Cap and Goggles

Yesterday I did something that I have not done in a LOOOONG time.

I put on a swimsuit, cap and googles and went swimming.

Not "playing around in the water" swimming, but actual swim training.

It has been years since I had been in the pool.   I first began swimming competitively when I was 7 years old.  I was in love with it from the day I started and spent the next 11 years trying to be the best that I could.  5am practice?  No problem (well, for me.  My parents was probably another story).  Two practices a day?  No problem.  I walked around smelling like chlorine and did not mind.  Swimming was mine and I wanted to be number 1.

When I got back in the water yesterday, it felt amazing.  I was actually smiling underwater for the first couple laps.  All the memories of how much I enjoyed swimming rushed back and I could not believe it has taken me this long to get back into the water.

Since swimming gives you a lot of time to think as you go back and forth, my children and their love for sports came to mind.  Do they have this passion that I did?  Is it this fun for them too?

We spend A LOT of time on the sports field.  And for the amount of time we spend watching ESPN, I know they love sports.  But I hate to say this, I do not see smiles running around on their face when it is time to compete.  I see stress, anxiety and the need to win.  In fact, their performance is never what I hear about at the end of the game.  It is if they won or loss.  Have I created this?  Sometimes I think I have.  Actually, I know I have.  Not intentionally of course.  I just think that perhaps we take everything a little too seriously compared to how my parents did.

Do not get me wrong.  My father got kicked off soccer fields.  We were an intense family.  But my dad never made me feel that winning was everything and that failure was possible.  I absolutely loss races.  But all a loss meant is that I wanted to work harder.  I NEVER heard from my dad how I could have performed better.  I never realized that until now.  I want them to be the best they can be because they want to, not because I have made them feel like they need to.  Winning should be an accomplishment, not an expectation.

I do not know if we are doing things right or wrong.  Parenting is hard isn't it.  I figure as long as we try our best, we will be okay, but I do know that when my children are parents, I want them to feel the same way about their old passions that I did yesterday and smile.

I Went Vegan

Not literally!  I could never do it!  No, I am talking about clothes.

I know that I have mentioned numerous times that leather is one of my favorite trends this Fall (have you seen my board on pinterest?) but I have really held back on pulling the trigger on anything.  This is mostly because when it comes to high priced items, I leave them for my hubby to purchase.  That way, I do not feel guilty about buying it and he basks in the triumph of getting me something I LOVE.  

One item that I have been keeping my eye on though is this Tinley Road Vegan Leather Pencil Skirt.  

Not only it is not real leather (which won't piss off my animal-loving friends) but you cannot beat the $79 price tag.  Add a few Gap rewards to the final price and you can just call me "Budget Babe" (this is a name my hubby has NEVER called me).

Rachel Bilson also agrees with me, as she selected this as one of her picks for Fall.  See, great brunette's think alike.

School

This it is.  Today marks the first day of school and no more summer.  I cannot believe it.  In past year's, I have been SO EXCITED for school to start again.  Sounds terrible but after three month's, I have usually had enough of trying to entertain everyone.  This year it is totally different.  I REALLY wish we had another couple weeks left of sleeping in, going swimming, staying up late and throwing all schedules out the window.

Today is the start of early mornings, running around, homework, practices, games on Saturdays and I do not think the children and I are ready for it.  Thank goodness it is half day all week.  We are all going to need some time to get used to this.

Farewell summer!  Until next year!  

Did you notice how much better we are getting at putting ourselves in the photos?  Next step is figuring out how to get a picture of all 5 of us together!

If Walls Could Talk

Another day, another wall to decorate.  

I continue to be on the hunt for prints, photos and art to fill our walls.  Why prints and not pictures of us?  Because as much as I love hanging photos of the family, I also love having items that represents us, the places we have been or simple memories.  And did I mention I like quirky and random?  

Thanks to Etsy (again, remember these prints for my kitchen?) and AllPosters, I have been able to find some unique prints that not only represent us, but are also something you won't see everywhere.  Also, the prices are WAY BETTER than finding something less cool at a local retailer.  

Here are a few recent purchases that I cannot wait to matte, frame and get up on our walls.

This was purchased by Loose Petals, also on Etsy.
My husband is from the Bay Area and San Francisco has become a home away from home for us.  We spend the week between Christmas and New Years in the City each year and we love sharing it with our children.  It was a must that we put a little San Francisco in our home.

