Blog Design Change for this Cali Girl

For those of you that have been following me, you know I recently learned how to design my own blog... and a few weeks ago I loaded my first new blog design to my site.  Well, as a creative person/decorator, although I did like my first design, it wasn't quite me. So over the next hour or so my blog design will completely change.

I am a California girl.  I was born and raised here and I have always loved the beach... So my first design, being somewhat girly and frilly just wasn't quite right for me.. So here goes.  I am about to install a new blog design I am now completely happy with.

Here is a preview of my new Design...

Old design... (cutesy but not really me)

So I hope you all agree that this new blog design better suits me, as I am a native Southern California (beach) girl.

Now that I'm almost done with my blog design... and happy with it.   I will get back to my DIY projects... I've got a few new projects in the works :)

Until next time...
Happy decorating!

California Backyard Wedding - In January

This past weekend my big brother got married.  It was a backyard wedding here in Southern California.  Yes,  in the middle of January, they had a Hawaiian tropical themed outdoor wedding.  The weather was absolutely beautiful.  Thank You Lord!  It was one day before it got cold, windy and rainy (phew!!!).  Our family arrived the day before the wedding to help with set up and decorate. These first pictures are from the day and night before the wedding.

This is the groom and bride the day before the wedding... having fun and being silly.

How many men does it take to put a pole in straight... haha just kidding.   This is my brother, my dad and my husband fixing the pole in the ground... and my mom in the background decorating a fishing net.

My mother and my oldest daughter stopped long enough to let me snap a picture.

The yard looked so pretty with all of the tiki torches and heat lamps lit!  This was taken just before the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

The morning of the wedding.  My mother and youngest daughter putting sand and seashells on the black charger plates under the tropical floral arrangements.

Bar area...

The flowers were all done by my amazing mother.  She did floral design for many years and is an amazing decorator.  I think I get my decorating and DIY crafty side from her!!!

Although I like and prefer to be behind the camera.  I did get into a few pictures, because my hubby made me, lol.  This is me with my youngest daughter.  I am not short, in fact I'm 5'8"...  She is just wearing super tall heals and I was in flats :)

The beautiful bride was escorted by her son.

The did a blending of the families, sand art... where the parents from each side and the children from each side put different colors of sand into a heart jar.  It is a beautiful keepsake and a reminder of their day and their vows that they will display in their home.

Now a few posed wedding photos...

The bride and groom with all the parents.

Congratulations to the happy couple!!!  Now it's Party time...

While the banquet tables were being set up this little girl snuck a cupcake and took a seat off by herself.  She looked at me like "who me... I'm innocent"... lol

Some of the kids found a place to play on the side of the property.  I found them bouncing on this hammock... I asked them to say cheese and they stopped to pose for this picture.  I couldn't believe how they all just happily stopped to pose and then as soon as I said okay thanks, they got to rough housing and jumping again... It was pretty darn cute!

First a few girls were on the dance floor.... or should I say they started dancing poolside.

Before long a few men joined in too.

A simple backyard wedding... A wonderful day was had by all...

Now I have a sister :)  Welcome to the family Christie!

Blessings,

DIY Chalkboard - Total Cost Only $10

I absolutely love chalkboards! And they are such an easy do it yourself project. You can make a chalkboard on almost any surface (literally any surface).  I just made one for this beautiful vintage frame.  I got the old wood and gesso frame at my local flea market swap meet for only $7, which for an old gesso frame is major great deal.  I painted the frame with spray paint and then glazed it (paint and glaze I already had from a prior project, see how to glaze in my prior blog post).

I had my husband cut me a piece of fiberboard to fit my vintage frame. The board was less than $2 at my  local hardware store.  Then I used Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint and applied it directly to the board with a paint roller.  I applied two coats of the paint to assure good coverage.  It took hardly any paint to do this project.  In fact, the can still looks pretty much full.  I will be able to use my chalk paint for many many more chalkboard projects.  I estimate that I used probably .50 cents or less worth of paint.

I waited one day to assure the paint was completely dry. Then I wrote my menu on the chalkboard with a chalk pen that I recently got from Amazon (NeoChalk Liquid Chalk). I love the chalk pen because it doesn't smudge easily. It is a wet erase product, which means it only wipes off with a wet sponge or wet cloth.

I love how this project turned out. Both the glazing of the vintage frame and the making the chalkboard were super easy to do DIY craft projects.

I shared this on Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Night Special Link party... Check out her site for tons of great ideas and tutorials!

I'm feeling super inspired to do a few more chalkboard items.  I'm off to craft now...

Until next time,