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Photo by Amy Treasure on Unsplash

Shortly after Easter this year I got a very bad concussion that left me on full bed rest for three weeks and semi bed rest for another 3 weeks. For the first three weeks after the diagnosis I was not allowed to use a computer or a phone. I could not even watch TV. I was only allowed to sleep or take a walk if I felt good. The first couple of weeks were hard. The following weeks were better as I learned how to pace myself. I realized that my body was quite adept at letting me know when it had had enough. And so I listened to me and surprisingly, I learned a lot about myself. 

For the first time in my life I was able to rest without guilt and it was wonderful. I unplugged and reconnected with nature and it made me incredibly happy. This enabled me to see ME for the first time in what seemed like forever and I started to understand what was missing in my life, what I needed and what I no longer needed. 

For a very long time I have equated my worth with being needed by others and so I have invested all my time and energy into taking care of people, whether it be on an emotional or professional level. But when you no longer have any energy to give you cannot do this and so you start to see things more clearly. You start to get to know yourself a little bit better and then you realize what YOU really need.  And as it turns out, I don't want to be needed by anyone anymore. I would like to take care of myself for a while now. I would like to be dedicated to myself and my well-being for a while. 

So if you can be patient and forgive my self-interest, check back in a couple of weeks and you will find my new website.

Looking forward to sharing a new life with you...

xo

Tracey

A feeling of Zen

In my opinion there is nothing more beautiful than a well landscaped yard. I love being in nature and feeling the energy of the trees and plants that surround me. I had really invested a lot of money in the landscaping of our previous home as the interior needed only cosmetic fixes and a new bathroom. My present house however, has eaten up all our money like the cookie monster eats cookies.

So now I have landscape envy...

Desiretoinspire.net posted about this company called weareconsidered.com and I immediately fell in love with this Cypress Falls residence.

Check out the lighting...

the pathway...

and the deck...

can you say love...

Strawberries & Vanilla Cream

I love having strawberries and vanilla whipped cream for desert but a low cal version of that desert is also good for breakfast. All you have to do is add the desired amount of strawberries to a bowl of plain greek yogurt and then add one tsp or tbsp (depending on how sweet you want it to be) of pure maple syrup and voila! Breakfast is served. 

Breakfast - In the above photo I have combined the following:

4 Medium strawberries, sliced. 

1/3 cup of Riviera plain set-style yogurt (Greek yogurt is fine)

1 tsp of pure maple syrup. 

If you're making desert for a bunch of people and you would like to have whipped cream here is the recipe:

Get 1 pint or 2 cups of strawberries.

Hull and then cut strawberries into chunks or slices and place in a bowl.

Add 2 tbsps or more of unrefined cane sugar - enough to cover all the berries. 

Let sit in the fridge for an hour or two. 

Get your whipped cream

Whip it up until very sturdy. 

Add 1 tsp of pure vanilla flavoring. 

Enjoy!! 

Intermiel in Saint-Eustache

Intermiel is a honey producer in Saint-Eustache, Quebec and I love to go there. Not only because it is relatively close to Montreal - about 45 minutes no traffic - but because the drive up is so lovely. All along the way you will find farmers selling their wares as well as apple orchards and another favorite place of mine, La Maison Lavande. 

Today I decided to go and stock up on beeswax supplies at Intermiel and lavender at La Maison Lavande and was happily surprised to see that Intermiel had completely renovated their boutique and learning spaces (this is a popular school field trip). Here are a few pics from my visit. 

Many different kinds of honey

Beeswax and beeswax candles

Many products made with their honey

The tasting area - YUM!

The different kinds of honey

The Candy bar

Checkout

This is a great place to bring your kids. You can taste the honey, learn how it's produced and walk away with some very interesting products without breaking the bank. Please click here for more info. 

Up-cycled wood patio surround

    Contemporary Patio by San Francisco Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Growsgreen Landscape Design

This patio surround is made entirely from up-cycled wood and has an artistic bent with it's uneven lengths. Although I might have opted for a more uniform color on the upper part, I like the fact that there are peep holes. They let you see some greenery and makes the wall less confining. 

If this deck/patio were mine, I would add a variety of tall and short grasses to the bottom half of the surround. Grasses would add an element of sound and Zen to the space. There is nothing more relaxing that hearing grasses waving in the wind and the symmetry of the evenly spaced tall and short grasses would give it a very uniform and zen look.  Add some soft candlelight on the table and you have all the ingredients for a very romantic evening. 

These are the grasses I have in my front garden. They only get the plumes in the Fall when the temperature drops but I can see them waving from inside my home and it's so beautiful. Very peaceful. 

xo Tracey  

A Re-purposed Steel Home

I love the idea of re-purposing construction materials. Given my long career in design I know firsthand how many perfectly good items get tossed aside. This story however is the exact opposite. It is the story of how metal broker S. J. Sherbanuk created his dream home out of old scrap.  

