While I wait for the outdoor gardens to bloom, I’ll focus on the indoor flowers. Studies have proven that flowers improve emotional health. “They make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere.”said Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study. Flowers produce happy emotions, boost feelings of life satisfaction and affect attitude in a content way. “What’s most exciting about this study is that it challenges established scientific beliefs about how people can manage their day-to-day moods in a healthy and natural way,” said Dr. Haviland-Jones, Ph.D. I have planted, and will continue to plant, flowered bushes in my yard so I can easily cut the flowers and bring them indoors. With today’s constant busy schedules and rushing around to get from here to there, it’s nice to know there is a simple, natural way to feel nice. The fragrance and the look of flowers do inspire me and create a joyful feeling in the room. Do indoor flowers inspire you? I’m thinking that if I ever feel down, I should run out and buy myself a bouquet!
People Watch: Hvar
I’m watching this lady walk through the town square in Hvar, Croatia. It looks like it might take her quite awhile to get where she is going. I wonder where she needs to be or who she is meeting. It would be nice to not be in a hurry. Live the simple life. Does the thought of having a simple life inspire you?
Photo credits: Ma
The Outdoor Entrance
These homes are so inspiring. I love their entrances! The stone and brick walks are so inviting. Looking at these photos inspire me to add brick to the driveway, completely re-do the front porch with brick and then there is the walkway. I’d love to make the walkway all brick and landscape with flowers and lighting along the way. Do these homes inspire you to recreate your outdoor entrance?
House Hunter’s International
I DVR all the House Hunters International episodes that are on HGTV. For those who don’t know this show, it’s about people from the U.S. or England who are relocating to another country. We join them in their home search. Ultimately they choose between three places. It is so inspiring, especially for me, to see a family go on the search and actually make the big move! It’s so fun to imagine what if we picked up everything and moved across the ocean to a European big city or a little village. It’s also fun to see how people live differently all over the world. Some countries have laundry rooms in the basement. Some people have a washer in the bathroom or the kitchen. Ours is on the first floor behind the garage. Some homes have lots of low, angled ceilings. I found a few homes from around the world and posted them below. Are you inspired by the thought of picking up and moving to the other side of the world?
This home is in Tokyo, Japan:
Here is another one in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I love the clean design.
And then London… what a view!
And Sydney. I would love to bring the outdoors in.
Do you find these home inspiring?
Colorful Mondays {pink}
There is pink and then there is PINK. I was never one to like pink. Maybe it was because I am a girl and I’m supposed to like pink. Now that I have a daughter, who absolutely loves pink, she has opened my eyes to the color. It feels like a new color to me! I’m loving it now. Is there a hue of pink that inspires you?
I usually imagine a pink in a girl’s room or nursery. I love how it’s used here. It’s not a pastel but very bright. The pattern of the wallpaper is gorgeous!
Using the color in the bathroom is very fun and thinking outside of the box.
The bright pink below is not in a child’s room. I love this pattern! It’s a traditional damask but looks very modern with this bold hue of pink.
This is really unusual and I love it! The bones of the room are very masculine yet with a little hot pink incorporated, it adds an eclectic, feminine feel.
With this blue dining room, I absolutely love the bright pink flowers. It just POPS!
Here is a photo of a more typical girl’s room. This is beautiful because there are various pink shades.
Painted furniture is very fun and even better when it’s a very bright color… such as this bright pink. It easily modernizes and a traditional piece of furniture.
Here we are again with a pink girls’ room but the ceiling is hot pink. Very cool!
People Watch: Krakow
I took this picture in Krakow, Poland. The two chatting ladies remind me of my Grandma and Great Aunt who was/is Polish. They would always dress up and never dress down with a pair of pants. I wonder who these ladies are and what they are talking about. Does looking at old pictures inspire you?
Photo credit: Ma
Clever Space Saver: Built-in Benches
I envision adding on to our kitchen with a nook for a table with lots of seating. Built-in benches allow a lot of people to fit into a small space. You can pack them in! I love the concept of saving space with building a bench into a wall. As I’m searching for kitchen benches, I’m coming across clever uses throughout the house. Let’s take a look!
First of all, this is exactly what I want. The ceiling is tall and the windows are magnificent. Bring in the sun!
Wouldn’t it be nice to have an additional hang-out area in the kitchen? What a great space for an afternoon tea party!
This is an ingenious use for the hall. It looks like it could be a quiet getaway.
I’m also planning on creating a mudroom which I’ll discuss in a later post. Meanwhile, I love this space saver.
Gorgeous! Although that view certainly helps.
As far as built-in benches go, I must say that the last one is the most inspiring to me. Perhaps because I can imagine gazing out to the calming water! Does this inspire you?
Beautiful Skies
When I get a chance to lie in the hammock and stare up at the sky, I’m a very happy person. I’m an even happier person if I’m lying in the hammock, looking at the sky, with my kids in my arms, too. It’s just so relaxing to watch the clouds move and change shape. I love the mornings when I see the sun peaking up over the trees and the color is a bright pink. It’s so incredibly pretty and then my daughter yells out with pure excitement, “It’s PINK, Mommy!” What a great way to start the day. Obviously the beautiful sky inspires me. Inspire Ma’s Pantone swatch logo is of the clouds in the blue sky! Does the gorgeous, colorful sky inspire you?
© Depositphotos.com/elenathewise
© Depositphotos.com/Kuzeytac
© Depositphotos.com/deltaoff
Afternoon Tea
Is it that time again? Coffee in the morning and then usually around the same time in the afternoon, I need a little treat. Tea is perfect! Even better with a cookie. It’s a great break to gather my thoughts and give me a pick me up to finish the day. Do you usually take a break around 3pm for a little inspiration?
Photo by: Rick Smith
The Little Red Lighthouse Children’s Book
Recognize this little red lighthouse? It’s THE Little Red Lighthouse and it is in New York City on the Hudson River under the George Washington Bridge. This very popular book is one of my children’s favorites! I love a lot of children’s books. The story is very meaningful and is especially great for when a young child is expecting a new sibling soon. The lighthouse is accustomed to being “the master of the river” until the construction of the bridge. The lighthouse is afraid of being replaced. They both learn to work with one another and become great “brothers”. Regarding sharing work and chores, this could be inspiring for adults just the same. Don’t you think? Do children’s books ever inspire you?
Cover Photo: bn.com
Top Photo: Rick Smith
Inspire Ma 