So I thought it would be fun to do a day in the life of moi. I did one of these before, which you can read here, but our days have changed a bit since then.
For some reason, I love reading other people’s “day in the life” posts. Is that just me? I’m not sure why – I mean, we essentially all do the same thing each day. We get up, get the kids ready, work, cook, clean, relax, sleep, repeat. But nonetheless, I’m fascinated by other posts so I figured I may as well do another one of my own.
To recap, I work at home part-time as a freelance writer. My niche is personal finance, but I have a few other clients where the topics are more general. I also run this blog and am itching to start a new blog (not on personal finance) but haven’t found the time. My main “job” is taking care of my two little ones – Cami, who will be 3 in May, and Maisie, who is 1 1/2.
As much as I try to wake up early, that just hasn’t happened. We’ve been sick for the past two months so no one’s been sleeping well. As of now, the girls are my alarm clock…
6:30-7:30am Wake up
We wake anywhere between 6:30 and 7:30, brush teeth, change diapers and get dressed for the day. We head downstairs where I have coffee and the girls have breakfast. Usually, they both request a “bar” (nutrigrain bar) and milk. I usually serve it with a sliced banana and yogurt. Other days we’ll have waffles or pancakes if I’m in the mood to cook, haha.
8:00am Daycare
The girls go to daycare on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s from 8:15am to 11:30am. I was hesitant about enrolling them, but two months in and it’s going great (outside of always being sick). You can read my thoughts on daycare here. I use this time to work. Having a full 10 hours a week to devote to work has been wonderful!
11:30am Pick up from Daycare
I get the girls around 11:30am and we’re back home by 11:45am. We usually play for a bit, they have more milk and I eat lunch (the girls get lunch at daycare). If they’re playing in the playroom, I’ll clean up the master bathroom, make the bed, fold laundry and do any other chores that are upstairs.
12:30pm Naps
For now, both girls are napping from 12:30 to around 2:30 or 3:00. I’m pretty sure Cami is going to be dropping her nap soon, but for now I’m loving this extra work time in the afternoons. If I don’t have work, I’ll try and get ahead on my blog, prep dinner, clean the kitchen and floors or just relax!
3:00pm Play time
The girls are usually both awake by 3:00. Lately, the weather’s been wonderful so we’ll go hang out on the deck and the girls will jump on their new trampoline. Sometimes we go for a walk, sometimes we go to Target or the grocery store and sometimes we just stay in and play. The girls also eat a second lunch (early dinner?) right after they wake up, too.
5:00pm Dinner
John’s normally home by 5:00 so him or I will start dinner while the other one watches the girls. We’ve been really trying to cut back on groceries lately, so dinners have been pretty easy and pretty simple. Pasta with veggies, rice with beans and veggies, frozen pizza, soups, etc. Cami is insanely picky at dinner. I made corned beef and cabbage for St Patrick’s Day last week and she wouldn’t even come to the table.
5:45pm Outside or Errands
If you’ve read my blog for a while, you’ve probably realized that John and I love exploring neighborhoods and driving around. Depending on the weather, we’ll either jump in the car and explore, go to the park or play outside with the neighborhood kids. We went to the park this past weekend and ended up walking over 4 miles! I love living in such a beautiful state.
7:00pm-8:00pm Bedtime Routine
We usually start the bedtime routine around 7:00. If we’re just getting home, the girls will play for a bit to wind down. If we stayed in, they are normally a little easier to get to bed. We brush their teeth, give them a bath (every other night) and read stories. They always have milk before heading upstairs and sometimes we’ll give them a little ice cream, haha.
8:00pm Freeeedommmmm
Ahhh. I love my girls more than anything, but I also love the end of the day when I know they’re both asleep. This is my time to hang out with John, binge-watch our shows, get caught up on work and just relax without having to do anything for anyone. We usually go to sleep around 10:00pm and then it starts all over again!
As of right now, life is good. Honestly I wouldn’t change a thing about our schedule. If work gets busier, I’ll add in Tuesday morning daycare, but I like that I’m able to work and be with the girls the majority of the time. It also helps that they love daycare and look forward to going each morning.
My favorite part of the day
I love evenings spent with my family. Whether we go on a walk, hang out at home or play outside in the backyard, life is good when the four of us are together.
Does your schedule look similar to mine? What’s your favorite part of the day?!
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
atI love these posts too! I have a day in the life post in the works for later this week, because I’m also obsessed and snoopy when it comes to learning how others juggle their day 🙂 hah!
