The un-tour
December 12, 2014
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I had to laugh as I talked with fellow blogging friends earlier this week. We all shared photos of our houses “behind the scenes” and it always makes me feel so good to know I’m not the only one who doesn't have it all together.
Blogging is a double-edged sword – you want to inspire and show pretty spaces but those pretty spaces can also create an unrealistic image of how we actually live. I have always tried to share how we live day to day with you, or real life you could say. Honestly, sharing these pictures is one of my favorite things about blogging. Nobody has it all together. Well…maybe a few, but not many people I know. :)
I took these photos after I finished taking the “good” shots for the tour of our family room and kitchen earlier this week. Our crazy-A cat knocked a container full of pebbles off the island the morning I took pictures. And it stayed till that night – you just couldn’t see it:
Oh yeah, and the spilled wax on the floor and trash sticking out of the compactor is a nice added touch. :)
Our kitchen island still looks like this:
Instead of this:
Because we had to pull it out during the renovation and all that pretty beadboard had to come out with it. :( I haven’t fixed it yet because the island will be expanded next year when I tackle the kitchen reno.
The living room was my dumping zone:
Not pictured are the two trash bags I ended up filling with STUFF from around the house that I just didn’t want to deal with. They are currently in the garage and have been since Monday. ;)
The mud room was piled high too:
Everything but the paint cans is gone now, so the good news is we can walk through there now. Yay for ME!
This shot is one of my favorites in our family room:
And that strategically placed paper weight hides a spot where one of the cats got sick on the dresser:
Cat puke is a normal thing around here (we have an old kitty that needs steroid shots because he gets sick frequently). I’ve never had it eat away at paint though!
So yeah…I never want to give the impression that my house always looks like it does in the pictures. It’s always a warm, welcoming place but it’s usually not picked up and there’s ALWAYS something piled up or not done. Always. It’s just normal. :)
I do love looking at pretty pictures but even as a blogger it gets overwhelming at times. The good thing is I spent all day yesterday cleaning for a party and now our house is all picked up and clean…I should take some pictures. ;)
You're a hoot, Thrifty! I've read your blog for yrs and love it! Hey, why not staple some burlap to that unfinished side of your island while you're entertaining this season? Have a blessed Christmas, Kelly
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping it real! I have loved looking at the home tours but I know enough to know that those are just staged rooms meant to inspire.
ReplyDeleteI love that you showed the everyday life of a house. I thought I was the only one who piled things in a room, left cans around and oh yeah....has a "carpet" of dog hair. Love!
ReplyDeleteKathy, Greensboro, NC
I too love it. Makes me feel better and not so alone feeling like my house is a disarray. Doesn't help for me my sweet boy is sick and has been on and off since Thanksgiving. Add in no sun around these part for I don't know how long now... lost count. Thanks for keeping it real, Sarah. I have been reading for a few years and totally enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteTo the anonymous commenter... I also have a carpet of dog hair. My Aussie is shedding like crazy. If I don't vacuum daily, it gets out of hand - real fast!!
Thank you. It is refreshing to see a slice of real life! The side of the island almost looks like jellyfish! I almost want to get some watercolors and make it more of a sea life scape. Of course me artistic abilities are lacking so don't allow me near it. ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds about like my house right now, but mine is much worse. There's nothing like Christmas or a DIY project to wreck your house. I've got wrapping paper and ribbon all over the living room and my dog keeps eating bits of the ribbon. He's such a weirdo. I know I'll be cleaning up ribbon puke later. Awesome.
ReplyDeletethis is an awesome post, and I love it. I'm also jealous that paint-removing or not, your cat managed to puke on a solid surface. ours are ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS on rugs or blankets or furniture. haha
ReplyDeleteOh this post is awesome! I love it :)
ReplyDeleteLove your transparency!! Oh my if we all posted the behind the scenes of our blog photos, it would be quite interesting!!
ReplyDeleteYou're so funny! Looks like my house right now. I still have unpacking to do from our ski trip last weekend and I have wrapping paper everywhere!
