The creator of ART homestyle
I hope my background + lessons from this past year inspire you to take more risks, to give more grace, and to turn challenges into opportunities.
Eight years ago, I decided to go to business school. Prior to applying, I considered law school, but quickly pivoted once I realized I love working with numbers more than I do reading.
It was important to me to finish school before starting a family, so I applied to my alma mater, USC, got accepted and began my journey as a fully employed student; I turned my three-year program into an accelerated two-year track. It was shortly after graduation, that my husband and I got married and had our first baby, Zoey.
My job out of business school was working in the corporate real estate department of The Walt Disney Company. I interviewed while 6 months pregnant with Zoey – I know you’re probably saying, “what was she thinking”?! I felt determined to execute my plan of building a career.
Having my baby amidst all of this changed my world and view of a professional working woman —it wasn’t so straight forward as I had imagined.
Becoming a mother opened my eyes to know that life is much more than just a career. I had given most of my life to education and work prior to having Zoey, and I shifted more into a family-based life overnight. It was a big adjustment since the culture of the real estate investment industry isn’t always conducive to a work-from-home or part-time schedule for working moms or parents. Still, I felt up for the challenge but I was in for a rude awakening.
I realized it was way more involved emotionally, mentally, and physically.
During maternity leave, I dove into being a full-time mom. If I’m being honest, I felt guilty for going back to work after just 4 months, as I thought several times, “I can’t go back” and “I can’t do this”. I returned to work, and two years later we had our second baby, Carter. With my son, I felt less guilty returning to work as I missed the adult social and mental interaction.
Over the years now, I’ve really become a person who loves doing both — being a mother and having a career. I am so grateful for my family (namely, my parents + grandparents) -- I use the values and lessons they’ve engrained in me as my life compass.
It’s been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, as I’m sure many of you can relate. One minute, I’m feeling guilty about not being home with the kids while the next minute, I’m ready to work.
You see, according to The Mom Project, “Women should be able to choose both a successful family life and career aspirations without sacrificing one for the other”, and I couldn’t agree more. We as women have choices!
This leads me to my points of – exercise your options and don’t feel bad if you have a change of heart. The year of 2020 has proven the importance of being flexible in all aspects – with work, life and family. My keyword this year has been GRACE!
Here are three key lessons that I’ve learned during these challenging and uncertain times-
Set a schedule to allow for a family/work life balance.
Unapologetically carve out “me-time”; and
Be OK with saying, “Mommy needs a minute”.
Please keep me posted on how you’re doing. What a year to embrace change.
Balance
My favorite place is the kitchen, which usually entails holding one kid on my hip, while the other one hangs out on the counter.
Hands Full
The love that keeps me going.
Always helping mommy
Either at the desk or in the kitchen.
Enjoy my recipes.
They are derived from traditional family recipes, trial and error, and my own cravings.
ART Recipes
