The Art of Doing Stuff is 2 Years Old.
And What’s a Birthday Without Presents?
This Sunday, while you were all going about your weekend business … running errands, reading books, cleaning clothes … something very special was going on. The Art of Doing Stuff turned 2. 2 years old. Which in blogging years is as old as dirt. Zsa Zsa Gabor old. As old as Zsa Zsa Gabor’s dirt. Old.
About a year ago The Art of Doing Stuff and I were considering an early retirement but instead decided to stick it out. Now … at the age of 2 … we’re humming along nicely.
Not only are we humming along nicely, we’re actually thriving. Partly due to an enormous amount of work, endless encouragement from the fella, bewildered astonishment from my mother and the support of few Internet friends. That’d be you.
Without people actually reading and doing the stuff I blog about … I’d have quit long ago. There were many of you who took pity on me and donated to my site when I put up my “donate now” button for a few days. I appreciated that. And I didn’t forget it.
So some time ago, around Christmas actually, I started plotting, planning and executing a little gift for some of you. The time to unveil it is now …
Yup. The Art of Doing Stuff has it’s very own tea towel. I considered mugs and tee shirts, but settled on the tea towel for a variety of reasons, not the least of which they’re the cheapest item to ship. ’Cause I’m cheap.
I put a lot of thought into the design and materials. I also figured, since this is The Art of Doing Stuff … a site dedicated to doing stuff yourself … I would design and silkscreen the tea towels myself. I chose to use flour sack cloth as the tea towel fabric on the recommendation of a friend who owns a kitchen store. It is without a doubt, the best tea towel material I’ve ever used. It actually *gasp* dries things. It’s soft and looks good when it’s wrinkled and I just love it.
Next came the design. I knew I wanted a cleaver with a little chip out of the blade. That was easy enough. I drew it up on Photoshop in no time. I chose a dark, dark charcoal as the colour. It’s just shy of black, without having the harshness of black.
Finally, I had to choose the placement of the clever on the towel. Most tea towels you buy with a design on them, have the design dead center on the towel. And when you buy the towel and it’s all folded professionally with each side folded in, all pretty and professional like … and that’s fine. But when I get a tea towel at home I either don’t fold it at all, or I fold it in half and throw it over the stove or dishwasher handle. Like so …
So that pretty much dictated the placement. The logo was NOT going in the centre of the towel, but instead off to the side so you could just fold it in half like a normal person and it would still look good.
The only thing left to do was silkscreen them. Oh. And teach myself to silkscreen. Which I did over the Christmas holidays. (don’t worry … I’ll be teaching you very soon)
I did some of the tea towels solid, some of them I liked the faded effect I got when I didn’t use as much pressure while silk screening and some of them are somewhere in between. I was worried about them all being different at first. Then I decided I liked it. Each one of them is truly unique.
I’ve done test runs on tee shirts and my own tea towels and they wash perfectly. They’re pre-shrunk and ready to go.
So now … as a thank you to all the readers of The Art of Doing Stuff I have an announcement to make.
To those of you who donated money to me. I kept every one of your names and email addresses. Last night I randomly selected 5 of you. I will be sending each of you an Art of Doing Stuff Tea Towel.
I also have a lot of dedicated, supportive readers who are always commenting, reading and forwarding my posts. Last night I randomly selected 5 of you. I will be sending each of you an Art of Doing Stuff tea towel.
You folks I just mentioned can email me (karen@theartofdoingstuff.com) with your addresses and I’ll ship your tea towels off to you immediately.
And finally … for everyone else … I am giving away 5 Art of Doing Stuff tea towels. Want one? Just leave me a comment today telling me what your favourite post of all time was.
Contest open until Sunday, March 11th at midnight. Winner will be randomly drawn by computer thingamabob, and announced next Tuesday.
And just before we go … don’t forget to vote for The Art of Doing Stuff. (link at top of post) This can be your blog birthday gift to me.
Thank you!
And don’t forget to enter the contest. Holy crap. There’s a lot going on in this post isn’t there? Birthdays, Awards, Winners! Somebody break out the Creme de Menthe and cocktail wieners … this has turned into a party.
p.s. My ass looks pretty good in this picture.
