Cute Relevant Mom on the Street: Erin Horne
Cute Relevant Mom on the Street Erin Horne has an eye for beauty, a wise soul, and an honest perspective.
Meet Erin
I’m a 39 year-old mother of two (ages 3 and 6 months). I joined the parenting game a little later than many of my friends. I got married in my thirties and experienced the uncertainty of infertility delays. Fortunately, I like being a teeny bit older parent; my life perspective is just different and more secure than the perspective influenced by the insecurities of my twenties.
My personal and professional lives are deeply integrated in my ministerial background: serving with faith-based non-profits and now pastorally as a minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA. I will be ordained as a minister when I take a job (known as a “Call”) in a church. My timing is a bit slowed as my family currently waits to see where my husband’s Navy orders send us in the near future. Once we know where we’ll be, then I can look for a Call. Waiting isn’t my favorite, but as a spiritual practice for personal growth, it’s as old as the sun.
It’s been a long road to becoming a pastor. I graduated from seminary with my Masters of Divinity in 2015 and have been in the rigorous process of ordination for several years. In January I passed the final requirement to seek a Call and I’m so grateful!
In addition to my professional pursuits, my husband and I have a side business acquiring properties, redesigning them, and offering them as short term rentals. This business has been a fun outlet for my creative side. I enjoy home design and it’s fun to see a space come together from start to finish. My aim is to blend eye-catching style with comfort, creating a space where guests can feel both ‘at home’ and a little bit fancy.
Cute Relevant Syle
Which three words best describe your style? Cute, relevant, and comfortable
What are your favorite places to shop? MOMNI Boutique in Jacksonville, FL, Anthropologie, Madewell
Who’s your favorite style icon? For the home, Emily Henderson. For home and personal Style, Jenny Komenda
What’s your best style advice? Choose something that suits your season of life, makes you feel comfortable and pretty.
What article of clothing/accessory would you not want to live without? I live and die by my black jeans in these mostly-stay-at-home-mom days
What trend should NEVER make a comeback? STRIPED JEANS
What style did you love at the time, but now cringe when you see old photos? See above for “STRIPED JEANS” a la 6th grade me
Stilettos, flats, or sneakers? I wish heels, but practicality wins out when you’re nearly 6 feet tall… I’ve got to say flats
Cute Relevant Family
What’s your favorite way to spend time with your family? Adventures! Living in coastal Virginia we have access to some great coastal state parks: Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, First Landing State Park. I love to load everybody up and hit the trail. The real perk is that both of these parks offer beaches and nature trails. We are at our best when we are at the beach.
What’s been your best family vacation? Can I say a vacation pre-kids? The term “vacation” is an oxymoron when you have a three year old and an infant… I now call any travel with this crew a “trip.” But, my favorite vacation with my husband was a two-week trip to Northern California. We hit San Francisco, Napa Valley and Yosemite. Each element differed from the next. So fun. My best memories were long, tiring days hiking in Yosemite that ended with pizza and beers in Curry Village. We’d play “War” for hours and crack up. God bless bad cell reception in the valley.
What’s your go-to family dinner? A lot of moms will want to kill me for this, but my husband is the real cook in the house. When it’s left up to me everyone eats avocado toast and charcuterie for dinner. Or some frozen meal from Trader Joe’s.
Cute Relevant Parenting
Best parenting advice: I hesitate to give advice because I am barely figuring out this parenting thing, but I can offer some things I am learning, especially during the impatience brought on by quarantine. I am trying to pay attention when I am triggered to anger quickly. I’m asking myself, “what are the underlying thoughts or circumstances that push me to react this way?” I am seeking to be humble and self-aware. I mean, what adult wants to speak rudely to a three year old for not listening (age-appropriate behavior) because the adult is inconvenienced?
To me, digging a little deeper, I realize the adult (ahem, me!) has an unrealistic expectation that life should be convenient. I try to be gentle with myself and my kids. I am trusting that being my authentic self, the best parts of me and my shadow-sides, will ultimately bless my kids in the long run, provided I walk it out in humility. And humor!
Parenting true confession: My 3-year-old is a desperate extrovert with boundless energy. The quarantine hits hard…she so badly wants to play with her friends! Sadly, “playing” falls to my husband and me. We give it the college try, but ultimately we do not fit the bill in terms of energy and imagination. Sometimes I simply cannot muster another game of “chase”– I am too tired! Recently I took my daughter to a field near our house because I needed to run her and get some energy out. I tried playing fetch with her. It was literally me throwing a stick and telling her to run for it and bring it back.“I’ll time you!” I tried to sweeten the deal. This worked for about three rounds before she refused to do it again. Desperate times…
Cute Relevant Lifestyle:
What’s your favorite show to binge-watch? Veep or Gilmore Girls.
If you could pick anyone to star as you in a movie based on your life, who would it be? Cameron Diaz. She’s just so fun.
If you had to listen to only one artist/group for the rest of your life, who would it be? Ooof. This is a hard one. Maybe Brandi Carlile or Patty Griffin or Allison Krauss. Or even Mumford and Sons. I can’t decide.
What’s your favorite beach read? Something LIGHT where I can escape and not think too hard
What song would you dance to when nobody’s watching? “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine
What movie can you watch over and over again? Pride and Prejudice, early 2000’s version with Keira Knightley
If you could have lunch with anyone from history, living or deceased, who would it be? Both of my grandmothers who are no longer living. Each one had a very special impact on me. Their personalities differed greatly, but both lived well and loved me well. I’d give anything for one more hang-out with them.
What’s at the top of your travel bucket list? Portugal. And the Grand Canyon – I can’t believe I’ve never been.
What’s your favorite way to unwind at the end of a long day? Taking a deep breath, sitting outside with Jon, drinking a glass of red wine when the evening is lovely and the kids are in bed.
Your Cute Relevant Style
We love how Erin is wise, honest, and gives herself some grace when it comes to being a mom. She’s hilarious, hard-working, and faces life’s challenges head-on. She reminds us that sometimes in the waiting, we learn more about ourselves and our faith than we would expect.
For more stylish moms, be sure to check out FamilyApp’s Mom on the Street page.
