Baby Nursery Inspiration

"There was a never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've been browsing the internet since receiving news that baby #3 is going to be a boy. I surprised that it was extremely difficult to find ideas that were original with a modern vintage theme. I like mostly a vintage look with modern touches. Here's a start...

I like this tree wall decal found on www.etsy.com

Classic design of the eames rocker (photo courtesy of flickr)


Love this antiqe dresser, so sweet.

Love the whole vintage feel of this room (source unknown)

(so tweet found on etsy.com)

A collection of coordinating fabrics simply displayed in embroidery hoops! (source unknown)


Instead of a mobile I was considering either the paper laterns (above) or the tissue pom poms (below) Both affordable and whimsical :)

www.etsy.com

I like the colour palette of these buttons and I was thinking about creating something like this (below)

My Vision Book

Hi...I'm Tammy...and I'm a "mag"aholic... I admit that I have subscriptions to 5 different magazines because it will "save me money" and I wont have to buy them at the check-out. However, somehow those glossy magazines that I don't yet have a subscription to always seem to fall in my cart. Magazines are often a really quick "high", often times so filled with useless ads that within 10 mins, it's over. I have piles and piles of magazines. Martha Stewart's (1999-present) beautiful covers line my shelf and I can't seem to part with them. There is such joy that comes, when I open that mailbox to that perfectly wrapped in plastic magazine. The best part is that because I have five different subscriptions they all come at staggered times during the month. It's like presents keep arriving in the mail just for me! I believe that getting stuff in the mail (snail mail) is still far more exciting than receiving an email. I've always found use for my magazines when I've created my vision boards, clipping out things that I am hoping to attract into my life and pasting them to a canvas. This is a great way to send your intentions out to the universe. However, even after using some bits and pieces for my 8 X 10 vision board, I am still left with piles and piles of magazines! Then my friend Sunshine told me about this "scrapbook" that she started, in order to make use of all the magazines. She started clipping out any idea, recipe, design idea, craft or fashion that she liked from the magazine and glued them into the scrapbook in categories. She enjoyed it so much, she gave me a freshly recovered scrapbook for Christmas this year. I believe the vision book or scrapbook if you prefer, has several great purposes. First of all it's a great way to use the magazines, secondly it's a great way to get to know the things that you love and third it's a great resource for ideas (like recipes and crafts) and lastly its a wonderful way to send your intentions out to the universe. That's why I've decided to call it my vision book. I have a whole section on Christmas ideas that I love, kitchen and dining, bedroom ideas, hallways, crafts and gardening. The best part is that there are no rules so I can add new categories and paste anything I want into my vision book. Here's what you need to start your own vision book: 1. Get yourself a spiral bound sketch book 2. Recover it with beautiful bright wrapping paper or scrap booking paper (optional step) 3. Find some quiet time, I find that right before I go to sleep is a good time, I take even just one magazine and go through it for ideas I want to clip out. 4. Cut out images, glue or tape them in your book 5. Enjoy looking back at all the beautiful images you have compiled over time!

Joy Blog...Olioboard

So I found this website, that is so much fun to let your creative juices flow or can also be used as a tool for inspiration for designers or people like me who just have a passion for design and decor. I had so much fun gathering items to put together this olioboard as posted above which tells a story of a fresh kitchen/dining room in green, white and blue. It is a fantastic way to get to know the things that you love and put them all together. If you are on a path of getting to know your true self, you'll notice that there are usually some themes in what speaks to you. Is the clean lines of the modern furniture, or like me are you drawn to white furniture, and chandeliers. The site offers the items to put on your olioboard however there is also the option to upload your own photos which I had a hard time figuring out. There were plenty of furniture and accessories to choose from, all from stores like crate and barrel and restoration hardware. The best thing is, like a collage, there is no right or wrong. It's whatever you want to put together, what inspires you?

www.olioboard.com

Happy Creating!

