You know that interview question “How do you deal with stress?” After some soul searching my answer is…I decorate!

When I look back on my life, I can document some major home improvement projects that were initiated due to very stressful situations.

Life moments like moving into my first apartment, starting a new job, getting married, building a house, having a baby, unemployment, aging parents and getting divorced too.

We’ll talk more about the divorce later…

Luckily the path I’ve been put on gave me the opportunity to exercise and improve my home decor and DIY skills.

This included 25+ year career in the home improvement industry. I’ve gained in-depth knowledge and real life experience working with a wide variety of products:

• Apparel and Home Textiles
• Composite Decking
• Trim and Molding
• Hand Tools
• Sealants and Adhesives (caulk)
• Furniture
• Electric Fireplaces
• Cabinet Hardware
• Interior and Exterior Wood Stains
• ALL types of paint

Phew, that’s a lot of experience! In between all of that, I was a stay-at-home mom and then a single working mom. It makes a woman handy and resilient!

There isn’t much around my home I won’t tackle myself…call me frugal and over confidant.

Divorce Led to Porch Daydreaming

Back to that divorce…when my husband left, I was hurt and scared. My son was only 3 1/2 years old! I’d been a stay-at-home mom and out of the corporate world for 5 years.

What kept me up at night? How I was going to support myself and my son?

To ease my mind and stress level I redecorated his room to make it a “big boy room” for our next home – just the two of us.

I painted unfinished furniture and the walls, sewed curtains and bedding, and framed pictures all to keep my hands busy and to keep from crying.

During my son’s naps I would sit on the front porch and daydream about the next chapter with forgiveness, hope, and optimism.

That’s when I first became a “porch daydreamer”

Being a Single Mom Led to a Better Life

The divorce pushed me back into the career world and brought with it the most amazing experiences, filled me with confidence, and brought best friends I never would have met otherwise.

I learned how to be a single parent and football mom, while rising to the rank of vice president.

A successful corporate career helped me build 2 houses, maintain, and decorate them!

Plus give my son the life I dreamed of sitting on that front porch when he was little.

My life has been so much more interesting and I am a much happier person having gone through what I did.

Making the choice to forgive was the best decision I ever made for myself and my son.

Luckily I was right to dream big, my son’s dad and I have been true co-parents and he’s been a great support system.

My son turned out to be a person that I am SO proud of and is one of the smartest, coolest and kindest people I know.

Unemployment + Empty Nest Started This Blog

That brings me to the next stressful moment in my life and unfortunately it is two-fold.

Just as my son was graduating from high school and heading to college, I suddenly found myself unemployed!

Now my emotional stress is compounded with financial stress. An empty nester, without a paycheck. Lovely.

How will I cope? By decorating on a budget of course! Oh yeah, and start a website and blog to document it all – past and present.

My mission is to help inspire others to get through stressful times with a purpose and come out the other side a better person. It all happens for a reason.

I hope I can be a little inspiring and help lift your spirits. Plus show you that being creative can be a path to happiness during difficult times.

My goal is to be your teacher and go-to friend to help take the pain out of painting and decorating!

Come…sit on the porch with me. Let’s daydream about a creating a beautiful life one home project at a time.

Porch Daydreamer

Tracey

What happened next?

I wrote that story May 25th, 2017 and set the website live on June 1st.

This little blog that started as a creative outlet to battle loneliness and depression has grown beyond my WILDEST dreams!

My work has been featured in major home and garden magazines. I’ve met so many wonderful people on this blogging journey.

Luckily I found a “day job” but on June 1st, 2022 exactly 5 years to the DAY of starting Porch Daydreamer, I was part of an 11% workforce reduction.

I have come to know this is my life’s purpose and passion. Producing Porch Daydreamer doesn’t feel like work at all 🙂

Creativity fuels my soul, so I decided that same day to RETIRE from “safe” corporate America and pursue this business full time!

I thought it was only appropriate to share with you that my son graduated from college. His dad and I traveled to watch his football games together and continue to co-parent.

My son is in his 2nd year of law school (on a scholarship) plus coaching his college football team. I couldn’t be more proud of the young man he’s become.

If you’ve read to the end, I appreciate it!

Please know that creativity can change your life because it certainly has changed mine.