Style Spotlight: A South Miami Children's Boutique Teaches Parents How to Save a Buck With Style

Here's a newsflash for you if you haven't already heard. Babies are expensive. And because there is nothing you wouldn't do for that small (and sweetly manipulative) little human, you are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on whatever new gadget you read about in parenting magazines. You're also willing to buy 18 stroller toys because the sales assistant at that mega baby department store told you that your baby needs constant stimulation. And he must be right. Right?! By the time your bundle of joy hits the six month mark, you're drowning in swaddles and have maxed out every credit card trying to keep up with all the latest baby trends. But fret not parents because two very savvy moms had the brilliant idea of bringing you the top baby items at a fraction of the cost. Where is this mecca of good deals I speak about? It's right in our great city waiting for you to come shop and consign!

The Children's Exchange is simply put, every parent's dream. Babies outgrow everything from newborn swings to that Burberry trench coat you swore she would wear more than once. And those items end up stored in a garage or a basement without much further use. But at a boutique like The Children's Exchange, located in South Miami, you have an opportunity to not only put money back in your pocket, but it allows those items to have a second chance with a new family. Plus, it's easy to get overwhelmed in those ginormous baby stores. At The Children's Exchange, owners, Rebecca and Cecilia, make sure your visit is personalized to help you find exactly what you're looking for! 

Besides having a knack for finding great baby deals, Rebecca and Cecilia have a fun and ambitious entrepreneurial spirit that allows their business and friendship to thrive. I got a chance to speak with these two mommy moguls about what it takes to run their fashionable neighborhood spot. 

FSF: I am so excited to feature The Children's Exchange on the blog's style spotlight because it is such a great store that is every tiny fashionista's (and parent's!) dream! Was the store something you created when you yourself became a mom? 

TCE:  The store was actually first opened in 1981 by two moms just like us!  My partner, Rebecca and I purchased it about five years ago and totally revamped it. At the time, she had one child and I was a newlywed. We had worked together at a boutique in the Grove for about two years then we went our separate ways to work as buyers. We had both always wanted to open our own store one day and she first heard about the business being for sale and during one of our buying trips, she suggested buying it together and re branding the business to really reflect modern day families. We have both always loved fashion and retail and when this opportunity came up we just couldn’t say no! Five years and five kids later, here we are!

FSF:  Being a mom and a business woman is not an easy task. How do you find, or at least try to achieve, that balance with two small kids? 

TCE: Finding a balance between home and work definitely isn't easy, but it really helps having a business partner that has the same passion for her family as she does for her business. Because we have one another and a great team behind us, we feel like we are very lucky to have the luxury of family time without leaving the business unattended.

FSF: The baby industry is a big bucks business. There's a new gadget out every week, a new stroller, a new clothing collection. You spend a lot of money buying into every baby fad. But here, parents can get a break. How does the store work?

TCE: The store is an amazing concept for new parents and "veterans" alike.  We are extremely careful that everything we take is in perfect condition which allows new parents to purchase high-end baby items in tip top shape at a fraction of retail price. For the parents that have baby items just lying around, they simply drop off the items at the store and we take it from there. Once their items sell, the consignor can either pick up their check or, most often, use the proceeds as store credit.

FSF: What are your most popular items that parents are always in the market for? 

TCE: Strollers. Parents are always in need of some kind of stroller...jogging, double, umbrella, etc and we ALWAYS have strollers.

FSF: How do you determine what to consign and what not accept?

TCE: For clothing consignment the pieces must be freshly laundered, with no defects and they must meet our brand criteria.  If for whatever reason something is brought in that we cannot accept, we donate the items to one of three local charities.  The larger items need to be brought in clean and disinfected and with all their corresponding pieces.

FSF: What would you tell parents if they have any hesitations to purchase something that's been previously own? 

TCE: We are VERY careful with everything that is accepted. We have a meticulous three point check system before any article of clothing is put out on the sales floor and the larger baby items need to be personally inspected by one of the owners before it's sold.  We make sure all our employees are knowledgeable on recalled items and receive daily notices from the Federal Consumer Products Safety Commission that keeps us informed as to what those products might be.

FSF:  The clothes here is out of this world. You carry so many unique pieces for both girls and boys. Why is it important to you to feature some out of the box wardrobe staples? 


TCE: We pride ourselves on only choosing the best of the best clothing and products when it's brought in and our customers really appreciate our selective editing efforts. Also, since we both have always loved fashion we thoroughly enjoy finding special, one-of-a-kind pieces for our kids and customers.

FSF: Every season, there's the must have baby item or fashion trend, what are we seeing for spring/summer? 

