About
I started this blog in March of 2008 as a way to update my family and friends on the happenings of the Rose household.
In the past 4 years I went from a full time working mommy of 1…to a full time blogging mommy of 3 {soon to be 4}!
A little bit about me…
I grew up in a small town in Illinois and have never lived anywhere else. Yes, that means I have NEVER left my hometown.
Some people may find that extremely unadventurous, I happen to absolutely adore life in a small town.
I graduated from SIU-C with a B.S. in Management Information Systems and a Master’s in Business Administration. I worked for a large health care company for over 5 years and in November 2011 I quit my job so that I could stay at home and blog full time!
I got baptized at the age of 31 and am excited about God’s future plans for me and this blog.
I don’t just blog here at House of Rose. My hubby and I have a blog called Dollars and Roses, where we teach you how to make money online by sharing what is working for us.
Want to know a little bit more about the man that is a blogging genius?
We were next door neighbors in college and I guess you could say…the rest is history! We were married in Las Vegas in November of 2004, right before he left for his 15 month tour of duty to Baghdad, Iraq.
We renewed our vows on July 22, 2006 when he returned home safely from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
My husband is a Illinois Certified Financial Planner and is the founder of Alliance Wealth Management. He is also the author of a personal finance blog called Good Financial Cents, which he launched in July 2008. One of the most well known personal finance blogs on the web! And honestly, he has about 14 other blogs that he runs as well.
Or should I say that he runs with my help? Ha! I did quit my job to help him manage the madness of his online businesses! He’s even been known to guest post a few times here on House of Rose.
We welcomed our first son…
Parker Wilson Rose
on July 22, 2007, exactly one year from when we renewed our vows!
On January 11, 2010 we added another baby boy to our family…
Bentley Ferrell Rose
And on May 16, 2011 we welcomed our THIRD son…
Sloane Jeffrey Rose
They are the center of our world {and this blog}! Parker {otherwise referred to as “P” or “P Man”}, Bentley {Bents}, and Sloane {SJ} bring so much joy to our lives and I love to document it here on the blog.
We are currently in the process of adopting from the Philippines and can not wait to wrap our arms around our new child.
You will find posts on mommyhood, fashion , HOME DECOR, diy, and much more! My newest obsession is vlogging! You can find my Stop & Smell the Rose vlog link up information here. And in case that all wasn’t enough…here are 10 Things You Don’t Know About Mandy Rose.
The most popular page on this blog is definitely my HOME TOUR. Check it out if you are in need of some decorating inspiration!
I hope you will follow our journey…there is lots in store for this blogging family!
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, Mandy! I love your blog! You all make such a sweet family and I’m sure the new baby boy will be just as handsome as the “P man”. By the way, I love the name Bentley Kingston!
Brenta
Hi Mandy! I happened to find your husbands blog through a random search I was doing on my 401K – after going through his really great list about 100 ways to save money (I think that is what it is called), I found a part in his “About Me” that stated your blog was better…lol! I have enjoyed reading about your cute boys and your doggy. I’m going to subscribe to both blogs and try to befriend you on Facebook too. Thank you for taking the time to write this blog – Kindest regards, Michelle Dean
(wait till you see my three boyz…lol..pics are on Facebook page)
Wow, I’ve never read your “about me” page. I never knew you had an MBA and I never knew you guys were married in Vegas. Cool!
Is your email subscription free? Can you send me the link to send to your race car b’day party? I can’t find it. Also, I’d like to see your husbands link too. Is his link free?
Mandy,
You totally inspire me! I was googling Imagination Movers Jumpsuits and found the picture of Parker! It was like deja-vu with what he said!!! Anyway, did you make that or was that store bought? It looks like it’s made – in a good way.
I also noticed that you guys are in or near Schaumburg. My company just launched there a couple of years ago and I’m a recruiter. Let me know if you know some sharp people that are looking for either a career change or a way to make a whole lot more money. I’m only looking for the most coachable and talented people.
But the real important thing – the jumpsuit! My son went from Yo Gabba Gabby to Imagination Movers to Thomas the Train and now he’s back and forth from Thomas the Train to Imagination Movers.
You’ve actually inspired me to blog!
I stopped over here to read… and I share a birthday with Sloane!!
He must be extra special 
Kim H.´s last [type] ..Vlog Linkup 2
Hi Mandy!
So I’ve never followed a blog before (I know, a little behind the times). But I found your pic of your collage above your bed on Pinterest and I had to look into it. I loved everything about it! I’m obsessed with birds, aqua and the word love. You had all of that! Thanks for sharing! Now I have a fun project for tomorrow.
I’m from a super small town in Illinois called Mechanicsburg (just outside Springfield). Midwesterners are the best (even though I’ve been in Colorado for 12 years now)!