This post is still accepting comments, but the contest is now closed.
Gknee
For starters that tea towel is gonna look soooo good with some ketchup on it. As for favourite post of all time….nope can’t pick…I like em all.
bex
O cool :-) look I’m the first one here too! I think I should get a honorable mention as the one who commented first on your posts…. The most.
Happy birthday AoDS :-) I love looking to see what you’ve written about each day and enjoy the inspiration you give!
bex
o horror horror, gknee sneaked in before me an bumped me from the front of the que by milliseconds..
Also I forgot to mention my favorite post, its the one thatdrew me to your site Karen, its the outdoors tabletop glass fireplace. An incredibly stunning idea to make.
Marti
Uber-cool. Did you know my kitchen is black with a serial killer motif? The cleaver will do handsomely! (Seriously, thanks! Tragically, this will not slow me down.)
Jamieson
Happy blogoversary! I’d no idea I (almost) shared a birthday with the only blog I read not just every morning, but before I even get out of bed to pee. Even 630am gym days.
I’m so proud of your success and I foresee much bigger things a-comin’!
Thanks for the amazing tea towel! It’s a perfect capper to end my birthday. Especially since I have a respiratory flu and could conceivably blow my nose with it. I’ll email you my address and await the booty with bated (and, unfortunately, ragged) breath.
SuzieQ
Favorite blog was the BBQ brush carcass.Damn racoons! Fantastic suspense in the pictures leading up to the big reveal. Your chicken coop posts are very informative too. Happy BD!
monica
Oooh! I’d love a tea towel with a big ol’ knife on it! he he hee! Okay, enough psychotic giggling.
Favorite post? Gotta be the one where you tried to open the wine bottle by putting it in a shoe and whacking it against a tree. I actually fell out of my chair laughing. Second would be the reveal on your fabulous chicken coop.
Happy birthday!
Jen
I can’t remember which one got me hooked, but the wine-bottle-shoe got my husband taking you seriously! ;-)
Frankly, I love ‘em all (especially the “help a poor girl give her family Christmas gifts for under $10 each)!
Erica J.
I liked the mini series on The Fella On: but the video with the band-aid had me in stitches! Congrats on turning two. Though as I write this I am thinking of frozen yogurt tampons, opening a wine bottle with a shoe and a tree, and of the perfectly folded fitted sheets currently in my cabinet. Ahhh…memories.
missnicoleo
The monarch butterfly series was amazing! Will you be selling the tea towels, perhaps signed…? Cause you’re famous and all?
Karen
missnicoleo – If the winner chooses … sure. ~ karen!
Karen
Oop! “Winners” ~ karen
Bea
How can a person choose which post was a favorite? I liked them all! Your blog always makes me smile! Keep on doing what you are doing! And thank you!
Marti
Favorite post? I forgot that. (All the excitement over bring cleavers visually into the open in my kitchen and what-not)
I love the Halloween wreath because it’s just so darned over-the-top gorgeous. And the frozen yogurt tampon is great for pure audacity.
But I’m going to say the months and months of the chickens and their coop really sealed the deal. Any one of those about the chickens and their coop and all.
Rose
Gotta love the monarch series. But then the dollarama weeks are my favourite. Oh and the yogurt tampon! Heck, just all of it.
Keep up the good fight!
Cheers!
Pati
I wish I could PICK a favorite !!! How does one pick a favorite when every one of them is worthy of favoritism ???? I love them all..<3
KEL
Do I seriously have to choose ONE favorite post?!?! That’s really not possible, Karen. There are so many good ones… I do especially remember the log side-table though :)
Now, gimme a tea towel!
Jeanette Smith
favourite post? I can’t think of *one* right now, there have been a couple on outdoor projects that I will have to go back and have another look at. Can’t do it now, my head might start spinning again :)
Meg
OK SO. My favorite post ever remains “how to fix a slamming screen door”
I needed a break from renovating my late mother’s house. I was having a hell of a time, we had some water damage and well, a hell of a time. I needed a laugh. My friend Amie suggested your blog because of the home renovation + laughing.
