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5 Years Old + Ask Anything

5kittens1

Our little corner of the web turns 5 this week!

When we hit publish on our very first post five years ago, we couldn’t imagine where that may put us in the future; where would be in a year? two years? ten? Today, I’m writing about our blog birthday from our home studio – the (still very shabby) second studio in our big bear of a house. Five years from that day, and I’m painting your pets every week and printing photos from our Etsy store, and we continue to have those surreal pinch-us! moments when we see sweet emails from you in our inbox.

Thank you. A million times over, thank you!

Hands down, the best part of being in this community is hearing from you. Your input and tips have opened our eyes to ideas that we otherwise wouldn’t have thought of, and so, we’d love to open up the comments to learn more about who you are and what you love. Where in the world are you? And who wants to play The Desert Island Game? (We’ll answer, too. No judgement.)

Tell us, if you were trapped on a desert island…

… what one movie would you watch again and again? (K: Love Actually // S: Kill Bill)
… what one album would you listen to over and over? And over? (K: Some Girls, The Rolling Stones // S: Stop Making Sense, Talking Heads)
… what one food would you never tire of? (K: Pasta! All day, every day. // S: Tacos!)

Ooh, and if you’d like, ask us anything. House related or not, we’ll reply right here in the comments. Now, if only I can convince Scott that we should skip dinner tonight for something better. Cupcakes, anyone?

Five little kitties via.

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  • Loryn6.18.14 - 7:52 AM

    I’ll play!

    Movie: LA Story
    Album: Houses of the Holy, Led Zeppelin
    Food: Pizza (deep dish, thin crust, fire baked, it’s many different foods!)

    And my question for you is, what do you think has changed the most about your approach to remodeling/decorating since you started the blog?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 9:10 AM

      Since we started blogging, I know we challenge ourselves A LOT more. The blogosphere (and Pinterest, etc) have exploded in the last 5 years, and the inspiration is never ending. Sometimes we have to shut off all those other sources and try to remember what WE love – not what’s trending. Now when we approach a project, we’ll think, how can we alter this to make it more “us”?ReplyCancel

  • Adrienne6.18.14 - 8:00 AM

    Movie? Love Actually too! Album? Hello Dolly (don’t judge) Food? Any and all candy. Congrats you guys!! I hope to be in your shoes one day, gotta get painting!ReplyCancel

  • Ilse6.18.14 - 8:02 AM

    Oef, those are some hard questions!
    I think movie: Inglorious Basterds, Album: Linkin Park – A Thousand Suns and Food: Salad’s, because they’re healty and there are so many different kinds!

    As for a question for you; what’s the most awesome experience you wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for blogging?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 9:06 AM

      There are too many answers to this question, but this is my favorite (and I think Scott would agree). I happened upon Jess Lively’s blog by chance, and she posted that she was starting a small business group for locals at a coffee shop. By chance, Scott and I went to that meeting, and the 4 of us (her then-boyfriend) really hit it off! A year later, they asked us to go to Paris with them to officiate/photograph their wedding. An amazing chance meeting through blogs (and we’re lucky to have two awesome friends as a result).ReplyCancel

  • Movie: Crap! Now that you said Love Actually I can’t think of any others that I can’t live without. Fun fact: Love Actually is our favorite Christmas movie. It doesn’t feel like the season until we watch it. Maybe that’s a weird fact…

    Album: So obsessed with Avicii’s True right now. It’s my go to album when I’m cooking. James Vincent McMorrow’s Early in the Morning is a close second.

    Food: Mexican. That counts right? Anything with spicy meat and cheese and I’m in!

    Your question: What bloggers would you love to meat in real life?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 9:01 AM

      My weird fact… I had a different movie listed (Ghost, which is strangely my favorite movie of all time), but when I thought about Love Actually, I realized that’s a movie I could watch over and over and over again. Warms my heart EVERY time.

      Hmmm, bloggers in real life? I’ve been so lucky to meet a lot of my favorites already (you included)! I’ve always wanted to meet Kathleen. She seems like a free spirit that I’d like to get to know.ReplyCancel

      • Heather6.18.14 - 9:56 AM

        Re: Love Actually – Absolutely. That’s the best way to describe it. Have you seen “I Give it a Year” We liked that one as well. It reminded us of Love Actually.

