prairie style magazine...

May 1st has always been a special date in my house.

That is when our campground opens for the season!

We get to celebrate one of our "camping friends" May 1st birthday too!

This year I have something else to look forward to...

Fifi O'Neill's Prairie Style Magazine is coming back and is hitting the newstands on May 1st!!

Can't wait to get my copy!

You can pre-order the issue here!

I just submitted my order, you are next!

Thank you Fifi for bringing back this wonderful magazine, can't wait to get my copy!

Thank you for stopping by and for all the lovely compliments on my sneak peeks for the white show!

romantic prairie style...

Happy Monday!

I know I have been promising to share the latest project I have been working on for my living room and today is the day.

Remember when I got my big white comfy couch back in May of 2010...

I wanted to paint my old blanket chest coffee table white.  Well it only took me until May 2012, but I finally did it...

I love it!

This past weekend our campground opened for the season.

I did not have Internet yet for my laptop.  I do have an iPhone now but blogging just is not the same (for my old eyes anyway).

So, I am glad I brought one of my copies of Fifi's new magazine with me...

It is fabulous and full of inspiration ~ of course!

And yes, you read correctly.  I said one of my copies.

I picked one up to share with one of you!

So if you would like a chance to win just leave me a comment on this post ~ that's it!

I will announce the winner on Friday, May 11th.

Oh and did y'all catch The Junk Gypsies new show?!!

It was wonderful!

I just want to say thank you to my girlfriends for a fun filled opening weekend at the campground!

Lots of laughs, good food, excellent margaritas and great pickin!

I'll be sharing my finds on White Wednesday!

Have a wonderful day!

one hundred white wishes...

A little over a year ago it was Kathleen's weekly White Wednesday gathering that gave me the final push to start my own blog.

I then started my musings on White Wednesday #34. 

Today Kathleen is celebrating 100 White Wednesday Posts!

Congratulations Kathleen and thank you for the inspiration to start my blog!

This Cottage Muse dreams in vintage whites.

When I started thinking about what to contribute today I thought it should not only be wonderfully white but reflect how this get together at Faded Charm each week lets me share how I interpret the inspiration that white is to me.

It all started when I picked up Rachel Ashwell's first book many years ago and images similar to these took my breath away...

via

via

While I fell in love with this look, and embraced the art of imperfection I soon realized that I needed to learn how to take all this inspiration and fit it into my every day life and learn how to edit...

  

via

As I was finding my own way with this inspiration, Rachel's next adventure made me feel that I took the right path...

via

I realized that surrounding myself with what I like is what is important...

via

via

Thank you Rachel.

Then of course I became enchanted with Fifi's new book...

And my heart and soul soared...

And I am finding true bliss in my surroundings...

Thank you Fifi.

This blogging adventure has opened many windows for me.

Especially on Wednesday when I get to peek into those windows over at Faded Charm where so many talented people share their interpretation of how white inspires them.

So, thank you to all the past participants at White Wednesday for sharing!

I have truly enjoyed visiting!

The biggest thank you is to Kathleen...and I send you one hundred white wishes to make all your dreams come true!

honorable mention...

A few weeks ago, Judy over at French Laundry invited her readers to send her a picture and share our view on the "beautiful livable way of decorating" that Fifi O'Neil celebrates in her wonderful new book Romantic Prairie Style. 

I decided to get a little more mileage out of this photo...

Judy announced the top five and the winner of her "Show Me Your Style Photo Challenge" here.  A few days later she announced some honorable mentions.  I was one of them...

 
Thank you Judy!!!

Winning Fifi's photo contest and now an honorable mention over at Judy's has made me want to take better photos.  I even started hinting to the mister about a new camera  ;)  !!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

she picked mine...

Now I am sure you all knew that the fabulous Fifi O'Neill was having a giveaway on her blog.  She was giving away 3 signed copies of her amazing book Romantic Prairie Style.  It wasn't just a regular giveaway where you enter and your name is randomly picked.  You had to send her a photo of how you displayed her book in your home.  I never thought I had a chance with all the talented ladies out there that take wonderful photos.  But guess what ~ she picked mine...

Can you believe it?!!  I am so excited!

Here are some other photos I took...

Fifi has hit the road and as she puts it "gone shooting" for her next book.  Another book full of beauty and inspiration from Fifi...sigh!!!

The crock was my Moms...one of my favorite treasures from her!

Congratulations to Tracie from My Petite Maison and Erin of The Painted Garden for being picked as well!

What a great week this is turning out to be!!

Thank you for visiting today!

random whites...

 Today I would love to be able to show you my wonderful white piece I bought out of Karen's new little garden spot at the shop but I can't.

You see it is buried behind all my "stuff" for the event.

I have been working every afternoon on this, that and the other thing ~ trying to pull it all together.

I spend my mornings out and about since I can drive now!

Yes I am smiling!!

So I thought I would share with you a few random whites from around my nest.

First, some pretties from a gift my thoughtful friend Sandi sent me...

Lovely handmade card tucked in with my gifts.

Beautiful little paper heart kissed with glitter.

I bought this old shutter hardware piece...

I am hoping to collect a few more unique "S"s for my studio...

A few weeks ago I found this sweet vintage book...

You know I have a weakness for these old beauties.  I recently sold a few that I liked but did not love so I think I can keep this one... 

I do love it!  When I took a peek inside I noticed this...

The book has a fishing story in it (we won't dwell on the bad day part)!  Not that my fisherman will notice that this book is a new find but at least I can justify it!!

Next I would like to share this beautiful gift from Judy over at French Laundry from the Pay It Forward 2011 project I participated in...

A stunning lavender sachet for my Paris Hotel Suite...

Thank you so much Judy!

I mailed off my packages yesterday ~ sorry for the delay girls!

Oh and yesterday I received another package in the mail...

I was giddy with excitment...

It is heavenly...

Thank you Fifi!!

Thank you for visiting today!

Big thanks to Kathleen for hosting White Wednesday ~ I am off to Faded Charm to poke around before I head out and about!