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Sunday

Projects Of Christmas Past, Present and Future

Jingle bell time is a swell time when you're in good company.

And I'm in good company.  Five bloggers and a few ghosts.

Are you familiar with Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol?

It involves that Ebenezer Scrooge guy who is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, who knock him down from his crotchety demeanor.

Scrap Wood Ornaments, Bliss-Ranch.com

But because I'm fresh out of real Christmas ghosts and I'm not as crotchety as Scrooge, you're about to be visited by the ghosts of projects past, present and future, or more accurately;

A project with old wood....
A sign with lettering....
And a quick and easy project you can do in the future.

The future is any minute from now right?

Wednesday

Thrifting The Thrifty Style Team Way December

December is coming to a close and 2017 is going out in style, Thrifty Style Team style that is.

At the bottom there are links to the people I thrift virtually with every second Wednesday of the month - the gals of the Thrifty Style Team. 

Thrift Store Christmas, Bliss-Ranch.com

But for this thrifty December trip I'm going to show you where it is I like to thrift, the real life team that I like to thrift with and how I spread around a little of the thrifted goods in my home and theirs.

Friday

Chins Up, American Made Apparel

Hello Christmas shoppers and those of you looking to support small business with your good old fashioned American pride as well as your cool cash.

Today I'm going to tell you about a brand new business here in the state of Minnesota called Chins Up, but of course you don't have to live in Minnesota to order, we do have UPS and Fedex in the frozen North.

I may have missed small business Saturday and cyber Monday, but in my book shopping with small businesses is always a good idea.

And ....shopping from a business that gives a little back to veterans while still keeping some jingle for feeding their own families, well that's a no brainer for me.

And and and ....shopping a sale is good for you and for feeding your own family, right? (But I've also got a giveaway at the end.....bonus!)

Chins Up Logo, Bliss-Ranch.com
Chins Up Apparel Logo

Saturday

Long Needle Pine Garland for Winter

I've been searching for some new Christmas garland for the past few years.

The stuff I have is over 20 years old and lots of the little red berries that were on it have fallen off and the pre-strung lights that came attached had seen their last twinkle years ago.

So as each season approaches I begin looking for something to replace it, and each year I either haven't been able to find any I liked, or there was only one three foot section left in stock, because a bunch of other people apparently liked it too.

Silk Plants Direct and Outdoor Artificial Palm Trees  solved that for me when they sent a complimentary box of their holiday greens, and I love them!

Perfect for my space, high quality and exactly what I have been looking for.  My garland hunt is over!

Christmas Garland Greens Bliss-Ranch.com

Wednesday

Naughty & Nice Christmas Bedroom

I'll be home for Christmas, although if you're reading this before December 25th then I'm actually not home, I'm gone.

But I will be coming home eventually and I'll greet you if you show up at my door bearing gifts, however there is a good chance I will be snuggled up under the covers in our decorated bedroom trying to stay out of trouble as part of the "Come Home For Christmas - Room To Room" holiday blog tour.

The tour is organized by the talented twosome at 2 Bees In A Pod  along with other bloggers who have a knack for decorating that is by far better than mine, so make sure you tour their rooms which includes entryways, living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms - all decorated for the holidays.

I think the other Come Home For Christmas participants must be on the "nice" list.

Decorated Christmas Bedroom Bliss-Ranch.com Moscow Mule Mugs

Thursday

Painting The Little House, Part 2

This post is a continuing story about a rental I came to own that I'm calling the little house.  If you missed the first post and want to be brought up to speed, the link to Part 1 is at the bottom.

I left off discussing how I hate painting and how the little house needed top to bottom paint.  Of course, oh joy.

As most everyone knows, painting is the most affordable update homeowners can do, which is good since the little house was needing it.  Paint = big impact for little price.

And when you have the right tools, some projects go more smoothly.

An electric spray gun is about the handiest gadget for painting tasks, and the one we used is the Tacklife paint sprayer  which you can find on Amazon for under $50 bucks. (I am not an Amazon affiliate so no I am not compensated for telling you that, click the link and take a peek at the sprayer).

Tacklife Paint Sprayer, Bliss-Ranch.com

I think what I hate the most with painting is the prep, taping up everything.  I'd rather gnaw off a limb than tape up walls to paint.

Thankfully my husband has a long wing span so taping off for painting is an easy task for him.  Believe me when I tell you that to have me tape the trim means lots of wasted tape, frustration and swear words on my part.  If there is a trick for this job I don't know it.

