Rustic Magnolia

Good Morning my sunshine. I don’t know who needs to hear this today but you’re bloody brilliant, you are enough, keep killing it, small victories are still victories and I think your amazing. X

Ok truthfully maybe I needed to hear that myself too but moving on to today’s topic which is a little different then usual. Today I won’t talk about makeup, skincare or beauty tips. We will get back to our regular scheduled programming next week. This week I want to talk about wellness and fitness. I can tell you for one when I first started really delving into how I could workout within my limits, it was really daunting. I hired an online trainer as I knew 1. I wouldn’t be able to motivate myself on my own and 2. It seemed more likely in my case I would succeed better with guidance and support. I did lose 40 llbs and felt amazing but can readily admit I’ve struggled with my mental health the last few months and quit working out. I also realize this has done me more harm then good. I’m going to have a candid conversation with my good friend Shelley Dueck about her fitness journey, wellness,tips and tricks. Hopefully you can learn something, and I can get out of this funk and back to running the world. Just kidding, well maybe.

Hey Shelley, I just want to say thank you for being a part of today’s blog and I can’t wait to delve into this topic that realistically does seem very overwhelming for most.

1) Was there a moment that sparked your decision to start your wellness journey? How did you get started?

S) I had lost myself in motherhood. With two boys 15 months apart, I dove all the way in to stay-at-home mom life and somewhere along the way I completely stopped taking care of myself. I focused on them all day, every day and did nothing to take care of well-being. I was running on E. My cup was completely empty and it was making me the type of Mom I never wanted to be… frustrated, annoyed, zero patience, exhausted. I knew I needed to change. I started following an incredible woman on Instagram and watching her go through her journey inspired me to dive into my own. So I reached out to her and asked her if I could join her team.

2) What did u find most difficult about starting?

S) Changing my mindset around WHY I was working out was the hardest part. For two decades I truly believed the only reason to work out was to lose weight. I never once thought about it from a being healthy standpoint. It was always focused on being skinny, losing weight, changing the way I looked. Two decades of the diet- culture mentality was a lot to overcome.

3)Now you can go the traditional route which is to the gym, but you decided to go with beachbody online, what made you choose that particular platform?

S) I needed a way to stay consistent in my workouts and with 2 young children I knew it had to be simple and easy. Getting to the gym, finding daycare, it was all too much. Being able to stream my workouts to my phone/laptop/TV at whatever time of day worked for me and my schedule, do my workouts in the livingroom while kids slept upstairs or joined in made it possible. That possibility made it doable for me.

4) What do you think is the biggest struggle most people find when getting into trying to change their lifestyle?

S)They try to do everything all at once. Overhaul their entire life overnight. It’s too much, it becomes overwhelming, and then people quit. The other thing that happens is people want to erase 10 years of unhealthy choices in 30 days. They are so focused on the results and they want them to happen overnight. It’s the quick fix mentality that makes most people give up.

5) Do you think it’s all fitness, or do you think there are other areas that need to be worked on alongside the physical aspect?

S) Nutrition and mindset are also key. Truly choosing to look at food as fuel. Making Nutritional choices that actually give us energy and make us feel good. And nothing works without the right mindset. Switching from the overnight quick fix diet culture idea to leaning into consistency, accountability and striving for total life wellness. That’s the most important area that needs to change.

6) Name the top 3 things you can’t be without and why?

S) My morning cocktail!! Give me a ton of energy for my workout and my day. Water!! Because water +life. And sweat! Or maybe it’s the endorphins that come with the sweat. That post workout feeling is incredible.

7) Did you write down goals when you started?

S) I had one goal: focus on consistency. To start and just never stop again.

8) What advice do you have for people wanting to start? Or have started and are getting discouraged with how its going?

S) Stop focusing on the results. All the results you could ever want will come with consistency and time. Focus on feeling your best and the rest will come.

9) In your journey thus far what do you feel is the most important thing you needed, to be successful and thrive?

S) Joining our accountability group changed EVERYTHING for me. I thought accountability groups were stupid. Haha! I didn’t understand the point of them. But when I started I was willing to try because I honestly had nothing to lose. So I leaned in! I didn’t just join our accountability group, I LEANED in! Knowing that I was accountable to people other than myself changed everything. I knew if I was just accountable to myself, I’d quit. I had several times before. But if I was accountable to other people, if other people were relying on me to show up, I’d show up. And I did!! 3 years of consistently taking care of myself and it all started with jumping all in.

10) Any other little nuggets of wisdom you’d like to add before we finish?

S) Remember that YOU are worth the work! You deserve to be healthy, feel amazing, and live an incredible life. And none of that has anything to do with the number on the scale or the size of your pants.

I love all of this and thank you so much Shelley. I am feeling revived in my goals. I’m not going to focus on the results because I know I’ll get there. I know I can get there. There is a fire back in my belly. Till next time, I’m off to go shake my ass to tunes and be grateful, thankful and start. Plain and simple I’m just going to start.

