Chalkboard Obsession

 My friend, Jacque, made this chalkboard & sign for Olive's baby shower back in March of 2013.  I loved it so much that it's stayed this way every since.  It had always hung in Olive's nursery, but when we moved I decided it would fit better in dining room.  The pink of the frame perfectly matched the pink the area rug.  I felt nostalgic erasing the baby message and had to assure myself it wasn't really that big of a deal.  

 I used a really damp washcloth since the message had been on the board for about 18 months.  I went over it a few times to ensure that the message was fully erased.  Then let the board dry completely for about 15 minutes.

I didn't want to spend much money to update this chalkboard sign and knew that I needed to buy some chalk.  Target came through for me big time!  I found this container of chalk for less than $2 in the party supply aisle and it had every color  I needed.  I wasn't sure if it would work for my writing project, but figured it was worth the risk since it was so cheap.  I am happy to report that it worked great!!  I've since noticed that Wal-mart carries a Crayola line of similar chunky chalk for about a quarter a stick or a four pack for only $1.  I'm thinking I will definitely be investing in other colors as I acquire more chalkboards.

I did a practice sketch on a post-it note to map out what I wanted to do.  I knew that I wanted to write welcome and include colors from the dining room rug.  The chalkboard is the first thing you see when you walk in our front door so it had to be cheery and welcoming.  I free handed the cursive with green and then went back over it several times.  I got my stick of chalk wet to add some darker green in certain areas.  The more layers I did the better it looked.

 I added the stems, flowers, lines and polka-dots next.  I repeated the process of working with dry chalk first, wetting my chalk stick and then going over it to get the colors I wanted.  Let it dry for 10 minutes or so and then go back and darken or thicken lines.  I let it dry completely for about one hour and then we hung it (and by we I mean I told my husband where to hang it and he did the heavy lifting :)

 

 I'd love to have another chalkboard frame in Olive's bedroom, one in the kitchen for a menu board and maybe another to use on our patio.  I've been keeping my eyes peeled for ones that I really like but they seem pricey in the stores.  I probably just need to branch out a bit and head to my local thrift stores to see if I can DIY one.  I haven't checked out any thrift shops in Mississippi yet so I look forward to the fun adventure.

 My next project of the week:

Start pulling together gallery walls in my kitchen, family room and Olive's room.  Topher is eager to help with the selection process...

 Linking up with Best of the Nest

Rug Tour

 One of my favorite things to shop for since moving into our new house is RUGS!!  I'd love to eventually have a rug in every room.  We started downstairs and will work on the bedrooms later.

Here's a little rug tour:

Target was having a big online sale a few months ago - something like $25 off a $150+ purchase with free shipping.  I got an email and so did my husband.  He came home from work and suggested we take advantage of the great sale and buy a rug.  Don't have to tell me twice to pick out a rug :)  The rugs were already discounted and you could use both discounts.  We ordered the 7x10 Gold Rug and had it delivered to our house.  The rug is great quality, nice and bright and exactly what we hoped for in our family room.  We got it for $139!

 Our dining room rug came from RugsUSA.
They were also having a major sale - 80% off with free shipping.  I saw this bold rug and fell in love with it immediately.  I wanted a rug that would make a statement when you walked in our front door and this one was perfect!!  The 8x10 retailed for $676 and after the sale + free shipping it was $202!!  The rug was even better in person than online and I love everything about it.  I'd definitely order from rugsusa.com again the in the future when they have another big sale.

 I picked up this rug from TJ Maxx.

It's 3x5 and was $20.  It's perfect for our entryway.

This tiny rug is for our back door and I found it at Tuesday Mornings.

It was $10 and coordinates well with our family room rug.

I've learned that BIG rugs do go on sale and that it's worth the wait to watch for sales.  Sign up for emails from the company and check back in frequently for deals.  You can also search online for coupon codes for free shipping.  I am looking for a 4x6 rug for my kitchen, but haven't found anything I am even tempted to buy.  I'm also keeping my eyes peeled for bedroom rugs and am in no hurry because I want to find the perfect ones.  Isn't the hunt half the fun anyways!?!?!

Do you have a favorite on-line rug store?  Do share!!

I Confess...

I've been reading these confession style posts for a few weeks and decided to join in the fun this week!  I confess that...

I'm obsessed with Taylor Swift's new song
Shake It Off

I have already started looking for the perfect Halloween costume for Olive.  She was a darling pumpkin last year and I'm so excited to find another great costume for her this year.

