Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Smith.
Hi Whitney, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! I’m Whitney Smith and I started an Instagram account in 2014 as a fitness accountability account through Tone It Up. Tone It Up is the first fitness community for women, founded by Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn. They have focused on creating a community that is a positive and inspiring place for women to connect and root for each other. In 2016, I had my first daughter and decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Over the next 4 years, I would give birth to another daughter and a son. While I loved being able to stay home and raise our babies, I did miss the aspect of my working life that allowed me to create and meet new people. I had really enjoyed my job in the music industry, which was saturated with many different elements of creativity. I also missed having a space where I could be “Whitney” instead of “Mama” all the time. About three years ago, I felt a calling to create a space for sharing and to extend my community beyond fitness. I kept pushing the idea aside thinking I would wait until my children got older, I had more time on my hands, or just wait until I had more things figured out. But, at the beginning of 2021, I decided to start taking steps. I changed my Instagram handle to @caratsinthedirt and began sharing different aspects of my life, outside of Tone It Up. I share the highs and lows of living on our ranch, gardening, recipes, home renovations, faith, fitness, beauty products, some singing, and of course, my life as a mama. I have currently been working on the Carats In The Dirt website, which will be a home to all of my how-to’s, recipes, DIYs, and recommendations. I can’t wait to share that with you!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a fairly smooth road, so far. The struggles that have been endured have been par for the course in owning livestock, animals, and gardening. We have lost animals due to predators and illness. We have worried about the economy and beef prices dropping. Fruits and vegetables have been destroyed from weather, hungry insects, and bunnies. But, having grown up on a fourth-generation farm, none of this has come as a surprise. We do our best to roll with the punches and know that God is in control, and all will be okay.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I own and operate Skyline View Ranch with my husband and our three kids. I share a lot of our day-to-day on my Instagram, caratsinthedirt. I feel like I am a Jack-of-all-trades, or more of a Jill-of-all-trades if you will, but master of none. I have many different interests and enjoy doing many different activities, which is where I came up with the name Carats in the Dirt. My day may start with being covered in manure and mud and finish at a fancy restaurant with a glass of wine. My bright pink lululemon leggings lay right next to my camouflage hunting leggings, and my painted nails are usually chipped from home renovations or gardening.
Throughout my entire life, I have always had the mentality “If they can do it, I can do it”. Of course, sometimes I have failed miserably. But, I always keep this phrase in the forefront of my mind when trying something new. It’s also what I want you to think when you come to my page, “If she can do it, I can do it”.
If I can plant and harvest a garden, so can you!
If I can decorate a cake, so can you!
If I can renovate my house, so can you!
If I can run a half-marathon, so can you!
If I can raise animals and babies, so can you!
I want to create a space that invites you to try something new, try that something you’ve always wanted to. Where you don’t have to fit inside some sort of box that society has placed you in. A positive place where you can be encouraged, uplifted, and prayed for!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Two weeks after having our third kid, my husband was diagnosed with Covid-19. He was quarantined to our basement alone. Being postpartum, caring for a newborn, a 2-year-old, and 4-year-old by myself was very challenging, physically and mentally. Four days later I was also diagnosed with Covid-19, causing my family to quarantine through Christmas. The day we got out of quarantine my mom started having severe health issues, and we learned that her cancer was back for a second time. She went through extensive surgeries and is currently taking chemo treatments. With all of this happening and losing some close friends and family to Covid-19, it really sparked a sense of urgency in me. I know it is cliché to say, but it triggered me to start living life to the absolute fullest. To start doing those things that I was too scared to do (insert Carats in the Dirt here), to just start saying “yes” to things instead of overthinking them. To stop worrying about what other people might think or say and just go for it. You really do only live once, and I don’t want a life of “what-ifs”. I want a life of adventure, trying new things, meeting new people, creating and sharing what I believe God has called me to do. I hope I can spark that in you to do the same!
Contact Info:
- Email: caratsinthedirt@gmail.
com - Website: www.caratsinthedirt.
com - Instagram: http://instagram.
com/caratsinthedirt
