It’s that time again! When we take a moment to look back on all that we’ve done in the past month at a glance (and gather all the links in one handy place for ya). And of course we tossed in some never-before-seen stuff, just because we’re over-sharers. This month felt especially busy for us, with everything from painting, organizing, building, rearranging, crafting, art-making, upholstering, light-fixture-ing, coding, ORBing (yes, it’s a category of its own), and breaking stuff. So let’s take a walk down memory lane, with yearbook-esque superlatives, because we’re strange birds.
Most Illuminating: Clipping 320 clothespins in place to create our laundry room’s clothespin chandelier for our first ever Pinterest Challenge. Oh and you can scroll down to the bottom of the post to see over 500 (wowza!) other Pinterest Challenge projects submitted by you guys. So much good stuff. Gah.
Most Spoiled: Potato-stamping a fun little pattern inside Clara’s closet turned reading nook. Oh to be one again…
Most Likely To Win Mariah Carey’s Approval: This free butterfly art that I made out of a flier that I picked up on our trip to Natural Bridge, VA.
Most Likely To Win Carrie Bradshaw’s Approval: Adding shoe storage to our laundry room, courtesy of some Ikea recycling bins. Although Ms. Bradshaw would need about a hundred of them for all of her Manolos.
So Fresh & So Clean, Clean: Finishing our laundry room makeover. Woo hoo – one room down!
Most Likely To Be Committed For A Pillow Addiction: Me, as evidenced by these new striped pillows that I scored for $9 each at HomeGoods. And if making free art out of paint chips counts as treatment, then I’m on the road to recovery.
Clumsiest: John, who seems determined to break things lately, including this light fixture cover that fell while swapping out the fixture in our hallway.
Most Hard-Working: Our new Effecktiv storage unit from Ikea, which has the fun job of housing all of our files, printer, and miscellaneous office goodies. Oh the excitement.
Most Debonair: Dressing up said Effektiv unit with some black glass handles from Hobby Lobby Schlobby Bobby.
ORB of the Month: Giving our mailbox the oil-rubbed bronze treatment, along with completing a few other outdoor maintenance projects (which helped our yard look not quiiite as neglected – it’s still pretty bad though).
ORB of the Month (Runner Up): Several door handles, including the hardware on our front door, got a nice little face-lift.
Most Cheerful: Giving our front door the yellow paint treatment. It’s like our house is smiling at us whenever we come home.
Most Likely To Stockpile Swedish Things: Us, after our first trip to Ikea since John’s parents moved out of the area. Suddenly a trip there seems much more precious.
Worst Dressed: A video tour of our not-so-clean house (as well as some random old photos of us).
Most Likely To Get Worms: Creating a compost bin in the backyard using leftover shipping pallets. We’ve got some pretty sweet dirt going on.
Most Likely To Rock: The rocking chair that I FINALLY painted and reupholstered (after it sat around unfinished for almost a year).
Most Pictures In A Single Post: A visual comparison of our new house vs. our old house, which involved so many photos that it took down the site down for a good hour (ca-rashhh). Lesson learned.
Best “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day” Reminder: A look back at our first house, 8 months in, and how little we had accomplished in that time. Ah, memories.
Best Moves: Switching up Clara’s furniture arrangement to help solve a crib-in-front-of-vent situation.
Worst Moves: Rearranging the office furniture in preparation for its makeover, which turned out to be a not so good solution. At least now we’re on the right track.
The “Thrill Of The Hunt” Award: Searching high and low for the perfect cabinets to turn into a built-in office desk. With a dog and a baby in our shopping cart.
The “Ripley’s Petersik’s Believe It Or Not!” Award: Scoring six whole cabinets for six measly dollars at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Alexandria, VA (well, they were technically $6.30 with tax).
Most Destined For Greatness: Our office cabinets, which we sanded and primed to prep them for glossy white paint. So excited to get these babies done. We’ll share pics early next week if all goes well! And you can catch a sneak peek of me painting them over on Young House Life.
Most Likely To Be From New Jersey: Me, as demonstrated by my magnetic attraction to glittery pine-cones, which accompanied some simple leaf-y decorations that I made for my cousin Megan’s bridal shower. Oh yeah and I sorted M&Ms by color like a wackadoo.
Biggest Jerk: Hurricane Irene, who tore up our neighborhood. (Update: the tree was finally removed from our neighbor’s roof yesterday and they’re in good spirits but the house still needs a lot of repair. Thanks for keeping them in your thoughts)
Most Overdue: Redesigning our blog theme for the first time in over three years.
