Well, today I am taking you to a messy, cluttered place. My home. Or should I say a blogger’s home because it never looked like this in my pre-blogging days. Horrors!! What did I get myself into? How does my family put up with me? Join me as well take a look behind the scenes peek at the boondocks blog.
I am joined in this wacky adventure by some friends who are also super brave and will show you their ”Behind the Scenes” reality. So don’t go anywhere, you’ll be able to see my blogging friends posts on the bottom of this post.
Peek #1 – The Tri-Colored Coffee Table
And those are my daughter’s knees on the bottom left trying to stay out of the photo.
And let’s not overlook the paint brush on the table. At least I had it in a plastic container.
Peek #2 – The Dictionary Stand
Light! It’s all about the lighting. Outdoors means natural light, even if it’s a cloudy day in January no less!
Peek #3 – The Christmas Decor on the Wall Unit
That glass block window behind Santa has been a problem for years. I had originally added a fabric scraps curtain to block some of the light out. Of course it did nothing for this picture. I had to find some other way to save the pictures.
The glare from that window is constant. I don’t really want to add a heavy duty curtain since it is nice to have that bit of light but it really is not photo friendly!
Peek #4 – The Mirror with Angels
But you see that the shot stops there. What is further down?
Peek #5 – The Fabric Headboard
Everything is perfect down to the last detail. The fabric, the right chair, the added details on top of the dresser. But there are two things you don’t see.
One, there is no mattress in the bed frame. It is an illusion. “wink”
Peek #6 – The Balcony Photography Studio
The stool is used to put all my stuff while I’m setting up.
Oh and the icing on the cake! Many times I go out there in my pajamas. Because we all know a blogger’s uniform is pajama wear! I hope the neighbors have not been spooked.
Peek #7 – The Painting Area
Oh I’m planning to get to those copper dishes…one day! But for now they stay there as a reminder. And the chair is done!
Peek #8 – Where Have All the Books Gone?
My son really does love his books! He placed all of his non-fiction books here.
Sometimes we show you the pretty because, really, who wants to see all the rest? So trust us when you see a pretty! The ugly ought to stay hidden!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this special post behind the scenes peek of the boondocks blog. Now scroll down to see what my super talented friends have gotten themselves into.
If you like what you see, share it with your friends, or save it on Pinterest. Above is a Pinterest worthy image!
If you really like what you see subscribe to my blog and get my adventures twice a week in your mailbox. The form is on the sidebar and your e-mail will never be shared with a third party.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Linking up to these Link Parties
This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.
I love it when I get your comments and I will try reply to them or visit you on your blog. Please do not add a hyperlink to your comment, otherwise we cannot publish it.
Did I just see a hint of Mr Pumpkin peeping out on the side of the photo. Is he eyeing out the pastries? Aaww Mary I’m so glad I’m not the only one that goes to extremes to try and get the perfect shot. Sometimes I think the lengths we go to to take that final photo is when we are at our most creative. I love how you painted the pallet white to create a backdrop and that your daughter’s there to help. What would we do without our behind the scenes helpers. Great post Mary, I loved reading it and seeing the real thing
Michelle that is Mr. Pumpkin. He has become a permanent fixture in our house. I agree with you about those crazy lengths we go to. We take photos and then in the end we take some more out of frustration and we end up with the pretty shot. Going the extra mile, as they say. Do we miss our pre-blogger days before the houses became a mess?
LOL, I only miss the pre-blogging days when we’re expecting guests and I have to try tidy everything up 😉
I can really relate. My garage is an organized mess. I know where stuff is but anyone looking in is absoutely appalled. As I am working on a project it spills over to the house. So for a beauty shot the rest of the house is chaos.
Debra you understand. It is a never ending battle to keep the piles of mess out of the shot. One of these days I promise to get organized. 😉
I’m glad we’re not the only ones living in chaos, Mary! It’s good to see that we’re all up to the same tricks 🙂
The struggle is never ending Greg!
Mary, this is great! I was smiling, like BIG smile the entire time, shaking my head up and down in agreement because while it’s a different home than mine, it seems to operate the very same. Like, why is the iron in the living room? Thanks for including me!
This post just confirms what we never suspected. We are all so alike it’s not even funny! Just like we swapped homes.
Yessss, another blogger who works indoors and out clad in pj’s. I swear the courier drivers have never seen me dressed in real clothes. These reality shots are awesome, Mary – they truly depict the life of a creative. So smart of you to keep them (I sadly deleted most of the shots that didn’t make the blog). The lengths we will go to get that trophy shot!
