What's Not to Love! Part II.

How did you like part one of the house tour? You've seen the beauty of most of the space but I wanted to share images of the little private area off to the side of the house that could easily be overlooked...it's a little garden and most definitely a labor of love. Here is a peek at the secret garden!

Speaking of gardens, the garden in the movie "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep was a favorite of mine, remember it? It was a perfect combination of kitchen garden and cutting garden. Another favorite was Tasha Tudors. I know she passed a few years ago, but does anyone know what became of her property? Gardens are like anything else, it doesn't matter how large or small they are, it's about the love that is put into it and the energy that it brings to us.

What's Not to Love! Part I.

We are so lucky to have THE most amazing, talented people come through our doors. Lucky for you, we talked one of them into letting us take a few pictures of her open, warm and beautiful surroundings.

One of the many things we love about this space is that it is a perfect example of modern, vintage and current styles.

Another is COLOR! Color on the pillows, walls, on vases and art, it's a breath of fresh air.

Another favorite, that I am so envious of, are the floor to ceiling french doors that invite the inside out and the outside in.

This husband/wife team has endless amounts of food, wine & entertaining talents so this outdoor kitchen is used to its potential.

Stay tuned for part II!

Three Wise Guys

From time to time we all need inspiration. Usually we go looking for it, and sometimes, it finds us. In the last couple of weeks, inspiration found me.

I wouldn't say that I'm a huge Oprah fan, although I am a fan. Knowing that Oprah's stint was coming to an end, I tuned in to the last few weeks of her show...she is Oprah after all. I was hit with inspiration from her.

(Image via Cohabitaire)

This inspiration was from a poster that hung in Oprah's dressing room which had been given to her by a guest she interviewed, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Dr. Taylor wrote a book after suffering a stroke that affected the left side of her brain. The poster simply said "take responsibility for the energy that you bring into this space". Simply taking responsibility for your life, the energy you create for yourself and the energy that you bring to others...brilliant and something to be more aware of!

(Images via USA Tour on a Harley-Davidson and Nathan Hale)

The second stream of inspiration hit during the Ralph Lauren interview (of course). Oprah seemed as in awe of the man as some of us are here at Ruby Rose. She asked him how he went about creating his image and how it came about. His response was profound. Something to the like of, "It wasn't something I created, it was and is the way I live my life and you always need to keep a clear vision of it."

I was also moved by the a film I finally got a chance to rent--180° South. It had been on my must-watch list for some time.

(Images via Orlando Sentinel and Wallpaper Web)

I love love loved the movie. Besides Ralph, Mary Randolph, Chanel etc., I have always admired Yvon Chouinard and all that he has accomplished. His clear vision and the way he lives his life is something to aspire to. Written on the front of the movie, his quote was "the adventure begins when things go wrong'". So true, on many levels. How many memories are made up from a perfectly planned and executed trip?

So, it has been a good couple of weeks. I was flooded with inspiration by a few words of wisdom from a couple of my favorite people. These words are not just simply words but words that these people live by, and I will now do the same. Inspiration found me then, where will I find it this next?

The Father's Day Weekly Six

What should you get him? We have options!

Was he an athletic dude?

Did he bowl in his day?

Do you want to let him know how much he measures up?

Does his tools need organizing?

Does he like to paint, draw, or doodle?

Does he feel he needs to be heard?

We've got you covered!

Hidden Treasure...

We're so happy to introduce one of our new blog contributors, our friend and employee Kim! Kim knows what's up. She'll be here from time to time sharing the latest and greatest finds in our little charming town, San Luis Obispo. Trust me, this is a column that you don't want to miss out on! -S.

"Something we understand at Ruby Rose is that we are indeed hidden. We're hard to find, off the beaten path, yet full of one-of-a-kind “treasures” which just might be the perfect piece that you’ve been looking for.

Have you ever heard your little inner voice saying, “I want to tell all my friends about this place, but I kind of want to keep it to myself too.”? I’ve been guilty of that, but part of the joy of finding something special, is sharing it with those we love, knowing they will enjoy it too.

