March Rewind: Unveiling the Petersik Household’s Best Moments & DIY Adventures!
Welcome back, dear readers! It’s that time of the month again when we dive headfirst into our cherished tradition of monthly superlatives. While April is now in full swing, we’re taking a delightful detour to look back at the incredible whirlwind that was March for the Petersik household. Think of it as our very own yearbook, packed with memorable moments, significant milestones, and a generous sprinkle of never-before-seen peeks into our lives. From major home renovation projects and exciting travel escapades to behind-the-scenes glimpses of our creative endeavors, March proved to be a month of constant motion, rewarding challenges, and heartwarming achievements. If you love seeing how we tackle everything from DIY flooring to spontaneous adventures, settle in – this recap is designed to inspire your own home projects and spark joy in remembering your past accomplishments. You can also explore all our monthly roundups, dating back to January 2011, right here, offering a comprehensive timeline of our journey.
March 2026 Superlatives: A Look Back at Our Adventures
This month, we kick things off by revealing some exciting, previously unmentioned happenings that kept us incredibly busy behind the scenes. Spoiler alert: it involves our upcoming book, a project that has truly become a labor of love and a huge focus for us.
Most Cinematic: Behind the Scenes of Our Book Promo
The energy at our house was palpable, worthy of a movie set, as we transformed our living space into a production studio. We were busy shooting a promotional video for our upcoming book, a special request from our publisher. This wasn’t just any home video; we had the fantastic help of a professional photographer and videographer, who also happens to be our talented brother-in-law, Todd, and his assistant, Adam. It was an exhilarating experience seeing our vision come to life through their lenses. We’re still putting the finishing touches on the final edit, but we are absolutely buzzing with excitement to share it with all of you. Get ready for an exclusive sneak peek at some of those often-mentioned “secret book projects” that feature prominently in the video, offering a deeper dive into the creative process!
“I Came, I Sawed, Then We Went On Vacation” Award: New Floors & Getaway Prep
This award perfectly encapsulates the whirlwind of activity that preceded our much-anticipated vacation. Just before we jetted off to Portland, and then on to the beautiful Hawaiian islands, we dove headfirst into preparing for our new floors. This wasn’t just a casual clean-up; it involved some serious sawing and groundwork to get a significant head start on the project. The day before our flight was a flurry of productive chaos, balancing the excitement of upcoming travel with the satisfaction of making tangible progress on our home. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when a vacation deadline is looming!
Most Portlandia-esque: Embracing the Unique Vibe of Portland
Unsurprisingly, Portland earned this distinctive award. This stylish and wonderfully unique city captured our hearts with its vibrant culture, eclectic neighborhoods, and undeniable charm. From its quirky coffee shops and artisanal markets to its stunning natural beauty, Portland truly embodies a spirit all its own. We thoroughly enjoyed immersing ourselves in the local scene, exploring its innovative eateries, and appreciating the creative energy that permeates every corner. A huge thank you to the friendly Portlanders for making our visit so memorable and inspiring!
Most Inspiring: A Glimpse Inside a Dream Home
While exploring Portland, we had the incredible opportunity to “house crash” one of our favorite homes, and it proved to be an absolute highlight of our trip. This particular residence stood out with its elegant yet fresh design, offering a wealth of decorating ideas and ingenious solutions. We found ourselves constantly taking notes and snapping photos, particularly captivated by a giant map poster that adorned one of the walls – a definite win for unique decor! It’s always invigorating to see how others infuse personality and style into their living spaces, and this home certainly left a lasting impression on our creative minds.
Most Missed: Our Blissful Hawaiian Getaway
Our Hawaiian vacation, though just a few weeks past, already feels like a distant dream. The serene beaches, warm breezes, and relaxed pace of island life are profoundly missed. Thankfully, we captured countless moments in photographs, allowing us to reminisce about those blissful days. We love looking back at these and these vibrant pictures, which instantly transport us back to the sunshine and incredible beauty of Hawaii. It serves as a wonderful reminder of the importance of taking time to unwind and create cherished family memories.
Hole-iest: Patching Up After Kitchen Shelf Adjustments
Sometimes, even the smallest tweaks can lead to unexpected challenges. This month, the “Hole-iest” award goes to the tiles we had to meticulously patch after deciding to eliminate two of the brackets from our kitchen shelves. What seemed like a simple aesthetic adjustment created some new holes that needed careful attention. It’s a reminder that even minor design changes often involve a bit of remedial work, but the end result of a cleaner, more minimalist look was well worth the extra effort.
