Update: Yeesh, sorry about that oddly reoccurring Amazon/B&N.com “out of stock” message. To everyone who’s contacting us about getting our book (thank you!), you can order a signed copy here (they can ship it right to your door) or you can try calling/visiting a Barnes & Noble in your area (we hear they’re easier to find in stores at the moment).
Happy Friday y’all. Now that we’ve checked off a bunch of projects this week (decorating our tree, framing our bathroom mirror, and ORBing our hardware) along with a craftsman house crash, a DIY link-fest, and a look back at a bunch of mistakes we’ve made, we thought we’d take a moment to look back at November in our regular monthly wrap-up before we’re inexcusably late like we were last month. This little moment of looking back keeps momentum and morale nice and high, so we’re inspired to keep checking things off the list instead of feeling like we’re hamsters running on a wheel-to-nowhere (so to anyone who wonders how we’ve done this for five straight years, stopping to appreciate what you’ve accomplished is definitely key). Insert random photo of Sherry in love with a life-sized ram here:
And this month was especially crazy! We found ourselves traveling 14 of its 30 days for book tour events, so we’re pretty proud to have somehow still snuck in a near complete hall bathroom upgrade, a buffet update, a new kitchen window shade, some nice basement progress, and a few random fall-themed decorating projects. Not to mention that we got to unleash four House Crashing posts on you. And if you’d like to journey further back into 2012 (or even peek all the way back through 2011) you can see 22 other recaps right here (which is a lot easier to peruse than clicking though over 740 individual posts). Oh yeah, and we’ve also snuck in a clue about Monday’s giveaway at the bottom for ya. And it’s one that anyone in the entire globe can enter… so… rock on. Or should I say ram on?
Most Likely To Be A Used Car Stuff Salesman: Both of us, after we realized how much stuff we actually sell on Craigslist (the items below are just the tip of the iceberg). That’s why we finally wrote a post with all of our tips for both selling and buying on the ol’ CL.
Freshest Face: The touch up job on our still-rustic-but-not-as-beat-up living room buffet, which Sherry refreshed with some carefully color-matched paint that we followed with a few coats of polyurethane to seal and protect it.
Most Inspiring: Nate’s garage workshop was the kick in the pants I needed to start work on my own basement. So I’m forever grateful that he and Michelle invited us to crash their Northern Virginia home.
Most Secretive: This boxy floating shelf that we constructed to hide the secret tile eyesore that was leftover after Sherry unsuccessfully busted out a soap dish built into our hall bathroom. Woops.
Juiciest: This behind-the-scenes post that gives you page-by-page tidbits about what chaos transpired to get the shots in our book. We were ridiculously psyched to finally be able to tell some of the stories we’ve been sitting on since January.
Most Mouth-Watering: These pretzels, which Sherry was actually using to prop up the acorns that were drying for one of her little fall projects (which ended up getting a smidge moldy). Next time we try acorn art we’ll be sure to slowly heat them in the oven as many of you suggested to dry them out. You guys are smart.
Most Welcoming: Rich and Jessie, who not only invited us to crash their home when we were in Cincinnati for our book tour – but even picked us up from our hotel (after waiting an extra hour or so due to a flight delay). Talk about gracious hosts… with a beautiful home to boot.
Most Granny Chic: Our hall bathroom, which we painted a purplish-gray thanks to being inspired by the muted lavender color that we chose for my Granny’s bathroom makeover back in September.
Most Likely To End Up On The Weather Channel: Any of the cities on the New England leg of our book tour. Between the Sandy aftermath in our Connecticut and New Jersey stops followed by the Nor’easter-induced snowstorm in Boston, it was quite a weather-filled start to a travel-riddled month. We’re still sending love to everyone effected by Sandy – including many of Sherry’s friends and relatives.
Most Faux Real: The faux roman shade Sherry created for our kitchen using around a yard of fabric, a scrap piece of wood, some iron-on tape and a whole bunch of pins. It ended up being the first of two quickie window treatments that she made this month.
