Kendra sent us a sweet little email the other day, and said this:
…I love your site. I love what you do… I love that your kids are such a huge inspiration for both of you, so thank you for all the inspiration. I was curious, and I hope this isn’t too nosy: Can you tell me how you all got started? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post on that …
So if you hopped on over here to our little corner today, you may have noticed we made a few changes at the top. It only feels appropriate, true to tradition, to start out with a walk down memory lane and a confession of sorts. I’m pretty sure not many people know…
{Deep breath} This. Is how it all started.
Brace yourselves. Because in going back to find all our old headers, I almost left this one out, in sheer determination to rewrite history. Then I realized it wasn’t possible even though I really want to pretend it never happened. Kind of like all those perms in the 80’s or that boy I dated in high school…
Because just like bad perms and boyfriends teaching us a lot about ourselves, it’s all part of a learning process. Once upon a time, I was Supabloggasuprememama. That’s right. Say it five times fast.
It’s this secret factoid I keep hidden away until someone asks me how I started. That question happens like, once every five years, so I figured it was time to spill it here. If I die tomorrow, I think that it’s important to understand the level of ridiculous that was this title. Just kidding- I still stand by the blatant fact that the name was quite amazing. You’re welcome.
Behold. The awesome design that is our first header:
Those were the days of one baby, who actually slept. When I thought I had it all figured out. We lived in a town that wasn’t great for my profession (Graphic Design), so Jamin had a job and I made motherhood my full time gig. It’s like everyone told me how hard motherhood was, so I was prepared for the worst. And then it wasn’t, so {duh} I must be good at this. I sat at home during nap times and stalked all my friends’ blogs. And I thought… I’m totes starting my own! {Yes, I did say totes. Yes, you may slap me now} I mean, it’s easy, right? Type, load a photo, share with my mother-in-law that Aiden tried mashed green beans today. Wheeeee!
So start one, I did. I opened up my little account on blogger, and I wrote about Britney Spears driving with her baby in the drivers seat, and fashion disaster nip slips at the Super Bowl {ew} and Lost. And then more of Britney Spears’ shaved head/umbrella incident.
Riveting stuff, y’all. In retrospect, I am so proud of her comeback. We all need good comebacks.
And then one day, we had a scary moment. I call it my strawberry waffle moment.
I read somewhere that frozen waffles were a great solution for teething babes. Guess what? They’re an asinine idea. I was right there, but I looked away for a moment, and when I looked again, there were pieces of waffle in his mouth, and he was coughing. Cue the panic. I think that’s known to happen with frozen breads; the general idea is that they come apart when moist and warm. Who knew? I panicked and did the finger sweep, vowing to not be such an idiot, swearing off strawberry waffles forever.
When I got brave enough to share, I did. And I realized writing on the www was more than Britney updates and tv show critiques. Because staying at home for the first time with your baby, can be really isolating. Suddenly, community was found in the real. In the me too moments. I didn’t feel so moronic anymore, and I started to realize that I really loved writing on my little blog.
Then reality hit when we had another baby.
Shocker.
While some babies sleep and are perfectly amazing, merely tricking me into {oh so comically} thinking I was a fabulous mother, most babies cry. And scream. And projectile vomit and poo all at once on your nice outfit that took five hours to select because you feel fat in everything. Said bodily fluid leakage always happens two seconds before leaving the house-it’s a rule or something. Complicating the issue is that two year olds {formerly known as perfect babies} stop sleeping entirely when second baby arrives, and so the word “fog” doesn’t quite describe it. More like working coma, was the state I found myself in.
At some point, I gave up entirely and stayed in my pajamas in the name of searching for sanity. I’d reached my low. I’m pretty sure I sent a rude email about Jamin’s best friend… intended for Jamin… to his best friend. I was smooth like that. It’s called Karma because I totally deserved it, and good thing they’re best friends because forgiveness + awkward = fun times. I was one missed nap away from my own shaved head/umbrella incident when Jamin came home from work and asked me how my day went, so I decided to reel it in on the Britney judgement. It was all starting to make sense.
I probably should have called it quits. But I needed my little Supablogga corner for an outlet, more than ever.
So there I was, during nap time, writing about kimonos and space inspiration. Thinking up fun ideas for our home, and sharing more about our life. Because it was good for me to have my thing. Sometimes Jamin asked me if I was blogging again, not sure what to think about it all…
I would just tell him yes.
And then {Surprise!} Because just when we started to sleep at night, when Emmy was 9 months old, around Thanksgiving I thought I had the flu. The kids were chasing Chloe around the kitchen, and I’m pretty sure one of them had just made a feast of the dog food when I slammed the test down on the counter. He said he didn’t want to see it until after Thanksgiving. Cue me, laughing and crying hysterically. It was the only response I could muster.
Diagnosis: my situation would clear up in about nine months. His name was Malone.
When I caught my breath, and I decided it was time to add more heads to our header… or maybe… feet. The whole Supa Blogga thing really wasn’t quite doing it anymore. {Read: I realized how dorky it was.}
So Pure + Lovely was born.
Somewhere in there, people were patient with me. And they came back. It wasn’t just my mother-in-law reading anymore so that was kind of scary. Yet exciting. And fulfilling more than I thought it ever would be. I shared more about our home and more about our lives and I realized that The Handmade Home suited us better. It was the perfect name.
