“Flowers… are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
The day I after I announced that I would be redoing my apartment because, and I feel the need to go over the reasons once more, a) it’s fugly b) I have no plans to move anytime soon and c) FUG-LY oh and D thru XYZ) No, I do not want a house with gutters that magically move away from said house nor do I want to deal with plumbing or shoveling or really anything that involves manual labor. Also, I really am unsure of how a mortgage is calculated and then I get hives and then I’m all holy shit, I HAVE A HOUSE. Follow with klonopin and beer.
That same day that I confessed my college-esque decorating in the apartment of a 27 year old woman, Queenie of Queenie Takes Manhattan was all ‘oh helllllll no’ and next thing you know she’s sent me no less than seven DMs and two my deco creations for my apartment.
She made mood boards for my apartment and she still isn’t sure whether or not I’m a serial killer. Dear Internet, I love you.
The second I saw the mood boards I thought perhaps she had taken up residence in my brain. But no, she heard my cries for help and could tell by my whimsy and fun filled tweets what I might want in a living space. Tweets that end with ‘fuck my life’ often mean, I like bright color in my space. Also flowers.
She got me and knew what I needed in this space of mine to make me happy which, if I’m not mistaken, is what interior designers are to do. But no, she is not an interior designer but a concerned citizen who doesn’t want me living in the House of Ugh. I had already ordered prints from Papermoth and just ordered two more. I also ordered another little something for by the door as well as a few purchases from Anthropologie.
This project is not only a Life List goal but also so needed. Oh, you guys, you don’t even know the half of how much I need to throw myself wholeheartedly into something. Quite honestly I needed to spend more time on myself and this is just what I need. Thank you, Meg for indulging me and helping me and for not throwing your hands in the air and saying “Dude…duuuude….do your eyes burn?” The Internet can be so polite sometimes.
Pretty Things
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” ~John Muir
Over the last four months everything has been Very Serious. Fun? Please define. Throughout the Serious nature which, let’s face it, is what one gets when in a life of politics, I have kept an ongoing list of resources – blogs mostly – so that I can keep my creative side intact. I want more color in my life. I’d like to finish my apartment. I’d like to have colorful throw pillows. I’d like my breakfast nook to have a giant bowl of fruit. I had to put my apartment project on hold due to the move to DC but now I have returned home and I have at least four weeks of time to create. To write. To admire the pretty things and and have them come to life. It’s the antithesis to my day to day which is why I find at least an hour alone with my camera so therapeutic.
Here are a few of my favorite design(ish) blogs. I have them filed under “Pretty Things” because with each key stroke they remind me of the lovely, the bright and the delicious parts of life that I am often quick to forget about. It’s good to smile through the Serious:
Blog Con Queso; Chookooloonks; Mighty Girl; The Working Closet; Everyday Treats; Queenie Takes Manhattan; Design for Mankind; Oh Joy; Design Sponge; Design Mom; Daily Relish; Petit Elefant; Smitten Kitchen; HJ Entertains; Oh Happy Day; Say YES! to Hoboken
Do you have any favorites that inspire you and put a little pretty in your day? Spill.