No Fear Decorating, Learning to Just Be You, and a HUGE Thank You

I had a totally different post planned for this morning.  Something happened as I was driving home from dropping the kids off at school.  I started thinking about a project I want to tackle in the dining room over the weekend.  I still need to address this rug situation.

Thinking about my diy plans got me to thinking about this room in general and what a transformation it has been through since we moved in to this house.

More than that it got me reminiscing.

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a little while, would you ever in a million years guess that was my dining room?  It was.  It was our Pittsburgh dining room – the fourth house.  This photo was taken about 5 years ago, close to when we moved in to that house.  When I look back at this photo (while the photo itself is not a great one) the room looks okay.  It’s not terrible.  It’s dated -sure – this was 5 years ago.  It’s traditional.  It’s dark and heavy.  The ceiling should have been painted white probably, and the same applies for below the chair rail.  But mainly what is missing or what is off when I look at this photo is us.  There is not one thing (ok – maybe the chandy) that actually looks like the hubs and I lived there.  It looks like someone else lived there.  I look at that picture and I don’t see my personality in it at all.

I realized something that made me smile today as I was on my way back home.  I finally live in a home that looks like I live there.

I stopped decorating the way I thought I was supposed to and started doing it however I wanted.  I’m not a designer.  I don’t follow any rules.  I just do what I like (and what the hubs likes too).  I’m not afraid to say that this furniture we were handed down isn’t our style.  I’m not afraid to paint furniture.

That same table you see in our Pittsburgh dining room went from this.

To this.

I’m not afraid that someone will come to my home and not like the way it’s decorated.  Starting this blog has helped me to break out of my fear and to just be me!  It has made me realize that I don’t need to fit inside a little labeled “my-decorating-style-is” box anymore.  My style is all over the map and that is okay.  It feels so good to be in a place where you aren’t constantly second guessing yourself or where you don’t think for two seconds about putting a giant white horse head above your mantel……..

Or about popping a scarf and fedora on her to deck her out for the holidays.

It feels good to just do what you like.  And it feels good to say – yeah – I like the color red and even though everyone else in the world is painting their walls grey I’m rocking out with my red walls because I LOVE THEM!

I really want to say thank you for coming here to read my random thoughts and check out my projects.  You all have helped me so much more than you know to feel comfortable in my own skin.   Thanks for helping me learn how to just be me and to start decorating with no fear.

My fifth grade teacher told me, and I quote because I never forgot this, “Carmel, you have a serious lack of creativity.  It’s a good thing you’re so good at Math.”  She made this remark because of a 3D model I made of the state of Wyoming (I did not pick that state- it was assigned).  No offense to anyone who may live in Wyoming, but it is not the most inspiring landscape.  Dear Mrs. You Know Who You Are That Made My 5th Grade Year Of School So Stinking Hard,

Thank you and Goodbye!

Happy Weekend!  Cheers to being who we are and loving every minute!  

* Linking up at Home Stories A to Z – My Favorite Post of 2011 Link Party!