3 BIG Announcements!!

There is so much going on around here that I am SO EXCITED about.  Oh and I'm building a new house, did I mention that?  My days are over-stuffed, but stuffed with good things. Here are 3 of those good things.   

The Good Neighbor

Building our new house is very exciting for me, but I know that not all of my neighbors may share my enthusiasm in the construction process.  

For one, there are trucks and workmen on the street most days, along with extra mud when it rains and extra noise.  

Cowgirl Up #55 with Gluesticks

Welcome to Week 55

of

The Cowgirl Up!

Link Party!

1 Party, 5 Blogs 

Howdy Girls! Thanks so much to Amanda at The Ivy Cottage Blog for inviting me to guest host! I'm Brandy, the gal behind the keyboard on the blog, Gluesticks!

Top Viewed Posts of Cowgirl Up #54

What can I say, ya'll do not disappoint!!  

Here are the top three viewed posts of the week.  Well, the top one I am not including, because Chrome issued a malware warning, so I will not be sending you there. The last thing you need is a virus on your computer. I know most of you use Internet Explorer and it doesn't warn you like Chrome does, and then you're out there... exposed and infected.

So Here are the top links (2, 3, and 4 respectively.)

2. The Comforts of Home - The Rest of the Kitchen

Want to be a blogger?

Previously, here, I asked some questions to answer before you start a blog. I've got a few more things to think about if you want to start a blog.  Let's continue where we left off. 


6. Do you like helping people? You need to be here to help others. I've seen some blogs that were started simply to promote a business, and those blogs seem to fail, because the blogger sees blogging as marketing and her heart isn't in it.  Okay there are plenty of celebrities that self-promote and they are successful, but that works only for rock stars. 

We have walls

I thought you might want to hear about how it's coming with our new city house, and here's the latest.

This is the back of the house.

Antique Mirror

So I was cruising Craigslist the other day, and saw this amazing wood and gesso mirror, and the owner wasn't asking that much considering it was a 40 inch wide mirror.

Shabby Apple Giveaway

----------------This giveaway is now closed -------------

It's been awhile since I've had a giveaway here, and that's why I'm very very excited to announce the current giveaway with Shabby Apple.  I love Shabby Apple, and I am honored to be giving away a 

$50 Shabby Apple Gift Card

That's right, you can spend it however you like at Shabby Apple!!  

What to choose, what to choose... 

Cowgirl Up #54 with White Lace Cottage

Yee haw!  It's party time. 

Welcome to Week 54

of

The Cowgirl Up! 

Link Party!

1 Party, 5 Blogs  

Our guest host this week is Anne of White Lace Cottage

Hello I am Anne from White lace cottage and I am thrilled that Linsey asked me to host this weeks Cowgirl Up party!

It is such an honor as I adore her style too!


If you know me then you know how much I love anything old and chippy.

Top Viewed Posts from Cowgirl Up #53

You did it again! I love the creativity and talent that you bring to this party.  

Here are the top 3 viewed links from last week's party.

Mimi's Vintage Charm - Farmhouse Great room

Feathering My New Nest

I know I told Mr. CH that I wouldn't buy furniture for the new house, until we moved in.  You know, like George on Seinfeld said, "It's not a lie, if YOU believe it."  Yes, I believed it... really.  But it turned out to be a lie. Well that seems like a harsh word, so maybe I'll refer to it as an untruth I accidentally told. Yes, I think I like that characterization. 

The Big Boy or what's new with the new house

Things are really progressing with the new house, so much so that we are already making appliance selections.  Just so you know, when I use the term 'we' here, I mean it in the royal sense.  It's just me; Mr. CH, thankfully, isn't interested in making all of these decisions, so he's letting me go wild in the appliance store without adult supervision.  (Maybe not the smartest thing he's done, but shhhh, that's a 'blog secret.')  

