Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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The Real J-Boom

First off, in kitchen progress news, all of the chaotic electrical work has been completed! In just five hours actually. Woot.

Electrician Craziness Horiz

So we’re cleaning things up, taking pics, doing some pendant hunting, and writing a big ol’ post about it for you guys on Monday. But apparently when Sherry shared “The Real $herdog” on Tuesday there were a bunch of requests for a John version. Color me surprised (I honestly thought Burger and Clara would get mentioned before I would). And since I don’t really have a cool street name like Sherry, she has suggested that I use “J-Boom” for the time being. It’s a little too close for comfort to a certain busty Jersey Shore cast member for me, but since I figure there’s little risk of confusing the two of us – I’ll use it for now. It certainly has more flare to it than my childhood nicknames of “JP” and “Petersik.” Anyway, since Sherry stole some shared facts for herself (about our marriage and our daughter) – my list might be a bit more random than hers. Here goes nothing.

#1 – I don’t always enjoy shopping and decorating. If reading our blog has given you the impression that I’m always the dutiful husband who skips merrily alongside Sherry on shopping trips for our latest decorating project, well – that’s not 100% accurate. I may participate in (and often enjoy) running house errands more than the average husband, but I also do my fair share of groaning when I’m told we “need to go out for pillows.” Same goes for tasks around the house. Let’s just say I don’t bound joyfully from the couch every time I learn we’re hanging curtains or need to go up in the attic to carry something that “takes two people, one being the strong and helpful husband.” But when worst comes to worst, I just try to find the humor in being the tagalong husband:

HGoods Dog Backpack

#2 – I’m the king of typos. Case in point, my fingers originally made that “I’m the kind of typos.” I’ve accepted this about myself: my brain and fingers don’t always work in unison and my eyes don’t do me any favors by catching them. Sherry has little tolerance for it (especially since I will even drop an entire word or three here and there). Yes, sentences like “then I spread the grout with a trowel” might get typed out as “then I with a trowel” and Sherry is left scratching her head. It’s one of the reasons Sherry proofreads every post before it goes up and also why I’m not as active in the comments (along with the fact that I have no idea where each of our ten million pillows hails from). I confessed my typo problem in a local interview two years ago where Sherry and I had to submit secret responses about each other separately. I said I loved Sherry because “she fixes my tyops.” Sherry told me it was a sweet and clever answer… until I further confessed that I hadn’t done it intentionally. It was just the most well-timed typo of my life.

JBoom Skirt Tyops

#3 – I’m sometimes insecure about being a stay-at-home dad. Those who caught my BabyCenter post a few months ago already know most of this. And though I think I technically qualify more as a “work-at-home” dad, I still often feel funny about not getting up, putting on work clothes, and trotting off to the office like other “normal” dads. Even though I can rationalize that being home with Clara is actually a very good thing, it still just feels off to me sometimes. Especially when Clara and I are checking out at the grocery store in the middle of the day and I get that “oh, he must be unemployed” look from the cashier. But I’m doing my best to just embrace it and be as good at it as I can.

DayInLife 13 Folding Laundr

#4 – I’m a shameless consumer of “new” things. Maybe it’s the former advertising exec in me (or the reason I got into advertising in the first place) but I’m a total sucker for new products. They don’t even have to be totally new – maybe Hershey Kisses’ just released their seasonal flavors, for example. I. Must. Try. Them. All. Heck, I even bought a box of Life cereal the other day just because the packaging had been redesigned. Sherry knows whenever I go food shopping alone that she should brace herself for the weird new flavor or product I’ll come home with (Dulce De Leche Cheerios? Check).

