One of my favorite things about blogging is keeping it real. Even around the new year when the whole “be the perfect person/wife/family” voices can kick in, I try to fight the good fight and remember that authentic = awesome. And perfect = most likely impossible. So if our house is a mess I’ll make a video to prove it (without even putting my bra away first). If we don’t know how the heck to tackle a project, we’ll admit it (like this). If we fail miserably at an undertaking, we’ll blog alllll about it (like this and this, just to name a few).
We actually love being a DIY diary that’s literally about the good, the bad, and the ugly – because a blog that’s only about the good kind of feels like it’s only telling half of the story. We’re just regular folks attempting to do regular DIY things with a real-person budget while learning as we go. We don’t have any formal training. Five years ago we painted all of our trim the wrong finish, didn’t own a power drill, and our house looked like this:
When we started this blog we were literally DIY beginners, just trying to figure out how to hang curtains and get a good deal on appliances. And although we’ve slowly gained some hands-on experience over the last 4+ years of this blogging thing, I thought I’d start the year (January 17th is still sort of the beginning of the year, right?) by saying a bunch of things out loud to the internet at large that might surprise you. Or maybe not if you really know me.
#1. I don’t have the perfect marriage. It’s amazing how many people ask if John and I ever fight. Is it possible to be married to someone for nearly five years and not fight? Dude, we fight like the best of them! Not loudly in front of Clara, but we definitely can get into it. We’re individuals. Individuals who love each other, but we definitely each have conviction and strong willed tendencies (hello, I’m Italian and from New Jersey). And those convictions and strong willed tendencies can definitely lead to heated discussions, adamant disagreements, and full blown arguments (about anything from a parenting decision to a home improvement snafu). We’re a pretty normal couple I think. We love each other like crazy, but sometimes in the stress of renovating or raising a toddler the moment gets the best of us and we snap. But when we do, we try to remind ourselves that we’re in this together. We both have the same goals (a healthy and well adjusted daughter, and beautiful and safe home, to make each other happy, etc). We’re a team. A sometimes dysfunctional or crabby team, but a team none the less.
#2. I don’t have the perfect child. Sure, there are amazing things about Clara, like how good of a night sleeper she is and how much she loves singing and dancing (and eating funny things like hummus and pickles). But as anyone else who has a 20 month old kid can attest – they’re not all sunshine and roses. Clara cries, teethes, gets mad, throws food, rips magazines, has tantrums, and does all those other things that toddlers do. So yeah, I deal with the same “oh man, she’s sick” or “ack, she’s screaming” or “ohemgee she just threw up an entire pumpkin muffin all over the car seat” issues that every other mom deals with. And let’s not talk about my labor (scariest day of my life) or the 14 months of breastfeeding (I loved it, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it took work, energy, and dedication – especially when I was painting and DIYing between those feedings). It’s a good thing she’s totally worth it. I love that bean to pieces. She’s not perfect, but she’s perfect for us.
#3. I make design mistakes (and life mistakes) – all the time! Our rooms and our lives are in a constant state of flux (our first house took us 4.5 years to finish, and we’ve only been here a little over a year) – so sometimes we’re still feeling around in the dark and we make the wrong call. And later we see the light and say “umm, what were we thinking?!” and course correct. I think the key to recovering from mistakes in general (decor-related or otherwise) is not to be married to that mistake. And to attempt to right your wrong. Say you buy the wrong sized rug but don’t realize it for a while (like we did in our living room). Once time passed and we figured out what could be improved, we decided to reuse the old one in another room (or craigslist it) and save our pennies to upgrade it. That approach helped us (and the room) move forward. If we ever become frozen in fear of a mistake that we’ve made (or the fear that we’ll make one) that’s when a room stagnates. We’d never get past decorating mistakes (or life mistakes) if we didn’t learn/adapt/evolve along the way. Our goal is for our house (and ourselves) to always be changing and growing. No freezing in place allowed. Because you usually can’t get around a life obstacle or a DIY debacle if you’re just stuck there standing still.
