Holy cow, have we really been blogging for half a decade?! Crazytown.
It feels like just yesterday that we were creating a basic page with a big blue-background so friends and family members could drop in on our first home’s kitchen makeover.
For our fifth blogiversary we wanted to host a parade complete with homeowners marching by waving hammers and paint rollers, but since we couldn’t get that together – and it honestly sounded like someone could lose an eye that way – we decided to go for the next best thing: a week of blogiversary madness and behind the scenes hullabaloo (just like we’ve done for the past few years here, here, and here). And the festivities start right now. So feel free to toss out some chest bumps and fist pumps. It’s about to get blog-a-delic up in here (anybody have a black light?). Here are a few of the things that we have on the agenda for this week:
- a timeline of how we met, fell in love, started blogging, and ended up here (which is actually right in this post – we didn’t waste any time, haha)
- a pretty crazy giveaway with a ton of awesome $500 prizes in honor of The Big 5
- a day in the life post with a bunch of pictures and details about an average day for us
- a math-tastic rundown of our blog stats, growth, and other numerical goodness along with seven bloggy facts that might just blow your mind (no guarantees, but ours are officially blown)
- a no-holds-barred Q&A video full of answers to personal questions that hundreds of you guys submitted via Facebook
- all of our goals for the coming year (and a rundown of how we did on last year’s)
- a big ol’ list of our favorite/least favorite/hardest/most memorable/weirdest/etc posts over the last five years (there have definitely been some doozies)
- a warm and fuzzy getting-to-know-you post about you guys (who you are, where you live, what you love – we can’t wait to hear from you!)
Without further ado, here’s a big ol’ timeline that we made in photoshop that dates all the way back to 2004. Holy buckets, was that really almost ten years ago? A lot of the things on this timeline were defining moments for us, either in our personal lives or the life of YHL. And a bunch of them actually make us all misty eyed. Seriously, no one is more surprised than we are to be where we are today, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you amazing folks who take the time to drop in on us and see what we’re up to. You’ve made this entire blog-tastic journey possible for our family, and sometimes I get that embarrassing lower-lip-quiver when I think about it too long. You guys put the love in YHL.
Time flies when you’re having fun (and meeting, moving, marrying, starting a blog, having a baby, writing a book, and otherwise holding on the for ride). Are you guys somewhere you’d never imagine you’d end up five years ago? We’re so thankful that we started this random little blog, and so very humbled that you guys have become a part of our lives and created this completely unexpected way of life for our family. We love you. Truly. Now somebody get me a tissue.
Psst- Itching to learn more about blogging as a business? So are we. Just kidding. Well, I’m half serious since we’re definitely still learning as we go. But here’s a giant collection of posts about how our blog baby grew, how we make money, how we spend our time, how we get sponsors, and a lot of other behind the scenes blogging stuff (like paying quarterly taxes, becoming an LLC, getting our own health insurance, etc).
Penny says
I LOVE YOU PEOPLE (sobbing).
Congratulations and thanks for all the joy, encouragement, creativity and love you’ve shared with us for 5 years. Can’t wait to read along for the next 5 and beyond. Rock on, Petersiks.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw Penny, stop making me cry. Haha!
xo
s
LILI says
Congratulations! It is a wonderful accomplishment.
May you have many more years to come! Hope the Oreos were busted out for the celebration!
Ashley says
I too have been following since you were TYH. Happy to be counted as one of your daily, (sometimes 2 or 3 times daily) readers.
Andrea Worley says
Congrats YHL! What an exciting timeline of events. Can’t wait for the book to come.
RachelSD says
Wow, congrats! Reading that timeline makes me exhausted… can’t imagine how the two of you must feel! I’ve been a reader for exactly two years and it’s the first blog I pull up on my phone/computer every morning. Love you guys! Here’s to 5 more and then some…
Chris says
Happy Blogiversary…You guys are the best. I look forward to your posts everyday, right now I’m missing my monthly Clara update.
