Logan's Map Wall

 It all started with an atlas that I found at a yard sale for a dollar. I've had it for a while thinking that I would use it in some craft or another, but I have been working on Logan's room (read: cleaning, editing, getting ready for when school starts next month, etc.) and one thing lead to another and the atlas came to mind to do a 'feature' wall. In his room there is a small recessed wall that is just over 7 feet, which is perfect to do a project like this.....an obvious beginning and ending which I think is so important in a feature wall. It recesses about two feet and has the door on one side and the closet door on the other:

 The atlas is circa 1984 so I did not have any of that I'm-about-to-tear-up-a-book guilt

 First things first, I painted the door casing white (I still have to do the baseboards)...trying to do that after the maps, or later would have been a pain.  I used regular wallpaper paste (bought at Walmart for around 5 bucks) and a chipboard brush. I started randomly on the edge and started going out from there...

 I kept going with the random look, making sure to mix large states (two page spreads) and small states (one page spread)

 A few tricks that I learned along the way...because this is not a normal 'wallpaper' application.....1) pasting the back of each paper resulted in a smoother finish (vs. pasting the wall). 2) A dry towel works great to smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles. 3) Don't be afraid to get messy. This is a messy project and when I embraced that, it went a lot faster...

 It took me about 4 hours to do, but I had to take a lot of breaks (chemo was last week)...I primed the door to get it ready for chalkboard paint and let everything dry over night.

 By the next day, the map wall was sheer perfection. I couldn't believe how well it adhered...it turned out better than I thought. I painted the door with three coats of chalkboard paint and let that dry....it dries super quick.

 I did make sure some of my favorite states are prominent....Missouri, North Carolina, Colorado, Oregon, Florida....places we've been and lived or want to visit. I think it would be fun to get pins and mark all the towns we want to travel to....but Logan is only six and I could see that getting a little dangerous! :) Maybe when he is a little older!

 I even covered the light switch plate in map, which was really easy to do.

 I seasoned the chalkboard and wrote a fun quote....Logan will definitely love this, he already loves the one in the kitchen.

 I really love how it turned out and most importantly, Logan loves it. Not too bad for a project under six dollars and a little labor. I've been doing some other projects around his room...a new (to us) dresser, a twin spindle bed that was a curb-side find and a new rug....can't wait to show you!

Abitrary Things

We have some catching up to do, don't we? I've named several post 'Random Stuff' so for a change, today it's 'Arbitrary Things'. Such is life. :)

Soon after my last post, I caught a beast of a cold, probably amplified due to my low red blood cells....finally this past week I was feeling better. Of course I start my fifth round of chemo tomorrow, so it won't last for long. Ugh.

Anywho, I stopped in at TJ Maxx (to see what was new) and picked up a new rug for the kitchen. It has the perfect chartreuse green that I love and a dark grey that is the perfect in between wall color and lower cabinet color grey.

Love the beautiful ikat pattern too. We'll see how long it stands up. :)

I finally found a fabric I like for one of my little vintage chairs. I found it at Hobby Lobby. It was a little steep for my frugal self, but I needed less than a yard and the chair itself was so inexpensive. I did take it to an upholstery shop, but the cost was $90.00. Needless to say, I will be attempting the job myself. (I found that beautiful pillow at THIS Etsy shop.)

I made some new curtains for the living room. I loved the fabric that John and Sherry used for their master bedroom headboard and thought it would make great curtains as well. It really lightened and brightened the living room a lot! I ordered it online, you can take a look at it HERE.

Isn't it beautiful? I love the grey in it, which is what won me over....it talks to the Bedford Grey on the walls in the kitchen.

I've also started Fall wreaths!! Fall will be here before we know it. Plus, I've got to get a head start knowing how long it takes for me to recover from chemo.

Take a look at this wreath HERE

Sorry, this one sold. ^

Take a look at this wreath HERE

Thank you so much for your continued thoughts and prayers! I really appreciate it. Talk to you soon!

