Hello dollies…welcome to this month’s Where Bloggers Live 01.2021: Inspiration. Today, the ladies and I are thinking on where we get our inspiration. Inspiration for all aspects of our life. Which had me putting on my thinking cap for inspiration!!
WHERE BLOGGERS LIVE 01.2021
This fun series is kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! It’s been one of my most popular series. And when you think about it, who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes and lives? For last month’s post, we opened up our guest bedrooms. Or the places where we ‘put up’ company when they visit. And before that, a look at our master bedrooms. Glad to be a part of this group again in the shiny new year. We have some fun things planned!
Also linking up with my friend and wellness muse, Natalie, for her inaugural Weekend Coffee Share. Be sure to stop by Natalie’s blog, too.
Inspiration
This was a tough prompt for me. Had never really spent much time thinking about from where I draw my inspiration. Doing so almost gave me a headache! Ha! After a little pondering, I realized that I get my inspiration for different things from different places. Let me explain.
Personal Style
Let’s start with where I get the inspiration for my personal style. I really hesitate to say style because I am not sure I have a style. You know? Suppose that’s one of the reasons I feel a little uncomfortable about sharing outfits from my fashion haus. And why I spell the word haus and not house. And why I used this graphic for the longest time with my style posts.
I just wear clothes that I like. And I’m not sure that constitutes having a style.
So, just out of curiosity, I looked up the meaning of the word style. Among other definitions was: “a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed” [source]. Which further supports my suggestion that there’s not much distinctive about my appearance. Except when I forget to brush my hair. Or maybe on that day at school when I went around with my skirt tucked into the back of my panty hose.
That being said, I almost hate to blame credit anyone or anything with my style. But here goes..
Get Your Pretty On
I probably mention Alison Lumbatis and Get Your Pretty On in every fashion haus post. Alison’s seasonal capsule wardrobe formulas have helped me to update my elementary school librarian’s closet with staples as well as a few fun trends. The winter capsule and winter work wear capsule wardrobe challenges are happening now. For me, they make getting dressed more fun and fashionable.
Bloggers
I also copycat some of the styles of the fashion bloggers I follow. It is particularly dangerous to me when they share the purchasing links for their looks. When Kellyann wore this JCrew boho blouse I had to order one right away. Laura shared this sequin sweatshirt a year ago, and I hopped right over to Amazon to buy one.
I’ve also admired and copied the style of Carrie, Jill, Gail and Nancy. And Where Bloggers Live’s very own Jodie helped me find the perfect flat red shoes. If you haven’t watched Jodie’s videos on Intagram, you haven’t lived!!
Style Imitating Art – SIA
The bloggers who host the Style Imitating Art (SIA) series, Daenel, Salazar and Kim, have also inspired my sense of style. Kim has stepped away from blogging for a bit (I miss her) so Terri has been invited to be the newest co-host.
Bi-monthly, these fashionistas take turns selecting a piece of art that they each share to their blogs. Then they create an outfit inspired by that art and invite others to participate by submitting their art inspired outfits to the curator for that week. It’s been awhile since I have put together an SIA outfit. This is the last interpretation I created.
But hoping to join the gals next week in creating a look for this famous Vermeer painting. Daenel is another Where Bloggers Live buddy and a fellow librarian.
At Home
Hadn’t thought about it much until now, but I guess there is something in each room in my house that inspired the color palette or theme of that space. I talked a little about that in the last Where Bloggers Live post that featured a tour of my downstairs guest bedroom. In that case, it was the Pier I elephant curtains that inspired the bright colors and theme of the room.
In our den, it was a cheap ‘print’ of an autumn forest that inspired the color scheme. And the tree theme. Like to think of them as trees of life. If you click on the pictures below, you can enlarge them. Just please don’t click on and enlarge me!!
Canisters with a fruit motif inspired the colors and theme in my kitchen and dining room.
And the medallion shape of the print in a couch throw pillow inspired the colors and shapes in the living room.
The off white oblong throw pillow reads ‘happily ever after’ so I guess we could say even my blog inspires me!! There little things that have been the centerpiece for the color scheme, print or theme in each room. But just like with my fashion, our home is just comfortable and colorful. Not Better Homes and Gardens. Now my BFF Sharon?? Her home is gorgeous. She inspires me!
3:00 AM Revision
So here’s where I woke up at 3:00 am with Where Bloggers Live 01.2021 on my mind. And started rewriting this post. Any of you ever do that? Wake up in the middle of the night with an epiphany, or a clarity, a better understanding. Or maybe just the come back you wished you could have thought of hours earlier.
Inspire Me to Aspire to Better
I originally had titled this section “Spiritually and Intellectually”. And had recounted the many of you who have inspired me in those ways. But at 3:00 am, I realized that more accurately I am being inspired to aspire to be a better me. Inspired to aspire is awkward wording but accurate. So, here I am rewriting this post when it should already be live.
