Howdy friend!
Kev and I are on our way here today...
And by "here", I mean here...
Okay, we're not actually going to that particular farm , but we will be staying at my aunt & uncles farm that is equally as charming!
(I just don't have a photo of it....yet!)
I spent the first 19 years of my life in Minnesota.
The first 8 were spent in a city called Mankato, and the next 11 were spent out in the country, just north of a teeny tiny town called Nicollet...
My Mom had plenty of room to grow lots and lots of pretty flowers on our seven acre hobby farm...
And my Dad had lots and lots of yard to mow, but our four "pet" horses (Jodi, Queenie, Truckie and Starbuck) did help take care of a big chunk of it...
(Queenie & Truckie)
My brother, Justin, and I spent many Summer's playing in that big barn, and we took care of many, many litters of these little guys...
Most of which we named, and then gave away to various kitten-wantin' folks that came out to our place to pick strawberries.
(My Mom had a 1/2 acre patch, and every Summer people would come and pick bucket fulls of them.)
But I didn't give all my kitties away.
I kept "Speck" so that I could take some of my graduation pictures with him...
(Me, sportin' a bulletproof "do" in 1992)
Oh yeah.
It was all about the Aquanet back then.
Anywho...I haven't been back to see my family in several years (-$), and Kevin's never seen where I grew up- so I am really looking forward to spending a few days doing both of those things while we're there.
On Thursday and Friday, we'll be hangin' out with some folks at Junk Bonanza and we're pretty darn excited about the opportunity to work with them.
We're hoping to bump into lots of fellow bloggers along the way...and lots of great junk too!
PS-
Have you seen this?
SO inspiring!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wanna keep us company during our 17+ hour drive to Minnesota!
Join us on Facebook or Twitter!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need help arranging your furniture?
Need design help?
Check out my e-book!
Kev and I are on our way here today...
And by "here", I mean here...
Okay, we're not actually going to that particular farm , but we will be staying at my aunt & uncles farm that is equally as charming!
(I just don't have a photo of it....yet!)
I spent the first 19 years of my life in Minnesota.
The first 8 were spent in a city called Mankato, and the next 11 were spent out in the country, just north of a teeny tiny town called Nicollet...
My Mom had plenty of room to grow lots and lots of pretty flowers on our seven acre hobby farm...
And my Dad had lots and lots of yard to mow, but our four "pet" horses (Jodi, Queenie, Truckie and Starbuck) did help take care of a big chunk of it...
(Queenie & Truckie)
My brother, Justin, and I spent many Summer's playing in that big barn, and we took care of many, many litters of these little guys...
Most of which we named, and then gave away to various kitten-wantin' folks that came out to our place to pick strawberries.
(My Mom had a 1/2 acre patch, and every Summer people would come and pick bucket fulls of them.)
But I didn't give all my kitties away.
I kept "Speck" so that I could take some of my graduation pictures with him...
(Me, sportin' a bulletproof "do" in 1992)
Oh yeah.
It was all about the Aquanet back then.
Anywho...I haven't been back to see my family in several years (-$), and Kevin's never seen where I grew up- so I am really looking forward to spending a few days doing both of those things while we're there.
On Thursday and Friday, we'll be hangin' out with some folks at Junk Bonanza and we're pretty darn excited about the opportunity to work with them.
We're hoping to bump into lots of fellow bloggers along the way...and lots of great junk too!
PS-
Have you seen this?
SO inspiring!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wanna keep us company during our 17+ hour drive to Minnesota!
Join us on Facebook or Twitter!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need help arranging your furniture?
Need design help?
Check out my e-book!
Hahaha, oh my gosh. You have got to be kidding me with that hair! Hilarious. (I am, by the way, about the same age as Lovely Layla and had similar hair issues!)
ReplyDeleteAlso, Mankato--like from Little House? And you're married to that Kevin? Good grief. All in one package. Awesome. (:
Safe travels to you both!
ReplyDeleteHealth and happiness,
Angela
-Lovin' the hair Layla. : )
What a gorgeous part of the country, and I had to laugh at that hairdo, only because I was sporting the same thing back in the early 90's...I am 39 now and like to think I have improved with age! Hope you have a lovely time :)
ReplyDeletexx Karen (in New Zealand)
If nothing else we (meaning MN) will provide you with a break from the 90 degree weather. We had plenty of it this summer, but fall has definitely arrived. Pack your sweaters, and safe travels!
