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What I read in 2011 and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and cookies!

I'm not a big reader..I do however LOVE to read a good book.  I encourage my girls to read, one loves to read and the other it is like pulling teeth.  I remember being like that when was her age.  My parents weren't big readers so maybe that has something to do with it. But as an adult I love to make the time to read.  I read a whole lot of magazines, do they count? I think not.  Anywho....The NESTER is having a Book List Linky Party and I'm always into finding out what other people like to read or  what they recommend.  I have a couple of girlfriends that are always reading and one passes me on her books.  So without further ado here is the books I read in 2011.

This is what currently is on my nightstand....some to be read and others I've read.

1.  Still Alice by Lisa Genova

    I really enjoyed this book.  My Mother has Alzheimer's so it was     interesting to have the patients point of view represented in this book.

2. Lips Unsealed by Belinda Carlisle

    As a GoGo fan, yes I'm an 80's girl, I can remember my Punk Rock     boyfriend taking  me to see them at The Whiskey, a Gogo {Hollywood} in     1981. I enjoyed book I found it interesting that she had a 30 year drug     problem and her husband never knew for the longest time.

3. The Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

    This was a great read!  Now my youngest is reading it, she is really loving it.      After reading it I had to rent the movie.  I loved both!

4.  The Help by Kathryn Stockett

    My friend Pam recommended this book and I loved it.  What a great     interesting, enjoyable book to read.  I love books about the south, I have     family in Alabama, maybe that is why.  My in laws live near the Gulf and my     Dad was from Arkansas.  I hope to see the movie now that I have read the     book.

5.  Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

    I liked the book, it was not a favorite but it was good.  I also saw the movie     and I thought it was pretty good.  A good read.

6. Waterside Cottages by Barbara Jacksier and photos by Dan Mayers

    The one and only decorating book I read this year.  I've been busy     decorating for the new house and since this is a beachy look book it fit in     with the Cottage on Cullen St. style decor.  I loved the photos, Dan did an         amazing job and I follow Barbara's blog too, check the sidebar.  

Currently I'm reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, my friend Renee raved about this whole series and I hear from several people the movie is really, really good.  So my goal this Winter break is to finish the book.  

I know I've been a postin' foo...but I was working like crazy in December and the computer went down for good so we had to get a new one, {we got a laptop} and I'm playing around with the posts because it wasn't letting my pictures upload but I think I have it figured out now. Sorry for the

B    I     G        S    P    A   C      E     S    between words, it doesn't show up like that in my box when I'm composing the post...

So what do you my readers recommend to read in 2012?  I'd love for you to leave your picks in the comments area! Please with cheeries on top...

These cookies are by Bake at 350 , check out her website...I love the cottage cookies, she is quite the cookie artist.

 

 

Shabby Chic Goods..even Rachel would be proud!

So what did I bring home with me on my trip to the Rose Bowl Flea Market?  I brought my handy li'l note book with all the things I needed to finish some projects around our home. 

 
At the top of my list is a 6 foot long dresser for our bedroom.  But sadly to say I never found one there that fit the bill.  I did find lots of chairs, metal and wood that I would of gladly taken home.  I found two metal chairs {50's lawn chairs with the arms} that where in the Robin's Egg Blue that I like and that is so popular right now.  They had a heart shaped embossing on them.  I didn't need them so I passed over them.  But all day I kept thinking about them.  My reasoning was if I go back at the end of the day and they are still there..it was meant to be.  Alas..they where gone when I went back to see them.  {I wish I would of taken a picture of them}.  The also where priced a bit high.  $100.00 for two.  Then at the end of the day I saw a set of 5 Windsor Chairs all beat up but really sturdy for $45.00.  I wish I would of got them.  We are short a dining chair that broke and I'm on the look out for something new.  They had a flat back on them so I would of stenciled a number or monograms on them.  I think I'll try to make the trip next month and see if they are there.  And yet again I did not take a picture..go ahead and slap me upside the head!!  Here is what I did get and Rachel  would be proud...

I loved this square table cloth and napkin set in linen.  It is the prettiest color of pink and the detail on the embroidery is so exquisite.

 
 
 It was only 20.00 dollars for all of it.  I thought that was a good deal. 

If you have following my blog for awhile you know this cutie putootie has been on the TO DO list for awhile.  Finally Mr. Incredible drilled holes in it and hung it up.  I was able to find all the crystals at the Rose Bowl.  I did look for the bell shaped shades I want to add buttons to make it complete.  You might remember this inspiration photo. 

 
  Here it is hung in her Shabby Chic room.

I also found this chippy greenish blue lantern...

Not sure where it will come to reside but for now I think it looks good here. I think it needs a more beefy candle and Rachel will give me her thumbs up.  Speaking of Ms. Shabby Chic .  She will be around these parts on Sunday at the Crossroads Antique Mall at the Circle in Orange, Calif.  At a book signing event.  Here are some pictures of her store in Newport Beach that I took a few years ago.  Love her style...obviously.

 
I am going to try and make it but with two soccer games that day not sure I can sneak away.  She'll be there at NOON!! 

I'm also linking up with Cindy at My Romantic Home  for Show and Tell Friday. 
 
 

 

Better Late then Never as they saying goes...

Happy Autumn Everyone!  Even though it will be awhile here in SoCal before leaves start turning colors and the days get cooler where you can put on a fuzzy sweater and  jeans.  I know it looks like this in other parts of the country, California takes it's own sweet time for fall to get here.  We have had tempertures in the high 90's in these parts but  the last few mornings I have seen dew on the car windows so fall is there is a bit more of a chill in the air, so fall must be around the corner.

Not only is it the First Day of Autumn last week but September marks the Blogaversery of Home..Be Inspired Blog.  I started my Blog in September of 2007, that seemed like a long time ago.  I started my blog after several months of blog hopping and enjoying many blogs such a Daisy Cottage,  Pam Garrisons Craft Blog, Cherry Hill Cottage, Seeking Velvet Strawberries, Pleasures of Homemaking, Whatever, Heather Bullards' Past-Present, Notes of a Cottage Industry, The Painted Cottage and so many more....I thought I would love to have a blog of my own to document the daily life with pictures and stories.  I used to scrapbook so I think my blog took the place of that but I also thought it would inspire me to scrapbook more to as my journaling would already be done, I'll I'd have to do was hit print.  So many of the blogs out in bloglandia are like a magazines as I  look at their wonderful photography and design asthetics.   Decorating ideas are abundent with many how-tos and recipes by the dozens. I have enjoyed the vintage finds that many blogs  share with everyone as well as the redo projects.  There are so many more Inspirational Blogs popping up everyday and it is hard to keep up sometimes,  I enjoy them all .  I have tried to emmulate my blog after all of the many wonderful ones out in bloglandia.  I think Home... be Inspired has evolved into a genre of All things about the HOME which includes the family{Mr. Incredible and the girls}, recipes{from recipes I have found in cookbooks as well as ones handed down from my family}, decorating, crafting, yardsaling, home- stalking type of blog{I think I need a bumber sticker that says, I brake for cute cottage houses".  So for the next couple of weeks my blog Home...be Inspired is having a giveaway in honor of it's anniversary. What a better way to say Thank you to all my readers out there, ones who post comments and ones who lurk.   This is your invitation to delurk yourself.  So what can you Dear blog readers do to enter the give away.  In the comment section tell Home...be Inspired what is your most favorite post OR what is it that you like about Home...be Inspired.  That's it!!

Are you wondering what will the lucky winner get if they are chosen by the Random Generator.....well lookie here...

  a small journal so you can write memories down or things to do in your own cottage{from PotteryBarn}

a set of 3 of glittered gourds to get your home decorated for fall {made by me}

  a Fall glitter-lettered banner {made by moi}

a hardcover decorating book called HOME SWEET HOME by Mary Englebrieght

and a recipe box full of Home....be Inspired recipes.......

  Here is a recipe called Chicken in a Basket that will be included in the recipe box. 

I'll use the radom generator to select the winner of the Home...be Inspired giveway on October 16th at Noon. 

Edited to add....I'm going to hook up to the Fall Party  at Rhoda's @ Southern Hospitality...since this is a fallish post, I haven't gotten around to adding all my decorations just yet...but I redid this wreath from last year..remember how pitiful it looked...have a look here ..

See I added the glittered mini pumpkins to the wreath..Happy Fall Everyone...

Who's cookin' now?

About a week and a half ago I went to see the Movie julie and julia at the late night show....  what a cute movie

 and what a cute lady that lady julie child was, she was so eclectic, funny and frisky. 

I am sorry to say that I never have watched one of her cooking shows when it was on the air .  She was the prelude to the Martha Stewart and  to all the cooking shows we have on T.V. today.

