Building a Business Without Sacrificing Family Life | Laura of Joy Food Sunshine (Episode 309)
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
About Laura
Laura is the creator behind JoyFoodSunshine, where she combines her background in chemistry with her lifelong love of cooking to develop easy, reliable recipes that taste gourmet. A former chemistry teacher and mom of six, Laura has spent nearly two decades cooking three meals a day for her growing family. She personally develops, tests, and photographs every recipe on her site—no outsourcing, no AI—just thoughtful, dependable food made with care. Her goal is to help home cooks feel confident in the kitchen, offering clear instructions, photo and video tutorials, and troubleshooting tips for every dish. What began in junior high with a love of baking from cookbooks has grown into a trusted online resource where science meets everyday simplicity. From breakfast to dessert, Laura’s recipes are designed to be approachable and impressive, so families can spend less time worrying about what’s for dinner and more time enjoying it together. Through JoyFoodSunshine, Laura hopes to bring joy, nourishment, and a little sunshine into kitchens everywhere.
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
Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series
Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy
Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook
Connect
Laura of Joy Food Sunshine | Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest
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