MommyWeek Three Year Bloggiversary 

Today I’m celebrating my three year bloggiversary! When I started MommyWeek three years ago, I had no clue what it would become. I began this site as a hobby and all I knew was that I wanted to share the things that I love and inspire other women. My husband was the brains behind creating the site and my logo, (You can find his work here: www.sewardandcompany.com) and I created the content. I first started taking photos with my iPhone and writing quick blog posts on my tablet. They weren’t perfect posts, but I had to start somewhere. Since then blogging has turned into a fully operating business for me. I was a stay at home mom for almost a decade, and now I’m a work at home, homeschooling mom. 

I’ve had some amazing opportunities come with running MommyWeek. This year I was featured on Essence.com, seen in the SheSpeaks Blogger Spotlight, and last summer seen on ForHarriet.com as an awesome black mom blogger to follow. I even got a call from a TODAY Show producer for a segment on the business of mom blogging. Even though I wasn’t chosen for that opportunity, it was still an honor to even be contacted! 

I’ve partnered with some awesome brands I believe in like Sesame Street, Wyndham, CVS, and Toyota to name a few.

Just recently I’ve also put on another entrepreneurial hat by opening my own shop MommyWeekMakes.com featuring my handmade items like the beautiful dresses I make for BabyCake. 

When I talk to other mom’s and some bloggers, the number one question I’m asked is how I get it all done. 

Here’s how: 

1. I’m motivated – There is no way I could wake up, homeschool my children, take care of my home, work, and be a wife all in one day without motivation. I honestly have a “go hard or go home” attitude and I adopt that in almost everything I do. This doesn’t mean I don’t have set backs, but when I do, I don’t feel sorry for myself. I pick myself up and move forward. 
2. I’m not checking for what other people are doing – There is so much going on in the world, online and otherwise. I know a lot of women who are highly accomplished and successful. I can celebrate them when they win and they celebrate me when I win. If you are always checking for the next move of the people around you, you won’t accomplish anything. I stay the course and focus on my journey. 
3. I take breaks – I know when I’ve had enough of social media, and enough of sitting behind the computer screen. I take breaks and put my phone away. There are days where I blog all day, and then I won’t open my laptop for three more days. Burn out is a real thing and I’ve been there. We all need space and breaks to do absolutely nothing. 
4. I write lists – I live by lists and old school pen and paper to get things done. I do have a planner, and I always keep a pen and notebook in my purse. I keep track of my work, deadlines, grocery lists, bills, and payments all on paper. Some people like digital spreadsheets, I like to write things down. 
5. With my husband’s help – Because my husband has always been an entrepreneur during our 14 years of marriage and entire adult life, I take a lot of direction from him in business. Some of the methods he has applied to securing contracts and closing deals, I use those same methods in blogging. Since we both work from home, when I need a break he takes over with the kids and I go get some air. We are truly a team in this entrepreneur thing, and I appreciate his help! Plus he created and maintains my websites. If something is broken, he fixes it 🙂 

Blogging and running a business while maintaining family life isn’t easy, but it’s the best job I’ve ever had. The amazing perks that come along with this site haven’t been easy to come by, and I have worked hard to get to this place today. I put in late nights and early mornings on the site, and I appreciate every single person that comes to read my content. I don’t know what’s coming next, but I’m certainly enjoying the ride and beyond grateful to have a job doing what I love and sharing my passions and even challenges with other women. Again, thank you to everyone who reads MommyWeek and stay tuned! 

Ashley