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10 Times My Blog Was So Close to Amazing

August 21, 2017

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I love blogging. It is the perfect outlet for all my pent up creative energy. I love making beautiful projects and after every post I anxiously wait to see if you like it.

Not everything is perfect.

There are mistakes, cover ups, and bad lighting. Today I thought it would be fun to share with you a behind-the-scenes look at when my blog was #soclosetoamazing.

This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase anything, I earn a small commission at no extra charge to you.  Thanks for your support!

1. Saskatchewan winters are not my friend.

I hate the cold, but as a blogger, I really hate the lack of light. From December to February there is literally one or two good hours a day to take pictures. Want to meet me for coffee at 1PM in winter? Sorry, I’m taking photos for the blog.

Lemon cake with candied citrus & lemon buttercream
One of the victims of terrible winter lighting.

2. Uncooperative Flowers

This DIY is super gorgeous, but that one too-heavy peony would NOT co-operate. Solution? Shove it into the crack in the fence, put some other flowers on top of it and call it a day.

3. Leaky containers

Not shown in this pic? My poor friend Naomi holding these flowers while getting soaking wet because the container is leaking everywhere.

4. The unloved recipe

This recipe for red relish is awesome, but no one would ever know because the photography is terrible. Lesson learned: never rush your posts because of your need to keep to the posting schedule.

Side note: I’ve since retaken the pictures and given the post the update it deserves.  You should totally check it out.

red relish, relish, canning, pickles, pickling, cucumbers
Red relish likes to hide. It’s the one on the left.  P.S. Except for that recipe, I’m also really terrible at making pickles.

5. Selective cleaning

Remember this Christmas Home Tour? My house looks so clean, right? Ha! Just outside of the frame is a pile of overflowing laundry and Christmas presents waiting to be wrapped.

6. I don’t have marble countertops

I swear the former owner of this house knew I was coming, because she left this gorgeous slab of marble in the backyard. Who cares if there’s a chip, it’s perfect for me.

See more of the famous marble slab on Instagram!

7. The bathroom from hell

Have you checked out my home tour? Ever noticed there’s a lack of bathroom pictures? That’s because our bathroom is a 70’s explosion of bright yellow fish wallpaper, complete with crusty sink and toilet. Sure, you can use my bathroom, but you really don’t want to.

P.S.- Be watching for the full bathroom reveal!!  Here’s where we’re currently at with the renovation.

8. More terrible lighting

I really love my kitchen and entryway, but they are the hardest rooms to photograph in the house. I’m sure there are solutions to these problems, but until I become a better photographer or get better equipment, it will have to wait.

9. The unfinished ceiling.

Look up… way up. Why is my living room ceiling a disaster? To make a long story short, in 1929 a brilliant person decided to wallpaper the ceiling. Sometime in the 70’s or so another brilliant person decided to spray popcorn ceiling over it. In 2016, this brilliant person decided to take it down, only to discover that both the plaster and the popcorn ceiling are made of asbestos. Fun! (You can read the whole story here.)

10. Even home bloggers make mistakes.

I redid my dining room and I’m not happy with the colours I chose.  The grey and the yellow simply don’t work.

I’ve since painted the yellow over.

The good thing is, paint is cheap-ish and its mistakes are easily fixed.

This blog is part of promoting Karianne Wood’s new book, So Close to Amazing .

Back when I was researching starting a blog, I kept pinning her pins for home inspiration from her Thistlewood Farms Blog and decided to follow her.

Karianne is who I want to be when I grow up as a blogger.  Her photos are gorgeous, DIY’s simple and beautiful, and her heart is made of gold.  Even though I’ve never met her in real life, I feel like I know her through her honest writing style.

So that’s why when I got the opportunity to be involved in her book launch, I jumped at the chance.  So Close to Amazing is the story of a plucky DIY’er who listened to God and jumped when he called.

Each chapter is filled with real talk and a beautiful DIY project.

Don’t wait until the September 5th launch, pre-order now on Amazon.  There are tons of super cool bonuses if you do!

P.S: Can we talk about another so-close-to-amazing moment?  Every time I try to do a Facebook live something goes wrong.  Sigh.  Catch the silliness on my Facebook page.

 

So Close to Amazing: Stories of a DIY Life Gone Wrong . . . and Learning to Find the Beauty in Every ImperfectionSo Close to Amazing: Stories of a DIY Life Gone Wrong . . . and Learning to Find the Beauty in Every Imperfection by KariAnne Wood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

KariAnne writes like you’re talking to your best friend over coffee. I feel like I know her and can relate to her triumphs and successes. She’s that fun and encouraging friend you have who you has all the best creative ideas, but can also sit down with you and let you cry it out. You will love so close to amazing for its relatable stories and beautiful DIYs.

