Living Life Your Way.... Interview with Tricia from Mama Marchands Musings

Hey! Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, there! I’m Tricia and I blog at mama marchand’s musings. You can also find me tweeting (a lot) @mamamarchand. I’m a part-time working mama who is head over heels for the hubs and loves being a new(ish) mama to our daughter, little N.

I started my blog three years ago, before I really knew what blogging even was. I just knew I wanted to write! It picked up speed in 2009 when we found out we were pregnant with our daughter, as a way to keep long distance friends & family updated on our life. Now? It’s a huge passion of mine and gives me my own space to muse about marriage, mamahood & lessons I’m learning in this crazy life.

I love all things handmade, cupcakes, organizing (it’s an addiction, really), coffee (a necessity), thrifting & shopping for deals, and blogging (of course). I’m planning to open my own etsy shop in a few months and am so excited!

Is the life you lead now the life you've always dreamt of?

Wowza! This is a tough question and the honest answer is NO. I had a much different plan for my life (as God chuckles) before I met the hubs. It included moving to Colorado after college graduation, getting my dream job, learning how to ski, and breathing in crisp mountain air every day. Instead, I live in the DC metro area, fight road rage daily, and am learning how to sew (again). Quite a difference, huh? But, I’ve learned that the life I used to dream of isn’t the life that I would have loved. I am deeply in love with my husband and over the moon for our daughter and I wouldn’t want to change that for anything!

When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going?

My faith, my husband, my little girl, and knowing that the particular trial I am facing with strengthen me and will prepare me for a larger challenge in the future. The hubs and I have experienced some pretty difficult “mountains” in our life together and we’ve conquered them. We are better people for it!

Fear affects us all at some point. What part has fear played in your life and how have you overcome it?

Unfortunately, fear has played a large part in my life. To most, I’m usually cool, calm & mostly collected on the outside but there have been poignant moments where fear has consumed me from the inside ... fear of the future, finances, fertility, and the list goes on. The last hurdle we faced was a BIG one and I overcame it by trusting completely that there was a bigger reason for it in our life then just something to cause heartache and stress. By the grace of God, we made it through!

What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?

As I get more involved in the handmade community, I realize that it is filled with people who planned carefully and then threw caution to the wind and followed their hearts. They are now successful, self-employed, creative geniuses who are living their dreams. So, DO IT. Do it NOW. Follow your passion!

What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?

For me, it’s my faith, the love, support & encouragement of the people who are most important to me, and doing something every day that I love.