So, for your inspiration, here’s a sampling of beautiful rooms from pale sky and peacock blue to royal and navy blue…enjoy!

photos click on photo for credit

This last week, I became a new aunt…sort of. After several years of trying to start a family, my best friend and her husband adopted an amazing little girl. Their daughter is a miracle, and practically perfect in every way imaginable. Twice this week, I have sat in wonder and treasured my special moments with her, just rocking and cooing and making ridiculous faces at her in hopes of a smile. My favorite moments, though, have been listening to my best friend talk about her new daughter. Joy drips off every conversation, and each word seems to be bursting with love, as if trying to help you experience the amazing feelings of excitement and gratitude for this precious gift. It is the sweetest sound to me, and all I want to do is celebrate.

Joy can be contagious if we let it. There is something amazing to me about the way that we can rejoice with others as they experience joy and fulfillment in their life. Whether it is a huge milestone, like becoming a parent, or daily victories like resisting the chocolate fudge brownies, celebrating is an important part of relationships. The catch lies in the status of our heart. If we are not vigilant, our hearts become susceptible to selfishness, which keeps us from being truly secure in who we are. Over time, selfishness decays the areas of our heart reserved for relationships, attempting to convince us that good things only come to those who push and shove and grab. Selfishness also taints our vision, so when great things happen for others, all we see is that the great thing didn’t happen to us.

Fortunately, there is a cure to this common ailment. Making the choice to rejoice alongside others can initiate a shift in our perspective, and over time can have a lasting impact on how we choose to live our lives. Keep your eyes peeled for the moments of celebration in the lives of others, and then make a choice to join in the party!!

What are some of the special moments when others have celebrated something special in your life?

photo Jessica LeFlore

I first heard about Caldrea in the premiere issue of Real Simple magazine about 11 years ago.  It was a relatively new company at the time, and the masses were only able to order their products online or private labeled by Williams-Sonoma (They still manufacture the Williams-Sonoma signature soap and lotion line).  I just about ran my cart into oncoming traffic when I spotted the Caldrea Essential Collection at Target last summer.  I was in HEAVEN.  My preference?  Olive Oil scent.  I absolutely ADORE it.  Other scents available (vary by store):  Hibiscus Yuzu, Citron Ginger, Herbs of Provence, Orchid Violet, Vanilla Lemon, Water Lily, and Cypress Sage.

Caldrea was founded in 1999 by Monica Nassif, who desired to make household chores more enjoyable through luxurious, earth friendly, and beautifully fragranced household cleansers. Caldrea uses fresh, fragrant and plant-derived ingredients, as well as natural extracts and essential oils to provide superior freshness and cleaning performance.  How did she come up with the name?  By combining her daughters’ names:  Calla and Aundrea.  Clever, huh?

So, head on over to your nearest Target and grab a bottle or two — since they are very reasonably priced.

Want another reasonable option?  Walmart now stocks the famously green staple, Mrs. Meyers, also a Caldrea company.  They carry Lemon Verbena, Basil and Lavender — and save up to $3 a bottle by purchasing at good ‘ole Wallyworld.  Mrs. Meyer is actually Mrs. Thelma Meyer, Nassif’s mother.  Happy green cleaning!

Bubble Glass:  Whether you’re serving margaritas or lemonade, this pitcher’s quirky texture and one of a kind shape is sure to be a conversation piece at your next gathering. Thick and hefty, each piece is handblown from recycled glass. Made in Colombia. $55.00

Driftwood Mirror: Crafted in the Philippines of beautiful driftwood. Hang vertically or horizontally. $129.00

Giant Recycled Bowl: Handcrafted in Haiti from colorful tomato paste drums. A great catch-all in the den for those scattered magazines and dog toys. Each is unique. $75.00

Golden Capiz Mobile:  This gorgeous mobile is handrafted in the Philippines of hundreds of golden capiz shells. Great indoors or outside as beautiful sounding chimes. Hung from a bamboo frame that can also equip a light cord set (not included) to turn it into a lovely chandelier. $89.00

Junkyard Flag Pot Holder:  Make a patriotic statement with this flag made of recycled scrap metal! Includes three 4” clay pots. $89.00

