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).
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:
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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#7. My house is usually a disaster. At any given time, our frame wall might look like this…
… but our sunroom probably looks like this…
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.
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.
Lori @ Lighten Up! says
Love, love, love. I can’t tell you how good it feels to know that those of us who DIY vicariously through you might someday take the plunge and drill, tile, or paint something. And the peek into the sunroom and playroom – bliss. There is something so encouraging about knowing I am not the only one with rooms like that!
Makes me feel slightly less awkward about the post I’m writing about how lazy I am… :-)
Lori @ Lighten Up! says
Ack – should have written “Makes me feel less self-conscious about exposing my own shortcomings, as I’m doing in a post about how lazy I am.” Because I just realized how the original could be misconstrued… and because awkwardness doesn’t diminish with age, apparently!
YoungHouseLove says
Hah- I totally knew what you meant!
xo,
s
Julia says
Keep it real! I LOVE this blog. I too had a frequent forgot-or-didn’t-care-enough-to-take-my-contacts-out-at-night problem for a long time. In fact, it was my new years resolution to take out my contacts, wash my face properly, and brush my teeth – all three tasks – every single night! A simple routine that I probably should have gotten down in high school but never did, and now I’m 29 and I usually only got 2 out of 3, usually ignoring my contacts. That might be too much personal hygiene info, but just wanted to share that setting that new years resolution goal has been working, so far anyway! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, one of my secret personal resolutions is to shower more. Not kidding. Things be crazy with a book, a baby, and a blog, but I’m bound and determined to make daily showers my reality. Haha.
xo,
s
Kristin says
I also had a “shower-daily” resolution for 2011 and actually made that about half a year, but my skin answered to that new routine with a fungal infection which, according to my doc, is a result of too frequent showering which can destroy your skin’s protective acid mantle. Sigh…
Btw, great post Sherry!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw man, leave it to your skin to make it difficult. Sounds like something mine would do!
xo,
s
Lori H says
Sherry and John, your perfect imperfections are HUMAN. And that’s why everyone loves you. I for one will still freeze and stumble all over myself if I run into you in Richmond. can I just say that I have saved every email that you have responded to? Now that you are totally creeped out, I also save the responses from other bloggers. You are hometown celebrities to me, but real!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that doesn’t freak me out it makes me all grinny and sweaty and awkward. Ha.
xo,
s
Liz says
Great post! On a side note, I was thinking the other day about how you were joking that you wished $her-dog would take off as your cool nickname. That always makes me laugh because our dog is named Ben Sherman and we sometimes call him Sher-dog for short. So here in Brisbane, Australia it’s possible that you could get that nickname to really take off :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yesssss. Maybe if the Aussie’s started it the states would follow suit…
xo,
s
Jenny C says
Hope you guys stick around for a long time. I have been visiting your blog daily for the last few years and I LOVE it!!! Awesome post… keep on keepin’ on!
Kate R. says
I LOVE this…. I am always so refreshed and intrigued by REAL life..I usually call things like I see them and my husband can attest to that…maybe sometimes I get a little too real…Thank you for the peak into your imperfection!
Katie @ Katie Without Restrictions says
I love you for keeping it real!! I think it’s the most important thing in blogging, and the thing I look for in blogs that I follow.
Stephanie B. says
Bless you for your honesty and humility, Gooey. Though I think you might just want to stick with “$herdog”. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we’ll have to see which one catches on first…
xo,
s
Shannon Hoving says
Sherry, I love your big ol’ sprawling, messy, awkward, over-enthusiastic, gorgeous self just the way you are! I don’t want the illusion of perfection; I want what’s real, and honest, and true. Anyone with an unlimited budget and a team of helper-monkeys can get great results, but really, how many people are that fortunate? You show us that a couple with a tight budget, real-life time constraints, and a learn-as-you-go attitude can achieve a beautiful, warm, and welcoming home. And then you invite us in, and we know that this is no sterile stage set; a real family lives there. Thank you. (It’s a good thing I’m not Clara’s mom; I’d probably let her get away with anything as long as she was wearing that hat! Even in the midst of a little meltdown, she’s still so stinkin’ cute!)
