Embracing the Real: Why Authenticity is Our DIY Blogging Superpower
One of the most rewarding aspects of our blogging journey has always been our unwavering commitment to authenticity. Especially as a new year dawns, when the pressure to present a flawless life – the “perfect person, wife, or family” – can feel overwhelming, we consciously choose to fight that impulse. Our mantra is simple: authentic equals awesome, and perfection is, more often than not, an impossible illusion. This belief has shaped our entire approach. If our home is in disarray, we won’t hesitate to share a video that proves it, often before tidying up anything. When we’re utterly stumped on how to tackle a complex project, we openly admit our struggles, just like this memorable occasion. And if a DIY endeavor goes spectacularly wrong, you can bet we’ll blog every single detail, celebrating our failures as learning opportunities, as seen here and here, among many others.
Our blog thrives as a genuine DIY diary, chronicling the good, the bad, and yes, even the downright ugly aspects of home improvement and family life. We firmly believe that a blog presenting only the positive side of things tells merely half the story. We are just ordinary individuals, navigating the world of DIY projects with a realistic budget, learning new skills and techniques with every step we take. Formal training? None whatsoever. Cast your mind back five years, and you’d find us painting all our trim with the wrong finish, not even owning a power drill, and our house looking dramatically different from today, much like this early glimpse.
When this blog first began, we were the quintessential DIY beginners, grappling with everything from hanging curtains to finding the best deals on appliances. While we’ve undoubtedly accumulated a wealth of hands-on experience over more than four years of dedicated blogging, I felt it was important to kick off the year – and yes, January 17th still feels like the beginning, doesn’t it? – by openly sharing some truths that might just catch you by surprise. Or perhaps not, if you’re already familiar with our candid approach.
Seven Candid Confessions from Your Favorite DIY Bloggers
1. The Myth of the Perfect Marriage: Our Reality Unveiled
It’s fascinating how frequently people inquire whether John and I ever argue. Is it truly conceivable to be married for nearly five years and never disagree? Let me tell you, we absolutely fight, and we do it with the best of them! While we always ensure our disagreements are handled discreetly, never in front of our daughter Clara, we certainly have our moments. We are, after all, two distinct individuals. Individuals deeply in love, yes, but also equipped with strong convictions and tenacious wills – a trait I proudly attribute to being both Italian and from New Jersey! These robust personalities inevitably lead to spirited discussions, firm disagreements, and occasionally, full-blown arguments. These can range from a crucial parenting decision to a perplexing home improvement mishap. In essence, I believe we’re a very normal couple. Our love for each other is immense, but the pressures of renovation projects or the demanding joys of raising a toddler can sometimes overwhelm us, leading to a momentary lapse in composure. Yet, when these moments occur, we consciously remind ourselves that we are a unified front. We share the same fundamental goals: a healthy and well-adjusted daughter, a beautiful and secure home, and a mutual desire for happiness. We are a team – sometimes a dysfunctional or a bit crabby team, but a team nonetheless, always striving to navigate life’s challenges together and upholding the true meaning of a real marriage.
2. The Unvarnished Truth About Parenting: My Imperfect Child and Our Family Life
Naturally, there are countless wonderful things about our daughter, Clara. She’s an exceptional sleeper, her passion for singing and dancing is infectious, and she has an adventurous palate, enjoying unusual foods like hummus and pickles. However, any parent of a 20-month-old will readily confirm that toddlerhood is far from being all sunshine and roses. Clara, like any normal child, cries, struggles with teething, gets frustrated, throws food, tears magazines, throws tantrums, and exhibits all the other typical behaviors associated with this developmental stage. So, yes, I contend with the same challenges every other mom faces: the sudden illnesses, the ear-splitting screams, or the unforgettable incident where she projectile-vomited an entire pumpkin muffin all over her car seat. These are the messy, unpredictable realities of parenthood that seldom make it into highlight reels. And let’s not even delve into my labor experience – genuinely the scariest day of my life – or the fourteen months of breastfeeding. While I cherished that bonding experience, I would be dishonest if I didn’t admit it required immense effort, energy, and unwavering dedication, especially when I was juggling painting and DIY projects between feeding sessions. Yet, despite all the challenges, every single moment is unequivocally worth it. I adore that little bean beyond words. She may not be “perfect” by conventional standards, but she is absolutely perfect for us, embodying the beautiful chaos that defines our family’s journey and our commitment to authentic parenting.
