Hello dollies…thanks for joining me for this month’s Where Bloggers Live 04.2021: Like Home. Today, the ladies and I are talking about other places we’ve stayed in our life that feel like home.
In case we’ve just met, an explanation about this series. Where Bloggers Live is kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! Each month I am always happy to see that my Where Bloggers Live posts are among my most popular. Probably because we are all a little curious about other people’s homes and lives. You can read my last Where Bloggers Live post, here, where we talked about our DIY endeavors. For February’s post, we provided a look at our entry way, the area where visitors get a first impression of our home. Then the theme of January’s installment was sharing where we get our inspiration for different aspects of our life. Glad you have stopped by today.
Just a reminder: Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After occasionally uses affiliate links. This means that if you click or make a purchase from a link provided I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Where Bloggers Live 04.2021
My first inclination was to share photos of the guest rooms in my daughters’ homes in Ft. Worth and here in El Paso where I stay when visiting them. Of course, I no longer stay overnight with Lauren as we live in the same city now.
- Brennyn has 2 guest rooms, one I have taken for my own!!
- My sister has a guest bedroom that I call ‘my room’ at her house in Spring, Texas. Before Covid, I would visit Valerie most springs on the way to or home from the Texas Library Association annual conference we would attend together.
- And then there are the bedrooms of my niece and nephew at my brother’s house in Lexington. Kevin is always very kind to open his home and to loan us his car when we are in town visiting him and our mother.
All very comfortable accommodations. When I visit my daughters, they have always been so cute to have a basket of toiletries available for my use. Deodorant, a razor, tooth paste and a toothbrush to replace the one that inevitably gets forgotten in the packing for my trip. I use it then rather than putting it in my toiletry bag, I return it to my toothbrush holder like I do every other morning when I’m not packing for a trip. My sister always has a new tee shirt with matching earrings and a bottle of Moscato for me when I visit. Kevin makes sure to stock up on groceries and snacks and adjusts the thermostat so the house will be more comfortable then it would be if it were just he.
Sounds good, huh? I don’t have any pictures to share but each of those spaces is attractive and comfortable and feels somewhat like home. So I could wrap up this post right here. Short and sweet. But that wouldn’t be me!!
Like Home
[source]
When I was an Army wife in another lifetime years ago, I used to make and giveaway little cross stitch pictures to other wives that read, “Home is Where the Army Sends Us.” And for about 9 years of my life, I stood by that expression.
But after 8 moves in that number of years, I was done. Done with moving. And done being an Army wife ( but not because of the moves!!).
We lived in what was considered substandard apartments in 3 of our 4 military housing assignments. The rest of the time on-post housing wasn’t available to us and we were living on the economy. Which was pretty tough on a wage (military paycheck) that was so low we – a family of 4 – qualified for food stamps and welfare.
At this time of my life – the late 1980s – my motto switched to…
Home is Where the Heart Is
Not to be confused with one of Oprah’s first book club books Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts. Great book (and movie), BTW. IMO. LMNOP.
When the girls’ father and I separated, I moved my daughters from on-post housing into a very substandard apartment. Complete with aqua blue metal cabinets and green shag carpet. But we were happier. And home was where our hearts were. Specifically the Cielo Vista apartments.
Two More Homes
Since my divorce in 1989, I have bought and lived in 2 homes. My little house was our home for over 15 years. Most of my daughters’ childhoods. When they were both young adults, I married PC. We sold our separate little houses and bought a home together. And that’s where I plan to stay for as long as I can get up and down the stairs to our bedroom!!
Once Upon A Time & Happily Ever After
My blog has been a home of sorts. Until recently, anyway. Was sort of evicted from my own space during a six-week long theme update that has gone all wrong. Just now able to access my dashboard to write a post.
Have been praying about whether or not to continue blogging. Asked God to guide me in this decision. So when my Internet kept going out, my laptop monitor began blinking with each keystroke, my battery refused to hold a charge and my theme update was such a mess, it seemed like God was sending me a definite message. Hoping to return to my blogging roots and will share more about what that looks like soon. I hope.
Home
In writing this post, I have come to the realization that home isn’t always a building or structure. It is also a feeling. Which explains how I can call the house where I live home but also say I am going home when I travel to Lexington to see my mom. I have never lived in Lexington – unless you count my many trips over the past 10 years as living there. But being with my mom (and dad when he was still living) constituted being home. I have that same feeling being with my daughters and their families. And most of all, being with my Prince C. He is my home.
Home is where you make it.
And we should try to grow where we are planted.
Coincidentally, after I published this post, we were watching the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and this song came on. Had to come back and add embed it in this post.
Ooops
Have lost all of the posts written and published since the theme update began. UGH. Including my 10 on the 10th post where I shared the questions for this month’s theme…money. So, here they are again. Along with the optional graphic. Just in case someone out there might still be interested in joining me for that link up on Saturday.
10 on the 10th 04.2021
- What was your first job? How old were you when you started working?
- Tell us about the best job you’ve ever had. And the worst.
- Are you a saver or a spender? What about your significant other?
- Have you ever played the stock market? Do you play the lottery? Ever gambled? Ever won big?
- What is your favorite way to splurge? What do you dislike spending money on most?
