I may have been holding out on you, but I just had to wait until the right time to share my news. We had some special visitors in the Clark household last week. Are you ready for this?
BETTER HOMES & GARDENS came to shoot our house!
Perhaps I’m supposed to play cool, like I expect these things to happen. . . But, this was a major event for us! (I say “us” because the whole family was involved (more on that later).
So, how did this come about? Here’s the story. . .
About two months ago, I received an email from a BH&G editor, who had received a link to my blog from one of her good designer friends who thought she should see my house. (Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sherry Hart! She did this without me knowing; now that’s a good blog buddy.) I read the email approximate 278 times and then quickly got over my disbelief and sent her lots of before and after pictures of our home, family shots, etc. At this point, I decided to be thankful she ever looked at my blog and put it out of my mind.
Then, three weeks ago, I received another email from her saying that all of the editors had given it the thumbs up and the photo shoot was a go—and was happening in just 1 ½ weeks! I, of course, started mentally picking apart my house and everything that needed to be done. In the end, I decided I didn’t have time to fool with any of it and just had some curtains that I had “stitch-witched” actually sewn with real hems.
Her email also mentioned that they would be doing some family shots. My husband was on board and quickly went to get a haircut for his big moment. I spent some time explaining to my kids how exciting/important this was and with fingers crossed, showed them pictures of other kids in BH&G happily playing in the photographs.
Lauren Liess (featured last December); photo by Helen Norman
My kids weren’t quite as impressed as I was, so I decided the less I built it up to them, the better. Our family photo sessions often end with atleast half of us in tears, so I had my doubts. . .
Remember our Christmas photo session from last year? I think this explains my worries. . .
My friend/assistant Katie also became my stylist for the event and we headed to the mall for a marathon shopping trip the weekend before they came. The email said to wear “non-seasonal” clothing, so we decided on this long gold top, belted with cuffed jeans for the pictures. Looks simple enough, but a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this decision. (Did I “blend” with my house? Did I look stylish enough for a magazine, but casual enough to be hanging out at home? There’s a lot of pressure when you’re going to be “immortalized” in print!) Does everyone in the magazine freak out this much? I surely hope so.
I went shopping with flat hair. . . .Or, maybe it fell after our 3-hour mall excursion.
The day of the shoot arrived and our game plan was for Katie and me to hang out at the house, while my husband kept the troops busy elsewhere. I had this reoccurring vision of my two-year-old pulling their camera equipment over and figured it was less stressful for everyone if the kids just came in for their pictures later in the day.
We set up bagels and fruit for them, drank coffee and watched an episode of the Real Housewives reunion while we waited for them to get there. (Somehow, it helped to calm my nerves to watch other people acting crazy. . .)
Waiting for everyone to arrive. Katie was nice enough to document the experience with her phone camera :)
Alright, this post is getting wordy. I’m out of commission tomorrow but will post about the details from the day of the shoot on Wednesday. . .
(to be continued. . . )
Eeeek! Emily, that’s incredible!! And so well-deserved : ) I am sure the shoot went off without a hitch- I can’t wait to see the article! Congratulations!!!!!
this is fantastic news Emily, and yes, so so deserved! You are one of the sweetest and more talented bloggers out there and you deserve the recognition, cant wait to see the result!
That’s amazing news!!! Congratulations! I’m sure it will all look fabulous!
Wow so incredibly exciting!!!! I cannot wait to see and hear more. Thats kind of like the ultimate validation! Your “family picture’ is a riot,something like ours used to be. Fantastic news!
Congrats, Emily!! So awesome and it doesn’t surprise me the least bit. Your home is beautiful and you have talent! Well deserved!!
Wow!! How exciting! Congratulations, you deserve it.
Congrats Girl!! That is so exciting. Love the outfit you picked out and I can’t wait to pick up the issue when it hits the newstands!
Congratulations! It’s one of my favorite magazines and your home is perfect for it!
Where to begin?! I am beyond thrilled/proud/excited for you!! Sherry is amazing, and I love that she passed your home along to them. You deserve ever second of this.
I can’t wait to hear how the kids did. I was cracking up at the Christmas photo. Been there! ;-)
Emily, that is so incredible and you definitely deserve it!!! Congratulations sweet lady! So happy for you!! Can’t wait to read more!
That is so stinking exciting!!! I’m actually feeling all the nervous butterflies just reading this! You so deserve to be in there and I CANNOT wait to see the issue :D
Wow! What an incredible opportunity Emily! I can’t wait to read the final results! Congratulations!
