Remember when Elizabeth Gilbert escaped to Italy, India, and Bali in “Eat, Pray, Love”? My story is a little different. Instead of traveling the world, I found myself accidentally transported back in time – to rural Oklahoma, where my grandfather’s massive tool shed became my own personal Narnia wardrobe.
Picture “Under the Tuscan Sun” meets Pippi Longstocking, but instead of renovating a villa in Italy, I was building outdoor bathtubs in Oklahoma and selling red dirt to fascinated internet friends.
At 45, I was your typical success story: a strategist, lifestyle consultant, ticking all the boxes of achievement. Then life had other plans. What started as my personal version of “Green Acres” (initially hated every minute!) transformed into something straight out of those feel-good movies where someone rediscovers themselves in the most unexpected place.
Instead of scheduled retreats and meditation apps, I found myself:
- Playing in my grandfather’s tool shed (50 years of builder’s treasures!)
- Creating outdoor spa experiences from found materials
- Learning to sew with my grandmother’s saved fabric scraps
- Building things with no manual (and no pressure)
- Discovering that joy doesn’t need a Pinterest-perfect setting
Think less “Martha Stewart Living” and more “if Mary Poppins took a gap year in Oklahoma.”
Now? I’m that friend who helps you see the magic hiding in your ordinary spaces. The one who shows up at your house and helps you turn your boring patio into a wonderland, or transforms your cluttered garage into a creativity haven. No expensive renovations required – just imagination and permission to play again.
Because here’s what I learned in my accidental adventure: Sometimes the most profound transformation isn’t found in exotic locations or expensive programs. Sometimes it’s hiding in your own backyard, waiting for someone to show you how to see it differently.
Ready to turn your everyday spaces into something extraordinary? To find the magic hiding in your junk drawer? To remember what it feels like to create without rules?