I’m not Super Woman. As much as I wish I could do everything I set my mind to, I just can’t.
As a creative person, I have too much on my mind. I get ideas all of the time. Just this morning, I woke up with a great idea for something, but had to tell myself NO… you have too many unfinished projects already. FOCUS Amy!
When you own a business and work from home, distractions are never-ending. I have a sick child home from school today. So what I thought I would get accomplished has been postponed yet another day. That is just one of many things that life throws at you when you are a parent.
Creative bloggers don’t talk about this side of life very often. We usually just show our pretty crafty sides and don’t talk about our personal lives and other businesses that we run. Well, we have them. Life is not all beautiful like Pinterest. Oh how I wish it was!
If you didn’t know, I have owned a graphic design firm since 2000. To keep up with my blogging career, I trimmed down my client list to only one client. I say no to new jobs. It was scary to let go of work in this economy, but it’s been a relief and joy to focus more on what I really love… designing party supplies, creating product lines, working on my photography community and helping to inspire others to be more creative.
Since making the decision to let go of the work that I liked, to make room for work that I love, I have nearly tripled my income! Someday I hope to write about this topic to help those who want to follow their dreams, change careers or start their own business.
Doing your dream job is wonderful, but it’s not always fun. There is a lot of hours and hard work involved. There are many things that I don’t like to do, but HAVE to do.
I don’t have an assistant. I do have help in certain areas, but not someone who writes this blog.
Because I have to get many things done and have many emails to return, I’m going to take a small break from creating new content on Living Locurto. {Gasp!!!!!!} Yes, I’m doing something that many other bloggers would never do. I’m stepping away and not worrying about what others are doing. I’m doing what works for me. I am pretty sure those of you who like my blog, will still be reading. At least I hope so! ha!
You might not even notice the change. I just wanted to let you know that I will be going through old content and featuring others for a while as I finish some work, get my new shop ready to launch, work on my other blog and start designing my new product line. Oh, and take care of my sick family. Plus, I’m trying to workout more and get in shape. Blogging is BAD for your butt… believe me!!!
So long story short, I’m still here, but not here. I will be back soon with some creative ideas!
Somethings to look forward to…
- Great recipes from my wonderful contributors.
- Living Creative Thursdays where I feature you! This week’s theme is “Paper Crafts”.
- I can’t wait to show you my daughter’s birthday party!! (have many photos to edit first)
- I’m working on new products. They are going to be so cute!
- I designed a fun party that will be out in a magazine soon.
- Lots of fun new free printable designs & giveaways coming soon.
- New party designs and a more user-friendly shop.
I want to tell you THANKS! for being such a wonderful inspiration to all of us creative and busy moms. It's nice that you're telling your fans that you're human and that you sometimes struggle with all of life's demands. I often see your posts, wonder how long it takes you to write "create" a post and seriously look at your blog wondering if you are super hero! I aspire to one day have my posts up to your standards. Finding out that I'm not the only one living on five hours of sleep, in some way is comforting! On a side note, I want to thank you once again for featuring my Disney quote gift idea back in the beginning of the school year. I am still receiving traffic from that post! It was extremely nice of you and I appreciate it.
I find myself in the reverse situation. All of a sudden, my girls are grown (senior and freshman in college!), and I’ve got free time. I work full-time in a technical/legal environment, which doesn’t allow much for my creative side. I’ve reclaimed a bedroom for an inspiring workspace, and I find myself producing crafts which I donate to my nephew’s school, for their craft fair fundraiser. I’d like to blog, but haven’t a clue where to begin! Any insights appreciated! Reply here, or email me: penelope.ptstop@hotmail.com.
Amen! Wow—-you so nailed it for me at least. I am drowning in freelance which I like and am blessed with but always am pre-occupied thinking about doing what I truly love. I admire your courage. You are amazing. And I can not wait to see what you have in store. In will be amazing and I just know it. Good luck Amy! Have fun!
I’ve followed you for quite some time now and love your blog! I’m not a blogger but I think every mom/woman out there can understand how you feel!! I certainly can! I just recently started to learn how to not say yes to everything and take some time to just work on me and it feels great! We will all still be here for you!
Amy…you’re awesome. I’ve been a reader since 2008. We’ll all still be here when you’re ready to come back. I am WAHM–PR consultant, gluten free baking business, teach gluten free cooking classes and take care of my kids myself with one still at home all day. It’s exhausting and wonderful at the same time. I get it. Hang in there!
