We’ve lost our lead in the 48-Hour Challenge again — drat! We’re currently down by 358 votes and slipping a little more each day.
You all came through for me last time when we were down and I’m hoping you can do it again… Please vote for Making it Lovely everyday until June 12. (Thank you!)
Amanda
June 1, 2009 at 10:31 amI just voted for you! Please post a daily reminder every day until June 12th on your blog. It is the only way to remind people to vote daily. Without the reminder today, I wouldn’t have voted!
Best wishes! And keep up with the reminders!
Lauren
June 1, 2009 at 10:40 amyou totally deserve to win..it looks awesome of course but for that preganant porch painting alone!
keep reminding us and we’ll take care of it! :)
amy purple
June 1, 2009 at 10:45 amI just voted for the first time for you, sorry. I forgot. I hope it helps.
Kyle
June 1, 2009 at 10:51 amI just voted for you…yours is definately the best.
Angie
June 1, 2009 at 10:56 amFirst time voter. I will do it everyday. :) Love your blog!
Emily
June 1, 2009 at 11:14 amI wish the contest was over already! You’ve already won in my book. Just hand over the $$$ people!!! Thank you for not being cheesy about it, by the way. Desperation is a turnoff. Will vote now.
rachel
June 1, 2009 at 11:28 amI really want you to win! You have put so much work into your home and it shows! I will try to vote each day…
christy
June 1, 2009 at 11:35 amI have been voting for you every day! I really hope you win!
bebojo
June 1, 2009 at 11:43 amAny Mama who days before she gives birth, gets down on her hands and knees in the crisp spring air to paint a gorgeous porch gets my vote hands down!!
kelly
June 1, 2009 at 11:48 ammy vote for today is in!!! good luck!
Stephenie
June 1, 2009 at 11:52 amTotally agree with Amanda – Remind us daily here & maybe send out Facebook reminders. Good Luck!!! Love your blog!
Priscilla
June 1, 2009 at 12:18 pmjust curious what you plan to do with the $ if you won…
Lucy C
June 1, 2009 at 12:29 pmYou’ve got my vote. The porch is lovely and I love the pattern you’ve painted on the floor. Fingers crossed – I really hope you win.
Making it Lovely
June 1, 2009 at 12:37 pmPriscilla, one of the things we need is a new window for Eleanor’s room. We can’t open the one that’s there now because it’s falling off of the house and it lets hornets in (!). Other than that, we have some big ticket things we’d like to do… maybe remodel our bathroom, or take care of the outside of the house.
lauren
June 1, 2009 at 12:53 pmim tweeting it now…
Heidi
June 1, 2009 at 1:22 pmVoted! Will you just post a small FYI everyday to remind us? It can be as simple as “FYI-Vote today!”
Samantha
June 1, 2009 at 1:22 pmI just voted, but it takes me forever. When I press the link in your blog, it takes me to any one of the finalists page, not necessarily yours. Then I have to scroll through until I find yours to vote. I have tried to click on your picture, but it doesn’t always take me to yours either. Am I doing something wrong?? I keep voting when I remember as yours is definitely the best, but some days it can take me 10 minutes. Just today, when scrolling through to find your page to vote on, I passed the same one twice before I got to yours. It doesn’t make sense. Am I the only one having this issue?
danielle
June 1, 2009 at 1:23 pmNicole, you TOTALLY deserve to win! I believe this competition should be won by the person who had the best makeover & yours is the best hands down. I do not like it when people use begging to win.
I voted based on who had the best makeover, & yours is it. I really hope you win & I am voting every day!!
jill
June 1, 2009 at 1:26 pmHow were you winning by 1000 votes for like 2 weeks and in one day, you were caught? I love the This young House duo, but something smells fishy.
You must win. Your entry is far and away the best. I’m voting every day.
Caitlin
June 1, 2009 at 1:46 pmIn the RSS feed (read through Google REader), the link is coming through as http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;214941011;3578733;c?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhg.com%2Fapp%2Fvoting%2Findex.jsp%3Fid=%2Ftemplatedata%2Fbhg%2Fvoting%2Fdata%2F1240261629709.xml&sid=4
and not rendering properly. :/
I voted today!
Jill J.