 

i can't even say i have read one of her cookbooks but the movie has steered me in the right direction because look out kitchen here i come.....speaking of kitchens check out  Julia's Kitchen at the Smithsonian you even get to hear her voice....that's cool.

so the next day with cooking on my brain i went to this place  and strait to the cookbook section, well I did stop at the decorating book section.  But my Barnes and Nobles were sold out of her books, they didn't have her famous book the art of french cooking {i think i'll have to go see if the library has it} but I picked up this baby....and I'm so glad that had it because I went earlier in the week to Borders  and they did not have it.

 

is that cover not scrumptious!!  Ya!!  i love the book jacket and the cute apron stencil that comes inside it AND if that isn't good enough mine came with a FREE year's subscription to Country Living Magazine!!! yahoo!! if you would like one too you can also order it here,  i better get going....i mean cookin' i have lots recipes to choose from...........or maybe one of the cute projects inside....

Bon Appetit!!

Water for Elephants....

  by Sara Gruen

a few posts back I asked for some recommendations on good books  which you my dear blog readers did not fail to deliver.  Water for Elephants takes place in the depression of the 30's , was a good read,  I highly enjoyed it and totally recommend it.  The setting of the story takes place on a train circus and is based on real events of the circus life. So if you looking for something to read because you ran out of all your magazines or sick in bed like I have been this past week, go to your public library and check it out..and the best part it doesn't cost you a dime. I'm heading  now to the Library to go through some more titles on your suggested books that are a must read. 

Wish me luck and Happy Reading....

Dear Blog Readers,

  with the demise of so many Magazine publications and because I am between classess at school, I need your help for suggestions on a good book to read.  One of the last two books I read was A 1,000 Splended Suns and The Kite Runner.  In the past I have read the Sue Grafton ABC series and John Grisham.  I'm not a big reader but I do like a GOOD book.  What are your suggestions, I would love to hear them. 

Your grateful blogger Poster

I'd like to introduce you to my friend.......

  His name is Matthew Mead.  Oh so you know him?  Of course you do.  You know I've been a fan of him for awhile.  It all started with this Special Holiday Publication in 2006.  I'm sure I was a late bird discovering him but I'm so glad I found him, better late then never as they say.

 Recently I compared his style with mine...here.  I think he was a long lost twin of mine in another life. Remember this post over a year ago.  The Silhouette cookies where his idea and they were published in the above special edition.  There was a ton of inspiration in that book for the HOLIDAY SEASON.  Just look at the cover,  so much "eye candy"just on that front cover alone.  Remember this post last Halloween?  I loved the simple idea of them.  I made them and they were such a hit at our Halloween Party.  The best part of making that project was that I was able to find the wine glasses at the Goodwill for cheap. I had the electical tape already.   That's what I love most about Matthew Mead  and his ideas, They are simple and oh so doable.  Who does not like simple, especially during the Holidays, when we all get a little harried and stressed out trying to be the perfect Happy Homemaker.    You also don't have to have an ART degree to replicate any of his projects.  So....I'm anticipating his next book will be no exception....sensational ideas for the busy homemaker.  Just look at the pictures below.

  Here are a couple of shots from the inside of the book.  A close up of the chocolaty yumminess above.

   

for more of Matthew's ideas you can check here or I have a sidebar link to the left over there.   The  fall season is here, so you know that in a blink of an eye you will be needing ideas that are simple and pretty, so go on over and check out my favorite designer guy.    

P.S.  I don't know why the links aren't working....typepad?  what's up?

I just ordered this book!!

It was on my Santa wish list!!  But I have  been on a Wendy Addison kick lately and she designs Christmas Ornaments and decorations for Seasons of Cannon Falls.  At Paris to the Moon I picked up some glittery snowflakes by her, and then I went on to Rogers Gardens and picked up a Christmas card holder by her. Then I was at Downtown Orange and they had the Noel and Dream sign, also Wendy Addison....I guess you could say I'm a big fan....then Andrea Siganella from http://velvetstrawberries.typepad.com/

had a Merry Christmas sign...well I had to have that....well....Hopefully I'll kick this German Glass glitter faze soon.  Here are some pictures of the house and I do believe some the following pictures will be in the book. This is the River House ...where they take pictures of the Season of Canon falls merchandise.

I will be getting my Christmas present tomorrow.......so I'll be able to show you what I'm talking about...I'm sooo excited about that.  Really, really, really excited about that....it's been a long time and sooo over due. Here is what the house looks like in the snow....so gorgeous..speaking of snow..as I was driving the girls to the end of the season party..at Build a Bear...I was driving towards the beach..and looked in my rear view mirror...I saw the most beautiful sight.......we got SNOW in our local mountains...they looked so beautiful I wanted to turn around and drive right up there....right up there..