Yet Another Blog. Why I Started This Terrible Idea...

There's a steaming glass of Parisian Mariage Frères tea on my desk. My favourite blend - Marco Polo - is a fruity, flowery black tea that resonates with hints of strawberry, citrus, and rose.

I must be insane to start another blog. Pensive, I went through the scenario in my head: I have a young family to care for; I already write a travel blog; I'm managing an investment renovation project, and I'm dealing with all kinds of issues regarding my regular (yawn) job. I came to the conclusion that I am, indeed, insane to subject myself to such a behaviour.

I recall when I first started my other blog, Folie à Deux, which is all about travel. I had no expectations that it could lead me anywhere. Not knowing much about HTML and CSS, I spent many sleepless nights learning how to tweak the style sheets. I also had a crash course on how to use a digital SLR camera, Photoshop, my new Mac notebook, and all the social media tools out there. I tell you, those nights came with a price. I'd be exhausted the following day; I would even have mini-meltdowns. It was a time in my life that can be compared to a nuclear near-collapse as I tried to balance my new found love for writing and blogging with breastfeeding an infant who barely slept through the night.

In any case, everything appears to have worked out for the best. Burning the midnight oil on my travel blog, Folie à Deux, earned me a place as a finalist in Best Travel Blog category at the 2008 Weblog Awards. This, in turn, opened many doors for me that I wouldn't have otherwise had the opportunity to enjoy had I not started the blog. Moreover, I have met many fabulous, like-minded travellers, vagabonds, digital nomads, lifestyle designers whom I respect to the fullest. They have inspired me to revisit my passion and re-evaluate my goals in life.

With this blog, I am hoping to connect with families all over the world, and share in this wonderful journey of parenthood. We can focus on exchanging ideas and advice on mostly fashion and design, but also on travel, food, lifestyle and well-being. Or we can simply relish in swapping evocative photographs or anecdotes of everyday life as a parent.

Why Les Filles Giada et Cairo? Giada is my eldest daughter (almost 3 years old), and Cairo will be the name of this next one coming in March 2010. Les deux filles (the two girls) make my heart sing and they galvanize every inch of my soul.

Some once said that great stories usually come out of terrible ideas. Is this such a terrible idea? We'll see in a few months.

xoxo,
Jen