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.
The Mobile-Homemaker says
Holy Cannoli.
If only my ass looked like a heart. I’d have to photoshop a skull & crossbones on this here badunkadunk.
These are the posts that keep me coming back.
BTW, how does it feel to know you’re linked off of a Turkey Farm Trailer blog? Don’t answer that.
Jill says
I was at a conference recently listening to a woman who runs a consulting business marketing to moms. She was emphasizing that “Good enough is the new perfect”. That certainly rings true here. Frankly, I read this blog BECAUSE you’re so real :)
kate says
Sherry– love you in all of your adorkableness. Way better than Zooey.
Laura Groff says
I read “without putting my bra away first” at first as “without putting my bra ON first”! I still laugh at your video where you share you own one bra! OK…whew. Underwear on before pictures please.
Still laughing….
I agree this is the best post you’ve written yet….love that you keep it real. We’re all just really weirdly normal.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, who knew I talked about bras so much!
xo,
s
Jen says
And yet this is why you are successful! We like $herdog, EXACTLY like she is. Your “you-ness” is inspiring, and it gives us all permission to share our “us-ness”.
Jennifer says
Yep, hate reading “perfect” blogs. Maybe sometimes I read your posts even when I’m not 100% interested in the content just bc I know it’ll probably be entertaining if not relevant…
Senora H-B says
I just about died laughing about your Cindy Lou Who moment in Target. hahahahahah!
Thanks for always keeping it real. There’s a reason you’re the only DIY/home improvement blog I’m still reading. :) You pretty much rock and I would read if you wrote a blog about dog food.
Anne W says
What a great post, Sherry. I love your honesty and also appreciate that you “let your freak flag fly” :)
Kat says
I have a nickname for everything too–actually I call ’em prezzies too. Must be that great state of NJ comin’ out of us;) Representin’!
Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says
Sherry… I tend to be really over empathetic towards people. I am a literal sponge when it comes to absorbing others feelings, good bad, whatever. I am explaining this because I felt a little sad reading this, thinking, “oh my God, she is getting emails that are over critical and are hurting her feelings.” LOL I hate that people are more likely to spew out their negative feelings about people than positive ones.
I think that you, and John, are great. Your blog has changed my life and made me realize that I can fix up my 50 year old house and not have to just “live with” or “deal with” how things look in it. Maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal to some, but it is to me. Thanks for being so perfectly imperfect, and thanks for having the guts to share your life with us.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no, it was nothing like that – no mean emails at all! I just thought it would be fun to put this stuff out there. You know I’m an over-sharer! Haha. I’m begging John to write one of these posts too. That’s the fun of blogging, just being real and letting it all hang out!
xo,
s
Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says
Ok, good. :) Getting John to do one would be awesome.
Meredith says
Everyone would be a lot happier if they didn’t try to put on a show of being perfect. It’s all the imperfections that make for great stories and real people!
We have a 4 month old puppy (equivalent to a toddler) who steals and chews socks, meaning there are rarely a matching pair to be found. I had to go to the doctor the other day and they had me take off my shoes – I had one pink sock on and one of my husband’s socks on with a giant hole in the big toe. Not only was my big toe sticking through, it was also showing off the color paint we had just done our ceiling in. I looked awfully put together on the outside though (minus my layer of dog hair) ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha. Totally could have been me. Hilarious.
xo,
s
Suni says
Read your blog daily, and truly it’s inspiration on so many levels, yours and John’s honesty, sharing your life with the world, including your precious daughter, as well as just being you, and knowing that you and your life may not be perfect just makes you even more real! I truly appreciate you, John and Clara, and even Burger (smiles)… I hope you know that you 4 touch peoples lives in many ways! Thanks for all you 4 do. :)
Sue says
Thanks to your inspiration and how to’s, we finished a small bath remodel (everything but the shower tile) and I did a laundry room update this weekend. But my living and guest rooms look like your sun room and play room. . . . future works in progress. Thanks for sharing that’s how it should be!
Myrna says
You are wise way beyond your years. You know yourself so well and realize that no one’s life (or house)is perfect, but we do what we can and keep on trying to make it all work—marriage, family, work, life. Keep it up!
billie says
Love it. but where is the pic with all the kiddo toys? Seriously. Where do you guys keep them?????
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, the ottoman! And baskets everywhere! We have giant baskets from Target in every room that we toss all of Clara’s toys into. And sometimes we just find them on our chairs or in our bed or in the oven of her play kitchen! She’s like a squirrel hiding little stockpiles everywhere!
xo,
s
Ashley says
I absolutely L-O-V-E-D this post!I have to admit your blog makes everything (including life) look so easy. It’s nice to remember that not everything comes so easy and you guys are real people just trying to figure things out like everyone else.
Vicky says
Oh $herdog I think you’re even more awesome after reading that! :)
Cheryl says
So refreshing that you don’t take yourself so seriously! Life is meant to have fun, and it’s great that you have John and Clara to share it with!! Keep on rollin’ Sherdog!
Liz says
I love it when you keep it real, $herdog! Makes me love you even more!
mp says
Sherry, I’m 50 and proud to be a work in progress! It means we’re still growing and stretching.