Damigiana:  These authentic italian wine vessels, known as demijohns in English and damigiana in Italian, have been used to hold wine for centuries. These are collected from the ancient wine regions of Italy exclusively for AWE, and each bottle is between 50 and 90 years old. The damigiana is truly hand crafted and hand blown, making each one unique in shape and size. They look stunning with a single stem of fresh cut dogwood or any other blooming tree limb. Each damigiana is a treasure to own and truly a piece of Italian history to pass on for generations. As these are antiques, all bottles will vary in size and color. $79.00+

Reclaimed Dining Chairs:  Keeping history alive, these chairs are constructed out of reclaimed timbers from old buildings being demolished for urbanization in Colombia. Small scars and cracks may be evidence of years gone by. Solid wood dining chair has a handcarved fleur de lis back with stretched leather seat. This chair is built to last. $300.00

Recycled Flip Flop Mats: These functional and fun mats are pieced together scraps left over from making flip-flops! What a great save from the landfill! Colors will vary. Available in two sizes. $29.00

Recycled Paper Shopping Bag:  Hand crafted in the Philippines from hundreds and hundreds of pages of magazines and newspapers from around the world. This amazing bag stands for so much more than the importance of recycling our natural resources. It holds thousands of photos, stories, and bits of culture from around the globe. As these take an unimaginable amount of time to make, limited quantities are available. $75.00

Recycled Tire Baskets:  Discarded old tires are refashioned into these fabulous and functional baskets. Handcrafted in the Philippines. Set of two. $32.00

Recycled Marble Crosses:  These crosses are made from Italian marble reclaimed from the Adriatic Sea. Scraps that are deposited into the sea by a marble factory are tossed and tumbled for years until they finally find their way back to the beaches. $89.00

Three Tall Bird Stakes:  These adorable birds add charm to any yard or garden. Or a fun addition to a potted plant, indoors or out. Crafted from repurposed rocks and recycled metal. Set of three. $59.00

The bedding, curtains and pillows were custom made by the homeowner and her mother-in-law.

The birds nesting on the branches above the baby’s crib were also made by the homeowner using this adorable, free pattern by Spool. It was inspired by a friend who had designed a bird mobile for her daughter’s nursery. The branches are from the Bradford Pear in the front yard and are sealed with spray-on polyurethane.

The dresses hanging on the hooks are Polly Flinders that belonged to the homeowner when she was a baby. The bonnet was hers as well. The hooks are from Anthropologie.

Both art prints were free! The tree print was downloaded from a site offering free printable art, and the homeowner designed the scripture verse.

The bird’s nest and eggs are from Wisteria. The shadow boxes flanking the mirror to house the eggs were built by the homeowner’s husband. The pink yarn-wrapped twigs were inspired by HGTV’s Dear Genevieve.

The frog doorstop belonged to the homeowner’s great grandmother. It has sentimental value, and the homeowners have a certain affinity for frogs (err … make that Horned Frogs!).

The dress hanging on the closet door was made by the homeowner using this free tutorial.

The rug is from Calypso St. Barth.

On her dresser, the FAITH plaque was a gift from the homeowner’s aunt. It was originally barn red with an iron bird. The silver tray was a garage sale find, and it serves as a catch-all for pacifiers and hair bows.

A canvas-covered version of The Secret Garden (available at Anthropologie) sits on the nightstand, topped by a pink New Testament embossed with her name.

All images copyright Shalene Roberts.

Maternity Sleeveless Dress by Japanese Weekend, $79.50

Maternity Metallic Satin Stripe Top, $54.50

Maternity Drapey Top by Cotton Glam, $59.50

Maternity Roll Sleeve Top, $49.50

Maternity Wrap Top by Bellyssima, $64.50

Maternity Banded Hem Top, $39.50

Maternity Tie Neck Stripe Top by Japanese Weekend, $69.50

Maternity Smocked Tube Dress, $64.50

Our chihuahua, Duke, had a bit of skin cancer removed a few weeks back.  He is doing very well, considering he is nine years old, but one sad effect has been a bit of potty-trouble.  So much so, that we had to toss our area rug in our family room out.  No biggie, since it wasn’t expensive — and, I am actually enjoying our bare hardwood floors in the interim.

