With a 5th grader and a 3rd grader in our house, we are perched on the precipice of an exciting time in both of their lives. Although we’re not in the throws of adolescence yet, a telltale aroma wafts from both of them and the occasional eye roll suggests that puberty is near.

Another week, another update to our Dueling DIY! Sarah’s been hash-tagging left right and center hoping that no one will notice her lame updates. Bla bla bla… murphy bed. Bla bla bla… painting. Boring all of it. Frankly, I apologize that you fine people need to concern yourself with the state of her guest room. I’m sure you have showers to take, cheetos to eat, and Kardashians to tweet at.

You know how I sometimes post a shiny pretty “room reveal?” (I have a whole page of ’em right here!) Man, those rooms are nice. Tidy. Not a rogue sock or dust bunny to be found.  That’s basically the norm around here, but today my friend Chelsea from Two Twenty One challenged us to DIG DEEP and try our hardest to stage our normally pristine homes the way one might “imagine” a regular ol’ house might look. Just so we’re clear… this was a STRETCH. Let me know what changes you might make to achieve that “keeping it real” look… I’m afraid I’m a little out of my depth here.