Sunrise....

....it was an eerily beautiful, foggy morning on my way to work today.

It was one of those drives, ....watching the sun come up through the trees, the cool crisp air, the music playing and coffee in hand...that you can't help but reflect on things....on life....



 

 

 

I have been very lucky in life....but I have also worked very hard for who and what I am today.

 

 A drive like this morning's... winding down the hills of the escarpment, seeing horses being let out to pasture, the trees starting to turn....gave me a few moments to think about where I am in my life and that I am very fortunate, but also, what I need to continue to do to keep growing as a person and what I need to do to 'be a better me'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just some things to think about....

 

I find taking the time, ...even just a few minutes....., to re-focus and truly reflect on yourself, where you are now and where you want to go...can be the most valuable minutes of the day!

 

RR

Some of my favorite ladies!

Some of these gals I know personally....and some I know via their Blogs, Instagram, Facebook etc...But... from our interactions and discussions, I feel like I know them personally and they are my long lost internet soulmates!

 

A Paper Buffet

Steph is a good friend of mine from London. We're both Kinesiologists and work in the Rehab/Disability Management field full time, but we also have our 'part time' passions. Steph makes gorgeous cards, invitations and other paper products via her Etsy shop, A Paper Buffet. She has also recently opened a second Etsy store called, Knitley Road, where she offers her amazing felted wool and knitted products (I have the iPhone cozy and LOVE it!). Steph is also a very talented photographer and my avatar on Insta, Twitter and FB is a pic she took of me a few summers ago :)






Lovely and Chic
When I moved into my new home just over a year ago, not only was I lucky enough to find a house I love but I also soon found out what a wonderful neighbourhood I had become a part of and Michele and her hubby are the best neighbours/friends a gal could ever ask for! Michele owns an incredible boutique in downtown Guelph called Blush and has a very loyal and devoted following of fashion conscious and stylish patrons! Everytime I walk into her shop, or even pull into my driveway (she has a shop-on-wheels called BOW that is every gals dream of a shoping experience!)...Michele's fantastic sense of style and grace are ever present!






Design the Life You Want to Live
I would have to say that Lynne is my long lost internet soulmate! She and I have never met (we will someday soon), but her sense of humour, her outlook on life and her supportive nature remind me a lot of myself.....as well as our like/love of G&Ts!
The other interesting tidbit about Lynne is that she lives about 45 minutes from my parents on an absolutely spectacular piece of property with a gorgeous home/pool and very, very cool treehouse! Her wonderful home and grounds were recently published in "Our Homes" magazine...definitely have a look!







Heritage Row Reno
A&J are renovating a 1890s row house in St. John's and her pictures/blog make me want to pick up and move out there...or at least find a vacation getaway like theirs anyways! We have never met, but she won my 'Backyard Contest' this summer and through our interactions, her photos, her blog etc, I think that if we lived down the street from eachother, we'd be fast friends! We have a similar style, enjoy the same things like escaping to the water (in her case, she gets to go to the ocean to her cottage), the outdoors, DIYing....and...they have a Choc Lab!!!





Here are a few more ladies and their Blog's that I read/follow and offer me never ending inspiration:

Sashay - Meredith Heron
Made By Girl - Jen Ramos

Thanks again to these ladies for being part of my life in their own unique ways!

RR


 

 

 

 

 



Go Green...

 

I was flipping through the new issue of House and Home magazine and came across this page that brought a smile to my face....

 

 

 

I have collected green glass for as long as I can remember....it can be found in every room of my home, serving many purposes....some purely decorative, others, more functional.

 

 

 

The bar area...wine glasses, martini glasses, shot glasses and a shaker.....all in various shades of green.

 

 

My 'everyday' glasses are made of a thick, green glass.....

 

 

Bowls on the buffet.....

 

 

The sunflowers in a green pitcher...

 

 

Green goblets I just found in the basement (forgot that I had them!)

 

Green tea cup and green tea/coffee set (2 cups, cream and sugar)....some of these items will soon be listed on my Etsy shop...

 

 

I tend to use green quite a bit in my decorating....it is in my throw pillows, throws and candle holders in my living room and in my bath matt & decor items in my bathroom.

