Hey friends! Tah-dah!!! Don’t leave! You’re in the right place. Are you surprised? I decided it was high time I freshened up this space and gave it a facelift. (or got someone else to do it for me…lol) I didn’t mention last week that the 29th was my 2nd Blogiversary. I had planned to do a fun post, but the timing just didn’t work out right for me to get it done to coincide with the new look.
I did however think this would be a prime opportunity to do a little reintroduction. Thankfully I feel pretty safe in saying I know a lot of you are new to Coast to Coast and I know whenever I find a new blog, I always wonder what the backstory is. I usually try to go back and do a little research, but that can be really time consuming so I’m going to share a little info about myself and my family with you today.
I am from Virginia where we lived up until 7 1/2 years ago. That’s when our world became a little topsy-turvy and we started moving. Kent had worked for Circuit City (remember them?) for 20 years at their corporate offices in Richmond. He was there right up until the doors closed after being forced to liquidate. That was in early 2009 and when the economy tanked. Jobs were few and far between. We ended up moving to Minnesota in mid 2010 and were there 3 winters years, and then moved to California in 2013. Let me just tell you, these were 2 places I would have never guessed this Virginia girl would end up living.
Wow, if you stuck with me through that story, thanks. So as I was saying, I’m from Virginia and just like my bio says, I’m an East Coast girl now living in a West Coast world. I’m a wife to a very sweet and supportive husband of 25 years and mom of two great kids.
Our son Benny graduated from college in May and works in Nashville as a Mechanical Engineer. He’s engaged to our soon to be daughter-in-love, Erin and will be married the end of May. Erin is an answer to our prayers for a sweet, loving christian mate for him. May will be here in the blink of an eye.
Our daughter is in her sophomore year of college in Nashville studying kinesiology. She plans to go on to PA school when she graduates. She loves her new life in Nashville and has found a wonderful group of friends. God blessed us with two smart cookies.
I have always been lucky to be able to be a stay at home mom, the one thing I always wanted to be. As Katie was nearing the end of her high school years and an empty nest was staring me in the face, I started wondering what I was going to do once she was gone. I had a couple of ideas. One was joining Rodan + Fields (which I did and have loved) and the other was starting a blog. I’d been mulling around the thought of starting one and found myself frequently thinking, “that would be a good blog post”. Well since that thought kept coming to me and with some not so gentle nudging from Katie, I finally did it and Coast to Coast was born. Y’all know one of the hardest parts to starting a blog is finding the right name, right? Once we finally landed on Coast to Coast it was time to get to work.
Well let me just be the first to tell you that the sweet blogging community I’ve been embraced by has been such a blessing to me. Y’all are just too good to this girl and I love and appreciate y’all so much for continuing to read and comment and follow me as I learn and grow.
Thanks for taking a few minutes out of your day to stop by and see what I have to say.
It looks great, Lisa! You do such a great job with your blog, and I always look forward to reading it!
Thanks Lisa! I really appreciate the sweet comment and that you read it. Hope you are having a great week! XOXO
Love the new blog look, Girlie! And yes! May will be here before you know it!
Thanks friend! I know, I’ve got to start looking for a dress. Every day I think I’ll order some and never do. YIKES! XO
Oh I’m loving your new blog look ! Thank you for sharing more about yourself and your beautiful family ! Yay for a soon to be wedding. Love reading your blog posts 🙂 XOXO
Thanks Tammy! It was overdue. You are such a sweet, supportive friend. I really appreciate that. Hope you are having a wonderful week. XOXO
You did sooo good, I love this fresh look! I just realized we started our blogs for the same reasons. The 2 oldest leaving was looming and I knew I needed something since my work was not rewarding. What a blessing this community has been, so real, so relatable and so supportive! I am so proud of you and my grateful heart thinks you’re the Bees knees!
Well thank you very much! It was needing a little tszujing up. (I had to look up how to spell that?)We mama’s with empty nests (or almost empty) think alike. Hope you’re enjoying your first full week of being at home…this is the first week, right? I’m so confused…LOL XOXO
I found your blog a few months ago. I really like it! It’s very relatable to me and I like your style. I’ve gotten a few of your recommendations and been very happy with them. 🙂
Hi Gina! I’m so happy you found me and are coming back? Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I’m also glad you’ve been happy with the recommendations. That’s great. Hope you are having a wonderful week!!! XO
Yay! It looks fabulous- just like you!
Thanks Allie! I really do like it so much better. Not so frumpy like my other design. Hope you’re having a great week!!! XO
I love this post! Thanks for taking the time to share the backstory up front. So glad to have found you!
Thanks so much Carrie!I’m so happy we’ve become blogging buddies and found each other too! XOXO
This is the most awesome blog ever
Why thank you!
This is a test
Your new look is great! I started my blog because of my impending empty nest too. How fun that you have a wedding coming up soon!
Thanks so much Lana! I’m super excited. I think quite a few of our little gang decided blogging was a good idea at our stage in life. We are so elated about the wedding. It will be here soon. Have a great weekend! XO
Hey Lisa, my blog’s two whole days older than yours!
Love Kent’s comment above and yes, I’m with him, today’s sharing post and the new look blog, both totally awesome. Love all the family shots. Don’t leave the dress hunt too long, time can quickly run out. Hugs sweetie, x
Aw, Mary, that’s so cool. That comment from him was actually a test I did…LOL. You are right! I’ve got to get on the dress and SOON! Have a wonderful weekend sweet lady! XO
So fresh looking! Loved hearing your backstory.
Thanks so much Tanya! It was a long time coming. I will let you know. The whole commentluv thing didn’t work out so I ended up removing it. I’m thinking about going with Disqus and seeing if that works. I’ve been doing just like you and emailing. So time consuming. Have a wonderful weekend. Saw your painting project on insta. CUTE! XO
I never saw this the other day, great story my friend, loved reading it! And, yes, May will be here in the blink of an eye! I love that you called Erin you daughter in love! How sweet!
Love ya!
xo,
Kellyann
Well thank you! I stole the daughter in love thing. I think it’s so much sweeter and that’s how I feel about her❤️. Hope your weekend is off to a wonderful start! So excited your boy will be going to UF with Nolan. That’s just awesome! XOXO
I really hope you have this family picture HUGE somewhere in your house. It is such a great picture of all of you. So glad you started a blog so we could be friends. 🙂
I have a huge one from the same day that needs to be framed. I should really get on that. Thanks! These friendships are my favorite part of blogging and the reason I continue whenever I feel discouraged. I’d hate not being a part of our little community.❤️
Hey, thanks for your awesome sharing and you’ve done a great job the article was up to the mark and appreciating you to be continued with such effort.
Best wishes from:
Zapaka