cff January 2015 | Simple and Serene Living

Saturday, January 31, 2015

COME BACK LITTLE LEMON

Just one of those days.

Just one of those crazy days.

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You know the kind I mean. If something can possibly go wrong it will. 

The toast burns. The printer won't print. You get a huge estimate for car repairs on a car that may not be worth as much as the repairs. Your ninety-year-old mother calls to tell you she has the stomach flu.

And then there is the lemon. You know the one I am talking about. The organic one. The one you just paid extra for so it will be free of nasty pesticides. 

organic lemon

You open the car door to take out the groceries and the bag turns upside down onto the driveway. Out rolls the lemon. Yes, that lemon. The organic, more expensive one. As you watch it roll across the parking lot, you think that maybe, just maybe that lemon isn't so organic anymore. 

SIGH!!!

Some days just aren't quite as simple and serene as you would like.

Friday, January 30, 2015

SMALL SPACE DECOR: AN OFFICE IN A CLOSET

When I was looking at an apartment in Atlanta, I noticed that there was an alcove in the living room that looked like it might have been a closet at one time. I started thinking about what I could do with that space, and as I sat here staring at my messy desk this morning I thought how nice it would be if I could use that as a sewing table and have a tiny office somewhere else. Cue the light bulb!! Why couldn't I use that alcove for a desk and storage place for some of my Etsy things.

Time for some ideas.

This is probably the size of the space in the apartment I looked at, and as I really don't use my computer at the desk, I would have room for my printer and office and shipping supplies. 

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This is a cute "cloffice". I love that word. Not sure who originally coined it, but I am definitely going to keep using it. I like that she has added a curtain to hide the closet (I would definitely do that) and pretty wallpaper which lightens up the space.

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This is a cozy little space. Great use of white with just a pop of color. I bet this person is very organized.

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Love color? This would be the space for you. 

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Well, I didn't find my perfect "cloffice", but I am getting a lot of great ideas. 


P.S. For small space decor ideas check out my new board here.

P.P.S. You can find more of my small space living series here.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

BRING SPRING FLOWERS INTO YOUR HOME

I think there is a strong possibility that I am having a mid winter meltdown. I am missing flowers. I need them. I want them. I am thinking that I may go to Trader Joe's tomorrow and get some, but in the meantime I wanted to get some ideas on how to display them.

Trader Joe's has lots of tulips right now and I love how these tulips are displayed in an old silver trophy.

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I wish I had an old French basket. Look how beautiful these flowers look inside this one.

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An old primitive metal bait container makes a perfect vase for some spring flowers.

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I just happen to have an old water can hanging around somewhere. This would be adorable on a kitchen table or in a sunroom.



This is a great idea if you have some old canning jars around the house. 



Have you brought flowers into your home to give it a touch of spring?



Tuesday, January 27, 2015

HOME DECOR: MY COTTAGE STYLE BEDROOM

I love my cottage style bedroom. More and more it is really beginning to reflect who I am. 

This past week I have made two new additions to my room. I got them both at auctions and I'm really loving them. I thought I would share one of them today and save the other one (which my physical therapist told me that if I don't stop lifting heavy things my shoulder will never heal. OOPS!) until next week. 

You may remember that the corner of my bedroom looked like this.


I liked everything about it except for (unfluffed pillow) the rather empty corner and the bed. Another OOPS!! I may have given away what the second thing is I bought. 

When I saw this dress form at the auction last week I knew I loved it. I wasn't really sure what I was going to do with it, I just knew I wanted it. 


It sit around for a few days until a lightbulb went off (yes friends there is a tiny bit of light still up there) and I knew it was going to be perfect to fill in my corner.


I was right. I love it, and I can also use it for a photo prop for my Etsy shop.

Friday, January 23, 2015

HOME DECOR: LINEN CLOSET IDEAS

When I was looking at an apartment in Georgia, (see more posts on small space living here)I noticed that there was a small linen closet in the bathroom. I would have to give a big hooray!! for that. I love linen closets and I was thinking how nice it would be to remove the door and have it be not only functional, but pretty. 

I love this linen closet. I don't think I know that I have never had a linen closet that was this neat and organized. 


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How clever that she has not only put things in baskets, but she has labeled them so prettily. In all honesty, I'm not sure I have that much time or energy, but I do love the idea of baskets. I am definitely a basket girl. 

I guess there could be some definite benefits to leaving the door on. Of course this is a built-in, but I like the idea of the hanging shelves on the inside of the door. A definite space saver in a small apartment.


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I love the use of the pretty canisters and glass jars in this linen closet.


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Oh, and white towels. I only use white towels. I can do that now that I am on my own. 

More labeled baskets. That seems to be a pretty popular theme on Pinterest.


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I love the idea that if you don't have a linen closet that you can create a beautiful one.


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I think that one was pretty perfect.