So I’m like sure, right. Read a blog, as IF I have time for this. But since I nearly died laughing while reading that first post, I kept reading. Mind you, I didn’t have internet access at my house, and had to steal some neighbor’s wifi (when it worked) to read your posts. I would open a bunch of posts, and let the photos download slowly, so I could read them later.
So thanks for all your posts and happy birthday to your blog!
Claudine
I love the tea towels, and hope that you do decide to sell them on your page.
Favorite blog posts? There are very few that didn’t intrigue me and cause outbursts of laughter, so it’s hard to say.
The true pies and true cookies pages are great. And the removing oil from concrete was incredibly timely. I enjoy each of the weekly menu posts, as they’re great for ideas. The chicken coop series was fun, and I get excited for every post that lets me check in on the ladies.
There was one about The Fella driving with a speed detector, and about the wonderful things he does for you.
Oh, and the vertical garden/planter.
The very first one I read/saw was the correct way to open a spaghetti package, and it cracked me up.
I guess this is my way of saying that it’s too hard to pick just one. And that’s your fault. But I forgive you.
And your ass does look good in that picture.
Nicole2
Darn, I missed the deadline. Posting anyway. My favourite post of all times is the yeast infection cure. The frozen yogurt thingie. That killed me.
Congrats on 2 years of blogging!
Karen
Nicole2 – ?? You didn’t miss the deadline. I only posted this post an hour ago. You have dayssss left. :) ~ karen
Nicole2
It was late last night when I wrote this. Sooo confused. I thought the post was a couple of days old and you meant last Sunday night. Soooo, sooo confused.
Oh and I loved the Princess and the Band-Aid post, boy that made me chuckle!
Lynne
Probably Earth Hour and the march of the centipedes – that still sends chills up my spine and I wasn’t even there !!
Oh and the one where before you call it a night you use our TV remote and mess with your neighbours TV – that’s hysterical.
Is it OK to have two favourites ??
Oh and any cat posts as well. That’s all. (for now).
Patti
I agree! That was my favourite, as well! Ewww. I think about it ALL the TIME, thanks sooo much, Karen! haha!
Leena
Congrats to your blog and you!
My favorite posts are the ones that have video on them. I especially thought the spaghetti opening video was hilarious. I think that is the best, but the post I remember the best is the one where you fix the holes in your fish.
Rebecca
I thought about the spaghetti opening video last night because of something I watched in a tv show!
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
Happy 2nd Blog Birthday Karen ;)
Love this little tea towel…a butcher’s knife?! LOL.
My fave post would have to be “The Stuff Your Didn’t Get To Hear About in the Magazine”. I loved your behind the scenes commentary from the Style At Home mag shoot. Hilarious and informative!
Best of luck in the Homies 2012 competition. xo
Tanya Stewart
Happy “two”… how to fix holes in your fish. Was like a bad accident scene… i couldn’t stop looking
Julie L.
Congrats! and Happy Anniversary!!! Wow, I love all of your post…I can spend hours on your site just reading past post, but I guess I would have to say my favorite post that I use the most is your pizza dough recipe, but the post that got me hooked was when you got your chickens and you were building the chicken coop, couldn’t wait to see your progress and the finished product was amazing! I’m hooked! -Julie
Elise
Looooooove the Tea Towel, and absolutely ADORE YOU AND THIS BLOG!!!! My favorite posts are the frozen yogurt tampon and opening the wine bottle with the tree and the shoe! I love all of them, but your videos are so funny, and the Fella talks to you in the same sarcastic tone as my own fella talks to me. You are the best! Happy Blog Birthday!
Angela
Anything with the coop cam. And how to fix holes in your fish. And the yogurt tampon. And the gift wrap posts. And the entire Dollarama series. Basically, I curl up into a ball and cry on days when I don’t get to read a new post.
Selina
What a cute tea towel! My favorite post is also the post that introduced me to “TAODS”blog – the DIY tabletop firepit. I have since found dollar store frames now uses plastic rather than glass so I’m still gathering the supplies to make my own someday.
Janelle
Happy Birthday and may I say that was very, very sweet of you? It makes me feel like clapping like an idiot but I can’t because my husband is right over there and he’ll demand an explanation and then afterwards give me a look that says ‘that’s not clapworthy’. But it IS!
