Ok, so this random Friday post is 25% about a quick little project, 25% about some house crashing-ish shots, 25% about general Clara cuteness, and 25% about Jewel. Yes, the singer. Who’s ready?
It all began with a weekend trip to DC to visit my BFF Cat (who John and I set up with John’s cousin Travis and then they got married and had two kiddos- so yes I’m now related to my BFF). She, Travis, and their cute kiddos Elsa and Edison live in Arlington, Virginia and took us into the city to check out the National Aquarium in DC (John’s sister Katie along with her two sons John and Ben and her hubby Martin came too). The aquarium was definitely a hit with the kiddos. The baby alligators might have been the highlight…
No wait, it was the exhibit with a Nemo and a Dory fish (they looked just like them). Clara and Elsa were especially enamored.
Bam! Then we saw Jewel. She was doing this book signing thing a block or two away from the aquarium, so we were just walking by and we’re all “wait, isn’t that Jewel?” and then I had to use everything in me not to start singing “Whooooo willll saaaayyyaaayyaayyyyve your soul?” – but I successfully resisted. Whew. I just snapped this picture and we kept moving. But it was pretty funny and random. She looked sweet, btw.
Then we went to Gravely Point, which is this awesome spot where giant planes fly right. over. you (they land within eyeshot at the airport, so they’re really low and loud). Yes, the kids went wild for it.
As in – all out crazy every time. It was adorable. There was fist pumping.
Elsa and Clara are BFFs. Which completely melts my heart. I mean, my kid is going to marry my other BFF’s son (yes, we’re talking about Will Bower here) and she has a for-life bestie in Elsa. Life is good. And completely unpredictable. Who woulda thought we’d successfully set up John’s cousin with my best friend and then I’d meet another real-deal-holyfield friend through blogging. Random, I tell ya. In the best possible way.
And then there’s the fact that Clara is here on this earth (miracle!) and that John and I randomly met in NYC at a job I loved and John loathed (he had actually applied to go back to school – so I’m forever grateful that he didn’t leave NYC forever before I got my mitts on him).
Sorry, this post is especially meandering today. Like a long dirt road in the country. And I might have some dirt in my eye. Sniffle. Anyway, back to the house related stuff. Tangent over.
Check out this awesome chalkboard wall that Cat has in their playroom. She added magnetic paint before the chalkboard paint, so magnets also work on the wall. Clara was in animal-magnet heaven.
And this was a cute Craigslist find that Cat picked up for Edison’s room. One of those expensive Pottery Barn book racks, except it was cheap-o thanks to being scored secondhand through sir Craig and his list. All hail craig and his list.
Is this post getting weirder? Wait, don’t answer that.
Look at this pretty original chandelier that they inherited in their dining room. The best part? Cat’s not that into it. So once they buy a new chandelier I get it. Picture me rubbing my hands together maniacally. So excited about that…
You can see more sneak peeks of her house here from this older BFF-visiting post. We really need to properly House Crash her, but there are always a million kids running around (oops they’re ours). Haha. Someday!
And in organizing news… look at Cat’s photo albums. Doesn’t that make you green with envy slash “want-to-go-to-there”-ness? I want my family albums to be that organized. Cat said all it took was grabbing a bunch of the same type of album and pulling out all of her pics from mismatched piles, boxes, and old tattered albums and loading them in with some idea of chronology (but not being too anal, which is key so this doesn’t take five million years). Update: due to a bunch of folks asking, Cat clued me in on where she gets her albums: Target!
Ok, now here’s the mini-project portion of this post. See this fireplace in Cat’s living room? Cat called me up a few weeks ago and said “Darn you Petersik!” Seriously, I answered the phone and that was her first sentence. Turns out she was staring up at the wall, realized she wanted some candle sconces to beef up the mirror over the mantel and to fill that blank space on either side of it, and then did some googling and found the exact sconces she wanted. Only problem? They were on our site and were now sold out. Haha. Seriously, her google search took her to this image in this old post of ours.
