You know, there are moments almost every week where I think, "We have a really weird job." When Elsie started the blog over six years ago we never thought one day it would be a our full time job. (We feel SO lucky!) And this also means that our day-to-day schedule is kind of… different, to say the least. Some days we snap a lot of photos of each other. Some days we bake. Some days we make things out of wood. Some days we work on book edits. Some days are filled with meetings to discuss the next app update. Then, we edit photos and write text for this blog. Today we received a pallet-sized delivery of scrapbooking supplies for a kits we'll be packing later this week—taking over Elsie's dining room table. We're still working out of Elsie's home, but we're dreaming hard about getting an office soon. Some of you might already know this, but we have four full-time employees (including Elsie and I) who make up the A Beautiful Mess staff. We are working on a post to talk a little more in depth about the state of our little business, in case you're curious. We realize it is kind of strange/nontraditional. Sometimes it's hard for us to keep track of too. 🙂
Elsie's Wearing: Top c/o ModCloth, Bag/Orla Kiely, Shorts/Homemade cut offs, Necklace/BuenoBeuno, Boots/TopShop.
Emma's Wearing: tops/Target, necklace c/o Noonday Collection, shorts/ASOS, backpack/Ruche, shoes c/o Sweedish Hasbeens
What's going on with you this week? xo. Emma + Elsie
130 Comments
I’d love to see more of everything, really. The office, the staff. How fun it will be to decorate that office! Oh my.
Oh my goodness, I love those boots with the metal on the heel! I just discovered your blog, very inspirational! This post gives me hope maybe one day I can do what I love everyday too!
Love it, so inspiring you two are! Adorable outfits too 🙂
Cool! I didn’t even realize how small A Beautiful Mess was!! Though you may appear small now, doesn’t change the big impact you have on your readership, including myself! Love it, and I’m a big fan of all the craziness you ensue.
What a dream come true- I’m looking forward to reading your post and picking your brain about your business. 🙂 Your outfits are super cute!
Love love the shoes! That would be a dream job for me:)
Love that backpack!
I love what you guys do! It’s so fun!
🙂 Liz @ http://www.rusticpeach.com
Lucky ladies. 🙂
Oh My Gosh! Yeah, some behind the scene posts would be awesome!
xoxox
I love your boots!
As always, I adore Emma’s style <3
Love this post – my sister and I started a blog a few months back, and given that 2,000 miles separates us – it has been having a weird time finding it’s feet…but it’s so fun! It is so inspiring to see sisters getting paid to do something they love like this.
You’re gougeous, girls!
I would really enjoy learning more about your business!
The boots are adorable! I have some that are just like it without the metal on the heel that I wear with almost everything!
Yes! A post on your business would be fab 🙂
neha
http://nehamade.blogspot.com/
Your blogging lives are definitely an inspiration — I’d love to hear more inner workings of the “business” side of things!!
I would love to hear more about your business and what you do on a daily basis behind the scenes. That would be so interesting!
http://liveitinerantly.com
If you ever want a really enthusiastic 5th employee on the east coast, I’m yo’ grrrrl!
I would love to hear more about the business of blogging. While I do have a day job, I’m always interested in building up my blog and making it more professional. I only just started it and a couple weeks back and any posts with info on how you do things is always craaazy appreciated!
Not to mention, it’s just plain interesting to read!
http://cuddlyasacactus.wordpress.com/
Such fun outfits! I hope you two find an office. I’d love to see how you’d style it! Keep rocking the blogging world! 🙂
http://sometimesgracefully.com
I bet that is a fun office to work in 🙂 I bet that is the best part of blogging – everyday is different and keeps things exciting.
xx Alecia likesof.us
I love your outfits, especially Elsie’s boots and Emma’s t-shirts, they’re gorgeous 🙂
I would be soon interested to find out more about you run the blog and your million other projects as a business. I’m sure it will make interesting and inspiring reading!
cute shorts. I saw something like that on chicwish, never thought of making them
Can’t wait to see what else you write on this topic. I’ve been a follow of you guys for some time but don’t ever comemente becuase of all the hundreds you get (haha). Regardless I think you both are precious and SUCH an inspiration!!!
