I'm Addicted!

To animals.....I can't help myself....and when I say I....I mean my hubby and I....it doesn't help that neither one of us can resist....anything furry....feathery....or fluffy.

Meet the 4 new additions to our chicken coop....

You see....when we ordered our chickens a couple months ago....4 of our babies didn't make it....which made us very sad....we tried our best to get them better....but sadly....our efforts didn't work.

So....this week we went for a ride to a neighboring town....and we found these beauties {please excuse the chicken BA....she's a little racey}....they are Frizzle Bantams {hopefully}....which means their feathers will look frizzled {like a perm gone bad}...how cute is that. I've actually been wanting Frizzles for some time...but was never able to find any locally....until this week.

Oh.....and we also brought home....

these cuties....okay....I told you we're addicted. Meet....Annabelle and Genevive....our baby goslings....aren't they adorable....we believe they're Toulouse geese....which means they're french....now we can say we're part french ;o) They weren't as eager to do a photo shoot....so they're just kickin' it in their brooder.


Okay....I'll stop rambling about our new babies....and just wish you all....


a wonderful weekend!


xoxo, Andrea

A Day Trip

This past week my friend Sue and I went for a day trip....to a wonderful place....in the middle of nowhere....which are often the best places to find treasures.

Leigh {the owner} is the sweetest....and always has great stuff....and lots of inspiration.

See that stash above....the wire basket....galvanized bucket....enamel bucket....ironstone butter pats....white mirror....and Atlanta Bartlett book....those are the treasures that came home with me....are you getting a sense of what I love....it always seems....I bring home the same things...that always makes me laugh.


And look where we get to shop....in Leigh's gorgeous barn....I swoon every time I see her barn....love it!

Leigh always has a great assortment of furniture....barkcloth....vintage jewlery....dishes....she's got it all....

So....you ready for a road trip....

Vintage Inspirations Boutique

2080 County Road R. Malmo, NE

her summer and fall boutiques are...

June 3rd 10-6

June 4th 10-4

June 5th 10-2

and

September 9th 10-6

September 10th 10-4

September 5th 10-2

xoxo, Andrea

For The {Love} Of Thrifting

Last Friday....Stella and I went thrifting....and here's the loot we brought home....

Most of the stuff will be making it's way to my space at the antique mall....although....a couple sweet things have already made themselves at home here....I actually really loved everything....but a girl can only have so many typewriters...fans...and jars.

And look what went right over our home today.....I love seeing hot air balloons....it's a common site here when the weathers nice. In the summertime, you can often see 5, 6, 7, 8 of these in the sky at once....it's a beautiful site.

xoxo, Andrea

New Goods....And Some Kitchen Info

Well...here it is....a long overdue shop update....but wait....there's more to come....cuz not only have I been a paintin' mama....but I've also been a shoppin' one. So...in the coming weeks I've got more goods to share with you....you know me....always thinkin' of my girls....

and speaking of my girls {that's you guys}....I've got a giveaway coming up....like I said....I've been shopping....and picking up a few things here and there to show you guys that your the best....so....stay tuned for that.

Now....I just wanted to answer a few questions about my kitchen....you guys had lots of questions....so here's a few answers....

1. The color on my cabinets is Super White {it's a great crisp white} by Ben Moore....I love their Aqua Pearl finish....it's perfect for painting furniture...and cabinets. The reason I know this....is I actually painted the cabinets previously....white on the uppers and a beautiful blue on the lowers....but after living with it for a couple years...decided that white lower cabinets would look better with the black granite countertops. So....I've been cleaning and scrubbing these puppies for close to 2 years....and the upper cabinets still look like I just painted them.

2. I removed all the cabinet doors and drawers and primed and painted the cabinets themselves....as well as the doors and drawers.

3. The wall color is Simply White by Ben Moore...can you tell I like Ben moore ;o)

4. Before painting the cabinets...which are maple....I lightly sanded all the wood....and made sure to wipe them down completely....as to not leave any sanding residue.

5. I then applied a good quality primer....and then....using a high quality brush {trust me....a good quality brush makes all the difference}....I then applied 2 coats of the Super White paint.

That's pretty much it....I think as long as you use a good quality paint....and brush....it's goes pretty smoothly.

Happy Weekend!

xoxo, Andrea

Paintin' Mama

{Before Photo}

This ones for you Sheila!

I've been one crazy paintin' momma lately....as a matter of fact...I only have an upstairs landing left to paint and it's all done....I've gone through the whole house and painted and updated each room...can you say....Wheeeww....but it's done...now I can sit back and enjoy the beautiful weather.

So.....since I've been gone a while....I thought I'd share lots of photos with you of my kitchen makeover....

Now....let me begin by saying I have a small kitchen....a 10 1/2 x 12 foot space....being it's in an old farmhouse....rooms tend to be a bit smaller....but the previous owner did a wonderful job adding storage to this small space and using high quality maple cabinets and granite countertops....I just needed to add my touch to the space....but I'll let the photos do the talking...and only chime in when needed....

This kitchen island was actually my hubby's dresser....but trying to use what I have....I "borrowed" it from him to use as our new island....I just had him add some beadboard to the back...and I added a vintage glass rod to the side to hold dishtowels....now it doesn't look so "dressery {is that even a word}....at some point I may add a butcher block top....but for now....it works.

To make the kitchen feel a little more open....I took off some of the upper cabinet doors....giving it a more country feel.

I also bought new appliances in stainless steel....I think they flow with the kitchen better....as the black appliances always looked like black holes to me.

A view of the front of our island....the dresser turned out to work perfectly....as the larger drawers hold my table linens and the two smaller drawers hold silverware....perfect!

I took the doors of this cupboard to try to make it feel more like a piece of furniture....rather than a built-in cupboard.

Well....that's it....my little kitchen makeover. There wasn't much cost to the makeover other than paint and new appliances....still looking for the perfect lighting....but pretty happy with how it all came together.

I'll be back this week with some new items for the shop....

xoxo, Andrea