Home…be Inspired

How to Create a Cozy Reading Nook for all ages

As you may recall from this post I'm in the process of sprucing up the "trench benches" next to the fireplace in our family room.  This is what it looks like at the present time but usually the fireplace screen is there but I took it out for a good dusting. A few posts back, here,  I showed you some inspiration photos I've what I'd like to do with this particular space and those photos had many different styles of sitting nooks but todays post is about creating my vision or mood for this space, specifically the nook under the window just right of the fireplace.

As usual, I browsed my local World Market to see what kind of items I could use to put in my cozy reading nook.  World Market has a variety of products that can cater to many different design styles, whether your a Boho Chic kind of girl, or a Modern Farmhouse woman or if your like me Beachy Cottage chica. You can find what you need it's a one stop shopping place.  So how am I going to go about designing my Cozy Book Nook?  Let's get started on the Vision.

The first step is constructing a cozy spot for you to sit your bum down and relax.  A nice big fat cushion needs to be brought in as the base. I plan on having a local upholster make me one since my "trench bench" has odd dimensions.  Then I'll bring in lots and lots of colorful and soft throw pillows for extra comfort.  Picture #4 is the  red Suzani embroidered lumbar pillow, I chose this particular pillow because it has a colorful embroidery pattern which gives the space some texture and dimension, as well as bringing in some fallish colors.  Picture #6 and #7 are velvet lumbar pillows in a teal and ocean blue color, a perfect fit my beachy cottage and the velvet gives the spot a bit of texture and warmth to the nook.

Once you got the cozy part down, you'll need some lighting depending on what you'll want do in the nook you can engulf yourself in a good book or watch the rain fall on a rainy day.  In Picture 8,  I fell in love with this aged Zinc Ethan Sconce perfect for when the sun goes down and you need some good reading lighting.  If the fireplace is not blazing {Mr. Incredible has this little rule that he only lights a fire when it is raining} so if a fire is not going I'll light some candles  and I've been eyeballing the Newport candlesticks for some time seen in picture #2. They are painted a beautiful distressed robins egg blue color, add in some white candles and your all set. I only use white candles in my home because I like the soft glow they emit. World Market has many types of wax candles or some "faux" ones if you'd prefer. 

Next, every space needs a bit of art work and I think the Bicycle Wooden Art {not shown, you can find it here} or the Bus Wooden Art {Picture #1} that says, "Not all who wonder are lost" would be a perfect addition to the empty space to the right of the window.

What's a book nook without books?  If you have small children World Market has plenty and their Golden Books that remind me of when I was in first grade and learning to read, I still have a few from that time.  I also like the classic children books,  Black Beauty, Pipi Longstocking and of course The Wizard of Oz {as seen in Picture #3}  Have you seen the chalkboard book covers..OMG...cute!  I have a ton of children's books I keep in crates in the garage, as a teacher I  love to read all kind of great books to my class.  If I'm not reading childrens'  books during school I try to pick up good book to read during the school breaks or I most likely will be browsing my many shelter mags such as Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens or my new favorite HGTV magazines and I  like all my "reading" material corralled in one spot.  The Grey Kubu wicker basket {Picture #9} is so PERF for my reading nook!! 

And the last item every cozy reading nook needs is a comfy cozy blanket .  I liked the red chunky chenille throw blanket {picture #5} at World Market as it ties into my red and blue color palette in the family room and will accent the red in the Suzani lumbar pillow, not to mention its made of chenille, bliss.   

That's it!  How I created a vision for my Cozy Reading Nook.  This nook is perfect for all ages, my teenage girls or their magazine reading Mama. 

************I am a World Market Ambassador but all of these opinions are my own.*************

 

Hello Summer!

Every summer since my girls starting preschool I've put together a summer fun tote that I've given to them at the beginning of summer.  When they were itty bitty's I would fill sand buckets with sunscreen, fun water toys and snacks.

As they have gotten older the item selections have changed.  They are teenagers so nail polishes and magazines have taken the place of sand buckets.  They get a new beach towel to start off the summer and some new flip-flops.  I also add a good summer read, my other daughter I put in the book Paper Towns by John Green.  She loves that author from A Fault in the Stars.  I also had a few artsy stuff like the canvases and seeds to do some gardening on those days when I hear, "I'm bored what do I do now?".  Sunscreens and snacks are a must, we love Pirate Booty, perfect little popcorn munchies. 

  I know a lot of schools are still in session so It's not to late to put together a Hello Summer Tote for your kids.  They will LOVE it!  

It's Your Birthday!

My Li'l One turns 15 today...yep 15!!  MacKenzie Eileen you make your Mama and Daddy Proud!  We are proud and honored to be your parents.  Your intelligence and your beauty, {yes we are partial} inside and out makes people drawn to you. We LOVE you very much!!  We hope you have an AWESOME 15th Birthday! 

Dr. Seuss's birthday...

Every year our school celebrates this wonderful, creative talent in Literature...when I taught  Kindergarten I would always read Green Eggs and Ham on St. Patricks Day and cook Green Eggs and Spam { this was when I was teaching in Hawai'i}.  That was one of my favorite of all of  Dr. Seuess's  books but there are so many...The Grinch, Horton Hears a Who, The Cat and the Hat and so many more.  To celebrate his birthday here are some cakes {cupcakes} I found to help celebrate....

