Glamorous Tanja Dreiding Wallace, the granddaughter of legendary Boris Dreiding – the founder of the luxury skin care and parfumerie located in Zurich, Switzerland called Osswald, has carried the family name to New York City.

How fortunate we are to have this magnificent boutique here! Tanja opened the doors of Osswald in 2012 in Soho and has had major success ever since. Due to the highly selective brands they carry, clients travel all over the world for Osswald events. Some of the skin care brands include: Alpeur, BelleFontaine, Cell Premium, Cle de Peau Beaute, Med Beauty Swiss and Valmont.

I love the fact that the boutique offers men’s grooming accessories as well. Edwin Jagger is a favorite. Beautifully hand made shaving brushes and premium shaving creams are just a few of the treasures one will find at Osswald.

Tanja is an expert on beauty….and on her family! She delights in telling stories of how she loves to gather the family around the table and cook a sumptuous meal consisting of fresh ingredients and her imagination. Her family adores her cooking and her daughter is especially fond of her desserts.

Having the ability to run a family empire and spend quality time with her children is top priority. She is modest with a fierce dry wit and fashionable turned out at all times. Tanja is a true example of a working mom doing it all!

I will be spending all of June in Switzerland with my family and can not wait to see Tanja and her family there, in her native land!

We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Tanja Dreiding Wallace as our eighth Celebrity Mother!

1. How would you describe yourself?

I’m a mother at heart but I also love my business and I feel responsible for furthering the family heritage. This, of course, is also for my children. I enjoy being challenged and working hard – I’m lucky that I work in the wonderful world of beauty and fragrance! I love connecting with people, which is key for my job.

2. Please tell us about your children?

Georgia (Estelle Wallace) is almost 6 years old and in kindergarten. She’s super loving, smart, energetic, funny, emotional, loves sweets endlessly and is very interested in fashion and anything girly – she’s past the classic princess age though and identifies with female and male characters like Hermione from Harry Potter and Hiro from Big Hero 6.

Charlie (Charles Ralph Wallace III) is 17 months and the cutest thing I could have ever dreamed of. He’s very charming, flirting with ladies left and right – this is his favorite activity besides throwing balls, eating and sleeping. He’s also very energetic, funny, and super expressive with sounds despite not talking yet.

3. What plans do you have with your family this summer?

First we’re going to Sarasota, FL to visit Grandma Wallace and to take a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando. For Georgia’s Birthday we’re taking her to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Then we will go to Zurich, Switzerland to visit Grossmami Dreiding and Osswald in Zurich – I’m trying to be there at least every 2 months. Lastly we will take a trip to Italy for the Pitti Fragranze perfume expo in Florence which I need to attend – we’re going to spend a few days in Capri and the Amalfi Coast first then the whole family will join me for the expo.

4. What is a typical day for you?

We usually get up at 6:45am, my husband Charles makes me coffee and brings me a cup, I go to Georgia and Charlie’s room and wake her up. Usually Charlie continues sleeping. After breakfast, my husband walks Georgia to school and I get on the computer and on the phone with my store in Switzerland. After the babysitter arrives we get ready and leave for the city. Often I come home at 8PM when the children have eaten with the babysitter already and they immediately demand all my attention. If she’s not done yet, I do homework with Georgia and at the same time play ball with Charlie. Then at 9PM my husband and I together put them to sleep, each reading books with one of them. On weekend days I cook dinner and we all eat together at the table. That’s when the children get to stay up longer and they always love to, then they sleep later the next day….