Hi Mandy,
I just recently found your blog through pinterest.. I’m loving it!! Thank you for putting your life out to the world to see. I do have a question, what camera do you use? You’ve probably answered this questions a million times. I honestly looked all through your website to see if I could find it.
Thanks! I use the Canon Rebel T3i!
Hi there! I am a new follower and also am from a town in Illinois! A lot of my friends went to SIU! Love your blog!
Hi! Thanks for following! Where are you from in IL?
I am from originally from Joliet and now my parents live in Elmhurst. You??
Just stumbled upon your blog via Pinterest and I love your home! Beautiful! I had to comment here to tell you that I also have a Parker (Parker Reese) and we call him “P” and “P-man” too! I thought that was too funny not to share. Anyway, just watned to stop by and say hello!
Jen
Hello! So excited that I found your blog! My dad and step-mom live in Carbondale and are retired from SIU. We’ll be coming out to visit (with our 2 year old son) from California for Homecoming this year! GO DAWGS!
Oh that’s really cool! I am usually at Homecoming every year, but this year we will be out of town. Darn!!
Can I ask what is probably a really silly question but I always wondered – what software program do you use to make all your pretty titles and words over photos? Is there a tutorial on how to do it somewhere? For example – like your Meet Mandy picture with the cool words superimposed? Obviously coming from someone who doesn’t blog!
Not a silly question at all! I use picmonkey.com (it’s free)! I will work on getting a tutorial up over at DollarsandRoses.com (my other site) if you think it would be helpful?
Yes on a tutorial!!!
Hi Mandy – just discovered your blog via Pinterest tonight. Love your style and am inspired by the fact that you and your husband have found your niche through blogging.
Beautiful boys and I must add: I too have a son by the name of Parker who is also affectionately known as “P” or “P-man” (although at the age of 20, no one calls him P-man anymore.) But whenever I call him, I usually greet him by saying, “Hey P…”
Looking forward to following you here, on Pinterest and Facebook!
Hi Jan {hehe! My hubby’s real first name is Jan}! Thanks for the sweet comment! Love that you have a “P” too!
Hi Mandy! Your blog is great, your ideas are even better….i am a stay-at-home mom of 4 and my husband and I are building a new home. I am definitely taking some of your ideas and bringing them into our new house. Can’t wait to see more!!!
Lovely home tour! Now I’m off to update my entry!
Kelly´s last [type] ..2013
Hi Mandy
So many reasons you have touched my heart…….for one thing you are adopting from The Philippines, and a baby…….I run a ministry in an Urban slum in Manila and we sponsor women and their babes. Oh thank you for adopting one of these precious ones, I see horrific things…..all I can say is “YES!” with a big smile on my face! Here is my blog about what I do, you can see the conditions these mothers and sweet babies face daily http://birthingbetterbabies.wordpress.com/
Another is your blog name, my ancestors came from isolated Northern
Scotland, their cottage was called Rose Cottage…..just struck me!
Another I blog! I have 4! Eeek!
Anyway, bless you and cannot wait to hear the rest of your story about baby 4! I will be following!
By the way six is my number too!! I have 4 boys and 2 girls!
Cathy
Cathy´s last [type] ..2012 Thankful List
Hi Cathy! I am so glad you left a comment. I can’t wait to go read about your ministry! What an amazing thing you are doing for the women and children of the Philippines!
Hi Mandy,
I just love your blog, and did had a look at your vlog. What great stuff, lots of happiness just seems to vibrate it self from you. Have A Happy Friday
Caren´s last [type] ..Pillows by NercaStudios
Mandy,
It must have been divine intervention that I stumbled across your blog! I actually found it when doing research comparing the Honda Odyssey to the Nissan Quest. Of all things! Once I started reading, my eyes kept getting bigger and bigger the more I read about our similarities. I, too, have three children, live in IL, never thought I would drive a minivan, had miscarriages, am a baptized Christian who loves the Lord, AND am adopting our fourth child from the Philippines!!
My husband can’t believe I found you on here and said I must contact you! Love the blog!!
Hi! Found you on Pinterest….love your decorating ideas!
Hey Mandy,
I saw some of your stuff through Pinterest and when I started looking through your blog, I thought you looked really familiar. Then, I saw the tutorial of your dad building those shelves, and it hit me immediately. Your parents used to play sand volleyball with my parents. Weird, huh?!?! Anyway, I love all of your ideas and I will be referring to your sites as my husband and I build our house this year. Glad to see that a small town girl from So IL is so successful and well known in the world of Pinterest and blogging. Your house looks amazing and I can’t wait to follow your blog now that I’ve found it.
Oh how cool is that!!! What is your name??
Those little towns in IL will getcha!!! Glad I found your blog.
Im inLove with your bed frame can you plz let me know your item # or name of your bed frame plz plz Please. Help.. i cant stop talking about your bed frame. Lol thanks again.