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B.J. Reece Orchards
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Apple Pickin’

Last week for Fall break, my babies,  my SIL, niece and nephews took the 2 hour drive to Elijay, GA which is just north of Atlanta for an afternoon of apple picking at B.J. Reece Apple Orchards. We picked the perfect day, while the weather was a little warm, it was overcast so the shade from the clouds was welcomed.

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

Before getting started we had to take our obligatory photo in front of the sign. Excuse me while I make sure my selfie stick is working.

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

My youngest nephew I’m sure had the most fun. He loves apples and just as quick as we could get them in the wagon  he was taking baby sized chunks out of them. The majority of the green apples had already been picked over. Was a little sad about that, really wanted some Granny Smith. We manged to find a few, but not many.

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

 

 

B.J. Reece Orchards

I have so many apples that I need to do something with. Unfortunately I was terribly under the weather and didn’t have a chance to really bake like I wanted and this coming weekend is extremely busy. Sunday, I’ll make my Mom’s apple pie and I’ll even share the recipe. I know she would want me to!

Have you made the trek to the apple orchard or pumpkin patch yet? Here is our trip from last year.

 

 

 

Featured MOMing

Ma Petite Ballerina & Self Love 1,001

 

Ballet is such a beautiful art form, and frequently while waiting for Addison to finish her lessons my mind wanders back to my days of dancing at the studio in  Georgetown with the picture window. The one where I would get distracted in the winter as I watched the snow flakes fall and get reprimanded by the mean lady in the black leotard with the tight bun. Remembering vividly those Saturdays when my father would take me and my bun would be a mess, but I would be there working on my perfect form and feeling a little defeated at times when I couldn’t make my body do what the other girls could.

Fast forward some ohhhhhhhhh, let’s say 28 years….

 

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Every lesson, as tired as I am, I watch the screen intently to see if I can pick up on some of Addison’s frustrations and triumphs so that when her lesson is done I can compliment her on how well she did on her arabesque or mention she needs to point her toe a little more on her tendue.  Even in my praise and honest loving critique there are days when she is sad that she couldn’t make her body do what the other girls could.

 

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File Sep 27, 10 37 40 AM

 

As I continue to learn as a parent and enter this realm that is composed of more than wiping noses and butts, the stage that comes with really instilling life values into my children I will admit I am a little overwhelmed and have been doing a whole lot of over thinking. As I read about the struggles that children are facing today, I can’t help but think that somehow if I take that extra minute to say, “While you can’t do that arabesque perfect today, if you keep practicing you will get better,” she will remember and hear my voice in times when I’m not around and remind herself that perfection is not the point in life, effort is, and she will love herself through those times and keep pushing.

 

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Every lesson, I see her trying a little harder. Leaping a little higher, being a little more graceful. Every lesson, I tell her what a great dancer she is and how I saw that one move and she smiles. She knows I’m watching and encouraging her to be great. Sometimes I don’t think she gets it, but the other day we were in Target and she mentioned that she loved SOMETHING more than anything else. I replied, “Even yourself?” she says yes. I stop her there and say you don’t love anything or anybody more than you love yourself and God. She nods and says like in ballet when I ‘m not supposed to pay attention to what the other girls are doing and  love myself even when I don’t feel like I’m doing it right?” I say yes, you focus on loving and being the best you that you can be. Things and people shouldn’t be your priority.

 

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The next day out of nowhere she says I love my family 1,000 but I love myself and God 1,001. I think she’s getting it!

 

Girls Closet Makeover
DIY Featured Home

Closet Makeover Reveal

My daughter’s closet had an extremely funky set up when we moved in. Instead of the bar running the length of the closet horizontally there were four small bars on the inside that ran horizontally if that makes sense. In the simplest of terms it was the absolute worst use of space, not to mention they left a raggedy built in drawer system that had to go.

 

Closet makeover

 

Closet makeover

This was the space looking straight into the closet. No bar, there were a few coat hooks there but I had already removed them before taking the photo….and sorry for the cell phone photos but I was in the mood to get it done so these were what I captured.

 

Closet makeover

 

The inside walls were filthy and dinged up pretty bad. I just couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t give the inside a spackle and  paint job. I had wall paint leftover so I used that. My husband didn’t understand because no one would see but I would know and that was enough for me to climb myself into that hot cramped space and paint. Thank goodness for low VOC paint.