View all my reviews

 

Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

23 Comments
Filed Under: DIY, Uncategorised Tagged: blogging, book review, books, good reads, KariAnne Wood, So Close To Amazing, Thistlewood Farms

About Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

Comments

  1. Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups says

    August 22, 2017 at 6:30 am

    lol, glad it's not just me with the pile of laundry just outside frame, thanks for sharing.
    Reply
  2. Lisa says

    August 22, 2017 at 6:51 am

    I love this behind the scenes look. I think most people really have no idea what's going on just outside the frame. Have a great day, Lisa
    Reply
  3. Yolanda says

    August 22, 2017 at 6:56 am

    Ha! I love the background you gave on this! As a new blogger I sometimes wonder if I'm second guessing myself or if it's just me that has thrown a bunch of papers or dishes to the side when I'm taking a photo! Good to know I'm not the only one!
    Reply
  4. Stacey says

    August 22, 2017 at 7:08 am

    Oh how I love this! I laughed because I can relate to what you've said. I once did a beautiful post and then showed what was right outside the picture frame. There was a ladder and boxes and junk piled everywhere. I guess we want to show the best of the best but the truth is we all have crud. I'm not the greatest photographer either but the goal to learn more continues. Glad to meet you. :)
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      August 22, 2017 at 9:28 pm

      Glad to meet you too.
      Reply
  5. Cristina says

    August 22, 2017 at 7:23 am

    Wow, beautiful pictures and story to match! Congratulations on the book collaboration!
    Reply
  6. Laura says

    August 22, 2017 at 8:12 am

    This is so awesome! Thanks for being real!
    Reply
  7. Marie Ndiaye says

    August 22, 2017 at 8:30 am

    I can totally relate to everything here! Especially the selective cleaning -- I'm often sweeping away dog hair for photos. And hiding laundry. And stacks of half opened mail. I'm hoping to start some before/after series with our home renovating, but I know it'll take me forever to be happy with my photos. Thanks for keeping it real!
    Reply
  8. Jordan says

    August 22, 2017 at 9:21 am

    This is awesome (and hilarious)! Love the behind-the-scenes look and encouragement.
    Reply
  9. Brittany Bergman says

    August 22, 2017 at 11:32 am

    I couldn't help but laugh along with your confessions, and I love the idea of being so close to amazing. I'm a fellow selective cleaner! I'm really looking forward to reading KariAnne's book! Fun fact: my boss is her editor. :)
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      August 22, 2017 at 9:26 pm

      No way! What a small world it is.
      Reply
  10. Lexi says

    August 22, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    I love the honesty! And as a blogger I think we can all relate. There's always some type of imperfection that slips in. But that's ok - I think authenticity is so important!
    Reply
  11. Kelsey says

    August 22, 2017 at 1:39 pm

    Great article! I am in love with your DIY peony baskets!
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      August 22, 2017 at 9:25 pm

      Aww! Thank you so much!
      Reply
  12. Corey | The Nostalgia Diaries says

    August 22, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    This is great - I love the truth here :)
    Reply
  13. Jordyn Galan says

    August 22, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    This is the best post ever! haha you just made me feel so much better about my selective photography
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      August 22, 2017 at 9:25 pm

      Glad there's more people out there like me!
      Reply
  14. Alex says

    August 22, 2017 at 7:57 pm

    Love this! Nothing is ever perfect, thanks for being so honest with it!!
    Reply
  15. Amanda says

    August 22, 2017 at 11:22 pm

    This post was really funny but also a great reminder that everything isn't perfect and we all make mistakes as we travel through this world of blogging! Great encouragement!
    Reply
  16. Alyx says

    August 23, 2017 at 6:58 am

    Ha I can relate to this way too much. But it's these types of things that make the blogging journey so real.
    Reply
  17. Hannah says

    August 23, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    What a great look at behind the scenes.
    Reply
  18. Kristi File says

    August 24, 2017 at 8:24 am

    This was so much fun to read through! A great little peek into someone else's 'real' life. Thanks for sharing!
    Reply
  19. toby says

    August 24, 2017 at 8:43 am

    such a great read! love to see behind the scenes xo toby www.poshandpsicy.com
    Reply

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Welcome!

Hi, I'm Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

P.S. First time gardener? You'll want to download the quick start gardening guide below!

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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