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Who are the Real Housewives of Bucks County???

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hey there! I'm monica 

I pride myself on making amazing style and design accessible for everyone, regardless of location, budget, or ability! My design philosophy is rooted in authenticity + attainability - If I can do it, you can too! My work has been featured in countless publications, but I take the most pride in homeowners that have been personally inspired by my DIY ideas and have tried something in their own homes!

learn more about ME + MY BIZ

You get to read about our projects, you know what the inside of our houses look like, but who are The Real Housewives of Bucks County?  Well, this must be your lucky day, because today we’re sharing a bit of ourselves with you…  (Warning, some of these questions are cheesy, but who doesn’t like a little cheese and we like ’em!)
Meet the Real Housewives of BC
  1. Do you have kids?
M- Do we ever! 4 kiddos that either keep me young or make me old, not sure which. Girl, boy, girl, boy (and done!)
J- Yes, I have two adorable, blond-haired, blue eyed kiddos (a girl and a boy) who keep me busy: one who talks my ear off. and one who makes a lot of noise and dives off of furniture head first
  1. Where is your birth place and are you far from it now?
M- I was born in Massachusetts and lived in Attleboro, MA until I moved to Bucks County, PA when I was 17 years old.  When I first moved, PA seemed like the ends of the earth, but now it’s a simple 5 hour drive “home.”
J- I was born in good old Grandview Hospital in Sellersville, so that makes me oh, um, about 7 miles away from there.
  1. What is one thing you could not do when you were a child, but you can do now?
M- Eat as much uncooked cookie dough as I want to
J- I wasn’t allowed to watch Saved by the Bell, but am pretty sure my parents would be ok with me watching it now (totally love that show, by the way)
4. What is your motto?
 M- I’m the anti-motto.  I am too forgetful to even remember my own motto.
J- My motto for this year is “Be Intentional“. I tend to be extremely impulsive and all over the place and so I’m working hard at making purposeful choices regarding our weekly menu, the the design of our home, my spiritual life and the work decisions I make.
  1. What are your hobbies?
M- Photography, blog-stalking, reading & anything involving spray paint.
J- Well, this is a no-brainer: reading design blogs. However, I also LOVE coaching the highschool girls tennis team at my alma mater, Plumstead Christian School. And I adore reading and can easily get sucked into a book which usually leads to me tuning out everything around me. (I was reading when the rest of my neighborhood felt the earthquake last week. And nope, I didn’t feel a thing.)
  1. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
M- Chocolate chip cookie dough and Oreo Cookie combined! (Unless I’m at Ben & Jerry’s and then it’s New York Super Fudge Chunk! Unless I’m at Coldstone and then it’s Cake Batter-YUM!)
J- Not a huge icecream fan (gasp!), but if we get icecream as a family, I usually get the mini Reese’s Peanutbutter Cup Blizzard from Dairy Queen.
  1. If you could travel anywhere in the world – where would you go and why?
M- A tropical beach… any amazing beach… with the hubs… and a good book… oh, and maybe with Starbucks in hand…
J- . Italy, hands down. I travelled there in college with two great friends (we were studying abroad in Greece at the time) and loved every inch of it. Florence was like heaven for me- great architecture, friendly people and to-die-for foods.
  1. Have you ever met a famous person?
M- We’re spending the day with Nate Berkus on Thursday… does that count? (See more about that here)
J- Well, we’ll be meeting Nate Berkus on Thursday, betcha didn’t know that, did you? 😉 One of my other favorite celebrity encounters was Charles Barkley. He was the biggest human being I’ve ever seen in person
  1. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
M- Physically, my ears… everyone denies that they’re weird, but I know that they don’t point in the right direction.  Ugh! Now stop trying to look at them! Personality-wise, sometimes I fail to think before I talk… ugh!
J- Physically, my nose, although my hubs says he really likes it. (He kind of has to, though.) Personality trait: impulsiveness. Sometimes it works for me, but most of the time I’m left wishing I did a little more research or talked to more people before jumping in head first.
  1. One that describes your BFF and blog partner?
M- One word to describe Jess = determined- she is completely committed to her goals and also growing and changing into the person she wants to be.
J- Extrovert! I’ve never met anyone who enjoys being with people, or wants to have people around as much as she does. She gathers friends like no one else!

 

  1. How tall are you?
M- 5 feet 8 inches
J- 5 feet 4 inches
  1. When you were little – What did you want to do “when you grew up?” Are you doing it?
M- I wanted to be a lawyer… I loved to argue.  I’m not a lawyer, but I get some argument practice in with the hubs! J
J- I really wanted to be a veterinarian, but I now can recognize that animals are not my thing. Honestly, what “I want to do when I grow up” is constantly changing. I feel like I’m getting closer though!
  1. How do you spend your free time?
M- What free time?? Although, I love getting so obsessed with a book that my kids eat cookies and poptarts for 24 hours while Mommy finishes reading!
J- Playing with the kiddos, writing this here little blog, coaching tennis and hanging out with the hubs.
  1. Favorite sport you like to watch or participate in?
M- Fav to watch = football.  I LOVE football Sundays! Fav to play = basketball
J- Watch: Basketball, Play: Tennis
  1. What kind of food do you prefer eating when you are out?
M- It’s pathetic, but 90% of the time I order a grilled cheese wherever I am. I long for my kids menu days (who am I kidding, I order from it all the time!)
J- Italian, Mexican & Tapas
  1. Last Movie You Watched?
M- Unknown it was only okay… I’d say a B-.  (Although, I also saw The Help and it was an A++)
J- The Help, with my girlfriends
  1. Would you like to be famous?
M- I have some pretty fancy tastes, but I don’t need tabloid magazines claiming I’m preggo every other week! J
J- I’d like to make the money of a celebrity without worrying about some crazy paparrazzi taking my picture while I’m getting the mail in my jams.
  1. What Book Are You Reading?
M- The Tenth Circle by Jody Picoult
J- I can’t believe this, but I’m not currently reading one!
  1. Favorite Bible Verse?
M- John 3:30 “He must became greater, I must become less”… it just reminds me that I’m constantly in progress and that I can continually be growing and changing to be more like Him.
J- Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Isn’t it wonderful knowing someONE else is in charge?
20.           What’s your favorite DIY project to date?
M- My daughter’s first “big girl” room 8 years ago was my very favorite project.  Checkerboard painted walls, and chalkboard furniture made my day. Sorry, no pics… darn the days of film cameras! A more recent favorite is of course, is my Farmhouse Table Remix.
J- Favorite DIY project to date:  My fav project so far is the reclaimed barnwood art piece I made for Monica’s dining room for the Nate Berkus Show. (Sorry, can’t show you it yet, but we’ll reveal it soon!) I also am pretty in love with my free old door headboard and the family tree mural we painted for our daughter’s nursery.

