Here it is people! The first post of the it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful party? Carnival? Spectacular? Celebration? I have no idea what to call this! Here's a photo of my pretty sitting room. Today is my baby's 7th birthday. We celebrated with my parents yesterday {father's day} so we could kill two birds with one stone. The birds being my dad and my baby. The stone--BBQ Chicken Nachoes and cake.
As much as I love for this room to look cozy, clean and legoless, the truth is, if it were like that all of the time, I think it would be a pretty sad room. See that blue cup on the table? It mysteriously spilled after I took the photo.
So, let's have it. Maybe you have a beautiful mess going on at your house. Maybe you completed that project that you put off for years because as Miss Kris wrote me in an email yesterday, "I had let perfectionism keep me from starting for years...". She now has some window mistreatments up in her house that may not be perfect but sure are beautiful.
There are no rules here. I almost put up a photo of me in a bathing suit but figured I'd better wait for that one. There are so many things in our lives that are imperfectly beautiful! Now, I want to see yours! So here's that Mr. Linky thingamabob and you can just link directly to your Imperfectly Beautiful post. I'll be visiting all of you and I hope even if you don't do a post you fly on over to those who do and encourage and thank them for being real!
I'll leave you with a picture of my favorite imperfect yet wonderful thing in my house. No, he's not wearing a mini skirt, he's using a dish towel as an apron.
And, the most imperfect but hopefully, beautiful thing in my house.
113 birds say {click here to leave a comment}:
love the "mini skirt"! he's a secure man.
i'd love to participate. maybe tomorrow when i'm HOME!
Thanks for this wonderful reminder of what is really beautiful :) I am obviously a newbie to blogging so I hope I did this right.
I thought they were boxers! You have a really fine mess going there! I totally miss the legos and people (the plastic kind) all over my floor so you're right it's sad without it! Thanks, Nester for hosting this fun party. Okay - let's get this mess started! Nancy
What a great idea! I can't wait to see everyone's beautiful imperfections.
What a fun idea, we have so many imperfect beautiful things to be thankful for and proud of! We all love your blog Nester!
I can't wait to see everyone else's! I'm just glad Blogger decided to become unpossessed and let me upload my pictures...I was about to be one sad non-poster! :)
I've been lurking for awhile here, but this was just too much fun to pass up!
Ahhhh, the legos. Nothing says "home" quite like the painful embedding of a lego piece in my sole... ;)
You really do have a beautiful home and a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing them (and their imperfections) with all of us!
Okay, Nester, I took the plunge and did it! It wasn't as difficult as posting a picture of myself in a swimsuit, but awful darn close. My house was a mess, but I photographed it exactly "as is" for the world to see. I figure it's my contribution to raising everyone else's self-esteem...
Can't wait to visit everyone else's blogs and get a peek into their lives, too! Thanks for hosting this! -Julia :-)
Hey-
I've been lurking on your blog for a while now and I just love it. I love your ideas and your tassels your cute house.
I wanted to send you a link to an organization called WabiSabimoab.org . It's an organization based on the idea that beauty lies in imperfection. It's an idea that I have always loved and found so true in so many ways. They do all kinds of stuff here in Utah but the page that explains about their name (Wabi Sabi) is something you may want to read. It's a Japanese idea combining two words that I can't remember at the moment.
Anyway-love the blog, love this idea, I hope to read much more fab stuff in the future! Thanks
Miss Jen
I just woke up--it's 6 am and I thought i would sneak in a peak at my blog to make sure it all went through okay since I published last night at midnight after I went to bed.
Imagine my surprise to find 9 of you have all ready linked up! Do you know how afraid I was that this Mr. linky would sit empty and no one would actually do this?
Thank you all for sharing!
Hopefull! You are number one! I think you don't accept comments at your blog so, I'm gonna comment here and tell you that a home that has books stacked up in corners and against the walls must be a great home to grow up in!
I have visited the first 4 blogs listed and am already so encouraged by your photos, your blog titles, your tag lines--y'all are all so purposeful and encouraging!
See you soon!
Thank you so much for doing this. I actually have tears in my eyes while getting little peeks into everyone's imperfect lives.
The room is messy but we can still love it and the people that helped get it that way.. The project can be imperfect, but it's still beautiful.
I looked forward to this all weekend.
It sure ain't pretty but it's mine, lol. I love today's topic, thanks to everyone for sharing a little peek into their imperfections!!! Happy Monday! :)
Yes, you are beautiful--so far no imperfections detected! And, your hubby is a hottie. Wait! I think this is about the house, isn't it? I am sidetracked. :)
This will be fun! Thanks for doing this!
Thanks for the fun little party!
This was a great idea! How inspiring and encouraging to know that my house isn't the only one that's not perfect!!
