Tuesday, October 5, 2010


Can you believe we've been at it for over 2 years? I can't! It seems like only a blink of an eye since we first started up this blog, logging baby purchases and all our hopes and dreams for this big renovation of ours. Over time it has evolved, like all things, to include WhiteBerry and our daily exploits. It's very overwhelming to actually grasp just how different our lives are since we began (in all good ways!). I was working monday-friday as a marketing manager, Sean in finance and it was just us two and the puppies. In the last two years we have started our family, 2 new businesses (me: WhiteBerry, Sean: his restaurant), bought and sold 5 cars (Sean has a wee addiction to alternating his vehicle), painted hundreds of pieces of furniture, and made a huge dent in our renovation 'to-do list'
Oh yeah, and we have made thousands and thousands of friends:
you!
It is pretty special to look back at our old posts and remember good times, but even more special that we have been able to share it with family and friends. Pushing us ahead and encouraging us all the while.
And while they tell you not to mess with a good thing, we really want to make our blog as good as it can possibly be.
Because when I am not cuddling with this handsome dude,
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playing with this lovely little lady,
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or managing a diva dog and his demands,
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and show you.
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It is a pretty amazing priviledge to hang out with your friends every day!
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So I want to know what you think we can do to spiffy up this little blog of ours.
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There might be a little dust flying, tears falling, and a lot of work happening while we work on it but it's nothing we aren't used to by now!
So please, lay it on us. Do you want to see more videos, less furniture, more baby, more construction-destruction, less painting....? Whatever you have to offer, our ears are wide open! With a lotta love and a little time I think we can really have some fun around here.

44 comments:

Sarah said...

Congratulations! I love your blog just the way it is...you are so talented.

Kristen said...

Your blog has consistantly remained one of my favorites, mostly because of your great content, and your LACK of fake, filler posts that are thinly veiled ads for sponsors or trying to get publicity. You come across as genuine and I enjoy all of your posts!

What would I like to see more of? More details! More step-by step tutorials, before, DURING, and after photos. Ideas and tips on how to arrange vignetttes and decorate the tops and insides of your pieces. More plans and ideas for spaces you have yet to renovate...basically just more!!!

Unknown said...

GREAT feedback!! I totally agree So Not Martha... let's talk details, right?

You ladies made my night with your awesome comments~ Thanks so much!

kaylan said...

I'd love to see more decorating posts - where you find the items, how/why you arrange them in a particular way. I realize this isn't the main purpose of the blog, but I love decorating posts when they do pop up!

Really I just love the blog and am so excited when a new post is up! Keep it up!

Stephanie said...

I am a new follower, and I started following because of your pictures and content. So I guess I wouldn't change a thing :)

Tosha said...

I love your blog as well... it is absolutely one of my favorites! I love that I can read a post continuously and don't have to click on a button to read the rest of the "story". I love that you have a home button, a tutorial button that I don't have to go searching the entire blog for what I was looking for, and I love all the pics.

I love that you post about your baby and normal life... it makes you human and real. I love real!!! I love that you don't profess to know everything and yet you're not afraid to try anything... like I said, REAL! I love it, love it, love it!

Jessica @ Simply A Farmer's Wife said...

Holly,

Your blog is definitely one of my favorites. I couldn't have said it better than So Not Martha! Details, details, details.

Thank you for sharing so much with us! I look forward to being inspired by you for years to come!

Lena said...

More Wren, she's just too cute!

Tiffany said...

I enjoy the renovations around the house and I would love to see more of you and the family! Maybe a vlog?

Sharon said...

Hi Holly

I am with 'Not so Martha'

but some things i would love to see:

How to cut down a round dining table to make a coffee table (i am dying to try this)

How to make items look balanced and coordinated on top of piece of furniture

How to make house interior look clutter free and yet practical for storage (esp. with kids stuff)

How to paint drawers and fiddly bits on furniture so drawers don't stick

just a few of my personal interests but I love your blog and check it all the time!

Thanks!

Sharon

Rachel Noelle Pallas said...

~*~Your blog is PERFECTLY LOVELY just how it is!!~*~*Hugs,Rachel ;)

Crafty Housewife said...

I love your blog as is! It is probably either my first or second favorite (probably first at the moment). I can sit and scroll through your posts for hours! I love the very neutral color palette in general with the pops of color, love how you do things budget consciously, and the knobs and pulls you use, OH MY! You have inspired a knob obsession within me =). I love seeing all the crafts that you do!

KLM said...

I think your blog is very clean and I love clean blogs. I also agree with 'so not Martha' in the fact that you LACK the 'fake' content which is always a plus [and really hard to come by these days...].