I confess that after we moved we switched our home computer and I kind of hate it.  My husband used it for work and it's oddly laid out, keeps popping up weird messages and I miss my old HP.  Plus I miss having all my photos on my computer (transferring them to an external hard drive seems to take an eternity) and all of my bookmarks.  Maybe I'll get used to it or maybe I'll just go back to my old one :)

My husband asked to borrow my phone after dinner one night.  I told him that was fine but I didn't know where it was.  He looked at me like I'd lost my mind and said You're holding it in your hand.  Yes, I was using my phone when I said I had no clue where it was.

I confess that I have yet to adjust to all of the noises my house makes.  There are weird daytime and nighttime noises that startle me.  I hear things upstairs when I'm downstairs and our cats are busily contributing to the odd sounds.

My dining room table is currently covered in pictures, plates and decorations that need to be hung up around the house.  I can't decide where I want to put things so they are in this dining room limbo.

I confess that our church search is stressing me out a bit.  I'm looking forward to finding a home church but dropping Olive off in a nursery full of strangers is less than appealing, trying to research and learn about each congregation is daunting and I like to know what's going on so being the newbies is definitely out of my comfort zone.

I confess that I'm feeling guilty because Olive has very few outdoor toys.  We have never had a yard to play in so most of her toys are best suited for indoors.  We found a few things she can play with in the backyard but I'm hoping to hit up a big neighborhood garage sale in a few weeks to get more.

I confess that I made cinnamon rolls for my hubby and have already eaten 2.

I love watching 19 Kids and Counting
and am excited for the upcoming weddings, babies and new season.

Linking up for Confessional Friday

The Best Parts

It was a quiet week at home for us this week.  We didn't have any big plans and just got to enjoy being together.  We ate at home, enjoyed our backyard and watched it rain on the back patio.  I'd definitely repeat this week again.

The best parts were...

 1. I tackled my first chalkboard project.  I wanted something fun in our dining room to greet people as they entered our home.  It's the first thing you see when you walk in the door and I'm thrilled with how it turned out.  Now I just want to buy more chalkboards for the rest of the house.

2. I've been dying to have a tree swing for Olive in our backyard.  It was one of the first outdoor projects on our to do list.  It proved to be a little trickier than we anticipated (limb at an angle, had to buy a tall ladder, ropes were too short, knot tying, etc.)  My husband got all the logistics figured out and we spend time each day swinging.  Olive LOVES it and would likely sit there all day if we would push her.

 3. We went to story time this week at our local library in the hopes of meeting some other moms & kids.  I don't like being the new girl and I had to talk myself into going.  I'm glad we did.  We got acquainted with the children's librarian, met some nice people, got invited to church and look forward to going back.  Olive listened, participated, colored a frog, visited with the other kids and enjoyed some animal crackers.  I think we'd say it was a win-win for both of us.  We both got new books to read so I'm hoping story time will also help me get back into reading for fun.

 4. I'm in the process of decorating Olive's bedroom.  She isn't so interested in the curtains, pom-pom cluster or gallery walls but she does love her new chair.  I blogged the details of this darling polka-dotty chair earlier in the week.

 5. We have been trying to eat more salads at our house.  Our favorite this week was a BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad packed with veggies.  We had leafy greens, tons of chopped veggies, shredded sharp cheddar, rotisserie chicken and homemade salad dressing (3 parts BBQ sauce + 1 part Ranch).  It was delish!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Linking up with FridayFavorites, Oh Hey Friday!
 MeetattheBarre, ThoughtsforThursday, FridayBlogHop
OnYourHeart, LittleFriday, FinishThis,
 TheLaurenElizabeth, LifeRearranged, FiveonFriday,

FridayFavorites, FridaysFabFavorites

Enjoying Eating out with a ONE Year Old

My husband and I like to eat out.  It's a nice break for the routine of eating at home and it's nice for someone else to cook.  It can be tricky to eat out with a toddler so I wanted to share my tips for making it an enjoyable experience for everyone.

1. Avoid super quiet, tiny restaurants.  Eat on the patio of places or find places where your noise will just blend in with everyone else's noise.  I know I feel a lot less stressed when we are out to eat if I know that Olive is not bothering other tables.  It's also great if you can do call ahead seating which often reduces your wait time.

