Come on in…

I just want to say that a New Story IS possible. Nobody is chosen to move forward in life. We simply play with the hand we were dealt and the good news is, you were dealt a hand.

My job is to help you evaluate the cards and make your next strategic move. Maybe that’s renovating the home you currently own and live in, to make it something that better suits your needs and desires.

Or perhaps you already know that your current home that you rent or own, just simply isn’t the best long-term house for you and/or your family, and moving will be the next best step.

What if you are not in either of those life phases? You’re not renovating, and you’re certainly not buying or selling? I invite you to stick around and embrace the possibility of a new story in your life, as well!

The thing is… I love to share. I see this space as a platform to do just that. I am sharing my own home stories… and will always invite you to embrace your next Novella Story as well.

About “Novella”…

It was Fall 2020, I found myself divorced for the second time, single mom of 6 kids (all 6 were born within less than 8 years, all with the same father, and all while I was in what I refer to as my “religious phase”), working 3 jobs, dating more men than I ought (“broke free of religious phase-phase”), and … incredibly lonely. I was surrounded by humans who needed from me, morning to night… but I could never have been more alone. I yearned for a puppy (because apparently that is what you do when you are lonely).

Alas, in one of my jobs, a co-worker brings into the office the cutest little pipsqueak of a pup- a yorkie. Eagerly, I ask if he had any siblings. The answer is “yes!”! Also eagerly, I ask the owner if, “um, say, if I were to adopt the sister of John’s puppy, would it be ok if we both bring them into the office?”… another “yes!”… or maybe he said, “yeah, we’ll try it”. Yay for me!! I knew that the only way I could bring a puppy into my life, was if she could come with me to my 40/hr a week office job. Eric could take his cigarette breaks, and I could take my puppy out to pee. Win-Win.

Reality Check- all the doubts, fears, failures, and hauntings of the past showed up… “you don’t deserve a puppy”… “you have rehomed pets before, why should you get another?”… “you may meet someone, and do you really think he’s going to want to date one of those girls who has a yorkie in a bag?”…

That was the moment I burst into laughter at MY OWN LIFE STORY!!

“Six kids, single mom, 2 cats, 3 jobs… yup, it was the PUPPY who pushed him away!”

That was the moment when I GAVE MYSELF PERMISSION TO EMBRACE THE GIFTS OF LIFE, even if I had messed up in the past. I gave myself permission to adopt the pup, and that was when I named her “Novella”. Novella means “new” and it also means “story”, and she was to represent my new story… the moment of letting go of the failures of the past, and embrace the joy of the present.

Fast forward to the Spring 2021.

Puppy Lost. That not so happy story is long, and I believe she was kidnapped. I never saw her again.

However… while she was lost, I had what felt like the entire City of Toledo searching for her (our city WILL BAND TOGETHER LIKE NO OTHER when people are hurting), and one of those searchers ended up being my now husband.

I lost my puppy, but she gave me the love of my life.

And so… long story short… Novella WAS my new story, just not quite how I ever imagined it would unfold.

My husband (who never met her) and I will cherish that little pup for eternity.

Fast forward Fall 2023- we buy a house. It is referred to as “The Castle House” of the neighborhood. A French Chateau inspired home with a turret, built with bricks from the streets of Chicago, brick wall surrounding the courtyard, and a very strong presence from the road. Hubby names her Chateau Novella.

Chateau Novella was beautiful! But she was outdated, had a choppy layout, and parts of her had been neglected for years. I really did NOT want another fixer-upper. Especially one this huge and daunting. However, I chose to embrace her with gratitude, and embrace the opportunity to finally record one of my house projects, beginning to end. But, will it ever end? There are still so many projects needing my attention inside and out, but we’re getting there. Watching Chateau Novella come back to life has been a labor of love, but she’s starting to feel like a safe and happy home, and that is what matters most.

A New Story IS possible. If I can have a New Story, you can too. To God Be The Glory!

If you are ready to invite me into your home for a design or home valuation, or if you want to start house hunting, I would be honored to meet you and help bring that New Story into reality.

Let’s make it happen!