Every year we publicly proclaim a few of our resolutions in the hope that it’ll light a fire under our arse (arses?) and help us “get there.” So without further ado (except for this gratuitous Clara picture) here they are…
Resolution #1. To be more bold with our decorating & renovating choices. We want to embrace color and contrast and just have fun without worrying that we’ll mess up. Mistakes are always when we learn the most about a project or our style, so we’re going to welcome them with open arms. And we hope to do our best to resist always going with the “safest” decisions in favor of taking a few chances and diving in with both feet. Wait that doesn’t make sense. Jumping in with both feet? How about cannonballing? Sounds good to us. It probably means there will also be the occasional belly flop, but we’re ok with that too.
Resolution #2. To find balance. We’re going to try our darndest not to fall into the trap of putting all of our time, money, and energy into the house to the point that we have no life, no savings, and Clara is trapped in our casa for her entire childhood. We’d love to remember to plan family trips (we haven’t been on a big vacation since our honeymoon three and a half years ago other than some low key road trips and family beach weeks) and just take time to enjoy visits to the park and the zoo and the occasional meal out. Since the internet is 24/7, sometimes it’s hard to resist working nights, weekends, and even on vacation so we hope to get a handle on that. Now that we have a wee one, some healthy family-friendly balance seems like a good idea.
Resolution #3. To save more money. We’re already pretty frugal (ok, we’re total tightwads) as you can see here, but we’d like to learn more ways to squirrel away cash for a rainy day (or retirement, or the college fund…). For example, we have no idea how to coupon. But now we’d like to learn the act of couponing (but by no means will we take it as far as the people on that TLC special). Yesterday we gave it a whirl and ended up saving $19 at the grocery store. Not bad for two people who had no idea what they were doing. So we’re ready to learn more. From virtually loading our Kroger card with online coupons to buying the Sunday paper for the insert and even printing out online coupons when they’re something we actually buy, we’ll give it a try. And we’ll share how it goes if we happen to get the hang of it.
Resolution #4. To take the people-pleasing thing down a notch. As we mentioned during our blogiversary, “after three years we’ve learned that it’s impossible to please 100% of the people 100% of the time.” Gone are the days when we could write about whatever was happening at our house without someone (usually in the nicest way possible) telling us what to change. Like that we should post less or more, do bigger or smaller projects, share more or less family stuff, do more or fewer mood boards, etc. Basically, if we listened to everyone who told us how to alter YHL for the better, we’d pretty much have to scrap everything. And we might be crazy, but we like how we blog! It has gotten us to where we are today. Over two million hits a month is crazy (ok, mind-blowingly insane) to us.
We actually really enjoy sharing real-time diary-style entries about what’s going on as it occurs (the good, the bad, the ugly, and the average day-in-the-life stuff) along with whatever inspires us – just like we did back in 2007 when this whole adventure started. One week we might be flying along and the next week we may be as slow as molasses – but hey, that’s real life (with real budget constraints, snafus, & timeline challenges). There’s always HGTV for those 30 minute makeovers, so we’re all about the stuff in the middle. In the end, we know that as our blog continues to grow and evolve, some people will like it less while others may enjoy it more. Which is completely ok.
Resolution #5. To teach Clara a few key home improvement and decorating terms. Like “phillips head screwdriver.” And “cohesive.” Can you image how cute a toddler who says things like “keep it cohesive” would be?
Or is that just my sick fantasy? My dad taught me the word “dehydrated” when I was a tiny tot and I’d walk around saying “I’m dehydrated” instead of requesting water or juice like the other kids in daycare. So dramatic. And I can just picture Clara pointing around the room and saying “drywall,” “hardwoods,” and “baseboard” instead of “wall” and “floor.” Could be funny…
Pssst- Check out our weekly photo project featuring the beanette here.
Pssssst- Peep one more (kid related) resolution over on BabyCenter. Any good faux curse suggestions?
Eileen says
Hey Guys,
I’m a total dork, I know, but I was re-reading the blog and then the comments (I totally score new ideas JUST from comments) and I remembered the challenge I read that someone else did back at the beginning of last year. In the short, he bet his sister that he could eat on a dollar a day. He didn’t even had much experience with couponing and doesn’t spend a lot of time on it either, but still was able to do it, and do it well. Just thought you might think it was interesting :)
http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/articles/eating-well-on-1-a-day/
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s pretty amazing! Off to check it out.
xo,
s
Shannon says
I personally love your blog just the way it is!! Sure, I would love a new post everytime I wander by but I know in reality you’re busy actually doing the things you write about, not to mention being parents(I have 3!) and of course doing the things you don’t write about as well! So keep up the good work, I will be here everyday to watch your house morph into your beautiful new home. Happy New Year!
Quinn says
take a look at retailmenot.com when purchasing online, I’ve saved hundreds of dollars through this website. Just enter the website you are purchasing from and there are usually promo codes that people post that you can use.