#5 – I sing. A lot. And not that well. Sherry and I are both guilty of bursting into song pretty often, whether it’s singing along to the radio or crooning an original tune that narrates what we’re doing (“a grouting we will go, a grouting we will go, high ho the tile-e-oh, a grouting we will go”). So maybe this goes along with Sherry’s admission that she’s painfully cheerful? It’s like a slightly off-key and slightly-sarcastic Disney movie up in here sometimes. And it’s probably why Clara isn’t shy about belting a little medley out too. We aren’t “real” singers or anything, but we can both (key word: sort of) carry a tune. And sometimes harmonize. Sometimes even on purpose. If we were to try out for American Idol we’d be in that in-between group that’s neither good nor bad enough to see the judges. You can catch a snippet of me singing in this mockumentary my college improv group made about a squash tournament (that obviously needed to close with a big mediocre musical number). Fast forward to about 12:10 for my extremely brief verse. Or if you care to watch the whole thing, start here with part one (warning: I can’t guarantee it’s entertaining for anyone beyond those of us who are in it).

JBoom John Singing

#6 – I don’t really read Young House Love. Since Sherry proofreads every post (see #2 if you’ve forgotten why) and responds to most comments (questions like “where did you get that mirror?” are like asking me what color earrings Sherry wore three days ago), she reads just about every single word that ever gets posted on this site. So with all that we juggle each day, it’s not really the best use of our time for me to read everything too. I barely find time to read other blogs, let alone the one where I already know how things end. So if we ever talk in person and you reference something funny that Sherry wrote, please forgive me if I just smile and nod. Does it make me feel like a bad person? Sometimes. But c’mon, you know brevity is hardly a virtue of ours…

#7. I can get pissed like the best of them. This might come as a surprise but I can get pretty darn peeved in the middle of a project that’s going anything but well. I have even been known to throw a screwdriver (maybe “lob it at the ground” is a better description) while grappling to fix an incredibly frustrating mailbox issue. I’m working on it, but just know that I’m not Mr. It’s All Going To Be Hunky Dory during every project. Sometimes I’m just gritting my teeth and muttering under my breath. But when it’s all said and done and we’ve lived to tell the tale, it’s 100% worth it. Which probably explains why I keep jumping back into the ol’ DIY arena. I’m like Russel Crowe in Gladiator – except significantly less ripped.

John Taking Cabs Down

So maybe my list was less “surprise, I’m not perfect” than Sherry’s since I figure you guys already knew I was no Matt Damon / Edward Cullen  / Justin Bieber or whoever else is the epitome of male perfection these days. Just don’t tell Clara that. I think she’s pretty convinced I’m all that and a box of raisins. And I’d like to keep it that way.

Pssst: We are not famous. But somehow we’ve been invited to be part of the Richmond Comedy Coalition’s series called “Richmond Famous” that’s happening next Friday night (Jan 27). We’re not totally sure what we’re in for, but supposedly we’ll tell some true stories from our lives and they’ll improvise scenes based on them. And yes, Sherry is beyond nervous that we actually “have to talk” so we’d love to see you guys there. At least I would. Sherry might rather hide in the car. Get more info here.

Yearbook Richmond Famous

Psssst again: We announced this week’s giveaway winner. Click here to see if it’s you.

Comments

  1. RVA Born and Raised says

    YAY PEPSI SHIRT! I may be back home next weekend, and if I am in the area I will totally come out an support you guys next Friday night. If not, good luck!

    Reply

  4. Penny says

    I loved this post, its so great to hear Johns side too! Maybe I should lighten up on the hubs from now on when he’s not feeling thrilled about a 2 hour drive to IKEA :P also I think its wonderful Clara will have such a close bond with her dad

    p.s. john my husband totally wishes he had a few grays! He thinks it will make him look more “distinguished” he just turned 25 hahaha he would totally compliment you on yours

    Reply

  5. jrm says

    Thank you both for sharing you “real” side. I think it is helpful and fun. Y’all seem like good people and yay for good people. I too love that pic of John folding laundry with Clara. I wish I was as thrilled about folding laundry as she appears in the photo.

