Chalkboard DIY

Finished Chalkboard

Whenever my boyfriend asks what what I want to do, its a 99% chance that my response will be THRIFTING! I love a good scavenger hunt through the aisles of Goodwill, and today's find was a beautiful mirror (for now). My plan is to make a message board for all of our households little needs. Another simple project that takes brings new life to the old, and the best part is there are endless possibilities! The potential for colors on the frame, sizes, styles, etc. are limitless, and who doesn't love writing with chalk?! I wanted something simple and classic; I got exactly what I was hoping for:

Materials needed:

• Picture frame or mirror
• Cloth 
• Windex/cleaner
• Newspaper
• Cardboard (to fit into the frame)
• Spray paint
• Chalk paint
• Paintbrush



Painted Frame and Cardboard



Original Mirror

• Chalk

Here is how to make the chalkboard:

1. Take apart the frame and wipe down the all the surfaces so you have a clean canvas to work with. 
2. Lay down the newspaper and place the frame on top. Follow directions on your spray paint can, I sprayed 3 layers of paint and had sufficient coverage. 
3. In between layers of spray paint you can multitask by painting your cardboard with the chalk paint. I opted out of using glass in the frame because I accidentally broke the glass (oops!) but I am sure if you didn't want to use cardboard then you could stick with the glass, just make sure to use a primer and a couple extra layers of chalk paint. Again, I used 3 layers and had enough coverage.
4. Wait for everything to dry and put it back together. Tah-da! now you have a lovely message board!

 I hope you guys enjoy! This is a super fun craft with lots of uses, for example, when hosting a dinner party you can use it as a menu board, write messages for your loved one, quotes for inspiration, a grocery list to keep you organized, and so much more!

A New Chapter

Life is full of surprises, and this past week has been no exception. I feel so blessed and want to share some of my most recent adventures.

As a bit of a pretext I had been very unhappy with my job; yes I am thankful for all the opportunities it has given me, the growth it has encouraged, the skills that it has developed, and so much more, but overall I struggled with some of the situations I found myself in and felt that it did not help to advance me further towards my long-term goals. 

After months and months of countless job apps (well over 200 in 9 months from my count) I finally decided to take a leap of faith. I decided to quit and make my full time job finding a new job and focusing on how to achieve my goals. This was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make but what I needed was a job I am passionate about and a reason to continuously get up every morning and work hard. 

Madison and her grandpa

Now, to the exciting part...... within a week I went from being potentially unemployed to interviewing for an amazing opportunity and being hired on the spot followed by becoming....an AUNT! Born October 19th, 2012, Madison blessed us with her presence. She is a beautiful baby girl full of health and life with a full head of gorgeous auburn hair! 

Love this little girl!

Let me tell you, things are looking up. I hope you guys will excuse my lack of focus on the blog as I have struggled to work full-time, practically work a second job applying for new jobs, and balancing all of life's other excitements. 

So please, join me in celebrating life and remembering that no matter how hard things may be, eventually the clouds will break and the sun will shine. 

Cake Stand DIY

Something I love to do is bake, but presentation definitely makes a HUGE difference. To help out with this  task there are a few simple supplies needed, most of which can be found at your local thrift store (how convenient!). Like most things I make, this project is totally versatile for personal preference. You can mix and match sizes, shapes, or colors for an eclectic mix. Even keep it simple and chic, or color coordinate! This little craft doesn't even have to be restricted to the kitchen, it would make a great jewelry holder or makeup stand.







Needed Supplies:

Thrift Store Finds

• Plates (or try a bowl on top for a catch-all or dip)
• Wine glass or candlestick
• Glass glue (I used the kind that is dishwasher safe)
• Heavy object to use as a weight

That is it for supplies, how simple! now on to the fun part~

Here is what to do:

1. Make sure everything is clean and dry
2. Measure out the center of the bottom plate
3. Glue the rim of your wine glass (this will be the bottom) and carefully center it onto the plate, making sure to wipe any excess glue
4. Measure out the bottom of the "top"plate
5. Glue the top of our wine glass and place the plate on top, making sure it is centered and again wipe any excess glue
6. Place your weight on top and let dry overnight

What kind of desserts will you be baking for these cute little stands? my obsession right now is anything and everything pumpkin!

Tribal Coasters

I am lucky to live at a place with lots of spare wood lying around. This helps in fostering ideas for my creative and practical side, and if there is one thing I love, its a good Anthropologie hack.

Like usual, I was getting lost in Anthropologie one day and came across some beautiful wood symbology coasters that I fell in love with but knew that I could make on my own for much cheaper, as in FREE. These coasters had a lovely mix of shape, color, and natural wood elements and although I am not be able to mimic the mother of pearl accents, I still had a starting point to aim for.

Anthropologie Symbology Coasters

So I headed to the wood pile, found a log that had the perfect diameter to set a cup on and started on my project. Again, this project was easy, affordable, practical, unique, and FUN! Here are the necessary supplies:

• Log
• Marker, small knife, or other means of marking wood
• Saw - and any safety gear for using power tools
• Sandpaper
• Clean cloth
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Newspaper (to prevent any messes :)

Step by Step Guide:

1. Now to get started first you can either mark where you want to start cutting your log or you can do what I did and just eyeball it. I wanted something thick enough to be sturdy but thin enough that it was not clunky. Now start cutting your coasters, I made a set of 6.                                                                                                                                       
2. Once you have all your coasters cut, go ahead and sand both the front and back so that you have a smooth, splinter free surface. I used fine-grain sandpaper because I wanted a very clean finish on my wood. 
3. Wipe down both sides so that all the dust and loose debris is gone and you have a clean surface for painting and lay down your newspaper so you don't make an unwanted mess. I painted my coasters freehand but if you are a perfectionist, use trial and error, or just want to make sure you love your design before committing then I suggest you lightly mark out what you want to paint with a pencil. 
4. Start painting! I am slightly obsessed with tribal designs at the moment, so I went with a tribal theme. I used bright colors to add a cheerful accent to my room and took inspiration from a few articles of clothing I had with some of my favorite prints on them. Here is my final product!

