SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!... Entryway Tour Featuring Loloi Rugs

If the front doors are the “eyes of the home” then I just got a major lash lift!

...and it was about time! New doors have been a top priority since purchasing this drab old house and overtime it just sank down to the bottom of the home renovation “to-do list.”   When we first purchased our home, it had old wooden doors with layers of paint.  They were dark chocolate brown and defiantly didn’t give off that “come on in!” feeling we were looking for. Funny side note, Seth leaves the keys in the front door on a regular basis and in the morning when I wake up to find that they are there just dangling from the lock I always joke with him saying.... “COME ON IN! Take a look around! Help yourself to WHATEVER you want! MI CASA ES SU CASA!”  You would think after 9 years he would have learned his lesson by now...BUT NO.  On one occasion, He even left the keys to our car out on the front lawn which invited some thugs to take our car for a joyride...what can I say? He’s a very giving type of guy (ha ha). He’s such a rascal.

So here we are...way down the list, but nevertheless just as important as the beginning. New doors! Finally. We ended up ordering Jeld Wen doors from a local door company located up here in the mountains...The doors are made to look and feel like wood but they are actually fiber glass! TRICKED YA RIGHT?! It’s actually pretty crazy how much they look like actual wood. They even have to be stained (I’ll include the stain kit I used in the bottom links). Obviously, real wood would be our first choice but with the snow and the heat we didn’t want to deal with the door swelling and shrinking with different temps. The new doors gave a huge facelift to the exterior of our home and let in so much natural light! So worth the wait.

I’m not too ashamed to admit that if you were walking up to our front doors last year you would one hundred percent pass by a HUGE pile of trash from the house demolition, including an old toilet, and weeds that were so high they tickled my butt cheeks. Every time I walk down our pathway to the front door and see green grass, plants that are just starting to flourish, and my new doors, I get the best feeling in the world. It’s a combination of that “home” feeling I have been missing during the “renovation months of hell”, and relief that we no longer appear to be a bunch of hillbillies to the Amazon Prime drivers. I can finally look them straight in the eye. lol.

We want all the natural light we can get in this house and these doors did just the trick!

I have blogged in a previous post about our entry way closet that we converted into a cozy little nook. As I’ve said before, I wanted this house to be filled with personality, patterns, color, and a lot of white too! Mission accomplished. This Loloi rug was the perfect addition to our entryway. Loloi is BY FAR my favorite rug company. The quality is top notch and the patterns and colors are just gorgeous. check them out HERE. The rugs are soft on your feet, very durable, and easy to clean.... With a toddler I can attest to this with no hesitation. NO BS HERE. To top it all off...they did a collaboration with my girl JO! Magnolia Homes by Joanna Gains x Loloi Rugs. Be still my heart. Be still my wallet. So much goodness, If only I had more rooms to decorate in this tiny home.

A few other pieces that make this entry way special for me are the antique vanity and the wine barrel in the front. A little-known fact about me...I’m a HUGE “Sentimental Sally”. I mean, I take it to another level. If there is a memory tied to it...good luck prying it away from my bloody fingers! I purchased our entryway vanity from an estate sale right after Seth and I got married from a little Italian woman in her late 90’s. She said that her family had brought it over to American all the way from Europe when she was a little girl! It needed a little work but overall in decent shape. Seth and I sanded and stained it together. We added new knobs and tightened all the pieces up just a bit. It’s special because it is the very first project that we did together! I remember Seth complaining when I asked him to help me sand it down....BOY OH BOY, he had zero idea what was in store for him! And look at him now! A shiny beacon of manhood with dozens of finished projects under his belt.

The wine barrel was a gift from Seth on our 3rd wedding anniversary. It is weathered and worn and I love the combination of that with beautiful flowers spilling out and flowing down it’s sides.. My biggest tip to anyone decorating their home would be...ANYONE can have a home filled with goodies from Target, World Market, or Home Goods (don’t get me wrong here, I love goodies too and have plenty plus all the “who’s it’s and what’s it’s GALORE”) BUT, incorporate things in your home that means something to you! A vase from your grandma’s home, a souvenir from a memorable trip, a great flea market find, even a plant! No matter the size or design of the space...GIVE IT LIFE! and let it tell a story about who you are.

MICH DROP.

(SHOPPING LINKS LISTED BELOW)

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

Loloi Rug “Loren BRICK/MULTI” can be purchased at Rugs Direct Online

Belham Living “Wilcox Metal planter”- Hayneedle

Fiberglass Front Doors- Jeld Wen

fiberglass door stain kit

Nook Wallpaper- Spoonflower

Assorted Pillows- Home goods, Pier One

Master Bath Makeover w/ Troy Lighting & Urban Walls...