This is certainly a cosy little nest or 'Nid' as we say in French:)
Thanks for reminding us that idhtbptbb! And I'm so glad!
OK I did it, I managed to figure out how to post a picture, lol
You are so amazing, I don't know how you do it all, write these wonderfully inspiring posts, take gorgeous pictures (yes even the one of yourself!), throw birthday/Father's Day parties and still go visit our blogs. You truly are an inspiring chickie! No small wonder yours is the first blog I must read when I have my turn at our computer.
what a great motto- i use one like it all the time...it goes like, "do you like it" (i answer my decorating self with "yes, i really like it") "then it's ok if it isn't perfect- no one else will notice but you. let it go, megan, let it go." usually, this works... i'd love to link for the carnival, but there's no way i'll get it done today :) thanks for sharing with us!
Megan
What a beautiful mess! This is a wonderful idea and very freeing as well! I can't wait to visit everyone!
Sarah
This is a great post!
My morning cup of joe combined with everyone's lovely blogs is making me feel extra peppy this morning! Thank you Nester for starting an "Embrace Your Messiness" revolution! I'm always telling people, "welcome to my house, it truly is lived in!". I don't apologize or let myself feel guilty, I just smile and hope that my clutter shows my guests just how much fun is being had in our house. I'd rather my kids remember baking cookies, building forts and finger painting, rather then mommy's cleaning OCD!
Oh, I feel a little nauseous but I did it anyway. :o/ I'm sure hoping someone else's pictures are waaaaay worse than mine. But I highly doubt it. lol
Love the miniskirt! Ha!
~ Sarah
Cute idea! Mine's up.
Hey nester do you mind me asking with all the light colored carpets and boys in the house how you keep the light carpets so clean? Is there a rug shampoo you recommend to clean after the kiddos spills because with four kids I really want to know the secret! Not sure If I should rent a steamer at the grocery store or fork over much mula and go broke on one to stay here.
What would nester do?
Thanks:)
Renee
I've been lurking forever and this is my first comment and participation! My post isn't about my house's imperfections (though there are plenty!), but the perfect imperfections that come with children and their artwork. I can't wait to put so many of your ideas to work this summer when I have some time!
i've always loved your motto! it is OH SO TRUE!
i just have to remind myself!
Nester, I just love this idea! I should be vacuuming and getting ready and a million other things, but here I sit!
I want some of your BBQ chicken nachos.
Will you put some in your Etsy shop?
Oh jeez, I didn't even spell my name right in the linky. Already imperfect! =)
Thanks, Nester! Love this idea! I love how real you are. It's hard for women to break out and show the world anything less than perfect. Thanks for encouraging us to cross that threshold.
I love looking at all of the imperfectly beautiful lives. Thanks so much for doing this, Nester!
I may have strayed from the theme a teensy bit... but you'll totally get it when you see it!!
I love your posts! They make me feel normal. ;-) Keep up the good work. How's the new house transition going?
OMG, this is so much fun! I love peeking at other blogs! Thanks for doing this Nester.
Hey Nester, just wanted to say thanks for hosting this. You know I'm all about balancing the pretty stuff with the not-so-pretty stuff! I think that's why I read your blog, you do a good job of balancing, of showing your home's imperfections.
I love the dishtowel mini-skirt! And the picture of you is so cute! I wasn't brave enough to take a picture of the mess, but I posted about my bathroom's imperfections.
Nester,
Your room looks great. It's so good to know that you can have a beautiful place and be normal. It makes the bar not so high!!!
Blessings,
Trixi
Fun little party here! Since I just completed an imperfectly beautiful patio project & posted it today, I thought I'd share it with ya'll. If you see the before pics, you will definitely have an appreciation for the "after". This was all done on a small budget & yardsale finds ruled & shows what a lot of DIY sweat will do for you. It's still not perfect & doesn't exactly look like a magazine spread of a beautifully tended garden with stacked stone walls & all that I love, but it's beautiful to me and we love it! Come on by for a visit and a glass of lemonade.
I think what you said in your post is so true-we get paralyzed by wanting perfection. Or at least I do.
Thanks for doing this!
I love your blog, thanks so much for doing this. What a treat :0)
Your home is always so beautiful. Even with a spilled cup somewhere lying around!
Thanks for letting us share!
Susan
Pink Portuguese Roses
This was the easiest post EVER!! Can't wait to visit everyone's blog.
Easy peasy - I had 100 pictures to choose from! Now I'm off to maybe do *something* about one of the rooms! This could get embarassing!
Thanks for the reminder! It was GREAT to focus on beauty and let the other things fade from view.
I love your "imperfectly beautiful" philosophy. Found you in a roundabout way starting at Beth Moore's LPM Blog. Have you posted your BBQ chicken nachos recipe? : )
Cheers,
KS
Awesome challenge! I did another "Ugly Art redo" just of the occasion. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the idea. You always have great ideas and thoughts.
