The MomAngelenos
Moms are the greatest resource for other Moms. Its through other Moms that we get the BEST scoop. Knowing that we have asked some very tapped-in Moms to help us out. Our Moms are selected by neighborhood, interests and expertise…check them out!
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Editor and Westside Contributor
Laura Nix Gerson is a connector, producer, marketer and Mom. MomAngeles is the culmination of all these things providing a central resource where LA Moms can find what they need in a post, list, video or a “perk.” Laura loves to share her discoveries about Los Angeles with all of you. She is also a contributing writer to CBS Local Los Angeles, MomsLA, MoonFrye, HerReview and HollywoodHotMoms. Laura’s energetic, very social 4 year old daughter attends school in West LA and has lots of after school activities including art, gymnastics, ballet, soccer and hip hop dance. Email her at laura@momangeles.com.
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Editor and East Valley Contributor
Lora Jakobsen is a resident of Sherman Oaks and mother of two bright, energetic, fun loving boys. She is always in the know about events happening all over LA as well as on her side of town. The former Community Relations Consultant for Plum District, Lora was responsible for building awareness for the terrific daily deal site among LA Moms. Lora is also co-owner of MomAngeles and the founder of Zookies, creative and educational children’s products that encourage kids to explore their imagination, discover the arts, and find new forms of self-expression. Email her at lora@momangeles.com.
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Pacific Palisades & Pinterest Fanatic
Susanna Morgan a resident of Pacific Palisades, is a parenting non-expert, mother of two, and June Cleaver’s nemesis. A former teacher for both public and private upper elementary, she worked with both highly gifted and learning challenged students in the regular classroom. She has written highly gifted curriculum and taught after school GATE classes for STAR Education, Inc. Previously, Susanna was editor of LAFamily.com, SpecialNeeds.com, and SevenStarFamilyTravel.com, as well as a writer. She’s a front page contributor to ModernMom.com and blogs about home and family over at NotJune.com.
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Inland Empire
Desiree Eaglin is a mother of 3, a writer, a photographer & a toilet scrubber extraordinaire. She is a former social worker and has a bachelors degree in Psychology, which she will probably never professionally use. Desiree writes funny and honest stories about her life on her personal blog Sarcastic Funny and Brutally Honest. She started her personal blog in 2006 to chronicle her 1st pregnancy. This outlet gives her room to breathe, is an avenue to be creative and a space to vent. Desiree is also a contributing writer to MomsLA, CBS Local Los Angeles, SavvySassyMoms and here at MomAngeles.
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Beverly Hills / Hancock Park / Culver City and Education and School Resources
Christina Simon knows what parents are looking for when it comes to private school, kids camps or fun! A mom of an 8 year-old son and an 11 year-old daughter, Christina, a native Angeleno, has experienced a great deal of what Los Angeles has to offer from baby groups to toddlerdom to full on kid fun. Christina sends us scoop about what moms in Beverly Hills, Hancock Park (her old stomping ground) and other parts of the city are doing with their kids, where they go and what’s coming up. Christina is also a published author and blogger. Her book “Beyond The Brochure: An Insider’s Guide To Private Elementary Schools in Los Angeles” offers parents a helpful guide to navigating the super-competitive admissions process. She also blogs about this topic at www.beyondthebrochurela.com.
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Beverly Hills to Hollywood / New Baby Resources
Holly Shuter is a native Angeleno (with a couple of non-California stints in New York, Spain, Las Vegas and Chicago) She spent over 15 years doing web marketing and consulting for companies such as Disney, Mirage Resorts, ComScore Networks, Lands End, Radiasson Hotels and Zenith Insurance. After the birth of her two sons, (4 and 6) she started her own family photography business – Straight Shuter Photography – where she gets to combine her passions – taking photos and hanging out with kids!
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Calabasas / Encino / Woodland Hills
Amanda Schwartz is a pop-culture-obsessed writer with lots of opinions. She has written for TV via the Disney Channel, MTV and the WB (back when Dawson, not Tom, had Katie’s heart). She has also written for several publications including InStyle, The New York Daily News, Variety and way too many teen mags such as CosmoGirl, YM and Twist where she was forced one too many times to ask twentysomething pretty boys “boxer or briefs?” She also served as the first TV columnist for E! Online and editor of the Best of Los Angeles issue of Los Angeles Magazine. She sold her first screenplay to Britney Spears (pre-shaved head) and currently has a movie in development at ABC Family that she hopes is the next High School Musical (a girl can dream!) In her everyday life, Amanda is a wife, writing teacher and mom with two kids and a desperate need for a creative outlet. Amanda blogs at www.amandatoryreading.blogspot.com and www.adviceyoudidnotaskfor.blogspot.com. She is a born and raised Valley girl who currently resides in Calabasas although she is not in any way trying to keep up with the Kardashians.
