DIY: Simple "Shiplap" Facade

Here's a pretty simple and easy DIY, depending on the size of your space! We had a pretty boring front facade to our counter, and the whole shiplap trend fit a simply and affordable makeover.

Due to the specific nature of this project, you'll have to figure out the dimensions and amount of supplies you'll need, but the jist of it is:

2X4 Wood Planks

Hand or Table Saw

Liquid Nails/Caulking Gun

Nails (or screws if you'd prefer)

Trim (if you need/want the edges finished)

Sand Paper

White Paint

Sealant (once again, preference - we haven't sealed yet)

Mr. Abear measured the space, and we purchased the amount of wood needed. He sawed the wood to make an uneven pattern, some planks on varying heights had cuts that lined up and some didn't. 

You may want to alternate gluing and cutting, as cutting all the wood ahead of time may result in some wasted pieces. You can liquid nail them to the surface, and reinforce with two nails/screws on each plank. 

Once they're all down, sand away! Beware, this will create lots of dust. It sounds obvious, but kitchen projects tend to surprise me with the amount of mess they make. 

Once it's all sanded, paint each plank one by one with your hue of choice. (I didn't do this, and it ended up causing us a little extra work needing to score the space between the planks so it looked like individual pieces, trial and error!)

 We still haven't put trim on the edge of the work, but it's been a crazy year all around and it doesn't bother me as much as it could! 

A simple and affordable solution to an otherwise bland space, my jam! 

XO

Summer and Grace

I had this great plan of blogging every day this summer, or every weekday at least. I'm a chronic perfectionist, if I, or anyone else fails at something out of my control I want to throw my hands in the air and leave it altogether. This is not a healthy habit, but this is my struggle, especially this week. I wanted to have a perfect Memorial Day weekend with the family, dedicate the babies at church on Sunday and just enjoy a perfect Monday with Mr. Abear home. This didn't happen, it was far from perfect and things didn't get a whole lot better until early evening. I struggle with grace, I don't know if I don't believe in it or I don't accept it or a little bit of both - but I put perfection on my shoulders and the shoulders of everyone around me. Well, there are only One set of shoulders big enough for that - so maybe this will be the summer of letting go and accepting the Grace given. I hope you all have a grace-filled summer, with more joy beyond sorrow and hope beyond all what's lost than you could ever imagine.

With love,

Tamara

Sessions: A Spring Wedding

It was a joy and blessing to get to work together with Mr. Abear on this beautiful wedding. The details were so carefully thought out, and yet there was not an air of stress about the planning of it - it flowed so well that even as an outsider I found myself enjoying the time. I hope every day begins and ends for this happy couple as this day did - and all the moments in between are just as beautiful and memorable. 

Videographer: Elli Howard

Event Planning & Day of Coordinating: Jennifer Humprey and Sarah Givens

Location: San Tan Mountain Weddings and Events

Sessions: Full Circle

It's crazy to think this beautiful gal and I were playing barbies together when we were as old as our kids are now. That as we aged we got into mischief together, went to school dances, and stood bouquet in hand to watch one another wed our dream guy. 

Now we have these God-gifts of sweet babes that have played and celebrated together, and I sit here and think somehow everything comes full circle❤ 

Mini Fresh - A Monday Shout Out!

Hey all, I've been helping this super fun company out at our Saturday morning market in our local downtown, and having a blast doing so. It's quality, organic, simple ingredient baby food. 

AND LOOK HOW CUTE! Not only that, but Mini Fresh also serves up toddler meals, lactation bites/tea, AND power bites for adults. 

Check them out here for more info! 

<3

Schooling

Right now the sweetest little boy in the world is trying to teach the cutest little girl how to write her letters, and my mama heart is melting.

Small Masters: The Last Class

Yesterday was a bittersweet day, the last day of art class before summer break. I loved working with each any every one of these sweet kids! A couple of weeks ago we had talked about "discipline", discussing various disciplines of art. We had a Show & Tell for yesterday's last class, where the kids showed disciplines of their own favorite art forms. We saw baking, architecture, singing & dancing, and painting. It was such a special day! We were missing a few kids for our final day, but I want to acknowledge all of their hard work too - I feel so blessed to have gotten to teach these future mountain movers.

An AZ Outing

This sweet family gave me the opportunity to head over to a part of town I don't usually go to, but I should! It was a lovely park with lots of gorgeous stopping places, and old trains, too:-) I'm realizing more and more how gorgeous my hometown is; and thanks to clients, I have so many opportunities to explore!