Love a sassy, mindful and grateful Magnolia x

Good morning my lovelies and welcome to another Do it Yourself Wednesday. Today’s post is just a catch up on some of the small projects I’ve around the house lately. I have already posted them on Instagram, but I loved this simple project so much I did it in three areas of my house. It’s quick, affordable and to be honest would be quite easy to build as well but I took the more cost-effective way right now while wood prices are so dang high still.

I took a trip to the city and purchased 3 Kallax bookcase from Ikea. I should say I bought 1 the first time and loved it so much I went back for 2 more after seeing how it looked, how easy it was to complete and the look it gave my spaces. I took my time looking online before I went and with shortages, shipping delays at ports etcetera I recommend making sure all items are in stock before u venture into the store and if possible, purchase and pick up so you aren’t disappointed. Covid makes everything harder ugh. Back to the projects, I knew I wanted legs on them somehow to give the bookcase a fresh look and less plain. I went on the ikea app, entered legs in the search bar and I found a set of 4 for $20 that went with another item but would work for mine. They come in a light beige wood, so they are easy to stain or paint if u want a different color. They have a selection of other legs to choose from based on your look or needs. Mine are called Eket legs. I got the shoe organizers and bins from Ikea as well. You can find similar shoe boxes and bins at the dollar store if you’d like to save some more. In this instance I just wanted a one stop shop. Bins are $5.99 each, I bought 8, 4 each for 2 of the bookcases. The shoe organizers were $7.99/ pk of 4. I already had the clear containers from the Dollerama at home, but they are 3-4 dollars depending on the sizes you get.

The first 2 shelves I put together were for toy storage. I wanted an organized space to store my granddaughter’s toys and books in both my Livingroom upstairs and my family room downstairs. For a piece of Ikea furniture, it was easy to build and the instructions I dare say were easy to follow. Most furniture from ikea will have you in either a fit of rage or bawling your eyes out in frustration.

Attaching the legs wasn’t too difficult. I didn’t predrill holes, but you totally can for a bit more ease. Once I had it completed, I stood it up on the legs, moved it into place and added 4 bins on the 4 bottom cubby spots. 2 Grey and 2 blue if you care lol and I filled those with loose toys like blocks, furniture for the doll house, accessories etc. The top 4 spaces I filled with toys and books as well. Upstairs you can see I decorated the top for Halloween and placed pictures, decor to match my aesthetic while downstairs I put the dollhouse on top so it’s out of the way when not in use and a TV with a VCR/ DVD combo underneath so Miss Aliyah can enjoy the movies that her mom grew up watching as well.

For my third one I repeated all the same steps but instead of the big bins I placed 2 shoe organizers in each bottom cubby and a clear organizer. On the top 4 I placed on each end a Grey organizer I had left over from organizing my drawers. In one I put all the dog leashes, doggie bags and brushes and in the other was filled with our water shoes and a bag of small hand sanitizer bottles for use as needed. The middle two and the top I decorated with Halloween Halloween decor and soon Christmas decor. It adds such a cool look to my mudroom against my pallet wall I did years ago.

Quick,easy and looks like it’s meant to serve the purpose I wanted it to. I’ll be back next week with another hack, quick DIY or decorating tip for you. Hope you love them as much as I do and if you venture to do something like it please please shoot me an email at rusticmagnolia82@gmail.com and share. Till next time.

Love, an overjoyed with simple things Magnolia

As my good friend Shelley Dueck likes to say “Hey  you guys”. Hopefully you’ll get the pleasure of meeting her soon in a future blog but for right now we will move along to Trippin this fine Tuesday.

I’m going to say something that might raise a few eyebrows and I’m sure a few people think I’ve finally lost it. I’ve said this time and time again this pandemic has pushed so many people to their breaking point, myself included but, yes I said but, it has also made my family closer, more resilient, more patient and I fell in love with so many aspects of my life again. Anyone that knows me, knows my heart and soul are truly the happiest when I’m outdoors surrounded by trees taking photos, reading a good book or just letting time stand still. I had allowed my health, life,family obligations to keep me away and make excuses for not going far especially my health.

If you would have told me a few years ago that a pandemic would come, and I would be forced to really dig deep, make better decisions regarding my health and I would love hiking well, I would’ve laughed my ass off. Even before I got sick if someone would have said “Hey Sarah, wanna go hiking?” My response would have emphatically been hell no. But times have changed, and I’ve changed to.

So, I decided to go for a hike lol, yes, just like that. But like a newbie I didn’t do a lot of research on what would be easiest for someone who A) never done it and B) had a medical condition that limits mobility. Pffft I didn’t say I was smart all the time, all I knew was I wanted a waterfall at some point in the hike. To the Google we went, and we picked Grassy Lake by Canmore, Ab. I packed water bottles and snacks for when we were done, and we hit the road. Did I mention I fly by the seat of my pants sometimes? It’s about a 2.5 hour drive from where I live and a pretty drive depending on route. Parking is a bitch just a forewarning so either go early or be prepared to have to park a mile down the road in another parking lot and walk down. We got lucky the first time however the following times we had to park and walk.

I took a few snaps of the lake and the mountain we were heading towards, again not really knowing how far it goes, if I’d die (Hahahahaha) never said I wasn’t a tad dramatic either. Entering the hike, I was still a little cocky, thought this isn’t so bad until we came to the fork in the path.

