Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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The Real $herdog

One of my favorite things about blogging is keeping it real. Even around the new year when the whole “be the perfect person/wife/family” voices can kick in, I try to fight the good fight and remember that authentic = awesome. And perfect = most likely impossible. So if our house is a mess I’ll make a video to prove it (without even putting my bra away first). If we don’t know how the heck to tackle a project, we’ll admit it (like this). If we fail miserably at an undertaking, we’ll blog alllll about it (like this and this, just to name a few).

Failed Project Boo

We actually love being a DIY diary that’s literally about the good, the bad, and the ugly – because a blog that’s only about the good kind of feels like it’s only telling half of the story. We’re just regular folks attempting to do regular DIY things with a real-person budget while learning as we go. We don’t have any formal training. Five years ago we painted all of our trim the wrong finish, didn’t own a power drill, and our house looked like this:

Liv Room 8mos2

Master 8 Mos

Den 8mos2

When we started this blog we were literally DIY beginners, just trying to figure out how to hang curtains and get a good deal on appliances. And although we’ve slowly gained some hands-on experience over the last 4+ years of this blogging thing, I thought I’d start the year (January 17th is still sort of the beginning of the year, right?) by saying a bunch of things out loud to the internet at large that might surprise you. Or maybe not if you really know me.

#1. I don’t have the perfect marriage. It’s amazing how many people ask if John and I ever fight. Is it possible to be married to someone for nearly five years and not fight? Dude, we fight like the best of them! Not loudly in front of Clara, but we definitely can get into it. We’re individuals. Individuals who love each other, but we definitely each have conviction and strong willed tendencies (hello, I’m Italian and from New Jersey). And those convictions and strong willed tendencies can definitely lead to heated discussions, adamant disagreements, and full blown arguments (about anything from a parenting decision to a home improvement snafu). We’re a pretty normal couple I think. We love each other like crazy, but sometimes in the stress of renovating or raising a toddler the moment gets the best of us and we snap. But when we do, we try to remind ourselves that we’re in this together. We both have the same goals (a healthy and well adjusted daughter, and beautiful and safe home, to make each other happy, etc). We’re a team. A sometimes dysfunctional or crabby team, but a team none the less.

About John And Sherry Petersik

#2. I don’t have the perfect child. Sure, there are amazing things about Clara, like how good of a night sleeper she is and how much she loves singing and dancing (and eating funny things like hummus and pickles). But as anyone else who has a 20 month old kid can attest – they’re not all sunshine and roses. Clara cries, teethes, gets mad, throws food, rips magazines, has tantrums, and does all those other things that toddlers do. So yeah, I deal with the same “oh man, she’s sick” or “ack, she’s screaming” or “ohemgee she just threw up an entire pumpkin muffin all over the car seat” issues that every other mom deals with. And let’s not talk about my labor (scariest day of my life) or the 14 months of breastfeeding (I loved it, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it took work, energy, and dedication – especially when I was painting and DIYing between those feedings). It’s a good thing she’s totally worth it. I love that bean to pieces. She’s not perfect, but she’s perfect for us.

Xmas Clara Crying

#3. I make design mistakes (and life mistakes) – all the time! Our rooms and our lives are in a constant state of flux (our first house took us 4.5 years to finish, and we’ve only been here a little over a year) – so sometimes we’re still feeling around in the dark and we make the wrong call. And later we see the light and say “umm, what were we thinking?!” and course correct. I think the key to recovering from mistakes in general (decor-related or otherwise) is not to be married to that mistake. And to attempt to right your wrong. Say you buy the wrong sized rug but don’t realize it for a while (like we did in our living room). Once time passed and we figured out what could be improved, we decided to reuse the old one in another room (or craigslist it) and save our pennies to upgrade it. That approach helped us (and the room) move forward. If we ever become frozen in fear of a mistake that we’ve made (or the fear that we’ll make one) that’s when a room stagnates. We’d never get past decorating mistakes (or life mistakes) if we didn’t learn/adapt/evolve along the way. Our goal is for our house (and ourselves) to always be changing and growing. No freezing in place allowed. Because you usually can’t get around a life obstacle or a DIY debacle if you’re just stuck there standing still.

