Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind The Blogger

Susan from Must Love Junk, and myself 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 Susan's and my blog. 

May 17th

Donna from My Shabby Chateau

I know I say this every week but I really am excited to introduce you to Donna from My Shabby Chateau.  I have just recently been following Donna and so happy she said yes to Spotlight.  I think you are going to enjoy reading and getting to know Donna.  Donna is an adventurer and a sweet sweet blogger so enjoy.

Hi!  I'm Donna, from My Shabby Chateau.  I was so excited when Kris asked me if I'd like to be a guest here at "Life Behind the Blogger"!  So, a big thank you, Kris!

I began blogging a little over 4 years ago, and I can't imagine it not being a part of my life!  I've met so many wonderful, supportive and generous women here in blogland.  I am truly amazed at not only the creative spirit of so many bloggers, but how kind and thoughtful everyone is!

 I was raised on a farm here in Michigan, so I guess it's only natural that I love to dig in the dirt!

(I think I'll always be a farm girl at heart!)

To me working in the yard among pretty blooms, listening to the birds singing, and just being in nature are the makings of a perfect day!

 So come warm weather, you'll find me in the yard, tending to my flower beds and just having fun.

Our "chateau"!

My husband John and I have been married almost 14 years.

(he's known as "handy hubby" on my blog!!)

John has been a pilot for many years, and together we enjoy all sorts of flying adventures in his airplane!

We love flying out to dinner, often taking friends along.  We've also flown to Chicago, Toronto, and even over Niagara Falls!

While vacationing in Hawaii, we've also rented planes (yes, you can do that!) and flown over the islands, the views were just amazing.

 While living in Washington State a few years ago, we flew to the San Juan Islands, which were just gorgeous!

 That's Mount Baker in the distance.

We share our home with a fun and crazy little cocker spaniel named Katie.

She's just a little over a year old, and still very much a puppy.

Here she is as a little pup.  She grew up so fast!  Once she matures a bit, I hope to begin training her to be a certified therapy dog.  My goal is to take her along on visits to nursing homes and hospitals. She loves people, especially kids, and everyone always seems so happy to meet her, too!

John and I have a motor home, and we love traveling all over the place in it. 

 (That's my idea of roughing it!)

We've been from coast to coast, the southern states, and up into Canada. And of course we love camping adventures right here in Michigan, as well. Katie loves to camp with us, too!

John retired two years ago, after a life long career working for the airlines. So, that means we have flight privileges, and we love to take advantage of that!

Together, we've been to Italy, Ireland, Greece, France, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, the Caribbean, and more!

Our very favorite place in the world is Paris!

Last May I celebrated a milestone birthday, by climbing the Eiffel Tower on my big day.

That's me taking a break about mid way up!

I'd climbed it before, but I was in much better shape (not to mention younger!), so it was no easy feat this time making it to the top. But, that was my goal, and I'm happy to say that I made it!

Sacre Coeur, below.

Chateau Fontainbleau, below.

The next few photos are in the gorgeous Alsace region of France, near the German border.

That's hubby, below, when we visited Monet's gorgeous gardens at Giverny several years ago.

Believe it or not, I really am a home body at heart!  One of my very favorite places to be is my craft room, which takes up much of the lower level of our house.

I found this cubby at a moving sale several years ago. It holds many of my crafting supplies, and the counter top is perfect for spreading out with projects.  John added the pegboard to the side, and mounted it on the wall, too.

It's so handy to have things right at arms reach!

I can decorate my craft room as girly as I want to!

This is where I create goodies for my Etsy shop, which is also a huge passion of mine!

Another passion, no, make that an obsession, is thrift shopping!  There is hardly a week that goes by that I don't visit one (or more!) thrift shops in search of treasures in the making.  Believe it or not, I rarely ventured inside of thrift stores before I started blogging.  When I saw the amazing things that other bloggers found while out thrifting, well, I was hooked!

So I'm always on the hunt for things that I can transform with a little paint and tlc, and add to my Etsy shop.  Even hubby has gotten hooked on thrifting, he knows just what to look for now!

It's no secret that I love all things that glitter!

I had fun making these little glittery French buckets.

Feeling stressed, tired, down?  Break out the glitter!

It's my remedy for chasing the blues away:)

Below are some glittered French themed Christmas candles I made for an Etsy client a few years ago.

One of my favorite things that I talk about on my blog are what I call "drab to fab" makeovers!

I love sharing projects that began with something looking a little less than great, like this cabinet, below.

And transforming them into something like this!

A decoupaged French cabinet.  Oooh, la, la!

I even lined the inside with vintage French book pages.

One of my latest projects has been learning how to stencil.

I shared this Parisian themed sign on my blog awhile back.

And this is my most recent stenciling transformation.  

I would love to have stop in and visit my blog some time!  It's always fun to meet new blogging friends!

Thank you again, Kris!!

Thank you so much Donna for letting us feature you today on Spotlight.  It was so much fun to learn more about you.  Love Katie she is adorable and what fun to have your own private plane to transport you to fun places.

Now that you have gotten to know Donna please hop over to Susan's Blog and meet another wonderful blogger Meg from Oliver and Rust.  Have a great week end.

Kris

:)