About Me

Want to have a beautiful home but don’t feel like you have the money to create it?

I used to feel the same way.  As a stay-at-home mom for the last 11 years, living on just one income, and raising four precious, rambunctious boys, I felt I didn’t have the time or money to have a beautiful home.

Boy, was I wrong!

Instead of just looking at pictures of beautiful homes in magazines and wishing mine looked the same, I decided to try and create the same looks at a fraction of the cost.

For example, I fell in love with these cafe shelves from Ballard Designs catalog.

But since I definitely did not have the money to buy them,  I decided to buy the materials and make them myself!

I share the complete tutorial of how to make these shelves on my blog.

It is my desire to give other women the tools and inspiration they need to create beauty in their home for less too!

Wanna have a beautiful heart but feel you don’t have the strength to create it?

This is a daily struggle for all of us, isn’t it?

I don’t have all of the answers for this one, but I know the ONE who does.  It is only through God’s strength that we can have the beautiful hearts that we desire.

Join me, as I strive to follow Him and His plan for my life.

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”  1 Peter 3:3-5

Now for a little more about me:

I am in love with five men…

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I just can’t help myself! Do you blame me?

The smaller four men in my life are a result of falling in love with the tallest one.

So I am just a girl living in a boys’ world. It’s not always easy, but it’s a lot of fun!

Before all of these men captured my heart, I was an elementary school teacher for a few years.

But I have been a stay at home mom for the past 11 years.

My husband and I love working together on all types of projects, but we particularly enjoy taking an older home and fixing it up. We are in our fourth project home, and are having a blast updating it.

My mom suggested that I start a blog as a way to document all the work we were doing. So I did. Thanks, Mom!

This blog has blessed my life in ways that I could have never imagined…especially by all the love and support I received when my mom passed away on September 22, 2009. She was the most creative woman I have ever known, and I am so proud to be her daughter.

Feel free to stick around and join me as we strive to create beauty in our hearts and in our homes!

9 Comments

  1. I am so happy to have found your blog! I was looking for some instructions on building a shelf b/c I found the same shelf in Ballard Designs but thought the price was a little rich. I'm all for creating things myself! I actually love to do it. So sorry to hear about your Mom. Strange, as my Mom also passed away the same date, September 22, 2009 of pancreatic cancer. Looking forward to reviewing other posts on your blog. A woman after my own heart! Have a great week!
    -M. Mason

  2. What a lovely blog, what a lovely tribute to your mum. How nice to have found you on Mother's Day. I will keep reading & thank you for such a warm heart-felt site. x

  3. HI MY NAME IS JEANNE AND I'M FROM TEXAS. I JUST FOUND YOUR SITE, FROM RHODA @SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY, AND I AM SO EXCITED. I DO NOT HAVE A BLOG MYSELF, BUT I READ ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE AND HOW THEY LIVE AND DO EXCITING THINGS… THE ONE THING THAT I AM MOST HAPPY TO SEE ABOUT THE LADIES THAT I FIND IS THAT EVERY ONE LOVES THE LORD AND I FEEL BLESSED TO READ THE SCRIPTURES THAT ARE POSTED FROM YA'LL. I HAVE BEEN READING ALL ABOUT YOUR WONDERFUL DECORATING THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING.. THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING WITH ME… WHAT A WONDERFUL LADY YOUR MOM WAS, I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
    BLESSINGS TO YOU.
    JEANNE

  4. OMG! I googled "burlap fabric bed skirt" because I love burlap and I'm redoing our master bedroom. I can't believe I found your blog, complete with the recent construction of a velcro burlap bed skirt!! I don't sew (lame, I know) but my 13yo daughter does and I could ask her to make a skirt for me. It didn't even dawn on me to just make what I'm looking for, instead of searching all over the internet for one to buy. And I'm all over the idea of using velcro (LOL at hot gluing it to your box spring). Anyway. Fun blog. Happy Easter!

    Angie

  5. Hi, Traci… I found your blog while I was on bed rest when I was pregnant… :) I too lost my mom to cancer and reading your posts made (and still does) me think of her in lots of ways. She was diagnosedin August 2007 and passed away in April 2008. It was the worst times of my life but God used it to strengthen me immensely. It's even harder now having a newborn and realizing he won't ever meet my wonderful momma. Anyway, I love your ideas and it looks like we are alike in a lot of ways! I look forward to reading more!!

    Donna
    http://www.ourplacebygrace.blogspot.com

  6. I just have to tell you I love this blog! You are a women after my own heart except God had a different plan for me. I never had children but do have grandson's from my husband's 1st marriage (I'm his best wife:) and I love life and all "HE" has planned for me. I thank you so much for sharing your lovely site and family! I'll be following you now!
    Terry
    Thank you, thank you!

  7. Tracy,
    I am so glad I found your blog. It's the first blog I ever read! I am addicted now & have my oqn blog. It seems we like the same things & have alot in common. I love reading about your mother & your entire family. Thanks so much for sharing & you inspire me. You have been a blessing to me!

    Love, April

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