"Be Grateful" Wooden Sign Tutorial

I really wanted something on the mantel, so I had Joe make me a wooden square made of old pallets. It looked plain so I decided that I wanted to have something written on it. The problem? I have terrible writing and knew it wouldn't look good. So here is what I did. 

I printed off "Be Grateful" in big letters. I used a font called "Great Vibes".  It took three sheets of card stock. Once I printed them off I needed to figure out a way to get it onto the wooden sign. I put chalk all over each sheet and then put the sheets chalk side down on the spot where I wanted the letters. 

After you put the card stock, chalk side down you take a ballpoint pen and trace over all the words...like every single part of each letter. Just go over and over with the ballpoint pen. The pressure from the pen will make the chalk go into the wood. Lift the paper off carefully and after you have done all the words, use a sharpie to trace the outline. 

After you have traced the letters, you can fill it in using paint and a paint brush. Don't worry if it doesn't look perfect! It will look good once it is hanging somewhere :)

Let me know if you have any questions!

5 on Friday

{one}

I am so excited about the two runs I signed up for this week. Joe is joining me and they should be super fun!

Sign up here!!

We are also doing the Turkey Trot in Thanksgiving morning. I've got to work off all those Pecan Pie calories!!

{two}

I am super excited about this Matilda Jane shirt I won this week. I got a great deal and I love the vintage look of the fabrics. 

{three}

Downtown Dining Week is coming! Get all the details here.

{four}

I realized that I never recapped our Halloween. Joe had to work, so we went over to my Aunt's house for a chili dinner and some trick or treating. My little Minnie Mouse had a BALL!

{five}

I have been having the best time with Sally. She especially loves to play with her baby dolls and is so sweet with them. She pretends to put them to bed and pats them and says, "its ok". I almost get tears in my eyes...just so, so cute!

Reuseit.com Review {Sugarbooger Bento Box}

When Sally started school, I was so excited to pack her lunch. Enter Reuseit. They offer really great reusable lunch containers, bags, lunchboxes, etc. They are also all eco friendly, which makes me happy :) I was so thrilled when they offered to send me a product to review. 

Of course I had to choose the Hoot bento box by Sugarbooger...you know I love me some owls!! They have some boy designs too. Here is some info copied from the Reuseit website. 

This reusable, three-compartment Good Lunch® Lunch Box from Sugarbooger® by Oré is the perfect lunchtime solution to wasteful plastic baggies and ho-hum lunch containers. The colorful, whimsical graphics make lunchtime fun time, while the kid-friendly design makes use and cleanup easy. Whether off to school, daycare, camp or travel, the Good Lunch® Lunch Box from Sugarbooger® by Oré is the perfect choice for a waste-free lunch or snack, promising to make the best lunch box addition. The durable, functional design eliminates the need for wasteful plastic baggies and helps your family move to a waste-free lunch. The three-compartment design makes it easy to pack a delicious, nutritious and versatile lunch every day and keeps food separate to accommodate picky eaters. Transform any ordinary lunch box into the best lunch box ever!

• Reusable lunch box replaces disposable plastic and Styrofoam containers, bags and baggies
• Transparent lunch box with three separate compartments and kid-friendly, easy-open lid with snap locks
• Completely safe and free of BPA, PVC, lead, phthalates and other toxins
• Microwave and top-rack dishwasher safe
• Available in a range of fun, kid-friendly prints and designs

It was back ordered, so I had to wait about a month before getting it, but it has been worth the wait. It is super cute and makes lunches so easy.   Here are some pic of lunches I made for Sally this week. 

It fits perfectly in her lunchbox.

Overall, I love this box. Its super cute, easy to wash (I either hand wash or put in top rack), and it doesn't leak. I also love knowing that I am being earth friendly and not sending plastic bags to school. Its safe for Sally because it contains no toxins. It also makes lunches fun. It comes with compartments and then I like to add silicone baking cups to separate things even more. 

If you are interested in getting one for yourself, check out the reuseit.com website. 

5 On Friday

{one}

I won this adorable bubble off ebay for Miss Sally to wear next Spring/Summer. Yay!!

{two}

I hit up a local thrift shop looking for end tables for a project and walked out with all of this. I even got Sally a fleece Widgeon jacket for next year for 99 cents...woo-hoo!!

{three}

I have started fabric shopping for part of Sally's Christmas gift. 

{four}

Sally and I visited Joe at work this week and got to go inside the plane he flies. It was sooo fancy!

Sally got to sit in the drivers seat!

{five}

It's November...turkey month...and I have a whole new set of projects that I want to do. 

Happy Halloween & Monster Munch

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

We woke up bright and early and I made Sally a special Halloween lunch...let's hope she eats it :)

I dropped her off at school today and loved seeing all the littles in their costumes and Halloween shirts. I was looking past at Halloween last year...how has she grown so much in just one year?!

The weather here in Memphis is yucky...I'm hoping the rain stops before tonight so we can trick-or-treat. 

Today I want to share with you a super easy recipe for "Monster Munch". Joe doesn't even like popcorn and he can't stop eating this stuff. It's that good!

Here is what you need:

1 cup of dry roasted peanuts

1 cup of Reese's Pieces

1 cup candy corn

2 things of unsalted unbuttered (Natural) popcorn...popped

1 lb. vanilla almond bark

Here's how to make it:

Pop the popcorn and put it in a huge bowl.

Add the candy corn, peanuts and Reese's Pieces. 

Melt the almond bark in the microwave and pour all over the popcorn mix. Stir well and make sure everything is coated with the almond bark. 

Lay on wax paper or parchment paper in a single layer and let dry. Break up into pieces and store in an airtight container.

I packed some up for Sally's teachers and added these free printable tags. 

A Trip to Nashville

This past weekend we made a trip up to Nashville to visit my best friend, Kristy, and also to go to the big Nashville Flea Market. 

Here are some of my favorite things from the day.

I loved these old street signs.

Stained Glass Windows

Old Industrial Stools

Galvanized Tubs

I was really loving these old drawers. I thought they would look really neat stacked with a piece of wood on top for end tables.

Lots of old doors

Vintage Christmas Ornaments

We had a great time and I was good and only made a few small purchases. 

When Sally was ready for her nap, Kristy and I sent the boys home and continued to shop. We even stopped at Trader Joes!

On Sunday morning, Sally enjoyed eating breakfast in Kristy's guest room bed :)

We headed for home but decided to stop for lunch at the Loveless Cafe. It had been a few years since I had been here and it was great! The wait was 1.5 hours but they had all kinds of activities for the kids. 

There was coloring,

sidewalk chalk, 

bubbles, 

free kids crafts, 

and I managed to collect a bunch of really big acorns.

When we finally got seated, the food did not disappoint. First they bring you out the most delicious biscuits. 

Joe got meatloaf, mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. 

I got a fried chicken salad...so yummy!!

Sally got a little of everything ;)

Here is one of my purchases put to use...an old soda crate turned paint holder.

We also swung by World Market and I picked up some ornaments for Sally's little Christmas tree.