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Surviving and Thriving in 2013

Some close friends of ours always joke with us that if our lives had a soundtrack, it would be “The Flight of the Bumblebee” on repeat. Forever. Admittedly, we often have a hard time relaxing, but we couldn’t imagine our lives any other way.

2013 began with our realization that Chicago was, actually, our home sweet home, and the year saw us quickly diving head first back into the real estate market. Our hopes of landing The One (remember, the one that got away?) were crushed (yup, that was hard), but we brushed our shoulders off and landed right back where we started, finding that perfect fixer-upper – the Real Onefour blocks from our former condo. Of course, a champagne christening was order; the perfect, celebratory way to break in this house.

The challenges of demolishing this home – while living in it! – proved to be more intense than we ever imagined, and the highs, lows and botched timelines were often so mentally, physically and financially draining that, at times, we couldn’t help but wonder if we’d made the wrong decision. Did we get in over our heads?, we’d ask each other. Luckily, every time one of us would crash and burn, the other was here to kick our collective ass into gear and restate the fact that we had landed a perfect house with a yard for Jack, a garage for me and a sun-drenched studio for Kim – all in our dream neighborhood of more than seven years. (Click on the first photo or any thumbnail below for the hits, we’ll call them.)

All this to say, we feel incredibly lucky to have all of you stopping by our virtual home as often as you like. Your input, encouragement and helpful direction keeps us grounded through the highs, lows and in-betweens. This whole journey would be a lot more difficult without all of you to root us on, push us through and voice (er, comment?) your enthusiasm, and we look forward to sharing even more in 2014! Finally, 6 months after our move in date, the construction dust has settled, and we’re transitioning from the “have-to” tasks to the “want-to” tasks. It’s funny how quickly you forget those rough patches and how easily it is to get excited again for every new project; projects we couldn’t be more excited to share this coming year.

From our little family to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy 2014 and that the new year brings with it everything you’re reaching for and working toward. It’s going to be a good one.

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  • Rachel12.31.13 - 7:30 AM

    Hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s :-)ReplyCancel

  • Jennie12.31.13 - 7:47 AM

    Just an FYI, I was really surprised to see a League of Angels ad on the blog. . . doesn’t seem to quite fit.

    Best for 2014!!ReplyCancel

  • Susan @ Jubilee Furniture12.31.13 - 8:25 AM

    Thanks for sharing the good, the bad and the ugly with us, Scott and Kim! I love that you see good even in the bad and the ugly!

    Here’s to an exciting 2014!

    Blessings!ReplyCancel

  • Kim12.31.13 - 8:28 AM

    You too, guys!

    Jennie – you’d be right. Blech, thank you for the heads up!ReplyCancel

  • Jill12.31.13 - 9:27 AM

    Just like a newborn! You forget all the turmoil (emotional & physical), sleepless nights, house becoming a wreck (not quite as bad on that front) etc. Your baby definitely becomes way fun at 6 mos. smiling, laughing, sitting up. Haha congrats on getting there. ;)ReplyCancel

  • Emma12.31.13 - 4:45 PM

    Happy New Year! It’s so fun to see you guys make your new home more lovely :)ReplyCancel

  • Right there with you! What a year! Cheers to all the projects we’ll both tackle in 2014!ReplyCancel

  • Lyndsey1.2.14 - 2:35 PM

    Yeaaa!! Love your blog, it’s inspirational and my little DIY learning corner :) happy new year!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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