Psst- Thanks SO MUCH for the love with our little announcement this morning guys. You rock our socks. For reals.
Well, we aren’t going to make 2,013 resolutions, but here are five of them. You guys know that every year we like to broadcast them to the world to light a fire under our arse in the hopes of accomplishing them (you can check out last year’s here, 2011’s here, and 2010’s here). So let’s get cracking…
#1. Hold On. Let’s just say that for anyone who worries we’ll run out of things to do or rooms to makeover or projects to tackle… this is going to be our busiest year yet. Chock fulla new DIY undertakings. We can’t reveal everything yet (there are some pretty big cats in some pretty big bags) but we can’t wait to free the kitties! So beyond having a ton of untouched spaces to tend to here (like Clara’s big girl room, the front porch, the carport, the guest bathroom, etc) let’s just say we’re not going to stop there. We have some other MAJOR things, and we can’t wait to over-share every detail with you guys. And no Mom, I’m not pregnant.
#2. Chat Things Up. Without a doubt, you guys put the “you” in Young House Love, and we’ve mentioned that we’d like to work more of “you” into our little DIY diary. We’ve actually heard from a lot of you who’d love to see forums over here as a friendly and helpful way to share photos, advice, ideas, inspiration, and all that good stuff. So we’ve been researching how to get those going without crashing our site or spending hours each day maintaining them. We’d really love to give it a try, so our goal is to focus even more on making that happen in the spring (after we’re done with book tour craziness). Cross your fingers and whisper “no crashies, no crashies, no crashies” (that’s our equivalent to “no whammies”).
#3. Be Realistic. As much as we like to avoid blog stage fright by pretending that we’re just talking to 10 readers, the truth is that there are a lot more people dropping in. And most sites with over 5 million hits a month tend to be coded, written, and run by a team of people. Meanwhile, we’re just a guy and a gal with a toddler running around who are juggling DIY projects, post writing, an in-progress book tour, site coding, and a bunch of secret-project balls (wait, that sounds wrong). So this resolution is just about reminding ourselves that we’re only two people. Two highly dedicated folks who love what we do, but two people who can’t do the work of ten people, no matter how hard we try. And this year we’re gonna stop beating ourselves up about it.
Since we like our grass roots approach (we have no desire to hire people to answer comments, write posts, or program the site) that means that we need to be as efficient and realistic as possible and stop pressuring ourselves. We’re not HGTV or BHG, we’re John and Sherry from the block blog. And amazingly, you guys tell us that’s a big reason that you like YHL, so it’s about time we embraced it.
#4. Reclaim Our Lives. This sort of connects to resolution #3, but we’ve publicly struggled with finding balance for a few years now (here, here, here, and here) and answered “how do you do it all?” questions with “we just don’t sleep – maybe we’ll sleep next year.” Well, it’s officially next year, so it would be nice not to be up until 1am finishing projects and writing posts and juggling book stuff along with keeping up with normal things like laundry and cleaning and grocery shopping. We never aspired to be people who work on nights, weekends, and even on vacation (in fact we moved from NYC to Virginia back in 2005 to escape that lifestyle) so the irony isn’t lost on us.
But although many of you chimed in during our blogiversary to say that you’d be happy with one post a day, we aren’t quite ready to scale things back that much, so we’ve decided to go from 8 posts a week down to 7 posts a week (along with 2 more over on Young House Life as usual of course). At the end of the month whenever we glance back at our monthly roundups we’re always surprised at how much we’ve done, and this change shouldn’t affect that very much at all. It mostly means we’ll space out posts like Window Shoppings, House Crashings, Budget Blooms, or Reader Redesigns a bit more so there’s one less of those posts to write, photograph, edit, proofread, and answer questions about each week.
Hopefully you won’t notice the shift very much (we think we’ll post twice on Monday, once on Tuesday, twice on Wednesday, once on Thursday, and once on Friday along with two more posts each week over on Young House Life). And that pace will allow us to spend more time brainstorming ideas, actually doing projects, and recharging with the family – three things that add up to happier bloggers, which will hopefully lead to even more thought-out projects and creative ideas. It also means we’re less likely to throw in the blogging towel. We definitely want to play the long game and not burn out since we truly love this strange little career we’ve built, especially when we’re balanced and smart about how we run this little two person ship of ours.