ReplyDeleteShelley
I love when bloggers keep it real. I started a blog back in March after we lost our home to a fire. I'm documenting the whole house renovation of our new-to-us place and we still aren't moved in. I've been seeing all of these holiday home tours and it's been making me sad. I know that their whole house isn't perfect, but it seems like that when I look at those perfectly shot photos. I'm glad you keep it real!
ReplyDeleteLove this post- Where are you new barstools from- they are exactly what I'm looking for!
ReplyDeleteLove this. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing what's outside the camera frame. It's great when you show us how you really LIVE life just like the rest of us. Ps i love your "interior" addition to your family room. Makes so much sense... You needed better use of space, not more square footage.
ReplyDeleteThis is my house on the regular, well at least until company comes over. Then it's a mad-crazy dash to clean everything up! LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteLol! Great post. I love your site and have used many of your decorating tips. You make it seem fun and easy. Thanks for showing the reality behind the photographed perfection.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post!As a reader of many blogs sometimes you can get down thinking your house is just a total mess compared to the pretty pictures.It's nice to see I'm not the only one with paint can collections and an unfinished job here and there. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLoved, loved, loved this post!! Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love it!
ReplyDelete"Pobodies Nerfect!" Lol
Glad to know I am not the ONLY one who has this kinda stuff happening! LOL Your island may not have SIDES but mine has been awaiting the laminate top for MONTHS!! LOL My husband bought me the ever-so-needed table saw Thursday (It's my anniversary gift. Monday will be 2 yrs. :-) I LOVE tools as gifts...last Christmas he got me the miter saw!) So last night we had to cut the laminate. Very TRICKY cutting it.I cut the strips for the sides. Then I kneeled on the laminate and cracked it. Then I knocked something over on it and made a huge hole. Thank goodness we had just enough left for the top!We applied the adhesive to the laminate and the island. The house smelled SOOOO bad...had to have windows and doors open or risk having fumes go into the basement and hit the pilot lights and catch the house on fire! LOL! I forgot the hamster was in the LR, and panicked after my shower. I grabbed her cage and took her outa the LR. She seems ok today, and is now taking up residence in the other bathroom...door closed. Today we ATTACH the laminate and use the Roto Zip to cut off edges. We forgot the dowels, and I don't yet know if we have the laminate bit (never used the Roto Zip ), so a trip to Lowe's is required after we attend a B-day party. THEN I have to bake a cake for tomorrow and find a Sunday School lesson and craft for my class. Oh, did I forget to say that my LR is STILL full of stuff I have to list on eBay??? LOL (I call it "my office" cuz the basement is in the middle of getting waterproof paint put on the walls cuz it is damp down there. We put that on hold to finish the island. LOL) And that I plan on making a mantle/shelf on one LR wall BEFORE Christmas??? LOL I have to paint the wall before I build it. UGH x 100! LOL Time to get to work......
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ReplyDeleteLove this- thanks for sharing! I write a blog for family/friends about the renovations we make to our old house and when I take pictures I am always tossing clutter out of the shot and strategically placing things to make it look nice. In reality, it is not nearly so pretty! Glad to know I am not the only one who does this!
ReplyDeleteLove this post and the real story behind the photos. As a new blogger I don't post as often as I should because I don't feel my house has as much to offer as the big blogs. Seeing the behind the scenes shows we all go through much of the same to get a project done. Many thanks!! I always love the extra bonus of stories about "life with pets" and the curves they can throw at you in trying to get something done.
ReplyDeleteJust found you on bloglovin and SO appreciate tour keeping it real! When I see all these beautifully decorated homes, especially those that have young children… It really makes me feel inadequate. Thanks for making me feel like I'm doing an okay job
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this! It's wonderful to see all the ways in which we all deal with the messes of everyday life!
ReplyDeleteI love this tour! So much of the blog world is about making life seem perfect and effortless. I'm all about keeping it real.
ReplyDeleteThe paper weight gave me a good chuckle. Thanks for that! I'm so happy for you for your big entertaining areas.
ReplyDeleteChrissy
OH MY LOL! Our family room as I type is in disaster due to a school science project. YOU'RE NORMAL? What a relief. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see that reality! Looks like my house!
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