Brain Dump #6594

I couldn't think of good title for tonight's update so why not go with my 6,594th brain dump post…after all that's what all my posts end up being :).  So here we go: prepare your self for an all over the place blog!

Erin and I went to Grandma & Pa's last week.  I honestly can't remember the last time just she and I went and stayed with them for a few days.  Growing up we spent most of our school breaks up there on the farm, but it's probably been years since just the two of us hung out with them.  It was SO nice.  I felt like I was reliving a part of my childhood and kept finding myself feeling immensely grateful for the opportunity to go see them.  I love my grandparents and am so very blessed to call them mine!

Pa had never heard of, let alone tasted, s'mores so we had to introduce him! I think you can tell he liked them :)

We helped supervised Grandma & Pa while they cut and canned tomatoes - over 12 quarts worth!

My Etsy shop has been open for two weeks now, and while I haven't gotten as many sales as I'd hoped, I'm really enjoying having the shop!  The creative juices are always flowing and I love trying to come up with new ideas to sell.  Stay tuned, you may see some new fall/halloween items going up in the next few weeks ;-).

For an update on my goals:

-I have officially read 3 (and 1/2)…yes T-H-R-E-E books this year!!!!  I know you book lovers out there are laughing at me, but this is HUGE!  I'm pretty sure I've never read this many books for fun, ever!  I really enjoyed the last one I read, called Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult, and am thinking about starting a second book of hers next.  I know, I know, four books is impressive ;-)!  Ha!  This does mean I've not only met, but exceeded my goal for the year in this category!!  I'm feeling pretty proud of myself!

-Pursuing my dream career path is still in the works too.  Driving to Grandma's last week, I realized how much I miss living in High Point.  Erin suggested looking for jobs up that way again, so I've been doing just that!  I found that it's hard to get a job when you don't live in the area, but I'm hoping and praying for the right position to open up!  I would so, SO, love to move back up there again!!  In the meantime, I am meeting with the Duke Temp agency to try and get some more part-time work and experience to build my resume (and wallet!).  Please keep my job search in your prayers. I know it can seem unimportant compared to other prayer requests, but it would mean so much to me!  I'm ready to get into a full-time career and begin this next phase of life, so please pray that God would open and close the right doors to get me there!

-All of my other goals are pretty much where they were when I last posted.  They may be progressing slowly, but progress is progress!


Well, that's about all for now :)

The Crafting Bug

Picture from Ashley Brooke Designs.

Crafting has always been a passion of mine.  It's honestly one of the most relaxing and rewarding things I do.  After college though, I kind of hit a wall when it came to being creative.  I guess after four years of projects, deadlines, and 100s of trips to Hobby Lobby, I got burnt out.  I've tried little projects here and there but nothing has really kept my attention or made me want to be creative, until now!

Ever since I started working at Michaels, the crafting bug has hit me hard!!  I find myself inspired every day to try out new techniques and begin exploring this passion again.  Just the other night I was inspired by an item I saw online and thought, "I could make that!"  which then sparked the idea of opening an Etsy store.  I think it would be fun to get paid to craft; plus it would force me to keep pushing the creative bounds and learn new things!  

The more I thought about opening an Etsy store today, the more excited I got about the possibility.  Not to mention that Michaels has an incredible Martha Stewart craft section, and I want every. single. piece.  Seriously.  I don't know what it is about the Martha Stewart line but I'm loving everything she has, and it's giving me the confidence to try new things; like embossing. It looks pretty cool and from what I've read, it should be fairly easy!  Now I just need to stretch my budget a little further so I can buy the supplies.  Anyone want to gift me a Michaels gift card!?  Haha kidding.  Sort of :)

Once I get a few items made, I'll look into opening the shop.  Any thoughts on what I should name it????  

I'm off to brainstorm more projects!

Leave a comment below with your shop name ideas.  If I pick yours, you'll get 10% off one item once it opens! 

My Journey to Haiti: Part Three

These last couple of months have been filled with the most eye-opening and amazing moments, all of which have been orchestrated by God!

Let me give you a little bit of background that I left out of part two.  Once I hit that moment of realizing that God wanted me in Haiti and I had to give him control and join the ride, fears/worries of different kinds started creeping in my mind.  You see, I graduated college last year in May, and I knew my loans would be entering into repayment VERY soon.  Most college graduates have 6 months after their graduation date before that repayment period begins.  Around the time all of this realization took place, I was about 3-4 months away from having to make large loan payments.  I went into the loans websites to get an idea of how much I would be looking at paying each month.  I have 3 loans, through 2 different organizations, and came to the understanding that I would be paying around $350/month starting December 2012.

Yikes!! That's all I could think.

At this point, I had no job, no prospect of a job, was contemplating moving to a fifth-world Country, and honestly had no clue how those payments were going to take place.  Honestly, I panicked.  I thought there was no way I could ask people to support me each month to live in Haiti AND ask them to send enough to make those payments.  I just didn't feel right asking people to do that, nor did I think there was any way people could do that.  I reached a point where I figured my only option would be to find a job, work for a year or so, and save up enough money to make those payments before I could move to Haiti.

To say I was bummed and feeling discouraged was an understatement.  The job search had yielded absolutely NOTHING, I didn't have a peace about working in design any longer, and truthfully felt like I had run into a brick wall that I couldn't find a way around.  I kept praying and asking God to show me a solution to this problem.  I know God is bigger than any financial hurdle, and I simply had to trust that he would take care of it.  Until then,  I had to keep looking for jobs and going about life.

During this whole ordeal, our team was preparing for our upcoming (my fourth) trip to Haiti (Dec. 2012).  We were raising the funds, gathering supplies, planning our week, and getting really excited for the upcoming adventure.  I prayed constantly that the Lord would use our team in ways we hadn't even thought of.  That He would go ahead of us and prepare the hearts of those we were going to see, as well as prepare us for the journey.  I prayed that He would use this trip to make my calling clearer, and give me a better understanding of his plans for me in Haiti.  I prayed every way possible over our trip.  I knew God had big plans and I was so anxious to see how they would all unfold.

About a month before our trip, I attended the Missions Committee meeting at Grey Stone.  I spoke with Randall that night, and he really pushed me to make the move, step out in faith, and wanted to know when I was going.  I jokingly laughed and brushed it off, knowing that I was still afraid and genuinely had no idea when or even if things would ever get to that point.  It wasn't until I was on the way home that it hit me...

God had taken care of my financial hurdle.

