Blog Updates & a Tip

What do you do when you are stuck spending four days on the couch with a sinus infection from H-E-Double Hockey Sticks?  Besides whine to your dog and husband? You update your blog tabs.  That’s what you do.

I updated the Home Projects, Photography/Blog Tips, Crafty Things, and Recipes tabs.  I also added the Travel tab.  Click around.  See if you have missed anything important.

Maybe your dog needs a tie for your holiday photos?

Maybe you missed the hard hitting posts where I organized my spice racks or used burlap as wallpaper.

Maybe you need a good recipe for the week.  The photo of Cheeseburger Cups looks disgusting but trust me, they are tasty!  (It’s funny to look at the difference in our photography for the earlier posts compared to the current posts. I hope we’ll be saying the same thing in a year.)

Important Tip #1:  Here’s an important tip for those of you just starting out blogging.  Start your tabs/static pages now!  Seriously.  Don’t be like me thinking you will eventually do it.  You’ll be sitting at home on a sick day 2 years from now wishing you hadn’t been a slacker.  Static pages make it easier for readers to see what you’ve been up to.  (Learn how to make your own using Blogger here.)

Important Tip #2:  inlinkz made this update so much easier.  I broke down and bought the subscription ($20 for the year).  I am a weirdo about spending money on this blog.  The only money I have previously spent is $5 for photo storage (which you are basically forced to do.) This subscription is totally worth the money. 

I was trying to mess with code before. I know very little about coding.  It’s just not my jam.  (Unlike Reese’s Pieces.  They are my jam.)  It’s the site a lot of bloggers use for hosting link parties.  But you can also use to it organize your projects page.  Who knew??  It’s very user friendly.  You enter you’re the address for your blog post.  It pulls the pictures from that post.  You crop the photo, add your title and you are done.  You can edit the page information at any time.  Me likey.  I might even host a link party. Who knows.

Speaking of parties. Check back tomorrow for a big announcement.  Ooooooo, the suspense!

Did you find any fun posts that you missed?  Are you an organized blogger?  Just starting out?  Reese’s Pieces fan?  Pumped for the big announcement?

***Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for Ana White’s book, The Handbuilt Home. Enter here!***

The Handbuilt Home Giveaway

Those of you that have been reading this blog for awhile know that I like to make my husband we like to build furniture.

West Elm Inspired Bedframe

West Elm Inspired Window Headboard

Nate likes to try to come up with his own plans but sometimes it’s easier to not have to reinvent the wheel.  That was the case with our farmhouse table.

Farmhouse Table

Ana White’s plan for the Big Ur Farm Table was very straightforward.  We loved the look of the table and there wasn’t much to improve on.

Ana White's site has also been super helpful with any building related questions that Nate has when I show him a piece of furniture and say “Please build this dear love of mine.”  She introduced us to the Kreg jig and our lives have never been the same since.  Seriously.  True story.

I was recently asked to review Ana’s book, The Handbuilt Home.

via Ana White

The book is full of furniture plans for every room of the home.  The book is very visually appealing with many photos of diagrams and completed projects.  I enjoyed the first few chapters of the book that explain what tools are needed, what kind of wood to purchase for the various projects, and what type of finishes to use on the projects.  The book also includes information on different types of cutting and assembly.

After reading this book I almost thought I could build furniture on my own.  Who needs that husband?  Not me.  Okay, wait. I do.  I can’t cut straight to save my life. I am, however, seriously thinking about learning how to use a saw. Seriously.  Baby steps.  I won’t be wearing heels though if I do.  That Ana is an impressive lady.

Would you like a chance to win a copy of your very own?  Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I was not compensated for this review.  I was provided a copy of The Handbuilt Home for free.  All opinions are 100% mine.  Like always.***

Nate Goes Hunting

Sorry the blog has been lame-o lately.  I’m still recovering from the bacteria that has invaded my body.  Round two of antibiotics appears to maybe be doing something.

I, obviously, haven’t been into house projects.  Unless you count making a giant dent into my couch as a house project.  I’ve made fine progress on that front.

What do you post about besides your couch cushions’ giant dent? 

You post photos that your husband took while he went hunting in South Dakota.  The boys of the family head off west once a year to hunt pheasant.  I’ll save you the dead bird photos and share the pretty ones.  You. Are. Welcome.

I really want a cow.  Ike does too.  Nate’s not really into it.  Weak, Nate.  Weak.