Twomims

Let me start by saying this book was written over FIFTY YEARS ago and it couldn’t be more relevant to today’s mothers if it had been written fifty days ago.

It is a compilation of meditations by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Before the book, I had only known her for being the mother of the kidnapped Lindbergh baby. Turns out, she had five children, was the first woman to earn a glider-pilot’s license and won an award from National Geographic and was a bestselling author.

But wait. This isn’t a ‘you can do it too!’ motivational book. Anne Lindbergh was also plagued by doubt, felt overwhelmed, and struggled to maintain a balance between her outside world and her inner peace.

Within 10 pages I was absolutely blown away by the truths she exposed, one that is especially relevant to moms in marketing:
“Woman’s normal occupations in general run counter to the creative life, or contemplative life, or saintly life…. [the problem] is more basically: how to remain whole in the midst of the distractions of life; how to remain balanced, no matter what centrifugal forces tend to pull one of center; how to remain strong, no matter what shocks come in at the periphery…”

Something to make you smile:
In the book she talks about her ‘Martha tendencies’ for having to keep the house clean. While of course she was referring to the Martha in the bible, I find it quite hilarious that modern women are comparing themselves to yet another Martha!

Summary of why you should read it:
•    It was initially recommended to me by a fellow MIM, and she knows good books.
•    It is a soothing, calming read.
•    It has short chapters, so you can sneak in reading 10 or 15 pages at a time.
•    It will make you feel good.

by Guest Blogger, Barb Adams

Guru of Steve Adams Studio and author of Notes from the W.G.

Last day of summer.  Everyone grab your kaleidoscope and shake.

You’re watching Mad Men, right?  The character I relate to the most is Sally, the Drapers’ ten year old daughter.  That was my perspective in the late fifties, early sixties.  Thankfully, my mom was a lot warmer than Betty.  As a ten-year-old, I really thought my options for a career were nurse, teacher or secretary.  My artistic bent lent itself to drawing on reams and reams of outdated stationery that my dad brought home from the office, but I wasn’t thinking “how can I make a living doing this?”

In the late sixties, everything went boingo.  Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, the pill, and Title IX meant that the world was busted wide open for me and women coming after.  Coming from a family that had attorneys going back three generations, I stepped in line and went to law school.

A career switch to managing a photo studio after having kids left me striking that balance between work and family, which is a never-ending walk on the tight rope.  And the funny part is, just when you think “OK – the kids are launched” they come boomeranging back into the picture, having lost the roommate in the apartment, or signing on for grad school.  And then your parents, the ones who were the rock during all those early years, are slowly but surely requiring a lot of time, attention and care.

So there you find yourself on the bridge, looking back at all the frantic early years of building a business, scheduling orthodontia appointments, figuring out the craft project for the Brownie troop, soliciting ads for the school Buzz Book, etc. and looking forward to more of the same, except there’s been a twist to the kaleidoscope of your life and it all looks just a little bit different.  Same colors but different shapes.

Enjoy every moment, ladies, because it all starts whizzing by at warp speed the farther down the road you get.

Oh, the pressure is on. Kiddo’s birthday coming up….

1.    A MIM doesn’t just buy invitations at the party store and pencil in the “who – what – when.” A MIM invitation is self-designed (or by co-worker pressed into service) with the details all precisely kerned.

2.    A MIM party will have a creative theme. No off-the-shelf/ out-of-the-box themes.

3.    If the birthday party does, in fact, have an off-the-shelf theme such as Thomas or Elmo, the MIM will feel the need to explain that she let the child choose.

4.    A MIM party will have a color palette, coordinated gift bags and about a thousand other unique touches concepted, (of which the MIM will have executed about 30%).

5.    You’ll always want to get invited.

Expecting MIM and guest blogger Laura Unverferth shares with us her top picks for her new bundle of joy. Check out Laura’s other great finds on her design blog Ruffle or her baby blog Little Frills.

I’ve always loved Dwell Studio’s transportation series…from the baby bedding to the bibs. A perfect color palette and pattern for the nursery (if it’s a boy). They have designed all the matching accessories you would ever need.

This little orange rocker from Argington is my favorite…they have several really beautiful children’s furniture collections, made from renewable and sustainable harvested wood.

I just purchased this print from Sweet William’s shop on Etsy…a great mix of modern and vintage imagery. I cant wait to frame it!

Im a huge fan of Warhol, I was so excited when I found his children’s book Andy Warhol’s Colors.

This ‘just hatched’ canvas from Dotty Spot Designs caught my eye…clean and contemporary decor that you can customize with your baby’s name and date of birth.