Sixx Design.

I am feeling so inspired after reading about this New York husband and wife duo who run a design company named Sixx Design. I am completely amazed at their style and their ability to mix modern and vintage. Even more amazing, though is the fact that they have 6 children and are able to live in New York and design fabulous spaces. Check out their website, under projects, and the first two examples are their residences. #5 Centre Market is their New York apartment, and Great Barrington is their house in New England.

These spaces are a perfect combo of fun, stylish, laid back and interesting. The rest of the projects are run down spaces they've purchase and fixed up. I would love to be inside their world for a day.

I can't tell you how many times I've watched THIS....it makes me sooo happy. I'm currently counting down the days until May 30th.

In The Middle Of The Night...

Sometimes I struggle with getting good sleep, because with my sweet Mr. Brooks in the bed, this is what I hear all night when sleeping...

{We don't have a video recorder, so here is a fellow Frenchie named Roxy doing a perfect impression}

It secretly comforts me...

On A Happier Note...

...I wish I was sitting on this porch in Nantucket, sipping a lemonade and having a really good talk.

And staring out at this....

Here is it from the front and back...perfection.

{Photos from Architectural Digest}

Please Excuse Me While I Get On My Soap Box....

One of the recent headlines in the news, is the issue of 143 million pounds of recalled beef that went to schools for lunches. For those of you who don't know why the beef was recalled, it was because the animals were so neglected and abused, their meat was not fit for human consumption. The Human Society of the United States chose a slaughterhouse at random, and secretly taped the treatment of these animals. Their investigation documented animals too sick or injured to stand or walk—called "downers" by industry—being kicked, beaten, dragged with chains, shocked with electric prods, sprayed in the face with hoses, and rammed by forklifts in efforts to get them to their feet to pass USDA inspection. If you have a strong stomach and can handle it, you can see it here.

We are really in the dark in terms of how some farm animals are treated. Many chickens are kept in cages that don't allow them to move, while pigs are kept in tiny pens that are so small, they can't even turn over. Animals are strung up by their feet for slaughter while they are still conscious...watching as they are stabbed to death. It's sick, inhumane, disgusting and it strikes deep in my soul as being completely unethical. It is my belief that by being the strongest species, it is our job to care for and speak up for, those that can't do this for themselves. This includes animals and children.

Even if you don't choose to live a vegetarian lifestyle, please purchase products from farms and companies that take care of their animals humanly. Look for cage free eggs, free range chicken, wild fish, and cruelty free meat. This site Certified Humane lists which companies are certified cruelty free, and list by state where to purchase such products.

Thank you for listening to my soap box tirade...this is an issue that is very close to my heart and I feel very strongly about. It's our job to care for those that are weaker than we are, not to hurt them.

Sitting Pretty.

We've needed new chairs for our kitchen table for a while, and this weekend while strolling through Crate and Barrel, we found them. They were orginally $399 a chair {which we would have never paid}, but they had been marked down in the store to $130! They are so comfortable, and I won't feel bad when they get wrecked someday by kiddos, since they were such a good deal.

Happiness.

"Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder."

-Henry David Thoreau

I'll be honest...I've been struggling lately with being happy. Sometimes the more you think about not being happy, the harder it is to find. I read this article today which focused on important contributors to happiness. Here are some of the points that stuck with me...

• Be Curious - The key is to engage in activities outside your comfort zone.
• Give Thanks - Expressing gratitude has been shown in numerous studies to improve mood.
• Don't Dwell - Ruminating lengthens period of depression....distract yourself : go for a run, get a manicure or play with your dog.
• Talk to Strangers - It's a strong social norm to be cheerful around strangers, and when we act that way, we begin to feel that way.
• Do A Good Thing - The Dalai Lama preaches that if you want to be happy, practice compassion. Doing something nice for someone, even if it's small, enhances mood.
• Work Out - Even a brisk 5 to 10 minute walk will benefit your mood.
• Breathe Deep - Deep breathing from your belly, increases levels of GABA (a neurotransmitter associated with happy, calm feelings) and lowers levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.
• Go Fishing - Eating fish with Omega-3s has powerful effects on brain function and mood.
• Enjoy Fats - The best mood enhancers: monosaturated fats (avocado, olive oil & nuts).
• Add Background Music - Music can affect the pleasure center of the brain...the positive effect can last even after the music is over.
• Take A Whiff - Smelling any scent that appeals to you can enhance your mood.

I'm going to give these a try and see if my happy butterfly quietly lands on my shoulder.