March21st
Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera. My favorite painting on this the second day of my favorite season.
An Allegory of Spring indeed.
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When you need a little more than a smile or a cup of tea to get your week in motion, the Sassy Starter will be here every Monday to get your wheels turnin’ in a classy – sassy – fabulous sort of way
January25th
Did you know that? Good things happen on Tuesdays. Because they do. They really, really do.
The Good things happen on Tuesdays phenomenon, which is quickly catching on, was first started by none other than my fabulous Sista Sista, Jessica. Crazy, right?! Yes. She started a phenomenon and she didn’t even know it.
I can’t quite remember when she first started telling me Good things happen on Tuesdays – it must have been at least a year ago – but I soon caught myself repeating it to everyone in person [and online!]. When they would look at me quizzically, I would reply…”well, that’s what my Sister says.“
And then I started to believe. Why not? Tuesdays hadn’t really been all that special before, why not believe that good things are destined to happen on this previously not so special day. Of course good things are happening every day, but there’s something – encouraging – about thinking Good things happen on Tuesdays. I’ve noticed that not all of my Good Things have been obvious Good Things. Some have been a bit understated, but looking back I see those understated situations were Good Things in disguise.
Then it started to happen. People started saying it back to me. People who don’t even know my Sister were quoting her and adding this extra touch of Good Things to their Tuesdays. [ no joke - "well, Jennie's sister Jessica says Good things happen on Tuesdays, so here we go!" - is a legit quote, repeated to me last Tuesday afternoon. ] Thus the ripple effect has begun and as my Sister’s Good things happen on Tuesdays travels across country, I hope it sparks many a wonderful {Good Things} to happen to each and every one of you.
I am now an official believer and will forever hold it to be true that: Good things [really do] happen on Tuesdays. I don’t care what anybody has to say about that, I’m stickin to it. And I have my fabulous Sista Sista to thank!
Wicked crazy. I love it. And guess what …. it’s Tuesday ;)
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photo credit: we♥it
December2nd
Sunday night while sitting in the airport I had the urge to pick up something I’d never picked up before. I’m talking about Martha Stewart Living Magazine. And honestly – I couldn’t put it down!
Have you ever picked up Martha before? Talk about addictive – I’m now thinking about a subscription – and I don’t even cook [yet]! I do however have my moments of craftiness and I also love entertaining and reading all I can about the art of entertaining. So this magazine seems to be right up my ally.
The issue I picked up was the December 2010 issue – the Holiday Issue – perfect for helping me catch that Holiday Spirit I’m trying to tap into early. Normally my eye is drawn to the basic colors associated with the season, the reds, the greens and the golds, but the colors used in this pictoral really caught my eye:
*maybe it’s the sequins…I’m a kid on ADD when it comes to sequins & sparkles & well, pretty much anything shiny. I love how they were incorporated in a festive yet stylish way. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t trying to figure out how to pull one of these off this Holiday Season:
I also loved a few of the simple DIY ideas. The Candy Cane display and the Snow Globes were my favorites [the pen marks probably give it away]:
I marked up my magazine pretty well with folded pages and circled items, although I tried to pull pages with the least amount of markings for this post. I must say it definitely caters to my visual & creative side and as a bonus gave me some great ideas for the Holidays. There was also a really awesome article on how “Giving is Good For You” that I absolutely loved. That alone is worth picking up and reading!
Martha, I think you and I might be quite the match. Fancy the color red, do you? Because I think we could make some magazine magic happen. Have your people call my people. *After the Holidays, of course, as it looks like I’ll be busy busy putting these ideas into action.
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All photos from Martha Stewart Living December 2010 issue.
November30th
My Sister has always told me I will have the best coffee table in America.
It’s safe to agree with her on that. I have a slight obsession with coffee table books. And although I don’t exactly own the coffee table currently being used where I live, I am constantly stocking up on coffee table books to place in my future home [ que build-a-home here ]. For as many stands I have holding books of literature, I have an equal number storing my coffee table books and view both as equally important.
While great works of literature inspire you with great writing, engrossing stories, motivational quips and the like, coffee table books provide me with visual stimulation – a chance to explore a different world, step back into loved memories, tap into an instant source of endless inspiration. That’s why I chose to dedicate this month’s Book of the Month to a few of my favorite Coffee Books in my collection.
