Day One at Outcrop Manor
Ladies, day one has been a complete whirlwind of emotions!
Before we closed, my husband said, “Let’s hire cleaners.” But I insisted that I needed to clean the house myself because I wanted to understand every inch of it, what needed attention, what could stay, and what we were truly working with.
Let me tell you…I may already be regretting that decision!
My daughter and I started in the event center because I could not wait to share it with you. This space is somewhere between 1,600 and 1,700 square feet, and it is absolutely massive. Sweeping and mopping it took hours, and we mopped it more than once! But the moment I first walked into that room, I knew this house was meant for us. I could immediately picture all of you creating, laughing, learning, and spending time together in there.
This house has such a unique story. Construction began around 2006, but it appears that no one ever truly lived here. Different owners and contractors added pieces over the years, which means the house is an interesting mix of incredibly high-end features and some very questionable DIY decisions!
We have a completely brick home that feels like a fortress, zero-entry showers, radiant floors, an elevator, beautiful custom bathrooms, and some extremely expensive features. Then, in the next room, I’ll find a vanity that looks like someone grabbed it from Walmart and installed it over the weekend. Two of the showers are absolutely incredible, and the others look like someone ran to Home Depot, grabbed an insert, and called it a day.
That is exactly why I wanted to be hands-on. I need to understand what truly needs to be changed and what just needs a little love.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be having the major systems inspected and serviced. We have broken windows to replace, split air-conditioning systems that I need to learn how to operate, radiant floors that need to be checked, and an elevator that will be professionally serviced before anyone is allowed to use it. Our first responsibility is making sure the home is safe, comfortable, and fully operational.
For now, my daughter and I are working through nearly 20 years of dust, one room at a time.
Many of you have asked to stop by and see the house. You are welcome to sneak by this Saturday, but please understand what you’re walking into! There will probably be people running around fixing things, replacing batteries in alarms, cleaning, measuring, and trying to figure out how everything works. There will be no furniture, no beautiful decorations, and nothing that makes it feel homey yet.
You’ll be walking through an empty house filled with a whole lot of vision.
I’m not going to rush this process. I want to go room by room, understand how each space will be used, and thoughtfully choose what belongs there. Eventually, this house will be my canvas. It will be beautiful, comfortable, creative, and just the right amount of bougie but first, it needs to be safe and functional.
Our first fully hosted Outcrop retreat will be at the end of August, and after that, the house is officially open. And yes, we are booking now.
And ladies…your response has been unbelievable.
Within one hour of announcing the house, we had two bookings. Within two hours, we had five. After being open for only half a day, nearly one - quarter of the year was already spoken for. That tells me there is a real need for a space like this in our creative community, and I cannot even begin to explain how grateful I am.
The landscaping will take a little more time. For now, you’ll get to enjoy the wide-open country, endless horizons, beautiful sunsets, and dark nights where you can actually look up and see the stars.
This is country living, ladies, so bring your cowboy boots and your cowgirl hats!
And finally, please show my daughter some love. She is helping me create these adorable videos and is so excited to share this journey with all of you. Social media marketing is something she truly enjoys, and I could not be more thankful to have her beside me through all of this.
She is one of the greatest gifts in my life, so make sure you give her videos a like and encourage her along the way.
Day one is officially in the books. We’re exhausted, covered in dust, and slightly overwhelmed but we are also incredibly excited.
Get ready, ladies. Outcrop Manor is going to be amazing.
