It’s that time again! When we take a moment to look back on all that we’ve done in the past month at a glance (and gather all the links in one handy place for ya). And of course we tossed in some never-before-seen stuff, just because we’re over-sharers. This month felt especially busy for us, with everything from painting, organizing, building, rearranging, crafting, art-making, upholstering, light-fixture-ing, coding, ORBing (yes, it’s a category of its own), and breaking stuff. So let’s take a walk down memory lane, with yearbook-esque superlatives, because we’re strange birds.
Most Illuminating: Clipping 320 clothespins in place to create our laundry room’s clothespin chandelier for our first ever Pinterest Challenge. Oh and you can scroll down to the bottom of the post to see over 500 (wowza!) other Pinterest Challenge projects submitted by you guys. So much good stuff. Gah.
Most Spoiled: Potato-stamping a fun little pattern inside Clara’s closet turned reading nook. Oh to be one again…
Most Likely To Win Mariah Carey’s Approval: This free butterfly art that I made out of a flier that I picked up on our trip to Natural Bridge, VA.
Most Likely To Win Carrie Bradshaw’s Approval: Adding shoe storage to our laundry room, courtesy of some Ikea recycling bins. Although Ms. Bradshaw would need about a hundred of them for all of her Manolos.
So Fresh & So Clean, Clean: Finishing our laundry room makeover. Woo hoo – one room down!
Most Likely To Be Committed For A Pillow Addiction: Me, as evidenced by these new striped pillows that I scored for $9 each at HomeGoods. And if making free art out of paint chips counts as treatment, then I’m on the road to recovery.
Clumsiest: John, who seems determined to break things lately, including this light fixture cover that fell while swapping out the fixture in our hallway.
Most Hard-Working: Our new Effecktiv storage unit from Ikea, which has the fun job of housing all of our files, printer, and miscellaneous office goodies. Oh the excitement.
Most Debonair: Dressing up said Effektiv unit with some black glass handles from Hobby Lobby Schlobby Bobby.
ORB of the Month: Giving our mailbox the oil-rubbed bronze treatment, along with completing a few other outdoor maintenance projects (which helped our yard look not quiiite as neglected – it’s still pretty bad though).
ORB of the Month (Runner Up): Several door handles, including the hardware on our front door, got a nice little face-lift.
Most Cheerful: Giving our front door the yellow paint treatment. It’s like our house is smiling at us whenever we come home.
Most Likely To Stockpile Swedish Things: Us, after our first trip to Ikea since John’s parents moved out of the area. Suddenly a trip there seems much more precious.
Worst Dressed: A video tour of our not-so-clean house (as well as some random old photos of us).
Most Likely To Get Worms: Creating a compost bin in the backyard using leftover shipping pallets. We’ve got some pretty sweet dirt going on.
Most Likely To Rock: The rocking chair that I FINALLY painted and reupholstered (after it sat around unfinished for almost a year).
Most Pictures In A Single Post: A visual comparison of our new house vs. our old house, which involved so many photos that it took down the site down for a good hour (ca-rashhh). Lesson learned.
Best “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day” Reminder: A look back at our first house, 8 months in, and how little we had accomplished in that time. Ah, memories.
Best Moves: Switching up Clara’s furniture arrangement to help solve a crib-in-front-of-vent situation.
Worst Moves: Rearranging the office furniture in preparation for its makeover, which turned out to be a not so good solution. At least now we’re on the right track.
The “Thrill Of The Hunt” Award: Searching high and low for the perfect cabinets to turn into a built-in office desk. With a dog and a baby in our shopping cart.
The “Ripley’s Petersik’s Believe It Or Not!” Award: Scoring six whole cabinets for six measly dollars at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Alexandria, VA (well, they were technically $6.30 with tax).
Most Destined For Greatness: Our office cabinets, which we sanded and primed to prep them for glossy white paint. So excited to get these babies done. We’ll share pics early next week if all goes well! And you can catch a sneak peek of me painting them over on Young House Life.
Most Likely To Be From New Jersey: Me, as demonstrated by my magnetic attraction to glittery pine-cones, which accompanied some simple leaf-y decorations that I made for my cousin Megan’s bridal shower. Oh yeah and I sorted M&Ms by color like a wackadoo.
