How Do You Find the Time?

Dunkin' Donut K-Cups Now In-stores! www.thecottagemama.com

As part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network I am being compensated by Dunkin’ Donuts® Coffee K-Cup® Pods for participating in this campaign. All opinions of K-Cups are 100% mine! 

I often get asked how I find the time to do everything that I do. And to be quite honest, I always feel a little uncomfortable when approached with this question because I don’t see anything that I do as out of the ordinary. Just recently I was at my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary party and saw a lot of family members that I haven’t seen for a very long time and they met our children in person for the very first time. We pretty much just keep up with each other on Facebook, as I’m sure a lot of you do with your family, but it was so lovely to get to actually see them and give hugs. Well during the party I think I had at least four people say ‘wow, how do you find the time to do everything? Four young children, a business, a blog, a book’. I never know how to respond to that question because it’s not that I ‘find’ the time. We are all given the same amount of time during the day. So the question shouldn’t be how do I find the time, but rather ‘how do you find the energy and motivation’, don’t you think? We all find ‘time’ for the things we are motivated and excited to do. 

My energy and motivation ebbs and flows just like everyone else. But one thing that helps me through my days is coffee. When I am so tired at 6:00AM each morning and waking up to nurse sweet Josephine, all I can think about is ‘at least I have my coffee’. It’s my morning ritual. My sweet husband brings me the baby and as I begin to nurse her, he puts a blanket over us and prepares our coffee (I like mine with just a little bit of milk). Then he brings me my coffee and my phone and heads up stairs to get ready for his day. Just knowing that I get to have my coffee gives me the motivation and energy to start my day.

Dunkin' Donut K-Cups Now In-stores! www.thecottagemama.com

We love Dunkin’ Donuts® coffee (and I say that with all honesty……..not just because they are paying me……although that’s nice too). Ever since I moved to Chicago from Texas in 2000, Dunkin Donuts coffee has been our favorite. We buy the whole beans from the store to grind and brew in our big coffee pot for the morning. But every day around 3:00PM, I start to feel sluggish and need a pick me up. You know that feeling, right? My girls get home at 2:45 and there’s always a bit of chaos with the two of them coming back into the mix. But knowing that I have my coffee to look forward to, brings a sense of calm to the situation.

Dunkin' Donut K-Cups Now In-stores! www.thecottagemama.com

Dunkin’ Donuts® Coffee K-Cup® Pods are now available in the coffee aisle of the grocery store. Yay! I use my Keurig machine to brew my afternoon cup of joe because I don’t want to make an entire pot. There’s no measuring or filters, you just pop your favorite Dunkin Donuts K-Cup Pod in the Keurig and you have a delicious cup of coffee in no time! And one cup is all I need to give me the energy to finish my day strong. Dunkin’ Donuts® Coffee K-Cup® Pods come in their Original Blend and Dunkin Decaf, but my favorites are the French Vanilla, Hazelnut and Chocolate Glazed Donut flavors. My husband isn’t into flavored coffee, so my afternoon cup is where I get to add in a little sweet flavor. I also think having a variety of coffees on hand is great for when you have guests over. My mother-in-law always keeps a wonderful variety of K-cups® at her house and it’s so much fun to get to pick out whatever coffee flavor strikes my fancy. It’s also nice to be able to have Dunkin’ Donuts® Decaf Coffee K-Cup® Pods on hand so that if you are brewing a large pot in the morning, you can offer a decaf option to guests as well. With Memorial Day right around the corner, Dunkin’ Donuts® Coffee K-Cup® Pods will be perfect to have on hand. It was also Dunkin Donuts 65th birthday on May 15 – Happy Birthday Dunkin’!

Dunkin' Donut K-Cups Now In-stores! www.thecottagemama.com

As of lately I just haven’t had the energy to sew or blog much. Not because I don’t want to, but with four little children, one of which is a 7 month old, I just can’t find the energy. Our house still hasn’t sold, so the fact that it always needs to be ready for a showing, makes it tough to want to get out all my things and get creative. I did recently sell off a large amount of fabric (see first image in blog post) via The Cottage Mama Etsy shop, so that’s helping keep the sewing studio looking neat and tidy. Selling a home with four kids, ages seven and under is a challenge…….that’s for sure! I plan to sew some things this week because I’m heading to St. Louis to Baby Lock headquarters to film 10 sewing videos for you all. I think you’re really going to like them. I’ll be filming a lot of my unique sewing techniques and I’m really excited about being able to give you a better visual of some of the instructions that you find in my sewing patterns and here on the blog. Another item on the ‘to do’ list that has been taking up a good part of my energy is selecting all the items for our new house. It’s been so much fun and such a blessing to have this opportunity, but it’s also been a lot of decisions which all take time, thought, planning and energy.

