A Book of Inspiration

Hello and thanks for coming over today!

I've told you before that I adore magazines and have accumulated stacks of them. But there comes a time when one has to let go. It's not the easiest thing to do that's why I find new uses for them, from gift tags, embellishments and useful containers.

Sometimes, I simply tear an inspiring page or cut a beautiful image from a magazine.

And look, I've whittled my magazine stack

down to another stack, albeit a smaller one.

Still a blah.

Good thing I have a few blank

journals like this one to the rescue.

I attach the magazine cut-outs

to the journal pages with glue.

TADA!

This is my Fashionista Journal.

I'm such a plain dresser, I seriously need to add some TADA! to my daily wardrobe. Photos from fashion glossies & catalogs provide visual cues on how to style an outfit. At the back page, I make a list of things I need to add to my closet {ex. black boots, a cocktail dress, a formal watch}. On days when I feel I have nothing to wear, I look through this journal for some needed inspiration.

This is my Blogger's Journal.

It has articles about starting a blog, notes about maintaining a blog, as well as ideas for weekly themes & future entries. It contains crazy sketches and post-it notes with even more lists. Organized chaos is what it is!

This is my Inspiration Journal.

It contains a lot of odds & ends like flower arrangements, baby/bridal shower gift options, and a brainstorm for if I decide to start a business one day.

Some of the stuff I've placed in these journals have yet to see the light of day. But as the saying goes, "If you build it, they will come." These journals just happen to be the master plans.

I hope I helped you find uses for any empty journals or expired date books you may have lying around.

Museum Madness

I think I've mentioned before that I fancy museums. It's one of the must-sees whenever I'm in a new city. Museums have colorful stories. Museums are full of inspiration!

It's standard for me to pick up a floor plan when I begin. This helps me strategize. Where should I go first? Are there special exhibitions? How can I avoid the crowds? Where's the gift shop? The floor plan has been proven useful in more ways than one:

This is what my museum map looks

like at the end of my visit.

I like to take notes, put a star on my

favorites & mark the ones I've seen.

This method helps me remember.

I know. It's messy. So blah.

And because the theme of my blog entries this

week is pretty journals & what to do with them,

I thought this blank notebook already had

its work cut out for it.

I just had to make it official.

I found these tags at the Martha Stewart

holiday craft fair last December.

It's made of sturdy kraft board &

has matching baker's twine!

I used it with rubber stamps to make a label.

Then I attached it to the notebook.

Tada!

I'll take this notebook to my next

museum excursions.

I'm excited to fill it up with notes,

sketches and, who knows, the

autograph of a great artist!

Lovely Journals

Happy Monday!

I hope you a had a thrilling weekend.

In my neck of the woods, the sun was out,

the temperatures higher and that's

a definitely a TADA!

Do you like journals?

I like them a lot.

I make sure to stop and say HELLO

to these beautiful blank books when

I'm at a bookshop or paper goods store.

I've picked some up over the years & I really

use them, even if sometimes I think they're

too pretty for scribbling random thoughts.

I'll show you all this week how I'm filling

them up, beginning with this one:

TADA! -- A Kitchen Journal.

{The cover had a lot to do with

the choice for use.}

I designed a mission statement for

the inside front cover.

It's full of recipes I want to try &

keep making over and over.

{Actual recipe cards, hand-written &

clipped from magazines}

It also has inspirations for entertaining

and presenting food with style.

It's now getting too fat, it needs its own shelf.

Or maybe I should start Volume II.

See you tomorrow for more ideas.

And by the way,

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Winter Walk

All this week, I was ranting about how winter

can be such a blah and how I cope

while staying indoors.

Today, I'm celebrating winter's TADAs!

C'mon, take a walk with me.

I think winter is TADA! after the

snow has fallen and the ground is

immaculately white.

Even if the holidays are over,

it still looks like Christmas

when snow settles on the trees.

Shadows are more dramatic

on an icy, white canvas.

Winter can be quite solitary,

but it's good to drown in one's

thoughts sometimes.

But the biggest TADA! of winter...

...the promise of spring!

Happy Friday Lovelies.

Snuggly Soft

Are you experiencing winter weather

where you live?

Do you think the cold, dark days are blah or TADA?

I try my best to deal with it with hot drinks

and soft things.

Including this nice and cuddly throw.

A TADA! if I should say so myself.

It warms me up on the sofa as I

watch a romantic comedy or

devour a fabulous book.

I wish you a beautiful Thursday!

Wear a Hug

Oh winter, sometimes you make me feel so blah.

Sure, you're pretty to look at,

but slushy roads and below zero

temperature ain't fun. Sigh.

Thank goodness for fleece robes

that keep me warm & toasty.

No doubt a TADA! in my book!

Walking on Clouds

This week, I'm taking a little break from

crafting to tell you about how I'm dealing

with this winter weather in the East Coast.

I think winter is a blah when the days

are dark, dreary and numbingly cold.

A simple & TADA! solution -- these soft, cushy socks!

They're thick & warm. Hmmmmn.

Heavenly.

Here's a tip: Slather some lotion or

petroleum jelly on your feet before

putting on some socks.

Do this before bedtime and your feet

will be smooth & not winter weary.