Sunday

The Little House Part One

How about some house talk today with a few Autumn tree pictures?

And when I say talk, I mean talk, there isn't a bunch of DIY photos.

Just because I've been busy posting wedding stuff doesn't mean that there isn't the constant renovation of something going on in our world.... there is.

This post is going to start out with a story, and the next post will have some of the DIY.  So if you're not in the mood for a wordy post, you might want to skip this story and stop back in next time.

What you will get this time is the story of the little house, and why it's going through some changes.

Little Minnesota House, Bliss-Ranch.com

In 1992 my dad had a stroke enjoying his retirement with a round at the golf course.  At that time my parents lived in California where they had been for the past fifty years.

Friday

Updated Mudroom Faucet With Pfister

20+ years ago we installed the hardest working faucet in our house in a tiny mudroom wash and go area.

I say it's the hardest working because in those 20 years it was the faucet that saw the grimiest of hands, and it was the first place of rest when anyone ran inside in a hurry, if you know what I mean.  PU!

Hands working hard in the garage, out in the yard, and the faucet that six kids delivered their dirtiest paws too.

Oh, and it saw animal paws as well.

My family put the mud in mudroom.

Pfister Faucet Mudroom Bath Bliss-Ranch.com

Wednesday

Wood Bow Ties Thrifty Style November

Hello hello hello, welcome to the November installment of the Thrifty Style Team, where a gaggle of gals show us how to be thrifty in our homes and lives.

I happen to be one of the thrifty gaggle gals, and today I'm going to show you how around here last month we used thrifty style to be stylish.

I guess you could say I'm putting the style in thrifty style this month.

Now I will tell 'ya, as far as style goes I'm the last person who would ever claim to be any kind of a fashion plate, but I do know a good-looking bow tie when I see one.

Handmade Wood Bow Ties, Bliss-Ranch.com

Thursday

Napkins That Fool You & Wedding Menu Bands

These napkins fool 'ya.

Show of hands; how many of you know that there are napkins available that look and feel like a linen fabric but they are actually a quality disposable?

And now you are wondering why you need something like that right?

Well.... for any event, party, or get together where you need a napkin nicer than the standard kind, but real linen won't work.  Like say a wedding in a tent.

I needed a quality paper napkin so 250 people could wipe Chinese food off their lips, and I kid you not I love this product, and no I am not getting paid to say that!

The napkins are made by SimuLinen and they are a linen-feel premium quality paper napkin.

SimuLinen Rich Grey Like Linen Disposable Napkins, Bliss-Ranch.com

Sunday

Lazy Halloween Door Decorations

In these parts I'm known as the Halloween Queen.

From years past hosting a haunted trail in the woods, to some epic parties in the back shed, if I'm gonna do Halloween up, I'm gonna do it up right.

Usually.  But not this year.

Or for that matter not Halloween 2014, '15, or 2016 either.

Hard to believe the door things that you are about to see is the work of the same woman who made these awesome party invites......


Or whose party buffet spread sports glowing fake windows.....

Thursday

Let Them Eat Cake, From A Mosaic Cake Stand

While other folks are readying their homes for Fall, I'm still winding down from wedding preparations.

I don't really have the desire to decorate anything since I'm still un-decorating from September.

So let's have a chat where I discuss cake, smashed china cake stands, and make no mention whatsoever of pumpkin spice anything.

Daughter #2 wanted a simple wedding cake, she's not a foofy girl, and her request of Amy from Amy's Cupcake Shoppe in Hopkins Minnesota, was for cake with a dark sage green and a touch of gray, sort of earthy to match her rustic outdoor wedding.

Sage Ombre Cake, Amy's Cupcake Shoppe Bliss-Ranch.com

Friday

Popcorn Cart Stocked With PoppedCorn Gourmet Treats

Over summer our place was like a bee hive.

Worker bees everywhere.

Coming and going, hammering and nailing, flying in and out of the hive with pieces of pallets.....free pallets was our form of honey.

Then just like that in one day it's all over and as they say, all that's left are the memories.

But if you're lucky there are a few bags of popcorn left too!

PoppedCorn Popcorn Cart Wedding, Bliss-Ranch.com

Wednesday

October Thrifty Style Team Glass Light Globes

It's the October Thrifty Style Team, and I'm going to show you the glass globes I have that keep on going.

Or is that glowing?

Or globe-ing?


Whatever you wanna call 'em I have reused them four different ways -  not too bad for a thrifty find.

Friday

Mini Biff, A Good Place To Go

So you know there was a wedding going down around here right?

