my doobie list: travel
03.9.2010
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Mighty Girl blogger Maggie Mason started a pretty great trend with her Mighty Life List. Karen Walrond from Chookolooks is blogging about her list, too, and let me tell you, these women have some great things happening in their lives. And while lists like these are totally a mom-who-watches Oprah thing to do, I have to admit writing one is a great way to guide your day. For example, one of my items was to learn how to play drums. Something about writing that down motivated me to actually do it.
The process forced me to think about what I’d like my life to look and feel like. So, when I’m an old lady touring the U.S. in leather pants, I’ll be satisfied, proud, and full of great stories to tell my grandkids.
So, I’m jumping on the bandwagon, and I highly recommend you do the same. Start writing your list today while your baby naps, or during that marketing meeting at work. If you get caught, just shout out something like “but what about the demographics!!??”
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12 moons by gao yuan
03.8.2010
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I stumbled upon this series of photographs of mothers and their babies by Taiwanese photographer Gao Yuan. The title is Twelve Moons and features 12 moms with their babies, each correlating with an animal from the Chinese zodiac. The women photographed are all married to low-wage construction workers from villages across China (source: Gao Yuan).
Check out the entire series on the Gao Yuan website.
Tags: Chinese art > Chinese zodiac > Gao Yuan > mother and baby portrait > photography > Taiwanese art
get the funk outta here
03.5.2010
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Every now and again, the darkside of life takes me over, and I don’t feel like doing anything. Don’t want to write, hate my clothes, can’t think of anything good to eat. I call it the funk, and it ain’t pretty.
It started a few days ago when I made the mistake of going to Target sans makeup and going down the AISLE of MIRRORS. Wow. Bad idea. The lighting in Target is meant to inspire you to buy everything from trash bags to hand bags. It is harsh and unforgiving even on your best hair and makeup day.
The second clue that the darkside had descended upon me was when I watched the new show Parenthood and cried at least five times. Real tears. Not just the hint of tears that wells up during a sappy commercial. I mean full on crying. Let’s just imagine for a second me with no makeup on and balling my eyes out in the mirror aisle of Target. That’s the kind of mood I’ve been in for the last couple of days.
Because this is not my first time dealing with moodiness, I have figured out a number of ways to combat the funk.
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karen elson: cabaret mama goes solo
03.2.2010
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model. cabaret singer. guitarist. vintage boutique owner. mother of scarlett and henry.
Karen Elson is one of those artists who likes to dabble in lots of creative outlets. She was modeling and performing with The Citizens Band, a political cabaret group, when she met her hubby Jack White. White produced her album The Ghost Who Walks due out this summer and also directed her debut video (source: Pitchfork). The mama of two also owns a vintage boutique shop in Nashville called Venus and Mars Vintage.
Here’s the Karen Elson video “The Ghost Who Walks”
Tags: Jack White > Karen Elson > The Citizens Band > White Stripes
Disney’s Mulan at The Alliance Theatre
03.1.2010
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The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta transformed itself into an Ancient Chinese playground last weekend with the premier of Disney’s Mulan. This Families Centerstage production included a festival in between shows with crafts tables and demonstrations of Chinese music, dancing and Kung Fu. The decorations, dancing dragon and pounding drums definitely set the mood for the adventurous story of Mulan. I had the opportunity to take my kids (who are 4 and 5) and my mom, who was visiting from Virginia, to the show.
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Tags: Alliance Theatre > Atlanta > Disney's Mulan > Mulan > Mulan review > Woodruff Arts Center
who’s the bossiest
02.27.2010
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There’s a growing trend in my household. Those of you with more than one child will be familiar. Some call it sibling rivalry, but I like to call it “Who’s the Bossiest?”
It usually comes out about five minutes into a peaceful play session when one of the kids wants to do something his/her way, and the other disagrees. And then, you know, all hell breaks loose into a screaming match, tears, and then one or both kids running to me with one of the following phrases… Read more
M.I.A. mama in action
02.26.2010
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Singer/Rapper. Songwriter. Producer. Artist. Fashion Designer. Filmmaker. N.E.E.T. record label owner. Activist. Mother of Ikhyd.
“I’ve always found it easier to create when you’re just sort of left on your own to deal with your own shit and your own mess and your own whatever. And I think having a baby makes me a lot more focused in terms of time.” -M.I.A. on Spinner.com
M.I.A. official Bird Flu video
don’t mess with miss watkins
02.23.2010
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Ever imagine what you’ll be doing at 70? I always pictured myself in a snazzy track suit doing backbends in yoga class. My grandma is big into bingo, but my attention span is not so good for games. I have an uncle who plays pedal steel guitar and sings in nursing homes in Virginia. That’s right, he plays the old folks home circuit. Not a bad idea. His shows have got to be better than the visits from elementary school kids. But, now that I’ve discovered Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, I think I may do something else in my 70s, like tour the U.S. Of course, I would probably be one of those old rocker ladies rather than a blues guitarist, but either way, I’m wearing leather pants. Beverly does. Read more
Tags: Atlanta blues > Beverly "Guitar" Watkins > Beverly Watkins
LIFE with mother
02.22.2010
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I love everyday family photos, so I was really happy to come across this online gallery from Life magazine. The images of mothers with their children are from the Life Classics series and are included in the book LIFE with Mother.
I almost did a post on another Life gallery called Famous Literary Drunks and Addicts, but the mothers with their kids thing is a little more uplifting for a Monday morning.
tracey ullman
02.19.2010
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singer. actor. dancer. comedian. writer. mother of mabel and john.
“This is a big, badass, scary country, but you kind of want to be a part of it.” – Tracey Ullman on the U.S.
Here’s a great interview with the brilliant and brave Tracey Ullman via Bust TV.
About
The point of jaimes is twofold: to share outtakes from my parenting life and, more importantly, to inspire moms through the images, words, and creative works of notable mamas who pretty much kick ass. Read more...