Every now and then I like to pull back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes of a blog. I know the pictures make it look like I have my act together all the time, but nothing could be further from the truth. lol The times I actually have anything together happen maybe twice a year. No lie.
As I was styling this kitchen for photos, I kept having out-of-body moments, thinking to myself: if I could document this for the whole world to see, people would never believe this is what it takes to get pictures of a clean, decorated kitchen.
You'll find some sources linked through images throughout the post and an extensive list at the end. Some affiliate links have been used for your convenience. See my full disclosure policy here.
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Don't get me wrong, I love to decorate, and the decor is real. But there's usually a ton of real life going on around the house that gets cropped out or moved just beyond the camera frame.
But back to what actually happened on the day this photo shoot (almost) took place. I had to postpone it for two days because of all the chaos.
I've mentioned before that I hired a house cleaner this year. It's one of the best things I've ever given myself. It keeps the clutter in check around here, and every two weeks my whole house is clean from top to bottom. I really, really, really try to schedule photo days for the day she comes to clean. That way I don't have to clean a bunch for the photos, and everything's already picked up.
So last Monday was that day. I planned to finish my last-minute touches in the kitchen once she was done, and then snap my pictures. Timing matters, too, because in the winter months you only get a couple of really good hours of light. My cleaning lady usually finishes up around 11, which was going to be perfect.
But that weekend the girls got sick. My youngest even ended up in the hospital one night, because anytime she gets croup she ends up in the ER. So I got no sleep that night and spent the rest of the weekend trying to make up for it, while my husband was coaching a wrestling tournament. Also while juggling a sick 6-year-old. Mama was tired.
On Sunday night the kids were feeling much better, and Monday looked promising. I planned to send them both to school and get my work done.
But then I woke up sick. The 6-year-old came in and said she still didn't feel very well and still had a pretty bad cough. So I decided we were all staying home one more day. That turned out to be good, because the girls could entertain each other while the cleaning lady was here and while I worked.
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They play pretty well together, but there were the occasional fights and squabbles, which were hard to handle while I was working and dealing with my own illness.
We ended up eating Chick-fil-A for breakfast and McDonald’s for lunch, both eaten in the car because I didn't want to get the kitchen dirty.
And I needed to get them out of the cleaning lady's way while she cleaned their rooms.
Then, once the kitchen was clean and I could finally take pictures, it was so hard to get anything done because the girls were tired of playing together by then. For the whole five minutes they played nicely outside on the trampoline, I was meticulously ironing kitchen Christmas towels. For reals.
By the time I'd nearly ripped off part of my lip while trying to hang the faux boxwood wreaths on the cabinets, I had pretty much decided the pictures would have to wait for another day.
(Ouch!! Who knew that putting tape on your lips could rip the skin right off? I've been holding extra tape in my mouth for years and have never experienced this before!)
Y’all. I'm posting this a week after all of this happened, and it still makes me laugh at all the juggling that goes into taking some pretty pictures for this old blog.
When the stars all align and the girls are in school and I can work quickly, it's a beautiful thing.
But even when things don't work out perfectly, I'm so grateful for a job that lets me work in the cracks and crevices of the roller coaster that is motherhood. I love showing my girls how you can chase your dreams and work and be a mom all at the same time. Even if that means eating Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s in the car for two meals.
My girls and I are mostly healthy now and excited to celebrate their birthdays this week with dear friends and family, then spend special quality time together as a family of four as we gear up for Christmas. It's going to be a wonderful week!
I hope you enjoyed my Christmas Kitchen Tour. You may like to see the rest of my home decorated for Christmas this year …
- The Farm Fresh Christmas Trees Living Room
- A Neutral Christmas Dining Room
- A Neutral Christmas Entryway
- A Pretty Christmas Wrapping Station
Sources:
- Emily Ley Simplified Planner (on my counter, which is Grand Central Station for all things Christmas planning)
- Christmas Plaid Mug – Target’s Dollar Spot (not available online)
- DIY Large Chalkboard
- Nativity art next to the flocked tree – GraceLaced (no longer available)
- DIY Chalk and Chalk Eraser Holder
- Pomegranate Branches
- Lamb’s Ear
- Cotton Stems
- Gingerbread House Kit
- Tobacco Baskets
- Fiddle Leaf Fig (similar)
- Merry Christmas Free Printable
- O Come Let Us Adore Him Free Printable
- Christmas village scenes
- Large Hocking Jar
- Smaller Hocking Jars
- Galvanized Sorter Tray
- Mrs. Meyer’s Peppermint Hand Soap
- Christmas Kitchen Towels
- Mug Tree
- Monogram Mug
- Coffee Maker
- Galvanized Wall Clock (similar)
- Plaid Ribbon
- Oil-Rubbed Bronze Chandelier in Eat-in Kitchen
- Semi-flush Mount Light in KitchenSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave
