We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Rachel, how do you think about risk?
I would consider myself to be a bigger risk taker than most. Being widowed at the age of 27, I learned that things can change in an instant. Fast forward to 2021 when CoVid hit and I was once again reminded that nothing in this life is guaranteed. We can’t control everything, but we can take the risks and live a life with purpose and experience. My now husband and I decided to sell our home, his business and pack up and travel full-time with our young daughters. I felt a calling to grow our bond as a family and treasure this time together while they are young. Living in 400 sq’ and being around each other 24/7 is definitely not always easy (!!), but we are able to show them places they normally wouldn’t see and teach them through experiences.
From a business standpoint, I have been blessed to expand my social media after taking this leap of faith! Before I focused solely on home decor, design and DIY projects in our home. I am still able to create this content as we start personalizing our new home on wheels, but I am also able to connect with a whole new demographic of viewers who also travel full-time or who are thinking about doing so. I’m so excited to continue growing my brand and see where this journey takes us!
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always had a passion for home decor, design and crafting. After the birth of my 2nd daughter, I found myself up during the night and on the couch a lot for nursing sessions. I decided to spend that time building my Instagram page and sharing vignettes of decor around my home and documenting DIY’s I worked on. Along the way I’ve been able to learn so much more through Interior Design classes at a local college, inspiration from other social media DIY’ers and most importantly trial and error of working on home remodel projects ourself! The old saying of “love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life” is so true!! Over the past few years I’ve been able to help clients with design ideas in their own home and reach hundreds of thousands of viewers on TikTok and social media and bring to life the hobby of crafting and decor.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The past couple months we’ve been fortunate enough to explore the majority of Arizona and gosh is it beautiful! I especially love Northern AZ because you can experience so much variation in a relatively close distance. My favorite must-see spots include: Sedona–one of my favorite places EVER! The Sedona Trolley Tour is a must to see all of the Sedona landmarks. The owner Bobby is so helpful and knowledgeable. Be sure to stop at the Mesa Airport Grill for the best views in the entire city and the best fish & chips I have ever had!
Grand Canyon National Park–obviously a bucket list item and well worth the trip!
Flagstaff–A great place to see snow and a very different atmosphere! 2 of my favorite National Monuments are here; Walnut Canyon and Volcano Crater. Don’t forget to stop at one of the many local coffee shops and roasters. Matador is one of my favorites.
Jerome–Take the long windy mountain road from here to Prescott Valley and you won’t be disappointed! The views are incredible. Jerome is known as the “Wickedest Town in the West” and is a must-see for history lovers. I highly recommend taking a ghost tour!
Cottonwood–I just love this place with it’s small-town vibe. There is so much charm in their downtown area. Randall’s is our favorite spot for breakfast and Merkin is an incredible farm-to-table restaurant with an awesome selection of wine from their vineyards. We always get a couple bottles. AZ wine is so underrated!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Above all else, an all-loving God who has provided countless blessings and opportunities and carried me through all the highs and lows of this life! I’m thankful for a husband who I can dream big dreams with and who willingly pulls out all the power tools to help my visions come to fruition. Of course I’m also so grateful for my followers, some of which who have become long-distance friends, who encourage and support me through their comments and messages! I find so much purpose in creating DIY’s that might help a fellow crafter get through a tough week or encourage another family to take the chance on a nomadic lifestyle.
Website: https://faithhopehome.net
Instagram: https://faithhopehome.net
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYvuGgV_R7PsH0Ck399etw/featured
Other: TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@Faithhopehome