    Reply

  6. Nan says

    Thanks for admitting #2… I always feel so stupid after going back and re-reading a text or post and seeing that I have missed a word or an “ing”, “ed” or “er”. At times this gets me pretty darned peeved and other times it just makes me laugh.

    Thank you both for blogging.

    Reply

  8. Lisa says

    Funny! You have to have them act out the scene with Sherry in the store turning around to comment about something and you aren’t there and it is a total stranger! I forget what crazy item she was holding up, but it made me laugh out loud just picturing it…I am sure the improv folks would do it proper justice!

    Reply

  9. Lauren says

    I LOVE that you sing-narrate all the time. I sing pretty constantly about everything and nothing. Drives my husband crazy. I even humiliated the heck out of myself recently at work by singing.

    http://filingjointly.blogspot.com/2012/01/john-lennon-is-rolling-over-in-his.html

    Also, you are super brave to post a video of you singing for the whole world to see (the whole world reads YHL right?) – although I will say, you carry a tune quite nicely.

    I just recently found out that there is a video of me singing my little 16 year old heart out on youTube. (I played Annie in a high school production of Annie.)

    I will never ever give anyone the link to that video.

    Both the singing and the wig are, let’s just say, NOT GOOD.

    Longest comment ever, sorry. Talking to boys makes me nervous.

    Reply

  10. Emily says

    Please don’t feel insecure about being a stay at home parent. I work with a lot of women who have stay at home husbands. Maybe it’s because I work in the construction industry, but it seems to be more and more normal all the time.

    Plus, you are really a work at home dad! With a work at home wife/mom.

    I do have one last question – you guys never talk about friends in Richmond. We know about your friendship with the Bowers, and we hear about visits with family, but never about friends who live in town. Maybe they just don’t want to be mentioned? Or maybe it just doesn’t seem to fit into the scope of the posts? Just curios.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just try to keep our local buddies on the DL for their sake. Our very closest friends are my BFF who married John’s cousin Travis (they live in DC but we see them pretty often since they’re family) and the Bowers, but we also have a bunch of local peeps that we lovelovelove and usually just do low key things with like hang out at their house or ours and watch movies, listen for crying babies who are supposed to be sleeping, eat spaghetti, etc. Not very much blogworthy stuff goes on though. Haha.

      xo,
      s

    • RVA Born and Raised says

      Haha, but what a very nice coat closet it must be, if it is anything like Clara’s closet. Have you ever shared a picture of your coat closet? Do you even have one? LOL

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, it’s on the not often seen far side of the dining room (near the front door). It’s where we hung our advent calendar. It’s small but cozy in there. I could totally make it work as my cave.

      xo,
      s

  12. Riva says

    I can’t believe anyone would have the audacity to give you funny looks for being out and about in the middle of the day! You’re famous – it’s their problem for not knowing who you are.

    Actually, it boggles my brain how many people are out and about or in any given store during the day. When I had a commuter job and took a weekday off and ran errands I couldn’t believe the wide array of people at Target, and now that I work from home and can go places during the day more often there are people of all ages and backgrounds at all types of places at any given hour. I always wonder what they do for a living that allows them to go wherever at 10am. Then I start trying to calculate the population of my area and the number of vacation days people get and the statistical likelihood of X number of people using PTO or having a work schedule that allowa them to be where I am at that particular moment and then my brain is blown and I have to go home.

    Reply

  13. Anna says

    Awww, John you still sound like at that … and a box of raisins!

    Wish I lived closer, I’m sure the improvision (is that a word?) will be hilarious!

    Reply

  15. Logann says

    My Dad was a stay at home for three girls and a SERIOUS handyman. It was the greatest thing ever. It allowed for lots of creativity. And let’s just say my clothes never matched in grade school and I loved that too!

