About me


"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home do more for the soul than their simplicity might suggest." 

-Thomas Moore

Hi.

Don't let the title fool you--I'm not that cool.

But.

My life is.

I aspire to be no more than I am right now: the stay at home mom to three noisy boys and a little girl.  I love the ordinary days I spend with them, and desperately try to enjoy each one because the time is flying by too fast. We spend our days playing, building, chasing, snacking, watching too much tv and trying to inspire a little creativity.

By the way:  I'm very intentional in not posting my little ones' pictures or mentioning their names.

I've lived my entire life in the Chicagoland area, although I think there is really a southern girl somewhere deep down inside. I went to college to play volleyball, and managed to emerge with a degree in English and a Master's degree in education. My husband and I met when I was 19 and have been married for 10 years. He tolerates lovingly supports my projects and has the decency to wait until I leave the room before rolling his eyes at my latest hair-brained idea. We love living in our 1946 Cape Cod, which we have and will continue to renovate.

I just love making stuff. I sew, craft, assemble, decorate, re-decorate, bake and build daily. I crave it and it keeps me sane.  Our house is messy and we eat too much carry out, but I love the feeling of doing things myself. I'm drawn to stacks of pretty fabric, colorful paper, sprinkles, ribbons, yarn, polka dots, gingham, little chairs, white dishes, spray paint and tools. I could lose myself for hours in flea markets, office supply stores, and thrift shops. One day I may actually use all the fabric and supplies I've amassed over the years.

Probably not.

I'm a casual girl. I live in my Uggs in the winter and flip flops in the summer. I wear jeans nearly every day but don't leave the house without make up and ironing my hair. I'm sarcastic, shy, silly, and pretty dorky, but you probably knew that already.

Want know anything else? Just ask.

Want to work together?  Email me at cls1981@att.net

ps. You can also read my interviews here or here.
Email Post

Comments

  1. laylablueFebruary 6, 2010 at 6:55 PM

    just found you via flowerpatchfarmgirl
    ok, i'll be super transparent here, brace yourself
    we may be so similar in likes that we might come to blows if we ever met up in a shopping area such as ikea or any given fabric store
    not sure if you already shop at Papersource in chicago, but i drag my clan there every time we venture out of IN...
    my blog is a bit draggy right now, and i'm trying to get a focus over there...blah blah blah

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2010 at 11:32 PM

    hello I was thinking about starting a blog. Just bored I guess, yours looks so cool and you seem to be truthful I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 22, 2010 at 1:49 PM

    Hey Cheryl -

    I can't say I was bored enough to read "about me" as much as inspired!!

    I live a duplicate of your life in Moline IL...biggest difference is I have to make an overnight to my sisters to shop ikea, but she's a hair stylist in Sycamore...so I get an update out of it! LOL:)

    I have one little boy who's two and trying to get the courage to officially start "trying" for the second. It will be a boy too. 5 generations back...2 boys!

    Thanks for sharing your blog. I just started mine. I do a little visual design one day a week for a local garden center and antique, thrift, cook, garden and repurpose for the goodness of it. Caroline Ingalss on Little House is one of my "idols"

    Anyway...most blogs like this are from those lucky southern girls who are thawing out right now while we still freeze so I thought I'd say hey!

    -Tenneil Downs
    www.dirtyhands-beautifullife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. SabrinaMarch 6, 2010 at 9:13 AM

    OK, last comment today, I promise....

    After reading the above comments, I feel like I found a little group of girls I can relate too. You know, the few of us that blog and don't have green stuff growing in our yards yet. Hmpf.

    Spring can't get here fast enough!
    Glad to find you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. CeciliaApril 14, 2010 at 6:03 PM

    Hi, I reached your blog while I was browing Internet looking for a handmade cell phone pouch, I love handmade stuff, I love create and I have a blog of my own that I started early this year...