That is soooo exciting! Congrats. Can’t wait to see your home in print.
Squeeee! That is SO COOL, Emily!! Bet you can’t stop smiling. Congrats, sweetie. You definitely deserve this!
GET! OUT! Emily!!!! So proud of you! What an awesome accomplishment – completely well-deserved. HOWEVER, I will say that you are KILLING me having to wait until tomorrow to hear the rest of the story. You rock, girl!
Yay! This is such exciting news!! You deserve this so much!!! You look great and I know the shoot was awesome!! I cannot wait to get my copy!!!
Congratulations and well deserved. Looking forward to that issue and I know it will be a big hit.
So excited for you Em!
I can finally share this with EVERYONE!!!
So EXCITED!!!!
Rashon
http://www.ilovethrifting.com
That’s fantastic! I can hardly wait to see the article — I love seeing people I “know” in magazines! :)
Oh, Emily!
This is such great news!!! So exciting, but I totally understand you. I’d freak out!!! LOL
You always look so beautiful!
Wishing you a blessed week!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
That’s amazing! Please let us know what issue it will be in so I can buy it!!!
woohoo! congrats E! I can not wait to hear more on Wednesday! Isn’t Sherry the best?!
So exciting! I am a big fan of BHG and your blog, so I’m super excited to see the end result. Congrats!!
Congrats! I feel like I know a celebrity! GReat job!
Congratulations!!! That is SUPER exciting news. I cannot wait to hear more about how it went and see the article in print.
How exciting!! Congratulations!! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story & looking forward to seeing your home in BHG!!
Oh so exciting!!!! I can’t wait to see the photos they captured!! Congrats!
YEAH! It was only a matter of time. Can’t wait for that issue to come out & to hear about the behind the scenes events.
Emily, that is awesome! So exciting to see a fellow Charlottean in print!! Way to go. What issue will you be in..I’ll be standing by the mailbox.
Aaah! How exciting! I can’t wait to see more! (So many exclamation points!)
Emily, how incredibly WONDERFUL! I’m so proud of you and can’t wait to see the pictures and text. I know you are so excited, and I share in your excitement! :)
Wow that is wonderful and very deserving! Can’t wait to see more!
Blessings,
Robin
wow! this is such an exciting event!! congrats :) i can’t wait to read more about it!!
How incredibly exciting! I cannot wait to see the issue. What to wear? Talk about pressure.
Congratulations!!! So happy for you! Can’t wait to hear and see more.
Blessings ~Wendy
What an awesome news! How exciting! Love your yellow outfit, by the way. Can’t wait to see the article. Congratulations, Emily!
Jessie
http://www.mixandchic.com
YEAH!!! I’m so excited for you and your family and your HOUSE! lol :) Looking forward to buying this issues of BHG
Now that’s way cool! Looking forward to reading the article. I was hoping you were going to post that your area rug was going to be available for sale or something like that. I’m just dreaming.
Now that’s way cool! Looking forward to reading the article. I was hoping you were going to post that your area rug was going to be available for sale or something like that. I’m just dreaming.
Now that’s way cool! Looking forward to reading the article. I was hoping you were going to post that your area rug was going to be available for sale or something like that. I’m just dreaming.
Now that’s way cool! Looking forward to reading the article. I was hoping you were going to post that your area rug was going to be available for sale or something like that. I’m just dreaming.
Now that’s way cool! Looking forward to reading the article. I was hoping you were going to post that your area rug was going to be available for sale or something like that. I’m just dreaming.
Great news! Looking forward to seeing and reading the article. I was actually hoping that you were posting that you were selling your area rug to me ( I’m dreaming)Have a great day Emily.
Great news! Looking forward to seeing and reading the article. I was actually hoping that you were posting that you were selling your area rug to me ( I’m dreaming)Have a great day Emily.
Great news! Looking forward to seeing and reading the article. I was actually hoping that you were posting that you were selling your area rug to me ( I’m dreaming)Have a great day Emily.
Great news! Looking forward to seeing and reading the article. I was actually hoping that you were posting that you were selling your area rug to me ( I’m dreaming)Have a great day Emily.
Great news! Looking forward to seeing and reading the article. I was actually hoping that you were posting that you were selling your area rug to me ( I’m dreaming)Have a great day Emily.
Congrats, Emily! I can’t wait to see it!!!
Emily…how sweet of you to put out food…now I feel like a BAD host, as I did none of that! Nor did I buy a new outfit…I am such a loser! But, you will be so polished and beautiful in print, as will your home and your family I just know it! So glad it all worked out, but I knew it would when I sent them to Lisa. You are very talented.