5. Please tell us your favorite family restaurants, museums, and playgrounds?

It’s a bit challenging going to a restaurant with little Charlie at this time – Georgia is very well behaved because we’ve always taken her but Charlie is not able to sit still yet. So we always go to restaurants in our immediate neighborhood because a lot of them are very family-friendly without being actual family restaurants. Georgia’s favorite place is called The Runner which has a very sophisticated menu of local, artisanal, and organic dishes as well as a wonderful wine and special cocktail list – so as adults we enjoy that restaurant too!
We often go to the American Museum of Natural History which is Georgia’s favorite and can be combined with a walk in Central Park afterwards. Also we love going to the Bronx Zoo, which is a beautiful park in summer. As far as playgrounds go the children will enjoy themselves wherever they are but Georgia’s favorite is the one close to our house which has a water park and several different parts to it, and of course this is where she has her social scene going on.
One thing I’m hoping to be able to organize for the near future is that Georgia and I can go horseback riding together. This was my passion when I was a little girl; when I was living in Switzerland I owned a horse and found that horseback riding was the perfect activity to help balance work and life. It brings nature into an otherwise quite urban life and we get to experience seasons much more intensely. I think Georgia would enjoy this too and it’s something we could share. I’m not so sure about Charlie…. (my husband took horseback riding lessons for our wedding so we could ride off on black Friesian stallions together – we got married on Blairquhan Castle in Scotland, very much a fantasy wedding – but it’s not his passion as much as mine and the little boy seems to take a lot after him!).

6. Traditions are so important, please tell us about your family traditions?

My father was Jewish (he passed away in 1992) and my mother is Russian Orthodox so growing up we celebrated traditions from both religions and mixed them with Swiss traditions. My husband is from an American Catholic family so now we mix even more traditions. The biggest celebrations for us is Christmas – we get a large tree and decorate it extensively with bulbs and ornaments which some of them have been passed through generations. In Switzerland we use real candles on the tree but in America we use the electric garlands. This is a whole family effort. On Christmas Eve I cook a celebratory meal – usually Beef Wellington – and serve the best smoked salmon and caviar with Russian blinis for appetizer. We bring out the family silver, white tablecloth and light candles. After the main course we sing American and Swiss Christmas songs and then the children get to open about half of their presents. This is because in Switzerland this is all there is to Christmas, it all happens on the evening of December 24 and children get all their presents that night. To keep the American tradition we tell the children that the second half of presents are from Santa and they get to open those the next morning.
The second most important celebrations for us is Thanksgiving. I always make a Turkey with all the classic sides (every year I try new recipes trying to outdo last years’) and Pumpkin Pie for dessert. On Thanksgiving we always invite friends.
The third most important is Halloween. We live in a neighborhood with blocks and blocks of old brownstone houses which are super decorated and are bustling with dressed up children and their dressed up parents on Halloween night. There are several street performances happening and trick-or-treating turns into an actual block party. We decorate our house elaborately with creepy skeletons, spider webs and orange lights and we all love to dress up very much (well, I don’t know about little Charlie yet but I assume he will too). Then we go trick-or-treating for a couple of hours then go home to pass out treats ourselves.
From the Russian tradition we celebrate Easter – there is always an egg hunt and if I have the time I make a Pascha – a Russian traditional dessert similar to cheesecake in taste but made from farmer’s cheese which is strained several times then mixed with eggs yolks, butter, cream, sugar and vanilla, then strained again in a special wooden pyramid pan and served with Kulitsch – a yeast cake similar to Italian Panetone. My mother always makes sure the children each get an “Easter Nest” filled with Swiss chocolate eggs and bunnies.
Last but not least are the birthday celebrations for the children – I think it is very important to make “their” day special and give them each a cake with the according amount of candles every year and a few special presents. We will have to keep this tradition especially alive for little Charlie as his birthday is December 20…

Osswald NYC
www.osswaldnyc.com
311 W. Broadway
NY NY 10013
212-625-3111
Zurich, Switzerland location: www.osswald.ch/

Children, especially preschoolers, tend to be very possessive of their belongings, even to the extent of being possessive about the people around them. Teaching them the art of sharing is a big, yet basic step in parenting. This article will aid you with activities to enhance your child’s ability to share.