A week prior, I received a letter in the mail letting me know my first loan payment was due.  That payment was through CFNC, on one loan, and was a $50 payment.  When I went online to make the payment, I realized I hadn't heard anything from my other loan company.  I went on their website and realized that they had my loan listed as not going into repayment until 2015.

2015!!!!

I didn't realize it at first, but on the car ride home that night I broke into tears over the realization that God had just cleared the path.  He had given me a 2 year window where I could go to Haiti and not have to worry about paying the  $300/month.  This may seem so silly to some of you, but in that moment I felt more blessed than ever before.  I've heard of this kind of thing happening to people who are faithful with their giving, but I had never experienced anything this big before. 

So let me recap:
I have no full-time job holding me back.
I no longer have to worry about a $300/month payment.
I am single and don't have a family that needs me here.

There was no longer any reason that I couldn't go to Haiti.  Nothing at all was standing in my path.  I had to go!!  I had to; and this was the absolute perfect time!!

I loaded that plane with our team on December 28, 2012 knowing deep in my heart that this was not a trip where I was just visiting.  I was no longer going simply to love on the people of Haiti and visit old friends.  For the first time, I was going to make plans for a full-time move down there!  The best part, was that we were staying with Jim & Debbie Hambrick, who took me on my first trip to Haiti.  It was so fitting that the people who helped me fall in love with Haiti would be the ones who helped me move there full-time.

If you read my blog posts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) after we got back, then you know how incredible the trip turned out to be.  God worked in my heart in ways I hadn't even imagined.  He opened up some doors, reaffirmed once again that Haiti would be my home very soon, and created some lasting friendships.  After talking with Jim, Debbie, and Donna that night, there was no longer any question or fear in my mind.  Even though some hard questions were asked, and I knew the journey would not be easy, I finally felt 1000% at peace about everything.  My heart was fully in love with Haiti, and I finally announced to my family and everyone else that I was moving to Haiti!!!!

Through this whole process I have come to realize just how amazing God is.  He orchestrated all of this from the time I was born, and will continue to work in my life until my time on earth is finished.  I have come to appreciate my relationship with the Lord so much more than ever before over the last few years.  Even though so many thoughts, decisions, and actions deemed me unworthy of this relationship, I am so grateful to serve the Lord who forgives ALL sins and loves us anyways.  I am so thankful that He never gave up on me and has loved me unconditionally through every stage of life. 

I've learned that no hurdle is too big for God.  If it's His will, He will see that it comes to pass.  I've learned to relinquish my fears, worries, and concerns and trust that God is bigger than anything I could ever come across. I've learned that God uses our weak moments in life to shine just how big his Glory is.

If he can use me: a 22 year old girl with a messed up past, then he can use you too!  I never in a million years would have guessed this is where my life would take me, but I am so glad this is where I'm going.  I know this story is still being written, and that it's still in its early chapters, but if God has done this much already, I can't wait to see how the rest unfolds!!

Please keep me in your prayers as I take each step in Faith.  Please keep this journey, wherever it may take me, in your prayers.

I say this a lot, but we genuinely serve an AMAZING God yall!!  If you are reading this and have never given your life to Christ, or are on the fence, take it from me:  jump in with all you've got!!  You will never, EVER, regret it!!  If you have questions, or would like to know how to give your life to Christ, please ask!! I would be honored to share that with you!

So here we go!  Part four is just beginning.  I can't wait to see what God is going to do!

My Journey to Haiti: Part Two

It was the summer of my Freshman year (2009), when I took my first trip to Haiti.  Looking back, I took that trip for all the wrong reasons.   I went because my boyfriend at the time was going, I thought it would be fun, my youth pastor convinced me to go, and I enjoyed the positive reaction I got from my family when they heard about the trip.   I went to Haiti thinking I would go for a week, enjoy another mission trip, and come home to live life like normal.

Boy was I wrong!

I may not have gone for the right reasons, my heart and motives may have been completely wrong, but let me tell you:  God used that trip to change my life forever.  He knew exactly what he was doing.  There was a reason he pushed my youth pastor to stay on me about going, and there was a reason He provided the funds for the trip.  His reason wasn't to satisfy my poor motives, it was to make His name, power, love, and Glory shine through me: a life that seemed unusable at the time.  God is pretty incredible like that!  Just look at how he turned Paul's life around!

While on that first trip to Haiti, I had a real slap in the face, knock you to the ground, you've gotta shape up encounter with God.  I was humbled dramatically by the people I met, the circumstances they lived in, and everything we experienced that week.  In Port au Prince, Haiti 2009, standing in the Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue, I understood for the first time, what true unselfish Godly love was supposed to look like.  Listening to Dorothy's testimony I finally understood what undeniable faith looked like. Through that trip, and the weeks following, I realized how messed up my life was.  I realized that I had strayed so far off course from what a Christian should be, and I knew things had to change.

I took small steps at that point, trying to get my life back on track.  The process was not easy, as I was still in that unhealthy relationship and not ready to give it up.  I knew, deep in my heart, my relationship was the biggest barrier standing between me and God.  I tried to "fix" the relationship, and justify those steps, but again, God knew better.  I was so afraid to walk away, paralyzed by the fear of loneliness, that I wouldn't give it up.

So, God intervened.

He gave my boyfriend at the time, enough courage to walk away and end things.  I was so hurt.  Lost.  Dying of sadness inside.  I thought my life had ended.  Little did I know, God would use that time to shape me into the woman I am today.

He knew I needed to be stripped bare of all of my comforts so that the only place left to run was to Him, and that's exactly what I did.   I dug my face into the Bible every night that first year.  I begged, pleaded, and cried to the Lord every night to take the heartache away, and every night he'd put my heart at rest.  God taught me through that painful situation to rely on Him, and Him alone for my needs.  He reminded me of the commitment I had made to him 13 years back.  God got my life, relationships, and journey back on track.  Most importantly, however, through His compassion, forgiveness, and persistence in my life I learned to put my Faith, hope, love, and trust in Him, and Him alone.  If I didn't understand what a relationship with Christ looked like at 6 years old, I most definitely learned in that moment!  I have never doubted my relationship with Christ. I knew I was a believer and that I had been saved, but it wasn't until after that trip to Haiti that I truly, wholeheartedly, 100% gave my life to Christ.  I decided that I couldn't, and wouldn't, ever go back to that place of loneliness, hurt, and insecurity.  I understood just how much I needed Christ, and from that moment on I have tried my very best to maintain a great relationship with Him and follow His calling.


