I'm inspired

I'm inspired!  I won't say it's the new year, as my only resolution for 2014 was to "pace myself".  Let's just call that wisdom.  I know better than to commit to anything outrageous, but do know there is a need in my life to better pace myself, so that I can indeed enjoy my life.  I don't want to go out on a limb and say I'll work out more, be a better blogger, get more done - Jesus, I do as much as I can every day.....so let's just say I recognize the need to calm it down a bit and have time to enjoy smelling the roses.  Last year, "the year of the merge", this year, yep - "pace myself".  Let it not be said that at this point in my life, I know that I need to keep it real!

so how shall I start the first post of the year?  I was going to post great holiday shots that showed I miraculously pulled it together before the holidays.  Yes, I had the Menorah out, the Christmas trees up and the gifts wrapped.  Sort of seems like old news now and hey I read a zillion blogs that had done all of that by November - so I feel no need to post my success, as I ran down to the finish line in a full sprint.  Am I the only one who is happy that the holidays are actually over and we are starting a new year?

so let's see....1st up.  I'm inspired.  I got the best book ever that has me super inspired.  well, we received several books for the holidays and I'm working my way through them.  However the one that has me most inspired is:

 

Mary McDonald's images have me mesmerized.  Truly.  If you want to treat yourself

to some real eye candy, order it.

Mary McDonald: The Allure of Style

 

 

I love so many things in her book.  My favorite chapter is "The Hunt", but her love of arranging beautiful little vignettes, which include family pieces and beautiful things you love, inspired me to pull out my own little pieces of silver and family inspired pieces and create the following:

 

 

An old silver tray, some of my favorite perfumes, a clock that reminds me of our trip to Ireland, a new blue/white vase filled with white roses and a candy dish (now holding soap) that was my grandmother's and stolen from my one of my sisters who was not using it.

 

 

 

or take a smaller footprint in a space and move things a bit more closely together:

 

 

This book has certainly inspired me to pull out some old silver pieces and polish them up, then group them together and have something pleasant to feast my eyes on.  It's also given me motivation to actually finish some spaces that I seem to have taken forever to finish up. I no longer can use the excuse that we are in the middle of merging 2 families and 2 households.  Here's to all the finishing details on several rooms that I hope to complete (and post!) in 2014. I'm all about completing spaces this year.

 

What is the major project you would like you to complete this year?

 

Happy New Year.