We can’t believe we’re halfway through February already (January was kind of a blur). So in an attempt to take a minute and appreciate the things that we checked off the ol’ list (which keeps our momentum up and combats any “we didn’t get anything done” nagginess that sneaks up when the to-do list is still super long), here’s our yearbook-superlative-style January round-up. And if you want to look even further back, we’ve got each month of the last two years summarized right here in 24 posts instead of 840.
But let’s start with something not-yet-blogged about (and an off the wall theory about bacon and mustaches)…
Most Likely To Sport A Mustache: Anyone in the FLOR store in SoHo last month for our signing, where there were homemade mustache photobooth props. In fact it’s where I coined the completely logical theory that “The mustache is the bacon of the face.” (Both bacon and mustaches are trendy, and you’re likely to find them on random things like mugs and band-aids, so there has to be a connection, right?) I also conversely decided that “Bacon is the the mustache of breakfast.”
Most Intrigued: Clara, when she opened the homemade latch board that we made her for Christmas. Of course her first sentence about it made us laugh (“oh wow man!”) and thankfully she has been captivated by it ever since – especially the carabiners that we added to give the board some color.
Biggest Relief: Finally getting to reveal our new lighting line at Shades of Light felt awesome (especially since we’ve been keeping that side project a secret for over a year). We worked really hard to come up with a colorful and fun collection that felt like us, not only in looks, but in budget (nothing’s over $99).
Worst Speller: It’s no secret that I’m the more spellcheck-dependent one in our marriage, so thank goodness Sherry noticed – just moments before posting our 2013 blogging resolutions – that I had a typo (“resoltions”) in every single one of my graphics. A little bit of quick photoshop later and no one was the wiser.
Most Handsome: I gotta give this up to the Burg-ster. For one, it would’ve been odd to award it to anyone else in our household and he just looks so darn stately next to this pillow that I gifted Sherry for Christmas. We posted this round-up of all of our exchanged gifts, including some tattoos and a few crazy faces too.
Most Text-y: Probably both of us, considering it’s how Sherry introduced me to our new media console after she came across it at a thrift store. Although Sherry would definitely pull out the win in this category thanks to her long text conversations with various non-local friends (yes I’m talking about you Katie and Roo).
Biggest Nerd: I usually wear the nerdy pants in the family, but I’m giving Sherry this title thanks to the oh-so-scientific equation she cooked up for cleaning our dingy new thrift store media console. Though perhaps I shouldn’t encourage her or she might try to cook up her own DIY version of the periodic table (which would somehow involve buying 118 new pillows, knowing Sherry).
Most Talked About: Sherry’s bangs, which she cut herself on a whim and have since become the topic of conversation in just about every Instagram photo and book tour stop to follow (perhaps because they only come out for special occasions but people are constantly asking where they went or demanding that they emerge more). Maybe it’s because I’m a guy, but I am fascinated / confounded by how interested everyone is in my wife’s hair.
Most Compact: Our casual system for Christmas decoration storage, which we outlined for those who were curious about how we crammed all of our holiday decor out of sight for the other 11 months of the year.
Most Quotable: That award totally goes to Clara these days. Which is why we made her funny little quotes – along with her funny little Instagram pictures – the star of our annual DIY calendar. Oh and Burger’s in there too. You can check it out in more detail here and download our free template if you want to make your own.
Most Trendy: This goes to the art we added above the daybed in our sunroom, not because the art itself it’s especially trendy (although I’m not alone in my map love these days) but because I jumped on the animated GIF bandwagon by making one to show the art wall’s progress. Yup, I’m fancy now.
Most Adulterous: This usually isn’t an award you want to win, but I’ll gladly accept it this month for my not-so-secret-love for the oversized bike prints in our sunroom and the easy DIY frames that I made for them.