When something takes almost a year to plan I must have mentioned it at least once or twice, but I admit I don't often yack about the personal side of my family, so if you didn't know that tidbit, I understand why.

The spire tent went up overlooking the lake, which is a quarter mile down our driveway away from any "facilities".

Wedding Tent, Bliss-Ranch.com

It wasn't going to work to have a couple hundred people walking back up the driveway, especially after dark, with the hope of using our mudroom bathroom, a vision I admittedly wasn't crazy about anyway.

So who 'ya gonna call?

Wednesday

Farm Of Dahlias

This story is really a labor of love.

Really.

With lots of labor.

And lots of love.

It started many years ago when the parents of our good friend Mike went about their life on the farm and planted some flowers in their yard.

Dahlia Flowers, Bliss-Ranch.com

Friday

Rustic Wedding Pallet Tables


Things here at the ranch are in high production mode at the moment for an end of September shindig and I've got pallets coming outta my....... shed.

There are things to do, and lots of 'em before a tent arrives in a couple weeks.

I would call the wedding of #2 Daughter a true DIY.

She is definitely a hands on bride and thankfully she knows her way around power tools - enough so that she is teaching the groom.

My kids grew up with hammers in their hands, so it's a bit unbelievable for my offspring, but the groom didn't.  Nope, he didn't grow up in a DIY family, no siree.

The groom has said he isn't even sure his dad owned a screw driver.

Hard for my kids to relate to that fact for sure.

Making Pallet Table Tops for wedding Bliss-Ranch.com

Monday

Tasting Cake at Amy's Cupcake Shoppe

There are lots of places to visit on the quaint Mainstreet in Hopkins Minnesota.

I have frequented many of the little shops over the years, finding treasures in the Thrift stores, unique handmade items by local artisans, or bits and pieces of vintage memorabilia from the antique booths.

Amy's Cupcake Shoppe Hopkins Minnesota, Bliss-Ranch.com

But the frosting on the Mainstreet cake these days, is located at Amy's Cupcake Shoppe.

Mmmmmm mmmmm.

Wednesday

Thrifty Style Team Trash To Treasure


You know the saying.

I really don't have to repeat it, but I will anyway......

One mans trash is another mans treasure.

For this months Thrifty Style Team, I will be decorating with someone's trash, and I tell 'ya, it is totally a treasure as far as I'm concerned.
Salvaged Wood Barn Style Doors, Bliss-Ranch.com

In this case it was truly worth hopping in that dumpster.

Sunday

Hyde Tools and Colorado To The Rescue

The dog days of summer are coming and at the ranch we are still picking away at projects that we hoped to have accomplished two months ago.

After last summers weather blew through with three storms of destruction, it has taken us this long to clean up and get a vision for putting things back together.

One of those visions is going to take more time than we have right now but a new and improved playground is in the design stage with input from the short people that use it.

And with the help of some complimentary tools from Hyde Tools we are making things presentable for this summer.

Hyde Tools Deck Preparation Bliss-Ranch.com

But let me tell you those short people have some definite ideas about how it should look!

Tuesday

PoppedCorn Minnetonka Minnesota

The thing about kids is that they grow up.

So because another one of mine has done just that, I get the opportunity to meet fun people.

Like Sue from PoppedCorn Gourmet Treats in Minnetonka Minnesota.

Let me warn you now that this post will probably be filled with corny puns because I just can't resist!

Popped Corn Gourmet Treats, Bliss-Ranch.com

There is a party in a bag fixing to happen around here.

September is rapidly approaching along with the wedding of #2 Daughter, but more things than just the question have been getting popped.

Wednesday

Thrifty Decorating July

Thrifty Style Team July.  
July !?!?!  

Yup, July.

Oh how fast summer is going and I don't seem to be getting much done.

I've been saying that a lot lately, the part about not getting much done.  I think when my list is long I feel that way, but the truth is I am probably accomplishing lots of things.

Things other than what is on the list anyhow, like playing with a certain 9 and 6 year old and snuggling with a certain 11 month old.

And those things really should be at the top of the list anyhow.


Monday

What's Shaking At The Ranch?

So you wanna know what's been shaking at the ranch and where the heck I've been?

I know you do because you email me. Thanks for missing my projects.  I miss my projects too!

I've got the best readers who enjoy DIY, so I've gotta tell you that today I'm departing from the normal paint and build, so feel free to depart yourself if you're not wanting to hear boring life stuff that's void of DIY photos.

