MOM FRIDAY Loving and Giving

Blogger and mompreneur Michelle Lim tells Northern Living what it's like to be a Mom Friday

B etween preparing kids for school and running her household, Michelle Lim still finds time to run a blog—and a successful one at that. Thanks to her background in PR, events, and advertising, Michelle's blog, My Mom Friday, is enjoying a good run in cyberspace. As a stay- athome working mom, she finds time to write during weeknights, right after tutoring her kids and finishing her errands. At the moment, she is also toying with the possibility of setting up a business that she can manage from home.

Michelle is about to celebrate 11 years of marriage with her husband this November. She has been blessed with two kids: JT, who is turning 10, and Mika, who is turning 7. " We also recognize their individuality, their needs, how they think, so parenting is different for each child," she says, explaining that she is not as strict with her kids as her parents were with her.

She and her husband are less authoritarian and more open to what their kids have to say. They extend some level of empowerment so that the kids learn to be more responsible with their actions. " Even if we’re more democratic, our challenge is to instill discipline, humility, compassion, honesty, and respect for others."

STYLISHLY LOW- MAINTENANCE

Michelle describes her style as comfy, casual, and a bit conservative— one that has remained relatively the same, even after having kids. She sticks to timeless pieces and simple casual ensembles, sometimes adding trendy pieces or accessories, depending on her mood. "I still enjoy dressing up even after having kids, and I like styling [my kids'] outfits as well. I only wear a dress when it’s called for or during formal occasions."

Probably the only thing that changed in her style is the footwear. " I kicked the heels in favor of flats after I stopped working, but there are days I miss corporate dressing."

For her beauty regimen, she sticks to the basics: cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. " I use Physiogel cleanser and intensive cream, Cure exfoliant, Shu Uemura cleansing oil, and moisturizing body oils for my dry skin."

She always carries a lash curler, lipstick, eye pencil, and mascara in her beauty kit but mostly keeps her makeup simple. " I can go with just my mineral face powder and favorite Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer."

Fitness, though, is one area she feels she needs to work on. " At my age, I know I need to have some form of exercise. I’m forever underweight, and it’s not a good thing." She has recently tried Vinyasa Flow yoga with her friends and hopes to start some home exercises with free weights.

Even if we’re more democratic, our challenge

is to instill discipline, humility,

compassion, honesty, and respect

for others.