Friday, May 30, 2014

Saturday Spotlight: Cindy from Cloches and Lavender

Hi, everyone!   Kris from Junk Chic Cottage and I wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.
There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Kris's and my blog. 

      


Today please help me welcome Cindy from Cloches and Lavender.  I love her positive, upbeat attitude in spite of her daily struggles.  On her blog she is currently taking us along on the journey of watching her new home being built-how exciting!  Please sit back, relax, and enjoy getting to know Cynthia better.




When Susan approached me about being In the Spotlight I was absolutely speechless.  That is very funny because people that really know me know I am rarely speechless.  I thought me, my little tiny blog??  I love everyone in the blog world they have been so kind to me.

I decided to do a blog when one day a friend suggested the idea to me.  I love decorating, painting furniture, putting transfers on flower pots, and speaking about what I have done and what I have envisioned for our home.  If it was in the plan I would have gone and taken some decorating classes.  I love French Country, Old World style and our home has to have color.  I also have a passion for lavender and cloches, so, what a better name than Cloches and Lavender for my blog.

Home, well we sold our home of 20 years a year ago.  We have chosen to build a new home on one level.  This decision was really a no brainer.  I don’t want to speak too much about this but I have Multiple Sclerosis and it was time to downsize and put everything on one level.  I walk with a cane and have a brace for my right leg which is relatively new.  I suffer from drop foot which is not uncommon with MS.  I tend not to speak too much about this because for me personally, it is actually not a good thing for my mental health.  I need to focus on other things that are positive in my life and believe me some days it is hard but blogging helps me put that issue aside.

I have lived in Northern NJ all my life and would never leave because I’m a Jersey Girl through and through.  I met my husband 28 years ago and we have been married for 26 years.  It is like every marriage, you have to work at 100% on each end.  I love my husband, John with all my heart and soul.  When I have difficult days and I do, he is my strength.  He rarely lets me feel sorry for myself and pushes me to do what is best for my health.  I may not listen all the time right away but it usually sinks in, LOL.

Four years ago we went 3 hours away to get our two treasures in life, Peanut and Reeses.  Our miniature dachshunds, they are brother and sister and we picked them up at 8 weeks old.  I trained them myself and was very diligent with them.  Every two hours they went out and I never missed a moment.  They are very well trained and I think they would explode before doing anything inside the house.  They surely love their momma, they are by my side in my office every day when blogging, crafting or just snuggling.  Believe me they are so cute they get tons of snuggle time, LOL!!!






Some of the things that bring me joy and I love besides blogging and taking care of our small family is cooking, baking, feeding people makes me very happy.  I love, love music and have to listen to it every day.  I listen to a very wide range of music from Bruce Springsteen, which, what Jersey Girl wouldn’t listen too, to Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, to name a few. Then there is also Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and Maroon5.  I told you the range is huge, but I have to have music in my life.  The worst part is for John, I know every word to all the songs I listen to and I can’t sing a lick.  I am tone deaf just like my dad, LOL.

My dad, I love him to death.  He makes me so happy and I am without a doubt daddy’s little girl and always will be, even at age 49.  The song that Martina McBride sings, In My Daughter’s Eyes is a song about us for sure.  I lost my mom when I was 26; she was the best mom on the planet.  She made me feel safe and very much loved and was my best friend.  Now I have a wonderful stepmom Gail who is also so very special to me and to John.  How lucky am I to have had two women in my life that are treasures?  I think I am blessed.
I hope everyone will checkout Cloches and Lavender and give it a chance.  Stop and check past projects and our new home build, there are many snippets and peeks.  






The decorating and projects will be starting very soon.  The house is almost finished and we can’t wait to begin our memories and journey in the new place we will call “HOME”. 
 Susan, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity.  I so enjoy these spotlights that you and Kris feature every week.
(By the way, I am not photogenic at all. That is why there are no pictures of me. I keep trying to get a good photo. Hopefully one day soon, LOL!!!)

Cindy, thank you for sharing with us! (Your 'babies' are adorable!) We look forward to seeing the progress on your new home!
Please visit her at Cloches and Lavender, then hop over to Kris's blog to read about Melanie from Sweet Melanie.
Have a great day! :)

27 comments:

  1. What a wonderful gal! She writes like talking to an old friend. I am off to visit her blog. Thanks, Susan! xo Diana

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  2. What an interesting post. I am following Diana over there!

