No, this isn’t an advertisment for laundry detergent!
It’s my annual rotation of drinking water storage!! (Alright, quit rolling your eyes, and read on).

With all the natural disasters happening around the world, it has reminded me to drain and refill my water containers in case of an emergency. (We get earthquakes, fires, mudslides…we’re an accident waiting to happen around here.) This is good to do no matter where you live though.
Our state (Ca.), county, city and church officials have drummed into our heads about the importance of having at least a 72 hr. reserve of food and water. More if we can. So I thought I’d show you how I store some water. (can you hardly wait!!!)

I save all of my empty heavy duty laundry detergent containers. Not only can I recycle these great containers, they are the perfect vessel for this purpose. They are opaque so water doesn’t deteriorate as fast and they have a handle in case you have to “grab and go”. Also a spigot, so water can be regulated and not wasted. They are perfect for water storage.
I clean out the empty bottles real good, after I use up the contents. Then fill them up with cold water. Then I add a few drops of chlorine beach to keep bacteria from growing and keep it potable. I tighten the lid and write the date on the bottle and label as H2O.

It’s best to store them in a cool, dark, dry place, but we don’t have basements here so I store mine in the garage. I do try to change the water every 6 months to a year.
The amount to store, at minimum, is one gallon of water per person, per day. At least 3 days, but much more if you can. I have about 50 gallons for 4 people and adding to it all the time, (I do alot of laundry…)
There are many ways to store water. Some prefer large 55 gallon drums with pumps. Or you can store in smaller containers as I have done.
For more information you can google “emergency food storage” and get more details.

Well, I hope I didn’t bore you to death…certainly not as exciting as decorating. But, I thought I’d pass this along to help you get motivated in preparation for an emergency. No matter where you live, it’s always good to be prepared. So, save and recycle those great laundry soap containers for emergency water, you and your family might really be glad you did.

Please comment on what YOU do to prepare for any emergency.

Lavender fields on the edge of Avignon in Provence.

Welcome to the south of France, famous for amazing weather, cuisine, Roman ruins, vineyards for miles, and olive trees wherever you look. And the south of France is also known for its Country French style of fabrics, ceramics, rustic furniture, and accessories that have long been exported to our shores. The farmhouses (or mas) in Provence have largely been modernized today but the Provencal aura remains.

We opted to focus on one very French color palette–red and gold. Of course, there are other popular color choices that speak of Provence as well–blue and gold, green and cream, brown and tan. But it is this red and gold story that is most evocative of the area around Avignon. You see this color story in the famous hand-blocked cotton prints, in whimsical ceramics, in toiles of farmhouse scenes, in vibrant florals as well. And it is surprising how versatile red and gold can be. The color story can work in virtually any room and blends particularly well with many of the neutrals we all use as background choices of wall and floor.

Multiple fabrics and paint chips to support Provence’s red and gold palette.

Now, let’s look at a reading corner that has instantly taken on Provence style. What elements are most important? First, of course, are the decorative pillows in familiar patterns that have softened a European leather chair. A red wool throw has been added as another element on that chair, too. On the tabletop, a fun Country French lamp (complete with cochon) utilizes a red and gold check fabric for its shade. Paired with that round accessory piece, this vignette now oozes Gallic charm.

Country French reading nook combines disparate elements.

The kitchen is one room that easily takes on Provencal style. There are so many products that can be added easily and quickly to make every cook feel like a French chef du cuisine. In addition, decorative touches are abundantly available to give even a suburban tract house a bit of Avignon. Again, we focused on our signature red and gold color palette for a small setting of Country French kitchen items. It seems like virtually every French home includes a rooster somewhere–and so have we! This ceramic version will be a bit quieter, though, eliminating that cock-a-doodle-do. We’ve paired him with red enamel accessories, a sunflower pitcher, a metal towel rack, simple dish towels, a table runner and some onions and tomatoes. Ready to make coq au vin?

A vignette of a Country French kitchen.

You can easily create a mood like you’ve shopped at an Avignon street market without having to get your passport stamped. Just look for whimsy, red and gold, and those familar Provencal hand-blocked printed fabrics.

Next, onto the spectacular Amalfi Coast.

