i love magazines. what i love even more is having the time to read my magazines. they’re a source of ideas, a source of escape and even a source of inspiration in so many ways. what i love even more are hanging on to my magazines. i have years’ worths of real simple magazine…and i refuse to get rid of them. when they become too much, i’ve even started using them as a decor element. (and to prove i’m not crazy, electrolux vacuums and small appliance’s facebook page even suggested this as an idea. see it here. this is a total shameless plug: my lovely sis created and maintains this facebook page. if you even want to go a step further, become a fan. she will love you forever.)

one of my fave, fave, fave magazines is a better homes and gardens special interest publication – do it yourself magazine. i’m just in my first year of subscription, but i absolutely cannot wait for each quarter’s issue to come out. and it just so happened that my fall 2011 issue arrived last week…in perfect time to take along on my business trip this week. (alone airplane time = perfect to catch up on magazines)

every issue is chock full of ideas for home decor, crafts, gifts, organization, storage, you name it, it’s in there. in this issue, i have a couple of fave callouts:

1. “ask john & sherry”…this is a special contribution in each issue from younghouselove.com’s john & sherry petersik. i love them. love, love, love.

2. “the organized office.” of course. provides all sorts of fun ideas and solutions to get your workspace in tip-top shape.

3. “just my type”…love this article too. i feel like one of the easiest ways to weave in personalization into a home is using and showcasing initials or names. this feature shows ways to stamp initials, use them to create a weekly calendar, and how to even integrate typography into pillows.

this pub also reminds me of one of my other all-time favorite magazines – blueprint – which was a martha stewart publication. it lasted eight issues, was focused more towards the 20-somethings, showed how to make things that real people could actually make, and i don’t think there was anyone more sad to see it go than both me and my sister.

what about you? any favorite magazines out there you can’t live without?