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blah….

January 5, 2011 Filed in etsy goodness,me me me

my day was just that.
BLAH.

i was ready to workout…dressed….ready.
but our toilet was backed up.

into the basement.

i don't know exactly why but i am going to say that having 20 different people in our home for several parties and visits in the past two weeks couldn't have helped.

annie said "mom…it was me….i'm sorry….i put a kleenex in the toilet."
ha ha ha.
one kleenex.
HA!
i don't think that was it.   

so i called the drain guys…and had to wait on them.
i quickly did the dishes because i hate having the service guys at our house and having them see a sink of dishes.

i went upstairs to read and i fell asleep.
in my gym clothes and shoes.
at 8:30 am.
i was woken up by them at the door at 9:30.

they fixed it.

but i was just done….i never made it out the door to workout.
if i don't go right away i usually just can't pull it off.

i should have taken my christmas stuff done.
i should have vacuumed.
i should have gotten something done.

but i didn't.

i think i need this poster.  (found here)

Il_570xN.199323585
tomorrow i am doing this.

i am.

no more of this sit-around-all-day-getting-nothing-done-because-there-is-so-much-to-do-that-i-am-frozen.

i am going to just be awesome.

simple as that.

right?

:) 

add a comment

Kari - Oh my goodness!
Your last line: “no more of this sit-around-all-day-getting-nothing-done-because-there-is-so-much-to-do-that-i-am-frozen.”
So it’s NOT JUST ME?!! I’m so happy! 🙂
I guess I should get off the life-sucking computer and go “be awesome”! (Or maybe even just post the pictures that I still haven’t posted from our 6 day Christmas extravaganza…)
You ARE awesome. 🙂

kathy b - I want a day like this today. I need a veggie day..we all do..I seems to happen in a cycle..hmmm, 28 day cycle?
But the contractor who is remodeling my kitchen arrives again in 15 minutes and I have to get dressed, and comb my hair and be nice.
Kathy b

Heike - oh yes! i know exactly what you mean! feel bla also. must try feeling amazing now! ;o)
Greetings Heike

The Fairy's Apprentice - You are awsome anyway 🙂
XOXO

Alexandra/The Empress - WOW.
Look how many people agree with you.
I’m the same way… I have so much to do, that I just shut down. And, if Ibegin, I get so discouraged, b/c it feels like I’ll never get done.
So sad.
But :tomorrow? FOR NARNIA!!!!!

the whyte house - ah, ‘how i met your mother’. that is some awesomeness. true story. 🙂

Daniela - oh wow, that’s me – frozen-because-there’s-too-much-to-do.
i really hate januarys…

Courtney - Oh I have had some blah days too. It has been a pretty mild winter here in Marysville Kansas. Last year we had sooo much snow. The fresh air has been nice. If I don’t have a list I won’t get anything accomplished except tv or reading between playing with the kiddos.
This 21-day challenge on my blog I am participating in is kicking my bum!! However I am getting some insane organization done in this house. It gets me all pumped up in the morning then I am not so lazy.
Have a great day!! You deserve to relax at least once a week, right!! 🙂

kendal - new here – popped over from dana’s. i like it here very much!

Melanie - I have had one of those days today. It has been cold, rainy, and dreary here and it just has my mood down:( I didn’t even get dressed today! I need to be awesome tomorrow too!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - Thanks for the post Meg,
It gave me the courage to press publish later in the morning.
Dana

Tracy Fisher - I can sooo relate. I think I might have to order that poster and put it next to my mirror in my bathroom. How inspiring!
Tracy (www.tfisherart.com)

Kristin Hayne - We all need those days Meg. You had SOOOOOO much on your plate in December… as most Moms do… so don’t beat yourself up. We all need a day to recup sometimes. Yesterday was yours….
and by the way… you are AWESOME everyday!! 😉

Tina - I really needed this reminder today–THANK YOU! I’ve spent the past two days paralyzed in getting anything done because there’s too much on the to do list, but you’re helping me to change that today.
love love LOVE your blog 🙂

Maine Mummy - I have too many days like that – it’s amazing how you think it’s only you and then it turns out to be everyone!

Nicole - All I have to say is that this post brought a smile to my face. Thank you. 🙂
Nicole

Anne - I am glad to know I am not the only one 🙂 Great poster!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - Honestly Megan,
I could have written this post today. We must be on the same cycle ha ha. I’ll likely link over to it. Thanks for saving me. Sometimes I think I’m the only slouch in town..
Dana

annie - i think we can all just blame january. we needed a few days of recovery of post-Christmas, and instead we’re expected to come up with resolutions and take down decorations and reorganize our homes. take a deep breath, take a nap, read a good book. tackle the mess tomorrow. we all need a day or two of catch-up.

Lynn - I do that, too. I totally understand the feeling of becoming frozen.

Ashlyn@pinecone - I am so with you on the doing it right away or else. I was dressed and ready to go walking yesterday…and then a friend from out of state called who I haven’t talked to in a long time. We talked forever…and then of course my motivation was long gone. I didn’t get a whole lot done around the house either. Really unproductive. Really must leave right now for that walk…and quit typing…ha!

Dana@Strawberrytart! - I so need that. I have been dragging also.

Ranee - AWESOME. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who feels like this some days…I think I need that poster. Or maybe just to write those words on a piece of notebook paper and post it above my sink full of dirty dishes! thanks for being real!

Tracie - It’s totally the winter blues. I really need to do housework, but I don’t feel like it. My kids want to play and I have to fight to get the energy to do it. Don’t beat yourself up.

Jamie - Oh boy, I so get the whole ‘frozen’ thing cause it’s just too overwhelming to do anything else!

Elissa - i TOTALLY need that poster.
doing nothing is only awesome when you WANT to do nothing. If you want to get things done, but find yourself doing nothing it doesn’t feel good. I’m with you, today i am just going to be AWESOME 😉

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - OH MY GOODNESS! I’ve been feeling completely overwhelmed and frozen too. I have so much to do my head spins. I can hardly catch my breath…5 extra hours a day would help. Since when did life spin out of control. Here’s to hopefully getting something accomplished:) Sorry about the toilet. That’s yuck!

Jen Joy - Okay. Reason #2,368 why I absolutely love you and your blog. I could have written this verbatim. Well, except for the toilet part. *knock on wood*
And I’m buying that poster. Like RIGHT NOW.

katie - sometimes just doing nothing is great though!!!
you are awesome:)
have a great day!!

Laura Phelps - …on my way to be awesome.
we can be awesome today together!

Staci - I soooo wish it was a simple as that 🙁 Good luck!!! I will choose to be awesome too!

Kim Howell - Love that .. be awesome! Thank you Meg.. love reading your blog and you nailed where I am.. right beside you frozen!
I choose to be awesome too!

Jodi - Thought I was the only one who did that! haha..
I’m borrowing that saying. :o)

Mandy - OH, you are totally AWESOME! Because I am feeling that same awful dread that comes along with having five children as well, and it is cleaning up after all of them. So much to do that it is overwhelming to know where to even begin. But we rock, don’t we? Because you are AWESOME and after reading this post I am going to be AWESOME today too! Let the cleaning begin!!!

debbie - Thanks so much for sharing this. I thought I was the only person who felt like this and am glad to see I am not alone!
Here’s to being AWESOME!

Laura Lee - I want to be awesome 🙁 I am 8 months pregnant right now, and I have had a head cold for over a month… my doctor says rest… yeah right!!! I have 3 little kids and I NEED to nest, I want to nest! I just can’t find the energy to do anything or the time to rest either:(
Hope both of our Blah’s go away today!!!!

Judy - Great post and great poster. I’m going to be awesome today, too.

ruth - LOVE that poster
very blah here too… new year makes me scared of all the things i want to change. i like the phrase “don’t let the fear of not doing EVERYTHING stop you from doing SOMETHING”.
have an awesome day!

Tess S - my friends and i would have cleaning challenges. it sounds lame but if you’re at all competitive it works. you clean as much as you can in a given time span making usre to jot it all down and then you compare lists. it helps. kind of like how working out with a buddy works better than working out alone.
today I WILL BE AWESOME. it’s been noted.

Wendi - I, too get paralyzed by the ‘to do’ list. It overwhelms me, sitting on my desk. So yesterday I ignored it. And I haven’t taken ONE Christmas decoration down yet either. This weekend, then everyone can help! Love the saying – it is so true; it’s all about mind over mater. But oh so hard!

Southern Gal - I have a disease that combines procrastination and perfectionism. It makes it where I cannot start nor finish a project without panicking about how it’s not going to end up “right” or “perfect” or whatever. I needed to read this today. I can never be perfect, but I can be purposeful.

Ali - See, you ARE awesome, and now, I am going to be too!

Nicole - you are awesome , Meg!
I watched 4 old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy yesterday instead of facing the real world. You were not alone.
🙂

Karina - Love it! I totally understand those days. I even think I’m going to have one of those days…kind of like a cold I can feel it coming on! Or maybe, it’s because I have so much catching up to do and I started new years organizing projects resulting in everything being everywhere…ugh. My mind is working faster than my body and my newborn will allow! But I’m going to be AWESOME not sad! Tomorrow will be your AWESOME day!

Mary Beth - You did fine. Do NOT beat yourself up!
You dealt with the problem.
Also, I ALWAYS clean up for repair guys, too!
I can just hear them at coffee…..”Oh man, MB’s kitchen had THREE DAYS worth of garbage just sitting there…..!”
Here’s to a better Thursday.

Lisa - Awesome! LOVE it! Why do Christmas decorations look so pretty and festive during December, but in January they just look messy and cluttered?

Oberheu.wordpress.com - Meg you’re so real you’re awesome:). I look forward to getting a little dose of happy reality from you nearly every day! I too get paralyzed by my to-do list. Sometimes you just have to check out. And the next day the list isn’t quite as daunting.
Enjoy all the awesomeness tomorrow will bring!

amber - you are awesome no matter what. every one has those blah days. tomorrow can only be better

se7en - right. If I had a blocked toilet I would go back to bed and not for just an hour…. tomorrow can only be better!!!

julia - Sometimes it’s nice to wallow in being broken down. Go ahead, wallow.

Kori - 😀 I love how you put it…being frozen by there being to much to do. I was frozen for the last week or so, but guess what?
I AM BEING AWESOME RIGHT NOW! 😉 I decided I was tackling Christmas tonight. No matter what. And it feels great.
Have a great day!!

dawn - I love your blog. 🙂 I really, really do. And I’ll say it again — you’d be right at home at my house!!!

Lemonade Makin Mama - We had the exact same day. And the exact same conclusion. Let’s be Awesome together!!!! Yeah!!
🙂

T Galle - It’s nice to know that you are Human!! Although…I think you are pretty AwEsOmE all of the time…good or bad days! When I have one of those days…several Blah days lately…seems to happen after Christmas…I go to your list of Happy Things! I did that today and this morning while I was awake in bed from 3 to 5…and last night as I was trying to fall asleep! I have several things that I’m geared up to make for my craft room and a couple of recipes! That takes away my Blah days!! Wish I could return the favor and inspire you! Thanks for being the inspiration to take away my Blahs!! 🙂

Joni - I feel the same way about taking Christmas down…and I just scheduled a blog post about it, too. BLAH is the word for that job…can’t explain why, it just IS.
I did get to walk this morning and like you, if I don’t do it FIRST, it just DOESN’T HAPPEN. I feel your pain!
You will be awesome again, don’t worry! It’s the winter blah season….!
XOXO
Joni

Heather - The.coolest.poster.ever!!!!!!

Four Flights - Awesome, awesome, awesome, you are awesome! hehe 🙂

Ana - I thought I was the only woman on the planet who gets in a state of catatonic denial because the list of to-do’s just grows and grows. Thank you!

shauna reed - maybe you already know this, but those pizza rolls are #1 on the request list of the kids/husband in my fam.
my people would eat them every. single. night. if i allowed it.
their favorite filling? pepperoni and sausage with mozzarella.
you know- frozen sausage, packaged pepperoni, and preshredded mozzarella….so easy!

lorraine lewis - i am new to your blog. i love this wonderful place you have created!
you are awesome!

Andrea - Never underestimate the power of a nap no matter how much there is to do.
If you’re disappointed in today, let it go. Tomorrow is another day, another chance to be awesome! You are!

Jill - I have days like this, often. I usually pack so much in a day or two after that, that it CAN feel awesome! Though don’t beat yourself up too much, it’s good to do nothing sometimes, you deserve it. You deserve to relax every once in a while.

Lisa - I. hear. that.

stephanie - just as i slip into “blogworldenvy” you gift me with a dose of reality…thanks;) i feel you (and your awesomeness).

Holly - I have been sick for 2 days….I think sick or not I wanna be awesome tomorrow also!

a pocket full of posies - Awesome!…I’m choosing to be “awesome” tommorrow too- instead of being “frozen” by the waaaaay to many things on my to-do list!
Thanks for sharing your “blah-day”- as always you inspire!
Many Blessings!
Jill

Kate - You are totally going to be awesome because you are headed out to take pictures of my awesome niece! Sweet!

Jaimie - hahaha. i feel ya. some days it’s like NO, i will do nothing and the next i am ridiculously motivated and get so much done that i am just exhausted. it all balances out.

katherine - This is a “How I Met Your Mother” quote. A few episodes of it would probably cheer you up a bit too 🙂

Grinsandsniffles.wordpress.com - I’ve been a follower of your blog for some time, but have never commented. I’m coming out of the shadows because I HAVE to tell you thank you for being such a positive person. It really does make my day to read your blog. Even if you’re blogging about being lazy, you finish it up with something positive! I had a lazy day, myself, and fully intend to be AWESOME tomorrow!

Valerie @ Chateau a La Mode - What is it that Scarlett O’Hara says, “Tomorrow is another day”. Love that movie and I love that you are going to be awesome tomorrow. I think I will be too 🙂
Valerie

Becky - Wow, love that…’just be awesome’
love it.
im going to have to steal that and repeat it to myself a lot tomorrow. I had a blah day today too.

Becky - I stayed at home with a very, very sick hubby today, and the two kids. My plan was to take care of the (huge) pile of clean clothes in my laundry room, and organize. I had not planned on cleaning up vomit, and that froze me, as well. I feel your pain. 🙁
Of course, I’ve been trying to get my days organized so that I can exercise and spend more time in the Word for weeks now, so in a way, I’m also envious of you. 🙂
Tomorrow is another day. Go ahead girl, be awesome!

sarah - your honesty is so refreshing.
also, if you fell asleep like that, listen to your body! it was tired and needed that extra rest. now tomorrow your run is going to go that much better because it got some much needed sleep in.
also, i try to look at interruptions in the schedule as a divine appointment. God likes to shake things up and keep us dependent on Him. sometimes we need a reminder that things don’t go exactly the way we planned for them to go. and this is good. reminds us God is God and we are not!
xoxo

Janie Fox - You are allowed a lazy day… you are a mom to 5 for goodness sakes and it takes a lot just to clothe and feed that bunch. You work non-stop I am sure! Don’t beat yourself up. Start on that list tomorrow and remember 100 years from now no one will remember you for your clean house or your finished projects. It’s about making a happy family… and you are! 🙂

Grace - So sorry about the stinky start to your day. That is no fun whatsoever. Glad the guys were able to come fix it.
Whenever I have a bad day, I think about tomorrow, and how different tomorrow will be. So much possibility—and it can’t be a bad day in the same way today was.
Here’s to tomorrow!

Kat - Dragging my feet here too and it’s summer and the toilet is fine.
BUT kids are home for 8 weeks and so is my Hubby and we are doing a kitchen reno, so maybe that is enough to make me feel frozen too.
Meg, it is just one day and tomorow is a new day. So go forth and be awesome and don’t be so hard on yourself. (so typical of us Mum’s huh? I should take my own advice.)

Sandee - Oh I totally had a day like this too…
Thanks for the inspiration to be awesome tomorrow!
I s-t-i-l-l need to get my Christmas stuff down too…
Wish me luck!

Carol S. - Oh geez, backed up toiled is really a drag. Cut yourself some slack and GOOD FOR YOU for taking a nap. Don’t worry about Christmas down yet, it’s only the fifth. If it takes 2 weeks to get it all out, I figure you’ve got at least until the 10th to have any stress about it still being all over. Plus it looks so empty when its gone! Happy New Year Meg, you’re awesome (tomorrow).

Ali Richardson - Cheers to that! I feel your pain though, some days just never get goin’! I only have 2 kids, I can’t imagine if I had 5! Hang in there 🙂

Carrie - Just started reading your blog and I am a fan. Big time. Your honesty is refreshing and makes me feel sane during this time… I have an almost 4 yr old, a 2 yr old and a 10 week old. Yup I get nothing done…and my day was blah and our toilet worked fine haha. By the way, I think we went to the same school of decorating Looking at your home pics is like looking in my window!

Tanya @ Life in 3D - I kind of went on a tidying rampage today…EVERYTHING was out of sorts, misplaced, upside down, full of crumbs..blahblahblah.
It usually causes me to go into stunned-freeze mode too.
I won’t pretend that there weren’t a few “sharp” words spoken to the kids while their mom was a cleaning lunatic.
But ya know what?
Now they’re in bed…and the house isn’t tidy AGAIN…
And sometimes you just need A DAY…you just do.
You’re awesome quite a lot of the time I would guess 😉
(I’ve cut sugar and caffeine way back…Did any of that make sense?)

sara @ it's good to be queen - i hear you, i always do that overwhelmed with so much to do that i do nothing…so aggravating!!
also, if you saw a swagger wagon drive slowly by your house three times on sunday . . . well, sorry about that. i really am not a creep.
http://queen-of-the-house.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-am-stalker.html
😉

angela - right. right? right!

Trish - love it… thanks for the kick in the rear… I’m in a frozen state of too much to do and the winter blahs as well! It doesn’t help that I have a sinus headache and I can’t stop coughing, even if I try! Oh and two out of the three kids are sick. There that is my cry-fest! 🙂

Nichole - That is the most awesome poster ever.
I feel the same way on most days. If I don’t get started in the morning, it doesn’t get done.

Tonya Lynn - Just Be Awesome. I may have to put some post its all over the house to remind me to be awesome. January is always such a hard month because its cold and horrible weather so all I want to do is be lazy. However, tomorrow I am going to be awesome as well.

kat - WooHoo! Be awesome, girl, be awesome!!! Although, you kind of already are awesome. I guess you can just be more awesome.

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may i have your attention please.

December 9, 2010 Filed in me me me

i need to clear the air.

yes….i have ads now.
which you very well know.
there was a comment left recently that said she missed my old blog where it was just family.

and i understand that.

in the words of Zeke Braverman….i hear you and i see you.

if you have felt jipped about my "family" blog then i truly feel bummed about that.

BUT if i may defend myself for a few moments…. (on my my own blog?)

some of the reasons things have changed a little this year:

1.  since i started this little blog in january 2007 i have had a child at my hip every single day.
     she let me take a zillion pictures of her.
     well…SHE LEFT.
     she decided to become a kindergartener and leave me in the dust.
     a big chunk of my blog-able family photos went with her.
     IMG_3065

2.  i have a new-ish photography business that took a BIG part of my time this year.
     i spent several hundred hours on that….and i love it.
     

3.  i have much less creative personal crafting/sewing time that i can photograph.
     i wish i had more.
     and this winter i will….but i haven't for 7 months. 
     IMG_6782

     
4.  i don't have any house projects going on now to blog about.
     no wallpaper being stripped….bathrooms being demo-ed….furniture being painted.
     there is plenty of laundry which i always show you.
     IMG_2495
 

5.  when you have BlogHer ads on your sidebar….you get paid!

     and seriously…that is cool.

     because for 3 years i was blogging for free.
     and that is great…but after all that time it was awesome to get a check in the mail for 
     what i was doing everyday anyway. 
     
     BUT when you have Blogher ads….you can't blog about other companies because that
     would be like running two tv commercials at the same time side by side….not fair
     to either company.
    
     SO i have the other identical blog (without the BlogHer ads) for when i want to
     talk about other companies.

 Blogbanner2   Bannerlic

     AND with those other companies….i GET PAID.
     
     please realize that i have potentially five college tuitions in my future….
     and possibly three weddings.
     oy vay.
     

6.  i like having new opportunities to learn new things, meet new people, and earn money.
     i like this new blog world i have entered.  
     it's exciting and FUN.
     i am in a new phase of life….
     kids ALL in school….mom to a teen & tween…no babies or toddlers…or even preschoolers.
     NEW.
     i expect t0 grow and change and the blog will grow and change with me. 


i appreciate every single one of you who reads my words.
i read the comments.
i treasure your emails. 
YOU encourage me in so many ways.  
(except for mean commenters….they are not awesome.)

it's your choice AS ALWAYS to continue reading or not.
i hope you stay.
i promise not to start advertising for motor oil or after shave….
but Sara Lee…GAP…French Bull…
those are great companies!  
i like them.
 

i have a give-away for every ad post!
that is super fun for ME to be able to give you cool prizes.
i really really love that.

i promise to continue to be true to ME…
to the person God is calling me to be…
to share my passion for helping the needy….
to showcase ways for others to GIVE….
to blog about what i like and see and enjoy and create different every day. 

       IMG_5609

thank you for all the support & BLOG LOVE you have given me all along the way!

(or maybe i will just pregnant miraculously and get to start all over again!!) 

add a comment

Laily - wow, I’ve been looking through some of your blog and you are really amazing. I love how creative you are and i just looked at the hand print ornaments that you drew little snow men on. They were SO cute. I have a five year-old brother so i hope to make one with him next year. I am definitely bookmarking your blog! I think it’s cool that you can get paid for having a blog..why not? right? I mean you have a lot of kids so that money can come in handy. Anyway, i just wanted to say that i love your blog and you should keep up the good work. 🙂

TammyR - Meg –
I don’t know when I stumbled upon your blog, but I’ve been reading it for some time now. It doesn’t bother me one bit that you have ads, nor should it. It is YOUR blog! I know that blogs take time, and kudos to you for getting paid to do it!!
I enjoy reading about your family, your crafts, and your trip to Africa! I don’t even have kids, but I admire all that you do for your kids. To have crafts every Thursday? That is awesome and I know your kids will remember that for the rest of their lives. I also read the story about how you and Craig started. The fact that you are still married, and have more kids and are happy is amazing. I’m sure the odds were stacked against you.
It’s just nice to peek into your home and see what you’re doing with your kids, and Waffle! I have a dog, at least, so I can relate! 🙂 Also, your photos are amazing and I enjoy taking photos, too, so I appreciate you sharing your talent there.
So, there.

jennyonthespot - *fist bump*
You… I adore 🙂

Tara @ Tara Being Tara - I think what you’re doing is great – you absolutely deserve to be compensated for all of your hard work!!

Rebecca - Girl,
do what you need!
I’m so glad that you’re able to bring some cash with ads,
particularly from BlogHer–
lookatchoo,
being all wise with your time and investments!

