Erin and I are often asked about the places where we find ideas, recipes and inspiration. We wanted to compile a list of the magazines and sites we read/see/visit that make it easy on us! Because we both hold down full-time jobs that go well beyond the hours of 9-5, we tend to frequent places that make finding inspiration easy.  Here are some of our favorites! We’ll share more next week!

- SouthernLiving: In my humble opinion, Southern Living provides readers some of the most beautiful ideas that are actually easy to execute! Their mix of high-end style on a low-end budget, coupled with the fact that they keep it simple – always just makes me happy. The magazine is one of the few I have delivered and their Website is also an excellent resource.

- Twice Lovely: These ladies are amazingly talented. Their never-ending creativity in terms of transforming worn down furniture into something fresh, modern and exciting is just amazing.  We’re so jealous of their talent!

- Real Simple: This is another go-to magazine/Web destination for us.  The title says it all: real. simple. When you’ve worked a 10-hour day and got in your required 30-45 minutes of exercise – the last thing you want to do is come home and get all complicated.  From recipes to decor ideas, the magazine gives you ideas you can actually execute in the precious little time you have.

- Craftzine: What’s your poision? Knitting? Sewing? Hot glue?  Whether you want great ideas for something you’re already good at, or looking to learn something you’re not-so-good at, this site has something for everyone.

- Style Me Pretty: With Erin getting married in just two months now – agghh! – she’s been calling me over to her desk more and more often to talk about the great ideas she finds on the site and how to customize them to her wedding.

- Garden Design: For Erin and I, the garden is like the unconquered frontier.  We both have tried and failed to grow gardens a number of times but recently discovered this site as a resource to stop the cycle. They offer all sorts of tips on different plants, tricks from experienced gardeners and other ideas which are helping demystify some of the things that have been plaguing us. (As in, how not to kill things.)

What are your favorite places to go for ideas?

If I had all the time in the world, I would have no problem reading craft and design blogs all day, every day.  There are so many good ones, I find myself actually overwhelmed by them and don’t add them to my RSS for fear of not getting to them all rather than feeling guilty about it. (Here’s a good story on that idea…it comforted me to know I wasn’t alone!)

However, in taking a look at my Reader, I’m feeling like I need to get over it. Here is my current list – mostly built on recommendations offered through Google.

• Craft (aka Craftzine)
• Centsational Girl
• Design*Sponge
• How About Orange
• Paper n Stitch
• The DIY Diaries
• Yanko Design
• Make
• MoCoLoco
• Sew, Mama, Sew
• Thrifty Decor Chick
• Young House Love
• The Big Picture
• Better After
• Core 77
• Lifestyler
• New Dress a Day
• NOTCOT
• Oh! Joy
• Smitten Kitchen
• The Purl Bee
• Web Urbanist

I try to get to more than what’s on here directly, for example, friends like Ramshackle Glam and Gertie’s Guide to Better Sewing and staples like Apartment Therapy. Not to mention all of our Twitter friends — but what do you all read? Send any and all suggestions in the comments!

Today’s New York Times has an interesting story about people who have been able to parlay their unemployment into a more creative – and sometimes lucrative – career and lifestyle.  It’s not the first story of its kind during this still-down economic cycle, but this one struck me for the ingenuity its subjects employed.  And even more inspirational, some are making significant money!

We’re curious – are any of you selling the goods you make for dough?