In The NOW.....
Kim Salter is in the NOW as founder of Design Thoughts, one designer's thoughts on balancing mommy, money and all things design.
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall)
My NOW is called Design Thoughts (www.designthoughtsblog.com), a blog about my life as an Interior Designer, a wife, a mama and how I try to balance it all. It started one day last year in January when I was in Target (ps…Target with a HARD T..it is what it is people and I love it!). I saw this beautiful Moroccan candle that was on sale from $30 marked down to $13!! I have no idea why, but I had to tell people about the amazing deal! You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a beautiful home. So, I started writing about my findings, about different design inspirations, and what it felt like to be spit in the face by a two and a half year old because I gave him the wrong color top! My son is very “spirited.” Design Thoughts became a blog about real life. I am so excited that I got the spark to start it!!
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
Gosh, I hope that it's never fully cooked, ya know? I feel like, to keep the excitement and passion, it needs to be continually stirred, right? I mean, I for sure, think some of the “business” things are closer to being "fully cooked." For example, the page design, the feel of the blog and how to post properly to get it to all of my social feeds. But my life, my business and Interior Design change every week. Plus my child enters a new phase every three weeks, so as a mama, I'm on the constant journey to battle change and the balance of things. Although there are days when I wish so badly that Design Thoughts would just be ready to dish up with a beautiful glass of red, I think that I would be sad if I thought that it didn’t need to simmer some more.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
Listen, I am FAR from an expert, but this is what I have learned......
Passion + Interest + Acceptance and Openness = Success
You MUST have passion for what you are doing, or it will fail. It's really that simple. No passion and no sparks, equals no new ideas. You must be interested in your topic and it has to be something YOU would pay for. Otherwise, it's not going to be successful. Also, the greatest ideas come from US, the ones who need something that is lacking. The final ingredients in my recipe are acceptance and openness. I have to remember these for my “dish” every single day. When I say acceptance, I mean self acceptance. Not everything is going to be a great idea, the ONE, ya know?? But if we remain OPEN to whatever comes our way, I truly believe we can find success.
I have learned, and continue to learn, that when we take a minute to be clear on WHAT success means to us, we can see success around us every single day!! In terms of Design Thoughts, I thought, “when I get featured on one of those high traffic design blogs, THAT will be a sign of success for me." Well two weeks ago, I WAS featured on Made By Girl (www.madebygirl.blogspot.com). Yet, as soon as I was featured, I barely took time to recognize the greatness of it, I was on to the next “recipe” for my own success. So, now I have actually become very clear on what success means to me. It means LOVING what I do (passionately loving it......like I want to make out with it. That’s how much LOVE I'm talking about here.) And, of course, bringing in an income from it!
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
As I mentioned in the first question, when I saw the great candle in Target, but it was also the fact that a lot of my friends and family would ask me about inexpensive ways to design their homes. It started in college when none of us had any money. Then it just grew from there as we began to bring in more income, but also brought on new expenses (homes, cars, babies.)That’s really what sparked me. I was giving advice, so I thought, eh..why not BLOG about it!
INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO ADD LIFE TO YOUR SPACE!
Add light to your space, without breaking the bank.
Here's a do it yourself hanging light made out of a candle holder.
DesignThoughtsCandleBlogPost
An easy and inexpensive design idea for kids rooms.
Just cut up a copy of their favorite book, and frame the pictures.
DesignThoughtsKidsRoomsBlogPost
Add light to your space, without breaking the bank.
Here's a do it yourself hanging light made out of a candle holder.
DesignThoughtsCandleBlogPost
An easy and inexpensive design idea for kids rooms.
Just cut up a copy of their favorite book, and frame the pictures.
DesignThoughtsKidsRoomsBlogPost
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Ohhh my gosh!!! EVERYTHING inspires me, but here are a few of the biggies…People who are afraid but they push forward anyway, single moms, bright colors, a great deal, a loving daddy, nature and rawness ( I mean in people and materials). I love a gritty metal lamp and I also love a gritty person who has lived life and loves talking about it. Antiques with a story that's known and beautiful things with meaning. You know that saying, "she’s more than just a pretty face?" Well I feel that way when designing a home. I want people to walk into a space and be able to hear a story about certain pieces. I want to give a home meaning. That inspires me!!!
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
I WISH, for the sake of sounding SUPER professional and creatively cool, I could say…”ohhh it just all falls into place beautifully. It's hardly a struggle.” BUT the truth is, like most of the other creative mamas I know, I get through it by realizing “balance” does not have to be equal. My balance is usually 25% here, 45% there and 30% over there. There is no way to balance everything all of the time. I think if you can hold onto the ingredients above, Passion + Interest + Acceptance and Openness, it can make it a little more comfortable. Not easier, but more comfortable. Oh, and I cry and drink wine. That helps a lot :)
Ohhh my gosh!!! EVERYTHING inspires me, but here are a few of the biggies…People who are afraid but they push forward anyway, single moms, bright colors, a great deal, a loving daddy, nature and rawness ( I mean in people and materials). I love a gritty metal lamp and I also love a gritty person who has lived life and loves talking about it. Antiques with a story that's known and beautiful things with meaning. You know that saying, "she’s more than just a pretty face?" Well I feel that way when designing a home. I want people to walk into a space and be able to hear a story about certain pieces. I want to give a home meaning. That inspires me!!!
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
I WISH, for the sake of sounding SUPER professional and creatively cool, I could say…”ohhh it just all falls into place beautifully. It's hardly a struggle.” BUT the truth is, like most of the other creative mamas I know, I get through it by realizing “balance” does not have to be equal. My balance is usually 25% here, 45% there and 30% over there. There is no way to balance everything all of the time. I think if you can hold onto the ingredients above, Passion + Interest + Acceptance and Openness, it can make it a little more comfortable. Not easier, but more comfortable. Oh, and I cry and drink wine. That helps a lot :)
Project: Art Center!
"One way I balance mama and blogging is by doing projects that help my life as a mama...and then blogging about it!"
DesignThoughtsArtCenterBlogPost
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
Sigh..my ultimate pasta dish is having the courage to throw every single noodle I have on the “Wall” and not care if it sticks. To live a life of LOVING what I do and still be able to give fully to myself, my child, my husband and my friends. THAT is the perfect dish!
FOLLOW DESIGN THOUGHTS ON FACEBOOK • TWITTER • BLOG
"One way I balance mama and blogging is by doing projects that help my life as a mama...and then blogging about it!"
DesignThoughtsArtCenterBlogPost
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
Sigh..my ultimate pasta dish is having the courage to throw every single noodle I have on the “Wall” and not care if it sticks. To live a life of LOVING what I do and still be able to give fully to myself, my child, my husband and my friends. THAT is the perfect dish!
FOLLOW DESIGN THOUGHTS ON FACEBOOK • TWITTER • BLOG