#TransformationTuesday DIYs: Home Sweet "Home" Edition

  In the words of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, "There's NO place like home!" I'm officially ten full weeks in at my new place, and this is the very first time I have felt "at home" since moving to North Carolina. The word [home] alone is one that has given me mixed feelings my whole life. Growing up in two separate households from the ages of 12 through 18 as well as living as a first-generation [naturalized] American, "home" always felt bittersweet and family gatherings grew strange. I dreamed of one day starting over and being able to create a home and family of my own. Fast forward 11 years, and I'm almost halfway there!
  Earlier this year, the phrase "Home is where the heart is" had me pondering the idea of 'home' all over again. I was participating in an art auction and fundraiser hosted by the Carrack Modern Art and Smashing Boxes for Habitat for Humanity of Durham, where they used the phrase as the event theme. "Where was my heart,' I wondered.

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  The answer is that my heart is in good ol' North Carolina... for now. NC is where I found what I love to do and where I learned to heal and love myself fully. NC is where I finally came out of my comfort zone, and grew up. I am grateful for this place. I settled into my first apartment here. I lived by myself for the first time here, and I feel like I can call my residence "home" without lingering feelings of sadness.
  In the ten weeks it took me to settle into my apartment, the wall art I imagined hanging up slowly came to life. I wanted some pieces to match the love counter top decor and beach-theme shower curtain and colors of my bathroom. I learned a lace and spray paint technique I tried out on the background and used other inspirations from there. See below for that transformation and read on for the revamped classroom caddie, refurbished bookshelf, and reused window decor projects I did for my living room as well!

  These projects were so much fun and really ended up complementing the rest of the things I already had, and in result, making my space feel so much like home. 

To top everything off, my family came over for a first-time Sunday dinner with me as hostess. It was a real treat. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!