All About Me…Hi, I’m April!
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 :).
Loved learning more about you, April! Your kiddos are adorable :).
Thanks Amy!
Hey April – we loved reading your story and learning more about you and your life. Your children are the cutest! We too are a football loving family but must admit that we root for the “other” Alabama team LOL. Look forward to following you!
Haha, my first Alabama fan! Welcome :). Thanks so much for stopping by and following. I love your site!
Hi April,
It’s very interesting to read your blog. All of the articles are very well written however I love your creative ideas and home projects particularly.
This is Peggy from parrotuncle, a promising business on the way of developing. We are an online lighting store.
We have many free sources like beautiful home pictures, real product images and inspiring ideas. If you need any of them, please feel free to email me.
And we have some good ideas on home lighting. I am wondering if you would like us to publish them on your site. If you prefer other collaborating ways like guest post, sponsored content or ads spot, please feel free to tell.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Peggy Woods
Super cute kiddos 🙂 Thanks for telling me more about your story. I’m an SEC gal myself, although from that crazy school in Mississippi.
Melanie recently posted…Fall at the Booth plus Finding Fall Link Party Features
Thanks Melanie! I love the SEC! It really is the best ;).
GO POKES!!! I found you from Thrifty Décor Chick and I am from Stillwater!! I left in 86 but my parents still live east of town and I am there often! Love Stillwater! Your cement table is to die for. I am telling my son in law about your site. My kids live in OKC! My daughter graduated from OSU of course and works at OU Med Center. I met my hubby at OSU. After 10 moves we are now outside Houston so I understand the moving cross country. I know your house! Loved it since I was a kid. There are several that look like that in the area, all built at the same time. Can’t wait to watch your progress, you are very talented! Best of luck!!
How cool!! What a small world. This house is so funny, everybody in town seems to know it. We lucked out and got it for a steal, but it needs a ton of work. So glad you are following along! Thanks for stopping by and GO POKES!
Hi, April its very interesting story about yourself. Both of your married life and children are really awesome. You are also very much talent and i love your writing. Go ahead and best of luck.
Thank you!
I’m so excited to start reading all your posts. This blog is right up my alley. My husband went to Auburn in the eighties and now both of my daughters are there. They love every part of it. We live in Birmingham but I am originally from Tulsa and attended Oklahoma State. I love the style of your house. It’s very Oklahoma eighties. There are a ton of these in Tulsa. It’s what I grew up with. Good luck on finishing. I can’t wait to see it all.
Oh how funny! Such a small world! I’m so glad you found me, welcome! I love anything eighties, which is probably why I love this house, haha. War Eagle and Go Pokes!
I am way behind on your blog. I just spent time catching up! You just amaze me with your talent! The house looks great! So impressive. I think your front trees should be in Cowboy colors! Hahaha
The hall bathroom is beautiful. All the best, Robin
Thank you Robin! We have no idea what we are going to do with the front of this house :). Happy New Year to you!
Hi! I love reading your blog and have been signed up for your emails for quite a while. I used to get them, but I noticed recently that I’m no longer receiving them. I just spent some time going through all the projects I’ve missed over the months. You do such amazing work! Do you know of any reason I would no longer be receiving your email updates? I’ve tried signing u for them again, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Keep up the good work!
Thank you SO MUCH Regi. I honestly am so bad about sending emails, but now that I know somebody is actually reading them, I will get back on it. I needed this kick in the pants to get back on the emails. Look for one this Friday! Thanks again, and thanks for reading!
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!
Mary-the boondocks blog recently posted…Two Year Blogoversary and My Favorite Posts
Thank you so much Mary! I love that you started the blog at 54. There is always time for creativity! Thanks for stopping by!
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 !
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 :).