let’s keep it real.

Posted on | March 11, 2010 | 35 Comments

blogging is a strange gig.

i have to admit, i never in a million years thought my online journal about my kid would turn into what it has. i feel blessed, really i do. i can say with complete honesty that if it weren’t for an internet connection, i might be in the crazy house by now. you guys keep me sane. this blog keeps me sane (and insane at times, but for the most part, sane). having a plethora of people at my fingertips for advice is something i love and do not take for granted.

after reading this hilarious and amazing post passed along by my friend Jill, i couldn’t help but think about how blogs influence people. i come across many blogs that make me feel less than adequate. i have to remind myself often that i’m doing the best i can and that crazily, people may come across mine and feel inadequate (which may i just say, is MIND BOGGLING). to curb any thoughts that this pretty layout and fun pictures may plant in your head, i’ve thought i’d tell you all some stuff i don’t include in my normal posts.

the only thing my husband ever asks me to do is set the coffee timer for the morning. he has to be up at 4:30 (i know) so it’s my duty to get the coffee ready. this week i have forgotten every single night. each morning i’ve come down stairs to see he has had to make it himself. he never expects me to clean, never says a word about laundry or dishes or the fact that i am sometimes still in my jammies when he gets home, and i can’t even set a coffee timer for him? i’m a jerk.

the photos you see of Harper are pure luck. omg, not the cute part, she’s got that one covered, i mean the fact that she is sitting still. taking pictures of my child is HARD. when i post pics it’s because i’ve set up a prime photo taking scenario before hand. she needs something to play with that is off limits or she hasn’t seen in a while in order to keep her interest for 3 minutes. which is currently the longest amount of time she will sit still. she ignores the camera and those people who’s kids smile or say cheese for one? i don’t have one of those. NO. and you can be sure that most photos of myself are tidied up. have you ever met picnik? i have yet to find a photo that can’t be made blogworthy, even if i look like complete dump.

i get pee my pants excited when someone offers me a giveaway. i still have no clue how this happens or where people find me or anything. i’ve gotten emails asking me how to do this and the answer is I DON’T KNOW. i’m as confused as you are. i’m also very confused when i see that over a thousand people read this nonsense everyday. i will probably never get a grasp on how that happens. the internet is crazy.

i try not to offend people, but i’m working on letting go of that. it’s inevitable. i am who i am and am not going to apologize for it. it’s pretty obvious that as bloggers, we like talking about ourselves. we like attention and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. why else would we be here? however, it doesn’t make putting yourself out there and making yourself vulnerable any easier. i bet even the biggest bloggers have trouble hitting “publish” sometimes. or at least used to.

let’s see, what else? oh. my house is never clean. it’s a scientific fact that the upstairs and downstairs cannot be clean at the same time. it would mess up the time space continuum. if you walk in to our house and it’s sparkling clean, DO NOT GO UPSTAIRS. and conversly, if you walk in and it’s messy, let me escort you upstairs. we can hang out in our bedroom.

let be me straight, this is not a woe is me post. trust me, i’d hate to ever have the hammer thrown down on me again. i promise i think i’m just the right amount of wonderful. i just want to be real with you. right now? i’m wearing a hoodie with a pegasus on it, i haven’t showered, i just reheated my coffee for the 3rd time and Harper is running around trying to see inside her belly button. the cat just barfed (AGAIN) and i’m dreading cleaning up her recycled friskies. life is silly. it’s not perfect. i’m gonna stop now before i say something totally gross and lame like “it’s a crazy life, but it’s OUR life”.

anyone?

post summary: blog envy happens. just remember your favorite blogger, whoever it may be,  has stinky poop, too.
Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!

Category: confessions, the haps, Uncategorized

Comments

  • http://look-at-the-birds.blogspot.com/ t.bird

    i also hate cleaning up cate puke. something about a log of un-digested Iaams that makes me queasy.

    ummm- i totally realize that was not what i was supposed to get out of this entry. der.

