Young House Love

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August Superlatives: Accidents & Fish Baskets

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! That means that both summer and the month of August are coming to a close. Let’s all shed a communal tear. But before we mentally check out for the long weekend, it always helps us keep the ol’ momentum up by taking an appreciative look back on all of our happenings from last month (along with some bonus never-before-seen stuff). It definitely inspires us to keep plugging away, plus it makes browsing our archives a lot easier (you can read back through January of 2011 right here in just 19 posts instead of 665). Woot! And below you’ll also find a hint about Monday’s giveaway, so feel free to guess away at what that might be…

Most Redeemed: Me, after Sherry’s little accident with the lamp made me feel a little less bad about my tendency to break things around here (a certain ceramic dog comes to mind).

Lamp Broken 1

Mood-iest: This mood board Sherry created to start planning what items would eventually go on our deck. There’s still some work to do, but I think we got off to a good start.

Deck Mood Board

Freshest: Taking a trip to Ikea to check out all of their new stuff now that the 2013 catalog is out. And based on the comments, we’re not the only ones to have drooled over their crop of new chairs. Might wanna wipe those seats before you sit down…

Ikea Hoosten 89 Stors 119

Most Painful: The fall I took while starting to put down deck boards. Fortunately the big marks I got across my back and inner thigh from smacking them on some joists are now gone.

Decking 13 John My Back

Least Musical: Sherry, after she managed to butcher The Brady Bunch theme song into a post about framing art around our house. Let’s hope none of the Bradys read our blog.

Art Update8

Most Blushy: Us, after the incredible response we got from you guys when we officially announced that our book is available for pre-order (and shared a little behind-the-scenes story about the cover). Seriously amazing. We’re so grateful and so excited to tell you more about it soon!

Front Back

Most Organized: My side of the closet, now that Sherry upgraded me from a few woven baskets to these sleek white bins from Ikea.

Superlatives Baskets

Most Athletic: A bunch of you guys. I was so excited to see how many of you revealed yourselves as runners (whether casually or of the more expert variety) in this post about why I’m a runner.

Running Monument 10K 20062

Most Fun You Can Have With A Circular Saw: Finally finishing the deck boards. There was something so satisfying about ripping through a bunch of boards knowing that it put me that much closer to calling the deck done-zo.

Decking 7 Cutting

Comfiest: This new chair that we snagged for the corner of our kitchen. It sure beats the old too-small one that had been sitting there since we moved in and plopped it down.

Chair Ottoman1

Longest: Our house to-do list, which we updated for you this month. There’s definitely more crossed off, but there’s still lots to do… like tackle the third bedroom (which looks a heckova lot more chaotic than this pic, because it’s now full of secret book projects that we’re saving for a charity auction this fall).

Playroom Prog

Most Improved: The mirror situation in our kitchen. We didn’t realize how small the existing one looked until we replaced it with this larger spare from our guest bedroom.

Mirror After Far

Best Deal: This $295 outdoor lantern that we scored for $19 and hung in our carport so that our too-tiny light could finally get the boot.

Carport Light15

Most Likely To Get Vertigo: Anyone afraid of heights (like my sweet wife) who crossed the bridge on the High Bridge Trail near Farmville, VA (she felt much better by the time we shopped the huge furniture outlet nearby).

High Bridge Bridge

Most Fascinating: Learning the origin of the basket that we used to make this new DIY light fixture in our kitchen. Apparently they’re used to catch fish – just check out this Flickr photo to see it in action.

Basket Light 28

Most Egg-sessive: Sherry, at least when it comes to egg chairs – hence this post with an egg-tastic update, including egg chairs for Clara’s dollhouse (gotta start ’em early!).

Egg Chair1

Most Versatile: These $5 tulips that Sherry had fun reimagining a trio of times.

Superlatives Tulips Three Ways

The “Goliath” Award: The finally completed deck, which this “David” finally knocked out after ten sun-drenched, sawdust filled weeks of figuring out what the heck I was doing. But unlike the classic story, I’m getting pretty friendly with this giant.

Deck 13 John Kissing

Most Well Traveled: Us, although only in the sense that we sure do get around when it comes to hitting up thrift stores in Richmond. Here’s a recap of our six-store tour of the River City’s thriftiest spots.

Orange Book

Most Moroccan: This cool little side table that we found a thrift store (we especially loved hearing everyone’s ideas for what they’d do to him).

Mor Table 4

Wordiest: This award could probably go to us for every post we write, but this month we’re giving it to the text-y art hack that Sherry performed on the painting in our dining room.

Love Art9

Most Delayed Gratification: Using this teak oil on our new deck chairs (along with polying our table) to help prevent them from getting damanged over time. Sure felt like lots of rubbing for little results… for now – but we hope it’ll add up to less work on the back end.

Furn Prep8

Most Likely To Include A Gratuitous Burger Shot: This little mantra that we shared in this post about how we decide what to post about.