Left was hard and right was easy. Well, my pleasantly plump self went to turn right naturally no need to push it. I was however told by my wonderful family that I would not be a “pussy” yes that word was used, jerk faces and the hard way was where my hobbit legs took me. Still, I digressed it honestly wasn’t so bad. It slowly inclines up with little trickles of water running off down the mountain in spots, a few benches along the way if u need a rest and u arrive at a lookout where low and behold the waterfall is. I was in complete awe and upon looking down notice we were high up and quite a distance from the parking lot already. Mission accomplished!

Ummmmm no I was again politely reminded we were not finished, and I behind me to see people climbing what looks like stairs carved from the rock. Some very unladylike words came out of my mouth side note- I’m sorry to the kids that heard me talking like a sailor. I feel like I’m rambling here I just want you guys to get the whole picture and I’m just setting the scene lol. Zigzagging up my legs were on fire I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I may have stopped several times to have an internal argument with my body to do what I want it to do. When it leveled out we passed a few small ponds that must’ve been what runs into the waterfall.

And when we rounded that corner, I was stunned and at a loss for words completely. Tucked in the mountains there was a stunning and I mean stunning aqua blue and green small lake, big pond you decide. In that moment it finally hit, I just did that. I just walked and climbed and pushed my body harder then I ever had since being being diagnosed with Lupus. And I ugly cried right there. The family was looking at me like I’d grown two heads, a lady stopped to ask me if I was okay, and I told her while sobbing what I’d just done, and this perfect stranger hugged me in that walkway. A stranger hugged me and gave me comfort for something that most people do and is quite easy for them. She understood what it meant to me. And when the tears dried up, I danced like a fool not giving any fucks who saw me do it. I did it, I didn’t let fear win, I didn’t allow my body to give up, so I sat on a bench by this amazing scenery, and I took the deepest breaths and reflected. Time stood still as I processed what this meant for me.

What this meant for my life and the constant fear and sadness I had felt for losing who I was when I got sick. I had just climbed up the side of a mountain and believe me when I say it was worth it, my God was it worth it. We walked around the whole pond, I took a million pictures and videos. We watched mountain climbers going up the rock face. You can go up farther up but I was honestly at peace with what I had done, so we started our descent which is just a long wide path down. And I thanked my family for not letting me take the easy way, for believing in me enough to know I could do it when I couldn’t. I stepped out at the bottom, and I was changed. Lame I know but it’s the truth. I was no longer going to be held back by fear, I wasn’t going to be stupid either, I am aware of my limits. But I was looking forward to all the possibilities. We sat at a picnic table and had the snacks I had packed, piled into the vehicle and headed home. This is a definite recommend and I will spam this post with all the pictures. Be bold, cry and dance like nobody is watching you.

Love a very enlightened and lighthearted Magnolia x

**** The only negative thing I will say, and I apologize in advance for my language but WHEN YOU GO TO PUT YOUR GARBAGE IN THE CAN AND SEE THAT IT IS FULL THAT DOES NOT MEAN DUMP IT ON THE GROUND ASSHATS. The ground around the cans were covered in garbage, doggie bags etc. I yelled at a lady who just tossed a dirty diaper on the pile. And that is why people, we now have to buy passes to go to these wonderful places. Because people are pigs. Ok I’m done now.

In this addition of Mommy Monday, it’s going to be a doozy I’m afraid. I’ll probably sound hypocritical at times, a little condescending and maybe a little uplifting as well. I know those three words probably shouldn’t be in the same sentence but bear with me here.This past year has tested me to limits I didn’t think I had and back again. I’ve struggled with this new normal as a mother while simultaneously trying to find my new with Lupus. How do I keep them on track, myself on track, take care of them,take care of me? And not just our physical well-being, no, now it’s more imperative to take care of our mental well-being as everything we knew changes. I went into the first lockdown convinced that I had this, I could totally do this online learning with the kids all I had to do was set a schedule. Everything is easier with a schedule, right? I look back now and think what a condescending asshat I was. I mean I preached to anyone that listened that it’s so simple 1. Make a schedule 2. Follow schedule, don’t deviate 3. What do u mean it doesn’t work for you, it’s simple. See, asshat. And then I felt hypocritical giving all this advice when it was clearly not working. Being stubborn I kept forcing the issue trying to convince myself my thought patterns were right; my execution was wrong.

Turns out it was a little of both. The schedule wasn’t the issue, it was my inner perfectionist pitching a fit when I was slipping or my to do list wasn’t getting finished. Using a schedule to ease our daily tasks works amazing, it really does however, we tend to think it fails when we don’t have a good day or there’s sudden changes to said schedule. I also wanted to be more present for my kids and be more consistent for myself and them so when they returned to school, I asked the school to send me a copy of the kids schedule, period times etc but blank. I then filled in the schedule with my daily tasks, routine and business-related stuff as if I was in school. I’ll post a picture of what I mean below.

I felt like doing it this way would allow me to be more in sync if the kids should end up back home again which it did and keep me consistent so when “school” was over I was then present for my kids 100 percent. I won’t lie it was tough getting started and keeping on task. And I still struggle but the point I am obviously not making is I also learned a valuable lesson. I need to celebrate the small victories, be OK with not completing everything. Being consistent makes my world run so much smoother and helps with stress but I was putting so much focus on that I was failing to be present and getting cranky with everyone.