3. Embracing the Flaws: Design and Life Mistakes Are Inevitable on Our DIY Journey
Our rooms, much like our lives, are perpetually in a state of evolution and transformation. Our first home, for instance, took us a grueling four and a half years to fully complete, and we’ve only been in our current residence for just over a year. This constant flux means that we often find ourselves navigating uncharted territory, making decisions in the dark, and sometimes, inevitably, making the wrong call. It’s only later, with the benefit of hindsight, that we experience a “lightbulb moment,” exclaiming, “What on earth were we thinking?!” and then swiftly correct our course. The crucial insight for recovering from mistakes, whether they are decor-related blunders or broader life missteps, is to avoid becoming rigidly attached to them. Instead, the goal is always to rectify the error. Consider, for example, purchasing a rug of the incorrect size and only realizing the oversight much later, as we famously did in our living room. Once we recognized the area for improvement, our solution wasn’t despair; it was action. We either repurposed the old rug in another room, sold it on Craigslist, and diligently saved up to invest in the right replacement. This pragmatic approach allowed both us and the room to progress. If we were ever to become paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake – or by a mistake we’ve already made – that’s when a room, or indeed a life, truly stagnates. We could never overcome decorating faux pas or significant life challenges if we didn’t continuously learn, adapt, and evolve along the way. Our aspiration is for our home, and for ourselves, to remain in a perpetual state of growth and change. Stagnation is simply not an option. Because, fundamentally, you cannot circumvent a life obstacle or recover from a DIY debacle if you remain frozen in place, unwilling to move forward and embrace the lessons from every design flaw.
4. Beyond the Blog: My Awkward, Less-Than-Polished Self in Real Life
I frequently encounter comments from readers who express a mix of excitement and trepidation at the thought of meeting us, often predicting they’d “freak out and embarrass themselves.” Let me reassure you, I have you covered – primarily because I’m usually too caught up in my own brand of intense weirdness to even notice. The reality is, I’m likely far less cute, stylish, or “put together” than you might imagine from carefully curated blog photos. I practically live with paint in my hair and under my nails 24/7 – this week, it’s grout! My shirts are perpetually stretched out from months of breastfeeding, a testament to my delayed shopping habits. More often than not, at least five days out of seven, I’m covered in dog fur, or accidentally sporting a smear of jelly, cream cheese, or hummus on my clothes. It’s my natural state. For anyone who has actually met us in person, you’ll know this to be true. I once had a classic awkward encounter at Target. I enthusiastically spun around, screaming, “Chiiiiiistmas stuff is already out!!!” while holding two wooden trees up to my face, mimicking Cindy Lou Who, expecting to surprise John. Instead, I found myself face-to-face with a complete stranger, a woman with a baby in her cart, staring at me with a bewildered expression. As I sheepishly attempted to smile and discreetly retreat to another aisle, she said, “Oh my gosh, I love your blog.” I nearly dissolved from embarrassment. Not only had I been “that crazy person” in front of a stranger, but it was someone who “knew” me from my online persona. I stammered, tried to compliment her adorable baby, until John and Clara mercifully arrived to rescue me, allowing me to stumble away, mentally kicking myself for my social clumsiness. Yes, that’s me – that awkward, and completely unashamed to admit it as part of our authentic blogging journey.
