i posted a few weeks ago about these super cute chalkboards that i found on etsy:

 

i have been dying to buy or make one since i saw it, so when i was garage sale shopping a couple weeks ago, i knew just what i could do with these that i got for $1 each:

i picked up some chalkboard paint and acrylic paint, and now i have little chalkboards of my own.  

i just painted over those palm trees with two coats of chalkboard paint, then taped it off to paint the frame my favorite color.  i have another one i'm finishing with a yellow border.

i haven't decided if i'm going to add a permanent message on it or not, i'm waiting for some inspiration to decide.  i have paint pens waiting if i decide to...

   

what do you think?

a couple of necklaces sprouted from my craft table this week.  i fell in love with these beads when i was visiting paul's family in texas back in october and brought them back with me.  they had been calling to me for months and now they are finally in use!  they are for sale in my etsy shop.

i went garage saling this weekend with my friend, amber, and hit paydirt!  i got some baby stuff that was on my list for cheap and i also got this sweet sweet chair that i am in love with.  i realized when i got home that i didn't even try it out before i bought it, and when i sat down in it, i found that it rocks as well as swivels!  i had been looking for a rocking chair on craigslist, but i'm hoping this will do since it is way cuter than any rocking chair i'd seen.  looooove it.

okay, so my friend sarah just told me about this place called ebates where you get money back after you shop online.  basically if you are going to buy something from target.com, you can click to target through the ebates website and then you get a percentage back later, like a rebate.  most places i shop seem to be around 2-5% back, so it will add up.  the reason i'm telling you about this in addition to it hopefully being helpful for you, is that i can also get money for referring people who sign up (free to join).  one of the rewards is a flip camera so i can shoot little videos of my newest family member to my family.  anyway, if you shop online much and are interested, please sign up through my referral link http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=0EF8fhpaxokLyYejkc51VQ%3D%3D.  thanks, guys! 

i eased back into crafting this week with a small project.  i had been saving up my ladies nice things money for a nook reader and when i got it last week i wanted to get a cover for it but they are expensive!  and i have so many other expensive things on my list to buy that i decided i'd just make a little pouch for it with scrap fabric laying around.  i really only wanted something to keep it safe when i throw it in my bag.  i think this will do!

so my goal this week is to get back to blogging (if i have any readers left out there) and to do it realistically.  i found out in mid october that i am expecting a little baby and pretty much have felt horrible since then!  after work each day i basically came home, sat in my chair, stared off at the wall or tv, didn't really matter which, and tried not to get sick.  needless to say i did not do much crafting!  i am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel though as i'm feeling quite a lot better lately.  so, i'm going to try to get back to blogging and crafting.  my goal is just once or twice a week max for now. 

today i was surfing on etsy and found some beautiful things.  this was one of my favorites and i am currently dying to buy one. 

her shop also features lots of other sweet signs, i love their sunny, vintage feel,  and attention to detail even down to the labeled chalk and erasers!