I wanted to do something a little different today. As part of my one year celebration I wanted to have a little fun. I have said it before, and I will say it again, I HAVE THE BEST READERS EVER!!!!! I feel like I know some of you better than others though. I though a good way to fix that was to have a Linky party where you link up a post (or your "about me" page) all about YOU! Then I can click on the links and read more about you guys. I am a pretty open book. If you have been around a while you probably know almost all there is to know about me. But I will dig a little deeper and try to write some new stuff :) I'll go first, and then I would love it if you would link something up. It doesn't have to be long and it can be something you posted in the past.
I grew up outside of a small town in the country. I was a major tom boy. I loved bugs, animals, gardening, well...basically anything that was outside :) I even had short hair like a boy!
(Warning: these pictures are scans and terrible quality)
I loved going into my dad's shed and getting the hand saw and hammer. I would sit in the wood pile and build away. My dad was not a builder. I didn't grow up seeing anyone doing that. I think that we all came to this earth with talents and interests. I was blessed to grow up in a home where I was allowed to experiment with them.
My mom was a teacher who chose to stay home with us. She is very creative and has a love of antiques. I think a lot of my design aesthetic comes from growing up surrounded by her creations and collections. 
My dad was a milk man. He had gone to school to be a counselor for troubled youth but realized that he would have to live in a big city to really do that well.He didn't want that so he stayed doing the job that he had worked through college. My dad loved it and through that job was actually able to help many young men that worked for him turn their lives around. No matter what you are doing in life, you can find a way to use your talents and skills to help others. My dad passed away from cancer when I was 15.
I went to college in Idaho. I had not planned on going there. I had a college picked out in Utah. I had a job, a place to live, and a scholarship. But I felt prompted to change my plans and go to another school. I met my husband there :) It was love at first sight. There were many challenges getting from "meeting him" to "dating him" but it was worth it in the end. He is a small town country boy. He went to school for architecture. He is happy in a small town and understands my need to be creative. He is not perfect. I am not perfect. But we are a perfect match. ( I don't care one whit that it sounds cheesy!)
We chose to marry young. He was 24 and I was almost 21. We also had our first son pretty soon. We had been married only a year and a half when he was born. We were very poor while my husband went to school and I stayed at home with our little boy. We moved to Las Vegas, Nevada so that my husband could go complete the architecture program. It took him twice as long because he was working full time so I could stay at home with our little guy. I had 2 more kids while we were there. Everyone in the program was single and younger than my husband. Everyone thought it was a little weird. But it worked for us :)
We bought our darling 1938 home while we were dirt poor and living in Vegas. Everyone thought we were crazy (including us). My sister was looking for a new house and asked me to go online to look at the houses she was considering. One time I felt like I should look at homes that were for sale in my home town. I did. I was scrolling through them all when I saw our house. I started to cry. I felt so strongly that it was suppose to be our home. It took me off guard that I would have such a strong reaction to a house. Especially since we were not even in the market for one. I decided to do an experiment. I had my husband scroll through them when he got home. I said nothing to him about my earlier reaction. And he did the same thing!!! He started to get emotional and he said "I think we are suppose to buy that house." Keep in mind that we had NO money. We were living off of mac and cheese for crying out loud! How the crap were we suppose to buy a house??? Oh, and there was the little fact about us being in Vegas and the house being in Utah. Minor detail, right?
Well to make a long AMAZING story short (maybe I will share the full story another day) we bought the house and rented it out to some good friends until we were done with school and could move in. I had 2 years to plan. I had 2 years to pick out paint colors. You should have seen my folder! Crammed full. The day we moved in was one of the best days ever! I had a blank canvas for all of my ideas :) It has been 4 years and we are no where near done. 2 lay offs, and a host of other bumps in the road later, have made the renovation process a little slower than I would like. But it will get there. One project at a time:)
Okay, some things you may not know about me....hmmm. I love candy. Sugar is a major weakness for me. I love chocolate and black licorice the best.
I think I have the longest arm hair in the world. Which is why I shave it.
I really, really want a milk cow. I don't know if I would drink the milk, but I want one anyway. Actually, I want to live on a full fledge farm. That is why we have chickens and ducks and a huge garden. It is the closest I will probably ever get :)
I want to be the voice of a cartoon character one day.
I write children's stories and illustrate them. One day I will be brave and send one to a publisher. . .
I am really brave when it comes to approaching people in emails but in person I am more shy. At least at first. I don't think my friends and family would say I am shy! But until I get to know people I can be quiet.
