Amy Carniol

Mimi So may be a third-generation jeweler, but the visionary designer has put a unique spin on the family business. Raised in a Chinese-American home on the Lower East Side, Mimi now serves as the CEO and creative director of her eponymous jewelry brand, where she blends traditional designs with modern elements to create pieces for celebrity clients like Jennifer Lopez. Mimi and her husband, Cormac Kinney, a finance entrepreneur, live in Tudor City near the United Nations with their daughter, Coco Mei, 8, and their son, Cael, 6. What's the best part about living so close to the United Nations?MS I love seeing all the flags. It's such a colorful part of town. Plus, it's right near my children's school and my office is only ten minutes away. I can come and see the kids in a school play or take them to the doctor if they're sick. CK First Avenue also goes underground over here, so there's very little noise from traffic. Why did you choose to raise your kids in the city?MS It was important to me that our children meet people from different countries. I also love that we have art all around us. The beauty, the architecture, the food—it's alive! I've been all over the world, and I always love returning to New York City. Mimi, you helped out at your parents' shop when you were a kid. Do Coco Mei and Cael pitch in at your studio?MS Not yet, but my daughter likes to play with my jewelry. They have come to the workshop to watch how jewelry is made, but I want them to have their own opi

Celebrity Pilates expert Brooke Siler has lived all over the world, but when it came time to settle down and raise a family, she chose to do so in her hometown of Manhattan. As the owner of re:AB Pilates in NoHo, Brooke has helped sculpt some of the world's most famous bodies, from Madonna's to that of Amber Valletta. At her Midtown East apartment, though, she's making sure that her husband Mevin Essapen, an IT systems engineer and U.K. native, and their sons Sebastian, 7, and Matteus, 5, are pursuing an active lifestyle. Why did you want to raise your kids in NYC?ME I was adamant about staying in the U.K. Brooke said, "Come over, and if you don't like it, we can go back." BS And we haven't. Our oldest son has ADHD, and he receives amazing services here. If I didn't love New York City before I had children, I can't say enough about it now. There's even an early-intervention program that gives special care to kids for free. What do you like about your neighborhood? BS We actually live in the building where I grew up. I still see my neighbors who knew me when I was a little kid selling lemonade in the lobby. It's very endearing. We've sort of created our own little village. Brooke, are you a stickler when it comes to healthy eating? BS I usually am, but I do let the boys cheat. I believe in moderation. My kids know that eating right and exercising is about being strong and healthy. ME We are very conscious about not having too much junk food. But one of the things the boys love