Back in the swing of things!

I'm officially back into the swing of things....The first few weeks of January were a bit quieter than normal (thankfully) and as I'm looking through my  Day Designer  I can't believe how the weeks are filling up....I'm booking into April for some things!!

I'm not complaining by any means....I LOVE having a full schedule & keeping busy.. and this week allowed just that...

After a weekend of celebrating a good friend's birthday, it was off to meetings with a coworker on Monday (but only after a latte and a few minutes flipping through a mag to start the day).  The clients I work with ('My Guys') were so gracious in celebrating as I move onto new challenges (more to come on this!). 

Tuesday was such a fun day....well, let's just say, the evening was FABTASTIC! My friend and neighbour Michele, aka Blushshop, held a Pinspiration Party for some local gals at her shop. It was such a great night of meeting new people, socializing, "pinning" (of course), munching on yummy goodies and learning even more about one of our favorite social media sites!

Wednesday had me presenting some new ideas and concepts to a group of people whose opinions I truly value and also let me get my feet wet a wee bit as to what my new role will hold for me.

Then....it was time for an early morning, messy hair and LOTS of coffee (and tea)!

Thursday was a longgggg (and very, very chilly) day (it began at 3:30am) but it was a really, really good day! I flew to Ottawa to meet with an employee in an effort to ensure his success in the workplace. It was the kind of day that reminded me how much I love what I do and made me very happy and feel very lucky to be able to do what I do every day!

And then Friday.....an office day, ie. mad-catch-up-day! At one point, I thought my BB was going to blow up as it was call after call after call, but, it was a SUPER productive day overall! 

I found this photo of flowers from the Pinspiration Party earlier in the week and the image made heading out into this blustery, winter weather a tad bit easier!

I'm looking forward to a bit of down time this weekend and also to Sunday Brunch with a bunch of awesome gals....it's our monthly Guelph Bloggers Brunch! Stay tuned for more details....

RR

Refreshed!

The snow is blowing yet all I can think about is Spring. I am a fan of Winter, but seeing Spring colours, clothing, and decor on websites like Pinterest and in magazines has me yearning for warmer temperatures!

With that in mind, I felt it was time to start transitioning my home to welcome in bits of Spring (while still keeping a Winter tone as well). I had put my holiday decorations away and the sideboard was literally a blank slate, so what better place to begin this transition?

I began with this piece of art as inspiration and began walking around the house, gathering pieces from other rooms and from my 'store' downstairs to pull this together. 

I wanted the final product to feel light and airy with an overall sense of rustic charm, just like the piece of art. I went with lighter tones (greys, blues, creams, greens), natural elements and metallics (to mirror the iron bed). 

Here are some of the individual pieces that helped bring the look together....

Silver Stag Napkin Rings, Whitewashed PineCones, Metallic Bowl, WhiteWashed Wicker Tray...

Wooden Tray, Beach Stones, Driftwood, Shells, Tree Silhouette Tealight Holders, Tree Themed Decor 

Glass Dome Cloche, Driftwood

Grey/Cream Graphic Print Napkins, Twine String

I then started to put together vignettes...

More Artwork, Silver Antler, Rustic Metal Bird Bottle Opener

Wicker Tray, Vase with Rustic Elements, Napkins, Glass Cloche, Metallic Bowl, Copper Bird

It's coming together.....

And here it is.... 

The final product of my interpretation of a Wisp of Spring in Winter....

It feels so much fresher and light...and the absolute best part...I didn't have to buy one new thing! All of these items I already had and was able to bring them together in a new, re-imagined and refreshed way!

This is my view as I write this post (with an adult hot chocolate beside me as well).

I hope this inspires you to begin to refresh and re-imagine your space and slowly begin that transition from snow to tulips...

RR

My Happy Place - Part 2

I introduced you to Lake Louise (the ski resort) in one of my earlier posts this month...A very happy place for me indeed! Now, onto Part 2 of my time there....at the Chateau!

We packed up our skis and headed to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise  

The drive up to the resort was stunning...the sun was shining, the snow covered mountains, trees with branches laden with fluffy white snow....Winter at its best!

