In her book “Bittersweet,” Shauna Niequist devotes a chapter to describing the things she doesn’t do. Reading it was a breath of fresh air.

Looking at Instagram and Facebook, perusing cooking and lifestyle blogs, hearing sound bites about friends’ lives in passing — it is easy to believe that everyone else is “doing it all.”

I don’t believe social media, blogging or passing conversations are usually wise places to pour out one’s heart. I think those conversations need to be had with one’s “tribe.” However, I also know that if someone is not part of that “tribe,” it’s easy to look at selective, intimate moments of a life from a distance and assume someone is doing it all and succeeding at it all.

Here are some things you should know about me, my cooking and my kitchen and how I’m not meeting expectations of Pinterest, scientific/nutritional research and culture (both that of pop and my little community).

14 Ways My Life Isn’t Instagram Worthy

My husband and I don’t sit down at the table every evening to eat dinner. We’re big fans of couch dinners watching “Parks and Rec” or “The West Wing.”

I’ve never hit our grocery budget since we were married.

While I love the idea of supper clubs, I don’t do one because a.) we don’t want to b.) we don’t have to and c.) it’s what’s best for my family right now.

I can’t tell the difference between fresh and jarred garlic in a prepared dish, so I usually use jarred. I prefer jarred if I’m making a dish with uncooked garlic.

My floor is often covered with dog hair (here’s to hoping that Norwex mop I ordered will remedy the situation).

There is always a pile of clean dishes by the sink to put away.

If I make a cake, it’s probably from a box.

I usually can’t tell the difference between cheap wine and expensive wine (much like one of my favorite ladies!). Ok, if the wine is really bad, I know. And I appreciate really good wine. But on a typical evening, I don’t care if I’m drinking it from a box or a $30 bottle.

Our coffee is always from Aldi, Costco or Trader Joe’s.

My dining room table is currently covered with clutter.

I don’t consistently eat organic, fair-trade, cage-free and I’m ok with that because I know several “Big Ag” farmers and trust their work. Know that I do love and support farmers’ markets, I just care most about knowing farmers and my food versus labels or trying to achieve a mythical food ideal.

I don’t have trendy open cabinets or cute bunting in my kitchen. The extent of my efforts to decorate my kitchen consist of putting some empty gin and scotch bottles on top of our cabinets and ordering this watercolor print from a friend. The print is currently sitting on my dining room table.

I dropped oven-fried chicken in my oven a week and a half ago, and haven’t cleaned all of it up yet.

I have a soft spot for Velveeta.