Outside Press

Up for the Challenge: We Won!

I wanted to thank you all earlier, but I was waiting until I heard from Better Homes & Gardens…

We WON! Making it Lovely received the most votes in the 48-Hour Challenge at BHG.com and we’ll be the recipient of a $5000 bonus! We’re so excited, and we’re eager to get started on a few new projects around the house that will now be possible. And obviously, we couldn’t have won without your tremendous support. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

We WON!

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  • Risa
    June 17, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    Yay!!!
    congrats!!

  • Erin
    June 17, 2009 at 10:36 pm

    Congratulations!!

  • Kylie @ All Things Lovely
    June 17, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    Congratulations!!! You really do deserve it. I thought yours was the most creative and colourful, you’ve inspired me. :-)

  • Nat Nat
    June 17, 2009 at 10:49 pm

    YAY! Your design was the best by far! Can’t wait to see you completed projects… so inspirational!

  • April
    June 17, 2009 at 10:56 pm

    I completely understand waiting until they contacted you, but congratulations! I am definitely keeping that hanging divider tutorial in my “ideas” book for when I get my house. Great idea!

  • Sara@ Be Still and Know
    June 17, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    Congratulations! Your painted floor was and is definently a show stopper! :) So happy for you!

  • callie grayson
    June 17, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    yay!! congratulations. I love your porch and I am happy that you won!!! now I can’t wait to see what you do:)

  • Fallon
    June 17, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    Congratulations!!! You both deserved it =)

  • Elissa
    June 17, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    Yaaaay! Congratulations!!!!!!

  • Sandra
    June 17, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    Yea! You, Brandon and Eleanor totally deserved this. You went above and beyond the other contestants. Your porch is classy, sassy and a reflection of your style. Congratulations!! :)

  • Dina
    June 17, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    congrats!!!

  • Bonnie
    June 17, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    Woohoo!!!

  • Cristina
    June 17, 2009 at 11:27 pm

    Congrats! Glad you won – it was well deserved!

  • kelli
    June 17, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    Congrats. I have been voting daily. To do all that work while pregnant you deserve WAY more. All I could do while I was pregnant was make cheesecake and twinkies disappear. I LOVE what you did to your porch….and on a budget that we could all work with.

  • Paula
    June 17, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    Congrats! I really love the painted rug – it’s truly inspired and lovely. Can’t wait to see the new projects as you update us with their progress.

  • :::Lyzz:::
    June 17, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    You certain deserve the win and therefore, I committed to voting for you daily. Can’t wait to see what you will do with it!

  • Christy
    June 17, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    AWESOME! Congrats! It was very interesting to see how everyone used their money. You did a great job with the painted prorch, that really did it for me.

  • Aussie_Mum_plus_cats
    June 17, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    Congratulations. So happy you won. You get double points for painting that porch at 9 months pregnant. I couldn’t even do up my shoes.

  • designingwoman
    June 18, 2009 at 12:10 am

    WOOT!! A huge congratulations, Nicole – your design was fabulous :)

  • Laura
    June 18, 2009 at 12:32 am

    YAY Congrats!!!

  • Sandi
    June 18, 2009 at 12:54 am

    Woooooooo! Congratulations! I voted for you.

  • Manda
    June 18, 2009 at 1:11 am

    Congratulations!!! I’m so excited to see the money put to creative use. Well done!

  • Maia
    June 18, 2009 at 2:37 am

    Now all you have to do is dance around singing “We got five thousand dollars. We got five thousand dollars.” Like Wayne and Garth.

  • Camilla
    June 18, 2009 at 4:18 am

    Congratulations! You did a great job on the porch.

  • Tracy
    June 18, 2009 at 4:25 am

    Well-deserved! Congratulations!!! :D
    I hope to see pics of your 5000 dollar-projects! :D

  • Jo
    June 18, 2009 at 4:49 am

    Congratultions! You really are the deserving winners.

  • Zeynep Z
    June 18, 2009 at 5:39 am

    Congratulations!!! I really love the painted rug… I committed to voting for you daily. So happy you won.

  • Carrie @ CarrieCan
    June 18, 2009 at 5:43 am

    Congrats on winning! You did a wonderful job with it so it’s very well deserved!

  • Linley
    June 18, 2009 at 6:03 am

    Woo hoo! Congrats :) I guess I can delete the voting page from my favorites now. :P

  • Sara Rose
    June 18, 2009 at 6:15 am

    YAY! I voted daily and sent my friends and family emails and twitters to make sure that they voted for you too! That way you’d have some good old fashioned midwestern support! xoxo!