#5. Be Free. You guys never fail to surprise us by responding to the most random of posts (like this one I wrote about breast feeding and this one John wrote about running). They both got hundreds of comments more than any other DIY related post around it, and they remind us that sharing more than just painting and sawing and gluing and sanding is as fun for you guys as it is for us. Heck, even a random Friday post like this one about five weird things about me elicited over 1,000 comments – and they’re without a doubt the funniest comments on our entire site. Seriously, take ten minutes to scroll through a page or two and I guarantee you’ll be giggling. This blog is our happy place and these spontaneous posts keep it light and fun. And we think blogs that are more stream-of-consciousness than polished-and-perfect are the most fun to read anyway.
So those are our five putting-them-out-there resolutions for the coming year. What are you guys resolving? Any personal ones? Personally I’m resolving to simplify things like crazy (something I’ve said before, but I’m feeling even more determined to master it this year). I have too many gadgets and decorative objects and pillows and gift bags and pens and about a million other things that add up to a whole lotta clutter, so I can’t wait to pare down and attempt to live as simply as John and I did back in NYC when we each had tiny studios without attics and basements to hoard clutter. Less really is more, in so many ways.
Great resolutions! I’m still in awe that you two do all that you do (I transferred my site to WP.org this week and redesigned it and I was exhausted by the whole thing!) so I’m glad you’ll be taking taking some time for yourselves. Those forums sound pretty cool, too!
Good for you guys! The one-post days always make my afternoons a little longer, but I DEFINITELY support your push towards balance and keeping your life in check. As for me, I am declaring 2013 a no-new-clothes year. I have a very nice, expansive wardrobe—I need to wear what I have more often and not buy new shoes all the time. And to not eat cereal for dinner quite so often. Maybe once every two weeks instead of weekly? Sometimes you just need your Cheerios at supper. :)
Hahah I love it! We have cereal dinners too sometimes…
xo,
s
Excellent resolutions! And I love that even you guys, who blog full time, have to take the time to enjoy life. It’s very encouraging for us part-timers who balance blogging with a full-time job and maintaining our homes. :)
YAY for you guys!! totally deserve it.
Love the filters and text on your pics. I will be trying this look out on some of my shots now! Thanks for the inspiration!
Good for you guys- some excellent and challenging resolutions. And yay! for more random posts about random stuff. Those are some of my favorites. :)
Every day I get so excited for your posts and then I think to myself: what have John and Sherry given up today so that I can read the post I’m reading? Sometimes my life seems so out of control busy and then I read your daily schedules and realize that an introvert like me who needs lots of down time could never handle it! And since I (weirdly? strangely? obsessively? creepily?) care about you guys a ridiculous amount, I’m so glad to see that you’re planning to be free and take your lives back. GO GET ‘EM!
Aw thanks Stephanie. You guys are so sweet. We lurve you.
xo,
s
“And since I (weirdly? strangely? obsessively? creepily?) care about you guys a ridiculous amount…”
So glad I’m not the only one!
I have thought that you guys are cray cray busy and that your readers would be fine with a little less posting. Heck, when you took your vacation in Hawaii, I would have understood a full week’s hiatus, but you two just trudge on. Glad to know you’re gonna scale it back a bit. I can’t have you guys burn out, you’re my favorite blog and the friends-in-my-head!
Aw thanks Alexis!
xo,
s
Yay. Now you can rest ;)
Happy New year Petersiks!!! I’ve been tossing up about whether to share my goals for 2013 with others, and this post has inspired me to blog about them.
ps: I’ve been into a few Australian bookstores (i like supporting brick and mortar stores) and they’ve been telling me that you’re sold out across the country and that their systems say the publisher is out of stock! :) does this mean you’re already in reprint? or are they just expanding the first run? Anyway, i thought you’d like a book update from this side of the world!
So sorry about that! They’re working ok shipping more out ASAP! They are reprinting so we hope they come soon :)
xo,
s
please! no apologies necessary! these things happen in publishing and i’m happy to wait till it’s available! I just thought you’d love to hear an update from downunder!
ps: love the new collection!
#5 is a great reminder (for you guys ;-) that the reason why people love your site is because of YOU GUYS. You are w ho you are and it makes this place so special and appealing. I don’t even DIY home improvement stuff, really, at all. I like to dream that this will all come in handy when I own my own place someday.
Hey, that’d be a fun thing to see: how to deal with apartment spaces. It could be an interesting focus for a week of posts or something, though it’d probably require getting hold of someone in a local apartment that you could help re-decorate or showcase.
That would be fun!
xo,
s
And in that case of an “apartment” week — I volunteer you my apartment in Chicago :P I have a very comfy sectional that sleeps two? :P
Haha, be right over!
xo,
s
I have nothing but admiration for your insane work ethic. I can’t think of another blog that consistently turns out great content, even amidst having a baby and publishing a book (most sites seem to wither away once the bloggers get a book deal).