I wish you all could really experience the before and after of this space… I do my best sharing as much of the transformation that I can but, I really wish you could have seen the green paint, smelt the dust, sweated during the demolition, and killed the scorpions (lol)…then you would REALLY have an appreciation for all that this small space has been through over the last year. Buying a ranch with this sweet little brick house has really opened my eyes and heart to the embracing the “process”. I’ve always been the type who had to have my home “just right” for hosting. Everything has a place in my house and I’ve even trained old Chack to put the throw pillows back to their “home” at the end of the night…may have taken 7 years or so but it’s a victory in my book! When we signed the papers and got the keys to this place we were like eager beavers ready to to get started right away! We had plans people! There was no project that we couldn’t tackle! We literally gutted the whole entire house in the first couple weeks to just walls covered in holes and concrete floors. Being the major HGTV fan that I am…I envisioned the grand reveal at the end of the show. “Lisa and Seth are you ready to see your fixer upper?”. This is when REALITY came a knocking ( and I don’t mean Jo and Chip knocking at the front door) Here is the reality… IT’S A PROCESS! News flash…there is no grand reveal at the end…just a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and sleepless nights at the in-laws house asking yourself…”am I ever gonna get out of here?”. Side note: my in-laws are awesome. There are baseboards that are still unfinished, a lawn ripped to shreds by a trencher, a bathroom window that never got replaced, a toilet that jiggles just a little when you sit on it, and so so so many more projects to come! Thats a year in and our entire renovation budget spent! But, the GLORY OF IT ALL! I wouldn’t trade it for a lifetime of restful night sleeps.

This bathroom was far down on the renovation “to-do” list….hence, one whole year in. It’s not a huge space but not terribly small either. I knew I wanted it to be light, fresh, and have some personality. This wallpaper form Urban Walls was the perfect choice to add that “personality” I wanted. I didn’t want to compromise on design just because it’s a smaller space and wallpaper is back and better than ever! Urban Walls has so many fun prints with tons of color so it was tough for me to hold back and not go full-funky-floral. I was keeping the hubs in mind and I loved that this option “Le Havre” in sand was a bold print with neutral colors. He approves! The best part about their wallpaper is that it’s removable! Naw, I don’t think you let that sink in…It’s removable! No scraping, peeling, and more scraping to remove it. When the day comes that i’m wanting a change (not anytime soon, I’m sure.) I can remove it in a matter of minutes…I’m not married to it after all! If you only knew the commitment you made to wallpaper in the past. Most people were married to it, lived, and died with it ( I know, kind of dark). Forget touch screens, holograms, and the future of space travel…Removable wallpaper is here! LOL.

Our light fixtures by Troy Lighting are the cherry on top of this little bathroom. ONE. HUNDRED. PERCENT. They are industrial and unique. Perfect for the look we were going for. The rattan around the “EMBARCADERO” vanity is by far my favorite. I’ve done a lot of shopping for lighting and I am blown away by the quality of these pieces. the weight and detail of the metal and glass alone are are note-worthy. We choose the “BUXTON” flush mount for the ceiling and I couldn’t be happier about it. It’s rusted and cool. They defiantly add more layers to the design of the bathroom without overpowering it. I was seriously drooling over their website. We are defiantly wanting to incorporate some of their pieces into our airbnb too. Check them out!

Here she is! she’s come a long way from walls and concrete!

SWING, SWING, SWING...

I swear, sometimes when Seth and I get in a fight I think to myself…is he just fighting with me so that he can sleep on the couch?! Sleeping on the couch is no threat for CHACK…it’s a freaking treat. An OASIS! He comes from a long line of couch sleepers…once when he was giving me a tour of his room while we were in high school he said that he didn’t have a “designated” bed at his house. I mean WHAT THE?! He and his 3 older brothers were all packed into one loft style bedroom and beds were a on a first come first serve basis. He even showed me a cubby in the wall where his brother Sam slept. Seriously? bunch of ragamuffins. I honestly could have cared less though. I was just thinking ENOUGH with the tour, pick a bed… and lets make out already! ha ha!

When we made this swinging daybed I knew I was in for trouble. I GUARANTEE that I will wake up on some hot summer night-look to my left and realize he’s not sleeping next to me and find him snoring away on this thing.

This swing was so fun and easy to make! It took us about half a day and only cost about $120 for all the wood materials. Big man “Chack” got a new chop saw for Christmas and it was time to take that baby for a spin…How we ever did projects with out one is a mystery to me. We were living in the straight up stone ages! We used THIS DIY for inspiration but made a few modifications to the railing and added 2 long 2x6 pieces of wood beneath the bench for extra support. We drilled holes into the 2x6 beams and then knotted and strung the rope through the holes so that the bench could be suspended more evenly with the 4 pieces of rope. I like to find a DIY that is closest to the look I’m going for ( they are never really ever exact) and then I put my own little spin on them. For our bench we knew we wanted to use a twin mattress and THIS daybed cover from World Market so I made all of the measurements accordingly. Here are some pictures of the process…

SO EASY! A few cold beverages in and we were basically done…what can I say? WE LIKE TO PARTY! Funny how the definition of “party” changes drastically when you have kids…and when Guy takes a nap, thats when the real party begins! Good God, I used to be so fun…what happened to me! Now the highlight of my day is a toss-up between watching the DR. Phil show, drinking a glass of wine (cough, cough) or being tucked into bed somewhere between 8-9pm lol. NO. NO. NO. All joking aside, my favorite parts of the day are caught up in the simplest little things like when Guy reaches up for me to swoop him into my arms, tackling a new project with my best friend, or Guys raspy laugh as he runs down our hallway…never gets old. Our home is our happy place. It’s more than just a house to me. So every time we create something new I love it that much more. Im a bit of a “Sentimental Sally” (just a smidge) but, I can already envision all the sunsets, snuggles, bottles of wine, long conversations, and memories made on this swinging bed.

