As a working mom raising her 15-year-old daughter Dylan, Estée Lauder spokesmodel Carolyn Murphy has become a master multi-tasker. Between school runs, workouts and photo shoots, the 41-year-old stunner packs a lot into every day that she spends at home in New York City—even more so since she was named Women’s Design Director for Shinola last year. Among other things, Murphy helps steer the creative direction for the Detroit-based brand’s all-American accessories while serving continued face-time for Estée Lauder. But it’s the way the blonde beauty has managed to strike that elusive work-life balance—feeding her mind, soul and skin without skimping on her other responsibilities—that inspires a bit of time-management envy. Here, watching the second hand tick by on her Shinola Gold Runwell Watch, Murphy breaks down her daily schedule into individual increments exclusively for Estée Stories.
If I don’t have a photo shoot, this is what my free day looks like:
10 MINUTES…
to practice Hatha Yoga, which is restorative and gentle.
I took a course and modified it to what suits my time and lifestyle.
10 MINUTES…
to let my dogs Rupert and Emerson out and feed them. They’re both English Labs. Rupert is 7 years old and Emerson is 8 months. It's like having a new baby!
10 MINUTES…
to make green tea and quickly scan The New York Times. I don’t really like reading negative things to start my day (or ever for that matter!) so I usually go straight to the Business, Arts, Style and Real Estate sections.
10 MINUTES…
to wake up Dylan and snuggle.
10 MINUTES…
to wash my face, apply my Advanced Night Repair, and my Revitalizing Supreme CC Creme. I follow this up with a concealer pen under my eyes, some mascara, AERIN Rose Lip Conditioner, and a spritz of AERIN Rose de Grasse.
5 MINUTES…
to decide what to wear, which is usually vintage jeans with a silk blouse and Tabitha Simmons ballet flats.
20 MINUTES…
to make breakfast, which consists of either an all-green juice, or "Dylan's Delight”—which is organic eggs scrambled with spinach, smoked salmon and feta cheese, with a side of avocado.
20 MINUTES…
to walk Dylan to school with my dogs.
45 MINUTES…
to run on the Westside Highway, or hit a workout at The Class with Taryn Toomey. I try to workout at least 3 days a week and I alternate so I don't get bored.
2-3 HOURS…
to work on emails and designs for Shinola products and research. My favorite place to research is underground magazine shops but as they are dwindling, the Internet is easiest.
1 HOUR…
to study writing for work on future articles in our Shinola magazine that is in development. I've taken classes online and have done workshops in Big Sur and the New York Writers Workshop. I'm also hoping to enroll at The New School in New York because the writing program there is one of the best!
15 MINUTES…
to eat a lunch of green salad and salmon. I prefer to know the source of where my food comes from so I don't like to eat out much, but I love to shop at the Union Square Farmers Market.
20 MINUTES…
for school pick-up and dog walking.
30 MINUTES…
to play cards with Dylan while sitting on our couch. We mostly play "Go Fish" and Rummy. I'm horrible and she beats me every time!
1 HOUR AND A HALF…
to prep dinner using my Nourishing Traditions cookbook. Its premise is "real food" that’s not based on trends. I really love making broths that don't necessarily contain meat. I also love using "raw" milks and cheeses.
30 MINUTES…
to take an Epsom salt bath with lavender. I usually use a cup of salt mixed with 8 drops of organic oil.
1 HOUR…
to read (I'm currently diving into It’s What I Do), which really helps calm me so I can get 8 hours of solid sleep.
