Last year Jess and I shared with you our 2012 goals for our homes, the blog, and our community. We did a pretty good job chipping away at our lists (more on that later). This year, we're going start with our goals for this little ole blog. We have some fun changes and some big aspirations for EC2 in 2013. This is kind of like"What to Expect When You're Expecting", but a blog version! Here goes…
For the first two years we've pretty much kept it all DIY projects and home decor on the blog. Occasionally we've shared some of our lives and what's important to us. From all your emails and comments, you like the inside scoop, so we're gonna give it to you! We plan to work in the occasional post about our friendship, how we survive as moms (did you know Jess' son is a super picky eater? Well, soon you will), and just life in general. Don't worry, we'll still be focused on DIY, but just injecting a bit of"Us" along the way.
Holy moly we are beyond excited about this one. Here's a BIG hint- we're going to be hosting a contest that we won last year! We purchased it back in October 2012 and will be giving you all the details soon. Think HUGE prize packages, some crazy famous bloggers, and you!
In 2013 we're going to invite you into our casas (I'm fancy because I took four years of Spanish… casa = house. Ha!) We'll be adding home tours to the blog. You'll get to see the layouts, finished rooms, rooms in progress, and the downright ugly, unfinished. Trust me, this will boost your self esteem! We hope to have these up in the next month.
Blogging can feel like a one-way conversation sometimes. We love interacting with so many of you on Facebook (don't already LIKE us? Go do that now, then come back and finish reading)
and other social media outlets, but we also want to have an intentional forum for Q & As. About once a month we'll be answering your questions (anything goes) and giving you ideas on your own design dilemmas.
We'll admit that we loved seeing our names and faces in HGTV Magazine and Ladies Home Journal in 2012 (ok, I-Monica-didn't love seeing my face. Can you say Bad Pic?) We've made it a goal to have a full article or feature in another publication. I was doing a little magazine research and do you know that these are actual magazines: Bacon Busters, Miniature Donkey Talk, & Girls with Corpses… Umm, I don't think you'll find us in those, but who knows, maybe Bacon Buster readers need some DIY help?
We never want to compromise our commitment to keeping it real here on EC2, but we do want to provide you guys with better pictures. We'd like to be more intentional about learning about photography and using what we learn to take it up a notch with our blog pics. Don't worry, we'll still take plenty of cheesy midnight pics that look so grainy you think they were taken in 1963.
Yes, we know the"Big Screen" refers to movies, but saying"be on TV" doesn't sound as fancy. Jess and I are both Big Idea people and when you combine the two of us, the combo can be pretty intense. We loved working with Nate Berkus on his show last year and we were surprised how much we enjoyed the process of working on a TV show. So, I'm happy to announce that we'll be taking over for Whoopi and Barbara Walters on The View! Ok, nope that's a total lie… we are however, in the early stages of pursuing our own TV show. We've gotten feedback from so many of you that you'd watch us again, so we figured we'd give it a shot! If you think it's something you'd want to watch, be sure to leave a comment or email us and let us know! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, tell us: What do you think of our goals? What would you like to see us do this year? What are your big plans for 2013?? As always, thanks for joining us on our blog journey!
Ok, folks. Yesterday we shared our BLOG goals with you and today's the day we publicly lay out our plans for our homes in the hopes that putting it down in writing for the whole world to see will motivate us to actually geterdone. These goals include our big plans for the year, but we'll be sharing lots of little projects and ideas along the way. So, here goes:
1.Finish the dining room, goshdarnit. I'm the worst at putting the finishing touches on a room (ugh, the details!), but that's all I have left to do. Look for the full reveal later this month!
2. Update the Living Room. This room is attached to the dining room, so it looks a bit drab compared to the new cottagey/coastal dining room. The stenciled fireplace is just waiting for the rest of the room to catch up!
3. Tackle the Master Bedroom. Oh, this room. It's dark, dingy and in dire need of some love. I'm ready to paint, add an accent wall, change out the bedding, refinish the furniture, and make some art that speaks to my hubs and me. This will be the last room on the main level that gets done! (Oh wait, there's the master bath too…)
4. Create an organized (but beautiful!) desk area under the stairs in our finished basement. We need a place to keep our files (instead of my husband's underwear drawer. I kid you not!) and house our computer. I'm not entirely sure what I want to do there, but I know it will include this fabulous antique door. We planned to use it in our Guest Room Makeover, but we went with shutters instead.
