About Me

Welcome, I am so happy you are here!

I'm Cindy and I love creamy coffee, cozy homes, squishy pillows, crisp mountain air and spending all day reading a good book! I grew up in Canada, met my American hubby at college, and wound up moving south of the border to the US a few years after getting married!

Our journey

UPDATE 7-2022

Our TX home sold in a week for more than list price - whoo hoo! We are still blown away by the market and thanking God for his provision!

It took us awhile to find a rental, but we did and we aren't in TN like we expected! We're just south of the state line in Southaven, Mississippi (known as the "tip" of MS). It's considered a suburb of Memphis and we're less than 30 minutes from our kids! We're in the process of unpacking and making our rental feel like home. We already have a couple of DIY projects in this new home finished, check out our $50 laundry room makeover, which added a ton of functionality and style.

Mr DIY is working hard at building his online digital marketing biz so please continue to pray that it is successful. The plan is to only rent for a year before we buy and move (again!) but anything can happen and we know how volatile the housing market is with insurance rates, etc. We're keeping an eye on things and praying about our next step because we know this year will fly by! We love having you follow along with our journey, both this physical one and as we make a house into a home. Thank you for your love and support! ❤

Keep reading if you're wondering why we made the decision to leave TX for MS!

         

UPDATE 3-2022
After nearly 30 years of being in the ministry (Mr DIY has been a pastor since a month after we married), living coast to coast in 5 states and 2 countries (I'm Canadian by birth), we are about to embark on a scary yet exciting new journey.

Covid has affected us all in multiple ways, and in the Fall Mr DIY was laid off his position at the church here. We have been praying and searching and wondering where our journey should take us next.

Our daughter graduates from high school in just a couple months, and has been accepted into the University of Memphis Graphic Design program. Our oldest son lives in Memphis, and we have been feeling the pull of being close to family again. While Mr DIY doesn't have a confirmed job yet, he is working on building something online that would allow us to live where we want. So, we are taking a leap of faith and planning to sell our Texas home this spring and move back to Tennessee once Abby graduates! Our faith is being stretched as we struggle with knowing if this is the best thing for our family, and constantly giving our worries to God, who knows all the details already and has proven himself trustworthy in the past. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated and coveted!

This blog is a journey. As I share my furniture updates, room makeovers, craft tutorials, decorating shortcuts {even some mishaps and project fails} and budget saving tips for making your house beautiful too, I hope you walk away feeling encouraged, inspired and blessed!


My love of creating started when I was just a little girl, playing with my grandma's button box! The colors, shapes and designs provided endless inspiration. As I got older, I loved art class, sewing and baking. But it wasn't until I married Mr DIY in 1992 and moved into our own home that my creativity really took off! We've moved a lot and each of our homes has been a canvas for me to learn and play with decor! Here on the blog I love sharing step by step craft tutorials, DIY projects that we're attempting in our own home, room makeovers and more!

We didn't have a lot of money when we got married, but I craved a pretty, cozy home and I quickly learned that creating a beautiful home can be done even on a teeny tiny little budget! I realized the joy that comes from filling your home with handmade items, and how it adds warmth, personality and coziness to the spaces you live in! DIY beautify (the blog) was started in August of 2013 as a way to share my creativity and inspire others. In the 8+ years that I've been writing this blog, it has blessed me so much and turned into a part-time job!

Family

Mr DIY is (almost) always supportive of my creative passions 😍 and he's my biggest fan and encourager. He helps with the heavy lifting and measuring, 'cause I'll always be an "eyeball it" gal! We joke that he's the DIY behind my beautify and needs his own blog (but the reality is that I'd have to write it)!! 
Mr DIY and me

God has blessed us with three amazing kids. They challenge us, keep us on our toes, have given us gray hair (!) and remind us that life is short...and we need to embrace each day. Our oldest son lives and works in Tennessee, our middle son is getting ready to fly the coop and our daughter will graduate high school this year. Empty-nester syndrome is just around the corner, and I'm so not ready!!!


our family

A word about those annoying ads

I know they can be intrusive and I apologize. The thing is, they provide an income so that I'm free to stay home and do what I love to do...create, decorate and document it all here for you. I don't charge you to watch my videos and read my tutorials so I hope you'll be able to see past the ads to my awesome content! I hope you're able to see my blog as a visual online magazine (they have pages of ads too!) and appreciate the energy that I put into creating free content for you ❤

Published

I'm thrilled to have my projects featured in these publications!

