With over 2,300 posts under our belts, it’s becoming a Herculean task to read all the way back through our archives (although several of you deserve an “I survived the YHL archives and all I got was this lousy bumper sticker” bumper sticker). So we’re using our fifth blogiversary as an excuse to pull out some highlights from those 260 weeks of content. Sit back and enjoy this somewhat weird trip down memory lane full of firsts, favorites, and fun times.
First Makeover Reveal: Even before the kitchen reno that started this whole site, our first before and after was actually our laundry nook in November 2007 (since the kitchen was still very much a work in progress). And clearly we hadn’t gotten the before thing down yet, since it’s actually a mid-demo pic instead. That was a valuable lesson in remembering to photograph things before breaking out the sledgehammer…
Weirdest Wardrobe (both human and canine): In this December 2007 post about how long our first kitchen’s cabinet installation was taking, we included this photo to demonstrate how surprisingly cabinet-sized Sherry is… especially when wearing coordinating Christmas pajamas with a then 1-year-old Burger.
Most Ridiculous Styling: It was 2007. We were still finding our decorating groove. Sherry was only a year or so removed from her time in New York / New Jersey. So when we “revealed” these pictures of our guest bedroom (a room that later became Clara’s nursery) we managed to sneak fuzzy leopard slippers into it. Not sure what kind of guests we were expecting…
The Most Never Before Seen Video: Part of the prize from winning a blogging contest in 2007 was a video interview on Ask The Decorator. It was our first video interview so we were over-prepared (Sherry even wore non-black!) and were probably a bucket of nerves and stutters on camera. We’ll never know because the site went on hiatus shortly after the interview (for a few years actually!) and the footage never saw the light of day… which might have been for the best.
First Ikea Hack: Just as the calendar rolled around to 2008, we took on our first adaptation of Ikea furniture by creating the built-in closets around our bed with doorless wardrobes, some curtains, and a wood header to make it all look built-in.
First Burning Question: Anyone remember when we used to do these posts? Every Friday we’d pose a decor or home improvement related question like: “What’s your favorite countertop surface?” “What’s your ideal view from your house?” “To paint or not to paint your switch plates and wall registers?” – you know, heavy hitting stuff. But our first question in May 2008 was whether or not you should have your table perpetually set. It garnered a whopping 18 responses.
First Mood Board: Also around the time we started Burning Questions, we began offering design help by providing online mood boards. Our first one was for Manisha to help with her living room.
First Press Mention: Our local paper, the Richmond Times-Dispatch featured us in their new “I Did It Myself” section on May 15, 2008. What had we done? Made a pedestal table out of a thrift store base and a stock round top from the home improvement store. Our parents were so proud.
Favorite Little Craft: We’ve taken on a lot of little projects and crafts around here (hello “Dude Get On That Already” challenge) but one of our all-time faves is still the vacation memory jars that we did way back in the summer of 2008.
First House Crashing: Before we worked up the nerve to ask strangers if we could come over, we kept House Crashings in the family by photographing my sister’s recently constructed home here in Richmond. That was 2008 and she’s done lots of painting, decorating and landscaping, so a Re-House Crashing is actually on the agenda!
First Reader Redesign: In addition to busting out the House Crashings in 2008, we also featured our first Reader Redesign – which for some reason compelled me to make a Grey Poupon reference in the post title.
First Design Dilemma That Was Solved: Admittedly we made a lot more mood boards over the years than we ever received after photos for. So when we did, it was always a special treat. Our first person to provide them was Stacie, a local friend who sent us pics of her lovely bedroom that was based on a little YHL mood board that we whipped up for her. It actually ended up spawning a House Crashing… or two… or three.
First Wedding Week: It shouldn’t be any surprise that our first “Wedding Week” (a week dedicated to our wedding as well as lovey-dovey stuff in general) started on our first anniversary: July 7, 2008. And the content from that first week is pretty much what lives currently on the Wedding tab at the top of our page.