June 1, 2009 at 2:11 pmI agree with a couple other comments. It’s in poor taste to beg everyday! (I’m not talking about you, by the way.)
I do think that desperate times call for desperate measures! Yours is the best, so solicit us! I think you’re going to have to play “dirty” now. I have voted almost every day for you. And will continue until the end! Good luck!
Shannon
June 1, 2009 at 2:15 pmI’ve been voting every single day. I put it on my to-do list. :) You soooo deserve it!
And yes, I think we can all agree that certain other competitors are a bit tacky in their clamoring for votes. That said, however, apparently people need a reminder. If you want to throw in a few pictures of Eleanor too, I don’t think any of us would complain!
luuvely
June 1, 2009 at 2:30 pmi was wondering when you were going to ring the alarm!! i’ve been voting everyday…
your porch is really the cutest of everyones..and super simple to do…cool! i hope you win!
puck
June 1, 2009 at 2:31 pmkeep reminding us!!
Dina
June 1, 2009 at 2:37 pmvoted! :)
Manda
June 1, 2009 at 3:11 pmI guess I don’t understand. How are the other competitors begging for votes? They are doing a weekly post also, which I belive was in the contest rules. I may be wrong, but I don’t think they have said anything rude or have posted any rude commets either.
Melissa
June 1, 2009 at 3:24 pmI must say that i’m voting for you and TYH because I think both projects were great.
I don’t get the readers being critical of TYH though. It is a contest and they are doing what competitors do. They aren’t being rude or mean about it, just having fun and trying to win a contest.
Natalie
June 1, 2009 at 3:25 pmVoted!
Random question: how do you design the layout for your website? Photoshop? Another program? I’m curious :)
Jennifer
June 1, 2009 at 3:30 pmJust voted again. Thanks for the reminder! I agree with all the others that have said yous is the best. It definitely has the most style and is the most creative!
kim
June 1, 2009 at 3:37 pmDo you know that the link in the google reader doesn’t work. And I agree… remind us and we will vote. Though I get another reminder.. and then I vote for you.
Carey
June 1, 2009 at 3:47 pmJust voted! Thanks for the reminder! :) And, good luck!
jo
June 1, 2009 at 3:53 pmi agree with everyone else, keep reminding us! we definitely want you to win. i’ve had some trouble with the link as well but i’ll keep working at it. i try to remember to vote for you everyday!
Denise
June 1, 2009 at 3:57 pmI haven’t missed a single day of voting for your porch!
Your flair for design (coupled with a can of paint) is beyond awesome!
Making it Lovely
June 1, 2009 at 4:03 pmThank you so much for the support everyone. I don’t want the comments to turn nasty though… It’s well within the rules to solicit votes as often as one wants. I’m just not as comfortable doing that because my blog is more personal. For me, it feels wrong to write about something like my family and then ask for votes at the end.
Helen
June 1, 2009 at 4:07 pmJust think, if we not only put in our vote everyday but got a friend to do so too!
And then that friend got one or two friends to support the cause and on and
on. Just how big can this snowball get? Let’s make those numbers soar. We
can put Nicole & Brandon in the winner’s circle!!!
Nat Nat
June 1, 2009 at 4:40 pmBeen voting everyday and was shocked t see you lost your lead. I’ll spread the word.
The Office Stylist
June 1, 2009 at 4:48 pmI will be voting and spreading the word as well!
The Office Stylist
Amanda
June 1, 2009 at 6:07 pmNicole, there is nothing wrong with what you’re doing. Never once have I read something on your blog that I’ve perceived as annoying, pushy, negative, or even remotely near a complaint. You exude class and set the bar high for all other blogs!
We’re all BEGGING you to remind us… For the sake of giving us something to do during the day at work, please put up a reminder!
I agree with Helen, let’s all ask a friend to vote, too. Nicole deserves this as our way of saying thank you for providing us with such a lovely blog to read filled with inspiration and motivation.
You just worry about Eleanor and we’ll bring in the votes!
maria
June 1, 2009 at 6:25 pmyou must win!!!! not because i love you more or because you are not cheesy but because i honestly truly think you did the best job with the money and the space. hands down yours is the best project out of all of them!
chachita07
June 1, 2009 at 6:38 pmYou rock and you guys did an amazing job in a weekend project and it makes a great statement. i think you guys deserve it in creativity and DIY projects which is the point of the contest. like on the $250 HGTV challenge they said you have to get out of your comfort zone and be creative, paint colors you would not always choose.
