THE MOMMY POWER SERIES IS BACK!!!
"Mommy take me to the moon" ("Mami, lleváme a la luna") is not an unusual phrase at home. In fact these are the first words that greet me when I pick up my daughter from school, way before any Hello's or Hi's; everyday. Both my daughter and I have found in ''La Luna'' a second home, a unique space that encourages free play and allows my little one's imagination to soar. No TV, no tablets, just my girl and an infinity of possibilities to dream, imagine and create! This is La Luna de Mateo.
Meet Maru, founder of this magical place.
Rarely have I encountered and recognized a soul that shines so brightly. A loving, smart, free soul, one may have the rare pleasure to come across in a lifetime. This girl has got it so right. A Psychologist, Mommy of two, is the creator and owner of La Luna de Mateo, now known as La Luna (The Moon) amongst us frequent visitor mommies.
She first came up with this idea after her own need of a space to encourage her children's imagination, creativity and free play. And this is exactly what La Luna offers: a unique recreational space for children, designed to encourage free play.
It was during her second pregnancy with her baby girl Luna, that she began to gather her ideas and landed on La Luna. Luna awakened her creative side and more and more she felt this need to channel all these ideas, creativity and energy. She was we could say, her muse. Now a mommy of two she could only dedicate two hours a day to conceive this project, but Oh! did she manage to find and make the most out of her time. Maru supervised every aspect of La Luna as it became a life long dream come true. From carrying construction materials in her own car, to planning the perfect space with the architect. Her fellow designer friends helped out designing the logo and deciding on a name, a name which at first she felt too personal (her eldest, is a handsome young boy named Mateo, and her youngest is a very much lively beautiful girl named Luna). I myself find however that by sharing such a personal aspect of her family and her children, she gave La Luna a little piece of her her, her home, her lifestyle, and with it she made it much more than a regular play spot, but rather a second home to many of us who like her, were begging for this space.
It was during her second pregnancy with her baby girl Luna, that she began to gather her ideas and landed on La Luna. Luna awakened her creative side and more and more she felt this need to channel all these ideas, creativity and energy. She was we could say, her muse. Now a mommy of two she could only dedicate two hours a day to conceive this project, but Oh! did she manage to find and make the most out of her time. Maru supervised every aspect of La Luna as it became a life long dream come true. From carrying construction materials in her own car, to planning the perfect space with the architect. Her fellow designer friends helped out designing the logo and deciding on a name, a name which at first she felt too personal (her eldest, is a handsome young boy named Mateo, and her youngest is a very much lively beautiful girl named Luna). I myself find however that by sharing such a personal aspect of her family and her children, she gave La Luna a little piece of her her, her home, her lifestyle, and with it she made it much more than a regular play spot, but rather a second home to many of us who like her, were begging for this space.
Most of the toys you'll find in La Luna are Open Ended toys, that is, toys that will require the child to use their imagination, create their own play scenarios, and do not suggest how the child should play. These toys allow the child to engage in free play, on which I've done a brief research and have found endless benefits. Free Play or Non Directed Play encourage the child to use all domains of development, and require imagination beyond visual guidelines on how to use them, or how to play. The beauty of these toys is they're different every time you play with them. In La Luna you will find Dress Up stations, building blocks, play stands, puppet theaters, art supplies, beautifully wooden hand crafted toys, nesting bowls recyclable materials.
Open Ended toys will also encourage social skills and will grow with the child.
La Luna has also become a meeting point for us mommies! which is just how Maru had envisioned it, now we too have a place to share, meet and enjoy watching our little ones imagine and create; we too now have our very own small community.
I recently got to spend an afternoon with Maru talking mostly about her family life in general. This kid's got it Oh! so right! Her whole vision of how she wants her children to grow up, from what they eat to where they vacation, to how they see their mommy; is just admirable.
They recently spent their summer vacation in Wyoming, I was curious about this destination, how do you end up choosing Wyoming for a summer vacay? After she shared their whole bonding experience outdoors, I felt rather ignorant and a little bit jealous (the good kind of jealous). They've vacationed in Vermont, Cape Cod, Wine Country (yes, with kids!) where, unlike my idea of getting drunk for a week, they gathered apples from the property's very own trees and made cider! How cool is this?! How many of our kids can say this?!
She encourages her kids to be self sufficient. At the beginning of the school year they will draw each day of the week dressed up for their extra curricular activities, and the night before they will each pack their bags accordingly, whether hey have karate lessons, swimming or dance lessons, (why didn't I think of this before??!!!)
Just like her bestie who has been featured in LADV Mommy Series before, I can swear I have never, ever seen Maru with help. To say she is hands on with her kids would be an understatement.
These gorgeous pair and foodies in training have acquired mommy and daddy's good taste for food, traveling and nature. Just to not make us regular moms feel too bad, she does allow TV, as little as possible, they'll usually tune in on Gator Boys whenever it's on.
But most of their family time revolves around food, they will hand pick fresh organic ingredients, they will set the table, and even cook together. Her signature dish is zucchini carpaccio, which I'll take the liberty to share her recipe (lemon, EVOO, basil, S&P, and shaved parmesan).
Married for 10 years, friday night is date night for this cool couple. When her husband flies into town after regular work trips, she will greet him with a candlelit dinner, even if they are dining on a fine ''tortilla''. On weekends they'll enjoy their beautiful beach house, which is a true faithful reflection of their lifestyle and philosophy.
She's fit as ever. Her strength is a reflection of her healthy lifestyle and choices. Maru discovered CrossFit four years ago and immediately feel in love with it, and now can't live without this deadly workout. She wanted to be strong to be able to carry her children, to keep up with them. Funny she says, their kids will often draw her working out in school portraits.
And her style...Oh how we love her style! with flowy maxy skirts, printed harem pants, beautifully hand-crafted leather sandals, woven cross-body bags, this girl is the walking definition of boho chic. She is the only girl I know that can pull off a red La Luna t-shirt every day, giving it a whole new twist, and still rock it everytime she wears it! She is always wearing these unique, handcrafted accessories, but the one I like the most is her warm friendly smile.
The life lessons she'd like her children to live by: Enjoy the moment. Live intensely. Be grateful.
With Maru it's all about going back to basics. Going as organic and natural as possible in all senses. Her bet is really quite simple, and its beauty relies precisely on this simplicity. She knows no other way to live than to live freely. Now that she has experimented this freedom, she sees no other way of living, for her or her children (See what I mean when I say this kid's got it all right?!)
I'd rather not reveal future plans for La Luna, let's just say it'll keep growing with our little ones.
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| Luna, Maru & Mateo |
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