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?
Tags: home office, real life
AND that it is…I loved this Becky. How fun…we all have “stuff” we have to get to. I think you gave me a good idea for some Project Life pictures. A nice change from my daughter taking pictures of her dog EVERYDAY. LOL
And your “Life” sign…I have the SAME one and I love love love it. I got mine at a store called Swan Creek Candle Co. I kept eyeing it up…finally I bought it and one of the best purchases I have ever made. And they no longer carry it so not sure I could find one in these parts again. That makes me feel better…ya know always feel guilty when you buy something just because you really really want it. Have a lovely day:)
Could you please show your system for the folders for the school work, i am looking for a system for my son and i havent been able to find one yet….PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE thank you and God Bless
My “home office” is a glorious mess of new craft stuff. And I love it. Until I realise I can’t MAKE anything with this mess in front of me!
Thanks for sharing!
Hope you have a great week!
x Rita
Since you said this… “Can’t wait for our new products coming later this Summer, which will really help with the end result of preserving this stuff.” …what should I be doing with all of my kids paperwork until then?! Right now mine is all in a stack too! CAN’T WAIT to see what you’ve come up with!!!!!
I’m taking your advice… getting the camera out and going to start snapping. Sometimes I think ‘I would NEVER want people to see my house like this’ but really. this is just the way LIFE is sometimes. It might as well be documented… and photographed. Thanks for the little push!
I fear a photo tour around my house right now will show infant toys everywhere, or an office that I can’t figure out how to baby-proof because it’s too cluttered. Then again…maybe I need to remember the baby toys. Maybe you should do a post on when it’s ok to throw stuff away. Like, um, the collection of encyclopedias that are in our office bookcase. Does anyone really use the real printed encyclopedias anymore? And are 20+yr old ones worth anything anyways?
I love love love love love love Claires nail polish – - what color is that – - I love to see little girls all “primped” with nails done – - she’s adorable! I also love the fact that you show off your kids art work, those are keepers!!
I hope out of those two classes, there will be one mom that gives you a thank you ‘something’ to make your stress over this project seem worth your time.
Also, I love how your watermark isn’t the in your face size. I find myself playing a BH version of Wheres Waldo with them.
I’m with you on the watermark!
I love posts like this that remind me that you are a REAL person and not just a fictitious role model!
I like knowing that your mail and kids’ artwork pile up for when you have “spare” time to deal with it.’ I’m relieved to see that you, too, may occasionally leave used dishes around your work area. And, most of all, I’m happy to see that your work area isn’t like a museum! Sure you’ve got adorable decor that I am completely envious of, but your area looks “lived in” and your family, especially your children, are always welcome in there to be a part of your “work”. All of the imperfect, yet realistic, parts of your office give it character and make me feel a little less horrible about the condition of my home and all its imperfection. 
Thanks for being so inspiring…and for being REAL. 
Love it!! 
I agree whole-heartedly, it’s so good to see you’re a REAL person. Thanks so much for a glimpse into the reality of your life Becky!
Great post! Imagine what those class projects will be like when you’re doing 3 of them?!?! Enlist some other momma help. I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard at all to have a few moms take a month for you on a rotation. In fact, I’m sure they would be honored!:)
This is seriously on my to-do list Becky since we moved house 3 months ago and are soon to be moving back (long story!). I must document all the little things about the time we spent here. I really, really must. Thanks for the nudge; loved seeing your glimpses!
I love it! Its not what you see in the design mags but it is what home offices usually look like for people with kids.
Since my children are all grown up and have homes and families of their own, I feel kinda funny snapping away at our retired life…I know it’s silly–after all we DO do things, but it’s so different now. I am going to attempt to do this and not feel “funny” about it. Weird, huh? Cha-cha-cha-changes…..Julierose
I LOVE it!! I just spent an hour cleaning our little office corner in our room, it looked just like that!! I also have the same purse from Cherry lane except in Yellow, I spotted it as I was driving down the road and had to stop and grab it
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Love seeing the “real” look of someone else’s home. Anyone who keeps everything totally spotless and organized all the time isn’t spending time on what’s truly important!
Amen…remember, dull women have immaculate homes…:-)
Well I just bought myself a dang cute new purse! Thanks…I think…:)
Thank you Becky, for making me feel like normal. I loved these real life/home office photos. Creativity IS messy, and I love it!
Eating at the computer is not a good habit – but I do it every day, and read your blog…thank you for sharing these wonderful pics. Great PL ideas!
Excellent post! As organized as you seem to be I’m SO GLAD to know even Becky gets behind. Thank you for reminding me that my stacks are normal.
Love it! What a fun collection of photos to describe every day family living. Off to go do the same thing… Thanks for the inspiration!
I love your file folders & the other folders. Where did you get those colors?
So how do you decide which to use as your picture of the day? Sometimes I take so many great pictures in one day, just of random things, that I don’t know which one to put in my digital album.
I love this idea too, capturing life as it’s happening and keeping it real. Jessica above asked the same thing I was going to, how do you decide which photo to use?
Got a little overwhelmed too, doing 3 classes this year. Please let us know how you plan to change it next year. I was wondering how you tackled the problem of kids being absent on the day you went in to take pictures for the month?
Just yesterday i started sorting out our home office, so i can pretty much relate to your post!
Fun to see that everyone has the same ‘mess’ piling up! Thanks for the peek into yours and for the idea to snap some pictures!
Thank you for showing your not so organized side. I was beginning to believe you almost perfect.
[...] « real life: home office [...]
thanks for the idea – i read your blog and realize I need to pick up that camera
Love Gardner Village!!! Love how you are so real and especially with sharing. Thanks
~Gardner Village in West Jordan, Utah~ Now I am homesick again.
You make everyday looks so yummy!
I love your pictures of the feet! I have something similar for my three boys in a triframe – each at about 5mth old when they discover their toes. Beautiful black and white photos of beautiful little hands & feet..
Melts my heart every time I look at it.
Love the material on the chair – the colour & print. Fabulous!
Love what you do, thanks xx
How fun to see that your office isn’t always spotless!!
Ok… one more question (just asked one about another post)… I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the fabric on the white chairs in your craft suite! Are you willing to share where it came from? Did you paint and cover the chairs or did you purchase them? Beautiful!!
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