Blog Like No One Is Watching

Future Fashionista: Clara (who actually insisted that she bring her purse to Home Depot yesterday). And here’s where we spilled the beans on where and how we buy clothes for our little lady.

Old Navy Dress

Most Chillaxed: Burger, who’s already testing out several relaxation spots on the freshly furnished deck.

Deck Furn8

Most Likely To Result In Underwear Chatter: This post about how the wife whipped up a “so so shiny hoop” for the bean. Leave it to Sherry to bring underwear into it…

Basketball Clara Playing

Most Cryptic: This visual hint for Monday’s giveaway. Let’s just say there are three distinct clues in this image…

Superlatives Giveaway

How did August look for you? Did you get any major projects completed? Make any particularly fruitful shopping trips? Or did you just enjoy the last few weeks before the kids went back to school to their fullest? Can’t believe our little one goes off to preschool for two mornings a week in a few short weeks. Sniffle.

Comments

  4. Wendy says

    Thanks for your monthly wrap up. I enjoy reading your superlative post as much as I enjoy following along the month preceding it. You sure have been busy!

    August has been hectic in our house too. On a whim, I decided we needed to paint our kitchen and sun porch (thanks to a great rug scored on clearance from Home Goods). The paint looked so great, that I had an idea to replace the counters, add a backsplash, and build a wine bar. The wine bar is nearly done – http://www.oldtownhome.com/2012/8/30/Completing-Our-Wine-Bar-In-Spite-of-IKEAs-Slow-Shipping/index.aspx – and work should be wrapping up on the other items in the next couple weeks. It’s turning out to be the most expensive “clearance” rug ever. :-)

    Reply

  5. Christie says

    Oh my gosh! Clara is going to start pre-school?!?!? Where did the time go? I know you guys are going to miss your little lady on those days.

    Reply

  11. Stephanie says

    I am so incredibly stumped by that clue. I’m not sure if my brain just isn’t functioning anymore or if you guys are really good at cryptic clues.

    Also… I did nothing this month. Oops. :)

    Reply

  14. Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says

    I always am surprised by your superlative posts! It’s like hey, where’d the month go already? It tomorrow really September?!?

    August was awesome for us! We finally got rolling on our deck, are nearly finished with our bedroom makeover, and had our second ever giveaway today!

    Reply

  16. Sarah says

    Thanks to all the inspiration you guys serve up with all your DIY, I’m finally tackling stripping and refinishing our coffee table. Only took six years to “get on that”! Yikes!

    Reply

  18. emily says

    I’m guessing pop art something for the giveaway, when I lived in the UK we called soda ‘pop’ and the canvas makes me think art :)

    Reply

  20. Julia @ Chris Loves Julia says

    Shoot. I am stumped on that last photo. Hmmmm.

    You have had an incredibly busy month! My favorite project of yours this month has definitely been your sitting area in the kitchen. Especially since I never thought twice about it needing anything else. We have been busy in our living room this month. We painted it a dark almost-black charcoal navy

    http://www.chrislovesjulia.com/2012/08/our-new-darker-digs-using-kwals-crave.html

    …and now we are having fun adding a rug and some new furniture.

    Reply

  26. Hanna says

    Awesome month!!!The deck, the deck!!! Amazing work!!!

    I am guessing… it is a giveaway for art that is created by spraying purple soda on a rug? :P Okay, maybe not. I’ll keep thinking.

    Reply

  28. Leigh says

    Thanks for the reminder to preorder the book. My brother’s girlfriend and I are giving it to each other for Christmas now that she helped me find you.

    Reply

  29. Christina says

    I used your “no sew curtain” tutorial and made a sheer curtain to hang in our kitchen. My husband hung up some new lighting as well. The curtain hides our ugly blinds enough to make them look better and lightens up the whole kitchen. It also brings out the new lighting. Super satisfied with the tiny little kitchen now…until we get a dishwasher anyway! Maybe one day!

    Reply

  32. Crystal @ 29 Rue House says

    Such a busy month! I can’t wait to do my recap – always makes me feel accomplished when I don’t feel accomplished at all.

    Little kids carrying stuff around is soo cute! One time a lady thought that Ruby was carrying MY purse but it was her purse she was carrying and I didn’t even have one.

    Preschool already?? It goes so fast! Ruby’s going to be starting dance classes soon and I’m so excited!

    Reply

  34. Heidi says

    What a great idea to hold a charity auction with those book project items! Who will be the beneficiary of the event?

    Reply

  35. Megan says

    John & Sherry, I am doing a pass it on project with some blogger friends. I really loved the “…blog like no one is watching”. I wanted to create something for my blogger friends that had this quote on it. Wanted to check in with you and make sure that would be a-okay. Thanks!

    Reply

  36. Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says

    I’m always amazed by how much you guys get done! When do you sleep?! I checked 6 of 9 things off my list this month (and added another project to the original list) but none of those included building a massive deck haha

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha we always joke we’ll sleep next year. Thank goodness for late nights- its when we get everything done. Haha. And 6 out of 9 things is awesome by the way! Congrats!

      xo,
      s

  37. Karen L. says

    Hey, per your inspiration, yesterday I finally did a “bigger” spray paint project (for me anyway) by taking an old, tired-looking white wicker side table and painting it a warm brown to go with other black and brown things on our screen porch! I love it and now have the “courage” to tackle a large wicker chair for our guest room—-now to decide what color it should be–ha! :) Thanks again for the inspiration, y’all!

