Friday Finds--Have you Thanked a Teacher Today?

This week marked Teacher Appreciation Week at The Reporter's School (which also happens to be the school I work in).  She has been incredibly blessed with a wonderful teacher and instructional assistant this year and we wanted to let them know just how much we appreciate everything they have done for her!  I had this grand plan to create and assemble Teacher Appreciation Gifts over a long weekend or break.  Then when Teacher Appreciation Week rolled around, I would just have to "grab a gift" out of the craft nook each day and not have to scramble like a crazy person to gather supplies and wrapping materials at the last minute. . .  yeah. . . didn't happen.  BUT, thanks to the World Wide Web, the ideas cataloged on Pinterest and a little creativity of our own, we were able to put together a fun week's worth of goodies for The Reporter's teachers and it didn't take a ton of planning, time, or money!

So, here ya go. . . OUR five, fun Friday Finds to show our teachers some love. . .

We started our gifting on Monday with a pot of fresh basil and a note that read, "Thank you for helping me grow!"  I just typed the note up on the computer, punched holes on each end with a skewer, threaded the note onto the skewer and inserted the end of the bamboo skewer into the soil.  Simple, thoughtful, and didn't break the bank (Pots were $1.48 each, although I probably had extras in my garage that we could have painted if I had planned ahead.  Plants were $3.50.)

Tuesday's treat was a seasonal favorite--strawberries!!  In our house, we make a point to only buy strawberries in season, and the anticipation of the first pint that enters our house grows with each passing day!  I knew The Reporter would be excited to share her favorite springtime treat with her teachers.  This cute sign was a perfect addition to these little red jewels! (Total cost: the berries--whatever the going rate is in your area! The printable was FREE!)

On Wednesday, we were practical, once again!  Note pads and pens for both The Reporter's teachers and The Little Guy's Playschool teachers!  Cute, inexpensive notepads are often found in the dollar bin in big box stores.  I really should stock up and keep them on hand for quick gifts!  We typed up a note that read, "Take Note--I love having you as my teacher!" and tied it to each bag filled with a notepad and pen.  (Total cost: $.50-$1 per note pad and a pack of pens-$2.50-that I split among the bags)

Wednesday evening, we were busy in the kitchen baking to prepare our treats for Thursday!  Homemade Choc-oat-chip cookies were baked, cooled and packaged along with this cute tag for delivery before a class trip on Thursday! (Total cost: who knows?  I had all the ingredients on hand and the printable was FREE!  You could also skip the kitchen work and attach the tag to a bag of your favorite store-purchased cookies!)

Oh, Friday!  At last!  The Reporter and I threw around several cute ideas for a bigger Friday gift.  Finally, we settled on this one. . .

We have a local diner named "The Blue Ribbon".  It happens to be about 2 miles from our school and is a local Friday night favorite, as well as a great place to go for lunch on the occasional Teacher Workday.  Instead of purchasing a gift certificate, we decided to gift them with lunch delivered to school and a chance to eat in peace (Duty-free)!  Since I am a school employee, it won't be tough to cover lunch duty for them and I know first-hand how nice it is to just take a break and close the door to your room while you eat lunch without children present! (Total cost: 2 lunches! and 2 forks :))

There you have it!  A whole week of fun for us AND our teachers!

Did I post this to look like supermom?  Nope.  Not at all.  I posted to show you how simple, inexpensive gifts can brighten a deserving teacher's day!  So what if you missed the "official" Teacher Appreciation week?  Random acts of kindness are loved at any time!  Our teachers need it, really, to keep them going through the last few weeks of school.  So if it is a gift you choose to send, a handwritten note of gratitude, or a picture your child draws to share their love, take a minute to thank a teacher.  

Where would we be without them?

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of my Teacher Friends and to all of the teachers that shaped my life over the past 35 years. . .

