October Love, Life Lately

Hey y'all! I wanted an October printable for my kitchen and couldn't find a free one I liked so I decided to make my own.  Figured I'd drop in and share it with you.  You know.  Since it's October 27th and all.  Just save it for next year, ok? :) 

We've had a busy start to Fall.  Weddings, birthdays, baby showers, school field trips, our first year of soccer - you know the drill.  There's just something about October though.  The leaves start to change and fall.  That breeze.  Oh, that breeze.  Windows open. At home AND in the car.  Radio up.  Deer season.  October baseball - because....CUBS.  

Octobers are good for the soul y'all.  

(printable at the bottom)

We took the kids to their first MLB game.  It was cold and rainy and they totally weren't feeling it.  Best part? We were at a Cardinals game and the kids kept yelling "Go CUBS!".  We were like right behind the Cards dugout where all the legit fans sit. LOL. At least we didn't actually put them in their CUBS shirts!

The girls painted pumpkins and managed to not make too much of a mess actually. 

Paisley had such a great time playing soccer for the first time.  Charlie got to help coach and Guthrie dressed like the team every single game.  Thank goodness for friends with last years' shirts! :) 

We got to fish at Aunt Lan's during a birthday party.  G isn't so sure about those fish! 

We visited a farm/pumpkin patch with Paisley's class and we also checked out a local farm that put on a big vendor event called "Pickin' at the Patch". The girls loved both! 

We also survived another September.  That month means alot around here. My Dad is in charge of our hometown Apple Festival and of course we're all committee members.  It's a family affair.  But, this year, Charlie and I put together and pulled off a brand new event (with the help of lots of amazing friends).  It was called the Taste of Murphysboro and we were able to provide two scholarships to a couple of our hometown kids.  It turned out better than expected even though it was an insane amount of work.  Being able to give back and work in our own little town feels so good.  If you're not somehow involved in making your hometown a better place, I sincerely challenge you to get involved.  It will make your heart happy.  I promise.  

Well, there it is.  Life lately at the Eisert Farm and a free printable. 

You know lately I've been trying to take more pictures.  I know some people think that today's society is too addicted to their phones and tablets.  But I can't imagine not having all of these photo's.  I don't carry around my big ol' fancy camera in my purse and one day....I'll look back and be so, so thankful for these captured memories because y'all, we can't slow down time.  And it's flying by.

I saw this post on Facebook today and I think it fits perfectly here.

Source

And, now. The October Printable.  Because I want you to be overly prepared come next October... You're welcome. ;) 

Just right click and save :) 

Have an awesome day.  Thanks for stopping by! 

-Em

Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel

Happy Friday!!!!!  Did you check out our living room remodel yesterday!?  Wanna see our kitchen progress!?

Check us out - two posts in one week! haha! 

Once we finished the living room, I knew it wouldn't be long and Mama Bear's creative juices would start flowing and she would want to move onto the next project. We had talked about finishing the kitchen for awhile and I knew thats where her focus would be next.  So, I beat her to the punch and said "Why don't we do a shiplap wall in the kitchen?" (I know, asking my wife to do a shiplap wall is like asking a little girl if they want a pony)....and thats where project #2 took life.  Some of you might remember the wall we gave a makeover from our diy chalkboard and wine shelf tutorial. If not, you can check it out here. This wall was supposed to be green and somehow when we painted it when building the house the green turned to a brownish color. 

Disclosure: I forgot to take pictures of the before and each process throughout the project. I know....... Emily made the same face when I told her I forgot.

This wall gets treated the roughest out of all the walls in the house. It leads to the outside patio, which the kids, dogs and everyone else are constantly in and out. We always wanted to paint this wall but did not know what color to help hide the beating and dirt and dust it endures. You can see where the chalkboard and wine rack used to sit in this picture.

We've used the same trim in various parts of the house and we are slowly fazing it into every room. The top header trim is easy to install and comes from Lowes. Notice how the door is that gaudy orange color that matched the living room paneling. (not sure what we were thinking when we built the house and chose that stain color.)