You guys inspire me to aspire to be more grateful, or introspective, or spiritual. To look at the world in a different way with my mind, my eyes and my camera lens. There are those of you who have inspired me to be healthy, more active. Friends who have inspired me to aspire to embrace retirement after saying goodbye to a career I loved for so very long. Women who inspire me to aspire to be a better writer (not that you can tell it here). Gals who inspire me to aspire to read more, craft more, try new recipes, dream bigger, stretch further.
And those who inspire me to aspire to be the very best wife, mom and grandmother I can be. To be the best me I can be. To all of you, a HUGE hug of gratitude.
A Nod to Pinterest
Oh, and there’s Pinterest. My 41,052 Pinterest pins have provided me with oodles of inspiration. Thankfully, I am not one of those pinners who feels the need to live the perfectly pretty Pinterest existence. But my gosh, Pinterest is a delightful rabbit hole to fall into now and then. Are we Pinterest pals, yet?
This Whole Wide World
At the risk of sounding ever-so-slightly like a pageant 👑 queen when asked about her wish for the future…I am inspired by this whole wide beautifully crazy world. Books. Fairy tales. Music. My faith. This city – El Paso. It’s rich culture. The people. Our mountains. The rugged terrain. Mother Nature all around me.
My family.
e – random E typed by my kitty Purrsimmony as she stepped across my keyboard to her bed; even she inspires me
YOUR TURN
What inspires the way you dress? How you decorate your space? Who inspires you to aspire to be YOUR BEST YOU?
Hope you will join me now in visiting the blogs of my friends to discover what inspires them.
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Em at Dust and Doghair
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
It’s Fri-yay, friends. Hope you have something special planned for this weekend. Maybe buying a new mask or hand sanitizer in a new fragrance. Maybe you are going to be wiping down your flat surfaces with Lysol…if you can find any, that is. Or Zooming with family and friends?
Whatever you do, stay healthy. And come back to see me again soon!!
Hugs and kisses,
Joanne
I don’t feel like I have one distinct style when it comes to clothing either as I tend to wear all different outfits depending on my mood and take my inspiration from all sorts of places. My home tends to be a collaborative effort between my tastes (which is more classical and fussy) and my husband who would literally be happy with a leather recliner in every room. That said most rooms do follow a color scheme or mood based on an inspiration piece or two.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
We are similar in many ways!! Do you have a color scheme that is similar all the way through the house. For example, blues in every room? I really kind of wanted to do that, and probably did start out that way years ago. And then again when we first moved into this house. But the dark colors I have in the common areas – browns, reds, golds just didn’t feel restful in our bedroom and I switched to pale yellow, gray, blue and green.
jodie filogomo
That happens to me a lot with a blog post. I’ll think of something to add or revise in the middle of the night, LOL
Thanks so much for the shout out Leslie!!! We do inspire each other, don’t we??
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are welcome for the mention. I loved the long cardi video.
Jennifer Jones
Hello Leslie This is my first visit to your blog and I’m very pleased to meet you. I’m inspired in many ways by my bloggy friends. I really have no style but love reading about those who do, #weekendcoffeeshare
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hello, Jennifer…thank you so much for discovering me through Natalie. And for taking time to leave me a comment. Will stop by your world now, too.
Iris
If you rewrote this at 3am – WOW. I do wake up sometimes with ideas – but never fully enough awake to really do anything about it. I do love the colors in your house – I’m not sure that any special thing inspires me in decorating or styling clothes – I just do what I like.
Grace & Peace, Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Liking what you like is the best thing!! I can often be swayed by what others are wearing and buying, which is dangerous on my limited income!! This year I need to realize that just because SHE looks good in palazzo pants doesn’t mean I will!! Especially since we can’t try things on in dressing rooms any more. We just have to commit. I need to be a little less ready to commit!!
Thank you for your kind words, Iris.
Natalie
Thanks, Leslie, for the mention and for joining me on my latest blogging adventure, the Weekend Coffee Share 🙂 I hope you enjoy my blog party and make new friends. I agree with you how our blogging and non-blogging friends inspire us in many ways, from becoming our better self to fitness to fashion, to home decor, cooking, etc. Have a great weekend! #Weekendcoffeeshare
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hi Natalie, thank you! I need to remember to add the hashtags to my comments. So bad about that. Wishing you much success in
this new blogging adventure.
Bettye L Rainwater
Ahh, all wonderful inspirations. And of course you have a style…LESLEY STYLE!
Thanks for playing!
Bettye
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I guess I do have Leslie style!! Thank you, Bettye.