The Biggest Turning Point: You’ve heard us say before that the main reason we decided to turn this hobby into something more was randomly and completely unexpectedly winning a contest that gave us a little let’s-keep-at-this confidence boost. We were barely two months into blogging, which may be why we celebrated the win by Photoshopping this pageant-esque image. I like my Queen Elizabeth wave.
Hardest Post For Sherry To Write: This is probably a tie between two more recent events – Clara’s birth in 2010 and the death of her Aunt Kay Kay this summer. Both were deeply personal, but almost equally therapeutic for her to write (even though it took nearly a full year for Sherry to muster the words to describe Clara’s entry into to the world).
Hardest Post For John To Write: While not nearly as emotional as Sherry’s picks, owning up to my failed deck inspection this summer was a tough one for me. The failure was a big blow to my confidence about the project as a whole, so it took just about all that I had to keep moving forward on it – let alone having to write about it for all to see.
Most Random: We definitely stray off topic every now and then around here… parenting, running, breastfeeding, haircuts. You know, the usual. But perhaps our most random, yet much commented tangent was this January 2011 post about what other names our parents considered for each of us when we were born.
Most Embarrassing: It should come as no surprise that the most blush-inducing post was Sherry’s admission earlier this year that back in high school she met Eminem… on MTV… and there’s a YouTube video to prove it. Not only does she freestyle rap and say the word “phat” during the episode, now that I’ve mentioned it again, she’s hiding under her desk.
Least Wordy: We don’t have an easy way of double-checking this, but we’re pretty sure this post about readying ourselves for some door widening (our 8th post ever) clocks in at our shortest. At just under 125 words, the entire thing can be viewed without ever touching your scroll bar. Three cheers for someday getting back to short & sweet posts like this among our chatty longer ones.
Most Wordy: Again, don’t quote us on this – but we know last year’s blogiversary post about how we make money and how we spend our time clocked in at nearly 4,000 words, which we believe is our longest. It could also take the cake for “most pie charts” (or should I say take the pie?).
Weirdest: The title of this “Purloined” post should be a clue that Sherry’s was in a weird mood – which she owns up to several times during the post itself. It just a quick little ditty about pillows, but it spawned a hilarious string of comments where people rallied around the phrase “No Ham, No Fowl.” You’ll just have to read it to understand… if it can be understood. (PS: Runner up for this award goes to this post about Sherry’s dream that involved elephant faucets).
Most Unusual Format: If you browse our early posts, you can tell we’re open to being experimental when it comes to their format, like this post that was written entirely as a dialogue between the two of us. We actually loved looking back at it, so here’s hoping more random convos like this pop up from time to time…
Biggest Dud: We like taking bets on who’s gonna win whatever reality TV show we’re watching. So we figured everyone would love joining in our guesses as to who would win 2008’s Top Design on Bravo (the one with Eddie Ross). Well, it wasn’t so hot of an idea. A whopping five people played along, and one of them didn’t event get the channel. Womp womp.
Biggest Reveal: Perhaps our biggest house-related revelation on the blog was the news that we were moving in 2010, but we decided to give this title to some other big news: Clara’s birth. Even though it was something everyone knew was coming, Clara’s early arrival (by about a week) and the fact that we didn’t miss a beat posting (she conveniently timed her arrival on a Friday night, and we had some pre-written posts ready for right after she came) made the casual Tuesday morning announcement a pretty big surprise.
Most Commented: Continuing the Clara’s birth theme, the non-giveaway post with the most comments goes to Sherry’s story of her labor and subsequent emergency C-section with Clara. It garnered over 2,200 words of comfort, congrats, and encouragement. You guys are the best.
Least Commented: This is actually a 14-way tie between several posts that got the big goose egg in the comments category. From this post about a wind storm that threw a tree on my sister’s rental house to this unfortunately titled post about a local white elephant sale, there are still more than a dozen opportunities for one of you to be the first commenter on one of our posts.
