On Thursdays I post something from the archives. This is from May 2014.
About
a decade ago, I loved to scour through home design magazines for
inspiration. I also bought the occasional fashion magazine. It was a
guilty pleasure but also a source for ideas. I still look for
inspiration, but I’ve replaced most of the magazines with online
destinations. This seems to be a trend for most people, as most of us
are just as likely to peruse Pinterest or design websites or foodie
instagram accounts as we are to sit down with a magazine. The internet
hasn’t completed replaced magazines, but it has definitely changed our
habits.
a decade ago, I loved to scour through home design magazines for
inspiration. I also bought the occasional fashion magazine. It was a
guilty pleasure but also a source for ideas. I still look for
inspiration, but I’ve replaced most of the magazines with online
destinations. This seems to be a trend for most people, as most of us
are just as likely to peruse Pinterest or design websites or foodie
instagram accounts as we are to sit down with a magazine. The internet
hasn’t completed replaced magazines, but it has definitely changed our
habits.
What’s
fascinating about this shift, though, is that it has created this sort
of inspiration marketplace where anyone can create inspirational
content. And while I love the fact that the internet has allowed
creatives to publish their own work, it has also birthed an interesting
phenomenon where people and personalities have become a part of the
narrative. We’re no longer just browsing a magazine of randomly curated
interesting homes. We’re not just looking at a fashion spread of
anonymous models. We are looking at real people, real homes, and often,
real families.
fascinating about this shift, though, is that it has created this sort
of inspiration marketplace where anyone can create inspirational
content. And while I love the fact that the internet has allowed
creatives to publish their own work, it has also birthed an interesting
phenomenon where people and personalities have become a part of the
narrative. We’re no longer just browsing a magazine of randomly curated
interesting homes. We’re not just looking at a fashion spread of
anonymous models. We are looking at real people, real homes, and often,
real families.
There
are positive aspects to this, as it makes design and fashion seem more
accessible. But it has also created a bevy of “lifestyle blogs” in which
people are holding up their own lives as daily inspiration. They are
photographing their homes, their meals, their outfits, and their
children in the same style we might have seen in a glossy magazine. It’s
picture-perfect and Pinterest ready and we eat it up because it’s
inspirational eye candy.
are positive aspects to this, as it makes design and fashion seem more
accessible. But it has also created a bevy of “lifestyle blogs” in which
people are holding up their own lives as daily inspiration. They are
photographing their homes, their meals, their outfits, and their
children in the same style we might have seen in a glossy magazine. It’s
picture-perfect and Pinterest ready and we eat it up because it’s
inspirational eye candy.
As
a personal blogger, I’ve been in conversations with many other bloggers
who have noticed this shift. Blogging started out as a kind of online
journal, but for many it has morphed into more of an online magazine –
little snippets of real life that perhaps don’t paint the full picture.
It’s the highlight reel . . . and honestly? Sometimes it’s very staged.
a personal blogger, I’ve been in conversations with many other bloggers
who have noticed this shift. Blogging started out as a kind of online
journal, but for many it has morphed into more of an online magazine –
little snippets of real life that perhaps don’t paint the full picture.
It’s the highlight reel . . . and honestly? Sometimes it’s very staged.
I
don’t think it’s a requirement that every blogger air all of their ugly
in order to be authentic. I certainly hold back and value privacy on
certain things. But I do get a little cringey about the blogs that ONLY
highlight a perfect domestic existent, complete with sunkissed lighting,
designer clothes, and perfectly-placed chevron pillows. It’s not that
these things are bad in and of themselves . . . but I wonder what kind
of message about life, and specifically about motherhood, these blogs
are collectively sending.
don’t think it’s a requirement that every blogger air all of their ugly
in order to be authentic. I certainly hold back and value privacy on
certain things. But I do get a little cringey about the blogs that ONLY
highlight a perfect domestic existent, complete with sunkissed lighting,
designer clothes, and perfectly-placed chevron pillows. It’s not that
these things are bad in and of themselves . . . but I wonder what kind
of message about life, and specifically about motherhood, these blogs
are collectively sending.
Then
last week, someone sent me a link to a new online magazine for moms. In
fact, that’s pretty much the title. I’m not naming it or linking to it
because I don’t think these are bad people who need to be scolded, but
let’s just say that it’s a magazine about motherhood that appears to
only feature thin, beautiful moms with gorgeous houses and trendy
clothing. Every story is artfully shot, every picture is
pinterest-perfect. There are many posts about fashion, but clearly from a
perspective that mothers can afford and are interested in designer
clothing. There was even a round-up of hipster rompers. It’s clearly
selling to a certain demographic, but it just made me uneasy. Because
this is not what motherhood looks like for me. And I’m worried that
there are just too many internet destinations selling an idealized
version of motherhood that no one can live up to. Because motherhood is
beautiful, but it’s also messy. In fact, I would even argue that happy
family life SHOULD be messy. A lifestyle blog of only perfect moments is
not a lifestyle I’m familiar with.
