The following post was sponsored by 3M. Our sponsors are hand-picked by the Design Milk team because they represent the best in design.
This is the perfect giveaway for those of you who are in the process of redoing, renovating, DIY-ing, or remodeling! I’m right there with you. This was my family room last week (more on that soon in another post!):
I’ve spent the past few weeks wearing protective eyewear, respirators, and covering everything in Scotch Blue Tape. I can’t wait to show you the before, during, and afters coming up in a future House Milk article. But in the meantime, I’m working with 3M to give away a sweet prize pack to help all you DIYers out there.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned the Couple Speak contest from 3M (you can still enter here). “Couple Speak” is what we call the tense and often humorous communication between two people who are working together on a home improvement project. Just think back to the last time you tried to help your partner put together an IKEA dresser. Do you remember it sounding something like this:
“That looks interesting. Are you sure that’s going to work?” but what you really meant was “That’s not going to work. You’re doing it all wrong.”
What you say and what you mean can be two totally different things in challenging situations, especially when things don’t go as planned. That’s what this giveaway is all about! Read the rules below on how to enter.
3M products included in the giveaway pack:
2 3M LeadCheck Swabs
1 Roll of ScotchBlue (this stuff is the best!)
3 Stages of Sanding (green maroon gold)
1 gloves, respirator, eyewear
When you enter on 3M Frameworks’ Facebook page, you’re automatically eligible to win $250, too!
Rules:
1) Create a funny written “what you said/what you really meant” translation like the one I shared above.
2) “Like” 3M Frameworks on Facebook and participate in the translation sweepstakes being hosted on the 3M Framework Facebook Page. This will automatically enter you for a chance to win $250 (a new winner is selected weekly!)
3) Come back here to this blog post and comment that you participated and please include your translation! I can’t wait to hear all of your silly, creative conversations.
Giveaway runs September 7, 2011 – September 14, 2011. A winner will be chosen at random. US residents only.
Don’t forget to spread the word: Share on Twitter /// Share on Facebook
Sorry, this giveaway has expired. Congrats to the winner, Tina!

25 Comments
Ann C on 09.08.2011 at 06:38 AM
My husband asked if I liked a lighting fixture. I said, “Yeah, that’s pretty nice”. What I meant was, “OMG! Are you kidding? That is hideous!”
Thanks for offering the giveaway. I need all the help I can get.
Jaime (post author) on 09.08.2011 at 08:25 AM
Sounds like what happens in my house, too except it’s the opposite – I ask Jordan what he thinks, he says “I hate it. That’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen!” and usually I’m asking him because I love it and want to buy it. Ho-hum.
carrie aquiningoc on 09.08.2011 at 19:31 PM
He says:
Hey honey, I need a hand up here.
He means:
It’s hilarious watching you cling to the ladder for dear life. Here, let me help you on and off the roof. Ha! And now you’re clinging to me. Mission accomplished.
carrie aquiningoc on 09.08.2011 at 19:34 PM
err. by the way, I did participate in the fb couples speak sweepstakes. ..forgot to mention it on my last comment..
Loggins M on 09.09.2011 at 01:09 AM
Jaime – my wife and I were laughing so hard on this post you did since we’ve done so much remodeling together. We automatically came up with several real life sayings we used with one another and ended up posting this one on the 3M site:
She says, “Yeah…inches are hard to read”
translation – “It’s totally crooked”
hahaha, thanks for the laughs :)
Jaime (post author) on 09.09.2011 at 08:11 AM
Glad you had a good time coming up with some conversations – Jordan and I have done tons of home improvement projects together, too and it’s become a ridiculous comedy.
shel on 09.09.2011 at 02:21 AM
I participated…there are some really clever ones on the site.
He says: *(*^*#( CHEAP *(&[email protected]^ WORTHLESS PIECE OF (*(&%
He means: That’s going to cost me another trip to Home Depot and another $25.
Thanks for the chance.
Darlene on 09.09.2011 at 08:05 AM
Hey honey I found a guy who can do our kitchen cabinet doors and do it for cheap. Translated: Gee honey how do you like dusting your dishes for over 4 years because you have no cabinet doors, oh and I forgot to mention that I used them for fire wood. Conclusion: No more brainy ideas on his own anymore! Must be pasted by the inspector first. Still waiting for them doors……. ( easy for the shopping list though)
Let me know if you want pictures.
jeff a on 09.10.2011 at 04:50 AM
he said “can you please hand me the remote”
what he really meant was “you fell alseep again for the 150th darn time watching something stupid and im left awake and anoid by the stupid show while your snoring so loud i cant hear the stupid show”
(same sex partners)
Darlene on 09.10.2011 at 11:39 AM
oh no not another project before the other 3 are complete? Lets try and do one at a time, Oh honey watch out for the hole in the deck. Oh Crap let me get the first aid kit! Again.
