Momtrepreneur Spotlight: Roberta Sobran of Delicious Designs Home

October 14, 2015

My cousin's sister-in-law is an inspiration to me... and I've never even met her. Roberta Sobran is a wife, mom, interior designer and the successful owner of Delicious Designs Home in Hingham, MA.

I often like to connect with those who inspire me, so after reading a particularly gorgeous newsletter of hers, I sent her the following note:

Hi Roberta,
I just want to tell you I love getting these newsletters - I love your style and your portfolio. You are truly a great role model for me - so thank you for providing inspiration! Any tips on how to juggle it all - designing, business owning + being a mom, I'm all ears! You make it look easy!

All the Best,
Lindsay Saccullo

Soon after, I received the following response back which I'm here to share with you. It's not only wonderfully written but poetic, inspiring and soothing. It was comforting to hear this from a fellow mama/designer and gave me hope that the best is yet to come:

Advice/Words of wisdom (I think, I hope!)

Well, I wish I could say it was easy.

It’s a boat load of work but the thing is, I LOVE what I do!

I eat it up.

Seriously.

I’d rather be in my studio or store than most any other place. (Except home with my family! That’s definitely my happy place!)

I love and adore every moment with them so that’s why if you don’t find me at 88 North Street, you’ll find me at my home address which is only about a mile from my work. The lack of commute is priceless!

Thankfully this career allows me to make my own hours and work from home to my hearts content so I feel like I’ve been able to have my “cake and eat it too”.

That is, I’m home for breakfast with the kids, when they walk through the door from school and enjoy dinner with them every night.

(Half the time when they come home from school, they grab a snack and go up to their room to decompress and maybe do some homework but I feel it’s important to be a presence b/c there are definitely days when they walk through the door and can’t stop talking about their day-which I love!)

That said, I’ve spent more time talking about my family life than my work life but it’s how I flow.

That is, first comes my family and then work. Always.

I find if you have your priorities in this order, everything will work out.

I’ll never regret “too much time at home” but would definitely regret “too much time at work”.

Time flies and as much as it is a cliche, it’s true. They grow up so fast!

(My son is a senior in high school and my daughter is a sophomore and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wonder, “how is this possible?”)

RE: Work.

I find that the quote you see pinned everywhere is spot on-“ Work hard and be nice to people”.

That’s it in a nutshell.

Give it your all.

In life as in work, you get what you give.

So that’s about it.

Work hard.

Be nice.

And oh yes, hire great people and take good care of them.

And remember, “you get what you give”.

Good luck with holding it all together.

It’s not easy being a working mom.

Some days will be better than others.

(But that would be the case regardless.)

I hope you found this feedback helpful:)

My best,

Roberta

Yes. So helpful. It's something to aspire to.

I often find in our warped world, it's easy for our priorities to quickly misalign. I'm totally printing Roberta's email (once I fix my darn printer once and for all) and pining it on my bulletin board to remind me to come back to center. When I'm feeling particularly swamped with work + life, about to tear my hair out wondering how I'm going to do it all, with energy and success no less, I'll just take a look at the print out and remember to prioritize.

Although there's no real answer on how to do it all, I take solace in the fact that there are other momtrepreneurs out there who have built successful businesses and managed to maintain a healthy balance of work + family life.

I also find it therapeutic to simply just talk about and share this with you. Perhaps it will inspire you, mama or not, to keep your priorities in order so that the rest, whatever "the rest may" be, will fall into place. This is easier said than done, I know, but at least it's a reminder. Knowing that this is something I (and the rest of the Type A's out there - there's a lot of us!) struggle with, perhaps we can lean on each other and just know that we're all doing a good job. Figuring it out. Day by day.

Below, a round up of some of Roberta's most Delicious Designs. Bon Appetit!

~L.S.

For more info on Roberta (including her amazing photography) and Delicious Designs, click here.

Momtrepreneur Spotlight: Amber Winick Art + Design Advisory

June 23, 2015

Another mama who deserves a shout out this week! My friend Amber, of Amber Winick Art + Design Advisory. Aren't she and her daughter Alice, 19 months, gorg? Like many of us, this Brooklynite mom is a talented multi-tasker: wife, mother, small business owner, art historian, designer, educator, writer, fur baby mama... I'll stop there!

I met Amber awhile back while at the park with another one of my momtrepreneur friends, Leah Fox of Charm + Magic. (If you missed my blog on Leah, you can read it here.) In fact, when Avery and I arrived, Leah and Amber were already talking. Leah knows a good one when she sees one! Meeting moms around town is a bit like dating, actually. You never know - should I ask for her digits? Will I ever see her again? So many mommy fish in the sea of Brooklyn! And we're all just swimming around, juggling our many tasks, wearing our many different fedoras, looking for some camaraderie, honest friendship, and a playdate to eat up the (sometimes terrifying) afternoon hours of 4-6 before the DBB (Dinner, Bath, Bedtime) saga begins.

Amber and I got to talking while the babies toddled around the Tot Lot. We quickly figured out that our professions went hand in hand. I was still working at Cullman & Kravis, Inc. at the time, where we often brought in expert art advisors for our projects. As an interior designer and as an aspiring collector, I have to admit, there is something so nice about having an art advisor. Truly, they can learn your tastes, tell you which pieces to invest in, help you build a collection over time. It's so worth it to have someone who is both knowledgeable and has a great eye when it comes to curating a space.