Rita from Curbside Creations 🙂
I admire you very much for doing what you do. I wouldn’t be brave or confident enough to give up my “safe” job in order to become self-employed and rely on my own creativity. (But I’m also not really a very creative person, so there’s that.)
You are amazing, and I would love a little glimpse into your business!
xo Miriam
it’s a strange job, for sure. but any job where you can wear shorts, that much stranger and more awesome.
Loooove both outfits!
Jan Loves
Curious to see more of your business, I think it would be very fun to sneak peek behind the scenes of A Beautiful Mess 🙂
Btw, the boots are super cute!
xo,
Sylvia @ WorldTasting
You two have a dream job no doubt. It’s so impressive that you’ve been able to build it up to the point it is. Good for you. You’re so lucky to have each other (but I know you know that and make it abundantly clear that you appreciate the fact). Must be so much fun doing what you do!
SCRAPBOOKING KITS <3 elsie you NEED to design a core kit for project life! This post is really interesting its nice to see the blog is ran and the buisiness side to things! Always enjoy reading ABM
Issey
illuminatedteapot.com
Love love love the boots!
I really like that you guys can be honest and introspective about your nontraditional business. It’s a business model that many (including myself, sometimes) look up to and would love to have themselves. I have consistently followed ABM because, while everything you do is beautiful and fun, you are able to still look at everything with a very grateful and honest appreciation for what you have and how you got there. The blogging world needs more of that. Too many people get caught up in the glamour and comparison that is full-time blogging. Guilty of it myself from time to time it’s always refreshing to snap out of it and love blogging for exactly what it is meant to be. Creative expression.
xoxohannah
I’m always interested in hearing about the behind the scenes parts of running a crafty business, although I’m a veterinarian by profession,I find it super interesting!
This week I’m scrubbing into my first heart surgery, exciting! A million miles away from you guys and your super awesome business 🙂
those scallop edge shorts are soooo cute! and I’d love to hear more about how you guys run your small business 🙂
OMG Elsie, these boots are fabulous! Love both your outfits, like always…but these boots…hats down! 😉
Many kisses to you both!
Melodie
http://sevenlivesandmore.blogspot.fr/
I’m starting a new job today as the development coordinator at a local homeless shelter. I’m so excited to be helping them raise money for their outstanding mission. But I’m still worried about what I’m going to wear today.
You ladies are sooo inspiring! I would love to work with you guys any day!! 🙂
I can’t wait to see more as post like these are very inspiring. Helps to spark the brain and keeps me motivated with my own jewelry biz n blog. Thanks for sharing!
I am excited to here more about your business details! I love the outfits and the background is awesome!
Carlee
http://thelittlesloth.blogspot.com/
Love the background of the pictures. the color makes the pictures look a lot like “a beautiful mess”
I have started my blog and I love it. I want to see where it takes me.
You too are very inspirational.
If you have time take a look at my new blogpost http://www.androbelinsider.blogspot.com
Xo,
Belen
Nice.
Always good to get blogging advice. 🙂
xxx
http://www.emmaobarnett.com
Being a full time blogger is s dream, and your girls are so lucky !!
The word is nicer with beautiful mess ! Thank you so much for being here and inspire us every day !
XX Luba
http://www.well-living-blog.com
It’s great to hear how everyone runs their blogs, since many of the ones I read are at very different stages and are organized differently.
I only teach one day this week (thanks to Labor Day…and only teaching Monday/Wednesday classes), so this week has been spent working on my own blog, and tomorrow I’ll be teaching myself how to change a bike tire. After that, I will hopefully celebrate my fixer-upper adventure with a nice, long ride. 🙂
You two look lovely as always!! But what is it about that pallet of scrapbooking stuff – tell us more!! I’m so excited! 😀
Fun photos today–would love to learn more of your day-to-day workings, as well as how your current schedule and priorities evolved over time to what they are today.
