Do you ever arrive at a blog and feel confused? Do you think to yourself…where the heck am I suppose to click?
No fear, my loves.
I am here to lead you.
Shall I start from the beginning? I’ll keep it short I promise.
I began this blog in 2008 as an online baby book, per say. Not thinking I would have many more people than my mom reading it. #mymomlovesme #onlychildprobs
Eventually I realized that I had a love for all things mommy (including sharing the realness of life with kids), decorating, and ways to make my marriage MORE. This online baby book went from containing posts only about my kids to posts that allowed me to have an outlet for my creativity.
For things I truly loved.
I’ve come a long way in the last 9 years, not just as a blogger…but as a mother, wife, daughter, friend, and Christian.
I’ve learned being a mom is not always glamorous. That being a wife is sometimes hard. That being a friend takes work. And I’ve learned loving Jesus above all else is my saving grace.
Our life is far from perfect. I am far from perfect.
In fact, most days…I’m just a tired mom trying to keep my kids from eating cheetos for breakfast and having chocolate for dinner.
I’m just trying to get a load a laundry done in between cleaning pee off the toilet seat and finding melted Starburst in between my couch cushions.
I’m just trying to love on my husband even when I’d rather go lock myself in the bedroom and sleep for 12 hours straight.
And through it all, I’m thankful that YOU have allowed me to share my story. My life. My creativity.
The good. The bad. The so-so.
And the wonderful. Because there’s been lots of wonderful in our imperfect life.
I want to create a space where you feel inspired, joyful and loved. Not because of anything that I have written or said…but because of what God is doing.
I want you to feel welcomed and encouraged and normal.
For pete’s sake please feel normal.
You may see a room makeover and think I constantly keep my house spotless.
Or you may see a gorgeous picture of my kiddos…all dressed in their best and think I must have the most well behaved cutest children on the planet.
Or maybe you will read a post where I have written about a new gluten free recipe I tried and you will think, “Gosh, she decorates and eats clean.”
Let me assure you of a few things:
1. My house is never spot less. Ever. I have 4 kids. If you think I didn’t stage those pictures and then take them while the kids were at school…you’re wrong. I did. Stop by my house on a normal day and you’ll see THIS.
2. My kids are cute. I’m not gonna lie. But dressed in their best or well behaved they are not. Most of the time I am lucky to get them dressed at all. Underwear only is their preference of attire. And although I capture their cute memorable smiles for the camera…that usually only lasts about a millisecond before someone hauled off and hit someone else.
3. I dislike cooking. Yep, I said that. If you’ve read a post about some awesome recipe that I’ve tried…chances are I’m sharing it because I’m so proud that I actually cooked something.
If you are new around these parts, here is where I would send you first…
ABOUT THE ROSES – if you’re nosey like me, then check out our about page for more juicy details on Half a Dozen Roses. It’s like reality tv, but we aren’t tv stars. Although, we did recently film a reality series with TLC sooooo. #youarewelcome
MARRIAGE TALK – perhaps you are passionate about your marriage and loving with intention. Or maybe you’re in the opposite boat and you feel like your marriage is falling apart. We talk all things marriage on the Marriage More show, which you can subscribe to via iTunes.
Some of our favorite episodes:
EPISODE 5: The Love Habits Explained
EPISODE 23 & EPISODE 29: The 7 Day Sex Challenge + The Recap
EPISODE 25: How To Think Together In Your Marriage
EPISODE 34: The Love Languages
EPISODE 47: HELP! I’m An Unintentional Liar
SHOP – Since our goal is to inspire couples to love with more intention, what better way to do that than to WEAR your love for the world to see?!?! That is how the Marriage More Shop was born!
Check it out and get yo-self a shirt!
DECORATE – I have a deep love for the show Fixer Upper and I like to pretend I am Joanna Gaines by throwing my hair in a side pony and rearranging rooms in my house like it’s my full time job.
My first love is gallery walls, but I truly love any and all things decorating. Including shiplap. My newest obsession is diagonal shiplap.
