The first night I launched "The Happy Home Collective" on Instagram, I lied in bed awake until 1 am with a spinning mind of blog post ideas. I don't stay up until 1 am; I'm usually in bed by 10 at the latest, if not earlier. I love sleep. So that was a sign to me that I'm on to something here. I have so many things I want to share, and so many inspiring women I want to provide a space to hear from as well! This is going to be fun.
Wedding Photography: Luke Severn
Hospital Photography: Cheryl Suzanne Photography
2. My full-time job is that of Mom / Snack-maker / Nap-planner / Playdate-organizer, and I love every minute! It's exhausting and challenging, but there's nothing else I'd rather do. My husband and I own a business that he manages full-time and I help with the bookkeeping and some administrative duties. I also do some basic reporting and bookkeeping for a couple other family members' businesses a few hours a month. And one day a week, for a few hours, I work very part-time at a fabric/furniture/interior design store and I love it. I like to stay busy and feel productive, but I also absolutely know how to chill out on the couch with my knitting and re-watch Parks and Rec with my hubby.
5. My parents are still married after 37+ years and now have four grand babies between me and my brother. My mom is an only child and both of her parents are only children, so I have no extended family on her side. My dad has two brothers and is from Tennessee, so I have many aunts, uncles and cousins there. We visited Tennessee most summers in my childhood and those trips contained some of my fondest childhood memories. My grandparents there owned a lake house, and my cousins and brother and I would spend hours inner tubing, fishing, tanning, and playing cards. My Nana and Papa were the quintessential grandparents - my Nana with her classic, cheesy jokes and daily, freshly-baked desserts, and my Papa with his sarcastic exterior but soft core.
Well there you go! As confirmation that these are indeed the 10 most interesting things about me, I asked my husband what I should list as my 10 facts, and he started listing exactly what I had already written! Not sure if that means that I'm super predictable, or that my husband knows me so well, but I'll go with the latter. Thanks for reading! Comment below with a "Hi" and tell me something interesting about YOU!
Love always,
Caroline
Instagram: @thehappyhomecollective
I thought I'd kick things off with "10 Truths About Me", so you can get to know the author a little better! So here we go:
1. My husband, Brent, and I have been married for a little over four years. We met through mutual friends and things moved quickly from there! We dated for four months, were engaged for four months, and were married for just six months when we discovered we were pregnant with our daughter, Emmeline. A couples years past and we added our son, Rhett, to the crew. We've also changed careers, purchased a business, moved three times, and bought way too many La Croix's.
1. My husband, Brent, and I have been married for a little over four years. We met through mutual friends and things moved quickly from there! We dated for four months, were engaged for four months, and were married for just six months when we discovered we were pregnant with our daughter, Emmeline. A couples years past and we added our son, Rhett, to the crew. We've also changed careers, purchased a business, moved three times, and bought way too many La Croix's.
Wedding Photography: Luke Severn
Hospital Photography: Cheryl Suzanne Photography
3. My family and I moved to the Central Coast of California when I was three years old and I've lived here ever since! I can't imagine living anywhere else. I love how there is such a diversity of little cities within such a short distance of each other. We have the beach, beautiful hikes, a lively downtown, the "country", just about all the shopping I could want, with still very little traffic. I also love how growing up in California has brain-washed me to believe that a four-hour drive is no big deal, so we can easily visit San Francisco, LA, Santa Barbara and beyond. My husband grew up here as well, and most of our family is here, so I imagine we'll be here for a while.
4. I'm a P.K. (Pastor's Kid). My dad became a full-time pastor when I was three years old and my family still attends the same church. My brother took over as Lead Pastor a few years ago, so I guess now I'm a P.S.? Anyways, growing up as a pastor's kid is both a total blessing and sometimes a challenge. I'm thankful that I have amazing parents that included me and my brother in the behind the scenes of church life, taught us the importance of relationship with Jesus and with people, and to love even when it hurts. I never really "rebelled" (like it's been rumored that most pastors' kids do) and I still love Jesus, so my parents must have done something right.
5. My parents are still married after 37+ years and now have four grand babies between me and my brother. My mom is an only child and both of her parents are only children, so I have no extended family on her side. My dad has two brothers and is from Tennessee, so I have many aunts, uncles and cousins there. We visited Tennessee most summers in my childhood and those trips contained some of my fondest childhood memories. My grandparents there owned a lake house, and my cousins and brother and I would spend hours inner tubing, fishing, tanning, and playing cards. My Nana and Papa were the quintessential grandparents - my Nana with her classic, cheesy jokes and daily, freshly-baked desserts, and my Papa with his sarcastic exterior but soft core.
6. When I was 10 years old, I was bit in the face by a dog on a church camping trip. The bite punctured by cheek, poked through my top eyelid and tore my bottom eyelid. I was rushed to the hospital and had plastic surgery to repair my eye lids. It was an absolute miracle that the bite didn't damage my eye. I was also told that I would need surgery every 6 months for the rest of my life to correct an ingrown eyelash, but thankfully that never had to happen, either. I still love dogs and we hope to possibly get our first family dog next year, but I'm still cautious and teach my children to be as well.
