Hi my name is Sherry Petersik, and I have a white ceramic animal problem. Well, this one’s actually made of white resin. Guess which creature stole my heart this time? Here’s a hint.
Now I’m just putting words here so you don’t see the picture below before you venture a guess. Assuming you want to play along. Come on, what animal is it?
More words.
More words.
More words.
More words.
Ok, now I’ll explain how it all went down. I couldn’t resist requesting demanding that John drive me over to TJ Maxx after I received this email from a reader named Nina:
I thought of you guys when I saw this white resin ram’s (?) head at the Broad Street TJ Maxx today. I took a quick pic in the TJX dressing room, which is attached. I bought one but there was still another one there as of an hour ago. It was $30. No other similar animals, but they did have some nice looking white faux coral. – Nina
Oh and this picture was attached:
Let me tell you, it’s totally dangerous to have shopping spies sending ceramic animal details your way. You guys know they’re my kryptonite. Sometimes I can weakly walk away, but this time I just couldn’t resist. We were at TJ Maxx less than five hours later (we made it in right before they closed up shop around 7:30). And miracle of all miracles, no one else had snatched up that remaining ram.
It’s miiiiiiine. All miiiiiiiiine. I couldn’t be more excited. I know it’s weird, but I’m ok with weird. Actually, I love weird. Seriously, I ran out to the car with the biggest smile (Clara was sleeping so I popped in while John stayed in the car with her). Hubs knew I had “secured” Señior Ram from the moment I skipped out the door grinning like I won the lottery. And as for the price, I thought 30 bucks was great compared to this nearly identical ram from Williams Sonoma Home who rings in at a whopping $245! Holla. Oh and how funny is that picture of Rammo on the extra wide plank floors in our bedroom above? Doesn’t it look like he’s hanging on the wall of a cabin or something? Here’s an angle that’s a bit less wall-like:
On second thought, that kinda looks like a wall too. How about this angle:
Yes, that’s Burger stretching in the background. He moseyed out of bed, enjoyed a leisurely stretch, and then approached the newest member of the faux animal gang to check things out.
After some oddly placed sniffs Burger accepted Rammo as his long lost brother walked away to check under Clara’s kitchen chair for scraps. Gotta love that warm chihuahua welcome. I wonder where Ramsy will end up living. Is it weird that I want him over our bed? He’s not big enough to live there alone, but perhaps among a few other smaller white ceramic animal heads in a grouping somewhat similar to this from Ballard Designs?
I know I’m strange, but you can’t help who what you love. I’m fully aware that sleeping under a ceramic ram head might be your idea of h-e-double-hockey-sticks. But it’s totally my idea of a good time.
Update: And now, due to popular demand. The photo of Burger stretching rotated 90 degrees so it looks like he’s scaling the wall. Who doesn’t enjoy a little zero gravity yoga?
Psst- We announced this week’s giveaway winners. Click here to see if you’re one of them!
Rebecca says
Congrats on the new addition to your white ceramic posse!
Unrelated Q for you… have you seen the new HGTV show “Marriage Under Construction”? The tag line is something like “They’re young. They’re in love. They just bought a fixer.” Totally seems like rip-off of you guys!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s too funny! We haven’t seen it! We were asked by a number of networks to do a show (we’re just not into the idea of Jon & Kate-ing ourselves, so we’re happy to remain safely behind our computers- haha). But we wouldn’t be surprised if they pitched the idea to other DIY couples. Sounds interesting! We’ll have to check it out.
xo,
s
Lindsey says
No way! That IS a rip off! You guys are probably way cooler…I’m going to watch just to confirm that theory. Burger’s pose was freaking hilarious…I like weird pet poses as much as you like ceramic animals….those pet emails that get passed around with quotes…awesome.
Jen O says
That show started on HGTV Canada a few years back..every season it’s a new couple, usually with a designer and contractor in hand. Pretty good show… but nothing compared to YHL obvs!
kim says
In Canada the show is in its 3rd season. It a good show and not really like YHL. The idea is a young couple with their first home together, they have a designer that comes in and they do a budget and then do one room per episode. They also either do all the labor themselves (1st and 3rd season) or they have a contractor (2nd season). It’s a good show but not really like this blog were you guys do almost everything yourselves and you do all the sourcing and small projects. The show is more like will their marriage survive a reno.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha that sounds pretty fun actually! We’ll have to set the DVR! Do they seem to get along or is it kinda rocky? I wonder if the show makes it seem dramatic but they’re really just fine. So funny!
xo,
s
chrissielynn says
i stumbled on another blog the other day called YOUNG HOUSE LOVE (@blogspot.com) and found it eerily similar to yours (even some of the decor choices).
i’m sure you’ve been told about it before, but figured if you hadn’t this discussion was the time to bring it up.
you are such a great and talented family i’m sure there are a lot of people hoping to follow in your footsteps.
