A New Coat of Me
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just Say Yes
By Samantha Ducloux Waltz

Don’t fake it till you make it. Fake it till you become it.
~Amy Cuddy

The moment I saw the for-sale sign, I knew I had to have that mid-century classic in northeast Portland, aka “1955 little blue house.” I’d looked at a lot of houses but never experienced love at first sight until then. Never mind what greeted me when I went inside. No first date is perfect. The diversity of the neighborhood, the proximity of two parks for dog romps, and the floor plan of the house that would allow for family gatherings and overnight visits were exactly what I wanted. Its fixer-upper condition made it affordable on my tight budget. How hard could it be to give it a makeover?

“The house needs too much work,” the home inspector told my son. “I wouldn’t let my mother buy it.” But he told me it had good bones, so I bought it. (Keep reading)