total eclipse morning inspiration

I got on the internet this morning and visited one of my favorite blogs.  I love seeing their farm and their brand new baby goats.  The post that inspired me you can find HERE. 

I got my boots on and my clippers out and hit the edge of the woods.  I even walked into the woods some.  I found two turkey feathers and the coolest mushroom... that Katie Bug knocked over two seconds later so I brought it home too.  I didn't feel like I could just leave it there. 

The total eclipse is today.  I haven't decided exactly what to do.  I sort of want to stay home with my animal friends but I sort of want to hang out with friends preferably at a swimming pool since it is also going to be a scorcher today. Either way I am very excited to be a witness to the total eclipse.  I have heard so much about it on NPR lately.  So interesting.

I am in love with my arrangement.

journal pages

I still carry my inspiration journal.  Truth: I attended a health food seminar last winter in which I needed a piece of paper for the hostess to add up my beef purchase.  I peeled a sliver of paper from my journal and after the gal said "don't forget your inspiration journal" with a funny look on her face as if teasing me.  Maybe if I let that thought go I could say Inspiration Journal without thinking about it.  Anyway... I've been inspired by a few new-to-me blogs the last couple of days, made a collage for my journal and thought I would share.

The passage: MysticMamma

The pics: originally from other sources but found on BohemianHomes

Originally inspired by: frommoontomoon

I am dreaming of hanging plants in my bathroom above the claw foot tub when it's time to bring them back inside for the cold winter months.  I expect tension from Shaun about poking holes in the ceiling.  My answer will be... build me a greenhouse.

The passage and pictures will be cut out and glued into my inspiration journal.  You may browse the blogs mentioned to get the whole stories and larger pictures.  

I was overly touchy and slightly grope-y over the weekend after reading this article.

Find more about my journalling here and here.

I am craving a new book to read... got any suggestions?

weekend plans and inspiration

How do you keep up with your weekend plans?  Do you keep a list or just make mental notes?  Do you have it all written neatly in a calendar or some ipad program? Or do you just wing it?  By Thursday of each week I normally have a good grocery list started on one page of my spiral and notes jotted down for Friday, Saturday and Sunday of things that need to be done and places I need not to forget to visit.  There are always things that need to be done, I know.  But what about the things that make you.... well... you?  What about making a list of things that will help you reconnect with you and things that you like to do, hear and watch?  There's not a thing wrong with pulling a couple of old tapes out of the attic to listen to or adding something fun to make to your weekend.  Maybe it's a magazine that you have been meaning to sit down with or a recipe for french toast that slips by unmade on an average weekend.  Plan something fun for yourself!  Even if it only lasts a few minutes, you've spent a bit of time reconnecting with who you are inside and what you like to do, right?

I actually didn't think this idea up myself.  There's a gal that writes a blog that I follow called Wadulisi Woman.  She posts weekend inspiration every Friday and I love seeing and being inspired by her.  I decided to do this for myself and come up with things that speak to me on my own.  Hers are awesome and a little different than my own.  Please check them out!  I look forward to seeing her inspiration every week and definitely have been inspired by her tastes!

I made a printable for you to help you get started.  Just right click and print or copy a paste as you wish.

By all means, please don't feel like you need to fill them all in.  Maybe you just want to squeeze in a little Bocephus or some Cinnamon Popcorn or maybe even a little lie down in the sun for ten minutes (ear plugs optional but recommended!)  Here are my plans for me this weekend.

So.... what ARE you going to do this weekend?

DC Inspiration

At the day care, I try to make an inspiration page or board at least once a month.  I fill it mainly with pictures of things we could do from the internet that I come across.  I try to make a new sheet either as we get them done or by the month or season.  It's nice to have a little go to of easy crafts we can do.  I happened on a web site yesterday that gave me lots of ideas.  I mainly like the DIY section of the site.  It is full of ideas and crafts to do with kids. 

HERE's the site.  You can also follow them on Pinterest which I am trying to get into once again.

Here's my sheet for this month.

I made it with my notes on it before I decided to share it.

I love having all these back ups ideas that I can glance at anytime.  We have actually made one of them already which I will share soon!

Christmas Inspiration

You never know where a bit of inspiration will come from.  That's why I do a lot of book requesting from the library.  I came across this book online and it found it's way to my hold shelf at the library.  This is a good one y'all!  It is Country Living Merry & Bright, 301 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas.  I really enjoyed this book.  I am mostly a picture reading kind of gal.  This book had tons of hints and suggestions and pictures so I was very pleased!  Here are some of the pictures that were inspirational to my home decorating for Christmas this year.

