In the Sweet Sunshine, an Interview with Carrie R.

Tell us more about yourself, your family, and your blogs:

I’m a wife, mom-of-a-toddler, introvert, musician, procrastinator, conflict avoider, perfectionist, chocolate lover, and listener. I’ve been married to my husband (a high school math teacher) for 6 years, and our daughter is 18 months old. My first blog, Did you hear the singers Roer? , has been a place for me to share stories about my life, thoughts about my favorite songs, book reviews, and more. Last August I started a new adventure, a blog called In the sweet sunshine. I subscribe to Better Homes & Gardens magazine, and my favorite sections in each issue are the articles about the home, garden, and cooking – so those are the three things I like to write about in my new blog!

Name your favorite posts from your garden, kitchen, and home sections, and tell us why they’re your favorite.

My favorite post about my home so far has been Abby’s bedroom transformation. It was quite the project we undertook when I was 34 weeks pregnant! But as you can see from the pictures, some things in the room just had to change…

I really haven’t written much about the garden recently (wrong time of year!), but I had fun with one I wrote on the last day of August called The Great Zucchini Bread Secret. I’m excited to write more about my garden again come spring and summer! (and probably over winter too, as I start making plans…)

Cooking & recipes seem to be what I’m writing about the most lately, as I love to cook and bake and make things from scratch, and it’s the time of year for snacks and desserts and soups and more! I’ve gotten a great response from posts that take seemingly difficult food (like homemade bread and apple butter) and I tell how simple they really can be!

What are some ways your family tries to save money?

Living with a toddler, in a new home, on a private-school teacher’s salary, we try and cut corners wherever we can! Speaking of cutting, I used to be quite the coupon clipper until I realized generic store-brands were often cheaper than name-brands with coupons! I still keep a stash of coupons on hand when I go to the store, just in case something happens to really be on sale… We keep our thermostat at 64 degrees in the winter and 78 in the summer. We use cloth diapers. And we only have one car (saves a lot on gas and insurance!). This year for Christmas we’ve had to tell our step-siblings that we just can’t afford to get gifts for them all, and are asking them to get gifts for our daughter instead of for us.

We know moms don’t get many chances to relax, but when you do get the chance, what do you like to do to relax?

Reading is one of my absolute favorite past times. I love historical fiction, whether it’s about the Amish or the gold rush or the highlands of Scotland! I visit the library at least once a week, but I’m also asking for a Kindle for Christmas… Evenings after my daughter has gone to bed and while my husband is grading papers is my favorite time to read (although sometimes I do fall asleep…).

Can you recommend any good blogs to our readers?

• Life as Mom – Jessica, aka “FishMama”, has 6 kids. Her about me page says, “This blog is for those who want to do what’s on the to-do list and still keep a smile on your face.” I love her honesty and real-life posts!
• Good Cheap Eats –  Jessica’s other blog. As the title suggests, she posts about food that is both “good” – healthy AND good-tasting – and cheap.
• Thrifty Decor Chick – I love Sarah’s style, personality, and EASY ideas for the home!
• View Along the Way – Kelly is a mom of one with another on the way, and she writes fun posts about life and “our attempts to fix up our beaten-down home on a teensy little budget.”

What are your top tips for moms?

1. Take one day at a time. Really. Some days I am counting the hours till bedtime, knowing I’ll get an hour or two to unwind, and then tomorrow is a brand new day.
2. Never go to bed angry. Whether it’s a spat with your husband or your kids, seek them out and talk about it. You will all sleep much better.
3. Get your sleep! While it’s not easy, especially for new moms, studies show that we really do need 7-9 hours of sleep at night. Value your bedtime, and have a consistent one. Nap during the day when your baby does.
4. Get outside every day, even if it’s just a walk around the block with the stroller. Yes, even when it’s cold out. Fresh air does wonders for attitudes, both yours and your kids’.
5. Don’t play the comparison game. There will always be moms who seem to be more put-together than you, have a better haircut than you, and have kids who speak/walk/eat-with-a-spoon sooner than yours. Don’t let it get you down. Love on YOUR kids the best you know how.

Contact Information:

Blog: http://inthesweetsunshine.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/inthesweetsunshine

Twitter: http://twitter.com/insweetsunshine