Haha! I have a whole collection of pajamas! And half of them have paint stains too! And yes we will bend upside down, twist and turn just to get that shot.
I am enjoying these series Mary, I need to show them to my hubby so he can understand us bloggers. The tri-colored kitchen table and the mess around cracked me up, I am sure all that stuff has a life of its own and it expands and expands.
Pajamas are a must too, they are our uniform lol
Pili yes it does expand and slowly it is taking over the whole living room. And let’s not talk about my kitchen counters! 😉
Mary, I am amazed. I thought my house was the only one that looked that way. And finding light? without glare?? nearly impossible. I have a very dark house and I am still working on finding SOMEWHERE to photograph.
Sunday, I thought I’d just go outside and take my pics. It was beautiful and oh so sunny! It made everything look white. Light blue?….white. Light pink?….white…. sigh…
I’ll keep working on it though. I am sure it is possible.
🙂 gwingal
I forgot to say that I LOVE and need that dictionary table!
Thank you Gwin! We really love our outdoor light don’t we? Try to take photos at sunrise or sunset. I find that during the day the sun is so strong it makes everything look washed out or as you say… white!
The struggle is real, Mary. At least you can still photograph outside in January and with a gorgeous view! My house looks just as messy (forgot to add photo of my kitchen, maybe it’s not too late?) It’s amazing that our families still put up with us, lol. Thanks for being brave and share these with us and also thank you for talking me into joining you. It’s been fun and a relief in a way. Like, I’m OK with my imperfections now that the cat is out and people know the real me, ha!
Haha! Jas it really is amazing how they put up with us. We may be messy but from that mess we create something beautiful and that is what really matters.
I think it`s a normal thing Mary. You have so many projects going all the time, and so many creative ideas. If you would organise everything, and all the time, when would you have the time to be creative? I love your post, you made me laught 🙂
I don`t do many crafts, I work only in the kitchen. But it`s always a mess. My problem is that I always have to clean after me if I want to stay alive. My mother would kill me if I`d left a mess in the kichen, she`s a little bit of a clean maniac :)).
Cristina the mess is threatening to take over the house. At least your mess is confined to the kitchen. Speaking of which, I also have a mess there, although I shouldn’t since I don’t have a food blog! 😉
Well, I don’t know when I have laughed so much reading a blog! Seriously, you cracked me up. Mainly because of your being so REAL to show us behind the scenes! I thought I was the only person brave enough to do that a times. LOL! Girl, I like REAL. No other way to be. I have the grandbabies play ROOM packed with stuff because the little spare room I am in the process of redoing (which has been slow) because of TIME mainly, is not ready for me to start putting things back in there. Well that means the grands can’t play in there and I can’t walk in there to get other things I NEED. YOU WOULD GASP if I showed you that picture! Anyway, thanks for sharing. I’ve enjoyed this today. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Cindy your comment has made me very happy. If I can make someone laugh or bring a simile to a face then I have done a good deed for the day. I’ve been following your progress on your craft room and hope you can complete it soon so you can give the grandbabies their room back. The struggle is real Cindy!
When my Feedreader showed a picture with a pretty girl und er your blogname, I was surprised. But what a delight this post is, I love seeing the behind the scenes. Wenn I was younger I got very frustrated, trying to make my place like the magazines, even though their just-out-of-the-shot looks similar to yours I bet.
Dalia I am so glad you enjoyed it. We all need to realize that there is no one who has magazine worthy homes. After all real people live real lives. And we bloggers really live in ours. So much so, that we have no time to clean!
Same here, hahaha, so funny how we can all relate and it’s great too see how life doesn’t have to be picture perfect! Love your post and all the behind the scenes shots Mary!!!
Katrin we can all relate. It is impossible to be a blogger and to have a pulled together home. We are too busy blogging!
You’re brave Mary! lol
I just want to say your fathers railings are very interesting! Love them!
xxx
Thanks Doreen! Those railings were installed a few years ago. I think they are aluminum so they don’t rust like the other type did. Now he doesn’t have to paint them every few years.
Do you think the rest of the non-blogging world thinks we’re just a tad off? I’m pretty sure they do. Oh well…we’re having fun..right?
Thanks for the peak!
Hugs, Lynn
Just a tad?? I would say we are waaaay out there! The lengths we go to for just one shot!
So, funny, but true! It makes me think of needing a Christmas tree photo, but I hadn’t decorated it yet. I just decorated a small section and zoomed in!
Haha! I can see it now. Gotta love that zoom!!
