How to make a chalkboard

I love schooling my kids at home, but I don't want our home looking like a classroom. That's why I love ideas that camouflage our school space to into our everyday living space.

Here's one great idea inspired by this article on MarthaStewart.com: a chalkboard! A vintage style chalkboard is just my style. But, in case you hadn't noticed, chalkboards are really hard to come by these days. So I decided to make my own.

 I used Rust-oleum Specialty Chalkboard paint I found at Home Depot. You choose from one the these fun colors, and they tint the paint for you right in the store.

 This is a cheap-o frame I bought at Ikea.

 I used the particle-board backing on the frame for my chalkboard.

Since we usually end up doing most of our schoolwork at the dining room table, the chalkboard is the perfect surface for brainstorming and sharing ideas. It also doubles as a welcome board for out-of-town-guests or a menu board.

Chalkboard paint is designed to be applied directly onto the wall and many other kinds of surfaces, so it's fun to get creative!

Happy Homegrowing!

-Ash

My Online Education from "A Beautiful Mess"

Hey Everyone,
I just have to take a moment show some love to one of my favorite bloggers on the web, Elsie, of A Beautiful Mess blog and the Red Velvet Shoppe. She is blogs about vintage wears, crafting, owning her own business, and life in general. What a breath of fresh air! She has the cutest ideas and she's truly an inspiring business woman.

Before I started this blog, I knew I had something I to share with the world, but I had absolutely no direction at all. Then I decided to take Elsie's online course, Blog Love, hoping to get something decent out of it.

Can I just tell you- that was the most value I've gotten out of $32 ever. Elsie was like a mama bird, gently guiding me on the path towards my goals. She's frankly honest about her own hits and misses throughout her personal and professional journey. She gave me thought-provoking questions to ask myself so that I could clearly determine the personality and direction of my blog. And she shared professional, practical advice on marketing, design, and getting started. The e-course is completely text, so you can take as long as you want on it and refer back to the information when needed.

If you have ever considered starting a blog or if you already have one, I highly recommend Elsie's course. She has other interesting courses too. As always, her daily blog is a daily dessert!

Go, Elsie, go!

-Ash

It's Only Natural.

 

 I'm one of those organic hippie types in terms of cleaning, food, hair products, etc.  It was my deep, dark secret, however, that I had never switched my makeup over. It's not that I didn't want to. It just that all the natural makeup I had tried looked like, well- goop! Crazy, olive-oil-and-clay goop. But I finally found great natural makeup by a company called Tarte.

Tarte is sold at Sephora stores across the country. Now I can get my glam on and I don't have to worry about carcinogens, additives, perservatives, or any other scary makeup stuff. Pretty right?

PS I'm kind of a makeup minimalist, but if you prefer a more dramatic look, Tarte is sure to have everything you need.

Love,
Ash

To Do

Details to come... love ya!

-Ash

Worth 1,000 Words

So, what do home-schoolers do all day? One picture tells all.

Love Ya. Meant it.

Ash

Putting it Together

At home with my own munchkins, we're doing a new unit on the American Frontier. I will be using my KONOS curriculum as a base for the unit.

I love this Nature Explorer Bag craft from Chez Beeper Bebe (via Crafty Crow). I may not make the bag from scratch (just being honest), but I will definitely gather all those explorers items so we're ready to go exploring at a moment's notice. It also reminds me that our unit after this one will be birds, so maybe I can just blend them together!

A few months ago I found this mini-book tutorial on Elsie's wonderful blog.


Mini-book from danny brito on Vimeo.

It's the best tutorial ever. In just one minute out of one sheet of paper, I can a make a little book for- anything! I have used it for countless activities. This time, I will use it to make little travel journals for my little explorers.


-Ash

Do Not Disturb.

Sunday marked our 7th wedding anniversary. I cannot believe that. It also marked Brock's birthday, because we got married right on his birthday. (cute, huh?)

I am married to an amazing man. He is so passionate about nurturing his relationships with the kids and I, which makes the world of difference. I care because he cares so much, you know what I mean? He is also very driven; so willing to think outside the box. I really have him to thank for pushing me to pursue more than I ever thought I could.

This weekend, my gracious parents took the kids for 24 hours while we "stay-cationed" in Laguna Beach. Dinner. Dancing. Ocean Kayaking. Hanging at the beach. Going for yogurt. It was absolute heaven.

Well, back to my dream jobs!

-Ash