Holy cats, can you believe it’s been six incredible years since we first embarked on this blogging adventure? It truly feels like just yesterday we were celebrating our fifth blogiversary, and that the distant memory of 2007 saw us posting humble pictures and penning a few sentences each evening about the latest happenings under our roof. This entire journey has been a whirlwind of excitement, but the past twelve months have particularly defied all expectations we had when we first launched this site. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to see a book somehow land on the best-seller list, collaborate with a local Richmond company to design our very own lighting collection, appear in a short film on Oprah (still pinching ourselves!), and perhaps the most thrilling development of all for us… finding a new house in a neighborhood we’ve dreamed about living in for even longer than we’ve been blogging.
Celebrating Six Years: Our Blogging Journey & A Day In Our Life
As we mark our sixth year of sharing our lives, projects, and home renovation tips, we wanted to kick off this blogiversary celebration in a grand fashion. While a twenty-piece orchestra serenading you through your morning Toaster Strudel would have been ideal, the logistics proved a tad challenging. So, we’ve opted for the next best thing: a full week of blogiversary fanfare, packed with behind-the-scenes glimpses and candid banter, much like our past celebrations here, here, here, and here. And the festivities begin right now!
The Six-Year Milestone: A Journey Beyond Expectations
Reaching this six-year milestone as a family and DIY blog fills us with immense gratitude and a sense of wonder. When we first started, our goal was simply to document our home projects and share our daily life in a casual, authentic way. Little did we know that this simple act would evolve into a thriving community, connect us with incredible opportunities, and allow us to pursue passions we never imagined. This journey of chronicling our home improvement projects, family adventures, and design insights has been nothing short of transformative.
A Year of Unprecedented Achievements for Our Family Blog
The past year has been particularly monumental, marked by several significant achievements that underscore the growth and impact of our platform. Our debut book, a culmination of years of hard work and shared experiences, surprisingly became a best-seller, a testament to the incredible support of our readers. This unexpected success truly humbled us and validated the countless hours poured into creating content that inspires and assists others in their home journeys. Beyond authorship, we ventured into product design, launching a lighting collection in collaboration with a talented local company right here in Richmond. This allowed us to translate our design philosophy into tangible pieces, bringing accessible and stylish home decor solutions to a wider audience. Then came the surreal experience of being featured in a short film on Oprah Winfrey’s network—an opportunity that felt like something out of a dream and provided an incredible platform to share our story. And finally, on a deeply personal note, we found our dream home in a neighborhood we’ve admired for years, signaling a new chapter for our family and many exciting new projects to share on the blog.
Kickstarting Blogiversary Week: A Fanfare of Festivities
To celebrate these milestones and express our heartfelt thanks to our amazing community, we’ve planned a week-long blogiversary extravaganza. This isn’t just about us; it’s about connecting with you, our loyal readers, and offering unique insights and rewards. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store for this week:
- An intimate “day in the life” post, complete with a treasure trove of pictures and details about what an average day looks like for us (just keep scrolling for this one!). This offers an authentic look at the work-life balance of running a family and a successful DIY blog.
- An awesome giveaway that includes plane tickets – our way of saying thank you and enabling one lucky reader to embark on their own adventure!
- A “mathy medley” of pie charts and blog statistics, transparently detailing how we allocate our time, where our income originates (and how it’s utilized), along with some fascinating and perhaps surprising facts and figures about our blogging business.
- A candid Q&A video, featuring answers to a multitude of personal questions you submitted via Facebook, providing deeper insight into our lives beyond the projects.
- A behind-the-scenes post about our recent Oprah experience, including a rather amusing story about how that extraordinary day began, alongside a clip for your viewing pleasure.
- A post bravely detailing a side gig that didn’t quite work out. We believe in sharing both successes and challenges, offering a “pulling back the curtain” moment on the realities of entrepreneurship and creative endeavors.
- An exciting opportunity for you, our readers, to tell us about yourselves, which John eagerly anticipates transforming into an infographic-tastic recap for everyone to enjoy.
A Glimpse Into Our World: A Day In The Life (iPhone Edition)
And now, on with the show! Among our favorite blogiversary traditions are our “Day In The Life” rundowns. They offer a unique snapshot of our lives, allowing us to look back at how much our surroundings and our family have evolved over the years. You can revisit previous years’ versions from 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009. Documenting every moment with professional camera gear can often make an already long day feel even longer—imagine setting up a tripod just to capture laundry folding! To ensure this year’s “Day In The Life” felt as authentic and unobtrusive as possible, we implemented an iPhone-pic-only policy. This allowed us to live our day more genuinely, with fewer camera setups and more focus on the moments themselves. So, please forgive the occasional “crummy” quality of some pictures; they are a true reflection of real life, unfiltered and unposed.
Early Morning Rituals: John’s Start & Family Wake-Up
6:15 AM: The household begins to stir with John’s early rise. Today, his morning fitness routine involves a refreshing run around our new neighborhood, though some days he opts for the gym, or, let’s be honest, enjoys a few extra moments in bed. After his run, there’s usually a peaceful window to respond to a few urgent emails, preparing for the day ahead before the rest of us girls officially wake up. This quiet time is crucial for him to gather his thoughts and get a head start on the demands of running a home renovation blog.
