Well, it’s the start of a new week over here and a big one! Today, my oldest is starting kindergarten. Oh my goodness that is absolutely crazy. It’s been a really stressful and busy few weeks around here as we squeeze in the last few summer trips, late nights outside, getting ready for kindergarten, the start of activities and a ring in the busiest time of year for the blog! Whew, I love fall but this one is going to be a crazy one.
All this to say, I have been running around like a crazy person and my house is nothing of what it looks like on the blog these days. I think sometimes people forget bloggers are normal people, with normal little kids and normal crazy lives. I often get asked, “how do you do it all?”. Newsflash, I don’t. At all. There are times when I have a really messy house. But that means I also have a ‘lived in’ house and I’m Ok with that. It means the kids have been having fun, we are busy living life and making memories.
So to keep things real around here, I teamed up with a few other bloggers who have little kids to bring you the ‘Keeping it Real’ blog home tour. Yup. You get to see what my house looks like on an average day. On Instagram I use the hashtag #Chezddd to capture all the photos I post of our home, but today you are getting a different, behind the scenes look of it.
Welcome to our ‘lived in’ family room. We have a no-toy policy in our family room (can you tell?). We actually try super hard to keep our downstairs picked up and toy free. The kids have the entire upstairs to claim, so we like to have some space that is clutter free. However, it was recently my son’s third birthday so his new toys are were put together down here and stayed here.
Annnnnd this time mom has been making the messes because I’m getting ready for fall home tours so all my fall pumpkins and decor are out and being rearranged and played with. It’s been a huge fall explosion. I’m happy to say that since I took these pictures, I’ve made a lot of progress with my fall decor. It’s just about done!
Every other Tuesday is the very special day of the week where our house cleaners come over and do the dirty work. See, I shared another secret with you. I have help! They just do the bathrooms and floors and cabinets, but that helps me out A TON. It’s worth every penny. That also means, every other Tuesday is family pick up day. The entire house needs to be picked up. And honestly, sometimes it takes up the entire morning. So I took my pictures for the tour right before we did a major pick up of the house. When it’s at it’s absolutely worst.
And naturally as I’m taking these pictures, my son decides to bring in a sleeping bag from the garage into the kitchen just for fun.
These. These are all.over.the.house. Ahhhhhhh!!!!! Ok so I think Shopkins are super cute, but they get everywhere and my daughter is obsessed with them. I find these things on my table, in my windowsills, in my bed, under the car, in the car. EVERYWHERE. Can anyone else relate?
And given the nature of blogging and doing product reviews with the combination of being obsessed with Amazon Prime, our front entryway is constantly filled with boxes. This was a light day.
Welcome to the playroom. It’s the free-for-all room. The room I tell the kids they can do what they want and make any messes they want because it’s their room! I’m surprised the cushions weren’t off because normally they are building forts. It’s also my laundry room, so all the clean clothes get dumped here and I try to chip away at it while the kids play.
See there you have it. My very honest and keeping it real home tour. If you want to see my house perfectly clean, come over every other Tuesday night, it’s spotless….. for about 2 hours :)
Now hop on over to these popular blogs as they share their normal lives!
Chelsea from Two Twenty One
Jenna from Rain on a Tin Roof
Chelsea from Making Home Base
Taryn from Design, Dining, & Diapers
Charlotte from Ciburbanity
Katie from Bower Power
About Taryn Whiteaker
Hi! I’m Taryn! The voice behind Taryn Whiteaker Designs. I launched this brand over 11 years ago when I became a stay-at-home mom. What started as a small craft and mom blog eventually grew into a full time design and DIY site. My goal has always been to inspire others (especially women!) with design ideas, DIY tutorials, entertaining ideas and give you the tools you need to complete them yourself!
YES! The Shopkins! Oh my goodness – they are all over all the time. Like you said, in the car, in my bed, in her bed, in the kitchen, the sofa, everywhere which is exceptionally challenging with a baby who loves to put everything in her mouth! Ahhh… wasn’t this tour so refreshing? I feel like I let the world in on a big secret and I feel so good about it haha! Your house is gorgeous, even your mess! xo
Why do kids need to migrate with the contents of the ENTIRE PLAYROOM?! Ours do the same thing… I have a perpetual pile of crap on the corner of the kitchen counter to head back into the playroom. KEEP THEM THERE, PEOPLE! This home looks very familiar. ;)
Hahaha yes! Seriously! I don’t understand bringing buckets of toys downstairs and then not even playing with them. It could be one of my biggest pet peeves.
So awesome! Love this idea. I have a 3 and 5 year old and can totally relate to shopkins, random objects everywhere and fort building. Love, love, love this honest account of what real life is like. Thanks for being brave and sharing. I love to be motivated by gorgeous home decor pictures but it’s nice to know that it’s exactly realistic to expect a family home to look that way 24/7. Kudos to you for sharing!
We had PolyPockets every.where. when the girls were little. Now its shoes, text books, and school supplies. Oh, did I mention they are in college and high school?! Real life is messy :) Embrace it!
Thank you, thank you, thank you…I feel a little closer to normal now!!
I’m crying laughter tears over the sleeping bag in the kitchen just for fun! WHYYYYY do they do this?! Loving these “real life” posts SO very much! Thank you for sharing!
I can’t tell you the amount of time I just shake my head when I see what my kids come up with!
What paint colors are used on the walls in your home?
Our builder painted the house before we bought it, but I have been told our interior is Sherwin Williams Chelsea Gray and Pavestone. I just don’t know which rooms are painted in which.
I love seeing these real life posts! It makes me feel more normal. LOL
Thanks for sharing! I could identify completely with the Amazon receiving area at the front door- there are always boxes waiting to be unpacked and broken down!
Plus, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one that “cleans up” before our house cleaner comes over! :)
Those Shopkins. Oh my word, they drive me crazy!
Yes…the Shopkins! Any tips for containing them, LOL?! You have a beautiful home and thank you for sharing your messy pictures, I don’t think they look bad at all!! I work full time and am considering hiring someone to help with the “deep” cleaning that is currently being overlooked, but I feel so guilty about it and like I shouldn’t be spending that $$, can you relate at all and what was that decision process like for you when you decided to hire cleaning help? Thanks!
Girl. The dang Shopkins. WHAT IS WITH THE DANG SHOPKINS?! My daughter is obsessed with them too and they just might be worse than stepping on Legos. Almost. They are all over the place. Anyways, loved this home tour, Taryn! Your home is still beautiful even with the lived in look. :)