I know firsthand how a house can swoop in and rescue someone.  Mine sort of rescued me from some harsh life circumstances and that’s exactly why I’m so giddy over and proud of it to this day.  Stories about homes and how they have enveloped a home owner are stories that I love to read.
The Bee Cottage Story and How I Made a Muddle of Things and Decorated My Way Back to Happiness is certainly a title that I could have penned myself.
Journalist, author, and TV personality Frances Shultz is a Southern girl (from North Carolina) like I am and this book is inspired by her popular House Beautiful magazine series on the makeover of her house, The Bee Cottage. Â In fact, I did a Feature Friday on Bee Cottage back in 2011 and thought it was such a fun transformation of a cottage in East Hampton.
I have just started reading the book and can’t wait to get into it further. Â I absolutely love the way that Frances decorated this house, so feminine and classic at the same time. Â I know this book will just dive in deeper than the magazine series did and I can’t wait to read it all.
Of course, with my love of green, this picture just takes my breath away.
After a broken engagement, cancer, and a series of devastating losses left her struggling, Frances started to rebuild her life in this cozy cottage called Bee Cottage and really got to know herself. The renovation of Bee Cottage became a metaphor and a means of healing and personal discovery for Frances and she unravels the question of how a mature, intelligent, successful woman could have made such a mess of her personal life.
Oh, how I can relate to that! Â And I totally can see how a house can come along and capture a heart and change a life.
From the book: Â Part memoir, part home decorating guide, The Bee Cottage Story has 125 beautiful full-color photos to illustrate Schultz’s journey and to inspire readers traipsing through their own “Great Muddle” to examine and discover their own “truth” in decorating — and life. Â
Here’s the fun news! Â The editor of The Bee Cottage Story sent me a copy for myself and they are giving away a copy to ONE of my readers. Â
Be sure to click the Rafflecopter widget and sign up with your email.  Then all you have to do is leave a comment telling me if you’ve ever made a great muddle in life and started over?  I think most of us can relate to that in some way and lived to tell about it.  Starting over can sometimes be the best thing that ever happened to us! Â
Just sign in on the Rafflecopter widget and leave a comment here on the blog! Â Here’s to decorating our way back to a beautiful life!
I started over many times; became a nurse in my late 30s, bought the house I could afford, and set about making it the charming cottage it is today. I even paid the mortgage off! Yea, overtime!!
A divorce will muddle a life, I should know.
YES, I’ve muddled life up twice. Obviously a slow learner. We are in the process of a huge transition right now and I’m scared to death. My faith is growing rapidly, which I know was the Lord’s will all along!
As a teenager, I lost my mother who was my only living parent. As an adult, I have been fairly lucky with no major muddles….just minor muddles. Funny though, I do sometimes wonder what it would be like to start over…….while incredibly challenging….there must be a sense of accomplishment once you see the other side. I can’t wait to read this book…..I would love to win it, but will have to purchase if if not! Thank you for the opportunity!
Yes I’ve muddled many times – sometimes I have learned and other times …..well lets just say I’m a work in in progress………book sounds wonderful, would love to win 🙂
I have had this book on my wish list for a LONG time! Yes, I have had to overcome some difficult things in life–an unexpected pregnancy early in life, a baby that died at birth, a baby that died of SIDS, financial start overs, and a new career later in life. Our home has always been our refuge through it all. Now I am in a contented stage with a career I enjoy, a happy marriage, and children/grandchildren I adore living nearby. No one has a perfect life!
Oh my goodness! I tried so hard to “handle” everything on my own and “do” everything for everyone in my life. It has taken a lifetime to learn that I just have to Let Go and Let God.
Yes! I would love to read the Bee Cottage!
Sometimes when I think back over my life I’m amazed at what has happened and that I managed to turn my life around. God is always with us. Love to read the book.
It took me 49 years before l had my second chance..I have been married to the love of my life for 18 years and life is so full of joy!
Thank goodness for God’s grace, forgiveness, mercy and “do-overs”!
That’s just a part of life.
I would love to read this book. I have had muddles in life and moved on.
The book sounds so charming and like something I’d enjoy reading, especially since I think our homes are such a huge part of our lives. Thanks for sharing!
This looks like a wonderful book and I love that it speaks to the heart of women who are recreating their lives and homes.
we all face muddles in our lives, it’s what we do next that is important. Don’t let them kill you twice!
Can’t wait to read her story.
Would love to read this!
Oh yes, especially when I was younger!! Thank for this awesome giveaway.
Karen
I muddled my life with a divorce and moved into a house in need of intense tender, loving care. All the hours spent peeling wallpaper, sanding sheet rock, scraping paint and repainting was a very cathartic for time for me. Sometimes the repairs added to the stress but overall it was a very healing and empowering experience.
Selena
YES, I DID!!!!