7:45 AM: Clara, our energetic daughter, is awake and ready to start her day. She and John embrace a slow morning, often engaging in creative play in her room – today, it’s building an impressive Lego dragon. Meanwhile, I’m usually finishing up in the shower and getting dressed. Our loyal dog, Burger, makes a brief appearance for his morning potty break, then quickly retreats to the cozy comfort of our bed for a little more rest. This morning rhythm allows us to ease into the day rather than rushing.
Breakfast & Morning Prep: Juggling Family and Blog Tasks
8:30 AM: Everyone is downstairs, and breakfast is a scattered affair, reflecting the casual vibe of our home. Clara enjoys her morning cup of yogurt while engrossed in “Jake and the Neverland Pirates,” having already spent some quality time playing with magnet dolls with me. This multitasking breakfast allows us to bond and keep up with daily routines. I take advantage of this time to dive into my inbox, reading, approving, and thoughtfully responding to the comments that have accumulated overnight on the blog, ensuring our community feels heard and valued. Simultaneously, John manages to squeeze in a quick shower and shave, preparing for his day of creative content creation and family commitments.
School Drop-Off & The Workday Begins
9:00 AM: Running slightly behind schedule for preschool, a common occurrence in any busy family home, I swiftly get Clara dressed while John efficiently tosses her snack into her school bag. John and Clara are off just in time for the 15-20 minute drive to preschool, depending on traffic lights. Meanwhile, I stay behind, focusing on the critical task of proofreading and double-checking that morning’s blog post before its scheduled 10 AM publication. This involves meticulously ensuring all links are functional, images are correctly embedded, and making any last-minute tweaks to guarantee a polished, engaging piece of content for our readers.
9:45 AM: With Clara safely dropped off at preschool, John uses his return trip home to run a couple of essential errands, primarily stopping at the grocery store to restock our fridge. This allows us to maximize efficiency in our busy day. In these few precious minutes of quiet, I seize the opportunity to respond to a flurry of emails before hitting the ‘publish’ button on the morning blog post precisely at 10 AM, making sure our DIY and home decor tips reach our audience promptly.
Errands, Emails, and Content Creation
10:30 AM: John returns home from the grocery store, and the kitchen temporarily transforms into a bustling hub of activity as he puts away the groceries. Concurrently, I’m deeply immersed in managing the influx of comments on the morning’s freshly published post, engaging with our readers and answering their questions. Once the food is neatly stowed, John capitalizes on the quiet house to focus on his computer work: backing up precious photos, tackling more emails, and meticulously selecting and sizing images for a future blog post scheduled later in the week. These tasks are vital for maintaining the blog’s visual quality and consistency. Meanwhile, I capture some last-minute photos for an upcoming post, taking advantage of the sun finally making a welcome appearance, before diving into emailing about an upcoming showhouse project, and then commencing work on the next day’s content. This dynamic allows us to continually feed our audience with fresh home renovation and design inspiration.
Midday Transitions: School Pick-Up & External Engagements
NOON: It’s already time to pick up Clara from school. Given that we have an important meeting immediately afterward, we both head out together. After picking up Clara at 12:30 PM, we make a quick stop at Jason’s Deli to grab a fast, convenient lunch, ensuring we’re energized and on time for our 1:30 PM appointment. This constant movement is a characteristic of balancing a demanding blog and family life.
1:00 PM: We’re back in the car, embarking on the 30-minute drive to our next appointment. Our mission today is to photograph the Massey Street of Dreams, content that will eventually form the basis of the “quadruple House Crashing” post we recently shared. Days like these, spent largely commuting between locations, truly give us the feeling of living in our car! It’s all part of gathering compelling visual content for our home design blog.
2:15 PM: While John is expertly photographing the stunning homes, I’m busy gathering crucial information and details from our guide, Justin. Multitasking is key, so I also steal a few moments to remotely publish the afternoon blog post from my phone, ensuring our content schedule remains uninterrupted. Justin’s 10-year-old daughter is with us, providing a wonderful playmate for Clara for most of the visit. However, as Clara’s nap time approaches, and with Justin’s daughter feeling a bit under the weather (hence not being in school), both girls eventually settle down for a much-needed rest. This allows us to focus on capturing the essence of the Street of Dreams for our enthusiastic audience.
Afternoon Productivity: Naps, Calls, and DIY Efforts
3:00 PM: We depart from the Street of Dreams, commencing the 40-minute drive back home. I utilize this travel time to catch up on the burgeoning comments section of our blog, ensuring I stay connected with our community. Clara, ever the independent spirit, occupies herself by reading a book in the backseat, while John periodically checks in to make sure she hasn’t drifted off to sleep. It’s a delicate balance; we can’t risk losing a proper nap at home by letting her fall asleep for just ten minutes in the car!
