So, why blog?

I've thought about it a lot. The blogging thing is so pervasive...and I'm more of a go my own way gal. I have another blog that I kept up regularly for a couple year. Then life happened. It has a way of rearing its head and demanding your time and energy. Anyway, slowly I went from blogging very regularly, to not blogging much at all.
Now that so much stuff is behind me, I feel like I'm ready to dive into it again...but jeez, it so crowded out there. Is there a place for me? A working mom, a single mom, without much time to diy regularly or to take dazzling staged photos of the step by step of a project. It's catch as catch can. But I think I have something to say, a unique perspective. I work, I'm single, I'm a woman of color. I diy...I want a beautiful and comfortable home just like anyone else and I don't have a ton of money to make it happen. So...I scour the internet, and flip through magazine. I try. Sometime it's a fail...like when I thought I could substitute sultan lade slats for the slats that didn't come with the vintage bunk bed set I purchased for O & M. Why I didn't measure before hand I'll never know...that $40 down the tubes (the 5 hour drive back to IKEA doesn't make it worth the effort to return them).  However, the trip to Home Depot (should I mention it's only 5 mins from my house) to have diy plywood bunkie boards cut paid off in spades. Live and learn I always say.
My style is a whole lot of vintage, thrift store, well loved pieces and altogether modern eclectic. I love dark wood and simple lines. I resist the urge to repaint pieces. Something about the warmth of wood makes my heart happy.
So, I'm here. I'm committed to blogging, at least the present. Let's see how it goes.

Big Changes or the truth about location, location, location

A big plunge for me. A couple months ago I bought a new home for me and the kids. It was excitng, scary, liberating and exhilarating all in one. I can't even tell you how much I love this place. When "they" say how important location is, they really mean it. I've moved to the absolutely best neighborhood, EVER. I could have gotten a bigger house somewhere else, but then it would not have been THE HOUSE. This was the one that when I took the kids to see it, everyone loved it. Sure there was some sadness and nerves about moving, but this is was the place we could actually see our futures in. So after some brief negotiating, an inspection and a few weeks of anxiety waiting for everything to be finalized, we moved into to the house I expect to send my kids off to college from. It's not a huge place...in fact by some standards it's quite small. But, haven't you heard small is the new black. The space is so well configured. I feel like this is my forever home. When I drive through the neighborhood my heart just sings. I love being in an established neighborhood within walking distance to parks and funky little shops and eateries. I could go on and on...but I wont, lol.

Check it out...doesn't it look inviting? I'm still sprucing, tweaking and settling in. That's how it is when you've got a fulltime job. You do things in fits and starts. But, it'll get there. I've already been able to host family comfortably which is something I had a hard time doing in our old home. It feels good. Sharing your home.

Oh, that's E. preparing to show me how he can hit a homerun