I mistreated my shower. We don't have a window and I had this fabric that I used in my dining room in our old house. The lower shower rod is bolted into the wall. It was here when we moved in. If it weren't tightly secured, I might have just moved it up so the shower liner hit the top of the tub and put both the liner and fabric on one rod.
You can use the height trick in the bathroom too! This shower looks so much more, well... regal just because the fabric is hung high! I used the fold, clip and poof method with this mistreatment. Do you see that I have no clean towels and my clock that I love but is broken is just sitting on the empty towel rack?
I cannot find the rest of my black ring clips. See, the last two are silver. No biggie, I'll find them one day. I don't think it takes away much from the power that this fabric has in softening this room. I have decided that I can live with some imperfections like that. I am a lazy perfectionist. I love for things to look pretty but, I don't want to work myself to death for it.
I don't mind a few unsightly wires especially when balanced with a pretty iron thing and warm lighting.
A sink with a few dishes...not so bad, it could be much, much worse.
And a light fixture that's been right here since we moved in--patiently waiting to be hung. It's amazing how much you can get done when you allow things to be less than perfect. Most of what I do is simply good enough--my cleaning, my cooking, my hair, proofreading my blog. I only have a handful of things that care to do really well.
I love what the Flylady says:
"Housework done incorrectly still blesses the family"I like to apply that to other stuff, not just housework. Like cooking. Preparing imperfect meals still blesses the family. And of course decorating, yes, decorating done imperfectly still blesses the family. Today, instead of focusing on what needs to be finished, changed, repaired or replaced, I'm gonna enjoy what I have, where I have it, while I have it because we all know that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
What do you allow to be imperfect so you can focus on the things that really matter and why is it so hard to give ourselves that freedom?
65 comments:
i have tried to live by this particular bit of flylady wisdom for several years now. it's surprising how i still need to remind myself that *lazy* & *perfectionist* don't actually cancel each other out!!
love your nesting ideas, and i'm so thrilled i stumbled into your nest (via bahama shores mama).
I use the same taller shower curtain in my guest bathroom as well and it is amzing what a difference it makes. Mine cost $6 total and it is about 9 1/2 feet from floor to rod.
People often walk into my home and say things like "well if I had a lot of money to spend, my house could look like this too..." HA! HA! HA! Me? Lots of Money? I don't think so. I always have to explain that almost everything in my home is a cast off, something re-purposed, or a deeply discounted item. Besides my sofa and chair which I saved 10 years for, things in my house only look good because they're put together in a pleasing way. And that, to me, is lazy perfectionism defined. I could spend a ton of money (if I had it) buying just the right combination of things, but I prefer to take what I can get and see what I can do with it! You've always been such an inspiration to me in that department!
But now the OCD in me MUST speak. I think it's just fine that you have two silver clip rings amongst your black, but YOU MUST put one on one end of the curtain , and one on the other. Then they will be like little bookends till you can hit them with a can of spray paint or a Sharpie :)! (and if you don't, that's alright too....!)
i do everything imperfectly. homeschooling, parenting, wifing (is that a word--i don't think so), sewing (just did that today, so imperfectly), painting, cooking, cleaning... the list could go on forever.
The biggest break that I ever gave myself was the permission to give less than perfect gifts. I used to agonize over what to give someone. Would they like the purple? Or was blue more their style? One day I realized that they aren't there to see all the choices. And, it really is the thought that counts. So I pick one and move on with the rest of my life!
I have a similar treatment in my bathroom, and have it hung high too. Project for tomorrow is to move the curtains in my bedroom higher, and hang some plates over the bed. Will post pics later. Thanks for the inspiration.
My entire house - really - it is sooo old and could be leveled by 1 inch (for $20,000) but I couldn't care less and it drives my husband nuts! Nancy (not on the level!)
I allow my husband to be imperfect LOL!! Just kidding. I allow myself to be imperfect. And my furniture. Most of my stuff is either hand me down or bought at thrift stores or garage sales. Only our entertainment center, bed and dressers are new(but the EC has imperfections and the dressers are mismatched!! We got it all at a liquidation sale).
I am enjoing your blog ans seeing how you decorate your house
I LOVE that you use a plate serving thing to store headbands and stuff. I'm going to steal, um, I mean borrow that from you! I have one of those that comes out of the closet 2 times a year for entertaining purposes. I'm going to repurpose it TOMORROW! Love your ideas, thanks again!
I, too, have to allow myself to give imperfect gifts. But the biggest thing I do? I let my dogs on the couch and on my bed. Because there is nothing better than cuddling with them, even if it means that I have to vacuum the couch and change my sheets more often.
For me, it's cleaning. A walk with my family takes precedence over some dishes on the counter or a pile of laundry waiting to be put away...
Just about everything I do is imperfect, though I'd never thought of it from the perspective of "allowing" it to be - I need to change my way of thinking!
