Friday ~ Links I'm Loving

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I thought I would try something new.

On Fridays each week I thought I would start sharing some of my fav links of the week.

There is so much fabulous inspiration out there these days.

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I feel like Pinterest is my best girl friend.

Pinterest just gets me...

Totally

 

If anyone would understand that statement & not think I was totally crazy,

it would be my blog friends, right???

Hopefully...

 

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I'm not sure if it's the time of year with Summer right around the corner,

or the fact that our Home Renovation is nearly complete & I am in need of

some much needed R&R & a great vacation getaway,

but these images really speak to me this week.

 

Check out the rest of my inspiration images on Pinterest.

You can follow my Pinterest Boards here.

 Or click on the Pinterest logo in the sidebar.

 

Carrie

 

 

Our Renovation - Interior Inspirations

 



image via Decor Pad

 

I've really been working hard to make sure that I have a nice collection of inspiration images.

I believe it is a necessary part of the process during a renovation of any size.

Or even just a redocrating project.

When you see rooms that inspire you, they make you feel good, cozy and warm.

Giving you the feeling that you are home.

 

In order for you to feel the easy relaxed and casual feeling of home.

You have to surround yourself with things that you love.

I believe that the fabrics, colors and textures you bring into a home help soothe the soul.

 

image via Pottery Barn

 

You can see all of inpirations images on my Pinterest boards here.

I have also created a special board to help inspire the Corson Cottage Renovation.

You can follow that board here.

 

 image via Google Cottage Living

 

These images are a few of my favorites that I have collected over time.

Some of them, I pinned on Pinterest.

Truth be told I have actually saved old Cottage Living magazines for years also,

with some of these images in mind for one day when...

Finally that day has arrived!

It's almost starting to seem surreal.

 

image via Decor Pad

 

We are currently making choices on flooring, paint, cabinets, counter tops, and lighting.

I want to make sure that the choices we make will all make sense.

I believe that a home should have a cohesive look and feel throughout the entire home.

I also think a home is a relection of you and your family.

A home should reflect your lifestyle and how you will live in your space.

Surround yourself with what makes you feel comfortable.

Make sure that the comforts of home are also functional for the way you live everyday.

 

image via Decor Pad

 

Take the things you love about each photo or blog post that inspires you.

What is it that you really love about it?

Is the color, a texture a mood?

Those are the things to think about when planning your space.

Find a way to bring what you love from the things that inspire you into your home.

That is how you will create the home of your dreams.

Trust me when I say, this can be done on any budget.

 

image via Decor Pad

 

I hope you see some things here that inspire you.
Hopefully you can see the look and feel I hope to create in our cottage home.
I may need some help choosing finishing options, so I would love your input in the posts to come.

I would love for you to follow me on Pinterest too.
Click here to see my Pinterest boards.
If you see something you think would be a great inspiration for our renovation, let me know.
I would love to see it!





 Have a great relaxing weekend!
Carrie





Our Renovation ~ Inspiration Images

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We are coming to the point in our renovation where we are putting the

 finishing touches on the structural build.

It is almost time to begin the siding, windows & doors.

Before you know it we will be on to the finishing of the mechanicals & beginning the inside finishes.

I have waited & waited for this part.

It is time to begin planning some of the small details that will turn this project

 from a pipe dream into reality & our dream home.

 

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I have spent some time lately really trying to sift through all of my thoughts/plans/etc.

(And maybe a just few dozen Cottage Living Magazines I have stashed over the years.)

Afterall this may be the last home we ever live in.

It needs to be right & encompass as many of our hopes & aspirations as possible.

 

You know the thoughts like.

 

Maybe one day I would like to have...

In my dream home...

If I could choose anything it would be...

I have to have one of these...

 

 

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The images I have found here truly capture the overall

 look feel & aesthetic I am hoping to achieve in our new home.

I thought I would share some of what we were going through in our renovation life currently.

Even though these are not images from our home a large part of renovating is being inspired.

I have to remind myself from time to time how worth it this will all be in the end.

 

Here's to the Renovators!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

4th of July Party - Inspiration

jennysteffens.com

If I have not shared before one of my all time favorite daily reads is

Everyday

OCCASIONS

by Jenny Steffens Hobick

I absolutely adore Jenny's simple effortless style that can be used for any occasion.

Her style encompasses classic American tradtions in such a tasteful way.

I could not resist sharing her

star spangled

4TH OF JULY

PARTY

I love hosting & entertaining guests

and simply can not wait until our new home is finished,

to share special backyard parties with our friends & family.

I will definitely be stopping by Jenny's blog for inspirations.

If we were entertaining for the 4th, I hope it could look as inviting & timeless as this.

Have a great weekend &

 Happy 4th of July!



