31: A Celebration and A Chalkboard

It's been a crazy couple of days, and I have several posts in the works, but I wanted to quickly pop in and share the details of Keith's birthday. I was epecially excited to play with my new chalkboard, so I raced home after work and got ready to go!

Step 1: Season your chalkboard!

 

Maybe step one should have been removing the price tag :)

As I explained in my last post, take a piece of white chalk and holding it sideways, rub it over the entire board, like in the photo above. Then take a damp paper towel and wipe it off. Now you're ready to begin!

Step 2: Sketch out your design.

You actually don't have to do this step, but I'm not very artistic by nature. So I needed to practice how I wanted the letters to look. I use Google for images of the cake and balloons. You could also use different fonts in Word to see how different fonts look, but I just winged it.

I don't have a picture of the next couple steps. Oops. Bear with me!

Step 3: I used a ruler and a level from Keith's tool kit and made three lines across the board where I wanted the words to go. This just ensured that I wrote a straight line and not a crooked one :)

Step 4: Add your words, lightly first and then go back over them when you are satisfied with how they look, and add any extra flourishes or swirls :)

Step 5: Add the embellishments, in my case, the cake and balloons.

Step 6: Take a photograph and put it on Instagram!

Follow me! @gentelly

I had no idea he even knew what Instagram was, nevermind had an account and was following me! Thankfully, he didn't see this until later that night :)

And for a closeup:

For my first attempt, I was pretty happy with how it came out! He was also impressed with my nifty sign :) The best part was that it only took me 15 minutes, so I could feasibly change this every couple of days if I wanted. I'll be leaving it up for a week, and since we are having a party for him next Saturday I'll be changing the sign for that.

He was pretty psyched about his gifts too -- new golf wedge, a dart board for his new "man-cave", a sweater from Banana Republic and new slippers. Yeah, he's kind of an old man :)

Gunner even got into the birthday spirit!

He is the strangest dog I've ever met. He LOVES presents and always has to help us open presents whenever he can. After, he uses the wrapping paper to "hide" his toy and rips it to shreds. It keeps him entertained for hours!

Selfie :) Ready for dinner!

We're excited for next weekend, I'm throwing him a Beer Tasting Birthday Bash which should be a lot of fun, especially since 50% of our house is in boxes :) The party was supposed to be a surprise, but I really suck at keeping secrets. Especially fun ones like this! Stay tuned!

Chalkboard Obsessions

For probably the past year, I have been obsessed with chalkboards. I know you know what I'm talking about. Chalkboards are so IN right now ...from weddings and parties to home decor. Just search Pinterest (...told you I was obsessed with Pinterest....)

I jumped on the bandwagon before our wedding and had two chalkboard signs on display:

After the wedding, we had to throw the ceremony one away because the chalk would.not.come.off. I tried everything. I've since learned a tip to "season" your chalkboard so this doesn't happen anymore. You take a piece of chalk and rub it over the entire board, and then wipe it off. Live and learn, at least you won't make the same mistake I did :)

Anyway, for the past two months I have been obsessing over getting a new, permanent chalkboard for our house. I was determined to make one, since I thought that would be easiest. I searched high and low for the right frame but found nothing. I wanted something long, but not too wide and with a wood frame that I could paint or stain.

Then today. I decided to venture to the HomeGoods up the street from my office on my lunch break. I could spend every single lunch at this store, but I've been really good at staying away lately. I just can't resist buying something on each visit. Anyway, today I just had to get there. And I almost walked right into this:

I couldn't believe my eyes .... it was PERFECT! I love that it had its own stand, and a basket at the bottom to store things .... chalk maybe? No that's too obvious. I don't know. Maybe a nice potted plant? Anyway.

I stood there gawking at this gorgeous chalkboard easel and it's $79.99 price tag. Yes it was a splurge. But it was something I wanted oh so badly. So I texted my husband. Asked him if he would kill me if I brought this home. And he said no!! God, I love that man. So, I picked that thing up so fast and practically ran to the cashier, doing a little happy dance the whole way.

I have all sorts of ideas for where I'm going to put the chalkboard and what is going to go on it first -- I'll share a picture tomorrow, which also happens to be my husband's birthday, so guess what the chalkboard will get used for first? :)

Anyone else on the chalkboard-obsession-train? 

PI: Classic Layers

This next look comes from Allison! I love the layered look, I think it's a great way to add dimension. 

Each of these pieces are pretty classic on their own -- but when you put them all together it really pops! If you looked in your closet, I bet you even own this outfit or pieces very similar. When I'm recreating a Pinterest look, I always like to add my own spin on it. 

Source

Sweater

Blazer

Denim Shirt

Bubble Necklace

I am obsessed with these J.Crew inspired bubble necklaces -- I own several and give them as gifts. They add a great touch of color to an otherwise classic outfit. I myself am not afraid to wear color (just as the girls in my office!) but if you are newly experimenting with adding color to everyday wear, accessories is the best place to start. They can take an outfit from so-so to so-hot! :)

I would finish off this look with black pants or leggings....please tell me you already own a pair of these! 

Price breakdown: Blazer $34.95, Denim Shirt $24.95, Sweater $17.95 and Bubble Necklace $11.00

Again, as always -- these are pieces you will wear over and over and are extremely versatile transition pieces throughout the seasons.