Hi, I’m Serena Appiah!

Let’s just start with the obvious: how in the world do you say my last name?!

Well, I’ll  make it easy for you: it rhymes with IKEA. 🙂 My husband is Ghanaian, and “Appiah” is a very common name, sort of like how “Smith” is very common here in the U.S.

So moving on….

I’m the face behind Thrift Diving, a blog that inspires you to decorate, improve, and maintain your home on a DIY (do-it-yourself) budget.

When I was 6 years old, I wanted to be a cab driver.

Yes–a cab driver. I wanted to get paid to be lazy and drive people around.

Thankfully, my career aspirations evolved into something more creative, which turned into being a professional DIY blogger. (You can read more about my journey in 2015 from working full-time to becoming a full-time blogger).

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about my family and me!

 

 

My Family

This, my friends, is my family.

Hubby and I have been together for 21 years. YES, 21 years!

I can barely believe it.

I’m just 39, so we met when I was a fresh-faced, naive little girl from Hagerstown, Maryland, born and raised, attending college at the University of Maryland College Park. We’re now a family of 5, very unconventional, vegetarian, and probably the most laid-back family you’ll ever meet!

My sons are 10, 7, and 5.

And if you’re wondering if we’re trying for a girl, um–no. Don’t be delusional. LOL. A house full of boys will quickly kill any inkling of wanting #4 (have you heard the noise level in a house full of boys????).

 

My House

Oh, the home that has given me so much strife…. LOL. I still struggle with telling myself it’s an ugly house but after writing a popular post about how we should stop thinking we have an ugly house. I’m slowly learning how to transform my home into a home I love, and not just a home that provides a roof over our heads.

(At the very least, this home has given me waaaay too many projects on which to perfect my DIY skills!) 

My Home Projects

Catch up on what I’ve done in our home so far:

My Pretty Laundry Room Makeover
My Kids’ Unbelievable Bathroom Makeover
My Colorful Basement Home Office Makeover
Master Bedroom Makeover (with DIY Crown Molding! Download the 52-page guide on How to Install Crown Molding Like a Novice)
Master Bathroom Makeover

My Style

I don’t think I have a style.

I like whatever I like. (Oh, but I’m obsessed with turquoise and Sherwin Williams Rainwashed and SW Sea Salt)

Sometimes it’s clean lines. Sometimes I like things a bit more ornate. I like modern things. But I also might like something that could fit in Grandma’s plaid kitchen. There’s no rhyme or reason to my tastes. 🙂 I decorate on passion and inspiration, not necessarily what’s popular or “in” at the time. But there is one thing I can guarantee: that whatever I decorate, it’s going to be budget-friendly!

I prefer to spend money on electronics, not expensive furniture!

My Passion

I used to feel so lost, trying to find my purpose in this world.

Until one day, I asked myself to choose three keywords to describe my life.

“CREATE, INSPIRE, and TEACH”

This blog (which started in 2010) is built on these three life passions, and I am inspired by these words each time I create a project (check out my furniture makeovers) or watch the videos tutorial on my YouTube channel.

My Love of Thrift Stores

Home should be affordable. That’s my motto. I love splurging on electronics, as I mentioned, but when it comes to decorating, I am frugal and love to create as much as I can by hand. If I can buy it from a thrift store, I will! Plus, there is something so magical about the transformation from ugly to beautiful that inspires me every time.

 

My Love of Power Tools

Power tools are amazing….to take raw wood or materials and create something functional and beautiful–I thrive on that! I partner with RYOBI Power Tools, so I’m thankful that I get to do public speaking and video tutorials for them! A DIY’ers dream coming true.

 

 

I’m a Duluth Trading Company Model

I know…I’m still shocked over that, too. Especially since I’ve had three kids and carry a spare tire around my middle that drives me insane.

I was one of nine winners in their 2015 Duluth Women model search!

Duluth Trading recently invited me to be a part of their No Yank Tank national TV commercials, which you can watch below.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to check out Thrift Diving! I’d love to keep in touch with you! I invite you to subscribe by email so that you don’t miss my next post! 🙂