Because there is *definitely* not enough going on around here.

What with living in a garage, building a house, chasing the donkeys around, having to light a fire every time we want to cook food, and, you know, refraining from killing each other with screwdrivers – I felt like maybe things were getting a little boring, and we needed to liven things up around here.

Actually there are two very specific things that are going on that will contribute to the DIY liveliness, but I can only share one of them today, because I maxed out the number of 1800 word posts I could write today around 2AM.  Look for more excitement early next week.

So brace yourself for this new exciting feature around here: DIY Road Trips

Wait, whaat?

You heard me right, I don’t have enough projects going on around the house—obviously–so I’ve decided to take on other people’s projects as well. This is all thanks to True Value who asked me to be a part of the True Value DIY Blog Squad.

True Value, being truly awesome, offered to sponsor some of my projects, and while I was so tempted to accept for myself,  MysteryMan was going to blow a blood vessel in his eye if I started any new projects around the house without actually, uh, finishing the house first. So I thought an even better idea would be to help spread the DIY bug by road-tripping to see friends, family, and absolute strangers who have a DIY project they’ve wanted to do, but were never quite sure how to start. (Starting projects I have no idea how to do being a specialty of mine.) True Value sponsors the materials, I bring the tools, and whooo-boy is the sawdust going to fly.

The True Value DIY Blog Squad has a number of fun blogs on the team – which I’ve been scouring for ideas and inspiration for my upcoming projects. If you don’t know these sites, you’re missing out… so let me share some of the Absolute Awesome I’ve found.

All Bower Power –I’m totally loving Katie’s Den (and the rest of the before & after’s).

Bungalow 23 This trellis looks easy to build, but way better looking than the stuff you buy pre-made.

HandyGuys Podcast – A little much needed how-to advice on electrical matters. After that eye-twitch inducing shock I gave myself once, I’ve always been a little gun shy about electricity.

The Lettered Cottage – Love the fireplace makeover from Layla, something I know I’ll be doing on a DIY Road Trip soon.

Centsational Girl – Something I don’t spend enough time on because I don’t have a house to put it in yet… furniture makeovers. We’ve all got one ugly bench/dresser/table that could use some help. Kate definitely dishes out some inspiration.

DesignMom – See what a little paint and a totally awesome red mailbox can do for a front porch?

Joey & Lana Make a House a Home –Joey and Lana live a castle, something we all should strive for, I think. Okay, it’s not a castle, but still inspiring.

The DIY Showoff – Check out this painted bathroom rug. Answering the age old question of – what in the hell do I do with this, until I’m ready to really re-do it.

ThriftyDecorChick – And Sarah, dishing out great inspiration like this stairway remodel.

Seriously, my google reader has never been this full of awesome websites, and I am more excited than I can tell you to start helping people with their own DIY projects. If you want in on some of the fun, here are ways you can participate:

  • If you’re in the general vicinity of Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michican, and you’ve got a project you want to submit with a DIY Road Trip, send me an email with the subject heading “DIY Road Trip”, your location, and what you’d like to do!
  • True Value is going to be doing some other fun contests, and you can get the inside scoop by friending them on facebook, or following them on twitter
  • Check out all the other True Value DIY Blog Squad websites for their take on the DIY fun

Requisite Disclaimer: True Value was so taken with my holey-jeans, sawdust covered ball cap, and love of my drill, that they asked me to be a part of the DIY Squad, and better yet, they’re paying me for it. They are also sponsoring the materials for the DIY Road Trip projects, but don’t think that means they are buying my affection with lumber and spray paint. As always, I speak my mind – good or bad—and you can expect to hear my unfiltered opinions with occasionally incorrect grammar and excessive punctuation. We keep it real here people.

13 Responses

  1. I actually saw the news on another website first & have been waiting for you to post about it. Congrats! YAY! So excited to see what you’ve got planned.

    I recognized most of these bloggers, but don’t know how I’ve missed Joey & Lana. Just did a quick run through their blog & found something YOU HAVE TO GET!!!!!

    http://joeyandlana.com/joey-and-lana-home/2009/10/21/micro-pigs-and-moving.html.

    Micro pigs!!! OMG, they would be perfect to go along with your mini donkeys!!

    1. Oh. My. God. Kate, seriously, you can’t show me stuff like that and expect me not to want to curl up next to them and kiss their itty-bitty pig snouts.

      I need one.

      MysteryMan is going to kill me.

      1. See, I knew it! As soon as I saw them, I immediately thought of you. You DO need them, you really do! Mystery Man will get over it.

        I’d probably squish them to death if I ever saw them up close. They’re just too adorable not to want to hug the stuffing out of them.

  2. I need help! Too bad I’m in Florida! Still… can’t wait to see what other projects you end up doing. This is going to be fun.

    (Also, love those little pigs. That’s crazy.)

  3. You sure you can’t extend your road trips a little further north of the border? I have some basement projects I could use help with!

    Can’t wait to read about the road trips!

  4. Damn. I live in PA on the OH border (near Youngstown off I-80) and it would just be my luck I’m not closer to you! I’d love to get your ideas and help with the upstairs half bath we are *trying* to decide how to turn into a full bath. We settled on taking some of our bedroom space to do this. Its a 200yr old farm house. You see the problems already, right?

    Oh wait, and did I mention the original owners built this half bath by boxing out the floor about 6 inches (for the plumbing, eh instead of the WALLS go figure) so we have to tear the entire room out and down to nothing in order for it to match the existing floor in bedroom and the hall. Nice.

    Now I wish I lived near NW Ohio instead of NE Ohio! Damn.

  5. Congrats!! And great idea about the DIY Road Trip.. I wish my mom lived closer to you – she lives in Iowa and just moved into her new/old house and already is hard at work fixing it up. However, I checked the US map (geography isn’t my strong subject) and Iowa is apparently too far away. Cry.

    Looking forward to reading all about your adventures..

  6. Awesome! If you ever want to get out to the Philly area for cheesesteaks, soft pretzels and diy … I’m here for ya!

    Ugh, more blogs to add to google reader!!

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