wise words from the first lady.

wise words from the first lady.

5.27.2011

Michelle Obama shared these words of wisdom with the girls at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in London when she was across the pond visiting the Queen.

"Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down. And trust your instincts ... good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don't hurt. They're not painful. That's not just with somebody you want to marry, but it's with the friends that you choose. It's with the people you surround yourselves with. And that's just as important as the school that you choose. Who's in your life, and do you respect them, and do they respect you? And are you respecting them. Right?

"And we as women in particular—and this is such an important message—starting today, you all have to be supportive of each other. You can't be jealous, and push and trip, you know? It's hard enough."

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{DIY} Painted Dining Chairs

{DIY} Painted Dining Chairs

5.10.2011

Whew, finally my first DIY post! Don't get me wrong, I love to craft and create things that I've put some hard work into, but the project idea always sounds WAY better than the actual execution. You have to go find/buy all the supplies, have the time to actually DO the project, and then have a need for said crafted item.

With the coming move to my new place, I now have a need for some more furniture. I'm getting over the "get it cheap and cry while assembling" IKEA phase and I'm now on to the "find it on craigslist and make it better" phase. I've had some success finding promising pieces on craigslist...nothing to craft yet though.

I already have a dining room table that we've been storing in one of the many closets. It was from our house in CT and we ended up not needing it here in Dallas. But now I needed chairs. Ugh. Hunting for 4 matching chairs under $100 that somewhat matched this stained wood table sounded more or less horrific. Plan B: Find some decent (and cheap) unfinished chairs at IKEA and then let my creative juices flow.

Time:
5-6 hours (plus more for drying) depending on if you have help
Supplies:

• 4 IKEA IVAR dining chairs - $19.99 each ($80 total) these come unfinished
• 1 quarter primer - $8
• 1 quality paint brush - $11
• 1 sand paper sponge - fine grade 
• 1 gallon paint color of your choosing - about $30 depending on brand - I used Glidden Real Navy in Satin finish, it's a medium shine and looks appropriate on chairs (no you don't need a gallon of paint but that is how much the Home Depot guy made me buy....so now I'm going to be painting everything in my house navy) 
• Other key ingredients: 
• Water
• Music
• Snacks

Step One:
"Disrobe" the chairs from the packaging and save the boxes to use as surfaces to catch paint drips down the line. Assemble all four chairs. This process should only take you about 45 minutes. It just so happened to be 90 degrees in Dallas that day and our garage gets NO breeze....needlesstosay, I was melting. Here are the chairs - seat-less.

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mother's day.

mother's day.

5.09.2011

Mom at 26

Dear Mom,

How can I put into words how much I love you?

I was cleaning out my room yesterday and getting things organized to move when I found the birthday card you sent me this year. Just seeing your naturally loopy writing on the inside brought tears to my eyes. 

You are such an amazing, strong, beautiful woman and "when I grow up", I can only hope to be half the woman you are. Being so far away all these years has made me really appreciate you and I so wish that I could have spend this day celebrating you!!

Through highs and lows, you've been that rock in my life that boosted be up when I was low and pulled me off the ledge when I was so high I might just start to fly. You've kept me grounded but also pushed me beyond my boundaries.

This day is about you, Mom! Thank you for drying my tears after graduation, thanks for telling me your mac and cheese recipe to win the hearts of all my guy friends....

....thank you for you advice on how to paint a chair...

...and whether or not to get a puppy....

....thanks for forcing me to learn to paint my own nails....

...and for pretending you couldn't hear me sneaking out in the middle of the night to see my boyfriend....

...thanks for telling me No when all I wanted to hear was Yes... and for always being just a phone call away....

...but most of all - Thanks for just being the best mom a girl could have. I wouldn't trade you for the world!! I love you Mom!!

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