January 30, 2012

The Writing is on the Wall


For the last week we have been doing a little work in our dining room. I can't believe how much it is changing in there and how much I love it! I had this old chalkboard that I bought at a garage sale a few years ago for $5.00. My guy built a frame for it so that it would be dining room worthy. Here it is in its before state.


Emma had a sleepover Friday which proved a good opportunity to break it in. By the time the girls left Saturday morning there was scarcely a clear spot. I love having a house that encourages creativity.


I found this old match holder in December and had no idea what I was going to use it for but I just can't pass up a charming container of any sort. As usually happens with me, I woke up about 4am recently with the idea to use it as a chalk holder. It's perfect. That's my kind of recycling.


I'm thinking I might make a slight change to it but for now it is happy doing it's new job.


This weekend was my man's 42nd birthday. Here he is with a stack of Birthday books. My man is architecture obsessed. Also, that cleft in his chin, yummy. Sorry, I'm easily distracted today. We celebrated with a low key day, a trip for him to the music store and quite possibly the ugliest cheesecake anyone has ever made. What a shame I didn't get a picture of it. Ahem. Here is some advice for you, a spoonful of raspberry sauce can hide a lot of ugly. Apparently it tasted good though since it was gone 24 hours later. I'm not really a fan of cheesecake so I will have to take his word for it. I consider myself a good baker but this is one area I don't excel at. Also, since I don't like it, I don't care to improve. I'm thinking if he wants another cheesecake next year we will buy him one at the store.

31 comments:

  1. HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME CELEBRATING YOUR HUBBY. LOVE THE CHALKBOARD IDEA, THAT IS FUN! :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. love the chalkboard. the matchholder, into chalkholder...genius.

    happy b-day to your boyfriend.
    xo
    molly

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love that chalkboard in your dining room. We recently painted a wall in our playroom that my kids (and me) love to draw and write on.

    Happy birthday to hubby!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh I love the way you used the cute match holder for chalk! what a great idea. Love the chalk board too. Wish I had the space for one!
    I love me a good cheescake - and raspberry sauce is the best! I'm sure it was yummy - sometimes it's the pretty food that isn't really all that good!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your chalkboard!!! I can't wait to get one up on the wall in our kitchen. There is something so cool about being able to scribble drawings and notes and favourite quotes. Frame looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What fun to have such a large chalkboard! I have a little one---but this looks like soooooooommmmmme fun. Cool idea of the match box holder--love that idea!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I painted bi-fold doors that were flat in our upstairs landing/computer room. It was at one time a bedroom, wall removed big open space. Anyway, over the years since it has been a fun place for our girls and all of their friends to write creative stuff on. Especially when we had our exchange student from France and 2 of his friends that came to visit. At one point we were going to seal it somehow....but, then someone erased all the memories and started new ones! Oh well, fun anyway! I like your chalk holder idea also!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love how the chalkboard turned out!

    Emma and her girls are fierce!

    Anytime something I'm baking or making doesn't turn out so pretty I like to call it "folksy" or "rustic" and it makes me feel a ton better.

    ReplyDelete
  9. love the match holder for chalk! brilliantly inspired...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow...I actually have the book your husband is reading!! (Got it last year for my birthday) I like that you have a house that encourages creativity...that is something I would like to strive for for my girls

    ReplyDelete
  11. That is so funny, I have a match holder I use for chalk too! I don't have a big cool chalkboard though!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy Birthday to your Man. I love the chalkboard and I especially love that it is green and not black, makes it a little different. Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  13. The chalkboard looks perfect in there and I love the chalk holder idea :)
    I'm right there with cheesecake, I love baking but everytime I make one (my husbands fav. too) I swear never again they always come out ugly and never cook right. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. love love the chalkboard!! you are so brilliant : )

    ReplyDelete
  15. LOVE this chalkboard and the beautifully colored chalk (and its lovely container). Ideas are spinning in my head.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I simply love that chalkboard. It would be perfect in my kitchen...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love the chalkboard and using the match holder for chalk is inspired!

    xo
    Claudia

    ReplyDelete
  18. You just know those girls had a ball with that chalkboard!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Fun chalkboard and holder -- very cool and so green!! ;)

    Happy b-day to your guy! Have a recipe that is choc and vanilla flourless so like cheesecake and delish and I'm not a fan of cheesecake either!

    Have a fun week!

    janet

    ReplyDelete
  20. Happy Belated Birthday Jim!!! Jen I LOOOOVE the chalkboard : D I can't wait to see it in person!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love your old/new chalkboard. Isn't it fun when the kids really get into something like that? Great idea with the match holder, too. Happy birthday to your man..cleft chin and all!

    I say...BUY the cheesecake next year and save yourself the embarrassment~ xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love the green chalkboard! Reminds me of school days and so refreshing to see with all the black ones around. Keeps the room nice and bright, too....Five bucks---what a steal, you lucky ducky! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. How do you say fabulous? With a great big FABULOUS!!! Lovin the chalk board!!Lori

    ReplyDelete
  24. i love the big chalkboard and can't believe you got it for $5! my man's 42nd birthday is this friday : ) still trying to figure out just what we are going to do to celebrate.

    ReplyDelete
  25. love the chalkboard diningroom is charming and the chalk holder great idea Jen.

    I love cheesecake probably my favorite
    dessert in the whole world I make it
    maybe once a year because like your
    hubby it goes really fast.

    ReplyDelete
  26. happy birthday to your husband. looks like he is very happy with his stack of birthday books. the chalkboard is amazing. i love the chalk in the match holder. perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love the chalkboard and noticed in the first picture the 2 pedestals on your corner cabinet! When I read the post before I saw that you bought them at Costco - who would have thought?!?! They are beautiful!

    I agree that there is no limit to the number of pedestals one can have. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Jen, this chalkboard reminds me of my school teaching days...love the chalk holder - looks perfect. Jim did a great job making the frame...bet you all will really enjoy. Hope that Jim had a very happy birthday!

    Love,
    anita

    ReplyDelete
  29. Swoo-oo-oony!!!!! And really? No cheesecake? That's fine, I'll have your slice.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Gotta love a big chalkboard like that, especially with kids at home. Putting the chalk in a match holder is an awesome idea.:) You are so cute about your hubby. Such a lovely family you have.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love that green chalkboard! Lucky.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave me a note. It's always so appreciated.