Y’all, it is not always sunshine and rainbows over here. In fact, it’s usually storm clouds and damn tornado sirens.
I’ve told you before about how I don’t do it all every single day, so by now you know that all those pretty styled pictures you see in my home tour are just that – pretty and styled. Yes, that is how those rooms look when they are cleaned. But 99.9% of the time, they ain’t clean.
No, no, no. They are littered with toys, last night’s dinner and this morning’s breakfast. And usually there’s a project going on in some other part of the house so furniture from the kitchen may be currently residing in the living room.
Myself and a few other bloggers are lifting the veil today – we’re airing out our dirty laundry. We’re showing you what our homes look like when those storm clouds and tornado sirens come through.
My guests are greeted by dead flowers. Remember that really pretty entry I finished up in May? I was determined to keep those flowers alive through summer. They lasted for maybe two weeks tops. Have I bothered to pull them out of the planter? Nope.
On Thursday, in my fall home tour, you’ll see a shot of this space. All that hot mess right there was just out of the camera frame of the photo you’ll see. Now, I actually made the Circus clean this mess up shortly after I took this picture. This is what the room looked like a day later.
We really have great talent at keeping spaces tidy, no?
The kitchen is currently in the midst of a project.
That means the kitchen table and chairs are randomly placed in the living room and dining room.
And other random items from the kitchen are propped against the wall and on top of two rugs that have been rolled up, sitting in that same place since May.
The Circus’ room is also in the middle of a project. Also, I just realized I have no idea what she’s done with her duvet cover.
Here’s another part of her room, she really keeps things picked up well.
She jacked some of the pumpkins I was using for decor and propped them in various locations in her bookshelf. Very clever use of books, no?
And her dresser is always a hot mess.
I don’t make the bed. Ever. If it’s made, it’s because Grunt Labor did it. Also, I let my kid eat breakfast in front of the television and then usually don’t take the plate to the kitchen until that afternoon. #sosueme
And here resides the pile of laundry that was supposed to go to the dry cleaners two weeks ago.
Would you like to see the backyard?
We have a weed problem. The outdoors have taken a backseat to all the interior projects.
Also, those boxes have been there for at least a month. Oh! There’s the Shop Vac on top of the deck, I need to take that to the garage – I forgot I left it out there.
And the crown jewel of our backyard…
The filled-in swimming pool.
It has become a fantastic race track for the Circus and her friends and also a mini-walking track for adults, as one our friends referred to it.
Oh wait, I almost forgot. That’s not the crown jewel. This is.
The old toilet that is currently residing in the backyard.
I just solidified my redneck title right there, y’all. #nailedit
Here’s to dirty laundry.
There are five other bloggers airing out their dirty laundry today too – you don’t wanna miss those either! Click below to get the juicy details!
Chelsea from Two Twenty One
Chelsea from Making Home Base
Taryn from Design, Dining, & Diapers
Charlotte from Ciburbanity
Katie from Bower Power
HI Jenna- this is hilarious! We had a temporary dumpster bag with a toilet …. in our front yard. Thanks for keeping it real! I may be able to one up you on the backyard with a former playset now nicknamed the “poop pit.” Have a great week! laura @notatrophywife
The poop pit?! hahahahahaha!!!! I don’t even know if I want the details on that one!
Haha. I love you. That is all. 🙂
🙂
Now I’m sure of it! We’re related! Hi Cous! We should have a family reunion. Glad to know that you’re human. Love it
hahaha!!! Totally 100% human – and slacking at humanhood. haha!
Is that the way you live day by day? Really? Your house and yard should be condemned!
How can you give advice?
It is how we live, Lynn. I know, I just can’t believe we are still alive myself. It’s a miracle, I tell ya.
Condemned? OMG, get over your self.
What a breath of fresh air this morning! And OMG your crown jewel of the back yard cracked me up. Thanks for keeping it real.
Glad to be of service, Gena! 🙂
Hahaha..Jenna you’re simply the best = ). It’s good to see life as it is, even for once. Thank you.
I do what I can, Delia! Have a great day!
I am laughing out loud!…hilarious
Happy to make you laugh, Lisa! 🙂
Jenna you always make me feel well sorta normal haha. I read a few months ago that it is actually healthier to leave your bed unmade and we all want our family’s to be healthy right.
You are not truly redneck until you place that toilet in a place that can be seen by all then level it up and plant beautiful flowers, they make great planters or fountains, I made a planter out of mine that sat next to the old outhouse at my old house, so who is more redneck LOL.
It really is nice to know that I’m pretty normal after all. You know I look at all the pretty houses and see everything that you gals accomplish and then I look around and see I haven’t done anything (I need to get off this computer). My goal today is to get three basket loads of laundry put away and go buy some hair color, sounds like a full day for me. I will clean tomorrow or the next day or the next, etc, etc.
Oh man, Patty – we are gonna live forever then since we don’t make our beds! hahaha!! Girl, if I make that toilet into a planter, they might try to kick me outta the neighborhood! haha!
Thank you all. I really needed this. I’ve been so depressed and unmotivated about the condition of my house for a while now.
