morning's light

wardrobe inspiration

I have been looking for wardrobe inspiration for fall and winter.  From the above photo, I'd love the whole look!

I want dark denim jeans and cute trainers.

a gray cardigan to wear over black.  maybe some boots as well.

 

My hair is like hers almost exactly (mine's a bit longer)..but I like the lipstick color and the black dress.

 
I like the navy sweater (?) coat, the grey, the tights and the boots.

So there you have it. Glimpses of what inspires me for this fall and winter.  Naturally, I'd buy up everything I could from Garnet Hill or Johnnie Boden, but my wallet doesn't stretch that far this season!

Ooohh.it's FRIDAY! Hope you have loads of fun plans or will be able to relax this weekend! Or both!

~S

images: one, two, three, four, five, six

[hans zeegers, photographer]

My eyes are instantly drawn to simple lines and like items grouped together on a shelf.  I love to see jars lined up on a kitchen counter or shelf.  That makes my heart go pitter-patter.  (i know, RIGHT? why would I like that?!).  I need to find some pretty jar photos.  Meanwhile, the photo of boots lined up on the shelf... fun!

These photos by photographer Hans Zeegers (found by way of Head Over Heels) are styled so well! Enjoy!!

Last night was quite fun at church with a fun game similar to rock/paper/scissors:  ninja/gun/gorilla. Naturally ninja beats gun, gun beats gorilla BUT gorilla beats ninja.  The kids had fun...and we soon had a winner in the 5-minute-long tournament. We then watched a video (a Rob Bell NOOMA video) on prayer.  I love my junior high girls!  Wouldn't trade them for anything!  I'll have photos from last night to post soon.

this must be my favorite house tour EVER {doredoris}

I am in love.  Can you SEE the family above? Carolina (of the blog DoreDoris) has on my all-time favorite wardrobe mix of black and white with a SHOT of color (those tights!!!), the pink + green combo!  his red converse!  And that's just the family.  Wait until you SEE their home!!!  I want a pantry as organized and colorful as theirs; I want the airy, spacious feel to my own house that they have.  I want...I want....

Oh go on already..take a look.  Why are you reading my words?!

room & serve - colorful home!

Room and Serve is a Swedish blog that has gorgeous home tours and other decor photos. Here are a few homes I fell in love with.

 
images found here

I love the images found in this slideshow!

white, airy swedish home

 

What a gorgeous, simple, white, airy home!   So spacious!!

Here's the bedroom of a different home:

images: room and serve

hey - no fair posting about comfy beds!!!

My sleep schedule (like a baby??) has been messed up since my trip to Nebraska.  While there I got used to going to sleep at midnight and getting up at 8 or 9 AM.  (rough life, I know).  That schedule doesn't translate so well at home..but I compromised by sleeping 11 PM to 7 AM...and then rushing around to get ready for work in 40 minutes. WHICH MEANT that I never made it to my water class when I wanted to...because it took place at 5:45 AM and that's not after 7 AM according to my logic.

Yesterday I decide that I'm going to my class all four mornings this week (mon/wed/fri/sat) and if I'm tired, I'm tired.

However, I was not counting on being so drowsy in front of my computer today that I'd actually reach for a page ON MY SCREEN to take it off what I thought was the document stand in front of me.  Right.  Slightly tired today but happy to have worked out on Day One.

At lunch, I do a little blog reading and find not one but TWO blogs showing off comfy, cozy beds and pretty bedrooms.  NO FAIR!! (stamping my foot).  I just wanted to crawl into the photos and find a comfy bed (Goldilocks much?) and snooze the day away.  

 

click each image to go to the photo source....except the last one. I can't find the source. I'm terribly sorry!  If the last photo is yours, please let me know.

hallway kitchen + fireplace office

Abigail Ahern's sister used the images on the wall in place of wallpaper.  They're the perfect addition to the room!

Rita Konig's NYC kitchen is actually in a hallway.  Looks to me like it's piles of items she loves and uses!

This morning is a cold morning - one in which I'd love to warm up by a wood stove! 

images: abigail ahern atelier

white/aprill aprill

What a pretty little bench!  AprillAprill has much goodness to share on her blog.  Just look at the following shelves!

a whole lotta Lotta {jansdotter, that is!}

Ever get something stuck in your head that you just HAVE TO HAVE?  I have an item in mind but will make do with photos from it found on flickr.