I am not perfect.  I have never been perfect.  I've made some terrible, TERRIBLE, mistakes throughout my life.  Many mistakes I wish I could take back and erase from my past, but I can't.  They shaped me into who I am today.  While I hope 16 year old Allyson, never returns, I have to thank God for using that awful time in my life to shape me into a better person.  God could have left me, but He never gave up, not once!  

Fast forward to 2011.  At this point, I had finally healed from the breakup, mended all of the broken relationships, and had gotten life pretty well back on course.  Obviously,  I wasn't perfect those two years and made mistakes, but I had finally found peace and meaning in my life.  Over the course of those two years, two BIG years in the life of a young person, I had to make a lot of decisions about who I wanted to be, where I wanted to be, and how I was going to continue this chapter of my life into adulthood.  I spent countless hours praying and asking God to guide my path.  I asked Him to show me where He'd like me to be.  I prayed that He would use me and my life for His glory, whatever that looked like (that's a big prayer yall!!).  Every time I went searching for God's guidance my mind would turn to Haiti.  My heart longed to go back so badly.  There wasn't a single day that Haiti didn't cross my mind in one way or another.  I knew I had to go back, but had no idea how or when.  I also didn't put it together at first that God was answering my prayer.  He was saying I want you in Haiti; screaming it really.  I honestly thought he would give me a response regarding interior design, and for awhile the thought of any other path in life seemed out of question.  

It wasn't until the summer of 2011, that things really came together.  A mission trip to Ethiopia had fallen through, and Cassie (my best friend) encouraged me to go back to Haiti.  She knew how much I missed it, and how much I had longed to be back.  So, I contacted Dorothy, worked out the details, and Cassie and I headed to Haiti in December of 2011.

I had no clue when I got on the plane December 27, 2011 that my life was about to take a dramatic U-turn and finally fall into place how God planned.  We stayed with and worked at Dorothy's for two weeks during that trip.   My heart fell in love all over again with the people, culture, and Country. So much so, that I knew after our trip that I had to pursue missions in Haiti.  I didn't know what that would look like, or how it would happen, but I knew this beautiful and wonderful place would become a part of my life forever.

I spent the next few months in deep prayer, and time in the Word, looking for answers.  After a few weeks at home, I knew the calling was undeniable.  I knew 100% that I was supposed to move to Haiti and work as a missionary.  I knew, that I knew, that I knew.  But I was terrified.

In March of 2012, Cassie and I were both terribly missing Haiti.  So much, that I could barely make it an hour through a day without thinking about Dorothy, the kids, or Haiti.  We jokingly mentioned going back, and then decided that we really had to go, and started planning.  My roommates, at the time, mentioned an interest in joining me for a trip to Haiti so we opened up the trip to them as well.  Meredith immediately jumped on board, Jodi was having nothing to do with it, and shortly after, Jessica decided to join us!  I was so excited to share this place I had fallen in love with, with three of my best friends.  Even more so, I was super-giddily-excited to board that plane in May.  I couldn't wait to get back, discuss doing missions down there with Dorothy, and see how God was going to use that trip.

To my surprise, I left that trip in May feeling unsure of God's calling, and really questioning if I had heard him right.  Dorothy asked some hard questions and I really had to step back and examine, in great detail, whether God was calling me to Haiti; and if so, what was He calling me to do, and where specifically?

Did I mention I was absolutely, paralyzing-ly, terrified.  I spent many days crying at the thought of moving to Haiti.  There was just no way God would be calling me:  A 21 year old, with a terribly messed up past, to be a missionary.  There was just no way.  I didn't think I could do it.  There was just no way I could move to another Country alone.  I was too scared.

Fear.

A crippling, yet completely irrational, fear, that I let consume me.  In that short time I stepped away from pursuing the move, and decided I was unfit and incapable.  I immersed myself in school work, graduation, and applying for jobs.  I told myself that I had misunderstood God, and that this is where He wanted me, not in Haiti.  

Guess what?  I was wrong --- AGAIN!

For months I applied, applied, and applied some more, for jobs.  I took interview after interview thinking for sure I'd get a position, start working, get my own place, blah, blah blah.  God had other plans though.  He knew exactly where He wanted me, and that was not here in Durham, NC.  He wanted me in Haiti!! After multiple declined positions, and conversations with close friends, I realized that God was telling me this was not my path.  He knew if I got offered a job, that I would take it and get off track again.  God knew that I'd eventually come around, and realize that once again I'd stepped off course and needed to get back on track.

And, that's what I did.

I finally surrendered (again), and said "Ok God, I give up trying to maintain control of my life.  I know this is not where you want me, so please take the reigns and steer me in the right path."  I prayed,  "I'm ready Lord.  Help me to overcome my fears so that I can do the great work you have planned.  I'll go wherever you send me."

And well, you guessed it...He sent me back to Haiti!

During the summer of 2012, The opportunity for a third trip opened up.  I jumped at the opportunity, knowing this would be the trip to change everything.  This would be the trip where I finally took steps to overcome my fears, and truly follow God's calling for me to move to Haiti.

I had no idea just how BIG this trip would be!! I had no clue that God was going to bless my life in ways I never saw coming, before I even stepped foot back onto Haitian soil.  I knew God wanted me in Haiti, but the things he has done over the last few months have blown my mind while reassuring me, and my family, that this is most definitely the path I'm supposed to take.

Stay tuned, the best part is coming!

Haiti-Sick

This is a new term Amanda came up with to describe how much we miss Haiti. Instead of being home-sick we are all Haiti-sick.

I miss it so very much.  My heart longs to be there every single day.  I feel like I belong, like I'm doing what I'm supposed to with my life, and like my purpose is clear when I'm in Haiti.  While it is one of the most challenging places for me, Haiti is also like a second home where I feel more at peace than anywhere else.  I know my journey is just beginning, but I am so anxious to get back down there.  We've been home a week and a half and I'm more than ready to be back.

Phase one of preparing for my move to Haiti has begun.  Thanks to a generous donor, I was able to purchase the first set of material to learn Creole.  I'm going to work my way through the "Creole Made Easy" workbook and audio material.  Once I've mastered that program (the basics of Creole), I'm going to begin phase two of the language process.  Mom and I found this highly rated system, similar to Rosetta Stone (which doesn't carry Creole by the way), called Pimsleur.  They've got a 30 lesson course that guarantees you'll be speaking at a conversational level by the end.  I'm pretty excited to start this part of the journey.  Creole is fascinating to me, and I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up and retain it all pretty quickly.

