My childhood and what it taught me - dedicated to all those in Haiti.

This post is dedicated to all the people in Haiti that have lost so much and are suffering. 

Our house in the village where we lived.

We all look back at our childhood memories and reminisce.  I've been doing a lot of that lately and have come to realize that a lot of how I was raised is now influencing the way I run my life and my business.

As some of you know, I was a missionary kid and for part of my childhood grew up in a pretty primitive part of Mexico (Chiapas).

 I'm grateful that while we eat we don't have kids peering through watching us.  Grateful for privacy.

We lived very simply.  I don't know how my mom did it but she always made it feel like home.

Notice the mud stove. 

 As I look at this, I'm so grateful for my double oven and my Travertine and wood floors.

Making our own bread and cinnamon rolls.  We baked them in the mud stove with a special technique using the coals.

Feel blessed that I was able to teach my kids how to make bread and also love my Krispy Kreme Donuts and Starbucks down the street!

Home Schooling was accompanied by a neighbor playing the guitar.

I'm thankful for the memories with my mom and that my kids have an incredible school they get to go to.  Mom you did a great job but  how blessed I am that we have great schools where we live.

We had no electricity so we had dinners by candlelight.

  Love that I have a switch that turn my lights on and off..  I also still love my candles, even though my house almost burned down because of them (that's another blog entry).

My sister and I washing clothes in the stream with our friend Cecillia.

Dad called us his twin tub washing machine

Guess who had to hang them all out on the washing line?  Yes, We did.  Cecillia taught us how to carry the silver buckets on our heads and we felt quite pleased and proud about that.  I could probably still do that today.  We all have unusual talents, this is mine!

 I'm thankful for being able to adjust to another culture and make friends with kids that didn't even speak my language.  Hand motions does the trick every time.    My washer and dryer are also at the top of my thankful list even though they aren't the red front loaders that I love so much.

Mom doing dishes outside.  Luckily we couldn't reach the sink!  She never complained.  She always said, "I have a great view."

I'm thankful for my mom and dad that instilled in me a great attitude in hard circumstances and am extremely happy that I have a dishwasher that washes and dries my dishes within an hour - it disinfects them with HOT water too!

Reading letter from home - 4 week old news but we were glued to every word from our grandparents and cousins in Africa.  Notice the mud floors and my precious porcelain bride doll on the window ledge that went everywhere with me.

 

 What a blessing to have e-mail and Facebook where I can communicate with my friends by the minute.

We could bath in the river but we often loved walking to our favorite waterfall!

It was absolute heaven on earth and we tried to make the trip each weekend.  We didn't tell a soul we knew about this hideaway!

I'm thankful for pool in my backyard and for my hot water that automatically comes on in my shower each morning.  I'm also glad that I don't have to hike 2 miles to get to my bathroom!  I'm also happy that I get to use shampoo and conditioner instead of just plain ivory soap!

Our grocery store

My parents trained other missionaries on how to survive in the jungle.  We would stock up for 3 weeks and take everyone out for a test survival run.  Above are all the moms stocking up for their families.

I'm loving my Tom Thumb store that has more selections than I could ever imagine!  The first time my mom came home to visit she cried when she saw all the fresh vege's in the store because she was so happy - I still think of that now when I'm choosing my fruits and vegetables.

Our hammocks!
Is this heaven for little boys or what?  Poor dad had to put up 5 of these!  Thanks Daddy!

My hammock.

I was so proud of it and made it all comfy cozy inside.  The first night I slept in it some kind of animal bumped up underneath it and scared me half to death.  I kept our whole family up all night.

 Thanks Dad for all your hard work and diligence that has taught me so much about patience and hanging in there even when it is tough.

I'm grateful for my king size "Heavenly Bed"  from the Westin Hotel that has no animals living underneath!

Our pantry and closet.  Oh my, how did my parents do it?

I'm thankful for my pantry and for my closet..even though it doesn't have Elfa shelving.

Making bread on the open fire.

My mom and dad always found a way to entertain even in the jungle.  Our home was always filled with people. 

Glad I have friends around that come over and share life with us in the good and bad times.  Learned that my house doesn't have to be "perfect" to enjoy others. 

We walked everywhere!

Happy that my Honda Pilot SUV serves me well by getting me around and has seat warmers.

My 11th birthday - Our second house behind us!  We upgraded to the mud hut!

