The Fogue Abode

This month, I have discovered and am loving on WaterWipes which I found at my local Walgreens.  Being a mom, I'm always on the look out for chemical-free and natural products to use with my little stinker.  Aspen had developed a pretty regular diaper rash from her recent love of apple chuice *juice* and it wasn't agreeing with her hinny.  The regular wipes we normally used were not helping at all; in fact, they seemed to be making the problem worse.  So I was pumped to hear that Walgreens now carried WaterWipes, a chemical free baby wipe that contains 99.9% pure Irish water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract.



I rushed right to the store when I heard and within a couple of days, and even more chuice, her bottom was completely cleared up.  (I'll spare you the pictures, just trust me on this one.)

But not only were the WaterWipes amazing with her sensitive hinny, they stood up to the DIY Mom test and were an excellent resource to grab for my paint messes.  Clean up was a breeze.  WaterWipes are a great alternative for a more natural and gentler approach than those other wipes.


I'm pumped that these safer alternatives are now available in our local Walgreens as opposed to ordering online and then waiting for the shipment. And, because Walgreens is so awesome, they've provided an opportunity for five lucky winners to receive a $100 gift card to stock up on your own awesome WaterWipes.  Make sure to read through the end for the giveaway opportunity. 



Trust me when I say, these wipes are life changing for my little sensitive lady and this mom has one less thing to worry about when it comes to messy cleanups, both hers and mine.




I'm hard core crushing on this beautiful living space that was featured in At Home Arkansas.  This wine colored couch is to die for and it certainly allows for vibrant pops of color with the curtains and pillows.  The space was designed by Mitchell Hill out of Charleston, SC. 


If you read my post earlier this week, you got a first hand look at all the vintage yummies I found.  I think my favorite was the use of vintage ice skates that I found in all of the Christmas décor.  I can certainly envision a fun porch project.  Isn't this Christmas tree that Serendipity On The Square set up just divine!?



September was short and sweet, just like this months Fogue Faves.  Keep checking back to see what else is going on in the Abode.  And before you leave, make sure you check out the fun WaterWipes Walgreens Giveaway below.  You can check them out on  and as well

WaterWipes Walgreens Giveaway

This past weekend was our local Vintage Market Days.  If you have never experienced a Vintage Market Day, you must check them out.  There are unique markets all across the U.S.  Check out their site to see when one is coming to a city near you.

 

What was I digging at the fall market?

Signs, signs and more signs.  Everyone loves a beautifully scripted verse or a quirky saying to hang in their home.  These also make for really great gifts with Christmas right around the corner.  Sign shops were everywhere at VMD including my favorite shop Charlie + Ella.




 
Tea Towels were another huge item at many of the vendor's booths.  I found several humorous towels that I need to add to my collection.



Vintage Christmas.  What is that like this year?  Well I saw lots and lots of ice skates.  There was even a tree decked out from top to bottom in skates that was dreamy.  Also, the cotton trend continues.  I love how they used the cotton in this tree below.  I need cotton stems ASAP!

 

Genius Ideas

As we walked into the barns, I was dazzled with their Gather table.  This table runner of magnolia leaves stole my heart! 

I can do that!

Anytime I visit a market, I love to look for fun and easy ideas that I could do myself.  This year, I was digging this book page wreath.  This may be a fun craft project for Christmas this year.  It looked like rolled book pages glued to a simple wreath frame.


Did you get to attend Vintage Market Days in Little Rock this year?  What was your take away?

Can I talk blog for a minute?  Great, thanks.



I refuse to be a victim of Blog Stat Obsession Disorder!  Also know as BSOB.  Symptoms include:

• checking  your pageviews multiple times a day
• obsessing over missing a scheduled post for fear of losing a single page view count
• religiously documenting your blog stats each month
• freaking about the perfect picture
• booking your weekends solid of projects

I have been full time blogging 3 days a week for 9 months.  Do you know that's how long it takes to grow a human?  But I have seen no changes in my blogging stats. (which frustrated me)  Sure I've grown as a writer and photographer.  I've had incredible opportunities.  But in a world full of bloggers, its often hard to let your voice be heard.

I guess that's what I've been trying to do for 9 months, make my voice be heard.  I feel like I have been so busy trying to pump out 3 posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Because, if I missed a day, my already poor stats suffered.  I tried to make blogging my job, and it's not my job it's my hobby.

Well, I'm here to say that I refuse to be chained by these demands any longer.  I love my home and I love sharing about it and my family.  But from today forward, posts will be published when I have something to tell you about.  I have to keep the "hobby" part in check.

I want to produce useful and interesting content, not just filler.  I want my friends to appreciate what I have to share.

I still have a full list of projects I would love to complete and I will share along the way as I go.  But I do not like having my life run by what is blogable and what isn't. 

So see ya later blog stats, page views and visits, I want those that are here and loyal to get great content.  That means that I can't be strapped to the demands of blogging schedules and pageviews. 

Seeing as this is the first day of fall, it's appropriate to be turning a new bloggy leaf. 

How is it fair time already!?  While the end of September is creeping up on us, I wish the temps would creep down.  It may be fall (like tomorrow) but it certainly doesn't feel like it.

I will admit to dragging out the boots and fur vest last weekend, but it was a miserably hot weekend.

Back to the fair.  This past week was our local fair parade and fair.  While this was Aspen's 2nd year at the fair, there wasn't much to remember about the first year for her.

But this time, she had a grand ol' time.



