Where do you find inspiration? Up in the sky. Down by your feet? On Pinterest? In a strange city, at a strange coffee shop! staring at a man that reminds you of Clark Kent, remembering how the feel of a newspaper is both romantic and informative?
I wanted to share some inspiration with you this morning. It’s Monday. We we need it… just like we need sunshine, creamy coffee, and frisky red wine…. or maybe that’s just me.
I love you. No biggie.
Inspiration from my bedroom dresser. Big blue nail polish from Butter London. A domino with my favorite number on it. Dangle earrings from Soledad. A pink fashion clutch from ooooold times Banana Republic.
Inspiration from characters. A man taking tickets on a train from St. Louis to Chicago at 4:30 in the morning. He had a lot of things in his pockets, and his mustache makes me want to make beer… so he could drink it and I could giggle at his beer mustache.
Inspiration in a middle America sunrise. I want coffee… and I want it dirty. What does that even mean? … that there needs to be a tractor around? Yea.
Inspiration in colors happening.
There really is so much for us to see… we just have to stop and see it.
Inspiration in the greats.
T.S. Eliot is one of my favorite poets.
I stood in front of his teenage home in St. Louis… and I cocked my foot to the side juuust so…. so my feet would look like those cool fashion bloggers. They always have their toes turned in.
… clearly I need to read more Eliot.
Inspiration in old shapes.
This heater makes me crave Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread. Right?
Inspiration in friendship. Even in our thirties, we take the time to do each other’s hair. It’s in us. We also speak our hearts, and laugh like monsters… that’s in us too.
There’s color and beauty in most everything. Let’s remember to see it… to really see it, let in sink in, let it help us create.
Find more inspiration in these special places on the internet. Take a few minutes… you’re important.
Baked Bree big.beautiful.bright.food.
A Sweet Spoonful food.words.tenderness.
Design Love Fest girl.you.so.crazy.talented. ..dang..
Hungry Girl Por Vida real.pretty.life.
Dapper Paper man and wife.paper and such.
Lauryl Lane flowers.greens. weddings so nice.
Bonnie Tsang oh.what.you.capture.
What a lovely post, thank you for the sweet thoughts to start my Monday morning (:
xo Kayla
An inspiring post reminding me to take a minute to literally smell the roses…or hot chocolate…whichever is closer.
Mondays are hard….!
:D
Thanks for the inspirations, Joy.
Oh my, what a beautiful bevy of words and images to send me off into the world this morning – my eyes are wide open, and I can’t wait to see what I encounter.
Keeping all the senses open…. wherever we are. Out on the road say in NYC and at home with colored nails or a new flavor of macaroons. I love Butter’s cuticle cream. And I happen to be an 8 girl myself with a bday of 4-8-68… and a serious penchant for even numbers. Safe travels.
Taken that train route so many times – so many great characters! Enjoy your time in the midwest!
This is my first time on your blog. It is 4am here in jersey and I was looking for a great lemon meringue pie and I stumbled into your lemon curd meringue cookies.
Long story short, I was hooked subscribed, and now I am inspired. I still have more reading to do in your blog and I am so excited to start trying your recipes. Starting with the cookies tomorrow!
I love love the picture of friends doing each others hair. It reminds me that I have to call someone and tell her how much I miss the days of playing dress up!
Thanks for the inspiration
Tierra
Joliet train station inspired me. I’ve lived in Germany for the last 4 years and am waiting at the train station, starting my journey back home today. Home to a farming community very near to the obscure Midwest town of Joliet. Happy travels, Joy.
I love this. Also: that old clutch is totally hot and in style again now. Wish I could borrow it from you. Hehehe.
http://queenink.tumblr.com/ has amazing tattoos, art, music, books! its a blog that belogs to a tattoo artist in santa cruz name Kai Smart. inspiration central! joy where did you get your navy napkin with the poppies on it you showed it with the soy sauce cookies?? its my favorite flower
I’m always in a rush… to here, to there, to everywhere… always feel like I need to occupy my time with something… thinking of recipes while walking, always making a list of things to do, always too busy woryring about the things not checked off… always telling myself to take a break and just sit back… but still, it rarely happens. Thank you for the reminder that life is beautiful and everything around us is beautiful, we just need to take the time to look and see.
You’re so right, Joy. Inspiration IS everywhere. Sometimes we forget to look at it when we’re at home because we’re so used to it, but when we’re on the road – out there – some times it’s so clearl to us that it feels like we’re getting bopped on the head with it all. Divine. Travelicious.
I lived in Chicago for years and that train station picture brings back memories.
Looks like you’re having a fabulous time on the road, with plenty of adventures and inspiration ALL around you! Traveling is inspiring, period!
Pinterest is a lovely place to find inspiration if you live in the middle of nowhere, or browsing trough comments on blogs, discovering new blogs.
And I finally got the last enjoy it gift! And love it!
Love this – actually, quite inspirational to help me think about what I find to be inspiring! :)