Working Mom: Courtney Toney of Joyful Joyful Designs

You know those cute banners you see on all of your favorite dessert displays and baby showers you go to?  Most likely they’re from the amazingly talented Ms. Courtney Toney from Joyful Joyful Designs!  She custom makes some amazing banners and flags for weddings, parties, your home, and of course some seasonal holiday items too!  While it’s clear that Courtney is talented in the art department, many people admire something else about her…she’s an incredible mom!  And a working mom at that!  So of course, we knew we had to spotlight her in our Working Mom section.  Read below to hear Courtney’s story and how she’s learned how to tackle this crazy thing called motherhood!

Name: Courtney Toney

Company: Joyful Joyful Designs

Title: Owner/Designer

Location: San Diego, CA

Kids: Isaiah (6), Hudson (3) and another baby boy on the way

What does a typical day in your position look like?

My early bird boys are our alarm clock at 6:30 and from there it is breakfast, make lunches, get my oldest to school go mode. From there, each day of the week is a little different. One day a week, my 3 year old goes to day care so that I can work in the morning. One day a week, the day my husband’s work starts late, I help in my 6 year old’s kindergarten class. Other days, I am playing with my 3 year old at home or out running errands with him. I try to get at least a half hour of work in there while he is playing on his own- usually returning emails, updating my etsy shop, etc. Then, everyday after lunch, it is my work time while Hudson naps and Isaiah is still at school. I design and assemble orders, take photos of new products, blog and package items to be shipped. Once my kindergartner is done with school in the afternoon, I try to put aside all work for the day and focus on them. During my busy weeks, I end up working at night multiple times a week after they are asleep.

How do you balance being a working mom?

Prioritizing. I am a major list maker. Everyday, I look at my list of what I would like to get done for work and home, then realistically revise it according to how much time I have available that day. I try my hardest to not let my work get in the way of my time with my kids. During crazy weeks, though, there have been times that I am packaging orders while they watch a show on TV and we pick up a pizza for dinner and I have learned to give myself grace during those times, but I try to plan ahead and prevent days like that as much as possible. My boys are also extremely familiar with our local post office and know their way around Michaels like pros- ha! A big thing I have learned too is to say no. If something is not crucial or extremely important for my business, I say no. If it’s not worth the time I am going to have to allocate from my family time, I don’t take the opportunity.

I’ve also learned that it is okay to ask for help. I am not supermom and don’t have to be. Admitting I cannot do it all is so freeing. Sometimes that looks like taking my neighbor up on her offer to have my kids go over and play in the afternoon while I get some more work done. Or asking my husband to make dinner (which, thankfully, he is amazing at). Or asking a grandma to take the kids overnight so I can get a couple full days of work in and a much needed date night with my husband. Which is another thing I have learned: making time for date nights with my husband is so so important. It refreshes me and I am able to be a better mom and person when our marriage is thriving.

Has there ever been a breaking point when you didn’t think you could do both?  What got you through?

Yes- definitely. I actually used to be a wedding planner. I ran my business (Joyful Weddings & Events) and designed and coordinated 20-30 weddings a year up until the time I found out I was pregnant with my second baby. I was feeling extremely worn out and like I wasn’t able to be the mom or wife I wanted to be and also wasn’t able to be the business owner I needed to be. Working from home seemed very dreamy before I had kids, but balancing a toddler, a business and knowing that I was going to have a baby coming soon was really tough. What pushed me to the breaking point was seeing how little family time we were able to have. My husband is a pastor, so we were both working weekends and then he would watch our son on his day off. We hardly ever had a day off together. As we were approaching the age when my son would start playing sports (on Saturdays) and I had to repeatedly say no to play dates and birthday parties because of work, I realized that it just wasn’t working for our family. Selling my business was extremely bittersweet, because I did love it, but I knew that it was the right move for our family. From there, I started my etsy shop so I could still be involved with weddings and parties and have a creative outlet that would bring in a bit of income, but one that I could do during naptime. There have still been times of struggle with balancing even a small crafting business and mommyhood, but I am so glad that I made a major change to better our family and how rewarding that has been.

What is your favorite part about your job?

I love getting to create custom items for a party or wedding. Working with a customer to find the perfect print or phrase for their banner is fun and keeps things fresh. I also love when my customers send me photos of their weddings, birthday parties or homes so that I can see my work come to life.

What is your favorite part about being a mom?

Getting to watch my children grow. The joy in their eyes when they accomplish something for the first time. The cuddles and giggles. Watching their imagination grow as we create and adventure together. Parenthood is not easy, but it is the best thing ever. I am so humbled that I get to love and nurture these little men, trying my best to shape them into amazing individuals as they grow up.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: A movie star who worked for Bank of America (like my mom)

Beauty secret: Cute headbands- a mom’s best friend.

Celebrity style crush: Reese Witherspoon- she always looks so classy.

Secret talent: Being the mom of boys, I have accumulated an unexpected knowledge of Star Wars. I can name you all of the characters, the planets and tell you what events take place in which episode. Impressive, I know.

I can’t live without: music, my family, Jesus, good black tea & chocolate