Cedar Hill Ranch

Small Town U.S.A.

noreply@blogger.com (Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch) — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:30:01 PDT

Thank you Ginger! I won her wonderful giveaway from her blog, SMALL TOWN USA. The day the package arrived, I saw a box sitting in my mailbox and wondered what it was. Then when I looked at the return address with the big "G", I smiled knowing my friend Ginger had sent me the goodie box for winning her giveaway. The contents were a total surprise, so it was doubly fun to open.

She also included a letter explaining why each item was selected for the box. Here is what it said.

Here are some pictures of the goodies.

The soaps with a wonderful fresh scent,

Some awesome Martha Stewart labels (I will definitely use these),

The Merle Norman goodies,

And lastly, my "Sexy" t-shirt, which Mr. CH has already informed me I should probably just wear at the ranch.

Thanks Ginger!! It was so fun opening the box, and now I get to enjoy the goodies that were inside it.

Shared here

The Big City Bedroom Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch) — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:28:43 PDT

Well, if you have been following the posts lately, you know I have been sewing like crazy. The last thing to show you in my newly neutral bedroom is my new bedding. (Yes I know I just got a new quilt for the ranch, but this is the city. I am loving the creamy neutrals in the country so much, I decided I really wanted that calm clean look here too.)

I used about 10 yards of linen for the bedspread. Yes, it wrinkles... a lot, but that's part of the fun, right? Mr. CH asked me what I was going to do when it wrinkled, and I said, "Look closely, it IS wrinkled." Then he saw the many small wrinkles that somehow smooth out when the bed is made so they aren't so noticeable.

I made very simple euro shams, since I was running out of fabric! But I wanted this to be a classic, elegant look. Here's the before photo to remind you of just how red it was! I know it looks like the paint color is different, but it is exactly the same.

All of that bedding when the bed was unmade had to go somewhere, and that somewhere was my settee. That meant that the settee was completely unusable until the bed was made. Now all of the new bedding fits neatly into my basket.

Here's some photos of the room now that is it calm and neutral. (And just in case Mr. CH is reading this, I did keep the old bedding just in case I get in a red mood again.)

The truth is that I was going to sell my Drexel Heritage triple dresser because I didn't like it any more. Of course we would have gotten nothing for it, and we paid a fortune for it when we first got married.

But now, I love the dresser. Turns out it look so much better without the red, and the new lamps made a big difference too. (I moved them in here from a different room.) And I got the new mirror for Christmas from my mom.

Here's a before of this shot.

Honestly I am so happy with this room, that I am ready to slipcover the whole house.

To see

the tutorial on the roller shades, click here.
the tutorial on the slipcovers, click here.

Shared here

Cowgirl Up! Linky Party #16

noreply@blogger.com (Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch) — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:30:01 PDT

Welcome to Week 16 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

I'm so in love with this ocean blue painted porch floor by Coastal Cottage Dreams.

I could wile away the hours on this simple and sweet porch by Keeping It Cozy, where she shares how to construct these beautiful flower boxes...

Craving a fancier outdoor space? You might be inspired by the gardens surrounding this jaw-dropping castle home in a pictorial tour by 21 Rosemary Lane

I really enjoyed reading about life on a dairy farm on Hymns and Verses, where Doreen shared this cute "Farm Fresh Milk" sign

Leone Design adds time worn patina to a cute little side table. I think the chippy painted box is the icing on the cake, don't you?

Spice up your next summer supper on the patio with this delicious looking Thai Chicken Burger recipe by Desire Empire

and for dessert, via Carolina Country Living...

Thank you to each and every one of you! I seriously agonized over who to feature this week. I also fell in love with a few links that didn't link back to "Cowgirl Up!" and thus weren't eligible for a feature. It made me sad. :(
If you weren't featured this week, I may have featured you on the Farmhouse Porch's Facebook page. Make sure you check there too!
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.