Jose and I were sitting down this weekend & I looked over at him & said “I should re-name my blog.” He of course questioned that right away, & my response right away was something like “because my blog isn’t just me… it’s me & you.” cue the “awwwww”. But really, Jose is such a big part of my blog that sometimes I feel bad calling it “Liz Marie Blog” even though we have our farm blog as well, White Cottage Farm Blog, there isn’t a project or room makeover that he doesn’t touch. & that’s how it’s always been.. the two of us living out our dreams of room makeovers, DIY’s, projects, decor, farming, & so much more. Eleven years of marriage for the both of us this year & since day one even in our little first town home it’s been project after project & I think, actually I know, it’s made us stronger as a couple & truly has become a deep passion for the both of us. I’m just the lucky one documenting it here & hopefully you guys have always known that Jose is the backbone of this blog with me & we are both so grateful to share with you on here & that you stop by here daily to see what we are up to. One fun thing that we get to do as bloggers is go to a blogging conference this year in Charleston, South Carolina, the Haven Conference with some other fellow DIY bloggers & I can not wait…
The Blogging Conference
The conference is called Haven & Jose & I attend it together & it’s so fun to visit every year to learn new things & most importantly connect with other bloggers. Most of what we do is just the two of us & sharing it online which is super fun, but we also want to see the people we chat with daily. We get to meet fellow bloggers & hang out with our old blogger friends that we have had for years.. it’s pretty great & something we look forward to every year. This year Jose & I get the great pleasure of being mentors again & it truly was my favorite thing about the conference last year.. not being the mentor, although that was fun, but the mentor groups. I learned so much from our little group & I hope they did as well, but I loved connecting in that group with people on a more intimate level that I might have not connected with otherwise on that level. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again.. I’m an introvert who struggles with anxiety on a whole new level most have never seen so going to things like this, although super fun, is super exhausting & scary for me.. I want to meet all the people, but I’m so scared at the same time. So when you see me… say hi, because most likely I’ll be scared to.. haha I wish I was kidding. But I think that’s why I love the small mentor groups.. in a huge sea of people at the conference it forces you to sit in a small group and chat. But really, this conference is amazing to connect with others at, laugh, cry, & just really get to know another side of blogging that you never knew before. Everyone has a story & it’s really amazing to get to know their story in a different way.
I thought it would be fitting to show you something Jose built this week & that I styled in our home that he wanted to share with you guys how to build your own… you see, he is one half of this little blog here & this is just one example….
Isn’t this dog bench adorable? Jose painted it as well & he explained how to build & paint it on our farm blog [HERE] for those of you who want to build your own. I put it in our sunroom with some of our plants on it to sunbathe… & of course Winnie chose to sunbathe by it as well. I love how this bench looks like a flea market antique find, but it was really built by Jose out of some scrap wood that we had in the workshop.. I love DIY projects like that!
I hope to see some of you guys at Haven if you are fellow bloggers.. & I’m serious, please stop and say hi because I would love to meet you & so would Jose! Thank you guys for cheering us on always, supporting us, & for stopping here always to see what we are up to or where we are at in our journey.. it honestly means the world to us. Thank you! & be sure to visit our farm blog today to see what Jose has to say about this cute little bench [HERE]. Thank you guys! xx
Ps. Other Haven mentors are blogging this week about the conference & you can check the ones that blogged today out here…
I’m attending Haven for the first time this summer. My husband is tagging along and we plan to go out early as a mini-vacay 🙂 He won’t be at the conference, but I SO HOPE I get to meet you in person! You have been such an inspiration to me! I’m sure you have dinners planned for every night, but my husband and I would love to grab even coffee with you and Jose! My husband works for a grain company and we both grew up on farms. I’m always showing my husband Grace and your other farm animals (our toddlers too)! Xx, Amy (@maisondemings)
Cute bench! You guys always make it sound so easy. Haha! What type of plants do you have on the bench?
You two are so inspirational, love your house & the decor.
http://www.femininefairytale.com
Love the cute bench Liz – and of course, that PUP!! I’ve shown him to my kids on Instagram so many times! I’m just in love with his sweet face!
I’m excited to be mentoring along side you this summer and so looking forward to meeting you! Yours was one of the first blogs I ever read, way before I even had a blog so it will be a thrill to meet you in person!
Sheila
xo
You, two are truly blessed to have found each other. Your delightful posts exemplify a beautiful marriage and a perfect project partnership. I was sixteen and my husband was eighteen when we married fifty years ago. I wish that he had taken more of an interest in home projects when we were first married. I usually did all of the home improvements (interior and exterior painting, plasterwork, tiling, cement work, laying a new floor, all the gardening and yard work) because he worked long, overtime hours. We never had any money to hire professionals. HIS father was a industrial painter and plasterer and taught me many skills early in my marriage. My husband hated to work on anything in the home and usually spent his free time watching sports.
My best friends actually registered me for the Handyman’s Club of America. Now, as I slow down, my husband has to help me with many tasks around the house. I think but I am not certain (because he never says much) that he is finally beginning to understand how much work it takes to keep a home in great condition. Since I own all the tools in the house, I plan to get him his own electric screwdriver for Father’s Day.
Liz!
I am so excited for Haven again! Last year I walked in there without knowing a single person. It was hard but I learned so much and met so many nice people. It was a fabulous experience.
I cannot wait to meet you and Jose. You are my inspiration and I am blessed to call you a friend.
Leslie
Can not wait to meet you both at Haven this year Liz! Thank you both for all you do to inspire us daily!
Love the bench AND the dog! Looking forward to the opportunity to meet you & Jose at Haven!
Excited to see you again, Liz!
You are blessed to have a husband who is as committed as you are to making your home beautiful? The opposite is no fun! Ask me how I know ? Have fun at Haven.
Hi Liz, I am attending Haven for the first time as a new blogger. You and I have chatted a few times through emails as I live near New Bern and we had that in coming. I have followed you for years and am always inspired by your diy, decor and your life story. To say that I am excited to finally meet you in person is an understatement. Can not wait to learn all I can from you and the others that will be leading this conference and to give you a big hug.
I will be attending Haven for the first time this summer, and I am looking forward to experiencing the things you shared! I started my blog the past January, and I have been wanting to attend Haven for the last two years… but waited. Waiting is a good thing! 😉 I’ll be looking for you!