Wednesday Five - 19

We’re back with a Wednesday Five after taking a quick break last Wednesday to reintroduce ourselves. This past week we jumped into a quick design challenge (see below) and next week we have our first install day in 4 months! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to stay in the loop and get all the details.

1. We joined the #2days200dollar challenge hosted by Cynthia Harper. The idea is to choose an overlooked space in your home and make some quick, inexpensive and impactful updates. We chose a bathroom and we went for it. Day 1 took place this past weekend - we posted lots of behind the scenes action in our Instastories and you can now check those out on our Instagram highlights. There was paint and electrical work and the MVP went to a window treatment.

Here’s a sneak peek.

you’ve never heard of Cynthia Harper, we interviewed her earlier this year (check out that interview here). And you can also head to her website - Cynthia Harper Living - she’s an insanely talented stylist and social media influencer.

2. The fleece pullover that I eyed during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this summer is now on sale again! And it’s restocked (lots of sizes sold out this summer). So, YES.

3. Paperfolk has the cutest, free printable “Halloween Parent Candy Tax” form. Thank goodness someone finally came up with official paperwork. Our house has a long standing Sour Patch Kid tax. And I believe local Congress just passed new taxes on Twix, Reese’s Cups and Snickers. (I previously mentioned Paperfolk in the very first Wednesday Five - they sell the sweetest journals, letterboards and more).

4. It’s time to talk about weighted blankets. They’re exactly what they sound like - really heavy blankets. Most are 20 lbs. The idea is that the weight relieves stress and anxiety, and ultimately leads to a better night’s sleep. Since the start of the year I’ve been hearing about them more and more and now, apparently, Kourtney Kardashian swears by them. I don’t actually have trouble sleeping, but I’m just so curious. This may go on my holiday list this year. Just because.

5. Sonia has spent every free moment of her last week binging I’m Sorry. She says it’s ridiculous funny. Like, truly and actually laugh out loud. Cringe worthy at times (think Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm), but also relatable as the lead is a fellow mom just trying to get it done.

GO SOX!!!

- Leah

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I'm So Very Happy to Reintroduce Gray Oak Studio

It’s been a while since Sonia and I told you about ourselves. Ya know, given you the scoop on how we spend non-work hours, shared our favorite flavor of ice-cream or revealed our most embarrassing moments. And by “been a while” I mean been forever because we’ve never done a little “about us” post. And by “revealed our most embarrassing moments” I mean never have and never will…

But before we do a little get-to-know-us post, we have to address the sweetest, most slender elephant in the room - Michele. You may have noticed that Michele has been absent from mention these days. Here, at long last, is the story: Earlier this year, Michele made the decision to leave Gray Oak. Tear, SOB, sniffle, SOB. Michele is a teacher by profession. And as passionate as she is for home design and as crazy talented as she is at designing gorgeous spaces and as much as Sonia and I literally begged her not to go, her true love is with education. So, over the spring she slowly finished her client work and by summer it was official. Officially heart breaking. But as devastated and Sonia and I were, we were also, of course, supportive. Sometimes it really is distance that makes the heart grow fonder. And Michele’s heart is with teaching.

Sigh.

So, let me reintroduce myself and my partner in crime, Sonia.

Before there was Gray Oak, there was Leah and Sonia in a playgroup with our 2-year-old daughters. That’s how we met. Playdates at the local playground, coffee and cheddar bunnies at the WholeFoods play area, story hours at the library. We were mom friends. Then friend friends. And now more like family who run a business together.

Between the two of us, we have 6 kids. Sonia has the oldest (8 years) and I have the youngest (9 months). We live a mile apart, making it a little too easy to swing over each other’s houses at all hours of the day/night to quick chat about a fabric sample. We would both live on pasta if that was socially acceptable and a viable, nutritional option. And we are Walking Dead super fans. Although I think our obsession is about to end…is Rick really leaving?!?

1. Pre-Gray Oak, Sonia was a psychologist.

2. When we’re not working, she can be found at the beach. And when it’s too cold for the beach, she can be found planning a beach vacation.

3. She’s from the Boston area, but lived in Northern California for 4 years, which shaped both her love for coastal interiors and her obsession with the beach.

4. Sonia grew up in a family of builders and contractors. She’s been in and around new construction and mid-remodel homes her whole life. Home design is literally in her blood.