I have really appreciated your advice in regards to selecting the right wedding gift for this young couple who will be getting married in June.  I also indicated that I had a few other choices that I wanted to share with you.  So far, you have all agreed that the best wedding gift that you gave the highest marks  is the tableware.  Of those gift ideas, the tableware has  become the gift that is my most favored.  However, I would like you to look at some other gift ideas and let me know what you think.  I will make my decision after I get your final word.  I will assess what you have decided from this second selection of gift ideas and choose between the tableware and the what appears to be the majority choice in this second group. 

These gift ideas are:

These beautiful gold monogrammed bathroom accessories. They make a wonderful statement.

These beautiful serving dishes are so colorful and look as though they are hand painted.  They are another prize gift.

These gorgeous candle holders, with the brushed nickel base, are both about 17-18 inches tall, with the large frosted-design globes that make a wonderful statement.

Okay!  You’ve seen these three additional wedding gift ideas.  Now, I need you to share with me and let me know which one/s you like best.  You have shown great insight and as a result, I look forward to hearing your selection/s.

I’m so excited to be back on the HomeGoods Openhouse blog! I did two weeks of guest posting in the fall, which was a blast with so many comments and questions from all of you. And now I’m back with a very specific thought in mind:

In these tight money times with the pound sterling and the euro so strong, the dollar so weak, gas so expensive, airport delays and weather issues all over the globe, what are you planning to do for your summer vacation?

We’ve decided to show you how you can have a vacation at home that will make you feel like you’ve gone to some fabulous location, soaked up the local color, walked on those cobblestone pathways, visited those lush gardens, lolled days away on sandy beaches, and still been able to sleep in your own bed at night! We are going to take you on an around-the-world tour of ten amazing vacation spots–some near, some very far–that you can create easily and memorably in your own house and gardens.

Amazing beaches on Mexico’s west coast.

Of course, we aren’t recommending total home makeovers just to capture the spirit of your favorite vacation spot. But it is inexpensive and easy to get the essence of these locales into your own home to spark up your environment a bit. While a Country French bedroom might not be the equal of visiting vineyards in Tuscany or staring at the Roman Pont du Gard aqueduct in Provence, it will certainly cost you a lot less!

Pont du Gard outside Uzes in France’s Provence region.

Where are we going on our around-the-world tour? In Europe, we’ll visit the Greek Islands, south of France, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and the wonderful Cotswold region of England. Tropical climates will be visited, too: Antigua in the Caribbean, Acapulco in Mexico and Bali in the East Indies. Closer to home? Bar Harbor in Maine, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and California’s Laguna Beach.

For each location, we’ll showcase two images of easy room makeovers that will give you a smattering of summer style from our global tour. In addition, we’ve developed a designer fabric/paint board for each stop on our tour, giving you insight into pattern and hue direction that speaks of that place. And, we’ll also include an image of what the territory looks like–a touristy photograph to evoke memories from those of you who’ve been there or enticements for those who’d like to go.

Tomorrow we start! Get your passports ready as we’ll begin with our four European vacation destinations first. Bon voyage to us all!

I am soooo excited! I am in the process of packing to travel and visit my first grandchild! I would tell you that I have waited patiently for this day to arrive, but my family would be laughing hysterically in the background.

Since travel season is upon us, I thought I might share a few of my packing tips with you. You see, I am going to be gone for ten days, and I will not have to check my bags. I thought you might like to know some of my secrets.

1) Keep shoes to a minimum. They take up lots of space. I am taking black ballet flats, sandals, and flip flops. I’ll wear the ones that take up the most room and pack the other two.

2) Try to keep things simple and make sure they mix and match. I am taking:

2 pair of jeans - one cropped, one long
2 black bottoms - one cropped pants, one gaucho
3 white tees, two short sleeve, one long
2 white camisoles
2 light weight sweaters, one white, one red
2 coordinating red tops
5 light weight blouses
necessary lingerie and sleepwear
small gifts for family, a gift bag, and tissue

3) Carry your toiletries and reading material in a tote large enough to hold a small purse, so you can combine them when going through security.

That’s it! I haven’t had to check a bag in years. It has made travel so much easier and enjoyable.

