I bought this chippy old white trunk and now what???

I need your help. If writers get writers' block, then I have DIY'ers block. And by the way, my spell check had no idea what to do with "DIY'ers", so it will be my made up word until one of you corrects me. :)


I impulsively bought this chippy old trunk at a thrift store weeks ago for $8 and I have no idea what to do with it. I don't want it as a coffee table so there goes that idea.


What about something Christmas-y? 

I want to do something unexpected with it. Got any ideas or links to examples I can take a peek at?
What would you do with it? Trash it or transform it?


If I end up using your idea I will do a reveal and link it to you! 


♥Linsey

Welcome to week 21 of Cowgirl Up! Link Party!

Welcome to Week 21 of

Cowgirl Up! Link Party . . .

the party with a cowgirl can-do spirit!

1 Party, 4 Blogs

Howdy!  This is Amanda with The Ivy Cottage Blog!
So glad to have y'all here again!

Can you believe that it is OFFICIALLY summer?  Woo . . . hot.  Yes, stinkin hot here in Texas.  I totally have a tan already (after a week at the beach), but my craftiness is still keeping it cool in my craft studio thanks to the AC that the hubby installed for me.  If you haven't seen my craft studio, stop by and check it out.

With the heat foremost in my mind, I choose the features based on what makes me feel cooler and summery!  Enjoy!

Strawberry Shortcake by Stone Gable

A New Aqua Aesthetic by Quirky Vistas

Artwork from tile spacers by Remodelando la Casa

Peach Walnut Galette by Bella Rissah

A Chair and A Bear by Living on Cypress Hill

Patriotic Crafts by Love and Laundry

A Mustache Bash by Twodaloo

If you were featured here, grab a Featured button. Be sure to like our Facebook pages, since we also post many other favorites there too. If you got featured on Facebook, then feel free to grab a featured button also.

Now about the party...

You link up on my blog and your link shows up on four 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. Doesn't get any easier than that!

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

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. Please LIKE your favorite links! Several projects will be featured each week!

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

New finds and Pink Peppermint Puffs

We have a little guest at our house today, an adorable little girl who I am watching for the day for a friend. That's means I have 3 little girls to entertain on this gloriously rainy, stormy day. I love a good summer storm! It does put a damper on the outdoor play time though. So we decided to make Pink Princess Peppermint Puffs! Add pink and the word princess to anything and it's a party for these girls. 

I also wanted to show you some of my recent bargain finds and do a little girly table-scape for ya. 

I discovered this pink depression glass pedestal at the thrift store. The bottom had come un-glued. I used some glass glue to affix it again and you would never know a thing was wrong with it. With 2 small girls and their birthday parties in my future,I know it will come in handy!

I bought these beautiful glasses for $1 each on clearance at World Market years ago. Through 3 moves several have broken. I only gave 4 left. :(

I found another little ironstone pitcher, which is a rare find at the thrift shop...

I also found a little ironstone platter...

•PiNk PePpErMiNt PuFfS•


The recipe I used called for 4 egg whites, 3/4 t vinigar, 1/8 t salt/ 1 1/3 c sugar and 3/4 t vanilla. Combine all with blender (except sugar) until stiff, slowly beat in sugar. Pipe onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake @300 for 45 minutes.


Simply add a few drops of red food coloring and 2 drops of pure peppermint extract to your favorite meringue cookie recipe, garnish with sugar granules for princess-y sparkle! 

♥Linsey

linking to savvy southern style

Welcome to Week 20 of "Cowgirl Up!" Link Party . . .

Welcome to Week 20 of 

 Cowgirl Up! Link Party . . .

the party with a cowgirl can-do  spirit!

1 Party, 4 Blogs

Your host this week: Linsey from the Farmhouse Porch

So much inspiration, so much to do
Break out the chalk paint, the burlap and glue
Cupcakes and Mason Jars
Drop Cloths and Buckets
I wonder what Mustard Seed's doing at Lucketts?


The Laundry can wait it's time for some fun
All I need is a lampshade
And an old glue gun


Or Maybe I'll whip up a pin worthy cake
Just 500 WW points, for heaven's sake,
In this scrumptious concoction of butter and cream
That's right ladies, I'm the next Paula Deen!


I can sew something cool!
Where is that spool?
Will the kids wear homemade undies to school?


