Project a Day - Fireplace Mantel

This past weekend, I turned up the gas fireplace and enjoyed a book beside the fire for most of the day. It was a lovely way to spend a lazy day. With a military husband, a small business, and three kids 10 and under, lazy days are few and far between!  It was really great, until I realized that the fireplace had left soot marks all over my mantel. Whoops. I got out lysol dual action wipes and went to work.  Then, I got rags and more cleaners.  And a scrub brush.  Double Whoops. The soot had stained pretty good and the fireplace looked pretty bad.

Ick. Now what?  The mantel is stucco-ish, painted over several times with a dingy, off-white, semi-gloss paint. I've never really liked it that much.

Here it is, in all it's glory, close up:

Nice, huh?

Double Ick!  So, I decided to paint it as my project for today.  I went to Home Depot and bought a quart of semi-gloss primer and paint all in one, and a paintbrush. Oh, did I mention the color? Black!  

Once I got home, I got out my blue painter's tape and taped off the mantel. It was a little challenging because the corners are all rounded, and beneath the mantel is marble-y looking stone with rough stone edging at the top edge where it meets the mantel. The tape didn't want to stick very well to that.

I texted my husband one last time and asked if he was really ready for this, and he said go for it! I think that reaction was because he was glad that I hadn't been able to draft him into my little project this time!  

Here it is, in progress.

I looked over to the patio door and found our dog, Shady, looking at me. She looks nervous, don't you think? LOL

Here it is with the first coat on. What do you think so far?  It is a semi-gloss, latex paint, so I will put another coat on this evening before bed, and let it dry overnight before taking the tape off and seeing how it looks.
Then, I will try out a new mantel arrangement, I think! Pinterest.... here I come!!

Here it is all dry, with the tape removed!

 

More Valentine's Goodness

 Pinterest and the web in general is an absolute treasure trove of Valentine ideas!  I love it!
Two years ago, these were the Valentines that my girls handed out...

Last year, these were the Valentines that my girls handed out...

So, I am determined to come up with a good idea to use this year that wont break the bank since I have three girls and about 75 Valentines to make!

Here are some of the best ideas I have run across so far...

Valentine Smores:

Mustache:

Mint to be: 

You make me Loopy:

Tops in my book:

You rock:

Just write:

Glad we're in the same school:

Have you found any Valentines that you love?

Getting ready for Valentine's Day!

I don't know about you, but I always feel a little let down after the excitement of Christmas and New Year's wears off.  Then, I start thinking about Valentine's Day being right around the corner and that perks me right up!
So, I thought I'd share some of the Valentine's goodness I have been spotting around the web...

I have to say that I love, love, love the idea of creating these with my girls.  They look super easy and fun to do!  And, there is a handy, dandy tutorial here!

How pretty is this treat? You can find info on how to make them here! 

Thanks for checking out my blog! Stop back by and enjoy more Valentine's love!
 

LOVE this and wanted to share...

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer Newspaper, Cleveland, Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

(Regina Brett is an urban legend - she isn't really 90 years old.  She put out this list just before her 45th birthday, and is currently in her 50s.  She may not be as old as the internet purports her to be, but says after surviving breast cancer, she is thrilled to be growing older - it beats the alternative!  You can read about Regina Brett here)

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step..

3. Life is too short - enjoy it..

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7... Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9.. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11... Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don't worry; God never blinks.

16... Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it's all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23 Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive but don't forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38.. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift." 

Project A Day - Junk Drawer

 
I am feeling a little antsy during this new month of this new year.  So, I decided to channel that nervous energy into doing something productive... a project a day.
I don't think I will plan it out, because that would be way too logical! It would also give me the opportunity to think of ways to avoid doing whatever the project is!  So, I am going to fly by the seat of my pants, so to speak, and pick a project and just do it!
My first project was to tackle the junk drawer in the kitchen. I didn't take a before picture. But, really, do you need one? I'll just bet that you have a drawer (or two) in your kitchen that look a little bit like mine did before I started.
I got out a little trash bag and was determined to throw away as much as possible. I emptied the drawer out completely and put things that belonged elsewhere, well, in other places! I wiped out the drawer and then took four sheets of 12x12 scrapbooking paper and taped them together and placed them in the bottom of the drawer as a pretty drawer liner. Then,  I found a drawer organizer that I wasn't using, and put it in there to corral some of the little things.  I didn't end up throwing away as much as I hoped I would, but I did organize it nicely, if I do say so myself!