Most Fishy: This sailfish that Lesley & Jeff are sporting in their guest room. And it’s just one of the many memorable items that we discovered upon crashing their eclectic Richmond home.
Most Non-Sensical: The middle, according to this post where we reassured everyone that there’s often that point during a project or a room makeover where your vision hasn’t quite clicked yet (like this mid-point of our office makeover). But persevering and pushing on can often get you over the hump to something that makes beautiful, beautiful sense.
Most Chaotic: Our “playroom” – even after a good cleaning and purging of items from book photoshoots. This room probably won’t look “put together” until we paint over the random colors (and stenciled patterns!) that we put up for our book. And actually figure out basic things… like a functional furniture arrangement.
Most Likely To Open A Paint Store: Definitely us, especially after tidying up our paint collection as part of my basement organization effort. But in an attempt to make a dent in what we accrued thanks to book photoshoots…
… I reused one of the colors to paint the pegboards in that room.
Moose-iest: What? Your high school didn’t have a “moose-iest” award? If it did, it’d probably go to these guys that we met during our Canadian stop of the book tour. We covered more about the moose-fest as part of our tour recap of Richmond, Chicago and Toronto.
Quickest Upgrade: The new Hobby Lobby knobs that we added to our hall bathroom, which took about 0.00 minutes (I may be exaggerating) to install.
Frosting the window in that room (also covered in that post) took a bit longer, but was still totally worth it.
Most Unused: We did this post about finally crossing that line and joining the ranks of people with TVs in their bedroom thanks to our leftover living room television. However, we’ve yet to actually hook it up to anything so it has still never been used in there. Oh, and the poll we took on Facebook was incredibly close (the “No bedroom TV” folks took the lead by a tiny margin over the “pro bedroom TV” people). It was lots of fun to hear everyone’s bedroom TV opinions.
Most Heartwarming: This sweet post that Sherry wrote about me for my birthday last month. I believe my favorite comment on it was Kay’s: “Great. Now I’m in love with John.” (And to be fair, Tracie later said something quite similar).
Most Cringeworthy: Adapting our annual thanks jar tradition to our chalkboard, which made me put aside my aversion to the sound of chalk on a chalkboard. But you guys gave me some tips in the comments for my next attempt at chalk art. Update: I tried dipping chalk in water before writing and it does seem to help.
Shadiest: This 15-minute window shade that Sherry whipped up for our hall bathroom out of some bright and bean-tastic ikat fabric. It may just be our favorite thing in the whole room.
Most Serendipitous: Realizing that our 5″x5″ Instagram prints fit nearly perfectly in a CD jewel case, which allowed me to put together this super cheap photo display in my basement workshop that’s virtually sawdust-proof.
Most Insightful: You guys, since you all chimed in with lots of other great suggestions back when we shared our tips for what to look for (and look past) when house hunting.
Most Cheerful: Lesli, whose Charlottesville-area farmhouse we crashed last month. Like us, you guys seemed to enjoy her bright, casual, and colorful decor – which included many of her very own paintings.
Most Potential: Our sunroom, which we were just starting to think about at the end of November. It was nice just to get it cleaned up a bit – but now that we’ve stuck our toe in the water we’re ready to dive in. Update: In fact some painting might already be in progress (pics to come on Monday!).
Most Entertaining: Um, you guys! The comments on this random-fact filled post are just about the best laughs we’ve had in a while. Ok, ever. I seriously recommend a breeze through at least a page or two of the now 1000+ comments. You guys are hilarious. And all need your own talk shows.
Most Artistic: The husband who drew this Beavis-ified portrait of his wife based on a tip in our book, which we admitted could go terribly wrong, but just might be hilarious. She showed it off at our Houston book tour stop and we all got a good laugh. And that laughter continued when we shared it as part of our recap of our tour stops in Minneapolis, Houston, and Dallas.
