So this is My Story. I decided for it not to be "About Me", because if you wanted to know that, you could just look at my Facebook page. Here you will find why I left my career as a hairstylist, and instead decided to pursue a different path. I'll tell you how I got sucked into the craft and blogging world and why the heck I'm so in love with it.
Here it goes.
Cosmetology
After I graduated from high school in 2007, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I watched all my friends move out of state and get accepted to every university in the country while I sat around scared and confused. After a little thought, I made the decision to go to cosmetology school. I figured, anyone can get in, and it only takes 14 months to complete. Once I'm done, I'll get an awesome job and be set for life! Easy peasy lemon squeezy right?
In April of 2008, I packed up my crap and moved to Provo, UT. I became a student at Dallas Roberts Academy of Hair Design. It was one of the most fun/hard/profound experiences of my life. After a long 14 months, I finally finished school and moved back home to Arizona.
In September 2009, I landed an assisting job at the salon I got my hair done at, while growing up. I thought everything was going great! After assisting for a year, I would finally get my chair and be a pro. For months and months I worked my butt off. I spent 10 hour days constantly on my feet, doing anything and everything stylists would ask of me. I learned more than what the instructors in beauty school could have even tried to teach me. I masted color lines, hair cuts, and learned what it truly meant to be a professional stylist. I did my own clients on Mondays and my days off, and got really good at what I was doing. The owner even went so far to tell me that I was exceeding the talents of other stylists there. But things never felt quite right...
A Change of Plans
In June of 2010, I married the love of my life Ben Bowman. My life seemed to be right on track with the plan, except for that one thing that didn't feel right. It took me a while to realize it, but everyday I came home from work, I resented my job more and more. There was always something I complained about, usually relating to catty girls, stupid clients, or not making enough money. Simply put, I wasn't happy, and I HATED that. I knew I wasn't willing to sacrifice my happiness for a job, but at the same time I was scared to leave. I had already invested tons of time and money into this career. What if I was making a huge mistake? After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided to leave. I considered joining another salon, but with most places requiring either booth rent or a low commission, it just wasn't an option. I decided to look for an hourly job anywhere I could, and would keep that till I found another salon.
I approached the owners of the salon at the end of December 2010. I advised them I would be leaving and gave them my notice. I explained to them that I just couldn't make enough money working for them, and that at the end of the day I just wasn't happy there. They proceeded to not yell, but literally scream at me for 40 minutes. They told me that I was ungrateful, and didn't know anything about the beauty industry. They even went so far as to insult me and tell me I was stupid and naive. My response was "Forgive me, but I refuse to work for ANYONE who thinks me to be stupid or naive, and then has the audacity to say it to my face." I grabbed my bags and left without looking back.
I later had to deal with several people judging me for leaving, and not a day has gone by where someone hasn't asked me when I'm going back to a salon. Call me crazy, but after that experience, the thought of working in a salon literally repulses me.
A New Love
Luckily, I had already obtained a full-time job at Designer Blvd., a small home decor boutique that I frequented. To this day, I believe that I was MEANT to get this job. Now let me tell you, I have always loved home decor. Growing up, my mother has always maintained a beautiful and stylish home, which has definitely served as an inspiration to me. When I started at Designer Blvd., I immediately fell in love. It opened my eyes to the world of home decor and design. Everyday I was in awe with the amazing merchandise we carried. The decorating craze had begun.
A couple months later, my friend Hillary and her husband were visiting us, and we got on the subject of home decor. We talked about how much we loved it, and I told her I just wish it wasn't so dang expensive. We are poor newlyweds, and I just can't afford to buy everything I want. She was like, "Oh hey, have you heard of this blog called Vintage Revivals?" I hadn't, and she informed me that this girl, Mandi, decorated her entire house with re-vamped stuff from Goodwill, and was super talented at DIY stuff. I immediately looked it up... and didn't pay attention to our guests for the rest of the night. I spent hours looking at everything on her blog, and then went on to look at several others. It wasn't until my phone died that I realized it was 3 in the morning, and I had just spent 7 hours on the internet. I was 100% obsessed.
Getting Craftlicious
The next few days, nothing else occupied my mind except DIY and crafty projects. Hundreds of ideas began to swim around my head, and all I wanted to do was go to Goodwill and Home Depot. Everyday I had off from work was spent crafting. I quickly decided that I wanted to start my own blog. I wanted to be able to display my own projects, and also become a part of the amazing world of DIY and Craft blogging. I couldn't believe how many talented and creative people were a part of this world, and I desperately wanted to join them.
I got on my beloved computer, the iMac, and started designing a logo. I just couldn't come up with a good name. I wanted it to be catchy, yet kinda funny at the same time. A commercial for Modern Family came on and Phil Dunphy said something hilarious by adding "-licious" to the end of a word. I turned to my husband and said "How about Craftlicious?" He started laughing, and then I said, "No wait! Get Craftlicious!" He made fun of me for a while, but I knew that was it. Get Craftlicious was the name of my blog, and I loved it!
The next few months were spent making craft after craft, and writing post after post. I tried so hard to keep things updated as much as possible, as well as coming up with fun ideas. Get Craftlicious was slowly becoming a big part of my life, but I still was unsure about what I wanted to do career-wise. Should I go back to doing hair, or should I pursue something along the lines of home decor and craft blogging?
Do More of What Makes You Happy
The first weekend of August 2011 my husband survived a life-threatening accident. A boulder fell on his head, leaving him with severe scalp lacerations a 4 fractured vertebrae. It was a miracle there wasn't any damage done to his brain, let alone that it didn't kill him. It was literally the scariest experience of my life. I remember sitting next to him in the hospital, and breaking down into tears because the thought that I could have been a widow at age 21 hit me.
A few days after the accident, I had a great chat with my mother in law. I was having a difficult time dealing with the stress of taking care of a man with a broken back, and trying to figure out what to do when the medical bills start to roll in. I was upset because it seemed that everything we were working toward, just got flushed down the toilet. We were so close to being able to buy our own house, and getting some big bills paid off. She sat down next to me, and told me that these were just "things". Sure, it sucks that it's a little out of reach right now, but it's okay. Life is short and we need to make the most of it. She asked me what I really, truly wanted. She asked me what would make me happy?
I knew what would make me happy. I told her I would be happy if everyone would stop judging me for not doing hair anymore. I would be happy if I could just craft every single day. I told her I would be happy to blog on Get Craftlicious until it becomes huge. She just sat there and said, "Well, then do it!"
Shortly after our conversation, I came across a little saying that said, "DO MORE OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY." I really struck a chord with me.
You guys, I love doing this. Crafting and Blogging is truly what makes me happy. After 3 years of searching, I have found something that I am truly passionate about. I love finding new ways to be creative and also sharing these ideas. The craft blogosphere is filled with so many talented people, and I'm so happy that I'm slowly (but surely) becoming a part of it. I'm doing more of what makes me happy, and loving it everyday.
Today
Nowadays, I am busy working at Designer Blvd. and crafting as much as I can. I recently made the decision to go to school and get a degree in Interior Design. Once Ben has made a full recovery, I will enroll at Mesa Community College, and from there (hopefully) go on to ASU for a bachelors degree. I love spending time with my wonderful husband, and our awesome dog Nigel. I just think I have the best little family, and I'm excited for us to start growing. I love my little life!
This is my dog Nigel. He is a pug, and a beggar.
Thank you to everyone who reads my blog. I am grateful for every comment, email, and loving note received from you. My followers and fans are seriously the best, and I wouldn't be where I am without you. I hope you will continue to follow Get Craftlicious, as it is my hope and dream that someday it will become my career.
