I saw these lampshades while visiting Toronto a few months ago and, being in the beginning stages of planning a large event for a non-profit, I couldn’t help but be immediately attracted by these unusual, beautiful, colorful and oh-so affordable statement-making lampshades. How they would – literally and metaphorically – light up the room and create instant ambiance for the event. And then, I mentally started redecorating my family room and my teens’ bedrooms too.

Let me introduce the Jigsaw Lamp (shade). It’s available in 11 different colors and six different sizes. Each kit consist of 30 polycarbonate (pieces) and full instructions on how to make over 20 different shapes, though 48 models have been created from these simple cutouts. These remind me of the ubiquitous IKEA Fillsta lamp, which unfortunately only comes in white and (new) in orange, but it not DIY or customizable in the sense that the Jigsaw lamp shade can be.

Good to note that the polycarbonate pieces are 100% recyclable, heat-resistant and washable. The lampshades are very durable and work indoors as well as outdoors.

Prices range from $12 for the small size to $45 for the large (note that electrical cord and bulb are not included).

In case you’re intimidated by the self-assembly, there are videos online to help with that.

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Evenings are getting longer. And c-c-c-cooler. And though we have a fireplace in our house, we are notoriously lazy about lighting it up. We love the coziness effect, the warm ambiance a beautiful fire creates, but between you and me, it’s sooooo much work. And I’m just thinking about the getting the firewood in the house part…

So, I’m thinking of going instant. As in Instant Fireplace.

No, I’m not talking fireplace DVD here (cute, but where’s the heat?)

No, no, no. I’m talking a fireplace with real flames and capacity to heat up the place a little. And ideally, it’s portable too.

I’ve seen these in fancy hotel lobbies and restaurants and found an affordable source for the instant fireplace for the home from Brasa. These freestanding fireplaces are fueled by renewable biofuel that burns clean. They don’t need special ventilation, nor gas connection, nor flue, nor chimney, nor special installation. You can put them anywhere – and, if small enough, move them where you want them – and they will work both indoor and outdoor.

The model pictured above is called the Camden and retails for $585 (that’s a song compared to other “designer” versions in the market). With a unit this size, it’s not just pretty… There is actually a heating effect- depending on the size of the room and other factors – where a vent-less fireplace will raise the ambient temperature by a few noticeable degrees. To “perfectly nice and cozy” if you ask me.

Brasa also makes pillar and tabletop versions they call Fire Lamps, which would be a great for an outdoor evening summer party or make for an interesting centerpiece at any time of year. Forget those candles. Now we can all look beautiful, not by candlelight, but by biofuel flame!

Find them on the Brasa site or look for dealers here.

These decorative, disposable, reusable and biodegradable liners can be used in any of your home or office waste baskets and will prevent the ugly-shopping-bag-trash-liner eyesore and instead create a colorful accent in your room. Choose from the ten color and patterns that they offer; from pink polka dots to black leopard or, if you do not see one that will work with your unique style, they would be happy to help create with you your own design!

Designerliners not only will put a satisfying smile on your face but you will also know that you are (once again) doing your part in helping the environment. Available for purchase on their website or on Alice.com.

My mother suddenly passed away four years ago and not a day goes by that I don’t think of her and miss her dearly. Losing my mother, even though I was in my 40′s, felt like I was being abandoned. I felt a sense of loss that was so paralyzing. I was left unable to take care of myself or make a single decision on my own. I could not fathom that she was actually gone. I would often pick up the phone on Sunday to call her, since that was our standing phone date after my father passed away, and then suddenly remember that she was no longer there. It took me a long time to mourn her. But, over time, with the support of a loving husband and family, I came back.

She had always been such a huge part of my life and now that she was gone, I realized that I had assumed that she would always be here for me. This woman that carried me for nine months, embraced me with her hugs, applauded my triumphs and was there for me when I failed. Even now, I sometimes wonder what she would say or think about certain things. I still tell my husband, after reading a great novel, that my mom would have enjoyed reading it also. I doubt if that will ever change.

My mother once told me that she did the best that she could do in raising my sister and me. She knew she made mistakes and would have done some things differently if she could have a do-over  (don’t we all?).  And, I know that, at times, I did not make it easy for her. When I became a mother myself, I was able to see a whole other side of her. We were no longer just mother and daughter but both of us moms sharing stories about our children. I treasure that my mother got to know all my children, although I am sadly aware that my two youngest will not remember her. I try to keep her memory alive by sharing stories about my own childhood and the woman who raised me.