Most Active Comments Over Time: New comments on any given post usually dry up within a few weeks of it being posted. But the comments section on three posts in particular are still very much alive and kicking: this one about curtain-hanging 101, this one about picking the perfect paint color, and this one about painting furniture. They all went up around three years ago but tend to receive at least a few fresh comments each week or two.
Whiniest: We generally try to keep things upbeat around here (this is our happy place) but we do get our sourpuss on every now and then. Perhaps our finest moment of that would be in 2008’s dramatically titled “You Know What Sucks?” post that’s all about painting the grody ceiling in our first house’s den.
Biggest Budget Breakdown: Coming in at $17,500 – our most expensive project (by far!) to date was the one that kicked off this blog: our first kitchen remodel. Since that job was largely hired out, it was over ten grand more than our second kitchen reno.
Worst Photos: Looking through our archives reveals plenty of less-than-steller demonstrations of our photography skills, especially in our early days of uploading tiny photos taken with our little point-and-shoot. But Sherry and I both agreed that this post (about how our open shelves looked when they suddenly had to house items from our then-demolished kitchen) took the cake for ugliest. Please accept our heartfelt apology.
Favorite Punny Post Title: We’ll be the first to admit that our pun-tastic post titles are cheesy, but we’re oddly entertained by just how weird they can be. A few all time favorites are “Oh My Gourd” (about a gourd lamp purchase), “What’s The Commode-tion?” (about matters of the toilet kind), “Hosta La Vista” (about digging up some hostas in the yard), “There’s A New Chair-riff In Town” (about getting a new chair), and “What Up, Succa” (about repotting succulents).
Favorite Hip-Hop Title: We also have a tendency to let song lyrics – often of the hip hop variety – sneak into our post titles as well. So we have to give the gold to last November’s “Wanna Be A Baller, Shot Caller, Drywaller…” (about putting drywall around our new kitchen opening) and the silver to “I Like Big Globes And I Cannot Lie” (about hanging some globe pendants in the kitchen). Lil’ Troy and Sir Mix A Lot would be so proud.
Most Over-Used Post Title: This goes to “Light My Fire” which actually only appears on two posts – this one about a light fixture and this one about actually lighting a fire. Two may not seem like over-use, but note that these posts came within just weeks of each other back in October 2007. And to this day Sherry still has to fight the urge to break it out again (probably because I give her so much grief about running out of fire-related puns less than two months into blogging).
Sexiest Video: You know that moment when you finish a project and you’re so proud of it you just wanna make a sultry video of it? What? Just me? Well, that’s what we did in the midst of another weird mood following the completion of our living room console last year. Forgive us if this gets you all hot and bothered…
Favorite Video: It’s not decor related (though there is a stylish wedding about halfway in!), but Sherry and I still love watching this road trip video of our 41-hour drive to Texas back in 2009. It may be 17 minutes long, but it just makes us smile every time we play it. Oh to be able to take a road trip again and not have to worry about a certain restless toddler in the backseat…
John’s All-Time Favorite Project: It’s gotta be our hallway frame wall that we completed in 2011. It was right at the sweet spot of not-too-difficult, but not-too-simple and to this day we still love the impact and personality that it has. I dunno, it just feels like us. The only thing missing is a ceramic dog. Oops, my bad.
Sherry’s All-Time Favorite Project: That’s easy, it’s the time we painted the back of our built-ins a dark teal color (one of the first things we tackled after we moved in). It only took an evening and a quart of paint, and it was such a room-changer.
John’s All-Time Favorite Post: This is a weird answer, but this post about our first day in our current house has a special place in my heart. It was such an exciting moment for us – full of promise, ideas, and a little stress for good measure. It was even more thrilling to start from scratch knowing that we’d get to take you guys with us every step of the way. Not to mention how crazy it is to look back and realize how much has changed since then.
