FIVE:thirty

02/03/2023

I decided a while back to not mourn my children growing up. 👶🏻👧🏻

I hate admitting this but I’m not a good baby person. Don’t get me wrong, I would die for my babies and I’ve always loved them, I just didn’t enjoy the baby stage. Very much at all. And while I do have an occasional moment of sadness over my children growing out of their tiny clothes, if I’m being honest I don’t want to go back to having newborns. I love the people I’m getting to know in my kids. I love who they’re becoming. I love who I’m becoming as their mom (except when I become monster person who can’t take it anymore and locks myself in my room to scream into my own reflection… but what were you saying?)

I’ve decided to try and wholeheartedly embrace the adventure of living with and raising up growing tiny people. I’m choosing- as much as I’m able each day- to give myself permission to be the mom I am right now, with the kids I have right now, not fearing the future or grasping at the past… at least not for too long. I’ve learned over the past few years to let go of lots of things- projects, images I’d like to project- even versions of myself and my family I wanted. So far I haven’t missed the mark ever and also I’m lying about that.

So here’s to living in your actual season and giving yourself permission to really like the good parts of it and do the best we can at the rest of it.

Also we make websites, too. 💁🏻‍♀️

01/13/2023

I have raised a kindergartner that’s very much like her mother. 😳

She’s a perfectionist. She wants it right and she wants it right the first time. She’s not opposed to effort but would prefer it to be easy from the start for her. All this hits close to home for yours truly. 🙋🏻‍♀️

So we’re working on this together: the trying and failing. The “lets see what happens…” attitude. It’s not easy, but progress that matters rarely is!

What are you trying out these days? Any new adventure is worth the risk. If part of that adventure is a new website (but you’re okay to wait until late 2023) save our post and let’s see what happens when we dream up a beautiful new website to make your vision a reality!

10/25/2022

Boo!! 👻

I know- I’ve been gone and you totally noticed and you’re so glad I’m back!

Well I’m not exactly back… my extended leave from socialmediaville has been fabulous and necessary and blah blah blah, so my return will be ghostly- seasonal pun intended.

We’re still here, still working, still nerding out on websites and technology and consulting with care is still deeply in our bones. 💀 (last one, promise)

We’re booked up for a while, but if you’re in the market for a new site in early 2024, you know where to find us!

via .app

12/10/2021

Several years ago a friend of mine said she started asking people “what fills your days” rather than asking them “what do you do?”. It was her intention to stop getting moms to say “oh nothing, I just stay home with my kids.” She was adamant that staying home was- in fact- NOT “doing nothing”.
Years later, as I’m in this season of sticky fingers and sleepless nights, I think of her fondly. Along with feeling more validated as a person who is raising up human beings (why does this need more validation???) it makes me think of another issue that I’m growing more passionate about:

I don’t want the answer to this question to be: social media.

As we’re entering the holiday season as I write this, I’m very aware that social media has this “sticky” facet of its own: the more I check it the more I want to check it. So with that, I decided to take the rest of the year (and into the new one) to do a little detox and delete ye old social media’s from my devices.

What about you? What does this question stir up for you? Does it make you take stock of what you spend time doing? Does it provide clarity on what you wish you were doing?

Sending you all the holiday love and prayers that your days and hearts are filled with love. ❤️ 💗

12/06/2021

Are you vacationing somewhere warm this year? Share your destinations!!!

Top 10 destinations to soak up the winter sun

12/03/2021

The ADKINS!!!! This family. It’s hard to describe how much admiration and affection I have for them. We started working together a few years ago and Bethany had been such a joy in every way. I cannot say enough good things about her. Many people in the podcast industry are a persona- they’re hoping for followers and put on a bit of an air to do so. NOT BETHANY. She is every bit the kind, genuine, lovable soul that she represents on her podcast, blogs, and in life. When they reached out about doing additional site for their podcast- Millennial Mission- it was a gift to be able to work on a new project with her and her husband Corey! Visit their site to check out the latest episode!!

(Also, if you’re looking for podcast management services, consider this your sign to get in touch with them!! You’ll be glad you did!!)

11/29/2021

Did you turn your hobby into a business? Social media has given many of us a platform never before available (a blessing and curse). How are you using it for your business? Check out this spotlight article about Instagram and one small business owner.

Grow a community. Have customers contact you directly. And click through to buy. It’s never been easier to turn your side hustle into a business using Instagram.

11/27/2021

I used to really stress out about sticking to a daily schedule so I could “do all the work I needed to do” during naps and scheduled movies or playtimes. It dawned on me the other day- I don’t remember one minute of the work I did during those highly scheduled (and stressed over) work sessions.

I’m not saying I don’t schedule work anymore- I certainly do- but I’m just getting better at scheduling more “buffer time”- the negotiation space between work and life and the actual deadline. I started my business with the conviction that there was more to life than work (there’s the 5:30 hour when you get to be home and resting and satisfied with your life) and now that I have children I’m living my way into that conviction even more. That’s not to say it’s easy. Often it’s ugly and filled with regret, but it’s worth the journey.

Why do you work? What’s it really for at the end of the day?

11/25/2021

Happy Pie Day! I mean Thanksgiving!

11/23/2021

It’s no secret that I love self improvement resources. If you’re like me- SAVE THIS LINK.

The “open gates model” blew my mind the first time I read it. Maybe it will click for you too, and you’ll get a jump on those New Years resolutions? 🙌🏻🙌🏻

How to Succeed When “One Simple Trick” Fails

11/22/2021

FIVE:thirty was founded with the conviction that small business owners are the force behind the American dream. That may sound cheesy, but it’s true. I love small business and always have admired the people that are brave enough to bet it all on themselves and their ability to make it work.

Our logo is a bridge, and that’s very intentional. We know that business owners are capable of so much. It’s not always that they *need* help, it’s that they don’t want to *have* to do everything all the time. That’s where the bridge comes in. It’s our goal to get our clients from A to B without the stress or frustration of a DIY project, or the timeline and budget constraints of a larger firm.

If that sounds like the kind of team you want to partner with, shoot us a DM or visit our site www.five-30.com!

11/18/2021

Have you thought about starting a “print on demand” business or side hustle? Check out this 101 article from Shopify with all you need to know!

If you dive in and feel as though you need a little help, get in touch with us! We’d love to help you take your POD website from good to great!

Here's a rundown of what print on demand is, popular print-on-demand services, and what you need to know when creating custom products.