FAQs

1. How long ago did you start blogging and why did you begin?
When I began homeschooling I did a google search for a curriculum called Konos and found Sprittibee’s blog. I read it through and through and became hooked. After reading it for several months I started my own blog. That was in February of 2006. Just months after starting my personal blog I became active in the start up or revamping of other blog sites: Heart of the Matter Online (with Amy Stults), Internet Cafe Devotions (with Lori MacMath) and A Woman Inspired (again with Amy Stults). After a couple of years of stretching myself between these sites I decided to back down from Heart of the Matter and the Internet Cafe to focus my attention on my own blog and A Woman Inspired. Amy Stults also decided to take some time away.

2. Are you and Amy Stults the same person?
Ha! Many people think so. I am always amazed at how people get us confused. I mean even people she went to school with think that I am her. Yes, we are both named “Amy”; we both worked together on HOTM and AWI; we both love small appliances and canisters; we both have scratches on our eyes that won’t heal; our husbands do the same type of work; we both love being stay at home moms. There are other similarities but let’s go with the differences shall we? (for all intents and purposes for this question when I refer to “Amy” I am speaking of Amy Stults. When I say “I” that means I am referring to myself. I do not refer to myself as “Amy”.)

I will dye my hair red and dk brown today and change it again in a week. Amy has had the same haircut for years. And the same picture.
I have no problem blabbing to thousands of people through live feed but have trouble emailing a single person. Amy will email anyone but hates talking anyone by phone, Skype, or conference call.
I have four rowdy boys and a ridiculous dog. Amy has one silly little boy sans dog.
I live in Louisiana. Amy lives in Ohio.
I blog here at AmyBayliss.com. She blogs at Milk and Cookies blog.

So to answer the question, no. Amy Stults and I are not the same person.

3. What church do you go to?
I attend Healing Place Church . I have been there for more than five years now and absolutely love it! It is a church that is all about the people and spreading the love of Christ.

For specifics on what I believe: beliefs

4. Did you design your own blog? Your eBooks? Why do you change your blog so much? Can you design my blog/eBook?
Yes, I did design my own blog. I change it so much because I like a change in scenery to keep things interesting. I do the same thing with my hair, furniture, and other belongings. It’s a curse. Lately I only design blogs for others if I am contracted to do so by a developer. It is a process that takes much time away from my family. If you really want me to design your site or eBook then I can tell you this much, I charge on the higher end and my wait list is about 3 months long on average. If you are okay with that then email me via my contact form. If not, visit DIYministry.org and sign up. We’ll teach you how to design your own blog!

5. Why do you have ads on your blog?
I am very picky about what companies endorse me or that I choose to affiliate with. My husband and I have a plan to be out of debt and self-reliant. My blog earnings contribute to our overall goal. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to make some spare change while spending time doing what I love. I can teach you how to earn money with your blog too!

6. What is your family’s story? Does Carsten have cancer? What kind of dog is Sarge?
At the age of 20 I married Mark C. A boy I had known most of my life. We had three sons together (lost another one when I was 4 1/2 months pregnant): Carsten, Maxon, and Andrew. Our marriage was a rocky one. We divorced in 2004. A little over a year later I met Ryan. We dated for over a year and married on September 8, 2007. We have one son from our union: Matthias. It took hard work and effort but Ryan, myself, Mark and the boys made a different kind of family together. One I hope others can learn from. Mark passed away on October 18, 2010. We are still healing from the tragedy and hope to bring honor to his memory by continuing to put hard work and effort into our family.

Carsten does not have a form of cancer. He has a form of dwarfism that affects his hair. It is called Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia (CHH) or McKusick Type.

Sarge is a full breed American Boxer. We chose not to clip his ears and I love that he has a white face. I pretend not to like him but I really do. shhhh….

7. What is your stance on “real” foods, green living and Christianity?
I actually have been asked this question a few times so I want to address it. Be yourself. I am. I blog about exactly where I am in life at that moment. I would love to eat only “real” foods but my current budget won’t allow it so I prioritize. I buy organic dairy, meat and produce (local if possible) most of the time but we do still eat some processed foods. We recycle, repurpose, restore, and try to buy storage bags and plastics made of recycled material and attempt to minimize waste. I use lots of homemade cleaners but do still use a regular bottle of detergent if I need to due to time or finances. Life is about priorities and balance and that carries through to our diet and lifestyle. I attempt the better option but don’t come down on myself if we can’t go that route every time.

I am a sold out Jesus girl. He is my savior and I live my life to please Him. I will tell you all about Him and what He has done for me and my family but I won’t push Him on you. He wouldn’t do it Himself so why should I? My posts will have influence from my beliefs because I cannot help it. It is who I am and I don’t apologize for it. I would like for you to still read my blog even if you don’t agree with my beliefs. I think we can still learn from each other. Although I do not agree with all of the commercials and such on certain channels I still tune in to learn things. It is called filtering. However, my prayer is that you will find that Jesus and His true followers are not the kind of people who would nail you to a tree for your transgressions. Only the religious do that. It’s what they did to my Jesus. Jesus’ followers would love on you no matter where you are in life. That is the biblical example He gave us to follow.

8. Tell me something about you that I don’t know.

I put ice in my coffee.
I am a pure Cajun and have a distinct dialect. I also say lots of Cajun jargon. Check out my blog welcome video: Who is Amy Bayliss?
Spiders make me scream like a four-year-old girl at Chuck E Cheese.
I am perfectly content in a testosterone laden house. I think.
Whole Foods gets me in trouble. But I love that place.
I secretly love my dog but shhh, don’t tell my husband that.
I hate stopping on even numbers so I added one more just to make it seven.

9. How do you do all of this stuff and still have time for family?

I believe in giving credit where credit is due. I am not a one woman show. I am not capable of nor do I stress myself out trying to operate and run this blog on my own. My technologically savvy husband helps in many areas so that I am free to create and write. Yes, I did marry the most amazing man in the world and yes, I am sorry that you thought that you did.

I am a self-taught graphics designer and I did design my own blog but I did not code the hard stuff and I have help maintaining it. Lisa Boyd is a rock star when it comes to bringing ideas to life through code. I love that woman. She has a heart of gold and a brain full of fluent html and css code. I want to be like her when I grow up. You can find her at LisaBoyd.com.

Most of the guts of this operation: SEO, editing, interlinking and the like is done by two of my bestest friends: Jami Kelly and Holly Smith. They are like the two halves that make this thing whole. I know the math is off but you get the point. They have patience and know how beyond my own.

The fantabulous professional photos you find of my family were shot by a woman with some mad photography skills, Tracy Jackson. She owns and operates Shots from the Heart Photography. I HIGHLY recommend her. She also teaches a Mommytography class where she can teach you some mad skills too. I heart her.

And because I can’t possibly find out everything I need to know about running a successful blog, my girl Darcy from Graphically Designing coaches me from time to time and helps me to think outside of my own brain. That is a tall order, y’all.

Dianne Godwin is my grammar ninja. She knows all about what to do with this stuff: ” , – … :., and she won’t let me use double negatives. Or, something like that. She sends me page after page of red marks known as “edits” and I have to say that I love it because she makes me look good. If you read my blog then you know I can’t self edit: grammar or content. *laughs* I adore, Dianne. She is kind and forgiving and just an awesome example of Christ’s love. I appreciate her so much.

10. Are the names you use on your blog your kids’ real names?

For those of you who know us yes, we are using pseudonyms for the boys in order to protect them.