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  • http://www.emmiebee.com Emmie Bee

    Well said buddy. I get blog envy on the daily!

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  • http://Www.messilyeverafter.blogspot.com Jen

    I enjoy reading the blogs of imperfect moms best. Shiny and sugar-coated? Notsomuch.
    And, I’ll happily come over and clean up your cat’s recycled Friskies if you come clean up my cat’s poop. Off the floor. For the third time today.

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  • http://undercovertoothfairy.com/ Laura

    I can so relate!!! I don’t have the sweatshirt with the pegasus on it… I do however have an oversized red one with pooh on it that is probably similarly cool! Loved the post!

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  • http://somethingthatsdifferent.wordpress.com Tammy

    ((19 Kids and Counting)) :)

    I love your blog and yes, I get blog envy.

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  • http://www.lindseyivory.blogspot.com Lindsey

    Oh, I loved this! Mainly because at this moment in time, I am not working and I don’t even have a baby yet (that’s a long story I may get sued over if I blog about it…). But my husband still doesn’t have any expectations for me except to set the coffee timer and pack his lunch each morning.

    And yes, blogging and internet jealousy happen all the time…sometimes I like to compare it to high school…although blogging is much better!

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  • http://somethingthatsdifferent.wordpress.com Tammy

    O shoot, not 19 Kids and Counting … Jon and Kate. Bleh. I need caffeine.

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  • thenextmartha

    I really feel the need to get matching jammies just to say at 2 in the afternoon “this is what mandy is wearing too.” That’s a heart feeling. Though 2 for you will be 5 for me, but none the less I’ll still be wearing them for dinner. I like you even more now that I know we can both hang out on either of our clean bed islands.

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  • http://www.lindseyivory.blogspot.com Lindsey

    Oh…I meant to say that the jealousy things happens to me all the time…not just in general…just clearing that up!

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  • http://amothersworkisneverdone.com Kristin

    I luvre this! This is exactly why I read your blog. Because it’s real and natural. It’s effortless to read and I don’t need to grab a dictionary to try to decipher what you are trying to say. You’re a hoot! Thanks for sharing.

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  • http://everydayeverly.blogspot.com Katherine

    holy fricken lord did you get an esp from me or something?! i totally have had to say to myself (after reading some amazing blogs lately) that i am doing the best i can for my daughter, and my family and that even though their life may look pretty and sound pretty and look perfect…that it isnt, they are human as well and i need to swallow that. i feel like some bloggers are celebs in the internet world, and i have to let go of that too. ugh, but thank you for writing this, i have definitely had blog envy lately and this helps. i love ya :)

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  • http://wakingupwilliams.com LCW

    I love knowing what’s really behind the pretty picture in the header. Because we can’t ALWAYS have it together.

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  • http://omyfamilyblog.com AllisonO

    Ok, I know I am officially a lurker (slash closted feed reader) but I had had HAD to come comment on this post.

    You are a riot, lady. There used to be blogs in my reader that made me feel inferior (or for that matter, competitive!). They are not there anymore. Yes, everyone’s poop stinks, but it’s nice to read someone’s blog who knows it (unfortunately, there are bloggers out there who don’t seem to know it).

    summary: sorry i stalk you, you are awesome. but not too awesome.

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  • http://www.mmmmaryjane.wordpress.com alissa

    i know i said i rarely comment but here i am again. i love reading blogs(and twitter accounts) like yours because truthfully i think i’d go a little insane everyday if i didnt get to hear from other people. venting, blabbing about nothing, sharing baby stuff…its super helpful to me. i LOVE the imperfect people.

