no. 6

i love a chalkboard.

Absolutely one of my favorite things in life...a chalkboard.  I don't know why, just is.

any color + any kind = be still my heart.

Here is a quick and simple project that anyone can make!! And, I do mean anyone.

You'll need a few things....
1. wooden letter, size and style of your choice
2. chalkboard paint
3. foam brush
4. chalk
5. cute ribbon
6. work surface

Step One: cover work surface with protective layer and lay out your letters.

Step two: grab paint and open.

Step three: paint the letter.  Be sure to get edges! And, I always like to paint a second coat!

Step four: rub chalk over the letter.  First, make sure you have allowed the paint to dry completely.  Turn chalk to the side and give the letter a good rub down. Be sure to get the edges!!

Step five: wipe away some of the excess chalk and add your cute ribbon.  I made a loop through the letter, then tied an additional knot on top.

For the 'H', since there wasn't a way to loop through the letter, I just glued a piece to the back of the 'H' and then pulled it tight in center, and then added the knot on top of one side.

For the 'S', another loop and knot.  You can play with your letter and ribbon to find a combo you love!

I gave these as gifts to the teachers on my team last year.  I was soooo happy with how they turned out!  Such a cute and simple way to dress up a classroom, or front door, or dorm room, or anywhere really!!

no. 5

a quick project...

Really? Is there such a thing??  My hubby would definitely say no.  I know his favorite words to hear from me are, "Hey, I have an idea."  But, since he's not here.... I say, let's do a quick project!! 

Today is Friday, and tomorrow about 10 little boys and their families will be coming to lunch to celebrate another fabulous Pirate Baseball season.  What does that mean....it means, that I should be straightening and cleaning and scrubbing a few toilets. Yuck.  But I am not. I am, however, whipping up some new curtains using my favorite material. 

Drop Cloth.  

Yep, you read correctly.  Drop cloth.  The cheap, $10.00 per package kind.  I love it!!  I've used all over my house... my living room, in the office, and now the breakfast room windows are getting a little update! 

This is a 6' x 9' panel. I washed and dried it first to give it a soft, linen type look. Then, I split it in half, so now I have 3' x 9' panels.  Next, I am going to hem the side where I made the cut.  Last, I will clip and hang with my second favorite material.  Rings.

I mean really... it's that simple!!

Now, on to the less fun things, like cleaning and scrubbing.  Happy Friday, Friends!

no. 4

one year ago today...

I stacked all the chairs and pushed together all the desks one last time.  With tear filled eyes, I stood in that dark, quiet room and replayed the last four years over and over and over in my mind.  I thought about the students who had passed through those doors, the teachers I had taught next door to or down the hall from; who were now some of my very best friends. I thought about the laughter, the tears, the joy, the frustration, the excitement.  I thought about the principal who believed in me enough to give me a chance. Here I was giving that all up. And for what, so I could be a mom, just a mom, a stay at home mom.  What was I thinking???

Well, honestly, in that moment, I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing.  I doubted myself and my decision, a lot. I just knew I needed something else, perhaps something more.

Here's what I know for sure... I let the teacher role define me. I was blinded. I didn't understand that I could be more. That was me, a teacher. Teacher first, mom and wife second, and then anything else last. I will always be a teacher. Always. These days tho, I am teaching my children by being their mom.  I needed this chance to realize that being just a mom is okay.  In fact, it's more than okay.  It's with out a doubt the place He brought me to, and wants me to be now.  Who says you can't be more than one thing in this life, anyway?? I am learning to let go of definitions and enjoy this season.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are days that I wish I was in that classroom teaching instead of reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the one hundred, fiftieth time today, or picking up the toys, again. But, I know this won't last long, and she won't always want to sit in my lap and read the same book over and over.  And, he won't always want me to come to school and eat lunch with him and then turn to give me a big hug when it's over. Truly Grateful. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to get to be just a mom and experience these things with my babies.

There is joy in this journey. Somedays, I have to look harder than others to find it, but it's still there. I hope you find joy in your journey.....

"Bless the Lord, o my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."  Psalm 103:1

no. 3

a project...

This is a little project I completed last fall.  I saw a picture of something similar in a magazine, and thought I could do that!!  Since I had almost everything needed for the project, it really was a project done for practically pennies.  I think the only thing I spent money on was a 2x4.  I love it when that happens!

Here's what I did:

Step One - gather supplies.... 

shims, paint, paint brushes, newspaper, hot glue gun, 2x4 boards for base piece.  

    

Step Two - paint shims...

This one is pretty self explanatory, but be sure to paint all edges. Don't worry about the back side, no one will see it! 

Step Three - line up painted shims, in rainbow order...  

Why rainbow order?? Well, because you can. And, because it makes a cute picture. Plus, having them lined up, let's you grab the color you want next a little more easily.

Step Four - hot glue gun time...
Using the hot glue gun, glue together two shims, making a 90 degree (right angle). Here's the fun part... RANDOMLY choose your colors.  This is why you lined them up...so you can just grab a color and go. I mean it, don't think about it...just pick it up and glue.  I promise it will work out!

See.... I told you. It works out!!!

Step Five - lay out your pieces and glue to base 2x4...

I actually didn't snap a picture of this step, the excitement of the moment got me! I was so pumped that it was looking cute. But, here's what to do... stack each piece inside each other along the center of the of the 2x4. Here's where you can adjust your colors, if you'd like. I actually didn't have to move too many around. I tried not to have more than one color touching, but I ended up with one spot where there are two greens...and I love it!!  

I had the very helpful men at Lowe's cut one 2x4 into three equal lengths of 24", but if you are skilled with sawing and you have the tools, you could totally do that yourself.  

The possibilities are endless with this project.  Ombre. School colors. Muted colors. Black and White. The list goes on and on..... If you try it, let me know! I'd love to see what you come up with.

Step Six - find the perfect spot for your new art and hang it... 
I started with mine on the mantle above our fire place, but have moved things around for the summer... so they have a new home, now.  Stay tuned to see the new spot!

no. 2

the plan... 

I am a planner.  It doesn't matter what it is, menus, parties, lessons for school, redoing rooms in our home, the garden outside, trips to far off places, holidays.... I have a plan in my mind (and some on paper).  I just can't help it.  So naturally, I have a plan for the start of this blog.  My plan is to blog once each day for 30 days.  

Remember, I have been thinking about doing this for a while, and so I have read different articles and 'how to's' on starting blogs and things you should do and things you shouldn't do.  One of the things you should do is stay focused.  They say find your audience and stick to one thing.  

My problem is I like lots of things!!  I mean it... LOTS of things.  Drawing.  Sewing.  Baking.  Cooking. Crafting.  DIY-ing. Painting. Gardening. Creating. Inspiring. Teaching. Mothering. Wife-ing.  Some may even say I am a bit random, or as I like to think of it, a hodge-podge.  Or better yet, a hodges-podges.  

I am hoping that 30 days will help give me some insight into what it is I really enjoy blogging about, and what my audience enjoys reading.  So, while it may appear a bit random, there really is some logic (at least in my mind) behind the plan.  If nothing else...it's a starting point.  And, all plans must have a place to start.

no. 1

today is the day... 

You know the saying, "if you can't quit thinking about it, then you should probably do it" ... Well, this is me doing it.  

I.T. Two tiny letters and I am not exactly sure what IT is. All I know is that I have this idea in my head and it won't go away.  So today I am starting.  

Starting this blog.  I am not exactly sure what will happen, where it will go, who will even read it. All I know is that today I begin.  

Our Hodgespodges Life... a little of this and some of that woven together to create our story.