Summer Reading List

Now that I've screwed my head back on and I'm out of the fog that finishing/selling a flip always ends up being, I'm on a self-improvement kick.  As the daughter of a librarian, I'm embarrassed to say that reading has fallen out of my schedule almost completely.  With the sun shining and technology screens that are unreadable outside on a glorious day, what better time to go analog and pick up a book. 1.  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Ask Hubby- I am a die-hard believer that your environment has a profound affect on your daily life.  If my house is a mess, generally, so I am I and it's not pretty.  I've been hearing people rave about this book like crazy lately and I've been eager to dive in!  I may already be halfway through this one.  While I may not necessarily agree with the author that balling my socks together makes them depressed (maybe I want depressed socks- makes it easier for me to walk all over them), she has some very poignant ideas about how to approach cleaning up your space.  Does this item bring me joy?  I 100% agree with her on the basic philosophy of this book: Clear your clutter, clear your mind.  Do yourself and your home a favor and read it.

2.  The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)

I'm sure I'm not the only entrepreneur who struggles with setting a daily routine.  It's far too easy to treat every day like a lazy Sunday morning.  When you finally start being productive, half the day is gone!  I'm working to nip this in the bud and wake up bright eyed and ready for the day (more or less).  I heard the author interviewed on my fave podcast, The Lively Show and I'm sold.  Now I just need to read the book!

3.  Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Mysteries are my favorite.  Books or TV shows (how am I just now finding out about Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries??).  So when I heard about this book I was instantly intrigued.  It seems like a bit of mystery, a bit of humor, wrapped up in a very clever package.  I would expect nothing less from an author who has also written for several successful sitcoms.

4.  The Paris Wife

I want this book to be wonderful so badly, that I'll be disappointed if it's not.  This historical fiction is the story of the romance of Earnest Hemingway and his wife as told through her eyes.  I'm also a huge sucker for historical fiction and beautiful book covers.

5.  Let's Pretend This Never Happened

I can't explain why I haven't read this book yet.  I've been reading the Bloggess for years, so I really have no excuse.  She's hilarious and honest and addicted to weird taxidermied animals and if you aren't familiar with her, do yourself a favor and head over to her blog.  With her next book coming out in the fall, now's the perfect time to catch up!

Have you read any of these yet?  I'd love to hear about any good books you've read lately and what's on your summer reading list!

Friday High Five

Phew.  After sprinting to the finish line with Millie the fliphouse, I finally have a little down time. This week was also my birthday week so I gave myself permission to take a break (of course by take a break I mean do laundry, start to clean our own house, do minor Millie work, some design work, and start to sort piles of staging stuff and flipping tools).  One thing I'm still working on catching up with is reading other blogs.  I'm such a blog addict and I've barely read any in the past 2 months!  So now that I'm trying to catch up on the amazing happenings in the blogosphere, here are 5 things that grabbed my attention. **links seem to be a big glitchy this morning. Until I can add proper links, click on the images to go to the source**

1.  Ok, sorry, gotta start with some shameless self-promotion here.  Did you see my week of reveals on Millie??

2.  I'm positively swooning over this DIY fabric patent art over at The Gathered Home.  Amazing image and the perfect way to showcase it! (and that wall color is just the cherry on top)

3.  I love love LOVE when Emily Henderson let's her readers into her styling world and we get to see that images like this aren't just a quick and effortless shot.

Those succulents aren't some celeb who just wake's up perfect.  It takes trial and error to create the perfect vignette.

4.  How adorable are these DIY clay planters from Design Love Fest??  Not sure if my sculpting skills extend this far, but let's just say I wouldn't be upset if these were hanging on my wall.

5.  And in un-plant related news, Sarah and her hubby over at Sarah M. Dorsey Designs took this rather ho hum rattan chair and completely transformed it!  I like to think I'm a creative person, but I would never in a million years have thought to do this.  Job well done!!

I hope this got your ideas flowing.  Have a wonderful weekend!!

Eternal Winter

This endless snow is throwing me way off my game as you can probably tell by this random Thursday- first post of the week.  I feel like I'm living in Frozen here with Elsa's eternal winter.  Quick, we need an act of true love!  (Yes, I am a grown a$$ woman with no kids quoting Frozen.  Embrace it.)  Seriously, though 70+ inches of snow in under 3 weeks with another potential blizzard on the way?  Sheer craziness.  Mother nature's completely lost her marbles.  All this shoveling and schedule rearranging has drained my energy and my creativity, so please accept my apologies. Instead of the usual, here are 3 things from around the interwebs that caught my attention:

1. Emily Henderson.  Oh Emily.  Interior styling rockstar.  She's currently showing us 1 credenza styled 4 ways.  She's shown us 3 so far and the first is far and away my favorite.  She's labeled it "Upper East Side Mid-Century."

2. On Pinterest, I stumbled upon a round-up of 30 Free printable to spruce up your child's room via Little Gold Pixel.  Not your average, cheesy, cutesy child art.  Thumbs up!  Most could also mix in a non-child oriented gallery wall.  And look, another Frozen reference!

3. How did I not know that Society6 sells throw pillows??  I've purchased art and phone cases from them.  Now I'm looking for a place for all these pillows!  Do you see those prices?  With a pillow insert, a 16x16 pillow is only $27!

I'm sure I'm not the only one fighting the winter doldrums.  This snow is only temporary, the days will get longer, and before we know it will be flea market and spray paint season.  Ah, Brimfield.  I cannot wait!  Only 89 days, but who's counting.