Wendy - Meg-
If i can only read one blog a day, it is yours that I always pick! You inspire me. I want to be you. Thanks for sharing and I am with most of the commenters where i didnt really get the two blog thing because I really didnt notice the ads. I think we are lambasted with them in so many places that you dont notice them too much. I love your blog. I do miss pics of annie but I get it. She is busy!
Keep charging ahead and you will always have me reading!
-Wendy

Ashley - I love you blog Ad’s and all! 🙂

julia - I don’t understand the other blog thing! I’m so confused.
Err. like how much do you make from the BlogHer ads?

Summer - wow … when I read your blog I could care LESS whether you have ads! Actually, I take that back! I’d rather you get paid! You are awesome and your blog is a favorite of mine for sure! 🙂

The Fairy's Apprentice - Good luck with both blogs! I’m happy for you, and your blogs are the best!

Jeannette - I think that you should blog about WHATEVER you want, it’s your blog, says it right there in the name, right? I don’t mind the ads/sponsors at all, like someone else said I too have found things I otherwise would have never know about. Keep doing what you are doing, we all LOVE it. Changes come along in life whether we want them to or not (preschool for my 5 year old, kindergarten for Annie) and you just have to roll with it. You said it very well, things have changed since starting this in 2007 and it’s their choice to come back again or not. Sounds to me there will be more of them staying than going. I always feel inspired when I come here either to be a better mom to my 2 (you have 5 and keep it together), spiritually (Water4Christmas, books you suggest…lots of other things), and the crafts…..i LOVE them and so do my kids.
your blog is real life, keep it up, you ROCK!!!!!

Christina - I love when you show us your laundry!! 🙂
And all the other stuff, too. This is one of my favorite blogs. Keep on, sister.

Gina - I just wanted to give you a high five for the Parenthood reference!!! Heck yeah! lol *virtual high five* 😉

Sheri Slowey - Love love love your blog. I’m new to reading all of these blogs and yours I must say is one of my very favorites. Thanks for all your share. Merry Christmas.

Julie - Been busy with family visiting, but wanted to quickly say that I for one am happy to see you doing well with your blog. I love your blog, and I too have five college educations to pay for and three weddings so I totally understand!! Hurrah for you Meg ~ happy for you!!!! 🙂

melanie - your blog is so one of my favorites. i dont mind the ads! i am happy for you!

mary - . . . in the words of Zeke Braverman….i hear you and i see you.
I love! that show

Andrea - It’s your blog, sweetie.
I love your blog, I am so impressed with your family and your family values and the effort you put into being the best you can be. You inspire me to craft more, enjoy more, and to realize that every day is what we make of it, and in the long run, should the house be perfect or the kids and hubby feel loved?
When I read your blog I feel good.

Courtney McIlwain - I love love love your blog. Dont change a thing!!!!

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage - Meg….ads or not….I truely enjoy your blog…glad you are going to …..blog on………Happy Holidays!

andrea - i saw that comment and was like, wow that was mean…i am glad you wrote this post to clear any air. live your life, we are just the audience, it wouldn’t be your blog if commenters told you how to do it, geez.

Amnah - No way dude. You DO NOT have to justify yourself or your actions. It’s your blog. Since when are people supposed to tell us what we are and aren’t supposed to have in our blogs? Good for you. Make that money, baby!

Richelle - I think it is fabulous that you can get paid for something you love to do and are good at! You go girl!

Lorri - POO on people that try to ruin someone else’s day by being just rude. I totally enjoy your blog, the links and especially seeing your family. Keep on doing what you do best.

elizabeth highsmith - I would just like to “ad” my two sense worth you’re blog is great any ole which a way. the end.

Ruth - high five – i think you’re awesome. hot picture too!

Jess - Can I just say, I love your honesty! Keep it coming…especially the honest pictures of your home. It’s about time we see real homes instead of being ambushed with flawless homes where people obviously have no laundry and no 5 year olds that spill juice every where!
So please keep the honesty coming…and I’ll be here to read it!
Jess
zocalcreative.tumblr.com

Amy - Rock on, Meg. I hope you make a million, bazilion dollars off of your blog. I think it’s awesome that you are getting paid to be your fabulous self!

Emily - I love your blog…with advertisments or not! Hey, if you can get paid doing what you love…go for it! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, I don’t comment often, but it’s great to see how normal you and your family are. I love all your photography, sewing…and your piles of laundry!!! =) Keep up it…your blog makes me smile everyday!

Whitney - Meg, I love you blog and I will continue to read…the ads dont bother me a bit! 🙂

natalie k - meg, you will always be the coolest. love you.

Marcia - So unrelated to all of this, but a backhanded compliment: what shade & brand of lipstick or gloss do you have on in that photo at the bottom? It is great and looks pretty on you! 🙂

Carrie - I enjoy your blog so much and read it everyday. I still think your content is as good as it’s always been, if not better. I don’t mind the ads and talking about the companies. You wouldn’t promote something you didn’t believe in. A girl’s got to make some money, and why not make money doing what you love?Keep up the good work and God bless!

Jodi - Rock on Meg! You are amazing as always.

Jenny Joy - Boo to the complainers. I lurve you and your blog. You’re special. And honest. And sweet. You’re the kind of person that I would give anything to have coffee with once a week or live next door to. Truly, lady. You’re sporting a metric ton of awesome!

Cindy in WA - You rock! And so does Waffle! Love to see Waffle and hear about his day..along with your family. 🙂 Keep bloggin. I love it!

Kristina - Well Cutie, I just got your blog from a friend and think you are charming. DONT CHANGE A THING!!
God bless you in this new stage in your life!

amanda - love your voice and your blog – ads or no ads. 🙂

Amanda Garrett - You keep on keeping on, girl! I just adore you and your blog- ads or no ads! 🙂

shauna reed - you are gracious and brave. and generous to share all of this. it’s really your own buisness, and it bugs me to think anyone would want to butt in and feel entitled to your life! CRAZY!
also, you have very nice lips.
are they always that glossy?

Juli - Ditto to what Tara said. I had NO IDEA that the French Bull, Gap OR Sara Lee posts were “ads”! I honestly just read the concept of less baking from scratch & more time playing with family & thought…now THAT’S a girl after my own heart (and my, that Sara Lee cake looks YUMMY!) Dude, you need to get Great Value to pay you because you are FOREVER using their groceries!
I had NO idea who Zeke Braverman was so I Googled it. Do you know that you’re the 4th (FOURTH!) link that comes up when I Google that name?!! That must be a good thing.

Tiffany - I say phooey on anyone who wants to tell you how your bloggie should be. It’s your baby…and it’s none of our business what you decide to do! And if you can may extra money doing what you love…then a BIG PHOOOEY on anyone who wants to stop you. I L.O.V.E your blog….ads or no ads….I’ll still faithfully be reading!!
XoXO
Tiffany

Hollie - I’m a new reader to your blog and didn’t realize you had 2 blogs till the other day. My kids and I did the pound cake thing last night, awesome! I love your blog and check it every day. I think it’s great that you make money from it! And I could care less if you have ads or not. You’re an inspiration to me – keep it up!

Heather - love your projects and recipes
love your photography
love your home
love your blog
love that you get paid to do it
love the giveaways
love you! 🙂

Chris - I don’t care about the ads! I think you’re cool, exciting and fresh! Keep it up!!

kim york - NO DEFENDING NEEDED!!!! It’s your blog to do with what YOU want to! It’s a privilege that you share it with all of us. You keep growing, changing, sharing anyway you want and if can earn money doing it go for it…Although another baby would be awesome 🙂
Thanks for sharing your life all of it with me, just a blog stalker(found you from the Macs)…but I do love your blog.
Kim

Jane Little - I am always surprised by the flap over ads. For the *hours* blogging takes and the creative ideas shared, I for one am very glad when someone can get compensated for that.

Gevay - Wow, I am consistently amazed in the blog world that people feel they have the right to make mean comments about what YOU do on YOUR blog. Do what you have to do contribute to your family. If people don’t like it, they can find someone “ad-free” to read! Your blog is very enjoyable ads or not!

leigh - I love your blog and will stick around for any changes!! Have a great day!

cassie o - i think you’re great! don’t give those nay-sayers the time of day!

Stephenie - You deserve to be paid for this. I will always be a fan even if I had to be the one paying you.

Kori - Your blog is rad. Simple as that!
😀

Taryn - Holy Cow!!!!! May you feel affirmed and blessed by the responses here! (only holy cow to how many of them there are!!!!….i know you’re accustomed to this, it took me forever to read through them!:) ) I have to say it’s all i can do to not respond directly to the negative comment. Oh my, so many thoughts and words i could have there. But i will refrain and simply add my support to the other millions of readers that love you! I found the Sara Lee blog very fun!!!! and found myself tucking that idea away for one of our family nights. I love how you captured the individual family member’s “creations.” Of course, all of this can be expected, though. When you are doing ministry, the enemy will try to discourage, destroy and derail you! I’m proud of the way you’re handling it! Continuing to pray blessings on you and over your work! Love ya!

Jessie - LOVE your blog with or without ads! If I could blog like you and get paid for it too, I definately would. YoU RoCK GiRL!!

Melissa S - You go Meg!!! Love your blog either way. It is always the first one I go to in my reader and many days one of the only ones that I make time to read! Meanies be gone!

G. - I’m sticking around! I love your blog, even though I’m a new reader. I think it’s great you have an opportunity to earn some money doing something you love and you are good at. I don’t think you owe anyone an explanation. 🙂

Wendishopscotch.blogspot.com - I was actually wondering why you didn’t have ads earlier. Blessings!

Tammy - I’m glad you explained it, I was confused- but blamed it on lack of coffee. I was more worried about having to rebook mark it, and if I was going to have to ask my 13 yr old how to do that again.
You go girl- bring home the bacon! It is reality.

jessica kiehn - that’s weird. That’s one of those things that you may think to yourself, and choose not to keep reading that particular blog, but certainly not something you’d TELL the writer of the blog! Oh well, obviously, you have tons of support.
But it’s really not about what people think of you, anyway. You’re here on earth for the Father, your man, and those kids. Not the “blog world” and what “they” have to say about you.
So, go on wit it Momma.

Suzanne - rock on Meg.

jennibell - Blog love to you!!! It’s YOUR blog. . .do with it what you want is what I say. And get paid too?!? It really doesn’t get any better then that, does it?

Talysa - Ha! I didn’t even notice the ads. 🙂
In the word of Bobby Brown…it’s Your prerogative. 😉
I’m quoting Bobby Brown. Good indicator I just took Nyquil. Sorry. 🙂
Love your blog.

Jen R - Oh my gosh…I love, love your blog…. I didn’t even notice the ads – just thought you were sharing the things you love. I can’t believe people would actually let you know that this bothered them. Silly! I’ll read – ads or not….you are fabulous! 🙂
PS I love Parenthood & the Bravermans!See…that is why I read. You are too cute….you quoted a Braverman! 🙂

Fran Gospodarek - Meg, I have been a follower of yours for some time now. I absolutely love your blog and outstanding photography! Keep up the outstanding visual and emotional entertainment…

Michelle - Australia - I have a narrow screen. Add that to the constant fog that shadows my oh too busy life of being a wife, Mum, friend, sister, daughter, and working and volunteering and Christmas silliness…..AND not too clever me hadn’t noticed the ads. But don’t tell your advertisers that 🙂
Even if you start typing in a foreign language, I’ll still read Meg. Although if you stop posting pictures, even of the washing pile (how colourful is that???), I might have to contemplate where else to get my rainbow colour fix 🙂 Thank you for your blog. Thank you for sharing your life. Thank you for your inspiring writing. And GOOD on you for getting some $ for it. Go Meg!

Margo - Keep up the great work – LOVE your blog – it’s the first thing I look at on the computer every evening!!

karen - I would have explained myself too..but you really didn’t have to.
Yeaaah…get paid for what you do!! If the opportunity is there…
heck, i still think you should have a reality show or even a movie made…I would watch!
xo

Miss Muffs Cottage - Meg, well said. I love your blog – with or wothout ads…my only request – just don’t stop blogging. I just love you!
My best wishes, Anita

Nichole - The only thing I had wished was an update on why you were posting to a second blog – it super confused me! I don’t mind ads, though, they’re a part of life and if you need the money for the future, then you gotta do what you gotta do.
Besides, you could have just spammed the entire blog with ads all over the sides. I feel as if this was a nicer way.

Jerse - The way I see it, if things bothers a person about a blog, don’t read it. I happen to love what you write and I understand why you’d like a little income from it. Good for you, finding ways to supplement the income without enrolling in the work force. Keep on keeping on.

Amy - I have read your blog for about a year now, and never posted. All I have to say is, “Go you!” I will keep reading.

Kara Jane - I say GOOD for you! You are my favorite blog – love your family, love your house, love you, love your mess (cause I don’t feel so alone in my heap of laundry! LOL). I just come to smile at your sweet family. If people don’t read because you are advertising and making money for doing what you do so well, then they need help! Take care and keep making me smile and giving me decorating ideas!

Nicole Q. - Well said! The fact that you are growing and changing means you aren’t stuck in one stage! :))

Heather - You put your heart and soul into this blog, which equals honest (and frequently funny) entries every day. That’s why I keep coming back! I think it’s fair for you to get paid for all of the work you do. It’s not like you’re obnoxiously shilling products or anything.
Also- I love Parenthood so much!! I feel like it’s so under-appreciated. Glad you like it too, although it’s hardly surprising since we seem to have very similar TV/movie taste. 🙂

Kae - Hi! Please keep doing whatever you’re doing. I love your blog!!

Juli B. - Don’t mind the ads at all. Good for you for getting paid for doing what you love. Isn’t that what we all want out of life? Just one favor, when you have a giveaway, please don’t make us post, comment, attach, link, twitter, or stop by ten different sites just for a chance to win. Now that gets annoying.

Vera - I love you and your blog just the way you are. That picture of you is GORGEOUS. I totally think you should get pregnant again because your babies are adorable AND it would make for some fab blogging material. 🙂

Linette - Of all the blogs I get in my feedreader, yours is the ONLY one I read every single day. I skip the others at least a few days a week and catch up on weekends, but I gotta have my daily fix of Whatever. And it is precisely because this blog grows and changes and reflects real life that I am so devoted to it. I don’t comment often (this is only the second or third time), but Whatever is part of my life. You keep on doing what you do, and I will keep on reading and relating. Thank you, Meg, for being you.

Shauna Howington - I say good for you! I for one will continue to read, ads or no ads!

holly - I just adore you! Thanks for always keeping it real. Who cares about a couple of ads. Seriously?

Suzanne D - I have been reading your blog for a while, and I love coming here every single day! I enjoy reading about your family trips, your craft Thursdays, projects, other people’s projects, charities, and wonderful places that you have found – either online or IRL. Thank you for sharing your life and being the woman God created you to be!

Susan - Ok, I am pretty sure I started this. whoops! 🙂
I apologize if what I wrote came across as rude, because I really didn’t mean it that way. I should learn to read things over a couple of times and think about the way other people could interpret them. I sincerly apologize if I hurt your feelings. But yes, it’s me that misses the family posts. But I guess I didn’t think about your last one not being around to be in most of your shots.
I still love your blog, even though it has changed. I guess what I meant to say I already get the “commercial feeling” from HGTV and Food Network, so I’ve always found reading blogs that have a personal touch so refreshing and honest.
I think it’s great that you’re getting paid to do something you love and don’t consider work. I was just one of those people that was really confused by the whole “ad-free” blog. I don’t blog myself, so I was unaware of the rules of advertising.
I am not sure that you’ll even read this since there are so many comments above mine. But if you do, I hope you accept my aplogy! 🙂

elisa - I would love for you to have another baby- hehehe
either way, you rock 🙂

amber - I think that’s awesome. Another baby is always awesome too:)…hehe

Georgia - Hi Meg,
Hopefully you get to this comment, as there are tons on this post!
But i am doing a princess lasertron radvent blogging event, and i have written about you, and linked to your blog from mine.
Hope you dont mind.
xox

Mindy Harris - you go girl! i admire you in so many ways.
also, as a fellow blogger, how does one get “in” with blogher? i want to get paid, too.
to fuel my estate sale addiction.
actually, we really need the money.

Mendi - Meg,
I am new to your blog! And I LOVE it. I was looking for a craft to do with my children and one of friends (who is not a mother yet and LOVES your blog)told me about your blog. It is the best. I love EVERYTHING you do. Love the crafts, the pictures, the recipes and the house! I love the fact that you are a real mother and you are keeping your posts that way. Keep on doing what you are doing because it is fabulous!!! You inspire me in many ways! Thanks for the blog and all the works it takes!

Jamie - Ha, ha…you’re awesome, Meg!

Theresa - I LOVE your blog, and have followed for a long time but I will have to say the Sara Lee post seemed very fake & forced and I was turned off by it. The ads don’t bother me either, you work really hard on this blog, just don’t stray from your authentic self!

Beth @ Dirty Laundry - Geez Louise, someone is always going to complain about something. You do what you have to do! You’re still the same blogger we know (well, not personally) and love, with or without ads.

dawn - It’s unfortunate that people even make this an issue. Fortunately, it appears you have a large following that’s just fine with the ads — or the “commercials” as someone called it. This is YOUR blog — and you’re very good at what you do. There are no other blogs I follow as diligently as yours. Keep doing what you want to do. Be true to you and what feels right. If you can get paid for doing what you’re doing anyways — why not?!? And to be honest — the ads and “commercials” open my eyes to new products and ideas. I’ve been thinking about that pound cake ever since you blogged about it!

alaina - Girl – you owe no one an apology or explanation! This is your blog!! YOUR BLOG! Not THEIR blog! Urrgg…people can make me so irritated sometimes! Personally – I think YOU’RE AWESOME MEG!!!!! I love reading your blog every single day! HUGS!! (Go away mean people!)
There…I feel better now! 🙂

Sarah - It is YOUR blog! I would totally do the same if I was half as talented as you! People WILL keep reading, Your blog is beautiful, colorful, fun and most of all….REAL. Keep being YOU…..and get paid while doing so….you deserve it!

Gina in Louisville - I don’t even notice the ads. Your blog entertains me for free.

Leslie - you go, girl. 🙂
By the way, your lip gloss looks pretty.

Courtney - Who the HECK cares if you run ads? It doesn’t effect your content. You deserve a check. A BIG ONE!

Ayca - Dear Meg,
I love everything about you and I enjoy reading your blog with a big mug of tea while snuggling on my couch. I am praying for a beautiful baby like yours and reading you gives me hope and courage. Please continue to write and upload pictures with or without ads. You enlighten my life 🙂

sara @ it's good to be queen - i think you’re great and your blog is great. reading your blog is my treat in the morning before my crazy day gets going. blessings!
sara

Laura Phelps - 🙂

Keri ~ Forever Folding Laundry - Um…really?
People complaining about what *you* do on *your* blog?
You are fab
and your blog is fab
and that’s all I have to say about that.
🙂

Angela Atkins - Anytime someone complains about the lack of family posts, just post another picture of your laundry. We are lucky to see ANY posts from you with all that is going on in your life. Just keep writing about your life and where ever God takes you in that.
As far as the ads, it was only a little confusing cause the link said it was a link to your ad-free blog, but was really a whole ad in itself. Your explanation helped.

twolittletots - Love your blog still and I am on the wait list right now for BlogHer…and I can’t wait until they email me!

Jill - Keep doing what you are doing! Love you the way you are Megan, and love the blog the way you do it. It should change with you – that’s what keeps it real! 🙂

Emily Z - trying to think of something really clever and spectacular to say, but all I can think of is…YOU GO GIRL! Love your blog!! Love all of the hope and inspiration it gives me as a mother, wife and christian. Thank you!

Kerri - I want to be like Meg when I grow up!! :)) No worries!!

Ashley - Ads? What ads?
In all seriousness, you do what you do well, and why not get paid for it? Meanies can find another blog to hate on, and the rest of us can keep following your stories and sharings. Keep on keeping on, Mama!

Sarah B - I didn’t even notice…I just know that your blog is a part of my morning block to myself and I have always it for maybe the last two years now and I love it to pieces and will love it with ads or not! Thank you for letting me share in your life. 🙂

Victoria - Seriously? You rock with the content. I am never disappointed. Keep it real and I’m sure you won’t have a problem with traffic. I know I have personally referred half a dozen ladies to your site because it is THAT GOOD.
Blessings to you and your family.

Lynn - The ads don’t detract from your blog at all. I come her for YOU and every post that you put up is wonderful.
You don’t need to explain yourself unless you want to.
I’m definitely staying! 🙂

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Meg, you just keep being you! I love your blog and obviously so do many others. You don’t have to defend yourself. You are an awesome blog mommy!

Lana - Kudos to you for finding a way to be an involved mom, pursue your dreams AND make money. (The haters are probably just jealous, anyway 🙂 )I’m still reading and will continue to do so. Blessings!

Becki - I did not even realize there was anything different! Love your bolg,been reading it for so long. Every day. Keep it up. Doing what you love and get paid for it, awesome!!

T.O. - Ads….or no ads……I still heart you!!!!!

J - I love your blog! I was confused by the double blogs so thanks for clearing that up. And for the record- after your french bull post I went to their site and ended up spending $130! =) And I (legally!) downloaded a ton of songs from the playlist you posted a couple months back.
And, I just wanted to say, our lives could not be more different- I live in NYC, lesbian, no children, struggling with my faith- and yet I feel such a connection to you through your words. Keep up the awesome job!

Alisha Gibb - Ads or no ads, you ROCK and I will always be a faithful follower. Word of mouth (i.e. “advertising”) is the best way to find out about cool new stuff! You just keep on keepin’ on!

Michelle - ads or not. . . you’ll still be my first online stop in the mornings! Good for you for getting paid. . .I wondered why you hadn’t done it sooner!

krystall - you go girl, wish I could get paid for reading (i’d be rich)!
Still lovin’ your blog:)

Kelly - This is a great post. For those of us in the blogging world who have not explored ads I had no idea about how they work, etc. and this shed a little light on that. Amen on your blog (and all our blogs) being about you/us (this is getting confusing) and whatever stage of life we’re in. And I didn’t even mean to use *whatever* in that last sentence. 🙂 Rock on. Kelly

Cris - Meg, I think it is AWESOME!
You are a smart girl. You are making money while still doing what you love…

Jessica - I can’t believe somebody said that. You don’t have to defend yourself. This is your blog…you can say and do whatever you want. Honestly, some people are so lame…

renae - I will read your blog no matter what you write about! I love how honest and open you are. I think people are just jealous that you get paid to blog! I wouldn’t mind seeing more about Waffle. He’s pretty cute!

vanessa - Still love it. And it’s YOUR blog to do with as you wish. I don’t in any way feel you’re selling out. You’re evolving, your life is evolving, ergo your blog is evolving. I’m sure we will continue to have glimpses of your very real life, but that life has changed since the time you started your blog. People need to realize that these things aren’t static, and they need to get over it.
Keep on doing what is right for you Meg!

gina f. - i love your blog! It is your blog and you should do what you want with it!!

