Real Update: What's Changing at The Daily Mix (And Why I'm Actually Excited)

Hi my friends!

If you’ve been following The Daily Mix, you know I’ve spent the past year juggling Etsy, Instacart, blogging, and motherhood while trying to build multiple income streams from home.

Well… life had other plans. Big ones.

In the past month, everything shifted—fast. And honestly? I’m not overwhelmed. I’m actually excited.

Let me catch you up on what’s been happening behind the scenes, what’s changing at The Daily Mix, and why this pivot feels like the RIGHT move.

We Got Our Canadian Permanent Residence (Finally!)

April 7, 2026. That’s the day that changed everything.

I was at home in the kitchen, doing the usual mom chores, talking to my mom on the phone. Then my husband rushed in like the house was on fire.

“We got our PR! We got our PR!”

I literally screamed. After three years of waiting, praying, anxiety, and uncertainty—we finally had our permanent residence in Canada.

The Wait Was Brutal

We applied through the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) under the Critical Construction Worker pathway in February 2025. (Side note: IRCC has since scrapped that pathway and made significant changes to the entire processes, but I’ll share our full immigration journey in a separate post because there’s SO much to unpack.)

The hardest part? Waiting for the Acknowledgment of Receipt.

We submitted our application in February 2025 and didn’t get confirmation that they’d even RECEIVED it until January 2026. A whole year of wondering:

Did we forget a document?
Did we mess something up?
Is our file sitting in a pile somewhere, ignored?

The anxiety was real. The sleepless nights were real. But my husband pushed through every obstacle, and I’m so incredibly proud of him for carrying us through that process.

When the approval finally came? Pure relief. Pure joy. Pure freedom.

Getting PR Changed Everything (Yes, Really)

Some people say “nothing changes when you get PR.” For me? Everything changed.

Before PR, I was on a study permit. But here’s the thing about study permits in Canada: if you’re not actively enrolled in school, you can’t legally work.

I had to stop school because I couldn’t afford the tuition—thousands of dollars per semester that we just didn’t have. And suddenly, I couldn’t work either.

Even when I was enrolled, employers didn’t want to hire students. They wanted full-time workers. And legally, I could only work part-time.

I felt stuck. Restricted. Like I was living in limbo.

Then I got PR.

Within a month, I landed my first job.

Suddenly, employers didn’t care about my status. I wasn’t a “risky hire” anymore. I was just… qualified. Available. Hireable.

PR didn’t just change my legal status—it changed my opportunities. My mind is finally at rest. I can work. I can build. I can move forward.

I Landed Two Jobs (And I’m Honestly Overwhelmed but Relieved)

So here’s where things get wild.

Job #1: Retail/Fulfillment Work

I applied on Indeed literally the day the posting went live. Less than a week later, I got the call. I started my first official job in Canada working in retail fulfillment (basically, I help process and fulfill customer orders).

It’s physically exhausting. It’s fast-paced. It’s a lot.

But it’s also steady income. And after months of unpredictable gig work, that steadiness feels like oxygen.

Job #2: Customer/Technical Support

Shortly after landing my first job, I applied for a customer support role. I start in less than a month.

Two jobs. Two income streams. Both with actual paychecks that show up on schedule.

I’m not going to lie—I’m already tired, and I haven’t even started the second job yet. But I need these jobs. I have debt to pay. I need stability. I need structure.

And honestly? I also needed to prove to myself that I’m employable.

How I Found the Jobs

Both jobs? I applied online.

I found the first one on Indeed and was quick to apply—like, within hours of the posting going live. The second job, I went directly to the company’s career website and submitted my application.

Before that, I’d been working with an employment counselor at a local community organization (shout out to those free job search services!). They helped me build confidence and create a professional resume.

Funny enough, I only used that resume once and didn’t get a callback from that application. But the confidence and interview prep I got from those sessions? That made all the difference.

My caseworker was genuinely shocked when I told him—barely a week after our first meeting—that I’d already landed my first job.

Why I Said Yes to Employment (Instead of Sticking With Side Hustles)

I know what you’re thinking: “But Oluwapelumi, what about the Etsy shop? What about Instacart? What about building passive income?”

Here’s the truth:

I needed steady income more than I needed the entrepreneurship dream right now.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not giving up on side hustles or entrepreneurship. But I also need to be real with myself about where I am financially.

