welcome.

And so I begin.

We recently ushered in Fall and it is absolutely hands down my favorite season. I love taking on new projects in the Fall-- decluttering and minimizing, redecorating, streamlining and redesigning my wardrobe, and taking on new projects. With all this newness I made a drastic (for me) change in my work schedule to help my family and save my sanity. I downsized to part time to afford myself more time with my daughter and partner, and of course for myself. 

For the first time since my daughter was born (three and half years ago already!) my mornings are completely my own.  We no longer wake at the crack of dawn ("But mommy, the sun is still sleep") to begin the bustle of breakfast-coffee-shoe hunt-lunch packing-rush to school-rush to work. Austyn dictates what we rise, which is usually 7:30. We lounge. We make bacon. We watch Monsters Inc. (for the thousandth time) while getting ready to go, at our leisure. By 9 a.m. most mornings Austyn is at school and I'm on my way.

Something about being free in the mornings really makes the possibilities seem endless. There's yoga. There's mommy and me pottery. There's sewing class. There's Target. All of these are my favorite things but the next few weeks will involve me hankering down in my favorite local coffee shop and formatting my blog.

I am beyond excited to share my life here as I try to juggle being a modern woman (whatever and everything that means), raising a daughter, growing my relationship, stepping away from the corporate world, and gearing myself toward writing full time and being an entrepreneur.  If you are curious about the ramblings of a mom living in the city with a penchant for minimalist home design and style , surviving a three year old, and coffee, I welcome you. But just as importantly; I welcome myself.

"The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome, 
and say, sit here. Eat. 
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you"

--from Life After Love, Derek Walcott