Kristina’s blog 100 Layer Cake and it’s latest incarnation for families, 100 Layer Cakelet are the go-to spots for beautiful and inspiring ideas for weddings, kids’ parties and family fun. This multi-talented mama is a freelance graphic designer, backyard farmer, cookbook reader, project starter, and has two gorgeous little boys. We look forward to her daily dose of beauty in everyday things and her easy, lovely California style.
We love working with Kristina and her amazing eye and sometimes give her sneak peeks of new products to style and showcase with her impeccable style. We are over the moon that she agreed to apply her style to an Ergobaby Carrier, Indigo Mint Dots.
click on any photo below to see the gallery and get to know the meltzer family.
Tell us about your family.
We are a family of four. Me, my husband Brock, and two boys Dashiell (5) and Forrest (almost 3).
Photo credit: Jamie Street
What does a typical day in your family look like?
A typical day, or an ideal day? Haha! Let’s go for a typical weekend day since those are a little more interesting than a regular week day. Ideally, we’d wake up (always too early), stuff the kids in our double BOB and go for a family run. Usually we stop for coffee at our local Peet’s on the way home, then we’ll head to breakfast or the farmer’s market to stock up for the week. We’re nearly always home by lunch time for naps. Naps are soooo key in our family. Everyone, including the house, needs a break and recharge before the second half of the day. I usually try to sneak in a little work catch-up during naps on the weekend. I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually kind of relaxing to have some bonus quiet time in my office. Once everyone is up and snacks have been eaten, we find an activity in the backyard, dig in the garden, look for bugs… we’re pretty low key and I have to say we kind of love being home. We love getting out too, but just being home together with no plans is so nice. For dinner we often walk (or scoot!) to a neighborhood pizza place, or I’ll make dinner from our farmer’s market spoils and we’ll eat in the backyard. Simple is so good when you have small children.
Photo credit: kristina100lc
How does your family stay connected?
Neither my husband or I travel much for work so we are all connected by virtue of the fact that we’re just with each other all the time. On a deeper level, I’ve found that doing something new, or unexpected as a family is always inspiring for the kids and for us. Occasionally on Friday I take Dash out of school (he’s still in preschool) and the three of us go on an adventure together. The boys talk about it for weeks afterwards which is how I know it’s always the right decision.
Photo credit: Jamie Street
Tell us about your happy place or What brings you joy?
Standing in my kitchen, preparing a meal for my family or trying out a new recipe (ideally while sipping some rosé) is immensely satisfying for me. Bonus points if the food has come from our garden.
Photo credit: kristina100lc
What kind of memories do you want to create for your child?
I want to create memories for my children that honor the seasons and the natural world and the food they eat and the people who love them. I want them to remember that when they were growing they were exposed experiences and beauty and love and that their interests were nurtured and that their voices were heard and that their parents loved them. And only yelled sometimes. 🙂
Photo credit: Jamie Street
Where do you call home? Or What does home mean for your family?
Interesting question. I have lived in the same tiny house for 13 years. My entire adult life and nearly every memory that is sacred to me has happened within these walls and in this backyard. It’s so special and a house that I will remember with immense fondness as the place we threw our engagement party, the place I started my business, the place we came home to as newlyweds, the place we brought both of our babies into this world, the only home my children have known. And really so much more. But we are moving! Last year we bought a house on our street and we’ve been remodeling it for the last 6 months. We are so close we can taste it, and while on the one hand, I’ll be devastated to leave this little house, I am ecstatic to be moving (four doors down) to a new home that fits our family a little better. It won’t be quite *home* until the garden is growing but it will be full of our family, and that will do just fine.
Photo credit: Jamie Street
How do you make a home for your family?
The kitchen and the garden are my domaine. Keeping those two spaces full, and the rest of the house as uncluttered as possible is my ideal. Which is maybe more about making a home for me, but a happy mama means a happy family!
Photo credit: Jamie Street
If you or your partner works, how does your work affect or inspire your family? Or the other way around?
It definitely works both ways for me. Sometimes I wish I could turn off all of the “inspiration” from work though, I have to tell you. Too many ideas and too many beautiful photos and it can be hard not to compare your own life to perfect snapshots of others. I love that with our family blog, things that I’m now passionate about (being a mother, and finding the newest cutest baby harem pants, naturally) have a place at work. Weddings are beautiful and always will be, but they are less personally relevant as your children grow.
Photo credit: kristina100lc
How do you stay connected when away from home?
I really don’t travel much without my kids. Maybe a night here or there throughout the year, and FaceTime is pretty great for bedtime check-in.
Photo credit: Jamie Street
Describe your parenting style.
Such a good question for an LA parent! “Parenting” feels so huge here and I’m incredibly grateful to have so many smart, thoughtful resources at my disposal as a mother of young children. It’s so easy to find yourself stuck in the weeds at 5:30 pm with two tired kids after a full day of work and dinner, bath, and bedtime ahead of you. Or is it just me? Please tell me I’m not alone! That is and probably always will be the most challenging time of day for me. And working hard to stay calm and positive instead of turning into a crazy screaming lizard woman is my ultimate goal. I like to think that I take little bits from lots of different philosophies and books I’ve read, which is probably a standard LA mix. A little RIE, a little Waldorf, a lot of positive discipline and whole-brain stuff, and then most importantly, a LOT of love, and plenty of showing my kids that I’m human and just like them, that I make mistakes and I learn from them. Hopefully this makes sense! I’ve never had to describe my parenting style before. It’s something that’s always evolving as I learn and read and listen to my kids.
Photo credit: kristina100lc
Christina is a mama, conservationist, DIY’er, vintage fanatic, dog lover and the Ergobaby director of community.
She is passionate about babies, babywearing, birth, yoga, natural living, and healthy eats. When not online reading and writing about all of the above, she can be found spending time with her daughter, creating their family story in Los Angeles.