Biggest Jerk: Hurricane Irene, who tore up our neighborhood. (Update: the tree was finally removed from our neighbor’s roof yesterday and they’re in good spirits but the house still needs a lot of repair. Thanks for keeping them in your thoughts)
Most Overdue: Redesigning our blog theme for the first time in over three years.
Here are a few not-it initial designs that we tried on and scrapped. So glad we went with the gray heart background and simplified the too-busy-header (too much change, too left-heavy with that pile of pics, and the ceramic frog felt less “iconic” than my beloved ceramic rhino):
Cutest Couple: Clara and her cousin John snuggled up post Hurricane Irene.
So there you have it. August at a glance. And yes, this was just as much fun as last months inaugural superlatives post. Dorks for life.
What have you guys been up to this month? Have you ever made a list of accomplishments to look back on? It’s so nice to take a break from adding things to our to-do list to look back on what we’ve already done. Just for a minute. True to form we were all over the place (nearly every room of our house got in on the fun). Let’s call it spreading the love (as opposed to lacking focus and bouncing off the walls), shall we?
Psst- You can check out July’s superlatives here.
Julia Lolita says
These monthly summaries are really fun. I didn’t realize just how fast this summer was going but I read every single post that made it on the superlatives. But anywho, I really do enjoy them and it gets the wheels in my head a-turnin’. I think I am going to use it to help me get started on fixing up my home sweet home.
katalina says
Sherry and John
I was thinking of your site ( while recaulking my tub and getting wackadoo from the fumes and wishing I knew how to demo a tile wall…maybe another weekend?) and all the wonderful info you provide and the empowering aspect of it…even if I do not have a partner in crime.
You provide the information in such a friendly and non intimidating way that it makes me think maybe one day I can paint those ugly yellow orange kitchen oak cabinets…maybe after you paint yours and i print out every item and step!
This is coming from a highly visual-designer and photographer type and not one to read instructions!
Thanks again for all the inspiration and information. Addicted to your site.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks so much Katalina. You made our day. Hope those freshly caulked tiles look awesome.
xo,
s
Crystal says
Love your site!! I love your style also!! Can I ask your thoughts on what to paint my kitchen? I am stuck, due to the ugly floor. If I can i will send detailed post!!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh, post a picture on our Facebook page so people can toss out suggestions! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Crystal says
Posted to your facebook!! Thanks so much!!
Vicki says
Okay, first of all, insanely jealous of your time management skills. You are an inspiration!!
Secondly, I meant to comment when you first posted it, but I love love LOVE the asymmetry of the 2 frames above your dresser, and how they are aligned to the top. Perfect.
Krista says
Schlobby Bobby… I smile every time I say it out loud :)
Viv says
Did you see the white porcelain animal lamps in Real Simple this month? I immediately thought of certain people with a ceramic white animal addiction.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, so cute! I especially loved the chihuahua!
xo,
s
Briel K. says
Sherry, have you ever counted all the pillows you own? I’d be interested to know exactly how many you have! haha
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I’d guess around 12 pillows and 6 more additional pillow covers. Total guess though. Haha.
xo,
s
ashlee says
sherry, oh my lordie! i’m sure you’ve never had someone ask so many darn questions about painting!
i went out and bought rustoleum spray paint for a table and chairs. didn’t have a lot of luck with it. you can read about it on my blog..i won’t get into it again…too traumatized, lol!
then i went out and bought krylon primer and krylon paint. the primer worked wonderfully. the first coat of paint also worked wonderfully. the second coat…the paint can suddenly coughed and choked and splattered dots of paint all over my project! what the HECK am i doing wrong? lol.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh, that stinks! I bet the nozzle got clogged. Maybe try rolling paint on with a foam roller for more control instead?
xo,
s
Amanda C says
Sherry,
I know this is random, but I have searched your archives for the past 30 minutes and cannot find the post i am looking for!
Can you share the link where you guys had the family photo books made recently? I would love to have one made for my parent’s anniversary coming up!
Thank you soooo much!
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry, that was over on BabyCenter. Here’s the link: http://blogs.babycenter.com/life_and_home/photo-albums-are-dead-to-us/
xo,
s
Micaela says
I came across this DIY of your bedroom chandelier. It’s pretty cool! http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-sputnik-chandelier.html
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah isn’t that awesome? I love that blog!
xo,
s
Ariel says
Is it bad that I can’t read, “so fresh and so clean, clean” without singing it?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, me too. I choose to think that’s totally normal.
xo,
s
k says
Links links links!
