309. Building a Business Without Sacrificing Family Life | Laura of Joy Food Sunshine

Sep 30, 2025

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Homeschooling six kids while running a thriving food blog is no small feat, but Laura of Joy Food Sunshine shares how she’s made it work without losing sight of her priorities. From the postpartum depression that first pushed her to start blogging, to the viral chocolate chip cookie recipe that still ranks #1 on Google, Laura opens up about building a business alongside motherhood. We talk about sharing responsibilities with her husband, letting go of perfectionism, setting boundaries, and creating content rooted in real life. This conversation is packed with encouragement for moms who want to pursue something they love while keeping family first!

In this episode, we cover:

Connecting with Laura Sandford, homeschooling mom of six and creator of Joy Food Sunshine
How postpartum depression after her third baby lead Laura to start her food blog as a creative outlet
The viral chocolate chip recipe that grew her blog and continues to rank #1 on Google since 2017
Building a business in the early years by tag-teaming childcare and homeschooling with her husband
Learning to let go of control, hire help, and find the right people to support her business
Monthly check-ins with her husband to ensure every business maneuver is still serving their family– not the other way around
Saying no to opportunities like writing a cookbook until the season is right
Structuring work hours during afternoon rest times and keeping the business sustainable in busy family seasons
Letting go of perfectionism in homemaking and setting up simple systems for chores, cleaning, and laundry
Laura’s honest story of postpartum depression during nursing seasons and how she chooses to slow down and savor the baby years
Why both of us believe sustainable content has to come from real life, not just chasing trends
Advice for moms who want to start something online: focus on passion, authenticity, and consistency rather than sensationalism

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

Laura’s chocolate chip cookies recipe

Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course

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Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

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