Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Any Given Day

Can you believe it has already been almost five months since we shared a house tour with you guys? So I decided to walk around with the Flip cam and show you how each room can look on an average day (since we had lots of fun with a no-cleaning-first tour back in April). And yes, this is the real deal. I didn’t pick up a thing (as demonstrated by my embarrassing bra on the chair in our bedroom, so just pretend you didn’t see that, ok?). Oh and for those of you who are at work, you can watch it on mute and pretty much get the gist of the average everyday glory. Or just try to read my lips (just kidding, I’m not on camera).

Things to note:

  • I taped this before ORBing the daylights out of the hardware on the front door and the sliding doors, which is why it’s still brassy (it always takes me a few days to remember to upload videos)
  • I’m terrible at walking around, talking, and holding a camera (it’s too much multitasking, so pardon the Blair Witch Project-ness)
  • I’ve listened to this five times trying to hear Natalie Portman or Mila Kunis (since you guys say you hear it) and I can’t. I really tried though.
  • I have no idea why I take time to point out that we have a Ruby Tuesday’s coupon on our desk. It’s so weird what you think is noteworthy.
  • I should have paused to turn the ironing board so it points up during the video, thereby resnagging the win in Ironing Board Wars on camera (more on that here).
  • Burger is so cute. I love how he’s just chilling under the covers. Life’s good when you’re a nine pound chihuahua.
  • Sorry I’m almost completely inaudible for the second half of the video. Sleeping baby = paranoid whispering mom (which is ironic because we hammer while she naps – just not right outside her door).
  • You can see that I still have yet to rehang the ribbon chandelier from Clara’s closet that I took down to paint and stencil the closet (it’s in a pile in our disaster of a playroom).
  • Yes, it sounds like there’s a waterfall in Clara’s room. It’s her sound machine (mentioned here) which drowns out things like DIY projects and our barky dog.
  • I like how I completely forgot an entire room (the sunroom) and galloped back through the house to show you things like squished pillows and a blow-up whale pool.
  • The rocker in the sunroom really is trying to kill me (remember when I talked about it waaay back here in November – um yeah, not much progress)
  • My dramatic ending on Clara’s stuffed animal is beyond weird (yes, we named her Georgia because she’s from there). What is wrong with me?

What about you guys. What would people see if you randomly made a shaky nausea-inducing video of your house before picking up a single thing? Anything embarrassing out there like a Carebear night light in the bedroom or an NKOTB poster in the closet? John actually had a Britney Spears calendar when I met him in 2004. Not lying. And she was wearing things like red leather bodysuits and braided pigtails. What can I say, my man has good taste.

Speaking of which, I was just going through old folders on my laptop and I found a bunch of funny old pics that I thought I’d share in the spirit of “any given day.” Here’s me and Alicia Keys back in 2005. We’re old friends. Just kidding, but I did get to meet a bunch of celebs when I used to work in advertising back in NYC (and they were all super nice except for one “star” who is rumored to be not nice – and let me tell you the rumor is true).

Me Alicia

Here’s John’s passport pic from when he was 16 next to the one snapped when he was 24. Aw, Johnny’s all grown up.

John Passport

Here’s John as a life-sized doll back in 2005 when we worked together (we met at an ad agency named Lowe where I was a copywriter and John was an account guy – aka: a suck up). The entire office cracked up about this project (it was for a certain deodorant client of ours). I definitely prefer John The Doll to the smarmy Ken doll that I had growing up.

John Doll

Aw, here’s our engagement announcement photo (that we emailed to a bunch of friends and family, hence the photoshopped writing) from 2006. It was snapped about a minute after John got down on one knee at the top of a mountain (more on that here). Best day ever. Well, top five at least.

Engagementpic

So how’s that for Friday randomness? What odd old photos are sitting around on your computer? Would you ever have guessed where you’d be today five years ago? We had no idea we wouldn’t both still be working in advertising (we really liked it and miss it all the time!) and after six years of calling NYC home, I never thought I’d leave. So funny how things work out.

Psst- Check out our first ever messy house tour here (it’s fun to see how many rooms have changed since April when we filmed it).