Great job… maybe you can do something like a countdown of you favorite makeover rooms until the end of the contest so that you do not feel like you are advertising on your blog and are having fun with it but are still reminding all of us :) you got mine and my hubbies vote!!
Beth
June 1, 2009 at 7:05 pmVoted!
jen
June 1, 2009 at 7:23 pmI voted for you today! Your porch is soooo much nicer!
Susan
June 1, 2009 at 7:38 pmI just voted! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and love your style!! Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful daughter, Eleanor
-Susan
pj
June 1, 2009 at 8:21 pmi’m voting everyday. your porch is easily the most fab!
Cate
June 1, 2009 at 8:59 pmI vote every day that you blog, because then I remember. If you don’t blog, then I don’t remember. So maybe posting a reminder everyday (hard with a new baby, I know…but it is $5000) will bring you back up?
Jo
June 1, 2009 at 9:49 pmI have been voting each day and will continue to do so. Your verandah is gorgeous and definitely represents best use of the $500.
Shalini
June 1, 2009 at 10:24 pmHi Nicole,
I have been voting for you everyday since the start. I really want the best to win and you deserve it. I have also roped in my husband to vote. Fingers crossed!!!
Kelly S.
June 1, 2009 at 11:22 pmThe owners of the leading entry seem very nice and obviously are a bit, er, determined to win. However, yours is by far the best and deserves it the most — pregnancy or not. There is a clear “before and after” effect with your porch re-do– the other, not so much.
Katie
June 1, 2009 at 11:54 pmI’ve been voting…and even though the other projects are all lovely..I really don’t understand how you are behind…your porch is so pretty and inventive!! I will keep voting and good luck! : )
Amy
June 2, 2009 at 1:44 amright now you are down by about a hundred but i’m sure that by tomorrow you will be out in front. It’s too bad that your photo looks vaguely similar to the other front runner. I accidentally voted for them once. Fingers crossed!
Andi
June 2, 2009 at 2:15 amI voted for you again. I love the floor with the leaves, wish I was brave enough to do something like that to my house. Good luck, I’ll keep voting for you.
Jo in NZ
June 2, 2009 at 4:56 amTeam Nicole! Let’s set reminders on our cellphones for every day until entries close – we can do it!
Linh
June 2, 2009 at 6:15 amGood luck! I hope you win!
Heidi
June 2, 2009 at 6:46 amYou’re catching up! I voted today and please put up a daily reminder! I really don’t think it’s tacky. In fact, I don’t think it would be possible for you to do anything tacky. Everything you do always just seems so sincere and full of style and creativity!
The TYH porch looks nice, but there is absolutely nothing special about it. In fact, I’ve been wondering what exactly they and the others spent the $500 on! But your porch looks AMAZING. When I look at your work, it really captures the spirit of a $500 challenge–it’s beautiful, creative, and looks waaaaaaay beyond $500!
Agnes
June 2, 2009 at 7:45 amNo!!! We can’t let that happen!! I voted again! Here is hoping you win!
Laurie
June 2, 2009 at 7:53 amI voted! And I keep trying to share that on Facebook and it never lets me!!! Anyone else have that problem? Thanks for the reminder today!
Aunt J
June 2, 2009 at 7:54 amPut a post-it on your computer screen to vote everyday, then you’ll never forget…..Nicole must win and get that new window for her baby’s room. Who wants to sleep with hornets anyway?? Do it for her newborn baby……
Sherry
June 2, 2009 at 9:41 amI’ve been voting everyday, hoping you stay in #1 good luck :)
Joy
June 2, 2009 at 9:48 amI voted too, definitely post reminders every day!
Holly
June 2, 2009 at 10:42 amJust voted again.. it’s on my daily to do list from now on! Eleanor will thank us all one day!
Suzanne
June 2, 2009 at 12:24 pmI found your blog via Laurie at Livin’ La Vida LuLu (http://damarkz.blogspot.com). I voted…and added the blog to my reader so I don’t forget to vote again. Bonus points to you for doing the makeover while pregnant…Good luck!