So she was calling to lament the sconces that got away. But then I revealed that we never found a spot for them in our new house and they were just sitting in our piles-o-stuff playroom and I insisted that we bring them up to her house and hang them for her during the aquarium-trip weekend. Of course she refused my birthday sconces a few times, but $herdog is a stubborn girl. She always wins…
We even packed anchors and screws and our drill with the sconces in the car. Haha. No excuses for not getting those on the wall while we were there. Only thing I didn’t pack? Two matching candles. Oops. Pretend there’s not a shorter one on the left and a taller one on the right.
Oh and isn’t that little leaf wreath cute? Cat’s a crafty gal. She DIYed that baby. She told me where she got the kit but I forget. Maybe she’ll stop in with the info. I did a homemade leaf thing for our cousin’s bridal shower last fall though, so this post might help anyone who wants to make a whole mess o’ paper leaves. And speaking of DIY, Cat had some pretty leftover wrapping paper and decided to use it to cover those stacks of books on the mantel. I was in love. The paper was so soft and glow-ey. Just imagine that candle sconce all lit and flickering. Pretty, right?
Then after a marathon fun-fest weekend full of fish-watching and Jewel-watching and plane-watching and sconce-hanging we loaded ourselves into the car and drove back to Richmond. The kiddos were sufficiently exhausted.
So there you have one of those random Friday posts full of smorgasbord and stream of consciousness. Hope it was as good for you as it was for me. Do you guys have any road trips planned? Have you ever seen a famous singer while out on a walk and said “wait a minute isn’t that ____?” and then wanted to sing their song to them? Have you ever packed things like screws and a drill into the car in the hopes of hanging something in someone else’s house? Isn’t it weird to drill into someone else’s wall? It’s kind of like driving someone else’s car or wearing someone else’s clothes. It’s thrilling but a little scary since you don’t want to ruin anything. Haha.
Jaye @ Just Tryin' to Make Cents of it All says
Steppenwolf – and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to belt out “Born to be Wiiiiiiilllld!” But the poor guys were just enjoying dinner in a restaurant so I thought better of it. Do you even know that band and that song little girl?
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha- I know of them, although I couldn’t sing the song at gunpoint…
xo
s
Francesca says
Loving the photo albums! Do you know where Cat snagged them from?
YoungHouseLove says
I’m hoping to find out and report back!
xo
s
Kimberly says
Fun weekend. Love the chandelier and I’m jealous!!!!! Love Cat’s photo album – where did she get them? I have a ton of pictures Pre digital age that I need to consolidate. Love how she also displayed them in a basket so you can grab anytime to take a peek!!
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s hoping I get that info from her soon (she’s traveling right now, but emailed her to ask).
xo
s
Anne Weber-Falk says
I ran into Oprah once, or rather she ran into me. I was walking in her Chicago neighborhood when I looked up and saw a big purple woman walk/running toward me. She was out exercising and grunted a greeting to me. I was pretty excited as this was in her heyday during the later 80’s.
YoungHouseLove says
No WAYYYYY!
xo
s
Jen says
I was in town working at Indiana’s booth in the Pavilion of States. Wish I would have seen you guys! Maybe you can do an author talk/book signing of your own next year!
YoungHouseLove says
Ahh that would be fun!
xo,
s
Becky S. says
Loved this post, and also love Gravely Point Park…went there for Father’s Day last year! Random question: Any idea where your bff/cousin-in-law got those photo albums? That’s a project I’d love to get started on this fall/winter.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, to everyone wondering, we just learned they’re from Target!! I added an update to the post too. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Becky S. says
Thanks! I might stop by Target on my way home from work…would be a great “Hurricane Sandy” project tonight and tomorrow (crossing fingers that the library is closed!)
LoriM says
Love you guys, but could you please see if you can take a break from the word “kiddos” for a few posts? ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Sure! How about kiddies? Haha.
xo
s
Nicole says
Love the organization of the pictures! I need to do that and get over wanting a beautiful scrapbook. I have three blank scrapbooks, tons of scrapbooking supplies, and all my pictures are still sitting on my computer. #fail
Aron says
I have the original chandelier in my 1920 built bungalow and it looks just like that and its beautiful! Scoop it up :)
Luke says
The chandelier is pretty sweet – I know the chandy-inside-a-shade thing is kind of done – what about painting the “candles” a strong color to update it?
