If I could, I would swathe myself in lanky layers of gold jewelry, jingling with every move. Alas, I have a toddler who pulls, chews and/or steals anything I wear so these tats are the perfect antidote to my thwarted, bohemian-jeweled rhapsody.

Snag them at Lulu DK.

Ok, so you know how you have a medicine cabinet full of Rx’s and remedies you may or may not use all the time? But they’re there, as they should be, for that one day (or middle of night) when you really, really need that (hopefully not expired) cough syrup from that brutal cold you had last winter.

Well, I feel that way about my “hair cabinet.” I’ve got mousses, gels, smoothing creams, heat protectant spray, hair spray, shine serums, dry shampoos and leave-in conditioners I can’t live without, at least some of the time. And this difficult-to-categorize hair wax/pomade has had a permanent spot next to my Living Proof family for a while.

It’s a wax but with a not-too-waxy consistency that becomes soft when you work it between your fingers. It’s made up of a scant six ingredients, half of which are coconut oil, canola oil and beeswax, so you get a big dose of shine. But here’s what’s key about this product: it provides light hold. You get definition and control without losing softness. So your hair moves and isn’t weighed down. Too vague? Here’s how I use it:

-to tame and add texture to a fresh blowout that might be too bouncy or big.

-to keep fly aways down when wearing my hair back.

-to tame my girls’ fly aways.

-to get that “second day hair” look on any day.

Oh, and I used it on my husband on Halloween to force a side-part  on his very short hair.

Make sense? You might have to try it to really understand. It’s one of those products you don’t realize you need, no matter your hair type. And then, one day, you experiment with some giant hot rollers and your hair is as big as Texas and you thank your stars you’ve got this little green jar of magic to turn your hair from Dolly Parton to Daryl Hannah in Splash, in a flash.

Exactly one month after I gave birth to my first daughter, I was offered the cover story of Hamptons magazine. An interview with Donna Karan. I was leaking milk, overwhelmed, sleep-deprived and 30 pounds over weight. I was so post-partum, I almost said no. But in one of my first true motherhood moments, I thought, someday my daughter will see this. I took the job.

I met Donna on the rooftop garden of her Urban Zen Center. A true oasis in the midst of New York City’s West Village. Karan was in the early stages of launching Urban Zen at that point, and she was alight with energy. She was on the cusp of doing something that had never been done: creating a non-profit that would integrate mind-body care into the healthcare of the terminally ill. She was about to change the landscape of medicine. After watching her beloved husband, artist Stephen Weiss, die of cancer, starting Urban Zen was her passion. I remember her telling me she wanted cashmere blankets in hospitals. But more than that, she envisioned nurses trained in therapeutic massage, nutrition, and eastern healing processes. She wanted to help doctors treat the patient, not just the disease. The Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT) program was born. Today, the UZIT training program is in hospitals and universities and has partnered with some of the biggest cancer and children’s hospitals across the country. It’s truly changing the lives of both patients and caregivers.

Urban Zen has two other major initiatives: preserving global cultures and empowering children. For Haiti, in particular, with it’s Hope, Help and Rebuild Haiti initiative, Urban Zen has helped the small country get back on its feet, with it’s roots intact. But Karan travels extensively around the globe, falling in love with suffering cultures, discovering artisans and bringing their work to the U.S. in an effort to help boost their local economies. You can see the elaborate bead, stone and wood work curated in her one of a kind Urban Zen boutique, along with the most gorgeous clothes and furniture.

Urban Zen’s children’s initiatives team with existing organizations, like Spirituality for Kids, to “educate kids beyond academics, to care for children’s well-being in ways that give them the tools to face obstacles and opportunities with love, compassion and strength.” I understand the importance of that initiative now more than ever before.

Donna Karan has a singular way of being an artistic thinker, a compassionate game-changer and an inspiring leader. I’ll never forget how present she was, how kind and generous—and how she shared her passion for motherhood with me that day. Her maternal force is so often her guide.

If you live in New York City, I urge you to check out the Urban Zen Center. It’s not only a beautiful refuge from city life, but it has a rich calendar of events open to the public.

I am so proud to say this is my seventh Mother’s Day. I have a hunch there will be breakfast in bed and precious handmade cards involving too much glitter and glue. If I’m lucky, I’ll still be in bed with a warm cup of coffee to watch CBS Sunday Morning uninterrupted. But even if there’s mayhem and children and crumbs in the bed, I’ll cherish every moment and probably cry because motherhood has flipped that inexplicable switch—the one that sharpens emotions the way high-definition television amplifies images. Everything is clearer and closer. (And sometimes hard to watch.)

