Arts and Crafts

Growing up, I always anticipated our yearly trip to Christmas Forest, just north of Zachary, to choose and cut our Christmas tree. It was my family's tradition, and I couldn't wait to begin the yearly trip with my own children. For a few years, my own little family continued on with the tradition, then Christmas Forest closed shop. We tried a few other choose and cut places, but none with the same ambiance. Choosing a pre-cut tree in front of a hardware store wasn't quite as festive, and while I know some people prefer it, using an artificial tree seemed cold. We decided to think outside the box and start our own Christmas tree tradition. Two years ago, we bought...

My 3 year old is a lot like most 3 year old girls, obsessed with all things dressy, and sparkly, and princessy. As the tutus and crowns started to pile up, I found myself needing a good storage solution.  Her dress-up box was bursting at the seams. Of course, I started by scouring the internet.  After checking out all of the options, I decided that DIY was the way to go.  I found examples made out of old entertainment centers and dressers. Despite my best Craigslist skills, I couldn't quite find anything that met all of my criteria.  Then it hit me! The perfect piece was already in her room.  Her bookcase was exactly what I was looking for...

Recently a wise friend told me that I had to be brave.  We were having a conversation about feeling pulled in multiple directions, and she said that “Brave” was my word.  She then asked me what that meant in my life.  After some thought, I replied, “To write and call myself a writer.” Quite simple really, or it looks that way when typed out in front of me, but truthfully it is much harder.  Writing has been a simmering passion in me since I was ten years old.  Repeatedly though, I have turned down the flame only for it to bubble back up to the surface.  Whether it is fear that turns the knob or doubt or busyness or procrastination, one...

Other possible titles for this blog post included Chalk Paint for Beginners or Chalk Paint for Preggo in the Third Trimester…all three descriptors accurately reflect me at the present time, however I'm pretty much always a slacker when it comes to DIY projects. Which is why Chalk Paint has always been so appealing. Ever since a friend discovered it years ago and redid her bedroom set from in the 80s in a day with ease and amazing results, I have wanted to try it myself. I have PLENTY of pieces that could use a paint job. But it was the changing table I recently salvaged (and a baby on the way) that was the motivator to finally give it a try. My friend was...

I love my daughter's baby book. It's beautiful. It's wrapped in dupioni silk. Her monogram is fancily displayed on the front cover complete with a bow. The pages within are classically themed in a Peter Rabbit design. It cost an arm and a leg. …and I've written in it exactly zero times. She's two years old. Yikes. I don't get much free time, and writing in her baby book has just never been high enough on the list of things to do while she naps or sleeps. This makes me a little sad, especially when I think of her opening it one day and seeing a bunch of empty pages (and also, how much it set me back in dollar-dollar bills y'all),...