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About Us

Welcome to LiveLoveDIY!
I'm Virginia, the girl behind the blog, and that's Jesse, my husband.




I'm so glad you're here!

I've written and re-written this about me page four times in the past year. I don't know what it is, but I can't seem to ever get it right. I think the problem is that I felt I had to be brief. And let's be honest, I'm wordy. So, here goes #5. I'm just going to put it all out there, because that's what I do best. 
Hopefully, this time I'll paint a pretty good picture of who I am.

There will still be tons of pictures, but this time I'll try to fill in the blanks better.


Before I begin with my story, let me tell you who I am. I'm a girl who loves to learn. I read a lot, and am constantly trying to improve myself. I think you can learn something new each day, and I truly intend on doing so. I'm an introvert. I fake being an extrovert really well, but inside I'm really shy. I'm nice to everyone I meet. Everyone. I want to make you feel important and like you matter...because you do. I'm a listener. I'm a talker. I try to balance the two, but I'm horrible at it. I believe I can do anything I set my mind to, and I've accomplished most of the things I've set out to do. I'm not afraid of hard work. I believe in hard work. Good things rarely come easy, as most things in life worth having require effort. That being said, I also love to sink into my couch sporting my rattiest sweatpants, and not see the light of day until forced. My life isn't perfect, and neither am I. I believe in gratitude. Gratitude changes everything. Next time you're pissed off, try reminding yourself of all the good stuff. It helps, I promise. I try to live in the now, but don't always succeed. I remember my past and look forward to the future. I love to laugh. It's the best part of life. I have a weird, freaky sense of humor, and if you make me laugh, we are likely to be real-life friends. I'm super frugal. I shop at thrift stores. I think if you make the effort, you can live a great life and still have money in your pocket. That being said, I have to actively refrain from blowing my life savings at Target at least once a week. I like animals and babies, but I hate animal-poop and baby-poop. My husband doesn't mind either...that's good news for me. I love high-heels and sequins, but you're more likely to find me in yoga pants, not practicing yoga. I consider myself a great wife, a great friend, and a horrible, horrible cook.


So, on that note, here's my story, in somewhat chronological order.

I moved around a lot growing up, but for the most part I spent my time in Tennessee and Colorado.


Here are a few pics from my youth.

I was an only child until I was 10 years old. The closest thing I had to a sibling was my cousin, Whitney. We spent most of our summers together as kids. We are three years apart, and I always considered her my sister.



I had a pretty happy childhood. My mom was super crafty and handy. She was always sewing, painting, tiling, or creating awesome ensembles like the one below.




That dress was the epitome of 1990's awesome.

I'm pretty sure I get my creative streak from my mom.

I was also very sporty. I did not have a choice. My mom made me do activities. It drove me absolutely crazy, but I thank her for making me spread my pre-teen wings. I did gymnastics, softball, tennis, swimteam, science fairs, handbells, and even captured a few caterpillars in jars just to watch them hatch. 

I still hate bugs to this very day.
It backfired, Momma.


That's me...2nd row, 3rd from the left.


When I was 10, my brother Mathias came along.



That picture sums up Mathias better than any picture ever taken. We are total weirdos and the best of friends, even though we are a decade apart. I hated him until I was about 18, so I consider this a pretty cool turn-of-events. 

My favorite things in life revolve around laughing, and Mathias makes me laugh a lot.
Here's a pic of us spending vacation in Florida, yoyoing.


and then two years later, yoyoing again on a golf course.


And then a rare moment of sibling affection.




 So, mothers out there, don't worry about having your kids far apart. If you do a good job, they will eventually learn to love one another. 

But, back to the story. When I was 18, I moved from Colorado (where I lived ages 10 -18) to Tennessee. I won't go into detail about this 'phase' of my life, but let's just say I was not super successful in my freshman year of college. My parents had moved to Tennessee after my highschool graduation. I stayed in CO for a year of college, and after being not-so-successful, I was quickly re-located to TN.

It ended up being the best thing that happened to me.
I was so sad at first to leave all of my friends behind, but after only four months of being in Tennessee, I met this guy:


Meet Jesse, the love of my life.
The kindest, funniest, most humble person I've ever met.
I don't know where I'd be without him.
He set my priorities straight and molded me into a respectable lady.