ReplyDeleteYou must be about my age. I had some serious Mall bangs going on too, except I think my eye liner was electric blue. :)
ReplyDeleteSafe travels to you and Kevin! It is beautiful up that way. (Hubby is from Michigan) The temps should be great this time of year. Love the hair!! I sooo remember Aquanet...what WERE we thinking???!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I wish I could find the time to head to the JB. Leaving Thursday evening for Chicago to meet friends for one of Beth Moore's Living Proof conferences and have to work until then. :( Can't believe you grew up round these here parts, I'm in New Ulm.
ReplyDeleteHey Welcome to Minnesota!!! I have followed you for some time. I work for Mall of America. I am always throwing your blog in front of our Events Team hoping an you guys would fit into a Home Decor event. Hope to see you at Junk Bonanza
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that you put that picture up Layla! And that smiley face...you're killing me.
ReplyDeleteHope you have so much fun with your family this week!
Hey, with that hair one might think you were from New Jersey! (I can say that 'cause I AM from Jersey - no one else is allowed to make fun of my state!)
ReplyDeleteJust another reason to love Layla - she is a born (I'm assuming) and raised Minnesotan just like me! :P And not just any part of Minnesota, but Southern MN!! How cool! Most of my family is from Owatonna and Waseca, but my parents moved to a farm in a small town outside of Rochester. And best of all you raised kittens just like I did when I was a little girl!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, how hard is it to live away from your family, if you don't mind me asking? I have lived in MN all of my life but would love to move to the east coast in the future. I just think it would be too hard to be away from my family, but maybe I would survive...
Another MN blogger here. I didn't know you were from Minnesota! Very cool. Enjoy your trip - we are having some really nice fall weather right now.
ReplyDeleteWow-wa-wee-a! Good golly, that's some hair Layla! lol Aqua net was awesome, wasn't it!!!
ReplyDeleteAlways fun showing the one you love where you come from! Enjoy!
Cindy
xo
ENJOY YOUR TRIP WHAT BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY SIDE !!
ReplyDeleteHAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THE FOLKS FROM JUNK BONANZA HOW FUN WILL THAT BE :)
ENJOY YOUR DAY !
WARMLY
JANET
That is so fun that you get to show Kevin where you grew up. I still live about 30 minutes from where I grew up and every time I go back I'm just filled with peace and happiness. Good for me it's so close! I love showing my boys my old street and this summer I showed them the pond on our lake and we had ice cream where I went as a kid. Have a great time!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteYour photo made me giggle because yes I have some that are very similar and I remember the Aqua Net well. Thank you so much for the eye candy and the giggle but mostly for he inspirational video! Your timing is perfect for me!
Looking forward to meeting you both! Safe travels...
ReplyDeletexo~Jill
What a great post! I love seeing your hobby farm even more than the awesome early 90s coif. Have a safe trip, and welcome back to the Land of 10,000 Lakes! You'll be here just in time for the maples to start turning red. :)
ReplyDeleteso cool that you are from MN! we live in central MN. excited to see your pics from the trip north. do you miss winter at all? ;)
ReplyDeleteI loved that photo of you Layla! You are absolutely adorable. Even with the hair!! :) And those kitties!! I am a sucker for kittens. Every time I go in the pet store and there are little kitties in there looking out through the bar of their cage, and mewing and pawing at me, I just want to take one home. And I have six cats, so I can't have another one. But they are so cute.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a safe trip. Post some photos of your family home. Can't wait to see them. I bet their place is adorable!! :)
Beth.
Welcome back! We've enjoyed living in Minnesota for almost 5 years now! It's great.
ReplyDeletep.s. Love the hair!
Hope to meet you at the JB. I am so excited and have many friends showing their great stuff there! Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteSo much in common! I grew up in MN, graduated in '92, went to college at Mankato (the baked potato). Sadly, my hair was fine and as much as I tried, I couldn't get it that big. :) Good times!
