Hi everyone — happy Friday! It’s been a hectic week, but I’m excited to share a new idea with you.
I’m surrounded by talented family and friends who are always cooking up delicious recipes, creating clever DIY projects, or hosting fun events. To highlight their creativity, I’m launching a series called “Feature Friday with Family and Friends.” Some posts will include my own contributions, some will be hands-on collaborations, and others will simply spotlight a friend or family member so you can see what they do even though they don’t have a blog.
Today is the first Feature Friday. If you follow along regularly, you’ll remember I recently spent time with my friends in the Bootheel — I even shared a photo of a DIY we were working on. Now that the secret is out, I can show the project: one of my best friends, Jess (aka Jessica or Jessie), is expecting in October! I’m thrilled for her.
I was lucky enough to host Jess’s first baby shower — a Mickey Mouse–themed celebration you can read about on my site — and when she told me this is baby number two, I immediately started planning another party. Jess worried you aren’t supposed to have a full shower for a second baby, but I’m not buying that. Whether you call it a “sprinkle” or a “shower,” this little one is getting a celebration.
While we were together, we brainstormed ideas for how to announce the pregnancy. After a quick Pinterest session, we found the perfect inspiration and headed to Jo-Ann’s. We thought we might need to make a chalkboard from scratch, but they had ready-made chalkboards we could customize.
We picked up acrylic paint, foam brushes, and chalk. To start, we used painter’s tape to protect the chalkboard surface while we painted the frame.
Next, we painted the wooden frame with a couple of coats of acrylic paint for a clean, finished look.
Once the paint dried, it was time to add the announcement text with chalk. Chalk can be tricky to write with, and my handwriting isn’t perfect, but that’s part of the charm — and the adorable child in the photo steals the show anyway.
Big brother Mason was the perfect model for the announcement — look at that smile! I’m so happy for Jess and her growing family and can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
What do you think — baby shower or sprinkle for a second baby? I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’re interested in following along, sign up to see how this upcoming celebration turns out.