This is for my organized yet overwhelmed friends. If you've got a car full of crumbs and stale french fries and can never seem to find the bottom of the laundry mountain on the couch, we might just be soulmates. Been there. And if you've ever found yourself wading through a sea of Lego pieces just to get to the couch, then we're definitely kindred spirits. #boymom

Sure, my TV screen might be dustier than an old bookshelf, and my inbox is overflowing with unopened emails, but who cares when there's a cold latte and a good book waiting for me? And don't even get me started on the joys of chalk-painting a flea market find versus scrubbing the kitchen floor.

So if you're ready to embrace the beautiful chaos of life and repurpose every last thing, then join me and spread the word! Let's show the world that messy can be magnificent.

Together we can live life, repurposed!

Michelle

 

Bio

Meet Michelle Rayburn, the ultimate trash-to-treasure guru. When life hands her lemons, she not only makes lemonade but also crafts a stunning lemon-themed centerpiece out of the peels. And let's not forget her love for iced coffee and lazy afternoons in the hammock with a good book - and dark chocolate!

Michelle is a woman of eclectic talents, including writing, podcasting, and mastering the art of lighthearted sarcasm and dad jokes - a language all moms seem to pick up eventually. With an MA in ministry leadership and counseling, she also helps others turn their own trash into treasure, both in life and in faith.

And speaking of faith, Michelle is the author of several Christian living books, including The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure and the multi-award-winning Classic Marriage: Staying in Love as Your Odometer Climbs. She has also published articles and Bible studies in places such as Focus on the Family, Christian Communicator, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Today’s Christian Living, and ChristianBibleStudies.com.

With her husband, Phil, by her side for 33 years, they've successfully launched two sons into adulthood, which is no small feat. But don't worry, Michelle's got reinforcements on the estrogen team with her two wonderful daughters-in-love. Together, they're ready to tackle whatever life throws their way - and turn it into something beautiful.

So if you're looking for a dose of humor and inspiration, look no further. And if you're lucky, she might even share some of that dark chocolate with you.

 

The Rest of the Story

Michelle and Phil live in a unique home that's not your typical suburban house - it's actually a former little country church with a parsonage attached! The church half is over a century old, while the rest of the house is slowly but surely coming out of its '70s and '50s decor with ongoing updates and renovations. And with Michelle's love for trash-to-treasure decorating, you can bet that the place is filled with creative makeovers of what most people would consider junk.

As a mom of two boys, Michelle has had her fair share of the testosterone zone, but that's why she loves speaking at women's events - it's a chance to escape and get a good dose of estrogen and female companionship. Plus, let's be honest, it's nice to talk about something other than sports and video games for once.

Now, onto some random facts about Michelle.

Did you know that she once contributed to the family food supply by shooting a 6-point buck during rifle season? Talk about providing for your family! And as an avid reader, it's not uncommon for her to go through two books a week, often read by flashlight in bed during the wee hours of the morning.

Oh, and here's a fun fact: Michelle gave birth to her two sons on the same day within eleven minutes of the same time of day - but they're not twins. How? They were actually born two years apart. And when her boys were small, she would spend some evenings in her woodworking shop in the basement while her husband watched the boys. The "solitude" of the router, table saw, and hammer were a welcome break after a long day with the kiddos.

Despite all of this, Michelle may sound like a total tomboy, but don't be fooled - she's actually quite girly. Bugs? Yuck. Outdoors? Not her thing. Changing a tire? She couldn't tell you where to begin. Give her some dark chocolate and a good book instead, and she'll be perfectly content.