LuLu says
I LOVE how you blog. Don’t change a thing. Or change whatever you want! And YES take some breaks!!! Take that vacation! We will still be here when you get back, not to mention that travel is good for the soul and good for inspiration in all areas of your lives.
LuLu
Roeshel@the DIY Show Off says
Happy New Year! Looking forward to your new reno-ventures in 2011! :)
Roeshel&Russ
drew says
Get a big 3 ring binder, the plastic sleeves that baseball cards fit in for organizing your coupons and you’re on the way. I’ll hook you up with my daughter if you want a lesson.
Read Megaliving by Robin Sharma for resolution 28.
Attend a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class in your area. Daves’ website will link you to one.
Adina says
Coupons… did you say coupons?!?!
I coupon shop … I dont have 40 years worth of TP … but I o have 2 years worth for my family of 6! In fact I did challanged my self to only spend 3000 bucks in 2010.. thats food, cleaning items, healthy and beauty items, DIAPERS, baby food, dog food.. everything a family of 6 eats and uses … 3000 bucks the whole year, thats only 56ish bucks a week!
AND I DID IT! With 15 bucks to spare! I saved $17,854.87
I recommend http://www.Hotcouponworld.com you guys can totally do this.. And you have Kroger.. which has AWESOME coupon deals!!
Shay says
I love this blog. I recommend it to all kinds of people. Please don’t change anything! And I’m stealing resolution #4.
Mallory says
I save tons of money on groceries sans coupons just by shopping at Aldi! If you have one in your area and haven’t been yet, you MUST check it out. Just make sure you have a quarter for the shopping cart and plenty of reusable grocery bags.
Melissa Breau says
For help on #3 (Save more money) check out thesimpledollar.com – he covers saving money the way you do DIY projects… and has all sorts of ideas from making your own laundry detergent to creating an automatic savings plan to couponing (and the best way to do it). If you’re not already familiar with him, check his site out.
Lauren says
Happy New Year! Someone may have already given you this website, but http://www.southernsavers.com is great for coupon printing! :)
Korinne says
You guys are too cute! In regards to Resolution #4….you guys are awesome! I love that your blog isn’t JUST about your house. We get a sense of who you are. I can literally sit and read your blog each day and invision myself saying the same exact things. It’s amazing how alike people can be…and never even know each other. The Bill Cosby quote is PERFECT! Infact…I’ve been looking for a quote that I wouldn’t get tired of to put up on the wall with some stencils. Thanks to you…I think I’ve found it.
Thanks again….keep on being you….
Rebecca Foxworth says
There are several beginner video classes at http://www.thefrugalfind.com. Julia has set up an entire video series, including episodes on basic couponing, coupon storage (I don’t clip mine until the week I use them), and store-specific strategies. Go. Watch. Enjoy. Coupon!
carly says
I am known as the queen of couponing!I play the game, http://www.thegrocerygame.com and it has literally saved me thousands last year alone! Seriously check it out and if you have any questions let me know!!
leslie says
Yeah, I love all your rsolutions, there is a great coupon class, that I took locally, at thefrugalfind.com and it is FREE. – tell Julia I sent you
glo says
Hey John and Sherry,
We are an “old” couple falling in love with our new home in Georgia!!! I love your blog and ideas! I wanted to share a cool website with you: http://www.southernsavers.com
My daughter shared it with me last summer. Go there and click on the stores where you shop….Target, Kroger,etc.
It will tell you what is on sale, and where to find the coupon (ex Red Plum, Smart Source, Proctor and Gamble newspaper inserts). Target lets you use a manufacterer’s and a Target coupon on same item. So…buy things already on sale, use 2 coupons and sometimes you can get it for free!!! Happy New Year to you all!
glo
michaela says
Happy New Year to you both! (and Clara, too!) I agree with your resolution of not trying to please everyone. Blogging should be fun and done the way YOU like it (: And I happen to love how you blog and what you blog about! Thank you for the inspiration you’ve given all of your readers over the past year. Can’t wait to see what you’ll be up to in 2011 and see how your new house turns out! (:
Jennifer C. says
Great Goals and Great blog! I love the diary style too!
I love couponing and finding deals.
I like http://www.southernsavers.com (we’re in Roanoke, so her deals for Kroger would be similar for you in Richmond)
I also like http://www.moneysavingmom.com
I also recently finished an audiobook called Grocery University found at http://bit.ly/gPqmdw and it’s really helped me learn how to save more with coupons (without overdoing the stockpile!) and organize my couponing better. We eat gluten-free and lots of organic and finally this week I hit the “saved 52%” mark at Kroger. (a big deal for GF!)
There are coupons to be found for produce (few and far between) but they’re out there.
You’d also like http://www.mambosprouts.com They have lots of organic coupons (also gluten-free ones for those interested.)