Sherry’s All-Time Favorite Post: Sherry’s answer is full of sentiment – and decor: it’s the reveal of Clara’s nursery in our old house. Of course we love the transformation that took place in the room, but we think it’s the much greater change in our lives that the post symbolizes which earns it the prize. Look how naive we look – especially in that before picture – so happily clueless about what was ahead.
Now that we’ve outlined our favorites, firsts, and a fair amount of general post-writing weirdness, what about you? Do you have a favorite entry on your own blog (or in your diary)? Was there a moment where you were particularly wacky and random? Or something that you look back on and cringe?
Psst- Speaking of posts about everything and anything, we’re over here chatting about color theory (who knew certain colors can supposedly raise IQ points and even help with digestion?).
Elaine K says
Reading this, I realized I’ve been following you since 2008 when that first article appeared in the Times Dispatch. First blog I ever followed. My kids will tell you I used to call it “my blog” and they would say “you don’t have a blog”! You have provided a lot of enjoyment over the years and gave me more confidence when decorating my home. It has been fun to watch Clara grow up, too. Keep up the great work!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw that’s so sweet!
xo,
s
Amy says
Blogiversary week is like the new shark week! Well, just in that it’s quickly becoming my new favorite week! I’ve really only been reading for the past 8 months, since we started house hunting for our first house, so while I’ve jumped into the archives of YHL quite a few times since, getting to know your favorite memories and projects just starts the inspiration all over again. Thanks for bringing us all along with you!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, the new shark week = hilarious.
xo,
s
Diane says
I’m clearly spending too much time on your site. Had a dream last night that the two of you were in my house and I was giving you a house tour!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo,
s
Jill Robbins says
I have been reading your blog/cyber stalking(in a not crazy evil way) for about a year. I had a little boy right before you had Clara, so if that Will Bower and Clara thing doesn’t work out, let me know. It is weird that through your DIY, a reader seems to know you. I enjoy reading your blog and I think my two favorite blogs are the ones that have made me cry tears of sadness and tears of, how wondeful for the out come of Clara’s birth and how wonderful Aunt Kay’s life enriched everyone around her.
Rachel says
Hey John,
Don’t you fret none about the deck blunder! Posting your mishaps makes y’all more relatable – and reminds the rest of us that screw ups are just part of it.
Happy Anniversary!
Gina says
I only recently started reading your blog, so I’ve never read your birth story until today. I had a similar and very traumatic birth with my first-born and wow…reading that brought back so many memories for me. Your words so accurately described what those moments feel like. I had to be put under general anesthesia, husband wasn’t allowed in OR at all, I had to wait 3 hours to see my baby in person. First time I laid eyes on my beautiful boy was on our digital camera from pictures my husband had taken while I was under. Thank you for sharing your experience. Whenever I hear others’ stories it makes me emotional all over again, but there’s comfort in knowing that others understand. And thank God, everything turned out okay in the end and we are all happy and healthy. Love the blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh Gina I’m so glad everything turned out ok.
xo,
s
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says
I love looking back at your old posts! I can’t believe I’ve been reading since 2008 – I had no idea it’s been that long haha
Anna says
It’s so hard to pick a favorite! I’m still reeling from your earlier posts about what it takes to run this blog. I had no idea! You guys are amazing and so great that you communicate with all your fans. Ok, have to ask this. Any particular reason that you post twice a day? That seems like a lot to have to write. I’m tired just thinking about it! Thanks for sharing your life and giving so much design inspiration.
YoungHouseLove says
We post twice a day on Mon, Tues, and Thurs so it’s a nice balance for us. If things change and we can’t keep up of course we’ll slow down, though!
xo,
s
katrina says
I love these kinds of posts! I’ve only been following you since you moved into your current house, so it’s great to get an overview of what came before.
