Primp Your Stuff Wednesday Linky Party #48

Happy Wednesday! It's time to link up all your fabulously primped projects, including anything you have made, or made to look better, or anything you have found to {primp} your space.

Please become a follower if you are not already, and grab my button to post somewhere on your blog so others can join in on the fun!

<div align="center"><a 
href="http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/" title="{Primp}" 
target="_blank"><img 
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/amycarver3/primpbutton2.jpg" 
alt="{Primp}" style="border:none;" 
/></a></div>

keep primping and link up!

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday Linky Party #47

Happy Wednesday! It's time to link up all your fabulously primped projects, including anything you have made, or made to look better, or anything you have found to {primp} your space.

Here is my favorite from last week's party:

It's Just Me found this vintage shoe rack while antiquing, and she styled it so beautifully in her kitchen.

Thanks for the inspiration!

 

Now it's time to be inspired again:

Please become a follower if you are not already, and grab my button to post somewhere on your blog so others can join in on the fun!

<div align="center"><a 
href="http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/" title="{Primp}" 
target="_blank"><img 
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/amycarver3/primpbutton2.jpg" 
alt="{Primp}" style="border:none;" 
/></a></div>

keep primping and link up!

my new favorite decorating book

Here is my new favorite book {decorating book, that is}, Love for Textiles by Ikea.

It has a great combination of vintage furniture, beautiful fabric, and tons of fun styling.

Lots of yummy fabrics made into pillows.

And just plain cool photos.

Love it!

Speaking of books, I just finished this one, and can't wait to get the sequel.  What are you reading?

keep primping,

I was featured here by Kennesha at Restoration House Interiors.  Kennesha is a fellow blogger, furniture refinisher, and mother of 4.  Check out her blog and be prepared to be amazed at all her gorgeous redo's.  Thanks Kennesha!

Also, have something to share?  There's still time to link up here.

keep primping,

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday Linky Party #46

Happy Wednesday! It's time to link up all your fabulously primped projects, including anything you have made, or made to look better, or anything you have found to {primp} your space.

Here are my favorites from last week's party:

Maple and Magnolia showed off her styling skills with this super cool cubby.

Reloved Rubbish primped this beautiful blue vintage mirror.

For the Love of It showed off this gorgeous desk.

Design Par Deux transformed an ugly mirror into this blue beauty.

and last but not least,

Redoux transformed an old ladder with beautiful turquoise paint.

Thanks for all the inspiration!

 

Now it's time to be inspired again:

Please become a follower if you are not already, and grab my button to post somewhere on your blog so others can join in on the fun!

<div align="center"><a 
href="http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/" title="{Primp}" 
target="_blank"><img 
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/amycarver3/primpbutton2.jpg" 
alt="{Primp}" style="border:none;" 
/></a></div>

keep primping and link up!

cheese "cake" bars {a really easy and yummy recipe}

Really, really easy.

Upon looking for a cheese cake bar recipe I discovered this really quick and easy one made with a yellow cake mix (I love taking shortcuts in cooking).  This recipe is so yummy and uses only 5 ingredients!

Cheese "Cake" Bars

1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick melted butter
1 egg

1 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
2 eggs
1 lb. box (2 cups)confectioners' sugar (save a little for the top)

Mix the cake mix, butter and 1 egg together and press into 9 x 13 inch pan. Combine the remaining ingredients. Pour on top of the cake. Bake approx. 35  minutes at 350 degrees. Cool completely and sprinkle with confectioners sugar before cutting into small squares.

keep primping, eat and enjoy,

in love with my new sofas {and pillows}

I'm in love with my new sofas. 

They are the ektorp style from Ikea, which were just the right price.  I even got extra slipcovers, because with 4 kids (and too many cats) I couldn't beat the $30 price tag.

Of course when you get a new sofa, new pillows usually follow.  I found some cute blue toile ones (also at Ikea), and made some out of grain sacks purchased from etsy.

I'm loving the lightness they bring to the whole space.

You can catch a glimpse of my mirror gallery wall that I've been slowly adding to.  My newest favorite thrift store find is the gold ornate one in the bottom right corner.

If you're wondering about white slipcovered couches too, or why I'd be crazy enough to buy them, check out this review here.

Also, I'm starting to enjoy the new PicMonkey--it has some really cool, fun features--check it out.

keep primping,

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday Linky Party #45

Happy Wednesday! It's time to link up all your fabulously primped projects, including anything you have made, or made to look better, or anything you have found to {primp} your space.

Here are my favorites from last week's party:

The Ironstone Nest had two great projects that I had a hard time deciding between, so  here are both of them: numbered stairs,

and a beautiful arrangement of open shelves.

Five Brothers One Sister showed off her french-inspired boys bedroom.

Summersoul made some beautiful grain sack totes, including this one.

and last but not least,

I love Pinecone's upcycled cans filled with succulents.

Thanks for all the inspiration!

Now it's time to be inspired again:

Please become a follower if you are not already, and grab my button to post somewhere on your blog so others can join in on the fun!

<div align="center"><a 
href="http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/" title="{Primp}" 
target="_blank"><img 
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/amycarver3/primpbutton2.jpg" 
alt="{Primp}" style="border:none;" 
/></a></div>

keep primping and link up!

building a chicken coop {and bringing the country to me}

We have finally finished the chicken coop to house some of the newest additions to the family.

We designed and built this coop based upon two I had seen and loved.  Taking concepts from this one and this one into consideration, we modified and simplified into one that would work best for us and our yard.

It seems the older I get, the more I dream of living in the country and enjoying more of a simple, homemade life.  Maybe that will happen someday, but for now we will just have to bring part of the country to us.  If you dream of a country life too, check out some of my inspiration here.

Here's how our chicks looked when we bought them just before Easter, about 1 month ago.

And here they are today--getting big so fast.

I don't want to bore you with a step-by-step process, but here are a few pictures to show the progression of the coop, from this:

to this!

We are excited for this new adventure and love our chickens!  If you have any tips on raising chickens please leave a comment below, I would love to hear them--and we need all the help we can get!

keep primping,

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday Linky Party #44

Happy Wednesday! It's time to link up all your fabulously primped projects, including anything you have made, or made to look better, or anything you have found to {primp} your space.

Please become a follower if you are not already, and grab my button to post somewhere on your blog so others can join in on the fun!

<div align="center"><a 
href="http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/" title="{Primp}" 
target="_blank"><img 
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/amycarver3/primpbutton2.jpg" 
alt="{Primp}" style="border:none;" 
/></a></div>

keep primping and link up!