Helloooooo! Hello hello, it’s been a long time! I hope you all had a wonderful summer, the kind that relaxes your spirit and fills your cup right up to the top. We sure did! So I thought I’d pop in, and say hi, and make a little “Pictures Of Things + Le Love List” type post, for old times sake.

First a little update: When I stepped away from blogging last spring, I did so with some very specific goals in mind. I wanted to live more completely and intentionally, to relax and remain present instead of always feeling swept along in the daily labors of my life. I wanted to spend more time with my family — real quality time. I wanted to deepen my magickal practice, and to increase my real-life activism, and to be a more involved mother. And I really wanted to focus on nourishing and deepening my friendships.

I’m so happy to say, looking back on this summer, that’s just exactly what I’ve done.

It’s working. I miss blogging and I sure do miss this space, but at least I’m getting exactly what I’d hoped to gain. So here’s what summer 2017 has looked like, at least in little bits and pieces. I’ve actually been terrible about taking pictures (a by-product of renouncing the title of “blogger”, I guess), but these are a few of my favorite moments:

Waits and I took a trip to Portland, just the two of us. It was really special to travel together for a whole week, and even more special because it was Waits’s first time back to Portland since we’d moved away!

That’s right, 5 years later wee Waits Rebhal made his Pacific Northwestern return. IT WAS SO FUN. He reunited with so many of his little weegan pals, and it was truly a beautiful reunion (no seriously, click on that link, it’s heart-meltingly adorable), and we also got to spend some much-needed time with family.

The second half of the summer seemed to mosey right along, nothing too spectacular and everything easy peasy. It was a lemon squeezy kind of summer.

And then, so suddenly it seemed, it was all coming to an end. It was the very last weekend of summer vacation, and we were camping again. With the same adventure mama and her wee adventure boy, and Jeremy too this time! A summer sandwiched neatly between two epic camping trips. It was perfect.

It was a wonderful final weekend; a respite and a chance to recharge before diving back into the chaos. Waits was starting second grade (!!!) and I was also starting a new beginning that Monday. My boss had gone on maternity leave, and I was stepping into her position for a few months.

I’m the boss, now. (sometimes I look around and wonder — how did I actually get here???)

On the final Sunday morning, the same ritual. A new set of intentions. Written in magic, inked on leaves. Our dreams for autumn . . .

And now, it’s time for the one, the only, Le Love List! I’ve been saving it on my phone all summer, adding little events as they occur . . .

Impromptu family dance parties in the kitchen. There have been quite a few of those, actually . . . // Jeremy introducing Waits to Bruce Lee. // BABIES. All my friends are on “round two” it seems (haha, oh 30s) and my nearest and dearest are pregnant or with newborns, and it’s soooo good. I keep catching baby fever (not good) but spending time with the wee ones is enough to set me straight. I’ll be wacky Aunt Say to a whole little crop of witchling children, and I’m so excited. ♥ // In that vein, I really did catch Baby Fever like whoa. And Jeremy and I did a lot of deep soul-searching, long late-night conversations that lasted weeks. But finally, we came around to the place we’ve always been: one and done. So now we’re dreaming and scheming of all the thing we’ll get to do instead, and that’s pretty dang fun as well! // After completely burning out a few years ago, rediscovering the glory of the massaged kale salad. NOM. // Waits walking around the house in his little miniature plaid boxers that Jeremy bought him, because he wanted big-boy boxers just like Jeremy. ♥ // Wine on the beach with girlfriends. Like, weekly. // Saying the words “It’s going to be tough, but it will be really good for my career” for the first time because really for the first time, *I have a legit career*. And holy shit that’s an amazing feeling. // The woman who owns my neighborhood Botánica. She always knows which candles and powders and charms I need, and she always tries to undercharge me. She is one of the kindest women I’ve ever met. // Dinners composed entirely of chips and salsa and guacamole and refried beans and margaritas. That’s pretty much my eating-out summer standard. // Feeling confident. No, I mean *really* confident. For the first time in my entire life. Feeling like I’ve finally arrived at this place I always wanted to be — where I’m strong and happy and kicking ass and having fun and doing good work and living authentically. It’s real. This place is real.

So alright guys, that does it for me, for now. Thanks for reading. I hope with all my heart that all of you have had an incredible summer. If you feel compelled to leave a Love List, I’d love to hear it!

Happy Monday, happy week, and happy impending autumn. I hope it brings you everything you wish!

♥

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