Note: This is a retroactive post I put together in December 2011 to compile monthly recaps for our first year in the new house. I like details, so here’s everything we tackled in February — yearbook-style.
Coupon-lovingest: A post about how I try to save money by cutting coupons.
Sneakiest: Our tape-to-catch-drywall-dust trick that made cleanup so much easier.
Most Mischievous: Painting an old glass lampshade turquoise while John was out for a run — a tiny, colorful surprise.
Best Picture Ever Taken: A post about finding a resin ram at TJ Maxx that resulted in a perfect photo of Burger doing yoga behind it.
Most Flabbergasting: Finding out we were named Apartment Therapy’s Best Home Design Blog of 2011 — completely unexpected and thrilling.
Favorite $2.80 Project Ever: Gray-washing the living room beam using a light dry-brush technique and a $2.80 test can of paint — big impact for almost nothing.
Most Fowl: A thrift-store goose we picked up with a cool quatrefoil tray — waiting to be painted something bright someday.
Most Magpie-ish: Debating shiny metallic paint colors for the living room ceiling — tempted by anything that sparkles.
Most Words About Finding A Table Ever Written: Our long hunt for the right dining table, a drawn-out search that finally ended in victory.
Most Alarming: Realizing my mom and stepdad were coming to stay and our guest room still looked like a work-in-progress.
Most Delayed Post: A tutorial for upgrading a 40-cent Goodwill platter with decorative paper — posted a couple months late, but still useful.
Best Score: Scoring two secondhand chairs for $35 each, a steal compared to similar retail prices.
Most Likely To Look Miniscule: Our console table from the previous house would have looked tiny in the new, larger entryway, so we moved it into the hallway and started planning a big frame wall.
Most Well Rounded: Our curvy, chunky dining table that easily seats the whole family — a perfect fit for gatherings.
Least Afraid Of Moth Balls: Me, happily digging through thrift stores and rescuing treasures like a $4 mirror covered in dust and cobwebs.
Most Thrifty: Picking up 23 items for $98 during a family beach vacation — a fun, budget-friendly haul.
Most Burger-licious: A post about all the spots Burger, our chihuahua, loves around the new house and how he adjusted to the move.
Most Brown-Nosing: Going the extra mile during a quick guest-room spruce-up by deciding to paint the walls — we even primed everything first.
Most Shocking: Painting the guest room a deep, moody teal. We love the result, and we included a video showing how to cut in clean lines without painter’s tape.
Most Likely To Put You To Sleep: The new guest-room mattress we researched thoroughly to make sure visitors sleep well.
Most Appreciated: Making the guest bathroom functional by replacing the shower head and toilet seat and adding a shower curtain and bath mat.
Most In-Progress: The guest bedroom, after we tossed in new curtains, an old rug, leftover chairs, and bedding to prepare for guests while we tweaked the layout.
Most Chipper: Our bold and happy guest bedroom — still a work in progress but ready for its first visitors. We also shared how we made a luggage-rack-side-table to fit the space.
Most Shower-Ready: Our not-perfect-but-functional guest bathroom, styled with a new shower curtain, bath mat, and a few welcoming touches.
Most Proud: Sharing our favorite Richmond spots to eat, shop, thrift, and hang out — we love living in this beautiful city.
Most Likely To Result In A “One Night Stand” Joke: A post about swapping out two old side tables to serve as temporary nightstands — practical and a little cheeky.
