I collect muses like some people collect stamps. I always find myself discovering new, innovative ladies and pouring over their content for inspiration... saving snaps and soaking up good vibes. Ally Walsh, a model for a few of my favorites such as Christy Dawn and Jesse Kamm and co-creator of Canyon Coffee (with her partner Casey Wojtalewicz), is no exception. She's been one-to-watch on my feed for a while and I'm struck with so much inspiration every time I see her home.

Ally and Casey set up their home base on Venice beach and have dedicated their time to a holistic lifestyle filled with simplicity, great cups of coffee and un-fussy beauty. My favorite part of their space is the fact that it seems so approachable and achievable. You'll find no crazy showrooms here, just lived-in goodness in all its glory. Collected corners and the airiest kitchen I've ever seen... effortless.

images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Endless Summer. August is trickling by at a leisurely pace and the sun is still going strong. I'm excited to see how ready everyone seems for Fall but my heart (and wardrobe) will be firmly planted in a Summer state of mind for the foreseeable future. What''s on my current wish list you ask? Even more lived in denim, French inspired wrap skirts and flowy tops and a few cheeky home decor items to lend a little whimsy to our house. Now to figure out how to get my hands on Glossier's new 'Wowder' (and restock my favorites) when they don't ship to our country!

'surf shacks', zara maxi raffia basket, ruffle skirt, majamade 'breast friends', re/done denim stove top jeans, ganni tie top, glossier's wowder, 2modern nomad pillow, anthropologie yoursa pillow, mcquan eye platter, club monaco 'tatelyn' slides

I often find myself going through parenting phases. Sometimes I soar with days filled to the last rays of sunlight with games and long talks about Frozen and sometimes I struggle to find that mythical balance between being engaged and being a little checking out. As a mother without many momma friends (something I'm hard at work to rectify), I find that those battles don't get talked about as much as they should.

The last month or so has been a crash course in slow living and I'm pretty grateful for the subtle shock to our systems. I know that I probably have a new lifestyle to thank for all of the quality time Lorelai and I are spending together but I'll take the wins where I can get them these days. It's a luxury that we didn't always get back in the states but our days on the island seem to crawl by at the most leisurely pace (at least until school starts). If we feel like being adventurous, the beach is never more than a 5 minute bike ride away and there's always something new to discover. Aside from the obvious benefits of island time, I've also rediscovered what it means to really be friends with my child. We're connecting better and more deeply, having real conversations (as real as they get when you're six) with eye contact and without the brightness of devices impeding our views and we're even doing that thing my mom always talked about that made me roll my eyes at every turn... bonding. It feels like I'm finally getting back to the basics of being a parent.

We've all been there... the end of Summer parenting slump. As the pages marking the last couple weeks of the season fly off the calendar (school starts on August 24th... it's nuts!) and screen time seems ever-present, it can be genuinely difficult to power through the days leading up to the new school year. I'm challenging myself to stay connected and stay engaged. There's an old adage that goes, "the days are long but the years are short" and it couldn't be more true. I plan on sticking to the basics so that I don't miss a single moment.