Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Pinterest Style Painting Doors Black : What will it really take?



 

If you have seen these beautiful photo of doors painted black on pinterest, here is tutorial of what it will require to complete.

These doors can be painted by hand or with a spray with an airless paint sprayer.  If you choose to hand paint, you could just do a door a day and complete it in a few months or weeks.  The clean up will be really messy because black is a really hard color to clean up, and the set up each day it going to take a lot of time.  Using an airless paint sprayer will save so much time! I would highly recommend spraying it.

First up:

PREP:

Wipe down each door, get all the edges with a with a tooth brush.  Any dust you leave on the door will show in your paint.  Make sure you rinse out the cloth in between each door you wipe down.  You could use a tacky cloth is you have a lot of dust in your home.

Take off all the hardware.  First take off all door knobs and door stops.  It is easier to take off the door knobs first, then take the doors off.   If you are going to keep the same hinges you can either tape them over or remove them.




If you are keeping the same hinges, it will be much better if you remove them.  It is really hard to take paint off of them, and it will look cleaner when finished.   As you remove the doors mark on tape or on the hinge where that door belongs.


When you finish you just look at where you have marked it and take it back to the location.  Doors have specific sizes, and it could become difficult to figure out where the doors go after painting.   Take the hinge closed so you don't paint over it.

PAINTING AREA:
Find an area you can hang up all the doors to paint.  You can use an unfinished basement, a garage, or outdoors.  Where ever you are going to paint you will need to prep the area so the extra paint doesn't get on everything.  Make sure that the over spray will not get on walls, floors, carpet, or cars!  Put visqueen plastic down on the floor, and walls.
We used our backyard and put visqueen down on the grass.





We screwed pieces of 2x2 on the tops of the doors to keep them stable.

Prep for paint and start painting.  We had 24 doors, and 6 bi-fold closet doors for a total of 30 doors to be painted.  It took 6 1/2 gallons of paint to coat these doors twice and do some touch up.




Paint the doors. Make sure you get down low to catch all the under side edges.
Let the doors dry 3+ hours.





Clean up: Take all the 2x2's off the tops of doors.  DO NOT stack the doors on top of each other, they will stick and ruin your paint.   Make sure you use visqueen on the surface you lean them on and on your floors.  I cut out 3'x1' sheets and placed them behind the doors while cleaning up and then again under the doors at the doors specific location in side our house.





Clean up!

We started this project at about 1:00 PM, and had planned on 5-6 hours.  We should have planned that it would take more time.  We didn't want the doors sitting outside all night, so when we were done painting we had to let them dry and then take all the doors back inside.  We finished the project around 11:00 at night!  (Doors just placed in their locations, not hung up.)  Ten hours of moving heavy doors and working in 90 degree temps was extremely hard.    The next day we spent about another 4-5 hours hanging doors back up.    We love the look of the doors!  It looks amazing and we are so happy.   Just plan on it taking more time than you think.  A rule that contractors use is estimate the time you think it will take and then double it!  The time we spent was more than double.



COST:  
                   Paint:      $210
                   Hinges:   $144          
                   Handles: $600

Total:                            $954           
Approx Price Per Door $35 

                   Just Paint:   $210
Approx Price Per Door    $7

BEFORE


AFTER

Hall BEFORE

Hall AFTER



Monday, July 9, 2012

Magical Disneyland

 Disneyland is the most amazing theme parks in the world. Arriving at Disneyland you can feel the magic. The park is beautifully landscaped, and immaculately kept. Disney is great for everyone, young and old. It is the perfect place to make amazing family memories.

Here are a few tips and tricks to make your Disney vacation more fun!



• Take a light weight backpack. Fill it with food, sunscreen, and ponchos or jackets.

• Take an umbrella. Sometimes it can get very hot, and it is so nice to have an umbrella to shade yourself during those long line waits.

• Give each child a set amount of money. Let them buy what snacks or toys they want. When the money runs out, it’s gone.

• Early entrance to the park can save you hours of waiting in line for rides. Your Magic Morning will give you a full hour before the park opens to the public. Get to bed early the night before or take a nap. You will save so much time by going early.

