Welcome to my tiny corner of the world! If you love spending your weekends with a paintbrush in your hand, trying to re-create something you saw on Pinterest, then welcome! I am no professional, but ever since I was little, I have watched and adored the way my Mom could transform a room with a can of paint, and a few pieces she'd found at a yard sale.
My Mom always told me that my grandmother let her paint her room a different color every summer. My Mom must have paid that forward. Because she let me paint and decorate my bedroom whatever I wanted from junior high through my college years. I remember going to the hardware store one Summer wanting to paint my bedroom yellow. I must have spent nearly an hour looking at all the different shades - having no clue there could be so many options for one color. Before the days of Pinterest, there was just trial and error.
With trial and error come a lot of mistakes - or, phases as we'll call them. I can remember one "phase" when our living room was a very rosy shade of pink, with accents of forest green and floral throw pillows.... oh, the nineties. I remember when carpet hit its stride, and when some years later we spent one very cold February on our hands and knees replacing all of it with laminate hardwood. Then replacing it again almost a decade later with real hardwood. But I always admired my Mom's ability to take any "fad" and make it her own. We cringe now when we see old family photos of our living room during that pink and green phase, but at the time, it was home! It was the place our dogs could lay on the couch, where my brother and sister and I would come in and kick our shoes off after running through the woods in our backyard, where my Dad would fill the space with smells from whatever he was cooking in the crockpot, and where we would always find ourselves coming back to, no matter where our days took us. Our house always felt "homey" and I think from an early age, I craved that cozy feeling for wherever "home" I found myself.
Another thing about me is that I'm a huge animal lover. And a firm believer in animal rescue! We have two pups that came from our local shelter - Darla and Floyd.
I believe a house can look fresh and beautiful, and still accommodate our sweet four-legged friends :) I know some people can't even think of letting their pets on their furniture. But sorry, I can't be on the couch without my dog's head in my lap... throw a cute blanket over your couch - save the upholstery and give your pet a warm place to sleep - it's a win-win.
I am a new wife (newish) - we recently hit our 2nd Anniversary. And I can tell you that I'm no expert in marriage, either. In fact, I probably know more about DIY projects and home decor. But I can tell you that being married to someone who you can call your best friend will make the rest of your life a lot more enjoyable! (Notice, I didn't say it would make life easier... but, more enjoyable!)
Blaine, my husband, is the person I prayed to meet my whole life. There are still things I'm learning about him that make me love him more. I used to hear people say, "when you meet [the one], you just know". And I just thought that was so cheesy. But, I can say that when Blaine took me on our first date (the first time we went somewhere just the two of us, rather than pretend to be surprised when we saw each other at get-togethers with our group of friends), I knew then that he was my person.
Which leads to another fun fact about me: I love Disney! I was fortunate enough to get to go to Walt Disney World more than once as a child. And those vacations were by far my favorite and most memorable. We went recently as a family, and it only made me want to go back! A lot has changed in the past several years (ie. Fastpasses, dining plans, getting reservations, etc.). I was a little overwhelmed with all there is to do before you even get to the parks. So, I did a LOT of research before our trip. (A lot, a lot. Blaine joked several times, "so, after Disney, will I get my wife back?") What I learned (before, during, and after our trip), I will share with you. (Be on the lookout for a special Disney section of my blog).
Lastly, I am a girl who is covered by the blood of Christ. My story can be summed up by 1 Timothy 1:15: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. (16) But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life."
I was lucky enough to grow up in a family of believers, but didn't realize what that all meant until Jesus knocked on the door of my heart in high school. I would love to have a Disney ending right there and say that "we lived happily ever after." But the truth is I spent several years stumbling along and stubbornly going my own way, rather than taking the hand He was offering me, and walking along with Him. Take it from me, life is so much better and more fulfilling when you let go of what you [think you] want, and let God take the lead - let Him surprise you.
Fast forward to now - with a college degree in English and Creative Writing, and working full time with elementary school students, I still long for a creative outlet. I am still the little girl who loves to dance and sing along to musicals (or songs I hear on the radio). I may or may not belt out The Little Mermaid when I'm by myself in the car. I still play Mario Kart from time to time, now against my husband instead of my brother. And I still have moments when I need to shut myself away to write in my journal and read.
But, I hope to share things I learn with you guys here. Whether that's DIY projects, redecorating an area of the house, books I'm reading, Disney vacation tips, or any life tidbits I discover along the way. Whatever your reason for reading, thank you for being here! I hope you find something helpful!
Let's get started!
No comments