It was fun to crack open a little bit of our personal “stuff” last Tuesday for this post about the real $herdog (yes, I’m still patiently waiting for that nickname to catch on) and John’s J-Boom version. And a funny thing happened after sharing those. Not only did they receive over 1,200 amazingly awesome and encouraging comments (note to self: apparently you’re not a social pariah if you admit that you sometimes have strawberry cream cheese on your ear and are inclined to impersonate Cindy Lou Who) but we also got dozens of emails – not even exaggerating – asking about how to deal with criticism and respond to negative comments. And thus this post was born.
I guess by sharing all of our weird idiosyncrasies it encouraged people to write about something they’re struggling with and ask how we handle it? It also could have had something to do with this thread on the $herdog post. Either way, the emails mostly came from folks who run small blogs who have somehow fallen into larger readerships thanks to being pinned on Pinterest or otherwise thrust into the spotlight suddenly (like a feature on Apartment Therapy or Design Sponge). And the general gist of every single email was this: someone was blogging along about whatever they blog about (some of these people aren’t home bloggers at all) and then… zinger… it happened. A not-so-nice comment. And it stung.
With more readers definitely comes more “feedback” – both good and bad. And you know I’m happy to be that spunky little cheerleader on your shoulder shouting high-pitched overly-enthusiastic things like: “you can do it!” and “reach for the stars!” – so here’s my humble advice in a nutshell:
- It’s your blog.
- Be who you are. That is enough.
- Try to give the good feedback as much weight as the bad.
- Do all things with love.
Sounds corny huh? But I’ll explain how those four things have really helped us deal with the whole “you’re putting yourself out there and I’m anonymous so I’m going to tell you exactly how I feel” phenomenon. After all we’ve been told (both nicely and not so nicely) a few of the following things:
- I’m not really interested in posts about _____, so I vote you skip them
- I’m losing interest in big projects – do more little ones
- Do more big projects – the small ones are filler
- I want more Clara and Burger and everyday stuff
- I want less Clara and Burger and everyday stuff
- That paint color/art/room is ugly/not the right choice
- Stop using certain words/expressions because they make me cringe
- Stop being so cheap and spend some money
- Stop spending so much money and be more frugal
- Move faster, I’m bored
- Move slower so I can catch up
- I’m disappointed in this choice/this idea/you
- This blog used to be better because _________
- I will no longer read this blog because ________
See all the contradictions going on in there? Basically if we listened to every suggestion, well, we wouldn’t have a thing to blog about. Not a single thing. And after 2,000+ posts and over four years of doing this, we’ve definitely learned that some folks like things that others hate and some people have an opinion when it comes to how they’d run this blog if it were theirs. But here’s the thing. It’s not theirs.
Which brings us to…
Tip #1: It’s your blog. It might sound weird to point out, but your blog isn’t a magazine with a team of 30 people who poll their readers and try to please the largest group (at least I don’t think it is). The very definition of a blog is just an outlet to write whatever you want and share whatever part of your life that you’re passionate about in your own words and at your own pace and in whatever way feels natural to you. Whether you do it full time or as a hobby once a month, your only real task is to be who you are and share what you like and those who like it will drop in.
In our case, we’re just two people with a dog and a kid who happened to gain a following sharing our adventures on the home front. We just write about whatever’s going on in our lives and seems interesting to us, which has gotten us here (we’re not Facebook or Pinterest, but 5 million hits a month = crazytown to two kids like us). See, if you attempt to please every last commenter, as much as you love and value your readers, know that it’s Mission Impossible – and it could even lead to your blog’s downfall (it won’t be yours anymore). So trust yourself. Everyone else might have an opinion, but your voice really should be the loudest and your vote really should be the one that counts.
Tip #2: Be who you are. That is enough. I think most people are a little guilty of the whole wanting-more syndrome. When a show ends I immediately want the next episode to come on (and I want it to be even better than the last). When I get a magazine and it’s feeling a little thin I wish it were twice as thick. And I think boxes of Oreos should be bottomless (I expect them to refill themselves while I’m sleeping). So it’s no surprise that when it comes to blogging, well, readers are inclined to want more. They might say it not-so-nicely, or very kindly indeed. And either way it might make you feel sort of womp-womp. But it’s just human nature. And I can tell you from experience that you will be a happier person and a better blogger if you make peace with that completely normal phenomenon.