OKAY!!! I spilled the beans about me and now I want to know a little something about you. So link up baby!!!
I really enjoyed reading about you and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that photo of your dad. It's so cool. Do you have it framed? My life is too Jerry Springer as far as childhood and family, but my son, husband and adulthood are great because I learned to make good choices and not follow the path of destruction.
I loved reading about you! It is so fun to hear about the blogger behind the blog. Makes me feel like I know you! Crazy I know, but even though it is just through the computer that I meet people in the blog world, I still feel like they are friends. I also loved hearing the story about how you guys bought your house. Isn't it amazing how things like that happen sometimes?? I love your house. You have done such a great job with it! I can't wait for the day that we can buy a house and I can do the same... (We are still in the student phase of life.) Someday though! Anyways... Thanks for sharing and letting us into your life a little more!! :)
xoxo, Ashley
I loved reading your story, thanks for sharing :) This is a great idea for a link party, I'm looking forward to learning more about fellow bloggers!
This is a cute linky party idea! I loved your story about your husband moving for school and being poor :) I think there is something that makes a couple close to start and be young and poor together. At least that's what I think... All of my friends have two incomes and no kids and my husband and I sacrificed my paycheck so I can stay home with my two kids. I wouldn't change it for the world!
What a GREAT idea for a linky party!! Love it!
Jo-Anna
great post!! and I might have you beat on hairy arms....people think I'm weird for shaving them, but it's better than the alternative!
You are so sweet to do this! What a great idea!
It was great getting to know you this morning. I love the old photos. What a great party!
~Sarah
What a great story. It's nice to know a little more about the person's blog I stalk everyday. Gorgeous wedding photo too. LOVE your dress.
Love the wedding photo , Stacy...sweet looking and so natural...one of the best I've seen. you have a great family. thanks for uniting us bloggers like this it is so wonderful... I'm going to read every one !
hugs
and joys to you all
KAT
I loved reading this! Your story is so sweet! xoxo
great idea, Stacy! i enjoyed learning more about you. i was 21 when i got married too. looking forward to getting to know some fellow bloggers. hope you have a great weekend.
What a fun idea for a link party, I've never seen this done before! I loved getting to know more about you! I love that you were a tomboy and liked dirt and snakes, etc. The picture of you is adorable! Your blog has frown into something so pretty and so inspiring. I saw your article in Better Homes & Gardens not too long ago, and I thought, hey, I "know" that blogger! Seriously that's what I love about blogging, you can really meet a lot of neat people who have a lot in common with you. I just bought a ticket for the SNAP conference in Utah this April. It looks like you're going, and I SO HOPE TO BE ABLE TO MEET YOU, you're one of my blogging stars :)
er... grown, not frown! haha
What a great story of how you bought your house! I loved reading this! Some things are just meant to be! I linked up my "about" page and there are links within that.
Loved reading about you and getting to know you a little more. Really enjoyed the old picks!!
Stacy!! I feel like I known you... Its Crazy I know! But, you are so sweet and kind, I Look up to you and your blog!! I Loved reading your story and looking at your awesome pictures!!
PS: I shave my arm too and I'm shy when I Meet someone... I was at the Utah Bloggers Summit and was afraid to approach you {Not sure why? You are so awesome and down to earth}
Big Hugs
Karina
Stacy! You are too cute! Love you blog and all of your creativity! You are amazing!!
I love, love, love when bloggers do little bios every once in awhile! This link party is GENIUS!
I love the picture of your dad. Mine died of cancer, as well, when I was a freshman in highschool.
I, too, feel as though I'm waaaay more outgoing via the computer. I'm stand-offish when I first meet people, because of being shy and uncomfortable, and have been told it makes me seem cold or stuck up. I'm trying to smile more in public to remedy that first impression problem. :)
The house story is amazing. Would love to hear the full story. I bought my house when I was single - it was a DUMP - and my realtor looked right at me when I told him I wanted to make an offer and said, "You must have a vision." If I hadn't bought it, I would have never met my hubby.
I'm linking up a post I did in May called, 25 Things You Don't Know About Me.
Again, I LOVE this idea.
I absolutely LOOOOVE this idea Stacy! And so fun to get to know more about you. Also reminds me that I should probably update my About Me page. Have a great weekend. xo
What a wonderful idea ~ I loved reading your post & your wedding picture is just beautiful!