Thanks for the lovely reminder today to count our blessings!
Perfect I have decided is a word that can lead to distruction. If you are trying to make everything perfect you become obessed with keeping that way. My house changes weekly and I love a great yard sale for some new junk to play with. I have finally learned it's not about keeping up with the Jones' it's all about loving the family you have! I am going to get out my Southern Living double plate holder now! It will look amazing in my bathroom! Thanks for another amazing idea!!
Thanks for the house tour, Nester. And thanks for teaching me to be an imperfectionist. I first heard this from Flylady, but you have really gotten the lesson through my thick skull!
Blessings!
~Heather
Wait...is that a mirror above your kitchen sink?
I love the shower mistreatment. Looks much better than a plain ol' shower curtain!
Wow! So happy to find there are other lazy perfectionists out there! I found you via http://ruespeanutbutterandjellylife.blogspot.com/ and I've just spent the past several days reading your blog. I was even inspired to do my own mistreatment on our living room window, so thank you!!!!
Imperfection is all over the place at my home, so I can't name just one thing. "Good enough" is good enough for me. :)
Thank goodness my family is still blessed because I have never been perfect and at my age never will :) I have many things throughout my home that are "good enough" and we do have a nice, comfy home for ourselves.
Hi Nester!
I have heard oodles of cute things about you, and visit your site often, only I don't peep a word just watch from the sidelines..! I usually spot your comments on Jennifer P's blog, and I LOVE your tassles. Thanks for your sweet comments on TODAY'S CREATIVE BLOG. It was so nice of you. I hope we can be "real" blogging buddies now. ;)
This is so fitting for me right now, I've been struggling with this very thing, letting things slide a little so I can play more. I finally figured out that if I'm a martyr on the homecaring alter then no one in my home benefits, we all lose cause if Momma ain't happy, no one's happy. So now I allow things to wait till I want to deal with them and I play when I want to play. End result, happier Momma, happier family, slightly disheveled house.
Girl you know I love your blog and thanks for posting this topic today so I know I'm not alone in this struggle to balance family, home and Hobby Lobby time! I'm definitely going to start looking at everything I do within my four walls whether it's homecaring, cooking, or just play time as "blessing my family", LOVE THAT!
I don't know that I do anything perfectly. I have the sloppiest husband on the planet, two messy kids, and a 140 pound puppy who drools all over my house. You could say I let LOTS of things go--not necessarily by choice. Thanks for the tip on the shower curtain. I'm gonna look into that!
Love the shower curtain mis-treatment! I always have such a hard time finding shower curtains. They're all so shower-curtainy. I am so going to give that a try in the new Casa.
Here's a list of things that I do imperfectly and hopefully they still bless someone:
Cooking
Cleaning
Decorating
Mothering
Wife-ing
Sistering
Daughtering
Oh and don't forget:
Walking
Running
Sleeping
Eating
Breathing
:-)
My stepmother has a saying like this that I LIVE by: "Clean enough to be healthy, dirty enough to be happy"
Thanks for all the tips, Nester! We moved into a new house a year ago, and I'm giving up and making myself some mistreatments. Hancock Fabrics sells decorator remnants for 2.99 a yard! I'm finding if I love the fabric, I can make it into something I love, no matter how much (or little) fabric I have.
Where were you 9 years ago??? My first child entered the world, and I about made myself nutty, trying to keep everything "perfect". It took me till the 2nd or 3rd to come to the place of things being "good enough". I love this place! Good word.
I like the commenter above who said she lets her husband be imperfect!
Nester- I love your tour! You have some clever ideas! It's nice to see that someone else doesn't know what to do with all those cords either!! I try my best to be "imperfect", I've got to admit, it's hard when you have OCD tendencies!haha! I usually let some things go for a bit and then I start to clean & organize...Honestly, it's a de-stresser for me! It makes me relax when things are in their place. My DH says it's a sickness!! I guess it could be worse?
Bravo! Just what I needed to hear this morning.
Thanks for the shower curtain idea....we just moved into our home and the shower rod is lower like yours is and fixed to the wall also. I was wondering how I could remedie that...now I know! :)
I will be posting pics soon of some of my mistreatments around our new(old)house.
Thanks for all that you share with us...you inspire me to get creative in a whole new way!
Have a great day!
Jackie
Wow , I cant believe myself. I am actually a step ahead of the nester. MY shower curtains are hung that way already!
Yours look great.
Thanks for sharing. Sometimes it gets so hard when looking at blogs and magazines and such (rather than looking within) and the pictures and stories all seem so "perfect." I have to remember that blogs and magazine photos are just a snapshot (literally and figuratively) of someone's life.
I like flylady as well and love how she reminds us about daily blessings and looking within.
