Little Steps is a free email newsletter and website devoted to delivering the inside scoop on what to do, buy, and discover in Hong Kong and beyond. We scout, we taste and we shop to find the most hip and happening for parents and their kids.
Shea Stanley
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Insider
Shea’s travel and lifestyle media career has taken her around the globe to over 50 countries, from Azerbaijan to Costa Rica. Along the way, Shea developed a knack for being in the know on what to do and where to go. She has not slowed down since arriving in Hong Kong in 2006 where she set up her own company to consult Asia’s leading travel and lifestyle media. As a new mommy, Shea longed for a resource offering fun insider tips for parents in Hong Kong. Enter Little Steps!
Summer sandals
A frozen margarita
Surround yourself with good and honest people
Amie Hibbard
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Insider
As an adventure traveler, art lover and foodie, Amie is our Countess of Culture. Her international marketing and media background has taken her on unique and chic projects from Turks & Caicos to New York to Hong Kong and beyond, including luxury fashion launches, restaurant and spa debuts, and art gallery openings. Amie is ready to open her cultural blackbook to Hong Kong’s youngest society members and their parents.
My lucky Louboutins
Japanese green tea
Be happy and remember to smile!
Tatum Stanley
Chief Product Tester
Born in October 2009, Tatum has been taking Hong Kong by storm. You might catch her cruising around Soho or exploring the hiking trails in her backyard. She loves massages and wearing her new bikini.
Whatever fits in my mouth
Nothing, I drank every last drop
Milk, it does the body good
Simone Ciafardini
Mommy Contributor
A mom of 2 boys and one company, Simone thinks she gets it wrong more than she gets it right but considers that par for the course. Max, aged 6, believes himself to be English. Jack, aged 3, believes himself to be Chinese. They were both born in Manhattan. Simone’s company, mad pretty inc, is a beauty industry consulting business and her most recent venture has been co-creating a skin care line with Heidi Klum, In an Instant. Her darling husband Dominic is the glue that holds it altogether.
The ones I can’t afford
Hot water and lemon on a good day, iced coffee until 4 and wine thereafter on bad days
They're gonna be who they're gonna be. Try to mold them less and celebrate them more.
Elle Kwan
Mommy Contributor
Elle is a freelance writer and mummy to Reia 2, Oreo, 29 doggie years, and Hubby, 35. She loves the Hong Kong lifestyle (who doesn't like good food, good shopping, and laugh-a-minute friends), although she is constantly in search of the illusive work/life balance.
Stan Smiths
Champers
Do it!
Andrew Stanley
Daddy Contributor
A musician, adventure racer, yoga addict, and now a new dad, Andrew is constantly trying to sort through the pink diaper bags and flower dresses in his baby daughter’s closet. He can’t wait to share “dad-friendly” tips and recommendations for Little Steps.
Shoes? I’d rather not wear any but if I must, Rainbow flip flops
Microbrew
Don’t let your daughter start dating until she is at least thirty years old.
Ronna Heffner
Mommy Contributor
Ronna, a Hong Kong native, works full-time as an investment portfolio manager and is also a Director of her family’s textile company. Oh, and of course, she’s a mother of 3 and a wife. After spending years abroad for boarding school, college and business school, Ronna is happy to be back in Hong Kong and living next door to her parents who are willing and ready to baby-and teenager-sit.
Flats (and almost any shoes) custom made by Vickie on Li Yuen East Street
Japanese green tea or coffee
Oftentimes, losing (giving up something) is actually winning (gaining). In Chinese, it's 有時"蝕底"就係"著數
Ellie Rampton
Mommy Contributor
Originally from the UK, Ellie has lived in Hong Kong for most of her 33 years but is still not sure she is all grown up yet. Leaving uni with a Masters degree, she worked in cartoons before her focus shifted to copywriting, but considers her new job as mum to cheeky toddler twin boys to be the best job she's ever had. Having survived the shock of finding out she was carrying twins, and now the first year of double-trouble, Ellie is looking forward to more of what family life will throw at her.
Flip flops
Vanilla latte or a New Zealand Sav Blanc
Be good to people. What goes around comes around.
Nealy Fischer
Yoga, Health, and Wellness Specialist
Nealy has been living in Hong Kong for six years enjoying the wild ride of raising three children and pursuing her passionate yoga life. She currently teaches Anusara yoga to men, women and pregnant goddesses at Pure Yoga in Central. She created a program that helps prepare women for the journey of labor and motherhood and is currently working on her next big project. Nealy also studies Ayurveda, nutrition and health and enjoys experimenting with new superfood creations on her family.
Havaianas by day, Christian Louboutins by night!
Green lemonade made with apples, lemons, ginger and greens
Enjoy and be present with your kids while they are young because sooner than you can imagine they will be all grown up.
Cathy Chon
Mommy Contributor
Cathy is Managing Director of a strategic marketing communications consultancy that she “accidentally” founded while juggling work/life issues. Originally from Los Angeles, she’s a proud mother to three kids (at home), and eight adults (in the office). She looks forward to the day when she can finish her meals in peace and have a good night’s sleep.
