The Inspired Room

Hey all you beautiful people!

I am starting something new for 2009 and I would love it if you joined me in whatever way you would like to.

Here is my plan: I am going to set twelve key word goals for living the kind of life I want in 2009.

I am talking simple stuff here (no 40 mile marathons, I’m not that disciplined!): Things like trying to add more beauty every day, create more ambience in my home, living a life of contentment, nurturing an attitude of gratitude in my family, incorporating goals for healthy living, focus on financial freedom, creating a welcoming home, organization, practicing regular solitude and quiet times — nothing too complicated or out of reach!

Each week at home I will incorporate as many of the goals to every day living as I can,  but will also focus intently on the particular goal for the month. My blog will continue with its regular content, but I’ll share ideas and inspiration for the 12 months of goals from time to time.

Because I had so much fun with Friday Holiday Linkies, I’d like to keep them in the new year. But instead of Holiday Linkies, they will be Beautiful Life Linkies. Every Friday there will be a Mr. Linky where you can link up posts showing how you are striving for the life you want at your own home.

Everyone may have different ways of making life beautiful at home, so it will be fun to be inspired each week by how you all are trying to savor the life you have. We can all go about this in any way that works for you. Or, feel free to just be inspired by others and not participate. Totally up to you.

Friday Linkies will be up each week so we can keep ourselves focused on the positive traits or goals we’ve set. And, by sharing our journeys together I think we can get to know each other better and be an inspiration to others. If you don’t have a blog you might want to set up a journal at home to record the positive steps you make each week.

Does this make sense? Remember, I am moving tomorrow so my brain is a bit fuzzy (shhh…don’t tell my hubby I am in here talking about living a beautiful life and not CLEANING with him, heee hee hee!).

I really want to start this year off fresh and focused on living a beautiful life. That doesn’t mean an expensive or perfect life, or setting unrealistic resolutions, just living a life that is intentional on finding contentment and beauty every day. So often in the rush of life we miss out on what is really important. This is my way to keep myself enjoying life everyday with no regrets.

Here is the plan:

The first step will be setting 12 goals for living the life I want in 2009. I’ll share those with you (below) and you can either use mine or set your own or just enjoy the inspiration others will share.

The second step will be looking at the 12 goals and seeing how many I can fit into my week right from the very beginning of January, paying particular attention to the specific month goal as we go through the year. Little successes are all I am hoping for!

The third step if you want to follow along is to share the positive ways we are creating the life we want. We can link up posts through Mr. Linky or in the comments on Fridays. You can use my focus word or use your own.

The end result:

Hopefully by the end of 2009 we will have formed some new habits and feel all twelve goals were a regular part of our life.

Our first Beautiful Life Linky will post on January 9! If any of this is confusing, I’ll try to clear it up by next week. Feel free to ask questions. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

photo: HGTV

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Pretty laundry room inspiration!

BHG

BHG

HGTV

BHG

Ta da! Introducing my new laundry room!

For the first time ever, I will have a real laundry room! I feel so grown up! It is not very big or fancy, but it is a real laundry room with a window! And a little closet! On the second floor right by all the bedrooms–not in the basement!

Just thought I’d give you a sneak peek and some inspiration photos…more to come soon little chickadees! Back to packing for me! Gah!

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Are you all planning on getting organized in 2009? I will be getting organized out of necessity! I’m downsizing 2000 square feet off my house size in this move, plus losing an attic and storage shed. Yikes! By the looks of things around here, I am worried even what I am planning to bring won’t fit.

I found some before and afters of an office makeover at Country Living that now has a little more pizazz and doubles as a guest room. This is something I am thinking about as I will no longer have my own office. Doing double duty is a great idea whether you are combining a guest room and an office or what I plan to do, which is to combine my office into my bedroom. The more office stuff I can hide, the happier I’ll be.

I love this little guest cabinet filled with all sorts of goodies for guests to enjoy! I like to keep special guest towels that no kids are allowed to use…a little cabinet like this would be such a cute way to store them.

I really dislike most file cabinets. This is a charming way to have files hidden away in plain view in any room of the house! It looks more like a blanket chest than a file cabinet, but it contains hanging file folders.

Most of us don’t have an exclusive guest room, at least while our children are still at home. This little chest hides an AeroBed, so you can have an instant guest room when you need one.

An uninspiring office closet becomes a charming way to stay organized! I’m always a sucker for pretty boxes and containers. I love the happy surprise of opening a closet and seeing something pretty, rather than being buried by the rubble.

Stay tuned, I’ve got an idea for our 2009 Friday Linky (I can do lots of thinking while I pack!) and it involves some resolutions you might want to join me in! I am excited about it, and I hope you will enjoy it too. Details to come this week! And, just four days until my move…of course you will all be coming along with me on THAT adventure.

Have a great day!

photos: Country Living

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