Talia - Love your blog with or without ads AND if you can get paid to do what you love then you are blessed.
Keep being real and for what it is worth — my laundry strongly resembles yours. Ugh! 🙂
Hugs to you…

Amelia - Get paid for doing something that you love? What a novel idea. Everyone should be so lucky. God Bless.

Erin - It’s your blog..Love your blog. What can be better making some money doing something you are doing anyway! As other have said your blog rocks son’t worry about a thing!!!

Jen - Love your blog! ads are no big deal, just part of life!

Lori Michaud - You go girl! It’s your life, live it your way.

Erin - It’s your blog so you shouldn’t worry what other people think/say (although I know easier said than done) I love your blog and I LOVE your house! I am dying to see the dining room you were painting! Did you ever blog about the end result? (I hope I didn’t miss the big reveal!) Keep up the awesome job! I love reading your blog!

Kellye P. - You don’t have to explain to anyone, this is your deal and trust that I will NEVER stop reading you. You are one of the highlights of my day…every single day! The picture of you at the end of the post should be your new profile picture on here. LOVE IT!

Renee - i loveeee you’re blog, it brightens my day. it’s so real! you are so creative & amazing you deserve to make that money honey!

Tracey - Don’t apologize or feel the need to explain! The readers enjoy your blog and therefore benefit, you should too. Keep it up!

Sophie - I’ve been reading your blog for some time now and I absolutely love it, ads or not.
I love how you’re honest about the reasons you have ads. A lot of blogs use the ‘I’m not doing it for the money’ thing. Yeah, right.
Ads or no ads, you’re so inspiring and your posts are a joy to read.
In fact, your trip to Africa inspired me so much that I signed up to go on a mission to The Gambia in June with my school. All because of what you and those wonderful ladies did there!

Vicki - Okay Miss Meg…I have noticed an interesting thing in blog land. First folks seem to start out with their basic free blogger lay out. Then when they start to get followers, they seem to “upgrade” a bit…get a fancy layout. Then come the blogher ads…and then…so on and on it seems to go. I think that some folks stay grounded and continue to do what got them the thousands of followers in the beginning, some folks just become a blogging bill board or commercial. I think this is totally in your hands, own it, work it. Be you. I did find the Sara Lee deal a little odd. It felt very commercial. I think if it had been more clearly stated what was going on it wouldn’t have set people so confused. I think you cleared things up beautifully today. I also think that honest opinions from people are sometimes different than mean comments. I don’t expect my girlfriends to only feed me fluff and positive statements all the time…I want the truth too. I also appreciate it when it’s said in a nice way =). This bloggy thing is quite the journey. I think you have a great influence on women. Keep on your own path, your own journey. We’re listening….

Angela - Wow. People are dumb. You ROCK!
I *love* the Zeke Braverman quote.
Best. Show. Ever.
And your blog is the best ever, too!

Lisa - You are just fine. Any one of us – if given the opportunity to make some money doing what we love – would take it! I wish you (and other bloggers) didn’t have to explain yourself so often, but I guess that’s part of putting yourself out there, eh? Your blog, your business in my opinion. I’m just happy to be along for the ride!

Lisa - I haven’t noticed a difference in your blog at all except the couple times you sent us over to your “other” blog! You still share the good, the bad and the ugly! 🙂 With awesome pictures and creative things and ways to help others. I only know you thru this blog, but you seem the same to me. (in a good way!) I love your blog and am excited for you to be getting paid. I think that’s awesome!

Shelly - GO FOR IT GIRL! I always believe you have to do what is best for YOU and your FAMILY. I love your blog and read it every chance I get. I love your words and on many levels you make me feel more normal. I am a working mom with two busy kids and a husband that is gone all the time. Basically I am a married woman with a single parent life. Keep going and don’t let anything or anybody stop you. Good Luck and THANK YOU!

Stacia - I love your blog. I think it’s awesome you get paid:)

Meaghan - Is it wierd that I read your blog EVERYDAY and had no idea there were 2 or that you post ads?!?!? Its prob just because I ADORE you and everything u blog about. Go make your money girl!!!!! I’ll keep reading 😉

Lindsay - Ads don’t bother me at all. You should get paid for every bit of work you put into this blog and more! You’re my favorite blogger to read!

Ashlyn - If something that starts out as your passion can actually turn into money…thank goodness!!!!

staci amy - I say, bring on the ads!!! Why shouldn’t you get paid!!?? I will always, always read you!!!!! And that last picture of you is just plain simply beautiful!!!! Go Megan!!!!!

Diana Thompson - Funny thing, I never noticed the ads, but now that you mention…there is a Hewlett-Packard ad and my wonderful husband works for HP!!! You ought to get paid for what you do, you do a great job on this blog and should be compensated! You are very inspirational and I would follow your blog with or without ads!!!!!

Regina - Well, I hope we’re making it VERY obvious…WE LOVE YOU MEG!!!!!
***YOU***GO***GIRL!!!!!

www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawmeLxAU9mIdN1yUy0RbCm0lyKxymNF8jU0 - Hadn’t even noticed the ads because your entertaining posts capture my attention first. And I love that you plug places that you like (i.e., French Bull), because if not, I would have never been introduced to it. So please keep sharing whatever you’d like to share and I’ll keep reading.

www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkuW_Zl0UPch0eYqnNnsqSGpuZUga917hA - Love you, Meg! Do whatever is necessary for you and your lovely family. I enjoy your blog so much that I didn’t even notice the ads. . .oops! 😉

heather - i love seeing the evolution of blogs, especially yours. it’s encouragement for the rest of us that are trying to grow into the people that God wants us to be to. i say- you go girl!

Linda Garcia - You rock, Meg! Ads or no, I think most folks will agree with me that we’re okay with it. Happy holidays!

Brook - Love your blog. I think it’s great that you have ads. Getting some extra money for something that you loved enough to do for free is awesome!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Seriously!
Words. Right. Out. of. My. Mouth.
You are amazing. Thank you for stating this so beautifully. Love you, love you, love you, love you!

Toni - Love your blog. Especially loved that you quoted Zeke Braverman. LOVE PARENTHOOD!
Also, did I notice zwieback on your Thanksgiving table? As a Mennonite girl in central CA, I can spot those anywhere…

erica - good for you! 🙂 you don’t owe anyone anything, but who wouldn’t want to get paid to blog?? that’s exciting!

Katherine @ Grass Stains - I’m an advertiser’s worst nightmare. I fast-forward through TV ads, I flip right past them in magazines, and I have an incredible talent to ignore them on blogs. Seriously, I read you every day and I hadn’t noticed you’d added them. I am THAT capable of ignoring them. And on certain sites where they pop up, I x them out to close them before I even see what they are. If you pop up in my face while I’m trying to read something, I close you without looking. Ha!
I do MUCH more clicking when you recommend something you love or that you’ve given a positive review. That’s just how I do it. And I hope that others will stick around for what we’ve come to know and love about your blog. If the ads help you, I’m happy.

Jeannine - I don’t mind the ads! I love your blog.
I rarely comment, but I take a peek at your blog almost daily.
Thank you for continually inspiring me.
You rock =)

tobi d - I can’t account for the blog before but I think this blog is awesome!
Thank you!

Christy - I love Parenthood and I totally only watch it because I read about it here!! Your blog is my favorite and I will always read and I think it is AWESOME you are getting paid for doing what you love!!

Heather K - You go, girl!
Don’t ever feel that you have to apologize for making money! I WOULD if I could!
You rock!

Jody - I think it’s great that you’ll get paid for blogging because hopefully you’ll continue to do it for a long time!! I love reading your blog and love change as well- not only that but I trust you…so enjoy hearing about products that you endorse! Love you and your blogs Meg!! Keep up the great work : )
Jody B.

nicki - I love your blog. plain and simple. you touch my heart in a REAL way. And if it means you share great products, even better. I take what is applicable to me and my family, and file the rest. 🙂

Jeni - Girl, if you can get paid to do what you’ve been doing, why WOULDN’T you?? duh! so, F the haters and just remember, that as long as they are still talking about you, you’ve still got it!! I love your blog! i think it might be my favorite!!

Jenni Carlisle - You are a rockstar and you couldn’t keep me away from your blog if you tried. I love free stuff, so really it’s the best of both worlds for me! I {heart} whatever and the gorgeous Meg who writes…does that mean you are the blog owner? {enter snarky sarcasm and a cheeky smile} XOXO

Laura in LA - I come to your blog for the entertainment you provide me. I love your style, attitude, and creativity. Anywhere else I would have to pay to be entertained (movies, books, sports events, etc) so I would never think of complaining about you getting paid to provide me free entertainment! Rock on!!

Megan Jernovics - You go girl. I will be right here waiting for your next picture of laundry! Thanks for even taking the time to do this.

Shanna - I think its AWESOME that you get paid for SOMETHING YOU LOVE!!!!!! Don’t listen to those sillies! WE LOVE YOU!

Lindsay - I love that you LOVE Parenthood! I l-o-v-e it!

beth - i LOVE YOUR BLOG…AD OR NO AD BUT DON’T STOP…I know so much more about you than other friends in real life…maybe one day I can meet u…that would be awesome! Too bad I didn’t know you were in Atlanta…maybe I could have been on the same road and at least could have waved..nah really I am in Georgia and your Annie and my Lexi would have a great time…
Sorry some people are just so rude….Keep on bloggin!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - You take a good picture Megan. I’m also thrilled that you are taking your blog to the next level. How wonderful that you can be compensated monetarily for your efforts here every day. Good for you!
Dana

Phoenix_Rising - Ads are on every site we use nowadays. They are white noise. With the amount of time you spend sharing with us (and from our end, entertaining us!), you deserve to be paid by ads.
Disregard the nay-sayers.
And with Annie growing up, it’s impossible to blog about life as a mom with a child at your side 24/7. Anyone should be able to understand that 🙂

Michelle - I’ve been on the BlogHer Ad Network for awhile and always forget that other people don’t know about the rules set up for reviews, etc… and the need for a duplicate blog for those (though truly I wish they would find another way around it) and that people can be confused about it. It always gives me pause when I see people all in an uproar about it.
BTW, for those who don’t want to read the blatent paid or giveaway posts, you don’t have to click over to the review blog.
I say, you work your ass off Meg to bring quality content daily and it shows. I think you do it for the love of blogging (doing it for free for 3 years) and that you shouldn’t be begrudged in the least for that check monthly.

jennifer delossantos - First, let me say I love the Bravermans. Crosby is my fav.
Didn’t notice the ads, I’m observant like that.
It’s your blog, do what you want. If people don’t like it they don’t have to read it. People like to judge and feel like they can say whatever they want. If they didn’t think you were awesome, they wouldn’t be reading in the first place. We should be paying you for letting us read about and see your family!

Suzette - You are AWESOME! Do it however you want to do it–I’ll be here!

karen - As long as you keep showing pictures of your laundry, I will keep reading 🙂
Have you ever noticed that those fabulous laundry room pictures have no laundry anywhere in them?
Can you tell it is laundry day at my house???
You are awesome,,,,,,,,,

Wendy - THats right- it’s your blog! Do whatever you wAnt. You rule, Meg duerksen!

Tara - I’m laughing….I’m always slow on the uptake with these kind of things…I seriously thought you just made the dessert with saralee pound cake…had no idea it was ad..
BUT. it DID make me want to buy one those pound cakes for my family so the ad WORKED! :)))))))
you rock cause you’re real.
I’ll be back for as long as you’re in blogland.

Deb Meyers - I love your take on life, always will; I hate the ads, always will. But it’s a fact of blogging life and do not begrudge you a penny of the income! more power to you.
So odd, I just emailed another blogger this morning about this very thing. I hope she doesn’t cross read and think I triggered this post from you! because it wasn’t me : )
deb meyers

Jill Franklin - “I promise to continue to be true to Me” …that’s all I needed to hear.

Cindy - I rarely comment but wanted to today. I always wondered why you didn’t have ads on A LONG time ago – you deserve to be compensated for your great blogs. You are the 1st I go to every morning. Keep up the great work! You are inspiring in so many ways!

Carolynn - I love your blog! Double Whatever blogs means Double the fun! Will always be a reader! My kids would miss the Waffle stories too much :)….and me too!

Sara W - Yay for you! I’m glad you are doing what you need to do for YOU and your family. Nobody else can make the right decisions in regards to what is best for you and your 7.

Michelle - 1. who doesn’t like giveaways?
2. If i’m not interested in a post, I don’t read it. (i.e. I don’t like Sarah Lee poundcake)
3. i love your blog. I love your honesty and encouragement. My husband and I are foster parents to a 1 year old with the hopes of adoption- I love reading how families grow and change.
4. I want a giant bell in my kitchen now too.

jill - i love your blog, i love your style, i look forward to reading your posts when they pop up in my reader. but wait, isn’t there a dining room remodel in the works? can’t wait to see that! =)

deborah@applesinwonderland - ah….i hope you wrote this post for yourself. but, you also wrote it for all of us that hem and haw at this very issue. what to do? follow your gut. it will steer you well. and to imagine that someone shouldn’t be paid for their hard work, is not cool. it just isn’t. let us all cheer other women on….it’s all good:)

Kate - You rock. So does Zeke Braverman.

Kerry - Hey Meg,
I didnt even notice the ads – haha! I love your blog for what it is – a colourful, happy, REAL place for me to be for a few minutes every day with my mug of coffee.
Thank you for just being you, and for sharing your world with us.
Now.. best I go look for these ads!
Love Kerry x

Meaghan - I rarely comment, but I had to say that I love your blog and am inspired by what you do…with your kids, with your photography, with your home (and your recipes..I use them all the time!). As a reader, I appreciate that this is your life, and you don’t have to share it at all! But you do, and I hope I am as awesome as you are when my kids are all in school! Thanks for sharing with us, Meg.

Niki - Sorry there are people in the world that HAVE to share their negativity. I don’t understand why they don’t just STOP reading if they don’t like what they see. It isn’t really any of their business.
As for turning a memory into a commercial…whatever. I love that you share about things you love. If I find a new food or product that I love, I tell my friends about it! I’d get paid for it, if I could, in a heartbeat. You don’t make compromises and advertise for things you don’t use/love. That’s intergrity in advertising.
Love you. Love your blog.

Juli - I didn’t even notice the ads (but, then again, I joke that God intended me to be blonde! HA!)
This is why I don’t blog. I couldn’t handle comments from readers who have such inflated self-worth that they feel they have a need to “critique”. I am too sensitive. I’d sit & cry all day!
YES! Another baby!! Y’all make such cute ones and what’s another college education & wedding when you have that many to pay for, anyway?!

Emily - More power to you, Meg! Ads schmads, I don’t care. I’ll keep coming back everyday! 🙂

SJ - I didn’t even realize you had ads! You can’t expect someone not to change over time, and I think you’re doing what is best for you and your family. It’s YOUR blog, don’t forget! And I love reading it.

Cathy - GOOD FOR YOU!!!! KEEP GOING!! I’ll still devour every word you write!

Holly - ok Megan I am totally with you in that new phase of life. My baby is in kindergarten also and I have a teenager and 2 tweens! I am sticking around for sure!

Tonya - Meg, I totally get where you’re at in this stage of life! My youngest is in 1st grade now. Last fall, when he went off to kindergarten, I found myself sorta lost in my own home. It was very weird! During that time I was able to really talk and listen to God; tell Him my fears, desires, etc…now I’m back in school and on my way toward fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a physical therapist! So much has changed and friends have commented that they never see me, but I know I’m doing what God wants me to be doing at this stage.
So, you just continue being the woman/wife/mom/friend/blogger that God’s called you to be and everything else will fall into place!

Annette - Love your blogs, ad’s do not bother me at all, they are just a fact of life anymore! no worries!

Shannon - Amen sista! I’m all about it! I am wanting to get into the photography business myself and i am hoping for a camera to do so for christmas….how did you get into it? what editing program do you use? 😀 Any helpful hints and suggestions are greatly appreciated! Also how in the world were you able to get paid to blog? I would love that….I am a stay at home mama and could use the extra $ too!

Lynne - Maybe I’m a little slow but I didn’t even realize the difference- ha! Love reading your blog and what you have to say- Great that you get paid some $ to do it!

Megan Austin - I am so proud of you for turning something you love (and WE love!) into something that can help earn a little spending money. Good for you! I love your photos and posts – even the adds! Thank you for letting us be all snoopy into your personal life!!!

jennifer - Rock on Sistah!
And three cheers for miraculous pregnancies!
Shhh! Don’t tell my husband I just said that. 🙂

Donna - Thank you for working to keep us fulfilled and entertained. I, like many others, could care less that you have ads supporting your blog. Rather it should inspire others to find ways to get paid to do what they love! If those people are bitter, perhaps they are focusing on the wrong things in your blog. You continually send a great message and in the meantime, keep it real!! I love it!

Trish @TheOldPostRoad - Good gracious!
Put those ads up! You deserve to make money due to your efforts/time/trouble/annoyingcommmentleavers/creativity/writingability! (pick one)
-Trish

Heather Richter - I love your blog. I now have Whatever in my favorites…and Whatever 2 🙂

kasey - i hate having to defend ourselves on our own blogs…seriously.

Jill - Ads or no ads you bring color into my day. I love your blog. Keep up the being awesome!

MommaH - What a great way to help out and stay at home!! I applaud you!
BTW – Your pic is gorgeous! Of course, having a gorgeous subject to photograph helps.

Lisa - I think it’s awesome you are able to make extra money this way! In fact, if you can share how to do it, that would be great!! Whenever a person can make a living doing what he/she loves, that is never a bad thing! I can think of a lot of products I wouldn’t mind promoting, let’s fact it, we are all consumers and we all have our favorite brands.
P.S. Where has Parenthood been the past two weeks??? I am so upset it hasn’t been on!

katy - i just saw the word “fake” in a previous comment and it made me sad.
…that aside, i kind of get the impression that it would be blog (with a few ads here and there) and let us stay part of your life, or not blog at all (or as much)… i say BLOG!
and i agree w/ another previous comment- you should probably make more money than you do for this! 😉
thanks for doing what you have to to make the best life for your family while staying connected to the rest of us! 🙂

Mama Sue - I can’t imagine not reading your blog every day! It is sad that it is so easy to be negative on the internet:) I think some folks use that as a way to blow off steam. Seriously, this is your blog and many of us love it and enjoy watching it grow for you. Of course we look forward to seeing the kids grow and change too!

Rebecca Kriner - I love you times a thousand and what ever you do I will read it. period. I won’t tell you what I think of anyone mean who writes ANYTHING mean to you becuase, well, it would be shocking and inappropriate and Lauren might be reading this and I don’t want her to see anything bad. Long live Whatever! Whatever it may be!

Lindsey - I love your blog and I admire what you are doing! I don’t have any children of my own, and I simply love seeing the beautiful photos of your family. I don’t blame you for wanting to be paid. Getting paid to blog sounds like a dream job! Best wishes to you!

melissa*320 sycamore - there will always be those who don’t like what you’re doing, but as long as *you* love what you’re doing, all is well. 🙂 xo

Cari - Love your blog – with or without ads. Keep your chin up, brush off the haters, and bring in the money! 😉

Missy @ It's Almost Naptime - I got accepted to BlogHer and didn’t complete the process for almost a year. I had some reason about integrity or something. When I finally did and got that first check I was like, WHY was I so stupid to wait so long???

Missy @ It's Almost Naptime - I got accepted to BlogHer and didn’t complete the process for almost a year. I had some reason about integrity or something. When I finally did and got that first check I was like, WHY was I so stupid to wait so long???

Sarah - I love your blog. I don’t mind the direction you are taking it. You are still real and God-fearing in your posts. Love, love, love that honesty. Keep it up. I’m all for making money how you can. I feel like ads are a pretty innocuous way to provide.

Jodi - As long as your happy and staying true, who cares if you’re getting paid!? I think it’s awesome. :o)

Curious Details - High five on getting paid!!
Opportunity is my favorite word…..

Donna - That’s a no brainer to me. Why WOULDN’T you get paid for your hard work? Rock on!

adrienne - we should be encouraging one another here anyway… so, with that said, keep doing *whatever* feels right to you 🙂

Jill - I absolutely don’t mind the ads, promotions, or giveaways. I LOVE that it is allowing you to follow your path in life. Keep up the great work.

Nikki - Blogging is alot of work… you deserve to get paid!
Great explanation… I hope the negative Nancy appreciates you addressing their concerns (not that you had to).
My husbands been ICU this week so I missed the double blog thing.
Anyway, keep up the good work 🙂

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - go for it girl! i’ve been trying to decide when i should allow advertising and how all of that works. i know my husband would whoop and do a happy dance if i got paid to blog. seems like a natural progression…one i feel you really don’t need to defend. 5 kids through college…yikes!

Erin Kirby - oh, silly ads. don’t even worry about it, a stay at home mommy (and photographer) could use all the help she can get.
and where are pictures of the dining room? or did i totally miss that?
your blog, your words, your ads. i will totally continue reading!
🙂

Taryn Smith - i LOVE reading your blog and I check it everyday! I especially loved the one you recently posted about how you don’t have it all together and showed us your “real” house! Keep up the good work and get paid!

Christina - More power to you, Mama!

Kerry Wiebe - You can’t see me but I’m standing up and giving you a standing ovation!!! You go girl! I’m so glad that you can do this for you and your family and for the nay sayers well they just have the GREEN eye!! So keep it up, you are doing an unbelievable job!! You rock!!! Love ya Girl!

Whitni - I will chime my voice in with the others who said they hadn’t really noticed the ads. I wanted to add every piece of French Bull dining ware to my
Wedding registry after you posted about it, I thought sweet Annie was adorable in her new not-hand-me-down Gap clothes, and I hardly noticed the Sara lee bit because I was focused on your beautiful tree and how clever you are to tuck away the ornaments in separate boxes.

Jessica - you’re the best Meg!! ((hugs))

Carol S - Great post and explanation. You should get paid for a valuable service you provide all of us…entertainment and inspiration. There are some blogs that are so ad heavy, they take a long time to load and become such a heavy collection of products featured, they lose their heart and honestly, I’ve stopped following a number of them. But I hear you on the material drying up! I notice people don’t talk as much about teens and their issues…privacy concerns big time. Sooo,,,thanks Meg for doing what you do. I never realized you had ads on this site (don’t tell Blogher). Maybe I’ve made subliminal observations and purchases. 🙂 God bless Meg.