I don't have a fully flesh out "about me" at the moment but I just have to say...I shave my arms too! Oh man, it's so bad. My brothers called me man-arms and you can see it in pictures even when I was like 5. Sad. It's nice to meet a kindred long-hair arm sister :)
LOVE this idea! I am going to spend my Friday night at a bloggy meet and greet!
I just linked up my "about me" info but you should know that 1. My picture was a total joke- a modern twist on the 50's housewife. 2. I once thought it would be genius to use mascara on my eyebrows...I wound up looking like Groucho Marx. 3. I'm a chronic winker so people either think I have an odd facial twitch or that I am hitting on them. and 4. I am a total rookie blogger, but holy gravy, I am loving this community!
Thank you soooo much for hosting this awesome bloggy meet and greet!
Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com
Love your story, Stacy! Thanks for sharing. Blessings......
Do you think you will have time to check out all those "about me " :) I loved reading yours and thx for the link party
What a GREAT idea! I just spent a few minutes revamping my About Me page just for you! I hope you will come by and read about my preemie miracle babies :)
Stacy, Thanks for sharing your story with us all. I linked up a post I did this summer. It isn't neccessarily a "where I come from" as much as it is a "where I am now" kind of post. It was fun to put together, and I love the opportunity to share it with some of my other new bloggy friends.
Oh, I so want a milk cow!!! But it will be a long while before I have the space. I have been thinking about getting some chickens and a dwarf milk goat or two. Love your dad's mule.
This is really fun! Thanks for hosting it. I wish I had something better to link up to. It's weird, even on my own blog, I feel like no one would want to know that stuff about me. Then I read it on other people's blogs and it is my very favorite thing. Ew, that makes me sound so insecure or something. Anyway, glad you are doing this! I'd love to hear the full story of your house sometime!
Thanks for the inspiration to actually make an "about me" tab on my blog :)
I enjoyed learning more about you, I was also a big tomboy.
I enjoyed learning more about you! I also married young and stay home with my 2 boys (so far...hopefully we will have one more!) My husband works very hard to support us and provide so I can stay home with the boys. It is inspiring to see your optimism in your situation! We have had a very trying time also after my husband was laid off about 2 years ago. We are recovering, thank you Jesus! But, it helps to know that we are not alone! I LOVE crafting and home design and sometimes get annoyed, like you, at the slow process of it due to our tight budget. But, I am so glad that I can still have fun and have a beautiful home on my little budget because of my determination and love of DIY! Thanks for all of your great ideas!! Keep it up!!
Thanks for the party! Fun idea! I stumbled upon your blog from Pinterest when I noticed someone in your picture on that project posted. Your husband was one of my FHE brothers in college I think back in the late 90's at Ricks?? Ha ha.. small world. If it is I think I have a photo somewhere of him dressed as Travolta I have to give you. You are one talented lady. Love the blog.
What a great life story. You write beautifully and the pictures are great. So fun to get to know new people through blogs! So glad I stopped by from the Twitter link today! I'm now excited to be following your great blog!
I laughed OUT LOUD lf when I read about your hairy arms...I too am a member of that club! My sister and I laugh when it is time to "defuzz" and we can't roll down our car windows or there will be too much "movement in the breeze"! Lol! Thanks for sharing!
Loved this post! I agree, that picture of you and your husband speaks volumes, it is beautiful and timeless! I'm from the same hometown, although I've moved around a bunch and we've only lived there off and on, it still feels like home to me and I love to visit and my kids love grandma and grandpa's farm :) thank you for your blog, you are so kind and sweet and generous, and it comes across in everything you do! I know it might sound silly, but I hope to meet you in person someday :) have a great day!
PS Yesterday my husband asked me what I want for Christmas, I told him I want a jigsaw! I've always wanted to work with wood and so your blog is so helpful and inspiring to me!
Hi Stacy! Someone posted about this on Facebook and I had to stop by and see what it was all about- such a fun idea! I love reading about the people "behind" the amazing blogs and yours is one of those amazing blogs! I have just spent the past 30 minutes going through all your talented and creative posts . . . you are inspiring! I linked up our blog and I am excited to be one of your followers and see what you do next. :)
Camille @
SixSistersStuff.blogspot.com
I was so excited when I noticed you were doing this link party! I just started my blog and I am very new to all this but loving every minute of it!! Thanks again...and I think it is so funny you have the same green paisley fabric as we have in our nursery! Love your blog, you have some amazing ideas!!
Vintage Momma
http://www.vintagemommaandhertwins.blogspot.com