Last week, I announced that I’m participating in the Fall 2017 One Room Challenge, which is being sponsored by House Beautiful. I’ve been hoping to make the time to makeover Jackson’s nursery into a big boy room and now I’ll be doing it as my room for this fun challenge! Time flies, I feel as though I just finished his nursery but as kids grow up, their rooms need to evolve with them. THE BEFORE While I still love aspects of his room, there is definitely a running list of what needs to be done to make it work for Jackson now: Goodbye Crib, Hello Twin Bed Adios Daybed (or as Jackson’s calls it “his sofa”), Hola Crafts Table Au Revoir Changing Table, Bonjour New Accessoires THE INSPIRATION My dream for two twins beds isn’t an option in Jackson’s room asit comes with some challenges. For the size of the room it has some obstacles – 1) It has THREE doors and 2) It has a random window on one wall that has been painted over (ugh!). Therefore, there isn’t wall space for much. As a result, each piece selected has to be carefully selected. As I tackle this room in the coming weeks I’ll be pulling inspiration on ways to keep it playful, select pieces that can transition with him as he gets older, and most importantly, do something with a wow that knocks your socks off. Who knew that joining this six week challenge would bring me butterflies, but I’m also incredibly excited at the same time! I can’t wait to bring all of you along on this journey. If you are a design junkie and love to follow along on makeovers – follow all of the twenty influencers that have joined this seasons One Room Challenge. I am humbled to be included in such a talented group of designers! I guarantee you’ll be inspired to tackle a room of your own! THE ONE ROOM CHALLENGERS Boxwood Avenue | Coco & Jack | Design Manifest | Dwell with Dignity The House That Lars Built | Little Green Notebook | The Makerista Making it Lovely  | Old Brand New | Old Home Love  | The Painted House Megan Pflug Designs | Pink Pagoda | Erica Reitman | Simply Grove Jill Sorensen | Sugar & Cloth | Vintage Rug Shop | Waiting on Martha Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC Before Images by Caitlin Flemming | Inspiration Images 1 | 2 | 3

There are days when I end up having cereal for dinner because it’s all I have the energy to make – especially when the nights when I’m by myself. After having cereal the other night I decided something needed to change so, with a bit more planning I don’t have an excuse to get caught with nothing to eat. Last week, I spent a little time while the kids were napping to prepare lunch and dinners for a few days. My goal was to prep as much as I could to make it easier on myself. I thought I would share this easy recipe, in case you’re also having one of those weeks where you have no idea what to make. This seasonal vegetable and brown rice bowl is a go to in our house – I love picking up fresh produce at the farmers market for this dish. Seasonal Vegetable & Brown Rice Bowl Ingredients 1 cup uncooked brown rice 1-2 ears of corn 2 small cucumbers ½ box of cherry tomatoes a few sprigs of parsley olive oil juice & rind of one lemon salt & pepper ½ cup crumbled feta cheese Directions Prepare the brown rice according to directions. (To make it really easy, I actually use Trader Joe’s frozen brown rice that comes in a bag) While the rice cooks, chop the corn off the cob and sauté with olive oil, salt & pepper Chop the cucumbers, tomatoes, and parsley When rice is cooked, toss together with the corn Top with the cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley and feta cheese Enjoy! And be sure to check out our archives for more recipes for more inspiration!

Now that I’m back to work, life has started to feel like the autobahn in Germany. Activities are flying by and I’m finding little time to slow down. One thing I’ve recently begun to do that has been a great help, is getting up thirty minutes earlier each day. During this time, my goal is to wake up slowly and intentionally start slow. I always begin the day with a small pot of tea and sometimes a book. I try to avoid my phone and computer, since the remainder of the day will be “plugged in.” I’m excited to have autumn here. There is no question that this is one of my favorite seasons. There are still the farmer’s markets but they are beginning to have fall fruits and vegetables. Crisp apples are something I always love to see appearing. Warm oversized sweaters are another item I look forward to pulling out of my closet – I’m loving this one from Cuyana. I’ve also been lengthening my evening walks to enjoy being outside just a bit longer than before. I would love to hear from all of you. What do you do to slow down? I need all of the help I can get! Photos by Andrea Posadas for Sacramento Street

