One of my favorite things about blogging is being honest. Even around the new year, when everyone seems to set impossible standards for themselves and their families, I try to remember that authenticity beats perfection every time. If our house is a mess, I’ll make a video to prove it. If we don’t know how to tackle a project, we’ll admit it (like this). And when we fail spectacularly, we’ll share that too (see this and this).
We enjoy running a DIY diary that covers the good, the bad, and the ugly. A blog that only highlights successes feels incomplete. We’re regular people doing regular projects on a realistic budget, learning as we go. We have no formal training. Five years ago we painted our trim using the wrong finish, didn’t own a power drill, and our house looked quite different:
When we started this blog we were DIY beginners: figuring out how to hang curtains and hunting for good appliance deals. Over the past four-plus years we’ve learned a lot, but I thought I’d kick off the year (January 17th still feels like the start) by sharing a few candid truths about life, family, and home. Some might surprise you; others probably won’t if you already follow along.
#1. I don’t have the perfect marriage. People often ask if John and I ever fight. Of course we do. We’ve been together for nearly five years and there are plenty of disagreements—about parenting choices, home projects, and everyday life. We’re both strong-willed, and that sometimes leads to heated conversations. But we remind ourselves we’re on the same team with shared goals: a happy, healthy daughter, a safe and beautiful home, and a life that makes each other happy. We’re a team—sometimes crabby or dysfunctional, but a team nonetheless.
#2. I don’t have the perfect child. Clara is wonderful in so many ways—she sleeps well, she loves to sing and dance, and she surprises us with adventurous tastes like hummus and pickles. But she’s still a toddler: she cries, teethes, throws tantrums, makes messes, and tests our patience. We’ve had scary moments—like my labor (read about it)—and demanding stretches like the 14 months I breastfed (my breastfeeding story). It was hard work, especially while juggling painting and DIY between feedings, but she’s worth every challenge. She’s not perfect—but she’s perfect for our family.
#3. I make design mistakes (and life mistakes) all the time. Our rooms and lives are always evolving. It took us four and a half years to finish our first house, and even here we’re constantly refining things. We frequently try ideas that don’t work out. The key is not staying stuck. If a rug is the wrong size, we reuse it elsewhere, sell it, or save up for a replacement. If you become paralyzed by fear of a mistake, a room—or your life—stagnates. Learning, adapting, and moving forward is how progress happens.
#4. I’m awkward and less polished than I might seem. I usually have paint in my hair and under my nails. My clothes show the wear of breastfeeding, and I’m often covered in dog hair or sporting a smear of something edible. I’m genuinely awkward in public—like the time I spun around in Target yelling about holiday displays while holding wooden trees to my face, then realized the stranger I’d startled was a reader who recognized me. I blushed, chatted awkwardly, and escaped thanks to John and Clara. That’s me: endearing, overenthusiastic, and mortified in equal measure.
#5. I get nervous and insecure about the future. Running a small business and working as a professional blogger isn’t a job with predictable benefits like health insurance or retirement plans (more here and here). We saved a cushion before John left his day job when Clara was born, but uncertainty still creeps in. We worry sometimes, and that’s normal. We try to have faith we’ll find a way forward because we didn’t expect to be where we are five years ago—and yet we are.
#6. I roll my eyes at myself. I know I can be overly enthusiastic, and my puns make me cringe sometimes. I’m a less polished version of that adorkable persona you see on TV—without the great hair, voice, or timing. I’m hyper, goofy, and unfiltered. That’s intentional: blogging feels like a place to be yourself and share life honestly. So yes, I’ll call presents “prezzies,” make a goofy joke, and let my personality show. It works for us.
#7. My house is usually a disaster. At any moment, one corner of the house might be mid-renovation while another room looks completely finished. There’s always a pile of things waiting to be sorted, and the playroom is often out of control. Our frame wall might look chaotic one day…
…while the sunroom can feel cozy and put together the next.
The point of this honest list is simple: I don’t have it all figured out. I’m a New Jersey girl who started a blog, occasionally forgets to take out her contacts, and once had strawberry cream cheese on the side of her face in public without noticing. I don’t know everything, and I don’t pretend to. I’m grateful for where we are, imperfections and all. Perfection is overrated—both in life and in home projects. Mostly, I’m a work in progress, much like our house.