a summer catch-up + happy friday

After a long time spent unplugged, I'm back.  I've tried hard to figure out how to avoid the ubiquitous I'm back blogging post, but I've come to the conclusion that it's best to just dive right back in to this little world I created and then stepped back from.

Summer is slowly fading here in the south and I can feel the tiniest bit of fall in the air and see it ever so slightly in the light.  Since the last post on my blog was about swimwear, I figured I'd catch up first with some fall-ish links to love.

I stocked up fun bracelets at Forever 21.  This one, this one and this one!

Back-packs are back!  Paul used this one (in gray) on our trip to San Francisco.

Linda Rodin, you're the coolest.  And those silver boots!

Zara! Online!  Whoo-hoo!  p.s. Don't miss their Dear America photo series. It is beautiful.

This trench is already on my Christmas list.  But Oh! How I want it for fall : )

Our cousin's use these adorable bins for their daughter's toys.  The fox is too cute (and fall-ish!)

My favorite fall purchase.  Great inside a purse + on it's own!

After two months away, there is lots to catch up on!  Here's a little look-see into what's been going on in my world since July (!)....

balancing

Note: This entry was reposted after mysteriously disappearing months ago. I added some new pictures, though ; )

Joanna Goddard's new series on balancing work, life and motherhood has me smitten.  Amazingly talented working mom's like Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day!, Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, Jenny Komenda of Little Green Notebook, Elizabeth Antonia of The Littlest, Jenna Park of Sweet Fine Day and Amanda Hesser of Food 52, have beautifully and honestly described the good, the bad and the ugly sides of, as Joanna said, "the actual day-to-day of how they do it."

This year, I've felt more scattered and stretched than before, so finding this connection with other women + mom's has meant so very much to me.  Each morning I scramble to read the next post, soaking up the post and then re-read each one of them over again.  I feel like hugging Joanna for creating this series.  I think it's really wonderful when women are forthright about the hardships faced with trying to do it all.  It's easy to believe the little lies we tell ourselves; like every other mom has it together and we don't.

I love what Elizabeth of the littlest wrote:

"Every day I find myself thinking, 'If not the mama, then who?' Women really are extraordinary in their ability to do so much as caregivers, partners, sisters, friends. I think we innately just want to please and to help each other. However, it's of vital importance that we are authentic to ourselves and simply do our best, whatever that is. It's so easy to compare ourselves to other moms out there (especially online) thinking that they have it all, do it all. We can look to each other for inspiration and connection but at the end of the day, how we translate this into real living with our family and friends is the most important thing."

Whether you are a stay at home mom, a working mom or both, you won't regret reading this fantastic series.  

xo,

steph