Be Inspired No. 23 - To Be...

I am in the process of packing to move to my new home. Please be patient while I get settled. I will be back with new blog entries Monday!  See you soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. 

It turns what we have into enough, and more. 

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. 

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. 

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. 

Melody Beattie

Gotta Love No. 13 - Chaos into Cool

How awesome is it that sometimes capturing an image by photography can turn chaos into cool?

Seriously, cool.

Knock, knock!

Oh, the treasures to be had!

The paper obsessed in me says yum!

Who says peeling paint isn't cool?

Image Sources:  Dirt Floor, Superstock UK, Jayson Home and Garden

Garden Design No. 5 - Holiday Terrariums

With the Christmas holiday quickly approaching I've been receiving numerous e-mails from retailers showing off their holiday offerings. A recent one from Terrain at Styers (my all-time favorite garden shop) caught me gawking. The subject was holiday terrariums.

What a lovely winter scene. It reminds me of an enlarged snow globe (with much more class then those obscene lawn ornaments!)

With a quick trip to your local garden center and one to the craft store, you'll have all you need to create your own enchanting scene.

Use your creativity to come up with the perfect glass container for your holiday terrarium. And while you are at it - this would make a great hostess gift so make multiples.

How adorable would these ornament terrariums be on a woodland-themed Christmas tree?

Image Sources:  Terrain at Styers, Design Sponge, House to Home UK

RSVP Collection No. 28 - Serving Cheeses

It's that time of year to stock up the pantry with a few holiday entertaining staples for those planned and impromptu gatherings of friends. 

A well-presented platter is of my favorite ways to entertain. With a cheese platter at the top of the list. With very little preparation, it is a feast at which relaxed great conversation can flow.

Staples for the pantry include great cheeseboard accompaniments like olives, dried fruit such as figs and mirabelles, almonds and walnuts, and some good crusty bread and water crackers. And don't forget the wine!

For optimal flavor, serve cheeses at room temperature. Remove them from the refrigerator 30-60 minutes prior to serving. Don't overwhelm your guests with too many choices. Always serve crusty bread or water crackers to cleanse the palate between cheeses. Remember to avoid placing delicately flavored cheeses alongside strong, pungent cheeses as the stronger aroma will overpower the lighter.

Hard cheeses take longer to come to room temperature than soft ones. When you take it out, leave the cheese wrapped so that the exposed surfaces don't dry out.  To cut any cheese properly—hard or soft —use a good chef's knife (a good all-purpose utility knife). 

Happy celebrations!


Image and Content Sources: Olive Bar, London; Wegmans; Little Brown Pen; Wisteria; The Art of Serving Cheese

Rooms I Love No. 2

Rooms I love just because they have that "something" that catches you staring.

Image Sources: Elle Decor, Pinterest, Eric Cohler, Windsor Smith

Rethinking the Look of Things No. 18 - Chevron

I love twists on historic designs. The modern bold take on the chevron makes a statement as an accent in home decor that completes a room with a bit of sassy attitude. This inverted v-shaped pattern can historically be found in reference to a wood floor design as well as on badges, insignia, heraldry and flags.

The chevron pattern drapery is simply stunning!

Tiled chevron pattern...exquisite!

This stair runner in chevron pattern is so architectural.

Image Sources: Stephen Gambre, Because I'm Addicted, Decor Pad, Elle Decor

Colour Palette No. 9 - Tomato Red

The color red...scientists have discovered its power, ladies in this color are more likely to be asked on a date, and there is no denying its pervasiveness.

Here are my picks for paint colors to achieve this colour palette.

Benjamin Moore Ladybug Red

Sherwin Williams Red Tomato

Image Sources: Elle Decor, Barclay Butera, Veranda, Architectural Digest

Paper Obsessed No. 5 - Lost Art of Letter Writing

I recently received a note that said "you did something great today and I noticed" followed by two little sentences...what impact those words had on the rest of my day!

Trust me I'm all for e-mail, text messaging, and social media; but nothing replaces a written note. A written note that takes the writer's time and effort to the next level. After all, it starts with the stationery it is written on. Stationery tells you almost as much about the sender as the shoes they chose to complete an outfit.

If you have ever received a gift of stationery you know how it takes your breath away for a moment. Because this gift was THE gift that was not chosen for you in haste. This gift tells you how truly special you are to the giver.

Don't feel overwhelmed when you are looking at the blank note card. A few short heartfelt phrases will be just fine.

Loving this clever invite!

 Here are some "cheats" for your letter writing.

Image Sources: Amazon, Kate Spade Crane, Wooster & Prince,



Design Questions Answered No. 2 - Zebra Prints

You don't even know how my heart was racing when I was answering the following question:

"What home decor goes well with zebra print?"

Any animal print should be considered a neutral. Though some animal prints pair better in a room's decor then others, the zebra print is one that is like that favorite purse that goes with anything.

I do caution that animal print should not be the foundation of a room's design, but rather an accent. Take a look at these rooms and notice how the room just wouldn't be the same without that touch of zebra.

So whether your look is traditional, contemporary, transitional, vintage, or coastal - zebra print adds the finishing touch.

Image Sources: Design Sponge, Ralph Lauren, House Beautiful, Windsor Smith, Elle Decor

Paper Obsessed No. 4 - Art Appreciation: Engravings

My obsession with all things paper reaches its ultimate level when I share my love for engravings. I am in awe of the meticulous process that created such beauty.

According to Wikipedia engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself such as an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing images on paper as prints or illustrations; these images are also called engravings.

Engraving was a historically important method of producing images on paper, both in artistic printmaking, and also for commercial reproductions and illustrations for books and magazines.

Here are some examples of vintage engravings.

The realization that one is holding art so tendiously and patiently created, sometimes over 200 years ago makes one speechless.

Image Sources: Flicker, Vintage Ephemera, Banana Strudel