She Made Herself a Home

This episode is the first in a series of two podcast episodes talking all about anxiety. Today, I'll be sharing my story with the hopes to encourage you if it is something you are going through or help you understand more about anxiety in general.

• What anxiety is, how it feels, the six most common types of anxiety disorders, and how to tell if you are experiencing normal anxiety or something that lingers on [2:45]
• I discuss how anxiety presented in my family and how it can be a result of both your genetics and environment [6:33]
• How anxiety originated for me and what it looked like as a child and growing up into adulthood [9:54]
• My anxiety heightened and became more severe through pregnancy and having children on top of all the hormonal changes [15:30]
• The moment I reached out for help and how it felt when the cloud of anxiety lifted [17:45]
• It's okay to get help. I talk about my fear of no longer being "Rachel" but realizing I am now more "me" than before I started medication [22:46]
• How anxiety continues to pop up for me during stressful times and how I navigate it so that it doesn't control my life [24:30]

Stay tuned for next week's episode where we will dive into Richard's story about anxiety and how it presented for him.

Resources mentioned:

Hope and Health for Your Nerves

Layla Palmer @letteredcottage

This episode is sponsored by She Made Herself a Home, my book that will help you discover how to create a home that is inviting, beautiful, functional and uniquely personal all while staying on budget. It is a home decor planner that features beautiful photography from more than 40 real homes and contributions from other successful home decor bloggers. I promise it will make home designing an exciting, un-intimidating process. My hope is that these pages spark your passions, guide you to create spaces you love and most importantly give you the confidence to try something new. Anyone, no matter age, status, income level or past can make a home for herself and those she loves. Because no one has to break the bank to bring new life, intention and purpose to a home. You can buy your copy anywhere books are sold or at crateandcottage.com/book.

This episode is all about bedrooms! I walk you through how to consider your layout, choosing furniture pieces and creating a cohesive style. I also include my favorite stores and retailers for finding beautiful, stylish pieces on a budget. I want you to take away the importance of creating intention for your bedrooms before you shop for the pieces to fill it.

• Bedrooms Are Meant to Be Relaxing – However for us, it's different. I talk about my vision for a Master Bedroom but what the reality looks like for us. [1:55]
• An excerpt from my book on the most important components to have in place for your Master Bedroom [4:50]
• The most important part of the bedroom and how to make sure it is the perfect focal point of the room [5:56]
• My process for creating a layout and considering the why of the room when choosing your key furniture pieces [6:30]
• Considering the flow of your room and creating a cohesive look with your colors and adding additional pieces for style [7:12]
• My top tips and hacks for keeping clutter out of the bedroom and keeping things organized [11:45]
• Where to find bedroom pieces on a budget and my favorite retailers for mattresses, curtains and linens [13:04]
• My 5 must-haves within the bedroom [15:24]

LinensandHutch.com – My go-to for linens and if you use the promo code CrateandCottage30 you will receive 30% off of any of their items

This episode is sponsored by She Made Herself a Home, my book that will help you discover how to create a home that is inviting, beautiful, functional and uniquely personal all while staying on budget. It is a home decor planner that features beautiful photography from more than 40 real homes and contributions from other successful home decor bloggers. I promise it will make home designing an exciting, un-intimidating process. My hope is that these pages spark your passions, guide you to create spaces you love and most importantly give you the confidence to try something new. Anyone, no matter age, status, income level or past can make a home for herself and those she loves. Because no one has to break the bank to bring new life, intention and purpose to a home. You can buy your copy anywhere books are sold or at crateandcottage.com/book.

In this episode, I am talking all about balance and what that looks for me. I think the most difficult part of balance as a woman and a mom is including in our routine those "selfish" priorities that help us feel our best. I am showing you how I approach this in my day and scheduling hacks that help me get it all done. Is it perfect every day? No. The most important part is to start somewhere and this episode will give you tips on how to begin creating more balance in your own life.

• The number one question I get asked all the time-"how do you balance it all?" [1:26]
• My answer and what I feel like is the hardest part of balancing as a mom and woman [2:30]
• Figure out what your top priorities are for the day and what your nonnegotiables are. I share what this looks like for me and what I make time for every day. [3:44]
• Treat your day like a workday (especially important for us stay at home moms) and create routines and a structure to start your day off like you would if you went into a job. [8:37]
• Taking weekends off like a work week and the importance of giving yourself a break. [12:08]
• Separate your day into segments and build in breaks like you would at a 9-5 job. [12:35]
• Sharing what my day looks like and how I segment my to do list by hour to accomplish my morning routine, homeschooling and work. [12:50]
• Getting help and releasing the guilt of figuring out a way to get your priorities accomplished. [16:30]
• My challenge for you to create a more intentional day that focuses on your most important priorities [19:06]

You can do this! You can create balance for yourself and for those around you if you take the time and put in some intention on the front end. Nothing in life will ever be perfectly balanced but you can create a system that helps you!