7. I've been knitting for almost 20 years (and I'm not even 30 yet). My mom bought me a "learn-to-knit" kit when I was in 5th grade because she said I was often bored after finishing my homework and just wanted to watch TV. I later learned to crochet and my passion to create has grown ever since! I sold my first scarf in 7th grade and started my first little "business" in high school - "The Chronicles of Yarnia" (see my original business card below for a good laugh). I sold many a hat and scarf back in those days, but I have no idea where all of that money went - probably just towards more yarn. I also love to paint, I recently learned to do macrame/macra-weave, and I've been experimenting with felt. I love to make home-made gifts and home-made decor for my home and friends. An Etsy shop is in the works and will be opening soon - so stay tuned!
7. I've been knitting for almost 20 years (and I'm not even 30 yet). My mom bought me a "learn-to-knit" kit when I was in 5th grade because she said I was often bored after finishing my homework and just wanted to watch TV. I later learned to crochet and my passion to create has grown ever since! I sold my first scarf in 7th grade and started my first little "business" in high school - "The Chronicles of Yarnia" (see my original business card below for a good laugh). I sold many a hat and scarf back in those days, but I have no idea where all of that money went - probably just towards more yarn. I also love to paint, I recently learned to do macrame/macra-weave, and I've been experimenting with felt. I love to make home-made gifts and home-made decor for my home and friends. An Etsy shop is in the works and will be opening soon - so stay tuned!
8. After I graduated high school, I lived in Switzerland and attended a one-year Christian leadership school called, "Masters Commission". The school was a helpful opportunity for me to grow as a person as I transitioned from the very structured life of child/student to the real world of adulthood. We studied the Bible, Christian books, heard from guest speakers, as well as did local outreach and other things for 2/3 of the year, and then travelled around Europe doing various kinds of outreach for the last 1/3 of the year. I lived with a Swiss family, learned some Swiss German, and gained over 20 pounds eating all the delicious bread, cheese, and chocolate. During the year I was able to travel all around Switzerland, as well as to Germany, Italy, France, Austria, England, Ireland and Spain. My all-time favorites were Belfast, Ireland and Berlin, Germany. Being exposed to so many different countries and cultures was very helpful in seeing some of the "American stereotypes" that I fit too well and needed to overcome. I loooooove to travel and hope that my little family can travel abroad together in the future! I would love to go back to the British Isles, as well as see more of Italy, or maybe Greece.
9. I was an excellent student in high school (graduated with a 4.2), but never graduated college. I still forget that that's true sometimes as I see other friends who have graduated or hear about their various degrees. I was studying accounting, but when I transferred from community college to a four-year, I realized that it wasn't how I wanted to be spending my time and money. I was working full-time (and really liked my job), going to school full-time, and had just started dating Brent, so something had to go. I don't regret my decision and it hasn't greatly affected my life so far. Ultimately I think it gave me more grace for myself and others and helped me to see that there are many paths a person can take in life, and college doesn't necessarily have to be a part of it.
10. I was "made in China". My parents were missionaries in Hong Kong before I was born and moved back to the States to have me. I always loved to see pictures and hear stories from my parents' time in Hong Kong and dreamed of being able to see it for myself someday. When I was 14, my family and a group from our church went to Hong Kong and mainland China for a two-week trip. We visited missionaries there that we know, as well as visited old friends of my parents. I absolutely loved China, especially mainland China. We were in a small city and were literally the only white people around, so we got a lot of curious looks. There were multiple people in our group who played basketball, so we arranged a game with a group of the local teachers at a school nearby. It was a group of Chinese men, versus our group of white men and me, the only girl. There were 100's of students gathered around the court watching the game, and cheers whenever we scored, especially if it was me who did.
Check out these pictures - not bad for a 14-year-old with a disposable camera, right? And yes, those are worms, and they were delicious.
10. I was "made in China". My parents were missionaries in Hong Kong before I was born and moved back to the States to have me. I always loved to see pictures and hear stories from my parents' time in Hong Kong and dreamed of being able to see it for myself someday. When I was 14, my family and a group from our church went to Hong Kong and mainland China for a two-week trip. We visited missionaries there that we know, as well as visited old friends of my parents. I absolutely loved China, especially mainland China. We were in a small city and were literally the only white people around, so we got a lot of curious looks. There were multiple people in our group who played basketball, so we arranged a game with a group of the local teachers at a school nearby. It was a group of Chinese men, versus our group of white men and me, the only girl. There were 100's of students gathered around the court watching the game, and cheers whenever we scored, especially if it was me who did.
Check out these pictures - not bad for a 14-year-old with a disposable camera, right? And yes, those are worms, and they were delicious.
Well there you go! As confirmation that these are indeed the 10 most interesting things about me, I asked my husband what I should list as my 10 facts, and he started listing exactly what I had already written! Not sure if that means that I'm super predictable, or that my husband knows me so well, but I'll go with the latter. Thanks for reading! Comment below with a "Hi" and tell me something interesting about YOU!
Love always,
Caroline
Instagram: @thehappyhomecollective
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