Fireplace Mantle, Chalkboard and a Recipe

The rearranging of the fireplace mantle is as routine as brushing my teeth. I can't rest until that thing looks just right. The last time my mother-in-law came over she told me that it looks different every time she is here. I know it.

I won't say that I have hit the ultimate layout, but my eyes are atleast at peace that I am in the right direction. I kept feeling more old school traditional nick-nacky and I was going for Pottery Barn Chic. Not a good thing. I took some garage sale finds and things that I had and tried to repurpose them to make this mantle more pleasing to the eye.

Here is where it is currently landing.

Here is a close-up shot. Please stop laughing at my handwriting on these. I am aware of how elementary it looks. No seriously - quit laughing. :-) I am not the artist in this house - only the decorator.


And, aren't you dying to see my finished chalkboard? Well, aren't you?
David still has to hang it, but I just had to show you all of it's cuteness. I am so pleased with how it turned out! AND - my sister-in-law came by to watch Baby Boy for me for a little bit today and I talked her into breaking in my menu board with her cute and sassy style. We had friends over for dinner tonight, so this was our menu. We even added our daily verse on the side. Her words were, "now you have your food - food and your spiritual food". Now that's just brilliant.

I hate that you can't see it all hung and wonderful, but I was too anxious to wait.

I made lasagna for dinner tonight and I also made some Smores Muffins this afternoon. These are 2 of my staples around here! Go to The Recipe Box to get the recipes. Be watching for another post over there for a couple of fun side dishes we love at this house - roasted veggies and roasted yukon gold potatoes. Go check 'em out and whip 'em up this week!

I plan to have part of my sanity back tomorrow because I finally found where I left my calendar planner. I have been without it for a couple of weeks and have messed up several things that I was supposed to be doing. I am heading to the lost and found department to reclaim some brain activity. I truly can't live without that thing. Once I dump things out of my brain onto paper or computer - I'm done.

And speaking of done.......Goodnight everybody!