Today is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate social, economical, cultural and political achievements of women around the world. It felt like the perfect time to honor some of the most important women in my life.

Team Lemon Stripes: I just realized that every single person who helps me keep this blog afloat is female. From my amazing designer Victoria who makes everything she touches more beautiful. To my badass developer Lisa who can code better than any man out there. To my assistant Beth who helps me keep the trains running when I can’t get to everything in a day.

To all of the incredible photographers I’m lucky enough to work with: Carter, Courtney, Lindsay, and Julia. My blog would be nothing without the way they capture my life behind the lens.

To my management team at DBA, Ariana and Krissy. You guys are the hardest working gals in the biz, I swear… And the most organized aka my spirit animals!

And lastly to my accountant Brittany who spends hours every week and month helping me and Anel keep our businesses running from a financial standpoint. We’re both the worst with numbers and money and I’m pretty sure we’d be broke or in jail without her!

Team Amalia: Like with Lemon Stripes, all of Amalia’s caretakers are women. Her day care teachers are patient, kind, loving, and so incredibly knowledgable about all things baby. I feel so good leaving her there in the mornings in such good hands. And Madison, our amazing babysitter and friend who has loved “Munchie” from day one and saved us in many last minute situations. She also happens to be my trainer and pushes my strength to the limit each and every week.

My mom-tribe: The last seven months with Amalia have been the most rewarding yet challenging months of my entire life. I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through them with any sort of sanity without my mom tribe. My tribe is a group of women I’ve become close to who all have kids and/or babies. We get together once a month for dinner/drinks to have a laugh and a break from our kids, and I text them (sometimes frantically) for help with all of my baby-related problems and concerns. They have calmed me down in many a situation like our first middle-of-the-night Croup attack and figuring what to do in a nap strike.

I often get asked what resources I use for research for Amalia and truly this group of moms is my g0-to. They’ve been through it all between their six kids and I trust their judgement because they’re all incredible mothers with amazing kids. I feel so lucky to have found this group of women and hope that the group friendship lasts through our kids’ teenage years because God knows we’ll all need the help then more than ever!

So thank you to Eva, Lauren, Sarah, and Alex for the laughs and the cries and the help. And did I mention they all run their own businesses? #soproudofmyfriends

My college gals: My college friends still somehow remain a tight-knit group 10 years later (yes, we’re old). We make a point of getting together once a year despite the fact that we live all over the country. In a few weeks we’re having our monthly get together with all of our kiddos for the first time and I can hardly wait!

Over the years we’ve been through it all, and knowing that my “sisters” will always be there for me is a wonderful feeling.

My grandmother: My grandmother, Helen-Jeanne, lost her husband of 65 years in December. It crushed her, but she is doing amazingly well, going to her workout classes, church, and support groups for widows. She’s staying strong like she always has for all of us. As a mother of four, grandmother of six, and great-grandmother of one, she is a true matriarch and someone that we all look up to with the utmost respect.

My mom: Where to start… How can you possibly honor your own mother properly with one paragraph? You can’t, but I’ll try. I always knew that I had a special mom growing up, one that was empathetic and fun and brilliant. But until I had my own child, I couldn’t fully comprehend everything that she did for me and my sister. She worked full time as a business school professor and author (and dean at one point!), yet was home every single night for dinner and came to every lacrosse game, chorus concert, and ballet recital. I don’t know how she did it all with such grace and ease (at least from my point of view), but I am forever grateful for the way that she raised us. As an adult, I speak to her every day and feel lucky to have such a good relationship with her. Now that she’s retired, she audits classes every semester at Stanford, her alma mater, writes a blog about books, and never stops educating herself. If only I were that driven! When I’m retired I’ll be on a beach. Period!

My sister: My sister Lauren is my best friend in the entire world and always will be. We’re three years apart which was perfect growing up because there wasn’t any competition for friends but we were still close enough in age that we could play together. As adults (but are we really adults?) we talk on the phone multiple times a day and on gchat in between calls. We know everything that the other person has eaten every single day and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Last year she moved to San Francisco and got engaged, and I had a baby so our dynamic has definitely changed but in a way that we’ve become even more independent yet somehow still rely on each other in the best possible ways. She is one of the most brilliant yet thoughtful and gregarious yet independent women on the planet. You just watch, the girl is going to do great things.

Amalia: Oh God, I can’t even type this without crying… This 18 pound peanut has changed me forever. I’m so grateful for all of the lessons she has taught me and for her unconditional love. Every day she fills my life and heart with joy, and I can’t imagine that there was ever a world without her in it.

You guys: I love reading your comments, emails and DMs every single day. From those of you trying to conceive to those of you who have survived miscarriage to the moms to the college students to the budding bloggers to all of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of my journey. You mean more to me than you can ever know!

So to my women, thank you for inspiring me for loving me for supporting me and for making the world a happier, more beautiful place for everyone.

Share one woman that you want to honor today in the comments below!

J.Crew Factory Maxi Dress / Jack Rogers Sneakers c/o / Hat Attack Hat c/o / Gigi NY Bag / Karen Walker Sunnies

J.Crew Factory Maxi Dress / Jack Rogers Sneakers c/o / Hat Attack Hat c/o / Gigi NY Bag / Karen Walker Sunnies

Photos by Julia D’Agostino.