Happy Birthday, Wyatt!

Wyatt celebrated his 28th birthday on the 30th!  I was out of town during the day with work and he was at work when I returned but when he got home, we had a mini-celebration.  We also had a family dinner with his parents and Pa on New Year's Day.

Here's one last wish for the happiest of birthdays and the best year to come yet.

Hello Sweet Summertime

Over the weekend we spent time with my parents who came to visit and with Wyatt's family since his aunt was in visiting from California but I managed to get my screened in balcony spruced up a little bit for summer.  I still have a strand of lights to hang out there but for the most part it's done.  I am attempting flowers again this summer and hoping to have better results than last year.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Now that it is officially fall, I have several fall related posts in the works.  I hope you love fall as much as I do!  Remember the chalkboard from the MOMS party?  It found a new home in our kitchen and I gave it a fall makeover.  I am welcoming with open arms pretty fall afternoons, chili and soup weather, and everything else that comes along with the beginning of a new season.  

Since I am so happy to see a break in the heat and the leaves begin to turn,  I have made a new iPhone and desktop wallpaper from a picture I took last fall in Brown County State Park.  Enjoy!

Chalkboard Tutorial

I did a chalkboard as part the decor for our MOM'S party.  I thought I'd share how easy it is to create a cute chalkboard!  I drew my design out, but you can use the same methods I'm about describe by starting with a computer designed image.  

Steps:

1. Design your chalkboard image.  I searched Pinterest for inspiration and then sketched out some ideas on a regular sheet of paper. Then I created a piece of paper the exact size of my chalkboard by taping some paper together.

2. Sketch out your design on your chalkboard sized paper.  I drew a grid on my paper first and it helped me center my design.

3.  Once my design was complete, I weathered my chalkboard because it was a new chalkboard (thanks to my mom and dad for creating one out of an old frame we used in our photo booth last year).  You can skip this step if you have already done this.  Simply rub the chalkboard down with chalk and wipe around.  Weathering the board will help to ensure your design does not stick around even after you've erased completely.

4.  The next step is to completely cover the back side of your paper design in chalk by rubbing it all over the paper.  Make sure you cover it generously with the chalk as it will make the next steps easier.

5.  Once you have the back of the design chalked over, lay the paper on the chalk board and take a pencil back over your design to transfer your design to the chalkboard.

6.  Remove the design and go over your outlines with chalk accordingly to touch up, fill in, make darker, etc. your design.

7.  Enjoy your chalkboard!

Tips: 

-Keep a pencil sharpener handy when drawing with the chalk.  You can created finer detail with a sharpened piece of chalk.

-If you have a large enough piece of paper to use, use it instead of taping together printer paper as the chalky tape marks are slightly visible when transferring the image from the paper to the chalkboard.  

-Keep a damp paper towel or a small paint brush and water handy in case of any minor mistakes.

-The larger and more bold lettering is, the easier it is on you.

MOM'S 2013 Party Gras Masquerade

We hosted the annual MOM'S party/benefit over the weekend.  This year the theme was shifted a bit, from the traditional Mardi Gras party, to an "All Holiday" party.  Mom and Aunt Brenda decorated the tables with various holiday themes and we asked that guest dress up for their favorite holiday.  Our menu fit for a 4th of July barbecue consisted of pulled pork, brats, and grillers with sides of potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, chips, and veggies.  I put together a 4th of July themed dessert table with lots of tasty treats.  The party had entertainment provided by the Lick Creek Band and we had a silent auction with all kinds of wonderful goodies.  After weeks of planning and preparing, it was a big success.  

Our welcoming table was appropriately themed with Mother's Day | Chalkboard Tutorial coming soon!

Lick Creek Band