Tell us a little about yourself and where you are from?
I’m a wife to a loving husband & mama to 3 amazing boys! Yes, you heard right…three boys 11, 8 and 2! Life with all boys is amazing but as you can imagine, totally insane as well! They certainly keep me on my toes,that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! I was born in Red Bank but grew up in Bayonne and that is where I met my husband. Before we moved to Ocean County, my husband had fallen ill and we had lost everything. We went through a lot of struggles at that time in our lives but ultimately, we decided to start fresh and move to the Toms River area, a place we previously loved to visit. It’s been 5 years now and I can honestly say, it was one of the best decisions we ever made!
What was that “aha” moment that made you decide to start your own business, Designs by Maria Bella?
Starting my own business was something that I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember. I actually started the LLC a year before, but it wasn’t until quarantine that I developed the courage to move forward with it. The whole Covid situation really put things into perspective for me, it taught me to go after what I want no matter the obstacles, so I did. I won’t lie, juggling everything was not an easy task but I had finally decided that it was time to go after my dreams!
For those who aren’t yet familiar, how would you describe the Maria Bella line?
Design by Maria Bella is a mom owned online boutique filled with quality, style, & curated choices hand picked from an array of emerging designers and almost all of my items are made in the USA. My main focus is to provide all my customers with nothing but the best customer service and my sole goal is to make sure when you purchase a piece/pieces & put it on, you feel absolutely beautiful in your own skin! The name “Bella” speaks volumes! Every woman should feel like the best version of themselves & that is exactly what I strive to provide.
What is your favorite product in your line right now and why?
It’s hard to say because I really love all my products, but if I had to choose one I’d say it’s the Ivory/blush jogger set. Because it’s cozy, yet so cute! Which brings me back to “feeling comfortable in your own skin” no matter what you wear.
What advice do you have for busy moms who want to start their own business?
I really feel that every mom is an entrepreneur by nature and in both roles you have to be willing to try new things. My advice for all moms out their is, we all know our main job/priority is are our children and our households & that in itself is one of the toughest jobs out there, so, if you can manage that successfully then you are golden! Both the roles of a busy mom and a business woman require your full attention so, take a deep breath, prioritize and and try and solve problems in creative ways. Find what motivates you and use that as a tool for success. For example, my kids and my husband motivate me. I want to show them what it looks like to be a mom who can also sustain business and in turn create something that then sustains all of us!
How do you practice self care? I do have to say it’s not always easy getting time to myself. Between my kids, husband, activities, school work, I usually find myself exhausted by the end of the day. Luckily, my husband is very good at reminding me that I need to stop and take some time for myself. So, every month, I book an appointment for a facial and message. I also try to be mindful of my eating habits and I make sure to schedule 3 workouts a week for myself.
Where can people shop your line? People can shop my line on my website, designbymariabella.com
You can also follow my Facebook page Design by Maria Bella and my Instagram page @design_by_maria_bella to stay up to date with the latest trends!
Anything else you’d like to share?
No matter what storms you have weathered in your life, never give up on your dreams! Bella’s, be the boss babes I know you all can be!