Adrienne says
I enjoy reading your blog because of the things you mentioned in your post. Our friends, who are an ENT doctor and a PT, are actually moving to Richmond in July. They didn’t know much about the place before deciding on it, and one of the things I told them that was positive about Richmond (I don’t know anything personally about it since I’ve never been) is that you guys live there so it must be kind of hip and progressive. ;) I told them to check out your blog; so, may be they will recognize you at a Target…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- yay! Everyone should move to Richmond! We love it here. There I go with the enthusiasm. Haha. But it’s a great city!
xo,
s
Joy says
I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see your sunroom and playroom. It makes me feel so much more normal!!
kate C. says
Thanks for answering my question! And I’d love to see you guys fix up a vacation home someday! Oh, and I love the penny tile and I’m sure you’ll still love it in 10 years too. ;)
SherriEakin says
I only discovered your blog a few months ago, but what drew me in immediately (besides the awesome pictures) was your personality and your I’m-literally-writing-exactly-what-I’m-thinking-RIGHT-NOW blogging style. :)
Britt says
Mmmm strawberry cream cheese…
Leah says
It’s all about the night and day contacts!!!! You can wear them for a month (sometimes I cheat and go longer…) without taking them out. Get some!!! You’ll love it!!!
I think my 20 month old Charlotte is Clara’s evil twin. She wakes up every 30 minutes at night. Were they separated at c-section?! (we have similar birth stories!)
jessica says
love this post!keeping it real =)
Ruthy T. says
what a great post…and if you’re anything like zooey…well then we were destined to be friends, because i’m that awkward too :)
Lindsey says
This post made me like you that much more. :)
courtney says
“I’m her half sister Gooey or something.” That almost made me man-laugh out loud. You may have intended it to rhyme with Zooey, I’m not sure. But in my head it was just gooey, as in icky or covered in goo. Either way, hysterical.
JennyL says
You are so cute! Thanks for the refreshing reminder that you guys are not perfect – just like the rest of us! Keep up the great work!
Kristen says
Love it! Random question- have you ever shown a photo of your basement? Just curious what your plans are!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, it’s on our House Tour page. Just picture that full of tools! Right now it’s awesome as a workroom, but who knows what we’ll do with it down the line. Although John might fight me if I want to do anything else with it since it’s his man zone full of drills and saws. Haha.
xo,
s
Sarah @ The Strength of Faith says
Sherry, this was an awesome post! I think it is a good reminder to all of us that perfection shouldn’t be end goal that we are journeying towards, we should just be enjoying the journey.
Lately I feel like I know intellectually that I should let go of my quest for perfection – but it’s hard to actually believe it in my heart and live it out every day. Especially when we see the picked out / edited version of people’s lives in blogs, on magazines and on TV.
Thanks for the reminder!
xo
Sarah
Emily Morrison @ What Emily Does says
You crack me up!
I’ve just started my blog and I’ve been debating on letting my dorkiness reign or if I should reel it in just a tad. I think I go back in forth.
But the truth is, when I do something that is “so Emily” as my hubs would say, I just respond with “This is why I’m hot…” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwyE3WJ4AWo Oh yes, enjoy.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha- my response is always “I do what I want!” – but now that I have This is why I’m hot playing in the background… well, I might have a new catchphrase…
xo,
s
Christina says
It’s fun people like us that aren’t boring sticks in the mud!
Keep on keepin’ it real! That’s why we love you and keep coming back for more. : )
Leanne says
Sherdog! You are amazing and I think you and J-Boom (did I get those right? lol) do an awesome job! I LOVE your blog and I regularly tell my husband “I SO want to be like Sherry and John when I grow up! (I’m 27, he is 28….we’ll get there!)
We are still saving up for our first home deposit, and I would love to buy a home to revamp the way you guys did/are doing. We live is Australia and are seriously considering buying something in the US and moving (I have dual citizenship). It is a pipe dream possibly (particularly with the economy the way it is!), but I am adding it to the list of ‘One Day…’ You know, along with the raising alpacas, having my own garden and selling at a farmers market, being a stay at home/work from home Mom, living close to my family instead of halway around the world, having an investment property, being WAY more green then we currently are…. better get another sheet of paper to continue the list!
I love the way you keep your blog real, thank you for being awkward, weird, however you want to put it lol and putting it all out there! It is wonderful to keep up with your new projects and your family. As an aside…. We LOVE the monthly Clara pictures, they are fabulous!
Thank you for being an inspiration, for keeping it real, and for being on board the awkward train! I have read heaps of your blogs the last few days on saving our pennies, getting rid of poisons, buying and selling homes, going green etc… it has been an awesome amount of info and my brain is still trying to process. All brilliant information, and so much appreciated! Love you guys, Keep doing what you are doing, its great! xx
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Leanne! You guys are all so sweet. I’m really getting gooey over here – living up to my new namesake…
xo,
s
Amy says
A post like this is all the more reason I LOVE reading your blog! The fact that both John and you are so down to earth on your blog is why so many of us talk about you as if we know you. It’s pretty clear we all like you just the way you are!
