Christmas Countdown....

 

Now that Halloween is over (whew), let the countdown to Christmas begin! I have been out and about this week and love how the transition has been made to holiday decor in the stores (especially our small business owners...SHOP LOCAL!!!)....

 I can't wait to begin to start the transtion in and around my own home....

 

A mix of a rustic tree made of branches and the sparkle of a wreath covered in glitter!
 

 

Driftwood ornaments.... Rustic and Beachy all in one...
 

 

LOVE all of the trees on this table....yes, I seem to have a thing for trees (as you know if you're a regular reader of my blog).



 

My Holiday Workshop is coming together...getting organized and taking inventory!





Sparkle, Sparkle and more Sparkle!




Oh the possibilities....my mind is racing with decor ideas!

 

 

Gold, shimmering orchids for a custom order wreath! Can't wait to get started on it!


 

This burlap covered frame was painted white....wait till you see what I'll be doing with it!! The antlers add a rustic touch...





A simple yet effective grapevine wreath.....it lets the natural elements shine through....





My version of "Rustic Lux" (thanks Kitchen Cousins for that term).

Both of these wreaths are available in my Etsy shop and I also accept custom orders. Just email me at rusticretrievals@gmail.com.

 

Busy, Busy, Busy...

The past few weeks have been super busy.....at times it just feels like there are not enough hours in the day!

 

Time is flying by, but I am making sure to live every minute....every moment....

 

These pictures are just a few of the moments of my life over the past few weeks...

 Sunset at Emma's Backporch in Burlington on Lake Ontario....Retirement party for my amazing boss....We're really going to miss him and I will be forever grateful to him for everything he taught me, the opportunities he afforded me...and for him just being the truly wonderful person he is!
 

 

 Charlie and my Dad...having a a very in depth conversation....note the crossed paws :)
 

 

I was looking through old pictures of Charlie...those big brown eyes....that pouty lower lip....he had my heart since the first time I laid eyes on him!
 

 

Sunset on my flight into Thunder Bay... 

 

 

 Clouds.......flying at sunset is my favorite time of day...

 

 

 Looks like cotton balls....

 

  

 My outdoor holiday decor....ready and waiting to be displayed....The leaves have been raked, outdoor furniture has been put away, the gardens have been tended to....bring on Winter!

 

 

 A cozy corner in my home.....this was taken as I was lounging on the couch, glass of wine in hand just enjoying being home and enjoying the coziness of Fall...

 

 

Candlelight makes everything better! Romantic, warm, cozy....perfect ambiance...




As I look back on the past few weeks...past few months in fact...this statement couldn't be more true but it also reminds me to not waste a second and really get out there and live!

RR

Life is too short...

The world lost an amazing man this week......an old friend who could make you smile in any situation, who knew just when you needed that hug, someone that you could laugh out loud with....an always generous soul who drew people to him with his charisma and his always positive outlook on life!

 

His life was cut much too short...he had so much more to live for...but...one thing I can say about Adam...he lived every second that he had and he sure loved life!

 

 

As I look through pictures from the good ol'days, I think back to how at that point in our lives we felt that we have the world at our feet...that anything and everything was possible.......This week reminded me to always continue to think that way...life is all about perspective, how you approach it and how you throw yourself into it and live every single moment.

 

Adam....thank you for your friendship....thank you for what you brought not only to my life but to lives of many, many others....

The thought of your smile will always bring a smile to my face...

Your kindness will never ever be forgotten....you..will never be forgotten...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adam....we love you and you will be with us always.....

 

  

 

RR

Natural Beauty....

Oranges, reds, yellows, falling leaves, harvested crops, firewood, crisp blue skies, pumpkins, bare tree limbs, final Farmer's Markets, walks through the forest......

 

All of these pictures were taken close to home....I feel very lucky to live where we can experience all 4 seasons...but especially Autumn....

 





 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 










RR

Giving Thanks...



Happy Thanksgiving!

 

This is the time of year we gather together to give our thanks to family, friends, community and for all that we are lucky enough to have in our lives...

 

I am eternally thankful and appreciative for everything in my life....and sometimes it's the 'small stuff'...the 'everyday' events we can take for granted and forget to be thankful for.

 

Things like.......

 



 

... the simple pleasures of a long walk with a friend

 

 



 

..... the sun rising against the trees

 



 

.... the memories of loved ones lost

 

 

 

 

......nature's bounty

 

 

 

 

....sunsets and storm clouds

 

 

 

 

........the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

 

 

 

 

........a warm cup of comfort

 

 



 

 

Hope you have a wonderful long weekend!

 

 

RR

First Weekend of Fall....

 

This is my favorite time of year....

 

Mother Nature plays a big part in why I love Fall and these photos help to explain why....

 

 

 

You can't find colours so deep any true any other place but in nature...

 

 

The tones, the shades, the light.....

 

 

The clouds at sunset....looked like a storm was rolling in....

 

 

Whites, greys, yellows...

 

 

 

Orange, green, more grey and white...

 

 

Front entryway...welcome...

 

 

Mini Island in the kitchen...vintage tin signs, pie stand, wooden cheese box, apples.....

 

 

Curled up on the couch looking through Style at Home ....

 

 

I couldn't believe my eyes....a double rainbow....'make a wish'...and I did! ;)

 

 

The rainbow was guiding me home....but, the elusive pot of gold could not be found...

 

 

My front steps....pumpkins, gourds, grasses, antlers, drfit wood....

 

 

 

The base arrangement is from The Garage in Belmore, ON and I have just added to it....

 

 Bring on the frost, the raking of the leaves, the hot chocolate, the bonfires...the list could go on and on....

Happy Fall!



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