Blog - Graceful Order

Pop of Color in the Terrace

June 1, 2015 · by Maria · 8 Comments

This post is brought to you by Wayfair.com but all the opinions are my own. I only recommend brands/stores that I love and use!

Let’s talk rocking chairs, shall we? I love rocking chairs. Like for real. I grew up in a home that always had a rocking chair and we would fight over who got to sit on it. I find them so relaxing and inviting. When we purchased our home 11 years ago, I told my husband that for Christmas I wanted rocking chairs (the following year I asked for a good quality frying pan – I’m weird). My wonderful husband bought me 2 rocking chairs and somehow managed to hide them and surprise me Christmas day. I love him so much! Almost as much as rocking chairs…but let’s not get carried away here.

After a few months, it was clear that we needed another 2 rockers because visitors could never sit with us in the terrace. So my amazing hubby obliged and bought me two more. I had wanted to add some color to the space for a while, but I had not found the right pillows or matching tables. We also have so many aspirations for the backyard (pool, deck) that I was ignoring the space that we were using. You know that “all or nothing” mentality that says that you can’t fix up a space until you can make it perfect?

I decided that it was totally worth it to add a little life to this space by injecting small pops of color.

So where did I go to find the perfect pieces for our terrace? I went to Wayfair.com. Have you shopped with them before? They are basically an online destination for a million things “home”. I found these pillows on Wayfair and they were perfect! I wanted pillows in this shape but I did not want the enormous ones that are actually uncomfortable behind your back. These are super comfortable and I love the green stripe.

I also found this table on Wayfair and there were so many options to choose from. We settled on this one because we liked that it also had a bottom shelf.

Every morning we sit outside to have our coffee and it is one of my favorite times of the day. We sit on the rockers and chat about our day while the wind chyme sings from afar. I could totally write a haiku right now but I won’t because I love ya.

I chose teak for the rockers and table because it is so strong and durable, and extremely low maintenance.

Of course, a little candle sets the mood for this relaxing space, but mostly it keeps those mosquitos at bay!

A sweet little pot and plant adorn the table but I still have room for a book or a coffee cup.

I placed this container on the existing wooden shelf and added some colorful little flowers.

I kept the existing table between the other two rockers because we sometimes use it to eat a quick bite in the morning. I would like to replace it in the future with another teak table that serves the same purpose. I would then move this one elsewhere.

For now, I am enjoying relaxing in this little space that feels “new” with so few changes!

I encourage you to pick a little relaxing spot and make it pretty by adding new pillows, plants, or a colorful pot. Invest in the things that you will enjoy for years to come, like I did in these teak rockers and table. Buying some new pillows can “wake-up” a space for very little money.

Time to enjoy this space and relax…

Do you love rocking chairs as much as I do? What space in your home could use a little injection of color?

Cleaning with Lemon Essential Oil

May 26, 2015 · by Maria · 3 Comments

Creating a healthy home has been a process for me. I started buying more organic ingredients years ago and the more I read about pesticides and toxic chemicals, I started to turn my attention towards the things that I was feeding my home, not just the kids. I slowly realized that I was helping our family in one way but still allowing products in our home that could potentially hurt us. While I still used the other products that I already had, I integrated more natural products into my home cleaning routine. I wasn’t ready to pull the plug until I knew that these new, more natural products actually worked. I mean, could I really consider my home “clean” if I wasn’t using anything toxic to really get in there and do the work?

Well the new products worked and I no longer had to run out of the bathroom to avoid the fumes after I had sprayed down the area. I also continued being cautious about where I store my cleaning supplies but I wasn’t worried about my toddler putting a piece of cereal in his mouth that had just fallen on the floor. My kids don’t eat meals off the floor, but it feels good to know that I am creating a healthy home for them to live in and also a more economical way to clean the home.

Natural cleaners can be expensive but you can also make your own cleaners at home and save a ton. Some of my favorite natural brands are Mrs. Meyers, Honest Company, Shaklee but I also like to make my own ever so often and I wanted to share with you how I use essential oils to clean. There are so many essential oils and recipes that I could feature, but I decided to start with lemon.

