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 and very much in-progress pic of the cabinet doors being primed)…
… here they are:
Resolution #1 – To Get Around: We’re excited for 2012 to be a good travel year for us, since we have been invited to speak at the Portland Home & Garden Show in February (really? us?) and at the Haven Conference in Atlanta in June (we’re the keynote speakers, which makes us excited and nauseous all at the same time). So we’ll hopefully get to meet a lot of you guys at those events. And when our book comes out this fall we hope to get to do some touring just to thank as many of you for reading our blog right to your face as possible. You know and be awkward and blushy and say things like “that’s so weet of sou” instead of “that’s so sweet of you.” True story.
Resolution #2 – To Make Our Archives Easier To Navigate: With 2,000+ posts that have been written over 4+ years, we completely understand how hard it is to find things, especially all of the projects that get buried as we go! So we’d love to revamp our Projects page with photos and easier to use archival systems. You know we like to DIY things, so that means learning some coding stuff as we go. Should be fun…
Resolution #3 -To Find More Balance: This guy’s a repeat because we haven’t conquered it since declaring it last year. We mentioned that “since the internet is 24/7, and we work from home, sometimes it’s hard to resist working nights, weekends, and even on vacation, so we hope to get a handle on that.” Especially with Clara around, some healthy family-friendly balance seems like a good idea. Here’s hoping 2012 is the year that we get it down!
Resolution #4 – To teach Clara how to prime & paint: Ok, maybe that’s not very age appropriate, but at least let me teach the girl how to caulk. Kidding again. Hmm, maybe we can show her how to peel painter’s tape? Seems like something she’d love! This resolution is just about keeping Clara involved and hopefully raising a little DIY lover like ourselves. I mean, we won’t force it on her, but including her in some toddler-friendly projects or steps could be fun for the whole fam. The girl does love her tape measure (more on that here), so we’re off to a good start…
Resolution #5 – Simplify, simplify, simplify! Sometimes it seems like we should say yes to every opportunity (why not?) or try to tackle ten projects at a time (gung-ho!) but we’ve learned that keeping things simple and staying focused on one task at a time might just be the key to sanity. So we have to fight that “little voice” that pushes us to do more/attempt to be super-human/cater to everyone else. Just sharing whatever’s going on in our little world is what got us here (over four million hits a month is both humbling and mind-blowing). So we have to fight the urge to keep piling more on our plate or attempting to please everyone on the planet. This is just a good old fashioned DIY diary. And simple = a beautiful thing.
Who’s ready for 2012? What are your resolutions? I’d love to hear what you guys would like to accomplish this year (either in list form like ours or just a sentence or two about whatever you plan to focus on). Do you have any personal resolutions going on? I’d love to drink more water, eat more veggies, read more books, and get back into painting (on paper and canvas – since I have wall and cabinet painting covered already). Oh yeah and to Netflix Homeland since so many people have recommended it. Is that resolution-worthy? From what I hear, it is.
Psst- We’re over on BabyCenter sharing a cute handmade-with-love nursery that’s gender neutral, modestly sized, and packed with DIY ideas! Check it all out here.
Ironically, my resolution is to get off home-improvement blogs and actually DO the things on my own that I want to do. Maybe if I deprive myself of some YHL, I’ll get that bedroom painted just so I can get back on!
Haha- we’re rooting for you!
xo
s
I vote Portland, Maine. The other, not as cool (from what I’ve heard) but significantly closer to me Portland with tasty delicious food.
wow – I definitely replied to the Portland thread, not sure why it’s on this haha.
Weird! No idea how that happened!
xo,
s
hahaha thats too funny. That should be my resolution too. I just drool over others work on YHL! smh… :)
Super excited to hear you’re hoping to do a little book tour! Come to Florida!!
Agreed! Pensacola has nice beaches, so come here!
We’d love to!
xo,
s
Sweet! Portland? That’s where I’m at…that would be so fun to go! Happy New Year!
