Welcome Friends!
Hey there! We’re so glad you found us. We’re the family behind Lovely Little Mess.
We didn’t hit rock bottom.
We just got tired of drifting.
Lovely Little Mess is the story of a family choosing to reset — downsizing, paying off debt, rebuilding our systems, and learning how to live with intention instead of autopilot.
We’re a family of five moving into a two-bedroom apartment on purpose.
Not because we had to.
Because we decided to.
Why We’re Doing This
From the outside, life looked stable.
Jobs were steady.
Kids were growing.
Schedules were full.
But underneath it all was a quiet tension:
Consumer debt we kept “managing.”
Spending habits we justified.
A pace we never questioned.
Nothing was falling apart.
But nothing was being built intentionally either.
So we chose to reset.
meet the parents
We’re Nicci & Chris
We’re parents navigating real life — careers, kids, responsibilities, and the quiet realization that “fine” wasn’t the same as free.
For a long time, we did what most families do. We worked hard. We managed the bills. We upgraded when we could. We told ourselves we’d tighten things up later.
Later kept moving.
At some point, we had to decide whether we were going to keep adjusting around the edges — or rebuild from the foundation.
We chose the foundation.
What “Reset” Means for Us
Reset means:
• Downsizing with kids to reduce our fixed expenses
• Paying off $50,000 in consumer debt
• Holding weekly money meetings
• Teaching our kids about money in real time
• Building financial margin before upgrading lifestyle
• Preparing long-term for foster care
It’s not aesthetic minimalism.
It’s disciplined living.
01
Living Boldy
We make decisions aligned with our values, not our fears.
02
Building Intentionally
We align our time, money, and habits with the future we actually want.
03
Loving Fully
Choosing connection over convenience and presence over distraction.
Meet the kids
Peter
Jack
Lola
The Bigs
Marc and Nat
What you’ll find here
Lovely Little Mess documents:
- Apartment living with kids
- Paying off debt as a family
- Practical family systems
- Budget structure and money habits
- The uncomfortable decisions that create freedom
We share structure, not just inspiration.
We don’t overshare every number.
We don’t pretend to have mastered anything.
We’re documenting the rebuild as it happens.
You, My Friend
have come to the right place
If you’re ready to stop drifting and start building — even if it requires uncomfortable decisions — you’ve come to the right place. This is where bold choices replace excuses, intentional systems replace chaos, and wholehearted love anchors everything we build. We’re not waiting for perfect timing. We’re choosing direction. And we’d love to have you join us.
This space is for the beautifully imperfect, the fiercely loving, the curious, the creative, and the tired (but hopeful) hearts just trying to raise good humans and commit to being more present. Here, we don’t pretend to have it all together — we just believe in showing up with grace, grit, and a whole lot of heart.
Join the List
Join our mailing list.
Subscribe today!
My Favorite Quote!
“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.”
Michael J. Fox