Fav New Wall Redo!

I LOVE it when I check of things on my to-do list, but I esp love it when it's something that changes the scheme of our home or is a creative outlet rather than maintenance, like doing the dishes.

Anywho, this little wall next to Hazel's room used to be a blank gray wall (does it confuse anyone else why you can spell gray/grey two ways?). Now, voila! I put up Hazel's awesome new "Melissa and Doug"responsibility chart (only $11 on amazon instead of the $20 I spent, shoot). Okay, side tangent for the chart--it's magnetic and Hazel helps me choose a new set of 7 responsibilities each week and helps me decide if she's earned her "super" or "great" circle for it at the end of the day. She LOVES it (this is actually the first full week we've had home with it) and we celebrated with a movie tonight for the end of the week.

Okay, now, notice that sweet black wall underneath? That's our new, totally cool, and totally cheap (thanks to rummaging at the bottom of the clearance isle in TJ Maxx) vinyl chalkboard! It's retail price was $25 and it was selling for $17 at TJ Maxx. Well, it didn't sell for that, so they kept marking it down, and at the top of the stack of random clearance isles, all you could find them for were $13 and $10. The deeper I dug, the better the deals I found though and I found this one for $5 and another one, identical, for $3.50!!! What a steal I say. I was giddy leaving the store, but more giddy now seeing it up. Uh, and don't mind the bed in the background, I had a late nap and no energy to make it afterwards.

One of my fav parts was that the girls wanted to help me. Hazel held the magnetic strip very carefully in place while I drilled and City made trash runs. They both were helping with the hooks and getting chalk, etc., it was such a fun, fast little project to do together.

And now, notice my other cool items that I must rave about. See the orange thing? I went to the Crate and Barrel outlet last week in Berkeley--which I've had on my fun to-do list since moving here--and bought this groovy little orange magnetic strip. I planned on putting it in our entry way for keys, but I thought this would be the perfect spot for it so I could put the magnetic basket--also on my love list from a C&B outlet we went to in TX (they are so awesome huh?)--on it for chalk. Gosh I love this!

I opted to cut out a little hole from the top of the "chalkboard" for two more 3m hooks so we can move Hazel's chart down at night so she can help put her circles up. I love the functionality of the whole thing.

They of course loved their new play wall and decided to have a birthday party for their baby dolls. They erased their original drawings--with a measly square of tp kitty corner to the wall--also a perfect little perk that they can clean it up by themselves (just keeps getting better)--and had me draw a bday cake. They proceeded to bring their dolls out and sang them happy birthday and then "blew" out the candles.

I would say I can't tell you how much I love this little creation, but then again, I think you have. I love that it doesn't take up any more space, it's not something they can get out and make a mess that we'll have to spend time cleaning up, like toys, you can't see it from down the hall, it's perfect. And maybe I'm a little obsessed with how great it is, and maybe part of that is because any bit of productivity on my part these days calls for a celebration. Either way, I feel like it's my birthday too :).

Q: Do you like the chart or blackboard better? Or are you like me, love em both?
Q: Anyone ever try the chalkboard paint?