• Pack a lunch, take snacks, and water bottles for drinks. The food in the park is expensive and honestly not very good.

• One thing that Disney is best at is crowd control. They will put many things on your way to the rides to distract you and your family. Disney charters, toys, balloons, food, and photo opportunities. DON’T GET DISTRACTED!! Bypass all the fun, and get to the rides. The lines are the shortest at the beginning of the day. Promise your kids you WILL go back and visit all those fun things later in the day!

• Use Disney’s Park app to keep track of FAST PASS time and wait time in lines. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/disney-parks-mobile-magic-app-is-now-free/

• Use your FASTPASS first! Get a FASTPASS for a bigger ride like Splash Mountain, or Indiana Jones. Then go to Pirates, or Buzz.

• Splash Mountain: if you have big kids who want to ride on Splash mountain, but you also have little kids. Let one person take the big kids on splash. Right next to splash there is a Winnie the pooh ride that is perfect for little kids!
• ToonTown usually opens at around 10am. It is the best place to go as the park gets busier. In ToonTown there is a ride called the Goofy rollercoaster, my two boys LOVE riding it over and over! They get to ride it and I get to sit and relax!

• The monorail is really fun even if you are not staying at one of Disney’s properties. Ask to ride in the front. Take a loop with the conductor around Disney’s property!

• Take a full loop on the train ride. You might be surprised at what you get to see.

• Fantasmic: unless you have someone sit and reserve a spot for two-three hours, you will not get to see a great view of it! It was an excellent show, but won’t go again. Best spot is front and center, right by the entrance of Pirates.

Disney California:

• Color of Wonder is amazing I highly recommend it. With little kids it is best to try to get the early time, normally 7pm. Get to Disney California right when the park opens. Go directly to the FASTPASS area by Grizzle Gulch, that is where they distribute the passes. Use your Disney tickets to get the Color of Wonder tickets. It will not effect your ability to get other FASS PASS tickets.



• Unless you want to get soaked, buy a few dollar store rain poncho’s for Grizzly gulch. Most people get off the rides completely soaked.






Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Brighten Your Boys Outfit!

Boys don't have the wide selection of fun clothing that girls do.  Shoe laces can really brighten and make boys outfits really cute!  My two boys have loved to match the color of their shoe laces to the color of their shirts.  The cute of color from boys shirts matching to their shoes mades a huge fashion statement.   They have both loved dressing with their fashion shoe laces.
These shoe laces were purchased at all a dollar.  They had so many colors to pick from; blue, green, yellow, pink, red and purple. 

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Why I love Target Pharmacy...

There isn't a mom out there that likes to give medication to their kids.  If you have ever spilled a bottle of antibiotic and WISHED there was a better way, I can tell you THERE IS!  Most pharmacy's give you a wide mouth medication bottle.  It can be a very difficult sticking your syringe down into the pink medication and trying to fill it. 

At your local Target pharmacy they have the best solution, and it is FREE with your prescription.   All of their liquid medications come with a stopper with a dosing hole for the syringe.  It looks just like the stopper you have in Italian dressing bottles.  You can easily fill the correct medication dose with a syringe.  It makes dosing is so much easier.  An added bonus at your Target pharmacy is that you can request flavors to be put into your medication.  They have all kinds of flavors, but I have heard from a pharmacist that the grape flavor hides the nasty taste of medications the best.   If you are going to have sick kids, and have to give them medication for 10 days, why not make it easier on yourself! 

You can also purchase a kit with the dosing stopper caps at this link.
http://www.dogehouses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41&products_id=203
It does come from a dog website, but as long as you boil sterilize the product before use, you will not have any problems. 

As an added bonus, I want to tell you about limiting the drowning of your salads.  It is in regards to the same looking stopper.  "Wish Bone" salad dressing is my favorite dressing.  Usually my children try to pour their own dressing on their salads, and they get a GUSH of dressing. Their plates can be completely covered with dressing.  I have found that pulling you can pull out your stoppers from your Italian dressing bottles, and put them on your thicker dressings.  This helps my children to pour their OWN dressing on their salads.  The stopper saves the day every time!  Just use a butter knife to pull the stopper off.  Getting the stopper off might be a little tricky the first time, so use a cutting board.  Make sure you WASH the stopper so you don't cross contaminate.  You will be amazed at how much less salad dressing is wasted with just a little tiny stopper cap! 

