This is NOT a sponsored post. Haha, you guys, sponsored posts galore this week, I know! And I am suppose to post two more this weekend, I know!!! I am cringing over here too. I won’t have any one week and then BAM! They’re all due in the same week. I feel like events are like that too, I won’t have any fun events for awhile and then BAM, there are so many on the same day. Last time I had a ton of sponsored posts was back in Christmas time, when I started earning an income from this blog and I didn’t really know what I was doing so I replied yes to them, not knowing that meant according to their timeline. I’ve been blogging regularly for 5+ years and never really made any money until 8 months ago, and I will be lying if I say I didn’t enjoy it! It’s fun making money! And bringing an extra income for my family. It empowers me actually, to know that I am contributing financially to our family and I’d survive in case something happens and I need to be the bread winner in the family. It’s a sense of peace and calm I feel that I could be supporting this family of mine if I ever had to.
And making money blogging is super fun and easy, I am going to be honest! To give you an example so you can see what I mean, I recently did a sponsored post with Krispy Kreme donuts to promote their new cake batter donuts and cake batter shakes. First I agreed to it because we go their on an occasion and love their donuts, and second, for my kids’ half birthday tradition, I take them to go get a small treat like donuts or cupcakes, and go to the dollar store where they each pick out 2 items. So I thought, their new cake batter donuts and shake? How perfect for my daughter’s half birthday! So for this post I received a $35 Krispy Kreme goftcard and $350 cash to write one blog post. For going to get donuts with my kids and taking a few pictures and posting about them? Isn’t that so easy and fun? And of course I am always honest about every brand or product I feature on my blog and will never say I love something when I really didn’t. I recently had a spa company tell me they no longer want to collaborate with me(I received a $150 credit to their spa/salon every month for a blog post) on working with me further, after trying our partnership out for 2 months, because I had negative experiences there and I refused to sugar coat it and only say positive things like she had wanted me to. I respect her decision and of course there are no hard feelings whatsoever and I wish them the best. Another fun campaign I did was with Pier 1, it’s probably one of my top favorite campaigns ever! I got to pick out a bunch of items to keep that was worth $1400 and post about it and got $600 cash on top of that. I know no blogger really discloses how much they earn on their posts but I am just super open about things and you can ask me anything about blogging and I will tell you everything.
So can you see a little bit of why it’s so easy to say yes to these campaigns and so hard to say no? And how one could become a little greedy? Haha. I do feel like the more I earn, the more fun it is and the more I want to earn, which makes sense because money doesn’t bring you true, lasting happiness and I can understand why some people become obsessed with money and become a workaholic! You want more and bigger things because you are basing your happiness on money and in the end, money doesn’t bring you happiness so you’re never satisfied so you keep wanting more and more. It’s a dangerous cycle.
So lately I’ve been pondering about me getting greedy and writing sponsored posts and you guys, if I was in your shoes and I was the reader, I’d personally be turned off. So I don’t blame you if you feel this way. And I don’t want to lose my awesome readers because I put making money over the happiness of my readers, because keeping my readers happy triumphs over making money. And I have been taking on way too much, way more than I can handle, and it seems it’s been awhile since I knew what it felt like to just be a mother. And not an income-earning blogger. I’ve been trying to do it all, but it’s not possible. I’ve been volunteering to help in my kids classrooms, taking on sponsored posts, entering the sewing competition, trying to help my parents out more in their older, fragile age, taking the kids to piano lessons, soccer games, playing with them, making a costume for Alison Faulkner, getting my skirt manufactured…… it’s just too much. And I am not doing well in many of these areas, the house is dirtier, I am more impatient with the kids and resent how I can’t put my clothing line at my highest priority and give it my all, I have honestly forgotten to go to Young Women activities for my church calling because I’ve been so busy, I sleep less and go to bed super late, thus not as attentive or happy during the day with my kids, it goes on. I can’t have it all, all at once. If I focus on something, another thing lacks. That’s how life works. So I need to focus on the most important things, things that if I don’t do, I know I’ll regret on my deathbed. That’s been my motto lately, to not do things or do things so that I won’t have regrets on my deathbed.
