S’prise. We’ve been on the road for the past five days and just got home last night at 7pm after a nine hour drive. Did we unpack or snuggle up to Karl the Sectional after our home sweet home arrival? Nah, we threw this post together. Just your typical case of “unpacking procrastination” at its finest. Actually I’m just dying to fill you guys in on our adventures, and typical annoyingly energetic gal that I am, I’m too excited to relax. Anyway, we headed out early Thursday morning for Charlotte, NC and stayed there through Saturday morning. Then it was off to Loganville, GA where we remained until early Monday morning when we hit the road for home. Thank goodness Clara and Burger are car-loving fools kids. What did we do? Here’s just the tip of the road trip iceberg:
First we visited with our stylish friend Kristin (and her hubby Matt and her pooches Sage and Simon) in Charlotte. You guys might be familiar with them from this House Crashing post. Here’s one of our favorite shots of her kitchen nook from a few years back:
And here’s that nook now (still just as cute, but there’s a baby in a booster seat- and it’s ours):
We also house crashed two sa-weet homes while in Charlotte, like this one (sigh)…
… and this one (delightful shudder)…
… and even the coolest little office (fans face with hands):
I also got some really great fabric at one of my favorite gigantic warehouses (Mary Jo’s right outside of Charlotte):
Then it was off to Loganville, Georgia to hang with my blog (and real life) BFF Katie B. (and her hubby Jeremy along with her cutie pie little man Will, who was born just five weeks before Clara). It was nice to give our betrothed children some getting-to-know-you time (since Katie and I were pregnant together it was fun to see our buns out of the oven and being social):
Aside from playing Minute to Win It games all night with Katie and Jeremy once the babes were off in dreamland (yeah, we’re that cool, and Katie was the only one to get a cookie from her forehead into her mouth within the allotted time), we also carved out a moment to saddle up to Goodwill and pick out a ton of things that we loved. Or would love with some upgrades like paint, fabric, etc. Oh and Katie and I got this “Friends” photostrip that makes us snort (it might be a you-had-to-be-there thing though):
And here’s a gratuitous bean picture that Katie took. Doesn’t Clara look like an angel? Ah, to have mad photog skillz like Katie. This is total inspiration for me and J to get to know our Nikon half as well as she knows her Canon (before Clara hits her teenage years and bans us from taking a million photos a day of her).
On the way back from the Bower residence we got to stop in at one of my favorite places in the world (the Pottery Barn Outlet in Gaffney, SC) – not only for the deals but for the peach that looks like a butt that’s high in the sky near that exit (as seen in this old road trip video where my hair is down). More on what I would not leave the PB Outlet without (for under $30) soon.
Actually when it comes to the details on everything pictured (and not pictured) there are many, and they are coming. So stay tuned for those house crashing posts, a rundown of the fabric that we loved (and bought) at Mary Jo’s, more on our adventures with the Bowers, an in-depth look at our Goodwill hunting trip, and a whole lot of other stuff that my was-in-the-car-all-day-yesterday mind is forgetting. We only have about five million photos to sift through, but we’ll try to make it quick. Did anyone else sneak off for a road trip this weekend? It was a hot one (over 100 degrees almost every day). Whew. Anyway, off to sort through all of those pics. Inside with the air on.
Psst- After a bunch of requests for a breakdown of what products (shampoo, cream, sunscreen) that we use for Clara (and how we store it all) we’re spilling the beans right here on BabyCenter.
tia says
i totally spotted the fabric i bought for my new drapes in your fabric store picture. in some cultures this is considered a talent; unfortunately ours isn’t one of them.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I consider it to be a talent. You have blog eagle eyes.
xo,
s
Jeanette says
Where is the light fixture fromt the picture with the heading ” and this one (delightful shudder)…”? I have seen the same one in the Shades of Light catalog, but this one looks larger than the measurements given in the catalog.
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry but I don’t know quite yet. I sent homeowners an email to ask about sources as I write the post but we’re still going through pics and unpacking. Soon I hope!
xo,
s
Amber says
I live in Loganville! Caught me so off guard when I saw it in the first paragraph of your post. Glad you guys had a great time in Georgia!
Sophie says
You sneaky people, you!
Also, talking of your roadtrips and house crashing, I’ve been watching a bunch of your old youtube videos and house tours and reminiscing today… It’s so weird seeing you in your old house and with no baby!
YoungHouseLove says
I know isn’t that so weird! We have no idea what we did with ourselves before Clara. And before Clara and Burger we’re pretty sure we just sat around and stared at the walls…
xo,
s
Bethanyb says
Good to see you and the Bowers having a good time! looks like a blast and can’t wait to see the post on that one. I glade you all had so much fun over the weekend. Me and the hubs tried to go to an antique shop (we’re total antiquers :P) but the street it was on was blocked for an art fair so being crazy like we are, we went to the art fair all day! Random adventures sure make for the best memories.