So, in honor of my mother and to continue to keep her memory alive I am going to have a tree planted in her name. TreeGivers.comoffers a service that will plant a tree in any state or province of my choice. My mother lived in Ontario, Canada, so I will request a tree planted there on a piece of crown land that has been earmarked for reforestation. Although I will not know exactly where the tree will be I will take comfort that she will be creating a home for the local wildlife. I know she would have liked that. If you are interested in giving a lasting gift, that is also good for the environment, go to TreeGivers.com and remember those you have loved and those you still do.

Now living in Southern California where small backyards are the standard and space for planting is at a premium, I still try to carry on this spring tradition with my own children. There are some great products and helpful websites available for anyone with or without space, with or without a natural green thumb to start planting!

	BloemBox - These boxes make beautiful gifts to someone who loves to garden (Mother’s Day?). They are really two gifts in one. The handwrapped paper boxes are adorned with a hand made silk flower or veggie that are made to look like the real thing and can be kept as a beautiful keepsake. Inside the boxes are either bulbs or seeds that are entwined in biodegradable tissue paper for easy planting. Buy them at Bloembox.com.
	Eco Plant Pals – Perfect kits for little gardeners. Each kit comes with everything you need in a corn based plastic container that is biodegradable and renewable. They come with their own card that teaches kids, in a fun way, the origin and personality of each plant. Comes in 18 different varieties of plant seeds. Buy them at DuneCraft for $2.99 each.
	Herbal Tea Garden Set - All the herbs you need to make your own herbal tea. Perfect for indoors or outside in a window box or deck planter.  Comes with growing information and tea infusion directions. Buy at Bambeco for $15.00.
	Hummingbird and Butterfly Mix – Who does not want to attract more hummingbirds and butterflies to their garden? This bulk seed package takes the guess work on what to buy. Buy from BloomingBulbs.
	Two Tiered Resin Raised Garden Kit – This garden box is made of endurable resin for a maintenance free garden box. The tiered design allows for more growing options in a smaller space. Perfect for a combination veggie and herb garden. But at GetOrganized.com for $144.98.
	Garden Gloves - Having Bougainvillea in the garden, I know a good pair of gloves is a must-have with all the thorns. These Atlas Nitrile Garden Gloves have a coating similar to super glue. They are comfortable, durable and machine washable. Plus they come in vibrant colors like apple green, purple, pink and sky blue. Buy on Amazon for around $3.85.
	Stained Glass Garden Stakes – Bring a little fun & support to your garden! These great garden stakes can add extra color and personality to your garden. Buy from the artist (contact Angelika Traylor here)  or from this online retailer.
	Microwave Flower Press – After your garden start to bloom, use some of your flowers to make your own birthday or thank you cards by using this flower press. This microwavable flower press takes only minutes to dry the flowers and far more effective than pressing flowers in wax paper underneath heavy books. Buy at Lee Valley for $29.50 or large for $44.50.
	Maine Garden Baskets - Bring your harvest into the kitchen with this beautiful and sturdy basket. Made of wood and vinyl-coated steel-mesh, these baskets are attractive enough to leave on your kitchen counter proudly displaying your bounty. Buy from Lee Valley for $38.50 for the medium size and $46.50 for large.
	The Cook’s Garden – Not only is this a great website to answer all your questions about gardening in your region, but it will also tell you how and where to grow the different plans and it has a lovely selection of recipes. They also sell seeds that are certified organic, for indoor gardening and an unlimited variety of flower and vegetable seeds. It is the perfect website that brings the gardener to the kitchen and the cook to the garden. Check out their website at CooksGarden.com.
	Birdfeeders – Once you have attracted all those birds to your garden this website is invaluable. Learn about birds in your area and how to choose the right bird feeder. Check out their website at birdfeeders.com.

Happy Springtime!

The line was launched by Master Gardener Alicia Blas, who actually began her career as a photo stylist and set designer for some high-brow retailers in Chicago and Florida. It’s upon designing a garden set that she found that her true calling was really to design with plants and flowers. And, it’s when the fire department came calling to her home to let her know that her house numbers needed to be displayed that her instincts and flair as a stylist kicked in. She created her unique answer to displaying house numbers: with TURF! And now, the rest of us are lucky recipients of her creativity as she has expanded the delightful turf collection of indoor-outdoor decorative accessories and has made it available for purchase.

Alicia prefers to bridge the boundaries between outdoor and indoor living and her “turf” decorative accessories are perfect for that. They can easily brighten a sunroom and be brought outdoor when needed.