ReplyDeleteLayla...I am from Stewartville MN...not far from Mankato! Now I live in Madison WI. (total hip music scene...Kevin..btw) I am a big fan of your site and now have even more reason to enjoy as I didn't know you were from the great MN. Have fun in the MN. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSafe travels! We just made the 23 hour trip back to MN recently (where my hubby and I grew up and lived until 4 years ago). And good ol' Aqua Net...that's what memories are made of. I can still remember the smell of that to this day! (Great picture!)
ReplyDeleteSorry, I need to put my 2 cents in too. Yes, I am also from MN. A tiny town south of Fargo/Moorhead, named Breckenridge. We moved from there this past Jan to a little town in central NY. But, I miss MN a lot. Not the mosquitoes though. For sure. Don'tcha know!
ReplyDeleteI live about 30 miles from Nicollet!! I have a couple of friends who live there actually. Enjoy your time here!
ReplyDeleteBon Voyage! Love the hair, and that video is soooooooo inspiring! I'm thinking of all the ways I've failed and looking at them in a new light so thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove the hair!! I just made a comment on another blog about big hair!! Aqua was the best!!! Your farm sounds wonderful and what a great childhood to have in such a beautiful place!!! Have a great time!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little younger than you Layla, but I was still an Aquanet kid--only my look was crimped hair and big poofy spiral bangs! We need to have a "hair" party!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you r doing something you are not entirely comfortable with in Minnesota...you used the word ordeal...and posted an inspirational video...relax...focus on your strengths and have fun!
ReplyDeleteGirl, I so had that hair and should've bought stock in aquanet hairspray! :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the video...makes me feel like I could do anything. WAY too many naysayers out there! :-)
Hope you have fun at home...it's always nice to go back. I went to the place where I grew up over the weekend and it looks SO tiny from what I remember. My old house has been torn down, but I can still vivdidly remember riding my bike around that old house and running into the fence so many times. The old fence is still there, so that was nice. :)
Have a great week!
Missy
Wow- SMALL WORLD! I graduated from St. Peter (1991) and live in Mankato!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, the Aqua Net- I should have taken out stock!!
Hope you have a great trip to Minnesota :) My dad has roots in New Ulm, and we hit up Nicollet every trip for summer sausage from Schmidt's Meat Market. So good!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful and safe trip. Can't wait to see pics of the farm and all the stops along the way. Love that bullet proof hair do too btw! LOL
ReplyDeleteKristen
No way--I grew up in Moorhead. I might be hitting up the Junk Market but on Saturday. Sad!
ReplyDeleteHave a safe journey and enjoy the moments! Saw the video before but always a great reminder to never give up on your dreams.
ReplyDeleteYour Friend,
Deborah
ahhhhh, aquanet... big hair, big fun!!
ReplyDeleteSafe travels and I cannot wait for your updates...love the barn/horse picture...living in the midwest I cannot drive past a barn without taking a picture..there is something so therapeutic about them..and I LOVE the hair!!
ReplyDeleteBAHAHAHAHA, love the hair Layla.
ReplyDeleteLovin' the pics! Have a great trip. The temps for the week are upper 60s, so hope you brought some jeans and long-sleeved t-shirts! You'll have to bring Kevin to an apple orchard, a pumpkin farm and give him some yummy, hearty midwest food!
ReplyDeletethe hair...oh the hair!
ReplyDeletethe 80's...oh the 80's...
you next generations...don't know what you missed!
First of all ... Mankato, Minn.?! Little House on the Prairie country? Awesome. Secondly, I had hair the exact same color and style in 1992 ... AquaNet was my friend. Luckily the relationship came to an end.
ReplyDeleteYou grew up in Mankato??? Like Little House? sorry if someone asked already...but how cool is that. Sounds like you had a great childhood living on a farm.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate with that "big hair" as my kids call it when they see pics of me from that time.
Enjoy time with your family and Kevin and have safe travels.
You grew up in Mankato??? Like Little House? sorry if someone asked already...but how cool is that. Sounds like you had a great childhood living on a farm.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate with that "big hair" as my kids call it when they see pics of me from that time.
Enjoy time with your family and Kevin and have safe travels.
I'm looking forward to meetin' Y'all at Junk Bonanza on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to MN!
--Rochester, MN
Love love the picture of the baby kitties, they melted my heart as I have 2 at home! Safe travels, at least it is not -4000 degrees yet!