This was purchased from KeyStudio on Etsy.
When I saw this photo it instantly took me back to a night in Hollywood with the Hubby and our dear friends which ended up being one of the best nights ever.   All the places we went could be identified in this photo, starting with the Hollywood Bowl right in front.  As soon as I saw this I knew I had to have it.

I ordered this Harper's Bazaar vintage print from All Posters
If you know me then you know that my favorite fashion magazine is Harper's Bazaar.
Plus, this is from my birthday month AND the red coordinates perfect with my red statement wall I just painted in our family room (more on that later).  This will bring some color on an opposite wall perfectly and is a great contrast to all the black and white family photos currently up.

Purple

Purple.  

One of my favorite colors for Fall.  

I cannot seem to get enough of it.  

What about you?

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The End

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who voted and helped me make the list of the "Top 25 So Cal Mom Blogs" for the second year in a row. It means a ton that I have such supportive readers. Thank you!

Today is our last day of vacation before we return home tomorrow. It is always sad to see vacations come to an end isn't it? It has been an amazing week though and the family time was just what we needed. Chaos returns on Sunday so I plan on soaking every last bit out of the next 24 hours.

We need to all go get ready for our last rides on the water slide so I am off but I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

and the winner is....

Comment #22!

"S", Congratulations on winning the It's Just Darlin set of mason jar glasses.

Please email me at sarah(at)jugglinginheels(dot)com with your mailing information so we can get these sent out to you in time for Labor Day!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway!

* RANDOM.ORG is the service used to select the winner of each giveaway on Juggling in Heels.

Sponsor Highlight: Deal Blade

Without fail, no matter how often I think I plug in my iPhone, it always seems to run out of batteries.  Between using it for the gym, texting, chatting on the phone, letting the kids play with it and responding to emails, there is never enough power to go around.  It usually ends with me running to plug it in, with hopes that it charges as quickly as possible so I can return to using it.

Apparently numerous people have this problem because Simultalk has developed a solar iPhone case which allows you to double your battery life by charging your phone anywhere that there is sunlight.  This would not only come in handy in my life of always running around but also in the case of an emergency and power outages (hey, what can I say, I have anxiety and live in Southern California where rolling blackouts and earthquakes are a reality).

This product normally runs $79 but thanks to Deal Blade, you can pick this item up from now until August 31st for only $47.  Being that this is roughly the normal price of many standard iPhone cases with no charging capabilities, it really is a great deal.  

Even better, you do not have to be in Orange County to purchase this.  Simply visit Deal Blade by clicking here and you will see it on the right as a side deal.

As you may recall from previous posts, Deal Blade donates a portion of all sales to different charities.  Normally, each deal is associated with a specific charity but what I love about this deal is that you get to choose the charity it goes to.  Even better!

If you have not signed up for Deal Blade yet, click here to get started!

Unexpected

Every time our family goes on a vacation, I tend to set low expectations.  Please don't take this the wrong way.  Do I set expectations low?  Absolutely.  Do I think we are going to still have an incredible time?  Definitely.

I have just found that through almost 8 years of having children and traveling with them, something always comes up.  Gone are the days of perfectly planned vacations.  My mindset has developed into, "I have no expectations, no matter what happens, it is going to be great, and whatever happens will happen".

This trip has been no exception.  On our first day here I posted this picture on Instagram, kicking off the week that was going to be spent by the pool and relaxing.

    
Eleven hours after taking this photo it was 5:30am, I was covered in throw up and I was turning on the shower.  Poor Baby Girl had come down with the flu and beginning at 4am she could not sleep.  Too much liquid got to her and it was a massive explosion in the bed, 99% on me.  This led to the two of us spending the day inside coloring, watching movies and resting while the boys hit the pool.

Was I planning on someone getting sick?  Nope.  Was I planning on spending the first day of vacation inside all day?  Nope.  Did I expect to do three loads of laundry?  Nope.  But you know what?  It was still a great day.  Baby Girl and I enjoyed our time just hanging out together and while she napped I was able to read the September issue of Elle from front to back over a three hour period.  Something that I have not done in AGES.  Sure I would have hoped that she felt well and that we could have spent the day as a family but that is okay.  No expectations remember?

Baby Girl went to bed feeling a little better last night and I am hoping this means she wakes up this morning on the mend.  I am also crossing my fingers no one else gets sick.  Perhaps our vacation will get back on the "traditional" track today but if not, that is okay too.

Traveling with children can be tricky, exhausting and not always according to the plans but there is still nothing better than getting away with the family.  Wouldn't you agree?

