Monday, June 22, 2009

Summer's here!

And we are SO glad that it is! Now we can settle into our summer routine, and enjoy! Although, this week the kiddos are in day camp at our church (they call it day camp, but it's really VBS) and then this Saturday we leave for 5 days for a little cabin on the beach...

So I'm using this week while they are at "camp" to get things done around the house. Last week was so crazy with all of the end of the year things at school! :)




I got this idea from Jen at Tatertots and Jello, on her post from May 29th. (I still haven't figured out how to link to a specific post on a blog w/o my husband's help!) She took a small platter and created a one of a kind welcome sign with some chalkboard paint! SO...the next time I was at the Goodwill, I almost squealed with excitement when I found a similar little platter! I wish I would have remembered to snap a picture of it BEFORE I started painting, but it was just a slightly scratched silver platter...Since the outer edge of my platter wasn't in good condition, I hand painted it white after spraying the inside with chalkboard paint. It was easy, which I love! The hardest part was drilling the hole in the top to loop the ribbon through~ eventually I ended up finishing that by hammering a nail through it to make the hole! (It worked!)






Do you remember this chalkboard project? Well, now that the new one is on the front door, I moved this older one into the kitchen. Now when the kids say, "What's for dinner?" for the 10,000th time that afternoon, I can simply point to this sign. This is my newest idea, to be filed under the subject of "Ways not to go insane raising children". Just joking...barely! ;)





I realized that now that it wasn't summer anymore, it was time for a new word in the frames on my mantle! I decided to do the word "cottage", basically for lack of another inspiring "summer" word~ but also because I truly do love that word and all it conveys! :)




Oh, and I know that gold frame doesn't look quite right up there. I took it from where it was originally and popped it up there for now. I think it would look good if I found the right thing to put in front of it, to fill some of that empty space. It just looks a little strange, but I'm working on it (i.e. thinking on it)...


So, how are you enjoying your summer so far? Do you have any fun trips planned, or maybe you're doing a "stay-cation", where you do things closer to home but sleep in your own house? Now THAT is my kind of vacation! You might already know this, but I am a major homebody! I love my own house, my own bed, my own shower~ you get the idea!

Well, I hope you have had a great Monday! :)

Blessings,





14 comments:

Odette Bautista Mikolai said...

our schedule is different from yours jenni. first, classes here had just started. and second our summer prematurely ended last month because now we get constant rain - infact as iam writing this, rain and wind is howling outside.
hope you enjoy summer and the school break!
hugs,
xoxoxoxoxo

Scrappy Girl said...

LOVE the projects! That mantle is so cute. We have lots of summer plans...the one I am most looking forward to is when my mom, Manga Dork, and I go to NC for a week long visit with my Lil Sis...so relaxing and FUN!

Tracey said...

Lovely projects....How lucky are you going in a beach cabin! Remember to take lots of photo's so I can be really jealous!
Love
Tracey
xxx

Amy said...

Cute welcome sign! And I think the large gold frame looks good on the mantle with your other ones.
I love your menu idea! Very clever. :)
I hope you guys have a fantastic trip (even though you'd prefer to stay at home)!

Darlene said...

Everything looks wonderful! LOVE your chalkboard projects. I think a little cabin on the beach sounds WONDERFUL!! I do enjoy my own bed though...lol

Ms. Tee said...

Oh, I love the cottage sign! I think the gold looks great, too. :) And love your little chalkboards. I'm planning on doing one of those this week, too. I'm sorry I haven't done the tag yet, I will do it very soon, I promise! xoxo

Anonymous said...

I love what you did with the platter. So cute! Also love your mantle. I hope you guys have a great time at the beach. We really don't have any plans for this summer. We'll probably go to the pool a lot and maybe some staycations.

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

Oh, I really like the platter idea, I have a dozen of those little platters waiting for me to do something with them, now I know what to do. Wouldn't it look cute with your house numbers on it or so many other ideas.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I met Montee last week here in the Sip, at the Braves Field, she is so sweet, we plan on going junkin one day before she has to go back to TX.

About Southern Belle said...

What a cute idea...the platter turned sign is adorable!

I love staycations too...and we are having one in a couple weeks...but, it looks like I just may be on my way up to see you too...providing the morning sickness eases and doctor approves with all the driving...are you ready for that? How was that for a run on sentence?

da da da da da da da da da...

Angie said...

LOVE your cute projects!!! I bought some chalkboard paint and have been wanting to do this same thing. Both of your chalkboards and the mantle are just adorable! I laughed when I read what you said about being a homebody and vacations. I am TOTALLY the same way! I always say to my husband that I wish I could go be away on vacation during the day, but be at home at night. I like to be in my domain!

Amber M. said...

Jenni,

I got your comment last night and realized that your new posts are not coming up on my google reader...even though I changed the address. I'll try again...now I'm off to catch up on all I've missed!

the Pleasures of Homemaking said...

I love the "cottage" on the mantle! Very cute!

Manuela

Jeni said...

I am so sleeping in!!!! I love your mantle...love that word. I have never used chalk-board paint. You stuff is really cute that you made. It's been so hot...we are trying to stay cool...doing lots of swimming.

Kim @ Twice Remembered said...

This is such a clever idea, Jenni! It looks great! Note to self: Try this!