Take a break, Karen!! There are more important things to think about than housework!
This is my first time visiting your page but OMG it was great! The toilet in the back yard, #priceless Thank you for keeping it real!
Thanks for stopping by, Lisa! Yea, I have too much crazy to hide!
I mean… truthfully the take away for me on this one is that malachite end table from the first picture. I didn’t really see much after that. Move along folks… nothing to see here. xx
bahahahahahaha!! You crack me up, Charlotte!
Well, Miss Jenna, I’m glad to see you are human, just like the majority of us. I thought I was looking at pictures of our house. And, the Circus, is just practicing to be an Interior Designer just like Mommy. Right?? Have a great day sweetie. Hugs C.
Totally human, Carol – and usually failing at humanhood. haha!
Thanks for showing the world that life isn’t always filled with perfectly staged houses! People are flooded with images of perfection via the Internet. Before the Internet brought “Pinterest” and “Blogs” people had a magazine or two to ogle over, but now perfection is in your face constantly. It’s hard to feel accomplishment and satisfaction when all things perfect are so in your face!
You are awesome for showing how “real life” happens and it’s okay! You are like everyone else who has laundry piles and dishes!
Thanks for the reminder that it is okay to let life happen!
I agree, Monica. Perfection is constant in our faces and it’s driving me crazy. I love a beautifully styled space as much has the next person, but let’s be real – they never stay that way for long.
So the few people I know that have an organized home ALL of the time are unusual? Yeah!!! Some of my home is neat and tidy but I do have blast zones. In other words, areas that look like a bomb just went off. So nice to see a real home. Of course, we love your styled photos also. We don’t need inspiration for making a mess of our spaces they happen all on their own.
Girl, I totally know what you mean about those “blast zones!”
Hahaha! I can sooooo relate. Our backyard is a hot mess of dead weeds while we concentrate on interior renovation. And we never make the bed either; we should have a club 🙂
I’m certain our non-bed-making club enjoys life more than other clubs. haha!
You are the best! Thanks for always being honest with us and for flying that freak flag! Love you for it!
Flying it high, Paula! 🙂
And that, my dear, is why I love you and want to be your MWB!
I love you too, MWB!
Oh. My. Goodness!!! I love that you shared this!!! I read fewer and fewer blogs because everything seems so “perfect” and it can kinda make me feel bad about my own home. This post makes me feel GOOD and NORMAL, even ENCOURAGED. Thanks for your honesty in stripping away the layers right down to the reality – life isn’t perfect. In fact, it is a big ol’ lived in, loved in mess sometimes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Girl, there ain’t nothing ever perfect around here!!! If it ever looks that way, trust me, it didn’t last longer than a hot second!
This is hilariously TRUE! Glad to know you are just a “regular” messy person and not “picture perfect” as all your photos normally suggest! And I’m still laughing at the filled in swimming pool!
Totally a regular person!!! And that swimming pool – the previous owners did that. I still have to bite my tongue everytime I think about it!
Yasss!!!! Oh this is so good, Jenna! I love the Circus’s fall styling. The pumpkins on the bookshelf are fantastic! She’s learned well. I especially love the dead plant because well I have a few of those too! Ha!
The only live plants I have are a couple of indoor ones and they are only alive because I walk right by them everyday and luckily think to water them. 🙂
I love this post, forever and ever. Thank you for keeping it real!
Always! 😉
Lovvvve that you don’t even have to go inside for a potty break when jogging on the mini-track! YALL FANCY! 😉 Love this post – thank you for sharing the real deal!
I know right!!! We so fancy around here!
Jenna you are so brave to post those pictures! You make me laugh. Something has got to give you are so busy & have taken on a huge project. You have a happy home & family. Trust me who wants to say when they are old” l wish I’d done more housework!”
True that, Shirley!!! I can think of way more important and fun things to do than housework!
Thank you thank you thank you…a million times! I CAN keep plants alive, but usually don’t. I also never make my bed, like never ever. I guarantee there’s food in my living room. The crown jewel? I love it. I am also from the South and proud of it. My great granny lived to about 97 or 98, I was in college, she was O.L.D!(Said like Ron ‘Tater Salad’) She had a toilet in her flower bed, with flowers planted in it….just sayin’ you might think about that. I read ya everyday and feel, like a lady above said, we MUST be related! Blog on southern sista, blog on!
I’m sure that the time we would spend making a bed can be used better elsewhere, Melanie! Here’s to us for using our time wisely! haha! Your granny sounds awesome! She sounds like my kind of lady!
Honey, Remember the toilet that was sitting atop a mound of dirt with a tire around it being used as a flower pot that once resided on the DeKalb County Side of Short Mountain Road? Perhaps its time for that idea to be introduced to the Chattanoga area…
They might try to kick me outta the neighborhood for that one, Dad!
Yes! Yes! Oh my heavens I laughed so hard, at the dead plants. I can’t tell you how many times I buy flowers for shoots and they die because I never water then haha.
Preach, sister! At least they looked good for that brief moment….. haha!
