Yes, I realize that this post is supposed to be “Messy Mom Monday”.  However, by the time I saw Brittney’s post, it was already Tuesday here in New Zealand.

Oh well!

It’s so easy to for me to line my life up to someone else’s and think that I’m not doing enough or that I don’t have it “put together”.  What I often forget is that, for most people, that put together look doesn’t happen all the time.  Sure, I like to have on nice clothes with my hair done, make-up applied, and Joe in a cute outfit while the house sparkles and shines.  These things do happen, but often not simultaneously.  I’d hate for someone to see us when that once-in-a-blue-moon instance occurs where everything and everyone looks great and walk away feeling as though they aren’t good enough.

You know what, lovely readers?  You are good enough, and here’s proof that we don’t always have it together.

Consider my current ensemble:

I’m wearing a sweatshirt and workout pants.  My hair was in a bun at some point, but Joe wanted to play on the floor and the pins were digging into my scalp.  Why am I still wearing workout gear at 2pm?  Because (1) I jog almost every morning while Joe naps and (2) it’s an icky, cloudy day in Auckland and we didn’t go outside but for a few minutes before being chased back in by the rain.  Still, I’m OK with this outfit – I know that the reason why I’m wearing it is because I was exercising, which is something that makes me feel better about myself {and look better, too!}.  Yes, I like to put on a nice pair of jeans with some cute shoes and push Joe up and down High Street, but sometimes it’s stretch pants and flip-flops.  Guess what – Joe doesn’t know the difference!

Oh, and there’s a little something on this outfit that you can’t see – the flour covering my front.  I made 2 loaves of bread today and got messy in the process, naturally.  And my feet?  A total mess.  That’s what happens when you give up a vehicle in favor of walking everywhere.

Then there’s my desk area:

Camera gear, passports that have yet to be put away from our trip to the States {we got back 2 weeks ago}, a box with odds and ends in it {grocery tote, a toy to bring to the church nursery, pad of paper…} my laptop with smudgy screen, and my vitamins and minerals {because one of the first places that I go in the morning after nursing Joe is to check my email}.

What a mess.

Last but not least, there’s the lounge/play area:

That is a pile of Joe’s toys and books on the sofa.  Why is it there?  Because I vacuumed yesterday and picked up the whole kit ‘n caboodle so that I could sweep.  Joe has a perfectly good toy bin and bookcase in his nursery, but it’s a hassle to take everything from there to the lounge each day.  I’m on the lookout for a small bin to keep next to the couch to help de-clutter this area, but I’m not in any rush!

Oof – yikes!  Can’t believe I’m posting pictures of our messy house and a clearly far from fabulous looking me on the internet, but here goes!