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.

November 8 

Mindi My Love 2 Create.

Good Saturday Everyone.  This week I am excited to introduce you to a sweet blogger that caught my attention because of her DIY tutorials and her love of giving new life and purpose to treasured items.  She shares my liking to re love things into my home and give them a new purpose.  Her tutorials are awesome.

So sit back and read about this mom of 5 yep!! 5 and how  fit and fun and creative she is.  Enjoy.

Mindi from My Love 2 Create

Hello!  This is Mindi and I blog over at MyLove2Create.  I was so honored and thrilled that Kris asked me to participate in her Saturday Spotlight!

I don't share a lot of personal stuff on my blog (probably because I barely have enough time to write my tutorials) so I am excited to give you a peek into my life!

Old Drawers into Porch Planters

I am new to the world of blogging, I started just over two years ago and keep it pretty low key. Meaning, I post usually once a week... unless I don't. :)

I am very thrifty and love repurposing things, so a lot of my DIY projects are made with things I get for free, or really cheap.  It makes me happy to give things new life and make them useful again.  Like my old drawers into porch planters, I made them with free drawers and wood.

Engagement photo, and wedding photo.

But, I am getting ahead of myself, let's back track a bit.  This is me and my husband, in 1998.  Don't we look so young!  Holy. cow.

Dana and I graduating from Collage.  Our little guy was a trooper, but I think he was ready to sleep...poor thing!

My husband (Dana) and I met at Brigham Young University, where I graduated with a degree in Pedagogy (Physical Education) and two dance minors (Ballroom and Folk Dance).

Family photo taken in 2009, Arizona.

With my husband's new job we moved to AZ and lived there for 9 years.  In which time we had our last 5 kids.  I kept pretty busy being a mom, as you can guess, and it is the most wonderful job in the world!

I had a small dance studio and taught for several years, and really loved it.  In order to keep "sane" and have my "me" time I would train for and run a marathon after each baby.  It was my best option for getting back in shape and feeling good.  This photo was taken two months after my youngest little guy was born.

Me and two of my sisters at the St. George Marathon finish line.

Speaking of marathons I just ran my 10th one in October and had a great race!  My one sister (middle) and I have qualified for Boston 8 times and have never had chance to run it...so maybe next year it will actually happen!  Fingers crossed!

In 2010 my husband was transferred to Colorado, which is where he grew up.  We love it here, and have enjoyed being closer to some of our family.

It turned an end table into a desk

After moving here I eventually became aware of the blogging world, and finally decided to try my hand at creating.  It has always been a desire of mine, and when I finally got the nerve to tell my husband, he bought me a miter saw for my birthday, just three years ago.  I guess you could say, "and the rest was history".  I have been building/creating like crazy ever since!

DIY Tray stand made for an old toolbox

I am a self-taught/blogger taught DIY-er and it is so STINKIN' FUN!  It truly brings me joy to create, hence the name of my blog, MyLove2Create.  I started my blog, to hopefully share and inspire others to create.  It is sort of my way to "pay it forward" which is why I like to do tutorials when possible.

Cupcake Tower

As far as blogging goes I am kind of at a point where I feel like I could do a lot more, but I am not sure I am ready.  I love it, and have so much fun with it, but my family will always be first, so for now I share what I can, and continue to learn a grow with each project.  The good thing is, I am always doing projects, so it makes sharing easier.

Curtain Tie Backs Repurposed into Towel Hooks

This summer my husband and I did several triathons together which was fun, and we love to spend time with our kids and go hiking and enjoy the outdoors.   We also love to watch movies, play games, and eat homemade caramel popcorn as a family.  YUM! 

In March we had to put down our beloved dog Buck and near the end of the summer we got a new puppy, Sunny.  She has been taking a LOT of my time, it is like having another baby in the house.  Who's idea was this? :)  Over all this little cutie is stealing our hearts and helping us learn patience and lots of other good things.

Master Closet Makeover

With life being busy I do the best I can to keep up with projects, you know when I am not drowning in laundry, school papers, and kid messes.   Wait...I am ALWAYS drowning in those things!  Ah well.  My favorite project to date, is my Master Closet Makeover.  And believe me, after doing this I want every closet in my house re-done.  It has been sooo nice.  

Closet/Laundry Room Makeover

A close second would be my sister's closet/laundry room makeover.  This was a super fun and tiring experience.  I love how a room can be transformed and made super useful, efficient, and beautiful...with a little hard work.  :)

Going Crawdad Fishing, Arizona 2009

So my plan?  To eventually transform every room in my house, thrifty/DIY style.  It may take me forever...but it should be a fun journey!  Would you like to come along?