Most Colorful: Our whole house palette. Okay, admittedly the palette itself doesn’t look wildly colorful but I’m still handing over this award to the post because it was, well, about looking at the colors in our house as a whole. And it seems as if we have every color of the rainbow going on if you count fabrics, rugs, and accessories.
Most Helpful: My newest little DIY assistant, who helped me squeeze the power drill while putting together the new Expedit for our sunroom. And yes, we did use a power tool to assemble a piece of Ikea furniture. I’m way too lazy to do all that allen wrenching by hand!
Most Revealing: The glass-doored bathroom in our Miami hotel, which we we stayed at as part of our tour stops in Austin, Texas, and South Florida. It was just one of many good stories from a trip that included me curtsying in a Home Depot apron, Sherry doing a weak Dexter impression, and $herdog’s littlest homeboy.
The “Clean Slate” Award: This has to go to our playroom / junk room where we did lots of book photography over a year ago. We finally got it cleared out and repainted it. We were so excited to create a space that we can actually enjoy (as opposed to closing the door to hide from the clutter).
Most Honest: Many of you had questions on the subject, and you know we like to keep it real, so we shared a behind the scenes look at how the book business works, at least in our experience by revealing that publishing a book doesn’t make you a millionaire… or even anything close to that. Thank goodness we did it for the love! You know what they say about mo money and mo problems anyway…
Most Excited: Clara, for her new big girl room, which started to look more room-ish with the addition of a daybed, some bright bedding in her favorite colors, and a play table that I cut down to her size.
Most Likely To Be Pregnant: Our friend Lori who, by coincidence, was pregnant both times we crashed her home. Her new house caught many of your eyes for lots of reasons, but especially for the awesome built-ins that they added in their family room. And yes, I realize everyone was hoping Sherry would take the prize in this category, but she is not currently with child (unless you count her being in the room with Clara and Burger, but they’re not in her belly).
Most Likely To Keep Instagram In Business: Us – although maybe we’re just keeping the Instagram spin-off services in business considering our recent order of prints for the frame collage in our living room and magnets for Clara’s play kitchen.
Most Fudge-ing Awesome: The incredible response you guys had to our random idea to have an Unofficial Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge. We secretly feared we were the only ones who were obsessed with hip hop’s numero uno tribute to thrifting, so the fact that you guys were into it was the icing on the cake, er, the faux fur on the big a$$ coat.
Most Debated: This new dresser for Clara’s big girl room that we scored on Craiglist. The jury is still out at our house as to whether it’s gonna get refinished or earn some pretty paint, but we sure got lots of suggestion from you guys!
Most Organized: My now-complete pegboard in the basement that finally got filled up with both form (wooden USA, white elephant) and function (shelf, iPod dock, pen cup).
Most Likely To Get Lots of Action: Wait, not that kind of action. What I really meant was that the new pink polka-dot / ombre rug in Clara’s big girl room is probably gonna see lots of play time, jumping, tea parties, and stuffed animal mosh pits.
Most Likely To Miss The Memo That Christmas Is Over: These white ceramic houses (which Sherry got as a Christmas gift). Despite being from Ballard Designs’ holiday line, it seems they’ve earned a post-holiday spot on our mantle, which we shared here along with two other mini updates. If Sherry has her way, they’ll live there forever. At least we don’t have to pay any utilities on them…
How did January look for you? Did you knock out a lot of travel for work or for play? Did you get any major projects completed? Or did you just hunker down and try not to freeze your DIY-loving hands off?
Psst- We’re sharing the most hilarious house-related kid quotes ever on Young House Life. Seriously, I dare you not to laugh. These kids are geniuses.
Rene' says
Finally getting into a schedule after holidays, our wedding and lots of out of town guests. So nice to have a quiet house :)
http://thedomesticlady.com/2013/02/15/retail-therapy-for-friday-the-hunt-for-a-kitchen-rug/
John @ Our Home from Scratch says
Loved that SoHo signing! We went sans-stache for our booth photos though. Great GIF too, btw.