Annie - This post is so gracious~ thank you for continuing to take the time to blog and share your life with us. I’ve never noticed the ads (maybe because I use a reader?), and the double blog thing just doesn’t seem that odd to me… Whatever the case, I certainly plan to keep reading. Keeping doing what you do!
(and love me some zeke braverman!)

barb c - you are totally awesome, and fully deserve to get paid for being so. We should all be so lucky! No justification necessary. xo

Deb Bounds - Meg, I love the blog, it was so incredible to find it and see how you have blossomed as a woman, wife, mother, and entrepreneur. You have a gentle clear and honest voice that I admire. To be honest, I have never noticed the ads, and as long as you are getting paid to report about a job that you dont get paid for, go for it, especially if you get paid in currency AND pound cake or French Bull or Gap!

courtney - i’m so happy you’re getting paid!
speaking of zeke…did you hear a nasty, terrible, ugly rumor that parenthood might be getting cancelled? because i will cry. i am totally addicted. tell me it’s not true!

TonyaElise - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” As I see it, you are still using this blog first and foremost to “put into practice” what you have learned and seen and heard through our Saviour. I admire your ability to 99.9% of the time avoid the negative, when we all know life is full of the negative. That’s why people read. That is why I read. (And, I think cake falls under “praiseworthy” – especially when it means family time, right?) I appreciate your testimony and openness about seeking the Lord in your life and his purpose for you as a mom, and as a bread-winner. So…”Do not be anxious.” I’ve prayed for you this morning, that God will give you his peace that passes understanding so you may continue to share his love, unbridled. May God continue to bless you and your family!

Sharon - All of us should get paid for doing what we love. Keep it up ads and all.

Routhie - I must admit I had not noticed the ads. I just enjoy reading your words during the few minutes I give myself in the mornings. You must be doing something right to get paid, etc…and it’s well deserved. 🙂

Hannah - LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog…if i could get PAID to write….i would do it in a heartbeat! i love your honesty…about everything from laundry to teens! keep up the great work..people have way too much time on their hands if all they can do is complain about OTHER PEOPLE! 🙂 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sara - Love your blog-have for a long time! I’m expecting my first baby in June and I just love your honest posts about your family……..I admire your family and you. 🙂

Anna - I don’t mind the ads at all! If I had a blog I would want them too; Why not get paid for the work that you put into this?
I check your blog everyday and love it! Keep up the good work!
Oh, and early Merry Christmas in case I don’t leave another comment for you.

Penny - You are a wonderful blogger. Do what works for you and we will be there! I don’t find the ads a bother. I did wonder about the other blog and you were nice enough to email me and let me know. You are so thoughtful and your blog is and will always be one of the first I open in the morning. Keep up the good work and I enjoyed the Zeke Braverman quote. Love Parenthood!

kristiina - Meg–this was straight from the heart, as usual, which is why you have such loyal readers. You did not owe us an explanation, but I’m sure you feel better after ‘clearing the air’ LOL
I read you and Ashley first while eating my breakfast M-F…a very inspirational way to start every day! I am grateful that you both can get a post out EVERY DAY. I wonder if the people who are a little turned off have every written a daily blog (with awesome photos and while raising a family of 5)? The time and effort it must take is beyond me–you’re hard working, you’re good at what you do, and you’ve managed to make it a paying job. My hat’s off to you!!

Amy Lynne - I think you are great and you are doing what is best for your family. I love your blog and check in everyday. I say keep up what you’re doing because it works!!

Renee - Love your blog, either way. I think it is wise to advertise…5 college tuitions and 3 weddings- yikes!! Can’t wait to see what this new season of your life brings!

Micah - Haters just need to evaporate. Love your blog with or without ads. Honestly I never noticed them.
I’m enjoying a new phase too and it IS time consuming… but FUN 😀
As for starting over… been there done that. (18 and 5) Talk about oy vay!

Anne - do what you do well and get paid for it? sounds reasonable to me :). never mind the haters — if they don’t like the ads, they can stop reading. i, though, will continue to enjoy your blog.

Lori - You go girl. And that bottom line just gives me shivers. 🙂

stacie - Grow and change. Live out your purpose! I think you’re one amazing gal!!
I’m the same age as you and my kids are younger than yours (plus I only have 4) but when I see what you’re doing, I see hope and excitement in my future. Thanks for that! Right now I’m elbow deep in diapers and toting kids like they are accessories and teaching kids to read. My blog is home and family.
I love where you are growing too. And I love that you are so close to God. Your devotion is inspirational.
Go girl! Thanks for sharing your words every day. You are my favorite blogger!! Although I don’t comment a lot, I appreciate you. xoxoxo.

elma riedstra - I did’t get the double blog either but it did’t bother me and I didn’t even know you were advertising for sara lee I figured you liked the pound cake:) I thought what you all did with the pound cake sounded yummy:) Keep up the fantastic blog you are my favorite!! As my eighteen year old said last night she loves your blog and one other the best!!! I agree I LOVE your blog!!!

Martha - I’m a new reader (I’ve been reading your whole blog for the past week…love it!).
You SHOULD get paid. It’s a lot of work to write the nice, long posts you write.
Keep on keepin’ on, sister.

chasity - you go girl.
i’m amazed at all that you have accomplished.
you are truly an inspiration.
chas

Emily@remodelingthislife - What a grinch that person is!
I haven’t noticed any difference.
Bah humbug. I think I just mixed grumpy Christmas character references!! 🙂
Love you and your blog.
xoxo

Brooke - I was confused about the double blog too, so thanks for the clarification. 🙂 I don’t think anyone judges you, if they do…{they suck}. You are a momma, a wife, a woman of God…you don’t owe it to anyone to blog about anything in particular…and if you can make money…
I say that’s even better!!
You are awesome.
I’ve been reading for several years now.
And I will continue.
And you sent me to Ashley Ann, years ago…who I have also watched change so much…so thanks, Meg.
You are awesome. And I appreciate you.

Naomi - Can’t believe people would have a go at you for changing your own blog, like they pay to read it or something, and have the right to complain?!
I will continue to read (and hope that you have another baby!)
xxx

Grace - It can be hard (especially for moms) to find something they like to do, have it fit in with family, and actually get paid to do it. Happy for you that this seems to fit so well. 🙂

Gina - I love your blog and will certainly keep reading. You are an inspiration….you go girl!

katherine - You are a great writer and I’d certainly prefer to read your reviews which are well tailored to me and my family, than a quick plug or ad. It makes me smile hearing how much fun these everyday products can bring to your family!

paige - atta girl!

pam - I think this is so funny. I didn’t even notice a difference. But I tend to ignore all the excess stuff on every blog…just get down to reading the post. You’re bright and shiny as our youngest would say so we like to come peek in here.

ellen - i should have said that i don’t begrudge you getting paid for it. saying that i don’t mind implies that it’s even my business, which it’s not! bottom line, you’re awesome!

ellen - i know someone has already said this but blogging is work. i don’t mind you getting paid for it!

Jeannine Airo - I read your blog…..every day. You are such an inspiration to me and I for one am happy that you are getting paid for what you do. The money could never cange the value and beauty of what you give your readers. Spend your paycheck happily my friend. God Bless!

Lynn - love u and ur blog just the same as ever … muacks from Singapore!!!!

kari - Bottom line…you are awesome…ads or no ads. xoxo

Sue - People need to lighten up! I love the “sponsors” I’ve come across so many new things that I would have never known about otherwise. Triple love your blog and your laundry piles!

Amanda Ferguson - lol, now I totally get the double blog! I realized I had adblock and was like “ad-free? They are both ad free…” and head-desked a little when I figured it out.

Janine - I understand the ads, but I understand the concern too. I don’t mind seeing ads as banners and stuff around a page. I’m so used to it from facebook and yahoo and other sites that I barely notice, but do occasionally click on a link. I think it was the Sara Lee commercial that touched a nerve. And yes I am calling it a commercial. I have to say I thought it was super weird that you took a sweet moment of decorating your tree and turned it into a cake ad. It seemed fake, forced, not your usual voice that we are used to reading. I love your blog and your honesty. Keep getting paid for blogging but don’t let it take over what you write and what makes your blog so special. Thanks for sharing with us.

Catriona - Really well-articulated and, as ever, full of grace and gentleness. You are being wise, intentional and realistic with your resources – a Proverbs 31 woman for the 21st century.
For a minute, though, I was worried you were going to say you were quitting – NOOOOOOOOO! X

michelle - blogging is A LOT of work! you deserve to get paid for all the inspiration and encouragement you provide. you go girl!

Daniele Valois - I love it. I would do it too! Great post, as always.

Kait - I don’t mind about blog ads so long as it doesn’t turn in to this thing where every.single.post is you shilling for something.
Since I don’t see that happening, I don’t begrudge you a moment (or a penny) of the blog ads.

sue - To be honest it never bothered me about the ads.I was confused the other day with the double blog thing but i go to your blog to see the pics and if i feel down i always know you will cheer me up.!!

Meredith - As usual Meg you’ve stated things beautifully, graciously and honestly. I actually don’t find the ads in anyway obtrusive and if they allow you to open up your blog to fab giveaways – surely it’s a win-win situation:)
Hope you’re having fun with the Christmas countdown. If you do manage to find time to sneak in a photo of your vintage Santa mugs, that would be awesome. I love those mugs. We don’t have anything like them in Australia. {But we do have Oprah, which is weird….she just arrived yesterday.} Meredy xo

Jennifer O'Steen - i’m glad you posted this. i was a little confused about the double blog. i am still a faithful reader, and i will always be. i love finding out that i can get paid for the things that i love to do. you are just being a smart lady 🙂
cheers.

Stephanie Quilao - A girl has got to get paid!! Besides all blogs evolve. I’m new to your blog and do this for a living too so I TOTALLY get it. Although I monetized from day one so no biggie for me.
As long as you keep rocking awesome content, people will stay and new ones will find their way!

Denise - I don’t blame you at all for running ads, and I will certainly keep reading.

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i want you to know…

December 3, 2010 Filed in fails,me me me

that i don't have it all together.
or get it all done.

i keep getting comments or emails asking "how do you do it all?"  
"how can you handle everything?"
you say you feel exhausted.
and overwhelmed.

ME TOO.

i got another one of those emails yesterday.
i looked up from my computer and shook my head.
i picked up my camera and made sure i showed you the reality of my home.

i did not touch one thing in these rooms.
this is exactly what they looked like at 10 AM yesterday.
Sink

Boy

Bath

Foyer

Girls

Teen

Craftroom

i am not proud of this.
but this is reality.
we do clean it up….but it never stays clean.

my kids have lots of chores but yet it always is a big ol' mess in here!

i get really discouraged when i clean it up or we all clean up and by bedtime….. 
it looks just as dirty as before.
ugh.
it is a vicious cycle.

so now you know….i do not have it all together.

i'm sure you knew this was real life but i think in blogland we often forget.
we see the pretty all the time and think "why can't i be that way?"

"how can SHE get all of that done?"

"what is wrong with ME?!"

nothing.

the pretty-pretty is not real life.

laundry
over flowing toilets
kids throwing up all night
disgruntled teenagers
finger prints
piles of shoes
sticky floors
smelly dogs
hurt feelings
full schedules
bad grades
good grades
talking back
spilled milk
running late
 

that is real….but not fun to look at.

cut yourself some slack today.
i am trying my best to be a great mom and i bet you are too. 
that is all we can do!

now i have to hang christmas decorations.

AND obviously….CLEAN SOMETHING. 

add a comment

Cathy - Thank You… I feel right at home..

Kelly - Thank goodness! I feel so much better. ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic

Danny - “The pretty-pretty is not real life.” What a perfect way to sum it all up. Thanks.

LauraZarrin - Thanks for posting the real! It’s my reality, too. It helps to know that it’s the same for you. I can stop beating myself up. Thank you!

H-Mama @ Family Team - ‘Real’ posts are the best posts. Love this! 🙂

Rebecca A - Thanks for being real and really cute at the same time. My sister and I love reading your blog. We too struggle with being perfect. I have given up but have to repeat it to myself to remember. Have a merry Christmas and keep up the fun!

Josie - Your art projects are so very cool. Your house is beautiful, as is your family and this blog. With this post of actual life YOU are the BEST and you are now book marked on my computer to check in to aww what fun things you have created. BRAVO. You are awesome!

Leslie @farm fresh fun - Oh come on, even your messes are pretty! Those pics, those pics… I want you to shoot our messy house n family of crazies and make it all look that pretty! <3

Melissa - I just found your blog… And THANK YOU for this post! It makes me feel NORMAL! 🙂

Heather - Thank you so much for posting this! I have three teenage boys and their rooms always look like that! I’m so glad I’m not the only one.
I came over from 320 Sycamore blog and I’m so glad she posted about you. I can’t wait to read more of your blog.

katie - Thank you! Thank you! My house looks very similar to this and I always wonder how everyone else keeps such a well kept house. Awww a breath of fresh air!

Rebecca - Thanks so much for this post. I needed it! I struggle with being unorganized and my husband is one that thinks since I stay home things shouldn’t get so messy and I feel guilty alot about this. Thanks for reminding me that real life is busy and messy and it’s okay! 🙂

Cheryl - What a great post! I just found you as I was browsing Blogland. Thank you so much for being REAL. It’s true. It’s easy to get caught up in the pretty, pottery barn style photos that I see and sometimes I do think,”geez, what’s wrong with me that I can’t pull of that style?” So thank you. Have a Merry Christmas. Peace and health to you and yours.
Cheryl

erica - i needed to see that today…thank you for the reminder.

Kristen @ More Than Mulberries - This is my first time visiting your blog and I already love you. I’ll keep coming back for sure. Thank you for posting this, a well lived in house is true perfection really. What’s the saying, “Women who have a clean house are boring.” Ha!

TulipGirl - Even your mess looks clean and cute! *L*

Angela - I just found your blog and luvah it!!! Reading this post I knew this was the blog for me!!! I just finished tackling the 52 millionth dirty dish and putting the trillionth load of clothes in the dryer. Real life and the chaos that goes with it, albeit frustrating at times, is the true diamond in the rough, it is not the perfectly mounted diamond ring!! 🙂 I can’t wait to go thru the posts, etc, consider me a new and will be a long time follower. Take care 🙂 Angela

Michelle - You have no idea how many people you helped with this. Blogland is wonderful but it shiny and is not altogether real. Thank you, thank you, thank you Meg, for a making a corner that is real. Love you!

Tara @ Tara Being Tara - I just found your blog from 320 Sycamore, and I’m already hooked. Isn’t it amazing how we all worry about what our homes look like, when in reality, they look like everyone else’s? I hate our floors – they are old, cheap laminate that are chipped in a hundred places. We get more compliments on how lovely the floors are than anything else. I’m your newest follower!!

Wylie - This is awesome! It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by the messes and overlook the blessings. I have four (all grown now), and my house looked like yours constantly. Now I have one daughter home, while she is looking for an apartment, and her room looks like the teenager’s in your house. I just keep the door shut. 🙂

Sarah - I love this post. I’m always amazed when I go over to people’s houses and they are perfect. And I run around like crazy trying to make my house presentable when someone is coming over. I guess they probably do the same thing. But sometimes it feels like i’m the most disorganized, gross person in the world when I look around me. *sigh*

Mary Anna - This is my first visit, and it’s love at first sight!
I have a friend who makes remarks like “Doesn’t it just drive you crazy when the Legos are all over the living room floor?” (as she’s sitting in my living room!) I respond that I’ve become really good at stepping over them!
I look at it this way – when my boys are men, will they remember that my house was sparkling clean and they weren’t allowed to play or will they remember impromptu light saber fights in the living room, the Jedi Ballerina (battle arena, aka the foyer), the formal dining room exploding with craftiness at their fingertips)?

aubrey - My favorite post. I’m relieved. I’m not the only one with the same problem. I thought something was wrong with me. I thought it was because I have four kids and we live in 1000 sq. feet. I guess it happens in big houses too. Of course, your messes are more colorful and have a much prettier background–or underground. whatever. And I’m so painting our big filing cabinet red. That’s awesome–except that I though I actually had an original idea to use ours as a dresser too. 🙂 Messy or not, I love seeing pictures of your house. Old houses are the best. (On the surface right? Ours is oldish too–but only 50 years.)

Bella - Oh wow, had to come see what all this was about,my first time here, and what do I see, the same thing I see everyday at my place too, he he. I just smiled the whole way thru, it was so nice to see, someone else put it all out there. My VERY FIRST blog post, was a tour of my messy home, and then I cleaned it A BIT, for a quick before and after. I was hooked to blogging, and I think that was also the LAST Time my house got cleaned all at once, lol. This was back in eary August, lol.
I love your blog, and am so happy I found you, oh and LOVE your hair, in your profile pic. So cute. 🙂
Bella 🙂

Kim - I actually stopped reading your blog for a while because as much as I loved it, I just felt so inadequate afterwards. 🙂 I was just sitting here and decided to come visit you again and saw this post. You really are real! You’ve made a believer outta me again! Thank you!!!!! You’re even more awesome than before!

Bored Housewife - I love you.

Maggie B - It is so seriously, refreshingly welcome to see a little honesty out there! I just adore ooohhing and aaahing at all the beautiful, retouched and drool-worthy photos on all these gorgeous blogs I enjoy reading, but it is so nice to know that at least someone out there also has a bunch of messy kids, laundry, dishes piling up and the wherewithall to realize that this is what life is all about! Make the most of it, dirt and all! Thank you for the beautiful post!

Laura - I LOVE it when you show us your house – clean or messy. It’s always beautiful – lived in and loved in. Thanks for the encouragement today Meg! I needed it!

loniann - Thank you Thank you for posting this side of life. Too often, I beat myself up about not having that model looking home.
I love your blog. Read it often. Keep it up!
Loni
Texas

Gretch-A-Sketch@ishootnouns - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! I am so glad I am NOT alone!!!!

Farmers Wifey - THIS is what I love about blogging..the reality of it all. I love that you did this..it makes you more loved and more human..and it makes me feel Normal.

Amanda Elton - ha ha! I didn’t realize we lived at the same house! 😉 I have 4 boys so double your mess times two and add lots of stinkiness for my house!! Thanks for posting that. You are not alone. 🙂

Richelle - Meg – I have been reading your blog for a while now and have always loved it. This is my first comment. Tears are streaming down my face as I read this post. Thank you. I really needed it today. I am feeling overwhelmed and insignificant and just not good enough at anything. I love my Lord and Savior and I know I am His precious child – which is enough. But you are right – you read blogs, people’s facebook status updates, Christmas card letters, etc. and you start to look at the lives of others and measure yours on the two dimensional view you have of theirs. I can’t thank you enough. I think we all need to be more real in our lives – it does more for others than we could ever imagine. Blessings to you and your family.
In the words of my 9 year old – You ROCK!
Richelle

Grace - Can’t thank you enough for your honesty in sharing this with us. We’re all in these trenches together, aren’t we?

crystal - These are the prettiest picture ever!!! Am I sick to say that they make my heart feel happy???

Christy - I just found this link from another blog. I really needed this today. Thank you!

Lori - Makes me like you even more!!

Brandi - Thank you for your honesty! I love LOVE mom blogs for inspiration, crafty fun ideas, etc. but sometimes I do leave feeling a little inadequate like why aren’t my kids in smocked dresses neatly crafting while Xmas music plays in the background?!? So thank you thank you a BIG thank you for keeping it real! 😉 As long as your house is functioning for all the fun stuff you’re doing with your family, then that’s perfectly good enough.

Sarah - Meg, this is awesome. You really have a way of making us all feel that we’re in the same boat.

Lee Ann - You have no idea how much this post means to me – to stop comparing myself and home to others, life is messy – you are so right. It is okay to have a mess. Home is where you live.

elisa - Thanks for this 🙂

NSB MOM - that is great!

Jeannie - …but with humility comes wisdom.(Prov 11:2b) And from where I am sitting, you are truly wise. Thank you for your humility and your words of wisdom and encouragement each day. It is a blessing looking into your world each day, no matter a perfect or messy scene. All your pictures just give a glimpse of how much love you shower on your family! A messy home is a cozy home–at least that is the excuse I use! So, off I go to clean up a house that looks like yours right now, but at least I can smile and not feel alone:)

Janna - I don’t even know you …BUT I LOVE YOU MAN!!! That’s all too common around this house. You are awesome to show us we are not alone. I tell my sister if you want to have a hobby, you have to make the time to do it…the mess will ALWAYS be there! Thank you again, so glad I started following you not long ago;)

Amber - Thank you. Simply because now I don’t feel quite so overwhelmed and incompetent with my own home.

Tanya @ Life in 3D - As I scrolled down my heart leapt and burst with happiness…
SORRY.
I feel SO NORMAL now.
THANKS for keepin’ it real…truth?…I don’t feel like a big mess in this moment because of this post.
Betcha didn’t think Littlest Pet Shop world could do that for someone did ya?!?!

Carol - Hahaha! Now, you’re going to get emails asking you what you do all day since obviously you’re not cleaning the house! Thanks for keeping it real!

Tracy Fisher - This is why I love reading your blog!!!!
Thanks for keeping it real. Tracy (www.tfisherart.com)

Karen Gerstenberger - This is one of MANY reasons that I love you & your blog: reality & fun. Real life is MESSY, but it’s totally worth it.
I love a tidy house, but a bit of PERSPECTIVE: now we are empty-nesters (since David is away at college and Katie is in Heaven – she would have been a sophomore this year), and believe me, I would love to have a bit of mess, if I could have my girl back! Thank you for keeping it honest.

krystall - I love you even more after reading this or should I say seeing this,
Krystall

Julie - I heart your messy house!!!

Kat - I LOVE that you share and that you always, always keep it real!!!
This is what makes me love your blog and you even more Meg.
I can totally relate to the overflowing drawers, my 8 year old daughter is like this.
We also live in a small house, which makes it look even messier quicker.
HOW do these other blog people get their homes looking so picture perfect? It really does make us normal people feel inadequate.
After being up at 3.30am with a vomiting two year old, having a messy house and a manic Monday trying to get two older kids to school and deal with a difficult four year old, I feel soooo much better from reading this post.
You rock!!

Quinn - Don’t worry too much about not being able to keep up with all the work pouring over you; it is what makes your house, your house. No one’s house looks like the perfect house we think everyone else has, and yet we are all striving for the perfection we see in magazines. I swear it is just the media and commercialism coming over us. Almost like a vicious cycle… Your house shows creativity, the fact of real life. So please don’t fuss over the small things, as much as we all love a clean house!

stacia - HA! Love love love it!!! My DOWNSTAIRS was picked up for an event recently. The upstairs was OFF limits and even then the “clean” lasted 1 day 🙂 Yup…life is a bit messy!!! Thank you SO much!!!!

