Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger


Susan from Must Love Junk, and myself (Kris) Junk Chic Cottage wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.
There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Susan's and my blog. 

Saturday February 15th
Susan from Evelyn and Rose

Every Saturday I love to introduce you to bloggers that I love and  I am pretty positive you will love too. 

This week's blogger is Susan from Evelyn and Rose.  Susan is a real sweet heart and from the minute you read just one of her blog post you will fall in love with her kind and warm heart and inspiring decor.  Enjoy learning more about this wonderful blogger.


Hello friends!  I'm Susan, from the blog Evelyn and Rose and Etsy shop.  What a thrill to be asked by Kris to participate in the Saturday Spotlight on bloggers.  Kris is so friendly and loves her whites like many of us.  I always enjoy visiting Kris' blog for her serene and lovely decor.  Thanks for this opportunity to share with you and other bloggers, Kris!

Let's see...this is supposed to be about the person behind the blog.  I realized when I started to prepare for this post that I don't actually share too much about myself on my blog.  I mainly write about decorating and crafting projects, which is what I love to do.  If you ever met me in person, I'd rather chat more about YOU than talk about myself.  Nevertheless, I do appreciate when other bloggers share more from their personal lives.  It draws me in...I'm always intrigued and inspired by you wonderful bloggers.  I guess it's time I shared as well.

So here's a bit about my life behind the blog.  I've been married to my AMAZING husband Brian for just over 10 years.  We met at the church we both attended, St. Patrick's church in Watertown, Massachusetts.  He introduced himself to me as I walked home from Mass and I thought he was so kind.  We fell in love pretty quickly and married within 6 months of meeting.  Ladies - when you know, you KNOW (especially at age 35 like I was).  He's 5 years younger than me, but never makes me feel like the 'old lady'.
Bri proposed to me at a favorite BBQ joint one Saturday afternoon.  I thought I was just going in for a pulled pork sandwich, but I found myself being brought 3 dozen roses by the young server dudes while 'our song' played on the sound system.  Next thing I new Bri was on his knees and all the patrons were clapping as I said YES.  He's a keeper!


In 2005 we welcomed our son, followed by our daughter in 2007.  Happy, happy days!  Our son is bright, curious, funny, and such a kind and gentle spirit.  Our daughter is the apple of our eyes - cheerful, hilarious, brave and she has the sweetest smile.  God's providence was at work when Bri and I met, and these two children are the greatest blessings.  
Best of friends

I'm a stay-at-home Mom to these cherubs now, but before that I worked as a software engineer for 15 years.  My younger years were pretty fun, working in Boston and enjoying a great social life there.  But these past 10 years have been the best.  Our family and our faith are the most important things in our lives.  Our children attend Catholic elementary school downtown, which we love.  I attend a Bible Study for women each week which I don't think I could live without.  Having been brought up Catholic during the 70's and 80's, it has dawned on me how much I never knew about being Catholic.  I'm so grateful for this faith.

New England foliage

Christmas 2013

So how did I end up blogging?
When I owned a small condo during my single years, I really enjoyed decorating it.  Rachel Ashwell's first Shabby Chic books where a huge inspiration, and I used to love watching her show on the Style network.  There ended up being a lot of floral back in those days, but the French influence made its' way into my condo, too.  When my husband and I bought our current home in 2005, I enjoyed stimulating my creative juices by decorating and crafting for our new space.  It was a great hobby during those early years of taking care of babies.  Decorating books and magazines have always inspired me (I still have some Victoria magazines from the 1990's), and I would reach for them even more when I decorated our house.  Through the magazines I discovered BLOGS.  Oh, what a wonderful discovery!  I would drool over the photos and projects in blog after blog....until one day I decided it'd be fun to try one.  I must give credit to fellow blogger Michelle of Petite Michelle Louise for giving me a gentle nudge in that direction.  I found Michelle through blogs and ordered from her Etsy store.  It was so nice to 'virtually' meet a local gal through the blogland.
We eventually met in person, too, and have formed a wonderful, supportive friendship ever since.  We adore going on flea market adventures together, calling ourselves the 'picker sisters'!



We've also met Sandi from A Cottage Muse, and love visiting the 'At Home with White Event' where she works at the Wrentham Country Store.


What a blessing to share my hobbies, crafting projects and dreams with such friends!  Michelle and I even ventured to sell as vendors at our first event - the Vintage Bazaar - last fall.  What a thrilling time, and full of laughter.
With the support of my cherished family and like-minded friends in blogland, I've been able to grow my creative side these past few years.  I guess I'm using the other 'creative' half of my brain, after all those years as a 'logical' engineer.  And I'm loving every minute of it.
  