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  • http://www.thecronkrights.blogspot.com mommy-to-be Mrs. C

    You are just too stankin’ cute. I appreciate a little sanity in my blog reading, which is why I always come to this blog. It’s good to know that everything doesn’t have to be perfect to be okay. I’ve often times looked at all those crafty mamas who make stuff for their kids and post about the marathon lasagna bake they just finished up… the truth is, I’m just never going to be like that. So because of that, I’m sticking with you guys over here at Harpers Happenings. You rock!

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  • http://www.parentinginprogress.wordpress.com mae

    I feel lucky that I already know most of what you confessed to today, because you tell me this stuff on the regular; usually while we’re trading stories on our blackberries about how little we’ve accomplished that day or what version of pajamas I may or may not have worn to drop my kid at daycare.

    I’m so glad you’re my friend and that your housecleaning skillz are the reason the space time continuum has not been ripped to shreds. Thanks for not creating a planet eating black hole, we appreciate your efforts!

    I also love you a little more for using space time continuum on your blog. For reals.

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  • http://hothotjj.blogspot.com Jessica

    In addition to blog envy I have cute little girl envy. She is so darn cute! My little guy is only three months and I’m excited for him to get a little bigger. All the stages are so fun.

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  • http://www.kristyvilla.blogspot.com Kristy

    Just wanted to say thank you (:

    It’s refreshing to know other’s lives aren’t perfect. I admire your blog, it’s a bit of riot-ness, inspiration, and cute kid-ness in my day. Other than my own cute kid! She is adorable, if you haven’t checked her out yet (: I’ll blog whore here a bit – http://www.kristyvilla.blogspot.com. Okay, i’m done.

    Back to the point – i’m sitting here in my pjs that have gotten thrown up on twice today. The baby is strapped to my chest with a poopy diaper but she’s finally sleeping and I don’t want to wake her. And I just organzined the junk drawers only because I wanted to do something productive and not feel like a complete craphead to my husband who never complains and organizing junk drawers seemed better than actual cleaning.
    Point of all that rambling being I don’t feel inferior to your blog anymore. Okay, I lied. I do – but just a tiny bit because you really do have a good looking blog. But I’m glad to know your real and I have more in common with you than I thought.
    You’re awesome. Keep blogging that good stuff!

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  • http://babyrabies.com Jill @BabyRabies

    Right on, girlfriend! Way to keep it real. Feels good, eh? You’re amazing! Thanks for reminding me I’m in good company. Scott doesn’t even trust me with the coffee anymore. I’m incapable. Its seriously way too hard to make coffee before you’ve had any.

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  • Kelly

    This is why I read your blog. The realness of it! I enjoy hearing about your life and all of it’s perfections and imperfections so that I know I don’t have to be perfect. And so I can show my husband your blog and say, “SEE?! Look at how cute she is! And how cute her little girl is! And she blogs about everything to the world and even SHE doesn’t put on a bra every day!”

    Basically, never apologize for who you are because I, and hundreds, nay, thousands of others, have a mad blog-crush on you … not to be creepy.

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  • http://kristimaristi.com Kristi Maristi

    I get blog envy all of the time. But, then again it just makes us strive to be better bloggers! I also think I get it cause I NEVER set out with the thought of actual strangers reading it and I always thought it would just be something family and friends read and they already know me so I don’t care what they think…But now strangers read my blog and I feel like I have to deliver. I go back and read all of my posts all the time cause I’m a weirdo like that and get all critical n myself after reading some of them cause I serious doubt myself sometimes – who wants to read a blog about my son waving or clapping?! All babies wave and clap…Aggg, now I’m just rambling. I Love your blog and I think you are an inspiration to a lot of us. And you’s be funny! So thats a plus. I hate reading blogs that aren’t chocked full of the funnies…

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  • http://www.law-momma.com Law Momma

    Totally have blog envy on the daily. I love your blog and love the comment that said “I stalk you. You are awesome but not too awesome.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!

