Brooklyn Blogger Ana Fritsch's Best Advice for Traveling With Toddlers, Doing NYC in a Day, and More
Lead image by Heather Moore, additional images by Julia Elizabeth
There's something about Lucky Penny blogger Ana Fritsch. Something that makes you want to have brunch with her, go shopping with her, and to coordinate playdates with your kids and her adorable daughters, Edith and Lilah. That probably explains how the Brooklyn-based mama ended up with over 14,000 Instagram followers and worldwide fans who regularly check her blog to see and hear more about her travels (Sayulita and Barcelona are among her recent destinations), her tips for looking effortlessly chic, and — of course — her refreshingly honest take on motherhood.
We caught up with Fritsch — our Fashion Mamas New York ambassador — to learn a little bit more about how she first began her life as an influencer, how she survives flights with a 3 and 5-year-old, and what she'd tell others who hope to follow in her footsteps.
What inspired you to create your blog?
I got pregnant with Edith shortly after I graduated college. She was a bit of a surprise and I was working in retail at the time. After a few months, I quit and decided that I would stay home my first year. Shortly after Edith turned one, we decided to have our second. After three years of being a stay at home mom, I decided that I wanted to do something that would help me stay relevant in my field of brand development. I started a blog to see where it would take me and it's been so fun to work with brands I really admire and build those relationships.
What's a typical workday like for you, from the moment you wake up?
Everyday is different. Tuesdays and Thursdays I still have Lilah home with me, so those days I reserve for just the two of us. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are when I answer email, shoot content for the blog, attend events, write, take meetings, and plan out my calendar.
It looks like you get travel a lot! What are your top three travel hacks for flying with kids?
First of all, early morning flights have always been the easiest for us. The kids are still sleepy and mellow on the plane. Secondly, don't stress. Even if it's a bad flight, it will be over eventually so just do your best to stay calm and ignore the stares. You've got this! And lastly, an iPad. Luckily my kids are at the age where they love movies, so this is when I throw all screen time rules out the window.
We've all had frustrating moments in motherhood. What's one moment (whether it was embarrassing, incredibly frustrating, etc.) that you can now laugh about now in retrospect?
When we first moved to NYC, we were living in Brooklyn and my daughter was enrolled in preschool in Soho. I took the subway everyday with both kids and usually it went pretty smoothly. But one winter day when we were switching trains, Edith was crying because she didn't want to walk anymore, Lilah was crying because who knows why, and I was crying because it had just been one of those days. So all three of us were crying during rush hour on the steps of the subway station and a woman came up and helped us to our next train. She just looked at me and said, "You're going to be okay, mama," and in that moment I believed her enough to make it home.
Let's talk fashion. Now that it's fall, what pieces do you have in heavy rotation?
A leather jacket and my Acne sweater.
Let's say a fellow Fashion Mamas member is in town with her family for only 24 hours — what itinerary would you recommend?
Get breakfast at Bubby's in Chelsea, then hit up the Whitney Museum followed by the Highline for a little art and running around. Make your way to Madison Square Park for lunch at Shake Shack and playtime at one of my favorite playgrounds in the city. Finish the day by heading to Brooklyn to see Jane's Carousel and getting a slice of Grimaldi's famous pizza.
Finally, what's your best advice for women who want to succeed in your field?
It's so trite, but basically just be yourself. If you're sharing what makes you happy, you won't get burnt out or frustrated.