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  3. Great intro, Susan. I look forward to visiting and reading more of Cindy's blog.
    Rita

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  4. Loved reading Cindy's post. I have been a follower of her blog for some time and am enjoying her excitement and joy in her new home. Can't wait to follow along with her decorating of it!

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    1. Thanks Kathy, you have always supported my blog and I so look forward to decorating the new house.

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  5. I love you Cindy! Your pups are adorable, too! It was great getting to know you a little better and I can't wait to see what you do with your new house!

    Susan, I'm so glad you chose Cindy to feature.

    xox

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    1. Anne thanks so much you know I think you rock

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  6. I can relate to her post in so many ways! Enjoyed reading her post and will head over there now!
    Linda
    mysewwhatblog

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  7. Susan, thanks for introducing us to Cindy. What an inspiration. I love her two puppies - so sweet. Cindy, looking forward to seeing how you transform the blank canvas of your new home.

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  8. Susan, I loved that Cindy loved her parents. Does a heart good to know that. We all want to be loved. I liked the picture of the dogs with their heads on her leg, too sweet. Cindy's a brave young lady. I look forward to visiting her blog. Thank you Susan for featuring Cindy today. xoxo,Susie

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  9. HI Susan. Love love love Cindy. Cindy is such an inspiration that she lives life to the fullest even with having MS. Love Peanut and Reeses how cute are they. Cindy I have a mini dachshund grand baby of my daughters named Penny. She looks just like yours. They are the cutest and the best snugglers. So happy you did Spotlight Cindy thanks for sharing.
    Kris

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    1. Kris thanks to you and Susan for the feature. You know I think the world of you!

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  10. I love Cynthia! She is such an inspiration, living with so many challenges, yet with such a great spirit.
    Mary Alice

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    1. Mary Alice you know how I feel about you personally and your talent. Hope to make all you ladies proud in the new house

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  11. Susan I always enjoy Saturday Spotlight featured by Kris and you. It is fun being introduced to other bloggers and I am heading over to check out Cindy's blog right now.
    Vera

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  12. Cindy is a sweetheart!! It was so nice learning more about her today...Peanut & Reeses are to stinkin cute!!

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  13. Susan, I wanted to thank you again for this great opportunity. I still can't believe I am on here but am not surprised because you and Kris have been so supportive and encouraging. In the new house I have so many plans for our home, projects and my blog!!! Thank you again

    Cindy

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  14. What a fantastic spotlight! Cynthia is a doll! She is definitely upbeat! I love her French country style and I'm enjoying following along with the construction of her new home. Thanks for the opportunity to learn more about Cynthia!

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    1. Betsy, you are such a great friend. Thanks so much for the support, always!!!

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  15. I follow Cynthia's blog! I'm so excited to see her new house soon. I know how long she has been waiting to move in it. I didn't realize that she was my age! Thanks for sharing her story. It was fun to get to learn more about her.

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  16. Thank you, Susan for sharing Cindy and her story with us. I have not had the pleasure of reading her blog but I'm sure I will enjoy watching the progress on her new home and it moves along. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Blessings, Cindy

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  17. Cindy is one of the sweetest bloggers I know! She is a woman of incredible strength and I admire her very much. Love those cute dogs and am enjoying the journey of her beautiful new home! Her previous home was beautiful!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  18. I am new to her blog so excited to learn about Cindy. Thanks for this feature!

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  19. I love Cindy and her blog and it was great to read her story and learning more about her...I look forward to her decorating and projects of her new home!...Great feature today Susan...Cindy is a wonderful person...

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  20. i can't wait to see cindy's new home tour! love her home projects and of course peanut and reeses! tfs, susan!

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  21. Great spotlight! I follow Cynthia's blog and was happy to see her featured here, not only, but partly because we are both Jersey girls!

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  22. Sorry I missed this Cindy - what a thrill to see you here ( and to learn a little more about you ! )
    Can't wait to see your house finished :)
    XOXOX

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