Comments

  1. Michelle @ Ten June says

    Awww we have the same engagement story! On a hike, top of a mountain, two big rocks. Except for instead of being a big nerd like Sherry and doing jumping jacks while being proposed to, I was the big nerd elbow deep in a bag of “dog chow” trail mix… you know, the kind coated with powdered sugar (that was all over my face)? We’re so cool, right?!

    Reply

  2. Janelle says

    Your home looks lovely! You can tell people live there & that’s normal. I get a kick out of Burger under the covers. Adorable!

    Also, I think that your voice is completely half-Natalie (in her Garden State days. Love that movie!) & half-Mila.

    Reply

  3. Maggie Rose says

    Ha, I recently filmed a tour of our new apartment (with basically no stuff in it) and took two takes. In one (that didn’t make the cut) I felt the need to point out the toilet, then felt sheepish about it, tried to laugh it off, and made it worse. It was something like, “Here’s the, um, toilet… yay!”

    You can watch the better version of my (tiny) video here. http://www.maggieroseonline.com/2011/08/09/new-apartment-tour/ Still learning how it works!

    Reply

  4. Cat says

    Hi,

    I love your blog! We have a newly mobile 8 month old, and I would be really interested in a post about how you baby proofed your home. Especially how/if you tethered furniture to the walls!

    Thanks,
    Cat

    Reply

  6. Jordan says

    That stroller in the sunroom looks different from the one you used to have for Clara. I’m curious about what type it is and whether or not you like it. I had the same type as your first stroller and we are having trouble with the front wheels. Did you ever have problems with it, or did she just outgrow it and you needed another one?

    Thanks!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s a jogging stroller since John clocks around 15 miles a week with Clara in the early morning. He couldn’t jog with the Joovy, but we still use it all the time. No wheel issues or anything. Sorry you’re having those!

      xo,
      s

  8. Melissa says

    ok, out of everything in this whole post, the most attention-grabbing was who your voice sounds like. You’re TOTALLY a perfect mix of Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis! How did I never notice that before?!

    Reply

  9. Courtney says

    Didn’t you guys do a teaser on Monday regarding lots of projects happening in multiple locations of the house (all at once)? Any update on what we can expect next week?!?!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just mentioned having stuff in Clara’s room, the office, living room, and the dining room going on and we shared it all (painted door, hardware makeover, Clara’s room rearranged, our office floor-planning) so we’ll probably continue with office stuff and maybe more outside stuff and perhaps I’ll tackle the rocker? We just keep you guys posted in real-time and bounce all over the place depending on our mood. So we’re not doing secret projects or anything. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  10. Whitney says

    So weird. I just had a job interview and they asked me where I saw myself in 5 years and I completly went blank. I really don’t know. 5 years ago I wouldn’t think I would be where I am today so I’m excited to see where I’ll be.

    Reply

  11. Windy says

    Great video-Nice heads up for John not to come out of the shower (mind wanders…okay,I gotta mini-i- promise-I’m-not-psycho-blog-crush on John and you, who could blame me?)By the way, I loved the new paint color on your door so much that I painted my door the exact same shade yesterday…although mine was a fail, just looks off. On to the next color, thanks for the inspiration though!

    Reply

  12. Carrie says

    I really enjoy the “normal” house tours.

    Now that you have a mobile child and are both blogging etc etc i would love a DAY-IN-THE-LIFE post.

    ps I want to hate you bc you guys are so stinkin cute and you get to fix up your house for a living….but then you post pics of you and alicia keys and have your bra on your chair and i just CANT do it, i tell ya!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, we’re hoping to share a day in the life post for our blogiversary! Every day is different but there’s always a baby, a project or two, 200-ish comment questions to answer, pics to take/edit, giveaways and sponsors to coordinate/manage, and thousands of words to write. Just because we’re known to ramble. Haha. We also have book stuff to do and a regular column for Do It Yourself magazine along with a weekly BabyCenter post so we really are all over the place!

      xo,
      s

    • annabelvita says

      Maybe you could do a day in the life by john on one day and a day in the life by sherry on the other so we get to see two different days from two perspectives.