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  • http://silenceandnoise.wordpress.com andrea

    I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I really hate feeling blog-envy and when I do, I feel like I should just stop blogging and delete my blog forever so I don’t have to deal with it. Then I try to put everything in perspective because blogging should be fun, making friends through blogging should be fun, being inspired by other bloggers should be fun. Those are the things that matter and I would not give them up just bc I am having a blog-envy kind of day. I think dealing with blog-envy is part of growing as a blogger. You’ll probably feel it once in a while, but you just have to deal with it and move on.
    Great post and great link!! xxxo

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  • http://www.emmiebee.com Emmie Bee

    BTW: I’m a chump because I TOTALLY made Krust run around with a camera before Hudson’s birthday party taking pictures of the decor”for the blog” I may have even gotten snarky with my 4 year old cousin because he wanted to eat a blue airhead before the picture taking of the blue airheads was complete. YIKES! Sooooo- yeah. I think that was because I felt I had to deliver something awesome/blog worthy.

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  • http://sarcastica.org Sarcastica

    I *love* reading your blog, and one of the reasons why I love it so much is because although you are VERY successful, you don’t make others feel inadequate :)

    xoxo

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  • http://singingatastoplight.blogspot.com Molly

    You’re a lot of awesome. I just discovered your blog the other day and yeah, I feel inadequate. But also, I read blogs like yours and tend to think, why isn’t this person my friend, irl? Because I often feel connections with writers I don’t know. Sorry if that’s strange but I do.

    I wish I had a ton of readers on my blog. I want to be comical yet sensitive. Hilarious yet real. I want to make people laugh and cry all at the same time. But I can’t figure it out. I can’t even figure out what twitter is all about : )

    Just keep doing what you’re doing. That’s what I’m doing anyway. I’m keepin’ it real on my blog and it makes me feel good when I write on it. That’s all I care about.

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  • http://theheirtoblair.com Blair

    SO AGREE.

    Except my farts smell like roses.

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  • http://prettyswell.wordpress.com Suzanne

    All I can say is TRU DAT. Thank you for writing this!

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  • http://prettyswell.wordpress.com Suzanne

    Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!

    Awesome giveaway, Mandy. You rock!

    S

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    Suzanne Reply:
    March 12th, 2010 at 9:44 am

    Um yeah. Wrong post. Deletesy?

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  • http://postcardsfromparenthood.blogspot.com Eliza

    Mandy, I’ve already told you several times how I non-creepily stalk you, so I don’t think I need to really drive that one home….but I think you’re awesome. I love your writing style, your hilarity, your Mandy-isms, and general radness. I must confess, that you often give me blog envy. Not because you’re untouchably perfect or have a millions folowers on Twitter, but because you’re YOU. You say what you want to say, and it comes out all cool and bad-ass, and people love and adore you (I know ‘cuz I’m one of them). I probably feel this way because I’ve only been blogging publicly since late January, and I long for lots of followers and zillions of comments. I’ll just keep truckin’ and think of you when I’m feeling not so hot! :) Thanks!!!!

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  • http://www.smonkyou.com kenny

    I hate to call you out on your post (actually I don’t but I feel that’s the right thing to say) but I think the upstairs/downstairs cleanliness dilemma is more of a matter/anti-matter deal or a action/reaction deal rather than a space time continuum deal.

    My qualifications for this call out where I took a bunch of physics/astrophysics classes in college but was too lazy to get the degree.

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  • http://twitter.com/meagansandberg Meagan S

    I just clicked over to your blog for the first time and this: “post summary: blog envy happens. just remember your favorite blogger, whoever it may be, has stinky poop, too.” is what will make me come back. Hilarious!

    Looking forward to reading more and catching up on you story :)

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  • http://tinyurl.com/aliyajiwa Aliya

    love you and love this post. that’s all.

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  • http://larrysass.blogspot.com browneyes_24b

    This is my first visit to your blog and I feel like I’ve been next door to a sweet party that I never knew existed. Yay for new discoveries! I look forward to seeing more awesomeness like this post. Word.

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