Hi friends! I’m Haley, the girl behind the blog, Hand and Homemade. I am a twenty something, small town girl- born and raised in Mississippi. My high school sweetheart and I married 6 years ago, and I work full-time as a speech language pathologist. I am a follower and believer of Jesus and a lover of all things antique and vintage.
growing up
Growing up, home was my place.
The place where I could be a child and grow- I so vividly remember the feeling of grass beneath my feet from running barefoot through the yard and climbing every tree possible.
The place to breathe and rest – there was always something so peaceful and comforting about coming home after a long day and being welcomed by my family. Every night, my mom would cook dinner for us, and we would sit and eat around the table while chatting about our days. Home was the place my family grew close.
The place of gathering- all my friends along with people from our church or community would stop by my house all the time, whether it was to spend time with us, to have a game night, or for a church cookout. My mom and dad had a way of making people feel so welcomed the moment they walked through the door.
And that is what I want for my home, my family, and my friends.. A home that breathes a feeling of belonging and welcomeness into others’ souls. A place where the door is always open to anyone in need of rest or laughter. Full of beauty, simplicity, and comfort..
currently
In April of 2021, my husband and I moved closer to our family and purchased our first home. It is a 1970s ranch style home that sits on a little over 2 acres. While it’s not exactly my dream farmhouse, it is the perfect home for us during this season of life, and we are so blessed that God is allowing us to steward this home. We have spent the last year or so renovating and DIY-ing it into our home, and I felt this blog would be a wonderful place for me to share and inspire others on creating the same feeling of home through decorating, homemaking, and homesteading- all while being on a budget.
I also thought this little corner of the internet would be a good place to share my own dreams and thoughts on finding balance in my career and life. I want to learn how to slow down and practice mindful living- to learn how to be a maker of my home and to utilize my hands for gardening, decorating, homesteading, raising a family, and cooking.. (Proverbs 31:13, 1 Thess. 4:11)
and I want to bring you guys along for the journey. So please stick around for what’s to come with Hand and Homemade!
To see more of my day to day life, follow me over on Instagram @handandhomemade.co.