Here’s the uplifting part, we as parents have such a workload trying to be normal functioning adults ourselves and raise good humans that complicating it with unrealistic expectations makes it harder. Work smarter not harder is my new thought pattern so my advice, find what works for you and do it. I found having a daily plan, a weekly plan and a schedule works for me and my family. I also found being grateful and practicing gratefulness is huge. However, you choose to tackle our new normal you’re doing a great job, keep it up and till next time.

Love a very humbled and grateful Magnolia x

It’s my favorite day of the week again and this week we get to talk to a spitfire of a lady about her amazing business. Pretty stoked for this one and a little surprise at the end.

1. Let’s get started then, Welcome to Savvy Business Saturday please tell us a little about yourself and your business?

T: My name is Taylor and I am the owner/photographer of Taylor Hillier Photography!  I am self taught and have been a professional for 7 years now. I have won 5 best in business newsy neighbour awards and have had the honor to travel many many destinations for weddings.

2. Has photography always been a passion of yours? How did you get started?

T: Yes and no, I grew up following my grandma as she photographed her flowers. Every year since I was tiny tiny, not thinking much of it but often finding myself going through the photos over and over. My grandparents had a drawer full of photos that dated way back and I was fascinated with looking at them. It sometimes felt like I was a part of the past. Fast forward to junior high and I fell in love with trying to take cool photos of myself and friends. Ha, the days of Nexopia ( I have to add a sidebar in here totally admitting to having to Google Nexopia, I had no idea what it was lol). In high school I took comp tech and learned the basics, this was one of the only classes I always made it to. I skipped a lot 😬 !. I also helped here and there with friends in the business and eventually, I saved and bought my own camera. The rest is history.

3. Do you specialize in one particular area (ie. Weddings, family) or do you like to be able to offer your services to a broader audience so to speak?

T: Mostly weddings and family although I have been getting into Boudoir as well.

4. For people new to working with you, how would you describe yourself and your style?

T: I am down to earth and will treat you as though we’d been friends for years. My style is mostly candid and “raw” images. My editing style is a bit on the darker tones.

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5. If you had to pick a favorite genre of session you like to do what would it be and why?

T: My all time favorite has become Boudoir actually, hands down. Something about making a woman feel good in her skin is amazing.

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6. Describe your perfect picture?

T: Oh this is a hard one, I don’t think I could for just one. Wedding- a couple on the top of a mountain with a view that goes for days or a rainbow over their head. Family- In their natural state, laughing and capturing that pure happiness. Boudoir- a woman who finally becomes comfortable in her skin and you can see the “it” click and the look in her face instantly changes.

7. If you weren’t doing photography, what else would you be doing?

T: I’d say either Interior Design or a Tattoo Artist

8. What is the worst piece of advice regarding business you have ever received? And what is the best?

T: Worst was don’t make your hobby your career because you will end up hating it (clearly I didn’t listen). And the best was shoot for you and what makes your soul happy, not what others want.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

T: With a large boudoir studio mostly doing boudoir and making western lifestyle canvases to offer.

10. I know you have Boudoir listed and it is your favorite. In your words to a woman on the fence about doing this kind of shoot, why should she? What should she be excited to take away from the experience? Why do you think these shoots are gaining such popularity?

T: Why- SELF LOVE, girl you deserve to look at yourself the way someone else can see you! Take away- I hope you feel beautiful in your own skin. And I think they are becoming more popular because body positivity is starting to be more accepted. We feel like we as women don’t have to hide when we feel sexy and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Power to Babes xx

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11. Name your favorite location you have ever done a shoot at? And do you have a bucket list of locations? If yes, where?

T: My favorite so far would be Hawaii and my bucket list location would be Ireland.

12. Thank you so much Taylor for joining us. Is there anything else you would like to add?

T: Thank you for having me! I hope I have inspired others 😀

Here’s all the deets to find,view and book Taylor for photos: Instagram she can be found @taylorhillierphotography , @taylorhillierboudoir or @taylorhillier Facebook: Taylor Hillier photography and last but not least on her website at http://www.Taylorhillierphotography.com

Thank you again Taylor for doing this interview with me. I hinted at a surprise at the end of this interview so I will share with you guys that I have taken the plunge and booked a boudoir shoot next month with Taylor. I can’t wait to work together and see the photos. I will take my readers on the journey with me leading up to the shoot, sneek peeks and afterward reviews of the experience. Wish me luck eeeek. Till next time

Love, a very nervous yet dang excited Magnolia xx

Guess who’s back.. back again lol. Savvy Business Saturday is back this week with a whole new interview and look into a fabulous new business owned by my friend Dillon Andres so let’s just get started.

I have to say that I’ve been super excited to share this particular interview, you’re very inspiring and I’m thankful I get to share your new venture with my readers so. 1. Tell us a little about The Wolverine Lifestyle?