I am going to take tomorrow off from posting but I will be back later in the week to announce who won the It's Just Darlin Mason Jar Glasses giveaway.  Also, the voting for the "Top 25 So Cal Mom Blogs" closes on August 22nd so if you have a chance to vote today and tomorrow, I would really appreciate it!

Palm Desert

Palm Springs 2011

A summer is not truly a summer without us spending a week in the desert.  I have been going since I was a little girl and now our family is beginning the same tradition.  Is it hot?  Yes, extremely, but I actually enjoy the heat.  We spend our days by the pool with a fruity cocktail (or smoothie for the kids) in hand and the evenings grilling and taking it easy.  There is nothing to think about.  Nothing to worry about.  Just relaxing.  

Tomorrow we head off for Palm Desert so next week things are going to be a bit quite around here.  You will hear from me but not every day.  I am taking in this last week of summer the best I can before we head back to school and the chaos of reality.

Remember that today is the LAST day to enter It's Just Darlin Mason Jar Glasses giveaway (winner to be announced next week!) and voting for the Top 25 So Cal Mom Blogs ends on the 22nd.  Don't forget to enter and I really do appreciate all the votes you have continued to give!

Have a fabulous weekend and I will "see" you next week!

Sponsor Highlight: Stella & Dot

My Stella & Dot August picks were incredibly easy to make.  Partially because it was so hard to narrow down July's but also because I recently attended a Stella & Dot truck show where I got to see all the pieces in person (which is where I picked up this bracelet).  I could have picked a number of items but since I am actually hosting my first trunk show tonight, these were on my "you can wait one more week" list.

Nina Bracelet
I cannot wait to double up with this one!

Pippa Stone Earrings
I love the subtle color in these.  So simple yet eye-catching.

Stevie Necklace
I love how edgy this is and I need to add a little more silver to my overwhelming gold collection.
PLUS, it is on sale for an incredible price!

If you are interested in shopping the entire trunk show, just click here.  Beyond their incredible Fall collection, they have some pretty amazing pieces on sale too.  

As for a little housekeeping, tomorrow is the LAST DAY to enter the It's Just Darlin Mason Jar Glasses giveaway!  Don't miss out!

AND, we are moving into our last week of voting.  I am holding on to the number 4 spot but need your help to stay there!  Thank you for all the support!

Best of Fall with Piperlime

Though Nordstrom has owned the "sale on Fall clothing prior to it being Fall" market with their Anniversary Sale, more and more retailers are beginning to see just how beneficial this can be.  Piperlime is one of them with their "Best of Fall" sale.  Even though it has been at 100 degrees for the past week and I am not ready for summer to leave just yet, I am still having a great time updating my Fall wardrobe.  Here are just some of my favorite picks.  For the entire sale, click here.  And make sure you check it out soon because all prices go back up to regular price on Friday!

Joie Brea Lace Mini Dress
Sale: $261.50 After Sale: $308
Lace is HUGE this Fall and wouldn't this be great for all those holiday parties?

Tibi Lucas Suiting Straight Leg Trouser
Sale: $252.50 After Sale: $298
I am SO happy orange is sticking around!

Splendid Always Shirting Pocket Tunic
Sale: $69.50 After Sale: $88
Shown in tan but there are a number of colors available
I have this in navy and wear it ALL THE TIME.
It is an absolute staple and one of my favorites in my closet.
If you buy anything, this should be it.

Tulle Single Breasted Coat
Sale: $68.50 After Sale: $99
A red coat makes any outfit more fabulous.
I actually want everything you see here.

Free People Lake Tahoe Cardi
Sale: $89.50 After Sale: $128
I am a sucker for a striped cozy cardi

Tinley Road Vegan Leather Shift Dress
Sale: $79.50 After Sale: $119
If you are following me on Pinterest then you know my obsession with leather.
And even better, this is not even real leather, which my Best Friend K would appreciate.

Don't forget to enter It's Just Darlin Mason Jar Glasses giveaway!

Only a few more days to vote!

Serenity Now!

What do you do when your husband leaves early Saturday morning for a business trip while you are in bed with what might be the worst hang over you have ever had (yes, I know, my fault), yet you are alone to take care of three children?  

What do you do next when you promised your Oldest that you would get Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie if he finished the book, it is still the same Saturday, it is 105 degrees outside and after two Targets and one Walmart it is no where to be found?

What do you do Sunday when you finally wake up feeling human again only to find that your entire kitchen has been taken over my MILLIONS of ants (I am not exaggerating) all over your floor?  

