We Won $5,000 on Our Five-Month Wedding Anniversary

There are moments that seem too good to be true, and this was one of them. To celebrate our five-month wedding anniversary, we learned we had won the grand prize—$5,000—in the Remodel, Blog & Win contest run by RemodelingMySpace. We submitted our blog entry months ago and watched the competition grow; when we found out there were 46 other blogs competing, the win felt even more incredible.

Leading up to the announcement I tried to manage my expectations. When I asked to delay dinner until the contest winner was revealed, John gently told me not to get my hopes up. I listened, but it was hard not to imagine what winning might mean: extra funds for projects, the chance to give back, and the thrill of recognition for the work we’ve shared online.

When the phone finally rang, any restraint evaporated. Hearing the news set off a spontaneous burst of joy—screaming, jumping, hugging, and a lot of incredulous laughter. It was one of those moments where everything else fades and you just soak in the surprise. Our dog, Burger, watched with absolute confusion as we celebrated, clearly unsure what all the commotion was about.

Winning felt like validation for the time and effort we’ve put into our home projects and our blog. We document our renovations, share lessons learned, and try to inspire others to take on creative improvements. To have that work acknowledged in a contest with so many other talented bloggers is incredibly gratifying.

We also want to extend our sincere thanks to Paul Marek and the RemodelingMySpace team for organizing such a fun and well-run contest. Events like this are a great way to bring the community together, spotlight creative home renovation work, and encourage others to tackle projects they might otherwise postpone.

As for our plans for the prize money, we’ve given this a lot of thought. We plan to donate a portion of the winnings to a housing charity in Richmond. Supporting organizations that help provide stable housing is important to us, and giving back in a meaningful way was an immediate decision. The remainder will go toward continuing home projects around our house. We have a list of improvements and updates we want to tackle, from small cosmetic changes to more involved DIY efforts, and this prize will help make those ideas a reality.

We also intend to keep sharing each step of the process on the blog. Documenting projects—what works, what doesn’t, and practical tips—has always been our goal. The extra funds will allow us to take on a few more ambitious projects and share higher-quality photos and write-ups so our readers can follow along and get the most value from our experiences.

Winning this contest was a joyful surprise and a reminder of why we started blogging about our home journey in the first place: to learn, to improve, and to connect with others who share a passion for making a house feel like a home. We’re grateful to everyone who read, supported, and voted for us, and we’re excited to put the prize money to work on projects that matter to our home and community.

Thank you to everyone who has followed our journey so far. We can’t wait to share the next round of renovations, updates on our charitable donation, and the ways we choose to invest the prize back into our home and community.