All Firmly Planted products are handmade with soft-to-the-touch astro turf and weather-resistant aluminum for the house numbers, frames, wall art and planters. Cleaning is a easy as rinsing off with a hose.

The collection is available at the Firmly Planted online store, while you can also purchase the pillows at Grandin Road. And, stay tuned for many more unexpected developments at Firmly Planted. Can’t wait!

Currently, 11 designers over offer 90 collections of colors, patterns and prints to create endless mix-and-match combinations. Customizable products include duvets, shams, decorative pillows, dog beds, bean bag chairs, curtain panels, lamp shades, wall art, storage units, crib linens, baby blankets and totes.

The 3D customization tool is fun to use (careful, just like polyvore.com and looklet.com, this may become addictive) and will help non-designers to better visualize the room. Staged in all-white, the room can be decorated by a drag & drop action that places the fabric of choice on the particular object. Items are priced automatically and listed in a shopping list where customers can choose to buy the item or delete it from the list. Here’s a video on how it all works.

Another exciting possibility is for users to provide their own designs and have bedding or other decorative items custom made. Couldn’t find that perfect lampshade or window curtain panel? Create it! Or, imagine the bean bag covered in the college or team emblem or the throw pillow sent to grandma with the grandchildren’s artwork on it… Great gift ideas.

Rooms by You began with baby rooms and then moved on to kids and teen rooms. We can expect “adult” bedrooms and studio rooms (think college students) to be launched next. Very much looking forward to that!

We’ve been watching the growing crop of cool offering of decals for home décor and thought we’d give you a round up of our favorites here:

	Blik is the pioneer behind the wall decal graphics revolution. We have them to thank for giving us all a new way to decorate our walls. And they still have some of the best designs around and also feature artists’ images such as Keith Haring and the Eames brothers. A great source too if you were ever looking for a customized graphic. Geeks will love the Nintendo and Atari collections.
	WallCandy Arts has the best offering for wall decals to decorate nurseries, kids’ rooms and play rooms. Of course, the decals are Removable and reusable, non-toxic, lead-free, VOC free and made in the USA. That is, besides being completely adorable.
	Tempaper. How about removeable, repositionable and reusable wallpaper? Here’s a quick way to give a whole wall an instant visual lift. We love their modern graphics and color scheme. Shop online or at these stores.
	Raging Vinyl’s designs have their very own allure, very urban and modern. We picked up on the Zen & Asia collection and love Vishna shown here. She’d do great in a yoga room or studio too. Shop online.
	Wallies offers wall decals for every age group, from purely decorative to functional. We are particularly enamored with the chalkboards and dry erase boards, perfect for the (home) office. We also like their Plage collection from France with include huge decal photos of flowers. Shop online.
	Wall-Pops offers wall art kits that are perfect for “temporary housing” such as dorm rooms. The peel & stick kits couldn’t make decorating any easier. Sports fanatics will enjoy their sports collection which most likely features their favorite athlete. They have a great baby collection too.
	RoomMates also boast a huge selection of decals for every taste. Their XL wall murals are unique and might make some kids XL happy. These feature many of their favorite characters and superheros. Strawberry Shortcake anyone?
	Wall Written. Word. You have something to say? Put it on your walls. Nursery rhymes, inspirational quotes… Choose from pre-designed statement or custom-make your own.
	Dezign with a Z – We like their glow-in-the-dark decals but they also have a huge collection featuring life-sized animals. Fun.

I know, it may seem that I am jumping the gun on spring here, but as I live in SoCal (don’t hate me!), I can tell you that the birds are a-buzzing over here!  I have noticed (and heard) plenty of house finches looking for a place to nest this last week and thought it would be a good time to put up our Tweet Tweet Homes. These eco-friendly bird houses come in a variety of brightly colored designs. I love that the are made with recycled plastics and are 100% recyclable after their use.

My girls love them because they are so visually appealing and colorful. And the birds seem to love them because they are a safe and sturdy place to build a nest. Each birdhouse arrives flat and is easily assembled. My daughters were able to put it together with a little assistance from their grandmother.

So those of you who are East and/or North of the warm weather, remember Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring and all those little birdies will be looking for a place to build their nests. Tweet Tweet Homes can be found online on Amazon here and here among other models (search for term Tweet Tweet Home Birdhouse to find others) all for about $9.99. Or contact Tweet Tweet Home to find a retailer in your area.