5. She loves Game of Thrones maybe more than Walking Dead. Maybe? Probably? It’s hard to remember because it’s been over A YEAR since Game of Thrones has been on television. Ridiculous.

6. NEEDS coffee in the morning.

1. Pre-Gray Oak, I was a lawyer.

2. How do I spend my free time? Well....real life, like Sonia, I spend free time folding laundry and doing dishes. BUT, when I have a moment for me time, I’m at the gym or listening to a podcast. Podcast listening actually pairs really well with both laundry folding and dish cleaning.

3. I’m also from the Boston area, but lived in Brooklyn for 5 years. I still root for the Sox, but have a deep love for NYC.

4. I’ve been DIYing the heck out of my home since I was a wee youngin’. I would decoupage end tables, sew pillows and “make wallpaper” as a child. My parents came to expect (and accept) the rearranging of my bedroom furniture on a monthly basis.

5. I’m obsessed with the Bachelor franchise.

6. I drink hot water. Sometimes with a lemon, but usually not.

We’re so happy that you’re following along on this journey. We plan to do a little more “getting to know us” type posts going forward. Especially now that we have these fancy headshots and all.

- Leah

Wednesday Five - 18

How was everyone’s Columbus Day weekend? I know, not the greatest opening question given that most people do not actually get Columbus Day off from work and that some people are anti the existence of Columbus Day (including the state of CA). But, I had to bring it up because my husband and I both had the day off and so our whole family made a trip up and over to Lake George for a quick vacation. It was a really awesome weekend full of hiking and board games and fire pits.

Anyway, circling back, I hope you had a really awesome weekend too…even if it was only 2 days…

PHOTO OF LAKE GEORGE From GRAY OAK STUDIO Instagram / FaceBook Feed

1. Lake George is awesome. The road trip to Lake George was not. Google told us it would take 4.5 hours to get there. Two stops and lots of traffic later, we were arrived after 6.5 hours. The number of times “are we there yet?” was uttered/screamed is beyond your wildest nightmares. But for every road trip low is an equal high - the sunset, car games and previously untold stories were all priceless. And here and there we were able to distract with audio books. I told you about Story Pirates Podcast in a previous Wednesday Five, which is one of our go-tos for long car rides. And here are a bunch of audio book collections that I recommend based on loving the paper books.

Curious George Collection / Roald Dahl Collection / Amelia Bedelia Collection / Pinkalicious Collection / Magic Treehouse Series / Winnie the Pooh Collection / Dr. Seuss Collection

We have the Dr. Seuss collection, which is a serious crowd pleaser, and borrowed the Winnie the Pooh collection from the library for this road trip.

2. Call me a 15-year-old teenie bopper, but I’ve discovered Aerie and I love it. It’s an entire line of clothing dedicated to loungewear. Not yoga and gym gear, which is a well-deserved craze, but this stuff is watching Netflix and eating icecream clothing. Or, as I like to think, acceptable grocery store shopping clothes. I’ve picked up a bunch of stuff during recent sales (the slides are $6…I couldn’t resist):

Slides / Hometown Sweatshirt / High Waist Leggings / Henley Tank / Baseball T-shirt

3. Joanna Gaines recently posted a simple and super useful “how to” guide for styling your fireplace mantel on her blog. We think she nailed it. The only Gray Oak diversion/addition is that we believe symmetry done right is equally beautiful. Asymmetry is more modern and symmetry is more traditional.

SOURCE

4. If you haven’t heard of Orlando Soria, I’m so excited to be the one to introduce you. He has an awesome lifestyle website. He’s an Instagram legend. If you’re ever having a bad day, watch his Instastory and you won’t be able to help but turn that frown upside down. He’s the author of a hilarious home design book. And, he just finished shooting the pilot episode of a series for HGTV. Fingers and toes crossed that it actually makes it’s way to cable.

5. Sonia took a trip to Target last week and shared her favorite finds on our Instastories, which included a gold turkey. So, here they are for those who don’t follow us on IG (but you really should, so check these out and then head over to Instagram and commit).

Faux white artichoke / Faux eucalyptus wreath / Gold turkey / Remember to flush / Wash your hands /

Have a great rest of your week!

- Leah

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