Shabby Chic Door Mirror

This project was Pinterest inspired just like about everything these days. In this particular tutorial they had used a large piece of plywood and molding to create this look. 

 I had a cheap door mirror that you can buy practically anywhere (Wal-Mart or Target) for about $14.  

But instead of plywood and molding that can get pricy I decided to start hunting for an old door to put it on to make it more Shabby Chic...which is my favorite! I found a door for $15 which is a great deal at Ann's Tiques and Collectibles in Tuscaloosa. It had been outside and needed some TLC. 

A lot of the paint was chipping off, so I started the hard work of sanding and  scraping with a screwdriver. Once I got all the loose paint off and had sanded it down to a smoother finish I used part Clorox and water and scrubbed it down. 

TIP: When using older wood and furniture it is a good idea to use Clorox when cleaning to kill any mold. 

It's looking much better all cleaned up! 

I had found a wooden flower piece at Homewood Antiques that I wanted to add at the top ($7) and had gotten two wooden flower squares at Lowe's ($5). I used gorilla glue to glue the mirror and wooden pieces onto the door and placed heavy objects on top to seal the glue. 

I then used white Valspar paint that I had gotten in a freebie sample to paint the front side of the door. 

The final step was to use a glaze over the top to get the antiqued finish. I used Valspar Tintable Glaze in Deep Walnut (2004-9A) and with a rag wiped it on the door until I got the color I wanted. 

For the back of the door since it will not be seen I just glazed over it to keep any paint from chipping off in the future.

 Here is the final result....

 

                     BEFORE          AFTER 

New Year's Nutrition Resolutions

So it seems whenever the New Year (woohoo 2012 is here!)  comes around the main resolution you hear is that people are going to start exercising, go on a strict diet (that will last maybe a month because it is impossible), and lose weight. This mindset and new routine usually last about a month to 3-4 months at maximum. People think that they can automatically get set into a routine but the truth is it takes time for you as a person and your body to adjust to change. If you have been eating carbs the last 20 years and drinking 3 Mountain Dew per day you are going to be a starving and caffeine deprived person, not to mention in a bad mood by going on the no-carb/water only diet! These type of diets typically result in you gaining all your previous weight back in a few months after stopping the diet. 

Having the mindset of  a better and healthier "LIFESTYLE" in 2012 is a much better goal and something you can work on all year that will be easy to continue for a lifetime. This will give the results of a healthier, thinner, and better you!  

1. EXERCISE as you all know is a great way to lose weight and no you don't have to run marathons! As little as 30 minutes per day of some type of exercise such as walking has been proven to not only reduce weight but also to improve overall health. Click below to watch this video I thought was very good in presenting the statistics and benefits of a minimal amount of exercise on health.

2. REDUCE CALORIES...this is a FACT: 

OR just eat 500 calories less than you normally do in a day...such as not drinking one soft drink! 

3. Change from white to WHEAT bread...Whole grain fiber not only helps to keep you feeling fuller longer but also helps lower cholesterol levels! 

4. Drink more WATER. Everyone knows this but hardly anyone actually drinks the 6-8, 8 ounce glass that your body needs per day. Cut out those sugary sodas for water and see a change in your weight quickly. Also try drinking a glass before meals to help reduce how much you consume. 

5. Put down the SALT SHAKER! If you have any heart problems such as Congestive Heart Failure, edema, or high blood pressure (hypertension) you should limit your salt intake. But even if you currently do not have heart problems reducing salt in the diet can greatly impact your health for the better. Try to eat and buy fresh or frozen  vegetables and reduced/no added salt canned items. Look at the label at the milligrams (mg) of salt per serving...

This 5.5 ounce can of tomato juice has 520 mg of sodium which is a little over a 1/3 of your daily amount! 

FOR A HEALTHY ADULT YOUR MAXIMUM INTAKE OF SALT(SODIUM) PER DAY SHOULD BE 1,500 MG(this is according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines)!!!! For the complete USDA guide on the 2010 guidelines click here. 

I hope these 5 tips will be helpful in some way for you to better yourself in 2012!