TCE: Aden + Anais "easy-swaddle" blankets!  They're the best, they're super soft and they simplify the swaddling process so parents don't have to struggle for the perfect swaddle.  We absolutely love this product!

FSF:  What is one item every new parent should have for their child? 

TCE: An Ergo baby carrier.  They allow you to carry your baby hands-free in a super comfortable carrier and the babies absolutely love being so close to their mom or dad!

The Children's Exchange owners, Rebecca Millares-Macias and Cecilia Herrera, have made this consignment store for tiny tots a shopping destination for all Miamians.

FSF: Between both of you, you have five delicious kiddos! When you aren't running the store, what are some things you and your family like to do for fun in Miami? 

TCE: Our kids love being outside so whether its a park, beach or boat day if we're outside - they're happy!


** To learn more on The Children's Exchange, go on their website at http://www.thechildrenexchange.com/ **

In Style,

Kat Buccio 

Miami Style Map: A Midsummer Night's Dream on the Key.

Meet one of my favorite dresses in my closet. This dress has miles and stories to tell. It has taken me from the streets of the city, through my journey of motherhood, and now to a new chapter in my life. This dress encompasses comfort, confidence, and a carefree 'joie de vivre’ sensibility that can only come from something that is truly cherished. I know I’m getting pretty deep over a prairie dress but everyone has that one (or two) piece from their wardrobe that they can’t live without because it's just meaningful. And this dress, from the H&M Conscious Collection, does that for me.

I love the location Natalie, from Suna Photography, used to shoot this dress. As always, she was on point when it came to capturing the essence and mood of my look. I think it stands out perfectly  in its element. This was also shot on the grounds of Bill Baggs State Park in Key Biscayne. Who would have thought, woods in Miami! The first thought that came to mind (after I oohed and awed a bit) was Robert Frost’s The Road Less Traveled. This is exactly the setting I picture each time I read that poem. Ironically, the poem deals with that paths you choose to take in life and don’t we always find ourselves in a situation where we have to figure out which road to take next.  These shots are ethereal and you can really see the details and femininity of the dress.

I love the lace work and trims on the upper top of the dress. There's a sort of quaint characteristic in those small details. The soft ivory color against my eclectic collection of bracelets gives the look a hint of character and a fun mirror into my personality. 

No dress of mine is complete without a pair of boots underneath. It's my way of rejecting a 'too girly' vibe and giving it some of that freshly squeezed and rugged flavor I like when I convey my style mood. I love my Troopa boots because they're all beat up from love and probably snowstorms. And I don't care. I'll wear them until they have holes in them.

I've been really digging the flower crown/headband trend lately. I'm probably late on that trend, but my philosophy, as I've gotten older and style wiser, is that if something doesn't work for me, I'm not going to buy into it. This I like, but in moderation. You won't see me with a full blown flower arrangement on my head. But how pretty does this dusty blush flower headband from Haute Blossom (a local Miami vendor) look with this boho dress? I feel like one of the fairies in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. The whole outfit just feels graceful.

On Me:

Dress- H&M
Boots- Steve Madden
Headband- Haute Blossom

In Style,

Kat

Style Spotlight: Miami Makeup Guru Making Women Beautiful One Face at a Time.

You've heard the horror stories. Girl goes to get her makeup done. Girl asks for something fabulous. Girl walks out looking like a circus clown. Girl cries and off comes the mascara. 

In a saturated market where many "artists" claim makeup supremacy, only a handful can actually stand by their work. It takes a very skillful and gifted artist to know exactly what will work best on you without taking away from that very natural beauty you want to enhance. Not every makeup artist can do that. But when Jessie Diaz, Founder and CEO of Makeup Artistry By Jessie, takes a makeup brush to your face, you can rest assured that the final product will be a work of art. 

I call Jessie a makeup guru. She's someone who sees your face as a canvas and creates a beautiful masterpiece that can often seem unattainable. Let's face it. We can try and try to do that cat eye or that smokey look on our own, but the end result is usually hot mess of eyeshadow and eyeliner smeared across our face. When Jessie brings your makeup vision to life, she gets excited with you. And this excitement comes from a place of genuine passion because she truly loves what she does for a living. 

With a schedule that has booked through the summer, it was hard to tie down one of Miami's best to answer a few questions for this blog. But being a client and a friend has its advantages. Jessie's infectious and straight up funny personality is easily detected when she chatted all things makeup with me, the Freshly Squeezed Fashionista! 

Read on to get the scoop.

FSF: I am so glad this interview is finally happening! I have been dying to share you with the world! Not that you don't already have a crazy legion of fans, but you should  have more. You're like my very own Pat McGrath and the world needs to know about you! Do the compliments ever get old? 

MABJ: Haha, no they don’t.  It’s an honor to be your Pat McGrath.