This episode is sponsored by She Made Herself a Home, my book that will help you discover how to create a home that is inviting, beautiful, functional and uniquely personal all while staying on budget. It is a home decor planner that features beautiful photography from more than 40 real homes and contributions from other successful home decor bloggers. I promise it will make home designing an exciting, un-intimidating process. My hope is that these pages spark your passions, guide you to create spaces you love and most importantly give you the confidence to try something new. Anyone, no matter age, status, income level or past can make a home for herself and those she loves. Because no one has to break the bank to bring new life, intention and purpose to a home. You can buy your copy anywhere books are sold or at crateandcottage.com/book.

In this episode, Richard and I are talking all about expectations. The expectations we had prior to our marriage and how we approach expectations now after 14 years. We discuss unrealistic expectations about love and marriage and our views on what actually happens in a relationship -not what you see in the movies. At the end of the day, it is all about communication and understanding there will always be ebbs and flows.

• Unrealistic expectations going into the marriage [3:03]
• False expectation that Richard would possess the same characteristics as my dad [4:57]
• Assuming that the relationship will always be okay [6:36]
• Expectations around sex in marriage [7:45]
• Realization of Expectations after 14 Years of Marriage and the importance of communicating expectations [10:35]
• Dealing with unmatched love languages and that it is ok to sometimes just be teammates and parents [12:05]

• Accepting that the passion fades and that you can't duplicate the "newbie" passion and the importance of still pursuing each other [13:51]
• Unrealistic Expectations about Love and Marriage - Sally Connolly + Our Views on each expectation mentioned in the article [14:40]
• • Love means never having to say you're sorry [15:32]
  • You shouldn't have to work at a marriage [16:46]
  • Arguing always destroys a relationship. You should never argue in a marriage. [17:51]
  • All problems can be solved in a marriage [18:56]
  • Your partner should always 'get you'. You should be able to finish each other's sentences. Your partner is your soul-mate." [20:42]
• The future expectations of our marriage and the importance of dreaming and creating goals together, and keep communicating [23:35]

We hope that you guys can take a minute to appreciate your marriages and learn to communicate better. Simply being thankful that you have a friend and a partner to go through life with.

Thanks for listening!

This episode is sponsored by She Made Herself a Home, my book that will help you discover how to create a home that is inviting, beautiful, functional and uniquely personal all while staying on budget. It is a home decor planner that features beautiful photography from more than 40 real homes and contributions from other successful home decor bloggers. I promise it will make home designing an exciting, un-intimidating process. My hope is that these pages spark your passions, guide you to create spaces you love and most importantly give you the confidence to try something new. Anyone, no matter age, status, income level or past can make a home for herself and those she loves. Because no one has to break the bank to bring new life, intention and purpose to a home. You can buy your copy anywhere books are sold or at crateandcottage.com/book.

In this episode, I'm going to dive into the subject of self care and share the three steps that I use to help me define and prioritize self care in my daily routines. It's my hope that this episode will help you make self care a priority in your life and give you actionable tips on how to incorporate time for things that give you energy and fill you up.

• What self care is and my experienced with it growing up [1:55]
• My first realization with self care to navigate anxiety after giving birth [5:30]
• First Step in Self Care: Discovery [8:00]
  • Ask yourself what is it that I need? What is my passion and desire that makes me feel happy, alive, and adding something to the world? [8:31]
  • There's always something to discover about ourselves. We are born with innate passions and talents. They get lost in life, having babies, marital issues, depression, etc. [10:35]
  • Ask yourself what makes me happy, what gives me peace, what gifts can I supply others with the pleasure of knowing. [11:20]
• Second Step in Self Care: Setting Up Goals [14:35]
  • Take time out of your schedule to find the time to accomplish those goals. What does it look like for you? [16:30]
  • Focus on what you are currently doing, how many hours it takes and determine the time you can take to do self care actions. [17:03]
  • Set goals for yourself and what you want to accomplish, evaluate them and write them down! [19:18]
• Third Step in Self Care: Implementing (the hardest step!) [20:02]
  • Create routines & stick to them - Consistency pays off!! [20:26]
  • Choose things to implement that are reasonable and fit your lifestyle. [23:15]
  • Prioritize by what can be done the fastest. Accomplish what's easiest first and then focus on your bigger projects. [26:26]

Practicing self care will make us better people. Take time to discover who you are, remember you are worth it, you were created with a purpose and you have a gift to share!

