Popcorn

It's not fair...really, really not fair.


How can I get so sick during my summer?  I am not even around sweet little children and their germies that they love to share so much.  But there I was, bedridden with some sort of cold/flu and left to either stare at the television or the ceiling.  


The ceiling.  I hate my ceiling.  Actually the feeling is a bit stronger than hate.  


It's a popcorn ceiling...or cottage cheese ceiling.  


I hate cottage cheese.  Yuck.  


Now when I think of popcorn, I conjure up visions of a yummy, crunchy, buttery snack.  Often, for me, enjoyed while watching tv, or better yet, at the movie theater. Popcorn means fun and happy memories.  Why, even in my classroom, we sing a song about it.  When we are finished, we usually all end up on the floor, laughing our little hearts out.  I love popcorn.


My ceiling is not the kind of popcorn I love.  The person who thought of popcorn ceilings should be ashamed of creating such wretched stuff.  I mean, they are dirty and dusty.  Ewww.


Sadly, there is nothing I can do to get rid of the popcorn ceilings.  Yes, there is something that can be done, but it I'm not entirely convinced it is worth the effort.


My house was built in 1969.  Not very old for most houses in the country but for Southern California, its ancient.  It seems like there was a little additive that was added to many building products before the 1970s.  It is called asbestos.  Lovely stuff...not really.


There is a strong possibility that there is asbestos in the popcorn ceiling.  I have found that to remove the popcorn ceiling, I would basically have to move completely out of my house.  
Everything!
Then people come to the house in little yellow suits to remove the stuff.  Then when the EPA gives the all-clear, we can move back in.  Sounds exciting and super expensive!  


Or, I can leave it alone.  No asbestos can be released if I leave it alone.  So, here I sit under an ugly dirty, dusty popcorn ceiling that I can do nothing about while I dream of beautiful coffered ceilings.

So imagine my horrified look as I walk into the dining room and see this disaster!

Yes, that is a huge water stain!!!!  Our swampie (swamp cooler) broke a little line in the attic and the water left a stain on the ceiling.  

AHHH!  

So now what?  I have to live with an ugly stain now too?
The hubsters heard my shriek of terror and immediately fixed the leak and stopped the stain from spreading.  


So I did the only thing I could do...I had to get all ghetto on it!  I used a spray bottle full bleach.  

Altogether it took 5 applications of the bleach to make the stain just barely noticeable.

Crisis adverted and now I can scheme of getting that elusive coffered ceiling.  The hubster better get ready!

Chalk it up

Chalkboards are hot, hot, hot right now in home decorating!  I mean, hotter than an Antelope Valley summer.  I have been seeing them everywhere...from stores, catalogs and yes, on the internet.  The first few times I saw them, I have to admit I really wasn't that impressed.  First of all, I am a teacher.  I use a chalkboard, well actually a whiteboard, everyday.  Why would I want a chalkboard in my house too?  Also the cost is outrageous!  I saw one in my favorite catalog I like to stalk..uhh..I mean...look at for over $500! Wowzie!  If I had money like that laying around, I wouldn't spend it on a chalkboard...really...who does that?  I am sure some do, but I can't.  Remember...champagne taste, kool-aid budget.   But like most new things, the idea began to percolate in my little head.

This is a project I did a little while ago and thought I would share it and explain why it has become one of my most favorite projects I have done.  And by the way, it was very inexpensive...almost my favorite price (freeee!).


So the first thing I did was shop my house.  I have learned in all my home decorating tv viewing that means walk around your house and find something in another room you can use.  And to think that the hubsters thought that watching tv wasn't useful...uh...yeah...it's called research!   
I found a picture in the dining room that was okay.  The only reason I have still kept it was because I loved the frame. It was going to be perfect for my project.  If you don't have a frame in your home you want to use, check out yard sales and the Goodwill.  You can get one pretty inexpensively. 


I turned the picture over and carefully pulled back the staples and removed the picture, matting and glass.  Now I was able to have some fun!  I got my favorite antique white spray paint and sprayed away.  I think I could spray paint just about anything with it...I do love it so! 


