For our first blogiversary we shared a few goals going into year two, and now we’re checking in to see how we did—and setting new goals as we head into year three.
Look at those calves. Last year we decided to publish our goals because writing them in a notebook just didn’t feel as motivating as putting them out there for everyone to see. Turns out that public accountability works: we made solid progress on many fronts.
Last Year’s Goal: Get Your Read — We wanted to write more fun, interactive posts and invite reader participation. How we did: Pretty well. We found it’s much more enjoyable to treat the blog like a conversation, ending posts with questions, running interactive “Let’s Tackle It Together” projects, and featuring recurring “Burning Questions” posts. Hearing your opinions and ideas has made the blog more lively and fun—so thanks for chiming in.
Last Year’s Goal: Change The Scenery — I planned to step back from behind the camera so John could appear more on video. How we did: Mission accomplished. John has stepped in front of the camera for a wide variety of videos—from garage cleanups and furniture assembly to road trips and stripe painting. He’s no longer just the guy behind the lens.
Last Year’s Goal: Listen Up — You asked for regular features like $0 room makeovers and deal-of-the-week recommendations. How we did: We answered. We shared favorite affordable finds—from paint brushes to soap dispensers and vacuums—and produced a zero-dollar same-day room makeover. We’ve also showcased many reader redesigns and have even more budget-friendly ideas in the pipeline for year three.
Last Year’s Goal: Seriously Detox — We pledged to embrace more eco-friendly products and practices. How we did: Very well. We added a backyard compost container, planted an edible garden, built a DIY rain barrel, and upgraded to eco-friendly pans and an organic mattress. We also explored natural solutions for pest control and holiday projects, and teamed up with a reusable bag maker to share stylish, sustainable shopping bags—one of our favorite freebies to date.
Last Year’s Goal: Kid Around — We wanted to try a same-day children’s room makeover. How we did: Not exactly a same-day kids’ room, but we did another affordable same-day makeover for a reader and helped John’s sister transform an extra bedroom into a budget-friendly nursery over a few weeks. The final nursery reveal (and, you know, the baby) will be coming soon.
Last Year’s Goal: Get The Goods — We hoped to expand our shop beyond prints and portraits to offer home accessories. How we did: We explored it but didn’t fully launch a broader product line yet—blogging and projects kept us busy. We did, however, introduce YHL tees to the shop and were delighted by the warm response (we even restocked to keep up with demand).
Last Year’s Goal: Tech Things Up — We wanted to become more tech-savvy to deliver richer content. How we did: We made good progress. We posted weekly videos for months and created a centralized video page to keep everything organized and easy to find.
Last Year’s Goal: Be More Social — We aimed to use Twitter, Facebook, and other social media more effectively. How we did: Success. We’ve been sharing real-time updates, behind-the-scenes tidbits, video outtakes, and sneak peeks via social channels—and even leaked clues ahead of a big reveal in December.
Last Year’s Goal: Get Around — We wanted to house-crash more homes beyond our hometown to see how others live. How we did: We were lucky to house-crash several homes out of state, shared a 40-hour road trip, crashed a Texas wedding, and have more travel-related content planned.
Last Year’s Goal: Enjoy The Ride — We wanted to remember why we love blogging even on frustrating days. How we did: We survived and thrived. Running the blog remains a passion—even when it means late nights and troubleshooting—but we remind ourselves that hard work yields rewarding results.
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That covers last year’s goals. Here’s what we’re aiming for this year:
Hit The Road — We plan to travel more and house-crash additional inspiring homes around the country (and maybe beyond).
Get Cracking At Home — We’ve been saving and planning to finish our basement and completely gut our bathroom. This year looks like the one where sledgehammers and paint brushes finally come out. We’re excited to tackle both projects and share every step.
Share The Process — Readers want more than before-and-after photos; they want planning details, rationale for choices, material and layout decisions. For the basement and bathroom projects we’ll share detailed pre-planning breakdowns so you can see how we evaluate a space and prioritize function and materials.
Do More With Less Moolah — From free quick upgrades to super-cheap room refreshes, we’ll keep sharing ways to make a big impact without a big budget.
Put Faces To Screen Names — We want to meet readers in person, whether it’s local gatherings or on-the-road meetups. Shopping meetups at Targets, Ikeas, or TJ Maxx? We’re game.
Sling The Swag — We’ll keep giving away cool stuff regularly and aim for even bigger and better prizes when possible. Last year we hosted over 40 giveaways totaling more than $6,000 in prizes, and we plan to keep the giveaways coming.
Expand The Clan? — This year might just be baby year for us. No promises, but it’s a possibility—and if it happens, a nursery makeover could be in the cards by year four.
That’s the plan for Young House Love moving forward. We’re also reviewing all the feedback from last week’s reader questionnaire, so more ideas may emerge. What about you—any goals for the next 365 days you want to declare? Putting them out into the world seems to help make them happen, so do tell.
Slightly altered image found here.