Yes, we can’t wait! We hear so many awesome things about Portland!
xo,
s
Which Portland…there are 2, ya know!!!
Haha, Portland OR!
xo,
s
I’m in Portland, too! You’ll have to keep us in the know about when and where you’ll be. I’d take a day off of work to come say hi! And make ya feel awkward and stuff!! Bring your rain jacket :-)
Haha- sounds like a good time!
xo,
s
You’ll love it here in Portland (OR-i-gun that is). Let us Portlandia readers know if you need fun ideas of things to do, kids activities, restaurant recommendations, etc.
Sounds like a plan! Thanks so much Scotti!
xo,
s
Yaaaaaaaaayyyyy! I live in Eugene (2 hours south). My New Years resolution is definitely to go see you guys in Portland!
Aw that’s so sweet Liz! So excited!
xo,
s
Woo-hoo – this Portlander is very excited you’ll be out our way this year! I am sure that your northwest readers will have approximately half a bazillion recommendations for things to do, see and eat in our beautiful neck of the woods, so prepare to be overwhelmed with suggestions. But it really is a fabulous area, so try to book some extra time for fun while you’re here.
Yay! I’m stoked you guys are coming to Portland! If we (Oregonian fans and followers) hosted a welcome gathering of some sort for you, would you even have time in your schedule to attend?!
Aw that’s so sweet of you! We think we’re just going to be there for the day of our event but there are some meet and greet things that we’re doing at the Home & Garden show, so we’d loooove to see ya there!
xo,
s
Haha! I’m sure Clara will be begging to help Mommy and Daddy before you know it! 2012 is going to be crazy for us! Buying a house and fixing it up, celebrating our 1 yr. anniversary and taking trips. I cant wait!
Watch Homeland for sure!! So good! I’m trying to read one non-fiction book a month… usually I only read novels!
My main new year’s resolutions are to learn how to drive (gah! I’m 26, it’s stupid) and to spend more time with my family.
I also want to plan my wedding without going crazy about it, make something out of wood and sew a crib quilt for my niece who is due in May. (Yay! May babies!)
I’m almost 30 and haven’t driven since I was 18 and just got my license! Then I went off to college in NYC where no one drives and lived there 6 years and moved to VA where John and I got one car to share since I worked at home… and haven’t really driven at all in the past 5 years here! But I have promised John to get back into it before we have another kiddo because we’ll probably need me to be more comfortable driving kids around and it might be nice to divide and conquer sometimes. We can do it Annabelvita! Keep me posted on your progress! It’ll probably spur me on!
xo,
s
Come to Maine. We’ll put you in a pickup at the farm and you can practice in the fields…where the cows aren’t.
Haha- that sounds safer for the cows!
xo,
s
Almost the same here! I missed my chance to learn when I was living at home and have been living in Birmingham or London ever since, both places where it makes little sense to drive. This year is the year though! We’re moving to a smaller city and I’m going to do it dagnamit. You can do it too!
Haha, sounds like a plan! Let’s get on that!
xo,
s
One of my resolutions for 2011 was to get comfortable driving. I’ve lived in Chicago since I was 18 and never had a reason to drive since I can take public transportation in the city. Then my husband and I bought a car and for some reason (because he is mean) he refused to be my chauffeur.
Short story long. I have now driven to Target and the grocery store by myself and even managed to parallel park in the city without swearing or crying. There was a little screaming, but all in all, I’m pretty proud of myself.
Wow- you’re officially my hero!
xo,
s
My Nana didn’t get her driver’s license until she was in her 60’s. I loved that she didn’t let anything stand in her way once she decided she finally wanted that extra bit of independence. If she could do it, I know all you gals can do it. Good luck and happy practicing.
That’s amazing! Go Nana!
xo,
s
I’d like to do more projects, eat healthier, and pay off some debt in 2012 :)
I don’t usually like to make resolutions because I feel like I am setting myself up for failure, but I definitely have a desire to get some more projects done around our house and I also would like to spend more time just “creating” whatever that means.