Now when you look at it, you will see that the paint is a little cracked.  I decided not to paint anymore because I liked it cracked.  I figured the spray paint police wouldn't know.

At the Home Depot, I found a sheet of MDF that was 1/4" thick.  I then cut it to size to fit inside the frame when I got home.  If you don't feel confident enough to use a power saw, HD will cut the boards for you.  They are awesome that way. 

I got some black board spray paint.  It comes in green too.  I sprayed the MDF with the black board paint.  It did take two cans...the MDF really soaked up the paint.  In hindsight, I should have used a primer first.  Oh, well! 

After the board and frame were dry, I put the MDF board into the frame and re-bent the staples back down onto the board.  Now it was done, well almost.   

Before I could write on my new chalkboard I had to rub the side of a piece of chalk all over the board and then wipe it off.  Now it was done!  I love it!

This project has become my favorite.  I decided that it was going to be used to write scripture on every week.  The scripture would be our family's focus for the week.   
Joshua 1:8 says, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”  
Writing the scripture was a weekly project between me and my cutie pie boy.  At first I was the one who found the scripture and discussed it with him, but soon he was finding the scripture and I would write it and he would want to lead the discussion.  There were even times that, as we were watching tv, we would see something and want to find out what God's Word says on the topic, then we would have our new scripture for the week.  What momma wouldn't want that? 


This project was very inexpensive.  Here is the breakdown of the cost:
                 Frame:  Free!
                 Antique White Spray Paint:  Free!  (I already had some)
                 Black Chalkboard Spray Paint:  $9.34 (2 cans)
                 1/4" MDF sheet:  $4.79
                 TOTAL COST:  $14.13!

Score!!!  A whole new project for under $15!  My champagne taste/kool-aid budget heart lept for joy!  That is a far cry from $500! 

Let me know if you make one too and what you decided to use it for!  I would love to know!

Hello and Welcome!

I have started this blog to chronicle my journey to make my house a home.  It all started last summer.  I dubbed it the "Summer of Change."  I was tired of having a honey do list that was never ending and never attended to.  So instead of nagging my husband,  I realized I was a big girl and I needed to put on my big girlie pants and do the work myself!  Another problem is money...there never seems to be enough.  The story of my life...my momma always said that I have champagne taste but have a kool-aid budget.  


So, I started watching  home improvement shows, looking through magazines, and my new bestie friend...surfing the internet.    Oh...Emmm....Geee.  The stuff you can learn!  Enlightenment right??  That's what I thought too!  


I also found blogs about home improvement written by women, who like me, wanted to improve their homes too!  I was inspired.
I have a hero.  Her name is Sarah at Thrify Decor Chick.  I absolutely love her!!!  Or as she would say...Lurve!    If you have never seen her site...check it out!  Remember that money thing I mentioned?  Its amazing what TDC can do for little to no money!  Like I said, Hero, in my book!


By the end of the summer, I learned how to put down a wood laminate floor, install a tile floor and use power tools without being afraid of them.  I know,  I know, it sounds so girlie to be afraid, but a power saw can really hurt you if you are not careful.  It was a beautiful thing to do all of this.  The best part was, I enlisted my wonderful teenage son to help me.  We became the "Dynamic DIY Duo"!  We were both clueless in what to do, but we learned together.  I have heard it said that men bond side by side when they work together.  I would have to agree with that now.  We are closer now than we ever were.  I love that cutie pie boy!  


By the end of the summer we had accomplished so much!  We installed a new toilet, refinished cabinetry, changed faucets and installed new lighting.  I also have a new love...spray paint.  Most specifically, antique white and oil rubbed bronze (ORB) spray paint.  Hugs and kisses.  It is amazing what spray paint will do...who knew??


So, here I am again...another summer.  It is the Summer of Change part Duex.  It won't be as busy as last summer, but there are going to be projects.  Also, my partner...my cutie pie boy...is going to spend most of the summer out of state at his uncle's.  Sniff, sniff.  It will be good for him to go though.  


I hope to keep everyone informed of my journey and maybe some of you may be inspired for a journey of your own.