Curtains Full Room 2

#4. I’m awkward and probably less cute, stylish, or “put together” than you think. I have paint in my hair and under my nails 24/7 (well, this week it’s grout). My shirts are all stretched out from breastfeeding (yup, still haven’t replaced those). I am covered in dog fur and/or accidentally sporting some smear of jelly/cream cheese/humus five days out of seven. Seriously. Someone chime in here who has met us. We get comments like “I’d freak out and embarrass myself if I ever met you” but I’ve got you covered. I won’t even notice you freaking out over my intense weirdness. Once I spun around at Target and screamed “Chiiiiiistmas stuff is already out!!!” while holding two wooden trees up to my face like Cindy Lou Who to John. But it wasn’t John. It was this woman I’d never seen before standing there staring at me with a baby in her cart. So I tried to smile and quietly make my way to another aisle and she said “Oh my gosh I love your blog” …. and I nearly died of embarrassment. Not only had I been “that crazy person” in front of a stranger, it was someone who “knows” me. So I stuttered and tried to talk about her cute baby and then John and Clara came to my rescue and I stumbled away while mentally kicking myself in the face. Yup, I’m that awkward.

Mailbox8

#5. Sometimes I get nervous and insecure about our future. Not gonna lie, being a “small business” (and even more random than that, being a “professional blogger”) is hardly a job with health insurance and a 401K (more on that here and here). We just try to have faith that we’ll end up somewhere ok since we never thought we’d be here five years ago… and here we are. Sure it helps that we saved up a just-in-case cushion (to keep us afloat for 6-9 months) before John left his day job when Clara was born, but I’d be lying if I didn’t shout “yes – we get nervous and uncertain and insecure about what lies ahead sometimes!”

#6. I roll my eyes at myself. I get it. I really do. I am fully aware that I’m obnoxiously enthusiastic. My blog puns often make me gag a little. I’m the less cool version of that adorkable Zooey Deschanel. You know, without the good hair and the great voice and the comedic timing. I’m her half sister Gooey or something. So although my sunny demeanor might make you want to stick a spork in my eye, know that I’m fully aware that I’m annoying – and sometimes I try to rein it in – but I usually just let my freak flag fly. Why? I figure that blogging is all about being yourself and owning it and sharing your life in an authentic way. So I’m not reserved and cool and collected and refined. I’m hyper and giddy and nutty and weird. And 4+ years later that formula just works for us. So gosh darn it, I might call presents “prezzies” or make a crack joke. That’s just how $herdog rolls.

Beach Plum Mirror5

#7. My house is usually a disaster. At any given time, our frame wall might look like this…

FrameWall WashPost Angle

… but our sunroom probably looks like this…

Prep Sunroom Messy 1

There’s always at least one giant pile of something-to-be-sorted somewhere. And don’t even get me started on the playroom. That room is out of control.

Playroom Messy Before

So I guess the point of all that soul baring is to assure you that I most definitely do not have it all figured out. I’m just a chick from New Jersey who started a blog who sometimes forgets to take her contacts out at night (I know, I’m so bad). I’m that gal who discovers that I have strawberry cream cheese inexplicably smeared all over the left side of my ear in line at Target. True story. I don’t know it all, and I don’t have it all, and I’m so thankful to be right where I am. Perfection is kinda overrated anyway, right? I’m many things, but most of all: I’m a work in progress. Kinda like our house.

Comments

  1. Ironygirl says

    Thanks for this post. I was just thinking the other day how amazingly beautiful you are and how I wish I could write for a living like you. So I do truly appreciate the keeping it real post and the reminder that perfect is pretty much impossible. It’s more important to enjoy than stress about things. Love your blog!

    Reply

  3. Vintanthromodern says

    Hey $herdog-
    I’s quickly becoming hooked on the YHL! It’s my first time commenting, but I felt compelled to today – THANK YOU for keeping it real!

    Reply

  4. Haley @ thedistractedblogger says

    I think anyone who follows Young House Love understands and appreciates the “freak flag”. I am sure most fly a flag of their own; I know I do! I don’t know any other ballerina, rpg/fantasy lovin’, penny counting, starch lovin’ girls.

    All hail the “freak flag”!

    Reply

  5. Aliyah says

    I just stumbled upon your blog last week, and this is the first post I read. I loved it and I related so much!! you have a new faithful reader here. :o)

    Reply

  6. Allison says

    This post came on the right day for me!! I check this site (almost) every day, and on a day where two rooms are half painted and the interiors of those rooms are living everywhere else, this made me feel SO much better!

    Reply

  7. KB says

    You know, after like 3 years of not touching The Nest, I went on there a few weeks ago. I saw a post about you guys and as per Nest custom, several of the participants in the chain were ragging on this blog (which for the record has completely kept me sane and entertained and inspired after 3 years of revamping my own fugly first house with my husband!)

