Kathleen Kelly Hurley, the blogger behind Let’s Be Mom Friends, is our total #momcrush. Mom to Rosie (2 ½) and with one on the way, she is as warm, beautiful and engaging in person as she is online. It’s no surprise she has a lot of, well, mom friends, with over 21,000 followers on Instagram alone, who love her mix of wearable fashion, family travel and fun collabs as much as we do (and her blog only launched a year ago!). Here’s what we learned about Kathleen, including her “suburban” life in Manhattan, her new life as a Realtor and soon-to-be mom of two and her favorite NYC spots!
Can you tell us a bit about where you live?
We currently live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and are former inhabitants of Greenwich Village. We thought we would stay downtown FOR-EVER but shortly after I gave birth to Rosie (like 1 month after) we realized we needed to make a change. We decided on the UWS, aka the suburbs of Manhattan. We love being a stone’s throw away from one of the greatest parks in the world (Central Park). It has a quieter homier vibe that we were looking for and at the same time we can hop on the 1-2-3 [train] and jet back downtown for dinner and drinks with friends.
Will you ever make the move to the ‘burbs?
We will definitely make it to the burbs. We both grew up with a backyard and BBQs (the whole nine yards) so we want all of that for Rosie and our future children. At the same time we love our life in the city right now and can’t complain about Frank’s less then 20 minute commute to work and being close to our friends.
Photo credit: Julia Dags
You’re launching a new career—why?
Yes! I’m pursuing my passion in real estate and am currently working for Douglas Elliman. I’m excited to be able to keep my entrepreneurial juices flowing and at the same time strike a balance that allows me to be apart of Rosie’s every day! You can read more on the blog, here! And don’t worry, Let’s Be Mom Friends will still be operating in full force!
And even more importantly, you’re becoming a family of four!
I can’t wait to add a new member to our little fam! I’m probably most excited for Rosie to have a partner in crime! She is going to be the best big sister and has been practicing aka “gently bossing around her dolls” as older siblings will do!
Why are good mom friends so, so important?
Because you have an instant common ground. You can relate to one another about what’s going on in your life and whats going on with your kids that you may not be able to do with some of your friends who do not have kids. We are also huge resources and sounding boards for one another. My first “mom friend” gave birth just a couple of months before me and she really helped me through those first few weeks of motherhood when I knew absolutely nothing.
You have fantastic style. What is your daily “mom uniform”?
Thank you! My Momiform staples usually include high waisted denim or leggings, a comfy yet stylish pair of slip on sneaks and one of my Dudley Stephen’s Fleeces. I cannot say enough good things about these fleeces. I legitimately wear mine a few times a week every week. They also make adorable styles for the littles as well. [Check out her favorites].
Do you have any beauty tips to feel put together quickly?
I rarely wear makeup during the day if ever; if I do I usually wear a tinted moisturizer with spf, concealerand mascara. I also recently added this Vitamin C E Ferulic Acid serum to my daily routine and apply it before my moisturizer in the morning and I swear I notice a huge difference in my complexion. The rest of my favs can be found in my Beauty Blog Post. I also have very thick hair so it takes forever to blow dry and style. As a timesaver, I will wash it in the evening and then braid it or put it in a low bun overnight so that when I wake up my hair will have a beachy easy look that requires little to no styling.
What are some of your favorite spots in the city?
Eating with Rosie: I love Good Enough to Eat for breakfast and PJ Clarke’s for lunch.
Date Night & Girls Night: If Frank and I going out for a date night then we are heading back downtown to the West Village (same goes with a girls night—I think I can count on my hand the number of time my girlfriends have trekked up to the UWS, ha). Some of my go-to spots include: Volare, Locanda Verde, Little Owl and Quality Eats.
Coffee: My favorite coffee spots are Bluestone Lane & Jack’s.
Shop for myself: I’m a big online shopper these days, but I love meeting a girlfriend in SOHO for shopping and lunch 🙂 Right now I’m loving Hatch. It’s great for all stages of motherhood. Their clothing is designed to be worn before during and after pregnancy. Plus If you find yourself in their store in soho make a bee line for the candy corner – a pregnant woman’s dream come true.
Shop for Rosie: Pink Chicken, Jacadi, and J.Crew
Having fun with Rosie: Central Park is our go-to. I tell Rosie she has the best backyard in the whole country! Our happiest moments are spent as a family at the beach in Montauk. In the winter, the Children’s Museum is close by and so is the Natural History Museum.
For more inspiring profiles of amazing moms, go to our Meet a Mom section!
