I’d been reading the fantastic food blog Whipped for ages and was tickled when our gal Brenda Bergen sent fellow Chicagoan Caroline Lubbers, who’s behind Whipped, our way. We always love a SpitfireMom recommendation!
Even better? That’s not all this lady does. She’s a triple entrepreneur, y’all.Caroline also has her own marketing consulting business, Goldfish Marketing Communications. She works mostly with food companies, designers and fast growing innovators with clients including Vosges Haut-Chocolat, Snow & Graham, Wrigley, The Revel Group and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Her husband is a financial consultant but, in addition, they started a t-shirt company a few years ago called U.S. of Awesome. Though U.S. of Awesome is growing, Caroline calls it is more of a labor of love and outlet for her creativity.
The couple has two daughters who are 6 and 3 years old. For the past 6 years they had a nanny four days a week and Caroline’s husband and she took turns on the 5th day of the week. This year, both kids started school at a Chicago Montessori school. They will be in school daily from 8:30 – 3:15 and so begins a new juggling act. The parents now take turns picking the girls up at 3:15 and Caroline’s all about the after school fun!
Here’s what Caroline had to say about being a SpitfireMom:
How does being a mom influence your work?
Being a mom has forced me to accept that I can’t do it all. It taught me a lot about being out of control and being comfortable with that lack of control. I think I am better at what I do (and probably easier to be around) because I more easily accept mistakes and mishaps and move on without obsessing over them.
Until it happened to me, I didn’t understand how being pregnant and a mom affected memory. Unfortunately, I have experienced first hand a noticeable decline in short-term memory. I don’t know if it’s lack of sleep, hormones, or too much juggling but now I can’t live without my lists!
Do you talk about your kids with clients or potential clients?
I am so fortunate in that most of my clients have become friends. We share often with each other and they definitely know I have kids. I try very hard not to over share though I am sure most moms fall into that trap now and then.
We know a SpitfireMom like Caroline has tips to share, so we asked for her best time saving trick:
I work carefully to use every minute wisely. Often, I combine two things into one. When possible, I ride my bike to work (exercise + commute). If I have a lot of reading to do for work, I bring it to the gym and climb the stairs while reading (work + exercise). Since the kids were really little, I involved them in baking and blogging projects (quality kid time + hobby). Now, we often engage them with our t-shirt business. They love folding the shirts, packing shipments and modeling the merchandise (quality kid time + work + life lessons!).
What’s one thing you haven’t figured out?
I haven’t figured out how to have it all. But I’ve decided that I am going to keep trying. Something is always being slightly neglected whether it is my social life, work I am not getting to, being there for every moment with the kids.
And, if you’re a mom entrepreneur and just found out you’re expecting, Caroline says:
I have found that you really can’t work and take care of the kids at the same time. Because I work for myself and I’m flexible, I thought it would be easier to get a little work done while taking care of the kids. Usually the kids end up feeling frustrated that they don’t have my full attention and I feel frustrated that I can’t fully concentrate on work.
Caroline, you multi-talent you, thanks so much for giving so much of your creative self to us! What things would you combine to save time? I love that idea! Then, wander over to Whipped and get inspired to whip something fabulous up.
XO,
Julie, Heidi & Jenn
Know a fabulous, creative mompreneur? We want to hear about her (or YOU)!
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