So Worth Loving..

BU·COL·IC

byo͞oˈkälik/

adjective

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

   "the stone house is lovely for its bucolic setting"

   synonyms:rustic, rural, pastoral, country, countryside; 

What does it mean to live a Bucolic Lifestyle??

A lifestyle is all encompassing.... The physical and the emotional aspects. 

The country life includes the visual beauty of the surroundings, but also the emotional reaction to that beauty.  Living a Bucolic Lifestyle could and should include a sense of being at peace....of taking in what surrounds you and embracing it. It could and should mean being at one with yourself. It is a combination of the environment and how you react to that environment...and when you surround yourself with those and what you love....it should allow you to then love yourself and the life you have built for yourself. 

It should...that is the key thing...it should. However, one's reaction to their surroundings and their lifestyle is not always a direct correlation.

I stumbled across the website So Worth Loving on Instagram and immediately related to their message of loving ones self and empowerment! It is such an important message, yet, it is a message that can be extremely difficult to enact in ones own life. 

Their story is as follows:

"Before I founded So Worth Loving, before I had ever thought of customizing t-shirts or realized I could empower people with a simple message, I was just a little girl in a small town where everyone had an opinion of who you should be. As the youngest of three girls, I saw the struggle to meet the impossible standards for success set by the media and reinforced through peer pressure; but I also saw the strength that can be drawn from the support of your family and people who love you. Years later, it was that same support system that encouraged me to spurn conventional wisdom and pursue my passion for music, which ultimately provided me with a platform to spread this positive message. Struggling with the unfair expectations put on you is something you don’t have to do alone. And So Worth Loving is a community of people dedicated to spreading that message and helping empower people to pursue their dreams."

I sent an email to this amazing company after I wrote my last blog post, reaching out to them to share my story, but also to be sure it would be alright for me to share theirs. What a beautiful,supportive, appreciative and empowering response I received, thanking me for sharing their passion and encouraging me to spread their message.

And spread it I shall!!! I've written other posts about putting yourself first and it really is the truth....you must love yourself before you can love anyone else!

These are just some of their inspiring items that are available (just 'click' on the image to go directly to their store). I also love how they've partnered with Kal Barteski for the 'free to be' print (be sure to check out her work too)! 

What better way to spread the word of self worth then to wear those words or hang those words in your home for a daily reminder?!

Whatever lifestyle you choose to lead and embrace as your own, I truly hope that lifestyle starts with your being at peace with yourself.... YOU ARE SO WORTH LOVING!!

RR

**All images (excluding the tulips) are property of So Worth Loving

Carpe Diem...

Every time I put on this bracelet from my friend's boutique, a smile comes across my face and a sense of motivation to face and seize the day (or night) comes over me.

Some may say, "Really? How does something as simple as a bracelet do that?"....My response to that is that everyone's motivators, triggers and coping strategies are very, very personal (and need to be in order to truly 'work' for you) and I cannot express how important...and critical... it is to develop these strategies for your day-to-day health and well being.

I come home to this guy everyday and no matter how upsetting or 'bad' a day it may have been, to have him greet me at the door with that grin and tail wagging a mile a minute, it puts things into perspective quite quickly and I can't help but smile. Our evening walks allow me to clear my head, to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. In the summer time (ie. flip flop weather) as we go for our walks, I can look down at my right foot and see 4 words with so much significance and meaning to my family and I, that I can't help but refocus. 

Earlier this week I received news that literally knocked me to the ground and I immediately needed to put in place every single coping strategy I could in order to navigate my way through, along with my friends, what had happened and come to terms with the fact that I will never, ever see an old friend again.

Text and Facebook messages turned into phone calls and walks down memory lane with old friends, turned into tears (many, many times), turned into support and encouraging words (and beautiful flowers) from new friends, turned into quiet time looking through photo albums and lots of reflection.....

As I looked through photos and yearbooks from highschool, talked to friends who I haven't spoken with in quite some time and hugged one of my best friends after hours of talking through memories...one thing remained constant...How much we cared for Greg and how so very, very much he will be missed. 