Tamisha
June 2, 2009 at 12:38 pmI’m voting every day and on every computer! I’m trying to get you as much as I can!! Painting the floor when that pregnant is skill that puts all the other contestants to shame! And yes, I appreciate the lack of cheesy vote-mongering!
Yvonne
June 2, 2009 at 12:48 pmit was my first time voting and i voted for you bc i think you deserve it more then anyone since you worked on it while pregnant. Plus it looks fabulous!
Rose
June 2, 2009 at 1:07 pmSome of these comment are a real turn off. Like Melissa, I don’t know why people are being so critical of TYH, either. I see a lot of people here telling you to post a reminder once a day and then others who are saying it’s tacky to post a reminder everyday – or even calling others who may choose to go this route desperate and beggars. I don’t understand those who give support while tacking on something negative about the competitors, I for one think it’s just a lousy tone to set – one that is completely unnecessary. I really hope that John or Sherry don’t drop by and see some of these comments.
I’m one reader who enjoys both TYH and Making it Lovely equally – I look forward to posts by both and usually pop in at least once a day to see if there is anything new on both blogs.
Smile!
June 2, 2009 at 2:41 pmNone of the others is as appealing to me as yours. Bottom line. While the other contestants are congenial, talented and peppy, some of their supporters’ blogs have been a bit…well…weird and borderline mean. But I’m all for your success, which is even more amazing considering you are juggling home AND a newborn.
It’s not inappropriate or begging to add a standing note at the bottom of each post, no matter the subject, reminding your readers to vote. It’s fun and we are happy to do it. Besides, you guys already hit the jackpot with Eleanor!
Samae
June 2, 2009 at 2:49 pmI definitely need the reminder. I read your blog all the time so its the least I could do. Plus, if you win we will get to see what you do with your cash windfall!
Good luck!
amy purple
June 2, 2009 at 2:52 pmi remembered to vote again today.
justme
June 2, 2009 at 5:47 pmIt’s the nicest for sure. I voted for you and promise to place a vote everyday:). Nice job and good luck!
jennie
June 2, 2009 at 7:35 pmI’ve been a little out of touch with blogging… first of all congrats on the birth of your beautiful baby girl. And I also just placed my vote – your porch is beautiful and I hope you win. I’ll keep voting everyday, good luck!
Jo in NZ
June 3, 2009 at 1:50 amJust voted again. Keep at it, all!
Courtenay
June 3, 2009 at 7:36 amI read both your blog and TYH. I think they are very talented, but I have to say that I think you did a better job on the porch and that’s why I vote for you everyday. They post daily reminders and their readers adhere…you should just throw in a little reminder asking if people voted today. Some people don’t have the page bookmarked like me;-)
Good luck!
Sarah
June 3, 2009 at 1:39 pmCongrats on your new porch and baby Nicole.
I am a fan of your blog and have been voting for you every day.
I agree with some of the other comments made, some of the those in the blog world have been a little mean.
Nicole has been nothing but lovely. :)
Good luck!
amy purple
June 3, 2009 at 5:47 pmmy brain is so with it since school ended. This is my third day in a row remembering to vote!
Dan
June 3, 2009 at 6:54 pmYeah! You’re getting closer to 1st! Down by 79 votes. Good luck!
Anne
June 4, 2009 at 1:56 amI like yours best so you have my votes. I only found out yesterday, but I’ll be voting every day now :)
Fiona
June 4, 2009 at 7:09 amPlease post a reminder every day, and we’ll vote. Yours is the best. I am a little suspicious about the results.
Lisa
June 4, 2009 at 10:19 amI think it’s beautiful, but I don’t quite get separating the eating area. It makes the table area seem a bit closed in. Functionally on my porch I like to open the area up becuase we all end up out there at the same time. I think the divider, which is killer, would be great to screen the neighbor’s window at the end of your porch. Just my two cents for FREE. Lucky you! ;) No doubt you have taste and creativity in abundance. Good Luck in the contest, which given any justice in the world, you should win. Cheers.
Anna A.
June 4, 2009 at 3:33 pmJust checked and you’re only 130 votes behind! Get voting, people! :)
gabbi
June 6, 2009 at 2:35 pmI posted this blog entry on my facebook. I hope you get more votes!