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DIY Home Decorating Projects, Tutorials, & Shenanigans

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Blogiversary 6: Did Somebody Say Oprah?!

The funny part about talking about our Oprah-related experience during blogiversary week is that we talked about almost appearing on Oprah’s show during our very first blogiversary week (spoiler: we got bumped last minute by Ty Pennington and some twins in need of a makeover). So it seems, now five years later, that things have come full circle. Was that an O pun I just made? Yes. Yes it was.

First of all, the exciting news. For anyone who wasn’t able to watch or stream the short film when it aired on Sunday, the kind folks at OWN have generously provided a clip for us to share here. So here it goes.

The nice thing about working with Oprah’s team is they’re really good about encouraging you to pause and think more deeply about what a home really is and what it means to the people who live there. Even watching it back, and the way they edited a day’s worth of words and footage was thoughtful. It just really cuts to the meaning of home for us. And it was a reminder that as much as we can stress over how something looks and whether a project is turning out the way we want it to, those aren’t the things that make a house a home. They’re just a fun part of the journey if you can manage to sit back and enjoy the ride. Which is definitely what we strive to do everyday. We’re not trying to pretend that we’re philosophers, but Oprah’s editors sure can make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

But wait, the most insane “is this real life?!” moment was when Oprah herself said our names in the intro, which was just before the clip above kicked in. Correct pronunciation and everything. So you know we had to tape it off of our TV, right?

Then right after it aired on Sunday, she tweeted a quote from our segment. Not only did she say our names, but she listened to us talk. #brainexplosion

So how did this all come to be? Let’s rewind over ten months ago to last November when our book tour took us to Chicago, Oprah’s hometown. Through our publisher we learned that a producer at Harpo (Oprah’s production company) was hoping to chat with us while we were in town. Um, sure! Our trip there was quick, so the meeting was very casual – as in “meet us in the lobby of our hotel a couple of hours before we have a book signing” casual.

Heather, the producer that you’ll meet here in a minute, was amazingly nice and awesomely enthusiastic about finding some way to collaborate. And when she tossed out the idea of a 3-minute short film, we thought it would be fun.

Ok, and we lost our minds a little, as evidenced by this text-fest between Sherry and Roo.

The shoot day was back in May, so we were still living in our old house. And since no behind-the-scene post is complete without a “Look, John had to put on make-up!” shot, here it is.

The day was pretty easy as shoots go. We had built up a good friendship with Heather (whom you can see standing on the far left below) so it was nice to finally have her over, along with a really nice team of talented crew-members.

The hilarious happened-within-ten-minutes-of-the-crew-arriving-story is that Sherry threw out her back for the first time ever. She was doing some last minute cleaning in the living room while they were in the dining room setting up and she leaned over the sofa to put something away and said it felt like someone pulled a piece of her spine out like Jenga. She essentially fell on her face on the sofa, couldn’t move, struggled to roll over onto her back while praying that no one would see her floundering around on the sofa, and stood up very slowly. Then she slinked into the bathroom and called the doc, who recommended a high dose of tylenol and as much lying down as possible. Thankfully the pain-killers kicked in and she somehow made it through the day… but in person she was a lot stiffer than usual. Which explains why Sherry describes the walking scenes of us as “that time she waddled like a duck on national TV.”

One of our favorite parts of the day was just watching the crew work their magic. Here’s how they got some of those pretty shots of our (very missed) frame hallway.

Clara was at school or napping for most of the shoot, but she was there for our fun little family activity of baking cookies. I love this shot because it looks like Clara’s on the set of her own cooking show.

We also took a brief visit over to the new house with everyone (our inaugural shoot in this place!) so they could capture some footage about our “next chapter” (to steal some OWN’s lingo). None of this footage made it into the final clip, which is probably good because I think we were all like “So, um, this is our new house. Please don’t look too closely yet…”

We’re incredibly grateful to Heather and the whole Harpo crew for their excitement to work with us. We’ve always been big fans of Oprah, and now we have an even greater respect for all of the people and work that stand with her. Oh, and for the record, never during this process did we meet or speak to Ms. Winfrey (as we learned she’s called around the office). But maybe in another five blogiversaries that will have changed. You never know…



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Comments

  2. Sounds like you had an experience that won’t soon be forgotten! One to share with the grandkids. :0). I agree with you about the shot of Clara, btw…she’s looking mighty comfortable in front of that camera & a future with her own show might not be a too far-off notion!!

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  6. SO exciting you guys! I’m only surprised you haven’t been on sooner.

