Alana from Nest Vintage Modern's Profile

Display Name:	Alana from Nest Vintage Modern
Personal URL:	http://www.nestvintagemodern.com
Member Since:	3/25/07

Latest Comments...

If you use barn lye and have a properly constructed coop, you do not have to clean the coop daily. It just needs proper ventilation, pine shavings (NOT cedar---toxic to the hens), and barn lye to break down the waste. Fresh water, fresh dry food, love and attention. And chickens are absolutely friendly! They're also hilarious. They, like any animal which may be feral, will warm up to the family if handled. Ours used to hop in our laps when we'd let them out of their run to enjoy the backyard. Don't build a coop with anything a small child could open. I've seen hook-and-eye latches and racoons can open those right up. :( Pros & Cons of Raising Backyard Chickens Flag this comment	4/17/13 6:12 PM
"chickens are not pets. They are livestock." Poultry does not fall under the legal definition of "livestock". This is an important thing to note when approaching local authorities who may be a bit grey on how hens apply to local ordinances. Many assume it's illegal just because they haven't been commonplace until more recently. But human assumptions do not equate documented law. I fought for clarification of our local ordinances and won. http://brookfieldchickens.blogspot.com/ -Alana Pros & Cons of Raising Backyard Chickens Flag this comment	4/17/13 6:06 PM
Love Nate. His tragic experience in the 2004 tsunami inspired me to go over to a small village in Thailand and help out in the cleanup. An Interview with Nate Berkus Apartment Therapy Design Evenings Flag this comment	4/13/13 3:08 PM
This is a great testimonial and clearly you'e carried the core message with you as you've developed this site. I spent some time in Thailand after the tsunami and was surprised how few things I needed. I made do with a small backpack, the kind you'd use in high school. Thats what the folks there said I would need, so I followed their advice. What a leap of faith, but it was true. And since returning home I've slowly accumulated more and more stuff. This was a good reminder to keep it light. Time to get out the donation bins. Just wanted to let you know your story touched me and was a good reminder. Take care! Hope you and your daughter are settling into the new digs. -Alana Apartment Therapy on Trust Homes On The Road Flag this comment	4/9/13 9:18 AM
If you want to make it even easier, check out the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint line. That's all we use at my shop. No sanding, no priming, very low VOC, beautiful colors. With as much furniture as we paint at the store, it cuts the work down by about 2/3 and the place doesn't smell like paint all the time. Alana Spruce Up Your Dining Room Furniture with Paint: 2 Ways Flag this comment	3/17/13 5:10 PM
Gorgeous, warm, and real. I would expect nothing less. :) I'm sorry to hear of this challenge, Maxwell. I've been there and it's really true what they say in the new Game of Thrones promos (heh) "Chaos is a ladder". Change will be good for all involved once the dust settles. I'm a bazillion times happier post-divorce and so is he. But it hurts like hell at the time. Maxwell & Lulu's Temporary Digs House Tour Flag this comment	3/11/13 5:22 PM
Another great way to cook it is to lay them on cooling racks and then set the cooling racks in a cookie sheet in the oven. It's an easy way to cook a large batch...Because you never have enough bacon. :) How to Cook Bacon on the Stovetop Cooking Lessons from the Kitchn Flag this comment	3/11/13 5:17 PM
Gorgeous and creative. Before & After: IKEA Rast to Nailhead Bedside TableThe Abundant Abode Flag this comment	2/20/13 2:00 PM
Thank you so much for the mention of our event. We really appreciate the support! :) -Alana, Nest Vintage Modern The Weekend Guide: February 8, 2013 National, Local & Online Sales and Events Calendar Flag this comment	2/8/13 5:01 PM
Correction: ACE makes a house brand similar to Rustoleum that you can have mixed in any of their house paint colors. Madcap Multicolors: Kids Cups, Mosaic Table & Curtains The Tuesday Afternoon Scavenger Flag this comment	11/3/12 10:24 PM