#4. I’m awkward and probably less cute, stylish, or “put together” than you think. I have paint in my hair and under my nails 24/7 (well, this week it’s grout). My shirts are all stretched out from breastfeeding (yup, still haven’t replaced those). I am covered in dog fur and/or accidentally sporting some smear of jelly/cream cheese/humus five days out of seven. Seriously. Someone chime in here who has met us. We get comments like “I’d freak out and embarrass myself if I ever met you” but I’ve got you covered. I won’t even notice you freaking out over my intense weirdness. Once I spun around at Target and screamed “Chiiiiiistmas stuff is already out!!!” while holding two wooden trees up to my face like Cindy Lou Who to John. But it wasn’t John. It was this woman I’d never seen before standing there staring at me with a baby in her cart. So I tried to smile and quietly make my way to another aisle and she said “Oh my gosh I love your blog” …. and I nearly died of embarrassment. Not only had I been “that crazy person” in front of a stranger, it was someone who “knows” me. So I stuttered and tried to talk about her cute baby and then John and Clara came to my rescue and I stumbled away while mentally kicking myself in the face. Yup, I’m that awkward.
#5. Sometimes I get nervous and insecure about our future. Not gonna lie, being a “small business” (and even more random than that, being a “professional blogger”) is hardly a job with health insurance and a 401K (more on that here and here). We just try to have faith that we’ll end up somewhere ok since we never thought we’d be here five years ago… and here we are. Sure it helps that we saved up a just-in-case cushion (to keep us afloat for 6-9 months) before John left his day job when Clara was born, but I’d be lying if I didn’t shout “yes – we get nervous and uncertain and insecure about what lies ahead sometimes!”
#6. I roll my eyes at myself. I get it. I really do. I am fully aware that I’m obnoxiously enthusiastic. My blog puns often make me gag a little. I’m the less cool version of that adorkable Zooey Deschanel. You know, without the good hair and the great voice and the comedic timing. I’m her half sister Gooey or something. So although my sunny demeanor might make you want to stick a spork in my eye, know that I’m fully aware that I’m annoying – and sometimes I try to rein it in – but I usually just let my freak flag fly. Why? I figure that blogging is all about being yourself and owning it and sharing your life in an authentic way. So I’m not reserved and cool and collected and refined. I’m hyper and giddy and nutty and weird. And 4+ years later that formula just works for us. So gosh darn it, I might call presents “prezzies” or make a crack joke. That’s just how $herdog rolls.
#7. My house is usually a disaster. At any given time, our frame wall might look like this…
… but our sunroom probably looks like this…
There’s always at least one giant pile of something-to-be-sorted somewhere. And don’t even get me started on the playroom. That room is out of control.
So I guess the point of all that soul baring is to assure you that I most definitely do not have it all figured out. I’m just a chick from New Jersey who started a blog who sometimes forgets to take her contacts out at night (I know, I’m so bad). I’m that gal who discovers that I have strawberry cream cheese inexplicably smeared all over the left side of my ear in line at Target. True story. I don’t know it all, and I don’t have it all, and I’m so thankful to be right where I am. Perfection is kinda overrated anyway, right? I’m many things, but most of all: I’m a work in progress. Kinda like our house.
Jodie says
Love honesty! #1 had me tearing up a bit. Marriage is one of the hardest things you will do (next to parenting) and will take work but in the end worth it when you have your best bud with you. When you think you are the only ones that argue and fight you end up finding out your not. I’m Italian, my E is from New Jersey so the combo can be somewhat fierce at times =) Such a great post!
Carly G. says
Thanks for sharing $herdog :) Love you just the way you are! You are awesome sauce!
Raina@ Mamacita Spins The Globe says
I’m pretty sure that one of the reasons your blog is so popular is because you guys are real people. Your readers can identify with you (I too have discovered weird sticky spots on my clothing while out in public). Keep on keeping it real :)
Erin says
Sherry! This post ws so amazingly refreshing! It’s great to know that you’re a “real family”. Thank you for your commitment to authenticity.
Jessica G says
oh geez. please don’t approve this if my first one got sent. chrome closed and said it couldn’t connect, so i rewrote.
thanks for the soul-bearing. this made me a) less worried about how awkward i was in HomeGoods now that you had the Target interaction, b)laugh out loud because my husband and i watch New Girl and he goes, “that’s funny…she reminds me of this girl i know who [insert something embarrassing i did in a sing-song voice]”…and our names are both Jess. it’s ridiculous. funny/embarrassing moment today? when 2nd graders go, “we get to DRAWWWW PICTUUUUUURES” because i sing-song so much they are now copying me. so funny. so embarrassing. happy new year!
