BALANCING A CAREER + CHILDREN

How does one even begin to start a new venture when you're not a recent college graduate and have two young children (under the age of 5!) on top of that?! I basically just posed the question to you that I asked myself for many years. After almost half a decade in this wonderful City, I knew I needed a change.

My first few years in New York were ridiculously high pressure and fast-paced. My son Yuli was born just shortly after arriving in the City, and even after his birth, I worked full days from 9:30 AM-6:30 PM (6 dyas a week!) and wouldn't arrive home until an hour before my son's bedtime. It was very frustrating for me (I was crying!!!) as a new mom. I realized that I could not both work as many hours as I was and enjoy raising my children. I honestly couldn't (and still can't) imagine how working so much and incorporating my children into my schedule would be feasible. (As such, I have an unbelievable amount of respect for mamas who can really 'do it all,' as they say!) I needed to find a balance between work and motherhood -one that would be fulfilling for me.

Out of this need, GirlPlusTwo was born. I've always loved fashion, but hadn't done anything professionally with the field (unless you count owning more pairs of sunglasses than the typical SunglassHut). And, sometimes, life leads you in different directions, ones you're not totally passionate about or 100% fulfill you, and you find yourself working in a job that, while fun and interesting, isn't really what you have your heart ultimately set on. Does this sound familiar to any of you beauties? There's no way I'm the only one who feels this!

The real turning point for me began nearly a year and a half ago, after the birth of my second child, Ori. I knew in my heart that a change was coming down the pipeline, and quickly at that. I found myself looking through my closet post-partum and realizing that my style had evolved over the last half-decade in the big Apple. It had transformed into a loose, less done-up aesthetic, sometimes so visceral in nature that I didn't even know why I'm wearing what I put on - it's just something within me.

It was around this time that I discovered blogging as an outlet, one in which I'd have the freedom and creativity to write about what I was wearing. To be completely honest with you, though, the struggle is enormous. My Hebrew writing has always been excellent (I was a researcher for several Israeli TV programs back in my 20's) but English is slightly less comfortable for me. Yet, slowly and surely, I followed my heart and listened to what it wanted. I single-handedly made myself a website (note to the world: this is NOT easy!) and began to learn more about the web industry. I found myself working at the computer until 3 or 4 in the morning some nights to catch up on work that I could not get done for the blog during the day.

It is only now, after several months of hard work, that I am getting the fulfilling traction I always wanted on the blog. The biggest life lesson I've learned so far from this process is that it is unbelievably important to believe in yourself. Listen to your heart, and follow it to the magical places it keeps leading you to. There is no age or point in time too late to go after what you want. Be inspired, take chances, and realize that where you're meant to go will happen in its right time. I know that I still have a long way to go. I choose to let the learning I have ahead of me inspire my work and growth. And, you, reader, should too!

Here are some pictures from my favorite blog posts.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

Neshikot= Xx