When we were brainstorming names for this blog, we threw around a lot of ideas. For a while, none of those ideas gave us the warm, fuzzy feelings we were searching for. We tried to find a name that played off our unique “bookend” perspectives, knowing that our friendship is so unique and special because of how different we are. But that also lacked the “feels” we were hoping for.
After a lot of collaboration (and wine), what resonated most with us was the origin of our inner strength. When pondering that, we knew our strength came from the strong female role models we were exposed to growing up.
Our mothers, and definitely our grandmothers, showed us what it meant to live a life “outside the box,” and we immediately knew that we wanted to name our blog after them. We have recognized that these women made incredible sacrifices to provide opportunities to their daughters that they did not have. Because of that, we are here to make the most of those opportunities by using our corner of the internet to honor them. How are we going to do that? By celebrating the ladies who surround us.
LEO & MAUDE refers to our maternal grandmothers. Leocadia (Leo) is Amanda’s grandmother and Maude is Jennifer’s grandmother. Leocadia Marques is a beautiful warrior who overcame adversity as she settled with her family in the U.S. after emigrating from the small Azores island of São Jorge. Marie (Maude) Rivard Sullivan was a real spitfire, a tough broad who was not an overly affectionate grandmother-type, but had a strong personality that commanded people’s attention. They are our inspiration.
We figure, the best way for us to inspire others is to first be inspired ourselves! The meaning of LEO & MAUDE, and the women the name represents, is a constant source of inspiration to us. It gives all the warm, fuzzy feelings we were craving from the start and we hope that we can forever keep this blog near and dear to our hearts. That being said, thank you for being here! We appreciate and love each of you for joining us on this journey.
xoL&M
The Story of Leo
