My Grown Up Game Of House

When I was small, my two favorite things to play were house and school.

I don't think that's a surprising fact, I mean they've always been pretty popular games.

Especially among little girls.


I loved making mud pies, decorating the inside of my playhouse with loose leaf wallpaper and using that red and blue double sided stick pen.

Of course, the most challenging part of these make believe sessions, was battling it out with friends to be the central character.

Mom in house, teacher in school.

Those were always the most coveted positions...which I generally had to no trouble nailing down, since my neighborhood was short on girls.

So my little brother and his, let's say, energetic, pals were always my students or my children.

Not surprisingly, that only lasted so long. Once they hit that 5 or 6 year old mark, baseball became much more enticing than playing pretend.


And I was left to educate and keep house for my dollies.

Or very occasionally for Ginger, my calico kitty.

An experience that provided me with a very early understanding of the phrase, like herding cats.

But I digress...

I enjoyed those games so much that I was basically settled on a career path of homemaker and/or teacher, until middle school, when I started taking dance.

Then I was sure I was going to be a professional ballerina. Or a Rockette, where I would perform on the same stage my mother sang on decades earlier.

Of course, in college I changed my mind again, from fashion design and back to teaching, before settling on a degree in communications.

This time I was 100% convinced that my big girl job was going to be in public relations.

Until I actually worked in a Manhattan museum doing just that, only to find out it wasn't for me. The pay was horrible, the job was boring and the commute was an absolute nightmare.


After two years split between driving cars for a rental company, working as a retail manager for various brands and as an office assistant for my generous brother in law, I finally realized that I was always meant for the classroom.

A path I never should've abandoned.

So I took the long and winding road back to school for my master's degree and taught elementary school for several years.

And I loved every single moment of it, right up to the minute the nurse put my newborn daughter in my arms. An event that changed my status from part time to full time homemaker.

I spent those blissful years, feathering my nest and filling it with another baby, lots of bright colors and handmade decor.


Teaching at church, during extra curricular activities and taking on any creative task that came my way. 

Living a grown up version of my dreamy preschool play days.

Until...those babies became teenagers and they too found much more enticing ways to spend their days.

And I was left without playmates once again.

They didn't need me as much, yet I desperately needed a creative distraction from a life that was all too real and not always in a good way.

So on March 5, 2013, after a suggestion from my nephew, I hit publish for this first time here at Exquisitely Unremarkable. 

Despite the fact that I had no idea what a blog was - I'd never seen one before, never read one before, and I certainly knew nothing about code or website building.

I just knew it was a way I could share my decorating style, my crafts and my know-how with anyone who was interested.

Like my sisters...and maybe one or two friends who were cheering me on in real life.

Never, ever did I imagine that I would still be typing away with as much enthusiasm and excitement as I felt on that brisk March day, exactly 12 years ago.

Blogging in this tiny space on the internet has become such a huge part of life, my daily routine and most importantly, my heart.

And that's because of you.

All of you who tune in and join the conversation, as I drone on about paint colors, thrift finds, decorating challenges and my beloved tulips. 

You, who have become my friends. Leaving comments on every post, emailing me or, on a few, very precious occasions, coming out to meet me in person.


I've been blessed with cards, letters, gifts, encouragement and advice. You've shared your stories, your joys and your sorrows. And I've been touched by each and every one of those heartfelt interactions.

They mean more to me than you could ever know.

That, my friends, has been the absolute best part of blogging and, on this anniversary, as I celebrate another year of crafting, creating and sharing, I'd like to thank you for all the moments you've chosen to visit with me. 

Playing this virtual game of house and school.

Adding (and then ripping down!) wallpaper in my rooms.

Teaching, anyone who cares to learn, the processes I use to cook, create and craft.

Recapturing some of that nostalgic magic of my childhood.

Without that sweet, but unruly cat and those rambunctious neighbors.

Although I really wish I still had one of those pens.

Don't you?

😉

What were your favorite childhood games?

Here are a few more anniversary posts:

•  It's My First Anniversary!
• Everything I Needed To Know About Blogging I Learned In Kindergarten
• 3650 Days Of Blogging

With gratitude,