Your friend Lori has an amazing built-in! We’re starting work on our own custom built-in for our sitting room. http://www.ourhomefromscratch.com/2013/02/overview-of-our-built-in-project/ It’s a little different than her’s but, for the same purpose.. having a place to put toys and other stuff.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cool! Good luck John!
xo
s
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
I vote for keeping the houses on the mantel full time. :)
YoungHouseLove says
I’m with you!
xo
s
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
January feels so long ago! LOL I can’t even remember what I did now! My hubby is such a bad speller too! I still get a kick out reading through his grocery lists (he does the shopping :). Letus is one of my favorites. I can totally see how he said lettuce in is head and wrote let-us.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah! Let-is is the best!
xo
s
Wendy @ New Moms Talk says
January was wonderful!
I was finally cleared to resume workouts-
http://www.newmomstalk.com/2013/01/24/first-postpartum-work-out
and I made a few cute things our growing-like-a-lily daughter-
car seat toys- http://www.newmomstalk.com/2013/01/22/diy-car-seat-toys
and a felt board-
http://www.newmomstalk.com/2013/01/28/diy-felt-board
February is looking just as delightful!
Diane says
Mistress Peg in the basement and a torrid affair with oversized bike prints. Tsk,tsk.
YoungHouseLove says
Seriously! Thank goodness he saves some snuggles for me.
xo
s
Koliti says
Hi! Your mustache photos remind me of those olde-timey western sepia-toned photos – have you guys ever dressed up for one of those? I think it would be hilarious – Sherry, John, Clara, and Burger doing some melodramatic DIY poses – and you can change it to sepia in Photoshop – Ha!
How about for your little white houses…
for spring you could have a flower (real or artificial
come out of the chimineys? Or a little bird peeking out of the round windows? Sweet.
Thanks for the round-up. You guys accomplish a wide variety of projects every month :)
YoungHouseLove says
That would be hilarious! Especially with Clara and Burger in there! And as for a chimney flower- I LOVE IT!
xo
s
Rebecca @This Nest is Best says
These monthly round ups are pretty much my favorite – love taking a look back at what’s happened over the past month! Last month we hosted our annual NYE party (I guess technically the party started in December, but it didn’t end until January!)
http://thisnestisbest.com/2013/01/15/speakeasy-nye-party/
Totally jumped on the speakeasy / Gatsby wagon!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Rebecca! It’s fun for us to see what the heck we did too- especially since January already feels like eons ago! And I love your NYE party! Looks like so much fun!
xo
s
Mary says
The dresser you got for Clara is almost exactly like the one I found at an occasional shop for my daughter! Ours was refinished in a creamy eggshell color! LOVE IT!!
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds pretty!
xo
s
Jeremy says
John is a comedic genius. Periodic table of 118 pillows! Oh man. I also don’t understand that fascination with hair that isn’t their own, maybe it’s a girl thing????
Sayward says
Now all I want is a periodic element throw pillow. I’m sure someone’s selling them online. I know what I’m googling during my lunch break.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah!
xo
s
meganleiann says
My “Most Likely to Miss that Christmas is Over” is my (fake) mistletoe. My kids attack me with kisses every time I walk under it- even my crazy 3-year-old who wipes kisses off. It’s staying up til August, baby!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah!
xo
s
MB says
During our last Ikea visit we purchased a little $10 mini drill/screwdriver. Rechargeable without enough torque to strip any screwheads. Made putting together our BESTA wall super duper easy! http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60196103/ This is….awesome…. (sorry but I couldn’t help myself.) Happy Weekend!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome!
xo
s
Diane @ Vintage Zest says
Hey! What a fake out with “Most Likely To Be Pregnant” category! But seriously, is Sherry in your phone as Wife – Sherry? Is that to distinguish between Wife – Jennifer, Wife – Courtney, etc.? Oh, and you guys are just so dang hilarious, it makes for NSFW reading because I giggle reading your blog when I should be doing worky stuff. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we read somewhere that you should add Husband and Wife labels to your phone in case of an emergency (if you pass out a stranger can call your spouse for you).
