Our House is Your House

I thought this week that I would talk a little bit about something that’s been at the forefront of my mind as we continue building this home—family. As we finished framing and running electric (SO MANY CAN LIGHTS) last week, I don't have too many updates. I DID meet my next door neighbors and I am pleased as punch! C and S are quickly becoming two of my favorite faces! C and Paul are bound to be best friends as they are both fans of the Florida Gators AND the Jacksonville Jags. What are the odds? If he had said he was a Truex Jr. fan as well, I think my husband might have left me. S is honestly the coolest. She was telling me yesterday about the chickens, goats, and rabbits they have and I swear, I could listen to her all day! She is fascinating! She's also easing my fears (slightly) of raising chickens. **sidenote, for those of you that have had chickens, do you give them names? Paul told me I'm not allowed to name them because one day we might eat them... But that's a whole new discussion for a blog series waaaaay later on down the line. Long story short, we really lucked out on neighbors.

Anyway, like I said, there was not much to report for this week even though seeing all of the framing was AMAZING!! So, I sat down and started writing about what's been rolling around in the ol' brain tank--

I heard someone once describe their childhood house as an extension of home for the masses.

The foundation of this home build has always been the importance of family. You see, a couple of years back, we attended a funeral for a friend’s mother who had been battling cancer. The main room was so packed with people that loved her, that the overflow was put in a separate space to watch the service on a monitor. There was a moment where the preacher said that this woman had created the home that everyone wanted to gather. Her children’s friends always wanted to spend their weekends at her house, and she in turn, provided a safe space and full bellies to anyone that entered. Paul and I were newlyweds at this point, and after those words were said, we both squeezed each other’s hand.

That is not so secretly my life goal (that, and one day having my home featured in Southern Living magazine); it is the reason I was put on this Earth. I want my home to be filled with people that I love; brimming with the sounds of children and laughter and the smells of something always baking in the oven. It might seem like a small dream, but it’s the same one I’ve had since I was little. I suppose some of the simplest of dreams can be the sweetest.

I like to feed you and I like to make sure you feel like you can walk through that front door, go to the kitchen and grab a soda out of the fridge without asking. I can honestly say that there is no better feeling for me than standing in the middle of a party I've thrown or dinner gathering, surrounded by my favorite people that are enjoying themselves in my home. I love seeing people talking on a couch or outside around the bonfire drinking a cold beer. It warms me to the very core. I think my favorite compliment that I've ever received (next to when my friend Jonsie told me that my bathroom always smells amazing when they come over), was the day I gave keys to my friends Carlie and Steven and Carlie told me the house was her third home. Ugh, it got me straight in the heart.

Part of the charm of homemaking for me is anticipating what your guests want (or even better, what they didn't even know they wanted). In college it was about having cold beer in the fridge for the fraternity brothers while the little sisters got ready or homemade treats in a cookie jar. It didn't hurt that I knew which kinds of Arbor Mist my girlfriends preferred (and it also didn't hurt that Arbor Mist and Andre were three bucks). Now, I like to make sure that there is a bottle of rose in the fridge and ingredients to throw together either a cheese plate or a batch of cookies in a pinch. It's a hostessing quality that has been deeply ingrained from the very beginning for me--and my Mom isn't even from the South. I'm pretty certain that I absorbed all of my Grandmother's flair for entertaining.

Paul and I have made sure that we’ve added lots of touches to our new home to make it accommodating to all of our loved ones (considering that we are a good solid hour from most of them). From cozy guest rooms, cubbies for all of our friends, monogrammed coffee mugs for every guest, big kitchen gathering spaces, and a wide open floor plan for maximum family time; we are going to be ready for all the drop by's!

And we have not forgotten about our future kiddos, which we (I), lovingly refer to as Southern Fried Wontons. We have the kid annex! I can't wait (and neither can my parents), for little ones to fill the house with their joyous (and not so joyous) noises. Until then, friends and family, please bring all of your babies!! **another sidenote, I'm a really great baby sitter, it gives me an excuse to make things like pigs in a blanket and rice krispy treats, while also covering things in glitter...

Paul and I are so looking forward to seeing what wonderful memories are made at the Roney Farmhouse. I envision lots of bonfires and bbqs, some 4 wheeler jousting matches, maybe a few arm casts...and hopefully a place that is a lot of people's second or third home.

I will hopefully be able to give you more of an update next week--didn't want to fall off the posting wagon already!! Post in the comments what makes your house feel like a home! Also, what are your favorite tips and tricks for hostessing? ...because we all know once this house is done, this blog becomes a lifestyle blog...