Our podcast has officially reached legal drinking age—Happy 21st, YHLHAP! Thanks for stopping by the show notes for Episode 21 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. In this episode we tackle one of the most frequently asked questions we get: how do home improvement projects actually get accomplished when you’ve got kids underfoot? This is a question we’ve both been asked countless times, and one we’ve asked ourselves in many moments of renovation-induced panic. In the episode we walk through the pressure of balancing parenting duties and DIY work, and we share four practical approaches we rely on to keep progress moving without losing our minds.
Along the way John confesses a major blunder he made during our kitchen renovation, and Sherry takes a playful stab at a “guys vs. girls” Pinterest guessing game. We also discover a shared delight in the unusual overlap between handcrafts and zombie fandom. The conversation blends honest storytelling with useful, realistic strategies for anyone trying to manage renovations, maintenance, or even small weekend projects while raising a family.
You can download or stream this episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and TuneIn Radio — or listen to it through your favorite podcast player. Use these notes to follow up on any resources or photos we mentioned during the show.
What’s New
- Rather than share an uninteresting washed-away gas line marking photo, we included a drone image our neighbor took of our house right after I finished hand-digging the areas that might have crossed the gas line. You can see a couple of trenches and the front yard stretches where we were careful to dig by shovel. The picture also makes it obvious why our lawn needs more consistent watering—our side yard has basically turned into a mini moss garden.
That’s Embarrassing
- In a moment of ordering regret, John accidentally had a shipping crate’s worth of backsplash tile delivered for our kitchen. It was certainly an overbuy and felt pretty embarrassing in hindsight—worth sharing as a cautionary tale for anyone ordering materials online without triple-checking quantities and dimensions.
What’s Not
- We referenced Pinterest research in the episode, including an official Pinterest blog post about the differences in what guys and girls tend to search for on the platform. It’s a fun read if you’re curious about trends and search behaviors.
- We also mentioned a few pop-culture renovation examples like the “barndominium” Chip & Joanna Gaines renovated on their show and the viral trend of snackadiums—those imaginative, stadium-like snack arrangements built for big game-day gatherings.
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We’re Digging
If you’re into modern or ironic cross-stitch, we shared a few makers and patterns worth checking out. Cross-stitch has had a creative resurgence, blending traditional craft with contemporary motifs and even pop culture references.
- Sherry’s LaCroix can cross-stitch hangs in our foyer and is a playful example of how a classic craft can be updated to fit today’s aesthetic. We also pointed to several novelty and pop-culture patterns, including Walking Dead–inspired pieces and more risqué options for grown-up spaces.
- The Stitch Mill was mentioned as a source for affordable patterns—many of their designs, like tool or terrarium motifs, are simple, inexpensive, and perfect for gifting or displaying in a workshop or mudroom.
- We also admired a few stitched family portrait shops on social media that turn family photos into charming stitched keepsakes.
Psst—Looking for something we’ve featured in past episodes? We keep a master list of everything we’ve “been digging” from earlier shows so you can easily find past resources, projects, and recommendations.
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Episode 21 captures the messy, real, and often funny ways remodeling and parenting collide. If you’re juggling projects with young kids or just curious how seasoned DIYers protect momentum during busy seasons of life, this episode offers empathy, practical tips, and a few laughs. Thanks for listening—and if you enjoyed this show, consider subscribing so you don’t miss future episodes packed with renovation reality, family life, and creative inspiration.