xo
s
Diane @ Vintage Zest says
Ohhhhh. So smart and here I am making a joke of it… Silly me!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, no worries! It still makes us giggle!
xo
s
Janelle Kay says
Love the monthly round up!!! So fun to read, I especially enjoyed the texting convo!! Haha.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Janelle!
xo
s
Jordan@the2seasons says
What a busy month y’all have had. I have to say we have had a blast with your book this week and doing projects. I loved #140 and my husband now wants me to make something for him. Enjoy your February!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jordan!
xo
s
S.Moody says
“I got 20 dollars in my pocket…”
anna see says
Too fun! BTW, I think I had that very same coat in high school!
YoungHouseLove says
No way!
xo
s
Brandi from Bloomington says
Good morning, Petersnicks.
I found something that you guys might love for a tissue holder. It’s a tissue box and it is in the shape of a house. http://www.amazon.com/Umbra-Casa-Tissue-Cover-White/dp/B005M8GUOK
So cute.
-B from B-town
P.S. I recently did the bookcase project with the paper and it turned out fan-tastic.
YoungHouseLove says
Holy cow, so cute!
xo
s
Melissa @ Cooked and Devoured says
I love your new lighting line and I would *love love* to see more posts about placing lighting a room overall, which I am trying to do right now and for some reason is tripping me up! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Melissa! We’re actually planning some lighting stuff for the living room (that giant room has zero overhead lights!!!) so we can’t wait to share those details!
xo
s
Megan @ Monroe Makeshift says
So maybe this is a stupid question… But how did you use a power screwdriver to put together your bookcase? Is there a certain attachment that’ll work? We just got the Karlstad sectional with chaise and, as I’m sure you know, it was a beast to put together! Probably took us 3 hours. A power tool would have been so helpful.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we have an attachment that basically works like an allen wrench (it fits into the screws from Ikea). I think most kits at home improvement stores have them!
xo
s
abbey says
Just want to say your blog always makes me smile! You two are so funny and have some great ideas that I want to try out on our new home.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Abbey! You’re so sweet!
xo
s
Erica says
I love your site. You guys are so organized and so sweet. You truly inspire me and I know millions of others!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Erica! We love you guys right back. Wouldn’t be here without you :)
xo
s
Nicole @ Liberty Belles says
so impressed you got all this stuff done AND traveled a ton for the book tour. well done you two!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Nicole! January was a crazy month for travel, so it felt like we were in the air, at events, or at home doing DIY in hyperspeed every moment of the month. Haha!
xo,
s
Kitty says
Your January was super-busy!
It has been a mix for us, small projects on the go currently and some slowly being completed. I have high hopes for the end of Feb!
Laurie says
Hi!
I was wondering about the console table I saw behind your sofa in the Instagram shot… I need an uber-long one (about 109″) that is fairly narrow (12″) and that look like it’s in the ballpark. Did you make it or buy it?
Oh, and in the funniest story, I tried to show my 10 and 11 year olds the clean version of the Thrift Shop song and I got the eye-roll and the yeah, it’s all over school comment. Kids are always one step ahead of you…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, so funny about the Thrift Shop song! As for the console, we built it. Here’s how: https://www.younghouselove.com/at-long-last-a-completed-console/
xo
s
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says
Not sure if you’re wanting input on Clara’s dresser, but I’m in the “Paint it” camp. It’s a bit fuddy-duddy otherwise.
Sorry for the tough love.
Katy
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, no worries Katy! The front runner right now in our heads is painting it navy! Can’t wait to see where we end up!
xo
s
ShellHawk says
I, too, am baffled as to how half of February is gone and I feel sooooo far behind “schedule.” We keep plugging along, though, don’t we?
