You know how the saying goes: Mother knows best. Well, The Hideout Elves totally agree! Not only that, they had not one but SEVEN technically savvy and digitally influential Moms advising throughout the creation of Santa’s Hideout and it would not have been the same without their contribution. You can read more about these impressive ladies here, and The Hideout Elves thank them for their time, spirit and generosity in helping make Santa’s Hideout a reality.
Courtney Buteau
Courtney is a cutting edge, super-charged mom who loves taking care of her daughter and Lhasa Poo. As a TV personality, Courtney takes great pride in knowing the latest about pop culture, food and parenting trends. She has a strong passion for these topics and is excited to share her tips and knowledge with mod mommies everywhere.
Becky DiStefano
Becky DiStefano is the designer and creator of Haute Tags, the world’s first social media accessory line. With over ten years of experience in beauty, branding, writing and public relations, Becky, who has worked in New York City and Providence, RI launched Haute Tags in September 2011. Becky is happily married with two children and lives in Rumford, RI.
Liza Corbo
Liza is a blogger and freelance writer. She resides in Rhode Island with her husband and 3 active boys–a five year old and identical twin four year olds. When she isn’t taking someone to sports practice or a game, she can be found on her personal blog Cira’s Lyrics writing about chaos and family. She writes for an online shopping blog Buy-Her and is a review/giveaway writer at 5 Minutes for Mom. Liza is also in the process of relaunching The Mommy Gamer–a blog about video gaming, board games, toys and all things entertainment for kids.
Jen Senecal
Jen Senecal is a mother of 3 young daughters and the founder of Keekoin.com where she blogs humorously about the adventures of parenthood. She is also a writer and blogger for Providence Media magazines where she covers everything from social events to new business trends to the hottest kids birthday party spots. She is the co-founder (along with fellow elf, Audrey McClelland) of a local deals and event site, Rhody Mamas, and is a graphic designer, copywriter and photography enthusiast. She has a freakish obsession with pens, abuses adverbs and eats popcorn at least twice a week. Jen lives with her husband and three daughters in Rhode Island and looks forward to when DVR can record more than two shows at a time.
Jen Leal
Jennifer is a mom to a 5 and 7-year old and the kind of mom you wish you had growing up. A self-proclaimed science-lover turned foodie, she sends her kids to play dates with batches of deceivingly healthy snacks like brown rice crispy treats and teches them through example that healthy eating doesn’t involve sacrificing fun or flavor. And hey, we all know that getting picky eaters to well, actually eat, is a science. Be sure to stop by Savor the Thyme every day if you like to eat yummy food and giggle.
Audrey McClelland
Audrey McClelland, the co-founder of MomGenerations.com, is an influential mom blogger and mother of 4 sons (ages 3,4, 6 and 7). Audrey started MomGenerations.com in June 2008 to bring her fashion and beauty expertise to moms by drawing on her days working at Donna Karan International. Audrey recognized a void in the mom fashion and beauty worlds and set out to fill it with her personal voice and personal fashion vision giving moms easy, practical fashion and beauty advice. Each day Audrey shares fashion and beauty advice with moms on her Mom Fashion Report, fashion and beauty advice for kids on her Kid Fashion Report and on her personal blog Audrey Confidential, she deals with life as the mother for 4 boys. Audrey has co-authored The Digital Mom Handbook, published by Harper Collins and is the co-founder of Getting Gorgeous Events, popular fashion/beauty events throughout the country for mom bloggers. Audrey’s digital experiences have brought her to be the “Mom Correspondent” on FOX News in Providence, RI, cast on the popular web-series Momversation and the Beauty/Style editor on Lifetime’s Network, LifetimeMoms.com. She also has co-founded Rhody Mamas with fellow elf, Jen Senecal, a resource for Rhode Island moms on all the happenings and deals around RI and the web. Audrey was named “one of the most influential moms online” on Nielsen Digital a Top 50 Mom on Twitter by Babble.com. Audrey has been featured on Good Morning Amerca, Nightline, the Rachael Ray Show, The Daily Buzz and in publications such as The New York Times, The New York Post, Boston Globe, Parenting Magazine, Pregnancy Magazine, Redbook and Woman’s Day. She graduated from Brown university and lives in Providence, RI with her husband (her college sweetheart) and sons.
Cathy Riva
“I have a passion for inspiring people with information I’ve learned that can help you enjoy time and connect with family and friends” –Cathy Riva
For mom and event planner Cathy Riva, life is about celebrating. With more than 10 years of experience in event planning and having been featured on talk shows such as NBC’s Today Show, The Tyra Banks Show and Discovery Channel’s “Party Girl”, Emmy nominated Cathy Riva, founder of Riva Events is an expert at leading a team to create personalized events. It is her love of entertaining that Cathy brings to her Celebrate Everyday blog–ideas for finding joy in life. When Cathy became a mom she realized in this time-pressured life, sometimes you have to take it just one day at a time. If you can have “a today well lived, it makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”–from a Sanskrit porem