Welcome!

Well, here I am, finally venturing into the world of blogging. You will have to bear with me as I feel my way through this process. Writing isn't necessarily my "thing," but many have asked me to share how I have done different projects and how I manage things as a busy mom, so I thought this might be a good way to show you: a) you TOO can express your creative side and implement fun ideas and b) life isn't always as neat and tidy as it seems - it is all about putting on a good show:)

A little about myself: I grew up as a dancer, gymnast, acrobat, athlete, and cheerleader. I played musical instruments and loved artistic endeavors of all types. Generally, I was your typical over-achiever.  I've never been great at sitting still unless it involves a Caribbean beach and a cocktail in one hand.  And I've never been very good about doing things the way that everyone else did them.  I've always followed people, but then tweaked things so that I was marching to my own beat. Oftentimes this made it hard for me to relate to people and make friends in a child's/adolescent's world where sameness is what is accepted, but now I've finally accepted this individuality and am finding that people are responding well to it and really enjoying my ideas.

Like all women out there, I wear many hats. I work as a Physical Therapist on weekends, after receiving my bachelors from University of Maryland College Park (Go Terps!) and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions. I volunteer with Cub Scouts and the PTA with all of my extra free time. I'm a part-time Jamberry Nails Consultant. I'm an amateur home decorator/DIYer/furniture restorationist. But my real job right now is Stay-at-Home Mom to four crazy, energetic, destructive little boys.

You heard me correctly. FOUR boys. And a male cat. How in the world did this artistic, girly, gymnast/dancer/cheerleader, who loves all things pink, end up with four boys and zero girls?? I love my boys, but they are just a ball of energy.  Literally. One giant ball of little boys wrestling on the ground with arms and legs sticking out, rolling around and knocking my lamps on the ground, alternating between giggles and crying. I stand by and wait my turn for the crying and then the necessary cuddles and kissing of boo boos before they jump up and say "ATTAAACKKK!!!" and dive back into the ball. My husband can usually be found laying underneath said ball of boys, being pummeled in the face and unmentionables as he snores away - a special skill that is acquired only after having so many balls of energy attack you constantly for eight years straight.

So, that brings me back to my blog.  Now that my kids are growing out of the baby phase (sniff, sniff...), I'm finding myself with time and energy to begin expressing my creative side more. I've been honing my home decorating skills for years and finally am in love with my style and choices. Not so in love with my budget. That lead me to begin crafting and DIYing to decorate my champagne house on a beer budget. I'm finding that I appreciate and enjoy my decor so much more since I created it myself. This lead me into the world of furniture restoration. I started by painting a few pieces from a yard sale to use in my house, and that led me to painting some pieces for friends and selling some of the pieces that I flipped off of yard sale websites. I wouldn't necessarily consider this a part-time job, more like a creative outlet.

My hope is to share some tidbits about managing a chaotic life and expressing creativity through design and nails, meanwhile giving you a few laughs as you glimpse into my House of Chaos.  Happy reading!