 

 

Closet makeover

After the paint dried I installed a metal tension rod designed for closet use that I picked up from Home Depot along with two closet rod brackets. I screwed the brackets into the studs and inserted the rod which I also screwed into the wall on each end to secure.

Years ago I purchased a $1 shelf from Ikea clearance that had just been laying around waiting to be put to good use. I affixed it to the top of the brackets and voila.

 

Girls Closet Makeover

 

The baskets were gifted to me when Addison was born. They currently house hats, scarves and other accessories. The labels came from the dollar spot at Target.

I spray painted the hangers and the shoe rack gold. I purchased both from Walmart.

Girls Closet Makeover

 

You can find tips on how to spray paint plastic hangers here.

 

Girls Closet Makeover

 

I did leave one of the inside shelves intact to house hair bows and little knick knacks. The closet doesn’t currently have a light so I put this lamp in here that only I am allowed to turn on and off. I really only use it in the evening when picking out her clothes.

 

Girls Closet Makeoveer

 

Girls Closet Makeover

 

All of her hairbow/headband storage is from Dollar Tree. The headbands are just stuck into a mason jar.  {I’ve since redone how I store her hair bows. See how I make use of Dollar Tree baskets to organizer her hair bows in one of her dresser drawers here }

To help her get herself ready in the mornings, I attached a command hook to the door where I put her clothes nightly and after breakfast she knows to go there to get her clothes for the day and put them on.

 

Girls Closet Makeover

 

Girls Closet Makeover

 

One project down, 3,098,193 to go…….

Have you done a closet makeover? Do you not love Dollar Tree for organizational supplies?

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DIY Featured

DIY Gold Plastic Hangers | A Closet Makeover Hack

Know how you have a project that you know needs to be done but the sheer thought of the amount of effort needed to make it happen, keeps you in “I’ll get to it” mode? That was my daughter’s closet. The layout was awkward the walls were damaged and scuffed and just down right tragic. But of course I wanted to work on something pretty and that pretty project ended up being these DIY gold plastic hangers. Don’t let the pretty fool you though, this took a little figuring out but the end result was perfect.

DIY Gold Plastic Hangers

With her room having touches of gold I thought it would be a great idea to carry that trend into her closet. Initially I thought about doing the rod and then decided to do the hangers, I mean how hard is it to just spray paint hangers. There is a method to every form of madness and after wasting about 2 cans and not getting the results I wanted, I slowed down and came up with a plan that wouldn’t waste as much paint and help me get the flawless gold finish on the hangers that I wanted.

Tips for Spray Painting Hangers

Use a good spraypaint:  I used Rustoleum double cover, it was about $3.67 a can. One coat was like two and I didn’t need to prime before or coat afterward

Use spray paint to make these cute DIY Gold Plastic Hangers to add a pop to your closet.

 Lay your item(s) on cardboard: Initially I laid them on plastic and when I over sprayed and the pooled paint dried it would look like this on the opposite side when I lifted it up. If this happens lightly scrape the dried paint off and start again…but just put it on cardboard or something hard, trust me.

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 Pay attention to the areas that will be seen: To be mindful of the amount of paint I was using I decided to really concentrate on getting good coats on the areas that would be seen. On a hanger it’s not imperative to have the bottom as completely covered as it is the hook and edges.

Gold Hangers

Keep the strokes light and even: I strongly suggest investing $4 into getting one of those spray paint nozzles, it makes it so easy to make light and even coats. Think less is more, do two or three very light coats instead of two heavy ones Gold Hangers

Use a clear coat if you like. While I did not coat mine with a clear spray I do intend to. I’m sure you are wondering if they have chipped, or rubbed off on the clothing. No and no. I do make sure to handle them with care and there are a few nicks where I have scraped with my fingernail but nothing due to sliding the clothing off and on. I am thrilled with the results.

DIY Gold Plastic Hangers tutorial using spray paint.

Use white hangers: Because I just wanted to get this project completed, when the store didn’t have white hangers I grabbed the pink. Unless you are in the mood to spend extra time and money, if there are no white ones available keep looking. It took nearly two coats just to get a decent cover over the pink.

Check out the  full closet reveal and her entire  bedroom makeover here.

closet

So are you up for making these DIY Gold Plastic Hangers? Let me know if you give this project a try.

Super easy DIY spray painted hangers | www.lipglossandbinky.com