Mommies Behind The Blog: Mandy of Mandy & such

You may remember today's mom from my trip to Charleston. Mandy aside from being a good friend, is a young mom, photographer, and blogger of Mandy & such. I admire her zest for life and her go-getter attitude. Read the full interview below to get to know more of Mandy.

Name, occupation, how many kids?
Mandy McGregor, blogger/photographer/stay-at-home mom, 3 kids (ages 7, 3, 18mos)

Your favorite thing to do when you have time alone? 
Anything at the spa or salon. There is nothing better than a stack of gossip magazines, cup of coffee and a little pampering. A fresh cut and color or facial can do wonders for my soul.

Three things you can't live without?

1.  My Keurig coffee maker

2.  Sunglasses - preferably Karen Walkers or Ray-bans
3.  Mascara

Mommy uniform?
Skinny jeans, slouchy cotton t-shirts, ankle boots and sunglasses

Favorite go-to beauty products?

I have SO many - total product hoarder.  I rarely buy something over again but I do have a few tried and true products that have earned my loyalty.  Bioderma facewash, Clarisonic MIA, Anastasia brow pencil, St.Tropez foaming self-tanner, Donna Karen Cashmere Mist deodorant, Benefit: They'reReal mascara

Favorite baby gadgets?

MagicBullet (we make a lot of smoothies), Clean Well hand sanitizer spray, LittleGiraffe blankets, Ipad, Boon highchair, Skip-hop travel changing pad

Favorite go-to store for kids toys/clothes?

I'm a big online shopper (for obvious reasons!) So I'm usually finding clothes at stores like Zara, H&M, Gap and Old Navy.  We get all of our toys at my 2 favorite local stores: Fat Brain Toys and Learning Express - both have great selections of interesting and unique toys and even gift wrap for free so it's great with all the birthday parties we attend.

What's the biggest challenge with blogging full-time, photographer and being a mommy? Have you hired help?

I'm sure this is the same for all of us - finding balance.  There is never enough time in the day to get everything done...clean the house, make dinner, grocery shop, carpool, write a blog post, edit photos...the list goes on.  I've accepted that some days are just better than others and I'm getting better about carving out certain times in the day for specific errands or things that have to get done.  We did recently hire a cleaning crew that comes once a month and it's been one of the best decisions we've made.

Where do you and your kids go to for fun?

We make the fun come to us.  With my kids being so young and not having a babysitter on call or my family close by, we stay in.  I've sat through enough meltdowns at restaurants and temper tantrums at the mall to know that we will have plenty of time for that as they grow up, but right now, it's easier on everyone to stay home.  Our backyard swingset is our playhouse, the fridge is stocked with go-gurt and juice boxes, and our bathroom is cleaner than any public restroom. 

What words do you live by?

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."  I think optimism and a positive attitude steer you each day into a fulfilling life.

When do you find the time to blog and work with three small kids?

I started waking up earlier - usually an hour, sometimes two before everyone else is up.  I can easily be persuaded out of bed with a hot cup of coffee waiting for me downstairs. 

What's a current goal you are working towards?

Growing and expanding my blog and photography business.  With baby-sized kids these past couple years, my “me time” was limited.  As they are growing, they play independently more of the time now.  I am recharged as I blog and photography tells my story.  

How does a typical day look for you?

5:30/6 -            Wake up, make first cup of coffee, curl up in front of the computer... e-mails, blog posts, read my favorite blogs and check Instagram. 

7:30-9 -            Kids are up, get them dressed and ready for the day, take my oldest to school         and drop my son off at preschool (3x a week for 2 1/2 hours).
9:15-11:30 -    Grocery shop, target run, dry cleaning, any other errands and then back to pick my son up at preschool.

12:00-2:30 -     Lunch time for my son and the baby and then put the baby down for a nap.  My son decided he was done with naps around the age of 2, so I lay him down with a movie

or the Ipad.  This is the time that I get laundry done, do any dishes, make dinner and do any daily cleaning off of this list.

3:00-5 -           Pick up my daughter from school, we walk on most nice days and then play in 
the backyard until dinner time.

5:00 -              Dinner

5:30-7 -           Homework, reading, bath time, getting everyone ready for bed

7:30-8:30        Bedtime.  18mo old goes down at 7:30, 3 year old goes down at 8 and the 
oldest goes to bed at 8:30.  I run a pretty tight ship around here and this schedule is almost 
the same every day. 

9:00-11 -         Catch up with my hubby over a glass of wine, sometimes watch trashy 
housewives on Bravo (such a guilty pleasure) or do a little blog work and then off to bed.

Some days feel like Groundhog Day and my husband and I have struggled with that at times – but we stick to this schedule almost every day. We have found that it really works for us and our kids and if everyone is happy and healthy, than that is all I care about.

Thank you SO much for having me Sara!  I'm such a huge fan of your blog & this amazing series.  All the women you have featured in the past inspire me and I hope I can do the same for anyone else reading.  xoxo

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Thank you Mandy for being here today and sharing pieces of your life along with beautiful pictures. And you can catch more of Mandy on her fabulous blog, instagram and Pinterest.

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