Grooviest: Installing Our Floating Cork Floor
This award, fittingly chosen over “Tongue-iest,” celebrates the satisfaction of putting our tongue-and-groove floating cork floor together. Installing new flooring can be a big undertaking, but there’s a unique rhythm to locking those pieces into place. The cork flooring brought warmth and a natural texture to our space, and seeing it slowly transform our rooms was incredibly rewarding. The tongue-and-groove system made the installation surprisingly smooth, and we truly appreciated the satisfying “groove” as each plank found its home.
Closest Call: The Cork Floor Scramble
DIY projects always come with their nail-biting moments, and our “Closest Call” came when we were nearly running out of cork floor boards as we approached the laundry room. It’s that familiar DIY panic when you realize you might be short on materials! Luckily, thanks to some careful planning and a bit of creative maneuvering with our leftover scraps, we had just enough to complete the job. This moment underscored the importance of accurate measurements and the value of keeping those seemingly useless off-cuts for emergencies!
The Cherry On The Bottom Award: Completing Our Cork Floors
This award signifies the satisfying completion of a major undertaking: finally finishing our new cork floors! This project truly felt like the “cherry on the bottom” of our recent kitchen overhaul, tying everything together beautifully. The sense of accomplishment was immense, especially once we applied the trim and sealant, giving the floors that polished, finished look. It’s these final touches that truly elevate a space and make all the hard work feel incredibly worthwhile. Our feet are loving the comfortable and quiet new surface!
Our Favorite After: The Grand Kitchen Reveal
After months of planning, renovating, and countless hours of work, our kitchen finally reached its glorious “after” stage. This moment was not just exciting, it was absolutely exhilarating to declare our kitchen (pretty much) done! Watching it slowly transform from a dated, darker space into a bright, happy, and functional hub of our home has been one of our most rewarding DIY journeys. The big reveal marked a significant milestone, allowing us to fully appreciate the fruits of our labor and enjoy cooking and gathering in our beautifully redesigned space. It truly is our favorite “after” to date.
Widest: Our New, Immersive TV Experience
While it might not be the absolute widest screen ever made, our new 42-inch TV definitely earned the “Widest” superlative in our household. This significant upgrade from our previous 26-inch model has dramatically improved our viewing pleasure. Now, we can actually read subtitles and news tickers without squinting, making movie nights and casual viewing much more enjoyable. And yes, we’re fully aware the current TV cabinet is a bit too small underneath, but rest assured, we have grand plans to either build a custom piece or find the perfect thrift store dresser or cabinet to fill that wall space more proportionally in the near future!
Most Gravity Defying: Sherry’s Floating Vase Installation
Sherry finally tackled a long-standing item on her “Dude Get On That Already” initiative, resulting in these enchanting floating vases. Hung with precision and care, they now gracefully adorn the wall of our guest bathroom, adding a touch of serene beauty and modern elegance. The illusion of them floating effortlessly in mid-air truly makes them “Most Gravity Defying,” and they’ve found their perfect new home, bringing a fresh, artistic element to the space. It’s amazing what a little wall decor can do to transform a room!
Sexiest Voice: Sherry’s Flu-Infused House Tour
This award goes to Sherry for her surprisingly captivating voice during our whole house video tour, our first in seven months! What made it particularly memorable was that she was just getting over the flu. There’s a certain unique quality that a post-flu voice acquires, which we jokingly dubbed “sexy.” While we prefer her healthy voice, this tour offered a realistic, unfiltered look at our home, and her dedication to still delivering an engaging tour while recovering was truly commendable. It proves that even when you’re not feeling 100%, creativity and connection can still shine through.
Most Festive: Sherry’s 30th Birthday Kitchen Surprise
March also brought a very special milestone: Sherry’s 30th birthday! The “Most Festive” award proudly goes to our kitchen, which I secretly decorated with an array of colorful ribbons to surprise her in the morning. Waking up to a kitchen adorned with celebratory flair, designed just for her, created a wonderfully joyful start to her big day. It’s those small, thoughtful gestures that truly make a celebration memorable and infuse our home with a sense of warmth and happiness.
Mood-iest: Crafting Our Master Bathroom Mood Board
The “Mood-iest” award is dedicated to the mood board we meticulously whipped up to kickstart a much-needed mini-update for our long-ignored master bathroom. After focusing on other areas of the house, it was finally time to give this space some attention. The mood board helped us crystallize our vision, pulling together color palettes, material samples, and inspirational images to define the desired aesthetic and functionality. It’s an essential step in any renovation project, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious outcome, and we’re excited to bring this vision to life.
