Hi, everyone! Kris from Junk Chic Cottage and I wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before. So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.
There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.
Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs. You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Kris's and my blog.
Today please help me welcome Cindy from Cloches and Lavender. I love her positive, upbeat attitude in spite of her daily struggles. On her blog she is currently taking us along on the journey of watching her new home being built-how exciting! Please sit back, relax, and enjoy getting to know Cynthia better.
When Susan approached me about being In the Spotlight I was absolutely speechless. That is very funny because people that really know me know I am rarely speechless. I thought me, my little tiny blog?? I love everyone in the blog world they have been so kind to me.
I decided to do a blog when one day a friend suggested the idea to me. I love decorating, painting furniture, putting transfers on flower pots, and speaking about what I have done and what I have envisioned for our home. If it was in the plan I would have gone and taken some decorating classes. I love French Country, Old World style and our home has to have color. I also have a passion for lavender and cloches, so, what a better name than Cloches and Lavender for my blog.
Home, well we sold our home of 20 years a year ago. We have chosen to build a new home on one level. This decision was really a no brainer. I don’t want to speak too much about this but I have Multiple Sclerosis and it was time to downsize and put everything on one level. I walk with a cane and have a brace for my right leg which is relatively new. I suffer from drop foot which is not uncommon with MS. I tend not to speak too much about this because for me personally, it is actually not a good thing for my mental health. I need to focus on other things that are positive in my life and believe me some days it is hard but blogging helps me put that issue aside.
I have lived in Northern NJ all my life and would never leave because I’m a Jersey Girl through and through. I met my husband 28 years ago and we have been married for 26 years. It is like every marriage, you have to work at 100% on each end. I love my husband, John with all my heart and soul. When I have difficult days and I do, he is my strength. He rarely lets me feel sorry for myself and pushes me to do what is best for my health. I may not listen all the time right away but it usually sinks in, LOL.
Four years ago we went 3 hours away to get our two treasures in life, Peanut and Reeses. Our miniature dachshunds, they are brother and sister and we picked them up at 8 weeks old. I trained them myself and was very diligent with them. Every two hours they went out and I never missed a moment. They are very well trained and I think they would explode before doing anything inside the house. They surely love their momma, they are by my side in my office every day when blogging, crafting or just snuggling. Believe me they are so cute they get tons of snuggle time, LOL!!!
Some of the things that bring me joy and I love besides blogging and taking care of our small family is cooking, baking, feeding people makes me very happy. I love, love music and have to listen to it every day. I listen to a very wide range of music from Bruce Springsteen, which, what Jersey Girl wouldn’t listen too, to Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, to name a few. Then there is also Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and Maroon5. I told you the range is huge, but I have to have music in my life. The worst part is for John, I know every word to all the songs I listen to and I can’t sing a lick. I am tone deaf just like my dad, LOL.
My dad, I love him to death. He makes me so happy and I am without a doubt daddy’s little girl and always will be, even at age 49. The song that Martina McBride sings, In My Daughter’s Eyes is a song about us for sure. I lost my mom when I was 26; she was the best mom on the planet. She made me feel safe and very much loved and was my best friend. Now I have a wonderful stepmom Gail who is also so very special to me and to John. How lucky am I to have had two women in my life that are treasures? I think I am blessed.
I hope everyone will checkout Cloches and Lavender and give it a chance. Stop and check past projects and our new home build, there are many snippets and peeks.
The decorating and projects will be starting very soon. The house is almost finished and we can’t wait to begin our memories and journey in the new place we will call “HOME”.
Susan, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. I so enjoy these spotlights that you and Kris feature every week.
(By the way, I am not photogenic at all. That is why there are no pictures of me. I keep trying to get a good photo. Hopefully one day soon, LOL!!!)
Cindy, thank you for sharing with us! (Your 'babies' are adorable!) We look forward to seeing the progress on your new home!
Please visit her at Cloches and Lavender, then hop over to Kris's blog to read about Melanie from Sweet Melanie.
Have a great day! :)