Sweet Savannah

So about a month before good old Valentine's Day David told me that he had a surprise for me.  He asked if I wanted it then, or if I preferred to wait until V-Day?  I told him that if he bought it for Valentine's Day then I would wait until Valentine's Day.  I have a remarkable amount of self-control when it comes to getting gifts, but only a teeny tiny bit when it comes to giving gifts.  Apparently my Mr. has the same amount of gift-giving self-control, because about 20 minutes later, as he sat next to me on the couch, he told me to check my email.  What a goof!  I opened my email as he sat next to me grinning like a mischievous child and there was a confirmation from Travelosity for a trip to Savannah.  He had booked us a 4 day stay in a B&B across from Forsyth Park.

I have wanted to go to Savannah for years, ever since I read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It was everything I imagined it to be.  The B&B was lovely.  It had a wonderful porch where we could sit outside and watch the park traffic go by.  The breakfasts, snacks, and desserts were delicious.  The 26 acre park across the street had these beautiful azaleas lining the sidewalks and a beautiful fountain right in the middle.  

Here is our B&B.  It's called Forsyth Park Inn.  It's a sprawling 9000 sq. foot home that is haunted according to the two gentlemen that work there.  Now, I don't believe in any of that kind of thing, but I still wish they hadn't of told us that.  Here is a link to the Inn:

http://www.forsythparkinn.com/

It was the most perfect relaxing place.  

We sat out on the porch reading and rocking in the rocking chairs.  

We walked in the park and took the trolley all over the historic district.  

We even went to the beach one day...but it was freezing and so windy outside so we didn't stay.  

What a lucky girl I am to be married to someone so thoughtful and surprising.  If you ever get a chance...Savannah in springtime is magical!

Baby Announcement!

After months (and months) of trying, we finally have a baby on the way.  I found out the day before David's 29th birthday.  I had come home at lunch and decided to take a test.  Patience isn't exactly a virtue I possess. There was the tiniest bit of blue.  I mean tiny.  Like if you didn't hold it right in the light you would miss it.  But I was so used to seeing STARK white that I knew it when I saw it!

I waited until Dave got home to tell him. I wish I had some big dramatic story about how I told him and how it was so magical and surprising, but really....I just couldn't wait one minute longer.  The funny thing is that he couldn't see it.  He really didn't see a thing. He is always so calm too.  Never one to get really excited, unless it has to do with his Broncos.  He said we should wait until the test was a little darker to get excited.  Whatever Dave....what a stupid grown up way to handle things.  :0)  The next day it was darker.  Then we confirmed it with a digital test.

These first few months have been filled with a lot of worry.  Obviously only on my end because David doesn't worry about much.  We told our family and our close friends pretty soon after we found out.  But I was so scared to tell EVERYONE.  We went to our 10 week appointment and got to see this...the most precious little gummy bear I ever saw.

Still.  I was so scared to make some grand announcement.  Even after we made it past 12 weeks I was still so afraid. When we got to almost 15 weeks one of my very best friends (Tara) said that if I didn't tell soon, then someone else probably would.  I had it in my head that I wanted to do something with a chalkboard.  Tara wanted to take a picture with little peanut shoes I had just bought.

As we brainstormed I had a genius idea.  Believe me, that doesn't happen very often.  A few streets away from my house is a yard that is still green.  We would take it there!  Yea, it's weird because I have never spoken to that neighbor and I don't even live on his block, but oh well.  Somehow when Tara is around I am a little bit braver.

We grabbed our props and headed around the corner.  As soon as we got started the gentleman that lives in the house came out to put his garbage in the can.  We stood there like statues.  Hoping we blended into the surrounding.  Alas, he saw us.  I introduced myself and explained what we were doing there.  He was really kind, and I think he was even a little proud of his grass.

Now my friend has a fancy pants camera and is awesome at taking photographs, but we did it on the spur of the moment. So, here is what my friend came up with...using just an iphone and Instagram.

With such an adorable picture...there was no way I could wait any longer.  I emailed my picture out to everyone the next day.  It was just PERFECT.  Couldn't of done it without you Tara Marie!

Easiest Craft EVER

My MIL called the other day and said that she had a great little to show me.  Since I live exactly 45 seconds away, I ran right over.  She had created these adorable block letters out of 2x6s for Halloween.  Here are her adorable BOO letters.  This picture is from my phone, sorry it's crummy.

I am a far bigger fan of Fall than I am Halloween, so I decided to create some fallish blocks. Now, my MIL and I are super lucky because we have Herb across the street.  He had a mountain of 2x6s to cut up, and within a day of her request my MIL had her blocks cut and was painting them. Man that Herb is efficient.  She had Herb cut them 6", 7", and 8".  He even sanded them. After she showed me her cute letters, I immediately text and asked Herb for some blocks.  Here is what I started with...