So, I am in the market for a new area rug.  I am hoping we will add to our nest again, so I want to keep something baby-friendly in mind.  I stumbled across this highly-informative article from Good Housekeeping, and had to share it with you:

If you change your decor nearly as often as you change your outfit, choose synthetic rugs — polypropylene or nylon — which provide water- and UV-resistance at low prices. A 5′ by 8′ can be had for less than $100. Nylon is the higher quality of the two because of its bulk (yarn made of polypropylene fibers can get crushed over time), plus it holds color well. But both synthetics are excellent at masking dirt. Cotton rugs, $50 and up, are an even more affordable choice, but they can stain and wear out quickly (though you can throw them in a large washing machine). Want something eco-friendly? Plant-based fibers such as sisal, jute, and bamboo are not only biodegradable but made from renewable resources. Especially good for sunrooms or outdoor use because they shed water easily, plant-based fibers are difficult to clean and may last only a few years with heavy use; still, they start at a low $100.

 

Entertain often or need a stylish floor covering for a high-traffic area? Check out wool. The fibers are naturally stain-resistant and don’t flatten easily (just vacuum regularly to revive). Wool rugs should last decades, but you pay for the durability: They start at $300 and run as high as that pricey Persian, which can range from $200 for a machine-made 5′ by 8′ replica up to thousands of dollars for an authentic hand-knotted (Persian) one.

 

An area rug is meant to give a room a focal point. If the rug is too big, it just looks like wall-to-wall carpeting; if it’s too skimpy, it fails to draw the eye and make the room inviting. (Worst-case scenario: It looks as if someone accidentally left a towel on the floor.) Consider comfort when you choose thickness. For the bedroom, allow three feet of rug on either side of the bed if you and your partner both want a soft landing in the morning (your nightstands should be on the rug as well). In the dining room, be sure the rug is large enough to fit beneath a chair that’s pushed back from the table, then add six more inches. In the living room, personal preference rules. Furniture that’s half-on, half-off the rug creates a casual look; furniture entirely on or off is more formal. Finally, a rug’s price should match the cost of other major furniture in the room. In a living room, for example, the floor covering should be about the price of the sofa.

 

Rug Pads:  These handy floor savers not only provide comfort and prevent slipping, they can also add years to the life of the rug you just purchased, since less movement means less friction (read: less wear and tear). Most are made of synthetic materials – such as PVC or latex – and though they may vary in thickness (a thicker one will make your rug feel cushier), most have the same gripping capabilities. Buy a pad that’s one or two includes smaller than your rug, and in your price range. (Pads range from $20 to $80.)

How did you choose your area rug?  Was it based on style, comfort, price or a combination of the three?

photo source unknown

The French Affair collection is a new spin on neutral – with opaque coverage in spring shades unlike the sheers seen in the past. Very clean and bright pastel color sets a new tone for the season: optimistic and fun. In six shades of fresh, pretty and classically feminine, your own personal spring fling is now at your fingertips.  All are DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free.

French Affair – très innocent pink; a sophisticated soft lavender pink, $8.00

Coat Azure – flirty, shimmery Parisian blue; a breathtaking medium blue with shimmer, $8.00

Sand Tropez – sun-kissed, tan de soleil; a soft sandy beige, $8.00

Topless & Barefoot – coquettish peach at the beach; a barely there soft beige pink, $8.00

Kisses & Bises – swoon-worthy iridescent; a kiss of pink shimmer (perfect to layer over any color), $8.00

Nice is Nice – supremely happy spring wisteria; a whimsical light lavender, $8.00

Which one strikes your fancy?

 photos Architectural Digest, Country Living, Domino, House Beautiful, livingetc.com, Martha Stewart, Traditional Home, uktv.co.uk, Traditional Home, beachstudios.uk, decorpad.com (2), House Beautiful (2), lolaandemily.com, myhomeideas.com, Phoebe Howard, thelennoxx.com, Country Living, Coastal Living, Domino (2), House Beautiful, housetohome.com, Linda Banks, Martha Stewart, Veranda, arhdecor.com, Country Living (2), Feldman Architecture, Martha Stewart (2), myhomeideas.com (2), Veranda, Coastal Living, decorpad.com, desiretoinspire.net, House Beautiful (2), housetohome.com (2), interiordesign.net, uktv.co, uk2