Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Aimee Moehring of West Valley

We recently had the chance to connect with Aimee Moehring and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Aimee, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Hello! A normal day for me right now is working at Midwestern University as a Clinical Skills Coordinator! Don’t know what that is? I didn’t either! But I have been doing this alongside my painting and crafting business for over a year now! I never knew how fascinating the medical world is to me! My job is actually perfect for me, as I get to set up events for graduate student learners- and I get much the same enjoyment as I did setting up craft shows in the past! I also get to work with my hands on fixing, hauling, setting the aesthetic for the medical event…. which is a passion I have in the home decor world too! Making the room or the event eye pleasing! Of course as soon as I punch out of my full time job, I love to go home and get my paint clothes on! Just recently I redid my dining room table from Farmhouse White to an English Chestnut color!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Aimee Moehring and I have been the owner of REECreations Home Decor for 14 years now! ( I guess an anniversary just happened again in June!)

My business is still around, it has morphed from Recycling Home Decor, to repainting home decor, to representing a chalk paint company, to organizing 50 or more vendors for local craftshows to what it is today. Undeciced. Lol! I am participating as a vendor instead of hosting this Fall. I am currently working on cash and carry painted wooden items. Occasionally I take on a custom furniture makeover too. I do work full time at a graduate University now, so I am balancing what the future holds for REECreations Home Decor. It is more a social media platform for inspiration and selling my items at the moment. But the over 1500 people on this platform mean the world to me. They are genuinely kind and supportive people or clients that come together with me atleast once a year to support or give back to our community in a charitable event. That is a whole other side – the best side to REECreations Home Decor…

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Well. This is complicated, but vivid. Two people in my past made supportive comments about my creativeness. The first one was Robyne Richards. She has an entrepreneurial spirit also. I used to repurpose home items way back before it was so popular. She mentioned I should write a book about how to hunt items down, think out of the box how to reuse them and show before and afters of how it was done. I felt so proud that someone thought that my ideas were worthy enough to share with others. It sounded great to help others be inspired to recycle and recreate and reuse too! But instead of a book, I started a Facebook page and a group page. It was easier for me to post individual items there explain the process,and then sell them. Many years later, a faithful and supportive lady with an art enthusiast background became my biggest cheerleader and also a frequent customer. She was always encouraging me to be myself and not conform to the way others create. Lloyce Robinson is still a lady I revere. There are many others who have made impacts on my self esteem, or inspired me- Kate (she is a fabulous artist)….okay I have too many women to name! I am grateful for all the friends and mentors who encourage me to be myself!

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Oh boy, that is a big and complicated story. The short version is that I led a pampered life as a stay at home mom with my three kids for many many years. I was able to raise them to adulthood as my husband supported us on a very nice income. Fast forward almost more than 20 years of a career with one company and my husband made a decision to leave his position after being asked to do some things he did not ethically feel good about. It was tough! He did the right thing. It was scary, we quickly sold our big home, completely changed our lifestyle, I frantically did odd jobs until I found a full time one. My husband started a business coaching job right as Covid started. It was an uphill battle. It was the most scary and humbling experience I have ever had. It was stressful on my marriage -on our lives -and today I can honestly say I am so glad it happened. I look at individuals now with a bigger more empathy filled heart, and I have a tremendous amount of thankfulness for the little things, for what I now have. I will never think “that won’t be me” ever again. With my faith, my friends, my family, and my husband we are plotting along and enjoying and practicing gratefulness for all our blessings. We have learned the hard way it is not things that make you happy, but moments….. and kind people.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Sadly yes. Sometimes I am a little too frank. I don’t have a big filter. I am genuine. I have a big heart and a big mouth. My intentions are usually for good, so I am proud of that. I do hold myself to account as being a person of integrity. You will see me plenty on social media unfiltered and silly. If you can’t laugh at yourself, you are taking yourself too seriously.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I don’t think I want the reputation of one story that makes my legacy when I am gone. I really hope people remember me someday for helpfulness and charity. For loving flowers, and nature. For kindness, silliness, and a caring heart. I want to be remembered as a light in the darkness. A person that smiled a lot and made others smile too. I am not looking for fame, I just am a busy body that can’t sit still and I like to keep others motivated too I guess. I want others to find joy in little moments, creative opportunities, and dabble in sawdust and paint as often as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.facebook.com/Aimeesreecreations
• Instagram: reecreations_home_decor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aimeesreecreations

Image Credits
Aimee Moehring