Amber is uber smart and talented (check out these publications!). I would recommend her in a heartbeat to any client who is interested in art and wants a little help figuring out how to give a space that extra touch. Whether you're a serious collector or just getting started, it's easy to see how art can make (or break!) the places we live and work. Here is what Amber has to say:

“I try to take an intuitive approach to collecting. I get to know my clients in order to understand what moves them, what they think about, and how they think. I then share artists and artworks that I think they may connect with. Often my clients become good friends. As a designer, I try to create spaces that intrigue. I love spaces that feel relaxed and never want anything to feel too precious or untouchable.”

YES. Preach it, girl! That is something to strive for as a designer. You want things to be beautiful, yet touchable. Pristine yet cozy. Most importantly, you want the space to elevate your client's spirits, to speak to them on a personal level. This often involves stepping outside of yourself and your own personal tastes - a total challenge.

When Amber was pregnant, she was presented with a career opportunity she couldn't pass up - a Fulbright Research Fellowship in Budapest, Hungary. What a tough decision, and tough timing! She knew in her heart of hearts she had to go for it, despite the many life changes she was about to encounter, or she may look back with regret. So when Baby Alice was three months old, the family packed up and continent-hopped over to Europe. I give them so much credit for doing this! As new parents, it's overwhelming enough having an infant in the comfort of your own surroundings. I think at this point I was barely out of my pajamas and still nodding off on the sofa with one eye open on Avery's bassinet! Here is Amber, shifting cultures, rocking motherhood abroad and researching in Budapest's Museum of Applied Arts (as well as public and private collections throughout Hungary!)

Not only do we have a love of art history and design in common, but since our munchkins are so close in age, Amber and I can relate on many levels. It's a delicate task to juggle motherhood with running a small, design-based business. It's so great to know we can bounce ideas off each other, refer one another, collaborate (and commiserate from time to time!) We will hopefully have some fun things in the works soon, so stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, how beautiful is Amber's portfolio? Here's just a quick glimpse!

Looks like Alice is following in mama's footsteps, studying Matisse!

~L.S.

For more info, or to contact Amber directly, visit www.amberwinick.com

Momtrepreneur Spotlight: It's a Katie Schorr Thing

May 7, 2015

Writer? Check. Actor? Check. Blogger? Check. Podcaster? Check. Mom? Heck, yes.

Momtrepreneur Katie Schorr has quite the resume. Together with her writer-actor husband Lance Rubin (who just wrote a book, no big deal), the two make a serious power couple. Add into the mix their adorable 15-month-old son Sly, and you've got quite the trio.

We met by total chance while on "vacation" in Florida. Seated next to each other at the pool-side snack bar, I noticed Avery making eyes at the most adorable little boy. The two were clearly around the same age, and as parents we all gave each other the knowing "aw, so cute - and we're friggin' exhausted" smile and nod. Our families got to talking and discovered that we lived within walking distance of each other in Brooklyn. Also, Sly and Avery had the exact same due date - what were the chances? (Feb 5th, 2014, in case anyone was wondering).

How interesting to know another baby who is the same gestational age as Avery, and another mom who is the same age as me. Although Sly was born on Feb 1st, and Avery impatiently decided to arrive about a month early on January 10th, it's amazing how many similarities the two have developmentally. It's so fun to watch them play together and for Katie and I to gush (and commiserate!) about the joys, challenges and anxieties of motherhood. More about that on Katie's hilariously honest blog O Mother Where Art Thou? If you haven't already, I advise that you immediately download Tumblr and follow "schorrthing". Be prepared to laugh, cry, and cringe along with Katie. And if you're me, basically feel as if she has transcended into your brain, reading your innermost thoughts.

Fellow new mamas, semi-new mamas, and mamas to be, I cannot emphasize how important it is to have "mommy friends" in your life! I highly encourage you to get on that thing they call tha intra-net and troll around until you find one that feels like the right fit. Whether it's Park Slope Parents, Babies in Boise, or Malibu Mommies, being physically surrounded by those who are "in the thick of it" with you will be way better than that $600+ shrink who specializes in #mommyproblems and doesn't take insurance. (But if you feel that you need her, it's money well spent! Pay now or pay later, as they say.)

If you are a part-time stay-at-home-mom, as Katie and I sorta consider as one of our many titles, things can get mundane and lonely in no time. Playdates are as much for the mamas as the babes, and we're not afraid to admit it! If you're ever at the playground and you feel creepy because you're wavering about asking another nice mom for her digits, just bite the bullet and do it. Chances are, she's thinking the same thing. Nothin' wrong with picking a mommy up at the park, the neighborhood coffee shop or your Music Together class.

Seriously, if there's one thing I've learned about motherhood and just life in general, it's that I know nothing and there is so much out there to learn. The best way is to learn from your peers. Oh, and podcasts. Podcasts are your second best friends and mentors. And lucky you! You too can now be podcast besties with Katie by listening to her awesome new "momcast" with friend Cody Lindquist on "What do we do Now?"

Avery and Sly had a playdate yesterday. They crawled and toddled around consuming excessive amounts of cheese and cheddar bunnies, performed a proper concert with maracas and castanets and conversed deeply about Elmo. While Avery was relentlessly banging on the refrigerator and Sly was chucking around UK copies of his daddy's book, I managed to sneak into Sly's adorable room and snap these pictures.

I mean, how Pinter-Etsy can you get? I love this bright and airy nursery. Right down to the clean white walls, the colorful decals and the vintage orange chair accented with a playful robot pillow. But what really wins me over here is the whimsical artwork. Oh, and of course the mini teepee tent!