Finding Balance: A Day in the Life of Carrian Cheney from Oh Sweet Basil

Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Carrian, the heart and soul behind the hugely successful food blog Oh Sweet Basil. We talked about her daily routine, how she balances family life with food blogging, and what still excites her about being in the kitchen. Carrian was candid, warm, and full of great insights.

When I asked about her daily routine, Carrian stressed the importance of structure, especially with three kids—one of whom has headed off to college. “I need structure because, without it, I feel like not only do I not get as much done, but I get really overwhelmed and keep adding more onto my plate,” she shared.

Her day starts early, around 5:30 a.m., when she and her husband get up to work out. “I don’t believe in the whole ‘Pajama Game,’” Carrian laughed. “I think you live your life in a way that you are planning on being successful.” After her workout, she showers, gets dressed, and makes sure her kids are up and out the door. One thing she prioritizes is avoiding work when her kids are home. “It’s so important for me to be present and available to them,” she added.

After the morning rush, Carrian spends some time tidying up the house. Then, surprisingly—and I think this is brilliant—she doesn’t allow herself to jump straight into work. Instead, she starts with something that will take care of her own well-being. For Carrian, that might mean reading scripture, enjoying a book, taking a drive, or going for a walk. It’s her way of hitting pause and taking a deep breath before diving into the day’s tasks.

Carrian structures her blog work around the weather, keeping an eye on the forecast for the week. If there’s beautiful lighting, she makes the most of it by shooting photos and videos. Otherwise, she focuses on recipe development or computer work. “I try to wrap up all my tasks—whether it’s emails, blog issues, or questions from my team—before the kids get home,” she explained. This way, her focus is on family in the evenings.

In the past, Carrian admits that her blog consumed her thoughts to the point where she wasn’t taking the time to pause and truly live. “It was really damaging,” she reflected. Now, she relies on structure to maintain balance. Taking care of herself and living a more mindful life has led to more creative ideas and greater success for Oh Sweet Basil. For those who are self-employed, finding a sense of closure at the end of the day can be challenging. Carrian manages this by “clearing out” her tasks before closing her laptop, creating that sense of separation that traditional office workers often take for granted.

Carrian has built a team of about a dozen people to help run Oh Sweet Basil, managing tasks like social media and the backend of the site. Although delegating was tough at first, it freed up her time for creativity and helped the business grow. Still, there are some things she keeps close to her heart. “I keep recipe development and photography to myself. My heart and story are written into my food, and the photography reflects that journey—I don’t want to stage it.”

When asked about her favorite part of blogging, Carrian didn’t hesitate. “Oh my gosh, I really, really love the cooking part,” she said. For her, cooking is more than just preparing a meal; it’s a dance. “There’s a dance that happens in the kitchen for me. The food becomes my music. I hear the food sizzling in the pan, I smell the aromas, and I’m moving from the fridge to the stove and back to the countertop. The way the flour puffs up in your face as you’re sprinkling it down for bread dough—it all becomes a dance.”

But for Carrian, the best part is when that moment of cooking shifts. “When you pull it out of the oven, it goes from being about me to being about my whole family. It always makes me emotional. I get to gather my people together, and they physically share in my love.” She beamed as she added, “When do you get to do that? I get to feed them my love. That’s pretty cool.”

I also asked Carrian about current trends in food blogging, and she was quick to share her thoughts. “We’re getting a lot more in touch with using a variety of ingredients in beautiful and creative ways, without going so far out of the box that it’s not realistic,” she explained.

She then described one of her latest creations: “I made feta zucchini boats the other day. I just grilled up some zucchini, mashed feta and chickpeas, sprinkled herbs all over the top, and it was delicious. It’s not something I grew up eating, but it’s still a dish I can pass on to my children that they will continue to make. It’s just a fresh, new twist.”

While Carrian doesn’t often read other food blogs, she finds inspiration from Catherine Perez at Plant-Based RD for healthy eating and admires the photography from Kiley O’Donnell at Well Made by Kiley. As for her own creations, she’s especially proud of recent recipes like Crunchy Roasted Cauliflower and Hummus and Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Rolls. “They are so satisfying, so fresh, so delicious to eat,” she said with a smile.

I’m so grateful to work with Carrian on Oh Sweet Basil, and every time we talk, I come away feeling inspired by how she approaches life. For more of Carrian’s fresh and delicious recipes, visit her at OhSweetBasil.com.