Clara says
Sherry- you guys are absolutely amazing! I’m sure people tell you that all the time, but truly, I am so impressed by you, your family, your home, and the way you guys own it! Also- your daughter Clara is only the 3rd person named Clara (outside of myself) I’ve ever known of in my life! I love that it’s so unique. Definitely works for her!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s totally the best name ever! Although I’m a little biased. Haha. Thanks so much for the kind words!
xo,
s
Ellen says
This was so lovely. I’ve been following your blog for over a year now, and find your family just absolutely delightful–mostly because you’re honest, you’re yourselves, and you never hold back. I am inspired by your ability to just put it all out there because that is life. So hooray for you! Now I’m going to go make my own list of personal imperfections…time to celebrate them all!
Kelli says
I blog about living with an autoimmune arthritis that kicks me in the pants sometimes, but doesn’t keep me from loving life and my four boys and sweet honey. (Not exciting, but therapeutic and real.) It does, however, keep me from painting a room sometimes when I have the paint and am dying to get after it!! And since I get the most unexplainable pleasure and joy from DIY projects and making our house a home, your blog brings me immense joy at the end of a sometimes very painful and limiting day. Over and over again. Thank you for keeping it real and sharing your family with us. Not everyone has the guts to be as honest $herdog! It’s inspiring and loving to all of us that check on you. xxoo
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Kelli. You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that our little old slice of the internet can bring you joy after a long hard day. Cheesy as it sounds, that brings us so much joy in return.
xo,
s
Jacque says
You don’t know how much I appreciate this…One of the most appealing things about you and John is your “real-ness”. It’s been so much fun to watch your little family and your home(s) evolve. Thank you for letting all of us into your world. Thank you for being so honest. And, mostly, thank you for giving all of us readers so many opportunities to learn from you both. You are such a blessing!
Rachel says
Loved the target/blog reader run in story…made me laugh/cry.
Valerie says
Great post! It’s always hard to balance a nagging, inner June Cleaver with our true selves. I’ve thought about starting to wear pearls with my pajama pants and no make-up during the day. The UPS guy already thinks I’m looney so why not? (I opened the door one time while *putting things away* after nursing the baby) No one is perfect and no one has a perfect life so “keeping it real” is refreshing and necessary. Thanks again for a truly enjoyable blog read every day.
Kara says
Love it – real people rock!
Lindsey says
You guys are awesome and very real:) That’s why I keep coming back!
Melanie says
I’m new to your blog and I LOVE. THIS. POST. No one has it together all of the time, and that’s a good thing.
Polina says
Love this post. I have been following your blog ever since i stumbled upon it 4 years ago and always admired how human you guys are. Keep up being awesome!
jennifer p says
shout out to a jersey girl from a brooklyn new york girl.
i love you guys and think that the four of you are adorable.and i am learning alot about design and diy projects on your blog and cant wait till your book comes out.i love the way you have decorated your house.its given me some ideas for my apartment.
Carolyn says
Loved this post. I haven’t left a comment in a loooong time (2011=not a great year for me), but I still enjoy reading your blog (when I’m not spot cleaning the grubby toddler stains and baby vomit off my clothes!) Anyways, your honesty is wonderfully refreshing and obviously resonates with a lot of people (630+ comments!) Keep doing what you do. Your down-to-earthness is wonderful.
P.S John should definitely do a post like this now…we’re all waiting! :D
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I have him officially on board thanks to all the requests! Soon I hope!
xo,
s
JoDi says
You are awesome in all your imperfection, and we love the real $herdog! Never thought you were perfect although I see how people might think that because you guys are perfectly adorable. Thanks for keepin’ it real!
Laura says
hahaha cream cheese on your ear! that had me laughing out loud.
thanks for being so honest and down to earth in the sea of “my life is so perfect and I ALWAYS look this good” blogs. (I read a lot of fashion blogs and man those prissy girls get annoying!)
keep up the great work!!