5. My baby turns 3 this year and it's time for a big boy room! I'm so torn about the direction I want to go in for Charlie's room: preppy and nautical or vintage baseball. I know he'd go nuts for baseball, but I'd go nuts for nautical! Who will win?!
Pottery Barn Kids & Source Unknown 6. Be content to just live in and enjoy our home without constantly scrutinizing it for problem areas. I'll be honest. Sometimes being in the home blogging world feels like everyone has the perfect house. I don't and that's ok. I'm going to try to read a book in my ugly bedroom every once in a while and just enjoy it, instead of wishing it were someone else's gorgeous retreat. You know why? Because I am blessed…ugly rooms and all.
1. Eliminate Wasted Space. Almost everyone has that one room (usually the formal living room) that is just totally wasted space. Either, it looks pretty, but no one uses it or it's kind of an unfinished eyesore… Mine is the later. When you walk into our foyer you see our bold wallpaper, fun word art wall, and then BAM it hits you… to the right is a completely unfinished jumble of a room. I was going to make it a completely predictable formal living room, but I'd never really use it. Jess, the hubs, and I have been brainstorming and I think we just might have a plan! (this is part of the current jumbled up mess- don't worry I'll just be relocating this area, because the kids do use the crafting area all the time)
2. Compromise in the Bedroom No! It's not what you think (geesh you guys!)… Eric and I recently discovered (okay, he knew, but I was oblivious to the fact) that we both have really different styles. He would love a bedroom that's warm and I believe he used the word"Lodgey" (like a ski lodge). If you look at my home for even a second, you will notice that nothing about it fits that bill. So, we're making it a 2013 goal to finally design a bedroom that we both love (Honestly, I'm okay with me loving and him liking… just keepin' it real) and I'm thinking it will be sort of Rustic-Industrial. So, as embarrassing as it is to show you… welcome to my current master bedroom.
3. Details. Details. Details. I am not good at the little details of designing a room. I am a big-picture, big-ideas kind of gal. Once the walls are painted, a few pieces of furniture are in, I tend to walk away and never bring it all together with accessories etc. It's my goal this year to work through each room and make sure it feels finished. So you'll be seeing a lot of thrifted accessory upcycles, fabulous accent pillows, and who knows what else.
4. Kenzie's Room (Heaven Help Us All!) Man, if you could meet one of my kids, I'd want it to be Kenzie. She's a trip (and I sounds 98 yrs old for saying that)! She's funny, spunky, sassy, and adores animals like no one I've ever met.
Anyhow, she has been promised a room makeover this year and it's going to push my design skills to the limit. Have you ever seen this guy?
He's the"TurtleMan" and he has a reality show where he rescues"critters" and it's by far Kenzie's favorite show (sometimes I feel like I live in the Twilight Zone). Anyhow, she would like a combination Turtleman and Equestrian room. I have a strong feeling that will be a first on Pinterest! Ha! So far, her only specific request is a pallet wall ceiling. This project is going to be a challenge to say the least.
So, there you have it. Our home goals for 2013! We know there will be about 2 million other projects we tackle this year, but hopefully all of these will make the list too! Now…who wants to keep us accountable?!! What are YOUR home goals this year?
We've been crazy excited about this post since our friend Staci agreed to partnering with us! From time to time, we revisit our Be Intentional series. Staci's story is one that we hope encourages you to set goals in your life (in any and all areas) and then take intentional steps to achieve them. We love this girl, we're so proud of her, and are honored to share her story today!
Meet our friend Staci… ********************************************************************************** I am going to be honest. I am"no good" at home decorating and DIY design and crafting. To be brutally honest, I flat out stink! Oh, believe me, I have dreams about a beautifully decorated bedroom and a warm and cozy living room with amazing wall colors and fresh flowers in beautiful vases accented on my tables and shelves. But, I am just not good at putting everything together to transform a room. So, thankfully, I am NOT writing this post to give you tips about DIY design! Really…you should be thanking me!!! Haha! On the other hand, I thank God for making us all unique and designed for the purposes HE designed us for. So, you may be wondering who am I and why have I been given access to writing to an audience of DIY pros and creatives?!?! I may not be good at DIY design and transforming the rooms of my living space, but I have been on a little DIY transformation…in my body and in my life. My name is Staci. This is me in January of 2010.
