For the month of April I couldn’t be more excited to feature one of my first ever girl crushes, Geri Hirsch! I’ve been an avid reader of her blog, Because I’m Addicted, since 2007 and as fate would have it we were introduced by a former employee. We instantly clicked. A few weeks after that I styled her for a photo shoot and the rest is history.

BECAUSE WE’RE ADDICTED

Born and raised in Los Angeles, this cold brew sipping devoted mama of two brings a cool girl chic and effortless vibe, has a flawless complexion and gives us major beauty and fashion inspo on Insta. Geri wears many hats - entrepreneur, blogger, platform innovator, Creative Director of the luxury clean makeup line Saie, coffee shop owner of Neighborhood (with her hubby and brother-in-law) just to name a few.

I’ve had the privilege to creative direct and style her maternity shoots with both of her daughters. For this month’s profile, I wanted to share the maternity shoot we collaborated on while she was 5 months pregnant with her precious daughter, Adeline Rose. I'm so excited to feature this extraordinary woman on a mission, my dear friend Geri Hirsch. Enjoy!

STYLIST: MONICA ROSE

STYLIST ASSISTANT: KATIE PEARE

HAIR: VANESSA GAROUTE

MAKEUP: MARIA VARGAS - GUZMAN

PHOTOGRAPHER:  JOYCE PARK

VIDEOGRAPHER: ESTHER KIM

“DO YOU REMEMBER HOW WE FIRST MET?”

We were set up on a girl date by one of your old assistants and have been close ever since. I want to say that was...2007ish?!

“FOR OTHER MOMS-TO-BE WHO ARE READING THIS, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO EMBRACE PREGNANCY? PRO’S & CON’S.”

When you really want something badly enough, you embrace it with intense gratitude.  That has been my pregnancy journey.  

PRO'S?

The entire experience. Feeling life grow inside of you is unbelievably beautiful and then that moment when you hold your child for the first time...it's indescribable.

CON'S?

Not drinking for 9 months. #truth

“WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?”

My days right now are really committed to two things: my daughters and work. My girls are really young (4 months and 2 years old) and they need me so I've structured my life around them. I work from home, workout at home, eat at home and limit the amount of outside meetings/events/social obligations I have so that I'm here. When I'm not home breastfeeding the little one, running to class with the big one and/or working, I try to get in some self-care and dates with my girlfriends.

“SINCE WE NOW HAVE MORE TIME TO READ, IS THERE A BOOK YOU RECOMMEND?”

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

“BEST PIECE OF CAREER ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?”

Closed mouths don't get fed.

“WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR DAILY ESSENTIALS?”

Saie liquid lip balm, Sunnies Face lipstick in Milkshake, a phone charger, glass bottle of water & a stickers from my daughter, Leo.

“HOW DID YOU EVOLVE INTO A CLEAN BEAUTY CONNOISSEUR, WHAT WAS THAT SHIFT LIKE?”

I did the Clean Cleanse ten years ago after gaining 20+ pounds and Dr. Junger (the founder) recommended that while doing the cleanse, you should limit toxic beauty products. He talked about the fact that our skin is our largest organ and what we put on our body is just as important as what we put into it. I fully committed to using clean beauty for the 21 duration of the cleanse and that was really the entry point for me. That’s when I started paying attention to how many chemicals I was putting on my body every. single. day.

“CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY JOINING SAIE AS THEIR CREATIVE DIRECTOR?”

I met Laney, the founder of Saie, while she was at Estee Lauder. She tapped me to create content for them and we bonded over wellness, clean beauty and our love for a good workout. We remained friends - constantly sending one another our latest obsessions - and when she decided she was going to start a clean makeup line, and asked me to be a part of it, it was a hard YES! Working on a clean brand felt like a natural next step for me since I spent the last decade writing about, sharing and selling an endless amount of products. 

“WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU “GREW UP” AND DID ANY OF THAT TRANSLATE INTO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?”

I always said I was going to be a CEO without really understanding what that meant. All I knew was the my best friends dad had a big office with a big cozy chair and he was important. He was a CEO. Now that I'm actually grown up, I've never taken on the title throughout my endeavors (even as a co-founder), nor have I gotten my big cozy chair in a big office, but I have built and sold companies.

“FAVORITE PIECE OF FASHION ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?”

I feel like I learned a lot about fashion from you teaching me the importance of a good tailor, the unimportance of spending a ton because it's all about how you style it, and the art of accessories. 

“WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO STAPLE OUTFIT?” 

I love a good oversized blazer over anything.