I'm thankful my parents always made us feel special on our birthdays.  All it takes is the simple things like friends, lots of hugs,  pinatas and cake for a kid to feel special on their big day (of course back then it only lasted a day...now I milk it for a week....shhhhh, don't tell).

Rope swing we made!  We also had one that swung into the river!

The simple life made me get creative when we were bored.  We didn't have to be entertained.  I'm hoping I can teach that to my kids.

Of course we all know that our childhoods start the process of who we become as adults.  All of life's experiences turn us into the people that we are today.  What I've learned that I can apply to my business daily is that "using what we have" and making the best of every situation is a great lesson to apply to life.  Fortunately we HAD to do that as kids and it has made it easier for me now as an adult.

I wore thick glasses until I was 10 -

the best day of my life was when I got contacts.

I learned not to worry about what I looked like but what was in my heart.  Still working on that one, it's a constant process.

My business was started with the philosophy that I can "use what you have" to make something spectacular for your home.  In this economy my clients really appreciate that.  I can take what they have in their homes and use the budget they DO have to add to their design and make it wonderful without spending a fortune.  Of course, there are those that want to spend a fortune and I love those clients too!

It's been fun for me to see where my creativity was stemmed from.  I thank my Mom and Dad for teaching me so much about life from the experiences they gave me.  Thanks mom for always making a HOME no matter where we were. I've been able to apply these skills to my business and use these life skills daily as I'm introduced to new clients and go into so many different homes.

What have you learned from your childhood that makes you who you are today? 

Overall, what I've learned is Less really is more!!

Again, this post is dedicated to all the people in Haiti that have lost so much and are suffering.

We hurt deeply for you.

Ruthie

Herb Garden Inspirations

I've been contemplating planting an herb garden for the past few years but haven't done it yet.  Each time  we cook something delicious we often wish we had fresh herbs at our fingertips.

Photo from Park Hill Collections - Wooden herb plant stakes (love them)

 Instead of a large herb garden, I've finally decided to plant some herbs in pots right outside my back door.  This will get me a good start!    After some research, I've found that they suggest five herbs for a beginner’s garden; chives, parsley, rosemary, thyme and basil.   I'll wait until Spring to get started.  I've also learned that purchasing the plants from your nursery already grown is the best way to begin instead of starting with seeds.  Any comments from you gardeners out there?

I'm very inspired by this photo and would love to have a wooden table instead of the wicker above.  Layering pots and finding ones with different textures is what I would like to create.

Photo from Park Hill Collections

Isn't this antiqued herb chest of drawers wonderful with the herb labels?  What about the picket fence mirror?  Both make me crazy!

I found this picture of an old damaged basket that they created into a pretty planter at the edge of the garden. They used it to fill the basket with soil and then nursed tender herb seedlings until they were large enough (at least 6 inches tall) to transplant into the garden or a larger container. GREAT IDEA!

I'm afraid at my house our squirrels would find this too much of a temptation. It might inspire someone else out there though!

Photo from Velvet and Linen

Brooke Giannetti from Velvet and Linen has inspired me so much.  This bakers rack could be filled with herbs?   She is an incredible designer and loves making outdoor spaces look beautiful.   Visit her amazing blog and see some of the outdoor projects she has created for her homes. Go here to be consumed with her work and create a new addiction (along with me) to her blog and website.

Photo courtesy of Velvet and Linen

Photo courtesy of Velvet and Linen

Join me in preparing for our Spring herb potted garden!  Let me know in tips you have learned and I can't wait to see what transpires.  I've heard that once you have fresh herbs there is no turning back.

Ruthie

Valentines Day Dessert and Coffee

Picture from Familyfun.com

I'm contemplating what I"m going to do for my family for Valentines Day which is on a Sunday this year. 

Can't believe it's around the corner.

I could make my family a wonderful dessert instead of a big meal.  They LOVE chocolate chip cookies and Blue Bell vanilla ice cream.  You can buy the chocolate chip cookie dough that comes in a roll and flatten it in a cookie sheet (you will need 2 rolls).  I've got my mom's chocolate chip recipe that I could make too and it is the BEST!!

Cutting them into heart shapes is a good idea. 

 Or maybe I should do brownies?

I could get the "You are special today" plate out.  Tradition in our family to bring this out for each birthday!

 I'll have to dig this one out of my kitchen cabinet.  But then who is going to get it? hmmmm??