Hi Sally, You don't want to use regular latex paint on metal. You do have a couple of options if you don't want to spray paint, though. ACE makes a house brand similar to Rustoleum that you can have mixed in any of their house paint. So you can roll that on, giving a nice enamel finish. Just use a small sponge roller. Second, you can use one of the new chalk paints like CeCe Caldwell's or Annie Sloan. You can paint right onto the surface with no priming or sanding and it'll adhere to any surface (fabric, metal, glass, wood...) but the finish will be softer, not a glossy enamel. It depends on the look you're going for. I sell chalk & clay paints at my store. Drop a line if you'd like to learn about using them. Lastly, if you are avoiding spraying because of limited color options, check out the Liquitex line of spray paints. They're available at Michaels and have MUCH more range between colors, plus they're much less prone to running. Hope that helps! Madcap Multicolors: Kids Cups, Mosaic Table & Curtains The Tuesday Afternoon Scavenger Flag this comment	11/3/12 10:23 PM
Oh Sarah, that's awful I'm SO sorry to hear you're going through this. I thought kids coming home with head lice was bad. Hope your home is peaceful again soon. -Alana http://www.kitschykitten.com Bed Bugs: An Update From The Trenches Flag this comment	3/30/12 3:56 PM
Each year I look at the other sites on the list and find some fabulous new blogs to make part of my regular reading routine. I know Kitschy Kitten isn't one of the big ones, but I get so much inspiration from AT and the blogs mentioned here that it's just fun to see the traffic come in and be part of this big sharing exercise. Best wishes to everyone! Alana http://kitschykitten.com Best DIY Blog Nominations The Homies 2012 Flag this comment	3/2/12 11:05 AM
Wonderful and cozy. I found lots of inspiration here. I'm sure you'll be seeing many of these shots on Pinterest, too. :) Merry Christmas! -Alana http://www.kitschykitten.com Shannon & Dean Create a Contemporary Farmhouse House Tour Flag this comment	12/22/11 11:55 PM
Thank you AT!!! I love this site and am always so inspired by the posts, so it's especially exciting when we get to be part of the content. :) Merry Christmas! xo, Alana http://www.kitschykitten.com Before & After: Painted Furniture & Cabinetry Projects Best of 2011 Flag this comment	12/21/11 8:28 PM
I love our pre-lit tree, but will make note of the tool if it's ever needed in the future. We have LED lights (the warm tone ones, not the weird vibrating neon ones) so hopefully we won't have that problem for a long time. To adamwa, I moved to a faux tree when I left Texas for Chicago and realized that the entire winter was about battling all things dry. The idea of trying to keep a tree hydrated (and not a tinderbox fire hazard) seemed daunting when I couldn't even keep my shins from getting itchy. :) -Alana http://www.kitschykitten.com Make Lighting Your Tree Easier Real Simple Flag this comment	12/14/11 4:09 PM
Every year I try to find that treasure trove town or neighborhood in Chicago that does it up big so we can take the kids through, but I've never found a solid place. Anyone know of a great, well-saturated area for a holiday lights drive? -Alana http://www.kitschykitten.com Top Places for Elaborate Holiday Decorations Flag this comment	12/14/11 3:44 PM
I've had a crush on Public Bikes for such a long time. We deserve to be together. <3 Win This Bike from Public Bikes! Holiday Giveaway 2011 Flag this comment	11/28/11 3:32 PM
"Still, we like to tell people it's an old Winston Churchhill quote." BUAHA! I love this so much. Thanks for the back story. Happy holidays in your super cute place. :) -Alana http://www.kitschykitten.com Steve & Stacey's Vintage-Inspired DIY Modern Apartment House Tour Flag this comment	11/14/11 5:15 PM
Personally, I get a kick out of stereotypes that other people have of Americans (Texans especially) when I travel. I kinda figure you have to have a sense of humor about your homeland if you have the character to make it through those winters. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the scenes in Peewee's Big Adventure that stereotype Texas. I still tell people, "There's no basement in the Alamo!" with as thick an accent as I can muster. C'mon folks. Don't be negative. Enjoy the spirit of the post, but then enlighten us in a nice way about all the other wonderful things that are there to discover. Personally, I love going to Lake Superior Provincial Park with my kids. It's gorgeous and most people in Chicago have no idea that a place that beautiful is only a day's drive away. -Alana http://www.kitschykitten.com Oh Canada! Gift Guide for the Canada Lover Flag this comment	11/14/11 5:10 PM