Belews Lake International Distance Triathlon--Race Report

Choosing to register for an international distance race pushed me right out of my comfort zone and into a 1500m open water swim and a transition area full of experienced and elite triathletes (including an Olympian in training). But I kept repeating Coach E's words of wisdom to myself as I set up my transition area:

"The Longest Distance in ANY race is the six inches between your ears"

This race was different from most because it was a time-trial start, meaning that only two swimmers entered the water at a time, instead of an entire group taking off at once.  Honestly, that was part of the allure of this race (not to mention that it was a wet-suit swim and the water was CLEAR).  After our group slid into our wet suits, we lined up according to our race numbers to wait our turn to take to the water.  Because I decided to register as a "novice", I was seeded 4th from the end.  A position that wasn't so bad in my mind--no eager swimmers to swim over me and chances were good that the fleet of kayaks that were on the water for assistance would be available if I needed to take a moment to freak-out. 

One-by-one I watched as our group entered the water.  The hubby gave me a quick kiss and a few words of encouragement, and before I knew it he was in the water. 

As I lined up beside the other Novices, the fear began to rise.  But the closer I got to the water, the calmer I felt. . . the more I trusted that I would do this.  

The timer counted down and I stepped forward into the water, began to swim, and the most amazing thing happened. . . no anxiety, no freak-outs, no panic.  I was swimming, breathing, sighting and moving forward. Coach E and the hubby had both advised me to think of the swim, not as a 1500m race, but as 15 100m races, meaning to swim to each buoy, stop, regroup and continue until you reach the shore.  But when I reached the first buoy I felt okay, so I continued to swim a bit.  After 200m, I decided to take their advice and pause, meanwhile meeting one of the kayakers who checked on me.  I assured her that I was fine and continued to swim.  At 300m, I paused again, and the woman in the kayak, again, checked on me.  She said, "You know, you don't have to do this.  You can get out.  You don't have to finish if you don't want to."  I calmly said to her, "That isn't an option.  I am going to finish.  I might be slow, and I might be last, but I will finish.  If you would like to paddle alongside me in case I need you, that would be fine."  I continued the swim.  100m by 100m I counted them down.  I kept telling myself "Get the ---- over it" and "Keep Moving Forward" for encouragement. . . and it worked.  43 minutes and 28 seconds later, I exited the water, turned and waved to the fleet of kayaks in the water and felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.  I had done it.  I swam 1500m in the open water.  I did not touch a canoe or kayak to rest. I never had to flip on my back AND I did not finish last.  

Once the swim was behind me (literally), I was able to focus on the next leg of the journey.  After 4 minutes and 45 seconds of being "lost in transition" (What the hell was I doing?  Removing my wetsuit, eating oranges. . . who knows?) I "ran" my bike to the mount line and began the painful ascent to the bike course.

Yep.  That hill is right out of transition. . .you met it twice. . . once on the bike and again on the run.

The bike course was a 2 loop course that totaled 27 miles.  Since I was one of the last swimmers in the water and one of the last (but not THE last) out of the water, some athletes were already finished with the bike portion, and others were close to halfway finished.  That meant that some guys were already out on the run, but others would be making their second loop as I made my first.  As I left the marina area, I passed two other people headed out on the bike before turning onto the highway.  I was soon greeted by the whoosh of zipp disks roaring past me as participants pushed up the slight incline at the start of the loop.  I had many passers-by that just blew on past, but occasionally heard a call of, "Good Job Novice" or "Keep it up Novice, you got this" as they spied the big "N" on my right calf indicating my level lack of expertise.  About 3 miles into the ride I saw a rider approaching in my mirror and heard, "Oh! Hi, Erin!"  My brother was well on his way to finishing the bike portion of the race at a respectable pace.  I knew the hubby and friends couldn't be too far behind, so for the remainder of my first loop, I held out hope that I would see them passing by.  Meanwhile, I enjoyed the presence of my new bike computer to keep my speed at a decent pace (18-21 mph in the flats), and tried not to get passed by too many riders.  As I rounded the last turn of my first loop, the wind picked up and the pedaling became harder.  As I passed the entrance to the marina, I realized that no one would be blowing past this go-round.  Everyone had either finished or was on their second lap--in front of me.  My only hope of seeing another athlete was catching up with someone, and despite my best effort I knew that probably wouldn't happen.  The second lap was long and lonely.  I rode 13 miles--ALONE.  I saw NO one except the law enforcement officers that were positioned at each intersection and the occasional passing car or motorcycle support crew.  The wind picked up significantly and it was difficult to keep a steady pace AND keep the bike in a straight line--I felt like the wind was going to tip me over at any point and I looked forward to stretches of road with trees for protection from the sun and the wind. I finally rolled into the marina and crossed the line into transition 1 hour, 44 minutes and 50 seconds later.  My glutes were numb, but my favorite part was ahead. 