I painted them using plain old brown craft paint.  Then cut my background paper.  I cut it a bit smaller than the board so you could see the brown paint in the background.  I traced my FALL letters using some handy tagboard letters that my MIL had.  I used mod podge to adhere the background paper to the brown wood block. Then mod podged my letter on top.  Done.  Easy-peasy!

I ended up putting them up on the mantel.  I think they would be awesome to make for a Christmas gift with either JOY or NOEL.

Another Cabinet Door Redo

I am really loving these cabinet door chalkboards.  I really wish this one had a larger "chalkboard" area, but I had to use what I had.  I found these doors a while ago at Habitat for Humanity.  They are only about $2.50 per door. I gave it a quick sanding and then I painted it a great color called Avocado by Krylon.  I brushed on some Ralph Lauren glaze in Tobacco and then when it was dry I taped off my chalkboard area and painted it with my chalkboard paint.  Man alive...I still have over half a quart left of that stuff, it lasts FOREVER.  I used my wood glue to glue on that cute little wooden detail at the top, and turned a cup pull upside down for a chalk holder.

All done...this one is for one of my best pals.  Last weekend was her birthday, and I was too busy working on wedding shower stuff for my little sister to finish it.  But here she is...all done!

Second Time's a Charm

I saw this pretty thing at the Goodwill about a year ago.  It was pretty beat up and one of the legs was wobbly.  I saw some potential though, and the $27 price tag didn't hurt helped.  I paid, but there was no way this baby was going in the Mustang.  So, I called up Herb and he helped me bring this gal home.  We rode the whole way home with the backdoor of the van open.  I am not sure what I would do without that fella, everyone should be so lucky to have such a great neighbor.

I brought it home and worked and worked on it, until I thought it was absolutely perfect.  We lived with it for about 9 months and then....I cracked open a can of paint and started again.

I know...it's crazy.  But see, I had originally painted it Heirloom White and I didn't seal it properly, so what was a nice creamy white ended up being more like a creamy yellow.  And creamy yellow was NOT what I was going for.  So, out came the Annie Sloan Pure White.  I painted, and sanded, and painted and sanded....on and on.  Then after I thought it was perfect I put on a coat of glaze.  It turned out lovely.....I am so happy that I fixed it.  You ever have something that you just don't feel is perfect, and it bothers you EVERY single time you look at it?  Maybe I am the only one...but it's done anyhow.  and I couldn't be more pleased.

Lil' Table

Yay!  Another project finished!  My MIL called one night to tell me that her husband had scored some super great pieces that needed a LOT of love.  I jumped in the Mustang and was there in about 2 and 1/2 minutes.  I picked the piece that needed the least love to work on first.  This little gem wasn't in terrible condition, it just needed some wood glue and clamps.  I painted it Annie Sloan Pure White and I am not gonna lie when I tell you I was not thrilled with the way it was going on.  But, I do love that you can sand it smooth as a baby's bum.  I topped it with some glaze in the cracks and a coat of Poly.  The top is stained dark walnut.  It didn't turn out half bad if I say so myself.  ;0)

Here is a chance for you to see what a mess I really am.  This isn't exactly the before because I am terrible at remembering to take before pics!!!  This is more "mid" renovation.

Well, here she is...all distressed and beautiful!  If Santa asks what this gal wants for Christmas, she could really use a nice new camera.

Chalkboard Love...

I am officially in L.O.V.E. and not just with my handsome new husband.  I am in love with chalkboards!  They are the easiest and most fun way to add a little bit of personality to your home.   You can write quotes, song lyrics (my personal fav), reminders, menus, notes to the ones you love, anything...  So many ways to personalize... the list is endless!

I was in the market for a super large chalkboard for a skinny kitchen wall we have and I have been on the lookout for a large pretty frame at the Goodwill.  But the other day I was rooting around in my crafty multipurpose closet and I saw a huge empty frame I used to have above my mantle.  It was just staring at me.  So, I got that big ol' thing out and I put on a fresh coat of Annie Sloan Pure White Chalkpaint (the jury is out on how I feel about that stuff yet).  I distressed it a smidge and then it was ready for the chalkboard.

I ran over to the Home Depot and got a piece of MDF.  My resourceful neighbor Herb helped me use the handy table saw in my garage (that I am still too scared to use alone) and cut it to the appropriate dimensions.  Two coats of chalkboard paint and VOILA...a brand new huge chalkboard.