2. Bring a pack of Clorox wipes to clean the high chair and table thoroughly before you put your child in to eat their food.  I've witnessed some pretty nasty situations in high chairs so I always super clean them before Olive sits down.  If Kevin is with me, he'll hold her until I wipe everything down.  If I'm alone, I'll sit her on my lap and clean with one hand.  We put her in her seat once things are dry.

3.  Bring snacks and a sippy cup for your child so they can start eating pretty quickly.  I keep Cheerios, pretzel sticks, veggie straws or crackers on hand at all times.  That way Olive can start munching while we're ordering.

4. Ask for crayons and a kids menu for your child to play with at the table.  I have to watch her closely because she never fails to bite the tips off the crayons.  She's probably a little young for them but we have fun as long as I watch her closely.

5. Order her a kid's cup if they have them.  I bring a sippy cup and have the kid's cup because one usually ends up on the floor.  Olive is great with a straw now so it also buys us a little more time if we have it to entertain her.

6. Share your food with your toddler.  Olive isn't eating enough to order her own meal yet so I typically get something I can share with her.  If we eat at a spicy place, I might order her a kids meal and take the rest home for the following day.

7. Take turns keeping the little one happy - I'll eat and my husband feeds and tends to her and then we switch roles.  Sometimes we all eat happily together but we are prepared to tag team things if we need to.

8. Hope that you have a sweet waiter/waitress that likes kids.  We have had wonderful ones that will talk to Olive, make silly faces and one even made a little rattle for her to play with.  We've also had wait staff that completely ignore her.  It's kind of a mixed bag so be prepared for everything.

9. Bring things/toys to entertain your little one.  I have a pouch of toys in my diaper bag at all times.  It's got things like a coin purse, bubbles, tiny cat, little book and other miscellaneous toys.

10. Clean up the best you can before your table and tip accordingly.  Try not to leave a big mess or tip generously if you weren't able to clean up.

The moral of the story...

it's possible to eat out with a toddler if you plan ahead 

setting everyone up for success :)

Trend or Trash: Light Denim

I'm seeing more and more light denim making appearances in the stores.  

It seems to be everywhere for fall.  What do you think - trend or trash??

GAP

Whitney Says...

I am a fan.  I love the light denim and just bought a light denim jacket from GAP for Fall.  I don't think I'll be wearing this trend in jeans since I typically wear dark wash jeans.  I will probably stick to light chambray shirts and my jacket.  I'd love to pair it with a great, plaid scarf or plaid button down shirt for Fall.   

Light Denim Inspired Looks that I'd like to replicate:

via peoplestylewatch


via refinery29


via collegefashion

Fighting for Quality Time

PRE-baby date nights/quality time used to include things like:

trying new restaurants

late night movies

game nights with friends

reading together
last minute planning

eating, shopping and taking our time
sleeping in

and that's no longer our reality... :)

Fact: POST-baby quality time is tricky.

We always seem to be tired.

We have to factor in bed times, kid friendly dining options and speed of service.

We have to pack a bag to go anywhere.

Olive is great with people and enjoys being out and about 

BUT she can be unpredictable so we have to be very flexible in our plans.

We don't live near family so Olive goes with us.

We have to be home between 8-9:00pm.

Don't fret.

Date night isn't dead at our house;

it just looks different than it used to.

Here's how we fight for QUALITY TIME to still happen at our house:

1. Put Olive to bed and then have dinner for two

2. Order take out and eat at home

3. Rent movies or watch things from the DVR

4. Go for a walk together

5. Play in the backyard

6. Make intentional efforts to talk to each other about something other than the baby.  It's tricky because
our lives are pretty baby dominated but it's nice to change things up.

7. Plan a special dinner at home - something fun to grill, a new recipe to make together or pick out something new to try at the store.  The picture above is from a cookout for two we planned after Olive went to bed for the night.

8. Make a fun dessert to end the night with - we both like sweets so it's fun to bake them together, enjoy

9. Watch sports together and really pay attention to what is going on so you can talk about it together.  We watch football, golf, college basketball, etc.  My husband taught me the ins and outs of football and we both really enjoy watching all kind of games together.  I work hard to make game day fun and plan appetizers and other new recipes to try.  Some years we even play Fantasy Football.  I am pretty proud to say that I actually won my league a few years ago because he was such a good teacher :)

10. Go grocery shopping together and plan meals for the week.  My hubby likes to be included in meal planning and I appreciate the help at the store.  He also is in charge of the coupons and I do several coupon apps on my phone.

