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. 

Cindy from Consider It All Joy
June 28th

Good Saturday Morning everyone.  I am so pleased to introduce you to a really sweet blogger.  I have recently gotten to know Cindy and just love her blog.  Cindy gets my crazy and always leaves me a sweet comment on my blog posts.  Sit and enjoy getting to know Cindy and then hop over and check out her blog.

When I first received the email from Kris at Junk Chic Cottage asking me if I would be interested in being featured on her Saturday Spotlight, Life Behind The Blogger, I thought she had gotten the wrong email address. I fly my blog way under the radar so I was, quite frankly, shocked that she would ask. Thank you Kris for extending this honor to me and my little blog, I appreciate you so much!

My name is Cindy and I have been blogging at Consider It All Joy for 6 years. 

Born and raised in Southern California you might say I lived a fairy tale kind of life, spending all of our free time at either, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm or the beach (Huntington, Newport or Balboa).  If I was afforded the opportunity now, I would definitely make my home on a beach somewhere in California.  But for now, I’ll just be happy to hang out in my own little piece of Paradise.  This fall I will be painting a full mural on the back wall behind the pool (now that I've announced it, I HAVE to complete it).

At 21 my family purchased a restaurant in a small town near Lake Tahoe, CA where I eventually met and married the love of my life. Because his family came from and owned a large portion of Bodie, CA he wanted to get married there, (it is now a State Historic Park), so on May 16, 1981 that is exactly what we did.

   

Just 6 months into our marriage I found out I would not be able to have children. After numerous tests, sleepless night and months of tears, we decided that adoption would be our option. Our oldest son came into our lives when he was 21 months old; we were his 4^th home and gratefully, his final home. Our youngest son was 4 months old when he came to us; we were told he was deaf, blind and paralyzed on his right side. We were told he would never walk, talk or live beyond a year or two. We were asked if we would just take him until they found an institution who would take him. Please, don’t get too attached they said, my heart was hooked, he is now 29, and even with all of his ‘deficits, I wouldn’t change anything for the world. 

Eventually life led us to Phoenix, AZ where we purchased our 1^st and only house together. It’s a tiny 1100 sq ft (vintage~lol) 1979 tract house. It’s nothing special, except for the fact that we purchased it together and made it home.

I first began blogging as an outlet for a tough season I was walking through never thinking anybody would ever read what I wrote, however I began participating in on-line Bible studies and met some amazing women whom I can honestly say have become great friends, even in real life friends.

On Christmas Eve 2010, I awoke to find my husband of nearly 30 years, had passed away early that morning and my life changed forever. My world, as I had known it, fell apart and everything I had grown to love was turned upside down, including my blog.

During that season of grief it was my son’s and My 3 K’s (my granddaughters) who kept me semi-sane and able to put one foot in front of the other.

   

It has only been in the past 6 months or so that I have begun to actively pursue new hobbies which include, writing, photography, junkin’ and reviving my blog.  Those are just the types of things you will find on my blog. Family, photography, junk finds, decorating attempts and the like. I love the #3, C’s and K’s and pick them up when I find them.  

So, that's a small segment of my story, the real blogger behind the blog.  Thank you for allowing me to share with you.
In the months ahead I do plan on updating my blog and re-naming it, it's a work in progress, as am I.  I do hope you will stop by and allow me to get to know you.  

  
Kris, thank you again for this amazing opportunity! You are a Gem... 

Thank you Cindy for sharing with all of us.  Thank you for opening up about the loss of your husband and how your family helps to bring you through the loss.  So touching.

Please hop over to Susan's blog and learn about another great blogger LeeLee from Paper Bag Styling.

Have a wonderful week end. 

Kris

:)

Armoire Doors

Happy Thursday.

I decided to stain the two armoire doors over the chalk paint to give a little warmth to the large armoire.

My goal is to eventually find two similar vintage doors to replace the stock doors my hubby used to make this armoire.

I just think if I could find two great old doors with lots of character and beautiful features it will give this armoire character and personality.  

So I am on the hunt for some old historic doors.  In the meantime this is how the piece looks for now.

I like the darker stain on the doors.  The other vintage door in the corner is going to be moved out.  I just was not happy with anything I tried with it.    So I will find something else for that corner.  

 I will hunt for two vintage doors to replace these stained stock doors.  In the meantime I like the stained over the chalk paint.  It just gives some warmth to this armoire.

Thanks for all the prayers for Terry.  He is doing so much better.  I appreciated every single prayer and good wish for Terry's recovery.  He is back to work today and doing great.

Please come back on Saturday for Spotlight. Susan and I have two really great bloggers for you to get to know.
Kris
:)

Thank You For Your Prayers

Hi Everyone.  First let me say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the good wishes and prayers for my hubby.

As some of you know a few months back Terry's  bile duct collapse on itself and cause him severe pain.  It took them a little while to figure this all out but after they did they put a stent in the duct to keep it open.  He was to have that in for 4 months and get it removed next month.