I have debt. I need to know that money is coming in every two weeks so I can pay bills, pay off what I owe, and stop living in survival mode.

Side hustles are amazing when they work. But when they’re not bringing in consistent money? They start feeling like a weight instead of a win.

Getting a job wasn’t about “giving up.” It was about getting stable so I can actually invest in my side hustles the right way later.

Plus, now I have steady income to put BACK into my Etsy shop, my blog, and future projects. You need money to make money—and I didn’t have that when I was only doing gig work.

What Happened to My Side Hustles (The Honest Update)

Instacart: Paused (But Not Forever)

The last time I did an Instacart delivery was about 2-3 weeks ago. Between job hunting, moving into a new house, and updating my PR status with various agencies, I just didn’t have time.

Will I go back? Maybe. But for now, it’s on pause.

Etsy Shop: On Hold (Because I Couldn’t Pay the Fees)

Here’s the really honest part: I couldn’t afford to keep my Etsy shop active.

Etsy charges monthly fees and advertising fees, and I was behind on payments. They blocked my shop because I didn’t pay what I owed.

But here’s the kicker: someone purchased a product from my shop a few days ago. I got the notification and was shocked. Even with the shop blocked, a sale came through.

As soon as I get my first paycheque, I’m paying off what I owe and reactivating the shop. Then I’m going back in—this time with actual money to invest in better designs, better marketing, and better strategy.

Do I Feel Guilty About Pausing My Side Hustles?

Yes. Absolutely.

I had so many plans for my Etsy shop. I wanted to create more products, run ads, build a real income stream.

But I also have to be kind to myself. I was trying to build businesses with zero capital, no steady income, and a toddler at home. That’s hard.

Now I have structure. I have income. And when I’m ready, I’ll come back to my side hustles with the resources and energy they deserve.

This isn’t failure. It’s strategy.

What’s Changing at The Daily Mix (And Why I’m Excited)

So what does all this mean for the blog?

I’m Writing About EVERYTHING Now

Before, I felt like I had to stick to one lane: side hustles, work-from-home tips, entrepreneurship.

Now? I have a blank canvas.

I’m writing about:

✅ Working mom life with two jobs
✅ Our immigration journey (PR, work permits, the whole story)
✅ Balancing work, motherhood, and entrepreneurship
✅ My struggles, my wins, my real life
✅ Answering questions about jobs, immigration, and mom life in Canada

I’m documenting the pivot—and honestly, that’s where the best content lives.

I’m Committing to Consistency (Finally)

I’ll be real—I’ve struggled with consistency. But now I have a plan.

I’m writing on weekends and batch-scheduling posts. My goal is one post per week, published every Monday.

You’ll see behind-the-scenes of my working mom schedule, honest updates about my jobs, immigration tips, and the messy reality of trying to do it all.

I’m Being MYSELF

From day one, I said this blog would be real stories, real income, real motherhood. No filters. No fake perfection.

This update is proof of that. I’m not hiding the debt, the paused projects, or the exhaustion. I’m sharing it all because someone else needs to hear this.

What I Want You to Know

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever had to pivot—quit a side hustle, take a “regular” job, pause a dream—you’re not failing.

You’re adapting. You’re surviving. You’re doing what you need to do for your family.

I’m choosing to build a career for myself. I’m choosing to do things that make my son proud when he looks back at this season of our lives.

And I’m choosing to be honest about all of it—the wins, the losses, the messy middle.

What’s Next

So here’s what’s coming to The Daily Mix:

📌 Our complete PR timeline (application to approval—I’m sharing EVERYTHING)
📌 How I landed two jobs in one month (the real application strategy)
📌 My working mom schedule (two jobs + toddler + blog—how I’m surviving)
📌 Monthly income updates (employment + side hustles)
📌 The honest pivot stories (what I’m keeping, what I’m pausing, what I’m learning)

I’m not going anywhere. The Daily Mix is just evolving—and I think this next chapter is going to be the best one yet.

Let’s Stay Connected

Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting this blog even when I disappeared for weeks.

I see you. I appreciate you. And I’m so excited to keep showing up for you.

What about you? Have you ever had to pivot your plans? Have you chosen employment over side hustles? Are you navigating immigration in Canada?

Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram @thedailymixblog. I’d love to hear your story.

See you next Monday with a brand new post. 💪🏾

—Oluwapelumi
Founder, The Daily Mix
the-daily-mix.com

The Daily Mix