Fall has officially arrived, which means getting my fall wardrobe in order is essential. This season I’m obsessed with tights and love wearing them for everything – for both day and night. When I get ready in the morning I think about my day – client meetings, installs and photoshoots. But then how I can look appropriate for my workday and then go straight into mom mode when we head to the park as I walk through the door. Lucky for all of us, Athleta has created Street Tights that are both comfortable and stylish. The past few weeks I’ve been wearing the Highline Hybrid Cargo Tight from Athleta non-stop. What I love about these Street Tights is they are high-waisted, have zipper pockets and the fabric is luxurious. How often do you call a pair of athletic pants luxurious? These are! Outfit Details: Highline Hybrid Cargo Tight in Black Responsible Down Vest in Black Thermal Honeycomb Sweater in Dove Mule Slide in Black Suede Boat Tote in Black One thing is for certain, if you get asked where your tights are from by your clients, neighborhood friends and coworkers then you know they are keepers. These Street Tights are quickly becoming my go-to this fall season! This post is a partnership with Athleta. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Andrea Posadas for Sacramento Street

BIG reveal today, I’m sharing Amelia’s nursery over on Rue Magazine! Since it was my second time around designing a nursery, it felt a little more difficult to decide how I wanted to go about designing the space. I’ve seen how fast Jackson has grown out of the nursery stage of life (see Jackson’s Nursery here). Why do they have to grow up so quickly? The initial inspiration came from spotting a beautiful grey otomi textile artwork from St. Frank. Having grown up in Mexico City I wanted to bring a little touch of that into Amelia’s room. I always like to start with one special item (in this case, the wall hanging) and then go from there. The rest came together quite seamlessly. Since the space is 8 x 10 and also the walk-through to Jackson’s room (have to love city living) I knew we needed to keep it simple and have the middle area of the room clear for us to get through (or in Jackson’s case – run through). It’s amazing how such a small space brings my so much joy. Each piece means something. TheSally King Benedictink drawing(a gift from my mom to Amelia)I’ve wanted one of her pieces for years – her work is amazing! ThePehr Designs mobileAmelia could look at for hours – she just stares at it talking up a storm. I love how incredibly soft thePottery Barn Kids rugis for her to lay on as she attempts to roll over. HercribanddresserfromLand of Nodare two of my favorites – I love the color of wood of her crib, it s beautiful grey tone and the dresser matches Jackson’s in case they ever share a room or we use them in the future as nightstands. And lastly,the prayer beads with a heartbrings texture to a blank wall. As you can see, each and every piece was carefully selected. Nursery Sources: St. Frank Grey Otomi Textile Artwork Pehr Designs Mobile, Swaddles and Pom Pom Basket Land of Nod Archway Crib and White Campaign Dresser Pottery Barn Kids Grey and White Rug Midland – Pom Pom Basket Sally King Benedict Ink Drawing Noble Carriage Jess Brown Doll Hudson Grace Prayer Beads with Heart Madeline Weinrib Suzani Pillow (on Glider) Serena & Lily Rope Laundry Basket To see the full tour of the nursery pop over to Rue Magazine. Photos by Andrea Posadas | Designed by Caitlin Flemming

