DIY Ruffle Skirt Tutorial…Yay or Nay

Okay, you’re going to have to comment on this one. Yes you. You who always reads my blog without ever commenting. I see you there trying to hide behind your screen.

Last week Mr.LessPinningMoreDoing and I were asked to perform a mambo for a fundraiser thing at our church. For the occasion, I made this skirt, along with multiple unfortunate facial expressions.

The ruffle skirt is made from 2 thrift store tablecloths, a scarf and an old stretchy t-shirt. {I blame my mother, the queen of costumes.} Since I was kind of making it in a hurry, I did not take any pictures during the process. Well, that and the fact that I just made it up as I went.

Your commenting assignment is this: Would you or would you not like me to post a tutorial for creating one? This would require making another in order to take pictures, so if nobody is interested, then I won’t bother. {Because what would I ever do with two?!} But if ya’ll are, I’m happy to do it.

Ready. Set. Vote.

Wanderlust Wednesday: Bonnie Scotland

What, did you think I would post on a Wednesday and forget about my wanderlusting? Not today, my friend!

I may or may not have mentioned this, but I’m a bit of a lover of The Amazing Race . Just a bit. Like I may or may not be counting down the days until my children are old enough to abandon for a month so Mr.LessPinningMoreDoing and I can start applying for the show.

Anywho, the most recent episode of the Race has renewed my long held desire to visit the realm of Bonnie Scotland. I thought I might have pinned a picture or two of the lovely country on my travel board, so I went scrolling through it. Yeah. I had pinned a picture or two. Enjoy!    {Clicking on a picture should take you to the pin.}

Loch Ness, Scotland

Isle of Skye, Scotland

The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye

Fairy Pools in the Cuilins, Scotland

Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh

Cave of Melody, Scotland

Balmoral Castle, Scotland

She’s a beautiful country, ain’t she?

Chalkboard Confessional

Okay, let me be clear about this. I have never been a fan of the whole put-chalkboard-paint-on-everything-that-will-hold-still-for-30-seconds trend. Can you say chalk dust overload?! Seeing as how I hate housework in the first place, I just can’t fathom why anyone would willingly add even MORE dust to their home.

HOWEVER.

I am a big lover of words. Especially words arranged in a powerful way. You know…like quotes…good poetry…inspiring scripture…the good stuff.

I also really love the look of brightly painted picture frames.

And at some point I kind of fell in love with the idea of having one really big chalkboard with a brightly colored frame where I could subliminally infuse my family’s minds with this good word stuff. ONE. And ONLY one.

So I set out on my journey to find a suitable big ol’ frame, which I found at a local thrift store. I cut an extra piece of particle board that we had to fit in the frame. {And by I, I mean my husband.}

I prepared the particle board by spraying it with some Rustoleum spray primer. I think I did 2 coats. Then I did about 3-4 coats of Rustoleum’s spray chalkboard paint in black. At this point, I swallowed my pride and admitted I was stupid for not sanding the particle board first. That stuff ain’t smooth, folks! I kind of thought the chalkboard paint would be thicker and kind of smooth things out a bit, but it’s not thicker than regular spray paint. Lesson learned.

So I let the paint dry for a couple of days until I could get back to it and pulled out my handy dandy sander and went to work. I think I was using 120 grit sandpaper on it. I went over it a few times until it was smooth *enough* for who it’s for {me} and called it good. It wasn’t perfect. As particle board, I don’t think it could be, but it would do.

Then back to painting I went. This time I didn’t prime it because it still had some paint/primer sticking to it and I’m lazy. I lightly layered on 4ish coats of chalkboard paint, alternating directions each time.

For the frame, I had to fill in one big gash with nail hole filler stuff and then I sprayed it with one light coat of primer. Then I put on 2 or 3 light layers of a Valspar spraypaint in a turquoise color. I’ve never used Valspar before, but I really liked it for the sprayer! My finger was not numb/sore afterward, which it usually is with the standard sprayers on Rustoleum’s cans. Overall, I was pretty impressed with it!

To attach the chalkboard to the frame, I used an epoxy that I found at Walmart. I don’t remember what it was called, but it seems to have done the job. Used a picture hanging kit to attach hanging wire to the back and put it up on the wall! Overall, it was a pretty simple and rewarding project.

Next to go will be those black plates. I definitely need something brighter and more smile inducing there, don’t you think?

*This was my inspiration for the Where The Wild Things Are quote shown on my chalkboard.

~So what trendy bandwagon have you jumped on that you swore you wouldn’t? Share in the comments! I LOVE comments!~

Pin Love

Today I feel like sharing a few of my favorite pins that I’ve found in the past week or so. It may become a regular thing. Or not. {PS – the photos are links back to the pin if you want to click on them.} Enjoy!

I’m thinking we’ll try dying eggs like this tonight. I’m sure the kids will LOVE it!

Instructions for Volcano Colored Eggs: Mix together a tbsp of baking soda, couple tsps of water and some food coloring. Now, grab your paint brushes and begin painting your eggs. Then pour vinegar it on top of the egg & watch the “volcanic eruption” take place.You can repeat steps 2, 3, & 4 over & over until you’re ready to move onto another egg. Lastly, pat off any excess vinegar or simply let them air dry.

If this is true, it’s awesome! Someone go to a Disney park and come back to tell us if it works! {Better yet, take me with you!}

If you yell “Andy’s coming!” in front of Buzz or Woody at a Disney park they will stop what they’re doing and drop.

Wrapped V-neck High Waist Maxi Dress

Oh how I want this tub. Times 1000.

The Tub I Really Really Would LOVE in My Bathroom

I loved reading this article (and more on the blog too!) and have decided to take on the challenge of not yelling at my kids. Starting small over here with just a month long goal. Had to start over today because yesterday was…unsuccessful.

10 things I learned when I stopped yelling at my kids. Great parenting and relationship read.

And last but not least:

Do you have any favorite pins from the week? Please share in the comments!

Coconut Chicken…mm…mm…good!

While cleaning out some old photos, I came across this beauty:

I know, I know – it really doesn’t look all that tasty. Like at all. But let me tell you, this is a recipe worth trying.

For a prettier version, this is what the picture from the original recipe looks like (and that leads to my pin if you want to click on it to repin and save for later, too):

From Budget Bytes

Much prettier, right? Of course right.

Now, since it’s been so long since we tried these, I don’t have a lot to say about them except that those up there are the results and the verdict is that I wish I had some chicken thawed out so we could have this for dinner tonight! It was so yummy (though a bit on the greasy side). We didn’t make the dipping sauce because we already had some sweet chili sauce in the fridge, but oh boy was it good. Did I mention that yet? So go to the recipe page and pin it or bookmark it or whatever you do to remember where it is and then make it ASAP and then come back here and tell me I was right.

***Be on the lookout for more quick posts like this as I’m sorting through old pictures!***