Ever tried taking a toy from a child? What follows next is howling, screaming and crying. What does this have to do with teaching the art of sharing? Well, to answer that, let’s take a look at the psychology of a child. Psychologists all over the world have observed, that children aged 2-6 years, are generally over possessive about their surroundings. Though they inhibit these traits later in life and learn to be sensitive to others feelings, teaching a child the skill of living in harmony is the sole responsibility of the child’s parent, that’s you and your family. Children are good learners and the best part is that children can be molded to behave in a particular manner, especially if they are trained in the formative years of their growth. So to say, your job as a parent is not only to take care of the needs of the child, but also to teach them to adapt to the world at large. After all, teaching how to share is a smaller part of inculcating values that show them how to care for others that includes you as well.

Preschool Sharing Activities

Teaching a child how to share can be an intimidating task, but as a parent, it is your assumed duty to teach them nevertheless. The best way to go about teaching them to share is not through mere preaching but through deeds. Lest you forget, it is beneficial to allow your child to interact with others of his/her age. Apart from teaching your child at a personal level, your child will learn to live in a symbiotic existence with others even at a playschool/nursery. Given below are activities that will help your child learn sharing at the home front as well as at a group level.

Charity Begins at Home

Mirror Image

Yeah, you got this right! Whether you like it or not, the fact remains that children are your mirror image and blindly ape your actions. If your child observes you sharing things with others at home, he/she is likely to follow suit. Make it a habit to share food items and other things with your child. Remind your child time and again that by giving something from what is your share hasn’t taken away anything from you. In return, you can ask your child to share a biscuit or a piece of chocolate with you and remember to thank them. It helps to know that children pick up things very easily and this act of sharing something with them will ensure, they remember to share things with others too. Basically, you will have to explain the concept of sharing and how it helps strengthen bonds, and do not forget to support it with your actions.

Some Things are Better Shared

Well, I intend to say, rope in your older children, and treat the kids equally. Teaching one to share and be tolerant is equivalent to teaching all. Healthy interactions between siblings is vital for the child to learn tolerance and sharing. You would have to make your kids understand that the toys belong equally to each of them and by sharing, they are merely increasing the beauty of playing. For a child, his/her possessions are his/her world, it is best to instill in them the habit of asking permission from the other sibling when taking their things, and to return them with gratitude. Sharing toys, color pencils, books, food and other things will help your kids understand each other better. To enforce the habit of sharing, you might have to be ready to shower your kids with a lot of positive reinforcement.

Playmates

Isn’t it fun when you can learn while you play? Playtime is equivalent to interaction time, which means time for learning. The amount of time your child spends interacting with siblings, cousins and other children around him/her, is an indicative of how accommodating your child will be in the future. As parents, it is but natural for you to be possessive of your child, but hey, being over possessive will only harm your child. It is best to allow them to interact more with their age group, thus enhancing their adjustment and sharing ability. Rarely will you find children who have spent their childhood in the company of siblings to be possessive of their belongings. Needless to say, you won’t have to put in much effort to make your child comfortable in the company of others as your child will automatically gel with other children.

Family Time Activities

Board Games: Games like ludo, chutes and ladders (snakes and ladders), pick-up sticks, etc., teach children the importance of turn taking.
Solve a Puzzle: Perfect game for two or more, shuffle the puzzle pieces and distribute equally among the children. Let them solve it piece by piece.
Building Bridges through Blocks: What better way to keep your kids engaged than to give them building blocks and asking them to make something creative.
Color Me Right: Isn’t it unfair to give color pencils to one and color pens to another? Problem is solved when you ask them to exchange them between each other.
Help Me Alright: Ask your child to help you out with odd chores, it could be painting easter eggs or shopping. After all, isn’t helping out with chores, sharing too?

Come Let’s Learn

Enroll your child at a playschool to boost interaction and the ability to share. Your home environment obviously acts as a base foundation for your child, but the playschool will work in multiple ways, where your kid will learn as well as adjust. Playschools come equipped with a lot of learning material, which promote healthy interactions between your child and other children. You should remember that a child learns as much from doing as he/she does from imitating. A playschool will allow your child to do both, imitate the teacher as well as initiate the action. A playschool in the right sense is a “home away from home.”

