Hey all! Anyone? Are you still there? I know it’s been a solid 9 months since I’ve been on here, and even longer since I was consistently posting on Instagram (gasp!) but I’m back! About a year and a half ago I started this blog with a passion for lifestyle and travel and I was soon finding myself unmotivated and uninspired. My work pace definitely contributed to that (deployments make being a blogger quite challenging) but that wasn’t the only thing squashing my creativity. I found myself constantly comparing my outfits and my feed and my content and quite frankly myself to others. I was trying to fit into this cookie cutter “blogger” life. Well, news flash, I’m not a cookie cutter travel and lifestyle blogger and it took me a while to figure that out, but that’s okay!  I will say we’ve had just a couple minor life changes this year that I’m excited to share with you.

First, were parents! On March 11 I gave birth to a beautiful 8lb 9oz little boy who has completely taken my heart. He is the happiest baby and takes it pretty easy on me most days. I love watching him grow and these last three months of maternity leave have been perfect. Not only have I learned how to be a mom but this leave has given me a great deal of perspective about my work. It’s really easy to get bogged down and take my job for granted, but I seriously have THE GREATEST job ever. It allows me to do so many things that I love. I get to travel, I get to eat ALL the foods and I get to buy clothes in tons of different countries. Win…win…double win. Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I was completely confident in my abilities to pilot anything right now. I haven’t flown since November and even that was just an easy peasy trip. I’ve tried to put myself on a pretty strict studying schedule because I’m V rusty in that department and it’s going okay at best. But, I miss flying and traveling so much! This year has given me so much appreciation for what I get to do on a daily basis and for that I’m grateful.

Second, we’re moving! We’re absolutely thrilled to start a new adventure but will miss Washington and all it has to offer. Washington has really felt like home to us these last few years and it will be tough to leave. It’s where we had our wedding, where our first squadron was, where we bought our first home and so many other firsts. We hope to come back here some day but only time will tell. We do know “where” were going but I’m going to hold my tongue until it seems a lot more permanent. There’s one thing I know for sure in the military, nothing is for sure. We’ll just leave it at that.

These couple of changes have turned our life a little sideways but were going forward and not looking back! I go back to work this week and I’m thrilled to return to flying but not so much about putting Dallas in daycare. Anyone else feel like this when it was time to return to work? Mom guilt is so real. Ugggghhhhh. Anywaaaaay, I hope you’re all doing well. Let me know what’s new with you in the comments below.

If you’re new here and have no idea what I’m talking about, head to my About Me section for a quick and dirty on who I am and what I do.

Ps. Here’s my exact maxi dress and denim jacket and I’ve included some other cute options below.

xx, Emily