A home of ones own

Photo: My new throw pillows, loved the damask print in the center pillow mixed with the striped pattern

"If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."
William Morris

I went to visit my friend Kelly last night who just purchased her first home with her husband Dave. (exciting!) It's an adorable little bungalow and they purchased it knowing that it needed a lot of cosmetic touches to make it their own. A conversation came up about this built in bench at the door way of Kelly's new home, another friend there said if it were me "I'd rip it out." Kelly responded with something along the lines of "well I was planning on adding some baskets underneath and a nice fabric covered seat cover", "I think it adds character." I was like "Hooray! for character." So here they go, on the same journey I have seen many of my friends (myself included) go through over the past couple of years. Buying that older, "fixer upper", and starting from scratch. Now this can be a very stressful process. When we bought our house it was so dated, and old. We moved in ripped out all the carpet, painting every inch of walls, trims, baseboards and ceilings. Over the past couple of years we have renovated our bathroom and kitchen and ripped out a wall separating the kitchen from the living room to make it open concept. When we first moved in, like so many of my friends, we chose a neutral palette. This tends to be an easy route, especially when you are essentially starting from scratch. We chose a couple paint colours, similar to benjamin moores Shaker Beige throughout. Painted the cabinets: contractors white. Trim: contractors white. Couch: Beige sectional. Yes, I was guilty of this boring decorating "dilemma" as I like to call it. It's like many people of my generation have lost the ability to be creative and add all of those little touches that make a home a home. I see alot of brown or black leather couches, beige walls, not too much on the walls, stainless steel appliances. Each of these houses looking staged for an open house, but who lives here?

Photo: This is an example of this type of decorating so typical of people I know. Yes, its nice, but seems so typical.

Slowly over the past year or so, on my simple abundance journey I have realized some things about myself and the things that I feel make a house a home. What is character? It's the little touches. It's the cute little built in's that are original to the home. Many of the new houses that people buy today "cookie cutter" houses lack these little details that they have in older homes. However, it doesn't mean character can't be added to newer homes with accessories, paint and all the little details. Of course we all want our houses to be aesthetically pleasing, we like things to match and blend. We do need to listen to what makes our heart skip a beat, and think less about what matches. "Staged" homes are not for living in.

Photo: I loved these towels found on etsy (the shabby chic cottage)
I realized that I am drawn to the comforts and cozy feelings that the country/cottage bring to me. I like the character of vintage vases, weathered and distressed furniture, painted furniture, beautiful handmade quilts, patterns mixed with patterns; like stripes and florals combined. I like cute little whimsical decorations like my silver pear, and this new sign I bought for my bathroom door that is shabby chic looking and it says "Toilette." I love fancy perfume bottles, and fresh flowers in every corner. I love yellow, and pink, and turquoise. Chandaliers, wicker baskets, decorative birds, damask and toile.

Photo: These little beadboard birds are found at The Shabby Chic Cottage on etsy.com. I may order them for the shelf in my kitchen.

Take yourself on a creative excursion, and browse through a home decor store or second hand store. You don't need to buy. Take a notebook if you want. Take notes about what really calls to you. Listen to yourself, this takes practice. Have a browse on www.etsy.com and have a look at the beautiful handmade items or vintage housewares. I invite all of you to begin to make your home your own. I realize that the beadboard birds may be hideous to some, and I'm not suggesting that a shabby chic style is for everyone but you need to find out what is your style. Please join me in my revolution against living in a "staged home."

Photo: Love Love this Jadeite plate reproduced into a clock. www.etsy.com

Feeling inspired by....Breakfast Nooks

photos: better homes and gardens and kitchen bath ideas

For a long time I have been drawn to these quaint little dining spaces. In my searches for inspiration I stumbled across the phrase "breakfast nook" and knew that I needed to create one one in my home. What I love most is that usually the breakfast nook is tucked into a cozy corner close to the kitchen, and usually posed perfectly by a window. Much to my dismay, I searched my brain for ways to create one of these in my house and I don't happen to have a cozy little corner close to a window...however...I will tuck these images away into my "someday" file and when we buy our next house I will keep this in mind. I do have this one little corner I am eying down in my kitchen, and I wonder if I got just the tiniest table and chairs....

