Hello!

I was given a whole pile of past editions of home-style magazines the other day. The ones filled with beautifully furnished homes, elegant dining areas, kitchens I would sell one of my kidneys for and gardens that put the botanical gardens to shame.

I sat and flicked through them looking for some inspiration. We moved in to our house a few months ago and it is pretty tired and in need of some freshening up. I want it say “we live here!” as soon as friends and family come to visit.

I want the house to reflect us and be practical for our needs.

As I sat there flicking through these gorgeous magazines, I came across a photo of a room that had been styled perfectly. Gorgeous couch, bookshelves and little touches that just tied everything together. It was a photographers gold star kind of photo. You could use your fingers as a photo frame and it just worked. So I looked up and framed my fingers into a square to view our room through. And that’s when reality hit.

Within the frame my fingers had formed, the scene was perfect. Neat and tidy, photo frames, fresh flowers, view of garden. Tick, tick and tick. But outside the frame of my fingers was a completely different picture. Chaos.



It looked like a small tornado had ripped through our house. The one year old had opened the cupboard where we keep the plastic containers and drink bottles and pulled them ALL out. Because apparently you can’t leave anything in the cupboards once you have opened the doors. And you have to then drag and spread them all over the house.

He had pulled at least 20 books off the lowest bookshelves. These too had been spread all over the house.

The washing was piled up on the couch (and was almost as big as the couch itself) and waiting to be sorted and folded and put away. There was a cricket set on the floor. Jumpers hanging off the banisters to be taken upstairs and put away. And nerf bullets everywhere…

Oh. My. God. No wonder I feel frazzled some days.

Despite creating a small sanctuary for me – my desk, it is still amid this chaos. My little one metre space is between the linen cupboards and the upright freezer. And barricaded by the jogger pram and stroller to keep the border of my zone secure. Stylish. I know.

I am by no means, a slob. I’m the opposite. Think Monica from Friends. But I have kids. And dogs. And a husband.

Our home definitely screams out “we live here!”

Can you relate to this? Please share your stories below in the comments.

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  • My kids grew up in a construction zone as we were slowly rebuilding after a major termite infestation. Our house was fun though as the kids had certain walls that they were allowed to draw and paint on as we were going to replace the wall covering. They had so much fun.

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  • Yes I can relate, I think a lot of people can.

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  • Clean regularly and properly and throw out or sell anything you don’t need. If you do that then who cares if it’s untidy.

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  • There’s a difference between untidy and dirty.

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  • I love houses that are lived in. Our place is full of craft and other kids just love it too as so many mums refuse to have things like glitter enter their houses. When kids use scissors, small bits of paper go everywhere – its just not that big a deal. Thanks for the positive spin on lived in houses.

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  • Yes, the more I clean, the more mess they make behind me.

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  • I would definitely rather a home then a house….my homee isn’t always spotless but that’s reality :) thanks for sharing

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  • Can completely relate!

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  • I have no chance of my home ever looking like one in a magazine :P

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  • Reading this for the second time as I need a reality check! Love the use of the prams as barricades

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  • My daughter has Mr’s 5,3 and 1 and its like following a tornado around, lol.

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  • My house is clean but a home is to be lived in. Realistically i’ve got 2 kids and I need to let them be kids!

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  • they look like their having some fun wish i was a child again

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  • Very interesting to read! Thanks for sharing!

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  • I still prefer the messy side of Reality

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