Even though I had totally messed up my first attempt at college, he helped convince me to go back, and when I was 25 I graduated with my business degree at the The University of Tennessee.
It was hard to be 25 in college when everyone else was 19, but I'm SO glad I stuck with it and finished. 
That makes me laugh now, but at the time it really sucked.
College was hard for me, but it's one of my biggest accomplishments, and truly changed my life.


And I totally wore strappy sandals. Whattayagonnado.

So, back to Jesse. I met him ten whole years ago, when I was only 19. We got married in 2009, the year after I finally graduated from college, and it was totally worth the wait.

Brace for photo dump.

We got married at a historic house right on the river with gorgeous views.



After the ceremony was over, Jesse scooped me up and decided to march me up nearly 200 stairs, while t
he DJ played 'Another One Bites The Dust'.
I had no idea he was going to do that, and I pretty much panicked and laughed uncontrollably the entire way up the stairs. 
Totally one of my favorite moments of the entire wedding. 




Here are a few other random photos from the day.





Here's one with me and my mother-in-law the first time she saw me in my dress. I love this picture.
And I love my in-laws. So much.


And here's one with my mom and brother.


And here's the part in the story where I show a picture of my dad. I've left this out of my 'about me' up until now, just because. My dad wasn't at my wedding because he died from Pancreatic Cancer five months earlier. It was a pivotal part of my life, and very, very sad. Here's a picture of him with me and my brother.


The only way to continue the story from that is to tell you that my brother, Mathias, photoshopped himself a gold tooth in that picture.
I wasn't close to my dad, but he was a good dad all the same.
He worked really hard, and he loved his family a whole, whole-lot.
That's just the honest truth.

Here are a couple pictures from the end of my wedding. It was a beautiful, happy ending to a really rough year. 



As we left the venue, our friends all gathered and basically showered Jesse with 80 tons of birdseed.
It was the funniest thing ever.
 We went to Jamaica on our honeymoon, and he pretty much left a trail of bird seed all the way there.




So, that was our wedding day. It was everything I could have ever dreamed of. Truly an amazing day.

Here's something you should know about me. I consider myself a sort-of-last-of-the-mohicans. Out of the majority of people we know, I was the last to graduate college, the last to get married, the last to buy a house, and I will probably also be the last to have kids. Everyone has a path, and we're all different. I just tend to move a little slower than normal. I've always been that way. 
It's not right or wrong, it's just different.
So far, it's worked out just right.

So, let's continue on with the story.
After about a year of marriage, when I was 27, we bought our first house. We were looking for a 'new' house, but one day after house hunting, we decided to drive around a bit, and we found our house.
It was a 1970's fixer-upper, and within moments of seeing it for the first time, I just knew it was going to be our house.

We bought that house.
Soon thereafter, I quit my day-job as the owner of an online clothing boutique (that I had run for 2 years prior) and devoted my days to renovating our house. Somewhere along the line, I decided to start blogging about it. It sounded absolutely crazy at the time, but my ever-supportive husband believed that I could indeed turn my hobby into something real and so I've spent the last 2 years doing exactly that.

 This blog is a true labor-of-love for me, and it's truly changed my life. I'm so happy you're here.
It wouldn't be the same without you. 




To see all of the progress I've made on our house, you can take the house tour here, or to see all of projects click here.




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102 comments:

  1. Sweet! You are a doll and I am thrilled for you that you found such a fabulous guy. Love your story, thanks for sharing it.

    ps you have a killer smile!

    xox

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    1. Thank you, sweet Anne! That means the world! He is fabulous, indeed! :)

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  2. Well, that made me cry! You are just precious and always have been from day one. You never cease to amaze me. I love you.

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    1. Thanks, Mom! It makes me cry, too! I guess that means it's a good one?? Love you! :)

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  3. Hello pretty lady - thanks for sharing more about you with us, it's like I know you even better!

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    1. Thank you, Heather! Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

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  4. Fantastic Virginia! Loved hearing your story and hop to meet you in person at Haven this year, I think we'll have a blast!

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    1. I think so, too, Melissa! Thanks so much...means a lot that you came over to read! :)

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  5. You are such a sweet girl...it's great to get to know you better. I am so sorry about the loss of your Dad so early. Your family and hubby sound like very special folks, and I can see in the photos how much they all love you! Thanks for sharing, so happy we have become friends!...XO ~ Julie

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    1. Thank you so much, Julie! I am also so glad to have become friends! I've so loved learning about your life, too! You always have a way of telling a story so beautifully! Thanks for all your sweet words...means the world! xo ~ Virginia

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  6. Live this Anout Me. Really gives me an idea of who you are.