Maybe a candle could go on the plate instead - for ALL to enjoy.

Wouldn't any kid love this napkin at breakfast?  Can be done with a paper napkin too!  Could go in their lunchbox?

Go to ehow.com to follow the directions on how to fold.

Anthropologie.com

I could buy the above mugs from Anthropologie for coffee or hot chocolate after dessert.  They could be used for breakfast too.

Hanging out at home with the family is a great gift, especially if dessert is involved.

OR

We could ALL go to Lesara Cupcake Bar here in Colleyville, TX. 

There are many of these Cupcake bars all over the U.S.

Ours is located in the Town Center in Colleyville at the intersection of Hall-Johnson and Colleyville Blvd.

Everyone can pick the flavor cupcake they want, ice it with their favorite icing and then pick from many, many toppings.  GREAT IDEA!!!

There is a time for setting the table and having a beautiful meal but this year we are going to do one of the above.  SIMPLIFYING and enjoying at the same time.

Which one would you do?

Today I'm participating in Tablescape Thursdays at Between Naps on the Porch

Take a look at other tablescapes, you'll love it.

Ruthie

Bookshelf before and after "using what you have"

BEFORE

The client I worked with today just wanted me to help her with her bookshelves.  I shopped around her house looking for treasures and incorporated some of her beautiful "Oriental" pieces that she has collected over the years.  Our goal was to "use what she had" without buying anything new for this room. 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

AFTER

It always makes a nice statement to incorporate artwork into your bookshelves.  Most shelves are adjustable and this enables you to adjust them to the size you want them to be.

I wonder what the storks are saying to each other now?

Mixing different textures like silver, pottery, greenery, books, clay objects creates an interesting collection.

Tip of the day:  Try taking the book covers off your books.  Sometimes they are too loud for the space.  Taking them off usually makes the bookshelves look less cluttered and much more sophisticated.

Love these little books!  Isn't the color ravishing?

This bookshelf is NEXT on my list....but I'm purchasing some things to go on these shelves.

I'll post a picture when I'm done.

The below are some accessories that she has already that I'm going to use along with the new things I purchase.  I'll just add to this collection with some "new" treasures to make the items work together. 

Should be fun!

These books have been in their family for years, can't you tell?   They even had slivers of hair from babies first haircuts....way cool.

Like this guy!  He looks tough.

What do your bookshelves look like?  Do they need a makeover?

Ruthie

"All mixed up" - My favorite decorating style

House Beautiful Magazine, April 2004 (Center fold)

Kelly Harmon - Designer

You have heard me say that my favorite rooms are ones that have mixed styles.

  The above cottage is a classic example of how you can mix textures, styles and items that have been collected, refurbished, recycled and replenished into a stunning room that has character and a feeling of items "collected over time."

The room above includes Mexican shutters and doors, American homespun and French linens, Japanese hardwood dishes, an Amish armoire (love it), a Swedish table and chairs, and an American Gothic church window from Texas.  The chandelier over the dining table is made of deer antlers and lit with beeswax candles.  Could you mix it up anymore?  Doesn't it have a very inviting, casual feel?

The cottage's oak floors were stripped, hand rubbed with paint, and polished with a white wax. 

Notice how there are no draperies or rugs.  Simple and nothing to interrupt your eye from the beauty of the floors.  The wire basket is a great accessory and adds so much personality.  I would love a window like this that has roses peering in as if they were in the house - perfect!

This kitchen is perfect for a cottage.  Notice how the island is the focal point because it is different from the rest of the kitchen cabinets.  The rustic stool and "driftwood" sign are perfect additions to this light and airy kitchen.  The height of the wire fruit stand creates interest and a slight pop of soothing color.  The chicken wire on the cabinet doors allow for the homeowner to display her favorite dishes and glassware.

Perfect little hooks for her coat or miscellaneous items she needs quick access to.

What works beautifully in this room is the way your eye sees the rustic wood sign above the cabinet and your eye then moves down to the shutters on each side of the window and they then land on the island making it a very balanced kitchen.

These are all things that designers know to do to make it feel perfectly fabulous!

One of the reasons why these rooms work so well in this cottage is that they share a noticeable lack of bright color.  Instead their hues are unified and share varying shades ranging from the lightest of beige to faded robin's egg blue. 

I'd love to own this cottage by the sea!

Ruthie