A Few Regular, Daily Sites
The past few months have taken me to Nashville, TN, High Point, NC and now Boston, MA. I rarely travel this much but the change in pace has been welcome and exciting! Eventually, though, it feels good to slow down and get back to a regular routine. These photos are just a few snapshots outside...
Breath of Fresh Air
I’m not exactly what you’d call a “numbers person”. I can work my way around a generous tip calculation, but let’s just say that my talents shine more brightly in other areas. Good thing. Because I’ve been desperately looking for an excuse to avoid adding up the days since I posted on this blog last....
Get Your Magazines in Order, my dear!
In all my anti-clutter, regular purging mania, do you know the one thing that I have so much trouble getting rid of? (ok, besides my weird collection of dried leaves and flower petals)… Magazines!! They are perhaps the least expensive publication a person can get there hands on and resale book shops everywhere have loads...
Coffee and Catching Up
At this quiet moment on Sunday evening before the hustle of another week begins, I’m thinking back to two weeks ago. David and I were on our Thanksgiving trip home to Tennessee, visiting family and catching up with good friends. We ate delicious food, took it easy, and gave thanks for our blessings. Life was...
Clear the Decks for Style Visa!
They say a group is only as good as their leader. Extend that logic to your home and suddenly you have an entirely new perspective on the influence of your furniture in your life! Without much fancy analysis, the state of my home office was one thing… pathetic. Piles of paper, notebooks, and unsorted mail...
Just for You
Let me take you back to a moment in my life from this past week. Opportunity knocks I get super excited about a once-in-a-lifetime experience Adrenaline soars I gather my nerves Then find myself energized and utterly inspired Ideas bursting at the seams of my brain Tempted to tweet, post, ‘gram… anything!! Don’t… Instead, the...
Being a Creative Freelancer
During my visit with Stephanie a few weeks ago for her Style Story feature, we also sat down to discuss a topic that’s especially relevant to me and my current work situation but one that I’m sure anyone in a creative field could relate to… being a creative freelancer (particularly outside of the major cities...
Speckled Leaves
Color seems a little scarce these days. Most outdoor greenery in my corner of the world is either shriveled up or lacking in vibrance and, of course, none of the leaves have begun to change colors (thank you, two-season Texas). As a former resident of the Southeastern United States, I’m still sore over the lack...
Weekend Ritual
Guess where I’ll be again this weekend? You got it!! With David’s high school band at tonight’s football game. This is such a funny thing for me. You see, I was home schooled in high school and my brothers were more into wrestling and show choir than football and band. Sure, I’ve been around David long...
Weekend Cheers
The temps are slowly creeping back up to their usual high self but they are never the less lower than they were a couple weeks ago. We’re making improvements! David has a little extra time off this weekend (no football game or band competitions) so I plan on taking full advantage of our free time...
In Quiet Moments
My mind is rarely quiet. It’s constantly buzzing with the activity of upcoming tasks, growing to-do lists, beeping texts, junk emails, flooded calendars, nagging invoices, big projects, and so on and so forth until what seems like the end of time. As it turns out, my work is a huge distraction in my life! (ha!!)...
Urban Oasis
After yesterday’s “hefty” subject matter about the importance of art, today I find myself in the mood to simplify. Easy enough! Recently, I visited the Fort Worth Water Gardens and found them to be the perfect place to escape for a quiet moment of reflection or mindless relaxation. I’ll let the photographs do most of...
Weekend Cheers
This week has been a little strange. I mentioned our tree catastrophe in yesterday’s post. It’s kept David, Ives, and me in the dark for the past 24 hours and improvements aren’t promising for at least another couple days. I won’t lie… it’s been irritating but the one upside has been my forced separation from...
Color Study… Ep. 12
This past weekend really started to feel like Summer. I know, I know… Summer doesn’t actually begin until June 21st, but let me tell you, it might as well be here already! Perhaps it was our more relaxed schedule finally catching up with us or maybe it was simply the color of the clothes I...
Walking the Line
I often walk a fine line between endlessly inspired and hopelessly overwhelmed, wobbling back and forth between the two daily. When my work is inspiring, I feel energized and capable of anything. When it’s not, my days drag and the work seems to never end. This week has been an odd combination of both. Now that...