Now that our family has expanded to four, it feels at times as if the things in our home grown exponentially. I’m careful not to buy things we don’t need, but somehow we continue to accumulate more and in a tiny space, it takes discipline to stay organized. This weekend, I spent an afternoon organizing my dishes in the kitchen. It’s something I have to do often, since they are all on open shelving. It felt good to go through the things I use frequently and keep them out, while placing others inside my tonsu in easy reach. TIPS TO KEEP THE HOUSE IN RELATIVE ORDER When you have kiddos, the toy situation can get out of control quickly. I try to be disciplined about not buying too much to begin with. I also try to get rid of a toy not being used before adding another. There are the essentials – in my home it’s trains and trucks – and other toys are used less. Tidy up often. I try to go through each closet once a month. When I clean it up, I also have a discerning eye for things that are simply taking up space. Try to come up with a system that actually works for you. For example, I had all of the baby bottles and cups in one drawer but I could never find what I was looking for. By simply getting two large bins, the drawer is now divided between toddler cups and the baby bottles. Before doing anything in the morning, I always make my bed. Things can get crazy trying to get my son to preschool and all of us out the door, but coming home to the beds made, give me peace of mind. Before going to bed, I spend 15 minutes putting things in place. This makes our morning a bit easier to handle. I’m not perfect. When my guard is down and I’m exhausted, things seem to get out from under me. I try not to beat myself up and to start again the next day! Photo of our living room cabinet

All I have to say is – I never thought I would be writing a post about lactation cookies, but alas it’s happening. After getting quite a few requests from friends and readers to post my go-to recipe, it felt right to share this delicious cookie recipe. While I’m not sure if these actually help me with milk production, the ingredients are all recommended for helping milk supply. And who doesn’t love an excuse to eat cookies? Whether you are breastfeeding or pumping, one thing is for certain – you’ll be wanting to snack a TON and why can’t it be something that satisfies your sweet tooth and helps your production of milk? Hope you all enjoy this recipe. And let me know if you have any suggestions on altering it! Mama’s Milk Cookies Ingredients 1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour 1 3/4 c. oats 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 3/4 c. almond butter 1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened 1 c. flax 3 T brewer’s yeast (my favorite) 1/3 c. water 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 c. sugar 1/2 c. brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla 2 large eggs 2 c. (12oz) chocolate chips 1 c. chopped nuts of your choice (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit Place parchment paper on cookie sheets to avoid burning. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a large bowl mix together almond butter, unsalted butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, brewer’s yeast, flax and water until it gets to a smooth, creamy consistency. Next, mix in eggs to the large bowl mixture. Gradually combine the flour mixture to the large mixing bowl. Add in nuts and chocolate chips. Add oats slowly and mix well. Roll dough into golf ball size circles and place on parchment paper cookie sheets. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Recipe adapted from Kathleen Major

