Take a Leap!

I know I must be crazy - 2 blog posts in one week!
This post really has nothing to do with The Barn, but I wanted to share it.  I've always received most of my creative nudges (sometimes shoves) from people in my industry that I admire or find inspiring.  If I can "nudge or shove" at least 1 person to take their leap....then I'm a happy camper!  So if you have a bucket list, or a list of any kind, today's your day to cross something off.

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Well, it's not everyday that you get to post a blog on February 29th, so I thought I would share my thoughts today with my readers.

It's LEAP DAY!

Every 4 years there is 1 day dedicated to taking a leap (i'm sure it isn't really dedicated to that, but I totally think it should be).  So take your leap today.....


.....start that business you've always wanted
.....say I Love You to that special someone
.....begin that diet/workout/lifestyle change to better your health
.....pick up the phone and make that call
.....pop the question
.....say yes
.....plan that trip
.....go out on a limb
.....grab the bull by the horns

However big or small that "thing" or "leap" is, don't put off 'til tomorrow what can be done today.  Take a leap!
What's the worst that could happen?   I guarantee it's no worse than not knowing what could've been!  
I've taken many leaps in my life and then stood back and scratched my head and thought "what on earth did I just do?"  But, I've always learned from my experiences and become stronger because of my craziest leaps.

Happy Leap Day.....from one self-proclaimed, serial-leaper!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like.......A Barn!!!!

I am sitting here in my comfy, cozy chair and I'm becoming more and more frustrated as I watch The Bachelor.  Since I can no longer watch this nonsense, I've decided to write my blog.   Why does The Bachelor always fall for the crazy, psycho one?!  And why do I get sucked into these awful, un-reality shows, they are so scripted and predictable.....Uggghh, (enter a big, awful, long SIGH here)!

And now, back to the barn....
So we've gone from a skeleton-frame of a barn to getting some tin on the roof!  Um, did you hear what I just said?  Hold on to your bootstraps as I repeat it......WE GOT SOME TIN ON THE ROOF TODAY!!!
And I built a bridge.  I took on the project of the bridge that will go over the creek connecting The Barn to the Bridal Suite and Restrooms.  Yes, me alone - so I'm contemplating naming this bridge GIRL POWER!!!  Ok, not really, but that would be a ridiculously great name for a bridge, right?!
Anyway, everything is well on it's way to becoming finalized.  I'm so happy with the progression and we are right on schedule.

The Bridge on Sunday.

(ok ok, so my husband helped me HOLD some boards on Sunday because I don't have 9 arms - but it's still a GIRL POWER bridge).

The Bridge today.

The barn around 2pm today....the first piece of tin goes up....MAJOR MILESTONE!!!

The barn around 5:30pm today.....Hooray for Tin!!

"So....What's it Gonna Look Like on the Inside?"

Well, blog, I'm glad you asked!  If any of you read our write up on The Wedding Post's blog back in November there were 2 photos that were picked especially because they give a good representation of what the walls inside the barn will be like.  Granted, the walls of our barn are not going up until after we complete the tin on the roof, it is going to be spectacular.  I absolutely cannot wait for it to be finished.  We have some amazing and unique things in store for our photo shoot, once the barn is complete.

This is NOT our barn...but this is similar to what the interior will be like.

Open Barn?   Yes, Please!

Also, we will be holding an "Open Barn" event once The Barn is open.  This event will be an invitation-only event for our current booked brides, wedding industry profesionals and some lucky winners of contests we will be holding via our Facebook page, so make sure you stay tuned-in to our Facebook for your chance to score a fab invite.  

- Show Us Your Can - 

The "Show Us Your Can" contest is going on right now.  If you have one of our Barn Koozies, we are asking you to post creative pictures of where your koozie has been.  The photo that receives the most "likes" will win an invite for 2 to our "Open Barn" event.   Contest runs through March 31, 2012.