5. Navigating Uncertainty: The Realities of a Blogging Small Business and Our Future
I won’t sugarcoat it: operating a “small business,” and even more unconventionally, being a “professional blogger,” is hardly a career path synonymous with the security of health insurance and a robust 401K. We’ve previously delved into the intricacies of this professional journey here and here. Our strategy primarily hinges on a profound sense of faith – faith that we will ultimately find our footing and succeed, especially considering we never imagined we’d be in this position five years ago, yet here we are. It certainly helped that we diligently built up a significant “just-in-case” financial cushion, enough to sustain us for six to nine months, before John transitioned from his traditional day job around the time Clara was born. However, I would be disingenuous if I didn’t frankly state: “Yes, we absolutely experience moments of nervousness, uncertainty, and insecurity about what the future holds for us and our authentic blogging venture!” It’s an inherent part of the entrepreneurial path, and we strive to be transparent about these challenges to connect with our readers on a deeper, more human level, acknowledging the ongoing small business challenges faced by many independent creators.
6. Embracing My Quirks: Why I Let My “Freak Flag Fly” in the Blogging World
Believe me, I understand. I truly do. I am acutely aware of my own, at times, annoyingly enthusiastic demeanor. Some of my blog puns occasionally make even me cringe a little. I often think of myself as the slightly less cool, more “gooey” version of the adorkable Zooey Deschanel – you know, without the impeccable hair, the incredible voice, or the spot-on comedic timing. So, while my relentlessly sunny disposition might occasionally tempt you to reach for a spork, please know that I’m entirely conscious of my quirks, and I even acknowledge that I can be a bit much. Sometimes I genuinely attempt to rein it in, to be more composed, but more often than not, I simply choose to let my “freak flag fly.” Why? Because I’ve come to believe that the essence of successful blogging lies in being unequivocally yourself, owning who you are, and sharing your life in the most authentic way possible. Therefore, you won’t find me reserved, cool, collected, or overly refined. Instead, I’m hyperactive, giddy, wonderfully nutty, and unapologetically weird. And after more than four years, this genuine, unfiltered formula continues to resonate deeply with our audience and works perfectly for us. So, yes, I might playfully refer to presents as “prezzies” or drop a silly joke. That’s just “Sherdog” – my alter ego – rolling along, embracing the joy and spontaneity of authentic expression and the unique spirit of our blogger life.
7. The Unfiltered Reality: Our Home is Often a DIY Disaster Zone
Let’s be unequivocally clear: our house is, more often than not, a complete disaster. At any given moment, our meticulously curated frame wall might appear neat and tidy, inviting admiration for its design, like this:
However, venture into our sunroom, and you’ll likely find it in a state of utter chaos, resembling this candid depiction. It’s a perpetual work-in-progress, often cluttered with tools, project materials, or items awaiting sorting and organization. This is the authentic reality of a DIY home, not always picture-perfect.
There is virtually always at least one sprawling, giant pile of “something-to-be-sorted” lurking somewhere in our home. And please, don’t even get me started on the playroom. That particular room is perpetually out of control, a testament to the joyous, messy energy of a toddler and ongoing projects. It’s a whirlwind of toys, crafts, and everything in between, reflecting the true state of a real family home.
Ultimately, the overarching purpose of all this transparent soul-baring is to reassure you that I most certainly do not have everything perfectly figured out. I am simply a woman from New Jersey who embarked on a blogging adventure, who occasionally forgets to remove her contact lenses at night (a habit I know is terribly unhygienic!). I am that person who, while standing in line at Target, inexplicably discovers a smear of strawberry cream cheese on the left side of her ear – a true, slightly embarrassing story. I don’t possess all the answers, nor do I have everything perfectly in order, and I am profoundly grateful to be exactly where I am, navigating life with all its unpredictable nuances. Perfection, frankly, is vastly overrated anyway, isn’t it? I am many things, but above all, I am a continuous work in progress, constantly learning and evolving. Much like our home, which serves as a living, breathing testament to our ongoing DIY journey, filled with growth, change, and beautiful imperfections, and shared through honest, authentic blogging.