Enjoy!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

2011 Summer Camp Breakdown!

How often have you wondered what would be the best camp for the right cost for my kids this summer? Looking and deciding can take hours!
Here is a list of summer camps for this 2011 summer season along with times, days and cost of the program. 
Hopefully it will make deciding which camp is the best for you and your family easier!

Summer Arts in the Parks

Bicentennial: M W 10:30-12
Storm Mountain: M W 12:45-2:15
Flat Iron Mesa: T TH 10:30-12
Buttercup: T TH 12:45-2:15
June 13-Aug 4, 2011 (Aprox14 days )
Camp is every week unless noted below.
All parks have Fun filled activities will include arts & crafts, games, storytelling and much more! Limited number of participants at each location. Instructor /child ratio is 1:10. Program will not be held July 4-5 and July 25-26, 2011.
Cost: $32 For ages 5 - 9 year olds.

*My children have attended the arts in the park program for the past 2 years. They have loved the chance to get away and do something different.  Everyday has something different, and they always come home with something fun or an interesting to show me.  I love this program and would highly recommend it!

Wheeler Farm Summer Camp
6351 S 900 E
Ages: 5-12
$60 per AM or PM session
Weekly sessions June 6-Aug 19

http://www.wheelerfarm.com/wfPDF/2011_Summer_Camp.pdf

*This has been a great program that both my children have gone to.  They really like the morning session because of all the farm activities.  I would recommend it.
YMCA
Community Family Center
4223 South Atherton Dr.
Taylorsville UT 84123
ymcacfc.org
801.839.3388
June 13-August 12, 2011
9am-4pm
Weekly: $130 Daily: $35 Half Day: $20 9-12:30 and 12:30-4pm
http://ymcasaltlake.org/documents/SummerCampBrochure2011WEB.pdf

Bricks 4 Kids
http://www.bricks4kidz.com/utah-saltlakecity-sandy/program-events/camps/
Dimple Dell Rec-Center
10670 S 100 E
801-495-1480
*Lego Robotics/ Space Camp
June 13-17, M-F , 1-4PM
*Stop Motion Animation Camp
June 27- July M-F, 1-4 PM
*Lego Robotics/ Transportation Camp
July 11-15, M-F, 1-4P
*Lego Robotics/ Construction Camp
Aug 1-5, M-F, 1-4 PM
Cost: $100 Ages 6-1
http://www.recreation.slco.org/

Copper View Rec-Center
8446 Harrison St
Midvale, UT 84047
561-0075
http://www.activityreg.com/
*Lego Robotics/ Inventions Camp
June 20-24 M-F 9-12PM
*Lego Robotics/ Amazing Animals Camp
July 11-15 M-F 9-12 PM
*Stop Motion Animation/ Free Style Camp
July 26-30 M-F 9-12PM
Cost: $100 Ages 6-12

Theatre School for Youth
*University of Utah offers an excellent summer acting program.  My youthful alma mater, I attended four years of school here and loved it!!!  Would highly recommend it to anyone who would like their child to learn any aspects of acting or film.

http://www.youththeatre.utah.edu/summer2011.html

Kids 5-8  Aug 8-19
9 am- 12 noon
$195

Kids 8-12  June 13-July 1
9 am- 3:30pm
$540

Kids 12-18 July 11-Aug 5
9 am-3:30 pm
$715

All final performances take place at Kingsbury Hall.  The program offers life changing activities and friends to last a life time!