Of course, motherhood can be messy and loud, and you don’t get to sleep as much, but it really has made me a better person. I’m, at once, more confident than I’ve ever been—yet, as eager as ever to learn. And, as it has been written about with love and laughed at through tears for ages—my heart has opened and bloomed in ways I never could have imagined. I think when you come to realize you are the guiding light for tiny little ships in the night, you aim to shine brighter.

For Mother’s Day, I’d like to celebrate the top 20 ways having children has changed me:

I think less about myself. In a good way.
I think less about others. In a good way.
I go to bed earlier.
I wake up earlier.
I’m more on time.
I’m more organized.
I value my body more.
I cook more.
I dance more.
I read Dr. Suess more.
I dress up less.
I feel more capable.
I smile more.
I laugh more.
I eat more cookies.
I expect more of myself.
I pick flowers in the summer.
I pick pumpkins in the fall.
I make snowballs in the winter.
I splash in rain puddles in the spring.

How has motherhood changed you?

Gabby Etrog Cohen is the marketing phenom behind SoulCycle, the fitness game changer that inspired me—among droves of other women over 30 (or 40 or 50) with children (or grandchildren)— to get into the best shape of my life. SoulCycle is not just a workout, it’s a lifestyle and a mindset. It’s a dance party in the dark. It’s also a fashion statement and overall spreader of good vibes. Founded by two (amazing) New York City mothers who who wanted to create a shortcut to the best, total-body workout in under an hour while being fun and uplifting, SoulCycle has grown into a national movement, with 42 studios across the country and more than 12,000 devout followers peddling their way to a higher level of fitness and, I promise you, state of mind.

Etrog Cohen, mother of two, has everything to do with SoulCycle’s singular reputation in the media. As Vice President of Public Relations and Brand Strategy, she is like the mother of the brand. Essentially, Etrog Cohen helps keep SoulCycle the cool kid on the playground.

A consummate New Yorker, Etrog Cohen’s style is sleek yet edgy, her taste is selective and informed. She’s that friend who everyone asks for the best hair stylist, restaurant or kids classes. So it’s no surprise that Etrog Cohen knows the best in beauty. She’s enviably low-maintenance, but whether she’s on a bike or running between meetings, Etrog-Cohen always looks effortlessly chic.

Beautymama, defined.

Blow Dry or Air dry
A mix of both, I dry the front because it is super frizzy and then air dry the rest of my hair.

Dewy or Matte

Um…whatever is easiest.

Bold Lip or Eye

Neither

Hair Up or Down

Down

Last Product Purchase

YSL BB cream. SO good.

Desert Island Product

Blush!

A Curated Skincare Regime

Believe it or not Clean and Clear oil free moisturizer is my go-to. I try different creams all the time and always return to this. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate before bed when I remember and every other night I use M-61 Power Glow Peel from Blue Mercury.

Her Evening Must-Have

Mascara, I never wear it unless I have an event.

Biggest Beauty Blunder

When I would let my curly hair dry naturally and then brushed it out…eek!

Biggest Beauty Indulgence

I get my hair chemically straightened once to two times a year. It is naturally super frizzy and I do my best to tame it.  I have to get my hair colored to cover my grays every six weeks.

Her Go-To NYC Beauty Spots

OMG I have so many. Dana at Sally Hershberger for color, she is a miracle worker. Vickie at Vidov Salon for Matrix Optismooth straightening treatment, Lauren at Nunzio Saviano for Cezanne Hair Keratin Straightening Treatment and Nunzio for cuts.

Her Million Dollar Look

Nars blush in Desire.

Her Beauty Icon

Sarah Jessica Parker, always and forever

Bikinis, Briefs…Sometimes, Neither

I spend so much less time on myself since having kids…if I get my underwear on it is a good day.

Suprising Motherhood Urges

I just want to squeeze these little people – I love them so much.

She’s In For It

My daughter tries to use my makeup ALL the time and dresses herself. She loves a tutu!

Her Beauty Inheritence: What Mom and Grandma Say

Wear blush, mascara and do your hair! Oh and stand up straight.

What She Preaches to Her Children

Be a good person. It is the MOST important thing. And love yourself (warts and all).

Balance Schmalance

 There is no such thing as “balance.” Do your best—sometimes you fail at work, fail at being a parent or fail at taking care of yourself. It is OK. Try again tomorrow.

Her Fantasy Afternoon

 Sit on the beach with a stack of magazines….oh a girl can dream.

Keep up with Gabby @gabbyetco on Instagram and Twitter.