Kerry says
So, your survey is super fun! I filled it out, but I wanted to let you know that there wasn’t really an option for people (like me!) that live in cooperatively owned community housing. Basically, my housing co-op owns my house, and I own part of the co-op — in Canada we have a whole bunch of these community oriented non-for-profit houses which a pretty rad.
http://www.chf.bc.ca/
YoungHouseLove says
Ohh, thanks for the tip! Never knoew that Kerry. So cool.
xo
s
Shifra says
Congrats! I’ve been following you daily for about 4 years now, since my first apartment, and this may sound sappy or creepy (or both!) but I really feel like you guys are my friends, and I can’t wait to come home from work each day and check out what you’re up to. You are my #1 favorite blog, and I thank you for all that you give to me and all your readers each day. You’ve created something really special!
keisha says
Happy Blogiversary! Stumbling onto your blog while searching for DIY help is the one bright thing that happened during my recent table top refinishing fiasco… now I’m completely hooked on your blog. AND, because it’s new to me, I have years of lovely posts to catch up on. :-)
Kalie says
You guys should be so proud!! What great accomplishments. Keep up the good work. :)
A Wife and her Carpenter says
Happy 5 years!!!! I’m on month 9 of blogging and up to 150ish views a day. I’m really hoping it takes off soon :) Can’t wait to read what you guys have to say this week. I love advice!
suzanne says
I surfed into your blog way back when you were This Young House. I was looking for some window covering ideas and you gave me the idea of hanging my curtains and blinds “high and wide”! I confess, I really didn’t know much about blogging or what they were all about, but I’ve always been a DIY’er and was intrigued. I’ve followed you almost daily ever since and have enjoyed your awesome ideas and inspiration plus had some great laughs and a few tears along the way. I check out a few other blogs now and then, but always come back to you. Congratulations on an amazing job on everything you’ve accomplished over the last 5 years!
Suzy B says
Happy 5th blogiversary! Notice the word giver in that;)
I am so happy I found your blog….love all the content, DIY’s and such. Fun reading thru the timeline. Wow – you’ve been busy. Excited for your book to come out!
Very happy YHL reader!
jenny says
I don’t think I’d even realized how long I’d been reading your blog until just now….at least since 2008! holy cow, thats not only a long time to be writing, it’s a long time to be reading every day too!! congratulations guys, can’t wait to see what the next year brings :)
Erin says
Awesome post! (I might just read it again) Cheers!
Erin says
Oh! One more thing…
I think we’d all like to see the results of your survey. Maybe in a colorful pie chart (something I think John would appreciate). cool, cool.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, on Friday that’s on the docket!
xo
s
Valentina says
Congratulations to you, guys! You’re doing a wonderful job and inspire crowds upon crowds of people! I wish you the best of success and hope you keep your amazing momentum for a looooooong loooooooong time! (and I also secretly wish I could figure out something even half as genius as your having-fun-while-nurturing-a-family-while-improving-your-own-home-while-improving-self-while-making-a-living thing)
Keep it up!!!
McKayla says
I love reading your blog. Congrats on 5 years!
WendyMI says
Congratulations!!!! goodness.. looking at that timeline makes me realize that I’ve been reading your blog since late 2008/early 2009ish. I think it was The Nest article that sent me this way.
Wow.. time flies. I wish I were as productive as you in that time. LOL
Lisa says
Congrats all the way from Germany, guys. I love your blog so much and it feels weird knowing so much of you and spending so much time with you, haha. You inspire me a lot and even though we still pay rent, my husband and I hope to build our own home in a few years. Your style totally hits the spot for us and we will use many of your ideas for our home-to-be. Since our son Julius was born a year ago, I especially love the Clara posts, and I could relate to you so much, Sherry, reading the breastfeeding post and about Clara’s birth.
I also wanted to say I really, really appreciate two things.
First, your no-swag policy. I get really bored and annoyed reading blogs where the people show off their presents all the time. It just makes you so much more down-to-earth, real and reliable when you show things that you really like.
Second, I really think it is great that you answer so many comments, either here or on facebook. I had no idea you had so many readers, since it still feels so homey- is that an English word? I have gotten really nice and personal answers from both of you over the years, and I thank you for that.
Here’s to another five and many more to come!