A photojournal over a week’s time of your daily activities would be very neat and insightful !
kits what kits?? scrapbooking?? are u guys gonna be selling your own abm kits??? wanna hear more!!!!!!!!!!
Would love to hear about your other team members and how it all works 🙂
I am self employed and it can get a bit lonely sometimes. Got to make sure I make time to meet people regularly.
Good luck with the new office hunting
Andrea xxx
You guys are such an inspiration to me. You are owning it.
Love Emma’s backpack! So cute. And I would love to hear more about how A Beautiful Mess functions. You do such a wonderful job, so it would be really interesting to learn about what happens behind the blog scenes. Thank you for sharing!
xx
youngmildandfree.wordpress.com
Great style! Sounds like some fun work days for you two! Since I also have a day job, I’m hoping to take your e-course to develop my blog further 🙂
I’ve been wishing for a while that you had a staff page. I think it’s important to give credit where it’s due, and I’m also interested to hear more about you all. We see you two a lot, but don’t know that much about the others working behind the scenes. So I’m waiting eagerly 🙂
I know what you mean about blogging! Even though my and my sisters’ blog isn’t a 1/4 as big as yours, and we probably don’t spend quite as much time on it as you do; it still makes up a big part of who we are and how our day runs. It’s our job, so to speak 🙂
You ladies are a so inspiring!
-Charlotte
boyerfamilysingers.blogspot.com
I would love to hear more about your everyday business lives, you guys have the coolest job!
Amia
ahhh!!!!
the becky higgings pack!!!!
ive beeeen waitiiiing!
im so eeexcited.
this should hold me over until October/November since the app got pushed back!
eeek
Les
Love Elsie’s top. Can’t wait to hear more about your business 🙂
Rosie x | Every Word Handwritten
Ah, Swedish Hasbeens!! <3
http://www.kaisaphoto.com
I would love to know more about your daily routine and the business of blogging! Can’t wait.
Love Elsie’s modcloth top and boots! Sometimes I crave a more non-traditional work schedule. But, you know, the grass is always greener 🙂
http://www.fullbellywornsoles.com
Oh I’m n love with your scallop trin shorts Emma!
Lulu xx
https://www.luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
You ladies truly are an inspiration to all us wanna-be big bloggers out here 🙂
tatteredtotaylored.blogspot.com
Sounds like a lot of fun to me! 🙂
Oh, I´m going to Chicago on Friday and I´m most happy about that, especially since the weather has cooled here in Sweden but still is hot over there. 🙂
I look forward to a behind the scenes post!
I miss “every day elsie & emma ” so the more
‘behind the scenes/day in the life of’ the better!
I am enjoying reading your blog. Great outfits, shoes, boots and hairstyles too! I have 3 beloved sisters and they are such a gift. I am in a high pressure corporate job and venturing into creative alternatives on the side. I will continue to read your blog, and like Camille who commented above, I would love any tips you have. I admire you for following your creative dreams!
Here is my recent blog link:
http://thishoneybee.blogspot.com/
i love elsie’s booties! and i think it would be awesome to show more of your business! it’s so inspiring what you guys do and i would love to hear more!!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
I´d love to hear more about your work!!
nice job!!
xoxo
http://wilhelminascloset.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/WilhelminasCloset
I would die to have blogging be my job!! But, as it turns out, I start training for my new on-campus job today. Hopefully it goes well 🙂
I would be super interested in finding out how the business that is “A Beautiful Mess” works!
Elsie boots are amazing!!!!
I can’t wait to hear more about your business. It’s so inspiring to see you guys following you’re dreams! I hope we can get office tour one day too, I’m sure it will be beautiful! 🙂
The business side of ABM post sounds awesome. It’d be nice to see how you guys “get shit done” in the words of Meg Briam. Especially your organizational skills, cause god knows we all need help with that.
xo Ashley
thetiniestfirecracker.com
Congrats, your blog is amazing ! Can’t wait to read more about your business 🙂
New post: http://www.thestilettoholic.com
Love from Paris
I think so many of us want to blog and don’t realize all the work it takes, we just see your beautiful photos and think it’s effortless! Something that cautions me about blogging is the lack of privacy and the second is all the critics. Is it hard dealing with those things?