An Inspired Life

Photo: The silver pear that I found on one of my "creative excursions"

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
-Putanjali

My status on facebook the other day read like this "Needs to be inspired today." My friend Alison responded with totally empathy, she too is working mother. She made a comment that basically between the laundry, the errands, the diapers, the "stuff" that makes up our lives, how do we gain inspiration for our creativity and joy. Only a short ways into my blogging career, I am loving this as an outlet to be inspired and inspire others. However, this week, I struggle to find a spark of something to get excited about or to deem it worthy enough to share with the world. This is a normal part of the journey towards getting in touch with your authentic self I am sure. Especially since the journey takes a back seat to raising my children and working...sometimes real life just seems to get in the way. So it got me thinking: "How do we live an inspired life, despite all the "have to's?" The only thing that seemed to make sense to me as a racked my brain and a few of my favourite books for some answers is that only we can make the time for ourselves, to listen to what the universe is trying to tell us, what are daydreams are saying, to be aware enough to be inspired. Where does this magical thing called "time" come from? Well, I wish I had a better answer for everyone besides "you have to make time." Here are a few ideas of things I have personally used to open up my life to be more inspired everyday:

*Set your alarm 20 mins early to get up in the morning-yes it will be very tempting to hit snooze and catch that extra 20 mins shut eye but trust me, it will be worth it. I even do this on the weekends to sneak in a little extra time for me before the kids get up and the "busy"ness starts to consume my day. Make yourself a hot cup of coffee or tea, flip through a great self help or spiritual read to inspire you. Write a list of positive intentions for you your day. Spend a few moments on your favourite websites.


*Play hooky...take a well deserved mental health day. Go on a creative excursion to a thrift shop and browse through things that call out to you. Is it the shape of a glass pitcher, a great bright coloured pair of heels, or a great vintage cookbook (one of my personal favs)


*Read some great quotes


*Stop in at a great second hand bookstore. Take something home on a topic you've been thinking about lately. Or a fiction book that speaks to you.


*Buy yourself a new glossy magazine about anything that will stir joy within you, my personal choices are home decorating/food magazines like martha stewart or house and home. Pull out anything that jumps out at you. My friend Sunshine has the most glorious scrapbook in which she's compiled all of the things she finds in magazines that inspire her. I personally like to create collages or "vision boards" with all of these things that inspire me.(More on vision boards on another post)


*Treat yourself to a delicious lunch from a place you've always wanted to try and read your new magazine at the same time!


*Go to bed a half hour early...read something uplifting, spend some quiet time with your own thoughts, write in your journal. Sometimes just taking the time to quiet your cluttered mind opens up some space for inspiration to find you.


*Search the web when you get a moment. Here are some of the sights that I have been inspired by lately:

http://www.anthropologie.com/
http://www.stylemepretty.com/ (mostly a wedding inspiration site but a beautiful site none the less)
http://www.modcloth.com/
http://www.etsy.com/ (love etsy!) Just purchased the most beautiful vintage glass bowls that inspired me instantly to head towards my dream of having a retro kitchen.


http://www.marthastewart.com/ (a classic go-to for inspiring creativity)
http://www.lickmyspoon.com/ a food blog with gorgeous pictures that make me want to get in the kitchen
http://www.ourbestbites.com/ another food blog with great pictures and good for inspiring gift ideas from the kitchen
http://www.tiffany.com/ (i just love that tiffany blue..oh and the diamonds aren't bad either)
http://www.katespade.com/
http://www.potterybarn.com/
http://www.flickr.com/ people post some really cool photos on this site
http://www.restorationhardware.com/
http://www.wisteria.com/
Those are just a few of my own personal websites saved on my "favourites." I encourage you to browse some topics you are interested in, and save any pictures that call out to you. I have files and files of things I have found in my web searches that I have been inspired by.



Its true that "real life" does sometimes get in the way and eats up all of our energy and time...but sometimes we need to just push "real life" aside. Only we can make a personal choice to make time for ourselves. Most likely your boss is not going to approach you and say..."geez...you've been working real hard and you seem frazzled...take a mental health day." Your kids arent' going to say "don't worry about us mom..just worry about YOU for an hour." We need to take the hour, heck-take 15 mins or 5. Schedule it in our "to do" list. My "to do" list usually includes the following columns: work, home, family and self. The truth is, the more we take time out for ourselves to seek inspiration and to be creative, the more passionate our lives will be and the more joy we will have, thus making us better at our jobs, better partners and better parents. To me an uninspired life, is not worth living...but perhaps that's just me?

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Song: You and I-Ingrid Michaelson