A Little Helping, A Little Giving

Have you heard the story of the Stone Soup? Well, what makes this story outstanding is the act of sharing which makes everyone happy in the end. There’s a hymn that aptly fits in here, “A little loving, a little giving, to build a dream for the world we live in….” Children at school learn a lot through stories, rhymes, songs, and most importantly, playtimes. Schools conduct games and activities which boost not only the morale of the child, but also stress on team work. One thing is for sure, the most unexpected things happen and your child whom you feared to be selfish would have now changed, miracles do happen!

One for All – All for One

Mosaic Color: Again the same rule applies, give the supplies to the children and ask them to share and the resultant picture, will be a work of art.
Potluck: What fun to share lunch with everyone else! So many things to eat, all in a day.
Blocks Too Many: Distribute blocks of different shapes and ask the children to solve a puzzle by sharing blocks with each other.
Opposite Poles: Create a stack of positive and negative signs, shuffle and distribute among children, ask them to change cards with the opposite pole and simultaneously share candy with the one who has a negative card.

Children with all their innocence will tend to be over possessive, and at times, it is beneficial for them as well. However, teaching them to share and adjust to people around them is not a daunting task, if you know how to play your cards well. Teaching children to make good choices in life is your responsibility, live wisely and choose well and finally remember to share as well, for every action of yours is being closely monitored by your child.

By Cheryl Mascarenhas at Buzzle >>

Created in 1983 by owner Carole French, Magic Windows has grown into a fixture on Manhattan’s upper east side. It is located on Madison Ave between east 86th and 87th streets where it has been for over 30 years.

“I love this store! They always have beautifully made dresses and darling boys clothes on hand. Very traditional and well made. My daughter and I were recently there and purchased some precious little jumpers for a friend of hers that has an upcoming birthday. Gift Wrap is available which is always a bonus.”

This charming store has the largest and finest collection of classic children’s clothing and accessories for boys and girls, newborn to teen. Warm and welcoming, Magic Windows’ friendly staff is always happy to help you.

Looks for Boys

Looks for Girls

Visit Magic Windows >>

Andrea Warshaw Wernick is a women’s health care, weight loss and stress management consultant and, most importantly, a mother and grandmother.

“I always say that happy people are healthy people. Our minds and our bodies intimately are connected. Everyone has their share of bad days, but if you find yourself feeling more down than up—it is possible to change your outlook.”

Here are 10 ways to move up the emotional scale and begin turning negativity into optimism.

1. Learn to forgive. Have you ever heard the saying that holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die? Well, accepting that people make mistakes, forgiving them and letting it go is like a green juice for the soul. It will instantly make you feel better. Plus, when you practice forgiving others, it has a boomerang effect. The next time you screw up, you’ll be less hard on yourself.
2. Visualize daily. Often the things you focus on most appear in your life. So spend a little time each day visualizing what you really want. Don’t let other thoughts interfere with your concentration. You might want to buy the book Creative Visualizations by Shakti Gawain. It really helped me get a husband!
3. Focus on the present. This is a difficult task but if you accomplish it you will have a better life. When you find yourself obsessing about something that happened or feeling anxious about something that might happen, stop and remind yourself that you can’t change the past or control the future. What you can do is learn from the past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.
4. Keep a journal. Before you go to bed, it’s helpful to write down all your daily thoughts as well as a to-do list for the next day. Knowing that your to-do list is ready for you in the morning and that you don’t have to remember anything will help you fall asleep peacefully. Writing down your thoughts can help you to let go and identify patterns in your thinking that might need a tweak. This is an excellent mind exercise.
5. Think only positive thoughts and smile every day. Smiling and focusing on the positive things in your life help to release happy hormones in your brain. So make a conscious effort to smile as much possible and think better thoughts by squashing the negative ones when they pop up and replacing them with something more uplifting.
6. Look people in the eye. When talking with anyone, it’s important to look that person directly in his or her eyes. Looking away or down telegraphs inferiority. Even if you don’t feel confident, try holding another person’s gaze until it starts to feel natural. Confidence will follow.
7. Stay sharp. We all do the same things each day and it can begin to feel like you’re living on cruise control. Shake things up by learning something new. This can shock your brain into a higher gear. It could be anything—learning a new language, making a model plane or even becoming a blogger! LOL.
8. Don’t take life too seriously. We all work very hard to be the best we can but it’s important to have fun while you’re at it. Try to laugh more, lighten up and learn from your mistakes rather than beating yourself up.
9. Get and stay fit. A fit body leads to better health and increased confidence—two important aspects of a long, happy life.
10. Help others in need. Once you start reaching out to those less fortunate, fulfillment is not far behind. Plus, it’s contagious. So pay it forward and learn to love your fellow man.