Life tests us at times....it throws us curves balls (...this just made me remember that Greg was an amazing ball player)...it pushes us to the brink....

It is those times, when you feel that that there is no end in sight and that there is no way out of the situation you are currently in, that I hope you are able to find a way to dig really, really deep and activate those coping strategies. Lean on those who love you and to try and remember that tomorrow brings a new day and that new day is yours to seize, no matter what life may be throwing at you.

As I'm writing this, the sun has come out.....tears are welling up....... I'm looking at the photo album full of memories from happier days..... and happier days will come again. Life will never be quite the same, but life will move forward and continue on with one less amazing person here with us.... It is the sunshine streaming through my window onto these tulips from a great friend that reminds me of this......

The sun will come out...Grey skies will clear...Thank you Greg, for bringing us sunshine today, yesterday and always.

RR

Ski Bunny Weekend!

This was the view I woke up to Saturday morning after being invited to an annual Ski Bunny Weekend by my friend, neighbour and fellow blogger, Carlie, of Friends In My Closet.

I headed up to Blue Mountain in Collingwood on Friday night and having never met three of the five of us, I was a tad bit nervous. Silly me....within the first 5 minutes of arriving, we all had a beverage of choice in hand and it was like we were long lost gal pals!  Then, it was time to head to the Village.  

It is such a rustic yet pretty atmosphere at night with all the lights and decor. We had such a fun evening!!

The next morning we rolled out of bed, made a very healthy breakfast (...ok, no we didn't...it consisted of bacon, bacon and more bacon...) and then it was off to the slopes!! 

We rode the chairlift to the top and this was the view that greeted us! The sun was shining and the air was crisp. It was such a BEAUTIFUL day! That's Georgian Bay in the far distance (with quite a bit of ice covering it) and a great view of the Village. We couldn't have asked for a better day!

We got to the bottom of one of the runs and I couldn't help but stop and take some photos of this home......

Talk about architectural perfection......wow!! If I were to build my own dream home, it would be extremely close to this type of design. The windows, the beams, the stone work, the deck with the glass railing....even the details on the garage doors... *Mwah*! As you can see in the reflections, this home was LITERALLY at the base of the hill. 

The sun was then beginning to set, so it was time for dinner.....

We walked through the Village to Rusty's and had our fill of really yummy food, recounting the past 24 hours...Oh..I had the Fish Tacos and highly recommend them!

While we were there, we were able to get caught up on the Olympic events for the day.... We all jumped out of our seats in horror, with tears in our eyes, when we saw the 4 man bobsled with Jesse Lumsden and Justin Kripps on board, flip onto it's side. We were just so happy that they were all okay and also so very proud that they were pushing it to the far limits of their sport!

After another night of fun in the village, it was time to get up nice and early to watch the Canadian Men go after the Gold!

It was so hard to pack up the truck after such a great weekend with new friends....but as they say, all good things must come to an end. A HUGE thank you to the gals for inviting me and making me feel so welcome! Haven't had that much fun in quite a while and am looking to our next Ski Bunny Weekend in 2015!

So..... It's back to reality....and back to a week of below normal temperatures..... BUT....Charlie and I are ready for whatever Mother Nature may throw at us!

RR

My Furry Valentine!

Lots of love from my furry Valentine! xo

RR

Simple, Healthy and Tasty!

I had some tomatoes I wanted to use up and what better way to do so then by making a yummy and healthy pasta!

I looked in my fridge and the cupboard and collected the following items in addition to the 4 tomatoes:

• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 a green pepper
• 2-3 tablespoons of EVOO
• 2 handfuls of spinach
• 2 cups whole wheat pasta
• 2 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce (the 'secret' ingredient)
• 10 thin slices of sopressata
• Feta Cheese (as much or as little as you'd like)
• Spices to taste including: Oregano, Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder

This recipe/dish isn't only healthy, it's VERY simple (and yummy!).

