1. Tell us a little about your career in interior design and what you’re working on.

Danielle got four of these chairs for $75 on Craigslist!

Maddy was a bride looking for inspiration for her own wedding when she launched her popular and beautiful blog, The Inspired Bride. Using her own background in graphic design and art direction, she has one of the truly unique bridal blogs out there. She is also the co-editor-in-chief of the lovely Nonpareil Magazine, an online bridal magazine. Let’s get to know her a little better!

1. When did you start blogging, and what is your favorite thing about it?

I’ve dabbled in it for a long time, but never did anything “serious” until the Inspired Bride. IB started on New Year’s Day 2009. I love blogging! When I started it was a creative outlet for me because I was working as (primarily) an art director although my training is in Graphic Design (I hold a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design). I wanted to keep my skills in web and graphic design sharp while also using my art director’s eye to help me seek out great content. From there, it spread to Nonpareil Magazine, and now I have a general entertaining and home decor blog called Somewhere Splendid. It’s been a better outlet for me than I could have even imagined when I first started.

2. What do you see as regional trends coming out of weddings?

Not so much regional, but sparkles, sequins, and metallics are going to be HUGE this year, and not just in weddings – in home decor, fashion, and general entertaining. I’m seeing a lot of simple but graphic pattern starting to peak as well – chevrons in particular have caught on in weddings after they became huge on the home decor scene.

Maddy creates gorgeous inspiration boards

3. Tell us a little about your work with Nonpareil magazine.

I’m a founder and co-editor-in-chief. It’s a lot of work to run a magazine, I’m not going to lie. It’s really rewarding to help others showcase their talents in a completely different way than a blog can, though. We started out with the goal to make the gorgeous weddings you see on the blogosphere more accessible to your everyday bride, so we opted to take a DIY approach to it: every article requires two craft projects or printables to help our readers replicate what they see.

4. What wedding trends do you think are tired and ready to phase out?

I try not to pass judgement on details, because some people still enjoy them, but I’m frankly tired of seeing fake mustaches and vintage typewriters as props and guestbooks. I love that they came from a place that was outside the box, but they’ve been overdone now – time for something fresh and exciting that’s just as unexpected as they were when they first hit the scene!

5. Name 5 simple pleasures

Hot cocoa made with milk. A long, warm shower. Laying in bed for an extra ten minutes past my alarm with my husband and two kitties snuggling up to me. A letterpressed card with a  hand written note. Chocolate cake with a tall glass of milk.

6. What’s your go-to source for creative inspiration?

I have been utterly obsessed with Pinterest lately. It’s amazing – I find so much inspiration there as a graphic designer, an art director, and a blogger. Outside of that, I love fellow blogger Courtney’s DesignWorkLife, as well as the work of EightHourDay and Jason Munn of the Small Stakes for graphic design – they’re all very much in the world I design in, and it’s been self-affirming to see this style of design becoming more popular and recognized. For weddings and events, I actually try to stay outside of the blogosphere and find inspiration in areas that aren’t as connected – like interior design or product design, for example. It’s hard to see something and not reuse an idea when you’re stuck in the wedding and party world, and there’s also so much going on there that it can also be utterly overwhelming. Disconnecting, I think, is the only way to truly stay fresh.

7. We’re interiors obsessed here; As a newlywed, any tips on meshing your style with your man?

Hah! Fortunately, I married another designer, so we have very similar taste levels – we’re both mid-century modern for the most part, with a bit of a trend-focused twist. I think, though, that designing a house together is very much like designing a life together: it’s about give and take. You may not want his glowing Budweiser beer sign in your living room, so in exchange you should promise not to paint the bedroom pink. If one of you is setting the overall style of the house, whether it’s modern, shabby chic, cottage, or global, the other should take the lead on the color palettes. Play to your strengths, and be open to compromise!

8. What does the future hold for The Inspired Bride?

A lot of change, for the better! I can’t say a whole lot about it at the moment, but we’ve been brainstorming ways to constantly improve, and we’re implementing them all in one go! Stay tuned!

One of Maddy's beautiful inspiration boards

9. What is a typical day like for you?

Busy! I wake up, check email for all of my projects, then go to my fulltime from 8 until 5. The evening is often spent checking emails again, and coding posts if necessary. Some days I just spend the evening watching my hubby play video games. It depends on what the task list is like. Weekends are usually my downtime, and are sometimes spent prop shopping and other things that are working (but are so fun, they don’t feel like it!).

