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Michelle - Pretty Over Perfect

@prettyoverperfect

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creativity over consumption
systems over stress
everyday of your life is a special occasion - let’s party!
home + hosting + family + fun + function

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The heart behind this platform is always about making my life less about the fear of failure and more about the pursuit of beauty, of goodness, of joy. by @prettyoverperfect

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4 months ago

Bringing a little color and joy to a mudroom revamp, excuse life is too beautiful not to notice.

And, IMHO, an art piece made of the lovely things you’ve collected over the years is just more interesting than a photograph of a longhorn cow you’ve never met (ya’ll know the one I’m talking about). by @prettyoverperfect

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3 days ago

If you ever doubt my love, just remember how much IKEA I’ve assembled to make your space work better for you.

My kids’ communal homework station needed a little attention - and some drawers for keeping all the school supplies and text books at the ready. And since this space is also our guest room, I wanted to add some life and art to make it a welcoming space for anyone who uses it. by @prettyoverperfect

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9 days ago

Often we think of self-care as products to buy or sessions to attend, but what if it is just taking a breath in small, every day moments.

I started realizing that daily tasks I was irritated by were a quiet invitation to do what I planned on doing for self-care.

Folding laundry is simple and repetitive. Like many meditation practices.

Making dinner that nourishes myself and my family is deeply generous and restorative.

And when the world around me spins out in chaos, tidying something gives me back a sense of autonomy and control.

Basically, it’s free therapy.

Practicing seeing my tasks as my own form of self-care has made them so much more enjoyable, and less something I have to rush through. by @prettyoverperfect

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a month ago

I was both anxious and excited to tackle the project of repainting my grandmother’s iconic Dalmatian statue.

I was worried I’d ruin it until I realized she was already in rough shape and couldn’t get any worse. And truth be told, I had a back-up plan: if I don’t like how it’s refinished, I can have a professional redo it.

And then I invited @ericamichelle705 to do this with me so I could be brave enough.

In the end she turned out well enough for me to feel proud of her. And I think she looks so pretty out there with the pink door. I feel like I have my grandmother right here with me every time I see her. by @prettyoverperfect

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25 days ago

One day I woke up and realized that the outdoor furniture I need to store in the winter could make the blank space in our garage into a little hangout zone.

I am always trying to make my home more alive and useful than stagnant and storage-full. So utilizing part of the garage as a space the kids can go in and out of all through the rainy season is the new best use of our space.

It’s still a garage, but everyone likes hanging out in there. And guess what? This whole re-imagining of the space cost zero dollars. Because we already had all this stuff - now it’s just being actively used instead of stored all winter long.

It’s definitely pretty over perfect. Working with what we have (and a little creativity) to make things just a little bit prettier instead of waiting for some version of perfect that may never happen. by @prettyoverperfect

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24 days ago

Letting myself fail and try again is something I’ve had to practice. by @prettyoverperfect

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a month ago

In a world of dream makeovers, there are small upgrades that make a big difference.

I’ve spent time pining over some fantasy version of a dream laundry room, when the reality is that I don’t want to invest in that right now. But I’ve learned not to let the “perfect” laundry room be the enemy of a “perfectly good” laundry room.

What we really needed was a longer drying rack, as hanging laundry had started to take over the whole house now that my kids are growing (and their clothes are literally bigger). So we took down the original and replaced it. Shelves cut to size from @homedepot add a little storage and voila! Something really good that makes this room that much more functional for our family.

Is there a change you’re waiting to make until it’s perfect, when you could make good progress right now? by @prettyoverperfect

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a month ago

When my oldest was just a baby, a stranger at the supermarket told me to make sure I did something for myself every day. She suggested a creative task I could actually accomplish. “Kids grow slow, and it takes a long time to see the results of your labor of love. Creative tasks will get you through.”

And she was so right. Creating with or for my kids has brought me so much joy. A little piece of goodness I pursue every day - in big and little ways. I don’t have to be an expect, and I don’t have to make money at any of these tasks. I do them just for the joy of creating.

And birthday cakes were among my first loves. It’s like sculpture art - but with frosting! Sometimes I’ve made a theme around my kid’s favorite toys, sometimes we plan it together. Sometimes I’ve stayed up all night to accomplish something before the party. I take the time to reflect on the year behind and see how all my labors of love have really come to fruition with that child.

What do you do to create something just for you every day? by @prettyoverperfect

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a month ago

What were you up to today?

I was playing with fondant and frosting. by @prettyoverperfect

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a month ago

Don’t you think that half the fun of life is making things beautiful for no reason?

I’ve always wanted to try my hand at mosaics - they’re so beautiful. One YouTube tutorial, a thrifted frame and some iridescent tiles is all it took to get me hooked.

Plenty of mistakes in this one, but a mosaic is reminder to step back to take in the scene. And if you step back far enough, it looks pretty great. (Maybe a metaphor for life???)

Is the backyard spa compete now? by @prettyoverperfect

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2 months ago

We all have to do our part and this is mine. by @prettyoverperfect

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2 months ago