Jamie says
Loved the post! I’m one of your Charlotte fans as well! AND I was at Mary Jo’s too this weekend…a quick run while my hubs stayed with our 5 month old. Got some fabric to make pendant banners for a baby shower I’m given…idea from Clara’s bday party! :) I know, I’m a copy cat! Glad you had a good time in the Queen City!
Brittany says
Can’t believe that you guys were so close to me lol I feel like I know you guys (creepy I know)! I live about 45 mins from Loganville in Athens. Next time you guys are around these parts you should take a drive to Athens for some thrifting in shops like Agora and Junkmans Daughters Brother. There are tons of unique stores downtown. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the recommendations! We’ll definitely be back to visit the Bowers sometime so it should be fun to find other places to haunt!
xo,
s
Jenny B says
I have a lot of family in Gaffney and it’s definitely a great place for shopping. Next time you’re there, check out Bargain Shoes (everyone in town calls it the Jesus Store–another story). It’s right across the highway from PotteryBarn. GREAT deals. Oh, and Mary Jo’s is the BOMB.
PS–What a beautiful, beautiful pic of Clara. It needs to be featured prominently somewhere in your home. It’s a piece of art!
Melissa Irvin says
You were in LOGANVILLE! That’s my town!
J'Ann says
Clara looks like she is doing a Yoga pose lol
A Girl’s Next Best Friend
lisa says
Was the Bower’s house as big in real life as it looks on their blog? That place looks huuuuge and very nice.
Glad youa ll had fun there.:)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, it was just as amazing as we expected! Driving there John and I said it would probably feel bigger or smaller (we just thought something would be different than the pics) but it was pretty much exactly what we thought it would be – big and gorgeous and so full of potential! And Katie is so modest when she says she hasn’t done much yet- the place is already so cozy and inviting than it was in those before shots that she shared. We had so much fun.
xo,
s
Torrie @ a place to share... says
Wow… Such home-awesomeness packed into one trip!!
Love that you have a blog bff that is also your real life bff =).
My son is 13… and because I just got into photography last year, he’s not allowed to ban any photographs (to “crush” my new found hobby!).
Erin says
Hi Guys- Didn’t read all the comments so not sure if someone already asked this, but I love, love, love the bird print in the breakfast nook. Any idea who’s work that is or where it came from?
Thanks so much!
YoungHouseLove says
Kristin mentioned to us on the trip that they bought it off the wall at a coffee shop here in Richmond (when they used to live here). She couldn’t remember more than that. Sorry!
-John
Lindsey F says
I went to Stone Mountain last night! I hope ya’ll stayed for the laser show and enjoyed the Georgia heat!
YoungHouseLove says
We wish we could have stayed for the laser show (the kiddos needed dinner and then had to be put to bed) but it was so much fun there!
xo,
s
Em Rohrer says
Just had to say I love love LOVE that picture of Clara in her little red skirt, I have a niece about her age and she’s so much fun :)
Dora says
How cool! We were in Charlotte too this past weekend. Wish I had known about a Pottery Barn Outlet. WOuld have made a trip to that.
kristin says
Boo!! I was in Charlotte on Thursday through Saturday!! Didn’t see you!! lol. Was there with the hubby for the comic convention while our little one was with her grandma. Strange being away from her!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man I wish we had run into you. We ate at The Mellow Mushroom on Friday night and loved it!
xo,
s
Rena says
Sounds like a great trip. I love taking off for a few days but don’t like to kennel our dog. What do you do with Burger while you are in stores or eating?
YoungHouseLove says
Burger’s a good little road tripper. We always bring his crate (that’s his safe little “room” where he likes to go to feel comfy in an unfamiliar place) so when we pop out to go shopping Burger stays in his crate at the person’s house where we’re staying (ex: Kristin or Katie’s in this instance, but also in dog friendly hotels, etc). We did hit up the Pottery Barn Outlet on the way home, so John stayed outside with Burger on a leash and also kept the baby (they all split a snack on a bench outside while I ducked in and took pics).
xo,
s
meredith says
Oh my gosh, my husband grew up in SC (Anderson, near Greenville…and Gaffney!) and he NEVER shared about a PB outlet being there BUT I have heard all about “Big Daddy’s Butt.” One of his summer jobs was in construction and in true southern fashion, the boss on the job was called “Big Daddy.” Hence, the peach was “Big Daddy’s Butt.”