Ashley says
What a beautiful post Sherry!
First time commenter here, but I must say… you and your fabulously wonderful family inspire me every day. I, too, struggle with the perfect-is-best mantra. And find myself “wishing” I had your life [among others in the blogosphere], yet constantly reminding myself that my life is mine. A work in progress, yet perfectly imperfect. So, THANK YOU!
Also, a shout out to Clara… I am an occupational therapist [and left handed] and that girl has the PERFECT crayon grasp. Keep up the good work Clara! Left handers unite!
Double shout out to you and John… I work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. THANK YOU for your yearly contribution and believing in our mission! You are donating to a wonderful cause! xo
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Ashley! You guys are so sweet. $herdog is blushing.
xo,
s
Jen says
Thanks for reminding us that we all are human! I find it hard at times to put things into perspective when everyone I know has awesome status updates on facebook, but I’ve had a nasty nasty day.
I love reading your blog FOR the funny blog puns and the crazy funny antics! Don’t ever change :)
Thanks for being you! (Wow…creepy much?!)
Chassidy says
I love that you wrote this post. It’s easy for us to look at pictures of your adorable living room and your cute little family and think, “oh their live is so perfect.” But it’s kind of the same thing when I crop my arm out of a picture because it looks a little chubby; When you only “know” someone online, it’s easy to only see what they show you.
bridget b. says
Clara has tantrums?! {gasps} ;-)
we love you guys just the way you are!
Meredith says
I SO needed this today. It made me tear up. I must say, I frequently hold you up in my head as a “there’s someone who has got it all together and who I should aspire to be like” and it’s reassuring to hear that you are human, too. I’m the same age as you guys and am single and I rent, and sometimes I feel “behind”. But I totally take for granted my 401(K) and job security and law degree. Thank you for being here and being 100% authentically you!
Mauresa says
It is just down right strange that you wrote this post today because before sat down to read it, I had the following conversation with myself. “You know what I don’t like about blogging? It’s like reality TV. It’s fake. You can edit whatever you want! In blogging land it seems that everyone’s making their own cleaning products, saving tons of money from all those couponing sites they know about, and serving a gourmet dinner to their perfect family all while sporting a cute outfit and great hair.” Yep. That was my conversation…and then I read your post today. Thanks for keeping it real! You made me smile, feel better about myself, and the wonderful world of blogging! :)
Katie @ Newcomb Home says
Sherry – this is why you guys are so successful. Because we all just want to be your BFF, not poke you in the eye! I SO appreciate your honesty. Its what keeps me coming back to YHL every day! Also, I’m totally going to try and find you at the Portland Home and Garden show so you’ll know that there is someone else out there as (not at all annoyingly) enthusiastic as you :)
Bre says
Can I just say that your #4 made me laugh so hard I had to read it again just to get it all! (still chuckling btw) I totally feel ya on that ONE! and your #6 is so honest it humbled me, because I A.) like to appear that I have everything all together, and clearly I don’t, and B.) that’s ok, because my husband loves me anyways! SO continue on just being you, you have a fantastic support system. Also while we are being honest. Your blog was what inspired me to start my own. Out of all the fantastic, lovely, inspiring blogs, when it comes down to the bottom line, it was you guys :) Thanks for the continued inspiration you daily provide (don’t know how you do that one!) and I think you guys are pretty great! Be blessed!
Anna says
Love this post! So cute – all the things you talk about are the very things that endear you to your readers. :D
Kate says
Thanks, $herdog :) As both a blogger and an intensely private person (oxymoron, I know), I have trouble finding a comfortable balance in my writing between sharing my life and keeping it “mine.” I really admire how open you are, and I love reading about your DIY trials and tribulations. Thanks for keeping it real!
Samanta C says
Loved this post. Thanks for sharing :)
whitney says
Thanks for keeping it real $herdog! (Haha!) Part of what makes it so fun to read y’alls blog is that you’re genuine. So keep it coming – weird or not :)
Katy D. says
I know how you feel about being awkward! I fixture stuff all the time. I once walked up to a guy in Hobby Lobby and said/yelled ‘Tim! How are you and why didn’t you tell me you were in town!!!’ and the guy said… ‘Uh…My name is Ryan.’ I said ‘Well…nice to meet you.’ and then straight arm ran(you know, like the episode of Seinfeld with the lady who doesn’t move her arms when she walks) out of there so fast. Turns out it wasn’t my friend Tim…who, by the way would NEVER be caught dead in a Hobby Lobby. Awkward.
