#ELMOMMA31 31 Days of Blogging in July

El Momma, July 2015

We did it! This is my final post of my self-given challenge to blog every day for the month of July. We went on a few random thought trails, but for the most part it was a great experience. I enjoyed sharing a part of my life with you every day this month. If you missed a post or two, feel free to look around. Every post was tagged with the hashtag #elmomma31 , so that should help or you can just scroll back through time or start on July 1  and scroll up until you end on July 31.

Welcome to August. I’m sure you will hear from me again soon as we gear up to go BACK TO SCHOOL!

much love,
El Momma (Rebekah)

Oh Happy Day! Our biggest chalkpaint project yet! Princess bed!

Two weeks ago, I picked up my childhood bed from my parents home and brought it to my house. 
I began working on it that day
Here’s Just a little bit about the process I used to refinish the bed:
First, I cleaned the bedframe, headboard and footboard with soap and water scrubbing lightly with a sponge. 
I made sure the bed was dry and then I painted a first coat of old white chalk paint. 
The next day I painted a second coat of old white chalk paint. With each additional application I would lightly spray small spritzes of water before painting the second coat. 
It helps the chalk paint to last longer and go further. 
Once the old white was dry and I was happy with the number of coats, I painted the pink details in Antoinnette chalk paint. For some reason I found the pink to be a lot thinner than the white, but when I would leave the cans sitting out for a little while it would thicken up. Painting the pink details took several days with a couple of coats (spritzing water in between.)
Once it was all dry, it was time to sand. I just rub sandpaper everywhere I want to have a little distressed look. 
Then,I took a soft brush vacuum and vacuumed the entire frame before waxing. 
Waxing 
I waxed with a clear wax first. To wax, you apply a thick amount of wax with a brush and rub it in/off with cheese cloth or an old Tshirt material. I personally work faster and prefer the Tshirt.  I waxed the entire bed in clear wax before using any of the dark wax. 
I mixed the clear wax with a touch of the dark wax and it worked really well. I would blot it on and wipe as much away as I wanted. I love how it darkened the pink just enough. It’s perfect. 
Before…

After…
El Momma is so happy! And, Trinity is too. For now, the mattress is sitting directly on slats, but we are going to get a box spring mattress to raise it up.
So, what do you think? Have you tried Annie Sloan Chalkpaint? I’m in love.
Xoxo,
El Momma 

Just Keep going

I missed blogging.

I missed writing about the random everyday things of being a mom, a wife, a singer, a songwriter, a woman, a human, etc.
So, I gave myself a challenge.
Post something (anything) every single day for a whole month. 
Sometimes I post something I’ve been thinking about sharing for a long time. Like, the email etiquette post.
Other times, it really is something that happens during the day that I just want to share with you.
So, last week in the middle of vbs craziness, I ran to Party City to have balloons (which I ordered on Amazon) inflated for Leeland’s birthday. 
While I was waiting in line, I saw one of my Mom’s bible study buddies. She’s more in the throes of motherhood than I am with at least one little one still in a stroller. That little encounter encouraged me to just keep going.
She told me she had referenced my blog earlier that week in a conversation with her husband. 
I cheered a little on the inside. And, I think I cheered a little on the outside too.
It’s encouraging to know that I’m not talking to myself all of the time.
No.
Sometimes, my random, everyday life might make impact yours and connect with you.
And, so I’ll keep going this July. 
I’ll do it for me and I’ll do it for us.
Thanks for reading!
Xoxo,
El Momma 
Date night with the DH last week