So in an effort to keep myself in check, and not keep the good stuff to myself, I dropped by Stewart & Clark Fine Foods to pick up some goodies to share with everyone at Ruby Rose last Friday. Tracy Fleming, the Owner/Chef, was happily at the front counter, writing up the daily specials on her chalk board. I was delighted to find a new batch of her melt in your mouth Chocolate Truffle Cookies and an assortment of her yummy handmade marshmallows. Knowing that they sell out, I had to think fast...which was hard to do, as I was caught off guard by the sight of cinnamon rolls fresh out the oven. Drat the summer diet! Truffle cookies and the Toasted Coconut Marshmallows, there, I decided. But wait, I was taking a gamble picking the coconut, because I heard a small tweet from a little bird which told me that Stephanie only likes chocolate. So, just to be safe I picked up a bag of the chocolate chip marshmallows...OK, so I picked up two bags.

Since I am a coffee snob, and I hadn’t had my morning cup yet, I ordered a double shot espresso. I can declare that Tracy has barista skills. She might not be trained, but she can pull a smooth shot. I LOVE good fresh baked goodies and a great cup of coffee.

A little hard to find the first time, Stewart and Clark is located at the end of Fiero Lane behind the Fed EX (at the back of the building). It’s worth searching for!" -K.

Stewart & Clark Fine Foods
The Fiero Café
709 Fiero Lane Suite #35
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Monday-Friday 7:30-4:00
(805) 541-2300
http://www.stewartandclark.com/

Yard Sale Rants and Raves

"Yard-saling" is a very important part of a junkers life...it's kind of like our Mondays. There is so much anticipation on what you will find. A new cd? Designer shoes that you wouldn't dare to pay full price? A new dining set? The assortment is endless! On this day, we met up at the shop and set out early.

It's important to pick up the necessities...

We know that our hosts of this first sale have been crazy because they are moving so we knew this would be appreciated.

Cambria is a beautiful town and is our destination. We love the far-away feel.

In the garage, everything was prepped beautifully--all arranged by like items and priced and fairly!

We pay, pack up, and we're done!

One of us is happy to go to grandmas. :)

At the shop we unpack, check out our lovelies and start to price out the load.

They all find a new home and are ready for show!

This outing was so fun--good friends, coffee by the beach, good finds and great weather. The thing to remember about "yard-saling" is that you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you get to the prince, right? Keep a positive attitude and carry on!

The Good Stuff

The silly stuff, sometimes it is what makes memories.

We were off to San Francisco for the weekend after some busy weeks, meaning, that there was no time to even wash the car! On this particular trip there would not be a campground, but a valet at the front of the hotel in Union Square. For our family, this is big stuff.

We pack, grab coffee, put in the new Gaga cd, and hit the drive-thru car wash!

This is when we start to get giggly. Waiting for the greeen light.

Gaga singing, us laughing, and the soap 'a spraying.

Don't forget to wash behind the ears!

Rinse cycle.

Ahhh, the dryer.

Off we go, this is the good stuff!

The Ruby Review: Something Borrowed

Something Borrowed: 2 stars

Probably because I am a teenage girl who spends the majority of her free time seeing movies, I get really excited when I see a trailer for a romantic comedy. This movie had promise- cute John Krasinski, some other hot guy, generally entertaining Kate Hudson, and personal favorite Ginnifer Goodwin, all wrapped up in a silly plot about best friends and the man they both love. But I was sadly disappointed. Friends have disagreed but I found the film unrealistic and frankly, depressing. Simple summary of the movie is this: Goody two shoes lawyer Rachel (Goodwin) is in love with her best friend Darcy's (Hudson) fiancée, with whom she went to law school with. She waits around for him to tell her she's his one true love, while lying to her best friend since childhood about having an affair with him. Is there not any other man in New York for you Rachel? You have to steal back your true love from your best friend? High point was Krasinski being adorable and sweet as always. Don't go see it. But in a few months, when you are at the video store in your sweatpants looking for a typical romantic comedy, by all means, rent it.