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=17995671&parentid=A_FURN_FURNITURE&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,+product.marketingPriority&navCount=15&navAction=jump&color=&pushId=A_FURN_FURNITURE&popId=APARTMENT&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=
^ Isn’t that your curtains?!
Also, I saw this on Pinterest and it made me think your your kitchen idea. I think it’s an awesome and unique solution! Please do it! Soon!
http://pinterest.com/pin/48326397/
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that so funny about our curtains on that chair? As for the banquette pic from Pinterest, I LOVE it!!
xo,
s
dj sherry says
http://www.primarycolor.us/hailekitchen/kitchen.html
Look at their “Rosewell Project”
this curved banquette seating with back cabinets would be a friendlier use of space. Still has lots of counter top work/buffet serving space. Maybe think about closing the hall doorway (cover it with a tarp for a while to see how it works) that is a lot of doors in to a small space.
Not liking the hard shape of the “L”, not very approachable.
Still prefer an island, think you’d get better function with the large work space for crafts, cooking with the kids, laying out fabric for cutting/sewing etc…
Love your blog! Opened a whole new area of home improvement surfing, thanx.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, that link is so inspiring! I’ve been staring at it all day!
xo,
s
Demi says
I just went onto Pinterest for the first time in weeks and what’s on the home page? Clara’s closet! So awesome! Love the potato stamp!
YoungHouseLove says
No way, that’s so cool. Clara is psyched. Haha.
xo,
s
laura says
I want you to know that you inspired a movement in our house…we call it Young House Love (creative, I know) but what it means to us is…..put things where they go when you are finished with them. I found myself bouncing around the house all day Saturdays, picking up items dropped off carelessly throughout the work week (I’m guilty, too). A watch here, a pair of socks there, mail here…by the end of the week the house looks like a train wreck and its not dirt…its just mess. I was so frustrated spending a good part of my weekend carrying all of these parts and pieces back to their homes. So, I started the YHL initiative after being inspired by your response to a reader who asked how you keep your house looking photo ready all the time. Such a simple idea, saved time and made me and my family feel so much better. I didn’t have to be the evil shrew screeching at everyone all day Saturday. This way everyone owns their responsibility, and 5 minutes a day per person saves me 2 hours of precious weekend time. You will particularly like that when we find an “infraction” to the YHL initiative, we scream out “YOUNG HOUSE LOVE!” and seriously, i kid you not, people rush in from wherever they are in the house to see who committed the infraction and the guilty one takes care of the business of putting it away…it’s great. YHL forever! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s pretty much the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. I love it!
xo,
s
Carey says
I’m sorry to be posting this here — it doesn’t really belong — but thought you should know there is a ceramic greyhound for sale at Circa Who in the new arrivals section:
http://circawho.com/category/newarrivals/
Don’t know how much it is as there is no price listed, but thought you may want to check it out for yourselves.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
NK says
Wow you guys have had a busy month. Look at all the things you achieved you busy bees. Keen to see what Sept brings!
Michelle says
You guys are just amazing how much you get through each month. My favourite is little C sitting in her potato stamped room on that plush rug living the life :) New website looks smoking guys kudos to you x
katie says
OH my goodness, you guys were BUSY this month. I know you guys are always trucking away on projects but seriously…you guys deserve a vacay. :)
Cindy says
You guys rock, love the monthly superlatives!
Linsey says
I’m so proud to have something that’s on this blog! We have those ikea bins in the hall, the top one is devoted to our recycling, the other2 have my shoes in them :)
gcarron says
why not create a banquette in the corner?
YoungHouseLove says
We tried taping it off and it looked weird and far away. Sort of like everything was pressed against the walls all over the room and there was a big space in the middle of the room with nothing in it.
xo,
s
Allyson says
“Most Likely To Be From New Jersey” – That made me laugh, I’m from Jersey as well, we are a little wacky ;) I have this really weird thing about sorting M&Ms before I eat them, so I loved your color sorted M&M candy vase, right up my alley.
Sarah@StyleandCentsability says
Amazing to see what you guys can do in a month! I am ready to open a can o whoop ass on my house projects!