Your resolutions are great … similar to ours. Especially the unplugging and simplifying. I need to do a major closet/crazy storage hiding place clean out this year and am more ready than ever to throw just about everything away! Haha. Can’t stand clutter and I feel like between balancing my husband’s day job and our old, big house, clutter has become me … Ick!!! So that’s my big 2012 resolution – and do some traveling. Perhaps a little road trip with the fam. We want Cohen to see and experience a lot.
Can’t wait to see what 2012 brings for our family … And yours. Best wishes.
Oh and do Netflix Homeland. You won’t be disappointed. My husband is obsessed!
Cheers!
Madison Seidler (& Tim, Cohen and Moe)
How fun that you get to come to Oregon! I live in Idaho but I will seriously contemplate driving over. I have friends in the area anyway, so it wouldn’t be all that creepy, right? HA. :) Love the blog, and so excited to see how things turn out with the cabinets!!
Yay! Road trip! We’d love to meet you!
xo,
s
Good morning!
My main resolution this year is to learn how to fix my hair. I’m growing it out and it’s this divine color from dying it with henna and I’m sick of just letting it go limp. So I’m going to braid, curl, bun, and twist my way to an expert this year.
I’m also putting “eat healthier” on repeat. Hooray for cutting out sugar (again)!
Can’t wait for that conference in June! I hope I get to meet y’all!
Yay! Can’t wait to meet your fabulously haired self! Maybe you can teach me the ways of the braid!
xo,
s
you GO Sarah :) I’m growing out my hair too… to my natural color, a lovely pepper & salt now that I’m older :(
Leslie,
That sounds lovely!
i think this years resolution is to not break my new years resolution… or maybe work on the last few year’s ones that i did break :(
Good luck with the resolutions!
I need to come up with a few of my own…
I’m still so sad that I’ll be missing you guys at Haven. But I guess now I can admit that it’s because I’ll have a newborn baby :) But don’t think Mike and I didn’t consider how difficult it would be to travel to Atlanta with a 4ish week old!
I guess my resolution would also be to simplify and be juggling less things. If that’s even possible now :)
Haha- that’s so cute! You’ll be there in spirit! John and I went on a week-long family beach vacation when Clara was 6 weeks old and my only memory of the trip was stopping ten times on the way there to nurse her and locking myself in a room or covering myself with a blanket on the beach to breastfeed! That gal was hungry. Haha.
xo,
s
We don’t necessarily do resolutions, but every year the hubby and I take a long drive and talk about the past year and our general plan for the next year. Our 3 main themes for the next year are family, health and saving. to do all that, we will be simplifying our life! It’s been a rough year for us with loss, job loss, new job, and all the adjustments and craziness that go along with it. Hoping 2012 is much better!
I love that idea. A nice long drive and a long talk about themes to focus on sounds very wise and enlightening indeed! Hope 2012 is amazing for you!
xo,
s
First comment?! Just wanted to say how awesome it is that you are trying to get Clara involved. My son (almost the same age as Clara by 1 month) is in L-O-V-E with tools! I cant wait to teach him how to be all handy and excited to DIY. Happy new year to you all!
My resolution is to personally be more open to others – that’s DIY, right?
Yes! That’s a great one!
xo,
s
2012 goals..Train & finish my 2nd half marathon. Tear off our sunroom & roof and re-roof our house…ourselves. Ought to be an interesting year :) Thanks for all of the DIY motivation!
I think I can resolve to try my hand at decorating. I love to DIY and often you will catch my dining room turned into a wood-shop (no basement here on the Eastern Shore of VA) but usually my projects are for other people, gifts, or what have you. Decorating is not a skill I have and being a renter for now, I try to avoid any project that we will have to un-do when we ultimately move, or anything that might not “go” in a different home. Thanks for nudging me to make a resolution, I am sure I can try my hand at DIYing some decorative things…maybe a photo wall?