YoungHouseLove says
Always a possibility! Or wrapping them with decorative paper or fabric…
xo
s
Elizabeth says
I thought I saw John on a plane once. I was flying from Raleigh to Seattle and I was convinced it was him. This was in June of 2010.
YoungHouseLove says
Can’t say that was me. Clara was just a month old so I think Sherry would’ve wrung my neck if I decided to run away to Seattle for a little break! :)
-John
karen little says
Loved this fun post. On a related note, my husband has been mistaken for Harrison Ford on about 3 dozen occassions, both here in the U.S. and around the world. One time we were in a restaurant in Japan and a woman, who’d had quite a few drinks, asked him is he was Harrison Ford and my husband said, “No.” But then she went on and on insisting that he was and that he was “lying so he wouldn’t have to sign autographs”….hahaha. Now, if I looked like an older version of Calista Flockhart, then we’d really get ’em going!
HelloDoorSeven says
Totally not related to the post, but is it just me or it seems you have changed Clara and Burger pictures in the header??
YoungHouseLove says
Yep! The old one was when she was like 11 months old so it felt like it was time for a change!
-John
Hil says
Do you know what brand the photo albums are?? I really need to get on my photo organizing! Our bean is only 5 months old and we either have to stop paparazzing the crap out of him or buy some albums already.
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry, I just know they’re from Target (in store, not online) so maybe just pop in and look for them? Hope it helps!
xo
s
Colleen P. says
I totally heart the national aquarium!!! Oh and there’s a small aquarium right in front, with fish that can kinda sorta jump out of the water-don’t put your hand over it. My brother in law got mobbed! We never even suspected anything would happen, he was pointing at something and suddenly fish erupted from the water. Wish I’d gotten a video of it-my son was positively ecstatic, we could have left after that for all he cared! LOL! But yeah, it’s an awesomely cool place to spend a very long day.
Erin says
I met Jewel back in high school when she was still singing at coffee shops (I’m talking 1996 here). She sang at our school for a special Earth Day assembly. It was in the theatre and not everyone went. But after the show (7th period) my 8th period class was right down the hall and my awesome teacher let me and my BFF leave to see if she was still there for a autograph. She was and when she starting signing our poster of her we got, her agent was trying to shoo us away but she said no, I can sign autographs for them. made my day! She was so sweet to us, asking our names and writing it on there. I now have that poster in my scrapbook! :o)
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet!
xo
s
Brandan WH says
So I love with the magnetic/chalkboard paint, especially now that chalkboard paint comes in so many better colors. Now to convince the husband it’s a good idea for our twins room ;o
And glad you r joyed your trip up my way. Think I would have framed out if I saw you all out and about. I would have been the person cheering, failing at looking cool while debating if I should ask for a picture!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha I wish we had bumped into you!
xo,
s
Anna says
I feel like this should end with … and that’s what you missed on Glee!
It was fast!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha! Hilarious.
xo,
s
Lauren J. says
Gravely Point is the best hangout spot! Good fishing, too!
Anne says
My husband and I were just talking about how it’s good that the University of Washington didn’t offer me grad school money (which was a misunderstanding), so that I had to go to Virginia Tech where we met. It’s all kismet I guess. Amazing where life takes you.
Anne says
Oh, and I absolutely love LOVE LOVE LOVE Jewel’s “Pieces of You” album. Her songwriting is amazing.
Susan says
Hubby and I saw Billy Crystal in a men’s clothing store and he had all the clerks in stitches. So funny! Hubby has seen Gene Simmons and Sinbad and Bob Geldof while travelling on business — he phones me and whispers into his cellphone who he is sitting by, walking by, etc. — LOL!!