1. When did you start blogging, and what is your favorite thing about it?
I started blogging about a year ago to update friends and family (Ok, my mom) on renovations and decorating that my husband and I were doing to our VERY outdated home and my favorite thing about it is developing relationships with other bloggers. There are so many amazing and talented women in this community and I am so lucky to be a part of it!

I am still working on this one since I moved to Kansas City a year and a half ago. It is actually one of my goals for this year. I recently did a lunch with five other Kansas City bloggers, which was so much fun. My favorite place to shop in the area is the River Market Antique Mall. I love mixing old with new and think every room deserves a touch of vintage for added character and the place is HUGE! Three stories full of treasures!

3. How did you begin your design work?

I started designing rooms after a few friends asked for help with their places. After working with them, I fell in love with design and received a lot of encouragement so Second Street East Interiors was born. I am hoping to be able to do it full time someday.

Two of my favorite trends right now are bold walls (wallpaper, stenciling, decals) and of course, as I mentioned earlier, old mixed with new.

This is hard to answer simply because what has been in the in the blog world for a while is still trickling down to the mainstream. So what I have seen for a while or think is tired, clients love and are asking for! But to not avoid the question, I am getting a little tired of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” prints and every version in between. I feel like I can’t search for art on Etsy without running into 50 different versions. Keep calm and carry a wand??

1. Eating a delicious meal with my husband
2. Clean sheets
3. Starbucks Chai Tea Latte for winter or Shaken Iced Tea Lemonade (passionfruit) for summer
4. Sleeping in on a rainy day
5. Getting a package or letter in the mail

Blogs hands down. It blows me away at all of the talent and creativity that is floating around online. I am inspired every day when I sit down to go through my list of favorites!

Don’t ask don’t tell policy!! Just kidding!! I would say my best tip is to compromise and find out what really matters to him. For example, in our living room my husband really only cared that the couch was comfy and that he had a leather recliner. After that, he was down with pretty much anything. Even the orange horse lamps!

9. What has been your favorite home DIY project you’ve taken on?

Definitely the dining room table my husband and I built together but another is in the works that I think will become my favorite!

10. What is a typical day like for you?

I wake up at 5:45 (ouch!) and go to my regular job until about 5. I then come home, read my blog roll and answer e-mails usually while eating dinner. Afterward, I either work on client projects or the house. It isn’t too exciting at this point, but I am hoping this will change soon!

I’m sure it will, Michelle, if you keep going at the same rate. I’m especially impressed by the table! Thanks for joining us here today.

All photos by Michelle except the one in question #4, which is from West Elm.

1. What is your go-to source for design inspiration? The internet. By making my way through bookmarked sites and blogs I’m sure to find something to get my off high center.

2. What is your favorite way to work (a bustling office, couch, tea+silence…?) I actually like working in an office as opposed to home where there are just too many distractions. (Pets, television, etc.) But I prefer to be in my office with my door closed and my music on. I guess there’s something about being in a creative environment and knowing there are people to bounce ideas off of at the ready if need be.

3. What holiday tradition are you looking forward to this year? My favorite part of the holidays is generally the suspense leading up to them, which is a tradition in its own right!

A calender from the 2011 Round-Up!

4. Ok, Queen of Calenders, which one (or more?!) are you planning to get this year? I hold myself to one a year, and for the past few years my calendar has been determined by my Calendar Swap partner! Last year mine did great with the Pentagram Typography Calendar, so this year’s swapmate has a lot to live up to!

5. To combat stress, I like to ______________. I should be the poster child for stress and anxiety! I’m still searching for the perfect way to prevent either or, but for the last few weeks I’ve been trying the simple idea of positive thinking. It doesn’t fix everything, but I’m amazed at how much it actually does help!

6. Favorite thing about blogging: This may sound cliche, but it’s the people. The readers, the lovely bloggers I’ve met in the process, and people that I help promote on a daily basis. Not at all what I expected when I started Design Crush three and a half years ago, but I’ll definitely take it.

7. What’s next for Design Crush? I’ll be speaking at Alt Summit for the second year in a row this coming January. It’s always a great place to network and work on The Next Big Thing.

