Is there something in your life that you know you can't live without, but at the same time are thinking you would be a better person if you could just well .. 'curb the habit'??
Lately I have been thinking this very same thing about my magazine addiction!
Every month I receive 3 of these magazines in the mail (not to mention those purchased over the counter) ..... always anticipating with excitement what will be beyond the beautiful covers. Relishing in the moments I can snatch away to indulge in other peoples homes and lives.
I am addicted (yes, I fear addicted) to interiors magazines. I find myself looking at these homes (most of which are possibly not as they seem) and rethinking the whole layout of my own home and then rushing out to buy that desperately needed accessory to go with it. Although I love to be informed, and up-to-date with the latest trends, I feel that my life would be calmer without them. Accepting my home as it is now, and not feeling inadequate (as these mags often make me feel), is something that I need to learn to do. I need to learn to be okay with the fact that my arrangements are more 'clusters' than 'vignettes' and that my furniture has the marks of family life written all over it. The problem is when I read these magazines I think my life would be better if only I could have a house like 'this' or an interior like 'that', do you know what I mean?
Anyway, I do solemnly swear (for mine and my families sake) to try to cut back on my addiction and, at times, only look at these magazines as light entertainment rather than as a bible for how your home/life should look. I'll let you know how I go .... and whether or not I have become more grounded, sane, and .... I guess less envious!!
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. Michelle
Lately I have been thinking this very same thing about my magazine addiction!
Every month I receive 3 of these magazines in the mail (not to mention those purchased over the counter) ..... always anticipating with excitement what will be beyond the beautiful covers. Relishing in the moments I can snatch away to indulge in other peoples homes and lives.
I am addicted (yes, I fear addicted) to interiors magazines. I find myself looking at these homes (most of which are possibly not as they seem) and rethinking the whole layout of my own home and then rushing out to buy that desperately needed accessory to go with it. Although I love to be informed, and up-to-date with the latest trends, I feel that my life would be calmer without them. Accepting my home as it is now, and not feeling inadequate (as these mags often make me feel), is something that I need to learn to do. I need to learn to be okay with the fact that my arrangements are more 'clusters' than 'vignettes' and that my furniture has the marks of family life written all over it. The problem is when I read these magazines I think my life would be better if only I could have a house like 'this' or an interior like 'that', do you know what I mean?
Anyway, I do solemnly swear (for mine and my families sake) to try to cut back on my addiction and, at times, only look at these magazines as light entertainment rather than as a bible for how your home/life should look. I'll let you know how I go .... and whether or not I have become more grounded, sane, and .... I guess less envious!!
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. Michelle
Oh I agree, I have a pile of House & Garden, Home Beautiful, Country Style and Real Living that I receive each month and I have stopped reading them, they now just accumulate in a pile on my buffet :(
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that Michelle. I've made the same pledge many times - but never managed to follow through! It is getting a little ridiculous now - I even have old copies I just can't part with stashed in my wardrobe. I think maybe we both need a magazine intervention! K xx
ReplyDeleteYour home is gorgeous, so you shouldn't feel at all inadequate. I don't buy mags very much - only when I want something pretty to flick through on the beach.
ReplyDeleteMay the force be with you!!!............. Be careful though that you don't replace your addiction with gambling or smoking lol!!!...
ReplyDeleteYour home is beautiful! Look at the images on the side of your blog!
ReplyDeleteMagazines are evil. Everything is cleaned within an inch of its life ... it's all been styled by a professional ... photos are cropped.
I used to suffer your affliction. I still do ... so I don't buy magazines any more. I find them depressing! Truly. Let go!
Hmmm your first paragraph had me pondering. I used to be a magazine junkie, but have seriously cut back in the past couple of years. (No I'm not immune totally to the lure of a glossy page, it's smell, touch, and images to drown in). Your home could easily be put in a magazine and make people feel just the same... grass is always greener. Unless you go to a 3rd world country, then you'll be home realising what a veritable palace you live in! You definitely have a Home Beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteoh michelle- your home is already beautiful...you need to see those pictures up there on the right through our eyes.....x
ReplyDeletei too am completely addicted to home mags and have too many subscriptions here in the uk, that i justify with the fact that i can't get ALL these british & european mags at these prices back home in oz...
i have cancelled all but 4 and i still delight when i pudh open our front door and it gets stuck on a glossy mag in a plastic postal bag.
i think i need to lose my addiction too, let me know how you go...
good luck!
melissa xx
Michelle I think you have a magazine worthy home yourself, its a real inspiration. i too share your magazine addiction but never allow myself to purcase any more than 1 each week. Bloogging certainly feeds that addiction to decor as well & I don't appear to be able to cut back there!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck :0)
Hi Michelle, best of luck with your cutback! It's a tricky one... I love them too, but if I ever start to feel inadequate, I remind myself that just outside the shot, there is a big pile of mess and junk being pushed from room to room!! Your home is stunning, send some photos in, and I bet it would be in a mag pretty quickly :)
ReplyDeleteFlick
You are being very brave..I have to say I have found the online mags have started to help me curb my habit a little, can I suggest replacing one habit with another;-)
ReplyDeleteOh pleeeeeeeeeeease!!! Your home is wonderfully gorgeous and and could be featured in ANY glossy interior magazine. You have the best little configurations and such style. I can't use the 'V' word. It drives me crazy :) As for your magazine addiction. I hear you...
ReplyDeleteMichelle I am sitting here reading your post in between reading some old magazines and can totally relate to what your saying. I have one subscrption and tend to buy one other mag per month but I still find I get the most inspiration from my old mags that I have had for over ten years. Some of those old Country Living Mags and Country Home's are just full of ideas and inspiration. I tend to not buy whats in fashion and just stick to what you love. Your home is beautiful and sometimes is takes us a while to figure what we should put where but at the end of the day we should all be happy with what we have. If magazines are your only addiction I don't think its that bad. Sandy xx
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, sorry I haven't visited your blog in a little while. I know what you mean about wanting to change everything in your house after flicking through one of the latest magazines :) My favourite is Real Living which is the one I buy without fail every month - sometimes I treat myself to an extra one if it really catches my eye.
ReplyDeleteI'm addicted to mags too. Have been since my teen years. Have tried to give up buying them and borrowing them from the library instead but who has the time to do that? Good luck with cutting back!
ReplyDeleteHi you! Will put this bluntly but with much sisterly love...CANCEL those subscriptions NOW!Listen to all these comments, particularly the one by Raine and Sage...add up what you spend each year on mags and think what that could buy you (or me!!!!)when thrift, antique or online shopping!!! Remember, each time you buy a mag a fair chunk of your money is purely paying for advertising...not such a nice thought. OK, so if you can't go cold turkey, at least cut back to ONLY ONE fav mag a month. Your budget and your ego will thank me for it I promise! xxx
ReplyDeleteI too was addicted but I finally did it! I kicked the habit... Aaaand then I replaced it with buying books from the book depo! Now I have a new and probably worse addiction,that place is so cheap though I can manage to buy one book a month and justify it somehow Lol. Good luck, I hope the withdrawals aren't too bad. Megan xx
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing today. I bundled some old ones up I had been hoarding to resell, and as I did so I added up the cost of what I had invested in them.....needless to say it was hundreds of dollars. But it is such a hard habit to break....there is nothing like a new mag waiting to be read, cheers katherine
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