Love Love Love Elsie’s boots!!
you guys are such an inspiration 🙂
– Janine
http://theeoptimist.blogspot.com
When are the Project Life core kits supposed to release? I’m so anxious for yours!
I love that Orla Kiely bag so much. I’d love to hear more about the business/organisation side of things, and wow, I didn’t realise you’d been blogging for six years! Congratulations!
Emma, your outfit is so cute!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
You are so inspiring! I would love to be blogging full time someday 🙂 But as for now it’s just a little hobby. Keep up the great work!
http://www.katelynnow.com
I’d love to know more about your business! Literally my dream job 🙂
And kudos to you both for working such a cool job!
Both of your bags are so adorable! I agree with cuddlyacactus. I would love to learn more about the business of blogging from you guys! I have purchased and went through all of the e-courses you have on blogging. I hope you guys do another e-course soon!
I want to be a Beautiful Mess Employee! You guys seriously are living the dream 🙂
I’m excited to learn more about the behind-the-scenes stuff! I love a good success story 🙂
I’d love to hear more about the life behind your blog! I know that you two do such a great job with this blog–not to mention your app, and your book, too!–so it would be great to know more about that side of your life because I know it’s got to be inspiring! 🙂
p.s. I LOVE your scalloped shorts and Elsie’s bag! They’re all so cute!
It sounds like work is fun for you guys!
Christen
http://christenlouise.blogspot.com
Loving the boots!
Elsie’s shorts and Emma’s top! LOVE.
Can’t wait to read about it…
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
excited to hear more about your business. so fascinated by your lovely brand and tremendous success. of course, you ladies deserve it. your work is inspired!
I’ve been loving reading about the work you do, how your book deal started etc… please keep up posting these 🙂
Just like many other I would love to hear more about the business side of blogging. I think it would be awesome to learn from both of you.
I think your job is the coolest! A lot of hard work and tons of creativity, too!
The Rambling Fangirl
Honestly, this is meant for me. I want to grow up and have this job. I’ve dreamt about this since I was 13 years old. And now that I’m 16, I finally started my own blog. I was always nervous, but after being addicted to so many other blogs, I finally got the guts to start my own! I cant wait for the new post all about your business.
you guys are really inspiring me, even though you don’t know it!! 🙂
I’m so excited to hear more about your business. It is such a blessing that you two get to create things for your job!
Always love reading about your business, your journeys, tips and advice. More please! 🙂
What cute outfits! It’s coming into spring here in Australia, so I’m loving seeing stuff that reminds me of how awesome the weather is here! 🙂
Absolutely love the shoes on Emma!
Love both outfits, so casual cool 🙂 It’ll be really interesting to see a post on ‘blogging business’!
http://www.ravenmaidenmaven.blogspot.com
Loved you outfits they were gorgeous!
I think it would be really cool if you were to tell us more about the business side of blogging!
http://submerge-yourself.blogspot.co.nz/
I’m curious,
please write about this little business!
You’re lucky but you deserve it, your job is absolutely perfect as your blog is.
You can be proud of it !
Xxx
http://alicebradshow.blogspot.fr/
http://alicebradshow.blogspot.fr/
the big brown leather bag is simply amazing..u guys look cute 🙂
Brilliant. I’d love to hear more about how you manage to stay creative and continue to come up with fresh ideas. Also how you work with your staff to maximize your time. And how, as someone else mentioned you’re going to decorate your office (because you WILL have one one day)!
I am very new to the blogging world, I am absolutely fascinated by your blog being your job.
I’d love my little blog to grow into something i am really proud of. Any tips? X
You girls are so inspiring to me! I’m spreading to all my friends and relatives the “ABM word”! 😀
Thanks to you I’ve took sewing classes (including Elsie’s and Mallory’s e-course), I’ve started thinking bigger and different. If I lived in America I really have tried to be one of your employed, for sure 🙂
Thaaank you for your blog!