Finally, I want to give you a close up of a few of the little things I am taking for my grandson and his mom. It wasn’t easy keeping it to just a few items that would pack easily. The choices for baby are wonderful. I find I can get lost in the children’s aisles. So, once I arrive at my destination, I will take the proud parents out to do some baby shopping of their own.

It’s time to run! I have a few more things to finish before I catch my plane. I hope to post while I am away, but if I am unable to get to a computer I will share the fun as soon as I return.

As the weather gets nicer, we tend to gravitate to the outdoors. Although, sometimes the outdoors, around our homes, may feel uninviting and underutlized because it’s been overlooked and ignored as comfortable living space. It’s good to rethink how you want these spaces to work. They can be turned into wonderful outdoor rooms, and, you don’t have to build or add on a thing.

It’s great to transform an unattractive area into a place of comfort and beauty. This is a small enclosed court yard, open to the sky. The fireplace is wonderful for cool nights and a beautiful focal point in the space. Add a pretty umbrella or some canvas overhead draping for shade on warm days… ahhhhh, an oasis of calm.

By simply adding some “element friendly” furnishings, flowers, plants, a few accessories and don’t forget a water feature, for that “refreshing sound-of-water therapy”, the space is as warm and welcoming as any interior room (maybe more so).
It’s great to find extra living space in your own yard. It may become your favorite summer escape to read a good book and sip fresh lemonade.

What are some of your favorite outdoor spaces to relax in… Porches, gazebos, floating in a pool, under a big shade tree?

Happy Mother’s Day to all you great Moms! You deserve a special place to relax in!

Wow!! I’ve got to get a wedding gift for a wedding that I will be attending in June.  I know that they have a wedding registry, but the bride- to- be and the groom asked that I not adhere to the registry and use my own discretion about what I should buy.  They are such a wonderful couple and I have no idea, at this time, what my selection should be.  I have a few things that stand out for me, but I am still a little uncertain.  What I love in particular is that there is such a wide variety to choose from.  What bothers me also, is the same thing, “the wide variety to choose from.”  For example:

This gorgeous cookware was the first thing to grab my attention.  The colors, the purpose and the joy of a gift of this nature for a young couple who love to cook and enjoy the beauty of the kitchen.  This was essential in my consideration;

Or, a set of beautiful tableware that would be a pleasure to grace any table.  The magic of this set is in the colors and the design.  It looks as though it’s hand painted.  It reminds me of a vase that I purchased for a home that I was decorating that was made in Italy. This couple is going to Italy on their Honeymoon, I wonder if this tableware would remind them of Italy.  

Or, these matching bath towels and hand towels, with wash cloths are such a typical wedding gift, but it’s the design and texture that I like that makes them so beautiful.  I never dismiss  towels and wash cloths when they are of such great quality, soft and comfortable to the skin.  The matching oversized towels are always a lovely wedding gift.  Having some idea of the color scheme of the different rooms helps tremendously with the selection. 

Now, share with us, what you would do?  What would you select?  I have other choices that I want to consider, but right now, these are at the top of my list.  Share with me your choice/s or selections.

From the moment we moved into this house, my dh and I were not happy with the appearance of the front porch. There was a crack in the concrete, a few stains, and lots of plain . . .

We brought these items with us when we moved. We liked them well enough. A place to sit, and a table to hold a glass, plant, lantern, or whatever else we were in the mood to display. We then added a large outdoor mat by the door, to cover the crack and it provided the added bonus of being a place to wipe the dirt off of shoes. The tricycle plant stand seen among the bushes was added later. I liked what was there, but even with the wreath and garland it continued to seem quite boring!!

So, I thought about Cathy’s post Inviting Entries, and I decided to a add a little color. It was so easy to grab a couple of pillows, a comfortable throw, a pot of pansies, a candle and a bear pretending to be a butterfly. (Now you can play I spy with your kids. LOL) Then a couple of actual plants added to the plant stand and I was finished. The look was warmer, more inviting, and color added some definite pop to an otherwise drab space.

Like I mentioned in, Pretend You’re Visiting. The first thing your guests see tells them the atmosphere of your home. So, bring a little of the inside out and give them a real taste of what they might expect when they walk through the front door.