I am heading out to SC in August for my really really old Husband’s 20th high school reunion but sadly, I do not think any large scale pottery barn purchases can fit in my suitcase. Was anything priced well enough it would be worth it to ship – we are building a new house…
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah- there were definitely lighting and rug and accessory deals to be had! The furniture was still expensive, but hundreds of dollars off (still honestly more than we’d pay for tables and sofas most likely though, just because we’re so painfully cheap- haha).
xo,
s
meredith says
Can’t wait to check out small goods – I may be able to afford an extra suitcase or two since we are going for a long weekend. Yay!!
On another note, I am currently pinning laundry room ideas for a stacked washer. If I reconfigure the laundry room a bit of our home that is currently under construction (It is a builder home, not custom) by shifting a sink a few feet (I will have a plumber move the sink pre-plumb) then I will have room for a stacked set, a sink, some counter space AND my standing freezer (so I don’t have to keep it in the garage – a plus in AZ.) Anyway – I pinned a couple inspirations for one with a standing freezer and another with a slide out shelf between washer and dryer for folding or a laundry basket or just for dumping a pile of laundry as it comes out. Have you ever regretted doing a stacked set? (Not that you had much choice in your lay out – I have a choice though.) Also, do you think that shelf idea is useful? if you want to check the pins, I am Meredith Simpson and I am one of your followers! :-) I tried to do an @mention but it wouldn’t work.
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely loved our washer & dryer side by side for one reason: the folding space on top of it. Having that counter to sort and fold was really nice. BUT, if it came down to fitting in something else we really wanted (like a sink or a standing freezer) it hasn’t been much of an adjustment to do stacked (we just sort/fold in the bedroom on the bed instead) and it’s no easier on your body to be side by side vs. stacked (you have to bend over either way to get to the one or ones on the bottom). As for the shelf- it totally sounds useful! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
meredith says
Get this – there will be room for a counter, sink, stacked washer/dryer and freezer so I think we will do OK with space. It’s 6.5×9 ft. On the 9ft wall it will go freezer, stacked washer, L-counter that is next to washer then turns and runs down the 6.5ft side with a sink at the end. So there will be a counter next to the washer/dryer. Currently, I have space above my side by side old models and I don’t use the top to fold – it houses a laundry basket and hamster cage. I have folded in the master bedroom for years. I pretty much feel like I could live in this room. It seems giant compared to what I have now.
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds like a great plan! Good luck!
xo,
s
kathleen of the lushers says
I love that PB outlet! My inlaws have a lake house dangerously close to there, so it’s usually a stop on the way home!
Carrie says
Did you visit Sleepy Poet in Charlotte? You guys would love it!!
YoungHouseLove says
We actually went there last year when we were in town visiting Kristin. You’re right- I loved it!!!
xo,
s
Amber says
I got engaged exactly where you are at on Stone Mountain! Glad you had a great time. (why could you not be there when we were?) Just kidding. If I were to ever run into you guys, I would probably freeze up.
YoungHouseLove says
What an amazing place to get engaged! John proposed to me on the top of a mountain so I have a soft spot for that sort of thing. And the view from up there was totally breathtaking.
xo,
s
karen says
aww..that seemed like a nice little vaca. Stunning pic of Clara.
kelsey moore says
i am in love with your friend katie’s house (looks like yet another blog i am going to have to follow, darn!), it looks really fancy and amazing! you were in charlotte, no way! the light in matt’s (who by the way I used to work with 8 months ago;-) kitchen is the exact same one a friend of mine bought when she was visiting us in charlotte for their house in savannah! i love that company that makes those lights. so glad you had a great trip, going to have to go the fabric store now – it totally figures, you guys would be the one to show those of us who live in charlotte where to find good stuff…i love it! and that one print fabric looks a lot like the kathryn ireland fabrics that i now love thanks to bravo.
Shunta says
that picture of Clara that Katie took is GORGEOUS!! It’s like art!! I hopt it makes it on a wall somewhere in the P household!
kristin says
Just wondered if you had any other pics (or if your friend could send you some) of her gorgeous kitchen (the one with the tray of drinks on the island)? I want to open up our kitchen and I wanted to have the same look by her stove so just wondered what the rest of the area looks like. Looks like a good time was had by all!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, that’s a house that we crashed while in Charlotte so we’ll be back with a post dedicated just to that house (with a few kitchen photos along with a ton of other rooms for ya).
xo,
s
Audi B. says
I have lived in Stone Mtn, Ga since January this year & have yet to visit Stone Mountain Park LOL glad you enjoyed it!
emily says
Hey guys! We were so thrilled to see you all while out to dinner with friends at the new smokehouse restaurant in Charlotte! I’ve been looking forward to reading about your trip! Love the fabrics that you found and it looks like I need to take a trip to the PB outlet sometime soon…. haha! That’ll be dangerous!
