The journey from an idea whispered in an evening to a tangible, bound volume is nothing short of extraordinary. As a pristine copy of our book landed in our hands yesterday, courtesy of Fed Ex, it felt like a moment frozen in time – a profound experience that truly melted our brains a little, stirring a whirlwind of emotions we’re eager to share. This isn’t just another Tuesday; it’s a day for candid reflection on a monumental achievement that has been years in the making.
There’s an undeniable, almost childlike wonder that comes with holding your own published work for the first time. We couldn’t stop gazing at it, uttering phrases like, “It’s real! It has pages! It has a cover! And incredibly, it has our names on it!” This initial wave of exhilaration was overwhelming, a testament to the countless hours, dreams, and dedication poured into its creation. To see our vision materialized into something so concrete, so professionally crafted, was a deeply moving experience that filled us with immense pride and a sense of accomplishment.
However, I would be disingenuous if I claimed that “crazy-pants excited” was my sole reaction upon seeing it resting there, looking utterly real and perfectly book-like. Beneath the surface of sheer joy and disbelief, a potent undercurrent of apprehension began to stir. To be completely honest, I’m also quite scared. Really scared, actually.
Throughout our journey of sharing our lives and projects online, we’ve always strived for authenticity, opening up about everything from personal experiences like 14 months of breastfeeding, to embracing our more unglamorous quirks, and even confessing to an embarrassing teenage moment caught on video with a certain platinum-haired rapper. Given this history of vulnerability, I feel comfortable dropping this particular truth bomb: intense, jittery, sweaty-palmed fear is actively happening. While I’d describe myself in many ways, “especially brave” isn’t usually at the top of the list. Like anyone, I grapple with normal insecurities and self-doubts. This book, a culmination of so much effort and passion, feels like an incredibly significant undertaking, making the stakes feel particularly high and the fear especially potent. I thought that pouring my heart out in this small online confession might be a way to own these feelings, and perhaps connect with others who’ve faced similar anxieties in their creative endeavors. So, here it goes.
Maintaining an online DIY diary for the world to read for free is one thing; it offers a certain fluidity and impermanence. But bringing forth a book that will exist permanently in the universe feels considerably more intimidating. While our book might not be a high-profile thriller or a highly anticipated non-fiction bestseller, there’s something profound about the finality of it. Unlike a blog post where we can quickly toss up an update to clarify a sentence or correct a sneaky typo, the words we painstakingly crafted into that manuscript back in 2011 are now immutable. They are printed, bound, and soon they will grace bookshelves – many bookshelves. This permanence lends an incredible weight to every word, every image, and every project we’ve shared, making it feel far more substantial and significant than anything we’ve done before.
Beyond the permanence, there’s the undeniable fact that people have to pay for it. We worked incredibly hard to keep the price accessible, pushing our publisher’s last nerve to ensure it was as affordable as possible. Even with the knowledge that books are returnable or resalable, this financial aspect adds another layer of complexity and responsibility. It feels significantly bigger, more intricate than a simple blog post—perhaps by about 500 percent. Our book spans 336 pages and features 243 distinct suggestions, tips, and projects. It’s akin to secretly writing 243 individual blog posts, then publishing them all simultaneously for a fee, without the option to go back and edit or add a small note if something needs clarification. In fact, it’s not “sort of” like that; it’s precisely like that. This immense volume and the finality of the content contribute substantially to the heightened sense of apprehension and the weight of this creative undertaking. Every detail, from the choice of colors to the fabric patterns, had to be carefully considered for its lasting appeal and accuracy, knowing there would be no going back once it went to print.
The sheer scale and timeline of this project were also immensely intimidating. Planning the entire book over three years, finalizing the outline a year and a half in advance—pinning down every single project—and then embarking on an epic three-week marathon shoot nearly a year ago at our house, during which neither of us can recall eating or sleeping, was an experience unlike anything we’d ever tackled. This intensive period demanded unwavering focus, creative problem-solving, and a monumental commitment to detail, pushing us far beyond our previous creative boundaries. It was a testament to our dedication, transforming a daunting challenge into a rewarding, albeit exhausting, process.
During the creation process, a persistent, nerve-wracking question echoed in our minds: “What if we regret these color or fabric choices later?” This concern wasn’t trivial; it stemmed from the desire for the book’s content to remain timeless and relevant. Unlike our blog, where trends can be updated or mistakes easily corrected, a book offers a permanent snapshot. Every decision, from the smallest accent to the most prominent pattern, felt monumental, knowing it would be immortalized on the pages. This pursuit of perfection, or at least lasting appeal, added an immense layer of pressure to an already challenging endeavor, forcing us to consider the long-term impact of every aesthetic choice.