    I hope this post wasn’t spurred by that dumb chain. Regardless, you guys are awesome because you’re not perfect – you’re just you.

    Okay, well, that was long and awkward :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha- not at all! I think I’m just a sucker for over-sharing. Every once in a while we get the itch to chat beyond home improvement (like this and this). Apparently I’m missing the gene that reins me in. And I’ve successfully convinced John to hop on the bandwagon too – so he’ll hopefully be writing up a “Real J-Boom” post soon!

      xo,
      s

    • heather says

      I saw this post, and went over to there out of sheer curiosity to see what it was because I couldn’t figure out how anyone could be snarky about this blog (I figured it was simply like “I don’t like that design” or something). I searched for a few of my favorite blogs and it made me so so sad to see how hateful people are about people they don’t know. I can’t even comprehend it; not in real life and not online. There’s a pretty popular blog I just don’t get, but I would never ever in a million years write about it publicly or personally criticize a woman I don’t even know. It made my stomach churn and my heart hurt to see how mean and rude people are, especially about something that is so incredibly optional to read. It makes me sad to see people be mean for no reason. Note to self to never read that stuff again.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, that’s not for the faint of heart. Haha. I stopped reading years ago. The funny thing is that when someone passively mentions it (like this comment) my very first thought is “Still? All these years later?” – but to each his own! We definitely all spend our spare time in different ways. I’m of the ignorance is bliss camp. Haha. What strangers say over there doesn’t change who I am or how happy and healthy my family is (and heck they end up sending traffic our way every time they chat about us). So I just try to have fun over here and set a good example for my little bean. Growing up my mom always said that above being successful, popular, or athletic (all the things I worried incessantly about at the time) being kind was the most important thing. And that’s something I’d love to pass down to Clara.

      xo,
      s

    • Kristin H. says

      O. M. G. Sherry do NOT read ANY of it. It’s making me furious. I should not have gone looking for it. Let me just tell you, for as negative, unhappy, and straight up rude as those miserable women can be, they certainly read and fully remember every darn detail of your blog!!! So something’s not right there. You are the bomb dot com and haters (who apparently are not actually haters but are jealous lovers) will hate but $herdog will dominate the world.

    • heather says

      Kindness really is the number one thing in life. Nothing makes someone more unattractive than meanness, no matter how beautiful or talented they are on the outside.

      I’m with you in the ignorance is bliss camp. I don’t watch the news,and try not to read it either, for that reason. I don’t even watch violent shows. I just don’t need it clogging up my head. It’s not because I’m truly ignorant about it, but I also know there is so so so so much good in the world and I choose not to be inundated with sensationalized bad and especially made up pretend bad. I just can’t handle it. It hurts my heart too much.

      My friend started a nice page on FB where she writes about good things that have happened, and shares good stories that come up on the news. I love it.

      http://www.facebook.com/pages/Good-Things-Happen/223424151002969

    • KB says

      Holy smokes – first I’m feeling cool because this is the second time Sherry has responded to one of my comments on YHL (not that I’m counting, cough cough), but to see replies.

      Yeah, things are interesting “over there.” I’m much happier over here in blog-land. Every time I have friends over to my house and we talk home reno projects, I lead them into my office and bring up YHL. Spreadin’ the love!

    • jeannette says

      hmmm. as i’ve said here before i do think upcycling is a kind of resurrection, and while i am all about confronting reality with all the courage i can muster….how can i put this? being positive is just as plausible a reality (until we’re all upcycled and find out what it Really is) as being negative. you can say, I have to go to school today >:-(. or you can say, I get to go to school today :-). worlds are built on the difference in that one word.
      xxx

    • Maya says

      I also just looked there to see what you meant. (gasp!) What possesses people to be so downright mean? (Jealousy?) Regardless, there’s something to be said for karma. You put out positive, happy vibes into the world and you clearly get it back. (Frankly, I’d rather not know what kind of karma those other vibes will get back…) And thank you for being so positive – we can never have too much of that vibe. :)

  8. Lacey says

    Hi Sherry- that’s the reason it’s fun reading your blog- because you are real and it makes the rest of us relate and feel like we can do what you’re doing! In the spirit of honesty, I wanted to say that usually I absolutely love everything you guys do…and when you got the new house and started work on the living room, while it was much better than before, I remember not feeling like I LOVED it as much as I normally do…until NOW! It took a couple layers of accessories added on, the switches of rugs & wall-art, etc. and now I am absolutely in love with what you’ve done! I never said anything before (that would be rude!) but thought I should mention it now because it shows me how you’ve got to keep adjusting until you find what you like. The whole room doesn’t always need to be changed. Sometimes small adjustments make the difference!