Challenger Summer Camp
http://challengerschool.com/summerSchool.php
10685 South 1000 East
Sandy UT 84094
(801) 572-1910
(801) 572-6686

Living Planet Aquarium
http://thelivingplanet.com/education/summercamps.html
Camps are two days, usually 8-11am. Only one date during the summer for select age group.
$50-$55

Mad Scientist Summer Camps
http://madscience.org/locations/greatersaltlake/pdf/SLCCamp2011wlogos1fixed.pdf
For more information: 801-292-8646
Half-day Camp (5 days per week, 3 hours daily) $140 per camper ($10 extra materials fee for Rockets & Robots)
Discount: $10 discount for multiple camps and multiple siblings.
www.madscience.org/greatersaltlake

Momentum Summer Climbing Camp
10600 South 220 West 801-990-6890
http://momentumclimbing.com/kidsSummer2011ad.html
June 13-August 22
$175 for a 5 day week
Ages: 6-14 9-11AM

Red Butte Gardens
Camps are offered June 13th through August 19th and accommodate students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. 801-581-8454.
HALF-DAY CAMP PRICES PER WEEK
Member Price $105
Non-Member Price $120
FULL-DAY PARTNER CAMP PRICES PER WEEK
Member Price $210
Non-Member Price $235

SnowBird Summer Camp
June 6, 2011 – August 19, 2011
Mon – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed July 4 and July 25, 2011
Registration:$25 Registration Fee
To request a registration*, call us at (801) 933-2256 or
email campsnowbird@snowbird.com.
Open to children 4-12 years. .
Rates
Individual and First Child Rates
Full Day $60
3 Days $162
5 Days $255
10 Days $430
Same Family, Second Child Rates
Full Day $50
3 Days $140
5 Days $217
10 Days $395
Transportation
UTA bus transportation available from the Park & Ride at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon
Drop-off: 7:30 a.m.
Pick-up: 5:25 p.m.

SwimKids Summer Camp
location 4679 S. 2225 E.
http://swimkids.biz/documents/scamp.pdf
June 6-Aug 11 Sessions run M-Th
$90 per week or $80 when purchasing 2 or more weeks
Class Time: 9:00am - 11:45am or 2:30pm - 5:15pm
This is the place Summer Camp
PIONEER ADVENTURES DAY CAMP
Call 801-924-7507 for more details.
2011 Information
June 13-16, June 20-23, June 27-30, July 11-14, & August 1-4
Ages 6 - 11
Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 12 pm
$80 TITP Annual Pass holders / $90 TITP Non Annual Pass holders

UTAH MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CAMPS
Partner Camp with This is the Place Heritage Park
2nd-3rd grade
July 26-29
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Partner Camp with This is the Place Heritage Park
4th-5th grade
July 26-29
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Full-day M-F: $240 - $260 per participant / $220 - $240 for UMNH Members

University of Utah Summer Camps
http://continue.utah.edu/youth/clubucamps/index.php

U Can Learn Summer Classes
Murray at 1231 E. 6600 South
801-281-5546
June thru August
Half Day - Monday-Thursday 9:00-11:30
$450 for a month

Wasatch Kids Camps
*830 East 9400 South
*1700 East 840 South
*495 East 5300 South Entrance
(*Three different locations)
Drop off 7:45-9 a.m.
Pick up 4:30-5:45
$190 a week + $45 registration fee
June 6-Aug 19
http://www.wasatchkidscamps.com/

Write On Day Camp
JUNE 13TH-17TH, 2011
Morning Session:
Upcoming grades 2nd, 3rd and 4th
9:00-12:00 p.m.
Afternoon session:
Upcoming grades 5th, 6th and 7th
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Located on:
Westminster College Campus
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, Utah
For additional information contact:
Emily 801.558.0300 or Carrie 801.915.0889
writeonworkshops@gmail.com

National Ability Center
http://www.discovernac.org/index.htm
Camp Giddy Up novice:
June 20th-23rd
Cost: $400
4 days
Camp Giddy Up intermediate:
June 27th-30th
Cost: $400
4 days
Overnight camp:
July 5th-7th
Cost: $475

For more information on any of the camps listed go to the link provided or enjoyutah.org :
http://www.enjoyutah.org/2011/03/utah-summer-camps-2011.html

Thursday, April 28, 2011

New Deal Sites!!!

Here is a few new deal sites...
http://www.sugardaddydeals.com/r/165

Don't forget to check the other offers on the page.  The offers are usually on the right hand side of the page, and might interest you.  Each deal site has all different kinds of deals, so I check them everyday. 