So I can’t wait to hear about what insane awesomeness you have planned for 2013, and I hope it includes a no-internet-allowed family vacation.
Okay,
1. I love the pictures in this post.
2. Squeee I’m so excited about your big cats in bags…wait, that sounds funny…
3. You said “arse”.
4. Totally off topic but I have this weird thought that light hardwood flooring would really cozy up the sunroom. Think room-length, wide planking. Can you picture it or am I cray-cray? Obvi, it’s your house, but I can just picture Miss Clara painting her own “art” on a mini-easel while Burger lounges nearby on the sun-warmed floor.
*Sidenote: I may be suggesting this because I am a renter and am attempting to reno vicariously through you. So, carry on, Petersiks, go on with your awesomeness.
I can totally picture it and it would be gorgie! Not cray-cray at all.
xo,
s
Best of luck to you and your 2013 resolutions. I must admit I frowned when you said you weren’t going to hire an assistant. That could be so fun! His name could be Cha-cha, and he could have great stories to share and shenanigans to engage in. The possibilities are truly endless. *sigh* I understand your desire to keep things simple though :)
Hahahah!
xo,
s
Or maybe her name would be Emma…:)
Good Point Torey! I just think my stories wouldn’t be quite as exciting as Cha-cha’s. :)
My word of the year is LESS. Because less really is more… I like your resolutions!
i’m so with you on simplifying things. now i just need a few extra hours a day to actually get it done!! i just posted all my “resolutions” this week. hoping that posting them online will make me more accountable for them. fingers crossed!!!
http://drivethirtythree.blogspot.com/2012/12/i-survived-christmas.html
I love the idea of forums! I have set up some pretty large mom forums and I love the community those create!
I think all of your resolutions are very reasonable and understanding. :)
Sherry, you can send those extra pillows my way. I’ll give them a good home. :)
Haha! John’s making me Craigslist them!
xo,
s
Ironically, neither of you are holding on in photo 1.. not that you’d expect anyone to catch that or anything.
#you’rewelcome,fromms.obvious
Haha, it’s true… although Clara has one hand down. Ha!
xo,
s
You go, girl…and guy! I can’t imagine juggling all that you do, and as super excited as I am to find out what you are hinting at in Resolution #1, I am just as excited for YOU to complete #3 and #4. We love you guys because you are just like us…two somewhat normal people who work hard and love what they do, but love their family more. You’re not superhuman; you need balance and priorities. I, for one, support and appreciate any decision that helps you achieve that! Looking forward to the coming year!!!
I’m with you on the declutter … less is more. Once you start to declutter, the feeling is unexplainable. Everything looks so fresh, clean and you simply feel good. Hard to explain. It’s very easy to lose track of yourself and start bringing things back into the home that is not even needed, but you simply like the color, and it’s pretty. That’s when you need to take a step back and stop yourself. Do you ever find yourself bringing pillows in the house when you really don’t need them, but you simply just like the style, shape or color and feel horrible that you did it “AGAIN”?
Haha yes!
xo,
s
Marriage, first; family, second; then all the other stuff — we who enjoy your blog would want you to focus on the important first — then the DIY fun. If you burn out and stop blogging, we’ll have to have a collective pity party :'( Enjoy 2013!!!!
#1: I can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeves. I’m sure it’s nothing less than amazeballs!
#2: Some type of forum would be awesome, especially for bloggers looking to become more active in the blogging community…me!
#3: I love that everything is you! It’s inspirational, in so many ways!
#4: Scaling back won’t hurt my feelings…just don’t stop!!! :)
#5: I love “lifestyle” posts. It doesn’t matter what type of blog it is they’re often some of my favorite!
Happy New Year!
PS – will you guys be going to Haven this year?
We’d love to! We aren’t sure yet since we have lots of tour travel but we’ll definitely announce if we end up getting tickets :)
xo,
s
Great Resolutions!
We don’t really do resolutions. Hubby and I talk about the last year about what has or has not worked for us. 2012 was a huge change. I stopped working in July after 18 years to take care of our young daughter and do all the things that get lost in the cracks.
Now that the culture shock has worn off, 2013 is to be a goal oriented year. We have a list of things to accomplish every week.
And we absolutely still have cereal for dinner sometimes!
Ohhhh snap! $herdog’s pregnant! .. Oh wait no, no she’s not. Thanks for the disclaimer to me and yo momma.
Hahahaha!
xo,
s
Love your resolutions! My favorite is Be Realistic. Often, I find myself and other friends and family expecting way too much out of our days. Being idle, sitting still and doing nothing, drive me nuts as I feel that I am wasting time and have a long list of projects I’d like to tackle. But active resting is not a waste of time at all and helps us recharge our batteries and reconnect with our soul.
happy 2013!