Love from Würzburg
Lisa
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re so sweet Lisa. You guys are the best! We love chatting with you :)
xo
s
Lisa says
It’s like celebrities answering fan mail haha. So excited you answered again :)
xoxo
Btw it’s Julius’s first birthday on Friday… There was no post on Clara’s first birthday party, was there? Could use some inspiration – will have family and friends and many toddlers in my tiny living room haha.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw happy birthday Julius! We did this post about Clara’s first birthday (complete with a video at the end). Hope it helps!
xo
s
Lisa says
AWESOME thank you!! I’m more excited for his first birthday than for my last 29 ones haha.
xo
veronica o says
Congratulations!!! Since I found your website I don’t think I’ve missed one day of checking out what’s new & sending my husband links with “we need to do this” in the subject line. Best wishes on the next five and ten and you get the picture!!!
xoxo
veronica
Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says
Sorry if this was already answered but I just need to ask….On your first website you have a tab called Captain Planet – what was that tab about?
My little man is all about superheros so you know out of everything, that caught my eye….he has trained me well. ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
That was about eco stuff we were trying to learn about. It was funny because we knew literally nothing about things like low-VOC paint, but we were trying to learn and tackle things as we went.
xo
s
Ve says
I’ve got…
the black eyed peas song stuck in my head now, thanks. LOL
Congrats :)
Michelle @ Lifewithacrazypup says
Sherry and John,
Congrats! You guys deserve it! You definitely have the first blog I check every day! You’re such a great pair and such a good inspiration to the rest of us — as bloggers, parents, and spouses! Love, love love!!!
Michelle
Cynthia says
I can’t WAIT for the book to come out, I’ve been secretly wondering how I’m ever going to wait until November.
Did I also catch in there and 2 BOOK deal??? YES (fist pump for sure). You guys are amazing!!
Ashley I says
Haha, misread the poll. I read shoplifting instead of shopping and thrifting. I was like, wow, you really expect people to admit to that?! Whoops.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo,
s
Rachel says
If I click on my bookmark to your blog 10 times a day, does that count as 1 hit or 10? This is easily my favorite blog. I creepily talk about you like I know you (I call you my bloggers)…my husband and I just bought our first house and we come back to your blog constantly to see how you DIY specific projects! Congratulations and thanks for being awesome!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s ten hits! Although it doesn’t count our hits, it counts how many times the site loads for everyone else.
xo,
s
Lisa says
Haha I generate approx. 307 clicks a day easily. We’re only a few hundred very loyal readers ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! It’s harder to track unique visits, but Google estimates that it’s around a million. Isn’t that crazy?! Thank goodness they don’t count our clicks or it would be all of them. Haha! I’m always trolling around for links for people.
xo
s
Heather H says
I can’t believe it’s been 5 years! I’ve been stalking (wait, scratch that) following you since your backyard wedding days, This Old House..and now here you are. Thanks for all the tips, tricks, and being a part of my daily ritual at work. Keep up the good work, can’t wait to see what’s next for you. You’ve got a book…your own show on HGTV?
Emily says
Just wanted to say… along with your 5 million other readers… that I think you guys are both totally and completely awesome. You never write a post that I don’t care for. Your personalities always make me smile. And I love your house :)
Ashley {GirlyObsessions} says
This is a really inspiring post! I’ve been a long time reader (and should be a more frequent commenter!) and I’m so happy for all you’ve accomplished in a relatively short amount of time! It gives hope to the rest of us bloggers out there! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the week! Congrats again!
Debbie C says
Whew, what an amazing ride! I love the illustrated timeline! Congrats, 5 million hits is HUGE.
On a completely unrelated note…Sherry, did you know that Ulta is having a 40% off sale on all Physician’s Formula cosmetics (which I think I remember you said you used)? And you can use coupons on top of that too! Of course I now own some new eye shadow. ;D
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
MichelleR says
Wow! 5 million people! Congrats on the blogiversary. You guys inspire me everyday!
Kate says
Congrats on five years!
I just wanted to thank you for adding “A bun in the oven”. I’ve been getting so sad the last couple months whenever I have to put that I don’t have kids because I’m excited about the fact that I’ll have one in a couple months but it feels like cheating to say I have one now… being able to mark one as “in the oven” just made my day, lol. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, so glad!
xo,
s
Emily W says
Congrats you guys. It’s really cool to see it all out on a timeline (I’m a visual person). That is such a huge accomplishment! What a great blessing to be able to stay home and do something you love!
Here’s to many more years! I love your blog!
