As we mentioned yesterday, it’s Blogiversary Week — four years already. Since we’ve shared a day-in-the-life before (and again a year later), we thought it would be fun to record a full day from both of our perspectives this year. Things have changed: now there’s a toddler in the mix and a 260+ page book we’re working on. Below is a typical day, as told by each of us, so you can see what John, Sherry, Clara and even Burger might be doing at any given hour.
7:30 am – 8:00 am
JOHN: Clara’s awake at about 7:30 and the weather’s nice, so I take her for a run in the jogging stroller. After changing her diaper, preparing her milk and packing a few goldfish, we head out. I usually manage four miles and return in about forty minutes.
SHERRY: I wake around 7:45 and the house is quiet — John and Clara are out. Burger stays in bed, and I head to the office to check blog comments and answer a few questions. I’m not ready to make major decisions like what to wear, so I review my planner instead. I see a 2pm call with USA Today and set an alarm for 1:58 so I don’t forget.
8:00 am – 9:00 am
JOHN: Back from the run by 8:30, I take a quick shower and make breakfast: yogurt for Clara, scrambled eggs for Sherry and cereal for me.
SHERRY: I keep answering comments until John returns. I get to smooch both of them, play with Clara for a bit while John showers, and we read books and dance. Still in pajamas, I stay at the computer for a little longer.
9:00 am – 10:00 am
JOHN: I watch Clara while Sherry handles blog tasks. We read together, play with a ball and a car, and she “helps” with a load of laundry — she loves it.
SHERRY: This hour flies by. I proof the morning’s post, preview photos to make sure they’re centered, and read the draft several times to catch errors. I add links and extra details where needed. Proofing keeps our posts polished — we still average a couple of typos, so this step is essential.
10:00 am – 11:00 am
JOHN: I keep hanging out with Clara while Sherry stays on comment duty. We do more reading and play outside when the weather allows. Our morning routine varies — some days I handle more of Clara’s time, and other days Sherry does.
SHERRY: Comments roll in quickly — often more than two hundred over an hour — so I answer as many as I can and delete spam. When the pile drops to around thirty pending, I can finally breathe.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
JOHN: I start measuring and sketching for a trim project to make our desk look built-in. After sketching and discussing options with Sherry, I head to Lowe’s to pick up materials.
SHERRY: It’s nap time for Clara, so I tuck her in and change her diaper. While John runs his errand, I get dressed and return to comment duty. I also skim through email — most are sponsor or giveaway messages, mixed with the occasional sweet reader note that we both enjoy.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
JOHN: While Clara naps, Sherry and I discuss trim options before I try a mock-up in the basement. I also check email and coordinate upcoming giveaways and sponsor renewals.
SHERRY: I work on a post for the next day after answering some comments, but Clara wakes at 12:30 so I change her and spend a little time with her before John finishes the trim work.
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
JOHN: With trim finished, I handle lunch. Today it’s leftovers — quiche, spaghetti, corn and beans — and we eat together briefly before Clara and I go play and read some more.
SHERRY: I proof the afternoon post, add links, catch typos and clarify instructions, and have it ready to publish around two.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
JOHN: Clara and I hang out while Sherry finalizes the post. We fold laundry together and play ball outside once Burger wakes up around 2pm.
SHERRY: I have a quick call with USA Today for a painting quote — about fifteen minutes — then I return to answering comments for the rest of the hour.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
JOHN: I switch to computer work: emails about giveaways and sponsors, messages with our hosting company about backups, and catching up on Twitter replies.
SHERRY: I spend time with Clara, singing, playing dress-up and chasing Burger. Clara gets tired around 3:45 and falls asleep for an afternoon nap, which gives me a chance to work.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
JOHN: I edit and size photos we’ve taken and begin drafting a post for tomorrow. I also set up the tripod to shoot the desk trim project for a future tutorial.
SHERRY: I planned to spray-prime office chairs, but I need to finish the next morning’s post first. I edit photos and write, and when Clara wakes around 4:30 I pause to spend time with her.
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
JOHN: The kids are restless, so we head out for an evening walk since rain is expected later. Burger is always excited to go.
SHERRY: On our walk we brainstorm post ideas and discuss kitchen layouts. We talk through options until one sticks and we both feel excited about it.
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
JOHN: I cook dinner — tonight it’s a Rachel Ray recipe with chicken, apples, raisins and olives. Clara plays on the kitchen floor while I cook.
SHERRY: I wrap up photo edits and blog comments. Dinner is on the table by 6:45 and it’s delicious — John even gives me extra olives.
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
JOHN: We spend family time together before Clara’s bedtime: reading books, playing and trying to tire her out.
SHERRY: Burger entertains Clara until about 7:45 when we brush teeth, say goodnight to grandparents (a photo of them, anyway) and put Clara to bed. She’s out quickly.
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
JOHN: With Clara asleep, we focus on work. It’s common to have laptops out late into the night, though we try to keep things casual and sit together in front of the TV.
SHERRY: I finish the post for the following day, a process that often takes 2–3 hours when you include photos and step-by-step instructions. Quick giveaways are much faster to write.
9:00 pm – 10:00 pm
JOHN: We realize we need to record a Q&A video that will take a while to edit, so I set up the tripod and organize the roughly 80 questions we received on Facebook.
SHERRY: I change outfits for the video and get ready to film. We prefer one-take answers to keep things genuine, and hope to finish in about thirty minutes.
10:00 pm – 11:00 pm
JOHN: The filming runs longer than planned — general dorkiness and lots of laughter ensue — but it’s fun.
SHERRY: Same here. The thirty-minute goal is out the window, but we enjoy talking to the camera and to each other.
11:00 pm – 12:00 am
JOHN: After uploading the video, I reply to a few tweets and emails, then work on Google SketchUp to model kitchen layout ideas in 3D. I snack on some ice cream while learning the software.
SHERRY: I update our House Tour and related pages with recent photos, then return to comments and email. I start a BabyCenter post but don’t finish before bedtime.
12:00 am – 1:00 am
JOHN: I ask for “ten more minutes” to finish a SketchUp render, then make rounds to turn off lights, set the alarm and check on Clara before bed.
SHERRY: While waiting for John, I draft another post and get ready for bed. It’s nearly 1am before we finally settle down.
1:00 am – 1:30ish
JOHN & SHERRY: All of us — including Burger — snuggle in bed. We recap the day and run through plans for tomorrow: writing book chapters, spray-priming chairs, finishing nearly-complete posts and tackling the inbox. Conversation fades quickly into sleep, with a shared wish that Clara sleeps until at least 8am. (She made it to about 7:45.)