11. Go to church together

12. Just enjoy being together

PBK Knock Off Anywhere Chair

 My parents and I were strolling through Wal-Mart when we were all spending the week in Mississippi together back in June.  We'd gotten some groceries and I spotted this polka-dotty chair in the kid's section.  It was at the very top, not easily accessible area with no visible price.  We convinced my dad to climb up on the employees only ladder to get one down for us.  He thought we were joking but we assured him that Olive would love it.  We found a random price tag that said $29.95 and were thrilled.  My mom was sure that Olive needed it for her new room and who was I to argue :)

Side note: I'd been looking at the Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chairs for a while and their $140+ price tag always scared me off.  I couldn't justify spending that much even though I really loved them.  I love the monogramming option, the variety of slip covers and the sturdy chair construction.  The Wal-Mart version isn't as sturdy and does not have a slip cover, but it is just as cute for a fraction of the price.

Let me finish the story...

We head up to the check out counter and ask them to do a price check to make sure we weren't paying too much.  It rang up for $19.95!! SOLD!! We hurried home with it and it's adorable in her room.  I've put together a little Book Nook for her and she loves sitting in it.  I'll be sure to take some pictures of her room once it's all put together.  Stay tuned.

 I could not find our Big Joe chair on-line but here are some similar chairs

Graduate Cupcakes

We had a graduation party with Kevin's fellow interns in Arkansas before everyone went their separate ways.  Another wife and I planned the event for their last day of work and worked out all the details.  Everyone brought a side and drinks to share.  We got BBQ at a local restaurant and made cupcakes for everyone.

I did the invitations at Sam's because I couldn't beat their prices.  I talked my husband into getting a group picture of everyone so I could put it on the invitation and they all seemed to love having a group picture taken.

We made my old stand by of funfetti cupcakes with homemade buttercream.

 Anna and I had several craft dates to make the cupcake toppers.

 We had lots of pictures of everyone printed as 4x6s then cut the people out.

We took red printer paper, red and white twine and glue sticks to make graduation caps for each person.  I cut out the top square first, attached it to a hat like base and then Anna tied a tassle for each.  She threaded them through a needle and poked them into the hat.  We taped the underside so the tassle would stay.  We attached plastic toothpicks to the back of each picture with washi tape and then poked them down into the cupcakes.  It was a little time consuming but they were well worth it.

Everyone loved them and thought they were pretty funny.

Graduation Celebration

 I knew I wanted to have a graduation party for Kevin when we were home visiting our family this summer.  I wanted everyone to come and celebrate him reaching this milestone.  He technically graduated in May 2014 but wasn't official until he finished his internship in July 2014.  We weren't going home for a visit until August so that's when we planned the party.  It turned out that Kevin's brother, Kyle, was graduating from law school so we ended up having a joint celebration.  Both sides of our family came and it was a lot of fun.  Kevin's mom - Pam - graciously offered to host and help coordinate the food and I got to do my favorite parts - the stationery, decorations, favors and desserts.

I saw several cute graduation invitations but I COULD NOT beat Sam's prices.  They were $0.38 per invitation, that included an envelope and they were ready in an hour.  Stamps have gotten so pricey that I really had to stick to a tight budget on invitations.

I got Smarties and Nerds in honor of the graduates and found graduation bubbles.

The kids enjoyed both.

 I made funfetti cupcakes with homemade buttercream.  They were delish and one of my favorite compliments of the night was What bakery did these cupcakes come from because I'd love to order these for some events I have coming up??  Awwww thanks :)

 My mom did most of the work for the sugar cookies.

We grilled out and had tons of yummy, summery side dishes.

 Drink station:

 Party supplies came from...

Invitations - Sam's

Nerds - Party City 5 boxes/$1

Smarties - Wal-Mart

Straws - Kroger

Table cloths, sparkly graduation decor and napkins - The Dollar Tree

 I wish I would have taken more pictures to show everyone that was at the party 

BUT I was busy trying to help host, keep food stocked and watch a very busy one year old who was intent on climbing the stairs/touching everything breakable.  True Story: I left Kevin in charge of Olive for a bit when he was sitting on the patio.  I came back out and noticed that she had a mouth full of something... that something was LEAVES!  I scooped her up and fired him as her babysitter :)

 The Jordan Men :)