The Messy Home Tour
I often get e-mails regarding our house, and how perfect everything is. It’s always the same question, “How do you do it all?”. And although I love reading the sweet words of praise, my answer is always simple, I don’t do it all. Blogging can often show the best side of life. Be that the clean state of the house, the perfect relationship we have with others, or even the overall happiness of the blogger in general. I don’t want you to think I am perfect, even for the slightest minute, that’s why I’m sharing the messy home tour of our house. It’s not always pristine, it’s not always clean, and it’s not always tidy. We are real people, who really live in our home.
Next week I am set to share our fall home tour. I am so excited to show you all the new decorating I’ve been doing, but there’s been something that’s been nagging at me in the back of my mind: What I show you in our home tour, and what it looks like everyday are two different places.
Yes, we do live in a tidy house, it’s the way I was raised, the way I prefer to live, and how Anthony and I both need things to be to function at our highest quality, but it’s also a real house. We do really live here, and in the midst of projects, the bathroom getting gutted, and my health not being in the tip top shape, things are bound to slide. And, all of that got me to thinking, you need to see that side of our home as well. You need to know we aren’t the perfect little couple, living in the perfect little house, and enjoying our perfect little life. We are not perfect people, quite far from, and I want to embrace that.
I want you to know you are not failing. I don’t ever want to be the blogger with the house that makes YOU feel insufficient. YOU are good enough. Please, please, please remember that. I am here to inspire you, not discourage you. That’s why I’ve decided to share the tour of our house in the worst state. You need to know, whatever you have, wherever you are, however your house looks, YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!
And with that said, here’s the ever so real tour of our home….
If you look close enough, you’ll probably see a few new projects we decided to start working on in the midst of our house already being torn apart from the bathroom remodel…. fun times. It never fails, I always want to add on 3 other big projects in the midst of a remodel. Sometimes I seriously question my sanity….
I can say, the online shop has also contributed to a bit of the mess… Stuff is everywhere!
And, since we had to move out of our bathroom, which meant our closet belongings also had to be removed, this is where we had to store everything for about two weeks….
Hold me. Thank goodness that’s all back in its place, these pictures actually make my heart stop. Ironically though, Iris felt like she was queen of the mountain….
The clothes mountain anyways. 🙂
It’s funny to see pets transition in those times as well. Having two twin sister kitties has been quite funny. Iva isn’t afraid of change, but Iris hates it. She doesn’t want a single thing moved out of the ordinary place. Poor girl. I know she’s in for a rough life since I constantly move things around. Good thing she knows she is loved.
Anyways, I hope this helped you have a different perspective of our life and house. Next week when I share the fall home tour, you’ll know it’s not always “beauty shot” material, and yours doesn’t have to be either! 🙂
I love this post, Shayna. We’ll be giving our new friends a taste of “reality” come Sunday. Of course as bloggers we want to post our best sides but, I too, have posted the real reality. I can’t tell you how many friends messaged me that they were glad I did. The renovations on our home are far from being done but it’s been two years since we’ve moved here and I finally said, enough is enough. Let them come visit US. I scheduled our open house and that’s it! The bathroom is horrid (but clean) and we haven’t done a thing in our bedroom or master bath. Life isn’t as perfect as those perfect photos are. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your real life.
Love it! This is something more bloggers should do. Readers underestimate the amount of work it takes to bring us interesting ideas and ‘pretty’ pictures on a regular basis. We should be saying thank you much more often.
YES!!! Thank you! Haha! This is exactly how my house looks at the moment and it just KILLS me! I want to hug this post, Shayna. LOVE the new site design by the way. And your gorgeous head shot!
It’s nice to see that “the online life” isn’t perfect. I catch myself judging my daily activites by what I see online. I feel less of a mom, wife and house keeper when I see perfection everytime I get online. Thank you for posting this! I now feel like a “normal” person ?
Thank you so much for this pics. When I look at your house, I always want to go home and bomb mine. Nice to know that you all are human! 🙂
Omg. We are taping and painting my sons bedroom. So we had to clear out another bedroom for his stuff…and all his closet stuff. All my stuff is now in my bedroom,the one with no closet, cause he took over mine. My bed looks exactly like that except I have to sleep in it as well. ?. I can totally relate. We have been renovation the entire house since I moved in in February. In hindsight. Maybe I should of done a room at a time. Cheers. And know you are not alone Frances
Oh, my! I’m running in to show my hubby these pics as soon as I Post this Comment! Thank you!!!