And who thought it was a good idea to put a clear glass door next to the toilet?! Epic fail! Lol
Roo @ NiceGirlNotes says
John, are you feeling left out? I could text you Emojis and pictures of Abraham Lincoln or steak + lobster or something.
YoungHouseLove says
Ha! Deal.
-John
Jenny C says
At the very end of January, my husband and I purchased our first home and we move in a few weeks! So I have been getting so much inspiration from your posts on how to make this brand new house fit our personality. Also, I enjoy all the humor mixed in :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks! Good luck with your new place!
xo,
s
Natalie Royall says
Hey Sherry, just saw your instagram / shoes :( Not sure if there is other damage not pictured… but there is this great place on Hull St… the Shoe Dr. who can fix just about anything and he is super reasonable. I have a pair of heels that he has had to re-toe / re-heel / re-strap 3 different times b/c I wear them with EVERYTHING :) Maybe he could fix them for you. OOOrrr… you can just go shoe shopping :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw you’re sweet! Not only are the insoles shot but the actual bottoms (soles) are gone and they’re stretched out and too loose (there’s even a stud missing in one). They’re officially shot :(
xo,
s
KB says
seriously…the mustache is the bacon of the face is my new favorite quote. I say it all the time…always with a ‘johnpetersiksays’ at the beginning…
so when you get a tshirt deal with that on it…you know where I live.
miss y’all!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha we miss you more!
xo,
s
GreenInOC says
Did I miss the YHL designed Flor rugs?!
Curious about how the Etsy pillow is holding up (I LOVE it!)? Is it easy to clean?
I didn’t post but I totally participated in the Mackelmore challenge. Got an ice cube tray, a drawer insert to use as a cat toy holder and a glass frame to hold a picture I found online by Googling my name and finding a lewd photo of a bathroom stall scrawl that used my name! I spent $4.98.
YoungHouseLove says
The pillow is holding up really well! Haven’t had to clean it yet but it still looks nice. As for the Flor rug, they just had us use their rug designing software on their site (anyone can use it) to mix and match squares and make a 5×8 rug that was free for one random attendee at each event. We’ll have to see if we have a picture!
xo,
s
Abbie says
The picture of you in the big coat reminded me of this: vintage style remake of Thrift Shop!!! http://youtu.be/4Cnm0tdkJEU
YoungHouseLove says
SO funny!
xo
s
Danielle Ferretti in Miami says
Hello my favorite SuperHeroes ! Hope you had a great Valentine’s Day !
LOVE that I was a part of this post by nagging you for a full new house color palette, hence “Most Colorful” category… LOL
Also – why is it that we end up marrying adorable, cute, smart guys that cannot spell for the life of them ?
When my husband proposed to me, his plan B was a text message with a picture of my ring, and under the ring it said : will you mErry me ?
Yep. I should have ran. LOL
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha! That’s so sweet!
xo
s
Steph says
I always feel bad that you guys have to sneak a “not pregnant!” in so many posts. It always surprises me how much that question gets asked here :)
YoungHouseLove says
You wouldn’t believe how often I get asked! It’s kinda crazy! Haha.
xo
s
Melissa says
Hey!
I just had a thought as to a post that may be interesting/helpful- tutorial on how you create your mood boards. Maybe I am the only person “behind the technology times”, but I would really like to know how you do it.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Melissa! We touch on that on our FAQ page if that helps! We use photoshop but there are other free programs that people seem to love!
xo
s
KerryQ says
No, you didn’t say “we we” in reference to your hotel bathroom.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Nat says
This has nothing to do with your post, but reminded me of you guys with your dining table. http://www.dbfletcher.com/index.php/furniture/capstan-table/
Too bad you guys couldn’t save $50k~70k this fancy table costs. Haha. Pretty cool though
YoungHouseLove says
So cool!
xo
s
ErinY says
Wow! Can’t believe book photoshoots were a year ago already! It’s amazing what you’ve accomplished in the past year. Be proud, you guys have done a great job!
