Off to the Junk Bonanza…

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds NEW
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Cottage8 reveal continues…

 

Last week I encouraged you to head over to see the before and after pictures of Cottage8. Good news, the reveal continues…so click over NOW. Jennifer of Cottage8 and The Old Painted Cottage was kind enough to send two pictures my way. While you are checking out the before and after pictures of Cottage8 stop by The Old Painted Cottage, Cottage of the Month and Jennifer’s shop.

Thank you Jennifer for sharing and for inspiring us. I am truly in awe of what you have done. I love it all. 

 

If you live in Minnesota or plan to be in the Twin Cities area September 17th – 19th make time to head to the Junk Bonanza. 

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds  NEW
• Repurposing floral frogs 
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Before and After photos of Cottage8…

I know how you all like before and after pictures. If you haven’t seen the reveal pictures of Cottage8 stop by The Old Painted Cottage and check it out. While you are there take time to view the Cottage of the Month photos, and Jennifer’s shop. I don’t have any teaser shots to show you…you will just have to trust me and head on over.

Beach House Inspired Watercolor Offer

A consolation offer from Sara Tetley of Beach House Inspired Watercolors for those that missed out on winning a print.


OFFER: 20% discount on an order of up to 2 prints through September 15, 2009. Send an email to Sara Tetley at sara.tetley@pgav.com with the names of the print(s) you wish to purchase as well as any items from her ETSY shop 'sold' page, and be sure to include the discount code COTTAGELIFE. Sara accepts PayPal or cashier's checks. Thank you Sara!



Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Repurposing floral frogs NEW
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

A new blog, a new magazine and a giveaway…

Recently Ki Nassauer of Junk Revolution and Matthew Mead of Matthew Mead Style announced that they were launching a new magazine called Flea Market Style, and Linda MacDonald of Restyled Home was taking on the role of Editor-at-Large. Now there is a new blog designed to share the behind the scenes peek into the making of the magazine, the talented folks involved, and the inspiration that has led to this latest venture - inspiration that has come from many sources, including fellow bloggers!

Check out the Flea Market Style magazine blog and learn all about the new magazine, and while you are there ask to be added to their blog roll, and don’t forget to sign up to follow along.

Cottage Lifestyle Giveaway!

Prize: Beach House Inspired Watercolors print of you choice and willing to ship anywhere.

Rules: You don’t need to have a blog to enter…just make sure you leave your email address. Enter as often as you wish. Anyone in the world can enter.

Ways to enter: You can do one or more of the following.

1) Visit Sara Tetley’s Beach House Inspired Watercolors and come back and share your favorite print.
2) If you follow my blog you will be automatically entered.
3) Sign up to follow my blog.
4) Visit my Thrifty Shopping article on examiner.com titled Affordable watercolor art and frames, where I featured Sara’s watercolors and leave a comment.
5) Post the Cottage Lifestyle Giveaway graphic (by copying the graphic or the HTML code below) on your blog either on the sidebar or in a post and let me know you have it on your blog. If you do a post and put it on the sidebar that will be worth two entries.

Giveaway ends August 30th.

<p><a href="http://cottagelifestyle.blogspot.com/%22><img title="Cottage Lifestyle Giveaway" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="237" alt="Cottage Lifestyle Giveaway" src="$Cottage Lifestyle Giveaway[11].jpg" width="244" border="0" /></a></p>

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Blog Party 2009 at Oronoco Gold Rush Days…

Amy with Junkologie and WhisperWood Cottage is hosting a blog party at her booth during Gold Rush Days in downtown Oronoco, Minnesota!

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Gifts from Garage Sale Gal and an award…

On Friday evening, Deb from Garage Sale Gal stopped by with her husband Pat. It was great to meet a local fellow blogger. Deb brought me a beautiful set of note cards and note book, and being a fellow animal lover she brought treats for my gal Lollie…extremely generous. Not only do Deb and I love garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, thrift shopping and dogs…we are both chocolate lovers. Deb is an antique dealer and rents space at two local shops. Thanks Deb!


Nancy over at Nancy’s Tidbits sent me an Attitude of Gratitude award. Thanks Nancy.

The rules of accepting and sharing this award are:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award.Tell us how you've come to have an attitude gratitude. For me, I am thankful that I am happy, healthy, employed and have good friends and family.



I would like to nominate these people for the attitude of gratitude award.


1.  Sweet Something Design
2.  My Good Life in Nebraska
3.  Cozy Little House
4.  Garage Sale Gal
5.  Forever Vintage
6.  For the love of older homes…the journey they entail
7.  Small Home In The Country
8.  Old Beach Bungalow
9.  Thrifty Miss Priss
10. Colby Cottage Happenings


Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

My Messy, Thrilling Life...

Even though my life is somewhat messy (often) and thrilling (not so often)...today's post isn't about me. Today is about Brin over at

My Messy, Thrilling Life.

I am not sure how I stumbled upon Brin's blog...but I am thankful that I did. I love her writing style and her story. Not only can Brin write beautifully, she is also a talented baker, seamstress, knitter, gardener, decorator and has probably more skills that I am not aware of. Brin's blog is one of those blogs that I had to read from beginning to end.

I am sure there will be a movie made based on Brin's journey. She left her job in the city and bought an old home in rural Texas, with the dream of writing a cookbook and opening a bakery. She has faced many challenges but her dream of opening a bakery (henrybella's bakery in Daingerfield, Texas came true. I am sharing Brin's adventure with you for two reasons.

First as much as I believe I am a risk taker I haven't ever had the guts to start a business...so I am in awe of this just turned 30 year old taking the risk to do so. The second reason is that I want 'small' business owners to be successful. Now, I know most of you won't be able to visit Brin's bakery because you don't live remotely close to Daingerfield. While you may not be able to visit her bakery you may know someone in Texas that can go out of their way to stop by henrybella's bakery!

I hope that you will take time out of your day to visit Brin at My Messy, Thrilling Life. If you do so...start from the beginning...I am sure you won't be disappointed. Recently Brin made a decision to discontinue her blog on April 7th (today), as she has been blogging long before the rest of the world (since 2005) and is going to focus on other things. Her blog will remain up for a while...so read it soon!

henrybella's bakery
104 Webb Street
Daingerfield, Texas


Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Karnas Hus...

This picture is from Karnas Hus blog.

I wish it were part of my home...

I love the Karnas Hus blog. A couple weeks ago I accidently deleted my Google Translator favorite so I couldn't translate her blog from Norwegian to English. I finally got my act together and found the translator and set it up again. I am sure there are other ways to do this but I don't know any other way. Steps are below. I was so excited yesterday to spend time reading her blog and drooling over her home.

Translator Steps:

1) Click on here to go to the Google Translator page (see below).

2. Right click on whatever language you want the blogs you visit to appear in (for me I right clicked on ENGLISH).

3. Select Add to Favorites.

4. I received a message that states something to the effect that you are adding a favorite that may not be safe and of course I just ignored this.

5. Click on YES and blow through the message.

6. You will then be asked to name it (I left mine called ENGLISH) and place it in a folder. I created a folder called Blog Translator and keep it there.

7. Test it out...pull up a blog that is in another language. Once you have the foreign language blog up, select the favorite that you just created and Google will automatically translate the blog language to whatever language you selected in step 2.

BLOGGING TIP: By the way, if you have experienced great delays in uploading your photos to blogger like I have...I found that if I take the photos I want to upload out of whatever folder(s) they are in and put them on my desktop and load them from there they load much quicker.

If you have any blogging tips please send them my way...especially if you know how to get a picture to fit within the blogger header frame.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle