Happeeeeeeee New Year!!!
And now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, on to the topic of the day: New Year’s Resolutions. Do you make them? Do you loathe them? John and I have embraced the tradition for a while now (here’s our New Year’s post from last year, and thankfully we each accomplished our goal in the last 365 days). We’ll spare you all of the new personal “improvements” that we’re planning to tackle in twenty-ten, but we do have a couple of home/blog related resolutions on our list this year.
I, for one, want to simplify day to day life. From replacing three store bought products with one homemade cleaner that does it all to adjusting to life with a little one by streamlining the way our house functions, I’m all about easy upgrades and smart switcheroos for the next twelve months. John on the other hand has resolved to seriously supe up the site. Nothing too techie and weird, just improved function and usability so you guys can find things more easily and click around to your heart’s content. He’s such a guy isn’t he? But I guess in our own way we want to add function and ease.
Anyway, enough about us. We wanna know what you’re setting your mind to this year- especially if it’s home related. And who knows, maybe commenting here for all to see will help you stick to your guns and accomplish your goals in record time. Here’s hoping it works for us…
Psst- Wanna know what we were up to on New Year’s Day two years ago? Spoiler alert: we were on our way to Ikea. Here’s the full scoop.
Happy New Year John & Sherry Beth!
One of my main goals is to get my house better organized so we function better as a family – starting with the office. Another is to get my photography business up and running. The other “lesser” goals were started back in October so I’d be in full swing by the New Year and less likely to break them. Here’s to a good 2010!
First time commenter, long time reader. :) I personally find the site quite easy to navigate already, good job Youngsters! I’m also very interested to see how you streamline the way your house functions. Great resolutions! Well, I’m off to create an Ikea lack table headboard. All the best in the new year!
You two have an exciting year ahead!!!
We’re not really new years resolution people, but for myself it is to be more optimistic! We’re putting our condo on the market this month and looking for a fabulously old house to renovate! So I am attempting to think more like “the right house is out there for us” this year instead of “wow there is nothing on the market and too over priced!” Once we find the place I am going to to my best to turn old furniture into shiny new pieces via your tips! Happy 20-10!
Graduate from nursing school and purge my closet of things that I haven’t worn in awhile. DECLUTTER!!
Happy New Year’s back!!
Well, thanks for asking. I plan to actually darken the doors of a Container Store and an Ikea Store. It will require an hour and a half drive, but I am determined to actually see those two stores in person, not just online. I am also determined to take more pictures this year, not only home improvement, but in all aspects of life. We are planning a room addition to our home and I plan on doing a better job at documenting it, than I have of other projects we have done.
To work with what I’ve got.
As of today, we are down to one salary so I resolve to stretch my creativity and my pennies as far as they can possibly go to continue working on my home. I like seeing the changes too much to stop completely and I am pretty sure I can put the leftover paint from other projects to good use!
Happy New Year!
1) Be the best husband I can be.
2) Create tangible memories for my clients
3) Help as many people as I can, no strings attached.
Happy New Year! I can’t wait to see what it brings for you!
Oh- and when are you going to spill the beans on the bean’s gender? :)
Monday’s the day!
xo,
s
This is the year I’m going to buy a house! One offer in and accepted so here’s hoping! (Then I’ll be able to join you in the delights of home improvement instead of just reading and dreaming)
Happy New Year!!
My resolution is to look more closely at mine and my husband’s finances and to be better about budgeting. I was looking at our credit card statement and realized (gulp) that we were eating out too much. So – alas – we are going to have a healthier budget AND lifestyle by resolving to cook more and make sure there are plenty of easy things to grab for lunch.
I tried to kick this off last night by cooking a big batch of cheddar chowder with leftover Christmas ham. The plan was to freeze most is one-portion containers for lunch. I SLICED MY FINGER cubing potatoes. Off to a great start? I guess since it technically was still 2009 that doesn’t count, right?
Bring it on 2010!!
