Budapest Stands

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I took these photos in Budapest, Hungary. The first photo is of a very charming magazine stand. The second one is an adorable stand bursting with Spring flowers.  I can’t quite pinpoint why they inspire me but to begin with, they are the cutest little buildings! I also like how they are so clean which isn’t a common occurrence for a stand in New York City. I also love that green of the first one. It’s not too dark nor too bright. Maybe they inspire me simply because I can so clearly remember this day when I found these stands. It was a Spring, crisp day and very sunny. We were wandering the streets of a foreign city and exploring! Do these cute, little buildings inspire you, too? Or does my inspiration mainly stem from physically being there and memories from the day as a whole?

Photo credit: Ma

Inspiring Blog Award!

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Thanks to Rachael from Interior Thinking for very kindly nominating me for the Inspiring Blog Award! I’m very grateful for the recognition. I’m so flattered! Blogging is so much fun and is truly a creative outlet. Being part of such a supportive community makes it so much more encouraging. I recommend you check out Interior Thinking‘s blog. It gives me inspiration throughout the week. Interior Thinking certainly inspires Ma!

In order to accept this award you must: 1. Display the award image on your blog page.   2. Link back to the person who nominated you.   3. State seven facts about yourself.   4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.   5. Notify your bloggers of their nomination and link to their posts.

I do accept this award! So here are 7 facts about me. Here it goes!   1. I received my Masters in Art from New York University in conjunction with the International Center of Photography.   2. Driving around (for the kids to nap) and listening to music while daydreaming is fun… and inspiring.   3. I love small, medieval, walled villages.   4. I had three children within three years and four months.   5. I love to travel.   6. I put my makeup on every morning even if I don’t plan on doing anything special.   7. I could live on chocolate alone.

I would like to nominate the following very inspiring blogs (in no particular order): In Real Life,  My Scandinavian Home, Little Snail,  The Adverb, Essence of Dubrovnik. These blogs are beautiful and very inspiring. I have included blogs from the interior design category as well as travel.

Other blogs that I love…  Design Mom, A Beautiful Mess, A Cup of Jo and Oh Happy Day!

Thanks again Rachel. Your blog really Inspires Ma!

Colorful Mondays {Combinations}

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Let’s make this Monday very colorful with my favorite color combinations. Pink and green is one of my favorites. My baby’s room’s walls are a bright green and she has all bright pink accessories. As shown in the pictures below, it’s a great combination for a girl’s bedroom.

LongMeadow girls room farmhouse-kids
Soft Spring Pinks and Green mediterranean-landscape
Little girls Bedroom traditional-kids

Gray and yellow is one of my new favorites.

Bonnie Road Residence transitional-porch
Kinley Residence contemporary-exterior

Navy and white is such a classic. It looks so clean… I love it!

Vintage Chic eclectic-hall

Doesn’t this look gorgeous?

Farmhouse Studio eclectic-bathroom

Seeing beautiful colors together inspire me to be more creative with color. Do these combinations inspire you?

 

People Watch: Porto

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When you need some fun inspiration from people’s fashions, do you go out for a walk? Out shopping? Or just look out your window? People watching is a good dose of inspiration for me. How about you?

Photo credit: Ma

Galleries for Special Photos

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When I work in my home office, I am surrounded by my family’s photos because I find them very inspiring. On the desk I have a few prized photos. I have three shelves on the wall to my right. Each of my children have their own shelf filled with their smiles. My lovely gray wall behind me has a gallery of black framed, white matted photos of my husband’s and my travels. With three children, and many more years worth of photos to come, I will need to think about more gallery space. It will either be on the wall in the hallway upstairs or in a corner of the master bedroom behind the rocking chair… similar to the one below. Do you have a gallery of photos in your home? Does looking at your special photos inspire you?

Living Room Detail eclectic-living-room
family photo wall eclectic-staircase
Photo collage traditional-staircase
Lakeview Residence Living Room traditional-living-room
Breakers Beach House beach-style-kitchen
Stern Turner Home contemporary-living-room

Favorite Daydreaming Spot

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Do you have a favorite reading spot? Or daydreaming spot? If I had this little nook… I would certainly be inspired to write in a journal or read a good design magazine. Do you have a spot that inspires you?

Canary Cottage traditional-living-room

The Rock of Cashel

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Have you ever visited a place that is so ancient, it is difficult to imagine how life was? Most likely, at my age, I wouldn’t be alive or I’d be close to death!  These days, I don’t have to worry about a tribe of nomads trying to invade my home or neighborhood. (Side note, I can not wait for the new Vikings mini series to begin next week! I’m sure I’ll mention this again.) Below are photos of The Rock of Cashel which is located at Cashel, South Tipperary, Ireland. It dates back to about 1100. The ruins sit atop a hill with the majestic sky and open land. It is awe-inspiring. Being here really inspires me to read more about the people of that time. Have you visited a place and seen relics that have inspired you?

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Photo credit: Ma

I wish…… I wish.

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“I wish… I wish.” This is what I hear from my two older children. When I get catalogs from companies such as American Girl or One Step Ahead, I immediately hand them to my children and exclaim, “Look at what you got in the mail!” It’s fun. It’s also very fun to listen to what they say about the items. At first my daughter would say, “I wish I could have this doll, Mommy. I wish.” Now it’s more like, “I wish I could have all of this, Mommy. I wish.” She says this while swirling her little hand over an entire spread of toys. We all dream. I still dream.

“I wish I could have this kitchen. I wish.”

San Jose Res 2 traditional-kitchen

Commanding Ceilings

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I have a favorite cafe and it’s not exactly for its food and drinks. The design of the space and the ceilings are magnificent. The ceilings are built of dark wood beams with perfect craftsmanship. Gorgeous lamps hang from the ceiling that could be mistaken for paper mache. Commanding ceilings impress me and this is something I would like to recreate in my home. It’s so enjoyable to be walking along and to come across beauty above my head. Do you admire gorgeous ceilings? Do grand ceilings inspire you to recreate them in your home?

Donkeys Alley. Brisighella. Emilia-Romagna. Italy.

© Depositphotos.com/Milla74

Alleyway. Bologna. Emilia-Romagna. Italy.

© Depositphotos.com/Milla74

Family room with ceiling beams

© Depositphotos.com/Lmphot

Chic and Elegant Stationery

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One day I went a little overboard on The Stationery Studio’s website and bought a lot of personalized paper. That site is addictive and I love it! Beautiful stationery and cards bring elegance to a simple “Hello”. When I get a note on fine paper, it feels more special. It’s fun to see a letter in the mailbox. It’s something other than a bill! A double-lined envelope with a soft, embossed paper inside is almost luxurious. How often do I write hand-written letters? Mostly I’m found on the computer writing e-mails. Even that is somewhat antiquated these days. I should be texting more or facebooking more.
Do you feel inspired when you see ornate designs on chic paper? I know I do!

Photo credit: Ma