D: The Wolverine Lifestyle is one of the proudest things I’ve ever done in my life. This coaching business showcases many of the trials where I had to trench through the muk (the difficult way thanks to my years of stubborness), so others don’t need to make the same mistakes I made. Based around finding one’s true unshakeable self confidence through habit and perspective shifts. I like to call these “Mind Re-wirements”.

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2. What motivated you to want this to be your chosen path?

D: For a very long time I believed that the key to a fulfilling life was to become the person who I needed when I was younger, and be that person for someone who needs it now. Creating The Wolverine Lifestyle encapsulated that vision.

3. What services does The Wolverine Lifestyle encompass?

D: The Wolverine Lifestyle offers confidence coaching for one’s self development, dating, and relationships.

4. We’ve spoken a few times on various subjects and I follow you on Facebook and Instagram as well. I wonder is there any subject matter that you don’t feel comfortable discussing with a client?

D: Parenting, Religion and Politics. I refuse to talk about those because there are WAY too many different opinions around them.

5. When you talk about mindset and retraining your brain, for someone who has never heard of this how would you explain it?

D: Our thought patterns are essentially habits. These habits that have been instilled in our minds through our life’s experiences and reactions to them. Any habit can be broken, but it must be replaced with a NEW thought habit in its place. My focus is to shift those “bad” thought habits (limiting beliefs,poor self esteem, low confidence) by training ones mind to be in a more consistent state of gratitude and opportunity growth.

6. Can you recommend 5 books that you feel would be beneficial to someone wanting to explore self care, self love and change their mindset?

D: Everything is F*cked- Mark Manson (my favorite) The One thing- Gary W. Keller I hear you- Michael Sorensen Pulling your own strings- Wayne Dyer Failing Forward- John C Maxwell Psycho Cybernetics- Maxwell Maltz Miracle morning- Hal Elrod

7. What areas,thoughts,behaviors should people take a hard look at when considering lifestyle changes?

D:Our own insecurities and triggers are our own responsibility. It’s not the duty of the rest of the world to tip toe on eggshells around us.

8. What advice do you have for the many, many people struggling right now?

D: If you want change in your life, in any aspect, it begins with you. The unfortunate reality is that no one is going to save us, and we can’t just “hope” for a happy successful life either. Anything in life worth having requires work, time, and patience. A true practise of Grit

9. What is your target audience?

D: My target audience are men and women from the ages of 21 to 40, looking to find confidence in their vulnerability. To talk to that crush, start the work on that dream that keeps getting pushed to the side, or to create the best relationships of your life.

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10. How do you stay motivated?

D: I stay motivated by reminding myself why I started. I think back to where I was, and how far I have already come. One trick I will use when I have something I’ve been procrastinating on, is that I will schedule whatever it is that needs done as an “appointment”. I’ll give myself 1 hour. If by the end of the hour I still feel unmotivated, I know I need a mental break and reset. Most often, I end up working past the hour. Progress= motivation

11. What are your long term goals for The Wolverine Lifestyle?

D: To help as many people as I can. Creating The Wolverine Lifestyle as a brand that symbolizes, with the work,you can know yourself, know your worth and own your life.

12. How does one sign up?

D:

13. Do you have anything you’d like to add?

D: “The ONLY thing in life that matters is what you think about yourself when you’re by yourself”.- Unknown. Every single aspect of your life will be determined by this thought and follow suit.

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Honestly Thank you so much for doing this interview. I feel like I could have asked a dozen more questions and your answers gave me a dozen more. Which leads me to some other big news Dillon will be back from time to time talking to us about various subjects which I’ll leave for a surprise. It has been so great having him here for the chat please follow him on Instagram, Facebook and his website all the deets are above. Till next time.

Love a very Self aware Magnolia xx

Welcome to DIY Wednesday on a Thursday that’s almost a Friday ugh. I fully intended to have everything uploaded last night however I was having some issues with my fine motor skills and packed it in for the day instead. So for my first DIY I’m going to show you some Vision boards I whipped up to go in my “in progress” renovated office. All the details, before and afters will be coming soon I just thought I’d share this little project in the meantime. When coming up with a design plan for the boards the only thing I was sure of was I wanted 3 and I didn’t want them to be on poster paper. That was it and the idea didn’t come to me until I took apart a desk extension I had done and didn’t want to toss the plywood. I love a good repurpose so I had the plywood and I had 8 foot lengths of 1×2 spruce in my garage as well. I took a trip to the local dollarama and found foam poster board. It’s about a 1/4 inch thick and comes in white or black, I grabbed 3 pieces of the black. I decided I would do the full sheet of foam board so depending on your needs, space size etc all cuts will be different however this will work either way. I measured the foam boards and cut the plywood to the exact size of the foam board. I then measured the 2 sides and cut 1×2 pieces to fit, once cut I measured along the top accounting for the 2 sides as well and cut pieces for the top and bottom.

Make sure to sand everything smooth and using an air nailer, 1 1/2 inch nails secure your sides to the plywood followed by your top and bottom creating a frame. If u have wood glue on hand use a thin line of that as well make sure it’s really secure. Repeat for as many boards that you are creating and u should end up with something like below.

Now this next part is all you and your preference, I spray painted my framing metallic gold and then brushed on dark antique wax to dirty it up a little.