Oh yes, you can totally conquer a photo wall! I’m rooting for ya!
xo,
s
I’d LOVE to make a “day by day” reminder of great things that happen each day (and even the little things that don’t seem to great at the time). A little pinterest inspired keeper is up my sleeve :) In a few years it will be AWESOME to look back and say “Hey…January 3rd 2012 is the day we decided to do….” :)
It might sound corny but I have kept a gratitude journal for the past four years or so and it’s amazing to turn back through the pages to see what I was grateful for each day (or every few days since I don’t do it every night). There are so many fun experiences and people that I love looking back on and being grateful for!
xo,
s
Sherry you should blog about your gratitude journal in YHLife. What a sweet way to stay positive!
Aw thanks! I think I mentioned it a while back over here (maybe in 2009, haha) but it would make a great YHLife post too!
xo,
s
Simplify Simplify Simplify!!
As a mom of a 7mo old and working 40hrs a week all while running my own business that takes up any free time I have I need to simplify my life. I’m going to schedule those work from home hours to be more effective and have time to have fun with my soon to be very mobile daughter.
One of my resolutions is to do everything in my power to make it to the Haven conference! :) I’d LOVE to go. And I hope you make it down to Texas for your book tour – it would be awesome to get to meet y’all!
Wahoo! We’ve done one Texas road trip already… so what’s another one? Haha.
xo,
s
Good luck!
My resolutions include: get pregnant, spend less time on pinterest and the internet in general (or at least be more disciplined about it), and the usual health-related items like sleep more and work out occasionally (as in get more exercise than walking the dog). Wish me luck!
Get pregnant is on my list too…good luck!
Also, just to stop procrastinating.
Ooh I’m excited you are tackling the archives! As a newer reader it would be awesome to have a way to find all the posts for an old project in order. Thanks for working on this!
You guys just did a number on my excitement level when I read about you being in Portland at the end of February. I’ll be flying from Kansas to Portland for a long visit with my best friend at the very end of February. But alas, I’ll miss the Home & Garden Show by just 2 days! What a bummer.
I hope you like Portland all the same. It’s a really fun town!
Aw man, that’s such a bummer! Wish we could have bumped into you there! Instead it’s like that Sliding Doors movie with Gweneth Paltrow.
xo,
s
Mary’s right – Portland is great, and I am so excited that you are coming here!
Two extra “cool points” to Sherry for referencing Sliding Doors, one of my all-time favorite movies to watch and rewatch.
Ha! My new year’s resolution for 2012 is NOT to travel! Moving to a new state away from family has caused us to be out of town almost every other weekend. Looking forward to building our house and burrowing in for a while.
Wishing ya’ll all the best in the new year. I think we’re all seeking that balance.
Haha, burrowing sounds awesome! Have fun!
xo,
s
My resolutions are to get back into shape and to learn to do more stuff around the house. I feel like I’m constantly yelling for my boyfriend to come fix something.
Ooooohhhh….oooohhhhh…..I hope the book tour includes New York! You gotta come back to where it all started, plus I would love to meet you both!
One of my resolutions is to simplify too, but truly do it and embrace it.
xo
Oh yes, I’m sure we’ll get up to our old stomping ground and would love to meet you!
xo,
s
I’m planning to finally move in with Mr. Boyfriend, and let me tell you, I’m freaking out hahaha. Good thing I’ve learned A LOT from YHL so I’ll be busy remodeling, painting, puttying and framing and won’t have time to panic :D
Hope you have a wonderful beginning for this 2012 and a great tour, too bad I’m far away, I’ll be there in spirit (not creepy at all, huh?)
Love!
The generic – eat better, read more but most importantly stop decorating like I’m in college. This is the year I can feel it. ;)
Pictures! I want to take more pictures and I want more pictures of me and my family. So this year is all about photography.
Happy New Year YHL!!!
Oh, how I love the beginning of a new year!! Fresh start, renewed enthusiasm, and new goals. Wishing you a fantastic new year! Can’t wait to see those kitchen cabinets painted!!