 


 

 


bringing beauty to the ordinary,

Comments

  1. SheilaSeptember 10, 2013 at 11:17 AM

    Just found your blog-love it! I am in West TN, what part of TN are you in?

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    Replies
    1. Cindy DIY beautifySeptember 11, 2013 at 8:34 PM

      Hi Sheila, we are in Hendersonville. I am so glad you enjoy my blog :)

      Delete
  2. Kylie RoseSeptember 11, 2013 at 8:26 PM

    Another country girl! I'm a transplant out here but I love it! I'm so excited to be a new follower, Cindy! Your projects are adorable!!

    Xo Kylie
    absolutelyarkansas.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Cindy DIY beautifySeptember 11, 2013 at 8:34 PM

      You are so kind!! I'm so happy to have a new follower! YAY :) I do love TN, the colors are beautiful....can't wait for the cool weather to arrive!

      Delete
  3. UnknownSeptember 13, 2013 at 11:52 AM

    Hi Cindy! Looking forward to following your blog and your projects! Stop by my blog when you get a chance.
    www.vintagecreationsbycw.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. pamiNovember 21, 2013 at 6:05 PM

    Hi Cindy, I just found your Blog and look forward to more of your posts, you are an inspiration, I love doing the same DIY, thrifting, garage sales, anything cheap. We live in So. Fla & can't wait to move to your part of the South. Pam

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  5. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2015 at 2:18 PM

    Hi Cindy my daughter asked me to do the Graduation Wreath for my grandson's graduation brunch. I love scrapbooking but this entails other ideas. When I looked up your website I was happy to see written instructions on how to do one. I know I will be become a devoted follower of yours. I also love Jesus, he is the one and only one to be true to us. God Bless. Ana

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    1. Cindy DIY beautifyApril 17, 2016 at 2:50 PM

      Thank you Ana, I'm so happy you found the tutorial helpful! And I'm always happy to have a new follower!

      Delete
  6. S. OlivetteMay 31, 2020 at 6:01 PM

    Saw you dark living room painted ?white? or what white by professional painters; that is out of the question but am curious about which paint, which white-ish colour. Thank you.

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    1. Cindy DIY beautifyJune 1, 2020 at 8:23 AM

      We used Sherwin Williams Repose Gray for the panels and we have a creamy white for our trim! We've actually used this lighter gray color throughout our home and love it!

      Delete
  7. JillMay 3, 2022 at 6:25 PM

    My son and his wife just moved from Texas to Tennessee, just a little East of Memphis and South of Nashville. They are loving it. I am planning a trip back to see them in October. Love your decorating style, and I have been a DIY/crafter for many years. If I can see it, I can make it kind of gal. Wishing you the best in your move, and prayers that you will get the home you have chosen.

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    1. Cindy DIY beautifyMay 4, 2022 at 7:52 PM

      Thanks so much Jill, what a small world! We are still waiting to hear about the house, it's certainly testing my faith (and my nerves!)

      Delete
  8. AnonymousJuly 8, 2022 at 6:53 AM

    Not too far from Hendersonville myself. Mooresville, NC to be exact. I haven’t been to that area yet but very close. It’s quite pretty up that way. Never got into the blogging thing but I sure love to decorate! I too have had a love since I was a child. I have been and still am obsessed! We got married in 1996 so just a few years after you and also have 3 children. Mine have been out of the house for many years now and all have families of their own. I have 7 grandchildren that I just love more than anything but don’t live near any of them except for 1 that comes and lives with me over the summer while taking his summer break from college. He and another granddaughter actually lived with us most of their lives as well as my daughter who divorced young. I am actually in my forever home now and still redecorate all the time! Life wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t changing something! Good luck with your move and welcome home!

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  9. AnonymousOctober 2, 2022 at 11:24 AM

    We know exactly where you moved and our kids are right next door in Olive Branch! I know you will have fun exploring the history and craft/antique stores in your new area! Your projects are all very beautiful and show your love in each one!

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    Replies
    1. Cindy DIY beautifyOctober 4, 2022 at 8:42 PM

      Thank you! It's such a pretty area, we are really enjoying it!

      Delete

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