THE FINISHED LOOK

Thank you for letting me share these little projects and stories with you, have a SUNNY day!

Brown Brick Bathroom Makeover...

Hi, my name is Lisa and I’m a hand towel-aholic.

LAME. SO LAME. It’s always the first line of these blogs that baffles me the most…but, the rest of the words flow like the salmon of Capistrano.

BUT FOR REALZ…the hand towel is easily the “throw pillow” of the bathroom and I don’t mind that one bit. Usually I’m drawn toward patterns and vibrant colors but this time (and possibly the only time) I opted for neutral. When Seth and I first looked at this house we were underwhelmed to say the least and this main bathroom was no joke. BROWN BROWN BROWN! It came fully loaded with a fiberglass shower/tub insert, oversized mirror hung so low that it cut off the top portion of your head, 70’s fixtures (and not the cool kind), and cabinets covered in mouse poop (WOW!) I’m really laying it all out on the table with that one! Side note: The house was vacant for over a year so a few furry friends moved in and called the place home until the Fishers arrived and said “ughh uh! Get your furry little cabinet pooping butts outta this house!”…I’m actually a huge animal lover great and small so this was quite the ordeal for me. ANYWAYS, needless to say the problem was solved before we moved in…now back to the bathroom.

EVERYTHING HAD TO GO! We gutted the entire bathroom until all that was left were four walls and a hole where the toilet used to sit. I gotta tell you guys, there is nothing more exciting and utterly terrifying than realizing that you are going to move into a house in two months while starring at an empty brown bathroom with a hole in the ground. I could be a real life model for Rogaine after all the hair I lost from stress during this time (Rogaine if you are reading this, hit me up! Seth could do a cameo too…can someone say hashtag couple goals?!)

The most exciting part of renovating is starting from scratch. It’s like a big treasure hunt... and HOT DAMN! I found me some treasures! By far, my favorite treasure in the bathroom is our antique cast iron claw foot tub. It was sitting in a field rusting away till my “handsome hoarder of a brother” Jake got his hands on it and gifted it to us. We found a local powder coating company in town and had them blast the inside of the tub and give it a fresh powder coat of white. We decided to leave the orange rust on the outside of the tub and I’m so happy we did! Here is the cold ugly truth…aka before pictures. Let’s get it all out and never look back.

CLEANSE YOUR EYES SUGAR…on to the good stuff!

My Second favorite piece is our vanity. Did you know you can make basically any piece of furniture into a vanity?!?! The possibilities are endless! HERE is a pin on Pinterest that I found helpful. This wooden piece was actually a free standing island in my sister’s old house. It’s worn, rustic, and chippy teal paint perfection. We ordered THESE porcelain vessel sinks and THESE oil rubbed bronze faucets to complete the vanity. “Chack” had a rough go at installing these but YouTube saved the day. Hhmmm, maybe that’s why he’s balding? all these projects. Maybe I’M the reason he’s balding?!?! OH DEAR, either way he’s my smoking hot handy man.

Since some of the pieces felt a little rustic and more masculine I wanted to lighten the bathroom up with a few feminine details. We replaced the old light fixtures with some fun and eclectic mini crystal chandeliers that were on clearance from Pottery Barn and I scored the cream lace shower curtain in the clearance section at Anthropologie. Like I said… a straight up treasure hunt! In addition, we made a cute little shelving unit and hand towel racks from pieces of copper and galvanized pipe…Such a fun and easy project that anyone can do! I change hand towels like i change diapers these days so even though they are neutral today…tomorrow they could be rainbows for all I care! That’s the JOY of it all! HAVE FUN!!!… And that’s it peeps! That’s the grand tour of our main bathroom! In sharing this my hope is to inspire you to tackle a new project at your house…believe me, if we can do it, anyone can!

Tangerine Dreams... (DIY FARMHOUSE SLIDERS)

Us Fishers are at it as usual. Between clearing the ranch for firewood, running after a wild toddler, demolishing an atrocious mobile home on our property, Seth’s full- time gig, and a never-ending list of DIY’s to complete. Seth just wants to throw his hands in the air and shout out “HALLELUJAH! MY WIFE IS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME! SHE HAS THE BEST BUTT EVER!” Ok, not even close but a girl can dream right? I know he doesn’t say it but he lives for this stuff! Lately, it seems like he is more invested in these projects than me! I’ve created a MONSTER people... a handsome, bearded, balding, DIY workaholic. Watch out HGTV Chack’s coming for you!

These farmhouse style sliding doors were a really fun and easy project for the two of us to tackle together. SO SO EASY! It’s as if the stars aligned and God opened up the heavens on this DIY. There was no yelling, no spontaneous trips down the hill to the hardware store for missing materials, Guy was in a great mood -may have swallowed a few screws though (JK), birds were a-chirping, the chop saw was a- chopin’, beers were a-flown’, and next thing I knew my tangerine dreams had just come true!