3:45 PM: We arrive home, and Clara is promptly tucked in for her nap. This period is typically prime time for tackling home projects, but today, my schedule is packed with a phone interview related to the Super Soul Sunday clip, followed by a crucial showhouse call with the builder and his team. John, ever the DIY enthusiast, changes into his work clothes to begin caulking the sunroom’s trim and filling nail holes, making progress on our latest home improvement endeavor. Meanwhile, I juggle two significant phone calls, respond to a handful of emails, and strive to finish the blog post I started earlier in the day. This intensive afternoon showcases the dynamic nature of our work, blending blogging with hands-on home renovation.
5:30 PM: Clara awakens from her nap, refreshed and ready for some playtime. I head upstairs to greet her, and we spend a little while playing together in her room, cherishing these precious moments of connection after a busy workday.
Evening Unwind: Family Time, Dinner, and Project Planning
6:00 PM: It’s family walk time! While we don’t manage one of these every single night, the gorgeous weather today is simply too inviting to skip. We enjoy leisurely conversation, catching up on Clara’s school day adventures, discussing the upcoming blog posts we’re both crafting, and mapping out the home projects we each hope to tackle tomorrow. These walks are vital for unwinding and reconnecting as a family and brainstorming content for our DIY blog.
6:45 PM: Home from our invigorating walk, it’s time to prepare dinner. Tonight’s menu features a family favorite: chicken squares (for those curious, here’s the recipe). Clara enthusiastically puts her mixing skills to work alongside me in the kitchen. In between stirring and baking, I check in on blog comments once more and finally bring the post I’ve been working on sporadically throughout the day to completion. The nature of sharing seven posts within a five-day blogiversary period means we are perpetually refining existing content, drafting new pieces, and diligently answering questions on posts that are already live. It’s a constant juggle of creativity and engagement for our home design and family blog.
7:30 PM: Dinner is ready, and we gather around the table to eat together, cherishing this family mealtime. Clara, with minimal encouragement, manages to eat her tomatoes and veggies and even half of a chicken square – a win in any parent’s book! After dinner, I handle the cleanup while John tackles a few emails that have piled up throughout the day. Then, Clara and I snuggle on the couch for a few minutes, finishing up the episode of “Jake and the Neverland Pirates” that she started before school. It’s a perfect blend of chore completion and precious family bonding.
Nightly Routine: Bedtime Stories & Late-Night Work
8:15 PM: It’s bedtime for Clara. Each night she votes for a different mix of “helpers,” and tonight, Mommy is on teeth brushing and PJ changing duty while Daddy takes charge of reading the bedtime story. This sweet ritual is a consistent and cherished part of our family evening, fostering a sense of comfort and routine.
8:30 PM: With Clara tucked snugly in bed, it’s time to squeeze in a few more hours of concentrated productivity before we stow our laptops for the night. John focuses on finalizing the blog post for which he prepped pictures earlier in the day, ensuring everything is perfect for our readers. Simultaneously, I catch up on any questions or comments that emerged on Facebook or Instagram during the day, maintaining our active online presence. I also send off some crucial book outline materials to our publisher (yes, we’re officially working on Book Two—ahh, the excitement!). Eventually, the TV is turned on, and we find ourselves half-watching an episode as we wrap up some last-minute emails, address lingering comments, and handle various other computer-related tasks. It’s striking to realize that beyond John’s sunroom caulking, we haven’t dedicated much time to hands-on DIY today. This means tomorrow evening, after Clara is all tucked in, will likely be a project-heavy night to make up for it, bringing more home renovation content to our dedicated audience.
Winding Down: Netflix, Reading, and Pet Cuddles
10:00 PM: To resist the persistent urge to keep working, we make a conscious effort to clean up and turn off the lights downstairs. Our computers are put away, signaling the end of the workday, and we head up to watch TV in bed. Our current routine involves catching up on old “Scandal” episodes on Netflix—John is about 70% invested, while I’m enthusiastically 120% in, thanks to his sister getting me utterly addicted! This unwinding period is essential for mental rejuvenation after a day of blogging and family responsibilities.
11:30 PM: John has often succumbed to sleep mid-Olivia Pope tirade, so once the current episode concludes, the TV is turned off. With teeth brushed and contacts removed, John often finds a surprising second wind, opting to read a few pages of a book. Meanwhile, I decompress with some Pinterest browsing on my cell phone, catching up on design inspiration, and engaging in some late-night texting with our good friends, Katie Bower and Roo. Finally, Burger, our beloved canine companion, comes to snuggle under the covers between us, completing our nightly ritual. The lights are out by midnight, bringing a close to another full and fulfilling day in the life of our family and our evolving home and DIY blog.
Reflecting on Our Journey and Looking Ahead
This “Day In The Life” offers just a snapshot of the beautiful chaos and rewarding work that fills our days. From early morning runs to late-night content creation, every moment is infused with our passion for sharing, connecting, and creating. Six years have flown by, bringing unforeseen challenges and incredible triumphs, all made possible by the unwavering support of our amazing community. We are endlessly grateful for every comment, share, and email that fuels our journey. As we look ahead, we’re excited for what Book Two will bring, for more DIY projects, and for continuing to share our home, our family, and our adventures with all of you. Thank you for being an integral part of our blogiversary celebration and for making this blogging dream a vibrant reality.