WHOA. September 2nd already?! I’m so sorry for my lack of posting recently. Two weeks ago I broke my ankle and have been recovering at home in a haze of aches, pains, and medication, and I’m finally on the mend! My recovery process has actually gone so swiftly and well, thanks largely to my amazing husband, family, and friends. I’ve been so grateful for the encouraging words, the thoughtful visits from loved ones near and far (including Mom’s three-day journey to Dallas from Chicago when James had to make a last-minute trip to Ohio!), and the fun, uplifting gifts (wine & candy included, natch). I’ve always known that my people are the very best, but these past few weeks have really reaffirmed that.

After lots of time snuggling on the couch with Callie, watching TV marathons on Netflix, reading lots of books (This Is Where I Leave You was an instant favorite), and snacking on delicious treats, it feels good to be back in the swing of things. I’m thankful to have a job that allows me to accomplish tasks remotely, but it does feel nice to be back in the office today – there’s something motivating about having an office space to go to and get work done in, I think.

I love this time of year. Even though I’m no longer a student, I’ve always felt more refreshed by the entrance of fall than I have by the coming of a new calendar year. I still find myself living according to the timeline of a student, planning my schedule and calendar accordingly (spring break, anyone?). I appreciate that my favorite season, summer, technically still has a few more weeks left in the limelight, meaning that there’s more time for cocktails on patios, swimming, barbecuing, and evening walks (pending the removal of my cast, of course), but I still can’t help but be invigorated by the entrance of a new school year, a chance to start fresh, to re-evaluate goals, and to make more plans (and, naturally, to stock up on new “school” supplies, like these amazing sushi erasers). In fact, I love this time of year so much that you’ll see me writing about this very topic on Darling Magazine’s blog soon, soon, soon – so stay tuned. (And in the meantime, check out my most recent post about planning the perfect staycation.)

I really and truly appreciate your patience. I’m officially back and at ’em, so I’ll see you here tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Image via eHow Crafts