        Ha! I swear that was not ploy for a compliment. Kathleen isn’t on my feed, but she’s being added right now :)ReplyCancel

        • Kim6.18.14 - 10:02 AM

          Haven’t seen it, but will have to watch it now!ReplyCancel

  • Marie6.18.14 - 8:38 AM

    Happy Blogversary YBH team ! What a funny game to celebrate your 5 blogging years.
    Movie : Pulp Fiction (or in a total different style the French “Amélie Poulain”). Ok, you said ONE.
    Album : Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette.
    Food : roast chicken with potatoes/french fries.
    And my question would be : who takes care of your pets when you take a vacation ?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 8:59 AM

      Yeah, it’s really hard for just ONE! I almost gave ourselves two and tree answers, but that’s cheating! Also? Jagged Little Pill. YES. Full of memories from my teenage years.

      We have a wonderful neighbor down the street who pops in on Maddie and Libby. She keeps their bellies full and gives them lovin’. Jack and CC go to a local open-concept daycare, where they chew on tennis balls all day, sniff other dogs and come home SO TIRED. They even have a video camera on their site so we can watch them play when we’re away!ReplyCancel

  • Emily6.18.14 - 8:46 AM

    Movie: Groundhog Day
    Album: Broken Bells
    Food: fresh bread

    Five years – congrats!!ReplyCancel

  • Meagan S6.18.14 - 8:51 AM

    Movie: Dan in Real Life!
    Album: Transatlanticism, Death Cab
    Food: Pizza

    No question, just a comment: Love what y’all are doing to this house! Its turning out so well. Also, Kim, thanks for being vulnerable and sharing the story about your mom. It was really sweet to read and I am so glad that y’all are developing a relationship. What an unexpected, but sweet thing to read on a “home” blog.ReplyCancel

  • Laura @ Rather Square6.18.14 - 8:59 AM

    CONGRATS ON YOUR BLOGIVERSARY!

    Movie: Rear Window (I feel like my pick for this is so different from everyone else’s so far!)
    Album: Anything Neko Case
    Food: Anything with chicken, salmon, and/or pesto

    I feel like I’ve asked you so many questions already. ;) Thanks for being such an inspiration!ReplyCancel

  • Megan Sybrant6.18.14 - 9:54 AM

    Movie: The great gatsby (seriously my favorite all-time book, it never disappoints. and the movie was fab too)
    album: walk the moon’s album…whatever that is called.
    food: pasta!! I could eat garlic and noodles all day.ReplyCancel

  • Dave6.18.14 - 10:16 AM

    Movie: Animal House
    Album: Allman Brothers “Live at the Ludlow Garage”
    Food: Skyline Chili
    Question: What will YBH look like in 5 yrs.? The dynamics have changed significantly in the past 5 yrs. Is there a certain path you would like to take?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 11:23 AM

      Dave, why do your answers not surprise me?!

      To be honest, we keep doing what we’re doing, and we’ll see what happens! Sometimes it’s a scary road not knowing, and I’ve been trying to stay present rather than “worry” about the future. I do, however, hope that in 5 years our house will feel warm and inviting!ReplyCancel

  • Courtney6.18.14 - 10:42 AM

    Fun!!
    Movie: Princess Bride
    Album: Bodeans (my kids call it the oldies… ouch!)
    Food: totally with ya on the tacos
    Question: What is your favorite coffee shop in Chicago? Do you get recognized out and about in Chicago? (Sorry, that was two)

    Congrats on five! Love your blog and thanks for all the inspiration.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 11:21 AM

      Hmm… we both love New Wave for their yummy sandwiches and delicious coffee and super duper laid back vibe! It doesn’t hurt that it’s right on the (Logan) square!ReplyCancel

      • Kim6.18.14 - 11:26 AM

        Oh, and the second question! We have been recognized a couple of times, and of course it’s when we’re in paint spattered clothes! Ah, well ;)ReplyCancel

  • Ramona6.18.14 - 11:45 AM

    Movie – When Harry Met Sally
    Album – Bat Out off Hell – Meatloaf
    Food – PASTA! But that’s cheating because there are so many choices. I’ll say bowtie pasta specifically.

    Question – which project will you be working on next? And which would you like to work on if you didn’t have to prioritize?

    I’m amazed by the work you’ve done so far – it’s very inspiring. Love the updates.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 12:54 PM

      Oh, man! That album is a guilty pleasure, for sure. And since you narrowed down your pasta choice, I’ll narrow mine down to rigatoni noodles.