My latest creation, I can't wait to share
At the "Cowgirl Up" link party
You'll find it there!


-Linsey


Here are My features from week 19...




A lovely blue and yellow painted dresser by A girl and a Brush



A summer pasta recipe By muse bootsie



"My Backyard" By Daisy Mae Belle



Tour of the Living Room, by Revi at Revisionary Life



Cool chippy old stuff on display by Must Love Junk



Cath Kidston pillows and bunting by Ranger 911








Handsomely designed booties by Two Daloo





A pinwheel flank steak recipe By Up Country Olio

Thank you for joining our party and for LINKING BACK so that your AMAZING-NESS can be FEATURED! 


Hugs and Happy Hunting,
Linsey


If you were featured here, grab a Featured button.  Be sure to like our Facebook pages, since we also post many other favorites there too. If you got featured on Facebook, then feel free to grab a featured button also.  

Now about the party...

You link up on my blog and your link shows up on four 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.  Doesn't get any easier than that!

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

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.  Please LIKE your favorite links!  Several projects will be featured each week!

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

I need your suggestions...

     Texas doesn't offer a huge variety of choices in the "weekend getaway, cute and country quaint" arena. Ironically I live in Texas and my favorite thing to do is go away for the weekend to "cute and country quaint" places. To meet *my* personal criteria of cute & country quaint worthiness the location needs to offer:


1. Lots of good shopping. And by shopping I mean antiques, gift shops, cottages and even junk filled barns and warehouses. Anything but chain stores and malls (shudder)


2. Some history. Historic landmarks, windmills, settlements, cider mills, abandoned factories or farms,museums... even beautiful OLD cemeteries.


3. Great niche restaurants. I've eaten in barns, in old train cars, in Amish farmhouses. That kind of stuff.


     I've lived on the east coast and the west coast. Both offer gobs of getaway options that are within driving distance but Texas? Eh, not so much. Now don't get me wrong...there is a lot "to do" in TX. The Shopping and dining are first rate. Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth have lots to offer. But as far as cute and country quaint I only know of one place that meets all of my criteria. Fredericksburg! And I just booked our romantic weekend (no kids!!!). I'm pretty much as excited as a kid going to Sea World. I've gone to f'burg four times before and every time I fall more in love with it. If you'd like to see my post about the adorable Lavender Cottage full of farmhouse shabby antiques and lots of photos click •••••HERE•••••








Here are a few shots from my last visit...two summers ago.




Is there anything better than strolling down main street on a summer night with your sweetheart? 

We stayed in this adorable cottage, the "Carolyn". It was much bigger than it looks with a living room, dining area, kitchen and bedroom. So secluded and peaceful, yet within walking distance to everything!

 Being silly...

I love the European feel of this German settlement town...

We also spent hours at the newly expanded pacific war museum which is astonishingly big and high tech. My husband was in war history paradise.

I forgot he had the "beard" thing going on...LOL

 Soooo...I guess one of the reasons I'm throwing all of this out there is because I know some of you live in, or  know a lot about, Fredericksburg. I wanna hear it!!! Your favorite places to eat, shop, take pictures...


3 places that are musts are:
Homestead
Carol Bolton Hicks' New place http://carolhicksbolton.com/ 
The Herb Farm 


(and yes, I hear that Rather Sweet Bakery has closed or changed. I'm VERY sad about this!)


♥Linsey

     

A box full of Shabby Gifts...take a peek

I was so delighted to win the giveaway by Erin at Caroline Country Living recently. Inside my gift was an assortment of shabby little surprises such as...

a wonderful homemade soy candle...mmmm lemongrass.

Tucked inside were 3 sachets full of dried lavender. The box smelled of lavender and lemongrass when I opened it. The hot Texas sun had warmed the box just enough to fill it with the wonderful scent...

I was really excited to get the girls into the kiddie pool so that I could relax with a glass of iced tea and my new Romantic Prairie Magazine. It was full of so many wonderful inspirations...and so many familiar faces of bloggy buddies! 

Do visit Erin's lovely Etsy shop to purchase a candle. I can vouch for the lemongrass flavor, it's wonderful!

I hope you will visit her blog, Caroline Country Living, too. I enjoy it so much. 

Thank you so much Erin. I truly enjoyed the unexpected gift. It made my week and warmed my heart.


♥Linsey