  • Simone
    June 18, 2009 at 6:42 am

    YAY! congrats! you most definitely deserved it!

  • Absharina
    June 18, 2009 at 6:59 am

    Yayy!! Congratulations Nicole and Brandon!! Look forward for the upcoming project!

  • Jessica
    June 18, 2009 at 7:16 am

    Yeah Congrats! $5000 is a wonderful prize…that I am sure you will put to good use.

  • Catty
    June 18, 2009 at 7:29 am

    Yahoo! You did a beautiful job on your porch! I’m so glad you won!

  • Christy
    June 18, 2009 at 7:52 am

    Congratulations! I was hoping you would get it! You deserve it and I can’t wait to see what project is next.

  • Jayme
    June 18, 2009 at 7:57 am

    Congrats! They should give you an extra $1K for doing it while you were pregnant!

  • Laura
    June 18, 2009 at 7:59 am

    Woohoo! Congratulations! And I agree with Jayme on the extra moolah! :)

  • j
    June 18, 2009 at 8:07 am

    Yay, congratulations! I voted for you almost every day and am so happy you won!

  • Nicole
    June 18, 2009 at 8:09 am

    Goodness Gracious GREAT BALLS OF FIRE – COURSE YOU DID – NOW will you be doing everything that you blogged about before?
    Nicole~

  • John at This Young House
    June 18, 2009 at 8:12 am

    Congrats, Nicole! The win is well deserved and we couldn’t think of a better project or family to lose to. Can’t wait to see how you enjoy your dinero!

    -John

  • Manvi
    June 18, 2009 at 8:31 am

    Congrats Nicole. Im so happy you won! Well deserved. Cant wait to see more projects!

  • carrie
    June 18, 2009 at 8:42 am

    Congratulations… I can’t wait to get started on my front porch!

  • Tanya
    June 18, 2009 at 8:43 am

    That’s awesome that you guys won! I love the painted rug. It pops and looks lovely. Hope to see the start of projects soon.

  • Lauren
    June 18, 2009 at 8:49 am

    you totally deserve it! your project had pizzazz…especially compared to some of those snoozers… :)

  • Becky @ Farmgirl Paints
    June 18, 2009 at 8:52 am

    So happy for you. You deserved to win. It blew the others away. Congrats:)

  • amy purple
    June 18, 2009 at 8:53 am

    Congrats! Now we can look forward to see more projects!

  • Lisa
    June 18, 2009 at 8:53 am

    Congratulations, you deserve it!

    Take care,
    Lisa

  • Carrie
    June 18, 2009 at 8:59 am

    Wow, congratulations! That is truly amazing and well deserved! I can’t wait to see what you do!

  • allie
    June 18, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Congratulations on a well-deserved win! Hopefully you’ll spend a little bit of that money on yourself. You certainly deserve a break. Looking forward to seeing any projects you may move forward on with the rest of it, though. Hooray for all four of you.

  • creative*type
    June 18, 2009 at 9:10 am

    yay! it was a nail biter!

  • Shannah
    June 18, 2009 at 9:23 am

    Hooray! You truly had the best design. Congrats!

  • Jenni
    June 18, 2009 at 9:23 am

    yay! congratulations! I can’t wait to see what you do with the money. All you projects turn out so wonderfully.

  • Rebekah
    June 18, 2009 at 9:33 am

    That’s wonderful! And well-deserved. :)

  • maria
    June 18, 2009 at 9:35 am

    AWESOME!! you soo deserved, your design was the best.

  • Terri
    June 18, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Congrats,Nicole! I voted for you several times (although we were out of the country the last few weeks where internet connections were awfully sloooooow, so I missed a few chances.) In any event, I thought your design was the most creative and most difficult to execute. Can’t wait to see your next project!

  • Gina
    June 18, 2009 at 9:41 am

    Oh yay!!! Congrats!! I am so glad that my vote helped you win! :-)

  • Cindy
    June 18, 2009 at 9:44 am

    YAY! Congratulations!

  • Christina
    June 18, 2009 at 9:49 am

    Congratulations! It’s well worth it because you made the space look amazing!

  • Michele
    June 18, 2009 at 10:01 am

    I’m thrilled for you! I can hardly wait to see what comes next.

