The Many Hats of a Craft Blogging Mom

Today is a behind the scenes of Delineate Your Dwelling.  I am so excited to team up with eight other bloggers to share a look into our REAL homes and lives.  Today I’m sharing with you The Many Hats of a Craft Blogging Mom.  It’s not very glamourous. It’s the day-to-day happenings, and the less-than-magazine-worthy-pictures. We’re busy … far, far from perfect, and wear many hats (just like most moms).

Have you spent hours browsing Pinterest in the past three months? Have you drooled over the beautiful home tours of your favorite bloggers? Between the perfect Fall Tours and the Christmas Home Tours, do you ever wonder how these ladies get it all done? Do you ever wonder what the behind-the-scenes-not-so-picture-perfect homes look like? And … what do these creative bloggers do all day, exactly??

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling
If you are curious, then lucky you.  Welcome to all my hats: Wife, Mom, Friend, Home Caretaker, Meal Maker, Mess Cleaner, Kiddo Chauffeur, Creator, Photographer, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Blogger… you get it.

7.20AM
I am a lucky mama.  My kids wake around 700-715 and call for dad.  Dad gets them and heads downstairs.  I sleep in for a glorious 15 more minutes and my day starts at 720.  I get breakfast going and while they eat, do my daily devotions.  Makes a big big difference if I don’t start my day with God.  Next, clean up dishes, and check in on the bloggie blog.  Typically things are all prescheduled to post but I check stats, email and link up at a few link parties.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

8.00AM
Time to get cranking on the day.  Kiddo #1 has preschool twice a week and we need to leave the house at 8.45am.  Getting dressed, brushing teeth, doing hair and all going potty one last time before we leave the house are the items to accomplish as fast as we can. (Why do my skinny jeans, look so “mom jean” in this picture – eeks?!)

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

8.45AM
Kids have been wrangled.  We are grabbing backpack, shoes, sunglasses and are out the door.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

10.00AM
Well, kiddo #2 and I are back home and he’s in dire need of a snack.  While he snacks away, I deal with the never ending pile of dishes.  They. Never. Ever. Ever. End.  I’m also throwing a load of kid clothes in the washer/dryer.  We’ve got a 4 year old and an almost 3 year old… their dirty clothes Never. Ever. Ever. End.  Story of every mom’s life.  I also post a daily instagram picture at 10am.  Are  you following me?

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

10.30-11.45AM
Kiddo #2 Play time.  I feel like it’s rare that I ever stop moving, even for a moment.  BUT I always try and especially when kiddo #1 is at school, to stop and play with our little guy for a bit.  Some days it’s cars, some days it’s trains and today it was fireman cooking corn on the cob and cookies. Delicious.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

12.00PM
We’ve headed back to school and got kiddo #1.  Back at home, it’s time for lunch and then guess what!  More dishes.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

1.30PM
Best time of the day (kidding, but not really) NAP TIME.  Kiddo #1 has one hour of quiet play in her room.  Kiddo #2 takes anywhere from an hour to two hour nap.  So, I typically have at least one hour to jump back on the computer and see where things are on the blog.  I normally do some Stumble Upon social media with a SU group I’m in.  Then, I do some Facebook commenting with a FB group I’m in.  Then, I answer a few emails.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

2.30PM
Kiddo #1 has come down to grace with her presence.  She’s ALWAYS in a new outfit and typically needs a snack, but I hold her off until kiddo #2 wakes… because who needs to do more dishes already?  This is my MAIN crafting time.  The lighting is best now and that typically means I’m breaking out some white cardboard on the kitchen floor for pictures.  So fancy, I know.  Have you all seen my the REAL delineate series?  Check out more behind the scenes there.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

3.00PM
Both kiddos are awake now.  Craft time was cut short, as it always is.  They watch an episode or two of Curious George while snacking and I do some much needed laundry folding.  Notice my mantel?  Do you like the 1/3 christmas, 1/3 old blue and orange color scheme and 1/3 chalkboard bible-verse-to-help-keep-me-going look?  I’m too tired after the fall and then christmas home tours I did, to actually do something to the mantel.  Think I’ll leave it like this until Christmas 2015.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

4.00PM
Snacks are done, dishes are sort of done (not really) and playing is happening all over the place. I don’t even know what I’m doing by this point in the day.  Probably wishing I had a glass of wine while playing one more round of Candyland.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

5.30PM
Dinner prep time.  I pre-plan my meals each week and write them on my trusty dry erase board.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

6.00-7.15PM
Dinner and Family Time. The hubs is home, thank goodness.  I have backup help.  We eat dinner and hang out until it’s time for kiddos to take their baths.  Since the hubs doesn’t get much time with them, he does all the bedtime routine.  Which means, back to the computer I go.

7.30-11PM
Blog Time.  Having a laptop means that sometimes I do blogging on the couch while watching The Walking Dead with the hubs.  Sometimes it means, I’m sitting at the table or like tonight, I’m actually in bed wide eyed at how long my day looks when I write it out.  This is my time to edit photos, write blog posts, respond to emails, brainstorm ideas, catch up on the never ending social media and try my best to connect with my favorite people, YOU GUYS, my readers.