Donna Connolly
Ahhhh, the middle of the night (or very early morning) blog revisions. I know all about that! Sometimes our brains just don’t shut off! 😀 I love your style, Leslie — in clothes, books and writing!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey, Donna, thank you!! I think my mind works best after I have dozed or almost dozed off to sleep and can finally dim the noise of the day and focus. I the original ‘squirrel’ – when people say they have squirreled. I am the poster child or the poster squirrel. Right now I have tabs open all across my lap top. Pinterest, FB, my mail, my blog, a dictionary because so many bloggers use words I don’t know!! Ha! It is a wonder I get anything done. And then at 3:00, I want to undo, redo whatever little I accomplished before climbing into bed. Yikes.
Jill
Such a good prompt this month! It’s fun to see where you get your inspiration! I get so much inspo from other bloggers too! Thank you for the shout out! Have a wonderful weekend!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hi, Jill, thank you! You inspire me in many ways but your style is always spot-on.
Daenel T.
Ha! If you saw the revision count on my posts before and after I hit post, you’d think I do nothing but obsess over my posts. I do. I’ve changed/corrected posts from years ago. Seriously.
Thank you for mentioning SIA. I enjoy seeing your interpretations – we’re all so unique in our styles, so it makes it all so much more interesting.
And, yep, I agree, I get a lot of inspiration from my fellow bloggers.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha, ha!! I am awake at just after 6 am obsessing about a new blog post and revising it. Cannot turn off my brain!!
I think in my purged clothes there are two pieces I need to pull out for this week’s SIA. The colors seem very right.
And then to have the strength to return them to the purge pile. Woe is me.
Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au
Hi Leslie – loved all your different perspectives on inspiration. I’m never going to be a fashion blogger – I just don’t care enough and hate sharing photos of myself routinely – so that’s off the table. I’m an avid Pinterester and love all the pretty pics and quotes (I have a LOT of quotes!) I liked that you showed the little things around your home that inspire you and show your taste – it’s always interesting seeing what you share.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Leanne. I think if I could have 3 houses…like I need that many, I would have a beach-themed cottage, a rustic log cabin and this house. Would love to have a tiny home to decorate and move about to different places. Better start playing the lottery, I guess.
Pinterest (and my crock pot) has been my BFF for years. It is my favorite rabbit hole to fall down.
Deb
How interesting to see more areas of your home and learn how they have evolved. Our home is pretty neutral throughout, kind of grey/smokey blue/taupe colours but we make each room different by the furniture and accessories.
I do have a Pinterest account but don’t have much pinned to it – maybe that will be my lockdown project!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for following me on Pinterest. It might be a wonderful, inspiration, relaxing way for you to fill some of these lonely lockdown days. I think a lot of girls get pressured to be the perfect woman (whatever that is) by looking at Pinterest pins. I am just inspired by all the pretty things. Love to just look and pin.
The colors of your home sound so peaceful and serene. I remember first meeting you as you were painting your spindles to the bannister and staircase. What a huge job.
Bojana Krienke
Oh my goodness, that prompt would have stumped me at first as well. But look a the thoughtful reflection it provided you with. Amazing. I love this idea of being inspired to aspire. I feel that’s me as well. Seeing others ideas, creativity, twists and interpretations opens my creativity to new possibilities. I didn’t know you were still doing the GYPO challenges. That really helped me get out of my mommy funk after I had my second kiddo and then went to grad school on top of working full-time. As a result I met many women that inspired me and that’s how I began blogging.
I hope you had a great week and enjoy the weekend ahead.
bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey doll!! The GYPO challenges have introduced me to some of the best gals! I do them mostly just to keep up with trends and new ways to wear old faves. They really saved my life after I retired. Truly.
Thank you for your kind words. I have so many things I want to do and try and taste and smell and wear. Bloggers inspire me all areas of my life. Now to figure out how to get by on less sleep so I can experience more!
Gary Wilson
Hi Leslie, I’m part of the Coffee Share and Natalie is our new host. I’m glad you stopped by but, as a guy, I’m struggling with the “style” question. I’m pretty much a jeans and cotton tee shirt kind of guy, but I do look okay in a shirt with a collar and tie if I can get any points for that.
But your inspiration question, that I can deal with. I’m a story writer and love to share things to make readers smile at least, and laugh out loud if I can pull it off and I pretty much use life for inspiration. For my biggest project, something I call my Dime of Time (or just DOT) collection, I weave fun memories of growing up together for nostalgic rowdy fun.
Rather than try explain, let me tell you that this collection are all 10 minute or less reads and they’re all family friendly, well, some moms have decided that some of my stunts would not be shared with their young boys for fear that they might try one. I’ll just leave you with an invitation to try one. If you enjoy it, please come by for more whenever a laugh is desired. Here’s a fun story to start with. I hope to host your visit soon.
https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/the-inner-tube-adventure/
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hello, new friend!! Thank you for being my second male visitor, with the exception of my Prince C. who only stops by when I ask him to. And then only to click on my affiliate links!! Ha!