    Reply

  9. ana peterson says

    Great job writing this! I check ya’ll out everyday…we’re in the middle of a 1964 brick ranch re-do down here in Charleston,SC and I find such inspiration and help from just seeing the progress you are making – Thanks!

    Reply

  13. Jessica says

    Thanks for posting this! It’s easy to get so caught up when reading these beautiful blogs in blogland and thinking that I just can’t measure up! I am so glad to see that you are completely normal, like me, and that even you are awkward. I am so completely awkward in front of people, it’s not even funny! Glad to know I am not alone!

    Reply

  14. SJ says

    Thanks for keeping it real. I needed that today. I’m so “stuck” and fearful of making the wrong decorating decision right now that I’m making no progress at all and instead staying up way to late perusing Pinterest! I

    Reply

  15. Jen says

    And this is just one of the many reasons I love your blog! Thanks for keeping it real. I can wait to see pics of the finished kitchen!!

    Reply

  16. Shannon says

    This may be my favorite posting of yours yet! I love that you guys are so down to earth & REAL. Your blog is great and I still think you are the cutest little family ever (flaws and all.) Keep up the good work- I can’t wait to check out the new book when it is released!

    Reply

  17. Marianne says

    Thanks Sherry. Just posted yesterday about having creative paralysis. Love this quote: “Because you usually can’t get around a life obstacle or a DIY debacle if you’re just stuck there standing still.” I live this way with family, friends and business, why not my home? Thanks for kicking my DIY butt out of bed and putting me on the treadmill.

    xoxo

    Reply

  19. Jessica F. says

    Xoxo to my favorite goofy DIY blogger who reminds me it’s ok that my oddballness is ok! Weird in a good way as my friends would say :) xoxo!!!

    Reply

  20. Samantha Frank says

    Thanks so much for sharing this – as it’s been said many times before, half the reason we all love you guys is because you keep it so real! I also agree with some of the other comments here that knowing you’ve got your share of imperfections is inspiring to us!

    Reply

  23. Jeanna Walton says

    Wow, something got you fired up! Let ’em have it, $herdog! Seriously, I really liked this post. I, for one, can’t wait to read your posts Monday through Friday. So keep on keepin it real, and know that all the work you put into your home and blog is appreciated. That’s all……….. :)

    Reply

  26. Meredith @ La Buena Vida says

    I love posts like this. A few other moms and I just started participating in a link-up called “Messy Mom Mondays”, and it’s the same premise–keeping it real. And it’s so nice to see other women/moms aren’t perfect all the time either :)

    Reply

  27. Cecilia says

    If there was a non-creepy/non-awkward way to ask you to be my friend in real life I would. You just described me, my 6 yr marriage and my 6 mon old (minus the Italian and New Jersey plus Mexican and Chicago) Keep doing what you’re doing. (As if me telling you to affects anything.) But really, you aren’t allowed to stop, you two are my only source of quality DIY sustenance until we find a house in a little town I grew up in called Richmond this spring.

    Reply

  28. Julie says

    If I ever run into you at Target and you DON’T sing something or act awkward, I am going to be sooooo disappointed. Unless John is wearing a beverage T-shirt. In that case, I would forgive your normal-ness.

    Reply

  29. Dani says

    This is adorable! I wish I was the lady at Target because I love your blog and wish I would run into you somewhere so I could tell you how much I love you guys in a I-don’t-know-you-but-kinda-wish-we-were-BFFs-but-not-in-a-creepy-way kind of way.

    Reply

  31. Kris in WA says

    $herdog, the reason I love your blog is because you are a real person! If you were Martha Stewart I would never come back. This post makes me feel very encouraged actually, and not too bad about my decorating mistakes (of which there have been many) or my awful case of procrastinating on what kind of backsplash to put in the kitchen because I’m too afraid of messing things up for good, or the clutterbomb on my kitchen desk that I tackle once a month to neaten, before it slides back into chaos for the 283rd time (sigh). Because when you are not perfect (someone I admire v. much) it makes me feel better about not being perfect myself. Thank you for being so honest and real! LOVE IT!!!!