Here are a few not-it initial designs that we tried on and scrapped. So glad we went with the gray heart background and simplified the too-busy-header (too much change, too left-heavy with that pile of pics, and the ceramic frog felt less “iconic” than my beloved ceramic rhino):
Cutest Couple: Clara and her cousin John snuggled up post Hurricane Irene.
So there you have it. August at a glance. And yes, this was just as much fun as last months inaugural superlatives post. Dorks for life.
What have you guys been up to this month? Have you ever made a list of accomplishments to look back on? It’s so nice to take a break from adding things to our to-do list to look back on what we’ve already done. Just for a minute. True to form we were all over the place (nearly every room of our house got in on the fun). Let’s call it spreading the love (as opposed to lacking focus and bouncing off the walls), shall we?
Psst- You can check out July’s superlatives here.
Micha says
Those recaps are fantastic!
It’s amazing how much you get done with the constant distraction from the demands of both of your kids, answering comments, blogging, taking pictures and getting sucked into places like pinterest :o)
Zoe Feast says
You are a pair of busy bees!
In the last two month I have installed 10 drapery rods and hung 10 sets of curtains! Ooh and I also made YHL reader of the week.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha that’s right you did! Go Zoe!
xo,
s
Cheryl says
I think this is one of my favorite new additions to your post lineup. It’s amazing to see what you can accomplish in just one month!
kristen says
yay pictures are back!
YoungHouseLove says
Whee. So glad! Such a strange glitch, but glad it’s over.
xo,
s
Sherri says
Wow! Everything looks fabulous. My favorite part of the monthly wrap-up is the presentation of the awards & the humor & wit in that brain of yours. Your creativity is all over the place!!(That is meant in the most positive way, of course.) It’s fun being on this journey with you & I’ve drawn such inspiration from your blog. Thanks, Petersiks’!
Elizabeth says
I adore the picture of Clara in her new “reading nook” — I think something like that is very special for a child; I had a teacher that actually took one of those large construction garbage cans (new, obviously) and put a blanket and pillows in it, and called it “Hawaii”, and if you were a good kid, you got to sit in it to read for the class time. (Second grade). Does Clara go in there often?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha I love the idea of Hawaii. As for Clara, she does go in her closet a lot. Sometimes to read, sometimes to take things off shelves, and sometimes to admire her shoe collection. It’s hilarious!
xo,
s
Amanda says
Her shoe collection? Do we have a little Carrie Bradshaw on our hands?
YoungHouseLove says
Seriously! She gets hand me downs from her cousin Elsa and loves them more than toys!
xo,
s
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
I love the look backs!!! I actually have kept my original To-Do-List from 4 yrs ago when we bought our home. I love looking back at what we did and all the things that are checked off or things that we changed our minds on and crossed out. Then I LOVE to look at my pictures from when we bought the house and from year-to-year after that. We have come a long way in 4 years and we still have a little ways to go. Smaller projects, but still projects. It makes us feel good to see all that we have done to make it our home and not the previous owners house anymore. ;) Have a great weekend YHL!!!
Niki says
We should TOTALLY get to vote! Best ORB of the month was the door hardware! I completely went crazy over that post! I called my husband and told him to get ready for the madness because, while I am too cheap to buy new hardware for a house we’re trying to sell, I’m not to cheap to spray paint!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you’re right. Poor mailbox. Always a bridesmaid…
xo,
s
Amanda says
I agree actually. I was SHOCKED that you had the runner up as the hardware. It totally took the cake compared to the mailbox … no offense mailbox, but the hardware doesn’t have a nice squirrel to keep it company :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it’s true. Squirrellio will console him.
xo,
s
Teresa says
You guys def know how to rock a blog… When you post these, I am always scrolling through thinking “ohh, yea, I forgot about that!” And makes me really appreciaet your 2 post a day theme. Love it! :)
What I have accomplished in August? My dining room table is a perpetual mess of scrapbook paper (bunting banner) wax paper(faux capiz chandy) and picture frames (gallery wall)… and I finally primed my accent wall.. now if I could just get around to painting it!!
Kassie says
The hardware on your new file cabinets look just like the hardware on the cabinets you’re painting only a different color!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that funny??? So random!
xo,
s
Lara says
I LOVE your new monthly recaps! So cool to see the highlights of what you’ve done in a month (& in such a creative/funny way)! Thanks, guys.