    Reply

  17. denise says

    You know, I’m really glad to hear your side of the story. I read a lot of home improvement blogs, and they are invariably written by women. I always wonder about those poor husbands that are dragged along in their endeavors when I’m sure they would much rather be watching the game and drinking a beer. Like really? How much do they REALLY care about their wive’s crafting table or having entryway cubbies or putting up wainscotting in the hallway?? smh. I’m pretty sure my husband, as well as everyone else’s, can enjoy a good pillow with the rest of them, but dragging him to HomeGoods to get one?? Um yeah… no. Kudos to you, J-Boom! I enjoy your posts so much (no offense, $herdog, you’ll always be my homie!), so please keep writing, typos and all. Oh, and I’m sure the ladies in here wouldn’t mind seeing you go primeval on a 2×4… just saiyin’! :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Ohemgeee, he totally did that to me in HomeGoods. We bumped into a girl and I ran off saying I’d be right back and the girl said “I almost peed myself when I saw you” and John said “oh that’s what Sherry’s doing right now.” I died.

      xo,
      s

  19. jeannette says

    i’m just darting in to say that the proofreading, spelling and general literacy of your posts, as well as the professionalism of the editorial process, are not only what keep me coming back, they’re proof to me that your word is your bond, you’re not secretly subsidized by sponsors or political agendas, and that what you say you’re doing is what you’re doing. it is, in a word, the hallmark of the quality of this blog and your all’s authenticity.

    Reply

  20. Rose says

    I loved these “keepin-it-real” posts from both of you. You might not be perfect, but you’re both really awesome!! And please, I hope someone is filming this improv evening. I want to see these YHL scenes set to life in a funny way. :) (I’d come myself but I’m all snowed in over here on the other side of the country.)

    Reply

  22. Rebecca says

    These posts=hilarious. I just realized that you guys are in Richmond! I went to UR and have since moved to DC, but it blows my mind that you guys are doing all of this awesomeness down there. My love for this blog just grew even more. I eagerly await your posts (in a minimally creepy way) so that I can live vicariously through you guys. My extremely overpriced generic apartment makes me miss Richmond and extremely jealous of all the cool stuff I see you doing. Keep it up!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Rebecca. Yay Richmond! Here’s hoping we bump into you the next time you’re down here. John’s from northern VA, so we know your new stomping ground pretty well too!

      xo,
      s

  23. Maggie Lee says

    My question… and I’m sure you’ve answered this somewhere in your comments (but a post would be cool)… is how the heck do you feed your family and eat decently during long kitchen/dining room renos? Most people who pay to have a kitchen completed, eat out or at someone else’s house for the week, and then settle back into regular life. When the reno’s are ongoing, how do you manage?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We really really try to have the majority of things working within 24 hours. We never were without a working fridge or stove (just moved it across the room and plugged it in with an extension cord until the electrician came and added a plug) but we were without a sink for about three weeks (which stinks, but when you have a stove and a fridge you can still cook). Oh kitchen looks crazy in the pics, but by the end of the day the drop cloths came down and we cooked dinner in there believe it or not! And we’re cereal for breakfast and peanut butter and jelly folks for lunch, so we don’t need to cook stuff until dinner on days like this! Hope it helps.

      xo
      s

  24. Krystyl Lantrip says

    I’ve been a long time (like 3 years) lurker before finally starting my own blog! I will be sending you photo’s of a Pet grooming/boarding salon redo soon! Love all that you do, and refer anyone to your site who likes general crafty-ness!

    Reply

  25. Jasmine says

    Love the ‘real’ posts you guys have shared. (Not that I think your regular posts are fake!) But please, please, please John…don’t EVER compare yourself to Justin Beiber. That’s just wrong on any post.

