Let's party! Welcome to Week 48 of The Cowgirl Up! Link Party!

Let's party! Welcome to Week 48

of

The Cowgirl Up! Link Party!

1 Party, 5 Blogs  Our guest host this week is KariAnne from Thistlewood Farms!

Yes, I suspect you've heard of her. She won the Country Living Blue Ribbon Blogger Award last year. 

Her entire home looks like it belongs in a magazine!!  Her blog is amazing, and I highly recommend you go check her blog out for yourself.

And here she is, Miss Thistlewood Farms herself, KariAnne,

Hi Cedar Hill Ranch and Cowgirl Up Readers! You have no idea how excited I am to be here! My name is KariAnne and I blog over at Thistlewood Farms. Thistlewood Farm is so much more than the story of a farmhouse. It’s about family and tortoises and burlap and shutters and twirly whirly skirts and pancakes and Lee Press-On-Nails and hundreds of craft projects with tiny little pieces of paper. Where once upon a times meet happily ever afters. This is the story of our dream. You see….we lived in the hustle bustle world of a big city with all the lights and fanfare that a big city has to offer. There were restaurants and shops and movies and plays and museums and malls and lots and lots and lots of stuff. And everywhere you looked, there were people pushing and shoving and climbing to the top, arms overflowing with all their stuff.

 

And my husband was on the fast-track in a tall skyscraper in the middle of that very very big city with all of its fast-paced allure and overwhelming responsibilities. And although we were happy with our four children in our hustle bustle house with our hustle bustle lifestyle….we were so busy. Maybe too busy. Too busy for each other. Too busy for our family.

But amidst all of that busy….was a dream.

A dream of a place where life was simpler. A place where our children could run and breathe and grow without all of the constraints of an overwhelmingly fast-paced lifestyle.

A place where the all of the busy and the hustle and bustle and the noise and the clamor could end in a screeching stand-still.

A place where you could see the stars.

  

But the merry-go-round was spinning faster and faster. Life was becoming one giant blur, sailing by at lightning fast speed. And we felt like we spent all of our time and energy just trying to keep up. Then one day in church, the pastor preached a sermon entitled, “Just Jump.” He spoke of listening to your heart and the Lord and if you felt like there was an insurmountable dream….you shouldn’t be afraid….you should jump. And we heard his words and they spoke to the very center of our hearts. And we wanted to jump as far and as fast as we could. But we were afraid. We were so scared. We couldn’t just jump off the merry-go-round. Or could we?

The doubts were swirling around and around in our heads. But there it was…..a still small voice saying….. …..“jump.” Not “jump” in all caps, but “jump” in tiny, small, timid, little letters. And so we did…… …..jump, that is.  We jumped from the hustle and bustle and busy to a still, quiet, beautiful countryside with acres and acres of land to run and play and…. …..breathe.

It has been five years since that first jump and our family continues to grow and thrive. The move has had its challenges and blessings. Sometimes I miss the hustle and bustle. I miss the convenience of a drive-thru diet coke. And sometimes it’s a little hard when everyone knows your name (and all your business). Truthfully, sometimes I miss the busy. And then I walk outside on a crisp, clear, April night….take a deep breath…. …..and I see the stars. To see the house tour at Thistlewood Farm click here. To see all my projects click here.

Thank you so much Anita for having me here today and I have enjoyed the chance to meet all your wonderful readers!

Have a blessed and wonderful day

KarAnne (Thistle)

** Want to be a Guest Host here on Cowgirl Up? Just leave a comment with your name and blog address below! If you are selected, you will be introduced in the Cowgirl Up post for that week, and we'll include a link to your blog. We’ll send you the code for the party ahead of time. Lots of fantastic exposure for you, and the post is written for you! On to this week's features chosen by Anita of   Cedar Hill Ranch

White Lace Cottage shared her lovely white kitchen

The Decorating Diaries shared projects with aged paper, how cool is that?

Design Dreams by Anne recapped her favorite projects of the year

Betsy Spert shared her guest room, but don't expect to stay there! She's not keen on overnight guests. (Betsy, if I were your overnight guest, I promise I would stay in this room and not bother you until until afternoon.)

The Backyard Bungalow showed up a darling bedspring wreath, can you say CREATIVE?

One Creative Couple shared their top posts of 2012

Now about this week's party... You link up on my blog and your link shows up on FIVE blogs.

More exposure, less time. We are looking for the latest and greatest projects, tutorials, ideas, crafts, recipes, decor, and inspiring stories. Anything that you are proud to show off.

Cowgirl Up! is the link party that saves you time and brings you inspiration.

What blogs will your link appear on? Check us out below!

Linsey with The Farmhouse Porch

Anita with Cedar Hill Ranch

Amanda with The Ivy Cottage Blog

Samantha with Crafty Texas Girls *PLUS our Special GUEST HOST:  KariAnne of Thistlewood Farms

The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up! You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!

Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines

(Please read the guidelines before participating)

* When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs. Awesome!

* Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC (and if you have a linkyfollow account, then please follow that way too.)

* You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.

* You may link as many links as you want.

* Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post, (mine can be found on my sidebar.) Mandatory to be featured!!

* Be courteous and visit the two links before yours. Several projects will be featured each week!

* By linking up you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them,  that we may use those photos to feature your project in a blog post, on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog of course. 

*If you pin a project shown here, please, please pin from the original source.