• Home
  • Laurentide
    • Farm
    • Cool Women
    • Family
    • Interiors
    • Lessons
    • Procrastination
    • Reviews
    • Travel
    • Vintage Finds
  • Videos
  • Resources
    • Message Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • Subscribe
  • Search
  • Archive
Menu

The Bubble Joy

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
"In folly's cup still laughs the bubble joy." Alexander Pope

Your Custom Text Here

The Bubble Joy

  • Home
  • Laurentide
  • Blog
    • Farm
    • Cool Women
    • Family
    • Interiors
    • Lessons
    • Procrastination
    • Reviews
    • Travel
    • Vintage Finds
  • Videos
  • Resources
  • Contact
    • Message Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • Subscribe
  • Search
  • Archive

Mary Richards and Her Bachelorette Pad

January 27, 2017 mithra ballesteros

Mr. Grant must be scowling at the news, and not because of the usual bumbling incompetence in the WJM-TV newsroom, but because his best hire ever, Mary Richards, has finally let him down.   

Mary Tyler Moore passed away this week and right now, all I want to do is pull out a hide-a-bed, grab a box of kleenex and mourn Mary the way that she mourned Chuckles the Clown. Laughter and tears.  

Was there ever a more shining example of a modern career woman? She was sunny, funny, spunky, and sweet. She played the straight man so well, especially against Rhoda and Mr. Grant, but she knew how to get a laugh. Every girl wanted to be her. And certainly we all wanted to live in that airy Minneapolis apartment. 

The entire space was outfitted with vintage and thrift store finds -- mismatched end tables, shag area rugs, the giant letter 'M' on her wall, wicker stools -- the producers wanted to emphasize that she wasn't wealthy. But we loved it all, as do many of today's hipsters who have translated Mary Richard's look into a popular decor style. I adored the little skirted table in front of the imposing arched window. And the sunken living room / bedroom. We were too young to understand the implication of Mary's pullout couch. That she couldn't afford a place with a bedroom, no doubt because she was earning a third of what Ted earned. 

Mary strode around her apartment with grace and warmth. The flow of the space was made for parties, though Mary was a flop as a hostess. Remember when Sue Ann passed off her cooking as Mary's during the dinner party for the congresswoman? ("The Dinner Party", season 4, episode 10.) She made living alone look very appealing to little girls whose only other TV female role model for single life was Barbara Eden, a woman literally trapped in a bottle. Even the opening credits -- one of the most charming ever -- balanced scenes of Mary with co-workers and friends with an equal number of scenes of Mary out and about in Minneapolis, enjoying her city by herself. 

Of course what we loved best about Mary was her ability to navigate her job and personal life with equal parts youthful idealism and life-learned sophistication. That tension between the 1970s age of feminism and the more conservative values of the 50s was a subtext to everything that occurred in the series' 7-year run. She walked a fine line between winsome naif and worldly thirty-something. In season 6, episode 8, Mary tells Murray, "I'm hardly innocent. I've been around. Well alright, maybe not around. But I've been nearby."

She is no longer around or even nearby. Our favorite career girl next door is gone. 


Shop the Mary Richards Style at Finder Not Keeper 

I had no idea until I studied photos of the Mary Tyler Moore Show set, that I was obviously influenced by that sitcom. But of course! If only I had her wardrobe too... .

Click on photos for shopping information:

Barcart_600.jpg
Everyone remembers the giant letter on Mary's wall. I wish these were the letter 'M', but then I wouldn't be selling them!

Everyone remembers the giant letter on Mary's wall. I wish these were the letter 'M', but then I wouldn't be selling them!

This Ben Shahn print hung on the wall in Mary's apartment in Season 1.

This Ben Shahn print hung on the wall in Mary's apartment in Season 1.

Mary stocked a lot of glassware from the 1960s, because who knew when Mr. Grant would show up needing a glass of scotch.

Mary stocked a lot of glassware from the 1960s, because who knew when Mr. Grant would show up needing a glass of scotch.

Mary appreciated the 1970s fixation on weaving and knotting. She had lots of macrame plant holders and pillows.

Mary appreciated the 1970s fixation on weaving and knotting. She had lots of macrame plant holders and pillows.

Mary always served coffee in a chemex. This is pretty close. I love the retro leaf pattern and the atomic brass holder. The sugar and creamer are dimpled!

Mary always served coffee in a chemex. This is pretty close. I love the retro leaf pattern and the atomic brass holder. The sugar and creamer are dimpled!

Mary hung giant keys on her walls. When I went through sorority rush, I was told that Mary was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, whose symbol was the key. It was a teeny bit of the reason why I pledged. But it was just a rumor. Mary Tyler Moore did not…

Mary hung giant keys on her walls. When I went through sorority rush, I was told that Mary was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, whose symbol was the key. It was a teeny bit of the reason why I pledged. But it was just a rumor. Mary Tyler Moore did not attend college.

Thank you for reading all the way down to the bottom. You've got spunk, just like Mary Richards! Join me every Friday for a newsletter with more posts, first dibs on new items in the shop, and links to great stuff around the web.

Subscribe to The Bubble Joy

In Cool Women Tags Mary Tyler Moore, Mary Richards, vintage, thrift store, vignette, Mr. Grant, Finder Not Keeper
← La La Land: Masterpiece or Garbage? Online Debate Erupts! On the Third Anniversary of The Bubble Joy, Here's What I Know About You →

Mithra B096 copy.jpg

Welcome! I'm Mithra (pronounced Mee-thra). I'm an interior stylist and a writer. I'm also a vintage and antiques lover. I have an online shop, Finder Not Keeper, where I sell my best finds. (That's a white lie. I keep the best finds.) Read more about me and the blog here. 