I'm not sure if I've ever posted on your blog or not. If not, I'm sorry for being such a lurker. Love, love, love your blog!
This is fun! I look forward to seeing everybody else stuff!
I added my foyer pictures because of all the beautiful fingerprints. Thanks for hosting such a fun event. I will enjoy looking at everyone else's stuff.
I just put mine up. Thanks so much for doing this, what a great idea!
I love your BLOG..!
GREAT IDEAS :)
THANKS!
This was so fun...thanks for doing it!
I had already exposed my real life, so this is a link to what I shared! Happy day everyone,
Melissa
As I already commented on the last post, I LOVE this mess that everyone is showing! But I really don't consider toys laying around "mess." That's just kids. And coffee cups on the counter or mail on the table - that's just life. I consider mess the stuff that my husband and I leave around for more than a few days. When there's a layer of dust on top, that's definitely mess. I'm not a blogger so I don't have pics to show, but with a new baby, my house fits my definition of a mess :)
I am supposed to be working right now...... your blog is much more fun though. Great idea, glad to see everyone is having fun today. We're all such messy girls... Thank you, you are great!!!
Oh Nester, I adore that your last picture was of YOU! :) A perfect ending to your imperfectly beautiful post. Isn't that true of every single one of us! :) Can't wait to check out all of the other bloggers' imperfectly beautiful pictures...
Could imperfection really be the mother of creativity? I think so!
Thanks for inspiring so many women to be creative and enjoy their imperfectly perfect lives.
oh the messiness! i love it...i love seeing normal, every lives...:) i posted my mess...i think it is wonderful!
never been here before-- LOVE IT :)
New "Nesting Place" reader...long time thrift store shopper. I found a very cool armoire at Goodwill and I was inspired by your play room plan of mixing the paint and stained pieces together. The armoire is stained much darker than what I like and I want to paint it a deep red instead. Do I need to strip off the current finish or can I just go ahead and paint over it?? Your blog helps me look at things with new eyes!!!
Thank you, thank you thank you! Sometimes I need reminded of the imperfectly beautiful things in my life.
LOVE IT! Thank you!
Sorry, I signed up before I got my pictures posted. I'm all up to date now.
Timi
Why are we commenting? Are you going to give away something imperfectly beautiful? Please? Pretty please?
There is a very handsome single guy in a blue & white suit with a blue & white airplane on my blog if anyone is interested!
Hey, thanks for doing this. This is so much fun!
I took a little different turn with this on my blog. Hope you don't mind. The last line on my post explains it- they are not perfect but they are Beautiful
Lots of chaos going on in my house at the moment, with rooms being painted, furniture being moved, and my mom moving in for a while. I've got lots that isn't perfect and may someday be beautiful!
Your such a genius! You really have taught me to let loose. It's ok to let things get messy and have a little fun, and ya know what, life is a lot happier and easier! Thanks!
I don't have a mess pic up yet, have to get it out of the camera. I might just go surprise my girls downstairs in the basement with their mess!
This was a lot of fun - like a Show and Tell of stretch marks, messy living rooms, and imperfections all over! What a supportive way for us to not feel so alone in our imperfection. Thanks!
Well that was easy ;)
Thanks for the encouraging party!!!
I have found your page through a very dear friend of mine from the "Busy Blaine's" Ms. Terena. I ave so enjoyed your blog and have recently began redoing my house painting and such. i realize that I am a busy mom of 2 boys and husband. Keep giving me hope that I don't have to be perfect to make my home mine and beautiful to me and to know that my house is not gonna look like the ones in the magazines..... God bless you
I wasn't going to do it. I just wasn't. But I kept thinking about it and well it's done.
This is so much fun! I can't believe I actually took pictures of my mess! However, your "mess" still looks stylish :)
I've been keeping up with the imperfectly beautiful blogs all day and I finally got the chance to post and I'm the 100th poster!!! How Cool is that!
Thanks so much for doing this! It's nice to know everyone else out there is as imperfectly beautiful as I am! ;)
Okay...you visited my blog before I posted any of my crazy photos. There are too many imperfections to choose from around here!!! Actually, I linked myself too soon!!! I visit your blog EVERYDAY!!!
Oh my goodness, I love this. My darling and I live in a teeny weeny studio shoebox in Manhattan, and it always seems impossible to organize because we have so much gosh darn stuff! I obviously joined a little late, so I didn't post today, but I'll post a picture this week :)
Hi.. I am new to comment on your blog...but I love it! You are just like me...surrounded by boys. You give me hope that one day I will have the lovely house I dream of...for now I will go and fold those piles of laundry!
This day as been so fun! I love looking at the imperfections and taking pix of them instead of thinking to clean them up! Wonderful and refreshing new perspective on my life. Thanks Nester. You're the best!
