What "Being a girl" means to me.

Growing up the baby of 6, with 4 brothers, the word "girl" was often used as an insult. As in "You throw like a girl." or "You hit like a girl." or "Quit acting like a little girl." Clearly it never occured to them that I was in fact, a girl. Sometimes this came in handy, like when I wanted to join the all boys secret club, but other times, I found it offensive.
Being surrounded by men can be great, don't get me wrong. I can fix a toilet, do minor car repairs, throw a mean football and cuss & drink like an Irish sailor. But sometimes, being a girl in a house full of men can be torture. Like when your brothers and their friends find your feminine products or your first training bra. Most of the time, I wanted nothing more than to follow my big brothers around and do what they did. But there were times when all I wanted was to play dress up and practice my hair styling skills on something other than my dolls. I did get lucky, and occasionally my brothers felt sorry for me, and would play GirlTalk or Sweet Valley High with me. (Though they would kill me for saying so.) I always thought that having sisters would be the greatest thing in the world. Someone to share clothes with, someone to stay up late at night and talk about cute boys with. A life long friend and partner in crime.
Looking back, I think of all the ways having been surrounded by men made me who I am. I wonder how different I would be if I had had 4 big sisters instead. And the funny thing is... I wouldn't change a thing. I still know how to be a girl. I cross my legs when I sit, I can do a killer manicure & smokey eye, I love to rock a wicked pair of heels and I enjoy accessories just as much as the next gal. But I also love cars, camping, getting dirty, and a good action flick. I can appreciate a sexy, sensual female body, and hate being catty and gossipy. So maybe all the bumps & bruises were worth it in the long run. Or maybe I have just accepted that "Being a girl" means different things to different people. To me it means being tough but knowing when to offer a hug. It means driving 120 mph while singing show tunes at the top of my lungs. It means that my cowboy boots are just as comfortable as my stillettos. And above all else, it means being me. As eccentric and mixed up as that may be.
 So to all you guys out there, next time you call someone a "girl" remember, you are paying them quite the compliment.

Bucket Lists

I've been thinking a lot about life lately, and this always leads to thoughts about Bucket Lists. I know we don't all have a printed, laminated copy in a file somewhere, but we all have that secret list in the back of our minds of all the things we've ever dreamed of doing, learning or seeing. Some are simple, like visiting certain places, some are more complicated, like learning a new language, and some are purely fantasies, like winning the lotto. It doesn't matter what is on it, how long it is, how crazy some of the items may seem, or if you ever complete it. The only thing that matters is that you keep dreaming. That you keep your mind open to the possibility and know that IF the chance comes, you will take it.
Allowing yourself to dream, to fantasize, to believe in the impossible and to hope. That is what Bucket Lists are to me.
Now, I'm not saying you will never do these things, and I hope we all get the opportunity to cross items off of our lists, but I am saying that I hope your list is never complete. Because if you reach a point in your life when you are no longer hoping and dreaming, then you are no longer living. Hope is that spark that keeps us young and vibrant and ALIVE. It's the child inside you that still dreams of being a race car driver and winning the Indy 500. It's the spirit in you that still believes it's possible, even when the world is telling you it isn't.
So maybe we should write them down, and carry them with us. Use them as a reminder that no matter how bad things may look, you can always dream, and that the impossible is possible. Keep a pen with you and keep adding to it, or if you are lucky, crossing things off.
Now I know that I am never going to pose naked in Playboy, but that does not mean that it isn't #12 on my list. And on the off (off, off) chance that I ever get that call from Mr. Hefner, you bet your ass I will be stripping down as I scratch that off my list.
 So call it your Hope List, Dream List or Wish List. Show it to your loved ones, or keep it secret, it's up to you, but make one and keep dreaming, my friends. XOXO

Summertime Memories...