I know what you are thinking. Oh goodness. Yikes. I am thinking it, too. "Did she stuff her shirt with melons?""Did she put pillows in her pants?""Is she a really grouchy person?""She looks angry." All to which I can reassure you…NO. I did not put melons in my shirt. I didn't add pillows to my pants. And no…I am not grouchy nor angry!!! Okay, maybe you weren't thinking"exactly" that, but when I look at these pictures of who I was 2 years ago, I can hardly believe that was me. The reality is, I was 260 lbs. of hurt. 260 lbs. of frustration. 260 lbs. of failed diets. 260 lbs. of zero confidence. 260 lbs. of someone I never, ever wanted to become. Sad, unhealthy, embarrassed, lonely and hopeless.
Have you ever been at your rock bottom? The place where you feel that you are never going to get out of? The place where you feel that no one understands? The place where you feel so far away from where you truly want to be? That was me 2 years ago. I don't exactly remember what it was that sparked a deep desire in me to change once and for all, but I was really starting to think that God didn't create me to be any of the things I was becoming. And he surely didn't desire for me to be trapped in a body that I was ashamed of, embarrassed about and so hurt to be in. Although, one post is not nearly enough to share with you all that has gone on in my life and my transformation over the past 2 years; I will share with you where I am today and the main reasons I am where I am.
I reached my final goal in November 2011. This is me today at 135 lbs.:
Never in a million years did I believe that this was possible. I still look at my before and after photos and I cannot believe that was me and now this is me. You can only see the images, but I can see the hurt and defeat in the before photos. And I can see the strength and hope in the after photos. I haven't just transformed physically, I have transformed emotionally as well.
This picture of my old jeans is a clear reminder of where this journey started! Staci would love for her story to reach and help anyone that might need encouragement. So, you have her permission to Pin her pictures and share it with anyone that could use some encouragement and motivation!
When people hear of my success or they see it for themselves when they see me, there is always one question that gets asked: WHAT DID YOU DO TO LOSE THE WEIGHT?!?! At first, I used to give people my simple cookie cutter answer of what I did: I started eating right and exercising daily. And I prayed. Sometimes minute by minute. But, after seeing the sometimes disappointed looks back at me because for some reason or other, when people give us the straight up hard truth (even though it is common sense), we somehow think that we could never do that. We believe the lies: "I could never do that."
"I don't have that kind of willpower." You know what? I am not crazy motivated. I don't have any more"willpower" than you. I don't have a magic formula and I sure don't have a magic potion. But, I do have intention and a God who never gives up on me. Even when I give up on myself. Jess and Mon talk often about"Being Intentional". For me, being intentional means doing things even when I don't want to because it is what I need to do. Being intentional means having a plan at all times. Being intentional means setting goals. I am not speaking of having plans and setting goals because I believe I have my future all figured out or that I can truly control what happens tomorrow or next week, but I desire to have a plan and set goals because it is one of the ways that lives can change. It is one way that people can move from an undesirable place in life to a place of freedom and the ability to fully live the life they were designed for! By setting goals, I had to make choices as to"how" I could get to that goal. I set a 6 -week, 90-day, 6-month and"end of year" goal. If the scale wasn't moving, I had to assess what I was doing. And change something immediately. There was no time to go off the path I needed to take if I wanted to meet my goals. This was me about 1/2 way through… I was around 190lbs.
In addition to setting goals, I also had to learn what I needed vs. what I wanted. Monica and Jess have talked about wants vs. needs in decorating. Well, I may have wanted to go out to my favorite restaurant for a big burger and fries, but I truly didn't need a big burger and fries. See the difference? I know, I know…it still seems like it is a willpower thing. But it really isn't. It's looking at my plan. If I want to weigh 10 lbs. less in 6 weeks, a burger and fries isn't what I need. Does it mean I will never be able to have a burger and fries? Not at all. But right now, that isn't part of the plan.
