…No, not the Academy. YOU! We are extremely honored, flattered, and elated to be named as the winners of the Annual JDR Blogger Awards in the Remodeling category!! We couldn’t have done it without you guys, our amazing readers, who voted for us!

This is our very first blogging contest win, and we couldn’t be more excited! We’d also like to thank Jackson Design & Remodeling for putting together such a fun contest. In the spirit of paying it forward, we are donating a portion of the $500 prize to Rebuilding Together Richmond. Rebuilding Together is the nation’s leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities.

Rebuilding Together believes in a safe and healthy home for every person. With a network of over 200 affiliates in cities around the country, they provide free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of people in need. Read more about Rebuilding Together here. Find a Rebuilding Together affiliate in your area here.

Again, thank you all so very much for your support! Over the past 7 months, this blog has become very near and dear to our hearts — almost like a second child (Bentley being the first child of course!) and we’ve enjoyed every minute of sharing our home renovation projects with you. Basically, you guys just plain rock!

Things are changing up around here at 7th House on the Left – but don’t worry, not too much! We’ve just got a few things to share with you guys on this fine Friday…

First on the list, we’ve been nominated for a blog award hosted by Jackson Design & Remodeling! Voting ends todayand we’d really appreciate your vote! It’s super easy (literally takes about 10 seconds) and no registration required. The winner in each category (we’re in the remodeling category) will receive a $500 cash prize and a fancy shmancy award to display (Bentley’s already called dips on it if we win for a crate decoration. Not gonna happen.). To cast your vote, all you need to do is click here (or the image below), scroll all the way down to the remodeling category and click on “7th House on the Left”. Then, of course, click the “Vote” button! Also, be sure to check out the other blogs that have been nominated in all of the categories. There are really great blogs and you are bound to find a few new favorites to add to your RSS reader.

Secondly, you may have noticed a new button over there on the sidebar… No? Well, take a look around (hint: next to the “Tweet Tweet” window) and you will find a button for our new aStore! It’s basically our own, personalized Amazon store complete with some of our favorite things we have actually purchased, used, and loved. The goods include housekeeping products, kitchen appliances, gadgets, books, magazines, photography gear, and a few of Bentley’s must haves.

We have yet another change on the blog. Scroll up a little… you’re getting warmer. Warmer. Give up? We changed the blog tag line on the logo… “Renovating, Decorating + Living in Our First House”. Yeah, so it’s not a huge change. It’s a subtle change but a little more “us” and it better describes what 7th House is all about:

That’s about it for now but in the mean time, do you guys have any fun projects planned for this weekend? Tell us about them in the comments section. Loosen up, it’s Friday, people!!

I’ve been so excited about this day for a couple of weeks and now I can finally share it with you guys and gals! Top 12 Spring Cleaning Must Haves by yours truly on Domestic Ease!!

You can check out the Top 12 feature here. And for those of you who haven’t had the privilege of reading Domestic Ease before, it’s an online magazine “dedicated to anyone out there who just wants to enjoy the home they have been gifted, the family they love and the career they cherish–blemishes and all”. In a nutshell, it’s a definite must-add to your RSS reader! For even more entertaining and inspirational blogs to add, check out their featured blog list here.

Thank you to Beth and the rest of the Domestic Ease crew! Such an honor to be a part of such a fun Top 12 Feature! Oh, and be sure to enter their giveaway for a $100 give card to The Company Store (details here on the homepage)!

BTW, the winner of the PinWheel Press giveaway has been announced! Find out who won the loot here.