My favorite post, by far, was a semi-recent one that John wrote and had Burger giving a tour of your closet. It. was. hysterical. I don’t even remember what the project was; I think he replaced the light fixture?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha oh yeah I loved that one.
xo,
s
Cara W says
You asked what our favorite entries are for our own blogs, etc. but it would have been cool to see what reader’s favorite YHL posts are. Could have possibly made a cool chart (depending on the varied results).
I’ve been reading YHL since 2009 and I think I have a lot of favorite posts but the ones I think about most frequently are Clara’s birthday party posts and right now, since it’s fall, I think of your glass vase that you store things in that you’re thankful for. Thanks for sharing all of your most cherished moments with us and keeping this up over the years.
YoungHouseLove says
That would be fun!
xo,
s
Erin says
My mom-mom had fuzzy leopard slippers just like those…we called them “mom-mom’s muffies”. Mom-mom was a pretty cool gal, so don’t feel weird about having the same slippers as my g-ma.
Anyway, I like to get weird with my blog titles/posts too! Mostly to entertain myself. One of my personal favs from my blog, diy squirrel, has to be LIDINGO ATE YOUR BABY (http://diysquirrel.blogspot.com/2012/07/lidingo-ate-your-baby.html) which touches on our Ikea Lidingo cabinet assembly and the current level of insanity I had reached with the renovation. Another personal favorite of mine is Holy Guacamole!, where I pay homage to my home state of Texas (I’m a Marylander now)…it’s probably one of my spunkier posts, and it was definitely a fun room to decorate and write about.
I’ve really loved reading your Blogiversary posts! I just got married and the wedding planning definitely took me away from my blog — you guys have inspired me to get back on it!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha love the post!
xo,
s
Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says
Back before I became a SAHM I would read as many old posts as possible during down time at work. It is neat to go back to the beginning and see how not only your design style has changed but also your writing style.
Laura says
So I watched the table setting video and Katie said your website with thisyounghouse. When did you change your name to younghouselove? Just curious. By the way, I love reading your blog. It was the first blog I started reading after I got married and it got me into the whole reading blogs and blogging thing. I find it very therapeutic. :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh that was a debacle, haha! If you search “the end of this young house” on our sidebar, that explanation will come up.
xo,
s
Sara says
OMG, I do not know how I forgot the console video. That just kills me.
My favorite post of all time was the one where the cabinets have eyes. I just could not stop laughing. I love your “weird” posts the most!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh, how did we forget that one!
xo,
s
Laura says
Bring back the Mood Boards!!
YoungHouseLove says
I definitely hope to have more of those!
xo,
s
Anna says
I’m one of those mads who have read the whole blog, mwahahahaha O__o
At some point remembering which was the latest post I read started to be very difficult for me, because I was so hooked that I was reading YHL old posts all the time: not only at home, but also at work (in the cofee break), sometimes at the commuter… and even once while waiting -oh, so long- to testify at the court (no worries, occasionally is part of my job)
By so far my fav posts are the ones about your old DEN, because I’ve used them to encourage my patients; the den never fails and, as you say, it works like a charm ^__^
(I know sounds confusing, and requires a longer explanation… I will explain you but not here!)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah!
xo,
s
cali says
thank goodness your photo taking skills have gotten so much better haha before I even got to that part of this post I was looking back at the linked posts and thinking “man…they really got better with the camera!”
love these recaps of old posts!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha so true!
xo,
s
kate says
I love this post. It actually brings back personal memories for me. I found your site in 2008 soon after I was laid off. I was lying on the couch, spending way too much time on the internet. Our lives have a very similar timeline, so it was my favorite to follow. In fact, we were pregnant at identical times and every time I picked something for the nursery, you would post about the exact same thing. It was eerie. Looking back at all of these posts, I can remember what I was doing when I read them, and what was going on in my life. Thanks for the memories guys!