Heather
No question, my all time favourite post is “The Fella on: The English Language”. Everytime I read it, it just lifts my spirits.
Jo
The chickens are my favorite posts – I’m toying with the idea of someday having city chickens. Which is ironic, since I don’t really like eggs.
Julie Carroll
HAPPY B-DAY!!!! Gosh, you don’t look your age! How ’bout selling your fans a towel!!??!!
Favorite(s)… the gate latch (I did it!), folding fitted sheets (did it, but I’d be embarrassed to admit to how many times I had to watch it!), outdoor LED lights out of baskets (I did it!)… getting the idea?!? My REAL favorite (haven’t done YET) are the white glodes stuffed with mini-lights… LOVE ‘UM and you! Thanks for the info & the LAUGHS… P.S. I voted this morning – you go girl!
Bethany Hicks
I’ve never commented, because I am lazy like that (not just your blog… all blogs). But I felt the need to tell you my favorite post – the one with the video that folded the napkin into the dead chicken. KILLED ME! I cried for days just thinking about it. So thank you for that. And happy blog b-day!
Emily
It took me a while to figure out you meant cleaver, not clever. I kept wondering… a clever WHAT??
Although correcting your spelling probably disqualifies me to win a tea towel, I will list my favorite post anyway – Glowing Outdoor Orbs.
Karen
Emily – LOL. I *do* know how to spell cleaver. I won a spelling bee in grade 4. See? I’m very clever. ~ karen
Laura
Favorite post has to be your amazing backyard makeover. That photo of you standing in your pond! Closely followed by the chickens. Closely followed by garbage bag table runner. No! Favorite post is the one second chair makeover!
Alison
My favourite post ever was the one on teaching your cats to use the “people” toilet. I laughed so hard I choked. At work.
Also, I love that you love Australian Masterchef. We’ll have to invite you to our finale party … In Australia. Obviously.
Laura
Favorite post has to be your amazing backyard makeover. That photo of you standing in your pond! Followed closely by the chickens. Followed closely by the garbage bag table runner. No! The one second chair makeover!!
Laura
I am not trying to cheat….I thought my comment didn’t post so I did it again. Not that I’m above cheating.
Karen
Cheater. ~ karen!
Karen (Granny Nanny)
I just recently started following your hilarious escapades with chickens… old chicken farmer here… and I loved the recent comments and pix about sugaring them various maples. Now just gotta go out and find me one! Thanks for some great posts, you are hilarious to this old Gramma.
Laura
Potty training the cat!!
Petra
Well, what can I say, mine is the Frozen yogurt tampon:)
Mary
Happy Birthday Stuff! I look forward to your posts daily. Love all your writing & ideas, appreciate you introducing me to wonderful artisans and how to’s, but my favoUrite post of all time has got to be
Dear Earth Hour, You can Suck it.
I still laugh out loud thinking about it,,,which brings odd looks from those around me.
Jessica
I’m a relatively recent arrival (just a couple of months,) but I found the post about replacing the fuse in your dryer very supergirl-esque. Despite this, I have to say just for the sheer fun-value, I love “will they eat it?” Your chickens make me laugh.
I’m super far away, so I don’t want you to have to pay shipping for anything, but I thought I’d let you know I nominated you for a Canadian Weblog Award, (I couldn’t believe that you weren’t already nominated!) because this place is ACE. :)
Karen
Jessica – Don’t worry about it … you’re still eligible. Tea towels don’t cost all that much to ship. :) ~ karen
Reagan
Happy Birthday! Here’s to your great blog (cliink clink!) and to many more bdays! It’s such a fun blog to read. My fav posts are the random mixed bag of tips and simple, daily DIYs, like making ricotta cheese, proper towel folding, and broken nail mending. Xo
Wendi
I’m a newbie, so I’ve been going back into the archives for the last couple of weeks. TOTALLY HARD TO PICK JUST ONE FAVORITE! But I love, love, LOVED following you through the making of the chicken coop! I found myself just shaking my head, thinking “Damn, she’s good!” I really don’t know how you do it!
Oh, and your ass does look great in that pic, btw ;o)
Karin
Dear Karen,
You are my favorite Blogger!
And most of all i liked your
“throw away 50 things” blog!