The real mess behind a Craft Blogging Mom! Delineate Your Dwelling

Well, if that exciting day didn’t open your eyes to my NON PINTEREST PERFECT life… then I’m not sure what will.  It may not be pretty all the time, but I am blessed beyond words to be at home with my babies, to be running my own little business, to craft, photograph and share things I love doing so so much.

AND if you’re dying for more behind-the-scenes … pop on over to visit these awesome ladies and see what kind of chaos (or lack there of) is happening around their homes!

Perfectly Imperfect Home Tour ... A Behind The Scenes Glimpse Into The World Of Craft Bloggers

Crumbs and Chaos … A Real Life Home Tour from View From The Fridge

Please Excuse the Mess, We’re Making Memories from Crafts By Courtney

Silhouette School’s Messy Office…Reveal from Silhouette School

Behind The Scenes Of A Creative Blogger from My Creative Days

Perfectly Imperfect Home Tour from The Blue Eyed Dove

The Many Hats of a Craft Blogging Mom from Delineate Your Dwelling

A Day in the Life of a Blogging Mama from 3 Little Greenwoods

A Real Life Page Out of the Dolen Diaries from Dolen Diaries

Our {Perfect}ly Imperfect Home Tour from One Krieger Chick

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47 Comments

  1. I love this. And I LOVE that soon your life will look much different that this. #schoolagechildren

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Ha, dang girl! Way to find an oldie but goodie! That was fun for me to read this post… and yes #schoolagechildren here I come!!!

  2. I loved this, Amy! I can TOTALLY relate to squeezing in my projects between nap times and Curious George episodes! 😉 xo

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Haha, we are BIG Curious George fans… lots of that during craft time! =)

  3. Wow – I am so glad I found this post. Your day goes much like mine except you seem to manage to fit in a lot more dishes than I do – I tend to blitz them once or twice a day!

    It’s good to see that it is possible to fit in blogging in a professional manner and still find time to play with your kids. I have just started to blog properly again. My son is two on Saturday and since I had him my blogging has been sporadic. I have updated my blog and made a decision to be more professional and hopefully grow my blog as a result.

    I think I will bookmark this to go back to and remind me that I am not alone on days when I wonder what I am doing!

    Amy

  4. Thanks for sharing at the party. It’s great to see the lives behind the scenes and get a feel of another person’s day.

  5. This is an amazing series! Love seeing behind the scenes of what other bloggers lives look like. It’s amazing how similar our days look as moms. Literally always on the god.

    Stephanie @ http://www.mommyzoid.ca

    You should totally come share this post at a linkup my bloggy friends and I just kicked off today called the Ladies Collective Linkup! <3

  6. This was great Amy! Glad I am not alone with the dishes and the toys and the endless jobs that never seem to end 😉 {oh but my favorite part of your day had to be the fireman cooking corn on the cob. the best} I am blessed to stay home with my kids, but do let all the “stuff that doesn’t get done” bring me down sometimes. I know I just need to be kinder and gentler with myself…I wonder why that is so hard? Thanks for this real life post friend!

  7. I love this post! I’m always in awe of moms who blog AND are home with their kids every day. You are super woman, seriously. I have a full-time job so luckily my three-year-old goes to preschool everyday, but I feel like I still never have enough time for everything–especially laundry & dishes, but most certainly my blog. Thanks for sharing this peek into your life Amy! You are incredible at what you do 🙂

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Anna, you are far too kind! I love being home with my kids but the blog brings a bit of creative happiness to my day… so it’s a bit wild squeezing both in at the same time, but it works for now so I try to go with it! I am pretty excited that both my kids will be in preschool for two days a week next year, ha!

  8. What an inspiring post. I always feel like there is not enough time in the day to craft and blog. Glad to see I’m not alone! Thanks for giving us a little peek into your life

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Mary Grace, thanks for stopping by! Goodness, if I could just add like 4 more hours to the date… it would be so helpful!

  9. Loved this post…I am not sure if I could be brave enough to show off my house -haha…There is always a picture perfect corner but everywhere else you see our total mess..:-) Have a great week, Friend!Xo

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      I rarely even have a corner clean… it’s more about moving the mess from one spot to another, ha!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Oh Melinda, you are NOT ALONE! We’re all a little crazy, ha!

  10. What a fab series, I’m off to check them all out – when really I have a million other things I should be doing right now! I couldn’t have imagined trying to blog with small kids, mine are all big peeps now, which brings different things – more laundry if you can believe that’s possible, but they can all cook which can be a godsend sometimes, I squeeze a job in too in place of childcare but I completely relate to you comment about thinking about the blog ALL THE TIME (even when I’m at work, just don’t tell my boss!)

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Julie, thanks so much for stopping by! I really loved reading everyone’s post… we all live crazy lives and it’s great to share the real mess behind the camera! I sure don’t like hearing bigger peeps = more laundry, ha!