I love your site more than ever. It’s odd that I feel like I know you even though you wouldn’t know me from any one else. I am sure many of your other loyal readers feel the same way.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw that’s so sweet! We totally think of you guys all as our buddies, so it’s not weird at all. Haha!
xo,
s
house Crazy Sarah says
my favorite post of YHL was what got me hooked on your blog in the first place – when you put your first house up for sale and were looking at other houses.
It was so exciting to finally see which house you picked when you un-pixelated the photo of your current house!
:)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re so sweet!
xo,
s
Lauren@FilingJointly says
I think my favorite of all your posts was the Eminem one. This is probably because I am extremely clumsy and full of danger and don’t actually DIY anything and read your blog because it makes me smiley and happy more than for design tips (though I did preorder your book I swear!)
The posts about the deck seriously awe me. It turned out brilliantly.
I think my favorite posts on my blog are the “How Ryan Met Lauren” series about my husband and I since we actually “met” in preschool and were high school sweethearts and all that.
There are four in the series, but this is the first one.
http://www.filing-jointly.com/2011/11/how-ryan-met-lauren-part-i-part-in.html
YoungHouseLove says
So cute, and completely hilarious!
xo
s
Brandi from Bloomington says
I remember that FANatic episode and was totally jealous of you because I was a huge Eminem fan.
YoungHouseLove says
No way, that’s so funny.
xo,
s
Maky says
I will forever remember coming across your blog through the IKEAhackers website and ending up reading all about your wedding and a few other projects.
It wasn’t until about a year or so later that I found you again, this time you were expecting Clara and I thought it was weird that I felt happy for you, two perfect strangers! LOL
It was the second time around that I got hooked (and inspired) and started reading backwards through the archives. It took me the best part of a few weeks to get through them, but I did it! :)
Honestly, if it wasn’t for you, I would’ve never had the courage to redecorate my rental flat. Granted, there weren’t many things I was allowed to change but you guys are such an amazing inspiration with such a positive attitude – it all rubbed off on me!
Thank you for the last 5 years and hopefully to 5 (or more!) more! :)
Oh, and my favourite posts used to be the mood boards. I mourned them when they stopped. They were always a little glimpse of ‘what if’ for me. That endless possibility around the corner…!
You know, I really hope you can come to London on your book tour. Chances are it’s never gonna happen but man, that would be awesome! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw you’re so sweet Maky! I’d love to bring more mood boards back, even if they’re just for fun! And we’d love to come to London, oh man, that would be amazing!
xo
s
how2home says
My boyfriend and I are such big fans of your blog! Since we found your blog half a year a go, we’ve definitely read through all your archives! Awesome blog, awesome couple, awesome family. You guys are just awesome :) Keep up the great work!
Charity says
Girl… It is my womanly duty to tell you to throw away those organic tampons, and spend a ONE TIME purchase on a Diva Cup! You buy it once and use it for years. You don’t feel it. It makes your period sooo much easier. Promise!
Signed – a woman trying to spread the word
Charity
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I keep hearing about it! Hopefully I’ll get enough cajones to give it a try. I’m scared of it for some reason. Haha. Better get over that, huh?
xo
s
charity says
I thought about using a different name and pretending to be someone else and saying “YAH! DO IT SHERRY!” but, atlas, I won’t.
Trust me. It is SO worth it. Some say it took em about three cycles to get the groove – it took me one DAY to say WHERE has this BEEN all my life?!
You’re home enough that it will be so so easy and manageable.
GOODBYE STRING! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Ack, I’m still not understanding how you get it in and out without a giant mess, but maybe I just have to pull the cord and try it. I hope you got that terrible pun.
xo
s
Susi says
Oh what a nice post.
I love that Sherry is on the tip of her toes in the last (pregnant) picture. So adorable!
Darnetha says
I am still giggling over your sexy console table video…As long as I have been reading your blog I had missed that video. Too funny and oh that music! Love you guys since of humor!