    Reply

  27. Melinda says

    You guys strike me as the Jim & Pam of the blogging world. The kind of people that you can imagine being friends with. You see the great moments, some of the quirky moments, but not a lot of the ugly moments. Like The Office, the blog is an edited version of your life and it’s fun to have a sneak peek behind the curtain!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, we have gotten the Jim and Pam thing before. The funniest thing ever was when Jim and Pam were getting married on The Office we got an incoming link from a message board where die-hard fans were saying where they thought they should get married and a few of them were saying “we hope Jim and Pam get married outside in their backyard like this couple” and it linked to our wedding. For some reason it was hilarious to us! We totally wanted to invite them over to have at it in our backyard.

      xo,
      s

  28. Katie says

    My husband would love to be a work at home dad – so stop feeling weird about it. When you get older you will look back at this time and be beyond thankful that you had the opportunity to be there when your kids were little. :) I think perhaps instead of feeling weird about it you should turn it into a game.. Just how awkward can you make that cashier feel for staring at you like that out of the corner of her eye? :D

    Reply

  29. Sarah S says

    I say embrace the whole work at home dad thing – it works out for the best! My husband is a firefighter and hence is off several days during the week and watches the kids while I work. The minute he walks into their school (k and 1st grade) to help out, all the moms and teachers swoon because it’s a DAD! And he’s at school! Helping! So exciting. I always tease that I can do all the work, sign him up, hand him the book he’s reading to the class and tell him when to show up and then I’ll hear about it for weeks about how great he is. (Which he is of course). Gold stars all around for involved Dads.

    Also, I’m super excited you’re coming to Portland!

    Reply

  30. lisa says

    funny squash video john…..at first, it hought the girl enxt to you in the car was sherry, but then i realized you didn’t know eachother during college, right?
    do you still keep in touch with the college friends from that video?
    congratulations on the “richmond famous”

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Sadly I don’t get to hang out with my old improv friends very much – most of them are spread about the country in various places. Thanks goodness for Facebook though!

      -John

  31. Kim says

    Do you watch How I Met Your Mother? There’s an episode where they make fun of Marshall for making up a song for everything. Definitely got flashbacks of that when reading about John’s singing! :)

    Reply

  32. Erica says

    Gotta say, I like your DIY projects, a lot of your current style direction is similar to mine BUT it’s your writing that keeps me reading your blog. As much as I identify with your design sense, it’s your literary voices that I totally click with. Really really enjoyed the last two days. THANKS!

    Reply

  33. Dustin says

    Fantastic post John- I totally relate with every point! The wife has way too many pillows, I can’t stand shopping and stay-at-home dad’s have the best perks- Nothing like being able to read your kid a book at nap time before hitting the DIY grind after…

    Reply

  35. Jasmyn says

    Great post. I Husband joins you in not always being thrilled about shopping and decorating while we reno our home.

    As far as the nickname goes, you look like a J. Peezy or a JP-Fresh to me:-)

    Reply

  37. Patti says

    My hubs works from home and feels kinda insecure about it too when people ask but, having said that, our kids are grown now and he’s never regretted being there for them for a minute!! So Rock on YHLovers! I love J-Boom … and you too Gooey!

    Reply

  38. Lindsey @ arkadian belle woods says

    J-BOOM! I love that! I hope that nickname sticks for sure! I’ve been looking forward to and wondering when we’d get to see the real J-Petersizzle post! I still think you guys are both amazing as do all of your bizzillion fans! I’m really glad to hear that you don’t get excited about having to go shopping. I have always wondered how in the heck any husband could put up with that and if you could share in the knowledge so us ladies could maybe ‘train’ our husbands/bfs to ’embrace’ the shopping. Haha! Stay at home dad = priceless. Clara is one lucky little girl to have both mom and dad all the time. It’s really refreshing to know that there are still parents out there that love and adore their children the way you two do. In Clara’s case, she has an amazing daddy that gets to do something most dads won’t ever get to do or even want to do and that’s enjoying these precious moments of her early years that slip away entirely too fast. It takes a lot for a man to admit to the insecurity of “not working” (going to a 9-5) everyday. We all have our insecurities and it’s so awesome to get a further glimpse into your lives and know that you aren’t super humans in your own world of giggles and sunshine 24-7. You are both already very relatable but it makes you that much more endearing. I’ve been an avid TYH turned YHL reader for several years now and I look forward to “knowing” you both more and more as the “relationship” carries on! I can’t say it enough that I think you both are so incredibly charming, quirky, funny, adorable, mind-blowingly awesome, and all of the other best words in the dictionary. You are an inspiration to so many and you’ve both built something brilliant together and led others to do great things in their own lives. I know (by reading of course) how humble you are about your popularity but you have so much to be proud of. From your beautiful family, home, dreams, accomplishments, goals, and your unending love for one and other. You make RVA proud! Sorry for the lengthy comment but I can’t tell you both enough how much I look forward to taking my trip to YHL each day. You always make my day brighter.

