How to Find your Personal Style

Today I am going to share one of my biggest blogging and DIY struggles...

BEING UNIQUE.

I don't necessarily mean me personally, although that can often times come into play, but my projects. 

Before I was blogging I just went with my gut and painted things and decorated our home the way I liked and I didn't care what anyone else thought.  The down side to this is that sometimes, okay a lot of the time, I created some down right hideous things.  But you know what?  I loved them and that was all that mattered. 

I feel I have grown a lot in my tastes and talents from blogging and truly researching all the great ideas out there. 

However, I have realized that I often question my gut when it comes to making a color or design choice because it may not be the trend or my readers may hate it.

The thing is...someone will most likely always hate something I create, but hopefully there will be someone out there that will like it.  Either way, if I love it, that is all that matters.

I often find myself conflicted with what to create, especially now that I have started selling items.  I really start to second guess things when I compare myself to others and especially when something that I love sits for a while.  

For example, this hutch has sat for quite a while in my booth and makes me question my judgement...but it is a unique piece that will not work in every home.  I wish it went with all my decor because I would switch it out with my other Hutch in a second and that one would probably sell much more quickly. 

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There are some things that I have transformed, like our dining room table that I am sure gets very mixed reviews...

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But I have to tell you that this piece makes me so happy because I didn't listen to what logic was telling me, I just went with my gut. 

I have been trying to pin down my style this past year and I honestly cannot.  I love so many different things and I change my mind everyday from what my ideal home would look like.

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I mean, really, who wouldn't want an entryway like Mandi's?!  The modern and cool vibe is just amazing!

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Or what I would give to have Donna's stairs!  Everything in her home is so unique and amazing it makes me green with jealousy...yes I admit it 100%.



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But then again, I love the tranquility and little pops of color at The Nester's Place, it gets me every time!

See why it is so hard for me to make a decision about my decorating style? 

I have always been one to love drastic changes.  I might just pick a style and then sell all our furniture and start over...well maybe in my dreams ;-)

For now, I will enjoy all the different styles in creating and let each piece of furniture speak to me and try to find my own creative vision for our home.

Styles and trends will come and go...I am choosing to decorate one day and piece of furniture or accessory at a time and only pick what I truly love, no matter what anyone else may think.

Ultimate Blog Party

 

If you are stopping by for the first time from the UBP12 I'd like to take a minute to introduce myself.

My name is Brooke, I'm a mom to two adorable daughter's and a wife to the most patient husband who puts up with all my crazy DIY ideas :-)

I started my blog last year on a journey to make our house a home.  I am always on the search for creative, unique and budget friendly ways to decorate.

One of my absolute favorite things is to garage sale hunt and turn someone's trash into someone else's treasure.

Here are some examples of my favorite projects...

Click on the links below each picture to be taken to the original post. 

Dresser with Ribbon Pulls

 

Tea Light Wall Art

 

Wall Decor from a Dresser Top

 Hutch Upcycle

Pinterest Inspired Bathroom

I hope you'll grab a cup of coffee and stay awhile.  I would love it if you choose to follow along and I absolutely love your comments, I read each and every one and respond by email.

Have fun at the party!  There are so many amazing blogs linked up!

Stats ~ More Than Just Numbers

For me stats are not about looking to get an ego boost, or more commonly in my experience, to be humbled ;-) they are about much more than that...

Without looking at my stat page I would have no idea what posts you all are enjoying or where my projects may have been featured.

Without my stats I would have never known that my post popular post on Pinterest has been my tea light wall art, or that it was featured on The Styleist Section of the Huffinton Post!!

Or that my hutch was featured on the HGTV Blog!! 

There have been times where I almost didn't hit the post button because I thought no one would care about the silly review or project I did and it turns out it is one of my biggest hits?! 

Who would have thought my Air Freshener Review would have been even read by one person, let alone be one of the top 3 posts I have done!? 

Of course stats can be disheartening when I hear the crickets chirp when I post something that turns out to be my favorite piece in our house, like my Wall Decor from a Hutch...

But that's okay...my stats don't rule my posts or what my home decor will look like.  I only post when I feel that I have something worthwhile to look at or to say, which you all know is not everyday ;-) 

I do however think it is a fabulous thing to have the opportunity to feel like I can get into a my reader's minds a bit by seeing what they like. 

Thank you to all of you who read my posts and surprise me by Pinning my projects!  I am amazed every single day of the kindness and loyalty you all have.  I never imagined in a million years that I would have even one follower, besides my mom ;-)

Dining Room Complete

I realized after showing you my table makeover that I haven't shown you my completed dining room...

I have given you the low down on every project in this room, but now you can get the completed look :)

First we have the tea light wall art that I paired with a photo that was taken from our wedding {lemon drop martinis YUM}

On the same wall I have my gate turned herb garden and I am so excited to show you this most recent picture because my herbs are growing!!

Here is the completed look...

A far cry from this!  The black table, green curtains and white walls are GONE!!  Whoo Hoo!!

