This past weekend my Golden Boy has his bi-annual piano recital. This was the first time he played the piano while he sung a song and I was way impressed. Like...WHOA.
This kid is going far in life but he will never, ever, ever be cooler than his T-Monnie no matter how hard he tries to look in pictures. LOL!
Step 1: I wanted it to look old so I beat up a piece of wood I had from a shelf that I built with a hammer.
Step 2: Sand it all over so you don't have splinters.
Step 3: Stain.
Step 4: Paint with Modge Podge.
Step 5: Add paper items.
Step 6. Let dry for 15 minutes.
Step 7: Paint over whole thing with Modge Podge.
Step 8: Cover with a clear satin topcoat for protection.
Step 9: Let dry overnight.
Step 10: Add sawtooth hangers to back.
Me likey. I love how it looks really old.
Have you ever done a Modge Podge project? What was it?
I've had some stuff I've wanted to frame for a while now but never got around to doing it. And...I had a super blank wall in the room I like to read in. I have a television in there that I use to binge watch programs The Robinator doesn't want to watch like "Parenthood" and listen to music. The room is comfortable and I've been finishing it slowly.
That blank wall is opposite my mirror gallery and behind the television.
Have I mentioned that I hate how televisions take up a wall? Like...there never seems to be anything interesting about the wall the television is in front of. I've seen where interior designers put a lot of art on the wall behind the television and I kind of liked that. Then...I thought about other stuff that I like too and decided to make a mixed media wall.
Our friends, Kenny and Booth, have an amazing home. Not because it's like this grand estate or anything (even though it is), but because everything in it has a story. Anything your eyes light on has a unique history and story. Walking through their home with one of them is like a cultural personalized museum tour and I love that everything has a story behind it. They didn't just roll up to a furniture store and buy a matching living room set. Every piece is unique and personalized to their personalities and the way they live their life. They have fascinating art and bits of all sorts of amazing things to look at. It's like a sensory party that you never want to leave. I could sit in their great room for hours and hours perfectly content.
And that's what I want. I want spaces and things with personal and unique stories. This room is the first one that I'm doing that way just to see how well it fairs and I am loving it so far. I can't wait until I decide on window treatments because that will mean that I am finally finished with it as I've said they will be the last things I do in each room.
Michael's was having a 50% off sale on their wall frames so I picked up some of them for the vintage musical programs and art that I had. I made a tray at an Annie Sloan paint techniques class I attended, did a canvas using stencils and added two wood pieces that I did myself.
The first one was an address sign with 13700 on it. All my happiest memories in life so far were made at 13700. It's where my husband and I first started out as a married couple and where we just grew into who we are. It's where my family, framily and friends gathered all the time and where I've circled infertility, learned how to be settled and really just grew up.
The second one is made from handwritten sheet music from a musical in the early 1900s. "Swing Low," "Were You There?" and "Deep River." I bought this years ago with the other pieces in Maryland.
The tray was a fun time and I enjoyed meeting the ladies and learning about different painting techniques. So there is a story behind it too. The vases were made using dollar store vases and dots and tape to create a design and then spray paint.
I love the way it has all come together. It's visually interesting and the television is no longer the focal point of the wall. I even have room to add more pieces should I ever decide to. I like that I decided to use the whole wall instead of just up high above the television.
Vote.
Don't vote for the Republican candidate.
He's not a good person.
Vote for the Democratic candidate.
She has her faults.
But she's not him.
If you vote for a 3rd party candidate, in this election, you're basically voting for him.
Don't vote for him.
1 head of bok choy, chopped
1 container of mushrooms
Roasted sesame oil
Sesame seeds
Soy sauce
Red pepper flakes
Put a bit of roasted sesame oil in a skillet with a cover. Add bok choy and mushrooms. Drizzle with soy sauce and sprinkle sesame seeds and red pepper flakes. Cover and cook on medium low for 10 minutes. Stir. Cover and cook for 2 additional minutes.
Should still have a bit of crisp to it. Add salt if you like but the soy sauce should cover it. (I use gluten-free soy sauce.)
We eat this a lot. Bok choy has all kinds of super healthy benefits. Check it out HERE.