I hope that something I have written has lifted you up or kept you from feeling like a failure. I know your comments and emails have encouraged me and given me inspiration.
Thank you for that.
I love the outlet blogging gives me and the community of women who support each other so much that I have dedicated a good amount of time to trying to help you start your own blog. If you are interested in a place to share your creativity then click HERE.
I am passionate about helping women live their life by design rather than letting life design you.
Now excuse me while I go turn on Power Rangers so I can clean the dishes without a kid on my leg.
LOVED reading this!!!!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
MANDY! I love this! And, I love the new site design! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Wow, your such an inspiration. Thank you for doing what you do. I hope to run into you one day so we can high five each other! I live in the Chicago land area so please keep me informed when your close by. 🙂
Awww, thank you. We are in Chicago a few times a year!!
New follower! Found you from Natalie over @ BBM
Looking fwd to reading more of your blog!!!
Glad to have you!! Thanks for stopping by!
LOVE this! I have a huge weakness for fountain Coke, too – what is it about the fountain that makes it so much BETTER??
I don’t know…but I’m addicted! LOL! And I must have a styrofoam cup too!
Thank you for the inspiration and the reminder that we are all NOT perfect. I love that you discovered your outlet for creative expression.
Sarah @BellwoodManor
I love everything about your blog! It is such an inspiration to the “hopeful blogger!” And your kids are adorable…. 🙂
Aww, thanks Kate!! I appreciate that! The blog world is so fun and I love meeting new peeps! Nice to “meet” you! 🙂
Oh Man! I can so relate!!!
I love your blog!
This design is steller! You certainly know how to keep a reader amused.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost
moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job.
I really loved what you had tto say, and more than that, how you presenhted it.
Too cool!
I’m a new follower to your blog and absolutely adore it all. I appreciate your honesty and real-ness. I look forward to reading more of your past posts and projects as well as following your upcoming posts. You have a lovely home and a keen eye for design.
Your blog and success are very inspiring!
Rhiannon
Thanks Rhiannon!! Glad you stopped by!
You are such a great woman. You inspire me!!!
Sophia of the happy mama blog
Awww, thank you Sophia!
Just stumbled across your blog and I’m in love!! You are such a inspiration as a mom, wife, and house decorator 🙂 Thank You so much for sharing your beautiful life!!
Love your blog and your tips. I’d be so honored if you checked my new blog out. 🙂
“For pete’s sake please feel normal.” It’s so nice to hear someone say that. Loving the blog and can’t wait to check out more!!
Thanks so much!! Glad you stopped by!
I just found your blog through your Dollars and Roses blog, and reading through this page I just teared up…no joke. This was exactly what I needed to hear at the end of a long week of having just launched my blog and trying to get my furniture repurposing/painting “business” off the ground.
I plan to follow both your site and your joint one. Thank you. Seriously.
Awww, thank you Angie!! I appreciate the comment!
So glad I found this blog!
I love this post! I just started my blog and those are some of the exact reasons why I started. I’m excited and nervous to start. Love yours! Gonna try to figure out how to follow you 🙂 new at this.
Great to meet you at lunch today at the influence conference!
You too!!! Loving your podcast! 🙂
I’m a new Happy Mommy Box subscriber and blogger so I decided to check out both your blog and Natalie’s. It’s nice to know there are inspiring mommies out there who aren’t perfect, but find a way to embrace life anyway! Thanks for sharing and inspiring 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Katie!!
Thank you for your inspiration Rose! Greetings from Warsaw 🙂
So excited that I found your blog and HMB! Looking forward to some much needed momma encouragement and getting to know you 🙂
Thanks Dana!!
Hi Mandy,
I am in love with all you represent! i admire all you’ve accomplished, you have absolutely no idea…. I feel so blessed to have stumbled upon your blog and now i am hooked.. you are my official best friend #inmyhead
Also a mom of boys and loving it..mostly..
