Trendy walmart shower curtains (stay with me here)

Shower curtain shopping, I've learned, is no small feat.  You're going to have one big piece of fabric staring you in the face on a daily basis, so it's important to select the right one.  There are some great offerings via the World Wide Web, but I think the one that surprised me most was Walmart.com. Yes. I said Walmart.

They have more offerings than just about any online retailer that I've found.  While you have to sift through some less desirable options, I was pleasantly surprised with the number of on-trend shower curtains they have.  I don't think I've ever lumped Walmart in the same category as Pottery Barn or West Elm, in terms of style but where shower curtains are concerned, Walmart seems pretty hip to me.

Here are some of the trendy finds from Walmart.com ( I was not paid or otherwise coerced by Walmart to show you these ;).

*Please note: These findings are from Walmart's website only.  Many of these are not available in their stores.

Geometric patterns: 1, 2

Gray and yellow: 1, 2

Bold florals: 1, 2

 Ruffles: 1, 2

Stripes: 1, 2, 3

 
 

Pretty patterns: 1, 2, 3

The Great Shake Out (emergency preparedness)

Today at 10: 18 a.m., the state of Utah is participating in the first state-wide earth quake drill:The Great Utah Shake Out.  California has done this sort of drill as well. It certainly has me thinking about emergency preparedness. You can go to shakeout.org for more information.

Learning that I live practically on top of the fault line that runs through the state, has made me re-evaluate how prepared my family is for an emergency. One area that I fail miserably in is having water storage for an emergency. I would venture to guess I'm not alone.  It's easy to underestimate just how much water we use and need on a daily basis for drinking, cooking and hygiene ( most sources say 1 gallon per person per day).


Whether you live in Utah or anywhere else in the world, this site has a lot of good information about getting started with an emergency plan and emergency preparedness.  You can also check out FEMA's website for information.

Do you have any tips on simple ways to prepare for emergencies?

Famous Free Fonts

Happy Monday, friend!

In my endless pursuit of fonts, I found some great free fonts that look very similar to famous fonts you'll probably recognize.  Nearly all of these reminded me of my childhood. How about you?

Links to the fonts are listed below.

Swatch it

Madonna

Gabriel Weiss' Friends

Hollywood Hills

Waltograph

Simpson Font

Pez Font

Hurhseys

Doctor Soos bold

The Flip Flop Face Off (guest post)

I know I promised pictures of my wheat grass table scape, but it was a magnificent organic failure.  I was growing more mold than grass, and all efforts to salvage it failed. So I threw it out without even a photo. I am sorry, but on the bright side, I think I may have enough material for a great post on how not to grow wheat grass.

Thankfully I have an excellent guest post today from Susan who blogs at Beauty and the Beach.  She'll be discussing another Springtime favorite (with no green thumb required): flip flops.  I think you'll love it!

Flip-Flop Faceoff: Havaianas vs. iPANEMA

When it comes to summer footwear, a pair of  flip-flops is definitely the most essential style.  Even if you generally go for fancier footwear, flip-flops are a must-have for the beach, pool, running a quick errand or even a not-so-clean shower (yuck).  But before you run out and buy your new flip-flops, you should get to know two of the most popular brands: Havaianas and iPANEMA.  Read on…

Havaianas

The Havaianas brand was established back in 1962 and was created by Brazilian company, Alpargatas.  The first pair was inspired by a popular Japanese style of flip-flop (the Zori) and to this day, Havaianas flip-flops still feature that same textured rice pattern from the ‘60s, which can be seen in the footbed.  In addition to Japanese influences, Havaianas have always been inspired by the laidback Brazilian lifestyle and with each pair of flip-flops, the brand tries to capture its native country’s spirit.  Every year, the brand comes out with new styles, designs and patterns, featuring every color under the sun.  All Havaianas feature a firm rubber footbed that doesn’t lose its shape after just one wear.  For women, some of the most popular styles are the “Top,” “Slim” and “High Look.”  Most styles retail between $20-$30, but Havaianas makes styles for any and every budget; they even have styles embellished with diamonds and Swarovski crystals!  For all of these reasons and more, Havaianas flip-flops have become one of the most popular brands in the world.

   

iPANEMA

Like Havaianas,  iPANEMA flip-flops were also born in Brazil.  The brand was named after and inspired by the Brazilian beach town of Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro.  Perhaps more than any other city, Ipanema showcases the true spirit of Brazil and iPANEMA flip-flops try to mimic that laidback beach bum state of mind.  The textured flip-flop footbed even pays homage to the famous mosaic boardwalk in Ipanema!  Unlike Havaianas, classic styles of iPANEMA flip-flops feature a softer, squishier footbed, although other styles have thinner, firmer styles.  iPANEMA flip-flops come in assorted colors and their printed styles feature unique wrapped patterns that carry over the edges.  But the best thing about iPANEMAs is that all styles are made from recycled MELFLEX material and are 100% recyclable.  Custom MELFLEX appliqués and embellishments are added to certain iPANEMA styles to lend a flirty feminine touch to an ordinary flip-flop.  The brand has already been established in fashionable cities all around the world, but they’re first starting to make their way into the states.  Most iPANEMA flip-flops retail around $18-$25, making them one affordable and fully functional flip-flop!

So now that you know a bit about the two best-selling brands of flip-flops, what’s it going to be?  Are you going to go for the tried and true Havaianas or be the girl from Ipanema with IPANEMA flip-flops?  Either way, you can’t go wrong with summer’s hottest flip-flops!

Susan is a blogger for Beauty and the Beach, a swimwear and fashion blog by InStyleSwimwear.com.  Check them out today!

Are you growing wheat grass?

I'm up to my eye balls in sprouting wheat grass! Are you growing some?  I love it for Easter, but it's great any time in the Spring. I've got a new wheat grass tablescape to show you (hopefully tomorrow).  For now,  here's a sneak peak at a little Easter vignette I did.  I'm growing it on paper towels again.


 Click here to read last year's tutorial for growing wheat grass -it's easier than you think!