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Weekend Recap: Vintage Market Days

This weekend was nothing short of awesome. I could leave it at that and it would be enough. Seriously. This weekend I had a booth at Vintage Market Days in Waxahachie, TX. This was my first time with a booth at a reputable event. I did a local show once last year, but it was really not something that I wanted to pursue due to a few different factors. This weekend however, was different. I left this weekend feeling refreshed and inspired and ready to try something new.

So here’s the deal. I’ve known about Vintage Market Days for a long time. I have always kind of wondered if I could do something like that, but for whatever reason, never put myself out there. This summer, I was trying to focus on what I wanted to do with this little hobby I have of decorating/antiquing/painting furniture. I thought about getting a booth at a local store, and for several reasons that too fell through. So over the summer I thought, well, I might as well apply for VMD and just see what happens. The worst that can happen is I don’t get in. And if I do get in, it’s only a three day commitment. I can do this. So I hit this apply button and got on with my day. When I found out that I was accepted into the event, I was surprised more than anything. Me? I just have this little hobby that’s not even a big deal.

As the event got closer, I was busy in my garage painting, sanding, creating. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some videos projects I’ve been working on in my garage. I staged a mock booth setup in my garage by taping a 10×10 square on the floor like I had any idea what the heck I was doing.

I set my booth up the night before the event, and realized I didn’t have enough stuff at all. So after I went home that evening I finished a few things in my garage and brought them to my booth the morning of the show. Now, let me tell you a little about my booth. I was clearly a newbie. The other vendors around me had tents and beautiful backdrops to stage their booths with. These weren’t even things that had been on my radar. I felt super nervous and inexperienced compared to everyone around me.

booth1

But you know what? It didn’t even matter. I had the most amazing weekend. Everyone was so kind and accommodating, I sold some of my pieces, which felt awesome. I received a lot of affirmation from customers and other vendors about what I was doing, despite the fact that I felt totally inexperienced. I got so many complements on my booth, the styling, the furniture pieces. It was exactly what I needed to confirm the possibility of wanting to pursue this more frequently.

booth3

People were constantly asking if I had a storefront, or if I had a card. Both of the answers to those were no. I kept telling people that this was the first thing I had done, and I was just getting started. The fact that people thought that about my few little projects though was incredibly humbling. At some point I realized, wow. I actually can do this.

booth2

I learned so much this weekend. So much. I think the most important thing I realized was that number one, I am actually able to do this,  and number two, this is something I enjoy. As we were leaving after the weekend was over, I kept telling Ethan I just really like this. It feels so good to put yourself out there not knowing what the result is going to be, and then to feel so accomplished and humbled at the same time. Y’all, I have no idea what this weekend means for me. I teach full time, and I have this little hobby of making my house a home. Those are two very distinct parts of me, that I love. I have no idea what I’m going to do next, but I can assure you, I want to pursue whatever this is.

booth4

So guys, I’ll let you know when my next event is. That’s all for today. Have a fabulous day, friends!

October 10, 2016 by
Personal

WE’RE MOVING!!!

I have been waiting approximately 1.9 years to say those words. We have been married for two years, and for just about all of those two years I have been waiting to move. No joke. You’ve heard me complain on and on about this little house of ours and how terrible it is. It is the epitome of young married couples’ first homes. Old, dingy, and unlevel are just a few words to describe it.

Well friends, this week is officially the week… we are finally moving into our second house! It has been a crazy six or so months for us. We have desperately wanted to move, feeling like we’ve paid our dues in the crappy first place together, but still wanting to be financially wise. We went back and forth trying to decide whether to rent or to buy.

We fell in love with a historic home on a huge lot in town…and it closed before we could put in an offer. We went through the process of getting pre-approved for a loan (all the super fun stuff of house hunting…not). We looked at home listings multiple times per day. The cost of rental properties kept climbing higher and higher, and the housing market is in a huge boom right now. We saved all our pennies and we were ready for a change. We just couldn’t find anything.