Most Rock-ing: Painting Our Bathroom in Rockport Grey
Bringing our mood board to life, the “Most Rock-ing” award celebrates the application of Rockport Grey paint in our bathroom. There’s an undeniable satisfaction in seeing a fresh coat of paint transform a space, and this particular shade of grey brought a sophisticated calm to the room. It feels incredibly good to finally have color on those walls, providing a sense of completion and a fresh canvas for the remaining updates. This simple step made a huge impact, immediately elevating the bathroom’s overall aesthetic.
Biggest Pin-Head: Sherry’s Hidden Closet Pin-Board
Sherry’s ingenious creation for her hidden closet pin-board earned her the title of “Biggest Pin-Head” – in the best way possible! This clever DIY project, crafted from cork board, durable duct tape, and leftover curtain fabric, offers a practical and aesthetically pleasing solution for organizing inspiration and important notes. Tucked away within the closet, it provides a functional space without cluttering the main living areas. It’s a testament to her knack for creating smart, stylish storage and organization solutions with readily available materials.
Biggest Pin-Head (Runner-Up): Clara’s Cozy Bean Bag Pouf
The runner-up for “Biggest Pin-Head” goes to another of Sherry’s fantastic creations: this delightful bean bag pouf. This project was her contribution to the Winter Edition of The Pinterest Challenge, and it turned out beautifully. Expertly sewn, this cozy pouf found its perfect home in Clara’s closet, adding a comfortable and playful seating option that’s both functional and charming. It’s a wonderful example of how inspiration from Pinterest can be transformed into a practical and personalized piece for your home.
Boxiest: A Cheerful Yellow Jewelry Box Makeover
This award highlights a simple yet impactful transformation: this happy yellow jewelry box. As part of Sherry’s “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge, she gave this box a vibrant new life with a few coats of cheerful yellow spray paint. It’s incredible how a splash of color can revitalize an ordinary item, turning it into a bright accent piece that brings a smile. This project perfectly embodies the satisfaction of tackling those small tasks that make a big difference in brightening up our home and our day.
Most Fun: Our Refreshed Yellow High Chair
There’s nothing quite like seeing a piece of furniture get a new lease on life, especially when it’s as functional and frequently used as a high chair. The “Most Fun” superlative goes to this refreshed yellow high chair, which received several coats of happy spray paint. The transformation was remarkable, bringing a playful and vibrant touch to meal times. It looks like a truly good time, doesn’t it? This project reminds us that even practical items can be infused with personality and joy through a little DIY magic.
Least Fun: Our Unexpected Roof Leak
Undoubtedly, the “Least Fun” event of March was our completely out-of-the-blue roof leak, caused by an unexpected leaf dam on our roof. Discovering water where it shouldn’t be is never pleasant and always brings a jolt of anxiety. This unforeseen issue required immediate attention and some detective work to resolve. We’re happy to report an update: we’ve since ventured back into the attic, meticulously checked for damp insulation, drywall, and wood, and confirmed that all is completely dry and free of any mold or odor. Whew! Crisis averted, but it was a stark reminder of the importance of regular home maintenance.
Reflect & Connect: What Were Your March Milestones?
March truly was a marathon of activity, from major home renovations like our kitchen makeover and cork flooring installation, to exciting travel adventures in Portland and Hawaii, and numerous small but impactful DIY decor projects. As we reflect on these moments, we can’t help but feel a profound sense of accomplishment and gratitude for all the experiences the month brought. It’s always fascinating to see how much can unfold in just a few weeks when you’re actively pursuing projects and embracing new opportunities.
So, what about you? What incredible feats did you “eke out” in March? Did you celebrate a significant birthday, like turning thirty? Perhaps you completed a long-term kitchen renovation or gave a beloved piece of furniture a fresh look with spray paint? Taking a moment to pause and appreciate your achievements is incredibly powerful. Have you ever made a dedicated list of accomplishments to look back on? We highly recommend it! It’s such a refreshing break from constantly adding tasks to the ever-growing to-do list, offering a chance to celebrate the things you’ve already checked off.
We invite you to share your own highlights in the comment section below. Whether it’s a major project, a small personal victory, or a memorable family moment, we’d love to hear about it. Connecting with our community and celebrating each other’s progress is one of the most rewarding aspects of this blog. This practice of reflection truly helps us maintain momentum, especially as we gear up for even more heavy lifting and digging outside in the coming months. Bring on those shovels, we’re ready for what’s next!