- How do you save money? Do you save change? Christmas Club or vacation accounts? Time-share?
- Who pays the bills? Who does the taxes? Do you file early or last minute?
- Name brands or generic groceries? Favorite stores to shop? Have you used grocery pick up? Delivery? Coupons?
- Do you shop thrift stores and yard sales? Ever used Poshmark or eBay?
- Is there anything you collect or save thinking it might be valuable some day?
Your Turn
Going to wind this up. Don’t want to press my luck with this first post on the new theme. Just hoping it publishes and makes some sort of sense. Hope you will run by to visit the blogs of my comadres for their Where Bloggers Live 04.2021 post. And to check out the places that are just like home for them.
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Thank you so much for putting up with my blogging shenanigans. It has been exhausting and stressful. And as Jodie reminded me last night…blogging is supposed to be FUN.
Hugs and kisses,
Jodie
I love how you ended up saying that home is not just a place but a feeling. And isn’t that the truth? It’s almost like how we interpreted a high fashion outfit. We may think of home as one thing, yet it’s more than that!!
It’s no different than when we downsized and we talked about how our home isn’t about how big it is, but that we are together!!
Loved this Leslie,
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
So glad that you all remained together and still are very much a part of Nancy’s life, too. While I never thought I would consider moving from our current home, it is exhausting for me to try to keep up with the housekeeping required of it. So downsizing might be in our not-so-distant future, too.
Retirement Reflections
Hi, Leslie – Your ‘Where Bloggers Live’ is one of my favourite series. I comletely agree with you. Home is not necessarily a building or a structure – it is a feeling…a sense of belonging.
But I did like your needlepoint of “Where the Army Send You”. That brought a smile to my face!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Aww, thank you! Home was where the Army sent us for too long in my case. Try as I might, I never felt truly at home in some of the places we lived. Especially an on-post apartment here in El Paso at the end of my Army wife career. It was a very sad apartment. One where I struggled even to sleep at night. Glad that chapter is behind me.
Deb
It sounds like your family do everything possible to welcome you into their homes and make your stays as enjoyable as possible. How lovely to know you have so many homely places when you are away from your own home!
It was interesting to hear your tales from when you were an army wife. I have only been on an army camp once when visiting a friend many years ago. She didn’t like being an army wife! Felt as if the minute she made a friend they would be transferred overseas and she’d have to be the ‘new girl’ in the camp all over again.
I love that saying that ‘home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling’ – how true!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I think I have never allowed myself to get really close to my women friends for the very reason that as soon as I did as an Army wife, we were transferred or she was. I still stay in touch with a couple of gals I knew in Panama but that was another lifetime. Here in El Paso, I really don’t have close friends. Wish you would move here!!
Dust and Doghair
I have often thought from “getting to know you” via your posts, that you have a loving and gracious family (apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I’m certain). So, it’s not a huge surprise to me that you feel so at home in so many places where your various family welcomes you. I also read between the lines that in the early days, YOU were home…for yourself and your girls. I am all disjointed right now regarding Home, because it seems in flux, weirdly, because there have been so many changes for me… So I’m kind of rediscovering it.
On a separate note, your new design is GORGEOUS!!! I know it’s been technically frustrating, but when you have everything all set, I’m sure it will be worth it! I adore your new logo SO much!! It’s perfect!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so much for your sweet words. I love when you visit because you say the very nicest things!!
I know you have had a number of significant changes to the family who are living at home with you these days. Coming during the pandemic, I am sure those changes made life more stressful and emotional. I remember those days and after being a pretty hands-on mom just as I know you are, it is difficult to watch your babies move into adult life in a home of their own. Or, the opposite, having to move back home again because of circumstances beyond their control.
Debbie
Loving the new look Leslie! This was very interesting and always good to learn more bout my blogging friend.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, sweets!!
thisblondesshoppingbag
I haven’t moved a whole lot in my life but I agree in blooming where you’re planted.
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Being an Army wife had me moving more than I ever cared to. I am happily planted in my house in El Paso now and hope to be here for the duration!!
notinjersey
The blog looks good!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Gracias!! Finally!!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
It is always interesting to read about your life and all of your homes. That cross stitch you made is so sweet, I bet it was a hit back when you made them. I have lived in St. Louis my entire life, so moving somewhere else seems a bit exciting to me, but 8 times would be a lot in a short time!! I am so sorry to hear about your blogging struggles. I hate when my blog is down and thankfully Brian helps me a lot. I am thinking about either taking this entire summer off from blogging, or I may just blog a couple times a month and leave it at that. I need a serious break after this deflating year of Covid. It’s been exhausting and I really want to try to get my kids off their electronics as much as I can and out exploring this summer.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Lysha
Such a great post, Leslie. I just hate that you’re having so many technology issues. I sure hope you don’t quit blogging. Updating a blog theme can be quite stressful. I think that’s why I’ve never done an overhaul on my current URL. Your new blog theme look marvelous!
natashajk
I’m sorry your blogging home is giving you so many issues right now. I didn’t think about my blog being a kind of home but it absolutely is. I loved learning more about, not only your actual homes, but your philosophy on “home” as well. Thank you!