Floating Mantle

So I very reluctantly took on a part-time position outside of the home. I say reluctantly because this past summer I worked full-time and it was more than difficult for me to balance all my responsibilities with that commitment. Luckily this one seems to be working out much better. I work most mornings and I’m off by 12pm. This gives me enough time to come home, unwind, make a healthy lunch, play with my toddler, get dinner started, and pick up the older kids from school. 

Only problem is I don’t have much time for daytime food pictures which is a total bummer. Hopefully the Lowel light will allow me to get that natural light look without the real natural light. Now I’ll be able to work into the wee hours of the night trying to get that perfect shot.

As for work,  I’m thrilled to have meaningful work. I work with homeless veterans in my community who most likely have mental health  issues. I work for the veterans finding community resources and coordinating mental health services that would have positive impacts in their civilian lives. I find it a privilege to serve our nations vets. 

On the home front I’m still completing some DIY projects.This one I did a few weeks back, it’s a floating mantel. 

I put this bad boy all by myself. Well mostly by myself. Noah had to work but I HAD to have my mantle  up this day, so I went on ahead and started without him.

Well it was a little more difficult than I expected. I had to drill a hole into our brick fireplace. I don’t know if you ever tried drilling a hole into a brick fireplace but it’s not a simple task.

Even with mason screws and bits and a  whole lot of  muscle it took forever drilling into the brick. 

I put down some paper bags we’ve had stored for a while. 

I choose maple stain for the mantel. I wanted a chocolate mantel but our floors are maple, so it just made good sense. 

I ended up really enjoying the way the maple turned out. 

As much as I want to go through the entire my process I got too carried away and forgot to take pictures during the drilling phase, my bad. 

I will tell you once you get the mason crews in the brick it was pretty easy from then on. 

Not that the easy part is finished. Decorating the mantel seems a task too high for me to complete. 

Currently I have all the Christmas decor on the mantel. 

When the season is over I have some plans for tall glasses with stones, and an abstract painting. 

Before 

 

During 

After

(I tried taking this with my camera phone…I tried)