You can’t control how every single person reacts to your blog, but you can control how you blog. And struggling to eke out more to the point of exhaustion or burnout (be it recipes, sewing tips, DIY stuff, photography pointers, craft ideas, or anything else you blog about) just isn’t the answer. At least not if – in the words of Claire Danes in Homeland – you’re playing the long game. Ideally your method of blogging should make you feel more inspired, creative, and enthusiastic about blogging – which in turn will shine through so your readers get just as giddy about it as you do. There’s a reason that your blog is attracting a readership and people are coming back. So just go at your own pace and concentrate on doing things well and not making yourself sick or neglecting your family because a few usually very well-intentioned folks want something that should take ten days to be done, photographed, and blogged about in five. Forgive people for being excited and impatient. We all do it.
Of course establishing these boundaries applies to other scenarios too, so if you have a family blog and folks want more photos/info about your kids than you’re comfortable sharing, know that whatever you want to share = enough. In blogging I generally think if it feels wrong (or makes you feel tired/sad/uninspired), it’s wrong. So don’t do it. As much as I hate being told to relax (seriously, ask John, it’s on his “do not ever say that to me unless you want me to go crazy on you” list), just try to relax and do your thing.
Tip #3: Try To Give The Good Feedback As Much Weight As The Bad. The funny thing is that everyone we talk to who is wrestling with comment criticism admits they still get waaaaay more positive comments than negative ones. I mean the ratio is usually astounding. We know it just takes one cutting comment to get under your skin, but when the vast majority of people love something, it sucks to let one commenter sink your battleship. Let’s do some light math (I don’t do heavy math, but light math is ok). If over the course of a week or two, 99 people take the time to say they like your blog/post/project/house/whatever and one person chimes in to say something’s not their cup of tea, that still adds up to a 99% success rate. And those are good odds my friend- so keep on keeping on! Heck, even if a ton of your readers don’t like something but you like it, I wholeheartedly think that you should keep blogging about it. Why? Because you like it and – once again, for the folks in the back – it’s your blog. Picture me up stage wearing a pant suit and a pocket protector saying “I can’t hear you!” and holding the mic out so you can shout that chorus with me. Or dancing around in this outfit chanting it with my lovely family while serving up a heaping portion of jazz hands (Burger’s clearly hiding because he doesn’t want to be seen in this getup).
Tip #4: Do everything with love. It’s admittedly extremely cheesy (and you might hear a tiny violin playing in the background) but my favorite advice is usually summed up in that phrase. It’s actually written on a post-it note that I’ve had stuck to my laptop for the longest time. When someone takes time out of their day to say something they’d most likely never say to anyone’s face (or would they…?) I’ve come to realize that spewing the same venom that they flung in my direction won’t make me feel any better (heck, it would probably make me feel significantly worse).
So I try to look at them from a place of love. Maybe they’ve had a terrible day. Maybe they’ve lost someone they love very much and they’re hurting. It may seem weird to try to have compassion for those who don’t seem to be very sensitive to your feelings, but I’m telling you that there’s something to it. It helps me respond with humor or a quick explanation from my point of view without getting too heated. Or even just with the words “Merry Christmas to you and your family!” like I did when someone said that decorating our family Christmas tree with paint chips was akin to decorating it with tampon wrappers. Growing up my mom always said that above being successful, popular, or athletic (all the things I worried about so much back then), being kind was the most important thing. And that’s something I’d love to pass down to Clara. Sing it with me: all ya need is love.
So there it is. My brain dump. I hope it helps at least one or two of you out there who might be struggling with growing and having more eyes on you. I know it sounds corny, but for us this blog is just about sharing our adventures and hopefully helping you guys along the way. That’s why we make videos about grouting and cabinet painting and take so many photos and share every last detail – in the hope of helping a handful of you guys at home. And it’s also why we love sharing behind the scenes blogging stuff like this (since so many of you are fellow bloggers these days). I am completely embarrassed to admit this, but we wrote the Thank You part of our book a few weeks ago, and it wasn’t the part about our family and friends that made me cry, it was the part about you, our lovely readers. Crying isn’t even the word. It wasn’t cute. I was weeping. There was smeared mascara and a runny nose. The whole nine yards.