Keep up the great work! :)

Ashley said...

I love your blog. It's the first one I check every day! Great content. Love your home updates. My suggestion... post more. I can never get enough!

Cindy said...

i don't think there is anything you should do to change it...i love seeing the pieces you have done and you have totally inspired me to paint a few pieces of my own. had i not found your blog, i would have never known that you could take a hunk of junk and turn it into cinderella's carriage with just a wave of the magic paintbrush!!!

not only have i started scouring flea markets and goodwill stores, i have actually been able to score some major pieces of my own and turned them beautiful like this one...

http://camerasandchaos.blogspot.com/2010/09/hutch-wasnt-meant-to-be.html

thank you for the wonderful inspiration i see every day and for the ability to see the beauty in the ugly and bring that vision to life. i don't think i will ever set foot into a furniture store and pay their horribly inflated prices when i can get something from the garbage and make it better than new!!!

Cora Anne Designs said...

Congratulations on two years! Your work is a.m.a.z.i.n.g!

kathie said...

I love your blog as is, but of course would always love to see more of your amazing furniture transformations! I also love Fresh Coat Fridays ~ the entries seem to be so consistent with what you do, too. Congratulations, you have a wonderful thing going here :)

Martha said...

Oh,I love your blog just the way it is, but I have to say that I love it when you talk home improvement and show us what you've done to your home.

I, personally, am not a fan of videos on blogs. I'm looking for photos that I can quickly scroll through and say, "ooooh! aaaahhh!" I'm usually disappointed when I press "play" on the video clip. I don't know why, but that's my 2 cents :)
Keep up the great work!
Martha from Elizabeth Hill

Caroline said...

I love reading your blog. It's one of my favorites and I read A LOT of blogs. I particularly enjoy it when you share your business acumen and the realities involved with running your business. Very enlightening. Of course, your adorable pups and sweet baby always bring a smile to my face too.

Shar said...

You are one very talented lady. I really love your blog and have been reading it for awhile now. I love the way you tell us about the furniture, family, and your own home. It is truly a great mix. Including stories and photos of your family just makes you real to us out here in blogland. I do agree that more tutorials would be great but I also understand that you have a business to run and you don't want to give away all of your trade secrets! Anyway, I love it now and I am sure you will come up with just the right thing.

Meghan said...

I agree with both girls! I love your blog exactly how it is and its the one at the very top of my Google Reader - the one I look forward to reading the most! The lack of constant give-a-ways and promoting sponsors is refreshing and I love the genuine "this is our life" feel! But...I think we need a recent picture of Wren!

Unknown said...

You look so pretty in that blue dress!

Anonymous said...

Your blog is amazing Holly. All I can say is more! I love seeing your renovation ideas and all of your amazing transformations. I suppose that would be the big think I'd love to see more of is before and afters on the pieces you are working on and more design tips. Some tutorials on how to get started in case one ever does wish to tackle a project would also be great. Keep it up! you are wonderful!

Melissa said...

i'd love to see more family/baby! i love love love your design posts, but there are a lot! it's always nice to see who's behind all that paint once in a while! keep up the great blog!

Rita Mireles said...

Don't change a thing! I especially love how we envision your perfect life, perfect house, white decor and all...and then you show us incomplete reno's, the house on cleaning day and all the other hectic reality of life. It's fun to watch and nice to know we all really aren't perfect!
That being said, you really are an inspiration. I've based many goals off of your blog. Keept it up! I always enjoy reading!

Melissa said...

Congrats! I really love your blog just the way it is! One of my favorite things to see is your holiday/seasonal decorations, love it!!!

Angie said...

i love your blog also! you are listed as one of my favs.

i have trouble arranging my furniture in my space bec our home is so open. you do an incredible job with that. maybe some help with that?

Unknown said...

Well you guys are making this WAAAYY too darned easy!! But thank you so much, honestly, for all the sweet words. It feels pretty good to know that we haven't been too far off the mark with your expectations. GREAT ideas, all of them and we will get on it!

Tales of Our Journey said...

Your blog is one of my favorites! I don't think you could take anything away. But I would always love to see more baby!!! She is adorable!

Starla said...

Congratulations! I love your blog. I especially enjoy checking out your furniture transformations. So much inspiration! I agree with another comment - I would love more details.
Again - great job on everything!

Krystal Wight Armstrong said...

Wow, congratulations on 2 years, and all that you've accomplished together so far! I stumbled here a little over a year ago when I was searching for ideas on how to make our own headboard, and your post was so helpful, I ended up getting stuck & reading your whole blog over those next couple weeks!