I've also begun trying to save up for Haiti.  I still am not sure how much I'll need to have, but through working some random jobs, until camp starts full time, I think I can get a good start on things. I posted on Facebook the other day that I'm looking for random jobs to help in this process (babysitting, design assistance, running errands, cleaning, organizational help, etc), and the response has been amazing!! Friends I haven't talked to in years have contacted me with opportunities, and others have put me in contact with some great jobs.  God's faithfulness never ceases to amaze me.  Thank you to everyone who has contacted me and are helping to get these positions.

Another random update: I've decided to put all of my pictures from the last three trips to Haiti into picture books.  I'm hoping this will be a great way to save my pictures, retain all of the memories, and serve as a resource when speaking to people about my journey to Haiti.  Plus it's been a lot of fun walking down memory lane, and looking into all of the details God has orchestrated up to this point.

I'm not sure if I've ever really written my testimony or all of the specifics God has done to get me here.  I'll try to make that my next blog post.

Thanks again to everyone for your support, love, and prayers.  The feedback I've gotten already has been extremely encouraging and uplifting.  Y'all are the best!

Escaping the Limbo: I'm Moving to Haiti!

My biggest God moment of the entire week in Haiti was Tuesday night when I sat down with mom, Donna, Jim, & Debbie to discuss how I felt called to Haiti.  The conversation started with just mom, Donna, & I over a game of Rummikub.  I don't really remember how it got started, but I vividly remember how it went and how it ended (lots of tears, excitement, expressing of fears,  overcoming those fears, and lots of encouragement through it all).

Donna (Jim's sister) is a motivational speaker, and is now working with Jim Debbie at their House of Hope in Haiti.  To say that she has a way with words is an understatement.  She asked me some very difficult questions and really pushed me to get out of the limbo of not knowing.  When she and I started talking, I was in a place of maybes, what if's, and I don't knows.  I wasn't 100% sure of God's calling or if I was able to do what He was asking.  I knew God had been laying some pretty big stepping stones up to this point, but I felt like I had run into a wall.  I was questioning where I'd work in Haiti, where I'd live, what I'd be doing, how I'd raise the money, etc.

It wasn't that I didn't want to go, I just felt like the journey had come to a stand still, and I wasn't sure how to get it moving again.  I was also still in a place of exploring working as a designer here in the States, and trying to mesh the two together somehow.

Basically I was full of excuses.

Donna put it bluntly (which I most definitely needed!!) that if I were raising these questions about anything else in life, I would go get on the web or begin getting connections to answer these questions.

Duh Allyson!!

I had let my fears, and overwhelming amounts of questions paralyze me.  Instead of taking steps forward I just froze and stopped trusting that God would show me the way.  Donna pushed me to let go of the "I don't knows"  & "I don't cares" and to begin taking steps forward.  She, Jim, & Debbie all encouraged me by saying, that once I began taking steps forward to follow God's call, whatever they may be,  that the ball would begin moving again and it would all fall in place.

So, here I am now saying to you all that I am no longer pursuing a career in design, I am no longer letting the fears or questions paralyze me, and I'm taking the first step forward by announcing this:

I'm moving to Haiti to do full-time Missions!!!

I still do not know when I'll leave, where I'll be working, where I'll be living, or how much financial support I'll need to raise, but the move is going to happen!  My hope is that I'll be down there by the end of the year.  I've already started talking to some contacts Jim, Debbie, & Donna gave me about possible opportunities.  Nothing has been decided yet, as there are a lot of details that need to be figured out first.  I'm pleading with you to cover this journey in prayers.  The power of prayer is a POWERFUL tool that we all have access to.  I would be so appreciative if you could remember me each day as you pray.

One specific prayer I'd like to ask you to lift up is for Amber Hasson & the ministry she is trying to start in Haiti (Amber is one of the contacts Donna gave me).  She is trying to start a trade school for young men & women in the Ravine (see previous post).  From what I understand, she is hoping the school will provide them with access to education learning basic skills that can assist them in getting jobs.  She is also hoping to provide a daycare area for parents, so they can work without having to leave their little ones at home alone.  I haven't heard the full expanse of her dreams for this place, but what I do know is right now she is in her own place of waiting.  There is a building right by the Ravine that she is hoping to buy and fix up to run this trade school in.  She is in the process of trying to figure out if it is for sale, if so how much, and if it is something she could afford.  As I spoke to her about the possibility of teaming up with her in this journey, she seemed excited, but explained that nothing can move forward until the building is purchased.  She asked that I pray with her over this, so I am asking you all to do the same.  If it is God's will that this building become a place for his work, I know it will come to pass.  Here is the building she is hoping to buy:

Please join me in covering Amber, this building, and her mission/dreams in prayer!

I don't know yet if this is where God will have me work, but it would be an honor and a joy to partner with Amber.  Until then, I will do my part, and that is to pray and support her.


As for some other steps I am beginning to take in following God's call:  
-I'm planning to start learning Creole.  Every missionary I spoke with last week urged me to learn the language before I come full-time.  They all said it makes life much easier and your work more effective.  So here's to learning Creole!! I'm pretty excited about this step!

-Begin creating more contacts in Haiti and exploring mission opportunities for me.

-Take a trip back to Haiti alone to do this networking & exploring.

-Begin trying to save up as much money as I can, while I try to get a better understanding of how much I'll need to raise before I can go.

-Pray, pray, pray, & Pray some more.  Along with faithfully trusting God every step of the way.

-Begin taking on more mission opportunities here at home.  Jim made a very good point that if I'm not sharing God's word at home, then there's no way I'll share when I'm there.  I need to make an even bigger effort to share God's word every chance I get here.  I need to break through some of my self-doubts and insecurities and just go full force.  Practice makes perfect right?!  A couple of ways I've already agreed to are by being a small group leader for our church's upcoming youth Metamorphosis weekend, and by agreeing to be the Director at Grey Stone Kids Camp again this summer.  These are two HUGE witnessing tools, and I'm excited to go even further than I have before with them both.

-And then, along this whole journey I will be trying to discern God's specific call for me in Haiti.  I seriously cannot ask you enough to cover this in prayer! It is a HUGE step in the process, and one I find myself worrying about often.  (That's the planner in me!  Trying to let that go and trust God with the plans!).  Once details are figured out the fundraising and specific logistical plans will begin happening.


I am so so SO very excited about this next chapter of my life.  I have never felt more at peace about a decision before, and I cannot wait to see how God will use, challenge, and grow me through it all.

I'm moving to Haiti!!!!!!

Don't Give up

Last week was a really hard week for me.

I didn't blog much because I didn't really feel like admitting my feelings, short comings, or frustrations.  I didn't want to accept that I didn't get the job, and I knew blogging about it would mean it was definitely true.  I didn't want to talk about my feelings because I wasn't just disappointed, I was angry.

