How did Come Stay Awhile first begin?

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The Backstory…

I have always had a creative side. I actually work full-time as a website designer/developer so “design” has always been a part of my life. And I feel like that can translate to so many things. We currently live in a rental home while my husband finishes his last year of vet school and I was really struggling with the fact that this home wasn’t our “own”. It was important to me that this house, although temporary, felt like home. After I started updating things and doing small DIYs around the house, I wanted a place where I could showcase all of the things I was working on. I had a personal Instagram account at the time that was just for family and friends and I started showing bits and pieces on there but was afraid to overwhelm them with my home and if I am honest, I was terrified what people would think of it.

How Did We Get Here?

For about 2 years before CSA was born I started noticing this “influencer” side of Instagram. I knew of it from my line of work but had never fully understood what it was or how these people make money. I followed @theglamfarmhouse , @theramblingredhead and @ourfauxfarmhouse and that was all I knew or had ever seen of “the other side”

One night while praying (December 2018),  I felt God nudge me… telling me to start a separate Instagram page for my home decor. I wrestled with it for a while. I immediately started comparing myself to the three accounts I knew of and thought “there is no chance I could ever be as successful as they are”. I was afraid to put myself out there and embarrass myself. What if no one follows me? What is no one cares what I am posting? But God was persistent… He kept nudging me and eventually on January 27, 2019 I took the plunge and created Come Stay Awhile. I am a two feet in kind of person. Whenever I start something, it gets 110% of my effort. I have always been that way and I wanted to make sure that if I really was going to put myself out there and do this that I did all the research I could and tried to do it right.

My Purpose and Motivation

As soon as I launched my account, I was immediately overwhelmed and terrified for what was to come. I mean we live in a 1,100 square foot rental home. Who am I trying to pretend I am here!? LOL. But you know what I realized… there are SO many people out there in the same situation as me. Who said you have to have a brand new huge home to make it beautiful? OR who said you have to have unlimited income to create a beautiful place that you love? I started to realize the purpose that God wanted for me behind my account… it wasn’t just showing pretty pictures. My sole purpose on here is to be a place you can come to be inspired and feel loved. I am a firm believer that we create our own happiness. Often times, we wait for whats next – new job, bigger house, more money – but in that “waiting” we miss so much of what life has for us right now. My goal on here is to help busy women (or fellas!) like myself find budget-friendly home hacks and easy ways to create welcoming spaces. I am not here pretending to be perfect or to make you think I have my life completely together. Each day you get me as I am… the good and the bad. That’s REAL life and that’s what I know I want to see on Instagram. 

God’s Gift

It has been 7 months since Come Stay Awhile launched and I am almost at 12,000 followers. It is so crazy to me that so many of you care what I am doing and want to follow along with my life. It means the absolute world to me. I am so thankful that God pushed me and that I listened. This experience has been incredible and I have met so many amazing people along the way. I don’t know what is in store for Come Stay Awhile but I am along for the ride. Who knew that the greatest learning lessons could come from stepping out of your comfort zone!

THANK YOU!

This influencer (gosh, I hate that term) life is WAY harder than I expected. It is hard to put yourself out there and be vulnerable with people that you don’t even know. And it takes SO much time to plan content but it has been my greatest joy and I am so blessed to be able to do what I do on here everyday. I can’t thank you enough for being here, supporting me and loving me like you do. I truly have the best community of new friends and I love sharing my life with you all. I have big dreams for Come Stay Awhile and I am so glad you are along for the ride. 

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