8. What’s on your holiday wishlist? It’s sort of embarrassing because it’s not a gift in the material sense. I’ll just leave it at that.

Thank you Kelly for sharing!

Readers, if you have a Getting To Know You request, please let me know. Bloggers, shop owners, and designers are all welcome.

All images borrowed from Design Crush.

Here’s Jill:

A huge thanks to Maggie for having me here today… I’ve been reading Maggie’s blog forever and she lives in one of my MOST favorite cities in the world – Seattle! So I always feel like I am in good company with her. On to the Q & A!

1. Your business is constantly evolving – how do you keep those creative ideas coming?

I am a huge fan of The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. I am reading it again for the second time. But one of the biggest take-aways I have had from that book is his theory on visualization. He says the following “Visualization activates your subconscious mind to create solutions for getting the goals you want. You’ll start waking up in the morning with new ideas. You’ll find yourself having ideas in the shower, while you are taking long walks, and while you are driving to work.” This is 110% accurate for my life and I have loved taping into this resource in the past year.

I have huge personal goals and I am currently depending on my blog and my work through my blog to get me there. For instance if you want a glimpse into my own visualizations they include extended trips to Europe with my family (particularly weeks spent in Paris in the summer) and owning a little quaint cottage on Lake Michigan. Big stuff for sure! I focus a lot of thought on where I would like to be. And it’s almost magic how the ideas materialize. Then of course it’s up to me to carry them out. That part isn’t so magical… but none-the-less exciting.

2. How do you stay organized with all the projects you have going on?

Organization is KEY for me. Right now I am juggling three blogs (good life, good tots, and one hundred inspirations). I am also very busy with wardrobe consultations and the “it” list. AND I just released my seasonal looks:book for winter & holiday. So I have A LOT of balls in the air right now. Oh, and I am the mother of two small kids (Noah, age 6 and Abigail, age 3) and I manage our household. Whew!

I have a few ways that I keep organized. One is lists. I use white note cards and keep lists by subject going at all times. So I have a list for the “it” list, a list for good tots and for good life and for Christmas shopping and for personal stuff and the list (of lists!) go on! I also heavily depend on “labels” in gmail. I don’t like folders because if it is out of sight it’s out of mind for me. So labels are perfect for organizing my email – mostly as it pertains to my blog. And lastly I like to make a skeleton schedule for blogging weeks in advance. So when I have blog ideas I save them as draft posts in blogger with future dates on them. That way when I sit down to blog I already have the subject of the post figured out (which is sometimes the hardest part), I just have to put together the content.

3. I have $50 to spend – what fashion purchase will get me through to April?

Oh boy… there are so many great options.

A great scarf can go a long way with sprucing up an outfit. I personally love a creamy white pashmina style scarf, it can go with anything. OR hit up DSW or Old Navy for a great pair of knee high boots. They are great with leggings, skinny jeans, dresses and skirts. OR lastly I would hit up Charlotte Russe or Forever 21 and drop the money on some fun accessories to spruce up what I already own.

4. What are you most excited about right now?

I am always excited about where my blog is going… it seems to have been really gaining momentum lately and if you are a blogger you know how exciting that can be. I just released my winter & holiday looks:book… which is a mini e-mag that I produce each season… so that is very exciting!

But on the personal side I am very excited for the holidays. My goal this season is to slow down a bit, enjoy the season and take some time to celebrate the holiday season with my kids and family through baking and nesting a bit. I feel a need to pull away from the computer a bit lately and hope to replace it with meaningful activities with my family that will create memories. I tend to be a work-a-holic, so these simple things can be tough for me… but my kids are at such fun ages now where the holidays are magical and I don’t want to miss out on that.

Of course I will still be blogging… but I hope to do so with more balance.

5. What’s your favorite way to indulge after a long day of runny noses, emails, and errands?

Lately it is spending time with my husband. I tend to want to be alone when I am maxed out, but lately I feel like my husband and I are both so busy that reconnecting at the end of the day has a new special-ness to it. We love to watch movies (we are addicted to Netflix) or catch up on our favorite shows on hulu. We love to get a bottle of wine, a ton of specialty cheeses and crackers and bread and just gorge ourselves after the kids are in bed. It’s so simple but fun. I super love my guy. It’s cliche but it is REALLY hard to stay connected with kids – and I find it more so as the kids get older. The family becomes busier and our careers become busier.

