The purple book

I stood in a very long line at Walmart today and leafed through the latest issue of House Beautiful to, you know, transcend the situation. As I waited I realized that although these days I get most of my design info and ideas online, I used to buy tons of design mags and tear out my favorite ideas and pictures and paste them into a blank book with a purple canvas cover. I had forgotten about the purple book and I couldn't wait to get home and dig it out to look through it. I dragged that book around with me for years through several moves, several jobs, and several different houses cutting and pasting the images that said home. 


I thought I might have a good laugh at the contents of my old book, but I am so delighted by what I found! It's amazing how little my taste has changed over the years, and I am so happy I kept those pages because they are still inspiring to me. Some of the themes: family-friendly outdoor living spaces, crisp white linens and tranquil colors in bedrooms, neutral walls and floors with pops of vivid color, sunlight, built-in bookshelves, dining rooms made to be full of loved ones and good food....I plan to use these as Tim and I put down roots in the near future and put together what will be our family's home.


I regret that I didn't cite any of the designers, or paint colors, or furniture companies in my purple book and I realize now that I haven't been citing much on this blog either. So, I would just like to say that in the future I am going to make an effort to site wherever I can. The designers/photographers/bloggers deserve the credit that is due, and it is heartbreaking to fall in love with a paint color (for example) and have no idea what it is. I am definitely not trying to pass off any of these images as my own - I just know that if I don't save them I will never be able to conjure them up again, and they are way too precious to let go.

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So, having said all of that, here are some more images for my new, twenty-first century purple book:

All photos from House Beautiful photo galeries.

Cake and love songs

It's a little late for a Valentine's Day post but I can't resist. We didn't buy gifts for each other this year as we normally would. We're trying to spend less all around and we decided to go out for a nice meal and make other purchases off-limits. We followed these rules (for the most part) and the result was a sweet, sweet day. 

Tim made me a card, baked me a pink velvet cake and gave me some roses and a potted orange tulip plant (dessert and flora - this man really is my soulmate!)

 

For my part, I made him a mixed CD of songs that we have loved over the years together, complete with original cover art and a Valentine written inside the liner notes.

Last but not least, I finally put together a project that has been in my brain for a long time - a silhouette of our little sweetie, Ella. It needs an oval frame (or at least an oval mat) but otherwise I really love how it turned out.

Snow day

I recently started my third and final clinical rotation for school, and although I'm enjoying it, it has made me intensely aware of how much I loved being home over the break. There is a part of me that needs to work and have a life outside of our home, but I am always happiest when I am here and taking care of our little family. I never got bored during the more than forty days I had off from school. I rested, worked out, organized, crafted, cleaned, studied, traveled, played with my puppy, prayed, talked, wrote, lunched, shopped, cooked, read. The time was so precious, and so rejuvenating to my soul. I used it wisely, but I've been a little blue this week just knowing that blissful chapter had come to an end.


I don't know why it surprised me. I should expect, by now, that my God will be lavish with His blessings. But today he sent another beautiful snow storm, and Tim and I both got to stay home for the day, all snug in our little house with our little pup. Tim worked and I read blogs like it was my job with a warm puppy on my lap. We cooked a good lunch and ate together. I baked a cake and made a stew. It hasn't been an extraordinary day, but it was just what my heart desired. And I didn't even have to ask.

"You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips." 

-- Psalm 21:2

  

* I took these pictures with my favorite new iphone app, which I learned about on my favorite blog.

Ode to Orange (and Pink)

 

 

    

Cabin fever

I think winter is getting to me. I am dreaming of summer days in a little cabin in the mountains...aaaahhh. Perfection.

Little bundles

Two very dear friends of mine are expecting babies this spring. One friend is funky and offbeat and expecting a girl, and the other friend is more traditional and expecting a boy. Both friends are precious to me and I didn't want to just run down to Target and hit the baby aisle for a quick gift. I've been waiting for inspiration to strike and yesterday I came across this site with the most adorable and simple guide to making personalized onesies - perfect for both of my friends! I went right out and bought some cute fabric remnants, onesies, and fusible fabric and had the whole project done in about three hours with no sewing. (Poor Tim came home to onesies and tiny animals strewn all over the guest room and me grinning from ear to ear. I think it scared him! Haha!) It was so fun to choose the fabrics and animals that suit my friends (and their little ones) and make something for them with my own hands. And they turned out so cute! I'm thinking of making some for my dog now....

Eye candy for the soul

There's a famous quote by Kurt Vonnegut that I find so beautiful, "If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC". I love that quote because it is both a profound expression of belief (How could something as magical as music exist if there was no God?) and one of simple joy experienced through the senses (I hear God in music.) Pure genius. Although I see God all around me in this world (as opposed to hearing Him like Mr. Vonnegut), I know exactly what he meant and if I could adapt the quote for myself I would only change two words: THE ONLY PROOF SHE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS COLOR.


My recent foray into blog world has brought me into contact with lots of photos - yaay! - mostly of gorgeous rooms, gardens, foods, and travel destinations. Beautiful and right up my colorful alley. But today I came across a great new site on flickr called interestingness and although it's not my typical style I can't stop looking at it! The photos are quirky and fun and thoughtful, and although they are not all in color, that just makes the colorful ones even better. Enjoy. interestingness