I should do this myself next month (in just a boring list form)–maybe it would motivate me to get more done. (Sadly, with 3 young kids, I think it would be mostly full of laundy & housework, buuuut anything is something:)
YoungHouseLove says
Amen. Anything is something! I say do it! You’ll feel so good.
xo,
s
ann miller says
You two kids are the cutest ever. You are the reason I began reading decor blogs. Your sense of humor is charming. You remain down-to-earth and very humble through your success. You are a constant joy to read. I can tell how important your family and friends are to each of you. And I love each time you include Clara (that grin!) and Burger (he just kills me!) in your posts. It was the photo of Clara and her cousin John that finally prompted me to post a comment. Sweetest ever!! It is always fun to see what you are doing to your beautiful home. New theme is lovely. So glad you stayed safe from Irene :) Thinking of your neighbors and all who are cleaning up after her. Happy Labor Day Weekend.
Monica says
Whoa busy month! I’m liking these monthly superlatives list.
What happened to the horse are in your master bedroom? Did you change your mind about it? Will it reappear elsewhere?
YoungHouseLove says
Just click the link in that superlative for the details!
xo,
s
Alysia @The Queen of Scotts says
You guys make me smile. Sherry, you crack me up! Have a wonderful weekend!
Lauren Marie says
I love this post! It’s so amazing to look over everything you have done in only a month! You are such busy bees! :)
Paige says
I check my blog archives just to make sure I got everything, and in August I:
1. Introduced a fall collection in my jewelry shop.
2. Made a no-sew dress.
3. Went on a business trip for my day job (lame!).
4. Made a no-sew summer shirt.
5. And started the makeover we’re doing in our bathroom.
Whew!
YoungHouseLove says
Love it!! Everyone else feel free to list your accomplishments here! So much fun.
xo,
s
Patricia says
Are they IKEA recycling bins in the US? Cause they are meant for shoe storage in Sweden!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny! They’re called Retur recycling bins here!
xo,
s
Aryn@LivingonADimeorLess says
The pic of your neighbor’s house took my breath away. Unfortunately, I’ve seen alot of other destruction like that all over Richmond in the last few days. Sad.
The picture of Clara snuggling up with her cousin is just too stinkin’ cute for words! Adorable!!!
Wom-mom Ethne says
Best word usage: Wackadoo
Ashley says
I love your blog, I read it all the time!! Kudos to you both for mastering the art of decorating your home on a budget but still maintaining class and style!! The rest of us (my self included, as much as I hate to admit it) aren’t as creative and need some help when it comes to turning our homes from drab to fab!!! I would love to see what you would do with a small space! We rent, have two bedrooms, a VERY small kitchen with no storage… I could go on but I’m sure you catch the drift! Anyways! I have no idea what to do to solve problems like lack of storage, design in a small space and of course… Doing it all on a budget!!
Keep up the good work!!
YoungHouseLove says
We love small spaces! You might want to check out our first house (on the House Tour page and in our archives) since many rooms in there were 12×12′ or even smaller (Clara’s nursery was 9×10 and our kitchen was 11×12 along with our master bedroom). We tried to squeeze lots of function into rooms like our first kitchen (we went from an I shaped counter to a U-shaped one by closing off an extra doorway) and our office also doubled as a guest room and playroom. We also added built ins to our master to make up for lack of closet space. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Suzanne says
Sherry!!! Guess what?! You’ve inspired me to ORB. And in fact, I went pretty ORB crazy. I wrote about it and mentioned you in my review! I love love love love it! Thanks for turning me on to it :)
xo
Suzanne
You can read about it here:
http://annapolitanliving.blogspot.com/2011/09/hurricane-irene-marathon-diy-fun.html
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Welcome to the ORB club.
xo,
s
Captain Micah says
A NEW PANTRY!
Not that I’m a little excited or anything.
But we did multiply our food storage space by seven. Eek!
Shelves were installed this morning. Now just caulking and painting left. Headed to IKEA to get the shelf liners this very afternoon!
YoungHouseLove says
I understand that excitement. Sounds awesome.
xo,
s
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I love the new blog design!! So cute :) Y’all have been super busy in August.
Irene was so not cool. Our thoughts are with your neighbor.
Aarushi says
Hey guys,
First off, this is my first comment.. I have been following your blog for like months now and am totally addicted.. I am currently planning a kitchen and office makeover and just finished repainting my house :) So you guys are my big inspiration.. loved your post today.. lots done in a month. I so loved Clara’s pic with her cousin John.. They look shooo cuteee.. :) well wishing you guys a wonderful long weekend… and please keep posting.. looking forward to your office cabinets re-do post…
Take care..