6. Any tips for someone wanting to break into fashion blogging?

I think this would go for any type of blogger, and that is: BE YOURSELF. Pick a topic that you will never tire of writing about or researching and then be yourself. When I first started taking pictures of my outfits I was very intimidated because I don’t live in fancy New York City, I don’t have an endless budget or a boyfriend that is a professional photog. But what I learned is that as a regular ‘ole gal in suburbia, with a busy mom lifestyle and a very “machine washable” style that I had my own unique voice that a lot of ladies relate to. It turns out that posting photographs of my outfits was a hurtle to greater blog success… I’m glad I “cleared” it, so to say.

My other piece of advice is to always strive for “better” – even small changes here and there or tweaks to your blog or your writing style, etc. I just try to get better at what I do each day.

Lastly I would say to be patient with the process. Some bloggers have a seemingly instant voice and popularity. I have been blogging now for over two years and it is still a daily challenge and process. I will also say that my voice in the blogging world now – as opposed to what it would have been five or ten years ago – is more meaningful that it could have been. Being in my thirties I get intimidated by these young and fresh voices on the blogging scene. But I find my confidence in my experience in life and for each person that will be different.

7. What’s coming up on the horizon for you and the business?

Oh boy… I guess I really don’t know for sure. What I do know is that 2010 was an amazing year for the blog. I hope that 2011 is just as fun and successful. I have a lot of confidence that there will be some new and great things in the future!

If you know me I always have about four ideas on the back burner. I guess at this point it’s just a matter of what materializes first. I do have two ideas brewing for e-books. But I lack the time and resources at this point to see it to fruition (the whole mom/kids/three blog thing, you know!?). I would also love to start putting together a real in-the-flesh book proposal. What will come of all that though is unknown. You’ll just have to stay tuned, I suppose!

8. On your holiday wishlist…

Once my husband and I had kids we kind of stopped buying gifts for each other – that is so not fun, huh? But a gal can always dream… I would love a new gold boyfriend style watch, I will always accept gifts in handbag form and in a dream world Santa would deliver new glistening white upholstered living room furniture on Christmas Eve. That may have to wait until spring though. Or five years. Who knows!

The lovely Caitlin:

1. What is your day job and how did you get into blogging?

I’m a Marketing Manager for DivineCaroline.com – I work on building our community, putting together our Newsletters, and much more. It’s an amazing company to work for, we’re all very close and all of us work together to build a company that we truly believe in.

One of the many projects I helped create and work on at DivineCaroline is called the Love This Site Awards, where we honor Web sites people love. I started reading so many amazing blogs that rung true to my heart. I was about six months out of college when I realized that I needed a creative outlet. That’s when Sacramento Street was born and I haven’t looked back since.

2. How do you find and store inspiration?

I spend a lot of time going through my favorite blogs, photography sites and magazines for inspiration. It’s fun finding so many beautiful homes and spaces. However, I try to post what I would want in my own home. When it comes to storing my favorite images, I have folders for each room (i.e. bedroom, bathroom, living room, etc.). I should probably have a better system but it works for me.

3. I’ve loved seeing your gorgeous wedding photos! Any tips for stressed out brides?

Oh, this is a good one. If you asked my maid of honor how I reacted to the rain the morning of my wedding she’d say, “I was waiting for her to break down and cry. But she didn’t, I’ve never seen someone so calm.” Yes, I woke up to pouring down rain and our wedding was supposed to be outside. But I didn’t want to ruin the entire day by being mad and upset. I worked with my wedding planner on an alternative plan but also made them hold off until two hours before the wedding to decide whether the ceremony would be outside or inside – the rain stopped 20 minutes before I had to make a final decision.

The best piece of advice I can give is stay calm and everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. If you get stressed, step back for a moment and go do something else that will totally distract you. In the end, your wedding day is more about you and your fiancé coming together to get married and spend the rest of your lives together – not about what chairs to use, dinner to serve, and guests to invite. As long as you have each other, your day will be spectacular.

4. Your tagline is “living with great style”. How would you describe the style of your home?

I want everyone to love where they live. It’s important for someone to want to go home to his or her house and love it. Whether it’s knick knacks you find at the flea market or high profile designs – it should always represent your own style.