I love it for the wonderful idea, because i made it
immediatelly and because i love to Look at my
kitchen drawer and think of you in far away
Canada!
Greetings from Germany.
Karin
Nancy
I can’t believe it’s only been two years! I feel like I’ve been intimately involved in your life for waaaay longer than that. Needless to say, my favorite post is like many, the yogurt tampon. I’m pretty sure it was the first post I ever read, and then I immediately went back and read all of the archives.
Gayla T
Oh, Cameron, oops, Karen, When I was reading about you giving towels to those who had helped you I was thinking what a nice thing to do and then I read 5 more got one and there was my name. I’m so surprised I am speechless which is ok since it’s just me and the dogs and cats. I’m so thrilled. I never knew I wanted a tea towel with a chipped cleaver on it until I saw it and thought it was a hoot! I really don’t deserve one since I’ve picked on you so much but I’m sure not turning one down. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I just love parties!
Lori
Happy 2 birthday !!!!!!
Wow to pick just one….. Nope can’t do that
I love them all . There are a few that stand out for me
If I remember correct the one that brought me to your blog was one on the bird bath. How you used everyday items to do it. Oh and the Christmas bulbs in your front drive ( walkway)
Please really consider selling the dish towel! I would love
one or two.
Belinda Philp
happy birthday – it was a happy accident when I stumbled across your blog – it’s made me smile every time it gets delivered to my inbox. My fav posts have been the Fella ones (he’s a bit of a hunk, too ;) but not quite as good as my fella :D)
And I like the design-y ones, too. But really, even the ones that I’ll never ever do, like how to tap a maple tree, are fun to read
sarah
Yoghurt tampons for innovation, creativity, hilarity and nonsense
my honest answer
I love the tea towels! Favourite post of all time… I think the tree trunk table has to take the prize.
Or how to get oil out of pavers, parts I, II and III just for the comedy.
Jen
Your blog is only 2? For some reason I thought It was older than that? When did The Nester feature you…that’s one day I’ll never forget…the day my blog reading world turned on it’s head! The first thing that popped in my head for favorite post…was a Thanksgiving video Gobble Off. Sometimes if I’m having a bad day…I watch that video. Cracks. Me. Up. PS. Marti’s comment on this post, could be my favorite comment ever.
Karen
Jen – I think that was around a year ago. :) ~ karen
AKing
Happy Blog Birthday! I always enjoy reading about your dollar store decorating and your fun perspective on pretty much everything, but I have to say that the chicken posts are my favorite. I like the building the coop posts because they are inspiring and I like the will they eat it feature bc I get to see the chickens being all chickeny. We used to raise chickens and I would love to have them again, it’s fun to live vicariously through your videos!
Annie
I must go back and read the archives.
I loved the christmas tree sticks stuck to the wall post. (the first I ever read). It seems rather tame compared to other favs I’ve read above!
But I am so doing that next year for each of my boys to have one in their own bedrooms!
Congrats on your anniversary. Pleased as punch you didn’t give up on it before I got to make eassyyyyy cherry tarts and become a goddess in my house.
Thank you thank you!
Amy
Congrats on turning 2 – I can’t pick just one post. Although the one with the fella and the band aid had me giggling the whole way through. I read you every morning, it is a great start to my day. Also I would love to buy that tea towel if you do decide to sell them here.
Susan
First Congrats on your 2nd anniversary!! What an achievement! Second this is not fair having to choose just one but but the chicken coop, chicken raising and and general chicken goings on, obviously caught my attention. Then of course the true pies list and the true cookies and all the fabulous recipes all tried and true! But a frozen yogurt tampon? Who writes about that and gets away with it? Why the same one that videos some poor bugger trying to sleep but that needs a bandaid in the middle of the night!!! Is that where the idea for a meat cleaver came from by the way?
I could go on and on but I must get ready for work! Renovations are killing me! How bout a post on reviving broken, sore bodies and fingernails! Mine will never be the same! Whatever you write about just keep em coming! You are the first I read in the morning and often in the middle of the night! Love you Karen! Congratulations again!