 

I hope you all have a collection you have on display...that you can enjoy every day. I also hope you have fun growing your collection. I always have my eyes peeled for new pieces at auctions, in local shops, at markets etc etc...When I find a new piece that I just have to have, I can't wait to get it home and find the perfect spot for it.

 

Happy Collecting!

 

RR

 

 



Open for visitors....

....The guest room that is!

 

I found this gorgeous twin bed at the Restore here in town. I had been wanting to do something "daybed-esqe" in the office/guest room due to size constraints. 

 

Bed Before - Boring Brown 

 

 

 

 Bed After - Fresh, Clean, Crisp White

 

 

Before and After....I'm really happy with how it turned out!

 

Then into the office it went to wait for the mattress to be delivered. The bed is going along the back wall, under the windows so you can lay in bed and have a great view of the trees, sky and local wildlife (ie. cardinals, squirrels, chipmunks etc).
The room gets great light, it's bright, airy and a great combo space of office and guest room.

 



Then...it was time for pillows! I purchased the striped pillow at Urban Barn, already had the black script pillows from a store here in Guelph called Greengate Interiors and my Mom knit the front pillow cover for me (which I absolutely LOVE!!!)



Pillows....cozy blankets....sun streaming in.....

 

 And....voila!!! I have a very comfie and cozy guest bed!
 

The comforter is Ralph Lauren from Home Sense...a perfect linen/burlap look. The linens (which you can't see but are oh sooo comfie) are Gluckstein from Home Outfitters...and I believe the grey, furry blanket is from there too.

So...if you are ever in the Guelph area and need a place to rest your head....just let me know...we are now accepting reservations :)

RR
 

I hate to say this...but....

...I'm SOOOO ready for Fall!

 

The muggy, humid and damp weather today reinforced that I'm ready for Summer to wind down and can't wait for the cool, chilly weather of Fall to ramp up.

 

I'm ready for the Fall colours....the sweaters....the riding boots....and I'm hopingthe squirrels make quick work of the walnuts from the trees in my backyard.

 

We did some 'antiquing' this weekend and made some great finds.....

 

 

For only $8...how can you pass this up? The colours, the tones, the shades.....it will make a great back drop for an autumn vignette...

 

 

 

These 2 pieces really caught my eye....I didn't walk out with them but I think I have to go back! Any excuse I have to explore the cute shops in the town of Neustadt, I'll take!

 

 

My boot collection is sitting there...waiting for the cooler weather..almost begging for me to wear them! I'm going to have such a hard time not buying a new pair to kick off the season...

 

 

I walked in to my parent's home this weekend to find a bouquet of sunflowers on their kitchen table...LOVE them!

 

 

 

I also walked in to see that their furniture has been delivered!!!! Well done Mom and Mike on your selections (yes, that's right, my Mom and brother picked out the furniture and I wasn't even there to help!)

 

And....

 

 

 

.....My Dad and brother had put the final coats of stain on this gorgeous wormy Maple dining set made by our Mennonite neighbour, David. There are 2 leaves and 8 chairs total and he did EXQUISITE work!

 

If you are interested in a set, just send me an email to rusticretrievals@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

I was at my parent's this weekend as it has been one year since their house fire. We sure have come a long way....a new home has been built, they are all moved in and we are already making new memories!

Right after the fire, we found this angel in the ashes....she was once considered part of our Christmas decor, but she now holds a place out on display year round...watching over us...our true guardian angel!

 

This past week also marked one year since the tornadoes tore through Goderich....The first time I visited after the storms rolled through....I cried....Canada's prettiest town had some open wounds, but I know they will heal without many scars left behind.

 

 

Earlier this Spring I went for a walk along the lake in Goderich and this is a picture from that day.

 

I hope you all had a great weekend....I sure did! It was full of mixed emotions, but most importantly, it reinforced that as long as we continue to push forward and persevere, anything is possible!

 

RR

Rustic Transitions....

The transition to Fall has to be my favorite time of year. The light, the colours, the chill in the air...time to pull out the wool sweaters, cozy blankets, leather boots and the most fun of all....time to change the decor in your/my home!

When it comes to home decor this time of year, the best place to pull your inspiration from is right out your front door....