My home is a mix of modern pieces I find at antique stores, flea markets and abroad. Each piece of furniture or vintage find has a story behind it. For example, I found a wrought iron coffee table at Alameda Flea Market without a glass top for $15 – who would pass it up? Not me. I thought I would never find a piece of glass that would perfectly fit but I was determined to make it work and I did. It’s a piece I treasure and it’s incredibly unique.

One of the lovely rooms she's featured.

5. What makes a house a home?

Make your home personal – whether it’s treasures from a flea market, travels or a family heirloom. Personal things like that make your home much more memorable. You never want to walk into a house and know “oh ya, this all came out of a Pottery Barn catalogue.” Make sure everything represents you and your family.

6. What is a typical day like for you?

A typical day starts at about 7am, checking emails, twitter and most importantly making a cup of tea to jump start my day before heading into work. Driving into work with my husband is my favorite part of my day – not a lot of people get to spend a few extra minutes with their spouse in the morning. By five I’m back home heading to the gym for a quick workout and making dinner for my husband and I. Then, sadly, it’s back to my computer. I usually try to write a blog post or two, work on side projects and lately I have been choosing photos for our wedding album.

7. If you found $100 in your pocket this morning, how would you spend it?

What a hard question . . . the first thing that came to mind was – drive up to St. Helena with my husband and have dinner at our favorite restaurant, Cook. Then go next door to a movie at the cutest theater that has double seats for two. It’s one of my favorite dates we do every once and awhile.

8. When you were little, what did you want to “be” when you grew up? How’d that work out?

This is completely different from what I do now. First, I wanted to be a ballerina, which happened, but then I got a stress fracture in my foot. Next I wanted to be a marine biologist because my family would go on these amazing ecological trips to the Sea of Cortez and Belize. But then I realized I didn’t like science that much, so that dream ended. My passion for interior design came from my Mom. She took me to flea markets as a kid and I loved finding treasures for our house – she loved bringing me along because I found everything hidden under tables and on the floor. My love for interior design was definitely carried on from her.

Another room she's featured.

9. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Oh, I have no idea! The sky is the limit. I’m an entrepreneur at heart so I never know what will come next. One day, I’d love to co-own a store with my Mom – it’s always been a life long dream to open a store together that combines home furnishings, vintage goods, perfect gifts and timeless jewelry. I know one day this will become reality.

10. Five things (people excluded!) that make life special.

French Breakfast Tea, Flowers, my iPhone, my Macbook Pro and a good book or magazine.

Note from Maggie: I’d also like to congratulate Caitlin on the recent announcement of the launch of Rue Magazine, set to debut in September. Caitlin is part of the “fab four” bloggers who are behind this much-anticipated venture! Can’t wait to see it! Congratulations! And thank you for sharing a little about you today!

All photos from Sacramento Street, including some from Caitlin’s beautiful wedding!

1. What is your day-job? How does that relate to blogging?

I’m a graphic designer by trade and work at a design agency in downtown Seattle. I do all kinds of print design but I tend to specialize in packaging. I’m fascinated by how people interact with packaging and how it can impact the entire product experience.

Blogging started on a whim for me and it was only natural for me to blog about design in some aspect. Right now the blog is a mix of design inspiration and all things crafty. Most of the work I do at the agency is for large corporate clients, so when it comes to the blog I tend to work in a smaller scale and do all the “pretty” delicate things that I don’t get to do at work.

2. What is a typical day like for you?

A typical day starts at 6am. I try to respond to a few emails and get caught up on Twitter before heading into work at 8am. By 6 I’m back home for a quick dinner with my husband and then it’s back to the computer until about 10:30. During this time I’m responding to emails and post submissions and scheduling the post for the following morning. If I have time I try to design and/or create crafts for either my Etsy shop or DIY projects for the blog. Time doesn’t usually allow for this everyday so most of my weekends are spent putting these together and photographing them.

Managing and fulfilling orders for my Esty shop is also part of my evening routine. My husband helps out in this department along with any and all IT support for the blog. He also edits every post for me since spelling and punctuation are not my strong suits.

Valentine bags were a hit in her etsy shop (and in the blogosphere!)

