Cindy Crawford: Life Is "A Constant Balancing Act"

Gorgeous mama Cindy Crawford, who is raising 9-year-old Kaia and 11-year-old Presley with husband Rande Gerber, is loving life with her family in Malibu, Calif. and would much rather spend some quality time with her brood than get gussied up for a night on the town.

The 45-year-old supermodel recently chatted with Parade about loving her age, maintaining balance, and the true meaning of beauty.

On aging: “I think what really shows on your face --besides good hair color -- is if you're happy in your life. If you're doing work that you enjoy and that is rewarding, then as my mom always said, 'You'd rather have smile lines than frown lines.”

On filming a commercial with her husband and children: “Originally, I didn't want to use my kids in the commercial because I don't ever want to make them feel like they have to work because they might be in a bad mood that day or they might want to have a play date. I don't ever want to say, 'Well sorry, you're booked.' But the night before the commercial, they heard my husband and I talking and they heard that we were having 'fake' kids. They were like, 'You can't have fake kids! You have to have us!' So at the last minute, they ended up doing it. They got to see that my job, even though it's fun and I like it, is also work. Plus, it's fun for them to see themselves on TV!”

On beauty: “I think if people are passionate about something, it could be real estate or biochemistry, and that spark gets turned on in them, everyone's beautiful in that zone.”

On balancing work and home life: “It's a constant balancing act for sure. Obviously, your family life is the priority, but there's still other stuff you have to get done in a day. I think the way I make it work is by taking care of myself and that includes fitness and eating right and all those things, but also by being very organized and punctual. I'm realistic about what I can achieve because I can't stand that feeling of constantly rushing and being late. I feel like I've finally found a good balance and even have a little time left over for myself.”

Continue reading Cindy’s interview at Parade.com…