Lotta Jansdotter has a book called Lotta's Lifestyle that I MUST BUY NOW or at least that's what my heart is calling out for.  My budget has other ideas and has said we must wait for now to buy it.  

Curious?

Lotta's outfit above inspired an ensemble I can create out of similar items in my wardrobe.  That's the fun part! If I had the whole book (anyone want to sell me theirs?), what other wardrobe creations could I create out of my current clothing items?

I so want to go running errands this weekend in an outfit like Lotta's.  

image from tania

little things to brighten your day

Am under the weather - yes, again.  Took a month to get rid of the cough that accompanied the flu..then *bam* a cold.  But it's the perfect time to stay inside, rest and look at pretty things that the internet offers..specifically pretty blogs!  Here are some latest favorites.  

How are you feeling? 

okay - this is not from a blog but one of my junior high girls from church just tagged me in this photo on facebook... I'm tagged as someone she loves.  awwww.. very sweet.  that made my night!  thanks, alysia!

at wide open spaces, amber listed her faves which includes a superb list.  my favorite is: "Just the necessities, neatly organized. Whenever I start coveting a new kitchen or crafting tool, I go organize a closet or drawer. I get the instant gratification of seeing everything lined up in its place, looking back at me, and I feel much better. I think this rule also governs my favorite foods. I love fresh, simple foods. Like sparkling water and a slice of black bread with cheese."

freshly picked tomatoes by krickelin-krickelin

fall images from like a butterfly in your house

That's it for now!  The weekend is almost here. I have two plans:  a game night with friends and church on Sunday.  Ooohh and most likely a nap on Sunday afternoon.   

Kajsa's Swedish Home

DOS Family has posted another pretty Swedish home!  Kajsa, a blogger, lives here.  It's so neat and tidy!  

images: dos family

{adorable parisienne studio}

 

Hello, Adorable Paris Apartment!  I really like the layout, the separate dining area/office, the living area and the bedroom area.  I may recognize items from IKEA but you've been personalized so very well!  I'll call you Cozy, Adorable and Pretty!!  

 

 

Numerous Photos + Flat Owner's Blog here.  (upper left corner of the blog contains the link to an English translation)

color contest inspiration

I'm in love with the polka dot chair!!

Apartment Therapy is a wealth of inspiration and helpful hints for around the home!  I've enjoyed their site for so long, and from these photos, can you tell why?  These are mostly from the 2009 Color Contest.  

What a pretty studio - with the exposed brick, the happy green walls..and the simple layout.  

I must be craving green apples or just green at home!

The neat, tidy bedroom caught my eye immediately.
Could this apartment owner please visit me and re-do my bedroom?!

Will soon be buying similar accessories (paperwork/magazine sorter and the mirror with hooks).

images: apartment therapy

*nebraska*

I've been away in Nebraska....seeing a college friend, Amber, and her family. 
Above is Amber holding her daughter Ruby! 
It's been a relaxing weekend...and I'll be back here next week with loads more photos.
Hope your weekend is going well!!

 

 

Isabelle's Light Filled Home

 

I'm a fan of French homes, can you tell? Isabelle's has an airy feel to it plus so much light!

 

 

 

What gorgeous colors in this bedroom also found on Marie Claire Maison's site:

 

all images: marie claire maison

french cafe-turned-apartment

 

Clarisse is a decorator who lives in France in a cafe-turned-apartment.  How lovely is this?  The pink door to the original telephone booth is gorgeous!

 

What a convenient dressing area!  I'd love one like this - despite having a very large walk-in closet that truly makes me feel closed-in when I enter it. I'm contemplating turning my bedroom closet into storage for items that don't need to be accessed regularly, and then I'll get a simple IKEA wardrobe in which to keep my current wardrobe and accessories. 

 

For some reason, this photo of a kitchen makes me think it's what all French kitchens look like: baskets, wire mesh on the shelves, jars with colorful contents, pretty trays..... Am I even close?

images: marie claire maison

giorgia + barbara: citrus colors + artwork

 

I was perusing the Apartment Therapy Color Contest finalists to select whom to vote for, and I was stopped in my tracks by the rental of Giorgia & Barbara - an entry titled "From Italy to California".  

