12 Movies for the 12 Days of Christmas

imagesIn light of the holiday season, I thought that I would post some of my favorite festive films. Tell me which ones are your favorites?

The Little Drummer Boy

 Home Alone

A Miracle on 34th Street

Grinch

Rudolph the Red Nose Raindeer

Elf

Scrooged

 

A Christmas Story

  Its a Wonderful Life

Babes in Toyland

 

Chevy Chase National Lampoon

The Nut Cracker

Snuggle Up with Your Book In these Cool Reading Nooks

If reading can be transformational why shouldn’t the space you read in follow suit?

Finding a good reading spot is like finding money with a metal detector. The idea of a good reading spot varies because its inherant with the reader. Some people can read in a desk and chair, some outside under a tree, and some on a crowded subway. Personally, I  find nooks to be ideal and think that there are some overarching elements that make them a great  addition to have in every home, office, or school.

The best reading nooks need to have the perfect combination of comfort, light,  and cave-like secret privacy that causes you to manifest an anti-social fervor that reads, “I’m too cool for you.  I’m reading.”

In this safe space, the reader can fully escape into the throws of the story and feel no shame doing the following:

theatrical masks with range of emotion sad surprised mad annoyed scaredCrying
Laughing
Gasping
Throwing down your book with anticipation.

Why? Because its expected here. That is what you do.

So where can you create these spaces?

 

By Your Favorite Window

This is one of the easiest places to create your nook. All you really need is a body pillow or old cushion and maybe spice it up with some candles on the sill. Also, its portable so if the time of day is too harsh or you discover you want a different window to sit under than its as easy as 1,2,3.
reading loft at end of stairwell with ladder to reachwhite cushions  and books near arched window looking over Mediterranean

By The Fireplace

red adobe fire place with large shag ottoman and librarySnuggling up with a romance book is always pleasant. Even while your fantasy lover may break your heart, you can be comforted in your nook by the fire. While the first image illlustrates a luxurious room this can easily be recreated by throwing down a blanket, shag rug, ottoman, or bean bags.

Closet

 –The homeowner here took the door off which provides for easy and accessible lighting.
— They Installed some shelves which can be optional and fairly quick to do.
green trim closet with no door and bookshelves–Lastly they made a custom platform with cushion. You could supplement that feature by squeezing in an ottoman or comfy chair instead.

Loft It

Have a weird loft space you have been using to store your vases? Kick those things off and make it a reading nook. Just attach a ladder and you’ll be far from all your problems.

empty room with closet and loft space no doorsreading nook lofted above and office space white

Under The Stairs

reading nook under staircase colorful pillows and cushionTransform that broom closet under the stairs into a unique little retreat for you and your best books to get away. The space already exists so no add ons other than maybe installing some shelves or placing a bean bag, pad, or bench. Take off the door for more lighting or stick up  one of these babies.

 

Ye Old Guest Room

dark pink room with library bed and reading nook
Unlike your own bedroom in which you visit every night,  no one really goes in here and sometimes you even forget it exists.  Yet, by repurposing the room as a nook and guest room you come out getting a multifunctional space and a great escape. Once you secure the door you can  lock into your book.
As always I appreciate feed back on this lil posts of mine. If you find them helpful tell me about them! If you have a few tips drop me a email! In either case I hope you enjoyed.

Mirror Mirror On My Accent Wall

Mirror mirror on the wall, please help spruce up my home this fall. Sometimes putting a simple mirror on your wall can easily add that contemporary, traditional, country, or eclectic touch you’ve been trying to nail. Not only will they provide something cool to look at but by choosing the right frame shape and size you can reflect more light in a darker space and give the illusion that a room is larger/ higher in height.
But you don’t want just any ordinary mirror. MadeGoods is one of my new favorite sites to shop for accessories. Scan below to get a glimpse at a few of my favorites: 

But a word of caution.  Mirror hangers there’s a possibility that the slightly narcissistic people in your household may hog up “mirror time” which could lead to some nasty fights. Better hope that it doesn’t turn out like this scene from one of my favorite shows this season Once Upon A Time

Gold Leaf & Bronze Patina Mirror, 28″ or 18″
by Chole
Find at MadeGoods
Tarnished Silver Mirror, 20″
by Gigi
Find at MadeGoods

Light Oxidized Mirror, 40″
by Farah
Find at MadeGoods

Light Oxidized Mirror, 40″
by Farah
Find at MadeGoods

Light Oxidized Mirror, 40″
by Farah
Find at MadeGoods

Light Oxidized Mirror, 40″
by Farah
Find at MadeGoods

Coral White Mirror, 34″
by Serrat
Find at MadeGoods

White Faux Bois Mirror, 30″
by Xabier
Find at MadeGoods
Cream Shell Mirror, 36″
by Ava
Find at MadeGoods
Grotta Baroque Shell Pattern Mirror, 30″W x 38″H
Find at MadeGoods

Tip# : Try placing a mirror on a mirror. Really do it! The dimensions it adds to the environment 
Light Oxidized Mirror, 40″
by Farah
Find at MadeGoods

Innovative Ways to Recycle: Chopstick Sail Boat

Hey everyone I’m back at it again only this time I’ve decided to start a new series that shows the extent of human ingenuity in the way they use materials around them that just also happen to be sustainable. Check out these this cool cat.

1) Shuhei Ogawara and His Canoe Made From Disposable Chopsticks

Canoe made of chopsticks --

A former city employee in the Fukushima prefecture town of Koriyama has built a 4-meter (13-ft) long canoe from thousands of used disposable chopsticks recovered from the city hall cafeteria. Bothered that perfectly good wood was going to waste after a single use, Shuhei Ogawara — whose job at city hall involved working with the local forestry industry — spent the last two years of his career collecting used chopsticks from the cafeteria. An experienced canoe builder, Ogawara spent over 3 months gluing 7,382 chopsticks together into strips to form the canoe shell, to which he added a polyester resin coat. The canoe weighs about 30 kilograms (66 lbs), which is a bit heavier than an ordinary cedar canoe, but Ogawara is confident it will float. A launching ceremony is planned for May at nearby Lake Inawashiro.

[Source: Asahi]