It’s hard for me to believe that Amelia is already three months old – times is FLYING by a little too quickly. Although it was quite an adjustment to become a family of four, I can’t imagine our lives without her. She definitely completes our family – she’s such a loving, gentle and happy little one that she’s made the transition for all of us so easy (as easy as it can be). There are a few things that every parent has anxiety about when they are welcoming another little one into the family: 1). The transition for the older sibling and 2). Getting enough sleep. Both were at the top of my list before Amelia came. Eric and I worked together to make sure to carve out quality time with Jackson, which made the transition much easier. And the sleep didn’t seem quite as brutal as the first time around because Amelia breastfed right away (Jackson didn’t take to breastfeeding – more here). Sleep is one of the topics with a newborn that everyone asks you about – how is she sleeping? Are you doing a dream feed? Do you let her cry it out yet? What’s your trick? All I have to say is no two babies are the same. What worked for Jackson, didn’t work for Amelia. What works for Amelia, won’t necessarily work for your kid. What I do know is that it doesn’t hurt to test out a few different methods to see what does work. Sleep is one of the topics with a newborn that everyone asks you about – how is she sleeping? Are you doing a dream feed? Do you let her cry it out yet? What’s your trick? All I have to say is no two babies are the same. What worked for Jackson, didn’t work for Amelia. What works for Amelia, won’t necessarily work for your kid. What I do know is that it doesn’t hurt to test out a few different methods to see what does work. Amelia from day one was a sleeper – loved to feed, poop, sleep but she didn’t like to be swaddled. Jackson LOVED to be swaddled. We had the SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet (something friends have sworn by) but because she didn’t love to be swaddled, it wasn’t working for us. I kept trying it over and over again. Finally, around six weeks old, she started to love it. She just needed a little more time to get accustomed to it. If we had had this for Jackson he would’ve been a sleeper from day one. Words cannot describe how much both my husband and I love the SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet. I can honestly say the fact that she takes two naps a day for two hours each and then sleeps from 7:30pm – 4 to 6am is amazing in my eyes. And she’s just 13 weeks old! ​The benefits to having the SNOO Built-in swaddle. Something a lot of moms (myself included) worry about is whether their infant is safe sleeping. The SNOO comes with a built-in swaddle to ensure that your baby doesn’t roll over while swaddled. It’s amazing. No rocking required. We put Amelia down to sleep almost completely asleep but the rocking of the bassinet helps put her into a deeper slumber. Plus, not having to rock her to sleep every night has saved my arms. Adjusts to babies crying. If she begins to wake up the SNOO can sense it and begins to rock her back to sleep. There are a few different settings that it will switch between depending on her cry. Modern design. This is what attracted me to the bassinet the most – the sleek design. It goes with our aesthetic perfectly. We honestly love this product and would put it at the top of our wish list again. Even though it took Amelia awhile to adjust to sleeping in it, we are now so thrilled that she loves it. When she wakes up from her naps and in the morning she has the biggest smile on her face. A sign of good sleep. I cannot sing this products praises enough! If you want to find out more information about the SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet – click here. They’re currently offering $150 off when you sign up for their emails. Disclaimer: The SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet was gifted to me but all opinions are honest and truthful. I test products all the time and only share items that I absolutely love with all of you.

September arrived – we are in full on summer mode here in San Francisco. Although it was a little too hot with our 100+ degree weather this weekend, I’m excited for the sun-filled days ahead. There is nothing quite like it. When everyone else starts getting ready for fall, we are taking out all of our summer clothes instead of packing them away. However, things are happening around our house this September. Jackson starts preschool this week and I’m easing back into work after my maternity leave. This summer was extra special spending time with both Amelia and Jackson. I’ll forever remember this time we got to spend together. It will be an adjustment getting back into a routine, which requires many to-do lists. I’m sharing a few of mine for this month. ​SEPTEMBER ​TO-DO LIST Get back into a work routine. Start making decisions on Jackson’s big boy room. Begin planning working out routine – something I haven’t done much of (except walking) post-baby. Plan photographing our studio. ​Take a little time each evening to read – whether that’s a book or magazine. I can’t wait to tackle this to-do list – it’s always nice to start off the month this way. What do you have on your list this month?

This summer, one of the passions my toddler has had (bordering on obsession!) is whales. It began when I was crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and spotted a whale jumping out of the water. My son in the back seat missed it but wouldn’t stop talking about wanting to see a whale. Once we were back in San Francisco, we pulled over at a lookout in the Presidio and proceeded to see a show of whales jumping and swimming on the surface. This led to us watching many whale videos and reading books about whales. I am thrilled to announce a project near and dear to my heart – Project Orca. Munchkin, which has been a staple brand in our home since we had Jackson, has decided to kick-start a donation of $1,000,000 to develop the first sea side orca sanctuary in the United States via Project Orca. After 10 years of making a toy orca whale, Munchkin has decided to put their principles above profits and will be removing this top selling item from their Sea Squirt lineup, since the bathtub isn’t big enough for an orca. I plan to use this kickstart as a teaching moment for my son. I hope to be able to convey to him the importance of keeping animals free in the world. For Orcas and other whales, the oceans and seas of the world are their rightful homes. Thank you Munchkin for your generous and inspirational donation to help make this a reality! This post is a partnership with ​Munchkin​. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open.