FSF: Makeup has been a hobby of yours for such a long time. But when did it become the front and center in your career?

MABJ: I always worked a regular 9-5 job and did my bridal trials at night. On Fridays, I would leave the office early so that I could make it on time to make up my brides. Saturdays and Sundays were my time to shine! Makeup has always been front and center in my life. I basically worked 7 days a week for many many years. I built my business, made a name for myself, and loved every single minute of it! In 2010, when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, I decided that it was time to refocus. Being a mom was going to be a tougher job than anything I had ever done before, so I left my office job and never looked back. Within a few months, I went from being a one-man show with an assistant to having a full staff of professional makeup artists and hair stylists working for me.

FSF: When did you know you were actually good at what you did? 

MABJ: I always knew. I was born with the talent…really!  Since middle school, I was painting all my friends' (and even some dolls' ) faces. In high school, everyone wanted me to do their makeup. I was the go-to girl. I remember when I was 17, I charged someone $20 to get their makeup done, and they paid it! I remember thinking, "WOW, this is nuts! I can actually get paid to do what I am most passionate about." It was beyond me!

FSF: Anyone that meets you knows you have a big personality. Why is that important in a job like this? 

MABJ: People like to feel comfortable around the people that surround them, especially on such a special and intimate day. My outgoing and candid personality allows me to provide that comfort for my brides. I love people, weddings, and makeup. It's the perfect combo for me! When you love what you do, it always shows and exudes a positive energy. My clients feel that energy and are attracted to it.

FSF: You're big in the Miami wedding scene. How did you get started?

MABJ: After I graduated from Florida State University in 2001 and moved back home to Miami, I began working for my family business because I needed a job that would pay my bills. That's when I started peeking my way in to the wedding industry. People started finding out that I was back in Miami, and in several months, I was getting booked for months out. Word of mouth is a pretty powerful thing.

FSF: What is your most favorite thing about working on brides?

MABJ: I am wedding obsessed! When I meet a future bride, I instantly become part of her life. I become immersed in her journey toward the biggest day of her life. I get phone calls, texts, and emails asking what photographer I like to work with or who is the best for floral arrangements. I've even been asked to be their wedding planner! But that's where I have to draw the line. Weddings are full of happiness, joy, and laughter, and I LOVE that! I don't usually see a bride's bridezilla side. I am the one that makes them look and feel beautiful, so it's always happy times with me. 

FSF: You have also done commercial, fashion, and television gigs. Which has been the most exciting for you?

MABJ: I don't have a favorite. For me, it's always exciting to see a face I've made up on TV or on a runway. It's like having my masterpiece on stage for the whole world to see! 

FSF: Let's talk beauty tips. What's one makeup trend that doesn't work on anyone? 

MABJ: I don't think there is one particular trend that doesn't work for everyone because every faces is unique. Everyone‘s face structure and skin tones are different. Something that might look terrible on one person might look absolutely fabulous on another. The key is to know what works well on each person individually and then execute it beautifully.

FSF: Have you ever had to tell a client that something isn't working for her?

MABJ: YES!!  I am really really honest with my clients. If something doesn't look good on you, I will tell you and then recommend something that does look good. I feel like I would be doing a disservice to you and to my myself as a makeup professional. I would hate for someone to let me walk out on the street looking like a clown and not tell me.

FSF: What makeup tools should every woman own to get her through the day? 

MABJ: A good blush applicator and blush. Please use blush. It brightens up your face and makes a world of difference.

FSF: What do most of your clients ask for? I'm going to guess it's the smokey eye. 

MABJ: Yes, everyone asks for a smokey eye. The funny thing is that the word  ”smokey” means something different to almost every single woman. Some girls end up with a black eye and some with a soft earth tone eye. My job as a makeup artist is to find out what it means to them and provide the best version of what they ask for.

FSF: What's your beauty routine when it comes to your face? 

MABJ: There's a Spanish saying which really doesn't translate into English well at all, but here it goes, “en casa de herrero, cuchillo de pala.”  I think the English saying is ”the shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot”. It's a lot funnier in Spanish, though. Pretty much the saying says that a skilled or knowledgeable person fails to use their skills for their own benefit or the benefit of their family. In my case, I don't wear too much makeup in my day-to-day life, but when I do, I make sure I have a lot of blush on.

FSF: What makeup trends are we going to be seeing for spring? 

MABJ: Corals, corals and more corals!

** For more information on MABJ, visit her website at http://www.jessiesierradiaz.com/

Miami Style Map: Shining Bright in the Tropics.

