On Being Published in The Ladies' Home Journal

Being in a magazine was the last thing I ever thought would happen to me.  

I still remember walking up to the sparse remains of a driveway yard sale and asking the man how much he wanted for the ugly brass chandelier.  He said, "Oh, I don't know, how much will you give me for it?" So, I said, "How about a dollar?" (You can read the original post here.)

There was never a notion in my head that a $1 decision would end up published in a nationwide magazine.  Especially a chandelier I bought when hugely pregnant with Lucy and was just glad to have done something with amidst the last few wild weeks before having baby #4! 

I mean, I LOVE my red chandelier, and I think it's great and all, but you know, I didn't think that other people would.  So one afternoon back in the fall as I'm casually perusing my email, I came across one that was entitled, "Your Brassy to Sassy Chandelier Makeover." I thought it was spam at first.  And then I read the email and about fell out of my chair.  For real.  The assistant to the editor-in-chief of the Ladies' Home Journal had somehow made her way to my little blog and wanted to do a story on my chandelier.  Get out.

You would have laughed if you had seen my shaking fingers sending a text to my hubby at work.  I was on cloud nine. At first it wasn't for sure if I'd make the cut for the magazine.  I was just happy to be considered!  But two weeks later I got the news that I had made the cut, and would indeed be in the magazine and could I please send them pictures ASAP.

I can only imagine what a writer feels when they submit their work to an editor. I submitted my photos, and they chose what they thought was best. {gulp}  That is hard.  Not sure I can explain it, but it is.  

I was so excited to see the story up on line on Monday,(go here to see that) and on Tuesday evening my hubby surprised me by stopping at the store and buying four copies of the magazine!  

And there it was on page 76! I am so humbled and excited that out of the bazillions of spray paint projects in blog world, mine was one of six chosen to be published. Wow.

Now, just as a side note to all my friends and family who may buy this mag for nostalgia's sake...you're going to need to do some editing to make it family friendly, okay?  Especially if your littles are old enough to read like mine! As you can see I took a sharpie to the front cover, and some other places in side, as well as removing a few pages, etc. {ahem} (And my apologies to anyone at LHJ may read this...I mean no offense!)

To be completely honest, and you can laugh at me if you want, but I was having nightmares about that cover and what would be on it! Truly. And thankfully, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. {insert great big sigh of relief.}

Now, about that chandelier and the wall behind it....it's looking more like this nowadays! There's a hook under the "6", that isn't there in the magazine pic, and I added hoop art above the shelf.  I made a ticking stripe cover for the chain as well because it was rather ugly.

Oh how I love the sassy-ness of a red chandelier.  Makes me smile!

I am thrilled to tell you that very soon BIG changes are coming for this laundry room. I know, I know, I keep saying that, but we've put it off long enough and finally we'll be finishing it.  Can't wait to share those details with you!  There's even real drawings...I'm SO excited!

So ladies and blogger friends, next time you're out thrifting and see some kind of ugly thing with a nice shape that can be made pretty with some paint, go for it.  Paint it. Make it pretty.  Love it. And you never know, other people may too. ;)  

Also, I want to send a great big thank you to you all for your kind words and encouraging comments, facebook shares, tweets, etc. about this.  You've made it even more fun by sharing the excitement with me! 

And for those of you telling me that I'm famous and that paparazzi is coming and to be sure and have my makeup on all the time...well, they haven't shown up yet.  Whoever they are.  But if you, friends, want to be the paparazzi, come on.  We'll sip sweet tea and I'll feed you something yummy. And if you're lucky, you won't catch me without my makeup. =D

{P.S. There's been helicopters buzzing around where we live for the past two hours. True story. They must be looking for me! Hahahaha!}