So when a rental house came up that was actually decent AND in our price range, we just felt like it was the right thing for us right now. Now, we want to buy a home. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think there is another couple who is as excited to tackle home ownership as we are…but #studentloans and #responsibility. We made a goal when we first got married that we would pay off my student loans before purchasing our first house. And I know that choice isn’t for everyone, but for us, buying a home right now knowing we still have that student loan hanging out there felt like we were cheating ourselves.

So, we’ll be moving into our second rental. And you know what? I could not be more excited. Our new house is miles above what our old house was, and I can’t wait to show you. For one, there isn’t a dark gray dingy wall to wall carpeting. So that’s a win right there. For the blog, you can expect more room posts from now on, as well as larger projects instead of just small DIYs. We’re moving down a little bit in sqare footage, but the layout is much more efficient and won’t feel like we’re moving down at all. I am super excited about our fresh start, and for a blank canvas to decorate.

I have loved making our first house a home. I have discovered a passion I didn’t know was in me, and we have learned and grown so much in this ugly little house. I will forever be thankful for the time we have had here…but for now, we are on to a new adventure! That’s all for today friends, have a fabulous day!

July 12, 2016 by
Personal

Six Ways to Work More Creatively

I have now been on summer break for about a month. I had some serious plans of working on a ton of projects, blogging a bunch, and being generally productive. I laugh in the face of my plans. Because, let’s be honest. I have done absolutely nothing thus far this summer. Unless you count Netflix binges, in which case, I have been super productive.

I’ve been struggling this past month or so, because I haven’t been able to work creatively on just about anything. I’ve felt pretty unsuccessful because I haven’t done anything new, and the longer it has gone, the more of a creative rut I feel myself slip into. I realize this sounds pretty dramatic. All I mean is that I have been unable to create or make things. We are working toward a pretty big financial goal, and so for the the past few months we have been intentionally super tight. Which is fine, because we’re really excited about future possibilities, but there hasn’t really been any extra cash for house/decor projects.

So I thought it might be a good idea to share with you guys some ways (simple ones) that I have found helpful to get some creative juices flowing.

lemon water

One.

Go for a walk. If you are like me, and it’s a bajillion degrees during the day, you might want to do this in the evening. But a simple walk around the neighborhood can do a body good. I love to walk and look at homes around the neighborhood, admire people’s gardens, and wave at the older woman who lives down the street. It just feels good.

Two.

Clean things up around the house, and move things around. The classic “shop your home” strategy to make new vignettes by moving things from your home and moving them around. I love doing this because it’s free, but also because it forces me to get up and think outside the box.

Three.

Go outside and water the plants. Or grass if you don’t have any plants. I kid you not, there have been a few days this summer when the only thing I have done in the day is go out to the front yard and water my hydrangeas. (The bush is growing, but the flowers are all dead. I’m not sure what that means, but hopefully it’ll bloom next year.) Standing there with the hose makes me feel like I’m doing something.

Four.

Pick some flowers. Pull some branches from a tree. Whatever. Get some alive thing, and put it in a vase. I feel better with fresh flowers around. It helps me think, and it doesn’t hurt that it looks pretty too.

Five.

Slice up some lemons and put them in a glass of water. I think I’m a little overly obsessed with lemons right now (blame summer), but for me, there is something soothing about slicing lemons. Put in a glass of water, combined with a long sit on the porch, and it’s just perfection.

Six.

And this is the one I’m still telling myself. Turn off the dang TV and do something else. Anything else. I have wasted so much time this summer sitting on the couch watching mindless shows. Now there’s nothing wrong a little R’n’R, but I just feel so unproductive when I’m not doing something. So this is definitely a goal of mine for now.

So I’m feeling a little bit more creative and ready to get to work! Have you ever felt like you’re in a creative rut? What did you do to get through it? I’d love to hear about it! Well, that’s all for today, friends! Have a fabulous day!

June 24, 2016 by