Bottom line, I am not here to tell you what to do and how to do it. I am merely trying to tell you that you CAN do it. Do what works for you. Do what you know you need to do. Even if you don't have to lose weight, it is still important to fuel your body with healthy, nutritious foods. And it is so important to take some time out of your day to get moving. Find something that you enjoy and get moving! Be intentional. And above all else, remember that you were created for a purpose. By taking care of your body; physically, emotionally and spiritually…you are unleashing a power within that no one can take away. And you are unleashing the power to connect and encourage others around you! When I am struggling or having a day where my wants seem to be trying to overpower the intention of my needs, I cling to the words below. Maybe it is with eating, maybe it is trying to get through an intense workout, maybe it's facing the daily pressures of life. Here is what I hold on to:
" I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.For I can do everything through Christ,who gives me strength." ~Philippians 4:12-13
In the midst of the depth of all of this; the tears, hard work, the defeats and the triumphs, I have made every effort to maintain a attitude of openness and realness with others as well as a level of humor. So, I will leave you with one last photo. It is my favorite one of all!!! This is my mom and I in my old pants…yes,two of us!: -) 125 lbs. lost and gone forever!!! I am forever changed!!!
P.S. I must share that I am a recovering sweets & desserts addict! So, I will share one of my absolute favorite treats that I make almost daily for myself! Enjoy! Quick Chocolate Oatmeal(adapted from my absolute favorite dessert blog Chocolate-Covered Katie) 1/2 cup quick oats 1 small banana (broken up into small chunks) 1 1/2 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa 2 Tbsp Unsweetened Applesauce 15-20 drops of Liquid Stevia 1 tsp. vanilla extract 3/4 cup of Light Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk or Light Vanilla Soy Milk dash of salt 2 Tbsp. fat free cool whip (optional) Spray small saucepan with cooking spray. Combine all of the ingredients together in the small saucepan. Stir everything together until thoroughly mixed. Turn heat to high and continue stirring oatmeal until oatmeal starts to bubble slightly and thicken. After oatmeal starts to slowly boil, turn heat off and continue stirring for another minute or so to finish heating all the way through. Pour into a bowl and enjoy! For an extra treat, add some fat free cool whip on top! *You can also add a Tbsp of Peanut Butter to the above recipe for a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup bowl of oatmeal!My husband's favorite!: -) *********************************************************************************** So how's that for some intentional living? I don't know about you, but Staci has encouraged, inspired, and motivated us big time! Staci recently started blogging about all things health,fitness, and nutrition, so check out Musings of a Wellness Hopeful for all kinds of recipes, motivation, and more!
Got questions for Staci? Leave a comment and she'll get back to you!
Only following on the blog? You're missing out. Use the buttons below to join in on all the fun!
You get to read about our projects, you know what the inside of our houses look like, but who are The Real Housewives of Bucks County? Well, this must be your lucky day, because today we're sharing a bit of ourselves with you… (Warning, some of these questions are cheesy, but who doesn't like a little cheese and we like 'em!) Meet the Real Housewives of BC
Do you have kids?
M- Do we ever! 4 kiddos that either keep me young or make me old, not sure which. Girl, boy, girl, boy (and done!) J- Yes, I have two adorable, blond-haired, blue eyed kiddos (a girl and a boy) who keep me busy: one who talks my ear off. and one who makes a lot of noise and dives off of furniture head first
Where is your birth place and are you far from it now?
M- I was born in Massachusetts and lived in Attleboro, MA until I moved to Bucks County, PA when I was 17 years old. When I first moved, PA seemed like the ends of the earth, but now it’s a simple 5 hour drive “home.” J- I was born in good old Grandview Hospital in Sellersville, so that makes me oh, um, about 7 miles away from there.
What is one thing you could not do when you were a child, but you can do now?
M- Eat as much uncooked cookie dough as I want to J- I wasn't allowed to watch Saved by the Bell, but am pretty sure my parents would be ok with me watching it now (totally love that show, by the way) 4. What is your motto? M- I’m the anti-motto. I am too forgetful to even remember my own motto. J- My motto for this year is"Be Intentional". I tend to be extremely impulsive and all over the place and so I'm working hard at making purposeful choices regarding our weekly menu, the the design of our home, my spiritual life and the work decisions I make.
What are your hobbies?
M- Photography, blog-stalking, reading & anything involving spray paint. J- Well, this is a no-brainer: reading design blogs. However, I also LOVE coaching the highschool girls tennis team at my alma mater, Plumstead Christian School. And I adore reading and can easily get sucked into a book which usually leads to me tuning out everything around me. (I was reading when the rest of my neighborhood felt the earthquake last week. And nope, I didn't feel a thing.)
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
M- Chocolate chip cookie dough and Oreo Cookie combined! (Unless I’m at Ben & Jerry’s and then it’s New York Super Fudge Chunk! Unless I’m at Coldstone and then it’s Cake Batter-YUM!) J- Not a huge icecream fan (gasp!), but if we get icecream as a family, I usually get the mini Reese's Peanutbutter Cup Blizzard from Dairy Queen.
