Cozy, Snuggly, Warm Weekends...

Happy December!! 

Snow is falling here today and after a very busy week, I'm curled up on the couch under a cozy wool blanket with a coffee and my laptop,watching the snowflakes slowly float to the ground.

I hope you are having a relaxing Sunday, all snuggled up at home.

Who can I talk to about this extra day between Saturday and Sunday??

RR

**Please click on photos for credit/sources.

Family = Friend

It has been said that friends are family you choose for yourself. My cousin Bradey is family that I would have chosen as my friend.

We have lived our lives at opposite ends of the province (she's in the North - Kenora to be exact) and I'm here in the South. When we were younger, we spent our summers together at the Camp (our family cottage) on Clearwater Bay/Lake of the Woods and those are the days I will remember forever!

From Barbies and learning how to water ski, to where we are today....we sure have come a long way and I know that if we didn't live 23 hours away from each other, we'd be a 'dangerous' combo (in a very good way!)!

Bradey has the entrepreneurial spirit most of us only dream of. Her genuine love of life and positive outlook are infectious! And...to top it all off...she lives on a lake, in a log home her hubby built for her and her four boys...Talk about Super Mom!

Yes...this is her home...handcut logs, wrought iron and a bridge/walkway between the 2 upper areas/lofts.

Bradey with 3 of her 4 boys spending a day on the lake...

Bradey wrote this on her FB page today and it really does give you a snapshot of the amazing woman she is....

1. All four of my kids have the same blood type - A+. Same as their dad, NOT same as me (I'm A-). Go figure 

2. My top FOUR front teeth are veneers. And those of you who've been around long enough will remember the sad sad night of Pick It Up. Sigh.

3. I actually don't need vodka/wine/beer to tell me I can dance. I can and do at will....just do it 

4. I have started running. Again, those of you "in the know" will know this is some sort of voodoo magic. And I'm speedy 

5. I graduated as an Ontario Scholar and was nominated for Valedictorian the year I graduated. Which will remain a quiet, unnamed year in history.... 

6. I ALWAYS wanted 4 kids. Didn't matter what kind - despite the VAST myriad of people to assume otherwise - and I'm so blessed to have the ones I've been gifted.

7. I have been in love with my husband since I was 17 years old.

8. I collect aprons. Antique, vintage, new....I love aprons. And I wear them all the time 

9. I am content: with my life, my family and even myself.

10. For someone who talks a LOT, this was really a challenge. Apparently I must not talk about myself too much, because I had to THINK about most of this!!!


Number 6, 7 and 9 bring the biggest smile to my face... she just rocks!

I mentioned her entrepreneurial spirit as she has/had a home based business, making amazingly delicious home-cooked meals and selling them to the local community (ie. fresh, from scratch, wholesome, yummy and ready for you when you were home from work). She has put this business on-hold for now, but she still cooks and bakes everyday for her family and the pictures she posts make my mouth water every, single time!

There are just a few:

So if this doesn't have you salivating yet, this recipe will! 

I was looking for a tried, tested and true banana muffin recipe a while back and of course I turned to Bradey. This recipe that she sent me is FABTASTIC! It turns out every time and the muffins are absolutely delicious! I took a batch into work (ie. to a group of 12 guys) and they were gone before they headed out to the field for the day.

Bradey's Banana Muffin Recipe!

1 3/4 cups of flour (straight white or a mix of  3/4 cup whole wheat and 1 cup white)

1tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter or margarine (can also use coconut oil - I usually do 1/4 cup butter &1/4 cup coconut oil)

1 1/4 cups sugar (can use all white or a mix of white and brown)

2 eggs

1/4 cup sour cream (or yogurt)

3 medium bananas

Chocolate chips, coconut...whatever extras you'd like to add

I also put a tiny bit of vanilla extract in too 

In a large bowl, whip butter/marg and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in (by hand or on low speed) sour cream and mashed up bananas. 

In a separate bowl, mix all the other dry ingredients together. If you're adding choc chips or coconut, add them in with the dry ingredients.

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients (by hand!) and then put into the prepared pan/muffin cups (ie. spray pans or use liners prior to adding batter).

Bake at 350 for muffins or a 9 x 13 pan or 325 for a loaf or bundt pan. Muffins or the 9 x 13 take about 25 minutes. Loaf/bundt take about 45-50. Test with a toothpick and if it's clean, you're good to go!!

There we go...I made a batch this morning and needless to say, they were breakfast (still hot, just out of the oven with the butter melting into them...yummmmm). Oh...they were lunch too!