 

 

Ok, I was inspired by the cover!  I will be using bottles and ornaments in the window above my tub this year for sure!

A good way to use up scrap fabric.

I love the idea of a front porch tree.

So easy, festive and fun!

These trees may be a touch on the tacky side but I adore them!

Love tinsel trees!

I really like this felted wool garland. 

I love the way they stuck bottle brush trees and presents just here and there in this open cupboard.



Book Review: Couture Prairie

I adore Rachel Ashwell books.  I would say that her style is what my heart desires.  I feel it just takes a little help to get there and this book sure handed me a dose of inspiration.  I was honestly inspired to go into the master bath and change out my tobacco shelf on the tub with the green shelf that I had painted, added an oval iron stone platter and put my vinegar cruets filled with bath gels and a vase full of zinnias.  I also moved a gold velvet chair into the room by the tub and wound up painting a peg board a light pink color and distressing it.  It looks fantastic, it's just not hung yet.  I get nervous and ask for help when I hang stuff on the walls.  I feel like I need to find a stud and can't ever seem to hit one right.  The book is fantastic.  I have visited her store online and her blog.  I won't exactly allow myself to afford her duvet covers and sassy items but it gives me inspiration for working with the things I can afford and find at yard sales and flea markets.  I adored this book and I give it a 10!

I have never wished I saved the curtain rod for my clawfoot tub more.

 

And here are the pics of my inspiration.

 

Checked Out

As you well know, if you are a regular reader of my blog or know me personally, I am a library book nerd.  I like to be able to put my hands on what I am reading.  I enjoy requesting certain books and the wait involved while some sweet library soul delivers the books to the Goodlettsville location and my trip there each week to return books and pick up new ones.  I always have a book bag stuffed to the gills with children's books for the DC and inspirational books for me along with one to read before bed.  I wish to share some of them with you on a weekly basis.  You may be a library person yourself, or maybe one who downloads books to your iPad or whatever you have.  Either way I come across some good ones that really tickle my fancy and just might tickle yours too! 

 

Today I am sharing a home decorating inspiration publication.  One that kept me glued to it for over an hour last night.  This week's book is called:

 

Shabby Chic Inspirations and Beautiful Spaces

 

By: Rachel Ashwell

 

Published Date: 2011

 

I love this book.  One thing I especially like is that the author has picked existing spaces to feature of people that she already knows, and has gone into their worlds.  Some very talented people might I add with beautiful, inspiring homes.  The pictures are gorgeous and she talks about each one with good detail.  They each show the owner's personality very well and offer wonderful ideas for decorating your own space.

 

Checked Out Rating: 10

 

 

Books like this are fun to look at and make me want to put up a cabbage rose shower curtain in the horse bathroom.  Sometimes I flip through a decorating book very fast and other times I get completely sucked in by the detail in pictures and ideas that they plant.  

Laugh and Cry Inspiration

Today I want to share two videos with you.  One made me cry the other made me laugh.

They are both inspiring in some way.

 

 

I don't know if these were set up actors and actresses or not.  The listeners seemed really humbled by what their friend's, mother's and children has to say to them. 

 



 

I found this video posted on a blog that I follow called Kind Over Matter.

I like to stop by to get some personal inspiration. 

This guy has great form and doesn't care who is looking.  I love it!

 

Enjoy! XO Laurie

Let The Inspiration Begin

I have created a new journal to lug around!  In addition to my normal journal, that lacks about six pages of being full, I have made myself a different kind of journal.  The kind of stuff I will be saving shows up in my journal already, but there's a lot of talk in between.  So I have dedicated this journal for pictures and ideas for decorating, lifestyle and crafty things.  So whenever I see pictures in magazines I can cut them out or when I come across inspiration on blogs and pictures on the internet, I can print them for my use.

I have a little area on my PC here where I keep these items now.  And I know a lot of people "pin" things, of which I am not into.  I just can't get the hang of it.  This journal and way of keeping inspiration that I want to go back and look at any time where I can put my hands on it and look back.

As I said before, I already keep tidbits in my regular journal, but this idea came from the blog herlibraryadventures.  I get really inspired by her vignettes and pictures and also their sister blog.

I made my journal with, of course, ModPodge.  A product of which I am dedicated to.  I covered the outside of a composition notebook with floral pictures from the Burpee seed catalogue.  Then I started glue stickin pictures and making notes.  Also leaving room on certain pages for future inspiration on the same subject.  It is going to be a lot of fun.