ChalkBoard Creations

When they say things make a full circle, they mean it! This time around chalkboards have made a come back. Being that since I was a little girl when they were last used and the only recollection I have is when my mom was a school teacher with a chalkboard in her classroom I wanted one of my own per say. So the only non-conventional way for me to use them since I don't teach and don't have children of my own was to use them as props for photo shots. 

I picked up this Antique Silver tray from 'The Queen" the day before the shoot that someone had already painted turquoise and distressed it, but I saw the potential of a fun chalkboard and ran next door to the Hob Lob for the paint. Viola! 

Two fun pictures as a result! Love them!

Now this beauty was originally my Grandmothers Gold Gilded Mirror that I inherited and have been waiting for the right thing to do with it. However, I do want to use the mirror again so I MADE my own Chalkboard contact paper. Not one store around me carried any pre-made chalkboard contact paper (yes, it does exist) and I didn't have time for it to ship if I ordered off the Internet, so I had to improvise. Definitely a longer process that I had intended it to be, but I was pleased with with way it turned out. The most difficult part was getting the air bubbles out during the application portion and then trimming it to fit in all the nooks and crannies. The priming and painting drying process was the longest parts, but I think it was worth the endeavor. 

* The same bottle of paint did triple coats on both projects too. Bang for your buck, Yes Please!

Have you done any fun projects with chalkboard paint yet?

Easy Breezy Summer

Summer Crushes:

~WaterFall Braids

~Turquoise Handbags

~Balloons

~Metallic Accessories 

~Cameos

~Dye Hard Coral fan 

~Staying Cool

 

Snap, Crackle & Pop!

Happy 4th of July!!!

 So thankful for my freedom and for all those who have served our country so selflessly to make our country free! Hope you all have had a blessed holiday weekend and enjoyed family/friends and got to partake in all the annual festivities. My favorites pastime is the fireworks, particularly sparklers! Last night the kids played with yard stick size sparklers and they lasted forever, I had never seen them that big before! Whew, they were smoky that's for sure! Nothing like the snap, crackle, and pop to get you in the spirit.

Happy Celebrating!

Southern Heat Wave

 "I'm Dying of the Vapors, It just pains me to Breathe"

Sometimes you just gotta sit under the fan and act like a DIVA! 

That fan looks 'Cool' to me, very feminine!

Oh, this hat makes my heart happy! Have been feeling the need to shield myself more while relaxing on the beach. Nancy Sinatra puts me to shame! I'll pretend my big brim hat looks this chic! Definitely helps me to see better while reading out in the sun though.  

The ever fabulous CoCo Chanel, hanging out by the French Seaside. Even then she still has on pearls, Dying!
I can't bring myself to wear that many strands with a regular outfit much less ON the beach, but I will represent with my pearl studs. Can you imagine how Hot she potentially could be in all those clothes, unless it were during the winter when this picture was taken... Still she looks Tres Chic!

It seriously has been in the mid to high 90's for a while now! But the humidity has been the killer here in the dirty south. It only feels appropriate to wear breezy sundresses and at some points it feels like I need to carry a fan around just to catch a break. Seriously, most days I don't even turn my AC in the car off HIGH! What are you doing to keep cool so far this summer? 

First Day of Summer

Feels like summer has been here for months already!! Especially since I have already been to the beach once and had my precious nieces come stay for 10 days! So far its been perfect! Fun that has been had include pool days, beach days, lazy mornings, yummy summer salads, R& R, plenty of summer dresses, playing in the sprinklers and staying up late to catch fireflies! Two more fun summer adventures planned for the near future with plenty more summer rituals to be had! 

                                     

Any fun summer plans?

HBD Mom!

Some One had a Milestone Birthday?!?!?!?! 

Last saturday was my moms 60th Birthday so to celebrate she and I went up to High Hampton, NC. She has visited many time in the past, but I had never been there and wanted to see this amazing place that I have heard about many times and holds lots of memories for our family. It totally reminds me of Kellermen's Resort from Dirty Dancing. Very outdoorsy, no TV, no cell service, no Wi-Fi (Ouch), not even clocks. So that day we did what mama wanted to do. We did some shopping in Highlands, ate lunch at the Cupboard Cafe,  and ran into our cousins who were celebrating their 22nd anniversary up in mountains, too. 

Here is the main lodge where all the meals are served, the fireplaces are raging, even a wedding took place up there. Very rustic, but absolutely beautiful. We stayed in one of the cottages down by the lake on the 18th hole. Once we were all checked in, we had some time to kill before dinner was served so mom showed me around the grounds. It was the perfect weather up there, not to hot with a slight breeze.  Here are a few shot we took on our walk:

I just love this shot of mom!
She looks so beautiful here, not to shabby for 60,doesn't even look a day over 45,HA!
The trees around this place were huge and Ah-Mazing! 

*Notice her new Tiffany's Bracelet I got her for the milestone! 

Fun story behind this picture. My mom and her mom use to play this version of "war" with these wild flowers . The heads of these lovelies have a natural hook so once the war begins who ever pulls the head off their opponent wins....I let mom win;) 

Just wanted to share this picture of  my tomato juice at breakfast the next morning. It reminded me of my GaGa. She had these same glasses for us when we would visit her as children. In the past my parents would visit High Hampton with my dads parents, so it seemed fitting that that memory was ever present.  

*Note all the meals were buffet style done up to the Hills, Unbelievable!  

After breakfast we took a golf cart out on the back 9 to check out the beautiful course. Check out that view at the top of hole 11. Man, was it freezing that early. I was all bundled up in the cart! 

Love this picture of my mom and GaGa getting ready for a round of golf back in the day at High Hampton. Mom is actually prego with my sister, so this is somewhere around 1979.
*Man mom those glasses are super fly!

After we checked out, we headed up further into North Carolina to check out a few waterfalls. This beauty is taller than Niagara Falls. The sound of the water hitting the rocks was so loud even from as far away as we were. It is truly amazing the natural beauty that is in that area. With the south being hit by the deathly tornado's a few weeks ago, we drove right through where they hit in North Georgia. It was so sad to see the destruction and loss that the people had endured. It was really like something straight out of the Wizard of Oz. Lake Burton really took majority of the beating up in that area. It literally is a waste land, completely leveled. So heartbreaking! We tried to find the affected area but we got lost on the wrong lake for about an hour, however it was a gorgeous drive to be lost on, ha only us! 

 

Happy Birthday Mom! 

'Her Children ARISE and call her BLESSED' 

Proverbs 31:28

Moss Covered Topiary Tutorial

Now that spring is here I have been inspired this spring season by all the natural beauties that are outside. Also while I was watching the new season on Khloe and Lamar {unashamed} on E!, guess what I spotted?... Moss covered balls on her counter top. I am sure that hers were crazy expensive so I wanted to recreate them on a budge.  I totally love how the bright green adds a pop of freshness and nature to the room. 

~The Needed Goods~

~Styrofoam Ball {Michaels with a 40% off coupon}
~Moss Covered Rocks {The Dollar Tree}
~Styrofoam Low Temp Hot Glue Sticks {A must when working with Styrofoam}
~Hot Glue Gun 

Piece together the moss covered rocks all over the ball. They fit almost perfectly like a puzzle and after they are all on  you can take any left over 'rocks' {really Styrofoam} and cut them to fill in gaps. 

Voila', the finished product all styled and looking super chic!
Really Easy huh?