YoungHouseLove says
It was so great to run into you Emily! And that BBQ was so good. Mmm. Charlotte = awesome.
xo,
s
ColeyB says
I heart MaryJo’s! We live in Greenville, SC and are moving to Charlotte this summer and I can’t wait to be a little closer to that gem of a place as we set up our new digs, have a new baby on the way (we did our first nursery in MaryJo’s-bought fabric after my first trip). We stop at the PB Outlet a good bit on our trips back and forth, but unfortunately (or maybe, fortunately for our checkbook), I rarely find anything worth spending that kind of money on…I’d rather DIY it and have a fun story behind it, I guess!
Next time you go up/down 85, you have to stop for Blenheim’s Ginger Ale (in a glass bottle) at Abbott Farms (they are on both sides of the interstate by the outlets. They have regular, hot, and diet…sooooo worth the stop! Pick up some boiled peanuts while you’re there to complete the ultimate SC road trip food experience.
Glad y’all had a great trip!
Anne says
YOU CAME TO MY FABRIC STORE and didn’t say hi! (I live about 10 minutes away.) Oh boo hoo. That’s OK, I understand. Isn’t Mary Jo’s great??? Dag, now I have a craving to run out and buy fabric. ;>
Natalia says
I noticed I’m late reading this post but I was so giddy to hear you were in loganville! I’m not from there but I can see Stone Mountain from my rooftop so I made a connection to you guys without you even knowing it! But mostly I’m excited to learn about the Pottery Barn Outlet and Mary Jo’s! I think I’ll me dragging my husband on a road trip soon!!
S. Greiner says
OMG Loganville, GA! I used to live there…it is where my husband and I moved after we got married! I taught at one of the Middle Schools there!??! Holy Cow small world!!!
Glad you have a great trip :)!
Steph says
I love Mary-Jo’s!! I bought some awesome fabric there when I was preggers with my munchkin. I collected all different kinds for about 6 months and then I had my mom make all the baby bedding and a quilt for her nursery… Katie Bower is so awesome! We had a photoshoot with her in March. She was so good with my daughter and I just love all the photos! Post more soon!
Sara M. says
It makes me happy to know that both of my favorite blogs are best friends! I love reading YHL & Bower Power. You two ladies definitely brighten my days! Thanks. :]
Alyssa says
I got a tad excited when I saw your Minute to Win It reference. Because my roomate and I played a variety of games the other night. Including Face the Cookie…which is our favorite. We’re both really good at it too…only we didn’t have any oreos. So we used stale fig newton cookies. ick.
YoungHouseLove says
We used fresh baked chocolate chip. Tricky! And our faces were crummy and smeared with chocolate at the end. Haha.
xo,
s
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
Clara and Will are so gorgeous together. What a perfect couple!
Now how have I never heard of minute to win it? My friends and I are nerds too and love games… I’m off to print out all the challenges I just googled. I might even DIY it into a little game kit for my game-loving friend’s Birthday.
Kim says
Clara and Will are too cute! What a match made in heaven ;)
Their expressions are priceless! I love the pic of all of you on top of the mountain. And I reeeally can’t wait to see more of that home office. I want a chalkboard wall!
Kelly says
I cant believe yall were in Loganville! I LIVE in Loganville! and grew up (and now work) in Stone Mountain! ahhhh (ok I know I sound like a stalker but yall are like celebrities to me!)
Rhonda says
I always get a kick out of reading that you visited Gaffney and Pottery Barn. I live only about 25 miles from the “Yellow Mall” as I refer to it. Pottery Barn is one of my favorite stops.
Candace says
I’m sure you’ve answered this questions a million times already, so forgive me if I’m making a fool of myself but how exactly is it that you and Katie know each other and became BFF’s? From blog land or beforehand?
YoungHouseLove says
All from blog land! She invited us down to GA after we emailed back and forth a bit and although it could have been soooooo awkward we totally hit it off. So glad we made the pilgrimage to see them a few years back! Now we talk all the time and even went on a couple’s vacay to Nashville before our babies were born.
xo,
s
Chris says
I am in love with the bird painting in the kitchen nook! Any idea who the artist is or where I could possibly locate? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
That was a one of a kind painting Kristin bought here in Richmond from a restaurant that featured local artists. So sorry we don’t have a link or more info to share! Maybe try etsy or a local gallery for something similar?
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Mary Jo’s is crazy, right?! I’m the next town over (Cramerton), so y’all were just a few miles away. Hope you enjoyed your trip. Next time you hit up MJ’s there will be a brand new Target beside it :)
Ruth says
I *may* or may not have been on a 3 week trip for work that involved no internet access. I just got back from the trip on Tuesday, and yours is the only blog that I am meticulously reading all the back entries on so I can be totally caught up from those 3 weeks. woo!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Ruth! Welcome back!
xo,
s