If you could travel anywhere in the world — where would you go and why?
M- A tropical beach… any amazing beach… with the hubs… and a good book… oh, and maybe with Starbucks in hand… J-. Italy, hands down. I travelled there in college with two great friends (we were studying abroad in Greece at the time) and loved every inch of it. Florence was like heaven for me- great architecture, friendly people and to-die-for foods.
Have you ever met a famous person?
M- We’re spending the day with Nate Berkus on Thursday… does that count? (See more about that here) J- Well, we'll be meeting Nate Berkus on Thursday, betcha didn't know that, did you?; ) One of my other favorite celebrity encounters was Charles Barkley. He was the biggest human being I've ever seen in person
What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
M- Physically, my ears… everyone denies that they're weird, but I know that they don’t point in the right direction. Ugh! Now stop trying to look at them! Personality-wise, sometimes I fail to think before I talk… ugh! J- Physically, my nose, although my hubs says he really likes it. (He kind of has to, though.) Personality trait: impulsiveness. Sometimes it works for me, but most of the time I'm left wishing I did a little more research or talked to more people before jumping in head first.
One that describes your BFF and blog partner?
M- One word to describe Jess = determined- she is completely committed to her goals and also growing and changing into the person she wants to be. J- Extrovert! I've never met anyone who enjoys being with people, or wants to have people around as much as she does. She gathers friends like no one else!
How tall are you?
M- 5 feet 8 inches J- 5 feet 4 inches
When you were little — What did you want to do"when you grew up?" Are you doing it?
M- I wanted to be a lawyer… I loved to argue. I’m not a lawyer, but I get some argument practice in with the hubs! J J- I really wanted to be a veterinarian, but I now can recognize that animals are not my thing. Honestly, what"I want to do when I grow up" is constantly changing. I feel like I'm getting closer though!
How do you spend your free time?
M- What free time?? Although, I love getting so obsessed with a book that my kids eat cookies and poptarts for 24 hours while Mommy finishes reading! J- Playing with the kiddos, writing this here little blog, coaching tennis and hanging out with the hubs.
Favorite sport you like to watch or participate in?
M- Fav to watch = football. I LOVE football Sundays! Fav to play = basketball J- Watch: Basketball, Play: Tennis
What kind of food do you prefer eating when you are out?
M- It’s pathetic, but 90% of the time I order a grilled cheese wherever I am. I long for my kids menu days (who am I kidding, I order from it all the time!) J- Italian, Mexican & Tapas
Last Movie You Watched?
M- Unknown it was only okay… I’d say a B-. (Although, I also saw The Help and it was an A++) J- The Help, with my girlfriends
Would you like to be famous?
M- I have some pretty fancy tastes, but I don’t need tabloid magazines claiming I’m preggo every other week! J J- I'd like to make the money of a celebrity without worrying about some crazy paparrazzi taking my picture while I'm getting the mail in my jams.
What Book Are You Reading?
M- The Tenth Circle by Jody Picoult J- I can't believe this, but I'm not currently reading one!
Favorite Bible Verse?
M- John 3:30 “He must became greater, I must become less”… it just reminds me that I’m constantly in progress and that I can continually be growing and changing to be more like Him. J- Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Isn't it wonderful knowing someONE else is in charge? 20. What’s your favorite DIY project to date? M- My daughter’s first “big girl” room 8 years ago was my very favorite project. Checkerboard painted walls, and chalkboard furniture made my day. Sorry, no pics… darn the days of film cameras! A more recent favorite is of course, is my Farmhouse Table Remix. J- Favorite DIY project to date: My fav project so far is the reclaimed barnwood art piece I made for Monica's dining room for the Nate Berkus Show. (Sorry, can't show you it yet, but we'll reveal it soon!) I also am pretty in love with my free old door headboard and the family tree mural we painted for our daughter's nursery.
*Photos courtesy of Doug from Candid Moments Photography. Thanks so much, Doug! You did a great job working with some very amateur models.: ) So, it's your turn now. What questions do you have for us? We're game for answering {almost} anything!
As you all know, my hubs and I have been DIYing a 600 square foot patio. It's been a huge job, but it's 99% done and we're loving it! (We've even put on an addition, but our lights were back ordered so I can't give the full reveal yet-boo!)