    Reply

  39. Jen says

    John –
    It’s so funny that you mentioned the re-designed Life cereal box! My boyfriend is an artist/graphic designer and definitely noticed the new packaging right away. We had a whole conversation in the cereal aisle about the new logo vs. the old logo! I would have never paid attention or seen it if he hadn’t pointed it out. We didn’t buy any, but came close… :-)

    Reply

  41. Caitlin says

    Ok, someone has to ask – and it’s going to be me. Do tell WHAT was the reason/inspiration for that super goofy mockumentary on Squash? (I ask mainly because my husband is a professional squash player, and normally NO ONE has ever even heard of squash before! I find your little video hilarious!!!)

    Reply

  42. Rachael says

    I have only commented here a couple times, but I just had to say you guys are great!! These “real life” posts about you guys are awesome…and they made me laugh :)
    Isn’t it funny how we always seem to think that everyone else has it all together, when they’re actually feeling exactly the same as we are!
    Have a blessed weekend!!

    Reply

  43. Sara says

    OMG. John, you can sing. Don’t ever say you cannot. :) Loved your verse!
    And I also feel very thankful for you two being this honest. One need a reminder that there’s people behind the blogs. People with people issues, problems, skills and every day things going on.
    Thank you. Two much appreciated posts. <3

    Reply

  44. Nancy says

    Another great “tell-all” post !
    Regarding proofing- from a teacher’s perspective-try reading your post backwards to catch things you miss reading it top to bottom. Our minds trick us when we know what it’s supposed to say, so shake it up and read it in reverse to see spelling errors, etc.
    Also, watching video of John singing, (not bad by the way!)- I got stuck on how his female friend was driving and singing with her eyes closed…eek!
    LOL!

    Reply

  45. Sherry F says

    John (may I call you that, I feel like I know you guys personally), I really loved this post, but especially the part about being a stay-at-home dad. My husband, like you, is super hands on with our 2 year old and seeing him with her just touches my heart and really deepens our love in a way that is hard for me to explain in words. I’m sure your wifey feels the same way about you. And, Clara having this time with you is priceless. That lady who gave you the “unemployed father” pity look must live in a cave not knowing about your rockin’ blog (and the other million things you guys seem to have going). If I were the cashier I’d be fumbling trying to say hi and how much I love your blog without appearing too stalker-ish. Now go buy you some heart-shaped peanut butter cups because you know the Valentine’s candy is out!

    Reply

  46. stephanie says

    how are the dulce cheerios? cheerios are my favorite! the chocolate ones are great for a little dessert snack!

    Reply

  48. Sherry from BC says

    Great post. I am thinking that the work from home bit may be a bit easier to explain when your first book (of many I hope) comes out and you are a published author. I think it is hard for a lot of people to understand how someone can have a job doing what you do without the concrete example of a book. I think that the two of you work really well together to create excellent how to’s and I really enjoy reading this blog. Keep up the good work and enjoy the beautiful home you are creating as the world looks on.

    Reply

  49. candace says

    It’s a huge relief that I’m not the only one that can lose my cool over projects – I’m not alone! Have a wonderful weekend – I enjoyed your posts!!

    Reply

  50. Jen says

    Thanks for the husband’s perspective, John! I loved Sherry’s post on this same topic, and it was great to hear from John too.

    Reply

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