The following recipes are sure to bring back your zest for life! Well no, they won’t – but your house will be super clean and that will make you happy, so yeah…

Bathroom Fixtures: Use a towel soaked with several drops of Lemon oil to sanitize bathroom fixtures.

Dishes: I add 2 drops of Lemon oil to the bottom of my dishwasher before the wash cycle. Dishes will shine and the dishwasher smells great.

Window Cleaner: Pour into a glass spray bottle 1 cup distilled white vinegar and 10 drops of lemon essential oil and fill the rest with water. Mix well.

Natural Disinfectant – This also works great for a moldy shower. Add 30 drops lemon oil and 20 drops tea tree oil to a glass spray bottle, add a splash of vinegar and fill the rest with water.

Wood Furniture Polish: Add 4-5 drops lemon essential oil to a small amount of olive oil for polishing wood.

Floor Cleaner: Add a splash of vinegar and 10-20 drops of lemon essential oil to your bucket of water.

Of course, always test a little spot on your furniture before you use a new cleaner.

I encourage you to take small but consistent steps towards creating a healthier home. Enjoy your green cleaning!

Big Boy Room Reveal

May 19, 2015 · by Maria · 1 Comment

I have shared my 4 year old’s room before when I posted about Toddler Room Organization, but the existing furniture wasn’t working for him anymore. He had a toddler bed, which basically had the same size mattress as a crib. It was time for a big boy room for Matthew.

We did some window shopping online and I found various pieces that matched the style that I wanted, but none that matched the price point we were looking for. Finally, in a local store we found the right set. We chose this set which came in many colors but we settled on the gray because honestly, not only was it nice but I figured it was the most “forgiving” color. This was a good call because before the furniture delivery personell had driven away, he was already using the bed rail as a car ramp.

We only purchased one nightstand since the room is small and also because we purchased a trundle that opens on the opposite end. Regarding the trundle, I am only storing bedding and wipes along with other uninteresting items inside it. If I placed toys in the trundle, I know that he would be pulling it out all day and I am not sure the bed could take all that “fun”.

All the wall art remained the same. The three pieces above the bed are very lightweight which gives me peace of mind. I am so paranoid about hanging heavy items above beds so I usually opt for light canvas art. The anchor is white cardboard that I spray painted.

On the nightstand I placed his little diffuser. I have diffusers in every room in my home, sans the bathrooms. If you know my 4 year old, you know that lavender is what I diffuse the most in this little room!

His little reading area remained the same but I added his backpack underneath. This is what he will use for school once he starts later this year. The backpack holds a dino and a small firetruck – all the items that he says he needs for school.

Most of his toys are inside these 4 blue bins. I would like to edit the toys even more and get it down to two, but for now this works.

I couldn’t wait to take advantage of all the space that this new bedroom set offered so I filled up his drawers right away. I will do a separate posts on how I organized the drawers and trundle.

And we will see how long this extreme organization lasts. Actually, I can already answer that. It lasted until I turned off the camera. Then he wanted to get dressed like a ninja and pulled out 3 shirts to pull off the look. Sigh. He was a super cute ninja though so totally worth it.

Sources:

Furniture: Rooms to Go

Bedding pillows: Pottery Barn Kids

Toy Bins: Target

Lamp base and shade: Target

Wall art: Target

Hamper: Pottery Barn Kids

Anchor: Amazon (I painted it, it was originally white)

That’s his new little room and he absolutely loves it! What room in your home is next on the list for new furniture?

Toddler Organization

5 Tips for Organizing a Toddler Room

Benefits of Green Cleaning

May 6, 2015 · by Maria · 5 Comments

Green, green, green! Everyone is looking to eat greener and cleaner and more attention is now given to the types of products we use to clean our homes. Is it really worth it?

I think it is worth it on every level! Why would we focus on cleaning our bodies of toxic foods and then spray our homes with toxic chemicals, having no idea how they will affect us or our families?

