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February 5, 2013

Keepin' It Real: Never Before Seen Parts of My House!

If you've come here today looking for the white paint and pretty things you usually see, you might be in for a bit of a shock. Just to hold you over, here's a quick dose to get you through.
Because there will be no more of that today. Today will be the day of sharing the less-than-perfect side of our house....what's behind those doors we shut when people come over. Wink.

Why? Well, because it's kinda fun, and ya'll seem to love it when I keep it real. 
So this is my keepin' it real post.

My house is far from perfect. It's 30 years old and will likely be a work in progress for the next 30 years. But I'm okay with that. 
Also, I'm far from perfect. I've been known to leave stuff in the washing machine too long and turn into Miss Mildew. Or throw a half eaten cup of chili in the dishwasher and enjoy bean-remnant-dishware for a week. 
And I'm okay with that, too.
We all have our talents and limitations. 


You get the point.
So, here's some pics taken in the past 2 years that I consider pretty decent evidence....with a few random pics thrown in the mix.

First up, our garage. I've never even parked in it. Mostly because the garage doors only open by way of Ahhhnold, but also because it's where spiders come to PARTY. Brace yourselves for the most pin-worthy picture in all of blogland.


My husband is a bit of a broken-down-boat-hoarder. None of them work, but he seems to enjoy fiddling with them. And that's okay by me....since he let's me fill our house with sequins and ruffles and white paint.



 This was a fairly normal view of my driveway during the summer. I think he was trying to save all three, but only 1.5 survived. His boat adventures weren't too fruitful this summer, but I love a man willing to get his hands dirty. 
He loves boats. I love paint. And we both let each other do what we want with them.

Like how he doesn't seem to mind when I spray paint the yard when I'm too busy to find a tarp. I mean, it's much easier to just pick the bugs out of the paint, right? I'm pretty sure my neighbors really appreciate my yard beautification attempts.

A girl can only do so much at once!!! 



 I spray paint SO much stuff that I tend to get a wild hair and just do THAT. I always tell myself 'Eh...the rain will wash it away.'. And then a month later, there's still a paint party in my yard. 
I'm a work in progress. 


Next up, Meet Rhonda. 



It's okay to be scared. I used to own an online clothing store before I blogged and this was my 'model' for all the pictures. Afterwards, I couldn't bare to get rid of her. She's just too sassy. And she's always ending up in random locations or freaking someone out. I have NO idea why she was in the hallway in this picture. That pic is about 2 years old (back from when we painted the hallway), and I simply can't remember what she was up to at the time. Vogue-ing, probably.

This next picture is a quick reminder of how much I love my kitties....you'll see why a reminder is needed. I have two kitties: Tootie and Cheese. They are sisters from another mister. 

Anyways, I love them so much that Cheese is my screensaver on my phone. She's a beauty isn't, she?


Well, it's a good thing she's seduced us with her beauty and purrs, because she is also a house-destroyer. 
Welcome to the basement bedroom. One day I would love to make this into a guest suite (it has an attached bathroom) or into a craft room or gym. But for now, it's the cat-poo-room, complete with ripped-up carpets, neverending carpet glue, and a fun smell. :)

It's on my to-do list.  



Last but not least, I'll demonstrate my organizational prowess. You know how every blogger posts about their fabulous stenciled pantry, complete with 995 fancy glass jars each labeled to perfection? 
Well, here's my designer pantry....complete with paint cans, drills, exacto knives, and enough saltines to soak up a small pond.


Now you know why I've never posted about my 'Pantry Reveal!!!'. One day I shall conquer this nightmare! One day! My fridge used to be equally ridiculous, but this past weekend I completely gutted it.
Here's a somewhat redeeming picture of my organized fridge. This gives me hope for the pantry.



There's always hope. Always.

Ya' just gotta start somewhere.  


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34 comments:

  1. Love it! Oh if people could see my bedroom and master bath right now...shameful I tell ya, just shameful. I would love to have Rhonda come live with us...I've always wanted my own dress form!

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    1. ha!!! Thanks Jess! Oh yes, we all have our 'zones'! And you should totally get a Rhonda. She's a total BOSS, and at this point an honorary family member! :)

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  2. Yes, yes....

    I love it. I will be posting this to my facebook page :)

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    1. I thought you might!!!! And thanks for letting me 'test' it on ya!!!! :)

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  3. Girl I love this! Makes me feel so much better about you coming to see my house before Christmas! Now I feel a little guilty for not letting you see the upstairs ... pretty sure we had the mattress on the floor of the master at that point haha!