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East LA: Miracle Mile / Larchmont / West Adams / Downtown / Silverlake / Los Feliz / LA Art Scene
If you want to know what’s hip, happening and fun in East LA, Andrea Feldman Falcione is the well-connected MomAngeleno who gets all the best scoop. Her network of Mommie friends keep her supplied with info on fun events for kids and parents. As a private Art Consultant, helping buyers find specific pieces for their collections or working with arts organizations to achieve specific goals, Andrea is tied in to all of LA’s major arts institutions. Andrea works with LACMA, The Getty and the Hammer Museum and serves on the planning committee for the Hammer Museum’s annual K.A.M.P. kids art event and fundraiser. How this Mom of 4 year old twins manages it all we will never know but we are so glad she is out there keeping the rest of us in the loop!
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Malibu / Fashion / Shopping
Amy Stuart Gordon has been a professional wardrobe and prop stylist on commercial shoots and films for more than 15 years. She has perfected the art of styling models, homes and locations for shoots, specializing in lifestyle, travel and resort work. As a stylist Amy has worked on shoots for advertising, editorial and celebrity clientele and now offers her personal services to individuals looking to capture her same effortless, quintessential California style. Check out her work at Stuart Style. Amy’s network of local and national labels and her knowledge of everything fashionable in LA makes her a terrific resource for where to shop, what to buy, and what’s on par for todays trends. A resident of Malibu, Amy is very integrated into the local community, keeping us updated on everything happening in the Bu. She and her photographer husband Robb Gordon take three year old son, Von, everywhere! With the Gordons life is always an adventure!
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Music (and some scoop from Beverlywood)
Eva Glettner wears her mom badge with pride, but it doesn’t mean she has to check her cool factor at the door. She loves great music, amazing books, handmade toys, and sharing it all with you. Eva is totally hooked into the LA kids music scene and she writes about it on her blog MiniVanBlues. If you are looking for kid friendly music that is fun and COOL to play in your car or with your kids MiniVanBlues is the place to be. She is also a contributing writer with Cool Mom Picks, Babble and Huffington Post.
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Parenting Consultant and Family Therapist
Allison Latona is a noted parenting consultant and psychotherapist whose life-changing consultation groups provide a practical and compassionate roadmap for those navigating the journey of parenthood. Focusing upon respectful parenting philosophies, the power of language, emotional intelligence, and a child’s natural developmental capabilities, LaTona offers specific strategies and invaluable insights that ease the inherent challenges of contemporary parenthood. Allison has fifteen years of experience counseling children, families, couples and individuals, and facilitating groups in private practice, as well as at Santa Monica’s BabygroupTM with Donna Holloran, for over a decade. With thirteen years “in the trenches” raising two young children, her personal path complements her professional credentials. Allison recently has become an expert contributor for Twigtale, an online tool that enables parents to create customized books for their children ages 0 – 5. Personalized books are a terrific way to help children through transitional or developmental stages in childhood. You can read more about Allison on her site www.allisonlatona.com or visit her updates on Facebook.
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Pediatric Physician
Dr. Cigal Shaham was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She has a wonderful, supportive husband and amazing 3 year old son, who teaches her something new every day. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and currently works as a pediatrician at Roxbury Pediatrics in Beverly Hills. Dr. Shaham received her B.A. in IDS Environmental Science from the University of California at Berkeley. She received her Master’s degree in Regulatory Science from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy. She worked at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles before obtaining her M.D. from the Ben-Gurion University Medical School for International Health in Collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center. Dr Shaham received the Pediatric Residency Leadership Award after completing her Residency in Pediatrics at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, where she was also the American Academy of Pediatrics Delegate. In addition to seeing patients, she is active in the Los Angeles Pediatric Society, sits on the Health Advisory Board for Early Head Start, gives talks to pre-school mom groups, and blogs at www.mommedicine.blogspot.com
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Sleep Specialists
Sleepy Planet’s, Jennifer Waldburger, LCSW, began her professional career as a writer and editor living in New York City, working for such publications as Town & Country magazine and Redbook. After earning her master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jennifer joined Childsleep as co-owner. Currently co-founder of Sleepy Planet, Jennifer provides sleep consultations, leads mother-infant groups for new moms, lectures throughout Los Angeles on sleep and a variety of topics, and continues to work in private practice as a psychotherapist. She also does healing and energy work with families and young children.
Jill Spivack, LCSW, completed her graduate studies at University of Southern California and worked as a psychotherapist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Jill developed a specialty in pediatric sleep disorders and parenting while working in NYC after experiencing sleep problems with her first child. In 1999, upon returning to Los Angeles, Jill co-founded Childsleep. Currently a co-owner of Sleepy Planet, Jill provides sleep consultations, leads groups for first- and second-time mothers and lectures on sleep and other parenting topics. Jill is also a contributor to momlogic.com. She is the mother of two children.
Jill, Jennifer and The Sleepeasy Solution: The Exhausted Parent’s Guide to Getting Your Child to Sleep from Birth to Age 5
