From Working Mom to Work-at-Home Mom

It's week four of my new job with Wiregrass Parents magazine, and although the first three weeks were nothing like what I expected due to some unforeseen circumstances, I'm loving this new adventure so far.

Obviously the freedom to work from wherever I want (or need) is a major plus. Not being tied to a desk in a specific building makes it easy for me to not feel suffocated by a particular place. It also was a lifesaver for the two-and-a-half weeks we spent living away from home while our air conditioner was out of commission.

This new flexibility is all I hoped it would be. Instead of working a set number of hours a day, I have a to-do list. Instead of daily deadlines, I have monthly ones. The difference is amazing.

Now instead of setting an alarm to jar myself awake each morning, I naturally wake up around 7:00, and still have time to eat breakfast, shower and get ready, and take Alexis to school by 9:00. Then I come back home to my upstairs office where I settle in for a day of building guides and calendars, and contacting potential advertisers. I can listen to music without headphones, take a decent lunch break, run to the store if I need to, throw a load of clothes in the wash...you get the picture.

Instead of fighting 5:00 p.m. rush hour traffic, I'm at home cooking dinner or playing with my daughter. Our bedtime routine no longer feels rushed because we're not having to cram dinner, clean up, bath time, and bed time into an hour and a half.

I don't feel like I'm having to choose between spending time with my family and keeping house anymore...or staying up to ridiculous hours to do housework. I'm actually caught up on laundry, believe it or not.

The difference mentally is the best part. My skin is clearer; my neck and shoulder muscles are less tense; I'm sleeping and eating better. I feel more balanced. I'm happier.

Pineapple Dress

Fruit prints seem to be a hot trend this summer, but I've mostly been seeing lemons and oranges, and I am not a fan. Pineapples, on the other hand, are something I can get behind. There's something about this dress that makes me think of a tropical island. It's a nice linen/cotton blend with a wrap skirt, zipper back and adjustable straps. I still had to pin the top for obvious reasons. I'm usually a medium and wearing this in a large. It has absolutely no stretch. Wearing the vest in a medium. It comes in two other washes.

Details:
Dress: ShoeDazzle
Vest: ShoeDazzle
Shoes: Marshal's

New Job - First Week Recap

Week one of my new job as regional publisher of Wiregrass Magazine is in the books, and it was nothing like I expected it would be. On day two of this adventure, our air conditioner died. Luckily it's still under warranty but that means we're having to wait to get it fixed. So instead of staying in a sweltering house, we checked into the lodge at Lake Walter F. George for a few days. Other than the 4th of July, I spent most of the day working in the room (with occasional glances at the water). Early evenings were spent with family taking boat rides and grilling out.

So what did I do my first week? Mostly I gathered information for our after-school guide and community calendar. I emailed some of my old TV contacts, but most of them were out of town for the holiday. Next week will be busier in terms of contacting people about after-school programs and advertising, and I've still got lots of info gathering to do. Oh, and it may be another week before I can comfortably get back into my office (it's pushing 100 degrees up there). In the meantime, I'll be working from my in-laws' kitchen table, when I'm not out meeting people and telling them about the magazine.

If you haven't yet, please like Wiregrass Parents on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. And if you're interested in getting an event added to our community calendar or advertising, email me at ashton@wiregrassparents.com.

Sunshine Yellow Dress

Yellow is my favorite color, but only certain shades work with my coloring so I have very little in my closet. This button-front, off-the-shoulder linen dress from Forever 21 was just begging me to buy it. I got it for half off in the store while we were at the beach this past weekend. I sized up to a large like usual for F21. I will be adding a hook-and-eye closure to the waist to help keep things a little more together. This go 'round I just covered the gap with a wide belt.

Details:

Dress: Forever 21

Shoes: Marshalls