Congratulations, Emily! That is so exciting. :) You will have one stylish photo shoot for sure…so glad I subscribe to BH&G!
Emily that is soooo fantastic! I have been following your blog for a while, and I am so proud of your accomplishments! I can’t wait to see !
Congratulations! You are one of my favorite blogs, and I can’t wait to read about your house in BH&G!
Oh my gosh, congratulations! I’m confident your family and your home looked fantastic!
That is so awesome! I can’t wait to hear more and see the spread!
Wonderful! Congratulation Emily – it was just a matter of time! Well deserved! Can’t wait to learn more and see the final result!
Congratulations Emily! Looking forward to the photos..it is very exciting!
Denise Briant
Design Savvy of New Jersey
I am a brand new reader/follower! Lovely blog and a HUGE congrats on the BH&G shoot!
Very very exciting I CAN NOT wait to see it in print.
Awesome, awesome, AWESOME!! So happy for you! Can’t wait to hear all of the details. It would be a dream come true to be featured in BH&G!! Well deserved!
congratulations!! what fantastic news…and i LOVE that christmas photo of your family. it happens to us all, but somehow, seeing it happen to other people makes us feel SO normal.
:)
congrats!!!
MAZEL! So exciting! I can’t wait to see you in the magazine!
So exciting!! Can’t wait to hear more!!
WHOO HOO! How exciting! It will look wonderful! What a great opportunity! You deserve it!
I love the fact that you’re honest about how exciting this is for you. Much more fun for us to read about than a calm, cool and collected Emily:)
Woah!!! Congratulations!!! That is awesome! Can’t wait to hear more!
What an amazing opportunity!! I’m so excited for you!
This is so awesome, you deserve this! Love that you’re real about it too =) I’m excited for it to come out!
Emily, that is amazing news! CONGRATS! :) I can’t wait to see pictures! BTW, I’ve been following your blog for a very, very, very long time…I was just afraid to comment…heehee. I read your blog weekly and have your blog on my side bar under “Blogs I Read Religiously.” I’m so happy for you! :)
Hugs, Sandra
Wow this is so exciting!!! I can’t wait to hear more and see more pictures. I will for sure get this BHG. Your blog is wonderful and this will be great press for it, you deserve it!
Wow!!! Congrats to you! Can’t wait to see it.
That is so exciting!!! I can’t wait to see it! You totally deserve it!
SOOO Exciting!!! Congrats!
CONGRATS!! So excited for you! I love BHG. :)
Wow! Congratulations! You totally deserve it! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
repurposedlifedesigns.blogspot.com
congrats! I suscribe to that magazine so I can’t wait to see the photos! I would have been a nervous wreck!!
Congratulations Emily! That’s awesome!
So excited for you Emily! You so deserve it! I cannot wait to see the spread!
*** What E*X*C*I*T*I*N*G news… and you HAVE “earned it”, Emily!!! I’m just so HAPPY for you (and it CAN’T “hurt” your business either, can it?!?!?! Smiles and a big “HOOAH!”…)…
“Carpe diem”, girlfriend!!!!
Warmest,
Linda in AZ *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net
Very exciting! I can’t wait to see it in print! I almost fell on the floor laughing about your past Christmas picture… I can relate. I hope it all went well!
Congratulations!!!! That is such BIG news – what an honor! You deserve it Emily! :) Cute outfits too!
How exciting! Congratulations! It seems like BHG has been doing a lot with great blogs lately. Maybe time to subscribe again. I cannot wait to read your issue!
Congrats!!! I am sure this is super duper exciting, nerve wrecking and fabulous all in one!
Looking forward to the article :)
Omgosh, Emily this is wonderful and well deserved news. I can not wait to see the rest of this process!!!So fun!!! You are so camera ready, you are beautiful and so is your darling family!!! Enjoy your moment!!!and we will enjoy watching the process, Kathysue
I can’t wait to hear more about your fun day! I am so excited for you! I’ve been getting Better Homes and Gardens in my mailbox since I was 21.
HOLY SMOKES! That is so exciting. So very proud of you. Dying to hear all about it! What a fun experience.
That is awesome! I am so excited and can’t wait to see the article Emily! I have very similar family pictures!
SO EXCITING!!! Can’t wait to read the article!!
GAH!!!! so exciting!!! I can’t wait for it to arrive in my mailbox! You were stunning, there’s just no other way you could be.
And yes, lots of wardrobe freak outs and over analyzing is normal. I hope.
