DIY: Chalkboard Storage Jars and Tins

How many of you have jumped on the chalkboard paint bandwagon?  There are so many cute little products that a simple chalkboard or chalkboard paint can spruce up and bring new life to.

Paint an old frame any color and then paint the glass with chalkboard paint.
Easy.
image via

This beauty is from the blog Dear Lillie.  The blog (and the online shop of the same name) are owned by
Jennifer Holmes, who changes out the sayings on her picture frame on a whim.  Her home is
gorgeous and has been featured all over the place, both online and in print.
Definitely worth jumping on over to it and checking it out!

Last Christmas at a boutique, I bought some reusable heart shaped wooden tags that were covered in chalkboard paint-- super cute.

These are like mine, and available at the etsy shop The Cottage Market.

I saw these little beauties over on the Anthropologie website...

Anthropologie Spice Jar

Anthro Storage Jars

And while I think they are super cute, I don't see myself spending $10 to $36 apiece on them.  So what's a girl to do?  

Pull out a can of spray paint and make her own.  I had an empty Illy coffee can. (Have you tried Illy espresso?  If you haven't,  you should; it makes the best cup of coffee.  I use it in my French press and LOVE it.)  I also had some chalkboard sticky tag things that I got at Staples.  They're from the Martha Stewart collection. 

Okay, I looked it up.  "Chalkboard sticky tag things" wasn't appeasing the old English major in me.  They're called Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Chalkboard Labels in Flourish.  Labels, duh!  I may be just a tad tired as I sit and write this!  These are around $6 for a pack of 12.  And you can get them in different sizes.

image via Adventures in the Anderl House

So first, I sandpapered the can.  Then it was given a good coat of white spray paint.  It was left to dry overnight, and then, voila!  I was able to slap on a label and call it a diy success.

I also got an old cookie jar at the Salvation Army for under $2.  Originally, it was a cream color with a strange mushroom design on it.  (I did take before pictures, but the USB card got, um, compromised, shall we say, so I lost all those pics.)  Sandpaper, spray paint, and a label.  Done.

Once my Dad knew I had done this, he took it upon himself to save some empty glass jars for me and to spray paint them white.  All they needed was for me to add some of my leftover labels.  Easy!  And much cheaper than  $10 a pop; since I am recycling, the only thing I needed to buy was the labels; we had the spray paint already on hand.  I love easy, cheap projects!

So here are the finished products.  You can add the labels to just about anything you want to.  Not bad for  a few bucks.

Day 21~   I am thankful that my brother and sister-in-law will be visiting us for Christmas!  And I am thankful that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and that we will be spending it with friends, family, and lots of delicious food.

~Lori

Inspiration: Anna Karenina

amazon.com

Leo Tolstoy began writing Anna Karenina in March 1873.  He had just completed War and Peace and intended to write his next novel about Peter the Great, but in 1872 Tolstoy had seen an inquest into the death of a cast-off mistress named Anna Pirogova who had thrown herself in front of a train.  He began drafting the novel and through all these drafts his sympathies changed.  At first he describes Anna's husband, Karenin, as long suffering and kind but Anna as harsh and selfish.  These portrayals changed through the draft process and Tolstoy began to sympathize more with Anna's character, therefore crafting a far more complex psychology.

 It is no wonder that Anna Karenina has been made and re- made into classic films starring some of film history's best actresses, from Greta Garbo to Vivien Leigh.  Now Keira Knightley has her turn.  I can't wait to see if she lives up to her predecessors.  I have high hopes because I saw her in The Duchess and she was really wonderful.

audreyellis

The beautiful Swedish actress Greta Garbo in Anna Karenina 1935.

flickchickcanada

doctormacro

A stunning Vivien Leigh in Anna Karenina (1948).

anatomyofaclassic

guardian

Ever since I saw Knightley in The Duchess, I have been convinced that she is a fabulous actress who is more than capable of playing this role brilliantly.  We will soon see...

news.instyle

filmofilia

I am so inspired by the look of 17th century Russian aristocracy.  It is lush and ornate.  Obviously this look translates beautifully to the big screen, but how can one do the same in everyday life?  Well, I don't think it takes much.  If fact you can't do this look from head to toe without looking like you are in costume.  A few pieces are all you need to evoke the romantic feel of the era.  A fur collar, a rich hued shoe or a beaded bag or earring.  Whatever you choose, you can't miss.  Even Banana Republic has joined in on the "Anna Karenina trend."

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Day 20  I am thankful that I have a husband who is willing to help with any crazy project I throw his way:  Today he hung a huge branch from the ceiling.  He never asked 'why' he just went to work.  How did I get so lucky?

Fisherman Sweater

Fisherman Sweater by desertgirls featuring printed scarves

I think a good fisherman sweater is a closet staple that every girl needs.  Who doesn't have those mornings when you want to just throw on something you know is comfy, cozy, and still chic?  A good fisherman's sweater is all that.  Pair it with skinny jeans, a classic boot, a gorgeous scarf, and just for fun- a nautical inspired ring to complete the look and you're good to go!

Day 19~ I am thankful for my Dad being such a willing Mr. Fix-It.  He is always coming over to my house and helping me with projects, such as winterizing my swamp cooler and most recently, fixing my garbage disposal.  He is truly someone I am thankful for!

