Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

What a Gorgeous Day!


Today is the perfect day to flirt with the outdoors, sip on some coffee, read a book


be crafty, do some gardening, or simply soak up the sun. 


The weather is perfect here today and guess what, today is Wednesday! Gotta love that:-). Have a beautiful day everyone. XX

images via thisivyhousetumblr

Monday, October 8, 2012

A Home that Inspires…


gorgMost people find their words of motivation from sources around them but the most powerful inspiration is that we have within ourselves.

Inspirational messages can often lead us in directions that we believe are out of our control. Populations have committed terrible acts simply as a result of messages fed to them by politicians and other flawed leaders. Examples abound throughout history but obvious examples are found in the prejudice against Jews in Germany prior to and during the Second World War and indeed the anti-Semitism still to be found today. Of course racist propaganda in general is all too common and is on the whole completely untrue.

Sadly misleading messages are still normal today. Politicians use the media to influence people (calling it 'spin') and distributors of products persuade us to buy their products through advertising. It can be difficult to find reliable, wholesome inspiration messages and leaders in today's society.

Celebrities are too often seen as a source of inspiration messages too. 'Being cool' is an example of how many, particularly young, people follow fashions influenced by singers and television stars but sadly too few of these role models show sufficient responsibility to project a useful and positive image.

You may now be unsure where to get the best inspiration.

There is no doubt that there are wonderful authors, speakers, successful business people and even a few celebrities (such as Will Smith) who have great positive messages to share. I would always advocate listening to the right leaders and immersing yourself in their books and speeches but we all have positive influences closer to home if we know where to look.

Many of us would feel that our family and friends often fail to understand why we want to make more of our lives but that does not mean they do not love us. We just have to draw the inspiration from whatever warmth they show us.

I used to misunderstand members of my family when they said "take care' or 'be careful:' such phrases always made me feel they did not have confidence in my abilities. I read their message as 'take care as you clearly are unable to look after yourself.' One day however I heard a speaker explaining what such warnings meant. What my family were actually saying was 'Take care, as I have no idea how I would cope if you hurt yourself,' which showed their love and were really words of motivation for me.

Sometimes friends will call you and just want to chat. That in itself is another positive message for you; wanting to pass the time of day with you (and nobody else) is a great affirmation of their love for you. Hours and days spent whiling the time away with such people are not only relaxing but show that you are worth the time spent. Understand how this can be an inspiration message for you.

The relationships we have with those around us are hugely valuable and can be used to recharge our batteries. But they are also a two way street; not only can we draw inspiration from the love shown to us but we can also use the opportunities to show how much we value other people. We know when we have positively influenced others and curiously this reflects back on us too.

Of course there will be the odd destructive personality around you and, if this is the case, simply politely spend less time with them. If you want to get your own back on them you just need to get what you want out of life and they will know without you saying anything.

We just need to understand the real motivation of those around us and realise that actually there is a lot of love there. Nurture the relationships you have and you will come to find a safe, positive haven you can go to find a recharge when you need it. People often have different ways of showing their love, all you need to do is recognise it, show love to them and you will have ample inspiration to succeed in whatever way you want.

"The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege."

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Most of us dread Mondays, but hopefully this beautiful home will ease us into the workweek with less dread and bitternessSmile.  I devoured every detail of this home several times. It’s really intoxicating and as I sit here at my kitchen island sipping on coffee, I thought this would make the perfect Monday morning post. I hope you will share my enthusiasm. Enjoy…

gorg1
gorg2
gorg3
gorg4
gorg5
gorg6
gorg7
gorg8
gorg9
gorg10
gorg11
gorg12
gorg13
gorg14
gorg15
Did I make your Monday any better? I sure hope soSmile. Today definitely feels like Fall; brisky weather with rain which means that a second cup of coffee is warranted. Have a wonderful Monday my friends. XX

{images}

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Liquor, Mags, and Books on Wheels: A DIY.

DSC_0068
Since I found my chair and ottoman, I’ve been frequenting the same thrift store to see what I can find. I recently found this table and gave it some TLC last weekend. This is what it looked like before:

DSC_0058
DSC_0053
As you can see it was not so good looking. With a price tag of $5.00, I figured it was worth the risk to see if I could restore to it to the potential image that I conjured up in my mind. To tackle the project, I first made a trip to Lowes and bought

DSC_0094
two cans of premium Rust-o-leum high gloss white spray paint. I already had that spray attachment pictured. It makes it easier to spray paint and I have more control over the process. The Minwax Lacquer clear satin finish and sealer was purchased at Walmart. However, I am sure one can get that at Lowes or Home Depot too. I chose spray painting over painting (using a brush)because the piece is small and there is less mess and less cleaning up involved. I want to also add that I lightly sanded the piece and cleaned it thoroughly prior to painting. I didn’t prime it because I purchased a Premium Spray paint, but I would recommend priming prior too.

DSC_0069
I also purchased new casters since the piece was missing one. Those were purchased from Lowes.

DSC_0076
DSC_0077
I am pleased with how it turned out and I love its versatility. I can use it to store my books/magazines and also, I can wheel my liquor from room to room. Gotta love that! If you have a Harris Teeter(those of you residing in the States)near you, they are having a sale on the Cavit Pinot Grigio!Smile. As you can see, I’m going to need another bottle soon…

DSC_0084
DSC_0091
I purposely chose those casters/wheels with a hint of copper because I love how they contrast with the white.  This thrift find was definitely worth the $5 splurge, don’t you think? I am loving the weather right now, so this weekend is sure to be a great one! I hope it will be the same for you too!! Enjoy! XX