It’s 8pm, and I’m exhausted. When you go through the nighttime routine day after day, night after night alone, it begins to feel as though it’s groundhog’s day. By the time we finish the last book and the multiple “I love you” I tip toe to our living room fully intending to pull out my computer to work or even watch a show but with my body aching, tired eyes, and mushy brain – it usually doesn’t happen. Every year in February I embark on 40 plus days of solo parenting. My husband leaves for spring training in Arizona with the San Francisco Giants. Suddenly it’s just myself and my two kids. I’m not going to sugar coat it – it’s hard. But I wouldn’t have it any other way because we are both in careers that we have dreamed of having and we have always supported each other and our dreams. Some might not know this but Eric and I are high school sweethearts and since the beginning we’ve had goals in our careers – we’ve been able to support each other through each stage – through the highs and the lows. With the being said, when it comes to this time of year I’m constantly ask “how do you do it?” or “I don’t know how you do it?” sometimes I don’t even know what to say except “I have to do it, it’s just become the new normal.” What I’ve realized each year is that I could totally dwell on how hard it is but I’ve had a mindset for most of my life that why should I dwell on the bad parts of things, there are so many more amazing moments that make up for it. I could choose to be miserable. I could choose to feel bad for myself. I could choose to be angry. But I choose to enjoy these moments with my kids and thrive in it all. HE HARDEST PARTS: There is no one to back me up, no one to answer the constant questions, no one to pass the torch to when I’m getting slightly impatient but can’t show frustration because what will that show my kids. I miss my husband but to watch my kids miss their dad it’s even harder. I’m both mom and dad while he’s away and I can’t fill the void when Eric is gone. I try to be the basketball player he wants me to be or the jokester or the one that makes him belly laugh to no end but it’s just not the same as when dad does it. I also need to support Eric as well, because while it’s hard on me, it’s also excruciatingly hard on him. Reassuring him that we are good and counting down the days to home coming home is important. WHAT MAKES IT EASIER: Leaning on friends and family. I’m horrible at asking for help. Luckily, I have family and friends who help me each week. My mom in particular plays a huge role in the days Eric is gone. Find moments for myself. This is something I made a priority a little more this year. Having a few moments to myself that aren’t revolving around work makes me a better mom. Meal planning. Y’all this is key. If I don’t do a Sunday grocery shop, then my week is totally messed up. Also, I basically cook the same meals every week. There isn’t time to try something new – it’s all about what works, what’s easy and what we love. Keeping routines. This is key for my kids. They know that they have activities on certain days and it somehow gets them through the week better. My kids thrive on routines and knowing what the week has in store for them. With that being said, I try to do something fun and exciting once a week that they can really look forward to. Even if it’s as simple as a coffee date before school – it seems extra special. Go to bed with a tidy house. No matter how exhausted I am after the kids go to bed I make sure to send at least 10-15 mins cleaning up the house. Waking up in the morning to a tidy house sets the tone for my entire day. This year in particular I’ve felt like all of us (myself and the kids) were much more adjusted to him being away. With only one more week to go I feel as though I’m nearing the end of the marathon 46 days. I want to say, by no means am I comparing myself to all of the amazing single parents out there. It’s drastically different to be a solo parent for a period of time than a single parent. Each come with their own set of challenges. I cherish that even while I’m a solo parent, I can still call or text Eric to vent about a tantrum, silly thing our kids say, and to tell him about how tired I am. For all the single parents and parents that do solo parenting while their spouse travels – you aren’t alone. Reach out, talk about what’s hard, lean on the people you trust in your tribe because you need that support no matter how strong you are! HERE ARE ALL THE MAMAS WHO WROTE ON TODAY’S TOPIC: The Fresh Exchange Lovely Indeed The Effortless Chic Design for Mankind The Proper Blog The Sweetest Occasion Oh Lovely Day Parker Etc Be sure to check out the past Real Talk Real Moms series I’ve participated in HERE! #lifestyle

