{Philly Love} Paint Nite

Okay, so....I know, I know...it's either feast or famine 'round these parts lately, huh? You have no idea how stressed I've been. This class I'm taking is killing me! Now, I'm doubling up classes so I can do my student teaching this fall so...just a heads up...it may get worse... That being said, I'm so excited to tell y'all about this great event that I went to with my mother in law and my sister in law. It's called Paint Nite! This group holds painting parties all around the Philadelphia area almost every night of the week. I saw their Groupon back when there was still snow on the ground...you know..two weeks ago...lol...only kidding. (So glad to have warm weather!) We got these tickets for about 40% off the regular price which is $45. Now all we had to do was pick a locale and a painting that we all agreed upon. We ended up in the Manayunk section of the city at Mad River Bar and Grill, the day after the river flooded. Other than the musty smell from flood, we had a great time! 

They had an artist and all of the supplies provided and set up for us. He went step by step how to create the painting but gave everyone the freedom to do whatever the heck you want. It was so much fun! I wasn't in love with the green on green dots, so I opted to add a little blue, just to change it a little more towards my tastes. Some other people went WAY off pattern and painted something completely different. We all walked away with a great experience AND a lovely painting to hang up. I can't wait to go again! I'm thinking a double date OR a mommy/daughter date. Either way, it'll make for another fun night! Interested? Just go to www.paintnite.com and register. 

Disclaimer: I was not asked by PaintNite to promote their business nor compensated in any way. All opinions are my own. 

Dining Room Table Makeover

A few years ago, we got the table below for the apartment we lived in. It was tiny and the table was round but had a leaf so that we could expand it if we had company. I was never in love with the color but liked the style. We got it because it's what we could afford. Well, after moving into our new house we got a corner nook kitchen table and used this as our dining table. However, the only thing is the largest I could make this table was to fit 6 people. Since we actually had a dining room, I felt it was time to graduate to a real dining room table. So I was on the hunt....I posted this on craigslist and then found a great table and four chairs for only $65. It was in need of some serious TLC but was sturdy and simple, yet had a little bit of character as well. PLUS it came with not one but TWO leaves! 

 The drawback...other than the need for a makeover, it came with only four chairs. We used the table and stored our former table in the basement while waiting for it to sell. I kept going back and forth on whether to keep the chairs and paint them a color I like, but (per Prince Charming's advice) sold the table and chairs as a set. I put them on our local Facebook yard sale page and got 3 offers within a minute...SCORE! 

Next, I took the table outside and got set up. First, I sanded it down with my Black and Decker Mouse detail sander (Love that tool!)

Then I started painting. We used Valspar Pale Bloom. It's a great white, not too cream but not too bright white. One thing I wish I'd have done is put on a coat of primer. I put on three coats of paint, sanding lightly between coats with the above hand sander that has refillable sanding pads.

My princesses helping me out.

 

Here's my oldest princess painting.

Ta-dah! Then I put on 3 coats of poly-crylic in satin. Since it's going to be used as our dining table I wanted to make sure it was protected and I didn't want to use polyurethane because it yellows over time. 

The table right after it made it inside.

The chairs after I recovered them. Then, since I didn't have enough chairs, I used the money I got for selling my old table to purchase new chairs from an antique store. I had intended on painting them but decided that since all the chairs were a darker color they actually looked nice that way. I love the mismatched chair look. Now I'm loving my dining room!