Whether on my night stand, coffee table, in my bathroom, on a shelve – these books all represent a part of me and my aspirations. I love that at any given moment you can flip to one of the 101 Greatest American Poems, become entranced by Pablo Neruda, or laugh at the quick witted Mary Phillips Designs….
…. or see some of the sights from my college days in Oxford, Mississippi through Wyatt Water’s incredible watercolors, or glance at Gil Elvgren’s amazing pin-up works [secret confession - I've always wanted to be an old fashioned pin-up like the girls in Gil's book] …
…or catch a bit of the Spirit of India, maybe add a touch of Province Style, or even fall in love with my latest addition to my coffee table book collection – Romantic Style.
Whatever the reason may be, I simply adore each and every one of my coffee table books. [and this is only a tiny fraction of them] They’re not only inspiring in their own ways, but great conversation starters, key insights as to the owners, and always lovely Christmas presents!
Taschen publishes some of the best coffee table books on the market but you can find awesome deals at the bargain tables at Barnes & Noble. (keep an eye out for discounted Taschen books – score!) Regardless of where you get one, make sure it represents something about you. More than a book of pretty pictures and the like, a really good coffee table book is an extension of the owner – a story … of past, present, or hopeful future.
Books Featured Above :
101 Great American Poems by The America Poetry & Literacy Project
Taschen Icon Series: Province Style
Why Limit Happy to an Hour? by Mary Phillips
Gil Elvgren: The Complete Pin-ups by Taschen
Love Poems by Pablo Neruda
An Oxford Sketchbook – Watercolors by Wyatt Waters
Romantic Style by Selina Lake
Spirit of India by Gill Davies
*As always, you can pick up a copy of any of the above books in The SSM eStore [you know how I like to make it easy for you] and dress up your coffee table (or side table or bathroom stand or kitchen counter or…where eva) today!
August27th
With yesterday being National Women’s Equality Day, and this month marking the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the Mah-velous Magnolia had to be quite stellar…..and I think you’ll quickly agree she is indeed.
President Truman called her “First Lady of the World“. She embodies the quote we all strive to live by. Fought the fight so that we, as women, need not struggle as much. And she was married to my favorite President of all time, FDR.
Today’s Mah-velous Magnolia is the phenomenally inspiring, Eleanor Roosevelt.
Born in 1884 into New York’s high society, the swells, Eleanor found herself battling a host of insecurities after both her parents and one brother all died before she was 10. Regardless at the young age of 14, she was well aware that
No matter how plain a woman may be if truth and loyalty are stamped upon her face all will be attracted to her.
These insecurities were quickly shed when she entered finishing school outside of London. The headmistress strove to cultivate independent thinking in young women and Eleanor was no different. After school she returned to the states and began working with various community programs around the New York City area. In 1902 she met Franklin Delano Roosevelt [my favorite President!] through which she became first, the First Lady of New York and then the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945.
Eleanor used her status to begin the works of great deeds for woman [and men] across the world. Supporting the New Deal, the rights of working women, Freedom House and United Nations is only a fraction of the work to which she was committed. She chaired the United Nations committee which drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women under the John F. Kennedy administration.
Society and Scandal, World Wars and Presidential Inaugurations, Equality and Perseverance, there is so much every woman, man and child can learn from reading about Eleanor Roosevelt. Her timeless beauty, inside and out, her yearning to always help others and persistence to make a difference in the world are traits to be admired no matter what generation, race or sex you are. And always remember:
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. -Eleanor Roosevelt
*A few more of my favorite Eleanor Roosevelt quotes:
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
Thank you, Eleanor, for being such an inspiration. Thank you.
{To read more about truly inspiring women, join in the month-long 90/19 Celebration, the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and head on over to skirt! magazine. See their posts on phenomenal female change makers, personal stories and much more! }
photo credit: painting, photograph facts & notes: wikipedia
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The Mah-velous Magnolia badge will be awarded each Friday to a selected lady {or a few..or fellas..we’ll see!} who has had an impact on my week. Who knows — maybe you’ll be up next!
Kiss me in your jealous rage.: What happens if you fall in love with a writer?
Lots of things might happen. That’s the thing about writers. They’re unpredictable. They might bring you eggs in bed for breakfast, or they might all but ignore you for days. They might bring you eggs in bed at three in the morning. Or they might wake you up for sex at three in the morning. Or…
just another day ……