Have you noticed that as you get older, time seems to speed up? I sometimes look at my children while they are sleeping and I can’t believe how quickly they are growing up. I realize I really must be an adult now! One of my goals for this year is to grow my business and begin seriously saving for things in the future for our family: buying our first home and saving for our children’s college funds and our own retirement. I’m excited to know that my hard work will help pave the way for the future. So, I guess my plans for tomorrow are starting today. Recently, I had the good fortune of meeting with a financial planner at John Hancock. While I am not a John Hancock client, I enjoyed speaking with a John Hancock advisor well versed in financial planning strategies. We all have goals, but turning them into reality sometimes requires a little help. John Hancock offers various tools and services to their clients during the financial planning process. For example, they have a mobile application called Twine that provides a clear picture of how much you need to save to accomplish your goals. With a business that is constantly shifting – as those of you in the social media world understand – I also realize that planning ahead is something that I’ll always want to keep in mind. In addition, I have been working hard over the past three years writing a book on design and I want to be ready for opportunities that might present themselves when it’s released this September. So join me on this journey as I continue to build and shape my business, while planning for the future. I’ll be checking in with updates periodically! Photography by Claire Giffen Created in partnership with John Hancock – thank you for supporting the brands that keep this blog running!

So, while I am back to the hectic schedule I always have in the month of March, I feel more prepared to face the challenge. An afternoon atInternational Orangewas just a perfect way to recharge. From mid-January to the end of March, I am primarily a single parent while my husband is at Spring Training with the San Francisco Giants. To say the least, there is precious little time for self-care. Trying to run a business, finish a book, and be there for my two sweet kiddos. While often I have to put myself on the back burner, recently I managed to steal away a few hours to unplug and turn down the stress level. I had the opportunity to drive over the bridge (which in itself puts my mind at ease) to enjoy a morning at International Orange at Marin Country Mart. This winter I’ve felt as though my skin has been ultra dry – anyone else feeling that this time of year? Because of this I wanted to pick a facial that would rejuvenate my skin. While there, I chose theIO Luzern Oxygen Facialwhich was perfect for my dry/non-glowing skin needs. I have especially dry skin in the winter, and this was just what I needed. It’s given with medical-grade oxygen to infuse targetedLuzern Bio-Suissevitamins and nutrients, which is a huge boost for skin hydration. It was pure heaven. To not only nourish my skin but to also have peaceful moments to unplug felt like quite the luxury. So, while I am back to the hectic schedule I always have in the month of March, I feel more prepared to face the challenge. An afternoon atInternational Orange was just a perfect way to recharge. #lifestyle

While much of my work involves being on-line and at a computer, there are plenty of moments where I need a physical display using paper when I am trying to find inspiration. When I have a new project for a client, I like to gather all of my magazines and books together and then make a mood board with all the different elements I’m thinking of using. To be honest, I love looking through physical copies as opposed to a screen. There is something about creating something with paper for clients that makes the vision of our project come to life in a totally different way. t is also a way to keep me organized and balanced with everything we do. I just finished writing my own book – Travel Home: Design With a Global Spirit that is coming out in September – and pouring through the manuscripts was one of my favorite parts of the process. The same is true for my design work. Here are some suggestions for creating your own physical mood board and what you might include: Always start with a photograph that inspires you – these usually come from magazines for me. I might see a photograph of a wheat field and think the color is perfect for a room I am designing. Or I may find a room that has the right mood that begins to get me thinking about fabrics, style, and texture. Print it out on paper – I always like to add other items that can help bring my ideas together. For example, I will print copies of my Instagram photos and tag them on the board. Photos from trips, colors I am thinking of using, or artwork that resonates with me. I also like to add a few items like fabric samples, tassels, or beads, that help to evoke the look I am after. Once I have completed the mood board, I move on to the elements that will go into a room. Fabrics and textiles that I might like, tiles, wood, and sisal options. I usually use a post-it on each item and where I might include it in the design – kitchen, living room, bathroom, or bedroom. I often print a paper copy of the mood board that I’ve created on my computer, as well as the notes I have made and place them into my file for the client project. As I find other ideas, I rip them out of the magazines and place them in the file as well. While I will continue to love my online community, I am also a paper girl at heart and I often need to physically touch and see my ideas as I create. I never have a shortage of books for inspiration, and I can’t wait for my own book to be released soon! Photography by Claire Giffen Created in partnership with The Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds® campaign – thank you for supporting the brands that keep this blog running!