We have been meaning to purchase matching wood sliders for our master bedroom closet and bathroom doors, when I came across THIS DIY on Pinterest and decided to make our own instead. The two doors cost us about $45 each to make, and this 11 ft iron farmhouse slider door hardware was super affordable. All together the project cost less than $200! Definitely a bang for our buck and I love love love the way they turned out in our master! The great thing about this DIY is that it was really easy to follow the instructions and the doors can easily be made larger, wider, smaller or whatever size to fit the measurements of your door frame. One tip, when picking out your “tongue and groove” pieces of wood be sure to inspect each piece. You don’t want pieces that aren't straight or that have warped as they have dried out. Again, click HERE for the farmhouse slider DIY that we followed.

Here are some pictures I snapped of the process...

HERE IS THE FINAL LOOK

I knew I wanted to paint the doors a bright color because our master bedroom is very neutral and if you know me...I’m all about color and patterns. I actually went out on a limb on this one and let Seth choose the color! He chose Oxide Copper by Sherwin Williams. When we got home and realized that our accent pillow matched perfectly with the color he chose I immediately promoted him to “assistant designer” (PSYCH! in your dreams Chack...I’m way too controlling to do something like that! Get to know me!).

Thank you again for following our family’s renovation and DIY journey! Additional room details linked below...

BLACK IRON DOOR HANDLES- AMAZON

TAUPE LINEN BEDDING- H&M HOME

BEDROOM RUG- RUGS USA

BATHROOM RUG- RUGS USA

Guy's MINI-MAN Cave...

Big boy room? I know every mom says this but, I want to shout it at the top of my lungs… “STOP GROWING UP GUY WILDER!.” It’s both painful and thrilling to see this little man learn and grow each day. He is still a baby in so many ways but the toddler years just seemed to have come up and “bit us right in the buttocks” (as Forest Gump says) We quote a lot of Forest Gump around here, ha ha!

I wanted to share Guys new “BIG BOY ROOM” with all of you to show you some of the special things we’ve done to make his room a place where he can learn, play, get wild, jump on his bed, and hopefully sleep! (mama needs a full 8 hours Guy, DON’T. YOU. FORGET. THAT.). With all the hustle and bustle of buying, renovating, and moving onto this ranch Guy has been such a trooper…I mean, does he really have a choice? He’s been along for the ride and loving it. It all must seem like a HUGE adventure from his tiny little vantage point. For example, when we moved into our home the bathrooms were in the process of being renovated and not fully functioning. We didn’t have running water to the house, so after a long day of work all three of us would take a bath in the kiddie pool in our backyard! TMI? maybe. But, our 28 acres sits on top of a mountain and no 5 star hotel bathroom could beat the view and the moment shared with our tiny little family. That’s a memory that will last a lifetime. I already look back and think, I can’t believe how far we’ve come on this renovation journey with Guy shuffling, wobbling, then walking, and now RUNNING along the way.…I poured my heart into his nursery at our old home and we kissed it goodbye before Guy even got a chance to enjoy it. So when it came time to decorate his new room I wanted to make sure it was bright, FUN, funky, and functional.

I’m so thrilled to have partnered up with “Beddy’s Beds” for Guy’s new Big Boy bed. If you don’t know about this product you are about to get your mind blown. GENIUS. JUST GENIUS! This company has solved the age old problem of messy beds. To think of all the kids out there who are getting their full allowance because of a clean room and made bed makes me a little envious of Millennial children. #1990childrenproblems is that even a thing? No more “stop jumping on the bed!” With one zip…TA-DA! BED MADE! Beddy’s Beds fits the mattress like a fitted sheet which means…clean room, happy mama, happy kid…so jump your heart out little Guy. I know a handful of adult men that could use this product in their lives (cough, cough, CHACK). I want to get one for our master bedroom too! They have so many different fun patterns to chose from. I chose the “DASH” pattern because I love mixing black and white with bright colors and mixing patterns. I just LOVE the way his bed turned out!!!

Of course with every project “CHACK” and I tackle there is always a memory filled day of him and I arguing back and forth about how to “do it the right way”, “that’s not how you work that tool” or “you don’t know what you are talking about!” Sounds like disfunction I’m sure, but for us…It’s how we function. There’s always tons and tons of laughter along the way…and this funky wooden door did not disappoint. “Chack” assured me that he didn’t need to use the chop saw. He would saw every piece by hand! He is such a manly man in that way, ya know? Needless to say after a few hours and 100 cuts later he came to his senses and realized if we went on like this Guy would be teetering on his high school graduation by the time each 45 degree angle was cut! (insert patient wife who knew that all along, I TOLD YOU SO CHACKSTER!) Well people! We FINISHED and she’s a BEAUT!