As did these feet and always, lots of Chloe.
And then I decided it was time to update things a little, because the kids grew.
It’s bittersweet how quickly time flies, and how fast things change. I always said I would update these. It’s my very favorite least favorite post, when it’s time to change them.
The days are long but the years are short in more than just child rearing, though it feels like I pretty much opened my eyes one day and what we were doing was less of a “me” and more of an “us”. Jamin was on board with this silly website, full time and I am so grateful for his support. Even though it took us a while to figure out what we wanted to be when we grew up, and we’re still tweaking it. We’re beyond grateful for the amazing readers who still stop by to see what ridiculous we’re up to, next.
My point {besides embarrassing myself}? If anyone ever says that writing and putting it all out there on the www isn’t the most humbling thing ever, they’re doing it wrong. Because hello growing pains. Right here. In real life.
If you want, you can watch us figure out who the heck we are. What we want to be when we grow up. Sometimes the site messes up and we feel dumb. Sometimes we get some pretty honest emails from people and we take them to heart. Life happens. Changes happen. Sometimes homeschooling doesn’t work out like it’s supposed to, and sometimes houses don’t sell when we think we need them to. Life has its highs and lows, and growing pains. Sometimes its hard to write through the lows. The road can get pretty bumpy at times.
And then I go back to the strawberry waffles. I decided to share it because it makes me normal. Human. Because those strawberry waffle moments are real life. And guess what? All of us have those strawberry waffle moments.
We’re all just trying to figure it out.
And that’s why we keep coming back. To share. To challenge ourselves. To be inspired by you.
This final addition was a hard one to make because of Chloe. The kids even resisted right alongside us. But it was time. We’ve decided she will forever live on in our logo, since she was such a huge part of our little community from the beginning… and since we will never really quite get over her. I’m pretty sure we’re not supposed to. ;}
It was fun to add these sweet gals to carry on with our little tradition, as a part of our new era. And it’s bittersweet to look back on where we’ve been as a family and where we hope to go.
So here’s our little updated header with a brief history…
For what it’s worth, we still don’t have any of it figured out. And for what it’s worth, Jamin is really glad I kept writing.
Especially about the strawberry waffles.
Megan says
I lost my dog, Rugby, 4 1/2 years ago. He was 8 weeks old when I got him and died right after the seventh anniversary of his “gotcha” day. He was, by far, the best dog ever in our entire family. He’s been physically replaced by another great dog but he will never fully be replaced. At 150 lbs of pure love, his presence was known and missed. So, I feel your pain on losing Chloe. The new girls are cute and are a great part of your family, but like you said, Chloe had an important role in your life.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe Megan. I am so sorry. Yes, it never really goes away! :/ For what it’s worth – what a cute name!
Wendy says
Love your story and blog … thanks for sharing! I’m a crazy who got 2 dogs to get over the loss of one … and those 2 still eat poo despite trying meat tenderizer. Yuck!
ashley @ the handmade home says
BOOOOO! So sorry it didn’t help. I think they grow out of it eventually… at least that’s what we can tell ourselves… so glad we’re not the only ones who tried two! They’re still so worth it. HAHA!
Marian@CMShawStudios says
Ashley, I’ve been stalking your blog for weeks now as I dejunk my whole house in preparation for both sets of parents to come to my last 8 yr old’s baptism in a few weeks. And all I have to say is thank you for being what you are like! I have a pretty solid sense of self, but every so often I start to feel like I majorly missed the memo somewhere. It’s funny how sorting through your stuff can help you see what you really like and what you don’t. And how looking back can help you see that it was all just about becoming who you are. I think it’s much less mortifying to look back, if you remember that being like that then taught you what you needed to know for now.
I love your house! It’s so fun. And your blog. I feel like we’re friends. And I am really proud of you for reimagining your header to reflect what is, bittersweet though it may be. That kind of stuff can be really hard. Here’s hoping for “happily ever after”…Finishing dejunking for me and selling the house for you…or whatever most needs to happen for your general well being.
Thanks for keeping it real,
The Other Marian
Michael @ CraftyDad.com says
Hey!
No matter how, or where, or why you started blogging — I’m just really happy that you’re still going strong.
And that comes from a dude who also decided to get a perm in the very early 80s. Yep, that’s MY factoid. Happy to get that out there for all to see.
And yes, there IS a great learning experience in doing foolish things like that. Amen. And amen.
Best wishes to you and your sweet family for a very safe and fun 4th of July weekend.
Y’all rock.
: )
Lauren English says
I’m so glad you shared this! It’s so fun and encouraging to read the stories of how bloggers came to the places they are, AND this made me giggle a bit. Y’all are wonderful! I hope you have a great 4th of July!
Casey says
I love your blog and read it faithfully. You have inspired so many of the projects we do in our home – we recreated the railings on your playhouse on our deck! Thank you so much for sharing this story with us!
Beth M. says
I’ve been reading since the Pure+Lovely days and have loved watching y’all figure things out! So much of my decorating style is based on your influence. Can’t wait to see what happens when you move to Nashville!
And yes, Chloe should stay on the website forever!
Erin says
Love this walk through your history on the great WWW. I’ve been reading since you were Pure & Lovely. :o)