Most Iconic: The images below, which each represent a word that might help you decode the prize for this Monday’s giveaway – which, by the way, is available to anyone in the whole wide world!
How did November 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 enjoy those last few weeks before holiday craziness kicked in?
Kirsty {a safe mooring} says
Excited about an international giveaway! And I’ve always wanted a Mariah thread robot ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah!
xo
s
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
Rich & Jessie’s house crash might have been my favorite post of the whole month (and definitely wins my favorite house crash of all time… that is until you come back to Dallas and crash the Little House, you know, once it’s done).
PS. Totally got the picture! I won’t say what it is and spoil it for everyone else, but I will say I own one and it’s one of my favorite tools ever. Couldn’t have made my Pinterest Challenge curtains with out it!
Lindsey d. says
Singer Sewing Machine? I’m really hoping for a Singer sewing robot though, so I don’t actually have to learn to sew.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahaha!
xo
s
Lindsay says
A singer sewing machine!?!
Devon @ Green House, Good Life says
Ooh, you missed an opportunity — “Most Faux Real” should have been “Fauxiest” (think it through).
You’re welcome.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahhahaha, too funny!
xo
s
Kati H says
Are we thinking this would make “Foxiest” or “Folksy-est?” Because it’s pronounced “pho”… just thinking!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I could get behind either one.
xo
s
Kristin says
Kati H, I’m pretty sure the joke was that “fauxiest” sounds like a little kid saying “furries.” (Could be wrong.) However, I liked the original, as I imagined it in Sherry’s voice, being pronounced “FO REEEEAL!” like the true gangster she is.
Kristin says
Oops. Typo. Meant to say “furriest” in my second line there.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I knew what you meant ;)
xo
s
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
That’s one full November. I want that big ol’ sheep up top. I can only imagine the Mr’s face when he came home to find that in the garage. “Look honey, I got a faux sheep. I will love him and kiss him and call him George!” (Or Georgia if it’s a girl)
YoungHouseLove says
Someone please surprise their hubby with a larger-than-life faux sheep in the garage.
xo
s
Ammie says
We should send this surprise-husband-with-a-sheep request to the Blogess – you know she loves her some oversized animals, and Beyonce would have a friend!
YoungHouseLove says
Agreed.
xo
s
reina says
I surprised by non-football-loving husband with a life-sized Eli Manning cardboard cutout in our guest room bed. He still lives there. Eli, not my husband…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo,
s
Stevie says
So after seeing that a couple people think it’s a Singer Sewing Machine, I feel pretty dumb because I decided it will definitely be a robot that threads needles while singing to you. Preferably parodies, like “Eye of the Needle” to the tune of “Eye of the Tiger.” This needs to be invented.
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahahah!
xo
s
Kim H. says
Ah, I guessed the giveaway! Would love love love to win.
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
Seriously that Beavis-ified portrait is still cracking me up at work. Hilarious!!!!
Lisa R. says
No doubt Crystal…brought tears to my eyes they first time they showed it! That husband is awesome for even trying and that makes it all the funnier!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, let’s all agree he’s the best husband ever – both for trying and bringing the internet so much joy with his attempt.
xo
s
Christine says
I would seriously pay that man for a portrait. Whatever his day job is, he should quit it and get an etsy account.
Seriously one of the most hilarious things ever.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s actually a fantastic idea.
xo
s
Jamie D says
I went Karaoke Needle Robot?!? Then read comments :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! My guess to John was American Idol Needle Robot…
xo
s
Kara says
Agreed. Kay’s/Tracie’s comment “Great. Now I’m love with John.” was the best!
Brenda says
Yeah, I had to keep reminding myself “he’s married, he’s married, he’s married.” Probably shouldn’t start a fan club for a married guy. Good to know there are quality men out there!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah!
xo,
s
keri says
Singer Sewing Machine. HA. I was thinking it was a singing and sewing robot.