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  7. I think you got it just right with #5. Seriously, this is the best about me I've ever read...now mine feels lame and crappy. Your wedding looked beautiful, I'm seriously sorry about your dad, and it's kinda weird that you yo-yo on vacations. And if you are an introvert than you are crazy good at hiding it. I guess I've always thought that people that are really funny are always extroverts. Of course I'm hilarious and can sometimes be shy...sometimes. Anyway, great job :)

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    1. Okay, well that's like the best compliment ever. And no, yours is not lame and crappy. I love yours. Yours is one of the reasons I rewrote mine. I loved that yours told your 'story'. And no, I'm not shy around you because you 'get me', so I probably don't seem shy to you. And yes, yo-yos make a vacation so much more fun. It's a very inexpensive way to be ridiculous. Thanks friend! :)

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  8. If you had worries about your "About Me" being perfect, worry no more! You NAILED IT. :-) Can't believe I'm just now finding you but I can't wait to dig around on your site.

    PS. I left a comment... you know what that means.... it's Hammer Time!

    Dana {CraftedNiche.com}

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    1. Oh, thank you, Dana!!! That makes me so happy! And I kinda can't help but love you based solely on your Hammer Time request!! :)

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  9. So fun to get to know you better! You are absolutely gorgeous on the inside and out.
    XO
    Kristin

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    1. WOW! Kristin, thank you so much! That is truly the sweetest thing I've heard in a long time! You are just such an amazing person! So glad I've gotten the chance to get to know you a little bit! xo

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  10. I love your story. You are the first blog I follow and I can see now why. We have so much in common, except one thing - creativity. That is why I follow your blog and borrow your ideas. My tree this year looks amazing - thanks to you.

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    1. Wow! Thank you so much! That is a really amazing compliment that truly means so much!!!!!!!

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  11. Love your Bio, Virginia... you tell your 'story' so beautifully! I'll enjoy following your blog too! Love that kitty as well... Mine are blessings everyday! Leslee in Tennessee

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    1. Thank you so much Leslee!!! Ours are too! :)

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  12. {Sigh} now I'm going to be rewriting my About Me all. day. long. mentally as I try not to shoot nails through my fingers. Thanks. :) By the way - I think you should figure out a way to stream "Meet Virginia" in the background of this page. I hummed it during the entire read. Looking forward to stalking er following your adventures. But, I do have to ask - as someone hell-bent on moving to CO in the next 3.5 years - are the mountains in TN anywhere near as awesome as they are in CO?? ~ dee@deeconstructed.com

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    1. WOW! Thanks so much Dee!! That is the sweetest thing EVER! and no, the mountains are NOT as awesome, but I've learned to love them! xo

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  13. Hi Virginia, you have a very fresh way to write. I came here to get tips on painting furniture, but I have been spending a great amount of timing reading your blog. Keep at it! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks so much Marcia! So glad to know you like it!

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  14. I found your blog after reading what you posted on jens blog from iheartorganizing. I check her blog everyday and now will be checking yours too because I'm amazed with what you do. Love your style and creativity that inspires! I'm so glad I found your blog and just wanted to encourage you to keep doing what you're doing because we really appreciate it! :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Viki! I'm so glad you found your way here! Thank you for taking the time to tell me that! xo

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  15. Thanks for sharing your personal story. You are a truly amazing person with such a delightful personality. It's refreshing each time to read about a person's life experience that does not follow the "cookie cutter" path of "how things should be" yet still persevere and is a success! You have set out goals and have attained them. That is the bottom line. KUDOS!!!
    P.S. Love how your home has been evolving.

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    1. Thank you so much, Fawn! That truly is so sweet. Makes me smile so much to read your comment. Thank you! <3

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  16. Ooops . . . just a correction to my post. Below is the corrected part of the statement.

    " . . . yet the individual still perseveres and is a success!"

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  17. I love that you blog about what you're doing and how you are doing it! Also you are such an inspiration. You are living proof that people don't need to be number one or even number 2 or 3 going through life, as long as you get where you want to go. You are real and like that and I can't wait to see more of your posts :)

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  18. That almost made me tear up! You know that they say...5th times a charm, wait, no one says that. But I believe it! Very encouraging about being the "last" out of folks you know to do stuff. I'm the last for a lot of things and constantly tell folks that everyone has their own path to walk. Oh and amazing blog, my babe and I just bought a home and I'm going to be turning to your posts probably daily for the next year!

