My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Living A Beautiful Life...Sometimes

During the 1970s and 1980s, I discovered Alexandra Stoddard and her books. I fell in love. If you've never read any of her books, you've missed a lot. The first book I read was Living A Beautiful Life. It changed my life as I've said before. I've read, and have, several of her books. They're calm and beautiful to read. She can be spiritual also. But it's her sense of how to live a beautiful life that drew me to her books.

I was working as the highest paid woman in a very top Fortune 500 company at the time and needed more serene time in my life. Those books taught me how to achieve it. While, she's a top decorator, and one of my favorites, she's a prolific author also. She has a keen sense of color and fabric. Her books take you on a journey to find happiness in this life.

A few weeks ago while cleaning out some beautiful storage boxes in which I have papers, ephemera, my clay flowers, etc. stored, I came across some of her Beautiful Living Companion brochures she would send out to us subscribers. I loved receiving them but I don't think she kept it up very long as she was too busy. But in one, and there are no dates on these, just volume numbers, it had to be from the 80s, I found a quote from her I'd like to share.

"There is no beauty without order. I've discovered that to the degree that we are organized we are in control of our lives. Haven't you found that the times when you allow your life to overwhelm you with chaos are the times when you are going through emotional turmoil as well?"

I found my answer is exactly as she spells it out. I'm not only disordered in my life/home, etc, but in my mind also. I'm not attending to my garden: the one I have in my head and the one I have when I sweep my arms out to encompass my life and home or, in other words, my environment. I have to have a calm talk with myself and sometimes it takes more than a one-time sit-down. Sometimes, it takes days or even a few weeks to get that calmness I need to pursue something. But absolutely first, comes the ease of the mind. Then comes the "getting to it" of it. That's how I function most of the time and I'm guessing a lot of you mimick that as well. Think on that statement. It has certainly helped me. There are times when I simply sit and read for hours and hours upon days and days because I just can't handle much at that moment. No, I'm not fragile, just have to contemplate it for a while. And my sweet, sweet hubby accommodates anything I want to do. He's my angel. Sometimes, I truly wonder how he puts up with me. Truly.
*

A dining room that pleases me. Chairs are darling. She has a bench on one side. Lots of pink, polka dots, checks and stripes. Lovely!


My kind of vignette also.


Love the sofa but where do I sit on it?! Beautiful pillows also.


We should all be lucky to have a dishwashing/sink area like this. Loooove it!!!


Yeah, yeah, I know. Dream on, bloggers.


A sweet night light. We have some of these for emergencies. I just thought of something: I could froufrou them up and bring them in from the garage. Today is the day I do that!


A very clever idea for old spoons and teacups: make it into a hanging lamp.


See, I told you leather sofas could be beautiful in a shabby chic home.


I recently went to a blog when she posted on mine. I'd never heard of her before, but on her blog sidebar she has a saying: I just want to make pretty things even if no one cares. My thoughts exactly. I feel the same way. I just want pretty things around me even if no one understands it.


I would give much to have this gorgeous pink cabinet. I don't think I've ever seen one so beautiful.


I love pretty cakes and these are indeed beautiful.


A house filled with roses can never be ugly. I can't wait until our rose bushes start blooming.


I also love pretty clocks and have more than I need, even in the living room I have 4 pretty ones, all working.


While the chair is lovely, the cushion is what makes it look so comfy.


Several years ago, my daughter gave me some Old Country Roses cups and saucers as she had place settings for about 25 people. She was scaling down. I decorated them and placed them around the house, but this one tipped on its side and made to look like a birds nest is prettier and much more clever than mine. Love it. Maybe I'll redo a few of them like this.
*

Tidbit:

 Steven Spielberg is Drew Barrymore's godfather. After seeing her nude in Playboy magazine, he sent her a blanket with a note telling her to cover herself up.
~*~
Linking up with NMH Open House Party and Pink Saturday.

14 comments:

  1. Alexandra Stoddard has some very sensible things to say. I must admit that I like my life to be ordered (typical teacher!), but seem to spend most of the time putting away things that my husband has left around!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have Alexandra Stoddard's book, "Grace Notes A Book of Daily Meditations". It is wonderful! I've given it to many people and am often inspired by the message for the day. Today's message . . . be a mentor to someone younger who admires you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The best reason, your hubby puts up with you is he loves you. I am sure you are not as bad as you think in his eyes or others. I have not read any of this lady's books.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I also like order and can't survive in chaos. Beautiful photos again today. I especially like the kitchen sink area and hurricane lamps. I have several of them around the house and we actually use them sometime.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pretty does matter. It changes our emotions and causes us to feel and then act differently. God made our world beautiful, amazing, intriguing and colorful. He knew we would be inspired by it.
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd like that sink set in that house, okay? I can take delivery any day this week or next :)
    Beautiful!!
    Heather from Friendship, Life and Style

    ReplyDelete
  7. Did I miss getting the beautiful sink and house by one comment? Those two are my favorite photos of all your beautiful photos.

    How true that when my environment is disorderly, my life FEELS chaotic, too. Only when my house is clean do I feel peaceful.

    I am following and invite you to visit my blog, also.

    Judith

    ReplyDelete
  8. my last post's title is dream on :) such great photos here. I'll be happy if you check out my blog too=)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love Alexandra Stoddard too! One of my favorites of hers is a little book called "Gift of a Letter" which is always on my desk. Oh, how I miss the days of real mail. I also love her little book "Grace Notes" with daily thoughts. Love that sink! I wish I had space between my sink and backsplash to put some beautiful flowers but, alas, I have about an inch.
    Have a lovely day!
    Robin

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have got to get my hands on some of these book! Such lovely photos and oh my that house. I love the pillow covered sofa and the kitchen sink with lace and flowers. This is a dreamy post my dear, I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much I’m going back for more!
    Happy Pink............

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh I love this! So femenine and beautiful. I have never heard of the author. And oh the white chair with the beautiful pillow....sigh. Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love your posts. They make me feel I am in a dream world. Very nicely done.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovely, lovely, lovely!!!!!
    Bernice

    ReplyDelete
  14. Man, that's the truth!! I definitely feel much more chaotic when things are not in order. I have such a tendency to get overwhelmed but I really just need to take it a day at a time! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Hope you're having a nice week. My Homemaking Party is going on now and I would love to have you link up, if you haven’t already! http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/2013/05/perfectly-fried-chicken-for-homemaking.html

    Blessings,
    Mrs. Sarah Coller

    ReplyDelete

Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.