Preheat your oven to 400 (this is to crisp up the sopressata). Heat up the sauce pan on the stove top on medium heat and put in 2 tablespoons of EVOO. Cut up the tomatoes into small chunks (no boiling and peeling the skin off...I leave the skin on) and put them into the pan. Let them begin to break down and add the 2 cloves of garlic (I mince mine into almost a paste), salt, pepper, soy sauce and oregano. Then add the green pepper and continue to let the sauce begin to come together. 

While the sauce is coming together, place the sliced sopressata in a single layer onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and place in the oven until it begins to crisp up (approx 8-10 minutes).  Boil the pasta water and then cook the pasta (I used whole wheat) until al dente (you still want it to be a bit firm to absorb some of the sauce). Before you drain the pasta, put about 2 table spoons of pasta water into the sauce.

After draining the pasta, add it directly to the pan with the sauce, along with the spinach, feta cheese and more seasoning to taste. Stir it all together, lower the heat and let the flavours 'meld' together for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Plate the pasta, crumbling the crispy sopressata and more feta on top...and that's it!

The great thing about this is that you could add different ingredients such as mushrooms, onions, olives etc, change ingredients such as substituting bacon for the sopressata or take out the meat entirely to make it a veggie option. It literally starts with 4 tomatoes and a bit of EVOO and you can head in whatever direction you'd like!

RR

My Life of the Horse....

It's the Year of the Horse.....We see it in decor, style, fashion....It's everywhere!

For me, it's not just the Year of the Horse....They have always been a part of my life and I have made a concerted effort to incorporate the majestic equine not only into my home, but as many aspects of my life as possible.

I was two years old the first time I rode a horse and it wasn't just any horse...It was a Clydesdale!

That amazing creature was just like one of the gentle giants in the photo above. She was almost 16 hands high at the crest of the shoulder (each 'hand' = 4 inches) and I can say with complete honesty, it was that day that my love affair with horses began.

We had horses growing up (Quarter Horses) and most of our neighbours did as well. Many a Saturday was spent trail riding or at a country fair. You would walk into the barn and be surrounded by saddles, bridles, harnesses, saddle soap, tack boxes, curry combs, neighing horses yearning for attention...but something I will always remember and that I really miss....was the smell. If you've never experienced the aroma of a  mix of leather, soap, hay and horse fur...it is one I hope you do get to experience at some point as it is intoxicating!

I used to wake up and head out to the paddock and on those lucky days, my horse would be lying down on the hill, still snoozing....I would curl up in the grass beside her, snuggle right in and be happier than any little girl could ever be! Then, it was time for a ride and whether it was bareback or with a saddle, the feeling you get when you're sitting atop this amazing beast is absolutely indescribable! The feeling you get when we'd come out of the woods to the edge of a pasture and with almost no cueing, she'd break into a full gallop and the two of us literally flew across the grassy field as one.....wow.......

Needless to say, after being immersed in that lifestyle for my formative years, I have tried to keep a piece of that with me as I moved away from home and made a new home for myself. Sure, I can't walk out the back door and run my hand over a horse's mane, but, I can surround myself with items that remind me of those moments and take me back to them.

These are all pieces of art that can be found in my home that capture what I feel is the true essence of the beauty of a horse.....Their flowing mane, their graceful lines, their amazingly alluring eyes, their strength as they work...

They truly are the noblest of creatures and their character & personalities bring a kind of joy into one's life that I only wish every person could experience. Surrounding myself with these pieces allows me to keep a bit of that "feeling" in my home in the city.

I was in one of my new favorite shops in Toronto, Love the Design, just before Christmas and as I walked in the shop, I came face to face with this piece by Christine Flynn...

I returned home and looked through her website and found these pieces that just drew me in and took me back to those mornings in the paddock.... They captured the aesthetic perfectly!

Trends will come and trends will go.... For me, I surround myself with things I love, that spur happy memories and that make me smile as I catch a glimpse of them as I walk by....Yes, this may be the Year of the Horse, but my life will always include these incredible creatures, no matter what year it is!

RR

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