Community Corner

Clearwater Couple Document Home Renovation On Blog

Meet "The Girl" and "The Boy" behind Pardon Our Sawdust.

Editor's Note: This is a new feature where we get to know bloggers around Tampa Bay. You don't have to be a Patch blogger to be featured. E-mail blogger suggestions to charles.schelle@patch.com if you would like to be featured.

In this edition, we find out about a couple who are documenting their do-it-yourself home renovation in Clearwater. Meet Jackie and Tony, who write as The Girl and The Boy as The Girl answers a few questions for Better Know A Blogger.

Blog: Pardon Our Sawdust (or POS for short!) (www.pardonoursawdust.com)

Find out what's happening in Clearwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Town: Clearwater

Writers: The Girl and The Boy

Find out what's happening in Clearwaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Started: July 2012

Social Media Pages: 

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Why did you start your blog? 

We made a crazy decision to buy a disaster of a house and renovate it on our own, with no experience, while both working full time as attorneys. Our friends and family were equal parts horrified and impressed, and followed our progress on Facebook. They enjoyed it so much that we decided to start a blog to chronicle our adventures.

What type of posts can we expect to find when we visit Pardon Our Sawdust? 

We mostly blog about renovations, but during lulls in progress we share other things going on around the house. For example, I love to refinish or repurpose furniture, and have a page called "Retrofit Furnishings" dedicated to that hobby. Also, I am very skeptical of many of the things I see on Pinterest, so we test some of the seemingly unbelievable ones on the "Pinbusters" segment of our blog. Finally, we share other DIY projects, such as replacing a cracked iPhone screen, making pendant lights out of glass bowls and jars, fixing a Playstation, and even recaps of the mud and obstacle runs we both enjoy.

Has your blog evolved over time?

Yes, definitely, and still is. POS is fairly young, and is still finding its way in this world (wide web).

When do you find time to write? 

During work, of course. (Kidding, Mr. Boss Man!) We make time for it on nights and weekends. Practicing law is not a particularly creative career (or shouldn't be, anyways), so we both like to have outlets for our creativity, and blogging is surprisingly satisfying in that way.

What have you learned from your own blog?

 To not put pressure on ourselves, either with a blogging schedule, or forced humor, or anything that does not feel authentic. We just want to be ourselves, and sometimes we are slow and lazy!

What's been your biggest challenge while remodeling your home?

Not having a clue what we are doing at times, and learning to work well together. This challenge has been a true test for our relationship, and we are thrilled that it has only made us closer. That isn't to say we never argue, or shout, or throw hammers at walls in frustration ... but we survive and keep on loving each other.

What's one piece of advice you would give to fellow bloggers? 

Have fun! I would never write a blog post or do a Pinbusters or spend a weekend laying tile if I did not enjoy it. Blogging is a hobby and a creative outlet, so if it starts to feel like a chore, or if we are overwhelmed, we take a break. Simple as that!


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