Blessing 218 - Fall Bucket List

A couple of weeks ago, I shared our Summer Bucket List.  We had so much fun trying to cross things off that list so we had to make a Fall Bucket List.

I looked for a few chalkboard bucket list on pinterest, but I really didn't find the look I wanted for my pantry.  Thursday, I took a little time for myself, and just started drawing.

I knew I wanted a tree, and I really liked the placement of the title. However, I decided to take this one all the way to the ceiling.

Once I got to this point, I decided I wanted to add a little color.  I used sidewalk chalk to add some red leaves, and highlighted them with a little yellow.

It was really nice to start and not really know where I was going to end up.  It was very relaxing to be creative in this way.  (I realize that sounds a little weird, but I'm one of those people that needs to be creative to be happy.)

Yesterday, I was trying to get some pictures of the bucket list when I heard some shuffling feet across my kitchen floor.

Now it's been a while since he's done this but....

Boom! Photo Bombed!

In case you can't read because of Collin, the items on our bucket list are...

1. boiled peanuts- They don't sell them around here, but I can make some.

2. apple cider

3. apple picking

4. camp fire

5. jumping in a pile of leaves (Brandon added that one)

6. hay ride

7. Operation Christmas Child

8. caramel apples

9. put pumpkins on the porch

10. trick or treat

We might not get all these items crossed off, but we are going to have a lot of fun trying!

What's on your list? I'd love to hear!
 

Blessing #215 - Summer Bucket List

Well Labor Day is over, and with it summer is over too at least it is in my book.

At the start of the summer, I put up a summer bucket list in our pantry.  Our family had never done a bucket list before, but we had so much fun picking out what would make our bucket list.  

Here are a few things that we marked off our bucket list.

We didn't get to make it to the ocean this year, but we did play on the "beach" of the lake where we vacationed.  Close enough!

We were lucky enough to see fireworks twice! Once on the fourth of July,

We also saw fireworks at a baseball game.

Speaking of ball games, we got to go to an Orioles game, (I loved Camden Yards)

We also went to a minor league game at the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

The boys played in the sprinkler several times, but I never got a picture.  I did get a picture of Brandon turning in his first round of summer reading.

One of our biggest accomplishments this summer was that our entire family, all four of us, completed a summer reading form at our local library.  I'm not going to lie. I was really proud of us for that one.

We had our water fight just last week!

I missed a picture of our sidewalk chalk masterpiece, but Brandon made a great fish aquarium on our sidewalk.

The boys and I went to the Herr's chip factory, and I loOoOoOoOoved it! It was fascinating! I nerded out several times.

We had friends over for a dirt party, and when we were in Georgia, the boys had an impromptu dirt party with friends.

About once a week, we grilled out!

We went to one car show that was all about Chevelles.

We also went to another massive car show in our town.

We didn't finish everything on our bucket list. B didn't get his swim lessons. We didn't make homemade ice cream, and we never picked berries.

I kind of like that we didn't finish the whole list.  There is always next year!

Well, that's what we did this summer! Having the bucket list encouraged us to get out and have some fun.  We loved marking those big "X's" when we accomplished something.

We are definitely doing a fall bucket list! If you have any ideas of things we could add to the list or see any good ideas on Pinterest, please send them our way!

Blessing #214 - Save the Pickle Jars

A couple of weeks ago, our refrigerator broke.  By the time I realized what had happened, all the food in my fridge was room temperature.

One of Shad Lankford's greatest fears is food poisoning (poison ivy is a close second).  I used to make fun of him for the fear, but a year or so ago, he actually got food poisoning (from a restaurant not from my cooking).

I could have saved some of the food in the refrigerator maybe the ketchup or the pickles, but it wasn't worth hearing, "Does your stomach hurt? My stomach definitely hurts," every time he eats a pickle for the next month.

As I threw out all the food, it seemed like such a shame to throw out all those glass jars.  Yes, all the pickles had to be sacrificed, but suddenly I was determined to save the jars.

Last week, we went to a friend's house, and I found the perfect opportunity to save one of the jars.  A pickle jar would make a great flower vase!

And of course being the compulsive labeler that I am, I had to cut some vinyl for the pickle jar.  (If you don't have a vinyl cutter these labels would be awesome.)

Are you looking at my dusty mantle right now? Well, stop it!

I spray painted the lid with some spray paint I already had.  That way after the flowers are done, the jar can be used for pens or what not.

Are you looking at my mantle again? Stop it!

This little project saved a pickle jar from the recycling bin, and gave me an easy hostess gift.

The pickles would be proud. They did not die in vain.

Blessing #212 - Apron Display

A few weeks ago, I made some big progress on my kitchen! First I put up the clipboard kids art display, and then I dressed up my kitchen shelf.  The last project I did in my kitchen is so simple, but I it's probably my favorite!

When I'm out yard salin' and antiquin', I always look for vintage aprons. I really wish that wearing aprons out in public would come in fashion! I think I could pull it off! Rachel did in Friends! Of course, she was working in a coffee shop, but she wore the half apron well.

I just love how aprons make housework cuter. Last year, I even wore an apron to my favorite things party because they are one of my favorite things.  If you like aprons like I do,  I heart nap time has a great free printable of a fun quote, "Life is a kitchen put your best apron on and whip up something incredible!" You can find it here. 

