Member Story: Giselle from California

Meet Giselle, one of our UpChoose moms from California. She's the mom of Lewyn, an adorable two years old boy. She joined UpChoose just before Lewyn was born. You can find her on Instagram @gisellesinstants

What’s your name? Any nickname?

Giselle Sperber.

Live in? Grew up in?

Live in Oakland, California. Grew up in Montreal, Quebec.

You’re the mom of...

Lewyn, 2 years old.

During a summer in college, I worked on a farm. Learning about how food is grown got me thinking about how other things, like cotton, are grown. From there I discovered that current cotton production methods are environmentally unsustainable.

My journey started with food. The first step for me was supporting local farms and producers when grocery shopping. Shifting to buying sustainable textiles followed. My mother is the queen of thrift shop finds, so wearing used clothing came naturally.
 
 

Giselle and Lewyn :)
 

What are some benefits you have seen over time, are there things that worked well for you?

As I sat in front of a huge list of everything I'd been told I needed for a newborn, I was confounded. That moment led me to UpChoose. Having just the clothes I need arrive at my door saves so much time and energy.
 
 
 

❝ As I sat in front of a huge list of everything I'd been told I needed for a newborn, I was confounded. That moment led me to UpChoose. Having just the clothes I need arrive at my door saves so much time and energy.❞

Any tips you'd like to share with other expecting parents who just heard about these issues and trying to figure out their first steps?

It's easy to become overwhelmed once you start learning that many items are unsustainable for the planet or unhealthy for a baby. I'd encourage others not to get bogged down; just take whatever small steps you're able to and that feel right for your family.

Can you tell us a bit about the set(s) you received from UpChoose? What did you pick and how have you used the platform so far? 

Before my son was born I got the full set including the loveys, washrags, and bibs. It was such a relief not to have to pick out all those items individually. They arrived in a fun organizer and it felt great to just hang them in the closet and be done. From my first set onward, I've always requested solid colors and limited patterns and UpChoose has honored that preference with cute sets.

Going from one size to the next can be tricky to time just right, but UpChoose has been flexible. One time I pulled the trigger too early on the next size up and was able to keep the old set for some extra time. Luckily babies grow fast! My son is now two and UpChoose has been the foundation of his clothing since he was born. I'm thankful UpChoose exists!

Do you already have a favorite outfit or item from your UpChoose set? 

One fave was a little onesie with tiny dots from Colored Organics. The fabric was so incredibly soft.
 
 

Lewyn enjoying fall in his favorite Colored Organics outfit from his UpChoose set!

What’s most exciting to you about being part of the UpChoose community and what are the most important things we can help you achieve? 

I love receiving used sets. It makes me happy to know that another kiddo enjoyed the clothes and that I'm adding an extra stop for the items.

If you could have any superpower what would it be?

I've got aches and pains, so I have to go with Regeneration.

Favorite activities or games you play with the kid(s)?

I love making muffins with my son. He cracks the eggs and makes a big mess. Then he watches them rise in the oven. He's so proud when he eats a muffin he made.

Favorite movie?

Hard to pick a favorite but I enjoyed Force Majeure. In the venn diagram of my movie taste my husband's movie taste Force Majeure falls in the tiny overlap. A rare find!

Favorite song?

Sweet Thing by Van Morrison.

Dream place for a vacation?

I've been lucky to travel for work to some wonderful places. I'd love to visit Switzerland again, this time as a family with Lewyn. He would love the cows and the trains.

Favorite dish?

Masala dosa!