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    1. Lol!!! Yay! That's exactly what I wanted to hear! And that's okay....you can let me see it next time. And have no fear, our mattress was on the floor for the first 6 months we lived here. SIX! :)

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    2. Hey now.. there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a mattress on the floor in the Master. It's only due to the fact that we are so time consumed with the remainder of the house transformation that we don't care where the bed is since we're going to pass out from exhaustion anyhow. :)

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  4. OK, so I blame you for inspiring me to share all the scary bits of my house that have yet to grace my blog. So when you see that post, just know who's to blame for that one. :)

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    1. Oh please, please, pretty please!!!! I will gladly accept the blame!! Thanks Court!!!!!

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  5. Keepin' it real- One of the many many reasons I heart your guts! The boats- crackin' me up over here! HA! The spray paint- too stinkin' funny! Love it girl!

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  6. I love that you are just keeping it REAL, girl!

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  7. Keeping it real...you sure did that...more brave then me. However, love your home and what you have done...I like how it's so down to earth. Your kitty is beautiful, love the nose.

    BTW most of the time I have a yard like yours....;)

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    1. ha! That's awesome! Spray paint yards unite! Thanks Karen!

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  8. Love it! I was just thinking this morning how you might think that the whole world is so much more organized, creative and well-decorated than you! It is nice to see a behind-the-scenes real space - maybe I'll post a photo of my white couches covered in muddy dog prints! xo

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    1. Thanks so much! Yes, as a person who reads a lot of blogs, I often feel like a bit of a hot mess! Which reminded me that I should at some point share the 'real' side! ")

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  9. Oh girl. I love you. :) The end.

    Kelly @ View Along the Way
    www.viewalongtheway.com

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  10. Your home is beautiful! Keeping it real is great, letting us know that you are 'real' folk like us! Haha, thanks! Love the spray paint party on the lawn. I had that before too but mine was more of a tea party not a full blown like yours. After I finish posting some completed remodeling pics, I 'may' show some keeping it real ones. Definitely don't want to show the mess before the pretty! People might think it always looks that way. ;)

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    1. Ha!!! Cindy! A tea party.....that is hilarious! Yes, I felt like I had to create a hefty bit of 'pretty posts' before I could show of my spider-zones! But, I highly recommend doing it....it's been such a relief to share this post! :)

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  11. I think we have the same house! ; ) I posted pictures the other day of my downstairs pantry that I FINALLY cleaned and organized ~ I had an entire grocery bag of 'stuff' I had to throw away ~expired~ ugh! As for my refrigerator ~ it looks good only because I had to get a new one.

    On a seriousness note, though, your home is beautiful!

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    1. Thanks so much Mary Beth! I feel ya on the pantry hoarding! Thanks for your sweetness!!!!! xo

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  12. It's always so nice to see when bloggers can be real and show readers that they don't always have to have it all together - Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks so much, girl! It puts a HUGE smile on my face to have this post so well-received! Thanks for showin' some love! xo

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  13. Love this!!! And the mannequin...girl, at least put some clothes on her ;)!!

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  14. I love this! My favorite is the spray painted grass. I have spray paint marks all over my garage. Such is the life of a blogger! ha.

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  15. Oh I hear ya about "what's behind closed doors"! I'm a little that way too ;-)

    We're going to someday complete the laundry room but for now it's often filled with paint cans, brushes, etc. etc.! As long as I can get to the washer/dryer and the shelf with pantry goods, I'm OK with that ....for awhile. ;-) The thing is, just before we sold our other house, we FINALLY after 25 years living there, completed the laundry room. It was really beautiful and one of the reason the buyers bought the house.

    Oh well...all in good time. As a good friend told me "God created the world in a week...and then He rested. And HE's God! Give yourself some time." :-) She's a gem...and yup, we all want it done yesterday, but there'll be time later too :-)

    As always, LOVE your home and your blog!

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  16. Hey girl ...
    you should see my house! Throw everything into a corner so I can take the perfect picture! Photoshop out those dust bunnies! Shove stuff under the bed, in closets, and any other hidden place!
    Kelly

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    1. Hahaha! Oh, Kelly....I know that game WELL! The truth always lies right outside the camera lens! I'm pretty sure I could be on Hoarders if they were only going by closets. :)

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  17. Oh I have lived with spray painted grass too! All winter. I guess I needed the reminder that grass doesn't grow in the winter, lol.

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  18. Greetings from UK! Oh you make me laugh so much. Keeping it real as we all have those places where stuff gets hidden/thrown etc! You made me feel a lot better about my own home...thanks! x Emily

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment!! I do the hammer dance every time I read one.

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