Miss Modish- Mojo Maker

Inspiration A-Z: H is for Home

Today is the day for "H" in the Inspiration A-Z series, and since we just spent the last 4 days moving, all I can think of is that H should be for Home. I was going to find some pretty homes to inspire you with, but sometimes when I look at homes around designblogland they feel unrealistically out of reach to me- too perfect and too expensive for someone who's on a blogger budget, sheesh!

And I don't think that creating your home should be about perfection or trends or spending a lot of money. Home is about comfort, your own personal style and surrounding yourself with things that make you happy. We're not even unpacked here yet but it already feels very homey... so I thought I'd just share some moments from the first weekend here in our new home.

Cats in windows, flowers from a new neighbor, a dog tired from playing in the sun, shady spots in a sunny yard, drinking wine out of cute mugs, watching the weather change out the window...these are the kind of things that make me feel like I'm at home here already.

What about you? What are the little things that make you feel like you're at home?

Inspiration A-Z: G is for Gardens & Goldfrapp

First, press play: Goldfrapp- Eat Yourself

That really should be, G is for gardens, garden parties, garden fresh vegetables, greenhouses, green-thumbs & general good fun growing things. All of which I hope to have in my life in the very soon future in my own backyard. Here's a little garden goodness to inspire your own this season, whether your garden is a big veggie wonderland, in small pots on your patio or only in your black-thumb dreams...

{tea party blessing flags by Garden Songs}

{wooden shoe tulip farm by Abby Try Again} just outside of Portland, so worth a trip!

{cactus gardens by Elly Yap - via All the Mountains}

{by ngoc minh ngo}

{by simply photo}

{by Isadora Filković}

{by semiplume}

{a greenhouse picnic wedding, by Chelsea & Lisa for Project Wedding} 

{by Amanda♫}

{by le portillon}

{by Matthew Monteith}

{by bloom magazine}

{plants for your bathroom on Re-Nest} oh my gosh, I totally want to do this in my bathroom!

{by anniebee}

{by adahnue}

{from this Swedish gardening blog}

Are you growing a garden this year? A flower garden? Edibles? Are you part of a community garden, or do you grow herbs in containers on your patio?  I'd love to hear about what you like to grow and where, or even what type of public gardens there are in your city that you like to visit (in Portland we have gorgeous Japanese, Rose, Chinese & Rhododendron gardens just to name a few! :)

Inspiration A-Z: F is for Funny

I think that most days, there's nothing more get-you-out-of-bed-inspiring than some funny, hmm? Here are some things that have been making me laugh lately: 

1. catching my broken shouldered boyfriend privately dancing to bad pop music with his arm still in a sling

2. I was told there'd be Cake by Sloane Crosley

3. You are my fave. She's probably the most likable blogger ever.

4. Akward family photos

5. any David Sedaris segment on This American Life

6. Cats. Well, my cats. 

7. Well, this cat too (via @moteviolence on twitter)

8. Ok, all cats.

9. And this cat camera that I just got! It makes cat noises (and makes dogs leer) It's meowing action was excellently demonstrated by Anabela of fieldguided right here... (oh oh and ps: you'll have a chance to win one of these here on Modish this Wednesday!!)

10: "literal" music videos, like this one: (via @NellaDesigns on twitter) 

11. Dogs. Especially dogs in the snow. I was cracking up over these happy doggies (and little lamb!) on Ellen last week.

What about you? What's been making you laugh lately? Share a link to a funny site or video or share a story in the comments below so we can all have a bit of a brighter Monday! Let's keep 'em nice-spirited and pg, hmm?

Inspiration A-Z: E is for Embrace & Elliott Smith

First, press play: Placeholder :: Elliott Smith

There are few moments in life that a hug can't make better. But an "embrace" is more than just a hug- it's acceptance, acknowledgement, enthusiasm, affection, belief. This post is a reminder to embrace yourself, flaws and all. To embrace other people's differences. And to make sure you embrace your loved ones as often as you get the chance. This post is my warm hug to all of you readers to let you know I care about you, and appreciate you. Thank you for reading Modish and I hope you have a happy week! 

:: by Alena Chendler

:: by Sean Mark Lee

:: by Dany Molokoma 

:: by Jessie Roth

:: vintage photo, via signs and wonders 

:: by brain hear lung gut

:: by celeste photography

 
:: by Steven Beckly

:: by Laura Gommans

:: by Kornyx

:: by poveralice

:: by welcome, ghosts

:: via weheartit

:: vintage photo found by 16 sparrows

:: by Matias Troncoso

:: by silly woman

:: by Olalla U 

:: by 11nightmares

:: by ciuky

:: by MDP

:: by miami ziess

Inspiration A-Z: D is for Dancing like nobody's watching

The mister and I often break into spontaneous dancing around the house and it always puts a big smile on my face. And it's fun to dance out with friends or at a concert or party, but I usually have trouble really loosening up when there are other people around. So I suggest we each find a moment to ourselves this week, turn on our favorite music, be ourselves and dance, dance, dance. Like nobody's watching, because no one is. You can be as free as you wanna be to twirl, spin, shake, shimmy, jump, bump- whatever feels right. Just let go & let's dance!