This post will be featured at Mom's Fun Money this week.

I will be linking up to here...

Before & After Features of 2011

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!  I can't believe it is over and the New Year is right around the corner!

In anticipation of the New Year and The Top Projects of 2011 Party over at Southern Hospitality I thought I would share with you my favorite before and afters/projects of this year {click on the titles to read the entire post}...

Wall Decor from a Hutch

Before

After

Tea Light Wall Art

Dresser with Ribbon Pulls

Before

After

Grey Hutch Up Cylce

 Before

I have had such an incredible 5 months of blogging!  I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I have learned so much...I am so grateful for all of you that follow my projects and have been so kind and supportive!  I can't wait to see what this next year brings!

I will also be linking up to these fabulous parties...

http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ ; http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ ; http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.lilluna.com/ ; http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/ ; http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ ; http://733blog.blogspot.com/ ; http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/; http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ ; http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ ; http://rhinestonebeagle.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/ ; http://alliemakes.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/
; http://whipperberry.com/ ; http://www.missmustardseed.com/ ; http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/ ; http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ ; http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/ ; http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/ ; http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/; http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ ; http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/ ; http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ ; http://www.iheartnaptime.net/ ; http://www.flamingotoes.com/ ; http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/
; http://sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.laughloveandcraft.com/ ; http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/ ; http://www.remodelaholic.com/ ; http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/; http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/ ; http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com; http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com ; http://kissedbyafrog.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.happyhourprojects.com/ ; http://www.homemakerinheels.com/ ; http://rocaandcompany.blogspot.com/; http://littlebighouseontheprairie1.blogspot.com/; http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/; http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com; http://todayscreativeblog.net/;http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/; http://www.thegunnysack.com; http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com; http://athomewithk.blogspot.com/; http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com; http://space46.blogspot.com; http://www.itsoverflowing.com/; http://www.sugaranddots.com/

Habitat Heroes Link Party!

If you saw my guest post over at Happy Hour Projects today, then you saw this hutch that I finally finished :-))

I am so excited to share that this will be the first piece I will be selling and I will be donating all proceeds to Restore Innocence.  One of my childhood friends, Michelle, started this non-profit to help restore children that have been victims of child trafficking and sex trafficking. 

Julia at 551 East Furniture Designs has come up with a great concept of the Habitat Heroes.  I have decided that there was no better opportunity to help these young girls in need. 

This will be my featured post at Mom's Fun Money this week!

I will also be linking up to these fabulous parties...

http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ ; http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ ; http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.lilluna.com/ ; http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/ ; http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ ; http://733blog.blogspot.com/ ; http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ ; http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ ; http://rhinestonebeagle.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/ ; http://alliemakes.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/ ; http://whipperberry.com/ ; http://www.missmustardseed.com/ ; http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/ ; http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ ; http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/ ; http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/ ; http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/; http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ ; http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/ ; http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ ; http://www.iheartnaptime.net/ ; http://www.flamingotoes.com/ ; http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/ ; http://sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.laughloveandcraft.com/ ; http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/ ; http://www.remodelaholic.com/ ; http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/; http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/ ; http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/2011/09/cure-for-common-monday-10.html ; http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com/search/label/Do%20Something%20Crafty%20Friday ; http://kissedbyafrog.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.happyhourprojects.com/ ; http://www.homemakerinheels.com/ ; http://rocaandcompany.blogspot.com/; http://littlebighouseontheprairie1.blogspot.com/; http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/; http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com; http://www.beneathmyheart.net; http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com; http://www.itsoverflowing.com/

Grey Hutch Up Cycle

Today I am sharing my Hutch Up Cycle over at Happy Hour Projects! I am so flattered that Adrianne has selected me to be her guest blogger today.  Here is a little preview of what I am sharing.

My lifeless hutch before her makeover...





And a little sneak peak of how she turned out...

I hope you will stop on over and read my guest post to see the rest :-))

Painting and Distressing Furniture

Yikes, my very first blog!  They say the first step is the hardest...

I have recently moved and in the process I am stepping out of my comfort zone to take some risks with my decor.

I have had this wonderful hutch that my parents loaned me that was just simply outdated and did not go with any of my visions for my home.  It had been sitting in storage for a year and after reviewing many blogs lately I thought I would take a chance with it.

Sorry that I didn't get the full effect.  I was so excited about the transformation that I didn't take the photo until I was 1/2 way done with my project :-)

I visioned this hutch blue and distressed. I think everyone was thinking I was crazy painting a perfectly good oak hutch. That was until it was complete!  What a difference, right?  Now if I can just decide what I should display in it...

Aren't the knobs fabulous!  I envisioned glass knobs, but I did not think of copper glass knobs until I saw them waiting for me at Lowes :-)

 

For complete details on how to I completed this project look here.  The best part about it was that it was easier than I envisioned, which is extemely rare. Usually when I am in the middle of a project I am wondering why on earth I even started it in the first place :-) 

Linked up to http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/; http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.skiptomylou.org/