Chalkboard Paint Fun!

I have been seeing the cutest idea all over "blogland" and I decided to try it out myself! I found several silver trays at local thrift and antique stores. I bought different sizes and shapes so I could try several of them.

I also found a simple white platter I wanted to try. All you need is some painters tape and chalkboard paint!

First you tape off the edges of the tray or platter and spread some newspaper or something around it.

Then you spray a light coat of chalkboard paint on it. You should apply a few coats of paint to ensure full coverage, allowing for drying time between each one.

In the end, this is what you get! Isn't it adorable?

I'm thinking that the edges of the white one looks a little bare. I'm still trying to figure out what to do on it. These are just a few of the silver trays.





I absolutely love how they turned out! I think it's a neat gift idea too! It's so easy. Go ahead, try it!

My First Furniture Makeover!

YAY!! I'm so excited!! It's my first official furniture makeover!
I had this other shelf in my living room that I loved in the store, but not so much in my living room. It was just a little big and gaudy in the space behind my front door. Here it is after I had already taken all my stuff off.

Then, I went to a furniture store here in Lex-Vegas, and found this little beauty!

Yes, I know it's yellow. But thanks to all these new thrifty decorating blogs I've have been stalking, I could see the beauty beyond the yellow. (Of course the cheap price helped too!)

So, I did what any respectful thrifty person would do.......I spray painted it black!

Doesn't she look so nice in my little shelf spot now? I was so excited when I finished and leaned it up against my wall, I almost peed on myself! I haven't quite got my stuff fixed where it needs to be and I'm still working on some more projects, but you get the idea! So, thanks to all the lovely bloggy people out there for some inspirtation and teaching, for without you, I would not have taken a second glimpse at that awful yellow thing in the store!

(I have got to figure out how to link to other blogs in my writing, I'm so new to this and I'm a little computer illiterate, so any suggestions would be great!)

Yard Makeover!

Here is one of the projects sweet hubby and I have been working on for several months now. I have never been one for planting or gardening. In fact, some may say I have a black thumb, (if that's the opposite of a green thumb).

Anyway, I don't have any true before pictures, but there was grass where the mulch is, so you get the idea!

Ok, so this part did NOT get redone. What in the world should I do to this? I know the outside carpet(?) needs to go. The door and shutters need painting, but what color? And what do we do with those metal rails?

Check out those massive old azalea bushes. They don't bloom anymore though.

Here's the new Encore Azaleas that my hubby picked out. They bloom for a longer time than regular ones. He also built the border.







And here it is (almost) finished!





Anyone got any ideas on what to do with the porch? What color should we paint the door and shutters? Any ideas would be great!
Let's just hope I don't kill all these plants now!

Babies, babies, everywhere!

Remember these?

Now look at them!!!

OMG, they are so ugly they're cute!

HAPPY SPRING! (finally in June)

Random Stuff

I know, I know. You don't have to say it. I'll say it for you.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?

Well, I wish I could say we went away somewhere exotic or tropical,
like.....

Paris (ooh la la)

or

Italy (sigh)

or

Hawaii (the BEST place on the earth to be)

but.... it's most definately NOT that glamerous. I've been at home, at work, at church, at home, at work, at church, at home, well, you get the point.

But, there are a few highlights I could mention. First, I realize that I haven't mentioned all the babies popping out everywhere. My friend at work had her little baby girl on May 17th. She was 2 weeks early and still weighed 6lb 13oz, was 19 1/2 in long, and they named her.....

it's SO cute,

Addison Kate!

Told ya it was cute! We've called her "baby girl" for so long though because her name was a secret. But I love the name Addison. She is absolutely adorable too!

Then, my cousins wife had a baby girl on May 20th. She was 8lb 5oz (OMG) and her name is Kenzley Jaymz. She is just precious, I could just squeeze her! We have 2 baby boys in my church that are just a few months old, and another girl due in August. I am so getting the "baby fever", so hubby might get bumped to the couch for a while!

I've been sick for the past week. Last Monday I woke up fine, but by 5:00pm my voice was sounding pretty bad. Tuesday morning, it was GONE! Nothing but a whisper. That is the most annoying thing ever for a talker. I physically cannot hold it all in, I have to talk. It is like torture, although my husband was quite happy about it, almost giddy. But, it's pretty much back now, so of course I'm catching up!

I'm in the planning stages of a total bathroom remodel and trying to figure out what to do to spruce up my kitchen. I'm finding all kinds of neat decorating ideas out here in blogland that I am going to try out a little here and there. I'll try to post pictures if I can figure out how to. I can get them uploaded but they show up out of order. Suggestions? anyone?

Ok, that's all I have for now. I promise I will be back sooner next time.

In the words of my 3yr old,
"Cheese out bobos!"