Get Cozy

Fall is definitely in the air.  Our nights are getting colder...brrr.  And, all I want to do is curl up on the couch under a blanket.

So, I took my $2.99 Goodwill basket,

I added a chalkboard sign to it

and I filled it with blankets.  One for each of us...

so we could all get cozy.

Chalkboard Sign

Sometimes we all need a reminder to...

In efforts to clean up my craft area and use up some of my supplies, thanks to October Overhauling, I decided to finally use this mirror my mother in-law gave me.  It never quite found a spot in my house in its current state so I decided to get crafty with it.

A transformation was in order so I carefully took the mirror out of the frame.  While we were painting Grace's shelf for her closet, I gave the frame a coat of white paint as well.

Sometimes, I forget I am a blogger, so focused on getting the task done, I forget to take pictures.  Trust me, as we were painting the shelves, chasing after our dog, entertaining Grace...I was also painting my silver frame white.

I convinced my focused husband to take a break and cut down some wood to fit into the frame.  Then, I gave that a few coats of chalkboard paint.

When it dried, I put it all back together and hung it in my kitchen.  I thought about using it to write out our grocery list or weekly menu but decided instead, on the simple reminder 'to be happy just because'. 

One of the things that make me happy, my kitchen...tomorrow, I'll give you a proper tour.  Today, be happy just because.

Chalkboards and Backdrops - Repost

Yesterday, I repost Grace's Arts and Crafts Party and I got a lot of wonderful feedback, which means, I am subjecting you to more from her 3rd birthday party.

 Growing up, I was the kid that always wanted to draw on the chalkboard at school. Something about it seemed so grown up and important, maybe even forbidden. SO when I saw this post on Oh dee doh about chalkboards, I knew I had to try it. Using chalk on a sidewalk or driveway is fun but drawing on a giant chalkboard, at least the kid in me thinks, is so much cooler.

I figured it would be the would be a perfect addition to Grace's arts and crafts birthday, not only for the fun element but also because...

1. it would hide our unsightly chain linked fence

and 2. it would hide our neighbor's unkempt yard.

It was so easy. I used some plywood and 2 cans of Rust-Oleum chalkboard paint, 2 coats per board. When they have completely dried, prime the board by rubbing it with chalk and then it's ready to use. I drilled some holes along the top and used zip strips to attach each chalkboard to the fence. After all my hard work, Martha Stewart emailed me her tip of the day, how to make your own chalkboard paint (ironic). I am not sure how well that would have worked but if you'd rather try a DIY, you can find that formula here.

When I saw the finished chalkboards, the kid in me came out, I had to grab some chalk and start writing. Which turned into an impromptu photo session. Rarely does a day pass that I am not begging someone to say 'cheese'.

And since I can't show favoritism. I had to include my other baby as well.

Though, she was anything but a willing participant.

Post .

I love looking through magazines, you never know where inspiration will strike. This was the case when I was looking through the new Pottery Barn catalog. When I stumbled upon this image.

{Image via Pottery Barn}

I immediately fell in love with the glass mail container and the POST sign {both were used for styling and not for sale}.

I showed my talented assistant, my husband. I batted my eyes and asked so sweetly, if he thought he could make me a POST sign.

A day later...

I had my own POST sign.

I found a thick glass container at Goodwill for $4.99 and I took some of my favorite cards out of a box they were stored in {from my talented assistant} and I combined the two.

Everything about this makes me happy.