2017 Word Of The Year

(Plus a FOXY Giveaway)

Selecting a “word of the year” was something I’d never heard of, until I began blogging. I’ve never been a “resolution” kind of girl, and the idea was appealing, even though I didn’t participate every year. This year though, I have one. Though it isn’t necessarily very unique, it came to me in a very strong way. It’s something that’s been on my mind for a long time, it’s something I think of often, and always strive to be. 

Funnily enough, I didn’t even plan to pick a “word” this year. Actually, I still don’t feel like I did. My word simply came to me, kind of over time… and all at once. I feel like it picked me. 

Maybe it knew that I wanted to step back. Step back from the perceived perfection that select images and stories can put forward. Step back from perpetuating what is often simply unattainable for so many. I could actually write an entire article about about my thoughts on how I feel social media and being exposed to so much, can breed discontentment and unhappiness… but I won’t do that today. It’s something I’m aware of though, and I don’t want to feed into that.  

When I began blogging, I did so to share. One on one, with whomever decided to come along for the ride. I never had any expectations. I did have hopes. I hoped that a reader or two would somehow find me… and perhaps like what I shared. And amazingly enough, that happened. Everything else has blossomed from there. 

I’m in a place in my life where I’m old enough to remember life before the internet, (I know… I’m positively ancient) social media and smart phones. Both offer amazing opportunities and benefits. My goal, is to find a balance between the world of yesterday and the world we live in now, in a way that feels real and accessible to me, but still offers a value (meaning something of interest or use) to you! 

All this led to the word that picked me…

I want to be my most authentic self. Authenticity is something I want to bring more of to you, while still putting my best foot forward.

Now, I know that no one is interested in seeing me or my home at the worst. I don’t think I’ll be brutally authentic, but I’ve never shied away from sharing my struggles with depression, or my real-life everyday messes while decorating or organizing. I’ve shared candid shots of my tornado-strewn home while we were knee-deep in say, a flooring install, or flipping rooms. Somehow though, over the years, I started sharing more of the “after”, when things were complete, pretty and put back together… and a lot less of the “during”. That is the sort of thing I’m going to go back to, so you can see the whole process. They might not be my most trafficked posts, but I feel like I’m doing a disservice when I don’t share the gritty parts of the project. In a world of perfect & glossy, I want to interject the real moments too. 

Having someone leave my blog, and feel badly… is something I never want to happen.

I’ve always tried to be myself and share our very normal, very average, very real life with you. I’m sure you probably already realize that blogging is global. It’s really a pretty amazing thing! I have friends and industry peers across the country. Some of these friends and peers have substantially larger homes and budgets than I do. I greatly enjoy looking at the beauty they share and the talent that so many of them possess. The homes and spaces can be absolutely breathtaking! But oftentimes, the things I see don’t translate to my life and my home.

And that is okay. It really, really is! Because that brings me back to our modest home, and my hopes that my decorating ideas, or our affordable projects, might be more attainable for you or perhaps be more inline with your budget.

Being my most authentic self with you is something I always want to be. My promise for 2017 is that I will be more real than ever. I will continue to share my struggles and my triumphs with you. My little house problems and solutions.

My heart.

Whether it’s here on the blog, over on Instagram, Facebook, during Facebook LIVE chats… just everything!! So buckle up, it’s about to get extra  A U T H E N T I C  up in here. I want everything Fox Hollow Cottage to inspire & uplift! When you leave here, I want you to feel like you can do anything that you see here, be it a DIY project, a decorating idea… maybe even a new dish to try (I cook on occasion). Sometimes, it might even be sharing our hearts and figuring out how to get through a personal hurdle or challenge together. But always, I want you to leave feeling with a light & happy heart.

I want to thank you for joining me here on the blog, today and over the years… and to wish you a Happy New Year with a  F O X Y  Giveaway

The Foxy Body & Home fragrance line is only available at Vintage 101. It was developed for my booth, with no intention to sale online & ship, until I introduced you to it [click here] in the early Fall. Your response was so lovely everywhere it was shared, and I promised to try and offer it for sale before the holidays, but that didn’t happen. So I’m giving some away now! With the holidays behind us, I hope to have it available for non-locals to indulge in as well. The line has expanded since it was introduced, and I’ll share the new products with you very soon!

Winner will receive a Foxy Soap, Candle & ___?

Having you join me means the world to me and I wish you a Blessed & Happy New Year! xo Shannon

Giveaway closes Jan 7th at 9pm PST. Giveaway open to readers 18 and over only. Shipping to USA only, no PO boxes. No international shipping (I’m sorry). Winner must respond to email and supply shipping information within 72 hours or a new winner will be selected. Winner selected at random. Fox Hollow Cottage shall be found harmless if package is lost in transit. Fox Hollow Cottage shall be found harmless if winner does not like scent or is unsatisfied in any way.

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