(p.s. I can’t wait to hear about the lil bean’s gender!!)
I’ve always been a slob since a child, so I have a very bad habit of letting my house get really messy then doing a marathon hour-long thunderstorm of cleaning when I know I’m going to have a houseguest. This year, I’ve resolved to do 15 minutes of cleaning every single day. It’s probably enough to at least keep the house ‘tidy,’ then the inevitable pre-houseguest thunderstorm will be much less stressful on everyone.
Oh where to begin?!
We’re starting our kitchen remodel, repainting our exterior, tackling the backyard, finishing our garage, and all-around feathering of our beloved nest :)
Happy New Year Sherry, John, Burger, and Baby P! I am looking forward to reading about all your new adventures that the new year brings!
I am guessing a baby girl for Monday’s post! :O)
Happy New Year to you both and the little one!
First would be to be a better mother and wife! *yeees* Also a million things around the house. Finish board and batten in bathroom, paint it. Redo outside shed into pool house. Repaint kitchen cabinets with the awesome paint from Caromal Colours! Put wood floor in our bedroom and repaint….so many more!
Thank you guys for an awesome blog. Love reading about local things since I grew up in Richmond and have since moved to Texas. Keep up the great work and enjoy these next few months waiting for your little one!
Jill @ http://www.virginiahouse.blogspot.com
I’m so sorry, I put the wrong URL
Jill @ http://www.thevirginiahouse.blogspot.com
My resolution is to finally figure out whether you’re having a boy or a girl!! Come on already, you’re killing us with all this waiting!!
p.s. I feel certain the little bean is a boy, so I don’t know why I’m anxious to hear…but still…
My resolution is to finish the den in our new house!
What’s your homemade cleaner recipe?
Jess- Check out this post full of homemade cleaning recipes that we’re itching to use regularly in 2010. Hope it helps!
Rachel- You won’t have to wait much longer- we’re revealing whether we’re pink or blue on Monday!
xo,
s
Our big resolution is for our marriage to make it though our big kitchen/family room/powder room/entry way reno. We are doing all new floors, a new vanity and countertop in the powder room, new stair railings, new paint, new window coverings in the family room and kitchen, and new cabinets and countertops! We are going with Ikea cabinets so we are still comtemplating DIY but I’m not sure our marriage could handle that haha! We have already worked on steamlining our house and decluttering in 09. Oh, and if we are still a glutton for punishment, we might tackle a slight bathroom makeover in our guest bathroom..a new vanity, new floor, new paint, and new hardware. We shall see!
I’m calling them “Intentions for 2010.” Somehow takes the Resolution stigma away. I have a few (lose 20 lbs, etc), but the homemade cleaner is definitely one of them. Thanks for reminding me. I had soooo many intentions that I must have thought I was done after “remember to take vitamins every day.”
Happy YOUNG New Year!! My ‘housetweaking’ goals for 2010 include upgrading our kitchen countertops and adding a backsplash. Also want to get my laundry room organized. After that… saving $$ for new floors! The floors may not be completed in 2010 but definitely want to save the $$ for them.
Happy New Year guys! I don’t make any resolutions, but if I am doing anything, it’s keeping my house CLEANER! :)
My biggest resolution is to support my local economy and to cook food using local produce and ingredients and to support local restaurants that do the same.
P.S. Sherry – I dreamed last night that I was spending NYE with you guys when I realized I was wasted on Patron and 4 months pregnant! Ha! Can’t wait to see what the year brings at YHL. xo!
Wow Kathleen- that’s a crazy dream! Although being pregnant I’ve been known to have some insane dreams of my own (like the one where our baby was able to hold my finger when I put it on my belly from inside my womb). Yikes!
xo,
s
Happy New Year!
