The Mom Edit - A Summer of Rest

This will be my last newsletter of the summer! I’ll be taking some time to be with my family, finish drawing a few overdue projects, and maybe take care of myself a little, too 🤍

I’ll be back in late August with lots of exciting things to share, including the topics you voted for in this newsletter, more vintage edits, and some very special guests on the Mom Edit. I can’t wait!

As I was researching childhood memories, I found this article: Why are parents fixated on Core Memories from the newsletter “Brooding” in The Cut magazine, written by Kathryn Jezer-Morton and I wanted to share these two paragraphs:

“…I only actually remember two things from traveling to New Orleans as a kid: the pink translucent apple jelly that our hotel served at breakfast and an Amtrak porter handing me an Andes mint and smiling. All my other memories are incited by photographs…

“Child psychologists are constantly reminding us that the world of kids is, and should be, separate from the world of adults. Kids are mysterious, which is part of what makes them cool. What’s important to them is not what’s important to us.”

This reminded me that we don’t have to make the most out of summers. It’s just time to be a little more present, watch them move through their imaginary world, be lazier together, let them be bored and unhappy sometimes, make new friends, and create their very own magical summer memories.

Here are some of my recent summer favorites and the latest Family Dinners issue #2!

While I enjoy my staycation or should I say “Summer in the City”? I really loved this article in the French Vogue, “Summering”.

• I survived motherhood for the past 5 years thanks to naps: Even when I am solo mumming, I will still find a way to nap while they make a mess in the next room or burst into my room every 5 minutes to jump on my bed! Here are the do’s and don’ts of napping for adults.

• Dipping cookies in milk: When I get homesick, I head to my Italian deli (closed until August 3rd: it’s called work life balance 🇮🇹!) and get these cookies that are called hugs; milk dipping is highly recommended.

• A hair scalp scrub: I tried this for the first time in my life recently, and I am never going back. Yes, our scalps need a scrub!

• This multi-stick from Ilia in the color tenderly is my new favorite beauty product; I wear it as a lipstick.

• Camp drop off song: the Argus by Ween

• Breakfast Smoothies: This is a card I keep for the moody days. When I feel we are off to a bad start, I’ll offer a delicious smoothie while they wait for breakfast. Frozen fruits; I just add water, and that’s it!

• The big summer obsession so far has been this bracelet making kit that came back from summer camp. Ok it’s plastic and I find rubber rings randomly around the house, so maybe not so great, but it keeps my oldest entertain for hours! I’ll take it.

• I am really into one-piece swimsuits for little girls: Mini Boden Blue one piece, Molo Swimsuits strawberry print, Tiny Cottons Big Swan print.

• A real kids fishing kit to bring to the river

• Moomin on the Riviera: I stumbled on this book at the library, started reading it, and I caught myself laughing out loud. Hilarious.

Currently vintage hunting for breakfast plates, preferably mismatching and fun:

• Mismatch European florals

• Rio Century Japan pink and blue stoneware

• Kids or outdoor Melamine plates

• Japanese ceramics minimal

Not exactly a light beach read, but definitely my pick of the month!

• Une histoire d’amour et de violence by Olivier bourdeaut: I recently finished a memoir about growing up with a violent and emotionally abusive father. As much as it was sometimes hard to read, it is a beautifully written book and a powerful story about resilience, finding ways to love amidst the horror, and building your own family after trauma by trying to do better.

  The same writer wrote one of my favorite novel: “Waiting for Bojangles” translated in English, a beautiful love and family story, and the struggle of the mother battling with mental illness.

• Woman running in the mountains by Yuko Tsushima: The story is set in Tokyo in the 70’s. A young women gets pregnant after a brief affair with a married man, she still lives at her parents, and it depicts all the feelings about being a new mother, love and her desire of freedom.

Eating ice cream everyday is my personal must in summer. I got gifted an ice cream maker and I must say it’s been quite a big life upgrade. It’s easy to make and the kids love it.

Favorite flavors so far Chocolate and Strawberry Cream Recipe. I usually put a little less sugar than the recipe and its been always delicious. I am on my way to try Mango and Pistachio!

Finally, three newsletters I enjoyed:

• Vintage Tees Part I by Juliana Ramirez

• My mom was a 90’s mom with four kids… and she napped every afternoon by Danielle Shugg

• Go see some Art by Berry Stein. A great list of exhibition this summer in both LA and NYC.

Happy Summer ❤️ to you and your loved ones, wishing you to be lazy together and to squeeze them tight. See you soon.

Much Love,

xxx

Marina

In case you missed here is more on Summer: