Dear Mushka,

We're celebrating Dear Mushka's sixth birthday this week and I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane. Come with me? 

1. The Trio Necklace (still available!) was one of my very first pieces. I wrapped a white curtain behind me, balanced an old camera on self timer, and uploaded this to our Etsy site. It wasn't professional, but I knew good photography mattered so I did the very best I could without panicking over perfection. 

2. I took a screenshot of my first ever sale. My dear friend and forever champion, Sarah, purchased a tiny heart necklace (similar to our current The Delight) and it made my heart sing. Friends, you matter!

3. The was one of the first photos I ever shared on Instagram. Shops around me were posting bag-fulls of their orders and here I was, trying to make these 7 looks as robust as possible. Now, we're posting bag-fulls ourselves (all glory to God!) and I'm still so grateful for these seven right here. 

4. I was as grateful for you all then as I am now (though I don't call you "fab" anymore E). Thank you for doing this with me! 

PS: I created this on a free site called Pic Monkey. Don't let graphic design scare you, there are lots of free resources. I'd choose Canva now! 

5. Scenes from my earliest desk. I spy The Royalty Necklace and No.139 Bracelets (though they were called something difference back then, before I added scripture). They've been around this whole time and are still great sellers. 

6. My first work space, in our bedroom. This shop opened, in part, as a fundraiser to bring our first son home via adoption. There he is, not even a year old. He's five now! 

Every day looks a little different, but here's a typical Wednesday or Friday around our house. I have three boys (5, 2, 5mo) and a growing business! 

6:00 Alarm goes off. I get up, put on work out clothes, and feed the cat.

6:10 Sit down in my cozy chair to spend time with the Lord. You can read my details of a typical "quiet time" here!

Here are the prayer pages I use. 

7:00 I put away dishes and prep breakfast for the boys if I have an extra moment. 

7:15 The boys usually start waking up around this time. I try to feed my youngest his bottle before I let the other two out of their rooms so he isn't too distracted to eat. 

7:30 Breakfast for the boys. We usually do oatmeal and a protein smoothie on weekdays. We also spend this time reading a devotion, saying a memory verse, etc

Lately, we've been talking about a verse from The Fighter Pack and it's been so good for our home's atmosphere. 

8:00 Clean up the kitchen (the boys are in charge of cleaning where they sat), start a load of laundry, get everyone dressed 

8:15 Exercise. I do a 30 minute BeachBody workout while the boys play around me. 

8:45 Take a quick shower and get ready for the day. I usually put my 2 year old in the bathroom with me so I can keep track of him ;) 

9:00-11:00 My youngest goes down for his morning nap and I play with the older two. Sometimes we meet a friend or go to the playground (my husband works from home so he's there with the baby); other times we play in our yard or do puzzles and play dough inside. 

Somewhere in there, I'll make my protein smoothie. You can read about why I do intermittent fasting here if you're curious. 

11:30 Lunch time! My youngest is up and we're all in the kitchen together. Sometimes I read to the boys while they eat and other times I'm folding laundry or posting on Instagram and answering messages.

12:00-1:00 The boys play in the playroom while I get a few things done. I do anything from meal planning, to cleaning a bathroom to switching their closets to the next season. 

1:00-3:00 The boys nap (or have quiet time in their rooms) and I work! Usually, I share on Instagram stories during this time and squeeze in lunch, too. 

3:00 Everyone is up. We snack, read, play outside, etc. 

4:30 The day's orders are packaged and my husband is usually done working so we all pile into the car to drive to the post office. It's nice to get out of the house if I haven't done so that day! 

5:00 I work on dinner while my husband wrestles with the boys to get some energy out. We eat around 5:30. 

6:00-7:00 Playtime

7:00-7:30 Bedtime! Quick baths, pajamas, and a few books in bed.

7:30-8:30 Robert and I snuggle up on the couch to watch a show or catch up from the day. 

8:30-9:15 I head to our room to read or journal as I unwind. 

9:30 Asleep! If I don't get to bed around this time, I won't be ready to wake up at 6:00am the next morning. Sometimes, it's hard to make myself close a book or get off the couch but it's always worth it. 

I shared my entire Day in the Life over on IG stories so be sure to check it out here. 

I've learned a lot throughout the years of running Dear Mushka and my number one tip for online businesses is to have good photos!

I am by no means a professional and don’t have any of the of the really complicated apps like Photoshop or Lightroom. I use my phone and one app 99% of the time.

I do have a photographer take our model shots for our website a few times a year, but my flat lays and most of what you see on Instagram are taken quickly by me!

For good product photos, a light and neutral background is very helpful! Online shops need to clearly show the product's detail, color and what the customer is getting. I just use a Home Depot tile on a table near my window for natural light. Sometimes I’ll add a while poster board behind as well if I’m looking to reflect light back but it usually isn’t necessary for my photos.

For editing, I use The Color Story app.

Follow the process below to edit your own photos:

 How I edit my baby and model photos:

There you have it! Go have a peek at my latest photos over on the Dear Mushka Instagram profile and let me know if you have any questions - I can't wait to see yours!

Want to join the Dear Mushka team? We're hiring for another set of "hands" for the business-- mostly making jewelry & fulfilling daily orders. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Able to work 25 hours per week with potential for more, especially during holiday seasons. Ready to start in June.
• Passionate about the Dear Mushka brand and the heart + hope behind it
• Reliable transportation to Franklin, TN
• Can pay close attention to detail with repetitive tasks and follow the work guides set before you
• Capable of handling small tools and materials; will work with your hands 
• Eager to learn and grow your skill set
• Able to work independently or with minimal supervision; introverted a plus
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
• Comfortable with small children disrupting your work space on occasion (sorry)

Sound like you? Send brief experience history and why you’d be interested in the job to robert@dearmushka.com. We can't wait to hear from you! 

*Note: This is not a Summer-only or remote role