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Are you guys ready to get inspired? Then go buy this book written by my talented friend, Emily Hubbard! Emily owns the cutest vintage/handmade boutique in town – called One Rose Decor. I just did a pop up shop at her Spring Open House and let me tell you – she has the best loyal customers! We had a blast and I was so excited to purchase her book. I didn’t even get to page 25 and I already wanted to quit my part-time job and just go full speed ahead with Rusticity!

The book has such a great title – Nobody Cares, Work Harder. Isn’t this the truth?! Everyone, including me, always talks about their dreams and goals and ends the conversation with any excuse to explain why they aren’t moving forward with them. Literally, nobody cares! And this book explains how “its time to stop listening to our doubtful self-sabotaging thoughts and start wiping the dust off our confidence.” She shares her own personal failures and successes as she walks you through her favorite 14 traits to unlocking your full potential. Her stories are so relatable and self-deprecating – you will feel like you know her and you will want to keep reading!

Just do yourself a favor and go to One Rose Decor to buy this book (and maybe a chippy salvaged mantle or handmade sign)! Tell her I sent ya 🙂

Our house was built in 1924 and we are only the second owners! Crazy right?! We have a small kitchen – literally the one thing we didn’t want when we were searching for a house to buy lol- One day we plan on opening it up and reconfiguring it a bit, but I am a very impatient person and I got tired of waiting for “one day.” Since the day we moved in I have absolutely hated the linoleum floor in the kitchen and hallway! I just knew there had to be original hardwood flooring underneath! And sure enough… there was! It blows my mind why anyone would want to cover that up! AND there were 3 LAYERS of it ya’ll! All of those layers popped up pretty easily, but the tar paper that was stuck to the wood was a nightmare! I had to do it by hand and keep it wet while scraping because I was worried there might be asbestos in the glue – so sanding was not an option as I couldn’t create any dust.

We also had a fake pressed wood countertop, which I replaced with real butcher block – so satisfied with that! I put up bead board paneling up around the entire kitchen, painted the walls, installed new cabinets, new sink and a new faucet! I know all of our appliances are old, but they still work great and they kind of fit into the “vintage vibe” I have going on lol! I did end up covering our dishwasher door with a piece of faux tile that I got from Lowes – instant update!

Everything looks so fresh and clean and it makes me smile every time I walk into the kitchen now! We cook A LOT and the kitchen is definitely the heart of our home – even though it’s small. Whenever we have people over, we always end up hanging out in the kitchen. Now I have one that I am proud of and happy to spend time in!

Hooked up the camper and took it out to my moms property in the country – where I grew up! This place will always be home and these woods hold so many memories! I woke up early and went on a walk and it was JUST what I needed. Nothing but peace, quite and fresh air! I feel so blessed to have this place to escape to!

Had to skip town for a few days so I hitched up the camper and drove up to our family mountain house near Monterey where my grandfather grew up. It was such a beautiful drive and the leaves were all turning! I set up camp and made a fire. I listened to music and made a little dinner. Woke up early and went on a hike and just took in all the beauty around me. It was just what the doctor ordered. I am such a introverted extrovert!

My family met me up there later the next day and we had the best time! Mostly just hiking, cooking and sitting around the bonfire! My sister and I even did a little photoshoot – there are endless places for photo ops! There is just something about this place and I am so blessed to be able to retreat here with family. Until next time!

My Cousin and her family flew in from San Diego to spend time at our family mountain house in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As they were traveling from the mountains to Richmond to stay with me, they ended up purchasing a School Bus on a whim! The plan was to fix it up and drive it back home to California – stopping at different campgrounds and making memories along the way! SO COOL!

It had already been gutted and flooring had been put down – we just had to make it cozy for a family of four. We shopped my garage for tables, chairs, crates and other items to make it fell more like home while on the road. It was so fun helping them put it all together and by the end of it I just wanted to jump on the bus and go with them on their adventure back home! That was a trip that they will remember forever and I’m so happy that I got to kick their trip off to a great start!

I found her waiting for me to rescue her in the alleyway. I cleaned her up, removed every bit of old cushion and reupholstered her. This vintage fabric looks so lovely on her don’t you agree? I think she would be perfect for a tiny home or camper! Just over here saving furniture from landfills! It truly is the ultimate recycle!

For as long as I can remember, around this time of year, we would help my mom remove winter in the garden and get it ready for Spring. Rip up weeds, turn over the beds. This year was no different – except we had to “keep our distance” due to a pandemic! It felt good to do something normal. And breath in that fresh country air while telling stories and laughing with my sisters. It’s all about the little things! In the end, those little things end up being the big things.

A guy literally laughed at me when I purchased this little pink rusty table for $1 at the flea market. “Who would want that?” he said. Well mister, I just turned $1 into at least $125 so who’s laughing now? Not having a lot of money forces you to be creative. That’s how I was raised and that’s how I prefer to live my life. It makes me appreciate the little things and keeps my imagination strong!

I found three vintage folding chair frames in the woods while junking with Little Rachel. I cleaned them up, spray painted the frames and macraméd the seats and backs – which took some time, but wow look at them now! I think they turned out sooo good AND they match my camper … soooo BONUS! I would never be able to sell these and get enough money for the time I spent on them, but that’s ok because I want to keep them anyway. I mean… they fold up… so it’s not like they take up a lot of space.