This year, Saifra and I have decided that we want to extend the conversation on our blog to talk about more than just the fashion, art, celebrity style and beauty trends that we love. As working women, we know that in order to lead fulfilling and holistic lives, these passions have to be balanced out with our careers, family, friends, lovers, and our relationships with ourselves. This reasoning was a part of why Saifra and I felt so compelled to leave behind our corporate jobs to create build Nyla Noor.

So this year, in addition to the posts and information that you have come to expect, Saifra and I would like to share the ways that we strive to attain balance in our own lives. Welcome to The Balance Series. Once a month, you can expect advice and information from experts in various fields sharing different ways that we as women can learn to live more harmonious lives.

Many people who see our handbags are instantly attracted to the wave design, which we incorporate into each silhouette. While the wave serves as our brand’s trademark, as an aesthetic design element and sometimes a functional purpose, it is also a symbol and reminder to find balance amid the ebbs and flows within our own lives. Much like the wave itself, we are reminded life is filled with peaks and valleys and life is about learning how to ride the waves.

People ask us all the time, how do you do it? How do you balance the time you devote to Nyla Noor and still be mindful of your personal life- make time for your friends, be there for your family and take care of your self? Our answers are typically a variation of this: It’s a work in progress. There are no magic solutions and as a result, finding balance amongst the highs and lows of work and life requires trial and error. It’s all about finding out what works for you. Some of us need to work 15 hours a day, 5 hours of sleep and 3 sessions yoga sessions per week to feel re-calibrated. For others, that schedule would swing the pendulum in ways that aren’t in synch with who we are.

Whether you have found your sense of balance in your world full of multi-tasking or not, one thing that Saifra and I have learned is that the smallest of tweaks in the foundation can allow for big changes.

So we start this series with the bookends of our day- sleep. Arianna Huffington, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post shares the power of a good night’s sleep. Instead of bragging about our sleep deficits, she urges us to shut our eyes and see the big picture: We can sleep our way to increased productivity and happiness, smarter decision-making and ultimately balance.

We hope you enjoy this new addition to the conversation and we encourage you to join in. As a woman balancing out the many roles you play in your life, how do you seek more balance?

Hugs and Handbags,

Nyla Noor

This year’s 2010 Handbago Awards brought with it some serious competition. Kristina Moreno, President at Handbago.com stated, “We love all kinds of great bags and the Handbago Awards are the time we get to determine the best of the best in each category. We’re also very excited to add a social component to the Awards and allow all handbag fans to help us vote for the winners.”

Our award winning Port Vell Satchel in Sangria

The polls were open for one month worldwide and allowed the fashion community to to vote for categories such as Best “It” Bag, Best Designer, Best Clutch, Best Crossbody, Best Satchel, Best Tote, Best Timeless Classic and Best Emerging Design. Award nominees included notable designers as Chanel, Hermes, Celine, Chloe, Jimmy Choo, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Proenza Schouler and yours truly, Nyla Noor.

Up against formidable competition, our Port Vell Satchel was nominated for and won the Best Satchel category against two very respected brands and iconic handbags; The PS1 by Proenza Schouler and the Marcie Satchel by Chloe.

Our award winning Port Vell Satchel in Caviar

We are so thrilled and honored to have been awarded with the 2010 Handbago Awards in the Best Satchel Category. We are so humbled by everyone that has been so supportive of our brand and we look forward to designing more award winning collections!