Rita Arens
Blog
Surrender Dorothy
Bio
Rita Arens authors Surrender, Dorothy and Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews. She is BlogHer.com's senior editor.  Her parenting anthology and BlogHer'...
Recent Posts
 
 
 
 

Most Popular

Recent Comments

You've Got to See the Video to Believe It: Holiday Hot Mess Winner Adrienne Van Houten

January 07, 2010 3:10 pm by Rita Arens in DIY
  • Share This Post
  • Pin It
  • 5
  • Sparkle (
    )
     

Remember when I asked you to show me your piles, your boxes, your bags and your ribbons? Your cookies, pies, ovens and missing hair bobbins?

Well, you did. And YOU DID!

Janna Antenorcruz showed us the danger in allowing small children to open mysterious packages.

Packing peanuts are the devil's handiwork.

I love that Julie from The Mom Slant labeled her mess, in case we were confused.

I would not have recognized that as a red wine stain, Julie. You totally outed yourself.

Amy at Binkytowne managed to trash her room in one hour flat.

That's a land speed record in my book.

And I really thought we had a winner a few times, such as Undomestic Diva, who covers things with blankets.

Um, my wrapping? area?

The paper bags are all wearing plastic-bag hats. Just like CheeseBurgHer, only different.

This is Gina's clean laundry.

Mt. Laundry
If this is your clean laundry, I'd love to see the dirty pile.

Despite my love for everyone's entries, our far-and-away winner was Adrienne Van Houten who presented a 360-view of one spectacular hot mess.

Adrienne wins bragging rights as the 2009 BlogHer Holiday Hot Mess Queen and a place on next year's judging panel. Congratulations, Adrienne!

If you want to see all the entries, please see the 2009 BlogHer Holiday Hot Mess Contest. Thanks to everyone who participated. We hope you can now see your floor.

Rita Arens writes at Surrender Dorothy and BlogHer and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak. She is BlogHer's assignment and syndication editor.

  • 5
  • Sparkle (
    )
     

Related Posts

Do Tell: Latte Name Contest. Look Who Won a Flip Video!
by Rita Arens
Do Tell: I Can't Believe I Wore That Contest. Look Who Won a Visa Gift Card!
by Rita Arens
Do Tell: I Rocked That Prom Dress Contest. Look Who Won an iPod Touch!
by Rita Arens

More Like This

Comments

Post comment as
twitter logo facebook logo
Sort: Newest | Oldest
Crabby McSlacker
Crabby McSlacker 5 pts

What a fun idea--to get "real" about how chaotic things can get, especially around the holidays.

Love how people were letting us in on their messes--makes me feel much better about my current chaotic surroundings.  (We're house-sitting for the winter, with not much space to put our stuff, so it's in big ugly piles--and I would NOT want to share pictures.)

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like
Rita Arens
Rita Arens 7 pts

The point of this contest was to show real homes around the holidays -- we're  not perfect, but we have fun while making our hot messes. Congratulations, Adrienne -- you inspired me to focus on what was really important -- having fun with my family. And I am so Type A that I need that reinforcement every once in a while!

Rita Arens writes at Surrender Dorothy ( http://surrenderdorothy.typepad.com ) and BlogHer and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak ( http://tinyurl.com/9pg62e ). She is BlogHer's assignment and syndication editor.

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like
Liz Rizzo
Liz Rizzo 5 pts

Adrenne!  Congratulations on your well-deserved victory!

I keep stuff for Good Will in my trunk. Out of sight, out of mind. And ready in case I ever manage to get there to drop it off.  :)

Liz Rizzo ( http://blogher.org/blog/liz-rizzo )

I blog at Everyday Goddess ( http://everydaygoddess.typepad.com/ ).

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like
Adriennevh
Adriennevh 5 pts

It did get cleaned, but the dinner never happened.  I ended up cooking everything at my house and transporting it to my father's house as he could not make the 30 mile trip (health issues).

Of course it is now almost 2 weeks later and the daughter has started refilling the couch with her stuff.

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like
Gina Carroll
Gina Carroll 5 pts

Okay, so we see the "before" picture, which is indeed impressive! Now where's the "after" picture of 13 people sitting at a lovely Christmas dinner? I'm dying to know. Did the clean up happen?

( http://www.proactiveblackparenting.blogspot.com/ )

Think Act: Proactive Black Parenting ( http://www.proactiveblackparenting.blogspot.com )

share
  • spam
  • offensive
  • disagree
  • off topic
 Like