We made Guy a cozy little reading area with this hanging swing that was super affordable! His room has tons and tons of books! One of his favorites right now is “Big Foot” by Slumberkins. Slumberkins is a really cool company with a great mission to educate children on social-emotional skills through spending time and being intentional with your children. It’s a great tool for teaching and Guy’s book came with the most adorable “Big Foot Snuggler” for him to hold while we read. Namely sent Guy his adorable personalized blanket in a bright yellow and I just love it! It’s one of those things that we will keep forever Guy can pass it on to his kids one day (Sentimental Sally over here). They come in tons of fun colors and they are so soft! Guy’s yellow felt letter board is by “Felt like Sharing”…they have the CUTEST felt boards that my eyes ever did see…they come in every fun color you can imagine…perfect for any kids room or nursery.

We love the way everything came together! Another project down and one BILLION more to go! Thank you for following us as we renovate this ranch one square inch at a time! (Additional room details linked below)

BONDED LEATHER MINI WORLD MAP- GATHRE

YELLOW FELT LETTER BOARD- FELT LIKE SHARING

“WILD” CUTOUT SIGN- HARPER GRAYCE

FUNKY TASSLE THROW PILLOW-WORLD MARKET

BIG FOOT SELF-ESTEEM SNUGGLER BUNDLE - SLUMBERKINS

Get to know me!

Friends, family, and new friends!...as you can probably tell, I’ve been putting myself “out there” more on this crazy social media world. It’s a very vulnerable and scary thing to do for a girl who feels awkward taking pictures in general (the coffee cup/props help). I really appreciate all of the positive comments and encouragement along the way. My goal in all of this is to share bits and pieces of my life...diy’s, decorating, mama life with Guy(the mundane, trials, & triumphs), married life(the good, the bad, the ugly) and maybe a few videos of my husband doing karate in his underwear(if you’re lucky) BASICally, things that inspire me and that I hope with inspire you too...all without BUGGING THE CRAP out of you in the process (#goals).

For those of you who don’t know me well here are 5 things about me... 

1. I’m a wife, Mama, daughter, sister, and friend. My joy in life comes from creating and making things beautiful. My Son is by far my most beautiful creation. He amazes me every day. 

2. I survive on a strict diet of red wine, coffee, and anything I can smother in Cholula. 

3. My husband calls me John Coffee(from the movie  “Green Mile”) because I’m a huge sensitive cry baby. I seriously cry once a day...and I’ve gotta say, it’s kind of nice to let it all out #sensitivesally

4. I CAN MAKE A MEAN GOULASH. I mean If there was a “Master Chef” for making Goulash I’d at least make it to the semifinals. So don’t come to my house for dinner if you don’t like a pot of a bunch of random stuff mixed together and smothered in Cholula. 

5. Ironically, my greatest asset is actually my greatest downfall...my strong personality and opinion(insert foot in mouth) I’m not proud to say that I’ve dealt out more apologies than a black jack dealer in Vegas. What can I say? I’m a work in progress. I’m living off the grace of God and others daily.

Thank you for following my little family and I on this renovation journey of our ranch and all of our life adventures along the way! Now, If you are still reading this...I owe you a coke! 

I Did It All For The "NOOKie"...

Did I just quote lyrics from Limp Bizkit? The answer is YES.

Did I just age myself tremendously? YES.

Am I proud of what I did? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

What can I say, Im a sucker for a good old fashion pun on words and today it’s all about the NOOKIE! aka the entry way closet we turned into a NOOK at the new house. Im so excited to share it with you guys! As many of you know, we have been elbow deep in renovations at our new house for months (hence, the lack of blog posts). It’s been an exciting, trying, exhausting, strenuous, once in a lifetime adventure that I wouldn’t trade in for the world. I have so many projects that I’m excited to share but thought why not start at the beginning, our entryway.

The best part about buying the “Fisher Ranch” is that we consider it to be our forever home. We have dreams-on-dreams-on-dreams-on-dreams for this land and this home…and all the time in the world to take on each project…one by one. With that being said, there is no wallpaper too funky, no paint color too bold, no backsplash tile too wild for our “Forever Home”…I simply just chose things that make me smile. Sure, one day I may tire of some of these things and make changes here and there to stay current but, there isn’t a “nook” or cranny in this house that doesn’t bring a smile to my face. On that note…Back to the NOOK!

This nook started out as a closet with double sliding doors. Not our style. of course I took to Pinterest to find some inspiration and ended up using a combination of these 2 great DIY’s (mudroom) (board & batten) and modified them to work together for our space. Luckily, I had my handy-man “Chack” on the job.

Funny little tidbit…It’s become widely known that my husband Seth has thoughtfully renamed himself “CHACK” during our whole renovation process. “CHACK” derives from the idea that my husband has deemed himself half Chip Gains (FIXER UPPER) and half Jack (the father on the TV show “This Is Us”)…. a little arrogant? YES. Seth doesn’t do renovation projects, but have no fear…”CHACK” does. SO CHACK HE IS. There is no demolition too intense, no wall too tall, no tool too complicated, and no project to big for “CHACK”!

Here are some pictures we took during the process…

1 day of work, no arguments, A few beers, no missing fingers, and feeling pretty damn good about what we’ve created! PLUS! If we get in an argument Chack’s got a new cozy place to sleep!

Paint color: “Realist Beige” Sherwin Williams

Wallpaper: “Linocut Animals/charcoal” Spoonflower

Pillows: Home Goods & Target

The New Normal...