Rachael says
Ok, so I am a somewhat newcomer to this blog, but I must say that I LOVE it! Last night I was even showing the hubs some of the awesome things you guys have done! Recently I have NOT gotten a lot done because I’ve been sick on and off for the last month (boo, it sucks). But, I do have some projects I’ll be tackling soon. I recently inherited a bedroom set from my grandparents. These dressers are HUGE, solid wood (pecan) and are stained a VERY dark stain. They also have some very ornate designs in the wood and even though my brain is just teeming with ideas, I honesly don’t know what to do with them. I’m at a total loss. Any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, you could paint just the top a glossy white like we did to Clara’s dresser. Or you could somehow accent the detailing by painting that so it pops. Maybe try uploading a picture on our Facebook page for ideas from other readers?
xo,
s
corissa says
i truly love the clothspin light. i will have to attempt to make that.
Greta @ How Was Your Day? says
WOW!! This is…amazing. I’m preparing to tackle a similar project next year and this has both inspired and exhausted me.
New follower, too.
Loi says
Seeing some of the other web design concepts makes me miss the old “young house love”font. I loooove the new site ( Especially the abstract background. Genius). I’m just thinking it would nicely bridge the new to old if you retained the font. It’s so ‘you guys’. My two cents!
YoungHouseLove says
We tried keeping it and thought it looked kind of off so we were psyched to do something new (after three years you’re just itching to tweak stuff, you know?) but who knows, maybe we’ll use it somehow down the line!
xo,
s
Emily says
While I actually haven’t ORBed anything yet. I did have a dream that I ORB’ed our washer and dryer last night. Then my husband got mad at me for wasting time redecorating the washer and dryer because they are in our garage and no one sees them.
It was so funny and random! And I totally blame YHL and all the ORBing for it ;)
YoungHouseLove says
1. Hilarious. 2. Now I want to ORB various appliances. Watch out world.
xo,
s
Sue Ryan says
Great recap! Love your Jersey flair! As a Jersey girl who has lived her adult life in Alaska, I appreciate your style.
Sarah says
Just a shout-out to let y’all know that Clara has the best facial expressions EVER. She is such a cutie!
rae says
you are truly an inspiration to new home owners like me!! i really need to add all of your photos to my pinterest “DIY PROJECTS” board.
happy labor day weekend!
Amanda says
Hrm.. the month of August I did:
Did a lot of family and boyfriend time (this equals three things!)
4. Purchased and made a pinable travel map
5. Hung up curtains and their rods.
6. Rehung up curtains and their rods … higher.
7. Painted
8. Quit my job and started packing to go back to school /BUMMER.
9. Watched a LOT of tv. /hahah!
YoungHouseLove says
Woot! I love these lists.
xo,
s
TamaraC says
Hi! Wow, a friend intro’d me to your blog and I’m hooked! My ”
Honey-do” list just got bigger! I especially loved The Dastardly Rocking Chair post. My mom-in-law has one that’s wasting away that I’m eyeing up. I may have to kidnap it for a surprise makeover! Gotta get some ORB.
Thanks so much for what you do! You’ve inspired me and lit a fire to get things done-started!!! :)
Shelly says
I really feel like a slacker…I don’t work and can’t seem to get half of what you do done! How do you stay so motivated? Of course I probably find old reruns of The Waltons way too enticing and should turn off the TV! haha ;)
YoungHouseLove says
I think we’re just crazy people who like to be busy, so between the baby and the blog and projects we’re always running around. Maybe someday I’ll learn how to relax. Haha.
xo,
s
Kate says
Love this months superlatives, you guys do more stuff in a month than most people do in a year! It’s very inspiring!
Happy Labor Day weekend! :D
Morgan says
Awesome job! Things are looking so great! Can’t wait to see the new kitchen design… I’m also a huge fan of banquettes – maybe open shelving along the back will give it a lighter look? With the backing of the open shelves (aka the seats) a bright color or wallpapered pattern?
YoungHouseLove says
That could definitely be fun!
xo,
s
Tania says
Once again, you’ve inspired me. Reading about all that you’ve done this week makes me motivated to tackle some of the clutter in my apartment over the long weekend so I can get to the fun redecorating part faster!