Every once in a while, it's fun to play tourist in your hometown. There are so many undiscovered gems that repeatedly get overlooked simply because they become part of your everyday landscape and you often don't give them a second glance. We take for granted some of the cultural pleasures hidden right in our backyard that are just waiting to be rediscovered and reloved. After 12 years of living in the city and coming back to Miami, I feel like I've landed on new territory. One of my goals while I dive into my Floridian citizenship, is to reconnect with my hometown and reacquaint myself with all the places that not only stir up feelings of carefree nostalgia, but to recapture some of that innocence that usually comes with seeing something new and exciting for the first time. Today I did just that. 

When I was a little girl, I used to spend my weekends on the beaches of Key Biscayne. My mom and I would head to Crandon Park, pack up ham and cheese sandwiches, which would later get soggy and sandy (but still magically delicious) from being out in the sun, and eat them on our towels while we lounged in the sand bars and doused our hair with Sun-In. These are some of my favorite childhood memories of growing up in Miami. The funny thing is that even after going to Key Biscayne so frequently, I never once visited the beautiful lighthouse that still stands at the end of the key (inside the Bill Baggs State Park). But this afternoon, the tourist in me, got to experience that shining beacon (actually, it's under repair) in all it's glory. Nestled amongst palm trees blue skies and tranquil beaches, the lighthouse was such a breathtaking presence that I stood there, mouth agape (hashtag tourist), snapping pictures and just repeating, "wow. This is insane. I can't believe there's a lighthouse here." It was constructed in 1825, rebuilt in 1846, and it's considered the oldest standing structure in the state. Who knew? (not me).

And I love that our photo shoot took place on the grounds of the park thanks to my brilliant photographer, Natalie (one half of Suna Photography) who picked this spot to snap my very lively and colorful one piece stunner! Natalie did my maternity sessions a couple of years ago and I've been a big fan of her work and creative vision since. She has a very organic and easy going shooting style that's clearly noticeable in her photographs. Just take a look for yourself! 

Well hello, jumpsuit! If this one piece tropical sensation doesn't scream "It's Summer!", then you're visually deaf. 

Spring and summer are all about color, color, and more color and this strapless jumper is definitely not lacking in that department. It's dramatic, it's dynamic, and it's fun. 

Since my move to Miami, I'm incorporating some more playful hues into my wardrobe- breaking up the black a bit (though never to be given up) and when I saw this tropical motif one piece at Cheap n' Chic Boutique on Bird, I fell head over heels in love. It's sheer vibrancy caught my eye. 

I love the sweetheart neckline on this piece and love how the fabric loosely drapes across my chest. The fabric belt accentuates my small waistline, which after having a baby, I'm always happy to flaunt.

As to not to take away from the jumper, I kept the accessories minimal. My fuchsia earrings are from my favorite street vendor in the city. I score some one of a kind pieces from the same guy on 17th and 5th. I pulled my hair up in a messy top knot and love the color contrast of my natural brunette tresses and the last of my honey ombre. I think it goes well with the pretty beachy vibe of the outfit. We have to talk about the lips. This bright orange shade is called Magnifique (and magnifique it is) courtesy of Chanel. 

One of my favorite things about this whole look is the shoes. I went with something completely unexpected and paired this floral frock with my faux snakeskin platform heels. Instead of playing it safe with a nude or a black heel, go bolder. 

On Me:

junpsuit- Mustard Seed (from Cheap n' Chic boutique)

Heels- Steve Madden

Earrings- Street Vendor 

In Style, 

Kat 

It's a Grungy Spring for the Freshly Squeezed Fashionista!

Spring is calling and the flowers are blooming! But really I just wanted another excuse to wear this fabulous floral blouse I found at the Zara in Palermo while vacationing with my family. The colors are vibrant and the bright pink roses play up the feminine lace of the skirt. 

I kept the jewelry simple with this 'K' pendant necklace from Hippie Chic Underground. 

The versatility of this blouse allows itself to be mixed and matched with different textures and style personalities. In addition to the lace skirt, which can be an everyday staple, I wore my floral blouse with Free People's studded moto lace up boots. It's a perfectly grunge and sweet combination. 

For me, most outfits aren't complete without a hat. This is one of those outfits. Some people wear hats for show, but for me, hats are necessary wardrobe requirement. You can trace back my affinity for hats back to any Easter in the 80's (thanks, mom).

And how cool is my new gold digital watch by Casio? Telling time just got a whole lot more chic. 

I have to give a special shout out to my amazing friend and makeup artist, Jessie Diaz, who is responsible for this killer look. She is one of the most creative and talented makeup artists in Miami. 

On Me:

Blouse- Zara

Lace skirt- Ann Taylor

Boots- Free People

Hat- Urban Outfitters

watch- Casio 

necklace- Hippie Chic Underground

In Style, 

Kat