Here is a look at the "New Normal" around the Fisher household...at least for the next 4-5 months. Guy was diagnosed with Plagiocephaly AKA "flat head syndrome". Sounds way more scary than it is...in fact, it's not scary at all! The little man's dome is just SO DANG BIG and he refused to sleep on his side or his stomach resulting in a flat spot on the back of his head reminiscent of the majestic "El Capitan" Rock in Yosemite. So what does that mean for the little Fish?... he has a special helmet that he has to wear 23 hrs a day, doctors orders. We actually LOVE Guy's beautiful, El Capitan, XL dome... to me he is perfect in every way. With that being said, it has been an interesting journey to "helmet life". It's funny how many emotions are tied up in caring for your child and I am constantly amazed at what a "Sensitive SALLY" I've become (Please tell me I'm not the only one). In this case I'm not just talking about sensitivity...

IM TALKING ABOUT FULL BLOWN DENIAL.

 We are actually late to the helmet game...it's something we should have done when he was about 5 or 6 months old. We noticed that the back of his head was "on the flatter side" around 4 months old. I kid you not, strangers and Target have commented on Guys head! As a Mom, I tried every tactic to get him to sleep on his side and even bought him a special pillow with a hole in the center for him while he slept on his back with little results. It took me until a month ago to face the fact that he NEEDS a helmet. I reluctantly made an appointment with a specialist. After all, is a helmet really that bad???  I'm embarrassed to admit that I cried for about a week after the specialist confirmed that he needed it. I was secretly hoping that he would take one look at Guys amazingly large head and assure me that it will round out in its own time...NOPE! I've had the last couple of weeks (while Guys helmet was being made) to get to the bottom of all of these feeling swirling around in my heart and mind.

First off: This is not a "boo-hoo" story. We have a healthy kid with a flat head. It's almost laughable that I would cry about it at all! Being a Mom has changed me and softened parts of me that I never knew existed... So I decided to allow myself the grace to feel these feelings, get them out, and move on! 

Second: We can do this! Yes, it's annoying and inconvenient to have my child in a helmet 23 hours of the day, not being able to see his sweet blonde hair, dealing with the questions, and defending the choice to put him in a helmet in the first place. I hope you understand that this is not for vanities sake...that's probably the thing I'm the most insecure about defending. I'm weak, what can I say? As much as I fight needing the approval of others it remains a constant battle...and adding the whole "motherhood" aspect to it creates a whole new juicy layer. But, this is my kid (possibly the only one I will ever have) and Seth and I are going to do everything in our power to help him in any way we can...Even if it means paying a fortune for a dorky helmet!

Lastly: Thank you for letting me share these feeling. I know I'm not alone out there and there are plenty of other parents that can relate. Whether It's a helmet, leg braces, eye patches, eye glasses...the list goes on and on. We are just trying to do what is best for these little life suckers.

OK! OK! OK! ENOUGH... ON TO THE INCREDIBLE...ADORABLE...HELMET HEAD!

47 Days & Counting...

I know what you are probably thinking...SLOW YOUR ROLL GIRL! IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER! Yes, Christmas is still 2 months away, but we all know how quick time flies these days...faster than EVER! I'm so stinking excited to be celebrating Christmas for the first time as a family of THREE! Guy's first ever holiday season. I cannot wait to see him experience our crazy family's holiday traditions and start a few new ones of our own. With both of our Large families there is always a lot of fun; cooking in the kitchen, drinking wine, traditions, singing, music, dancing, a few inappropriate jokes (and some appropriate ones too), laughter, and Chaos....OHHH THE CHAOS! Add a little family drama into the mix and NOW it feels like the Holidays! Let me tell you, it is the BEST. Cannot wait for Guy to experience Thanksgiving & Christmas in all of its glory. That, my friends is what the Holidays are all about! Spending time with the people you love most, laughing till your face hurts, telling the same old movie quotes, singing too loud (and in my case off-tune),  and thanking God for all the many blessings in our lives.

With that being said, a few presents don't hurt either. Seth & I are not huge on presents. We never have been. He has asked me so many times what he can get me and my answer is always the same..."if I want it, I most likely have it". My husband would know this if he were home between the hrs. of 8am-5pm when my friends Amazon Prime, Fed Ex, & UPS drop by to say "WHAT UP GIRL?!?!"...What can I say? Ever since my personal shopping days... I have a really hard time saying no to myself...although I've been really good the last 6 months (I'll share that story in a future post). Today, I  thought  I would share some of the goodies Santa will be leaving under the tree for Guy's first Christmas... 

First off...The Stocking! 

How sweet is this stocking I found at World Market. Perfect for a little boy... I was looking for a stocking that I could get his name embroidered on & I fell in love with the pom-pom & tassel detail. 

I've been following Cuddle+Kind on instagram for a while now and fell in love with this little family of entrepanuers and their mission. Their cotton woven dolls and handcrafted by women artisans in Peru & for each doll purchased they provide 10 meals to children in need. So not only is their product ADORABLE, but it also is providing food to children and sustainable income for women & their families in Peru. Such an awesome mission. 

When I saw that "Oliver The Bear" is wearing a sweater with "WILD" written across it I knew that I had to get him for Guy Wilder.