Katy D. says
*I do stuff like that all the time
Stupid autocorrect
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- I knew what you meant.
xo,
s
Michelle says
I have always loved your blog. But that post just made me love it even more. I’m a mom of a 21 month old and although I knew your little girl and your life couldn’t be perfect…sometimes it’s just nice to actually hear about the moments behind the amazing DIY’s, decorating, and beautiful toddler! :)
You do amazing things and honestly this is probably my favorite post I have seen in a long time!
Congrats on all your success and future excitement!
Shanna says
My question is do you call sandwiches ‘sammies’, ‘sandoozles’ or ‘Adam Sandlers’ or forks ‘food rakes’? (apologies if you’re not a Parks and Rec. fan…)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- best combined sentences ever. I love P&R so much.
xo,
s
Jill says
$herdog, you’re awesome!
Cindy W. says
Ohmygosh, that awkward Target story was the funniest ever. Ever. That is definitely something that would happen to me. Probably has and I’ve blocked it out… I love how $herdog rolls.
xo
P.S. Not sure why, but an ad for the smallish company I work for is showing up on your blog right this minute. I’m probably being monitored. haha
McKayla says
Love it! We are in the midst of renovating our first home (built in 1942 = lots of work) with a husband, 2 jobs, toddler, and a baby on the way! I found your blog a little over a year ago (I used to read it on my phone during late night nursing sessions for baby #1) and have loved it since! Thanks for keeping it real!!
Kara says
Seriously, this is my favorite blog post on Young House Love EVER!!! Thanks for keeping it real with us. :)
kathy says
and those are the reasons I come back day after day to read the blog… I can’t tell you guys how much I appreciate that you keep it real!
Katie says
Thanks for this post! I love that you keep it real. And the pictures of your sunroom and playroom made me feel a lot better about my office, which desperately needs to be organized :)
Natalie Muurisepp says
This post made me want to run into you and the fam in Target even more some day :)
I will share the title that I have asked all people to refer to me as (well I mean I made the request in a FB status, but didn’t get any Christmas cards addressed this way) = Adorkable!
<3
Bindswa says
What a great post! I just started a blog (three posts in! Yay!) and it’s nice to hear from someone so successful that it’s not all sunshine and lollipops. That inspires me more than all the perfection I see out there! Time to get started on post number 4…… Thanks!
Stephanie says
This is great! I love when bloggers do this. A dash of real now and then makes everyone feel like they aren’t alone in this crazy child vomitting world. I think blogging has become an extension of tv-everyone has this perfect fun filled life and we are all alone in an unorganized child screaming fear filled world. Thankfully we are all in the same boat. Thanks for sharing (especially the christmas story.hilarious.
Debbie C says
Oh Gooey! We love you just the way you are (sing along here). :) Thanks for sharing the real deal. I can relate to you with the stretched out shirts and random spit-up stains all over my shoulders. And I even leave the house in said clothing when changing it is too much of a hassle. I am learning too that perfection is overrated, and trying to learn to keep moving and not freeze in place (thanks for that great advice).
Cait says
Honestly, though, I think that the imperfections and normalcy that you guys show is what draws people to you. It’s no fun reading about perfect homes and people who already know how to do everything because then there is no explanation on a level that someone who DOESN’T have the experience understands. I say, keep up the good work! The rest of us that have no idea what we’re doing appreciate the company!
Christa M says
Awesome post $herdog! BTW I don’t find your over-enthusiasm annoying AT ALL!! But being the same way (And from Jersey!), I know how you can feel others finding it annoying…but I find that most people really do like it and want to be around it….I’ve been told I bring the sunshine on many occasion and I can bet you’ve been told the same. Keep on being authentic…it’s definitely one of the things that keeps me coming back! I hope Clara gets that trait too!
Goof Balls unite!
