Getting Organized

This morning, Jessica and I were talking about getting organized for the new year. She plans to tackle her closets....I plan to tackle nothing at all. Nevertheless, I went to Martha. She has over 100 ideas for how to get organized. But the problem with getting organized Martha-style is that you have to STAY organized Martha-style. Who has time for that?

She did have one great idea that I just love! (here) Take some of your favorite cookbooks, glue in ribbon to hold a pencil, ribbon to serve as bookmark, and manilla envelope just smaller than pages.



Voila! Now you have storage, a pen/pencil at the ready, and the best recipe bookmarked.

Bookcases

I love bookcases, and, for all the built-ins my new house has, I still don't feel like I have enough bookshelves. I like to use them to display my fabulous finds from flea markets, junk stores, and TJ Maxx...since I don't have a lot of books (remember?). But there is a really nice article over at REAL SIMPLE (here) on how to decorate and organize bookcases. Nothing too new, I just love to look at them. For more inspiration, check out isuwannee. She posts a "bookcase of the day" regularly.

AND...

check out my esty shop (there's a link to the left). I've started working on a new book series that I'm very excited about! It's called the "Worth A Thousand Words" series. I'm transferring images of my vintage cameras (displayed in my bookshelves) onto burlap and making photo albums. Quite lovely I think.

Where'd the heat go?

We have had a terrible time with our heating units this winter. Josh says it's because they're all about 20 years old - that's almost as old as us! This time it's our bedroom unit. But on the upside, he lit the fireplace in our bedroom for the first time since we've moved in. It's quite cozy!

PURPLE!

Purple is my favorite color (most of the time), and I'm ALWAYS wanting to decorate with it. But it's not so easy to do when you live with a boy (understandably).

The new issue of REAL SIMPLE has an article about decorating with purple..fun!

here

Red and Aqua

It's a really nice color combination. I like it with maps.

all images via houzz

Brad Ford ID

I went to the book store the other day to pick up the newest copy of Canadian House and Home. But to my dismay, they didn't have it. I hope they haven't stopped carrying it, because I look forward to it each month (and it would cost a small fortune to subscribe to it). So for now, I'll have to settle for the website.

This morning I was clicking around over there and, lo and behold, their blogger featured Brad Ford yesterday (here)! I was giddy with excitement. I don't even know him, but I do know his mom (remember Mrs. Jo's Playhouse?). And he's really good!

So I went over to his website to look around and found beauty. His rooms are simple, relaxed and lovely.

all images via bradfordid.com

Personal Library Kit

I don't read a lot of actual books, nor do I loan out the ones I've read, (hello? I don't read a lot. I like to hold on to and display the ones I actually have read) but I've had my eye on this personal library kit since the beginning of the holiday season. It's so great - cards, pocket envelopes, and that great stamper that you set to the date....

available at Fred Flare

Fabulosity

Funky, mismatched chairs. So good....

Wintry Dining

I just love this. It's like a sweater, knit hat, and corduroys made into a room...

via houzz

I'm Wrapping the Everything

Last night in a moment of clarity (or perhaps a fit of insanity), I decided that, instead of going to the trouble of hanging the sled I bought over my couch, I would go to even more trouble and wrap some of the pictures already hanging there. So this is my Christmas behind the couch. It won't work for all winter, the sled would have, but it is festive and happy.

How to Hang a Branch

Use a flagpole hanger. Stick the branch in!

This one is from One of A Kind in Natchez. The store owner told me it has been there for 3 years, and they just redecorate it each season.

Christmas Trees

I'm putting my Christmas Tree up today, so I've compiled some inspiration.

Rosalind does the best trees at Flower's Etc. here in town.

I'm quite smitten with this tree from my new Pottery Barn catalog.

I snapped this fun white one at One of a Kind in Natchez.

This is across the street at Darby's. Just owls! What a great idea!

And, of course, some inspiration from Martha!