DIY: Painted Jars Anthro Style

Here's a fun paint project that you can do with a big kid.  I have a love for mason jars and all the craft ideas that put them to use.  And these painted jars are a perfect example.  You can use them as a colorful flower vase or a jar to stash loose change. 

I saw the idea at Anthropologie as a flower display and loved the collection of painted jars.  (They always have the best art project ideas...huh).

Gather your supplies:

Instructions Below:

1. Take a clean mason jar in your hand.  Tilt it a little and pour on the inside rim one paint color about 1/2" to 1".  Then right next to that color, pour another color on the top inside rim. Repeat until you use all your colors.  I suggest using 3-4 colors per jar.

2.  Tap your jar against the table so the paint drips down the inside of the jar.  A small puddle of paint will collect on the bottom of your jar.  Now the fun begins!  Take your paintbrush and gradually brush the paint around the bottom and up the other side.  Let the colors mix, but not too much.

3. Add a little water to your paint brush to create more variation in the colors.  Don't get too carried away.  You want the colors to be mixed together but still separated.  And you don't want your jar becoming one blob of a concoction of colors. 

4.Repeat with a new jar.  Let the paint dry 36 hours!

5. Once the paint has fully dried, spray 2-3 coated of acrylic sealer on the paint to provide a protective finish.

6. Enjoy!  (My older two loved this project) 



18 months

There has been rain every day this week and right now as I type away the pitter patter is sounding more and more like gushes of water.  It is pouring outside! But this weekend there should be a break in the clouds and the sun is suppose to show it's face.

My baby is turning 18 months next week. I can not believe how quickly time goes by.  She is at such a fun age--talking and babbling and trying to copy everything I say.  She says hi to every stranger and loves climbing and getting into everything.  Trying on every shoe (big or small) is a daily activity.  Eating with a fork and spoon is a nice accomplishment (very helpful for me).  And she definitely stands her ground when it comes to her older brother's annoyances. 

 

Breakfast tomorrow

I've got brewing in the fridge a jar of no-cook oatmeal that I'm excited to try tomorrow morning for breakfast.  The recipe is from that Yummy Life, which has a lot of other good healthy recipes.  My sidekick health-nut friend told me of the recipe and I was eager to try it.  Looks yummy!  I did alter the recipe a bit--I used almond milk instead of milk and no yogurt.  Also, I used raw agave instead of maple syrup.

   

Southern Charm

Since I'm headed south, I'm trying to familiarize and prepare myself with all the things that make the south charming.  I want to fully embrace it!  Got any inside tips?  Or know any local shops in the Atlanta area? 

1. Most southern homes are made out of brick
2. Ah...The Notebook.  One of my favorite movies!
3.  I've been told to pick up a subscription to Southern Living
4. Marysia Swim
5. I guess I need to buy my first strand of pearls. 
7. I heard equestrian lifestyle is prominent
8. Need to start calling everyone "darling", "ma'am", "sweetheart", "sir"
9. Read Southern Charm
10. Got to find a favorite cobbler recipe.

St. Croix, Virgin Islands

Here are a few pictures from our recent family trip to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.  We had so much fun.  I was a little worried taking all the kids but it was worth it.  We wanted to go on a family trip before the hubby started his new job and will be tied down for the summer.  Just a short 3-hour trip from NYC, and you don't need passports.  The Virgin Islands is a great destination for beach-front snorkeling and there is so much to see.  The kids loved it! I ate fresh seafood and fish every day.  And the island-grown fruit was amazing!  We stayed at the Buccaneer which has a gorgeous property and this really great running trail that I used every morning.  Have a great weekend!

I've Missed You My Pretty

Oh yes...I made sure to pick up a copy of Domino's Quick Fixes at the airport during one of my numerous travels.  It's divine and I hope they continue to print new issues.  Go and support!

Happy Mother's Day!

I love being mama to these munchkins.  They always give me a good laugh.   

I just want to do a special Mother's Day blog shout out to all my dear mommy friends who have gone above and beyond to help me and my family out over the last few weeks.  They know who they are and have been there whenever I have needed them to step into my shoes by taking care of my kids, handling their school schedule, feeding and bathing them and just loving them!  And these are friends who have children of their own.  Friends like this, in my opinion, are family and one of the reasons I'm so sad to leave this area.  Happy Mother's Day!  And good weekend.

Little White Cake Baby Shower

Recently I helped co-host, with two other friends, a baby shower for our good friend Ashley who is having her first girl.  The shower was sweet, pink and elegantly simple.  And what made it extra sweet was the individual little white wedding cakes that my girlfriend made using soup cans as her cake pan.  Such a great idea.  They came out perfect too!  And tasted so yummy--vanilla almond flavor.  My other girlfriend did the decor, and I love the large flowery vases.  She took glass vases, filled them with water and placed fake flowers in it.   Simple, but sophisticated.  Since I was traveling, I can't take much credit for anything that happened for the shower accept for a few printables and sending out the invite.

GOOP detox

Summer is literally right around the corner and with my travels, the diet has been thrown out the door the past three weeks.  Currently my body craves a daily dose of sugar, carbs and soda.  I am eager to get back to a healthy way of eating while losing a few pounds.  Two weeks away from swimsuit season!  I like to do cleanses and detoxes about three times a year and have a favorite one that I follow and have modified to my busy mom schedule.  But it can sometimes get a little intense!

Recently right before my week long hospital stay, I did the GOOP detox and really liked it.  It's a very gentle detox and has yummy recipes.  You won't feel like you are starving.  The schedule even allows you to eat chicken and brown rice for dinner one day.  And then fruit smoothies in the morning.  Anyway, I'm going to start back up it once I get myself to the grocery store.  Let me know if you'd like to join.  It's always good to have support when cleansing!

 

Big News!

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind of craziness--excitement, stress, sadness, happiness, tears, despair.  Lots of bittersweet emotions.  And I've been pulled away from my usual schedule so that's why I've been absent. 

I told you how Chloe was in the hospital for a week, then the next week after we prepped to get our home of 7 years on the market to sale.  It wasn't the best week because my kids were on spring break, so it was a little stressful but somehow I pulled it off.  Then the following week after that we jetted off to the Virgin Islands for a little family time.  It was a last minute trip and we had a wonderful time but my Lucas was sick the entire trip so it put a slight dent in the vacation.  Right when we got home my hubby and I have been non-stop house hunting but not in Connecticut.  We are relocating to Atlanta, Georgia! 

I still haven't been able to grasp the idea that we are moving down south.  Until a month ago, I was pretty settled that we were planting our roots in Connecticut and was comfortable with the idea that my children were going to be raised here.  We were even looking at homes to buy in the area, since we've outgrown our tiny 1600 sq foot home.  But this new job opportunity came up for my husband and we jumped at it.  Never in a million years did I think I'd live in Georgia.  We have made Connecticut our home for 10 years and love the area and the wonderful friends we have made.  We call them our family.  But everyone I've talked to tells me that I will love Atlanta.  I will still have a city...just not New York City, which I will miss so much.  And I will have the Florida beaches...not Cape Cod.  DisneyWorld is not so far away. And I hear it's very family oriented. So, never say never.  You just never know what life will bring you...or take you.



Moving to the Tri-State area?  Our updated colonial house is a 45 min train ride from
New York City and would
make a lovely home for a small family, a couple or an individual. 
Email me if interested: darleen@darleenmeier.com