By the way, I just recently switched my blog from Blogger to WordPress. It’s the one thing I didn’t DIY…I hired someone to do it for me, but I absolutely love the way she arranged my DIY Projects gallery. She used a plugin called Category Thumbnail List. You can see how it turned out here: http://addicted2decorating.com/diy-projects-gallery Of course, I’m sure you could style them so that they’re smaller since you have about a billion more projects than I do, but that might be a good place to start!
Happy New Year!
Thanks for the tip! We’ll have to check it out! Yours looks great!
xo,
s
I am going to reach my WW goal of losing over 100 pounds to reach goal. I said I would finish in 2012 and be healthier!!!
I am already down -65.6 pounds………but who is counting……ME!
Happy New Year!
Wow- that’s amazing Barb! Congrats!
xo,
s
WAHOO BARB! I’m having fun reading people’s goals. I’m rooting for you! Sounds like you’re already doing awesome!
Woot! Woot! … I’ll catch you in the ATL Shawty’s (my Mom would cringe. hahaha) Love your website and rooting for you on your list. I’ve had my Family Prioritization Encounters of the DIY Kind. My son said he’s the only 18 year old in his class that’s a Jack of All Trades -Already! (Kanye shrug) :)
My goal is to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy before my sister’s wedding in March.
My resolution is to shop LESS and save MORE! I have been fortunate enough to get whatever I want when I want (or need) it and only have the debt of my house, but I know I can save more for my future by not buying all those things I don’t actually need. I love reading your money saving tips and tricks. Keep it up!
We, the people of South Jersey/Philly, need an appearance from the 2/3/4 of you! Need! If you manage a stop at a bookstore nearby on your book tour, you could even allow my husband and I to introduce you to the best cheesesteak in Philly. Our treat. ;)
Wahoo! We’re in!
xo,
s
I second this! And I might crash that cheesesteak date! ;)
We don’t have resolutions so much as goals – first, get married (less than a month away!) and then to turn our garden from one giant dirt pit into a haven for us and the animals. Exciting times ahead for us!
Simplify is my resolution too. As well as to stop spending so much time reading DIY blogs so I can finish some of my own projects. Like finishing the already started banquette seating in my kitchen and painting the living room. I hope, hope, hope you come to Colorado for a book tour!!
for Haven, you’re not going to be nauseous, you’re going to be nauseated. nauseous means you cause others to have nausea which i really hope you don’t :D
sorry, I am a total geek, just had to throw that in there.
i wish you guys the best for 2012, can’t wait to see all your projects and travels!!!
Haha- I might cause others nausea too! Just from watching us sweat!
xo,
s
I looked up “nauseous” and thought you’d be interested in what m-w.com has to say on the subject.
So interesting!
xo,
s
How did your couponing resolution work out? Going to continue it, or is it not worth the time/effort for the amount you save? I remember after Irene you saying something about the coupon plateau.
I usually only save $50 each time we go “big shopping” (every three weeks or so). But $50 off is worth it, so I’ll keep doing it! I no longer have dreams of 99% savings though (since we just don’t need 100 razors and 50 cans of beans) so I just clip coupons for what we actually would buy anyway and try to strategically buy things when the store discounts them as well (I spend around 15-20 minutes a month on it, so it’s not too bad).
xo,
s
People in Texas, mainly Dallas love to read. Just thought I would tell you. Putting in my RSVP just in case you make a stop on your book tour. :)
Haha- Texas, here we come!
xo,
s
I agree with you, Gina. Please stop in Dallas Petersiks!
I totally geeked out when I read that you are coming to Portland! I have always wanted to go to the home and garden show but never had the motivation. Now, the prospect of seeing you all speak I will personally make it my resolution to get down there to meet my inspirational couple. Thanks for sharing (and making my day!)
Haha, so sweet! And somehow I just got more nervous. Haha. Would love to meet you though!
xo,
s
Yay for Portland! Alisha is right, the Home and Garden Show is always there, and I’m always not there…but perhaps now I have reason to go.