    Reply

  35. Alisha Carey says

    I love your marriage portion. I was at a wedding recently and one of the toasts the man said “marriage is like a battlefield, you just have to remember that the war isn’t between you but FOR you” I’m sure that’s not exactly what he said but to remember to fight for each other instead of against.

    Reply

  37. Sherri says

    Aren’t we all works in progress? That’s how God made us. I love that you shared all that is real,but I knew that already, because that is apparent in your blog. But I still think you’re fancy-schmancy when you are standing on the countertop putting up pennytile & you have black pants & a cute little top on. I’d be wearing torn clothes with paint spots on them! And I know Clara has her moments, but she is so joyful & expressive & so smart, that we readers can tell what a good job of parenting you two do. I think her latest monthly photo is too cute. Your precious family is a blessing to all that read your blog not only for DIY but for daily life. I know your book will be a success, because all your readers will buy it. God bless!!

    Reply

  38. Lisa says

    I love this post, it makes me like you guys ever more (“Stars: they’re just like us)! I have a guest room that looks an awful lot like your playroom, and now I don’t feel quite so guilty about the sad state it’s in.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Bwahahaha. That’s me and John’s favorite section of celeb mags. The call outs like “they hail taxis!” and “they eat salads!” are hilarious to us.

      xo,
      s

  39. Destiny says

    I think you are absolutely delightful, and everyone knows that, unlike perfection, delightful is not and can not be overrated.

    P.S. Clara may not be perfect, but she sure is ding-dang cute!

    Reply

  40. Barbara says

    I so appreciate this post. Every day, I look around and think “I wish I were Sherry with all her ideas and a husband who can do things!” I have no imagination and envy yours. It’s nice to see you are just like us!

    Reply

  41. Leigh P. says

    It’s time for me to admit it. I am… ahem, a closet YHL-er. I can’t help it. I am the ‘phantom reader’ who checks in everyday… can you say 10 AM coffee break?… but never leaves a comment. So, to cheers your ‘freak flag’ post, I have decided to do the same and actually comment. Thank you for keeping it real. I am in advertising (digital) and in year 1.5 of my old cottage/rancher renovation with my husband. Your blog has made an immense difference in the way I approach both work and home renovations. Thank you for doing what you do. Keep on keepin’ on! Cheers, -ALP from Charleston, SC

    Reply

  42. Jennie says

    Thanks for sharing, Sherry! I don’t read many blogs, but I read y’alls every day – and it’s because y’all are REAL (and funny and crazy talented, of course!!). A good friend called the other day in tears and said that she had just finished reading a blog she liked, but that she felt like such an sub-par mom after reading it…my response?? Quit reading! :)

    And I just had to offer some encouragement as to y’alls future – I think you’re gonna need shades (how’s that for a terribly cheesy line???). Seriously, y’all are great writers and so creative – I can’t wait to see where y’all go!

    Reply

  43. Tonya@mycozylittlefarmhouse says

    Haha..I only feel slightly less accomplished, awkward and gooberish now. I look forward to your blog EVERY day. I kinda have a mini-depression on Saturday and Sunday without any new posts to read. But when there is more than 1 post in a day or a special weekend post, I am as giddy as a schoolgirl. Which is weird. Kinda like Whatever happened to Baby Jane kind of weird since I am in my mid 40’s. Me= no schoolgirl.

    Anyhoo, Thanks for keeping it real and keep up the great work!

    Reply

  45. Jenny says

    All those things make you and your peeps great. If you could just blog about those fights and tantrums more often? ;-)

    So, I am guessing Clara doesn’t really play in the play room either?

    Reply

  46. laraffinee says

    I Love the picture of Clara! Who of us doesn’t feel like that some days?

    This blog is fabulous, because, oh……for so many reasons! You give us the real deal, which is incredibly helpful and thorough! You may have been beginners 5 years ago, but you are not now – you know a lot , and you have the beautiful language and video skills to convey it, and wonderful personalities to infuse it with life!

    There are tons and tons of blogs out there……I chose yours. Thank you for creating it!

    Reply

  49. candace says

    I always admired your authenticity! Thanks for keeping it real…and isn’t being a work in progress what this big bad life is all about? Keep it up!

    Reply

  50. Amy A says

    Just joining in on the loooove. When I found your blog 3 years ago, we were in the house hunting process and mid-century ranches were on my “no way” list since so many of them were gaudy, dark, and just seemed depressing to me. After seeing what you guys had done to your ranch I started looking at ranches as an opportunity to make a dingy, outdated home look fresh and bright. Now we have our very own ranch and have proudly brought it into this century :)

    Reply

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