I know I need to move on but...

This is so insanely cool.  Large-scale, Moroccan-tile, wall-paper.  

Sign.  Me.  Up. 

{spotted here.}

Popham Design

And to finish off today's theme...more beautiful handmade Moroccan tiles from Popham Design:

Royal Design Studio: Part Deux

Would you take a look at this staircase?  I clearly have a deep love for excellent staircases but this one may take the cake.  Love seems like such a shallow word to use here.   It is, of course, by Melanie of Royal Design Studio. 

I know that I have already posted (twice!) about Royal Designs Studio's stencils but how the heck did I miss that they have a whole section devoted to Morocco? Do you now see the necessity of my posting again?  We are trying to choose one of these patterns for our back patio but have not as of yet because we LOVE THEM ALL.

Moroccan lantern pattern

We only lived in Morocco for a little over a year and a half but I miss it like crazy.  It doesn't help that Moroccan inspired interiors are everywhere I look.  It does thrill me though that others see & appreciate all the beauty that Morocco has to offer. I never tire of this simple Moorish motif that seems to evoke all of the complexities of North Africa.   I am especially loving this exaggerated take on the pattern:

here it is in tile, stencil & rug:

{images from Mark Christofi, Popham Design, Royal Design Studio, Pottery Barn}

Le Palais Rhoul

While I'm thinking about fantastic locales in Marrakesh (and tent vacations, for that matter) I need to mention Le Palais Rhoul.  Off the top of my head, I'm not sure I could think of a more beautiful and romantic spot.

(Other then perhaps here, but I haven't seen this spot in person - yet.)

The hotel itself is grand & gorgeous but if you are looking for something even more sublime, check out their luxury tents.  I had no idea that I had such a thing for tents. 

Here's a look in side one of the tents:

lace floors. swoon.

Today, two of my great loves collided: Morocco and painted floors.  Earlier in the day I happened upon a blog entitled My Marrakesh.   Intrigued, but with no time to explore, I bookmarked the site for later on.  Then last night I received a comment from Lissy under my "painted floors" post, recommending I take a look at some floors on another blog.  Yep, it was My Marrakesh.  Taking this as a sign, I rushed back and lo & behold, there they were - painted floor perfection.  This particular lace stencil was custom made for Maryam's guesthouse in Marrakesh: Peacock Pavilions.  Sean & I have already begun conspiring as to when & how to make something like these happen in our home. 

**see newer post for ordering information**

Hyland's

My little one got sick over the holiday weekend. Runny Nose, watery eyes, fever. While I was at the store yesterday I picked up some children's cold medicine to help him be more comfortable. I am not one that likes to cover every symptom with drugs but there are definitely times when I falter at the sight of his sweet, sad, dripping face. Yesterday was one of those times. Thankfully, his father who clearly possesses a better memory than I, reminded me that the FDA nearly banned cold medicines for children last year. How did I forget that?

This morning while my little one was even more miserable then yesterday, I remembered something I had considered buying as we were preparing to move to Morocco. It's a "homeopathic remedy chest". I had nearly purchased the one sold by Hyland's but it just never happened. I feel pretty ignorant on items such as these but I am open and it comes with a manuel. I am curious if any of you have ever used something like this and what were your results. I love taking the natural course of action when I feel confident that it is relatively safe and effective.

here's what Hyland's Remedy Kit contains:

30 NATURAL REMEDIES:
1 ACONITUM NAPELLUS | for Colds & Fevers with Sudden Onset
2 ALLIUM CEPA | for Runny Nose
3 ANTIMONIUM TARTARICUM | for Coughs with Mucous in Chest
4 APIS MELLIFICA | for Bites, Stings & Swellings
5/6 ARNICA MONTANA (2 BOTTLES) | for Bruising & Muscle Soreness
7 ARSENICUM ALBUM | for Diarrhea
8 BELLADONNA | for Fevers & Inflammation
9 BRYONIA ALBA | for Dry Cough/Arthritis Pain
10 CALCAREA PHOSPHORICA | for Teething
11 CANTHARIS | for Bladder Irritation
12 CARBO VEGETABILIS | for Nausea
13 CHAMOMILLA | for Teething & Irritability
14 FERRUM PHOSPHORICUM | for Fevers & Inflammation
15 GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS | for Headaches/Flus with Muscle Pain
16 HEPAR SULPHURIS CALCAREUM | for Cough & Runny Nose
17 HYPERICUM PERFOLIATUM | for Nerve Injury
18 IGNATIA AMARA | for Grief & Emotional Upset
19 IPECACUANHA | for Nausea & Vomiting
20 LEDUM PALUSTRE | for Bites, Stings & Minor Puncture Wounds
21 MAGNESIA PHOSPHORICA | for Menstrual Cramps
22 MERCURIUS VIVUS | for Sore Throat
23 NUX VOMICA | for Indigestion & Nausea
24 PHOSPHORUS | for Cough & Sore Throat
25 PULSATILLA NIGRICANS | for Colds with Runny Nose
26 RHUS TOXICODENDRON | for Arthritis Pain, Better from Motion
27 RUTA GRAVEOLENS | for Sprains & Tendonitis
28 SPONGIA TOSTA | for Coughs
29 SULPHUR | for Rashes & Eczema
30 VERATRUM ALBUM | for Diarrhea with Vomiting

caroline ingalls

I'm not quite sure when it happened. It was definitely later rather then earlier in life. My father grew up on a farm and with every visit we made there I have no recollection of anything stirring within me. Nope, the closest I can come to identifying a time and place was while we were living in Morocco watching Little House on the Prairie. For a year and a half of our lives our family had the amazing experience of living in North Africa. My second baby was born there, but I don't really want to remember that part. The part that I really remembering loving, was how much more our lives were simplified there. I loved going to the little market nearly every day. I loved learning how to cook from scratch. I loved walking more then driving. I loved not watching TV.

When entertainment called, it usually took the form of an imported season of Little House. And with each episode my heart was stirred. I wanted to simplify more. I wanted to learn all those 'inconveniences' that have so conveniently been replaces with 'modern convinces'. I want to grow our food. I want to cook our meals. I want to know how to knit and sew and many other things that I do not know how to do. In short, I would like to be Caroline Ingalls. But Caroline learned those things from her mother and my mother could not teach me them if she tried. She considered it a blessing to not have to know. I consider it a curse. And I'd like to be able to teach my daughter just in case she would like to know, too.

{image found at Laura Ingalls Wilder}