Karen
Thank you Sue. :) Good luck with the renos, the muscles and the nails. ~ karen
Susan
P.S. can you only vote once in the competition? I can’t seem to get the thingy to let me vote again. It keeps flipping over to your site!! Good Luck in that btw! I figured out how to share it and posted it on my Facebook page too! No matter where you place you are a winner in our book!
Carol-Anne
Happy Birthday! Hard to chose a favourite post. I made your table top fireplace for my Mom who lives in Muskoka (she loved it!) I planted garlic because of your post, I’ve been to the reuse it center looking for glass orbs and of course made numerous trips to the dollar store because of this site. I think the one that made me laugh the hardest was. The Stop, Please, Please Stop bandaid episode with The Fella! Keep up the great work!
Amy Schmucker
Favorite Post of all time is the one on growing your own sprouts. I printed the pictures, promptly ordered seeds and then had a party. At the party I gave everyone one tablespoon of seeds in a baggie with printed pictures and directions from your website on HOW TO…
I told everyone how I have learned so much crap from this website. I am now on my third and best alfalfa growing period where I have perfected the growth using a plactic strawberry container from the grocery store and some cheesecloth on the bottom. Perfect.
er.. One idea is for you to sign your name and the name of the website on a tea towel in permant marker and auction it off to make some money. Just a thought.
christina
congratulations! The frozen yogurt tampon is what brought me to this site in the first place… so I guess that’s my favorite!
Celine
7 Jeans makes all ass look delicious, well, my ass too anyways.. not sure what I would do without them, they just contain all my junk perfectly! ;)
Awesome tea towel! My fav. post is the meatball post, as I now make them by-weekly for my family, and also your video how to grind beef. I had the kitchenaid, and the grinder, never used the grinder. Now I use it weekly and my junk looks even better! Way less fat than the extra lean ground beef even, it’s great!
So thank you for making my life better! By far the best blog I found in a long time, I enjoy reading it every day (I do work for the Government after all) :)
Rebecca
I really love them all. Of course one of the first posts I read was the frozen yogurt tampon video, which made me fall in love with your blog. But i think the monarch series because I actually did that. And how that gave me something to impress my friends with. Thanks karen! Happy 2 year blogiversary!
Michelle Cain
Hi and Happy Birthday. My fav post is the crunchy sweet potatoes post because it is how I found your blog. I love your blog and the pratical advice you provide.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Karen Dorman
I found the second edition of “How to fold a fitted sheet” very helpful! But I enjoy reading every day…you always inspire me to think outside the box and you are usually good for a bunch of giggles.
Gina
Love, love, LOVE the tea towel. Congratulations on such longevity in the blogosphere! I’ve been a fan for about a year now and my favorite post was probably the one of the photoshoot of your house. No, make that the one about you re-doing your back yard. Your Dollar Store decorating ideas! That’s it. You introduced me to the Dollar Store!
Anyway, I love the, all. You are a delight and a part of my morning ritual with my cup of coffee. Best wishes for at LEAST 2 more years!
Brenda
Happy Blogaversary Karen…I can’t pick a favorite either, your posts never fail to entertain and inspire us all to ‘do stuff’. Thank you. Oh and happy that Marti is getting a prize..she always gives me chuckle #2. The cleaver is perfect for her.
Barbara Roesch
Happy Birthday! the posts that I like best are the craft ones—especially with supplies from dollarama…I have 11 nieces and nephews aged 8 to 28 and for each family gathering, I’m the crazy Ant Bee, responsible for “crafts”…your wreaths, uses for glass jars etc. seem to work for all age groups—now I’m waiting to see what you come up with for Easter!
Jeannette
My favorite post was the one where you showed how to fold a fitted sheet…that has changed my life! Happy 2nd birthday!
Christine Durst
Congrats Karen (happens to be my b-day too but I’m a shitload older than 2!). I adore your musings, projects, ideas, and creations… here’s to many more birthdays to come! (Well too early for champagne so I’m toasting you with my coffee!).