The anxieties didn’t stop there. I’ve even been plagued by nightmares: vivid scenarios where every page was riddled with typos, or entire chunks of the book were inexplicably blank. One particularly unsettling dream involved a fictitious magazine that somehow recreated every single one of our projects identically—same exact fabrics, same colors—and managed to scoop us by publishing them before our book even hit the shelves. It’s a testament to how my brain can go into overdrive, whirring away with worst-case scenarios while I’m lying in bed, imagining all the ways this grand endeavor could make me want to crawl under the covers, much like our beloved Burger.
But amidst this whirlwind of fretting, there’s a distinct silver lining. The emotion I feel most profoundly, even stronger than the jitters and self-doubt, is an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride. This isn’t an “I’m an author, look at me” kind of pride, but a genuine, heartfelt “wow, we actually did this” accomplishment. Sometimes, I still can’t quite believe that I somehow convinced myself (and John) to put ourselves out there in such a significant way and write a book. We understand that, much like our blog, not everyone will love it, and that’s perfectly okay. Years of blogging have taught us the invaluable lesson that you can’t please all the people all of the time. This understanding allows us to shift our focus towards the positive, truly amazing aspects of this experience and to cherish the journey. Whenever that clammy feeling of apprehension starts to creep in, I remind myself that no book on the planet has ever been universally adored by every single reader. Some of my favorite books have an equal share of 5-star raves and 1-star criticisms, which helps me silence that persistent “be perfect or you suck!” voice in the back of my mind. Embracing imperfection is embracing real life, much like this candid family photo from last week, seconds before a paw-yank incident.
So yes, you might find me occasionally hiding under the covers with Burger when that familiar knot-in-the-guts feeling strikes, but don’t even get me started on how incredibly excited I am for the upcoming book tour. The prospect of connecting with you, our amazing readers, in person is truly exhilarating. I am literally giddy with anticipation to thank you personally for the incredible love and support you’ve shown us throughout this entire journey. And speaking of the tour, we have fantastic news: four additional signing events have been added to our schedule! This expansion means even more opportunities to meet and celebrate with our cherished community. Woot!
For more comprehensive tour information, you can always visit our dedicated book page and click the tour dates button. However, here are the details for the newly added events that we’re thrilled to share:
- RIDGEWOOD, NJ: Friday, November 2, 7pm – Join us at Bookends, located at 211 Ridgewood Ave, for a book signing event. For additional details and updates, please visit Bookends’ official website here.
- WASHINGTON, DC: Saturday, December 1st, Time TBD – We’re heading to Living Social, 918 F Street, for a special event featuring a talk, festive holiday crafting, and a book signing. More specific details regarding the time will be released soon, so stay tuned for updates!
- RICHMOND, VA: Sunday, December 2nd, 1pm – Come meet us at Mongrel, 2924 W. Cary Street, for another exciting book signing. You can find more information about the store on Mongrel’s website here.
- CHARLOTTE, NC: Early February. Specific date and time details for this event are still to be determined, but mark your calendars for early February!
*There’s also serious discussion about including an Atlanta stop, especially since we’ll be in nearby Charlotte, so we promise to keep you updated as soon as we have confirmation! Furthermore, other potential locations such as Philly & Cali are still being actively discussed. We genuinely wish we had more direct control over which cities we visit! The reality is that tour stops are largely determined by who invites us and where, depending on whether a specific vendor or bookstore can align with our available dates and times. It’s less about a city’s size and more about logistical coordination with local partners.
In any case, we extend our deepest gratitude to all of you for being so incredibly excited and supportive throughout this entire, crazy book journey! This project represents a monumental milestone in our little lives, and your unwavering enthusiasm means the world to us. You truly are the best readers anyone could ask for. In return, we are burning the midnight oil to continue churning out a plethora of exciting projects for you. Even as we navigate through 20 different cities on our tour, we are committed to blogging at our regular pace, ensuring a steady stream of content. Expect a treasure trove of secretly stockpiled makeovers and projects from our own home, alongside thrilling house-crashing adventures and inspiring window-shopping escapades. And, just to sweeten the deal, we have another fantastic before-and-after-fest already prepped and ready for you tomorrow. We’re not quite sure how to wrap up this heartfelt ramble, so for now, we’ll just say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being an incredible part of our story. We’re endlessly grateful for your continued support and can’t wait to share more with you.