Very angry.

With myself,  employers, and the whole situation. I was angry with people not understanding, and with having to relive the ordeal every time someone asked me about the job.  And honestly...I was angry with God. I couldn't understand (and still don't completely understand) why things weren't working out.  I couldn't understand why He gave me this passion, but no job to live it out.  I was angry that I worked my butt off for the last four years to be the only person in my design class that can't find a job in design.

It was a very frustrating, devastating, and anger filled week for me.  I'm not proud of it, but I handled it the best I could.  I still don't understand why things aren't working out how I would like, but I've learned I'm learning to just go with it and find contentment where ever I am, doing what ever I'm doing.

This is hard for me. Please don't think that I've got it all together, because I definitely do NOT.

However, the other night when I hit my "I can't do this anymore/cry out in anger to God" moment, as crazy as this may sound, I felt like He spoke to me.  Not in an audible standing in front of me conversation way, just an inner peace through the words of a song:  "Don't give up." I can't explain why this song popped into my head at that moment, other than to give me a little pick me up and encouragement from his Holy Spirit.  I hadn't heard the song in days, and at first I didn't even realize I was singing it in my head while I laid in bed crying.  I've probably heard the song twenty times on the radio over the last year, but had never really taken the time to listen to the words (I do that a lot with songs). I immediately grabbed my phone and looked the song up on YouTube.

I can't fully explain that moment to you.  I remember feeling like an idiot for questioning God, but found myself crying and thanking Him for the reminder of hope. It was like He said "I see you, I know how hard this is, I know what you're thinking and feeling, and I've not forgotten you."  It was a one-of-a-kind, you have to experience it yourself moment to truly understand.

Maybe you're like me and feeling completely defeated lately.  Feeling like you're stuck, with no hope, and just revolving in an endless circle.  This song helped me, maybe it will do the same for you.

I have no idea what tomorrow will hold, let alone next week, month, or year, but I'm choosing to trust God.  He never promised our path would be easy, but he did promise to be there for us.  I saw this the other night, and it was a definitely needed moment for me.

Whatever you are struggling with tonight, God knows.  He sees you, he knows your thoughts, fears, frustrations, dreams, and concerns.  This may not be where you want to be, or feel like you should be, but God's plans are larger than anything we could dream up on our own.  Trust Him.  I know it's not easy, but it is necessary.  He will take care of you! When you feel like you can't go on anymore, Don't Give up!

Thursday Thoughts: Job Update: Not the Answer I Was Hoping For

Well I guess it's time that I update you on the job situation.

I originally had a long post written to share with you about how I'm feeling and the things going through my head, but I knew it would only lead to everyone under the sun putting in their two cents.  I'm simply not in the mood for any of that.

All you need to know is that I'm 98% sure I was not chosen for the Schumacher position.  They took the job posts down and are no longer answering or returning any of my calls.  In my experience, that means I was not chosen.

People keep asking what my plan is now, and every time I get that question my heart sinks into my stomach.  I don't have a plan anymore.  I can't find any design positions that I haven't already applied for. Literally, all of the job search links are purple now because I have applied to every. single. one.  I've exhausted my resources, and have decided that design is simply not where I'm meant to be right now, maybe ever.  I'll have to find something part-time working minimum wage, and as much as I absolutely hate that idea, I'm out of options.

I'm disappointed, frustrated, and feeling pretty defeated.

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and this whole job situation.  I really do appreciate it, I guess this just wasn't where I was meant to be.

In a Place of the Unknown

Anyone that knows me, even the slightest bit, knows how much I love to have a plan.  I like to make lists, have a schedule, and know what's coming around the next corner.  However, right now I am in a complete and unnerving place of the unknown.  All my life I've had this "ideal plan" for my life.  A step-by-step manual if you will.  You know, the typical go to school (elementary, middle, high school), pick a college, get into college, choose a degree, graduate with that degree, find a job, fall in love, get married, have kids...so on and so forth.

While this little path I had planned out went pretty smooth all the way through graduation, I am at a huge pivotal spot in my life right now.  I could go anywhere with this degree, but finding jobs has been such a battle.  Even more so, landing the job after an interview has proven to be more difficult.  The hardest part however, is the waiting and not knowing.  The doing your absolute best but not really having any clue as to how you did, if they liked you, or if you'll get the position.  On top of all of that, me being the dreamer that I am, I get hooked to the idea of these positions.  I start day dreaming up ideas of where it could take me, the possibility of getting an apartment, the new adult tasks in life I'll be taking on, etc.  While that may seem all fine and dandy, it makes the waiting and not knowing that much harder.  My heart is invested in getting this position, but my brain keeps realizing that I truly have no stinkin' clue whether I'll actually get it or not.

I have no idea what tomorrow holds for me, let alone next week or next year.  Up until this point in my life, I've had a very specific schedule to follow (the school calendar).  I always knew what was next, what I had to do to be successful, and how to get through it.  That comfort zone is gone now, and I was not as prepared as I thought.  No one teaches or tells you how difficult the steps after college can be.  No one walks you through finding jobs, let alone how to be successful in your career.  No one can tell you what step to take next, or where the next path is going to lead.  No one really truly knows what tomorrow holds.

This is a scary thing for me.

Part of me wants to fight it and try to regain control, but the other part of me knows it's not possible.  This is the time I have to fully, 100%, put my faith in Christ and believe he will take care of it all.  Relinquishing this control is hard and the not knowing absolutely terrifies me.  I know it will all work out.  I can see from my past how incredible God's plans have been for my life.  I trust Him, but my heart is heavy tonight.

New Addition

Two posts in one day....Try to contain your excitement!  Ha!

Any who...I thought I'd share a quick little update with you: I got a new desk!

I have been dying to have a real desk for sometime now.  For years I have had this little craft fold up table that "functioned" as a "desk."  My previous desk foldable table wasn't even three feet long and really limited my ability to use it in any way.  While it worked great for crafting, since I didn't have to worry about paint getting on it, I simply could not use it for anything else.  Not to mention I've been using this huge, clunky, green desk chair that I absolutely hated with that little table.

Yeah it was not a very good combination.

SO when the possibility to have an apartment (in my hopefully very near future) arose, I started looking for some key furniture pieces I would be needing.  That's when I came across this really beautiful desk at a great price! I simply could not turn the opportunity down.  So I emailed the owner, worked out an even better price, and got dad to go with me to pick it up!