This was a lot of fun and I got tons of great ideas! Maybe the next one should be "Best of the Mistreatments" theme?
Well, I made it, a million years late!! :D My totally imperfect sewing room has made it up! :p
Thanks so much for your blog. You have given me so much inspiration, not only for decorating my "nest", but also to remind me that I don't have to run myself ragged to make it all perfect!
I am a bit late but then again that is just another imperfect trait of mine :) Thanks for giving me the courage to post this. It might just give me the boost I need to get the ball rolling...or maybe not :)
YIKES!! Okay, I'm 13 minutes late (I posted 13 minutes after midnight central time...LOL). I hope that my post will still count. ;)
I have loved reading the entries! I hope to read through the rest of them tomorrow!!
Thanks for doing this and God bless.
I hummed and hahed all day wondering what I would be "willing" to post on my blog about my house. Then the day was over and I cheated a bit by using a post I did a few days ago but I think that it fits the theme well. Even though the mirror reflects the "lived in" status of our kitchen, I still like it! I sneaked in before the day was over (in Utah anyway).
Hey Nestah! I know I'm a little late to the party, but it's still Monday over here on the West Coast! Hope I can still play along. Happy birthday to your baby! We had a 7th birthday this weekend too!
hope i did this right! i tried last night but must have done it wrong. anywho what a great idea i love it!
Thank you for starting this! I love to lurk and see all the beaufiful things you have done w/your home so thank you for the inspiration.
I know that this SHOULD have been done yesterday but my day was not PERFECT like I planned it to be. I love ya for making me feel so normal!!!! Absolutely love your blog!!!
I'm also a day late and a dollar short, but I did my version.
How totally refreshing. I like your blog very much!
T
See what being gone a few days does for me??
This is so cool!
Oops, I think I linked myself twice! Sorry!!
Thanks for the fun activity to help us all live the IDHTBPTBB, motto!
Big fan of IDHTBPTBB, especially in the kitchen. I'm finding that cooking is the same way. Perfection is just stressful. Real life leaves so much more room to fail and learn and enjoy what comes. Aaaaand I like your sister. :)
Today I posted a picture of my daughter's arm and talked about the scar she'll have after her surgery to remove the remnants of her ulcerated hemangioma- she'll be perfectly imperfect- and beautiful of course!
sorry i put in your link in my first entry!
thanks for the cute little parade :)
anne
I loved looking at all the different ideas and ways that NO ONE is perfect!
I am loving this post and looking at everyone's imperfect, beautiful stuff!!!
Can't wait for a free hour or two so I can see everyone's posts! Thanks again for the bird inspiration!
I am like really late.....thats one of my imperfection.
Always love to visit your blog.
Love, Anne Fannie
Oops huge typo linking my contribution, anyway to fix that?!Spelling and carelessness, I'm going to add that to my list of personal 'not perfect but beautiful attributes'. Better sloppy than never I say (I'm late too, oh dear!)
If only I had time to list all the beautiful but imperfect things in my life. Great to see everyone has their little hidden secrets and that none of us are alone in failing to meet Martha Stewarts standard!
People with perfect houses usually have something else wrong with them!
I was telling my husband about the way I spent my day yesterday--making a beautiful mess. He appreciates my joy but didn't quite get it. Then I read your blog. Thanks for understanding me and my weird sort of ways. I'll blog my idhtbptbb very soon.
Ok, belated, but here's my comment.... I just today completed my 4th mistreatment! It's in the guest bedroom... which is painted light yellow. I bought this yellow fabric a few months ago - marked down from $30/yard to about $4/yard. I am not crazy about the fabric, but at that price, how could I pass it up? I trimmed it in a slightly more expensive fabric that I do love - but couldn't afford to buy a large amount.
I think it turned out ok...
Mistreatment 1
Mistreatment 2
Cheers to beautiful messes! Thanks for the post.
awesome stuff! :) i'm loving seeing all these fantastic blogs n stuff! :) thanks for doing this! x
I am new to this so hope this works, I have not been very lucky at leaving messages! I admit I have been spending a great deal more time than I should going from blog to blog peeking in on others lives and finding it so refreshing to meet similiar people. It also makes the world seem a whole lot smaller!
Thanks,
Marcie
what a fun and refreshing blog! i love your attitude and your whimsy! cheers!
What a beautiful idea! I'll post about my inperfectionism on Monday. :-)
I'm a LOT SLOW at getting this Kitchen and Dining Room Table Project listed, and I still couldn't figure out how to LINK and then STOP the link from continuing in my sentence...so I tried....boo hoo!
But I am GLAD That I got to VISIT so many others that make me feel so NORMAL after seeing their IMPERFECTLY BEAUTIFUL homes....Thanks Nester
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