At the beginning over each year I crave home cooked meals – I’ve been doing a lot of cooking in the kitchen. We had rotating guests this entire December, which I love but we were eating out quite a lot. January is a time to reset and recharge. One thing I love doing this time of year is cooking at home. It brings our family together at the end of our days and makes our home feel even more loved. I don’t think there is another item in my kitchen, other than salt and pepper, that I rely on more for my everyday cooking than olive oil – this Spanish olive oil in particular has been a favorite. There isn’t a day where I don’t use it for something – roasting vegetables, making a salad dressing, or even baking. And it feels good to know that olive oil is good for our health. Using it on a regular basis has so many benefits including: Containing large amounts of antioxidants Has strong anti-inflammatory properties May lower the risk of stroke Prevents heart attacks in men Protects against heart disease Rich in monounsaturated fats At my home, we tend to eat roasted vegetables that we toss in olive oil at least a few times a week. It’s a great meal and so easy to make. I usually add some sumac or red pepper flakes and salt. It works especially well with root vegetables this time of year – carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, and maybe some zucchini and you have an instant dinner. I like to roast in a very hot oven – 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Another use for olive oil is as the base for a salad dressing. My favorite is olive oil, the juice of one lemon, a dash of balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. It’s so easy to make and good for you! I’d love to know how all of you use olive oil in your everyday life. Comments are welcome! This post is a partnership with Olive Oil World Tour US. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Claire Giffen

When Zephyr approved me to join the San Francisco Design Retreat as the local I jumped at the chance to 1) meet the amazing group of designers and influencers they put together and 2) the itinerary was hitting all of my favorite spots. It was a win win for me! A lot of you might be thinking – what do this retreats consist of? Well,Zephyrwanted to introduce us to their amazing new products(such as their new Titan with PowerWave™ Blower Technology)but they also wanted to educate us.Zephyrhas spent the last 20 years perfecting ventilation design and knowing and educating myself in this information helps when I’m working with clients. The group they put together was hands down one of the best I’ve been with. Kirsten Grove (@simplygrove) Lauren Bradshaw (@laurenabradshaw) Anissa Zajac (@housesevendesign) Sarah Sherman Samuel (@sarahshermansamuel) Jana Bek (@janabekdesign) Jean Stoffer (@jeanstofferdesign) Kate Lester (@klinteriors) Natalie Myers (@nataliemyers) Nicole White (@livelaughdecorate) Sarah Gibson (@roomfortuesday) Sarah Stewart (@lifeonvirginiastreet) Vanessa Francis (@decorhappy) The agenda began with a tour of the Zephyr showroom, some panels and then we were able to go around SF to the Antique and Art Show, Fireclay Tile and showrooms. Zephyr really made the entire retreat special and unique. They wanted to not only educate us in their product but also inspire us. And even being from the city where it was hosted I was inspired seeing all of these designers get inspired. A HUGE thank you to Sarah and Erica for putting this beautiful retreat! Photos by Zephyr and myself

With fall coming to a close and winter quickly approaching in a few short weeks I’ve now brought out all of my cold weather wardrobe. While San Francisco doesn’t get freezing temperatures the cool air from the ocean brings a cold breeze that is chilling to the bone. That’s why it’s essential in my eyes to have a go-to pair of boots (or a few) and jackets that can easily be thrown on every morning as we run out the door to school. Each season I have been gravitating towards shoes that can be worn to both meetings (where I’m sometimes at construction sites for hours) and then transition into the perfect shoes for venturing out with the kids to the park. With that being said, this season I when I went on the hunt for a new pair the first place I turned to was Zappos. Mainly because they have an amazing inventory of shoes (especially boots!) but they have quick shipping and they also have free shipping and returns – huge bonus when you can’t make up your mind and want to try on several pairs. Plus their customer service is amazing. When searching for the perfect pair of boots it can generally be overwhelming because Zappos.com carries so many brands. If you have a few criteria it helps narrow down your search. Mine were – brown suede, flat, and ankle height. From there popped up Born Footwear, which I’ve had a few girlfriends and moms rave about. I picked the Syd style in Taupe which come in a few different colors. I haven’t stopped wearing these this season. They checked all of the boxes. Do you have a go-to shoe or style for this season? I’d love to know! This post is a partnership with Zappos.com. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Claire Giffen #style