  11. Enjoyed reading you post on the daily life – I have 3 boys that are 16, 13 and 13 and I have some bad news for you – the laundry never ends and it only gets worse as they get older because the clothes are bigger and you have to do more loads! On the bight side they are able to help out some… I also have a schedule of when each kid does the dishes after dinner – I figure if I cook they can help clean up – the other 2 clean the floors and clear the table.

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      You made me laugh out loud, Kimberlee! Bigger clothes = more loads, oh great. Haha. I already make my 2.4 and 4 yr old help clear their plates after meals. Baby steps on helping out is always a good thing!!

  12. Great post! It’s amazing how much time blogging takes…and I don’t even do a lot. It’s always encouraging and fun to get to know the person behind the screen 🙂

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Well, thanks so much for sharing your comment Channon! I don’t share a ton about the “behind the scenes” so I wasn’t sure how people would feel about it. Happy Friday, friend!!

  13. I love this post, Amy! I’ve tried doing THREE day in the life posts but I always trail off by four or five. It’s hard accounting for the day and remembering to take photos of it all. You managed to do it beautifully : ]

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks so much! I love sharing the crazy behind the “pretty pictures”. I even started a “the REAL delineate” series where I share like a foot or two outside the lens of the camera because it’s so so easy to crop out real life and only share pinterest perfect. Boo to that! =)

  14. Sounds like a super busy day!
    Question, though, and I hope you don’t mind me asking – how do you keep up on promoting via social media throughout the day? I have been trying to keep up and post something every two to three hours (just starting to get into this habit) and notice that it’s difficult to remember! With being as busy as you are, is this something you schedule out ahead of time?

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Ha, you’re too kind Marie. We’re all a little crazy… crazy/busy! =)

  15. Great Post!! I love it. A. Because I’m new to this whole blogging thing. and I feel like there’s ALWAYS something I should be doing. So I get up early and stay up late. and EVERY free second I’m on the computer. I like that you are NOT like this!! There’s hope for me! How many link-parties do you participate in? Do you feel like you did less and less as you gained a readership? Thanks so much for sharing. I hope I am like this sooner than later 😉

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Ok, I should clarify… I’m still ALWAYS doing blog stuff, even if it’s just making mental lists while doing laundry. I’ve been blogging for almost two years and I’m still constantly hustling until LATE into the night. every. single. night. That being said, as readership has grown, I can write a post, promote it in the morning and feel okay to walk away for a few hours (kid time, house cleaning, playing at the park, etc) It takes time to figure out your system, so you can be mega productive with no wasted time. But to be honest, unless we are out of the house, I’m typically on the computer in the evenings… but mostly because I love it so so much. I participate in probably 2-4 link parties a day. I have a list of them on a link near the bottom of my sidebar if you want to see which ones! Good luck and keep at it!!

  16. Love seeing the inside workings of your day! It’s funny how we all manage our time and the weird things we do to get the perfect photo!!

  17. Seeing other people’s schedules makes it seem my own life seem more normal. Right now, mine consists of waking up early to blog and do some praying/reading before work then after work is all the house cleaning, time with the husband, more blogging etc. Thanks for sharing how life really is! I think we tend to think we’re the only ones that are so busy and pulled between multiple priorities.

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks for sharing your schedule, too Eva! It’s hard sometimes to not think we are the only crazy ones… but we’re ALL a little crazy, ha!

  18. I love that you start each day with a devotion to God, that’s awesome. My day is typically the same as yours. But my boys don’t take naps anymore, so I have to grab my craft pictures and let them watch a favorite show. I’m so glad you were able to join us in this tour!

  19. SO fun to read, Amy!! I can totally relate to that never being still thing. The one and only time I’m still during the day is to nurse Ben (and even then I’m often on my phone … bad mama!). We are lucky, though, right?? Blogging is great and being a mom is even better (most days)! Thanks for sharing and being a part of the tour!

  20. Great tour, Amy! I can relate with you on the mantel decorating…after Christmas I was over it! When I got out my nonseasonal décor it sort of hung out in random places around the house until I finally found a home for it again. We always have a ton of dishes too…I’m thinking about switching to paper plates 🙂

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Paper plates would be SUCH a good idea around here!!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks, Linday! We’re always doing the craziest things for the best lighting/angle, etc!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Ha. Love it, A-to the-Men. I’m so going to start saying that!

  21. Amanda G. says:

    This was perfect, Friend! You rock ;0)

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Just keepin’ it real, my friend! Thanks for the comment. =)

  22. This was SUCH a fun post to read Amy! Hubs does the bedtime bath and book routine around here too and it’s one of my favorite times of the day because it’s the only time I can enjoy a few minutes of quiet to myself without six million things to do. No wonder our days are over before we know it!!!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Ha, crazy lives we lead Kristi! But, so worth the craziness for the time spent with kiddies, cleaning up their messes and being able to create!

  23. Well, I’ve hopped through the entire list of “behind the scenes”, and I want to thank each of you for sharing this. You’ve helped every blogger out here to realize that “it’s not just me.” Time management and organization have been my own personal challenges for the past year. It’s great to know that this is the norm in blog world.

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      We are all real and we all have crazy lives, I’m so glad I was able to participate in this blog hop and share that with people!

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