Summer Spruce Up...Wildcard Recap

This summer and our Summer Spruce Up Series went so fast!

I have to admit...I am done with summer.

Fall is my favorite time of year...so bring on Fall!

Let me share with you a few of my favorite Wildcard entries...

I am loving this before and after from Finding Silver Pennies...love the blue door!

Jenna over at Rain On A Tin Roof restored this rocker to a beauty!

This little basket display from Junk 2 Jewels is just the cutest!

And last, but not least...this pallet porch swing by Twelve Oaks Manor is great!

We sure enjoyed all your fabulous projects...let's enjoy the last few days of summer!

Bring on the pumpkins!!!

Julie

Summer Spruce Up....WILDCARD!

WOW!  This summer is going, going...almost GONE!!! 

This has been one fabulous link party series...

Check out some backyard/patio links here.

Source: Southern State Of Mind

Get inspired with some great planter ideas here.

Source:  House by Hoff

Greet your guests with a cute and spruced up entryway...click here for ideas!

Source:  Twelve Oaks Manor

  

 We have time to squeeze in one last Summer Spruce Up project...let's see what you all did!

Remember...it is a WILDCARD entry!!

That means anything outdoors goes!

Have a great day!

Julie

Summer Spruce Up Series - WILDCARD!!

Let's get WILD with this last of our Summer Spruce Up Series  Link Party!

It has been one FABULOUS series full of wonderful ideas and great spaces!

To refresh your memory...

In May, you showed off your fabulous backyard and patio areas!

In June, you wowed us with your planters..wow!

In July, we were amazed by your front door and entryways!

Now, for August...it is our WILDCARD PARTY!!

Anything out doors goes...

including an outdoor kitchen to enjoy the last few weeks of SUMMER!!!

Take a look at these BEAUTIFUL outdoor kitchens...

Source:  A Home Designs

Source:  A Home Designs

Source:  A Home Designs

Source:  A Home Designs

I couldn't resist this...

Is this the cutest??

Or....how about a backyard movie theater for an end of summer blowout?!?!

Check these wonderful ideas out....

Source: Inside The Loop Blog

Source: Goods Home Designs

Source: Oh Hello Friend

Source: Beauty Harmony Life

Or, if you are like me...and just want a simple place to catch a moment of peace during
nap time or bedtime...



Source:  4HimGlory

I have this rocking chair, I can make that pillow...and I can keep those plants alive...
for a little while!

I have a spot on our front porch perfect for this...

I can't wait to get started on a project...

my husband just LOVES my projects!!

I hope you have a wonderful day...and can't wait to see what you link up next week!!

Julie

Dairy Wife Wednesday..How To Make .Home Made Butter

I think the only thing that can possibly be BETTER than butter...

is Home Made Butter!!!

Source: Food Renegade

It is SO easy...really, the easiest recipe EVER!!

All you will need to make your own delicious butter:

**1 quart of heavy whipping cream

Source: WalMart

**1 tsp of salt

Source: Chris Kesser

Super easy recipe...here we go!

STEP 1: 

Pour 1 quart of whipping cream in the bowl of a stand mixer and add salt.

(You can mix this in a blender or with a handheld mixer...just easier in a stand mixer.)

BEFORE you begin...COVER your mixer with a clean dish towel.

Trust me...this will be a splashy project!

Turn the mixer on high and mix away.

It will become whipped cream. then become firmer and turn into butter.

The butter will be ready when it clumps to the paddle in the mixer.

Place a strainer over a bowl and strain the buttermilk off the butter...

you can use the buttermilk in this buttermilk biscuit recipe.

I pressed the butter into a glass refrigerator dish with a lid...anything with a cover will work!

The butter will last in the refrigerator for a few weeks...we usually use it before then!

I think it is safe to say...you will LOVE this butter!

Flavored butters are a delicious way to add some oomph to your morning toast!

Give these a try....

Honey butter is a favorite around here...just mix in some honey...done.

Strawberry butter...yep, just mix in a bit of your favorite strawberry jam.

Any jam for that matter...

I have some more butter recipes coming...savory recipes...jalapenos and blue cheese??

You bet!!!

Have a great day...well, you will now that you have delicious butter on your toast!

Transformation Tuesday...Soft Turquoise & White Dresser

Another yard sale find...

but, I don't have a before picture!

Not the best "Transformation Tuesday" if you can't see the before, I know.

Imagine it.

Wood.

 Not the best color wood. 

Not in the best shape wood.

Wood dresser.

Got it?

Okay...so, I painted the shell of the dresser "Lagoon" by Behr at Home Depot.

I thought this dresser could use a little oomph...so, I painted the drawer fronts white.

(Pebble White from Glidden.)

This chest had ALL the original hardware...score!

To add to the oomph...I painted them the same turquoise as the dresser shell.

Then,,,,yep, I roughed it up a bit!

Gave it a good distressing...I love the look!

Just another piece I have for sale!!

Have a great day!

