Hope

Hope has been such an integral part of my life over the past two years.  It can be so uplifting and help propel you forward.  Hope has helped me move forward after the loss of my baby.  Hope has helped me deal with infertility.  Don't get me wrong, hope has been a big help.  But sometimes hope can be dangerous.  

Hope can be dangerous when you rely so heavily on it.  It feels like a slap in the face when things don't turn out how you hoped.  You start to question why you even bother with hope.  But hope is addicting, because it offers such promise.  So I continue to hope.  

Yesterday, I found out that I did not get pregnant this month.  I went through my usual disbelief.  I was so sure that this month was going to be the month.  And then I got angry.  How come I don't get to have a baby?  How come crack addicts get to have babies and I don't?  Then I started to meet up with my good friend hope again.  I tell myself that I need to stay hopeful and think positively.  I can't dwell on what didn't happen; I have to hope for what might happen next.

Source     

And so I move forward with my hope renewed.  I can see my future and babies are a part of that.  Adam and I will get there one way or another.  Here's hoping.  

A Tray Update

I've been working on some simple diy classroom decorations lately.  One of the more simple projects was updating a tray to match my new classroom decor. 

 

I used this wooden paper tray as an inbox as a secretary.  It sat on the corner of my desk and was where I housed any paperwork that needed action.  I plan to use the same tray in my classroom.  It was cute before, but it needed a little makeover so it would match the rest of my classroom decor.  I originally got it at Michael's, in case you would like to get one of your own.  

All you need for this project is the following:

-Wood Tray

-Scrapbook paper

-Acrylic craft paint

-Paintbrush

-Mod Podge

-Aluminum Foil

I started by painting the sides of my tray in my new paint color.  I decided to go with navy.  I ended up putting on two coats so the old paint color was good and covered.  I used my aluminum foil trick to give me a working surface that wouldn't stick to the tray and could be thrown away at the end of the project.  

After the paint dried, I cut the scrapbook paper I chose to fit in the bottom of my tray.  Then, I put a coat of Mod Podge under the paper and another coat on top of the paper.  I ended up putting a coat of Mod Podge over the painted surface, as well.  That way both the paper part and the painted part would have the same shiny finish.  

Here's my new tray after the Mod Podge dried.  I love the polka dots!  And I can't wait to put it on my desk in my classroom!    

A Thrift Store Treasure

I decided to start working on some diy projects for my classroom and needed to find some old books.  So, I visited a thrift store close to my house and found just what I needed.  Plus, something I didn't even know I needed.  

Whenever I go to a thrift store looking for something in particular, I like to look around to see what other treasures I might find.  On this particular trip, I glanced up and saw the most adorable mail organizer.  I made a beeline for it before anyone else could snatch it up.  I was even more excited once I saw the $3.00 price tag!  

I thought this would be perfect for our house.  I am the kind of person who doesn't like stacks of mail sitting around on countertops and tables.  I always go through the mail as soon as I bring it inside.  I immediately through away junk mail, stash magazines in a basket on our fireplace and bring bills upstairs to our office nook.  Usually I put any mail addressed to Adam on the kitchen table.  I'm not going to lie; it bothers me when there's a stack of mail on my clean kitchen table.  And Adam doesn't exactly share my zeal for keeping every square inch of our house neat and organized.  (I realize I have a problem.)  

So, I thought this mail organizer would be the perfect solution.  Adam's mail will now have a home until he gets around to looking at it and my kitchen table can stay free of clutter.  There's also a space to put any letters or bills that need to be mailed.  I love the finish and its slightly rustic vibe.  And how cute are those labels?   

When I showed Adam my find, he wasn't quite as excited about it as me, but he did think it would be a good way to keep track of our mail.  He even told me he had some brassy, gold nails that would match the finish to hang it up with.  Boy, does he know how to make me happy, or what!  He used two nails side by side to help keep the organizer more stable and level.  

It's the little things in life that make me happy.