Mommies Behind the Blog: Rene of Cottage & Vine
Today, I'm welcoming Rene from Cottage and Vine. She is an interior decorator who owns her own design business. She is also the voice behind her successful blog Cottage and Vine. She is an inspiring woman who is juggling the duties of balancing life as a Mom, a business owner, and blogger.
Click read more below to read the full interview.
Your name, occupation, how many kids?
René Zieg, Interior Decorator, 2 kids
What is your morning routine?
Mornings come early at our house. Our oldest son swims and is out the door at 5:00AM many mornings. My husband and I divide the chores. I make the bed and pack lunch while he unloads the dishwasher and makes coffee. We hang around the kitchen and chat it up with our boys as they give us all the twitter and vine updates then they head off to school together.
What is your "Mommy Uniform" on most days?
Maybe it's due to the overabundance of testosterone in our house, but I need to feel feminine. In the spring/summer months I like to wear dresses and skirts when possible and in the winter I wear skinny jeans or leggings topped by a pretty blouse. I like to throw in a statement necklace from time to time.
How would you describe your style?
My style is classic/casual I guess.
What is your beauty and/or exercise routine?
Let's see beauty routine…I always, always remove make-up at the end of the day by washing my face with Clarisonic followed by Kiehl's recovery and lip balm. The make-up routine is pretty simple. I've used Clinique super balanced forever and it's still my favorite. Some strategically placed eye shadow, a touch of blush, mascara, and lip cutter - easy! When it comes to exercise, running is my first choice. For strength training, my husband and I try to mix it up by doing different monthly challenges together followed by lots of stretching.
What would you tell your 22-year old self?
Stop worrying about what others think. Be yourself, do your best, and the rest will come.
Have you had to hire outside help {for example, house cleaning or babysitter} to help you fulfill any of your duties?
No. That was our biggest mistake as young parents. We didn't make date night a priority. We are more than making up for it now though! Yay for having teenagers!
Who is your role model?
My mother. When she was my age, my father died. Mom has always been a source of strength in the most difficult times. She is the most generous person I know. Our boys even said this.
How do you make your home kid-friendly?
Over the years our home has seen many changes. When the boys were small we had drawers in the kitchen filled with toys to keep them occupied while we cooked dinner. Then we added a banquette large enough for friends to join us for meals. The bonus is it also added storage for school supplies, etc. Baskets and hooks are always a good idea, but even teenagers will drop shoes & jackets in the middle of the floor. Ha!
What keeps you inspired?
My readers and clients inspire me. Receiving a nice email from someone who reads the blog or who is happy with changes we made to their home makes me want to do more.
What are your holiday traditions with your kids?
Our Christmas tradition has always been to visit Mom's on Christmas Eve and then spend that night at home so Santa would come to our house. My husband and I wanted our family to wake up at home on Christmas day. Also, there are certain treats that I only make during the holidays. Each year, the boys ask if I'm going to make them which always makes me smile. I love tradition and it is so important when it comes to family!
Our Christmas tradition has always been to visit Mom's on Christmas Eve and then spend that night at home so Santa would come to our house. My husband and I wanted our family to wake up at home on Christmas day. Also, there are certain treats that I only make during the holidays. Each year, the boys ask if I'm going to make them which always makes me smile. I love tradition and it is so important when it comes to family!
What is your secret to having a successful blog/business and family balance?
Family comes first. Our boys are older now, but I don't think I could have done all of this when they were younger. I'm always amazed when I see mothers of really young kids who seem to do it all. When I tried to work full time and be a mommy to little ones, I felt like I wasn't doing a good job anywhere. So I stopped working and became a stay at home mom. I will never regret that. Now the boys are older and I have more time so it just works. That's not to say that life doesn't throw me a curve ball every once in a while.
Family comes first. Our boys are older now, but I don't think I could have done all of this when they were younger. I'm always amazed when I see mothers of really young kids who seem to do it all. When I tried to work full time and be a mommy to little ones, I felt like I wasn't doing a good job anywhere. So I stopped working and became a stay at home mom. I will never regret that. Now the boys are older and I have more time so it just works. That's not to say that life doesn't throw me a curve ball every once in a while.
Three things you can't live without {besides your family of course}?
coffee, red wine, exercise
dress image via J.Crew
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