Tomorrow is Bradey's birthday (Nov.17)...soo HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADY! Cheers to another year and thank you for being the wonderful woman you are! Miss you lots and can't wait till we can get together again.

RR

De-Clutter..Your Home and Your Life!

As I was perusing through Facebook this morning over breakfast, I saw 2 interesting articles that seemed to go hand in hand with my weekend plans!

I held an "In-House Sale". I had meant to have a yard sale this summer and it just didn't happen. So...in to my closet and down to the basement I went. Any items I was planning on purging, I then posted in similar groups on my personal Facebook page and my friends could 'buy' them on the spot. Needless to say, it was a success! My house feels lighter already!

These are some of the items I posted. The 3 glass sculptures/tea light holders ($6 for all 3), the chairs ($15 for the pair) and the wall mount tea light holder ($15) are still available ...let me know if you're interested!

When I came across the Style at Home article on 25 Ways to Clear Clutter  and the Huffington Post article on 23 Things Every Woman Should Stop Doing ...a weekend theme was definitely emerging!

I have always been a person to surround myself with things and people I love and I encourage others to do so too! However, sometimes we surround ourselves with a bit too much. Now I'm not saying to remove all things from your life that you love, but I am suggesting you take a step back, re-evaluate and ask yourself, "When did I last use that piece of home decor?" or "My calendar is booked for the next 3 weeks, can I really fit something else in?".

These are some of my  favorite, and what I feel to be most useful, tips from the Style at Home article:

• Identify problem areas: Take "before" pictures of each room to help identify exactly what needs to be cleared away and which storage solutions might work for each space.
• Organize your mind: Trying to keep the clutter under control is hard enough for even the most organized individual. Add the extra stress of life-on-the-go and it's easy to lose your mind. Keep a pocket-sized notebook handy and jot down daily to-dos, thoughts and plans. At the end of the day, revisit what you've written and organize appropriately, adding items to a grocery list or activities to a calendar for example.
•  Baskets: Versatile and sturdy baskets can help you clear clutter on the cheap. Buy a few in the same size and colour to be displayed in multiples.
• Declutter keepsakes: Artfully organize small mementoes like pictures and cards by creating a pretty wood and glass display box. If you prefer to conceal your keepsakes, an organized file folder with appropriately labeled tabs is a handy place to keep these memories.  
• Donation hamper: Keep a box or bag handy and place gently used items, as you come across them, inside. When it's full, donate it! 
• Multi-task cleaning: Watching TV is usually a relaxing time but who likes to sit through all those annoying commercials? Stay on top of organizing by sorting through drawers during commercial breaks. 
• Neat nightstand: Declare clutter hot spots such as front entryways and nightstands a clutter-free zone. Limit the number of books, magazines and accessories vying for space and attention. If you don't have a nightstand with a drawer, use a basket or tray to keep organized.
• AND MOST IMPORTANTLY! Be realistic: Know your organizing style. If you're naturally tidy then a lot of hidden, compartmentalized storage and minimal displays will be right for you. If you're more comfortable living in organized chaos then don't be afraid to show off what you've got. Spend time styling what you've organized, getting rid of and moving things around until you're satisfied with how everything looks.

So now that I have the house under control, these are things  I have to get better at saying "no" to or stop doing:

• Saying “yes” to everyone else*
• Saying “no” to yourself*
• Body-snarking -- out loud or in your own head
• Feeling like an impostor when you accomplish something professionally
• Holding on to regrets and guilt*
• Being in relationships for the sake of having a relationship
• Not taking advantage of your vacation days*
• Spending time with people out of obligation
• Being embarrassed about your interests

Yes....I even *starred* some as things to REALLY focus on!!

So....start tonight, start tomorrow morning....I have checked off a few things already just by holding my "In House Sale" this weekend (and it will continue this week too). I also said "Yes" to myself this weekend and did some things just for me that I really wanted to do...

My Mom and I went to the Fall Home Show in Toronto...there were some great booths and vendors. I stopped by the Etsy booth to see all the amazing wares of fellow Canadian Etsy sellers.

We also went to the Annie Sloan booth to check out her amazing chalk paint! Can't wait to do another painting project!

I also had the chance to have some fun and do my DIY fabric project sponsored by Tonic Living from their booth at BlogPodium. Fingers crossed I win! :)

In process.....

The finished product!!

I even had some time to snuggle into bed with my computer, a nice cup of tea and work on some design guides and this blog!

So I've already started de-cluttering both my home and my life. It isn't easy, but it is so worth it...even with the few things I've done so far I feel a difference! 