  15. Jenna says

    thanks for sharing! the house looks so good – much different than your first, which i also love! i really want a yellow door now too, never would have thought about it on our red brick/white siding ranch until seeing yours. i was wondering, do you ever have the same thoughts about your first house that katie b. has?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’re so different when it comes to that (which is funny because we’re so similar in other ways). I’m not really a “past looked backer.” I love our first house and definitely have tons of awesome memories, but the second we got the keys and started working on this one we were so in the moment with that – and so enamored with our new baby- er, house. Haha. I wonder if it’s because the neighborhood and house shape are similar in our case, so it’s not as jarring of a switch. We definitely love our first house, but we love this one too!

      xo,
      s

  16. Crista says

    Sherry,
    Just had a thought during your house tour. You know what would look lovely on the wall inside your closet between each side? A nice photo of you both together….a nice black and white or wedding photo….just a thought might be nice.

    Reply

  17. Lauren says

    I must have missed your engagement post the first time around– my husband proposed to me at the top of Old Rag too! I hardly even remember the long walk back to the bottom…I was so excited!

    Reply

  18. Lisa in Seattle says

    Ummmm, Sherry? You’re not actually standing around in your bra with Alicia Keyes, are you? Tell me that’s a super-cute camisole or something? =)

    On Any Given Day in our house you’ll see reams of the Amazing Multiplying Printouts of Decor Items, books that don’t have any shelf space left to occupy, and 30,000 ferret toys.

    Reply

  19. Kate says

    I have been reading your blog daily for over a year and find you and your family to be adorable and very down to earth. But this video is the most endearing thing ever! LOVE.

    Reply

  22. Wendy says

    I love that on an average day, your house does not look as perfect as it does in the pictures. Makes me feel better about mine. It never ceases to amaze me how much of a mess someone so little can make. Our daughter has become very mobile the past month or so and it seems like I’m finding her toys in the most random spots. She’s also started to pull our books out of the bookcase, so be glad Clara isn’t doing that yet!

    Reply

  24. Funnelcloud Rachel says

    Yay for messy! So in the interest of randomness and messiness, I have to confess that I had a dream about you guys a couple days ago. You had invited me over to visit and check out your house and I was texting a friend of mine (who also reads YHL) to tell her where I was going. Anyway, when I got to your house, there was crinkled up Christmas wrapping paper all over the floor! In the dream I remember being relieved that you guys were normal, messy people, too! Ha!

    Reply

  25. Tamara says

    Love the tour! I also love the layout of your house! Just curious as to where you got the mirror in the living room from…. I am looking for one very similar for our entrance way but I’m not sure whether I should buy a one with a black finish or a white finish. Our foyer table is dark espresso coloured so I don’t want to make it look dark or too “matchy”. However it’s hard to find a nice one in a white finish…. hmm….

    Reply

  26. Ashley says

    Random, unrelated-to-your-video comment: I’m anxious for autumn (as always) and I just had an excited thought about how perfect it will be to ORB decorative stuff for Halloween/autumn/Thanksgiving…like the gourds you spray painted white. ORB is the new white. :)

    Reply

  27. Maureen says

    I love that you show up these things. It is so easy to get overwhelmed when you are doing projects throughout the house and to see that someone else has stuff laying around the house that needs to be taken care of is a nice comfort.

    Reply

  28. Anne @strawberryjampackedlife says

    Glad to know that you have clutter, too!! My husband is a neat freak and I feel so bad when I have junk lying around. Especially the dining room table. Right now it’s covered in wedding pictures and picture frames. Guess what I’m doing this weekend?

    Reply

  30. B says

    Hey Sherry, I don’t think your voice sounds like those actresses either. However I do love how it changes when you talk to your furry child Burger. I know mine changes when I talk to my furry children. Doesn’t everyone’s?

    Reply

  31. Kelly says

    I thought you sounded like yourself until I read that others thought you sounded like Natalie Portman. Now, I hear it too. Haha!

    Loved the house tour (and random pics), thanks for showing it “as is.” We all have our unkept days. No need to be perfect 100% of the time. My life is in boxes right now, so it’s crazy!

    Happy Day to you both!

    :-)

    Reply

  32. DONNA says

    So happy to see ”the lived in version” of YHL! BTW…Sherry, you haven’t changed a bit since 2005! John…on the other hand…!