Leslie - I just let out a big sigh of relief . . . thank you! I think I’m cutting myself some slack today knowing my life is just as REAL as others out there.

aimee - HAHAHAHA i love you meg! 🙂

Monica Huete - Thanks for the shots !!! I have got three children and … it is not easy !!! You spent the whole day trying to clean and organize things and in only “FIVE” minutes kids arrive and the “mess” is there again, hehe. I just decided to take it easy, there are more important things to live for than a fabulous cleaned and organized home.
Thanks again for sharing your experiences !!! … ^__^

Aimee @ In THIS Life - THANK YOU!!!!!

Cassy - That’s why I love you… You are awesome AND you are real. Thank you.

Wendy @ Living Creatively - THANK YOU!!! I was just here debating about what to do– paint, scrub floors & do laundry & dishes & other housework until I crash… grade papers… and I was wondering what on earth is WRONG with me. How do other women do it all?! How do they keep up? How are they *perfect* and i’m always falling apart.
THANK YOU. You have a new follower!

Melanie - What a fabulous post. I never think that blogland is perfect. I know that some of the girls that are doing projects and blogging all the time have let something go in their lives. I know that if I go off every day, my house gets a little messy. (I only have one son and he is 16) The girls in blogland are letting the laundry go, the closets go, etc. It is not perfect. I have always told you that you are a great mom. A fun mom that does things with the kids. Lets them do crafts etc. I am not that mom. I have to have a clean and organized house and that is what Caden will remember when he leaves the house. We just have to be ourselves and not try to be something we are not. I am orderly and neat and I can’t change that to be something different. Praise yourself for being a good mom, a Christian, a testimony to others. You have a lot of wonderful qualities.

Allie - I read your blog every day. This very well may be my favorite post. I was feeling overwhelmed and now I don’t feel so alone. Your house is still gorgeous. Somehow, your mess looks charming 🙂

Michele - Thank you.

Amy R. - I feel better now about leaving the dishes in my sink for another night. Thanks for your honesty. It is a great reminder that we don’t have to have it all together and no one really does! I am going to start cuddling with my kids more and stop worrying about the house so much.

Rebecca - Thank You. You don’t know how much this means.

amy jupin - i knew, while reading this, that it was going to be one of those posts with LOTS of comments. as moms, sisters, friends, daughters, etc. we sure put a lot of pressure on ourselves–and our homes suffer greatly at times, don’t they?! my home looks exactly like these pictures, especially the kitchen sink! i truly appreciate this post, meg!

susan - I love you Meg!!!!! thanks for keeping it real!!!
god bless

colleen - Thanks for being real. As I read i thought this probably resonates with soooo many women… confirmed by the 242 comments on this post. I hate that we put so much pressure on ourselves by comparison to something that rarely exists – the perfect mom. That i am not. i am a needy sinner delighted that God never made a commandment against a messy house! Thankful that the grace of Jesus is always lavish and amazing! Thanks again.

Jennifer - I agree that you are even more awesome for showing reality. Thank you. You do appear to have it completely together, and it’s not that I feel better about myself for your short comings….that’s not it at all. It’s good to know you are human as well! x0x0x0
My living room is Littlest Pet Shop hell as well. 🙁

Heather - It is funny….even your messes are colorful and seem to be happy! I actually don’t have a messy house, but I am IN my home all day with my girls (we homeschool) and everyone has cleaning chores to do to keep the house picked up. I need it clean to concentrate on schooling or I’d constantly be thinking about how I need to clean up! If we all had to bolt out the door in the morning for school/work I’m sure my home would look the same – only not quite so “chipper.” 🙂

Jen R - Oh my…THANK YOU so much for this! Sometimes I sit with coffee in hand reading the blogs I adore – every one gorgeous & perfect. Then walk into my family room where it looks like a bomb went off – immediate shame. 🙂 Thank you, Thank you for being a REAL person. I love your Blog – the pretty & not so pretty! 🙂

Jessica Johnson - I’ve been following for a little while, yet to comment. But just had to on this one because I LOVE it! 🙂 I think this encouraged me more than all the blogs I’ve ever read COMBINED. I’m not alone in the craziness!
xxoo

katie - i want this post framed in my house.

adrienne - o lol girl!!! i feel right at home 🙂

andrea - and….that is why i love reading your blog

Michelle - I love you.
Thanks for helping me to remember that I’m not alone.
Parenthood is hard and houses are messy–that’s life.
And it’s okay.

Lisa - You are so awesome for sharing these photos, and so BRAVE! I would never want to post the pictures of what my house look like MOST of the time! Good to put things in perspective once in a while, but of course who wants to look at messy pictures all the time, we like living in our little fantasy world that everything looks good 24/7!! lol Plus, it we take pictures when it’s all clean and neat, we can freeze it just like that!
Now…off to decorate and CLEAN!

Andrea from Orlando - Wow! That is messy, hehehe:) Thanks for sharing. That’s my house too.

Ana - Thank you. so. much.

Dee - Thanks for this!

Heather - I have more respect for you now than ever before! One more reason to adore you and your blog. You have made me feel so much better about myself. I am constantly struggling with the feeling that I just don’t measure up to the “superwomen” I see on other blogs. Now I realize that we all have our dirty little secrets- aka laundry piles- laying around! 🙂
Thank You Meg!
Blessings,
Heather:)

Julie - THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!!!!

the whyte house - i always love the “keepin’ it real” posts. 🙂 it looks like everything is unpacked from your trip, though! takes us like 3 weeks to do that! 🙂

Patty - Thank you.

April Driggers - I love you man! Thanks for keepin it real!
Now.. clean that $hit up! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! (just kidding)

Kelly - Blog hopping this morning and stumbled upon your blog. I LOVE IT!!! what a refreshing post this is. As a mom of 3, a full time student, full time wife, part time employee I am full time crazy and feel like I am going to burst at times ~ ESPECIALLY when others think I “have it all together”… HAHAHA what a laugh.
BTW..I LOVE LOVE the sink shot!!! it is one of my pet peeves, but somehow my sink looks the same!

Beth @ Dirty Laundry - Instead of Littlest Pets in the Foyer, it is Matchbox cars parked on the foyer rug, because there are lines on the rug and they are, apparently, perfect parking spaces. Also, the sun shines in the front door in the morning and it is warm and sunny and the best place to play and park your 500 Matchbox cars (and sometimes army guys). And I am always frustrated by it, stepping all over those cars. But you are right! You made me feel better about them, and someday I will miss those cars. Thanks, Meg.

mary - Forget the mess ~ I LOVE the Pet Shop world. In our house it was Fisher Price world but looked the same and was always right in the middle of the living room. Enjoy every minute ~ it goes SO fast.

danielle - amen, sister. my life everrryyday. and i only have two!

jennibell - THANK YOU for this. You know how to keep it “real”. And inspire. I *love* the filing cabinets repurposed as drawers — ingenious!!! And the other thing I saw in these pictures? Love. Not a mom nagging all the time to “pick up, clean up” (that would be me since we have the house on the market right now). . .it looks like your kids have time to PLAY and that is awesome.
Have a great weekend!

Karen Lehmann - you have NO IDEA how much better i feel after seeing those photos. thank you.

carols - YAY! I can match those messy kids rooms and bathrooms! I will not be judged by my kids rooms, nope, no way, not doing it. Bigger fish to fry over here. My heart and head are clean, and so are my kids, and I’ll take that any day over the alternative. The craft room got an out loud laugh from me…that would be my home office. Next time…open a few closet doors for our entertainment, will ya? You’re a doll.

Alexandra/The Empress - oh, well, of course you have 218 comments on this post.
Of course you do…your home’s loveliness still shines through.
Thanks to Dana, I’m here.
My house is a true mess. yours is a pretty mess.

Beth Ann - Thanks for sharing!!! I do my best to keep my main level clean, but upstairs – FORGET IT. I joke that our master bedroom looks like a good (or bad?) episode of hoarders. Laundry piles, stuff to put away/find a home, anything random, treadmill in the corner, throw pillows – thrown about.

Andrea - Amazing. I see the same “just stepped out of” pants on the floor of our bathroom every night. I see the same piles of clothes, open drawers, dishes (mine are not as cute) every day. This is why I want to be you: because you are so real, yet so inspiring.

Liz @ Perfect Chaos - As if it’s even possible, I love you even more now that I feel like I can REALLY relate to you. Thank you for this post. Not because you’re not perfect, but because you’re real!

cathy - BABIES DON’T KEEP
Mother, oh Mother,
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little
Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done
and there’s nothing for stew
and out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
but I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for Children grow up,
as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep……
~Author Unknown ~
a beautifull life

Anita - I NEEDED THIS POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
We often blog and think we are the only ones who do not have it all together. I have been sick and my house is a wreck, laundry is not done and no decorations are out and I have been giving myself a HARD time. THANKS!!!

Dina - Thank you for being so real! This is why I love your blog. I have a HUGE phobia of people ‘popping in’. My tiny house which includes 5 humans and 1 dog, is ALWAYS a disaster and I’m a SAHM! I beat myself up everyday that I’m really sucking at this current profession… but the reality is, those people that ‘pop’ in could care less about my mess. They seem un-comfortable if they happen to see everything in a perfect state.
Why do we do this to ourselves? REAL is the way to go… thank you:-)

Julie - you are even cooler than i knew! thank you for being so real.

jaz - Oh my gosh, 210 comments – that kind of sums it right up there.
xoxox

Holly - Ah LOVED this!!! Pure, TRUE, and completely honest!!! and yet, you are always an inspiration! Thanks for sharing and making us mamas feel normal 😉 whatever that is, right? Hee…hee..

Alice - In the craft room picture, what is all over the “M”? I have an “a” and I am not sure what to do with it and I love yours.Thanks

Dawn - Thank you from the deepest part of my heart for sharing this – I’ve been looking at all the pretty online and beating myself up over all the messy in my own life. It’s good to come back to reality and know that everyone has both in their lives 🙂

September - This just what I needed to hear today! Thanks!

Heather - I love you. I love this. It’s so easy to forget when we see such gorgeous shots on peoples blogs that they likely cleaned up specifically to take those pics. Or had just finished a huge clean and thought hey, I should take a pic now.

Amy - I absolutely love this. It’s nice to see that someone else has an imperfect house like mine. And I don’t want to spend every day trying to make my house perfect. I want to try and enjoy every minute with our 4 kids while they are still kids!! (oh, and just curious….what program do you use to put the text boxes on your pics like that? They are super cute!!)

Daniela - THANK YOU!!!

Lora - Thanks… i feel better.
:O)

sharron - your mess is even colorful just like you!
thanks for sharing it with us!
🙂

Rach - My favorite is “the teenager’s room.” It reminds me of when I left home and my mother had to figure out what to do with all of the road signs I had “acquired” on some rowdy weekend adventures.

Stacia - I love love love this post. Thanks for taking the time to post it.
I love the filing cabinet in the boys’ room. Is it a dresser? Or actually a filing cabinet?
Your craft room looks exactly like mine. If my entire house is clean…that means you can’t walk in the craft room.

Kristin S - I absolutely love this post.
Any woman who would let her kids’ feet hit her head for 30 hours is a hero in my book.
And honestly, I think most of us have messes. While I don’t want to end up on “Hoarders”, I’m OK with some mess and clutter but still get frustrated that I wonder what others will think. Thank you for giving me the freedom to LIVE in my home.

Kathy - This is awesome! Thanks for sharing- your blog is fabulous!

julia - Simpletruths - *sigh*
Thank you. This is just the motivation I need to do two very important things
1 – clean a little something
2 – not think I’m a bad person because only half of the dining table is visible at any one time 🙂
Cathi I love that quote “A clean house is a sign of a misspent life”
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

mbt - Thanks so much for being so real and for sharing.

Christine Ishmael - Hey Meg…love this post…I’m in the same boat as you with 6 kids! The one question I have is why do the kids NEVER close the drawers of their dressers?? How hard is that??? And I JUST got home from Costco and the box of 50 chips has already been halfway eaten….aaaagggghhhhh!!! This is why Moms drink so much diet coke and shop for hours and hours on end…see? I just justified the shopping I’m about to do…

karen - tears…thanks meg!

Kimmie - Thank you! 🙂

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage - Meg, I love ya girl and this post is why….I spent today…instead of working as I should have been….I work from home 95% of the time…I spent the day picking up my house…I couldn’t even clean because there is so much just to pick up! Geesh….and laundry….well…the pile is high…very high. thanks for reminding us that we all are just doing the best we can……including you…….
By the way..I need at least one waffle picture per week…that guy makes me SMILE! Happy Friday!

Sandy - Thanks for being so real Meg!!

Crystal @ Ordinary Days - Sounds like you might be tired of hearing this but…get ready for it…You’re STILL “so great”. This post my dear is one of the reasons you are “so great”. Sorry. Had to tell you even if you don’t want to hear it today. 🙂 I love a real, genuine, authentic person. And WHY can’t the kids shut the drawers??? For the life of me, I can’t figure it out. lol

steph - thanks… i needed this today. knowing others are in the same boat, makes me feel less alone. now i need to go clean! ha ha!

Terri Upton - Thank you so much for that post! I thought my teenage daughter was the only one who could destroy her room, her bathroom and practically every room she is in. At least I only have one at home. My son is in college and he was home for Thanksgiving I found out he is a neat freak. What????? Anyway, thanks for sharing.

Aimee - Thank you for this post. Thank you for making me feel better about my messy house and reminding me that I am not the only one!

Regina - i love that you posted pictures! thanks so much for that encouragement b/c although i’ve never commented on that in particular, i have often wondered! i stayed home all day in my jammers to clean up piles that look very similar to yours. i stll have more to go though.

jodi - And this is why you are my favorite blogger. We are all in this together- You are always “keepin it real”!

Sarah - This seriously made my day. Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this! It’s so easy to get down on yourself for not being perfect, and it’s hard to remember that no one is. Aaaah, sigh of relief! 🙂

barb c - you rock!

carolyn - love this post. but, somehow, even your messy is cute…

Kori - OK. This is rad! I love your house even more now. Everything looks as it should and does make me feel less together. Every post I read makes me wish more and more that we were neighbors and friends!! Is that weird??
I hope not.
P.S. I CANNOT let my son see the pics of your boys’ room!! I am forever on his case about his books and magazines littering his floor and his clothes not being put away properly! He’d NEVER pick anything up if I let him see other boys rooms looking like he likes his to look!!!!!

dawn - Thank you. And you can come over to my house any day — you’ll feel right at home. 🙂

Belinda - Relief floods the blogosphere. Mothers cheer aloud infront of their computers. We are not alone! xx

jody - Whew.
I am relieved to see this.
Keep keepin’ on Mama!
Thanks for sharing.
Love,
Mom of 4 boys under 5 (my messes are only going to get BIGGER.) :))
And I wouldn’t have it any other way (and neither would you or any other Mama…)

Courtney Walsh - Yep. Here too. Not proud, but it’s reality.
I’ll have a clean house when they’re all married…but I’ll miss them more than anything.

Trina McNeilly - I love you..ha…seriously i love this about you and you’re blog. You’re blog is always my fresh of breath air blog.
So here is my question…so any advice for living with a bit of a mess? And not freaking out about it. I think looking at blogs all the time has def made me feel way less adequate about my home. And like I can’t quite keep up.

Stephanie - Thanks for keeping it real! I have a sign in my kitchen that says
“A CLEAN HOUSE IS A SIGN OF A MISSPENT LIFE” and I truly believe this! We’re all in the same boat!

Darcy - I love you for showing us your real house. We’re all in the same boat!

Laura Phelps - love the daisy bowl in the sink
lets start a weekly posting in blogland
“real life at 10 am on Friday”
take a picture
post it
everyone feels better
love you
mess and all

Michelle - From the bottom of my heart….THANK YOU!

Suzette - You ROCK! And so do I!

Suesan Kennard - Thank you for sharing!
I have a similar situation at my house, although my youngest are now teenagers. I grew up in a house like this, and now that we are all grown, my Mom has the cleanest house on the block.
I will live with the occasional messes if it means I get to enjoy my kids for awhile. I do not possess the ability to stress over a clean sink, but that said, I’m much happier when my sink is clean! Go figure.
I’m a new follower.

Ana Hogan - Thank you for this post. 🙂 I have to admit, I walked around my house this morning and thought about you and your house! I thought, “why can’t I get it together like Meg?”. I still think you’re an amazing woman and I’m happy to know that it’s normal for a house to look like this…especially when people are actually living in it!

jessica kiehn - THANK YOU! I am so tired of every blog mom trying to come across as perfect. Posting their only perfect pictures, only telling their perfect stories…it’s disgusting.
Thank you for truth. It doesn’t mean we have to air our dirty laundry and whine and gripe, but the truth is always more encouraging and empowering to hear from someone than fake, magazine life crap.
Thank you for posting this, because you have so many readers, and they falsely look up to you like you are some Mother God to worship, haha! You are real! So are they! We are all just doing our best in this thing!
Again…love the post:)

Jacci - Meg – this is good stuff. GOOD stuff! I *know* you honored God with this transparency because your post was a word written according to the need of the moment. You gave grace to those “hearing” you 🙂
Praise God He’s sufficient, because *none* of us are!
~Jacci in Ohio

Alyssa - Where is the LOVE IT button….Cause it made me smile today…I only have 3 kids…But the almost 3 yr old is with me all day and anything I accompish in one room is counteracted by the mess she makes in another room…
Today the Phone man is coming and I am in almost in tears trying to “clean” My house looks like your house…
Love the filing cabinet dresser that idea ROCKS>
Kiss kiss
Alyssa

Kellie - Oh, I love you! Your are real. You make every mom out there feel ok. Thank you!!!!!

sue - I think this is the best post yet.I was only thinking about you the other day and ‘How does Meg do it all with that big house ” I guess you don’t after all.Thanks for the honesty.

Jen - This made me want to cry. Not kidding. Thank you.

elma riedstra - Oh Meg:) Whatever works for you:) I know I am just one that can”t function in a mess:) I do, like you a ton of laundry a day which I love to do. I wash and fold and my kids have to put their wash away.They also have to make up their beds when they wake up. Even our little ones they keep up their rooms. With eight kids I just expect them to put wash away and keep the bedroooms clean:) Have a wonderful weekend:)

Danielle - Awesome! I love this post, this is real life! I have six kiddos and my house looks exactly the same way all the time. I must admit though I’m a little disappointed in that I thought it got better as they got older, but apparently not as you have teenagers. My oldest is nine so I guess I should just give up:)lol Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your life with us, your blog has always been an encouragement to me. You live life and you live it to the fullest, you are truly blessed. And I love that you honor
God through it all:)

Lucylu ~ - wowza!

Amber P - What I see is a woman who is SO present with her kids and that is WAY more important than having a put together home. To me, your home is full of warmth, love, joy, and FUN! I am reading The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. Sally states “But it’s the way I respond to my children in everyday moments that gives me the best chance of winning their hearts. If I have integrity and patience in the small moments of heart, then I have a far better chance of influencing them in the larger and more critical issues of life.” We cannot do it all. Something has to give somewhere. Time invested in our kids is more important than having a gorgeous, organized home. I admit that I struggle with this very thing – being present for my kids, being a slave to ‘getting things done’. In reality, it doesnt’ matter if my home is clean & beautiful or if I have all the laundry done. (Which I never do!) But I can let go of the guilt of not having it done! I really admire you Meg ~ for the kind of mother that you are.

Els - Ha ha ha! love it!

midwestmom - this is why your blog is my favorite. my first click of my day. everyday. thank you so much for this post day!

Anna - Awesome!
A few housecleaning quotes
– I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home…. I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby. ~Nancie J. Carmody
– Thank God for dirty dishes,
they have a tale to tell;
while others may go hungry,
we’re eating very well.
~Author Unknown

karen - Thank you so much for posting this. There are so many blogs out there that only show the airbrushed pictures of…well, everything in their life. I stopped reading them because I was starting to feel inferior about…well, everything in my life. But my sister e-mailed me this link and simply wrote, “Good post.”
I couldn’t agree more. Thank you.

Linda - Thanks for the reality check. Not just yours but mine too. We forget sometimes that blogland is usually everyone’s best foot forward. I think with the holidays we all get ourselves bogged down. When really we just need to enjoy the simplicity of life. Enjoy our families and our friends.

Megan - Kimberlee and I have had this conversation before–about blogland and deceiving perfection. When I walk into someone’s house I always feel more at home if I can relate to them…and sometimes it’s seeing real life and not a neat and clean house! LOVE this post…and my house looks likes this too 99% of the time…

Ellen - Thank you.

Karen - Posts like this are why you are so loved!

Donna - Thanks for bringing some of us back to reality. I have read your blog for quite a while now and marvel at “Craft Thursday” and the fun that you have with your family, friends and one of the dream jobs that I would love…which is not sitting at a desk in a corporation. My comment doesn’t help you to get your house clean, but it does help me to know that mine isn’t the only one that is “lived in”!

Brook - Thank you for this post!! Life is messy. So are houses. I have 4 kids and it’s IMPOSSIBLE to have my house clean all at the same time or for any length of time. It always makes me laugh when someone comes over for a party where I spent hours cleaning and thinks it looks like that all the time. Hilarious and impossible. Thanks for keeping it real.

Adrienne S - Ok..I love that you did this! I read blogs mostly for the pictures and I love yours, but I always wonder how it looks so clean. I am so glad to see you keep it real like the rest of us!

Janelle - Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are so many times that I just ask myself “WHY CAN’T I KEEP THIS HOUSE CLEAN??

a pocket full of posies - YOU just TOTALLY and COMPLETELY ROCK!!!!- thanks for sharing your “real” world, so that we ALL can feel better about our “real” worlds!!
Many Blessings!
Jill

linda - love ya meg!! thanks for keeping it real!! your house shows how comfortable you live…where your priorities are…and that your house is filled with love…and thanks for the pep talk!! 🙂

Melissa Hermon - thanks for sharing! Not sure why someone else’s mess makes us feel better about our own, but it does! I have been trying to focus more on the kids than the mess- but it’s tough to juggle it all. Thanks again for your honesty

Mary Craig - This just made me love you EVEN MORE!

marci - OH MY GOSH THANK YOU!!
you just made my dang day!

taniawillis - oh meg…….how i love you.

melissa*320 sycamore - *love* it. things in blogworld look a little too perfect sometimes..thank you for being real! 🙂

Jeannine - I think you’re amazing!

Jodi - Cleaning can always be put off to tomorrow. :o)

Cris - Oh my Meg…
Thanks for “keeping it real”. This is why I LOVE your blog. No one wants to read about a perfect wife, a perfect house, and perfect kids. We want to read about someone who is normal, just like us. The other stuff just isn’t reality.

