Country?

I would never have described myself as "country"...but since I have some newly acquired time on my hands (and I am DESPERATE for some sittin' on my fanny entertainment), I picked up the latest copy of Country Living magazine at my neighborhood B&N.  I was PLEASANTLY surprised by what I found.  There is a wide array of styles and price points in this little magazine and their idea of "country" isn't the country this city girl envisioned!  If you are uber contemporary in your style this may not be the mag for you, but you never know you just might want to check it out.

Now I do have a bit of a bone to pick with CL (yep, they call themselves CL so I think I will too).  On page 18 they showcase a fabulous set of three mirrors for a mere $18 as their "Bargain of the Month" (very poor picture included below).  Since I can't wait to get my little spray paint happy hands on them, I went to the source to place an order.  I got nothing.  The mag references Urban Outfitters but I cannot for the life of me find these babies on their website.  So much of a bargain, they don't exist!  Anyone else have any luck?  Maybe I should write my new friends at CL...  {Oh and for a totally random note on UO, they sell orange duct tape on their website - does anyone else find that really strange??}

A little Christmas Spirit

I am on the email list for Better Homes and Gardens 100 Days of Holidays and I love to get the email each day to get inspired for the season. I wanted to share some inspiration I came across last week. I love a beautiful table setting, I think I come by it honestly. My mom is an amazing hostess and never leaves a detail undone. Not only is her holiday table beautiful the food displayed on it is fabulous as well. Oh to be like her. For those of us that need a little, er, a lot of help, check out these stunning rooms.

All photos are courtesy of bhg.com

Do you have any fabulous table decor ideas for your table? What is the one holiday decoration you cannot live without?

Orange you glad?

The color orange is everywhere this fall. I was a bit skeptical at first but the more fabulous photos I see, the more I am warming up to the color. It is the perfect fall color and there are so many shades of orange you can easily find one that will work in your home. Check out the inspiration I found below from BHG.com.

If you aren't ready to make a big commitment to the color, how about dressing your table with these great orange inspired items from Anthropologie?

Or maybe you are ready to make a small wardrobe commitment (also courtesy of anthropologie.com)?

Have you capitalized on the color orange in any way? Do share!

Blogs and Coffee

You may have noticed the fabulous framed poster, "I love you, blogs and coffee", proudly displayed in our home "office". My sweet sister, MC, sent this little happy to me a few weeks ago. Isn't she wonderful? It is perfect, I love it. It was purchased from the very talented MadeByGirl. MadeByGirl shares her fabulous creativity through her Etsy shop, her blog and her website. Check her out! I am now on the hunt for a fab frame I can spray paint white (you know my infatuation with spray paint :)) to make my own poster look chic! Don't you just luuurve it??

Photo courtesy of MadeByGirl's Etsy shop

Life Handbook

I received this in an email forward from a friend, I am not a big fan of forwards but this one has some great insights that I thought I would share. These words get you thinking...

Life Handbook

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner

like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less

food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Make time for prayer.

6. Play more games.

7. Read more books than you did last year.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what

their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts over things you cannot control.

Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her

mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate

others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems

are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like

algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your

family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

I am list girl - I am drawn to things I can "check" off. It's that whole type A personality I possess. Maybe that is why I liked this. It gets you thinking. Life isn't always this simple but it never hurts to get back to basics. As we embark on one of the busiest times of year, take some time for life. :)

I found it on a Blog

It seems that every time I open my mouth these days the words, "I found it on a blog!" come rolling out. I think my friends are starting to get annoyed. :) It is true though, I got lost in blog world long before I started my own blog and have found some fabulous things to share along the way. There are so many creative folks out there and they are so nice to be willing to share their thoughts, ideas and creativity! I am convinced that my friends will begin to see the light - I mean it can be so helpful! Not only do I find great people and fabulous ideas in the blogosphere but it sparks my own creativity! Never before have I been so willing to take on projects - big or small. I love the inspiration so keep it coming! Now for just a few of those, "I found it on a blog" moments that I have actually shared with my friends in just the last few days...

Fantastic plate hangers found over at The Lettered Cottage. Seriously, oh so nifty plate hangers aside - she is amazing and super talented.

A furniture painting tutorial on YHL. Okay, I have to admit YHL was my first blog crush. They are inspiration at its best.

Craft project to spruce up your own organization found over on Design Sponge. I am new to Design Sponge following but I can't wait to tackle this project and see what else they come up with to get my creative juices flowing!

Those are just a few! Any of you have a fabulous blog you can't wait to share with the world or have you found inspiration from someone in the blogosphere? Do share!

Inspiration

I have mentioned that we live in an itty bitty little house that we love (most days). We hope one day to add on to this house so that whenever we are blessed with a growing family we can stay put (with at least two bathrooms)! We have been in this house 4 and half years and I think every room has changed, been rearranged or repurposed at least once! Coco is very afraid when I start talking about paint colors - I am currently dying to paint our den but he is resisting me...could it be that it will balloon into many more projects? Surely not. I am sure he is not afraid that as soon as the den is painted I will want to redo the striped hallway that includes the current den color and that once I get down the hallway at least one bedroom will be itching for a makeover. I mean that has NEVER happened before. Um, never. Oops.

Anyhoo, I thought I would share a little inspiration with you. One day maybe a few of these ideas will be incorporated into our little house. Or maybe we will incorporate them into our next home. Enjoy! These photos are courtesy of This Old House, Southern Living and Cottage Living to name a few. If you recognize any of the photos and can provide the source, let me know.