DIY love heardboard: when the Biber's vacation

My parents came to visit this weekend and because I'm running a (secret) campaign to get them to migrate south, I wanted to impress them with Atlanta. Sure they've been here quite a bit, but for some reason I was on a mission to have a jam-packed itinerary with nonstop funness.

My list of options included brunch at Murphy's (one of my fav spots), shopping in the Highlands, the Atlanta Botanical gardens, Corks and Forks, a beer festival, a barbeque festival...and more.

I should have put money on it, though. Instead of choosing one of these relaxing activities, they had to take on a challenge. They're doers. And because I threw it out there at the end, "or we could try building this headboard I've been wanting to make..." they were ret to DIY.

My dad swears I Tom Sawyered him by saying things like, "you're so much better at things like this than me" and "Maybe you could just show me how to do this to get me started", but I don't really recall these things...

And besides, he is much better at things like this than me.

So, without further ado, our headboard project inspired by House Tweaking...

Essentially, we followed the same steps she did, except after digging around in salvage yards and some private property (where we got caught by the owner) we realized we didn't have the Atlanta awareness to know where to find old wood.

So instead we bought regular wood, which might not be quite as intense as farm wood, but hey, we're not in Indiana anymore.

From there, my dad white washed and sanded the wood to make it look rustic. He had the best luck when he spit on the section prior to sanding it - it gave it a much more authentic look.

He then used smaller slats of wood to hold them together...

My mom and I stood on each piece to make sure it didn't move...

And we used quarters to make sure the distance between each slat was equal.

And then I wrote love on it, because who doesn't want to sleep in a bed full of love every night?

Ta da....

It's all very exciting, seeing as I've been lusting after this love board since December.

You might notice that it appears that I left the D in this DIY up to my parents and, aside from taking pictures and writing love, you are correct. Which is why I wouldn't advise doing it unless you know, or have someone who knows, a thing or two about drilling, mounting and tooling to help you. For example, the original measuring was up to me and I accidentally thought the headboard needed to be 74, not 62, inches wide. I've never been one for measuring...

Needless to say, I certainly could not have mastered this project without my parents.

pat your weave

I've expressed my feelings about DIYs before, but in case you missed it, let me refresh you. I think DIYs are awesome during the planning and supply purchasing phases. But once the actual D-ing starts, I tend to lose interest. Unless the projects are 30-seconds or less, they are normally too long. I like to think of myself as an excellent DIY delegator. But not so much an executor.

Courtney and Ashley, on the other hand, tend of have a higher skillset and level of patience for such projects, and, being ever so inclusive as they are, allow me to participate in their craftiness.

This weekend was no exception.

Saturday, Ashley busted out in a rocking necklace, which, it turns out, she made. Yep. She rules.

So, Sunday afternoon, we thought we'd try our hand at finger weaving. She turned t-shirts into yarn (for real) and then let us use it to make bracelets. Apparently a lot of little kids do it, so Ash thought we could handle it. I had a few struggles, including a loss of circulation for pulling too tightly and not unweaving at the right time, and having to start over once (or twice), but all-in-all, I'd say the task was a success.

And, as your DIY delegator, I feel it my duty to provide instructions. So check out V and Co's tutorial, which is exactuhly how Ash taught us to make them, and go forth with braceleting vigor. It's your charge.

headboard love

I'd really like to have a headboard for my dear bed, but all of the ones I like tend to be slightly out of my budget.

This headboard has me wondering if it's really DIY, or if I'd wind up feeling the way I do when I try to make one of Martha's DIY projects (a jigsaw...?).

It's so cute and doesn't look that that difficult. At the very least, I know I could handle writing love on it...

Is it too beachy for my abode?

house*tweakingvia

Muffy's afternoon DIY

When it comes to dealing with people, my mom has been blessed abundantly with patience.

However, last week, as we took on a little afternoon DIY, we laughed at the fact that someone who truly has more patience for people than anyone I've ever met, could be so impatient when it comes to inanimate objects.