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  19. What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing. Found you on Pinterest today and I'm so excited for your blog! I'm a beginning DIYer and need a little boost of confidence. I think I will find it here on your blog. Yours is seriously one of the best out there! Thanks again. ~Tara Twiggs

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  20. Wow, you sound a whole lot like me, kind of. I'm only 19, but I messed up my freshman year of college, and I'm debating whether I should go back or not. It's been a confusing path for me. And I absolutely love learning, but on my own pace and things I want to learn about. I read every single word on this page, and I wanted to say I'm happy for you. Although I'm sorry about the loss of your father, I know how it can be. But we all get stronger every time from a unbearable loss. I believe that every one has a purpose here. I'm so happy for you and all the things you have accomplished. My dream is to have a online business selling crafts & arts and what not. :) And a little bit more of other things. So happy for you! :)

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    1. Farrah, thank you so much! Totally makes me smile to read that! I ultimately was really glad I finished college, as I ended up learning so much valuable information that led me to where I am today. Not sure I would be doing what I'm doing had it not been for some of what I learned there. That being said, always follow your heart and don't be afraid to do something outside of the box! Great things can happen! Thanks so much for your sweet comment!!!! <3
      Virginia

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  21. I just found your blog and have fallen in LOVE!
    While reading your story I couldn't help but think how much I could relate to you. The YOU YOU. Not as much your life experiences as much as YOU as a person. :)
    I'm REALLY looking forward to following your blog!! You are quite inspiring!!!
    :)

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    1. Thank you, Stacey. I truly appreciate that so much.

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  22. I loved your story.
    It was real.



    "Hafa Adai" [pronounced "day"] from GUAM, USA*

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  23. I randomly found your blog on Pinterest from the link with your guest bath. I have to say, you are a total inspiration with the projects you do and you have such a way with writing, that it cracks me up! Keep doing what you're doing!

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  24. Your story is precious and I'm happy to follow along.

    "It's not right or wrong, it's just different." I loved that line. :)

    Ok, I'm gonna leave your blog now, as I've seriously been here looking around for like an hour now. If you're like me and you sometimes watch real-time visitors on Google Analytics, you must be thinking I'm a total stalker right now. Lol.

    -Nathy @ Earnestyle

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    1. Ha! I LOVE it, Nathy! Thank you so much! So happy to have you as a reader! xo

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  25. Just stumbled on your blog and I love it and you! I got married in 2006 and walked out to Another one Bites the dust also! Glad to know there's other people out there just as crazy as me!You look so happy and Im glad your sticking with what you love, no matter how hard it is sometimes!

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  26. Just stumbled across your blog and I love it and you! I got married in 2006 to the love of my life.....an we totally walked out to another one bites the dust! I thought i was the only crazy person to think that was a great idea,,guess not;)

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    1. LOVE that Rebekkah! How funny is that?! Thanks for your sweet comment!

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  27. I just found your blog via Pinterest and I love it! Your "About Me" section is perfect. I too am a listener/talker so I love to know all the things about people. Your DIY style is gorgeous and I look forward to following you here. Hope you have a wonderful day and you better do the hammer dance after reading this!

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  28. I love your blog! Your site/photos/DIY projects are so beautiful that I thought that perhaps you were a fictional character, and the blog was created by a team of designers working for a "big" company. Thanks for sharing on your "About Me" page, which convinced me otherwise.

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    1. Aw, Bev!! That is hilariously awesome! Thank you for the boost of confidence, and yes, I promise I am a real girl! And also, just thank you....so so much. xo

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  29. Hi, Virginia! I just found your blog yesterday, and I am already bursting with ideas of what I want to do with our house as soon as we sign the papers making it ours! My mom had all the creativity in the world, as does my sister...but it skipped me completely. Your descriptions of how to do things makes me not just think I can accomplish them, but KNOW I can! Reading your description of yourself, I was saying to my husband "she's me!" Except the creative part, lol! By the time I'm done with our house in a few years, I'll be able to add the creativity to the list of things about me! I'm so looking forward to reading new things from you! You amaze me. You are truly blessed, and a blessing as well!