Emy says
aaaand that’s why we love you….. keepin’ it realz
Heather F. says
I know it’s only January 17th, but I’m going to go ahead and declare this post my favorite post ever of 2012!!! I actually preceeded to have tears running down my face as I read this post and breathed a sigh of relief. I love reading blogs (yours is my favorite!), but often find myself wondering why I couldn’t keep my house as clean as anyone else, or have the prettiest walls as everyone else…oftentimes putting so much stress on myself to have a “perfect” house, while I “stupidly” forget to remind myself that everything is not as perfect as it seems. However, YOUNG HOUSE LOVE always seems to post a “keep it real” post at the right time to bring me back down to reality to make me feel better. Thanks so much for being honest and open with your readers. This is why we love you so much!! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw Heather. I love you right back.
xo,
s
angela dusko says
Sherry..what a breath of fresh air to read such a “real life” post. 90% of blogs out there are too fake and copy cat of everything else. I love your blog because you and John are awesome at what you do and show us that real diy involves getting dirty and working with what ya got. Its nice to see you two fixing up a home that really needs work…not just making your half million dollar mcmansion look pretty and calling it diy. This girl in Montana luvs ya both…your the best.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, I love you right back Angela. Not lying. My heart is all gushy and melty for you guys. Best readers ever.
xo,
s
Tamsyn says
Thank you for keeping it real Sherry! I still think you guys are pretty much perfect though! :)
Chaucea says
Ahh, that’s beautiful! What a wonderful, refreshing, enthusiastic, deliciously real post. It made me get all teary-eyed. Thank you so much for sharing! :-D
Amanda says
I love that you guys keep it real. In fact, I love it so much that I spent most of my evening catching up on the last 5 months of your blog that I’ve missed out. As always, you 2 (4) have kept me motivated and so inspired I blogged about it.
Long story short, don’t change a thing!
http://www.7sleeps.blogspot
Special K says
NAILED THIS MO-FO IN THE MOUTH SHERDOG!
Seriously.
My apologies for the inappropriate word picture but seriously.
Nailed it.
I’ve been waiting on pins since you told me you were gonna write this and you outdid yourself :)
BRAVO my sweet friend BRAV-theheck-O!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- in the mouth. Hilarious. Katie B, you’re half the reason I really let it all hang out! I couldn’t believe that when I mentioned this post idea that you actually thought it sounded interesting. Haha.
xo,
s
Nora says
I’m from Australia so I don’t know how things work up in the ol’ US of A – but isn’t it normal to say prezzie for present or do you not do that there? So if it is kinda weird there you can always pull the multicultural card and enlighten others on Australian slang :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- it’s totally only cool in Australia. Haha. But with Aussie power behind it, maybe it’ll catch on here!
xo,
s
AmyO says
I literally LOL’ed at the Target comment! Sounds like something I would do. Despite all your little imperfections – that’s what make you guys awesome. You’re just regular people doing your thang! You’re – dare I say human? Really you two are great and I’ve learned so much from you already. You’re like a one stop shop for DIY’ers. I know I’ve turned a few people to your blog already in the past month and now they all love it just as much as I do!
Keep doing what your doing! You’ve got a lot of devoted readers here!
Susi says
You are right, you’re not perfect!!!
You’re awesome!! All 4 of you!
Kate in New Zealand says
Exactly why you guys are my favourite blog! Sometimes when we are up at 4am NZ time for what ever reason I check to see if there is a new post xo Can’t wait for the book
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Kate!
xo,
s
Gilmara Fernandes says
Just because you are not perfect you are perfect for us readers of your lovely blog.
We are always learning with you guys…believe me!
Happy 2012 for the YHL!!!!
Xoxo
Gil
Annalea says
We love you because you’re you. And I happen to really like giddy and weird, completely with puns. Enthusiasm is sold so short these days; finding happiness all around you is a saving grace so few use (happiness IS COOL imho).
And as for marriage . . . the best part about having a couple truly committed to each other is that when those moments hit that you think “What on earth did I get myself into???”, or you feel disconnected and distant, you can know that it’s only a moment . . . and if you hang in there, on the other side you’ll have a spouse and children that love you, craziness and all. :o)
Natália says
Hello!
I love your blog! I really do!
Keep going with it, ypu really inspire me!!!
I’m also married, with an 8 months toodler, and also like to do DIY… and my home is also a mess… at least one room is a mess…
Xoxo
Dugi says
wOW! I’ve been reading your blog for a few years and seriously this is the best post you have every written. You know why? Cos it’s the most open and straight to the heart you have been. This is what inspires people into doing the projects…the feeling that you are just like the rest of us…and you are inspiring plenty of people to do things together as a couple and a baby and do the family thing. Seriously you have been waaaay open…I mean we’ve seen in your drawers and know birth stories and even seen your toilet . What you are doing is difficult. It takes a lot of guts and faith in each other and the future to be able to do this for a living. Never doubt what you both can do together! Cos you TWO and your adventurous spirit will make a wonderful life!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Dugi! You guys are all so sweet.
xo,
s
[email protected] says
Awww $herdog you are awesome!!! I loved this post. What brought it on?
