Who has 2 kids, a wonderful husband, a marketing and design company, loves baking and cooking, the desire to help others who are in need, tries her best to do all of the home decor things you see on Pinterest, drinks more coffee than any person should, is semi-obsessed with ice cream, loves her minivan (did I just say I love my minivan?!?!?!), is extremely close to her family, and can’t turn down a good sale?
TA-DA!! Yours truly!!! ::takes a bow::
My name is Mauranda Dalziel and I’m a twenty-something year old mother, wife, business owner, web and graphic designer, marketing gal, dance instructor, wanna-be Suzie Homemaker, self-taught “chef/baker” (terms used extremely lightly) who lives in Jericho with her husband, Shane (an Army veteran), and two daughters, Maddisyn (3 years old) and Makinley (newborn). I love being a mom and wife, spending quality time with family and friends, DIY projects, crafts, writing, working, dancing, reality TV, all things pink, cooking and baking.
Life as a ‘work-at-home-mom’ is interesting. Some days I want to pull my hair out between messy rooms, phones ringing, deadlines for client projects (and dinner time), running 1,000 errands, and rushing to play dates and gymnastics class while typing an email on my phone as I’m walking out the door. But honestly, I wouldn’t change it for the world. As I’m making yet ANOTHER homemade batch of ‘playdoh’ (flour and water dough) so I can keep things as quiet as possible while I’m on the phone with a client, I have to remind myself of how blessed I am. All in all, I LOVE IT!
We spend all of our evenings and weekend time together as a family. Whether it’s going grocery shopping, or going to fun community events – we do it together as a family of 4 (and even typically include my parents and mother-in-law in the fun). Something else I would’t change for the world. Other than eating dinner as a family around the dinner table most nights, you can usually find us chasing hot air balloons, enjoying the community, shopping, being with family and friends, and enjoying our busy life!
During the winter months, things slow down around here. I drink a lot of hot cocoa, my husband and I (along with other members of our families) do a big turkey drive for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, volunteer during Christmas doing various things, watch a lot of football (and I mean A LOT!) and…hibernate at home. As much as I complain about the snow (yes, I’ve lived in Vermont my whole life and really have no passion for snow, unless it’s from looking out my front window while there’s a fire going in the fireplace), the winter gives us time to slow down, spend quality time at home and relax a bit.
Yes, I love my clients, but the best job is being a mom, a wife, and trying to keep up with the household craziness. I’m not saying that I am juggling it perfectly, but I’m doing what I can to keep smiles on the faces of those I love – my family!
How do you juggle all the things in your life? Do you drink as much coffee as we do??
Well enjoy that coffee now as young people!!! Around 50 something coffee after noon might be the enemy.
With a business to run from home, a full time (new) job in the city, being an active member of a Veteran’s organization and Zumba I get somewhat overwhelmed but can’t quit the first 2 and love the second 2.
Don’t drink any coffee, but Lord knows I wish I did! And yes, juggling seems to be something we moms need to excel at.
I’m not very good at juggling, I have lots of balls on the floor! I would love to hear (maybe in a future post?) how you juggle and prioritize a busy life! Thanks for sharing!
I’m downing the coffee as I read this before I start a bazillion loads of laundry, so, yes! I will attest that Mauranda is lovely. She is a great addition to the team!