Laying out the shiplap is fairly easy. Make sure to get your bottom row completely level. If your bottom row is off just the littlest bit you will notice it more and more as you go. Be sure to stagger your joints in the wood. My smallest cut was at 16 inches so it will it would hit a stud with each board.  Normal interior wall studs are spaced at 16".  

As with every project I came up a few boards short and had to run to the lumber yard to get some extra material. As we were headed to the checkout Guthrie climbed up on the cart and I snapped this picture on the right. I went back through my pictures and found the picture on the left of Paisley. Both pictures were taken almost exactly 2 years to the date from each other. Apparently Em had me working on a project on that day, too!

Not sure if this is coffee or a whiskey drink.......Both are acceptable forms of drink when painting. Just FYI. 

Here is the finished project. This wall is by far is my favorite in the whole house. We finally got to put our "the farm" sign and our "E" up that we scored at the Nashville Flea Market.  This entire room is still a work in progress.  Em needs to put some final touches on the wine holder and the bench is going away sometime soon.  We'd also like to to refinish our kitchen table.

Project #3 (Still in progress)

So after we finished the shiplap wall, we decided that our kitchen cabinets needed a major facelift. Being that they are builder grade cabinets they lack character. Again, that gaudy orange plagued our cabinets. I finally was able to talk Emily into buying me a paint sprayer. (A new project means a new tool. I've got this figured out) So now I am in the process of sanding down each cabinet to remove the stain and painting each of our 34 cabinets.

So far I've got the top cabinets painted (except the last one on the end.) Theses cabinets got painted twice because the first time I painted them I thought the paint was white which ended up being a light grey. Thank goodness Emily came home and found my mistake. Each day I try to get a couple cabinets sanded and painted so I don't burn myself out from painting. My least favorite thing to do in the world. 

Stay tuned to check out the finished project in the kitchen. Im sure before its all over Emily will talk me into a farmhouse sink and new countertops. We're also going to try to post more regularly so you can see what we've been up to around here!  

-Charlie-

Our Industrial, Farmhouse Living Room Overhaul!

Hey, Ya'll....... We've been MIA for a little while now. Not going to beat around the bush here, we've just been busy with life. We just celebrated both Paisley's and Guthrie's birthdays in April. Paisley turned 4 and Guthrie turned 2. (I know......sigh, I can't believe it either.) Now that the girls are getting to that fun, almost self sufficient age, we have been able to do more things with them. Which results in being on the go a lot!

Enough with the excuses! ;) Let's talk about some before and after's shall we? When we're not running to toddler tumble classes or to and from pre-school - we've been working on some more home improvements. 

Project #1 - Operation Living Room Overhaul

So mama B&W and I were tired of our old, outdated, orange-stained paneling living room and decided that something needed to be done about it. The living room always seemed dark and gloomy and we wanted something that would make the room we spend most of our time in brighter, airier, and more refreshing. (sorry for the phone photo's! That's what happens when Mama isn't home and there's two toddlers running around your construction zone!)


We originally put the paneling up in the living room when we built the house. After living in the camper for 9 months while building the house, we wanted something that would go up quick, cheap and get us out of the camper and into the house as quickly as possible! So paneling was the answer. 

Elsa and Frozen to the rescue to keep the kids happy while working!

See ya later orange paneling! :) Look how much bigger and brighter it seemed without that gloomy solid orange wall!

The rest of our house has a farmhouse, industrial, rustic style, so that's what we wanted to go with for this room too.    We decided we wanted to drywall the top half and shiplap the bottom half.  

After hanging the drywall on the top half of the room, we started to install the the bottom boards. We used 1x10 pine boards that we stained in american walnut. 

We added white accent trim for the baseboard, chair rail and new trim around the window. This easy project added so much life to this room!

We ended up adding some shelves on the wall with the TV. We wanted to bring in that industrial feel to go with the barn wood furniture we have in the living room. We used galvanized pipe that we painted black and a 2x10 that we stained american walnut to match the wall. 

And, here's the almost finished project. 