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Thanks to everyone who is sharing their couponing links and tricks with us!
xo,
s
Lindsey says
For couponing check out Hip2save.com. It is awesome but slightly addicting so be warned!
Mary-Crystal says
Happy New Year to your precious family!! I am a college student from Ohio that has started following your blog! You guys do amazing work and take on some really cool projects! I am actually engaged, so seeing you guys put up cheap house decorating tips is awesome (and I hope to refer back to some of your stuff when I have my own house some day)! And you said earlier in this post that one of your resolutions was to figure out how to coupon. Once you get it figured out, I would love to know what you suggest. Being that I’m in college, I try to save money in any way I can! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Brandy says
I check your blog daily. I just love your ideas and inspiration. Lovely goals for 2011. I have some of my own listed here: http://www.brandyharman.com/2010/12/2011-goals.html
Cheers!!
Allison @ House of Hepworths says
Thanks for the link to the TLC show. I’ve set my TiVo and I’m not missing it!!!
Also, you get so many comments on every post you write. Do you actually read them all?
xoxo
Allison @ House of Hepworths
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Allison,
Not only do we read them all, we approve them all manually. That way we’re sure that we don’t miss a question! We love all of our commenters. You guys are like sunshine on a cloudy day.
xo,
s
Stephanie M. says
Here is another great website for couponing. I did it for a couple years but by then I had learned to do it myself and didn’t really need the help they provide. http://www.thegrocerygame.com/
I also get coupons from Coupons.com and print them off. Happy Couponing!
Crystal says
Gratuitous pictures of our children is what we do as parents…LOL. (My little person’s pictures have slipped into power-point presentations…always in really necessary ways of course…)
Keep on blogging just the way you want – it’s your life after all and we all enjoy reading about it! =)
Andrea says
Just wanted to give you a high five for this post. :) Love reading your blog! Best wishes for 2011. Thanks for sharing!
Carmel @ our fifth house says
I started couponing back in July of 2010 when a friend turned me on to http://www.southernsavers.com/. I save an average of $50 to $60 a week, and I haven’t given up my organic purchases (milk, meats, and produce). That website is awesome- so great for newbie couponers. Easy to understand and start applying right away. That site is a one-stop shop (kind of like your blog for home decor) – you can find links to all the printable and downloadable coupon sites from that site.
Happy Couponing!
Dayna says
Happy New year! Your blog is awesome. As for the people pleasing aspect and comments you get and color infusion, etc. I understand that; but this is YOUR blog and it is great! I have said this here before, but what I love is that there is no snark! I recently unsubscribed to a blog because it was so snarky. Even though I loved the projects and design images, etc., all of the writing was infused with not-so-nice sarcasm more often than not. Thank you for all of your wonderful DIY ideas and overall classy, wonderful writing. Your style is terrific and I can’t wait to see what you do with this new house!
Ann says
#4- Love your blog, you don’t need to change a thing! Love your new house too and can’t wait to see the changes! Happy New Year!
Jen says
These are good resolutions, IMO. So how are you going about teaching Clara the terms? Flashcards? A custom mobile above the crib? ;)
Good luck with the, well, working less thing. I work from home and other than cooking, cleaning, my toilette, and walking the dog, I work 24-7-365! It needs to stop here, too. I’ve many books that are begging to be read, so that’s my impetus/reward.
Happy new year!
Karena says
Your site is wonderful and I promise I will visit more often! Love your inspiration!
Happy New Years!
Xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Katy says
John & Sherry,
I can’t even remember what it was you used to say ‘all the time’…some very cute expression, Sherry…I just wanted to encourage you both to keep on being true to yourselves! You rock just the way you are. I’ve found myself thinking, I kind of miss that old expression…even though I can’t quite put my finger on it….!
Happy 2011 to your family! Thanks for sharing & encouraging the rest of us!
nikki says
nothing is cuter than what comes out of the mouths of babes! my grandfather was a contractor and he taught me at a very young age, ” righty tight-y, lefty loose-y.” my mom always got a kick out of that (and it’s still very useful)!
Tijana says
I really hope #5 happens.. that would be pretty hilarious.
Happy New Year Youngsters, baba Clara and Burger!
Katy B says
Clara is crazy cute…that’s all I have to say.
Shannon says
I have a question about the frosted window. I have 3 windows in my second-story bedroom. One faces the backyard but the other 2 face my neighbor’s house, which is quite unattractive, and fairly close. Actually, their garage(also unattractive) is close and their house is on the other side of it so it’s not really a privacy thing, more of a view thing. We just moved in and I do plan on hanging up curtains but I like to have the window unblocked for the natural light. Would it be okay to frost those windows? Should I do all 3 to keep it consistent? Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, you can frost only the windows with views that you want to obscure or you can do them all to keep them consistent. One way to get away without frosting all of them but still keep them looking cohesive could be to hang the same roman shades or blinds or curtains on all the windows just for looks and to soften the room. That way if some windows are frosted while others aren’t, the window treatments will visually tie them together so the space hopefully looks balanced and it all makes sense. Good luck!
xo,
s
Jessica says
Another fan chiming in as a “happy customer”! Keep up the good work on the blog — love it just the way it is.
