True to our 2011 resolution, which inspired us to sneak off to Maui last year, this year we road-tripped to Destin, Florida to soak up sun and recharge our DIY batteries. Even if you love painting, sanding, and stripping wallpaper, it’s healthy to step away from primer and sawdust for a week and reboot with … Read more

It’s been more than six months since our last video house tour, and because several readers asked for an update, we finally tidied up the house, shoved a few things into closets, and shot an all-in-one-take walkthrough. At first we thought there wasn’t much new to show, but as we walked through we noticed a … Read more

***Clara’s here! So this baby pool is officially closed*** Sherry is now three weeks away from her due date (May 19), so we thought it was the perfect time to start a lighthearted baby pool. As with any classic baby pool, we’re inviting guesses about when our little girl will arrive. To make things even … Read more

Yesterday marked two weeks since we moved into our new house, so we thought it was a good time to share an updated look at the progress in each room — and what still needs work. We’re proud of a few early wins: we painted Clara’s room, bought and assembled a new bed, removed several … Read more

As bloggers, we answer plenty of questions—especially ones about painting cabinets, upholstering headboards, and hanging art. For this week’s blogiversary celebration, though, we decided to take a break from DIY topics and answer more personal questions. Inspired by other bloggers who’ve shared Q&A posts, we invited readers on Facebook and Twitter to ask us anything—specifically … Read more

1. You have a painting belt. John actually owns a belt reserved just for painting. We learned quickly that paint splatters can permanently ruin clothes, so we keep a set of dedicated painting outfits: one summer set (shorts and a tee) and one winter set (jeans and a sweatshirt). That keeps our regular clothes intact … Read more

My best friend and I live in different parts of the country — we’ve been friends for 24 years and have only shared a city about one-third of that time — so we take trips together whenever we can. Packing light for yourself, a few nights of sleepovers in a new place, exploring without obligations … Read more

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*** This might be my favorite giveaway title yet. Is it a band name? A Pixar film? Neither — it’s simply the two options SIX winners will choose from thanks to Cardboard Safari. Cardboard Safari makes distinctive animal trophies made entirely from intersecting, laser-cut cardboard pieces. If you’ve ever … Read more

We did it! Over two long Clara naps (with a helpful friend lending a hand) we opened up our front yard in what we’re calling “Phase Two of Ten Million” in our slow transformation. Why so many phases? The yard started out looking like this: Much like our first house’s yard, we expect a few … Read more

We survived our first summer hosting on Airbnb, welcoming 23 different families over the past three months — and, more importantly, the duplex survived too. Our initial rental season had its fair share of hiccups, high-anxiety moments, and unexpected learning opportunities. This week we’re taking you behind the scenes of a busy few months spent … Read more