I hadn't been much into the blog scene before, you were kinda the gateway, that got me following a few others. And anytime I'm bored, and basically once a day, I have about 4 sites I check for fun new stuff, and you're is always the first one I check. I love it the way it is, so you wouldn't have to change anything really. But it's super generous & brave of you to ask what we'd want to add.
I agree that there's a really lovely mix to your posts. I like the DIY stuff, it just feeds my desire to get working on our own home when we finally graduate and buy our own house (this summer!), and I like the fun everyday little stuff that you're up to & share (there aren't as many of those, but they're really neat when you do). Maybe my favorites are the crafts you do for decorations. Keep those up, you're awesome at it!
Currently I'm pretty busy so the really long FreshCoat Friday posts I usually skim or skip over, but I think when I have more time and options to utilize the ideas, I might like those posts more (& I know others really love it). Oh and while there's just the right amount already, I actually really do like the giveaways, because they seem genuine and offered by people who love your blog as much as us, and they're always really neat items.

If you're really asking for more than what you already do for us... The thing I've really wanted to see the VERY most, for a long time- is some photo (or video) step-by-step tutorials on some of the FABULOUS ways you fix your hair! You are SO pretty (that 1st photo of you is beautiful!) & have some really cute photos up w/ great dos, & I've commented asking for tips on how to do them, but I know you've got so much to do, and keep really busy, so I've always understood you not doing them before. But that would be my #1 request!
I also love the quality & number of photos you have in each post, & because I've always loved the idea of Canada but never been, I'd love to see/know more about life in Canada, and even some more photos of your yard/garden...I love the outdoors!

Sorry I type too much. Thanks for the opportunity, & ALL the awesomeness you share with us!

Tanya said...

Love your blog. I would love to see more furniture details -- including the INSIDE of your pieces. Is that odd? :)

my pocketbook said...

your site is consistently fabulous. i so agree with so not martha...and your lack of 'phishing'...you know the "oh, no look what silly little me did now" when what you are really saying is "woohoo, look at me, aren't i cool" is so fresh and inviting! just keep doing what you are doing....but if you have time for more details, bring 'em on! your style is over the moon!

Unknown said...

Congratulations Holly! My sisters and I have enjoyed following your blog for a long time and get excited to see what you are up to! Always a nice break in the day!

christine, just bella said...

Hey Holly! Happy Blogiversary to you!! I love your blog, you are the stylin' master! All your vignettes your do are just amazing. I have to say I love the 'keepin' it real' posts too - like the one of your house as is - missing floorboards and all!

Keep up the wonderful bloggin' and remember to do a bit of what YOU like too :)

Tyler and Kendyl said...

I LOVE your blog and check it daily. I too think it's great as is but would love to see more family stuff mixed in.

Esme said...

So Not Martha...said it best! Just one thing to add...more of your wonderful clothing finds for you and Wren!!! I have a 22 month old and I love to see what you are dressing her and yourself in. Call me nosey...but I LOVE your style!!!
Can I please clone your home?!?!?! As soon as I figure out how to do...??? LOL!!!

JoLynn said...

It's good the way it is, but I would love to see more of your house. For example, do you have a 3-sided fireplace? It looked like maybe you did in this picture. I never know what to do about ours. Please help. :)

JoLynn said...

Okay, I'm hopeless. Please ignore my previous comment. I see now that it is a mirror above your fireplace. Honestly! I'm not sure about myself sometimes! {Still not sure what to do about my 3-sided fireplace though.} :) Would love to see some more reno or future reno ideas from your house though.

Unknown said...

I feel ya Jolynn! While I am not dealing with a 3-sided fireplace, our last house did have a very modern/ugly fireplace that we had to work with. You can check it our under one of our first posts entitled Our First House.

Kacey said...

Congrats on 2 years! I love the mix you incorporate into your blog. It's real and inspiring - I can always count on you to provide a good dose of inspiration!

Anonymous said...

I love your blog and I am not a fan of the videos on blogs, no real reason why... I just like the scrolling & photos better. I would love to see more of that cute Mung Kee too :)

Kelley said...

I too would really like to know more about your vignettes and styling. To be honest, while I love the look of your home and creations, it's all totally different from what I have in my own home. But even still, your posts inspire and amuse me every time. I'm always so excited to see what you have in store for us! Keep up the good work.

Valerie@chateaualamode.typepad.com said...

Holly, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog. Yours is one that inspired me to start my own blog. I don't think you should change a thing. Well, maybe I would agree with more details...sometimes I have questions after a post on a detail on how you might have done something. Also, I do wonder how when you paint drawers do you keep them from sticking? That's one thing I've had trouble with in the past. Keep up the great work and Congrats on 2 blogger years!

 
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