Mary, I love this post more than I can say. I’ve often talked about this when someone will say something nice. (I should just say, “Thank you!”). But no, it’s “You should see the chair to the right, just out of the frame” or “Isn’t cropping wonderful?!” I’ve often wanted to do a post like this myself but to be honest, after seeing yours, it would pale in comparison on every level — photography, subject matter and humor! Only the honesty would come through.
Bravo!
Jeanie what a sweet thing to say. I think because I do a lot of DIY projects things get kind of wacky here. Whereas when we do photography of landscapes or other things it is a bit easier.
You should try a post like this. It can be very liberating. I feel like I don’t have to find excuses for my messes anymore, it’s part of the job description. Lol!
This is such an honest peek into the life of a blogger. I can absolutely relate with so many of these. You definitely go to extremes to get that perfect shot. I have rearranged furniture, perched on a fence, hidden the chaos… These are all just homages to our dedication and creativity. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday this week. Very fun post!
Marie it is back breaking work but we do it for the love of that “almost perfect” shot. Because you know we are never 100% satisfied.
Haha! So glad to know I’m not the only one that has to shove the unpretty out of the way and just out of sight! Such a fun post we can all relate to if we live in the real world, that is. And I know exactly what you mean when you say you straighten it up, & then minutes-hours-whatever….later, it’s right back.
It is never ending Florence. Even now as I am typing I see two piles next to me and I really don’t know where they came from!
Mary,
I have to crack up as we are kindred spirits… I am constantly moving things out of the way, and STILL I’ll see something in the background {cords, junk on the stairs} that get in an otherwise good shot! 🙂 I pinned a bunch of these photos to various boards and to my Blogging 1,2,3 board because, yes, photography is all about The Look, but reality is we live there. 🙂
Fun post! Next time I’d be happy to share some “uglies.”
Always,
Barb 🙂
Hahah!!! And crack up you should! We all have to poke fun at ourselves. I have to edit all sorts of junk out of pictures with Picmonkey Barbara.
And of course we’d love to see your “uglies” too! 🙂
Thank you soooo much, dear Mary!
I often despair when I’ve got to take pictures and they seldom become just the way I intended them to. And it’s a great relieve knowing I’m not the only one keeping an overcluttered and not so veeeery tidy home…
Quite recently I came across a quote of Einstein’s: “Geniale Menschen sind selten ordentlich, Ordentliche selten genial.” Meaning: “Ingenious people are rarely tidy. Tidy people rarely ingenious.”
It did make me feel better 😉
Have a great day,
Marjan
Haha Marjan my daughter is always telling me that. But in her case I think it’s an excuse so she can be messy.
Love it! So good to read that other bloggers just post perfect shots surrounded by messiness. lol
Can’t wait to read the rest now. 🙂
This was one of the easiest posts I’ve ever written Stephanie. I have mess all around me at all times.
Blogger’s life…the struggle is real!
You know it Janet! After so many years better than most of us!
Clicking through and reading all of these with my morning coffee, I love it. Happy to know that I’m not the only one who shoves things to the side or “dusts” my furniture in the photo editing stage! LOL
These are the tricks of the trade Nikki. And if we don’t catch them before hand we have to edit them later which is even more work.
Mary, I love how you portrayed the life of a blogger and DIYer. It was fun seeing all the behind the scenes of the set. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has a pile of projects to get to. 😉
Keri thank goodness there is an even bigger pile in my imagination otherwise we’d have no room to move in this house!
OMG a blogger’s life revealed! My OCD hit some high levels but this is one of the best ideas for a blog post!
Haha Katerina I used to be like you and was driving myself crazy. But I have learned to accept the inevitable and just calm myself down.
Mary I am glad to know I am not the only one that has a mess behind the scenes. LOL I usually have to move things out of the way to even take a picture even though I have a some what place set up for my photos. Then I have to edit out the mess around it.
My table in the craft room is usually full of started projects that I end up dragging stuff out to the breakfast bar to do my painting. Then it sits there till I’m finished.
I think that you are right, the chaos is a blogging thing (that’s what I want to believe anyway), and I’m glad I’m not alone. LOL
It has to be a blogging thing Linda, otherwise we’d have no excuse. One day maybe, and that’s a big maybe we will conquer the mess!
LOL! It’s amazing how similar our dining rooms are! Just yesterday I had to shove things over on the table to get them out of a shot for insta!
Jeannee
It never ends Jeannee! I spend half my time doing just that.
Shhhh….. I thought that was supposed to be a secret!!?? 🙂
Loved your post, Mary!!!