3. What do you love most about blogging?

I love the community! I am constantly in awe of how genuinely sweet and kind everyone is. Whether it’s readers or other bloggers, the generosity is amazing to me. I honestly expected it to be quite the opposite but I’ve definitely found that the craft blogging community in particular is overwhelmingly helpful. I recently got the opportunity to attend the Altitude Design Summit featuring many influential design and craft bloggers. Not only was I completely star struck but I was surprised to find the group as a whole, incredibly warm and friendly.

4. You post a lot of wedding inspiration. If you and your hubby could get married all over again, what (if anything) would you change?

Good question! I am constantly inspired by weddings and I always wish that I could do it over again just so I could incorporate some of those new ideas. One thing that I really wish I had done was wear some pretty yellow shoes to match my color palette. At the time I talked myself out of it since I figured only a few people would have ever seen them and it seemed frivolous. Looking back, I think it would have been a nice touch and it would have made for some adorable pictures. I’ve seen this trend more and more lately and I really enjoy it.

5. Where are some of your favorite places to go in Seattle?

My husband and I live in West Seattle and we recently discovered Lincoln Park. We love taking our dog for walks along the waterfront there. The views are just outstanding (even on a rainy day) and it’s a great place for the pup and us to get some exercise.

Her adorable dog Tula

We both come from big families where food was a major part of our upbringing so we love to go out to eat. Our favorite place to get breakfast recently is Spring Hill in West Seattle and my newest obsession is How to Cook a Wolf on Queen Anne. Hands down some of the best food in Seattle and I tell everyone to try both when they visit. Yumm!

6. Where do you find inspiration?

Luckily my job requires me to search for inspiration on a daily basis. If I happen to come across something that I like that doesn’t necessarily pertain to my project I’ll make a note of it and check it out later. I also read about 6 blogs on a daily basis that I find incredibly inspiring. Often times those blogs will spark an idea or direct me to another link that will inspire me. Since I can’t read all the blogs in my reader everyday, Twitter has helped me stay on top of what’s going on quickly as well.

Of course I still love the old fashioned magazines too. It’s sad that many of my faves like Domino and Blue Print are no longer around but I still have my Martha Stewart Weddings that I covet like nobody’s business. Real Simple and Better Homes & Garden’s are inspiration staples as well.

7. What happens to all your crafty projects after you’re finished blogging about them?

Hahahaha! I’s actually quite sad. I have a bookcase that I’ve started collecting them on top of. I’ve been afraid to toss them in case I ever needed to re-photograph or something but they’ve started to collect dust and it looks more like a sad grave than anything else. I really should try to think of a better use or way to display them.

8. What blog/design related accomplishments are you most proud of?

I think my biggest accomplishment so far has been that I actually started the blog, stuck with it by writing 5 days a week and my page views are now up to about 200k a month. I really started blogging quite naively and had no idea what I was getting into. Though it has taken over all my free time it’s been surprisingly rewarding and fulfilling. It is so much work to maintain but I really do love it.

On the more personal level, being approached by Target and having them sell my Owl Stitch Kit’s was a major highlight as well. I never thought that would have been a possibility and it was such a thrill and an honor.

9. Any advice for those interested in design or starting an etsy store?

Two of the best pieces of advice that I received when I was just starting out was to be consistent and do what you love. Consistency is what makes people trust you and come back again and again. Whether you blog once a week or 3 times a day, try to make a schedule so that your readers will know what to expect when they come back.

Doing what you love is not only important for you but for your followers as well. If you’re passionate about something it will come across through your writing or your work. If you’re not into it, that will also come across and inevitably someone that is excited about it will do a better job.

10. Five of your favorite things

1. I love 3 dimensional letter forms. Having studied type extensively in school I became enamored with letter shapes and have all kinds of these around my home.

2. Felt Food! Totally obsessed with this stuff! Now if only I was a kid again and had an excuse to play with it. *sigh…

3. I love vintage and ceramic keys. Much like my love for type and felt I like to collect these little works of art.

4. Reality TV. I am completely and utterly addicted in every possible way. One of my most embarrassing traits by far, but tuning in is my favorite way let go and relax.

5. Cinnamon Gummy Bears! If candy had sustenance I would probably forego all the boring stuff and only eat these little bundles of yumminess!

