Day: April 4, 2016

A little Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Chair Redo!

I picked up this little chair (actually it was a pair) at a yard sale for $5 each.  Although they were sturdy, they were in terrible condition, they had been sitting in a garage for what looked to be several years.  They had several layers of paint on them and the seats were a mess.

I removed the seats & stripped all of the paint off of the chairs with paint stripper, then sprayed them down with the garden hose to be sure all of the paint stripper rinsed was off.

Next, I sealed them with sealer & got to work painting them with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint I purchase from a local occasional shop called Liliana.

I found a curtain at a local department store that was the exact pattern and colors I had in mind to recover the seats so I snapped it up.

I loved how they turned out.  I would have kept the if I had a spot for them.  I brought the pair to the “Junk Hunt” and they found a new home with a woman who was so excited to purchase them!  I love when I can watch someone’s face light up with something I have redone….that is what it’s all about!

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What do you think?  I Love it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs~ Wendy

My 1st Bikini Competition – The decision was made…Now What?!

After a few months of battling the idea in my head and a little discussion with my “main squeeze”; In September 2015 it was decided, I wanted to train to compete in a bikini competition.  It’s something that has been in the back of my head for years, but never thought I would have the opportunity to do it.  With the encouragement of a few special people(my husband, my daughters, my friend Nicole & my friend Susan) the opportunity was handed to me and I grabbed it with both hands and embraced every second! Once I had made the decision I was so excited and terrified all at once.  I knew it was going to be a long tough road but I was willing to put in the work to get there.

It started with having a conversation with the trainer I chose.  I was lucky enough to have a girlfriend who is married to a trainer so I knew the integrity of my trainer personally and knew he was a good person.  Some people are not that lucky.  My advise to anyone looking got a trainer….do you research.  Ask around and read, read, read.  Knowledge is power…know what questions to ask before you meet with them…if something doesn’t seem “right” it usually isn’t.

Starting point – before my trainer could point me in the right direction, he needed pictures for reference (I did my training online, since my trainer lives several hours away from me), and to determine body fat percentage.  Let me tell you… this is a little very intimidating & discouraging, but very necessary.  I was mortified when I saw them and seriously wondered what the heck I was thinking and how I was ever going to be ready to step on that stage.  After “beginning” pictures and some caliper measurements we determined I was at 24% body fat. Ummm…totally discouraged AGAIN! My body fat needed to be at about 15% to step on stage…sigh…one step at a time, right?  and the “beginning pictures” & body fat percentage were step on of many, so without making you wait any longer ladies and gentleman….this is what 24% body fat looks like on my 5’2″, 112 pound, 42 year old body.

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October 2015

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October 2015

Next time – What do I do to get this mess stage ready!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs ~ Wendy