Karen from the blog Somewhat Quirky posts a "20 Things" list when she has been MIA, so I'm gonna steal that idea from her, but no promises mine comes in right at 20 or that it goes in the actual order of things.....

1.  We hosted a high school graduation party where I fed a hundred people and the weather was beautiful.  My BFF flew in from Half Moon Bay for the occasion.  I love her.

Now before you think things like HOLY CRAP 100 people at a grad party????, let me tell you that my husband comes from a family of 12 siblings.  Just them and their kids is close to 50.

Photo Centerpiece, Bliss-Ranch.com

Wednesday

Thrifty Style Team June Stool Makeover

Thrifty Style.  What exactly is that?

It might be something different to you than it is to me.

Is it simply shopping at thrift stores and garage sales, or is it taking something you find at those places and remaking the item into something better or something that works more for your own taste and style?

Or is it updating an item you already own to keep you out of thrift stores and away from garage sales?

Is it all of those things and then some?

Probably.
Thrifty Style Team, Bliss-Ranch.com

Saturday

Pfister Laundry Room Faucet

I suppose no one reading this has ever started a household project that should take a mere couple of hours tops, only for it to drag on for something like 2+ weeks, right...it's just me?

Oh that's happened to you too?

Such is the tale of installing an awesome faucet in a not so awesome laundry room sink.

Most people who come to my home wouldn't describe it as old.

Around these parts old houses are those that have been here since the middle ages.  But even a 20 year old well used home can find a way to complicate a simple project just like a place built before indoor plumbing.

Pfister Faucet Update Laundry Room Bliss-Ranch.com

Wednesday

Updated Lamps April Thrifty Style Team

Welcome to the April edition of the Thrifty Style Team, where I try to prove that I have an eye for rescuing some cast off or worn out piece of junk from a garage sale or thrift store.
Thrifty Style Team With Bliss-Ranch.com

Friday

New Fireplace Mantel With Fusion Mineral Paint

Our family room has gone through many changes over the years.  Half round log siding, an addition, changing couches and changing colors.

But one thing stays the same.... it's a well used room.

I mentioned that I would like to update the mantel to something bigger and brighter, and the man with the power tools and Fusion Mineral Paint accomplished both.

Fireplace Hearth Vintage Crates, Bliss-Ranch.com

When we built this house it had a rustic-living-in-the-woods-by-the-lake feel.  Most of that style has been gone for quite a while, but the old worn rustic wood mantel stayed on.

Saturday

Dining Chairs With Old Sign Stencils


Somewhere between the stomach flu and my current head cold, I decided to get rid of a couple 20 something year old chairs.

Stenciled Subway Art Dining Chairs w/ Old Sign Stencils, Bliss-Ranch.com

And then I decided to keep them.

Wednesday

Thrifty March Madness Baby Scale

Welcome to March Madness of the thrifty kind with the Thrifty Style Team.

For March I transformed an antique baby scale made by Continental Scale Works.

Thrifty Style Team March Bliss-Ranch.com

What's March Madness anyhow, isn't it mens basketball?

Vintage Baby Scale Updated, Bliss-Ranch.com

Monday

Pallet Topped Coffee & Side Tables

A couple of years ago I picked up a coffee table at a garage sale after I eyed it up for potential.

I determined I could do a little something-something with it, and for $7.00 bucks it came home with me.

This is the 3rd makeover that the family room table has received, and you know what they say - 3rd time's a charm!

Pallet Topped Coffee Table, Bliss-Ranch.com

Wednesday

Thrifty Style Team February, The Barber Shop

The Thrifty Style Team is back for 2017, kicking off February with some thrifty wares.

It's all about how to use cast off, thrifty or thrifted items in your decor.

This month I'm going to show you some of my favorite finds, although I don't know if I can actually call them thrifty since they sort of cost me thousands of dollars.

Vintage Cash Register
This old register unfortunately was not filled with vintage money.

I didn't  pay for these vintage finds by the item, which makes them thrifty, but I did have to buy a whole building in order to call them my own, and that makes them spendy when you throw in the cost of the bricks and windows.

Thursday

Quirky Sign With Homestead House Milk Paint

What month is this?  Janulazy?

Of course I'm not talking about myself, I haven't been lazy.

OK, yes I have, I admit it.

It's partially a patience thing, but I did make a sign.

Custom Coordinates Style Sign Bliss-Ranch.com

Our high speed DSL has been acting like the evil step sister to dial up, and patience is something I have on my bucket list to experience sometime in this life.