happy new year! ... and goodbye 2010

- right hand raised -

I, Julie of  Nutkin and Nest, am ready to ring in the new year, 2011, with this updated blog design and a commitment to making my creativity known! For years now I've been endlessly inspired by so many blogs and have been just itching to be a part of the super cute-creative-fun-chic-smart-unique blog club (here's hoping that you're all as chill and fun as your blog posts make you out to be, and, of course, that I'm worthy)!

I have false-started blogging a few times, since it seemed awkward to put my ideas out there, worrying that I didn't have enough cash to make projects as cool as I would want, and thinking that it would take too much time away from my family. Also, I once complained to a friend that some blogs seem to stage "moments" for the sake of a good blog post, which would definitely be something that I couldn't stomach- living a contrived life for the sake of an audience...  She replied that having a blog inspires people to make more lemonade out of their lemons by making time to try new things, focusing on creativity and enrichment instead of just crossing things off of a list, or amping up a party or project or just day-to-day activities more than they normally might. And, that by having one of my own, it might just give me an extra boost to do more for my family and push my creativity instead of limiting me. From then on I realized that it was true, and that I'd make sure that this is exactly what having a blog would do for me- just keep me inspired to keep doing fun, creative, enriching things for my family, and to share with others.

This year might be a test of my perseverance, but undoubtedly will be a huge bonus for my creative juices. To start off with karma on my side, I would like to list my top ten favorite blogs to give credit where inspirational credit is due. These blogs harbor all or parts of what Nutkin and Nest is all about-  design, kids, decor, parties, family, photography, reading, generosity, style, color and the DIY attitude. In no particular order:

 

Making it Lovely 

Inchmark

Oh Joy!

Design Mom

Young House Love

Little Green Notebook

Amy Atlas

A Great Full Day

Jordan Ferney

How About Orange

P.S. - Thanks in advance to anyone who becomes an interested reader!!! Send me a note, I'd love to hear who you are and what you like about N & N.

bright flower party

Throw a party that celebrates your event and the season! Bright colors and flower power combine to make the cheeriest of parties. Buy little sugar paste daisy toppers, make your own huge tissue paper poppies, string together balloon flowers, diy felt florals, marshmallow petals on top of the cupcakes, tulip cupcake liners, enjoy some of the real thing, get the pattern to crochet this hat from Adrienne Engar's Etsy shop, and sweet flower favors you or your guests can make.

math is cool

I just ran across the abacus art from CB2 and it made me realize that I always fall for things that seem a bit brainy but are also very fun to look at (take, for example, my cute engineer husband!).

Even looking back at my college degree- Life Science- I chalk it up to my love of all of the pictures and visuals that accompanied the learning I was doing. I loved anatomy, ecology, vertebrate biology, invertebrate biology, seed plant biology, physiology... OK, I hated physiology, but I passed it, and the rest were awesome. Anyway, I find that my love for the aesthetically-pleasing-but-still-educational also runs in my wants for decorating for C. So this abacus got me thinking that a little collection of  smaller (and cheaper) ones would be super cute hanging on the wall or on a shelf, as well as perfectly useful as the years go on. Here are my favorite finds for a math-is-cool collection:

 Our Green House, Oompa, Pottery Barn, Melissa and Doug

Bonus fun, check out these giant-sized abacuses that I'm sure kids love.

Pictures found here, here, here & here.
Finally, if you're totally inspired you, too, can own a larger-than-life abacus!

little green notebook

 

Little Green Notebook is a blog by Jenny, interior designer of Pearl Street Interiors (and mom of three little girls). She has fantastic DIY ideas and great advice for styling your own home. She also does some serious research and stockpiling of images for inspiration and furniture deals. Here is a sampling of work that Jenny has done in her own home or a client's. Link to the story below each pic.

 

Jenny's daughters' room makeover

 

silver leaf dresser

monogrammed umbrella stand

If you're in the least bit intrigued you'll definitely want to go visit Little Green Notebook (like I do, pretty much every day!). And side note, Jenny's daughters are ADORABLE:

fabric beach balls from the purl bee

Instructions for making these adorable beach balls out of fabric scraps from the Purl Bee (love this site!).

circus party

party hat instructions, buy a bunch of hula hoops (so cheap!), adorable finger puppets to make & take, balloons (always!), crowd pleasing face painting, jump for joy on a trampoline (if you don't already have one, it could be the perfect big present- exercise and fun), popcorn in cute boxes, cotton candy, and cheap but festive paper ball lanterns for decor

etsy grab bag- circle art

lemon slices print, wall monogram, bubble gum ball print, 

orange collage, little girls, blue tree, 

funky wood blocks, graphic flowers, bubbly tree