MODERN COUNTRY STYLE...an inspired life

Mrs. ModCountryStyle

~photos courtesy of modern country style~

'HOW DO YOU MEET THESE AWESOME

PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE YOU?'

A friend recently asked.

Hmmmmm...it does feel as though THEY find me!

Take the lovely Sarah of

Modern Country Style.

We stalk each other's blogs and chat almost

every morning though we're separated by an ocean.

How does such friendship blossom?

A divine cyber miracle.

Her blog inspires so many of us daily

with humor, design, and fashion.

Sarah writes with energy and flair,

lives out loud,

and leads

an inspired life.

The restored kitchen in her English home

As a Brit, Sarah adds an extra letter to spell 'honor.'
And she adds EXTRA pleasure to blogland...

"How do I honour creativity? I certainly feel at my best when I'm being creative. I love it that we've been given the chance to create beautiful things. One of the best feelings in the world is looking at something I've planned, thought out, torn my hair out over...and now see before my eyes and LOVE!"

Oooooooh, yes - such as your cozy renovated country rooms
and amazing crafts like that sentimental pillow!

(keep reading to see what I mean.)

Sarah's lovely dining room

Sarah possesses more than a way with words. Hers is an uncommon ability to discover lovely...

"When I remember to stop looking inwardly and start focussing outwardly I'm often blown away by the loveliness around me. I guess trying to enjoy every single little moment, every breath of the wind, every twinkle of every star, and every drop of rain."

So utterly true, Sarah.

Some of us *cough* must be inentional

about looking beyond inward moods...

Hence, "Get over yourself" has become a daily mantra.

Another image of the kitchen in her home - she ADORES Farrow & Ball colors

Mrs. Modern Country Style describes beauty in imperfection...

"I think of the incredible creativity that humans have the potential to show. Through all our hurt and pain, we have this incredible capacity to produce mind-blowingly original beautiful things. Isn't that amazing?"

Yes. Yes.

Like 'the clapper.'

(thanks for the recent reminder, Red.)

the lovely garden

We may vary in our spellings of 'humor' and 'favorite,' but my cute brilliant writing friend and I both appreciate a good measure of 'random'...

"Laughing with people I love is one of my favourite things to do, if not my very favourite. I think humour is one of the qualities I value most in friends. There's nothing like seeing a best friend for a cup of tea and a home-made cookie for being cheered up, don't you think?"

Totally, Sarah!

Cookies! Funny friends!



omg check out the delicious door in Sarah's bedroom

Inspiration swirls 'round this lovely mother of four who squeezes joy from simple acts and from feathering her modern country styled nest...

"At the moment, I feel very inspired by the potential of our garden. It's been on the back-burner since we've moved here but now our children are just getting to the stage where we can clear away all their messy toys and make the garden beautiful again. No more abandoned tricycles. Hurrah!

Vintage suitcase through Sarah's lens

One of my best thinking times is while I'm having a lovely, long bubble bath. Maybe it's because I'm so relaxed but ideas seem to come much more readily there than anywhere else. Am I allowed to find bubble baths inspiring?!

I find the whole concept of Modern Country Style thoroughly inspirational and have for years. I completely am head over heels in love with the whole look. It's one I never, ever tire of: the gentle colours, the country warmth and the slight modern edge is a combination that sits so perfectly with me. So inspiring!

Here's the pillow! And it honors a special anniversary.

Lastly, I choose YOU, Michele. I find your writing so inspiring and enjoyable to read. Thank you!!"

Oh, Sarah, what shaaaallllll we do with you?

Just when I was making progress from my getoveryourself mantra.

I guess we will:
continue to
read you,

watch you soar,

share in your joy,
and

view your garden and life
in bloom.

Love to you, inspiring woman.


p.s.
Don't forget to enter my giveaway.



you say goodbye...i say HELLO

Don't know why it's terrifying

to pin down a few key objectives to

define this little blog...
not doing this for kicks,
actually responding to
a challenge set forth
by a DEFINE YOUR BLOG party.

my kitchen where i often blog.

Oh wait. Yes, I do.

a painting from '09

Because for a few years a million things
 have terrified me--a season of high anxiety.
To cope I have wrapped my self up in as much

serenity and peace as possible.

all images mine

Initially this blog was a private catalog for just me.

But it's the sharing part that makes it truly

worthwhile and where my heart leans.

Though I'm totally paranoid
(of successful bloggers who go on
record saying "do this for more followers"'
or "be personal but not TOO personal"...) 

and easily bored and prone to wander

and seeeeeriously terrified to define
and reduce the blog to a few sentences,

I do see its value.

my girl

To stay centered and accountable.

To alert readers so they're informed of whether

to return for a fix or run like h***.

 

collaboration with nick harner

Ready for an 8th grade cheerleading

H-E-L-L-O blog-defining cheer?

