“This book is to remind women that they are still beautiful, independent women even though they are moms, and reminds them of the importance of “mommy-time-outs!”

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Founded by New York City mom Lyss Stern, Divalysscious Moms was born to bridge the gap between a glam, pre-baby lifestyle and a post-baby life where, well, let’s just say there are more midnight feedings than midnight soirées.

Rather than toss aside her beloved stilettos for strollers, Lyss embraced them both and created a company that keeps the party going (except at nap time).

DivaMoms are fun, fabulous and one-of-a-kind — from trendsetter and career woman to stay-at-home and think-outside-the-juice-box mom. At the Divalysscious Moms events, they get together to experience sensational events, meet new friends, or catch up with old ones – all with no stress! DivaLysscious Moms hosts fabulous events for both moms and kids.

MO: Can you talk about your ‘aha’ moment of having the idea for Divalysscious Moms and the journey of taking the concept and turning it into a reality?

Lyss: Even before DivaLysscious Moms was launched in 2004, I had always held balancing working and looking chic at a level of utmost importance and, although it is beautiful and honorable, what is motherhood if not a job?! In 2004, when my first son, Jackson was born, I saw right away first-hand the difference in lifestyle between being a mom and life pre-baby. But, instead of replacing my stilettos for strollers and nights out with mommy-and-me classes, I said to myself: why not embrace them both? I knew I had that innate talent for balancing acts, and I thought to myself: “I can definitely use that to my advantage!” There began the start of my company, DivaLysscious Moms. How did I come up with such a name, you ask? Well, my good friend always described my work as “delicious,” and being a fabulous diva was something I wanted to make a prominent part of my company. So, I took “delicious,” threw in my name and some diva and there it was! Over the past 8 years, DivaLysscious Moms has reached over 350,000 followers and has become a wonderful outlet for moms to share their experiences with motherhood, shop, eat, learn, grow and have fun together without excluding their children. I do not see a reason for exclusive, chic Manhattan events to be so geared towards single or childless women; a woman’s beautiful children help make her the fabulous, fun woman that she is, so they can definitely be a part of some of the fun things she does!

MO: What are some tips for hosting an event that is fun for both moms and kids? How do you strike the perfect balance of entertaining fidgety children and mothers who are desperate for a bit of glamour and relaxation?

Lyss: You always have to keep in mind what YOU as a parent would like to see and what type of fun things you would like to see for your kids. You have to be realistic; bringing children to a spa event is just not practical, so an event that would be appropriate for both the adults and children would be a shopping event or an outdoor event.

MO: Have you always had an entrepreneurial spirit?

Lyss: I have always been a strong leader; I have always valued my ability to speak my mind, chase after wonderful opportunities, and establish a good reputation for myself, so I always knew I’d start my own business and continue my passion for leadership into my adult years. One of the first experiences that gave my fervor for work and headship an extra kick was interning for the Joan Rivers show. I worked long hours, commuting into the city from Long Island every day, all for the experience. And I loved it! I knew that my life would be meaningless without hard work and dedication from an early age. I definitely grew to love high-energy circumstances and communicating with people on a daily basis; I was happiest when I was working with others to produce something absolutely wonderful, and I knew I’d never lose that passion and drive!

MO: What inspired you to write, “If You Give a Mom a Martini: 100 Ways to Find 10 Blissful Minutes for Yourself” and can you provide our readers with a creative few tips for stealing some quality time?

Lyss: This book is to remind women that they are still beautiful, independent women even though they are moms, and reminds them of the importance of “mommy-time-outs!” It’s an ideal must-read for the busy mom who doesn’t want to lose herself entirely in motherhood. Ideas include playing Wii Sports when your kids aren’t home, throwing out your “granny panties” and only keeping the sexy lingerie, and escaping to the grocery store for a few minutes to enjoy some free samples, all of which can be done in 10 blissful minutes that a woman deserves and needs—for the sake of herself, her husband AND her little ones!!

MO: Learning from mistakes is critical for entrepreneurs. Can you share some lessons learned from your past or how you would have approached things differently?

Lyss: The hardest part is DEFINITELY having to say “no” to things I just can’t do because I am already committed to too many things; I hate turning people down for events that are important to them but, recently, I have been able to disciple myself in this way so as to not stress out my family, friends and self.

MO: What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for Divalysscious Moms?

Lyss: I currently have a TV show and line of products in the works! We’ll see where it goes!