 

I love the artwork above!!  Original and stunning!

 

For more information, visit their Etsy page, and the artwork was created by Addie.

subscribe by email + tangerine

image: Amanda Fuller Designs

It's 4 AM. Cannot sleep.  Checked email and was delighted to hear from Amanda (in Australia!) who asked for a way to subscribe to this blog via email.  Your wish is my command!  See the upper right corner to subscribe.  

Now to see if a couple more hours of sleep can be obtained before a very long day at the office begins.

happysilly: sara's home

 

A delay!  Jenny of Dos Family messaged me on Saturday morning that she had new photos up on DosFamily, so here they are!  It is the home of Sara, author of HappySilly.The details of the flat charmed me right away - from the little illustrations popping up in unexpected places (see the ballerina below on top of the laundry pile) to the colors (orange! pink! lots of white and light!).  Who else has pink clouds in their pink dining room?  No one!  Check out this one of a kind flat! 

 

 

 

yellow kitchen + pink children's rooms

 

Rainy, fall morning = need to look at this bright yellow kitchen shown in Marie Claire Maison!  I was only going to show the yellow kitchen but then found these charming children's bedrooms - most which have pink in them.  Pardon me while I revert back to being an eight year old girl dreaming of a room like one of these.  I do have a favorite, do you know which one it is?  
all images: marie claire maison

 

 

 

 

 

floral curtain

Storage Behind the Door, originally uploaded by pinklovesbrown.

I am unable to take my eyes away from that floral curtain.
 It's a colorful accent to the perfectly ordered shelves!

one more pop of color

one more pop of color....this one from AprillAprill:

pops of color

What's making me happy today:

Kate: dining area with the white + orange

13 Threads:  Her clothing line reminds me to buy a long sleeve pop of color to wear beneath the black jumper I'm wearing today.

Swedish Interiors:  All that white, natural light and the great pink accents. Love the artwork!

Fearless Color in Denmark:  Because who doesn't like an orderly, white kitchen, dark wood, a cute toddler, a fluffy dog and green as an accent color?! 

letter writing + blog reading

 

It's a quiet Sunday evening...a perfect time to pull out some pretty stationery and pens and create a handwritten letter to a friend.  This new-to-me blog, Nectar & Light, is gorgeous and has inspired me to write a letter tonight. The house is quiet, the white (not just for Christmas) lights are shining into the darkened living room, and the peace is enjoyable.

Hope your weekend was well.  What were the highlights?

AT calls it a "white nest"

 

Haldane Martin moved into his Cape Town, South Africa home a mere one week before the house tour photos were taken.      ][       I'm smitten with his use of color in the bedroom and bathroom, the pretty dining room artwork pronouncing "it's beautiful here", and the cozy corner that is the living room.  

Apartment Therapy has all the photos. 

 

 

Jenny (of Dos Family) + her home

 

Dos Family = my most favorite house tour blog. This time Jenny (one of the co-authors of Dos Family) features her own home.  What I love about it:

• White painted floors
• Stacks of magazines
• You can tell someone really lives there!
• It's not all matchy-matchy
• Organized office
• Brightly colored futon/couch
• Pink kitchen cabinets
• Loads of light streaming in
• Unusual/fun artwork arranged on the walls

 

 

 

more images here

Jenny & Isabelle (of Dos Family) can be found here: 

Isabelle can be found here and here.

Jenny has a blog and a shop.

prettiness from buttons magee

This photo on Buttons Magee caught my eye as well as the other photo below.  A recent blog entry discussed the various tutorials you can see on YouTube....ones I had no idea were out there!

Last night, I did some cleaning and sorting but stared in dismay at a pile of boxes and "stuff" that line one wall of my bedroom.  I just don't know what to do with it.  I should donate/toss all of it and just live without it as it's doing me no good just piled up.  Once that's taken care of, I could venture into the closet and neaten what is there.  Hoping I'm not writing about this very thing in one year after procrastinating even longer on the two projects.

Any motivation hints for me to overcome this procrastination?

 

(maybe this image provides a hint about one reward for completing a task:  chocolate!!)

fall decorations (sweet, sweet life)

 

I can barely put up a small tree for Christmas - once a year - much less decorate for each season.  Thus I am choosing to live vicariously through Amy's decor this fall.  She has adorable cookie jars with labels, pumpkin decor, apples and so much more.  Visit her blog to see more photos.