The enthusiasm, sweetness, and support that you folks send our way is nothing less than life-changing. I really mean that. The least we can do is crack open a little bit of ourselves in beyond-DIY posts like this from time to time (every once in a while we get the itch to overshare, like this and this along with our more recent J-Boom and $herdog posts). So lets get all sappy and share mom and dad quotes in the comments. Or any other older and wiser family member who said something while you were growing up that rings oh so true to you. My mom was also famous for saying “always wear nice underwear in case you end up in the emergency room” throughout my formative years. And let me tell you, she was right on the money about that too. It’s waaaaaaaay too embarrassing to go into, but I didn’t follow her advice and I royally regretted it. There were Care Bears involved. And I was 21. And I don’t think the doc grasped the concept of ironic underwear. I’ll leave the rest up to your imagination.
Update – Some of the most frequent requests that we get are for info about professionally blogging (how we made our site, how we grew our following, how we make money, etc) so we shared all of the details about how we started a blog, grew our traffic, and turned it into a full time job.
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!!! You go $herdo!!! Very very very well said…all of it. That was a great way to put it all. Everyone has to remember that everyone started their own blogs for different reasons and they want to talk about what they want to talk about. My mommy always told me, “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Very true words. Keep up what you do YHL!!! :) Have a great weekend! :)
Emma says
I’m a notorious blog-lurker, but I just wanted to step out of the comments shadows and say how much I love this post. Harsh comments are hard to deal with, especially for those of us who don’t get a whole lot of feedback period.
Also, just throwing this out there: YHL is one of the few blogs I actually read, instead of just look at pictures (although I love the pics too). I’m so glad you guys don’t let the bad criticism get to you, because I LOVE the blog and I don’t think you need to change a thing :)
Carolyn says
I follow YHL as I love how you both see joy in every creative project you take on (sizable or small, fancy or frugal). After I’ve caught up on the latest at Casa P, I have a smile on my face and inspiration to do something fun.
Keep up the great work and don’t take every comment out there to heart – except this one as it is well intended and well deserved.
Carolyn
Arlington, VA
Anna says
You guys are awesome! I love watching your rooms evolve and take shape. As we save for our first house (the plan is to buy next spring!) I have started poking around the MLS listings to see what’s available and to keep me motivated on saving. It isn’t terribly pretty. Our budget + West Coast city + being super picky about location within said city = some sad houses. But looking at them I can totally envision the potential! And I would never have been able to do that if I hadn’t started reading your blog. And now, honestly, I don’t want a turnkey house. Because then I would feel like I have no right to go in and change things around to my style. Like it would be a waste of time & money.
I appreciate all you guys do, and you are a highlight of my day. You give me confidence that we can learn along the way, too! Keep up the good work. I’m glad you don’t let haters bring you down.
Amy says
John and Sherry, I was in lurve with your blog the first day I found it and I’ve checked it almost every day since even though I live in a rental in NYC because of YOUR unique voice. I am SO glad to hear you address negativity and how you deal with it because I think every single person has to deal with it at some point, and it is always so easy to get discouraged or derailed by it. My personal motto is to live my life with integrity and without fear of looking stupid (the latter is much harder). I think my mother was really influential in those things because she always stands up for the right thing, even if I thought it was cringe-inducing when I was young.
Please continue doing your four points even if it’s harder done than said like so many things.
Sierra says
Thank you for this post! I opened an Etsy shop today and am a small blogger. I needed to read this for possible “snarky” comments that might have crushed me had I not read your post today!
You guys are just darling and have all my support for any big/little/Burg/Clara/WHATEV posts!
xoxo, Sierra
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Good luck with your shop!
xo,
s
Kaylene says
I have a secret blog that I haven’t shared with my facebook friends yet because I’m afraid of the criticism. I keep thinking, I’ll just fix this, this, and this, and then it will be ready for the public eye. The idea of someone making fun of my blog or saying something mean is what is keeping me from sharing it. Thanks for the encouragement. I’m going to give myself a deadline and then let that sucker go live ready or not.
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Good luck, you can totally do it!
xo,
s
Rachelle says
Love your blog!
