Mothers Gifting Mothers With Nurtured 9
Tell us three things about both of you.
Hi, I'm Lindsey! I have two kids (ages six & three) and live north of Boston, MA, with my husband.
Hi, I'm Lauryn! I also have two kids (ages four & two) and live in Tucson, AZ, with my husband.
We both grew up in the Boston suburbs, played volleyball together in high school, and later studied communications at Syracuse University (where we were roommates!).
What was the journey like becoming business partners after so many years of friendship?
Honestly, it has been a natural progression! Although we grew up living near one another - from high school volleyball teammates to college roommates and then roommates again in our early twenties - we started our own families across the country (Lauryn in Tucson, AZ, and Lindsey in Chicago, IL). During one of our monthly catch-ups, we talked about this new stage of our lives: Lauryn was pregnant with her first daughter; Lindsey was a new mom. We felt like there were tons of resources and stores dedicated to babies, but finding a go-to spot for all things "mom" was nearly impossible. We wanted to build something helpful, beautiful, and unique for other moms-to-be and new moms navigating the new world of motherhood and looking for support. The idea of founding the business together came naturally. Looking back on our journey, we have been on a team together, studied, and worked alongside each other for years. We have already vented, analyzed, discussed, and laughed about everything under the sun. It was an easy decision to start working on this exciting project together as new moms.
What do you think makes your gift boxes so unique? How do you come up with the perfect product curations for each box?
Like so many other women, we spent our twenties trying to figure out exactly what personal care and beauty products we liked to use in our daily routines. After finally perfecting our regimens, pregnancy came along and changed everything! We both felt the need to rethink everything we put into and on our bodies. We wanted to use clean products made with natural ingredients that would feel safer for pregnancy and nursing. Finding pure and natural products that we liked took a lot of legwork. While we were pregnant, we tested tons of pregnancy-and-nursing safe products to find the best brands and options that work and smell great, and look beautiful (because that matters too).
What makes our Nurtured 9 gift boxes unique is the care and attention to detail we use in choosing which products will go into our gift boxes. We will never include low-quality, cheap bath, and body products in order to satisfy that category. We only bring high-quality items from brands we trust into our shop. We are constantly looking for the best maternity and postpartum essentials that are helpful, practical, beautiful, and luxe. We must personally love each item ourselves and honestly believe other Moms will also love using it.
Part of what we love about Nurtured 9 is that gift-givers can build their own beautiful gifts! However, for the gift giver who would rather leave the gift curation to us, we strive to provide a collection of items that feel cohesive, both in how the products function and look. Our beautiful presentation is part of what makes every mom feel special upon receiving her gift! We aim for a combination of luxe, clean bath, body products, cozy maternity, postpartum loungewear, and other essentials that make mom feel more relaxed and soothed or make her day run a little smoother.
What is the process of finding and testing pregnancy-safe products?
We've been testing pregnancy-safe products for years! We speak with brands and conduct a thorough ingredient check to deem a product safe for pregnancy to the best of our ability. Then, we product-test to ensure that we like each item's formula, consistency, scent, and performance. The packaging must be beautiful, too!
What do you find most challenging about being an entrepreneur?
There is so much learning on the go, which can feel challenging! This also makes entrepreneurship feel incredibly exciting and intriguing, so we love it!
What is a go-to self-care practice you would recommend to all moms?
Lindsey - Getting outside and moving my body works wonders for me. It's an instant mood booster! When I was a new mom, a daily stroller walk with my baby was a lifesaver. Now, I love taking my kids on hikes and bike rides! A solo run or walk outdoors with music, or a podcast is super meditative for me!
Lauryn - I set myself up for greatness every week with self-care Sunday! Every Sunday evening, after we put the kids to bed, I take a long, hot shower, wrap myself in a warm, cozy robe, and put on a face mask (my husband does it too!). Then, we get in bed with our favorite snacks, a mug of warm lemon water (or sometimes a glass of bubbly, depending on my mood), a show, and RELAX. It's the ultimate self-care evening, better than any spa! It sets the tone for the week, making time for prioritizing my sanity. □
Article Credits
Nurtured 9’s Website: Luxury Maternity Gifts | Nurtured 9
Nurtured 9’s Instagram: @nurtured9