Talysa - ha! overflowing toilets….we just had one this week! And my child just jumped in the shower in disbelief and didn’t say anything! I walk by and think they are running bath water. Not pretty. But oh so real. Thanks for being real. Thanks for taking that “virtual” weight off our shoulders.
This time of year it is especially easy for me to feel like I’m not measuring up when all these gorgeous Christmas trees and Tours of Homes are popping up here in blogland.
I consider it an accomplishment just to have a tree up…that stays up. 🙂

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Meg, if I could I would high five you right now! That is how my house looks, well 90% of the time. Thank you for letting us know you are one of us! Yea!!!
Valerie

Dar - Love you even more after this post:)

Diana Thompson - I love it!!! I have been following your blog for awhile now, and I don’t think that I have ever commented. I truly admire the mom that you are, you are awesome and that is what is important!! Who cares if the laundry is not done, or dishes in the sink? Your kids are loved and that is what matters!! I think you are such a great gal and this post just reitterated that to me!!!! LOVE your realness!!! (is that a word??)

Ellen Patton - Great post. 🙂

Keri ~ Forever Folding Laundry - You’re so right – no one has it all together! Thank goodness we’re all in the same boat! My house looks the same – and I only have 3 of your 5. 🙂
And on those days I’m feeling the most grossed out by my house I try to tell myself that I’m doing my best and I know someday they’ll be gone and I’ll miss the mess. Thanks for being fabulous – and real – all at the same time. Win. 🙂

Charlene@Adventures-In-Mommy-Land - I just did a post about this not that long ago, because people kept asking me the same thing. “How can you have 6 kids and do all that you do….” etc. etc. In reality my house is completely destroyed LOL! That’s life! Right now, I’m sitting on the couch with the laptop looking at about 5 over flowing laundry baskets filled with clothes that need to be folded and put away hahaha. And there’s more overflowing on the floor in the laundry room waiting to be washed.
I need to drag out our Christmas stuff too. I only have a small portion of it done and no tree yet. On a good note, I’m done Christmas shopping for 2 out of 6 kids.

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - great keepin’ it real post Meg!

april - all i can say is thank you….sometimes I do look at your blog and think it is all perfect….but of course you are going to want to put the “best” pics on your blog…I do the same thing…but a dose of your reality makes me feel like we are so the same….love it!!!

MGF - breathe taking to know that everyone is not perfect.

Laura Rizzi - A short comment…because I must go clean…but after reading your post I will go clean with a smile. Thank you for sharing your reality with us, knowing others are the same position can always help change our perspective. Thank you MEG!!

Kristin Hayne - THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU!!
I am turning to you daily to get inspiration and truth!! 🙂 I know a lot of people look up to you and admire you… thanks for showing us the pretty things in life and also the UGLY little things in life. What I truly see when I look at your pictures is a lived in HOME!!! It is frustrating to constantly try to keep up with it all but the daily reminders (though a bit much at times)really make my heart happy. I love seeing a messy house… that means there are busy little, happy people that live there. Thanks for sharing the the cold hard truth!! You are a gem!!

allison - Thanks Meg. I so needed this today. A reminder of real life. I so get sucked into the pretty pretty thing on blogs so much so sometimes, that it paralyzes me to do anything. I mean, why bother? I’m never going to acheive that perfection anyway, right? Sometimes I just want to cry, I am so exhausted and can’t figure out why with just one almost 15 month old baby I can’t get it all done?? Big sigh. PMS doesn’t help my attitude today either…lol.
Love your blog:)
Allison

Kim McCoy - The BEST post I’ve seen in blog land in a while. Makes me feel normal. Thanks for sharing and being honest.

Denise - I liked you before this post, but now I love you. 🙂

Lindsey@ Piecefully Home - i love honesty!! i hate messes, though! 🙂 and my house is a great big huge mess, but having three kids I’ve learned to let that go. we have laundry piles, dish piles, little people piles, barbie piles, wii game piles, lego piles, shoe piles….

Stephanie - THANK YOU for sharing this! I don’t know why, but as you say, when I see all the pretty, shiny, crafty goodness in blog-land, I somehow internalize it and think my life should not be so mess. And you are absolutely right, it is discouraging to clean and have it messed up in minutes, if not hours! (That’s why I hate cleaning the kitchen especially!) I appreciate the glimpse into your ‘real’ life, it has reminded me of where things really stand!

Shauna - i really heart you.
you are loving and brave.
i am smiling at you, right now.

Karen - Take heart! My house used to look much like yours (and everyone else who had young families)! There WILL come a time when you clean it and it stays clean. But that comes with a high price-no messy little ones or even disgruntled teenagers living with you to clean up after. I love my grown-up children and am fortunate to see them often but I sure miss those days and would do it all over in a snap, given the opportunity. So do your best, close your eyes to the rest and give each one of those sweet babies an extra hug today!

Stephanie@Geezees - Oh how i LOVE this post! It’s good know that i am not alone with the laundry and dishes that never end! Thank you Meg for posting this!!

Jane Mc - You rock Meg!

Esther - Oh Meg….in all honestly I could not survive at your house…lol. I can’t deny the connection of an orderly house and an orderly mind, when all is clean and free, I think more clearly, get more done. I had 3 kids at home and ran a business from home so I do know….my concern is for the kids, I believe that being organized is a very important skill for their future. I run a very large corporation now and my #1 problem with the younger employees is that they are so messy- and have problems finding things, and their paper trails are always at lost, which in the business I am in it is extremely important.
I am just saying’…..

Jill - Oh thank Heaven! 🙂

Jessica - Love this post! Thanks for keeping it real…

connie libby - Thanks for that. Looking around my house this morning as I sit here at the computer sipping coffee, I am feeling guilty for not having a cleaner house. Reality check, I’m not alone! I’m thankful for the grace this post extended me, you rock! (My house looks just about the same, if not worse! :))

kathleen - I just wanted to tell you how much I have been loving your blog, I just look forward to it. My friends told me about it a couple of months ago and I loved it right off. As everyone else does!! It takes time and lots of heart to faithfully blog, especially the good, meaningful stuff, and I so appreciate it. Thanks so much!

Kirsten - I love this. My house looks the SAME! Thanks for being real. 🙂

Holly - I live the same battle too. Funny thing though. I actually woke up this morning and there was not a single dirty dish in the house! That never happens!

The Fairy's Apprentice - Oh, Megan, I love you even more! Your house is alive and you too! Our home looks exactly like yours :)). We clean up, of course, but in about 15 minutes after we finish looks exactly like before we started.
Love you! Camelia

Tanya H - And this, Meg, is why we love you. 🙂

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Seriously.
You are loved. and amazing. and loved!

jennifer delossantos - That looks like my upstairs. The main level stays pretty picked up because I have a home day care and so people are walking through everyday. Everyone assumes that the whole house is that way. WRONG. The upstairs has clothes everywhere, the beds are never made, the dresser drawers are always open. Kate throws everything out of her dresser, daily. Life is messy. But we are all happy. Oh, and Kate has the same polka dot sheets as your little girls!

Danielle H. - Thank you – I’m a mom with a full-time job and my house is the area that gets sacrified the most as I can’t do it all. Makes me feel like I’m not such a failure 🙂

Chiot's Run - No worries, you need to remember all those studies that say dirt is good for kids, keeps them from getting asthma & allergies, so you’re really doing it for your kid’s health 🙂
Those kids are getting old enough to start doing some chores. When was in 4th grade my mom taught me how to do laundry and I’ve been doing my own every since.

Sugar Mama - I wrote a post yesterday about laundry. I thought to myself “what a boring post” but it’s my every day.
You know what I see when I look at these pictures? I see a house that kids can be kids, where a family can be a family, and people LIVE.

Mindy W - This is just plain really good.

Cathi - Thank you for this post! Have you heard the quote , “a clean house is a sign of a misspent life”? I think of that often when I get overwhelmed by all I feel needs to be done in my house. The fact that your house is “lived in” shows your priorities are where they should be- on the people in your family and living life. When your kids are all grown up and on their own you can have a house that will stay clean for more than a few minutes. Thank you for showing your home and your life on this blog!

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1498998191 - Pokadots still make your house look cheerful! Maybe I don’t need to clean just throw in more polka dots!

jennifer - This post right here is exactly why I keep reading your blog. You keep it real in the middle of all the pretty. Thanks for you honesty. It’s my favorite thing about you. Oh, and the mutual love for polka dots too! 🙂

Debbie Smallie - Just what I needed this morning. Thanks for keeping it real!

kristin - You are so awesome… inspiring and keeping it real, all at the same time.

Brianna - thank you for this. I don’t feel so alone anymore!

alamama - thanks! i am so glad you put the real photos out there too. sometimes i get the keeping up with the bloggers (jones) feeling.

bobbie - The pictures of your kids clothes on top of the dresser instead of in it and all over the floor is my life. It drives me crazy but I just shut the door and walk away.
Someone once told me there will be a time in my life to have a clean houst (when the kids are all gone) but this just isn’t my time and I need to learn to enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing!

Kimberly - You’re so full of “amazingness,” Meg. These are the reasons why I love reading your blog every day: you try to make a more meaningful life for you as a woman, a Christian, a wife, a mom, a friend, and everything else to everyone else. You fail sometimes, but you are so full of win most of the time. As much as I like how you’re talented, fun, caring, and crafty, I also like that you’re cranky, moody, and messy.
I stop reading blogs that only show happy-happy-pefect all the time. It’s so exhausting and not inspirational at all.
You, you invigorate me. As a former bread winner and now a stay-at-home mom, I always feel less lost after reading your blog. I encourage you to continue to be real and to live in the moment and to continue to hope the way that you do.
P.S.–I loath doing laundry, too!

Routhie - Thank you. It’s easy to forget what is important, esp when the house is a mess and you’re overwhelmed. I feel like I am drowning in laundry, clutter, and to-do lists, but so is everyone else. Now, I am going to ignore my housework, shower, and help make Christmas cards at my daughter’s school, which I know has made this week pretty awesome for her and her class. Thanks again for keepin’ it real. 🙂 <3

Ali - Thank you Meg!

Michelle Whitlow - thank you for sharing!!! Boy, you’re brave!! I never try to be perfect on my blog but man my house looks like a tornado most days!! My husband comes home from work and gives me ‘that look’. Ugh…

Tracie - I sometimes feel buried under junk too, but I let go of some of my type A clean-freak tendencies when I had my kids. We try to straighten up the house before bed, but I only make them straighten their rooms when I have to vacuum. Hey, look at it this way, someday they’ll be gone and the mess won’t be so bad and you’ll miss it!

Shana - If it helps…I have a friend who’s house is spotless – however…her kids can’t sit on the furniture, walk through with food, eat certain things (like food), or have shoes on inside.
I think you are living LIFE – which means too busy to worry about the trivial stuff – laundry, dishes, etc. Play, have fun, and enjoy!
Love you

rosie at 3 rosebuds - What I love about your blog is that you “get” it-the kids are only little once. They only want to hang out with you for so long and then they have their own lives, they get jobs, they go away to school and there will still be laundry and dusting to do but there won’t be those little ones to hug and squeeze and drop everything to spend time with. Here’s to real life!!

Amy - Thanks Meg. That’s why I love you. You are so humble and can tell the truth even when it’s not pretty. And my house looks at least that bad or worse most days. I have 3 under 5 and it is tornado city. I get discouraged and feel like a gross pig. But then I put up the Christmas tree instead of clean. So I know a lot of it is just my personality. I would rather have fun than clean. Anyway, thanks for being honest. Love ya Meg!

elizabeth of course - Hahaha! I love you! I love that you’re a real person. And I don’t care if you house is a mess, you’re hair is always great! hahaha!

Maria - Thank you!!!!! I’m a mom of three who works one full time job and MULTIPLE part time jobs and I can NOT keep up with the house. Your pictures made me feel normal again! My house may not be clean, but my life is pretty darn good, otherwise!!! So no complaints from me!!

Dori - Thanks! You’re awesome!

Karen H. - I didn’t think it was possible to love you any more than I already did – and then you posted these pictures!!! Some days I think “What is WRONG with US???” because our house can’t stay clean!!! And I love the Littlest Pet Shop town in your foyer… I have the same thing!!!

Melissa - Thanks for sharing! I would go insane but I would imagine you just have to learn to deal with it. Makes me feel better about not always having everything perfectly picked up at home.

julie - Thank you for posting these. As a home school mom to 4 girlies I have recently started to feel like an absolute housekeeping failure. Even thought about writing a blog post about it today but hopped on over here instead. So glad I did. I am not alone:) BTW…L.O.V.E. your blog, your photos, your craft Thursdays, your decorating style……this just might be my favorite blog!

Susan - As a mom of 6 kids under the age of 8 who can’t seem to keep anything cleaned in her house, you don’t know how much I needed to read this today. Thanks so much for showing your readers that you are just as “normal” as the rest of us! Thanks again, Susan

Toni :O) - Whoa….I love the honesty but I think I’m a neat freak in my own house and I’ve created two more after seeing your photos…sigh…my kids never have clothes on their floor…laying other places instead I guess. What I’m not good at is trying to keep everything clean, I’ve given up trying to dust, vacuum and mop as often…working 45-50 hours a week outside the home just doesn’t give me the time to keep up on it all. I’m glad to see we’re all in this mess called life together! Keep being real, keep smiling and keep those colors coming, cause it’s a breath of fresh air to see your posts every.single.time! Especially cute Waffle…love your dog almost as much as my own!

Niki - I just love you, Meg! You bring a smile to all of our faces and remind us to strive for the best and accept that we’re never going to be perfect! That’s why we have our Father! Thanks, Sister!

Jen - Thank you! I do not feel alone.

kristy - God bless you for this. I feel like I clean all day and it still looks TRASHED at the end of the day. I’m all for being real with people…. but its still a hard thing to do myself.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - You rule the school.

Carla - Thank you for being real.

Nicole - Thank you so much for this! I have 5 kids myself and with activities and just everyday “things” I can’t seem to get it all done! I know, I should stay off of the computer! haha! I needed this today as I look at the breakfast dishes on the table, trash ready to go out and a downstairs bathroom that seriously needs a good scrubbing with 4 boys in the house! Thanks for a great blog! You rock!
Nicole

Marcia - It is all about balance, I guess … and your post today certainly puts it into perspective for me. I took a “personal day” from work and dreamed of sewing, decorating, reading, relaxing – even napping. But the floors need to be mopped, the laundry done, the dead mums yanked, the list goes on. Catching up with your blog feeds one need for me: to sit down with a cup of coffee and refocus on getting the balance. Thank you so much and God bless you today.

Julie M - I can soo relate!

Hugsandunicorns.blogspot.com - Ha! I love this! Thank you for sharing. We have been trying to clean so we can put up the Christmas tree. Think it will happen?

Janelle - I’m reading your blog instead of cleaning up my house. I have my Daisy troop here this afternoon and I am supposed to clean up the house for them! Its like inviting a heard of elephants into your living room! Thanks for keeping it real!

Jaime @ Queen of the Creek - 1) Totally understand about the Littlest Pet Shop thing! lol
2) Love the red filing cabinet drawers in the boys room.
3) With the size of your family and ALL THAT YOU DO, I think you’d be weird if your house was super de-duper clean all the time. You LIVE in your house.
I agree with Katie – I enjoying playing hostess every once in a while – it’s when my house is the cleanest. And we just moved from a 3 bedroom apartment to a 5 bedroom, 3800sq house. I have a WHOLE lot more cleaning then I ever had. And seriously… what would the kids and I ever talk about if I am not constantly reminding (nagging) them to clean up after themselves! 😛
Big hugs! =)

Mindi Slone - Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.
You just validated my home’s existence today. I might have to share this with my hubby!

Staci - This is why I love you!!! We all just need to live life…dirty, ugly, pretty, doesn’t matter…LIVE AND LOVE OUR LIVES!!!! Thanks Megan!!!

Jessica - Inspired by you, I posted pictures of MY messy house on my blog! http://www.pinkpeanutbutter.typepad.com

Jennifer Andersen - Thank you. I needed this. Makes me feel better.

Christie - Thank you for this! I found you not that long ago and am hooked. You feel like a long lost friend in the way you are in your life and I love that. I’m a full time working mom of 2 little girls and all day I read about these so called “perfect, have it all together” moms who blog, do so many things I want to do with my girls, decorate their house, thrift shop, cook and bake, and most of all craft. So thank you for showing us that you don’t have it all together and you do what you can do to what you love and sometimes the house looks like a tornado. So what, right? That’s what I try to do with my family each night and weekend, put aside the crazy mess and do what we love. So thank you for this honest post.

Katie - I was just looking around my house yesterday and thought to myself…we need to have people over to get this place cleaned up…company is the best medicine. Seriously though we have a 6 year old , 4yo, 2yo and 5 month old baby and my husband works in the transportation industry which means he is “bringing christmas to america” and very busy right now. I have to come to terms with the mess and find joy in Jesus…

Vanessa - Love it! I’m not the only one!!! Thanks for sharing your “imperfect” life with us 🙂

Stephanie - I needed this. today. My heart has been heavy with guilt over a house I can never make look like the magazines or blogs I browse. thank you. For letting me see your reality so that I can learn to let that guilt go and know that we are all just doing our best.

Annie - Thank you, thank you, thank you. As a young married sans children, I read a lot of blogging moms (like yourself) who have such pretty homes, great kids, time to craft and cook like Martha, and I look around my little apartment and think: NO. WAY. I am struggling with just one other person to take care of! What a relief to know it’s a struggle even for those with years of experience. Your blog is always such a fun, honest place to visit, and today was no exception. Thank you for letting us know that while life is beautiful, the little messes do exist, and that’s okay.

Kacey - Ah, Meg…you’re the coolest! Thanks for sharing the messy stuff. It makes me feel better.

Mary - Thank you for this!! Often when I see things in blogland I think “gahh! My house will never be that cute/perfect/awesome!” You are right, I WILL cut myself some slack today.
Oh, and I personally think you are doing a fantastic job!!! 🙂

Jessica - Thank you for your honesty!
Maybe we mom bloggers should make the 3rd of every month blog post all about how our houses REALLY look like–take pictures of dirty/messy rooms or the laundry pile or dirty dishes.
That will be a great reminder to ourselves and others that no one is perfect!

Roberta - Opps, don’t know what a carobon copy is. Meant to type carbon 😉

Roberta - I appreciate you posting this! I only have 3 kids but my house is pretty much a carobon copy of yours. Everything is clean underneath but, oh the clutter. Noone knows how to put anything away but me and I can’t keep up with 5 peoples messes. I love your honesty. That is why I’ve stopped reading so many blogs. They seemed too fake. I like reading something I can relate to.

jenn - Love it! But I must insist that you refrain from posting any further pictures of MY kitchen without my express wrtten permission! 😉

Vicki - Megan, thank you!! 🙂

stacie - Thank you. I have five kids also and there is no way a house can stay put together all the time. I don’t have a craft room and I craft so you know what my dinning room looks like and I homeschool to boot. I’m showing my husband these pics when he gets home. Just so he knows its not just us. Thank you agian 🙂 stacie from rockentot

nicki - I have 5 kids too (similar age spread) and I live this post almost daily. Thank you for sharing the REAL of life with us.

KTG - Thank you for this. My least favorite thing to do is putting away laundry for 4 people it’s never ending.

Lisa - LOVE this post – and your home is such a sign of a house filled with family and life being well lived!

Kasey - It’s good to see what ‘real life’ is like, especially when most of us bloggers share the same thing. -I clean my house top to bottom… I spend the entire weekend [I work full time] cleaning and than by Monday night it is all a mess again. I totally understand what it’s like but ive gotten to the point where I will get to it when I can get to it. -I’m not going to make it a point to have my house super spotless just so I can show it off on my ‘Blog’. That’s not what life [and my blog] is about.
Thanks for ‘keeping it real’! 🙂

Tara - you are refreshing.
thanks for showing us real life at your house….

megan - Megan-
Love the reality check! i agree…reality sucks so sometimes it is nice to escape it…even if it is only momentary.
glad you keep it all in perspective.
still wishing you were my neighbor though…i would have some great laughs with you.
megan (in maine)

Ali - Hey, who’s been taking photos at my house?!!

Kerri - This is my house, too!!! THANK YOU!!! I feel like such a loser sometimes…

Kimberlee J. - Right on…keep it real.
I love that about you.
Clean today because tomorrow there will be none of that!

christy - I could just give you a big hug right now! It is so refreshing to see messes in blogland! I’m so tired of picture perfect, because my house is not!! I have to boys 5 & 6 and they are MESSY!

Micah - LOL that is MY craft room except you’d need to add dirty laundry, a sewing machine, serger, bits of fabric and thread pieces everywhere, a pile of fabric, pet food, kitty litter, construction dirt from my husband’s workboots, sawdust from the garage, a goodwill giveaway bag, everyone’s icky play shoes. It looks SO nice when I clean it up… but it never stays clean for long!
Thanks for sharing your real life pics.

Penny - I love your foyer! That built in bench (I think) is beautiful! Toys just add to the beauty. My two oldest are out of the house. Just a 16 year old here now. Her room looks much like Lauren’s room. And just the other day I was looking for my glue gun in the craft room. Never found it and was pretty disgusted with myself for the mess in there! Thanks for making me see it isn’t just me!

sara @ it's good to be queen - thank. you. this is so good. that is my house right now. we are moving tomorrow actually so it is even worse. we came home from thanksgiving and i didn’t feel the need to unpack since we were moving in a week. so we have laundry spilling out of suitcases all over the house. isn’t laundry such a stinkin’ pain?!
thanks so much…i needed this today. 🙂

Samantha Lee - You are as refreshing as ever . . . even with the mess! Thank you for honesty.

jenny - you have no idea how much i needed this today. :0)

Jen@thecottagenest - I love that you did this. It’s good for us to tell each other that it’s okay to not be perfect. Thanks for this today and during this season when I put so much pressure on myself!

donna - even your messes look happy!!!

BULLYMAMA3 - Thank you so much for your honesty…we all need more of that!! We live in a world (or at least a country) where everything is supposed to be perfect or it isn’t worth anything. I don’t know how you do it but you always seem to post things that really strike a chord with me at just the right time (maybe that is part of your purpose w/God??) In a way you really do have it all together because you are giving your kids a wonderfully fufilling life by doing all the great things you do with them and you are an inspiration to many women that really need it (among a lot of other things!) but those are the things that should be in the “having it all together list” not an immaculate house that doesn’t let anyone have an ounce of creativity. Thanks again for making my day (AGAIN!)

Natalie - so encouraging!

Ann R. - I just left a comment, but was laughing when I scrolled back to the pics (think I am going to share with hubby). I think sometimes HE thinks I am the only one…they don’t really know…but I had to laugh at the craft room – looks like mine with the target bags for christmas gifts right?

Lori - Hahahahaha! GREAT post and so true! Whew! I feel so much better now.