And love the underwear comment. My Mom’s comment that I think is such a good reminder to not judge people by their appearance is that no one leaves their house thinking “I want to look like absolute crap today.” Everyone is trying their best, maybe some days it’s harder than others, but that’s no reason to make a snap judgement.
Sarah B says
In fact, I think I comment so frequently because I want us to magically and dreamily become bffs (which I realized sounds weird and probably won’t happen)!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, ya never know…
xo,
s
Emily says
Well said and good advice. I still can’t believe anyone would have anything negative to say about you guys.
Lindsay says
Um. Clearly MORE Clara and Burger. Duh! ;)
beebea says
One time I was complaining that it wasn’t fair that a girl I knew was getting a big baby shower with lots of presents months after her three wedding showers while I was NOT getting a “congratulations for not getting knocked up at 18” party. My dad said “Only the saints want justice — everyone else wants mercy.” That has stuck with me ever since when I feel like people are being unjustly rewarded for bad behavior — it’s not like I’ve done any better.
Jessica says
Hi guys! Very sweet post!
I have a question for you not related to this post. Is there a place on this site that I can go to in order to see a room start to finish, like your master bedroom. I clicked on your monthly roundups, but I can only see that by the superlatives. I love your master bedroom and I would love to read it’s journey from start to present straight through. I also went to the projects page, but it isn’t listed with the other transformations. Thanks! : )
YoungHouseLove says
I wish we could code that! We have tried a few ways (with tags) and couldn’t get it to work- but it’s definitely one the someday list! Would be really fun!
xo,
s
Robin says
“You can please some of the people some of the time………..”
I think the two of you are very courageous for what you have accomplished with your first home and now your second!
I’ve never understood why if someone doesn’t like something, they don’t just
“tune” out.
Keep up the good work, I really enjoy the blog!
Alisha says
You guys are just the best :)
My favorite thing about your blog is that it’s just two people keepin’ it real! Thanks for being such an inspiration!
Jessa says
I love this post! I think the best thing about blogging is that there’s something out there for everyone..I’m always amazed when someone takes the time to leave a nasty comment. We may not all choose the same paint colors, etc..but I LOVE seeing your progress as you make your home and life together, and if there’s a project I didn’t love (hypothetically, of course, ’cause y’all rock)..well, it’s not my project so who cares! I’m a singer/songwriter and found that most of your advice applies to where we’re at in life as well…it’s so easy to lose sight of the “why” in many areas of life, and I found your words so encouraging, even though I’m not a blogger! :) You’ll be doling out advice on “Dr. $herdog” before you know it..
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it’ll be like Dr. Phil but with rap music where some of the words have been replaced by DIY terms.
xo,
s
MacKenzie @ Two Feet says
What an awesome post. Thanks for being so down to earth; and reminding us to brush off the haters, ’cause they are not as cool as lovers. For realz. But, seriously, thanks.
angela dusko says
You can’t win a battle against an ignorant person; First they take you down to their level and then they will beat you with experiance.
Thank you Sherry and John for not going down to “their” level.
Abby says
Have been reading your blog for 2+ years. I am always referring back to this blog when I do my own projects as well as looking for inspiration for future ones. I love that you post whatever is going on in the moment…THATS LIFE!!! Keep it up and I’ll be hoping to see you both in PDX for the Home and Garden Show. Can’t wait!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! So excited to meet you!
xo,
s
Kristin says
You guys just plain.old.rock.
:)
Eva says
I’m going to go with the Thumper from Bambi reasoning. If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all. I may not like everything I see online but I’m not going to criticize it.
Amanda says
Such wonderful words. Definitely advice not just to blog by, but to live by as well.
Have a wonderful weekend, you guys!
Leeanne says
I don’t write a blog, but this is great advice for real life too. I think your positive attitudes, love of life and family and willingness to try new things is what makes you and this blog so popular. Don’t get me wrong, your projects are great but your delivery is pretty fab too!
Christina says
This post is fabulous! Such great information and reminders. I’m so glad Meghann from Meals and Miles tweeted this link!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw that was so nice of Meghann!
xo,
s
Kristin Viljoen says
You guys have gotten loads of replies, so I’ll keep mine short and sweet. I have been following you for a few months now and VERY inspired and am enjoying living vicariously through your home renovation. I really appreciate this post as a new blogger. I find that no matter how much you try to remind yourself of those truths you mentioned, it’s easy to forget. Our blog is just our family and lives in South Africa,so it’s mostly friends and family checking it out. The pressure is still there. So, thank you for your encouragement. :) Keep up the great blog. Woot woot!(see, you’ve rubbed off on me).