Marleena P says
I have been reading your blog for years now. My husband and I bought our first home this past summer and I constantly refer to your blog for ideas to uplift the mood of my home (thank you!). But I have to say that I love the videos of Clara, mostly because my son, who’s 20 months old, stares and talks back to her. It’s rather sweet.
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo
s
Candice says
I think this was the BEST time to stumble on your blog. Thanks for the recap and saving me some time flipping through pages. Although I love to go back to where blogs start, you made that possible, all on one page!!!
You 2 are awesome, good for you for persuing what you love. I secretly would love to flip houses, or even just spaces. Theres something about looking at a clean slate just makes my heart flutter, as does your I imagine.
Keep doing your thing cause its inspiring me!
Tamsen says
I loved the post! I got to see a few posts i haven’t read before :)
Also this Foundry sale is right up your alley!
https://shop.thefoundary.com/daily/animal-accents_e4169.html?tid=feventmail09272012
Porcelain Origami Owl… i think yes.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh, I love.
xo
s
Skooks says
BAHAHAHAHAHA! I totally forgot about that console table video. So hilarious. And yes, it was good for me.
It’s funny, reading through this post I realized that I didn’t come across anything new that I missed because I have just been a reader FOR THAT LONG! I remember telling my dad about your blog back in the day when you were still This Young House, before they sicked the peeps on you for using that name. ;) Really just so happy for you guys and I thoroughly enjoyed the retrospective. Keep it up!
Ashley says
Clara’s birth story (and her first birthday party post) were two of your most powerful posts to me. You posted Clara’s birth story just a few short weeks before our son was born (5/10/11) and right about the time that I was covered head-to-toe in a pregnancy rash and finding out that our boy was breech and going to require a c-section. I remember thinking that what seemed hard to me was nothing compared to what you guys went through.
And then, when things went wrong after our son’s birth and things seemed really impossible, I remember that our first day home from the hospital was the Monday after Clara’s party. I read that post while I was hooked up to an iv in my living room, trying to pump and dump and consumed with hormones, and remember just weeping over Clara’s party…to see where you guys had come in a year, and to know that we were going to be fine too. And we are…perfectly fine. So you guys helped me through a terribly difficult time with your openness and honesty.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re so sweet Ashley. That makes me tear up.
xo
s
Jenna says
Ahhh! I love your blog. I’ve been reading for…um…a long time. At least since the beginning of ’09, and maybe even longer. This was such a fun post to read. You guys are the best!
Tara H. @ happyhammockhouse.wordpress.com says
You all have done so much! I think your story goes to show there is no limit to what two people can do. I think someday soon there will be a reality TV show about DIYing, but Big Brother style.
Tara
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that would be awesome. I’d watch that.
xo
s
Emma says
To many more blogiversaries kids. One question -does Olivia the Pig have to wear a haring aid now? Poor girl.
YoungHouseLove says
Hah, I think her remaining ear has enhanced capabilities so she’s able to hear Burger and Clara come running (and brace for impact).
xo
s
Sammy says
I thought I’d read most of your posts already, but this post was my wake up call! I was soooo wrong!!! Better get cracking. “Hon, do you mind putting the kettle on??”…
xx
Emily R. says
Watching the road trip was exactly what I needed to breakup a bad day at work. It completely lifted my spirits.
I actually read through all of your posts with the help of Google reader and making a 200 page document. It shows only a bit of crazy and is only a sign of how excited I am for the book. Hopefully the pre-order comes soon.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love that! The book is 366 pages- beware!!
xo
s
Rachel M. says
I’ve been reading the blog for over a year now and I just love it! I like too many to have a favorite. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Meagan {Green Motherhood} says
This makes me want to dig through the archives! (Again)
Jenny says
That “How to paint a furniture” post was the one that brought me to your “casa” about 1,5 years ago and I haven’t left since. I enjoy reading your blog 5 days week and I’m always looking forward to a new post. You are just amazing and irresistible. I really hope you come to LA on your book tour and I will get a chance to meet you!!
