This week, we're sitting down with Elin Strong, a writer, former brand marketer and creative director, and self-described "hybrid mom" of two girls (one and three) in Southern California, about 10 minutes from Disneyland. Elin shares what it's like to start her day at 5am with her Moccamaster and a laptop, spend the day out of the house with her girls, and get everyone fed, bathed, and out on a family dog walk by 7pm.
In this week's conversation, Elin opens up about going back to a startup after maternity leave, the months of conversations and budgeting that led her to step away, and the career pause she thought would last six months. We talk about starting her Substack, Bang Voyage, the same day she got a positive pregnancy test, the Thursday writing day her husband makes possible by fitting his teaching into four days, the afternoons her mom covers so she can build her portfolio, and why "my ambition did not go anywhere."
What We Cover:
Why she describes her days as colorful, chaotic, and evolving, and what being a "hybrid mom" looks like right now.
A 5am start she never expected to have: 60 to 90 minutes of focused work on the green velvet couch in "the library," then Pilates or a Peloton ride, a dog walk, and a 9am handoff after her husband gets the kids' breakfast on the table.
Her one rule for solo days with a one- and three-year-old: get out of the house (the formula is a coffee shop plus a playground, with zoo and aquarium memberships on rotation).
The 5pm hour: chicken nuggets in the air fryer, a Trader Joe's frozen meal for her, and the night her daughter lit a tissue on fire at the dinner table. Then bath, matching pajamas, and a night walk with the dog.
What they outsource on one income (grocery delivery and landscaping), what they've paused (a monthly cleaner and a summer babysitter), and the monthly facial membership they budgeted to keep.
A solo night each every week, date nights with her mom babysitting, and their first night away since their second daughter was born.
Creativity in getting dressed on a limited budget, a growing camera collection (including mini Kodak keychain cameras for her girls), and a monthly book club in an old warehouse with women from 28 to 72.
References:
Whistler by Ann Patchett — the novel she just finished and loved
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser — what she's reading right now
The Second Mountain by David Brooks — her book club's current nonfiction pick
What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers — the cookbook behind any home-cooked dinner at her house
Catastrophe — the Sharon Horgan show she's rewatched and recommends starting with
Connect with Elin:
Substack: Bang Voyage
Instagram: @elinmariestrong
Website: elinstrong.com
For creative direction, brand marketing, or writing work: heyelinstrong@gmail.com
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