I was lucky enough to meet Jamie many years ago because she was best friends with a dear friend of mine. This girl exudes happiness. She is so genuinely kind and light-hearted, it just makes you smile to be around her. And Jamie makes being both a mom and entrepreneur look effortless. This working mom not only is building her own business while raising two little ones, but her husband has simultaneously built a business at the Exact. Same. Time. Read on to take a peek into the life of Jamie and her brand, Saturday Morning Pancakes.
Tell us a little bit about your background and where your career started.
I spent my entire adult life working with at-risk and underprivileged youth. It was the hardest and greatest thing I have ever done. This work made me realize I needed to spread smiles to everyone I met. I didn’t want anyone coming to me without leaving happier. These children taught me that laughter is healing and humor builds resilience.
Once I got pregnant with my first baby, I switched paths so I could be a stay-at-home mom and a working woman. I decided to take my love of hip hop and combine it with my “annoying little sister” sense of humor and Saturday Morning Pancakes was born!!
Who doesn’t love a good Vanilla Ice pun?
What made you decide to start your company?
I wanted to stay home with my kids, but I also wanted to grow my own passions and skills. I wanted to bring smiles to people around me, and I found that I could do that through 90s hip hop puns and the nap time hustle.
How did your career change after having children?
Since my career started at the same time as my little family, life was a whirlwind of change. It’s the chaos of designing, website building, changing diapers, Disney Junior on repeat, updating social media, potty training, reviewing financials, and cleaning out sippy cups. (Sooo many sippy cups!!!) My life was a beautiful hot mess.
You and your husband are both business owners, and both businesses are growing a lot right now. How do you manage the 24/7 life of running your own companies with parenting young kids?
Oh man, it is quite the juggle and we owe a lot of it to the amazing people in our lives: our parents, friends, and co-workers. It really does take a village. We’ve managed to work out a schedule so we both can share the load of parenting and work. I get a good portion of my work done in the early hours of the morning while everyone is sleeping. I wake up at 4:30am, grab a coffee, and hit the computer. It sounds insane, but it’s actually my favorite part of my day. Since Jeff owns a coffee shop [Editor’s note: no joke, one of the best chais I’ve ever had is at his San Clemente coffee shop], he’s typically home with the kids in the afternoons so I can get into the office. We’ve figured out a balance that’s working somehow.
Behind Every Small Business is a Family from Saturday Morning Pancakes on Vimeo.
What has been the best part of running your own business?
The best part of small business life is the flexibility. I can be with my kids any time I want, which means play dates and beach days are always an option. I have major FOMO so I really hate missing out on anything. I wanted to be home with my kids while they still want me around. They are only little once and I want to soak it all up. And working also gives me a great outlet, because let’s be honest, sometimes our kids drive us bonkers. Saturday Morning Pancakes allows me to interact with my amazing community of women, which helps me keep my sense of self and connection.
Jamie and Jeff and their sweet kiddos.
What about the most challenging part?
It’s very easy to get overwhelmed with so much on my mind. There is a lot of pressure from everything in my life, to be the best mom, to have the funniest t-shirts, the best design, the most Instagram followers, the most relevant emails. And there really isn’t an off switch. It’s easy to get sucked into the chaos. But luckily, my husband and I keep each other in check so we don’t go too far down the rabbit hole.
Do you have any working mom life hacks that have made life easier that you can share with us?
Oh man I wish! I don’t have any life hacks, but I do have 2 things that keep me sane: 1) Waking up before anyone else. I know it sounds nuts, but there is something so magical about drinking a hot cup of coffee and watching the sunrise without anyone whining about the wrong colored cup. 2) Laughter – our family survives on laughter. When I get overwhelmed, the kids and I take a dance break and all my priorities get put back into place. I also have a pretty solid group of girls I see weekly to help keep me sane. Laughing through life is the only way to enjoy it.
Every mom’s truth, amiright?
What’s the best piece of advice a working mom has given to you?
“Don’t let the little moments pass you by.” Getting wrapped up in work is easy, but these babies will only be little for so long. She begged me not miss it. So now I take extra time to notice their little hands when they are talking to me, or the silly way my toddler runs with his arms behind his back. These are the things that are easily missed and you can never get back.
If you love Saturday Morning Pancakes, Jamie has graciously offered my readers a 20% discount code on her awesome products (see my favorite that I bought for my girl and me). Use code LOLLIPOPSANDLAPTOPS to grab your gear!
Shop Saturday Morning Pancakes here: www.saturdaymorningpancakes.com
Follow Jamie’s brand on Instagram: @saturdaymorningpancakes
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