~Lori

Sweet Spot Sunday

Okay, so this recipe isn't sweet but it is one of my favorites on a cold day and a few of my friends have been asking for it.
My Dad makes the best venison stew ever.  I am sharing this with you out of the goodness of my heart:)

2 strips bacon chopped
1 lb venison or beef stew meat
4 cloves fresh garlic chopped
4 medium potatoes 1.5" peeled and chopped
4 medium carrots .25" peeled and chopped
2 celery sticks .5" chopped with leaves
2 Tbsp seasoned salt
1 tbsp salt
2 beef bouillon cubes (or paste)
16oz brewed coffee (caff or decaff)
8oz bag frozen corn


Start your coffee brewing while you heat skillet on high.  Cook bacon until it starts to brown then add venison/ beef and add garlic.  Sear outside of meat then add season salt, salt, celery and carrots.  Stir until everything combines and juices form.  In a slow cooker pour coffee and then add meat and veggie mixture.  Then add potatoes and bouillon.  Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until potatoes are soft.  Add frozen corn 15 minutes before you are ready to serve.  Serve with fresh bread.

Day 18:  I am thankful for the joys of good food.  I am so lucky that I, not only, have food to eat, but wonderful food to enjoy.

Advent Calendars

Day 17~  I am thankful that the Cat and I have gotten to travel, go to museums, plays, musicals, and other cultural and social events that have opened our eyes to the world and brought so much depth and experience to our lives.

This year, I have decided to make the Cat an Advent calendar.  My sister bought her boys some really cute Lego calendars, but she couldn't find anything appropriate for my niece, who has a severe peanut allergy  and can't eat most of the candy that comes in your run of the mill advent calendar.  So she is making one too.

I remember one time I was Christmas shopping with my mother-in-law, and we were at Pottery Barn, and she pointed to a beautiful, expensive advent calendar and said something about it.  I had never really paid much attention to advent calendars before, but I thought the Pottery Barn one was nice and I wanted to make an appropriate agreement/response to her comment, so I said something about how I didn't like the little calendars you can get with the cheap chocolate, blah blah blah.  Again, let me remind you, I had never really thought twice about any advent calendar, having never gotten one or given one.  I just wanted to contribute to the conversation.  So who cares, you say?  What's the point of your story, you ask?  Well, right after I said that, my mother-in-law informed me that she had bought one of those "cheap chocolate advent calendars" for the Cat.  I felt like the biggest jerk ever- I still feel bad about that comment, 8 years later!  And she isn't even my mother-in-law anymore!  I hate that I offended her, and I hate it even more because I didn't even really mean it!  This, my friends, is why you should always be honest.

There.  Didn't know you were going to come here today and get some solid life advice, did you?  Well, there you have it.  We aim to please here at DGV.  (Let it be noted that I have a head cold and I took some night time cold medicine shortly before beginning this post.)

So.  On to the advent calendars.  I am planning on making one for the Cat this year, and there are so many fabulous ideas out there (thank you, Pinterest!) that I am having a hard time deciding which direction I want to go in.  I'd better hurry up and decide, though, because it'll be time to start using it pretty soon.  One thing I do know- it will not contain just gifts.  She gets enough stuff during the year, at her birthday, and at Christmas.  We talked about it and she is making little notes and gifts for me to open as well, and we will take turns.  I am also going to stick a couple of presents for the dog and the cat in there on one of the days, since Big Cat always wants to buy  Christmas gifts for the pets anyway.  And I will put in things for us to do that will help others, like bringing her teachers a coffee and donating a gift to the Toys for Tots program.

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If I ever decide what idea to go with, I will be sure to post it.  I'm looking forward to it, actually.  And I do have a whole week off to work on it, so no excuses!

Have a great weekend!

~Lori

Freaky Find Friday

I know Halloween is over, but the freakishly creepy things just continue to pop up all around me!  I wish they wouldn't because my neck needs a break from all the double takes.  But really, wouldn't you be sad if we couldn't show you all these horrible shopping encounters?  

I say encounter for a reason.  As an example, take a gander at this 3ft doll:  She was peering around the corner at me as if to say "I saw you first and, yeah, just because I don't have my poles and skis I can still catch you."  Doesn't she look as though she was meant to be slaloming down a mountain?  I have a question though: I think she is supposed to be a little Inuit, but where in Northern Alaska or the Arctic do they raise cows?  That is a cow print coat, is it not?  Not only that, but her fringe of dark hair looks as though she went at it with a plastic knife.  

Nevertheless, happy Friday everyone!

Day:16 I am so grateful that Thanksgiving break starts today and that I have my family all to myself for 9 whole days.  I am graeful for the rain that we so desperately need and for good books to read during.

Inspiration: Peter Pan Collars

What do you get when you type "Peter Pan" into etsy's search engine?  You get all kinds of adorableness, that's what.  You get Peter Pan items and you get Peter Pan collars.  Both of these are things I LOVE.

from etsy shop Coline Design

This fun Peter Pan collar boasts a pretty city design, reminiscent of a London scene, so it kind of combines both the story and the accessory into one pretty little item.  I think this collar could add a lot of fun to an outfit; it would definitely give a little bit of quirkiness to an otherwise simple sweater.

Netty's Girl Vintage

This coat is probably pretty fabulous in person- orange plaid, peter pan collar, belted, and a cape/coat combination?  Gorgeous.

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Day 15~ I am thankful for Netflix.  I know, not very deep, but I love being able sit down and watch marathons with the Cat. 

~Lori