Break Out The Vegemite
Imagine our surprise when we got an e-mail from a reader Down Under congratulating us on our feature in the Australian edition of Better Homes & Gardens!
The funny thing is that we had no idea that our dining area was in there, so our lovely reader graciously sent us a few scans as we sat gaping at the computer (well I gaped while Sherry did this weird excited clapping/screaming thing).
It turns out one of the photos from our Do It Yourself Magazine spread (one of BHG’s special interested publications) must’ve made its way to the other hemisphere and got picked up for their May issue. What a pleasant surprise, eh?
And not a week later we got a second serving of Aussie love when we popped up on Real Living’s radar. They’re another glossy Australian shelter mag, and we got called out in their list of “Blogs We Love” among some of our favorite American blogs like Making It Lovely, decor8 and sfgirlbybay. Talk about being in good company. I think we’re still blushing (and Sherry may or may not still be doing that clapping/screaming thing from time to time).
So thanks for all the lovin’ Australia! Here’s a big ol’ American hug right back atcha (or should I be manly and send a fist bump?). Can those of you reading in Australia make sure your country gets the virtual hug/manly greeting that we’re slinging back your way?
Sidenote: are you wondering what vegemite is? Me too. This Wikipedia article taught me that it’s more than just a lyric in an old Men at Work song. Good to know.
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Hey guys, love your blog, read it daily. I was feeling a little bit inspired the other day and thought you may enjoy my new wall. We are on a bit of a budget and great artwork is out of the question at the moment. We had a fabulous bit of empty wall and it really needed something to hold us until after the TEAL carpet is replaced….oh yeah, I said teal. It was about $13.00 for the can of paint and a few hours of sketching and painting. It’s posted on my blog http://www.notsoglamoroushousewife.com Thanks for all of the inspiration and idea’s for my new old house.
Love your tree artwork, Robin! Did you all do that freehand or use some sort of stencil or projection? Either way, it came out wonderfully. What a great solution to fill a large wall. Thanks for sharing!
-John
Wow! Congrats!
Congrats ~ how very exciting!!! I would so be doing the excited clapping thing too ;) So happy for you because you deserve it!!!
xoxo
Congrats! That’s awesome.
Your vegemite comment made me laugh – as a camp counselor having worked around Aussies, we learned the Vegemite song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_-Son8rpxM
(I did not make the video)
We’re happy little Vegemites as bright as bright can be,
We all enjoy our Vegemite for breakfast, lunch and tea.
Our mummy says we’re growing stronger every single week,
Because we love our Vegemite!
We all enjoy our Vegemite!
It puts a rose in every cheek!
I think it is just fabulous that you would have never even known had an Australian fan not told you! It is so very cool that your fan base is that wide-spread. What a wonderful surprise!
Just wanted to let you all know I voted for your project today. I honestly cannot wait to see all the transformations that you will be doing.
Congratulations!!! You two are on your way to international fame! So exciting.
That’s so cool! Congratulations!
Congratulations! You shouldn’t be blushing – you fit right in! And Vegemite sounds disgusting!
Ooooh, I just saved the dining room photo in my “Ideas” folder! Thanks for the inspiration AND congratulations on all the acknowledgment you’re getting!
G’day! Sitting here in Australia reading your blog as I do every morning before leaving for work – SMILING – Congratulations! I used to buy shelter mags all the time but these days go to blogs instead, so I’d missed reading this.
And tsk tsk Lori, Vegemite is GREAT – I have it on a bread roll for lunch. :) I must see what Wiki says about it – most Aussies wouldn’t know what’s in it – it’s just something you have on your toast from early childhood.
Woo to the hoo! They are lovin’ the Youngsters down under. Congrats!!
Hi There, I’m also a fellow Aussie who reads your blog daily. Real Living Magazine enlightened me into the world of interior design blogs (including yours), and your blog is by far the best. Keep up the good work!
most welcome! you guys are right up our (real living’s) alley – stylish, budget-conscious, clever. and vegemite is best mixed with butter on toast so it resembles peanut butter. in my opinion!
As another reader from Australia, congratulations! We are currently owner-building our first home and absorbing many inspirational ideas from your blog for when the happy task of decorating and furnishing comes.
Hi Sherry and John,
Congratulations and thanks for the hug (we’re not really into fist bumps here so I’ll take the hug)! Love your blog and love Real Living magazine.
