Picture this……over 6 years ago I was sitting on my couch, feet up to rest my poor fat pregnant ankles, laptop on my lap and 40 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I had been reading some knitting blogs and saw on blogger a button to create your own blog. Oh, OK I might create my own blog. Name of blog. Um. Knitter and new mum (what a mouthful). And that was the start of my blogging career. A split second decision to start a blog and share my new life as a stay at home mum.
1 week old keira
We had just bought our first house, we had gone from two good incomes to one, I only knew one other mum in the area but was so excited and nervous about the life ahead. All I knew was that I wasn’t returning to banking and that my dreams of being a stay at home mummy were about to come true.
a mummy of one
Fast forward 6 years and that little family has grown to a family of 7! I still can’t quite believe that has happened (but yes, I do know how it’s happened!) and my traffic of about 3 readers per post has grown to thousands. And I’ve had over 3.5 million page views here on my retro mummy blog. Wow. That statistic is just crazy! I went from having a little knitting stash to becoming a full blown craft addict. And I receive the most beautiful emails and messages from my readers telling me how much they love my blog and then sharing their stories with me.
the family has grown!
I don’t know many stay at home mummies in my area with lots of children or who love craft as much as I do or who love to bake and just be at home. But I do through my blog. I love what I have created here and it’s become a huge part of my life. I blog everyday because I love it. No one makes me do it, it’s a love of blogging and sharing.
I am always taking photos!
About 2 years ago I started working with brands and now bring in an income that makes a real difference in our household. And I love it. I never imagined that I could be doing this. When Keira was born I sold Avon, I sold Tupperware, I set up my retro mummy store selling fabric. All the while running my blog on the side and never imagining that I would be working through my blog in a few years time.
And these days I’m so busy with just raising a family and running a household that I can’t answer every email or business request that comes in. And boy do I get a lot of requests. I need to flick it over to someone else who is more savvy and more assertive than I am. And I don’t have the time to do every request that comes in.
a mummy of 4
But gosh I’ve had some amazing opportunities come my way. I’ve been on the Today Show (sadly I didn’t get to meet Karl), I’ve been in magazines and newspapers, I’ve had a makeover and film crew follow me around Westfield for the day with the gorgeous Donny Galella and worked with some really amazing big brands.
And I have to say thank you to YOU my lovely readers, some of you are old timers and some of you have just found me. Some of you have met me (aren’t you lucky) and some of you live on the other side of the world. Whoever you are and wherever you live, the only reason I get to make this announcement is because you keep coming back to read this blog and enjoy it. So, thank you. And that’s why you are the first to hear this exciting news which has been kept under wraps.
I first met Lorraine of The Remarkables when Emerson was about 3 weeks old and I was lucky just to get out of the house with some lip gloss and deodorant on that day and make it to our meeting on time. I was so impresed with Lorraine’s business and how it could help me going forward and also I just fell in love with Lorraine. She’s one smart lady. And so I said yes! And she then said ‘OK, well wait I still need to tell you a few more details’…….I was just a little bit too excited.
I’m a mummy of 5! And I wish I looked this great every day!
Like so many of you, my number one priority in life is my family. And I’m so happy that I now have someone like Lorraine who will help me with the business side of things and let me do what I love to do. Raise a family, do my craft, bake some cookies, take photos and blog about it. Life is good. And I pinch myself.
I’m so excited to announce this to you today and also so excited to be joining a group of amazing bloggers in Australia. You can find all the Remarkables here. And my only worry about joining the Remarkables? I hope I don’t get photographed standing next to another Remarkable like Hair Romance or Styling You – you know those bloggers who blog about beauty and hair and look immaculate. I still have to remember just to check my shoulder for Emerson’s throw up or call out to my girls and ask who has taken the lipgloss from mummy’s handbag the nappy bag.
And if you’re reading this and have always wanted to work with me, well you just speak to Lorraine!
Welldone you Corrie! I love reading your blog since coming across it a few months ago. It must be so exciting to be doing something you love while still being able to be there for your family. Elaina xo
Congratulations lovely that is very exciting news and an inspiration to lots of other SAHM’s xx well done
Congratulations, you sound very excited! I love your blog because you come across as so real and honest, I hope this means lots of other readers find you too!
Very happy for you and thanks for admitting that you can’t do it all and outsource/seek assistance when you need it. I think if more women in the public who, on the surface, appear to have it all, admitted to having some help or spoke about the challenges they face, it could really help with the guilt that so many women feel about not being able to do ‘it all’. Anna
Very happy for you and thanks for admitting that you can’t do it all and outsource/seek assistance when you need it. I think if more women in the public who, on the surface, appear to have it all, admitted to having some help or spoke about the challenges they face, it could really help with the guilt that so many women feel about not being able to do ‘it all’. Anna
Congratulations Corrie…I love reading your blog. Ha ha I pressed that little button too but didn’t know what to write and then left it for a year! YOU GO GIRL xo
Congratulations that is great news and thanks for sharing with us we love hearing and reading about your adventures and this is a big one and you deserve it
Enjoy
Congratulations Corrie, this is amazing, you have come a long way in 6 years. I love reading your BLOG.