Pumpkin Patch, Boulder CO 2014

What better way is there to enjoy a journey than with family and friends!?!  

Thanks so much for reading I hope to see you over at MyLove2Create soon!   And thanks for having me Kris!

Hugs,

Mindi

Thanks Mindi.  Could I just have a smidge of your energy!!!! Loved getting to know you better.  Your family is precious.

Now that you have gotten to know Mindi please hop over to Susan's blog Must Love Junk and meet another wonderful blogger

Linda from Linda's Life Journal.

Have a great week end.

Kris

:)

Chippy Salvage Candle Sticks

Happy Wednesday!  Hope your week is going good.

I wanted to show you how I used some old salvage pieces of wood for candle holders.

Just found some old table legs and chippy stair posts to make these candle holders.  Simple and easy they were already chippy and had the screws coming through the top to sink the candle on.

Just a very easy way to add some charm to candles.

My Living Room looks so lonely since I sold my slipcovered sectional.  I am hoping to get my new leather sectional soon.  In the meantime Terry still has his comfy recliner and I pulled my chair out from the corner. So it is all good.

Hope your week is starting off great.
Make sure to come back on Saturday for Spotlight.  Susan and I have two wonderful bloggers for you to get to know.
Kris
:)

Sneak Peaks and a New Do

Good Monday Morning Everyone.  Hope your Halloween Week End was good.

Our weather here in the Chicago burbs was pretty yucky so we did not get a whole lot of trick or treaters this year.  The few that braved the weather were really cute.  At least what I could see under the layers of coats!

I was at Home Goods.  You know getting my Home Goods Fix and I came across these sweet pillows.  I am doing some change ups in my Master Bedroom.  Nothing huge just some bedding change ups and I think these pillows will be perfect.

Aren't they sweet.  They are gray and a light ivory and embroidered with these sweet cute sayings.

So you get to see a little sneak at the new pillows that will be going onto the new bedding.  Hope to have that up for you soon.

Speaking of bargains.  I was strolling through the Stein Mart and came across these sweet red and white checked summer table cloths on the clearance for $3 each.  Yep! and I got another 20% off the clearance price so these were less than a couple of bucks each.  

Had to pull out the trustee 30+++ year old Kenmore this week end.  I am doing a simple Nordic Cottage Christmas theme this year.  I am adding the traditional Nordic red to my whites.  So the table cloths are being made into new Christmas Decor for this year.  I can sew a straight line so it is all good!!!!!

Have you started to think of your Christmas Decor yet.  I start mine early as I have my Girlfriend Charity Christmas Party the first Friday in December so I like to have all my decor done by then.

My daughter hosts Thanksgiving at her home so that allows me to decorate early for Christmas.

So stay tuned to see what these table cloths get made into for my Red and White Nordic Cottage Christmas Decor.

Ok now on to the new do.  I was trying to grow my hair out.  I usually have a short pixie and wanted to grow it out.  Well I tried I really did but in the end my hair is so thick and wavy and has a mind of it's own when it is long.  I was so frustrated with not having a style goin on!!!! So......

 I had my daughter chop some length off and did a long layer pixie cut for me.  I do not even blow dry my hair just air dry and a little hair spray.  My hair is so thick if I blow dry it will not piece out.  So it is now wash and wear hair lol!  Sorry about the selfie I really do not take good pictures.  So just look at the hair do and not the wrinkles and tired eyes !!!!

Have a great week.  Hope to have my change ups done this week in the bedroom.
Kris
:)

The Winner Is...........

Happy Sunday.  Hope your Halloween was fun.  Very cold and windy here in Chicago for the trick or treaters.

Thank you all that entered into the Creatively Christmas Book and Stencil Give Away.  I wish I had a copy of this to give each of you.

Had Terry pull the name out of a hat, well actually a white ironstone bowl and the winner is....

Karen from Karen's Up on The Hill 

Congrats Karen.  I know you will love this personally signed copy of Jennifer Rizzo's Creatively Christmas.  Just email me your address Karen and your lovely book and stencil will be on it's way.

If you did not win and want to have a copy you can go to Amazon to order your copy.  Jennifer is doing many different book signings in my area in the next month.  So if you live locally you can 

 go to a book signing for a special signed copy.

It is a beautiful book full of great inspiration, easy craft projects and beautiful homes decked out for Christmas.

Have a great Sunday.  I will be back tomorrow to show you a few romantic finds I found to add to my bedroom.

See you soon.

Kris

:)