When I updated my bathroom, I used this cute hanger from Hobby Lobby, but towels ended up being too heavy for this hanger and it kept falling.

One day, I realized that the failed towel hanger would make a perfect apron display.  One quick coat of paint later and I have a great spot to display aprons and vintage kitchen towels.

It's so simple and so fantastic! They bring a fun pop of color to this corner of the kitchen, and now I have a reason to get more aprons!

One of the biggest lessons I've learned fixing up my house is to put meaning on my walls.  There are so many more options for walls than just pictures.  Find something you love, and find a way to get it on the wall!

Blessing #209 - Kitchen Shelf

In April, I banished my kitchen of paneling and brightened it up with some paint. In case you don't remember, here is the before and after picture.

When I wrote that post, I didn't show the other side of the room because it wasn't really finished. As soon as I finished painting the room, Shad hung a shelf over the washer and dryer for me, but I couldn't figure out how I wanted to dress that shelf. That shelf sat bare for four months, but last week, I figured out how I wanted it to work.

I didn't want my kitchen to have a set color theme, but I knew I wanted to kitchen to be less formal than the rest of the house.

Here is the finished look....

I always knew I wanted that crossstich over the shelf.  I first fell in love with this at Mrs. Potterhouse's house.  In December, I was so happy to find something similar unmatted and unframed at an antique store for $10.

When you walk in the door, you eye is distracted by the shelf from the washer and dryer.

Here is that side of the kitchen before painting....

And after painting and the new shelf...

It may have took me four months to figure it out, but I love how the shelf ended up looking.

Blessing #208 - Clip Board Art Display

Yesterday, I shared the menu board that stayed on my kitchen wall for a grand total of two days.

Once I took the menu board down, I decided to make that a wall display for Brandon and Collin's art work.

Before B went to kindergarten, he never drew or colored anything.  He hated coloring with a passion.

Once before kindergarten, he colored me an awesome super hero picture out of the blue. Proudly, I placed his super hero masterpiece on the fridge. The next day, I asked him for another beautiful picture.  He handed me a picture of the Incredible Hawk scribbled all in red.  I asked him why he just scribbled and didn't color the Hulk.  "Oh! He was on fire." I just love being outsmarted by a six year old. After kindergarten started, B fell in love with drawing, and I love his creative side.

B's masterpieces need a better display than just our refrigerator....besides, I hate having stuff on my refrigerator.  For the art display, I started with a few clip boards.

Theeeeen, if you know me, you know what happened next. I painted them with chalkboard paint. I know. Shocker.

I hung them on the wall with some scotch picture hanging strips, and I loved the clean look.

At the top of the display, I put B's family portrait. I love how the chalkboard clip board lets me write the titles of B's drawings.

I also put up B's drawing of the bridge in our town.

And we couldn't forget to include one of Collin's masterpieces. Much to my dismay, Collin's favorite medium is the sharpie.

I also included a free printable I found at this website.  Last week, Walgreen's offered a free 8x10.  I love it when they do that because I always print out one of the printables from my free printables Pinterest board. 

The menu board was nice, but this art display is perfect for our family.

Ten points if you can find one of my favorite things that showed up in this picture.

  B loves that some of his art is on the walls.  It makes him see how much I value his creativity.  I can't wait to see the new master pieces he is going to make for me this year.

I am sharing this post with i heart organizing and A Bowl Full of Lemons.
 

Blessing #207 - A Menu Board

It's been a good while since I have blogged last. My summer with the boys has been fun...but intense. I love them to death and we've had a great, fun summer, but like I said it's intense. It takes a lot of work to get all the energy out of two little boys so they don't turn that energy out on the destruction of my house.  The boys and I have had a fun and busy summer, but that didn't leave much time for house projects. However, school is starting up next week, and I'm itching to get back to some projects.

Today, I just wanted to share a piece that I put in my kitchen last week, my menu board.  A few months ago, I found this Pepsi sign at a yard sale for $2.

This was not your normal yard sale.  It was a warehouse of somebody that had a restaurant.  The sign was cool, but what really sweetened the deal was a bag of extra letters that I found and asked if they could be thrown in to sweeten the deal. 

This Pepsi sign looks so cute as a menu board! Doesn't it!?!

Well, here's the thing.  As much as I liked it, I took the sign down just a couple of days later. Why? Let me show you a picture of my dry erase calendar in my mudroom. 

Yes, this picture was taken yesterday not months ago.  In March, a friend even pointed out my lack of calendar changing skills, but I still didn't change it.  Yesterday, after an eight month long January, I changed the calendar. Well, actually I just erased it, and then the pen wouldn't work so now the calendar is just blank. 

I had to be honest with myself, I'm just no good at calendars and menus.  Because of my forgetfulness, I knew that cute menu sign would have the same menu on it for weeks, and I knew I would feel a little tinge of guilt for not changing it. 

Who would feel guilty over not switching out a menu!?! Doesn't that sound crazy!?! But I knew it would happen so I embraced who I am and took it down.  

In place of the menu, I put up a display for the boys artwork.  A place to show off our "art" is much more fitting for our home and for me. Tomorrow, I'll be back and share that project.

Oh! And I believe I might use the Pepsi board in the boys room.