Color Study… Ep. 11
Loving the warm hues of ivory, red, and tan on my front porch these days. In my last Color Study episode, I mentioned a special project coming up. It’s still in the works so you’ll have to keep you curiosity at bay for just a little while longer. In the meantime, here is another behind-the-scenes...
Color Study… Ep. 10
The end of last week and the beginning of this one have been a pleasant blur. My parents came into town on Friday and between preparations for their visit and their actual stay, I’ve had little time for blogging. Our days were spent browsing local shops, enjoying Fort Worth dining, sharing time with our new...
Art & Life
When was the last time you visited an art museum? Be honest… last month, last year, last century?! If you haven’t recently, I implore you, make it a priority. David and I visited The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, which we are now members of, and left with a renewed enthusiasm for and understanding...
Twice as Nice… Summer Abroad
Last week’s “Twice as Nice” post was so much fun to compose! I stepped away from these “editorial” style features on the blog a while back and haven’t felt the desire to pick them up again until recently. Ever since I created my Currently Obsessed account, I’ve been hooked on scanning the webs for unique...
Beyond the Walls
How often do you really open your eyes to the details of your surroundings? Most days, I’m very aware of what’s around me (except when the house needs cleaning and the laundry is piling up… then I’d rather ignore my environment). Today’s photographs were taken while running around town late last week. Each scene struck...
Color Study… Ep. 8
Spring time is well on it’s way to peaking here in Texas! I missed the blooming trees that Tennessee so spectacularly produces but regardless, I’m enjoying the fresh breeze, mild temperatures, and relentlessly chirping birds – they seriously never stop. A few colors that have seemed especially prevalent are the ivory and white-washed hues as...
Color Study… Ep. 7
My week has been a beautiful mix of flowers, turtlenecks, and vintage jewelry… three of my favorite things!! The subsequent color scheme couldn’t have been more lovely either. Blush pink, mustard yellow, and emerald green feel incredibly fresh and unique together, not to mention the perfect color recipe for this in-between season we’re in. What...
Valentine’s Left Overs
I don’t know about you, but I enjoyed a lovely Valentine’s Day! David and I stayed in and cooked delicious dinner together. Well, he cooked… I cleaned. (he’s much better at that than I am). Of course, along with any Valentine’s dinner comes flowers, but instead of requesting a perfectly composed bouquet from the grocer,...
These Days
Hello again dear friends!! My sincerest apologizes for abandoning you so far this week. Things are constantly in a state of unsure balance around here and occasionally that balance gets shifted towards the direction of work, leaving this space in the dust. To give you an idea of what’s been happening in my life lately,...
Big vs. Little
Here are a few brief thoughts for the weekend. I created my first inspiration board for 2012 this week. So far, it’s been wonderful!! I look up at it and am refreshed with a wall of new ideas and thoughts. Each new thought leads to a new plan, which in turn leads to a new...
New Year, New Board
I know, I know… the beginning of the New Year was almost a full month ago! What am I doing just now changing my inspiration board? Unfortunately, I didn’t get to my yearly inspiration board makeover until just now. Story of my life I’m afraid. So, in order to maintain my sense of accomplishment, I’m...
Here’s to Another!
My, my how time flies! I had all the best intentions of publishing this post at the beginning of the day but much like life itself, time got away from me. Today is officially this blog’s 2nd birthday. I can hardly believe it! This time last year, I was just beginning to re-imagine things for...
Chain Reaction
I am one of those people who is greatly affected by my environment… I mean, really affected! When my house is a mess, I don’t function well and find myself less able to work creatively and efficiently. Organization fuels my ability to work outside the box, and that’s a trait that I realize isn’t the...
A Touch of Winter
The crunch and crisp of Winter has begun to set in. Early mornings are frost bitten and late evenings have a chill that will bite you to the bone. The mid day is still relatively mild here in Texas but cold none the less. I took this photograph earlier in the season and it caught...
Mark the Spot
If you are reading this blog, chances are you have an admiration for beautiful things in the form of published media. For years, traditional printed magazines have been the primary resource for this type of content. As a young girl, I can remember searching far and wide for my favorite publications and since then, I’ve...
Color Study… Ep. 5
A special delivery arrived at my front door last week (more on that later) and it came in the most beautiful jewel-toned hues. It just so happens that the colors include all of my favorites… all of them, really! So naturally, today’s Color Study post was inspired by that. My Design*Sponge hardcover book has been...