After your paint has dried or not tacky you simply insert the foam board. It should be snug so it doesn’t fall out. Now you can glue the foam board to the plywood however I wanted to be able to pop the board out and replace it when it no longer held tacks or I wanted to freshen it up. The last step is to add all the goodness and that part I can’t tell you what to do. It’s your vision go crazy.

I’ll give u a quick rundown of my supplies but keep in mind yours may be different depending on how big you want your boards to be. Supplies: Scrap plywood or if u need to buy some it’s 1/2 inch plywood, one sheet would be plenty 1×2 – 8 foot lengths (I needed 4) spruce air nailer ( 1 1/2 inch nails) Wood glue 3 pieces of black foam poster board from the dollar store Gold Spray paint Dark Antique wax

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I loved making these and I’m so happy with how they turned out and look in my space. It’s really coming together now. If you decide to whip up your own please send me pictures I’d love to see how u made your vision come to life. If you have any questions, comments etc don’t hesitate to email me. If you don’t want to miss any posts or updates on projects be sure to subscribe to the blog that way you will be notified when new fresh posts are published. Next week I’ll start debuting the full office reno and its progress.

Love a design enthusiastic Magnolia xx

A few things that I should mention before I launch into the many things that have been on my mind lately is 1. I’ve been absent and slacking in my writing for what I felt were valid reasons but could be considered excuses as well so I’m working on that and 2. Happy International womens day today or Happy V jay jay day whichever u prefer lol. Today I’m not necessarily going to write about being a mom although this does encompass every role I have in my life but I’m gonna talk about an epiphany I had the other day about people’s comments to me and my responses and feelings after because of it. So for anyone new here I have an autoimmune disease called lupus and over the last few years I’ve really struggled to find myself after a diagnosis that essentially changed my whole world. A part of me died when I got sick, my brain and my heart were at war with each other on what I thought and felt. I sunk into a bad depression, started drinking while taking all these meds they kept throwing at me to try and it led me to a point where I almost took my own life. I felt defeated, worthless, less than, so many things I couldn’t come to terms with. My children saved me that day. I thought of them and how they would view and feel about what I considered a very cowardly thing to do. Now before I get hated on for saying that my mother attempted suicide 3 times from the time I was 18 to 23 and the third time I honestly think she meant business somebody was watching over her that day but no child should ever have to clean up after that. I had to gather the letters she laid in a row, pick up the pill bottles and gather her things it was horrible and I remember being soooo angry with her. And thinking you fucking coward how could u be so selfish to make such a mess of your life and leave me to clean it up. That memory and my children saved me that day, it gave me a strength I’d forgotten I had. Nobody goes through what I did with my mother, raising my brothers, having kids of my own going through life and not come out of it with strength, resilience and deeply humbled. So for 2 years now I’ve been working on finding myself again, being a better mother, friend and human being. I’m learning who I am with this disease and in this process is where I had my epiphany. You see I would get so angry when I saw people or comments made on my photos or videos about how “you look fine” . Or the digs about me unable to work now when I “look fine”. I’d get so defensive because people only see me when I’m having a good day and therein lies my aha moment. I had no right getting mad or upset about what they said, it was accurate. The blame lies at my own feet because I’ve been unable to allow people to see when I’m not fine and when it’s bad. I hide it, I cover my face in makeup or I don’t leave the house. I most certainly don’t let anyone see me curled up in a ball crying or crawling to the bathroom because I can’t walk there. That needs to change we need to normalize not being ok, I need to show my pain as much as my successes in order to be authentically myself. Lupus is not pretty, it’s not fun, it’s hard and pushes my limits everyday. I just wanted who I was back that I made myself even more sick pushing my body past its limits. I’m going to share the not pretty and all I ask is if u have something negative to say please keep it to yourself and if you can’t then don’t be upset with the response your negativity will get.

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You may wonder why now? Why say anything now and the answer is I can’t be 100 percent myself if I’m hiding parts of me too. It doesn’t work that way. So today on womens day of all days I celebrate myself the good, the bad, the ugly and take this first step into normalizing not being ok all the time. I appreciate all the support I have and the people who have come into my life just when i needed them most. Everyday is a struggle and full of pain but I’m learning and believing more each day I’m capable of doing this, I’m capable of chasing dreams that I thought would never happen and I’m capable of sharing all of myself and my story. My hope is that anyone who understands this in any way knows your not alone. That is all I can say

Love a very thankful to be alive Magnolia xx

Welcome to Savvy Business Saturday!! Another week has flown by and this girl is still trying to find her groove in the new year. Enough about me though your here to meet the wonderful Lesley from The ElleBelleTree.

1. Thank you for being here Lesley, can you tell me a little bit about The ElleBelleTree and yourself?

L: Hi!! Thank you so much for asking me to be a featured vendor! A little bit about me, well I’m Lesley and I am the owner and creator of The ElleBelleTree. I will start off by saying that I love all things bunny related, I will never turn away a taco and I absolutely cannot sing in front of people. I have always had a passion for creativity and textiles and I love the ebbs and flows of running a handmade business that incorporates those two things. I have a soft spot for nostalgia and love things with a vintage flair. Incorporating that into my life and my job makes me pretty ecstatic. And speaking of my work, The ElleBelleTree!! It has gone through quite a metamorphosis since its origins, but has settled on a great place that I have been able to kneel into. I refer to it as a whimsical accessory brand offering functional and handmade lifestyle bags as well as quirky and inspired home decor.

