As our freshly painted stools dry in the sunroom (pics tomorrow!), we finally caught up on the May superlatives we’ve been meaning to share. Here’s a concise recap of everything we checked off last month, plus a few never-before-seen bits for fun. You can find all of our monthly roundups dating back to January 2011 on the site for a roomy archive of projects. I also snuck in a new photo of myself modeling a few looks I’ve been testing—consider yourself warned.
Biggest Party Girl: Clara, who was thrilled for her 2nd birthday celebration—or at least thrilled about some of the supplies we bought for it.
Wormiest: Clara’s birthday party, a colorful, worm-themed day inspired by the birthday girl’s own choice.
Most Gigantic: Clara—at least compared to the tiny family of pigs living in the dollhouse we built and decorated for her.
We finished decorating the little dollhouse, and Clara seems to approve.
Tidiest: Our revamped bathroom drawer after a focused reorganization during our organization week—small changes that made a big difference.
Most Secretive: The storage ottoman and other kid-focused storage spots, now filled with a rotating stash of toys so the house feels less cluttered.
Simplest: Sherry’s pared-down beauty routine and a few other small habits we shared for keeping life simple around here.
Prettiest: The reorganized Projects section on the site, now improved with project thumbnails to make browsing easier and more attractive.
Most Appreciated: The new kitchen light (Ikea’s Aläng), which finally brightened a previously shadowed corner of the room.
Dirtiest: My basement workshop, still a bit of a disaster zone despite admitting it needed help—progress is slow, but there are updated photos to show the status.
Most Likely To Embrace The Chaos: Us—we talked about taking our time with DIY and enjoying the messy journey of making a home.
Most Level Headed: Me—occasionally—such as when I balanced the camera on my head to get a straight shot of our new hall bathroom fixture.
Class Shopaholic: Sherry, for a recent window-shopping post that showcased finds from Target and sparked lots of reader enthusiasm for more store-spotlight posts.
Most Likely To Contain A Hosta Pun: Our mailbox garden update, where we used spare hostas to freshen up a weedy patch and add more greenery to the front bed.
We also added more plants to the front planting bed, slowly building up the curb appeal.
Most Likely To Become A Teenage Mutant Ninja: The turtle we added to the patio along with hydrangeas and petunias—he won this title simply for being a turtle.
We also transplanted some boxwoods to the front porch planters—update: they’re still alive!
Math Nerd Alert: I used algebra to precisely rehang two Alaska botanical prints between our bedposts—a little math goes a long way when getting things aligned.
Most Potential: The alley where our new deck will go—the plan we sketched out points to lots of future possibilities for that space.
Best Score: A giant 9 x 12 rug for our bedroom that we picked up at a local tent sale for well over $1,000 off—definitely a win.
The Brick-Breaker Award: Clearing the area where the new deck will go, which involved hauling more than 100 bricks out of the space we once called “the shrine.”
Most Noodled: Our bedroom—between the rug, art changes, new lamps and pillows, it’s feeling more put-together and is motivating us to keep tweaking it.
Most Likely To Get Wood: Us—after evaluating options, we decided to skip composite and use pressure-treated wood for the deck.
Most Chipper: A quick, free hidden clipboard project Sherry made for the microwave cabinet to keep menus and grocery lists handy—often the smallest projects are the most useful.
Hairiest: Sherry—after giving me a DIY haircut that we finally documented. I got to be her hair model, which was equal parts entertaining and mortifying.
Best Dressed: Me, in the “permit-getting outfit” that helped me confidently secure the permit to build our new deck—small rituals can help with big tasks.
Most Likely To Rock The Runway: The rugs that tried on their roles during our kitchen rug “fashion show,” which helped us pick the best color and pattern.
Worst Dressed: Also me—captured at Clara’s party wearing her new ballerina skirt on my head. What dad wouldn’t do the same?
How was your May? Any projects, big or small, that you finished? Do you make a list of accomplishments to look back on? Share a few highlights in the comments—taking a moment to celebrate what’s done helps keep momentum going. We’ve got a long list ahead, from our deck build to painting kitchen stools and updating bathroom tile—what are you most excited to tackle this month?