I don’t know if this is true for any of you, but I find my time is tightly packed with activities – from my work to basketball class, swimming lessons, ballet classes, and school for the kiddos. Even though I’m a designer, sometimes I have difficulty finding the time to work on my own home. For some time, I have wanted to get better window treatments in my daughter’s room. Mainly because I need to be able to block out the light for her daytime naps. But since we live in a rental I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on custom window treatments. Hence why I’ve been avoiding doing this room. After some research, I took the plunge with Barn & Willow, especially when I found out how easy it was to order the shade. What I love about Barn & Willow, is how easy they make the entire process. Here’s what I did, and believe me, it was so easy to do! I ordered several FREE swatches to try at home. This is an important step you don’t want to skip. Try them out in the room you plan to use them in – light is important in what they will look like. Barn & Willow has an exclusive selection of fabrics chosen from the finest mills. I ended up choosing the Ash organic cotton. Once you’ve tried the swatches and made your selection, there is an easy measurement finder for precise drape and blind panel dimensions in less than 30 seconds. With the development of the sizing calculator, Barn & Willow has eliminated the mystery of how to measure. They walk you through a step-by-step process. Barn & Willow also provides one-on-one help from their design experts if you have questions they need answering. Most importantly, delivery of your window treatments is 10 days from the day you place your order. The norm is three weeks! These blinds were the last detail to create a room where my daughter has a bit of her own space. The table(which is actually a coffee table)serves as a spot where she and Jackson can have tea parties or set up their train set. I’m thankful to have discovered Barn & Willow and think they are indeed filling a niche in the window treatment business! Lucky for all of you Barn & Willow is offering $50 OFF your first order and free shipping with the code SACRAMENTO50. This post is a partnership with Barn & Willow. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Andrea Posadas

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It’s the official start to the holiday season. Everyone starts decorating their homes and there is a magical feeling in the air. What I love most about Thanksgiving is the ability to play around with the tabletop – there are so many hues to pick from when designing your table that there are endless possibilities. Each year I think about how I can make it different – is it a new color I haven’t worked with before, a certain flower that inspired the entire table, or a candle vessel I want to use. There so many different branches, flowers and objects you can add to a table that are unexpected but can make it unique. This season I decided to partner up with glassybaby to create a stunning tabletop that will hopefully inspired all of you the holiday season. If you don’t know glassybaby, it’s time you do because it’s an incredible company! Glassybaby was founded in Seattle, Washington in 2001 by three-time cancer survivor, Lee Rhodes. During chemo, Lee met many patients who could not afford basic needs during treatment. When Lee founded glassybaby, her core mission was to help alleviate these struggles. Since 2001, glassybaby has donated over $9 million dollars to non-profit organizations that provide hope and healing. It’s pretty incredible what one women’s mission has done. With that in mind, I wanted to create a table that embodied this mission and would give off a special light that sent the tone for the holiday season. Glassybaby comes in hundreds of different colors, each one with a unique name and story and each piece is hand blown in their studios in Seattle and Berkeley. I selected purr, coal, wingman and cherish as the votives for around the table and console. Then I paired the glassybaby old fashioned in evergreen, which paired perfectly with the napkins from Hudson Grace in fir. What I love about using this hunter green color is that you can easily reuse them for other times around the holiday season. Luckily this Thanksgiving holiday, glassybaby will be renting their votives, beginning at $5 votive. Click here to find out more or be sure to visit one of their stores. With only a few weeks left before Thanksgiving it’s time to start planning your table. Open up your china cabinets, see what you already have that can be used and then pop over to your favorite shops to add to them. Remember only a few details always make the biggest impact. Hopefully this tabletop will inspire you this holiday season! This post is a partnership with glassybaby. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Andreas Posadas

I have always been a believer of quality over quantity – it’s something I talk about a lot. I would rather buy one good piece to add to my wardrobe that I can use for years to come. Lan Jaenicke uses the highest quality materials and craftsmanship with design that can last a lifetime. Her jackets are on constant repeat in my wardrobe. This season I’ve been wanting to add a little color but since I’m a neutrals gal it felt fitting to go with a camel color. Especially since I’ve had these Freda Salvador boots on repeat. They pair perfectly together. The richness of this color makes me excited for the cool days ahead. Do you have a color that you love this fall? Photos by Andreas Posadas