So my highest priorities should be:
1. Being a good wife and making Jay happy. Which means I need to clean more. Hahaha, he told me if I was more clean(like become OCD clean like himself), I’d be perfect. So that means I need to stop being so busy and have time to clean.
2. Being a patient and happy mother to my kids. Not be too tired to help with their homework, not being on my phone while I am with them(I am addicted to my phone. There I said it!), going to my daughter’s soccer practice and lessons and watching her instead of dropping her off and running errands, not blog or check emails while they kids are with me, give them my full attention, focus and energy while I am with them.
3. Help my parents out more. Go to my parents house everyday and make them food, help with my dad, hanging out with them more, spend time with them, take my dad swimming or exercise with him since he doesn’t have the motivation to exercise by himself, have them be in my top 3 priority right now.
4. Launching my clothing line. I actually have been putting this off for so long. I’ve been getting very strong promptings to do it the past couple of years but I pushed it away saying I don’t have time, I want to be a stay at home mom, and finding excuses because if it was me, I wouldn’t do it until my youngest is in school full time, so not for another 4 years. But I know this is what God wants me to do and I’ve had conflicting issues with this because in my LDS culture, being a stay at home mom is the best thing you can do and very strongly encouraged. So I’ve learned that God works with each person in different ways and that’s why we shouldn’t judge others for their choices because we never know why they are choosing to do something. I will still be a stay at home mom but my son might need to be babysat or go to half day care a couple times a week.
So another reason why I’ve been trying to earn more money through blogging is because I want to save the money to get my designs manufactured. So that’s probably a huge reason why it’s so hard to turn down campaigns! It’s more money that’s going into my savings for launching my clothing line, which I hope will support me in helping children in third world countries.
Okay, I am getting sick of talking about myself now, if I was verbalizing this, my mouth would be tired from all that talking. Haha. So my moral of this story is, I realize I have been getting greedy and getting caught up in earning money, and I want to slow down. And focus more on my family. I also miss blogging just whenever I felt like it, and not having deadlines. So I am not saying I will stop all sponsored posts, or stop blogging, but I need to slow down and focus on the things that really matter in the end. I will never regret turning down a certain campaign on my deathbed.
The end.
Now you tell me your thoughts about this post, have my sponsored posts been turning you off? What advice do you have? And tell me your dreams, your frustrations. your goals. I hate this part about blogging, I can’t really get to know you! Or hear about all your stories. So I’d love to read about your goals or frustrations. I read each one of them and love getting to know you.
Tamara says
I don't mind your sponsored posts. I think you put such a personal spin on them and I love the ideas you come up with. I truly believe that I am getting your honest opinion. I'm happy that you can earn some money and feel empowered.
I work full time outside of the home. I have 4 kids ages 9, 7, 3, and 1. I know what it's like to feel pulled in too many directions and feel like you're failing at everything. It's a tough feeling, but it comes and goes. There are easy days and tough days. Some day's I'll be crying because I can't go on a field trip with one of my kids. Another day, I am flying high because I was able to take a half day off and volunteer at their school and all their little friends say hi and give me hugs. No matter what, I try to remember that even though I can't be with them all the time, I am giving them other blessings.
I think you need to take the pressure off of yourself a little. You are under added pressure because you're LDS in Utah. If you were not in Utah, you'd have less pressure. It's not uncommon for LDS woman to work where I live. Your kids will be fine if they spend a handful of hours in daycare a week. They will probably really enjoy it. It's amazing how productive you can be when you know you have some uninterrupted time.
I hope you can find a good balance that fits for you. No matter what it is, it will never be easy. Every choice we make comes with its own set of struggles, dang it! I love reading your blog. Your projects and personality make me happy. You're a person I would seek out as a friend if I lived in your area:) So take a deep breath, put a smile on your face, and tell yourself you are doing a great job!!!
