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Ever since I relocated to Pennsylvania from New York, I've been somewhat hesitant to hang art of any kind on our walls. A part of me didn't want to decorate a home that was more his than ours. Another part didn't know how to choose what type of art to buy... especially given that our tastes are generally different.

I thought I solved the problem when we ordered wedding photos. But those came down when we had the living room walls repainted and then we never put them back up. (Neither one of us wanted to put holes in the fresh paint.)

Eventually, I abandoned the idea of hanging art and focused on decorating other spaces. Like my office nook (here and here). Or the ladder bookshelf purchased after we downgraded from our bulky bookcase. Adding accents to the smaller spaces felt manageable and didn't induce stress. But the empty walls started mocking me... They were screaming for a pop of color.

A Month of Dinners: Menu Plan for October

In an attempt to make my life a little easier, I'm planning all of our dinners for September at once.

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Well, this went about as expected. I wrote a blog post. I went back to work. Then I disappeared for a month.

I didn't intend to stay away from you this long. In fact, I had grand plans to share a lot of stories with you. Stories about my feelings about returning to work... about adjusting to life as a mom who works outside of the home... about trying to achieve balance without completely exhausting myself.

But the transition has been a tough one, especially since I've been putting in more long days than usual. I've found myself keeping the kids up a little later than their bedtimes so I can have more time with them. For Caroline, that means more stories and many more hugs and kisses. For Jonathan, that means longer snuggles after nursing.

It means less time for other things, but I need that time with them. It helps lessen the stabbing mom guilt I experience when I'm away from them.

A Month of Dinners: Menu Plan for September

In an attempt to make my life a little easier, I'm planning all of our dinners for September at once.

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The weather is getting cooler. My social media feeds are full of first-day-of-school photos. Pumpkin-spice everything is starting to appear on grocery store shelves. Summer is nearly over, and we have no choice but to begin the transition to fall.

At the same time, I'll also be heading back to work after my time at home with the new baby. I wish I could have more time with Jonathan, especially considering everything that happened leading up to his early arrival. But I have to admit I'm a little relieved that we'll be returning to a somewhat regular routine. Just now I'll be playing the part of a full-time working mom who works outside the home.

Guest Post: Sweet and Smoky Baby Back Ribs

These Sweet and Smoky Baby Back Ribs from my good friend David are perfect for your end-of-summer picnics this Labor Day Weekend. Or, save them for the fall and make them while tailgating at the game!

A huge thank-you to Michelle for allowing me to contribute my second guest post on Taste As You Go. (Check out my first guest post here.) I'm honored, and I hope that you all enjoy my twist on this summertime classic. These ribs are so delicious, you're going to want to eat them well into the fall... I mean, tailgate season is just around the corner, right?

Let's not waste time. Time to get to it!