This episode is sponsored by She Made Herself a Home, my book that will help you discover how to create a home that is inviting, beautiful, functional and uniquely personal all while staying on budget. It is a home decor planner that features beautiful photography from more than 40 real homes and contributions from other successful home decor bloggers. I promise it will make home designing an exciting, un-intimidating process. My hope is that these pages spark your passions, guide you to create spaces you love and most importantly give you the confidence to try something new. Anyone, no matter age, status, income level or past can make a home for herself and those she loves. Because no one has to break the bank to bring new life, intention and purpose to a home. You can buy your copy anywhere books are sold or at crateandcottage.com/book.

On today's episode, we're going to dive into the home. Twice a month, you can expect Inside Your Home episodes where I'll discuss decorating, organizing and the intention behind what helps me within the home. These will also include stories with my family, organizational tips, etc. Today we are going to discuss the first section of my book titled Gathering Spaces.

• What is a gathering space [1:50]
• The importance of intention & why it's necessary to decorate your space. Tune into your passion and God given gifts [3:19]
• The importance of creating a gathering space for yourself [5:08]
• The top gatherings spaces in my home: entryway, living room, kitchen, and dining room [5:50]
• Considering how you want your home to be used [7:00]
• Considering how you want your home to be remembered and the legacy it will leave on those who come into your home [8:15]
• Decorating your home that aligns with the intention of your home and how to figure out your own decorating style [10:24]
• My method for how to have cohesiveness in all areas of your home when you have an eclectic style [12:18]
• My tips for styling and refreshing your gathering spaces. How to evaluate your space for the things you can keep, what you can repurpose, and what you can get rid of [16:26]
• Shopping your house to enhance your space before going out and buying something new [21:10]

This episode is sponsored by She Made Herself a Home, my book that will help you discover how to create a home that is inviting, beautiful, functional and uniquely personal all while staying on budget. It is a home decor planner that features beautiful photography from more than 40 real homes and contributions from other successful home decor bloggers. I promise it will make home designing an exciting, un-intimidating process. My hope is that these pages spark your passions, guide you to create spaces you love and most importantly give you the confidence to try something new. Anyone, no matter age, status, income level or past can make a home for herself and those she loves. Because no one has to break the bank to bring new life, intention and purpose to a home. You can buy your copy anywhere books are sold or at crateandcottage.com/book.

I wrote a book! I have always wanted to be a writer, but my journey started on Instagram as I searched for a creative outlet as a new mom. As my platform grew, people took notice and I was asked to write a book. After two years, the book is now on the shelves at Target. In this episode I talk about the beginning of my Instagram journey, the impact it had on me and what I ultimately included in the book. I share my heart behind the format and why I included over 40 different homes and their unique style. I give you all the details on what you can expect as you turn the pages of She Made Herself a Home.

In this episode, I'll discuss:

• Choosing my book topic and pivoting it to be more than just a book about farmhouse style [2:50]
• My humble beginnings on Instagram [4:45]
• How I created a story loop on Instagram to bring awareness to The More Than Me Organization [8:04]
• Using social media in a positive way [10:20]
• The reason why I featured everyday women in the book [13:13]
• Defining your why and intention behind what you want your home to represent room by room [15:16]
• The favorite room in my home to decorate and why [16:42]
• The three parts that make up the book - Gathering Spaces, Restful Places and the Leave No Traces [17:52]
• Finding my why of "heart and home" and what that means to me [19:30]
• Lord, if I'm going to start an Instagram account, I want you to be glorified in it. [21:50]

This episode is sponsored by She Made Herself a Home, my book that will help you discover how to create a home that is inviting, beautiful, functional and uniquely personal all while staying on budget. It is a home decor planner that features beautiful photography from more than 40 real homes and contributions from other successful home decor bloggers. I promise it will make home designing an exciting, un-intimidating process. My hope is that these pages spark your passions, guide you to create spaces you love and most importantly give you the confidence to try something new. Anyone, no matter age, status, income level or past can make a home for herself and those she loves. Because no one has to break the bank to bring new life, intention and purpose to a home. You can buy your copy anywhere books are sold or at crateandcottage.com/book.

Today, my husband, Rich, is the featured guest on the podcast. This episode is all about our marriage, how we met, how we run a business together and give you an introduction to who we are. Richard and I will begin hosting marriage chats once a month. We will talk about vulnerable things, topics from a guy's perspective and my perspective, topics we agree/disagree on and all things marriage.

