Guest Post: Kala #1 {My Breezy Room}

Yep... Still in the midst of being a "world" traveling type of person.

Take it away Kala!

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Hi Patterned Love people! I'm back AGAIN and super stoked to be sharing even more tips for making over furniture. Have you ever found a great used piece of furniture at a garage sale or thrift store, but you passed it up because it was already painted and you weren't sure what to do with it? That's okay - I've been there, too. But today I'm gonna lay out a couple of your most promising options. There is, of course, an easy way. But like with all easy ways, it has limitations. If the original coat of paint/stain/finish is even and in good condition, you can use chalk paint, no sanding required. For this piece (my first so please forgive the awful photos), I was able to start painting right away with no issues.

This is definitely the easiest approach. If you're not up for a ton of prep work, this type of project is your best option.

But sometimes you stumble upon a great dresser with chippy paint like this one that you just can't pass up!

Unfortunately, when paint is chippy, or old/in bad condition, it's best to go back to the old fashion method of sanding, even when using chalk paint.

In my experience, if you don't sand the paint off of these types of pieces, the imperfections in the texture will show through your new coat of paint.

I also like to take precautions with super dark stains as well, because they tend to bleed through the new coat of paint. Oftentimes you can use primer or a sealant like Zinsser Shellac to seal in the stain so it doesn't leak through.

So those are two basic ways I handle furniture that are already painted/stained. For more painting tips and before and afters, head on over to my blog.

Thanks again Naomi for having me back! I've really been enjoying my time in your space. :)

Guest Post: Anni {Anni's Bubble}

Please welcome Anni, who will be bringing some awareness to Patterned Love.
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Hey Dolls! So happy to have the opportunity to share with new readers! As we welcome the month of October, and in light of all things fashion and fun, Let Us Think Pink. Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade  healthy cells in the body.  Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.

Every woman, despite her age should know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer. While it is not easy to detect the early signs of breast cancer. By performing annual mammograms, women will be able to more easily identify any changes in their breast. Cancer is a disease that is hard to prepare for; detecting early signs of cancer makes for a community that is more aware and in the know.

Healthy Habits to Fight Breast Cancer

Although we are not able to prevent breast cancer, 
we can take active steps to reduce the risks:

Limit Alcohol Consumption
Do not smoke
Increase your vegetable and fruit intake
Exercise
Maintain a healthy weight

Think Pink! Share, Inform and Educate this October as we honor Breast Cancer Awareness.

 Be sure to talk to your healthcare professional if you notice anything unusual. Encourage your mothers, daughters, aunts and friends to take annual breast exams. Think Pink

Leaving On A Jet Plane... For Realz

The fun things about this outfit:

Dress & Belt - Old Navy Sale, Boots - Nordstrom, 

Necklace - Made by Me, Earings - Chase Me Again Thrift Store

I wore this outfit about 2 weeks ago...which is a testament to how little I've been blogging.

I've been really bad this past week about posting. 

Just a couple excuses even though I know it may not matter. 

I had a friend in town visiting, and then I've been getting ready for something a little different...

Yep. I'm leaving. 

I'm flighing across the pond... TODAY

I'm going to Basque Country! And I'm sooooo excited!

That means you'll need to give some love next week to the gracious ladies who are covering. 

They are so wonderful and got me some help last munite, 

because this trip sort of snuck up on me and I didn't blog plan very well.

So come late October, I'll be back in the swing of things and posting regularly.

But until then I'll be a little hit and miss... But hey, my life is more than blogging.

{Yes, take a moment to gasp if you must, but it's true!}

So farewell, my friends.

Luke 9:23-24

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his crossdaily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Story Time: Basketball & A Broken Necklace

The fun things about this outfit: 

Pants - Thrifted & Skinnied, Shoes - Target sale, Shirt - HandMeDown, Necklace - Made by Me

So when I was in high school I used to wear my moms old jewelry. I thought it was the coolest thing when I wore something "SO OLD" and I always was drawn to this large beaded necklace with short 4-5 strands. It was beautiful. But I could never get the courage to wear something so attention grabbing. I was a total sports girl, and never really dressed up unless my team decided it would be a fun idea...which hardly appealed to me.