  • Hazel
    June 18, 2009 at 10:14 am

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! =)

  • Tracie
    June 18, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Congratulations. I’ve been silently following the transformation and think that your porch is adorable.

  • Danielle
    June 18, 2009 at 10:21 am

    Congrats! Your projects will make great improvements in your home. I must say, though, you really worked miricles in that bathroom!

  • Sarah R.
    June 18, 2009 at 10:23 am

    Oh I am so happy for you!! I tried to vote as often as possible.
    i can’t wait to hear your ideas for the next projects!

  • Sherry
    June 18, 2009 at 10:30 am

    I knew you’d win! congratulations!!!

  • Elizabeth
    June 18, 2009 at 10:47 am

    Hip Hip Hooray! Well done!

  • Erica
    June 18, 2009 at 10:57 am

    Congrats! I love reading the blog and look forward to lots of project updates after you spend some of that hard-earned cash!

  • Anita
    June 18, 2009 at 11:09 am

    Congrats! you deserved it for doing this 9 months pregnant! and I can’t wait to see the results!

  • Laurie
    June 18, 2009 at 11:14 am

    Congratulations, officially now! You had the best design by far and I am so looking forward to seeing what you do with your winnings :D

  • Vonnie
    June 18, 2009 at 11:26 am

    It couldn’t have happened to a lovelier family!

  • Jessibee
    June 18, 2009 at 11:31 am

    It’s official! Awesome!

  • French Furniture
    June 18, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Congratulations!!!! You deserve it!

  • Mimi
    June 18, 2009 at 11:51 am

    Yay! Yay! Yay!

  • Mrs. Priss
    June 18, 2009 at 11:56 am

    Congratulations!! That is awesome, yet totally unsurprising news. Your porch is so adorable, I was sure it would win!

  • Rebecca
    June 18, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    you’re welcome! i dutifully voted every day…
    i’m so excited to see what you come up with now! :-D

  • Denise
    June 18, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Congratulations!! Can’t wait to see your new projects!

  • Gretchen
    June 18, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    Congratulations! I can’t wait to see what you do with your winnings.

  • Amy
    June 18, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    Congrats – that’s awesome!

  • Amanda
    June 18, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    Congrats to you and your family.

  • Not So Glamorous Housewife
    June 18, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Congratulations!

  • robin
    June 18, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    yahoooooo!!! congrats :O)

  • Leslie
    June 18, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    You definitely deserved it! Congratulations!

  • Laura
    June 18, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    Yippee! Congratulations!!! That is so AWESOME. You deserve this, big time :)

  • Krysten
    June 18, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    Yay congrats! You totally deserve it!

  • harp
    June 18, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    FELICIDADES! So happy my daily voting paid off!:) Well Deserved!!!!

  • Eileen
    June 18, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    Woot Woot!

  • rhonda
    June 18, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    Yay! I will give myself a little pat on the back for voting nearly every day!

  • sierra
    June 18, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    Congratulations! I voted for you on the days I remembered :) Looking forward to seeing what’s next on the home project front!

  • DecorPad
    June 18, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    Congratulations!

  • ashleyD
    June 18, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    i voted as much as i clicked to here and saw a reminder! congrats! it’s well deserved!

  • -kisch-
    June 18, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    Congratulations!! Well deserved. can’t wait to see what the new projects are!

  • Holly
    June 18, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    I’ve been checking daily for the results – so happy for you! I voted every day so glad it was all worth it! Can’t wait to see what you do!

  • Keli
    June 18, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    Congratulations!! Hope Eleanor gets that new window!:)

  • Dewdrop
    June 18, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    Yay!! I’m so glad all of that voting paid off. You really did have the best looking project.

  • Gwendolyn
    June 18, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    Congrats! You deserve it! I hope you have a blast putting the $$$ to good use!

  • Condo Blues
    June 18, 2009 at 5:59 pm

    Congratulations1 Your porch is very cool.

  • Nicolette
    June 18, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    You absolutely deserve this and I can’t wait to see what you do with the bonus money. Keep us posted!

  • Quinn
    June 18, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    So happy for you!

  • Miss B.
    June 18, 2009 at 7:39 pm

    Congrats!!! How fabulous!

  • southern hostess
    June 18, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    I’m so glad you won! Much deserved!

  • Jenna
    June 18, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    So excited that you won!! I love your porch – so gorgeous! You definitely had my votes. Congrats!

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