T-2 was a bit speedier (2:15), but I paused to say hi to my brother (who had already finished--2:36:42) and get a report on our group's whereabouts.  Everyone else was still running, including the hubby, which meant I was guaranteed to see them on the course since it was a twice-out-and-back layout.  I hobbled out of transition and began to worry that I would not be able to finish my favorite part of the triathlon.  I usually love the transition from bike to run, but that day my legs just wouldn't go.  Climbing the hill out of transition was tough, but once I hit the flatter section, I was able to move freely and pick up a little speed.  As soon as I hit the course, I saw my friend "Gills" and soon thereafter our birthday girl of the group.  The hubby was less than 1/4 mile ahead of me (on his second loop) and I pushed to catch up.  Being able to run with him for a short distance and reconnect was what I needed to keep me going.  We eventually split up (I was walking water stations and he needed to keep moving to avoid cramps), but the momentum that I lost on those 13 lonely bike miles returned and helped to keep me going toward the finish. My 10K time of 1:01:24 was certainly not my fastest.  In fact that is the slowest 10K I have run in quite a while.  But given the hills of the course and the fact that I had completed both a swim and a bike prior, it was good enough.

3 hours, 36 mins and 40 seconds after I dove into the cool, clear water, I crossed the finish line.  I certainly wasn't fast, but I will have to admit that it was the proudest moment I have had in a while.  I honestly wasn't sure I could do it.  Not just the swim, but all of it.  

Triathlon is not just about your body being in shape, but about your mind being in shape.

"The Longest Distance in ANY race is the six inches between your ears"

 It is true.  

10 Things I learned:

1.  Starting last in the swim isn't such a bad thing.  You get a personal escort into shore by the kayak fleet AND the air temperature just might be higher than the water temperature by the time you finish the swim which makes for a much more comfortable bike ride.

2.  Trust your wet suit.  It will keep you floating if you need to stop.

3.  Riding 27 miles, in the sun, with a sleeveless tri-top is another way of asking to be sunburned. 

 Expect it. Use sunscreen.

4.  Transition is not for picnicking.  Use your time wisely and keep moving.

5.  If you peel a clementine before the race and leave it in transition, it may get gritty and feel like you are eating sand by T-2.  Just sayin'.  Try fig newtons instead. 

6.  The longer the ride, the tougher it is to get off that bike and run.  Just keep moving.

7.  You are not last (or close to last) because you are slow.  You are there because all the other people that considered doing the race decided that they couldn't/were scarred/ were too slow.  You had the guts to take a risk and they didn't.  Who will feel the sense of accomplishment later?

8.  When in doubt, "Get the ---- over it" and "Keep Moving Forward". . . that is where the finish line is.

9.  My hubby knows me better than anyone in the world.  He had faith in me when I didn't and helped me find that same faith.

10.  I CAN do ANYTHING I set my mind to.

Finish Strong. . .

So, what's next?  A little speed work to get ready for a super-sprint, embracing my clipless pedals, and then just some training this summer.    Maybe a return to Belews in the fall for the sprint? 

Who knows what I will accomplish?  

I certainly didn't think I would have finished an international last week. . .

The Longest Distance In Any Race. . .

When I decided to get my feet wet in the sport of triathlon, I immediately resigned to the fact that I would always be limited to short, super-sprint distance races.  Remember? I had that little problem with swimming, and felt certain that no matter how many laps I swam at the pool, I would surely never be ready for anything over 250-300 meters--especially in the open water.  However, this sport has a way of changing you. . .  changing your mindset and making you take a risk that you never thought would be possible (or maybe that is peer pressure?).  So at the end of last season, I completed my first sprint distance triathlon and finished the 750m open water swim portion of the race with a smile on my face, and felt sure that the next season would hold more sprint distance races to increase my swimming confidence.