Find out more at: http://fabatanyage.com/fabulousforever/

“My dear friend Cassandra Seidenfeld has sent this delicious recipe of Moqueca that she has truly made her own. It is delicious, healthy and easy to make. Fish has so many benefits for children and I try to serve it at least once a week to my family. This dish is so flavorful and comforting…..enjoy!”

“I discovered this sumptuous dish while on vacation in Brazil. I was having dinner in Sao Paolo at a friend’s home. I thought we were having Fejoida but the hostess served Moqueca. Immediately, I inquired about the ingredients in this flavorful fragrant dish. She shared her recipe with me, and when I returned to New York, I began making my idea of “Cassandra’s Moqueca”. I used a different fish that withstands the texture better. I also added the peppers for color and flavor. I cook the fish until it’s flaky and the shrimps are tenderly white. It’s a fantastic Summer dish for sharing! Bonne Appetite!”. – Cassandra

Moqueca Recipe

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs. slices of white fish fillet (preferably tile fish or halibut)
12 pcs. large shrimps
2 bunches of cilantro
Medium size ginger
2 large onion
1 red pepper
3 lbs. ripe tomatoes
6 cloves garlic
1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup Dende oil
1 can coconut milk
1 Knorr chicken cube
1/8 cup cooking oil

PROCEDURE:
1. Make a paste out of bunch of cilantro, garlic and lemon juice, season with salt. Set aside.
2. Make a tomato sauce. Peel, remove seeds and slice tomatoes. Slice onion and sauté in oil.
3. Rub cilantro paste on sliced fish fillet.
4. Line le crueset pot with sliced onions. Put a little salt. Place fish fillet on top of sliced onion. Season with salt.
5. Top fish with tomato sauce.
6. Chop ginger very finely and spread it over the tomato sauce.
7. Next layer is the red pepper strips (julienne).
8. Peel and devein shrimp and arrange them on top of the layer.
9. Pour tomato sauce on top.
10. Cilantro paste, finger and red pepper.
11. drizzle olive oil and Dende oil (you can get from Brazilian food stores).
12. Bring to a boil. Then add coconut milk. Cook until done.
13. Season to your taste.

Entrepreneur and creator of all things fabulously unique, Tracy Stern presents her newest venture, Skateboard Studio.

May 2015, New York, New York. Skateboard Studio is a collection of artfully designed skateboards inspired by color, art, pop culture,movies,nature and music. Tracy has been fascinated by the artwork and color of skateboards since gradeschool when she became the first female freestyler in her neighborhood.

Not just for the streets, skateboard decks are highly collectible today. “Famous artists like Warhol, Basquait & Damien Hirst are my first collectible skate decks” says Stern. With names like Super Tramp Lava Lamp, Boogie Nights, Studio 54, Peep Show, Spiritual Skater and Film Noir, one can imagine these decks will become collectibles as well.

As if Tracy’s designs weren’t unique enough, she’s enlisted the infamous artist Randy Polumbo to create a limited edition series of boards featuring his inspiring work Lovestream. “Randy’s work (sculpture), his imagination, his mind and his heart, are what made this collaboration a must” says Stern. “I’m inspired by his use of colored glass and beautiful shapes. It’s magical and transports us all to a different planet and takes me to my own garden of Eden.”