Flats during the day and Rupert Sanderson at night
Sadly…water
“Just wait till you become a parent.” How true!
Bahar Brown
Mommy Contributor
Bahar is of Persian decent though born and raised in London. She has been living and working in Hong Kong for the past 7 years in Investment Banking. As a mother to Isabelle, age 2, and Sebastien, age 1, the only way she manages to juggle work, kids and husband Christopher is to run a tight ship…routines all round and a healthy balance of getting it right and learning from when she gets it wrong. She has recently joined the blogosphere and enjoys sharing her experiences as a mother.
My UGGS, no my Louboutins! Maybe Gina shoes? Maybe Mui Mui?…nope it’s gotta be the UGGS!
A good crisp Sauvignon Blanc
Always maintain a united front in front of the kids or the cleaver little angels will know how to play you
Chris Lightbound
Daddy Contributor
Chris is a father of two and hopefully to a small Rugby team in the not too distant future. He has lived in Hong Kong since August 2002 and spends his spare time sailing, hiking and generally pursuing outdoor activities.
I prefer no shoes at all
Chris’s Cocktail is always a large pour of the finest red
Respect your elders
Abby Tang
Mommy Contributor
Abby was born in Macau and spent most of her life in Los Angeles before moving to Hong Kong ten years ago. She is a mother of three children and works full-time at a high tech company in Business Development covering Asia Pacific. With three kids all under the age of four and a busy business travel schedule, she is thankful for her supportive and loving husband who helps her juggle it all.
Flats when I go out with the kids and heels when they’re not around
I want to say water, but it really is red wine
If you do not work hard when you are young and strong, you will regret it later
Laura Miller
Mommy Contributor
Laura is a South African-born freelance writer who has been based in Hong Kong for the past 7 years. With three brothers and a hyper-active husband, she loves the great outdoors, yoga and trail running. Will she be able to keep it up with a new baby?! Time will tell!
Elegant, slim-heeled, high heel shoes - nothing makes legs look better!
Fresh milk! At least it's a healthy craving...
To not say anything unless you have something nice to say (and to develop a thick skin against those who don't subscribe to the same linguistic filter!)
Christine Cheong
Mommy Contributor
Christine has been living in Macau for the last few years, arriving in Asia from Oz over 15 years ago. Life is a good balance of motherhood, part-time work and a happy social life though she still wishes for more hours in each day!
Flats, flats, and flats
Water (as my mum always says, water is the cure for everything!)
Be independent
Amber Boswell Lightbound
Mommy Contributor
Amber is from Texas and has been living in Hong Kong for over nine years. She met her hubby, Chris, in Hong Kong seven years ago and they now have an adorable son and daughter (both born in HK). You will find Amber all over Hong Kong from chilling at the Yacht Club to hiking Dragon’s Back (Drake and Arabella in tow).
Hmmm toss up…I would have to say Prada
Red wine or vodka with fresh lime
Dream big – the world is your oyster
Claire Sancelot Padmanaban
Mommy Contributor
Claire has been living in Hong Kong for five years and makes the same New Year's resolution every year to improve her Cantonese. She is pregnant with her first child, a little girl, and cannot wait to meet her. Claire's current passion is decorating and organizing the nursery to the despair of her husband who had to trade in his study and ancient maps collection for a purple nursery with Babar posters.
Roger Vivier classic flats and Repetto ballerinas
Starbucks Tazo Chai Skim Latte on the way to the office
Safety first
Melissa Brewster
Mommy Contributor
Melissa moved to Hong Kong from New York City with her husband,Simon, in June 2008. She was in the Men's fashion world which took her to Europe and all over the USA. Hong Kong brought her into the world of event planning for a catering company. Always seeking the finer things in life, she found her fashion roots again and there is more to come! The best part of her days are spent with her on-year old daughter, Gemma - a fashionista in the making!
Any pair of heels rock!
Cocktail, of course
Enjoy everything that you do and make sure to smile on the way
Sarah Woodhouse
Mommy Contributor
Sarah has been in Hong Kong for five years. A partner in a PR agency, she's a busy working mum but loves the exhilaration of being in Hong Kong and the strong and supportive community that she has built as an expat.
Peep toe high heels
Crisp dry Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc every time
Mum knows best!
Dae Levine
Mommy Contributor
Dae Levine hails from New York City, but has lived in Sydney for 5 years. She loves adventure sports, but for now the biggest adventure Dae and her partner are on is parenting two young girls while working full time. Dae is a committed chocoholic and lover of all things green who tries to minimize food miles. Follow Dae on twitter @daelevine.
Black boots, any style
Triple shot skim latte with one equal
Act like a brat, and everyone will treat you like one. Advice given to me on my wedding day by my Dad. I actually think he might have used a different b word.
Christina Park
Chief Insider - Singapore
Christina was born in Korea but followed her dad to Panama and England, her husband to Hong Kong, and now the latest little man in her life has brought her to Singapore. Despite her stints in advertising, at Quintessentially and more recently in personal counselling, no one that she has met comes close to the tricky little customer at home. She's catching her breath after a hectic first year and is (nervously) awaiting his first Little Steps.
Havaianas
Depends on the time of the day…
Have kids!
