Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Blogiversary 5: It’s On Like Donkey Kong

Holy cow, have we really been blogging for half a decade?! Crazytown.

Five Graphic

It feels like just yesterday that we were creating a basic page with a big blue-background so friends and family members could drop in on our first home’s kitchen makeover.

Really Old Wordpress Blog Y

For our fifth blogiversary we wanted to host a parade complete with homeowners marching by waving hammers and paint rollers, but since we couldn’t get that together – and it honestly sounded like someone could lose an eye that way – we decided to go for the next best thing: a week of blogiversary madness and behind the scenes hullabaloo (just like we’ve done for the past few years here, here, and here). And the festivities start right now. So feel free to toss out some chest bumps and fist pumps. It’s about to get blog-a-delic up in here (anybody have a black light?). Here are a few of the things that we have on the agenda for this week:

  • a timeline of how we met, fell in love, started blogging, and ended up here (which is actually right in this post – we didn’t waste any time, haha)
  • a pretty crazy giveaway with a ton of awesome $500 prizes in honor of The Big 5
  • a day in the life post with a bunch of pictures and details about an average day for us
  • a math-tastic rundown of our blog stats, growth, and other numerical goodness along with seven bloggy facts that might just blow your mind (no guarantees, but ours are officially blown)
  • a no-holds-barred Q&A video full of answers to personal questions that hundreds of you guys submitted via Facebook
  • all of our goals for the coming year (and a rundown of how we did on last year’s)
  • a big ol’ list of our favorite/least favorite/hardest/most memorable/weirdest/etc posts over the last five years (there have definitely been some doozies)
  • a warm and fuzzy getting-to-know-you post about you guys (who you are, where you live, what you love – we can’t wait to hear from you!)

Without further ado, here’s a big ol’ timeline that we made in photoshop that dates all the way back to 2004. Holy buckets, was that really almost ten years ago? A lot of the things on this timeline were defining moments for us, either in our personal lives or the life of YHL. And a bunch of them actually make us all misty eyed. Seriously, no one is more surprised than we are to be where we are today, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you amazing folks who take the time to drop in on us and see what we’re up to. You’ve made this entire blog-tastic journey possible for our family, and sometimes I get that embarrassing lower-lip-quiver when I think about it too long. You guys put the love in YHL.

Blogiversary Timeline3

Time flies when you’re having fun (and meeting, moving, marrying, starting a blog, having a baby, writing a book, and otherwise holding on the for ride). Are you guys somewhere you’d never imagine you’d end up five years ago? We’re so thankful that we started this random little blog, and so very humbled that you guys have become a part of our lives and created this completely unexpected way of life for our family. We love you. Truly. Now somebody get me a tissue.

Psst- Itching to learn more about blogging as a business? So are we. Just kidding. Well, I’m half serious since we’re definitely still learning as we go. But here’s a giant collection of posts about how our blog baby grew, how we make money, how we spend our time, how we get sponsors, and a lot of other behind the scenes blogging stuff (like paying quarterly taxes, becoming an LLC, getting our own health insurance, etc).

Comments

  1. Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says

    Congratulations! Five years of blogging is like 7 bajillion years in real time. (Citation needed)

    I started The Non-Consumer Advocate 4-1/2 years ago, so I know how much work it is. I love how your blog never seems stale, and you never seem to run out of content.

    Love it, mwah!

    Katy

    Reply

  3. my honest answer says

    Ah!!! I’ve been waiting for Blogiversary since the beginning of September! This will be my third with you guys, so I guess I’ve been following along for over half of the time (but not as long as some of your die-hard fans, I bet). The timeline was such a great idea. I’m going to do the survey now. Thanks for all the hard work you put in guys!

    Reply

  5. annabelvita says

    Aww, we all love you guys too! Excited for all the blogiversary fun.
    Five years ago I’d just graduated, was unemployed (but working hard for free for experience!) and living at home…. then I moved to London, spent an amazing few years living with friends and working as a business journo and now I’m back working a smallish town planning a wedding to my great boyfriend! (hate the word fiancé).
    That was fun. Hope to still be reading YHL in five years!

    Reply

  8. Erin says

    Happy, happy blogiversary!

    I’ve been following along for about a year and a half and you guys seriously motivate me to make our little Blacksburg townhouse rental as “ours” as possible. And with our sights set on a 2013 move to Richmond (and our first house!), I’m excited to know you’ll keep the DIY love comin’!

    Congratulations :)

    Reply

  9. Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says

    CONGRATS!! That is awesome. I just love your blog and am so happy for you hope that you guys continue it for another 5 years!