The rugged bark of a tree in mossy browns and smokey greys, the mustard yellow of golden rod, the burnt oranges and deep burgundy of mums, the muted greens of the trees & corn stalks, the greeny blues of the lake and the sandy beiges of the last walks on the beach.

Take a look around your home....Small changes such as adding knit throw cushions, a wool throw/blanket, add more candles in earthy tones, fill a vase with branches rather than flowers, a simple wooden bowl filled with stones from the beach....All of these will take your home from Summer to Autumn and add warmth, coziness and character.

Just walk out your front door, down the lane and around your neighbourhood or take a weekend roadtrip through the countryside...take lots of pictures and come home with more inspiration then you'll know what to do with!

RR

Back to reality...

The summer long weekend....a chance to get away to the lake, enjoy time with friends in the sun...and escape the 'real world'.

One of my best gal pals was heading to the cottage with her kids (2 of the best kids you will ever meet!) and I was lucky enough to join them for a few days....

The shores of Lake Huron bring back many childhood memories and many more were made this weekend...

Needless to say, this weekend reinforced my goal to move towards cottage ownership...There is something about the water, waves, sand, rocks and sun that takes every ounce of stress and melts it away...

No other sunset can compare to a Lake Huron sunset...

Of course there was home decor involved this weekend...along with a few cold beverages...This issue of Dwell is fantastic!....The home from the province of Friesland in the Netherlands is the perfect combination of the rustic modern aesthetic...When the time comes for me to design a cottage, I could take a lot of inspiration from this home!

Hope all of my friends had a great long weekend!

RR

Christmas in July....and August!

Pre-order your 2012 Holiday Decor Services....wreaths, urns, table settings, garland and home decor consultation...and receive 25% off your entire order...plus, I'm offering free delivery within 100km of the Guelph/KW area!

Prices generally range from $30-$85 per item (could also be more or less, depending on the size, type of material etc) and my in-home decor consultation services are based on an hourly rate.

Email me by August 6/12 with any questions, for more details and to secure your pre-order discount!

rusticretrievals@gmail.com

Ho Ho Ho!!

Here is some holiday inspiration from some great websites/bloggers to get you in the spirit!

**Also, if you place a pre-order and then refer a friend, receive an additional 5% more off your order for each friend who mentions your name!

RR

*These are not my photos..For photo credits, please 'click' on the photo to link to the website. If there isn't a link, I was not able to find the credit*

Gal Pals

I got together with a group of girl friends from university yesterday who I hadn't seen in ages! As we sat there and discussed meeting eachother, getting to know eachother and the past 10 years since we graduated (yes...10 years).....I couldn't help but think how lucky I am to have such amazing women in my life!

Most of them have married, had kids (there were 12 children under the age of 6 there and I'm so happy & proud to be their "auntie") and a lot sure has changed in the past 14 years! As we sat in the back yard, my friend turned to me and said, "it feels like we're at someone's parents' house".....it was a bit surreal.. but also a testament to how though life continues forward, it sometimes feels like it stands still. We are home owners, some are parents, we have careers...we're officially "grown-ups"....a far cry from university life of going to class, house parties and pubs from 10 years earlier!

They are an amazing groups of gals....and I am honestly and truly blessed to have them...and all of my other fantatsically amazing gals pals in my life! Whether we have been friends since birth or have newly developed a friends ship over the past few months/years...THANK YOU for being part of my life....you all help me be who I am, just knowing that you are always there for me!

Thank you again to my gal pals.....you are all extremely phenomenal women...

RR

I Finally....

....Got These Two Great Pieces Framed!!!

I saw the poster on Made By Girl's website/blog and just had to have it! Those 4 words pretty much surmize how I try to live my life every single day. I really enjoy Jen Ramos' website, blog and products...I think I'll have to place another order very, very soon!

The card in the rustic wood frame is by a good friend, Stephanie Buchy - A Paper Buffet .  When I saw the card...I just had to have it for not only it's motivational qualities, but also it's organic beauty. Steph has a wonderful shop on Etsy and has also started a new shop, Knitley Road....she is so incredibly creative and driven..and her product illustrates this!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Oh, and the cute and funky quilt that these are sitting on is from the Southampton Market, along Lake Huron.

RR