Mini Home Office + Play Room

I’ve been blogging for about seven years now (I know, that’s like forever!) And all of this time my office has always just been portable…you know, wherever my laptop is. I work at the kitchen table, the couch, my car. But I thought it was time to finally create a little home office for myself. And when I say little, I mean one slab-of-a-wall, in a small room that doubles as an office/playroom (but is technically the dining room) in our current rental house 🙂 

If I could paint these walls white I would in a heart beat. But Brett says there’s no way we’re paying to paint when we pay and arm and a leg for a house we don’t own. Soooooo……whatevs. I’m rocking the beige walls over here. And other brass fixtures I don’t love but don’t get to change either. Lol. 

For my mini office, I wanted to create a simple, bright and colorful space to work in that could double as a play room. I know, that probably sounds like a nightmare but I’ll explain. Minted helped add a splash of color to my wall. I love it! TheWork Hard & Be Nice print might look familiar, it’s kind of our family motto and I love the reminder every day. Ps-I just love Minted’s selection of wall art!

I’m also in love with this chair too….

Being a stay-at-home-mama to three +  blogging full time can be tricky. Balancing and prioritizing work deadlines and mom duties, cleaning/laundry, meeting the boys’ needs, but also just being present and having fun with them isn’t always easy. Every day looks a little different and we are still (even after 7 years) figuring out what works best for us. 

I get most of my work when the older boys are at school/preschool and Graham is napping, or at night after they are all in bed. I crank out as much work as I can in any solid hour or two I have throughout the day…it’s precious time! When I’m baking or cooking in the kitchen I let the boys help, and the best kind of work is when we get to go out and adventure together!  

Sometimes though, I do need to do a little work while they are home…usually on the computer, which is why I created my little office space to be a place they could enjoy quietly too…oh wait, quiet never happens with boys :0 

We made this lego table years ago and are finally putting it to use again. 

They can play legos, color, do homework quietly, play on their Kindle Fires, and I’m still right there with them. Graham does pretty good when his brothers are there to play with him. The older boys are pretty independent and can play together without needing a lot from me if I really need to get something done, so if Graham is asleep and it’s just the older two I can have them play while I work for a little bit. And just so you don’t get the wrong idea…I’ll let them watch a show on Netflix too, but we’re working towards less tv, so I’m hoping having this space helps too.

And because we live southern California and the weather is perfect right now, I put this cute teepee right outside the office/playroom! It’s from Target’s new Pillowfort home collection for kids and everything is SO adorable! They can play in it (or go play in the backyard) while I sit and do light work and can still oversee them. 

 

 

This is just the other side of the room…it’s a small, narrow room, nice and cozy for us 🙂 This old beauty houses a few additional toys and puzzles and a bunch of office and art/craft supplies. 

I never knew blogging would turn into a “job” or business for me, and honestly, it’s still a little strange to call it that. But I think if you want your blog to be your business and you want it to grow, you have to treat it like one. I’m constantly re-evalutating the system I have going, the hours I’m working, and making sure it’s all working for me and my family.

I watched a periscope Leah Remillet (shes’s business/life coach) did earlier this year and she said something that just hit me–“We can’t do it all, but we can be it all!” 

She talked about how the worst feeling is to feel like you’re trying so hard to do it all– be a good mom, grow your business, keep the house clean, help friends, spend time with friends, spend time with your kids and spouse, etc– and then feel like you’re falling short in all of it.

 

It was the perfect reminder to me to utilize the resources I have or {hire them} to help me be it all. I don’t have to do it alone! 

Build a team! I have a team…my husband who always helps behind the scenes, my admin (thank you Rachel!), contributors, my housecleaner that comes once a month, the friends that watch the boys occasionally, the babysitter I hire occasionally to come in.

This really is the greatest job, being a mom + blogging. Being a mommy blogger…isn’t that what its called? 😉 And I’m loving this space I created to enjoy it in! I’ve linked sources for everything below.

Summer’s Horizon Print c/o Minted

New Day Print c/o Minted

Work Hard & Be Nice c/0 Minted

Lamp

Tassels Pillow

Faux Sheepskin Rug

Desk Chair (comes in a set of 2) 

Kid’s Table is old from Ikea 

Kids Chairs from Target ($12 each in store, couldn’t find online)

Pillow Fort Teepee

Colorful Lights 

** the desk is old from Coscto. We painted it white and covered the glass panel in the middle with wall paper!