The Quest

Things I wanted at age 20: an apartment in a city, a 9 to 5 in an office, Starbucks all day-- every day, a very full and very large closet.

Things I want at 27: to afford to stay home with my son.

Yes, 20 year old me would have a heart attack.

Unfortunately, my degree hasn't gotten me very far. I make more money cake decorating in a grocery store than I would be making in my (what was) "dream job." 20 year old me wanted to write for a newspaper. Which, in the right setting probably would be great money. Though, time and decisions have brought me back home to a small town in Connecticut who's streets are lined with churches and gas stations... I never really understood how people live solely on faith and gasoline, but to each their own.

We have a plan to move but, like with most things, it's going to take some time. Matt is in school to become a nurse and works 40 hours+ a week and I work 30 hours a week cake decorating. I also do direct selling with Jafra Cosemetics in my spare time. Usually, one of us is home with the baby while the other is at work. So as you may have guessed, we get very little time as a family.

"Sounds like a lot, why don't you just put your son in daycare and get a real job?!," almost everyone.

For the following reasons:
-I love being with my son, he's pretty freaking amazing.
-Are you aware of how much child care actually costs?!
-The thought of sitting in a cube all day causes me actual pain.

So this project, Stuff Mommy Makes, is a journal of my quest to becoming a stay at home mom. I'll be experimenting with ways to make a household run more smoothly and cost effectively. Along with trying different methods of making money from home.

Got any secrets? Tips or tricks? I'd love to try them!

-Holly, future stay at home mom