Great Inspiration | Instagram & Spotify

Amidst all the crazy on Instagram, there is also a lot of goodness - I find great things all the time. A lot of my love of Instagram is for good photography - which is where it started. Before it turned into marketing madness. Here are my current favorites…

Decorating & Homes…

@danielledrollins - author and decorator, now in Palm Beach

@elementstyle - author, designer and blogger in Boston

@jamestfarmer - southern author and designer

@kathy_waite_design - interior designer

@laurenleonardinteriors - interior designer

@theglampad - classic interiors - gorgeous

@oldsilvershed - life in a gorgeous home on Cape Cod

Gardens & Flowers

@potagerblog - gorgeous gardens, gardening and landscapes

@carolyneroehm - author and garden enthusiast

@contained_creations - local RVA container gardener extraordinaire

@tulipinadesign - the most amazing floral designer - spectacular weddings and venues

@foxhillgarden - talented gardener in my zone - 7b - teaches me about dahlias

@gncgarden - welcome to hydrangea heaven in Denmark

Shops

@societysocial - furniture source and shop owner

@lindrothdesign - shopping and retail - island inspired gifts and home wares

@laurahooperdesign - calligrapher with custom calligraphy on gifts, as well as calligraphy supplies

@museumbees - I found him at market years ago and now he has a cult following - gorgeous pieces made from antique frames.

@kelloggcollection - lovely home goods shop in Mid-Atlantic area - reminds me of Posh - classic and beautiful

@kescollections - gorgeous Oushak and handknotted rugs with good prices - Morgan does custom rugs as well, that are not a fortune.

@theenchantedhome - she has a shop but it is also fun to see her home and property in her posts

@housesandparties - not sure I would buy anything, since it’s mostly quite pricey - but an amazingly fun site and posts - great ideas for entertaining

Artwork

@pastelsbymelissa - local RVA pastels artist

@jessieedwardsgallery - gallery in Block Island, RI

@chris_shands_art - a local RVA abstract artist

@katiejacobsonart - southern artist living in Hawaii

@emilydaviscollection - wonderful tiny acrylic landscapes

@carriemeganart - wonderful abstract landscapes

@rachelenglishfineart - the most gorgeous sky pieces you’ve ever seen

Animals - Cute, Interesting or Funny

@thehungrylittlebirdie - the goings on at a birder’s backyard bird feeder

@thefeelgoodpage111 - great video of animals doing great things

@skydogsanctuary - a wild mustang and donkey rescue in Malibu

People - cute, interesting or funny

@historicbuildingco - a historic architect and designer/builder that is routinely hilarious or inspirational - and he has one hell of a voice

@jamiemeares - owner of Furbish Studio - very interesting and usually funny

@celestebarber - the funniest person on Instagram - hands down.

@whitneyenglish - designer, planner and author - mom of three and always has seven projects going on - watching her run her newest business and renovate a mid-century house in OK

@bravoandy - because I love Andy Cohen and love his take on having kids

@juliezickafoose - she is a birder and takes the most gorgeous pictures in rural Ohio

Travel

@habituallychic - NYC and fashion blogger, but I like her travel stories on IG

@galavant_travels - boutique travel company - posts about her upcoming trips and destinations

@chateaugudanes - watching a forgotten French chateau in the Pyrenees being brought back to life

@jamiebeck.co - I didn’t know where to put her - her feed is so inspirational and beautiful - an American living in Provence, beautifully

over 50 bloggers

@silverstylestudio - Kerry Lou - from England and based in near NYC - a makeup artist and posts about makeup and hair

@cindyhattersley - mostly style, but interiors and gardens also - really great all around feed

@contessa_and_her_pig - a very very interesting lady who has led a very interesting life

@styleatacertainage - the queen of this genre - one of the OG’s - always interesting info and help

Just Because…

@loveleighcharcuterie - local RVA charcuterie artist - amazing

@refugeingrief - she wrote the best selling book on grief - It’s Ok That You’re Not Ok - love her. She posts the best memes and quotes.

@costarastrology - hilarious take on the astrological signs

@itsslavik - I could watch these guys dance for waaaay tooo long…

@pleasehatethesethings - the absurd and hilarious in home design

Also - I promised my Spotify playlist for fall and a few playlists for any ole time. Because…

I AM the Old Lady DJ

I travel with my music and my speaker, and I have 30+ playlists. Ask anybody who knows me. It’s the soundtrack of my life and maybe yours too. If you are a music person, you might really enjoy these! Some are 45 minutes long and some are 8 hours long!! Most are an hour or two.

I have included links to the playlists, and it’s really easy to follow them. You just tap the heart under the playlist name to follow it. Or you can tap on the downward arrow and download it to your Spotify account.

And if you don’t have a Spotify account, I highly recommend it. Music can change your mood in an instant. It’s a great coping mechanism for whatever you’ve got going on.

Autumn’s Melody - this is a moody playlist, which is how I think of the fall. To me the quintessential fall song is “California Dreamin”. It also has a little bit of Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin thrown in for fun. It’s newer, so not very long.

Thanksgiving Tunes - I made this one for Thanksgiving a few years ago. Mellow tunes for multi-generations.

Happy Chix - this one is upbeat and mostly by women artists

Dance Party - this is THE playlist my friends and family know. I dare you not to dance.

Provence Work Music - this is Jamie Beck’s playlist (see above) for when she works in her studio. It’s great for working around the house, in the yard, creative projects - anytime when lyrics and busy music will not get in the way of your focus.

Classical Music for Writing - this one is more atmospheric and is good for focus, when you want background but you are doing something like writing, or math. (Originally from Halidon Music.)