Kalyn Mace-Guilloux says
Sherry, I love your authenticity here and in your entire blog. I am sure it is nerve racking to have people read things about you and criticize (which is a pet peeve, but anyway) and I think this goes far to show you are HUMAN. :) I think we should be friends in real life! ;)
Loved reading Clara’s birth story-had never read that before. All baby’s are miracles and that story explains why! Bundles of joy, indeed. Thanks for sharing it all!
Sarah F says
If you were perfect I wouldn’t be able to stomach your blog! Gimmie reality, baby! I can relate to that!
Keep doing what you’re doing. You three have got this down.
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
Awhh…we’re ALL just a work in progress, aren’t we? Nobody’s perfect! And if they claim to be, I care not to know them! Thanks for keepin’ it real :-)
Allyn says
Ah, the adorkable Gooey!
But seriously, thanks for always keeping your nerdy puns and human moments out there for us all to see. There are a lot of bloggers are there that I stop following because even their “real” moments are so contrived and self serving that it makes my skin crawl.
I wouldn’t have be following you guys since 2008 if I didn’t feel a commonality with the real you!
Tonya@mycozylittlefarmhouse says
The Adorkable Gooey, bahahahaha. That should so be the title of a kids book. Like Diary of a Wimpy kid. only dorkier…
Joy Franks says
One of your cutest posts. “Gooey”, I love that!! That will make me smile for a long time!
Meaghan says
What a sweet blog post. I think you are pretty adorable and I appreciate you “keeping it real” $herdog! :)
Carla says
I find you very inspiring yet humble and I think that’s what makes your little family so appealing – Well said, Sherry!
Silke says
Sherry, love, you are fantastic. I love you for this post!
Things often look so perfect in your blog, so it’s kinda relieving to hear that the Petersiks are just a normal family, too… ;-) No, seriously. I appreciate how you share your daily life with us, and admire your courage to make a business out of your diy-ing and blogging.
It’s fun to keep up with what you’re doing and to see how little Clara grows up. I’ve learnt an awful lot just from reading your blog, so yeah – I’m prepared when the day comes when we finally buy our first house. You inspire me both in terms of decoration of our current home (I have got a lot more courageous with colours recently!) and in terms of daily life – aiming at not being too perfect, but having a great time even if sometimes things look a bit messy.
Keep it up! Love from Germany.
Jessaca says
Thanks for being honest. Sometimes I do wonder how you two are so driven. I want to be that driven, but with an almost 11 month old, I just don’t know where I fit in the time to create like you two have. Keep up the good work! You’re definitely inspiring!
Ashley @ sunnysideshlee.com says
I wish I could meet you…we could have an awkward encounter together! I spotted Yellow Brick House at a dog beach in Chicago once and totally went the other way out of embarassment … AWK-WARD :P
Karen says
I can’t tell you how many blogs I’ve followed & left after awhile for stale/boring/lost focus/etc reasons… but after a couple+ years of regular checking in, I’m still here. And I’m not alone. That should tell you something about how much people relate to you, warts & all. (Cue corny Billy Joel tune now)
Thanks for keeping me inspired to keep on tackling the mountain of projects that is a home, and being honest about the stinky parts.
jessica says
You are GREAT!
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
Bahaha, cream cheese in the ear. That’s how you know you’re a mom. When you don’t realize you have slimy hand prints on your stomach and boobs until you’re in the store. (True story). I think you did a wonderful job explaining everything. Thank you so much for the reminder that you’re NOT perfect. I still think Clara is a genius. I have a son a couple of months older and I’m always jealous that Clara is so talkative. Maybe because she’s a girl… Either way, you’re doing great, both blogging and with Clara. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- slimy hand prints on our boobs. I’m dying. Hilarious.
xo,
s
Tonya S says
I love this! I’m pretty weird myself, most people do not understand my strange humor! It’s weird, I kinda feel so much more motivated now! Holla!
Colleen says
I love that you’re down-to-earth and that you do not take yourself too seriously. You’re perfect being imperfect and that’s part of what keeps this blog interesting, amongst a lot of other things too…. lol.
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
I’m constantly reading because of how real you are! Thanks for keeping it real!
Hesper says
The more awkward and real, the better. We still all want to be your best friend! lol
Carla says
As many of comments above say, this keeping-it-real deal it’s what keeps me coming back. And perfection is totally overrated, you’re doing just fine, chica. ;)