Julie - Thanks for keeping it real, Meg. I must say, tho, I now have kitchen sink envy ~ here’s mine ~ http://wristonsingermany.blogspot.com/2010/06/things-i-wont-miss.html ~ and I won’t miss it one bit when we move! Oh, and mine would look like yours if it could hold that much! We’re a family of seven too. 😉

Ann R. - Meg – we still love you, that is why we love you – you are REAL! Have been following you over a year and have sent comments and emails, have sent vitamins, did the operation christmas child and thank you SO MUCH for all of it! Again, my girlfriends and I are also REAL, no fake here, all reality. We are all meeting for breakfast this morning and we will discuss the things we all have in common – messy homes, blessed families, overwhelmingness of the holiday and the peacefulness of the holiday, sickness and health. This is all part of life, and if we all find a balance with it, we are all good, and I think that is how we stay grounded is thru each other. So thank you Meg – I love the REALNESS *is that even a word?* Your beautiful blog, your colorful home, crafty Thursdays, messy rooms and all most importantly your HEART! So glad you posted that cause last night I totally cleaned my kitchen and felt great about it, till the hubby came home and we made a huge mess getting out all the Christmas stuff – oh well, tis the season. Hey – saw a craft you might want to do – the GRATEFUL frame/poster – it is totally up your alley! You would love it – let me know if your interested! Happy Friday!

visart-dali.com - Oh wow, so this is how it looks like in a real life! I love it, it is so relaxing and comforting to see that I am not the only one…
Thank you for that!

jennifer wood - Thank you Meg, love you:)

Angel/TaDa!Creations - Thanks for showing me that we are not so different. It’s easy to think that everyone else is doing life perfectly and I am the only one that can’t seem to get it together.
Oh how I wish I had space for a “family closet” right in or next to the laundry room. Then there would be no more hauling clothes to every end of the house only for it all to end up right back there. It’s the never ending battle that is so difficult to get a hold of. Most every day we are rifling through the clean-clothes-that-just-need-to-be-folded-and-put-away-piles anyway. Off to find my husband a clean towel before he gets out of the shower…I know there’s one somewhere.

Chantel - Thank you!! I’m a SAHM, my husband works from home, my daughter is homeschooled, my son is in public school, we run a home-based animal rescue and it seems like I can never keep up! Dishes and laundry multiply like Tribbles, Legos and dolls and crayons and paper are everywhere and I’ve finally decided that clutter is just part of our lives. My home is a happy one and that’s all that matters to me.
I love your home and your style and your family and how absolutely real you are. You’re so normal and approachable and I think that’s why we all love you so much. You’re all of us!

lena - AMEN!
i know this season will soon pass and i will one day long for it to return. i pray to find the JOY in it all.
pax Christi – lena

Sophie - This looks a lot like my house on a day to day basis!
Though we don’t have little kids in our house anymore so we don’t have toys lying around. (:

se7en - I am speaking from vast tombs of personal experience here: If I were you I would head straight out the door and get some fresh air!!! There is nothing else more important to be done!!!

Peggyrice@gmail.com - I may love you even more now.

Meredith - Snap. Just like my house! Thanks for this Meg…I was starting to think it was just me. I’ll consider this post an early Christmas present from Blogland:) Meredy xo

amanda - My favorite post I’ve read in a long time! Especially this time of year when you see so much pretty and perfect decorating around blog land. This is reality – and a good one! 🙂

Kirsten J - Godluvya for being real – my house looks much the same 🙂

Lacey - you are such an amazing woman, almost everytime i am having a bad day, your blog posts seem to be just for me! i love it. you are truely a very lovely person! I hope to read your blog for years! thanks for being an inspiration to me, and letting all of us know that it is ok to be real!

Staisha - Thanks you for being so honest.

Christy C - Great post!! This looks alot like my house…I thought I was the only one. Thank goodness I am not!! But when you look beyond the mess you see something beautiful…a house that looks lived in and loved in and that’s all that matters!!

Ingrid - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for posting this! it is nice to know i’m not the only mum that isn’t on top of the cleaning every minute of the day!

Niki - Meg you crack me up.
I am on a full on Spring Cleaning mission after our house looked similar to yours ALL winter here in Oz.
Truly. ALL Winter. Can you imagine.
I have 4 boys, 2 dogs, 1 cat & chickens & life is full, messy, fun & straight out hard work.
But I love it & try so very hard to manage it all successfully.
Mess can wait, loving on the love of my life 4 year old can NOT.
He needs a big cuddle NOW. Because before I know it, he will be like my nearly 15 year old & cringe when I cuddle him. Sigh.

Christina - I feel like writing posts like this…just to show what’s real. 🙂 I don’t have the following you do, and no one thinks I have it all together! haha Your transparency is great. And I feel your laundry pain. I might have to show my husband this post! teehee
I actually just wrote about something similar…the chaos that is life, that roars so loud that anything beautiful gets lost. But, then God brings beauty to light.
Love your blog. 🙂

mel - Great post! Your home is still beautiful even if it is a a little messy…you have 5 kids, cut yourself some slack 🙂 Can’t wait to see your Christmas decorations!

beth eacott - Oh wow, that is awesome! I have been following your blog for months, and love, love, love it! The color, creativity, warmth, care, and down-to-earthness (is that even a word? – somehow don’t think so) of it continue to inspire and delight me! It’s my favorite way to start the day, a good cup of coffee and some whatever (while refereeing my 2 kids grade one and two while they take way……..too long to finish their breakfasts, we’re going to miss the bus again!…..blah, blah, blah) Have never posted a comment on a blog before, not once, not ever, but I just HAD to applaud your home, BLESS THIS MESS!!! From Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, warmest wishes, beth

Amnah - So I’m not the only one that ALWAYS has a pile of clothes stacked on my daughters’ dresser. My goodness they have a never ending pile of clothes that need to be washed/folded/put away.
Glad to know you’re just as normal as the rest of us.

Trish - Aww how sweet of you to show your house to all of us! You are such a sweetie and I just adore your take on life and how you write about it!

karen - Thanks. I just left a party at a perfect house with labels on everything and all the Christmas decorations up…..came home to dirty dishes on the stove and in the sink. My little dachshund got lost yesterday in my 13yo daughter’s closet. I could not find her for 30 minutes…too many clothes on the floor 🙂
thanks for the reality check but I still think you are awesome

Dana@Bungalow'56 - I think the one room that drives me the most insane is “my” little girl’s room. They have drawers in their beds and they are always open and overflowing. We can barely keep them shut. I saw your girls room with the overflowing drawers and just sat here and smiled. We never do see anyone else’s mess… in blogland or in real life. We think we are the only ones.
Thank you.
I can go to sleep tonight knowing Megan has a messy house too. And for some strange reason, that makes me happy.
: )
Dana

Cat - LOVE this post…and thank you for sharing. I have four kids. I find that the house can’t stay cleaned for more than a couple hours tops! It can drive me insane at times, but I’m really trying to let it roll. Life….it’s messy.

michelle - love this!
you’re even more awesome after seeing this! 🙂

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HaPPY.

October 7, 2010 Filed in me me me,photography

i downloaded the Parenthood soundtrack.
JOY.
(i used itunes though…cheaper)
i have listened to it three times already.

******************************************************************************************************************

these boots are now mine in black.
they will be my favorite shoes this winter i promise.
oh yeah….and these too in gray.

and i let my dad buy me this coat.…in charcoal….it is just so cute.
thank you dad.
my birthday card came just in time.

******************************************************************************************************************

the dining room is almost done.
it is not like that is exciting news….but i will be happy to be finished painting things and thinking about it.

******************************************************************************************************************
had to share these three pics.

Ks1
 
Ks3
 
Ks2

i have a soft spot for babies that suck their thumbs.
i was one of them.

*****************************************************************************************************************
thanks for the encouragement about my moody posts.
i like that we are all in this motherhood, sisterhood, trying-to-be-a-good-wife thing together.
and that it's ok for me to tell you how i feel.

i feel comfortable here….if you didn't notice.

and my wednesday was GREAT.
thankful for that. 

add a comment

Cheryl - Well i’ve been visiting your blog for some time and have not commented yet – but i see a lot of similarities in this post, so figured it was time to “out” myself! 🙂
I was just looking at that coat in Old Navy the other day! Super cute boots. Another Parenthood fan here! Such a great show – and good music too.
I really enjoy your blog – your stories, pics, recipes – thanks for sharing! 🙂

Melanie - I am LOVING that coat. Can’t wait to see you in it. Pics please.

Toni :O) - I heart your blog so stinkin much…it’s nuts…you’re so real life and I love that about you and your blog. Love Parenthood…it truly is such an amazing relatable show, scary how much it is like my life. Great boots and coat..what a lucky gal you are and I’m glad you had such a nice birthday..you deserve it cause you’re like a SuperWoman/SuperMom with all those beautiful kids of yours…I admire you so much! Great photos as always, that baby is so smoochable.

dawn - Love your new treats! I’ve been wondering how your 31 Bits party went… Maybe I missed a post? I was thinking of having one — I love what they stand for and I also love their jewelry!
And feel free to share how you’re feeling — I think that’s why we all like your blog so much — we can relate!

twolittletots - so happy you had a great wednesday! good days are the best. and i love the coat that you got…i have my eye on that one too…in charcoal as well!

Kelli - Love the pics Meg! We had a wonderful time! We can’t wait to see the rest of them!

Kelly - Really cute coat! You inspired me to go shopping on zappos for some boots. love thumb sucking babies as mine is one. 🙂 Kelly

Kristin S - Keep the real coming. We all need the encouragement to be real and honest.
You got the ruffle pea coat!!! I posted about it last week and my friends laughed at me for posting about coats. I don’t care. I love them. Love THAT one.
http://kristinwithani.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/coatsjacketparkas/

Jenn T - Friday night will be fun – so what kind of drinks are you serving?? Does it depend upon what type of day you had?? just joking – it will be fun to be with the girls

karen - ooo..can’t wait to see your dining room!

kim - have you heard the song “live forever” from the “namaste no more” episode!?? the song is by drew holcomb and the neighbors, and if you don’t know them yet you will LOVE them. drew’s wife, ellie is in the band, too. so cute. such amazing voices. i just heard them sing that song at a young life retreat, and it is beautiful.
http://www.nbc.com/parenthood/music/
http://www.drewholcomb.com/

Michelle - Meg, I have those boots in black. LOVE them, they’re super comfy! You have fabulous taste.

Renee - You are FABULOUS! In case no one has told you lately! 🙂 thanks for sharing so honestly!

Ellen - I’m not a mother…nor am I a wife…but it’s great to read a blog that is real and not sugary all the time. When I get married (eventually…still waiting on God to give me some prospects!), I hope to be just as honest with my feelings and not feel as if I have to be perfect all the time.
I love reading your blog posts…moods and all!

Jennifer - i luuuuuuuuuuuuurve the thumb sucking baby picture!! it makes my boobs hurt! i know that sounds really really odd, but i married into a family who says that and it has stuck with me! sorry to be the creepy weird girl!

Christi - I love the coat and boots you selected. I’ve been holding out on buying a few of their coats, hoping that they will do their $20 coat sale again this year!
Question for you — do you have a meatloaf recipe that you make and love? Your recipes always turn out and I am trying to find a good, classic meatloaf.
Thanks Meg!

Tammy @ The Sabourin Family - Thank-you for sharing life with us, Meg.:)

jennnibell - I love, love, love your style!!! I think I may need a pair of those boots too. . .but I’ll take brown 🙂 My black ones have gone out of style and are now back in — ha! Thanks for the great links. Love the coat too but I will have to get rid of one to buy another and I just don’t have one I’m willing to part with yet. . .
Thanks for being your real self here. . .makes me feel like I’m sitting down with a real friend with real joys and struggles and advice 🙂

Lindi - glad your wednesday was great!! here’s to a whole year of great days!! thanks for being you and REAL all the time and for being soooo inspiring!!

Emily - tahnk you for being you… and inspiring me.

Angela - I’m loving all the new banners lately! Very fun.
And keep sharing those feelings – we can all soooo relate.

Laura - i love that you share such simple things that bring great happiness
you are always good for that
im getting my tooth pullet today at 3..ugh
toothless at 40
now I need me a little happiness!!!
and my annie still sucks her thumb 🙂

shauna - i like the new header.
and the middle picture of the two babies. so great!
also, my husband got one of those necklaces last night, what are they 21 bits? well i saw them on your blog and was wishing you weren’t so far away and could stop by and get one of yours, but then we saw some at a little shop and i was so happy.
i love it.
ps. i heart feelings

Diana - I have boots like your gray ones… mine are a soft light brown and sooooooooooooooo comfy. You will love yours. ♥

Lisa - I have been looking for boots for so long and they were all over $100!! I had settled in my mind that I wouldn’t be able to get any. Love Old Navy prices…I may end up copying you with the first pair. 🙂

`Kelly - AH! I want those boots (in the lighter brown)! I even tried them on a few weeks ago and almost convinced myself to get them but I decided to wait for my birthday to roll around. The coat is super cute too! I bet the Parenthood soundtrack rocks! I might have to go have a listen!

april@gingerbreadgirlblog - Those boots ROCK!!! And the ruffles on that jacket totally look like you!!!

Carrie K - oooh thanks for the heads up on the soundtrack! im in love with that show!!
the black boots are AWESOME and the coat is freakin ADORABLE…cant wait to see you rockin it 🙂

Dana@Strawberrytart! - Because of you I started watching Parenthood. I am not sure how I missed it before. I will have to check out the soundtrack!

Staci - And now, I’m off to buy those boots in the cognac brown!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!! I’m glad your Wednesday was better 🙂

Amy G - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Parenthood!!!It is sooooo like real life! Do I get a sticker now?? LOL! Have a Blessed Day!

Sugar Mama - Because I have no sense of fashion, could you please do a post on how to wear those boots? Maybe put together a few outfits that work with boots like that. I love the boots, but I know I would wear them all wrong.

Tam - I’m happy to hear you had a great Wednesday. I LOVE Parenthood, would love the soundtrack, I’m embarrassed to admit, I dont know how to use iTunes, maybe I’ll need to learn! I’m loving the boots, I wish I could find ones that would fit my calves. 🙁 Can’t wait to see the dining room! HAPPY THURSDAY!

angela carter - coat = adorable, boots look comfy, i have a grey pair similar. your blog always brings a smile to my face!
by the way – i love that your links don’t take you away from your blog.

Trish - oh my word that coat is scrumptious!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - I must have missed that post. My parents have been here for a week. I’ve been moody too. Sad really for no reason at all. Hope it lifts. I think I’m gonna go for a run…maybe have a good cry. PRAY!

Annie - Oh…. I want the Parenthood soundtrack so badly!! Is it worth buying? I love that show, and the music is always spot on. Maybe I’ll bit the bullet and go to iTunes now…

Kimberly - Ahhhh….retail therapy 😉 I LOVE that coat!!! I may take a little trip to Old Navy today….
Oh, and 2/3 of mine were thumb suckers. My ovaries hurt just a smidgen when I see little ones doing the same.

Maureen - Okay, me pushing music selections again since you brought it up. Love the Avett Brothers and Josh Ritter that are on the Parenthood soundtrack. “Emotionalism” from Avett Bros. is one of my all time favorite discs and “The Animal Years” from Josh Ritter is great as well.

Mindy Harris - dream part II: oh and you decided to pay me BEFORE i did all the work. so before you guys headed off to paris, you stuffed some bills down my shirt so i wouldn’t argue with the amount or lose it.
i need to get a life i think.

Mindy Harris - both my kids suck their thumbs and i find it adorable.
also, and i promise i’m not a weirdo, last night i dreamed that you hired me to babysit your kids for 1 full week so you and craig could go to paris (!). you didn’t have an instruction sheet so i was a little overwhelmed. except in this dream you had 2 blond-headed girl twins who were around 2, and all over the place. the first thing i did was breathe in the wonder of your home!

Heather R. - Have those first pair of boots in the camel lookin’ color…love ’em. The baby is so sweet. I love that first pic. Love the ruffle coat.

Tara - i was a thumb sucker, too.
and so was my middle child.
we’re going to the orthodontist today to start braces.
{the not so fun part about thumb sucking}
love parenthood.

n - cute boots! and adorable baby!
i’m glad you feel comfortable in your OWN blog!! 🙂

jodi @ back40life - love the coat…wish I didn’t already have one super similar {with no ruffle 🙁 oh well}
ah…the parenthood soundtrack…bet that is a fun one…we LOVE that show!
love all your sharing…feelings or not…yours is one of my favorite spots to check in on every morning!

kristin - you won’t be shocked to know that i have those same boots.
hee hee hee.
and i LOVE that coat!
and i wish i could come tomorrow night, but we have friends coming from out of town…don’t know if i can pull it off. we’ll see.

leonie - OMG I think I am in love with you…. not creepy I promise….. I clicked on the link to look at the boots to see that old navy now ships to Australia I couldn’t be happier! we have very similar tastes
Leonie x

Amy Lynne - Awesome boots and jacket! I am glad you had a better day!! I think we all have days where we want a do over button. Happy Thursday!

Kathleen - Love the boots….I’ve been thinking that I need some boots….must be that time of year. The coat is great!
Enjoy

Julie - Hang in there Meg! Buying boots always makes me feel better!! Yours are very cute! LOVE the thumb sucking baby ~ too cute. Only one of mine sucked her thumb and I miss that!! And she looked just like this little sweetie ~ blonde and blue eyed!

Nikki - Glad you had a great Wednesday. I love hump day….it’s all downhill to the weekend… woohoo!
Love your boots and coat.

Kat - Nice work with the pressies Meg!
Must go listen to the Parenthood cd. I love that show and we are only on the first series down here in Aus.
Hope tomorrow is a great day too!!

Ruth - i am heading to new york next week (from london) and oooooooh i am looking forward to the shopping – love your boots and coat!

annalea @ our hartbeat - we just finished painting our living/dining room area monday. (trim went from stained wood to white as well). finally put the room back together and it feels so good to be done.
my youngest sucks his thumb and it might just be the cutest thing ever.
and i want a new pair of boots now.
hope the rest of your days this week are great too! happy belated birthday!

Jenni Carlisle - Love the first pair of boots! I have been looking for some and never thought about Old Navy…I know, lame sauce! Woot, woot..thanks! PS Told Julie that David Crowder is a local…next road trip? 🙂

Heather - I’m glad, too that you had a great day. I really enjoy reading your blog.

Valerie@Chateaualamode.typepad.com - Glad you had a great Wednesday! Here’s to many more great days!

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just a normal day.

September 28, 2010 Filed in me me me

hello.
my day today has been like any other normal nothing day.
boring.
but i have some pictures to prove it. 

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spray painting anything that doesn't move.

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 "hemming" the curtains with no sew iron on tape.

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admiring my 31BITS necklace in every mirror i walk past…and windows too.

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sonic happy hour large cranberry limeade.

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watching the kids play zingo….talby won four games straight! 

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make craft thursday (on tuesday).

making chicken tortilla soup for dinner.

excited that craig brought home season one of Mad Men from the library!  
we are hooked.
now we just need to figure out what is going on…starting in season 4 wasn't the smartest way.

also loving Parenthood again this season.

the daughter driving with the mother….it was PERFECT.  dead on.
like….THAT could have been filmed in our home word for word. 

until the end when the daughter apologizes!!!
what?!
that scene….doesn't happen in real life….at least not in our house.
and i was ticked at the show.
but i will still watch.

add a comment

Courtney Walsh - omg. parenthood is so good. i love it. and i have to say, i felt sorry for hattie. christina is kinda neurotic and crazy sometimes!!! ack! i say that but i’ve never had to teach a teenager to drive!!

elz - I did the same thing- started with Season 4 of Mad Men. But, I don’t care, I love the show and the clothes and design. I need to go back through and weatch all of them…some weekend when I have nothing else to do…

Melanie - I LOVE that show. My son is 16 and doesn’t even have his restricted license and I will continue to drive him wherever he wants to go:) I dread the driving thing.

Tanya H - Parenthood is our FAVORITE. And that episode was so me even tho my kids are still little. I have a “castastroph-non-real-word” all the time, LOL.

Ashley Stinson @ The Hillside Home - love 31 bits. my friend tenley just modeled for their elasticity campaign. pretty awesome stuff.
also, parenthood is one of my new fave shows. feels so authentic. loved last night’s episode.

Valerie - Love Mad Men…and now I’m going to have to watch Parenthood too. Love that clip and can totally relate (I have 2 teenagers driving) I love when the mom says, “Our daughter totally sucks at driving” I so get it 🙂

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - I so HEART the show Parenthood! 😉
I’ve got two side tables that are due for a little paint job . and, I’m liking your thinking on the new-sew curtians!

Kate B. - We love Parenthood, too. The latest phrase in our home is this: “I hear you, and I see you. I learned that at marriage counseling.” Good stuff! It was a long summer waiting for new episodes on hulu! 🙂

Tabitha A. - Megan, I am a long time blog stalker first time commenting! LOL Anyways, I adore the necklace you are wearing and I love that it goes to such a good cause!!! However, I am not sure which one you are wearing…I am hoping it is not a Meg Duerksen one of a kind…do you think you could post which one it is because I might pick up a few! One for me, and some for presents!

Stacy Christy - hey I think I saw you at Target this morning. Wanted to say “Hi, I love your blog!” but thought it might be creepy from a stranger in the parking lot. It looks like you’re well on your way to having a great day!

Taylor-Ann - Sounds like a fun and productive day…not boring at all. Come to our house and I’ll show you some boring.

transparent mama - Love Parenthood too but have never watched Mad Men. I am very impressed by the library visit.

Julia - Sopa de Tortilla is my favorite soup!! yum. I’m just waiting for the weather to cool down some.

katy - Needing to spray paint some frames myself. ……cute necklace and YES, love Parenthood!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - 1. Cranberry limeade is my ultimate favorite.
2. I need that pink cardigan in my life.
3. Mad Men is tied for first place as my favorite Netflix show.

Sara - MAD MEN IS THE BEST!! You will LOVE it. I am so addicted that I re-watch old seasons. Awesome characters, great acting, and seeing the differences from past decades is both entertaining and disturbing…who would want to smoke that much?!?! GROSS!
Enjoy!!

CarrieBeth - i love posts like this on blogs! just seeing everyday things is so fun to me!

jennifer - Love Parenthood! It’s my favorite show right now.
Zingo looks fun. I might need to go check that out.
Silly question… What brand and color is the spray paint you’re using? Those frames look great!
And I love your necklace too. I’m thinking those are going to make some great Christmas presents this year!
Thanks for sharing your day!

Vera - That was a lovely day! I am sooo in love with Don Draper, I mean, Madmen.
Okay, so I really hope this doesn’t sound spooky stalkish, but I had a dream last night that you were coming to visit me. And I decided I had to have some beer, but it had to be GOOD beer, and so late at night – with my baby in tow! – I was walking from gas station to gas station and to Walmart trying to find some good beer, but all they had was Budweiser and Miller Lite, and I was getting really frustrated, because you were back at the house waiting for me. Craaaaaaaazy. LOL!

Abbey - Parenthood is my favorite show, and I’ve heard that Mad Men is a must! Right now my husband has got us watching 24 every chance he gets 🙂 By the way, I am buying 31Bits jewelry for all my family’s Christmas gifts. Thanks for the link!