(ahem, me;)
YoungHouseLove says
Wow that’s crazy! They’re using our exact same name and everything! I can’t seem to find an email address for them, but if anyone does would you please let me know? I’d love to very kindly ask them to change the name of their blog since we have an LLC on it. Yikes! And I’d hate to leave a comment about that…
xo,
s
Laura in LA says
I totally thought that was an elephant trunk at first!
aluck says
Me too!
Laura in VA says
I third the elephant trunk!
Chelsea in Richmond says
Me as well!
Tiffany P says
ME TOO!!
Lisa says
My guess was elephant too!! I thought Burger had turned into a yogi…that looks like a great downward dog.
Alice says
I thought it was an elephant’s trunk also and was hoping it wasn’t life-size!
Michelle says
I also thought elephant trunk but I did consider you might have bought a head from ZGallerie. Close to identical head found here: http://www.zgallerie.com/p-8950-ram-head-1025.aspx
Katie D. says
This is hilarious!
Liz says
Well, different strokes for different folks, right? At least it’s not a snake! That was my guess from the first picture.
Relevant Notes says
I thought it was a snake too… creepy!
Care says
I third the snake.
Roshni says
I thought it was a snake too but I knew you were too smart to think a snake was cool!! :P
Love Burger’s stretches!! If I tried that, I would definitely sprain something!! :D
Kerry says
Definitely thought you’d done something gross. Agreed. Snake came to mind first.
rebecca a. says
Burger looks like he is doing doggie yoga! Too cute. Oh and love your new animal friend too.
lauren says
yes! he looks like he’s coming out of upward dog, 100%. so funny!
Liz says
Oh, and did you know you’re up for a Homey award on Apartment Therapy???
Michelle says
I didn’t know that. I’m going to vote now!
Amanda says
PLEASE DO!
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/the-homies-best-home-design-blog-of-2011-submit-your-nominations-137078
They need to win. WIN BABY WIN. They deserve it the most.
Sherry & John I’m a bit competitive … and apparently your cheerleader today. :)
Liz says
…and you got the second most nominations?
YoungHouseLove says
I know it’s so crazy! We’re just happy to be nominated among such awesome fellow bloggers!
xo,
s
Karrie says
Love the picture of Burger! Looks like he’s doing a few push-ups!! Quite the stretch!
Cathy says
That’s exactly what I thought too! Too cute!
Stephanie Phillips says
You know, there is rehab for people like you. And not the rehab (of houses) that you’re used to…
Very cute! I’d never noticed ceramic animals until I started reading YHL and now I notice them EVERYWHERE.
Darbi says
Yeah, so I have started to inherit your love of white animals. It started with a tiny little white bird…just one. Now we have 3 of those bird! And now every time I see any ceramic animal, I think “oh, you can paint it white!” The BF doesn’t get it; poor guy.
Sarah says
The picture of Burger stretching still looks like the head is on a wall because Burger kind of looks like he is clinging for dear life to climb up something steeeep. Hilarious.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahaahh! I should have posted it sideways. Hysterical.
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Oh noooooo…I had every intention of heading home and cleaning after work and now I may be forced to go on a ram hunt through our local TJMaxx and Marshalls!
LOVE IT!
lisa says
Hahaha. that is too funny. I also thought it was a snake.
Burger looked cute in the background…I know it has nothing to do with this post, but I wanted to ask you about Burger. Well, he is in the picture, so it has a little to do with him…we were thinking of buying a dog one day in the near future…probably a small one. Do you ever have a problem with Burger leaving paw prints in the house/furniture after he comes in from outside? We are worried that that could happen all over our house if we got a dog. How do you keep all of your furniture so clean? Especially your (old) white couch. Thanks for the info!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re always sure to have a few woven door mats (from Ikea) both outside and inside the door where Burger runs in and out. So he has a few spots to knock stuff off his paws. It definitely helps a ton!
xo,
s
Jessica O says
We have 2 dogs & keep an old beach towel folded in our laundry room by the back door. Every time they come in they know the “stop & get all 4 paws wiped” drill we go through. It only takes a couple seconds but it sooo worth it since we allow them to have free reign of the furniture!
Shannon (in VA) says
I second the towel tip, we keep old towels by the back door for our big hound. He insists on being dried off if it is raining when he goes outside, otherwise he will rub his wet fur all over us…fun times.
