Bobbi Brown's Secrets For A Kick-Ass Life

I just came across a very inspiring article about Bobbi Brown.  She's in her 50's, which she refers to as the "F*ck-It decade". (That's exactly how it was written in the article.)  I'm in my 50's and can totally relate. Her reasons for calling it that are more positive than mine would be.  She gave me lots to ponder about her take on it.  The article is actually made up of 30 slides.  The link will hopefully take you to slide one.  Just turn the pages and enjoy.

By the way, you don't have to be in your 50's to enjoy this article!

There's lots of eye candy.  Her style is very clean and simple.


There are some interesting thoughts on various things. Here's a wrote that caught my attention because even though I have no business, I am obsessed with marketing and the tricks businesses employ to promote their products.

There's even a tasty looking smoothie recipe.  I love smoothies and plan to try this one soon.

Enjoy!

Use Crates to Create Instant Storage

Interesting Idea - Use crates to create instant shelves and storage.  They can be stacked or mounted on the wall.  

Here's a little inspiration -

Etsy

Next Door Laura

Herb Crates  - Source - The Lettered Cottage

Houzz

Flick River

DIY Life

Mis-Matched Chairs at the Table

I am not a big fan of decor being perfectly matched.  I don't like sticking to a color palette   lately, I've also become of fan of not using matched sets of chairs at a table.  I recently decorated a feature booth at the store where I have a booth.  It has mis-matched chairs.  I am hoping that more odd chairs come into the store soon.  I need a few more colorful ones to get just the look I am after.  A photo of this booth is shown at the bottom of this post.

First, let me show you some of the examples that inspired me.   There are lots of ways to beautifully use different chairs together.  Usually, but not always, there's something that ties them together - color, fabric, or style.

source: Remodelista

source Southern Living via My Home Ideas

source: The Cottage of Vinnord

source: Braebourne Farm

source: Coastal Living

source: Scott Little via  Braebourne Farm

source: Style Files

source: BHG

source: Wedding Chicks

Sarah Jessica Parker's house - as seen on Elle Decor

source: Snap

Source: Dreams and Happy Things

source: My Dream Home

as seen on The Decorologist

This next example is my favorite of all.  I love the colors and un-matched look that magically comes together.  this is a photo that I keep coming back to.  I keep trying to figure out what it is that draws me.  I haven't cracked the code yet.  Sometimes I can block out one or two things in a photo and the room will turn blah.  Not this room.  I do think the white walls are important  Any other color might ruin the look.

Am I alone? Is anyone else fascinated by this room?

source: Molly Sims

Last, here's the table in the feature booth I put together at the store with the help of my sweet friend, Nicole. Don't you think we need some colorful chairs?  I found one chair in a vibrant color and it just wasn't right.  Oh well, obviously this room is not lacking in color.  I think after decorating in "The White Booth" for so long, I am swinging in the opposite direction!

Spring Mantel Inspiration

I'm a little late to this - Spring is flying through here in Georgia.  It's been Spring since February here.  Anyway, I decided I needed a dose of Spring Inspiration and decided to do a search for Spring Mantels.  Here are the ones that most inspired me -

Love this one from Layla at The Lettered Cottage!!!!

From AKA Designs

from Love of Family and Home

Flowers bring the mantel to life! - from Miss Kopy Kat

This one makes use of lots of funky vintage treasures.
You really need to visit the post  and see
close-ups of the treasures to really appreciate it!  from Northern Cottage

Oh my gosh!  Those tulips!!! from A Pretty life in the Suburbs

Not all Spring mantel looks are light - this darker one is from Gail's Decorative Touch

from Refresh Restyle

from View Along the Way

Interesting combination of bling and simple and cute-sy.
from Adventures in Decorating

from My Pine Place

From Chateau Chic

And how fun would this be --- a garden mantel.... outside!  Love it!

from Shabby Story

Inspired By...

