Meet Julie Cardamone!
Julie lives in Little Silver with her husband, and her ADORABLE daughter, Darby June (could her name be any cuter?!). This Monmouth County mama runs The Mint Collection, a boutique travel business, and shares her experiences with us as a working mom, how she balances travel and motherhood, her favorite things to do with her beautiful family, and why she loves living here so much!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
Originally from NC; have lived in NJ for over eight years and in Little Silver now for over six.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Darby June, will be three in March
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
While travel is a part of everything I do, I am terrified of flying! And I have yet to master the art of sleeping on a plane.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
My husband, Dave. He has been the most amazing support system. Not only is he the most amazing (and cutest) dad, but he has supported me in a way that has allowed me to be the best mom I can be.
Also, the community I found in Bosom Buddies – a wonderful breastfeeding support group that meets in Colts Neck weekly. That community of women really helped me in those early months.
Lastly, our church community at Tower Hill! They are so encouraging and uplifting in every aspect of life – especially when it comes to parenthood.
Favorite things to do with your kids?
Explore our park system! We have some incredible parks that offer so much. We even had Darby’s first birthday party at a county park and hired The Little Rockers to perform.
Take our boat out on the Navesink! We dock it at Fair Haven Yacht Works and take it out almost daily during the summer months to either go crabbing, fishing, dock-n-dine, or just for a ride. Darby (and our dog, Bentley) are huge fans!!
Travel! We started traveling with Darby while she was very young. We’ve visited St. Barth, Ireland (for her first birthday because she was born on St. Patrick’s Day & we love the country!), Hilton Head Island, San Francisco, Fiji, England, and more, all with her in tow!
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am! In 2018 I launched The Mint Collection because after working in the leisure travel industry for many years and observing how the industry is changing, I recognized that there was a better, more efficient way to provide representation services to today’s five-star boutique properties. Together with each property partner, I craft a narrative that pulls at the hearts and minds of travel advisors, who than share the ineffable magic of the properties with their clients. Throughout the process, I highlight the unique allure of each property to increase its standing within the United States and Canadian markets.
I leverage a combination of sales and marketing strategies to develop personal, one-on-one relationships with top advisors. Combined with a clear social media strategy, this multi-dimensional marketing approach increases brand awareness and bookings for my clients.
My goal is to elevate each property above the crowd of choices within the minds of advisors and travelers. My motto, Refining and Inspiring Narrative Travel, captures this vision of a refined, authentic experience of travel and hospitality.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Not only does Monmouth County remind me of the south with how hospitable it is, but there is so much offered – and as a working mom, that is instrumental in helping me feel successful in both areas. From all the different library activities, to mommy-and-me dance classes at Kick, to the camp days at My Gym – by having so many options, I am able to find things to do with Darby that fit into my work schedule.
What is your favorite restaurant in Monmouth County?
So hard to choose! For a quick salad – Turning Point. For a yummy lunch – The Downtown. For a night out with Dave – Undici!
What is your favorite activity to do with your child(ren) in Monmouth County?
I’d again say – taking our boat out on the river. It is incredibly peaceful to be out there – watching Darby and Bentley enjoy the ride.
What are your Mom Goals?
To grow The Mint Collection (gain a couple more clients in 2019).
Continue our mommy & Darby dates on Friday afternoons!
Meet more mompreneurs! And ‘return the favor’ to new moms who are just figuring things out, like I was a couple years ago.