Restoration Hardware ~ Does Blue

You know how I feel about blue.

This may be my interior design heaven.

Living.

Dining.

Bedrooms.



Bath.





Have you received your Restoration Hardware Bible yet?

Carrie



Simply Sunday ~ Tulips



Welcome to Simply Sunday!

We are introducing our fresh new blog look today!

I hope you all like it.  I was going for a very simple look that reflects my style.

It's a still a bit of a work in progress, as I have been DIYing the new blog look myself.

Who knew, I would attempt such a crazy thing?!

& Along with that...

On Sunday each week we will be celebrating the simple things in life here at The Corson Cottage.

Today is the first Simply Sunday here at the cottage.

I think it is so important to remember to take time to appreciate the simple treasures in life.

Each week we will have a different simple sweet treasure to share with you all.

With eveyone so busy living life and letting things pass us by in the blink of eye,

each of us must remember to always make time each day to appreciate the little things.

So, whether you are literally living the simple life on a farm somewhere in the Midwest.

Or enjoying the hustle and bustle of big city life in a major metropolitan area.

Or perhaps you have a great beach house on the coast.

Or maybe you just live on a ordinary block, on an ordinary street lined with cute bungalows.

Whether you are a woman or man.

Whether you are young & single.

Whether you are married, widowed or divorced.

Whether you are a busy Mom with three kids.

Whether you are still hoping to be that Mom.

Whether you are a Grandmother of 8.
If you are at a good place of happiness & content with life
or struggling through some up hill battle (it too will pass.)

We can all benefit from a simple moment filled with

the sweetest irresistible treasure life thows our way!

Just remember when this happens....STOP.

&

Take the time to enjoy that moment or treasure!

For life is short & you never know when you may be making a memory that lasts a lifetime.

It just may be the single best moment of your day or even your week....take it in.

This weeks simple treasure.

~Tulips~

This week I was at the market and came across these simple tulip bouquets.

I just had to treat myself & bring one home.

This simply sweet bouquet brightened up our home for a few days this week.

I don't buy fresh flowers often enough.  I LOVE them.

Do you buy fresh flowers for your home?

Do you plant tulips in your yard?

What simple treasure did you come across this week???

Don't have one this week...

Make sure to come back next week after you soak in some of life's specialities please.

I hope you find something Simple & Special to enjoy on this Sunday!

Carrie

linking up to
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
A Bowl Full of Lemons
It's Overflowing
The Shabby Creek Cottage

Getting Inspired to Blog

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If you wondered where I've been this week....

to be totally honest, I've been at a blogging roadblock.

I have sat down at the computer nearly every single day with the intentions

on writing my next post.  And every single day...

nothing...

nada...

zero....

I got nothing to give ya!

Has this ever happened to you???

Well, it happened to me.

It's not the first time I have felt like that.

(It is the first time I decided to open up & share it with my readers.)

I'm sure it probably won't be the last either.

But, it did certainly make me sit up & take notice.

I wasn't really sure what happened?

The holidays were over.

I had a little down time to relax & refresh myself.

And still nothing....

It wasn't that I didn't feel like it,

nor that I wasn't motivated.

Or that I don't love blogging.

I LOVE blogging!

I just plain old didn't feel as though I had

anything to say, write about, or new projects to share.

What do you do when you are struggling to find your next inspiration?

Where do you find your inspirations?

Who do you turn to?

I know we all talk about all our "friends" on our blogs.

But truth be told.

I haven't hit that point with blogging, yet where I feel as though I have really developed a

"real" friendship or blogging buddy to turn to.  I can't exactly turn to my family & friends

during those times.  They don't completely get it.  Don't get me wrong my family & friends

are great supporters of my blog.  But they don't blog themselves. 

 And I love and appreciate all of your generous and kind comments...paalease keep them coming:)

But I feel a little alone at this at times.

So, what did I do?

I put on my girl boots.

And I did what any uninspired blogger would do.

I turned to those girls, those bloggers, that first inspired me to start my blog to begin with.

And...Guess What???

Those girls did not disapoint!

No they certainly did not!

So, starting tomorrow look for an introduction to a new short little series I came up with!

Carrie

Take Time to Reflect...Transform Yourself

It is that time of year.

Do you take time to reflect on last year & look towards the future with eyes bright open?

I do.

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Use the wisdom you gained in 2011 to help transform yourself in 2012.

Perhaps these words will help you along the way to:

Learn

Grow

Adapt

Give Yourself

Give It All You Got

Perservere

Create

Be Excellent

Do Your Best

Laugh

Laugh Louder

Laugh More Often

Love

Love Deeper

Love Forever

Here is to surrounding yourself with the things you truly love in 2012

&

Being the you, you wish to be.

Carrie

linking up to
Between Naps on the Porch