Until then, congrats on your BIG 5!
Much love to all 4 of you :)
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Jenny! So glad you found us.
xo
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Amy says
I am one of those crazy-deserves-a-bumper-sticker-because-I’ve-read-every-post-people and I can’t tell you how sad I was when I got to the end! Ha! It’s a good thing you post twice a day… I don’t know what I would do if I only had one post to read! Haha! Thanks for the fun reminder of your older posts today!
Anna says
When i started reading you guys about 4 years ago, I went through the archives (easier then than now) – and have read every post since. If i’ve missed a few days I make a cup of tea and sit down with yhl to catch up. You are one of the few blogs I read almost daily – i read lots of blogs, I just don’t have many i read every day. Writing a blog myself, your consistency in quality of content is the thing i most admire. It’s tough having that many posts go up week in week out! It’s been great watching your photography skills improve and to see Clara grow. Your tone on tone to brights pops of colour style development is also something my own style has mirrored which is another reason why I find your work so inspirational!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks so much Anna, You’re so sweet!
xo
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Paige @ Little Nostalgia says
YES, I totally remember Burning Questions! You guys should bring those back as some of the shorter posts you hope to write this year. I used to get really excited every time you posted one, haha. Nerd alert!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh you would? Does anyone else miss them? Maybe not once a week, but they could get peppered in there too if you guys like a good poll. I know John the math-guy does… haha.
xo
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Kathy says
Not sure if this was already mentioned in the comments, but Meghan Carter’s got a new site and blog, http://www.meghancarter.com, in case you want to catch up with her new blog! I actually went to high school with her and its so weird seeing her on blogs and tv now!
YoungHouseLove says
So funny! Off to check it out…
xo,
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Sarah says
Loving this post…kinda like when you have a favourite show but you miss an episode or start watching mid season and miss out on all the good stuff and don’t know where to start catching up…this is like a ‘box set’ of blog greatness.
BTW the console still photo had me in conniptions of laughter…what was that under the elephant and Sherry’s hand!!! I had to go back to the original post and confirm it was a thumb!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahh!
xo
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Lea says
How did I miss the Console Lovin’ video the first time around?! It’s hilarious! The “Was it good for you?” was just too much and sent me roaring with laughter. Just watched the road trip video and it makes me smile so much. You two are so sweet together.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lea!
xo
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Oregonienne says
Oh dear Lord – that video with Katie still makes me laugh out loud. And my dear husband rebuilt our deck this summer and kept asking me about that “Lovers” blog I keep reading and how their deck was coming along. I’ve been a loyal reader for quite some time now, though, and totally relish the idea of meeting y’all (I was out of town when you were in PDX this year – boo). It’s nice to know I’m not the only goofy girl with a strong predilection for 90s r&b.
Joell says
Hi there! I have been reading your blog daily for 4 years now and I rarely comment but I do have to say that this post is my favorite ever. I felt like I feel when I clean out my closet and find my old grade school and high school yearbooks. Like coming home.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw you’re so sweet Joell!
xo
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Sarah F. says
I don’t comment much but I’ve been reading your blog since, um, I think around your one-year blogiversary? I love that your “voice” hasn’t changed much, and while your style has evolved you always seem to stay true to yourselves. Happy 5th Blogiversary, and here’s to many more!
P.S. I love the goofy off-topic posts, and pun-tastic titles. I think ‘Hosta la Vista’ is my current fave. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks Sarah!
xo
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Kelly says
I found your blog last summer (2011) and read through it starting from the beginning in about 3 months. I’m so glad I didn’t get to the end just to find out that you guys had quit blogging!
I know you’re making your living being a design/decor blog, but I love the posts about your family or getting to know you the most!
Lisa says
Happy anniversary, love following your adventures. Reminds me of the early years of our marriage & DIY home projects. Look forward to watching the book come out.