Happy New Year everyone! Thank you all so much for letting me take a little break last week. It was much needed. Augustine still isn’t sleeping very well and usually I stay up late to work on my blog posts, so it was nice to be able to hit the sack when he did. I can’t say I got much sleep, though- this guy is up every 2-3 hours- but it was still a little more than what I normally get.

Who else is ready for a new year? As hard as it is to say goodbye to the wonderful holiday season, there’s something reinvigorating and so exciting about a fresh start. I’ve had years of resolutions and ones without, but this year there are a few things I’m trying to commit to. I’m sharing my resolutions below and I’d love to hear from you. Is there anything you’re working on this year?

MY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

• A Commitment to Health and Wellness- Over the past few months I’ve become a little obsessed with the health and wellness community on Instagram. I’ve loved finding healthy recipes and getting that extra motivation for a workout. With the baby and Matthew being back at work, it’s going to be hard to make it to the gym, so I had to think of something different. After talking to my sister-in-law, I got the T25 Workout DVD. I like that the workouts are only 25 minutes long. It’s way easier than going to the gym, and bonus points for being able to do it during Augustine’s naps. Matthew and I are also doing a January No Sugar Challenge, along with no processed foods. I feel like since Augustine arrived we’ve totally overindulged in carbs and sweets. The chocolate chip cookies were something to look forward to after it took 2-3 hours to get Augustine down to sleep. Having a little bit of a break from these foods will be hard, but I think it will help us to reevaluate what we’re putting in our bodies and what we actually need to thrive.

• An Attempt at Balance- Balance is something I think a lot of moms strive for, and with good reason. It can seem like you do so much for your child(ren) that you often don’t have enough time for yourself. My challenge is to find a way to bring a little more balance to my life, whether that means forgoing work one night for a little more sleep, or taking the time for a Saturday manicure/solo coffee date. I feel torn in a lot of directions these days- mom, wife, work, and friend, but I know it’s just as important to put myself on that list of priorities. 

• Minimize- I wouldn’t call myself a hoarder but I definitely hold onto a lot of stuff, some out of necessity, others out of nostalgia, and some for the hope that maybe some day it will serve a purpose. I read Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” last fall and really loved it. I applied some of her ideas to our home, but I feel like I need to revisit a few of the chapters again. I have way too much, more than I really need, and I have to remind myself that it served a purpose and can go on and serve someone else. {This was the thought process that allowed me to part with a lot of clothes, like my first date outfit with Matthew and my prom dress!}

• Give Back- Going along the minimizing goal above, I’d love to find an organization that I can be a part of, whether that means donating my time, previously loved items, or financial resources. For years I’ve volunteered with a nonprofit supporting Ovarian Cancer, but I’d love to find another cause that speaks more dearly to my heart. I love dogs {our rescue pup Ginger is my best gal pal}, and now being a mom I’m even more sympathetic to children facing illnesses, poverty, and lack of proper education. It would be amazing to find a non-profit to be a part of that touches on one of those issues. If you have any ideas for me, please let me know!

I read somewhere that the majority of resolutions aren’t kept, and while that’s a little depressing, I do think it’s important to make them nonetheless. To have goals in mind, and figure out ways to meet them, is always a good thing. This year I’m going to try to do monthly check-ins with myself to see the progress I’ve made and plan for the month ahead.

Did any of you make a resolution for this year? If you’re comfortable, I’d love to hear!

Happy 2017 everyone! I hope this year brings you new opportunities and wonderful memories!

xox

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dress {also comes in black and rose} . heels . similar bag . cuff . ring . lipstick in Dolce Rosa {Chatterbox is a good dupe!}

photos by Jodee Debes