We arrived to the quintessential Lake view......I could have stood there for hours, taking it all in and just enjoying 'being'..

We walked around and had a chance to see the beautiful ice sculptures that had been done for the "Ice Magic Festival" and in honour of the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

We then went inside, found a table with a view in the bar/lounge, and said 'cheers' to an amazing day!

It was the kind of day that I didn't want to end...ever...but, as they say, all good things must come to an end. It was time to get on the road and wind our way through mountain ranges back to Calgary.

Talk about the perfect end to the perfect day....I could get used to this view! Sunset over the Rockies...

My trips out West always bring a kind of happiness and level of contentment that cannot be put into words..... I hope that you are able to travel,visit or even live in a place that allows you to experience these indescribable feelings too....We all deserve that level of bliss!

RR

A Craftsman's Sweet Dream...

My brother, Mike McDonald, has his own construction/home renovation company and is also quite a craftsman! I have introduced you to him in previous blog posts (he put in my patio for me this summer and it turned out absolutely perfectly!) and I just had to share this gorgeous project/piece he did for our parents for Christmas.

Our parents have been looking for a new bed and Mike had the wonderful idea to build them a headboard for Christmas. We bounced around some ideas....I even had to pull off a few lil 'fibs' with my Mom to try and confirm the colour it should be stained...and this is the amazingly rustic and beautiful end result!

The final product was even better than I could have imagined and Mom and Dad LOVED IT! (That's a total understatement!) 

It adds warmth and immediately draws your eye to it as the focal point of the room.  It truly is a beautiful and organic statement in the room.

I think I need one too in fact!

If you're looking for a unique, custom, one-of-a-kind, solid wood piece, you can email Mike at:

mmcdonaldconstruction@gmail.com

He can work with you to create exactly what you are looking for for your home!

RR

My Happy Place

This insanely frigid weather actually reminds me of one of my favorite places ever.....

You may think I'm a little bit crazy, but one of the places that I feel most alive is at the top of a mountain when it's -55, skis on, goggles down and ready to take the first run of the day!

Insert..."She's nuts"...here.

I will totally admit, having skied in Ontario for most of my life, the first time up the chair lift at Lake Louise both blew my mind...and scared the begeebers out of me!! Once I got over the initial sense of, "get me off this thing"...I could sit back and enjoy this....

The friend I was with, who lives in Calgary and is part of the ski patrol, doesn't really know the meaning of "easing ourselves in"....and again...he seemed to forget that I had NEVER skied on a true mountain before.... 

We went allllll the way to the top.

It was literally -55, the views were absolutely beyond breathtaking...and I was absolutely terrified!!

But, fear aside,...we pushed off and started to make our way down the mountain. I don't know if it was the cold mountain air, the scenery or just everything about this perfect day....but I settled back into my skis and that feeling of terror quickly subsided...

We stopped part of the way down to catch our breath (and let my legs muscles, that were currently on fire, have a wee break....again, I'm used to runs in Ontario that are top to bottom in less than 10 minutes, whereas these runs were almost triple that and with the slight difference in altitude, oxygen wasn't quite getting to my muscles as I was used to).

But again, that feeling quickly passed as we stood there and I literally began my love affair with the West....more specifically, the mountains! 

In the picture below, you can see the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the Lake in the far distance.... Spectacular!

Here I come!!!

We spent the morning on the mountain, had lunch at a chalet mountainside and then it was time for a beverage 'apres ski' before we headed to the Chateau...

Check back soon as I continue on my journey in my Happy Place and take you on a tour of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the Fairmont Baff Springs!

Talk about the epitome of the Bucolic Lifestyle....

RR

Keep Not Settling!

You deserve the best! Today, tomorrow and always!

Thank you to The Everygirl for this print. I have one in my home and will also put one in my office at work to continually remind me of this. 

Remember......It really is ok for there to be times when you stop putting everyone else first, and just do what's best for you!

RR

Tea & Warm Socks

This chilly weather has had me curled up with a pile of blankets in my cozy socks and consuming what feels like gallons of hot bevies. 

I'm a coffee gal most days, but I also enjoy a good cup of tea! My Mom had gotten me these gorgeous gold lip print tea cups earlier in 2013 and I fell in love with them! 

