We had a flood in January and I thought to write about it a million times. Each time I began it just somehow didn’t feel right. I realized somewhere along the way I lost sight of this blog and what it was for our family and what I had meant for it to be. What started as a journal about two diy’ers who created a home for themselves became a forgotten and rarely updated place. Mike and I are great. This isn’t me saying our lives have changed very drastically in some way. Rather, this is me, opening up to you, about the trials of owning this little place on the internet.
Each year I pay to keep this site going, and as long as I am able to, I always will. But I struggle with what to do with this space now that we have moved away from the first house we built. I want to give you more. I started sharing more of our day to day nuances on Instagram, hoping to transition more content there. However, I have found it’s a never ending hamster wheel of constantly trying to keep up with new content. Content that I cannot possibly create without sacrificing my time with my family. It sucks you in and it’s hard to get out. Then, once you’ve created the content, you’re lucky if it is even viewed. After three years of consistently showing up in that space I’m embarrassed by how little I have to show for it.
Had I spent the same amount of time here, sharing our new journey, my growth as a designer, mother, wife, friend, and our growth as a family I feel like I could have been truer to myself and gained whatever it was I was searching for somewhere else.
So, I guess this is my apology. To myself and to this site. I owe you more. I want to be better. If this is supposed to be here when I’m old and longing to look back and remember our lives, I need to be here and talk about it.
The next few weeks/months there is going to be small and maybe some big changes on this site-hopefully for the better. I need to work on reorganizing the old content so that I can find a way to integrate new content I’d like to share.
So, I guess this is my apology. To myself, and to this site. I owe you more. I want to be better.
I want to share more about our family life, what it’s like being a mom to twins, teenage girls, a wife to a firefighter, a nurse/designer and a serial diy who tries to do everything herself (even failing at blogging). I want to share tips on styling your home, where you can find the best deals and how to build like we do. I’d love to share what is inspiring me and what I’m working on. And I want to do it on a platform that doesn’t disappear or become irrelevant in 15 minutes.
If you’re reading this and you want to be a part of what I have planned please sign up for email updates. I’m going to be putting together a newsletter and I’d love to share it with you.
Oh, and yeah. We had a flood in January. A fire sprinkler pipe burst. Who would have thought we’d be remodeling this house as soon as we just finished remodeling it. As usual Mike with the jokes reminded me, “Everyone thought that Joannie. Everyone.”
Cheers to new adventures my friends. Until next time.
❤️ Joannie
I have to say, you owe no one any apologies! You are one of my favorite follows on Instagram. However, I have to say, more and more lately, I’ve been taking breaks from Instagram, and was so happy to see your email this morning. Thank you for everything that you share with us – I feel like i’ve learned so much from you, and I really appreciate your willingness to explain things and help all of us grow. Thank you!
Leslie that means everything to me. I really do love the friendships I’ve built there and will continue to show up and support them (you) and cheer everyone on. I’m thankful for that. But I think it’s time for me to be here and create something more permanent. I own this space…I don’t own what I have on Instagram and if my account gets accidentally deleted every story, post, highlight would be gone. I’m going to continue to post here and there on IG but I’ll be most consistent here. I do love how personal it can feel on IG with the comments and messages so you writing back and saying that you were actually happy to see my email alert really means the world to me.
I love to follow you! Apologies for what?? Sometimes we need a break love you my friend and looking forward to your stay healthy and happy
Thank you Teri! Always my cheerleader ❤️
You have no one to apologize to in the social media world. You have to do what makes the most sense for you and your family – you only get one life so you should live it to it’s fullest. I absolutely understand the struggle of balancing choosing where your time and effort goes; it’s so hard! I see you. But you should know, I think you have gift and create amazing, beautiful, inspiring things. I can’t wait to see what you do next.
😭 thank you.
Joannie! You are a real gem and so unique! No apologies! I love watching all the things you do!!
And you are a great friend!
You never cease to amaze me. Thanks for your guidance, your extreme honesty (even when I don’t want to hear it) and for your love of making a home a home. Love you friend !
Love you too Sue ❤️
Joanie,
You’re amazing and I love following you. I wish I was as talented and knowledgeable as you are! We’re total DIY’ers too and I love watching what you do! While we have different styling choices I admire your eye for details! I’m so glad I met you and hope to follow your journey despite our children parting ways! 😀 you’re an amazing mom, nurse, wife and person! You owe no one apologies. Just be you, unapologetically you! Teach me all the things! 😂
Yup we get to always be friends, no matter what our kids do 😂
I’m
Here for
You and the friendship. You inspire me ❤️
Awe Joey right back at you sister ❤️
Joannie I love seeing your and Mike’s projects. If I move will you give me some i sight to your thoughts on my new home? You are amazing! You owe none of us readers an apology! Let the real continue!!!
Thank you Kirsten. We love sharing our projects and breaking it down for others to diy. I’d love to give you any advice I can!