last week, someone sent me a link to a new online magazine for moms. In
fact, that’s pretty much the title. I’m not naming it or linking to it
because I don’t think these are bad people who need to be scolded, but
let’s just say that it’s a magazine about motherhood that appears to
only feature thin, beautiful moms with gorgeous houses and trendy
clothing. Every story is artfully shot, every picture is
pinterest-perfect. There are many posts about fashion, but clearly from a
perspective that mothers can afford and are interested in designer
clothing. There was even a round-up of hipster rompers. It’s clearly
selling to a certain demographic, but it just made me uneasy. Because
this is not what motherhood looks like for me. And I’m worried that
there are just too many internet destinations selling an idealized
version of motherhood that no one can live up to. Because motherhood is
beautiful, but it’s also messy. In fact, I would even argue that happy
family life SHOULD be messy. A lifestyle blog of only perfect moments is
not a lifestyle I’m familiar with.
So, in the spirit of keeping it real (and bringing it down a notch), I present Rage Against the Minivan’s Ultimate Lifestyle Photo Retrospective.
This is how my bedroom looks about once a month:
This is how it looks every other day:
These
are the curtains in the living room that I cut and had sewn because
they dragged on the floor. Apparently, I wasn’t paying a lot of
attention when I cut them, and now they are uneven. I’ve been meaning to
fix them, but they’ve been like that for months, and probably will be
like that until I have a party or something that gives me external
motivation to fix it. The boxes are full of string lights for the back
yard. They’ve been in that spot for a few months, too.
are the curtains in the living room that I cut and had sewn because
they dragged on the floor. Apparently, I wasn’t paying a lot of
attention when I cut them, and now they are uneven. I’ve been meaning to
fix them, but they’ve been like that for months, and probably will be
like that until I have a party or something that gives me external
motivation to fix it. The boxes are full of string lights for the back
yard. They’ve been in that spot for a few months, too.
I made an office for myself in the garage
but I never work there. This is where I sit all day. The dumbells? I
never use them. Also, please note the stack of new curtains I purchased
to replace the wonky ones that have basically become a table for other
crap I need to deal with.
but I never work there. This is where I sit all day. The dumbells? I
never use them. Also, please note the stack of new curtains I purchased
to replace the wonky ones that have basically become a table for other
crap I need to deal with.
This
area of the dining room is where we just pile papers. About once a
month I will go through the papers and realize all of the things I
forgot to do/sign/deal with. The lamps are permanently crooked because I
can’t figure out how to fix them. You can pin that if you want.
area of the dining room is where we just pile papers. About once a
month I will go through the papers and realize all of the things I
forgot to do/sign/deal with. The lamps are permanently crooked because I
can’t figure out how to fix them. You can pin that if you want.
Here
I am wearing workout gear. Did I work out? No. I just dress up like I’m
going to because it’s a socially acceptable way to wear pajamas
outside.
I am wearing workout gear. Did I work out? No. I just dress up like I’m
going to because it’s a socially acceptable way to wear pajamas
outside.
This
invitation to a concert was hanging on our fridge for a month but we
missed it. Why, you ask? Did we have work obligations? Were we out of
town? Nope. We just FORGOT. So we had two kids on stage with no parents
in the audience because we can’t keep our $#!& together.
invitation to a concert was hanging on our fridge for a month but we
missed it. Why, you ask? Did we have work obligations? Were we out of
town? Nope. We just FORGOT. So we had two kids on stage with no parents
in the audience because we can’t keep our $#!& together.
Here
I am trying on a trendy romper. I know. I look ridiculous. I’m aware of
that because that’s exactly what Karis said to me before asking me to
take it off.
I am trying on a trendy romper. I know. I look ridiculous. I’m aware of
that because that’s exactly what Karis said to me before asking me to
take it off.
I
don’t post photo retrospectives of what my kids wore because I let them
choose and instead of looking like an Anthropologie ad, this is how
they usually look:
don’t post photo retrospectives of what my kids wore because I let them
choose and instead of looking like an Anthropologie ad, this is how
they usually look:
We
don’t have quaint wooden toys or handmade dolls or cool vintage books.
We have huge, gaudy plastic toys in our house. A lot of them. And books
about boogers and farting and superheroes in underwear.
don’t have quaint wooden toys or handmade dolls or cool vintage books.
We have huge, gaudy plastic toys in our house. A lot of them. And books
about boogers and farting and superheroes in underwear.
And last, let’s look at my child’s weekly folder. Jen Hatmaker, I see your bad end-of-school-year mom gig
and raise you one . . . I’m bad ALL YEAR. I am supposed to sign this
every week. I’ve signed four times. Look, I’ve removed the papers from
the folder. Why do I need to sign? It’s just too hard. I’m a busy woman
with important things to do like writing Bachelor recaps.
and raise you one . . . I’m bad ALL YEAR. I am supposed to sign this
every week. I’ve signed four times. Look, I’ve removed the papers from
the folder. Why do I need to sign? It’s just too hard. I’m a busy woman
with important things to do like writing Bachelor recaps.
So, there you have it. All the lifestyle inspiration you’ve ever needed.