YoungHouseLove says
Every once in a while we get the itch to overshare beyond home improvement (like this and this). I was just thinking how funny it might be to write about all the hush-hush stuff that most people don’t declare out loud (I’m missing a gene that reins me in, haha).
xo,
s
Mel says
Your genuine self is what has gotten you to this point. Congrats on knowing yourself enough to put it out there … and thanks for being a part of my morning coffee.
Paige says
I’ve always thought you guys were pretty relatable anyway, but this post just reaffirms it. I feel a lot better knowing your house is always a mess, too. In fact, I’m gonna leave that pile of crap on the dining room floor for one more day! I’ll deal with it later.
Stacey says
This is a lovely post, Sherry. I’ve known I was a dork from about age 5 and I’m proud of it! I also used to be the worst kind of perfectionist until I discovered your blog late last year. The 2 DIY projects my boyfriend and I have attempted since have not only been phenomenal team-building exercises but have taught me to relax since perfection can’t be achieved. I still do things as neatly and thoroughly as I can but have learned not to fixate on imperfections which would otherwise torpedo the project. So thank you for being you and teaching me to DIY through your blog which relates to me on many levels. You have helped make me a better person and strengthen my relationship. Hugs.
Ola says
Please keep sharing your joy with us and please keep being (obnoxiously) enthusiastic :) Wish you all the happiness of the world (so you could than share it with everyone, in your amazing way). All you have wrote in this post can be seen in your blog anyway, if you want to see it, but it was interesting to have it said ‘aloud’ in one place. Thank you :)
Licia says
Thank you for inspiring me to be a more productive work in progress- I even picked out backsplash tile inspired by your penny tile adventure!
amy says
…and that is why we all love you guys, and why I have been a loyal follower since the early days! Random story, I met someone a few weeks ago and found out she also is a reader, and I felt like I was in the “the know” when I had to tell her that YHL used to be TYH!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- that’s hilarious. You go way back. I love it.
xo,
s
Toni says
Thanks for writing this post, Sherry! I think it’s so important to remember that what we see on blogs and facebook are not people’s perfect lives. They are the good moments that we want to tell people about, and I think that’s great! We should all celebrate the good moments and be honest about the bad. It’s what makes us real. Great post.
JZB says
I needed to read this today as I looked around at my messy house and unfinished projects. You guys are the best.
Amy Knisely says
My dear, you and John rock out loud. I’ve been following your blog for a while now and it’s given my husband and I the courage to buy a house and tackle some of the renovations ourselves. We’re pretty “green” as well (the only real experience I had was painting walls) and it’s definitely a LONG journey, but having folks like you out there that prove with a little forethought and hard work it will work out makes all the difference.
My husband and I will be in Richmond sometime in May when we pick up our labrador puppy (we’ll be staying at my brother and sister-in-law’s new house) – maybe we’ll run into you at IKEA! :) (I’ll be the one walking around with a glazed look on my face because I’ve actually never been to an IKEA before)
Melanie says
Now that is the thing about blogs and the internet in general. Speaking for myself, I tend to surf around and look for different inspirations to make my house more of a home, my clothes more cool, my makeup and hair “in the now”…there’s always something to improve… which implies that whatever you have is just not good enough. Beautiful images surround us every day. Your post today is a good reminder that we are beautiful too, regardless of the mess, or lack of design our outfit disaster.
Thanks for the honesty.. it is always welcomed.
Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says
Please post something about SOPA today.
Your income depends on the internet.
or place a stop censorship over your header: http://americancensorship.org/
or ask your readers to sign the petition: https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/
Please?
YoungHouseLove says
We heard that Sopa was actually already shelved by the government! Wahoo!
xo,
s
Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says
Whattt!? That’s the first I’m hearing of this, but I just woke up :p
Getting the latest news from YHL, That’s the way to go. :)
Rebe says
SOPA is not dead – a full consensus has to be reached before moving forward and hearings of SOPA have been “delayed”. Also, PIPA (the Senate’s version of SOPA) is still in play. I’m getting my Masters in Information and all day we’ve been receiving emails concerning SOPA and just wanted to let people know they should still be concerned and educate themselves for whichever position they choose to take!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the info Rebe!
xo,
s