As for Vegemite – yep, its pretty gross if you haven’t grown up with it.
Well done on your international fame. Of course your Aussie readers already knew this :-)
Emily
Woohoo! As another Aussie reader, I graciously accept your fist bump/hug on behalf of the land down under :)
Vegemite is fabulous, but I fear most Americans dont quite understand the intricacies of how to use it. I had American flatmates at uni and they slapped it on bread very thick like it was Nutella… then immediately spat it out again! Vegemite is *very* salty, so the way to use it is to toast your bread, use lots of butter, and just the tiniest scraping of vegemite. Heaven!
Four years ago someone gave me a little jar of vegemite… and I still haven’t mustered up the courage to open it, much less TRY it! :)
G’day, yet another reader here from Australia loving your blog :)
Keep having fun!
WOW, How exciting for you both to be featured in our great magazines!! Have been a fan of yours for so long and now a connection!!! Australia is a beautiful country and we love our homes as much as you do!! Congrats!!
ps I have vegemite on toast EVERY morning for breakfast!!
You should try it!!!
G’day. Another Aussie follower of your blog – Vegemite is delicious and you don’t know what you’re missing! I love it on cold toast with thick butter. mmmm
Congrats from another Aussie who has been reading your blog for ages. You deserve all the recognition you get, you work damn hard for it!
Danielle has it spot on with the vegemite – the thinest scrape on freshly buttered toast, I SWEAR it’s the best and to R8chel (who posted above me) you have to open that jar and give it a shot! But remember… just a whisper of vegemite… don’t spread it too thick.
Well done again guys!
Wow! We’re loving all the Aussies who are commenting away. Very friendly country indeed! It’s so funny that last night was morning for you guys- the world is so big yet so small. We also were just tickled that the last two Australian readers to stop in were named Jo (different emails so we assume it’s really two different people with the same name who just happened to comment right after each other). And the overwhelming consensus is that vegemite is delicious so we’ll have to give it a go one of these days. Preferably in Australia as that would be the most authentic experience… and the most fun!
xoxo,
Sherry
The tree was drawn freehand from a dogwood picture we found online. We just used the next shade down in our paint swatch. At night we have some overhead lighting that falls to the side of it and it truly looks like we should have a tree in our family room! Congrats on the BHG! That is fantastic.
I love you blog but this is the first time i have commented. We are very protective and proud of our vegemite. I would love to post you some vegemite and also if i can get my hands on a copy will post you the better homes and gardens magazine for you to keep in hard copy. That way you can lovingly stroke the pages and drool in person!
Let me know your postal address and i can get it in the mail to you guys.
Thanks for all the inspiration!
You’re too kind Megan! We’ll send you our PO Box info on the double. Can’t wait to get our mitts on some bona fide Aussie vegemite. I LOVE salty foods so I think it’ll be right up my alley.
xoxo,
Sherry
Hello from another Australian fan!! You guys seem quite popular with us Aussies :) I am addicted to YHL!! (And now Bower Power) I have been reading your blog for months now (almost everyday), after stumblimg upon it searching for home hints.
I also have that Better Homes & Gardens magazine. I knew it was your home when I saw the wedding photo..and that it looked extremely similar to your dining room set up, it’s great work.
By the way vegemite isn’t that nice. My family use it in everything, spaghetti, gravy and soup. Yuck!
Another Australian here who loves your blog. In fact, finding and reading your blog was what my stopped addiction to buying ‘shelter’ mags. I now have more money in my house fund which has pleased my fiance.
Great to see that you’re making it big down here!
Yet another Aussie here with yet another comment:
I have to tell you that I used to be extremely allergic to Vegemite. When I was a little girl, I ate it so often that I developed a severe allergy to yeast. Vegemite is made with yeast (and so is beer, but that has never really bothered me!) so that meant no Vegemite or bread or other yeast products for about five years. I was told I would be very unlikely to ever be able to eat Vegemite again.
During those five years I underwent de-sensitising to the yeast allergy. I ‘recovered’ so well that I became a test-case with my results shown all around the medical traps. So my happy little Vegemite ending is that I can now eat Vegemite on my toast. Strangely enough, I don’t have such a tendency for it anymore!
Vegemite is certainly an acquired taste. It’s all about proportion too…. a little bit goes a looooooong way! Congratulations on all the Aussie-love, it’s well deserved!