What do you do when you are done cleaning up the millions of ants, you take the three children out to lunch and shopping, only to return to YOUR BED and MASTER BATHROOM filled with ants?  Did I mentioned that there is NOTHING to eat in there?

What do you do when, while trying to wash your ant-covered sheets your washing machine, decides to stop working?

What do you do when you wake up Monday morning, feeling human, with no more ants, only to find that the indoor/outdoor rug you have in your kitchen that was drying outside after you hosed it down thanks to the ants has MELTED in the 105 degree heat that has continued the entire weekend?

What do you do when you realize you haven't showered in two days?

You know what you do?

You laugh.

It is the only way to not lose your mind.

I do not think I have looked forward to a week starting more than I did this past weekend.

I swear it was in dog years.

Orkin has come, the ants have been attacked, the rug is reversible, the washing machine is fixed, I have showered and the hubby got home last night.  

Dare I say that "normal" life has returned?

I know I keep asking but there are only a few more days of this and then it will all be over.  I promise!

 

Also, don't forget to enter the It's Just Darlin Mason Jar Glasses giveaway!  It ends this Friday!

C.Wonder Has Arrived

This past weekend C.Wonder opened their first West Coast store at Fashion Island with quite the Grand Opening celebration.  And when I say celebration, I mean a full blown shopping party, filled with a DJ, gift cards, games and celebrities.  What more could a girl ask for?

I went in to see the store on Sunday with all three kids in tow (crazy, I know.  This is what happens when the hubby is out of town and you REALLY want to see something) and thank goodness they had candy placed all around to keep them occupied because I was overwhelmed with wanting the ENTIRE STORE.  Color, color, color, along with some incredible prints, was the theme.  And though it did not begin in Southern California, nothing says beaches, warm weather and sunshine more than C.Wonder.  I could not stop taking photos with my phone and grabbing things to try on.  Apparently everyone in the store felt the same way because it was packed.    Being that my children were causing havoc (the sales staff is INCREDIBLE friendly...thank goodness), I was not able to shop as thoroughly as I would have liked but that just means I need to go back. 

If you are in the Orange County area, I highly recommend you checking it out.  There is something in there for everyone.  For those New Yorkers who have had C.Wonder this entire time, you know what I am talking about.  And for those of you who are not able to visit their store, you can shop online here!

What was I able to pick up before my children completely destroyed the place?  This short sleeve hoodie and these zip cuff cropped jeans.

  Welcome to the OC C.Wonder!

A few other things:

Don't forget to enter this giveaway!

Please vote!

**GIVEAWAY** It's Just Darlin' Mason Jar Glasses

Friday!  Friday!  Friday!  

It is always nice to end the week on a positive note so I thought, why not launch a giveaway that feels like a summer weekend?

Mason jars have become a staple in my kitchen over the last year.  I cannot step foot in Michael's without purchasing at least one.  I have them in numerous sizes and use them as vases, jars, water pitchers, etc.  The list goes on and on.  They are the perfect accessory for backyard entertaining and perhaps even a wedding (just ask my little sister who used them as the vases for her centerpieces).  The possibilities are endless.  Don't believe me?  Just spend a few minutes on Pinterest.

With the last holiday weekend of summer right around the corner (yes, Labor Day is almost here), the fabulous girls at It's Just Darlin (remember them from my post on their lavender scrub?) would like to offer up one set of SIX mason jar glasses to one lucky reader for their summer entertaining.  Yep, a whole set for one of you.  

And how cute are they?

I was not lying right?

In addition to the giveaway, It's Just Darlin' is offering all readers 10% off their order for the rest of August.  All you need to do is use code Juggling (need I remind you of the lavender scrub again?).  

Here is how to enter:

1. Visit It's Just Darlin and leave a comment below stating which item in their shop is your favorite.

That's it!  Easy!  And now you have one entry.  Looking for more?

For additional entries:

1. "Favorite" It's Just Darlin on Etsy.

2. "Like" Juggling in Heels on Facebook

3. Follow Juggling in Heels on Twitter

4. Follow Juggling in Heels on Google Friend Connect (it is on the right side of the blog)

THIS IS IMPORTANT: For each item you do as an additional entry, please make sure you leave a separate comment for each one.  If you do all four and leave only one comment, it will only count as one entry.

*US Residents Only

The giveaway will be open until next Friday, August 17th at 11:59pm and the winner will be posted the following week.

Good luck, have a great weekend!

Stripes

I admit it.

I love stripes.

All stripes.

Always have.

Always will.

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Check out this, this and this, for additional stripes I would like to add to my closet.

Don't forget to vote!