Here are some common myths about green cleaning and some of the products I use to replace toxic chemicals:

Aren’t green products more expensive? Nope, not if you make your own. Homemade cleaning products are not only safer, they also way more economical.

Vinegar, for example is inexpensive and its acidic qualities help to kill germs and reduce microbial growth. I love to add vinegar and tea tree oil (Melaeluca) to my homemade cleaning products for a natural and safe disinfectant.

Don’t homemade cleaners lack scent? I am a sucker for products that smell good. Actually there are some green cleaners that I choose to buy because I love the scent. However, when you are making your own cleaners you can also customize your scent using essential oils. The essential oils work double-duty because they will enhance the cleaning properties of your solution while adding your favorite scent.

Why make my own cleaners when I can buy already-made natural brand cleaner? I do buy cleaners and I don’t always make my own. Just be sure to read the ingredients before purchasing. There isn’t a strict regulation behind the word “green” and some products still contain toxic chemicals. The best thing about making your own cleaners is that you know what the ingredients are because you put them in there.

Organic Castile Liquid Soap is one of my favorite products for making homemade cleaning solutions. It is a type of soap that is made from plant oils. It is sensitive on skin and it’s Earth-friendly, making it a perfect product to use when making your own household cleaners.

Do green cleaners work as well? Do they disinfect? Yes! We have been fooled into believing that only products that emit crazy fumes can possibly provide a deep clean. Many essential oils have antiseptic and bactericidal properties and these can be added to your homemade cleaning solutions. For example, tea tree oil (Melaeluca) is an essential oil with anti-fungal properties.

Baking soda is also one of my favorite ingredients because it is mild enough to use on most household surfaces. The applications/uses for baking soda are endless and I will share some with you on the blog soon.

Another one to make the list is Borax . It is a natural occurring mineral and has been used by people for over 100 years to clean their home and do their laundry. I sometimes use it as a component in my cleaner recipes or even on its own, as I would any powder cleaner. I have even mixed it with lemon juice to remove rust.

So that’s a little Cleaning Cabinet Makeover! Overall, the biggest benefit to green cleaning is more peace of mind, knowing that your home is clean and fume-free.

I will definitely be sharing some natural cleaning recipes using all the above cleaners, on the blog very soon!

Also as part of this series:

Spring Cleaning Challenge: The Kitchen

Spring Cleaning Challenge: The Bathroom

There are a few affiliate links in this post (although most of the products mentioned above are in your local grocery store). Thank you for your continued support!

Mother’s Day Table Setting

April 28, 2015 · by Maria · 3 Comments

Mother’s Day is around the corner and I want to share with you how I celebrate the mothers in my life. Before I was a mom, we would do a little visiting tour on Mother’s Day to all the mothers in our family. After I had kids, I still wanted to visit my mom, my aunts and my husband’s mom, but it left little time to do something special with my boys. So this conundrum started the Mother’s Day Brunch idea. I haven’t hosted it every single year, but it really works so well that I do it almost every year.

One of my favorite parts about planning any event is setting the table. As I have shared before, I collect all sorts of tableware so that I can set a pretty table. This year I decided on a green, white and gold table setting. I love that color combo!

I found these placemats at Homegoods and although I usually purchase solid-color placemats and I leave the prints for the napkins, these placemats were a bargain and I already had matching napkins. I have had these goblets for almost 15 years and I rarely use them but they were perfect for this setting. Pretty goblets can be expensive but I always check out sales/outlet items in stores like Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and Wayfair to find great deals. Also, I always purchase an extra goblet or plate because should one break, my set would still be intact.

Same goes for napkin rings. Napkin rings can run $6. a piece but on sale they can be a $1. a piece. This makes a huge difference if you are buying multiples.

A great idea for setting a Mother’s Day Brunch table is to buy orchids as the centerpiece. The orchids can double up as Mother’s Day gifts.

Tip: Print out black and white pictures of the mothers with their child and use a ribbon to tie the picture to the orchid. That way everyone knows which orchid is theirs.

These pretty orchids were not expensive but they looked beautiful inside these pots from IKEA.

Now all that I am missing is the food and our beautiful Mothers!