This is our "Show Us Your Can" Contribution.  I call it:  Can on Horseback!

If you don't have a koozie, you can get one for $5 (postage is included in the cost).  Just send us an email with your mailing address and we'll forward you the pay link.  You can email us at barnattwinoaksranch@yahoo.com

These are our koozies....they are double sided.

This is the other side of them.

As always feel free to post your comments below - we love hearing from you.

Wow...I had a lot to say today!  

That's all for now barn heads.....adios muchachos!!

(thank goodness The Bachelor is over now)

Dear Ol' Dumptruck...

Feeling HOT HOT HOT!

A 72 degree day really gets me in the mood to start thinking about gardening and landscaping.  But before I start all that, we've got a barn to complete.  We finished putting the last part of the roof framing for the barn today, the electrical conduit has arrived and I happened across some amazing wooden spools that we will be using for awesome decor.  So, it's been a pretty great day!

Up to my ears in ba, ba, ba, ba, boxes!

Now that I'm at home I've been stuffing boxes, stuffing boxes, stuffing boxes.  If you participated in our Facebook Fan Giveaway in January, then you are getting ready to find out what boxes I'm stuffing!  
I can't wait to drop these bad boys in the mail tomorrow....because I have a fun little contest in mind.

Grab a Kleenix...

On a somber note, our sweet little chicken, Dumptruck (my 4 year old named him/her), traveled to to greener pastures today, where the creeks flow with golden corn and lay pellets fall from the sky.  While putting out hay, Dumptruck was found in my barn (not The Barn).  It seems as though he/she was stepped on by one of our horses.  I know, it's awful, but it's just life on a farm.  If you have a lot of animals, odds are not all of them are going to be around for a long time.  Dumptruck is survived by his trusty pal Ding-a-ling (also named by my 4 year old).  Ding-a-ling is a big white duck that is a spitting image of the Aflac duck, and he has been so sad today.  So, our poultry count was cut in half today by some horsing around (ok, not funny... I know - but if I don't laugh about it, I'll cry).

  

Dumptruck

2010-2012

(L to R)  Dumptruck & Ding-a-ling

I cannot leave you on that sad note.  So, I'm going to ask you this:  

Question:

What do these cities all have in common?

East End, Arkansas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Russellville, Arkansas

Dallas, Texas

Statesboro, Georgia

Iowa Park, Texas

Conway, Arkansas

Answer:

These are just a few of the cities in which our 2012 Brides are coming from.  

I know, right?!!  AMAZING!!

That's all for now barn heads!  Nighty Night!

Valentine's Day Eve

I'll set the mood with a little diddy 

(not about Jack & Diane...but about you and your lover).

This song is going at the beginning of my blog today so that you can listen while you read.  This is currently my #1 hot & steamy valentines love song.  I adore Josh Abbott Band, and this has always been one of my favorites, but it is super duper fitting for Valentines day.  So, have a listen and tell me if it doesn't make you want to go steam up some car windows with your Valentine.....Raaawr!

A Vintage Lovestory...

just in time for Valentines Day!

We were honored to get to design and style a photoshoot for Melissa McCrotty's advanced photography class over the weekend.  Originally it was supposed to be at Twin Oaks Ranch, but the weather was just too darn cold.  Here are just a few of my favorite pics from the shoot.

The cotton wreaths were a last minute add-on.  I think they looked pretty awesome!

 

I loved the cotton boll for the groom's boutonniere, with a touch of quail feather to make it that much more vintage.

One of Melissa's marketing designs is raw cotton, so we used lots of it in the design of this palate.  It was so much fun!  We were a bit bummed that we had to do it indoors in a "not so pretty" room, but we made it work and were happy with the outcome.   

Oh, it's just a quick styled shoot....NOT!