As a successful entrepreneur Tracy has cultivated several brands to international status and has appeared in countless international magazines and TV such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and 0, The Oprah Magazine. Tracy writes several national columns on decor trends and entertainment pieces. She received an associate degree from the New York School of Design as well as Received BFA in painting at the University of Tampa. Tracy currently resides in New York City.

Randy’s work has been featured internationally at venues such as Art Basel/Miami Beach and Burning Man, Crocker Art Museum and Museum of Sex, NY. He has been reviewed in the New York Times, New York Magazine, and Art Daily to name a few. Current studio projects include a large penthouse residence turned art installation designed and built from Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory salvage and extensive plants (hydroponic gardens, plant walls, a green roof, and a food garden.) Randy lives and works in New York City and is a graduate of The Cooper Union School of Art.

The boards can be purchased online at www.sk8studio.com. Retail price is $95.00 and $250.00 for Randy’s limited edition versions. T-shirts and matching Adidas are available for purchase as well. Tracy can be seen sporting her gear as she skates through Central Park. And when the summer comes to an end, your board will find a perfect place on the wall as a conversation piece like no other.

Photos by BFA.

Old Fashioned Mom Magazine held its first event on May 6th at Bar Pleiades in the Surrey Hotel. The event celebrated Spring and the success of the magazine while introducing guests to the exciting new bath line created exclusively by the Old Fashioned Mom brand.

Lovely ladies sipped hand crafted Bellini’s and Bloody Mary’s made by bar maestro Guy Fouquet while the little ones had Shirley Temples and chocolate croissants from Cafe Boulud.

The mood was pure champagne kisses as beautiful ladies delighted in one another’s magnificent spring hats.

The most extraordinary chapeau went to Tanja Dreiding Wallace, wearing a masterpiece created for her by designer Victor De Souza. The inspiration was Marie Antoinette, France’s iconic but ill-fated queen.

Arletta Cousineau flew in from Monte Carlo to attend the regal party “I am so delighted to be here, the women are all gorgeous and truly represent an International and modern day Old Fashioned Mom. The bath products are exquisite and luxurious on the body. My favorite is Heavenly Hyacinth, named after Michelle-Marie’s little girl, it reminds me of the fragrant smells of the south of France and my skin has never looked better.”

Beautiful and talented Cassandra Seidenfeld said “I am thrilled when I receive my current Old Fashioned Mom Magazine. It is comprised with trendsetting ideas, fabulous travel advice, delicious recipes, and a wealth of information spanning New York, Palm Beach and London. I discover cutting- edge guidance about fashionable restaurants, and up to the moment Philanthropic events. I am also filled with bliss to know that the new bath products line is here, and I adore my delicious Grapefruit Marmalade Sugar Scrub. It leaves my skin soft like a baby and glowing with a dewy glimmer.”

Other Old Fashioned Mom devotees included: Randi Schatz of Avenue Magazine, Maya Johnson of Palm Beach Today International Magazine, Couture Designer Maggie Norris, Cassandra Seidenfeld, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Tracy Stern, Lauren Day Roberts, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Debbie Dickinson, Leesa Rowland, Alessandra Emanuel, Anne Baker, Aimee Marcoux Spurlock, Tanja Dreiding Wallace, Joy Marks, Donna Soloway, Joycelyn Engle, Jen Bawden, Tina Storper, Adele Niño, Andrea Warshaw-Wernick, Lucinda Bhavsar, Carol Heinemann, Nancy Amodeo, Lynn Versaci, Jean Trocino, Rosemary Ponzo, Melissa Levis and Brooke Fedagain.

Hyacinth Cornelia Heinemann was perfectly turned out in her matching LaRoyex Fascinator with Mommy Michelle-Marie Heinemann. Her brother, Hudson Cornelius Heinemann opted for a more low key look with a Fedora from Maus & Hoffman in Palm Beach.

Guests received complimentary gift bags filled with Old Fashioned Mom luxury body scrubs including Parisian Chocolate Honeysuckle, Pink Grapefruit Marmalade and Heavenly Hyacinth!