    By the way – LOVE the “its on like donkey kong” favorite saying between my brother and sisters when we get pumped for something!

    Reply

    • DawnSC says

      Ditto! The TWO book deal just made my day. Quite possibly my week, as I’m already eagerly waiting for your first book to arrive after my husband very sweetly preordered it for me as a birthday gift. And still got me something else for my September birthday rather than making me wait that long for a gift. haha

  11. Julia @ Chris Loves Julia says

    Wow! Someone pass ME a tissue. I love a timeline. I love seeing how life happens and comes together for me, for anyone. It’s so unique every time, but there seems to be one constant–in the words of Conan, “If you work really hard, and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” So true for you guys.

    Reply

  13. maria says

    I’ve probably been reading your blog for WAY too long, but wasn’t this site called this young house at one point? anyway, glad to still be a reader after all these years!

    Reply

  15. Sugar Cookie says

    Yay! As a loyal reader for three years, I am very excited for another blogiversary :) And, of course, I love your timeline. Life has moved pretty fast for the hubs and me as well… Met in 1997 (we’re junior high sweethearts), attended and graduated from different colleges in 2006, got engaged, had a long distance engagement for 18 months, I graduated from graduate school in 2008, got married, moved across the country, hubs graduated from law school in 2009, moved across the country again, he passed the bar exam and was sworn into office at the end of the year, then built and moved into our first house (and I started a Ph.D. program) in 2010, started his own law practice in 2011, and now I’m about to start writing my dissertation. Like you guys, we’re just holding on for the ride!!

    Reply

  16. Kate says

    Happy Anniversary!! So glad I found you guys 2 years ago…love your blog – your sweet family – and your creative home!! Thank you :)

    p.s. I had a very exciting “John & Sherry” spotting on Saturday!! – then I got nervous & my husband had to pull me out of my awkward gawking! Next time I’m for sure saying hi!

    Reply

  19. Becky says

    Congrats! Yours is the only blog I check daily – it’s part of my “ease in the morning” routine. Facebook, email, young house love. I eagerly await to see what you’ve done, and then try to think of how I can do SOMETHING creative in our rental home, and busy life. Thanks for keeping me thinking!

    Reply

  20. emily says

    I didn’t realize y’all signed a 2 book deal!! How did I miss that little tidbit??

    Blogiversary week is my favorite time of year because it falls right around my birthday (today!). Best birthday present ever :)

    In the past five years, I have: spent my junior year of college abroad, graduated from college, moved across the country, met my boyfriend, adopted a dog, got a job, and more! It’s been a wonderful half-decade!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Sometimes we don’t talk about it because it freaks us out. Haha! We’re so scared to even think about the second book yet. You know how you have one kid and people start asking about the second one and you’re like “ahhh! not ready!!!” – hahaha!

      xo
      s

  22. Lori says

    Congratulations guys!! You are both incredible people (not to mention, bloggers) and you deserve all of the wonderful things that have happened to you and continue to happen. I’ve been a fan since 2009 and I’m looking forward to another five amazing years of YHL!!

    Reply

  24. sarah @ sarah learns says

    wow, congratulations, john & sherry! i love love love your blog and get excited to read every post!

    (i also just realized that i remember your past two blogiversaries, so you’ve been a part of my life (is that creepy?) for over two years now. crazy-pants.)

    Reply

  25. Whitney Dupuis says

    As my husband says: “IT’s on like a prawn that yawns at dawn!” Yeah, he is ridiculous.

    You guys are beasts!!! Congratulations on all of your success! I can’t wait to see what happens next. :)

    Reply

  28. WSquared says

    I love your timeline! Interesting that you should mention leaps of faith when it came to blogging full time, and taking pay cuts, to live what is obviously a very rich life, both in the small and big things– indicative of how the Lord does work in mysterious ways: overplanning can make you miss out on something more awesome and wacky in a good way (as in unexpected).

    So congratulations, guys, and well done! Thank you also for the inspiration and a fresh read every day (if you must know, since I’m a busy graduate student, there are few things I read daily, but Young House Love is right in there with the likes of TheCatholicThing.com, and my ongoing thoughts re my historical and theological studies).

    Reply

  31. Hannah says

    WOOT! Congrats on 5 years! So happy you decided to blog, so I have awesome reading material, and incredible DIY inspiration!

    Reply

  33. Bethie says

    CONGRATS! I’ve been reading for nearly four years now and look forward to it every day! Thanks for the candidness and thank you THANK YOU for not selling out like so many of my other favorite blogs have done.

    As for me, I never imagined I would get a chance to realize my dream of living abroad in London with my husband and baby girl while continuing an international singing career. Life is crazy good!