Dana J says
So, I love you guys, primarily because I love both your writing “voices!” You’re genuine, lovable, quirky, and silly! AND it is clear that you are trying to run your business with integrity and humility. I am not much of a decorator, and my taste (if you can even call it that!) is very different from yours, BUT you have inspired me to take some chances and find out what fits in my home with my family, and to attempt my own DIY projects! SO glad you have decided to stay true to yourselves because that is why I keep coming back!
Catherine says
Some of those suggestions for ‘improvement’ cracked me up…. I love your blog the way it is. If I dont think im interested in a project you wrote about then i guess id skip it… but generally i read all posts, because you never know what tips are going to pop up
Emy says
I looooooveeee your blog! All day everyday! (I miss you on the weekends)
I wish you love happiness and lots of prosperity I appreciate your dedication….You guys give so much and we get to enjoy it for free so Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
You’re welcome Emy! So sweet of you to say. You’re all being so sweet today. As usual. You guys make our day every day.
xo,
s
Ambierre says
I <3 YoungHouseLove! You guys are awesome. I truly look forward to the day when your amazing book is sitting on my coffee table and a friend flips through it and feels the inspiration that I've felt for the last 3 years! I seriously can't believe I've followed you that long : ) You are very likable, incredibly intelligent and totally fun. What more could anyone want?
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Ambierre! You’re so sweet!
xo,
s
nicolette @ momnivore's dilemma says
Leaving comment at a blog is akin to visiting someone’s home.
I won’t walk into to someone’s home and tell them: your paint color is gross, your dinner was nasty.
Just like nana used to say, “If you don’t got anything nice to say, shut your pie hole.”
I get a lot of haters b/c I write about autism and health often. If the comments really eat at me, it’s my house. And if you are RUDE, I will kick you and your nasty comment out.
:) Oh happy day, right? I could have just said, “Merry Christmas to you and yours, but that delete button made me happier.”
Kate says
I am among the regular readers but irregular commenters and just wanted to shout out that you guys have a great attitude, a wonderful family, a lovely(and still getting lovelier) house and a very fun life. Thanks for sharing it with the world, and bearing with the the negativity that comes with it. I look forward to reading every day after work and learning from a lovable, quirky couple!
Leah says
I love your blog and I can rarely summons up the energy to click over from google reader to comment to say something nice – I worry about those who bother to say something nasty … Or envy their energy LOL
Hannah says
To be honest, I enjoy your guys enthusiasm, because I am a bit more cynical. I’m British, not my fault. Anyway, it’s the humblebrag that I find a bit irritating. Yes, by all means, I really enjoy a positive post like this, but do your really have to mention you have 5 million views each month? Why is that a necessary thing for me to know? It’s just sounds like passive aggressive boasting to me. And maybe it’s a culture difference this but boasting is something that I have so strongly been told not to do by my parents. I am reasonably successful in my chosen career, but I wouldn’t announce that publicly because my friends/family may not be. Just a thought. However, well done, I do enjoy your cheerful American personalities!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I think the hits thing just blows our mind. As in we can’t wrap our minds around it so we try to use it in a sentence from time to time. You know when you get married and then you say “you’re my husband” fifty times because it sounds so weird? It’s like that. Haha. And maybe we’re trying to encourage folks too (as in, we don’t know how it happened but we’re “here” and if you stick to writing about what you love you could find yourself “here” too- so just be yourself!). But yes, we’re totally aware that we’re overly cheerful. Haha. Check out the $herdog and J-Boom posts for more on that!
xo,
s
Christie says
I’m not a blogger, but your words are good life advice to all … whether we’re on the giving or receiving end. You really can’t please everyone. :D
AnnaMaria says
This is sound advice. I actually blog for Apartment Therapy and have felt really terribly about posting other bloggers’ projects only to check back and see loads of negative comments. And I’ve sparked plenty of negative commentary with my own DIY projects and home-related posts! Why, just today I posted about how housekeeping is valued — using my own life as an example — only to have people scorn me and one Twitter user call me creepy. Sigh. Just know that if someone else features your post, they think it’s great, and everyone else can suck it. That’s as close to being mean as I’ll get. :-)
Susan says
I am a complete lurker, and religiously check in here twice a day. Your blog makes me smile, giggle, laugh out loud, and want to plagiarize all of your wonderful ideas. I have a lot of respect for the both of you regarding how you live your life, raise your two kids (have to include Burger) and maintain such grounded values. This is a great blog!