 

 

 

Mee a Bee: home tour

 

Bloesem Kids featured the home of Jacqi of mee a bee.  What I love about her home are the simple lines, the pretty bookcase and lamp next to the bed, and the creative, orderly storage.   mee a bee has a line of children's bags that are about the cutest things ever! 

 

 

A friend's office has a set of the cupboards above - with the transparent doors, and I've wanted cabinets like that for a long time. 

new to the wish list: letter bag

 

 

I'm a fan of Moop bags and have immediately added their newest bag to my wish list: the Letter Bag in black. I have the Market Bag in Rosewood (see below) which was the best bag to take on the plane and around San Francisco when I was on vacation there in May.  

I've a feeling the black letter bag would be a daily carry for me - to and from work and all the errands in between the office and home.

 

images: moop

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The weekend was so not long enough.  I visited a local private school's annual Barn Sale and found three wooden bar stools for $22.  Turns out the height of the stools was exactly right for the counter separating my kitchen from the living room.  (My kitchen has been lacking bar stools for more than two years now but the wait was worth it - for the price and the quality of the stools.)

Movie Night was held Sunday night - which involved games of Apples to Apples (the guys select winning cards logically and the girls tend to use emotions to figure out which card wins), munching on comfort food, and watching Eagle Eye - a film I found to be quite good.  

Hope you had a good weekend!

babysteps to order + brightness

The Bill Murray film, What About Bob, has been on my mind lately.  So many great lines in there [Baby step to four o'clock. Baby step to four o'clock.]  plus I've seen it so many times that I now recognize the very moment in the film where Bob begins to seem normal and the doctor starts to seem a bit.....intensely focused (to put it nicely).  

This flu/cough is finally ending - I can breathe again between fits of coughing but to make sure all is well, I'll be sticking pretty close to home this weekend.  That means that I can bring order to an apartment that has gotten a bit untidy and perhaps tackle a few other projects as well.  I have a plan to baby step my way to success + use some inspiration photos to guide the way.

1. Clear the clutter from my bedroom + actually make my bed. 

2. Put up artwork on the three magnetic boards above the dining table.  (Inspired here by the simple, pretty touches in the dining room.)

 

3. Add bright splashes of color as seen on this gorgeous couch and the green and pink pillow on the left.

4. Watch Grey Gardens + Twilight. 

5. Read The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life: How to Sew a Sampler Quilt & 49 Other Pioneer Projects for the Modern Girl (by Jennifer Worick).

Photos 1-3 from Apartment Therapy

maisonette / jim + pam

 

I adore the blog maisonette and was delighted to find out some photos of her apartment are in a magazine this month.  Isn't the bedroom above orderly and adorable?!    

  And then the kitchen.  *swooning*  Why do I not have a big ol' chalkboard in my kitchen yet?!!  One day...

 

A new episode of The Office begins in thirty minutes.
 I almost wish it were next week...when it's The (television) Wedding - Jim & Pam's.
  How sweet are they?
  *sigh*

 

cozy + color + pattern

Enjoy the home of Lark founder, Allison, and her family - in Australia.

A simple photo with pretty touches.  Love the sign.  "for washing everything"

storage! wood furniture! love it!

a pantry sign!  good idea.
 perhaps I'll label my kitchen's cupboards and closets and such.

handsome crate + pretty papers

perhaps every home should have a red chair stowed somewhere in a corner.

a former bedroom turned into a big ol' family bathroom.  superb!

images AT:LA

children's rooms [Miss Tip]

Why is it so fun to see creative children's rooms whether you have kids or not?  I don't but these rooms charmed me immensely.  The bed in that first photo seems a cozy place to hide out, read, play, and pretend.  