Old Fashioned Mom Magazine held its first event on May 6th at Bar Pleiades in the Surrey Hotel

Absolut Elyx and de Grisogono held an exclusive dinner at The Four Seasons celebrating craftsmanship. de Grisogono the Swiss luxury jeweler was founded in 1993 by black diamond specialist Fawaz Gruosi. One of the most prolific designers of our time, Fawaz has captured hearts and souls with his genius creativity and design. His jewelry is the purest expression of fine art, a wondrous world of shimmering hues that are extravagant and preserve the finest traditions of Haute Joaillerie.

The Four Seasons was predictably divine offering wild nettle Risotto with rock shrimp, morels and asparagus followed by perfectly prepared pepper-crusted Filet Mignon with fire roasted ramps and ancho sauce. The Four Seasons grand mariner soufflé was heaven and the signature pink cotton candy made the evening complete. Throughout the year, The Four Seasons host a wide variety of events from musical performances, cooking classes, pool parties and wine maker dinners. Completely Fabulous!!

Regina@fourseasonsrestaurant.com
Fourseasonsrestaurant.com

de Grisogono – Swiss Luxury Jeweler

Absolut Elyx

“Delicious Cocktails that included…..Wet and Dry Martinis, On the Rock….and my favorite, The Dark Horse.”

The Four Seasons

On a gorgeous afternoon in historic Murray Hill at Villa Berulia, I sat down with award winning television producer, Jeff Devlin…to discuss the wonderful joys of Fatherhood. Riding horses and the love of horses are a family pastime and Jeff serves on the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of the United States Equestrian team. He is also a senior TV Executive with Ride TV, the first and only 24-hour, high definition cable television network and website dedicated to the horse culture and lifestyle. My children are avid equestrians so it was wonderful to share stories of eventing, trainers, and the unconditional love one has for his/her horse.

Jeff has won over 60 awards in his industry and is considered a star, however he is very modest when the talk turns to himself….focusing primarily on the love and support he has for his four children. Being a good Father, spending time with your children and listening are essential for Jeff….we couldn’t agree more!

We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Jeff Devlin as our 3rd Celebrity Father!

1. How would you describe yourself?

First and foremost I consider myself ‘Dad’. I’m that loyal and dedicated knucklehead dad, like Chevy Chase playing Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation. By profession, I’m a TV Producer and do try to pursue creative excellence in all aspects of my professional life. I’ve worked hard my entire life, and am blessed with a strong work ethic I inherited from my artist/writer parents. I’ve served on many public and philanthropic boards, but consider fatherhood my biggest accomplishment.

2. Can you tell us about your children?

I am blessed. I have four amazing successful kids. My son Matthew is a Wall Street guy, turned stay at home Dad to his two young boys, Jack and Lucas. His beautiful wife Nina is a globe trotting, senior pharmaceutical executive, and they made the smart decision that one parent would stay home.

My beautiful daughter Elizabeth is a research scientist working in medical research and truly important life saving stuff. ‘Lizzy’ has two awesome small children, Thatcher and Kathryn. Lizzy is a remarkable wife, mom, sister who seemingly makes it all look easy. I’ve always been in awe of how she balances her busy life with such grace.

My daughter Hayley followed my footsteps into the media world. Hayley works at famed ad agency, BBDO where she is the Account Director, on Guinness and Johnson & Johnson. Hayley is engaged to a talented young attorney, who we adore. Since early childhood, Hayley James, as I call her, has been a passionate equestrian. She has won many events, including a state championship. She recently adopted a thoroughbred off the track, and working diligently to rescue horses that desperately need safe havens.

My youngest daughter Annabelle, recently graduated from SMU’s prestigious Cox School of Business. She landed a terrific job in the marketing department of the movie business company, Deluxe. Annabelle is blessed with beauty on the inside and outside. She is smart, caring, and cherished by all that know her. Like all my children, Annabelle has always been a pride filled joy to me.