ReplyDeleteAqua Net- it's not just for hair...Did you know you can spray it on ink stains on your shirt and they come out? A teacher tip. Sopeaking of, I wish I could meet you at Junk Bonanza, but this J.O.B. teaching is keeping me away this year. So, I will watch for your photo tour!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a small world. I've been reading your blog for well over a year now and now I have another reason to enjoy your blog....we grew up in the same area. I'm your age, grew up not far from you in Montgomery and also lived on a small farm. I also left MN when I was 19, moved all over the country and am now in LA. Great people come from Southern MN. ;) Enjoy your time there!
ReplyDeleteMankato? As in Little House on The Praire??
ReplyDeleteWow, that youtube video gave me goosbumps!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had such a fun time where you grew up!!
Hello from another Minnesota lover, born and raised. I too lived in Minnesota (St. Paul) until I was 18 years old, born in '75 I had the same aquanet do. I wanted to give you a huge 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' thank you for your continued inspiration. You inspired me to start my little blog and make me want to DIY everything when I never thought possible. Keep up your fabulous work. And I wish I could be back home in MN with you, I hold a special place in my heart for Minnesota (not so much the winter) but it is such a wonderful place to grow up. Hope you're having a great trip.
ReplyDeleteI can not believe you are going to be at the Junk Bonanza! Last year was my first year there and I am addicted. I am so excited, I hope I get to meet you! My husband thinks I'm a total loony tune b/c I talk about you non-stop:) I will hopefully be there Friday....can't wait! Thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteI can not believe you are going to be at the Junk Bonanza! Last year was my first year there and I am addicted. I am so excited, I hope I get to meet you! My husband thinks I'm a total loony tune b/c I talk about you non-stop:) I will hopefully be there Friday....can't wait! Thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteLayla - my husband grew up in Bernadotte. Many of his family went to church at Swan Lake. What school did you go to? What's your maiden name. He may have known your family, Small world, eh? See you Friday
ReplyDeleteHi Layla,
ReplyDeleteLove your blog..I check it just about every day and have gotten some friends hooked on it too. So fun to hear you are coming to my state. I grew up near Willmar MN and now I live Moorhead MN. Have a wonderful time. Welcome back!
Linda
Minnesota person here :) Hubby grew up in tiny Franklin, Minnesota (hour from Mankato) while I was the city girl who grew up in Chicago, IL. I went to college for a semester at Mankato State University. We lived together in an apartment in New Ulm and finally settled in Bloomington, MN (yep the home of the mall of america yay!!!)
ReplyDeleteLayla,
ReplyDeleteI'm still wrestling with my 90's hair....seems I was born a frizz head! Love, Love, Love your video. My husband and I both started our own businesses 6 years ago and it's never easy, but sometimes there is a feeling of satisfaction knowing fate lies in your own hands.
I've been a reader for some time and didn't know you were from MN. It's amazing weather this time of year so you'll love it. I've lived here all my life. Good luck on the road trip and I love your work.
ReplyDeleteYay! for Minnesota! I grew up in Moorhead... don't ya know. Still have lots of family there in the cities and Detroit Lakes area. Have a really great time...glad you are getting there before the snow flys.... could be soon, ya you betcha!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love the aqua net? Memories...
ReplyDeleteAmy :)
Oh my. I wasn't expecting that photo! I gasped outloud! You are awesome for posting it! And the fact that you're holding a kitty in it makes it even better.
ReplyDeleteGirl!!!!!!!!! You are BRAVE! LOVE that picture!! ha!! Can you believe we(yeah, me too) ever thought that looked GOOD?!? :)
ReplyDeleteHAVE FUN on the Farm!
Layla & Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI wish you safe travel and a memorable trip. And Layla, now we all know why you are "Minnesota nice" - you grew up there!
do you think the hairstyles have changed much in Nicollet?
ReplyDeleteIn regards to your video posting, this is so true and good to remember not just for ourselves, but for our children too. It seems the culture today is not to let children feel they have failed at anything, but that everyone is a winner. Maybe it is the facing off of failure right in front of us that pushes us to accept a higher challenge.
I love Minnesota! Have fun!!! I can't wait to hear all about the Junk Bonanza! I just read about it and it was too late to go.
