Looking Back...Hopeful For 2012

Hi Everyone~~

This post has is dedicated to looking back on 2011 and all the happenings (good and bad) and looking forward to a wonderful 2012.

Last December (2010) I decided to go through all my magazines and pull out the pics I wanted as inspiration etc. While doing this I came across my October issue of Romantic Homes. In it I saw a blog called Dreamy Whites. At the time, I didn't even know what a blog was, but the name caught my attention so I decided to check it out. From that moment on, I was hooked. How did I not know about blogs?? After all, I love to decorate, I love flea markets and I love getting new ideas. 

I have to say I was so..... excited and from her blog I found more blogs. ~HEAVEN ~Things were going great. Also during this time, me and two of my good friends started talking about opening a store on Etsy. 

But, all things changed on January 21st. My mom was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. This was her 5th time having cancer and I just couldn't believe it was happening again. She thought she had sinus infection. I was numb. 

I remained that way for quite some time. I couldn't look towards the future because it was to painful. The one thing that did make me happy and became a big escape was the "Blog World"  As the months went by and my mom went through treatments I realized how short life is and how it all can change so quickly. I also realized how important is to DO THINGS and not let opportunities pass by.

We had put our Etsy shop on hold and I finally felt like I was up to getting it going so in May we began selling at My Soulful Home on Etsy. I am so happy we did this. We have met so many great people from all over the world and we have had such fun learning how to grow a business and be business partners. 

During this time I also decided to take a leap of faith and start my own blog. I have to thank Maria at Dreamy Whites for all her great advice and encouragement.I couldn't have done it without her. My first post went out in July and it was such a scary thing. Would people like it??? Would anyone even see it????? So with my very limited computer skills and my not so great camera, I went for it!!! I have to say that it has changed my life and I am so happy I didn't let this opportunity  pass me by.

In August we got the miraculous news...MY MOMS TUMOR SHRUNK 50%. I knew she had been feeling better, but this was unbelievable. She still has to take her chemo oral meds, but no more radiation for her. She is still doing great and her tumor continues to stay smaller. Even though I had been happy with my shop and blog there was still a dark cloud over my head. That cloud was now lifted and it was full of sunshine:))

And then more good news.. In September I was contacted by Romantic Homes Magazine and asked to have  my blog featured in the January 2012 issue. I thought someone was playing a joke on me. How did I get so lucky that they found my little blog??? The magazine that helped me discover blogs now would be featuring MY blog.  I was beyond excited. What a difference a year makes.

And Viola~Here it is!! All the pictures in this post prior to this one are pictures that I had to submit to the magazine. It is the bed and bath issue.

A special thank you to the following people who have been constant supports this past year to be in my blogging world:

Maria at Dreamy Whites

Maria at Rusty Hinge  ~~  She was my first follower

Jessie at Cozy Cottage in the City

Melinda at Alabaster Rose Design

Laura at 52 Flea

Rachel at French Farmhouse 425

Michele at Summersoul - shes also my sister in law

Thank you also to all of you who left encouraging comments and joined my blog. You have made this journey all worth it. I look forward to 2012 and am hoping it is filled with good health, new friends and old friends, new business, courage, inspiration, creativity and just a bunch of goodness and happiness.

Here is a picture from Christmas 2011 of the most courageous person I know and my role model...my mom.

LOVE YOU!!!!!

xo,

Cheryl