Here at The Bedford Mom we believe that moms deserve to be recognized and celebrated! This month we are proud to feature Erin Beloin, a devoted mom of two. Learn all about her below!
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Erin and I live in town with my husband Brandon, our daughters Juliette (6) and Genevieve (3), our cats Moon and Pumpkin, and my parents Doug and Cindy Rickard. I’m originally from Manchester and moved back to the area from Massachusetts in 2020. Brandon and I opened MY SALON Suite® Bedford this past February, where we support entrepreneurs within the beauty industry. I am also the Director of Continuing Education and an adjunct faculty member at MCPHS University.
Tell us about your work!
After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stonehill College, I moved to Boston to pursue a post-baccalaureate certificate in nuclear medicine technology. I spent the first few years of my career as a medical imaging technologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. During that time I completed an MBA program at Simmons College, which enabled me to explore other career paths in both education and healthcare management. I was serving as the clinical manager of the breast imaging department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in March 2020 when I went out on maternity leave with Genevieve. Given the unknowns of the pandemic I made the difficult decision to step away from the hospital realm at that time. Since that point I’ve been teaching online for MCPHS and recently accepted a full-time role as the Director of Continuing Education for the University.
Brandon and I have been married for just over a decade. We’ve dappled in a number of entrepreneurial and small business concepts together. We’ve owned residential real estate, flipped houses, and at one point I seriously considered becoming a funeral director. We recently opened MY SALON Suite® Bedford in the Marshalls plaza on South River Road. MY SALON Suite® is a franchise with over 250 locations and 7,000 members nationwide. We absolutely love this concept, which allows beauty professionals to work for themselves in the privacy and comfort of a 135 square-foot “mini” salon.
What are your favorite local restaurants?
For a casual meal with the family we love T-BONES, Tucker’s, Pressed, and Rig A Tony’s. For an adults’ night out we enjoy Copper Door, LaBelle Winery, or Vine 32.
What is your favorite way to practice self-care?
My self-care rituals often take the form of coffee and/or baked goods from Flight Coffee Company, Simply Delicious Bakery, The Inside Scoop, or Lighthouse Local. I also participate in a number of book clubs with close friends in town. I’m currently reading “Verity” by Colleen Hoover and recently finished “The Paper Palace” by Miranda Crowley. In the winter I like to ski at Pat’s Peak- the Women’s Only Wednesday (WOW) program is great! The most unique and memorable self-care activity I’ve recently enjoyed was goat yoga with Amanda Bryan Therapy at Finding Roots Farm in Amherst.
What brought you to Bedford?
I initially resisted our relocation from Waltham, MA to Bedford. I was concerned about missing the energy and amenities of urban life. I had become very accustomed to riding public transit, navigating crowded places, and walking to destinations downtown. In an interesting way, the pandemic helped me move past my hesitations and embrace the space and quiet provided by our new neighborhood. Over time I’ve grown to enjoy our backyard campfires, trips to the farm, wildlife sightings, and necessary runs to the local maple syrup stand. My girls even have their very own mud kitchen on the back patio, and it’s as chaotic and “outdoorsy” as it sounds! We are definitely here to stay, but I still love trips to the city.
What is your favorite thing about Bedford?
Since moving to Bedford I’ve been blown away by the kindness and generosity within this community. There’s definitely a “pay it forward” mentality and a sense that people are looking out for one another. The friendships I’ve made here have absolutely nurtured my soul.
What are your favorite local spots in town?
Our favorite/most frequented spots in town include the public library, the town pool, and the elementary school playgrounds. For more structured activities and camps we head to Martin School of Dance, The Educational Farm at Joppa Hill, Bedford Youth Performing Company, My Gym, and You’re Fired.
What is your best piece of advice for moms who are new in town?
Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet other families and feel connected to a greater purpose. My favorite volunteering opportunities include the Scholastic book fair committee at Riddle Brook School, the PTA at Martin School of Dance, and serving as a home chef for Lasagna Love. I’ve become quite proficient at traditional, vegetarian, and even vegan lasagnas!
What is your best piece of advice for expecting moms or new moms?
Make a kit of back-up supplies and stash it in your car- diapers, wipes, extra clothes, band-aids, gloves, feminine supplies, non-perishable snacks, cash, etc. I call this my “go-bag,” and I can’t tell you how many times it has saved me. Just don’t forget to replenish your supplies as you use them!