I know it's only March, but here in Michigan it's been more like June these last couple of weeks. I am loving every minute of it. Warm weather means bbq's, sundresses, flip-flops, cold beer, sunshine and just plain fun. It also means summertime memories. Some of my favorite moments have been centered around summer fun.
Growing up, we spent our summers at campgrounds and parks all over the state, and made not just great memories, but life long friends. Too many kids in one tent made for some interesting nights, but Oh the days... From the time our eyes opened til Mom called us back for dinner, we were the living embodiment of summer. Dirty bare feet, sunkissed skin and smiles as big and bright as the sun itself. We swam, we fished, we explored, we played games and we discovered that brothers and sisters can be more than playmates, they can be best friends. No matter what summer activity we were enjoying, we were usually doing it together. From canoe and tubing trips, to bike rides and baseball. My siblings were my teammates, my lifesavers and my closest companions.
As we grew up, our activities may have changed, but we were still doing them together. Maybe not every single day, but more often than not. Over the years, "my friends" and "your friends" have become "our friends" and most of them have been around so long, they feel more like family. I always know that even if I didn't see someone all winter long, as soon as the snow melts, the grass starts getting greener and the bbq grill gets fired up, I'll be seeing them soon. And often. Sometimes it's an impromptu bbq,  an evening bonfire, or a quick game of baseball, frisbee or football. Whatever it is, it's always fun. Our kool-aid mustaches have been replaced with cold beer and we haven't shared a sleeping bag in years, but every time I breath in the smell of fresh cut grass and feel it's coolness beneath my bare feet, I think of those little kids and how grateful I am that even though we've grown up, we've never grown apart.

Be Your Own Decorator

People often ask me to help them decorate their homes, and give them ideas. I tend to find that most folks have the same problems when it comes to designing and decorating. They either can't make decisions or they are trying too hard to follow some rules they read in a magazine or saw on a design show. So here is my advice.
I have only 1 rule and it is the MOST IMPORTANT one. There are no rules. Yes, you read that right. NO RULES! When decorating your home or space, anything goes. If you want to paint a mural of yourself naked and riding a unicorn, do it. The design shows are great for inspiration tips, but Nate and Martha don't have to live in your home, you do. So if a design doesn't work for you, don't do it. When choosing paint colors, I always select shades that create a mood. Do I want to be energized? Soothed? Do I want it to make me smile when I walk in? Look in your closet. Do you wear a lot of blue or green? Maybe it's because you like the way you feel in that color. Apply the same philosophy to your home. If lime green makes you dizzy, then maybe it's not the color for you. I never follow the trends. Not in my clothing choices, and not in my home. I am me. I want my decor to reflect that.
Not sure where to begin? Here's a tip. Do you have a piece lying around in your home that you love? Maybe it's a funky lamp, or a throw pillow in a fabulous shade of red. Did you see it in a store and have to have it? That's your inspiration. You were drawn to that item for a reason, so let it inspire you. What colors will compliment that piece? Sometimes, you'd be surprised. Remember the color wheel? We used it in grade school to help us understand colors. Yes, beige and white would match, but maybe purple or yellow would make it just POP! Go pick up paint swatches in several colors, even ones that you might be a little unsure of. Never be afraid of color, it can't hurt you.
What I'm saying here is that no two people are the same, so no two homes should be either. You may love or hate someone's style choice, but it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is how you feel about it. Do you smile every time you walk into that room? Then you have achieved decorating success. If you still aren't sure and need/want a few pointers. Call me, I'll help you out. :)

More Gnomes! (I told you it was an addiction.)

Meet the Grow-a-Gnomes. They come in many varieties and require no green thumb to grow. :) All they need is love and they are always in bloom. These 3 fun gals were a special request for a customer.

Some of my recent projects

Basketball theme magnet board for a little boy. The magnets are custom made as well & the basketball knobs are hand painted.

Beer theme dry erase board for a bar area. (No, I did not drink all those beers by myself. Lol)

Wine theme dry erase board. (Style 1)

Wine theme dry erase board. (Style 2)

Black & white Paris theme dry erase board (by request).