I am glad to meet you and have a tab open to check out your corner of the world. Smiling and laughing are among my favorite pastimes so I look forward to doing both over some of your memories.
Thank you for coming by!
Denyse Whelan
Lovely to meet you and your blog via Natalie’s Weekend Link Up.
I am an Australian-based blogger and Natalie joins in with my Monday link up called Life This Week, which is where she invited me to take part in this linky.
Your blog is beautiful and certainly both colour-filled and inspiring.
I had some thoughts about my influences and where I get ideas from and I came up with actually pretty mundane response – mostly from me. I did get into sharing my daily outfits as an antidote to recovery from oral cancer.
Now I am doing extremely well and love connecting with people such as you from around the world.
I take loads of photos – flowers, ocean, lake and yes, my husband obliges with some of me and my preference is 100% bright and colourful!!
Take Care,
Denyse
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hello, new friend!! So glad I linked up with Natalie to make the acquaintances of some exciting new bloggers. Thank you for coming by and for leaving me a comment, too. I appreciate your kind words. I love color. Many women my age opt for black – black clothing, especially. Have never really embraced black myself. There are just too many beautiful colors in the world to limit oneself to something so dark. In my opinion!!
Congratulations on your successful and complete recovery from oral cancer. I have read that it is a dreadful form of a dreadful disease. So glad you were able to put cancer in its place.
Heading over to visit your blog and enjoy your photography. And to put a face with a name.
Thank you again for the visit!!
Mica
What a great post! I find it so hard to label my style too – I think casual just sums it up really, haha! I find different bloggers inspire me, as well as what I see people watching and also when I’m working on a blog post and I look up previous ways I’ve worn things it gives me ideas for different ways to wear things 🙂
Hope that you are having a great weekend 🙂 It’s a quiet one at home here, Brisbane is on a 3 day lockdown as we have had the first case of the virus outside of quarantine in over 3 months!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, no!! You guys were doing so well. I am sorry to read you had a weekend lock down. Hopefully, it is only one case and you are back to normal.
I think you have a distinct style. Love that your outfits always feature great accessories…especially those bags. Love your maxis. The way you
wear tennies with dresses and skirts. You are adorable.
Danielle
I’m like you, and I don’t really have a style. Right now it’s whatever is comfortable and look more into the capsule wardrobe idea. I hope you had a great weekend!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yes, to comfortable. I miss wearing my dresses sand skirts so much but I am not going to wear them to the grocery store. If we can ever safely return to church, I think I will do a wardrobe change mid-sermon so I can wear two outfits to each service.
Dara
Getting inspiration from other bloggers works for me!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Me, too!!
Maria
I believe this is the first time I visit your blog, I found it through my friend Natalie 🙂 I will be back, I really like your storytelling-writing style. You made me smile several times reading this post. I have a minimalistic style in my home. I have a rather large new, stylish apartment in a passive house, the floor plan with kitchen/living room is open. There is a lot of natural light, and big windows. As a contrast I have a bright red couch, with a matching footstool, a black living room table, black kitchen table and black chairs, and black bookshelves, and three big plants. I have four enlarged prints of favourite hikes, all in the same black frames. If you open my walk-in closet you’ll find a capsule wardrobe. There is a lot of space in my home that most people probably would fill with more things, but I absolutely love it like this. You can see the beautiful hardwood floor, and the nuances of the wood sort of give life to the place. Wow, this was much longer than I intended. I guess you inspired me 🙂 BTW I think you look very stylish.
Maria
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hello, new friend!! So glad that you found me via Natalie’s wonderful place in the world. Happily linked up with her first weekend coffee share and so glad I did!!
What sweet words you left for me. I am tickled that something I shared made you smile. What a wonderful compliment.
Your home sounds very chic. Love the images your created for me, the contrast of the red and black, the lovely floors, the plants. Sounds very polished and pretty. There is a side of me that would enjoy having a very streamlined look in my home. Thinking that this is the year to lose some of the stuff that is just about gathering dust.
Thank you for stopping by and for leaving me a very interactive comment that has me wanting to get to know you better. Going to head your way for a visit.
Laura Bambrick
Thanks for the shout out! I love that sweatshirt on you! It’s so fun to wear with all of the different colored sequins! I like to get inspiration in many places. It could be an outfit, it could be a color combination. Fashion is fun that way!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Laura! Lots of time I get so caught up in matchy-matchy. Seeing others wearing different color combos can inspire me to try something new.
Kellyann Rohr
Leslie you are such a gem and I think you are very stylish! Thank you for the shout out sweet friend. It is funny though because I feel like my “style” doesn’t fit neatly into one box or another – ya know? Like some people are classic and conservative, some preppy, some trendy and I feel like I’m kind of all over the place and wear what suits my mood. I think we are very much alike! I don’t want to be trapped by a particular style or brand – where’s the fun in that?