Yes, I said almost.  

Of course Em isn't completely satisfied with it yet.  She says we need new lamps, new pillows and a new industrial style, long locker style entertainment center.  She also mentioned something about those end tables needing to be white.  Sounds like I have some more work to do!  So stay tuned.  I'm sure this room will look different again in a few months! lol!

We've also tackled the kitchen.  It's looking more farmhouse-ish everyday complete with a white shiplap accent wall.  The cabinets are being transitioned to white.  New hardware.  New decor.  Lots of stuff happening in that space!  Check back soon for pics of the Farmhouse Kitchen progress! 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hopefully you'll be able to check in a lot more often from now on! 

-Charlie 

Eco-Home Giveaway!

We're celebrating the coming of spring with our Eco-Home Giveaway, sponsored by Mommy Scene and featuring products that help make life more Eco-friendly! All of the sponsoring brands offer products designed with families in mind, to encourage greener lifestyles. Check out these awesome brands and enter to win an amazing prize set below!

Thinkbaby | Thinksport

Prize: Thinkbaby GO2 Container + GO4TH 350ml + Stainless Steel Baby Bottle OR Sippy Cup OR Thinkster - winners choice + Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen, 6 ounces
Thinkbaby and Thinksport's founder, Kevin Brodwick, brought his interest in health and preventative medicine and his background in biotechnology together to form a company whose sole purpose is to create alternative products for babies to athletes alike. With a team of physicians and scientists focused on the latest biological and chemical sciences, Thinkbaby and Thinksport continue to lead in the usage of safe, non-toxic materials for consumer goods. Thinkbaby and Thinksport's efforts are further energized by working with both leading child and health advocacy partners and like-minded individuals. Learn more at gothinkbaby.com.

Crane

Prize: Crane Grey Droplet Humidifier
Crane's Droplet Humidifiers are a half gallon cool mist humidifier that runs for up to 15 hours. They are whisper quiet during operation, do not require a filter and they are energy efficient requiring less energy than a standard household lightbulb to run. All Crane cool mist humidifiers use an anti-microbial material to help fight bacteria buildup. Crane USA was founded with the continuing goal to "Design for Better Living." For everything from natural cold and flu remedies to relieving croup in infants, Crane's cool mist humidifiers are the perfect addition to any child or adult's room. Learn more at crane-usa.com.

Fresh Wave

Prize: Full Size Set of Fresh Wave products
Fresh Wave natural odor-removing products use simple, pure and natural ingredients to actually remove odors from your life. No harsh chemicals. No harmful ingredients. No masking fragrances. Fresh Wave products remove the odor at its source - on the molecular level. With Fresh Wave, odors go away. Happiness stays. Products are available at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and Ace Hardware. Learn more at freshwaveworks.com.

Little Dundi

Prize: 2 sets of Eco-friendly Hangers - choose from 6 designs
Little Dundi brings to life products inspired by baby. Our innovative line of Eco-friendly clothes hangers started with a cloud shaped infant sized model has grown to include hangers sized for toddlers & kids clothing. These hangers come in 6 attractive prints and are made of thick and sturdy recycled paperboard with an aqueous coating for a more polished look. All glues used are vegetable starch based and the inks are water based. Our hangers are our way of being friendly to the Earth. Learn more at littledundi.com.

Beachfront Baby

Prize: Recycled Beachfront Baby Wrap
Beachfront Baby makes fashionable water baby carriers! Each Beachfront Baby Wrap made with 100% Repreve PC polyester contains approximately 15 plastic water bottles! Each Recycled Wrap comes with its own matching drawstring carry bag, which is also made with Repreve, and our packaging for this wrap is printed on 100% recycled paper. Made in the USA, all our carriers are sewn with care by work-at-home-moms in the San Antonio, Texas area. Learn more at beachfrontbabywraps.com.