In our house we adhere to the "done is better than perfect" principle and if my towels are not all folded perfectly or the sheets aren't ironed (among many many other things) who cares? I don't think Martha Stewart is going to come calling anytime soon and if she does - then she and her crew can take care of all those imperfections while I drink a daquiri.
Thank you Thank you!!! I just got some help from Rhoda at Southern Hospitality on decorating my girls/guest bath room. Of course this meant a shower curtain that was made and NOT bought. But I have no idea how to sew! So, this is great! I was in Hobby Lobby just the other day and saw the perfect fabric for it! Now, one question, what is the measurment of the fabric that I need?? : )
I am technically clueless when it comes to measuring things to get them right!
I completely agree with the "good enough" theory. Is it absolutely necessary to have the house completely sterile and clean every single day??? Absolutely not. I clean it up, and it is presentable, but it doesn't need to be immaculate. Really, who does that???
love the bathroom mistreatment. It is amazing what a little bit of fabric can do to warm up a room.
I LOVE this! My hubby and I were just talking about the very same thing yesterday.
Imperfection CAN be a blessing!
PS> Check out my mistreatments tomorrow ... you totally inspired these imperfect blessings.
I laughed out loud when I read Jennifer P's comment about putting one silver clip on one end and the other on the other end to balance them out...I thought the very same thing when I saw the picture. That way it can look like you meant for them to be there. :)
We have tons of imperfect beauty going on at my house. Too much to mention, except to echo a couple of other comments. I have a similar situation as Nancy because I have an unlevel bay window in a guest room that is permanently crooked since the siding guys didn't bother to fix it (or even mention it) when they sided. And like Kristy, we let our dogs on our furniture. And since they are perpetually shedding Shelties, I tell people visiting not to mess up my perfectly spaced hair bunnies on the wood floor.
It's so funny you should post about this. Just the other day as I was vacuuming that thought kept running through my head..."Housework done imperfectly still blesses your family!"
So get what you are saying! I too love the Fly Lady and think she has it going on. It is just so hard sometimes to let go of things...but then when you do it's hard to grab back on!! Your bathroom is beautiful!!
Like ahighandnoblecalling, I wondered if that's a mirror over your sink. I don't think that I could stand looking at myself while I'm working in the kitchen!
K.
oh nester!! your blog validates so many people. we love your candor and humor. we also love your ideas and generous sharing of how to, or permission to do it however. thank you! i am thrilled that i actually feel happy with less than perfect work. it is GOOD ENOUGH and done, and i'm off to do something else. so liberating! and encouraging! many thanks! jkj
AH....I'm so stealing that plate thingie in the bathroom too.
Love your blog!
Cleaning cleaning cleaning. I do major cleaning once a week & the rest of the week we do what I call drive by cleaning. If someone walks by something out of place they are supposed to pick it up & put it away. It works & most of the time someone can come over unannounced & I am not ashamed to let them in. Now I can have quality time with the kiddies.
oh my...that's why my blog subtitle is balancing beauty and bedlam. That is my life!I am just trying to tip the scales on the beauty end more often that not. You'd be so proud of me...my first and only mistreatment...in honor of you. Now, only 21 more empty windows to do. Yep..it's true.
www.inpassionatepursuit.blogspot.com
Jen:)
LOVE the mirror over the kitchen sink!
Hello, dear friend.
I think children teach us this principal the most. When my first was born I tried to control every tiny aspect and pushed and poked until it fit nicely in a 'perfect box.'
That didn't work so well.
My kids have taught me that imperfection is beautiful. That's why God loves us all so much...we are beautifully imperfect.
It has spilled over to my home with it's chippy paint furniture, rusty farm buckets, and clearance-corner treasures.
And I love it all, perfectly, just like that!
I think we are all in agreement that we don't do it all perfectly! If there is someone amongst us who does do it all perfectly, let me know so I can ignore them! :)
I love how you made the attached valance on your shower curtain. I am a big believer in non-shower-curtain shower curtains. I have mine made long so they can hang low and hang high. You are right, it makes it look much more regal!
Have you picked out your new computer yet??? I saw one of those pretty white Macs over the weekend. So clutterfree and fresh.
I just mistreated a pair of silk drapes in my bedroom. Come check them out- www.mylifebehindthechair.blogspot.com
Hi Nester,
I have decided to let my blog be imperfect. As much as I enjoy it, I have found other things to fill my day lately and I just gave up on the pressure of trying to post often "enough."
I mean how much is "enough?" Well, for me, right now once or twice a month is enough. Someday soon maybe once or twice a week will be enough.
Love your shower mistreatment and I'm sending my cousin over here for some ideas. She just built a fancy big house after living in an old run down farmhouse for 15 years.
Okay, I just had a shiver go up my back!! I did an almost identical post today inviting people to post their "perfectly imperfect" creations/ideas/projects! Great minds. huh?