Nicky Tennent says
I stood next to a famous South African rugby player in the pharmacy queue last week – but I only realised who he was when I saw his name on the prescription he was holding! Bit of a stalker moment…
[email protected] says
So…I’m wondering if you only have friends with gorgeous houses and impeccable taste?? And what a friend without those traits is thinking when you crash their (not so beautiful and done tastefully) house? haha…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we have friends all over the scale of decor-obsessed and couldn’t-care-less! The good news is we don’t even notice things when we’re at other people’s house! Seriously, we will no notice if someone cleaned and sometimes even miss major things like when people get new furniture or paint. I think we just stare at our house so much that nothing anyone else does in their house phases us!
xo
s
Meredith says
I loved the post today, so fun to read. To answer your questions, my husband and I will actually be road-tripping to DC and Baltimore soon (and will be seeing one of my HS BFF’s named Catherine in DC…kind of like Cat, right?).
Once when I was visiting a friend in Nashville, we were waiting in line to get into a bar and saw some people come up the stairs behind us. So we turned around to look and saw John Rich us going into his (yes, his) private bar. He asked if we wanted to come in so we were like, sure! I was the first one to go over, shook his hand (he said, Hi, I’m John Rich) and I really wanted to tell him that one of his songs (Lost in this Moment) was going to play at our wedding reception, but I resisted.
I also went with this same friend to a Britney Spears concert in HS. Afterwards we were at our hotel and ran into one of the members of the opening group, LFO (remember Summer Girls?) on the elevator. We got off to walk to our room on the same floor as he did and it turned out his room was right across from ours. Over the next few hours we ended up meeting all 3 of them, it was crazy.
YoungHouseLove says
So funny! I totally remember LFO. Oh those were the days.
xo
s
natalie says
I love that you guys went to Gravely Point! That’s where my husband and I ended up on our first date, and where he proposed to me. Pictures here! http://nataliegracie.com/2011/06/11/engaged/
Love that place! :)
YoungHouseLove says
SO SWEEEEEET!
xo
s
Sherry says
Hi sherry,
I have a question for ya..totally unrelated but I will ask anyway. I read that you washed clara’s new clothes with vinegar before she wore them..Did you have to rewash them after that with a detergent or just vinegar is ok ? Also do you dry clara’s clothes in the dryer? I fear that these tiny little onesies might shrink ?!
YoungHouseLove says
I just do the first wash with vinegar and the following ones with detergent. We tumble dry low all of her clothes, which seems to cut down on shrinking. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Aubrey says
I have never met a famous singer before, but I did have a “Wait, is that David Beckham in front of me?” moment at Starbucks once (in Ohio of all places), and it WAS :) He was super sweet and kind.
YoungHouseLove says
You get 100 points for not melting on the floor.
xo
s
Julie @ Table for Two says
gravely point is my FAVORITE place here :) i go there often just to watch the planes – seriously so relaxing! i love it!
Average Urbanite says
I have twice — twice! — run into Weird Al. The first time was at a Ben Folds concert back in 2005, where he cut me in line. The second was this summer at a library. Bizarre — or, should I say, weird?
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha- hilarious!
xo
s
Renee says
I have that chandelier in my house! It was here when we moved in and at first I wasn’t a fan, but now I’m in love with it. My husband wanted to put a ceiling fan where it was, and I only agreed if he put it in another room.
erica says
I noticed how nice Cat’s painted fireplace looks and I love the way the fireplace looks at casa de YHL. But for the life of me, I cannot convince my boyfriend that painting our 1980’s brick fireplace would give the room a total facelift! The thing is terracotta, brown, orange and traditional red brick with a giant sprinkling of hideous. He for some reason, thinks it’s going to change the house value if we paint it. Besides showing him these pictures, what can I do to change his mind?!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I would honestly try to hunt down a realtor in your area (maybe visit an open house) and ask their opinion! Lots of realtors actually recommend painting dated or dark trim or brick in many homes to give them a lighter and fresher look (which they say can increase value and help a home sell faster, not slower!). Hope it helps!
xo
s
Sherry says
Thanks Sherry! Wow I cant believe I typed my name as “Sherry” in the name field! Haha..pregnancy brain..sorry !