That is wonderful news Corrie! Congratulations!
That is wonderful news Corrie! Congratulations!
Congrats Corrie. Well deserved. You have a lovely, chatty blog style that I really enjoy. I look forward to more.
Love the story of your blogging journey. Very excited about the next stage x
I have been reading your blog for the past three years from the other side of the world…or somewhere over there. LOL! I have seen you as a family of 5, pregnant twice, now as a family of 7. I love your blog. I am very happy for you and I wish you all the best!!
Corrie,
Yes I am one of those on the other side of the world. I think you are remarkable – you have a wonderful blog with the perfect mixture of family news, craft and business. I think what comes through most clearly is that you are genuine and generous with what you have learned through blogging. And like most things – you have steady growth – cuz there is no such thing as an overnight success! Congratulations.
I am so happy to have your blog, and you. You are an inspiration to mummies all over the world!
Congratulations Corrie.
Bravo, Corrie. It will no doubt be a huge relief to hand over that onerous task to someone else. J x
Wow big congrats corrie! I only wish I lived closer to you so I could hang out with you and your kids and craft and bake with you too! Although I think my nephew will be at the same school as the twins next year!? So maybe I might see you at some of the school concerts?! Well done on an amazing achievement x
Congratulations well done and what a huge achievement.
Keep doing what you love. Things always work out.
http://loopylu-loopylu.blogspot.com.au/
Congratulations well done and what a huge achievement.
Keep doing what you love. Things always work out.
http://loopylu-loopylu.blogspot.com.au/
Congratulations well done and what a huge achievement.
Keep doing what you love. Things always work out.
http://loopylu-loopylu.blogspot.com.au/
Congratulations!! I was wondering who they would sign next – and here you are! What a wonderful lot of bloggers The Remarkables represent!
Congratulations Corrie! You’re one lucky woman to be able to do what you love to do best – FULLTIME! You’re an inspiration to us all and to your family too…
Keep blogging and we shall keep reading
All the best,
Sophie xo
Congratulations Corrie! I don’t comment here nearly enough but I love to read and your photos are always gorgeous. Well done and enjoy it all x
Congratulations Corrie! Exciting times ahead for you and your blog!!! I look forward to reading on : )))
Congrats Corrie! And you really are Remarkable you know. There are lots of blogs out there but some of them just have an extra little something that really propels them forward. On paper we’re pretty similar – 5 children, Catholic, blogging for 6 years, love craft, take way too many photos of our children, married to amazing men, etc but you write and share so beautifully about your life that it draws readers to you and has given you so many wonderful opportunities. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for you! I am hoping that Blogher 2013 will be involved!! Lots of love from me, A.
Congrats Corrie on all your achievements, especially your gorgeous people, and to retrodaddy too, for helping each other reach your goals. I just love how you are happy in your chosen life, gosh I wish I could have read your blog years ago when I was a SAHM, quite happy except for my father’s constant nagging of “you are wasting your education”….if my education helped me raise an independent well adjusted DD, I didnt waste a day or dollar of it!!!!
Hi Corrie, congrats! How wonderful for you and your family. I love your blog and it’s a highlight of my week to read up on what’s been happening. Ive been following for a couple of years now, you have really provided inspiration in lots of ways. Well done, and please keep it up. Cheers Natalie
Hi Corrie, congrats! How wonderful for you and your family. I love your blog and it’s a highlight of my week to read up on what’s been happening. Ive been following for a couple of years now, you have really provided inspiration in lots of ways. Well done, and please keep it up. Cheers Natalie
Congratulations, Corrie! Great to see another craft/sewing/quilting blogger being recognised!
Now I know what to aspire to next…
Congratulations Corrie!! You are truly inspiring and I love my daily fix of Retromummy!!
Always love how you tell your stories Corrie, you have a beautiful way of doing it. Gorgeous photos in this lot. And big congrats on your latest achievement, the sky is the limit for you, lovely RetroMummy xo
Well I consider myself to be lucky twice over….I’m an old time reader of your blog and I’ve met you!!!!
Congratulations….I love your blog, you are fabulous!!
Congratulations
Your feelings on being at home are so much like my own. Before I had children I felt like a square peg in a round hole in the office. These days I feel guilty sometimes for not wanting more, but I love being home crafting and making things for myself and my kids. My baby will turn 9 next week and I feel more than ever that I should be returning to the office but I just don’t want to. It is quite a problem and once again I feel like a square peg in a round hole for not wanting what most women do. Getting paid for doing something I love would be my dream. I say good luck to you for living the dream!
Ohh congrats sweetie! I’m so happy for you. xx
You are my Hero, God bless you and your family.
Lots of love,
samya
welcome to the Remarkables…
x
Congrats!! xx
I love reading your blog!
Congrats!! xx
I love reading your blog!