Update 8/2/19: After receiving hundreds of questions about this topic over the years, I made an updated version over here: Check it out.

When it comes to home decor, vintage is definitely in. But if you have ever done some DIY woodworking projects, you’ll know it can be hard to obtain that aged wood look. You can either buy pricey “barn wood” from a boutique lumber supplier or let your new lumber from Home Depot sit in the backyard, exposed to the elements for a couple of midwest winters – or perhaps you may want to use this easy, inexpensive method for aging your wood in just under a week.

Continue reading ➞ Oxidize! Getting A Vintage Wood Look

I keep lovingly telling me 3-year-old son: “Stop Growing!” To which he aways replies, “No! I want to get bigger so I can chew gum.” Sounds logical.

While we can’t freeze time, all we can do is cherish every moment the best we can, and keep record of all the important milestones. One thought I’ve had lately is to keep track of how my kids have been growing. When I was little, this was usually done by my mom or dad charting my height on a door jam. For my kids, I wanted to create something different, and build a chart that can be moved in the event we ever change homes.

I took to Pinterest to find some inspiration, and many folks had a do-it-yourself take on this growth chart from Pottery Barn Kids which looks like a giant ruler. This seems simple enough, and I knew I had the right materials sitting around in my garage.

Continue reading ➞ Watch Them Grow: A DIY Growth Chart for Kids