I am in the midst of preparing for Fall & Christmas Holiday “Trunk” Shows, and I have lots of project materials, packed merchandise, and previous years’ merchandise scattered about ~ everywhere ~ in our house! It is far worse than yours, but your Post still makes me feel better! What a dear you are to actually “share your truth” ~ most people won’t actually admit to having a real life behind the glam of their Blog, much less post pics!
You definitely just won me over as a devoted new Follower, Shayna, and I can’t wait for your Fall Home Tour next week! Kath
Thank you for this post. Thank you for being honest and encouraging. I know for mysel that sometimes reading blogs really depresses me. Granted, I know it’s my problem and I know everything is not perfect in anyone’s life, but sometimes reading blogs, that’s all I can see. I’m learning though!! I always enjoy your blog and I appreciate how hard you work and your integrity. Again, thank you for the post.
Such a great tour.. I can totally relate.. For me it’s toys everywhere!!! I always take the “perfect” clean house shots where all the toys are hidden but it’s not always entirely realistic. Thanks for being real!
~Lisa
Thank you so much for sharing this Shayna! Your blog is one of my favorites, I love your home and I appreciate your honesty!!
Thanks for the true to life post…..sometimes we all get lost in the pretty pages of blogland and the imagined perfection we assume is behind every other closed door other than our own 🙂 I too have moments of “organized chaos” especially while redoing a space or taking on a large organizational task. It gets bad before it gets better!! Wish other bloggers would take the time to also share reality like you have. Homes Lived in are Loved homes. GREAT post!!
Thank you!!! I swear I thought I was the only one with a clothes mountain;)
Thanks for sharing this; your reality and honesty is much appreciated.
Hey! Thanks for being real! I think we forget blogs often just show the pretty and hide the life going on. Your cat made me smile…so typical of kitties-climb to the top of whatever! Lol.
you should see my house! it’s storm before the calm 😉
Thank you, Shayna, for being so transparent and genuine! Your home is absolutely beautiful (in any condition) and YOU are even more beautiful inside and out!!! You have mentioned your health again. 🙁 I hope you are okay!!! I will definitely keep you in my prayers…
Oh Boy !!!
Don’t we all have our homes this way more than not.
When I do spring cleaning I can’t get ahead of myself. I bring things into one room to clean out the other.
Then go back to the other room and do the same, I feel I never get ahead. Then somehow it all comes together.
Enjoy your weekend.
Rose
You know how I feel about this! Tell it like it is 🙂 I actually love sharing my hurricane moments. It’s so much more real. lol!! And we all know you are too!! Love ya girl, and that GORGEOUS new photo too!! Hugs sweetie!!
Great post!! Totally appreciated! We are constantly in the middle of projects at our house. It bothers my husband more than it bothers me. He honestly thinks everyone else’s house stays perfect and that we just have issues!
I love being able to relate to the bloggers I follow and I love peoe that are REAL.
Can’t wait to see the fall decor 🙂
Thank you for your dose of reality! It’s refreshing to see that I am not the only one who has stuff around…you are correct, often when I read blogs such as yours, I feel inadequate. Seeing that you have the same clean house issues we all do really makes me love your blog that much more!
Great post, Shayna. I can relate too, but more with unfinished projects (some rooms patched but still not painted, unfinished fireplace wall x 3 years, 17 year old carpet on our stairs and upstairs..) Only so much time and money but it feels good when each little project or part gets ticked off the list. Thanks for sharing real life in your home and your kind words.
Thanks for this post! I don’t ussually post comments but this post deserves it! Such a relief seeing that you are human and that you live in a real home! After going through some posts from other deco bloggers, I look around my kitchen, living room, etc and I wonder: Will I get a look like this in my living room?! After reading your blog, I am relieved! Thanks again. You are a huge source of inspiration for me!
Ugh THANK YOU!!! I would love to know though… What are your go to cleaners? Esp for your floor. It always looks so clean & shiny!
I’m so glad I found your blog! You are so real and you don’t pretend to be something you’re not. I love it! From one fellow blogger to another, thank you for showing everyone that it’s ok to let go and accept the chaos for what it is. My home isn’t always magazine perfect and I’m ok with that! Your home is beautiful by the way!
Chrissy- Mommy’s Tool Belt
Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Chrissy! As much as I love the “pretty”, my home doesn’t always look like that. 😉