600 square feet is a lot of space to fill and I wasn't about to go out and buy all new furniture for the space. I've had this old record player hutch (if that's even such a thing) in my basement for about 7 years now- It was just waiting to be upcycled.
This baby used to house my in-laws old record player and then eventually a boombox. It's crazy to think that now that all of my music is on a 4 inch iPhone. Anyhow, if you need any convincing that this piece needed some upcycling, I've provided you with some evidence…
One of my favorite things to do, is to look at a piece of furniture and see past the"yuck" and into the potential it has. Remember when we upcycled this dresser into an Anthro Knock off.
They key to a good furniture upcycle is to believe that anything can be changed and set some goals!
To Upcycle this piece, I had a few goals: #1- Get rid of any and all scrolly things (I sorta loathe them) #2- Remove the speaker fabric #3- Paint it with outdoor paint #4- Add some bold details #5- Distress it (so I don't get mad when one of my 4 kids"distress" it for me) #6- Add new hardware
Get Rid of Scrolly Things Sometimes it's easy to think there are things you can't change about a piece, but it's amazing what you can do with a jigsaw! I just taped off a straight line and cut those scrolly babies off!
Remove Speaker Fabric I ripped off all of the lovely fabric and then had to take out the speakers. There was no magic to this step. I actually gave a hammer to my seven year old son and said,"bang away!"
I love when furniture has an industrial flair, so I cut plywood panels and covered them with chicken wire. It isn't the most fun to work with, but it's not impossible either.
Paint with Outdoor Paint This piece was originally intended to be used indoors, so I wanted to be sure to paint it with good quality outdoor paint. I really don't love taking tons of time painting furniture, so I used Valspar's Exterior Spray Paint. It took about 3 cans to do two coats on the whole piece.
Add Bold Details Since this piece was originally so traditional, I wanted to do something graphic and more modern as a detail. I thought a thin herringbone would do the trick.
Herringbone is super-simple! #1- Mark out your center line. Then, measure the width you want the stripes (I used 1") and make tick marks down both sides of the column. #2- Tape off your lines. The top of the left side slants down to one tick mark below on the right. #3- Paint & Remove your tape. Let it dry and repeat on the opposite side, but shift your painted section down one, so you have the"every other" look.
Distress the Piece You might notice that my lines weren't completely crisp in the herringbone. I was painting outside in 100 degree heat (blogger foul), but I also knew I was going to distress it anyhow. I'm not always into distressing, but I figured it was going to get banged up outside (and I have 4 kids that are pretty rough on furniture). To distress, first I went at it with a sander with 220 grit paper.
Have you ever had this problem? I ran out of the right size sanding pads. Oops! After sanding it down a bit, I gave the entire piece a good glazing. I actually began my glazing love affair by reading Living with Lindsay's blog (check her out it you haven't)! My favorite glaze is Martha's Black Coffee. As you can see, I slopped it on, rubbed it around, and then wiped it off. I wanted pretty solid coverage, so I used a good bit of glaze.
After adding some hardware she was all finished and ready for the patio!
I think she's much more my style now!
All that's missing now is some cool, outdoor artwork. I'd love to hear any ideas you have in a comment. We have some insanely creative readers! P.S. I have to mention that I'm so glad to have my BFF home from vacation! A week apart feels like such a long time to us! Now that she's home, Jess is working like a mad-woman on some cool projects for her dining room!!
When we first started blogging, we had some goals… silly ones like- have anyone outside of our immediate family read the blog, get over 25 hits a week (yes, a week!), and somehow get a Silhouette cutting machine! Honestly, having a Silhouette was like the litmus test of having"arrived"- it's funny to think that we never in a million years would have put"have a tv show" on that list! Anyhow, last year we finally got a Silhouette Cameo and now we're excited to let you know that we're partnering with Silhouette America as ambassadors- that means we get to offer you guys exclusive deals and discounts (wootwoot!) Last winter one of my favorite Christmas projects (inspired by a display I saw at Next. in London) was this modern-meets-rustic art! Check it out: Illuminated Deer Art
It would have taken me forever to print, trace, and cut the deer silhouette onto card stock. It took me about 1 minute using my Cameo! Boom! Jess and I were just introduced to the Silhouette Glass Etching Starter Kit. Now, we can etch whatever our little hearts desire on glass!! Before, we were kind of limited to what glass stencils were on the market. Check out these cute projects using the kit… Umm, hello cutest fish tank ever! Maybe all of our fish wouldn't die, if I had made them a cute tank!