I have just a few pretty photos today.  The first photo spoke to me because I am looking forward to fall weather so much.  Summer in Georgia is just too hot and dry.  We've had just a few cool mornings in the last week.  We were able to open up the house for an hour or two.  There's nothing like a change of season to make you want to do a little bit of redecorating.

As seen on Caught in Grace

I have saved many pictures the last few years of pretty table runners made with burlap or burlap-look linen.  Here's another to remind me I still haven't made one.  Isn't this one pretty?

As seen on The Charm of Home

I love, love, love this room designed by Cassity and Roeshel.  I spent ages studying the photos to see why this room was so appealing. The more I look, the more ideas I see.  They are asking for votes for their room for a contest sponsored by Shaw Carpets.  Voters can win, too.  I am happy to give them my vote!    As usual, my favorite rooms are an inviting eclectic mix of styles and colors.  This one is perfection.

As seen on Remodelaholic

Inspired By... Farmhouse Tables

I came across a picture of a farm table in an April issue of Family circle magazine.  I fell in love with it and it has set off a new obsession.  Here's the table I saw -

I love tables.  I enjoy painting and, best of all, distressing tables.  I love the look of rugged, imperfect, well-used tables.  The Family Circle one has a nice chippy look.  It also has a stainless steel top, which is cool, but would add a bit too much $$$ for me to seriously consider at this point.

When Googling, I came across a post on farmhouse tables from one of my favorite bloggers - Donna at Funky Junk Interiors.  She featured some beauties, including a farmhouse table / desk that she built.

Donna also featured a table by another of my favorite bloggers - Miss Mustard Seed.  She's my painting and refinishing guru.  I love her farm table.  Mmmmmmm...  I wonder...  could I possibly? Oh, my wheels are spinning.

She calls this her "Frankentable" because it's a combination of two tables.  I call it Perfect!  I love that room, too, by the way.

I guess you can probably tell that my favorite farm tables do not have smooth even tops.  I like the rustic ones best.  The ones that look like someone just nailed some boards to the top and called it a day. 

Here are some more -

This one is a great homemade table from Show and Tell, made from a bunch of old weathered wood she got from her dad.  Be sure to click the link to see the transformation.

Googling led me to this 2009 post on farmhouse tables from Studio M Designs.  She found some beauties.  Here's my fav -

 This is one that I had saved from a magazine for years.  I'll bet the clipping is at least 10 years old. These tables just don't go out of style.

I came across this one on Barn House

 That's enough.  I could go on, but I have things to do, places to go and people to see.  :-D

Inspired By... Spring Decorating

Spring is in the air!  Literally and figuratively.  The pollen is out. If you are outside and hear someone gasp, it may be because they can't breathe or it may be that they just saw something else in bloom. Living in Georgia (which has to be the worst place in the world when it comes to pollen) means ignoring the yellow haze and admiring the breathtaking spring show all around.  It is Beee-autiful!!!   So of course, the posts I was most drawn to this week had something to do with Spring.  Take a look -

Debra at Common Ground went to a Spring Open House in Ozark.  She found some really nice things and the displays were lovely.  I don't use the word lovely much, but doesn't it sound refined and classy?  I can pretend, can't I?

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch did some Spring Sprucing on her Porch.  Her porch is fabulous.  She hung sheers out there 3 years ago and says they have held up perfectly.  She's only had to wash them once.  They are polyester and dry immediately after it rains. 

Becky at Buckets of Burlap planted a wonderful herb garden in a wine barrel.  I'm ready to start planting!

Maria at Dreamy Whites visited one of her favorite shops - The Antique Gardener - and came away with some wonderful inspiring photos.

Last, but not least, this Spring Garden post from Carolyn at Aiken House and Gardens will be my inspiration next fall when it's time to plant bulbs!  Seriously!  I'm putting a link to this post on my calendar!  One look and my body will jump into action planting lots of bulbs! At least that's my hope. My body doesn't often jump into action.

Side note:  Lulu, one of our old dogs, has been sleeping on the floor beside me as I wrote this post.  Mostly she's been snoring, but she must have also been having an interesting dream - she was barking in her sleep.