Do y'all believe a home can have a beating heart?
I do.
I've been in the prettiest of houses that were stone cold to the core and I've been in the messiest of homes that wrapped me in warmth the minute I stepped through the door.
I like to believe our Casita de Trash falls into the latter...leastwises that's what I aim for...minus the messy part.
(Now before I go any further, let the record show I'm letting you know up front, this may will be a long post. Consider yourself warned.)
Casita is the perfect word to describe a less than 1500 sq. ft. home...instead of the 3000 I like to pretend it is.
We've lived in this tiny home almost our entire married life and after 37 years, our roots run deep...way deep...clear clean to China.
We raised two kids here, fought here, cried here, but mostly loved here. We've hosted a parade of folks through our front door and said goodbye to others we hated to see leave. Sitting here alone, typing in my office, I can smell the perfume, hear the footsteps, and feel the memories that cling to every square inch of this hill I call home.
There's been birthday and graduation parties, wedding receptions, showers, and many-a-many just 'cause we want to parties. We've also held countless Christmas open houses over the years...throwing open the front and back doors to greet family and friends. These occasions are when I believe in magic. See it's like this. In my mind...fool that I am...everything appears larger than it actually is...including the size of the rooms. I truly believed I could cram 150+ guests...in addition to 20 tubs of Christmas smoke and mirrors...into a mere 1500 sq. ft...and I always did.
(Trays of food would mysteriously be emptied on their way from the front door to the kitchen...while towers of donated canned goods, coats, blankets and toys would rise up in every corner of every room! Christmas magic performed by the Houdinis and Houdini-ettes masquerading as our guests!)
The food, the laughter, every square inch dripping with lights and tinsel as high as I could reach.
These were the loveliest of times and some of my most precious memories are wrapped in those red tubs, but sadly we stopped hosting an open house in 2009, the year Bella was born. Just too many other things needed tending to.
2009 was a memorable year filled with change...Bella's birth, setting up shop in Winnie & Tulula's and meeting Robelyn for the first time. She's like a third child to me and a sister to my melon-heads. She adores Graycie, Bella and her Kitty-Cat Daddy and would probably spoil them all rotten if she lived any closer. She's also one of the most creative designers of products for women. It's like she just knows what women want and goes ahead on and makes it. And law...don't even let me get started on her packaging lessin' y'all are wanting to be here all day.
My Jenn is one smart cookie...she gets that from me! She can spot cool and hip from a mile off and as a result, had this amazing brain fart. I'm thinking her and Chickie Baby really are twins separated at birth, 'cause when Jenn approached Robelyn with her fart germ of an idea, it seems both of 'em had been farting thinking the same thing. It was time to take Red.neck chic to another level and hit the road through home shows!
(~Comin' to you live from a single-wide!~Robelyn)
Imagine a group shopping trip...in the comfort of your own home. No need to go to the boutique...they'll bring the boutique to you. Soaps, candles, lotions, towels, shirts, jewelry, handbags...the list goes on and on. All green products, repurposed, redone, and R'POed, all displayed on vintage items and all ready to be purchased.
A rolling store with ever changing merchandise. No ordering and awaiting shipment...cash and carry y'all!
BRILLIANT!!!
(Hey...if it was good enough for two intrepid Texas women, Mary Kay Ash and Mary Crowley, it's good enough for my two.)
They approached me about hosting the maiden launch of the R'POed Red.neck Chic home party and what could I say besides yes...'ceptin' maybe a big 'ol heck yeah? After all y'all...my middle name is party. I get to resurrect my Christmas Open House...mini-style. AND...I get to be a witness to the true meaning of the spirit of Christmas...watching as one woman reaches out a hand to help another reach for her dreams.
Here is your chance to come be a part of the fun and magic this promises to be too. If any of y'all would like to drop by, please send me an e-mail or contact me, Jenn or Robelyn on our facebook pages. We'd love to have you and see you.
(Gettin' my merry merry on and running like I stolt sump'n...which I did.. All the above photos from the artist-in-residence!)
So folks...the single-wide is about to become mo-bile...and just so's you know...
No games...
No pressure sales...
No fooling!
(Oh...and I promise up and down not to set anyone's Christmas sweater on fire with Robelyn's candles!)
Be still my beating heart.
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