Angie says
Great post. Well said. Loved your pointers. It’s a nice reminder to respond with love.
Anna says
Obviously, you have far more positive readers than negative ones. I’m glad you all are able to produce enough strength to move on and forget about those negative comments. I, for one, cannot believe anyone would ever say ANY of those things…especially about Clara…she’s a doll!
I have been reading and following for 2 years and I am a “constant checker” of the blog to see if I’ve missed anything. Your talent is immeasurable but I come for the “realness.” You guys never admit perfection because perfection is impossible and I admire that.
Keep it up. Oh and just one comment….more videos of Clara singing, please/thanks! =)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I’m on it! She’s getting shy about the camera lately, but I’m wearing her down!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Thank you for this post, Sherry! Overall I work in a very positive environment, but it doesn’t matter how few and far between the negative comments are in relation to the good stuff; they still hurt. I also try to live by that “do everything with love” rule. GREAT ADVICE, and yes, it does sound cheesy, but it’s so true! <3 you guys!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Elizabeth. Love you right back.
xo,
s
Steph says
So I’m the idiot who clicks the link and finds my way to ‘those’ comments on the nest and I just feel so awful. I have been reading YHL for years, I even spent a whole month reading posts from the very beginning to catch up. I have never once felt that you guys were being dishonest or sneaky or anything other than DIY enthusiasts. It broke my heart to read some of the nasty and downright rude things that weren’t even true!
I don’t always like what you do, but I never make a comment to say that. Why would I? What would be the point of me spending time to say ‘I don’t like your backsplash’. Gee that’s so constructive! (BTW I haven’t decided yet, I’m waiting on the finished product ;))
I love this blog because you are real, you post about moving a cushion, you don’t advertise products for payment and you do everything in real time. You inspired me to refinish our dining table and I followed the tutorial from Clara’s dresser. Without that it would have been a fail!
Sorry for the long post but I wanted to send all of you 6 million virtual hugs and say please keep doing what you are doing because it is awesome beyond belief :)
Denyelle says
It’s funny how “virtual” life sometimes replicates 3D life! Your post really struck a chord with me because what happens in blogland often happens in real life too. I mean, how many times do we get unsolicited advice (or snarkiness) from family/friends/co-workers? (I had a co-worker I would have loved to “delete” today;)
I think you both have a great attitude about the whole thing! Keep true to yourselves and keep blogging:)
Kirsten says
I am DYING over the comparison of paint chips to tampon wrappers! I hope you had a chuckle over that after the sting. Why is it so easy to have the not-nice things register so much more than the nice?
I had this one horror story when I was talking about the decision over whether or not to circumcise my son. (Clearly, mine is a mommy blog.) Someone Anonymous wrote something about being a 14-year old boy and having had some kind of botched circumcision and now his man-parts weren’t doing what they should have been doing… In short, it was both disturbing, sad, tmi, and (in his aggressive wording) quite an attack. Yikes!
In that case, I did actually delete the comment (because of some of the tmi info more than the attack) and then wrote a blog post sort of sharing compassion with whomever it was, in a very general way. Usually I wouldn’t, but clearly this person was hurting. I think I bring this up to say that I agree that having an open mind and giving some grace even to the meanies is a great thing, albeit hard sometimes.
Wow, this comment is now really long. Anyway, I think that the following you have shows that people (generally) REALLY like what you do. I dislike seeing people gear too much toward what they think will “sell” their blog, so I love that you guys are you and stick to it! Clearly I am not the only one who thinks this… :)
Bethie says
Dad quote: “Find what you love to do and then find someone who’ll pay you to do it.” (I am now a professional musician!)
