(Apologia: This post is an entry in a giveaway. I didn’t write this post to pick on anyone, and am appalled that it was taken that way. I wrote this post in a spirit of light-hearted fun, thinking that I was laughing with the ladies in linked in this post, not at them. Little did I know that they weren’t laughing. I apologize for causing offense, but I truly thought that these women were posting this stuff on the internet with the understanding that other people would be viewing their links. I merely pointed out their posts because they were two good examples of why I don’t really think I can win this contest. I do, however, hold some small hope that the judges will take pity on me and my own mess of a vacuum. This post has been edited to remove the word “slob”, since that was indeed over the line. –Ed.)
Clicking through my feeds the other day, I saw that MomDot is giving away an Oreck Halo Vacuum. “Hooray!” I thought, “Maybe this time I’ll win one!” So I clicked over.
To my dismay, Trisha, head of MomDot, and Instigator-in-Chief of the mom-blogging community (Love ya, hun, but you know it’s true. Heck, it’s why I love you.) is asking for submissions of the messiest room in your house as contest entries. Great! I’ll start snapping photos right now!
Ah, but then I clicked through the links of some of the other entries. My heart sank.
Kelly, at All Things Made By Kelly, really, really has a mess. Go on and look, I’ll be here when you get back. Now check this one, at the ironically named blog, The Neat Things in Life. Now you see what I’m up against. These ladies don’t need a vacuum. They need a steam shovel. This contest is destined to give a $600 vacuum to the person least likely to appreciate (or use) it.
I declare myself defeated. This is the worst mess in my house:
I do have one messier room, but one of the reasons I’m not a “real” mommy blogger is that I think my children deserve their privacy from the prying eyes of the internet, even at the ripe old ages of 5 and 2. Even that room is nowhere near messy enough to compete with these (otherwise perfectly lovely, I’m sure) ladies. I try to keep things pretty neat around here. It’s a little cluttered. Three kids will do that. But it is, for better or worse, the most embarrassing thing I have right now.
Despite the hopelessness of my office, in the warped terms of this contest, anyway, I do have one picture that is worse. Much, much worse. This is my vacuum. Add it to any room, and voila! Instant mess. I’ll give you a real big shot of this one so you can see it in all its aged glory.
I am grateful for this vacuum. I am. It’s about thirty years old, and it still works. That’s an amazing tribute to Kenmore, isn’t it? They truly don’t make them like they used to. Or, thank God, in the colors they used to.
After many years of hard labor, first in my Mother-in-Law’s house, then in mine, Blue just doesn’t have much life left in her. She needs to be put out of her misery. My hope is that the mere addition of this duct-taped monstrosity to a room will mess it up sufficiently to make the judges feel sorry for me and choose me as the winner.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
If you notice the title of my blog it is the “Neat” things in life not the “Clean” things in life. I am ever so sorry I am a mom not a drill Sargent, and as far as children deserving privacy from the prying eyes on the internet, I will not touch that subject. Have a wonderful day.
I expect to. Thanks!
Wow I think its really childish and rude of you to call someone out like you did. I entered my son’s room and Yes It was messy but now it’s spotless. I can’t speak for others that entered this contest but by no mean am I slob! So If I was you I wouldn’t judge someone off a few pictures. My son is almost 11. I feel that he is old enough to clean his own room. The only part of my house where I let it get messy is the kids room because kids will be kids. The other part of my house stays spotless and they know they are not allowed to play or bring stuff out.
your statement “I think my children deserve their privacy from the prying eyes of the internet, even at the ripe old ages of 5 and 2″ My husband felt the same way at first about me taking this picture but like i told him its A ROOM! It’s not a picture of him. I mean really do you think your child has so called “Privacy” at that young age when it comes to bedrooms. I could maybe see it if they were older but we are talking about kids and yea we are mommy bloggers that’s what we do talk about our kids and family.
Woah, there, lady! I wasn’t calling anybody out. I don’t personally care if other people have messes or post about their kids’ lives. That’s a personal thing. I was just explaining how hopeless my own chances are of winning against such steep competition. Don’t get your panties in a knot.
Oh I am not getting my panties in a knot I find it kind of funny,It was a fun contest and not meant to start bashing the people that did enter. As a mother I am glad to see other’s take part and say look I am not always perfect and yes my kids make a mess. I mean they are KIDS!
I just found the comment “These ladies don’t need a vacuum. They need a steam shovel. This contest is destined to give a $600 vacuum to the person least likely to appreciate (or use) it” to be judging and uncalled for. Just because we show a messy room don’t mean the other part of the house is like that. I am done though and good luck with the contest and have a blessed day!
Jen, you said: “I just found the comment…to be judging and uncalled for.”
Again, I wasn’t pointing out anything but the glaringly obvious. Those are some serious messes. I’m not judging anybody. Messes aren’t a moral failing after all. I really didn’t think they’d have such thin skin about it. I wouldn’t.
So, if you werent calling anybody out, why were the bloggers names and links to their blog listed?
IMO you really crossed the line and disrespected these two ladies.
I guess in return I should go write a post on how much of a … you are
never mind, not going to go there.
Nina, it was posted on the internet. They linked themselves to MomDot. Why on earth would I not link back to them? I didn’t consider for a moment that they would think their pictures should be private and beyond discussion. They posted it on what is basically the largest conversation in history, the internet. Seriously. I had no idea that anyone would take offense at my pointing to something they had already pointed out themselves. It wouldn’t have made sense for me to talk about how stiff the competition is and then not give examples. Nor does it make any sense that anyone is getting angry.
Ehh I know some poeple are gonna get in a tizzy but I think it’s kinda funny. You sound a lot like my mom, and I would agree. There are some messes in this house that would greatly benefit from a steam shovel or maybe even a small bulldozer over a vacuum.
I don’t have a problem with you linking to my site. I should even say thanks. But I think where Jen thought your comment to be judging (and I kind of agree) is you said that the person who won wouldn’t appreciate or even use it. I can only speak for myself but if I do win (which I hope I do) I would not only appreciate but I would use it and I do take offense that it was implied otherwise.
You have to admit, it doesn’t look like many of the entries in this giveaway are by people who are in the habit of vacuuming.
I guess one could make that assumption. The truth is the pictures that you see are of ONE room in a house in that moment of time. Most of the entries are of kids rooms or where kids play. When my kids play they play hard and make a huge mess. By the days end things are picked up and put away. Making a statement like that is being judgmental.
Sweetie, just because you felt bad about that comment doesn’t mean I was being judgmental. It just means you *felt* judged. Like I said, I don’t think a mess is a moral failing. I’ve had rooms like that in the past, myself. Lighten up.
Just want to say that I have no hard feelings. I just wanted to point out how some of your comments seem to be putting others down for sharing a mess that does happen when you have kids. All is well and thanks for the linky love
Me? Instigator? Nah.
You should have seen the entries I got in email!
Trisha
lol…well….you are lucky my dear. my house isn’t too bad either. everyone helps clean.
everyone doesn’t need to freak out..its obvious you said this in jest.
hugs
Christine
I loved this post! i didn’t think you were being judgemental, I think most people thought the same thing. How the hell is a vacuum going to help people who have gigantic piles crap all over their floor? Unless I’m behind on the technology, vaccuums dont work that way, LOL. Yes, messes happen when you have kids. But uh….hmm, maybe i shouldnt go there. Let’s just say, the only other place I’ve seen pictures like that one room is on the “Living in Squalor” website, ha ha ha.
By the way, I had the same vacuum growing up in the 80s. Thanks for the pic – it gave me a sense of nostalgia.