                                                      The Lorax Cake

 

                                                      The Cupcake

                                               Thing 1 and Thing 2 Cupcakes

                                      the DR. SEUSS Cake..

Is this the most awesome looking cake you've ever seen?  OH things you'll see on this cake...there is so many details.  Had to share..some talented people out there on the internet....Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!!

 

Back to school, My Fifty Shades and Bean Sprouts..oh so Random

Well, our weekly beach day trips are over.....school starts tomorrow.   It is bittersweet.  Will miss the beach but will enjoy the quiet of my home during the day. 

The girls have shopped for new school clothes...for their upcoming school year. I can't believe I have a freshman! I did the shopping thing different this year than I did in years past.  I think my girls are a bit spoiled...maybe you mothers can relate but they seem to think "money grows on trees"so I gave each of them a set amount of money to spend {$200.00 in cash} for their back to school clothes which did not include school supplies; markers, binders, pencil stuff.  At first my li'l one was like Wow, LOOK at all this money, she thought she won big in Vegas!!   Well, she soon learned that $$$ does not go as far as you think, especially if you want to buy a pair of jeans at Hollister versus two pairs at H & M.  They begged me for Toms last year.....I really talked them out of them and they got the "Fake" Toms. This year if they so choose to buy Toms then they could..it was their choice. At the end of their shopping spree they didn't budget enough for a new backpack, my eldest was cool with using last years.  My Li'l one, well  is not too happy that she will be reusing last years, but it is still in great condition. It was a great learning experience for both of them and I'll do it again next year.  I want to teach them that yes.."Money does NOT grow on Trees" as my Daddy used to say while I was their age. 

Well, speaking of back to school shopping...I WANT these BOOTS {I DO have a slight shoe fettish, do you remember the Filipino Imelda Marcos?}...but since money doesn't grow on trees....it will be a loooooooong time if ever If I  can afford to buy them.  They are by UGG,  I was never fond of the traditional looking UGGS { you can see them in the left side of the above picture}, I thought they were UGLY to be honest.  Comfy and warm but not so attractive but these babies....mmmmmm, I think are mighty pretty.  Love the soft brown leather with the white fur inside, kind of cloggy- looking,  perfect size heel...I'll be saving my allowance for these babies...I can see them with a great pair of jeans and a warm sweater for the upcoming Fall season.

After shopping we always hit CalifornaPizzaKitchen and I always order My favorite Pizza, The Thai Chicken Pizza from CPK.....loaded with bean sprouts...but this time as I ate my sprouts I ate it without incidence...a few months ago I was eating an Asian salad at The Cheesecake Factory and a bean sprout got caught horizontal in my throat and I had the whole restaurant in a PANIC!  My waitress almost delivered her BABY early seeing me with my hands around my throat!!  In the end I went to the restroom and coughed it out...and no one had to do the Hemlick-maneuver on me....

Here they are teasing me.....Smart Aleck!

It took me all summer to finish reading my Fifty Shades....mmmmmm mmmm mmmm....Not because I didn't enjoy the book I SOOOOO did but finding the time to read them with teenagers in the house thinking my Mini Van is painted a sunny shade of YELLOW.  I LOVED THE BOOKS...LOVED THE STORY AND CAN'T WAIT when I can watch Christian Grey on the big screen.....I've been slightly obsessed seeing all the Fifty Shades' Pin boards on Pinterest and watching YOUTube-fan-based-movie-trailers..I found one that was really good and relatively tame, the one my friend sent me via my iphone is much more racier...what do you think, have you read the books, who can you picture playing Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele?

 

Without a doubt after seeing this trailor, Matt Bomer IS Christian Grey..

 

What I've been up to...

On Monday, Kenzie and I signed up for our Library's Summer Reading club.  I love reading and so does my li'l one.  In summer it seems I have more uninterrupted time to devote to the pleasure of reading.  I know some people might feel that they don't have time to give and  absorbing themselves in a good book, but I think it is important that you lead by example.  I think if my daughters see me reading they intern will be "psyched" to pick up a book.  Like I said, my youngest LOVES to read but for my other daughter who "says the Library makes her sick"...she has dropped out of the summer reading club for the last several summers and the incentives don't inspire her to read I have my own "mommy incentives".  I believe that reading develops the mind and vocabulary. Students {people who read  have a bigger vocabulary thus they score higher on tests.  So....I put together a "Summer Fun"  bag for each of the girls to kick off the Summer.  

Got the straw bag from Target and the flip flop towels in fact everything was from Target except the Turtle flop flops.  Each bag contained a composition book, a reading book ,a beach towel, Salt Water Taffy and flip flops.  Madison got a special pair from Brighten this year as part of her Promotion gift.  She loves turtles and the colors match her room. 

This is my expectation for each of them.  They are to read a minimum of 30 minutes each day, Monday through Thursday. They are to write a short synopsis in their composition book on what they read.  If all is done come Friday we pack a lunch and head to the beach all day!   Both girls Love the beach so it is great incentive...When the girls were younger you might of remembered they Played Summer Bingo.  I thought since we are all on different schedules this year it gave them more freedom then having a set schedule like I have done in the past. 

And Yes....I'm reading 50 Shades of Grey.....oh my!!.....Have you read it, what do you think? I've been having the best dreams lately!!!

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!!