Buffie the Body

Day 15: A MILESTONE DAY! 🙌🏾

Y'all, I don't know if you can see the stress in this video, but trust me, IT'S THERE! 😩

What should've been a simple task turned into hours of trying to figure out where I went wrong. I measured, remeasured, checked my numbers, and everything seemed right. So why wasn't my first board centered?!

Come to find out, the problem was my laser level! Not only was my laser line off, but I also realized I'd been using the tool in lock mode instead of self-leveling mode. I had to figure all of this out the hard way!

I had to remove the first board and try again. FINALLY! I GOT MY FIRST PIECE OF WOOD UP! 👏🏾 And not only that, I can officially say I've learned how to use a laser level!

Day 15 had my nerves shot, but it was a major milestone in this fireplace renovation. Now that I've figured out how to install the first board, the next ones should easy. At least that's what I'm telling myself!

Day 16 should be downhill coasting after all that uphill pedaling! 🫩😫☝️

Day 14 | Fireplace Rebuild 🔨

I thought I was prepared for this project. I really did! Before I even started, I spent days researching, watching videos, planning, and purchasing all the tools and materials I thought I would need.

But one thing I'm learning is that you can never fully prepare yourself for something you've never done before. You just don't know what issues you're going to run into until you're actually doing the work!

I've lost count of how many times I've had to stop what I'm doing, make another trip to Home Depot or Lowe's, order something from Amazon, or head back to my office to watch more videos and figure out my next move.

And don't even get me started on that tape measure! I've been using a tape measure my whole life, but this project has me studying those tiny little lines like I'm learning how to measure for the first time in my life! I'm determined to get these measurements right!

So yes, I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't nearly as prepared as I thought I was. And that's okay, because I'm learning something new every single day.

This project has challenged me in ways I never expected, but y'all know me. I love a good project, I love a challenge, and I'm going to see this one through!

It may take me longer than I anticipated, but when it's all said and done, it's going to be done RIGHT!

The rain stopped!!

I love new tools more than new shoes and purses!!!

I'm experienced with using nail guns, but I've never used a framing nail gun! The first thing I noticed is that it's heavier than my other nail guns.
I was told that using a framing gun is faster, but only if you know how to shoot the nails in correctly!! 🤦🏿‍♀️🤔🤭

Metabo HPT

When I decided to start sharing my yard and home projects on my Buffie the Body social media pages, I had no idea where it would lead.

But one thing I can almost guarantee you is that if I had come back trying to be the same Buffie the Body who made me famous 20 years ago, Tamron Hall would have never reached out to me about being on her show.

Sometimes it's not about reminding people of who you USED to be. It's about showing them who you've BECOME. ❤️

For years, I've had people reach out to me about appearing on their podcasts or doing interviews, and I've always politely declined.

If the focus couldn't be on my clothing brand, Brick Built, my yard and home projects, or my current lifestyle, then I wasn't interested.

Not because I didn't appreciate the invitations, but because most of those conversations were centered around a lifestyle I haven't lived in over 15 years. The Buffie the Body era... the music videos, the magazine covers, the party/event host, and the sexy swimsuit model.

That was a chapter of my life, but it's not the life I live today.

In 2026, I decided to start sharing more of what my real life looks like. I wanted to start being my real self. So when The Tamron Hall Show reached out to me, it was different. They were interested in what they saw me doing on social media TODAY. Not just who I was 20 years ago, but who I am NOW.

And that's why I accepted the invitation.

Of course, you can't tell my story without revisiting Buffie the Body. You have to understand where I came from to truly appreciate where I am today. That's what makes my story so interesting. It's the BIG contrast between the life I lived back then and the life I'm living now. People find it shocking that I cut down trees and build fireplace walls...😅😂

For the first time in my life, I get to sit down for an interview that feels like it's about Buffie, the woman I am today, and not just Buffie the Body, the woman the world knew years ago.

❤️

I’m so glad I didn’t skip this step!!

I’m a visual person, so I needed to actually SEE the TV and fireplace sizes on this wall before I decided on anything. And whew… that 75-inch TV is just too much for this wall. It completely overpowers it, and I don’t want the TV to be the main focus of the room.

So, I think 65" will be better.

I also played around with the height. I know everybody says the TV should be at eye level while you’re sitting, but on this wall, that would put it way too low for the look I’m going for and too close to the fireplace.

And while I was sitting on the sofa testing everything out, I realized something else… WHY has my sofa always been pushed against the wall? It can come forward! Moving it a little closer to the fireplace wall completely changes the room, and I think I might like that look.

See… this is exactly why I mock things up first.

But I’m not getting distracted by furniture placement right now. I’ve got some framing to do😎.

Days 10–12.

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t doing the work. It’s figuring out what the next move is. 👌🏽