    Reply

  33. Susan says

    Loved the video, I actually had to watch it to figure out who you are today. Your account in my reader is coming up “suspended” instead of the usual Young House info :]

    Reply

  34. Karen F says

    I can’t explain why, but watching this made me feel so much better about the state my house is usually (and currently) in!

    thanks for the behind the scenes tour! :)

    Reply

  35. Elizabeth says

    I scrolled through the comments and didn’t see an answer to this… Is the shirt you have on in the picture with Alicia Keys brown with a pink underlay? It looks identical to a shirt I once had {circa 2005} from Express.

    Reply

  36. Paige says

    I love the house tour – even the weird stuff! As a new Mom there are days when my house is a mess…so it’s great to see/hear other mommies with messy houses too :)

    Reply

  37. Jenny says

    Love these. It is great to see your whole house, and hear your voice talking about it! I do totally hear Mila Kunis in your voice, by the way…just a bit.

    Can you tell us a bit more about the bubble machine (I think that is what you said) in the bath? Our kids would LOVE that!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That was a gift from Will Bower (Clara’s baby boyfriend). I think Katie got it on amazon.com or diapers.com? I think it’s made by Garanimals if that helps.

      xo,
      s

  38. Jenn Pruden says

    Hi Sherry!

    I am an avid follower but have never commented..shy I guess :) But when I read below in your house tour that you’ve tried to listen for Natalie Portman I had to pipe up! The very first video I ever watched on your site was of you staining your console and I was like ” holy cow, she is Natalie Portman’s voice twin!!” You sound exactly like her!!

    Love your site! I have an arsenal of ideas for when we buy our first home thanks to you two :)

    Jenn ( Victoria, BC)

    Reply

  39. James says

    I was trying to be incognito at work watching this till the Ruby Tuesday coupon, I just had to blurt out (almost yell cause of the headphones) “I HAVE THE SAME COUPON!!!” <– on the DL Fail..

    Reply

  40. Kaitlin says

    omg you do sound JUST like Natalie!! That’s a compliment if you ask me! I always thought she (and now you too I guess) had the nicest voice. Anyway love all the old photos! Great post!

    Reply

  41. Katie M says

    Thanks so much for sharing video of your “lived in” home! My mom keeps a perfect house, always has, even with 4 kids! She knows it’s a sickness…ha ha, j/k. But growing up with that I feel like my house is a complete disaster all the time. It’s nice to know I’m actually normal. :)

    Reply

  42. heather says

    My husband wants to visit Colonial Williamsburg in VA and all I can think is, “I want to visit a Hobby Lobby”. I never even heard of them before this blog – but seeing all the incredible things you get from there I think me + hobby lobby would equal a vacation affair.

    Reply

  43. Krystle @ ColorTransformedFamily says

    I love the video. It’s so nice to see people who actually live in their house. Although I have to admit it scares me a little to see how Clara likes to play in all rooms of the house. We have a little one due in Nov. and now I can only imagine what she will do to our place. Oh, well!

    Reply

  44. alicia says

    so jealous!! alicia keys is my favorite (and we share a first name, obv)…we danced to one of her songs for our first dance at our wedding :)

    Reply

  46. Vickie says

    Ok, I haven’t even watched the video yet but am sitting here laughing out loud at your “Things to note” section! (My 10 year old dtr is looking at me like I’m strange – imagine that!)I just came from a serious blog discussing my “mother issues” to yours. Thanks for the laugh! Now I’ll enjoy the video!

    Reply

  47. Rachel says

    First of all- addicted to your blog (I get excited when there are more than one update in a day)- it’s like the lottery for me!!

    Love your house! And- you totally sound like Natalie Portman!!

    Reply

  48. Emily says

    I was cracking up the entire time I read this post. I love going through old photos so much that it often takes me away from my current project for hours. That’s right…hours. I’m not ashamed – I have some really fun memories in photo form!

    Have a great weekend!

    Emily

    Reply

  49. Erin Machado says

    I never noticed it myself, but now that you mention it, I totally hear Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman!!! And I take offense to an NKOTB poster being something embarrassing. I’d display one proudly! (If only my husband would let me…)

    Reply

  50. Jackie says

    This is such a cool post! I especially loved John’s passport pics…lol. Even though he’s aged, he still looks exactly the same, don’t you think? And looking young is always a good thing, right? hehe. You guys are such a cute team! xo

    Reply

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