Today is a magnificent day.

It is also another “no bones” day.

If you’re unfamiliar, or way behind on trends like I am, here is a link for reference.

It’s actually quite the opposite of what I hoped it would be, as I thought I would be awake “early” and accomplish a number of things by now, which is 11am here in Togo as I write this. I woke up later than usual, which for me was 7:30 this morning as opposed to 6:30, because I suppose the construction workers outside all sides of my home decided to sleep in.

In all honesty, we’re convinced that people wake with the sun, as opposed to relying on a clock to get their day started. My former Daylight Savings Time -self is still adjusting. It’s weird, the sun rises early, and sets fully by 7 or earlier each day.

Each day no different. That is how it has been for months, weather too. It hasn’t really rained in months.

One night it had stormed pretty significantly, but I wasn’t awake for it, so really it meant nothing to me. It may seem silly but it really affects my mental health. Some people live for the sunshine and consistency. I live for variability.

Today is different.

I had full on plans to make two different types of bread, clean, get ready to take a family photo with my dear Caspian since it’s his birthday today, drink tons of water, and complete a workout to try and tone up a little before we go back to the States for vacation in May.

Some of these can still happen. Others I have decided will not, because….

It’s raining! Lightly of course. The house has a different vibe, things aren’t as bright or distinctly in shadow.

I got into the shower, and not long after, as I am shampooing my hair, the curtain starts rustling and there is my dog, Stitch trying to enter the shower….Now this is weird for more than a few reasons, because this dog HATES water. Behaves for baths but detests them, reacts like a cat to a spray bottle, and hates rain, thunder, anything. But today, he hated what was going on outside enough to do something so weird and get in the shower with me and subsequently, also shower.

So I knew this was going to be a different type of day. He’s calmed down now, and feels quite proud in his Thunder Shirt, which makes me feel a little weird because now I know the rain is ending and people have begun banging around outside again.

As I walked the house, looking for said Thunder Shirt, I walked into our Office/guest room.

It’s a room where I just didn’t put a lot of effort. In the other rooms, I’ve hidden the ugly furniture to the best of my abilities. In here? I’ve just kind of accepted it.

Now that H is back in the office full-time, this room gets less use. Although he stores his clothes in here, uses the Jack and Jill bathroom that is shared with the “Twin Room,” and sometimes works in here, piles his clothes, etc. It can get messy. No shade to him, I am messy too.

I cleaned the other day for a visit I thought was going to happen, and then didn’t (last minute, and yes, I am salty.) So it just became the same room it had always been, lived and unlived-in.

Sometimes when I browse social media, and see home design accounts, they’re often way too perfect. No wrinkles in linens, perfect gallery wall placement, kids but no signs of them, looks cozy but isn’t because where is the life?

So for this reveal, I’ll show the “clean” but more real state of the room.

This room houses a couch and a coffee table, because there’s no where else for them to go.

Reality: a pile of clothes in the bottom left of the photo, peeking from the coffee table. You can also see me in the reflection of the frame, I’ve kinda slacked on these photos, but hey, c’est la vie.

West Elm Pillow gifted from a recently departed friend, blanket I lovingly lifted from my family’s cabin in Wisconsin (that is not laid perfectly), H’s vintage maps of Egypt, and art that came from a student at the school I formerly worked at.

I really consider this to be H’s room. I claimed the bookshelves in the living room for my books and things, but these? All his…and they are filled. Filled with books he likes and has read, used for his many studies, awards, and knick knacks from all of his travels, and the desk… Usually covered in papers, memos, notes, but all of those were stuffed into the drawers (he hasn’t noticed) and the office supplies jammed into the caddy. Those are his pants hanging on the chair too.

The clutter almost makes sense for a brilliant mind. These shelves are really lived in, they tell stories, interests, a timeline, and a glimpse into personality.

I’d rather appreciate real life, rather than a perfectly styled home for Instagram.

A proud (blurry) dog in his Thunder Shirt.

What you don’t see: dog hair covering that green blanket. The dog shaking because he’s scared of the weather, perfectly steamed linens (jokes because those don’t exist in my home.)

There’s likely always a shoe on the floor, an indicator of Stitch’s separation anxiety. Ikea linens for the bed because why not, a weird lamp on top of a really inconvenient night stand. And the view that would be more perfect with no bars on the windows, but alas, this is my West African backyard.

I think this room looks its best in the overcast days. It’s darker and moodier than any other bedroom. It’s also more personal than the others, rather than just a quick style following trends.

Life should be cozy. It should always be “you.”

Until next time with more updates from my home, another love letter, another random day trip, and a peek into my current side hustle, I’ll be enjoying this weather and listening to the birds that commune in a tree in the backyard.

From West Africa,

Carrie