ReplyDeleteLove the 70s hair. I had hair very similar! yikes.
ReplyDeleteI have a website suggestion for you, having just searched way too long for your "reading room" posts - bring your blog categories & past blog post date listings to the top of the page. I actually gave up and used Google Advanced Search to search within your site domain for the reading room (since Songbird said it was cool), and now lo, I have at long last found the little tiny categories accidentally way down the page. Us readers, we prefer easier finding of inspiration, you lose us otherwise. And thanks for that beautiful inspiration!
Hi Guys.
ReplyDeleteLayla, I am still laughing about you calling the"poof", A Bullet Proof do. My husband use to tell my daughter she was going to poke her High School boy friends' eye out.(who is now her husband. hehe)
Gotta owe it all to the hair spray.
Love your short story and can't wait to travel down memory lane with you.
Have a blast.geri.
P.S.
ReplyDeleteLoved the video.
I am passing it on to everyone I know.
Thank you.
I still can't get over the fact that you grew up...and spent so many years in Mankato. (A town we frequented often growing up.) I've been reading your blog for over a year now...and loving you...and here you're a southern MN girl at heart. Makes sense. [wink]
ReplyDeleteAnd, I can't believe that hair picture of you. Seriously, I couldn't even pull what you look like now out of it.
Happy Hoopin' it up in MN.
Tiff
Have fun! I always love family time and it always seems more memorable in a remote area. Love the 90's pic! It totally took me back!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Lila Ferraro
Boy you really rocked the Aqua Net!!
ReplyDeleteI did too! I can still remember the smell! :)
a. i'm loving that picture of the charming farms! I've always wanted to drive through an area like that.
ReplyDeleteb. i used to have a penpal who lived in mankato!
c. have a ton of fun! :) look forward to hearing all about it.
I am new at this Twitter thing..I posted on your Twitter and I saw it earlier now its gone?? Hope you have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteL.O.V.I.N. that hair. Been there, done that. Glad I don't have to do it again. ;-)
ReplyDeleteFun post today, girlie!
I'm a Minnesota girl and I love this state! Although I grew up in the 'burbs and don't know anything about the farm lifestyle I do love heading out to the country. It's a great state. Enjoy your drive :)
ReplyDeleteThe farm looks gorgeous..I'm so jealous!! Can't wait to see the photos you'll post during and after your trip.
ReplyDeleteOh and I love the graduation hairdo...didn't we all have hair like that at one time?!?!?
I am so excited you are going to be at JB on Friday!! I am such a HUGE fan of your blog and a MN girl myself! I went to College at Mankato State-small world. I have noticed you have a ton of MN supporters out there too-we could start our own Layla and Kevin fan club :) I really, really hope I bump into you guys at the JB!!
ReplyDelete-Jayna
Rosemount, MN
Hey Layla! Loved learning more about you today! Enjoy your MN trip and we'll all look forward to hearing stories when you return! :)
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie@heavens-walk
Pick Me!!!! for the Junk Bonanza. I live in MN in Brooklyn Park. I didn't know you were from here. I am from Hector, MN originally and a large family farm. I would LOVE to hang with you at the Junk Bonanaza!
ReplyDeleteAndreamelbergthompson@hotmail.com
www.thomberg.blogspot.com
Oh, I hope you have so much fun! Wish you were going to the Springfield, OH flea market though! Cause that's where I'm headed...can't wait!! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's too cool, I grew up in St. Clair, MN - 15 miles east of Mankato and still live nearby. Would have been really neat to have run into you at the Junk Bonanza! We were getting ready to head out to the Junk Bonanza on Thursday and I decided to fall down our wooden stairs, so sadly no Junk Bonanza for me this year because of my injured foot and battered body! :(
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your video coverage and all the goodies you guys found.
Jen @Liberty Cottage
P.S. I couldn't have survived the 80's/early 90's without my purple can Aqua Net either, my hair was bigger than yours even! lol
Ha!!! I used the same Aqua Net in the next state over (WI)!!! And then the silver-ish can with hot pink writing. It was like airplane glue! :)
ReplyDeletethat hair....
ReplyDeleteare you sure you are not from New Jersey???
love love love the farm pictures....