When the registration for the current triathlon season opened up, the hubby and I sat down and discussed some races that we both had in mind for the season in order to prioritize, budget, and work out kid-watch duties.  At the time, I was focused on running and rehabing my poor Achilles, so  I gave the hubby the green light to go ahead with registration for races, while I waited to see if I would even be able to run after swimming and biking.   While I was resting from running, though, I was logging lots of pool time and increasing my distance each session--1 mile, 1.25 miles, 1.5 miles per swim session was not unusual for me.  Although I was sad to miss out on running days, I was gaining much needed confidence in my swimming skills and endurance.  Once I was cleared to run again, I began to entertain the idea of taking on a longer distance triathlon this season.  The International/Olympic distance was the "next one" on the list, and I knew that there would be one in the Fall at White Lake with plenty of time to train.  I also knew that the hubby was already registered for one in April, but didn't feel "ready", yet.

As the date of the Belews Lake International Distance Triathlon approached, I began to feel pressure from a few tri friends to take the leap and register.  I dismissed their prodding with comments like "I'm just not ready for THAT swim distance" or "I'll be cheering you on, but YOU can freeze in the water!".  Deep down I REALLY wanted to register and attempt the new distance, but I was scarred--afraid I couldn't make the swim, finish the bike, or run the run.  That race was a big step, and I wasn't sure it was a step I was ready to take.  The hubby began to threaten to sign me up on the sly because he knew I wouldn't do it on my own.  My brother asked me if I had registered, every time I saw him.  My friend with gills emailed me with encouragement.

FINALLY, after weeks of contemplating, I did it.  I registered, and the anxiety began to build.  Luckily I only had two weeks until race day, so the nightmares about the swim could only go on for so long, right?  In an attempt to calm my nerves, we ventured out to the lake over Spring Break to get in a quick open water swim.  The first two times I tried to leave the shore I became paralyzed with fear.  I couldn't breathe, I felt overwhelmed, and I doggy paddled back to the shallow water to regroup.  I finally got in about 500m and called it quits.  Only time would tell if it was enough to keep me calm on Saturday morning.

The night before the race, the hubby and I made the hour drive to the race site to pick up our race numbers and see the lake for the first time.  I tried to knit away my fears as we drove, but I kept focusing on the thought that I would be swimming in 68 degree water for almost a mile the following morning.  As we stood on the dock and tried to spot the bottles that were marking the course, I swallowed back fear.  Finally, the hubby saw the tears in my eyes and asked what I was so afraid of.  I couldn't tell him.  What was I afraid of?  I was afraid that I would get in the water and forget how to swim, how to breathe. . .  He looked at me and said, "I really don't know a nice way to say this, but sometimes you just have to get the ---- over it".

Guess what.

He was right.

Race morning arrived and we left before sunrise.  Chatting with the hubby and my brother in the car helped to keep my nerves at bay.  When we arrived at the race site, I stood in my transition spot and looked at the calm, clear water.  As I fought back tears, Coach E looked at me and said, "Remember, the longest distance in ANY race is the six inches between your ears."   At that moment, I knew I could do it.

 to be continued. . .

Let's Get it Started! (Craft Closet--Part 2)

 So when I last left you, I mentioned that I had scoured the world wide web for some crafty inspiration and greeted the hubby with those four dangerous words (at least in our house they are dangerous), "I have an idea!"

You see, we have a bit of DIY ADD around here.  We have a big brainstorm and get a great idea for a little home improvement project and "BAM!" we jump right in.  Halfway through, more inspiration hits (or we hit a snag) and we are opening up a whole new can of worms (or tearing up floors) all while *trying* to finish the first project.

I knew what the hubby was thinking, "How many other projects do we have going on around here?  Why do we need to start one more?"  But this time, I had a plan. . .this would be my birthday gift from the hubby!  No shopping required (besides Home Improvement stores, and what guy is going to turn THAT down?), no guessing at what I might want (I had inspiration pictures, remember?), no tedious wrapping paper involved--it was a win-win for everyone!  Well, until we looked at our schedules around January (my birthday month).  We were swamped with other obligations!  No time for DIYing here.  So I agreed to wait a bit. . .

