4.29.2011 INSPIRATION

///spring in the pacific northwest is a tricky son of a bitch.

PERSONAL RULES:

+ listen

+ be

+ "steady as she goes"

+ trust

+ dont keep up/keep true

+ 20/20 vision by any means possible

Help Alabama

Hi again,

I have had several of you ask how you can help the tornado victims, thank you. The American Red Cross is a great place start but there are so many organizations helping out, a great list can be found here. I did want to mention that tonight there is a local telethon being hosted, Neighbors In Need, by ABC 33/40. For those who aren't local you can watch HERE.

Thank You

I just wanted to say thank you for two things. First, thank you for all your calls, texts and e-mails yesterday regarding the tornados in Alabama. We are okay, the really bad tornado missed us by a few miles. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for so many others, including a really wonderful client of mine (they are physically fine which is such a blessing). Also, I wanted to say thank you for all the childcare comments and e-mails. I needed the advice, trust me! To take time out of your busy days to send me the wealth of information you did is really awesome. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and if I have not e-mailed back yet it is not because I am ignoring you, it is because the computer virus that won't quit is still having a blast in my computer.

I hope you have a wonderful and peaceful weekend.

PS- Anyone have any idea what why my right sidebar is not showing up? If you click on older posts it is there but not with the newest posts....

Image found She Takes Flight via Emphasis Added

Love The One You're With- Kirsten Krason

A while back I started a guest blogger series called Love The One You're With based on what fellow bloggers love about their own space. The idea behind the series is to take a moment to focus on what we like instead of what we would change in our own homes (which if you are like me is a long and continual list). I also love to take a peek into other homes and see what is going on!

So today I am starting the series again with Kirsten Krason from 6th Street Design School. I am sure you are familiar with her blog but if not be sure to check out her Etsy roundups (although I warn you that you will always leave wanting something you didn't know you needed!

The place I love most in my life is my office. It is such a special gift to be able to have a room all to myself. I love love love walking in here when my son is napping, shutting the door, lighting a candle, turning on my pandora and working on projects. This room signifies my dream of starting my own business. Sometimes I'll just take a moment to look around this room and realize how lucky I am. I love this room because it has my two favorite colors in it. Blue and pink! I like designing spaces for myself that have pink, are slightly girly and very care-free. I love happy colors and fabrics and lots of white. It's wonderful to have my Ikea shelf where everything has a place. I also love having my desk in front of my window so I can look outside and enjoy our wonderful view of the mountains. Thanks so much to Marianne for letting me participate in sharing the room I love!

Oh I love that office! Thank you Kirsten for your post, I love what you wrote about the office signifying a dream come true!

Photography: Jessica Kettle Photography

Sometimes You Forget, Until You Are Reminded

Sometimes you forget how much you want something (which is probably a sign you really don't need it) until something else reminds you again. Take this watch...I have wanted it for a while now but it fell off my radar until the other day when I saw these (which are sooo on my mind lately)...

Which in turn made me think of something that looked a little something like this, bringing me back to the original watch...

Funny how that happens...and leaves you wanting all 3 even more. While looking at this I found a few others that look like lost cousins (all of which I now want, but I would not wear them at the same time, too matchy)

All wedges Tory Burch (any of which I would accept with open arms), All bands J. Crew

Advice Needed Birmingham!

Okay all you people in the 'Ham who know things when it comes to little ones, I need your advice. One day I would like to think I will be put together as this...

But who am I kidding? There is no time to dream right now, I am over half way through this pregnancy and the panic attacks are starting. I need help and advice when it comes to childcare!!!

I am looking for something that is not full time, but at least 3 days a week. I am thinking a nanny share/mother's day out combination is the way to go but I am open to any and all suggestions. Daycares you like, people you have used, or nice, normal, perfectly sane new or future parents who might be in the same predicatment that would want to share child care.

I appreciate all suggestions! If you don't want to leave the information in a comment please e-mail me - mariannestrong@aol.com. Thank you!!!

Morning Snack

Image House & Home

FEATURED: BP INTERIORS ON B. ALEGRE OBJECTS

B. ALEGRE OBJECTS

/// Good friend's and client's of mine have recently opened their own antique and found objects space in Bellevue, Washington's exclusive Haystack Antiques. Check out my piece in their space and make sure you go see all the other wonderful pieces from their travels up for sale.

This Is The Last Week I Will...

This is the last week I will be working from this office...and I can't wait! Out of the house and into a much larger space...as you can tell, I need more room desperately. This is only half of it, I also have a storage space with more samples, furniture, etc.

If I am being really honest with you this a relatively clean state, usually it just looks like a disaster.

Just a few more days to go....I can't wait to share the new space with you!

Quiet Time - Happy Easter

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3

Home Inspiration

Have a wonderful weekend.

Images This Old House

Add It To The Nursery Wish List...

Cough, cough. My computer (still under seige - I am on a temp right now which causes some procrastination) is not the only thing sick in the Strong household at the moment. It seems my maiden hair fern decided it no longer wanted to live in this world and kicked the bucket. It may look lively in this picture, but it is actually very dead. R.I.P. little fern, you made it a couple of months which is good all things considered.Which brings me to this little fun thing that I want to add to my wish list for Baby Strong's nursery...

I came across it on Daily Candy today and I think it would be so cute on a shelf somewhere. No, I haven't even started on his future home, yet here I am looking at a planter for the nursery. Where are my priorities and who puts a plant in a kids room? Oh, I do. And a plant like the one shown would probably met a much a better fate than my poor Maiden Hair.

When It Rains...

My computer for the past 36 hours has been suffering from the worst virus it has ever seen. It seems even with the virus removed, mass chaos is running about within those walls. I am working on getting it fixed but until then if I owe you an e-mail I promise it is coming. Apparently my phone does not like the extra work it is being asked to perform. It is crazy how reliant I am on this laptop.
This picture found on Etsy shop Ashleykelemen, reminds me of another trend we saw at Highpoint- out of focus photography. I have to say, it grew on me.

"WE'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY"////art school

///////EXCERPTS FROM SKETCHBOOK 2003

I will spare you the bad poetry that became lyrics.