FIND ME IN YOUR INBOX


CATEGORIES

Cool-Women_png.png
Family_png.png
Interiors_png.png
Procrastinate_png.png
Reviews_png.png
Travel_png.png
Vintage_png.png
Lessons_png.png

Instagram posts

A few days back in the ‘Quon. All of February is the price I’m willing to fork over for one week in September.
A few days back in the ‘Quon. All of February is the price I’m willing to fork over for one week in September.
Latest blog post about our new outdoor shower and the differences of opinion between this guy and his mother (me) on how it should be used. #linkinbio
Latest blog post about our new outdoor shower and the differences of opinion between this guy and his mother (me) on how it should be used. #linkinbio
Brainy, brave, kind, genuine, indefatigable, funny, patriotic, fair, hard working, gentle, strong, iconic.
Brainy, brave, kind, genuine, indefatigable, funny, patriotic, fair, hard working, gentle, strong, iconic.
Those aren’t my hands forming baguettes. But I took the pic. @heat_her_all_a_man has it down  and I’m ready with my salted butter and honey. What do you eat with baguettes?
Those aren’t my hands forming baguettes. But I took the pic. @heat_her_all_a_man has it down and I’m ready with my salted butter and honey. What do you eat with baguettes?
Surveying the herb garden after a good weeding session. Basil took a hit the last couple weeks but everything else is flourishing like summer lasts forever.
Surveying the herb garden after a good weeding session. Basil took a hit the last couple weeks but everything else is flourishing like summer lasts forever.
First restaurant account for @littlelaurentide! Also first time eating out since the snow was flying. Really really fun night. (Not to mention that building’s white with black trim paint color scheme is 💯)
First restaurant account for @littlelaurentide! Also first time eating out since the snow was flying. Really really fun night. (Not to mention that building’s white with black trim paint color scheme is 💯)
Surprise lilies, also known as naked ladies, fit in well here at the farm for reasons we will let you ponder.
Surprise lilies, also known as naked ladies, fit in well here at the farm for reasons we will let you ponder.
This is son #2, the farmer. Walter is working hard to turn this place into a sustainable organic farm. Follow us @littlelaurentide for the latest on how mother and son align, clash, argue, hug.
This is son #2, the farmer. Walter is working hard to turn this place into a sustainable organic farm. Follow us @littlelaurentide for the latest on how mother and son align, clash, argue, hug.
On the blog today, the newest bachelor at Little Laurentide. Will he draw viewers or is he a train wreck along the lines of Juan Pablo Galavis? Read the latest blog post to find out! Link in bio.
On the blog today, the newest bachelor at Little Laurentide. Will he draw viewers or is he a train wreck along the lines of Juan Pablo Galavis? Read the latest blog post to find out! Link in bio.
On the blog today: a tour of the best places on the farm to sit for a spell. And I write a bit about what it’s like to cohabit with a son who used to give me every kind of gray hair. He could teach a polar bear how to be grumpy and I could teac
On the blog today: a tour of the best places on the farm to sit for a spell. And I write a bit about what it’s like to cohabit with a son who used to give me every kind of gray hair. He could teach a polar bear how to be grumpy and I could teach a grizzly bear how to be grumpy. It’s a new world for the two of us, farming together, and can you guess how it’s going??

OLD POSTS

Archive
  • October 2021 1
  • July 2021 1
  • June 2021 1
  • May 2021 2
  • April 2021 3
  • March 2021 1
  • February 2021 2
  • January 2021 2
  • December 2020 2
  • November 2020 1
  • October 2020 2
  • September 2020 1
  • August 2020 5
  • July 2020 7
  • June 2020 6
  • May 2020 9
  • April 2020 8
  • March 2020 4
  • February 2020 3
  • January 2020 5
  • December 2019 1
  • November 2019 4
  • October 2019 3
  • September 2019 3
  • August 2019 4
  • July 2019 7
  • June 2019 5
  • May 2019 8
  • April 2019 8
  • March 2019 8
  • February 2019 7
  • January 2019 7
  • December 2018 8
  • November 2018 9
  • October 2018 8
  • September 2018 7
  • August 2018 9
  • July 2018 6
  • June 2018 7
  • May 2018 7
  • April 2018 5
  • March 2018 4
  • February 2018 4
  • January 2018 4
  • December 2017 1
  • November 2017 3
  • October 2017 3
  • September 2017 4
  • August 2017 4
  • July 2017 4
  • June 2017 5
  • May 2017 3
  • April 2017 5
  • March 2017 3
  • February 2017 2
  • January 2017 4
  • December 2016 5
  • November 2016 4
  • October 2016 3
  • September 2016 5
  • August 2016 4
  • July 2016 5
  • June 2016 4
  • May 2016 4
  • April 2016 4
  • March 2016 5
  • February 2016 8
  • January 2016 8
  • December 2015 6
  • November 2015 9
  • October 2015 9
  • September 2015 8
  • August 2015 8
  • July 2015 5
  • June 2015 4
  • May 2015 5
  • April 2015 4
  • March 2015 4
  • February 2015 4
  • January 2015 5
  • December 2014 4
  • November 2014 4
  • October 2014 6
  • September 2014 2
  • August 2014 3
  • July 2014 5
  • June 2014 3
  • May 2014 3
  • April 2014 4
  • March 2014 6
  • February 2014 5
  • January 2014 4

Powered by Squarespace

Contact: mithra@thebubblejoy.com