When are you going to start??

RR

A New Old House...

I just recently re-activated my subscription to House Beautiful magazine (I really have to stop moving so much...I lose track of these things and had really been missing getting this magazine every month)....

My new issue arrived and let's just say, there is a kitchen in it (an no, it's not the Kitchen of the Year..though it is fantastic too) that had me absolutely drooling (if you have the new issue...keep an eye out for the copper pots).

I also follow House Beautiful on my Rustic Retrievals Facebook Page and noticed HB had posted the photo of the amazing soapstone sink in the room with the stable door (see below) and I just had to have a look at the rest of the house!

I'm sure glad I did!

The home, in Nashville Tennessee, is amazingly beautiful, airy and bright.....a fluid mix of rustic charm and southern beauty.

The following are a few of my favorite rooms and needless to say, I absolutely love this home!

Whether is was the amazing fixture/s in the staircase, the numerous soapstone sinks (LOVE how they have one double as a bar cooler), the gorgeous outdoor spaces, the immense walk-in closet, the modern stone fireplace or the kitchen that just begs you to entertain in it....every photo provides wonderful inspiration and perfectly illustrates the allure of this lovely home.

RR

My Motto...

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RR

Love Her Style!!

I was having a look through my Instagram feed the other day and saw these absolutely gorgeous painted antlers!

I opened up the Padgett Hoke Blog and immediately felt a connection to her style, both in her home and her own personal style!

I love these antlers and can't wait to try painting some that I have! 

The blog takes us through her building her beautiful and rustic home in Jackson Hole. If I were to ever build, I can safely say that I would mirror a lot of what she has done!

Look at the gorgeous face enjoying some relaxing time in front of this amazing fireplace....

And the bathrooms.....perfect!

Then there's this deck with that view...wow!!!

When I say I can relate to her style...I think I have everyone of those pieces in my closet/wardrobe!

I've never been to Wyoming, let alone Jackson Hole....her photos are inspiring me to plan a trip there sooner then later!

Stunning.....

Then...there's her Etsy shop! I've posted a few photos of my favourite pieces ....'click' on the photos below and they'll take you directly to the listing on Etsy!

This one may just be my favourite!

Or...maybe this one! I can't decide which one to get!

These earrings would be the perfect addition to my summer wardrobe!

As you can see, we share a lot of similarities in style and her Blog is a wonderful journey through what looks to be a very happy and successful approach to life!!

RR

*All photos are from the Padgett Hoke Blog*

Re-Claim, Re-Envision and Re-Purpose

 

The countdown is on to 2013 and what better time to look back on 2012 and reflect on days past, but to also refocus to 2013 and days yet to have begun.

 

To say that this past year was a roller coaster ride would be an understatement.....I'd say it was more like every single ride at any big amusement park all in one! The ups and downs have been unbelievable, both in good and bad ways.

 

New babies have been born and we also lost wonderful people much too soon. The circle of life was very apparent this year....

 

 

New homes were built, new chapters of life began and the memories of homes once had will be with us forever!

 

 

 

 

Time spent with friends and family was cherished and thoroughly enjoyed! 2013 will hold much more of this...I guarantee it!

 

 

A weekend at the lake this summer....



Travel, work, more travel, more work....this year there will be much more travel (fun travel) and much less work...I promise to work to live, not live to work!

 

A trip to Thunder Bay this year....got to see first hand what our guys do day-in, day-out.

 

Lake Superior

 

Our world has also thrown some curveballs this year..some were hit out of the park in the most fun and exciting way, others, we completely struck out on! The Olympics were a perfect example of the world coming together, playing together and showcasing the best of the best! The human tragedies  and the absolutely crazy weather showed us the worst this world has to offer, but even through the worst, the best came out in people! ...I only hope that we can all take a step back, learn from what has occurred, try to treat eachother with more care and truly appreciate what we have!

 

 

My plan for 2013 goes back to my small business 'mantra'...

 

RE-CLAIM

RE-ENVISION

RE-PURPOSE

 

I will re-claim my life, refocus on me and taking care of myself, first and foremost. I will put on my "Oxygen Mask" and eat better, get back to the gym, take more time for activities I enjoy, get outside more......time to re-claim who I am!

 

Have more fun in 2013...and not only on weekends ;) !!