Emily says
I’ve got two small dogs and they both HATE getting dirty or wet, so we have very little problems with them tracking in dirt or mess. I don’t know if it is a breed characteristic or what. I know other people who say the same about their little ones. One is a dachshund and the other is a chihuahua. Plus we live in Phoenix, so things stay pretty dry here!
Lizzie says
What I find most hilarious is that your shopping spy brought that thing into the dressing room… I wonder if she needed to get a “1” item tag…
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah, that’s true! Hysterical!
xo,
s
Letty says
I thought it was an elephant’s trunk from the first picture. I say you go for it! Ceramic/resin heads over your bed– new slogan??
Lindsey says
[TJ Maxx find + Burger yoga] cracked me up, and made it to the list of the top three things that made my day at work WAY better. The other two were non-virtual and work-related, I’m proud to say.
Ram heads (ceramic or fur) are not my thing, but I have to accept the fact on a daily basis that not everyone shares my infatuation with broccoli like me.
Thanks for the smile,
Lindsey
karen @ our slo house says
In the first photo, it looks like some sort of flatworm or parasite. Ew. I’m so glad it’s a ram, instead.
p.s. Is it weird that I think of you when I see white ceramic animals at stores? (I do.)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, nope. I’m totally flattered. I know I’m weird. I just choose to embrace the weirdness. Haha.
xo,
s
Michelle says
I do too! Actually any time a see a small ceramic animal I think, “Oh, she could just paint it white!” Hilarious! In all honesty, if I had your address I probably would have sent you 15 of them by now.
Ana Silva says
That’s funny. I am the same way now too. If I see something I tell my husband Sherry would love this! And I find myself wanting to start my own little collection…I just have to stop being so cheap! I talk about you guys as if we were friends…weird?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha. Not weird. Awesome.
xo,
s
My Shucking Life says
my first guess was definitely a rattlesnake and i’m thinking….really? you want to display a rattlesnake? hahaha….the ram is a much better choice :)
bridget b. says
i thought of you guys, too, when i first saw ‘marriage under construction’.
the picture of Burger strecthing was cute!
Sherry, just curious, do you know how to drive?
YoungHouseLove says
I have my license and theoretically know how to drive but I got my license at 17 and promptly went off to college in NYC at 18 (without any need for a car at all). Then I lived there nearly 7 years so I didn’t drive for a long time. Let’s just say I feel kind of out of practice, which is why John’s happy to be the driver 99.9% of the time. It just works for us I guess, especially since we’re a one car household anyway.
xo,
s
JennyC says
hi Sherry,
This is an uber late response to a two-day old post but I couldn’t help but be so excited that I found someone else LIKE ME!! I too have had my license for a very long time and have not really ever been a driver… so I do everyone else a favor and stay off the road..hehe…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we’re just doing a solid to society!
xo,
s
dana828 says
Oh man, I am totally going to hit up my TJ Maxx tomorrow in hopes of finding this dude! (Not likely, but you never know). My hubby already hates my big white ceramic owl (Hootie) from Z Gallerie, and I know a rams head would totally send him over the edge! ;)
katie says
Heyyy! I was thinking just the same– I’m going to have to make a TJ Maxx run after work! and PS I got a ceramic owl from Z Gallerie just after the Holidays, and I even scored it 50% off! Sherry I feel your love for the white ceramic animals. I even painted a wooden elephant white recently to go with my collection. My boyfriend thinks I’m weird- he just doesn’t get it!
Steph says
I loved that owl!!! But they don’t ship to Australia so I’m very sad I do not have a white ceramic owl at home :(
Megan @ reFind says
I love that!! In fact, I have been looking at that one at Williams-Sanoma… at a wooping $245 (on sale!!!!) http://www.wshome.com/products/p172/index.cfm?pkey=chome-accents-ceramic-art
Lucky you and your awesome Home Goods find. Now, if only I could hire secret shoppers for me :)
Andrew says
Much more classier than an actual ram head! Though I think Burger stole the post!
Carli says
Too funny… I thought about you sending you an email the other day about these.
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=073768&catId=HOME-HARDWARE&pushId=HOME-HARDWARE&popId=HOME&navAction=top&navCount=42&color=013&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=HOME-HARDWARE-HOOKS
Seems like an appropriate time to let you know about Anthropologie’s ceramic animal hooks. They have an elephant, ram, giraffe, and zebra.
Lindsay L. says
Hahaha puh-lease please please add a psst and post it sideways so it will look like Burger is climbing up the wall. Yeah I totally thought it was an elephant’s trunk. Love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Done! Haha.
xo,
s
Ashley says
Totally thought elephant, too. My friend sent me the link to a white ceramic rhino the other day stating, “this is so yhl.” Haha!