This site is my new favorite...
Zulily!!!  It is the best brand name children's and clothing site!  They offer some cute items for children and baby, and mom!  They offered some sun clothing at about 50% off the normal price.  My sister has Lupus and needs clothing that has an SPF, and the deal they offered was great! 

http://www.zulily.com/invite/hdavenport830

Remember:  As I said in an earlier post "Don't buy deals unless you think you are going use them soon!  The deals need to be close to you home!  If they are online, purchase the items you want right away so you don't forget.  If you buy a service, mark a calendar to make sure you use it in the allotted time!"

ENJOY!!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Time for Baby Entertainment!

These are my BEST ideas for entertaining babies and toddlers! 

1.  Music: With my boys, once I established a bedtime routine my life got a lot easier.  One on our favorite nightly bedtime additions to our routine was listening to "Martha Stewart Baby: Sleepytime."  This tradition started when they were infants and sometimes we still play the music to help our kids wind down after a crazy day.  We start playing the music as we give bottles or eat snacks.  It continues to play while brushing teeth, reading a  book, saying prayers and hugs and kisses.  Sleep always seemed to come quickly as the music lightly played.
Martha Stewart Baby: Sleepytime

http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewart-Baby-Various-Artists/dp/B00005NQK6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1302833940&sr=8-1

Amazon has it for sale new and used.  Our local library has it, but several of the copies have scratches.  You might want to rent it before you buy it.

2.  Computer Games:  Kids see adults on computers and think they should be using one too.  Giggles Baby is a favorite.  Sit baby down at the table or in a high chair and let them play on the computer.

You can find all different software on amazon.com

3.  Busy Balls for Baby.  Both my boys LOVED these balls.  They keep little ones entertained for hours.  My only suggestion is when they get older the balls disappear.  The balls are hard and when they can be thrown hard, they can be a problem. 
Playskool Busy Basics Busy Balls:  Rhythm & Sounds


4.  Switch Toys Out!  Although toys are great kids can get board of them quickly.  The best solution to this is to have a series of boxes you switch toys out with.  You can have as many boxes as your home can handle, but really two boxes is great! When the kids are board of the toys,  just pull out one of the new boxes.  Put all the toys that have been played with in the box, and hide them away.  Just make sure to divide similar toys into each box, so you don't have too many of the same item in the same box.  Every few weeks switch out the old toys for the hidden toys.  It will be like the toys are brand new!!! (this works with older children's toys too!)

5.  My kids LOVED "Sesame Street."  I like it because it is educational and keeps the kids entertained for an hour! Who can pass up Elmo and friends!!!

6.  Take em for a walk.  Planning a daily outing makes for a great division to the day.  If you plan it around the same time each day, your child will know what to expect.  You don't have to be gone long, even a 10 minute walk with brighten your child's day.   If its raining take a rain coat and umbrella, and show them how to jump into puddles, and watch the worms crawling. (take your camera or video camera! First time worm introductions are so funny!)  Even on snowy days you can take a quick walk.  Point out and count snowflake shapes on a dark colored towel.  Remember just have fun!

7.  Painting!  Painting and drawing can be so much fun! Dress them in old clothing or just a diaper. This is a much better activity to do outside, but can be done in a high chair during colder days.  Pull out tempura paint and paper.  Put blobs of paint at the top of the paper, and let them smear it all over.  If you are thinking you want to frame your child's work, you will want to do it a little differently.  Give your child one color and allow them to smear and play.  When it looks good take it away to dry.  When you take away the paper, you might want to give them another piece to play with.  Then allow the paint to dry.  Use another color after each color has dried completely.  Use a blow dryer for quicker results. 
I have used acrylics, and haven't had a problem other than it drys and can permanently stain.  

8.  Treasure Hunt.  Kids are always walking around and searching for things.  When they are not looking hide their favorite treat around the house.  Smaller toddlers or babies might need your assistance when you first start, but they will quickly catch on.  At first put the treats out in plain sight, then as they get better use more difficult spots. Use anything from raisins to fruit snacks.(small baby treats)   Have them count the snacks out loud.   They will love this game!!!

ENJOY!!!