How Better Homes and Gardens Mag Chose Me

Checking email can be really mundane. Pottery Barn is having 20% off sale, an Arabian prince wants to send me money…blah blah blah. But when this popped in my inbox, I paid attention.

Hi Courtney! I scout locations for all of the Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publications throughout the DFW area (and beyond) and wanted to talk to you about scouting your home for one of our magazines called “Best of Flea Market Style”. Can you give me a call when you have a chance and I can go over the scouting process with you?

Whoa. That sounds intriguing. We spoke on the phone and she told me to send her some photos on Dropbox and do a write up on the history of the items in my home. She said it takes TWO WEEKS to hear back & if it wasn’t chosen, it was just not the right fit at the time. She said there are so many factors that go into the choice and that she doesn’t present it if it’s not worthy of print. Whoa. Okay.

So basically, she likes the house, thinks it has a chance, and wants to pitch it for the magazine.

A few years ago, I was chosen to be on a Design show on TLC called Four Houses.

This was a super fun experience and taught me a lot. One of the main prizes was a chance to get featured in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and they used a clip of me talking about how it was my “dream come true”. The clip made it seem like being on the show was my dream come true, but it was actually to be included in a magazine. In every career, people have goals and dreams to achieve, and for me, a national feature was  it. Something to shoot for, a goal to ascribe to, a dream to achieve. Of course it would not make me a better person or make me any cuter or smarter, but to be chosen would be a big confirmation that I am doing something right. No pressure, right?

So now we wait. Fingers drumming.

Checking my email.

Humming and looking at my email again.

Waiting.

Then, two weeks from the initial email, I get this.

I just heard from the editors of Best of Flea Market Style and everyone LOVED your home and it was accepted for a photo shoot and story. Congratulations! I’m in Houston on shoots but wanted to share the news with you.

And, the tears flow. I could not contain my excitement and overwhelm. Truly. I yelled to my husband, sunk to the floor, and started bawling like a little baby. Sometimes when God gives us more than we expect, it is overwhelming. I had so many emotions and mostly just thankfulness. My dream had just come true. Thank you, precious God.

After the emotional meltdown, the questions come.

When are they coming?

What do I do to prepare?

Am I going to be a photo??!!

WHAT DO I WEAR????!!!

I have no idea what to expect, and I cannot wait for it to happen.

Join me next Tuesday for Part 2– how they asked me to prepare, and my biggest dilemma.