Des Moines Moms Blog recognizes that moms wear a lot of hats. You are a mom, wife, friend, diaper changer, nose wiper, meal planner, lost toy finder, the list goes on and on!
This summer we are thrilled to feature some local moms who are thinking outside the box and making a difference in our community through the businesses they own, organizations they are involved with, and work they do. Check out the rest of the series and read profiles from previous years here.
Niña Williams is a self-described #hotmessmom of four. She was born in the Philippines and is the youngest of seven girls. She and her family now live in Des Moines.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
I have been married to my husband Nick for 13 years, and we have 4 kids (Johannah, Christian, Beckham, and Sebastian). I am a lifestyle blogger/influencer, and I share my love of home decor, photography, everyday moments, and inspiration on my Niña Williams blog and Instagram account. Before becoming a blogger, I was a wedding and portrait photographer which has helped me with styling, photographing, and editing.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of motherhood to be? Biggest joy?
Patience. I struggle with this every.single.day. as a stay-at-home mom. When you have four kids that need your attention plus juggling the kids’ busy schedules, trying to get some work done, and worrying about laundry/cleaning, sometimes it’s hard not to lose your patience.
The biggest joy is sharing memorable moments together. I love seeing their excitement when we experience fun activities/adventures. It could be big moments like going to Adventureland, Disney World, seeing Santa, and going to the pumpkin patch, but it could also be having a movie night at home with popcorn and candy, playing their favorite sport, dance recitals, and getting ice cream for dessert.
Have you always loved interior design? When or how did it become a career?
Omg no! You should have seen my first house 13 years ago! I had red walls in the living room, and I don’t even like the color red. HA! We built our first house in Dubuque, and that was the start of my love of interiors. I loved decorating that house and creating a house that felt like “home” for my family. You can have a brand new house, but it doesn’t really feel like home until you start decorating and hanging stuff on the walls.
When we moved to Des Moines, we decided to build again. I started decorating my home as a creative outlet and posted images of my house every single day on Instagram. Eventually, accounts started sharing the images which brought traffic to my page. Then brands and shops started noticing, and I started getting emails and messages to collaborate. What started off as “just for fun” became a job…a fun job!
What’s the best part about your job?
The best part is definitely inspiring others. Some people aren’t visual people, so I love how they can use my Instagram page or blog to style different parts of their home like their foyer, living room, kids’ rooms, and front porch. Now that I’m building again, I love sharing new build inspiration/tips and this helps individuals who are also in the building process.
What’s the hardest part about your job?
It’s hard to turn off and be in the moment. I work from my phone which is easily accessible, so it’s hard to get away from work. It also comes naturally for me to document my day and share it with my followers, so sometimes it’s hard to turn that mindset off.
What advice do you have for moms who want to pursue their passion?
Just do it! I think the biggest mistake is to dream and talk about it, but not having the courage to actually start it. If you don’t do it now, when will you? “The only risk that you regret in life are the risks you don’t take.”
What have you learned since becoming a home design influencer?/Wish you knew when you started?
I learned that you can actually make money and that it’s okay to say no to opportunities. Posting on Instagram was just for fun when I started my account, and eventually, I realized I could actually get paid to post on Instagram, Instagram stories, and the blog. You have to know your worth…time is money! Also, I was saying “yes” to a lot of shops/brands that reached out to me when I first started. Sometimes, I was saying yes when I already had a lot on my plate with work and staying at home with the kids. Now, I only say “yes” to opportunities when I love the products, know it’s a good fit, or when I know I have time.
Why do you call Des Moines home?
My husband’s work brought us to this area, and I love it because I’m not far from my family. Also, Des Moines is the perfect size. Not too small and not too big.
Know a Des Moines mom we should feature? Let us know! Email [email protected] with details and we will be in touch.
