Thursday, April 28, 2011

40 Inspired to feel Inspired!

Ok, I am asking for forgiveness now.  To roll with me as I am going to roll with this post.  What can I say, I was feeling inspired so I thought that writing about feeling inspired was a great idea.  However, now that I sit down to type, I have no idea where this inspired driven post will take me.  And I have a feeling the word "inspired" may be overused. 

It all started with a little project.  I saw something on Pinterest that inspired me.


I thought recreating a butterfly cutout from pretty paper and popping it in a shadow box could be great.  So, I printed out a butterfly on the back of some scrapbook paper...


Then I just cut out the outline, and folded the wings out a bit to make it 3D.  And used some hot glue to affix it to some more pretty paper!


Then, I just popped it into a shadow box and placed it upon our shoe storage unit in our entry!



I just love how it all turned out.  And all because I was feeling, inspired!

And because I am a GIANT believer that our own spaces should always leaving us feeling great, I just started snapping photos of other areas in my home and life that inspire me each day...  warning, weird tangent coming...

Like my living room corner, wear I can curl up with a good book!


It takes a lot to pull me out of this space.  It makes me smile.  It makes me happy.  It's where we spend 98% of our time together as a family, playing games, snuggling, reading and laughing.  And it's where my all time favorite family photo lives {thanks Emily!!}.  This room inspires me to be the best mom and wife I can be.  Because my family is my life and these little guys are my number one daily inspiration in everything I do:


Speaking of "what I do":


My living room workspace inspires me each day that I sit down to write up posts, edit photos, whip up a style tile or create a printable.  Yep, I am right there right now.  Feeling inspired.  You may be noticing a trend, I try to add lots of color around me, color inspires me. 


In fact, lately I feel like I have a pocket full of rainbows.  My daily necessities {home management binder, tablet and daily planner}, come with me every where I go and are constantly showering me with lovely colors!


Seriously, how can I not just remain gleeful with a mixture of bright colors and patterns at my side?



OK, I realize I am sounding like a crazy person right now.  But that's what this post is about.  Sharing my inspiration with you and sounding like I am crazy.

But without the inspiration of all that color, I may not have been inclined to take a photo of a cup of markers.  And without the photo, I may have been out some free art for our future playroom! 


See how this is working? 

Ok, moving on.... this little closet office space I created awhile back and still adore like it's another one of my kidlets....


This space inspires me in other creative ways.  It inspires me to write.  To journal.  To craft.  To take a moment of peace.  It calms me.

There is something else that I don't have a photograph of, that also leaves me feeling inspired.  Can you guess?  Well, it's YOU of course!  You all give me inspiration each day.  I have said it before and I will say it again {and again and again}.  I appreciate you.  For writing.  For sharing your spaces.  For your kind words.  For your comments.  You inspire me to keep going with my blog baby and my love for being creative and organizing and sharing my stories.  You inspire me with the projects and ideas you share.  You inspire me in more ways than you know.  So THANK YOU for being one of my biggest inspirations yet....

Ok, time to end the tangent that started from finding some butterflies on Pinterest.  Don't say I didn't warn you!!

But now it's your turn.  Since blogs are an insane source of inspiration in our daily lives, I have to know, what is leaving you inspired right now?   A specific space or spaces in your home?  A person or two or ten?  How about a blog or website or book or magazine or song?  How are you ensuring you adore your surroundings?  Let's share what inspires us each day so we all can hop on that ol' inspiration bandwagon.

Total times I typed "Inspire": 21, total times I typed "Inspiration": 7, equaling a total of 28 times in this post that I felt inspired.  Now 29. 

40 comments:

  1. I love the butterfly in the shadow box! Looks great! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I love your site and have been feverishly getting my house in order during the last few weeks. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Can you please tell me where you purchased the wall-mounted light fixture in your office closet? I've been looking for some to free up our night stand surfaces but they are so pricey.

    Thanks, and keep up the inspiration!

    sally.lustig@yahoo.com

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  3. I love what you did!! Such a great little project. I love looking at Pottery Barn catalogs for inspiration and blogs of course!!

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  4. can you tell me where you purchased the chair? the white one in the final photo you posted.

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  5. Oh my goodness, that Butterfly picture is just AWESOME!

    I think I may have to have one in my life, would you be offended if I copied the idea???

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  6. Love the butterfly! I especially 'heart' that you put it under glass to make it extra special :)

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  7. Now I absolutely love that butterfly inspiration and I'm not going to even lie Jen I come to you for inspiration daily. I get up early in the morning and before I even start working I check out your blog to see what's going on in your casa. I love absolutely every space and you definitely inspired me to get organized. I created a bill management binder and my husband thought I was crazy but not even a month later he claimed it was "his great idea" and wondered how did "he" ever think of it. Thank you for posting this post, I await daily for great reads from you.