She decided it was time to repaint a cabinet from our old house so it would fit with the color scheme of the new house. Instead of sanding it and testing colors, she just carried it outside, put it on some newspaper, and started repainting.
It was at this point that I returned home from work. She was about 40 percent finished with the painting and told me that she thought it was going to be fun - but it wasn't really. And she was ready to be done. I decided to help her out and, my patience for projects very similar to hers, employed the great technique of pouring the paint onto the cabinet and quickly smoothing it out before it dripped to the grass. Competitive I am not, but with a hint of competition from my mom and a whole lot of desire to get the paint job done quickly, we raced to see who could complete her side first. After it dried (it was the kind of paint that dries in minutes, which is perfect for us) we hauled it back inside, filled it up, and stood back to appraise our work.
Unfortunately, as the sun began to set and the light changed, we realized it wasn't exactly the color we were going for (now we know why my dad always tests his colors). At this point, I had to leave because I had dinner plans. My mom, however, took it back outside, ran to Home Depot to get another color, repainted it - this time with a roller, not a paintbrush - and had it back inside by dusk.
I'd say it was a job well - and efficiently - done.

monday roundup // we gettin there

I'm thankful for other bloggers who are saying great things on this Monday, when my mind is too hyper about going home to think up a solid post...

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Get inspired

10 Ways to do Adulthood Well  - this is my jam.

Why God told me to ruin my life 

Angelina Jolie's Governor Award Speech - beautiful

The Real Truth about ‘Boring’ Men — and the Women who Live with Them: Redefining Boring 

Get healthy

Intuitive Exercise - great read 

Clever ideas to eat dairy free - good ones

Four signs you're not eating enough - eat up, friends!

Should is a warning sign - ain't it the truth.

Get happy

The Best Viral Videos We Found This Week - :) love Kid President. Love #9.

New invisalign campaign: smile it forward - pretty dang happy

Three sisters coming home video - melts my heart. And makes me yearn for my two sisters.

16 Weird Things Best Friends Do That Prove They’re Your Soul Mates - funny. 

Foods of the U.S. Ranked and Mapped. What Does Your State Eat?

42 Things That Happen The Night Before Thanksgiving, The Most Interesting Night Of The Year

If famous historical events took place in the age of Instagram - #whatuppp

Get gifty

DIY gift guide from Lauren Conrad - I don't DIY, but that shouldn't hold my friends back

World-changing Christmas Gift Guide - yaay.

And now, it's almost time to go home and get thankful! :) 

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Sunday Funday DIY

 In high school, I could get down with a can of spray paint.

 

And by that, I obviously mean every fall for our homecoming float competition. The smell of spray paint still inevitably reminds me of October evenings, where I’d make the mad dash from cross country to somebody’s barn, where we’d spend hours decorating a flatbed themed around something like Noblesville Schmoblesville.

But, since then, I’ve lost touch with it. That is, until this weekend. Growing up, we had these Adirondack chairs on our front porch. When I moved to Atlanta, I was fortunate enough to bring two of them with me. During the last two years, though, the white washed beauties have become anything but.

See? Sad city.

This weekend I decided the chairs needed a new coat of paint for the new house. After scrubbing them down, I quick dry spray-painted them in about 10 minutes. It would have been faster had I not run out of paint and had to dash up the street to Ace Hardware to buy three more cans. Who knew one can had so little paint?

 Let me tell you, this is a DIY that speaks my language. And by that, I mean quick to complete, minimal detail orientation and instant gratification.

Those high school float days never did spray paint justice. The stuff is magical!

Ta da!:

making our house a home

This is the story about a lonely wall.

And a little piece of wood Katie got for free at the Home Depot.

She stained the wood and we put a few nailskis in it.

Then we put it on the wall, which was a whole lot like the blind leading the blind, mainly when Katie said, "we need one of those measuring sticks." (read: tape measurer)

Then we popped our aprons up on it.
(&it fell one time)

But the second time, it stuck.

And our lonely wall became our happy wall.

The end.

PS: Double DIY weekend. Stay tuned for another project.
PPS: Check out the cutie birdhouse Katie painted. Labor of love.
PPS: And that's how Sunday becomes Funday at 10 p.m.

{yes}

My friend Jordan and I used to joke that when she said maybe, she meant no. And when I heard that maybe, I heard yes. I just can't help myself! I believe so deeply in the power of yes.

To say yes is a gift. It's to take on an adventure. It can be a risk - a life change - a small task. It can be so little or so much and you often don't know which until you're already into the yes. It's a glass of wine   - maybe - or it's hours of good conversation and a friendship growing deeper over an accidental bottle.

But I am only just recently learning the power of no. To know you need the time to yourself, the space, the opt out. 

To say yes is exciting on the surface, but to say no - to know your own needs on that level - is exciting in its own right. It's maturity and self respect. It's knowing when you need sleep instead of that glass of wine. Or time to reflect instead of divulge in conversation. 

