Well, well, well. I feel like I make one of these posts every year. At some point during the year I get a surge of creativity and drive and start a project only to get overwhelmed and burned out a few months later. That’s probably my biggest downfall (I don’t know, my husband may disagree). I’m a very decisive person and when I decide I want to do something, I do it….and then vice versa. When I’m done, I’m done.
There’s my photography business. What once was a full time business that kept me away from home most weeknights and weekends and up late editing well past the time everyone went to bed is now a hobby. What happened was my kids got old enough to play sports. I have three boys on two different baseball teams every spring and fall. Guess when their practices and games are? Weekday evenings and weekends. I worked around it for a long time, but with the third boy adding to the mix this season, there was no way. We had games, practice or private lessons every single day of the week this spring. While I no longer hustle to stay booked, I enjoy helping out current clients, friends and volunteering my services for the boys’ school, teams or church.
Then there’s Red Dirt Style. It started as an online clothing boutique. I quickly realized that I was crazy trying to tackle that all on my own. At the time I had two 5 year olds and a 1 year old. Seriously delusional. Add in the photography business still going strong at the time and then my husband and I took on marketing for a music festival. Even though Red Dirt Style was a dream I desperately wanted to fulfill, it returned the least amount of profits and it had to be the first to go. There just wasn’t enough time in the day.
I turned Red Dirt Style into a fashion blog last year and really worked hard to grow my following and incorporate affiliate links and sponsored content. That burned me out so fast. Posting two times a day, writing 2-3 blog posts a week, keeping a steady flow of InstaStories, keeping a calendar of content, getting new photos to use on the blog, etc. It was exhausting. I knew most bloggers spent a solid 2-3 years busting their tails before bringing in a real income. I got to a point where I wasn’t willing to sacrifice that kind of time.
We are in a sweet spot with our boys that they are so much fun and we can travel easily with them and create so many fun memories. I have spent the past few months really being intentional with my family. We plan short trips, play baseball in the yard, go swimming, play games, go to the library, have sleepovers, lay in the hammock, catch lightening bugs. I’m documenting our activities because I want to, not because it makes great content. Here are some of the things we’ve been up to this spring/summer.
The older boys joined a new baseball team since the move to Tennessee and made some of the best friends!
Took their friend Aiden to Huntsville, AL to see Monster Jam up close and personal!
Jack wrapped up his last year in MDO and is now ready for Pre-K!
I took a spontaneous solo trip to the beach with the boys. It seemed slightly crazy to tackle all on my own, but we had the BEST time and it was one of my favorite memories I’ve ever had with them.
We went with our friends to Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and had a blast! The boys had the most fun in the paddle boat with fishing poles. (Side note: I am currently staying up late at night watching Ozark on Netflix instead of up late editing photos like I used to do.)
We watched my older sister get married in Dallas.
A little taste of CMA Fest.
Eagleville Tractor Pull
4th of July visiting the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory and a Reds Game in Cincinnati.
The end of summer is creeping up slowly and for once, I’m really sad. Usually I’m ready for them to get back to school, but not this year. I think it hit me hard that they’re growing up so fast. When Knox and Ryder turned 8 I realized that in 8 more years they’ll be driving a car. When Kelly and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary, I realized that in 10 more years we’ll be moving the twins into college. That stings. Now let me also add that as much as I’ve been trying to create these memories with the boys, there have also been days that are lazy and mundane. My kids are currently eating cereal for dinner while I type this. (And they’ve probably watched too much tv today, but at least they’re studying the Rangers game that we’re watching on the back porch now.)
So what now? I still plan on putting memories with my boys first priority. Whatever time is left over, I will spend writing blog posts as I have legitimate content to share. It will no longer be the latest sale at Nordstrom, but will most likely be ideas to make a quick, easy and affordable trip with your family or my takeaways from the latest book I read. My husband wants me to do video blogs and have a YouTube Channel, but I’m a little leery of that. I feel like I look and sound ridiculous the majority of the time. He’ll probably talk me into it, so that should be good entertainment. ha!
Now I’m off to pull these wild boys off the trampoline and get them bathed and in bed so we can do it all over again tomorrow. 😉
reddirtstyle 