Meet Kiki Carini

Q: Can you share a little about your life before motherhood and how you feel you’ve evolved as a woman since becoming a mom?

My twenties were all about having fun and working hard. Now both of those things look completely different. Fun these days is taking a moment for myself, like a sauna session or a lymphatic drainage massage, anything that feels like a reset. And the work is a slow burn. There are some highs and lows, but it never really ends. I think that's motherhood in a nutshell, it's the most relentless and rewarding thing I've ever done. It's made me intentional about how I spend my time, who I spend it with, and what I value.

Q: What has felt most different about motherhood between your 7-year-old and your 2-year-old?

The boy and girl energy difference is wild in our house. My two-year-old daughter is the sweetest thing, pure sugar. She mostly just wants to hang and soak everything in. My son is full of life and has that Italiano passion within him, but he's also so tender and sensitive. Everything society tells us about males being unemotional and tough, I don't buy it.

Q: What does home feel like to you right now, especially after everything you’ve moved through as a family since losing your home in the fires?

After losing our home in the Palisades fire, restarting from scratch without a single personal belonging was an intensely difficult creative project. It was hard to know where to begin when you're starting from zero, not just physically but stylistically too. There was no reference point, no "this goes with that." So for the first time I made a mood board, and that became my guide instead of the things I already owned. I was going for a feeling, calm, grounded, warm. Browns, greens, cream, and a splash of citron with tons of warm wood details.

Everything in our home now we actually need or we actually love. Everything else doesn't get to come in. Our home has become a sanctuary more than ever, and I feel proud of how far we've come.

Q: What has this past year taught you about letting go and starting fresh?

I've realized the universe has bigger plans than my ego. We let go of an entire life in Los Angeles, a city we felt deeply tied to for years, and what we found on the other side has been the biggest joy. Letting go and relocating has opened up something we didn't even know we were missing. More time outdoors. Knowing our neighbors. Buying bread from the bakery, meat from the butcher. My kids walk around barefoot. It feels simpler in a way my soul was craving.

Q: You and your family have such a positive outlook. Is that something that you work towards or comes natural and what helps you stay grounded in that?

There were days this past year when I'd start to fall into victimhood. Our home was from the 1920s, and I'd catch myself thinking, that house stood for 100 years and it burned down on our watch? But I think everyone in the family helps pull each other out of those funks. My son is really great at it. He'll look at me and say, "We are all safe, that's the most important part, mama." It's hard to stay in a dark place when your kid is that wise.

Q: How do you bring a sense of calm and stability into your kids’ lives during times of change?

As quickly as I could, I got them back into a routine. Kids find so much peace in knowing what comes next. For us that looked like finding a great school, keeping the same bedtime routine, finding our favorite snacks from home, farmer's market on the weekends. It's the little things that make a place feel like home.

Q: Are there any small rituals or habits that have been helping you feel more like yourself lately?

I could talk about this all day, I'd be lost without my rituals. Mornings are juicy. My favorite thing I do when I wake up is go outside in my pajamas, get some sun in my eyes, and start moving. The biology behind it is amazing. It helps with everything from sleep and hunger patterns to energy and mood.

Q: What are you looking forward to or wanting more of in this next chapter?

I'm looking forward to spending time with my family this summer in Italy and sourcing more fun things for my shop, Casa Carini. I'm excited to bring in more of a product assortment from some incredible artisans.

Q: How does The Fullest fit into your life and what have you experienced from incorporating saffron into your routine?

Saffron has become my go-to afternoon pick me up that I look forward to every day. The perfect sweetness for that afternoon slump, and it helps me switch back into focus mode to get through the rest of my to-do list. When I need a serotonin boost, I'll take two capsules a day and it works wonders.