3. What do you love most of being a father?

I love being Dad because it is such a privilege to invest in my children. The fact that God would entrust these 4 impressionable children to me is a daunting and humbling responsibility. I love watching my children learn to be gracious, be kind, and how to take care for one another. Being Dad (or Mom) is the most important thing you’ll do in your life. Your parenting skills will impact generations of children to come. If you fail at this, you fail at everything.

4. What valuable lessons did you learn from your parents?

If I mess up in life, I can’t blame my parents. I had a awesome childhood. My parents, Harry and Wende Devlin were amazing people. They met at Syracuse University, fell in love, raised seven children in Mountainside, New Jersey, became famous artists and writers of 27 classic children’s books. They were always home, and beloved by all.

5. What advice would you give today’s generation of Fathers?

Be there! Show up! Be involved in all ages and stages of your child’s life. Read to your children every night for thirty minutes. We must love our children unconditionally, and they must know it. And make your home a fun place to be, and have a great sense of humor, the kids will love it. I know my kids have healthy humor in there lives because they always are making fun of Dad. And that’s fine with me, as I see it as a sign of love.

By Melissa Levis – Family Inn Keeper

The Wilburton Inn in Manchester, Vermont is a majestic 30-acre hilltop estate that is a fabulous four-season destination for families. My family has run the inn for nearly 30 years and as we sing in our Wilburton Inn theme song we didn’t buy it to run it like a Hyatt. The Wilburton is an extension our family’s genuine passion for hospitality, creativity, beauty, healthy living and the gift of time to unwind with family and friends in the mountains.

Wilburton Inn

My mother was the inspiration for Madeline Kahn’s Tony Award winning role, Gorgeous in The Sisters Rosensweig that was written by her sister, Wendy Wasserstein. When mom suddenly passed away last year, my brother and I came home to run the inn with our father. With our Downton Abbey Parties farm to table dinners destination weddings and huge family celebrations the inn shines brighter than ever as a tribute to her. Our Cavalier King Charles puppy, Jetson, who was named for mom loves to welcome children and other dogs to our inn too!

Farm to Table Dinners at The Wilburton Inn

The Wilburton is a private 30-acre resort that features two historic mansions, eight large vacation villas, a farm, museum, pool, tennis court, sculpture garden and restaurant. We can accommodate up to 125 overnight guests in a range of accommodations from individual guest rooms to our five, six, seven and eight bedroom homes to our fourteen-bedroom Battenkill Valley Mansion that sleeps 34 guests under one room! With the perks of an inn and the privacy of a home, the Wilburton is the perfect place to host girl’s weekends, 40th birthdays, 50th anniversaries, and all the big milestones of life. Guests truly feel like the king and queen of the castle when they rent out our homes and mansions as their private country getaway.

The Grand Living Room at The Wilburton Inn

The Wilburton Inn is located in Manchester, Vermont which is only 4 hours from Manhattan and 3 and a half hours from Boston. It is such a charming, quintessential New England town that it was profiled in the New York Times Summer is the perfect time to visit because there is zip lining at Bromley Mountain for the kids, fly fishing at Orvis, hiking, golf and antique car shows for the dads, antiquing, theatre, concerts, farmers markets, and designer outlet shopping for the ladies, and the six-week long Vermont Summer Horse Festival that is fun for the whole family. The Inn is also a wonderful base for day trips to Williamstown, Massachusetts, Saratoga and Lake George, New York and Shelburne, Vermont.

Lovely Fireplace at The Wilburton Inn

Guests can also enjoy the unique talents of my family. Families can enjoy planting, harvesting, and baking workshops with my brother Oliver at his nearby Earth Sky Time organic farm and bakery. My sister who is currently writing the musical adaptation of Green Acres for Broadway, hosts Murder Mystery Weekends each year. Guests have so much fun dressing up and figuring out who-done-it as they traipse through the mansion. My Harvard scholar brother Max and my psychiatrist father Albert offer workshops on the nexus between creativity, psychology, religion and wellness at our Museum of the Creative Process. And I lead Moey’s Music Party concerts and family sing-alongs during the holidays. The Wilburton is truly a magical setting for the vacation of a lifetime.