Wicks Beauty

Prize: Gift set of top sellers: Neem Skin Salve, Bentonite Clay Mask, Sea Salt Face Scrub, and Lavender Goat Milk Soap
Wicks Beauty is offering a gift set of a few of our top sellers: Neem skin salve, bentonite clay mask, sea salt face scrub, and lavender goat milk soap - a $36 value! Wicks features a family-focused array of products made with all-natural oils and butters that detox and heal skin while protecting its natural moisture. Our products help soothe and prevent eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Breathe new life into tired skin the natural way. Check out our line for babies and pets! Learn more at wicksbeauty.com.

Silikids

Prize: $50 gift set including newly released silicone cups, straws & universal fit straw and sippy tops
Siliskin Silicone Cups are made with 100% food grade silicone with an embedded stainless steel ring so they won't collapse when gripped. Dishwasher safe and great for indoor and outdoor use.
Siliskin Universal Silicone Sippy Tops fit over any size cup. The silicone top grips the cup top while air suction keeps it in place. The spout is free of intricate valves allowing for easy use and cleaning. Also dishwasher safe and perfect for on-the-go and indoor and outdoor use.
Siliskin Universal Straw Tops stretch over and grip the top of glasses of multiple sizes, while also kept in place with air suction. Use with a Siliskin silicone cup or a glass of your choice for an instant, no-spill straw top cup.
Silikids products are safe, modern & practical, easy to clean, and made from 100% food grade silicone. A great alternative to plastic! Learn more at silikids.com.

Sudsy Dough Moldable Soap

Prize: 12 oz. tub of Sudsy Dough with surprise toy inside! Fragrance of choice
Sudsy Dough is an interactive bath toy that doubles as a moldable scented dough and a cleansing soap. Kids can squeeze and squish Sudsy Dough in the bath, rub it on as body wash, or take it outside the tub and make custom-shaped soaps that will dry when left out in open air. Sudsy Dough is scented and infused with moisturizing ingredients such as Shea Butter and beeswax. Each ball also has a surprise bath toy hidden inside! Available fragrances include Merry Mango, Sassy Strawberry, Awesome Apple, and Bubbly Blueberry. Learn more at revelae.com.

Yummi Pouch

Prize: Set of 3 cloth snack or sandwich bags, style of choice
Take snacks on the go with Yummi Pouch cloth snack and sandwich bags. Our cloth bags are lined with a moisture resistant interior and decorated with colorful prints, choose from 16 cute patterns! Perfect for crackers, sandwiches, and dry snacks, or small items like bottle parts, teethers, and hair accessories! They open with a silent zipper that's simple enough for a child to use. Reduce the trash during lunchtime or organize your purse with our modern cloth bags. Learn more at revelae.com.

Back Buddy

Prize: Back Buddy Support Pillow
Back Buddy is an award-winning maternity and feeding support pillow, designed by a Chiropractor and nursing mother. It alleviates common back pain during and after pregnancy, and provides comfort and support for mom while holding or feeding baby. Made in the USA from high-quality structural foam that is certified to be made WITHOUT harmful PBDE flame retardants, phthalates, CFC's, formaldehyde, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals, and is tested for performance, durability, and emissions.
Learn more at back-buddy.com.

hipNgo

Prize: hipNgo - brand new, black on black design or color of choice
The hipNgo provides the ideal child carrying solution for the family with an active lifestyle and a busy toddler. The patented saddle seat centers the child against the adult hip and provides proper weight distribution, relieving strain on the arms, shoulder and hands. The simplistic shape, size and weight offer families on the go, a handy solution to the challenges of traveling with a toddler. The hipNgo can be adjustable for male or female versatility, left or right handed dexterity, as well as large and small build body types. Say goodbye to the bulky stroller and say hello to the 5-ounce hipNgo with its own storage bag. Available in several colors as well as classic black. Learn more at hipngo.com.

Enter to win these great prizes!

This giveaway is sponsored by Mommy Scene and is open to US entries. One winner will be chosen and displayed on the giveaway widget after the giveaway ends on March 28th, 2016. Mommy Scene and the participating blogs are not responsible for fulfilling brand-sponsored prizes. Prizes will be shipped directly from each brand.
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