    Also, Oprah saying my name would be a high point for me too! Unless it was for a bad reason. Oh no, that’s an awful thought. Please don’t ever let Oprah say my name for a bad reason, like I committed a crime or something…

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  8. Looks like you a lot of fun. Exciting and strange at the same time? Oprah wants us on her show????? Woo Hooo! Are you sure she meant us??? kinfa strange.
    I’m kinda bummed that she makes her employees call her Ms. Winfrey. I guess I thought she was more fun than that. :)

    Reply

    • John and I talked about it and we have a theory on it. We think since she has things called Oprah (like shows and magazines) that maybe it’s confusing because you’re like “wait, are we talking about the empire or the person” so by being called Ms. Winfrey maybe it clarifies if someone’s chatting about the mag/show or the person.

      xo
      s

  9. I watched the clip yesterday and was super impressed with a what a great job ya’ll did. And yes, you were very articulate. Would never have guessed about your back.

    :-)

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    • Thanks Katy! When I watch it I’m like “oh my gosh it’s so obvious!” but one of the producers read this post and said “you threw out your back?! I had no idea!” so I guess she thought I was just stiff and groany all the time. Haha!

      xo
      s

    • SOOOO FREAKIN EXCITING!!! Although, I have to admit, when I saw the two of y’all walk back towards the house I was all “Sherry don’t walk like dat!” Not that I have any clue how you normally walk. But something felt… different.

      Y’all did an amazing job. As usual ;)

    • Haha, I knew some people would notice. My mom was like “uhhhh, were you nervous?” – I think she was so relieved that I wasn’t thinking that was my sexy walk or something and it was 100% unintentional.

      xo
      s

    • “…relieved that I wasn’t thinking that was my sexy walk” HA HA You crack me up!!! Congrats guys!

      I actually looked for this and watched it online on Monday, I was so excited for you guys! I watched your clip a few times and then watched the whole episode with Mariel Hemingway and Bobby Williams. I ended up buying their book!

      Oh Ms. Winfrey… The things you lead us do… :-)

    • Haha! She’s a pretty cool lady. I have been an Oprah watcher since my high school days, so it’s crazy to hear her iconic voice saying our names. Oh and tell me if the book’s good!

      xo
      s

    • We also watched! Well I sure did. Totally accidental. Was sooo taken by surprise. Had no idea what was what. Checked channels twice to make sure I wasn’t dreaming or something. Haa. Very often OWN is on in our kitchen. All of a sudden your short popped up when I was prepping fresh cilantro for salads!! Haa. You can imagine the shock! So fun though. Keep it up Sherry & … you got the talent + fans!

    • Forgot to mention how adorable! Also, not sure what happened to my last sentence …. meant to (please excuse error) say “Keep it up Sherry & Jon. You got the talent + fans!

  12. Great clip. I loved it so much and I was glad of the clip where she said your name. I have always wondered how to pronounce it correctly. My daughter and I just call you John and Sherry and we both know who we are talking about. Congrats!

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  14. Seriously, you guys are amazing. I want to be you guys when I grow up ;)I am so glad that things in your life, and all the hard work that you put into this blog have paid off. Watching that little segment – I thought – how awesome for Clara when she gets older. What a fun story she will have.

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  15. That line that Oprah tweeted is so precious. Thanks for sharing your lives and for reminding us what it means to build a home.

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  18. I absolutely loved the clip!
    I forced my boyfriend to watch it with me and he saw yalls yellow door and says, “so their the reason our door is yellow?” :)
    He hears me talk about “John & Sherry: pretty often, so I was so happy to share yall with him.
    Oh and the very first thing he said is “Sherry’s hot” I said “I know, right” :)

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  19. So cool for you guys!! What a great experience and such a nice snippet for you guys to look back on in another 5 years : )

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  21. I love this. Loved all of the quotes and things you said about making a house a home. We close on our new house tomorrow and I am so excited to start making it a home!

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  23. Is it bad that I teared up? Maybe it’s hormones…I can’t be the only one!

    And you did not look like you were waddling.

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  25. This is awesome guys! The only thing that could have made it better would be if Oprah announced you in her sing-songy voice. John and Sherry PEEEETEEEEER-SIIIIK

    Hope your back is feeling all better Sherry, I know that feeling, it’s so scary when it happens!

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  27. This is amazing! Congrats! Watching this clip made me a little teary eyed because my husband and I are moving out of our first apartment soon. We lived there for 3 years, it’s where we came home to after our wedding. Even though it’s not our house, it was our home and I’ve been so sad to leave it and wasn’t really sure why. You’re so right about the real meaning of “home”.