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  30. . I 'm from the netherlands and we don't have something like your blog here. I'm very happy i found this and i already learned a lot by seeing the wonderfull pictures. Right now i'm trying to reuphoslter my first chair!,,,

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  31. OMG, you are so pretty!! I am obsessed with your website as I am working on my house and trying to do so on a small budget. Thank you for sharing all your DIY crafts!! Your site is a great inspiration and I love your about me page. :)

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  32. I'm always on the lookout for interesting/inspiring blogs to follow, and yours made the cut, haha. I like your style and how you are honest about not knowing what you are doing. Trial and error baby! I look forward to reading more of your blog and where you will take us next. All the best Virgina :)

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  33. Virginia,

    I am just starting the house-hunting, and I know that my down payment is totally going to deplete my decorating budget (and rightfully so). So, stumbling onto your blog has been a true God send! I love to thrift and DIY, but I've always been forced to do it trial & error. Now, I'm going to use you as my guru! I was excited before, but now I can barely contain it! I'm like Jesse in the that episode of Saved by the Bell with the pills. (Also, I may have gone a little crazy and pinned a bananas amount of your posts to my Pinterest!)

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  34. Hi Virginia :) Thanks for introducing yourself over at my blog the other day! I saw your blog title, and said, 'Hey!!! I know that blog!! She's awesome!" It was fun to read your story and I too did not do too great on my first round of college, but I turned it around and have to admit it had a lot to do with the man I am now married too! We do have a lot in common :) I added you to my bloglovin' so I can keep up. This blogging adventure is crazy awesome!! xo Kristin www.bliss-athome.com

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    1. AW! Kristin, you are too sweet! Thanks so much for coming to say hi back! Great to know we have even more in common! Yay for turning it around and YAY for finding great men to inspire us!! Can't wait to see more of your amazing work! :)
      xo,
      Virginia

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  35. Hi, Virginia,
    I just found your blog and am really enjoying it; you are a wonderful writer. Thank God for your gifts and thank you for sharing them.
    I have a spray painting project - it's an old file box with silver-colored hardware that was riveted on. Do you have a suggestion for masking it before painting? Also for clear coating it (afterwards)?
    Thank you!
    Anne

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  36. Virginia, you sound like a very Special person. Thank you for sharing your story - looking forward to reading from the beginning. Blessings.

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  37. Oh my goodness, your story literally brought a tear to my eye!!! You are so talented and I am learning so much from your blog. I am sorry if this is creepy. Keep doing what you're doing :) Youngsters like me are looking to buy/fix up a house of their own, too!

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    1. Aw, thank you so much Elizabeth! I appreciate that so much! <3

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  38. I just discovered your blog and I am very serious when I say that this will change my life! My husband and I just bought our first home and are working hard to make it our own.... Thank you!!

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    1. Holy moly! What a sweet thing to say! Thank you so much, Kayla! xo

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  39. You are such a sweetheart and...YOU ROCK! You are so creative and inspiring. Because of you, I now see wonderful potential in thrift store finds that I never saw before, and don't even get me started on how beautiful your Christmas wreaths are. Thanks for sharing your creativity with those of us that needed a little direction. Many blessings, Virginia :)

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  40. I just happened upon this blog today when researching painting oak cabinets. I've been looking around and read through your whole "About Me" page and I have to say - I quite like you! Thanks for sharing your story. You are one of those "beautiful people" I'm so jealous of. Beautiful - inside and out. :)

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  41. A truly inspiring tale. I have been perusing your blog all day and pretty much filled my upcoming summer holiday break with DIY projects!!! Love love love ♥

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  42. This is great Virginia. I discovered your blog about a month ago and it inspired me to dive into my creative side that I didn't know I had. I love this section about you. I also love the way you write, makes me LOL often. Keep being awesome!

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  43. Well, you've got yourself a follower/reader in The Netherlands too! :)

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  44. I already love your blog. Life is about being happy and I can feel your happiness just by reading your story.

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  45. Discovered your blog today and just wanted to say, I love it! Thank you for not being afraid of honesty and color. A breath of fresh air in the monochromatic world.of blogs :)

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  46. I have never been so in love with a blog! I stumbled across yours on Pinterest of course. I believe it was the guest bathroom post. I have read almost every post since Sunday night!! Last night my husband officially declared me crazy as I tried to convince him we needed to buy a fixer upper. I can't wait for your future posts!!

