Fiona & Twig-Magnolia Pearl Ranch Photos and Clothing Giveaway

Hello readers!

I just realized I have not blogged since November! Where does the time go?

Well, do I have something fun to share with you!

My friend, Anne Lorys, from Fiona & Twig, has photographed the amazing Magnolia Pearl Ranch located in Bandera. Even more exciting is the fact that her photographs are to be used in marketing the ranch~Yes, it’s for sale!

(Photo taken by Anne Lorys)

This is just one of many fabulous photos that you will find in Anne’s post.

So, run, don’t walk, on over to her blog and check it out!

And while you’re there, be sure and read about the Magnolia Pearl clothing giveaway that Robin and John are so graciously offering.

Enjoy!!

Folks, We Have a Winner!

I know I’ve been MIA from my blog the last few days, and was supposed to announce a winner of my That’s The Ticket giveaway on Monday, and for that I apologize. Life has been a little busy and I’m playing catch up right now. I’m actually typing this as I sit in the dentist’s office waiting for all of my kids to get their checkups.

I want to thank all of you who linked up to the blog party and left comments to enter the giveaway. Just as a reminder, my prize was $20 credit to my etsy shop.

To choose the winner, I had my son randomly pick a slip of paper that I had written the individual names on.

So, without further ado, the prize goes to……

Audrey from Timeless Treasures!

I will be highlighting some of my favorite link up projects in the next post.

Thanks so much for joining in!

That’s the Ticket Blog Hop Party Is Live

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the first That’s the Ticket Blog Hop Party!!

When you link up your fantastic projects to one of our blogs, your link will automatically show up on the other three. You have the opportunity to showcase your creativity four times over with one link! Cool, isn’t it?

My other three co-hosts are:

Angie @ Knick of Time

Carrie @ Lovely etc.

Gertie @ The Old Block House

Wait, it gets even better! Each co-host is giving away something wonderful! So make sure and visit each individual blog and enter to win each individual prize! I’ve seen what’s being given away and all I can say is, “I wish I was eligible to enter!”

I am giving away a $20 credit to my Etsy shop, excluding shipping.

Here’s just a sample of what you can choose from:

There are six ways to enter the giveaway for my blog:

1) Follow Rusty and Redone through Google Friends or Linky Followers (comment that you did)
2) Share a creation for the That's the Ticket Blog Hop (comment what number your entry is)
3) "Like" Rusty and Redone on Facebook (comment that you did)                       4) Follow Rusty and Redone on Pinterest (comment that you did)
5) Place the That's the Ticket button on your sidebar (comment that you did)
6) Spread the word about That's the Ticket on your blog or Facebook page
(provide a link with your comment)

Here’s the guidelines for linking up:

If you’ve made it, baked it, painted it, sewed it or created it~then That’s the Ticket!

We want to see your favorite creative projects - made by YOU!

Categories are:

• Furniture Makeovers a
• Vintage "Junk" Creations (using old "junk" to create something new)
• Handmade Sewing
• Handmade Home Decor
• Homemade Food

Please do not linkup giveaways or shops.

The party will go live on March 16th and will end on March 22. The winner of the giveaway(s) will be announced March 23.

Now, let’s have some fun!!

Thrifty Finds and A Winner!

I had to make an unexpected trip to Austin yesterday to buy work materials for my husband, so on the way I stopped at a little thrift store in Dripping Springs.  My finds of the day were shoes! Three pairs; one for each kiddo. And not just any old tennie shoes, but Converse! The kids were oh so excited, because they were needing an extra pair of knock around shoes. And do you know what I paid for them? Two dollars a piece! Can you believe it???

What are the chances? All in the proper sizes.

And in good, wearable condition.

Now, on to the giveaway winner. I only had four comments, and actually none of them commented specifically for the giveaway~but I’m giving that wreath away anyhow!

So, the winner, by random number choice of my daughter is…..

Bliss from Bliss Ranch

Congratulations, Bliss!

