Michelle Cervo Photography
This month I am so excited to introduce you to a friend and fellow blogger, Michelle Smid from Just an Ordinary Family. I have known Michelle for a very long time, we grew up going to the same church together. When I think about Michelle I see a smiling girl that always seems to be having a great time. She is a strong mother, great role model and a loving friend. After starting my blog we have been able to connect on a new level, helping and supporting each others’ journeys.
Recently I was featured on Just an Ordinary Family sharing about me, my journey and some plans for Creative Wife + Joyful Worker. Michelle has started a wonderful collection of posts that feature different woman in business, giving her readers the opportunity to learn from other successful woman. I was so honored to be featured there and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to feature Michelle on my blog today.
Hello, my name is Michelle Smid. I am a family and lifestyle blogger from the Lower Mainland, BC. My husband and I have been together for almost 11 years, and married for 7. Together we have two beautiful daughters, Claire, 3 years, and Jane, 8 months. My oldest daughter was born in Portland, Oregon, where Spencer and I lived for 3 years while he was getting his doctorate in chiropractics.
My blogging journey began long ago in the summer of 2008. I used it to share photos and stories from our trip to Europe. It continued to be a platform for me to update friends and family on what we were doing, as well as share some of my interests.
Before we moved to Portland in 2010, I had dreams of turning my blog into something more. I didn’t have a vision yet, but I was inspired by other lifestyle blogs such as A Cup of Jo, Pioneer Woman and Unruly Things. I have been reading these three blogs in particular for a long time, and it has been so fun to watch them evolve into even better blogs. It was then that the passion for lifestyle blogging began stirring inside of me.
It wasn’t until I had my second daughter that I started to feel the need to write creatively. I suffered quite badly with postpartum anxiety. Through this experience I realized I needed to reconnect with myself and do something outside of being a mother. I new that among other things, blogging would help me release the creative juices that were bubbling inside of me.
Recently, I have discovered the unique and wonderful community of Instagram. Local shops and bloggers use it as a platform to promote themselves. It was here that I saw what an incredible thing women were doing. All kinds of women! Budding entrepreneurs, experienced and well-known business owners, restaurateurs, stay-at-home moms who sell there goods to supplement income and so many more amazing and talented women. I wanted to tap into that and I wanted to meet these women! I wanted to encourage them and be encouraged by them, promote what they are doing and learn what drives their passions.
It has only been 5 months and I am amazed at the women I have had a chance to meet already, both through email and in person. My favourite part of it all has been learning what has made these women choose their path and what made them take the leap into being an entrepreneur.
I’ll keep blogging about my family. My girls are too cute to keep to myself! I also love cooking. The recipe piece of my blog is something I would like to grow more. The last 5 months have been so much fun for me, I can’t wait to see what is coming up next!
Michelle Cervo Photography
