As Told To is a recurring segment on xoNecole where real women are given a platform to tell their stories in first-person narrative as told to a writer.
This is Kayla Glass' story, as told to Charmin Michelle.
I'm a 25-year-old 2nd grade teacher (during a pandemic) that's also currently purchasing a home. So...it's pretty safe to say that a new car has been out of the question for quite some time.
It all started in 2018, while in school obtaining my Master's in Education, I purchased my very first car from a lady in Florida. I needed something to get me from point A to point B, and as luck would have it, I came across this particular car that had only 30,000 miles on it, and was within my budget. But most of all, I knew it was going to last me a while, which was exactly what I was looking for. I handed the seller $1100 in cash and claimed my very first baby with full intention of personalizing in the future.
Courtesy of Kayla Glass
I always loved the car, but I also always knew that I ultimately wanted to transform it, to paint it, and make it more of my own. Once the pandemic hit, and with the ongoing months of quarantining, I had the perfect opportunity to make it happen.
So I went for it full throttle.
The process was tedious and took a bit of time, but I am so happy with how it turned out!
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Cleaning, Steaming & All The In-Between
Courtesy of Kayla Glass
My car was so unbelievably filthy, so first things first, I cleaned it out: removed the mats, threw away all of the debris (which was a LOT), and vacuumed the floors. Cleaning the inside of my car was so satisfying. Maybe because it needed to be done so badly, I don't know.
The cleaning process also included me taking my Bissel Little Green Spot Cleaner and Oxy Clean Stain Removing Foam to scrub out its stains. This combo was essential as I was able to take my highly-stained and questionable interior, and bring it all back to life.
I finished this off with steaming the surfaces and wiping them down with cleaner, which was a super useful detailer tip.
Prepping For Paint
Next, I grabbed painter's tape and newspaper, and began taping off my windows, head/brake lights, handles, and a few other places that I wanted to keep in its original color. I grabbed my sander and sanded down the entire surface lightly, allowing the spray paint to have something to adhere to. As you could imagine, this took a bit of patience and time but definitely a necessary step.
And Now, Time To Paint!
Courtesy of Kayla Glass
To paint, I used Rust-oleum Gloss Protective Enamel in Light Turquoise. Spraying all over, evenly, I used the six cans I ordered online. This took quite a bit of time as well. I took several breaks and my fingers we basically numb from pressing the nozzle on so many bottles for an extensive period of time. My body even had moments where it was giving out but I had to push through.
Eventually, I finished and couldn't be happier! I am just so in love with this color, it fits my personality perfectly! It is just so me.
Tips + Tricks:
OK, ladies, if you're interested in taking on this project for your car, here's what I've learned from trial and error:
Keep costs low. The point of DIY is to not seek service for something you can do yourself. This is a budget-friendly project and can totally be done within whatever budget you wish. But if you plan to spend lots of money, it takes the point out of the DIY aspect.
Invest in a spray paint gun, or similar device. My parents had one for me to use and it was like discovering water. It was the best thing ever. I totally underestimated how tedious and strenuous it is to spray paint an entire car with just the can. Purchase something to assist you, spare yourself the hand and finger cramps.
Personalize, personalize, personalize! I decided on a few final personal touches by adding succulents, a steering wheel cover, and some beautiful backseat pillows. My car morphed into a true reflection of my personality and outlook on life. This was intentional. I even named her Cotton Candy! Also, the anticipation of completing the project to see the final results, and seeing an item you own be brought back to life, is entirely worth the work.
Final Results
The finished product is amazing! I'm super obsessed with everything about this car, it literally couldn't have turned out any better.
But do I have any regrets?
Courtesy of Kayla Glass
Absolutelynot! In the end, I am so pleased with my results that I would do this a hundred times over. I love DIY projects and I am obsessed with this one. So, there are zero regrets.
Cotton Candy and I actually look forward to seeing you guys on the road!
To watch the full transformation of Kayla's car, you can subscribe to her YouTube channel. Also, for more pics, tips, and tricks, you can follow her on Instagram at @youngladybusiness.
Featured image courtesy of Kayla Glass
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
