MEET VANESSA BREUER: IBIZA-BASED MUMMA, MODEL & THERAPEUTIC CHEF
One day Vanessa Breuer is soaking up the slow, sun-kissed Ibiza lifestyle with her little ones and husband Oddy, the next she’s jetting around the world for a solid month of modelling. Amongst it all, this German-born mumma relishes their intense family bond and the ‘rad’ challenge of raising her free-range daughters (without a parenting book in sight).
Your Instagram profile reads: Vanessa Breuer - Mother, Model, Healthy Chef (and wife) ❤ Tell us, is there another role that you dream of adding to your bio?
You are a mumma to two beautiful girls, Luca and Evie, tell us about their personalities.
Evie, on the other hand, came out super peacefully, almost slept an entire 3 months (apart from the nights, unfortunately) and loves to just be at home and cuddle all day long. She is such a sweet little girl. Smiles and giggles and fairly easy to please. If you would compare the girls to cats and dog personalities, Luca would definitely be a cat and Evie a Labrador. Evie is very strong though we actually have a nickname for her “mighty mouse”.
When and why did you and your husband Oddy move to Ibiza?
What do you love most about life in Ibiza?
Life here is very slow, no one ever seems to be in a rush. You have to get used to it, especially coming from places like New York and Sydney. People that live here don’t seem to be very materialistic (of course the tourists and the big clubs are, but we live about 40 minutes away from that scene so it’s quite different up here) which I really enjoy. It doesn’t matter what you wear or what you do, it seems everyone escaped from something to be here and to give our children a better life.
What is one of the most treasured moments you have shared with your kids?
We know that you are passionate about healthy living. What’s a typical day’s family meal schedule look like when you’re at home?
We usually start our day with a Bircher muesli. I make a big batch beginning of the week, so mornings can be less stressful. Luca goes to kindergarten now, so she will have a vegan meal there prepared by the parents (we take it in turns). Evie is an eating machine so during the day she gets a lot of eggs, avocado, dhal. I tend to make a lot of stews and soups as I can prepare them while Evie is napping. We also eat A LOT of bread and cheese. I am German, after all!
We see you jetting off to New York, Paris, Sydney, to name just a few places, for work; how have your work priorities changed since becoming a mum?
My priority is my family but given the nature of my job, my family has to be very flexible. Oddy is not working which gives me the confidence in doing my job and being away from the family. I don’t think I could do it if he couldn’t be there and someone else was watching them. They are too young. I want them to be influenced by us, we are actually very close to our children and we have a very strong family bond.
Being a parent isn't easy. Some days are more challenging than others, and it's during those moments that you need someone to tell you it's going to be okay. What’s the most amazing thing that you’ve learned in becoming a parent, that you’d like to share with others?
I feel like my children taught me extreme patience while also opening my eyes to seeing and experiencing the world differently. By trying to understand why we behave a certain way I have also learned to communicate better myself. Communication is the key, whether It is with your husband, partner, friend or child. If we can communicate so we can both understand each other, then there is more harmony and less room for anger and frustration. On another note, being a parent is so rad, I mean you have a little person that is YOUR little person if you know what I mean. I don’t really read parenting books and I probably do lots of things “wrong” in their eyes but in the end, they are my children and I have to do what feels good to me as well.
Despite having such a full schedule, you always look incredible; can you share with us your beauty and wellness must-haves?
For you, happiness is...
Love Mae's tips for enjoying family life in the great outdoors
Whether you're lucky enough to be living an island-blessed life like Vanessa, or just enjoy a life surrounded by nature, we want to share some family sun-smart tips with you.
1. Apply a sunscreen, ideally with a minimum SPF30 before you start the day. If you can do this before you get dressed, you’re less likely to miss a spot!
2. We all know this one, but opt out of being exposed to the midday sun and seek shade instead.
3. Don’t forget about your scalp. Hats not only add extra protection to your face, but they help look after your scalp too which is directly exposed and often forgotten about. This is key for little ones with fine hair.
4. Be prepared; Keep a great cotton or linen shirt in your beach bag, and your sunscreen well stocked; one for the bathroom, car, handbag and beach bag. Never let there be an opportunity to be without Sunscreen
5. Don’t rely on makeup! If you are going to be exposed to the sun (even for a short amount of time) always apply a breathable sunscreen underneath your makeup. It’s impossible to apply enough makeup to keep your face protected from the harsh effects of the sun.
6. Hydrate your skin with a great natural oil after exposure to the outdoors. Jojoba oil is a beautiful oil for faces. For aftersun body care, try Sweet Almond oil with a drop of essential Lavender oil. It's gentle and soothing to use on the whole family after a day in the sun (remember essential oils are incredibly strong and dilution is key!)