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
Even though I read every post on every day, I still love these recap ones. They help remind me if I want to try something you put on there or just check back on a house crashing post that I loved…like the C-Ville house. I think I may move in.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Megan!
xo
s
em says
I must have missed when you guys sold the wood stove. How much did you ask? I have one I need to get rid of- it’s been sitting in my basement, unused, for 5 years!
YoungHouseLove says
I think we asked 40 bucks (since we weren’t sure it worked, so it might have just been scrap metal). Someone came by and grabbed it the day we listed it though!
xo
s
LeCheech says
Oooh, Got the pic– After a few tries… but I’m pretty sure I’ll be sitting this giveaway out. It’ll be another one of those 10,000 entries, and I’m only good at sewing my fingers together! LOL.
Kati H says
Yes, yes yes! Tell everyone that they will just be a drop in the bucket! Tell them…. Tee hee. I would cry if I won. Had to leave ours behind when we moved to France.
Mary says
I think a karaoke sewing machine would be super-rad. :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Janelle says
Clever little icons. I got it right away, surprisingly! Haha.
Gretchen@Boxy Colonial says
I giggled both here and in the original entry when you guys were sheepish about how much paint you have. Dudes–painting stuff is a big part of your JOBS! Now, the 9 year backlog of paint we had to deal with when we moved last spring…THAT is something to be sheepish about. It was definitely never so nicely organized, either!
YoungHouseLove says
Too funny!
xo
s
Caroline says
I don’t think I said it the first time, so I’ll say now that your advice about the middle making no sense was just so wise. I’ve noticed it while wedding-planning; you tell people your ideas and they go, huh? and wrinkle their noses a little! I’m like, just wait till you get there and see it all together, it’ll be great, trust me!
YoungHouseLove says
Hah, it’s so true! It probably applies in a lot of ways…
xo
s
Renee says
i don’t know what it would be, but Sherry definitely deserved a superlative for her faux-pole dancing in silhouette skills! most “surprising second career choice” award???? :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I will wear my crown proudly.
xo
s
Gisela says
Yay! An international giveaway!
And guys, great way of keeping on posting with book tour and all. I’m yet to receive my book (my brother Matias had it signed at your Boston stop), but I’m enjoying every bit you post about it as I wait.
Have a great weekend!
Love from sunny, hot, humid, very-summery, Buenos Aires.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Gisela! And it was so nice to meet your brother in Boston!
xo
s
Shannon Burke says
Karaoke sewing robot is what came to mind. I’m very excited for the giveaway :)
Tracie@MiddleClassMod says
For a moment I stared at my screen with pure glee, when I thought someone had finally, FINALLY, created a singing sewing robot.
But a Singer sewing machine is pretty awesome, too!
Brenda says
I love the recaps, because I always forgets some of the projects. And that spouse portrait made me crack up all over again (trying not to laugh/cry at work here).
I sure hope the giveaway is a cross-stitched silhouette done by a robot! ;)
Christina @ Homemade Ocean says
Hahaha…I still laugh at that handdrawn art!
Lara says
This post reminded me I Wanted to ask you about the knobs you got at Hobby Lobby for the bathroom vanity. I would love to do that to my girl’s bathroom too. I have looked and looked at our Hobby Lobby and don’t know where the knobs are located in the store. What area of the store did you find them?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re sort of in the middle of the store in one of those aisles (they have all the knobs in one aisle and some hooks and wall decor along other nearby aisles. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Eileen says
Not all Hobby Lobby’s have them. I searched hit and low in mine before finally breaking down and asked the manager who said that store didn’t carry them…. sad face.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no, so sad!
xo
s
Eileen says
I never knew Adele had a sewing robot!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, it’s a well kept industry secret.
xo
s
Koliti says
You guys ALWAYS accomplish A LOT every month! Thank goodness for the “young” part in YHL.
My guess for Monday’s give-a-way is: A Singer Sewing Machine and an iRobot! (-or- Singing and Sewing Lessons so you won’t be Lost in Space!)
