This year Residence Inn by Marriott announced La La Anthony as their 2016 Resident Mom of the Year, and invited me to interview her! For those that know, La La is mom to son Kiyan and wife to basketball husband Carmelo Anthony.

Note: I was invited as media to this event. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

But that not all. La la is also a radio and television personality; actress and beauty entrepreneur; along with best-selling author and producer. Talk about a woman with many talents.


During our interview La La Anthony shared why she partnered with Residence Inn by Marriott, how she balances career and motherhood, and how she stays fit so she can wear amazing dresses to places like the Met Gala.

Onica {MommyFactor}: Tell me about your partnership with Residence Inn. What are some things you are excited about?

La La Anthony: I'm excited to really honor and celebrate moms who are amazing and just do it all. I feel like, as a mom myself, sometimes no one tell us "you're doing a great job" as a mom who has to balance everything. So with Residence Inn it's nice to celebrate moms. I'm their Resident Mom 2016, which is an amazing honor because I work really hard at trying to balance everything.

Residence Inn also did an amazing event earlier with the American Red Cross and some of the mom and mom volunteers. To celebrate them, we did makeovers and all this fun stuff, just making women feel confident and beautiful. We had a great lunch where I got to talk to every body. It was really nice.

Onica {MommyFactor}: What feature of Residence Inn, do you personally like?

La La Anthony: I love the idea that there's kitchens in the rooms. As a mom with a kid, a kitchen is so essential, a nice fridge is essential. You don't want to spend all this money ordering room service or go outside. You want to be able to cook and have your everything in your own area.

I know my son is specific with certain things that he likes, so we can bring it with us. That's really one of the main features that I like.

And I just love that the Residence Inn rooms have a more at home feel, opposed to feeling like we're at a hotel. Those are a few of the things that's I really like.

photo credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images for Residence Inn

Onica {MommyFactor}: You spoke about balancing it all. What are some simple ways that you try to keep it all together and balanced?

La La Anthony: It's funny you asked. My husband was just texting me about it today. I think the main thing is just always finding 5 or 10 minutes a day to yourself. To get your thoughts together. I can get overwhelmed sometimes and feel like I can't do it all. So it's nice to take 5 minutes, just take it all in and then plan the day out.

Also I have an amazing support system in my mom and my family that really help me kinda balance it all.


Onica {MommyFactor}: You are very active on social media, sharing bits of your family. Sometimes social media does attack families so how do you set protective boundaries.

La La Anthony: I think that's a personal choice for everyone, what's too much or too little. For me with my son, I wanted him to be a young boy having fun and not worry about Instagram and all this. But at the same time, he's is aware of it. I still post pictures of him every now and then because he's an important part of my life. I still want to show and share with people.

But I don't over flow it with picture of him. I think everyone has to draw the line with what's too much or little for them.


Onica {MommyFactor}: Do you allow your son any kind of social media privileges?

La La Anthony: No. Not at all. My mom raised me with the mindset of everything in due time. There's a time for everything. In this generation, everyone is trying to rush everything. But you wanna let kid be kids and kinda come into that in their own time.


Onica {MommyFactor}: My last question is about the Met Gala. Seriously you rocked that dress. As a mother, as a woman, as a wife, we're all trying to be healthy and stay in shape. How do you make to be healthy and keep fit?


La La Anthony: I really have to wake up early and get to the gym. It's like anything, I have to motivate myself because who wants to get up early and go to the gym? That's the last thing you want to do, you want to sleep and relax.

But it's essential to feeling good and looking good so I try to make time for it. When I start traveling, it gets a little hardier to stay on course. But I challenge myself to really stay on top of it. Finding different ways including treadmill, workout in my room, etc.

Just try to add some type of physical activity to the day.

After our interview La La headed down to The Resident Mom award event. During the event La La accepted her new title, flowers and gifts before mingled with guests.

“La La exemplifies what it means to be Resident Mom of the Year,” said Diane Mayer, vice president and global brand manager, Residence Inn. “She has proven that dedication and hard work can drive success and propel you to reach your goals. La La is a devoted mom and wife who balances her career and family, and yet, still finds time for fun and discovery. This strikes a chord for many moms, and is a perfect fit for Residence Inn, a brand that understands the importance of maximizing time and thriving while on the road.

During the event La La also unveiled her "La La’s Lists", a series of curated grocery delivery lists exclusive to Residence Inn. From signature beverages, including Shirley-La’s Temples, to holiday treats such as peanut butter cup pilgrim hats and fun ideas for children’s birthdays, La La’s Lists provide creative concepts for milestone occasions.

La La will join Residence Inn for a Traveling Mom Twitter party on May 19 at 9:00pm EST to discuss thriving on the road, and tips for celebrating special occasions. Join the conversation using hashtag #RIMom and #TMOM for the chance to win prizes including Residence Inn gift cards, perfect for summer family travel.

Residence Inn makes family travel easier and enables moms to maximize their time with select conveniences and services including: free hot breakfast and Wi-Fi; fitness centers; pools and complimentary grocery delivery service.

Most importantly, spacious suites complete with full kitchens give families the opportunity to spread out and live better during extended stays.

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