      Great question! We have plans to paint the front porch and get the garden going outdoors, and we’re looking at plans for a porch swing too! If we weren’t prioritizing the outside (while we’re able to), we’d LOVE to get moving on the kitchen – even just an “okay for now” plan until we can save enough to renovate.ReplyCancel

      • Ramona6.18.14 - 1:03 PM

        Rigatoni a definite second! As a matter of fact, that’s what I was eating when I commented. Agree that it’s best to do your outdoor work now, that next Chicago winter will keep you indoors plenty (I know, I enjoy winter in Southern Ontario).

        Thanks!ReplyCancel

  • Alexis6.18.14 - 12:01 PM

    Movie: All That Jazz
    Album: Aja by Steely Dan
    Food: Burritos

    What has been your favorite home project in your new home so far?
    What has been the one project you wish you could do over or hadn’t done?

    Love love love your blog. You both do beautiful work and really inspire me.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 12:59 PM

      Scott and I can both agree that sledging through walls has been one of the most satisfying things we’ve done! Even though we still need to paint the stairs, opening up the entryway and laying down tile, trim, etc, has been really rewarding.

      As for the do-over… I’m really wishing we could figure out where we went wrong with my desk. The studio set up doesn’t feel right yet, and it’s a little frustrating. Grr.ReplyCancel

  • Amy6.18.14 - 12:59 PM

    •Movie: The Holiday
    •Album: Adele-21
    •Food: Greek Food-all of it!

    Do you have big plans for your kitchen? I wondered if you guys would keep it simple, or do something bold when you get there.

    Love your style, love your blog!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 1:06 PM

      Our kitchen is so awkwardly laid out, but I think we can make a pretty big impact with paint – the walls, the cabinets, replacing the small countertop and some new appliances! I think we say at least once a day that we can’t WAIT to get started on that kitchen (but we’re prioritizing the front while the weather’s nice). Seeing how that goes, we may REALLY renovate down the road – but we’d rather sink the big money into our bathrooms first!ReplyCancel

  • Lyndsey6.18.14 - 1:52 PM

    Movie: Dirty Dancing. yes, a guilty pleasure, but i still love it!
    Album: Bon Iver’s first.
    Food: all?! I’ll go with tacos if I had to choose.

    Question: I love your blog and projects, but wonder if you ever face the same “fear of the unknown/will it go wrong/what am i getting myself into/how do you work this tool” paralysis sometimes when beginning or in the middle of projects. Thoughts and words of wisdom much appreciated :)ReplyCancel

  • Kim6.18.14 - 1:59 PM

    Oh, man, YES! We both do. I don’t even want to tell you how long we’ve been researching whether or not to stain or paint our front porch, how long it took us to pull the trigger on a ceiling fan or how many hours we stayed awake at night wondering if adding an arch to the entry was stupid or awesome. And sometimes it’s those worries that make us put off a project for too long – only to realize that once we get started or just pull the trigger (no matter what it is), it’s never as bad as we imagined it out to be! Trust your gut. Learn new things. Just go for it! (And if you realize it’s not working out halfway through? Again, trust your gut and know when it’s okay to quit.)ReplyCancel

  • Marci Phee6.18.14 - 3:20 PM

    Movie: Pitch Perfect
    Album: Almost Famous Soundtrack
    Food: my mother-in-law’s enchiladas

    Question: What’s your best piece of advice for expanding your readership?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 3:24 PM

      Oh, good ones!

      I think consistency is key! Even if it’s just once a week, hit “publish”!ReplyCancel

  • Shay6.18.14 - 3:42 PM

    Movie: Robin Hood: Men in Tights
    Album: Of Monsters and Men – My Head is an Animal
    Food: Sushi! I could easily live off a few good rolls everyday

    What would be your best piece of advice for a new blogger just trying to start out?

    And congrats on the big anniversary! I’ve loved following you over the last couple years as a follow Pibble lover :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.18.14 - 4:22 PM

      Definitely consistency (sorry to sound like a broken record!). Keep up with it; hit publish. Don’t second guess every little thing (although I’m just as guilty at times). And while I’ve heard this time and time again, it’s the truth: stay true to your own voice! There’s no one else on the whole wide web who is you.ReplyCancel

  • ann6.18.14 - 7:44 PM

    no answers – just 2 questions….
    babies? (only kidding!)
    trip to Cincinnati soon? (in your spare time! all the skyline and UDF you can eat)ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.19.14 - 8:29 AM

      Hmmm… spare time? ;) We’ll be back soon enough!ReplyCancel

  • misie6.18.14 - 8:03 PM

    eeee so fun!

    movie – it’s a tie [one that makes no sense] between Silver linings playbook and pride and prejudice – one from the 2000’s
    album – i’m not sure the title but it’s a Nat King Cole record we have that sounds delightful – all scratchy and worn
    food – cheese.freaking.pizza

    what is your favorite cocktail recipe?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.19.14 - 8:26 AM

      Good move with the cheese pizza!

