apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What does Oprah's new dog and Mrs Obama's living situation have to do with small-space living?

They are amazing women!!!

It's just for FUN! Inspiration can come from large places, too - sometimes, even the idea "gee, I sure am glad I don't have to take care of such a HUGE place!"

Inspiration can come just from the colors on the cover. Very nice.

Nothing inspires me than a bowl of rainbow sherbet.

Yes, very inspiring, just remembered I have to buy bananas.

I can certainly understand why Oprah could be referred to as an "amazing" woman -but what has First Lady Obama done to deserve the "amazing" label?

Racist speeches?

wister5:

The fact that, as a minority and a woman, she graduated Harvard Law School in 1988 is impressive in itself. She definitely went against the odds there, and only continued beating them afterwards.

I got my doggie from PAWS too! PAWS rocks.

you're missing the big picture people...what's all this about 'white house pie'? a preview of that is the real scoop!

we need more judge judy and less oprah.

wister5:

Any woman who can set a good example for all the other young women and young girls in the world community is an amazing woman. They are everywhere, but the fact that Michelle Obama is in the international spot light simply makes her more accesible as a role model for us all.

wister5, you ask a very valid question. your candor is a breath of fresh air.

I want oprah's dress!

If Oprah says Michelle is an amazing woman, then it must be a fact. ;-)

That dress in that color looks great on Oprah!

I think Michelle Obama's impressive enough, but the Harvard Law thing isn't that amazing. She went to Princeton undergrad, so what odds was she beating to get into another Ivy? But this is a post of desperation.

Well, she is wife to the president - that in itself is amazing. I think I would buckle under that kind of pressure, but she not only shines, she's doing it with energy and fresh ideas. She's working hard to make sure that her children are raised in a positive and nurturing environment in spite of the busy and public life her family is now leading. She is encouraging the use of local food and gardening at and in connection to the White House. She doesn't bend under social pressure to do this or that properly just b/c she's now at the White House, and she's not afraid to speak up, even with her very public and very precarious position, when something (like a toy company) is threatening the privacy of her kids. All of that takes amazing strength of character, and she's just started.

Gosh, wister5, the more I think about it... that is such a snarky question. What has she done to deserve the amazing label... I just have to roll my eyes.

michelle's hair is getting higher and bigger. is that what happens when you're the prez's wife?

how can anyone judge whether someone is amazing or not when they've never met them?

i saw some footage of michelle obama at a school reading to some kidlets and she seemed warm and engaging.

Is it just me, or does Oprah's puppy look really, really depressed?

Apparently being raised in a one bedroom apartment with 4 other people, graduating from Princeton with cum laude honors, getting a law degree at Harvard, becoming an associate at a law firm, accepting associate dean at the University of Chicago, being a member of six boards of directors including the the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Vice President of Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals, becoming First Lady, oh and being a mother of two girls isn't "amazing" enough at wister5 and Seaside's high standards of amazement.

Also, I need to comment on Seaside's freudian use of "candor", Latin for ..."extreme whiteness". As in, "thank you for your extreme whiteness".

How is becoming First Lady an achievement? - she just happens to be married to the president - thats more a case of luck than achievement...

I, too, LOVE Oprahs dress!

"She just happens to be married to the president"?

Uh, he might not be the president without her blessing and support. She's always encouraged him to be involved in politics, from the start. Do you think he would have run if she'd been against it?

Not to mention that she was basically a single parent for the past two years while he was constantly on the campaign trail. I have two kids of my own, so I think that right there is kind of amazing.

Plus she's gorgeous and smart and funny and humble. It must take a lot to impress you if Michelle Obama doesn't.

"Plus she's gorgeous and smart and funny and humble."

Hell, I'm gorgeous and smart and funny...AND humble. Where's the off-topic AT post about me?

I'm pretty sure that this post was just supposed to be fun, and to spark a discussion.

On the First Lady:
I think that there are a lot of people who would think of Michelle as a role model, and many who wouldn't. That's all fine with me, but if people compare her to other "role models" in our society please, please admit that she is better than most. People are curious about the lives of celebrities and that is why we post the homes of these people ALL THE TIME.

On AT:
This article has fun colours, maybe some interesting content (I haven't read it) and tells readers a little bit about White House design. I have no problem with that. We post about unachievable homes all the time and they are just supposed to be inspiration to other homeowners/renters. I'm pretty sure that I could post a bowl of fruit, a mcmansion or a wall of graffiti on here and people would be able to find some inspiration in each article.

Relax everyone, design is fun. Some people may think that some posts are off-topic, what is the topic supposed to be anyway? Homes, beauty, bold ideas, inspiration, information...

I have no problem with this post, opinions maybe (which I will happily express in a civilized manner) but no problems.

AT: All Obama, all the time.

The only two things these women have in common are their shamelessly self serving attempts to ingratiate themselves after the infamous dog and pony show they created during the campaign.

Although, I do admire Oprah for bringing to the public's attention the plight of women in parts of the world where a woman is less than chattel, Michele Obama has yet to publicly apologize for her unsavory and vicious attacks to against the Clintons. She has yet to undo the damage of her first impressions and frankly my dears, I don't give a damn that she went to Harvard. That is no longer considered an accomplishment from an equal opportunity ingrate.

Michele's only saving grace, is that she has raised two lovely children. I give credit only where it is merited. The rest of you white blathering liberals can put more ice in your kool aides. Stop shoving the Obamas down our throats. Some of us didn't vote because we had no choices left.

Being the First Lady is nothing to be ashamed of but it doesn't make you a role model. At least Oprah got where she is under her own steam.

Tequila Red, as far as Michelle being a single mother for the last two years - what a disparaging statement about Barack (did he abandon his children to chase power? What exactly are you saying?) and what a slap in the face to all the real single mothers out there.

Spare me. I was a single mom for 8 years, and before that I was married to a soldier who was deployed for yearlong tours of duty. So yeah, I kind of know what I'm talking about.

JosieDaisy, you're right. Being First Lady doesn't make you an instant role model, you have to earn it. Many of us would say that Michelle Obama is well on her way to doing just that.

And my guess is, if you're married or in a long-term relationship, you know how amazing you'd have to be to accept the position of First Lady. It isn't just something that falls into your lap, unless you are comatose. There are some jobs that don't involve your spouse's involvement, energy and hard work. President is not one of those jobs.

This business about "shoving the Obamas down one's throat." This is the first time in a long time that this many people have been so excited about their country and their president. If you don't like the Obamas and you don't like having the Democrats in office, that's fine. You are not only entitled, but supported in that opinion! But they deserve at least some appreciation, not simply criticism, for what they've done for your country's morale. Don't try to drag the country down just because you didn't vote (or didn't want to vote) for Obama. It is immature to have an inflammatory, un-nuanced opinion. And I would say that to anyone.

I'm not just hating on the Obamas, EmilyKristin. I respect them. If your third paragraph was to me; my quibbling was not about Republican vs. Democrat. I wouldn't call Laura Bush a role-model either.