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  8. I love the butterflies! I think I saw some of the same inspiration on pinterest, you did it much better! Let you know how my DIY goes when I get around to it ;)

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  9. What a cute post Jen!!! Love the butterfly. Thanks for sharing something so easy yet made that area in your home even prettier!!!

    What is inspiring me lately? Well lots of blogs inspire me on a daily bases and this blog is definitely inspirational everyday!!! At home I'm inspired by my Family Room that we demo'd and built from the floor up literally. Check it out here if you want: http://thedecorscene.blogspot.com/2011/04/our-family-room-tour-big-reveal.html

    And if you want to see where I pulled my inspiration from for the room, check out this post: http://thedecorscene.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-inspired-me-for-our-family-room.html

    Have a great day and always thank you for sharing your inspiration with us! :)

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  10. That butterfly project is amazing! But I think what I love the most is your family portrait in the "cuddle up" corner of your living room! So much love in that photo!

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  11. My four-year-old daughter is sitting next to me while I'm perusing your delightful blog; she's been eating her raisin bread from lunch for. an. hour. In the final stretch of her meal I realized I needed some inspiration ;)What a fun post! She saw the picture of the closet office and gasped - I mean, she *gasped* and said, oh Mommy! I wuv that cwoset!" As do I :)

    Now, if you thought your post was random, that's nothing compared to my comment . . .

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  12. Love the butterfly in the shadow box - how creative! You take amazing pictures of those beautiful boys.

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  13. I love your style Jen! I don't know how you do it, but you can keep your place looking calm and to some degree neutral (in a good way), and yet you have colour everywhere! My house looks like a box of crayons exploded. Hahha

    Did I spy a flip camera in one of those photos? Perhaps I missed a post about it? I'm glad you got your video camera!

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  14. So much beauty & all so organized! Love it!!! And wow - your boys are absolutely gorgeous. You are so blessed!

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  15. Oh & what's your Pinterest ID so I can follow your boards? ;)

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  16. Totally just pinned that butterfly picture of yours - love it!

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  17. Right now I'm working on organizing my office space corner in my bedroom. I bought a new blue quilt from Home Goods and I've had my walls painted very pale pink. Now I'm selecting shelves, lamps and other accesories that I'm going to spray paint. I've also chose different pictures to show. One of them is from another favorite blogger, Vanessa of "A Fanciful Twist". She writes whimsical articles and makes whimsical art. I bought this print from her:

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/63281057/flower-song?ga_search_query=song&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5157245

    Btw, I love your cute art and I was finally invited to pinerest. Between pinerest and polyvore I've been going nuts. I've been creating polyvore pictures with the jewelry I'm selling. Here is an example on my blog:

    http://katspurrfectboutique.blogspot.com/2011/04/bamboopink-little-black-dress-by.html

    Katharine

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  18. Did you know that I found your blog on Unclutter and after reading your blog I was inspired to blog too. It's been a year now and I'm having a giveaway.

    http://katspurrfectboutique.blogspot.com/2011/04/100-followers-giveaway.html

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  19. I adore all of your projects, and your house is so gorgeous! You've definitely inspired me to become more organized and surround myself with pretty colors.

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  20. I have to say, that butterfly of yours is absolutely the best choice of colouring and inspiring character! And the inspiration for this butterfly is just gorgeous too!

    Like many, I find YOUR blog very inspirational! I eagerly read your words each morning to see what fabulous idea you have come up with, waiting to find out what I will be inspired to do today!

    I also *heart* Ann Skelton's blog at http://www.aholyexperience.com/ and the ladies at (in)courage (http://www.incourage.me/), finding both extremely inspiring me in my faith and walk with God.

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  21. Girl! Did I just spy a flip camera? I'll be waiting anxiously for organizing videos. ;)

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  22. Thanks for the 'inspiring' post Jen, as always.

    I've always been inspired by all things vintage, even when it wasn't trendy and when I was young and was probably 'supposed' to like all things modern. I love living simply and without a lot of clutter but I just can't help myself being surrounded by a lot of vintage crockery, plates, quilts on beds, jugs and bowls and the list goes on. Some may say it's clutter. To me it's memories, warmth, love, cosiness, functionality and pretty (and a lot of dusting). Oh well!

    Thanks too for the butterfly idea. That's going to be just perfect for my butterfly mad sister for her birthday next month!