Thank you Susan for your wonderful feature.  I love that we meet and become friends with bloggers that we normally might not have ever met if it were not for blogland.   Friends and fellow bloggers Michelle from Petite Michelle Louise and Sandi from A Cottage Muse that Susan talks about also have been past spotlight features.  If you missed their spotlight features you can read about them here and here.  

Susan is such a delight and I know if you have not been to her blog or Etsy site you will love it. 

 Now hop over to Susan's blog and get to know another wonderful blogger Robin from Happy at Home.  Have a great Saturday everyone.
Kris
:)

23 comments

  1. Thanks Kris, what a wonderful post. I am going to pop over and leave Susan a comment.
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kris- Susan sounds like a wonderful person. Love her spirit. I will go visit tomorrow because I am falling asleep typing here now- lol xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  3. Loved learning more about Susan..what a beautiful family! Love her blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Susan, thanks for sharing! It's great learning more about you! :)
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  5. Susan, so fun to 'meet' you and see the connection among bloggers in your region. I love that you've got the right brain/left brain action going on from your past career and current life activities. Life is good!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It was great to learn more about Susan! I "met" Susan by finding her blog last year and then she helped me out with a giveaway for my blog anniversary in December. A real sweetie! I love reading her posts and seeing what she is up to. She has a beautiful family and I loved reading how she met her husband.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much, Kris and Susan, for including me in your spotlight today. What an incredible honor! I love reading about the other bloggers in your weekly features. It's a truly small blogging world.
    Thank you again!!
    xoxo, Susan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so welcome. Thank you for sharing yourself and family with all of us. This was really fun to learn more about you.
      Kris

      Delete
  8. Thanks for introducing me to a new blog. I can't believe I haven't come across her blog yet. Now, I will be reading backwards about Susan and her style.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Carol so glad you now will find Susan and her blog. She is really a sweetheart you will love her and her blog. I love that this spotlight is giving so many of us new blogs and friends.
      Kris

      Delete
  9. Susan's family is adorable. I am glad she has met in person , other's from blogland. That is always fun and interesting. I am going to visit Susan's blog now. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

    ReplyDelete
  10. oh, kris, susan is a fav of mine! she has such a cute family! thanks for sharing:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks so much for featuring Susan this week, Kris! She and I have been following each other's blogs for the past few years. You are so right, Susan is such a sweetheart and is as talented as she is thoughtful! It is a treat to get to learn a bit more about her and her family. That proposal from her husband sounds so romantic!! I also admire her for her faith, and of course I adore her Frenchy-romantic style!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Donna,
      Susan is the sweetest and her love story with her husband is so romantic. I loved learning that too. Thanks for coming by with your sweet comments on her feature.
      Kris

      Delete
  12. I know everyone is going to love learning a little more about Susan and her beautiful family, she is such a sweetheart! She is so kind to share the photo of herself, Michelle and I! Hope to see "The Picker Sisters" at our white show this year...less than two months to go!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. i am so very blessed to be able to call susan a very dear and beloved friend. she and her family are beautiful inside and out. the very best. our "picker sister" adventures have been some of my fondest times looking for treasures. she always makes me smile. i simply adore that girl! thank you for this beautiful feature.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle,
      It was so funny I did not realize you and Susan and Sandi were all friends until I read your feature. I think it is so great that I had all three of you in the spotlight. Love that. Susan is a sweetheart like yourself and I can see how you would be great friends. Thanks for your sweet comments on her feature.
      Kris

      Delete
  14. I adore Susan's blog, and this is such a lovely post learning more about her and her sweet family. She is so creative and talented!!
    Mary Alice

    ReplyDelete
  15. I look forward to these posts every Saturday ~ so nice to get to know the blogger as well as find blogs I was not aware of. Thanks so much to both of you for sharing!

    Susan, it's so nice to learn about you and your beautiful family! I will be stopping by your blog for more.

    xo
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pat,
      Thanks so much for coming by and reading the spotlight features. That was my hope that this would interest other bloggers and they would love to get to know new bloggers on a more personal level. I am so happy to hear comments like yours that you enjoy this feature and look forward to it. Thanks for leaving Susan your sweet comment.
      Kris

      Delete
  16. Kris, it's always fun discovering new bloggers and learning a little bit about them. Susan sounds like a doll and I will hop over and say, 'hi'!
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you, Kris and Susan...Susan, you know I have followed you for a long time and it was so nice to learn about you and your family! You seem very "real now!

    XO,
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  18. Susan, I so love this series of yours and Kris' and get to know bloggers as Susan "beyond the blog"....what a beautiful story of her family and her passion for decorating....and the wonderful friends she shares her passion with!

    ReplyDelete

sponsor