Emily!!! That’s fantastic news, and you are SO deserving. I absolutely CANNOT wait to see your house in my own copy!
Camille
How exciting…and awesome!! You and your family are so adorable and totally deserving. Can’t wait to see the article.
Congratulations in the biggest way!
Pat
How exciting…and awesome!! You and your family are so adorable and totally deserving. Can’t wait to see the article.
Congratulations in the biggest way!
Pat
So awesome Emily :)))))) can’t wait to see it!
I can’t think of someone more deserving!! Congratulations!! I am so happy for you!!!!!
I thought you were gonna say you were pregnant again! But hey this is even more exciting!! I will be on the lookout for this issue. How awesome!!
OMG, your killing me, I want the details!! That is so awesome, so exciting!!!
SO exciting! You are such a celeb! You deserve it, you have exquisite taste! Can’t wait to see more!
Emily! This is so so so exciting! I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to see the pictures (: Congrats, friend!
What exciting news! I can see why you are so over the moon! :)
Huge congratulations Emily! That is so exciting! Of course they’ll print you, you’re so takented. Can’t wait to hear how the shoot went.
Congrats – that is such a great opportunity – and looking forward to seeing your home featured in BH&G! That must be a great feeling for you and your family!
How exciting!!! I can’t wait for the final images! Congrats, and well deserved!
Oh. My. God. You totally deserve it, Emily. I never cease to be amazed by your style and creativity! I hope great things come our way because of all of this!!
how exciting!!!!!!!!! Talk about a dream come true!!!
-Ashley
http://www.DesignBuildLove.co
congratulations!!! That is so amazing!! Can’t wait to read more about it :)
Oh my gosh, Emily, this is so exciting!! I love your style and it’s perfect for BH&G and I can’t wait to see it!! You just have to know that I haven’t laughed out loud as hard, while blog reading alone, as I did over your Christmas card picture…that’s just the best!!
Congratulations! I am so very happy for you! You deserve it! I have been following your blog over a year and you deserve it! YAY for you!
How fun! Congratulations. Can’t wait to read all about it!
So so so exciting! Love the outfit choices by the way – worth the mallrat behaviour ;) And PS – I LOVE that family photo it is too hilarious! Can’t wait to hear the rest of it.
Congratulations. Great news. I can’t wait to see it when the magazine comes out. So exciting.
Holy Cow- that is HUGE! So exciting! Your design business is going to skyrocket! I’m really looking forward to getting my copy- I have a subscription:)
Amazing!!!!! I’m so excited for you!!!! Can’t wait to see it in glossy print. Sherry’s the best! As if I wasn’t already a huge fan of hers – now I love her even more!
that is incredible, emily and so well deserved!! can’t wait to see the pictures..love your christmas family photo!!! have a lovely day..xx meenal
Emily, that is so awesome! What an honor and such a compliment to you and your amazing design abilities. I can’t wait to get my print in the mail! I’m sure you will look gorgeous!
Wow- that’s amazing! And so deserving! You have done amazing things with your home. It’s gorgeous and very inspiring! You are one of the sweetest bloggers on the planet, so this couldn’t have happened to a better person!! :)
Wow!! That is SO very exciting!! Congrats! I would be freaking out over every detail too, you’re not crazy. :)
I can’t wait to see the magazine, I’m sure it will be fabulous!
You will never know how proud of you I am! BHG is lucky they found you and that sweet family!!! Love you, Aunt Susan
congratulations!! emily, such happy news (; what an honor!!
Great News! How exciting and CONGRATULATIONS!
Christina
luxecoutureinteriors.blogspot.com
A GIGANTIC congratulations Emily!! What a fantastic experience and exposure, can’t wait to read more!! Janell
So cool! I’m flipping out! Fantastic news. Yay!!!
This is sooooo exciting! Can’t wait to hear more about it! Congratulations!! :)
Um… this is huge! Congratulations my friend and well deserved. Can’t wait to see you and your pretty family in print.
xo,
cristin
Congratulations to you Emily! I look forward to seeing you in print. How exciting!
Thanks for a nice share you have given to us with such an large collection of information. Great work you have done by sharing them to all. simply superb. Photo Recovery
Congrats! And, uh, your flat hair is my everyday hair, so I have no sympathy on that one, especially since you are very pretty!
Congratulations Emily! I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more. You are so amazingly talented—I can’t wait to see your home in BHG. I am so thankful for all of your help with my home.
Julie W
This so super exciting! On the next post I go!
CONGRATS!!! what a dream!