Oops, the cats out of the bag Diane! I think we deserve some respect from the folks that think we have it easy! 😉
I’m loving all of these behind the scenes posts! I thought it was just my house that had become chaos when I started blogging a few months ago. I’m a super organized person by nature, and still trying to figure out a way to have both – a clean house AND a blog. Maybe someday…. Thanks for sharing!
Not gonna happen Amy. Because I am a DIYer I have tools and bits and pieces all over the house. The only way I’ll ever get organized is if I move to a new house!
Your post made me laugh as think we all do this, the finished item looks all calm and perfectly staged. Yet little do people know what really happens behind the scenes.
A very brave lady but glad I am not the only one
Yes Caroline a small hurricane has hit the house! Haha! They have no idea what we go through!
Oh I love this theme so much! Even though I know that this is how it is being a blogger myself, I still find it reassuring to see that the rest of you are the same Mary – still no basement shot though!
You know about that basement, maybe we should do another series so I can show off that utter disaster Sarah!
This is such a fun post! The struggle is real, isn’t it! I took a pick last week of the giant mess in my kitchen while I was preparing a recipe for the blog. Those close up shots serve a purpose don’t they! As we are empty nesters now, I turned my daughter’s old bedroom into a craft room but it isn’t really possible to take pictures in there because it is so very unorganized!
That Shirley is the biggest problem, Finding the right lighting is no laughing matter. When I first started, and I cringe now, my photos were full of shadows and very dark. No amount of editing could save them.
Amen to close ups! haha!!
I loved this post! Would have never thought to do such a show all. You’re very brave 🙂 Anxious to see what the others shared.
I have to tell you this, I thought about you last night as I was watching tv. Actor John Stamos was on Who Do You Think You Are? to explore his Greek heritage. I thought of you instantly when he left to go to Greece. He ended up finding family in a village called Kakouri. His grandfather shortened their family name from Stamotopoulos after immigrating to the United States.
Anyway, thank you Mary for attending the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty. I shared your post on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Thank you so much! Many of us need to shorten our last names because they are such a mouthful!
Love it, Mary! My house often looks the same way on photograph day. After all, who has time to clean and craft?? 😉 I am off to pin, but I am totally sharing this on Facebook.
Thanks so much Kim. I am really glad we did this blog hop. I think it makes us all feel much better knowing that we are all the same and not to feel bad.
I’ve started following this interesting series Mary and quite enjoy it! Found myself in many of the posts:)
#bloggingtroubles
Yes Maya that is just what they are! It’s nice to know that we are all in the same boat.
Too funny Mary. I know all your blogger friends including myself can relate. It is amazing how nice a photo can be with the right angles/materials, and messiness removed from the shot.
Usually it looks like the corners off the shot were thrown up on from all the stuff that’s been moved out of the shot. Am I saying it right? And then we just put the mess in it’s original spot. haha!
Hilarious! I feel your pain. Don’t worry about all the stuff in your house. Your projects always turn out amazing, and you need to keep several projects going at all times. Thanks for the peek behind the scenes.
Carol thanks for the vote of confidence! You know what i’m talking about. Even the simplest project will yield way too much of a mess!
This series of posts was a brilliant idea. Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading every single one of the posts!
They had humor, relatability and excellent tips and tricks.Loved them all. 😀
We are glad we could help out. We also had a blast coming up with this series. And if feels soooo good to see that everyone is just like us! 😉
Ha! Mary, I can completely relate! Although I am not a DIY blogger, like you, I can sure make a mound of mess even for one single shot. Of course, pjs are proper attire for taking pics – a girl’s gotta be comfy to create!
Poppy
PJs for sure Poppy. But now mine are all full of paint splatter. 😉
I go through the same thing when taking pictures for my blog! My digital storage is always saying it’s almost full & I’m constantly deleting, editing, & moving pictures! Good to know it’s not just me avoiding the chaos in my photos!
Oh yes the storage is always full and I never throw the drafts out. I don’t know why I’d want to keep so many failed shots.
Ha ha Mary this is brilliant. We all do it (shove all the stuff to one side) in order to get our lovely photos. I swipe everything off the kitchen table, prop up poster board, balance a daylight lamp to the side with no window, stand on a chair – all sorts of things to try to get decent lighting. It’s always nice to know I’m not alone!
I can just picture you! Haha! This problem with the lighting is such a big issue for many of us. I solved it the best way I think by going outdoors. But there are times when it’s not possible.
Oh I love this peek behind the scenes Mary! That’s exactly why I prefer doing recipe posts over DIYs most of the time – I’m just too impatient to tidy up and hide the mess I made 😀 This series sound like a fun idea though! My boyfriend has actually snapped a shot of me taking photos a couple of times, which usually shows me in a weird position in a pile of props or my thrust aside mess…
You see, no matter what type of blogger you are the struggle is real. I think the only ones who don’t have this problem are the ones who use stock photos.