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  28. So…I just lived through this vicariously by reading your post and watching the videos, and I’m THRILLED for you guys! And what an amazing way to capture your previous home. You’ll have that footage of you three baking cookies there forever. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • I had the same feeling! Like, oh good, now Clara will remember baking there and hanging out on the sofa and standing in front of her dollhouse along that brick wall. Memories. Sniffle.

      xo
      s

  30. What a video they made! How wonderful for your family to have. I’d love to have a video made for us similar to this – no matter the topic!

    Reply

    • That’s totally normal! Most people think it’s more complicated (it can’t just be Peter + sick, can it? – but it is!). We get Pah-TUR-sik and Pee-ter-SKI all the time!

      xo
      s

  34. I am just so proud of you guys!! I know I don’t know you pass the blog, but I get so friend-like-giddy for all the wonderful things that are coming your way. Hard work pays off :)

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  35. Great clip! Maybe your back was excited about Oprah as well and fainted!! Like it just threw it’s own party and the rest of your body happened to be there! Seriously… so happy for you guys!!

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  36. Very cool! And look at Clara, she seemed like a natural in front of the cameras. My 3 year old is a huge ham but gets super-shy when she’s the center of attention.

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  37. Wow – super excited for you guys. I love how you include Clara, she will have some wonderful (documented) memories to share with her kids someday.

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  38. How fun!

    Thrown backs are no fun! Definitely been through that and I can say from my own experience that the back pain was worse than unmedicated labor/delivery! Glad you were able to work through it!

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  40. Oh my gosh!! This brought happy tears to my eyes!! The video …the quotes…everything you both said…Clara….Oprah!!!..ahhh!! Happy years!!! So excited for you all…and SO thrilled they showcased your amazingness!!!

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  41. So cool! Love this short film, you’re always so inspiring an encouraging to make your home personal and uniquely yours! Thank you.

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  42. I think the coolest part is that after following your blog since your first home, I now know how to properly pronounce your last name! Thanks, Oprah!

    Is there a way to watch the whole thing online? Sadly, I couldn’t devote my Sunday to OWN (sniffle) and I couldn’t identify the show it would air in the midst of to DVR. Perhaps I just need to understand Super Soul Sunday better…

    Bravo!

    PS I heard that Louis CK theorized that kids are meaner nowadays because they can’t see the hurt they cause with their words over the internet like we could see in someone’s eyes when we were growing up. I thought about this when I watched your video asking about haters. Haters gonna hate. Just ignore them and go on with your bad selves!

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    • I think they have the full episode on Oprah.com. Just go to the Own section of Oprah.com and click “videos” – the rest of the episode was about Mariel Hemingway. She has overcome a ton!

      xo,
      s

  43. Ok so I’m gonna go have to run and take a pregnancy test because I haven’t cried that hard since I was last under the spell of pregnancy hormones! GAH

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  44. Love your website, been reading for about a year now. I feel so happy reading your posts and I feel like the clip really well captured your essence. I was wondering, is it weird for you guys coming from “normal” families and now being semi-famous? I mean you have a book (possibly two now), got chosen for the Virginia is for Lovers promotion, and now you’ve been on OPRAH? It’s go to be intense sometimes.
    Love you guys so much!
    -Jessie

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    • The awesome thing about it is that although in this small random niche (home blogging, which some people don’t even know exists, haha!) we have somehow gained followers and accomplished things that we never thought were possible, we still feel completely and utterly normal within the real world as a whole. Since it’s such a small niche that knows who we are, we don’t usually get recognized when we’re out and about, which is a good thing because I’m covered in cream cheese and finger-paint most days from Clara. We’re still close with the same friends and family members who have always been in our crew and we’re still cheap-os and we still do the same things for fun. So I think we feel exceptionally not-famous and things feel almost exactly the same as they were before this all happened, which is awesome because I agree that it would be completely intense to blink our eyes and feel like we’re under a spotlight or something.

      xo,
      s

  45. My only complaint was that I’d have rather seen you and Sherry as the majority of the episode, with Mariel & her boyfriend as the three-minute short.

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  46. oh, and the play-by-play description of Sherry’s back throwing out process was thisclose to de-throning John’s fainting at work story from awhile back. i love that y’all can laugh at yourselves and don’t take everything so seriously :)

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  47. Is Roo someone I’m supposed to know who it is? Does she have a blog that I need to read?

    And so excited to watch these clips when I get home from work!

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  48. You guys have been able to experience some pretty cool “life experiences”. You are lucky everything is documented, I am sure you will love looking back 50 years from now! I am so happy for you guys.

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  49. This is awesome!!!!! You guys definitely deserve this and maybe one day you will have your own HGTV show!!!! :) Congrats!

    Reply

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