Hello! I’m Michaela.
Welcome to The River Dwellers. My husband and I currently reside in an apartment with our two children and two dogs within the city of Chattanooga, TN. This is our 10th home we have lived in since we married in 2016. Yes, you read that right, 10th move! What started as a journey with flipping homes and longing for a homestead has turned into learning how to create that same desired atmosphere wherever we dwell. Our last name actually means “River Dweller” which is where the name came from but more importantly fits our story perfectly. I came to an understanding that I may not know where our home will be next year or 10 years from now but I can create an space that is rich and beautiful wherever we dwell.
Follow on youtube to hear more of our story there.
That is why I am here, showing how we have created a rich home life for our family no matter where we dwell through whole food recipes, family/home rhythms and a love for the outdoors. I have learned how to stay connected through seasonal eating, even if I am not growing the food, building family rhythms that are a landing post for my family no matter the square footage of our dwelling and embracing the outdoors no matter the weather.
About Me
I’m a Tennessee native who has moved over 30x but never in a different state. I grew up near the smoky mountains but during college loved city life. I was a nurse and doula before becoming a mother; I learned quickly that hospital life wasn’t for me but I will come to any birth if you ask.
When my husband and I first married I discovered I didn’t know how to cook, but this gave me a drive to learn from scratch! This has worked for me ten fold because I love feeding my family wholesome/seasonal food and sharing it with others.
I have a passion for sewing and crafting. I can’t look at anything without thinking, “how can I make that myself”. I love teaching people how to practically build a life with creativity in it.
My husband and I still flip houses together but now at a much slower pace with littles in tow 🙂 These many moves forced us to pair down our belongings and discover our essentials as a family. I’ve collected pieces over the years with heirloom quality and simplicity in mind.
With so many moves and home in renovation mode, I became an avid outdoor enthusiast because I had too! Which in turn molded our family to prioritize time in nature no matter our home or age of our children. I love sharing about this on our youtube channel and daily life on instagram.