With over 2,300 posts published, digging back through our archives has become a monumental task. For our fifth blogiversary, we decided to spotlight some memorable moments from those 260 weeks of content. Below are highlights full of firsts, favorites, and a few oddball moments—sit back and enjoy this stroll down memory lane.
First Makeover Reveal: Before our now-famous kitchen renovation, our very first before-and-after was actually the laundry nook in November 2007. We learned very quickly to photograph spaces before demolition—our earliest “before” ended up being a mid-demo shot, which taught us a valuable lesson about documenting projects.
Weirdest Wardrobe (humans and dogs): In December 2007 we shared a post about how long our first kitchen’s cabinet installation was taking, and included a photo that showed Sherry fitting oddly well into a cabinet-sized space—especially while wearing matching Christmas pajamas with a one-year-old Burger. It remains one of our more amusing wardrobe moments.
Most Ridiculous Styling: Back in 2007 we were still finding our decorating voice. One early guest bedroom reveal—later turned into Clara’s nursery—featured fuzzy leopard slippers, which now feels like a hilarious remnant of that transitional style phase. Not sure what sort of guests we expected back then.
Most Mysterious Video: One prize from winning an early blogging contest was a video interview. We were over-prepared and pretty nervous, and the footage ultimately sat unpublished for years after the interviewing site went on hiatus. In hindsight, it might have been for the best.
First Ikea Hack: As we rolled into 2008, our first Ikea adaptation involved creating built-in style closets around our bed using doorless wardrobes, curtains, and a simple wood header. It was an inexpensive, clever way to get that built-in look without the big price tag.
First Burning Question: For a long stretch we ran weekly “Burning Question” posts inviting readers to weigh in on decor dilemmas. Our very first one, in May 2008, asked whether a table should always be set and received a grand total of 18 responses—a humble but encouraging start.
First Mood Board: Around the same time we began offering design help through online mood boards. The first one we created helped a reader named Manisha reimagine her living room and marked the beginning of a long series of design-focused posts.
First Press Mention: Our local newspaper featured us in a “Do It Yourself” section in May 2008. The piece highlighted a pedestal table we made from a thrift-store base and a ready-made round top. Our parents were delightfully proud.
Favorite Little Craft: One of our enduring favorites is a small project from summer 2008: vacation memory jars. It was a sweet, simple way to capture travel memories and remains a favorite low-effort craft idea.
First House Crashing: Before we started asking strangers if we could tour their homes, we stayed in the family and photographed my sister’s newly built house locally. That 2008 feature eventually grew into a recurring series and is due for a re-visit.
First Reader Redesign: Also in 2008 we ran our first Reader Redesign, a fun project in which we helped a reader rethink a space. It was a satisfying way to interact with readers and showcase affordable changes.
First Design Dilemma Solved: We created many mood boards over the years, and when readers actually sent back after photos it felt especially rewarding. One early success was Stacie, whose bedroom makeover based on a small YHL mood board later inspired several house-crashing follow-ups.
First Wedding Week: Our first Wedding Week—posts focused on our wedding and relationship stories—kicked off on our first anniversary in July 2008. That series still lives on in the site’s wedding-related archives and remains a sentimental favorite.
The Biggest Turning Point: Early on, winning a small contest gave us the confidence to keep blogging and helped transform the hobby into something more. That win felt like a defining moment and encouraged us to keep going during those uncertain early months.
Most Difficult Posts: Some of the hardest pieces to write were deeply personal. Sherry’s post about Clara’s birth and her tribute to Aunt Kay Kay were emotionally heavy yet healing to share. For me, owning up to a failed deck inspection was a tough post that tested my confidence but ultimately pushed the project forward.
Random Tangents: We often stray from pure decor topics—parenting, running, haircuts, and other life moments sneak in from time to time. One notably random post explored names our parents considered for us, which sparked a lively and surprisingly popular discussion.
Most Embarrassing: Sherry once confessed that she met Eminem in high school and even appeared in a TV segment about it. That post made her blush, and it’s still a favorite guilty-pleasure memory to mention.
Shortest and Longest Posts: Our eighth post ever, about preparing for door widening, clocks in at under 125 words and remains one of our shortest entries. On the other end of the spectrum, a recent blogiversary post that broke down how we spend time and money approached 4,000 words—possibly our longest single post.
Most Commented: The post that received the most heartfelt responses was Sherry’s account of Clara’s labor and emergency C-section. The outpouring of support and kind words from readers meant the world to us.
Least Commented: Several older posts still have zero comments—there’s a surprising number of opportunities for readers to be the first to chime in on those pieces.
Everlasting Comment Threads: A few practical how-to posts—about curtain hanging, picking paint colors, and painting furniture—continue to attract new comments years after they were published. Those posts serve as ongoing resources for readers and keep the conversation alive.
Biggest Budget Breakdown: Our first kitchen remodel remains the most expensive project to date at around $17,500. That job was mostly contracted out and ended up costing significantly more than later, more DIY-driven renovations.
Favorite Projects: Some projects simply stuck with us. John’s favorite is the hallway frame wall completed in 2011 for its perfect balance of challenge and impact. Sherry’s favorite is a small but transformative paint job—the teal back of our built-ins—which changed an entire room with just a quart of paint and an evening’s work.
Favorite Posts: John treasures the post about our first day in our current house for how full of promise it felt, while Sherry holds dear the reveal of Clara’s nursery for the sentimental value it represents. Both posts capture moments of excitement and the start of new chapters.
Now that we’ve shared our favorites and firsts, we’d love to hear from you: do you have a favorite entry on your own blog or in a personal journal? Any moments you look back on and cringe—or ones that still make you smile?
P.S. We’re also chatting about color theory—turns out certain colors can influence mood and perception in surprising ways.