How To Turn a Large Mirror into a Chalkboard {DIY Tutorial}

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My baby boy started preschool yesterday.

I still can't believe he's old enough! But he's 3 1/2 and ready to go. He was practically shoving us out the door so he could get to school.

He excitedly grabbed his backpack (filled with a change of clothes and LOTS of dinos) and headed out. But not before I grabbed a few snapshots of him to mark the special day.

The chalkboard I used is something I made. Yup! And it cost me $7 + a can of chalkboard paint. And no, I didn't use all of the chalkboard paint. There is plenty left for lots more projects. Wanna know how I did it? Here's how!

DIY Large Chalkboard Mirror


1. Head over to your local furniture store. Check their clearance section to see if they have any cracked mirrors. The one above had a HUGE crack down the center of the mirror and was clearanced at $7. You can't find frames that inexpensive!

2. Carefully remove the glass by taping the mirror and lightly tapping on the glass with a hammer. Use gloves to remove the glass from the frame.

3. Once the glass is removed, tape the sides of the frame so no paint gets on the wood.

4. Paint a thin coat of chalkboard paint onto the backing of the mirror (ours had a nice piece of chipboard behind the glass)

5. Let dry for 2 hours, or as recommended on the paint can, and reapply another thin coat.

6. Allow paint to dry overnight or until completely cured. Then start coloring!

Thats it! This was such a simple craft that I enjoyed doing. And the possibilities are endless. Peruse yard and estate sales for older mirrors, check out the flea market and thrift shops, etc. Then change up the color of the frames with some spray paint, remove the glass, and start making chalkboards!

Send the Kids Back to School with Love from Hallmark

Are your kids heading back to school soon?

Trying to find great ideas to let them know you're thinking of them throughout their first days? Why not let Hallmark help with what they do best, creating cherished memories on paper!

Hallmark has an amazing Back to School line of cards, sentiments, and toys for kids of any age including:

• Kids Encouragement greeting cards, which feature kid-appropriate topics from managing difficult academic or social situations to achieving a personal goal in the classroom or on the field. 
• Hallmark’s “any day” greeting cards for kids, featuring music sensation Justin Bieber. 
• Lunchbox Notes, which offer 50 ways for you to add a little love to lunchtime. 
• Bug ’Em, a pint-sized plush that can hold cards and other tokens of encouragement and give an unexpected lift to any youngster’s day. 

These wonderful products not only let your child know that you care on their first few days, it also offers an open line of communication with your child. After they get home and you want to talk to them about their first day, you can start by asking if they received your message or card and then go from there. 

My son absolutely loved the plush Bug 'Em I sent with him on his first day of preschool. His teacher knew that I left a special not for him wiht my Lunchbox Notes and had him open up his little bug after snacktime. She read it to him and let him know that I was thinking of him and how special he was.

When he got home he immediately asked if I hid a secret note in his bug. He was so excited that he wanted to leave me a note the next day at school.

And the Bug 'Em line also comes with an adorable ladybug as well (my daughter's favorite) so I know we'll have to head back out to Hallmark and pick her up one too even though she's a bit too young for school!

Not only does leaving these little words of encouragement let your child know your thinking of them, it also builds up self esteem, independence, and motivation to keep on going! Because they know that they have the support they need at home to thrive at school.

What are you most looking forward to this school year?

Sidekix - The Toy You Take On-The-Go

Every kid needs a buddy. Someone they can play with, imagine and explore, and get creative. It helps when that buddy is less than a foot long and rolls up into a nice ball that makes it easy to carry around!

Sidekix are the solution to every kid's need for a buddy on-the-go. From cool ball that can snap onto a backpack, belt loop or lunch sack to a plush, soft, fun animal who's ready for an adventure, each Sidekix has it's own unique personality and is ready to play with the little one who's lucky enough to be paired with them.

We received Inferno in the mail last week and as soon as my daughter saw the ball she squealed and yelled, "Bah, bah, bah!"

Then I showed her what it really was:

And she immediately started loving on it. Kissing, petting, playing.

It was like she and Inferno had always been buddies and she was so excited to have a Sidekix of her own. Until her brother woke up from his nap. And wondered where his Sidekix was. Oops! Guess we'll be ordering a few more in the very near future.

Potty training rewards? Perfect!

Each loveable plush comes with their own identifying mark letting you know who they are. There are 5 total and include Mojo the Dog, Click-A-Dee-Chick-A-Dee the Chick, Savannah the Zebra (whom my son wants), Bamboo the Panda, and our little Inferno the dragon.

They can be used as a ball to kick and tossed around, or flip them inside out to play with as a stuffed animal would. My kids have attached our Inferno to their back pack, balance bike, wagon, jean belt loop, and my purse. I absolutely love how portable this little guy is!

Mealtime at restaurants are a heck of a lot smoother with Inferno around as well. Because he compactly fits into my diaper bag or purse, we can bring him around for pre-dinner play as we wait for our food.

My kids have quickly fallen in love with this little guy and we can't wait to adopt a few more to join our family. Interested in purchasing one of your own or want to find out more? 

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Preschool and Potty Training

Ever since my son turned 3 I've had a hard time figuring out what to label him as. He's not quite a toddler but isn't in preschool. Yet. He starts in the fall but is more than ready right now. He's social, loves to read and learn, and is obsessed with the idea of going to school "like a big boy."

But since he has to be potty trained before he can go, we're doing what we can at home to pique his interest. Since we've gone over this hump before I'm dreading starting again even more. But I know that if I just jump in as soon as he starts showing more interest then he'll pick it up right away. He understands the concepts; he just doesn't want to lose the control.


But once he's potty trained what's next? Preschool, growing up, lots of change.

This past weekend we went to an inflatable slide/jumpy place called Inflatable World. My son had been begging us to take him and invite his cousin to join us for weeks and finally I gave in. Most of the slides seemed a bit too big for him so he stuck with smaller jumpy areas that he seemed more comfortable with. But then he decided he wanted to go branch out and try a slide out.

With a little help from his aunt he got up the wall and after a bit more encouragement and maybe a little shove he went down the slide. Once he was down he was all smiles. But he did make it clear that he did NOT want to go on the slide again. He tried. That's all that mattered.

I don't see myself as the bawling mother waving good bye to her baby on the first day of preschool. But maybe I will surprise myself and be overcome with emotions. I mean this happy, energetic, amazing boy was once a teeny newborn in my arms not able to do anything for himself.

Now I have to put my faith in complete strangers to help raise him and teach him. Its like I'm the one with the control issues now.

Its not that I'm afraid or apprehensive about leaving him at preschool either. I am looking forward to a few days a week with only one child. For some reason I have fantasies of days filled with cleaning and working without constantly being interrupted. And naptimes. Naptimes that don't abruptly stop when one or the other child wakes up or has to be put down.

I know, I know... total fantasies.

Preschool is right around the corner. Potty training is inevitable. And eventually both of my children will be taught by people other than myself and my family. It'll be hard to get used to but it's something that's coming up quite soon.