Call it a testament to my parents' undying support, as I think my incessant yessing begins with a belief that I can do it all. My parents told me I could, so I can, right? Maybe. But just because you can do everything doesn't mean you should. To complete everything - carry the juggling balls over the finish line - is good. But to do fewer things, very well, can be so much more fulfilling. To go deeper into one task, master the skill is an entirely different level of satisfaction. 

And I'm still learning it. Learning to cut back and play to my strengths. 

Oh my gosh I am not a DIYer. And that's OK. No one needs me to DIY for them. But you know what I can do? Organize your closet. So when you're done crafting and your scissors and glue and paint are everywhere, I'm there. 

I'm learning it evermore as I get ready to go to Africa. I've been blown away by the support I've received. It has been incredible to  see the way people have said yes to me - have offered me the skills, gifts and support they have. I'm in awe. 

The way my dad gave to me financially last night, so generously. 

The way so many of you have supported me financially, also so generously.

And in prayers. 

How friends have called me asking what they can buy for the trip. Sunscreen? Bug spray? A sleeping bag? 

The way my company gave me product to take over. 

The way people have asked me the right questions, cared about what I will be doing, given me their time, love and concern for my travel. 

Shared my page. 

Shared my passion.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. For giving me what you can. For giving me the gifts you have and for saying yes to my adventure. 

I just love you all.

a little something on the side

Does anyone else feel kind of like a professional wedding goer right now? These 20s! They sure are the wedding season of life. 

I'm always looking for more creative ways to gift and my theory is that you should have your main boo and your side piece when you give one. And by this I mean one gift off the registry, and one gift that is more sentimental; a little something on the side.  I recently discovered Pinhole Press and it pretty much seems like it was made for this. 

I got Katie&Austen the wine labels and loved them too much not to share. They come in a pack of nine and you adhere them yourself. I just peeled off the previous label and replaced it with their lovely faces.

They were so easy! And I don't even like to DIY!

It seems that Pinhole can pretty much put your picture on anything and I'm hooked. Spoiler alert = if I'm coming to your wedding/shower/house anytime soon, there's a 99 percent chance you will be receiving this. I can't say I'm sorry :)

{best friends}

Last week I mentioned that life has a way of handing me conversation after conversation on the same subject - carefully dancing around it, nudging me toward it without coming out and saying: Whitney you ought to deal with this. And normally I notice it, feeling one part shocked by coincidence and another part relieved that, yes, all we twenty something's are on the same page. 

Lately there has been a lot of talk around friendships between my friends and me (convenient people to have it with, I tell ya) and it seems that we're all trying to sort through this post-graduate world very carefully. Aware now, more than ever, how badly we yearn for deeper relationships, and yet, contrastingly, how independent we are - savoring our rare alone time and wanting to create our own worlds, establish ourselves. 

So how do you find a balance? And how do you know which of these relationships are as real and true as the ones you made in high school and college? Who can you let in to your heart? 

I was recently talking with my owly-wise friend, Maggie, about it. I was frustrated by a situation and called her and said: Mag, I need you to speak truth to me. Why is this bothering me so much? 

She told me two things. 

One, I already knew but needed to be reminded: I have a tendency to not give up on friendships (or anything- e.g. even unsalvageable DIY projects). Which, as Maggie so kindly told me, is wonderful when they're life-giving. But when they're no longer good and pure, unfortunately, is often when I really dig my heels in. It can't not work. This is a project and I will fix it! And get an A! Plus! (<<< that's my brain) 

But Maggie said you have to ask yourself this question: is this friendship depleting me? Or completing me? Because those that deplete, stress and exhaust us are not worth fighting for. The ones that are fulfilling - that both parties care deeply for one another and want to invest - are the ones you fight for even when they get rocky. 

And it's important to differentiate between the two.

Do you cut the other people out? Certainly not (unless they're truly hurtful). But because our hearts are tender and time is precious, it can help us invest wisely and understand that when the friendship isn't growing like we'd like it to, maybe it doesn't mean we try harder, but instead appreciate the friendship for what it is. Whether that be just a fun friend, or a try-new-restaurants friend or a perfect-for-work-friend, we need and crave different levels of friendship. And not everyone can be the come-in-to-the-deep-corners-of-your-heart-friend. That is a special spot, you know.

As my mom often reminds me: the very best, deep, true friendships are once in a lifetime. And if you're lucky enough to find more than one in a lifetime, you are very lucky.

I most certainly agree, Muff. :)

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