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Finding Inspiration

April 1, 2012 by Joy the Baker 94 Comments

inspiration

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

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

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

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

Inspiration in colors happening.

There really is so much for us to see… we just have to stop and see it.

inspiration

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

Inspiration in old shapes.

This heater makes me crave Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread.  Right?

inspiration

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.

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Filed Under: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « White Bean Bundt Cake
Next Post: Kale and Quinoa Cakes »

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  1. MaryRuth

    May 10, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    Oh, the Wormhole. What a lovely place. And how appropriate that it make an appearance on your lovely blog. I’m secretly hoping (well, not secretly, anymore) that you tried a Honey Bear Latte…such a wonderful and luxurious experience in a cup. If you didn’t, well, now you have a reason to come back to Chicago!

    And, speaking of lovely, you should also (if you didn’t) visit Lovely Bake Shop, conveniently just up the street from the Wormhole. And what about Ipsento (another coffee shop, because I might be an addict)?! Their signature drink marries coconut milk, honey and cayenne. *Sigh*

    So many delightful things here in the Second City. Including you, apparently, which I missed, sadly. Cheers!

    Reply
  2. Live a Sweet Life

    April 6, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    Loved this post!! It was a great read!

    Reply
  3. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes

    April 6, 2012 at 5:42 am

    Does Clark Kent know he´s picture is in hundreds (thousands, millions!) of screens now?
    Inspiring post!

    Reply
  4. Luba

    April 5, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    So beautiful!

    Reply
  5. lidia

    April 5, 2012 at 9:16 am

    oh how you inspire me joy!

    Reply
  6. Jo

    April 5, 2012 at 8:15 am

    Every time I glance at my “Joy The Baker Cookbook”, I totally get inspired!

    This morning I made the spinach kale banana smoothie, which I desperately needed, seeing as how I ate approximately 10 of the brown butter chocolate chip cookies yesterday…

    But also, I love love love going out for a run- run as far as you need to until you’re in wide open space, with nothing but hills and trees and clouds- that’s where inspiration strikes!

    Reply
  7. Caroline Turnbull-Hall

    April 4, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Joy

    Your book has just arrived in my letter box in the UK. Absolutely loving it – I want to take some time off and bake so much of it for my family. Baking is so healing when things are tough going ….

    Reply
  8. Megan

    April 4, 2012 at 11:23 am

    I’m inspired by taco dinners and burger lunches. Beers in the backyard and freckled shoulders. Breakfasts that keep you full until dinner and walks with my pup.

    Reply
  9. Nicole @ The Dirty Oven

    April 4, 2012 at 11:01 am

    Joy you are my inspiration….Thank you! Homework!!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. Inspiration… « Coffee & Sunshine says:
    May 12, 2012 at 8:32 am

    […] question got me thinking about what inspires me; well, that question and Joy’s awesome inspiration posts. It’s a good question, really, to sit back and think about where I draw inspiration […]

    Reply
  2. Finding Inspiration | Fresh Basil says:
    April 30, 2012 at 4:22 am

    […] Here’s what I mean: To find a recipe, and at the same time, inspiration, I’ll click on Joy The Baker because I love her blogging style. Her candid observations amuse me. She’s open and honest, a spirited nonconformist. She’ll tell you what’s on her mind, thoughts that make up her day, and follow up with a recipe that most often is some amazing treat she baked. And since Joy isn’t tied down by rules, once she even featured roasted garlic. It’s easy enough to do, but I hadn’t thought of roasting garlic in years..until that day when Joy blogged about garlic. She blogs about worrying (this brown butter banana strawberry bread recipe is the best I’ve ever made! Perfect for spring with local strawberries). About people in bikinis. About finding inspiration. […]

    Reply
  3. Ten (Super Rad) Blog Post Ideas — Joy the Baker says:
    April 29, 2012 at 8:45 am

    […]  Detail it!  Share your beauty with everyone around you.  I regularly use my iPhone camera to capture moments out in the world that inspire me.  I find that this little camera is a simple way to keep your […]

    Reply
  4. Inspiration… « Just a Titch says:
    April 16, 2012 at 1:09 am

    […] question got me thinking about what inspires me; well, that question and Joy’s awesome inspiration posts. It’s a good question, really, to sit back and think about where I draw inspiration […]

    Reply
  5. Things I love: blogs | Summer in the City says:
    April 5, 2012 at 11:17 am

    […] food – and it all looks delicious. But every once in a while she pulls out a post that just surprises and delights me and hits me right in the heart {also, I didn’t realize that the links at the bottom went […]

    Reply

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