Believe it or not, there is a TON of work that goes into just doing a "simple" styled shoot.  Thank you so much to one of our fabulous interns, Victoria (whom I will call the Iron Diva from now on).  She was in charge of making sure all of our linens were wrinkle free - and she did a fab job!  She rocked our pink event iron with style!   Another big 'ole thanks to Cindy for helping clean water spots, stage the shoot and attempt to slice & fan fresh strawberries :o)   

This is our pink event iron - it is wonderous!

Valentines Day in a box...Heck Yeah!

I am so stoked (can't believe I just said stoked) about this super cute dishtowel I received from my Texas Valentine that I must show it off.  It has an adorable pair of valentine boots embroidered on it.  I love a cute pair of boots....and now I can dry my hands on a pair!  

You can find your own cutie-patootie towel at Kohls.

Here's a peekity Peek at what else was in my VDay in a box.

If you can't tell, I like frozen drinks....they make me feel like I'm on vacation!

It's hard to believe February is at the halfway point.  That just means the completion of THE BARN is that much closer.  I am so, so, so ready.  I cannot add enough so's to that sentence!

That's all for now barn heads....Enjoy your Valentines Day!

For the LOVE....it's February!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE....

Happy February Everyone!!!  This is the month of LOVE....Awwww!  And so i'm going to be talking about random things I LOVE!  I love all these crazy things below.  Some may be related to the barn, others, may just be fun things I'm loving right now.  So, allow me to begin...

Of course, first and foremost, I LOVE my God!

I LOVE my Valentine....He's cuddly, he's rugged, he's rough, he was country, when country wasn't cool.  He can be silly, he can be serious, he can drive a tractor!  He loves Willy, Waylon, George, Pat, Merle & Daugherty (I can't relate to the latter, but whatever floats his boat).

My Valentine

I LOVE my little duder....He's sweet, he's tough, he's silly.  He loves pirates, horses, 4 wheelers & dirt bikes, and most of all, he loves his mama!!

My Little Duder

I LOVE the progress of the barn...This is the latest picture I have.  It's even further along than this picture, but I haven't had the opportunity to get outside with my camera lately.  We are actually getting ready to start putting TIN on the roof.  Hot Diggity Dog!

It's coming along quite nicely...

I LOVE wedding cake cupcakes from THE CAKE PLACE!  Ummm, they have this ridiculous raspberry filling in them that Lauren concocted herself and they are To. Die. For!

Heaven in a paper wrapper...

I LOVE this pendant and wish my valentine would buy it for me (etsy...$28...hint hint).  

I'ts a barn door pendant.  I absolutely aDOOR it! Ha ha...I'm a dork.

This is fabulous...

I LOVE my new mascara....silly I know, but when I find mascara that works on my eyes, I shout it from the rooftops!!  It's called "They're Real" and it's made by Benefit.  You can buy it at Sephora, Ulta or online.  It makes you look like you wear false lashes and stays on.  I absolutely LOVE it!

I highly recommend...

I LOVE pink and red together - it makes me happy

I LOVE designing delightful events in barns...and I cannot wait to create some barn masterpieces this year! 

I LOVE going to the beach - it recharges my batteries and I always return pumped up and ready to go!

This is our spot...our little slice of happiness!

I LOVE change.  This may sound weird, and lots of people hate change, but I love it.  Probably the only constant in this world is that things change.  This is the whole reason why I got into business for myself..I cannot stand working on the same thing, seeing the same thing day in and out, etc.  This is why unique things catch my eye - making each event something new and different from the last one.  From changing my hairstyle, to my decor style, to changing my Old Gringos....I love change!!

Hello Lover...

My trusty old go-to boot...when in doubt, I wear this one!

I LOVE all of our BARN fans and brides who will be getting married here in the upcoming months.  Each wedding is going to be so unique and fabulous - I absolutely cannot wait.  The suspense is killing me!!!

I also love burlap things...

These are just a few of the many things I LOVE!  Take the time and celebrate the things you love this month.

That's all for now barn heads....thanks for reading!