The desk is absolutely perfect and exactly what I've been wanting!  The best part however, is when we arrived the owner gave me her previous desk chair for free!  It's a cute little red leather chair.  The red doesn't quite go with my current decor but it's WAAAY better than that ugly green chair so I took it! I loved the shape of it, and red will easily fit in with how I hope to decorate my apartment when that day comes.

Here take a look:

BEFORE: (I told you that chair was ugly!)

 AFTER:

Isn't it pretty?!  The desk is a little large for my current room, but it'll be perfect when I get my own place!

Wishful Wednesday

While working on my last design project, I discovered this great new store out at South Point, called West Elm. Apparently it's part of the Williams-Sonoma & Pottery Barn corporation.  We stopped in there to buy the accessories and bedding for her master bedroom, but I fell in love with this store!  They have some of the best accessories I've seen and all at pretty affordable prices.  They also have beautiful bedding, curtains, and furniture options.  I was dying to shop for myself on that trip, but had to focus on the task at hand.  So what's on my wish list this week?  Gift cards to the West Elm store, so I can go back and have my own shopping spree :)

Quick Tip Tuesday

Don't be afraid to mix and match prints when choosing fabrics for your upholstered pieces. As long as the colors coordinate and one print does not over power the others, mixing prints works beautifully!  I heard a trick once to help make your job easier if you don't fully trust your fabric-mixing/picking abilities (yes I made that up).

It's called the "squint test".  Lay out all of the fabrics you're considering and squint your eyes.  If one pattern stands out a lot more than the rest, then discard that fabric and pick another.  If they seem to all blend together then you've got a winning selection.

When I performed my design test at Ethan Allen, he praised my ability to mix patterns and fabrics.  I didn't use the squint test, but hey not everyone has gone through design school!

Here are some samples:

Friday Free-For-All

I am proud to announce that I have reached the 10,000 view mark on my blog!! 

Not only was the 10,000 mark hit, you all made the 10,000th view on my 200th post!!!  I'd say that's pretty impressive!  That means if this were a perfect world and everything averaged out correctly, I've had 50 views on each of my posts!  That's incredible!

I started this blog in June of 2010 with the intent to heal my broken heart and have a place to spill out all of my thoughts.  I never in a million years would have guessed that people would actually read it, take time to invest in getting to know me through my words, or that I would be sitting here today healed of the broken-heartedness that began this blog 2 1/2 years ago.   People I don't even know have taken time out of their lives to read a little bit about mine.  It's crazy for me to even think about that, yet so encouraging!  I've had readers in Germany, Russia, Australia, India, Brazil, Latvia, and that's just to name a few.  Technology is a truly incredible thing, and I am so thankful to have such faithful readers who not only care about my life but have encouraged me so much over the last couple of years.  Thank you so much for your kind words and giving me the push I've needed, over and over, to pick myself up and keep going.  You'll never fully know how much that means to me.  But thank you, 10,000x!

What's to come for the next 2 1/2 years?  Well, you'll have to stay tuned to find out, but I hope it will only grow and become more of what it is today.  I will maintain the personal side of my blog, as I find it very therapeutic to write out my thoughts.  I also hope to increase the amount of blogging I do, on design topics/tips/ideas etc.  I hope the next 2 years will be filled with wonderful memories, limited brokenness, and lots of joy for me to share with you!

In a more true Friday Free-For-All post let me update you with the happenings of my life the past couple of days:

-Yesterday I had an interview that went really, REALLY, well.  But that's all I'm going to say for now because I don't want to jinx it!  More to come on this soon!

-Last night I went to the State Fair with Erin & Stephen.  I learned that it's not as much fun as I remember growing up, but the Fair will probably always remain on my must-do list each year.  I'm a sucker for traditions.

-I learned that fried foods are simply not as enticing when they cost $6 a pop.  Same goes for the rides at the fair.  I paid $5 to ride the ferris wheel, but that's all the money I could stand to dish out!

-Speaking of money spent at the fair, I got out of there spending only a whopping 12 bucks!  That's got to be some kind of record! ($3 of that I could have saved if I had looked at how many tickets the ferris wheel would require before I bought them.  Oh well!)

-Tonight Erin & Stephen are coming over for dinner, because mom misses them!  As Erin and I say, this simply adds to our on-going joke that she is the favored child around these parts!

Other than those few points, that's about all that's been happening around here!

Oh for all of you wondering about the giveaway....it will be posted on my blog the beginning of next week!! Stay tuned and you could win some fabulous jewelry!!

Happy Friday!

Quick Tip Tuesday

Painting a small room, like a half bath, in a rich/warm color will create a more intimate and cozy space.  Dark colors can be overpowering in large spaces, but are great in small doses.  Your first instinct may be to paint small areas in lighter colors, but try switching it up.  Trust me it's beautiful!  Here take a look..

 Don't understand the angle of this one (guess they were trying to show off the ceiling) but it's beautiful!

 We all know how much I love grey. 

Ignore the rose kleenex box and soap dish, the brown is beautiful!

Jute Creations

After seeing multiple projects on Pinterest and other blogs I follow, I'm beginning to love jute crafts!  I've always loved adding organic touches to warm up a space, and this may become my go-to trick.  From what I've gathered a little jute, hot glue, fabric stiffener, and an object waiting to be wrapped is all you need!  I haven't tried creating anything yet, but a roll of jute is on my next list at the craft store!

Here are some of my favorite applications:

When I graduated from High Point, I went through the donate/trash pile outside our dorm and picked up a few fun shaped vases.  I had planned to paint them white, but I think at least one will become wrapped in jute now :)

How adorable are these???  Adding wooden letters is an easy, cheap, and fun way to add character to any space.  I've got a ton that I've used over the years just sitting unused now.  Usually I paint them to coordinate with my decor, but I'm definitely trying this!  Love, love, LOVE it (especially the little rosette detail)!!

How fun is this?  There are so many chandeliers with hideous or boring shade covers.  This is a cheap and fun way to add an organic touch and spruce up that old chandelier.

Yep, I think I'm gonna have to buy some jute!

Friday Free-For-All

I'm stealing this blog title/idea from a friend of a friend's blog I follow.  I love the freeness (not sure that's actually a word but we're going with it) of letting it all out on Friday.  No rules, no specific topics, just free to write whatever the heck I feel like.