Nicole @ Liberty Belles says
for those looking for books in the Northern NJ area, Bookends in Ridgewood (where the signing was in November) have a bunch of signed copies they’re selling. I was super sad to miss the signing (darn Sandy!), but I got to pick up a signed copy last week! YAY!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! That’s awesome Nicole! Thanks for spreading the word!
xo
s
Lauren Nicole says
“Most Faux Real” – you guys crack me up … ‘faux’ real!
Dawn says
I was thinking about your cabinet of paint when I was at Joann’s yesterday trying to find the smallest possible bottle of orange paint for a button that needed to become a snowman nose. “Too bad I don’t live near and actually know Sherry and John. They probably have the color I want.”
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, seriously! We need to open Rent-A-Paint or something.
xo
s
Kara says
Hmmm, or just sell off the paint colors you won’t want on Craigslist!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaa!
xo
s
Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews says
I love that life sized ram! Too cute.
Kati H says
I definitely googled “Diva Singing Robot.” HAHAHAH. But an International giveaway for a Singer Sewing Machine?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I’m in France! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Jesus throw that sucka my way for Baby Jesus’s Birthday!
Unless it really is for a Diva Singing Robot. That could be cool too…
Monika says
I was just thinking that I needed to read through your “what we look for & look past while house hunting” post again because I am going to look at the first house in my hunt tomorrow!!! SO excited to find a place to call my own and be able to show it lots of love with the help of your amazing book and blog!
Jessica says
I ordered the book when Amazon said it would be in stock on the 9th. Then it changed to the 8th. Then it changed to the 10th. And this morning, when they changed it to out-of-stock, I got an email notice from them that my copy had shipped! Maybe all of their stocking systems will get on the same page soon, but it does appear that they really do have the books.
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry Jessica! But so glad yours shipped! It’s killing us over here (we’ve had these crazy stock issues with amazon.com since Nov 28th) so we hope it clears up soon!
xo
s
Cher says
OH MY GOSH you guys are giving away a copy of the soundtrack to the Will Smith smash 2004 movie “I, Robot” ???!!!
Or perhaps it’s a robotic Beyoncé?!!? (aka Giant Metal Chicken That Really Flies With Robot Power!!)
Please make this into a game. Forget the giveaways, the whole website thing. Just start a gameshow where we guess the prize based on weird pictures. Clara could be the host!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahah! Clara would be the best host! Although she’d probably say “you’re right!” no matter what you guess. Haha.
xo
s
Sarah says
Oh, those folks at Mongrel are so lovely! Just called and ordered my book and the guy could not have been nicer. I made him guess which book I wanted, and lo and behold, he did! :) In terms of friendliness and cheerfulness, I think you live in the Minneapolis of the South. I live outside of the U.S. and miss that friendly, can-do attitude. Yay for Mongrel!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I’m so glad! Yay for Mongrel! They’re this sweet little one of a kind shop in the heart of Richmond with the nicest people who have run it for decades now!
xo
s
Keri says
That big ram is hilarious! Our Anthropologie ( and probably yours too ) has a life-sized, white, tissue paper Llama, which I have dubbed the Giant Llama Pinata. I want it.
YoungHouseLove says
Best name ever.
xo
s
Carli says
As usual, a truly impressive amount of projects were accomplished this past month! Well done you two! I’m not even sure how, with travelling as much as you did, you accomplished as much as you did! Your motivation and tenacity is inspiring, as always.
And ok, I was away in New York when Sherry posted that birthday post for John. So, admittedly, I fell behind on reading every post. JUST read through it now, after seeing the link in the post above. Oh my heart!! What a beautiful and honest post Sherry! Your love for one another is so wonderful, and I feel so happy for both of you that you have a forum like this blog to tell the world just how you feel! I always feel like I won the lottery with my husband and literally can’t believe how blessed I am. I love hearing about others who feel the same way. Happy for you two!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Carli, you’re so sweet!
xo
s
Guylaine says
Thank you for sharing with us!!! You inspire me! Hope for other unveilings for 2013 and good luck with your book !!!
