happy living Design

burlap

We covered the base of our Christmas tree in burlap (I purchased a roll of it from Terrain) and now I have a thing for burlap.  It's so utilitarian - like those old grain sacks - yet so pretty used in a new way.  I stumbled upon these burlap buckets.  These would be great all over the house.

from The Nest

I also love this apron.

from Terrain

a nice vessel

or plant pot as Ikea calls them. BLADET plant pot with saucer by Ikea ($8.99)

Useful for containing all sorts of things.  I could use these all over the house.

As seen on Bethenny Getting Married? in the kitchen.  Did I just publicly admit to watching that show??

[IN]PLACE System

I like trying to find ways to be more organized and efficient.  But I can also be easily sucked into a new system and a new set of products.  I will keep the system going for awhile but then usually find that it just doesn't work for me and it falls to the way side and sometimes I've wasted money.  After many cycles of that I cut myself off from buying any organizing products (i.e. desk organizers, electronics, planners, fancy filing products, etc...). 

However, I keep seeing these advertisements for Peter Walsh's new [IN]PLACE System for Office Max and I finally checked out the website and I am totally intrigued.  I love the simple clear white plastic material that most of the products are made out of, the white hanging file folders (Goodbye, yukko army green!) and how all the products work together but seem flexible enough to work separately or in ways unique to your needs.  The file folders and tabs are reusable which is an eco-friendly plus in my book.

I might run to OM this weekend and check all the products out in person.

spending hiatus #2

Starting today I am on Spending Hiatus #2.  This time around I am not following anyone like I did last time. I am trying it out on my own.  We will see how that works.  If any of you did not participate last time and want to  this time feel free to do so and let me know so I can follow you.  Either way I will do the same as last time and post each Monday (or Tuesday!) and re-cap.

So far I have a few exclusions such as two toilets, one refrigerator, paint and some other building supplies for our bedroom make-over.

I am committed to three months of this: June, July and August.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the spending hiatus exercise, I am committing to not buy anything that would be deemed non-essential for three months.  For me non-essentials means clothing and accessories, home and decorating items, specialty personal care items (it is amazing how much money I can spend in one trip to Walgreens), magazines that I don't already have a subscription to, books (thank goodness for the library), electronics and itunes music.  This list is not exhaustive and I think it would be different for everyone.

Like last time I am going to use the next three months to do some more de-cluttering and organizing my two favorite activities.

Wish me luck.

spring cleaning

Does anyone really do spring cleaning anymore?  It was more of a necessity back in the day when fireplaces were the main source of heat during the winter and the rugs and drapes needed to have the soot shaken out.  But spring is still the most popular time to do a deep-clean around the house, purge and organize (my favorite things!).  And after the 3-month spending hiatus, I feel some major purging coming on.  I did a bit during the last 12 weeks, but not nearly enough.

Martha has a nice Spring-Clean Your Life gallery which is based on the book Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear Your Clutter, Find Your Life by Gail Blanke.

photo from Martha Stewart

I just love a good wall calendar

Miriam Bereson's Yearly Planner

   

click on the image on the right to view larger.

via sweet fine day

still waiting for spring over here

Today in West Chester, PA it's been 60 degress, with torrential down pours, then sunny (with a rainbow), then we had some hail, snow flurries, 50 mph wind gusts and now it's heading down into the 20's tonight.  Quite a full day.  Where is spring? For some reason this year more than most I am waiting impatiently for those perfect spring days and for our last frost so that I can plant my caladium bulbs.  Friday I called out sick from work (had a multi-day headache) and the only thing I accomplished all day besides getting some much needed rest was starting a garden journal for the new-to-us garden.  There is only so much House of Babies, Bend it Like Beckham and MTV Cribs that one person can endure when not watching the inside of ones eyelids.

I had all this stuff in a binder (yea, I'm a binder freak like that) but it was too rigid.  I think this is more free and condusive to creativity.  I left some room around some of the clippings to make notes like where to plant some of the flowers.  I got this idea from the current issue of Country Home and also thinking about Victoria's inspiration journals.

Are you guys excited about gardening this season?  Planning on planting or growing anything new?  I am actually planning on doing quite a bit of container gardening this year since I would like to see what comes up in the planting beds first before I start tearing stuff up.  Container gardening is great if you have very little or no yard.  I actually enjoy it more because it can feel more manageable.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.  It's quiet here since the boy is in Utah on business.  Yesterday was such a bust with my quasi-migraine but today was better.  For breakfast I made scrambled eggs with cut up bits of tortilla that I sauteed in oil first.  I added a little salsa to the eggs and some seasonings.  I got the idea from Nigella Express but for the life of me I can't find the recipe.  It was yum.  I am going to try it out on the boy when he gets back.

fun filing?

I love these new cheeky file folders from Knock Knock.

A great way to keep a sense of humor at work!  or even at home.

photo display

I love this anti-matchy-matchy photo display from Pottery Barn.  Great inspiration!

one last post before 08

I'm so excited about my iHome dock that the boy got me for Christmas this year.  It will allow me to have music anywhere I want to be in the house with just one plug.  I have missed that since our only other stereo is tucked away in our living/tv room in the front of the house.

Holly made a good point the other day and like most everyone does I have been taking stock of my accomplishments both large and small this year and am very hopeful for 2008.

In 2008, I plan to continue to declutter my house, my lifestyle, my brain :: do one creative thing everyday :: love more and worry less :: be more compassionate :: do more service oriented work :: be more financially responsible ::  use my reusable shopping bags more often :: and be more in the moment instead of always skipping ahead.

Now, I go.  There are libations to be had.  All the best to all of you!