I have tons of home-related goals for this next year, including a master bathroom renovation and building a fireplace! Here’s a link to all my goals for 2010! http://wecanmakethat.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/new-years-goals/
Happy New Year to your whole (growing) family! :) I’m not much for yearly resolutions anymore, but I do always make a list of things that I want to do each year – usually trying new hobbies & visiting certain places. :)
Our house turns 100 this year, so the plan is to completely gut the kitchen, dining and living room and put it all back together again in time for a big centennial b-day bash this summer!
I’m resolved to figure out where and how we spend our money so we can create a budget. We also need to decorate a nursery for our baby (due in May) so I will be looking to you for advice on that front!
Vacuuming I resolve to vacuum more often. My husband should be thrilled!
This new year, I am going to encourage my husband to become a regular reader of your blog. I’m hoping it will inspire him to tackle some DIY projects around the house :) It may help if you throw in a few sports-related titles to lure him into reading!
Happy New Year!!
We hope to move in mid- to late- 2010 so I hope to clean out, clear out and organize in early 2010. I also hope/plan to try one new recipe a week from my large collection of cookbooks.
As to site changes, I have to compliment you guys on the site as it is. You are the only home renovation/decoration blog on my reader primarily b/c your colors are soothing and your layout is easy to navigate. I look forword to seeing what’s next.
Happy New Year.
I want to buckle down and really live on a tighter budget this year both personally and as a family. Cooking home more and not going shopping until I actually need something is a good start. I’ve been buying food locally as much as possible and when my husband and I do eat out it is almost always at a locally owned business. We both want to retire in the next year or so and want to start living on a budget close to what we will have when we retire. Oh, and keep the house cleaner and eliminate as much ‘stuff’ from our lives as possible. The goal for this weekend is to get the closets cleaned out and a box of donations ready to go to the local charity.
I’ve never been much for ’em but the bf and I have resolved to take swing dance lessons! And also get our website up and fully running BEFORE we finish the 2 family we’re rehabbing :-)
I plan to jump-start my professional organizing business (Restoration Organization) and help people declutter and develop systems and routines to create a streamlined home.
Also will continue to upgrade my home, room by room. I’m inspired daily by YHL!
Best to all this new year!
I’m doing the 101 in 1001 challenge.
Happy New Year to you both. I’ve been a regular reader of your blog since discovering it about 6 months ago. Love it. Really. One blog update that I personally would ADORE is a section where readers can review all projects you’ve tackled room-by-room chronologically. Like, If I wanted to know what was the first blog topic related to your master bath (from way back when) and wanted to peek at all of the little (or huge) changes you’ve made to that room step by step in order, taking us all the way to your impending big reveal… You know- all in one place. For each room. Is that too much to ask? :) Jeez- I’m sounding greedy now.
Now that would be awesome Erin! It would also be a serious undertaking, but we do love a challenge…
Here’s hoping there are more hours in the day in 2010 than there were in 2009!
xo,
s
Hi Sherry and John, Happy New Year!
My New Year’s resolytion is to live handmade. For me this means knowing more about the products and food that I am buying and connecting with the people that are producing them. It also means learning some of the skills that my mom and grandma mastered long ago like learning to sew and maybe making my own bread!
Happy New Year!
I always have organizing on my list and I do pretty well every year, getting more organized as the years go on.
As for the house… 1) I WILL finish painting the stairway/hall going to the 2nd floor. I started, oh about a half a year ago, then realized the ceiling had a pink tint to it (it didn’t look pink before I started painting), and I quit. I wasn’t up for painting a sloped ceiling or a ceiling for that matter. 2) I need to do Something, with a capital S, with the upstairs bath, it is beyond hideous. 3) I need to replace ALL ugly light fixtures in the house, which is about 10!
Leave credit alone. Pay with cash and if I don’t have it, I won’t buy it. Who knows what the future will hold but at least I won’t be held hostage by the credit card companies and their manipulative tactics!
Happy New Year, guys!!!