Dear Amt :
Dear Amy:I’m a kindergarten teacher, a craft woman, a baker, mother, wife, blogger and more and more… So I know exactly how you feel. I needed a time for me to and now I only write a few times at year. I dream to quit to my morning job in the school and only work from home… As you. Even when I love teaching and all that people telling me how good I have (In Mexico have a job paid for the government with benefits is highly appreciated even when consumes a lot of your time, your energy, your life and isn’t a good deal in matter of money) so I hope you still giving us ideas about how run our own business successfully.. You know, you are my inspiration. Here I don’t have many resources and it’s an escape visit blogs so inspired as yours. Sorry for my English 🙂 I hope all yours dreams become true and your goals been reached. Cariñitos. Mary Tere
Thank you and all you amazing women who continue to care for their family, themselves, work, create and continue to blog. I hope at some point to have my own blog but until then I will be inspired by the blogs I follow and the ones I have yet to find.
Hugs, Amy!! I feel the same way, but am still trying to figure out my balance. The home reno has forced me to stop a lot, so it’s giving me some “room” to figure it out. Good luck with all tour creative ideas and enjoy the blogging break!!
It’s so nice that you are doing what’s right for you and your family. I work part time while trying to keep up with our blog, contributing, and 3 little boys! It does get so overwhelming at times! You are so talented and all of us will still be here following along with you!:)
Bravo, Amy!! The message that you need to do what you need to do is a powerful one. I’m glad you’re listening to it. We will be here, waiting to see what you come up with next!
Good for you Amy! It’s so hard to keep up with “life” sometimes and I’m trying to learn that it’s ok if I don’t have a post every day or if I’m not on all the social media sites all of the time. We have to live our lives for ourselves and what is best for ourselves. You always inspire and will continue too!!!
This is exactly what you should do. For me, family comes first and NOTHING else is as important as that. Enjoy your LIFE!
I totally agree with you. I’m just coming back from a 6 month break on my blog after the birth of my second child -there was just too much going on and I really wanted to spend that special time focusing on my babies as much as possible. Sometimes you just have to do what’s best for you – I’m sure you’ll be refreshed and better than ever when you do come back to blogging here! We’ll be waiting! I love your site. 🙂
You do what you need to do for you! We will still be here and I believe I need to do the same here, but I just don’t know how. Good luck and God Bless You!
Amy, just a couple of weeks ago, Valentine’s week, I took that week off to focus on my other half. We’d both been so busy since the year began and needed some precious time for ourselves. We’ll all be here, you do what you need to do and remember to take care of YOU too!
Amy, es dificíl cuando llegamos a ese punto, pero lo mejor es reconocer cuando es necesario hacer un alto y tomarse un respiro, ya verás que volverás con más animos e ideas. Un abrazo, Jesica.
Amy…THANK YOU SO MUCH for this blog post. You do not know how much I needed to hear it. I just quit my full-time on air radio job (the job I worked 24 hour shifts for, slept on the radio station floor, gave up umpteen social events for my job, and sacrificed making a better living because radio isn’t really a huge money maker) to work from home continuing with my voiceover business, on camera gigs & my party blog. It’s a long story about why I quit but it wasn’t something I really wanted to do but knew I needed to. Anyways, today was my first full work at home day…so thank you for this! <3 Heidi Rew from PartiesforPennies.com
I recently took a break from blogging and it was one of the best decisions I made. I wish I could have taken more time off but I had to come back to promote a project that I had been working on for the past year.
Enjoy your time off from the blog. Try to use some of that time for yourself and not more projects.
Hi Amy, I live in Spain, in the Canary Islands. My English is not very good, I hope you know understand me. I’m not a blogger but I understand perfectly. I have in my mind many creative ideas and now I’m not working out, but I’m thinking about changing my life and start working on what I like, something like what you do. Good luck with this little “break”, because that creative people have a lot on your mind, and hours of the day are not enough. I hope your family recovers and see you on the blog again, as soon as you bring up your new projects. Best of luck to you.
That is awesome Amy. You have done amazing things, and inspired so many women, and you just keep on doing it by knowing yourself and not being afraid to make the right choices for you and your family.
Hi Amy,
I’m not a blogger, although I have often thought about it. Your post today has pointed that I should just say No. I applaud that you are doing that. As a mom (we) are often tempted to try to accomplish and put way too much on our plate. I’m a firm believer of doing fewer things and doing it well – instead of being a master of none. All the best!
I can completely relate, I am a freelance writer and the more I write the less I am able to blog and lately I feel like I’m drowning. I applaud you for prioritizing and taking a break. I’ve been cutting back on blogging quite a bit and hoping my readers will hang in there just as yours will.
I can relate 100%! My primary blog has become so big, so rewarding and so much work that I have also pared my client list down to just 1 or 2 really awesome clients. There have been a few times where I have had to step back temporarily, but it has all worked out.
Best of luck to you. Your readers will understand and the break will do you good.
Take one day at a time and do what s best for you and your family. Your fans will wait and follow all that you do. Best of luck to you.