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2. How long have you been in business? Was this always a passion and if not how did The ElleBelleTree come to be?

L: The ElleBelleTree has been in business for over 10 years. Again, it has been through some changes but has been as it is now for about 8 years. Believe it or not, it started as a jewelry brand- I dabbled in the art of leather and vintage like jewelry for quite some time before I found my footing in the world of textiles. I was always very passionate about textiles, my mom sewed my clothes when I was younger and learning a practical skill was quintessential in the art of growing up for me. There really was no significant catalyst for The ElleBelleTree, it started out of a desire to find a creative outlet and has snowballed because of it.

3. What does being a small business owner mean to you?

L: Running a small business has really provided me with a sense of community and an understanding of consistent work ethic and managing the ups and downs that come with it. The handmade community is so thoughtful, diverse and unique it really gives me a feeling of pride to be a part of it. There is a significant amount of patience that comes with learning to grow a business. Lots of trial and error and a strange love for weathering the storm.

4. Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start a small business?

L: Advice for anyone wanting to start a small business. Well, my advice is threefold. Firstly, what are you passionate about? You will not be able to sustain a business making something you are not excited about. Don’t think about it from the perspective of “what will sell?” , but from the understanding that your love and passion for your product will make it sell. Secondly, can you stay in your own lane? Once you discover what you’re passionate about you can find the courage to make mistakes, learn from them and try new things. I think in a creative world it can be tempting to do what someone else is doing because you see their success, but truly you have the ability to offer a unique product with your own flair and expertise over time. Finally, charge appropriately for your work, I still struggle with this but there is so much value in understanding your worth, time, skill and your product. If you need someone to hype you up in thos arena I am always here for you.

5. What do you think sets you apart from others in similar business? What is one thing about yourself that you’d like customers to know about you?

L: I think the main thing that sets me apart has been my ability to stay in my own lane.( Look at that, I can take my own advice lol) I think I have stayed true to my brand, challenged myself when it was needed, owned up to my mistakes and have a product that represents itself, unapologetically. I think people resonate with that and enjoy the consistency in style, fabric and craftsmanship that The ElleBelleTree offers. I would like customers to know they can trust me and my brand, that I truly love what I do and it shows in each one of a kind piece.

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6. With Covid (which I now consider a swear word ) running a muck What have you learned about yourself, your business and do you have any advice for other entrepreneurs struggling right now?

L: Covid, for my business and many other small businesses has been a bit of whirlwind.It has come with a lot of uncertainty, fear in making goals moving forward and an overall sense of hopelessness. However, it has also shown me my ability to pivot, meet a demand and remind me of what is important in my business. I started selling non medical masks in May 2020 because so many of my customers were asking for them ( I mean I do have the best fabrics and all 😉) and I was looking for a creative distraction. I was apprehensive about selling them in the beginning because I didnt want to come across as selling an item to people based on fears and I didn’t want to sell a product I couldn’t keep consistent. After lots of trial and error and many many tears, I ended up making it work and like all things committed to it fully as if it were a mainstay product in my lineup. My ability to pivot is obviously unique in that I have a specific skill set but I would urge other makers to do what feels right to them. If using this time to rev up your business is what you need, do that, if what you need is to pull back and reflect, do that. There is no right answer and productivity guilt has no place here.

7. What is your favorite product to make and why?

L: I am going to regret admitting this , but I kind of enjoyed making masks. Hear me out. It was fun making something different AND I was able to explore more seasonal fabrics which was new and fun for me last year. Believe it or not Halloween toiletry bags are not a big seller, so I found it inspiring to look at fabric differently. Now, in all honesty, of my mainstay products: Long live the Medium Retreat bag. I will never not love making it. I love the vintage take , with the wireframe and “doctor’s bag” feel, the function of the spillproof lining, the size and shape of it shows off the fabric beautifully, great lines and overall size. Not to mention I always feel really proud of myself for being able to make something so professional. It is also a piece that reminds me of the joy in perseverance. I vowed never to make one again after making it for the first time because it was so awful, but stuck to it because I knew it could be something great and now it is my most favorite style to offer.

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8. When are we going to see a Tik Tok or YouTube channel of you and your Mom? I love when she makes her appearance LOL

L: Oh my Goodness. Just so you know she is reading this question right now and is REALLY excited at the thought of it. I don’t think you are alone in loving the Mama B snapchat videos- I know it is her favorite thing to watch back on my IG stories. Maybe one day I can figure out what TikTok is,exactly? One of my favorite Snapchat videos with Mom was the first ones. She thought she had to change her voice for the video so she was speaking in her best “snapchat voice”.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

L: I will be honest with you. I have a hard time making long term goals for myself both personally, and professionally. I think this year has been a reminder that things can often be fleeting and it is ok to live in the moment. I , would LIKE to see myself doing more of what I love and with some more confidence to try new things with more tools for some expansion. Does that count as a goal? Something about manifesting it maybe?

