Emily is one of those types of women you meet and immediately are impressed with because they just have it all together: gorgeous, has a beautiful happy family, physically active, involved in community, and even wears sequins every once in a while! Emily is very modest about her answers, but you’ll soon learn how she’s able to really balance everything on her plate, er, platter!
Your name and hometown:
Emily Hill; Fremont (Bay Area), California
Blog(s) / Website (s):
How many kids?
Madison, 13; Lauren 10 ½; George, 5; Livi 3
Besides being a mother, what else consumes your time?
I’m a little out of balance so the question should probably read “Besides being online, what else consumes your time?” and that would be motherhood. (I’m working on making it the other way around, promise!) Along with being a mom to two pre-teens and two energetic preschoolers, I help run georgietees.com, which I own with a girlfriend; help run SassyScoops.com with Vanessa and Quinn; write product reviews for BoutiqueCafe.com; and do freelance copywriting and editing on the side. I also just started helping with the launch of the Utah chapter of Childhelp.org, a national organization for at-risk and abused children. In my spare time I like to work out (triathlons are my newest challenge), hop on the back of my husband’s motorcycle for rides up the canyon, read a good book (never happens), eat lots of chocolate (always happens) and drink Route 44 diet vanilla Cokes from Sonic.
What is the biggest challenge you’re faced with right now?
Hmmm…maybe a husband that decided to get his executive MBA. EMBA = single parenthood most evenings and every other weekend. Oh, and this might be a totally new concept, but finding the right balance between work and family is a pretty good challenge too. On Mondays that balance is non-existent, but as the week goes on I seem to get better at it. By Saturday it’s out of balance again but in the family’s favor—and that’s a good thing!
With so much demanded of you, how do you “Make it Work”?
I’m not sure I do. Nick Jr. and Playhouse Disney help, along with PBS and a few favorite DVDs. Chick-fil-a play dates with friends, girls’ nights out and date night with Nathan all help keep my sanity in check, A good workout in the morning gives me enough endorphins to get through the day on 5 or 6 hours of sleep. Chocolate and caffeine help too, or did I already mention that? The rest is a mystery. No, wait. Having someone clean my home every other week totally makes it work. It’s my guilty indulgence but SO totally worth it.
If you had a full day to yourself, free of daily responsibilities, what would you do? Where?
Say that again. I’m not sure I understand the question. You’re saying a day to myself without wiping someone’s bum, doing someone’s laundry or making someone dinner? Let me try to grasp that concept a moment…okay, I think I’ve got the idea. First, I would make sure it was the day after my house had been cleaned so I could enjoy a clean home for longer than five minutes. I would sleep in until at least 9am, go to the gym—or maybe skip it because I wouldn’t need those endorphins, read a good book, go to lunch with a friend, do a little shopping, take a nap, read some more, eat cereal for dinner (only one dish and a spoon to wash), doing some tweeting, then watch Food Network for a few hours. Of course, if I were in Kauai I’d scrap all that and just do the book thing on a white sandy beach.
What would be your advice to other mothers trying to “Make It Work”?
I like to remember two things. One, you’ve gotta do what works for you. Period. If that means late nights and a little caffeine, so be it. If that means early to bed and early to rise, more power to you. You’re my hero! Whatever it is, do it and do it well. Of course if it’s not working, shake things up and try something new. Two, it’s not eternal. Okay, some things are eternal but this is one of my favorite phrases for daily life. When it comes right down to it, so many things don’t really matter. Let them go. Try saying “it’s not eternal” just once and you’ll be hooked. Kind of puts everything into perspective.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
How can you not just love Emily? She’s one of my favorite people.
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I only dream of making it work like she does. She has got it all together…
Love her to pieces and bits!
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you are a crazy running lady, makes me tired just reading about all this!
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Em makes me happy! I think we all need an Emily in our arsenal of friends! Don’t forget I’m your #1 supporter these next two years as an EMBA widow!!!!
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Great interview! We (heart) Emi Hill @todaysmama!
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Awwwww…you gals have made my day! Thank you for your kind words. Off to prune roses, poison weeds and ingest a super sized vanilla Diet Coke with pebble ice. Homemade Oreo cookies soon to follow…
Thank you, Camille, for featuring me!
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wait
wait
what is this about homemade oreos?
Emily asks me If its eternal sometimes and its the perfect question to ask.
Emily is my favorite and my best.
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I love Emily. I seriously have no clue how she does it all. And looks hot doing it.
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Emily you are the “Wind Beneath My Wings”. LOL! Can u come over and make me some of those oreo cookies? Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Your an awesome woman and a great Tri buddy.
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That was totally so hilarious.
I hope she gets her chocolate today.
She looks darling!
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I am proud to call Em my sister-in-law. She is always on the go. Em, I only have one child and I can’t seem to fit in as much in a single day as you!! Loved the photos – I have never before seen that b&w of the kiddos. Love it. Keep shining. Love you lots!
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Love you Emi!! You are so awesome!
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Emily is the bee’s knees. Seriously, if you want a die-hard friend who will love you through thick & thin (& bring you treats in the tough times), who will stand by your side (always with the perfect funny thing to say to make your day) and who will be your biggest fan (your number one cheerleader), Emily is your girl. I’ve never had such an amazing friend like Emily; she is truly one of a kind. I hope every day to be as kind, generous and witty as my sweet Emily is. Loved this feature… kept cracking up throughout it. Love you, Em!
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I just came back and read the rest of the comments. I don’t get teary-eyed very often but you guys made it happen. Love you ALL!
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