blogging: how to keep a balance

skirt: tj maxx, shirt: tresics, sandals: birkenstock, sunglasses: cheapos from local store, lips: maybelline fuchsia fever

last night i shut the computer off at 9, had a big latte and a couple of white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies for dinner, in bed, with a stack of magazines - and it was heavenly!
 i've been going non-stop for the past few weeks and i am starting to notice that my patience runs thinner, my body is achy and my brain goes at 100 mps. when i finally go to bed at a time no mom of an 11 months old boy should go to bed, i still can't fall asleep. having my phone around all day doesn't help either. i love this blog and whenever i am not taking care of my little man or cooking, cleaning or doing laundry- which is not much time - i spend it thinking about post ideas, coming up with/planning outfits to wear, updating all my social media, returning comments, reading up on my faves and getting inspired. in the end, it takes up a lot of that precious time that i get to myself. oh and then there is my wonderful husband who when he gets back from work shouldn't get ignored by his wife as much as he has been...
when you ask other bloggers a lot of them will say that they blog for themselves, but let's be honest, we all hope to reach others with what we write. if i wanted to do all of this for myself i could set my blog to private or keep a journal - but hey, that didn't even work when i was a teenager. proof are all those 1/4 full journals in a box somewhere in the attic...
i love blogging and i hope that some of you who read my posts actually take something away from it all.

so i am going to start making an effort to get away from bloggy land a little more often and paying more attention to the ones around me. that doesn't mean there won't be the usual amount of posts but i really need to stop spending every night in front of the computer or checking my phone every 15 minutes. social media can be so addictive.
i hope this doesn't come across as me complaining, i am not! i'm just trying to be honest about the amount of work it actually takes to run a blog. and if you're like me and leaning a little more towards the type a side, you know how hard it is to let go and not try to give 100% all the time. sometimes i think it's actually a good thing i am not working a full-time graphic design job because i'd never come home from the office ;)

so, how do you other moms or work full-time/blog full-time ladies do it? how do you keep your balance without ignoring your real life friends and family or ignoring bloggy land?

5 trends to try for Spring 2012

in case you missed my post over at love stitched last week, here it is...

Hey everyone! Spring is finally here and I am so glad to be back today to share some of my favorite Spring looks with you. Trends come and go so it is important that you choose the items you buy carefully and try to make them work with your existing wardrobe. Don't be scared. Trends are fun and give you a great way to experiment with your style and find out what you like, don't like and what truly works for you. The following are suggestions and inspiration for you to apply to your existing wardrobe and lifestyle. I chose mostly budget friendly items that won't break the bank. Don't spend a ton of money on trendy items you may only wear a few times. Expensive items should be classic pieces that will stay in your closet forever.

Neon Accessories by theforgestyle

Bloomingdale s shopping tote, $25
Rhinestone jewelry, $35
GAP braided leather belt, $30
Wallis pink scarve, $28
Neon sunglasses, $12

If you're not sure about a certain trend like Neon for example, try to stick with accessories instead of buying a bright jacket or pants you may not feel comfortable in. We all have those items in our closets that still have the tags on them because we were too eager to buy into a trend that didn't suit us as well as we originally thought. Opt for a pair of sunglasses in a neon yellow or if you mostly like to wear blacks, white or grays, add a pop of color with a neon scarf.

Brightly Colored Denim by theforgestyle

Acid jeans, $80
Old Navy skinny fit jeans, $35
Charlotte Russe red jeans, $30
Stretchy pants, $30

Brightly colored denim is everywhere and it sure makes me happy.
Some of you might be scared to try this trend but it is actually pretty foolproof as long as you follow some easy rules:

1. The pants are the statement piece, don't go overboard with other colors but rather stick to neutrals.
2. Make sure to get a nice tight fit like skinnies or cropped chinos. Be careful with looser fitting bootcuts, they can easily make you look frumpy.
3. Stick to simple shapes and accessories when it comes to the rest of your outfit.