Christine Durst
And my favorite post – Lucky
Karen
Awww. Poor little Lucky. ~ karen
Karen Boreham
Oh my! Favourite post? Pick just one? Hmmm… the coop building cam kept me riveted, even without an appearance from Johnny Depp. But if I had to pick an honest and true post it would be the Dance of the Chicken. My boys loved that one too.
jamie
I hope you sell these as well. Yeah, that’s a lot of silk-screening, but they’re too awesome to not share with the whole wide world. Your outdoor tabletop torch thing was pure genius (even more geniuser than the other genius things at TAoDS)
Kerri
Tree + wine bottle = knee slappy post :)
Happy Birthday Art Of Doing Stuff!
Congratulations winners!!…
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..
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Where’s my party wiener?
mary c
Monarch butterfly series. Totally wept.
Traci
My favorite post is the one on making a personal firepit…that’s the one that brought me to your site for the first time! (Link from AT)
Mary Werner
Easy peasy – the DINK post!!!!! It snagged me and the hook has been set. I go back a read a few posts each day just because I love your site AND your comments. You have a bunch of great followers! Mary W.
Karen
Mary – Yes, my readers are hilarious. ~ karen
Virginie
Those are perfect !! I want one.
I guess my favorite post of yours was the one that I discovered your blog through, and made me decide to stay : the Homemade Firepit !
And of course your gorgeous fence (trying to get a new fence myself I can’t seem to find nice prefab horizontal fence panels…).
So please, give me a chance to Dexter my kitchen up a little ;)
Kellay
I would have to say the coop was my favorite post. I dream of having it one day. When bylaw let’s us have chickens. It is what brought me to your blog and I’ve been a daily reader ever since.
Elizabeth
I love the post about the True Pies! But I enjoy reading every post so much. Happy blog Birthday!
Shawna
Dink. Need I say more?
Kipley Herr
Favorite post(s) The one about the fella’s use of the English language and the picture of your surprise face upon seeing the baby chix. Backyard chickens is what led me to your post.. I have 3 illegal chickens in my back yard. Don’t ask don’t tell.
Dawn
My favorite (after discovering you last Saturday and reading your entire backlog in a day and a half) has been the fake chicken in the chicken coop. I am still chuckling to myself thinking about it- and plotting when I’m going to get the chance to pull something like that on one of my friends!
Karen
Dawn – I was looking for something in my potting shed just yesterday and came across that chicken! Made me laugh just looking at it. Stupid thing. Weird mother. ~ karen
Michelle
WILL THEY EAT IT?? – without a doubt. Really any post about the chickens makes me smile :)
Phyllis
Oh my….this is impossible….I am a late starter…so spend a lot of time going back and reading old posts..I love the chicken/coup series…but alas, having read the comments I am going to have to go hunt for the wine/shoe/tree opening gig!…Sounds hilarious…love the fella posts too! I NEED to purchase tea-towels for my girls!! Wishing you the best B-Girl!!
Karen
For me it’s a tie: how to toilet train your cat and how to fix holes in your fish. Those two in particular had me laughing out loud. Though the way I originally “found” you was when I googled curry chicken salad and your post came up about when you were on the diet with the “asshead” trainer. hilarious. Do I have to choose??!!!
Tres
There have been lots of great posts but my favorite is an oldie but a goodie, “How I Rebuilt My Entire Backyard and How You Can Too! If you’re an idiot that is.” That is the post that got me reading The Art of Doing Stuff and I have been hooked ever since. Oh, that and the guest appearance by Chippy.
Karen B
Congratulations on 2 years! I have to say that my favorite ‘post’ on your blog is your bio. It was the first thing I read and it reeled me right in. It’s far better than any other I’ve seen because A. it’s funny and B. it gives insight into who you are and who/what has influenced you. I laughed so hard and just had to keep reading. Now I’ve got my sister hooked on your blog too, and you’re often referenced in our conversations.(THAT’S why your ears were burning!)
Terri
I found your site when I was looking for ideas for unique birdbaths…then I saw it. “I heart dollar stores”. You gotta love a girl who has true love for the dollar store! Though, since I’ve been reading your blog, I’ve become aware of how lacking the Dollar Tree is in comparison to The Dollarama….sigh. As for my favorite post? That would be really difficult since I often seriously laugh OUT LOUD while reading your blog and find myself saying to whomever is close by “Listen to this!” BTW, me and my 15 y/o son made your butter for Thanksgiving. We both thought it was pretty cool!