(see, told ya i'm 45 going on 14):

*H*

h o n o r  c r e a t i v i t y .

Because it's divine.

It has been my passion for as long as I can remember.

For some of us, it keeps us breathing.

*E*

e x p l o r e  l o v e l y .

So many diversions and distractions out there!

We can help point each other toward higher ground...

toward the light.

*L*
l i v e  m o r e  s o u l f u l l y .

Not gonna go all preachy.

That's not my style.

But the reason it's critical for me personally

is that left to my own devices, i'm a selfish sucky loser.

I have to TRY to live more soulfully with intention.

As a child, it came naturally.

As a cynical hormonal bombshell, notsomuch.

*L*

l a u g h  e v e r y d a y .

Blessed with perfect health, a brilliantly peerless personal life,

and an absence of stressors big and small?

Outstanding. This blog will be a bore to you.

Some of us need the medicine of laughter to heal.

*O*

o b s e r v e  b e a u t y  i n  i m p e r f e c t i o n .

It's huge for me; always has been.

My natural inclination is to be perfectionistic;

to see anything less than perfect as "fail."

But what i know to be true is there is

beauty in the broken,

the tattered, the loved.

It's how i want this blog to feel.

It's what i want my life to reflect.

I typically write posts 
stream of consciousness style

in one fell swoop.
Which is why i often recommend you
read me with tenderness and a modicum of caution.

all images by me...miss angsty blogger

Thank you for listening.
I probably made the blog defining
process much more complicated
and painful than it ever has to be.
But being complicated is one of my
special talents.

Hope you'll follow and join the journey.

Stay lovely!

linking up with lovely Sarah's
Define Your Blog party.

hello lovely inspiration

my photo

aren't the juicy colors delicious? snapped it last spring.

W E L C O M E  T O  I N S P I R A T I O N  D A Y

on

P L A N E T  hellolovelyinc!

moi. told you i'd wear pintuck linen, Sarah!

What is inspiring this blogger lately?

sweet blog friend Desiree's house - decor de provence

1.

Rooms that read ethereal and relaxed

(European design so often gets it right).

my photo

Pipeline Surfing Competition, Oahu's North Shore

2.

The ocean's majesty.

my photo

curiosities inside a jar in my kitchen

3.

Objects that stir the senses at the flea market.

 my photo 
my Bella Luna

4.

Fluffy dogs who love unconditionally.

my photo

(i didn't photoshop in the cobwebs. they're for realz.)

5.

Words including scripture - above is my life verse.

via busybeingfabulous.com

6.

Art that transports us to a place we've never been.

HA! via thisisnthappiness.com

7.

Humor that strikes a chord.

(mine is often irreverent.)

dreamy whites

8.

Feminine objects balanced with rustic.

via Olsens Anonymous

9.

Fashion purely for fun

(not for status, snobbishness, or hiding behind).

gardener and marks

10.

The comforts of home

(and especially 'romantic and soulful with an edge' design).

omg this is my idea of  beyond beautiful.

Glen Luchford - Prada 1997

11.

Quiet tones and natural gorgeousness of sea, sand, and sky.

via thisisn'thappiness

12.

Books with smell-able, touch-able, tear-able

(but not terrible) pages.

via mighty to save

13.

You.

Yes, you.

You're creative, generous, and so kind

to share your lovely rather than keep it locked up.

You invite me to savor it,

and sometimes I get to add to the beauty.

In this way, we all win.

Is this naive?

Maybe.

But it takes courage to hope...

and I so want to be brave.

What do you think?

Do any of these inspirations move you?

I hope you'll click follow and join this lovely journey. 

Here's to finding endless inspiration this weekend,

and I promise to provide more when you visit next.

Hugs.

tropical escape

all photos mine

It's Sarah's garden party

over at Modern Country Style!

Since we're currently deep in

Midwest snow on Planet Michele

and all that's growing inside

is cabin fever and some leggy rosemary,

today is about...

~TROPICAL ESCAPE~

featuring happy Hawaiian blooms

in my kitchen just a few seasons ago.

bird of paradise and i think pincushion flowers

Aloha!

Favorite ever? pink ginger

Favorite from my yard? hydrangea

Sometimes these tropical beauties

stay fresh looking for a whole month

so it's worth the shipping cost from Hawaii.

Find them here.

(Be aware they don't come arranged...

but you can't go wrong - just give em a drink.)

Hawaii with its plumeria-scented air is breathtaking.

Wouldn't want to live there though.
Hanging loose works for 10 days, but full-time?

I can't take that kind of pressure.

anthuriums

Lush, velvety, and CHEAP! Yay!

 
we were tan!!! i'm on far right

Here's to you, Sarah and friends in blogland...

May we all bloom fabulously where we're planted!