Kristin Jones says
I really love your blog because you're so open and honest. I don't always read your sponsored posts because they're not always for me, but you manage to make them interested and it doesn't come off as phony at all (like some people you can just TELL they're saying something too fake and too positive). I started following your blog because of your amazing refashions many years ago, but I always like hearing about what else you're up to. Your doing a great job, don't be so worried! π
Kristin Jones says
I really love your blog because you're so open and honest. I don't always read your sponsored posts because they're not always for me, but you manage to make them interested and it doesn't come off as phony at all (like some people you can just TELL they're saying something too fake and too positive). I started following your blog because of your amazing refashions many years ago, but I always like hearing about what else you're up to. Your doing a great job, don't be so worried! π
Kristin Jones says
I really love your blog because you're so open and honest. I don't always read your sponsored posts because they're not always for me, but you manage to make them interested and it doesn't come off as phony at all (like some people you can just TELL they're saying something too fake and too positive). I started following your blog because of your amazing refashions many years ago, but I always like hearing about what else you're up to. Your doing a great job, don't be so worried! π
Aubrey says
Th balance is so hard. I'm sure I could make a lot more money blogging but I just don't have the time. I take the payments and products that come my way and forget about the rest
Sara Jolie says
fascinating! I have always wondered how much bloggers get for their sponsored posts. I appreciate your sincerity. Best of luck in your dress company! Maybe we'll see you on Shark Tank one day. π And congratulations on your Refashion win!
Beverly Houpt says
I love your honesty. I don't mind the sponsored posts so much because you've explained before why you do them and your awesome goal of helping children. So I try to support you in any way I can! π
Jean C. says
You know, after reading some of your posts and now all the comments….. I can just say "DITTO". I think you are doing a great job. Hang in there with the kids and so many things tugging you this way and that, it does depend on you to decide what is important and what just isn't! I'm not in you or probably the majority of your readers age group because we have finished raising our kids and now they are raising kids (at least some of them are). You have made goals, good for you. It's tough sometimes but if you talk to your hubby and your kids they will be there to help and also realize that you have decided that they are what's most important to you. I just read something Sister Okazaki wrote in her book Lighten Up! yesterday that may help. She was saying she was making a cake late one night (cause she had been sooo swamped with everything else up until that moment) and it was almost midnight when she got to frost it. She was going thru how she would have to drop this cake off (for a r.s. event the next day she couldn't go to) and how it would do all sorts of things to her already busy schedule. She said, "I had a profound revelation. The revelation was, "This is crazy!" So basically we all have busy lives, and although we will have lots of good things to choose from it doesn't mean we have to do them all. Take care… I'm not in Utah county, (Davis) but I've lived outta state and yes sometimes…. we put more pressure on ourselves here in Utah. Just remember The Lord doesn't expect us to do everything in one day, one week, one month, or even one year. That's why we have different seasons of our lives.
Jean C.
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Sonja says
I really love your honest blog and the eclectic content. But I think it's sad that your husband's happiness depends on you cleaning :/ No one can do it all and you already do a lot! Don't burn yourself out and just do what you love.. that's what we love too!
Sarah says
Tamara!
You have 4 kids, wow, I can't imagine! And working full time, you are a super mom! Where do you live, I always love reading your comments and I think we'd be good friends! π Thank you so much for your encouraging, sweet words, you have no idea how much it means to me! Hugs to you!
Sarah
Iulia says
Hi Sarah,
I came across your blog only a few days ago, but I absolutely love it, and already read tens of your posts! I have to say that I never have the patience to read more than a few sentences from a post, actually I don't usually read people's blogs.
But yours has it all, I even enjoyed your sponsored posts. I would actually encourage you to write as many as you can, since this can get you closer to your dream.
I love your writing style, sweet, honest, open, so easy to relate to, and I am sure you are the same in person.
I adore your clothes, especially the ones you make and design and being passionate about clothes alterations myself, it's very encouraging to see that you can do this with so little spare time. I always have about 5-6 items lined up for little (or more complicated) alterations, but my full time job doesn't leave me much time for this hobby.
Good luck with everything you do! Looking forward to more of your tutorials π
All the best,
Iulia
Rania, Style Whimsical says
Hello, Dear..
I've just found your blog through instagram, and started enjoying your posts. The first thing that made me really want to check your blog is that you're a mama to 3 kids and still have time to blog.. so I was curious on how you do that (because I'm a mama to 3, too — and have a blog..). And then I'm also in love with your inspiring skill in clothes alterations — I love learning on making clothes alterations! So, thank you for sharing your life, knowledges, experiences, and skill on the blog, that we all can learn from..
Agree with Iulia: more clothes-alteration tutorials, please! π