As I laid awake twisting and turning for hours last night, I started to think of some things I could do to fill my days around the house.  I figured since I have this blog, and have been experiencing a little writers block lately, I'd try to come up with some quick probably cheesy daily blog ideas to keep the blog rolling and my readers semi-entertained!  So here's what I've come up with (did I mention they may be cheesy?):

Monday:  Not Me Monday
Tuesday:  Quick Tip Tuesdays
Wednesday:  Wishful Wednesdays
Thursday:  Thursday Thoughts
Friday:  Friday Free-For-All or Friday Five (it'll vary each week)
Saturday/Sunday:  Whatever I feel like writing, if anything :)

Not me Monday is another idea I stole from a different friend's blog.  I love the sarcasm and innocent  way of admitting embarrassing or hilarious facts about yourself.  After all it's not like they really happened ;-)

Quick Tip Tuesday is an idea I came up with last night.  I've been trying to think of a good way to share any design advice I have without having to do long drawn out posts.  I thought sharing a few quick tips each week would be a perfect way to do this and not require a lot of work on my part.

Wishful Wednesday is another idea I came up with last night.  Since Christmas is right around the corner, and I'm sure everyone in the family will be looking for my list soon, I thought this would be a cute and fun way to share my wish-list with everyone.  Now not every item I put on here may be practical, but it never hurts to dream a little :)!

And then finally, we come to Thursday Thoughts and Friday Free-For-All.  Both of these allow me to write whatever I so desire that day.  Anything and everything that may cross my mind on these days can be written about.  The Friday Five is a little blog series I've done before that consists of my listing five of whatever topic comes to mind that day.  In the past I've written about my five biggest weaknesses, five favorite childhood movies, etc.   Anything goes on Thursday and Friday!

Well, that's about it for today.

Oh, my second interview went well.  I should hear back next week sometime if I got the position.  Fingers crossed!

Magnificent Monday

After a somewhat disappointing weekend, finding out I didn't get the job at Ethan Allen, today has been quite a wonderful day.  I had another interview with a new company today and I think it went really well!  I was scheduled to meet for a second interview next week, so I'm hoping (fingers crossed!) that means she liked me and I have a good shot at this position.  I love the furniture and, from what I saw today at the store, I think I would fit in great with the employees.  I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but I have a good feeling about this!

Not only did the interview go well, but I got my very first bubble necklace in the mail today!!!! I have been day dreaming of owning one of these necklaces ever since they came out at J Crew for $150.  However, those of you that know me, know there was no way I'd ever buy a necklace for $150!  I had seen a few on sale at other places for $50, but that still seemed high to me.  Then I saw an offer on facebook for the necklace at the low price of $9.99 AND free shipping!  I snagged one in navy, and even though I had to wait a month to get it, it was definitely worth it!!  It's my absolute favorite necklace and I can't wait for my ivory one to come next! This is the ivory one on it's way to my wardrobe from Ily Couture :) for only $16!  You can snag this deal on living social here!  Do it, you'll LOVE the necklace!!

And now as wonderful as my day already sounds, it only gets better tonight!  That's right folks, it's that time of the year when all of my favorite shows come back on TV.  While I may sound like a complete couch potato after telling you all of the shows I watch, just understand that if you start watching any of them you'll get hooked too!  And hey, seeing as how I'm unemployed at the moment, I am fully embracing my couch potato days and plan to enjoy every minute of these shows!  Although, I must say that I hate that all the good shows come on at the same time.  Once their sesaons end, nothing is on TV.  I wish prime time channels would space out their great shows throughout the year. But I digress.  It's going to be a good week, I can feel it!

On tonight:  Bones, Dancing With the Stars, Warehouse 13, Alphas,  & Castle
Tomorrow:  Dancing With the Stars, NCIS, & NCIS Los Angelos
Wednesday:  Criminal Minds (My ABSOLUTE favorite!  Everyone must watch it!), CSI
Thursday: Person of Interest

Happy Monday Y'all!!

Master Bedroom Makeover

A couple of weeks ago my sister's friend, Janice, contacted me for design help on her master bedroom.  She and her husband recently moved into a new home and wanted to update their bedroom from a traditional frumpy purple, to a cleaner more transitional space.  She and her husband had already purchased a set of furniture but wanted to change up the paint and decor.  After consulting on a paint color and getting the furniture in place, Janice and I set out shopping for bedding, window treatments, and accessories for the room.  She wanted something clean, with texture, and in the blue/grey/green family.  We found some beautiful selections from West Elm (a new favored store of mine that just opened at Southpoint, you should check it out!) and got the room all set up.  I really enjoyed working with Janice.  She was very pleased with how the room turned out, as was I, and I believe it will be a great bedroom ensemble for them to enjoy for years to come.  Here are some before, during, and after shots.  Enjoy!

 This is how the previous owner had the bedroom set up and displayed when Janice and her husband bought the house.

 How I first saw the room. (Sorry for the terrible quality I forgot my camera and had to use my phone)

 The master bedroom connected to their private bath which was painted in a beautiful green they wanted to keep.  We chose a blueish/green gray for the bedroom to tie in with the bathroom.

The finished product.  She has a beautiful wedding picture that will be going above the bed soon.

If you, or someone you know, would like design help on their next project let me know.  I am always looking for ways to expand my portfolio and get more design experience.  

Send me an email for more information on the services I offer, pricing information, and ways I can assist in your remodeling projects. 

allysonhemric@gmail.com

Oh You Know...

Nothing too exciting happening around here the past few days.  I've just been working away at camp, anxiously awaiting Wednesday afternoon when I get to be reunited with three of my best friends!  I'll be driving up to Maryland Wednesday afternoon to have dinner with my roommates from last year.

 I just realized this is the most recent roommate picture we have which was from last year.  

I'll have to fix that this weekend!!

Then I'll be heading to the beach for the weekend with Jessica Rose.  For those of you who do not know, I have a huge dream to see a blue whale, in person, in the wild before I die, and because Jessica is SUCH a great friend, she jumped at the opportunity to snag a GroupOn deal for whale watching in Maryland! To say I was excited at the news would be an understatement!  While they cannot guarantee that we'll see a whale, I'm REALLY hoping we will!  I cannot wait!  Plus, not only do I get to go whale watching with one of my best friends, I get to spend a wonderful 4 days at the beach with her and her family.  I'm so excited! What's not to love?!

On another note, I've got even more exciting news to share with you!

Wait for it......

