Image of me, Sam, and Wil hard at work taken by the lovely Hilary Walker

Last summer, when my friend and now partner-in-crime Sam approached me about joining her at Swoon, one of the topics that came up was surviving/thriving as a working mama. At the time, Sam was pregnant with her first child, in her final trimester, about to enter an entirely new phase of her life while at the helm of a growing business. Suffice to say, she was at a major crossroads.

Being a dear friend, she also knew that I was pretty darn close to complete and total burn out. I loved my job at D, loved being an editor, but the whole writing three blogs/producing a quarterly magazine with only one other person/serving as market editor for another bimonthly publication was starting to take its toll. I was tired, mildly irritable, and definitely stressed. But most distressing was the fact that I was starting to feel like, well, not exactly the world's #1 mom. Oh and the best part? My current job was overseeing a magazine focused on how to be a more balanced/happy/inspired mother.

Oy vey.

Sam and I knew that there wasn't a magic bullet, no working mother panacea, and, as sad as it is to admit, more than likely no such thing as work/life balance. But we also had a hunch that there was a better way... I mean there had to be, right?

I've been at the studio for nearly eight (!) months now... Our crew includes seven employees, three dogs, and, occasionally, two girlies (mine) and a dreamy, dimpled baby boy (Sam's). (And apparently we're not alone). Our days consist of strategizing, dreaming, designing, making, schlepping, hauling, and sometimes a little drinking and dancing. In between, we dash out for parent reader and pediatrician appointments and school performances, and we try our darndest to stay sane while doing it (see the drinking and dancing).

Some days we pull it off. Some days, well, not so much. But we at least know we're taking a stab at that better way. It's a start. And that's enough for me.