Julie

MONDAY:

www.skiptomylou.org    www.craftomaniac.blogspot.com    www.betweennapsontheporch.net 

 www.uncommondesignsonline.com  www.rainonatinroof.com     www.astrollthrulife.net

TUESDAY:

  www.craftytexasgirls.com  www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com

www.SugarBeeCrafts.com    www.cozylittlehouse.com  www.adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com   

www.notjustahousewife.net  www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com     www.diyshowoff.com

www.iheartnaptime.net   www.craftomaniac.blogspot.com  www.linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

WEDNESDAY:

www.somedaycrafts.blogspot.com      www.gingersnapcrafts.com 

www.creationsbykara.com  www.bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com    

THURSDAY:

www.livelaughrowe.com  www.somewhatsimple.com  www.impartinggrace.com  www.yesterdayontuesday.com   

www.staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com   www.nominimalisthere.com  www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com 

FRIDAY:

www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com    www.thecharmofhome.blogspot.com 

www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com    www.fivedaysfiveways.com    

www.thestitchinmommy.blogspot.com      www.commonground-do.comwww.sixsistersstuff.com

SATURDAY:

www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com    www.thriftydecorchick.com   www.bedifferentactnormal.com

SUNDAY:

www.too-much-time.com       www.suburbsmama.blogspot.com

t  www.diyshowoff.com  www.niftythriftythings.com     www.findingsilverpennies.com

Weekend Wrap Up...Best Of July (A Little Late!)

By far, my favorite, best and post I am most proud of...

My mom and dad's 40th Anniversary Post!

This dresser that I distressed with soap, yes soap...is another favorite.

Get the scoop on the squeaky clean technique here.

I loved sharing this next post...

read all about creating your own beautiful home without a big wallet here.

My 4th of July post was a pretty special one for me...

Click here for some beautiful pictures of the USA!

Last, but certainly not least...July was National Ice Cream Month!!

Check out some delicious recipes and a few fun facts about ice cream here.

I hope you have a great weekend...

Julie

This Ol' House Thursday...New Bed = New Bedding

My husband and I just got a new bed...so, new bedding, right?

I LOVE to shop.

I HATE settling on something I, um...don't really like.

Expensive duvet covers and pillows that I didn't really like...were haunting me.  Everywhere.

A while ago I pinned a picture on Pinterest...and my mom thought I could make my own!

Turns out...this iis exactly what I wanted (for now, you know I love change!)

I bought two big canvas drop cloths off of Amazon, sewed my right sides together...and voila!

A couple of cute, ruffly pillows (in my Etsy shop) and I LOVE it!

Yes, I am aware there are wrinkles...I like them!

Now for a headboard...I want some kind of barn wood.  Rustic...

Love the natural look and feel of my duvet cover...never know, I may start custom making these with initials...check the The Vintage Barn on Etsy soon!

Have a great rest of your week!

Julie

Dairy Wife Wednesday...Checking on the Cows

Isn't this the prettiest face??

Another night of checking fields and irrigating with daddy...

"Watch My corn Pop Up In Rows," in my best Tim McGraw voice.

These pink goggles are a must for irrigating!

Love the red heifers.... 

Summer is going by way too fast...I hope you are enjoying the end of it!

Julie

Furniture Friday...Cottage White Dresser

Solid Dresser.

Beautiful design.

Boring brown wood.

Paint to the rescue!

I found this nice, well built dresser at a local yard sale...

and a friend of mine spotted it for her sister.

It was sold before I had it unloaded!

The nice thing about that...my customer got to choose her color!

Love all that original hardware.

She asked for an off white...and said she "loved heavy distressing."

Right on!  Music to this mom's ears!!

(Worked some stress out on this dresser!)

I couldn't move this by myself...so, check out the junk behind it!

I cleaned the dresser up, put one coat of primer...and two coats of an off white paint.

Then...I distressed the heck out of it...customer request, right?

I finished it with a coat of wax, working it in with a clean rag and buffing it a few minutes later.

Of course now, the black dresser in my girl's room (almost identical to this one)...

is going to look like this by next week!

Which means the black nightstand and black crib...need paint, too!

I hope you have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Julie

Linking up to and ParTYinG with:

MONDAY:

www.skiptomylou.org    www.craftomaniac.blogspot.com    www.betweennapsontheporch.net  www.homestoriesatoz.com  

 www.uncommondesignsonline.com  www.alderberryhill.blogspot.com  www.cupcakesandcrinoline.com  www.rainonatinroof.com     www.astrollthrulife.net

TUESDAY:

www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com  www.craftytexasgirls.com  www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com

www.SugarBeeCrafts.com    www.cozylittlehouse.com  www.adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com   

www.notjustahousewife.net  www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com  www.insidebrucrewlife.com   www.diyshowoff.com

www.iheartnaptime.net   www.craftomaniac.blogspot.com  www.linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

WEDNESDAY:

www.somedaycrafts.blogspot.com  www.lilluna.com  www.highheelsandgrills.blogspot.com  www.gingersnapcrafts.com 

www.creationsbykara.com  www.bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com  www.the36thavenue.com  www.cupcakesandcorndogs.com

THURSDAY:

www.livelaughrowe.com  www.somewhatsimple.com  www.impartinggrace.com  www.thevintagefarmhouse.com   www.thecsiproject.com

www.yesterdayontuesday.com   www.staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com   

www.nominimalisthere.com  www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com 

FRIDAY:

www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com    www.thecharmofhome.blogspot.com  www.lizmarieblog.com 

www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com  www.tatertotsandjello.com  www.fivedaysfiveways.com  www.freckledlaundry.com 

www.thestitchinmommy.blogspot.com   www.whipperberry.com   www.commonground-do.comwww.sixsistersstuff.com

SATURDAY:

www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com    www.thriftydecorchick.com   www.bedifferentactnormal.com

SUNDAY:

www.too-much-time.com      www.bystephanielynn.com  www.suburbsmama.blogspot.com

www.iheartnaptime.net  www.diyshowoff.com  www.niftythriftythings.com     www.findingsilverpennies.com