I headed into the weekend closing out a particularly long chapter in my life. Camille had her first day of pre-school (she’s doing a 3-day, extended, program), and with Harper in school already, this marked the end of a 6.5 year journey of having little one(s) at home all day. There were periods during that 6.5 year stretch when we would have a part-time babysitter, but they would either head back to college during the school year, graduate and move onto a full time job, or something ultimately wouldn’t work out, and then in the last 2 year stretch, there was COVID (where we began with someone right before it started, but then stopped and ended up using our seasonal babysitter when she was home from college). It’s been a huge part of my life and there were times I felt as if I was getting the balance of it all wrong… that I was focusing energy and efforts on this space, and neglecting home… and vice versa. So while it’s bittersweet, it’s also mixed with a sense of freeness… I feel as though I can compartmentalize my time/days in a way I wasn’t able to before, which will allow me to be more present when they are home in the later afternoons…

I read the girls a cute book that is all about having multiple feelings at the same time, and that’s exactly what I had on Friday morning when we dropped Camille off for her first day of school. I was so excited for her, and this new chapter… excited to watch her grow and thrive… but also that bittersweet feeling of sadness crept in… sort of a “SHAPPY” feeling of sadness and happiness combined… that she’s my youngest, growing up so quickly, and that time has gone by that quickly (it really is a thief when you look back…) and that period of having tiny humans at home has come to an end.

And as I used to talk about with my clients, when life events happen, it’s often meaningful to mark the transition in some way. So, TJ and I headed out for a lunchtime date (no babysitter needed!!) to close out one chapter, and welcome the new one. To reflect, and look ahead. And mostly to just relish in this odd sense of freeness….

As we head into a new week, I do so with the intention of starting to tackle all those “someday when I have a bit more time” ideas…

And with that, I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead!
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(And she’s off to pre-school… Harper couldn’t wait to pick her up at the end of the day… Camille’s set)

(Celebrated a new chapter in our life with a little daytime lunch… no babysitter required… top, jeans, sunglasses, sandals)

(Saturday morning breakfast burritos before heading out…)

(First soccer game… and some post game sweet treats… my sweater, shorts, sneakers, chairs)

(Steamed muscles and shrimp with some risotto for an elevated Saturday night dinner…)

(Closed out the weekend with a Sunday family bbq… soaking in all the summer weather…)

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Madewell is having 30% off with code LONGWEEKEND… I don’t own this sweatshirt tee, but I think it would be so versatile for the fall season… and I also think this ruffle collard top is cute as well. A few items I do own and would recommend (if they aren’t part of the sitewide sale you can use ITSYBITSY20 for 20% off, today only) include this popover shirtdress (it’s so soft and in a great faded black color for fall), striped longsleeve top, oversized black blazer, and these pointed mules.

I’m looking for a longer, striped long sleeve top for fall… love this looser fitting one, and this ribbed fitted option.

These comfy pajamas that I bought at the Nordstrom Sale were re-stocked… so soft as well.

Sezane released their new early fall arrivals… I purchased this camel t-shirt (and had it embroidered), boyfriend shirt (in the blue/white stripe), and this henley pullover in the ecru/camel (I think this is such a great transitional piece).

Beek released their new fall line of shoes- loving these shearling mules, shearling slides (I got these last season), and these shearling clogs (SHANNON10 for 10% off all shoes on site).