Happy Birthday!
Leslie Zuroski
There are so many, do I really have to pick just one? Okay, my top three then; where you talk to the fella about the english language, where the fella’s father talks about the only true soups / cookies, poison almond bark, and the chicken that you kept trying to get rid of and then she laid the beautiful pastel blue egg. I guess that’s four. I just simply don’t follow anyone else because you show me how to do stuff I want to learn, I can post on your wall, and you make me laugh out loud. Pretty good for a two-year old. Thanks Karen.
Erica
favorite post of all time: frozen yogurt tampon. I love that you keep it that real.
Heather
The first post of yours that I ever read was how to make cupcake Christmas tree ornaments. It was a link from another blog and now I read each morning as I drink my coffee. I was going to choose that one for sentimental reasons but really, it was the video of you trying to put a band aid on the fella in the middle of the night. It’s something I’d do to my “fella” and he appreciated the video, too! Happy Birthday :)
Tracie
Happy Blog Birthday Karen! I have a birthday this month too! My fave post I think would have to be the one of that gorgeous tabletop firepit. I saw you on Steven and Chris for the first time and went right to your blog. Now I have coffee with you every morning, and try to copy you whenever I get the chance! You are amazing, congrats!
alison
My absolute favor posting was the one where you filmed trying to bandage the fella’s finger in the middle of the night. I’ve watched it countless times and still cannot believe he didn’t cuss a blue streak! Love it!
Sebrah
How did I miss this one??? Going to find it now!
Jodi
By far my favourite blog is the Cupfake lessons! I made them for my entire family this christmas :)
But I do love them all and your writing style. Makes me laugh uncontrollably
(But I’m still bitter I didn’t win the Linen giveaway or the Bogs giveaway :( )
Jen
I love the “Will They Eat It?” posts best – but they’ve got chicken videos so they should be the obvious favorites.
p.s. how ’bout a How To on getting an ass like that?
Thera
Grats on 2!
But you want me to pick a fav post?
Just one? -sigh-
I always love the Chicken posts, but the one with the Fella and the bandaid has got to be the best one yet!
courtney
Love all your post but my favourites are when you find seemingly useless things at the dollar store and create something awesome.
If I’m not randomly selected could I please buy a tea towel?
court
Sue Hyde
I read your blog every morning while eating my breakfast at my desk…….it is my time before my students enter the room.
Your chickens! That has been my favorite posts…sorry I had to go by subject matter since there have been more than one post on them.
Thanks for being a part of my morning.
Jim S
Congratulations on two years!
I’m glad to hear things are humming. I found your blog about two weeks ago while researching chickens (we got our first egg Sunday!) and kept reading the archives for hours.
My favorite post was “Things I Found in My Pond and How to Paint a Lampshade.” I tried to read the post to my wife, but by the end, I was laughing so hard that my eyes and nose were both running and I could hardly breathe.
I love your crazy mix of projects, chickens, kitchens and gardens. It gives me something to look forward to every day now.
Keep doing STUFF!
Vero
Happy Birthday AoDS! You are seriously the only blog I read every morning, sometimes even making me late for work :) Fave post was definitely getting to see behind the scenes of the Style at Home shoot!
Scouty
Oh, how can one choose a favourite post…. I think I would rather tell you why I read you every morning…. I love this blog, it inspires me, it makes me laugh or gag or smile or say what?
I love reading all the replies, you bring a great funny group together! I relate to the things you introduce to us each day, love, love following along.
So the tea towel is just the next logical thing for all of us to have. Let us know how we can purchase it, then we will all be connected together – a tea towel club! secret hand shake and all
thanks for all you do, much appreciated
KDot
Will they eat it!!!!?
Julee
I have to say that the post about cooking pizzas on the grill changed my life. I now weigh 500 lbs from eating pizza three times a day.
Shannon V.
First off…
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ஜ۩۞۩ஜ THE ART OF DOING STUFF ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
Secondly…
Congrats to all the winners!!!!! WOOT WOOT!
Thirdly…
my favourite post would have to be the one on starting your vegetables from seed, as my search on vegetable gardening in Southern Ontario is what brought me to your AMAZING blog.
Keep on Blogging!