10. In closing, Is there anything you’d like to add?

L: I just wanted to add that I think it is lovely you have put together a format for small business sharing. I love hearing about makers and some of the things that go on behind the scenes. It is a nice reminder that we’re all human and we are all doing our best with the passions that we have. Be inspired, Stay Happy!!!!

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Well that’s another amazing Q&A with a pretty great entrepreneur. If youd like to show Lesley some love or shop please go to http://www.ellebelletree.com or head to Instagram @theellebelletree to see her amazing products. We also offer some of her great things here @magnolia_rustic as well. Thank your Lesley for sharing today. Till next week.

Love a pretty Content Magnolia xx

It’s the most wonderful day of my week 🎶🎶 ok enough of that dont mind me. It’s our first Savvy of the new year I’m just a tad enthusiastic. Let’s get started.

1. Good Morning Apryl thank you for being a part of the first Savvy in the new year!! Could u tell us a little about yourself and your business?

A: Apryl Dawn Designs is inspired by a fun, flirty,edgy gal with a spiritual side. Raw, yet refined, our collections are for the untamed and unapologetic. We believe in expressing our authenticity and wearing our heart on our sleeve.

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2. Has jewelry design always been something your passionate about?

A: I haven’t always been passionate about jewelry on it’s own, but I’ve always been an accessory girl. I’d choose a pair of shoes and a new necklace over an outfit anyday, and I would also always get creative by altering clothing and jewelry to fit my specific style at the time. I started actually creating my own pieces when I was pregnant with my son in 2011, which came from my need to find affordable, yet edgy designs to match my personal style. The entire business actually started with my yoga students buying my pieces off my body when I wore them, and from there it became an actual business.

3. I notice first when shopping through your website that you truly have a piece for everyone. Can you tell us where you find inspiration for all your pieces?

A: I design 2 main collections per year for Fall and Spring, then 2 mini collections for Summer and Holiday. The design process actually starts about 4-5 months before the release. I start to look at inspiration online, and pieces for my personal style, and slowly start to “collect” pendants, beads and chains that I love and the design process starts in my mind. After those months of collecting and designing, I usually spend about a week doing the actual creation process (FYI, my fave times of the year). It’s the moment I get to sit in that really fires me up. My passion gets to come alive. I have many sides to me, so whether its spiritually inspired, mom inspired, or dress up inspired, I usually end up with pieces for all of my moods…. which generally ends up a collection of pieces that most women can connect with to some extent.

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4. If somebody was “new” to Apryldawn.com and you had to summarize yourself and your collections in a few words what would you say?

A: I design for myself, so when describing my jewelry or collections, my go to would be “edgy”, “authentic” and “inspired”.

5. What does being a small business owner mean to you?

A: Ohhhh this is a loaded question! Being a small business owner means hard work, dedication, passion, drive and wearing multiple hats. It means being knocked down more then being lifted up, being told no more then yes, but still getting up after each setback. It means dusting yourself off, wiping the tears away, giving yourself one helluva pep talk and most importantly believing in yourself like no one else would.

6. What piece of advice would you give anyone wanting to start and build their own business?

A: If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, don’t do it, you need that fire in your soul to keep going. Find what you are passionate about and put your all into it. Believe in the success that you can achieve, and be authentic behind everything you do.

7. I read in your instagram bio that you are not only a jewelry designer but also a yoga teacher and published writer. How do u find balance when juggling so many hats and having a family?

A: I’ve never been one to sit still! Jewelry is more then a full time job now, but I’ve always had hobbies that I love, writing and yoga being just a couple. I was a full time yoga instructor before transitioning full time into jewelry, and I’ve been a practitioner for 18 years, so I still love to teach a class or workshop when I have time 🙂 I also had the opportunity to write for a yoga magazine, a local yyc magazine, and helped co-author a childrens book on yoga (I am Fearless), and a book on being a mom entrepreneur. So when I find a little bit of space in my schedule, I fill it with what I love!

8. What is the worse piece of advice you’ve ever been given regarding business, life etc?

A: I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had bad advice from anyone that I can think of. The only bad advice and bad decisions I’ve made, have been my own doing. I’m too trusting of others, and that has led to some very time consuming mistakes and heartaches, but failing is a HUGE part of the entrepreneurial life, and all the fails are an opportunity to learn on the deepest levels.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: In 5 years, I hope to be even more successful in whatever it is that’s making me happy, healthy and passionate.

10. In closing, Is there anything you would like to add?

A: My favorite quote has always been from Richard Branson- ” If someone offers you an amazing opportunity, but you are unsure if you can do it, say yes now and figure it out later” . I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said yes to something WAY over my head and experience that has lead me to a new level in my business.

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That’s a wrap folks if you would love to check out Apryl’s work be sure to go to instagram @iamapryldawn or check out her website at http://www.apryldawn.com. I can’t put into words how much I have loved getting to know these business women and learn about their passions. I’ve learned immeasurable things these past weeks and am immensely inspired by each of them. Till next time

Love a thoroughly motivated and inspired Magnolia xx