Easy Chalkboard DIY

A few weeks ago I found a plain wooden shelf out on the curb for the trash man. Originally I was going to use the wood to create a table top for something else, but my imagination got ahead of me. While working on another project for the wedding that called for chalkboard paint, I got a little carried away and wanted to paint it on everything in sight! The next day I found a stack of paint samples I stashed last time I was at home depot, and this boring shelf quickly transformed into a multi purpose message board. I thought we'd use the board to display at the entrance of the wedding ceremony and reception! Since we're trying to stay within a reasonable budget, it's a plus that all the supplies used for this project were free! (Apart from the chalkboard paint: $11 and plenty left for many more arts&crafts) While everyone in the world isn't planning a wedding, the board is a cute way to display other things too, like to-do's, grocery lists, sweet love notes, and chore duties! Here are the easy steps to creating your very own message board.

First you will need:

A sheet of wood, hot glue gun, paint sample strips, chalkboard paint, chalk

Start out with a clean, smooth piece of wood. Sand and prime if needed.

Paint the surface with a few coats of your chalkboard paint, and let it dry overnight. 

Lay your paint sample strips out with the color blending you like, and use your hot glue gun to hold them in place. Make sure to glue each strip down for a more polished look, because the layers of each strip will create flaps. You can stop here, or keep going for a few extra touches!

Add, remove, and switch out some special details for different occasions to get the most out of your board. The wedding is a bit of a ways away, so for now we're using our board as seen above.  When the day comes, were going to add these wooden pieces to display the date, and write "Giancarlo & Andrea Wedding" in cursive with colored chalk! You can place it on an easel or prop it against a wall. 

Have fun!

Drey $ Nicole

Haven Homes

I just love every single thing about the house below! From the huge windows for walls, carefree gypsy-like feel in the bedroom, to the clean retro vibe in the kitchen. The hardwood floor, endless backyard, and vintage touches add charming character as well! Check out the rest of the house here to fall in love even more.

Home is where the heart is,
Drey $ Nicole

A dose of Drey: Fact #8

A dose of Drey: Fact #8
I know sign language. After trying Spanish for my foreign language in high school, I quickly learned I'd have a better chance at passing if I chose something else. This started the interest in sign language which lead to two years in high school, and a couple years as a college major. Below are a couple beautiful ways people have used sign language. I've loved Sia for a very long time, and this mother daughter duo have inspired so much of my learning asl motivation. I can't wait to do that with my babies! 

                                                                  Drey $ Nicole

Long Beach Livin'

A peek into my week via smart phone photos.

1. Bentley bike rides! 2. Hangman on the beach

3. Arizona Tea should sponsor us 4. Debbie tries Bull Bar

5. Got a tad bit of a tan 6. Our patio table

7. My favorite owl potholder 8. Flour/Sugar Jars

9. Most handsome 10. Cozy porch seating

11. Golden love birds! 12. We went to Eat Chow...mmm!

13. Sleepy boy 14. Lots of house shopping lately

Ciao,

Drey $ Nicole

P.S. - Deal of the week: Those Arizona Teas were 3 twelve packs for 10 dollars! That's 36 teas for TEN DOLLARS! They're normally 99c a pop, granite these cans are a little smaller... but still! We got our favs: Green Tea with Ginseng & Honey and Arnold Palmer.

Six Miracle Dry Hair Repair Products

In my year as a receptionist at a high end hair salon, I got a lot of useful knowledge from the stylists. Beach living has got me busting out those tips once again because sun, sand, and salty water = super dry hair. I'm having to spend extra time and attention to my ends lately, cause lets face it, I don't want to look like an electrocuted animal while walking down the aisle! Here are some of my all time favorite miracle dry hair repair products. Let me know if you recommend anything amazing not listed below!

1. It's called "It's a 10" for a reason. Packed with 10 amazing nutrients in every bottle, this stuff is like fruit and veggies to your hair. Sunflower seeds, ginger extract, pomegranate, vitamin c, and noni oil are just some of natures goodness you'll find in these products.

2. Wait until you take a whiff of this stuff! All organic ingredients and "made with love" by an independent company called Carol's Daughter.

3. This ones found in the "ethnic" section, so you know it's good!

4. People used to come from out of town and stock up on this when I worked at the hair salon. It's the best of the best. The shampoo contains keratin, too!

5. Sexy Hair's Soy Milk Shampoo is one of the best for dry hair because it has no alcohols or fragrances. This Colour Goddess leave-in conditioner smells like the yummiest birthday cake!

6. The shampoo's good and all, but the real magic's in the refining sea polish. Pumice, aloe vera, and soy protein rub all the dry frizzies and split ends right out of your hair, while polishing it for shine. It's kind of like using an aloofa to rub off dead skin cells, or a facial scrub exfoliating your pours, only on your hair! It will feel so clean and silky afterwards. Probably my favorite product!

Have a good hair day,

Drey $ Nicole

Repeat Button

While getting all caught up in Gotye's video that I shared with you here last week, I noticed the featured girl in the song. Apparently Kimbra has been featured in quite a few songs come to find out, and she's now on tour with Gotye. I hope the hit "somebody that I used to know" and this tour with them gets her name known, she deserves it. I think she's just adorable! ....but she needs to fork over this dress!

Enjoy,

Drey $ Nicole

Long Beach Livin'

A recap of this week via smartphone photos:

1. First time kite flying! 2. A laundry basket mishap

3. Abs that justify the slight cockiness 4. A bike ride a day

5. That handsome bearded love bug 6. Red lip day

7. My laundry day look 8. Wedding planning is falling into place nicely!

9. Clean dishes 10. New suspender arrived in the mail

11. Happy faces 12. Debbie does Long Beach!

Happy Friday the 13th!

Drey $ Nicole

Baseball on the Beach

A spontaneous bike ride to the beach for a picnic quickly turned into an afternoon of unexpected adventures! When Gian and I reached the shore we saw that the sailboat races were going on, perfect timing! It was the cutest live show to watch while enjoying our lunch, and it wasn't even planned! Afterwards, we strolled along the beach and found a rubber bouncy type baseball, a large stick, and drew some bases in the sand! We did a full three innings, one on one, but doing a whole teams worth of actions. I was exhausted, and I lost. But I'm not a sore loser, I'm glad to have a mister that will do fun and active things with me!

Sincerely,

Drey $ Nicole

Repeat Button

I know you guys have heard this song over and over on the radio, buttttttt it's just soooo good! I loved it right off the first time I heard it because of the way it starts low, with a story and draws you in, and then the chorus, ohhh the chorus. Just listen. It's so raw and powerful. Once I got passed the vocal quality of the chorus, a few certain words caught my ears and made me say, wow, this is my song. I'm sure we all have someone in our past that we can dedicate this song to, yeah? Love it!

Somebody that you used to know,

Drey $ Nicole

Lakers Game

Friday night my best girl SieraJ calls and says she's on her way to get me so we can go to the Lakers game. Now while I've been to thousands of baseball and several hockey games, I have never been to a professional basketball game. So when she told me we had vip, floor seats, valet parking list, you bet your bottom dollar I was freaking out. Although the Laker's lost by six points, it was the best time ever. I saw Kobe of course, Jack Nicholson, Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak from The Office! It was my first time and I don't know if I'll ever be able to top it.

Still a Mavs fan,

Drey $ Nicole

P.S.- Big thanks to Siera's bossman for the amazing seats and more!