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    1. Savanna, that's so awesome! Thanks for making me feel so loved today! xo

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  47. I absolutely love your blog. I just bought a home and cannot wait to try everything you have done especially painting the orange oak in the house :) I have looked everywhere on how to paint trim and yours is not only the best but has so many other awesome tips and tricks!! LOVE!

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  48. Virginia.....you have got it together girl.

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  49. Virginia,
    I just recently found your blog and absolutely love it! You have so many great ideas and all of them really strike my fancy! Your home is beautiful and what an amazing transformation! Your painting tips and tricks have been extremely helpful as well. Keep up the GREAT work!

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  50. I have literally wasted (ahem, not a waste at all) the last 2 hours surfing around your blog. Thank goodness work is slow today! can't wait to start oh, about a million of these projects!

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  51. You remind me of a Disney princess, and I mean that in the best freaking way possible. :-) I normally have issues sticking with a bio, but yours was a lot of fun! Thank you for sharing it!

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  52. Your story sounds a lot like mine. I have a little brother that's ten years younger who's my best friend. I'm an introvert but can fake being an extrovert pretty welll, at least I think. I just had kids while after almost eveyone I who had year before me(ages three and 8 months), I also went back to college and will have my B.A. in business Admin very soon, I run an online clothing boutique and I'm a blogger and writer, oh and my husband are in the process of buying our first home, which ironically is also going to be our first renovation. I love your story. My philosophy
    -life's a journey, not a destination.

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  53. Beautiful sharing. So genuine. My heart goes out to you regarding the loss of your sad. I lost my Dad and my grandfather within the last 2 years. Blessings onto you always.

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  54. Hi! Fun, inspiring blog! I look at a lot of things on Pinterest but have never subscribed to a blog from looking at a post there. It was your "about me" that made me want to be part of your audience. Loved your wedding pics, story about your education and marriage and your family. I also feel like I have done things in a kind of weird order in my life. My husband and I have been together 12 years (I am 45) and I have all of 3 pictures up in the entire house!! We've spent our time owning a high stress medical business (my second adult career) and just last week put pen to paper and sold it. In January my husband was diagnosed with cancer and it is amazing how that kicks you in the butt to get your priorities straight. So I am retiring and going to finally make us a cool comfy house to live in. I liked your blog because sooo many of them are all about mommy things or identify family only as parents with kids. Well my step kid moved out years ago and was never a baby mommy anyway. I appreciate that your blog has fun, funky info that seems like it will totally fit where I am at in my life. So glad I found you! (I live in Colorado… don't hold it against me)

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  55. Well I just adore this. Thank you for sharing so much about yourself and your life - I look forward to following along in your DIY adventures!! :)

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  56. I loved this! You seem like such a kind person. I just found your blog a few days ago, and I've probably read half of it during my kids nap times. I love it! I had zero confidence in decorating or DIY-ing, and after reading your posts I feel like I can have a beautiful house! My husband is in law school and I stay home with our two small children, so our budget is super tight....which is just another reason why I've fallen in love with your blog. Thank you for sharing!!!!

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  57. Wow, thank you for sharing your story! It was great to read this after stalking your blog and absorbing all the awesome DIY stuff you've done.

    I'm so very very sorry to hear about your dad passing away. My father passed away in 2012 and my father-in-law passed away in 2011. It's so hard to lose your dad, but my husband and I have leaned on each other through these tough times.

    Thank you so much for your blog! You've inspired me so much and I can't wait to try out some DIY projects for our new house :-)

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  58. I'm SO happy I found you and your blog!!!! You are so a mini-me in so many ways!!!! Now that I've said "so" enough times, let me just tell you I got the keys to MY house last night and am in fixer mode so big that I can hardly concentrate at work (where I happen to be right this minute). First I think paint paint and more paint is on the agenda. I'm going to paint every wall and ceiling AND all the cabinetry.... white! I'm going to use your trial and error tips and techniques for sure! Thank you for all that you do to help all that I/we do!!!
    Hugs, Debbie

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  59. Hello Virginia. Thank you for sharing your story. I have a few questions for you. Answer if you dare!
    Do you have a nickname?
    Why Cheese?
    What do you like to read?
    Do you have a green thumb?
    Do you jam while painting, and to what?
    Have you tried shopgoodwill.com? I've so far won only one auction. No one else bid on this absolutely gorgeous painting, it cost me about $20 with shipping. I've been outbid on everything else I've liked. You have to watch out for those last few minutes of the bid time.
    How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?