Aren't these wooden etched blocks by Land Of Nod so cool? We looked up the meaning of the name Guy and turns out... it's a German name that means WOOD! So appropriate because we call Guy our "Big Tree". It's so refreshing to see wooden toys becoming popular again. I need a break from all this PLASTIC! I've said it before and I'll say it again... baby toys are a freaking eye-sore. Sorry trees!

For a few smaller gifts & stocking stuffers I got Guy the new book "Everything Is Mama" written by Jimmy Fallon... because? WELL... Everything IS Mama! The sooner Seth figures that out the better. lol.

Guy has been teething for what seems like an ETERNITY (DEAR LORD! WILL IT EVER END!?!) So I snagged him a few gifts for his gums too. This Baby Banana toothbrush is available on Amazon & I hear that babies love it! Plus, I'm not spending $25 for that DAMN giraffe or any of her friends! So Banana it is. I also LOVE this marble and mint silicone teether by Feltman+Co. They have some really adorable teethers and stacking toys. I'll take one of each please! Go check them out!

SO THAT'S IT. Guy's Christmas shopping done.

I'M SO ON TOP OF THINGS. 

This is 4 months...

REAL TALK. This is what 4 months looks like...My plants are dying all around my house, tired Mom eyes, tacky baby gear all over the house, dog's starving for attention, and I'm writing this & have yet to put pants on for the day. But, JUST LOOK AT THIS BOYS FACE! Makes it all worth it. 

This week has been a hard one. It's hard to pinpoint. It could be a result of any of the following ... Hormones (pretty much always the culprit), catching my "Potty Trained" pomeranian lifting his leg in my house (he's not adjusting well to his baby brother apparently... where is Caesar Millan when you need him!), a broken washing machine that is only a couple years old, and juggling my tiny business...Just to name a few. It's the type of week where you realize that you are behind and I mean WAY BEHIND. Between my small business needing attention and the window display I needed to prepare for, there just wasn't enough time in the day. Props to all you "Mompreneur's" out there. Juggling work and the kiddo is a sure recipe for "mom guilt". At least that's my experience this week. The type of week where my husband turns to me and says "I love you and it's going to be ok" and I burst into tears because it's exactly what I NEEDED to hear.

With Guy turning 4 months this week and an upcoming Dr. appointment I had a lot on my mind (whats new?). With all the information and opinions out in the world these days my head is spinning. I want to make all the right choices for my little Guy and It is A LOT of pressure. I'm thankful for a husband who caught me mid-breakdown and reminded me that he loves me and that our Guy is going to be A-OK. Reminded me to trust God. Bad things can happen but I DO believe that God is in control 100%. All I can do is make the best choices I know how and cover my little dude in prayer. Believe me...It's definitely easier said than done. I'll probably need to remind myself of this fact on the daily. It's hard to rewire a brain that is dead set on stress, fear, and all the "what if's". I'm thankful for friends and family who remind me when I forget and I'm about to walk off the edge of sanity. REAL LIFE RANT HERE...OK ON TO THE CUTE STUFF...

SOMEONE PINCH ME...

I MUST BE DREAMING... Just got home from an amazing weekend at the lake with friends to an inbox full of photos that make my heart almost BURST out my chest. I can't pick just 1 or 2 faves...So I won't! I'm so excited to share ALL of them with you. If you don't follow the amazingly talented Alex Smith @lovedaphnemae I suggest you do so IMMEDIATELY...SHE. DOES. NOT. DISAPPOINT. Alex captured photos of our little FAM-BAM at our house which we lovingly call "The Fishbowl" ...Call it a belated birthday/mothers day gift from Seth (For those of you that don't know the story, I'll spare you the dramatic details). From the moment Alex walked in our front door I felt at ease. She had a very calming presence and soft tone in her voice and she made taking pictures in our home feel natural and extremely comfortable. These pictures of my 2 treasures and I almost make my eyes rain...They are just so beautiful to me.

For those who know us Fisher's well, know that we love to entertain and our home is near and dear to our hearts. We are weirdly obsessed with our little blue house...questionably safe street and all. Each room in our home is decorated from top to bottom with keepsakes we have collected over the years and Seth lovingly complies with all my decorating whims. I'd say my style is a mixture of traditional and modern with pops of bright color throughout the house. I'm a huge lover of antiques and I have defiantly had to learn how to reign it in over the years because I LOVE IT ALL. We recently tore down 2 walls in our home and remodeled our kitchen. It is something Seth and I have been dreaming about for the last 4 years in our tiny home and we are so in love with how it turned out. Light and bright. Before the renovation It was always such  a bummer trying to entertain guests while preparing food in the kitchen. Everyone was naturally drawn to our cubical-like kitchen with glass of wine in hand and it quickly would become a "heat-box" of sorts. Now our kitchen is the "heartbeat" of the house (as it should be).

Far better than the new kitchen is our little 3 month old baby boy. Guy Wilder Fisher entered our lives and made this tiny house a home. His giggles and squeals fill our home with so much joy. I look forward to seeing him sitting at the counter smashing food all over our beautiful marble countertops and drawing with crayons all over our clean white cabinents. Well, maybe not looking forward to it, but more like preparing myself for the inevitable. Can't wait for all the beautiful and messy memories that are yet to be made in this little 1940's home. 