Claudia
Would love to hear about how your blog started up and how it expanded, I bet that would be an interesting post 🙂
http://fairygobmother.blogspot.co.uk/
xo
I would really love to hear more about what you all do on the business end! You’re certainly inspiring and I would be really curious to see how a day looks to you. And also how you delegate things, how you make decisions, etc.
Great looks!
You’ve made your business into such an enjoyable experience for all of your readers all around the world – now that’s something to be proud of! Great job, ABM staff 🙂
M.
the photos and your styles are awesome (as always)
It’s so interesting to hear about your blog and business – behind the scenes! You girls are super ambitious and creative. It’s fun to get to know more about you 🙂
I’d love to have your job!
I love that your dream turned into a full time job! That is just awesome!
Oooh I am definitely interested to learn more about your staff and how you guys work!
xox
Bailey
http://akabailey.blogspot.com
Where do you always find this beautiful walls? I love the shoes both of you are wearing! Did you style your hair by yourself?
Those heeled booties with gold trim are uh-mazing.
xx Abby | http://www.ageektragedy.net
What a cool job! The photos are awesome. I adore those boots and the scalloped shorts! Maybe pics of some of your shopping trips!
Are affected by renal disease? aussie doctor explains to every one – how their patients stay away from dialysis
need any remote interns from the northeast? just a suggestion.
Oh and I love Elsies shirt.
I would love to learn more about the inside biz! Also, an update on Red Velvet? Would that space serve as a combo office space too?
I would love to hear about your business. One of my dear friends introduced me to your blog about two years ago and I’ve been checking in ever since. It would be wonderful to see what goes on behind the scenes.
Kristina Marie
inertiaticdancer.blogspot.com
I agree, it would be awesome to hear more about “the business of blogging” I think a lot of us draw inspiration from you guys and it would be really cool to learn more about the inner workings of ABM. Xo!
Imagine what the office will look like? That will generate blog posts for months; the decorating etc. I would love to hear more about your staff too. I’ll be trying to write for my blog.
With the inspiration I get from this one. Hopefully I’ll be working somewhere/doing something I enjoy doing everyday. Thanks for the inspirtation.
Morgan
http://www.writtenbymorgan.blogspot.com
what’s going on? well i’m moving from a non traditional schedule back to a traditional M-F teaching job, so seeing this post made me swoon. one day i’d like to return to a nontraditional schedule again…
I hope this isn’t a rude question, I so don’t mean it that way. but how do you pay yourselves and your staff? Is advertising enough or do you have other revenue schemes?
Love those cute scalloped shorts, Emma! You guys have such a cool job. It’s so fun to see little tidbits of it!
Hi, thank you for the insight! We’re running a sister business as well. Would love to hear about your steps. We’re celebrating our 4th birthday now and still do all the work by ourself. It often means nightshifts and always too less time.
Congratulations for your success!
Wait, scrap booking kits?! I just got excited!
Wait, scrapbooking kits?! I just got really excited! Are you guys selling kits?
You have the second best job on the world, the first one, according to me, is one when you travel around the world and explore it…I really would like to have something similar one day =)
And you, guys, are real inspiration! I would love to see your office, how you manage everything…and little bit of history…how did you start blogging, why…what is your inspiration! Everything! =)
kisses,
Jelena
http://davrilpoisson.blogspot.com/
My week starts off with catching up! I got blog posts to edit and schedule, errands to run, maybe I’ll hit the gym. Then by Tuesday I’m in full throttle work mode! Gym at 5, work at 10, followed by food and sleep. Sundays seem to be the only day I get to catch up with my fella. We sip mimosas, talk about our week, do a little work, and watch a little football. It’s pretty much the best way to start my “weekend”.
I hope one day I’ll get to blog full time like you lovely ladies! Do you have any posts with beginning blogger tips?
http://poorjessieann6.wordpress.com