Publisher: The Learner Observer - {Look closely - Learn purposefully}

ABOUT So you want to know more about me? Are you sure? There may just be personal details (and perhaps a really embarrassing video) that will have you seeing me in a nerdier new light! me 2 WHERE I CAME FROM Geographically speaking, I’m from Brazil. Yes, the land of caipirinha, rodizio and Samba – and if you don’t know what any of those things are then you are definitely missing out and must at least Google them immediately! When I was 10, my family moved to Canada and at that point it was time for me to get accustomed to humidity and snow! I certainly wouldn’t say I’m used to the Canadian climate (no one ever is and Canadians are notorious for complaining about the weather – it’s always too hot or too cold), but I gotta say I love that I get true exposure to all four seasons every year – the new blooms after the frost in the Spring, falling leaves in Autumn, the frostiness of Winter and incredible heat humidity of Summer. Brazil 2007 WHERE I’VE BEEN I have not seen much of the world, but I have to say that I consider myself a traveler at heart. One of my most memorable trips came when I took a break from University to study abroad with a very unique company and experienced Italy as I am sure very few people do. Rather than traveling as tourists, our small group traveled almost as Italian natives might. The exception came when we visited the Vatican. Our visit to the Sistine Chapel was ‘private’ – meaning I did not experience the crazy crowds of tourists as most people do, but rather entered the room containing some of the world’s most revered artwork with a group of 17 other people. It was magnificent, and I was speechless for the entire duration of the visit! Below you can see part of our group as ancient statues, my usually goofy face and a fellow student and I at the top of St. Peter Basilica’s dome. Italy 2006 MY BOYS I’m totally in love with a wonderful man and I got to marry him on September 15, 2012. We are in the process of building a home, raising a puppy, loving our neighbours, taking part in an amazing church plant (read more on The Village here), and learning about our marriage one day at a time — not always in that order! Engagement 2012 You can see some of our wedding photos here. We have been incredibly blessed, not only because we have one another, but also because we have amazing people around us, purchased our first house 3 months before we got married, and now have a new member of our family – Luther! If you follow me on Instagram, you can see what our little brat is up to on a regular basis. Usually it’s something both hilarious and adorable! Get ready to say “awwwww!” Luther 2012 WHY I BLOG I blog because I love it, but that’s an obvious statement. I started blogging because my husband told me that I have a lot to say (that was his nice way of saying what an opinionated person I am) and I should share it with the world. He’s right – I do have a lot to say and you will notice the first two posts (after the “Hello World” post) on this blog were not at all about DIY projects or home decor – Post 1 and Post 2. I love posts like that, and you’ll see in the “Life” category, I do include the occasional update that is strictly personal business – though if I am being perfectly honest, I almost find myself wishing I had more Life posts because I do want, more than anything, for this blog to be a real reflection of who I am and what I love. I want to share what I know and what I learn (mostly because I always want to learn and would be a professional student if that was a real job). My need/love for learning is what got me started on reading blogs, which soon became somewhat of an addiction – one which I have not yet been able to break (I read well over 100 blogs)! There are so many talented bloggers out there, and they have tons of amazing information to share, so I spend an insane amount of time reading blogs – seriously…insane! I started writing my own blog simply as a means to share all the jumbled thoughts that were in my brain, and after taking part in The Nester‘s 31-day challenge for the first time, The Learner Observer became a blog about my journey as a new home owner trying to make our house a stylish, unconventional, useful, mindful, uncluttered home. I look back on some of those posts now and they are ALMOST embarrassing, but they remind me of a simpler time, when having a candy bowl on my side table was enough to blog about. FUN FACTS I once cut a whole 11 inches off of my hair, and this is how it turned out. I will (probably) never do it again. The not having a face and growing out stages were horrific! Kidding… my face was ok. Growing that hair out was awful. hair I can’t cross my eyes unless I put my finger between them. And even then, it just doesn’t look quite right… (as crossed eyes are supposed to look!) 61_522231497457_9306_n I also can’t ice-skate… Honest. Embarrassing video as proof: No skating skills MY FAVES Some of my very favourite posts to write so far, in case you’re interested in checking them out: Mid-week Update Mid-week Update So Here's the Thing... I gotta Keep It Real So Here’s the Thing… I gotta Keep It Real The Friday Five - 2 High/Low: Light and Girly Living Room High/Low: Light and Girly Living Room gold bowl main IMG_2567 Twitter-Hashtags Wedding smiles Thank you for reading and checking out the blog!!! I have to pinch myself regularly because I still can’t believe people want to read my ramblings! You’re amazing for making it this far into this extremely lengthy page! xoxo