The home is situated in the town of Blue Mountains in Grey County, Ontario, and is comprised of a series of sheds made mainly of re-purposed steel. Each shed corresponds to a section of the house with the tallest tower housing the kitchen, bedroom and workout room. 

You wouldn't think that a steel structure would work well in a forest but although a bit unorthodox, the house seemingly fits right into the landscape nestled among the trees. I know I wouldn't have any trouble living there, how about you? Would you like to live in a re-purposed metal home surrounded by trees? 

For more photos and the complete story by dwell please click here.     

At the lake...

At first glance the cement pier seems to be suspended above the water. Then upon closer inspection the rocky bottom beneath the water appears and you realize that it's not. 

I love the water and I can see myself on this pier, soaking up the sun, reading a book and listening to the ducks. This picture reminds me of when I was in Lugano, Switzerland. There are beautiful lakes there surrounded by majestic mountains. It is so stunning that it takes your breath away. 

Happy Friday everyone! The weekend is here - time to dream...

Pattern Play

I am loving this pattern especially when paired with these shoes - I wonder if the model comes with the tile :)

I can totally see this in my bathroom...

via 

Fashion Designer Jenni Kayne's Rustic Contemporary Home

Jenni Kayne designed her house the way she designs her clothes, simple & chic. This house is on my top 10 list of most coveted. I love the contemporary rustic mix and the entrance in the photo above just blew me away. For the complete story please read the commentary on popsugar.

This beautiful photograph is by Richard Misrach and I absolutely love it!

Sigh......what a house

Mason Jar Magic - Holiday Special

I love Mason jars and I love getting them filled with yummy things to eat and drink so I thought I'd post a few of my favorite Mason jar presents from around the web.

How about some Hot Chocolate along with some great toppings. Sure to warm you up on those cold winter nights. 

I couldn't resist this one given the play on words. It's a great idea to thank your guests for coming over and saying hello and it's a low cal snack to boot! 

Is there any better kid pleaser than a Mason jar filled with cookies and topped with a Dinosaur?

Have a Jurassic Party and give them as favors. 

and for those of you who would prefer to give something other than food, why not consider this sewing kit from anthropologie.

Click on picture to be brought to source. 

Happy giving!

xo Tracey

Felt Ball Coaster

Super easy and fun to make, these felt ball coasters will spruce up any decor during those cold winter months. All you need are some felt balls (90-100 1 cm balls per coaster), some cheap coasters - I used some plastic ones I found at IKEA - and some E600 glue.

Start by gluing the first felt ball in the center of the coaster and work your way around.

See full tutorial by inspiredbycharm blog 

Rustic Inspiration

This time of year always makes me wish I had a Country place. I love the outdoors and I especially love the Fall when all the leaves are changing colors and the sun surprises you with a warm day. Sitting outside covered in a wool blanket, having a cup of tea and reading a magazine or knitting is one of my favorite things to do. It makes me feel like there is an endless amount of possibilities around the corner...

Felting class Fun

This is Regina who was in from Brazil to meet her new granddaughter (her daughter is sitting next to her) and she created this gorgeous bunny with big pink ears. 

This is an action photo of Isa (Regina's daughter) who decided to make this cute little Hampster. He's still a work in progress. Truth be told Isa's a bit obsessive detail oriented when it comes to her needle felting so it took her a little longer. 

and finally this is our teacher - the lovely and talented Samantha who is holding this totally real looking gnome (admit it, you'd scream if you woke up and saw him at the foot of your bed) . Sam is a fiber genius. If there was a Superhero that improved peoples lives with knitted and felted stuff Sam would be it. Hey she already does that so I think I'll call her "Fiberwoman" (sorry Sam for when you read this!).  

I have created a dinosaur whom is currently missing his pink spots but when he's finished, DINO (yes I called him Dino) is GOING TO ROCK! 

A simple pop of yellow

What an awesome kitchen with it's gray cabinets + walls and joyful pop of yellow in the middle of it all. 

Photo courtesy of photographer Elisabeth Aarhus

Het Atelier Interieur

Het Atelier has done some very nice projects but this one is my favorite. The combination of rustic and contemporary as well as contemporary and antique elements has my heart beating  off the charts. I  love the textured cement floor, irregular built in shelving and black accessories combined with all that marble in the kitchen.

This glass pendant light adds just the right amount of color in this neutral space!

Totally smitten with the wood plank flooring.

This powder room is just so cool! Refined, simple and ethnic all at once. 

If I could re-do my small bathroom I would do it like this. 

More photos here.