boutique prep fabric momday real life

A post-SNAP brain purge {a Mom-day post}

I promised a shot of my living room.  This is taken from upstairs looking down.  It got much, much worse. 😉

Last week, after weeks of boutique prep, I had the chance to attend SNAP.  It’s a conference for creative bloggers.  It was amazing!  The classes were wonderful, timely and well done.  The schedule was incredible, the sponsors terrific and the party was top notch!  I had a fabulous time connecting with friends new and old and enjoying my time as a person (not a mom) immensely. 

Whenever I attend an event like this, I often feel overwhelmed with the enormity of all that I am NOT doing.  I will admit that my competitive juices start flowing and I feel a strong yearning to be at the TOP of the dog-pile.  My mind races to the list of this’ and thats’ that I should and could be doing better.  Instagramming, Pinteresting, Facebooking, Tweeting, editing, SEO-ing and so on.  Things that, if I want this blog of mine to grow, need to be done.  I become frantic and frustrated and plain old cross, truth be told.

Then, when I allow the chaos to slow down a bit, I begin to reflect on what my priorities really are.  My family, my home, my friends.  I’m trying to grow a business and raise 5 children- and very honestly- be the Mom, first and foremost.  I realize that all the could do’s and should do’s are NOT have-to’s.  They are nice, and definitely help in the race to become “known”, but in the grand scheme of what truly matters in this life, to me, they aren’t really important at all.  At the gates of heaven, there is no requirement for a certain number of followers, or likes or page views.

Riley Blake geekly chic wallet with laminate cotton exterior

Creating things helps me be a better mom.  It gives me a place to be a person outside of my children.  It allows me to fulfill needs deep in my heart that allow for me to bring to my family a whole and happy person.  It is something I can’t do without finding a way to get it to pay for itself.  Selling my creations not only allows me to perpetuate the creative flow, but brings me satisfaction in a myriad other ways as well. 

Striking a balance in life is a tricky business.  The ebbs and flows are ever changing, creating a need for constant adjustment.  Priorities shift and the focus of our lives moves about as the sun orbits the Earth.  What works one day might need to be adjusted the next.

I am making deliberate choices- some good and some bad.  But all in the attempt to keep at the forefront of my life the things that matter the most to me- my family and my religion.  There are times I don’t do such a great job of it- but I am constantly adjusting my life to bring those goals back in line.

Riley Blake geekly chic with laminated cotton

I hope you know how I appreciate your place in my life.  The sharing of comments, the support and encouragement I receive from you cannot be replaced.  You make the time keeping a blog consumes all worth it and I greatly value your place in my life.

Thanks for letting me just purge my brain and my heart.  Sometimes the filters have to come down and I just need to throw it out there. 🙂  Thanks for being that place for me.

xoxo,
Amy

linked up to Look What I made Wednesday at Creations by Kara

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  • Michele Pacey
    April 24, 2013 at 2:52 am

    I think you're on the right track Amy. I think you have your priorities in line. I don't know about the rest of the world though.

    Over the past week, I have been talking non-stop with my husband about work, about meaning, about values and how they all fit together. I'm searching for my right path, if one even exists. It really is tricky this job we've chosen, and what's more is we're always questioning its worth and our own worth while we do it.

    I read this article today on Brain Pickings. I don't know if it will be helpful to you but I thought I'd share the link nonetheless because I quite related to it:

    http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/23/how-to-find-fulfilling-work-roman-krznaric/

    Big hugs to you.

  • Emilie
    April 24, 2013 at 3:40 am

    Amy, you are always a source of strength and light.

    I think you are exactly were you need to be!

  • Lorene (just Lu)
    April 24, 2013 at 6:02 am

    Amy, this is beautifully said. You always manage to put into words exactly what I am also feeling!

  • Jess from Coxs Corner
    April 24, 2013 at 7:44 am

    This was beautiful, and incredibly timely. I needed to hear everything you wrote. You inspire me! Hopefully I didnt creep you out too much when I wouldn't let you go to the bathroom before showing me your booth at QBM/SNAP! 🙂

  • ga447
    April 24, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    You put into words what I and many people feel. You have lots on your plate and it isn't easy sometimes. It is the creativity that is important to us and we want to do it all.

  • Kristie
    April 24, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    Amen! It is so easy to forget what you should do and when. Especially when you want to have it all.
    Thanks for the reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment!

  • Heidi @ Moms Crafty Space
    April 24, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    I agree! It's tough to find the balance, and my competitive nature sort of makes me grumpy sometimes that I can't keep up with ALL of it. Running a business, a blog, and a family is a HUGE job, but it sounds like you've got the right mindset to make it work. I should take notes from you because I tend to let myself get overwhelmed with it all at times!

    It was so nice to meet you at SNAP! I'm loving my new wallet, and I just hung my scrappy banner up on my mantle. 🙂

  • Michelle
    April 29, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    I was glad to sit down and be able to chat a minute at lunch! I feel like everything went by so fast. BTW I have never had so many compliments on a wallet! Thanks for my cute mustache pouch! You are a sweetheart and I haven't lost a card since. 🙂

  • Gwen @ Gwenny Penny
    April 30, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    Well said. It's so important to stop and remember what's really important. You do that often, and it makes all the difference.