IKEA Family Live

Have you heard of this great source of interior inspiration known as IKEA Family Live?  I just found out about it last week and am excited to be sharing some of my favorite interior shots with you today!  My favorite thing about this site is that all the homes are real! You can tell, too..they just feel so comfy and lived in, love it!  All of these images can be found under the home stories page, where you can see and read in more detail about the singles, couples, and families that have transformed there spaces to work for them and their living needs.  I find it so fascinating to see how people from around the world set up their homes.  Don't you? Enjoy browsing through these archives!

Photos by IKEA Family Live

Where I've been & Where I'm going..

2011 Highlights

Book Review: Amy Butler Midwest Modern

 

Photographs by David Butler

Happy Monday to everyone today!!  Today I'm happy to share a book review of one of my most creative inspirational people..Amy Butler.  She is and continues to be a creative force in the fabric design, pattern, and craft world.  Constantly expanding her hard and soft lines to include everything from plates, rugs, wallpaper, bedding, patterns, and a line of stationary (just to name a few).  I received this book Midwest Modern from my brother a few years ago for Christmas and I still reference it to help me whenever I am stuck in a creative rut or just need a fresh new perspective on things.  It's more of a lifestyle book and I think that's why I keep this book within arms reach on the bookshelf at home.  My favorite section of the book is getting a tour of her interiors where she displays a lot of her fabrics and patterns as a kind of rotating gallery of products while getting a glimpse of her studio space on the lower level of her home.  How fun to be able to divide your home into a completely separate work and live space!  A girl can dream, right?!  I hope to make room for this dream someday down the road at our next place.  But for now I'm glad to have a book where I can seek new creative ideas in design, home interiors, prints, fabrics, and home/work life. 

Yogi Words

Do you ever hold a product you use daily so near and dear to your heart that you jump at the chance to share your joy with others?  My joy of choice comes in the form of tea, Yogi tea to be exact!  This organic tea (Green is my flavor) has such a great blend of lemongrass, grape seed extract, dandelion root, and Irish moss powder....yum right?  Oh, but it offers so much more comfort than you would expect in a warm beverage. Yogi tea brings me a thoughtful offering of uplifting words with each sip.  Words that make me think, smile, laugh and give thanks as I go on about my day.  It's the little things like Yogi tea that brings me joy and helps me to see the greater blessings in my life.  You can find this green tea and other Yogi varieties at your local Trader Joe's or Whole Foods.  It's my weekly staple that I take great pleasure in sharing!  Do you have any great daily staples that bring you joy? Do share, I'd love to know!

Inspiration

Hi all, I've been mia these last few days due to a busier than ever work schedule. I went looking for some much needed inspiration this morning and I found what I was looking for along with a few inspirational podcast that I wanted to share with you.  If your not familiar with podcasts, all you need is itunes and patience to dig through there library of podcasts.  The best part is is that they are free to dowmload and listen to. I look forward to loading these episodes weekly so I have something (other than music) to ride along with me on my train commute. Below are the current podcasts I subscribe to right now. I'd love to hear of any podcast recommendations that you might have to share too!

 

Quote from Joy Ever After

Current State of Mind

Tonight as I was powering through my treadmill run at the gym, I got to thinking about all the positive reinforcements I have in place to motivate me to get to the gym after a long day of work.  To start, I created an ipod playlist called WORK FOR IT (yes, I'm screaming to myself by putting it in caps :)  Here are just a few motivating lines from some of the songs that are on this playlist and here is where I go to be inspired by another fellow runner and all around awesomely creative talent.  What songs get you off the couch and  motivate you to move during these cold winter days? I'd love to know!

                                                                 

Telepopmusik- Breathe

"Another day.........just breathe".

Seal-Crazy

"But we're never gonna survive unless we get a

little crazy".

 Joy Williams- New Day

" Another chance, another try

open your eyes, cause the sun is

about to shine, it's a new day!"