    Reply

  34. Allie says

    Congratulations on 5 years! My hubby and i are getting ready to buy our first house and having just discovered you all recently, i have been devouring page after page of your awesome-tacular-riffic work of love. Thank you so much for being an amazing example of light and love to everyone out there. You all brighten up my day and make me beyond excited to make this house my home!! Yay!!

    Reply

  35. hollie says

    I AM NOT A BLOGGER OR A FACEBOOK PERSON – YOU GUYS ARE THE ONLY BLOG/FACEBOOK THING I DO AND I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!
    THANKS FOR BEING MY ONE AND ONLY DAILY DOSE!!!!

    CONGRATS!!!!!

    Reply

  36. Samantha says

    Did I miss something earlier on or are your trying to sneak in the bit about a TWO BOOK deal?! TWO YHL books….YESSSSSSSS (fist pump, chest bump)!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, we’re kind of quiet about it since it freaks us out to have another one in the hopper. Haha. Just hoping we can catch our breath after the first one for a little while and we’ll probably be a lot more excited to dive into all of those details!

      xo
      s

  37. Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says

    Holy jalapenos you’ve come far. You guys are so humble too. For instance, I did not know that you were on the Forbes’ list which is awesome. If I got on this list I would have been like “Michael rent me one of them helicopters so I can paper bomb the town with letter announcements that I throw out of the open door.” Cause I’m classy… No but seriously, you guys have been in our lives virtually through 2 houses and now are helping us through our new 1st one. You know how they say people now go to YouTube first to find new music before going anywhere else like billboard.com? I come to this page first before lowes or hd or hgtv or diynetwork.com because you guys are just that good and the trust lies here ya know? Sniffle…okay I gotta go.

    My best, Lynn

    Reply

    • Becky S. says

      I do the same thing, Lynn! My hubby and I had to buy a new refrigerator and I checked to see what John and Sherry did before we even went shopping. And it was a (happy) coincidence (or “coinky-doinky, according to Teresa on RHONJ) that we ended up with the same one! I honestly felt reassured that we had made the right decision..if it works for YHL, it must be good!!

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think that was the biggest thing for me. That blew my mind. I don’t think I made coherent sentences. I called my mom and said “sending link, forbes, crazy, emailed it to you” and hung up. Hahaha.

      xo
      s

  39. braelin says

    Happy Blogiversary! I’ve been reading since 2008 (I think)- but wait, I missed how you won a blog contest and dressed up like royalty… what contest was that??

    Reply

  40. Ang says

    Wowza. How amazing!!

    CONGRATULATIONS! Can’t wait to see where the next 5 years takes you! –your own show, perhaps? ;) I think yes…

    Reply

  41. Liz H says

    Congratulations on your blogiversary! I’ve been following you guys for about 2 years, and what you guys have done here is awesome! Anxiously awaiting for your book to arrive on my door step from Amazon. Thanks for all your hard work and inspiring all your readers, and showing us it is possible to create our very own little dream home! Cheers to you both and great wishes for many more!

    Reply

  42. uzma says

    Not very active in commenting but i dont miss a single day to b on your blog………….. love love love love love your blog and you all ……….. A Heartly congratssssss on this big day :) , stay blessed

    Reply

  43. Dharini says

    De-lurking for the first time after being around for a couple of yrs! Woah! Congratulations!
    We bought out first home last year, and you guys are my go-to guys for anything we want to do around our home!! Looking forward to many more such happy years! :)

    Reply

  44. joanne moy mcintyre says

    Happy 5 years!!! Cheers to many more! I enjoy reading this blog soo much :)
    Excited to find out that Sherry and I are both FIT alum!

    Reply

  45. candace says

    Cheers to many more years of success, it’s well deserved! You work extremely hard and I always love stopping in for my daily YHL inspiration! Congrats on the big 5!!!

    Reply

  47. heyruthie says

    LOVED the timeline….esp. since I feel like I’ve “been” there with y’all for a lot of the fun–amazing! Raise your hand if your remember (the rudely dismissed, but I’m not going there…) “This Young House!” I do! I do!!

    Reply

  50. Suzie says

    I have been with you guys since you were ‘This Young House.’ What I love about you both is that you have not changed as your blog has grown. You have not let it go to your head, like many bloggers have. You take the time to actually read and participate in your readers’ comments/conversations and don’t take yourselves too seriously. You respond well to criticism…even the nasty stuff…with such class. I respect you both so much as bloggers, husband/wife combo, parents, and just as people in general. Keep up the great work! Wishing you many more years of success!!…and more cute babies, too! :o)

    Reply

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