Floral Prints by theforgestyle

BKE Boutique dolman sleeve top, $52
Floral print skirt, $40
ASOS high heels, $32
ASOS floral backpack, $63
Forever 21 jewelry, $6.80
Pieces metal jewelry, $13
Neon Floral Silk Square, $68

This is a recurring trend that will definitely continue on into summer and come back around next year. Florals are an easy way to add a whimsy and feminine touch to any outfit. Use florals to soften up the look of leather pieces in an outfit or if you don't want to go overboard on the flower-power look, simply add a few fun jewelry pieces or a scarf to make a statement.
Floral prints usually come in a wide variety of sizes and with lots of pastel colors - another trend this season. Another great way to wear this trend is on your feet. If you're not quite sure how to pull off this look, start with shoes. When it comes to floral print skirts, dresses and shirts be aware that larger prints will draw more attention and smaller prints will give you a more subtle look.

Fringe by theforgestyle  

Fringe shirt, $25
Daytrip fringe vest, $26
Minnetonka shoes, $50
John Lewis yellow shoes, £70
River Island leather clutch, $54
Iosselliani drop earrings, £168
Elegantly Waisted Hippie Suede Fringe Belt, $110

This has got to be one of my personal favorites right now.
Fringe provides movement to your outfit and therefore more interest. When it comes to clothing stick to neutral colors and only wear one fringe item in an outfit. Wear a fringe vest with a plain t-shirt, pleather leggings, sandals and a wide brimmed floppy hat for a look that is oh so Boho. You can be a little more adventurous when it comes to the colors of your fringe accessories. Combine neon colors and fringe in your jewelry and opt for a pop of color with bags or shoes.

Striped Maxi Skirts by theforgestyle

Jessica Simpson striped skirt, $49
Karina Grimaldi ankle length skirt, $122
Swell floor length skirt, $45

This last one is an item everyone should have in their spring and summer wardrobe - the striped maxi skirt. It comes in so many colors and variations and makes for one incredibly easy outfit. Best of all, you will be as comfortable as if you were wearing your pj's.
Wear your maxi with a simple, tight t-shirt or tank tucked in and accented with a skinny belt for an easy, no-brainer outfit. Best of all, more than likely you already have those pieces in your wardrobe.

look one: pants: AE jeggins, black heels: isaac mizrahi for target, blouse: old navy, necklace: the gap, flower earrings: h&m, watch: michael kors, lip color: coral by revlon . look two: same pants, floral wedges: rampage, t-shirt: tresics, fringe vest: xhilaration at traget, earrings: bijoux brigitte, bracelets: AE. 

Here are two easy ways to style a pair of colored pants. 

For the first outfit I simply paired the pants with black pointy toed heels, a black button down blouse, a skinny belt and a statement necklace and lip color in the same red as the pants. 

For the second outfit I paired the pants with a simple white t-shirt, a fringe vest, floral pattern wedges and floral pattern earrings, combining several of the trends mentioned above. 

Easy right? 

dear husband

dear husband,

tomorrow is the day i've been secretly and lately quite openly dreading since last season ended this past october. tomorrow is home opener and with that comes a full 6 months of almost non-stop work and way too much traveling for you. i know you love what you do and i am so very grateful for all that you do for our little family. i know we are blessed beyond measure in so many ways, including your job that provides us with much more than just the basics. we've had such a great six months at home, traveling, being spontaneous and deciding what we wanted to do on a day to day basis. very few people get to spend this much time simply enjoying their family life and not worrying about making money. i look forward to joining you on a few trips again this year, so that you don't have to miss us too much. i know you will. i know it will be hard being away from us so much and maybe missing out on a few milestones. as i say "don't worry about that" i have to smile because you are such a worry wart when it comes to your family. probably even more than when you unnecessarily worry about whether you're doing a good enough job at work - babe you are phenomenal!

please know that there is one thing you should never worry about and that is whether you're being the best dad and husband you can be. the last year and a half since i got pregnant, has been such a whirlwind.
 again we have accomplished more than i ever thought we would and you have turned into that amazing father i knew you would be. logan and i are both so lucky to have you supporting us in everything we do, even my crazy little escapades ;) you put a smile onto that little guy's face every time he sees you and he loves you so much.

so when you start to feel lonely on the road, or you think you're not doing a good enough job being a dad, husband or even at work, know that we will always be right here for you. we're not ever going anywhere and you don't have to worry about those things at all. you are the best and we already look forward to having you back to ourselves in october.

you know i'll have all of our vacations planned by the end of the season and a new honey-do list will be waiting for you :)

be safe, work hard, don't worry about the things you cannot change, relax (at least try).
we love you

soph&lo

mama&lo: a few things i like

just a few pretty things from around the internet that i have my eye on for myself and little mister lo. 

i am really loving yellow lately and i guess it shows... 