Lindsay - Just finished watching Seasons 1-3 of Mad Men and caught up on season 4 in 3 weeks. Now waiting a whole week for a new episode is torture!!!

Sharla - Love parenthood. Don’t love the fact that I never remember when its on.

Ashlee Archibald - Looks like a really great day to me <3 xo

jody - Meg- any games you can recommend or did you do a post on this once?? Looking for game ideas for Xmas for the kids….I’m getting Zingo!!
Love your blog. Highlight of my day from being home with 4 small boys!!

natalie (the sweets life) - ahh I’m with you on loving Mad Men and Parenthood. I’ve caught up on the first 2 episodes of Parenthood this season and it continues to be great…in fact the reason I like it, like you said, is because I think it’s SO true to life in terms of family dynamics and whatnot. Love that they include kids with special needs, teenagers fighting with parents, etc. The dialogue, everything! is just so spot on!! Okay enough raving 🙂

Kristina - I love your blog. I just found you a few weeks ago — not sure of how that happened — but now you are a daily stop. I especially love the way you use bold colors — it wakes me up while I’m drinking my coffee.

Lisa - I tried so hard to stay up for Parenthood, but I just couldn’t make it 🙁 Good think for on demand, I should be able to catch it later this week… I hope! Your day looks wonderful!

carols - Haven’t watched Parenthood yet, except for that clip. Heard good things about it. BUT (and this is a turnoff for me)…how old is the actress playing the mom? Whew, makes me feel soooo ancient. Just checked, she is 39 but gotta say she looks around 30 and similar in age to her daughter. Guess I waited to have kids and am feeling the old age at 47. Anywho, fun glimpse into your day.
carols

Annie - You’re one of the first bloggers I’ve heard mention Parenthood! Isn’t it fabulous? My husband and I love it… So glad to know we’re not the only ones!

Jen - LOVE LOVE LOVE Mad Men AND Parenthood! Those houses make me actually think I might be able to live in California! Love the Tar-jay sweater too! 🙂

karen - My favorite is the cranberry limeade

Katie - As a mom with 4 small kids…it is amazing what you can get done in a day…but I think you have been where I am. I love this blog and have started “craft tuesdays” here. We made the butterflies you guys made and also watercolors. I am looking forward to doing more. Keep the project ideas coming! Love from MN.

Kat - As Widge said we have only started the first season here and I am really enjoying it!
Love the family dynamics and the bond of all the grown siblings.
I hope our 4 kids are that connected when they are all grown up.
Your normal day looks pretty busy to me.
YOu seemed to get a lot more achieved today than I did 😉
Cute and colourful necklace.

jamie - OH MY GOSH i so very much love love love parenthood. it’s so real. i laugh. i cry. i love how everyone interupts {how IS that word spelled} eaachother all the time. {love}

Widge - I absolutely LOVE parenthood! It only aired over here a couple of months ago and we only got 3 episodes before it has taken a massive break! REALLY hoping we get it back here!!!
And man your drink sounds good..

Julie - You are killing me with the Sonic pics. In 8 1/2 months, I’ll be back in the good ol’ US of A and hopefully a Sonic nearby. Love Happy Hour!! Your day looks perfect to me!

Christy - Parenthood is great, watching it now.
Mad Men is AWESOME! LOVE IT! I caught up last year via Netflix.

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - I am sooo not looking forward to that day. My blood pressure will go off the charts!

AshleyAnn - White spray paint + 11 frames…tackled that last month for my living room. Is your finger white now? I think mine still is a bit.

Joyce patton - Meg- love the frames! would you mind sharing what color your white spray paint is?

Anna Marie - I. LOVE. MAD MEN.
My husband and I are also hooked. We caught up via Netflix. Watched the first 3 seasons in the last few weeks. They make smoking and drinking look so classy. Nowadays it looks so trashy when someone smokes and drinks THAT much. I adore all of the clothes the women are wearing and that most women aren’t toothpicks. Also, have you caught all of the “generation” stuff that has changed so much. Like kids not in carseats or even buckled up. The price of postage and various items. I love it all…even though Don Draper is a flippin’ man whore. Sheesh! Keep your pants on dude.
Have you seen The Town? Don (Jon Hamm) stars in that. It was so weird for me to not see him in 60s clothing and smoking and drinking since I have watched so much of him recently.
Ok, sorry for going on and on. Glad you like it too 😉

Heather - Hahaha! I’m a longtime lurker but I’m not sure if I’ve ever commented before. Your thoughts on Parenthood cracked me up, though, and I wanted to tell you that I just think you’re the cutest.

Heather R. - I like Michelle’s cliff hanger comment. I can’t wait for the reveal. I CAN wait for the “teacher our daughter to drive” phase! 🙂

Angela - *LOVE* Parenthood!!

Susan - Oh my gosh….I love that necklace. I just went on their website and I think I’m coming into some beautiful new jewelry soon.
I must be living in lala land because I’ve never even heard of Parenthood. I love that driving clip….I’m so there right now. However, I’m more like the Dad and my husband is more like the mom. That show totally reminds me of Modern Family, yea?

Four Flights - Yes, definitely go back and watch Mad Men from the beginning. You will be a better viewer for it. Season 1 will get you intrigued, Season 2 will shock you, and then Season 3 will straight out knock your socks off. The finale in Season 3 is just about the best TV I have ever seen, although there have been a few episodes in Season 4 that make me think “pure genius.” Art and I are Mad Men dorks to the max (I even have a picture of Jon Hamm taped up in my office; yes, I am a teenager)…
On a non-Mad Men note, you look great in your necklace! I would be admiring myself too 😉

Trina McNeilly - I like this post… seems like a good day! I have been thinking about watching parenthood.. i need to give it a try, I think!
x

Amber - I ♥♥♥ Parenthood too! And I SO dread that day, b/c it will be exactly the same way in our family.
Cute necklace!
And I hope you’ll show us what you’re doing with the spray paint!
♥ Amber
Silver Lining

Katie H - Love Mad Men! Been watching it for a year or so now, but my husband and I both joke that we’re not smart enough to catch everything and should probably find and “easier” show 🙂

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Hi. Lar. Ious. I am laughing so hard at that clip. 🙂 Awesome

Janine - God Bless the ordinary, normal, boring days because in an instant you can have craziness, and your whole world turned upside down. Only then can you truly appreciate those boring days.
Love that necklace by the way. I think I may have to get one of those. A birthday present to myself. We share a birthday on Thursday so – Happy Birthday early!

Lori - I love Parenthood and how it depicts reality. My teenage daughter watched it with me last season, but now she is at college for her first year and I miss watching it with her. (Except the awkward episodes like the one about the big O!haha). I missed the season opener this season so I will have to watch it on the computer. Love your necklace!!

Jennifer - OK–I’m your woman if you have any Mad Men questions…been hooked since season 1 (Don Draper *sigh*) so fire away! Season 1 is great, but season 3 will be a tough one, so get ready. The clothes are so great, the furniture–it’s the best! 🙂

julia - I love Sonic Happy Hour – we have organized MANY an outing around it.

Casey - I so need to be watching Mad Men. I know it.
LOVE Parenthood. Enjoying it more than any show in recent years. Such a great movie to go off of……and their twists have it made it even sweeter and up to date.
ps – we’re in California now…….were in KC……..we packed up the kids and moved!

Donna - I LOVE Parenthood! I don’t have teenage girls yet (i have 3 girls too) but I love everything about this show. I almost wish they were my family! Love your frames btw!

Julie - I love every single thing in this post. I would totally steal that 31 bits necklace from you when you weren’t looking. So to maintain our friendship I better get my own. Then we can be super dorky matchers who spray paint things.

Lisa - LOVE your necklace and your sweater!! Would you mind sharing where you got them? 🙂

Kimberlee J. - No sew tape? What? This might be the answer to all my problems!

Michelle - frames a curtains for the dinning room?!?! It’s like an end of the season cliff hanger. . . waiting all summer for the premier. Can’t wait to see the dinning room 🙂 I just wrote down the recipe for the soup you are making tonight. . it sounds so yummy I want to ditch the meal I planned to make tonight and run to the store to get what I need to make your soup.. . but I will have self control and make it tomorrow – ha!

barbara - love your frames! such a simple but great idea.

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i am a dork.

September 27, 2010 Filed in me me me

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so this is what i look like if i am taking your picture….HA!

andrea was one of the family sessions i did in California.
her husband had a much nicer camera than me….jealous.
he took some pictures of me getting andrea's blog profile shot.
and then some of our new friendship…bonded for life through blogs.

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i was posing like we were a couple.

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isn't andrea so cute?
go check out her NEW blog…she has great taste!
AND she brought me cake pops.
they were amaaaaaazing.
i had never had them.
and now i want to make them in my house…or maybe just eat them in my house.

and as if you weren't sure i was totally spazzy with people i just met 45 mintues before…
here's me and jamie:

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and here's me and shiela:
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you girls are so such good sports.
i loved meeting all the california families.
it was so cool to be so far from home and feel "at home" with complete strangers.
and now…we aren't strangers anymore.

new friends.
i love that about my job….everybody is just so nice…i meet all the best families. 

add a comment

OnlineSurveyJobs - I love your haircut. I tried to get a haircut like that once. It turned into a frizzy triangle looking dome thing on my head. Not so cute.

Courtney Walsh - aw, super fun, Meg! I think it’s cool to have a shot of you taking a picture. How fun! 🙂

Laura - That first girl?? I want her shirt. Please find out where she got it.
You are easy to be friends with Meg…

Judy - Love your necklace, Meg.

Kirsten J - You. Are not a dork. And I have the same picture with me and Miss Tara Whitney….just needed proof that we existed in the same space at the same time. And if you ever come to Seattle…or I should travel to Kansas…I’d want the exact same pic 🙂

Genn - Hi Meg,
You are SO not a dork! You always look adorable. I bet her blog profile pics are going to look awesome!!
Also, that last picture of your last post is FANTASTIC! I hope that couple frames that one and blows it up big. It is so genuine. Great shot.

Jennifer - Love the pics and gosh Meg…I think I’ve said it before, but I just LOVE your hair!! 🙂

Andrea Howe - A couple of things. First, thank you for your kind words and shout out to my new digs! How nice are you? Second, your camera is technically nicer, we just had a nicer lens (Art made me say that :). Third, you are beautiful in these shots, especially that last picture of you and I. Fourth, Hmmmm, what was #4? Oh yeah, thanks for all the Tucker for Target tunic love ladies! Love me some Target, especially when you can get shirts from designers that normally retail for $300, for $30! BOOYAH! That’s Cali dorky mom speak for heck yeah!
p.s. as I’ve already said before, it was an honor to meet you. You gave me lasagna (I had never made one before your recipe), and you gave me beer margaritas, the least I could do was bring you some cake pops!

karen - Meg, you look great!!
I also think you would look stunning in a very deep dark brown hair colour or even a soft black!!
I love your eyes 🙂

Nikki - Why are you a dork? I love the photo’s… you guys are very cute. Not dorky at all!!! I love her orange top.

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Her shirt is adorable. Now off to check out her new blog. Oh and you need to visit ME!

Elizabeth - I’m so sorry that I missed your visit out here!

allison - my response to “I am a dork” …welcome to the club 🙂

Shauna - you are a nut.
a nut with good make-up.
my favorite kind.
my friend and i were trying to think up something funnier and crazier then the whole “throw your cell-phone into your yard” idea. we new you were visiting the OC and were thinking of trying a “Lucy and Ethel” type hunt down. WE are dorks.

Crystal - I’m a photographer too, but I’m looking for a photographer to do our family pics & daughter’s 2 year photos. Do you ever come to Oklahoma (tulsa)? Oh, and I just learned about cake pops on Friday! A girl brought some cake balls to work for us & we were searching online for a cakeball recipe & came across all the cute cake pops! I was so excited & wanted to just come home & make them ALL! And, like a previous comment, I’d love to hear about your new camera! I have a Canon Rebel. I love your blog, I’ve become addicted! Crystal

Jamie - Geez, you’re so cute! And, whoa, that picture of me is reaaallly close. ha, ha. I’m glad one got taken of the two of us together. It was really fun to meet you! Thanks for the opportunity!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - Would you ever do a post on your new camera. You used to have a rebel and now you’ve upgraded. How is it different? Love to know. Love your outfit and necklace. Loved the orange tunic too. Everyone looked so good. I am inspired to go shopping. Not something I usually write.
Dana

transparent mama - I love that you are a spaz and a dork. It is so much more fun than being a serious, boring professional type.

Valerie - I hope you’re coming back to California soon! I would love to have you take my family’s pics. All you gals look adorable!

Mindy Harris - yep i’m hooked on andrea’s blog now. and i love heather of blessed little nest/life made lovely. neat people.

Miranda - Love these pics of Andrea (a friend)! so glad she brought you the cake lollis – yummers!
Lorelei – A’s tunic is Tucker for Target.

julia - you aren’t a dork. love your outfit.

The Lady of the House - Loved this pics – how much fun to go meet these cali gals!!! LOVED your black and white stripe 🙂 Hugs, The Lady of the House

laurenjean - So cute !! I am a photographer too, and it seriously is the best job.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - OH, beautiful ladies! I’m so happy for you! You are really doing what you love ~ you can tell!!

a pocket full of posies - So fun!!! wanna come visit here and do a session?? really…maybe when we move?…I’ll bribe you with cakepops and other goodies! 🙂
Happy Monday!
Many Blessings!
Jill

Kristi - Lovin’ your hair chicky!

april - so jealous!!!! Wish I could have done a session!!! Def NEXT time….lol….looks like you had a blast!!! YA!!!

Lorelei Eurto - I love that dress/shirt that Andrea is wearing, do you happen to know where she got it?

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winners, california and home.

September 20, 2010 Filed in me me me

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winners for the lisa leonard necklace…..trish, vicki, alicia.  

email me your address girls.
thanks lisa! 

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california was SUPER FAB.
i went with my neighbor amy who goes to cali all the time and knows where everything is.
our flight was lame…broken/not broken door….de-plane….re-plane…wait wait wait.
crazies sitting on all sides of us.
but we made it and arrived at julie's where dinner was waiting for us….need that recipe.

i took 4 pictures during my trip.
HA.
i wish i could show you all the happy colors of her home or the rainbow quilt i slept under or the painted starfish 
because you would LOVE every bit of it.
but i was having too much fun for pictures.

this is one of my pics….MY QUILT.
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i made a little progress on it and while i was at photo sessions amy finished all the strips for me!
only 27 steps left before it's finished.  :)

i met so many fun people on my short trip!
julie's friends, her family and then all my fun family sessions.

the three of us shopped and talked and ate.
repeat.
for three days.

we did not sleep.

and one night i cried a lot.  
i have issues people…now julie knows them all.
she could be my new therapist…maybe she could start charging me for email therapy sessions? 

and i am now in love with ben afleck after we watched The Town…in the third row.

i have a new love for starbucks, tommy lee, fight club and therapy dogs. 

we had every square inch of our teeny carry-on lugguage FULL.
and then at 3:25 AM amy and i drove to LAX….boo-hoo.
it was a bummer to leave.

i love blogland and all it's happy intersections.
i love julie and her family.
i love california.

i do not love the KILLER cold i came home with….it's brutal.

i love my husband because he can flawlessy care for his family without me…even come home to a clean house!
i love amy for being adventerous and FUN to travel with.
i love all my new memories of the third weekend of september.

now….back to bed for this sick sleepy mama.

add a comment

north face clearance - Happy to see your blog as it is just what I’ve looking for and excited to read all the posts. I am looking forward to another great article from you.http://www.nfclearance.com

clarice - hey janice d…….meg had not had enough sleep so give her a break besides as women we can cry anytime,anywhere and so on when we want ): you must be a really coLD person…..go meg(:
blessings,

The Lady of the House - So glad you got away for a little “girl time”. Feel better & I’m totally lovin’ the quilt so far.
The Lady of the House

Dar - This So Cal girl would love to read about all of the cool places that you went while here. Also, sorry about the weather, we never really had a summer this year. Glad you enjoyed your visit!

Jennifer - Wow, you are lucky!! Last weekend, no kids and this week with girlfriends! How do you do it with five kids??? I have three and I get a night every once in awhile but I’m so jealous. I don’t even know how I’d act if I got more than a few hours… Can’t wait to see how the quilt turns out. I love the fabric.

Gemma - Hi Meg,
Glad your back : )
Hope your well soon X
Gemma x

melissa - YAY!!! You’re back!!!!

Jodi - Also crushing on Ben Affleck after seeing The Town! That shot of him doing pull ups? Um, Hello! And his voice was super sexy too. Glad you had a fun time in CA.
Hope you feel better soon.

Sugar Mama - Isn’t it awesome being married to a capable man! Makes being away that much easier… and special. Glad you had a fabulous time! And I LOVE the patterns of the fabrics you chose!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - This sounds so much like the week I had! Except for the CA part…

deborah@applesinwonderland - gotta’ adore a man that can bring home the bacon AND fry it up in the pan;) You know you picked up a nasty airplane virus? i think the airplane air is all from 1972 or 1974. truly. feel better:)

becki - Yay for girl time!

Anna Marie - CRAIG…I am impressed!
Meg…glad you had fun. Now get better so you can post more happy blogs. I missed them 😉

Mindy Harris - Glad you got to get away, Darlin’. We all need that every once in awhile and I can’t wait to do the same after my baby girl is “off the boob.” Ha.
Praying you will feel better soon. Your quilt is going to be just beautiful. Kudos!

Valerie@chateaualamode - Awww, take care Meg…sounds like it was a wonderful time! Happy for you to have some girl time…it’s important for us moms.

Trish - Did you hear me holler all the way from bush Alaska?!! You seriously made my day. I have been fighting with a nasty computer virus all afternoon so this was WONDERFUL news!
My husband can also flawlessly care for the kids, albeit there’s fewer here, while I’m away. And I LOVE that.
i’ll be e-mailing you as soon as I am sure my ugly virus is totally cleared up.
oh, and I have issues too. they’re not pretty.

PinkPeanutButter - Sounds like you guys had a great time!!! Love the quilt!

Julie - Hockey masks.

Margo - I am loving your quilt!! I hope you feel better soon!

Kat - Meg, you are not alone. I was crying in the car on the way home from school drop off today. I guess I have issues also.
Thanks for always keeping it real and making those of us who read your blog feel like we can share a little part of your life.
Oh for some girlfriend time, sigh. (I think that is part of my issue atm.)
No pictures means you were too busy living in the moment, which is fantastic!
I hope you feel better soon and am glad you got to get away and have me time!

linda lou - beautiful colors in the quilt (those are my favorite(:)………..glad you got to go to california and my prayers that you feel better soon. blessings,
linda lou

miss r - Girlfriend time is the best!

Nikki - Sounds like you had a wonderful time…. but, no pictures 🙁 Oh well, I guess you were too busy having fun (which is a good thing!) I love the colours of the quilt you are making.
Sorry to hear that you’re sick, hope you get better soon.

Jen M - When I come home with no pictures I know that I was truly living in the moment. And those are actually some of the best memories.

Conny - The girls get away weekends are always too short! But I can say I’ve done a few quickie trips to Minnesota for the girl time. :>) Don’t forget to visit Northern California some time ~ it’s like a different state than Southern Cal ~ who knows, you may like it too.
Love your blog. I’m a recently new reader.
~Conny in the Silicon Valley

Jess - Glad you are home, but so sad you are sick. Yuck! Can’t wait to hear all about your trip. 🙂

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - If the rainbow quilt you slept under is the one on her “Nothing Better” post, then I bought one just like it this weekend. My Target had them on clearance for $10. There was one left and I grabbed it and did a happy dance in the middle of Target— I kid you not— a happy dance! 🙂
Crying with friends over our issues is the best therapy! We all have issues! But it’s especially nice to have friends that still love you after they know your issues! 🙂

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Get some rest and feel better! I missed you while you were gone. I kept refreshing your blog… ::open, open:: like the Mervyn’s lady.
So glad you had fun!

Shauna - i just love you. you are a light to my day today.

jennifer - So glad you had such a great weekend! Good friends that let you let it all hang out are the best. Rare, but the best!
Love the fabrics in your quilt and I can’t wait to see it when it’s done.

Kari - I just adore reading your blog. You are such an inspiration. I cry a lot too but mostly lately b/c my grandmother passed away a few weeks ago. I try and think about the fact that she lived to be 88 and was well traveled and still living on her own and driving and everything. Not everyone can say that… But other times I think I cry b/c I’m trying to figure out what I want to do with my life!

pam - So cool you could have such a fun trip/therapy. Bummer on the sick…sleep is good. I told my dad about Roy’s…his response, “oh yeah…been there, really good stuff. I think it’s been there for like 50 years.” “WHAT? How come you never took us?” “I don’t know..it really is good!” I feel he failed me in my childhood. :o)

Staci - Your trip sounds absolutely positively awesome! Hope you are feeling better very soon! And yay for husbands who can take care of our family when we leave like it’s no big deal 🙂 I LOVE that!!!! And yay to the winners!!!

bobbie - I love Julie is a broken link. Love the quilt!

Andrea Howe - It was so great meeting you Meg. You are beautiful! I have a couple of pictures I will send you from our meet up, and I can’t wait to see the ones you took! Oh, and Art and I went to see the Town last night and have mercy, Ben Affleck is a doll, even as a bank robber. I put on Facebook this morning that he made me want to fall in love with a bank robber! HA! BTW, I have decided that after now having met you, I will no longer be a stalker, but actually leave a comment. If you hadn’t already guessed by my knowledge of your blog, I do actually read every post 🙂

Janice D. - Why so much crying. Stop being so dramatic. You have a wonderful husband, healthy children and you still have time to travel to visit a friend while your husband takes care of the children and your house. Give me a break and go cry for something that really matters.

Bobbi Jo - Totally crushing on Ben Affleck too after seeing The Town. You know it’s a good movie when you’re totally rooting for the bad guy.

Transparent Mama - Hope you said Hi to California for me. The quilt looks adorable.

Heather @ Cookie Mondays - i already told julie, but i am super jealous 🙂
third weekend of september last year, we were there!

amy d - this whole post made me smile and laugh out loud! it was so much fun…EVERY BIT OF IT (except shrimpy car with no key fob!) i barely took any pictures too…just too busy having fun!
thanks for the awesome adventure….ABORT! ABORT! ABORT! RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trish - Oh man I thought I was the winner of the necklace til I clicked on Trish’s name. Oh well 🙂
Maybe you could do skype therapy! More interaction!
Sounds like so much fun… One day I will be that adventurous and just fly off to cali for a weekend to meet people 🙂

Georgia - Hope you get well soon!
Sounds like a fun trip 🙂
Im Loving that quilt your making, very colourful and cozy looking 🙂
xxx Geo xxx

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