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Please, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? {Announcement!}

by | Mar 13, 2015 | Decorating Inspiration, Home Love Stories

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Please, Won't You Be My Neighbor? {Announcement!}

Hey friends! I’ve been SO excited for this day to come! I have such a fun announcement and yet I’ve had to keep it to myself forEVER. Don’t you hate those secrets? But the time has finally come where I can let you in on a little project. Soon I’m going to be introducing something very near and dear to my heart. But because you are all my good friends here, I wanted you to get a little sneak peek before I officially launch it to the world!

As a blogger at The Inspired Room for the past eight years and an author of my first book, Love the Home You Have, I love to share my home and life with anyone who wants to read it. I adore blogging and that community I’ve found.

But the truth is, as much as I love telling MY stories, I really just want YOU ALL to move in next door to me, on the same block, in the same neighborhood so I can get to know YOUR stories (but by now you probably would know better than to move near me, I might just see another house I love and decide to move! I’m still a little crazy like that). Having you all as neighbors has been my dream since I first started blogging.Please, Won't You Be My Neighbor? {Announcement!}

But since actually becoming next door neighbors is probably not going to happen, I decided I should just create my own virtual online neighborhood and invite y’all to move in! For free. It’s my gift to you and in turn, I know your friendship will become a gift to me and everyone else in the community! Welcome to Home Love Stories, a community site I dreamed up for sharing, connection and encouragement!

This site was a labor of love for my readers and new friends who would like to be a part of it. Best of all, you don’t have to have a blog to join (although if you do, that’s great, too). HOORAY! You don’t have to be a pro at social media. You don’t have to have a big following to be noticed. You can belong and be a part of this because you are among friends, kindred spirits. Fellow house-shaped heart friends who want to see beautiful things in even humble places.

Please, Won't You Be My Neighbor? {Announcement!}For those of you who remember old school blogging, that is what I want this community to feel like. No pressure. No perfect houses or professional photo editing necessary.  Y’all. Blogging has become HARD WORK. I’m telling ya. I love it and The Inspired Room is not going to change, but at Home Love Stories we are going to bring old school blogging back!

Home Love Stories. It’s FREE. It’s fun. It’s authentic.

And it is for people who want to be in community with others striving to show love to the home we have.

So, what will we share on Home Love Stories? 

  • Show us the little things that make your home special to you!
  • Show us the dailys (whatever you are doing that day at home)
  • Tell about your decorating or remodeling adventures
  • Give us a peek at your favorite room or corner
  • Show off your home organization projects
  • ASK DESIGN QUESTIONS and get opinions or advice (let’s all help a sister out!)
  • Enjoy friendship among house-shaped heart people!

And even more fun, soon we’ll be doing community events together like block parties, drive bys, Fall nesting parties, house tours and more!  Stay tuned!

So, here’s the deal. Prior to the bigger launch when I will spread the news far and wide, I need your help with this testing period. I need you adventurous types to start trying out the site for me! Next week I will be explaining more details on how it will work and how we will use it as a community rallying point. It is going to be AMAZING, I can’t wait to kick things off with some fun block parties and soon I’ll announce a 31 day Love Your Home challenge in April!

But if any of you want to help me out and get things rolling now, here’s what to do to be a part of the free HLS community:

1. Go to HomeLoveStories.com

2. Join to create your profile.

3. Create your first post as a “get to know you and your home” post. Choose the “Get to know you/Housewarming” category when you post. Instructions are in the How To tab.

4. Publish your post and VOILA, you’ll be a part of the neighborhood! How fun is that going to be?

5. Follow Home Love Stories on Instagram if you are there, @homelovestories

Then check out the stories of others on the site!

You can have fun scrolling through people’s stories (don’t forget to click to click to open them if you want to read them!) and adding your own on your phone, too!

Troubles? Email me at [email protected]

Come on over and sign up for Home Love Stories, it’s free!Please, Won't You Be My Neighbor? {Announcement!}


33 Comments

  1. Amanda @ Serenity Now

    Melissa! How fun! This is, frankly, more appealing to me than blogging lately. The pressure of social media, having great photos, etc etc has me worn out. The whole three kids thing is enough! ;) BUT…I still love tweaking my house, crafting, cooking, etc. and sharing it all. I’m just not in love with the pressure of perfection. So very excited to check out your community today. I’ll wait until my little one goes down for a nap so I can concentrate. :) Thank you for doing this!!