1. yellow zara blazer with zipper detail 

2. family origins map wall art 

3. zara sweater in my all time favorite color

4. kiwi clock for the nursery

5. saltwater sandals in yellow and maybe matching ones for the babe? 

6. cute little elephant for lo

7. p is for pierogi onesie by garbella is a must have for a pittsburgh babe

8. raglan circle tee by nico nico 

9. polka dot coin purse by cheeky leopard 

10. yellow american eagle skinny jeans

momma loves pt.1

The Forge Style - Wish List no.1 by theforgestyle featuring slimming pants

Slimming pants, $60
Watch, $195
BELLE VIVIR: Interior Design Blog
Delicious Glow-S Round Toe Espadrille Wedge
Long Island Prep

happy baby

We are slowly getting ready for the big trip across the ocean and I am also slowly losing my mind thinking about what all could go wrong on the trip, how I could forget important things at home, will the dogs hold a grudge because we're leaving them with the in-laws?, will the house-sitter work out?...
Yes, my brain is full of craziness, overspilling with last-minute Christmas gift ideas that I need to complete before we leave and 3 long packing/to-do lists (one for the babe, one for us and one for the house). Can't we just already be there? Kind of "beam me up Scotty" style? 
I've been studying all kinds of 'flying with infants' tips and I am sure I will come up with my own after the trip. I am praying he will sleep and that the flight won't be full so we may get an extra seat. 


So why is this post titled happy baby you ask? Well, in the process of getting ready for the big trip and trying to figure out how to feed the little man on a plane, on my lap, in a very restricted area, we came across these food pouches. Since Logan is only 6 months old we wanted to give him some time to practice holding and feeding the pouches to himself. Man does he ever love those things!
I am not sure if it is the fact that he can feed himself or if they just taste so delicious to him (i tried them and they taste way better than regular baby food). 
It only takes him a few minutes to eat a whole pouch and he always wants more. They are organic and the Spinach, Mango & Pear is his favorite. At $1.19 a for a 4.22 oz pouch they are a little on the expensive side but out of all the organic food pouch brands we found they were the cheapest. 
The convenience is great and we will definitely take them on the trip. Now if I can only find coupons somewhere... 

Well, I guess I did have more to say than I thought ;) 
Any recommendations on traveling with a 6 month old? Oh, and this post is NOT a sponsored post, ( although I would totally be ok with that ;) just sharing one of our favorite baby products. 

sunday likes

SOURCE

I can't wait for some real snow :) Hoping we'll have a white Christmas with my family in Germany. 

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How pretty is this? Gotta keep an eye out for some vintage lace.

SOURCE

So cute. 

RECIPE HERE

We made these last week and they turned out delicious. Just like the real thing, I should know ;) Just in case you are making this, I had to add flour to the original amount in the recipe. The dough was very sticky so I just added more until I could handle it well. 

new faves

I love getting packages in the mail :) The unfortunate thing with packages is that it usually means you spent way too much money somewhere online... Well at least in my case it does. 

I'm away with my in-laws this week while the hubs is wrapping up work for this season, yay!

So I figured since I am gonna have some help with the bubs I may actually be able to get some reading in...

Am I delusional?? I'll let you know how it went...

So here is what I got:

5 year diary 

(It's usually $25 but only $12.47 on Amazon, there are only a few lines for each day so it's perfect for this lazy bum)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett 

(I had to restrain myself from going to see the movie, I really wanted to read the book first)

Design Sponge at Home 

(I am already drooling over all the wonderful inspiration) 

Any tips on books? What have you recently read or purchased?