This week’s Meet a Mom feature is Sophia Beaudoin, a local PV mom of two. She is the founder of Little Me Allergy, a company that creates colorful allergy accessories such as placemats, magnet signs, patches, stickers and wristbands that are big, bright, and bold. The idea behind the company was born from her desire to keep her daughter, who was diagnosed with a severe sesame allergy when she was one, safe out in the world.
Read more about this the special mom’s motivation behind Little Me Allergy, her daily routine, and her favorite local South Bay spots!
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have two little ones. My little girl is turning 5 next month, and her sweet little brother is 2.5.
What are your favorite local things to do with your kids?
Lately, we have been visiting all our local fire stations because my son is OBSESSED with fire trucks. He can’t get enough of anything having to do with fire trucks and firefighters! We also enjoy going to the library, walking the Botanic Gardens in Rolling Hills, Terranea for their beautiful rocky beach, and going to The Point to get Van Llewyn ice cream!
What do you like about living in the South Bay and why did you decide to raise your family here?
I was raised in northern California and moved to Los Angeles for college. I’ve lived in a lot of wonderful places in and around LA in my early 20’s and 30’s. After having kids, I wanted to somewhere that felt like a small, slightly rural community within this sprawling city, and Palos Verdes felt just that. I love the nature trails, the ocean views, and how it feels so tucked away from all the hustle and bustle. We are really grateful to be here!
Tell us about your new business, Little Me Allergy.
Little Me Allergy aims to empower and protect kids who suffer from food allergies, support the teachers who care for them, and help parents feel confident as they send their children to school and wherever they go. We create colorful allergy accessories such as placemats, magnet signs, patches, stickers and wristbands that are big, bright, and bold; accessories that kids will be proud to use and importantly, don’t go unnoticed! It’s hard enough for kids to deal with having allergies, finding allergy accessories that make them feel both proud and protected shouldn’t be. Check out our line of accessories at www.littlemeallergy.com or follow us @littlemeallergy.
What is your inspiration behind this business?
My daughter inspired me to create Little Me Allergy! We discovered she was severely allergic to sesame when she was a year old. So as we prepared for preschool, I got really anxious about how I was going to keep her safe out in the world. Short of following her around and attending preschool with her (just kidding!), I wanted to make sure her allergy accessories would advocate for her in a big and bold way. But in my search I didn’t find anything that stood out enough or anything she would feel excited to use. So as her mama and a creative, I designed and made her own sesame allergy placemats, patches, stickers, and snack pouches. I wanted her to feel proud to wear her allergy accessories, and I wanted to feel confident that they were advocating for her in my absence.
After receiving such great feedback from her teachers and other fellow allergy parents, I thought that I could help others by creating allergy accessories for the top nine allergens, as well as for those with multiple allergies and conditions.
How do you juggle work and motherhood?
As a mom of two little ones, juggling a busy schedule and multitasking is the norm and it can be easy to burn the candle at both ends. So I try my best to make time for meaningful experiences with my family, with friends, and with myself, and try to be very present in those moments. I find that in doing so I feel more at peace and fulfilled overall.
What does a typical weekday look like for you?
The morning is the usual hustle to get the kid’s dressed, make breakfast, get their lunch packed, and everyone (including the dog) out the door. I work from home Mondays and Fridays so those are the days I get caught up on house chores. After school, the kids love playing in the backyard in their new playhouse that I designed and my husband just built from scratch – he’s very proud of that! And at least once a week we head to the beach for a picnic dinner to enjoy the summer nights.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
Be kind to yourself, be kind to others, and learn to embrace change.
Let’s Talk Local! What is your favorite:
Family Restaurant: North Italia at The Point. They take my daughter’s sesame allergy seriously, and that is EVERYTHING to us.
Date Night Restaurant: Fishing with Dynamite. I love how small and intimate it is, and the food is shall I say, dynamite?!
Brunch Spot: Sweet Wheat. Their croissants are the BEST.
Shop: Rabbit Ladders. I love shopping local for my kid’s toys and clothes, and they have a great selection of kids books.
Workout: Walking! I live by so many trails in PV, plus we are fortunate to live so close to the ocean, so walking is my favorite thing to do.
For more information on Little Me Allergy please visit littlemeallergy.com