Jane says
Best post you’ve ever written. That story about Christmas trees in Target? That is totally something I would do. That crap happens to me all the time. Except the people don’t know my blog, so I’m just a regular weirdo with no redeeming star powers when they experience my awkwardness!
I actually had a dream recently where I met you guys at Haven and made a total weirdo out of myself. Damn, that makes me sound not only awkward, but like a stalker!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh I’m SO.NERVOUS.FOR.HAVEN. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.
xo,
s
Tara says
Love this post! Glad to hear you’re a “real” person like the rest of us! I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now, and I feel like I know you both. We’re going through a kitchen renovation right now, so I’m referencing your blog constantly. I’m always telling my hubby – “John & Sherry did xyz.” Or if we have a question – “let’s see what John & Sherry did.” You guys are like 2 old friends we’ve never met…lol!
Tracey says
We have a little bit of Sherry in all of us, that’s why we love your blog so much. None of us are perfect. Most of us are ackward at some time or another. All of us aspire to do better in everything we do. We love you just the way you are. Don’t change for us. Be true to yourself and live life one day at a time. We’ll be there to encourage you along the way.
Jen W says
Obnoxious? Not at all! And I wish I was on top of puns the way you are. :) I love your blog.
Susan says
I really enjoyed this post! I’m always excited to see what new thing you all are starting or the big reveal, but I think the posts I love most are seeing the people behind the blog.
I must admit that I’ve started taking care to look decent when we head to IKEA…just in case I happen to run in to you all there *fingers crossed* :)
Riva says
Dear $herdog,
I found your blog this summer when I was Googling something about window treatments. At that point I had no idea DIY blogs existed so it was like I’d been living under a rock and the sun had just shone on me for the first time. I spent an entire weekend on my computer reading post after post after post …
Since then I have not missed a single update. Reading comments on your entries lead me to discover that *lots* of other people have DIY blogs too so I started reading some of them regularly also. But I have not found any other DIY blog that I love as much as yours and I think it is your fresh, honest personalities and your frugal habits that interest me the most.
When I started reading this update, my initial reaction was not like other comments who were worried people had been mean to you. I just thought to myself “They must have run out of stuff to post about while they are working on their kitchen!”
I can’t even count how many ideas are on my to-do list because of your blog. Because of you, I found Pinterest, which tripled the to-do list. Because of you the whole world of home decorating exploded in size because I just never knew you could pick up almost anything and make it your own with creativity, perseverance, patience, good humor, and maybe not that much money at all.
Thank you for your blog. You have no idea how that one simple Google search has changed my life and rocked my world!
Karla@{TheClassyWoman) says
Thank you Sherry for your honesty, I’ve always loved your blog and one of those reasons is that you’re not perfect just like the rest of us but aren’t afraid to share it! :)
Katie says
Thanks for sharing. I just love when ppl are “real” on their blogs. And I love that someone else besides me has all stretched out shirts from breastfeeding, and btw, your post on that subject was very encouraging to me. I BF my son, Levi, for 15 months and he nursed about every 2-3 hours during most of that time and refused bottles, etc. kinda like Clara so I can understand how you felt during that time. I had no idea how all-consuming breastfeeding would be going into it since I was apparently around mostly bottle-fed babies prior to having my son. I remember reading about how you felt “alone” or something on your family vacation having to go off and BF by yourself and I can absolutely relate to that. I wish that BF-ing was more common here. Kudos to you for sticking with it!
Quiana says
Awesome post! Hooray for keeping it real. I really appreciate it.
Beth says
Your post is perfect for me today! I’m working on a YHL-inspired painting project that I’ve been avoiding for years because I was afraid I would screw it up. I’m glad to hear you’ve made DIY mistakes (even if they’re not as big as my own!) because this was a project I had to throw myself into and not look back. Oh, and BTW, I bought one of your recommended short-handled brushes today and FINALLY was able to cut in without tape. Never done that before. Ever. So THANK YOU!!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! I’m telling you that brush is a life-changer! Congrats!
xo,
s
Melissa Evans says
You guys seem SO down to earth. This was quite a post…so honest and down to earth.
Just another reason why you guys ROCK!! Seriously!
Sarah says
Thanks for this! It’s nice to know that not even professional bloggers, who partly make a living off of the way their house looks, are able to keep every part of their house perfect all the time. I’m not going to lie. Sometimes you post pictures of a perfect looking room, and I look at my dirty windows/dusty furniture/pile of laundry, and want to cry.
Ami says
Truly awesome post. Reminded me of this quote from a Mormon pastor: each of us is an iceburg. When you look out across the ocean, you see the top 10% of the iceburgs in the water. That 10% is the part that we want others to see. It is important to remember that each of us has another 90% that we’re “hiding” below the surface. He told us “Never compare your 90% to someone else’s 10%. It’s not a fair comparison.” Isn’t that the truth. :)
p.s. Gotta say felt great reading #3. Sometimes fear of getting something wrong makes me not do anything at all. I’m keeping this in mind from now on! (Even when my husband says, ‘now what was wrong with the last 3 sets of drapes?’