I'd love it if you'd stop by and add the link to this post on my blog. I am gathering up the best of the best make-overs, etc. and this post fits the bill!
Linda
Ok, I just found your blog, and I have tons of questions. Well, maybe just a couple. But I am wondering why you're renting and not buying? We are currently in a rental house that I adore, and I'm looking for excuses not to buy a house and just doll up my rental a bit. Also, where are you in NC? I haven't found any bloggers in my town yet, so I'm curious. You can find me at ellenwit at yahoo dot com. Thanks! I know you're super busy, but I thought it couldn't hurt to try.
My saying has always been that my house and myself are "perfectly imperfect" and that suits me just fine.
Enjoy your day.
Cheers!
OMGoodness! I love your blog. I am inspired. I am also going to be a first time homeschooling mom this next school year. I stayed up WAY too late last night readin' and catchin' up on your posts! BTW, I am linking you, hope it's ok....www.sassygalglamour.blogspot.com
THANKS and YOU RAWK :)
Ashley
Oh, you speak sweet words directly to my imperfect heart tonight - the same one that is soon going to serve a veggie-less meal to my children (unless you count tomato sauce as a veggie.) :)
Thanks for the inspiration to create my own mistreatments. I've just finished my first project (http://mainlymallory.blogspot.com/). I look forward to more inspiration from your house tour!
I do everything less than perfect and I'm totally happy with it! I mistreated my shower recently in the same fashion....liner rod is lower...but nobody knows until you pull the outside curtain back!
I cant believe you aren't going to be there this weekend! I am so bummed!
Great words to live by. Exactly what I needed to hear tonight. I'm off to bless my husband's lunch for tomorrow. It won't be perfect, but it'll be done.
I love that FlyLady comment, too. I remind myself of it often when I don't have time to clean properly and I'm just giving things a "lick and a promise".
I love it, love it love it! I have done the height thing in my bathroom for YEARS and always get rave reviews. I have ascot valances on top and an embroideried curtain...anywho, love the thought that I have actually thought of something YOU (hail hail) thought of too! LOL
If you could just take a vacation, to TX, I'd cook your food and you can help me with all the rooms in my house. Sound good? Thanks! :)
I've been looking at shower curtains lately and it dawned on me that I could make them. I checked out JoAnns website and couldn't understand the directions. But I CAN understand a mistreatment. The only problem is finding fabric I like that I can afford.
Bless YOU! I wander around thinking I should do this, that...some things make me happy, some just stress. Thank you for showing imperfections. I just love the courage you give us!!
You say it doesn't have to be perfect and yet you have the much-envied-knack to make it look perfect.
At least you do everything just good enough, whereas I am a freak and am AN. AL. about my prrofreading and spelling, and yet my hosue looks like a toy monster swept through the house, pooping all along the way. And the junk monster. And paper monster. And the monster who ate all my good dinner ideas. And the ingredients. Okay I'm just lazy. I have perfected THAT at least.
Hey Nester, Love the shower curtain! If you move one of the silver rings to the opposite side of the rod, it will look like you meant to nestify the shower curtain that way instead of not having enough black rngs. One sweet silver ring on each end. What do you think?
Something I that doesn't have to be perfect because the experience is more important than the end product: I let my kids help frost and decorate the birthday cupcakes. I only secretly touched up a few of them. I am proud of myself, as a matter of fact.
OMG. Please. Please. Come do your magic at my house!
Emily
I want to come live at your house. Not in a weird way, but because it is so pretty and comfortable looking.
Katy
http://mynutvillage.com/
hey girl. so, i have this problem in my bedroom - and kind of all over my house. i love our old house (1932) but i super love all my windows. they're big and beautiful, but very expensive to cover all of them. we don't have plantation blinds up all over just because we've never been able to afford to get them all. so i just usually do fabric. but b/c we don't have the blinds i do more fabric to cover up the entire window. and b/c we don't have a million rods, in my bedroom, they're just nailed up in the window frame. so, that basically brings me to my problem - i don't want to hide the windows, but at the same time, i'm not gonna have peeking toms looking in through slightly covered windows. so, do you think i should just bite the bullet and invest in the faux plantation blinds over time - or is there another way that i can do my fabric windows without having to "hide" them all the time? sorry for the book!! ;) oh, and your bracelet's in! i'll send it your way asap!
Love this idea. Mind if I use it in my I Love These Ideas! Sunday column? Also am adding you to my blog roll so I"m sure to visit often....
Mary
Fun Fact: I used to do shower curtains just like you UNTIL I discovered extra long shower curtains online. They are 72" and can be clipped with the fabric curtain and therefore the second rod is no longer needed!
The iron plate holder on your counter is such a great idea! I'm always trying to think of a way to house my daily bathroom knick-knacks without using one of those cheapie plastic dish things (hmmm, I need to brush up on storage lingo). Thanks for the great idea!
Post a Comment