Not too sure why, but whenever we have people over everybody always migrates and stays in the kitchen and dining room. This is a pattern that I have noticed for along time, so in our new house I decided to make sure we had as much seating as I could muster. So, I added a small table and a couple more chairs to the dining room on the wall across from the table. When we moved in I immediately decorated for Christmas, so that is the only before pic I have. 
It had to come down some time, so I fixed up this quick set up just this past weekend. The table had been empty before that...
A plant, a couple "healthy" books, and a cute little plaque make this space fresh. This spot gets tons of sunlight, so I am hoping the plant will look a little happier. It already looks less droopy than before
The purple plaque says "BREATHE It's your only obligation". When I am feeling down, or upset, or overwhelmed, I remember that if I can just breathe I will make it through whatever there is... A nice reminder!
The weather this past week has been beyond amazing. I have been spending so much time outside and I really enjoying the sunshine and the heat (Although I miss winter). I spent my Sunday afternoon like this...
I was lucky enough to sit down and spend the day doing nothing. I had lunch on the grass, drew a little, read, listened to music, and watched the cats hunt (unsuccessfully) for birds.
Been taking some time with a pen and some colored pencils and crayons and just letting my mind take me where ever it pleases. I love just letting my creative side take course and being pleasantly surprised with the result.Thought I would give you a tiny peek at what I have been doing lately
I used to love to water color, and did it often- but one year in high school I put a piece in an art show, and heard another group of students say that my painting was terrible and they couldn't believe that the artist thought it was good enough to go in a show. That and then my art teacher would give me an F on some projects that I thought were amazing. My moral quickly denigrated along with my confidence. Since then, I have really wanted and needed another outlet for my creative side, and tried to pick up watercolors again, just to be disappointed. So, in come the pen and a blank piece of paper and I am satisfied!
Picked up a random envelope and just went for it.
Crayons and colored pencils made for a great play with color
I love flowers. I love looking at them in real life, in photos, on paper, I love flowers. Its no wonder that flower are the first thing I tend to draw anywhere
I find this process to be relaxing, and I can just let my mind wander.
One of my favorite things to do is day dream- which is exactly what drawing lets me do
Ever since I can remember, one of my lifelong goals was to travel around the world, and see as much as I possibly can. I want to see the whole world before I die. Unfortunately, I'm not off to a very good start and have only been to a couple places- South Korea, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, across the United States several times, and up a little into Canada. I guess that sounds like a lot to somebody who has never traveled before, but I need more! I want to experience the world in all its glory...
Norway is an amazingly beautiful place! With those mountains and rivers and lakes, it looks amazing! 
While I was blog browsing I came across a post from House of Turquoise where she showed a room from a Norwegian blog. I went to that blog and found their house to be amazing. I loved it!
An adorable little nook! I love the benches and all the light the windows bring in!
This space is very simple, and chic, with a little rustic vibe to it, so I love how they added the small chandelier to bring in a little glam. It looks great
The white floors are fabulous! I love how the pallet table looks paired with the chic white chair.
Love old typewriters!
In love with that console! And those floors!
I love a home that is neutral, bright, and airy. I like being able to read in a sunlit room and not need lights in the middle of a sunny day. Thats exactly what this house has to offer! I just adore this house, and now I REALLY want to see Norway!
I am attempting to give my bedroom a makeover, on a little to non-existent budget over the next few months... We shall see how that goes, but I already have a plan in my head that I think is going to be fun, cheap, and look great! Since my new bedspread is very colorful, the plan is to paint the new nightstands (shopping around the house) black to go with our black bedframe, and then bring in a little more pops of color with accessories.
One of those accessories being the bedside lamps. Now, (bear with me here for a moment) my bedroom happens to be in the wealth and prosperity center of my house according to Feng Shui -which I am used to- therefore I am going with different colors of purple in the accessories to promote all the wealth and prosperity I can. At least thats the plan, but I wouldn't doubt that will change while I'm in the process of the makeover. Sooo.... I am needing to get a new lamp for the nightstand, and my thought was to get one that worked from the goodwill cause you can get them for a couple bucks and then paint it and whatnot to make it mine.
I'm thinking colors and maybe shape like these... 
I especially LOVE this second purple color! What a great pop that would add!!!
Here are some other lamps that I thought were amazing and inspirational as well...
I love all the shapes and the texture in this room! That lamp is perfect, and I'm sure it sets off a fabulous soft glow!
Real Simple
I adore the shape and the pattern of this lamp, however I think that in my own space, this just takes up too much of the nightstand. I like to have room on the surface for my jewelery, a book, and a glass of water without being worried about spilling all over my book in the middle of the night cause everything is too close together and there isn't enough space.
Real Simple
Something with a skinny base, and smaller shade are perfect. They leave enough room on the table without compromising your light
HGTV
I like the shape of this lamp, and the square shade. Very interesting and unique
Good Housekeeping
On one hand you can go bold with color, on the other hand, you can go with no color and keep it simple...
Decor Pad
I tend to like the no color just as much... I just wish these types of lamps were cheap! I've never seen one like this in the thrift stores!
Decor Pad
Can you tell this is my favorite style?
I love the clear balls- the simplicity of it all...
Another thought that I have thrown around is hanging a light from the ceiling. The only thing holding me back is the fact that in order for it to be at the right height, you need to have a long cord from the ceiling... Not a big fan of that, and I can just picture my two cats swatting at it to keep themselves entertained!
It had to come down some time, so I fixed up this quick set up just this past weekend. The table had been empty before that...
A plant, a couple "healthy" books, and a cute little plaque make this space fresh. This spot gets tons of sunlight, so I am hoping the plant will look a little happier. It already looks less droopy than before
The purple plaque says "BREATHE It's your only obligation". When I am feeling down, or upset, or overwhelmed, I remember that if I can just breathe I will make it through whatever there is... A nice reminder!
