For anyone wondering where the March superlatives went — here they are! A belated happy April to you (I resisted the urge to write “hoppy belated April,” promise). With a new month upon us, it’s time for our usual yearbook-style look back at March in the Petersik household. We even included a few never-before-seen moments just for fun. If you want to browse more monthly roundups going back to January 2011, you can find them in our archive — they condense over a year’s worth of projects into just a handful of posts. This month begins with some behind-the-scenes happenings that didn’t get much air time (surprise: they’re book related).
Most Cinematic: The household scene while we filmed a promo video for our book at the publisher’s request. We worked with pro photographer/videographer Todd (who also happens to be our brother-in-law) and his assistant Adam. The final edit is still in progress, but we can’t wait to share it — you’ll even catch a peek of a few secret book projects that popped up in the footage.
“I Came, I Sawed, Then We Went On Vacation” Award: Getting our new floors prepped and even starting the work the day before we flew to Portland, then on to Hawaii. A true example of finishing one chapter and immediately opening another.
Most Portlandia-esque: Portland gets its own award for style and quirkiness. We loved exploring the city and felt right at home among the local flavor — thanks for having us, Portlanders.
Most Inspiring: A house we toured while in Portland that really sparked our imagination. It was one of our favorites, especially for fun details like a giant map poster that stole the show.
Most Missed: Our Hawaiian vacation, which already feels like a distant memory. Thankfully we have lots of photos to remind us of the sun and surf, so we can relive the trip whenever we want.
Hole-iest: The tiles we had to patch after deciding to remove two of the brackets from our kitchen shelves. A small tweak turned into a tile repair project, but it was worth it for the cleaner look.
Grooviest: Installing our tongue-and-groove floating cork floor. It was a satisfying, tactile project and definitely felt more “groovy” than the alternative award name we considered.
Closest Call: Nearly running out of cork planks when we reached the laundry room. A last-minute scrap-piece miracle saved the day and completed the run.
The Cherry On Bottom Award: Finishing the new cork floors — the final trim and sealant really tied the kitchen together and made everything feel complete.
Our Favorite After: The kitchen reveal. After months of work, seeing it brighten and come alive was thrilling — the space went from dark and dated to cheerful and functional.
Widest: Our new TV. Upgrading from a 26″ to a 42″ made a noticeable difference — now subtitles and news tickers are readable, and the screen better fills the wall. We still plan to replace the undersized TV cabinet with a larger built or thrifted piece to balance the space.
Most Gravity-Defying: The floating vases Sherry finally hung in the guest bathroom as part of her “Dude, Get On That Already” initiative. They look charming and unexpected in their new spot.
Sexiest Voice: Sherry, who recorded our whole-house video tour while battling the flu. There’s something oddly endearing about a hoarse, tired tour — and the house still looked great despite her sniffles.
Most Festive: The kitchen decorations we put up for Sherry’s 30th birthday. I strung ribbon and surprised her in the morning — a small, heartfelt way to celebrate a big milestone.
Mood-iest: The mood board we assembled to kick off a mini-update for our long-ignored master bathroom. It helped narrow down colors and finishes and get the project moving.
Most Rock-ing: The Rockport Grey paint in the bathroom. It felt good to finally get some color on those walls and see the room start to take shape.
Biggest Pin-Head: Sherry’s hidden closet pinboard made from corkboard, duct tape, and leftover curtain fabric — a clever, budget-friendly solution that looks great.
Biggest Pin-Head (runner-up): The bean bag pouf Sherry sewed for Clara’s closet as part of the Winter Edition of the Pinterest Challenge. Functional, soft, and perfectly kid-friendly.
Boxiest: A happy yellow jewelry box that Sherry spray-painted for her “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge. Simple spray paint, big impact.
Most Fun: The yellow high chair that got a bright refresh with a few coats of spray paint. It’s cheerful and inviting — looks like a good seat for snack time.
Least Fun: An unexpected leak caused by a leaf dam on the roof. We checked the attic afterwards and confirmed everything was dry with no mold or lingering odors, which was a huge relief.
How about you — what did you accomplish in March? Did anyone else celebrate a 30th birthday, wrap up a long kitchen project, or give old furniture a fresh coat of paint? If you keep a list of accomplishments, it’s always motivating to look back and see what you’ve checked off. Share a few highlights below if you like — reflecting on small wins helps fuel momentum for bigger projects ahead. Bring on the shovels!