Awww, thank you!! 🙂
Hi Mandy! I wanted to say hello and commend you on this amazing blog! Sydney Ambos told me about your blog when I was discussing a blog that I’m launching this summer. It’s about my passion, Congenital Heart Defects. I was born with them, had 3 open heart surgeries, yada, yada…and still, I’m very blessed!!! I’ve created some very successful charity events and a support group, but I wanted a place to wrangle in all my ideas, hopes, dreams and the desire to learn as well as educate. Although I have some impressive contributors for the blog, I’m anxious! In praying and searching for inspiration, I have found a lot of answers along the way. Your blog has given me inspiration and confirmation that it can be done..and done well- and by a fellow Southern Illinois gal! So thank you!!! It was just what I needed! But, er ma gawd! I realize I have sooo much more to learn! Anything is possible, right? <3
Awesome Lena!! Great to meet you and excited for your new blogging journey!
I really enjoyed reading your blog. I am not really a blog reader, I usually look at the pictures and then move on but I was drawn to this one. I’m so glad that I took a minute to read it. I am a Realtor and I run a Staging business. I always hesitate to have people over because I don’t want them to see my home and think this is how I stage a property or this is how I would design a home. My house is always a mess, and I feel like my home is always the one neglected, because after work I’m too tired to care what it looks like.
I loved how open and honest your “confession” of a messy home was. It made me feel a little less embarrassed and actually made me want to finish some projects. Thank you for the inspiration.
I’m so glad to have stumbled across your blog. For a mom of 3 boys, you sure do have your work cut out for you. I really enjoyed reading your Adoption story blog. My husband and I just recently adopted twin boys from foster care. We got them at 20 months old and at 2 years and 8 months, we finally finalized the adoption. I feel like I really connected with you as a mom of all boys. I’m so excited to for you and your family on adding another little human to your amazing family. Look forward to meeting them soon on your awesome blog!
Hi Mandy. I just happened to stumble upon your blog through pinterest. And I’m sure glad I did. I love what you write and how honest you are about everything. I’m an aspiring new blogger and you give me the momentum to keep going and not to give up. Thanks for sharing your life. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Thanks for stopping by Jessica!
Hey Mandy, just found your blog through pinterest! I have enjoyed looking through! I love that your blog encompasses all sorts of things…just like us as people. Its evident that you love life and its something you are not taking for granted- such a great testimony of grace and the love that has been given to us through Christ. Thanks for the blessing today! – Megan
Great read! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hey Mandy! On your page you use to have an easy find spot of your list of challenges, I can’t find them now! Please help!
Hey Mandy, I am a blogger newbie. I loved ready this page. It’s so real. I love that you spoke about being a loving Christian and teaching women to love themselves. Thanks for everything.
Missy
Thanks Missy!
As a mom to two boys and a fellow web publisher, my hat is off to you. I know first-hand just how demanding this is AND how rewarding too. I can appreciate an awesome result when I see one too. Well done!
I was recently married at the end of August. We both came from divorced families and are passionate about staying committed to one another, so we are working on being intentional about building a strong foundation for or marriage. We have loved sources such as: “The Meaning of Marriage” by Timothy Keller, “Keep Your Love On” by Danny Silk and “iMarriage” by Andy Stanley.
I have a 30 minute commute to work every morning and love listening to your podcast. I admire how transparent you two are and have also enjoyed your reference for the One Extraordinary Marriage podcast.
One question I would have for you is: “If you knew in your first year of marriage what you know now, what would you have done differently? How would you build a “strong” foundation?”
I guess those are two questions.
How do you like being an adoptive mom
I tried to subscribe to your emails and it said they are not active??? I’ve been following your blog for about 3 years now. I’m so happy you finally got your little angel. You’ve inspired my husband (who is Filipino) to look into adoption. I am only a #boymom of one 12 year old, but we have 3 boy dogs…..that’s like 6 more kiddos. Lol Thanks for your inspiration. We sure have our work cut out for us and need LOTS of guidance both financially and spiritually.