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      It is crazy isn’t it? I hope this site can be a less stressful place to share :) and more fun too!

      Reply
  2. Lesley Dx

    I am excited! I love my home but don’t blog, tweet or fb about it – its my secret. Now I can share with lovely peeps like you and your gang, Melissa. Lots of Love from Scotland xx

    Reply
    • melissa @ the inspired room

      Thank you Leslie! I LOVE that you are in Scotland, that just makes me happy to know we can be friends!!

      Reply
  3. Diane | An Extraordinary Day

    What?!?!?! You are amazing!! Truly this is the most fabulous idea ever! Okay… I’ve often thought that it would be fun to host a little community in a similar way. (Kindred spirit!) But, Melissa, you are rocking this idea in the most extraordinary way! What else do you have up your sleeve???!! HeeHee! Besides working like a crazy lady? ;) I’ll be back later to join in the fun! [[hugs]]

    Reply
  4. Jann from Newton Custom Interiors

    I think this sounds like a great idea! Can’t wait to sign up! I love Mister Rogers, thanks for the little video clip.

    Reply
  5. Tara@LehmanLane

    Melissa, what an amazing idea! I can’t wait to be a part of this:). Thank you very much!!!

    Reply
  6. Mary

    I joined twice but The site didn’t let me sign in. It said I wasn’t registered. What did I do wrong?

    Reply
  7. Anne

    I love the idea! – Since I live a little too far from you to ever be called neighbors (in Europe!!), I shall enjoy being neighbors in cyberspace :-)

    Reply
  8. Sandra

    Cool idea! Can’t wait to be a part of it! Thanks, Melissa!!

    Reply
  9. judianni

    What a wonderful idea Melissa! I am so excited to see all the wonderful homes your sweet readers will be showing and inviting us into!

    Reply
  10. Sharon

    This sounds wonderful! Can’t wait to look into it more this afternoon- we have moved so much, and I’m lacking inspiration/motivation in this home we’ve been in for a year. And, I love your heart about it wanting to be real or old school. :)

    Reply
  11. Deanna

    How fun, Melissa! I have joined and shared my story!

    Reply
  12. Coco

    Thanks so much for putting this together Melissa! I’m registered and will be gathering some content to post. I can’t wait to see how this all works. Hope you have a great weekend, Coco

    Reply
  13. Elizabeth@ Rustic Maple

    This sounds like such a great idea. Looking forward to seeing and learning more.

    Reply
  14. Penny

    What a thoughtful idea Melissa.
    Congratulations on your book.

    Reply
  15. Neeta

    Thanks for the great idea, Melissa. I’ve an Indian themed living room , and will post some pictures. I’ve also extended my passion for handmade Indian home decor to my modest business, where I offer unique bedding sets, curtains, valances, decorative pillows and beaded table linens.

    Reply
  16. Lauren Baxter

    Omgoodness! This sounds awesome! I will for sure be signing up for this :) Congratulations on another amazing project can’t wait till this goes in full swing :D and hear all the stories & encouragement!

    Thank you so much for sharing this and creating this!

    Lauren | LB Designs
    xx

    Reply
  17. kimBinAK

    Hi Melissa – what a fun idea :) I tried to access the new website from my work computer, but am unable to do so (I work with the Dept of Defense and we are limited to what sites we can access). Will try to get into my local wifi coffee joint in the next few days and access it from there. This Home Love Stories is perfect – learning from the experiences of others and hopefully receiving (and offering) helpful input on nest-feathering ;) Best of all – perhaps new friendships will blossom during the journey!

    — kimB from Alaska

    Reply
  18. Lois

    Love this idea. I look forward to sharing and learning from so many others!!

    Reply
  19. Bettsi

    Hey Melissa! How fun! I’m all joined up and looking forward to getting to know the other home lovers.

    Reply

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