I think those are acceptable. :) Going down a post a week would totally work (and it’d let the rest of us work more at work…instead of reading your posts ;). We definitely want you guys to have time to do all your cool side projects which we love hearing about too!
I’m so excited to see what you guys have in store. Come out, come out kitties!
I’m doing my resolutions tonight but I’m totally still on the organize/declutter train (was last year too, not-so-successfully). We working on the organizing now and hope to have a yard sale late spring.
I love how you always direct your “no, I’m not pregnant” to your Mom, since there are probably 3,000 other people wondering before her from the history of the comments you’ve received on it! lol.
You guys are amazing and everyone who reads this blog wants you to be happy and take care of your family, so stick to those resolutions…you can do it! Congrats on the awesome light projects! And your book is my favorite Christmas gift! It is so great! Thanks for writing such a helpful, affordable, inspiring book. You rock!
Aw thanks so much Emily!
xo,
s
I don’t like to call them resolutions. I feel there is always a sense of failure when I refer to them as such. Instead I just write them as things on my To Do List.
Some of those things include… Finally proposing to my girlfriend. Getting a bigger apartment with said girlfriend. Building a dining room table. (Ana White style.) Build more “just because” gifts for friends and family. Meeting you 2 fabulous people. (Ahem… Philly book tour stop please.)Oh and maybe making some homemade moonshine. Just because. :)
Haha those are awesome! Good luck!
xo,
s
I love your non-dyi posts so much. To me they serve as a reminder to laugh and enjoy life more. Happy New Year, may you be blessed with lots a ceramic animals!
You guys rock! You’re really an inspiration to us baby bloggers! Keep up the good work and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2013!
My resolution is also “simplify”! Good luck to us, $herdog.
Yes! Less is so much more! I almost feel guilty moving into a 2500 square foot house because I know that it’s more than we NEED. Living in a two bedroom condo for two years will really reset your priorities ;)
My one resolution this year is to spend more quality time with Isla June. You know, REALLY enjoy her. Which means less blogging and less trying to start my own business. But, it means more time with someone who means the world to me and who is eventually going to grow up and not want so many snuggles. I think it’s going to be the best year ever :)
Can’t wait to see what y’all have in store!
And good luck with the balance thing, it’s well worth the effort!
Fort this first time in a long time I actually sat down this year and made like ten pages of resolutions for this year. Some serious (I’d love to get pregnant) and some ridiculous (detailed here: http://www.filing-jointly.com/2013/01/ryan-is-always-taking-pins-to-my.html – really very dumb though, don’t feel like you need to read them.)
This year just feels like a big one for me, probably because it is my last year in my 20s as well (My 29th is Monday).
I love your Be Free resolution by the way. I think I’m going to try to fit that in on my own blog, where I feel like I ALWAYS have to be funny. Maybe a serious post or two wouldn’t hurt.
You’re always so much fun. I love your lists/blog :)
xo,
s
I really like your resolutions! Especially number 4 and 5. As much as you might love your job, it’s SO important to keep the balance and I ABSOLUTELY love your stream of consciousness-y posts.
My resolutions are similar to yours:
_relax more (I’m working 9 to 5 and we have one concert every month, I have to try and not let the stress get at me, I’ve been sick so much last year)
_start running and then run 1 mile every evening for 30 days in a row
_be excited (I used to be such an enthusiastic person but lost all of that)
_travel more (I’m reasonably well paid so this year I’m going to go on holidays. Once to London, to Prague and to another city I haven’t been to yet, maybe Stockholm or Tallinn)
_appreciate what I have (just because things look better doesn’t mean they are)
Oh, and I have to get a rug for our living room ;)
Happy (belated) New Year from Germany
Andrea
Andrea, I love your list. It is so in tune with my own goals this year,
-Christi, USA
I am going to go out on a limb and guess that you bought a beach house and are going to have a whole new slew of projects! We want to do that in a couple of years and I hope you guys can lead the way.
Um that would be amazing.
xo,
s
Er..mah..gerd. Here’s hoping the book is a ridiculous windfall and you just… HAVE to do this.
I think you guys do really well, and yes we love the ‘about you’ stuff too.
My resolution this year is to THIN OUT our stuff. I want to freecycle, donate, sell, throw away, gift 365 things by the end of this year. Better get started. :)
You guys rock!!
I LOVE the idea of gifting 365 things by the end of the year! I think I’ll be adopting that plan :o)
This.is.awesome. Best resolution ever. Sarah, you need to make this a blog. For reals.