Good thing you can't hear me coughing while typing this.  Someone finally tossed out the idea that I should see a doctor for the lingering, loud coughing fits, and they were correct.  I saw the doctor and am on antibiotics but to end this cough, apparently I have to go through a series of whooping-type coughs.  Lucky you aren't working down the hall from me and hearing the annoying coughs.  Maybe by Friday I'll post something other than a Cough Update.  A tremendous amount of people have this very same thing.  I feel for them.  

images: Mademoiselle Astuce via kids love design

colorful, organized office

Through Kim Vallee, I found a new-to-me blog that is a new favorite:  ourhaus.  Jodi shares about how she created an office out of a loft area at home.  I adore the colors she chose and how she organized every little thing!  Naturally I think it's great that many of her items are from IKEA.   Jodi gives a bunch of hints and some rules of thumb to follow when creating an organized office.  She also shows where she got everything.  I could use more color in my office and may pick up a few of Jodi's items when I'm at IKEA next week.

all images:  ourhaus

a beautiful chicago home

*cough*

*cough*

*cough*

*fuzzy mind*

I am finishing up Week One of a flu/cough that has left me fuzzy-headed and coughing and with a left ear out of which I can hear nothing.  

But my eyes work, and I've fallen quickly in love with a Chicago house.  The owners, Emily and Jacob, decided on two words that represent who they are and the decorating of the home grew from those two words.  

My two words for their place?  vintage beauty

more photos at the Apartment Therapy house tour.

bright + sunny home

I'm here.  Surprise!  Am on Day Three of a fever that is tagging along with the flu. So far this week between coughs, I caught up on sleep and TV shows (How I Met Your Mother, the Big Bang Theory, New Adventures of Old Christine, Top Chef, Models of the Runway, Biggest Loser and Modern Family).  Queued up for later is the Drew Barrymore film "Grey Gardens".

Meanwhile, I'm catching up on emails and was happily surprised to find this beautiful, airy home of Rene shown by Apartment Therapy L.A. 

Many more photos here. (Out of the 40 photos AT:LA showed, I saved 21 of them in my inspiration folder.)

tissues needed

2_18 Death to Kleenex (48/365), originally uploaded by Aprille.

ahhh....tissues not needed for a sad story.

I'm just down for the count today. First Cold of 2009 and too much going on at work and with youth ministry tonight to go missing. So I'll gather some tylenol, kleenex and lots of water to fortify me through today until I can sleep tonight.

Hope your day is swell!

olivelse home

Another set of gorgeous photos from Olivelse and her home.  She received a delightful parcel this weekend - what at gorgeous little shopping cart!  And while at first I thought the children were romping around in their own room, it turned out to be in the master bedroom.  May I please have the same bedroom as well as the colorful, stylish bedroom?

beautiful wardrobe: the hidden seed

Loving this new-to-me blog, The Hidden Seed. 

Her wardrobe is beautiful!  

a pretty, pretty white home

A pretty, simple white home.  The family bought this house that had been empty for 35 years and pretty much started from scratch.  It's so orderly, and pretty.  In the photo above, I love the wood floors and simpleness of the room.

The little girl, Juliette, is beautiful, but what caught my eye after her was the simple lineup of Perrier bottles on one of the bar shelves.  And then I saw the pretty bar stools and decided to a) buy more Perrier to have on hand and b) find some bar stools for my kitchen/dining area. 

Simple, pretty dining area.  I noticed again the Perrier bottles.  Perrier on the mind, I suppose.

Gorgeous white bowls all lined up and a casual way to display family photos.

photos:  AT:SF

spam + youth group kids + blonde moment

Blonde Moment.  First let me say my computer was broken all morning long! I was trying to print a stack of documents and just needed the final page of a letter to print before I could move on to the next document.  Nothing worked. I adjusted the settings of the printer, turned the printer off and on again, and was about to uninstall and then install the printer driver when I thought about printing the whole document and see if there's something funky about printing Page 2.

Page 1 printed just fine and looked lovely.  However, Page 2 refused to print.  ????????  So I was checking the formatting of the document and scrolled down to Page 2 to discover...... a lack of a second page.  That's right.  I was trying to print the second page of a ONE PAGE DOCUMENT.   Where my Nobel Prize at?

The Spams.   Now I'll share photos from last night's Cell Group Kickoff for youth ministry (Matchbox Ministries).  There was fun, music, then a contest where every small group had 30 minutes to create something out of two cans of Spam (an item not found in the Organic Foods section of your grocery store) - using only the spam, nine toothpicks and a container of white Tic Tacs.  The photos speak for themselves.

The winning entry: from Sponge Bob Square Pants, it's Plankton on a Crabby Patty! (from a high school group).