I’m linking this to:

Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

From My Front Porch to Yours Treasure Hunt Thursday

Savvy City Farmer Thrift’n on a Thursday

Join me here on Friday for two linky parties!

Keep It Simple Saturdays #1, a Tip and a Giveaway!

Welcome to my first ever linky party!

Keep It Simple Saturdays, KISS for short, came to fruition after I chose simplify for my word of the year. Since I had declared to blog land that I was going to simplify, I wanted to have a weekly spot where I could share how I’m implementing that in my life, and allow others a platform to showcase any tips, tricks or ideas they have for simplifying.

This week I wanted to share an easy peasy way to clean drains. Maybe you know this, maybe you don’t. But if you don’t, prepare to be amazed….

Yep, baking soda and vinegar. The same stuff I had my boys use to erupt their volcano. It doesn’t matter what brand you choose. Since I’m cheap, I just buy the off-brand.

First, remove the stopper from the drain and clean out any hair, grime, buildup and yuk from it. Then pour baking soda down it, followed by the vinegar. It will “erupt”, breaking up the gunk. Run hot water down the drain, and repeat the process until there’s no more crud backing up and water runs down the drain easily.

I unstopped my guest bathroom sink and my bathtub last week by doing this. I was going to post pictures, but I didn’t want to gross anyone out!

How does this simplify my life? I didn’t have to run to the store and purchase an expensive, chemical laden, caustic drain cleaner. I saved gas, money and time by using something I had on hand. Plus, it’s a safer and more natural alternative to use. And I could unclog the drain myself, instead of being frustrated with the backups because I needed to wait to have my husband take care of it. It simplified his life because he’s a busy guy and I hate to add small stuff to his list if I can solve it. There you have it.

And now it’s your turn!

Here’s the KISS party rules:

• Share your simple craft ideas, recipes, home decorating tips, organizing solutions, thrifty finds, finance tips, or any changes you’ve decided to make that will simplify your life. If it will simplify something…share it!
• Please follow my blog, either via Google Friends or Linky Followers before linking up. Also, feel free to like my Facebook page.
• Be sure to link back to your original post and not just your url (main blog address).
• Please grab the KISS button from my sidebar and post it somewhere on your blog.
• Include a visible link to the KISS party or my main blog address in or at the bottom of the post you’re linking up so others can find the party, too! Any post not linked back will be deleted.
• Visit another guest. Scroll through the other links and find a couple that interest you. Visit them and leave a comment letting them know how you found them. We all like comments!
• Please, please, please turn off word verification on comments!
• I will visit each link and highlight a few at the following week’s party.
• The party will run from sometime on Fridays until midnight on Sunday nights.

By linking up to this party, you understand and agree that I may use your images on my blog, Facebook page or Pinterest board.

But wait, before you link up, there’s also a giveaway! What am I giving away??? This barbed wire wreath, which is both rusty and redone.

The rules for the giveaway are simple.

1. Become a follower of my blog, either through Google Friends or Linky Followers and leave me a comment that you did so. Be sure to leave an email address where I can contact you. That’s it!

If you want to enter more than once, here are optional ways to earn three more entries:

1. Like my Facebook page and comment that you did.
2. Blog about the giveaway or share on Facebook and comment that you did.
3. Grab the giveaway button and link back to the giveaway page and comment that you did.

I will pick a winner randomly sometime on Monday, March 12 and email that person.

And don’t forget~next Friday, the 16th, there will be two, count ‘em, two parties to join up with!

That’s the Ticket Blog Hop and Giveaway

I have exciting news today-I will not only be hosting my own Linky party, but have been invited by Angie at Knick of Time Interiors to participate in a multi-blog Blog Hop entitled “That’s the Ticket”!

When you link up your fantastic projects to one of our blogs, your link will automatically show up on the other three. You have the opportunity to showcase your creativity four times over with one link! Cool, isn’t it?

The 4 co-hosts for this event are:

Shannon @ Rusty and Redone

Angie @ Knick of Time

Carrie @ Lovely etc.

