All About Me…Hi, I’m April!
Contact Me at UncookieCutter@gmail.com
Welcome to Uncookie Cutter! I’m so glad you came by. I started this blog in late February, 2015, after my family and I moved to Stillwater, OK from a suburb of Richmond, VA. We told our realtor we wanted a NEW house in a NEW neighborhood. Then we saw what was to become our house – a big, old, crazy looking artist designed house that needed a ton of work. I don’t know what possessed us to buy it, but we did. Now we love it and we are embracing the challenge head on. I decided to start writing about my projects here at Uncookie Cutter as a way to embrace the insanity ;).
A little more about me…
My aunt, me and my momma in front of the National Championship Banner. War Eagle!
I grew up in Auburn, AL and I come from a very fun, loud, boisterous family. I attended Auburn High School and went on to attend Auburn University where I majored in Health Promotion and Excerise Science (note I now write a blog on interior design). I love my alma mater and I am a die hard Tiger lovin’ Auburn fan through and through. My favorite season is college football season. There is something about living in a college town that gets in your blood and never quite leaves. I also met my husband while he was working on a PhD at Auburn. He is, without a doubt, the funniest person I’ve met in real life. We moved to Spokane, WA for his first job as a professor at Gonzaga University and loved every second of the inland northwest.
My favorite wedding pic.
We were happily married in a wonderful outdoor garden wedding surrounded by our favorite friends and family. We moved to Richhmond, VA after that where Matt worked at VCU and we had our two adorable children (I know, I’m biased, but come on! Look at those faces…).
My kiddos on the first day of 1st grade and Pre-k.
My kids truly do amaze me everyday. My daughter is living with autism and has to be the coolest little girl I know. My son is the most amazing boy with the biggest, most loving heart ever. I am so glad they have each other, almost exactly two years apart and the best of friends.
Also, we have these guys…that’s a whole other story on how we ended up with three, but we love them all. Jade turned 15 in 2015 and the puppies will both be turning two in the fall of 2015. They are all “mutts”, my favorite kind of pup.
George, Stella and Jade
Just a little more background…
While we were living in Richmond, and before the kiddos, I started taking some classes and applied for art school at VCU on a whim. I couldn’t believe it when I got in. I was older than most of the other freshmen in my class, and my background – as I mentioned above – was nothing remotely related to art. I was always a math girl and thought I wasn’t good at anything creative or artistic. As it turns out, I loved it. I took my first woodworking class that year and was hooked. I started making little pieces, which have now turned into full blown furniture projects. I truly believe you shouldn’t let your strengths or weaknesses define you. I use my mad math skills to create beautiful things and couldn’t be happier. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a little of my Health Promotion/Exercise Science roots. Last year I finished my YogaWorks 200 hour teacher training. I am now certified to teach yoga, which I love, but I am having trouble with the whole “get up in front of everybody” part. I’m going to do it. Maybe. One day.
All the students in my class took photos for a book for our instructor. I don’t know why I thought it would be hilarious to take a photo in the snow, doing yoga in snow boots, but there you go.
Why I started blogging…
When we were discussing whether to buy this house, or the move in ready house we loved, my husband mentioned to me that if we got this house, fixing it up would be my full time job. Well, that actually sounded great to me! I wanted to chronical all of our projects and share them with all of our friends and family across the globe. My friend, Kim over at Knock it Off Crafts was my encouragement to get going and she encouraged me to join a group of bloggers and since then I have just run with it. This little project has already gone so much further than I thought it would and I am having so much fun with it. I can not WAIT to see where I go next. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by and please follow me and my journey, I’d be tickled to have you!
Our first ever pic of the new house – “The Compound” as my husband so lovingly calls it. It has so many great parts, none of which you can tell from this photo. We are working on it. Follow along and you’ll see! You can see more “before” pics HERE and HERE. Please excuse the picture quality, I am learning all the time :).
Just a few more random pics…
Thanks for reading!
-April
Cindy
Tuesday 29th of January 2019
Hi April! We are just a little south of you in Shawnee, OK. I just happened to notice the old Oklahoma license plate on your compass rose.
I was looking at rustic industrial pics and your TV/bar area pics caught my eye. Now I know how to conceal our kegerator!!! I love it but it is a bit of an eyesore sitting in the corner of our dining room. Hiding it behind the barn door is genius! And the open shelves around it still allow it to breathe. We are doing a complete remodel and your blog has given me so many ideas.
Thank you and I look forward to exploring your blog more!
April
Wednesday 6th of February 2019
How cool! So glad you stopped by, seems like we are kindred spirits :).
Cute Pet Dogs
Thursday 17th of January 2019
George, Stella and Jade are all adorable dogs! Congratulations on the new house and seems like you will be a busy mom with the house, kids and dogs.
Katie Jones
Monday 24th of July 2017
Hey April,
I recently came across your site and I’m wondering if I can post one of my articles here.
I’ve been writing up home improvement articles too and would love the chance to write on your blog but I couldn't manage to find your email. If you could get ahold of me at ikatie.jones@outlook.com?, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks, Katie
April
Tuesday 25th of July 2017
I Katie, I'm not looking for contributors at this time, but thanks for stopping by!
Linda
Monday 29th of May 2017
Hello April ! Love your blog! And your artistic talents ! Oh maybe you will be an inspiration to me to try to place flooring on a 4 x 8 entry space where carpet currently lives. I fear I'll start and not be able to finish alone and without all the right equipment. Your work is amazing. You are an energetic person doing all you do with your lovely children, family, and home and blog etc etc. Maybe I'll find a course to teach me how to do that floor. You are an inspiration. Hey ... Teach that yoga. The advantage of teaching something such as yoga, is that for your class to view things correctly, you get to turn your back on them. So they can see things in their position. Love the yoga in the snow photo !! Happy June... almost !
April
Monday 29th of May 2017
Hi Linda! Thanks so much for your sweet words. It's so hard to get started sometimes, but their are tons of videos online that are great to watch for encouragement. I hope you try and go for it! Let me know if you do :).
Mary-the boondocks blog
Thursday 16th of February 2017
April you are so inspiring. There you were with a degree and a family and you went and took an art class and your whole life changed. And now with the blog you can explore your creative side even more. You are so right about not letting anything define us. I started blogging at the ripe old age of 54 and also let my creative side take over. Ad I had some people look at me as if I was crazy!
April
Friday 17th of February 2017
Thank you so much Mary! I love that you started the blog at 54. There is always time for creativity! Thanks for stopping by!