Welcome to my DIY and Lifestyle site, Holly Grace. I created my site in 2016 under the name By The Stand. So much has changed since then and in such a short amount of time, too! 2018 meant big changes for me, the biggest being the rebranding of my site. By The Stand was just the beginning and launching pad for my life.
For 11 years before starting my blog, I was a dental assistant — yes, a dental assistant. So how does one go from sucking up spit to running a blog? Well, first off, a lot of hard work and perseverance. Secondly, a passion for wanting to do something that you know you were meant to do. I am not going to lie to you, though — I had no idea that blogging was even a thing. Sure, I had been on Pinterest and clicked on “blogs”, but I really had no idea where I was going and what the whole point was. I just liked to look at really pretty things. I didn’t put much thought into the sites that I clicked on.
Let me take you back to 2016 right before my blog was born. Quick note — I was miserable.
It wasn’t too bad at the beginning, I guess – My Dental Assisting Days in 2007
I hated my dental assisting job and knew that there had to be something better out there for me. So I thought to myself, “Holly, what do you like to do?” One thing came to my mind and that was DIY. I picked up my laptop, and I googled “DIY jobs” followed by the city I live in and what do you know, a job popped up titled “DIY Writer” for a site called Diply. Long story short, I applied and got the job. A small town, country girl with 11 years experience in dental assisting got a job writing DIY articles. So here I was working away at Diply, writing DIY articles and finally doing something that I was totally suited for, but — that quickly grew old.
Here I was writing articles about other people’s DIYs. I would browse DIY blogs all day and get paid for it. Sure, it was fun and it was a great place to work. We were always doing fun things around the office, plus there were giving back days where you could do something good for the community and still get paid. I knew, though that I had what it takes to do my own thing and thus By The Stand was born.
When I started my blog, I chose to call it By The Stand because the very first DIY I made and posted was done on a “stand”. My uncle built an apple stand for the store that my mother and I operate and when I saw the stand outside the store, it suddenly stirred all these dreams in me. I said to my mother, “hey we should use that stand, almost like a stage. I can record my DIY videos in front of it and also use it as a place to take pictures of my DIYs and crafts. So “By The Stand” I went and started setting up to do my first DIY.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
When I am not DIYn’ or working on this site, I am with my main peeps, or when I am not trying to be cool, simply my family. I have a husband named Jaime and two children, Ava and Douglas. I couldn’t do all this without them. They are my constant supporters and cheer me on every step of the way. Ava and Douglas (or Dougie, as we call him) also make great assistant cameramen when I need a helping hand.
We also have a lovable little pup named Zoey! She’s 1/4 french bulldog, 3/4 pug, and a whole lotta rambunctious all rolled up in one tiny puppy!
Zoey has become quite the little distraction as I try to work away on the computer.
That can’t be comfortable — at least it wasn’t for me anyway lol.
As if all of this weren’t enough, in March of 2018, I opened a store with my mother. Gracie’s Place is located in my hometown of Thames Center and is a shopping place for all things unique and handmade. We have approx. 30 local artisans, who sell their handmade products in our store. To read/see more about that journey, check out our FB page.
I go LIVE on the FB page almost daily. We have a lot of fun and I love meeting all the customers and a chance to meet some of my followers in person! If you’re ever in the area, make sure you stop by and say hi!
Here are just a few more interesting things about me. I like to think of myself as an old soul. I like old movies, I am taking real classics — if it’s black and white even better. Pretty much anything with Bing Crosby is a win. I love old school musicals, Ma and Pa Kettle and Shirley Temple.
I enjoy Jane Austen, Anne of Green Gables and Little Women is one of my favorite books. You can’t go wrong with Downton Abbey. I have a huge thing for English History and love to learn about the Monarchy. So yeah, old soul.
Oh and when all else fails, give me a great cup of Orange Pekoe tea and I will be your best friend forever. 
I love it when my fans and followers reach out and I genuinely enjoy getting to know the people that frequent my blog, so if you ever have any questions, comments or feedback reach out at any time!