Guylaine xxx
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Guylaine!
xo
s
emma says
Wow, can’t believe some of these projects were from a month ago, seems like ages!
Wanted to give you a BIG thanks for the Craigslist post. I finally ‘Dude Got on That’ and craigslisted our old fridge the day before our new one was arriving and got many more responses than expected. And we even ended up $75 richer! I went in with the mentality, if no one responds then Freecycle it tomorrow! Which I also posted items on for the first time last weekend. It’s a gem!
Thanks for all your little tidbits – you don’t know how helpful they are!!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome! So glad Emma!
xo
s
foobella designs says
oh no. Not a rebus. I suck at that. Guess I’ll have to wait till Monday to figure it out.
Mina says
That is one random picture of Sherry with the ram! lol! It made me laugh cause I remembered that I have kind of a random picture with a moose of my own from Alt Summit in 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival! See it here if you so wish! : D http://bit.ly/SSUPh5
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it. Gotta love the thumbs up.
xo
s
Stephanie B. says
John,
When I read your original post about the distaste with chalk, I thought: “That’s weird. Chalk really isn’t that big of a deal, is it?” Then my husband finished building us a chalkboard for our dining room and I was so excited about it…until I actually used the chalk. I think I almost had a seizure when I first starting writing – the sound AND the feel are terrible! I’m slowing getting over it but your problem with chalk…I’m totally there with you. Yuck!
Tracie says
OMG I can’t believe you said my name in your post!! Is it dorky to be as excited as I am about that? But seriously I can’t believe it. And I swear I didn’t see the other person’s comment that said the exact same thing!
P.S. Bought your book and it looks awesome, I’m on the page where you guys painted a headboard and yes I am reading it like a novel:)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you’re so funny! And we’re so glad you’re enjoying the book!
xo
s
Maggie says
Will I win if I guess right? :D
Tickets to a concert of Marina and the Diamonds ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha!
xo,
s
Ally says
I’m Canadian, and my high school had a “moose-iest” award.
It was a bit of fix, tho…the guy who won was named B(rutus) Winkle :)
Happy Weekend, Youngsters :)
xox
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha!
xo,
s
Danielle E says
YHL family:
This February 24th, I will be running a half marathon (13.1 miles) in honor of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. My goal is to raise at least $500 to give back to the RMHC to support families in need. This holiday season as we look around and realize how blessed we all are, please consider making a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities through my fundraiser page. Any donation, large or small, can make a huge impact in the lives of the families that receive housing and support through this charity.
Below you will find a link to the fundraising page. Please let me know if you have any questions. I appreciate any contributions you are willing and able to make.
https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/danielle-elliott/team-ronald-disney-princess-half-marathon
Thank you!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the heads up Danielle! What a great cause! Good luck with everything!
xo
s
Seraph says
Like we weren’t all in love with John already. Or with Sherry, for those readers who are of the lady-loving persuasion.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I have a girl crush on Katie Bower and Roo from Nice Girl Notes, so it’s all good.
xo
s
lois says
Okay, so I just read your moldy acorn post after seeing the reference today… I too, had acorn nastiness. My girls and I were out and about and we found these lovely acorns with spiky brown acorn “hats.” We decided that we were going to collect a bunch and use them for a craft. I knew from my friend that you shouldn’t just use them as they have bugs… anyway, I knew I had to treat them somehow. I googled and read a bunch of different ways. I settled on one from Pintrest that involved putting the acorns in the oven for 30 minutes. Well, after about 20 minutes, the acorns starting exploding (yes, completely exploding) and tons of wormy, nasty bugs were crawling out of them. OMG – DISGUSTING! It was like an episode of Nat Geo inside of my oven.
YoungHouseLove says
Ewwww!
xo
s
Jade says
Yuck!! Maybe we should all just leave the things alone. Both stories have me scared of a tiny little acorn.