      Anything with gin. I think Scott would say… anything with gin or bourbon! (Also? Anything from Scofflaw. Our favorite!) Oh! And I’ve been on a real quick with Becherovka. Mixed with a splash of tonic and a squeeze of lime. SO REFRESHING.ReplyCancel

  • Julia@Cukoo4Design6.19.14 - 7:39 AM

    Happy 5th birthday!

    I’m such an undecided weirdo, it all depends on my mood I guess
    Movie: One of my all time favorite comedies is “Along came Polly”
    Album: The Killers – Hot Fuss or the new Coldplay album (old ones too though) – ghost stories
    Food: Asian soups like Pho, Roman and miso, yum

    How has blogging changed in the 5 years that you have blogged?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.19.14 - 8:25 AM

      Thanks, Julia! I definitely think DIY blogging has stepped up it’s game. While I think smaller projects are still appreciated, the web is so saturated with such transformative, large before & afters that readers have grown accustomed to seeing more! Do you agree? Gone are the days of a simple throw pillow update, instead, it’s a bright kitchen, a relaxing bedroom (as a whole), etc. We try to do a mix, but we’re also real people with the same amount of time as everyone else. It’s a balancing act!ReplyCancel

  • Amanda6.19.14 - 3:37 PM

    Oh this is fun! Let’s play!

    1/ Pitch Perfect! I love this movie and if you have not seen it stop what you’re doing right now and go watch it.
    2/ Anything by Michael Buble and I love Katy Perry’s album Prism.
    3/ Pasta. All day, all night.

    I love love love reading and following you guy two (3,4,5!) in your adventures and I hope to keep reading for another 5 more years! I have three questions, I hope that’s okay, but if it’s not too bad for you! *hardy har har* :P
    1/ What are you main career goals/dreams (If you have any)?
    2/ What languages would you love to learn to speak? (If you can speak any other ones — which ones)
    3/ If you could move any where in the world and live for a year where would it be?

    My answers to these questions in case you’re wondering …
    1/ I would love to open a donut shop some day … but in my current career in Human Resources RISE RISE WAY UP with the company I’m with! Ha!
    2/ I’m Canadian so I can speak some French but would love to become fluent in it.
    3/ I went to London, England last year and fell in love. Either there or Australia!

    PS: Happy 5 years!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.19.14 - 4:34 PM

      Thank you! Okay, here goes:

      1) Scott and I have always said that our dream job would be to run/operate a furniture/record/vintage store. We’d fix up old furniture, sell it at affordable prices, and talk about music all day long with fellow record lovers. (This is in a dream world, right?)

      2) I’d like to speak fluent Spanish… or Korean!

      3) This one is REALLY hard. I don’t feel like we’ve traveled enough to know, but if it’s based on some of the places we’ve been, we’d want to live in a little beach house in Southern Cali. San Diego? And if it’s anywhere, let’s get crazy and say Santorini!ReplyCancel

  • Jill6.19.14 - 9:50 PM

    Movie: Forest Gump
    Album: Joshua Tree
    Food: Eggs

    I like both of Ann’s questions. HAHA! OK, Kim, here’s a fashion one for ya’. Whose wardrobe would you like to steal? Mine would be Naomi Davis from Love Taza or Kate Hudson.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.19.14 - 10:43 PM

      Oooh, that’s a good one! I’d love to have everything Oh Joy! wears. It’s all so colorful and cheery! On the opposite spectrum… Jen Aniston? Everything she wears is classic and cozy.ReplyCancel

  • Kaleigh6.21.14 - 8:59 PM

    Oh… i’d love to play!
    I’m a country girl so…

    Movie: Pure Country
    Album: Carolina, Eric Church
    Food: Pasta, absolutely!!

    Happy 5th Birthday! I hope someday I can say the same of my little corner of the internet… i’m getting there… slowly!ReplyCancel

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Kim and Scott

We’re Kim + Scott, Chicago based content creators behind the Home + Lifestyle brand Yellow Brick Home.

Join us as we renovate and nurture vintage homes across Chicago + SW Michigan!

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