Translation:
When are you going out honey for that beer and cigarette run and not returning???
Liesl Werner Thomas on 09.10.2011 at 21:53 PM
Whenever we paint, my husband says, “I don’t see why we need to wash the walls,” but really he means, “Why are you making this harder than it needs to be?” Posted on FB, too.
Tina on 09.12.2011 at 20:50 PM
Honey I got it Just need a drink.
Really ment: I have no clue what i am doing here and just need a break to figure it out.Also Please call for extra help.
Holly on 09.12.2011 at 21:11 PM
What my husband says: I can fix that no problem, we don’t need to hire a professional.
Translation: I am a man. I can do anything even if I’ve never done it before. It may take trial and ERROR to get it done and cost more than a professional, but I will suceed!
Sheila Peoples on 09.12.2011 at 23:01 PM
I could put this to use on 3 different projects. We had our den windows knocked out by the tornado in April. I now need to paint the new windows so could put all the tape to use. The respirator and eye wear would be great for this but I also love to make soap and you must has a good respirator and eye wear when dealing with lye. Then that children’s chest that’s been sitting in the basement just waiting to be refinished.
Translation: “Honey, you’re not going to do that right now are you? Why don’t you just fix us something to eat. You don’t need to work that hard”. What he means is; “If you start doing stuff, I’ll feel bad because I’m watching TV and I don’t want to be bothered with another one of your projects. Regardless, feed me before you sit down”.
I participated; thanks so much! Good Luck to all.
Nicole Beighle on 09.13.2011 at 13:58 PM
My husband and I are remodeling our house – the entire house.. we just finished the bedroom and are moving on to the kitchen. We purchased some paint-roller extenders…
He says: “Sweet, check it out honey. This makes painting the ceiling easy.”
My translation: “he’s having way too much fun. something has to go wrong”
Hahaha.. it was late and maybe the paint fumes we’re getting to us.. the paint extender stopped working and was stuck in the full-length position. We tried to un-tighten it for awile, but our final solution was to break the stick into to pieces so we could have one working half-length painting stick. Which as it turns out.. works perfectly! What an exhausting evening!
Thanks so much!
Happi Shopr on 09.13.2011 at 16:31 PM
“That’s an interesting take on it” meaning “You’ve lost your ever loving mind” or “I’ll take it under advisement” meaning “no way in hell am I doing that”
Jaime (post author) on 09.13.2011 at 17:56 PM
Nice ones!
talijolgus on 09.13.2011 at 23:41 PM
One of my friends can’t refuse a challenge, he usually says “I’ll do it, let me do some research”. This really means “I will read everything on the subject, become an instant expert, and fingers crossed it won’t screw up”. Fortunately, he gets away with a lot!
Joe Romine on 09.14.2011 at 00:28 AM
When my wife says ” Hey honey, what do you think of _____?” when she really means, Hey honey, what ever you pick, I’m going to pick the exact oppisite and your going to be happy and love it.
Liked the 3M Frameworks on Facebook.
Did the translation thingy on the 3M Facebook site.
Lauren Shapiro on 09.14.2011 at 00:52 AM
i participated
what i said:
if the trash doesn’t get taken out our house will stink.
what i meant:
if you don’t take out the trash you can find a new place to live.
:)
laureneshapiro at gmail dot com
Amity Johnson on 09.14.2011 at 06:37 AM
That looks fine= do it over!
Melanie on 09.14.2011 at 12:13 PM
Oh, yea honey that looks really great..
translation- thats what you spent two whole hours doing?
Amanda S. on 09.14.2011 at 20:24 PM
Here’s my translation:
He said:
I think we should build a deck
Translation: Let’s get a hot tub!
I like them on fb and entered the contest. Thanks!
carol lewis on 09.14.2011 at 21:35 PM
Honey, you, being a Renaisance Man, can do everything from renovate to fixing the cars. But, uh, I REALLY want the plumbing to stop leaking under the cabinets and ruining them since this has happened 5 times now. Do you think you could get them to stop leaking?
What I really meant: MY FREAKING GOSH, CAN WE PLEASE GET A FREAKING PLUMBER?!!!
PAY THE GUY!
carol lewis on 09.14.2011 at 21:40 PM
forgot to add I participated on FB