Lykke Li & Bon Iver doing 'Dance Dance Dance' in L.A from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

:: by Sarah Sitkin

:: via weheartit

:: via chico lisboa

:: by sarah walker

:: by Iris Hrasovec

:: from weheartit

:: by the girl who tamed the tiger 

:: by ssuunnddeeww

:: by Thuy Linh Trinh

:: by Patrice Jackson

:: by Fairy Bluebird

:: via weheartit 

:: by Arissa Huerta 

:: by Julia Kozlov

:: by Duc Minh Phung

:: by Arnold Genthe c1915

:: by Annabel Mehran

:: by Dominik Smialowski

:: by Shotgunx Serenade

:: via weheartit

:: via weheartit 

Inspiration A-Z: C is for Color, Color, Color & Charlotte Gainsbourg

press play: Master's Hand - Charlotte Gainsbourg

I tend to think that drenched in color is the best way to be. I love colorful homes, colorful clothes, colorful walls, colorful fabric, colorful food. I love color that's vibrant and saturated, color that begs to be seen. I love discovering colors that exist in nature, in a flower or bird, that you never thought were possible, that seem too unreal to be real. Color inspires me, enlivens me, fills me with happy. So here's a little dose of happy for you, too.

:: by notmycat

:: by just jenny

:: by becktress

:: by nikolinelr

:: via weheartit

:: by elsie*cake 

:: via weheartit

:: by Sherri DuPree Bemis

:: by jackie young

:: by hakan photography

:: by Stoopidgerl

:: via inspires tumblr

:: via splitroads tumblr

:: by suzypuzz

:: by colormekatie

:: by Phil Marion

:: by dzimis

:: by something infinitely interesting

:: by jackie young

:: by marinshe

:: by dyxie

:: via weheartit

:: by miss ashley anne

Hope you have a wonderful, colorful day!

Inspiration A-Z : B is for Balance & Beirut

Press play: Beirut- The Concubine (feed readers, click over to the blog to hear the music)

:: by Alison Scarpulla

Balance seems ever the unachievable task, doesn't it? I think we're all trying to create some sort of balance, all the time. From balancing your checkbook to staying steady in eagle pose in yoga to trying to balance your time between work and family and life in general. That's the hardest one, of course. I think many of us struggle with how to balance our work lives with our "real" lives, especially if your work is a big part of what you love to do in life- the lines get even more blurry. And although I don't have the answer as to how we can better find that balance we're seeking, I thought these pics could inspire us to keep striving for it, even though it may seem impossible sometimes... 

:: by Maddie Gosse

:: by amalia chimera

:: by nobutyes 

:: by nikolineir

:: by bliaaaaa

:: by .bradi.

:: by HannahFe

 
:: by Chrissie White

:: by Dunny 

:: by plakka

:: by Bailey Black

:: by tess

 
:: by atomic turquoise

:: by Holly Skye

:: by cara allen 

:: Library of Congress 

:: by Javertime 

:: by Akasha Rabut

:: by Anna Amphigorously

:: by Emmerroo

:: by Rebecca Tabor Armstrong

:: by Tori Mercedes

Inspiration A-Z : A is for Aimlessness & Animal Collective

First, press play: Animal Collective- No More Runnin'  

Happy Monday! This morning I'm introducing a new bi-weekly column called Inspiration A-Z where I'll share photos that revolve around a theme of some sort, all the way from A-Z. The photos are those that inspire me to do something new, to think differently or to appreciate the beauty of what's around me in a new way- shared with you in hopes that they'll make you feel the same way. And I think it's a must to have music accompany our little inspiration trips, so I'll pair the photos with a band/musician that starts with the same letter. (A is for Animal Collective today- click above to start playing)

:: by picturethisforever

So today, we're starting at the top, and A is for aimlessness.

Let's get lost a little, explore for exploring sake, take a new path just to see where it leads. Go outside and take a walk to nowhere in particular, just see what there is to see. With our days full of plans and goals and to-do lists, let's have just a moment where none of that matters, where we can leave expectations behind and comfortably drift away... at least for a little while...

:: by Shaun Sundholm

:: by forse*no

:: by Polina Kaimel 

:: by coolhandluke

:: by Tamara Lichtenstein

:: by lucie camp

:: by picturethisforever

:: by florindaperkins

:: by lichtmaedel

:: by //n.polek

:: by *Aracari

:: by Myra Lee

:: by .lollo.

:: chelsee ivan

:: by Robema

:: by hello bum

:: by Jaci Sue

:: by abbytrysagain

:: by elchaos

:: by ashloaf

:: by Jhunette

:: by So Annie Waits