Gertie @ The Old Block House

Wait, it gets even better! Each co-host is giving away something wonderful!

I am giving away a $20 credit to my Etsy shop.

Here’s some guidelines:

If you’ve made it, baked it, painted it, sewed it or created it~then That’s the Ticket!

We want to see your favorite creative projects - made by YOU!

Categories are:

• Furniture Makeovers
• Vintage "Junk" Creations (using old "junk" to create something new)
• Handmade Sewing
• Handmade Home Decor
• Homemade Food

Please do not linkup giveaways or shops.

The party will go live on March 16th and will end on March 22. The winner of the giveaway(s) will be announced March 23. In the meantime, feel free to grab a button for your sidebar, check out the co-host blogs and become a follower. And don’t forget to plan what you’ll be sharing!

See you then!

A Link Party, A Fashion Show & Some Other Random Stuff….

First off, let me give a hearty “Thank You" to everyone who has hopped on board and followed my blog. I appreciate the fact that you not only took the time to read my ramblings, but you became a “follower”, which means you actually liked what you read. Exciting!!

If I calculated it correctly, my follower count is at 93, combining the Google Friends and the Linky Followers. We’re only 7 away from a giveaway and the first official KISS Linky Party! So, if you have some friends who haven’t joined me yet, send ‘em my way! The prize might look something like that barbed wire wreath peeking out from the middle of my header.

Next, guess where I’m going tomorrow night….

(Imagine me asking you this in a sing-songy, nanny, nanny, boo boo voice.)

Can’t guess? Ok, here’s a little hint.

This is going to be a fun and fabulous event. I got a little sneak peek today at Carol Hicks Bolton’s Antiquities all decked out and it is absolutely gorgeous! You can read some of the details about it here on the Magnolia Pearl website. I am thrilled to be able to attend.

I was also featured today on Cindy Adkins’ Whimsical Musings blog. A big thank you to Cindy for mentioning me and showing off my burlap heart wreath.

And finally, a picture of Connor with a giant Mickey Mouse we saw at a thrift store in Kerrville yesterday. This one’s just because I think he’s cute. Connor, not Mickey Mouse. Although, he’s kinda cute, too. If you like rodents.

Yummy Giveaway at Knick of Time!

Imagine receiving these in your mailbox.

Wouldn’t that be delightful?

Angie at Knick of Time is hosting a giveaway. The prize?

A one pound box f those hand dipped assorted chocolates courtesy of Bella Rose Chocolates.

So what are you waiting for? Get on over there and enter. You know you need that chocolate fix!

Knick of Time Bella Rose Chocolates Giveaway

And the Winner Is......

......Katrina from Wakeboarding Mama! Congratulations!

In case you were wondering how I randomly picked the winner, I looked at the number of comments I had, in this case 9, and then asked my daughter to give me a number between 1 and 9. She picked 4. Katrina's was the 4th comment on the list.

Enjoy your gift certificate!

Reminder-Blog Giveaway Today

Just a reminder, I'll will be picking a winner today for the CSN Stores $40 gift certificate giveaway. If you haven't already entered, all you have to do is go to CSN Stores website, look around and then leave a comment on my blog with your email stating what you would purchase if you won. It's that easy!

I will be drawing and posting the winner sometime this afternoon. Possibly around 3:00 or so California time.

Don't miss out!

My First Blog Giveaway!

I am excited to announce my very first blog giveaway! To thank all of you who spend your valuable time actually reading what I post, CSN Stores, which offer products ranging from cookware to dining room sets,  has offered to give away a $40 gift certificate to one lucky reader. CSN Stores has over 200 online stores to browse and use the gift certificate at.

How to enter:

Take a minute to check out the CSN Stores site and then simply leave a comment, along with your email address, on my blog, stating what you think you would use the gift certificate for. 

I will randomly choose the winner one week from today, on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. I will post the name of the winner and they will receive an email from me. CSN Stores will email the gift certificate directly to the winner.

Thanks so much for participating and have fun!