The Art of Presentation
This post may be a little late considering that the holiday season has already past us, but I felt it was worth posting regardless. I received the Barneys New York Holiday 2011 catalog at the beginning of the season and was struck by the beautifully simple and artistic presentation. While most retailers choose to inundate...
Quiet & Still Weekend Cheers
While making a quick stop by the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens earlier this week, I noticed the gold fish pond was moving very slowly. I stopped to look closer and remembered that the cold weather causes gold fish to hibernate essentially by slowing their movement considerably. This idea struck me at the moment as being...
Autumn Appearances
Despite growing older every year and seeing the “same” seasonal changes time and time again, I am still so smitten with the colors and textures of Fall. Although I’ve mentioned it many times in the past several weeks, I have yet to dedicate an entire post to what is my most favorite seasonal change of...
Color Study… Ep. 2
You wouldn’t believe the album of photos from my trip to Arizona! Everywhere I turned, I noticed something new and fascinating to capture. Color was an interesting subject to study in the desert. Most everything is dry and dusty which makes for a very muted color palette. But then you have the sky which can...
Severe Beauty
I must admit… I’m a bit speechless. My short trip to Arizona last week was a refreshing and rejuvenating escape from the worries and woes of ordinary life. The scenery was breathtaking – truly! I could have spent all my time snapping away on my camera, but, in an attempt to have a balanced experience,...
Desert Retreat
Good morning! Today I am sending this post to you from the far-off state of Arizona where I am taking a brief retreat from work, play, and the internet (almost) to reflect and refocus. It has been a breathtaking retreat and I am treasuring every moment… the mornings before dawn, the vibrantly colored skies, and...
Color Study… Ep. 1
Cognac, Chartreuse, & Smokey Blue I have been noticing the growing appearance of the color Cognac these days… not brown, not tan, not orange – Cognac, a very distinct, warm shade combining a touch of all three I just listed. It is a beautiful neutral for the Fall season and I am especially inspired by...
Weekend Cheers
Here’s to taking a moment for yourself. Breathing deep. Unplugging. Relaxing. And taking a moment to enjoy the outdoors.
Mind of the Makeover… Modern Romantic
Well, here it is… my little dream of a website has finally come to fruition. I thought for so long that it would never happen but, never the less, kept the idea firmly placed in my mind. Long nights in Photoshop and many hours brainstorming and editing later, I am giddy as a school girl...
Into the Garden
Because I have been so remiss in posting this week, today will be an extra full dose of Hilary Inspired for your viewing pleasure! This time of year is so perfect for spending an afternoon outdoors – cool breezes, mild temperatures, beautiful changing scenery – which is why I chose to visit the Fort Worth...
Rosy Embers
I’m beginning to believe my fruit selection is guided more heavily by the coloration of the produce than I originally thought. I mean, I’ve always know this was a factor in my decision making, but without a doubt, I selected these glowing red pears purely because of their gorgeous skins. A pile of yellow-green cousins...
The Gate is Asway
Out of the blue and for no apparent reason other than momentary curiosity, I picked up an old book of poems sitting on a near-by bookshelf last week. While turning through the brittle, age worn pages, I came across this capsule sized poem entitled “October”. It seemed an appropriate feature for today’s post – can...
Simple Things
Most days, I make an effort to share posts with you that have been purposefully conceptualized and accompanied by words that were carefully composed. I admit that sometimes I probably spend too much time scrutinizing and editing and, by the end, share posts that are a tad long-winded but it’s all with the intent to...
The Weekend
Finally, after the labor day weekend festivities, I am catching up on a busy week’s worth of projects. A little extra time found me editing a few photographs from last weekend last night taken at the park with friends. It was a gorgeous day in Texas… a person could actually sit outside for more than...
Fading Colors
I hesitated to post today’s images. I’m sure by now you’re tired of seeing my country bouquet of late summer flowers since their first appearance in THIS post. But I’ve completely enjoyed watching their evolution from fresh, peppy buds to rich, full blooms and now softly faded shadows of those initial blossoms. Surprisingly, I think...
Amateur Artists
Last minute plans usually go one of two ways, really great or really not. This past Thursday evening, David had a last minute idea for a memorable (and affordable) activity to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. Our hope… that the plan would be great despite it’s impromptu arrangement. Instead of spending a large amount of money on...
