Today I'm joining 7 talented bloggers as we take off social media and come together for a fun blog hop hosted by the thrifting queen herself Jamala from Viva La Vintage for Your Home.
So grab your drink of choice and join us as we reintroduce ourselves {cue the Jay-Z song} and share our 'why' for blogging to our readers new and old.
{Be sure to check out the links to each of the individual blogs at the end of this post}
Hey, I'm Linda, and I love all things home!
I currently live in North Georgia {but I'll always be a New Yorker at heart}.
Chilling at home with my family in comfy clothes while cooking, sipping a glass of wine, and listening to music is my happy place.
Fun Facts About me
1- I've lived in 8 homes since getting married in 2005. 3 of which we owned.
2 - I was born in Haiti but sent to live in Brooklyn, NY when I was 8.
3- I would rather buy a new pillow than a new purse.
4 - I'm a "secret" nerd who loves Photoshop, video games, anime, Marvel movies, and an all-around "computer person".
My Home Decor Backstory
Over the last 16 years of marriage, my husband and I have lived in 8 different houses in 8 different states due to my husband's career. While we owned our first 3 homes the rest have been rentals.
While my love for home decor was deep and had started at a young age. In the beginning, I was at a standstill when it came to decorating and creating a home out of the houses we lived in.
As an avid home decor magazine reader and HGTV watcher at the time, I fell into a very unrealistic comparison trap. This created negative feelings for me about our house.
Which left me always waiting on the next move {and frankly more money}. Having had convinced myself the next house would be "better". And then I could really start decorating and making my house feel like a home.
By the 3rd move, our son was almost 3 and I was pregnant with our daughter. And I had what some people would call a "come to Jesus" moment. Acknowledging my childhood was very tumultuous and that I never felt at home in my own house.
This fact among others made me swear moving forward no matter what the house we lived in looked like or how temporary. I would make every effort to make it a warm and inviting home for our family. Especially our kids.
Starting The Home I Create
The aha moment {shout out to Oprah} I had about creating a home out of a house for our family no matter the circumstance. Was around 2008/2009. So no Pinterest or Instagram yet as we know it.
But, you know what was around and becoming increasingly popular? Blogs!
I've always been a "computer person" {see #4 above}. So even back then I knew could "surf the web" to see some professional decorated interior photos. Which was my fix while waiting for the latest House Beautiful magazine {among others LOL} to be delivered to my house
But my mind was blown when I discovered blogs. AKA regular ole people like myself who were doing amazing things in their homes in an approachable way.
It inspired me to do the same. Especially because at the time I did not see too many people that looked like me blogging about DIY and home decor.
I launched The Home I Create on my Birthday November 18, 2015. After being an avid blog reader for many years. And I haven't looked back.
*Bonus fun fact: This wasn't my first blog. I also had the short-lived Terry Family blog on Blogger back in 2012 but it was more for updating our family since we were moving so often.
My Goal For This Blog
My goal for this blog is to help you to create a home you love and enjoy being in on a real-world budget. Whether you rent or own your home.
I hope by sharing what I've learned through the challenges and triumphs of decorating 8 different homes over the last 16 years. It will inspire you to value what you have, embrace the imperfections, and learn to love your personal style even if it breaks a few decorating “rules”.
It was fun to hop back down memory lane as part of the Punch Bowl Social blog hop. Now click the links below to check out how these awesome bloggers began their blogging journey!
The Home I Create ->You're here<-
xo,
Neti says
Moving so many times can be a chore and your home looks pristine. Kudos!
Coming over from Jamala's blog.
Linda P. says
Hi Neti! Love Jamala and so glad you found your way over. And yes moving is definitely not fun LOL
Delandis says
As your husband, I have seen and in a lot of ways been the struggle between you and your goals with your blog. I am so happy for your talent and passion but so so proud of your constant drive to continue to push. I love you Linda!!!
Delandis
Linda P. says
Love you!😘
Maria Kamara says
Linda, you've made such a beautiful, warm home for your family. It's easy to see you really love creating welcoming spaces. Glad to connect with you on Instagram and through blogging. Also, lovely blog! I'm leaning about all things computer and blog related and it's been slow going.
N'Ckyola "Nikki" G says
Love the fun facts Linda! Who knew we have # 3 & 4 on common?!
I've always loved your blog.
Linda P. says
Thank you so much Nikki! Love that we have these things in common. So happy we have connected over the last couple of months!
Maggie Overby says
Loved your story, Your home should absolutely be your haven. If you can’t feel a peace there things need to change! Lovely work!
Linda P. says
Exactly Maggie. Our home should always be our refuge from this crazy world.
Felicia says
Hi Linda! It's been great to virtually "meet" you through reading your story. I couldn't help but think of the connect between you and Maggie pertaining to moving around a lot. I love you aesthetic and wish I had a room that looked like your daughter's Tennessee bedroom! And I love the reference to The Lion King/Already in the title. 😉
Linda P. says
Felicia, it's been awesome "meeting" you as well, and really enjoyed reading your post! I was wondering if anyone would get the title reference LOL. I should've also mentioned I like animated Disney movies.
Jamala K Wallace says
Linda...my hats off to you!! 8 moves... wow..i could barely handle 1 lol... when i moved to SC... you, like me, had the aha moment and created our blogs.. I've admired your style for many years and look forward to seeing what you continue to share. Thank you so much for sharing and joining the punch bowl social. It was a pleasure reading about you.
Linda P. says
8 is pretty insane LOL we see that now. You inspire me so much Jamala with your style, the sheer magic of your thrifted eye, and how friendly and open you are to others in this niche. Thank you for hosting this because I got to "meet" some awesome ladies and was able to learn more about the ones I already had connections with!