My group of eighth grade girls and I came up with the idea of doing Bryan's face (he's the youth pastor) based on a drawing that came from a photo of a real person. (Bryan dressed up as Pure Awesomeness.) Our strategy involved mashing the two cans' worth of Spam together to make one moldable lump. Didn't work.  It flaked everywhere. But the girls worked great as a team, had fun, and survived the smell and texture of Spam on their hands.

All photos by sunnygirlsf.

former school = home

Really like the white + wood.... the white + pastels...... how about just the white?    A home in a former school - featured in Skona Hem.

images:  skona hem via emmas designblogg

busy bee apt: clean lines + pretty details

Photos of this apartment are *whooshing* around online.  I have to post them here as they're photos that have me gazing into them, wishing I could package up the rooms and take them home with me.

You can find more information on the Busy Bee blog.

In the photo above, there are pretty papers framed in white IKEA frames.  I have had some gorgeous retro-looking papers in my possession for over a year and have yet to make use of them.  I need to get some frames and show off the gorgeous papers on the wall. (and take photos to share with you as I can't keep that loveliness to myself).

images via decor8 via busy bee

reunion in a bag

Blonde Designs is a new favorite blog of mine.  They have such creative ideas for customizing party foods, beverages and goody bags.  But this recent post is an instant favorite of mine.  They created a "reunion in a bag" for a friend who couldn't be with them at the latest reunion.  The green bag from Target is adorable!  And I love all the little packages.  Definitely favoriting (new word! new word!) this idea and will use it in the future....for guests at my home, a birthday present....or just a special treat for someone going through a difficult time.

When I saw the stationery they were giving away, I realized it looked familiar.  Two years ago I won a set of personalized stationery from Blonde Designs and adored it.  Friends who received letters on those notecards felt so special that they were receiving such quality paper in the mail! 

a tidy linen closet

[MCCALL'S MAGAZINE, KIDS IN LINEN CLOSET], originally uploaded by George Eastman House.

What an orderly linen closet! My towels and other linens have yet to make their way onto the shelves in such a neat manner - and tied with ribbons, no less. Would you look at that!

organized shoe collection

Ingrid is a Dutch designer who makes items such as the wood + wool stool seen below.  I saw some of her photos in an Apartment Therapy post today about paring down belongings to highlight what's important to you. I'd say Ingrid has pared down her bedroom to show the shoes that mean the most to her.

photos: flickr

flower chair

fermob flower chair, originally uploaded by wood & wool stool.

Great desk area.
Love the chair.

Brief post as it's one of those days. Feeling out of sorts. Perhaps a cold is arriving soon.

the stylist

Perhaps I've seen too many fashion/style shows on TV lately, but this had me in stitches.

++ inspiration ++

image: grijs

It's late. Almost Saturday morning. I am both wired and relaxed- even sleepy.  How can that be?!  So I'm browsing through pretty pictures, knowing I have to get up in mere hours to go with four children and their mom to see a 3-D version of the new kids movie "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs".  Silly title for hopefully a silly film.

Following the movie, perhaps my brother Jay and his family will not have left our mom's house yet to drive home (two hours away) and I can see the family for a little while.  

If not, I'll work on some pages to be handed out to junior high girls at church on Sunday - to introduce them to our small groups (each girl will be in a group according to her grade:  6th, 7th or 8th grade -  with two leaders per group.)  We're going from two junior high leaders for the girls last year (me and one other person) to SIX people.  So great.  We have college students who are helpers...and they're so enthusiastic and passionate about their faith and about working with teens that it'll be a fun year working with them.

We have a table to decorate to draw the attention of the junior high girls..so we're going for Girly Glamour.  Lots of black background (tablecloth, foam board) and then gold accents with pages personalized for each leader with little quirky facts about each leader and an introduction to each group.  My favorite quirk about my assistant leader is, "I like a good bowl of cereal."  Quite random yet stated in all seriousness.

Here's my midnight rambling.  Aren't you lucky?!  At least I'm not telling some story about some uncle's cousin's neighbor's stylist's client's grandmother who saved sugar packets from restaurants for 80 years and left it all to her grandkids.  

A better idea is to let you enjoy these pictures from a favorite French blog.  

 

images: olivelse