Nordstrom Recap

I know I am a few weeks late on this post but I hope all my readers can forgive me. Life has been a bit hectic and finding the time to sit down and write a blog post these past few weeks has been nearly impossible, I am sure many of you can relate, but that's a story for another day.

So my shopping trip with my sister and mother was quite successful. I did not buy much (which is probably a good thing), but the items I did get I fell in LOVE with. I ended up purchasing the most amazing boots and the perfect fall accent to my wardrobe. I bought the Steve Madden "Gretell" in brown suede. It is hard not to wear them every day before fall but they don't quite compliment the weather since we are finally experiencing summer in the PNW.

What I loved most about these boots was the versatility. They are classic brown suede, have a sturdy heel, and can be work with colored skinny jeans, tights, dresses, leggings, and skirts. They offer so much function and value plus I feel they make a subtle statement without being overwhelming.

The other statement piece I bought was the beautiful ivory Dee Elle Lace Shift Dress that I find to be perfect in every way. It has lace, a sexy scoop in the back, a conservative front, and can be worn in spring or fall. It is was worth every penny, and a steal at under $40 on sale!This dress is perfect for any occasion. I intend on dressing it down with a denim jacket and boots, or dressing it up with colored tights and a cute pair of flats. I can't wait to wander around the many coffee shops and farmer's markets Seattle provides in my new fall finds!

Nordstrom and Traditions

Traditions, we all have them. They are the simple things in life that we look forward to and bring such joy. Why is this? Is it because of the stability of it? You know once a year it will happen, even though you can't predict what else may come in this crazy, beautiful life of ours. Most people associate tradition with the holidays, but for me there is one tradition I enjoy that has nothing to do with the holidays, well unless you consider the beginning of fall fashion a holiday, which maybe we should :)

Every year the Nordstrom catalogue comes in the mail, how exciting it is to flip through the pages, circling your wish list and getting a first glimpse at fall trends. And then the day finally arrives, the first day of the sale! It is an ancient tradition as old as time, well ok you caught me, its not that old. But as far back as I remember though the first weekend of the anniversary sale consists of the ladies in my family waking up early, Starbucks in hand, waiting for the glorious doors to open so we may scour the racks like wild animals. I typically end up with half the store in my dressing room, and I will admit I won't come home with THAT much, but it is fun to try on the new trends; decide what you have to have, what you can find cheaper, what you can skip completely, and what you want to try and make on your own.

The Nordstrom sale usually signifies a new beginning for me. In the past it was the beginning of the school year, so I would choose out a few tops that were my statement pieces for the year, a pair of shoes, and maybe some jeans or an accessory or two. For whatever reason though the sale feels like a clean slate. I get to choose how I want people to see me this year, am I punk? hipster? classy? casual? Now that school is over things have not changed much. I still look at this as my New Year's. This year will be a milestone in my life; I will be an Aunt for the first time, change jobs, make headway on my career, and focus on pursuing all simple things that bring me joy.

I hope you guys are as excited for this weekend as I am! Happy shopping and I wish you all the best of luck!

O&V Bottles

Finished Project

Another easy afternoon project. I was shopping at Cost Plus World Market and for $3.99 found a set of clear glass bottles for oil and vinegar. I wanted to jazz them up and give them some character so with a little bit of time, some latex gloves, and armour-etch I created both a fun display and storage system for some kitchen essentials. 


Here is what you will need:

• Glass bottles
• Gloves
• Armour Etch
• Brush
• Stickers or stencil
• Tape
• Newspaper (or some other protective surface)

WARNING: Armour Etch is a corrosive material, yes you can handle it safely, I just wanted to give a heads up so make sure to wear gloves at all times, try to keep your mess minimal, and careful washing it off so it does not splash you!

Now lets begin:

1. Make sure your bottles are clean and dry. 
2. Once this is done you can set up your design. You could stencil in a design or picture, use scrapbooking stickers (like I did) to keep the glass clear for the writing and etch the entire bottle around it, or stencil in your writing with cut outs. There is a lot of leeway here, I think its best to find what suits your style. I will let you know that Martha Stewart has some fantastic fonts for scrapbooks, These made my life super easy when laying out the design and making sure everything was straight and evenly spaced. I also chose to tape off the top of the bottle to ensure I had even lines, here I just used electrical tape that I had on hand, you could use scotch-tape or even skip this step.
3. Make sure to read all directions on the Armour Etch before using it and make sure to put on your gloves. Begin to brush over the bottles in all the desired areas, apply LIBERALLY. Seriously, the more the better. I learned this the hard way and had to repeat this step because of it.
4. When your bottles are fully coated in a thick, white, gritty substance let it sit for between 5-10 minutes. I am someone that likes to go the full amount of time for safe measure.
5. Once time is up make sure to carefully wash the bottles in warm water. Keep the gloves on and you can rub the etching cream off under a warm tap. What you will find is a beautifully etched glass



Before Etching



Clean Dry Bottles

6. Make sure your bottles are fully dry and clean and now you can add your oil and vinegar. TA-DA! Another beautiful project that takes less than an hour. I hope you all enjoy your new bottles with some delicious fresh french bread!