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah!
xo
s
Meera says
Richmond Me! Quick before it fills up!
Amy @ PaintWineRepeat says
I may have had some dirt in my eyes at one point during this post, too!
Since you’re not coming all the way up North to Ottawa… I happen to be in Chicago when you guys roll through. I’m so excited to possibly meet you guys – it’s going to be so much fun!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Amy!!
xo
s
Casey says
Sherri I love this post, and I am so with you. There are MANY moments I look around at my husband and two little boys with literal tears in my eyes and thank God for all the twists and turns and coincidences that led to this beautiful life! I am so lucky!
Also, Gravely Point. Awesome. I actually showed your photos to said (non-blog-reading) husband because we once got caught in the “tractor beam” of a low-flying plane while driving on the freeway. It was such a crazy feeling and we hope constantly it will happen again! Maybe we should just head to DC! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Woah- that sounds crazy!
xo
s
Caitlin says
Not sure if this has come up yet, but wanted to make sure you saw: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/craftsman-chic-dining-room-roommarks-178245
I was having trouble envisioning that chandy in your hizouse, but the above Roomark on AT helps a lot :)
YoungHouseLove says
So pretty! We love mixing old stuff with modern stuff and you know I love shiny! I think we can make it work- so excited to see where it ends up!
xo
s
Susie says
I once ran into Steven Tyler at the Boston Aquarium on New Year’s Eve. I mean I literally ran into him — it was crowded and there were lots of kids running around, so you know, crash.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love that!
xo
s
Lauren says
I’m sorry for this totally random question…..what kind of car seat does Clara use? I can see from the pic in the post that it’s Britax, but I was wondering what model. Any particular reason why you chose this one? I’m currently researching seats for my little guy :-) Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
She has the Britax Roundabout. We love it (it fits in our small car and we heard from a few friends that they loved theirs!).
xo
s
Angela Wells says
My total random spotting of a celebrity was about 38 years ago at the Charlotte NC airpot. I’m 50 now so I was around 12. But I saw Michael Jackson and his brother Tito. He was still with the Jackson 5 and they were in Charlotte that night for a concert. We just happened to be at the airport that day watching planes (what?) and when we walked out to go in the parting lot they were walking with someone. I was too shy to get his autograph. But I was a fan!!
YoungHouseLove says
No way! That’s awesome!
xo
s
Anna-Katrin says
The Gravely Point part of this post made me laugh out loud! My mom took my brother and I there when we were little. We lived in DC at the time and she thought it would make a special outing since my dad was on an especially long business trip. She thought we would love it like your kiddos did, but instead we were running around screaming and hitting the ground as if we were being bombed! Still makes me laugh every time I think of the ill-fated trip to Gravely!
Hil says
Awesome trip to the city indeed! I enjoy DC every chance I get, which happens to be often since I work here. I per-ordered my book as I’ve read your whole blog site within 2 weeks. Very wholesome and multidimensional. The personal touches, such as this post, along with the How-To’s inspired me to re-purpose an expensive old worn mirror, service tray (now keys tray; soon to be mod podge’d) and a breakfast in bed caddy; all thrift finds for under $14.
I’m on my way! (Also house hunting in this area)
Hil aka Mr. W
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Hil!! Thanks for reading :)
xo
s
Nikki P says
As a native Washingtonian (DC, that is)… THANK YOU for glossing over how sucky the National Aquarium is! Especially since you just came from the AMAZEBALLS Atlanta Aquarium. Maybe we can get that money they want to take from PBS and reinvest it in the Smithsonian (crossing fingers)…
Emily says
Hi! I just stumbled across your blog and was wondering- any idea where Cat got her beautiful mirror from? The rectangular one that she has the fall leaves wreath hanging I front of? It’s gorgeous!
YoungHouseLove says
That was a gift from her sister I think. Maybe from Pottery Barn a while back?
xo
s
kim says
Would really love to know about those photo albums! Is that a rubber band around the end of them? did it come that way or did she just add those herself? great idea!!
YoungHouseLove says
They were from Target and they came like that. Hope it helps!
xo,
s