I'm going to Haiti again!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right folks, I have been blessed with the opportunity to take my third trip to Haiti this year.  Cassie, and Jessica will be joining me again, along with Amanda Cutts, my mom, and about 15 other people from our church!  We'll be joining Jim & Debbie Hambrick at their new compound, assisting them with various projects, spending time at Dorothy's, and working on a bunch of other little things!  I am so excited to travel with a team again.  As much as I love going ourselves and the freedom it creates, I also love the unity and spirit that comes when you're a part of a team.  I'm excited to share my love for Haiti with my mom first hand, as she'll get to see everything I love about the Country.  I'm excited to share the experience again with Cassie and Jessica, because who wouldn't love to share such an amazing trip with their two best friends!  I cannot wait for the new opportunities God will open up for me and the team while we are there and I cannot wait to see what exactly He has in store!  Last time I got back from Haiti I was still very confused about where/if I was supposed to move down there.  I'm hoping working with some other organizations will open more doors and lead me down the path I'm supposed to go on. December 29th I get to step back into one of my favorite Countries and spend another 7 days loving on the people there!  It's going to be amazing!

The job search, unfortunately, is still going...going...and well...going.  I feel like I have applied for every possible opening I can find, and have heard next to nothing.  God is truly pushing me to grow in my Faith and patience.  To say I'm having to depend on Him completely is an understatement.  In three two & 1/2 weeks I will not have a job unless something comes through here pretty soon.  To say I'm stressed would put it lightly.  I have no idea what I'm going to do after August 17th.

Absolutely. No. Clue.

How is it that I'm not moving back into college in a few weeks?  It's weird I tell ya.  Just weird.

So yeah... that's about all happening in my life at the moment.

Gender Neutral Bedroom

Are you trying to find a style for your bedroom that will mesh your feminine flair with your spouse's...well...not so feminine style?  This can be a difficult task for any couple to achieve.  Trying to find that perfect blend of masculine mixed with feminine, while still remaining gender neutral can be a daunting task.  Not to worry however, the best way to find some neutral ground is through compromise!!  Ladies say goodbye to your over the top floral and lace items, and gentlemen put your sports memorabilia else where.  Neither of these items will find a home in a gender neutral space.  Save the lace for your personal office ladies, and guys save the sports items for your man cave.  The bedroom is a place where two become one and must equally feel at home.  Some easy ways to do this are:

1.  Pick a color you can both agree on.  Pink and bright blue probably aren't going to cut it.  Some great neutral colors are:  beige, grey, light blues, greens, and yellows.  My personal favorite color when combining styles is to choose beige or grey. They are timeless and will transition flawlessly as your design aesthetic evolves. They both can have a masculine or feminine quality depending upon the furnishings you place in the room.  If you or your husband are dead set on have a particular color the other can't imagine, try putting it in small areas as an accent rather than on the walls.  After all, pillows, curtains, and lamps are a quick, easy, and cheap fix for a new look!  If you get tired of that bright red or duke blue accent lamp a quick coat of spray paint can do wonders!

This floral curtains and tea set add a feminine touch, but when set against a masculine bed, comforter, neutral pillows, and sleek hardwood furniture the space becomes neutral.  Both genders are equally represented without overpowering the other one.

If you take the bed skirt, sofa, and side table out, this room would scream masculinity. However there are equal touches of both sexes here making the space appropriate for anyone!

2. Make sure you balance the masculine and feminine touches in the room. If you choose a very straight lined, masculine, wood bed, then soften it with a more feminine duvet.  This also goes the other way. If you purchase a hand carved, ornate, and luxurious bed frame, then tone it down with a masculine comforter.  This works the same for every other piece in the room as well.  Maybe all of the furniture and bedding has a distinct masculine flair.  You can easily add a soft touch through a crystal chandelier or lace throw pillow on the bed.  Making sure that you and your husband both feel represented throughout the space is key!  If every piece only represents one person, you will never create a cohesive design.  Some other great ways to balance the two: Add a rustic bedside table with a feminine lamp on top.  Also try a sleek leather chair he loves with a soft pillow on it.  There are many easy ways to mix the various styles into every area of a bedroom.  Remember that you must compromise!  For every feminine accent you add, he gets to add his own masculine touch somewhere in the space and vice versa. You'll be happily surprised how well everything will blend when you make  decisions together with the other person in mind!

This is a great example of how to balance the two perfectly.  The masculine leather tufted headboard propped against a soft and luxurious mound of pillows positioned beside a feminine antique chair is a combination to die for.  Both genders are equally represented through color, texture, furniture, and accessories.

This bedroom hands down wins my favorite gender neutral space of the night.  The architecture of the exposed wood beam ceilings above the dark gorgeous hardwood floors makes this a space any man would feel comfortable in.  Then you add a beautiful chandelier, a sofa, and side chair and it's a room fit for a queen as well.  The best part is that not only is each gender represented uniquely in some pieces, there are also key pieces that flawlessly represent them both.  Take the side table for example.  Its rustic exposed wood screams masculinity, but the curvilinear shape adds a feminine touch. Then you have the bed; clean sleek lines both genders can enjoy topped with a neutral bedding and pillows.  Simply breathtaking!

3. Choose neutral patterns. That Duke comforter he had in college, and your Hawaiian bedding are simply not going to cut it in this space.  Go for patterns such as stripes, plaid, houndstooth, or chevrons.  While plaid may sound very masculine and chevrons may scream feminine to you, both can be a very beautiful neutral choice if done in the right scale and colors.  Stripes are a pretty safe choice, but search around for other options you can both fall in love with.  Patterns are a great way to add interest to a bedroom without going over the top.

 A beautiful example of a neutral chevron.  This feminine pattern when paired down to masculine colors becomes a neutral palette both can enjoy! 

Great example of how to make plaid gender neutral.  Add a rustic vibe to your bedroom with this bedding but soften the look with a one-of-a-kind headboard and monogrammed throw pillow.

4. Add personal touches to your bedroom. My favorite tip for when designing a couple's bedroom is to include personal items you both made, bought, or found together.  Things like pictures of the two of you, souvenirs from recent trips, furniture you bought together, or decorative pieces you found scouring the flea market.  Whatever it is that you and your husband enjoy the most together, add something from it to your space.  Maybe you both love collecting old records; then create artwork out of some of your recent finds.  Maybe you're both photographers; frame a few of the pictures you took together.  Or perhaps you both love antiques; add your favorite find to the bedroom whether that be a side chair, table, or even the bed itself.  Adding reminders of all the things you love to do together in such an intimate space will bring you closer together and create a cohesive feel you can both fall in love with!

Creating a gender neutral space is not difficult, it just takes some patience.  Remember to keep each other's wants and needs in mind when designing your bedroom and it will turn out perfectly!


Do you have a favorite tip when it comes to decorating for both sexes?


*Disclaimer: All pictures found through Google images. I do not claim these as my personal work, simply my inspiration!*