*Photos courtesy of Doug from Candid Moments Photography. Thanks so much, Doug! You did a great job working with some very amateur models. 🙂
So, it’s your turn now. What questions do you have for us? We’re game for answering {almost} anything!

The comments +

  1. Lauren says:

    Thanks for sharing a bit about yourselves. Can’t wait to hear all about your show this week! Hope you have a blast!

  2. beth says:

    That was fantastic! Jess….i have one for you…..who cried the hardest when you were leaving for your honeymoon?

  3. Christina says:

    you girls are so pretty!! No idea you went to Plumstead…I went to Lehigh Valley Christian HS in Allentown…we played you in sports!! 🙂 So funny!!

  4. Great pictures! I can’t believe we are sisters and you’re not a big fan of ice cream. I guess it’s not in the genes.

  5. mollydianeh says:

    Hi there! Nice to meet you two! I found your blog through Always in Wonder”. I too tend to be a blog stalker, however I thought I’d leave a little note to say Hi. I too, “only” have four kids {my three sons and a daughter} Born and raised in Framingham area of Ma. and somehow landed in the deep South!?! Will be checking back with you guys! Bet it’ll be “wicked good”!

  6. Great idea girls. It was fun to read. You both crack me up. GREAT pictures.

  7. MaryK says:

    You “girls” are fabulous and gorgeous! It’s wonderful seeing how you have grown up! My question: who was your favorite teacher at Plumstead?!? Just kidding…

  8. Vanessa says:

    Ladies,

    You are two cute! Thanks for sharing your story.

    Vanessa

  9. jlanders says:

    Guys – these are great pictures! Can’t believe how well your blog is doing!

  10. Dina says:

    What a crazy, small world. Monica I grew up in Taunton, MA!

  11. Casa Babbette says:

    Hi Girls!

    I just joined your blog and I love it! I just started blogging a couple of months ago, so I’m new to the game. It’s “wicked cool” that you’re originally from Attleboro, I live down the road in Dighton, MA. Beautiful stuff and keep the posts coming!

  12. Just reading this “Meet Us” column makes me want to come crash your slumber party! I just found you gals through Stephanie Lynn’s blog, Under the Table and Dreaming. I’m currently a Philly girl, although I’m originally from the deep South. I’m always so excited to find design lovers close by who actually blog! Can’t wait to start blog stalking you two!!

  13. Tamara says:

    I just found your blog and I LOVE it! I’m the opposite of DIY, but I plan to live vicariously through you ladies. 🙂 You can live vicariously though me via my baking blog. 🙂

  14. Jenn DeAtley says:

    Ohmygoodness! I love you guys. Just came across your site. My Mom was born and raised in Bucks County {Lori Cheshire, now Preshaw} and I still have family there. My husband and I are missionaries in Senegal, Africa and I love finding projects to make our lil place more of a home.

  15. Michelle says:

    Hi Monica and Jess!
    Ok, how do I start to tell you how THRILLED I am at reading your About Us section!!!!! We just started getting Knock It Off on the Live Well Network out of Detroit (we live on the Canadian side and enjoy getting US signals free!) and we LOVE the show! I’ve already been scouring your blog and hope to do my first DIY – our front porch – based on the example here, complete with pregnancy face mask. 🙂 This blog + Knock It Off + pregnancy nesting could have some very positive results around our house! hehe My husband loves the show too – truly! – and has fun seeing how the guys often doubtfully respond to your creative ideas and end up loving them. If you ever want to branch out into Canada, we would love to have you over to our place! 🙂

  16. Shelley says:

    Just wanted to say how much I enjoy design as well. I love your show and am wondering when you will have new shows coming up? I also have to say it’s awesome to know there are Christian women on TV doing what God has gifted them with. Thanks for taking time to share ideas that help moms make their house feel homey! In all that spare time of yours you guys should make a trip to Lancaster county and design something in my farmhouse:-) Thanks again for a cclean,modern, and amazing budget friendly show. Totally refreshing. Shel ps we need to redo our kitchen is there an inexpensive material that we could use to make them look high end but cost effective?

    • Monica says:

      Hi Shelley,

      Thank you so much for your kind and beautiful words. We love hearing from our viewers, we’re so blessed and appreciate all of the support. There will be a new episode of Knock it Off this Sunday at 7 pm EST. Also if you would like to apply you can email us at knockitoff@livewellnetwork.com. Thanks again.

  17. Diana says:

    I remember seeing you two on The Nate Berkus show and I was thrilled to learn you have a show. I love your designs and you make it look so simple.

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