a blog about Words

http://smallplacestyle.blogspot.com/2009/05/words.html

I've been thinking of painting my powder room black (yes, black) or else use paper leaf. I would love to have the scriptures on foil and in my bathroom...well it is the reading room, right?

A bit of heaven

Another Shabby Chic photo. Cream and pale aqua blue is just the ultimate in relaxing coloring to me. It feels airy, fresh and clean, tranquil.

Who has a spot of their very own...to read, to write, to do nothing at all? I think all women need it but few create it for themselves. I have tended to create little spots around my home for solitude; probably because I was alone so much as a kid. I got used to it.

Virginia Wolfe once wrote a book called "a Place of One's Own" I've never read it, but I loved the title. I LOVE to be surrounded by family, kids, grandkids and all their friends, but then there are times.....

The new Shabby Chic book, not yet out

Even though I don't decorate in this soft pale style, I really love looking at the pictures and wish I could do a room like this. One day I will have a guest room in this style, but right now my "guests" are two shabby and not too chic sons who wouldn't feel comfortable with this look. One day....

Sigh...

From a closed down Shabby Chic store....those stores were amazing!

A design original closes

Shabby Chic is no more!

I can't believe it...it's a victim of the economic turndown I suppose.

Rachel Ashwell's style is iconic, it's a noun and an adjective and has been an inspiration to so many for over 20 years. I will keep the link to her blog on the side bar for a while. I don't want it to be gone....the link OR the stores. Oh well.

Her style has influenced so many. I recorded all the Shabby Chic TV shows and I watched them over and over. I LOVED going into her stores - New York, CA and then Atlanta finally got one. I didn't buy much but I took a lot of pictures.

Rachel is currently working on a new book and the Shabby Chic line will still be available at Target, but if you have any original Shabby Chic designer line items, appreciate them and hang on the them! (Nikki)

Read her parting thoughts here:
http://rachelashwellshabbychic.blogspot.com/2009_03_08_archive.html

Educational rug - love it!

Available at Hearthsong for $29.99 was $54.98...a deal!

A Mommy Must have

Photo says it all.....It's called Travelling Toddler! It's a car seat accessory. $14.99 on amazon and can be bought at Target also (and I'm sure others as well)

from Chez Larsson.

"Pretty" Organized

I've been finding sites that that make me want to organize something - anything. A new favorite I've found is : Chez Larsson - She lives in Sweden, has my grandmother's maiden name , is a photographer and has that "neat as a pin" Swedish clean look to her blog and home. This is a hallway in her home.

http://chezlarsson.typepad.com/myblog/

For a massive amount of photo inspiration scroll down and click on the photos button on the lower right. ENJOY!

Flu prep

It ain't pretty....not being prepared that is. If there is an outbreak or a pandemic, (and after this past year, I think anything is possible).....local quarantines will be the order of the day. So I retrieved my preparedness portable file and the preparations for a flu outbreak are these:

1. plenty of antibacterial hand sanitizer. Kids in schools should each have one and use it frequently.

2. a few flats of water

3. enough food for at least 2 weeks

4. detergent, bleach, Tylenol and ibuprofen for adults and kids

5. Gatorade, Pedialyte

6. refill all prescription drugs asap

7. trash bags, dish soap, matches, TP, kleenex

8, ginger ale, broth, jello, popsicles

Here is a recipe for oral rehydrating drink  from the Red Cross

4 cups water

3 T sugar

1/2 ts salt

1/4 ts salt substitute

1/2 ts baking soda

Flavor this with lemon juice, sugar free Koolaid, or crystal light

Better to be prepared than not!!