I picked out the appliances this week and went over my appliance allowance a teensy bit.  (That's if you define teensy as '100% over'.) When we bought the house I honestly thought the contract price would be what we would spend. I now realize how very naive that was. Personally, I blame Pinterest and the blog world.  Let's face it, 2 years ago, I would have basically been happy with an electric cooktop and a Fry Daddy.  But not now.  Now I have a picture of the perfect kitchen in my head, and do you know what is in the middle of that perfect kitchen?
     

Should you Start a Blog? Part I

I LOVE Blogging. I mean it. It is one of the best things that ever happened to me, but is it for you?  In the time since I have been blogging, I've seen many a blogger call it quits for a whole host of reasons.  The good news is that you can start a blog for no money and do it from home.  The bad news is that it is a lot of work, it takes a long time to build an audience, and chances are you won't make much or any money from it.  I have seen a few bloggers enjoy a meteoric rise, but that is extremely rare.  



Now, are you still here?  Are you still interested?  

Cowgirl Up #53 with Southern Revivals

It's that time again!!

Welcome to Week 53

of

The Cowgirl Up! 

Link Party!

1 Party, 5 Blogs  



Our guest host this week is 

 Jamie of Southern Revivals 

                  

I am more excited to be an honorary cowgirl that I think any normal person has a right to be. See. I'm a southern girl through and through but I haven't always been a country girl. 

Top Viewed Posts from Cowgirl Up #52

Wow, a year of Cowgirl Up. I really love this party, and I'm so excited that we have so many links every week.  

Here are the top viewed links from last week.

The most viewed link this week was, well, mine! "Thank you very much." said in my best Elvis impersonation voice.

Cedar Hill Ranch - Crate Crush

No-Sew Table Cover

I know, I know, many of you don't sew, but guess what? This table cover doesn't require sewing.  I think it looks as good as many table covers that are sewn. 

Come a little closer and I'll let you in on another secret.  Shhhh, it's a drop cloth, or did you already guess? 

Tour De Paint

Yes I know you've heard of the Tour De France, but have you heard of the Tour De Paint?  Well, if you haven't, don't worry, it's just something I just made up.

I need to pick out a paint color for our new house, so I decided to take a tour of the new neighborhood, and take pictures of the houses that had paint colors I liked.  We are building a craftsman style house, so the style will be similar to these homes.  Help me pick out the paint color.  I've numbered each house to make it easier. 

Ready?  Buckle up, here we go.  

1.

Valentine's Day Luncheon

I had so much fun with my friends for a recent luncheon at my house.   

Did they tease me about my blog? Oh yes, they did!  

Cowgirl Up #52 with Confessions of a Plate Addict

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our cowgirls!!  (If you're here, that means you, unless you're a guy.)



This week is week 52, and guess what? We started Cowgirl Up one year ago. (Oh I guess you figured that out with it being week #52 and all.) 

This party is special because of you dear friend.  You are the special ingredient that makes this party work.  We're taking off our hats to you.  Now I'm ready to introduce our special guest host, Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict. I love her and I know you probably already do, but if you don't know her, I'll let her speak for herself. Take it away, Debbie...

Crate Crush

I adore using crates when I decorate a room.  (Want a crate for yourself?  Scroll to the bottom of the post for my source!)

You can really do anything with them. Here I've filled them with a few of my vintage seltzer bottles, some inherited movie reels, and blue Mason jars filled with vintage sewing notions.  The other box holds linen fabric and an old coffee bean bag. 


(I received product for the purposes of review.)

Top Viewed Posts from Cowgirl Up #51

What a fun party we had last week!!

Here are the top three viewed links.

Gail's Decorative Touch - Outdated Entertainment Center

Floral Frog from Scotch Tape

I love a floral frog. I mean it holds the flowers in place so they don't droop or fall out of the vase or planter.  The problem was I has camillas cut from my yard, and they have very very short stems.  

Guest Post at Savvy Southern Style

I'm so honored that Kim at Savvy Southern Style has invited me to her blog today to talk about my favorite room.