We started out watching the local parade.  Living in a town with two college's, it sure made for a musical event.  Aspen loved the bands (and the chuice *juice* and fishies *goldfish*)


It was incredibly hot and muggy, but we ventured out to the fairgrounds non the less.  We started out by finding her picture in the Cutest Kid Contest.  She was super excited when she saw it.  She was smiling with all 5 teeth shining.


Then, we wondered over to the livestock.  She liked the goats.


I mean really liked the goats.


She liked the goats so much she wanted to give it kisses.


Chris was excited about trying out cotton candy with Aspen.  That was a big fat fail, she wouldn't even try it.  But me and Chris got to indulge on a childhood treat.

Before we left, we let Aspen pick a few ducks from the pond or rather kiddy pool.  When I think of fair games, I always think of the duck pick up and skeet ball. (Which they didn't have, what fair doesn't have skeet ball?)  Since skeet ball was out, Dad did a ball toss and won Aspen a gold fish!  Surprisingly, Nemo still lives despite the diet of brownie mix and a little milt *milk*.


That rounded out this years fair adventure.  We were both grateful that she was still too young to enjoy rides.  I guess we will rock, paper, scissor that task off next year. 

Ahoy Maties!

Yes it's National Talk like a Pirate day and I have to squeeze my Captain Sparrow impersonation in somewhere.  Your welcome!

Besides that little random tid-bit, I am so excited to discuss even further, the topic of Bible Journaling.  We are going to take a side step from the usual home talk and go into my latest obsession, journaling.



If you remember, last month I touched on the topic of bible journaling with this post.  Well, soon after I posted this, I was contacted by our Women's Ministry leader to see if I would be willing to share about any topic where I worship.  I was a tad nervous to take up the task, but also a bit excited that I could share my new found worship technique with other creative sisters.  So I said yes to the opportunity and this past Saturday I was able to share about this adventure.



{If you are joining my blog for the first time from the conference, hello!  I'm so glad you took some time to check me out.}

Let's dive into the basics of bible journaling for other newbies.

What is Journaling?

 Take the 30 Day Challenge with me?

sorta...

I've been dying to show you guys the bathroom, if only it were complete.  We ran into a major snag with the shower and tiling (which will be for a future blog post.)  So I decided to pull the curtain, so to speak, on that project and show you the rest of the bathroom.

And here it is!




We began the renovation by demoing the entire bathroom, minus these cabinets which cleaned up nicely with some fresh paint and new knobs.

We selected a Solid Surface countertop from Lowe's called Aspen.  It was fate when we saw what it was named.  It really pulls off the marble look well, but for half the price.  It does have a more matte finish, but clean up has been a breeze.


For the faucet, we went with a Delta faucet set in brush nickel.  The squared off look of the knobs and faucet complement the shape of the inlaid sink.  If you order a counter top and sink together from Lowes, they will install it for you which really saved us armatures on figuring out how to hook that thing up.  I mean just hooking the water up was nightmare enough. 


While browsing through Target one day, I set my eyes upon this glorious slate cheese board and thought that would be a perfect feature on our new crisp counter top. Instead of forking out more cash, I decided to take a spare slab of our flooring tile since it looked similar and added some felt pads to it to protect the counter and came out with the same cheese board look for nothing.

You will remember here where I covered making these industrial shelves?  I love how they look over the toilet.  I pulled the plug and really decided to mix metals in the bathroom.  I used brush nickel faucets and mirror and brushed bronze fittings, and knobs.  Having the same brush finish really pulled off the combination.


I love the added privacy the half wall we built gives the toilet area.  I found this basket for a steal from Earnest Home Company.   It fits perfectly in the corner between the wall and the toilet to store toilet paper.

Along the far wall is where I hung the industrial towel hangers I made out of a few pieces of scrap lumber and water valves.  It perfectly complements the modern/industrial bathroom feel we are going with.

I can't wait to finish out this bathroom reveal when we finish up the shower.  This is by far my favorite part of the whole project.  It's just so yummy!  But you'll have to wait...

How about a good before and after for the road!?




Until then, arrivederci!  And if you're wanting to know where everything came from, check out the source list I have below.

• Flooring - Style Selections Galvano Charcoal Porcelain Granite Floor and Wall Tile with white grout
• Countertop - US Marble Baroque Aspen Solid Surface with splash guard
• Faucet - Delta Olmsted Spotshield Brushed Nickel 2-Handle Widespread WaterSense Bathroom Faucet
• Vanity Light - Portfolio D&C 2-Light Brushed Nickel
• Mirror - allen + roth Silver Leaf Beveled Rectangle Framed Contemporary Wall Mirror
• Drawer Knobs -
• Water Valves for Towel Holder -
• Towels - Threshold Collection from Target
• Bath Mat - Rug Blue/White Loop - Threshold Target
• Shower Curtain - Waffle Weave Shower Curtain White Target
• Basket - Wicker Large Round Basket Target
• Stool - Painted Tree Vintage Market

Our baby sitter had to close, so I get an unexpected day home with my sweet girl (who, by the way, is entered in the Cutest Kid Photo Contest at our local fair, so if your local make sure to go vote! #16)  With life being crazy lately, I haven't spent a good solid day doing fun stuff with her, so I'm going to dedicate this day to just that.



Before I run off with her, I figured I could post some more fall inspiration for you.  This time, it comes from my moms house.

A few weekends ago, I spent a whole Sunday helping her clean out my grandmothers storage shed.  We found some real treasures in there including a few boxes full of fall décor. 


Aren't these little pilgrims just too cute. 

And this doughbowl!  I'm in totally love with it. 




Happy Hump Day, now let me run and grab this little monkey before she falls off the bed.