One day I finally mustered up the gusto to just do it. I clasped that necklace on my neck like I had just put on the crown jewels. I walked into school with my head high and feeling proud. Well, it didn't take long after the final bell that let the prisoners free from 7th period, for me to find my way to the gym. I had a practice in an hour that day and not a ton of homework, so to pass the time... why not shoot some hoops right?

Wrong.

With my first jump to steal the ball from the enemy (aka the friend I was playing with), the crown jewels burst from my neck and scattered across the gym floor. To make matters worse, I was right next to the bleachers and as you probably can assume, beads rolled their little selves right under that never ending black cave. I rushed to find a paper cup and started to fill it with any beads I could find. All I could hear was the echo of my mom's voice as if it was coming from the sky itself, "Do. Not. Break. This."

Well...It took me a few weeks before the courage was gained to tell my mom about the explosion of her necklace. The amount of courage needed was far surpassing the amount needed to wear the thing in the first place. Thank goodness my mom loved me more than that lovely necklace. 

And so my creativity started in the world of jewelry. 

I did what I could to create something new from the beads I had crawled 

on all fours to collect. And, yes, it's the one I'm wearing in this outfit. 

Funny how inspiration starts.

Ephesians 4:20-24

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt throughdeceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

5 Things {A Few Randoms & A Cruise Worthy Dress}

The fun things about this outfit:

Dress - Target uber Sale, Bracelet - Old Navy ($2), Shoes - Ross

A few randoms to share with you.

1. I know how to spell "Navy"... But every time I type it I have to correct it... 

I always type "Nave"

Lame life of a fast-typing-terrible-speller.

2. This dress makes my dream to one day go on a cruise somehow magnify by 1,000%.

Now I have something cruise-worthy to wear!

3. It saddens me that nothing in this outfit is thrifted.

Who have I become? Summer what have you done to me?

4. YES! I still do Crossfit!

5. This week is flying by much tooooo quickly...

And not quickly enough, all at the same time.

I need more of Jesus today! That is all.

1John 2:1

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. 

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Black & White Dress

The fun things about this outfit:

Dress - Target uber sale, Shoes - Target, Bracelet - Thrifted, Earrings - Made by Me

So as I went through last weeks photos to post, I realized that I felt a little silly 

posting that sleeves were back on Monday. I should have waited until the end of the 

week, because last week the sun was still shining brightly and I have a few more 

sun dresses to show you all. Oh well, live & learn. 

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved 
by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through 
sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

Couldn't Resist

The fun things about this outfit:

Shirt - Thrifted, Shoes & Skirt - Target, Necklace - HandMeDown

I know that I just yesterday said how excited I was about fall being here, 
sleeves being back and rain starting to fall... But, I couldn't resister showing 
you this great skirt I found on the uber sale rack at target. 
I wore this outfit a couple weeks ago while the sun was still shining.

I'm sure I'm not the only girl who thinks Target sucks you in.

It's almost like a casino. You loose track of time and money. My Target doesn't 

have cell reception, so the outside world can't reach in and snap you back to reality.

So, all this to say, I tend to try not to venture there toooo often. 

But I will go at the end of a season. All the previous season stuff is on sale and 

brand new things are at thrift store prices. And you all know I love thrift store prices!

Hebrews 10:11-14

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, 

which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single 

sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time 

until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering 

he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Sleeves Are Back

The fun things about this outfit:

Chambray - Thrifted, Jeans - Old Navy, Shoes - HandMeDown, Bracelet - Old Navy ($2)

I'm pretty pumped for fall! I'm that person who loves each and every season in it's time.

So while I love the sun, I'm not sad when the rain starts.

Needless to say, I was excited for a more chilled day to toss a sleeved shirt on.

The rain is coming! And I'm excited!

Galatians 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.