Then, to my absolute and oh so very happy surprise.....this was wrapped up for me under the Christmas tree!

THE perfect vintage tea pot!!!

My jaw dropped and I practically squealed in delight!! Mom had mentioned that she had been looking high and low for one to go with the cups and she had found this one at a local fundraiser.....The stars definitely aligned!

I settled in on New Years day to enjoy a few cups and start my planning for 2014! (I even had a chocolate...or 2)

It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon and I absolutely LOVE how these individual pieces come together so well!

This was also under the Christmas tree...I'm a very lucky gal!

Cheers to tea and warm socks!

RR

2014 - The Year of the Bucolic Lifestyle!

I'm so excited for 2014 and all the opportunities and possibilities yet to unfold! 

A fresh start...A clean slate... This is the year I've decided to get back to basics and get back to being me! 

I went downstairs, dusted off my vintage chalkboard and started to put together what 2014 will be for me... Words, phrases, ideas, lifestyle choices.... All things I currently try to embody and want to continue to, to keep improving on, to holistically integrate into my life!

Bucolic: of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life. 

The country life...the life I grew up in and with.  Rolling fields, acres of trees, babbling brooks, horseback rides, long walks, lying in the grass under the stars....A life of quality, not quantity...where less truly is more.

A life of happiness, laughter, dreaming and believing....Calm.......

I will continue to purge the unnecessary, to set goals, to believe, to breathe....to LIVE!

Ancora Imparo...still I am learning...but... Tout Sera Incoyables...everything is amazing!

As I'm still learning, still hunting for who I've not yet become....I decided it was time to take the next step and launch this new website. It is a work in progress and it has been the perfect opportunity for me to look inside myself and re-visit who I am....the true and honest ME!

I welcome you along on my journey this year....and I encourage you to continue on your own journey....

Orenda: a mystical force present in all people that empowers them to effect the world, or to effect change in their own lives.

Embrace that force, effect change in your life..... 2014 is going to be an AMAZING year...I can just feel it!

RR

Cheers to 2013!

2013 has been a year to remember...full of many wonderful moments, surrounded by friends and family!

Cheers to a year that has brought me many unbelievable memories, helped remind me who I am and allowed me to express and share my gratitude! 

Here's a lil compilation of some of my favorite memories of 2013.....

I hope you have a chance today, to sit down and reflect on 2013 and also look forward to 2014! As I look forward, I can tell you there will be lots of new things with Rustic Retrievals for the year ahead...STARTING TOMORROW!!

Thank you to all my friends, family and clients for your support this year! I couldn't do it without you!

RR

**All images are property of Ardis McDonald - Rustic Retrievals

Deceptively Destructive Beauty

Holidays continued.....

I made it to my parent's after the worst of the ice storm. The sun actually came out and every surface shone and shimmered like I have never seen before.

I then headed into town and this was the view just down the road.....I could have taken picture after picture. It was so incredibly beautiful!

After a day of running errands, it was home to put the finishing touches on the decor...We continued with the red and white theme again this year. The piece of art is from The Garage in Belmore as is quite a few of the other decor pieces. The plaid throw is from Acheson's in Harriston (they also have a location in Orangeville and it is one of my favorite Home Decor stores) and the snowflake runner is from Finishing Touches in Wingham.

Then...it was time to sit, relax and enjoy the tree.....

The next few photos show our Christmas Eve morning walk...it was absolutely gorgeous!

And this was sunset.....I could have sat out on the deck (if it hadn't been so chilly) and just soaked it all in!

Some other shots of nature's beauty....So beautiful, yet so very destructive!

The weather then began to warm a bit and the snow started falling....Charlie loved it and could have sat outdoors all day long!

We also had a visit from a Doe and her twin fawns.....they're getting so big!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday surrounded by those that mean the most to you!

I would also like to say a huge, "THANK YOU" to all the men and women who worked over the holidays, away from their family's, to get the power back on. This icy beauty caused destruction like we haven't seen in quite some time....My 9-5 job is with a Utility and I have never been more proud of the  people I work with then over this past week and a half. Thank you for all you do....

RR