still learning...

I work from home.  I also work for myself.  I also am a full time mom.  I love it...most days.  I am SO grateful and feel for reals blessed to be able to make a (small) living making my own schedule and still being around for play dates, making lunches, fingerpainting, etc. I realize many moms would give anything to be able to be home with their kids and it isn't a reality for them.  but I'm certainly still learning how to balance it all.

one of my fav blogs (it's super cool) is currently doing a series on the balance of motherhood and working from home, interviewing various mothers in this position.  though my profession isn't design or blogging, it's been so helpful to read the schedules and approaches other moms have for making sure they are effective in their jobs and in the lives of their kids.

and now, a few moments of vulnerability...there have been plenty of days I have lost it and explain cry to my husband that I'm done working and just need to focus on being a good wife and mom or that I need to only work and have full time child care.  I have high expectations and high standards for myself. I am someone who legitimately thinks she can do it all and do it all well.  and when I mean all, I mean all.  wife, mom, professional, chef, artist, athlete, teacher...oh, and my kids will always be dressed adorably, house is always spotless and decorating amazingly.  not realistic?...the reality is, I sit here 9 months pregnant with my third child, while my 1-year-old and not-yet-3-year-old "nap".  this is a season of life that may not exactly be good timing for all of my grand ambitions. the bottom line is: I can certainly handle all that is on my plate at the moment, but I need to constantly be looking at our lifestyle and make sure it's working for our family.  not for me, but for our family.  and I need people around me to help me be honest about that.  I believe that the pull of professional life and parenthood will always be a challenge for me, but I'm excited to continue to learn how to be most effective in both and be willing to make adjustments when I'm not.

I hope to eventually post some tips of my own, but until that brilliance is gifted to me, check out these other moms' approaches here, here and here and of course, if you have any pearls of wisdom, send them on.

garages aren't always for cars. or junk.

we've been debating (for far too long) on whether or not to "convert" (a term I use loosely) our garage into our home office space.

as work-from-homers, being truly productive in an "office" that is also part of your master bedroom is not ideal.  but as truly loving, sacrificial parents that don't want to see toys covering their entire house, we have chosen to use the designated office of our house as a playroom and are limited in alternative spaces.  we are also not quite the giant corporation (i.e. more than 2 people who don't already live together) to justify office space away from our home.  so here we are, in need of a solution that gets our office out of our bedroom and in a space that can be separate from our kids play areas, which aren't often conducive to effective, professional phone calls and video conferences.

while the garage seemed like a crazy option to me at first, the image above gave me hope & inspiration...clean painted floors, embracing the industrial elements of garage door hardware, chalkboard-painting any part of it (duh).  it looks like a living space, no?? so, while I'm still totally uncertain of trivial details like where in the world we'll put all our junk we keep in there and how well a portable a/c unit really works, I'm kind of digging this idea. cool???

photo: design sponge

babes on my mind

hi friends.  here it is, post 1. and having no intentions of grand, profound posts coming out of this here blog, let's just start like I've been at this for years, no need for introductions....

it's mostly newborns on the brain in my life these days and you must know this fact about me: I rarely care about practicality.  so most often, my pregnant curiosities (and internet searches) are focused on what will my new babe wear? will I find any cool, new baby gear and gadgets that I must have? will I get newborn photos? how, oh how, will I ever decorate the new shared bedroom of my 2 older children? (oh, and don't worry, there is adequate time obsessing about whether this babe is a boy babe or girl babe and WHEN will he/she arrive?!) here are some photos of my first 2 soon after their arrival for your enjoyment as we wait...

oliver kate, 5 weeks

truett, 4 weeks

so as I journey, here is some preciousness I have found...

- sweetest onesie for babes in the summer (so far, that would be all of mine)

- I'm not super "green" but I'll prob need to go ahead and get these bottles, because they look cool, duh

- love the direction of this shared kids room

- oh, and back to what babies wear, I mean come on.

- I've always loved the idea & style of these birth photos

- the little practicality I do have won't allow me to buy my 23408750th stroller, but isn't it time to graduate?


and there it is, post 1 down.