    Reply

  38. Ally says

    Hmmm…those 3 clues are verrry cryptic…

    *puts thinking cap on*

    J-Boom is going to screen-print his very own line of soda pop T-Shirts, spill the pop on the carpet, and then give one of his “originals” away? :)

    Happy Labour Day, All!

    xox

    Reply

  39. Jenny says

    Sure felt like lots of rubbing for little results… for now – but we hope it’ll add up to less work on the back end.

    Oh dear…

    Reply

  40. Sarah says

    Im so curious about mondays giveaway… the clues made me think of four pops of art from urban outfitters. Or four hundred bangos to spend there? Either way sounds good to me! Haha love your work!

    Reply

  41. Rosa says

    So I loved your post about the table and thought to myself “wow they really have an eye out for great stuff at deep discounts.” Then a few days later, I was reading the Better Homes and Garden magazine and saw a very similar table that was painted a beautiful orange with gold accents. It was highlighted in the article as a must have accent to a moroccan inspired room at $550!!!!!

    So that just confirmed that you guys do have an eye for great finds at discounted prices! I just love it and learn so much from you guys. I’ve really enjoyed your blog and have already pre-ordered your book. I’m so excited!

    Keep up the great work!

    Reply

  42. Lindsay says

    I just pre-ordered the book (thanks for the reminder!) and it says “Estimated Delivery Date November 7, 2012”! ACK — how exciting is that?!?

    Reply

  43. Susanna B. says

    I cannot stop reading your blog! It is so addictive. All the projects and good ideas that you come up with all the time is just amazing. You are my daily “everything home” inspiration. Have a great long weekend.

    Reply

  44. Heidi P. says

    Totally stumped about the giveaway. John likes soda shirts… Sherry makes canvas art… and you both like geometric shapes… Yup, no idea.

    My family was in town for a few days. We went from 2 in the house to 7! So I put my dad and brother to work! We put together some Ikea chairs, took down my rotting and broken wood fence, built a vinyl fence, installed 2 light fixtures, fixed my fridge, made a 3rd light fixture that I have yet to hang (it’s your clothes pin pendant, to go in my entry way – yay for 3 less boob lights in the house!), and got some lawyer documents all signed and finalized. Whenever I get around to blogging about it all, I’ll send a link :).

    Reply

  45. maribel says

    You two are pretty good about getting things done while Clara is sleeping or trading off on “clara duty”. Now that she will be gone six hours a week do you anticipate getting more done or stay on the same speed.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      The book will be coming out this fall so we have lots of stuff to fill those six hours with (we have lots of requirments like signing them in advance, doing interviews, organizing a book website and charity auction, etc – and then we have our tour). We both think we’ll be crazy busy this fall so those six hours of preschool will be awesome for that. Just gotta get used to the idea of missing her those two mornings :(

      xo,
      s

    • Kathy says

      You’ll feel empty-nest for sure, but like you said, lots to fill that time for you both and for her. Didn’t she and you get some practice with Grandma taking her every Wed for a few hours?

  47. Koliti says

    Love that Sherry’s cure for “high-bridge-vertigo” is
    “Honey, if you take me shopping, I’ll feel so much better” –
    so that’s what they mean by discount-shopping therapy!

    Let’s see…clues about Monday’s give-a-way…good way to keep the brain active…1 wood-frame canvas…4 aluminum (pop or sparkling water) cans…on a rug (is this an item or just the background?)…hmmm

    Ok, my guess is – Wood (would) you like 4 pieces of recycled pop art and a refreshing beverage to enjoy on your new free rug.

    Reply

  48. susan says

    So fun to see that to-do list shrinking…or at least changing, LOL.

    I had the annual Coalition of Children and Families board retreat at my house this year( a citizens board that helps out with funding for local programs that aid our low income peeps).

    Nothing like hosting 16 people for food/drinks/community action to kick one’s kiester in gear. I’ve done the fall cleaning, and we got to all those little projects that we always say we will get to, but never seem to really FINISH.

    This weekend we are building a pond! We are also going on a moonlight canoe trip in Bend. A company here has a trip with a guide, and a party with a bonfire/treats afterward. So fun!

    Hmmmma bout that Monday post. 4cans/pop…canvas…maybe a canvas pop-art give away? HMMMMMM…

    Reply

  49. Sarah says

    Hmmm… pop art rugs?

    You’ve inspired me to start a monthly round up of what we’ve accomplished over the last month!

    P.S. Sherry, I found a ceramic dinosaur planter on Red Envelope that you might drool over. It’s a blue T-rex (there was also a green Brontosaurus) who will hang out in our guest bedroom once it’s done.

    Reply

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