Young House Love started as a play-by-play of the couple’s kitchen remodel, but soon other projects from around the house (including their just -revealed-today remodeled bathroom!) and their beautiful at-home wedding cropped up in posts as their popularity grew. Now Sherry blogs full-time and she, John, pup Burger, and the future little Miss Petersik (“the bean”) are still falling in love with their little ranch house. Now she dishes her favorite things, what blogging is really like, and the messy secret in the… well, you’ll just have to read it.

1. What is your favorite thing about blogging? Your least favorite thing? Fav thing: the freedom, the creativity, no day is ever the same. And we meet so many great people both locally and around the world. Least fav thing: the hours, the internet is 24/7 so we pretty much are too.

2. What has been your go-to clothing item as your bean-belly grows? Do you have a favorite source for chic but cheap maternity wear? The weirdest thing is that I still wear all the same tops even though my belly is giant. I haven’t bought one maternity shirt yet! I guess I just love showing off the bump, so while my pants are Old Navy maternity jeans, I’m still tossing on the same black tank or tee I used to wear along with a colorful cardigan or jacket on top to break up all that belly (usually also from Old Navy, H&M or Banana). Add black boots and some fun jewelry and I’m good to go.

3. Every house has that messy spot – you know, the one that practically GROWS clutter. Where is yours (sorry, reno projects don’t count!)? Hmm, out laundry nook can get pretty jammed up with library books to be returned and clothes to be washed. The great thing is that we have friends and family stopping by all the time so I’m pretty diligent about keeping it cleared off and ready for company for the most part. I’m sort of a serial organizer. Clutter and chaos make my brain hurt.

4. When you were a kid what did you want to be when you “grew up”? John: a filmmaker. Sherry: an art teacher.

5. If you had to pick only one food to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be? And Sherry, any weird food cravings? I’ve been dying for baked potatoes lately. And milk, just boring milk right from the carton. Must be a prego thing because I never had a taste for them (at least I never wanted them multiple times a day) before. John’s favorite food is this amazing thing called a Chicken Square. He makes them for me all the time. It’s basically chicken and cream cheese and onions chopped up and baked in Pillsbury dough squares to make these oozy warm pouches of deliciousness. Ok, now I’m craving that.

6. For someone who wants to blog full time, what will be the biggest surprise when they get there? It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had by far. I work nights, I work weekends, I work on vacation. I’m never “off” because there’s always a question to answer, a post to write, a project to complete, etc. People view blogging as this amazingly flexible and easy job but it’s hard work to answer to the entire world and keep the content coming at the same time. Balance is really a challenge. As in, it’s hard to have a life and be a blogger. Much harder than I ever thought it would be.

7. Quick: The CIA (for who knows what reason) has to relocate you in 24 hours. You can bring ONLY three things from the house. What do you bring, assuming Burger has a free pass? Ooh this is a good one. Burger (and I assume John and I) are safe, so the three things we’d grab would be: our wedding photo album (full of funny candid photostrips from our special day), my giant clam shell fruit bowl from Z Gallerie (it was a gift from John and I just love it beyond words), and our laptop/external hard drive (since backing up the blog is important when it’s your full time gig).

8. Assuming Baby Petersik doesn’t come into the world with a paintbrush and hammer in hand (ouch!), what do you think her first hands-on DIY project will be? Ouch is right. No thank you! As for our little bean’s first project, maybe we’ll hit her up for some finger-painted art for her walls. So sweet.

9. Where do you hope to be 20 years from now? Honestly? We’d be happy to be exactly where we are today. Still in this modest and cozy house of ours. Still running the blog with every spare moment that we have. Still in love- and happy and excited to wake up every day. Life is pretty good right here in the present.

10. What are five things you can’t live without, excluding family and animal-family members?

1. A nice Mac laptop (a blogger’s best friend).

2. An iPhone (also very blog-friendly for approving comments and publishing posts on the go).

3. Glossy magazines for inspiration and eye candy (John loves Wired and I love everything from House Beautiful to Canadian House & Home).

4. Comfort food (we’re both just happier with bellies full of warm tomato soup, grilled cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, or mac & cheese).

5. Floor length curtains (this might be a geeky answer, but paint and curtains are the biggest makeover for the smallest effort… the world would be a sadder place without them).

Thanks Sherry (and John too!) for giving us a glimse into the Petersik house. That mac and cheese has my mouth watering! And readers, if you’re at all interested in home improvement and interior design on a realistic budget, well, get thee to Young House Love stat!