I was a bit disappointed in what I found on Pinterest. I guess there are only so many things that you can do with a linen closet. Storing toilet paper just isn't that exciting. 


P.S. I've just started a new board on Pinterest called Small Space Living. You can find it here.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

I DREAM OF BLUE AND WHITE DECOR

I have had a love affair with blue and white for as long as I can remember. It always leaves me feeling serene. Maybe it is because I love a sunny day with a blue sky and white fluffy clouds. Whatever the reason, I always gravitate towards it. 

Blue and white in the kitchen is always perfect, whether it's pretty tea towels,


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or a cupboard filled with an assortment of dishes.

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How about blue and white on a wall mixed with other pieces,


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or just a collection of plates.


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I would love to sit and read in this cozy blue and white spot, although it looks like someone may have beat me to it.


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The subdued blue and white of this sofa is fabulous.


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So toss me a throw,


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let me wander up these well worn stairs,


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and then send me off to dreamland here.


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Something tells me I would have no trouble falling asleep.

So what colors are you dreaming of for your decor?



P.S. Check out my blue and white Pinterest board here.


Monday, January 19, 2015

WHERE ARE THE SIMPLE MOMENTS

The moments turn into hours, the hours turn into days, and so on and so on as life rushes quickly by. This morning as I sat and planned my day, I suddenly stopped and wondered where are the simple moments, the moments that are unplanned, the moments that just are. 

Then I realized that those moments are occurring constantly, but somehow I have forgotten to stop and just enjoy them. 

simple moments


Instead of planning, I close my eyes and breathe in the sounds around me. 

How many sounds go unnoticed in our hurrying world. The ticking of the clock beside my bed. The swish of the tires of passing cars in the street outside my window. The shouts and laughter of children as they wait for the school bus. The distant sound of a train whistle.

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I feel my heart rate slow down and the worry lines on my face ease. I take in just this moment without worrying about what lies ahead. 

Where are the simple moments? They are right now. We just have to stop and enjoy them. 

Until we meet again join me on PinterestInstagramLTK, and Etsy.





Saturday, January 17, 2015

DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF A PET

Pets are a part of our families and when we lose them we mourn them deeply. As many of you know, I live with my older sister and with her Persian cat, Dinah. 


When I got up this morning Elaine told me that Dinah had passed away in the night. Dinah who was almost eighteen stayed in my sister's room because I have a terrible allergy to cats. I had to love her from afar. My sister did not have children and Dinah was her baby. 

So today I will be taking time to help my sister with her loss. I hope you will keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

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Thursday, January 15, 2015

TAKE COURAGE IN YOUR LIVING

I often think of how much courage we each have as we face our daily lives. 

Courage comes in so many forms. For some, courage can start at the first signs of a new day. It may take courage to get out of bed and face a new day. A day that may be filled with physical or mental pain. 

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It may be the courage of raising children. Often alone and without support. Courage to lead when you aren't even sure if you are correct in your leading. Courage to stand up for your convictions when you are going against the tide. 

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Courage to start a new career, take a different path, go back to school, or leave a bad relationship. Courage to say I love you to someone who may never love you back. Courage to face a medical diagnosis that will leave you fighting for your life. 



Courage comes in so many forms. Courage may be big or small, but it always requires us to confront something that we are frightened of. 

I know that there have been times in my life where I have felt less than courageous, while at other times I have felt that I could take on anything. 

I have learned to find comfort in my struggles because without them I would never have the courage to find my strengths. 




Monday, January 5, 2015

IDLE SILENCE


Inspiration On A Monday:

Yesterday as I was racing around trying to catch up I realized that I needed to slow down. Just like my body, my mind was racing around too, and I knew that I needed to slow it down also.

I am a person who needs silence. I need to quiet my mind in order to think and plan.


I love being surrounded by nature. It is where I am able to most profoundly quiet my mind. But if the weather is too cold for me to sit quietly outside, then curling up in my chair with a cup of tea while I tune out the noise around me also works wonders for me.

So today while I continue to do my catching up, I will remember to put down the technology, slow down, and enjoy some quiet time. I hope you will too.


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Sunday, January 4, 2015

CATCHING UP

It is a catching up kind of day. It's amazing how far behind you get when you go away on vacation. Everything has been neglected. My Etsy shop. My antique both. My home. It all needs some tender loving care. 


So I am going to get started this afternoon. First stop will be my booth. I can only imagine what kind of a mess it is in after the holidays. After that I think I will pop into an auction to see if I can pick up some new finds for both the booth and my shop. By then I will probably be ready to come back home for my afternoon cup of tea and prepare to watch the Season 5 premiere of Downton Abbey. 


I am so excited. It is one of my favorite shows. Do any of you watch it? Can't wait to see what they are up to both upstairs and downstairs. I think there is going to be a lot of shenanigans this season.

Hope everyone has a serene Sunday.

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