Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Colette Peri! I live in Stinson Beach, CA with my husband Jesse, baby Nico and 2 cats named Miso and Spotz. I’m a stop-motion artist making creative video content for brands and I have online courses teaching how to turn your creativity into a career. My studio is in Sausalito and I love collaborating with other artists, making homemade matcha, hiking in the redwood forest and navigating this new journey of motherhood.
What was your vision for the nursery?
It’s a super small space, and I wanted it to feel fun, bright and happy. I designed it with a color palette of mostly yellow, orange, green & blue and a California ‘surf and sun’ vibe. We also decided to paint a two-tone mural on one of the walls, which was a fun creative challenge!
Where do you shop for Nico? (Skincare, healing, clothing, toys, food, vitamins…)
Funny enough, my favorite blanket and onesie I got him before he was born were from Roux! We knew he was going to be named Nico and when I saw the “Nico Coverall” in Sage it just felt perfect. His nursery furniture/baby gear is from Pottery Barn Kids and I love his Babo Botanicals baby soap.
What is Nico most into right now?
Ok so we randomly got gifted a “365 Days of Cats” tear-off calendar during the holidays and the moment he saw it, he started hysterically laughing. It was the first *thing* he ever laughed at! Now anytime I show it to him he still laughs. So to answer the question… I guess he’s into serious, gray cats?!
What excites you most about motherhood right now?
I love the way motherhood has inspired me to explore my creativity in playful ways. A few months after Nico was born, I tried a new technique mixing live-action video and stop-motion animation. This was the first video I ever made like this, and I’ve been practicing these ‘Live Stop-Motion’ videos ever since!
What are a few special ways your babe uplifts you as a creative and artist?
I think for many creatives, especially those of us who work for ourselves, confidence can be challenging. Having a baby has definitely uplifted my confidence because I’m constantly in awe that I *created* him— which makes me feel so proud, capable, brave, and ready to take on anything!
What books and music are on rotation in your house?
One of my favorite books to read Nico is called ‘Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth’ by Oliver Jeffers. It’s such a beautiful message and has amazing illustrations. We sing “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz to him before each nap and bedtime because it’s the song that made us cry when it played on the radio driving home from the hospital after he was born.
What have you discovered about yourself in becoming a mother?
I am so much more resilient than I thought I was. Pregnancy, birth and raising a newborn puts your body and mind through such a rollercoaster. But even in moments when this journey has felt extremely tough (like, ‘how will I ever survive this?!?’), I’ve noticed that I always get through and make it out stronger on the other end.
What’s your favorite go-to lunch or dinner meal to make when you’re short on time?
We use Cook Unity for quick meals ever since Nico was born! It’s fresh food delivered to your door that you just heat up and it’s sooo good. I especially love their tofu miso ramen and adobe flank steak. If anyone wants to try it, this link will get you $50 off. I’ve also recently discovered the ease of a salad kit + rotisserie chicken for a quick healthy meal.
What top three items would you take if you had to pack a hospital bag again?
My camera, an eye mask and a cozy blanket.
What is a no-fail activity that your babe loves?
Hiking in nature together. Ok actually that has definitely been a fail before… but now that he’s used to riding in the Osprey backpack, he has been loving it!
How do you encourage creativity in Nico?
Let him be bored! It’s easy to think I need to be constantly entertaining him or giving him lots of toys to interact with— but boredom is a proven precursor for creative thinking.
What’s your nighttime ritual to help you sleep well?
I write a bullet point “brain dump” list in my journal every night, right when I get into bed. If it’s down on paper it helps my mind relax knowing I won’t forget anything and can refer to it in the morning/if needed.
Do you have support resources to recommend to fellow parents? (Books, websites, podcasts, meditations, apps, at-home exercise classes, parent groups…)
- Circle Moms: a 5-week baby group offered in multiple cities
- Loved this yoga video during pregnancy
- Expecting Better and Cribsheet by Emily Oster have really helped me debunk any anxious thoughts!
- Moms on Call books: I love that they are bullet points and literally cover everything from feeding to illnesses to sleep. We have always used their schedules for Nico.
- Bringing up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman is a fun parenting audiobook about why french children are so well behaved/sleep through the night early on!
- This blog has been the best resource for navigating my breastfeeding journey