What do you think?

Hello 2013...

Hello 2013. How are you? I'm good. I can't say that I set any specific New Year's Resolutions. But, I am determined to continue some of the good things I started in 2012:

• Fitness - I bought myself a treadmill back in March, and believe it or not, I used it! I am determined to continue to use it too.  I registered for and completed a 5k in November. I didn't run the whole thing, but I did finish and it felt terrific!  I will do another one this year. Maybe more than one - we will see! ;)

• Healthy Eating - The Hubby and I decided to change the way we eat in September of 2012.  Many of our friends and neighbors began Paleo, and we saw them have really awesome results. So, we researched and decided to do a variation on that, called Primal. The major difference is that Primal doesn't require giving up dairy.  We committed to 30 days, and we thought the results were pretty awesome. We both lost weight, gained energy, and felt really good about what we were doing for our bodies and overall health.  I was really, really surprised that I didn't miss gluten and sugar and processed foods (bread, beer, sweets, etc) as much as I thought I would. I wasn't miserable like I thought I would be. I felt pretty darn good, so I decided to continue.  It is amazing what a difference it makes. I eat plenty of good for me and good tasting food, and that rocks!

• Piano - I started taking piano lessons with G a few years ago, and I loved it. I had always wanted to learn as a child, but never took lessons. I didn't make huge progress, but I can play a mean rendition of Jingle Bells! ;)  I had my piano repaired and tuned up in the latter part of 2012, and I tried to practice several times a week so I could shake the cobwebs off! I am determined to continue practicing, and learning. I hope to sign the girls and I up for lessons this year.

New for 2013:

• Sweet Funky Vintage - Sweet Funky Vintage is going through some HUGE changes this year. Jessica's family was transferred to the East Coast, and she decided to part ways with Sweet Funky Vintage. It is a good decision for her, but I will miss her being a part of SFV. With her departure, we are clearing out all existing inventory and you will see really big sales over the next few months. I will be discontinuing trunk shows for now, and will not be putting out a catalog this season. I am happy to say that Sweet Funky Vintage is not going out of business, though.  I will still be operating SFV and will continue to offer some new things, and some custom clothing. Look for some really exciting things to coming in the future!

• Blogging - I am determined to really raise the bar with my blogging. I enjoy it - it gives me pleasure, and motivation to follow through with the projects that I undertake!  I hope to increase my blog readership and definitely blog more often!

• Self-Improvement - Isn't this the area that most people work on with New Year's Resolutions? :)  This year I hope to work a little harder, love a little more, be more healthy, forgive more, celebrate more, criticize less, and have a little more courage to do the right thing. I hope to see myself for who I can become, not for the mistakes I have made, and move forward with hope!

I wish you many blessings is this coming year. Let's rock 2013!

 

25 Christmas Crafts - Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Well, if you have small children and don't have an Elf on the Shelf, then you are probably in the minority these days.
I don't know about you, but I generally don't do lots of really creative and elaborate things with our Elf. Our Elf's name is Elf Elf, by the way. My oldest named him when she was four. 
But, I do try to spice up the Elf happenings at least a few times during the weeks that Elf Elf is with us. Yes, it is a pain to remember to move the Elf each night. And, yes, I feel terrible when I forget to move him. But, the fact that by moving that blasted critter around each night gives my girls such joy each morning makes it totally worth it!

I totally love that Snowball the Elf has his own blog! Tons of great ideas here!

Another great idea site is here - Elf on the Shelf Ideas.