Mom quote: “It never hurts to ask.” (I’ve gotten many a discount, free upgrade, etc. because I wasn’t afraid to ask for it!)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- both great ones!
xo,
s
Chrissie says
I want to say a really big thank you for this post and previous ones that touched on the same subject. Reading these types of posts and seeing your lovely responses has actually helped me learn to let those types of criticisms slide.
Two days ago my husband and I got married, and our wedding actually trended on Twitter in our city! Amid all the messages of love and excitement, one person decided to tweet me and the celebrant (a good friend) to say that my dress was ugly, and that anyone with taste would agree – never mind that people with taste usually know when to keep their mouths shut.
Instead of letting that person’s negativity get to me, I just laughed. Hey, it’s my dress on my body on my wedding day. I could wear a garbage bag and I still wouldn’t care what they thought of it!
So thank you for leading by example, it really has made a big difference in the way I approach negativity online :-)
Keep being your lovely selves!
Chrissie xx
YoungHouseLove says
Oh Chrissie, you were a gorgeous bride and your dress was amazing and I have no idea why anyone would say that but I know you have great taste and are happy as a clam! Congrats girl!
xo,
s
Chrissie says
Oh shucks! You are too sweet, thank you! I am beaming like anything over here. As you guys always say, the positive comments far outweighed the negative, so I just focused on all the love we were shown. It really made our day special to share it with so many people :-)
Jennifer Darling says
Everyone needs to take a chill pill. I for one LOVE your blog. Sure, I may not like some of the choices you make, because it’s just not my style, but it’s YOUR home and like you said you do things with love. I find you willing to take chances inspirational and I wish I had half your energy. I read your blog because it gives me a chance to “peek” into your home and get great ideas. I also love the stories about Clara and Burger. Every one of them makes me smile. You just keep doing what you’re doing and as long as you’re a writin’, I’m gonna keep on reading. :)
jacqueline says
Great post, yadda yadda, but honestly, my biggest take away was that y’all are watching Homeland now…I’m easily distracted. :-) I completely obsessed over the first season and invited friends over to re-watch the entire season with us just so that we could talk about it with someone! Fallow yellow!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- yes it’s so good! I’m on the edge of my seat for next season!
xo,
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Laura says
This was a great blog day for you! It is your blog and you guys are spreading the love for DIY! I don’t blog, I just read about three a day – one being yours – have gotten some great ideas, laughs, smiles and moments of wow! Truly enjoy you!! Keep up that positive attitude of yours!! :)
My day (usually at the end of it – I take care of my two grandaughters while my daughter works – she teaches – her oldest daughter is just a couple of months older that your Clara – her youngest daughter is 18 weeks old today!)…so…at the end of my day, when I get home, I check in on your blog to see whats been happening over at your casa!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Laura!
xo,
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Jenni says
Hey $herdog,
I find your blog irresistible and I am totally fascinated by your creativity & drive. I don’t understand how you guys keep going. I have three kids and would love to make some changes around our place, but between the full-time job and the three kids, my changes seem to stay living in their cushy little corner of my brain.
Anyway, thanks for the inspiration. Ignore the haters. I’m a teacher, and we go through the same thing. At the end of the semester at teacher evaluation time, it is soooo hard to hear the personal and useless remarks. Having a teenager tell you how to do your job can be really infuriating. But like you say, you have to come from a place of love. Maybe they hate my class because English lit is really hard for them. Maybe their parents are getting a divorce this year. Maybe they have an eating disorder. The list goes on and on.
Keep up the good work!!!
Beth says
Love your transparency and your heart! Thanks for keeping it real. I look forward to reading your blog every day. I really enjoy your guys’ sense of humour, joy, and creative ideas. Keep on keepin’ on!
Kristin H. says
Thank you deeply for this post. My husband and I own our business (sandwich shop) where we make 98% of our menu from scratch. It’s hard. Really hard. And we put everything that we have/do/think/are into it, and I know you guys know how that is. We go through this same thing but with yelp reviews.. internetonymous criticizers should be punched in the boob :) My husband always says “if it was easy everyone would be doing it” and this post is just such a great reminder of doing what *you* love no matter who tries to steer you in a different direction. You guys are the best best best.
PS. Please come to White Plains NY one day.. we will feed you sandwiches till you pop! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Mmm, sounds like a good time! Bring on the sandwiches!
xo,
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