In this episode we are going to share:

• How we met and our first date [2:44]
• Dating, break ups and some fun facts about Rich [6:24]
• What attracted Rich to me [9:05]
• Why I was attracted to Rich and how opposites do indeed attract [10:58]
• Graduating college, getting married, and building our first home [12:04]
• Our journey into DIY and our viewpoint on money, savings and [13:55]
• How we got to where we, the financial decisions we made to keep our cost of living low and save money [16:30]
• How Richard got started in real estate and started the self-made business we have today [19:14]
• Completing our first Air B&B vacation rental and how we work together to build and design homes [23:03]
• What our day to day looks like- homeschooling, how we work together and what to expect from our future episodes together [24:09]

This episode is brought to you by Antique Farmhouse where I find unique decor items that are budget friendly and affordable. They feature unique farmhouse style decor, vintage reproductions and home decor design sales up to 80% off retail. They offer multiple sales events all focused around industrial decor, farmhouse decor, shabby chic, industrial vintage and vintage reproductions. If you are looking for something unique that your friends don't have or something that looks antique without paying a price tag that breaks the bank, this will be your new favorite site to shop. Head on over to antiquefarmhouse.com and sign up for their mailing list to get daily updates to your inbox.

Decor does not define me. In this episode, I am giving you a peek into my journey of following my heart and getting to where I am today as a published author and now podcaster. Decor has been an integral part of my journey, and it brings me so much joy, but it's never been my number one dream. We all have dreams in our hearts, but it is through discovering who we are and taking chances that we are presented with opportunities to pursue them. I hope that my story inspires you to find what defines you and maybe even discover something new about yourself.

• Being approached for a TV show, sizzle reels and network pitches [2:58]
• Grieving the what ifs and the voicemail that changed my life [6:40]
• The day one door closed and another opened and the moment my life changed as an author [8:00]
• Decor doesn't define me. It's a part of me and it's a beautiful thing that allows me to create a warm environment full of love. [10:19]
• The effects the Coronavirus had on my book launch, my secret book genre passion, and a small glimpse into the writing process [10:47]
• My view on the home and that no matter how you grew up, you have the choice to change the kind of home that those who enter experience and legacy you leave to your children [14:02]
• My "why" for this podcast and book and why what you do now matters [15:02]
• What defines me & finding what defines you and how you can leave a legacy [16:04]
• It is never too late to discover something new about yourself and to live out your dreams [20:00]

This episode is sponsored by She Made Herself a Home, my book that will help you discover how to create a home that is inviting, beautiful, functional and uniquely personal all while staying on budget. It is a home decor planner that features beautiful photography from more than 40 real homes and contributions from other successful home decor bloggers. I promise it will make home designing an exciting, un-intimidating process. My hope is that these pages spark your passions, guide you to create spaces you love and most importantly give you the confidence to try something new. Anyone, no matter age, status, income level or past can make a home for herself and those she loves. Because no one has to break the bank to bring new life, intention and purpose to a home. You can buy your copy anywhere books are sold or at crateandcottage.com/book.

Welcome to the first episode of She Made Herself a Home podcast. This episode is a little bit of an intro to how I got here, why I am doing a podcast and what you can expect from me. Hearing someones voice lets you into their heart, and I want my listeners to take away what I have learned and apply it to yourself to discover more of who you were created to be. Here you will find intentional home tips, real talks/truths on relationships, marriage, parenting and more. So pop in those airpods and multitask mama or pull up a seat dear friend and enjoy a few moments to yourself as we navigate life's ups and downs together. Let's discover how to create a heart and home of intention.

• Becoming a mom and how my mom and the home I grew up in influenced my love for decor and decorating on a budget [2:03]
• Building our first home and figuring out my own style for decorating [5:38]
• Having my first baby, navigating depression and anxiety, and changing our home's design and style into something I loved [8:12]
• My start on Instagram sharing my passion for home decor and DIY and the origin of the name Crate and Cottage [9:40]
• Topics for future podcasts that I want to share with you, including bringing on my husband Richard who brings a different perspective to my story [14:14]

This episode is brought to you by Antique Farmhouse where I find unique decor items that are budget friendly and affordable. They feature unique farmhouse style decor, vintage reproductions and home decor design sales up to 80% off retail. They offer multiple sales events all focused around industrial decor, farmhouse decor, shabby chic, industrial vintage and vintage reproductions. If you are looking for something unique that your friends don't have or something that looks antique without paying a price tag that breaks the bank, this will be your new favorite site to shop. Head on over to antiquefarmhouse.com and sign up for their mailing list to get daily updates to your inbox.