Valentine's Day rolled around and the hubby asked for gift suggestions.  "The Craft Closet," I quickly answered.  No flowers, no chocolate, no jewelry, just a little demolition and construction in the living room closet--too much to ask?  I think not.

The weekend after Valentine's Day, I began to realize that Step One of this project was contingent upon ME cleaning out the closet to make way for the facelift.  So. . . while the hubby was away at a weekend training session, I emptied the contents of the crap craft-closet right in the middle of the living room floor, completely blocking access to his the bike trainer and creating a major hazard and eyesore in the most used room in the house. There was no getting out of it now.  We were committed to making this change happen.  Remember all of this?

Well, you can just imagine the hubby's excitement when he came home and witnessed my work!  

All that was left once I removed all of the  craft supplies. . .

Not only had I emptied the contents of the closet into the living room floor and surrounded it with a baby fence to keep the little people from pilfering through the goods, but I had also drawn out plans for the shelving and desk that I envisioned inside the now-empty space.  

The hubby completed what I started by removing what was left of the doors and shelving. . .

Doors removed and "shelves" ready to come down.

Ready for a New Look!!

After we corrected confirmed my plans and measurements, we set off to the big box Home Improvement store to pick out and price wood and accessories.  

Supplies were purchased and the transformation began. . .

I started by priming the back wall of the closet.  The sides were knotty pine, so I left those untouched.  Since we knew the back would be covered by shelving, we didn't worry about that ugly seam on the back wall.

The hubby spent the next weekend measuring, cutting, and installing the shelving and desk that I, um, we designed.

Project Supervisor!

Pretty soon it looked something like this. . .

(note the baby gate "holding pen" for the closet contents)

A closer look. . .

Shelves!  Storage!  Work space!

While the hubby was busy working his magic, I had been shopping for accessories. . .

Storage units from Habitat for Humanity $8 each (there were two more in the garage)

Thrift Shop Chair $5
(I spied it first, the hubby wasn't crazy about it, but after thinking about it, I sent my daddy back to snag it!)

So, we went from a total disaster to a closet full of shelves. . . What next?  Why priming and painting, of course!

Stay tuned!

Friday Finds--Personal Space

Wow!  Has it really been a MONTH since I last posted on this blog?
 Yep.
In a word, we have been busy.
 Doing what?  I'm not sure.

The last few weeks have felt a little like "Groundhog Day", if you know what I mean--Get up, get ready for work, pack lunches, hustle children out the door, go to work, sit in meetings, work in a training run (marathon/half update soon!), pick up kids, cook dinner, give kids baths, collapse in front of bad reality TV, wash. . . rinse. . . repeat. . . everyday.  Honestly, that kind of monotony wears me out.  You would think that I could get into a groove, get on a schedule, whatever . . .  When every minute is packed with the same old same old, I get bored.
And unmotivated.
And my creative juices dry right up.

Creativity has been sadly lacking around here lately.  Our current schedule hasn't left much time for fun extras (knitting, sewing, etc. . .)

But that is all about to change.  Not only is Spring Break right around the corner (4.5 days with kids and a much-needed teacher workday--it's not like I'm not counting or anything), but I have a fantastic new space to create in!  Well, not quite yet. . . but it is coming along quite nicely, and I can't wait to share it with you!

As I have mentioned countless times before, we live in an old house that was started in 1948 and then built in chunks and modified when things needed a change.  Bigger bathroom?  Bump out this wall!  Need another bedroom?  Attach it to this one!  Not enough closet space?  Add one to the living room!  Yep. That's right.  We have a closet in our "formal" living room.  Not a "coat closet" as you walk in the door.  No, a full-fledged closet with sliding doors, tucked away in the corner.