YoungHouseLove says
Ahhh, isn’t that crazy?! Time flies!
xo
s
katalina says
unrelated to this post:
love the cardboard Burger look alike on your Instagram. Great photo!
is there a company that makes animals?
YoungHouseLove says
That was actually made by a sweet reader and her man Trey! So awesome, right?! They gave it to us at our Atlanta signing! It was awesome! Oh but cardboardsafari.com makes other animals :)
xo
s
Miyu says
Love your Blog!!!!
The one about the revealing glass door cracks me up!! But, did it have a lock on it? Some of these high-tech doors, when it locks, it frosts! Like this door on this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRYxvpgkqYI
A club in Las Vegas had this for their bathroom doors… except some girls with a little too much to drink didn’t bother to lock the door and everyone could see everything!
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, no lock! It just swung open and closed without any latch at all. Love those frosting doors though (they had them at a restaurant in NY we used to go to).
xo
s
Kierstin says
John, I’m glad your phone has Sherry specified as your wife (“Wife – Sherry”), as opposed to some other woman, or another wife?? lol :-P
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! We heard somewhere that you should add “wife” and “hubby” in case of an emergency. Totally makes us laugh though!
xo
s
KarenH. says
January and February have, ironically, been devoted to yard work. And no, sadly, I do not live in Florida or anywhere else that’s warm. The shrubs i. Front of my tiny house need annual pruning. I didn’t know that the first two winters I lived here so tis past summer, they were threatening to take over the house. I spent most of one week pruning everything but the holly bush (which scares me), and then paid a company to come haul away the mountain of deconstructed bushes.
I did finally get the holly pruned to within an inch of its life, but it was scary business!
Adrienne says
I can totally understand the fascination with Sherry’s bangs because I think they look awesome! She really needs to show them off more often. So few people look good with bangs. I look like a pumpkin when I have bangs and think you should rock the look as often as possible. They’re gorgeeeoous!
lynda says
I actually didn’t think the comment about the coat was very funny. First off, I had a coat just like it and it was wonderful and it lasted for years. For your size, a size 12 is probably huge, so your comment wasn’t funny and it was insensitive. That’s a good way to lose readers.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s actually just a reference to a song (see this post for more explanation). I even mention in the comments that my aunt (who I love very much and is no longer with us) had the same one and it was a sweet reminder of her. And big has nothing to do with the size, it’s just that it’s nearly floor length and super puffy! Hope it helps!
xo
s
Lauren says
I love these updates! They remind me of some of the previous fun projects you’ve both had and inspires me to try some. I especially love your home made calendars (I think last year’s were my favourites) and the fact that you now have your own line of lamp shades. Congrats!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lauren!
xo
s
Josephine Freeman says
Think you guys would love http://timbergram.com/ – especially the little orange one with the tandem bike on – it’s on the website frontpage. My boyfriend sent it to me for Valentines, such a cute keepsake xxx
YoungHouseLove says
Really cute!
xo
s
Alison says
Saw your article on the BBC website this morning…fancy dancy! I was scrolling and saw a big ol’ picture of your faces…you’re the Brad and Angelina of DIY bloggers. Love reading your blog so much, even all the way from Kenya :)
YoungHouseLove says
Ahhhhh! Isn’t that crazy?! So excited to head over and watch it right now. It was so much fun to have them over :)
xo
s
Sam says
Ok, so I know you guys probably know this but you were totally on BBC Buisness News today! Right here, in the UK. For some reason this was beyond exciting to me this morning. In my head its just me over here in Scotland reading about you and telling everyone I know!
Here’s this link incase other people want to see it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21302969.
It was a really good piece too! Good work you guys :D xxxx
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Sam! It’s so exciting for us! Ahhhhh!! Their crew was so nice by the way- we loved having them over!
xo
s