one way to wake up in the morning

Ever since my (third) trip to Costa Rica in 1997, I have wanted an outdoor shower. We stayed at La Paloma Lodge, a beautiful rustic/luxury (if that makes sense) lodge nestled in the cliffs along the Pacific. The shower in our cabin was open air but private because of the heavy foliage and some strategically placed panels. It was lovely. Sunset Magazine has "11 Irresistible Outdoor Showers" on their homepage, so I thought I'd check it out. This one is my favorite:

image courtesy of sunset.com

I love that it can be accessed off the master bath. I would put a lot more plants in there, though, so it feels more like the jungles of Costa Rica.

my return to love

So, I have left this blog un-posted for quite some time, but as my babester turns 2 and my big kids head off to school, I find myself picking up some of my previous loves. Reading (I've gone through 3 books this past month! That's more than I read in all of 2008...) , sewing (wait until I show you my daughter's new room), and decorating. I am currently wanting to makeover my bed as my comforter has an enormous hole in it. In my quest for inspiration, I find many other interesting things. I found this dainty DIY side table today. However, I have yet to find my bedroom inspiration. I am having a hard time finding decorating sites that are fresh, budget-friendly, and unpretentious. Any suggestions?