Doors closed. . .
(Please ignore the crooked picture and glare-filled photography)

When we moved into the house, I laid claim on this little corner and declared it "mine".  In our first house (pre-baby), I had a "craft room"--a place for my sewing machine, a bookcase, my cutting table, gift wrapping supplies, etc. . .  it also became a catch-all for things without a home.  Our cat loved to go in and climb around the room and it affectionately became known as "cat's junkyard".  As we transitioned from a home with 2 adults and 2 pets into a home with a small child, my craft room suddenly became a nursery and all of my supplies (junk) were forced into a small hall closet. When we moved to our current home in 2005, I decided that this odd living room closet would be a perfect space to house my craft supplies.  However, I never had a great storage system in place.  Things often got tossed in and set aside.  Projects went unfinished because I had no real "workspace" besides the breakfast table--and cleaning that baby off for every summertime meal is a real pain.  Alas, works in progress stayed "in progress" and buried in the abyss. . .

Prepare yourself. . .

It was bad.  Very bad.  

I am not proud, but this was the reality of my craft closet. 

A few months ago, I got the wild idea (was inspired by a few blogs found via pinterest) to turn this closet into a workstation--a sewing nook, a creation station, whatever you want to call it, I was craving organization and a fresh look.  

So, here are FIVE Friday Finds that inspired me (and my wonderful hubby) to gut the old "craft closet" and create a little personal space for myself!

This was my first find.  It is from Gwenny Penny and it reminded me the most of my own space.

Yellow Song Bird created this gorgeous space. LOVE the bunting!

Seven Pretty converted her closet, too!

Lovely design created this beauty.

Ana-white is an incredible craftswoman who designed this space.

I had NO idea that there were so many closet crafters out there!  (Pun intended)  I grabbed the inspiration and ran with it. . . straight to the hubby.  

You can imagine his excitement when I said, "Hey, I have an idea. . ."

Wanna see what happened to the abyss, the crap  craft-closet?  Well, you will just have to stay tuned. . .  and I promise it won't be an entire month before I post again!  I am super excited to share our project with you and the finished sewing nook!

Time to apply another coat of paint. . .

Tell me something good. . . .

We dubbed our oldest child "The Reporter" not long after she began talking due to her detailed, accurate reporting of everything she experienced during her day.  You see she was not a child that hopped right into a new situation.  Even as an infant, she sat back, watched the world around her, soaked it all in, and then decided what might be worthwhile to dive into.  Soon we realized that she was not only making calculated decisions about her activities, but she was also taking careful mental notes so that she could later report this information back to the hubby, myself, and anyone else who cared to listen.  We learned each and every detail of her day at playschool, when visiting grandparents, in church nursery. . . if it happened, we knew about it.  For example, she wasn't much older than two when she came home and reported that she had Cheerios for snack at church.  "Great, honey".  But, oh no, not just any Cheerios--"COLOR Cheerios, Mommy".  "Fruit Loops??  They fed you Fruit Loops at CHURCH?!"  

You see, sometimes it really is better not to know. . .Much like the time I was on maternity leave on her first day of kindergarten.  She came home with a full report on all the children that "might be good friends for YOU mommy"--I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at her school.  *sigh*  At least she understands my job, I guess. . .

Anyway. . .

I never have to worry about not knowing what happened at school each day.  She provides an accurate and thorough report of not only her behavior, but how all of the other 20 children in her class behaved as well.  Oh yes, I know who "pulled sticks", who was "on red", who "kicked their shoes in the air during morning meeting". . . I hear it all.  However, since I have the privilege of working right down the hall, I often know details before she even makes it out to the car in the afternoon, so I cheerfully play along and act surprised at all the right times.  

Because of The Reporter's play-by-play of each school day, I rarely have to ask "How was you day?", but every once in a while I hear those very words slip past my lips and I shudder.  Here I am, an SLP-- My job is to get kids to talk and I am posing the one-word answer, shut-down question to my own kid?!  I began to think that I could do better than that, I wanted to know more than "fine" or "ok" or "I was on ___ (insert color here)".  

A few weeks ago, The Reporter and I came up with a new after-school game that we play during the car ride home.  We don't often have time to chat, just the two of us, and I wanted to start an afternoon tradition with her to help her not only rehash the day from a behavior or actions point of view, but from an emotional point of view, as well.  The first day I tried it, I didn't tell her what I was doing, but as we went along, she enjoyed it and asked for more to tell about.  Now each day we look forward to our "tell me something. . ." time.  In fact, last night she even posed our "tell me something. . . " questions to The Hubby at dinner.  He was a bit taken back at first and couldn't come up with answers right away (Really, what is "fun" or "silly" about his job?), but it made for fun dinner conversation nonetheless. And now I am not only using it with her, but I am using it with my therapy kiddos, as well, and recommending it to parents with kids that have trouble communicating about their school day!