 

I will re-envision where I am heading in life. I am blessed to live a life that is holistically, a very happy and fulfilling way of being. That being said, there are areas I want to 're-jig', 'tweak' and revisit my vision. My small business, Rustic Retrievals, is one of them. I have a passion for home decor, styling and helping others create the home they have always wanted.....it's time to take it up a notch and really focus on this! I will also become a regulated health professional this year as a College of Kinesiologists has been established in the province of Ontario. This will open even more doors for my other passions....the human body, helping others and rehabilitation. Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

I will re-purpose what I already have and keep reminding myself how very lucky I am to have what I have. This will be a year of 'less spending and more saving'. When I do spend, I will continue to focus on  supporting local shops and small businesses.
 I'm not only talking about material things....I will also continue to and constantly re-examine and re-visit relationships, my career, my goals and continually re-purpose, re-claim and re-envision all of these too!

 

 

2012 was quite a year....I look forward to what 2013 holds for me, my family and my friends!

THIS IS OUR YEAR!!!

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year from Charlie and I!!

 

 

RR

 

 

 

 



Around the house....my house...

I'm sitting on the deck this morning, having a latte and planning my day of couch hunting (Urban Barn, Cornerstone etc) and a little part of me actually feels like I'm at the cottage.

There's something about the light at this time of day and how it streams through my front window, the breeze as I sit here on the deck....it even smells a wee bit like being at the lake this morning.

As much as I continue to move towards my goal of one day having my cottage by the lake....I am lucky to have my own little cottage in the city..and even more, a cottage that is reminiscent of me and who I am.

Below are photos of vignettes around my home, some art, a few rooms....just a wee peak into how I've made my house into my home!

The buffet...one of my favorite pieces in my home..I collect crystal candlesticks and I love mixing them with my green glass but also some apothecary jars filled with rustic pieces of drift wood.

These are scattered around the house on my coffee table, side tables...again a mix of pieces I love...green glass, stone, wood, photos...

I also collect black and white photos/pictures of tree scapes and water scenes. Family means everything to me as well so I have put all of these together (again with some green glass) on a glass top console table.

This photo shows the light in the dining room in the morning....and also illustrates that due to size constraints of my cottage (800sq ft), how I use my space in various and multifunctional ways,.... ie. my dining room table turns into a showcase for my Etsy products while I'm organizing them.

This was a birthday gift from my parents last year from a favorite store of mine in Port Elgin called August Skies. Every time I look at that picture, I am reminded of my goal to one day have that cottage with the muskoka chair and all the rustic, yet refined, character I could ask for.

This is the shelf beside my desk in my office...full of fun, whimsy and brightness....I think you need all of those things to ensure ongoing inspiration and motivation....I especially love the card by A Paper Buffet that for me, really sums up life in general...I'm still looking for just the perfect frame to put it in!

Then there's NYC....yes, I grew up on 50 acres and I am a country gal through and through...but if I had the chance, I would move to NYC in a heartbeat...and I can't wait to go back to visit. These are on my refrigerator (yes, I use my fridge as an inspiration board with quotes, photos and memories)...McQueen, Macys (photo by Stephanie Buchy - A Paper Buffet), Central Park (photo by yours truly)....just thinking about it brings a smile to my face...

So.....welcome to my home...at least a few bits and pieces of it. I hope this has maybe given you some inspiration to go around your house, rearrange some pieces, put together some new vignettes....we're always re-creating ourselves which in turn, means re-creating the place in which we dwell...our home!

RR

Happy Canada Day Long Weekend - Almost Home!

Happy Long Weekend! It has been quite the week, so it is a breath of fresh air (literally) to get out of the city to visit my parents and see how their house is progressing.

I hadn't been to visit in a few weeks and I am BLOWN AWAY by how far it has come along...it is practically finished!!

I will save most pictures until it is completely finished, but here's a sneak peek...

We had a wonderful tour guide to show us around the house and show us his favorite spaces (so far, it looks like the bathroom and basement are his top picks...may have something to do with the nice, cool concrete/tile floors).....

After all his hard work, it was time for our tour guide to have a swim in the pond....After successfully soaking me as he came out and decided to shake off right beside me, we headed back to the house....here's the view towards the house from the pond.

It was great to be back at the 'homestead'....that piece of property is where I grew up and what I have known as, 'home' for my entire life. For many, many reasons I am sooo happy they decided to re-build here.....

I love this time of year and all the wild flowers...Daisies, Queen Anne's Lace, Black Eyed Susans etc...these are all found on the walk to/from the pond.

These are some more pictures of the landscape around the house......

After the full tour, we headed back to the farm house my parents are renting while the house is being built. It was such a gorgeous evening and this is the view out the front door....I can't think of a better way to spend the long weekend but with the fam, in the country...

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

RR