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  23. @Sally: Here is a link to the lamp in the closet: http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Pivoting_Swing-Arm_Pin-up_Lamp/410/

    @Caroline: Copy away, that's what this blog thing is all about! :)

    @Tina: http://pinterest.com/jenniferpaige26/

    @Everyone: Thank you again for your kind comments. You are making me grin! And yeppers, purging paid off and so did a great sale on a flip cam! I just got it a couple days ago and can't wait to create my first blog video!!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  24. Jen - Where is your Pinterest page? I'd love to follow you...you are truly a delight!

    Becky B.
    www.organizingmadefun.com
    Organizing Made Fun

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  25. I must say that I have truly been inspired by you and this blog. We were blessed to find a home with a large family room that we use as our home school room and craft space. It has always been pretty organized, but not very pretty. I'm learning that you can have both!

    I even inspired to begin blogging again. I think the "befores" and "afters" of our school/craft room will be my starting point. I'll let you know when I can figure out how to put it all into words and get it onto a blog.

    Thanks again for all the inspiration and cheerleading that you do.

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  26. @Becky: Thanks so much! Here is the link: http://pinterest.com/jenniferpaige26/

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  27. I love your inspiring places. I have 4 kids,the youngest is 2 oldest is 9. It seems they are ALWAYS messing up our stuff. For example, I try and keep markers in one container, crayons in another. Inevitably, everyday I'm left with a hodge podge mess. I organize & label toy bins, but they are NEVER put toys back correctly. How do you overcome this? I don't think I'm too lenient of a parent, but my husband thinks the answer it to get tougher on the kids. Please share your secrets to getting your kids to follow you organization style!

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  28. Sorry to butt in here Jen, but Val, do you have a hidden camera in my house? You wrote the EXACT same problem I have, everyday AND especially today. My husband and I had that very same conversation tonight.

    I'd love to hear any advice you have Jen. I only have 1 daughter (6) and 1 son (4) and I just can't get them to be as organised as me. You've got 3 boys. What's your secret?

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  29. Pinterest has been an amazing source of inspiration to me lately =) I am pinning away getting more and more excited to move into what my by my OWN house someday soon! It's surreal... and I hope it pans out well! So nervous!

    Every magazine I pick up, every time I window shop, and every second I play on the internet... something inspires me =) love it! <3

    Have a great day Jen!

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  30. I'm inspired by creative people!! I love getting inspired through blogs, taking an idea, making it my own.

    And just so you know I'm blogging from that same chair right now :)

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  31. OMG I love it all!!! Seriously..EVERYTHING!!! Im your newest follower, I found you through another great blog :). If you get a chance, please check my blog out at

    www.nicolermiller.blogspot.com

    Thanks!!

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  32. I really, really like to closet desk space. My daughter is about to start kindergarden and I would love for her to have a fresh space for her homework. How did you do the lightingin there. My husband noticed that right away and said it would be a crazy hassle to do the electrical. Tell me I can sway him?!

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  33. My husband and his dad just popped in an electrical outlet by tapping into one on the opposite side of the wall in the bedroom. It didn't take them too long, but they had experience doing it in the past. Then, we just installed a swing arm lamp that we plug into the outlet. I am not sure what the cost would be to have an outlet contracted out...

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  34. hate to be a bother, but really, where did you get the white chair? i'm redoing my kitchen now & it would be perfect for my dining table.

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  35. Hi Cookie,
    Sorry I missed your first comment, the chair was part of two stackable chairs I found as a set at Target, here is a link to similar ones online: http://www.target.com/Modern-Stacking-Chairs-Espresso/dp/B0029NF6AK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=Stacking%20chair&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-4&qid=1304349425&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Modern%20Stacking%20Chairs%20Espresso&node=1038576%7C1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  36. thank you so much. i just found something similar on Crate & Barrel (http://www.crateandbarrel.com/furniture/dining-chairs/felix-white-side-chair/f32911) for about $10 more. good to know i have options. and thanks so much for responding. just found your blog about 3 weeks ago & i'm so inspired for so many projects now!

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  37. oops! i was wrong the C&B is $89 per chair whereas Targe is $79 for two. what a bargain. thanks again!

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  38. Hi, this butterfly picture is really cool. If you want to see my butterflies that I made in March with my daughter (who loves to use my Cuttlebug), follow this link:

    http://kram-werkstatt.blogspot.com/2011/03/butterflies-giveaway.html

    Bye,
    Jule

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  39. I loved your small office! Where did you get the colorful daily planner??? :-)

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