Hello….wow it is our very first By Invitation Only for 2015! Still cannot believe it’s the new year…… this is a really wonderful, unique and thought provoking theme to kick off the new year. As you know by now, once a month the group of bloggers who are part of “By Invitation Only” get together to interpret a theme, generally we all take turns coming up with an idea. This months made me pause and really think about how I was going to handle this one…..

The question is if the world suddenly could only rely on a bartering system what talents would I have or be able to offer and the catch? is without electricity or technology. Ouch. Double ouch. Now I could serenade the world with my singing voice and spread the love (though it seems I am the only one who thinks I can rival Celine) but seriously I started thinking and doing some self reflection on what I think I am half way decent at.

The upside here is that? I am definitely a sharer at heart, I like sharing what I know and helping others its just my nature so? these are a few of the ideas? I came up with……

?Helping people make their homes more beautiful! Duh, this is an absolute passion of mine and it never gets old, I so love the challenge of being able to help someone create a beautiful, inviting and elegant home. While the technology we all have and love might not be omnipresent there are so many more details we can add to a home that go a lot further in terms of sheer enjoyment? than having a computer or cell phone handy. Some of the “must haves’ for me and services I would offer would be……

1. It has to start with creating cozy, beautiful ,elegant spaces within out home. A scrumptious bed is an absolute necessity!!? We spend nearly half our lives in bed, so you better and should make it a great one!

Plus without technology you will be doing a lot more sleeping so make it comfy! Moving onto other rooms like creating an inviting and cozy family room imaginable, afterall you will be doing a lot of reading and board game playing? in there! I love playing with fabrics and would certainly and happily lend my services as a “fabric fairy”….

A pretty nightstand that has a few treasured pictures, a pretty little bud vase are staples for me. Guess the lamp and phone can go though or at least stay for decoration:)

Creating an inviting home does not only apply to the indoors! I would help create cozy nooks in the outdoors as well…..

2. I would love to help other learn how to create a beautiful kitchen that you will actually enjoy and anticipate? working in. And let’s face it without technology chances are you are going to be doing a whole lotta cooking! I love rustic elegant European touches like copper, stone, old cutting boards, pretty little containers to hold spices,etc….

3. An inviting bath with a great soaking tub. Again, without the technology that so many of us consume ourselves with you will have an abundance of free time and chances are you will find more time to luxuriate soaking in a wonderful tub, sounds great to me!

4. Surround yourself by what you love would be one of my mantras. In my case it is blue and white porcelain…you might know that:) I love it and enjoy it so much, that when I walk in a room and see it,? it literally makes me happy:)

So I would encourage everyone to think about what does it for them and to slowly build a collection, adding a little bit of whatever it is they love to each space in their home as I have done in mine……

5. I would want to help someone learn about the art of setting a pretty table and sitting down to one every night! With all that free time on their hands (sans technology) there would be ample time to learn the fine points of table setting and lingering over meals and engaging in lively conversation without a phone in sight……sounds good to me!

6.? Another thing I would offer are cooking classes and developing a “back to the farm” palette. I would love to take them to local farms and oogle over all the fresh produce and let them experience everything from? a still warm tomato just off off the vine to a peach that is so juicy and sweet it cannot help but make you smile!

Plus don’t even get me started on the joys of hitting a farmstand and being able to buy fresh cut flowers…those are simply the best!!

7. Not that I am claiming to be an expert of any kind but I do love to cook and have certainly created my own little arsenal of meals and dishes that I would like to think I have mastered. Lots of great? comfort foods, lots of salads and soups,? healthy seafood dishes and I do love my tapas ideas so I feel like I could offer some expertise in this area particularly for those who don’t like to cook or maybe are intimidated by the process.

It doesn’t have to be fussy but it does have to be good and what fun it would it be returning from the farm stands with all of our fresh ingredients ready to roll…….

So that just about sums up the bartering service I think I could offer, I might call my little service “An enchanted life”as it would encompass more than just the home….I would run my little farm stand tours and then reconvert back in my kitchen to make a great farm to table meal as a group. The interior design services would be one on one.? Maybe hold little classes on the fine art of entertaining and creating pretty tablescapes. They would be casual settings with wine and good food!? And who knows maybe throw in singing lessons as a extra special bonus lol:)

Truly it doesn’t take much, it is a delicate balance of surrounding yourself with things you love and items that make you happy in helping to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The irony with this post as I was putting this all together is that I realize our senses would be heightened in a new unfamiliar way without the added distraction of technology. No matter what we are doing or where we are, it seems as though we have our phones or iPads or some other gadget within reach always luring us away, perhaps too conveniently.

Without that, imagine the delight in even the simplest things like smelling a freshly delivered bucket of peaches or enjoying the scent of fresh cut flowers, going home and lighting a candle in a favorite corner and sitting to read a book or a magazine, luxuriating in a bubble bath with nothing but the birds chirping as the backdrop. Don’t know about you,? but I feel calmer already! I am kind of liking this idea afterall:) How about a day of no technology? Think people would go for it?

I have to admit I would be one of the first to sign up….think too many have never had a taste of the simple pleasures in life and I think this post proves they are very much? as pleasurable if not more than technology! What do you think about this idea? Tell me all about it…..

Thanks for stopping in, wishing you a wonderful day. Be sure to stop by over at Splenderosa (click here), the doyenne of our special group and discover how others have interpreted this unique and fun theme! These are guaranteed to be an interesting and entertaining range of posts. Until next time……

PS If you missed my Golden Globes fashion recap, click here.

PPS New promo on tole/chinoiserie, started last night, things are going fast, click here for details.