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This week’s Eight By Eva features a gorgeous and talented Mama who also happens to exude Cool. Marika Dominczyk is an Actress (you know her as Tyler on TV’s “Brothers & Sisters”), a Mama of three children, and a Scandal Superfan who never misses a live-tweet. It may help that she’s married in real life to Scandal’s “Jake” (aka Scott Foley.) I met Marika when Scott and I were shooting a TV pilot together and her first baby was a toddler– and she made Motherhood look so easy. Now, with three kids she still makes it look easy, but she’s also not afraid to give it to you straight. I love Marika’s effortlessly cool approach to Motherhood, and her commitment to preserving her own identity within a crazy busy lifestyle. Here, Marika answers my eight favorite questions:
- What is the best parenting advice you have received?
When I was pregnant with my first (Malina Jean) people offered me advice on a daily basis. The two things that stuck with me through all my other pregnancies were-trust your instincts and never wake a sleeping baby. Seriously, don’t do it!
2. What is your greatest challenge as a parent?
My greatest challenge as a parent is getting it all done– making time for everyone, including myself. It’s being present, no phone in my hand (or iWatch on my wrist) and really being in the moment with my kids and my husband, not thinking about what’s next.
With one kid in Kindergarten, one in Preschool, and a baby at home (not to mention auditions, improv at UCB, and a husband who is so busy he forgets where he’s suppose to be every day) some days literally feel like I’m a clown juggling everyone’s schedule.
3. What’s the latest with your kid(s)? Any new dynamics? Funny quirks? Challenges?
We have some big milestones at the house right now. Malina just turned 6! She just started “real” school (Kindergarten!), and has homework for the first time in her life. The days of playing hooky from Preschool to have a fun day with Mommy (don’t know who’s more sad about that) are gone. It was an adjustment for everyone and she’s handling it better then I could have imagined. Keller is 3, potty trained, and crushing his second year of Preschool. He loves his friends and Superheroes with abandon. Also watermelon. He absolutely loves watermelon. Konrad! My sweet baby is about to turn 1 and took his first steps on Sunday. It was such a bitter sweet moment for me & Scott. Soon there will be no more babies in this house! It’s an exciting, crazy thought. By the end of it, we will have had something like 9 years of diaper changing…
I will be sad but I’m very excited to move on to the next stage of our lives. I have the family I’ve always dreamed of, it feels like a huge accomplishment.
4. What is your dream day as a family?
My dream day as a family starts out with everyone sleeping in. Like really sleeping in. Like 9am sleeping in (it is a dream after all). Then we would have a family adventure exploring something new. A beach, amusement park, a road trip to a forest, (Scott & I love a car ride) someplace we can take the kids to experience or explore. Then we would have some family & friends over for a BBQ and pool time. The kids would all go to bed happy & tired, the house would magically clean itself, Scott and I would veg out on the couch with our dog and cat and watch some awesome show… And go to bed by 9pm.
5. Kid item you can’t live without?
For Malina I can’t live without The Wet Brush. I love to braid and style her hair and it’s the only brush that doesn’t make her cry. Also planet box lunch boxes. For Keller it’s Kickee Pants clothes. He loves how soft everything is. They’re the only non superhero themed clothes he asks to wear. There are some many cool/new baby products now that weren’t available when Malina was born. For Konrad I love Comotomo bottles. They are the best. No fuss, easy to clean, and he has no problem using them. The one baby item that I have used and loved for all 3 of my kids is the DockATot.
6. Favorite Local Kids Activity?
My kids love to go to Johnny Rockets for dinner. When we give them a choice it’s always their go-to. They also love to go to the park.
7. How do you unwind?
I love to work out. During the week I do Pilates and Cross Fit, and on the weekends I run with our dog Frankie. It’s therapeutic for me (Helps shed the baby weight too). It’s “me” time so it is also unwind time. Scott and I are big fans of TV– when the kids are in bed and he’s home early from work, we sack out on the couch. If it’s chilly out, we put a fire in the fire place. It’s a nice way to just chill.
8. What are your favorite beauty products?
I’m a creature of habit. I’ve been using glō minerals tinted moisturizer and concealer for years. I love Benefit gimme brow and La Mer cleansing gel. If I’m out of La Mer I use Cetaphil cleansing gel, which I’ve been using since I was 20.