And I’d like to give a “thanks” to Jennifer C. on the link to mambosprouts and encouragement that couponing can still be done while eating primarily organic. I have made many an attempt at couponing only to find there aren’t any for the items we actually buy and eat — I guess I need to look beyond the newspaper inserts. It’s a good reminder that an intention to coupon and to eat mostly organic “real” food aren’t mutually exclusive. If anyone knows of ways to coupon while eating from mostly local sources, I’d be happy to hear it!
Lisa says
Happy New Year! I look forward to your coupon adventures! I love to save money w/ coupons & follow these blogs to help: (they have lots of good tips & links to printable coupons)-
http://www.moneysavingmom.com
http://www.organicdeals.com
http://www.savingnaturally.com
good luck & keep us posted!
Destiny says
First, I like any post that includes a picture of Sweet Clara (The girl is down right adorable!) and secondly … don’t go changing to try and please me. I like you just the way you are!
Be true to you and yours!
Seriously, I’ve learned a lot from you and have been entertained too. My son even made the painted glasses craft you shared for his Dad for Christmas and they are now treasures and will become even more so as the years go by. (I’m going to email you a picture since I don’t have a blog.)
Kacie J says
If you are looking into start couponing, I highly recommend a site call thegrocerygame.com. I’ve been couponing for a few years (not crazy like the TLC show) but stock piling enough for my husband and I to eat great food an never pay full price. Thegrocerygame.com matches the coupons from the Sunday paper with the sales and lets you know when things are the cheapest so you buy what you need to make it through a few weeks. If you want to know more about it just shoot me an e-mail I’d love to explain it!! Using that site, I saved $5000 and only spent $2500 last year.
Theresa says
Love resolution number 4…absolutely true!!! You can’t make everyone happy, and EVERYONE has an opinion!!!
Heather St. Jacques says
Good Luck on Couponing!!!! I just began couponing this year and I love it! Two sites I might suggest that help me out alot alot alot are http://www.southernsavers.com and http://www.thegrocerygame.com. The grocery game you have to pay for but it takes away the hassle of figuring out things. It is just my husband and I but I would say we save about $100 a month just because I coupon…and yes I do buy the sunday paper! Good luck!
bethany says
Seriously…if I heard a baby saying “keep it cohesive,” I would die laughing. Please make this happen! haha
Pink Sun Drops says
It’s probably staring me right in the face, but would you please kindly post the link to the post on decorating with your spouse? I can’t seem to find it anywhere and I would love to credit you and specifically that post on my husband’s and I very first decorating venture that I’m so very excited about!
YoungHouseLove says
Here ya go! https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/03/email-answer-have-husband-will-decorate/
For future reference there’s a link to it in our Lovey Dovey Stuff category on our Projects page. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Bethany says
haha I just love the idea of a toddler saying ‘dehydrated’ or ‘phillips screw driver’. HAPPY 2011!
-Real Housewives of PwCounty (VA)
Tania says
Hey, Couponing is great! We gave it a whirl a couple of years ago to see what we could save…it was pretty crazy, we got a our grocery budget from 300 dollars down to 100 dollars a month. I now use much nicer toiletry items then before because I get them all for free!! It is great to save money but also to donate to needy families.
MelissaOklahoma says
Happy New Year! Great resolutions! And although I’m super excited about seeing what you guys have in store for the new digs, my favorite resolution you listed is #2! Vacation is probably one of my most favorite things in life, and even if you don’t share your entire vacation there are enough people around here who would enjoy seeing a personal side (like a few vacation photos) from time to time!
cyn says
Thank you so much for the amazing blog and great inspiration! My husband and I are moving into a ranch in two weeks and you guys have showed me how awesome a ranch an older home can be!
Mar says
if you need any help couponing let me know.
I’ve take our grovery bill including grocerys, toleit paper, tooth brushs, laundry soap, (that I know make home made only cost $13 to make and last almost a year!)birthday present, christmas presents from $700 to $800 a month for a family of 5 to $90.
Pink Sun Drops says
Thank you, thank you! I referenced your Lovey Dovey section in addition to the link so other people can easily find helpful couple decorating information :) .
Kara says
Your resolutions look great! I’ve just started reading your blog in the past month or so and it’s been really inspiring to me in making baby steps on renovations and improvements around our house. Thanks! I’m not sure if someone else has mentioned this – but check out http://savingnaturally.com/ for lots of natural/organic coupons and deals.