Megan says
Congrats on FIVE YEARS! I just celebrated one year this summer. Gives me a whole new appreciation for what you do. And that traffic! MY GOD!
margaret says
Wow! I can’t believe you guys get that many views a month- amazing!! BTW I have to tell you that hitting the ‘in my thirties’ choice on the poll almost made me fall over. I think there should be a ‘I’m technically in my thirties, but I am only 31, and I promise I’m still cool’ choice.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- I wholeheartedly agree!
xo
s
notsupermum says
5 million a month????? Good grief, that’s phenomenal! Many congrats to you on making the blog such a success, I’m a relatively new reader but am already addicted :)
Paige @ Little Nostalgia says
Here’s to five more years! Well, let’s say more than five. Many more! I’ve been reading since Clara was just a bun in the oven, and it blows me away how much you guys have grown since then. Even though I know the story of how you met, started blogging, etc. I still like to read these posts every year because they’re just so cute. :-)
I’m definitely not where I thought I’d be 5 years ago. I’m married to my husband, but that’s about it! I got my B.A. in communications and worked in radio for a while, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do after all, so I worked an office job for a bit while I started an Etsy shop and got that off the ground. Now I make jewelry for a living and I’m going back to school for interior design. Ha! Talk about a big switcheroo.
Sam M. says
Congrats on the blogiversary!
I love pie, but speaking as an engineer (my day job, when I’m not painintg trim) please no pie charts! Just search ‘data visualization pie charts’ Bar, dot, and ‘griddle’ parts are all usually better at presenting visual information (human brain is much better at judging height than the area of angular slices for the majority of cases).
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Sam! That sounds like fun for John, I’ll have to tip him off. Haha!
xo
s
Shelley @ Green Eggs and Hamlet says
Happy fifth to you guys! You certainly deserve the success you’ve achieved and it’s nice to know that you’re nice people on top of that success! Thanks for giving me moments of distraction while at work, oodles of inspiration for redoing my house, and more than anything a nice, comfy place to hang out on the internet. :)
Pascale says
Congratulations on that 5-year mark! I have been reading the blog since my boyfriend and I started looking for a house last Spring and have never stopped since! We moved in our house in June and I have found great tips on how to paint furniture, arrange frames on a wall, etc. on your blog. Thanks for the DIY inspiration!
Kelli Fox says
wahooo! Happy Anniversary! I have read and will read again your post on your blogging.. it’s really a fun thing to do and I’m working on my blog to make it better :o)
Emily R, says
Looking over the timeline I remember you blogging about events and feeling like I was there. Blogs pull you into a creepy place of feeling like you know people you don’t, probably why so many readers find themselves having dreams about you. Thank you for sharing yourselves and your lives with us for the last 5 years (I have been religiously reading for over 3). Basically I heart you.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, we heart you right back Emily.
xo
s
Briel K. says
I love blogiversary week! I can’t believe I’ve been reading you guys for 5 years!! Wow. Here’s to 5+ more! xoxo
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Briel! I still remember when you got our t-shirt! Fan points right there ;)
xo
s
Catherine says
What was the commercial you made? Do you have a youtube link?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2jW4JUPuEM (we still both remember ever word of the script- haha).
xo
s
Jasmine says
I don’t even know you two but it made me so proud of your work and efforts just reading the timeline :) Keep up the wonderful work – you continue to be, since 2010, my favorite blog.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jasmine!
xo
s
Jamie says
Happy Blogiversary! The 5th anniversary is wood…any projects in the works to celebrate?
YoungHouseLove says
Well, the deck was wood. Haha! And we’re planning to build a little something out of wood for the hall bathroom to share next week after the blogiversary madness ;)
xo
s
from London says
Hi, I’m from Londona nd I love 3pm in the afternoon when I grab a office and take 5 to pour over your latest post. I’m your addict and I love your site.
Wrenaria says
Aw, your poll is not working for me, neither the embedded or link-out versions. Just get an “Oops, something went wrong.” error when I submit.
Congrats on 5 years. Great timeline.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, so sorry! Maybe just too many people trying to do it? Hope it works for you later ;)
xo
s
Kirsten says
Congratulations! Yours is the only blog (though I love so many) that I read every day. Just one (pretend) complaint … I wished your poll had “blog in the oven” as an additional choice for question 2. Funny, right? How’d you decide to just do it?
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahah! I wish we had been clever enough to think of that. Hilarious! John just thought it would be fun to document and blow off steam that way and I was like “uh…nerdy!” but I’m so glad we did it. Hahah!
xo
s