Smarty Mom: Lauren Melillo

I had just gotten done getting my butt kicked at Pure Barre by a new instructor. I went to my mom’s to pick up my little boys, and there is the instructor that just did said-butt-kicking getting out of her car right next door to my mom’s. I yelled out the window, “Hey! You were just my instructor at Pure Barre! You live here?!”

And that’s how our friendship began. You’ve gotta love small-town Charlotte.

It’s funny we should meet that way because my mom has been telling me for two years that I need to meet her neighbor. We’re so much the same, she said, and we have babies the same age. I should’ve listened to mom sooner because she was so right. Lauren and I picked up just like we’ve been friends for years. She’s easy that way.

Lauren has always been athletic – even before she was a Pure Barre instructor.  She was a competitive gymnast as a child (she befriended Dominique Dawes at a gymnastics camp as a kid – so cool to this gymnast wannabe) and decided in high school to go into diving. She was an All-American diver at the University of South Carolina and was closer to the Olympics than most of us could ever dream. She married her college boyfriend and USC baseball player, Kevin Melillo. Kevin went on to play in the Minor and Major Leagues and has moved all over the country with different teams. Lauren has traveled with him and managed to start a family despite the crazy life of professional sports. Now we’re so lucky to have Lauren, Kevin, and their sweet daughter, Kingsley, right here in Charlotte.

Smarties, meet Lauren Melillo!

Lauren’s Smarty Mom Stats

Married to: Kevin Melillo for 4 years
Years in Charlotte:  7
Mom to: Kingsley Catherine Melillo, 17 months
Occupation: Pure Barre instructor
Original Home Town: Columbia, SC
‘Hood: Piper Glen

Is being a professional athlete’s wife as glamorous as it sounds?

I would say more adventurous than glamorous. Like everything, the lifestyle definitely has its ups and downs. My husband has lived in 14 different cities since 2004 and many of these moves we’ve only had about a 12 hour notice. This has always been a challenge for the inner planner in me!! My favorite part is all the wonderful people and lifelong friends we have made along the way.  And it was amazing watching Kevin’s major league debut against the NY Mets in 2007, seeing his lifelong dream come true! Right now Kevin is injured and we don’t know if he will ever play again, so even though it’s been a crazy ride, I know we will both miss the craziness when it’s done.

You and your husband are both pretty incredible athletes and trained hard your whole lives. Do you see Olympics in Kingsley’s future?

Haha, that would be awesome! Of course I would love to see her enjoy gymnastics or diving – follow in mommy’s footsteps! But we definitely want to expose her to many different things between sports, music, dance, etc and let her decide what she wants to stay involved in as she gets older. Right now she’s a little wild child with so much energy, running around and doing rolls down the hall but also loves her keyboard and dancing (spinning in circles) to any kind of music! As long as she is having fun and staying out of trouble – mommy and daddy are happy!!

What is something that most people don’t know about you?

I live by lists!! Daily lists. It’s the planner in me I guess. I’m much more productive this way.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Justin Timberlake. He’s amazing.

Best book you’ve read lately?

I’m not sure I can remember a book I’ve read recently that wasn’t about ‘five little monkeys’ or ‘a very hungry caterpillar’!!  No, but seriously I’m in the middle of ‘The Paris Wife’ about Ernest Hemingway’s first marriage and it’s fantastic!

Favorite movie of all time?

The Sound of Music

Favorite place to shop for yourself?

Nordstrom

Favorite for kids’ clothes?

Target or Janie and Jack

What is your favorite date night spot?

ANY sushi restaurant – they seem to be quieter which makes it a little more difficult to go to with a 17-month-old.  LOVE Jade in Ballantyne.

What is your favorite family outing?

We really enjoy taking Kingsley to the park or to the pool , which we do frequently. But my favorite day as a family was when we took a trip to Jackson Hole, WY. We went hiking in the national park and took a boat ride on the lakes.  It was beautiful!

What is your favorite Smarty phone app?

Favorite and probably newest – Pinterest!

Finish this sentence:

… family!! They are my everything!

Thanks, Lauren!