Yesterday, I accidentally stumbled across a rug in Pottery Barn and couldn’t believe my eyes. There before me was a Beni Ourain look-alike.
If you’re not familiar with Beni Ourain rugs, they originate from the Atlas mountains in Morroco where the Beni Ourain tribe handmade them from lush wool trimmed from the sheep they raised. Unlike most Morrocan rugs, Beni Ourain rugs lack color. Instead, their geometric black — or brown — and cream patterns take center stage. Originally, Ben Ourain rugs were used as blankets; however, here in the Western world their main use has been as a floor covering.
In fact, for the past handful of years Beni Ourain rugs have been a designer favorite, popping up on magazine pages here and there. So I guess it was only a matter of time before they were inducted into the Pottery Barn lineup and officially introduced to the mainstream.
The one big benefit? Price. Authentic Ben Ourani rugs can be a bit on the pricey side. But now, that’s no longer an obstacle. You can get the same look at a fraction of the cost thanks to the look-alike versions Pottery Barn — and Anthropologie — are selling. Check them out below. Do you think they look as good as the originals?
If you’d prefer an authentic version like the ones above, I’ve rounded up 12 great sources for you to check out. Given that Beni Ourain rugs are handmade, no two are alike. So I’d greatly suggest checking out the options at all the sources listed below before making a purchase. That way, you’ll be sure you got your favorite pattern.
Given their minimal — yet not sterile — patterns, Beni Ourain rugs easily fit into any decor style. You’ll find them in rooms from traditional to modern to everywhere in between. Typically, they’re used in neutral or white rooms. But they don’t have to be. Beni Ourain rugs look great in colorful rooms thanks to their neutral color scheme of cream and black or brown.
Yvonne of the wonderful Stone Gable blog featured my book yesterday, and she said such amazingly kind things, I just had to give her a shout out. If you love country, cottage decor, good food and crafts, you must check her blog out —especially if you struggle with coming up with dinners for the entire week. Every Sunday she posts a weekly menu filled with what looks to be tasty goodness. If only I didn’t have so many food allergies.
While looking for new stationery yesterday, I stumbled across these fun and original greeting cards. Perfect for both the everyday and special occasions, they’re sure to be a crowd pleaser. Now, I just have to figure out who to give them to.
The ultimate example of envy. The Queen from Snow White.
With the proliferation of social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, it’s become easier than ever to compare our lives — our clothes, our looks, our homes, our relationships, our vacations, the list goes on and on — to those of others. And naturally, envy ensues.
Or is it natural? We all assume envy is as unavoidable as the post-Thanksgiving bloat. No matter how hard we try to fight it, our human frailty will always kick in. But that’s not the case. Envy can easily be conquered, and it’s nowhere near as difficult to avoid as seconds — or thirds — on turkey day.
The secret? Belief.
We feel envy for one reason. We don’t think we’ll ever get the thing we want — whatever it may be. But where there is a will, there is a way.
If you truly want something, you can get it. Even if you think your time has passed. It’s never too late to get in shape, find a new career or go on your dream vacation. And if convention is holding you back, screw it. If you fantasize about throwing your dream wedding, do it. Who cares if you’re already married. If you daydream about owning a shiny, new convertible, go for it. Who cares if people think you’re having a mid-life crisis.
The secret to life — and conquering envy — is doing what makes you happy.
So whenever those envious emotions start bubbling to the surface, remind yourself of why you feel them. You want that thing. So go for it.
Your envy will magically disappear.
Added Bonus: The more you go for the things you envy, the less envy you’ll feel. Why? Because you’ll no longer view things from the negative perspective of coveting. Instead, you’ll start to see them from the positive perspective of, “Wow. What a great idea to try.”
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On a side note, how awesome is the Queen’s costume in the new movie “Snow White and the Huntsman?” And her throne. Wow.
This past weekend I had my first video shoot in which I was the one holding the camera, and my gosh was it heavy. When you look at them — or even pick one up for a moment — they seem so light. But after 12 hours of holding one up without letting it shake my arms are sore. Very sore. The type of sore where it hurts to even be, and all I can think of is how I wish I could spend the day in a soothing, hot bath preferably with a killer view. So here are some bathroom photos of lovely places to soak it up. Which would you prefer?
If you’re planning to redo your bathroom and want to situate your bathtub to take advantage of the views through your windows, positioning is key. While many prefer the look of a bathtub running lengthwise along a window, it’s not the most comfortable from which to enjoy the view because you have to crane your neck to the side to look out the window. At first, that may not seem like a big deal, but after a while it can be a bit tiring on your neck — especially if you’re taking a bath to soothe it.
Positioning your tub so that it faces your window straight on is by far the best when it comes to soaking up views. If you’re not a fan of that look, you may want to consider a square or circular bathtub that allows you to soak it up from any side, giving you far more options when it comes to enjoying the views.