Love it! You guys do a fantastic job — no doubt my favorite website — and it’s crazy to think it’s just two people doing all that you do. I remember thinking how fun it would be to do what you do … and then I read your day-in-the-life post. While I’m still a touch envious, I was blown away at what it truly takes. Keep up the good work, but also keep up with the time away. You totally deserve some kick back time. :)
You have too many pillows?!?!
Seriously though, full support. Without farming out stuff you guys already do to helpers, could an intern take a lead on new stuff like forums, that are set up to be less Petersik-intensive anyway?
That definitely might take something off our plates but we’re such nerds for DIY we like to do that stuff ourselves too! We’re excited :)
xo,
s
I love your resolutions, especially Be Realistic. I think I might adopt that one for me. I really want “A New Me in 1-3” but I have to be realistic and remember that losing 75 pounds and decluttering my entire house and decorating the house may not be realistic for 2013, especially when you add in 5 kids and a full time job.
Your blog is the only blog I always read, never missing a day. It is totally because of stuff like this. My husband bought me your book for christmas and I was trying to explain why I wanted the book so badly and read so consistently. He finally got it and said, “you just are really happy when good things happen to great people.”. That’s totally it! You guys are great people and you know, you deserve great things!! And to take a day off now and then!
Aw thanks so much!
xo,
s
Thank goodness you are slowing down a little. I have been worried about that since I first read those “day-in-the-life” posts from last year. Just redoing our house and working full time without a toddler can feel exhausting. I can’t imagine the kind of tired y’all must be! Looking forward to your tour stop here in SoFlo next week.
I really admire how you guys keep everything running “in house”, and even in the family! It is rare and so appreciated! I am glad to see you guys making small plans to scale back- you deserve some “me” time (if you can even have that with a toddler ;-)).
As for resolutions, my broad resolution is to be more present with the individual tasks I have through the day. If I am playing with my children, I am not thinking about 62 other things I need to do. If I am working on my online class, I am not editing photos. If I am cleaning my house, I am not checking Facebook every 5 minutes. I want to be a better steward of my time and not feel so guilty about how hard it is to be focused.
My “fun” goal for myself is to show my house some love in the form of a single project per month, whether it takes 5 minutes and costs nothing, or takes a whole month and is more of an investment. I got a certain book for Christmas that greatly inspired me…. ;-)
I think you’re awesome (all 4 of you – yes Burger is included). Your blog is so inspiring and I couldn’t be happier for all the success you’ve had and continue to have… I feel like I know you, in a way… and because of that, I want you both to put the lap tops aside and do a little dance with the music on blast (unless the little one is napping, in which case just take a nap yourselves). Please? Thanks.
Haha, will do.
xo,
s
Did you guys buy a vacation house finally?! :) Loving your resolutions. 2012 seemed so busy and fruitful for you – the best of luck in 2013!
I wish!
xo,
s
The graphics in this post are fabulous.
My husband and I have resolved to stop procrastinating. We’re both procrastinating perfectionists, which is a terribly stressful combination.
Sounds like if your career wasn’t taking off before… it is in 2013!!!
I’ve been reading your blog for several years now and love it. I had no idea how many other people tune in until I attempted to attend your book signing in DC. The line was crazy long! Anyway, I am so happy for your success as it’s well deserved. I’m glad you plan to keep things as they are because that’s why I remain a faithful reader! :)
Kudos to you both for all that you tackle and handle. So inspiring. And to do it all yourselves is so admirable. Even if that means no Cha-cha {that comment cracked me up}. I am with you with the clutter clearing. I don’t need ten different mugs to drink coffee out of or three sets of dishes {although I do sleep better at night knowing that if 36 people knocked on my door I could totally feed them all!}. Here’s to keeping to your 2013 resolutions.
OMG!! That picture of John perched on the window ledge…that is commonly referred to as “the parrot” in my family (it’s a whole crazy thing) long story short – got me to laugh out loud and I loved it!
Love your resolutions – I am still working on mine. Ahhh the stress!! ;-)
Awesome resolutions, good for y’all. I’m reclaiming my life from grad school (I’M GRADUATED, HURRAY) and have resolved to take care of myself- actually sleep, eat real food, and rediscover what I enjoy instead of making life a giant to-do list.
Sidenote- if you wanted to declutter with an Ebay auction or something, I wouldn’t say no to bidding. I’d more say “oh heck yes, and here’s all my money.” ;) Happy New Year, and congrats on your Shades of Light collection!
Hahaha!
xo,
s