    You really have many interesting things here. So I'm glad I have found a new blog to follow!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJune 9, 2010 at 5:36 PM

    found you thru thrifty decor chick i just ventured into these decorating blogs and am loving them wish i had courage to start one because i too love polka dots,gingham and sprinkles!!! love your blog!!

    cathe

    ReplyDelete
  7. TristaJuly 16, 2010 at 9:45 PM

    How cute are you??? You sound like a fantastic person, I also live in the coldness that they call Montana.Summer is 2 months if we are lucky!

    I am glad to know that it takes years to accumulate all that craft stuff cause I am new to all of this and I am finding it to be quite addicting and pricey. LOL
    novicemommie.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. maomiSeptember 4, 2010 at 3:01 PM

    OMG! Someone stole my identity!!! I stumbled on your blog looking for slip covered ottomans. What a lovely blog you have, you are so honest & blunt, I hear my self talking while reading your blog. Even your life is very similar to mine, I too am very casual & live in jean & sneakers or clog all year. & when you say paranoid, that is me too, it is one of the reasons, why I do not blog or facebook or twitter. I met my husband when I was 18, and have been happily married now for over 16 years, we have 2 awesome daughters now 10 & 12 that we also have home schooled for a few years. One of the best decisions of our lives, & the best thing we have ever done for them. I highly recommend it!( I have so many how to home school books you are welcome to have it.) I am SOOOO jealous, you are still living my previous life, that is before we started our own restaurant business. So now I have literally no spare time to doing things that nourishes my soul. I too love to create & sew, I LOVE stripes, gingham & polka dots. I love to cook & bake but most of all decorate. I major in Interior designing in University, & miss all the creative process. My passion is now reduce to reading blog & lurking at other peoples creations. We also live in a very old 1940 Muskoka home, that we are gradually attempting to transform to a look like the Hamptons. We also have renovated just half of the home - & now it has a Jeckyll & Hyde persona :) Until I win the lottery, it will have to stay that way for awhile. The only thing that glaring different from us would be I have virgin hair that has never felt the heat of a straightening iron, (I am born with stick straight hair that refuse to curl) & I do wear make up at all but boy do I love buying them! I heartily agree LIFE IS GOOD!

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  9. The Clark ClanJanuary 10, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    I came across your blog and I love it! You seem so down to earth and I can't wait to read more! I'm so glad I found a new blog to follow!

    ReplyDelete
  10. debbie @ happy little cottageFebruary 8, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Hi! Just discovered your blog and am totally charmed by your style! I am looking forward to browsing through your archives to see more of your adorable projects, and your house is adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  11. ColleenFebruary 19, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Hey Cheryl..
    found your blog from Clover Lane... I'm new to blogging and wanted to tell you that I love your blog. I find myself checking it alot :) So ooo just wanted to say hello and give a shot out to CHICAGO!!!! I grew up in Glen Ellyn~ Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    Hey Cheryl,
    The vibe of your blog makes me happy-- and it looks as though a lot of folks can easily relate to you and your dorkiness (we're all huge dorks...if we're lucky enough). Thanks for sharing your projects and photos :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. MissyMarch 17, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    I've really been enjoying your blog. Just wanted you to know.

    Missy

    http://myfourseasonsoflife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. maryMay 5, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    i just have to say, i enjoyed your snippet of the trib's weather update. chicagoland is the best-land! enjoy your blog (and the fact i can shop where you actually shop!)

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  15. Pati @ A Crafty EscapeAugust 1, 2011 at 7:30 PM

    I miss you and your posts... hope you are doing well!

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  16. Nicky SchauderDecember 10, 2011 at 8:37 PM

    I love your Thomas Moore quote! Thanks for giving me a boost after a hard day doing ordinary things.

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  17. Kari June 7, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    I just found your blog and love it! I too live in Chicagoland and I too am really a Southern girl at heart. It is so nice to find another blogger who doesnt live in Utah. Or Texas. There are a lot of Utah and Texas bloggers, what is up with that?? :) Nice to meet you and I look forward to reading about your adventures!

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  18. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2012 at 8:01 AM

    You're adorable!!!

    ReplyDelete

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