Somehow April got so busy with blog posts and such that I never posted a keeping it real post for April. Never fear, I’m here today with a keeping it real post for you.
Are you ready to see some of the ‘behind the scenes ‘ here at The Real Thing with the Coake Family? I’ve got a few behind the scenes for you today as well an idea for your photography if you are a blog writer as well. 
Last month, I showed you how I cleaned my wire shelves and how I gave my laundry room a mini makeover. Of course for those pictures, I showed you the more ‘magazine glossy’ pictures. The picture above is what you see on a typical day. Laundry and laundry basket on the floor. Laundry that needs some type of stain treatment on the dryer. In the corner right when you walk in, at this time there were Girl Scout cookies with our cat food container on top. If you were able to see around the corner some more, you would see another small square laundry basket with all our co-op P.E. supplies in it and all our donations waiting to be taken to Goodwill on top, under and behind that. The door is open as far as it will open because there is a huge hot water heater behind the door. This is the more normal, everyday version of my laundry room.
I showed you our idea for a family Mother’s Day activity a couple of week’s ago. If you look carefully at the pictures, you will notice that I had Mr. T take any pictures of me over my shoulder or from behind. Yeah….I’m in my sweat pants with no makeup and minimally done hair (i.e., ponytail). Here is the real picture, which somehow Mr. T thankfully and accidentally kept me a little blurry. This is my usual look on days we aren’t going anywhere. My other usual look these days is staying in my sweating running clothes until about 4pm, when I seem to finally have time to shower. Pretty, ehh? Yep, not magazine glossy AT all.
In the wake of the Boston Marathon tragedy, many runners banded together to #runforBoston. I wanted to join in as well. Run for Boston is intended to be a run or walk of your choice and distance, but do it in honor of Boston. I really wanted to run a full marathon over the course of week, but I just had to be realistic about the time and other commitments I had that week. I settled on completing a half marathon during one week. I had to complete it all during the week as that weekend we were going camping and a Saturday or Sunday run would not have been possible. I finished up my 13.1 miles on Friday morning. When I arrived back at our house, I was greeted by these two cuties who had their race cheering signs and a finish line for me made from yarn. I have the sweetest and most supportive girls!
What is this display board for? What project are you or your girls working on? None! This is a little blog or Etsy photography tip for you. This is our office and the white tables are my girls craft tables. In the afternoon, this room has the best light for taking pictures. In order to get a white background and better pictures I use this tri-fold display board as my background.
This is what the table and board looked like for taking the pictures of our Mother’s Day family activity. I read about using one of these display boards early on in my figuring this blogging thing out. I have no idea where I read that, so thank you to whichever blogger put that out there on her blog. It works great and takes very little space to store. In fact, if you scroll back up to the picture of my laundry room, you may just spy it tucked in the space between the dryer and the wall. That is where I store all my backgrounds. I have recently added a black background as well. Maybe another day I can show you that trick.
The final shots from this set up. Pretty neat, huh?
Well, thanks for joining me this month for another in my series keeping things real here. I think it is fun to see others real life…it makes me realize they are just like me and no one has a perfect life despite the glossy pictures, amazing crafts, and spectacular decorating. I can’t imagine anyone looking at me or my blog and thinking I have it all together or that my family does. I also realize that the reality is that you see only what I show you. I want to keep showing you some of our real world because I am far from all together and I don’t like living under false pretenses.
Until next month, let’s keep it real folks.
For real is the best! Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree! Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂
KC
Lol! I never have time to shower on the weekend until late afternoon either… not sure why? Too caught up in everyone else’s stuff I guess:)
Krista
Hehe…I wish it was just on the weekends, but usually I’m in sweaty clothes on weekdays…too many of them to count. Yes, with homeschooling sometimes it is just easier to stay stinky and get everyone going and done rather than get an even later start. Oh well…it is just this season in life, right?
KC
For real is always the best! Thanks for sharing your real side and for the photography tip!
I agree! Your welcome for the tip, hope it is helpful for you.
KC
Love the behind-the-scenes look. I need to try the tri-fold trick for sure!
Glad you enjoyed the behind the scenes and the photography trick!
Take care,
KC
Thanks for the photography tip, I will have to try it out 🙂
You are welcome! I hope it works really well for you.
KC
I always wonder how people get their pics to look so good! It is also comforting to know that other people wear sweatpants! lol Stopping by from SITS.
Yes, sweatpants are a comfy choice on those days I just don’t feel like making the effort…you too?
Take care,
KC
I finally made a light box out of a cardboard box so I can take pictures at night.I love the way your pictures come out. Have a great weekend. inda
I bet that is really nice. I think I need to make a light box as well. I just haven’t been sure if it would be big enough for what I need.
Take care,
KC
I’ve read about the display board as well but haven’t gotten one. It makes a huge difference in the pics! I love it when people are “real” about things. It’s so easy to see yourself competing with people on the web you don’t know. And behind it all they are real people just like everyone else with good days and bad days.
Happy Saturday Sharefest!
The display board is really handy. It is so easy to see yourself competing with others. I really like it when people are willing to be real…it helps me stop competing or desiring the ‘perfect’ life that doesn’t exist. Thanks for stopping by.
KC
Great tip I really need to get a display board – have pinned this, Alice x
Thanks! I hope it works great for you if you try it.
KC
I love this. I love seeing things real, sometimes in the blogging world we forget that things aren’t always perfect and that that isn’t always real life!
Thanks, Marie! Yes, that is exactly why I have started this series of posts…I want to keep things real here. Less pressure for me, too!
KC