfectswag.com.