For anyone wondering where the April Superlatives went—here they are. Last week was all about organizing, and somehow we weren’t organized enough to publish this on time. Oops. Before May gets too far along, here’s a yearbook-style roundup of the projects and moments we checked off our to-do list in April. We even included a few never-before-seen bits for fun. If you want to browse more monthly superlatives, we’ve been archiving them since January 2011, and there’s a lot of projects condensed into just a handful of posts. And fair warning: we start this recap with my latest obsession.
Most Addicted: Me — to Instagram. It took us a while to join, but now the app fills the role that Pinterest fills for Sherry: a place for quick, pretty snapshots and behind-the-scenes life moments. You’ll find random shopping pics, home details, and a steady stream of kid photos. We also cross-post many shots to Twitter and Facebook, so you can catch them there if you don’t use Instagram. Basically: another way to over-share in a harmless way.
Favorite New Hashtag: After our bathroom window frosting project inspired @kandisebrown to frost her own window, this hashtag was born: #nomoreeyecontactwithstrangerswhilepeeing — which perfectly captures the new level of privacy.
Most Improved: Our master bathroom’s toilet situation. Thanks to a small swap it went from an awkward, squat space-aged almond unit to a normal-height classic white toilet. We sold the old one on Craigslist and were able to donate a replacement to a family in need. Update: Habitat For Humanity wrote to tell us many readers pitched in to help that family—so helpful and appreciated.
Phat-est: Eminem, at least to 17-year-old Sherry, who once met him through MTV’s Fanatic. After ignoring the footage for years, she finally admitted the clip exists (and still gets a little embarrassed when it’s mentioned).
Biggest Succa: The succulents Sherry planted in glass containers. They’ve thrived and grown a lot, and we’ll share updated photos soon.
Most Transitional: The threshold transitions we installed in the kitchen to smooth out the slight drop between the new and old flooring. Small details like that make daily life feel more finished.
Most Inspiring: Our visit to Richmond Homearama, where touring eight houses gave us a pile of new ideas and plenty of design inspiration. We still can’t pick a single favorite.
Most Avant-Garde: Clara, whose quirky squiggle drawings we turned into fabric. She insisted the drawings contained lots of “worms,” and she was very proud of them.
Most Helpful: The LivingSocial landscaping deal that gave us professional guidance and, more importantly, the nudge to finally do something with our yard instead of planning forever.
Best Worn-Out Face: Mine, after digging up tired bushes at the front of the house to make room for fresh plants and to transplant what survived. Gardening is rewarding but exhausting.
Least Likely To Share Her Worn-Out Face On The Blog: Sherry, who quietly removed a ton of brick from the front planter bed so it could actually function as a planter.
Narrowest: The walkway to our front door—at least it used to feel narrow before we cleared the overgrown bushes that made it feel like a gauntlet. Next up: trying to get grass to take hold in that spot.
Most Problematic: Our patio, which had become overgrown and leaf-strewn over winter. A big clean-up and fresh plantings brought it back to life.
Most Likely To Be A Rockstar: Clara, thanks to how much she uses the rock box we built. Rainy days are tragic for Clara: The Girl Obsessed With Rocks.
Most Fleeting: The rock box in its original sandbox incarnation. We built it as a sandbox first, but its rock phase moved in fast.
Most Delayed: The actual building of that sand/rock box, which sat on our to-do list for nearly a year. Better late than never.
Spring-iest: Our mantle, which Sherry refreshed with seasonal colors and a little remix of accessories to celebrate the change in season.
Least Straightforward: Replacing a bathroom fixture—what seemed like a quick swap turned into a drywall patching project behind the light. The little projects often expand, don’t they?
Class Artist: Sherry, for a painting she made and that we hung in the bathroom to add color and personality.
Closest Shave: Our bathroom door, which got a small trim at the bottom so it could clear the grate and accommodate a bath mat without sticking.
Weirdest: Sherry, who decided to go bold with an oil-rubbed bronze fixture despite it feeling slightly illogical at first. She’s held the “weirdest family member” title since her teens and wears it proudly.
Most Likely To Get Replaced: Our HP printer. After an update on how purchases are holding up, we received many recommendations for replacements. If we can’t sort its issues, it may be retired.
Most Likely To Induce A Whale Obsession: Our visit to the Richmond Craft Mafia’s Spring Bada-Bing show, where whale art (and plenty of other quirky pieces) caught our eye and fueled daydreams.
Longest: Our updated to-do list. It’s shorter than it used to be, but still long enough to keep us plenty busy.
Most Unintentionally Naughty-Sounding Post Title: “You Down with O-R-G” — a title that rhymed with O.P.P. and referenced a favorite finish, but which some readers misread and raised eyebrows. Intentions were innocent; the reaction was hilarious.
What did you get done in April? Did you tackle spring organizing, unearth vintage footage of your younger self, or make a list of accomplishments to look back on? Share a few highlights in the comments. Taking a moment to appreciate what you’ve finished—big or small—helps keep momentum going. We’re using that boost for projects like the deck and Clara’s second birthday celebration this weekend.