Over-Achievers Unite! We will take over the world!

When Elvis's preschool director asked if I would be willing to help out with their Christmas program, what do you think I said? "Heck no, It's the holidays. Do you know how busy I am?"

Hardly, I'm ALL OVER this kind of stuff. In fact so much so, I couldn't run to my car fast enough to drive home and start to sift through my supply of cardboard.

She put me in charge of the fireplace and bed props for the "Twas the Night Before Christmas" extravaganza. I love that woman.

Here is the shell of the fireplace. Cut up the largest cardboard box I could find in our supply and gave it some legs so it would stand.

Next I busted out the SuperPaint. I know what you're saying. "Hey Jen, that's exterior paint, in fact isn't that the color of your garage doors? And does Mr. Handsome know you are painting that on your kitchen floor?" And I say back at you, "Just shut up and listen, it's for the preschoolers!"

So after a rough coat of paint, because bricks and fireplaces are never perfect. A little grout (buttermilk white paint) and a tissue "fire," I constructed the ideal fireplace for St. Nick to come down in a bound! I wrapped the legs in gift wrap and added some wire ribbon to give them a little dimension. It looks great!

Never mind that no one will actually see the fireplace because we will all be looking at our darling darlings performing their hearts out or totally melting down on stage. It will be magical, adorable or completely stressful. What the hell, it's Christmas.