celebrating my first year!

Where has the time gone? Today my blog celebrates it's first birthday/anniversary, however you'd like to look at it!

via google

I've been reading back on some of my old posts wanting to see not only what I've already discussed but to get some inspiration to bring this blog back full circle. When I started this journey I was mostly concerned about my blog having a cohesive theme. I like diverting from the whole domestic thing once in a while but at the same time that is what brought me here - reading home improvement blogs and home decor blogs. That being said I never thought I'd meet or make friends with so many great people via the blogging community. Sure I met my current boyfriend on myspace.com and I've made friends through forum boards in the past but I had no idea how tight knit we would all become. I'm so happy we have and I'm thankful for your friendship and support everyday.

I thought I'd dig back into the D2BD time capsule and publish my first post again. It still rings true and I want to get back to as much of the domestic stuff as I possibly can. It's almost fall again and that's the time that I nest the most and cook and bake as well.

Thank you for all your support and thank you for making this the best first blog year ever!! oxox

SEPTEMBER 6, 2009

Daring to be Domestic in life, I am a Domestic Goddess… In Training.

We all have to start somewhere right? I don’t know where this surge of wanting to be such a homemaker came from. Maybe it hits you at a certain age, or time in your life. For me this bug hit me about 4 years ago. I had just moved from home, to a new state and into an apartment with my boyfriend. My first place – to decorate and make my own, or “ours”. After living here for almost 10 months, I had been laid off from my job. I’ve never been laid off or fired in my life! My self esteem took a big blow. After the first month without work I felt hopeless – applying where ever I could to get work. After the second month and a few freelance graphic design jobs, but still I felt depressed. During this time I started to watch the Food Network. I’ll admit I’m head over heels for this station and most of it’s tv personalities. I started to find comfort in learning all I could about cooking. Three months into unemployment, feeling better emotionally, I finally secured a job to help me feel better financially.

The Food Network obsession continues, to this day. I’m so thankful to have finally learned how to cook. My mother would be so proud. I never cooked or came near the kitchen much when I was younger unless it was to snag a sweet treat she was preparing for us. I never had any interest I was always a tomboy and would rather play outdoors than be in the kitchen, or house for that matter. My mother often joked about having dreams about me claiming to cook something for her – only to find out the dish I was serving was warm sugar water from the microwave – talk about faith in your child *wink*.

My boyfriend, I believe was eternally grateful that I learned to cook – I think the nights of Hamburger Helper and box meals were starting to get to him. The only other thing I truly knew how to master was spaghetti with store bought sauce (which is still a staple in my kitchen but I’ll get into that later).

Food Network naturally lead to my HGTV obsession. Once you make the kitchen the heart of your home you realize the other parts need just as much attention. HGTV has turned me into a DIY type person (I’m also hooked on FLN – Fine Living Network, and all their DIY shows). Add to this obsession tons of blog posts by fabulous DIY people – I’ve truly morphed into a foodie and a DIY freak these days and I LOVE IT!

I call myself a Domestic Goddess in training mostly because well – I’m still in training. I’ve come a long way but there are still many more things I can do. [Note: I hate the word diva, so Domestic Diva was not an option].

I want to share with everyone great projects I’ve done, things I’ve cooked, things I’ve eaten and things I see on a daily basis that give me inspiration, pleasure and often times that I crave and cant’ afford. So if you’re willing to read, I’m willing to write. Be patient I’m new at this – I hope we can learn so much together.

I’m currently renting a home with my boyfriend – yes we are still together and I love him more than I could express. Since we rent most of my projects will be ways to fix up your rental home without making your landlords angry [and may even make he/she smile with glee that you're bumping up their potential to rent the home for more when you leave] – simple things, things that won’t cost you an arm and a leg [let's be real none of us can afford to spend, spend, spend right now]. I also may touch on things I am all about from fashion to television – it will be a mash of intrests so hopefully you can keep up! [And want to!!!]

So get out your aprons, your tools, your crafting fingers set – and be sure to locate a great hobby store in your town! You’ll need your eyes to be focused on reading because I can be long winded at times, but I’ll do my best to keep it short and sweet!

Join me on my journey as I try to achieve true Domestic Goddess Bliss… or at least Dare to Be Domestic!