Final Book Tour Recap: New York, Charlotte, and Atlanta

This is our last book tour recap—our scheduled stops have wrapped, and we’re sharing the final trio of cities we visited: New York, Charlotte, and Atlanta. If you followed our earlier recaps, you know how long and eventful this trip was. This final stretch had some memorable moments—especially an unexpected, hilarious encounter with Mark McGrath that made the whole trip worth recounting.

New York City was originally supposed to kick off the tour back in November, but Hurricane Sandy forced us to postpone until late January. It felt great to return to our old stomping grounds and walk past the midtown office building where we first met.

Despite a rushed schedule and some flight delays, we squeezed in a few highlights. We finally met our book agent face-to-face over lunch at one of Sherry’s favorite Manhattan spots, which was a long-overdue moment after working together for years. We were terrible at taking photos that day, but huge thanks to Rachel for making everything possible—she’s family to us at this point.

Before the signing we grabbed a quick meal with Roo from SemiProper, who we first met at our Connecticut signing last fall. Sherry and Roo have become fast text-friends; they bonded over burritos and hip hop while I happily played third wheel. Roo posted a photo of that meal, which saved us from complete photo-less shame.

The signing took place at a FLOR store in Soho, and they even had a photobooth—one we basically couldn’t be pried away from before it was our turn to let the line in.

If you want to browse more photos from that night, we had a blast taking silly shots and meeting readers. The night was full of touching moments, quirky props, and familiar faces showing up to support us.

The crowd brought their own flair. These ladies came decked out in Sherry-style outfits—black blazers and bird-print shirts—and they were kind enough to ham it up for photos.

Michelle added to the photobooth fun by bringing paper mustaches as props. She considered leaving them with us, but we convinced her to add them to the booth so everyone could use them. If you rocked a mustache in those photos, thank Michelle.

At one point Goldie and a friend brought personalized latex gloves for a photo. I’m pretty sure they were a cheeky reference to keeping paint off your hands, but once they were on my hands the image conjured something a bit more medical—my peace sign didn’t help to dispel that!

Being back in the city led to several reunions. I bumped into friends from high school and college, and even an old coworker, Megan—someone I interned with and then worked with in neighboring cubicles. We hadn’t seen her since leaving the city almost seven years earlier, so our reunion was much too short.

Marisa, a college friend who shared an apartment with me in Astoria after graduation, stopped by too. She’s the one who brought Clara a thoughtful present, a little memento tied to our shared—and admittedly rough—living situation back then.

We also had a busy Thursday lined up with meetings arranged by our publisher, including a taping of The Better Show. I demonstrated an over-simplified TV version of a project from the book, which was a fun and slightly nerve-wracking experience.

Backstage in the green room we had two memorable celebrity encounters. First, Jax and Tom from Vanderpump Rules popped in and provided a moment of reality-TV excitement for Sherry. Tom was chatty; Jax played it cool but eventually indulged a photo.

The other moment was even more unexpected. While discussing the recurring “one item, three ways” tips in our book—where a reader pointed out that “one nightstand, three ways” could be misread—we were interrupted by Mark McGrath, who playfully jumped into the conversation with, “Sounds like my kind of book!” Even after we clarified it was about nightstands, not something else, the moment was hilarious and surreal.

After meetings, our publisher treated us to lunch at a great Midtown spot called The Smith. The highlight? A bowl of cheese-covered potato chips that were impossible to put down—worth every calorie.

The restaurant restroom was an amusing New York moment: a unisex restroom with a photobooth inside. Naturally, we rescued the photostrip and proved to our publishers that yes, the photobooth really was in the bathroom.

Meeting our publisher contacts in person was a highlight—Judy helped bring the book to life and Molly and Allison helped make the tour happen. It was our first time meeting them face-to-face, and it felt fitting to celebrate with more photobooth shenanigans.

After a long day we endured a lengthy wait at LaGuardia and finally flew home—the last flights of the tour—to Clara and Burger, whom we missed terribly.

Four days at home gave us a breather before we drove with Clara to Charlotte and Atlanta. Although we stayed in many quirky, budget-friendly places on the tour, Charlotte’s accommodations stole the show for pure elegance—the Duke Mansion was gorgeous and felt almost like a step into Downton Abbey.

We were in Charlotte to speak at a private blogger event, which is how the bookstore signings in Charlotte and Atlanta got added to the itinerary. Because we drove, our hosts surprised us with a luxurious inn—conveniently the location of the blogger gathering, too.

The room’s sunporch was the perfect place to pretend we’d temporarily acquired British charm—or perhaps a Southern drawl given our location.

Clara came along on this leg of the tour, so we hired a babysitter for the events. It was our first time using a non-family sitter, and thanks to local recommendations Clara was well cared for and had a blast. That made our evening at the UNC-Charlotte bookstore much more relaxed and enjoyable.

We hadn’t realized the Charlotte event included a speech, so we scrambled to recall the talk we’d given in Austin and Florida. Fortunately it came back quickly, and we enjoyed a lively Q&A that even included a question asked via FaceTime.

The Southern hospitality was top-notch. One attendee arrived late because she was headed to a friend’s surprise engagement party—she made it in time, and the proposal was a success.

Fans brought incredible homemade cookies in creative packaging—delivered in a paint can, no less—which were as gorgeous as they were delicious.

Because we were signing at a college bookstore, someone even asked us to autograph a research thesis—a funny, earnest moment as we offered encouragement despite not fully understanding the academic jargon.

One family playfully dressed up as us, complete with masks and character choices that mirrored our personalities. We loved seeing readers go the extra mile—some even made custom nametags or shirts that referenced the blog in creative ways.

After a full day in Charlotte, we enjoyed family time at Discovery Place, where Clara had a blast. She met a friendly snake named Princess and played with an enormous ball exhibit, while I attempted a bed-of-nails demonstration for fun.

We left Charlotte on a rainy morning, drove toward Atlanta, and made a fun stop to see the giant peach in Gaffney, SC. In Atlanta, we stayed with friends and fellow bloggers, which led to more secondhand shopping, crafting sessions, and late-night conversations.

That night’s FLOR event in Atlanta was chilly and wet, but readers still turned out with smiles, crowns, and inventive costumes. One attendee who had competed in Miss Georgia graciously let Sherry wear a crown for a photo, which was a sweet and fun moment.

We met distant relatives, blog friends, and talented crafters who brought handmade gifts and props. People posed with exaggerated expressions inspired by a particularly creepy TV show, and we laughed through a string of uniquely awkward and delightful group photos.

Katie, Jeremy, and baby Weston joined our Atlanta signing and stayed to meet readers, making the evening feel like a warm, extended gathering of friends. It was a lovely way to cap off our tour.

The tour has been an incredible experience—an adventure we’ll always remember. It was a privilege to meet so many of you in person, exchange stories, and celebrate a shared love of creativity and home projects. Now it’s time to unpack, rest, and enjoy being home again. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us; your kindness and enthusiasm made the entire tour unforgettable. We’re grateful to have turned many of our “internet friends” into real-life friends.