Two minutes.

That’s how much time I spent snapping 20 pictures around my home-based office. This is a look at real life in this space, right now. This place is sometimes very tidy and clean. And sometimes, it’s just not. We get behind on stuff. Things pile up. Messes are made. Projects are in the making.

Now is one of those times. And since most of the pictures you’ve seen of my office space are all pretty and orderly, I wanted to share these real-life glimpses. Oh, and by “my” home office space you know I mean … my family’s office space. We’re all in here.

Sometimes you’ll find David and me on the side-by-side computers, each doing our thing … the business, the bills, the emails, the vacation research, the whatever. Sometimes you’ll find Crew laying across the floor, playing on the iPad, always with his favorite blanket somehow attached. Sometimes you’ll find Porter and Claire working on some art project together.

Sometimes I’m in this space all alone. Love having my family around. Also love peace & quiet once in a while. Zoning into my work. Creating. Learning. Blogging. Doing my thing.

So here we go.

This is right by my computer. I keep this reminder of 3 of my greatest blessings within view at all times.

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A project-in-process. I just need one more frame and then I have a trio to hang. Until then, this stuff is clutter on my countertop.

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I found this giant wooden LIFE sculpture at Down to Earth, a boutique at Gardner Village in West Jordan, Utah. Totally worth hand-carrying this on the flight back to Arizona. Still unsure of where exactly it will land in the office. I just knew I had to have it. (Think: Project Life. Yes, I also found smaller letters to spell PROJECT.)

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Kelly Green is in the Top 5 colors that just speak to me right now. So when I spotted this bag at Cherry Lane Boutique in Provo, Utah a couple weeks again … well, I guess I just couldn’t resist.

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Claire gave a little talk in church yesterday. We used some beautiful artwork to accompany what she spoke about and I still need to get these prints put back in their spot.

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The remnants of salsa. Eating at the computer is not a good habit — I know.

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Papers, papers, papers near the computer. To-do lists, blog calendar, shopping list, school papers, work stuff, and other stuff that I just really need to go through SOON. I bet half of this stash can be recycled right now.

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This old alphabet puzzle has been in our family for YEARS (notice the splitting wood and worn letters) and it’s definitely Crew’s favorite go-to toy right now. That, and Porter’s green shoes (you can see one nearby). So random that Crew loves those shoes, but it’s so completely darling when he puts them on and walks around in his big brother’s shoes.

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Like I said — the family is always close by. Here Porter is positioned in his chair just right as he organizes Pokemon cards. He’s sporting some Sunday pants that I hemmed. My first attempt at hemming (6 months ago), thanks to my friend Heidi telling me the steps. I was pretty excited that I actually did it. Now I can’t remember how to hem pants. Of course I can’t.

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Claire is coloring and just barely finished some artwork that we are putting in the mail today for a friend who moved away last year.

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I am at least 5 months behind on sorting the kids’ latest artwork and school papers. At least I’ve been stacking them in one place. When the school year is over, I have a game plan. It involves going through all of this with the kids — recycling, scanning, labeling, and organizing. Can’t wait for our new products coming later this Summer, which will really help with the end result of preserving this stuff.

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Pictures in frames around the office. And of course some are spray-painted (in this case, the pink one).

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These bobby pins belong to Becki. She accidentally left them here when she came over to cut my hair. Or maybe I secretly hid them so I could keep them. Actually, I am a total slacker for not putting these in the mail to her (we live well over an hour away from each other; not a quick errand).

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Another excellent find at Gardner Village. Spotted this in a little boutique called Sassy Babies. Why am I so darn attracted to polka dots? I can’t escape them. Also worth hand-carrying on the flight home.

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Wrapping up the LAST pages of the Personal Yearbook project for both Porter’s 2nd grade class and Claire’s preschool class. I’ll admit — I was in over my head this year. It was too much for this mama to keep up with, particularly with a napping toddler at home and scheduling it all in. But I did keep up — barely. And I’m so glad. Aaand … I really need to re-think my approach for next year. The project is awesome. And simple. But keeping up with 2 large classes (with everything else I have going on)? A bit much, honestly. Lesson learned.

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Got these Easter Pez surprises for the kids and completely forgot to give them to them. Parents of the Year.

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These are not current, but they are still two of my favorite works of art from Porter (left) and Claire (right) from a few years ago. I truly love my kids’ artwork. Makes me so happy.

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I keep Porter’s cub scout items in the office since it’s right by our door to the garage and we’re always rushed when we leave for Scouts.

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Found these Brushing Beauties at Home Goods. Picked up a few for a few of my friends with whom I’ll be seeing later today for a church-related meeting. So cute and domestic.

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The mail pile, which desperately needs our attention – stat!

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Two minutes. Twenty pictures. Two-hundred stories that could be told just from these glimpses and what they say about our family, our lifestyle, our current phase of life.

What about you? Will you consider picking up the camera and shooting around one room in your home for just two minutes? This is documenting real life as it’s happening – is it not?