Hi! How are you, even?
What’s new?
Summer is turning to Fall, school has started, and all kinds of things have been happening. There’s so much to discuss!
Come sit down. Let me pour you a cup of coffee (or wine, depending on what time of day you’re reading this) and let’s catch up, shall we?
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As you guys know, this summer there was a slightly different rhythm here on the blog than we were used to. I ran a series of guest posts from some other writers and you heard from me a little bit less than usual. I loved introducing you guys to new and different voices, and I was honored to share you, my dear, sweet, amazing readers, with my other writer friends as well.
I know, it all sounds rather polygamous, but I promise, it’s not like that. While the change of pace was fun, it mostly just confirmed how much I missed you all.
You guys are it for me, man.
I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for the long haul. Do you want me to write you another DTR (Determine The Relationship) letter to prove it? Do you want me to call the local radio station and request Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U?”
Because I will. I love you like that.
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Even though you’ve heard from me a (tiny) bit less lately, just know that I’ve still been writing. Some of that writing is still stashed away- in brave new files on my computer, waiting for the exact right time and place to be shared. Saving up words instead of blurting them all out is strange, new territory for me. But it feels somehow important that I do, and I’m trying to listen to that.
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We’ve also been up to all kinds of other shenanigans over here. It’s been a busy summer. We just wrapped up our latest house-flipping project, and it was a big one. I recently wrote a blog post sharing some fun behind the scenes Before & After photos. What I didn’t share with you, was that during that time we were being courted by a casting agent for a house-flipping television show.
You guys.
WHAT EVEN IS LIFE?!
I do not know.
Apparently someone who works for a production company came across some of the pictures of our project on my Instagram, and emailed me to see if we were interested in participating in a reality show.
I literally laughed out loud as I read the email’s subject line to Husband. “Well this obviously isn’t real,” I said. But on a whim we decided to email her back. Just for fun. Just to see what would happen.
What happened is that after an extensive vetting process in which we had phone interviews and videotaped Skype interviews, we found ourselves actually being pitched to a network for a new show they were casting.
What started almost as a jokey attempt to live out our secret fantasy of being “Chip & Joanna Part Deux”, (that’s what we affectionately named it. Because an outlandish dream should have an equally outlandish name) we both looked at each other one day like, “Oh my gosh. This might really happen.”
In the end they told us that they weren’t able to film in the Pacific Northwest for this particular season but that they “really liked us” and would “keep us in mind” for future openings. They probably say that to everyone they pass on, but whatever- I’m pretty sure this means we’re famous now! (Sarcasm implicit) (As usual)
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So in between writing here, writing for myself, and getting dumped from potential television shows, I’ve also been popping in to write a few other places as well. I’ve been lucky enough to be invited into a few other online communities as well as some completely new (to me) venues. Can you say PODCASTS? (I said that in a singsongy voice, by the way. You should know that.) I’ve only been a guest on two podcasts but I’ve already fallen so in love with the experience that I want to marry it. Give me podcasts or give me death! Okay not really, but I seriously had THE MOST FUN on both of them. We laughed so much. Maybe too much. (Nah, not possible.)
So because you guys are my one true love, I wanted to share with you all the other places I’ve been lately. I thought it would be fun to compile a list with all the links in one post.
Raise your hand if you love links!
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The first podcast I did was This Good Word. You can find me on Episode 43, discussing the word COURAGE- what it means to me (feeling the fear and saying yes anyway), what it requires, and the way it enriches your life. We also talked about a lot of other important things like Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, the one recurring dream I’ve had in my life, the benefit of label makers, and the correct way to order Taco Bell. Prepare to be riveted. Click here to listen.
The second podcast I did was DBXP, the lifestyle podcast for Dutch Bros, a very popular and successful coffee chain over here in the upper left USA. They were running a “How To” series and they had me over on the famous red couch at HQ to break down the “how to” of blogging. (Also to RAP because that is a real thing they made me do.) They just so happen to be fun-havers over at DB and I just so happen to be in the middle of my year of saying Yes to new things, so that is more or less the story of how I wound up doing a freestyle rap. Unfortunately (or fortunately) you don’t get to hear the actual rap on the podcast because it was just for fun to warm up, but you do get to hear some well timed movie quotes, some advice on how to get started with blogging, and a bunch of old-timey phrases that got me teased quite a bit. Click here to listen.
On August 5th I was over at GraceTable with a piece titled “When Hospitality Is Hard”, in which I share a very personal and unflattering story of burnout, and how I learned the hard way that sometimes part of true soul-care involves putting yourself in a time-out.
I was also over at ForEveryMom.com with a story about my kids finally letting me sleep in and how it’s basically the biggest accomplishment of my life. You can read it here: Moms, This Is the #1 Most Deliciously Awesome Thing About Your Kids Growing Up.
Before that I was over at Steve Wiens blog, with a post titled “Kill Your Darlings”, talking about the creative process, the art of writing, and why it’s so important to let go of our most self indulgent bits, both in writing and in life.
Before that, I wrote my very first guest post for my friend, Micah Murray. Now, I know we’re taking it back over a year here, but this post is still near and dear to my heart. I believe so hard in the message of running in your own lane, being true to yourself and your voice, and letting that show through in your writing. You can read it here: Why I’d Rather Be A Happy Blogger Than A Successful One. P.S. Don’t let the title fool you, I very much want to be both happy and successful.
So that’s it! That’s where I’ve been. Later this week I have a post running over at the Mudroom, and I’ll be sure to share it with you guys here as well.
I’m so excited to be getting back into a regular routine on the blog, and I’m so honored to have the privilege of sharing my heart and spilling my guts here with you guys. You’ve always been so kind and generous to me and I don’t take that for granted. Not for one second.
Love you guys.
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