I also loved this vase idea- I just think it's so cool to be able to customize something you already own like a clear vase and make it work with your style!
So, Jess and I just ordered an Etching Kit, and I'm guessing you'll see us using it in a home project or on Knock It Off really soon! Now's the time for you to get a Silhouette if you've been wanting one, because since we're Silhouette rookies, we get to give you guys an awesome starty-up deal! Jess and I totally paid full price last year- this deal is ah-mazing!
Here's a breakdown of the deals we can share with you… (1) A Silhouette CAMEO® plus a glass etching starter kit will be $269.99, which is the same as receiving $30 off the retail price of the Silhouette CAMEO® ($299.99) and a free glass etching starter kit included. (2) A Silhouette Portrait™ plus a glass etching starter kit will be $129.99, which is the same as receiving $70 off the retail price of the Silhouette Portrait™ ($199.99) and a free glass etching starter kit included. (3) A glass etching starter kit with no machine for $29.99, which is 25% off the regular $39.99 price for the kit.
To order your Silhouette at the special promotional rate make sure you use this link and then enter the code EASTCOAST at checkout! We're really excited to work with Silhouette and thrilled to offer these deals to EC2 readers! If you already own one, you've gotta share some tips with us- we're still learning all that they can do!
One of our New Year's Resolutions was to share a little bit about ourselves. And you want to know something about me? Last year was the year I quit {almost} everything. Want to know something else? Last year I didn’t like who I was. Let me explain.
Probably one of the most frequently asked questions of us is “How do you do it all?” The answer for me this past year, was “Not very well.” First, let me preface this by saying, I’m speaking only for myself. I recognize that every person juggles their hats differently, and every person has a different tolerance level for busyness. I would say that I have an above-average tolerance for busyness- it takes very little to stress me out. However, that level was completely maxed out last year.
I'm sure it had nothing to do with you, Mr. Berkus. You're too dang cute to cause much stress. Don’t get me wrong- I’m not complaining about the past year. No way. I have a fabulous life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. And I have to admit, I really liked it when someone said “oh my gosh- I don’t know how you do it all! You are so inspiring!” On the outside, it looked like I had it all together and that it just wasn’t a big deal to juggle all those things. All of that busyness was of my own making. Yup, I said it. But if you were in my home every day, you’d know that I was short-tempered with my husband and wasn’t allotting any quality time for him. I was hurrying my kids through their day, not really focusing on them, just waiting for naptime to come. I was comparing myself to other bloggers and feeling badly about my projects. My confidence took a hit because I was so focused on how good other people’s stuff is and how insignificant my stuff was. I got uber-upset when a criticism would come along. I wasn’t enjoying my life. Period. I felt like I couldn’t ever give 100% to anything I was doing because I was spread so thin. I was exhausted.
source I finally realized that I needed to simplify my life a bit so that I could really focus on the things that matter most to me: my faith, my family, this little ol’ blog and the opportunities that might come as a result of it. I quit my job and stopped coaching tennis. I have dedicated myself to enjoying my babies while I still have them at home. I’ve stopped putting pressure on myself to come up with the best projects ever, and am just creating things that I love. I’ve developed the ability to say no, if I know it will negatively impact my family. I figure that I won’t ever look back and wish I had worked more and spent less time with my family. I’m happier, more focused and more productive. Plus, my kids think I’m more fun. I’m not saying it’s all better. I’m a work in progress and I’m still tempted to compare myself with others. In fact, it's often still really hard to say"no" to good things, especially when I know it may disappoint people.
So, what am I saying? I guess my hope is that you'll realize that it's ok to say no to some things, even when it feels like you're letting people down (I'm a HUGE people-pleaser, and this was hard for me to learn). I know that it's not possible for everyone to quit their job to pursue just the stuff that gives them joy, but there are tons of good things that we can do with our time, that don't fulfill our goals in life. I encourage you to evaluate what's important to you, and then pursue those things. Don't bog yourself down with stuff you think you're supposed to be doing, just because it makes other people happy or even because you like the appearance of being busy. Figure our your priorities, and cut out all that junk that messes with them. Just my two cents.: )
So, how about you? Do you over commit or are you good at saying no?
