Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

Hoooooly blog posts, Batman! It’s been a looong time.

There are a TON of changes happening at MarshMueller Secret Labs, and it only means things are getting bigger and better!

Hold on to your hats; this post might be a long one.

“So what now, Holly? You quit your day job again only to pick up an even better one?” you ask.

I left being a corporate zombie, and I haven’t gone back. Small businesses FTW!

Nope! Even better.

I’ve managed to get the best of both worlds: being with my boy, and doing what I love. And a steady paycheck.

The Boy turned three this month, and I finally cracked. In two years, this kid was going to start Kindergarten and I would lose him forever. Okay, okay, that’s a bit extreme, but these formative years would be done. My opportunity to spend one-on-one time with him while he’s developing and learning social habits would be toast.

But my employer came to the rescue and offered a win-win situation: I would still work for them two days a week (plus checking in remotely the other days), and I would get three whole weekdays to be with my boy.

He still goes to preschool those two days a week (we really don’t want him to lose that social interaction), and we aren’t paying close to our mortgage in daycare each month!

So what does this mean for MarshMueller?

It’s been a slow start.

The month of May was INSANE. Hubby and I had our 10-year wedding anniversary, then Crafty Wonderland, and then I went to Pittsburgh for Quilt Market, and then it was off to see the grandparents for Memorial Day.

Needless to say, I needed a break. The Boy and I are getting used to our new routine, and I’m at a point where I can plug my business into that schedule.

I’ve hired extra help (the help being my Mom who is an amazing sewist, and my husband who has become the brains behind the financials and inventory management). I’m terrible about asking for help, and now that I’ve made that jump, I’m kicking myself that I haven’t done it sooner.

Rob helped me gain the courage to apply for a weekly Saturday Market, and now we’re vending at Gresham Saturday Market in between Timbers and Thorns matches. A friend encouraged me to apply for the super-intimidating and competitive Urban Craft Uprising summer show, and you know what? I made it in.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that it takes a village. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a village to run a business. I’m so entirely grateful that I have even more time to devote to my boy. I’m thankful for an amazing and flexible employer to keep me on staff to do what I love. I’m happy my family actually WANTS to spend time helping me with the business.

I’m also SUPER stoked I’ve got time to write and be crafty again! Oh, I’ve got lots of plans up my sleeve that I’ll share. It was nearly impossible working full-time to do any of those things, let alone blog about them. The time I wasn’t working (day job or small biz) was devoted to family, sporting events, and keeping our house barely manageable. It was hard. I felt like I was losing everywhere.

Now the dishes are clean, laundry is happening, The Boy is down for his nap, and I’m able to bust out this post before the USA vs Ghana match, which I can stream from Rob’s laptop to our TV.

It’s the little things.