Well the pain started again yesterday and after lots of tests they decided it was the stent that was causing all the issues so they decided to remove it early and did a procedure today to remove it.  The GI doctor feels this was the problem and now Terry will heal and start to feel better.  

All of you with your kind wishes and prayers are so sweet and wonderful.  Blogland is full of some the most wonderful people.

Hopefully tomorrow Terry will come home and be feeling better.  Lately, it has been one thing after another in Junk Chic Cottage. 

I believe in the power of prayer and very much have seen it work so I thank each and everyone of you.

So hopefully now My Fire Chief, My Hero, My Mr. Junk Chic Cottage will be on the mend.
Thank you all so much.
Your kind words, healing thoughts and good wishes along with prayer is very much appreciated.
Hugs,
Kris

Off Blogland

I will be off Blog land for a little while.  Hopefully not long.  My Mr. Junk Chic Cottage is having stomach issues again and is back in the hospital.  Looks like the same issue as 6 weeks back so just hoping when the GI specialist comes in tomorrow we will have some answers.  Prayers for Terry.

Thank you blogging friends.  Hoping for better days ahead.

Kris

Happy Monday. New Update in the Hall Bath

I have been looking for awhile for a new shower curtain for my main hall bathroom.  I wanted something unique and different.

I was looking through Etsy.com and came across this on Simply French Market's Etsy site.

I thought wow this is really pretty.  Loved the raw edges and the unique ruffles.  I am a repeat customer of Terri's she made my master bathroom shower curtain a while back.

So here is how it looks in my bathroom.

Here is my new shower curtain hung in my grey and white hall bathroom.

Love the double ruffle on the bottom of the shower curtain.

It's the little details that I love about this.  The top of the curtain has a nice ruffle accent.  I had these cute white rose shower curtain hooks I found at Home Goods a few years ago.

 I have a pretty new shower curtain for my grey and white bathroom.

I did not receive anything from Terri for giving her a shout out on my blog about this shower curtain.  I just think it is nice for women to acknowledge each others talents.

 
  So if you are looking for a new shower curtain then please visit Terri's Etsy Shop.  She has beautiful designs and does custom work too.
Thank you Terri for my pretty shower curtain.  I love it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Kris
:)

Milk Paint And An Old Door

Good Sunday Morning.  I am starting some change ups in my Living Room and I decided to try some Milk Paint on an old door I had in there.  

I love the soft look in my living room with the creams and whites but I felt the door and armoire were a little boring.
 So this is when I thought I would try the milk paint to see if I could get some chippiness.  So I started with the door.

This is the old vintage door.  I painted it with Milk Paint and nothing happened.  Then I tried a second coat and again nothing happened.  I followed the directions, lightly sanded it first, did not use any bonding agent and then mixed up the paint and applied it.  I guess that is how it goes with Milk Paint it will chip where it wants or in my case where it does not want too LOL!  So.......

So I just took a mouse sander to the door and got this chippy look.

Then I started to think about all of this and thought hey I am going to give this milk paint another shot.  So I mixed up another batch this time using a little less water and letting the paint sit for awhile before applying it.

Here is the door repainted with a new batch of Milk Paint in the color Ironstone.

After it was dry I could see that it was starting to pull away and bubble in some spots.  Much more than the first try.   I took a light sand paper to the door and achieved this look from the milk paint.  Almost the same as when I just took the mouse sander to the first round where the milk paint did nothing.

So I guess the moral of this story is I can get the same distressed look of milk paint with a mouse sander.
Not sure why I had such a hard time getting the first attempt of milk paint to chip but the second attempt seemed to work better and maybe with the door being more heavily sanded the paint worked better with the second go around.

Anyway it was fun to try something new and have a little fun with the milk paint.  Not sure I am a big fan but to be fair to Milk Paint this is one of the first times I tried milk paint. So maybe if I gave it another try I would get better results.  I just feel that I achieved the same chippy distressed look of milk paint with just using a mouse sander and could achieve this with no investment in the milk paint.

So if you are open minded and like mystery and no control over the results of milk paint this is the paint for you.  I guess I just like to see and control the chippiness so the old fashion sanding of a piece is a better fit for me.

Now I need to think about the Armoire.  Not sure I want that same look on the armoire.  So I am thinking about some other options for this big piece of furniture.  Stay tuned.

Also the talented Lisa from LHarmonDesigns  that made my sectional slipcover some time back is making me a new one in a natural color so I am excited to have that coming soon.  I think it will bring some warmth into the cottage living room.
If you have not seen Lisa's gorgeous slipcovers on Etsy you must visit her.  She does excellent work and is quick and makes these beautiful slipcovers from templates made from your own pictures.  It is so great to have these come and fit perfectly and she never had to have your furniture.
I will have a post on her beautiful work as soon as I get my new slipcover.

Enjoy the rest of the week end and have a great start to the new week ahead.
Kris
:)