DIY Headboard

A few months ago I decided to redecorate our guest bedroom. As part of the room's makeover, I chose to build a headboard for the bed. Not only was is super easy, but it was inexpensive and turned out pretty cute!

 You Will Need:

Sandpaper

Stud Finder

Pencil

Level

{7} 5’ long White Pine Wood

2″ Flat-head screws

Drill

Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint

Step 1: Decide where to put your headboard. Find the studs. Mark vertical lines with a pencil.

Step 2 {Optional}: If you do not want your headboard to be a permanent fixture, you can screw two pieces of 1" thick wood to the wall to serve as a brace. 

Step 3: Starting at the baseboard, screw the first board to the wall using the stud marks you made in Step 1. Continue stacking the boards one on top of the other and fastening in this way all the way to the top (last) board.

 

Step 4: Sand rough spots and edges off of the boards. Add 2 coats of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint. 

Step 5 {Optional}: Add burlap banner and lots of pretty pillows!

New Years Celebrations!

Matt and I celebrated New Years in beautiful downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The charming and quaint city was the perfect destination to ring in 2012 with good friends.

Our trip started out with a delicious lunch at Triangle, followed by shopping on King Street.

Ready to celebrate!

Before heading to our final destination for the evening, we stopped in at Midtown Bar for a few drinks. 

With a table set for 21 party-goers, we had the best night ringing in 2012 with good friends, food, and cocktails...

Duck confit with fried goat cheese - delicious.

The final countdown to 2012 begins.... 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

What a great end to a great year! So excited for our new year together!

And of course, no Charleston trip is complete without a visit to Hominy Grill. Lucky for us, the friends we stayed with live just a few doors down from this lovely place.

Fried green tomatoes in ranch, looks like we broke our 2012 diet already...oops.

Southern Traditional New Years Meal

We both ordered delicious "Good Luck Omelets," which contained Hoppin' Johns and Collard Greens. 

Wishing you lots of luck in 2012!! xo

Buckeye Cookies

How do you make Buckeye Cookies?..You put them in a bowl and beat them for 3 hours. 

 

Okay, fine, that joke is almost 5 years old. However, this afternoon the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Florida Gators will meet for the second time in five years at the Gator Bowl. This time, I am not so sure the Gators will pull a 41-14 win, especially with our former coach pulling for the other side this time around. 

All pigskin rivalry aside, here is the recipe for delicious Buckeye cookies... 

Buckeyes
 
Ingredients

1 ½ Cups Peanut Butter

1 Cup Butter, softened

½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

6 Cups Confectioners' Sugar

4 Cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips

In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Press a toothpick into the top of each ball {to be used later as the handle for dipping} and chill in the freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler {or in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water}. Stir frequently until smooth. Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.