At The Beach (My Trip Home, Part 2)

Everyday I am feeling better, recovering from my last chemo treatment. I wanted to get these pictures up sooner, but just wasn't feeling well enough. These are some random beach pictures I wanted to share....me relaxing on the beach and the kids playing in the ocean. I am still working on my surprise birthday party pictures, so be looking for those soon. 

Emerald Isle, North Carolina

I think with all kids, the sand provides hours of play, and Logan is no exception.

My boys, a fine example of monkey see, mokey do. :)

Logan being buried

Playing in the surf. Logan looks so happy.

Very intense look on Keegan's face riding a wave in

Fun pictures!

I love this shot.

I am so happy that I was able to go home. The shore is my very favorite place to be and really offered some healing for me midway through my chemo....that and family and friends really was wonderful. I was talking to my sister last night and it seems like the trip was forever ago already.....

In case you are wondering, I did get into the ocean. Before I got sick, it wasn't a big deal, but I actually felt scared about going in...whether I would be too weak to withstand the waves....but I did it, I didn't stay in very long, but I went in bald head and all! :)

I will talk to you all soon!

Michelle

OBX Pictures (My trip Home, Part 1)

I hope you are ready for picture overload! :)  I haven't been home in three years, so to say I took a few pictures is an understatement. Today, I'm highlighting our trip to Ocracoke Island, Hatteras Island, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Manteo....the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. 

Ocracoke Lighthouse, Ocracoke NC

Cape Hatteras Island, Buxton NC

Now if you remember, I had just had my chemo treament the week before this trip, so I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to climb the 286 steps of the lighthouse. In addition, my sister is afraid of heights, so this was a big deal for her as well! So the kids hustle up the stairs like nobody's business, and my sister and I start the long trek together. Slow step, by slow step, we make it to the first level, and then the next, and then the next. Panting, thighs burning and out of breath of course....but we made it to the top! We both set goals and we both met them! Notice my sister did not move very far from the doorway....but who cares! She made it to the top of Hatteras!

My boys and I with the spectacular view behind us

Looking down the lighthouse

I love this lighthouse, one of my favorites...it's hard to believe it's been 10 years since they moved it inland from it's orginal location.

We also stopped in Nags Head at Bodie Island lighthouse, they are working on restoring the lighthouse and I think I read that they are making it able to climb too.

Next, we travel up to Kitty Hawk where the famous Wright brothers flew their plane off Kill Devil Hill. This was the first time I have ever been to Kitty Hawk, we really enjoyed the memorial.

We also stopped at the Elizabeth II

Logan trying on some armour

And the Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, NC

Don't think we did all this in one day....oh no, this was a weekend excursion. I still have more pictures of our trip so stay tuned!

Feeling Good and Rested

First of all, thank you for all the comments and emails I've gotten about how I am doing.....I didn't mean to leave you hanging like that. I am feeling pretty good. I have enjoyed the last two weeks with my family in NC and stayed unplugged the whole time. I am back in Missouri now and you know how it is after taking a trip, you've got to get acclimated to normal life again. I keep thinking I've got to hurry up and get ready for the beach, or what ever adventure that we've got planned for the day but then it dawns on me I'm landlocked again. ;) 

 I can't tell you how much I really needed this trip (I think the boys did too...I have to remember I am not the only one going through the effects of chemo). After three chemo treatments I needed to get some sort of relief and I am a true believer that salt air cures nearly anything. I love being around my sister (that cures anything too), time and miles do not make a difference to us, we fall right back into being together like we always have. I enjoy being an Aunt too...a little mischievousness always comes out in me. 

I want to show you some of the adventures while on our trip and the surprise birthday party my sister threw for me. I turned 40 on June 1st and she really got me, that stinker. I am working on editing the pictures and can't wait to show you. I start my fourth round of chemo on Monday so I probably will go missing again for a few days. Again, thank you for your thoughts and prayers, you guys are amazing!