So I don’t think it’s that I ‘find’ the time to do anything. We all have the same amount of hours in a day. It’s how we choose to spend them that is the difference. Of course, if you are working a job outside of the home, you may not have the opportunity to sit down at your sewing machine as much as you would like or do much at the end of your work day. But my mom just retired last June, and even when she was working full-time, she was quilting up a storm……..she found the energy and motivation to do the things she loves. She would spend her evenings and weekends sewing because she found the energy to do so by having an activity that motivated her to want to do it. Sometimes that means sacrificing in one area of our lives to give energy to another. I think we all find the time to do the things that we are motivated and excited about accomplishing. And some of us (like myself) need a little extra help from our friend ‘coffee’ to make everything happen.

The next time you see someone doing something that you can’t imagine having the time to do, let’s not think about them having time because we all know there are 24 hours in a day, but rather how do you find the ‘energy’? I find mine in love, passion and coffee.

Dunkin' Donut K-Cups Now In-stores! www.thecottagemama.com

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5 Comments

  1. Love the Cottage Mama, but I am a little bummed this was a paid post for coffee. I was looking forward to reading how you schedule your time to sew. I think that is really what those of us who ask that question are wondering. Is it that you sew late at night, nap time, early morning, etc.? Hoping you will share that information at some point. I stay at home as well, homeschooling our girls. I find it helpful to see how other women schedule time to do things for themselves. I know you are just trying to keep it all going right now, but perhaps a future post? A day in the life of….if you will. 🙂

    • Hi Lindsey! So sorry to disappoint you…….yes, you know sometimes we have to take on sponsored posts to make this whole blogging thing worth it. I’m sure you can understand that. Coffee is totally part of my daily routine; however once we are in our new house and have returned to a more normal routine, I think a ‘day in the life’ post is a fantastic idea! That’s so wonderful that you home school your girls……I’m always in awe of home schooling mamas. So great!!

  2. I love your blog! I am a tea drinker but my friend loves Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. I am so looking forward to seeing you on the Baby Lock videos showing us your great sewing skills! It was great when you were on Sewing With Nancy, too. Your house looks so cute – I hope it sells quickly for you. Thanks again, for writing your blog. Have a great day.

  3. Cassandra says

    I think you are Amazing!! I love reading your blog and seeing all your talents come alive in living color. I wrote to you recently regarding the ‘Fabric Necklace’ and where you purchased those lovely colorful wooden beads and you actually took the time to answer. I was impressed. What a gal!
    Every blogger needs sponsors via advertising and I thought you are very gracious in the way you presented it. Geez, it made me want to become a Dunkin Donuts coffee drinker!!
    Thanks for sharing all your beautiful creations with us and keep on doing exactly what you’re doing.
    In great admiration,
    Cassandra

  4. I came across your website online and am in love with it! Your fabrics, colors, ruffles, I love it all. I am a single mom of four children, 8, 11, 14, & 15. I also love to sew and have sold my items in the past. I too find it hard to get everything done, (laundry never ends!) AND coffee is my best friend hahaha! Sometimes I concentrate too much on getting the chores done, and don’t have any fun with my kids. I’ve heard a quote that when your kids are grown, they will remember the time you spent with them, & not how clean their house was. I guess, we all must find out middle ground to know when to just let the dishes sit, & to play that game with our children. We must as moms (& dads!) remember to take time for ourselves, to do things WE enjoy, like sewing because it makes US feel good and happy! I have taught my daughter to sew years ago, (she is the 15 yo) and she just cut a skirt out last night. I’m glad she has this skill because so many young people don’t know the value in knowing how to sew. I will teach my boys if they want to learn. Maybe they will be fashion designers someday! Thank -you for an inspiring blog/website. This Canadian loves you!