DIY Scrunch Bikini Bottoms

Can I just say, thank goodness for thread, needle and squats?

Ok, I'm no seamstress here... but, after I saw this pinned a million katrillion (yep thats a number) times on Pinterest, I just had to try it.

Never mind the fact that I'm the pickiest person when it comes to bikini bottoms.

WARNING: If you don't want your cheeks hanging out, this style is not for you.

DISCLAIMER: Before I became a coach, and before I did I brazil butt lift or learned the power behind weighted squats, I would not be caught DEAD in bikini bottoms like this.

But ladies... if you work hard the day will come when you want to let that hard work show off a little... or a lot.

Ok, well maybeeeeee. But the day came for me. I have squatted, burpeed, lunged, jumped, and cardio-ed for this new booty. And I'm pretty proud of it. Although I still have work to do, I'm coming for you Michelle Lewin ;-)

So when Beachbody's annual Success Club trip was coming up, it meant a few things: bikini shopping, an extra leg day, and trying to steer clear of cheat meals. Especially since were headed to Cancun this year! I did ok on this first two, however, the cheat meals. Deng it San Diego, you have amazing food.

Sigh. Before I use to HATE bikini shopping, it was a constant battle in my head 'do I need to wear bikinis?! Do I want to miss out though?"

Now it's a lot better, the only problem is finding tops that fit augmented breasts and bottoms that don't make my butt look weird. And for those of you who struggle with the same, I get my bottoms from Victoria Secret most of the time (this blog post being the exception) and tops from Target, Victoria Secret, or Amazon... I buy a lot of single pieces to mix and match.

I personally prefer the scrunch butt style... to me, its much more flattering, and not just on my shape, but lots!

So what you will need:

• Thread
• Needle
• Scissors
• Bikini Bottoms (preferably a little baggy/big or old bottoms because the string will pinch it) 

How To: 

1. Grab your bikini bottoms and down the middle, mark a straight line. Use a ruler or straight edge and hold the fabric in place. If your bottoms are a little big, thats more ideal! Once you start stitching and pulling the fabric together, you're 'ass being covered' to 'amount of fabric left' ratio will be different. 
2. Try to use a thread color similar to your bottoms, you won't be able to see it really (unless you leave your bottoms not as scrunched), but better to blend then be all obvious 'just trying to show more of my cheeks!' know what I mean? Stitch the dotted lines... the closer your stitching is, the tighter the scrunch. Don't get too crazy, a few stitches do the trick! 
3. Pull both sides of the string to bring the fabric together -- aka bunch that shiet. Then tie a crap ton of knots at the end of your string when you have created desired 'scrunchedness' -- another made up word. The reason you're trying a zillion katrillion knots is so that your one little knot doesn't pull through your bikini bottom, meaning it wont come undone (unless you're working out, which I don't suggest in these types of bottoms).

Try them on and adjusted as needed. I'm by no means a seamstress, but if I can do a few stitches like this, I'm pretty sure you can too. 

I've walked around in them, sat in them, but I have to yet to spend a day in them... so once I know how that goes, I'll let you know if this is a true win or fail.

Happy Scrunching! 

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A little update since I've been MIA... It's nice to Be Back!

There's nothing quite like staring at the screen of your computer asking yourself, 'what the heck am I gana write about today?!' I don't consider myself a phenomenal writer, in fact, my grammar and sentence structure is a far cry from what's 'correct'. But I also think the WAY I write translates more of my personality and therefor YOU get to know ME better!

So I'll be honest with you all, the blog has been on the back burner (clearly, it's been a while) and I think this picture pretty much sums up how I feel about coming back for my first post in a few weeks.

And it's not because I don't love blogging anymore, its not because I don't have anything to say, and its not because Im trying to avoid my followers... truth is, I REALLY miss blogging. I miss writing, I miss editing pictures, creating new recipes, sharing kick ass transformations, and reviewing products. 

It's kind of my thing. 

But I found a new 'thing' ... called Youtube. And girl oh girl... I've had a ball filming and editing videos for my team and free fitness challenge groups. Go check it out: www.youtube.com/abbyfix 

Lately my focus for work has shifted. I'm a network marketing professional fitness and wellness coach with Beachbody - now say that five times fast. 

I totally just made that sound WAY fancier, but truth is my 'job' aka purpose, passion, core initiative has been to grow myself inside and out, and help other people do the same through health, fitness, and personal growth tactics. 

Basically my life motto as of late has been: 

do the thing, and you shall have the power. 

It's like the heavens parting and God telling me, "Abby, you have a wonderful opportunity everyday to create the life you love by sharing the talents I have blessed you with, now go out there and SHINE!"

And I believe the same motto can be true for you as well. 

Over the last few months, I've come to the startling realization of a few things and while they are damn obvious, sometimes things don't really 'hit' or sink in until you have to really dance with the obstacle to find a solution. 

1. There are NO hand outs in LIFE -- Aint NOTHIN' going to get handed to me... like EVER. If I want it, I gotta work for it. That includes being business savvy, fit as a fiddle (because who doesn't want that nice tush), financially frugal, and emotionally stable.  Thats why I make working out, eating right, reading and learning a MUST DO on my daily routine. It's a beautiful thing when you take ownership of your life. 

2. Save YOURSELF! The knight on the white horse ought to be YOU - I didn't realize this at the time, but when I was married I had it easier... my ex was in the military so we always had a 'secure' (and I use that loosely now considering how nothing is secure) paycheck coming in. I could have been a housewife and stay at home mom for the rest of my days. But when I was in my early twenties, that didn't sound appealing AT ALL. I wanted MORE, and then I demanded more from myself. Since getting divorced I realized what it means to go at it 'alone', meaning I better get my ass up and moving if I want to learn to survive and then learn to thrive. I learned to save me, Abby Marie and let God/Universe/Source Energy be my saving grace. 

3. Get Rhino Thick Skin & Stop People Pleasing - I've learned its important to have an open mind and heart, but it's just as equally important that when you and I go out into the world, we have an armor of rhino skin on. And here's why; it's lovely to be soft, caring, and understanding, but at some point you have to draw the boundaries and remember you and I are a force to be reckoned with. We're going to get negative feedback, not everyone will like us, and in fact some people will even talk about us behind our backs. GASP! But I sure as heck wasn't sent here to be a people pleaser. Let me tell you what happens to people pleasers: they spin their wheels, their emotions are like a ping pong match trying to accommodate/decipher/cater to everyone else and before they know it, they're on E trying to fill up their gas tank with everyone else's approval. That hurt right? Ok, so stop it. You just hurt yourself. 

I hope this shed a little light, wisdom, and harmony to your day... and yes, its been a while... but I plan on coming back and delivering you all the same awesome content I love to share. Plus I wrapped up the 21 Day Fix Extreme, started PiYo and about to take off to Cancun! VIVA la MEXICO!!! ARRRIBAAAAA! 

Alright bellas, until we meet again <3 CIAO! 

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