I’m glad that daycare is working out well for you and the girls, that’s so great to be able to devote that time to work. I’m looking forward to Little Miss being old enough for me to be able to sign her up as well….although by then we’ll probably have another one and the process will start all over. lol! Loved a peek inside your days, Sarah!
Sarah Brooks says
atFunny you mention her being old enough and then having another!! Cami actually went to day care for one day back in AZ when Maisie was just a few weeks old. It wasn’t worth it, haha. I still had Maisie home with me so it’s not like I was able to get anything done anyways!!
Excited to read your day in the life post!
Jayleen @ How Do The Jones Do It says
atYou’re bringing back memories of pre-school and the two hours alone. Lol! I have a tween and teen so my days are quite a bit different than yours. They usually consist of working out, volunteering, housework, blogging, etc. No two days are the same so not sure I could write a post like this but I loved reading yours!
My favorite part of the day is when the hubby comes home and we’re all together!
Sarah Brooks says
atYup, that’s mine too!! I love being together as a family!
(And I’m not gonna lie…I’m looking forward to when the girls are both in school all day LOL!)
Tarynkay says
atFor the past few weeks, I have been getting up at 6am and taking the dog for a walk. This is my new favorite part of the day. I have never in my life been a morning person, but I am suddenly waking up a good two hours early without an alarm. Who knows. I am just going with it.
My days are sort of opposite yours since instead of sending my son to daycare, I keep him and an 18 month old neighbor boy during the day. My son is three, so same age spread, just one of mine is only here part-time. But this means that I get very little done during the day.
Sarah Brooks says
atOh that’s great that you get to watch your son and earn some income by watching another little boy! And I’ve been trying to wake earlier too. Alone time in the morning sounds wonderful. My girls have been waking SO much lately at night so I haven’t gotten up before them in a while 🙁
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
atIt’s nice to get defined windows in which to work, isn’t it? I’m finding that now my daughter is back living at home while she finishes her university degree, my day is filled with interruptions and distractions. I get about the same amount of work done I did when she was a toddler! (sweet f.a.) I need to find somewhere to hide. 🙂
I’ve tried many times to schedule my day but in the end, it always comes back to ‘wing it’.
My favourite part of the day? The increasing small part where I’m sleeping. 🙂 I’m kidding, I’m an early riser and love taking a morning walk around the nearby lake. Gets the blood circulating and a great start to the day.
Thanks for sharing Sarah.
Sarah Brooks says
atAhhh a morning walk sounds wonderful. I set my alarm early the other morning to take a walk and enjoy my coffee, but my girls each woke up multiple times that night and I was just too tired to get up.
Too funny that your daughter is just as much of a distraction as when she was a toddler!! I can see that! When I visit my mom, I chat all day long…as does my sis! She never gets a break!
Chela @SmashOdyssey says
atI always enjoy reading A Day in the Life kinds of posts, too, but always think people would find mine boring. Haha! Maybe I will write one if you promise to read it 🙂
Sarah Brooks says
atI would absolutely read it!! Day in the life posts are my fave, and I’m sure yours isn’t boring!!
Chela @SmashOdyssey says
atOh, I forgot to come back and mention that I posted the post last week! 🙂 http://smashodyssey.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/a-day-in-the-life/
Holly@ClubThrifty says
atMy day is similar except for the fact that my kids go to school and daycare full-time. I work all day while they are gone so that I can quit when they get home.
Sarah Brooks says
atIf I can get my income up even just a little, I will be upping their day care! They love it there and I love having time to work, lol
MarieMakesCents says
atRight now the alarm goes off at six, so I sleep in till 6:45. Then I make breakfast and the husband’s lunch and see him off to work. Then I spend the rest of the day alternating between blogging tasks, eating, napping (still not past this pregnancy necessity), and working in the garden. Then I start dinner and the husband gets home around 5:30. Not too shabby, but I also don’t feel productive enough.
Now that I’m over the first trimester hump and getting more energy I’m going to start looking for more freelance writing work. At least that’s the plan!
When they’re not at daycare, how does that throw your schedule off? Do you just plan on not getting as much done that day?
Sarah Brooks says
atCongratulations on your pregnancy!! Your day sounds great – enjoy resting and relaxing now before the baby comes 🙂
My girls are home on Tuesdays and Fridays and yes, it definitely throws off my schedule! I honestly don’t even open the computer when they’re awake. We usually do an activity in the morning, come home and have lunch, and then they go down for their naps around 12:30. I work during that time and usually in the evening for a bit on those days!