happy friday, lovelies.  what a week it has been.  i ran the 1/2 marathon (i’ll share a bit on that on monday) which was scary and exhilarating, my home and a behind the blogger series was featured on style me pretty, and next week i’ll be revealing rocco’s newly updated room (not yet seen).  however, away from the shiny screen, i’ve been dragging around in dodgy sweat pants with very soar feet and crabby children.  i should find the dichotomy humorous, but it usually just feels a little frustrating like you are living in some sort of strange middle place.  but, maybe that is just life?  you’ve just finished this or left that and you are on your way to here and slowly there.  what is here now is the weekend and i’m grateful for that.  at least a short blur of space time to enjoy the here and now.  a freeze frame to forget yesterday and to not think about tomorrow.  the leaves are changing here and the sun is warm and the air smells like life.   i’m hoping for a bike ride with my near and dear, a movie on the sofa, and just lingering over coffee in the morning.

what are you hoping for this weekend?  has fall arrived where you live?

these are my most fave photos from the style me pretty feature….because while my house is pretty and has fun elements…it’s these people that truly decorate it.  climbing indoor swings, racing down the halls, jumping on beds and eating frozen waffles frozen.  they are the beauty, the fun, and yes, sometimes the mess.  they are home.  we are loud, we are wild, we are quiet, we are emotional, we are fun, we are serious, we are crazy.  we need grace.  we give grace.  love lives among us and in us.  perfect love within the imperfect.

there are two mantras on our walls that sum it up well.  the first on the wall in our family room / kitchen area (which wasn’t photographed) is a print that says, ‘ IN THE MADNESS THERE IS LOVE.’

the second, i wrote for our entry way:

 

thank you yazy jo for taking such beautiful photos (if you are in the chicago area and looking for a wedding photographer, yazy does amazing work!) and thank you style me pretty for featuring me as a blogger and my home.

happy weekend, friends!

FEW OF MY FAVES  THIS WEEK +

01 / one of my fave bloggers + friends was featured in the New York Times in an article penned “When Blogging Becomes a Slog.”  did you read it?  thoughts?

02 / hands up if you used to eat hot pockets.  love the idea of healthier home made ones like these.

03 / have you ever considered a DIY platform bed for your little ones? loving these ikea hacks.

04 / it’s that time of year when oh happy day shares the coolest costumes on the block.  love this one.

05 /  gosh, i still need to learn how to braid better because these looks are super something i’d like to try.

06 / how to feel confident in 2 minutes.  this is simple, fascinating and worth trying.

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photographs by : yazy jo photography