Great post, Jenna! I kinda loved the toilet shot! It made me giggle. It’s all good. Life is crazy fun and most times the housework can wait! Thanks for sharing. Happy week to you. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
I felt like I couldn’t not share the toilet shot! Glad you got a laugh from it, Kathryn!
Love it! I come over from visiting Chelsea @TwoTwentyOne but I will certainly be following you now too.
We live in the tornado belt as well. Is it wrong I often think one of two things. Darn it! I just got everything decorated/organized, etc… please don’t happen now. OR well at least they won’t be able to tell how big a mess we had before it hit. After having my property touched at least 5x since birth I have long since decided safety is more importan and we leave some pretty big messes when we head for the basement.
The whole “kitchen in the living room” really strikes a chord as well since I also do my blog projects at the bar or kitchen table. The chairs are constantly in another space and I simply gave up having a real table display.
I love the fact you ladies are sharing and can’t wait to read more of your blog as time passes. Bless you in your journey and honesty.
Thank you, Tina! I’m so glad to have you along for this crazy ride! Same here – I often do lots of my smaller projects in the kitchen, so everything else gets displaced!
Thank God we find out you are not perfect. And I thought you were handling it better thsn us. I love the toilet in the yard. Too funny girlfriend. The Circus has you beat. The pumpkins are a great touch. She is trying to be the new decorator in the family. Keep up the great work.
I am the farthest thing from perfect you will find, Stephanie!! And the Circus – girl was even trying to paint a piece of furniture with me yesterday!
I’d like to request a video of a synchronized swimming routine executed in the filled-in swimming pool. Thank you.
bahahahahahahahahaha. I’ll get right on that one!
Best post ever. Thank you………
You are SO welcome! It was fun!
This was so refreshing!! I kid you not, some days when I look at all these picture perfect homes, I get so depressed or discouraged that I get paralyzed. Hence, I have to go lay down and stare at the ceiling or the sky and think my deep thoughts, like sponges and oceans and how do they name songs with no words? These are just a few…but this post helped me realize y’all are just normal, good days and bad days and that’s just fine with me! Thank you so much. Maybe I have too much time on my hands? Ha!
Sally, do not get depressed or discouraged!! We are totally normal!!! And any blogger who says their house always looks that way is either lying or can afford a maid! haha!
I understand the rational behind keeping it real, but if I want to see “real” I can look at my own house.
Hilarious post! Especially the toilet!! Hahaha
Thanks, Karen!
The Circus’ decorating is on point – seriously, I’m gonna have to use Pumpkins as book ends myself. I also had to chuckle at the dead houseplant…every one that I own, which is why I love fake ones so much. As for the toilet, plant some flowers in it. 😛 It’s either you cemented your Redneck status, or you grew up in a small town…cannot count how many houses near where I live use toilets or bathtubs as decor.
I know right?! She is rocking those pumpkins on her bookshelf! Man, if I plant flowers in that toilet, they might try and kick me outta the neighborhood! haha!
I’m laughing so hard right now! Love the redneck touch of the toilet in the backyard. I’ll fess up too: I don’t make my bed, either. Ever. Whew! That’s a load off! Tootles!
Cheers to the girls who never make their beds! 🙂
I LOVE it!!!!!!!
🙂
Love that you are keeping it real….love you blog
Glad you liked it, Melissa! It was fun!
Okay, as a fellow blogger, I so wish I’d gotten in on this because although I do make my bed almost every day it’s only out of pure necessity – my husband pretty much unmakes it in his sleep every night. Ain’t nobody can sleep on that. In addition to that I’m pretty sure I’ve lost my dog in the backyard. He’s likely wandering around in the killer weeds that have sprung up this past summer – yep, no time for weeding that crap. Best. Home. Tour. Ever. Now I’m going to post my real/fake one! Thanks for the giggle.. I’m your new favorite follower!
hahaha!! You are definitely not alone, Kim! It’s never all pretty spaces around here!
I have not seen your blog before (I’m not a blogger), now I am subscribing! This reality blog tour has been refreshing and the best thing y’all could ever give the world!!!
Rebecca
That is AWESOME to hear, Rebecca and exactly what we wanted to do – none of our houses are ever perfect!
This is perfect! Thanks for being real. We need more of this.
Anytime, Suzanne! 🙂
My own DIY life started 25 years ago…..when sharing a home with my way too busy of a Handyman husband and 4 children all under 10 and only one bathroom…The toilet was not flushing without manual assistance …We had purchased the new throne…but the King was to busy to attend to the matter…so after 4 days of pouring water down the toilet for all…I decided drastic matters were in order…so with the aide of my 10 year old son…and no experience at all…we turned off the water source…drained the toilet…and some how figured how to pry the broken toilet off the floor…and some how managed to lift that heavy seat out of the house onto the lawn…and cleaned up the mess 30 minutes before my dear shocked husband came home from work….needless to say he installed our new toilet immediately…and my new found confidence in DIY came to life…..lol…
hahahaha! Oh Kim, I love this story!
I see you living in your home but I don’t see it dirty. Love you to the moon! MWB is so proud of you. Just a little hint, every morning when you get your coffee, grab a glass of water and dump it in the potted flowers. Outside potted plants need it daily. One proud MWB!