Reclaim Paint Review & Chalk Paint Table Makeover, Micro Urban Homesteading Garden, New Grandbaby Gender!

Reclaim Paint Review & Chalk Paint Table Makeover-

Last year I was asked to review Reclaim Paint (now re-named to Beyond Paint) and was gifted with paint, glaze and sealer. I chose Bright White and was sent one Qt.-

                                                     

I had plans to paint two tables last fall then I changed jobs. I put it on the back burner for warmer weather. Now, time to paint! Reclaim paint is advertised as an ultra thick, gorgeous, low prep paint. What's not to love? It comes in a wide range of colors. I had two tables to do and a couple of craft projects. I did table #1 today, will do #2 on upcoming Labor Day weekend. The first thing I noticed when it came in the mail was how HEAVY is is! I test drove it first this winter on my cardboard box turned to a Faux French Country Planter Box -

and

and my little soap crate

and

my medium sheep crate

 So, here's how it went today, with my little side table to be made over...

"Before" picture

This was my Mom's table, who passed away years ago, and while I love the lines it was dark and didn't go with anything else. I started thinking of Scandinavian country with the curvy lines. White it is! I washed the table down with some Dawn and finished with a white vinegar/water wipe. Nice and clean, I set up my paint area on my deck, plastic on the table. The area outside was warm and breezy today, and with our dry weather a good time to paint-

Since the table has such long legs I decided to paint it upside down to start, and paint the top last-

I removed the knob and saved it to re-use, see the big scratch on the drawer?

First coat, I knew it would need atleast two with the dark finish

I flipped it over after the second coat, then did the top and lower shelf. A few touch ups later I put the knob back on and took inside, back to my living room-

  I thought about some grain sack striping on the top and on the drawer like this-

From Artsychicksrule

I have decided to live with the simple white for a while. It would be easy enough to add stripes later.

I just tend to shy away from anything too "trendy" and grain sack stripes are a big trend. A lot of people may be repainting to get rid of those in a few years! Here's the other small craft painting items I did as well- 

"Before" picture,  my .69 cent thrifted bunny

2 coats of Reclaim paint later, loving it!

I also painted a small frame, blond wood before, now ready for a botanical print-

All in all I'm really impressed with the paint and coverage! I used 2 sponge craft brushes and a small craft bristle brush. It was a lot of leg painting, so I was fine with a not-perfect surface. The top came out super smooth. Less strokes is better. It's almost a bit of a cross between chalk paint and low sheen/satin flat finish. I was going to glaze the table but I want to think about it. I will also seal the top with a sealer I was given, to protect from any water damage etc. Since it's a sturdy wood table I want to protect the finish. With the one qt. I still have about 1/3 to 1/2 left, plenty for my other table. With that flat table I would use a roller. All in all great stuff!

Corn, squash beets and beans

Micro Urban Homesteading Garden-
My daughter Angie and her husband Chris are both gardeners and real DIYers. They're renting a tiny house with a micro backyard, but have done a tone of work with it. The results have paid off! I wish I had "before" pictures. Just visualize a dirt back yard! They added a small amount of turf for a sitting/dog area, gravel path/border, then veggies and even a peach tree! I'm so proud of them!!!

They used pallets to go vertical on the back fence, with herbs and flowers, tons of tomatoes in front, 

 Angie used chalk paint on the pallets, cute!

Flowers, tomatoes, beans, peppers, going vertical!

Chris built a wishing well from pallets as well

cold frame of strawberries

We had a baby gender reveal party there Friday so I couldn't get more shots of their yard, with lots of people there. It's extremely productive garden for the small space they have. They served a beet salad and amazing corn from their garden at their party, yum!!!

New Grand Baby Gender!-

At the party Friday night it was revealed that our next Grand baby (due in December) will be a BOY! His name will be Oliver, for my hubby's old family name, sweet. Grand baby River is doing great and we baby sat for 4 hours last night, what fun!!! 

Last week River he was thinking- Should I wake up or sleep, I'm so confused!

My First Grand Child is Here!

We welcomed River into the world Tues., 6 lbs, 6 oz. He's happy and healthy at home with Mom and Dad. There's a local Greek festival that they're missing due to River being 10 days early, so we're taking Greek food to them! What a great addition to the family!!! And my daughter Michelle takes wonderful photos as well.

Selling Tech to Tots: The Downside

Selling Tech to Tots: The Downside-
There's LOTS of money to be made off uninformed people who thinking if a little technology is good for them, it's great for their young kids! I get so frustrated reading all the excuses people make for sticking their child in front of a screen. It's "educational" therefor it's ok. Parenting is exhausting no doubt, but that's what you signed up for. And there's things like babysitters, and child care swap friends! If you want an easy, restful life, don't have kids. Not everyone is cut out for it. I see first hand every day the trouble with getting kids hooked on devices. I had to explain to a 6th grader recently that ebook aren't always a good idea, that batteries can fail, wireless can fail, devices crash. She just didn't get it. With no power you just have an expensive piece of plastic, a nice paperweight. A Special Ed teacher told me years ago that the "baby Einstein" kids would probably all become ADHD over time. That was what the scientific research showed. Great. You want your kids to be smarter and you wind up with a damaged child. But someone made some $$$. 

I read a post recently that really brought together all the bad reasons why young kids shouldn't be using technology, or much of it at all. As a very busy Mom who worked full time and raised 3 very bright kids, and is VERY techy, I would say there's all kinds of problems there. Scientists have been warning for several years about the damage done to the wiring of young kid’s brains by putting them in front of TVs, Ipads, devices. Not to mention the radiation coming off the devices. 10 Reasons Why Devices Should Be Banned For Kids Under 12  by The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics. Educators are seeing this too (I’m one). Kids with no patience, glued to screens and not interacting with people, lack of social skills, etc. I read people are putting their kids in bed to chill with a device, never a good idea. No child should ever be alone with tech. As a tech support person I know that technology can fail, devices can overheat, stuff happens. Our Roku2 had to go back to the store a while back, as it was so hot it almost melted. Could have started a fire. Kids should be able to go relax or go to sleep with a night light, a book, a stuffed animal, and someone who loves them. Kids can do this really strange thing and go outside and run around! It doesn't take much to take 10 minutes and read a book to your child, sing to them and hold them to help them relax. Relaxing music is wonderful too- have them close their eyes and think about what the music would look like? Use their imagination! It’s just so much better to cuddle a person than a piece of plastic. They’ll have plenty of time to be techy later, and then they are all done with the cuddling stage. Good article here too- Lifeofdad.com

amen to that