Mini-Fishy Road Trip

Let me tell you people..."road tripping" ain't the same with a baby. Its all stinky diapers, drool, "where's the boppy!?"and keeping the volume down while little Mr. Guy Wilder takes a nap in the car. Vastly different from the "fly-by-the-seat of our pants" spontaneity we have been taking advantage of the last 7 years. I'll be the first to say that this  "mom life" I'm living never sounded appealing to me, but the crazy part is...I'm freaking LOVING it. Adventuring with my two favorite dudes defiantly tops my list these days, smelly diapers and all. SO, OFF WE GO!...Vintage T, ripped jeans, sneakers, and braided hair. Because, clean hair? Ain't nobody got time for dat!
 

Our first stop LAGUNITAS BREWERY in Petaluma, CA.  I can't tell you enough what a dream Seth's job is...Not just because of our endlessly stocked refrigerator full of LAGUNITAS beer, but because his company is so family (and dog) friendly. I mean...We are the people with a baby at a BAR?!? Who am I? From the moment we walked in Guy was being passed around from co-worker to co-worker who were all waiting to meet him. Keep in mind that most of these co-workers are big bearded men. We are so fortunate to be a part of this Lagunitas Family. If you ever get a chance to venture in the Napa area stop by and have a beer. You will not be disappointed. Outside there is grass amphitheater, shaded wooden tables, and some unique vintage/retro decor (like the old photo booth pictured below). If you get the opportunity, go upstairs to "the Loft"...it is an antique hoarder's dream (cough, cough, I wouldn't know a thing about hoarding antiques). 

We stopped for a drink and dinner at TAPS in downtown Petaluma. We enjoyed DELISH food and listened to live music by the river, no complaints here. Did I mention the wine? 

You know you have reached a new level of "adulting" when you wake up before 6am on vacation. So we packed our car and our Squishy Fishy and headed to Sonora, CA. I don't know about you but when I think of Sonora I picture a dried up town in some Clint Eastwood western (makes me parched just thinking of it) That could not be further from the truth...Cute boutiques, restaurants, and antique stores all on a picturesque strip in downtown Sonora. SO STINKIN CUTE! We stayed in the coolest little boutique hotel, The Gun House. We drank by the pool (some things never change), enjoyed our coffee on the balcony outside our room, ate great food, and shopped downtown. 

Overall first family trip was a success...especially when little Guy stunk up an adorable clothing boutique while I was shopping. Hey, that's our "Little Stinker" for ya. This Mom life is defiantly not a glamorous one, but it is full of laughter and light. Overall I'd say we are knocking this whole parent thing out of the park, but then again...ask me in a week.

Meet The Schraub's...

Adam & Brittany are HITCHED!!! Seriously one of the most perfect weddings I have ever had the privilege to attend. Sherry Ray KILLED IT! The center pieces alone were crush worthy. Blush, coral, Ivory, lavender flowers, and eucalyptus leafs made for perfectly draped centerpieces. Still Waters Vineyard provided not only the most breathtaking backdrop but also an amazingly friendly staff. Not only was I honored to attend, I was asked to stand by one of my very best girls side as a Bridesmaid while she tied the knot. Something Borrowed was thrilled to help with some details for the BIG DAY. Here is a glimpse into a few of the signage touches we provided for special day... 

Derik & Esther "Hoppily Ever After"...

We were lucky enough to be part of the festivities when Ms. Esther Tingle became Mrs. Derik Anderson. While trying to find the word that most accurately describes this perfectly paired couple, "Quirky" comes to mind. From their love & devotion of craft beers, her bright cobalt blue heels, to the reenactment of a Star Wars fight scene in full wedding attire (I'm talking light sabers and all people!). These two enjoy the little things in each other that make them uniquely individuals and together, the perfect pair... He is the "Hops" in her Ale and She is his very own Princess Leia. 

Let me tell you, this girl has enough SASS to knock your pants off and yet was as CHILL as cucumber on her big day.  I think the "Hoppily-Ever-After IPA" that Derik brewed especially for his bride and guests might have helped. WINK. WINK. It was Delish!!!! 

Kearney Park was the perfect location for the big day. The guests were shaded under a tunnel of cascading Olive Trees. It created the most romantic and intimate setting I have ever seen for a ceremony. Luckily, the FABULOUS (as Esther would say) http://www.brianferrariphotography.com was there to snag some beautiful snapshots of the evening. From the rustic barn-wood benches, crystal chandelier, white iron gazebo, to the various hues of blue the evening was filled with Derik and Esther's special touch. AND...The most touching of all? ...The Father Daughter dance. Preston and Esther went to the YMCA for dance lessons once a week for months before the wedding in preparation. Apparently Preston was feeling a little rusty and needed his daughter to help him dust off those dancing shoes. The dance was perfection. Preston even dipped his daughter one last time before handing her off to his new Son in Law. Let me tell you there wasn't a dry eye in the place. You could defiantly feel the LOVE.