You’re brave to show the clutter behind the money shot. You should see the mess my house is in at times. Sometimes I borrow my friends houses for photo shoots. However since starting the blog it has spurred me on to decorate and declutter more, so maybe I’ll get there one day.
Claire that is a brilliant idea. Borrowing a friends house. I could definitely do that. But that is so true because we are constantly creating our houses are full of unique things.
it’s nice to see that wee all have the same idea when it comes to shooting blog pictures. You gotta do what you gotta do, right!
Hugs,
Bev
That;s right Bev. Those beauty shots are not gonna take themselves!
Mary, I feel so much better to know I’m not the only one who does all of what you showed. It’s amazing what we’ll do to get our photos!
I think it’s time the rest of the world knew too. We deserve more respect for this job! 🙂
We bloggers lead a glamorous life don’t we! I’m sure that every blogger that looks at these pictures and reads the post get a good chuckle or two. We can all relate and hats off to you for taking us behind the scenes. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, and have a great weekend.
Haha! Yes Sandra we are so glamorous!! I really cannot believe the response we got for this series. It just goes to show we are all the same.
Mary, Your post made me chuckle as I know all too well, what is most likely outside of the picture frame!! Enjoyable read 🙂 Take care and thanks for sharing!
You know all about that since you are just like us in creating beauty inside the frame and chaos outside. I think it;s nice to know we are all in the same boat.
Hi Mary! Just wanted to let you know that your post is my featured pick this week at Over the Moon. Be sure to stop by and pick up your badge.
Thank you Shelley! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I completely understand hiding the ugly in the pictures. I do it all the time as many other bloggers do. It does make me feel better knowing I’m not the only one. 🙂 Thank you for sharing at Ravenwould.
There is no way anyone would come to our blogs if we showed any bit of the ugly!
Loved this post, Mary, and I feel your pain! I think you’ve come up with some great photo staging solutions. Although I’m not sure how you get anything done with that patio view. I’d just sit outside and look at a magazine and sip coffee all day. 😀
Cynthia it may look idyllic but in fact it is only nice during the summer months. Actually I take that back, the spring and fall is even better. In the summer it is way too hot. It is however lovely in the mornings and evenings when the sun is not beating down on us. But a girls gotta do what needs to be done. And I desperate needed a workspace.
Thanks for keeping it real, Mary. Mine is so much worse! But I am not sure I can blame blogging for it since I don’t do a lot of DIY. Working on scourging through my messes every day till I am free! Thank you for sharing at TADA! Thursdays
I think even if you are not a DIY blogger you spend so much time on the computer that there is little time for anything else. This job is much harder than any of us originally imagined. Of course we all love it so much we make that sacrifice.
Hi Mary, this post did make me smile. I bet there isn’t a blogger out there who can’t relate to your post. There was a time when I thought I was the only nutter dragging a table around the driveway trying to find the ‘perfect light’, before climbing onto chairs/ ladders/ pillars to get the ‘perfect angle’, but I have learned it’s a bloggers thing. Luckily our neighbours are all quite old, so probably can’t see that far or they just put me down as that crazy English woman!
xx
I get away with it because I am high up on a balcony. But I totally get you Debbie! At least now we know we are not alone in our nuttiness!
I enjoyed so much reading your post! 🙂 Because our house is so dark (or all tables are occupied) I often take photos outside on the stone floor. And I did get quite a few stares when we took photos of a summer outfit just some days before Christmas because the light was perfect! 😉 Thanks for sharing at Sew It Cook It Craft It.
Lina the outdoors is the place to photograph. I can just imagine. your neighbors looking at the summer outfit. Haha!!
Such a fun post, Mary! I can tell you enjoy putting it all together, didn’t you? I’ve been thinking about doing an expose on my craft room–I think many would find it quite shocking!! Thanks so much for linking up your posts with us at Vintage Charm–
Diana I thought I was doing something crazy, but it turns out we are all in the same boat. I think you will find that only the non bloggers will be shocked at your mess. Go for it!
Thank you, Mary. I thought I was alone in cropping all the creative mayhem out of my shots. I, too have a wayward iron in a handy but not put away place. This is the most honest and uplifting blog I have ever read. I’ll keep reading.
Aww thank you so much Cyndie. It’s always good to show the reality, we don’t want our readers to think that our lives are perfect. Far from it and I think it is important that they can identify with us after all, we are all the same. Thanks for taking the time to comment.