$herdog, are you cutting down the posts to one a day? I have noticed a trend lately..
We actually mentioned on Friday and again on Monday’s post that this week between Christmas and New Year’s we’ll just be dropping in once a day with a quick post since we’re hosting family, priming and painting cabinets, and have a book deadline on Jan 4th for the entire manuscript! Ahhh! Hopefully things will be back to normal next week after New Year’s!
xo,
s
I love the idea (for your sake) of going down to one post a day permanently and if the drive is really there, two posts just one day a week. I’m rooting for you guys that you’ll have more time to take a breath in 2012!
Aw thanks so much Heather! We definitely like doing one-post days (like we have on Wed and Fri for the past year or so) and also love sharing two posts when we can (usually on Mon/Tues/and Thurs) since we sometimes have little afternoon things to drop in about! There might come a time where we need to cut back to more one-post days due to other craziness (like shooting the book in Jan/Feb) but we really love over-sharing and chatting with you guys – so here’s hoping we can juggle it all!
xo,
s
I think you should go down to one post a day (also agree for your sakes!) That way you’ll get a step towards your work life balance resolution. x
Aw thanks so much for the love you guys! It would definitely be really nice breathing room, but sometimes we have so much going on that sharing it as we go means more than one post a week! Although, maybe if we figure out the balance thing we won’t have as many things going on and we’ll have less to say! Haha. We’ll have to see where this year takes us! We definitely just try to blog however feels the most natural and share as much as humanly possible without giving up things like eating and sleeping and playing with C!
xo,
s
Man, I guess I missed both of those! lol. I hope yall have a wonderful holiday time! I think one post a day would suffice for this blog reader. I don’t see how you manage to have 2 projects a day to post about all the time.
Aw thanks Brittnee! We’ll have to see how this year shakes out. We already have tons of cabinet posts to share next week once we get the doors finished and hung! Wahoo!
xo,
s
These people are awfully nice but I love the 2 post days…
Haha, well we’re not planning to change a thing from our regular schedule of two posts on Mon, Tues, and Thurs and one on Wed and Friday for a total of 8 posts a week here, around 3 on Young House Life and 1 on BabyCenter! So as long as we can keep that up we will! And if we ever find ourselves struggling to stay afloat down the road, I’m sure folks would rather have 5 juicy posts a week than 8 less exciting ones (we’re quality over quantity people). Know that there’s nothing we’d rather be doing than DIYing and blogging the days away!
xo,
s
planning to run 1 race a month (or 12 races) in 2012!
I also resolve to Netflix Homeland! It gets so many mentions on here.
Just wanted to let you know that I am so looking forward to your book and hope to see you on tour here in Chicago! My resolution for 2012 is to practice more yoga, and I also want to travel as much as possible.
Aw, we’d love to head over to Chicago for sure! Hope to see your yoga-tastic self there!
xo,
s
my number one resolution is to read more books…I find I spend so much time on line reading blogs or articles, I rarely read books anymore!
Hey that Clara resolution doesn’t sound too bad. haha. I plan to really and truly tackle my DIY home projects. Enough of hiding behing a computer and taking notes, time to go for it! I have been reading your blog for over a year now and I think I’m ready to tackle a painting project by myself! hoo-wa.
My resolutions are to focus more and stop jumping around all the time, stop worrying so darn much, eat more vegan foods meals, put laundry away right when it’s done so I don’t end up with laundry bombs, exercise more so I don’t feel like I’m hoofin it in a bathing suit (since I suffer like many women from S.A.D—Swimsuit Annoyance Disorder)… the fact I’m in a beach wedding in May on the Vineyard is a good motivation haha. My other resolution is to finally SMLLC my company!
Haha- I too suffer from Swimsuit Annoyance Disorder!
xo,
s
Oh my goodness – mine too – put laundry away immediately!!!! I always think I’ll do it when the kids go to bed, but then I’m tired in the evening and never feel like it. I’m doing laundry today ;-)