Katie says
I totally get it and love it! My obsession is metal animals (think JunkYard animals). One of my favorites is a giant metal rooster that my Mom gave me for my birthday and it sits on our front porch welcoming people. My husband hates it, but I smile every time I walk in the door.
Corrie says
ha ha ha….looks like Burger is doing doggie yoga:) hilarious!
t says
such a cute puppy!
XOXO,
http://outfitidentifier.com/
Viv says
I loved reading this post. I felt the same glee when I got my ceramic owls from West Elm. They don’t carry it anymore but they do have blackened owls, an owl lamp and a metal squirrel.
Maggie@Cheneyhome says
It could be worse – the husband and I were for some reason watching “Animal Hoarders” last night, which is far more disturbing that hoarding ceramic animals.
Amy says
Unrelated question alert:
Are there gaps in-between the planks of your floors? I have wide plank pine in my living room and I have a hard time sweeping because all the dirt just falls into the cracks. Anybody have some advice for me? pretty please.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes there are tiny gaps but we vacuum them (our vacuum has a setting for hardwoods) which seems to work well so far. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Julie says
I’m going to go ahead and blame you for my recent animal fixation too. It started with a foot tall cute little black iron pig from Homegoods and now includes a fat yellow bird hiding in a table centerpiece and a brown sequin covered squirrel from West Elm.
http://www.westelm.com/products/sequin-animals-a928/
Christa M says
OOOH Sequined animals!!! uh oh….you might have just started a love affair for me!
Stephanie says
I feel the same way about Greek and Roman columns. Gotta have ’em.
Neree says
I thought it was an elephant trunk too. I can’t wait to see where he ends up living!
Sima says
What a great find . Love it!!!!! Me wants one to…It has amazing detail, looks high end and not cheap looking.
Love Burger in the background, my cats stretch like that, it’s cute.
I need to start collecting white/silver ornaments, we are putting up shelves on either side of our TV and I need nice things to put on them. We have Marshalls near us and they sometimes have nice things but TJ Maxx is a bit further out :-( oh well. I saved the photos of the shelves you painted the back of for inspiration. I like how you placed everything on the shelves without it looking overdone.
Melo says
Great find! For you, that is…
I happen to also love white ceramic pieces, but have a golden rule at home: Absolutely no items with eyes. We can’t decorate with items that are “watching you”. Reasoning, you ask? I get the same exact feeling from them than what you get from your kitchen knobs.
…And now that song will play in my head for the rest of the afternoon…
Adrien says
Oh Nina, you enabler. She’s a friend of mine and I can’t tell you how many things I’ve bought because of her. (A good friend to have if you like cool stuff but don’t like having money!)
paper claire says
burger is so cat-like!!!
Reenie says
OMG……first I’m cracking up at Nina ~ taking the Ram into the dressing room to take a photo of him.
Second ~ I really thought he was hanging on your wall. I was thinking what room has those planks on the wall.
Third ~ the pics of Burger…….too cute!!!
Fourth ~ your hubby knows it’s the little things in life that makes you happy. If only more men would realize that ;)
YoungHouseLove says
It really is the little things isn’t it? So true. A ceramic animal every season makes me a happy wife indeed. And a happy wife makes for a happy life!
xo,
s
Lindsey says
haha! Your dog is adorable!
Katie says
Oh, I just adore the new spontaneous blogging style. This post made me laugh so hard at the pic of Burger scaling the wall that my pug came wandering over, assuming only food could make anyone so pleased.
Deena says
You guys are too bloody cute!
Deb says
Burger does “Down Dog”!!!
Megan says
How awesome! My friends and I often text each other pics when we are out shopping and see something that the the other would like, but you’ve stepped it up a notch. You have thousands of friends. Score.
Sami says
It totally looks like Burger is doing push-ups. Might be good for a doggie exercise post on Burger’s blog. LOL
Caitlin L says
Spicy, cheesey santa fe rice went up my nose as I was reading this post, when I saw the picture of the ram and Burger.
It burns!
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry! I blame the dog for being so darn entertaining.
xo,
s
Beth says
OMGosh that is sooo funny!!
Juliana says
I’d probably do yoga more regularly if Burger were my teacher.
YoungHouseLove says
Seriously! Me too!
xo,
s
Laura@JourneyChic says
Love Burger! He’s packed quite a lot of personality into that little body.
I’m not a fan of animal heads, but hey – whatever makes you happy!
Sarah K says
Ahhh! Love this!
Amy says
Awesome! I love the idea of hanging him with other critter heads. We actually have several deer European mounts (horns only with a leather thingy, mounted on wood)from my DH’s great uncle, and I’m itching to spray paint them all white and hang them as a grouping. I’m not sure if he’d let me near them with a spray can, though. I’ll work on that.