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  60. Woah!!! That's an amazing story :) God, bless you both :D
    You look damn pretty in your wedding :)

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  61. Great life story!
    Thanks for all the painting tips on your blog!

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  62. I am definitely old enough to be your mother. Your mother must be so proud of you! I so look forward to seeing what you are working on. Thank you for sharing your talent, humor, and honesty.

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  63. Thanks for sharing about your life. I enjoy reading this. I will be following your blog.

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  64. Hello Virginia from New Zealand -way way at the bottom of our planet. I stumbled onto your site today (whilst "working" - the ole fake book covering the actual book being read trick - except using computers obviously). I think that's the rest of my day knackered work-wize. There's just so much cool stuff you've shared here. Brilliant resource for those of us just thinking about starting out with DIY home tart up programmes. Thank you! Kim, Auckland, New Zealand

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  65. Hi Virginia. I love your story. It is a tiny bit like mine with a few things. You are very creative!! I will learn a lot from you. I plan to hang out for a while. Thank you!! Cindy in Albuquerque NM.

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  66. I've followed you for quite a while now, but I never read this and never realized how much we had in common!! I was an only child till I was 11, and I hated my sister till I was 18, but now we are best friends. It's funny how that works, isn't it? I also moved far away when I was 18, except I moved first and my mom followed instead of the other way around. And I met my husband when I was 19, but we didn't get married till we were 27! I also messed up my first attempt at college, and I'm now back in school at 28, so I totally feel you on feeling weird being older than everyone. Anyway. I'm glad I finally read this!

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  67. Hi Virginia,

    Greetings from Virginia! I recently found myself creeping through your blog and subsequently started stalking you via Instagram, I hope you don't mind because I think you're absolutely brilliant. I have already learned so much from the things you've posted, so THANK YOU. I have a little bit of 'remodel envy' on your house because I LOVE LOVE LOVE to make something old and ugly into something refreshingly young and beautiful and you've done just that. The aesthetics of your home and projects are ever-so pleasing to my anal retentive, clean-lined, crisp color searching (I could go on here but I'll spare you) eye. I, too, hope to create a blog as helpful as yours one day so thank you for the inspiration. Ps congrats on your beautiful baby (IG stalking again)!! Ashley

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  68. Hello from India! Stumbled upon your blog on pinterest and spent half my day going through it! It's amazing what you are doing with your house over the years... and what is even more amazing and generous is your documenting everything so laboriously and putting it up for everyone. Kudos! Love to the little one.

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  69. Greatings from the Cayman Islands. I just stumbled upon your blog through pinterest. I absolutely love it. I just read your blog on Watercolor pencils and was so happy to hear that you are also a 2/10 just like I am. I love crafty/artsy projects but I suck at drawing/painting, so I think I'm going to try the watercolor pencils. I also recently totally got into coloring for adults (especially Joanna Bashford books) It's so much fun and you don't have to be a great artist to do it :)
    Wishing you all the best of luck and a great 2016!

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  70. We're doing pretty much the same thing to our house and I found your blog through Pinterest. I just love it and catch myself laughing at your posts because of this great sense of humor you have writing it and also because I can relate to it. Now after reading this session, I must admit I have a girl crush on you. Was it creepy? :) I mean I think you're awesome and your blog has helped me complete some of my projects. Thank you for that.

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  71. Hello from Cyprus!!Your blog and ideas are wonderfull!! Since Ive discovered your blog you have helped me discover that ''making something new out of something old'' is what inspires me too!! Thank you so much for sharing your passion, ideas and your story with us :)

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  72. I love reading your blog and i'm excited when i stumble over it. Also, I hope you are really doing the hammer dance right now :) Maybe, just maybe i'll finally take the first step to blogging! Just dont know what free site to use?! Keep up the good work girl, you're rockin the blogging world!

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  73. Love your story and your blog! I'm feeling inspired! New follower in Overland Park, KS.

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  74. Hi Virginia, what a lovely, authentic and talented person you are. I can't wait to see what you will do next. I'm sure it will be great. I wish you much success with your projects, your blog and your family. Jennifer from Montreal, Canada (yes, francophone!)

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment!! I do the hammer dance every time I read one.

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