Mom Muse | Erica Anderson

Mom to two boys, Erica Anderson is a driven multi-tasker to say the least. During the day, she’s a senior marketing manager for everyone’s favorite website for ordering photos and custom photo products, Shutterfly, and in her spare time she participates in fitness competitions. Fitness and athletics are a way of life for Erica, her husband of 10 years, and their boys, Tyler (9) and Tanner (6). On the weekends, Erica spends her time shuttling the kids to their various sports activities and the family together enjoys outdoor physical activities. She also loves helping others whip their bodies into shape and teaches a Pilates-based fitness class. Okay, after talking to Erica, we are feeling super motivated to up-level our workout routine! Especially since it’s swimsuit season.

Born and raised in Carson City, Nevada, Erica moved to Seattle after high school graduation to attend the University of Washington on a full-ride endowed tennis scholarship. She played singles and doubles tennis all four years in college and was recognized as the “Female Athlete of the Year” during her senior year. While in college, Erica extended her passion for sports by interning at Nike, FOX Sports Northwest and Emerald Downs.  After college, she went to work for the Seattle Seahawks, then a year later in 1999 moved to Phoenix to work for FOX Sports Arizona. Following her stint at FOX, Erica spent 11 years in marketing with the Arizona Cardinals. This position really connected her to the community in the Valley of the Sun, from both a charitable and professional perspective. Erica made the move to Shutterfly three years ago, after taking a few months off to spend with her boys and re-structure her work/life balance so she could be more present for her kids but still maintain focus on her career.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Bush, Chateau Studio Photography

Philanthropy is also a big part of Erica’s life. She volunteers with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and has a deep personal connection since two close friends passed away from the disease. A few years ago, her best friend got her involved with the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society (LLS) and, at the time, a new event called the “Man/Woman of the Year.” Erica joined the event committee and later became the event co-chair. She just completed her second year as co-chair of another successful campaign in which the revenue for the event doubled over the first year. Another favorite charity of Erica’s is Colleen’s Dream Foundation founded by the Cundiff/Drury family. She became involved in the non-profit’s first annual “Golf Tourney and Gala” last year after being moved by the story of how the family created the foundation in their mother’s name. Following the resounding success of the first event, she is currently working on the second “Golf Tourney and Gala” planned for February 2015, as well as a fashion show and fundraising event scheduled for September 2014 called “Craft Beer and Couture.” (Read MSL’s profile of Nicole Cundiff, founder of Colleen’s Dream.)

Erica at the LLS Man/Woman of the Year event.

Erica and her husband at the LLS Man/Woman of the Year event.

Erica has a bright, sunny style and go-getter approach to life that makes her the perfect Mom Muse and inspires us to “Just Do It”!

MSL: Describe your style in five words or less.
Comfortable, colorful, bright and simplistic.

MSL: What inspired you to go into marketing?
I love the diversity and flexibility that comes with a marketing position. For me it is all about doing something different each day. I am not someone that can go to an office and do the same thing day in and day out. I would get so bored and unmotivated. With marketing, each day is different and brings unexpected challenges and opportunities.  It is also the one department in a company that interacts and is a conduit to other business units. I love being in the center of things and being able to help all.

MSL: What do you like best about your job? The biggest challenge?
The best part about my job is that I work for a fantastic company and everyone loves Shutterfly. I currently have a role where I consider myself a utility player so I get to do many different things each and every day. My biggest challenge is to continue to find new ways to market our business unit and grow revenue.

MSL:  What’s the one item in your closet you can’t live without, that makes you feel both chic and comfortable?
I love maxi dresses and short cotton dresses that are versatile and I can wear with either heels or flip-flops. They need to be easy to dress up or down. It looks like I put a lot of effort into getting ready, but behind the scenes it was super quick.

MSL: Whose style do you most admire and draw inspiration from?
I love Reese Witherspoon as I think she always looks so pulled together and classic. She looks this way with or without her kids in tow. Her outfits don’t look fussy, yet she is so sophisticated.

MSL:  You participate in fitness competitions in your limited spare time. What motivated you to take this on?
Fitness competitions were always a bucket list item for me and something I wanted to personally do. Fitness is a huge part of my life and I wanted to see how I could transform my physique and my mind. I remember it was October of 2012 and I woke up one day and said this is it, I am committing to this.  I did my first competition in March 2013 and my second on May 31, 2014.  Being a former collegiate athlete, I love the thrill of competition and working towards a goal. Plus, I love feeling so good each and every day.

MSL: What is your favorite part of the competition? Least favorite part?
My favorite part is the training and watching my physique transform and how good I feel throughout the process. My least favorite part is all the standing around and waiting to go on stage the day of the competition and how it is literally over in minutes. It’s also a very subjective sport which is difficult, as there is a lot of gray area in the judging from one show to the next.

MSL: Do you have any tips on how you streamline your morning routine?
I do as much preparation as possible for each day the night before. That includes making kids’ lunches, my meals, pre-setting my coffee pot and gathering anything else that I or my kids might need the next day.  That way when I get home from the gym in the morning I can make breakfast, shower and get out the door on time with the kids.  When it comes to getting myself ready I always think ahead what outfit I am going to wear and my makeup routine most days is very minimal.  However if I have a client presentation or another event to attend I definitely put more effort into getting ready to ensure I look and feel my best. This gives me the extra boost of confidence I need during the day.

MSL: What’s your biggest beauty secret?
Curl my eyelashes and throw on a little lipgloss.  I am very minimalistic everyday when it comes to makeup so these two things make me feel like I have done something.

MSL: Developing a unique style comes at an early age for some children. Do you let your children choose what they’re going to wear? How do you talk about getting dressed with them?
I do let my two boys choose their clothes.  Right now they are both into the colorful Nike and Underarmour socks so typically their shirts and shorts match, but socks are always the unknown and I let them choose.  The one thing we always talk about is that they represent our family when they are out in public so they must always brush teeth, comb hair and wear sunscreen before leaving the house.   Most days they can just throw on play clothes because after all they are boys and don’t stay clean very long. However we do have rules about how they look when going to events, engagements, and parties.

  Photo Credit: Jennifer Bush, Chateau Studio Photography

MSL: What’s your best style advice for other working moms out there?
Be comfortable and confident in what you wear.  Be able to transform it from day to night or office to ball field.  Always be prepared.  Know what fits your figure and flatters your personality. I think it’s all about being comfortable in your own skin and who you are. Dress to impress yourself!