Janice says
Hi. Can you stand one more comment on your nook? Had you ever considered moving the dining room opening into the kitchen closer to the oven, AND moving the hallway opening to the kitchen closer to the fireplace — then you could slide your nook into the (now bigger) corner space…? The nook could even be a little larger in that spot, too.
The way your floorplan is drawn now, it’s like you have created an island, and will always having to be walking *around* it, if you know what I mean. The traffic pattern is a little interrupted.
Just my two cents :-)
BTW, I’m in awe of everything you’ve ever done and think you both are inspirational and hilarious.
YoungHouseLove says
We did think about that but want the doorway to make sense from the dining room side, so we’re sold on that placement since it lines up with a big picture window in there. Thanks for the suggestion though! I love how many options there are out there! Should he fun to see where we end up!
xo,
s
Maria @ Orchard Bloom says
awww that picture of clara snuggling with her cousin is super cute!
Amanda W. says
Sherry and John,
How are the spray painted door knobs and handles holding up? I have been wanting to try that for awhile (I’ve got the oh-so-tacky brass door knobs!!), but I have been chicken! I was so excited to see that you both had done it and that they seemed to turn out well. Thanks so much for the good pointers too. :)
Love you guys! Amanda
YoungHouseLove says
So far they look mint. Not a scratch on them. It has only been a few weeks though. We’ll have to share an update a bit later on with pics and stuff.
xo,
s
Amanda W. says
P.S. I LOVE the new design of the blog! Great job…as always! ;)
Jess@atasteofconfidence says
I love the light. It is so creative!
Amy says
I can’t believe how close the cabinet and Effectiv hardware are in appearance! Are you using them still?
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that so funny? We really like them, so we think they’ll stay. Debating spraying them or something, but we’ll probable keep them silver for now.
xo,
s
Jessica Marshall says
You certainly have accomplished a lot!
Megan says
Hey, Love the Aug. superlatives!! Your blog totally inspires me to get started with my flat here in Finland… slowly but surely things are coming along!
I was wondering what blogs YOU guys read? Any good suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, Megan – too many to list here! You can you check out our “Blogs We Love” tab next to the photo of us on our sidebar for a rundown of many of our favs.
-John
Tara G. says
I don’t think sorting M&M’s is whacko in the least- thrifty and creative perhaps! :) We live in Ukraine and I have the moms send me holiday packs all the time so I can sort them out and save them for birthdays or other holidays- they have M&M’s here, but they just aren’t the same and certainly don’t come in fun colors! (Plus, have you ever priced the pre-sorted bags to order?!)
Marije says
Hey Sherry,
This is completely off-topic, but I’m trying to switch to organic make-up and read about some of the products you use in a blog post from last year:
“Bronzer: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Bronzer
Blush: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Blush
Mascara: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Mascara in black”
Are there any products you have discovered since then? Some new favourites? It’s so difficult to figure out what the good stuff is so I thought
I’d ask. I live in Europe so not everything is available here but I can buy it on Ebay…
Thanks in advance!
P.s. I use the Dr. Bronner lipbalm and liquid soap thanks to you guys mentioning it; love it!
Thanks in advance!
Marije says
Wow, thanks in advance x 2… I sound so enthusiastic and thankful, haha…
YoungHouseLove says
I still wear the same exact stuff! I love it. And Physician’s Formula Eye Shadow too. Haha. I go with what I know.
xo,
s
Kate S. says
This is totally unrelated to your post, but last night my husband and I watched the Morgan Spurlock documentary “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.” There’s a scene in which he’s interviewing Donald Trump and plays several clips of Donald–in one, he’s saying “huuuge.” It cracked me up like you wouldn’t believe.
I immediately thought of Sherry’s dream of some time ago and how she so ardently tried to explain that he really did say it like that. I’m happy to further confirm, in case there was any debate, he does in fact, say “huge” in a ridiculous manner.
YoungHouseLove says
LOL! We’ve got that movie on our Netflix queue and can’t wait to see it (even more now that we know we’ve got this moment to look forward to).
-John
Karen says
This is unrelated to your post, but I’ve been a long-time reader and wanted to tell you that they’ve got a pair of those ceramic dogs you love (and lost) for sale at the Sleepy Poet Antique Mall in Charlotte, NC. My husband works there, and happened to take the camera with him just to mess around and get some cool shots. He had three pictures of your deco-dog, and it seemed such a funny coincidence.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man! We love the Sleepy Poet. So glad to know that some of our dogs are still alive in well and have a good home there… well, until they get taken home by someone else.
-John