You know I am blessed to have lots of time with my kiddos. We read together a ton and we’re home together all day. Pretty much every afternoon when we’ve finished lessons (around 2:30 or 3) and the boy is down for his nap, my girls bust out their projects – sewing, knitting, stamping, you name it. I’ve been rather that way in the past, too, sewing dresses for the girls, embroidering, etc. They also love to draw and paint in watercolors. But, this has been a busy, busy year for us (as you know) and although **they’ve** continued crafting and making art – I’ve too often been way too pooped to join in. I know sometimes a nap is necessary, but I want to be me purposeful about making the most of that late afternoon time. So, my new year’s resolution is to enjoy some of that artsy crafty time with them. Not every day, but often. Just sit with them and crochet or paint with watercolors. I don’t want to look back on these years and wish I had enjoyed their interests more.
Today I taught SweetP how to applique a letter onto a babydoll onesie :) Now, off for a 2o minute nap!
~Jacci
My resolutions are to make healthy eating choices, give up diet coke and alcohol, purge/organize the house, redo the guest bath, update the kitchen, build storage in the bedrooms, and decorate the nursery b/c I found out that I’m pregnant yesterday!!!!
Happy New Year YHL! I’m guessing the bean’s a boy…don’t really know why, but I’ve got a 50% chance of being right. :)
2010 goals for our house? I’m going to take on all of the chemical related home improvements I don’t get to do while pregnant. Since 2011 will hopefully bring babe #2 for us I’ve got to get those projects done while I can. I’ll leave sewing and shopping to do while I’m preggers.
Looking forward to Monday’s news.
Hi Guys
Happy New Year
My resolution this year is to become an organised supermum with a super organised clean house (if you happen to know me stop laughing!!).
By the way Sherry I remember dreaming when I was pregnant with my first born that they took her out really early to check something and then I was wondering how they were going to get her back in, but then she turned into a cat!!!! Weird weird time being pregnant…lol.
Heres to a great 2010 everyone. xx
Happy New Year to both of you! THis year I am going to try to make my entire life leaner. From my closet to my cubicle to my hips, I am going to try to streamline everything at least a little bit. I hope for a simpler, more organized year.
Happy New Year to your family! Last year was the first year that I wrote down my resolutions and I was very successful in accomplishing them, so I’m doing it again this year. My home improvement related goals are to continue to de-clutter and organize so the house runs more efficiently. I’m also going to continue trying to make our house feel uniquely ours by painting, decorating, and refinishing the hardwood floors.
happy new year to everyone!
My resolution is to bring less stuff into my house- really think about each and every purchase that I make.
My new year’s resolutions are being split by months. They involve walking regularly as I move a long in my pregnancy, and actually worrying less about my house (not much I can do until after April anyway) and learning to let go…
Happy New Year’s to you!
Two years ago, my New Year’s Resolution was to start recycling. It’s probably the only one I’ve ever kept.
Happy New Year Sherry, John, Burger & Bean! :) This year will bring changes for our lil’ family ~ my hubby is deploying in June, so our resolution for the first half of the year is to make the most of our time together, and make every minute/memory count!
Among other personal goals, I am sitting down at this very minute (after checking YHL of course!) and planning out grocery lists & exercise routines from my new Biggest Loser books ~ baby #2, here we come! :)
Finally, I’m resolving to do Project 365, where you photograph one thing from your daily life each day for 365 days. With a adventurous but adorable 3 year old to keep up with, sometimes the time just slips away, and I think it’ll be a fabulous way to keep the hubs updated while he’s away in the big “sandbox” as they call it ;)
Happy New Year! I look forward to hearing more about how you streamline the way your house functions.
Instead of specific resolutions this year, I came up with people I want to learn from in 2010. And one of them is you Sherry! You can check them out at http://apaigeinhistory.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-early-new-years.html.
Wishing you all the best in 2010!
My two home-related resolutions are to follow a systematic organizing plan and to stop reading and start decorating. I’ve been reading decorating books/sites like mad lately and just need to make the leap to putting paint on walls!