Want to try it with you own kid?  

There is no big secret. 

It is super simple. . .

Start with "Tell me something. . . " and add an adjective.  

For example: Tell me something GOOD; Tell me something BAD. . .

But don't just leave it there, make it fun.  Some of our best conversations have come out of "Tell me something embarrassing, disappointing, funny, silly, delicious. . . "  The possibilities really are endless and the conversation can be too.  

I came up with a little Wordle to help with brainstorming some conversation starters. 

You can print it out and stick it in your front seat.  When your kiddo hops in the car after school, start up a conversation and see what happens!  

Ch- ch- ch- ch- Changes (or, Playroom Re-do, part one)

Our "playroom" has gone through many transformations since we moved in six and a half years ago.  In the beginning it was more of an office with toys in the corner than a playroom.  As The Reporter has gotten older and The Little Guy came along, our toy/kid stuff storage needs have changed and the room has become a definite playroom.  Little by little we have put away "office type things" and tried to incorporate kid-friendly furniture and decor.

Even when the room was an office/playroom, I knew that I wanted a way to display The Reporter's artwork.  I knew I wanted a "gallery wall" of sorts, but had no inspiration or ideas so I opted for hanging a collection of identical frames on a single wall with her artwork behind glass.

Here it is.  A sad, crooked collection of terribly ugly, plain frames.  BUT, I was showcasing her work and I had great intentions to change the art monthly. . .quarterly. . .yearly. . .um. . . .  Yep, five years later, the art never got changed.  (Total slacker mom moment.)  Truth be told it was just too damn much work to take the frames off the wall, remove the backs and find work that would fit in the windows.

Now that we have two little artists around the house, I am finding myself swimming in artwork and looking for a way to display it.  After scouring the internet through the help of Pinterest, I found some inspiration for a new playroom gallery wall.  My favorite idea came from here, so a few Saturdays ago, I started gathering together what was needed to transform this space from ho-hum-crooked to fresh-fun-kid-friendly!

We started with a trip to our local Hospice Flea Market store (One of my favorite thrift spots!).  The Little Guy and I went frame-hunting and came up with a box of wonderful finds--only after totally taking over an aisle in the store laying out different configurations and combinations, of course.

Check out those prices!  .25-$2 per frame!

After a little spray paint shopping. . . 

We were ready for action!

The Reporter had fun posing with each frame. . .

We arranged the frames on pallets for even spray painting. .  .
(Yes, that is an old barber shop sink.  I have plans. . .)

Primer on both sides. . .

Once the frames were primed and dry, I marked off a spot in the grass that was the same size as the wall space I was working with.  I arranged and rearranged the frames until I had them just like I wanted them.  Then I decided what color to paint each one. . . 

Cobalt Blue for these!
(The back 3 are for another project!)

Turquoise and Paprika for these!

Once the paint dried, I gathered up the frames and prepared for the next step. . .hanging them!

Most of the frames needed new hardware. . . not any easy job.

But once the hardware was on, the hanging began!  Thank goodness for my photos of the frames arranged in the grass!  I was able to look back at them and knew just what to do!

Wall One. . .

More Wall One. . .

The Whole Corner. . . sans artwork and clips. . .

A little something to remind us all to create each and everyday. . .
(My first attempt at computerized art!)

Office supply clamps and Seasonal Art were added. . .

And the Wall is Complete!!

I love it.  The hubby loves it.  And the kids especially love seeing their art in their playspace!  The Little Guy squeals and points to his "school work" and The Reporter loves bringing home new art each week in her Friday Folder!  I love it because changing the art will be so much easier than taking down frames!  I simply have to unclip the old stuff, file it away and display new artwork!

The "Gallery Wall" was only the beginning of some playroom re-dos. . .

Stay tuned. . .